Humanity's Last Stand

Part 21

The group managed to escape the horde with the remaining civilians but massive casualties were made to achieve this. Walking alongside the evacuating civilians, Shiki remained dim and silent. Hanzo captured and brought along by Akashi and Hakura.

Those deaths. Those people. Those were all meaningless. He gripped his sheathed sword and gritted his teeth. Damn. There was nothing we could've saved back there.

Akashi could sense the doubts lingering inside Shiki as he guarded Hanzo but he remained silent. To him, he could not say anything to make things better nor did he care to.

The sun rose into the skies and shimmered on the terrorized and depressed civilians and soldiers like it was mocking their pain.

Four hours had passed and the team arrived at the city gates. Their arrival greeted by the men and women in the city but to their sadness. There was no response, no happiness and certainly no hope.

Shiki looked down the ground as he passed by the crowd. He had nothing to say. Nothing. This hopelessness was the only image he sees and hears every step.

The rescued civilians were all the same. And so were his comrades. Waiting at the end was Ashada, Roy and Hadate.

"I suppose what went down didn't go as planned," Ashada said as he let out a smoke "How depressing."

Shiki said nothing and passed him.

"We managed to rescue what we could but the we had to leave many behind," Akashi reported "This was not a victory but an utter hollow one."

Roy watched Shiki stroll in depression.

"However this war is not over," Akashi gave Ashada the medicine that was created "Our enemies created this and now we can use it to our advantage to push back the horde and erase them."

Ashada stared at the medicine "I guess this is a good start but we'll need to calm the people down and encourage them or else we're done."

Turning his body towards the crowd, Akashi closed his eyes while Hakura, Kaise and Tatsuya stood with him.

"Listen, I'll be honest and tell you all that what we were able to get was a hollow victory but its a step," Akashi raised his sword into the air "We'll push the horde back with the new weapon we make." He rallied the crowd with his declaration.

The crowd responsed with a massive cheer as they chanted Akashi's name, supporting his declaration in waging war against the horde.

Shiki returned home and threw his equipment onto the table. He sat on his green couch and held his head. I can't seem to get a grip anymore. That man. Arian. How could such a monster be related to me?

Looking at the mirror reflection on the TV. Another him smiled back at him. That other him represented his doubt and anger.

"What's wrong?" The other him asked "You can't seriously give up because some monster claiming to be your dad showed up right?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"I used to thought my power was a responsbility given to me as tool to protect others even at the cost of my own well being but now."

The other him chuckled "Who cares about that nonsense. Face your real intentions because you don't want to be someone who protects other."

"No that's wrong!" Shiki yelled

"You're being vain really," The other him said "The real nature behind you is your never ending desire to hunt down and kill the horde. That is your real nature."

I guess that is right. I've hated the horde and could never stand them. Those days I trained was not to help anyone but to kill the horde. Shiki gave an intense look.

"That's more like it," The other him said "You're a killer who destroys evil whether it'd be man or the horde itself."

Then his other self disappeared from the reflection. Shiki let out a breath and stood up. He walked into his room.

Looking at the wardrobe, he wondered whether this is really the right path. I'll take this path to the end. He yanked open the wardroble. I am not a protector anymore. I am a destroyer.

A day had passed and the city had settled due to the combined efforts of Akashi, Ashada, Hakura, Kaise and Tatsuya in calming and rallying the citizens. This also increased recruitments into the military which boosted the morals of the current troops.

Hakura and Taiga arrived at Shiki's home. With Hakura carrying Shiki's favourite soda and Taiga carrying Shiki's old uniform.

Taiga knocked the door but no reply. He knocked again and called out Shiki however there was still no reply.

"What happened?" Hakura eyes widened.

Taiga kicked the door opened and the two stepped inside the house. There was no one inside the house. Shiki had disappeared.

"This has got to be a messed up stunt," Taiga slammed his fist onto the wall "Shiki, where the hell did you go?"

Meanwhile inside an expensive mansion painted in gold and black. Hercules reported his progess to Koichi and his other cohorts.

"You not only allow Hanzo to be captured but also allowed Shiki to breath?" Koichi sat ob his chair, glaring at Hercules "How disappointing and I expect more from you."

"Please give me more power and another chance," Hercules begged "Don't kill my sons yet. I can still do this."

"You're being vain, Hercules." Koichi smirked "You're sons are going to be alright but," he lanced a beam shaped spear through Hercules' chest.

"What? Why?" Hercules's mouth gaped as he dropped to the ground with his head hitting the carpeted floor.

"You continue to lose and I am not going to accept more," Koichi said "I am going to make you more useful to us and I'll have someone else take over."

Koichi's brother stood up "As you wish."

"Terminate them but we'll make use of this weakling," Koichi grabbed Hercules' head "Hold still." He reached his hand into Hercule's right eye and gouge it out.

A scream blarred throughout the mansion.