The Wind Mage's Legacy: Chapter 33

Hi all, 

Here’s the next chapter. The Pokemon Resurgence chapter will be posted tomorrow.

Chapter 33

Wind currents carried Harry down through the clouds. The village square spread out below him, revealing broken houses, scattered roof tiles, and shattered windows. He slowed his descent and touched down on the ground. 

People stumbled through the square, some with bandaged arms or bloodied faces. Others sat against walls, staring at nothing. A woman cradled a child, rocking back and forth. The smell of smoke hung in the air.

Two Kannagi clan guards stood outside the largest building in the centre. Harry crossed towards them, and they nodded at him, pushing the doors open.

Inside, practitioners moved with purpose, while others gathered in small groups, engaged in deep conversation.. A few slumped against walls, eyes closed. More practitioners entered from a side door, exhaustion carved into their features. 

Ayano looked up from where she stood near the tables. Her hair hung loose, and dark circles shadowed her eyes. She crossed the room in quick strides. Her body pressed against his, tense and coiled tight. 

"How bad is it?" Harry asked. 

Ayano pulled back but didn't step away. "Really bad. We're running out of time."

"What can you tell me about this kitsune? Does it have any weaknesses?"

"I don't know. Father spoke to the Flame Spirit King, but he didn't provide much detail. Though he did say the kitsune primarily uses illusions to trick its opponents. Kind of broken if you ask me, as it has many other advantages due to its mastery over flames, and its size."

"Illusions?" Harry's mind turned. "Like the trickster spirit? Night might be able to provide some help with countering them."

"Some good news at least."

"Who dealt with it last time? There must be a way."

"No one knows. It just disappeared one day."

Harry exhaled through his nose. "Not very helpful. I suppose we'll have to muddle through like always."

"You always perform at your best when the situation is uncertain." Ayano turned. "Father can explain the current situation more."

She led him through the chaos towards a doorway in the back. The smaller room beyond served as a makeshift office. A massive map dominated one wall—topographical lines showing mountain ranges, valleys, and forest coverage. Seven red X marks stood out like wounds across the terrain. He didn't need an explanation for what they represented.

Jugo stood behind a desk. He glanced up, his expression hard. "Glad you could join us. It looks like we'll have to fight this kitsune."

"How much time do we have?"

"Not long. Only one more sacrifice is needed to summon the nine-tailed kitsune, if our assumptions about nine sacrifices are right."

Jugo moved to the map. "Seven villagers were taken during the Oni attack, but everyone else was accounted for. They must have another victim prepared for the final sacrifice. Search parties have been combing the mountains for several hours. They had found tracks, signs of Oni movement, but nothing concrete."

Ayano pointed to a region on the map. "The pattern suggests that the ninth sacrifice will take place in this part of the mountains. Two teams left for that area an hour ago. We haven't heard anything from them yet.”

"What's Gaia's plan in summoning the kitsune?" Harry studied the photographs. "Can it control this yokai?"

Jugo snorted. "I doubt it. The kitsune is an uncontrollable force of nature. Gaia's most likely using it to cause as much mayhem for us whilst it continues to plot behind the scenes."

“What are our chances of beating this thing?” Harry asked. 

“I don’t know,” Jugo replied heavily. “Based on the information at hand, it’s remote. But with you here, we may stand a chance.”

"No pressure," Harry sighed. "This kitsune is being summoned. Is there any way to send it back where it came from?"

Jugo shrugged. 

Harry ran a hand through his hair. The options narrowed to a single path—kill it or die trying. The kitsune sounded more powerful than Typhoon, and he had to rely on Night to finish it off. 

Night's presence stirred in the back of his consciousness. The entity had been quiet during the briefing, but Harry could sense him lurking, listening.

Night, have you been listening to what’s going on?

Of course, Night replied. You humans chatter too much. 

You’re human as well. Anyway, have you encountered a nine-tailed Kitsune before?

No. I think I heard Gaia speak about encountering one before, but nothing else. 

Harry's hope deflated. Not very helpful. Do you know if it has any weaknesses?

Night didn’t immediately respond. I think the best method would be to restrict the kitsune. It’s so large and powerful that a single sweep of its tail could destroy a mountain. An overpowered freezing spell could work the best, as it would also combat the kitsune’s flames.

Harry considered the spells he knew. He only knew one freezing spell. Glacius, a basic spell designed to freeze water in a basin or create patches of ice on floors. Against a mountain-sized yokai wreathed in supernatural fire? Useless. Completely and utterly useless.

He could try merging his wind and magic, amplifying the spell's power through the technique Night had been teaching him. But it needed practice, and he didn't have the time for it.

The mobile phone on Jugo's desk rang. He snatched it up, listened. His expression darkened. "We're on our way."

He slammed the phone down and strode towards the door. Harry and Ayano followed.

"They found the shrine," Jugo called out to the room. "Ritual's in progress. Everyone, gear up. We are moving now."

The building erupted into controlled chaos. Practitioners grabbed weapons and fastened their protective gear. Within seconds, they streamed towards the exits.

Ayano moved with them, but Harry caught her wrist. "I need to speak to you before we head out."

"Is this really the time?"

"This is the only time." His grip tightened slightly. "If something happens to me, I want to make sure where we stand."

"Nothing will happen to you. Even if you cannot beat the kitsune, you can escape with your life."

"There are no guarantees."

Ayano shook her head. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Harry drew in a breath, forcing the words out before he could second-guess them. "Ayano. I love you. I love Daphne. I've been avoiding saying it because everything's complicated enough already, but bugger it all—you both deserve to hear the words."

Her breath caught. “You beat me to the punch. I love you, too.”

“I'm usually bad at showing my emotions, but the situation is forcing me to be honest. There's also another reason I'm sharing this now.”

Ayano raised an eyebrow. 

"Daphne's pregnant."

The shock that crossed Ayano's features would have been comical in any other circumstance. Her mouth opened, closed, opened again.

"I want to marry you both. After this battle, if we survive—" He shook his head. "When we survive, we need to discuss the ceremonies. Do you want to get married together with Daphne, or have your own ceremony?"

"Father would want me to have the ceremony at the clan." Her voice came out soft. "With our traditional wedding ceremony."

"I'm fine with that."

She crashed into him, arms wrapping around his ribs with bruising force. He held her close, one hand tangling in her dust-covered hair, the other pressing against the small of her back. She trembled against him—not from fear, but from something deeper, more fundamental.

Her lips found his with sudden fierceness. The kiss tasted of desperation and promises neither could guarantee they'd keep. 

When they broke apart, tears tracked clean lines down her dusty cheeks. "Don’t die on me."

"Ditto."

They burst from the building hand in hand, joining the stream of practitioners already rushing through the village and the mountain paths beyond.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The Kannagi practitioners moved through the undergrowth, their steps softened by the thick layer of pine needles on the ground. Harry ran beside Ayano and Jugo at the front of the group.

No birds called from the canopy. No insects buzzed through the humid air. 

The shrine appeared through the thinning trees. It was an old structure resting on a plateau overlooking a valley below. The torii gate leaned at an angle, one pillar split down the middle. Moss and decay covered what used to be bright red paint. The main building slanted to one side, its roof missing tiles that revealed rotting beams underneath.

The smell reached him first: copper and another scent, something burnt that made his stomach tighten.

Bodies lay scattered across the open space. The advance teams. Several Oni bodies were scattered among the remains, suggesting that the practitioners had fought back before they were defeated.

"Too late," Ayano breathed beside him.

Movement at the courtyard's centre drew every eye. An Oni stood before the shrine's entrance, hands raised towards the sky. A body lay bound at his feet—the ninth victim. Blood ran from the corpse's throat, flowing along carved channels in the stone that formed an intricate pattern. The final ritual circle.

Harry compressed the air around his legs, preparing to launch forward, when the ground shook beneath him. 

Spiritual energy burst upward in a pillar of searing white light. The shrine building exploded outward, its wooden beams and roof tiles shattering into a thousand pieces. The Oni and its intended sacrifice were obliterated in an instant, disappearing in a blast of intense heat and energy.

A huge shape rose from the ruins. Fox-like features appeared first: a muzzle filled with teeth as long as swords, and red eyes glowing with anger. The body extended endlessly, covered in bright orange fur. Behind it, nine tails unfurled, lashing the air with a sharp crack.

The kitsune stood as tall as the mountains surrounding them. When it opened its mouth, it released a deafening howl that vibrated in Harry's chest. 

"Damn it." Harry's hands clenched. "We're too late."

“How do you want to approach this?” Jugo asked.

"Stay back for now. I'll approach it alone. See if diplomacy works first."

"I'm coming with you," Ayano said.

"No." Harry shook his head. "If a fight breaks out, I'm the one with the best chance of surviving and probing for a weakness. Besides, I don't know how effective your flames will be against the kitsune."

His mind turned to the Cross family in New York. Their ice powers would be incredibly useful right now. Too bad they were enemies. Even if other clans wielded ice, he didn't have time to convince them to participate in this fight.

The kitsune's tails smashed against the courtyard. The impact created a crater twenty metres wide. A pressure wave exploded outward, slamming into the practitioners with hurricane force. They were knocked off their feet and sent crashing to the ground.

Harry stood firm, the wind barrier absorbing the shockwave. He launched skyward, rising until he hovered level with the kitsune's massive face. Up close, the creature's pupils were vertical slits filled with intelligence and rage. The heat radiating from its body made sweat bead instantly on Harry's forehead.

He opened his mouth to speak.

The kitsune pivoted with shocking speed for something so massive. All nine tails lashed forward as one, aiming to crush him into paste.

"Bloody wind." 

Harry shot backwards, wind propelling him clear. The tails whistled past, close enough that displaced air spun him sideways. They struck the mountain, and the rock exploded. The top of the peak sheared off, crashing down in a massive landslide of fragmented rock.

Night, the kitsune is supposedly proficient with illusions. Can you help with that?

Don't worry. Night's presence stirred in his consciousness. I can make sure you don't fall for its tricks like you did with the trickster.

Great, then I can go all out.

Harry brought his powers together, magic and wind merging in the technique Night had drilled into him. The fusion settled into place with familiar ease. He raised both hands and unleashed a barrage of enhanced Bombardas.

The spells tore through the air, each one accelerated by wind currents to impossible velocities. They struck the kitsune's chest in rapid succession. Explosions bloomed across its massive body. The creature roared, more surprised than injured.

Harry pressed the attack. Wind blades followed the bombardas, dozens of them converging from multiple angles. The kitsune's tails whipped around its body, creating a defensive barrier. The blades struck and dispersed, unable to penetrate.

The kitsune's jaws opened. Fire erupted from its throat, and the column of fire carved through the air towards Harry.

He dove aside,  and the flames scorched past, close enough that his exposed skin reddened from the heat. 

Harry recovered quickly and continued casting. Three more bombardas, merged with his wind, struck the kitsune's left forelimb. The explosions actually drew blood this time.

The kitsune snarled. Its form flickered, and suddenly three identical versions surrounded Harry from different angles.

Illusion, Night said immediately. The one on your left is real.

Harry turned quickly and sent a powerful blast of wind at the left kitsune. The other two images wavered and dissolved. The real kitsune took the attack full in the face, its head snapping backwards.

It didn't try illusions again.

The battle descended into brutal exchanges. Harry darted through the air, his movements erratic and unpredictable. The kitsune tracked him with disturbing accuracy, tails striking faster than something that massive had any right to move. Each near-miss sent shockwaves rippling outward.

The Kannagi practitioners retreated further down the mountain path, driven back by the overwhelming forces neither side could fully control. Trees ignited from stray flames. The shrine that had stood for centuries was gone, reduced to splinters.

Harry poured everything into the assault. Bombardas merged with wind, creating explosions that cracked the kitsune's defences. Wind blades sharp enough to split stone carved shallow wounds across its flanks. 

But the kitsune was winning.

Each exchange left Harry slightly worse off, his magical reserves draining with each merged spell. The kitsune's power seemed endless, fueled by its massive spiritual pressure.

A tail caught him across the ribs. The impact drove the air from his lungs and sent him rocketing backwards. He tumbled through the sky, unable to control his flight. The mountain rushed up to meet him.

Harry threw wind around himself at the last instant, creating cushions of compressed air. He struck the mountainside hard enough to see stars. Rock crumbled around him as his momentum drove him deep into the stone. Pain exploded across his back and shoulders.

He struggled free from the crater, coughing dust. Through watering eyes, he spotted movement below. Ayano and the practitioners had engaged the kitsune, attacking its legs with coordinated strikes.

The kitsune's head swung down, flames gathering in its throat.

"No," Harry breathed.

Fire erupted. The blast caught Ayano mid-swing, engulfing her completely. Her body flew backwards like a rag doll, disappearing into the woods behind her. Other practitioners scattered, some not fast enough, their screams cut short.

Harry's world narrowed to a single point.

I love you.

The words he'd finally spoken. Words she'd returned without hesitation.

Don't die on me.

Her voice echoed in his skull. The way she'd crashed into him, arms wrapped tight enough to bruise. The taste of her lips was desperate and fierce. 

He'd made her a promise. Marriage. A future. All those careful words about ceremonies and traditions, as if speaking them aloud could bind reality to his will.

Something inside Harry's chest tore open—not breaking, but unleashing. A door he'd kept locked his entire life, hinges finally giving way under pressure they were never meant to withstand.

The Black Wind state flowed through him, but this time it was different. 

The darkness wrapped around his consciousness, but his thoughts remained his own. Rational. Calculating. The Black Wind's power was there—that bottomless well of destruction he'd tapped before—but this time he controlled the flow instead of drowning in it.

He could feel something click into place—an understanding that transcended words or conscious thought. Like watching puzzle pieces slot together to reveal a picture he'd been staring at all along without seeing it.

You've finally gained the right state of mind, Night said. I believe you are ready to wield my power now.

What do you mean?

A third power. Spirit, magic, and my own that I developed over many centuries. Do you remember how I used it to destroy Typhoon?

I understand.

There are risks, however. You won't be able to use it for long, so you have to go in hard and fast. Using too much could harm your body.

Harry raised his hand. Black wind coalesced above his palm, forming a small scythe no longer than his forearm. Power thrummed through it, eager and hungry.

He flew forward at speeds that tore the air apart.

 "Get back!" he roared to the practitioners below. "Retreat now!"

They ran without hesitation.

Harry unleashed a torrent of black scythes. They spun through the air, dozens of them converging on the kitsune from every angle. Where they struck, white fur disintegrated. Blood sprayed in arterial bursts. The kitsune's roar shook the mountains.

The battle entered a new phase. Harry merged all three powers—magic, wind, and Night's darkness—into attacks that carved through the kitsune's defences like they didn't exist. The enhanced bombardas hit with incredible force, causing the creature to stumble and lose its balance.

The kitsune fought back with desperate fury. Harry dodged and countered, his movements enhanced by the merged powers. He was everywhere at once—above, below, flanking. Each attack bit deeper. Each wound bled more freely.

Minutes passed in a blur of violence. The kitsune's movements grew sluggish. Its roars took on a pained quality..

Finally, its legs buckled. The massive form crashed to the ground, sending tremors through the earth. Its head lowered, those burning eyes meeting Harry's gaze.

"Mercy," it rumbled, the word formed with obvious effort. "I beg mercy, wind walker."

Harry hovered in the air, black wind curling around his clenched fists. The scythes had dissipated, but power still thrummed beneath his skin, eager to tear into flesh.

"Why should I?" Harry demanded. “You hurt Ayano. If she's not alive, you'll pay for it with a slow and agonising death."

The kitsune's massive head lifted from the ground. Blood matted the fur around its muzzle. 

"Your mate?" The words rumbled from deep in its chest. "I can understand your anger. But what about my anger, human? You summoned me here. What was your reason? To bind me to your will?"

"I wasn't the one who summoned you. If you'd let me explain from the start, the fight could have been avoided."

"Why should I believe you, human? Your kind are selfish and greedy."

Before Harry could respond, a voice interrupted him.

"Harry!"

He spun in the air. Relief slammed into his chest when he spotted Ayano.

She limped through the trees, one hand pressed against her ribs. Her left sleeve had burned away completely, revealing angry red skin beneath. But she was moving. Breathing. Alive.

Jugo and the remaining uninjured practitioners followed behind her, weapons still drawn.

Harry shot towards her, wind propelling him across the distance in seconds. He hit the ground running and crashed into her, arms wrapping around her back. 

"It will take a lot more than that to kill me." Ayano patted his back with her good hand. 

"Don't scare me like that." Harry pulled back enough to see her face. The burns looked painful, but not life-threatening.

"I don't want to interrupt," Jugo said. "But we still have the kitsune to deal with."

Harry nodded. He kept one arm wrapped around Ayano's waist as they turned back towards the massive creature and approached it.

"How about we introduce ourselves first,” he said. "I'm Harry."

The kitsune's ears swivelled forward. "Call me Chikara."

"Like I said, I'm not responsible for summoning you, or anyone else here." Harry gestured at the practitioners behind him. Someone else used you to create more chaos, and possibly to get rid of me.”

"Who has the knowledge to summon me to this realm?" Chikara asked.

"Gaia."

"That upstart?" Her voice carried genuine surprise. "I thought he would be smarter than to use me in this manner."

"He?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know it had a gender, but if it were to have one, I thought he would be female."

"I don't know what gender it is. I just always associated him with being male."

"How do you know Gaia?"

"He is from my realm. A demon that fled after a conflict with several demons a long time ago." Chikara snorted. "He made many enemies before his departure."

Harry frowned. "Does that mean all demons are spirits?"

"Demons are a type of spirit, usually more violent and powerful than the ones found here." Chikara's tails swept in lazy arcs behind her. "Your realm is peaceful by comparison. Boring, even."

Ayano shifted against Harry's side. "Gaia has been causing a lot of strife for us. Is there anything you can tell us about it?"

"What's in it for me?"

"Your life?" Harry suggested.

"Shows how much you know, human. If you kill me, I will just be reborn in the demon realm."

Harry's jaw clenched. "Does that hold true for Gaia?"

"Yes."

"Dammit." He ran his hand through his hair. "Can we ever rid ourselves of that menace?"

"If you manage to kill Gaia, you won't need to worry." Chikara's tone carried dark amusement. "There are those in the demon realm who have long memories. Gaia will not have a good time of it."

"That's a relief. So, how about you exchange information with us, and we can help you return to your realm."

"Who says I want to return? This is a much better environment."

Harry frowned. Keeping the nine-tailed kitsune around sounded like more trouble than it was worth. If Chikara couldn’t provide him with vital information, he wasn’t going to keep the demon around. 

"Okay, then we promise not to kill you in exchange for information." Harry said. 

"You dare to bargain with me, human?!" 

Harry ignored the threat. "As long as you promise to settle down here and remain peaceful, I believe we can come to an accord."

"Boring."

Harry simply waited, letting the silence stretch on. 

Chikara's massive head tilted. "I have a huge appetite. As long as you can feed me adequately, I will refrain from snacking on you humans."

Harry exchanged a glance with Ayano. Her expression remained neutral, but he caught the slight nod.

"You have a deal." Harry stepped forward, pulling Ayano with him. "Now, what can you tell me about this Gaia?"

Chikara grinned, revealing her impressive set of fangs. "Where should I begin?"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Harry pushed through the door into the dining room at Grimmauld Place. Daphne sat with a stack of newspapers beside her plate, whilst Ayano poured coffee from a steaming pot.

He crossed to Daphne first, tilting her chin up for a kiss. Her lips curved into a smile against his. Then he moved to Ayano, who met him halfway, her mouth soft and familiar.

"Good morning to you, too." Ayano handed him a plate loaded with eggs, bacon, and toast. The scent made his stomach growl.

He dropped into his chair and reached for the coffee mug she'd already prepared. 

Daphne slid several newspapers across the table towards him. The Daily Prophet sat on top, followed by the Evening Standard and The Times. "I've posted the image in the newspapers along with a reward for identifying the location."

Harry nodded and flipped open the Prophet to the submissions section. The scrying image took up a quarter of the page. The text beneath offered ten thousand pounds for confirmed information leading to the exact location.

"Have I told you how brilliant you are?" Harry murmured.

"Not since yesterday," Daphne smirked. "But I don't mind hearing it again."

"Well, you're brilliant." Harry turned to the next paper, scanning for the same advertisement. "It shouldn't take long before we get an answer, considering there's a ten thousand pound reward."

Daphne had a great idea on how to locate Gaia using the scrying image. Rather than waste weeks searching the world for the exact location—time he didn't have with everything else demanding his attention—she'd suggested leveraging the public. Someone would eventually recognise the location, and nothing motivated people more than money.

Ayano settled into the chair across from him with her own plate. "With the information Chikara provided, we now stand a good chance of defeating Gaia."

"I doubt it would be that easy." Harry bit into his toast. "Remember, her information is several millennia out of date. Who knows how much Gaia has evolved since then?"

The kitsune had been surprisingly forthcoming once they'd struck their bargain. The most valuable piece of intelligence centred on disrupting Gaia's transformations. The Origin Spirit could shift between dozens of different forms, each with unique abilities that made it nearly impossible to counter. Even Night had admitted ignorance about how to combat that particular ability. 

If the information was accurate, it could go a long way to evening the odds. 

Harry's mind drifted to the battle with the kitsune. He'd merged all three powers—magic, wind, and Night's darkness—into something that had actually damaged Chikara. But every attempt to replicate those feats in the days since had failed. The powers wouldn't sync properly. 

Premature, Night had called it. The awakening came because of extreme circumstances, not because he was ready. His body had paid the price. He'd woken the next morning, barely able to move out of bed. Three days later, he still felt the strain.

After the fight, Chikara had claimed a territory in the mountains near the village. The massive kitsune now served as an unofficial guardian, keeping other yokai at bay in exchange for regular offerings of food from the village. The Kannagi Clan took on the responsibility of keeping Chikara’s presence hidden from everyone except the villagers who were aware of her.

Harry was brought out of his musings when something heavy slammed onto the table beside his elbow. He looked up.

Daphne stood beside him with a large cardboard box. She lifted the lid with a flourish.

"What is this?"

Books filled the box to the brim. Wedding planning guides with glossy covers. Florist catalogues. Venue brochures. Sample invitation cards in various fonts and colours. A thick binder labelled "Seating Charts."

"We need to start planning my wedding before I get too large." Daphne pulled out one of the books and opened it to a page marked with a pink sticky note. Photographs of elaborate floral arrangements covered both pages.

"I'm already in discussion with the clan," Ayano said. "They're going to take care of most of the preparation, but I can help with yours, Daphne."

"I appreciate it." Daphne turned to Harry. "Well?"

Harry's throat went dry. He set down his coffee mug carefully. "Er... that sounds like a great idea. I'll just leave you to it, shall I?"

He pushed back from the table and made it three steps towards the door before Ayano blocked his path. Her expression held far too much amusement.

"Not so fast, mister." She crossed her arms. "You're going to be a part of the process."

"But I'm useless at these kinds of things," Harry protested.

"I'm sure you'll manage." Daphne's tone left no room for argument.

Harry opened his mouth to try anyway when Kaze materialised beside him.

"I didn't know my contractor was such a coward." Kaze's voice carried clear amusement. "How bad could it be?"

Harry groaned. "Is there something you wanted?" 

"Yes, I ran into a problem when carrying out your Tempest duties."

Harry's irritation faded. Kaze wouldn't interrupt for something trivial. "What is it?"

"Nothing urgent. Just a group of wizards have got their hands on some nuclear bombs and are threatening to launch them."

"What the hell?" Harry spun to face the spirit fully. "How is that not urgent?"

At that moment, Catherine burst through the dining room door. Her face was flushed, blonde hair escaping from its usual neat bun. "Harry, we have a problem. We've tracked down Regina. She's working with some wizards, and she's got her hands on some—"

"Nuclear bombs?"

Catherine stopped mid-stride. "How did you know?"

"Bloody wind," Harry growled. "She's been a thorn in my side for far too long. How far is she willing to go?"

This ended now. He would hunt her down and terminate her with extreme prejudice.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Harry tracks down Regina and finds a lead on where Gaia might be hiding.

Thanks for reading.