At this point, everyone was determined to go to Edo.
Dreko looked at Rowlo with a serious but proud expression.
"I think it's time, Rowlo."
Rowlo looked around slightly, confused.
"I... don't know... what do you mean?"
"I will pass my burden on to you... the Guardian of the Universe. It's time for you to take it."
Rowlo blinked, caught off guard.
"Wait... how do I know I'm ready? Will it give me power... wisdom... what’s going to happen?"
Dreko let out a slight dry laugh.
"It will not do anything to you... it will simply guide you."
He thought for a moment.
"I don't know how to explain it, but trust me... I know you'll do better than I ever did."
"But what am I supposed to do? What does the Guardian even do? What is balance really? I have so many questions."
Dreko walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You'll figure it out with your friends."
He gestured toward Peter and Jaylia.
"Go out... meet people... live. That's the most important part."
He began pacing slowly.
"I hid the power of the Eternal God. If you can find that... then I know you'll understand."
Peter stepped forward, unable to hold back.
"So we're supposed to just look everywhere? Can we get a hint?" he said, shrugging.
"No... just trust your instincts."
Dreko looked back at Rowlo.
"I won’t force you... but there isn’t anyone better."
Rowlo looked down, thinking.
His mind drifted... his father... his mother... his friends... the people he could help.
"...Yeah... I have to. And I'll find that power."
"You won't be the only one..." Dreko said cautiously. "Find it first... that's what really matters. Now then."
Dreko raised his arm and took a deep breath.
A glowing golden sphere of energy formed in his hand. The air around it distorted slightly, and a wind began to stir through the room.
Rowlo and the others stared, caught off guard by the sudden pressure. Their clothes and hair shifted in the rising current.
Dreko pointed the energy toward Rowlo and released it.
The light surged forward, enveloping him, flowing through his body... through his veins... then everything settled.
The wind faded.
The room grew still again.
Rowlo looked down at himself, checking his hands.
"...I don't feel any different."
Dreko laughed.
"Wow... you sound just like I did." He paused, looking a bit sad. "You'll do great..."
Rowlo nodded with determination.
"Alright... let's get ready then."
The day had finally arrived. The five of them prepared for the long trip to Edo, gathering supplies until at last there was enough.
They headed out the gate, giving the guards one last acknowledgment as they set out on a five-day journey across the Japanese countryside.
As they traveled, they couldn’t help but notice villages destroyed, likely by bandits searching for food, and countless ruined fields. Beggars attempted to stop them along the way.
The first village they passed looked normal at a glance... until they got closer. It was strangely quiet, and only the faint sound of coughing could be heard.
No one came out to greet them so they kept moving.
Further along, the damage became harder to ignore. Fields lay abandoned, crops rotting where they stood. Tools had been left behind as if their owners never returned. Wildlife wandered freely through the fields.
A group of people approached them on the road, desperate. Their bodies were visibly affected by the blight, decaying slowly.
“Please… anything…” one of them said, reaching out.
Rowlo hesitated.
Dreko stepped forward.
“We don’t have enough to spare.”
They continued on.
Rowlo didn’t look back… but his fists clenched.
The closer they got to Edo… the worse it became. A faint purple haze hung over the horizon.
Eventually, Edo came into view.
Rowlo slowed.
"This is..."
He stared ahead.
"...unbelievable..."
The city was massive... and completely consumed. Purple blight spread across entire sections, far beyond anything they had seen before.
They entered the streets.
Sickly people were everywhere. Some coughed violently. Others barely moved.
Musashi’s expression twisted.
"The great Edo... reduced to this..."
Peter and Jaylia said nothing.
They reached the city square.
Dreko stopped.
He looked around, his expression tightening.
"...So this is how you’re playing it."
He folded his arms.
"Show yourself... We’re already here."
A figure stepped out from behind a nearby building.
Shira.
Behind her, several people followed... their movements stiff, unnatural. Their eyes were empty.
Some carried swords. Others held muskets... flintlocks.
Rowlo stepped forward.
"You're controlling these people... aren't you?"
Shira walked forward and chuckled slightly.
"You're funny... I can't do something like that."
She glanced at the crowd of sickly, zombie-like people gathering behind her.
"I can only bring out what is already there... a disease that can set you free. Beautiful, isn't it?"
Rowlo clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.
"Stop this madness. Why even do this to Japan?"
Peter stepped forward, clearly upset.
"The Red Hand... right? Why would you want to destroy Japan? Make it sick... it doesn't make sense."
Shira shrugged.
"Honestly... what we do is none of your concern. But I will have to kill all of you all the same... sorry."
"Enough of this!" Musashi shouted, instantly drawing his blades and rushing forward.
A samurai moved in front of Shira and blocked the attack, stopping Musashi in his tracks.
"Ugh... get out of my way!"
"These foreigners... these 'demons' want to destroy your country!" Shira called out. "Show them the power of Japan!"
The crowd surged forward.
Peter drew Koryu and Kairo and met them head on, blades clashing against steel.
Jaylia moved quickly, fighting off those around her.
"Ugh... this is disgusting," she said, keeping her movements controlled.
Dreko stepped in, using bursts of flame to knock back and pacify the sickened ones.
Musashi cut through them with precision.
Rowlo pushed past those who came at him, keeping his focus locked on Shira.
"I'm not letting you get away!" he shouted as he lunged toward her.
Shira met him head on and blocked his strike.
"Tch... why do you even care so much?"
She struck him in the stomach, sending him flying across the street.
"Rowlo!" Peter shouted.
Rowlo rose from the rubble, wiping blood from his mouth.
Shira approached him slowly.
"An immortal like you is going to need a lot more than that to die..."
Her expression sharpened.
"I suppose I'll have to go all out."
"Corruption Bloom!"
Her veins pulsed visibly beneath her pale skin. Her muscles tightened and expanded as her body was enhanced.
In an instant, she was in front of him.
Her fists came down in a rapid barrage, each strike cracking the ground beneath them.
Rowlo endured the blows, his body taking damage with each hit...
Then he caught her fists.
He pushed back.
With an open palm, he struck her and sent her flying.
In the next moment, he was already behind her.
He kicked her forward, then followed, striking again and again, keeping her in motion as he pressed the attack.
Nearby, Peter fought alongside Musashi, cutting down the samurai.
"Yeah... come on! Is that it?!" Peter shouted.
Jaylia moved carefully through the chaos, targeting those with flintlocks and avoiding their gunfire. She grappled and subdued them one by one.
Dreko moved efficiently, knocking opponents aside with controlled force.
Rowlo finally was able to drive Shira into the ground, pinning her down. She was bruised and battered.
Rowlo raised his fist.
"You've lost. Release Japan... and leave this planet."
Shira smirked slightly.
"You'd have to kill me, boy."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"After all... the effects of one's foosoo disappear when they die."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"Or perhaps... you'll take my foosoo for yourself."
Rowlo froze.
"What...?"
"Oh... your teacher didn’t even teach you that much, huh?"
Shira glanced toward Dreko.
"An immortal can take another’s foosoo... and carry more than one."
She let out a quiet, sarcastic laugh.
"The process will probably kill you though."
Rowlo’s expression tightened.
"Tch... I don’t want to kill you. Just release everyone... end this madness."
Shira tilted her head slightly.
"I don’t think you have it in you."
A low hum filled the air.
The sky above Edo darkened.
A massive capital ship emerged, descending slowly through the clouds. Its sheer size cast a shadow over the entire city.
The ground trembled faintly beneath it.
A section of the ship opened.
From within, a figure stepped out.
A man with short gray hair... floating effortlessly down toward the city below.
Shira’s eyes widened slightly, a grin spreading across her face.
"Tre... Treason..."
Her voice carried a mix of excitement and relief.
"...he’s finally here."