BloodStar

Agents scurried around the interior of the White House as gunfire and explosions could be heard outside. The pattering of bullets could be heard against the bulletproof windows as agents activated the building’s defense systems and called for backup.

Agents were quick to activate the defensive systems resulting in missile pods springing up on the White House roof and surrounding gardens. Agents independently controlled the missile pods remotely via tablets within the White House.

One agent looked down at his tablet controlling the White House front roof position missile pod to see over 100 gunmen dressed in all black ninja outfits. Slowly walking ahead of the pack as they progressed was a slender man with an athletic build wearing an all-black ninja outfit. This man did not carry a gun and instead wielded a Japanese style samurai sword.

The agent activated the missiles from the tablet and aimed them right at the front of the group as he targeted the leader. The missiles launched out at breakneck speed heading directly towards their target.

However, the agent was surprised to see what unfolded next. The leader of the ninja army raised his hand and created a curvilinear wall of ki in front of him and his men. The missiles exploded on impact leaving the wall intact and men behind it unharmed.

Next, one by one, the camera and aiming reticles on the tablets lost their connections as each missile pod was destroyed.

From within the White House, a calling voice could be heard from outside. The sound of gunfire and explosions abated allowing the men to hear the voice more clearly.

The voice called out saying, “We are here to discuss the terms of the dissolution of the alliance between the United States and BloodStar Empire. Please send out a representative at once.”

At the break in gunfire, no less than 50 agents armed with fully automated machine guns loaded with armor-piercing bullets ran outside and took their positions, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

They could see the leader of the group standing with his samurai sword in hand. He called out once more, “Until you do… we will continue to kill!”

Corvus yelled to his men, “Open fire!”

Corvus maintained a ki shield in place allowing his group’s fire to pass through but blocking the incoming enemy gunfire. Before long, the 50 agents who had taken their defensive positions outside were all dead.

Corvus began a slow walk up the White House lawn and yelled, “Let’s move inside men!”

However, as Corvus approached, he heard the spooling of fighter jet engines approaching. The two fighter jets were over a mile away; however, he was able to pick them out from a distance with his sharp eyesight.

He formed a black ball of energy in one hand. Then he formed another black ball of energy in his other hand. Both balls of ki energy were about the size of a basketball. He then hurled one energy blast, followed by the other.

The two energy blasts made direct contact with the two fighter jets exploding on impact. Only bits of shrapnel remained as the remnants of the jets fell to the ground below.

Corvus smiled to himself and said, “Let’s head inside men!”

However, just as he said that, a blinding wall of ki formed around the entire front of the White House blocking their entry.

Corvus shielded his eyes to see who had created such a massive wall. On the other side of the translucent wall, he saw the figure of a giant man standing with his arms crossed. Corvus yelled, “Nero! You whipped pup! Come and fight me if you dare! Right after I kill you, I will kill your precious little Princess.”

At that moment, an agent ran up to Nero and handed him a radio. Nero grabbed the radio and said, “Yes?”

He was surprised to hear his general’s voice on the other side as Xenia said, “Nero, we are many stories underground. Can you have this mess taken care of by the time we surface? Or would you like to wait for my help? The lift elevator is terribly slow, and we may be several minutes.”

Nero smirked, “I can take care of this without issue. Do I have permission to kill the intruders, or would you like them captured?”

Xenia quickly responded, “Please kill them all. No one is allowed to survive. That is a direct order.”

Nero acknowledged, “Yes General Xenia. I will take care of this with haste.”

Nero handed the radio back to the agent and said, “Call your men off. I will take care of this intrusion from henceforth.”

The agent was relieved at Nero’s words, but he was also skeptical as he thought to himself, “This man is either a god or a fool!”

Nero removed his suit jacket and shirt revealing his massively muscular build and sword sheathed along his back. He then dropped the shield he had maintained as he walked out the front door. Agents looked on in shock as they watched him casually walk down to the White House lawn.

As Nero dropped his wall of ki energy shielding The White House, Corvus raised his shield back up. Nero walked up to the ki energy shield and met face to face with Corvus who stood on the other side. The two men faced off on the White House lawn with just a single energy barrier separating them.

Corvus said, “The venerable Gladiator Champion, Nero! What a treat. I will garner much respect within my clan for killing the likes of you. I may even add your sword to my collection.” He then thought for a moment and said, “Or maybe I will have it melted to erase the memory of you from this planet.”

Nero growled and responded, “This sword? You don’t have the strength to melt this sword. Your entire clan doesn’t have the strength to melt this sword down.”

Corvus laughed and said, “We may just see about that, won’t we?” Corvus then drew his sword and said with a much more serious tone, “The alliance of the United States and BloodStar Empire interferes with our goal of dissolving the America government. The North American continent has been under this weak rule for too long. It is the Karasu Clan’s time to become a Master Family with Karasu himself at the head of this nation. Put your alliance aside and cease activity with the United States. Or we will kill your Princess. You cannot fight a war this far from your homeland. You will only –“

Corvus’s exposition was interrupted as Nero yelled with an animal roar throwing a punch with terrifying might at the barrier that stood before him. His fist carried a horrifying amount of energy and shattered the entire massive ki shield upon impact.

Corvus performed a backflip and landed on his feet with the terrifying shockwave that followed pushing him back several more feet before he stabilized.

Corvus then yelled, “Kill him!” All firepower was instantly aimed at Nero; however, he didn’t move a muscle at first. In fact, he didn’t seem to activate any ki either. He just stood there as the bullets flew towards him.

As the bullets made impact with his skin, they crunched up into distorted forms and fell to the ground. Nero threw his head back and roared once more clenching his fists as his battle spirit surged. Nero lived for no other purpose than battle, and he was only just getting started.

He sprang forth with blazing fast speed towards one group of gunmen. They were completely caught off guard as he grabbed two men by their heads and ripped them clean off. He then smashed no less than ten other ninjas to death using the heads of their comrades.

After wiping out one area, he leaped like a ferocious animal to another group. They attempted to aim their machine guns at him; however, before they could pull the trigger, Nero bent the barrels up and ripped the guns from their hands. He then continued to smash his enemies to a pulp using their guns.

The remaining ninjas, realizing their weapons were useless, drew their swords and rushed as a group at Nero.

Nero turned to face them and yelled, “Yes! Yes! Rush to your deaths!” He roared and opened his mouth wide as he shot a huge yellow beam of ki from his mouth directly at the group rushing him. In seconds, their bodies were completely dissolved. After the energy blast dissipated, not even their swords were to be seen.

Nero had a hurried breath of excitement as he saw the carnage before him. However, at that moment, he felt a large slash across his back.

He turned to see Corvus standing 15 feet away from him smiling. Corvus swung his sword and sent a crescent shaped surge of energy at him similar to the one that had just cut Nero’s back.

Nero held up his forearm to block it, and the sword energy strike cut him across the forearm before dissipating.

Nero roared but not in pain. He reveled in all aspects of battle including pain, and this was his first small dose of pain in a long time. It awoke his battle spirit even further.

Corvus misinterpreted this roar and said, “If you thought that was painful, you are in for a world of hurt.”

Corvus then disappeared into thin air. Nero took note of his disappearance but was not surprised. The Karasu Clan was infamous for their concealing techniques. Karasu himself could disappear without a trace seemingly. However, his disciples generally could be sensed via residual ki energy.

Corvus sent a volley of crescent shaped sword energy blasts at Nero. They all made contact on his shoulders, chest, back, and arms. Nero stood there taking the attacks head on.

Corvus then reappeared and taunted Nero, “Maybe you should draw your sword. You may yet have a fighting chance in the fight if you do.”

Nero laughed wildly as he yelled, “This sword? This sword has been graced by the Empress Victoria herself. It would be an insult to her name to draw it on the likes of you!”

Corvus frowned in frustration and yelled back, “Then die!” He disappeared once more; however, this time, Nero followed him with his eyes letting Corvus know that he could see his every move by tracing his ki.

Corvus was unperturbed as he thought, “A skilled sense of ki. But that won’t save you from my energy blasts.” He launched another volley of attacks; however, as he did, Nero gave a battle cry and formed a spherical dense ball of ki around himself that completely destroyed all attacks before they reached him.

Nero’s sphere abated and the ki energy consolidated on his body’s surface giving him a yellow glow of power.

Corvus reappeared and said, “You’ve finally decided to fight. Then so shall I!” He concentrated a dense black energy around his sword and yelled, “Void Strike!”

He launched at Nero swinging his sword with all of his might. He was both surprised and relived to see that Nero didn’t move an inch. Corvus thought, “As I thought, my attack is too fast for you to follow. Die!”

However, Corvus’s strike met against Nero’s glowing layer of ki and came to a screeching halt. He backflipped immediately knowing that his attack had been hugely unsuccessful. Corvus still had one more trump card though.

He called out to Nero and said, “You think yourself strong. Allow me to show you an attack for which strength means nothing!”

Nero laughed and said, “You don’t have the skill level to execute your clan’s legendary move before I pulverize you.”

Nero took his fist, glowing with energy, and punched it into the ground as he yelled, “Column of Demise!”

A huge 6 foot in diameter column of ki energy burst forth from the ground underneath where Corvus stood. As the column of energy shot up towards the sky, Corvus’s entire body and sword were completely disintegrated.

Nero showed a hint of sadness knowing the battle was now over. From behind him, he heard a slow clap followed by, “Well done Nero. Thank you for taking care of this annoyance.” Xenia stood at the White House doorway entrance.

She then formed a ball of white light and shot it at Nero. The white ball of ki energy made contact with him and spread over his body healing his wounds instantly. She then yelled, “After you have are done quelling your battle spirit. Please follow us inside.”

Nero nodded and sat down to meditate. Xenia knew that as a warrior, he preferred to meditate on his battle spirit following any battle whether it be an intense fight to the death or a fun massacre such as the one he had just experienced. His breathing calmed and his ki energy abated from around his body, and he returned to his normal state.

As he walked back towards the entrance of the White House, he put his shirt and jacket back on over his sword. Although he had taken a direct hit across the back from Corvus’s sword strike, his sword and sheath remained perfectly flawless without a single imperfection.