Festival of Fire and Steel

Mission Name: A Festival Of Fire And Steel
Rank: A-Rank
Mission Location: Eastertide Fairgrounds

Word Count Requirement: 4,000 WC
Reward: 8,000 Ryō / 40 AP / 1 "Sakura Lottery Ticket"

"Festival of Fire and Steel"

The first move was made. Zeo's bubble clone did the trick to sneak back into the festival grounds and confront the enemy as he realized the ringleader's plans. Circumventing the chakra and planning to use it back in their world. He couldn't let that happen. For his world, and the spirits that dwelled in this one. He couldn't let them down. He sat upon his bubble, airborne with his bubble pipe held aloof in his hand. His Uchugan active, his eyes were wide and starting down at the Dynamo with a stern expression. "You hurt the guardians and spirits of this world. I will not ignore such cruelty from the likes of you."

"SHUT UP KID!!" One of the minions shouted, jumping up after him to strike. They reached high into the air as easily as the acrobat did, but soon she was answered by a spinning of fire. The fire dancer. She conjured a Katon version of flames from her body, and it launched at Zeo. He stayed cool, however, as he raised his pipe. With a mere blow of his pipe, he produced a series of bubbles--- which then suddenly erupted and divided into a big foamy cloud.

The woman gasped as her flames were snuffed out, along with her hit by the foamy mass thatt easily caught her off guard mid-air. It easily extinguished her flames as she fell back towards the ground. However, another collague, a knife juggler--- threw daggers to target the bubble Zeo was on.

Zeo felt the bubble give out and fall, but he didn't lose his composure as he flipped mid air-- causing another bubble to form below him. Further, he wove hand signs as he did another back-flip, landing on the ground below to abandon the higher ground. The moment he descended, more of the enemy moved in, trying to catch and kill him.

He finished his hand signs and soon raised them up. "Fuuton-- Wind Wall!" Zeo cried, clapping his hands together. A violent gale came around him, spinning the falling cherry blossom pedals around in a wild gale. The turbulant winds met the enemy that slashed at them, leaving abrasions on them as it vigorously snapped them away as if they hit a wall-- throwing them far backwards where they attacked from. Three of them hit the ground and tumbled away, unconscious.

WC: 400

The ringmaster watched in distain, as that smile on his face faded, finally showing irritation on his face as three of his minions were knocked out and out of commission indefinitely by the well-placed wind defense. While a one-shot, it was effectively executed, lured in to a person presumed to be a long-range fighter. However, irritation turned to a grin. "]Well played, young man." the ringleader said with amusement. "Will you be so kind to tell me your name?"

Zeo paused as he lowered his clapped hands, the wind dying around him as he glared back at him with his eyes. "I'm Zeo Kamigawa, heir to the Kamigawa clan and a Hoshigakure shinobi." Zeo answered formally.

He lowered his head with a chuckle. "Zeo Kamigawa... a fine name, and your skill is nothing to sneeze at. But you are out of your league. You have no idea how strong this place is. Its like my own supply of nature energy, stored and kept bottled up for eons here. Who is g onna care?"

"The spirits here do. The beings you tried to enslave with your jutsu," Zeo stated flatly, a show of irritation was on his face at it.

Slowly, some of his still remaining minions took stage, along with him as he raised a hand- causing a sword to be produced as if out of nowhere. He knew ninjutsu, summoning the weapon to his hand. "Those pesky little leaves? They were weak. Even the guardians were a pushover. And what can they do? " he boasted.

"This!" Zeo said, finishing a one-handed sign behind his back and then reached down to the ground. "SHIKIGAMI!!" he cried.

The pulse of his hand caused the air to ripple, as a mysterious gale picked up objects. The pedals of the cherry blossoms, the stones on the ground,... they began to levitate in the air, by an unseen force. However, through Zeo's eyes, he saw them--- as he summoned the very Shikigami he met to his side. He had won their favor and loyalty, as they amassed inside each little object around him, coming to life. Without further word, the objects-- the shinigami unseen to their prey--- attacked and flew out towards them.

Though small, the objects packed a punch-- propelled by the supernatural force each shikigami had. Though unseen, they attacked like 100 tiny fists on them, knocking them out cold and smacking even the Ringmaster a bit. Though brief, as the Shikigami scattered after the assault, it left him wide open.

Zeo formed another hand seal-- ending with a Spirit Gun gesture aimed at his head. "Persona!!" he cried, firing off the trigger..

The crack and flash of energy erupted in front of him, causing a spectral mirage of chakra to appear and take shape. In front of him, appeared a humanoid being suspended by a pillar of swirling water around his waste-- showing to be none other than his initial Persona, the embodiment of his soul as a Kamigawa-- He Bo, the God of Rivers. It let out a fierce bellow as he raised his arms and pushed forward, firing off a blast of spiraling water at the ringmaster.

The headmaster looked in surprise, despite the shock of the SHinigami. The water blasted off for him, but he soon countered as he raised his sword. Lightning crackled upon the blade as he raised it high and brought it down. With a high powered shriek, It countered the water, using a powerful chakra-infused blade.

"Ah, so you have some tricks too, little boy," the ringleader said as he held his sword, chakra now raditating off of him. As he spoke, his garments changed, dawning a sage-like robe like some kind of royalty as he now glowed with the same green glow and corruption he had. As he did, energy rose and the land grew darker around him.

Meanwhile, Zeo stood firm, as He Bo seperated him from the enemy...

WC: 661

Chakra started to draw out of the ground. NOW, Zeo could see it with his eyes. He drew the chakra out of the surrounding space itself, fueling his own chakra, so strong it caused the world around him to start to change. Some sort of Space-time, that was augmenting his own abilities. More wicked lightrning started to pour out of him. "I endured your presence long enough, boy. " he said, the kind face now faded and now replaced by a vicious, toothy smile as he raised his sword high. "You will bow before my power in death, and my storm will command this world and ours! None will oppose my will!" he shouted, building up a massive strike in one fell stroke. Alone, Zeo wouldn't stand much chance as his Wind Wall was now spent.... however he was not without options.

He Bo, still materialzed braced himself as the build up of energy. While voiceless, he still knew enough to protect his charge....

But then Zeo's eyes widened, not out of some ability, but realization. He remembered the words of Iris, the mysterious woman in his dream and visions. "You know have the power to wield multiple Persona. It's the wild card. A power with infinite potential..." Those words, rang through his mind as clear as a bell as he knew what to do as the enemy charged up for a final attack.

He soon raised a hand up. Soon before him, he , and only he, saw a small glowing card before him. It once flashed with the appearance of the Fool-- the number zero on its card and a whimsical figure of a journey-- but then it changed as it flipped before him, now becoming that of the Emperor, a figure of great strength and resolute. The image reminded him of his own master, Yasha as he affirmed his resolve. "Persona-- CHANGE!!"

With his words, He Bo's form began to glow and change. In that moment, Zeo reached out and crushed the card in his hand, causing it to shatter into specks of spectral chakra. In return, so too Did He Bo, the energy flashing to create something new before their very eyes...

... Wind swept across the area, as soon a new figure hovered in the space He Bo had been. While not as big, a humanoid figure dressed in demi-god like attire, with blue skin and horns upon his head. He wielded two blades, one in each hand, and looked like a cross between some kind of demon and deity. A spirit of an unfamiliar origin. "Yaksha!" Zeo cried, conjuring the being.

Drawing his blades out, a gust of wind gushed around him. He hoveed there before Zeo, prepared to defend him.

"DIIIEE!!" the man roared, and drew his sword down, producing a wide crack of thunder and lightning that came from the sky overhead, and with it, attempt to blast the summoner and his new creation into smithereens. The blast would completely incinerate all it would hit...

... or so it was supposed to.

The new creature, Yaksha, remained as the wind gathered around him and into his swords. Zeo didn't even flinch there as he knew-- Wind beat Lightning. Without a word, Yaksha took action and flew forward. The lightning only made him faster as he was soon upon the mastermind Dynamo. Blades were drawn, the being attacked with one, to which the man blocked with his sword, barely holding that the blade already cut into a part of the metal as if it was bamboo---

-- only to fall prey as Yaksha spun in a whirlwind of a dance, slashing with his second blade.

Though a chakra phantasm, the blades struck into reality and were very real. The wind empowered state of the Persona, only grew stronger when introduced to the mastermind's lightning. The blade gashed right into his abdominal region, effectively crippling him with its blow. Yaksha soon sprinted forward, having delivered his slash, effectively ending the clash.

Zeo was starting to see his relations to each Persona he would conjure... they reflected those he met. They felt familiar to him. Sepherott was Enishi, his same strong and brutal nature at times. For Yasha, it was Yaksha-- possessing the same relentless and superior speed. The 'feel' he got from each one, were personified and reflected in these new Personas.

Critically wounded, the man dropped his sword and knelt down, clearly unable to stand as he now was forced to grasp his wound.

WC: 749

The mastermind was down for the count, Yaksha's swords having dealt a finishing blow as he dropped his blade, unable to stand. With the man now defeated-- the Persona of Yaksha soon vanished in a soft shower of greenish-starry chakra, giving way as Zeo softly approached. THough his eyes still aglow with stars, his gaze was relaxed and calm as he saw his enemy unable to continue. "It's over. YOu are out matched, wounded, and no one else to fight on your behalf. It won't matter how much chakra you have if you are severely wounded. Now surrender, and I won't hurt you further." Zeo warned.

"Pathetic..." the man growled, irritated.

Zeo's eyes widened at this. "You have no resolve. No ego... you can't take the life of another, can you? Your own enemy, and you call yourself a shinobi." the man spat in venomous taunting.

It was then that Zeo produced his own sword, aimed at the man. "Can't and won't are two seperate things. I don't want to take your life, but if you force things further, I will not hesitate to strike you down. I do not condone senseless slaughter. So don't test my good will." he said.

"Empty threats?  NOt everyone can bare the blade against another man. That is a fundamental fact. You're simply too soft." the man said, "And I'm about to prove to you why!"

Zeo's eyes widened as the man ripped off his jacket, revealing the wound--  but also on his chest the same seal he had on the cave wall back when he fought the guardian. "NO--!"

"World Convergence Spring-- RELEASE!!" He roared, and caused the seal on his chest to activate.

Unable to stop it time, Zeo jumped back as the seal spread from the man onto the ground. It stopped, but the seal was in place and soon activated whatever's effect it harbored. "This seal marks the beginning of a new dawn for Earth. This place's chakra, mixed with my own, will rupture the doors for good. If i cannot have this power, you or anyone else will. Further, I'll see that your kindness brings an end to you and your precious village. Treasure the show, kid. You're light is about to go out with the final flashes of the fireworks! "

"WHat?!" Zeo gasped, surprised.

"Once they reach the atmosphere, they will deonate, and use t he chakra as a match to a powderkeg--- ripping this world and yours apart! Hahaha... You could stay and aprpehend me, or stop them before they destroy everything... but it wouldn't matter in the end. This is where I die, and I intend to take you with me, and see you break in agony. Let the stars fall with you!" he laughed, going mad there as the seal covered him, causing him to gag and gurdle-- before it soon strangled his body and soon he fell down, dead from the wound and using all his chakra for the seal.

"Fireworks!" Zeo realized, looking around. He had to stop it as he looked to see it was pratically night, and that the fireworks were likely part of the festival. If he was telling the truth, they would trigger the final jutsu-- which he just set off. Realizing time was of the essence, Zeo hurried for the final stage of the fairgrounds to stop their launch!

WC: 567

Night had now come and Zeo was running by onlookers and festival enjoyers ready to see the final display. He would run past those he could to get to where the fire works were. If he didn't respond in time, it would be disasterous. He could only guess what this explosion would cause, enough to rupture an opening between the two realms. No doubt a blast that powerful wouldn't descriminate the lives in this festival as well.

Zeo pushed past the crowed and soon behind the main stage, running around it. He soon reached the staging area with the fire works. ANd to his expectation, the set up was much more suspicious than most fireworks. Surrounding the docked rockets, were seals on each one, and they were already ticking marks on them as if to count down.

Zeo rushed to inspect them and stop the rockets--- till four hodded figures appeared, dressed in regal red and white, looking like honor guards for an emperor. "You shall not pass. The sundering shall not be haulted by the likes of you, Shinobi." one of the guards said, brandishing a lance. The others followed suit, drawing their weapons.

Zeo paused as he saw the fireworks. If he could prevent the seal from going off-- or at least contain them, it may very well not go off. As he rushed to think of a way to stop them, something caught his eye.

"Um, I think you guys have bigger problems now," Zeo said, pointing behind them.

"And what might that be?" One of the guards said-- ignorant to the giant lumbering mass hulking behind them. The night light soon revealed the soft glow of the stone and crystal golem looking down at them.

"Bad --- humans..." he spoke before knocking one with its giant stone arms.

WC: 301

The first guard was spooked as he turned around, only to be swiped and sent flying by the guardian's massive arm. It had emerged from the forest, intending to give aid to its savior, Zeo for saving him and the forest. Also toher shikigami, whether visible to the others or not, surrounded it, giving support and chear as the guardian assaulted the guards.

"What the?! The guardian is here?! Stop it before it ruins--- Guuuh!!" Another cried as he was smashed and flew across the fair grounds like a golf ball.

Zeo looked on in awe shock to see the giant muster such strength to treat mighty guards like they were rag dolls. The remaining guards were now occupied with the giant, now on his side. The giant grunted as its face turned to Zeo. "Sakura Warrior... stop... calamity... Must... Hurry!" he roared, as he smacked a fist down, sending a shockwave to rock the ground.

As Zeo raised his arm from the shockwave, he realized the opening the giant was giving him. "Thank you!" Zeo shouted as he soon took the opportunity to dash through the smoke and choas to attend the problem at hand.

He reached the area of the seal, seeing the fireworks. He soon approached to try and disarm them-- but something solid knocked into him. He had not even crossed the threshold of the area when he was smacked by a barrier-- preventing entry around the fireworks. The seal that the man placed kept any outside interference, and already Zeo saw the fuse on the fireworks were lit. They would launch in less than a minute.

His mind rushed, trying to find a way to stop it. Crap crap... Come on, Zeo, think! THINK! He screamed in his head, his Uchugan activating to see the chakra and energy behind the fireworks. Each one were a mix of colors, including the same corruption, but also the natural energy created by the land itself. If they went off, they would indeed blow a hole in all of reality together....

... but what if he isolated each individual explosion.

They were meant to launch all at once, causing a unified explosion. They were meant to work together! If he could contain each blast, that would perhaps prevent the entire disaster. But HOW?!

He thought hard, and saw the fuse ticking down.

"Oh what the hell..." Zeo grumbled and decided to act on instinct. Taking out his bubble pipe, he quickly blew out a series of bubbles.

"HEY! STOP HIM! He's--- GAHHH!!" a guard cried, but was silenced as he was unelegantly crushed, armor and all by the fist of the giant guadian.

Zeo's spin casted bubbles all over and around him, creating a wide area of effect even above him. As he finished his 'dance' , he hopped up, and landed upon one of the very bubbles he produced. The moment he touched it, it lifted him airborne, raising him higher and higher, as well as the bubbles around him. As he floated up, he conted down, timing the right time when the fire works would be set off. As he did, he continued to blow out more bubbles, trying to make as many as possible-- counding he needed at least twenty bubbles to properly do what he hoped to do.

Ten seconds remained... as he wove signs quickly, funneling all hsi chakra into the surrounding bubbles as they started to glow with a mixure of colors-- not of chakra, but of his starry chakra. The power of his own Kamigawa clan's power, his Uchugan shining with the same majesty of the stars above him.

The flash of sparks and light went off below him as the fireworks sparked-- and launched up, now all aimed towards Zeo. Each one came in turn, poised to reach the sky. To his eyes, he saw the burning chakra inside each firework ready to burst if they all reached the skyline... And with that, Zeo raised a hand down, causing the bubbles around him to move to intercept each projectile.

Two, four, eight-- sixteen!! All of them quickly met them as they flew up, and they soon connected with Zeo's prayers they would be stopped....

WC: 705

Blub... blub... blub.... Blop!

Every rocket made contact with the bubble--- and were soon consumed by the spherical bubble. One by one, each one was caught by the bubble, the rocket contained in each one and hovered inside. Sparks and light flew in each one. Zeo already feltt the strain of it, as he kept his hands connected. The pressure in each bubble was hard alone, but juggling so many-- it was pushing him to the limit.

"I have to hold it... I have to.... " Zeo grasped as he struggled to just stay airborne on his bubble. With all his might and will, he held fast and pushed the bubbles away, to keep them seperate just as the flash went off ine ach one!

BOOOOM!!.

One by one, each bubble flashed with the corrupted and powerful chakra. If left airborn, they would of punctured holes in reality-- however, Zeo's bubbles didn't allow them to join-. They contained each chakra-based explosion. one by one, with flashes of green and pink that was awkward to the eye and flashing with each burst. Zeo contained each one, straining his own chakra to keep the bubbles in tact. Finally, after each one blew, he finally let go of the energy with a gasp-- causing the debris to finally dissipate, and the bubbles to pop.

The result was a harmless spray of lingering chakra-- space and time in that space in tact and only shown as fading bits of chakra. Exhausted, Zeo staggered upon his bubble as he gently drifted down. He barely had the energy to keep his eyes active as they soon faded and he drifted back to the ground. No more than a foot off the ground, the bubble popped and he came falling down to his knees, exhausted as he laid there.

His mind didn't think of anything for a moment as he looked up at the sky. The reminants of his own bubble show remained, and he heard the shouts and awes of the festival people enjoying it. Seemed Zeo made something of a show after all. A soft smile came to his face as he dazed up at the night sky, relieved he did some good th ere. "It's over..." he sighed.

However, he didn't see the shadow of the only remaining guard, poised with a spear to stab him.

"THis is for the Dynamo, you hapless curr! " he shouted, about to stab Zeo in the head.

"KWEEEE!!!" A shrill cry came.

Zeo snapped his eyes open long enough to soon see the soldier before him-- get kicked in the face by the ball-shaped Shikigami spirit that he saw before. Followed by others that swarmed the place. The little spirits soon danced and sprawled over the guy, soon causing him to drop his spear and flee.

Too tired to move, Zeo watched as the Shikigami danced around him, looking down at him with odd looks that he could only presume were joy and gratitude. Finally a sense of relief passed to Zeo's limbs as he took the moment to see the spinning, sweet little spirits share their feelings of gratitude by their joyous dance.

"I'll take that as a thank you...." Zeo spoke as he was too tired to sit up then, his chakra well depleted from all he exerted, especially to contain the explosion. Sadly he couldn't keep his eyes open and soon found himself drifting off to the soft chatter and cheer of the spirits, glad that their world was saved by the strange blue-haired human shinobi.

The next time Zeo opened his eyes, he rose up to soon see the night sky again. This time he soon sat up, realizing he had fallen asleep. However, something was different now with his surroundings...

... he was back on the same hilltop he always was. Back in Hoshigakure, on the same hill that overlooked the lake and water gardens of the village. The moon was out and the sky was what he remembered-- not like the other world. For a moment, he thought he dreamed the whole thing. The entire adventure was a product of his overactive and creative imagination. However, he soon noticed something different as he looked around him.

Cherry blossom pedals had littered around him, charms, gifts and other natural gifs seemed to have been left around him. Proof of his deeds and travel as he soon realized the spirits had left them, and perhaps even allowed him to go back to his own world. In the distance, he soon saw one of those little spirits, the first one he guessed, give a soft wave, before flying off to disappear into the winds...

Blub... blub... blub.... Blop!

Every rocket made contact with the bubble--- and were soon consumed by the spherical bubble. One by one, each one was caught by the bubble, the rocket contained in each one and hovered inside. Sparks and light flew in each one. Zeo already feltt the strain of it, as he kept his hands connected. The pressure in each bubble was hard alone, but juggling so many-- it was pushing him to the limit.

"I have to hold it... I have to.... " Zeo grasped as he struggled to just stay airborne on his bubble. With all his might and will, he held fast and pushed the bubbles away, to keep them seperate just as the flash went off ine ach one!

BOOOOM!!.

One by one, each bubble flashed with the corrupted and powerful chakra. If left airborn, they would of punctured holes in reality-- however, Zeo's bubbles didn't allow them to join-. They contained each chakra-based explosion. one by one, with flashes of green and pink that was awkward to the eye and flashing with each burst. Zeo contained each one, straining his own chakra to keep the bubbles in tact. Finally, after each one blew, he finally let go of the energy with a gasp-- causing the debris to finally dissipate, and the bubbles to pop.

The result was a harmless spray of lingering chakra-- space and time in that space in tact and only shown as fading bits of chakra. Exhausted, Zeo staggered upon his bubble as he gently drifted down. He barely had the energy to keep his eyes active as they soon faded and he drifted back to the ground. No more than a foot off the ground, the bubble popped and he came falling down to his knees, exhausted as he laid there.

His mind didn't think of anything for a moment as he looked up at the sky. The reminants of his own bubble show remained, and he heard the shouts and awes of the festival people enjoying it. Seemed Zeo made something of a show after all. A soft smile came to his face as he dazed up at the night sky, relieved he did some good th ere. "It's over..." he sighed.

However, he didn't see the shadow of the only remaining guard, poised with a spear to stab him.

"THis is for the Dynamo, you hapless curr! " he shouted, about to stab Zeo in the head.

"KWEEEE!!!" A shrill cry came.

Zeo snapped his eyes open long enough to soon see the soldier before him-- get kicked in the face by the ball-shaped Shikigami spirit that he saw before. Followed by others that swarmed the place. The little spirits soon danced and sprawled over the guy, soon causing him to drop his spear and flee.

Too tired to move, Zeo watched as the Shikigami danced around him, looking down at him with odd looks that he could only presume were joy and gratitude. Finally a sense of relief passed to Zeo's limbs as he took the moment to see the spinning, sweet little spirits share their feelings of gratitude by their joyous dance.

"I'll take that as a thank you...." Zeo spoke as he was too tired to sit up then, his chakra well depleted from all he exerted, especially to contain the explosion. Sadly he couldn't keep his eyes open and soon found himself drifting off to the soft chatter and cheer of the spirits, glad that their world was saved by the strange blue-haired human shinobi.

The next time Zeo opened his eyes, he rose up to soon see the night sky again. This time he soon sat up, realizing he had fallen asleep. However, something was different now with his surroundings...

... he was back on the same hilltop he always was. Back in Hoshigakure, on the same hill that overlooked the lake and water gardens of the village. The moon was out and the sky was what he remembered-- not like the other world. For a moment, he thought he dreamed the whole thing. The entire adventure was a product of his overactive and creative imagination. However, he soon noticed something different as he looked around him.

Cherry blossom pedals had littered around him, charms, gifts and other natural gifs seemed to have been left around him. Proof of his deeds and travel as he soon realized the spirits had left them, and perhaps even allowed him to go back to his own world. In the distance, he soon saw one of those little spirits, the first one he guessed, give a soft wave, before flying off to disappear into the winds...

End.
WC: 781
TWC: 4164

Mission Arc Complete:

Rjeward: Vector Plate C rank MT 1000WC

Mass Pull C Rank MT 1000WC

Portals C-Rank MT 1000 WC

Healing Hands C Rank 1000 WC