Strena Animéga Part Eleven

 The Oni Guard Pt 1

Cerpheres’s Oni

Strena looked down as Bash, Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres led the group in front of a dark cave that led down to the Underworld. Even though they could go over it, it would have meant that they would have had to climb four mountains which would have spanned a good week and a half.

“’Tis the cave that leads to the Underworld or the edge of the Demon Realm as you if the West would say. It is a very dark place guarded by five Oni.”

She nodded.

“And they are?”

“Demons that are the dead of the highly evil. They have been known to beat and torture the dead that have not turned into one.”

“So you think that Kurochi is one of them?”

“Maybe…”

“Looks like Cerpheres will love to meet them.” Bash, Chashathrophogh and Strena said in unison.

“You know me so well!” He sang as he sighed.

“Might have to do something about that!” He purred as he licked his lips.

“Just get in the cave!”

“Ooh! Make me!”

They raised their feet and kicked him in.

“For that you’re the first one!”

He chuckled.

“You know how to spoil me!”

“My dear Prince Captain, I can kill you!”

“Not as long as I’m useful!”

“Why don’t you?”

“Shut it!”

“Do they always behave like this?” Yukino asked Strena.

“Sometimes.”

“I’m getting the second one! I can’t wait to see the look on my old rival’s face when I put one of his precious Oni’s head right on his throne!” 

“Wolfox!”

“Oh shit up Chashathrophogh! You will let me have this!”

“Then I will take the third. After all, as things progress the more powerful the Oni will be.”

“Then Bash will take the one after that and I’ll take the last. Leonardo, Neko and Yukino, keep safe.”

“Will do!”

“I’ll try.”

“Ahh! You’re just as bad as him!”

“No, I’m not as perverse. I just find it fun and interesting.” 

They all entered the cave. They walked down a set of black glass stares that were sharp and jagged and crooked. The bannister was just as crooked and twisted. Which went up and down in odd places. They arrived at a large ledge. In the center were a set of dragons and kitsuné engravings in a circle.

They walked on and a creature blocked them. It had unnaturally white skin, long tusk-like bottom teeth and thick vampire-like upper teeth. In the center was a single horn over his eyes.

“Oh! I got the weakest!”

“Shut up and get in there.” Chashathrophogh shouted as he kicked him into the center.

“Aw!” He moaned, rubbing his behind. “Please be gentle!”

Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes.

Yet Cerpheres looked at the Oni. He pulled out his stars as it walked in the center. He looked up at him. Yet he smiled.

“I don’t wanna fight you but, it seems like I don’t have a choice. So do entertain me.”

He smiled.

“Will do my old Captain! Heard what happened to your old crew. How tragic!”

He shrugged.

“Those books were getting dull anyway. So no biggie! Ikki.”

He bellowed out a laugh.

“Good job I left you when I had the chance. Oh but Captain, my Captain, I’m going to enjoy this more than you!” He declared as he pulled out a set of blades.

Cerpheres licked his lips as he threw them at him. He threw his stars at him. Then he dived forward and twisted his body and spun, dodging the blades and drew the rest. He threw one as he ran at him and he then whipped him with a cat of nine tails with spikes at the end. He healed as chunks felt to the ground from his arm. Then he hit him again and again and again as he started to laugh.

Then he drew out a knife and drove it into Ikki’s ankle. He rolled over as he struck down, hitting the ground. Yet this took out small segments of the ground. Yet he rolled as Ikki went to hit him again and again and again, he rolled out of the way each and every time. Then he rolled up onto his toes in his behind.

“Ahh!”

He let out a chuckle as he pulled out a star and threw it at the eye in the center.

“Got your eye!” He sang.

Ikki picked up a large rock and threw it at the man. He flipped out of the way as it smashed into the wall behind. That was when Cerpheres chuckled as he pointed upwards.

He looked up to see rocky cones fall on him. He then ran as Ikki was distracted he ran back to Ikki’s blades then threw one at his ankle and the other at his head, skimming the head.

“My, that was easier than I thought.”

“You missed!”

“Did I?”

He then ran at him. He picked one of his blades as he reached his whipping hand. As he threw the whip down Cerpheres cut his wrists. Blood. Spread everywhere. He dived out of the way. Soon he let the whip go. As he cut the other wrist he stood back and Cerpheres was able to thrust his leg into his stomach above the pelvis. He bent over and landed then-

SNAP!

He fell as pain blinded him and blood warned his ankle. He tried to get up but he could not. His foot was floppy and limp. His eyes widened as he felt blades in his back. Soon he felt electricity all over him.

“Tell me, how much pain have you caused in your life as an Oni? Did you enjoy it?” He moaned.

“Very much. After all, once you start to enjoy it, you want to hear those glorious screams forever and ever.”

“How much pain did you cause?”

“As much as I could. After all, I did not want to. I did not want them to stop screaming and crying and begging me to stop.”

He leaned in closer.

“How would you like to feel it?”

Soon he felt like his cat of nine tails was hitting him all over in every part of his body. He felt like knives and swords were stabbing him over and over again in every muscle and organ. He screamed again and again and again as he felt strike after strike. Pain erupted like an inferno. He tried to get up but his hands and feet could not move, only to be coated with his own blood. He could do nothing but endure it as long as he could but he could see no end to wave after wave of pain. Soon after a while he gave up resisting and life left his eyes. Then Cerpheres chopped his head off and let out a sigh. His face was scarlet as he walked away while the body burst into flames.