Chapter 10: The Eleven Captain Chikarai of the Vitale Clan.

  After the fight between Jeison and Taiyo, the school had closed down for the next week due to property damages. The town had just written it off as a natural disaster and an incident that was caused by the storm but no one would ever know what had really transpired that day. However, news of this incident had spread through the underground world like wildfire. Anyone who knew of magic had explanations for everything that had occurred. Many people could feel the magical pressure that clashed that day. Word of the Vitale heir going on the move had stirred up some pretty big names in the underground world. Most had been wondering where the famous clan had disappeared to for the past eight years and when the familiar magic flowed through the town, many were surprised.

  Though reluctantly, Taiyo, Lyra, and Kendall agreed to follow Jeison to his alleged “base”. While Taiyo found Jeison to be a nuisance, he had decided to put some trust into him. The potion he had been given, while it didn’t take the waves of pain radiating through his body away, had certainly numbed it and allowed him to stand on his own two feet again.

  Kendall didn’t really hold any feelings at all towards him. He was terrified of the potential power he held but the most emotion he had felt towards him was just wanting to know who had the better sword technique.

  Lyra, on the other hand, had the most problem with Jeison. She still couldn’t forgive him for everything that he did to Taiyo and Fiamma. She would sneak a glance at Taiyo’s general direction occasionally and while he was walking with the rest of them relatively fine, his body was still horribly injured, the occasional limp or stagger slowing down. Looking at him and just thinking about how outmatched he was against the Water Chikarai sent a chill down her spine. Also, she just found Jeison’s sadistic personality disgusting. She would shoot him side-eyes or dirty looks every time she had the chance to.

  The group was walking down the street, taking back alleys and lurking through the shadows. All of them were fatigued from the battle that had just occurred. Taiyo looked behind him to check up on his friends. While they both looked physically fine he knew their minds must be in a million places. He opened his mouth as if to say something but closed soon after, not knowing what to say to them.

  “Give me strength…” he mumbled in an absent-minded prayer.

  “Hey, Jeison, are we there yet?” Kendall asked.

  “When did you get so comfortable with this jerk?” Lyra’s voice was laced with venom as she practically hissed the words.

  “Aww, are you jealous, princess? Don’t worry, I’ll always make time for you and Tai,” he said.

  Lyra’s face was unamused as she stared at Kendall with a slight smile and look of disbelief before turning her attention back to the scruffy haired boy in front of her.

  “Listen up. I won’t ever forgive you,” she started.

  “I don’t recall doing anything to you,” Jeison kept walking forward as he spoke, his pace uninterrupted.

  I’ll hold a grudge against you and you need to apologize to Fiamma. I don’t care how naive Kendall is and how uncaring and harsh Taiyo is-”

  “Thanks for the great compliment,” Taiyo rolled his eyes.

  “-I won’t be as easy as them,” Lyra finished.

  “Sure, sure. I get it,” he said with a nod. He turned around on his heels and closed the distance between himself and Lyra before she could even blink. She never closed her eyes but it was like he had disappeared from her vision for a second. His eyes glowed the same evil ghostly yellow they did when they were brimming with magic and there was - once again - that sick twisted smirk of his.. “I’d love to personally thank her for entertaining me. But, I can’t lie, I still hold some resentment towards her for not letting me enjoy the sounds of her screams.”

  Lyra could feel a singular bead of sweat fall down her face as she took a step back from the crazed killer. “I really can’t forgive you after all. Go die.”

  “Don’t be like that. I’m sure we’ll all get along soon enough!” he said, turning back around and continuing his journey with the friends in tow.

  ***

  An abandoned building stood lonesome in the pale evening light of the setting sun. It was obviously some old stylized building with amazing architecture mimicking the gothic period hybridized with modern day elements. At the front and center read a broken down sign reading “New Dawn City Social Club.” As Taiyo approached it he saw the shadows of multiple people moving around frantically through the windows. Jeison smiled at the sight and walked towards the rotting, grand wooden double doors. Lyra gave Taiyo a skeptical look while Kendall chuckled to himself a bit while shaking his head.

  “This is so freaking cool, man…” he mumbled with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  Taiyo nodded slightly and followed him. Kendall and Lyra followed suit.

  Jeison held out his hand to his side and water droplets floated around just out of his reach, suspended in the air. He gripped the air tightly and instead of closing his fist on nothing, he now held one of his sword’s hilts in his hand. He quietly muttered something to himself, making his voice low and barely heard. He smiled but yet you could clearly see small beads of sweat forming on his face. As he finished his chant, the gradient blue chiton and himation that was only visible in the light during their fight took sudden form around him. This time more visible, one could also see a familiar fox spirit mask he had tied against his waist. He unfastened the accessory and walked over to Lyra.

  “W-What are you doing?” she asked as he fastened the mask onto her face with the black rope at the end.

  “This is needed. Don’t take it off or you’ll really die this time,” he said, his expression turning dead serious.

  Jeison looked over to Kendall and threw him a thicker rope.

  “That mask and those ropes neutralize incoming magical pressure. Wear them if you want to live to see tomorrow. I’m not as worried for the guy since he was able to somewhat comprehend and recognize my bloodlust but the girl will need both.”

  “Why? This seems like too much of a hassle. It’s annoying,” Taiyo said.

  “Easy for you to say, Mr. Sun. We run things a bit differently here. The moment we walk through this door, every chikarai in this building will direct their bloodlust towards this very door. It’s supposed to be a method to knock out or somewhat traumatize anyone who isn’t mana aware.

  “That seems a bit excessive,” Kendall said.

  “Well it’s the way we do things here. Get ready Taiyo-boy, this scares even me.”

  Taiyo didn’t say anything and walked past Jeison. He surrounded himself in sparkling orange fire and his eyes changed colors. He put his hands in his pockets and intensified the flames that slowly flickered behind him.

  “Teach me how to do that bloodlust thing Jeison. We don’t have much time.”

  “Right now? We-”

  “We don't have time, just tell me what it is,” Taiyo said, approaching the door closer and closer.

  Jeison grinned and walked beside him, his robes flowing in his wake. “Bloodlust is the physical manifestation of someone’s will power and kill intent. It’s their thirst for a fight. Anyone can make it affect others, not only Chikarai.”

  “So why wear mana defence items at the same time?”

  “Bloodlust often has mana infused in it as well. Not a requirement but pretty much a standard at this point.”

  “Is that so? Seems like it would be a hassle since everyone can use it… How annoying,” Taiyo groaned. “Even though I don’t want this position you said everyone in here, including you, is willing to work under me for some reason?

  “Maybe after we toughen you up a bit but yeah. We follow the blood of Vitale.” Jeison said.

  “Alright then, I get it now.” Taiyo took a step back and nodded towards the door. “Awakened Jeison, cut down this door.”

  Water erupted from his hands, now, both swords rested within his grasp. “Whatever you say, boss,” he looked like a crazed demon as his face twisted into a depraved grin.

  Jeison tightened his grip and rapidly cut through the door. His movements were even faster than anything Taiyo had ever seen in his battle against him and he wasn't even transformed. Slicing it to pieces rapidly as dust and chunks of wood were sent flying. A strong gust of wind came from behind Jeison, blowing all of the wood bits and dust into the room. Moments like this really made Taiyo realize just how much he was holding back against him.

  About two hundred or more people stared at the suddenly destroyed entry and the group that had just walked in.

  “Yo!” Jeison smiled and waved at the on-lookers.

  Immediately everyone recognized the sly Jeison met him with eye rolls and exasperated tones. But the dark figures behind them were still unseen.

  “Look, the sociopath brought someone with him…” a voice said in the crowd.

  “Just knock them out and question him later,” another said.

  The room immediately got heavier as the two-hundred-plus people released their bloodlust simultaneously. The combined force and fear brought Kendall and Lyra to their knees almost immediately. Taiyo stepped out of the dust slowly, still being bombarded by the immense pressure. He walked and put a hand on Jeison’s shoulder, even though he was sweating, was just as fine as Taiyo - perhaps even better since Taiyo’s injuries slowed him down considerably.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  For a moment time itself stood still.

  “You guys are getting on my nerves, back off.”

  Taiyo released an intense bloodlust and magical pressure of his own that pushed back that of all of his opponents. Everyone was taken aback by the familiar power of the Vitale family. Even the combined effort of all two hundred of them was being pushed back and contested with just Taiyo by himself. While their group bloodlust felt like a cool, collective purple color like that of a team, Tai’s felt ferocious and intense; like a deep shade of red and strong-willed.

  The room was left silent. The buzz of talking voices had completely died. Then, people started dropping and passing out right where they stood or sat, leaving only ten people who still barely gripped onto consciousness.

  At that moment, these people had just witnessed the growth of a monster. One that was becoming steadily, yet surely, stronger.

  ***

  Taiyo looked around the room at all of the limp strangers. He walked around the room, slowly examining his surroundings. It really was just a large, old and run-down cafe. It was the size of four movie theater rooms. He looked over at a rotting stage in the back of the room where nine people were kneeling and leaning on various weapons to try and stay awake. He made eye contact with one of the guys who was leaning against one of the walls. He had middle-parted, medium length red hair that fell to the top of his shoulders. The strands of hair were curtained to the sides of his face. His light blue eyes were also fairly vibrant and stuck out amongst the crimson of his hair.

  Taiyo noticed that one guy who was hidden in the shadows behind the nine hadn’t even fallen from his bloodlust.

  The other eight people around him were still struggling to stand up but the crimson-haired guy had already composed himself.

  He walked over to Jeison and grabbed him by his chiton and himation and lifted him into the air.

  “Hey there Drachen! How are you? It’s been a while hasn’t it?” Jeison smirked.

  “Don’t ‘hey there Drachen’ me! You little piece of shit. You scum of the earth. I should kill you right now for the indirect assault of two-hundred-twenty members and ten captains!” the guy Taiyo assumed was Drachen shouted. Taiyo noticed that Drachen had fangs like that of a wild beast.

  “Ah, the famous temper of our rage-filled lizard. It’s good to be home,” Jeison put his hands over his heart after deactivating his robes.

  “I’m. A. Dragon. Call me a lizard one more time and I’ll bite and melt your face off,” he growled.

  Drachen turned his attention towards Taiyo. He walked towards him and looked him up and down.

  “You’re one strong guy. Who do you think you are?” Drachen said. “I’m Drachen Omyr, Captain of the Seventh Squadron.”

  “I don’t know. I’m just a guy who’s messing around in the underground,” Taiyo shrugged.

  “Haha, very funny. Do you think this is a game? We’re all here working together as a family. We work here to reach our common goals - whatever they may be. And unfortunately, this sorry excuse for a captain was the head of this particular operation,” Drachen said, turning his attention back to Jeison who was poking an unconscious guy and girl with the hilt of his blade.

  “Oh about that. I failed, by the way. I know I was on surveillance but I intervened when I heard them talking about allies and strength or whatever, roughed him up a bit, then brought him to us. He had some friends with him so they’re here too,” Jeison said as he moved the limbs of the unconscious guy like a doll.

  “Stop that,” Lyra said in the background as she slapped Jeison’s wrist.

  “You did what?” Drachen said. He walked over to Jeison and pinched his cheeks, pulling them hard.

  “Ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop, what’s your problem?!” Jeison whined.

  “You’re telling me this is the heir in the flesh?! Why would you bring Vitale here? We all voted and put you on WATCH duty as in, you do NOT intervene ? You psycho idiot!”

  “Calm down lizard-boy. If we kept at that pace of just slowly revealing information to him through Selene and hoping the pieces all just happen to fall into place we’d be at this for ages and I don’t have time for that,” Jeison said. “We need a leader NOW. The underground is changing and I swore my allegiance to the Vitale with hopes I can kill and fight as many people as possible.”

  Drachen let go of Jeison and walked over to Taiyo again.

  “So you’re weak huh? That’s no good. According to some reports from our 2nd squad, you have already made contact with one of the captains before you met this failure. You should be progressing more, especially with Bosses and Donna's blood running through you.”

  “No, I haven’t. This is the first time I’ve met you freaks. And what are you even talking about???” Taiyo said.

  “Huh? You calling me a liar? Ya’ better watch your tongue before I cut it off, murderer,” Drachen growled. “Look behind me, idiot, and tell me what you see.”

  Taiyo looked behind the angry Drachen to see nine other individuals who had completely regained their composure. Immediately he recognized the face of the ice Chikarai who he had just recently fought with. They made eye-contact and Taiyo couldn’t help but smile. He had gotten some of his memories back after their fight and he could remember two names in particular. He thought she had looked similar but seeing her up close now confirmed everything.

  “Those are your captains. Since Jeison decided to… accelerate our plans for lack of a better word, we’re gonna beat you into shape so you can become a competent leader. We’re all former Vitale clan members so we’re all yours, heir,” said Drachen. “You’ve already met three captains before coming here. One recently and two from your childhood. Jeison Beelzer, Selene Nevada, and Caelum Virestra.”

  “It’s her…” Lyra said, a bit shocked. “That’s the fox isn’t it, Tai?

  “Huh. It’s all lining up now. Good to finally see you again in some sort of official capacity, Selene of the Moon?” Taiyo called out with a smirk.

  Many of the captain’s eyes widened in shock. A captain that looked like a small kid no older than ten years old started laughing like it was the funniest thing she had ever heard.

  “Wait… Taiyo, do you remember me?” Selene tightened her fists, her eyes widening a bit.

  “Not everything. Some things are still really blurry in my head and it doesn’t really make any sense. But, if I know one thing for sure…It’s pretty hard not to remember the first person to break such an important promise with you,” he said with a child-like smile. “And don’t think I don’t remember you, Caelum. I think I’ve been subconsciously copying your fighting style this entire time.”

  At that moment, just for a mere second, both Selene and Caelum could see the face of that child from eight years ago. The same child who laughed with them and cried with them. Caelum could feel himself go back to that moment in the arena where he could only watch as he tore him and Selene apart. The others seemed a bit confused on how to proceed, but it was Drachen who took the initiative. He grabbed Taiyo and started dragging him into another room. From there, another captain got hold of Kendall by seeming to teleport behind him in a split-second. Selene started to tear up a bit and turned away, Caelum placed a gentle arm around her and seemed to whisper something before walking away.

  “Hey what are you doing you dumb dragon?! Let go of me!” Taiyo shouted.

  All of the other captains split up. Four went with Drachen and Taiyo, two with Selene and Lyra, and three with Kendall.

  “Do you really think we’d do anything to our own leader? Just shut up and come with us. You having even a little bit of your memories back makes things slightly easier on us.” Drachen said.

  “What are you going to do to me and my friends?” Taiyo said.

  “Did you not hear me earlier? I said you’re weak. And if we’re supposed to be your underlings we’re going to beat you into shape until you become a competent leader. We’ll train you so hard that you’d wish you were dead. You’ll have to even surpass the Head Captain if you’re ever gonna dream of commanding us. If you wanna keep your friends around they can’t be dead weight.”

  ***

  Drachen threw Taiyo against the wall of the small room they had entered. It was a plain, gray room with no windows or light except for the small, rectangular led on the ceiling. One of the four captains that was behind Drachen gasped and ran over to Taiyo and dropped down to his side.

  “Draco! Be more gentle with him! He must be so confused right now… I'm so sorry we have to do this to you…”

  “Thanks…” Taiyo said through gritted teeth, directing his annoyance and anger towards Drachen.

  He glanced over at the captain that had helped him up. She was pretty with her pale skin and soft, caramel brown eyes. She had her bronze hair in a half-up lace braid style as she wore a maid headband on her head. She was wearing a traditional Victorian maid outfit and a giant, golden cross necklace that fell from a beaded chain around her neck. Her features were mature and gentle like that of a mother.

  “You’re a maid… and a captain?” Taiyo asked, standing up.

  ”My, my, yes I am! It’s nice to finally meet you, Young Master! I was surprised to see your level of bloodlust and magic pressure; it was quite scary but very impressive,” she smiled softly. “I really do see the Boss and Donna when I look at you…

  Taiyo’s face turned red as he looked away quickly from her. The captain’s eyes widened as she put the back of her hand up to Taiyo’s forehead.

  “Are you okay, Young Master? Your face is really red…” she said worriedly. She gasped as she frantically pressed her forehead to his. “Don’t tell me you have a cold?! Draco, let’s put the training on hold for now and get Captain Aria!”

  “Too… Close…” Taiyo said while trying to avoid eye contact.

  “Don’t call him Young Master, Mila, he doesn’t deserve it yet. Also, you’re too naive. You don’t know what’s happening at all right now do you? You know what? Nevermind. Now that you're done stating the obvious we’re going to train you until you pass out everyday for the next month. Forget about school, we’ll have Ed teach you three here. He also teaches all of the underage and college student captains normal studies so we don’t become dumb like you.”

  “I'm going to burn you to ashes,” Taiyo said.

  “Hmph, if you could do that, we wouldn’t be needing this dumb training session,” Drachen said with a sly smirk. “Here with me I’ve gathered captains that will help you in training. You’re already acquainted with our problematic psycho captain, Jeison Beelzer, captain of the sixth squad.”

  “Sup,” Jeison waved from the sidelines. “I’ll make sure you get real strong, Sun!”

  “Next, we have Mash Claudia. While she’s only ten, she has earned her spot as the captain of the third squad. Isn’t it funny how you’re weaker than a fifth grader?”

  “God, I hate you so much,” Taiyo said.

  “Hiya~” Mash grinned. She was a small girl, probably only four and a half feet tall. She had vibrant cocoa colored brown hair that was pulled into twintails and colorful purple eyes. She wore a black dress that fell to her ankles and her main defining feature was her extra sharp canine teeth that looked like fangs in her mouth.

  “You were barely here for less than an hour and you were already babied by Mila so you know her too. Mila Anaya, Captain of the fifth squad. She’s a bit ditzy and airheaded but her heart’s always in the right place. She was one of the few captains that wanted you in our ranks sooner so we could raise you. Guess her desires are getting met, don’t let her down.”

  “My squad isn’t the best at combat. We usually focus on base maintaining and humanitarian goals. We’re basically one of the squads that’s more support than anything! Glad to be in your service!” Mila smiled.

  Taiyo opened his mouth to speak until Drachen cut him off.

  “I know what you’re going to ask and yes, everyone in her squad is either a maid or butler,” he said.

  Taiyo rolled his eyes and closed his mouth. He looked over to see a captain that had been standing alone this entire time. He was a tall man, probably in his early twenties, who carried a sheathed rapier at his hip. He had sleek, black hair that was pulled into a long ponytail and side-bangs. He had a lean muscle type and had an eyepatch and scar over his right eye. His left eye was blood red and seemed to glisten with magical power.

  “Woah. That guy seems more antisocial than me. What’s his problem?” Taiyo asked.

  “I was getting to him, idiot. Captain Takeoshi Juryokona. He’s the head of squad eleven, the strongest squad we have. Him, Jeison, and I are going to be your main trainers, Mila will be taking care of you such as feeding and treating your injuries, and Mash will be more of a moral support and tip giver when you need it. She is insanely skilled at magic control so she’s going to be your go-to girl.”

  “I thought squad four was in charge of healing stuff. Why is big sis Mila doing it?” Mash asked.

  Drachen smiled and kneeled down to Mash and patted her on the head.

  “Mila is Aria’s disciple so she knows a thing or two about healing. You can believe in her, don’t worry!” he said.

  “Wow, you can actually be nice? Shocker,” Taiyo said.

  “I just choose who I respect and you haven’t earned it yet. Nothing more, nothing less,” Drachen looked up at Taiyo deadpan.

  “You really are an annoying guy.”

  “Thanks. Now let’s get to the first exercise, slacker. And I don't want your fire, Fiamma or whatever the heck you call her, coming out at all. She’s just an extra target for the enemy.”