Destined To Die

Chapter 4 - Hammer And Hurricane

-4-

-Hammer and Hurricane-

Armoured boots crunched heavily on the broken branches around the small house, two helicopters overhead circled wide, floodlights sweeping the surrounding treeline below. Bastian walked with purpose towards the front door of the house, which hung slightly ajar, holding a massive kite shield in one hand, emblazoned with the roaring face of a lion, and a brutal maul in the other. The weapon was a massive, hulking thing that most men would struggle to lift even with two hands, heavily embellished with gold and wrought iron, carrying the nicks and scars of countless battles.

A single kick from his armoured boots ripped the door off its hinges, and the giant had to stoop to fit through the frame. His entire body was covered in plated iron at least a half inch thick, silver filagree weaving fine glyphs along the edge of each individual piece, some ornamental, some protective.

They'd offered him modern gear, tactical equipment, guns that no other man could carry, but he'd refused them. He knew what he worked with best, and to rid the earth of such a vile monster he trusted nothing else. The space inside the house was tossed, drawers thrown open and tables overturned. Most of the furniture was splintered, the couch cushions sliced open.

A man stood on the centre of the room, not even looking up as Bastian entered, flicking through a few loose sheets of old parchment in an old manilla folder. He took stock of the man, clearly not Akane, mentally flashing through the portfolio he'd been given before coming here before recognising the stranger.

"Jun," he said, voice hard as steel as he walked forwards towards the shorter man, "Former student of Koyane Fujiwara. Where is The Godslayer?"

"Gone," Jun replied simply, running his finger down the last page, before folding the manilla envelope and tucking it into one of the inner pockets of his vestments, "You missed him by about half an hour."

"You warned him."

"I nearly killed him," Jun corrected, "He ran."

Bastian's hand clenched hard on the haft of the maul, the metal of his gauntlets creaking under the force. He raised the shield from his side, sliding the maul down slightly to get a better grip. "You scared him off," the armoured titan growled, "You're in my way."

"Or you're in mine," Jun replied, levelling his gaze at the giant, a hand resting softly on the wide pommel of his long sword, which lay embedded into the floor. "What's your business with him?"

"I came to kill him."

Jun stared at him for a long moment, watching as the giant man took steps towards him, making no move to draw his blade. The gaze was analytical, cold, precise.

"Then our interests are aligned."

Bastian paused mid-step, looking down at Jun, a note of amusement filtering through the thick metal helmet, "Alliance?"

"Temporary cooperation," Jun replied, leaning forward slightly to carefully study Bastian's armour, "He knows someone else that I want, a witch." There was a slight pause, and a small smile crept over his face. He continued in a quiet mutter, barely audible. "Odd, I thought the Palatine were all dead."

Bastian was stunned into silence, if only for a moment. "You know me?"

"Oh, Koyane did. He was meticulous, ancient, almost as old as you, I'd imagine. He knew a great many things, and the world is poorer without his knowledge. I learned much under his guidance."

"Your master," Bastian spat, "Was a heathen, and an abomination. What makes you ever think I would trust you?"

Jun smiled thinly, a dangerous light entering his eye as his hand lowered down to the hilt of the sword. "Trust has nothing to do with it. Akane assassinated one of your order, didn't he? Or so the stories say. The mighty Palatine, a warden eternal, cut down by a blade in the dark. This heathen just beat him, handily. I don't care who you are, I don't care what the end goal is." He gestured out of the windows, to the circling spotlights of the helicopters overhead, "You clearly have resources, I have skill, we both have a common enemy. Find me the witch, and I'll help you find Akane."