When Douma stepped onto the park his kaleidoscopic orbs widened when he saw splurges of a strange gooey substance leaking on the ground and something much worse.
At first he thought only one unfortunate person had their body submerged in the strange bubble-gum looking liquid, but when he looked up to check and see if there were others who got affected by whatever had occurred in this park, his throat went dry.
"What happened here..." Douma said to himself, his voice shaky. Not only was the liquid drowning their bodies in its pool of gooey mass, it was absorbing them too.
That absorption being the main reason why their skin had scorch marks all over. Coming into contact with this substance melted one's skin which is why it could absorb their bodies easily once they turned into mush.
If Douma could, he'd save them but given the current state of these people becoming one with the splatters of this merciless goo, there was no saving them now. Their chests rose as they slowly lost consciousness.
Looking down at the ground, Douma felt sorry for these people. They were just having a good time at the park until one of Ryukushu's henchmen came here and abused his power on innocent civilians.
There was something off about this. Why would Ryukushu send one of his men to this park? The only possible reason is because he knew Douma or someone from Atlas would pass by this area. This was planned all along. The thought of using innocent civilians as bait was sickening. If Ryukushu continues setting foot in any place where humans were, nobody is going to be free from this hatred rooted in him. Douma had to stop him.
Glancing at the park one last time, Douma took a deep breath and made his way towards the woods. The sun was glaring at him, a reminder to him that there was no turning back now.
As he ran he saw the faint figure of that demon in the samurai armor, running up a hill. From the way his movements were inconsistent with how he appeared to be leaning in one direction every few seconds, Douma knew that Ryukushu was very much aware that the angel was catching up with him despite setting up a form of distraction.
After today, nobody will have to keep an eye open while they're asleep. He always attacks when least expected. Coward... Douma quickened his pace when he saw the sunlight dawning on an open area. That has to be the clearing he was running to.
Ryukushu turned around and saw Douma running through the trees and boulders of the woods he just left. "So you saw through our setup. Impressive, but I doubt you'll get the chance to use your intuition during our battle. If that ever happens." The samurai walked away from the spot he was standing at, leaving Douma to figure out where he disappears to next.
Leaping over a mount on the ground, Douma found himself standing in the bright clearing. He looked at his surroundings, particularly at the spot where he saw Ryukushu standing.
The demon wasn't there which made him grit his teeth in annoyance. This game that Ryukushu was playing with his opponents gave him the advantage because he could just vanish and pop up in another random location.
Only this time, it wasn't just some destination for people to hop around and forget about their problems. It looks to be that Ryukushu knew where he was going. He was looking for the three weapons and it's no surprise if he already found their location.
Douma recalled the conversation he had with the team at the hotel lobby. Apparently, the old building that houses the three weapons is hidden in sight so not many people know about it. But those who do claim that it's on a mountain. You just have to keep your eyes open, but don't be shocked if you find the entrance in chains. That's what Kurai heard from the locals in the city.
From there Douma and Atlas knew they had to keep a lookout for that mountain. Perhaps the same one they noticed but didn't think too much of it.
Taking a glimpse at the corner of the hill, Douma saw the crevices of the mountain beside it. This part of the outskirts of the city was trailing up to the very same mountain he saw earlier. He didn't expect to reach it so soon but here he was.
At the same time, this entire area was also a death trap. While Ryukushu hoped that the scene back at the park would be enough to distract Douma because of the severity of its current state, it also served as a warning that should he go further, Ryukushu wouldn't hesitate to unleash the power of his sword, in the worst way possible.
Douma didn't think too much about it, he already prepared himself for this battle. The angel ran up the mountain, glancing at every corner to spot an old building with its entrance in chains.
Scanning the large door in front of him, Ryukushu narrowed his eyes at the chains barricading the door, especially the keyhole in the center. They rattled when the wind blew. The sounds of their rust indicating this old building had to be the place that kept those three weapons.
Many would turn their backs the minute they saw chains dangling in front of an entrance, but Ryukushu wasn't bothered by their presence. Without hesitation, he grabbed onto the heavy metal chains and ripped them off the surface of the entrance, throwing them to the ground.
Ryukushu pushed the doors open and stared at the hall of the restricted place. Rays of sunlight lit up the building from the cracks on the roof and walls. Three large statues of presumably ancient warriors or knights stood in the hall with their swords and shields on display. A decorative form of honor for the might warriors who played a huge role in Rome's history.
The samurai stepped in, looking for another entrance, one that would take him to what he was searching for endlessly.
As Douma hurried down a trail leading to a lower section of the mountain closer to the hills and sea, he felt a sudden surge of overwhelming power coming from the direction he was heading to. It was disorienting, acting as a hostile form of energy that tried to push away anyone within the location. He could've heard something like large heavy doors opening. An adrenaline rushed through him at the thought of the worse.
The angel summonsed a breeze of frost that dispersed this overwhelming power in a snap. Wincing, Douma continued down the trail until he spotted a building hidden beneath the surface of the mountain. The silence that fell was deafening but he pushed through it and kept going. He had to, those doors didn't open by themselves.
Stomping on the floor, Ryukushu hissed when he didn't see any door or opening leading to another section of the hall. He initially thought the three weapons would be on display in an area as spacious as this hall but it turns out there's most likely another area around here somewhere.
But the more he paced around the hall looking for that door, the stronger his greed and impatience grew. Looking at the floor again, he realized the three weapons were probably located underground. The carvings and circular dome in the center of the hall being a portrayal of that. This was infuriating, because it meant that he had to break down the flooring which would divert everybody's focus to this place once it crumbles the slightest.
When Ryukushu was about to plunge his sword down, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. The samurai spun around and saw Douma standing at the entrance of the building.
"Do you really think your act of bravery is going to stop what's about to happen to this world? I warned you, many times, those who try to get in my way never come back. I don't think you want your friends to suffer because of your foolishness." Ryukushu pointed his large sword at the dome on the ground, waiting to scrap the surface.
"I'm not afraid, because I know what I'm doing. Honor wouldn't trouble anyone in the end. The only fool here is you, Ryukushu." Douma replied, taking out one of his fans from his pocket and walking towards the hall.
Laughing, Ryukushu left a deep mark on the surface of the floor with his sword. "Are you trying to bring honor into this? Have you even experienced it firsthand? It doesn't matter whose side you're on, if you think you're the winner you won't feel an ounce of regret."
"And what makes you think you're winning this fight, or should I say war. You don't even know the consequences of your own actions do you?"
Ryukushu narrowed his eyes at Douma, he found that statement to be very insinuating. This angel was too confident. He talks a lot but doesn't add any thinking aspect into his own decisions. He should know that initiating a battle with the demon is a terrible idea, others would tell him that but he refuses to acknowledge the facts.
"Do you think these threats of yours are even going to change my decision? Or the fate of this fight that you have high hopes for in your favor? My actions are based on what I think is the best path for my people, those who look up to what I stand for. These consequences you speak of, don't have a place in any part of my legacy, because they're non-existent, just like this honor that you speak of."
When Douma was about to speak, the samurai darted off the ground with his sword engulfed in dark purple energy and appeared in the corner of the angel's eye, getting ready to slash his side.
The angel backed away from Ryukushu, his large sword cutting the air in his direction. The purple streaks from his weapon forming the shape of a cut that disappeared a few seconds later.
"This is my last warning. If you decide to go on with this battle, then it's your decision and I'm not accountable for your mistake."
"Alright then, let's get on with it. I'm not going anywhere." Douma responded, getting his golden fans ready. The three weapons aren't leaving this building, not with Ryukushu or anybody with a mentality like his for the matter.