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Chapter Four
Fireworks
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“That’s not the only reason we’re here.”
Race’s eyes slowly looked about the parking lot, her head refusing to move, her face remaining thoroughly uninterested. “Sell drugs?”
“Wh- No.” Wild pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. “Race, you really take all the fun out of these big reveals, you know?”
“Oh, so you got married?” She continued, just as unenthused-sounding. “Well congratulations, most people don’t have that kind of bravery in modern society, but I hope you and your minivan have a happy life together.”
Tone broke out into high-pitched squeals of laughter, earning him a shove from Ren. Rook looked about awkwardly, trying not to act like this was all about him, despite quivering with excitement at his suspicions behind the announcement.
“If it’s finally out of your system,” Wild sighed, having waited for Tone’s outburst to die down into barely-concealed snickering. “Rook, you’ve had enough time in the mask for us to know what your limits are, and we’ve unanimously reached our decision.”
“And?” Rook shivered.
“Welcome to the Renegade Masks, kid.” Wild held out an origami mask.
Before Rook could rejoice at the revelation, Wild continued. “It’s with good timing, too. I’ve heard rumors that tonight is the ceremony to invite the Demon across the plane. They’ve acquired the second eye.”
“No.” Tone growled. “If they’re able to complete that, then…”
“It’s all poppycock, anyhow.” Wild mused, feeling about his numerous pockets. “Why am I the only one here who wears a suit. Ah, there we are. They intend to perform the ritual here, in the convention center across from the cinema.” He unfolded a map, and pointed at the designated location with his littlest finger.
“As for their claims, complete and utter nonsense. There’s no actual Demon like they claim, but ruining their precious little ceremony will cut their egos down quite a lot, and remind them that no one is invincible. Are we all in agreement?”
Each member pulled out their respective masks. Tone’s was unique among the group, being made of various layers of metal, reportedly formed from a broken katana, with angular, slit eyes. Race’s didn’t cover her eyes, instead stopping just above her nose and wrapping around her jaw, looking almost motorized despite being made of wood. Rook’s was silvery, with five points fanning out from the center, like a peacock’s tail. Ren’s was also silvery, though more muted, and while resembling a wolf’s head and snout left his mouth and jaw completely exposed.
Smiling, the leader of the Renegade Masks took out his own mask, shaped after a viciously scowling Oni. “Alright, Renegades… Let’s light it up!”
—
The burly enforcer easily towered over the other security personnel stationed at the convention center, glancing about casually. He was so bulky and muscular he had little to fear from typical threats, such as usually pestered him. Which is why he had little options to defend against the ringing that suddenly entered his ears and disoriented him — Tone walked in through the front door with his hands in his hoodie pocket, casually glancing at the reeling guard with as smug an expression under his mask as could be managed.
“Nei! Kore wa yoyaku-zumi no keiyaku desu!” The other guards yelled, converging on Tone’s location. “Matte- MASUKU!! Onaka no ue ni fusete, te o atama no ushiro ni! IMA!!!”
Tone obliged, lying down on his stomach, placing his hands behind his head just as a security van flew through the glass front of the building and decked every member of security present, including the large fellow. “Boss, I’m not sure this is entirely in line with your ‘no-kill’ rule. You sure everybody’s okay from that?”
Wild stepped through the open hole, steam rippling off his excellent suit as he passed his associate. “Get off the floor, Tone.” He growled. “This party’s only just getting started.”
Those of the security detail who had not been clotheslined by the massive flying vehicle raised their weapons and made very silly demands, like stand down and surrender and the like. Race replied by walking casually back to the Renegade Masks with her arms full of their firearms, and Ren lowered himself to the ground, bat in hand.
“Go for the guards.” Wild growled, the veins in his hands nearly popping out of his skin. “I’m gonna get the Demon mask. Tone, you’re with me.”
Darting forwards, Ren began flipping over the guards, buckling knees and bruising elbows as Race occasionally assisted as casually as possible. Tone ran forwards, but for all his muscular might, he could not keep up with the Oni, who leaped the entire stairwell in one jump.
“And I get the stupid noise mask.” Tone grumbled, running up the stairs as fast as he could. Rook, however, while comparatively smaller than most of his colleagues, simply floated directly upwards, and then directly forwards, bypassing all the combat and the physical exertion of climbing stairs.
“Game’s over, Rikuto!” Wild roared, the strength of the Oni crackling through his limbs. “Hand over the eyes, now! Or else we’ll be taking them from your battered body.”
Rikuto, who wore a rather elaborate ceremonial uniform, turned around, holding two small resin eyes in his hands, a wicked grin plastered across his aging features. “Ahh, Wild, so eager to keep the glory for yourself, then? Fine — have the full power of the Demon’s eyes!”
So saying, he clicked the two eyes together, causing a massive shockwave which threw Tone and the barely-landed Rook off the platform. “The Demon has not chosen you!!” The old man bellowed. “You cannot wield the eyes without his consent! Begone, you treacherous one, before I erase you from existence!!”
The treacherous one responded by lunging forwards, ripping the eyes out from Rikuto’s fingers. Instantly they pulsed, vibrating with an agonizing energy, which would have crumpled the senses of anyone holding them. But the strength of the Oni mask powered through, even as the pulses grew so strong they caused Rikuto to faint from the force of them.
“Boss!” Tone yelled, his cry grabbing enough of Ren’s attention to draw him from the fight. Tone bolted back up the stairs, motioning with his hand for an ascending Rook to stay put.
“Boss, what’s happening?!” Tone bellowed, but Wild was too absorbed to hear him. "There’s so much power, Tone… But I can handle it… I WILL! NOTHING CAN OVERCOME THE ONI!!"
With a furious roar, Wild’s entire body glowed a bright white for a moment.
–
Ren shook his head, trying to recall how he ended up on the sidewalk. The flaming building in front of him was a clear enough answer, illuminating the vague silhouettes of his friends strewn across the property. Tone’s body was still being licked by flame, prompting Ren to scramble awkwardly to his feet and rush to his friend’s side.
“IT WON’T COME OFF!!” Tone screamed, pulling violently at the metal mask, now fused to his face from the heat. “IT WON’T COME OFF!! I CAN’T GET IT OFF!!”
Ren threw off his jacket and smothered the fire as best he could, hoping Tone’s smoldering clothes hadn’t melted into his skin at all. Race made a bubbling noise, drawing his attention towards her. She was lying on her back, her stomach a pit of twisted blacks and reds, seeping into her shirt.
“Tried… To outrun the… Blast, inside…” She gasped. “I couldn’t… my body… couldn’t go that… fast…”
Ren could only stare down in horror, slowly removing her mask and his own as the sounds of sirens approached. “It’s okay, Race. We’ll be okay. Everything’s gonna be alright, you got that? Just stay with me. Just stay…”
“Ren!”
It seemed he could stay by no one’s side for very long, as yet another voice cried for help. Ren silently approached the silver mask of Rook lying on the ground, jumping suddenly as it began to speak. “Ren! Oh, there you are. Look, I- something happened, and I can’t feel my legs anymore. Is my spine okay? Is Wild alright? What’s going on, Ren?”
“Ren?” Rook’s voice grew grave as Ren picked him up, slowly looking at the door of the building, where a wooden mask was flaming. The police and medical responders who arrived tried to get information out of him, but he ignored them all, simply staring into the building, into the lifeless eyes of the Oni mask, which sat in the middle of the ruin, slowly reducing itself to ash.
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