Author’s Note:
This is something I didn’t plan. This chapter is meant to be longer but when I see the news of Full Matal Panic new anime confirmed and Gatoh confirmed that the later novels would be animated. My ideas just blew away and I would need time to rethink the story.
To the one who ask about the option menu. I plan to answer it here but I didn’t make it to that part yet. I will write in in the next update.
FMA new anime just made me cried manly tears and I need to recompose myself T_T
Laevatein was shown!
Please review…
EDIT:
Sorry, I decided to delete this chapter and just finished it before publishing.
Sorry too that it took some time. All my ideas just got blown away when I see Laevatein. I can’t stop being a fanboy with the idea of seeing Tessa, Chidori and Sousuke back!
Guy’s what do you think of the character kamijou touma?
My opinion of touma, as someone who had read the novel and manga, watched the anime is, he is an ideal hero.
He is not perfect but his the embodiment of an ideal hero.
He fails but he will still stand up again and he will win. In the end, he will save everyone. He has faults but it’s acceptable in his character. But even with those faults, it didn’t change the fact that his too much of an ideal character.
I prefer the present a Touma that is more humane in his feelings and decision.
If you guys think that he would be turn OOC then please let me know, so I will tone it down but I prefer a more humane character that fails and falls.
I prefer the character of Accelerator over Touma
I prefer Archer over Shirou
I hope people who read this will understand but oh well, I can’t please everyone and it shows my low count in follows and favorite but I hope the others enjoy.
This is the complete part 4
Part 40
Well, this is an interesting meeting. I don’t know what time it is but I’m sure it’s pretty late now. So seeing two young girls in the park without supervision is sure to make any sensible adult worry. I don’t know much about the normal world outside of my house (that is currently in need of repair) but Mr. Shibuya is pretty much strict in that regards for children safety and he said that it’s the norm. So I believe him. He is still an adult even if his intelligence is questionable when he keeps on meeting me and when he decidedly bring Rin to meet me, but he is still a genuine responsible adult (Unlike most of the people I meet)
“Miss, I’ll repeat my question. What are you two doing?” I ask again to clarify because it looks like I startled them when I just showed up from behind.
“Nothing. We were just checking on this shrine. What about you? What, are you doing here?” The twin tailed girl returns my question to her. She’s pretty smart for someone who is young.
From what little I had heard earlier, I can give a possible guess on who are these two girls are, but to made sure. I need to bait them on something. Now, a proper introduction is a good courtesy when meeting someone new. This is one of the things I didn’t bother to buy a book to learn with.
For someone like me, who only focus on math and science as my center of reasoning and understanding. Learning simple morals and courtesy was taught by my Grandfather. It’s also one of the useful things he taught me, aside from the basic history of the clan and different myths about Gods.
“I’m Kusanagi Godou, (Hmm… they react towards my family name. They knew something about it?) I’m here with my friend Rin (“huh?” they both react again, and this time on the name of my friend, but I ignore it and continue my introduction) and my relative… Mikan and Mittelt. We’re just relaxing here for a bit and we will return home and how about you two? Who are you and what are you doing here in front of the shrine?” I gave my name as a courtesy but also as bait for them to reveal themselves. If they didn’t reveal their names then that would be rude and improper. I don’t know about their type of family but they should at least know proper manners right?
I’m looking at the twin tail girl but she is clear hesitant and not looking directly at my eyes. The other girl beside her is clearly nervous or shy. She still kept clinging on the other girl and is using her as a shield from my view but I can see her taking a peak from her side.
“Nee-chan” The girl with shoulder length hair whispered to the twin tailed girl.
“I know” the twin tailed girl replied.
“ehem” She coughs using her right hand and then placed it on her chest while she straightens her posture. This girl knows her manner and tries to act in a proper way but her earlier show of nervousness ruins this image.
“I’m Tohsaka Rin (“Eh?” She is also Rin? No wonder they react to that name) and this is my little sister Tohsaka Sakura” She made a gesture by using her right hand to the person behind her to properly present herself.
“Anoo…. Hello” The named girl Sakura finally came out from Rin’s back and presents herself by bowing politely. They really aren’t ordinary kids. My friend Rin, knew her manners but she is not as well-mannered as these two. They were probably taught early to act prim and proper.
“As for why we are here, we’re just checking the shrine” Rin answered with a cute smile.
“The shrine?” I tilt my head acting all innocent even if I know what she where planning earlier.
“Yes, the shrine” She then gesture to the shrine behind them.
I look passed then and it looks like that this shrine is still functioning properly. It’s still absorbing the passive Mana in the air and it’s being stored or directed elsewhere and that is what scares me.
I don’t know where the massive amount of mana that it takes in the ley lines, where redirected or stored.
While changing the landscape of the city disturb the flow of ley lines. The key of delaying the war is still this shrines that were scattered all over Fuyuki.
It’s been more than a decade already before the designated “Fourth Holy Grail” war should happen but thanks to this system that where distributed around the city. It’s been delayed but it’s reaching its limit… that was supposed to happen but I still see no sign of the mechanism wearing out and should be impossible. Trying to store that massive amount of mana, shouldn’t be possible by normal means. It only meant that something is special about this shrine.
If I’m more knowledgeable on the ways of magic, I would probably be able to understand it but I don’t.
Even scanning the shrine, doesn’t yield to any information that would help me, though I liked the flavor text use to describe the history and the uses of the shrine.
Scanning the shrine also helps in identifying its use and to whom, it’s praying for protection. The 3 gods are unknown aside from their description. I would need more clues for the name to shows up.
This is probably a bit more realistic take in the Gamers ability. It won’t show me everything. It will give me insight of what I’m seeing but I need to find it out on me own.
“What’s the problem with the shrine?” I asked again after acting of looking and inspecting it but the truth is. I’m not stepping any closer to it or rather I can’t I don’t want to accidentally destroyed it.
“Hmmph. It’s nothing really. We’re just checking them up because we saw them all throughout the city. There was even one near our house” She first acted a bit flustered when I ask if they had problem with the shrine but she compose herself fast and give a good and believable reason, that is, if you didn’t hear what she is planning to do earlier.
But the second information that she give is interesting. So they even manage to build a shrine near a magus house? I really can’t believe how bold the clan was, in their movement.
“You don’t know what’s the use of these shrines is for?” I tried to act that I know what I’m talking about but I don’t. I have a clue but I don’t know the whole picture.
The twin tailed haired girl is hesitant to answer me and refuse to look at my eyes again while the shoulder haired girl just looks at me curiously. Curiously too, that she is not hiding anymore behind her sister, now that she knew my name.
“I… don’t know” Rin finally admits her lack of knowledge about the shrine. She is probably a prideful person and she doesn’t like to admit her own weakness.
“Hmmm” I humm and tried to look at them and see that they are waiting for the answer, and then I looked at the shrine, then back at them.
“I also don’t know” I smiled at them and I like the reaction of the twin tailed girl and the shoulder haired girl just smiles and laughs a bit.
I can understand a bit why Elder Priest likes to get a reaction out of me. The reaction of the twin tailed girl is cute when she clenches her fist and her eyebrow twitches. The twin tailed girl is surely irritated and is preparing to probably shout at me but I stop her.
“I don’t know the full meaning behind the shrine, but… from what I heard from the adults. They pray here for to ask for protection and safe travels. I also heard from a relative priest that the shrines here are meant to protect the city from harm” I revealed a bit of what I know and then I walk around them to get closer to them. The shoulder haired girl tries to back away and stand behind her sister again (she is not good with stranger isn’t she?) but the twin tailed haired girl just glared at me. She probably doesn’t like it when I interrupt her earlier.
I stopped when I’m beside them and near in the front of the shrine but still not inside of it or not close enough for me to destroy the mechanism that envelops it.
Right even this close where a mere step forward or if I stretch my right hand, I could end up destroying this magical contraption. I can feel the energy is being drawn to the center of the shrine but that is all. I can’t understand any of it. Magic is still felt alien to me even with the lecture of Elder Priest about bounded field.
“I don’t know about where your house is located Rin-san” I then stop and look at her, she is getting irritated more with my action. “I can call you Rin-san right? Because you are both Tohsaka and it would be confusing to address you both as Tohsaka-san and Tohsaka-san, though I’m sorry for being rude” I bowed to show my apology to them.
“It’s… fine. Hmmph” She hmmph again and crosses her arm and looks away while blushing a bit and her sister from behind is giggling a bit and I’m sure of it even if I can’t see it. I can hear her giggles. Hmmm this is bad. I don’t like ended up like Elder Priest who likes to anger other people.
“ehem” I cough before I continue my explanation “These types of shrines are called the roadside or wayside shrine. They are usually place to accident prone places or places where accidents occurred. Usually you will see them in intersections or in a road side beside a curve section of the road, which is also usually seen in a cliff. Those places are dangerous if one lose control while driving which will results in accidents. These types of shrines are usually place there for the victims’ friends, family or lovers, to offer prayer and flowers for the dead” I first offer the usual use for this type of shrine. I sighed and continue on my explanation, where I’m getting it? from reading the flavor text for the shrine.
“While they are usually seen to remember the dead, they can also be used for the living. Instead of offering prayer for the dead, they can be used to ask for God’s Protection. Instead of waiting for people to have accidents, the local government, placed them in possible places where the possibilities of accidents to happen” I stopped again to take a breath and observe the sisters.
Their emotions are in control or to be more specific. The younger one can still be seen a bit nervous but she is silent and listening, while the older one has her face set in permanent frown, I also heard the word “God” was whispered but I didn’t pay much attention to it. If they are born and raised to be a Magus, then the sense of praying for God’s protection would felt alien to them. To people who aims to reach the Root and be equivalent to something like a god. They wouldn’t be called normal or mortal anymore, if they manage to at least reach that realm. Plus to them, the age of God’s are over.
“The shrines are also placed here in parks where many people visit. That includes market district, commercial and the business district. Well, basically they are usually placed in places where many people used to visits or pass by. Wishing for protection instead of praying for the dead, that is one of its other uses” I finish my explanation with that.
True, it’s been placed in those type of establishments but it’s also true that the placement are aligned to formed a square formation that could be used to form barrier or protection walls, in case of emergency. But the square formation of the shrine placing and the design of the shrine is the one that worries me.
The design of the shrine is simple. The foot of the shrine is made of cement while the shrine is made of wood and it has roof for covering. The front of the shrine is where flowers can be placed for offering. You can also light a candle in it but for most occasions, one can see often see flowers on it. Like in this occasion where colorful flowers where placed. The proper altar is the thing that made me pause.
Three figures that I’m sure are Divine beings, where at the center of a square altar. The back of the shrine has also a square drawn. But the square is surrounded by other squares. The square formation is 3 squares up and 3 squares down. It’s a 3 on 3 formations with a total of 9 squares. It’s like a rubix box formation. The sign of Yin and Yang is there in the middle square and several ornaments were placed around the shrine. It’s colorful and beautiful on its own but there should be meaning to such arrangement.
“That is all of the information I have about them” I finish my explanation with that. I inspect Rin’s reaction but I only see a deep concentration while looking at the shrine.
“I see” She has her left hand acting as a support for her right hand where she placed it in front of her chin. I wonder why people used that pose when they are thinking of something.
“Well, thanks for the information. Let’s go Sakura. Were’ returning back home” Rin then turns her back at me and start walking while calling her little sister.
“Yes, Nee-chan” Before Sakura start walking with her sister, I called out to them once more.
“By the way, Rin-san, Sakura-san, sorry for intruding but where do you guys live? Is it still far? We can escort you two home before we go back to our home” I then look at the sky and confirm my suspicion. “It’s already late now and it’s better to have more people to be with than you two alone going home, it would be dangerous to let you two go alone and my neighbor often warns me that its dangerous at night for children’s to stay out” I ask them.
I have two reasons for asking, one is to truly escort them because I’m worried for them. Two little girls walking alone, during the night, is trouble. Remembering what that disgusting fallen had done to those children made my blood boil and these two girls aren’t normal. They are from a magus family and they could become target because of that. I’m really worried and I can’t actually oversee the whole city. I can only feel and observe my surrounding within 100 meter diameter. The other reason is only a secondary benefit but it’s still useful to find out where they live.
I can probably find it by asking the elder but this is faster and I can escort them and find where they live. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.
“Its fine we can take care of ourselves, plus it’s not like our house is too far away from here” Rin is smart and doesn’t trust or probably like me to tell where they live.
“Okay” I can only conceded and bow to them. Rin starts walking again but Sakura bows to me before she follows her sister.
When they have left the park, I then turn my sight back to the shrine.
“Well that was interesting” So… the current head of Tohsaka is frustrated enough to take it onto his wife and daughter. Well, I can’t blame him on that one but I also can’t be felt sorry for him.
They are crazy to do this war here in a city full of people that can get hurt because of their stupid petty goal.
I glance one more time towards the shrine before I start walking back to see if Rin (my childhood friend or first friend) is finally wake up.
I just hope she’s fine and Pray didn’t cause mental trauma to her.
If she did… I might end up killing Pray… for real.
My mind is so busy worrying about my first friend that I didn’t even care or decide to ignore the crack appearing in one of the squares in th square formations, in the altar.
Due to my clouded mind, I also didn’t notice that the earth shift a bit around the park.
Part 41
I’ve return to the section of the park where seats where located. I saw Beldum and a sleeping Mittelt in her hands are fine. I also saw Rin awake and looking down at the grassy lands of the park. She is silent… which is something I’m not used too. She is usually energetic type that likes to smiles and drags me into her playtime. I hope there won’t be any problem.
I approached them silently to not startle them but Beldum notice me. She only smiles and nods at me and I return the gesture.
I silently walk and sit beside Rin but she isn’t showing sign that she is acknowledging my presence. I’m having a bad feeling about this.
“Rin” I start slowly and waited for her reply.
“Touma…” Rin’s voice right now… sounds so unlike her. She is silent and calm that I can’t connect her to her previews attitude… Pray….
“Are you alright Rin?” I asked gently
“I’m…. fine…” That’s a lie. I might not be proficient in reading the tune of the living yet, but I can tell that she is out of tune and is lying right now so I won’t worry about her.
“It’s alright to tell what you feel Rin, before I was insensitive to just tell you to forget what happen and not explain it clearly but…. my relative Pray. She is dangerous. You shouldn’t meet her and for that… I’m sorry” I tried to be as sincere as I can get.
To me who can’t feel strong and real emotions. I can only fake my smile. I have read lots of books and dictionary that I can tell where to fake my smile or try to be comforting but it all still feel fake.
I can’t sympathize and understand what kind of terror Rin is currently feeling.
True I felt the same despair and fear from Pray but that is probably just the tip of the iceberg. My gamers mind prevents it to further cloud my judgment but even with a slight touch of such feeling, still left me a messing wreck, when I felt it.
And Rin, a normal person, is probably feeling it fully.
This feeling (?) of hopelessness, to not be able to reach my friend and feel what she feel, this is probably a human and inhumane feeling. I’m normal in a way, I’m also abnormal.
“Rin, its fine… you can tell me what you’re feeling. I can’t promise everything would be fine or anything at all, until I know what to do. I’m feeling at lost here, but I’m really sorry for what happen” I’m really sorry Rin. That is my honest feeling and it’s not blocked by my ability.
“I’m…. scared Touma… that person…. It really scares me Touma…” Rin finally start speaking but she also starts trembling and shaking. Her eyes are unfocused and her teeth start shaking. This is bad.
“Scan”
“Fear (High) Mental Disorder (Low) Mental Disability (Low)”
That is what was shown in her status window. Three negative effects that I can’t cure because of the lack of items to recover such status effects. Or because my right hand can only negates supernatural effect.
This is mental trauma!
“Rin!” I didn’t think twice and hug her
“Rin its fine, everything would be alright Rin!” I continuously call her name but all I get are soft whispher of [I’m scared Touma, helped me]
“Rin. Come on, your strong and cheerful person. Come on Rin. Calm yourself Rin. Rin. Rin!” I called her name again and again, and I tried to shake her out of her fear but it’s not helping.
Having status effect that has indication of High is bad. Depending on the status effect, it could be life threatening and long lasting. It dangerous to have her continue like this, but what should I do?
I don’t know what to do. Bring her to the hospital? Then what would I say? My relative tried to kill her and if they start investigating. Lots of deaths would happen. I can’t let that happen.
Should I call for Elder with glasses to cast hypnosis on her? But would he help?
He is the same as the other member of the clan.
They are pretty apathetic to people outside of the clan or people that don’t have use to them.
In that matter, they aren’t that different from the supernatural beings that they are fighting. The only difference is that they aren’t looking down at the people around them. They just didn’t care enough to know them and I can’t say that I’m not the same for them. I also don’t care for other people but Rin is different. She is my friend!
“Do you want to save her” I heard an apathetic question. It’s not monotonous and emotionless but it shows an emotion that she didn’t care at all and I know to whom those voiced belong.
“PRAY!” I’m angry. I felt the beginning of the emotion called angry. I can feel the deep loathing I have for this person in front of me.
“I ask again, do you want to save her?” She asked again with the same apathetic voice of her. She is coming closer. I’ve become guarded for the safety of Rin. I also felt her shaking become stronger.
“PRAY DON’T COME ANY CLOSER! YOU’RE THE REASON WHY RIN IS ACTING LIKE THIS! STAY AWAY!” I can’t hide my emotions that keep on boiling inside of him. It’s like a fire is starting inside of me but it’s being washed away by cold water. It’s becoming confusing and annoying to have that kind of feeling. My judgment is being clouded again.
“Don’t be too emotional. I’m asking again, if you want to save her?” She still continues on her own pace of walking and disregards my warning.
“Beldum Steel wires. Kill her” I asked, no, ordered her to kill her, in cold voice.
“Yes” the gentle Beldum has also lost all her warmth in her voice.
Several iron wires start slithering around the park. They start levitating thanks to the ability to manipulate steel and they start to encircle around pray. They are so thin that you won’t notice them but I start heating them up with Pyrokinesis. They light up around the park and I don’t care if anyone notice what’s happening here but Pray must die.
They numbered in hundreds, to possible thousands of thin steeled wires that started to vibrate fast and become heated.
The temperature in the park become hot but I only shielded Rin and Beldum shielded Mittelt.
Even with all this intent to kill her, Pray doesn’t seem to care and just stop and stand in front of me.
“Do you want to save her” She asks again in her apathetic voice.
I then order to wires to constrict her fast and sliced her to pieces.
Thin steeled wires starts to close in her, and they each, one by one, move fast that they will sliced her without any problem, with how it fast it vibrate, and how hot the wires are, but even before thousand wires that threatens her. She isn’t faced at all and when it comes close to touching her pale white skin.
All the wires lost its strength and begun to fall to fall to the ground but before they touch the ground.
They turned into small particles of light that surrounds Pray and they gathered around the hexagonal transparent plate panels behind her. Then the lights are absorbed by the strange wing like formation in her back.
“Energy doesn’t disappear. They just transformed”
What? What just happen? I don’t understand!?
I was shocked for a second then my mind was forcibly calmed down again, for the infinite times this evening.
She breaks down the matter into the pure energy state and absorbs them!
That is impossible and utterly broken.
“I’ll ask again Touma, do you want to save her? I know of a possible way to save her” She asked now with a serious edge on her voice. She didn’t even care that I tried to kill her.
“Y-Yes! I want to save Rin” I stuttered at first because I still can’t comprehend what’s happening but I manage to control myself fast.
“Do you want a quick way or a normal way?” Pray just ask calmly while tilting her head and looking at me. I also notice that she is wearing a dark blue attired this time. She is hard to notice with that kind of attire.
“A quick way! I can’t afford a normal way where I send her to the hospital. Many people will die and I know you will be the one doing the killing” I narrowed my eyes while stating the facts that yes, if things get out of hand. Pray would be force to end their lives and she will do it without any set of remorse or second thinking. That’s so like her character.
“That is just the way the world works” Pray doesn’t care and just cross her arms and stand at one feet.
“No it isn’t! Even if I don’t know much about the world, I at least know that it’s not right to kill anyone just because they irritates you, I also know you’re not normal or any members of the elder council that supports me” Me included in it but the words wasn’t spoken and Pray just raised her left eyebrows at my admission. She’s not even bothered by it.
“So? It’s not really the main point right now right? The main point is do you desire to save her?” She asks in the last question in a sing song voice. She knows my answer and is baiting me to answer the answer that she knew already.
“YES” A simple one word and that is enough to convey my feelings.
“Then go deeper into the altered world” huh? What does she mean?… wait….. Does she mean what I thought she meant? Because the chances of finding those types of items aren’t high at all.
“You do know that the chances of finding it there, isn’t actually high. It might not even exist at all. I’ve ventured there for years and leveled myself up a lot and killed lots of unique monsters and boss class monsters, but not even one had drop those type of items”
“You’re still trying to run away Touma. For someone as young as you to run away from such simple trouble… what happened to you?” Right now, Pray had ignored everything and just looked at my eyes and her eyes don’t hold any malice or any kind of strong emotions, aside from simple curiosity.
“I’m not running away!” Why does she assume that I’m running away if I didn’t even venture once outside of the city? I don’t get it.
“Touma. Touma. Touma” She start shaking her head and look at me like a child, that doesn’t understand anything at all.
“Touma, anyone who had played games, at least once, know that you won’t find everything in starting city. It’s called starting city for a reason” She is admonishing me like I don’t know anything.
“I know that, but why does that connects with my current problem of curing Rin” I’m currently hugging and hiding her away from Pray. I let her head rest on my chest and I feel her body trembling from my touch. She is really scared and traumatized. With every word Pray is saying, I can feel her body responds.
“You’re dodging the question and topic Touma. You know that in every game, there is a way to cure a certain status effect. If you haven’t found it yet, then it only means that you’re not searching that far into the story yet” She answers confidently and I also can’t rebuke her on her claim but I also can’t understand on how she can be so sure on that one.
“How can you even be so sure that it would be there? How can you so sure on what the Gamers Ability can do? And also how can you be so sure about the rules in the games or can be so confident to say that it would be there” I don’t understand her. I thought I finally understand her a bit but I still don’t know who Kusanagi Pray is.
“You’re asking too many questions but to answer it. I played games and designed some of them before” huh? What?
“I’m also the one who suggest using the game characters as the base and core for Type 00, I maybe not there when it’s being developed, but I’m there when the plan is being planned out. I did invent the prototype engine for the Academy City. That City prided themselves of their cutting edge technology, and I’m one of its early developer” Academy City? Huh? What? More questions keep on popping my head.
“If we’re talking about that City, we can also send her there for treatment. I know of a certain frog face doctor that can cure any ailments as long as the patient is alive” She keep on spouting nonsense that I don’t know what’s happening and what she’s talking about but the last one is someone that can probably save Rin, I maybe can ask that person for help.
“That last thing that you mentioned! That Doctor, are you sure he can cure any kind of ailments!?”I was desperate that even someone I don’t know, I will plead; I will even go down on my knees or do whatever he wants. Money? Not a problem if he can cure Rin.
“Academy City is in Tokyo, and you know going to Tokyo at this time of the day would be impossible. It’s possible if you run there by foot but by using the train?” She shakes her head. I don’t know what time it is but isn’t there a train scheduled for Tokyo even this late at night?
“Even if you’re that desperate to walk there all night, or even run from here, to there, it would still be useless. It would still be useless because you’re not allowed to enter that City. You can’t also enter that city. That’s impossible. If by some chance or miracle, you manage to enter it. Then you’re just deluding yourself. You didn’t manage to sneak in but you’re been allowed to sneak in. There is nothing you can hide with the director ruling that city” Pray sighed in the end and look at me again and ask the same question.
“Touma, do you want to save her?” She asks the same question again. I already answer it so why insist on asking the same question again? I don’t understand it.
“Yes!” I’m being frustrated with the repeated answer and question.
“Do you want to become a hero?” She then furrowed her brows and asks me a question I didn’t expect.
“No! Why does it even matter? That is not the important right now, what’s important is curing Rin” I can’t understand her at all.
“It’s important Touma but if you don’t want to become Hero then why do you want to save her?” sigh…
“She’s a Friend Pray, maybe because you don’t have one but friend is important. The dictionary and every book I said in human communication said so” and… I feel too that she is important…
“I admit. I don’t have any friends at all” Pray isn’t even fazed when I tried to attack her verbally.
“But I have family… and I try to keep them alive at all cost” There was a certain intensity there. That declaration… no it’s not a declaration but a promise. She meant it.
“Would you risk your life to save a friend Touma?” She asks again…. This is getting me angry.
“Yes” I said.
“Why?” She asked
“She’s a friend” I said
“That’s all? You’re risking your life because she’s a friend?” She asked
“Yes” I said
She then looked straight at me. Look hard and intense.
“You don’t want to become a hero?” She asked
“NO! We’re just going in circle here!” I shout
“Then go to the altered world Touma and ventured forth, deeper into it” she said
“But that is just a huge gamble and I don’t gamble with someone else life. (left unsaid was I don’t care for my own) It’s much better if I go to Tokyo now and go meet that doctor” I said
“Going to Academy city isn’t also a guaranteed to succeed” she said
“But it has better chance than gambling the chance in altered world” is my answer…
“If you go to academy city, it would take too long and her family would know what happen. If you want to lower the casualty to zero then go forth to the altered world and find the cure” She insist… no she just said or stated it, like it’s a normal fact… she doesn’t even care. This woman!
Grrrrrr!
“YOU JUST WANT ME TO GET STRONGER FAST BY GOING TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND IT’S NOT ABOUT CURING RIN!” I stand up while shouting. Rin still clings to me and I still hug her but I’m very careful and gentle to her.
“That’s true” She readily admits.
“Why you!” I tried to attack her again and this time around. I didn’t care for any bystanders that might see what’s happening. But I just called forth Energy Partisan after Energy partisan and launched towards her but every attack was dispersed when it becomes too close to her.
I still didn’t care and even called forth Setsuna [Flare] to use Shun-en and burned her but it still didn’t affect her at all.
I tried every attack I can and even charge forth my strongest attack and I didn’t care for what kind of damage it might take.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, she just looks at me bored, 4, 3, she then looks at Rin but she just looks at her like she is a trash! GRRR 2, 1, 0.
I launched the strongest attack I can call upon but the huge ball of energy didn’t manage to touch her at all.
The huge ball of energy just dispersed into smaller particle and all was absorbed.
Almost all of my energy was spent and I’m left tired a bit but my Stamina is regenerating, and the same can be said for Energy but I still felt helpless…
“Are you finished?” She asked me bored…
“Gruaaaaaaa” I tried to launch at her but a hand stopped me.
I looked at the owner of the hand behind me and I saw Beldum, smiling sadly at me and shake her head. She then looks at the crouching Rin that is hiding beside the chair, where we were seating.
“Rin!” I forgot my anger and just rush to her side. I hugged her again and settled her on my chest. Massaging her back and tried to calm her with soft whispered words.
‘Don’t try to run away Touma. You should know already that, your only chance of curing her in time is by going to the altered world. You don’t have any other methods to do so than gamble on this small miracle to happen. Plus, in that world .The world doesn’t hate you. The world won’t actively antagonize you or even stop you from being stronger. It might even help you if you really start moving forward” She then looks up to the sky above where the moon is peaking behind the clouds.
“So don’t run away and take the step forward. This time around, take that step forward on your own” She then looks at me and after looking at my eyes, she then start walking away.
“I’ll wait for you back home. I already know your answer so I’ll prepare the necessary items you will need” That is what she last said before I lost her presence. You won’t even hear her footsteps in this silent night. Like an assassin, she is.
“Rin” I whispered towards the girl who is trembling badly… it’s my entire fault that she become like this. I shouldn’t have let her become close to me. I shouldn’t have stopped them, even if I had to use force. I can do it.
I’m strong!
I’m not weak!
I can live on my own!
I started trembling and I’m trying to deny again the cruel reality in front of me.
I can’t blame Pray, I know her character. I can blame her for all I care but I’m making an excuse.
The fault lies on my own failure.
I can probably guess why Rin was there. She is probably visiting me because I promised that I would still play with her after my morning training, but I didn’t go and meet her in the park, which is why she decided to go and check my home.
This is my fault
‘Touma…. I’m scared” Rin whispered while trembling badly, it’s even hard to understand what she said but I can tell, I can feel and I know what she meant.
Cause and Effect.
Everything happens for a reason. I let them got close to me, despite my bad luck and this happens.
I know and I’ll take responsibility for it.
Something inside me is starting to change again.
Quest Update
Find “Remedy” to cure Rin
Success:
Reward 2% EXP and curing Shimura Rin [Best Friend)
Failure:
Death
Duration:
Until 6:00 AM Tomorrow.
Yes / No
This Gamers ability…. So you’re saying that I can find it there?
Then who am I to reject such offer.
I pressed Yes mentally and standing up. Rin looks at me confused and with her eyes red from all the tears she shed.
‘I’m sorry Rin, but this might be the last time we will be meeting with each other”
I then put her into sleep by using Rui [Illusions] to lullaby her to sleep. I’m not good with illusions because it’s my polar opposite in nature, so I’m limited in using Rui, but I can still manage to put a child into sleep by her illusions.
“Let’s go Beldum. We’re going back home”
She only nods and I didn’t go for running or walking.
I have already regenerated enough energy to get me back home in the fastest method.
I jumped into the air and create Moon Steps. I stepped onto them and begun my dash but I cast Madoka [Barriers] in front of me, to protect Rin and Mittelt from wind resistance, but to ensure their safety, I levitated them in their own and cocoon them in barriers.
I return as fast as I can and I saw that the damage done to my home is still present which is natural but I felt that the area around my house is distorted.
Can Pray cast illusion too? It felt that there is a heavy mist in the air.
The mist parted ways when I made contact, and I go directly inside.
I saw Pray sitting in the dining table with a basket of food in the table.
“I prepare Rations for you to use while you journey further” She didn’t move from her sitting position and I didn’t acknowledge her words at all.
I look inside the basket and it’s full of bread and rice for Stamina and Health Points, and also lots of sweets for Energy recovery.
Sugar recovers Energy fast while Carbohydrates restores Health and Stamina.
I put the items into the Inventory but I left some outside of the basket for quick use.
I also change my equipment for more suited in survival mission than stealth mission.
For helmet I equipped.
Cracked Helm of Protection – A standard silver color, iron helm with cross shaped designed at the front of the helm, this a good helm but its durability is rather low. But since I can smith, I can just fix it while resting.
+ 5 Defense
+ 20% Health Regeneration
For eyewear:
Silver monocle – it’s a single mirror eyepiece equipment. This equipment might be flashy but I needed defense
+ 2 Defense
+ 2 Magic Defense
For Earrings”
Regenerative Earrings – A single piece earring with three hanging crystals as design.
+ 20% Regeneration
For Armor:
Lesser Elemental Protection Vest – An ordinary leather strapped armor that gave good elemental damage resistance.
+ 5 Defense
+ 20% Elemental Resistance
For Belt:
Snake Skin Leather Belt – has a medium size pouch for items to be put on.
+ 3 Physical Defense
+ 10% Poison Resistance
Boots of Speed – A brown colored leathered shoes.
+20% Movement Speed
+ 2 Defense
For accessory:
Power Bangle – a yellow colored bangle with black outlining and a single pearl as center piece
+ 10% Power
On my left fingers are
Ring of Regeneration x 2 – a white simple ring with a circle with a star design as center piece
+25% Health regeneration
+25% Stamina Regeneration
+15% Energy Regeneration
Ring of Clarity – a simple crimson ring without decoration
+ 20% Energy Regeneration
Ring of Perseverance – A golden ring with ruby as gem.
+ 20% Regeneration
For quick items that Pray prepares
Bread Roll x 20 – Heals 30% HP and STA
Cheese Sandwich x 20 – Heals 30% HP and STA
Melon Bread x 20 – Heals 30% HP and STA
Rice Ball x 20 – Heals 30% HP and STA
Chocolate Bar x 20 – Heals 30% Energy
Chocolate Candy x 20 – Heals 30% Energy
Fruit Candy x 20 – Heals 30% Energy
I also have stacked a bit of healing items in my inventory that I can use in case of emergency.
Now, preparations are complete time to make a move.
“Wait” Pray’s finally had spoken from her sitting position but she didn’t move. She only speaks.
I didn’t turn back but I wait for what she may say.
“Remember, Touma. Energy doesn’t disappear. They just transformed. I’m the reason on why you can manipulate the Energy and it’s also because of me, that you’re friend had been hurt” I can’t believe she’s saying this now. She’s admitting her fault but she won’t still acknowledge Rin, what a shrewd person Pray is.
“So, I would just let you know that, I’ll be waiting for your safety return. Come back no matter what. Even if you don’t find the cure” Pray…. She still cares for me but she only cares for me…
“I will, I will come back for Rin!, and I will find the cure!. For sure!” I made a declaration and I start the activation.
“Then remember what I said “Energy doesn’t disappear. They just transformed” and don’t be afraid to take that one final step forward” That is what I last heard from Pray.
World Reject! Dungeon Make Orc Field! Use 7000 Energy Compensation!
In between lines “Kusanagi Pray”
He is just like her that it hurts.
He has the same faults that would lead to his death someday but there is one difference.
He can still be saved.
He is afraid to take that one final step forward.
He said in his mind that he is fine to die for the others but I can tell, his heart says differently.
It’s like the soul and body doesn’t mix.
I don’t know what Aleister did but he said that he is needed to save the world.
We just believe him because he never fails us even once and we have the same goal but seeing him now?
I’m questioning his beliefs.
That boy is afraid to die.
Its human instinct to be afraid to die but there is something different from him.
Like a deep seeded experience that stops him from reaching his potential.
He is not afraid to get hurt for the others but when his life is in the line.
The body and mind becomes out of tune and he became easy to be read and easy to panic.
I know that his body adjustment isn’t finished because the researchers had gotten afraid that he might be stolen too, but it’s probably better if they send him to the Kihara’s first, to get his final adjustment.
His variety of abilities doesn’t reflect his overall ability.
If I would to guess he is probably only level 2 or 3.
His control over his ability is too weak.
He goes for raw power but the way he fights, isn’t reliant to it.
The show of power is just for show.
He is scared to get hurt which is why he attacks from the safe area, but when he knows that it’s useless, he forces his body to move, even if it doesn’t which made his mind and body clash with each other.
He seeks to overwhelm his opponent so he won’t need to kill it but it won’t be enough for enemies that are evil at its core or have different moral values.
He knows that thinking of sparing his enemy in the middle of the fight would just get him killed which is why he hesitates but he still follows.
He is human enough to know his life means more than the others, even if his doing it subconsciously.
Power won’t solve everything and he knows it, but he still seeks it so he won’t fail again but power isn’t absolute.
He also knows this why is why he seeks diversity over specialization in battle but when his life is in danger, his survival instincts kicks in which narrows his rational thinking in the battlefield and in result, he choose to destroy just to survive.
He is a walking contradiction.
Maybe because it’s his upbringing which meant our fault… no it’s most likely their fault. I’m not even there when he was born or was I around when they do their yearly meeting. It’s just too troublesome to travel.
Ow, who am I kidding? I’m also one of the one who condemns his fate.
He was clearly taught wrong which is why he is a walking mess.
He first learn to Survive to Live
He learns to deceive and hide something from the very person that takes care of him, because he can’t trust him.
He learns to stand on his own two feet before he even knows what it means to live.
After learning the value of Surviving, he then learns to kill, to live.
To kill something alien and to kill something like him.
He learns the needs to kill, to live, but he still can’t understand what it means to truly live.
After learning to kill someone, he first had an experience of Kindness.
This sign of kindness might be some form of punishment to him, it reminds him of his failure but this kindness had also finally shows him the value to live.
And for the first time he starts to question further his reason of living.
But he also finds out that he is not someone that was born out of love but out of desperation.
He finds out his twisted origin, but then he was forced to learn how to fight.
But he doesn’t know anything.
He learns kindness but it hurts him.
He has a family but it’s a lie.
He has relatives but it only views him as a means to reach the ends.
He doesn’t know what to do anymore which is why he is scared.
He is scared to die without finding any meaning about his life.
This meaning is something that wasn’t force onto him but something he wish on his own.
But right now, the one that shows him kindness is hurt, which is why he was forced to face down his own fears but his will to live, to find answers is still too strong that its unconsciously blocking his true potential.
The will to live was strongly engraved into him that it made Pray think that it’s maybe his upbringing but it’s she felt that there is more to it.
Something he yearns for but I can’t tell what it is.
I can’t tell because he himself doesn’t know what it is.
He is really is a walking contradiction.
He doesn’t want to become a hero but he is doing his best to save his friend.
Only a hero would do that…but then again.
People shouldn’t be grouped into hero and villain.
If the people in the world were grouped into two categories, the world would probably be filled with villain.
People can’t live without taking advantage of others hard work.
Pray can’t help but sigh and shakes her head. She also takes a look on the dolls that where left behind to protect that brat and that sin.
The dolls where guarding those two too seriously. I won’t kill those two.
He will hate me further and I don’t want that to happen.
Living with him had become a bit interesting.
I want to experience it more, so I would let those two live.
But I would probably would need to get a DNA or blood sample for that baby. That baby is too suspicious for me.
That sin isn’t normal. Now, that I’m having free time to observe the baby girl.
Something is special about her.
Half-breed?
There was a chance that she had received a gift but I wonder who her mother is.
The fallen won’t just breed with anybody.
They will pick the best to breed with.
Even if the fallen has the largest in terms of numbers for the biblical faction, they lack the power to back up their numbers.
They are more quantity over quality.
They tried to fix it in later generations, by going with potential mate that has potential and not just any beautiful bitch in heat, but old habits die hard. Sure, they take and kidnapped those who had potential, and had taken them as mates, but they still didn’t stop in their despicable ways.
While the fallen are free to do what they want, the demons stay the same.
Angels, Fallen and Demons. These three would forever kill each other but I wish that they won’t involve humans in their petty fight, though angels only involved if things are turning for the worse or when they are ordered to intervene. Their race is always the observers. They do the wait and see plan, and when things are turning for the worse, they will finally act.
Angels follows the rules and are just
Fallen are free to do what they do
Demons are beings of evil
The demons had kept their power for millennia.
The demons kept their blood pure and made their power more concentrated, especially in the royal family.
Last time I had to slay those black ball throwing freaks, I had a hard time. I actually got dirty because of their annoying attacks.
Hmm… the politics in the supernatural world sure becomes complicated when they start meddle more with the humans.
I actually preferred with dealing with local super natural than migrating super natural, just because the main lands are already occupied by different myths and sect, they decide to populate on new lands.
As much as I hate outsiders, I hate locals more.
They didn’t do anything when their influence was being challenge and just decided to leave them be.
I love mutilating them.
Darn, outsiders and their hypocrisy
They look down on humans but they learn from them. I want them dead.
Sigh… it’s getting boring while waiting here.
Looking at those dolls again, a mischievously smile appears in Pray’s angelic/demonic face.
“I’m bored” She whispered and two lights appear beneath the dining table.
They soon grow in size and materialize beside her.
One was standing in pure white armor. Its height is around 5’8 and has a slim feminine body. It has long white coat design armor. It has sharp claws for its hand and feet. In its back are the familiar hexagonal transparent panels that are arrange to form a wing like structure. In its right hand is a black rod with several buttons. When it presses one of the buttons, a hologram panel shows up and it started typing on it.
The other one standing is huge, it’s taller than the house ceiling which is why it become broken again. It stands in probably 3.5 to 4 meters tall. It’s colored blue and has slim body but has huge shoulders and hips. It shoulders had 4 thrusters on it and 2 on its back. The hips have 2 thrusters on each hip and surrounding the tall blue figure are 4 floating, large long barrel cannons.
This two standing beside pray shows an imposing figure that Pray can’t help but smirks when he saw the dolls trembling before her two daughters.
The steel type doll had immediately picked up the baby and the wind type had carried the girl. While the fire type stands at the front middle and the lightning in her right and earth on her left.
Even if they won’t win they still stand in front of her.
They are really his reflection.
“Don’t worry I won’t kill those two. I just want to test you dolls. For someone that reflects his inner world, you dolls are pretty weak and for someone that should act independently, you girls rely too much on him. I just want to test you lot” They become more tense after hearing what I plan, they also start looking around.
Are they afraid I would end up destroying the house?
“You girls really don’t know anything or maybe it’s his fault for not knowing how the world works”
Another light had emerged from below and it now materializes into something like a circular steel contraption.
It’s a hollowed circle that has various wires around it. A top of the circular contraption was a plate with an engraving of STARGATE and below it is Made in Kihara.
The contraption then starts spinning and various lights starts flashing and lightning current starts to fly in the air and it began a humming sound.
I notice the lightning type to gasp but I ignore the dolls and just concentrated on the contraption.
“The science had further advance than the world or super natural world knew. We’re fighting a war here, and we’re not planning on loosing”
Then the circular machine produces a distortion in the middle of the ring.
The distortion is starting to affect the area around it but it stopped when a hole appeared.
A hole in an open space.
“Come on, I already chosen a place where we can play around and won’t have problem in destroying some stuff. You can also bring those two with you and you don’t need to worry. The place I choose has oxygen in it.” Pray start walking towards the hole when she notices that the dolls aren’t following her.
“Relax, it’s just a transportation portal. Now, come one. If you people made me wait on the other side of the gate for half a minute, I will come back and kill you all” Pray made that threat to wake them up from shock state but they began to tremble and panic more.
Pray just sighed and walked into the hole.
I hope Touma comes back quick. I’m started to get bored more.
“I want some ice cream”
Part 42
“Status”
Orc Slayer
“Kusanagi” Touma
Level – 52
HP – 5300
STA – 5250
EN – 7220
STR – 11
DEX – 13
VIT – 10
INT – 202
WIS – 52
LUCK – EX
STATUS POINTS – 15
Currently equipped Title: Orc Slayer
Increase damage to Orc Race by 100%
Increase Critical damage against Orc Race by 300%
Increase Critical change against Orc Race by 25%
Increase attack rate to Orc Race by 50%
Increase dodge rate to Orc Race by 50%
Increase insight to Orc Race by 50%
Increase defense against Orc Race by 50%
Increase movement speed when facing Orc Race by 25%
I don’t have time to play around here in Fuyuki.
I’ve been fighting in this city that I knew all of the roads and shortcuts around the city; I even have few ideas on some houses where I was usually thrown around or when I tried to hide.
I already realized with Pray pointing it out that I’m afraid to go further than the city border. I felt safe inside this city where I grew familiar and knew that I can survive. Outside there is a total alien world for me but I need to go.
I need to find cure for Rin or else…
Charging an AOE attack to clear my surrounding, I began my preparation by maxing the available Globe of Invulnerability. I also surround myself with [Barrier] mirrors of Madoka that was centered on a hexagonal form of energy partisan.
I remember what Pray said about energy and I would like to try and copy her move but I know that reality is farther from the truth. I don’t have any clue on what set of commands she inputted in those energy panels but I would like to try an experiment.
Recharging and buffing myself, I readied for the inevitable swarm of enemies.
I launched the charged attack after getting my Energy full again. It created a huge explosion that gave me the necessary time for me to exit but I didn’t take the roads and instead dash upwards.
Creating moon step on the way and I start climbing higher.
I entertained the idea of creating wings but it would just takes too much command for me to use it. Maneuvering in the sky would limit my variety in attacking and defense. I can only have 8 active skills at the same time. I already always active the barrier skill and Madoka’s mirror and those two alone cost me 2 active skills. I can only launch 6 attacks while being defensive. If I add the flight skill into it, it would probably cost me 2 skills, one for trust and other for movement. That would leave me with only 4 possible attacks and 1 of those attacks are already reserve for summoned beings. 3 possible attack patterns are too low for my liking.
So creating moon steps using Madoka’s mirror would be more ideal.
As I ascend higher, I notice that the flyer’s Batrider and Wyvernrider are starting to surround me.
I don’t have time with them so I evade them by increasing my dash speed but dashing skills had weakness.
It can only move at the straight path and they are currently blocking it.
The enemies are becoming smarter and more used against me, as times goes by. It becomes harder to kill them.
I tried moving my right hand forward to kill the, as I dash around, but they just evade it and the Wyvernrider position its spear to slice my head off.
Having my right hand limited in range is really hurting me in this battle. I want to save energy but it would probably be impossible.
I control the wind around me by inputting the necessary command to show the necessary results.
I blow the wind away and some of the flyers were also blown away and when they tried to get closer, another result as shown.
The results are all the flying type with 20 meter range, are start to lose their ability to fly. Well they fall 20 meters below me, the updraft of wind is present again and they manage to fly.
I managed to create a space where the wind doesn’t blow and the flyers can’t fly through it just by gliding in. I push away all the wind that would be used by the flyers and they would need to fly on their own. But their wing long can’t take the weight of the combine body of the beast and the rider, so they fall down.
This is only a temporary measure so I can have a better footing in the air.
After I had managed to set my footing in the sky, I prepare for my next plan.
I started then to control the lightning around me and set them for magnetism.
Something inside me is starting to change again
Setting my shield as negative charge and also creating negative charge energy partisan behind me, I created around 100 and compress them. Doubling the power inside of the energy partisan, after that I set to control the wind around me and made them form a tunnel like formation in front of me, I then compress them too and when all the preparations was done, I was set like a human cannon ball.
I launched the compress wind in front of me, forward; it blows away the monsters that are trying to gather in front of me. It also formed a wind tunnel that stretches further. I then release the energy on my back and the negative charge particles are starting to repel the negative charge particle barrier. As a result, I was launched like a railgun in the air.
Everything that collided with my heated barrier exploded in gore and sprayed blood everywhere. But the blood that got near the barrier evaporates due to the high temperature.
I move beyond my normal speed and crossed the prefecture in seconds.
Moving in around Mach 7, with lesser Energy used than direct conversion of energy to propulsion, I set my target in to the main lands.
I don’t have time to move from one town to another. If I’m aiming for the item type remedy, I should move more inland’s and if there is no change there, I would aim for the nearest country possible.
But I think that I’m in the right path, the flyers here are already higher in level than the ones in Fuyuki. They also had more abilities and more savage in attacking the barriers, I set up around me.
The batrider are also growing larger and the bouts of fire that they spew are becoming hotter and more concentrated.
The wyvernriders are forming formation and are lounging at high speed from above with their spears, pose to stab me but the moment they tried to intercept me, they just exploded in chunks, if their stand in the collision course but if they are only grazed, they just got throw on one of the houses below.
The speed is too fast for me to truly comprehend on what’s happening but I should probably set on where I would be fired, because I feel that I’m just continuously moving at the same horizontal lane. I don’t want to be thrown further and went outside of Japan, so after passing a rather big wyvernrider. I made drastic measures to stop my makeshift transportation.
I didn’t bother to inspect my surrounding, it’s not like I can, with how fast I’m moving. Everything is just a blur and I only need to stop. That’s what I thought at this moment and I probably should be wise enough to think some other method but by my speed. I expect to be nearing the border of Japan and I don’t want to end in the middle of the sea, where I don’t have any ability to control and manipulate water.
So I used the quickest way to deal with the current super speed transportation event. I mentally ordered the barriers that I used as transportation, to collapse but I made a miscalculation. The force is already applied and according to Isaac Newton’s first law. Unless another equal force had countered the force that pushed me, I would continue to move forward.
“Ugghh” Okay, that’s the other force that is countering my movement, friction against the air.
I shouldn’t have dispelled the barrier. That was a blunder and a mistake.
I expect to continue to move forward but without the strong shield that protects me from outside force, I would be left unprotected.
So when I rammed through an oversized wyvern.
The two colliding force exerts against each other. And even if the force behind my movement is probably stronger, the wyvern rider is just a bigger wall that can withstand the force. I manage to stop but I ended up falling and the wyvern rider that I rammed into was also thrown a few meters away.
But instead of falling from the sky, I didn’t expect to be attacked immediately by an unknown flyer ramming its tail on my mid-section.
“Guh!” I was thrown fast, my direction is towards one of the large 2 story house below but if I ended up falling, this high in the sky and with this speed. There is a high chance I might end up dead.
First is to slow my descent. Creating multiple Madoka [Barrier] on the path of my fall, I slow down my acceleration. The pain from hitting the barrier is there, but it only lasted for a second and with how fast I’m falling, I would need a lot of them. I can hear the multiple barriers that I set up, shatter liked broken mirrors.
But falling fast from high above isn’t my only problem. The sky is currently blacken by large flying creatures, thee current size of the Batrider and Wyvern riders are around 10 meters for batrider and more than 13 meters for the wyvernriders. Their levels are also something to not laugh about…
The current levels of the monsters that are roaming in the sky are around higher 80’s
They are 30 levels above me.
“Scan”
Explosion Menace
Troll Bat Rider
LVL 87
HP 9270
“The Bat Rider rides the sky and bring explosion and destruction in their wake”
Status:
Strength: 86
Endurance: 57
Agility: 66
Luck: 13
Trait:
Burning Blood: If the unit dies, it will cause burning explosion to its surrounding.
Ability:
Fire: The ability to manipulate fire
Less Resistance: receives less air resistance, which doubles their speed in the air
Rapid Fire: halves the time needed to reload another exploded solution.
Attack:
Exploding Concoction: Unique skill of this specific unit. The unit hurls a bottle full of exploded fuel.
Fire Blast: Unique skill of this specific unit. The unit breaths a flame to anyone who comes close.
Fireworks: Unique skill of this specific unit. Hurls multiple exploding concoction that cause massive explosion
Weakness:
Ice
Magma Blower
Wyvern Rider
LVL 89
HP 9470
“The Wyvernrider throws their spear precise with accuracy.”
Status:
Strength: 95
Endurance: 57
Agility: 58
Luck: 11
Trait:
Concentrated Aim: Increase accuracy but slows the attacking speed.
High Concentration: Can’t easily be distracted or confused
Keen Sense: Can easily perceived an attack and allows the unit to dodge and counter
Ability:
Fire: The ability to manipulate fire
Extreme Speed: Triples the speed while in the moving through air
Attack:
Magma Spear: Unique skill of this specific unit. The unit hurls a spear engulf by explodes in burning magma
Molten Blade: Unique skill of this specific unit. The unit attacks anyone nearby by its burning weapon.
Flame Breath: Unique skill of this specific unit. The unit breaths burning magma, onto its enemies.
Weakness:
Ice
Just looking at their new stats, I can tell that I’m screwed.
I feel my body trembling and my fight or flight instincts starts to kick in but I willed my body to fight.
I need to get that item for Rin.
But just looking at them and not the status, my stomach is churning and I feel my will slowly crumbling.
I’m not even 1 meter tall and I’m already up against more than ten times my size.
I know the risk of going outside of my safety zone but I didn’t expect for it to be this hard. I’m trembling and I’m scared. I can see the massive spear of the Wyven Rider, being pointed at me and its smoking tip where super-heated by molten magma. Getting hit once would be fatal. I would need to dodge, but where? They are everywhere and to make matters worse.
They can move faster than one and more freely in the air.
The Bat Riders are start tossing smoking concoction at me and I can only protect myself by setting a barrier, in front of me but when it made contact, the barrier just exploded and I was thrown further and my speed increases again.
I was to create a solid landing in the air by compressing it like how I them for moon step but I added further with multi-layered barriers, with small space in between.
I prioritize on stopping my descent than my HP. So, I made them more compact and more strongly but it works so it’s fine. I felt the aching back for a second but I didn’t have time to rest with the bat riders’ continuous assault of exploding bottles, the wyvern riders are also approaching from my side and above.
I used my left hand as spring and pushed upward to dodge an attacked from below.
Even with multiple barriers, the attacked went through and broke it all. It just shows how powerful the current enemies are. When I tried to maneuver myself on attacking using my right hand, it already retreated and out of my reach but the ones attacking on my side had managed to come close.
I twisted my body to avoid the flying beast but I didn’t manage to avoid the attack completely.
The superheated spear had grazed my armor and had pierced it easily. The armor didn’t even offer any resistance from the attack. The attacking power is just too high for the armor to work. I felt the skin in my stomach and my back, got grazed and burned by the spear. I also felt the heat invaded my body but the Gamers body prevented further feedback of the damage.
While the two attacks from my side are still happening, the attacks from above are already approaching, by the time the two wyvern rider had passed me by half a meter, the spear of the enemy from above had stab my foot and had dragged me with it.
I can feel the pain in my foot. It burns and aches that even with the gamers body stopping the response of the pain, it still completely manage to block all pain that I continuously feel while the spear is stabbed through my left leg.
The wyvern rider had raised his spear and together with it, I was dangled up in the air and brought my body towards its face. Its face is hidden by a rather thick helmet that I can only see its eyes. I also notice the clothing’s of the Crc had change. It wears now heavy armor with thick furs, layered around it. The armor around the mouth area of the orc had parted ways and I saw its big mouth roars.
“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”
I feel the heat from its mouth and I see his saliva, drooling from his mouth. A bubbling manga is starting to come out of its throat and its preparing for a breath attack.
I can feel in my face from the breath but I didn’t stop from attacking, I used my right hand and punched his head. It exploded in particles and I was left falling down thanks to gravity but my left foot would be useless.
Disabled (Left Leg) under disabled negative status effects are Shattered Bones, Damaged Muscles and Severed Nerves and Blood vessels. It made my left leg completely useless but I’m thankful for the enemies superheated weapon. It burned the insides which prevent another negative status effect, Bleeding.
I used my telekinesis to move the disabled leg but it would just add up to my sustained active skills.
As I’m falling, the enemies surrounding me are already approaching fast; they are far too fast for me to fight them in their territory. I can try to catching them but I would burn my energy fast. I would need to retreat and fight on safer grounds.
I create a Barrier and used it as a stepping stone. I cling to it using my left hand and angled my jumped but an enemy had accelerated fast that it broke through the barrier. I lose my footing and a burning spear is approaching, I angled my body around it but the wyvern rider swiped his spear horizontally, I tried to duck below the strike but because I’m so busy with the opponent, in front of me, I’m late to counter attack against the enemy from below.
“Gah” I received an electric shock from below and I didn’t manage to fully react against the enemies swing and I got hit and thrown further down. But my location of drop is not the place I indented too. I’m falling into the mass of Giant Grunts.
They already stand around 2 meter tall when I first saw them but now, they are around 13 – 15 meters tall. The houses around the area are being ignored, when they bulldozed through it, to just reach me with their giant mace and Morningstar.
Barbaric Orc
Grunt
LVL 87
HP 11150
“The grunts are the basic warrior soldiers of the Orc clan. They are used to pillage and capture human settlements”
Status:
Strength: 110
Endurance: 98
Agility: 16
Luck: 8
Trait:
Brute: Ignore damage receives and would continue attacking until the unit is dead.
Iron Skin: Halves Physical Damage Received
Savage: doubles attack speed in exchange for halving the accuracy.
Ability:
Berserker Strength: Doubles strength and Physical Defense.
Primal Roar: Increase strength and defense of friendly unit.
Attack:
Full Swing: This unit uses its weapon to attack the enemy with all its strength.
Resistance: Physical Attack
“ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!” The grunt where I was aimed to be thrown roars and every grunt in the area follows. A deafening blast echoes in the city and can probably be heard by nearby city.
The roar of the green monsters didn’t stop from the landing vicinity. It spreads all throughout the nearby streets and spreads forth through the whole city. Every humanoid monsters in the city answers to the call and they respond. This begins the hunt.
I need to run!
I stopped my motion by layering multi layered barrier in front of me, making each of them stronger and thicker and with little gap in between. I slammed into it and broke some of them but I was finally stopped when I broke nearly half of them.
I need to escape!
I can feel them approaching.
It’s a good thing that grunts are all about brutish strength. I would probably receive a fatal damage from of those swings. I better evade and plan my movement.
When I bent down onto the barrier, I felt an attack from above. I didn’t bother to know that the flyers are started throwing their concoction and spears at me. I can also see an upcoming huge spear aimed at me.
Even the headhunters had become bigger. They are around 8 – 10 meters with spears that is made of 7 meter thick steel body and a 3 meter long pointed blade. The spear looks scary, and its color is pure black up to the tip of the blade.
I didn’t bother to be cautious of my energy and just pump 400 Energy on each leg.
I manage to evade the attack from above and to my immediate surrounding but I’m still not safe, the grunt is faster than my normal speed but I’m still faster with a bit of air manipulation, where I reduced the wind resistance against me. They will surely surround me at this pace so I used dash away to further escape.
The area where I landed is alien to me. I’m sure I’m sure I’m around Hokkaido but I don’t know the exact location. I can see the sea when I’m falling so I’m probably either in Soya or Okhotsk area. The area I’m in is in residential area but the roads are wide and the houses aren’t that many. The terrain is plain and most of the lands are for agricultural use. I can’t hide here in an open area. It would be easy to dodge and move around in the open area but it’s not only advantageous to me but for my opponents too, though I notice now that the enemies aren’t as many when they are smaller. Their number is still large but it can’t be compared to when they are small. Their numbers right now is probably around 80 to 100 at most. It can’t be compared to ant like numbers, when they are as small as humans.
Still, even if their numbers isn’t that many, they are still far stronger and have more diversified skills.
I run around the open area and when a grunt stands in front of me, I evade to the side and punch the extending fist with my right hand.
They are far larger and faster but having a smaller body would still be advantageous in this battle, though I fear if those fist hits me. The grunts fist alone is bigger than me and when it hits the ground it creates crater and their weapons produce shockwaves that can throw me off the ground if I’m not careful.
After taking care of the one blocking me, I dodge to the side, and then a large beam of lightning went through a second after I move from it. The shaman’s control over lightning had become stronger.
I didn’t stop after dodging the attack and start dashing away again. A swarm of locust is coming. They are following me with precise control. I look around for the source and I saw the witch doctor can now even control insects to do its bidding. And the insects aren’t ordinary insects. Everything that the swarm touches was eaten away. Even the earth or tree was being eaten fast and only leaving gouges of earth on the ground and trunks in the tree.
Demon Enchanter
Witch Doctor
LVL 87
HP 9705
MP 8750/10170
“The healer and demon worshiper of the clan. Its mere presence in the battle field boosts the morale of the clan and brought despairs on the enemy.”
Status:
Strength: 58
Endurance: 67
Agility: 41
Magi: 98
Luck: 8
Trait:
Healing Aura: Friendly unit that are near the unit will have faster regeneration.
Soul Gatherer: Whenever a unit dies, this unit can sacrifice their soul to the demons and restore its mana.
Ability:
Voodoo Doll: Amplify the damage received of the target
Healing Wave: Heals nearby unit with each wave of energy.
Agent of Beelzebub: Calls the deadly swarms that follows the king of fly and control them to attack, defend or support the clan.
Attack:
Poison Flask: Unique Skill of the unit. The unit throws a bottle full of poisonous substance.
This is bad but manageable… is what I want to think
They are faster which is why I need to be faster too but I’m consuming energy far too fast. I can’t even use it to fire counter attacks from afar.
It’s also didn’t help that they just ignore it.
I tried launching a Burning Twisted Partisan, Charged Drill Partisan and even the Compact Drill Partisan are being either deflected or outright ignored. This running juggernaut just ignored my attacks from afar.
I need to hide.
My breathing is becoming erratic and my skin is paling. I’m not getting enough oxygen.
I want to curse but I don’t have time. The oxygen in the area is being burned faster with the way the wyvern rider and bat rider keep making thinks burn and explode.
I would die here.
I need to escape.
Charging for another explosive dash but before I used it to dash away, I was forced to dodge massive spears, that were thrown by the headhunters. As I was dodging, I didn’t notice the upcoming burning mortars from above.
City Destroyer
Demolisher
LVL 83
HP 8600
“It hurls molten rocks against its enemy.
Status:
Strength: D
Endurance: 30
Agility: 5
Luck: 15
Trait:
Peon: Has an aid that loads the demolisher with rocks
Wooden Construction: The body is sturdy but it’s made up of wood and steel.
Ability:
Burning Oil: The hurled rocks was burned until its melting and turned into magma.
Attack:
Burning Mortar: Unique skill for this unit. It hurls molten rocks towards its enemy.
Weakness:
Fire
I was being led! Is what Touma thought.
Charging for another explosive dodge to get out of the situation at hand, Touma didn’t expect for chains to start sprouting from underground and ended up tying him in place.
“What!?” Touma was shocked and confused, where did this come from?
Looking around for a split second, he spotted them. The ones who also manage to entangle him and drag him to the mini-boss, last time they dive into the altered world.
Swift Blade
Raider
LVL 89
HP 9600
“The raiders are the saboteurs of the clan. They are experts in every terrain battle and can are good at capturing their pray.”
Status:
Strength: 76
Endurance: 35
Agility: 98
Luck: 14
Trait:
Veteran: Masters in the battlefield. They know how to maneuver the troops and their own to have advantage against their enemies.
Speed Demon: In flat terrain, their speed are tripled in an even terrain, their speed is double.
Ability:
Steel Chain: Can entangle enemies from afar, they can use it to drag their enemies from above to the ground or bind an enemy from afar, so they can’t escape. They can also use it to drag their opponents to their ranks.
Attack:
Exploding Slash: Unique skill of the unit. The units sword is unique that whenever it meets its enemy, the enemy will received additional damage, aside from slash damage, they will received exploding damage that were meant to bring structures down.
Resistance: Slash Type Attacks.
It stands around the same height of the grunt but its mounted on a massive black wolf, so the actual unit is probably smaller. The body is fully armored by black leather armor with a massive fur around its body. It has huge steel helmet that covers its whole head and one can only see a glimpse of its eyes from the slits on its helmet. It carries a massive silver blade on its right arm. The blade is even larger than the rider but he can wield it like it’s nothing and even the massive wolf, doesn’t feel the weight of the monster blade.
They are around 5 of them and they keep on pilling steel chains on me. Looking up above, I can see the mortars, burning spears, exploding concoction and massive spears approaching.
I tried dispelling the chains with my right hand but they just do it over.
I can only time my movement in one go.
Charging my legs for anther explosive dash, I brought my right hand above and swipe every chains from up to below and when everything was dispel, I dash to the side before another batch was latch unto me.
What I didn’t expect is when I was when I’m moving an electrical cage was surrounding me.
Lightning Caller
Shaman
LVL 88
HP 9595
MP 9400/10225
“Calls forth the storm to destroy and traps the enemies and empowers the units from the Orc race”
Status:
Strength: 64
Endurance: 53
Agility: 59
Magi: 94
Luck: 8
Trait:
Storm Caller: Calls forth natural lightning to create defensive shield around the unit.
Ability:
Blood Lust: Awakens the inner animalistic of the Orc. It triples the attack speed but doubles the received damage.
Purge: Curse the target with lightning current. It electrifies the nervous system of the target and slows their movement down.
Lightning Cage: Traps an opponent within a electrified field.
Attack:
Lightning Bolt: Hurls lightning charge attacks.
Lightning Spear: Hurls a massive stream of lightning attack
Weakness:
Water
“Wa-graaaaaaaa!. KABOOM!” I was shocked, then electrocuted and then I was thrown back by the massive concentration of attacks. I feel my body aches and the massive grunts are approaching. But I was Paralyzed and can’t move. I can dispel this if it’s a curse or a magic attack but it’s not. It’s my nervous system shutting down because of the massive influx of electricity that hits my body. I can recover myself by using my own manipulation of electricity to counter it but I’m tired.
I’m tired.
I want to sleep.
I have done enough right?
What am I fighting for again?
Why do I feel that I’m forgetting something?
[Brat, is that all you can do? Did that little shock had given you amnesia or you’re just proving me that you’re really a defective product] I heard an annoying voice that I keep hearing for months now. I know who he is and I often plead for his help, but he still continues to refuse on helping me.
He keeps calling me “Defective Product”
[I’m tired now old man, if you’re not going to help then shut up.] Is what Touma said to the voice inside that whispers mocking words, every time it spokes
[What about your friend? have you forgotten her already just because of the overwhelming odds? Your disappointing and a defective product won’t be enough to label something like you. You’re just a trash] A heavy dose of venom can be felt leaking from the voice ask
[Friend?…!] What am I doing! How can I forget the reason I’m here just because of oversized monsters. They are still the same, they just become more annoying than ever.
[It looks like you still have some fight in you] the voice tone had change but it’s still full of mockery and disdain.
[Fine brat, I will help you from now on. With my help, the great old me, can recycle a garbage and turn it into a usable product] his voice is still mocking but there is a little warmth that can feel from it
[Call my name brat and we will destroy your enemy but just remember, even if I help you. It won’t change anything if you can’t take that one last step] still full of mockery and disdain, this old man had decided to help but he still doesn’t acknowledge me a bit as the current clan head. The same can be said for the previews leaders. They can’t believe that the clan would stand so low that they will entrust it into a human abomination.
[Shut up old man, if you’re going to help then shut up and help me!. Let’s turn this battlefield into wasteland!]
Using 1000 energy on the skill and with Koku’s form of power, the seventh form of power [Flash Cast], it ignores the preparation time, charging time or chanting needed for the skill to be used. One just needs to provide the necessary energy for the skill.
I can’t stand but I can feel the power. I compress the greater storm energy bomb and put all the energy needed to fire its maximum charge.
Above me is an ethereal form an eastern dragon. The dragon isn’t massive and it’s only around the size of an adult human with the length of around 5 meters. Its head had several horns and it has one massive eye and a big mouth full of sharp teeth and a slithered coiling tongue.
“KOKU! [Flash Cast] Compress then Fire!”
The eye shines and power surge forth. Its massive mouth opens and inside of it is the Greater Storm Energy Bomb being compressed (which cost an additional 1000 energy usage) and was launch into the enemy in the form of massive laser beam.
In this world where only night can be experience and the only light that can be seen from above the sky and the horizon was from the enemies that continuously bombarding my frail and bloody body.
A massive beam of energy was fired north and was drag clockwise.
Then massive explosions were felt around me and the darkness of the night was blown away.
From the darkness there was light
Just wait for me Rin!
In between lines “Shibuya Rin”
“I’m scared, Touma where are you” Rin was scared… she is terribly scared and she’s heartbeat is fast and she is currently curled up and shaking beside Beldum who become stronger and is now Metang, in her human form.
They are currently in an unknown place where the floor is made of steel and above them is covered in glass. But the glass is not an ordinary glass, it can withstand the countless explosion that shakes the place and even the steel floor is remain unscathed even with the entire massive explosion occurring.
The place is unknown to the girls that continuously trying to hurt the demon but all their efforts so far are futile.
Metang who is beside Rin is also protecting her but Rin can’t find courage inside of her to care on what’s happening around her.
“Touma… where are you” She is currently unable to think clear and can only shakes and hide her face in her hips that she is currently hugging.
Metang who is beside her, is also carrying the crying Mittelt and she is trying to make her stop crying but with how loud the surrounding, her attempt is futile and she can only lament their current situation.
“Uwwaaa uwaaa” The crying Mittelt can be heard but it only intensifies Rin’s shaking.
The crying baby doesn’t help the situation. It only made Rin become more scared.
“hahahaha!” It also didn’t help that Rin can heard the laugh of that demon.
Rin can still remember the face of the demon that hunts her nightmare yesterday.
She didn’t manage to sleep and can only silently cry in her bed. She doesn’t want to worry her parents and she believes in Touma.
Touma would protect her but where is he now?
“Touma you liar…” Rin can only continue to sob and cry.
Rin can still remember the first time they met or rather, the first time she can think and remember of her own.
Touma had already met Rin when she was just a baby and can’t think for her own.
It’s been more than a year since they met, but Rin can only remember it as only a year.
[Flashback]
She was brought by her father to visit a friend.
A lonely but trusted friend that her father assured will be her first true friend.
Rin was scared at first when he first saw him.
His eyes are cold and her voice is emotionless.
Rin is really scared of him but her father assured him that it’s fine.
His father introduced her to him and he only nods and he continues to what he is doing.
Her father had gone to the kitchen and prepared to make a meal and he left her together with the cold boy.
He doesn’t look away from the book that he is looking at.
Since he is not going to say anything, Rin decides to ask him what he is doing.
He said he is Reading.
He is reading.
He should be the same age as her but he is already reading the book.
Rin doesn’t understand it back then that he is reading and she only thinks that he is looking at the picture book but when he saw that there is no picture at it. She was confused but since he is not talking, she lost interest at him.
Rin had decided to play on her own.
She had brought her favorite doll with her to play with and play she did.
She sat beside the wall and uses some of the books, laying around as a seat for her favorite doll.
She occasionally looks at the cold boy but he still continues to do his so called reading but it’s a boring book and there are no pictures in it.
Her father is still busy in the kitchen so she just continues on playing.
Rin is busy at playing that she doesn’t notice that the top shelf of the book shelf is shaking.
Her father also didn’t notice it but the cold boy notice.
“RIN!” the cold boy shouted.
Rin was startled and look at the cold boy but what surprise her was his eyes weren’t cold anymore.
There was emotion in his eyes.
A warm emotion that shows worry… his worried for her.
She didn’t understand what’s happening but the warm boy and her father knows.
The warm boy, Touma had stopped the books and shelf from falling over her by using his telekinesis.
His father was thankful and rushes to hug her and take her away from the falling books and shelf which Touma then put down slowly.
The cold boy that suddenly turn warm, looks at her and his eyes still reflect such warmth that made Rin feel warm inside, but it only lasted a few second and his eyes return to that cold lonely eyes.
From then on, Rin would try to make the cold boy feel warm again.
She would continuously ask for him to play with her.
She drags him to his garden and play tag.
He often frowns at first but then he complies and runs with her.
We played in the garden, the backyard and even the rice field.
We chase insects, I forced him to play house with me and I’m the mama and he is the papa but he just usually frowns but its fine because I know his not called.
When I accidentally trip, he will run fast and catch me.
When we’re playing under the tree and a branch broke, he will cover for me.
When we’re going to out and play and suddenly it rains, he will always have umbrella for us to use.
When we’re we bought ice cream together and the wind suddenly blows strong and I drop my ice cream, he will give me his ice cream.
When an animal suddenly attacks, he will shield me
When we’re playing in the park and the chair we’re sitting on suddenly broke, he will catch me.
And many more events that happen in this short year, he will be there always.
[Flashback End]
When we’re together I felt safe, he is my knight and shining armor and he will always protect me…
Always….. But he isn’t here….
He wasn’t able to protect me from the demon that is currently laughing up above…
“Touma… I’m scared” Rin continues to sob and tremble.
She feels lonely and scared without his trusted knight beside her.
Up above her, she can hear the laugh of the demon.
“hahaha, this is interesting. You dolls had become suddenly become strong and it’s only been 5 hours since he goes out to that place. Forcing him to move out of his safe haven, sure force to boy to become strong”
“Why you!” Charmander or in this case, she can probably be called, Charmeleon now. She is currently in human form but her change in strength is clear for the demon to see.
Charmeleon can control now larger and more intense flames. Flames dances around the steel structure and tried to capture the demon but the demon just disperse it. Even if the flame is huge and thick, it becomes useless when the heat energy was converted into pure energy and was absorbed by the demon.
The 5 to 10 meter thick flame pillar dances around the area but a blast of energy beam from one of the cannons that surround the blue demon, was enough for it the flames to be blast away.
“Take this” Larvitar that had also become stronger and can be called now Pupitar was also in human form. All of them are in human form. She converts the energy around into solid matter. Solid earth was formed around her and it launches to the white demon but the white demon just sliced it with its vibrating massive blade. The stone pillars had also become sturdier and more compact. Pupitar had sacrificed the size for more fire power. She compresses it into thin spikes that surround the white demon but a barrier was form that blocks everything.
The white demon suddenly speeds up and raised its blade but a huge tornado blows it away. Pidgey who is now Pidgeotto, creates several massive tornado and are blowing away the two demons.
Pidgeotto also learns a new move where he compress the gas and with the help of Mareep, now turn into Flaaffy. A huge discharge of electricity heated up the gas molecules and it became ionized plasma. Pidgetto with the help of Flaaffy fired a rain of Plasma onto the two demons that protect the demon mother but the blue demon counters it by firing its sets of huge beam attacks.
The battle had continued like this for hours and it cause massive explosion everywhere.
But nothing still touches the demon but the girls aren’t tiring but instead, they feel they are getting stronger.
They had connection with the main body but with the altered world, it’s hard to make a solid reading but they feel that Touma is getting stronger and more desperate.
It’s been 5 hours already and its only 3 more hours before the sun starts showing up itself in the horizon.
They made a call to Rin’s father before they leave, but it’s only delaying it.
Touma needs to find the cure.
“Hmm… I wonder if the boy had finally taken the last step to move forward. You girls clearly had become strong but it’s still useless. It still won’t be enough to scratch those who laugh down on the humans. He needs to go further in. Furthermore into the abyss and search for the answer in his question. His reason in living is right in front of him but he still questions it. That boy is dense and naïve” The demon can only shakes her head while laughing.
“Well, let’s enjoy our time more. There are still 3 more hours before his deadline” The demon then raised her broadsword up and it became segmented. She then uses it to slash against the summons of Touma but they just protect themselves by thick solid earth and Metang also helps here and there by creating a solid black reinforce steel as protection.
The attack creates shockwaves and further shakes more the structure.
It only made Rin more scared and she can’t help but shakily repeats calling out her knight that is currently missing.
“Touma… where are you…” Rin continuesly sobs and cries while silently calls for Touma.
If Rin would only look up and see pass the thick glass that is currently above her, she will only see darkness.
Darkness and void.
But in the far distant one can see small lights in the endless darkness and few colorful objects.
But if one carefully examines the darkness outside the glass protection, one can spot another object that is far closer than the distant small lights or colorful objects.
Just by looking at the side of the glass protection, one can spotted a huge object that is majorly color blue with some green and white.
But Rin is not looking up and she is too scared to even care, so she is not aware on where she is and the same can be said for the girls that are currently fighting desperately to hurt the demon that torments Rin.
Part 43
Currently Touma is now in the foreign lands of Russia.
If Touma is an ordinary child, then he would be probably be weeping and whining about his misfortune but he isn’t.
Touma can’t believe that his first time setting foot in foreign lands is in this dark and gloomy, altered world.
Touma is not sure on what’s the name of the land, but its north of Okhostk and if he knew the world map, he will knew that in reality, he is in the lands of Sakhalin.
The Sakhalin is the largest island in Russia, being 948 kilometer long and 25 to 170 kilometer wide. Its land area is 72, 492 km2.
He is in the southern part of the island. Its terrain is plain with some small hills around the area. It has few trees and the area where he was forced to land was atop a cliff.
He became desperate because its only 1 hour left and he still haven’t found the item that would cure Rin.
So he force his way through the traitorous sea that are full of monsters big monsters that controls water and shots huge harpoons at him.
He evaded a huge canon of water from a huge sea monster that resembles a kraken form the myth but his energy had run out, and he force to land in the foreign soil.
But he just enters the foreign land and the welcoming parties of huge monsters are already swarming around him.
With low in energy and rations, he can only run around them and rely on his trusted right hand to save the day.
The enemies are the same size as the one in Hokkaido but the levels are different. The armors are also different with the armors, they use now are colored red and yellow with the theme of more knightly, than the samurai armor that Touma notice in the mini boss and boss of Japan.
While, there size didn’t change, their level and strength are vastly different now.
Their levels are around level 100 and above.
He also can’t see the numbers now but letters.
Letters used to represent the estimated status.
Those are alien to him because he doesn’t understand its meaning.
He is constantly using Scan and it’s leveling up nicely which helps to give him an estimate of the meaning behind the letters but it only made him scared because the gap in strength is huge.
Status System
Ranks
E Rank – Ranges from 100 – 250
D Rank – Ranges from 250 – 500
C Rank – Ranges from 500 to 750
B Rank – Ranges from 750 to 1000
A Rank – Ranges from 1000 to 1500
And EX for values that can’t be determined currently.
Additional rule is when the letter has the symbol of [ + ] beside it, signifies that the status can be increase in given situation
Having it in the status meant that it will be multiplied by how many [ + ] was displayed, and with every addition of in the status, it would become the signifier of how many times the base status can be multiplied.
And currently, he has been thrown by the shockwave produced by a Grunt with the title of Warrior Orc and has a strength of E+
He isn’t hit by the huge sword of the grunt but the impact of the attack cause a huge shockwave that hits him and he was thrown to the rocky area.
This is bad. This is what Touma is currently feeling.
There is no time to rest and his stamina and energy are in red zone while his HP is still in yellow zone.
There are three changes when the HP, STA and EN enter a certain percentage.
The label for the three would be green if it’s Full or above 50%
Yellow if its 50% below but above 20%
It would turn Red if it’s under 20%
Every time he returns back to the real world, he would only hide into a dark area and will return immediately.
He hasn’t actually returned home for more than a month now and his rations from Pray are already used up.
He manage to acquire new type of recovery items and equipment but the evasive Remedy or Elixir is still can’t be find.
But he had received the quest.
It meant that it’s possible to get Remedy.
He just needs to hunt down the enemy that would drop it.
“Pant…pant…inhale… exhale” Taking a huge amount of oxygen. Touma rolls away from an attack from above but he was still thrown away when it exploded. The normal burning spears of the Wyvern Riders had now further evolved and are now a jet stream of burning ray.
This altered world is insane.
Touma is just realizing it more when he had left Fuyuki and begun his hunt outside of his home town.
He also had find Gems and Jewels, aside from the normal reward.
The money had also change from Yen to Russian Ruble.
His money in the inventory didn’t change and are still Yen. He just received a new number below the Yen, indicating the number of Ruble, he received.
He also has a number indication for the amount of Copper, Silver, Gold, and Diamond, he currently owned and it’s found about the Yen indicator.
His ability is becoming weirder but he doesn’t have time to ponder about it.
“Guh” Standing up fast, he creates a single moon step and uses it as a jumping pad to reach the approaching Grunt, to evade the approaching blade, he creates additional step to step on.
He is not creating barriers around him now and just decides to conserve the energy to be used for additional exploding dash or to create a moon step.
He pass through the blade and reels his right fist the Grunt glares at him and roars but he ignores it and punches through the solid helmet of the grunt. It disperses and he begun to fall but instead of falling, he created another moon step and uses it as launch pad to go after the nearing grunts and raiders.
The raiders are moving far too fast now for him to perceive normally. It has E rank agility now and is moving far too fast but with an increase in Wisdom. His mind had become clearer and he can finally see the blur that he can’t perceive before.
Brain Charger
A highly charge brain that can react and issue commands fast in any given situation. It speeds up the processing power of the brain to easily react in any given time
Effect:
Current conversation is 1 second – 500 seconds
Increase Resistant to Supernatural Damage by 50%
Increase Elemental Damage of Special attack by 50%
Increase Regeneration of Energy by 150%
Note:
Brain Booster requires 150 WIS
When Touma returns to the real world, he was forced to use every little time to sleep and restore his damage body. Which cause him precious time of hunting the item but it would cause him more if he didn’t recover his severed and damage limbs.
When his enemy had become far too fast for him to see, he was forced to enhance his wisdom after increasing his intelligence. It also allows him to received new and upgraded skills for the wisdom line.
His energy regeneration had become faster but it’s still hard when he became too much reliant on it, to increase his speed.
“Status”
Orc Destroyer
“Kusanagi” Touma
Level – 83
HP – 3840/8420
STA – 1670/8360
EN – 1890/11310
STR – 13
DEX – 15
VIT – 12
INT – 301
WIS – 101
LUCK – EX
STATUS POINTS – 31
Currently equipped Title: Orc Slayer
Increase damage to Orc Race by 150%
Increase Critical damage against Orc Race by 500%
Increase Critical change against Orc Race by 50%
Increase attack rate to Orc Race by 75%
Increase dodge rate to Orc Race by 75%
Increase insight to Orc Race by 75%
Increase defense against Orc Race by 75%
Increase movement speed when facing Orc Race by 50%
Touma’s speed of growth overwhelms him that he didn’t notice that he is receiving insane experience while spamming Koku around Hokkaido.
He wants to evolve his current skill list but the importance of Cripple and Amplify damage can’t be currently changed. If he evolved it, then it would surely become stronger but it would take some time and it’s not something to be used against superior enemies.
He didn’t mind evolving his summoned beings and concentration but not the Cripple and Amplify Damage.
Touma didn’t also notice when he had received the new upgraded title but it helps so he uses it. He became so used to attacking orcs, that the only way for them to kill him is their overwhelming number and difference in strength.
He also receives new ability after reaching 300 in intelligence.
He thought that after Deca Core, it would be Dodeca but it didn’t.
He received a totally new one.
A monster and game changer ability.
Super Computer [25 Parallel Processor]
The ability to process multiple calculations at the same time, it shows the benchmark of being stronger and mastering one’s ability as an Esper.
Effect:
The ability to use 25 offensive skills at the same time without time delay between each use
The ability to put 24 additional commands strings onto one another over an offensive skill to alter the nature of the skill
A unique command can be inputted into equation: Stop and Delay.
A unique command can be inputted into equation: Compress and Explode.
A unique command can be inputted into equation: Boost and Divide
A unique command can be inputted into equation: Absorb and Control
Energy consumption was reduced by 25% during skill invocation.
Grants increase of 500% regeneration of Energy
Grants increase of 250% damage deal of all Special Attack
Required:
Super Computer [50 Parallel Processor]requires 500 INT
Touma can’t imagine what the 500 INT would do and what changes wisdom would give if he upgrades it to 300 too but that is for some other time.
Right now his pressed for time limit and he doesn’t have time to play around.
Running in the wide plains of Sakhalin, his evading the bombardment of the enemy form above, he isn’t even looking at them anymore.
Even if the gap of strength and level is high, they aren’t a threat to him anymore.
He became so used to their attacking pattern that it only improve and become dangerous. Unless they do something unexpected and caught him off guard, he will survive this but the problem is not surviving but finding the item.
Running and dashing from one enemy to the other.
Killing and more killing, he had been so used in seeing them either disperses in light particles of become vaporize from Koku’s attack.
“KOKU! [Flash Cast] Compress then Fire!”
That attack had cost me 2000 energy but its fine; I can get it fast now.
Attacking and destroying the headhunters and the supports are the priority.
Not allowing them to join the fray would make it easier for me to deal with the grunt and raiders.
The raiders might be fast, but I can follow them now.
I can see now the sprouting Chains which the raiders hide from below, I can also react now to evade or counter it. Those sneak attacks are useless now.
After avoiding the chains and when they notice that it’s useless. They will then charge in. Breaking the sound barrier and leaving behind craters and sonic boom, in the eyes of the normal. They just instantly appear in front of me but I know, I can see and follow them.
Dodging the attack by side stepping and dashing forward, I first punched the giant wolf and when it disperse, usually the rider atop would lose its mount and fall but the raiders aren’t that easy to be beaten by something like that.
When they lose their mount, they will jump high and raise their sword up and bring it down to me fast but its fine.
I won’t survive the attack if I block it but I just side step it and brought my arms up as a guard.
I was blasted away by the huge attack but I get what I needed.
I absorbed the kinetic energy from the impact.
I’m not as proficient as master.
She can absorb and convert matter in 100% ration but I can only do 10% to 20% at best.
But it’s enough, the attacking power from that attack is massive and if it hits me, I would receive at least around 3000 damage from the strength of the enemy, to the power of the swing, added up the force of gravity to the equation.
It would hurt but it can be endured. I manage to received and restore 300 energy points from that attack and the damage is further reduced by other damage reducer skills.
I also received new skills from Vitality line.
A damage reducer skill
Resistant Skin Level 27 EXP: 78% Passive
The skin had become resistant in receiving damage.
Effect:
Reduced damage received by 13.5%
Note:
Increased damage reduction by .5% for every level
And a useful passive regeneration skill
Healthy Heart Level 24 EXP: 54% Passive
Skill that increase passive regeneration of health and stamina
Effect:
Increase regeneration of HP and STA by 48%
Note:
Increased regeneration by 2% for every level
I have another damage reducer skill and with this skill, the 2700 damage is further reduced.
My natural defense isn’t actually helping in reducing the damage. The gap is just too big for it to make any difference so I rely more on the skill I received.
It’s still dangerous for me to tank any heavy damage but I know that I’m getting stronger.
The current level of gamer ability is now also Level 3 but currently, I don’t have time to experiment or find out the difference it made after leveling up.
I just know that I can manipulate and control my acquired skills more easily.
I also manage to get hydro kinesis while forcing my ways through the high seas.
It also saves me a lot of energy in not just dashing from Japan to this island.
The railgun makeshift transportation can’t be done because of the enemy is far stronger than the starting city so I was forced to brute force my way through the open seas but thanks to that, I acquired to ability to control water. While drowning and being dragged under the water.
And with the additional ability to control the elements, I have now a total of 6 summoned beings and one of them is now helping me in fighting against the horde of giant orcs.
“Seadra! Whirlpool!” My seadra that stands behind me had its eyes glow and the water by the sea starts to form a spiral formation and it was then stretch upwards. A cyclone was formed in the water and it then manipulated to hit the group of Demolishers by the hill top.
“Seadra, keep on firing water canon against the enemy and one had come too close use hydro canon. Don’t hold back and just continue in attacking!” I ordered her and she answers with a cry and the water from sea are being drag from it and start forming pillars of water that strikes the grunts that tries to attack me from behind.
The human form of Seadra has the same height of me and the other girls. She has blue shoulder length hair and sky blue eyes. She wears a one piece white and blue polka dots dress with knee length skirts. She also has a blue collar ribbon with a flower accessory. She also has blue ribbons tied in her hands and has flower hair clips as hair accessory.
I don’t know yet Seadra’s personality but from what I observe, she signifies my happiness?
Touma can’t figure it out that much but she is the jovial type of summon.
If Charmeleon is my desire to play games
Flaaffy is my competitiveness
Metang is my diligence in taking care of what are mine and the others
Pidgeotto is what left of my childhood innocence because no matter what, if I didn’t pick that book when I’m just 5 months old. I might have the chance of living a normal life for few years before I was trusted to this side of the world.
And Pupitar is my desire to read books.
I wonder what the personalities of others will be.
After killing a bunch of orcs and remaking the terrain of the island the first mini boss had shown up or rather, the first group of mini boss.
[This is new] is what Touma currently thought, they usually just appear one by one then it doubles and more comes after killing some more but now, there was already a bunch of holes in the sky that are gathering of what remains from the slaughtered orcs.
A group of 5 blade master is spawning at the same time.
The Noble Warrior
Blademaster
Level 114
HP 159000
MP 77000
“The elite fighting force of the Orc race. It stands at the top of the melee fighting force. It leads the horde of Orcs to countless battles and stands at top of the corpses of the fallen allies and enemies.”
Status:
Strength: D
Endurance: E
Agility: D
Magic: E
Luck: E
Trait:
Tempered Steel: It’s a veteran warrior that knows the weakness of its opponent like the back of his palm. Each strike is aimed to kill and maim. It boosted the critical damage of the unit.
Tempered Skin: The skin had hardens through countless battle and the due to that, the damage received reduced.
Ability:
Shadow Clone: Can conjured solid bodied illusions with a maximum number of 1 per 10 levels. The only weakness of the clone is its life is only 1/10 of the original.
Extreme Speed: Triples the speed when fighting in plain terrain
Keen Edge: Increase reaction time from attacks and increase chance of counters.
Attack:
Bladestorm: A unique skill for the unit. The unit spins his giant blade around him and causes a massive tornado that sucks and cuts the nearby opponent.
Omnislash: A unique skill for the unit. Multiple slash attacks that can’t be blocked or evaded by the target.
Resistance: Slash and Blunt type Damage
“Well, this is interesting” I whisper while waiting for the inevitable death match.
My legs are trembling and my body is bruised and beaten. I at least haven’t gotten myself another severed or burned limbs but it’s probably just a matter of time.
Fighting 5 blademasters that has D rank in Agility would surely be tiring.
Sigh… I’m just trying to not think on how disadvantageous I’m right now.
Pray might be right, I’m just running away and right now, I’m running away from reality… beating five of those would be extremely hard and I still haven’t found the Remedy yet.
The blademasters are start appearing one after another, its height isn’t that impressive if I compare it to the Grunts. Its height is probably around the Raider’s height but tis blade is one and half its size.
There would be nothing of me if that hits.
I would like the run, and my instinct and my brain and body is telling me to run.
It’s unwinnable if its 5 vs 1, If its 1 vs 1 then there is a chance, a 2 vs 1 is still believable but not 5 vs 1.
Sigh…
“Rin is waiting” I only repeat what I already knew. I need to wait for my energy to restore so I can only go for preemptive strike.
“Seadra cover me with Bubble Beam” Seadra then starts shooting bubbles after bubbles and its starts to block my view but its fine. With my senses working 24/7, the blademasters are like beacon of light in the night sky, with how powerful they are. They can’t hide from me.
I’m the one who would do the hiding.
Hiding my intent and controlling my breathing, I blend with the bubbles.
Walking slowly without makings sounds and just gliding around the bubbles, I get closer to the closer blade master but when I’m within striking range of its blade. The blademaster reaction and just like I expected, with just the swing of the blade that I evade by dodging to its side. The attack of the blademaster had managed to slice the terrain in half and it continues to move forward, until it hits the sea and the power still soars forth.
The attack is fast and when I’m trying to just take a step forward by lifting my right foot and move my body forward, the second attack is already approaching from my left.
They are already familiar with my right hand so they tried to counter it.
The idea of this monsters communicating with each other by an unknown method is also one of the troublesome factors in the altered world.
Even if it’s my first time in Russia, the enemies are already use to me.
[I wonder if they work as single entity] Touma ponders on such possibility.
A horizontal attack from the left is incoming and I tried to duck but a diagonal slash from right below is coming next. Using telekinesis, I drag myself to lean to the left and avoid the godly speed of the attack. It only manages to scrap my right biceps and shoulder but it’s not fatal to prevent movement.
As long as it’s still moving, I can continue.
After I manage to evade the upward slash, the blademaster had continue its momentum from the missing attack and it started spinning but before it completes its revolution, I put an explosive dash and punch through the body, effectively killing one of the blademaster but the attack from the blademaster had alerted the other blademasters and they entered the fray.
Two blademaster had emerge from the bubbles and they are in opposite with each other. Their blades are poised to strike and swing they did and right now, I’m thankful that I’m small.
The gap between the blades is only less than 50 centimeters apart but I’m just a small kid. I twisted my body and jump in between the fast horizontal swings that would have cut me into piece if it hits but I’m not letting this chance go.
With shaking right hand I raised it to dispel the blade from above and spin my small body and drag the stretch right hand to meet the blade from below.
Two blades disappear but the blademasters aren’t discouraged one bit. They retreat for a bit and I was force to dodge an attack from above.
The headhunters and shamans had revived themselves.
“Seadra hydro cannon!” I called out to my trustee ally that I left behind near the sea area to ask for help and she heard my call. Two pillars of water shoot out from the sea and drown away the annoying long range enemies but I was distracted for a second and that is all the remaining blademasters needs for them to attack.
“Omnislash!” one of the blademaster initiates its attack and he just vanished from his place and he appears behind me with the blade raised horizontally and aimed to bisect me.
[That is not pure speed! That is teleportation! And I can’t dodge] Touma is in pinch, his body is facing the hordes of long range support and even if he twist his body, he is not fast enough to turn around and block using his right hand.
Using barriers are useless against enemies that could dish out 3000 to 5000 damage with each swings of the sword and normally this would be enough to game over the gamer Touma but he can’t help but smile fearlessly.
He is against overwhelming odds and his chance of winning is slim to none but he felt right and alive here in the battlefield.
He doesn’t know why but fighting monsters and evil beings seems right to him but why?
Is that the reason for his living?
He doesn’t want to become a hero that’s for sure.
Hero dies alone in the end and he doesn’t want to die or be alo…..
His thoughts were cut off when the blade starts cutting his body in half.
The blade runs clean through his body and he was bisected into two and he should be having a sad smile now because he failed Rin but his smile didn’t falter.
“So master, is this enough? I did finally take that one step forward right?” Touma emerges from within the striking zone of the blademaster and the body that was cut was dispersed and burned into particles of light that were absorbed by Touma.
Touma had used the sixth form of power Rui to cause an illusion. He can’t use it very well but he can project a shell of illusion that distorts the view of the enemy making them hit the body double and not the actual target.
In reality, what the blademaster hit was just an open space where Touma positioned the projected image. It’s like a body double where his main body was position a meter or two from the body double. The enemy would view the body double as the actual body because it has weight, cause sounds and in every bit of sense alive. But that is because what they see is actually him but his actual body is just off few meters from where they see him.
The blade master tried to react and move away from Touma’s striking zone but without any wasted movement, Touma punched through the blademaster and it dispersed into specks of light that were also absorbed by Touma.
The blademaster’s omnislash might be a move that can’t be blocked or evade and it made the blademaster move in space and time but it won’t matter because for the blademaster’s attack to hit him, it needs to materialize in the same plane of existence where Touma is and if it were to materialize in the same place as him for the enemies attack to hit then the vice versa should also apply to Touma. If the enemy can hit him, then Touma should also be able to hit him too.
Relaxing for a split second, Touma was forced to dodge another attack from the incoming blademasters but this one is the ones who lost its weapon.
The remaining one who still wields its weapon is starting to use its other skill Bladestorm. It’s also starting to suck him in but he held firm. His HP is in red zone but his EN is regenerating fast with the dead blademaster being absorbed.
Behind Touma was 8 piece of hexagonal transparent panels. The 8 where arrange into 2 pairs of 4 hexagonal transparent panels that were attach with each other in diamond formation. The 2 pairs where then attach to his shoulder blades and they are glowing dimly. In the middle of each panel was a swirl of energy. The swirls of energy are sucking away the space around the panel which cause the space a bit distorted and it’s sucking away the light around it which cause the space behind Touma to darken but it also cause a different view to anyone who see it from afar. To those who can see it from afar would probably link it to the Milky Way. The area around it is full of darkness but in middle of the darkness was a speck of lights that formed a spiral formation.
This is Touma’s version of Aurora System.
Aurora System [Level 1] (Active Mode)
This ability was created and modeled based from an alien technology. It’s a poor copy of the power of the legendary trees that the alien race raised and cultured to be their source of power.
Effect:
Energy Conversion
Converts Matter into pure energy and vice versa.
Energy to matter and matter to energy conversion
Conversion rate is only up to 20%
While Active, it will reduced Total HP to only 20% of the Total HP and the user won’t be able to use restorative items to restore HP, STA and EN but the passive regeneration would still work until it fully restore up to 20% only.
Required:
?
This is Touma’s version of Aurora system. It’s not as refined as he wants to be, it can’t be even be compared to Pray but it helps and if its combined with his absorb ability. He can easily regenerate his Energy fast.
While absorb is limited to a form of pure energy like heat, kinetic, electrical type of energy. The aurora system isn’t as limited. It can absorb the remaining magical power or life force of the fallen enemy and convert it into energy. And if the ability to absorb and aurora system was combined, it would be to for me to lose Energy. Especially in this place where the enemy is infinite and each enemy I kill will restore a small amount of my energy.
Though while it’s clear the aurora system is a useful ability, it still didn’t change the fact that it’s a very dangerous ability. It let him absorbed the energy in his surrounding and from the fallen enemies and convert it into energy that he can use but the downsized is, it will reduced his life into one-fifth of its maximum.
Since, his life is already in the red zone he didn’t mind using it but using aurora system while in full health or is still in yellow zone, would probably be like wasting the HP he had.
This is also dangerous because his HP was reduced into one-fifth of its original and against enemies that can deal 3000 to 5000 damage in just one clean hit, he would die immediately if he got hit but that is the risk that Touma is willing to take to find the Remedy.
Master said that I’m afraid to take the final step and she was right.
She was right that I’m afraid in going against stronger opponents.
Opponents that could kill me easily if I made one mistake and I’m afraid of making mistakes.
I had made a lot of mistakes in the past that I want to correct but I can’t. It’s already in the past and I must learn to move forward but it doesn’t mean that I would forget them.
I would probably be a fool if I go fought monsters that can kill me with only one hit and I would probably not be risking my life right now if not for Rin.
Master is right and wrong in her assumption.
She is right that I’m afraid to die and I’m happy to feel that feeling.
It just meant that I’m still alive and breathing.
If I’m not feeling afraid from the idea of dying then maybe I’m not alive at all.
Maybe I’m just a machine if that were true.
My emotions are already controlled by my ability and being unable to even feel pain for that long or have normal emotions, make me feels that I’m just a machine but I’m not.
I’m still afraid to die and that is normal.
It’s humane and I’m happy to feel it.
I’m afraid to die but I must continue forward because a friend is waiting.
I’m a fool right now and maybe I’m the biggest fool of all.
Going out here, in these dangerous lands where enemies are at large, and they could kill me if I made a single mistake, only a fool would do it and I’m a fool for doing it.
My legs are trembling and my body is shaking. I can only curse myself because my reaction speed is becoming slower due to the trembling of my body and the enemies are plenty fast enough to take advantage of any split second mistake. The only way for me to overcome this disadvantage is to be forceful and ignore my body’s plea to run away.
Mind over Matter.
Were espers master, so why not just forced the trembling and scared body of mine to move against its will.
Its fine and I can fight with only my mind.
Even if my body is resisting against the command and my instinct to flee is ringing in, but its fine.
Mind over Matter.
Its fine if I’m out of tune and I’m probably won’t be able to truly master Pray’s martial arts because of this defect.
I’m defective product, that’s what Koku said.
Koku revealed that my ability isn’t perfect.
If The Gamers Mind is really working, I’m shouldn’t be feeling any emotion at all and would be completely calm even against overwhelming odds. But in reality, my body is shaking bad and I need to use Telekinesis to make it move.
That itself shows how defective the ability of mine.
Then I remember what Elder Shou had said.
The clan and researchers had been scared when Type 01 and Type 02 were stolen and they hasten my deployment.
I was never a finish product.
But thanks to that event, I’m able to feel a speck of emotions that make me feel alive.
Before, he felt that being a fool is something that he hated and it would just get him killed, he even vowed to not become like those foolish heroes that brave into stupid trials for the sake of their own goal but right now, right in the darkness and twisted world of Altered World.
Touma can’t help but call himself foolish too. A fool he is. But it’s fine.
It’s fine if I’m a fool that can only move his scared body by forcing it with his mind.
A friend is waiting and I’m not afraid to take over the world for it.
I won’t fail like I how I failed a certain someone.
Touma was confused, where that emotion came from.
In between lines “Kusanagi Pray”
The sun can already be seen in the horizon.
The Japan is called the land of rising Sun for a reason and it’s not just because the operation “Rising Sun” during the war or that in ancient Japan, the people didn’t know any lands in their east side and only knew from their western area which is China and Korea or because the islands are located east, where the sun rises.
True, it might have started when an envoy from Japan had disliked the name Wonguo or Wa and change it to Nippon or Origin of the Sun, when he presents himself to offer congratulations for the conquest of Koguryo and the name just had stuck to the people of Japan and is still being used until present time but one can’t deny the beauty of the rising sun, when its viewed in the land of Japan.
True, the location of Fuyuki is in Kumamoto Prefecture and it’s located in south western part of Japan and it won’t be the first to see the rising sun in the horizon but the view is still breathtakingly beautiful.
One can paint a thousand masterpieces just by seeing it raise a top of the horizon.
And with the cool breeze from the sea, one can just sit and relax while viewing the illuminating sun slowly rising up from the mountainous area.
But the residing residence of the Kusanagi household can’t help but worry.
Even Pray, the ever cold Pray is worry for the certain lad that dives into the abyss to find the item that might not even exist.
Pray is nervous and can’t help but message her aching temples. She felt cold and lonely and can’t help but feel that what if she sends the boy to die helplessly in that alien world? Will his body be return if he died there? She can’t help but think like that.
True, she pushes the idea forth because she became irritated of his progress and because of the brat that he worries more than her.
She became jealous because someone of her own flesh and blood is not looking at her again.
Looking up at the ticking clock at top at the wall beside the entrance, she can’t help but sigh heavily.
The girl is still shaking terribly and she is being comforted by the dolls of the boy.
The dolls have proven themselves adequate in her eyes. They become strong, sure, during the fight and they become more independent and know how to combine attacks. They also learned to cover for each other without anyone commanding them.
That itself is good in her eyes because when she observe the boy fight, he might issue a command first before the dolls made their move. Sure they can attack on their own but they are lost in the middle of the battle and can’t act accordingly during the pressure and that would be bad thing to do. It would get you killed if you just stand in the middle of a warzone.
Looking at them, she can’t help but smile.
They are calm and they are smiling. Its good news and it meant that the boy is alive but where is he is he is alive? It’s only few minutes before 6.
Would he be the type of hero that runs late during the action which leads to more damage and trouble because of said late hero?
She can’t have that.
He must new punctuality is something that must be followed strictly.
Currently, Pray is just sitting in one of the chairs in the dining area. She is currently wearing a white set of dress and had her left hand to support her head.
She can’t help but frown while looking at the sleeping baby in the middle of the dolls.
Even during the battle that girl that protects the baby, didn’t let her guard down for a second and she didn’t manage to procure the necessary blood samples.
Well, there would be next time.
Sigh….. Pray can’t help but sigh again because of nervousness. That boy would get a beating from me when he comes back. He is not allowed to make me feel like this. She then just rests her head in the table and look at the sun which can be seen from the open doors of the living area.
She sighs again and closes her eyes but she heard a click and the opening of the doors.
The dolls also reacted and they stand and look at who is entering the house.
The door was opened and someone entered. No one stepped in but someone? Or thing floated inside.
The something that floated in somewhat resembles a human but it’s more like a corpse.
It’s burned as charcoal with a missing legs and left hand with a part of the head was eaten away.
It’s still breathing because the chest is rising but its slow, its utterly slow and the whole body is a mess with only the remaining flesh was burned beyond belief and it has few cuts here and there.
It’s a scary image but it’s much more scary when the head move and the remaining right eye opens and inside of it is a bloody red eye ball that moves around and locks in the clearly terrified girl.
“Ugh” the floating tried to talk but it looks like it’s incapable of doing so.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” the terrified girl shouts and buried her face on the lightning element of the boy who is also clearly shaken of what they are seeing.
The dolls of the boy are clearly sad and the air element is crying heavily while the steel element had few tears running down her cute face, but she steeled herself and looks straight at the mangled corpse.
They are more sad than scared when they saw the floating thing and Pray can’t help but feel dread and understanding on whom that thing is.
The floating thing had his remaining bloody eyes glow and something appears from the empty space and it levitated towards the girls.
The fire element hurriedly retrieves it and the item looks like a modern injection. It’s a capsule injection where the needle is hidden and you just need to place it on where you needed to inject it, then you press the button and then it would inject the medicine into the body.
The fire element then hurriedly comes toward the terrified girl that keeps in crying and shouting while clutching into the lightning element’s dress. The lightning element just hugs her and tries to calm her down.
The floating thing is already closing its eyes and when it lost its levitating power, the earth element hurriedly catches it, before it falls down onto the ground.
The current scene that Pray saw will be forever be etched in her mind.
In between lines “Shibuya Rin”
I’m scared Touma where are you!
It’s been few hours already since they boy she trusted to protect her had gone missing.
They had return to his home an hour ago; hoping that he had come back but he is still isn’t here.
She can only cry and cling to the summoned girls of the boy who she hopes to be beside her but he is not.
His not here beside her and he is nowhere in sight.
He had abandoned her here together with that demon.
I’m scared
She can’t help but cry and shout to her mind to stop but it just keeps on showing her the same terrifying scene again and again.
She wants to forget it already and move on but it continues to hunt her and scared her.
She can only cry out for her protector that lied to her.
He said that he would be always be there for her but where is he now?
Missing? Gone? He is not here by her side and she is not FINE!
She is scared and terrified and just wants to end it all!
Touma is a liar.
Liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar liar!
He PROMISED!
But where is he?
Why is he gone and the demon is still here!
He keeps on saying that it will be fine but it’s not FINE at all!
I want him to return by my side already, to comfort me and make all the bad ones to go away.
But he isn’t…. he is not here?
The only ones here are his summon but they aren’t real.
They are just doll.
Like what that demon had called them. They are just dolls.
Where are you Touma?
A certain emotion that Rin can’t explain or understand is boiling inside of her.
Then she heard the door opening and tried to look from her fatal position by the floor on who is entering the house.
Is it Touma?
She tried to look up but what she saw is something that terrifies her the most.
It’s scarier than the demon that looks at her with cold and dangerous eyes.
Rin can only stay rigged and shout
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!’
She hurriedly clutch to the nearest doll and tried to bury the image of the monster into the deepest depths of her mind.
Forget it! Forget it! Forget it! Forget it! Forget it!
She keeps on repeating but the image of a floating thing, still lingers in the front of her mind.
It’s missing limbs, its burned and scarred boy. It’s missing parts of the head and the bloody red eyes that look at her with intensity.
It will eat me!
Where are you Touma!
Please protect me! Touma!
Please protect me! Touma!
Please protect me! Touma!
Please protect me! Touma!
Please protect me! Touma!
She keeps on repeating the same mantra in her mind that is already in the verge of breaking down.
If someone in the room can see through her mental status, they can see that her negative statuses are all indicated as HIGH now.
Its severe and dangerous if it continues and she might have a mental break down that would leave her a living vegetable.
She is trembling badly and her tears that had died out are streaming again and she is biting into the bleeding lips of hers, she is clutching hard against the hem of the lightning elements clothes.
She is starting to hurt herself.
She is praying hard for this entire thing to just disappear and she just wish that this is just a nightmare and she would wish wake up now and sees that everything is fine.
With the demon gone and her hero back.
While trembling badly and having her eyes shut tight, Rin felt a sting around the back of her neck.
And her mind becomes clearer and everything is starting to disappear.
Ah… she felt that she is probably waking up.
The last thing Rin saw is a burned corpse and everything went black.
Part 44
“Ugh…” I’m starting to wake up but… I feel that my body is heavy and I’m too tired to move. I checked on my status but there is no negative status and all are fine. Full HP, STA, and EN points but what is happening? I don’t understand.
I tried to get up but I can’t, I feel something heavy is pressing on me. I tried to take a look on what it is and I see something unexpected … its Pray.
Where am I?
The last time I remember is firing my body from the main land Russia without any barriers to Japan.
I think it’s a stupid move but I lack the necessary Energy and time to cast protection on myself. The enemy in the main land Russia is far too strong with the average level around 120-130.
I’m already running in pure adrenalin and desperation when it reaches only 30 minutes left and there is still no Remedy in Sakhalin, I’ve gone more desperate and fired myself to the main land Russia. I don’t know where I land and didn’t care. I just kill and kill and kill and kill everything from the land and air, until I found the item that I need.
I manage to get the Remedy on the witch doctor and the moment I see it I set up for escaping.
After that, everything is a blur. With the giant flyers that stands over 20 meters loaming in the sky (the wyvern riders are more like dragon knights than the wyvern riders of orcs) I don’t have much time to set an elaborate firing sequence. I just dash away and gather the necessary magnetic force that would act as my propulsion to go back to Japan and when I manage to gather the necessary force while evading the giant monstrosities, I launched myself, without protection from attackers and against the friction cause by rapid movement in the air.
What happen to Rin? Is she alright? Is she fine? But if I’m alive, then she should be fine too but am I really alive or just dreaming or having delusion? But that is probably impossible with gamers mind preventing illusions.
“Ugh…” my head felt like its being split in half… but how can I feel something like that if I have gamers body. What is happening? I don’t understand. I just wish someone I can talk too and will give me an advice. Someone that knows what happening and aren’t insane researchers or family members.
I want to stay like this and take another rest.
I’m probably inside one of the bedrooms. My clothes are change and my body felt clean. Someone probably had given me a bath or at least wipe away the dirt from my body.
“Ugh… Pray, your heavy” Even if I want to stay laying in the bed for more, I don’t want her additional weight over my stomach. She’s bigger and heavier than me.
“hmmmm ughh…. What it is, don’t bother me or I’ll kill you” She is mumbling something dangerous.
“Pray… don’t use me as a pillow. Go get yourself a pillow if you want to sleep” I answered her in an emotionless voice. She’s heavy.
“huh?” Pray’s eyes open wide and she sit straight and look at me.
“You idiot! Stop making me worry!” She then proceeds to hug me.
“Ugh… how many minutes or is it hours, did I sleep Pray?” I asked her while trying to stop her from hugging me, I tried to push her but I just can’t gather the necessary strength to do so.
“Minutes? Hours? No! It’s been days since you’ve lost consciousness. To be exact, it’s the third day now” Well, that was shocking news. A totally unexpected one because I expect to fully recover in matters of few hours and not days.
“Well… that was unexpected” Is what all I can say, I tried to sit but my body still felt heavy. Odd, is what I currently thought….
Pray just eyed me with her eyes, she is analyzing my situation and then she speak after few seconds of observing me.
“You should probably just stay in bed for a while. You overworked your body in your last reckless stunt” She starts to sit properly. She sits seiza seating position and it her dress matched her mannerism. She is currently wearing a blue with sky blue petal design kimono. Strange. She usually just dresses in one piece dress and now she is using a kimono.
I stopped analyzing the dress she was using and just look at the wooden ceiling.
Strange… I’m also feeling something is wrong but I can’t pin point it. I let the silent lull for a minute but then I speak.
“How was Rin?” I asked. The one thing that is currently important is to know how she is feeling right now. I know she is cured but how about some other complication? I can’t foresee the result of it because I might have cured her mental instability but I can’t remove the experience that causes her the mental trauma… should I ask someone to erase it for me?
Pray just frown and looks at the only window of in this room.
“She is annoyingly fine” She answers and I look at Pray with a raised right eyebrow. I’m silently asking for more information than just confirming what I already know.
Pray just sighed and closed her eyes, she then opens it and look straight at my eye and she “if you’re worrying for her safety then don’t. She is fine. I’m also not going to kill her even if it’s tempting because she keeps on coming every few hours, just to check on you. She even stayed here yesterday” Pray just finished her explanation with a tired look and a melancholic face eyes she said the words I didn’t expect to hear from a proud Pray.
“I’m sorry”
After saying that, she closed her eyes and stands up. She didn’t look back at me and then starts walking to the door. She said something more without looking back “Go back to sleep, you will need it” She then exits the room after saying those words.
After seeing her left, I just close my eyes again and rest my tired body that I didn’t expect to feel from my machine like body.
Sigh… I’m sighing far too many this since I met Pray.
Opening my eyes and mentally commanding to open my status window. I saw that my Stamina is still full and with no negative status effect. I just tiredly close my eyes and sleep.
My last thoughts in the matter is that my ability isn’t absolute and it can make display wrong results because if I were to believe on what I’m seeing then that should mean that I’m fine, but I’m not… I know something is not right but my ability can’t tell me what it is.
Part 45
Knock knock
I groggily heard someone knocking in the door
“I’m coming in” I then heard a female voice but I can’t recognize it yet because my mind and body is still sleepy and I can’t understand what’s happening or what time it is. I the heard the door opening and someone stepping in, I tried to open my tired eyes but I got blinded by the light from the window which is why I closed it fast.
“Touma…” The soft voice of the female is familiar but I’m still too tired to response but I’m remembering her.
“Are you alright Touma?” She asked slowly and unsure and I slowly gained my control over my tired body and slowly open my eyes again to not get blinded by the bright light of the room. It’s probably afternoon already if the sun is high enough in the sky to blind me. I looked to my side where I felt the female or girl had sat.
“Rin” I tiredly call out to her but that is enough for the girl to cry and she lounge on me to hug me.
“Touma! Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa I’m sorry Touma… sob.. sob… it’s my fault that you’ve got hurt… sob… I heard it from Beldum … sob…that you’ve gone out to find a medicine for me… sob… sob and you’ve got hurt because of me… sob…I’m sorry…sob” she is crying heavily that she can’t control her own.
I can’t move freely now because my body still felt heavy and I can only say that…
“Are you alright Rin?” I ask to confirm. I already used Scan and there is no negative status effect but I still can’t trust my ability to tell everything. I understand it when I felt that there is something wrong in me but the ability can’t display or probably can’t understand it. The ability is made to make someone to resemble a machine and it can’t probably comprehend an emotional problem.
“I’m fine now Touma. I’m fine and it’s all thanks to you. The bad images are gone now and I can think clearly now so I’m fine but how about you?” she looks at me with bloody red eyes due to her crying. She felt weak and vulnerable but I can see that she is not scared anymore. She is fine now. I’m glad…
“I’m fine Rin…I’m fine…. And I should be the one saying sorry to you. I broke my promise” I look away from her and weakly said that “I’m sorry… I’m not been able to protect you…I’m sorry” I felt like crying but there are no tears that I can shed. I shouldn’t be able to shed tears due to Gamers Mind but I still shed tears before when I failed on saving the victims of the fallen and this time too… I failed at protecting Rin and she got hurt because of me….I’m truly a defective product… a failure…
“Nooooooooo! It’s not your fault. It’s my fault for not listening to you. I know that, that demon resides her but I didn’t listen” Demon? Does she mean Pray? Well… I can see that happening but at least Pray is a honest but ill-tempered person. She can’t be compared to the lying and deceiving true demons.
“I know I should have waiting for you to visit but… you’re late… and I…” she whispers something but I can’t understand it. I’m still too tired and I can’t completely control my abilities well yet to hear her whisper. I just hope the summoned beings are alive and well, they can regulate and prevent possible damage my bad luck would have caused to my property.
“I’m sorry Rin… I failed you and… if you don’t want to be my friend anymore. I understand. I think it’s even better if we stop being friends. It would be better and you will be safe. I’m fine that way” I closed my eyes and waited for her agreement to what I propose.
Cause and Effect.
I’m always the cause of my own and others misfortune.
My effect to the world, where I deny the supernatural blessing of the Gods will always cause trouble to me and to the others that are close to me.
It’s better if I’m alone.
Pray is strong so she won’t even care but Rin is a normal girl.
She really deserve better than me.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” The outburst surprised me.
“I won’t agree! You’re my friend and you will stay with me from now on and forever!” She quickly denies it and hugs me tighter. She said something more but I can’t hear it from her current position. She is hugging me tightly and her face is buried on my chest. At that position, I can only hear her mumbling something and I can’t understand what she is saying.
“Fine Rin, I’m sorry and I’m…” thankful… those words that I can’t say. It’s stuck at my mouth and I can’t say that I’m saved because of her. I’m thankful that she will be continuing as my friend.
I’m thankful to you Rin for being my friend.
We stay together liked that until I had fallen asleep and I will just learn it later that she had also fallen asleep atop of me.
In between lines “To a certain black layout chat room with the room name Dollars”
Top Sword is online
Top Sword: The kid had survived and had come to grasp something that he is missing. He is interesting and I would like to see where he would end up with. I will stay for a bit and observe and… perverted old man, stay away from his friend or I will kill you.
Top Sword went offline
…
…
…
Researcher is online
Researcher: Well, that was interesting 😀
Researcher went offline
Commander is online
Commander: So the monster had decided to train the lab rat… hmm this would be interesting. Maybe it’s time for a test run.
Commander went offline
Part 46
It’s been a week since the incident and everything turned out fine and everyone had finally calmed down now.
There is still tension between Pray and Rin but Pray just ignored Rin and Rin still calls Pray demon but Pray just didn’t seem to care at all and didn’t even acknowledge that she is there though it still made me sweat cold when Rin stick her tongue out to Pray and act silly just to annoy her.
I just wish Rin would also ignore Pray and I was thankful to Pray for not hurting Rin.
Things had calmed down now but Pray had become bored fast. Why?
Because I started to laze around.
After experiencing again the effect of having a long sleep, I started sleeping now, though I still work at night but when the sun starts rising, I would mostly sleep and woke up afternoon with Rin barging into the house and waking me up.
I also started eating my meals with Metang started cooking the meals. Sometimes, we cook together but I just let her cook and I spend my time with Mittelt.
Mittelt is soooooooo cute! And she always acts cute! And made some cute sound!
My lonely soul was being healed when I carry her around.
Rin had also stopped being overly energetic but I become worried that there is something wrong here, but she said that she just decided to act more mature and I wanted to cry (if I can) when I heard her answer but I just smiled at her.
But I’m also sad, she is only few months younger than me but she is starting to act mature. I tried to dissuade her but she won’t listen. She still plays around but she started to get interested on reading, gardening and playing video games… I don’t know if that is being mature.
I’m all for gardening and reading but video games? I hope I didn’t become bad influence to her.
There are also some changes that happen here in the house.
It’s more of Pray being utterly bored and almost killed me because I choose to play with Charmeleon than train.
Pray then forced me to buy her a computer.
I was what? When I heard her request and I know what a computer is but why does she need one?
I haven’t tried to study much about computers but I’m knowledgeable enough about its basic, its parts and components but I’m not that knowledgeable of what it can do.
When I said that to Pray, she looks at me like I’m some kind of an idiot and I don’t like that. I’m not Pidgeotto who likes to play and run around in the backyard or in the garden.
When I asked her on what she wants to buy but she just asked me for the money, I asked her why don’t she use her money and her just reply that its tuition fee…
I relent to her request and just gave her a stack of money around 1 000 000 yen. That should be enough for her to buy whatever she wants but she just looks at me again, with wide eyes.
I don’t know what’s her problem and ask her if it’s not enough but she just ask me on how rich I am if I’m just carelessly giving away 1 000 000 yen.
I invited her to my party so I can show her my window, and I let her see my inventory and I then indicated her to the lower right portion on where is my money was shown, and her reaction had just shocked me to the core. This is my first time seeing Pray lost her consciousness.
I was worried at first on what happen but after that, when she woke up she just forced me into another training/torture and almost killed me again. I’ve become stronger but she can read me easily that it’s hard for me to land a blow to her.
After that event, she went on shopping spree. I asked her why she needs to bought that many if she can just give birth to it and she said it’s normal for a woman to have fun in shopping.
That was weird. I wonder how can that be true and then I just wonder if I should learn psychology to understand her reasoning.
But she doesn’t really go out of the house and just called someone from her tablet.
That tablet of hers is also something interesting. I had seen her using it but I don’t know what it is or what it can be used for.
The delivery of products didn’t take that long and two delivery trucks had arrived fast with the product that Pray had ordered. I was surprised when I saw it because I thought that computers aren’t that big but she only said that its academy city products and its only available to researchers.
The delivery personal had unloaded the product and it almost made my jaw drop. I didn’t know that personal computer is that big The CPU component that Pray ordered is as big as one of the bedrooms. She also had ordered for it to turn into air-conditioned room. She set up a huge monitor in her room with multiple mini monitors around it. I’m really surprised on what I’m seeing. That monitor is bigger than my TV!
When Charmeleon had seen that huge monitor, she proceeds to burn my current new TV.
I want to cry (if I can) on how they spent my hard earned money but they just ignore me.
After that event, multiple changes had happen. The first one is every bedroom now are turned air-conditioned (I love the invention called AC) I order my own PC but its size is not that big, I think its normal size. The CPU’s size is about the same size as my last 2 door refrigerator. I also ordered a 32 inch monitor. I set it up in the living area where many changes had happen.
The changes done in the living area are first; we ordered a soft mattress for the flooring. We aren’t sleeping in the floor now and there was also an AC that can be open if the temperature gets too hot. We also ordered a projector. The size of the available TV is not enough for Charmeleon so she just decided to order the projector (She learns it from Pray)
We also set up a mini satellite disk in the newly fixed roof. Pray asked to set it up and she asked for it to be uplinked in one of the satellite owned by the academy city.
We get to know the wonderful world of internet but I still prefer playing games but it looks like Pupitar likes the idea of having an internet.
Pray had really lots of connection, when Mr. Shibuya had visit and see the upgrades done into my living area. He was surprised and said that most of those items aren’t available in the market. He then proceeds to question me on where I get it. I just said that my relative is a past researcher in Academy city and she ordered it from there.
Mr. Shibuya had his jaw dropped and it left hanging. I was half-attempted to fix it by pushing it back up by Rin just told me to ignore him.
Apparently, the city is pretty strict when it comes to its technology. Its security is top-notch and it stands at the peak of the world. He also said that the technology there is worlds apart from the rest of the world.
I also ordered a new set of chairs and new dining table. I refurbished the kitchen with new kitchenware and a bigger refrigerator to store more freshly picked fruits and vegetables. I still see no reason to cook but it’s useful so I will learn it, though the real reason on why I buy a bigger one is because Pray likes her Ice cream. Or my maybe not likes but love? Or obsessed with it?
Right now, were are currently in the living room and are having a bonding moment.
We’re using the wall as a makeshift TV, and this is where we are currently playing the game Metal Slug. I’m playing with Charmeleon and Flaaffy is playing in her new Nintendo DS which shouldn’t be out in the market yet but Pray got it for her and since then, she is becoming addict in Mario bros’ game.
Sigh… “I died again” I whine while waiting for my character Marco to revive.
“You’re just noob, that’s why” Charmeleon mocks me but when I see her receiving another bullet and dying. I only smirk at her and said “I wonder who is the noob here, hehe”
I’m currently rolling within the soft mattress with my summons and Mittelt, we also turned the AC on, which made the room’s temperature cold. Charmeleon doesn’t like it first but she started to like it when she lies down in the mattress and feel the cold air around her.
As usual, Metang is in charge of Mittelt and it’s like she is become her permanent Nani and she is happy with her duty of taking care of the baby.
Pupitar is currently using the PC and browsing the net. She said that there are lots of free books in the net and she had learned to access it from Pray.
I don’t know where Pidgeotto is but she would be fine. She would probably be playing elsewhere.
Pray is in her room. She became shut in there and will only come outside if were eating or during training.
Seadra was also introduced to the fray and the others had welcomed her easily though Rin had become wary of her which also made me worry of her.
I’m also using Seadra now as my pillow. Using her lap as my pillow and she is playing with my hair. She is the playful and joyful type and is easy to be around.
The others are also happy of meeting her and having her become an addition to the party, but why do I feel that something is wrong here? I don’t know why but I can’t help feel that something is wrong and it made me worry but I ignore it.
It’s just probably because Rin had her attitude change since that event. Rin had become a bit more clingy but less childish. She also doesn’t like when I’m using Seadra as my pillow but her thighs are soft and I can’t help to like it.
I return from my mussing to the huge projected screen and can’t help but felt happy on how I’m having a higher score against Charmeleon.
“I’m winning this one” I taunted her but she only replied with “Bring it on”
The game continues for another hour until we heard the whistling that is coming from the kitchen.
“swoooooooooooooo” The whistle of the boiling pot was heard and we paused the game.
We looked at each other on who will stand to take care of it but no one was standing.
Metang had realized it and she volunteered “I’ll get it but who will take care of Mittelt?” she asked while playing catch my finger, with the playful baby.
“I’ll take care of her” Seadra volunteered. If I’m not using her lap as a pillow, she might be the one who volunteered to check the meal but since she can’t stand. She just volunteered to take care of the baby.
“Here, be careful” Metang said and Seadra just nods at her. I can see the baby giggling but there was a problem. She can’t carry her if I’m at using her thigh as a pillow… I would obstruct her from carrying it if I stay using her lap as a pillow so I was forced to roll out of her soft thighs and just used the mattress to lay around… soft pillow.
Metang had gone to the kitchen and I heard the whistling stopping, meaning that she had already put off the fire. “I’ll prepare the table” I heard her say from the kitchen.
I just continue to lie around and finish my match with Charmeleon but I wish that her tank would be blown away. That tank gives far too many points when you brought it until you clear the stage. I had higher prisoner count but if she manages to carry that tank until the stage clear, I would lose.
Lose that tank! Lose that tank! Lose that tank! Lose that tank! Lose that tank!
I began to chant it inside my brain but my luck still had shown that I’m a cursed guy and I shouldn’t count on chances.
“I WON!” Charmeleon cheers and turns to me with a smug face of hers. I can only turn my face to face the mattress instead of looking at her smug face. “hahahaha I won”
“Another round! One more time!” I said to her, so she would stop hovering above me about her winning the game.
“Guys, the table is ready. Everyone come here already. I would get Master Pray to inform her that the meal is ready” Metang informed from the kitchen.
“tsk, let’s continue this after eating” I said to Charmeleon but she just smiles at me. That infuriates me.
“I’ll set up the projector so we can watch something while eating” Pupitar volunteers. The technology is really moving fast in academy city, I don’t know if it’s the norm but you can just transfer data from the PC straight to the Projector by using a cable connector. Pupitar set it up and we use the projector as the monitor for the PC.
“What do you guys want to watch?” Pupitar ask us while she is browsing the local disk for her collection of anime.
Yes, anime. She started downloading it from the Net and since, we don’t have any TV antenna or cable for TV. She is getting her update in the net but she is usually just more focus on anime and manga. She said that shoujo manga’s are the best but I’m getting worried for her. She is me right? I wonder when her hobbies had change. She used to read literary novel works about romance but it turn into manga addiction when she got her hands on that PC.
We started sitting in the new upgraded kitchen and dining area. The chairs and table are new and it can hold up to 10 seating capacity. We pick where to seat and start sitting but we look at Pupitar when she asks her question.
“Divergence Eve for me” I said
“One Piece!” Charmeleon voted for.
“I would like to watch Gundam Seed please” is what Flaaffy said while not looking away from her DS.
“R.O.D please” Is what Seadra said while still playing with Mittelt.
“Okay, R.O.D it is” Is what Pupitar had decided to pick.
I want to retort but I just held back. R.O.D. is also a good anime so I’m fine with it.
“hmm. You guys are watching anime again. Owww R.O.D? Why not Ghost in the shell. It’s much better” ” Pray had arrived together with Metang. She had just comes out of her room and the first thing she said is whining on what to watch.
“I’m back! Woah R.O.D. That’s nice” Pidgeotto had arrived and she’s dirty.
“Pidgeotto get seated already” Metang chastised her while she sat side beside me. I’m currently seating in the head table and the summons seats on the side while Pray seats on the opposite side of me.
“Okay!” Pidgeotto cheerily replies but she is still dirty from playing outside. With just intent, my eyes started glowing a bit and the dirt around her was gathered by the wind and a splash of water from Seadra cleaned her while a warm heat from Charmeleon dried her.
Before she had reach her seat, she’d become cleaned and proper. She is now clean but she would still need to take a bath after eating. It just shows how good my control of my ability now, but I can’t helped feel that I’m wasting my ability by using it to give a fast bath to Pidgeotto.
“Hmm… looks delicious. Good going…brat” Pray is still hesitant to praise and acknowledge my summons but she must learn to live with it, if she plans to continue living here with us.
“Thanks ma’am” Metang answers her. Metang is the one that did the cooking and she prepares a typical Japanese food. We’re aren’t picky on what to eat so we’re currently having rice that we farmed from the rice field, salmon from our fishers, fruits salad and vegetable salad from our farm, and miso soup that Metang cooked last. The only one that we need to buy is the seasoning and meat.
Pray insist that I need meat to increase the volume of my body so we buy those but I start to wonder if I should start a poultry farm or a piggery, if we had that. We would be totally independent on our own. Well, aside from the seasonings.
“Thanks for the meal [Itadakimasu]” As we all seated, we said itadakimasu together and start eating.
“Ugh… this is boring. Let’s something like detective conan or kindaichi than R.O.D” Pray whines while stuffing her mouth with rice and taking a sip from the soup.
“You’re just complaining for the sake of complaining. If you don’t like to watch it then just finish quickly your meal and go back to your room… Mom” I was hesitant on calling her that, but I was forced by Pray to call her that. She had finally acknowledged me as family and any family of hers, calls her that.
“Woooooooooo so cute! If you’re sitting beside me. I would pat your head” Pray swoon but I left unfazed.
“No thanks” I continue eating but I’m smiling.
We eat together and play together, then Rin will arrive later and she will either drag me to play with her in the park or she will stay here and play with us.
She also sometimes sleeps here and Mr. Shibuya allows her as long as she calls her home to let them know.
These become had become the norm since that incident.
We play and laze around during the day and I train or go and start building my lab at night.
Seadra and Metang will take care of the farm or Mittelt, while Charmeleon and Flaaffy are playing video games and Pupitar would be busy in front of the PC. Pidgeotto would be seen around the garden, taking care of the plants or running around the fruit and vegetable farm, to check if there are pest or if there something ready for picking. Even if Pidgeotto likes to play around, she can be relied on simple task.
Pray would stay inside her room all day and will only come out when we are eating.
I made her come out as one of the conditions when I start calling her Mom.
The rules are she won’t kill my friends but she is fine to murder my enemies.
She will come out and eat with us.
She won’t treat my summons as dolls.
Those are my rules for her to stay here and for me to call her Mom.
I’m not regretting anything yet and I’m having fun this days.
In the past, I can’t believe that I would feel something like this.
I’m only focus on getting stronger and trained all day or check and experiment on my crops. I leaving everything else to Metang, like taking care of the house and Mittelt. I would be only out to play if Rin forces me but my life had become pretty monotonous and dull. It’s colorless and boring.
Even if I’m having fun playing with Rin but that is only when she is around and she is not always around. After that small time of reprieve I would just return to the dark world and train senselessly. I’ve been training there for days, months and years but it become useless because I’m afraid to take a step outside of my home town.
But right now, even if I’m only training during the night. I’m surely getting stronger be leaps and bounds.
I’m also seeing new place and start to appreciate the wonders of what humans had built. Even if the places I’ve been through in the altered world are full of enemies and is dangerous to roam around.
Pray had come like a storm into my life and she had change my monotonous way.
I’m thankful for Rin for being my friend but I’m thankful to Pray for changing my dull life.
I learn the enjoyment of sleeping, I was forced to eat, train and become stronger than ever. I feel a lot of different an unknown emotions and I learned a lot and experience a lot in this short period of time that I met her.
I have only had met her last week but I can’t help feel that I have known her for years.
This is my current life and I choose this. I will fight to protect it.
Part 47
Its third week of March now, it’s been two weeks since that incident and things stay the same and I prefer if it stays that way. I prefer a quiet and normal one than an exciting lifestyle.
I’m currently walking through the stairs of temple. I’m here for a visit and for him to finally show me the grail. He did promise and my meeting with the daughters’ of the Tohsaka family had me worried.
The current head of the Tohsaka (I think he is the current head) is becoming frustrated on the current situation and I can’t help but be worried that he would do something drastic if things continued but everyone should know that the grail war will eventually happen. The current system is just there to delay it but impatient people could do something drastic and we can’t predict what he would do if it reach the point that he can’t wait anymore.
The grail war will happen but according to the elder, the earliest is next year and at most a year or two but that is the maximum. The system installed inside the city won’t be able to hold it back anymore but when I see the shrine that Tohsaka Rin was inspecting, I see no problem even if it’s been used for years already, but I can’t also say that I understand how it works, so I can’t make a clear assumption based on what I can only observe.
I had reached the top of the stairs and I saw the priest standing at top with a broom in his hands, his waiting for me. I didn’t call for prior notice but he probably noticed me already when I start climbing the stairs.
“Good morning Touma” The priest greets with a gentle but fake smile of his. I’m not good at telling if a person is lying or not but I’m choosing to not believe whatever praised or good words, the elder said to me.
“Good morning too Elder” I tried looking around but she is not here. Good. When I heard her intention last time, it really made me nervous on just thinking what kind of problem she might be pulled into.
“Looking for someone?” The priest had a knowing smile on his face.
“If you’re looking for her, she is not here. Since, you’ve visit her house and informed of them that you visit here sometimes to help, they stop sending Nina to help which is sad….sob… sob… and I liked seeing little Nina to help around… sob… sob…” This fake priest… he is surely faking his tears at the end of his sad (fake) story but that is good news. I don’t like to see Nina around here.
“Elder can you be serious for a moment; I didn’t come here to chat around. It’s been months and I would like to see the grail now, plus do you know anything about the Tohsaka’s?” I’m serious. I don’t like him so I see no reason for me to stay here and I would like to know if he knew the situation with the Tohsaka.
“Tohsaka?” he raised his right eyebrow, it’s a show of interest. “What do you want to know about them or rather why are you asking about them? Did you meet them?” His smile had vanished and it’s been placed by a serious expression. The one I’m currently facing isn’t the priest that would like to see my various reactions but a researcher that is searching for an answer.
“I had met them and it looks like they aren’t happy with the current arrangement” I didn’t mention that I met the children of the possible current head. I don’t know much about them but I don’t want to mention them, and I don’t want to give them too much information, especially to this fake priest.
“Well, he isn’t the only one, I heard the elder in Makiri is the same but since that old bug is used to waiting, he is just probably waiting for the right opportunity but he is becoming antsy that’s for sure” Makiri? It’s the other founding family that creates this bogus game. I have forgotten about them. I don’t have that much information about that family.
“I heard that his family had lost the ability to use magic. Well serves him right, that annoying crawling insect. He had been pestering around lately. I’m even tempted to squash some cockroach with his continues prodding around the temple” Well, this is new. I didn’t expect to see the elder become annoyed just by mentioning someone. Is the elder of the Makiri that bad? but why call him Makiri? They go by Matou now right?
The elder then look straight at my eyes and tried to find something in me but he just shakes his head after few seconds of looking.
“You shouldn’t worry much about the Tohsaka’s. They aren’t really the problem. The problems are either Makiri or Einsbern. The Einsbern had been doing this little game of theirs for more than 200 years already and not counting their search to achieve their lost magic. If you include that, they’ve been desperate for more than a thousand years already. Desperate people tend to do drastic measures to ensure their victory. For the Makiri…” The elder just frowns and mad a gagging motion and shakes his head. It’s like he had eaten something sour. “Don’t trust the Makiri. That old bug isn’t something that could be trusted” hmm does he have something against the elder of makiri?
Squash. Squelch. Splat
What’s that sound?
Those sounds had come from above, somewhere in the forest and down below the stairs… the road? They are outside of my sensory area but I clearly heard those sound. Whoever did it isn’t hiding his intention at all.
I tried to search it but I can’t find the source of the sound. I gave up in searching and focus again on the priest but his face had change again.
Usually, it’s the creepy priest that wears fake smile to accommodate me, then the sinister smiling priest that likes to see my various reactions and lastly the researcher priest. I rarely see it and it only appears when we’re discussing about the mechanics of the grail war or about the supernatural world.
Those types of faces are what this fake priest, researcher, usually wears.
This is a new one.
I haven’t seen him get angry.
His face is in clear annoying and set in frown. He is also looking at his left which is the foreign side of the Miyama town.
Someone is observing us?
Then those sounds are the so called familiar?
I heard from the priest that those are magical construct that the magus or magic users use, to scout for information.
Who are the one observing us?
Tohsaka, Makiri or a total unknown party?
“Come on, let’s go inside and we will continue our discussion there” The elder urge me to follow him and we hurriedly enter the temple building but when we entered inside the temple, the pace of the priests slow down. I asked then the question when I feel that the priest had calmed down a bit.
“Why is the Tohsaka family not a threat? Aren’t they the same? They are also members of the founding family that created the grail. They should be also desperate enough to do something drastic to win the war” I inquired because it’s confusing on why did the elder, not think of them as a threat.
“The current head of the Tohsaka is pretty much predictable person. He is the generic type of noble. He is the one that do his job right but he is still cunning enough to plan some underhanded tactics but it’s probably in a more acceptable manner or rather something a Magus would approve” His clear contempt on the way of the magus was clearly shown when he said the last words. I don’t understand why he hated their kind. Aren’t they the same researcher types of people? They would do everything they can to reach their goal… so what’s the different between him and the magus?
“Tokiomi is so predictable that he will probably procure an artifact that would summon the strongest servant for the current war” His face was set in a frown. We’re walking inside of the temple and he gestured me to stop for the time being. Our current position is the praying hall. Its current empty aside from the altar of Buddha in front of the praying hall, the Buddha isn’t really that special but it’s bigger than an adult. The priest had approach the Buddha while continuing his explanation.
“Summoning the strongest of the servant would be troublesome if one is not careful. Those beings are still legendary beings. They might be the copy of what was stored in the throne of Heroes but they are being that are far from normal. They had pride that matches their strength. If Tokiomi had gone his way in the most predictable way, then he would probably summon a hero with a blood of a god” God!? A demi-god, Nephilim?
“Those types sure are the strongest but they had an ego that matches it. It would be hard to control those types. Even more so if he decides to go for a king, some king of the past may be benevolent and but most are noted for being ruthless and dangerous. They are also the type that won’t bow down to people lower than them or to anyone at all. They had the pride of a king that rules over people. I’m pretty sure he would have a hard time controlling it” The priest is currently in the back of the Buddha and he is doing something, a hidden contraption or entrance?
Click
!
That sound!
“Come” He gestures for me to follow him again and he went then to the living quarters. The entrance is in there?
“Remember Touma, no matter what kind of legend a God has, be it benevolent, kind, caring or a just God. It’s still a God. It’s far above human level and let’s makes an easy example. If an ant orders an elephant, do you think an elephant would care?” He stops and looks at me when he asks the question but he didn’t wait for the answer and went straight to the kitchen. We already entered the living quarters.
“Pride. Any being has it. Even the animals have it. Humans and supernatural has it. Heck, the whole problem starts with Pride. It’s the cause of conflict. Super natural had abused and used the humanity for centuries to millennia. The humans pride had been wounded and damage beyond repair but it’s still there. They will still retaliate if their love ones are in danger. No matter how dull their fangs had become, they would still bite the arms of their master if they hurt them or someone important to them” The Priest is crouch down below the kitchen sink and he is doing something there inside of the kitchen cabinet.
Click
That sound again, is it a multiple safety mechanism?
The priest had stand up after the sound was heard, he then start walking again and went straight further into the living quarters. It’s an area I haven’t entered before because it’s a private area and I’m not invited but right now, his expecting me to follow him.
He entered one of the rooms and this room is a bedroom but it’s probably unused one. There are signs that it’s not been touched for some time now. I wonder since when did this Priest takeover this temple. It has a sliding closet and a single window room. The priest then went to open the closet and he crouched down and went into the lower part of the cabinet. He didn’t bother to talk to me right now and he just continues on what he is doing, and another sound was heard.
Click
That’s the third one. Is there some more, I wonder.
“Come” He then went outside of the room, and then we went outside to the backdoor provided in the kitchen, and then we went to the backyard and pass it and walk further until we got close to the forest boundary of the temple, he stops then and look at me.
“The next one is somewhere you can’t follow and it not because it’s a secret but because it’s protected by a bounded field. I don’t want you to accidentally destroy it. Just wait for me here and try to not too wander too much” He then proceeds and went down to the forest area of the temple.
I wonder on how long it will take for him to come back.
I then decided to look around and observe my surrounding.
We are currently at the back of the temple now and there is a pond there. If I remember it right, that pond is directly above the cavern below, where the Greater Grail is hidden.
I then decided to check the pond or is it a lake? It’s too big for a man made pond.
I inspect the color of the pond and the water is crystal clear. Its look refreshing and would probably be healthy which wouldn’t be far from the truth.
This water isn’t ordinary.
It became far too saturated with mana that the grail is trying to gather and absorb that it become something that can’t be called normal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it can be used for magical ritual. It’s not 100% water and it has mixed minerals in it but the minerals itself aren’t ordinary. True, it might start as normal dust but maybe because of its location, it also become saturated with mana and the stones and pebbles in the lake had change. Some of it had become fine gold dust and the stones transformed into something like a raw gem and it’s fully charged with mana. This lake could be mined on, but the Magus families probably wouldn’t allow anyone to desecrate this lake.
This place is above the Greater Grail and any disturbance to it might affect the grail below. So having many people working in this place would be a disturbance to them.
I can also understand the needs of building a temple a top of this place. The temple acts as the best camouflage for the place to remain silent and undisturbed. If people discovered this rich filled lake, many people would flock on it but by building a temple here, they are limiting the people who will live here and they can also set up a protection for the cavern below.
Though those plans were effectively foiled when the previews family, that runs this temple meets their end in an accident but I doubt that accident is a really an accident. It could probably be a planned assassination.
Click
The fourth one, I wonder if that is the last one.
I tried to wait for the elder but no one is still coming back from the place he entered.
Hmm… if he is still not returning yet, it means he has still some business in the forest.
I then get my canteen of bottle inside my inventory and I crouch down to scoop the water from the lake.
Mana Rich Water 1 Liter – Restore 90% HP, STA and Death Curses
I should probably acquire a much bigger Water storage. I have money that I can use so maybe I would get a 1 gallon next or a water tank?
Click
That’s the fifth one.
I then stand up when the land starts shaking. I also notice that the Priest had emerged from the forest but the place where he emerges is different from where he enters.
The shaking last for a few seconds then it stops.
I look at the Priest to ask what’s happening but he just nods at me and start walking back to the temple. I followed him but he stops talking to me and just continues on walking which is why I just followed him silently. If he is not in the mood for talking then I won’t also ask any questions.
We enter from the backdoor then went pass through the kitchen, the living area and pass through the living quarters and enter the praying hall but there is something different now.
In the middle of the praying hall, there was an opened hole or rather it’s a hidden stairway that leads down below the temple.
The Priest just look at me and nod, I nod back and I followed him as he enters the hidden stairway.
This stairway is different from above. It’s made of steel instead of cement or wood. It’s a clear sign of modern construction but it’s dark.
We both entered but we walked slowly. We cling to the wall and use it as a guide. It takes a couple of minutes, walking down this dark stairway when the Priest had stopped walking. I tried to look pass him on why he stops but it’s just too dark to see, I’m even tempted to light up the path but currently, I’m just letting the Priest to guide me.
“##########” The voice of the priest reverberate in this dark stairway but I don’t understand what he says. What kind of language is that? Is it a secret password or an unknown language used as a password?
“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm” Humming sound was heard. I heard the humming sound and it’s like the sound of an engine starting up.
“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhs” Hissing sound was then heard and the next thing that happens was the steel plate or is it door? It blocks our path from returning.
I was shocked at first but when I noticed the Priest as calm as ever, I just stay silent.
Gamers Mind is surely helpful in this kind of situation. If I’m an ordinary person, I might start panicking like an idiot now.
Flash
I closed my eyes for the unexpected flash of light, if the eyes had gotten used to the darkness and was flashed by a bright light, it will cause temporary blindness and that’s what happens to me right now.
While my eyes are closed, I felt the surrounding area become bright. The lights are on now, I tried to slowly open my eyes and I heard another hissing sound.
“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhs” And the metal plate (or door) in front of us had split open and slide to the wall.
“Come” The Priest or Elder, his demure had change. I’m not talking to the priest right now but the elder that orders me to eradicate the Demons and Fallen in the previews year.
We entered the steel opening and what I saw inside is something I didn’t expect.
There are two corridors from my left and right but they aren’t important right now. The one most important is what’s in front of me. This room is like a command center. There was a table in the middle with monitors installed in it and a chair.
At the front of the room are monitors lined up together, forming two layers of 8 monitors in each line. All are showing different view. The bottom layer is showing 8 different angles of the cavern below. I deduce that it’s the cavern because one of the monitor is showing the view of the entrance of the cavern and the other is the view from the entrance of the cavern. After that is the corridor of the cavern. It shows 2 different views, from 2 different places for the long corridor. And the last four cameras are showing a large opening. It’s probably the cavern below but there is nothing there at all. What does that mean?
The second layer is different. 6 of them are showing 3 different house and the 2 are showing different view of a forest?
The first two monitor are showing the same house with different view. The first view is taken from low angle and one can see the wall and gate of the large two story house and the second is from the top view which overlooks the road in front of the house. This house is from the foreign side of Miyama. Magus house? Who owns it? The Tohsaka or Makiri?
No before that, I think the most important is thing is how did they get these camera set up there?
I look at the Priest but he is busy observing the monitors found in the table.
I look back at the monitor and tried to think of where the camera had been hidden….
It can’t be!
One of them is in the shrine! I remember Tohsaka Rin saying that there is a Shrine near their house. They use the shrine as a camouflage for surveillance too.
The other is from the top view… it can be either the lamp post or the utility pole.
Sigh… the same can be said for the next two monitors. This one doesn’t have a fence but it’s also a two story house, though this one looks a bit old or ancient. The views taken are the same.
The last house can’t be called a house…. It’s a mansion or castle? These magus people sure are rich. It only shows the front side and the rear side of the house.
The last two monitors are showing the road beside a forest and a top view of the forest, taken from… I don’t know. It’s too high for a utility pole… unless it’s taken from a tower but is there a communication tower or high building in Fuyuki that is located beside a forest? The tall buildings should be all located in the commercial district of Shinto.
Fuyuki isn’t an advance or modern city for it to have communication tower in area around the mountain range.
Sigh… I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
“Isn’t this stalking?” I asked but I’m not serious at all. Considering who’s the opponent, I can understand this level of preparation but shouldn’t this be considered illegal?
“It’s not. It’s being prepared. These magus people had brought too much trouble for us. Enough trouble to threaten the world” He said it with cold tone. At first I was about to dismiss it as a joke because seriously threaten the world?
Fuyuki is only small part of the world, so how can it threaten the world? If it meant the destruction of the city then I can probably believe it. I’m already considering it when we’re talking about the destruction of the grail but destroying the world? Isn’t that too much fictional? But the seriousness on his face said otherwise.
I just can’t help sighed again and my stomach starts aching.
I notice it happen before but when I feel nervous, my stomach would either start rumbling or aching. It doesn’t really hurt but the feeling I got is that there is something that doesn’t feel right.
“How did it become a threat to the world and where is the grail?” I looked again at the monitor and continue what I’m saying.
“There isn’t anything there. Is there should be anything at all in there?” I meant is the monitors that show four side of an empty lot. The place might be elevated a bit and there is a small body of water beside it but there isn’t anything special about it.
That body of water is probably connected to the lake above, is what Touma observe while looking at a mini stream beside the elevated platform. There is also a stairs for the platform but its empty and that is the problem.
“The grail is there” He said while still looking at the graphs and readings that where shown in the monitor. I didn’t understand much what those graphs are meant for but what’s was shown in the monitors are more on thermograph, seismograph, pass video recording of the area, sound recording, and other parameters are being displayed.
“There?” I was confused… is it invisible?
“Follow me” After checking the results in the monitor, he made me follow him to the left corridor…
What does the right corridor leads too? The smell there seems familiar….
I followed him after looking at the closed door on the right and we enter a long corridor to the left.
There aren’t any other doors in this corridor. It’s just a long corridor without any windows at all. The only door that I see is at the end of the corridor.
When we got closer, the door open automatically and we enter the room.
There is nothing much in room. There are only a 3 rows of 3 seater seats in the right and a glass wall at the front. I can also spotted a camera at the top left and right corner of the room but other than that, there is nothing much.
The priest had stopped at the front of the glass wall and he gestured me to come closer.
I followed him and I finally understand what this room meant.
It’s a viewing room.
To be exact, it’s a viewing room, where we can see above the empty cavern but it’s not really empty…
“There is something there” I can’t help but have cold sweat running down on my back. What kind of pressure is this… there is something terribly wrong there.
“You can feel it?” He inquired but he is more interested on my trembling and sweating body than my statement. “You’re more sensitive to supernatural distortion than what we initially thought” He then set his eyes on the empty space that we’re currently observing.
“Yes, there is indeed something there. That is where the Grail would materialize when the ritual is complete. Currently the grail is just a concept or mechanism that the 3 founding family had made to summon the actual thing. We don’t have much information about the ritual; we only got second hand statement. The only one who has probably known the secrets are the founding family and they aren’t actually someone you can kidnapped and tortured for information” The elder sighed and continues.
“It doesn’t have a physical body but the greater grail is there. It’s the one that’s gathering the massive amount of mana in this land, and its lay lines” The elder sighs and massage his forehead and the one in between his eyes.
“Since the grail isn’t physically manifested in this world, we can’t get a solid reading. We only know that it’s there and the space is being distorted in where it’s been placed. It’s also where the massive amount of mana is being sucked into. It’s like there is a pocket dimension there where the greater grail is hidden. We’re trying to get a reading from it but we can’t actually get close to it. We will trigger the bounded field if we step inside the cavern, which is why we set up this observation deck. If only it has a physical form, we can properly study it and we will even force our way into the bounded field but well… we know it’s there but the actual body isn’t there. That is what’s stopping us from doing something reckless” He then looks at me and looks back at the seats and then the door.
“This place was built after we had taken over this temple. We take control over the temple and dig below it secretly. Since the Magus are closed minded fools, they won’t think of someone observing their little relic, outside of their priced bounded field. Bounded field works by applying their magic in a certain area and set rules for it. Be it defensive or offensive, you pick the rules but it has a one solid rule that any bounded field follows and it can only affect the area where it was set up. It won’t affect the outside area of where it was set. So we set up an observation deck outside of the area of effect. To be precise, we build it as close as we can and stop when we are only few centimeters off from triggering the bounded field” After explaining he seats in one of the chairs and he made a gesture for me to sit too.
“The ritual that they are trying to perform is the third true magic [The manipulation of Souls]. The goal of the magi that created this system was to access the Root of all knowledge [Akasha] but the method that they are using is the problem. The second, third and fourth true magic are the magic that were meant to reach it. Then the first and fifth are magic that creates a path and gained power upon arrival. It may sound the same but it’s different” He frowns and he settles his elbows on his knees as a support and his fingers intertwined and he set it to support his chin.
“For the first and fifth, a path was created. For the second, third and fourth, it only meant as to reach that place but how will they reach it if there is no set path for it?” He looks at me asks the question.
I can only look at him and raised my eyebrows; does he expect me to think on how those fools think? I only shrug away and let him continue his explanation.
“To make things simple, the Holy Grail war is a ritual where they make a hole, where they can use to access the root [Akasha], and that is where the problem rise. They are trying to make a hole into the space and time continuum to access an unknown place, a total alien place but before we even go to that problem. We go back to the problem of the hole into space and time continuum… which causes a distortion in space. You can even feel it and we can get data’s from it which is actually nice because we’re having a front row seat in the making of a freaking black hole, here in japan” His clenching his fist right now.
“They are doing something stupid. Experimenting in this backwater place without proper equipment and specialist that knows what they are doing. Experiments are been done when dealing with black hole. It’s nothing new in academy city but this! What they are doing is something totally reckless! They are damaging the current dimension here. What if it collapses and it expands? It will eat the Whole Mountain first, then the city, then the japan, heck, it’s a black hole! It will most likely eat every matter in near vicinity and that includes the planet itself. This isn’t fiction where a black hole would stops after sucking everything around it or if it gets hit by a puny light show and if it turn into genuine article which we most likely guaranteed, that light show would actually be useless because everything would be eaten inside the black hole, even light, it would just continue on sucking everything around it until it become bigger and bigger and until there are nothing more to suck in… Studying or creating the event horizon isn’t something they should play at” The elder is clearly frustrated and I can understand.
“I don’t know what they are planning to do nor do I know if they even know what they are doing but it’s clearly dangerous” The elder inhales and exhales deeply, his trying to calm himself and after getting his blood pressure in control, he continues his tale.
A rip in time and space…
“Won’t Fantasy killer be able to fix it?” I asked but I also didn’t think that it would be able to fix it.
“The damage is already done and it’s probably the after effect of boring through the space. If it’s the result of continues magic or supernatural phenomenon, Fantasy killer would work but for this type of damage? I don’t think so” The elder shakes his head while explaining what I already expected. Fantasy Killer [Imagine Breaker] won’t work on after damage or effect of magic. Fantasy Killer would be able to stop the fire produced by supernatural effect but Fantasy Killer won’t be able to fix a burned object and it’s probably the same for this case.
“Fantasy Killer would probably more useful in dealing with the grail itself once it materialize. Right now, it’s in alternate space, we can’t gamble on what would happen if we forced the use of Fantasy Killer on it. It might explode prematurely or an unexpected result might happen. It would be better to destroy it when it’s materialized and when the energy had been used. So the perfect time to destroy it is after the legends had been summoned and it finally materialized here” The elder used his thumb to his head and he used both his hands to massage his scalp, he then sighed and tried to relax in the chair.
“The reason why Japan lost the last war is because our clan had left the front lines. (Change in topic? I didn’t understand why would the Elder tell story from the time of war) Nuclear attacks aren’t something we should be afraid of because we can fend it off if we stayed in the front lines, with the new onmyodo system that the Tsuchimikado clan had developed. The enemies aren’t really much a threat if we take them seriously. The only troublesome part is when other supernatural beings or other countries had sent magic users to join the war. We can mostly likely… no we can win that war. But when we’re scouting in the near sea area, we detected an abnormality in the space” The elder sighs and he is clearly disturbed by this. I see… so during that time did the clan discover the problem with the grail… He is trying to tell the story about the time when they discover the grail and the problem it cause to the world.
“A distortion was being created and we decided to investigate it. Then and there, when we saw that thing that the magus had created, we decided to seclude ourselves and find a way to fix it. The current clan head at that time even become the sacrifice to make a satisfactory show for royal family and Japan, that we’re giving up on our long line of duty to protect Japan” He looks at me with a smile but that smile is a hollow fake smile. It’s the worst smile he ever tried. The clan head… I remembered that there had been no one elected as the next clan head after him, though I have the dragon orb and it should signifies me as the clan head. I wonder if it meant that they have acknowledge me as the clan head… though that is also probably impossible because they only gave it to me to awaken the forms of power. But it didn’t change the fact that the one who owned that orb is the one acknowledge by the clan as the clan head.
The dragon orb has more significance than just an ornamental orb or something that awakens the power within the blood. It signifies a pact between the clan head and the one who had bestowed the dragon orb to the first clan head [Nadare].
“When the clan had discovered it, the first thing that enters our smart and intelligent brains is to massacre those idiotic families (I can feel his heavy sarcasm while mentioning the smart and intelligent but when he mentioned the massacre of the magus family, I can feel his hatred) but then we realize that it’s useless. We think of other ways like just bombing it and destroying the whole mountain but the grail doesn’t exist in the actual plane of existence. It’s inside a pocket dimension or some kind of alternate dimension. We even encourage the idea of talking with the perpetrators of the crime to find what they are doing, then we remember we’re dealing with crazy magus…We’re really in our wits end back then and we can’t think clearly. We tried different things while staying away from the distorted place but it become futile. The grail is totally inaccessible while it’s in that altered dimension. We also discover that the grail is self-sufficient when we tried isolating it, it did something totally unexpected… which is why we think that maybe the grail is also sentient…” The Elder’s face had gone cold after mentioning it. The grail can think for itself? How? Isn’t it just a device to gather mana? What is happening here?
“We become impatient at some point and we tried to force away through which is why we know what would happen to anyone who steps into the bounded field and its nasty. It’s something that shouldn’t happen to any human. We tried human experimentation before but we haven’t done anything that would result in someone drying into an empty husk. We aren’t sure back then and even till now, if it’s the bounded field work or the grail but it dried the one who got closer to the grail. It dried all of that person’s life force until there is nothing left. Even its flesh was dried of nutrients and was converted into life force that the grail absorbs too. It’s really a pretty nasty sight and that is a high praise if it’s coming from me” He sounds smug for a being that deals human experimentation, even though it shouldn’t be a praiseworthy work.
“It cost some minor family feud when the magus family finds it out but we didn’t really care if they retaliate. We actually welcomed it back then and we’re itching for them to make the first move so we will have enough reason to kill them. We can’t actually outright kill them without any reason because of our pact with each other. If they are the one who breaks that agreement, then we won’t hesitate to end them” The Elder smiles at the idea of killing the families that started this bogus war. The elder then looks at me and contemplates on what to say next… it looks like his hesitating to inform me more… I wonder what it means.
“When… we cut the grail from its source… the ley lines and then when we isolate it from other sources of mana… it did something we didn’t expect which is why… we think it’s sentient… The unexpected thing that it did is it digs in deeper to the core of the planet… We have already isolated it but it finds another source of Mana. It just shows that it can possibly think for itself or that there is another mechanism installed for it to automatically search mana source, ether way, it means bad news for us” The elder is looking like he needed a drink.
“The grail had tap into the life force of the planet itself which we couldn’t allow. The life force of the planet is the one that helps giving nutrients to the soil and the living. We can’t have it being drawn away which is why we set foot to correcting it immediately. We started our investigation about its connection to the planet and then we try severing it or at least restore its source to its previews connection to the land. It’s a lot better than have it suck the planet dry…but when we’re investigating the connection… we had discovered something… something that causes massive headache when we find it…we also wish that we didn’t find it but that is just wishful thinking. We had discovered another whole set of problems that we wish we had noticed earlier. We’re drowning in pills back then, just to elevate the massive headaches….” Sigh…. Elder is really looking old right now.
“The planet is dying” He said but he doesn’t elaborate it more.
What?
What did he mean by that?
What is he talking about?
Huh….
Is he serious?
No way….
“What!” I was shocked that I didn’t manage to control my voiced and shouted it.
“That is not you’re current problem and don’t worry… we’re also trying to fix it” He sighs again but why can’t I worry for something as catastrophic as that.
“Just remember… you’re created to prevent it but currently, just focus on dealing with this stupid grail. You’ve decided to take part of it right? One problem at a time” He becomes irritated and I’m surprised with all this new emotions that I’m seeing with this usual carefree-lying priest.
“Plans are already in action afterwards but it takes half a century before it has been realized and during those times, we find out more problems and more headaches and more….” The elder just looks down at the floor and shakes his head.
“While we’re thinking of a way to fix these stupid problems (He changes the topic) the director had made suggestion on why not bring the fight to them. We’re always in the defensive and we’re only reacting when there was a huge problem in our doorstep. Shouldn’t be going into offensive now?” The Elder smiled at that but its part delirious and wrong.
“We’ve been fighting for long time, trying to survive in this unfair world but the world just won’t leave us be. It would be fine if we’re only dealing with supernatural beings. They are enemies of old. The clan started with banding together to protect themselves from the attack of the supernatural beings. We bend our knees to ask help from those who had power to protect us but when people who are stronger and talented showed up… we just got discarded like an old tool that lost its use…” The elder’s voice is monotonous now; it reminds me of the voice that I usually use. Since I can’t feel much, I don’t see any reason to put emotions on me voice just to communicate. Words should be enough, is what I thought. But hearing it from the elder, it gives a new perspective to those who can’t show their own emotions.
The elder had relaxed himself in the chair and he uses his right hand to support his head while he seated cross-legged. His eyes aren’t showing anything, just a blank look.
“You’ve heard this from Aizen already but to protect ourselves and regain power in the court, we created tools that could be used to match the might of God given gifts but even then, it’s not enough but its fine. We’re living and surviving. It’s fine as long as one is alive. One can just continue to struggle and move one” The elder closes his eyes and turn his head to look at me.
“We’ve survive and the clan had become complacent. In the years to come, the only thing we wish and think is to survive but even that is not enough for some who did their best. They did their best but it’s still not enough. Facing against beings that are naturally gifted and far superior to your own and ended up losing in the end, the only comforting words one can said are you’ve do your best and better luck next time” The Elder’s fist is clutching to tightly.
“Doing your best is not enough! And becoming comforted by weak words isn’t enough! You want to win, you want to be picked, you want to live and not just be shadow of someone that so happen is naturally gifted at what they do. Better luck next time isn’t enough… you’re not even lucky enough when you’ve born into this world. You’re just a mediocre being and it won’t change. You can do your best but you will eventually hit you’re limit and when that happens, you will notice that you’re far left behind by those who are naturally better than you” Elder…..
“The world is unfair… and maybe it’s because of that, that the idea of an omnipotent wish granting machine seems a dream come true for the people who participate in it but that is probably for the outsiders or those who don’t know what’s the Grail really is. For the founding members who only see the grail as a means to its end, we can actually understand that part, what we didn’t understand is its mechanism. Why summon 7 legendary beings and sacrifice them to the grail to open the hole, to access the root? If they only need massive amount of mana, shouldn’t they be already having it before the war even started? The interval of each grail war, according to the record is 60 years. That is the needed time for the grail to gather the massive amount of mana to call upon the legends but if they plan to sacrifice the legends, themselves to power up the grail then why even summon them? Why won’t they just use the mana that was gathered for 60 years to open up that darn hole! They are causing far more trouble with the casualties, cleaning and covering of their darn mess” The Elder just felt drain. He, together with the clan is probably feeling the same thing… I also can’t understand what they are doing
“The whole logic of gathering massive amount of mana to be used to summon the legends which are also a massive mana construct, and using said mana construct a sacrifice to the grail that needs massive amount of mana for the materialization of the grail… it just doesn’t make sense no matter how you look at it. Plus how are they even sure that the grail can grant any wish? From the documents gathered, no one had won the grail war yet. They are just using the massive amount of mana to do forcefully open the hole to the root or just by having that massive amount of mana, they can do whatever they want? Trying to understand how the magus mind works is annoying” The elder grunts and shake his head. After that he settled it into the palm of his hands.
“Our biggest problem for this grail war is actually, who is the third part… we suspect that the three founding families aren’t the only one involved in it and we think that someone is from the supernatural world. The one who provide the idea of summoning legendary beings and the one who also provided the real command spells would probably the unknown party. Because no matter how good of a magus that old bug is, I can’t see him making a spell that can bind divine beings or any legendary beings. The heroes of legend might follow the magus because they had a wish but the power behind the command spells is the real deal. It’s close to a working miracle and true magic. The old vampire that helped might be a sorcerer but his working is the second magic and not about binding legendary beings. He might have knowledge from different dimensions but that still didn’t change the fact that, that one being binded and ordered are beings from legends. They are far off from the mortal mind to understand” the elder had sighed again and it looks like he is having hard time to breath.
“Humans can’t command gods and beings of higher level and that is a fact that doesn’t change, even until now. So we suspect that someone is helping it and that someone is the one pulling the strings. They also probably know what will happen if the hole is open… though we don’t have a clue on who it is yet but whoever it is, he or she would probably some big guy in the supernatural world because only higher beings can gave order to the lower beings. Whoever that being is, is probably the source of the command spells and the idea of the whole grail war” Is the elder finished in his story?
“The goal of the clan for the Holy Grail War is not to win or even participate in this game of theirs, but to find out who is the pulling down the strings; this is one of our first counter offensive plans. We’ endured for long and it’s about time to strike back. We created weapon to defend ourselves, then it’s time to create a weapon meant to attack the enemies” The elder’s smile is becoming sinister again. He is losing his composure.
“The idea that the director had presented isn’t something we can ignore. Even the unflappable Kihara clan that is usually doesn’t care about other things than researching is reacting to it. So when the director had present that idea to the board of directors, we can’t help by imagining the likes of striking back to those idiotic magus or the arrogant magic side users that are gifted by natural talents which they usually use to mock us, and to those most hated beings that seats in their throne and looks down at us, humans, while continuously laughing and enjoying all the time, wasting their eternal time of living the life of hedonistic way, while we humans are the ones being trampled with. And when they become bored in their home or legend or whatever that different dimension they call, they will materialize into this world and cause havoc. They are pretty much the center of trouble here… they give knowledge but didn’t become responsible for it. They just do whatever they want and the humans imitated it” The elder’s head is held down now and his eyes can’t be seen from where I’m seating.
“Humans when they are born, they don’t know anything. They have instincts but the thing that sets them apart from animals is that they can think. Babies won’t learn what’s right or wrong without proper guidance. It’s just a curious creature that would try to copy what it sees and it just so happen that the thing they often see are beings of legends indulging on what they do best. They indulge in pleasure. There are legends or diving beings that protects mind kind and when people copied them, the heroes where born but if the good guys are really doing their job, then those evil beings shouldn’t even exist. The Gods should be able to guide humanity to what is right but well… They say that they promote freedom for humanity” The elder only just plops his body in the chair and looks at the ceiling.
“There are more problems that you will encounter Touma and you’re not allowed to lose. Many things are counting on you to survive and win…cough…cough” The elder starts coughing and he tried to get something from his pockets but he dropped it. His arms are trembling. I tried to help him but he only stopped me with his hands and he said “You know the way to the exit…cough… Just… go… cough…. But remember… cough …you’re not allowed to die… until… cough …2016” The first few words are loud and clear enough for me to hear but the last sentence is spoken in whisper and jumbled by heavy coughing but I understand. Using the wind manipulation and in this encloses space. I manage to understand and hear it… what will happen in year 2016?
…..
“Thanks for the information Elder” I don’t know what think about it…. my mind can’t continue to think clearly….
The information is just too much for me to process and even with my high intelligence and wisdom…. I can only slowly walk away and my mind is clouded by a fog that blocks my path. The Gamers mind is working on clearing it but I still can’t see my destination.
Part 48
…Ah… I can’t think…. The news is just so overwhelming that I felt that it’s a lie….. I also wish that… it’s a lie…..
This is what Touma currently thinking.
Touma is currently walking outside of the temple building but since he had heard of the news. His mind had totally shutdown. He can’t think clearly and it’s full of questions that he can’t answer. He is just currently walking automatically, like a well-oiled machine but because of his jumbled mind. He didn’t notice his surroundings.
He can’t feel the gaze from afar.
He can’t see the grounds cracking.
He can’t feel the sun hiding behind the clouds.
He also can’t feel the stones that which were being at thrown him by an angry spirits from the forest. The throne stones are causing damages and wounds but his mind is not clear enough to even notice them.
He is just walking through the pathway of the temple without care and without protection, he tripped a countless times and his knees and legs become bruised but he just stands up and continue his walk until he reached the first step down the long staircase but since his mind is not working properly, he didn’t notice that it’s starting to rain and it’s just keeps on getting stronger. He also didn’t notice that the stairs had become slippery or that he had lost his footing.
He slipped and falls down the long stairs but he didn’t notice anything that is happening to him it, at all.
Bump, bump, his head, his body and his legs are all become wounded and at one point, he falls stronger and bounced back stronger which throws him further away from the stairs.
All throughout this event, he is only thinking that this might be a bad dream and he wished that he woke up already.
Isn’t he meant to only fight the supernatural beings?
Then why dumped him the idea of the world ending?
Why him?
Why can’t it be someone else?
Why is it needed to be him that where born to be born to do this silly job that others can’t do?
Aren’t they practically stronger than him?
What made him special? Fantasy Killer? Couldn’t they take it away or something?
I just don’t get it.
He would prefer to just laze around in the house, playing games, learn to browse the net, read books, do some farming works or train a bit with Pray.
This last 2 weeks of just doing nothing but what he wants, are the happiest moments of his short life.
So why now?
Why inform him of the news?
If the elder is actually hesitant to tell then please don’t tell something as heavy as this.
He prefers to stay ignorant of the calamity that would befall onto the world.
He prefers to have a clearer mind when dealing with the problem.
He prefers if they just order him to kill and kill and save what he can save during his missions, but now they are saying him to save the world…hahahahaha what kind of twisted event is that!
He prefers if things are more simple.
He prefers if it’s not him that is currently suffering this stupid mission.
He prefers if his just an ordinary boy that has an ordinary family, than what he currently have….
He prefers if things are just a lot more simple, like killing the supernatural beings that abused the people and then save the people but why did he have to kill the same people that he meant to protect?
Why can’t the people stop playing with fire?
Or in this case a world ending, matter sucking, black hole?
Can’t they just enjoy their life?
Because my idea of saving isn’t about ending someone else life
Or am I being naive that the only enemies that I will face would be the natural enemies of mankind?
He spouts nonsense that he would save those who need his help but he can only say that to those he actually saw their suffering.
He can sympathize with them and he will try to save them from their suffering because he understands; he also suffered a lot and doesn’t want anyone to suffer like him.
But what about those people who aren’t suffering?
Does he even care?
He doesn’t know them and do they even understand his suffering?
Are they even important?
He can’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of someone that he personally witness but what about the suffering of the people who he hasn’t met yet?
Can he say it confidently that he will save everyone if he saves a few and condemns them all?
Can it be called saving at all?
I really don’t like the idea of being a hero.
Life shouldn’t be balance in a weighing scale.
I just wish if things are more simple
His mind is clouded with full of questions that he can’t focus on anything.
Questions and questions are kept on appearing.
He is starting to doubt himself if he can really do this job which were forced onto him by people he haven’t met or even know.
Why entrust everything into him?
There are more people in the world aren’t they?
He didn’t study the general statistics of the world but it should be billions of them!
Someone among those billions should be able to stop this world crisis.
Heck, there should be thousands of people who are more special and stronger than him but they forced it all into me.
Is it because of my right hand?
Is it because of fantasy killer [imagine breaker]?
Why create a weapon to save the world if it can only correct and kill the super natural beings?
I can’t even correct the already damaged space below this mountain.
I also failed to save Mittelt’s mother.
This right hand is useless.
Is killing and saving the same thing?
Can one save without killing someone?
Can one be saving with just words only?
Like saying to the robber please surrender and will the robber comply?
Touma currently wish that the world is much simpler and he would only clench his right hand and destroy the illusion of the person or being that threatens it but the culprit is currently unknown and the time is ticking but even after a decade of searching, they still don’t have a clue of who it is.
They know someone is behind it but they don’t know of who it is.
If a bunch of scientist and a clan of warriors that made him can’t find the culprit then why do they expect me to be able to stop the crisis?
Or do they have some magnificent plan already that will deal with the problem and I’m not in the know and I should just follow what I’ve been ordered too.
He just can’t seem to understand what is happening or what he is thinking.
His ideas are all jumbled up and he just can’t think clearly anymore.
Many problems had accumulated and he was left unaware. They kept it a secret to him but they let him be aware of the upcoming danger.
He just wish that they would just say it more clearly when he expect it and not when he is least expecting it.
He expects to get information about the grail but he gets the news about a freaking, developing black hole, below this mountain that threatens the world if it’s fully developed.
He can’t fail.
He can’t die.
The world would end if he fails.
He won’t allow for Mr. Shibuya and Mrs. Shibuya to die.
He won’t allow for Rin to be harmed.
Even if he doesn’t like Pray at first, he started to respect the mother that brings death to everyone and he will fight for her.
But what about others who he doesn’t even know?
Ah, Nina and her family are also nice even if they are Yakuza family.
His family too?
He doesn’t know but his mother is still his mother, right?
Even if not by blood at least by birth, right?
He still has siblings that he has met last New Year; they should be allowed to live.
Yes, he will also fight for them.
But what about the magus that brought this problem into reality?
Will he protect them too?
Rin and Sakura don’t seem to be bad children. Especially the shy Sakura but what about the prideful Rin? But they are still children. They deserve to live.
Heck, everyone deserves to live more…
Sigh….
Why must it be him?
Why can’t things be a lot simpler than what it really is?
Life is unfair and reality is crueler than fiction.
Why can’t I be just a normal ordinary child?
Too many questions are swarming his mind that his gamers mind can’t accommodate them all.
He just wishes to become ignorant again and just live a simple life but it looks like he wasn’t even allowed to think like that.
He would need to find a way to become stronger than ever.
The stakes are higher than what he expects.
He can’t laze around anymore… but he enjoyed just seating around and playing with his summons and Rin… but it looks like he wasn’t allowed of simple enjoyment.
The world won’t wait for him to become strong enough to save the world.
Too many questions are flooding in Touma’s mind that he didn’t even notice that his HP is entering in red zone.
He didn’t notice the massive amount of notifications about negative statuses.
He didn’t notice anything and even the cry of someone went pass his clouded head.
Thud
It’s the sound of his body stopping its fall into the solid cemented road.
“TOUMAAAAAAAAAAA!” A voice of a girl that felt familiar to his ear are heard but his mind is pretty occupied to even know who she is.
“Agito-nii hurry!” The girls voice.
“Fine, fine, fine, here I’m already… well you’re a mess kid” the voice of a calm and reluctant boy. He is reluctant to follow the girl who called out to him.
“Agito-nii hurry up we need to save him” The girl shouted and in panic towards the boy.
“Fine…” the boy reluctantly does what his ordered to do but he stopped in the middle of his action.
“I… think he would be fine… Let’s just bring him back home and bandage him there” The boy said, unsure.
“We’re not calling for ambulance?” the panicking girl is confused.
“… It looks like he won’t need it. Come, I will carry him in my back. The rain is getting stronger and it would probably enough to wash the blood away. We also didn’t bring an umbrella with us, so we need to hurry” The reluctant boy, reluctantly carry the wounded Touma.
“…okay” The girl is reluctant to follow the older boy at first but she eventually concedes.
I just wish for things to be normal and simple…. Am I not allowed to wish such thing?
These are the last thoughts of Touma before he lost consciousness.
Part 49
Ugh… my head hearts and I can’t think clearly… what’s happening here?
Slowly opening my eyes, I can’t see anything, am I blindfold or is this just a dark room?
My sense is in mess that I didn’t even notice if I’m blindfold or just inside a room with no lights. My body is too numb to feel… what’s happening?
I tried to remember what happened, but I can’t remember it clearly… something is wrong here. I can’t move my body at all.
“So you’re finally awake boy…” I heard a voiced but my mind isn’t clear enough to understand what’s happening.
Thump thump thump
I heard footsteps but since my mind isn’t currently clear to process what’s happening, I can’t tell who it is.
“What are you boy?…you healed far too fast to be called normal.. are you even human?” The voiced echoed into my brain and I feel that I can’t lie too it…ah… this is bad… from my past studies. I can tell that I’m…
Mentally calling [status] in my mind and looking at my status ailments and it reveals that I’m currently Drugged [High] they put me in truth serum, numb my senses and paralysis… who are these people.
“I…h..u…ma…n..” I’m left into drooling mess… I can’t control my tongue too. They made it sure that I can’t move any part of my body.
“Human? But not ordinary… right?” the voiced echoed.
I also hear footsteps echoing into my ears.
Where is the sound coming from?
What am I doing here?
Did I get captured by someone?
…sigh… it’s hard for me to regain my senses but it looks like gamers mind would also be effective against drug effects. It’s slowly clearing the effect of drug on my nervous system. But I don’t know if it will also remove the paralysis and numbing effect. But I’m fine ones my brain and senses are back.
“…Y…es” I still can’t control my body. My mind is becoming clearer as the time passes by but my body isn’t changing.
“I see… so…what’s your purpose here…hmm…doll…hmm…. That’s actually quite fitting for something like you…a human doll…” The… voice turns cold in the end. It still echoed a bit but I manage to get to general location of the source. Its source is north east of my head.
“Pur…po…s.e…..noothiiing….I… do…n.’t… ha…ve…. an… y…pur…pos…e…” Purpose…. I do have a purpose in my life but it’s not my own and his asking what’s my purpose and what’s given to me as my purpose.
I have tasks that were meant to do. I as was created to do so… I just learn it earlier and that is what made me lower my guard…. Ah… my …whole…reason…of ….living… is … to…..save…the…world…
It’s pretty…ironic thing … to be… they created a weapon to…kill… and… save…the …world.
“Nothing?” the voice seems uncertain and then he asks for a follow up question.
“Then, what’s your orders doll” My mind has finally clear and I have my senses back online, with my ability to think clearly, my Esper abilities was activated but I didn’t want to alert my captors, so I didn’t do a thing. Now, what should I tell this man… no this… person. I know him and I thought that his nice person but a Yakuza is still a Yakuza. I should have expected this to the leader of the Yakuza group in this area, Mr. Raiga Fujimura.
“Ob..seerrrve….. ma…..guss….” I lied and I planted a doubt. I can use this… probably. Since they are the one who did this to me, I wouldn’t mind a little revenge. I’m still human. I can have the feeling called hate, even if it’s not that strong of an emotion but I can still feel it. And I hate my current situation. I also blame myself for being far too shaken by some world level news.
“Magus? The magus family in the area? Aren’t you’re family allied with them?” the voice is clear now and it’s not echoing, I also manage to pinpoint his exact location and not just estimated location. His within my arms reach. I didn’t expect him to be this close to their captive, maybe it’s because they trust their drugs.
“maa….guus….plaa….niiinngg…. ….baaad…..grraaiiillllll….waarr… ” I direct their attention to the magus and the grail war that will come within the year or two.
“The grail war… hmm… that war games of theirs has been delayed by your clan for more than a decade already. We still don’t know what’s your family’s goal on the delaying the inevitable war but what’s so dangerous about the grail war?” The Yakuza leader asks.
“tthee….ggoaalll…..off….grrrraaiilll…waaar….isss..ffaaakkeee…theeyyy….. …ttoo…..creeeaattee…..aa….hoolle….onn…sppaaceee…..whiiichh….resuuuulllttss….innttoo….ppoossiiiblllleee….bllllaaaccckkkkk….hoolleee…” I didn’t reveal much but I reveal what I think would be necessary and they would be either furious enough to cause problem or wary enough to stay away from the magus but we’re talking about black hole here, there is no place in the planet or moon that we can hide in when that blows up in this planet.
“ba-baba-blaaack hole!” Well, he lost his composure.
“Boss, this is something big!” The tall one had talk and he is also nervous. I also notice that we’re not alone. I can feel three others beside him. One is tall and the other is short, while the last one is familiar to me… Agito is his name if I remember it right.
“I know, those darn magus! I know they are doing something this dangerous but I didn’t think they will create a black hole. You! If you don’t have any purpose then what was given purpose to you” The people around me are all nervous now. They really didn’t expect the news. I also feel that the short one is trembling really badly and would want to be anywhere but here in this city.
“deessstttrrooyy…graaaiiiillll….prreevvennttt….aannyyy…ccaassuuaallttiiieess…aannd…prrrootteecctt….tthhee…cciciciittyyy” That is what I want to do without even the need to know but the stakes are even higher and I’m losing my confidence that I can do this alone. I need some help, even if they are the ones who put me into this situation.
“Can you do that” There was a change of pitch in his voice. His hoping for a salvation but I’m sorry. I’m not the one who will be doing the saving…
“Nooo” I answered
“gasp” “what!?” this can’t happening!” “What should we do!” I can feel that they are starting to panic but I’m not yet finish.
“Creeaattteedd… ttoo… kiiilll… sssuuppeerr…nnaaatttuurraalll beiiinnggss….iii….caaan….deesssttrrrooyyyy….ttthhheee…..grrraaiiiill…..buuttt…iiitss….haarrdd…too…pprrevveenntttt…ccaasssuuaalllttiiieeess” I can easily destroy the grail but we don’t know what will happen which is why we’re being careful in taking it down. The elders had planned the best time to take it down but we’re still not sure on what will happen. We can’t protect everyone with only our strength. I can’t protect more than what I can grasp within my hand.
I’m not a super hero.
I’m not that strong enough to stand against the enemy and feel nothing.
I’m not confident to win and I feel that I would lose.
But I would still try and if I can’t do it alone, then I would ask for help. Even if they are unwilling party.
The sounds within the room become quiet after my revelation.
“I…see….” That is what Raiga Fujimura had said and the silence was stretch for a minute or two. No sound was made aside from the beating hearts and breathing of the people that occupies this space.
“Kazu and Agito, you deal with him. Make it sure that he doesn’t remember anything. We can’t kill him because he still has uses and his from the Kusanagi Clan. We can’t pick a fight with those monsters” That is what he said and he started walking away.
I heard footsteps echoing and a doorknob unlocking but there is no door opening.
“You…doll… what you think of Nina” He asks without turning his back to face me and without letting the doorknob go.
“Niiinnaaa?” I tried to play along; he needs to be more specific if he wants answers from someone that is drugged.
“Fujimura Nina” He said.
“Aaa….pprrreecciioouusss….fffrrrriiieeeeennddd” Is what I said.
“…I see…” Then the door was opened and was shut back and locked by the small guy.
“Now what to do” I heard Agito’s voice but he is too eager to do this.
“Agito, you shouldn’t do something against Boss orders. Plus you know that Oujo-sama would be angry if there is something that happens to him” The tall guy answers.
“That’s right and besides. This happens because of your suggestion. We didn’t even inform oujo-sama that we took his guest here to interrogate. If she finds out, I would point it to you” The small one answers with a sneer. He probably doesn’t like Agito that much.
“Its fine, its fine and it’s thanks Agito-san that we found out what those idiotic magus are doing. Plus, this guy is really something else. His bones are sticking out in odd angles and even his body bleeding heavily but within only few minutes his fully heal. Sigh. I can’t distinguish on who is more of a monster. The magus families who is creating a black hole or the Kusanagi’s for creating such an abomination” Abomination…. Ah… that’s probably fine…. Because his partially right. I’m not exactly normal and…
“Well let’s just do our work. Onigiri, get me those syringes, we will apply the medication” The tall guy orders. And so his Kazu and the small one is Onigiri.
“Okay” The small one had walked towards to the wall on my south side and he opens something and had brought a box? It sounds like it contains a lot of bottles with liquid inside. He then gave it to Kazu and Kazu opens the box and brought the bottles out. He is setting the drugs that would be applied to me.
I will just observe the surrounding area while they do their work.
I don’t know how long I was out but thanks to their chatting, I know Nina and probably the children aren’t involved which is obvious.
Raiga is just probably being cautious when he was informed of my condition. He did what he thinks is right and if I’m not from the Kusanagi clan, they might had use the old tested method of torture.
I can feel the sharp contraptions everywhere. I also smell the strong clean stench of blood in this room. They can try to clean it but they won’t be able to fully remove it.
I can understand the use of pain. Many times in the past that I wanted to give up because of it. I can only feel it for a second but after being beaten, eaten, sliced, and pummeled and many more experiences that I felt in the altered world. I know the meaning of pain.
Pain can make someone give up answers that they don’t want too. It’s just survival instincts kicking in and I won’t fault anyone who gave up information because they don’t want to die or got hurt.
Ah… I don’t know but I’m currently happy that Nina is unaware of what’s happening to me.
I can spare Nina, Raku and Taiga. But I wonder if Nina’s mother knew.
Oh. I can just track Raiga’s whereabouts… and he is currently talking with his wife… he is also telling what he finds out.
So his wife knew.
Okay, I will spare the children but I will sacrifice the others.
I’m still a human and I can still feel hate even if it’s not that strong and I’m not a hero that would forgive and forget what happens.
I won’t also spout nonsense like justice will prevail, because I’m a human and it’s natural to feel such animosity after what they have done.
They should be happy that they will die know that the children would be fine and they would die in honorary way.
I would direct them towards the enemy that they can see.
The magus family
And sorry Rin and Sakura, I still didn’t know them… so even if they are still children.
I won’t be able to spare them.
Part 50
Ugh… my head is spinning again. I wonder how many shots they applied. I fall asleep on the third shot but my mind is now fully clouded. The Gamers mind would eventually clear it but I’m still not comfortable.
“Ah, you’re awake” the voice of a bubbly girl echoed to my clouded mind.
“huh?” I still can’t think straight and I don’t know where I am currently but I felt comfortably soft. It will take some time before my mind is fully operational. That Agito guy… what’s his problem with me. He probably overdosed me, knowing I’m not normal.
“Touma are you alright? You’ve fallen from the stairs in front of the temple” The voiced said, and then I felt something touched my hands. Touched? Huh…
“Stairs? What…happen…ugh… water” My throat is dry and it’s hard to talk. How long was I out?
“Oh, here’s some water” The voice said but it’s from a different person. It’s from someone more mature than the earlier one. Who are the people around me? Ugh… Gamers mind. Hurry.
“Here, let him drink this” The mature voice said…. Ugh… my mind is starting to get clearer but it’s still affected by the drug.
“Okay” A different voice had said. It’s also a voice of a girl but a bit more mature than the early bubbly voice.
“Will he be okay?” the voice of a child, a boy had spoken.
“Of course he will be. His already fine just but just tired and dehydrated” The most mature voiced had said.
My mind is becoming clearer. I only need few more seconds.
“Here” My head was lifted by a gentle and soft hands, this is the lady that was older than the bubbly voice but not as mature as the other one.
“Gulp… gulp… cough… cough…pant… pant…” Ah, that cleared my mind and brings life to my dried throat.
“Ah, sorry for that, haha” That was Taiga-neesan, my mind is clearer now which is why I know who are inside the room and above the ceiling and outside of the door. They are observing me, especially the wife of the Yakuza boss.
“Its fine Taiga-nessan, I’m fine now but my head is still hurting and I still can’t remember what happen. Last time I remember I was running back home because the rain just suddenly starts pouring” I lied but because of that, the unseen tension by the children and the intense gaze of the lady of the house has lessen.
“Eehh, you didn’t remember” That’s Nina,
“You fall down from the stairs and you’re all bloody! I was even scared but Papa said that you will be fine and we just let you rest but it’s really scary when I see all that blood” Ah… I’m sorry Nina. For you to see such a scene, it’s probably far more graphic than what she is saying.
“I’m sorry” Is what I can only say… truly I’m sorry. I let my guard down.
“Don’t make me worried, Idiot” I can see that she is starting to tear up.
“I’m sorry” I closed my eyes and let things fall but it didn’t.
CLAP
A lout clap was heard.
“Okay, okay. He said that his sorry now Nina, be nice and forgive him already” Taiga-nee… I’m sorry and thankful.
“But Nee-san… he is” Nina was hesitant but
“It’s fine now Nina, his alright now right? So don’t worry anymore” Taiga just smiled and patted Nina’s head. I can also see their mother smiling and Raku too.
“Okay….” She lowers her head and then she looks fierce on me.
“But next time, you should be more careful” She points her right index finger at me while smiling but there is still swelling in her eyes. I’m sorry Nina.
“I’m sorry, I’ll be careful next time. It’s just that, I didn’t expect to be facing a heavy rain fall, when I’m returning home. I didn’t bring an umbrella because of the unexpected rain” I tried to reason and I know I should bring an umbrella. Unexpected raining is a norm when I’m going out but since I get better control, I just protect myself from few centimeters off by setting a slim barrier that protects me from the rain. It will prevent me from getting wet and I don’t have much acquaintance for others to know me and I really didn’t care much for others that I didn’t personally know. So when they see me, thought it hasn’t happen yet, I will just ignore them or escape the questioning. I’m careful enough to not let an ordinary person to not come within my notice, if they come within 100 meters range of my senses.
Nina just rubs her swelling eyes and smile.
Another set of clap and our attention was set onto the mother of the house.
“Okay children, he would still need some rest, so let’s leave him for the time being. It’s also still raining heavily and he won’t be able to return home. Let’s just leave him to rest here and you can return home Tomorrow Kusanagi- san” At first, she was addressing everyone but at the later part of his speech, she turns her attention to me.
“Its okay ma’am, but I would like to let my relative know. I have a relative that lives with me now” When I say that, her demure had change a bit.
“I – I see… well you can use our phone in the living area but can you stand up on your own? Shouldn’t you rest for a bit? If you want, we can contact your relative and let him know what happen” She delaying something. She also doesn’t want to me to let my relatives know. Maybe, I’m still under supervision. They are making sure that I don’t remember anything. Wise move. I applaud.
“It’s fine ma’am but Kaa-san is a bit hot tempered and I would like to inform her on my own” I tried to act innocent but it’s hard if you don’t have much emotion to show. Faking is also something I don’t want to do, while in this situation. If it’s only pure enemy, I would act drama queen to let they believe but I’m with people, I consider a friend. I won’t lie to them.
“Kaa-san? Isn’t your mother living in Tokyo right now?” She was confused and well informed. Something isn’t right? How did they know who’s my mother? I know that I didn’t tell it. Did they investigate me?
“The one who is like with me is like my Kaa-san but she is also not my real Kaa-san but more of a guardian. She is Kusanagi Pray-san” I finished my sentence and her expression isn’t something I expect.
“Pr-pra-praaay!” She seems panic and she’s not alone. Barred the children, I can feel people stiffening when I mentioned her name. Is Pray that famous?
“Yes, ma’am. Are you familiar with Kaa-san?” I asked, to get further information and
“AaAhH.. . I-I haven’t met her personally, but I have heard her name” The lady is good. She only stutters at the beginning but she regains her control fast and the children only look at her in odd way but they didn’t inquire further.
“I see” while she lost her composure a bit, I’m still like a still water and didn’t show any change.
“I would like to inform her on my where about personally, she has bad temper and she would probably react badly to an outsider” Which is true but Pray doesn’t really required me to call her. She isn’t the type to worry about me, if she knew where I am.
“O-okay, then Taiga. Can you assist Kusanagi-san in getting to the living room” She asks her eldest but.
“I’m fine now madam, I can manage on my own” Which is true, I sit up slowly and position myself on the side of the bed (I wonder who’s bed this is or who’s the room owner) but it’s just a show. My body is fully functioning now.
I tried standing up but Taiga-nee stops me, and I only look at her and she only smiles at me and helped me get up.
The observers around the room are vanishing one be one but there are still some of them.
The children had followed and assist me while the mother had vanished or rather; she had met with her husband. They are talking right now while I’m dialing the phone number for my home.
[Ah hello, who’s this] the voice who’d answers from the other side is Metang.
“It’s me; I’m currently staying at my friend’s house for the evening because of the heavy rain and I’ve got hurt while walking back home. I’m calling just to let you know and not be worried, I’ll return tomorrow” The one I’m talking about is Rin and not Pray. Rin had practically come every day since that incident.
[I see, I understand] Metang knew what I mean. We might not be in range of telepathy but we didn’t actually need it to know what’s happening. She’s me and I’m them. They are the materialization of my personal reality, the avatar of my power. They knew me better than anyone.
“Then, goodbye and take care” I made it brief and precise without mentioning who I’m talking with. I mentioned Pray earlier but I didn’t mention about the girls. It would be good if they think she is the only one I live with but that is possibly not happening if they are investigating me. They will know about the girls but I will know how much they investigate if they mention about them.
I bring down the receiver and face the others.
“Thank you for that” I bow at them but they just smiles and shrug at me.
They invited me to dinner and we had a simple dinner for them but not for me. It’s really hard for me when there are too many people around. Eating and partying. What a wild bunch.
After the dinner, I had visited Nina’s room which is a first.
I haven’t been into a girl’s room before.
“Hello, Touma come in, come in” She is in pink sleepwear now. Raku and Taiga are here too and both are already in sleepwear. Taiga has a bright yellow while Raku owns a blue one. I was also wearing a black one which where lent to me by Raku.
“What are we going to do?” I’m confused on why they ask me to come.
“Tell story of course or play some cards. Have you played cards before?” Taiga-nee asks but I only shake my head. I haven’t played cards with Rin before.
“Eh, you haven’t?” Raku asks but I only nod at him.
“Then this would be your first time, I’ll explain the news and let’s play while telling stories” Taiga said while I only nods at her.
“The rule is simple, the cards would be divided to each of us and we will start drawing cards from the others in set order. I will draw from Raku and then Raku would draw card to you and you will draw card to Nina. If you have a pair of the same card, then you will set it down. The game will finish when all cards as set down. But there is one card that doesn’t have a pair and that is the joker. The looser would be the one who has the joker, when all the cards are already paired” Taiga-nee explains.
She then divides all the cards between us four.
At first I only observe them and tried to learn more.
When I see them putting down paired cards. I copy them and put down all my paired cards.
The game started when all the current paired cards are put down.
“Okay I’ll start” Taiga-nee started with drawing card form Raku. She then set a set of pair of cards down after.
“By the way Touma, what do you usually do” Taiga-nee asks
“I usually read books, play video game or train martial arts” Raku drawn a card from me but he hasn’t put down any cards. He didn’t have a pair down.
“Eeeeh! Reading books are boring” Nina said while making a sour face.
“Video games? What kind?” Raku asks and his interested in it. So he plays video games too.
“You practice martial arts? What kind? Do you practice Kendo?” Taiga-nee asks and it looks like she is also interested.
“I liked RPG’s and the one with good story, I also liked playing visual novels, as for practicing kendo, I didn’t practice kendo but I learn how to use a sword or rather, the martial art that I learned from Kaa-san is a free form marital art that can fight unarmed or armed. It’s also not restricted to what type of weapon but it prefer the use of blades” Taiga-nee’s eyes shine after hearing my answer. I then start picking a card from Nina but when I’m starting in picking one of the cards, her face set into a frown when I’m picking the right most card…
I start to experiment and see that the one in the middle and most easy card to pick made her smile…
This girl… She has the joker.
Even if I don’t have much experience and I’m not good at reading lies but I’m still smart enough to see the cues.
Sorry Nina, I don’t play to lose. I said to her mentally.
I then pick the left most and she just frowns. I find a pair and set it down.
“Ooh. You can use sword then? Then let’s spar sometimes” Taiga-nee invited me to a spar and that made me pause and look at her. Is she for real?
“Taiga-nee how old are you?” I asked
“I’m 11 why?” She was confused.
“I’m only 4 and you’re asking me to spar with you? While I don’t mind it’s just that-” But I was cut off before finishing my sentence.
“Eh, you’re the same age as me?” Raku said.
“You’re a year younger than me? But I thought you’re already older or at least going to school. Your far too smart Touma, It’s unfair” Nina whines.
“Raku you’re also 4? I thought you’re a year younger than me” I asked Raku while Nina was picking the cards on Taiga but she didn’t get a pair.
“Eeehhh, No I’m not, I thought you’re older than me” He then set his cards to be picked by Taiga and she picked another pair.
“You’re just too short Raku” Nina teases her little brother.
“Neechan” Raku whines back
So this is what it means to have siblings… I can’t help but smile and Taiga-nee notice it, and she just smiles at me.
“Touma, do you have siblings too? Where is your family?” She asks while I Raku takes a card for me and sets a pair down. I lost my smile when she ask that and it looks like the others notice it too.
“Yes, I also have two siblings and I’m the oldest. My younger brother is name Godou and after him is Shizuka. I also heard that my real mother is pregnant again but they are living in Tokyo with my real mother and grandfather.” I asked with the same tone that I used but they were unsettled with it.
“Eeehhh, real mother? then who is the one you’re calling Kaa-san and why are you living here in Fuyuki?” Nina asks while hiding between her unsettled smiles. I picked another card and it’s not the Joker. I set another pair down.
“That is my guardian and master in martial art. I’m living here in Fuyuki for personal and family reasons but I’m fine with it. I understand plus I liked farming so I’m happy to cultivate the lands here” I decide to dodge and decide to change the subject by saying about my other hobby. Taiga-nee understands and didn’t ask further but it looks like Raku and Nina didn’t.
“Personal and family reasons? What does that mean?” Raku asks even though I want to leave the subject alone.
“You could say that it’s the decision of the clan. My family is an old family and it’s been ruled by clan rules. It’s not that strict but I’m isolated for my own development. Even if I’m this young, I can already pass the college level exams or professional level examination. I’m a genius and fast learner which is why they decide to isolate me and focus on my studies” I lied; I’m far from being genius. I’m actually a slow learner. I’m only able to understand fast because of Psychometry and if I didn’t have that ability, I would probably an idiot and I know their reasons and I understand which is why I didn’t protest my exiled here in Fuyuki.
I also understand that if I let my guard down. This house would break down. Even now, the land is subsiding and I need to control it so it won’t sink. I’m also controlling the area so nothing would fall down unexpectedly.
“Wow, so you’re a genius” Nina was impressed at me and she isn’t the only one.
“Yes, which is why I don’t need to go to school” I answered while I take another card from Nina and I won this round. Weird, I got lucky and win this round, though it’s only because Nina can’t hide her expression which is why I manage to dodge her Joker.
“Eh, and I’m hoping we will go to school together” Nina said, Raku is also sad a bit.
“School? You’re going to school already? What’s the name of the school?” I asked but they look weird at me.
“Touma, there isn’t any other school here in Fuyuki, aside from Homurahara Academy” Taiga answers.
“I see” I nod but they are clearly asking why I don’t know it.
“I don’t actually go outside of house that often. I only go to the temple to see my relative Priest and then I often stay at home. To study, learn or train, though my childhood friend Rin always tried to drag me around to play” I said the last part in whisper but it looks like Nina heard it.
“Rin? Tohsaka Rin?” She asks. She knows Tohsaka Rin? The game is nearing its end. Taiga-nee is already finish and it’s only between Raku and Nina now.
“No, not her, Shibuya Rin, she’s my neighbor” Raku draws the card and it looks like his not looking at Nina’s face but the card only. Ow, he picked the Joker. Raku wants to cry why Nina was happy.
“By the way Nina, how do you know Tohsaka Rin? I met her in this early March together with her little sister Sakura. I saw them by the park” I ask Nina who is happy that she lost the joker but it looks like her luck is at worst, because she got it back in the next turn and Raku is now the one rejoicing.
“Hmm? I don’t know her personally. I just see her often with her father. Her father often meets with father, which is why I know her” Nina said while putting the joker card up and it was then picked by Raku… this would take some time if the Joker card is only going back and forth.
“I see” I just stay silent and observe the two while maintaining my control on the surrounding and observing the heavy rain.
So the magus family is possibly made dealings with the Yakuza family.
“Touma” Taiga-nee asks and I look at her. She is just smiling at me. Taiga-nee is surely beautiful. I like her ponytail styled hair.
“Want to spar with me?” She asks while smiling.
Badump
Huh?
That was weird. My heartbeat beats fast for a second there.
“Huh?” I forgot what she asks and she just giggles and asks again if I wanted to spar but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to spar against humans…
“I don’t know…” I was hesitant to answer because the martial art that I’m trying to learn isn’t exactly meant to be used against humans or normal people.
Pray’s Style is an Anti-Massacre Martial Art Style. It’s meant to bring down enemies that brought massacre to the people. It’s meant to be used against super natural beings that are far tougher and stronger. Too use those kinds of brutal moves on humans is a bit…
“It’s fine; it’s just a friendly sparring. I won’t beat you up that much” She smiles again and my heartbeats faster again.
Badump
What? What’s that?
I tried to check my status by calling out the status window mentally but I’m fine. I don’t have any negative status effect.
“Well?” She draws closer but I draw myself back.
“Aaah! Your blushing, hahaha” She laughs while pats my head and I tried to swat her hand away but she laughs louder and my heart beats faster.
What’s happening?
“WAAA I LOST!” I heard Nina’s wail of despair and it brought my attention back to the two.
“I won!” Raku was jumping up and down and it’s clear to see who wins or lost.
“One more round! One more round!” Nina asks and Taiga looks at the wall clock, it’s still only around 8, it’s still too early to sleep.
“Okay, one more round” Taiga-nee agrees and we start playing again.
My heartbeat is back to normal again and we continued to play until 9:00 PM.
After that we start going back to our room but Taiga-nee called out to me before I leave.
“Touma think about the sparring” She calls out to me and my heartbeat beats fast again. She then smiles and waves goodbye, she then resumes her walk back to her room.
What’s happening?
Sigh…. This is surely an eventful night.
We all went back to our room and I went to mine.
The room I’m currently using is the one where I woke up with. It’s the guest room that were located in the guest wing of the house and currently, I can feel the hidden gaze of the yakuza members that where assigned in monitoring me.
They become more wary after the revelation of Pray’s name but they don’t need to worry. I won’t do anything, outside of observing the bounded filed inside this mansion and their secret stash of weapons.
My nose isn’t that sharp but by manipulating the wind, I can tell. They have a storage room full of gun powder here.
I also already located 8 hidden bounded rooms, but this house is huge and I can only scout around 50 – 60% of the house. The place where I was taken this afternoon was also still hidden from me.
Walking back to the room, I silently listen to the heavy drops of rain.
The rain is pouring hard and I can only see the darkness outside of the house.
This darkness is welcomed and my time spent here is also welcomed.
I need that to avoid the whole topic that sent my brain into spiral of chaos.
The world is dying….
I must survive until 2016 and my task was not said but I can only think of something disastrous.
I mustn’t die but I can’t let other people die too.
I must do something to prevent casualty in the upcoming war…
War… the elder had called it a game instead of a war.
Maybe his right, because it’s only a battle between 7 magi but this would still results of death of either the magus or the people that got involve in their petty war.
This might not be in the scale of wars that they participate but this is still a war and not a game.
People will die if I didn’t do anything.
I might be a hypocrite for trying to save people that I don’t care with and people I don’t know but if I can prevent further deaths, then I would do so.
As for the Yakuza group that drugged me to get the information they needed…
The people here who I eat with and drink with happily… they are also alive.
I know they had done something bad and I still don’t trust or like them but I understand them and anyone who had seen my abnormal regeneration would probably do the same…
But… they still did something bad. I know they are Yakuza people and I should have expected it from them, but to drugged me to get the necessary information out of me while I’m a guest of Nina and wounded?… Well, I understand the opportunity that was presented but it still didn’t change the fact that…
I still… hate them.
I hate them and I plan on using them but when I see them laugh and smile during dinner.
I remember that they are also people that are living…
I’m still confused on what to do. Is it right to bring them into this mess?
Did I do the right thing of giving them the information?
But I also can’t helped it, I’m effectively a captive during that situation, and anyone who is in my situation would be giving out their secrets, whether they like it or not and I’m not loyal enough to the clan to die while keeping the secrets.
Plus I’m not allowed to die.
I’m really confused on what to do.
While I’m maybe appalled on what I’m about to do but they are needed. They aren’t afraid to do something bad for their own and their love ones and they will be able to move freely, unlike me, who is heavily restricted and observe all the time by the clan.
I don’t need to instruct them, I only need to show them the enemy and they will do what they needed to do…
I just hope that there won’t be anything bad that happens…
If they’ve got hurt because of me… I don’t know on how I will look at the siblings without feeling guilty over it.
I hate them but they are family of my friends.
Nina, Raku and Taiga would surely be angry at me if they found out… and somehow I don’t want to see Taiga-nee become angry at me… weird.
I will still protect them…. Somehow… so just to not make the siblings sad.
I will also find a way to participate in this petty war between insane magi.
Even if I don’t have any magic at all
Part 51
The morning came and I tried going back home but I was stopped by Nina again, she still wants me to stay but I can’t I have things that I need to do but she won’t listen and still plead for me to stay until breakfast and after that she wants me to go with her to the see the sea again.
She wants to stay and play with me while she is still having her vacation.
Nina is a year older than me but she is already attending pre-school and currently, she’s in vacation and the classes will resume by the start of April, so she wants for me to stay with her and play as much as she can.
But I still can’t play with her all the time. Rin also visits during after lunch but when I mentioned Rin, she starts wanting to meet my friend. It became more complicated after but I promised her I will introduce Rin to her… eventually.
I relented and stay with her and we had breakfast, after that we head to out to see the sea.
We’re currently in her favorite place beside the tree and we’re relaxing.
“This place is sure nice, I feel like sleeping while seating here” I said while lying in the grassland.
“Feeling the cool breeze of the sea is nice” I’m feeling sleepy because of this.
“Moh, don’t sleep, we’re here to enjoy the view! I know it felt relaxing but please stay awake. We should also try to go closer to the sea. The sea water is nice and cold, we should try it and take a swim” Nina said while smiling and seating beside me. Her legs where kicking up and down.
“Take a swim? I don’t know” Truth to be told. I haven’t gotten close to the sea to actually feel it. It might be interesting but I don’t know. Looking at the sky, it’s still early but I don’t know… but it looks like my decision wasn’t taken into consideration when Nina stands and starts dragging me.
“Come on, let’s take a swim. I haven’t been in the sea lately” She said happily while dragging my right arm with her.
The sea isn’t that far from where we’re currently seating so it didn’t take that long before we arrive.
Nina had let go of my arm and run to the sea. She run until the sea water reaches up to her knee and she start waving at me.
“Come on, hurry up” She called, she waves and then she crouched down and scoop the water with both her hands and splash it at me. I instinctively evade it by dodging to my right but she just frowns at me.
“I don’t want to get wet” is what I answer with half-open eyes and her frowns deepens but when she understands what I said. Her eyes widen and she comes back to the shore while laughing a bit.
“hehehe, I also don’t want my dress to get wet. Mom would get angry at me” She scratch the back of her head while smiling and laughing. She then starts to undress by taking her top first then her shorts. She just throws it away and I need to catch it and fold it properly.
After undressing, she runs to the sea again and starts splashing around.
“Come on, hurry Touma” She waves at me while kicking the water towards me.
I evade again and start to undress…. This girl…. She’s too energetic.
After undressing, I then fold my shirt and short and placed it together with her dress and place it atop a big rock beside the shore. If it’s here, it won’t get wet.
The area around the beach is full of small cluttered rocks with the sands near the water.
The waves form the water reaches pass the sands and onto the rocky area and if I didn’t place the clothes in higher ground, it will get wet. So I picked the larger rock to place the clothes on.
I then followed her to the sea and when I step at the water. I felt it and observe it.
It’s cold… I smiled at this new experience and followed the energetic Nina.
“sigh… yey…” I answered monotonously and I also kicked the water back at her but it’s a bit stronger which cause a huge splash and got her wash away. Oops… my mistake.
“Kyaaaaa!” She got wash by the huge splash but she got up fast and she is furious.
“You! take this” She then starts bombarding me with water.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry” I’m saying sorry while ducking and dodging to the side. It just becomes instinctive to my body muscle to evade incoming projectile.
“Don’t dodge!” She just got angry more.
“I’m sorry!” I raise my hand as a sign of surrender but I still won’t let her hit me. It’s a matter of pride. I evade the projectile of those massive war machines and this puny water won’t hit me.
Unnoticed by my own, I’m currently smiling while dodging.
“Take this and this and this!” She crouches down and scoop water to splash at me, continuously but I still manage to dodge it. She then combined it with her legs but it still useless.
“Hahaha” Laughing monotonously while dodging left and right and then duck and jump, nothing hits me.
“Why you” She becomes more angry and frustrated that her face become cute. I just laugh more.
“I’m a pro, you won’t hit me” I answer to her useless splashing.
“But were taking a swim here! How will you swim in the water if you’re not getting wet!?” She yelled and then I stopped….
“Ah” I got hit.
“Yes!” She jumps high with her fist raise and why she is happy. I kicked the water again and it’s a bit stronger but this time, I control it, which means it’s intentional.
“Kyaaaaa” She got swept again and she return fire with vigor while I just dodge.
I hate to admit it but I’m enjoying this simple waste of time.
It’s a waste of time… but I can’t help but smile.
The world is dying and I’m just playing around.
I’m not ignorant of what’s too happen but I can’t help but enjoy this simple game.
We splash water at each other but I got too much into the game that I kicked the water too much.
“Take this” I said while kicking the sea water and it produced a wave.
“Kyaaaaa” Nina was swept away again and I laugh.
“hahaha, take that” I just stand there and waiting for her return fire but… there is no reply.
I still wait for a bit but then I noticed bubbles are appearing in the far sea… it can’t be!
“Nina!” I called but no answer.
What should I do! I don’t know how to swim!
When I crossed the sea back then to find the Remedy, I crossed it upward running and not swimming. I even got drowned when one of the tentacles of that kraken drags me down to the sea.
I began to panic but the gamers mind immediately shuts it down.
I don’t know how to swim but I can control the water!
With a wave of my left arm, the sea was split in half and I see Nina not moving in the middle of it.
“Nina!” I ran fast and check at her. She is not breathing!
I take carried her up in my arms and run to the shore. I let the water down and begun inspecting her. I know basic procedure on what to do so I didn’t hesitate to do CPR.
I pump her chest and breathe air to her mouth. I repeat the procedure for a couple of times and when there is still no change, I begun to start panicking which was shut down again by Gamers Mind, I also feel my stomach churning and unnoticed to me, my eyes are start swelling up but after a couple more repetition, she starts coughing up the water that block her lungs.
“Nina!” I then proceed to hug her. I’m really glad that she’s fine. I don’t know what I would do if I accidentally killed her.
“Ugh.. What happen” She is still coughing and can’t think straight yet.
“I’m sorry it’s because I kicked the water far too much and you’ve been washed away. But why didn’t you just swim back?” I was confused but still relieved that my friend is fine.
“Ah… I can’t swim” She averts her eyes at me, when she admits her inability to swim.
“huh? Then why did you invite me to swim in the sea if you can’t swim? That’s dangerous and you could have drowned!… wait, you’ve already drowned if I didn’t save you!” I shouted a bit the last part. That was truly dangerous and I was worried. Is she doing this regularly? I need to inform Taiga-nee if she is doing this activity without guardian to look after her.
“Because Touma… you look sad” She said while still averting her eyes.
“Huh?” What is she talking about?
“When we’re talking yesterday night, I notice that you’re only doing the same thing over and over again, and you’re not even going out and play” She said and then she looks at me eyes and said earnestly.
“You should enjoy your life more Touma! Living is having fun! and not locking yourself with work and study” She said it passionately and sincerely that it made me stop breathing for a moment.
This girl…
I can’t help but smile sadly…
“Well isn’t that romantic” An unexpected voiced was heard from behind.
“Huh?” Nina tried to look behind me but she is still hugged by me, which is why she to squirmed out of my grasp but I’m stiff locked with this unexpected visitor.
“Touma?” She was confused on why I’m not moving or anything.
But I didn’t manage to hear her completely. I’m much busier in trying to understand what that being behind me is.
“Oh, did I scare you boy” The voice is not loud and barely a whisper but it can be heard clearly. It’s melodious and beautifully captivating but that is not what surprises me.
She sneaks out on me while I’m on guard. While I admit that I’m enjoying our little play and just maybe, I did lowered my guard a bit but she still manages to sneak behind me without making noise or alerting me.
This place isn’t actually a fine sand beach. It’s beside the sea but it’s full of rocks. If you walk around it, it would cause some noise and she walks through it without making any noise or alerting me…
I also can’t sense her even if she’s supposedly behind me.
What is she?
“Ara, don’t be scared. I’m just observing you two love birds” She teases with her angelic voice.
“Lololooovers! We’re not lovers! We’re friends!” Nina finally had broken free from my hug and stands tall and pointed her right hand at the stranger, while her face won’t lose to the color of my Tomatoes that I planted in my farm.
“fufufu well aren’t you cute” The unknown woman said.
I also start to stand up slowly and then slowly turn towards the unknown woman.
“Scan” I used scan mentally on her and the result almost me want to run away.
A new notification was revealed.
Scan Level up by 1
What? My scan leveled up just by trying to scan her? And I’m fighting enemies 40 levels higher than me and it didn’t give any experience, until I used it around hundred times.
What kind of monster is the one in front of me?
Mentally scanning again and the result is still the same.
Scan Level up by 1
“Now, now boy, don’t be alarmed. I’m just passing by when I noticed you two. You two look quite a pair” The being in front of me smiles, though it’s hard to tell if it’s the truth or not. Her smiles radiate with such passion that I can’t help believed it but she is a totally unknown being to me. Plus, her beauty is too much otherworldly.
“Wow, nee-chan your beautiful” Nina was awed and me too but I’m more sacred than awed by her beauty.
“Well, thank you little one. Your also cute” The being in front of me has long shinny blond hair and it’s so long that it trails and spreads past behind her. It’s also too beautiful to be dirtied by the dirty rocks is what I honestly felt while observing her. She has crystal clear captivating blue eyes and heart shaped face. Her blond hair parted ways and cupped her beautiful face. Her body is lithe and she is even smaller than Pray, She only has one white piece dress that trails pass her knees. She is also not wearing any footwear. She is barefoot in this rocky area but it likes she didn’t mind at all.
Mentally scanning again and I received the same results.
Scan Level up by 1
“Who are you nee-chan” I asked, while mentally scanning again and another Scan Level up by 1.
“Well, aren’t you a curious young one. Well, that would be a secret” She winks, and smiles, and she raised her right arm in front of her right eye and then her fingers are formed in a peace sign. The gesture is just too much that it almost made my heart stopped! What kind of power is this!
Mentally scanning again, Scan Level up by 1
“Well, I got to go now. It looks like I’m spotted by someone” She looks to her right side and then she looks at us again and smiles and it’s just too much! My heart can’t take that kind of attack. What is happening!?
“Wait Nee-chan. What is your name!?” I asked desperately while mentally scanning again, Scan Level up by 1 and using another command on her. Invite friend?
“That is also a secret young one. If you’ve become stronger I would tell you! Byebye” She smiles and waves and formed a peace sign using her right hand while waving goodbye but before she leaves I mentally scanning again Scan Level up by 1
The unknown beauty starts walking away but a strong gust blows and I was forced to cover my eyes or else the sands around the sea would enter it.
It only lasted a second or two but after everything calms down, I look at where the unknown beauty is and she is not there anymore.
I also can’t use my senses on her because I just can’t feel her at all.
She is just too beautiful to be normal, is she a god?
I look back at where the otherworldly beauty glances at and I saw Pray standing there with crossed arm and a serious look at her face. She is outside of my sensing range or even outside of normal eyesight range. I just know that it’s her when I saw her blond hair billowing and her famous Masterpiece V, stabs at the rock that she’s standing on.
Who is that mysterious beauty?
Thanks to her I leveled my Scan to the maximum.
I can finally evolve it.
“Touma, you’re staring far too much on the beautiful nee-san!” Nina shouts at me while she’s only standing beside me.
“Huh?” I asked her but her just pouts at me and starts to run towards the rock where I placed our dress on a start dressing, after finishing her dress. She looks back at me with a scowl at her face.
“I hate you!” She said and she starts running away.
“Huh? What just happen?” I asked but no one answers.
I look back at where I saw Pray but she is not there anymore.
I tried to catch up to Nina to ask what she meant but before that I evolved my scan into a new one.
[Rank 3] Reveal (Level 2: Psychometry) Level 1 Exp 00.00% Active Cost 100 Energy
The skill that lets you read and understands the general information about your targets in the general area.
Effect:
It shows basic information of the enemy
Maximum range of target the target is 50 meters and needs within visual contact.
Maximum area of effect is 10 meter diameter.
Maximum difference of levels to make any information available is 75 level differences.
Current reveal information
-Title
-Name
-Hit points and Magical or Energy points
-Status
-Basic description of the target
-Traits
-Ability
-Attack
-Weakness
Note:
The higher the level of the skill, the more information would be revealed.
The amount of information revealed is based on the difference of level. The higher the difference in level, the lesser the information being revealed
Higher level target that is beyond ones skill won’t reveal any information.
Every 5 level will increase the maximum range by 10 meters
Every 10 level will increase the maximum area of effect by 5 meters
The skill won’t receive any experience if the target’s level is only about 25 levels above the target.
Well, that was useful.
It’s an area of effect scan, though the restriction is too high and the energy cost is too big but its use is useful.
With the Super Computer ability, I can gather and understand information, almost instantaneously so scanning multiple enemes won’t slow me down.
But I’m still bothered by that otherworldly beauty.
My level isn’t to laugh about but she is clearly out of my league.
“Status”
Spirit Slayer
“Kusanagi” Touma
Level – 91
HP – 9220
STA – 9160
EN – 12110
STR – 13
DEX – 15
VIT – 12
INT – 301
WIS – 151
LUCK – EX
STATUS POINTS – 21
I haven’t upgraded my skills for wisdom yet because they haven’t reached the maximum level yet but still the new ability is helpful.
Brain Booster
A highly charge brain that can react and issue commands fast in any given situation. It speeds up the processing power of the brain to easily react in any given time
Effect:
Current conversation is 1 second – 750 seconds
Increase Resistant to Supernatural Damage by 75%
Increase Elemental Damage of Special attack by 75%
Increase Regeneration of Energy by 200%
Allows one combine two elements to form new elements of the second tier.
Note:
Brain Generator requires 200 WIS
This ability helps me easily in creating plasma and magma element.
While I’m sure I’m getting stronger, I still wonder if that otherworldly beauty is an enemy or an ally?
She said she’s just passing by but would I believe her? What if she’s lying? I don’t think I have any chance of winning against her.
Better to make sure of it that she won’t sneak pass me again.
“Option”
Gamer’s Ability Online
I clicked my friend list and she is not online.
She is not even within my vicinity, is what I currently thought.
Gamer’s Ability is divided by level and with each new level; a new option would be open for me to use.
Level 1
Allows the user to use Status, Ability and Skills
The Status is shown as on status screen. Status is important because it shows the strength of the user. It also made possible for the body’s strength to be quantified or measured by numbers. It’s also allows one to increase the strength of the user by increasing the numbers.
The Ability window is where all the abilities that were discovered and achieved will be displayed. The abilities can be learned by being exposed to certain stimuli repeatedly or just by receiving a strong enough stimuli that it could affect the personal reality of the user or the user just have a change of ones world’s view. Since the ability reflects the personal reality of the user, any changes on one’s world view would also affect it.
The Skills window is where all the skills learn would be shown. The skills can be attained by either repeated action or by performing a certain action that would affect the user’s world view. Skills are more often easily obtained by increasing ones status. Each status has their sets of strengths and weaknesses.
Strength build would focus more on physical aspect and increasing damage deal in short range to mid-range battle but its weak in long range battle.
Dexterity build would be focus on evasion, fast movement and quick to multiple strikes. It’s specialized in mid-range to long range battle and is weak when it becomes close range battle.
Vitality build would increase the natural defense and regenerative prows of the user. Its weakness is while the user can tank damage, it can’t deal huge damage against the enemies.
Intelligence build would focus more on damaging the enemy or group of enemies, from a safe distance and it becomes its major disadvantage if the enemy is moving fast enough to dodge the attack or if the enemy closes in.
Wisdom build would focus more on calling forth aid by summoning ones avatar, supporting your avatar by empowering them or weakening the enemy. This build is the most balance of them all with no shown weakness but it also has no strong points.
Level 2
Allows the user to use Inventory and Party
The Inventory option is where the user gain access into a dimension pocket’s where the user can store all his belongings. While the dimension pocket is infinite, the weight of the items being stored would still affect the user. If the weigh exceeds the maximum weight, the user can safely carry. It would start to affect the user. The inventory also has options where one can set the equipment. One can set equipment through inventory which would be instantly or one can wear it manually. The dimension pocket of the inventory option works in different laws, which is why anything that was stored inside would be effectively put into stasis, preventing any damage and degradation of the items stored inside.
The Party option allows one to invite another being to form a party but the targeted person needs to agree to form the party. Being in a party has lots of benefits. If the level gap between each members is between 20 levels only. Every experience gained would be distributed evenly but if it exceeds 20 levels, a bonus would also be granted if the level gap isn’t that big. A bonus of increase monetary reward and drop rate would be given if the level gap is between 10 levels only. If the gap of levels exceeds 20 levels but not over 50 levels, then the one with the higher level would only receive 20% of the experience while the lower one would receive the remaining 80%. If the level gap exceeds 50 levels, then the experience won’t be distributed at all and the rule of who kills the target, would receive the experience reward would be applied.
Party can be formed in 6 as maximum per one party but this is normal party formation. The user can grant other party member the ability to create his own party while he is within the party. One can only grant a maximum of 4 other members the ability to form a party. After that member had created a party, that party would last for 1 hour and would need to repeat the action for another party to be created.
Level 3
Allows the user to use Map and Friend List
The Map commands allows one to summon a bird’s eye view of the area where you’ve been through. Mental map is different from physical map. While one can update the mental map by acquiring the physical map, the mental map is restricted to only where the user had been through. The mental map won’t reveal area where one haven’t entered or been through.
The Friend List command allows one to track friends. If a friend is within 10 kilometer radius, then the friend list option would show the friend as online. If the friend is out of 10 kilometer radius, it would show offline. An online friend would also be displayed in the mental map. To invite someone as a friend, one only needs to send the invite to a person and even without that person agreeing, that person would be added as a friend. It only needs visual confirmation to add someone to friend list but a forcibly added friend won’t have its name displayed in the friend list but the other function would still be functional.
Level 4
Allows the user to use Hint and Display Label
?
Required:
?
The beautiful nee-san is surely dangerous. Within that second that I shut my eye due to that very convenient wind, she had already gone that far. One second movement away from ten kilometers isn’t an easy feat.
She is also clearly dangerous because thanks to her, I leveled my scan up and to get that high level of experience would only mean she is dangerous high level.
I also didn’t get any information on her.
The results that was displayed while using scan was
?
?
Only a bunch of unknowns.
I better catch up to Nina and get an explanation on why she hates me because I surely didn’t do anything that would result to such animosity.
To a certain Lonely Hero 