Beast Knights 1 - Premonition Of A New Danger

BEAST KNIGHTS

SUMMARY: A presence even more sinister than that of Soushu threatens to destroy the peace that Yuri strived hard to achieve. In their quest to deal with the forthcoming danger, it's not just the 4,000 year-old secret of a mysterious kingdom that they managed to unravel but also a well-kept past belonging to its royal family and Conrad.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This will be another KKM fanfic that I decided to write after a long time, while working on some manuscripts to be passed to a publishing house. It's not exactly easy, but I really missed writing fanfictions. I neglected it for a year (I guess) and it kind of made me sad. Anyway, I hope you'll like it. This will be a Conrad/OC and Gwendal/OC fanfiction set three months after the timeline in the 3rd season.

Standard disclaimer applies. You are warned that the characters might not be in their usual selves (in other words, possible OOCness).

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CHAPTER 1 – Premonition Of A New Danger

"This is why I hate studying," a tired-looking Yuri complained as soon as he found Murata already eating snacks on one of the benches outside his school. "They drain everything in your brain during the exam."

"You always say that, Shibuya. And to think we haven't been reviewing for the midterm exam," Murata calmly stated as he continued eating.

"That, too." Yuri groaned. Seriously, his brain haven't even recovered from the last exam he had and here comes another one. "If Mari-san haven't been helping me out even though she was an Art student at the university and extremely busy with kendo club, I guess I wouldn't be able to handle this."

"Ah. You mean Akiyama-san? I guess she'd taken a liking to you ever since watching you play at the baseball tournament last year."

Yuri could only laugh at that. The senpai he was talking about was a high school friend of Shori that he met a year before he became the Maoh. Since then, she didn't fail to help him out, especially when it comes to his studies. In fact, Akiyama Mari acted like an older sister to him. Besides the fact that they were neighbors, of course.

"It would've been nice if Mari-san became Shori's girlfriend," he commented but soon let out a chuckle. "But then, that would've cause a disaster knowing Mari-san could do kendo."

"You're right. But I heard that Natsukawa-san and your older brother are always seen together, despite taking different courses there," Murata said as soon as he was finished chewing his food. "You know about that, right?"

"Well, that's a given. Chie-san is Shori's childhood friend. But we never got to talk that much, though. One thing I know about her, she's really caring and can be quite scary at times. And that she's an archery club member since high school."

The two boys continued their conversation over a few minutes of snacks before dealing with that day's afternoon class. It was a habit they've taken all this time ever since Yuri became the Maoh. And to think three months had already passed since that time he defeated Geneus. Who would've thought that he would still be able to come back to Earth after originally fearing that he won't be able to return home.

At that moment, however, something came up in his mind.

"By the way, did you feel a really agitating, powerful presence while we're coming back here the other day?"

That was when Murata froze to his spot as his eyes widened. Yuri knew that question had caught him off-guard, but he remained intently staring at his friend. Soon after, Murata's expression turned grave upon facing him.

"If you felt it while we're crossing dimensions, that means the danger is already at bay," Murata mysteriously responded.

As usual, it confused him. But he could feel the severity of the situation as soon as Murata said the word "danger".

"Wait a minute. You don't mean…?"

All Murata did was to nod without losing the grave expression on his face. "We need to go back to Shin Makoku as soon as possible before something worse happens. We have to prevent it while we can."

"Prevent what?"

Both boys were surprised upon hearing that question coming from a female possibly standing behind them. When they turned around, they saw Yuri's tutor Akiyama Mari who also possessed black eyes and black hair just like him and Murata.

"What are you two discussing?" Mari asked innocently.

Yuri could've laughed nervously but didn't have the guts to do so for some reason.

"Prevent Shibuya from failing the midterm exam," Murata immediately answered with a grin. Yuri only glared at his friend for saying such a lie. But then, that would probably help them escape an interrogation.

"Isn't that supposed to be my job?" Mari said with a smile and patted Yuri's head. "But don't pressure yourself about it yet, okay? We still have a month and a half to review and prepare for that. I'll help you with it."

"T-thank you, Mari-san." Yuri heaved a sigh soon after. When he looked up, he saw another of his brother's friend (and possible future girlfriend), the sandy brown-haired Natsukawa Chie beside Mari waved at him. He returned the gesture to the brunette with a smile. "How are you, Chie-san? I haven't seen you in a month."

"Well, I've been busy with so many things at the university and the archery club, but I can handle it," Chie answered. "I hope Mari here isn't giving you a hard time."

"You're being mean again, Chie. I'm being a good tutor and older sister here to Yuri, you know," Mari whined.

Both Murata and Yuri could just laugh at the antics displayed in front of them. Same goes to Shori's other friends namely Fuyumine Nobu and Harusaki Rina whom they also met and befriended, as well. In fact, from what Yuri knew, Rina had always been Murata's senpai and mentor. Nobu could only sigh and shake his head.

"Oh, well. At least Yuri and Ken wouldn't have to worry about anything related to exams when they have reliable mentors like us to help them through," Rina said which earned him a wide smile from Murata.

"Yeah. Just don't fill their heads with too much information or they won't even make it to the day of the exam if that happens," Nobu nonchalantly added which earned him glares from the three girls.

At the very least, the people important to them had made them smile like this for a while. That is, before they faced a certain danger that, unknown to them, would unveil several secrets enough to change their lives forever.

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Well, the day at the school went pretty much uneventful, just like the class that Yuri attended to. And just as he dreaded, his teacher reminded them of the upcoming midterm exam. He was only able to heave a sigh of relief when Mari promised that she would help him study. This was something that Yuri truly felt glad about Shori's friends. Despite the age and course differences, they would still be there to help him.

Just what Murata said before, it felt like they've found older sisters through their female mentors Mari, Rina, and Chie. And a second older brother through Nobu.

But his thoughts soon shifted to a more serious issue upon remembering that agitating presence that nearly distracted him from crossing dimensions. And Murata's reaction when he mentioned it… Something told the young Maoh that he had to heed Murata's words for them to return to Shin Makoku because of a danger that was already at bay.

Whatever that "danger" was, he knew it was big.

The next day, after finally allowing Shori to come along with them because he somehow forced Yuri and Murata, the three of them headed to Shin Makoku. And as expected, Ulrike, Günter, Wolfram, and Conrad were already there at the Shinou Temple's fountain waiting for them.

"Why do I have a feeling that you're already expecting to see Shori tagging along with us?" Yuri asked that seemed to be a form of statement rather than a question as he took one of the towels that Conrad handed to them. He asked that because he saw Conrad holding 3 towels instead of just the usual two.

"Ulrike told us. It appeared that His Majesty Shinou informed His Eminence to just accept Shori's decision to come along with the two of you should he actually decide to come," Günter explained with the said Genshi Miko supporting it with a small nod.

"Hmm… Now that's rare," Yuri could only comment as he continued drying himself.

One thing he noticed, though, was that Murata hadn't said anything since they arrived. His friend's stare seemed to be far off. He sighed before speaking.

"What are you thinking right now, Murata?"

The said Daikenja pushed back his glasses and soon faced Yuri. Of course, it took the Maoh aback since there was something different about the way his friend was looking at him. It could only mean one thing, though.

"You felt it again, didn't you? That agitating presence?" Murata inquired in a grave tone.

It left Shori and the others confused, but Yuri only stared at Murata in the same somber expression. "It was fleeting, but I definitely felt it again. It was the same."

"What are you talking about, Yuri?" Wolfram immediately asked but didn't receive any reply from the Maoh.

After that, Murata faced Conrad and Günter. "Did anything bizzare happen here while we were gone?"

It was a direct question that surprised the two aforementioned men for a few moments before their expressions became serious. Even Wolfram understood what the question meant.

"There's no escaping your insight, Your Grace," Conrad said which broke the tensed silence. Soon after, the soldier faced both Yuri and Murata. "There had been several reports from outside the capital about strange creatures suddenly appearing and attacking villages in Shin Makoku. Thankfully, no one was killed during the incidents but damages to properties and several injuries among the townfolks were reported. We're still trying to find out where could they come from."

"As I thought," Murata muttered that Yuri and Shori heard.

"What was that supposed to mean, my younger brother's friend?"

But Murata chose not to answer that question from Shori at the moment. Yuri took his friend's silence as an opportunity to ask something to his subjects. "Did the reports mention anything about the creatures attacking villages, especially what they looked like?"

"They all looked the same, if you ask me. The one thing that's common from all the five reported attacks were the creatures attacking in groups of 10 to 15."

"All of the creatures attacking seems to be capable of one thing and that is to grow out blades from their arms and use it to attack the villages. They were twice the height of an average Mazoku, as reported. That's why it's quite hard to defeat them all," Günter added.

"Grow out blades? Then they're truly dangerous to deal with," Shori said in near panic. "Then you're saying that using majutsu isn't enough to deal with these creatures, as well?"

"They could still take them down using majutsu. It's just a question of how long will the maryoku users be able to handle them and defeat it all easily," Murata stated.

Though they wanted to ask what Murata could possibly mean to what he said, Günter intercepted it by saying that the three arrivals should change first before continuing the discussion. It didn't take them long to do that, though. As soon as Yuri was done changing, he coaxed Murata to contiue what he was saying.

"Like what I said earlier, they could still take them down using majutsu or even houjutsu. But these living puppets, as I can tell, haven't even assumed their full form yet. Or worse, haven't been made fully aware of their true functions," Murata said in continuation to his earlier words.

"Then you're saying that they would still strike? And do something worse than just destroying villages?"

Murata gravely nodded. "One thing I'm fearing to happen is when the time comes that those puppets wouldn't just destroy villages as they appear, but also murder people."

Of course, those who heard it were truly surprised, even Yuri and Shori. Murata maintained his somber expression. But Yuri noticed something else.

"There's still a way, isn't it, Murata?" Yuri started that soon shifted his friend's attention to him. "A way to stop these puppets for good."

The Daikenja remained silent for a few moments as he and Yuri were in a staring contest. For some reason, Yuri could pretty much tell what this guy was thinking, unlike before. But then, all he could think about at the moment was the safety of his people and the humans also living in the attacked villages. He wouldn't let some destructive puppets, as you call it, do as they pleased just to destroy everything he strive hard for.

Murata sighed soon after and gave a weak, but still a reassuring smile. "It's really weird of you to easily figure out what I was thinking, Shibuya. But yes, there's still a way."

Yuri's face lit up upon hearing that. "Really?"

"Yes, really. But we just got one problem, though."

With that, Yuri's expression turned to confusion, then to a somber one again. "What do you mean?"

"The only people who are completely aware and knowledgeable about our troublesome puppets' functions and true purpose aren't exactly easy to contact. To be honest, from what I gathered all this time, they hadn't made contact with any of the Mazoku even before the war with the humans 20 years ago," Murata explained.

But before Yuri could even comment about Murata's explanation, Conrad suddenly spoke.

"Your Grace, could it be… that you're talking about the Beast Knights from the Kingdom of Esovia?"