Ashen Pillars

[Kuzuru]

It was only a matter of minutes before Kuzuru had roused the sleeping coyotles. He made his way near the center of the camp. Through a combination of belligerent shouting and outright attacking anyone who got close he managed to summon a crowd of warriors. Kuzuru had no interest in what he viewed as fodder. Only one warrior caught his interest, the one that got him into this mess - Cinder Salt. “Where is she?” he shouted, “that little bitch Cinder Salt, I’m not leaving until I kill her!”

The demon had stripped away his shirt, revealing a red-tinged and toned body. Four long blades protruded from his forearms, three of them on his left. He moved in twitchy and short bursts of movement. Every step he took forced the warriors to make room or chance being brought low. Already he had slain three warriors, not counting the one he killed to escape. Their corpses sat bleeding and baking in the rising sun. Intoxicated on the scent of blood Kuzuru felt unstoppable. A primal roar escaped his throat and he kicked up a swirl of ashen dust. For the first time since his awakening he felt as if this body was his own. With a flash of metal Kuzuru struck out towards a coyotle that strayed too close. The red-striped warrior managed to avoid the attack and scamper away. “Well?” he asked the crowd, “are you not the champions of your people? Fight me already, show me your ferocity!”

“They will not,” the well-worn voice of their sage answered the marauder. Red and black scales glistened in the light as their bearer stepped out from the crowd. Kuzuru was no longer having fun, he lowered his weapons and stalked towards the elder. Ahanu spoke once more, “I’ve ordered them to stay their blades, and I have sent young Cinder Salt far away from here. I know what you want demon and we will not play into your hand.”

“You,” Kuzuru said as he stepped ever closer, “I’ve long tired of your naive platitudes, do you not understand where you are? This is the Omniverse baby, absolute fucking darwinism in action; and, despite what your foolish beliefs tell you, the meek do not inherit the earth, only the strong rise to the top."

“We still will not fight you Kuzuru,” Ahanu responded.

“Then you will perish.”

Kuzuru raised his right arm and swung for Ahanu’s neck. This damned coyotle had ruined his fun and although killing him would be cathartic there was no joy to found in slaughtering a noncombatant. However his weapon found no flesh and instead clattered against another’s blade. Cinder had emerged from the crowd at the last moment and, much to his surprise, protected Ahanu’s throat. “You were supposed to leave,” Ahanu

“I’m sorry sage Ahanu,” Cinder spoke as Kuzuru disengaged, “but I cannot stand idle while our village is destroyed.”

“Smart girl,” Kuzuru said.
The two warriors sauntered towards the center of their makeshift arena. Several of the red-striped warriors pulled their leader back into the crowd and despite his protests Cinder readied her blade. Kuzuru wasn’t someone who could be reasoned with, he was here for blood nothing more and nothing less. The demon’s smile had returned. This was what he lived for, this was his purpose in life. “Just as a warning to you Cinder, I’m not as tired as when we first met so if you hold back,” Kuzuru threatened and pointed a blade at her, “I will fucking kill you.”

Cinder said nothing but slowly started to edge towards her opponent. Her massive blade was perched upon on her shoulder, ready to strike at almost any angle. Kuzuru wasted no time and pounced towards her, slashing forward with his left arm. Crunching metal echoed across the air as Cinder’s massive blade smashed through the first two blades on his arm before glancing off the third. Using his free arm he took a swipe at her, cutting a line of blood up the side of her chest. They two jumped backwards and disengaged. The two shattered blades protruding from Kuzuru’s arm sunk back below his flesh only to be replaced by two fresh swords. So that was her limit, she could break through two of his blades, no more than that. He licked the fresh blood off his weapon. He felt alive.

“Where d’ya think they hid our gear Charlie?” Mallory asked after exiting another tipi. Most everyone in the village was watching the fight or moving far away from it, either way it gave the two bounty hunters ample time to ransack the place. Not that there was much to ransack, the locals had little in the way of wealth. Still they played needle in the haystack in hopes of locating Charlie’s missing handcannon and Mal’s phone.

“Fuck if I know,” Charles responded, “though if I had to guess I’d bet my money on the ringleader’s tent.”

“Well if only we knew where the fucking thing was, course it might not matter if our ‘friend’ over there kills everyone,” Mallory said.

The duo looked towards the ring of tribespeople surrounding the two combatants. Kuzuru was doing more than just holding his own, hell he was practically smacking Cinder Salt around. Upon catching a glance of Cinder Mallory said, “well holy shit, that’s our mark ain’t it?”

“I’m not sure,” Charles responded, “remember I didn’t read the docs, I didn’t.”

“Right, well I’d bet ten to one that’s our girl, same tats and everything,” Mallory said, “she ain’t doing so hot, we gotta get our shit before ol’ boy there rips her apart we don’t get paid unless we bring her back alive.”

“Oi, we’ve got a guest,” Charlie said, turning Mallory away from the fight and towards the newcomer. Esther had came back to her tipi to retrieve a keepsake, it was by pure luck, or misfortune, that she ran into the two killers. Before the girl could run Charles had snatched her wrist and almost lifted her off the ground. She thrashed and tried to pull away, but the man’s considerable bulk made her escape next to impossible. Mallory smiled at their good fortune and said, “settle down darling, we ain’t gonna hurt you s’long as you help us out.”

“Dammit, let go of me,” she snarled before speaking to Mal, “and to think I thought you were a nice guy.”

“Dawh,” Charles mocked, “don’t worry dear, plenty of people think we’re right angels, they do.”

“Yeah, it ain’t nothing personal, just trying to get paid is all,” Mallory said, stepping close to the girl, “you’re gonna lead us to where they took our gear and we’ll let you go, simple as that.”

Kuzuru had, for the most part, remained unscathed in their exchanges. Cinder had only managed to catch him with a few counter swings, and that was only because his bloodlust made him overeager. Blood mixed with her red stripes and her breath turned ragged. Still, despite her wounds she stood upon shaky legs. The demon had to commend her discipline. Not many could continue fighting while actively bleeding out, especially when their opponent was just getting warmed up. He smacked his blades together and spoke, “you’d better get your head into the game, at this rate I won’t be satisfied with just killing you.” Of course even if she did put up a decent fight he doubted he’d ever be satisfied. Cinder Salt crouched down low, entering a stance not unlike the one she used to defeat him in their first fight. Kuzuru chuckled, “now now I hope you don’t think I’d fall for the same trick twice do you, what kind of second rate fighter do you think I am?”

WIthout another word the demon charged towards the defender. Her muscles tensed in preparation. The two locked eyes. The crowd stood silent. Kuzuru came within striking distance and she swung her blade upwards towards his neck. A sinister purple glow enveloped his weapons and he aimed for her weapon. Asunder. Flash of blue lighting. The tip of Cinder’s sword went spinning through the air, end over end. The demon raised his knee and slammed it into her stomach. She dropped her weapon and fell to her knees. Kuzuru reeled back with a single blade and swung.