On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“What’s going on?” Hayato-san asked, worried. “It sounded serious. What’s this about Sects and combat? Akio-kun, are you mixed up in something dangerous right now? And I heard Kyoto…” he glanced over at Eri in her wheelchair. The girls over there were looking at me too, troubled.

“Yeah. Unfortunately it’s a bit of an offshoot of that. I don’t really have time to explain, but as soon as the helicopter gets here, I have to go.” Time is of the essence, I learned that in Kyoto, but also, rushing in unprepared can cost more than delay. This time, we have laid the groundwork as best we can, but we can’t plan for everything…

“I’m going too.” Shiro said, standing, and as we exchanged looks she shrugged. “Shit, Aki. I may not be the strongest, but Tan here is, if I use Divine Possession, I can be of use. Besides…” her hair and eye flared red, sparks flying and cascading.

“I believe I shall be able to satisfy my hunger there, while defeating your enemies. I believe you call this a… win-win.” She licked Shiro’s lips seductively. “You promised me compensation, did you not? What better time for my thirst to be quenched, and your debts to be paid?”

With that her hair began streaking back to white, a mix of crimson and silver, stunningly fetching yet coldly terrible. “Aki, you can’t do this alone.” Shiro said earnestly, and I found myself unable to argue.

“He shall not-not be alone. I will go, of course. Hyacinth as well.” Shaeula declared, after translating for Daiyu.

“If they wish tooo harm those Akio chooses to proootect, Hyacinth shall show them no mercy!” she stood, silver-violet eyes flashing angrily. “Besides, I feel rather sad for the poor woooman. Her life has been lonely. Hyacinth knooows lonely and does not care for it.”

“Me too bro. I’m raring to go!” my sis declared, a moment before Eri stoutly declared she would come as well, but I shook my head.

“No way. Eri, you’re not on top form after Kyoto. I’m not letting you push yourself again, this time you might not be so lucky.” As she started to protest, my stern gaze quietened her down, and she nodded, her expression upset but understanding. “As for you sis, you’re not ready for this.”

“But I’ve been pushing myself to get stronger, just so I can stand alongside you all…”

“I thought you said you were taking things sensibly?” I questioned her, and she had the grace to look away, flushed and embarrassed.

“Well, I was. But you know, bro, my golden sister army could be helpful, and…”

“Ai, Eri…” Shiro spoke up then, her voice kind. “I don’t think it’s entirely that you’re not strong enough. Aki… he doesn’t want you to face this. Not yet. It’s not monsters this time. It’s people. Other living people. Aki… he doesn’t want you to have to kill or be killed. He cherishes your innocence.”

She’s right. That’s the heart of it. Though I definitely do believe they are still too weak for this. But… Kondou Kazuo, Yamato-san, the US operatives… killing, it’s not something easy to bear. Even with my Resilience I think about it often… I don’t want that for my sister, for Eri. Not yet. Not until they are fully prepared for the consequences. If I could, I’d shield them forever, but the world isn’t that kind…

“But Eri’s killed other sentient creatures, like that Kijo who hurt her, right?” my sis protested, unwilling to back down. “I think you’re being a hypocrite here bro.”

“Maybe so. but trust me… I’m one who knows.” I said, everyone focused on me and my confession. “I’ve killed.” There were gasps from Hina-chan, Aimi-chan and even the guys at that. “For good reasons, to save others, and… well, for a reason perhaps not so good, but necessary. And yes, I’ve also killed other non-humans, with hopes and dreams, snuffing them out. But trust me, it hits different. I don’t want you both to face that yet. It might be selfish of me, but I’ve always wanted to protect you both. I can’t shield you from this forever… but now isn’t the time.”

“Aww, bro…” my sis gave in, looking down.

“When you say it like that, I can’t refuse.” Eri sighed. “I admit the idea scares me, taking my axe to another person. But… they chose to come and kill others. Live by the sword, die by it, right?”

“Eri, you’re certainly a cold one.” Shiro laughed. “But… I’ve killed as well.” Her single eye glittered darkly, still a dull sooty red. She turned to Hayato-san and the others, who were looking at her with even more shock than they had at me. “Well, you could argue that Tan did it for me, if you want to split hairs. But really, there’s no difference. I have blood on my hands too, and probably for less reason than Aki. And yeah, it’s not a good feeling. I… I try not to think about it. But I accepted it when I made a deal with the devil, you know? To be honest, I was prepared to sacrifice a lot more, just to get what I wanted, until Aki showed me I didn’t have to.” she sighed. “Poor Daizen. I didn’t like him all that much, but… hey, that reminds me… the situation is going to be bad, right? And you need all the hands you can get?”

I nodded. “Yeah, more than twenty Candidates, and who knows how many Sect warriors. It’s going to be a bloodbath if things go wrong.”

“I see, well then… not how I wanted this to go down, but…” Shiro muttered.

“Shiro…” Aimi-chan said suddenly. “You’ve… you’ve really killed someone? You? it seems impossible…”

“There’s more to this, I think.” Hayato-san said. “We don’t know what’s been happening. We’re out of the loop. At least, we were…”

“Yeah man.” Yasu-san agreed. “In stories, this always happens. Bad guys get power and the heroes have to step up. But… this isn’t a story.” He looked shaken, and I couldn’t say I blamed him.

“No, it isn’t.” I patted him on the shoulder, surprising him. “And good and evil are relative. Maybe they have a good reason for coming to kill Tsukiko-san, maybe they have no choice. But I promised Tsukiko-san I’d protect her, and I don’t want any more innocent people to die in Kyoto.” I looked at everyone then. “Sorry guys, the party got interrupted. But the night isn’t over. Eri, Aiko…” I used my sister’s name, showing how serious I was. “Stay here and keep everyone calm, protect everyone, all right? Just because I believe the threat is heading for Kyoto, I don’t want to be careless.” My ears could pick up the thrumming of a distant helicopter coming closer.

“Well, we’ve paid for this, we might as well finish up.” Hinata said, expression worried, before she smoothed it out, putting on a confident smile. “At times like these, your fiancées should say good luck, and come back safely, I guess?”

“Indeed. Fortunes of war.” Motoko agreed. “I wish I could go with you. I dreamed of going to battle alongside my husband ever since I was a child, but in this world, under its rules, I believed it impossible. But… despite my arts, I am too weak, just a flower to be protected. For now.” She looked at my sis. “Perhaps we should talk. Just how did you gain the power to create that Golden Warrior?”

Natsumi agreed. “Akio, Shiro, Shaeula, Hyacinth. Promise us you’ll come back safely. And promise us… one day we won’t have to sit here alone and afraid, worrying about your return. I too took up the sword, spear and bow, because I wanted to be strong!”

“I thought this before, but… they really like you, right Akio-san?” Hina-chan managed, surprising me, as I would have expected the shy girl to be the most worried.

“Well, we shall miss out on our heartfelt and most-most touching parting words, will we not-not?” Shaeula looked at Shiro and Hyacinth with amusement. “But Eri, you still have your chance.”

Eri nodded. “I won’t ask you to come back safely. To me you’re my hero, I know you will come back to me, like always. Just look after the others, and… don’t let Matsumuro-san suffer anymore. Knowing you are destined to die, it must be awful.”

“Right. Hayato-san, we’ve booked rooms and it’s all on us, so… can you stay here? If you want to know more about what’s going on, the girls can tell you. I’d feel better with some adults about to keep things nice and calm. Tonight… the world might change forever.”

“Hey, are you sure…” Yasu-san began, before I pointed to Takagi-san, who was pale and trembling, perhaps remembering the fate of her fellow trainees in Kyoto.

“Time to step up. You’re an older cousin, right? That’s not far off being a big brother. So calm Takagi-san down, and the others too. Who knows, you might even impress some of them?”

“He’s right.” Shugo-san agreed. “Man, I hate this. It seems so unreal, but to think Shiro and Akio-kun are off to fight…”

“Akio, please be well, stay safe. When you get back… I want to learn how to use my vision properly, and master Chirurgery. That way I can free up more time for you to do the things you need to do!” Kana cried out suddenly, eyes looking down at the floor, cheeks flushed.

“Way to go Kana-chan!” Mio-chan cheered, and Asami-chan agreed with her.

“Yes, stake your claim now, get in on the touching farewells when the others are doing it!”

“Aimi, don’t look so scared.” Shiro assured her. “Aki’s many things, but when it comes to his girls, to me… there’s no way he’ll let me die. So… I’ll see you on my return. We’ll talk, go shopping… that dress is nice on you, but it isn’t your usual style. Your boyfriend will miss your assets on show.” She smirked crudely.

“Well, you are dressed differently too!” she shot back. “But… yeah, if you are going to keep Akio-kun hot and heavy for you, you need to refresh your wardrobe!” she had relaxed at the banter, so I said my final words to Hayato-sun. The helicopter is here, up above.

“Hayato-san, you’ve always been a bit of a leader for the group. Well, in matters of emergency, please defer to Eri and my sis, but other than that… keep everyone calm, okay? Get to know everyone. After all, if you plan to work with me, these are all your colleagues. Anyway, we have to go.”

“Yeah, I’ve got this. Just like always.” Hayato-san promised, as reliable as ever. “Go do what you need to.”

With that, I started for the stairs to the roof, only for Daiyu fall in behind us. At my puzzled look, she shrugged, a barest movement of her shoulders. “Is it not obvious I must be there? I need to find out if any from the Incorruptible Jade are with this misguided invasion. Even if they are not, I may perhaps be able to turn aside those from allied Sects. Besides, I too am blessed by the Heavens, the power of Chang’e courses within me. I am not easy to kill.” She sighed, remembering her near-death experience in the sea. “I will follow your orders, as I vowed. And perhaps afterwards, we can discuss Techniques. I am still very interested in the Spiritually Pure Physique. In exchange…” she whispered. “… the laws of the Sect lie now with me. I will share my own knowledge, despite that being forbidden for outsiders.”

“Fine then.” Taking a girl younger than Eri to battle doesn’t please me, but she’s right. She needs to be there. And she has the aura of a warrior, and one unafraid to do what needs to be done.

With one last wave to everyone, I threw open the doors to the roof access, racing up the stairs, Daiyu, Hyacinth, Shiro and Shaeula behind me. Pulling out my phone, I tried to call Tsukiko-san, as I had made sure she had a phone before I left Kyoto, but it was just ringing out. Leaping across the rooftop into the waiting helicopter, that was drawing curious glances from passers-by below, I looked at the pilot. Once everyone else was in, we headed for the destination, towards Shirohebizumi shrine.

“Orders from above.” The pilot shouted over the din of the blades. “The Fleet has engaged and destroyed the Chinese warships. There were some casualties, a Coastguard vessel destroyed, but all in all, a fair result. But we found their tanker-ship beached north of Kyoto, with no signs of life anywhere.”

“I see. Well, we had a lot of JSDF units stationed around Kyoto, and the Major and Lieutenant are there. They should hopefully be able to handle any Candidates that go towards Kyoto here in the Material.” The phone was still ringing out, so I switched numbers, calling Kudou-san. After a few rings, he answered.

“Kudou-san, thank the gods.” I muttered. “Can you tell me what’s going on there? Where’s Tsukiko-san? She’s not answering!”

“She’s at her shrine. As a woman of faith, where else would she be in such times, Akio-kun? Don’t worry, she has Chosen with her. That rascal Gin and I are coordinating the defence, along with old Bankei. The Chosen we have are working with those from the JSDF, though we don’t know whether they’ll be needed in the spiritual Kyoto yet.”

“Well, I’m on route with my allies, I’ll be there shortly.” I promised. “But if we sent Tsukiko-san away, that might end this… no, I guess it isn’t that easy.” Thinking about it, my Foresight, which was a bit more sensitive since it increased and I gained Tsukuyomi’s blessing, told me that would barely lessen the danger. “Damn. Has fighting started yet?”

“Apparently the JSDF are engaging on the outskirts of Kyoto. It’s a real mess, Akio-kun.” He half-laughed, half-sighed, a sound of despair. “And as for the spiritual world, Gin says one of his returned with tidings the battle had started. Out here… well, the J-Alert Emergency Warning System was triggered, so everybody is staying in their homes, but…” he sighed audibly. “Kyoto is full of tourists, even this time of year, and at this time of night. The JSDF is clearing them off the streets to hotels, ryokans and even our shrines and temples, as well as civilian homes, and we have our shrine maidens and priests helping, but… there’s no covering this up, and we are bound to miss one or two. If a Japanese civilian dies, well, that is tragic enough, Akio-kun, but foreign visitors wrapped up in this…”

“Yeah, it’ll be a shitstorm.” I cursed. Below us, we were passing rapidly over central Tokyo, the distant Shirohebizumi drawing ever closer. “If only the Black Wolf Company was fully trained, they could help us deal with this. I should come to Kyoto myself…”

“You can’t.” Shiro shook your head. “Well, yes, you could take a helicopter to Kyoto, and when you return to the Material, you’d be on site, but if you get attacked while helplessly asleep… no way, Aki. It’s too risky!”

“She is quite-quite right.” Shaeula agreed. “I know you know it too, do you not-not?”

“Yes.” I clenched my fist. “I do think we’ll be needed more in the Boundary, which we can reach far quicker from the Ring Gate. But… if the situation turns for the worst in Material Kyoto, that’s why we have the helicopter on standby at the shrine, right?”

As Shaeula shrugged, I returned to my conversation. “We’ll make our stand at Haru-san’s new Territory. Reinforcements from mine should be arriving as we speak. We’ll try and defend Tsukuyomi-jinja, but if they have other objectives, we’ll need to push out. But consider that our centre of operations, and a place for entry. That last thing we want is Candidates entering in the middle of a warzone…” I had learned that lesson. Entry points to the Boundary had to be chosen carefully, otherwise it could be very dangerous.

“Very well. I’ll update the boy Gin and Bankei, they can spread the word. Oh, and Akio-kun…”

“Yes?”

“Good luck. May Tsukuyomi keep you safe. And … may you keep the Diviner, no, Tsukiko safe as well. And even if not… don’t let her be alone, not at the end.”

Feeling a heavy pang of worry, I nodded, though he couldn’t see it, being on the other side of the call. “I know. I’ll do my best to overturn her fate. As for now… I have to go.” Hanging up, I dialled Tsukiko-san once more, before tossing down the unanswered phone. “Right. In a few minutes we’ll be in Kyoto. Are you all ready?”

The girls nodded. Good. Everyone’s prepared. I’m glad I kept my sis and Eri out of this. This isn’t going to be pleasant. This will be the first true war between us and other Candidates, making the battle against Kondou Kazuo, or the prick from Las Vegas, look like a child’s argument…

********

“Well, it looks like it’s started.” Suzuki Haru observed sadly, watching the explosions in the distance, fireballs soaring up into the heavens, a natural red and orange, rather than the vivid citrine yellow of flame element. She glanced at her own forces, the degraded Orcs led by her far cuter Hunting Cats. The sounds of gunfire were echoing in the distant streets, and Haru realised her own forces would do little more than buy a few seconds of time. Although, that might be all I need to do.

“Fascinating.” The ratkin, Ixitt, was jumping with joy beside her, tail lashing frantically like a whip. He had pulled down several of the lenses on his weird goggle-like contraption he wore over his forehead, and was looking at an impossible sight, that of an attack helicopter, soaring through the distant skies. Even as we watched, the sleek, grey helicopter opened fire on some distant target, air-to-surface missiles streaking down and detonating explosively, silver sparks scattering, followed by vivid flames. “I never believed I would see such a sight here, my research will be advanced by leaps and bounds. If only I cold recover it. Well, I suppose the wreckage will have to do.”

A little bit put off by his eagerness, Haru sighed. “Well, setting aside how it got here, how does it even function? I mean, there’s no air here, is there? Not really. How does it stay aloft? I was more a humanities girl than sciences, but unlike me, who doesn’t need air anymore, being as I’m a ghost, the rotors won’t be able to generate lift without it, right? It shouldn’t be able to get off the ground.” She paused. “Well, I suppose Akio-san and the others do tend to still breathe here, out of habit. Maybe it works because it thinks it works? No, that can’t be right, machines don’t think.”

“Indeed, that is the issue she was struggling with, until I… well, never mind that.” He coughed, changing the subject, behind him, weaselkin and ratkin were streaming through the Ring Gate, directed by the intimidating badger, Ulfuric. I get that he seems a nice… man? But he’s still rather intimidating.

“Set the long range weapons up there and over there…” the elf, Moira was also directing them. “We built these fortifications for a reason. As for those flamethrowers, and the other ones…” I feel rather useless. My only purpose here is to hold Territory as a bridgehead… shaking her head, she almost missed the answer from Ixitt.

“I can see lingering aether around the craft. It seems however it got here, it is being sustained and enhanced by some art.” He tapped one of his lenses pensively. “The value of this continues to surprise me.” He turned to some of his ratkin, who were carrying the long-barreled firearm imitations he had made. “It seems almost a shame to destroy it, but… well, Akio will be rather unhappy if those he has chosen to protect die while we marvel at the delights of your human sciences. This way…” he led the ratkin up onto one of the constructed towers, giving them greater elevation.

“Grul is here.” The troll rumbled, having also arrived with his own forces. His massive, misshapen mace was clutched in one meaty hand, and he was wearing armour that looked so thick and heavy that Haru felt tired just looking at him. Thankfully, I don’t need armour. I’m a ghost, so physical attacks pass right through me…

“Great, it’s reassuring to have to have you with us.” Haru smiled professionally, drawing on her expertise from her days as a bureaucrat. Well, I believe I still am one, though it’s rather amazing my work consists of this sort of thing as well as pushing paperwork now… “Have you checked your role with Ulfuric and Moira?” she asked, expecting he would just be ready to rampage, but he surprised her.

“Grulgor has.” He nodded his massive head. “Scouting in force, unlucky elf said.” He chuckled, the sound like rocks clashing against each other. “Grul good at that. Find enemy, report back, then Grul gets his pick of strong enemies to crush.” His laughter continued. “Grulgor has never had so much fun, so many battles, until he lost to Akio. This is just more of the same.”

“All right then…” Ixitt was calling. “Firing angles look good, range… three kilometres, as the mortals measure it. Pushing the limits a bit, but…” he grinned. “Time for my two-step combination.”

Several Kamaitachi were there as well, two of the smaller ones, and one of the bigger newcomers. That one was looking rather aggrieved at having to follow orders from such a small, weak-looking ratkin, but it was obeying. Jade energies started to gust, and the barrels were lengthened by green cylinders. Is that an extended barrel for extra range? Clever. But will it work?

“Loading!” Ixitt declared, and heavy bullets of bluesteel, each of a fairly impressive calibre, were slotted in. Ixitt then began to glow, a brilliant yellow. On seeing Haru’s surprised gaze, he grinned.

“Oh, come now, how long has it been since I have been Chief Mortal Engineer here? With Akio and the princess providing me with bluesteel batteries full of fire element when they can, and the princess’ wonderful example to follow, an inquisitive Fae like me would be a fool if he could not master a new element. It is a strange feeling, being aspected, one us ratkin seldom know. As for why … fire… well, that is obvious. After all, was not all mortal science built on the flames?” his grin was wicked, sharp teeth showing. “Though next, perhaps wind would be helpful. But then, earth is useful for many crafts… well… that is for later.” His tail lashed once, like a conductors baton. “is it in sight?” he called, and the gunners nodded.

“Well then. Fire!” he roared, and several heavy projectiles were released with a deafening sound, accelerating through the swirling winds, picking up speed, propelled by tails of flaming yellow energy.

“Uh, are those bullets, or rockets?” Haru asked, bemused, as the projectiles soared into the silver skies.

“They are whatever they need to be.” He grinned. “The downside is the barrels break quite easily when using the heaviest shells. Well, these are merely advanced proto…” his words were drowned out by an explosion, followed by a second. The helicopter had burst into flames as the first bullet had torn through the main body before exploding within, while the second ripped the roof off, sending rotor blades flying. As the stricken craft hammered into the ground, secondary explosions kicking off, Ixitt shrugged. “A shame. Well, the wreckage may still yield insights, if we can recover it.”

“Well, you can worry about that later…” she sighed, as a second helicopter was seen in the far distance, followed by a series of four contrails from another point of Kyoto, missiles streaking from some hidden launcher to explode violently to the north. “There’s plenty more to go around…”

“Yes, so there is.” He agreed, nodding. “Though perhaps we should think about defeating them first. Akio and the princess will be rather angry if they arrive to find us defeated.”

“That he will.” Haru agreed, watching Grulgor leading his trolls out. As they headed east towards Nijo Castle at the centre of Kyoto, a group of people were suddenly pushing through the strangely lit streets of Boundary Kyoto. No, not people. Haru realised, seeing the jerky way they moved, a strange, hopping gait. Their skin was also a deathly white, and their uniforms, which looked like military clothes of some sort, were torn, dirty and stained with long-dried blood. They’re dead, like me. No, not like me… they had talismans on their faces, covering the eyes, but Haru could tell that these had no sentience, were not thinking, only hungering to kill.

Grulgors mace swept through several, the heavy shaft knocking them aside, before he swung it down, absolutely pulverising one, fragments of bone and decaying guts scattering everywhere. He laughed uproariously, only to frown in annoyance as the couple he had knocked down hopped to their feet, despite broken bones and ropey guts hanging out, still capable of fighting.

“Ugh, Grul hates dead things. No fun!” he roared, his massive fist destroying the entire torso of one. His trolls were likewise rampaging, but they were being slowed by the need to completely destroy the undead before they would cease their attacks.

Being dead is a hardship. I… I have it better than most. Haru thought, the bustle of forces behind her ignored. I can leave the planning and defence to the experts, and Akio-san will be here soon. No, I can spare a little mercy for the dead, as one of their fellows…

Raising one hand, she conjured light, a brilliant inky blue glow, suffused with whites and gold, before the light spread out, bathing Grulgor, his trolls, and the shambling, hopping corpses. For a moment Grulgor looked around, puzzled, but as the enemies began to dissolve, their talismans bursting into sticky black flames as they crumbled, Grulgor locked eyes with Haru and grinned, giving her a thumbs-up with one mighty hand.

Haru returned the gesture, feeling surprisingly abashed. Just where did he learn that? Oh well. At least I’m helping. It feels good to be useful. And as their senior in death, the least I can do is grant them peace…