Episode 30 Myou The Claw

Kunai stands in front, knocking on the wooden door of Azuma’s cabin. Behind him, Ryuu, Arai, and Ivy stand waiting patiently in the semi-darkness.

The front door squeaks open, revealing the tall, handsome Azuma. He nods just as Kunai opens his mouth to speak, still holding the claw of the Undead Paradox in his hands.

Azuma holds up his hand for silence. “So you have returned with the claw of the Undead Paradox. As I foresaw, you paid little price to acquire this claw.”

“Will you make the weapon for me now, like you promised?” Kunai asks in a low mutter.

“I promised,” Azuma says slowly, “but I do not oft keep my word.” Kunai and Ryuu open their mouths in surprise, taken aback. Suddenly, Azuma speaks again. “However, I shall forge you the claw for which you ask for. It shall be a claw of incomparable strength.”

Kunai nods, still slightly surprised at Azuma’s words. He hesitantly hands over the claw to Azuma, who takes it in both hands and strides back inside his cabin, sitting down behind a wooden table.

Kunai, Ryuu, Arai, and Ivy follow him in, taking their seats across the table from Azuma. Azuma places the claw on top of the wooden table, placing his hand just above it, holding it there for a moment.

Suddenly, the entire room glows brightly, illuminated by a soft, light blue hue emerging from Azuma’s hand. The light then flashes twice and disappears just as suddenly, leaving the room in a blinking darkness that seems darker than before.

Azuma then lights a candle, bringing a soft red glow into the room again. He holds up the severed claw of the Undead Paradox, and Kunai gasps out loud as the claw begins to change shape in front of him.

The claw twists and changes form, until suddenly it smoothens and takes the form of Kunai’s Black Scarab. However, a tiny red rune appears on it, glowing brightly for a moment.

Azuma slowly lowers the Scarab, and places it on the table, pushing it forward to Kunai’s outstretched hands. Kunai takes the claw in his hands, staring at it in awe. “But…isn’t this just a Black Scarab?”

“No,” Azuma replies, “for though it is no Scarab, it resembles it due to the reminiscence it sees in your heart. For another user it would appear differently. It is your claw, no other man, woman, child, or creature of this earth shall be able to wear it.”

“What is this red rune here?” Kunai murmurs, running his fingers over the rune. His eyes widen slightly as he notices that the rune is warm.

“I promised you a powerful weapon of inconceivable strength,” Azuma answers. “For it is so. However, the rune shall control the power of the claw. For it shall reflect upon your emotions—anger, love, happiness, depression…it shall see into your heart and its power shall be drawn from that.”

“I see…” Kunai murmurs.

“However,” Azuma says suddenly, “it shall never reach its full capacity of power unless a certain condition is fulfilled. And only when that condition is fulfilled will the claw truly be unmatchable in strength.”

“Condition?” Kunai asks, puzzled.

“I cannot say,” Azuma answers. “However, it shall be the key to acquire that which you seek.”

“That…which he seeks?” Ryuu mutters under his breath. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Azuma shakes his head slightly. “I shall answer no more questions. Take care of the claw…its name is Myou.”

“Myou?!” Kunai, Ryuu, Arai, and Ivy cry out loud as one.

“Myou…as in Myougun?” Kunai gasps hoarsely.

“The name Myougun reflects the use of darkness as a weapon,” Azuma replies, “however, I care not for petty things such as political groups. Myou…simply means darkness, for what better name to befit the weapon formed of a creature that comes from the darkness itself?”

“I see…” Kunai replies.

“Hey, let’s get going,” Ryuu says suddenly, as Kunai remains silent. Kunai nods in agreement. Ryuu suddenly turns to Ivy. “Open up that door of yours for us. We’ll head back to El Nath the easy way.

Ivy nods cheerfully. “Uh huh!” She waves her Thorns, and creates a glowing Mystic Door. She steps through it, followed by Arai. Ryuu quickly follows afterwards.

Kunai glances back hesitantly at Azuma as he steps on the threshold. He turns back to Azuma. “Thank you,” he says suddenly, “for making the claw for me.”

Azuma remains standing silent, but does not say anything in reply. Kunai then steps through the door, just as it disappears into thin air.

“Lord Kimura,” a deep, hoarse voice suddenly says behind Azuma.

Azuma remains standing silently still, not turning to look at the man standing behind him. “Lord Fyx,” he mutters under his breath.

“I am at your service, Lord Kimura,” Fyx says as he steps into the candlelight, his bright red monocle reflecting the light of the candle. He walks up to Azuma, standing in front of him and bowing deeply.

“Spare them no mercy,” Azuma replies simply. He turns, so he is no longer facing Fyx again. Azuma begins walking slowly farther away from the candlelight, picking up a long, slender sword, which is emitting a soft light blue glow.

Lord Fyx bows again. “I shall not let you down, Lord Kimura,” he mutters, and then disappears in an explosion of white smoke.

Azuma turns and stares at the spots where Fyx and Kunai’s group had departed. He raises a hand to his eyes, taking off his sunglasses and revealing a pair of bright, crimson eyes, one with thirteen jet-black pupils. “Farewell…Kunai.”

Next Time: Episode 31 The Return of the Alpha Platoon

Ryuu: Time to head to the next Triplicate!

Kunai: But we need a way to get to Ludibrium afterwards! How are we gonna do that?”

Arai: Hm? This old guy with goggles looks pretty nice! Maybe he’ll take us, or better yet he has some cookies to share with everyone!

Ryuu: [sighs] You and your cookies…

Episode 31 The Return of the Alpha Platoon coming soon!