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Chapter 28 Bambietta’s Trap
Jugram had no idea what was happening, suddenly his knights were attacking claiming Ichigo was kidnapping him. “You guys really piss me off!” The orangette was already in a sour mood.
“The devil of the shield has taken Prince Jugram!” One knight screamed.
“What are you talking about stop this?!” The blonde gasped.
“Protect the prince, seize the Devil of the Shield and his party!”
“I’m telling you to stop!” Jugram demanded. The knights weren’t listening to him. ‘What is happening?’
Ichigo and his party began to fight against the knights. They were clearly holding back, Renji and Grimmjow were simply striking to disarm or knock out. Rose conjured roots that sprang up and wrapped up the traitorous knights and held them down. Toshiro froze them up to their shoulder, immobilizing them in ice. Sajin was taking up binding their opponent’s with his different binding spells.
The knights weren’t very strong compared to a hero’s party but they weren’t trying to beat them, they were trying to attack Jugram, hurt him or kill him. One knight who got close got slimed. BG9 jumped him and began eating the man’s armor. He was stripped down to his skivvies.
Further in the back a knight was observing holding a crystal. Once the majority of the forces were caught he made a hasty retreat. The knights that were captured weren’t very talkative at first. “Aren’t these your personal guard?” Toshiro asked.
“Yes but…” He’d been away assisting his mother, so he’d been guarded by her guards while away. “Why are you acting like this?” They wouldn’t look at him. “Answer me, this is a royal order.”
“We don’t have to answer to a monster lover like you!” One of them spat.
“What?!”
“You’re planning to sell out the whole kingdom to the monsters and demi humans. We know you’re whole plan.”
“That’s insane, while I do want unity among the clans I’m not pushing for anything crazy.”
“So it’s true you are planning to sell out humanity, your kingdom, your people!” The knight shouted only to get smacked.
“Hey watch your mouth, that’s the crown prince you’re talking to, plus given the situation you are in you should check the attitude.” Ichigo pointed out.
“Don’t touch me damn shield devil!” He snapped, dropping a pendant.
“What’s this?” Ichigo picked it up and examined it, noting the charms on it was missing the shield.
“Give that back!!!” He wailed.
Jugram was shocked. “I didn’t know the hold of the church had reached so deep as to grip the royal knights.” This was terrifying to think about, this gave the Church influence in the palace. ‘How far does their grip reach.’ In this world there were multiple religions.
A Church for each hero obviously. Spear, Bow, Sword, Axe, and Shield. The Four Heroes Church ignored the Shield for some reason, and there was the Five Heroes Church which worshiped the heroes equally. In this kingdom the Four Heroes Church had grown in power and influence. Sajin explained it. “The King had allowed it, gave them special treatment.”
Ichigo recalled how Kisuke said the church started gaining more and more followers after Koga became pope. “Trash could be compromised or Koga could be using him, either way.”
“How dare you speak ill of the pope!” One of the knights hissed, and yet no outrage towards calling the king trash, that was quite telling. Ichigo cocked a brow.
He raised his foot and moved it over the necklace. The knight had been so tight lipped before now was singing like a canary. “You can’t do anything shield devil, you and your followers will pay for your crimes.”
“What crimes?!” Ichigo snapped.
The knight smirked. Ichigo glared at him. “Answer me this, did the church do something to the Bow Hero?” Jugram, Renji, and Grimmjow looked at Ichigo.
“Why would they do anything to him? He’s the holy one, you are the only evil in this world.” Stomp! “Ahhhhh!” The man screamed as Ichigo stomped on the charm. He might as well murdered this man’s family and cut off his dick at the same time, when all he did was step on a piece of jewelry. “You monster, you cur, you demon!!!” The knight screamed, crying, ugly crying at that!
Rose heard enough and used plants to bind and gag the knights.
They check back in town and things were not good. Videos were being played, Ichigo’s fight with knights had been recorded and magically edited. Things looked nasty, bloody, and Ichigo’s party were painted like real monsters taking glee in the murder of knights. The most outrageous one was a totally fabricated image of Komamura grabbing a man and biting his head off in one bite. He was a wolf beastman not an alligator or snake man, he couldn’t even unhinge his jaw like that. It looked fake and even if one could say he used a skill it still didn’t match.
To make matters worse there was also footage of “Ichigo” doing things. One clip was of the fake shield hero walking around with two girls Ichigo recognized from the Spear hero’s party. Another clip had him starting a bar fight. Another clip had him stealing from a shop the real Shield Hero hadn’t frequented at all. Another clip had Ichigo streaking through town in his underwear, it was clear the transformation wasn’t exact as the bulge was lacking.
Ichigo was furious because he was able to put two and two together. It was Kurodo! “I don’t believe this!” He was shaking in rage. “I warned him...I can’t believe...I trusted them...I shouldn’t have...I never...ugh…” It was a full smear campaign.
He was pacing. Jugram was quiet, processing the betrayal and holding his slime to him like a security blanket. Ichigo’s party watched him pace and rage, unsure of what to say. “Does this mean Bazz-B has truly betrayed us?” Renji asked.
Ichigo’s mana flared. “Ichigo!” Grimmjow spoke, his tone firm. The orangette looked at him, and was shocked to see the neko’s handsome face so calm. “I...I don’t think they’ve betrayed us, at least not by choice.” He folded his arms. “If the Kingdom or the Church hurt us, I...I believe you’d burn everything to the ground. So if we were in danger you’d do anything to help us.”
“Of course I would.” His eyes were glowing gold.
“Would you kill Bazz-B if someone holding us hostage ordered you to or we die?” The question hurt and Ichigo found it difficult to answer. Gold left his eyes. “If someone had you, and said I needed to kill or do something terrible to get you back I’d do it. I know what it is like to have everything taken away, so one can be desperate to say anything, do anything, to prevent it happening again.”
“We also can’t ignore possible compulsion magic!” Komamura said.
“It’s possible Bazz-B is stuck in a difficult situation and he might be in danger which is forcing his party to work for him.” Renji said.
“This isn’t right…” Jugram said. Everyone looked to him. “The heroes aren’t supposed to be fighting, the royal family shouldn’t be abusing it’s power and quarreling with a hero, the church is scheming, my sister is being foolish...if things keep up mother is gonna be so mad!”
“Your mother?”
Jugram nodded. “Lady Retsu Unohana, also known as the queen of the bloody battlefield. Father and Mother met on the battlefield, he fell in love with not only her beauty but her strength. She was the queen but she always took charge and led the fight herself. People respected her, admired her, even feared her…” It was no secret Unohana was more powerful than him, had more influence than him, was more beloved than him.
Ichigo couldn’t help but laugh. “Trash King acted so high and mighty, but he only married into royalty.” He was just a figure head, as soon as the queen returned control returned to her. It was tradition this kingdom was ruled by blood. Jugram’s Grandpa ruled and he was Unohana’s father by blood. It’s why Bambietta thought she deserved the throne just because of her bloodline.
“Mother warned me that sister would do anything to get what she wants but I never thought she’d try to kill me.” He squeezed BG9. “She’s gonna get father in so much trouble.”
“He’s a grown man with his own mind, he made his choices and he chose to be a scum bag and pick fights with a hero and enable his psycho child.” Jugram wanted to protest, but even he knew his father was weak to his daughter’s whims.
“If things keep up like this, he won’t just lose a finger, mother will take a whole arm.”
“Huh?!”
Sajin nodded. “Unohana is known for harsh punishments. As the Bloody Queen she’s known for her terrifying combat skills but in fact she’s a talented healer. She can take a limb and grow it back; bones, muscle, flesh and all. Her talent could take someone to the brink of death and then revive them.” His previous master had been her sword instructor when she was young.
“Bambi believes mother won’t do that to her daughter, but she’ll face hell when mother comes back.”
“Unless she doesn’t come back.”
“Huh?”
“It could be why she’s working with the church. Getting rid of those that would stand in the way of the throne, you and your mother would be obstacles right?” Jugram’s face went pale.
“But father wouldn’t...he…”
“As it stands, things are a mess in this kingdom and the heroes are a joke.” As much as he wanted to help Bazz-B he didn’t have proof of anything, and he couldn’t risk walking into another trap trying to help him. “Bazz-B is a big boy, if he’s in trouble he’s gonna need to figure it out himself.”
“But if he asks for help?” Rose asked.
“Then we save him and his party.” Ichigo said without hesitation. “And make whoever messed with him suffer ten fold!”
Jugram stood up. “Please...I need your help...come talk to my father with me.”
“No!” Ichigo said, holding his arms like an X.
Jugram teared up. “Please!”
“No way!” Ichigo shook his head. “Your authority doesn’t mean much right now, your sister is gunning for you, and even if your father hasn’t abandoned you your sister is colluding with the church or maybe they making their own play. Can you really say you trust anyone in that castle right now?” Jugram looked down.
The silence was tense. Ichigo sighed. “Listen, if you stay with us I promise I’ll protect you.”
“Ha!” Eyes turned, one of the captured knights got the gag free. “More lies of the devil of the shield. You really are a monster.”
“You really are fools. Those videos show us killing you.”
“So?” They blinked, some of them realizing.
“You aren’t dead. You being alive contradicts their story. If they find you well…” Ichigo drags his thumb over his neck in a “you’re dead!” gesture.
“L-Lies…” The man was too blinded by faith or pride to see the truth.
“Well, we’ll be handing you over to knights we trust and they can deal with you.”
“I’ve decided.” Jugram stood up. “I’ll travel with you, just please get me to my mother. As much as it pains me, I can’t handle all this on my own. I need mother’s help to set things right.”
Ichigo patted his shoulder. “It takes a brave man to admit he needs help.”
They decided to hit the dungeon and wait for this mess to blow over. If they, the shield hero’s party, disappeared into a dungeon and another Ichigo was running around, it’d prove the videos were fake. The alive knights would prove they hadn’t killed anyone.
Ichigo contacted Jinta and asked him to come pick up these traitors. “We are out of here.” They headed out, leaving the knights there.
Things wouldn’t go quite the right way.
-x-
Bambietta had set a trap. The boarders were locked down.
Ichigo had gone to the dungeon, only to be surrounded by knights. “There you are!!” It was Uryu.
“Let Prince Jugram go you fiend!” Cang Du said.
“Fiend?” Ichigo rolled his eyes. “I don’t have any captives so I can’t let anyone go.”
“Liar!” Askin shouted, pointing his spear at him. “We have proof you have no justice!”
Ichigo gagged. “Justice? What would you know of Justice? I literally cleaned up your mess you left.” Ichigo pointed out.
“I...I...I don’t know what you mean?”
“What a loser.” Grimmjow huffed.
“Enough!” Jugram stepped forward.
“Ah prince you are safe!” Uryu said.
“Yes I am safe, but I’m not being held captive. The Shield Hero is protecting me.”
“But we saw…” Cang Du began.
Jugram shook his head. “Put your weapons away. There is a plot against me, so I’ve asked the Shield Hero to assist me and protect me while…”
“Oh dear brother.” Bambietta interrupted. “You are being controlled by the Shield Devil. You are confused!”
‘You bitch!’ Ichigo thought with a growl, just seeing her face made him so angry.
“Confused, hardly!” Jugram demanded to see proof. Askin revealed the crystal and played the clips. The fake slaughter of knights. “Those knights attacked me, I believe they are attempting a coup but the Shield Party didn’t kill them only capture them. We left them in town to be taken in by the palace guard.”
Uryu and Cang Du looked at each other. Askin wasn’t done, playing the various other clips of the fake Ichigo. “You see he’s no hero, he’s a creep, a thief, and even a pervert.” He paused on the fake Ichigo streaking in his underwear. “How do you explain this?”
Renji snapped. “That’s not master!”
“How can you tell?” Uryu wondered.
“Master is a lot more hung than that. Check the bulge there’s hardly any, I can testify Ichigo is a lot bigger than that!” Renji said proudly making a length gesture with his hands. Blushes burned and Askin’s jaw dropped.
“That...that doesn’t prove anything…”
Grimmjow grabbed Renji’s mouth before he could speak again. “Shut up!”
“Don’t listen dear heroes. The church confirmed the Shield Devil has a Brainwashing Shield. He has used it to control not only his party and the prince but others of the kingdom.”
Ichigo couldn’t help but laugh. “If I had such a thing why wouldn’t I have used it against Halibel? Why wouldn’t I use it right now and make you let me pass or let me escape. Plus...if my weapon had such a thing so would yours!!!” Ichigo snapped. “Think about it, really think about it. If you actually use your head and don’t just believe that bitch’s lies I’ll hand the prince over to the Sword, Axe, ad Bow...wait where is Bazz-B?”
Bambi huffed. “He’s on a special mission for the church I’ll have you know.”
Despite their differences Ichigo felt he could trust Uryu, and Cang Du was a jerk but he had a strong sense of justice he wouldn’t let the prince be killed.
“Very well…” Uryu said. “On my honor, I’ll protect the prince and we’ll verify these claims.”
“Uryu are you serious?” Askin asked.
“Be silent Askin!” Uryu said and adjusted his glasses. “Something has felt off about all of this. All this happening after losing to that Fan Woman. I heard Ichigo had an audience with the king and left. Then all this evidence appears so quickly, it doesn’t add up.”
“But sir Sword Hero really…” Uryu pointed his blade at Bambi.
“I haven’t forgotten your shameful behavior at the duel, you have a bit of trouble with the truth and honor.” She glared at him.
“Hey now!” Askin huffed. “Let’s not argue.” Ichigo wanted to punch Askin so hard. Where was this attitude when people were attacking him and dragging his name through the mud.
“Let us pass, the Shield Hero wishes to use the dungeon and then he’s taking me to the Queen.” Jugram said.
“The Queen!!” Bambi gasped. “Really Jugram, running off to mother how pathetic!”
“No what’s pathetic is you trying to kill your own sibling just to gain access to the throne. As a big brother you disgust me!” Ichigo snapped.
“How dare you!” Bambietta snapped. The heroes were looking at her, cracks in her mask showing. “Listen dear brother, we can talk about this privately.” She reached out to him.
“No, if I’m alone with you I’ll be killed. I can see through you sister and I know you want me dead.”
“That’s the devil shield talking!”
“Tell me sister, once I’m gone do you think mother will just let you be queen, or is that why you are colluding with the church? Will mother be next? Will father?”
“You little…” Bambi snapped and unleashed powerful flame magic at Jugram. “Hellfire!” Ichigo blocked it with his shields. She clicked her tongue. ‘Damn...’
“Princess Bambi what are you doing?!” Uryu snapped.
“He’s being controlled by the Shield Devil, we can’t have him spouting nonsense.”
“Is it nonsense, cause that attack looked ready to kill.”
“Stop badgering her!”Askin defended.
“Will you get your head out of her ass.” Can Du snapped. Even he was looking at Bambi like she crossed a line.
Things spiraled out of control fast, as knights arrived raising the tension. “As heir to the throne, I’m ordering you to stand down.”
“We are the loyal knights of the kingdom, we’ll defend it from the Shield Devil!”
‘What is wrong with them?’ Uryu thought.
‘This isn’t right!’ Cang Du thought.
“Seize them!” Bambietta declared.
“Yes ma’am!” They charged.
“I said stop!” Storm clouds gathered overhead. “Water Wall!” He cast erecting a massive wall of water, cutting off the guards.
“See he’s under the control of the shield.” Bambietta demanded.
“No...the magic he used was defensive, he’s trying to stop a full on brawl.” Uryu said, being the voice of reason.
Bambietta hated guys like Uryu, ones that used their brains and didn’t just blindly believe what she said.
“You bitch, you really piss me off!” Ichigo activated the rage shield. “If you wanna fight me, bring it on! I warn you...if you are taking me on you are risking your lives.”
“Ha, I’ll fight you. I’ll free the lovely Toshiro, Renji, and Grimmjow from your fiendish control!” Askin charged right in and struck Ichigo’s shield, triggering the blast.
“I hate you spear jerk!” Toshiro blasted him with ice, freezing him in a block.
The knights were so crazed they started attacking with magic. Sajin supported Jugram’s magic with his own reinforcing it with light. “Get them, get the ones who worship the shield!!!” Bambi said.
“That’s enough out of you!” Sajin pulled out a new weapon. Light formed a blade and he ran Bambi through.
“Aaaaaahhhhh!” She screamed, before passing out.
“You...killed her?” Cang Du asked.
“Hardly, this blade doesn’t do physical damage. I simply severed her magic and disrupted it a little, she’ll be fine.”
“He killed her!”
“He killed the princess!”
“Kill them all!”
“What is wrong with them?” Uryu asked.
Ichigo slipped him the charm of the four heroes church. “These are fools who don’t think for themselves.” Ichigo said.
Things went out of control, magic and weapons pummeled the barriers causing them to fall. They weren’t listening to Jugram or Cang Du when ordered to stand down. “Something is rotten in this kingdom.”
The knights attacked Sajin, not even caring if they hit Bambi. Ichigo created a barrier and actually protected her from her own knights. “Are they mad?!” Cang Du gasped.
“We are leaving, use your heads and put the pieces together.” They made their way to the dungeon entrance. Toshiro, Jugram, and Sajin erected walls of elements to block and delay attacks. Rose conjured vines defend but were getting cut down by weapons. Quite the contrast compared to the video, and in the face of such blood lust.
Bambietta came to as they entered the dungeon. “No don’t let them go!” She roared. “Second Explosion!”
Boom!
The entrance was blown up and collapsed. “Why did you do that?!” Uryu demanded.
Bambi huffed. “You see sir Sword Hero. He’s after mother, if he gets to her he’ll use the brainwashing shield on her. I just saved the kingdom. Now they’ll never escape.”
“There’s no other way out of the dungeon?”
“Umm…” She wasn’t sure, she didn’t pay attention in the lessons about them.
There was another way. On the 100th floor!
-x-
The one knight kept calling for help, demanding they be untied. His friends tried to tell him to shut up. Suddenly the door opened and a spike masked male entered. “Oh Saint As Nodt you’ve come to answer my prayers. Quickly help untie us.”
“I am here to help, this is for the goo of the church after all.” Pop! The knights head was blown off. His blood splattered the walls and his fellow knights. They screamed in terror before they to were killed.
Jinta and Yuichiro had shown up to collect them and witnessed the murder. ‘By the gods…’ They were pale and sweating in horror.
To be continued...Escape the Dungeon