Epicness at the end. Brace yourselves.

Episode 96 Scattering Ashes

Three Days Later.

Two tiny figures scramble over the endless mass of hills stretched before them. The land is plunged into darkness, lit only by the faint, eerie glow of the moon. Nothing else can be heard except for the persistent sounds of them pushing forward.

Ivy pauses for a breath, as she clambers over a ridge and looks down upon a narrow valley set between two hills. With a sigh of weariness, she plops down onto the ground and retrieves a sandwich from her pack. She begins enthusiastically tearing into it.

Rill comes to a rest next to her as well, and squats down on the ground next to her. He looks around at the desolate, empty land silently for a moment. ‘The Night World…’ he remarks to himself, ‘so this is what it’s like.’

Heaving a sigh, Rill stands back up, and stretches his arms with a yawn. He shuffles about on top of the ridge, kicking at the dirt with his feet. He freezes suddenly, and stoops down over the ground in alarm. He reaches forward and smoothes the dirt carefully with his finger.

“Is something the matter?” Ivy asks, dangling her feet over the edge of the hill as she continues to eat.

“Ah…n-no, not really,” Rill replies hesitantly, standing up again and swiping at the dirt with his foot. ‘Fresh tracks, only about a day or two old…are we really heading the right way, then?’

Rill glances over at Ivy doubtfully. “Ivy, are you sure about what you want to do?”

“Of course,” Ivy replies promptly, “I’m not gonna let Kunai get away from us if it’s the last thing I do.”

“But what do you intend to do, once you do catch up to him?” Rill persists.

“Beat him, of course,” Ivy answers, “and make sure he comes back to our side. You know, I really think that there’s some sort of evil being inside of him right now, that’s making him do all these crazy things.”

“You do?” Rill asks, slightly surprised.

“Uh-huh!” Ivy responds. “And I’m gonna beat it out of him with all I’ve got! That’s why I trained with Zack, after all, so I can do just that.”

Rill smiles to himself, as he watches Ivy finish the last bite of her sandwich. ‘Ivy’s a lot braver and stronger of heart than I gave her credit for…’

Under the eerie gaze of the pale moon, a monstrous herd of Wild Cargoes thunders across the land. At the head of the pack are three Cargoes, each carrying a single man on its back. Ryuu sits astride one of these monsters, while George and Wing flank him on either side.

“It sure was clever of you to use these Cargoes from the Ant Tunnel as steeds,” Ryuu comments, glancing over at George on his left.

“Don’t mention it,” George says gruffly, “they were just there and we took advantage of the situation. Although, I’m regretting taking them with us, as I have to say I am feeling rather sick now.”

“At any rate,” Wing says, drawing Ryuu’s attention while George leans over and vomits onto the ground, “do you have any reliable information on where we’re headed in this world? Obviously, none of us possess any knowledge of the land in this new world.”

Ryuu slows his Cargo down, and glances over at Sasha, who is traveling just behind him. Ayame, Zack, Shuriken, Silver, and Lily are each riding their own Cargo as well, while the rest of the assembled men are riding two to a Cargo.

Sasha speeds up and falls into pace between Ryuu and Wing, her blue hair flying in the wind. “We’re currently headed for Skylark City, just north of here. It’s the closest major city, and also where I live and work. We should be able to pick up some valuable info on what’s currently going on in the Night World and also regroup and refuel ourselves for the long journey ahead.”

“Very well,” Wing nods, satisfied, “how much longer until we arrive there?”

“We should arrive at Skylark in a few hours’ time,” Sasha retorts, “there’s not much further to go.”

“Once we get there,” Ryuu announces, “then it’ll only be a matter of figuring out which direction the Soul Eaters went and catching up to them.”

“And then the final battle against Lilith shall occur,” Wing finishes grimly.

The cool, electrifying lights of skyscrapers and other extravagant buildings glimmer in the center of the valley where the city of Skylark stands. A host of yellow and orange dots hover along the skyline, giving the darkened land an eerie yet strangely beautiful glow.

“We’re here,” Sasha announces to those at her side, even as the Cargoes stampede past a welcome sign.

“It’s even more amazing and huge than I’d imagined,” Wing breathes in awe, as the towering skyscrapers loom closer and closer, growing taller as they come nearer.

“Indeed,” George grunts, “I doubt any city in the Maple World can match its immeasurable size.”

Sasha smiles at their comments, laughing softly to herself. “You folks in the Maple World sure are simple. Skylark City is just a regular-sized city to me.”

Ryuu groans. “Yeah, well, I don’t like its ways.”

“Why not?” Ayame asks, riding closer behind Ryuu. “I had a lot of fun the last time we were here.”

Ryuu sighs. He shakes his head, and merely tilts his head towards an enormous billboard sitting on top of an approaching building. On the billboard, a red-haired Ryuu-look-alike is holding a gun while wrapping his arm around a suspiciously thin woman. The billboard reads, “Apple the Actor returns for the conclusion of the epic series Double-O Sixty-Nine!” Ayame sniggers appreciatively.

“If we approach this the right way,” Sasha continues seriously, “I might be able to persuade the other Paradox Hunters to join our cause. If we can get them on our side, they’ll be incredibly valuable assets to our team.”

“These Paradox Hunters,” Wing says, “are they—”

In an instant, Wing is knocked off his Cargo by a stroke of lightning. His body lies still on the floor, clearly robbed of life. Ryuu, George, and Sasha watch with widened eyes, as another blast of lightning intercepts them, striking the lifeless ground.

Ryuu rapidly orders his Cargo to screech to a stop, and the others behind him quickly follow suit. However, in that course of time, another bolt of lightning descends from the sky, and kills at least three more Cargoes, including their respective passengers.

“Damn it!” Ryuu howls. “What now?!”

Out of the darkness, a blue-haired mage appears carrying a Blue Marine staff. A mask in the shape of a white skull obscures his face.

“I have come,” he announces to his awestruck audience, “to take that woman with me.”

Next to Sasha, Lily merely watches in silent awe, as she gazes open-mouthed into the fathomless pits of the skull mask’s empty eyes.

Next Time: Episode 97 The Fatal Trap

Arai: Back in the Night World, and already bad news for our heroes! Oh no! What more dire plot twists await their near futures?! We shall see next time!

Episode 97 The Fatal Trap coming soon!