Coming from [x]Coming from Yakukotan (032)
This post contains a B rank storyboard mission called: Witness the reintroduction of death
It was only moments ago that Barney calmed down after the outburst of his horrible. They were entering the outskirts of the village and the air was fresh. It was really a good moment to discussing the situation at hand. They exchanged thoughts and in general didn't disagree much. This is what made them a great team. They could easily agree on things and there was no room for drama with them. The walk certainly did them good to clear the air and to decide what and how it should be done. They got closer and closer, while a mysterious battle took place in the underworld, not far from them. A battle of uneven odds. A battle for the sake of Humanity. A battle destined to be lost. The winner, a foul creature responsible for the removal of death from the world was at the brink of blessing humanity with yet another gift.
"You know? About that whole chasing Madara thing..." Barney said as they got into the village. Here, the atmosphere was eerily quiet and calm. They weren't really bothered with all the guards on their outposts and those strolling the streets just like them. For what they cared, they were just simple tourists. They came to visit the city. To see it's historical monuments. The heart of the village. It's Kage mansion. Suddenly, the silence was broken with a single female scream. And then another one. And another one. The screams of people, young and old, across the whole city were heard and Panthalassa and Barney were shocked. Barney even got the heebie jeebies. All the hair across his whole body stood upright as he saw people falling onto the ground like sticks. Piles and piles of dead bodies as they walked towards the Kage mansion, now with their guard up. Something was wrong. Something didn't make sense. How were they alive when the rest just dropped dead?
"Do you think this has something to do with the battle in Irkalla and the removal of death?" asked Barney a rethorical question, not really expecting an answer because he was already convinced it had to be it. Somehow, death got reintroduced onto the world. And many people died within an instant. Those that tricked the Domain of Death with their immortality hack. Back when he first heard that death was removed from the world, he found it hilarious and stupid, but when he witnessed it with his own eyes, he started asking himself questions. He knew such a moment in time was possible at some point, yet he wasn't prepared.
As they walked, the streets were littered with bodies and they had a hard time navigating, watching their every step. The screams still didn't stop. It was mostly children now, orphans, crying after their deceased parents. They were left alone in this world, without guidance, without protection. Without hope. Their little beautiful and innocent faces were painted with tears as they screamed for help while crouching over the dead bodies of their parents. Its was a gut wrenching and heart breaking moment that really touched Barney. The emotion was so strong that he managed to completely block off the horrible within. Now was not the time.
"What... The... Fu*k..." he said while wiping his own tear from the corner of his eye. "What in the world? This is insane? We have to do something!" he said beggingly. Those that were still alive ran around maniacally, without a purpose or direction. They were scared because they thought they were next. Nobody paid attention to them, thus the job they set out to do wouldn't be as hard as they thought it could be.
"Let's hurry with this and return to Niashin. If he's alive, that is." finished Barney as he gave the empty Kage mansion a good look from up close.
Mission end.
Mission Start
Surpass a PTSD flashback induced by the death of about 50% of the world population
Panthalassa was merrily chatting with Barney along the way. He had felt that Barney's previous outburst was all but gone, but there was still this lingering feeling that they had to talk about it. In truth, the notion of exposing their vulnerabilities to eachother was not unheard of, but still would be a mark in their relatioship.
The city of Fuging was bustling with activity. So much so that they apparently were able to stroll down the main street without so much as a guard glancing their way. After traveling through forests and small villages, Panthalassa had grown accustomed to a tranquility and peaceful mood that came to a glarring stop as soon as they stepped foot in this metropolis. Had he not notice this in Keishi? How there was so many people, far too many people.
The Aburame felt slightly claustrophobic, despite trying his best to hide it from his friend. This was not a usual feeling for him, but it suddenly dawned on Panthalassa just how overcrowded the city was. There were numerous homeless, dirty, sad and most of them with terrible wounds and necrosis on their skin. As they approached a military hospital, they were greeted by a horde of amputees and gruesome patients, victims of the war but simply unable to die.
In truth, there were too many people, most of them resembling the very ghouls that populated Irkala. Panthalassa started to drip down, the heat was almost unbearable. Suddenly, a passerby looked at him, and all Panthalassa could see was a Fate. He startled back but the ghost was replaced by a blond kunoichi. He appologized, but his head was spinning around.
He looked at Barney up ahead, who kept on towards the Kage Mansion, and was relief to find that his friend had not noticed anything. But the heat kept pilling up, as people started filling the street and drowining out every corner of the place. Panthalassa was shoved around, aimless, seeing Barney's head up ahead. He tried shouting but found no voice.
An old man approached to help, but as he stretched out his bony hand all Panthalassa could see was the sword of Falnir, coming to rip him appart. The Aburame violently pushed out the man's hand, and ran ahead, seeing only the giant facade of the Kage Mansion, while everything else turned into Irkalla itself.
He bumped into Barney. "You know... the whole chasing Madara thing..." Panthalassa's vision focused once more. Barney's joyous smile brought him back. And the air filled up with warmth again. Panthalassa shook his head and his thoughts, wholy focused on Barney... so much so that he missed the scream entirely. He smiled back at Barney, but the Yuki was not smiling anymore.
Panthalassa felt a pit in his stomach. The heat came back, and he turned around... And silence.
He looked at the metropolis of Fuging. And... death permeated the air.
He tried to scream again... but he was frozen in place.
Everyone... dead.
Cold.
A scream.
Death.
And Panthalassa was no longer in the overworld.
All he could see was Irkalla.