LUNASTRA TRILOGY: Advent of Lunastra Arc (Arc 1)

Episode 10: The Dark Moon Strikes Again!

Episode 10: The Dark Moon Strikes Again!

Back at the Elite Guard's underground base/stronghold

Gardenia, early evening

Three hours prior to the assault at Love&Pet

The dark corridor of Reaver's subterranean hideout was lit up only by the crimson magic dome which concealed their presence from the Winx and the Gyukon Clan, casting the space in a sea of blood light, disturbed only by the shadows that dance from the dome's flickering pulse. The hooded figures of Hashira, Shinira, Vlitera and Shinki are kneeling on the ground, their gazes looking straight at Reaver, in cold anticipation of what he says next.

Reaver looked up to all of them, aware that they are awaiting his orders. He turned to address them, putting both of his arms behind his back and matching their focused stares.

"Listen up. We know Lord Kagerinai has specifically requested we kill either Ahra, the Gyukon boy or both, but Arashiro is nowhere to be found. The Winx are much too important to kill off right now, as per His Lord's orders. So, what should we do, you may ask? Luckily Shinki has a pin on the Clans location, as well as how to ambush the Winx," Reaver said to the group. He turns to Shinki and gestures to him forward, giving a slight nod.

Shinki rises onto both feet and silently weaves four hand-seals together; a pillar of aura blasts from Shinki and shoots towards the ceiling of the sewers---and penetrates past it, up into the night-time sky illuminated only by the crimson moon. Shinki completes this ritual by clasping his hands together---at once a rectangular projection screen forms ten feet tall and six feet long, high up in the air above everyone's heads. Everyone looks up to see what is being shown on the screen.

Above, a rough magic-made, flat, illustrated map of Gardenia and on it are glowing reddish-purple diamond-shaped markers that are spread out at various places throughout the coastal city. A cluster are found in the interior part of the metropolis, while one is in the Greater Gardenia area and one more on the outskirts of the town.

"I received an order from Lord Kagerinai not long ago to check out any areas that the Gyukon Clan, Ahra'Zaa, Arashiro or the Winx might frequent. I've already pinpointed the location, as you know, of the Gyukon, but the Winx have proven a bit trickier to catch out in the open. I did some sleuthing afterwards and using my Yamishirushi'tsuiseki spell* preemptively, having a feeling our Lord is getting a bit impatient. Arashiro, it appears, remains at Tir Na Nog—hmph! At least, we know he's a traitor and coward!" Shinki said, smiling toothily and maniacally at the last sentence as he continued to brief.

*Means "Dark Mark Tracking"

"I was not able to find that Gyukon brat's fresh signature—as in last day or so—but I was able to find some residual traces near a place named "Best Fresh" as well as in a wide-open area they call a "city park. And the Winx's signatures are to be disparately found in many parts of Gardenia, but from what I've heard and noticed from everyone else, is that they appear to be hunkering down at Love&Pet for the time being---HEH! Appears Vlitera scared them out of their bodies, hahaha!" Shinki said, as a shrill cackle escaped his mouth, his manic nature briefly taking hold. Reaver clears his throat violently and shoots a death glare at Shinki.

The latter stops at once, like a predator dissuaded instantly from dispatching its prey.

Regaining his composure, he finishes his briefing.

"As a result, I strongly suggest that a group gets stationed at Love&Pet and launch a quick ambush assault on the Winx. The sooner we have them under our control, the more appeased our Lord will be and the quicker it'll be to creating the Eien Empire. I also suggest that, after Vlitera's assault on them, that one of us heads out to the Clan to see if more can be gathered," Shinki says, ominously flexing his powers in front of them.