Okumura Syndicate

Chapter 49: Sword of flame

Aster raised his claymore with rigor. "Shall we fight fire with fire, or is that too cliche for an asshole like you!". The claymore was scorching hot, Aster could barely hold it. With weapon in hand, Aster began charging at his opponent, dodging his every move. Lucius was doing the same, slightly slowed due to his shoulder injury.

"I assumed you were skilled by how you hid in plain sight, weakening a syndicate from the inside. You even found my unfortunate entrance into this world as a focal point for attack.", Aster leapt at Lucius once more, holding his claymore in the flaming man's direction. It was at this point that the fire had begun to take a toll on him as flaming blisters appeared on his skin. Those around him were shocked that his face looked unfazed, even if his injuries were a clear sign he'd most likely lose.

"It seems your time with me is coming to an end, intruder.", Lucius remarked, cackling at the fire making marks. Fleur called out worriedly from outside the cave, "Y-you idiot, retreat!". Aster still kept fighting, letting the own flames from his sword damage Lucius along with him.

"I'm not letting a little injury bother me, I learned that in a fight with my superior. His ice ability seemed very similar to yours. Now tell me the real reason why you wear those gloves, or I'll have to beat it out of you!", Aster ran behind Lucius and tried to jump on top of him, but the red haired man grabbed him and held him in the air. "What about my gloves? You're speaking as if you know who I am, if you're just gonna linger on the point, why are you talking like that? You're gonna burn to death any minute, you won't survive to tell me your little revelation if you speak so slowly...".

Aster remained calm, even as Lucius lifted him. He could get down easily, he's done it multiple times before, but getting his point across right now was far more important than the battle. "Burn to death? Please! You speak as if you have experience with this. In fact, I know you have experience with this, and I can show you why. Aster kicked Lucius in the stomach, knocking him down before running to the back of the room, behind the stone chairs, picking up a familiar staff, with a ruby atop its head.

"The evidence pointed right to this. Religious, intelligent, warm toned hair, and finally, a fire ability with the ability to produce blisters within minutes of contact with it. I came here with the expectation of fighting Lucius Bell, but I ended up fighting Lin Madrigal instead!". Fleur and Edward went into shock, with the rest of the room looking confused as to who he was.

Leon carefully analysed the weapon, "Wait a minute, that looks like...". Tamara also took a closer look, drilling the image into her head. "Rou's staff? But that means...".
Aster still stood tall, though starting to slump a little. "Hey boss, prove me right...", Aster exclaims. Edward walked between Aster and Lin, eyes glowing purple, "Seems now is a better time than ever to use my ability.", he thought.

Lin's eyes glowed as well, confirming everyone's suspicions, "That's right, my real name is Lin, village whore and hater of crime sydicates.". Lin broke out of Edward's control and began cackling at their revelation. "What a clever yet stupid boy you are, I can see why my brother sponsored you! Sadly you won't live long enough to tell Rou my identity."

Aster's strength was depleting, he was gravely affected by Lin's fire and was starting to collapse. Craaq rushed back into the centre, concerned for his friend. "Guys, we need to get him out of here!", yelled the anthro bunny. The soldiers in the cave assisted in carrying Aster out of the cave, passing him over the flame barrier to Fleur. Edward approached Lin, anger in his eyes. "I think it's time we finish this battle.", growled the vampire in a booming voice.

Lin pushed the boss away, "You think this is over? Think again!", Lin took Aster's claymore that was left in the battlefield and aggressively bashed at the cave walls above him. Suddenly, rocks begun to fall down from the ceiling. "Curtis! Kiera! Defy the flames!". Lin's lackeys jumped the fire barrier and rushed to Lin, Edward tried to follow them, but was held back by Craaq. "Boss, it's not worth it...", he cried before the rocks separated the syndicate members for their targets.

Edward clenched his fists with rage. "Those insolents! I bet they had that up their sleeve the whole time. Why else wouldn't his little minions attack anyone outside. Damn! I should've seen this coming...". The walls of the cave began to shake again, Fleur called out from outside, "Sir Edward! Get out of there!". Their side of the cave was crumbling, but the fire barrier was still there. They had no choice but to run out of it before it was too late.

Edward and the 5 soldiers bolt out of the cave as it crumbles before their eyes. By pure luck, they all come out relatively unskaved. "This mission did not go the way we planned...", mumbled Hayden. Aster began to wake up, glancing at everyone above him. "Did...we succeed?", he says drowsily. "No, no we didn't...", replied Fleur.

Aster sat up and examined the surroundings. "So they escaped? Now that's great...", he said sarcastically. Aster began to flinch from his injuries again, "I need to be treated...and fast.", he muttered. Once again, Aster fell asleep due to the pain. "I suppose we could heal him, he did do most of the fighting, Viper has potions back at the mansion...", suggested Fleur. "I agree, we need to return to the mansion to plan our next move. We are not letting them get away again...", replied Edward. The group trudged along, heading home from the failed mission.