The Wrath Of the Forgotten by Michael Ignacio Page A

forces that boasted the strength to topple tougher entities? The humans and yokai of a thousand years ago managed to topple their divine masters. Now, the Yaoguai were the grass whereas the human filth had become tall trees. The yokai traitors had no doubt thrived as well, while the Yaoguai had to cling to the shadows, hoping to avoid detection. Would the same principle that worked a thousand years ago work today? Would the weaker of the races be saved while the dominant ones were consumed by the ravages of destiny?
    The Celestial Ones promised that the Yaoguai would emerge and thrive once more.
    Intense, yet pleasant warmth covered his right arm. Tov glanced down to the little golden armband with the pebble sized yellow jewel embedded within it. The armband covered his wrist and traveled half way up his forearm. As the warmth continued to seep into Tov’s veins, the jewel glowed with a bright yellow hue. The jewel flashed several times. In the depths of Tov’s mind, he heard the all too familiar voices.
    They sounded like a beautiful choir who spoke in unison. With each word that entered his thoughts, Tov shivered.
    The voices said, “ The Mogwi are near. Establish dominance. They are needed.”
    Tov balled his fists up and stood up from a prone position. The vast sea of grass danced all around him, and yet he didn’t see anyone or anything. Unseen eyes drilled into him. His spine quivered under pressure of hidden presences. A palpable malice festered in the air.
    He surveyed the grass one more time. “I know you’re out there. Come out, I have summoned you.”
    The wind blew past him, and a strange musky animal scent filled his nose. A furry creature rose up from the grass. How it had been concealed before mystified Tov, for the creature stood as tall as he did. A pair of long pointed ears jutted from the side of the monster’s face. A pair of bulbous eyes watched him with keen interest. The creature licked its cracked lips with a slimy purple tongue. Rows of jagged teeth rose up from dark purple gums. White and brown hair covered every inch of the creature’s body. It had claws for hands and feet.
    The Mogwi spoke in a screechy voice. “You are the one who summoned us? A lowly human?”
    Tov narrowed his eyes at the monster. “I’m aware that your kind has lost much in a thousand years, but surely you can see I’m not a human. Have you truly fallen so far that you’re little better than beasts?”
    “Beasts?” The Mogwi asked. It took a threatening step toward him. “I’ll show you a beast, you sickly wretch. I’ll suck out your intestines through your neck.”
    The Mogwi lunched at Tov, but Tov rolled away from it. His energy sword appeared in his hands as he made it to his feet. The Mogwi whirled around and stared at Tov with a wild, crazed glimmer in its eyes. It advanced on him again.
    Tov swung his sword at the Mogwi’s body. The energy blade touched the creature’s fur and burned a bald spot on the creature’s skin. A foul stench wafted all around Tov, but he ignored it. Welts had formed on the bare skin, but nothing more. Tov’s heart thumped harder.
    “Did you think your magic stick would kill the likes of me?” The Mogwi said.
    Its savage claws raked against Tov’s chest. Blood seeped from the wounds as he fell away from the monster. Before Tov had the chance to inspect his wounds, the monster leaped at him again. Tov countered and added more welts and bare spots to the monster’s hide.
    The Mogwi grinned devilishly at him. It leaned in and tried to bite him. Tov shoved the energy blade into the creature’s teeth.
    A dreadful scream poured out from the hairy monster. It pawed at its mouth and felt where several teeth had melted away.
    Tov whirled around the Mogwi and slashed at one of the welts that he had created earlier. The skin turned even redder, and blisters covered the exposed area.
    “Perhaps you’re not as tough as you think!” Tov said.
    The Mogwi turned around and tried to