March 14, 2087

"Mou….onii-sama… must you be so dutiful? Can't you lay back for once? You've been standing there for at least an hour…"she reproached, head lowered, eyes gazing upon the bright sand. "I'm beginning to feel lonely here…" Her feet dug gently into the sand and her cheeks were puffed. Obvious signs of nervousness. She's always afraid of hurting him, like they did. Tatsuya couldn't help let out a little smile.

He reached out for Miyuki's head, patting her affectionately as many would to a younger sibling. His hand continued trailing downward, weaving his fingers in between her hair, before cupping her cheeks. He wanted to reassure her that she wasn't doing anything wrong, that she was only speaking up for his best interests.
"It's alright, Miyuki. There's nothing more that I want to than to watch you having fun. But if you really want to, I can join you for a bit".
The effect was immediate. Her azure eyes lit up more than any star in the night sky could. Eyes so much like his own.
"Well …come on, then! What are you waiting for? The water's not going to get any warmer!" She dragged Tatsuya off from his seat on the polished stone that kept the sidewalk from the beach sand, and Tatsuya easily obliged.

He let out a strong yet restrained laugh. Oh, how much he wished could do this every day. Doing nothing but splash around in the gentle waves with Miyuki, watching her jump in innocent joy and laugh and scream without any care if anyone around. Not that there was anyone around, though. His mother wanted nothing but the finest- it would not do for her son and her sister Miya's daughter to have to share a space with strangers – strangers that might have motives against her clan. A clan which she rebuilt so perfectly under her rule, it would frustrate her to no end if Tatsuya or Miyuki, the future of the clan, to end up in an incident. He appreciated mother for that, but it made them feel lonesome. They were their own little world. It felt like there was nothing else, no one else, in the world. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Tatsuya reminded himself they were cousins, but they had always been siblings… if not closer, if the time they spend together was any indication.

xxx

August 4, 2092

His heart stopped for a moment when he heard that scream. A familiar, shrill scream. He ditched his post at the entrance of the military facility and raced to the sick bay, where all the civilians and non-military magicians gathered when the alarm sounded – which signalled an attack. It was there he stared in shock. Five armed men, armed with semi-automatics approaching the band of frightened individuals. A band which included his Miyuki, along with her mother Miya and her mother's guardian Honami. His eyes darkened, seething. He could see the red stains growing on Miyuki's chest, likely right next to the heart. Miya's – the side of her stomach. Honami's – her left shoulder, probably trying to shield Miyuki and her charge from harm.
'THEY DARED TO TOUCH THEM?!'

Without a moment's hesitation, he launched himself towards the armed men. Walking dead. They would be gone from this world before they even noticed. Faster than a normal eye could see, Tatsuya removed his gun from its holster at his left hip with his right hand, and aimed his Silver Taurus at the first and closest armed attacker, pulling the trigger. There was no bullet, but the man instantly disintegrated. He vanished without a trace. Yet he held no remorse. His military training in the 101 Independent Magic-Equipped Battalion taught him as such, and it paid dividend right now. Tatsuya turned to the second and third attackers, still seeing red. He pulled the trigger in rapid succession. They suffered the same fate the first had. Shock had only just come onto their faces before they vanished into an explosion of light particles
'Good.' Tatsuya thought. 'They don't deserve any mercy. Not after what they had done. But not enough.'
He holstered his gun and unsheathed his katana - absurdly long for an eight year old like him – but he managed. Feet finally coming to a stop, he pivoted before racing towards the fourth and fifth attacker to his right, fear appearing on their faces, firing undistinguished attacks at their adversary with the remaining bullets in their semi-automatics.
'Useless. Cowards. Attacking innocent people.' Tatsuya blanched.

He swung his katana diagonally upwards from the man's left hip to his right soldier, blood exploding from the point of contact. Before Tatsuya stopped, he carried the momentum from his swing and spun in a half circle slashing the final attacker's right arm, severing the arm which held his gun, at the wrist. He did the same with the other arm. This last one would not bleed out – not that he would let him. He would use Regrowth on him, just enough for him not to bleed out. He did not deserve any reprieve from the pain he so rightfully earned.

But that was a thought for later. He ran over to his family, panic finally settling in after the anger and adrenaline wisped away. They were knocked unconscious after the shock and the pain. He immediately laid his hands upon each of their wounds, casting Regrowth on them. He resisted the urge to gasp at the pain that set in him. That was the trade-off with using such an overpowered spell. One would be able to restore the health of themselves or others, as long as it was within the last day. The one who casted must endure the pain that the one casted upon experienced – Newton's Law of Conservation of Energy WAS universal, after all.

Gradually, the wounds disappeared, and the three females regained consciousness. They looked tired, but clear of any obvious wounds. Good. Tatsuya said nothing as he sighed in relief.

"Tatsuya?" Miya whispered, like it would disturb the false silence that settled on the land after a battle. She appeared to speak for both Honami and Miyuki, as they both seemed shell-shocked at what happened, especially the two bodies lying on the ground, drowning in their own blood.
"There is nothing to be worried about. I have taken care of the problem. Rest, you three. I will make sure no more harm befalls any of you." Tatsuya declared, a hard gaze that didn't fit with his young face. He rubbed his hand up and down to aid in consoling Miyuki, who was tearing up considerably.

"..Onii-sama! I'm so sorry! I was.. I was… too weak to protect mother! I.. I am not strong enough… I don't deserve your l-" Miyuki blurted out, stuggling to stop herself from sobbing after each word, but was interrupted by Tatsuya's arm reaching behind her. He pulled her into an embrace against his chest, holding her tight like she might disappear. His left hand stroked the back of her head. She almost did disappear, Tatsuya remind himself.

"Shh… Miyuki. It's alright. I'm here now. Tatsuya's here. I will protect you." Tatsuya consoled, rubbing circles around her back. The only reply Miyuki had was her muffle cries against his chest, wrapping her small arms tighter around him.
That was when he lost her the first time. He vowed never to leave her again.

xxx

He took aim, using the specially-crafted sniper rifle that calibrated with his Third Eye. The 'eye' of Shiva which emits flames and burns things to ashes. It is believed that when the Lord is extremely angry, He opens His third eye and punishes the culprit. Today, the culprits were out at sea. Eleven battleships strong, carrying likely hundreds of magic-equipped soldiers, ready to race ashore to the beach he enjoyed what felt like an eternity ago. Nothing mattered now. Nothing mattered except taking revenge for his family. Mother Maya could not be here to obliterate them as she was at the Head House, likely dealing with the Japanese government. So it fell to him, her son.
Without so much as a word, he fired, scope focused in on a single droplet of water suspended above the flagship at the centre of the formation.
Material Burst was an ability Tatsuya had. An ability that was testament to Einstein's famous formula of energy-matter conversion. The one ability that would later define him as a Strategic-Type Magician, a magician that could wipe out countries alone. The raindrop imploded, becoming pure energy radiating outwards in a sphere.
That day, it was like a star was born in the East China Sea.
That day, a second God of Destruction was born.

xxx

December 4, 2094

After Miyuki's mother had passed away a month, the two had grown distant. Miyuki no longer talked to her father Tatsurou – not when he came home not a week later holding a woman that could not be more of a polar opposite to Miya. Sayuri was careless and arrogant, unlike Miya's grace and calculative glances. She even had the gall to flaunt her status as a lover of Tatsurou before Miya's passing, while she was on her deathbed.

Tatsuya had offered to use the power their clan had been bestowed by the devils – the Evil Pieces. Created by Ajuka Beelzebub, inspired by chess, had created a special system that allowed one of sufficient devil power – be it magic or strength – to reincarnate other races. It's drawback was that it restricted the reincarnation processes to beings that were still alive (their heart continues to beat), and that the King, one who initiates the reincarnation, must be stronger than the target, in order to avoid an usurp of power from the King in the future.
When Tatsuya held his Mutated Bishop piece, Miya had woefully declined, saying that Tatsuya would have no purpose for a cripple, one who could barely run.
When Tatsuya asked her how Miyuki would feel about this, all she did was smile and whisper "She has you, Tatsuya. You have protected her well as a Guardian…no.. As a cousin, a sibling, sometimes …even a parent, considering who Tatsurou is like. You have done a world of good for her. Promise me… that you will take care of her. If not for your sake or hers… at least do it for mine. You would do that, wouldn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then that is all I ask. But these Pieces…we will have to re-appear into the supernatural world eventually. Even if we do not want to, even if we hide, the supernatural world will find us. Your mother has told you of the Civil War between the devils of the Old Maou Faction, once the faction we called our own, and the Anti-Maou Faction, yes?
Tatsuya did not speak, only nodding.
"We were once the proudest clan of devils there were, answering only to the Original Satan Lucifer. He was a devil driven by all seven of the deadly sins, but his wrath was the strongest. We were the embodiment of that sin. We struck hard at every turn, controlling battlefields with single waves of our magic. Genzou-jiisan could tell you how one of the driest lands of the Underworld suddenly became the
coldest lands when one of us, the Yotsuba clan, had fought and wiped out a battalion of Anti-Maou devils. Once we marched on the Underworld capital Lillith, we had a choice: to face the four upcoming Maou-class devils – Serafall Sitri, Sirzechs Gremory, Ajuka Astaroth and Falbium Glasya-Labolas, or call a truce.
Before Lucifer-dono had died in his valiant crusade in Heaven, he asked us to ensure the survival of the devils as our first priority, no matter what. So, with bloodied hands and unwavering grudges, we made a deal. We would not attack them – as they knew we were powerful enough to bring them to a stalemate, but not without heavy casualties – in exchange for a part in the new society, including their new technology in the Evil Pieces." Miya had to take a break, her voice getting weaker by the minute. She seemed like she wanted to say something more, but Tatsuya knew.

"The Evil Pieces… you want me to use them as protection. A group able to protect Miyuki and I from the rest of the supernatural world we so yearn to escape from? So much so we established ourselves, along with the rest of Lucifer-dono's direct subordinating clans, as the Ten Master Clans here in Japan?"
Miya smiled. She always knew Tatsuya would know one step ahead. It was what made him one of the most dangerous people in the world – as a sixteen year old. With only Miyuki standing beside him in terms of magical power this generation, he also knew he would start attracting higher powers to him as he aged (a natural thing for pureblood devils), even when he kept his devilish traits suppressed from birth.
"I understand, Miya-sama. I shall try my best for you, for Mother, and especially for Miyuki."
"Mmm…come closer." Miya murmured. She was fading fast.
Tatsuya took a deep breath, before stepping closer towards Miya, his hand upon her shoulder. He knew what was to come.
Miya had done this long ago, once to Tatsuya and once before that, regretfully in retrospect, to Maya. Her Mental Manipulation magic allowed the alteration of specific functions of the brain, with its limits only to the caster's imagination. It was their clan's unique magic, and in Miya's short yet eventful life, she had been the first to master it.
She held her left hand up, like reaching for the sky, towards Tatsuya's temple, whom had his head bowed down (in respect or to give her easier access, or both, Miya didn't know). What she was doing now was possibly one of the most insane things one could think of, but neither had anything to lose. Tatsuya had already lost his ability to feel emotions, and Miya was moments away from her body shutting down as a result of her weakened heart. She pressed her index and middle finger at his temple. When she felt Tatsuya hold her freezing hand in place, she closed her eyes, casting her magic one last time, and just…let her body go.
What came next could not be described as a piercing headache, nor an alien intrusion. It felt warm, familiar. It was like comparing two fingers on a hand – not entirely the same, yet not different to their own. It seems Miya's final Mental Manipulation was her greatest. He felt more aware of the gentle breezes outside, the pervading smell of rain that had begun to fall, and the storm that had begun to settle into the Okinawa coast. She had successfully been able to transfer her memories, of her own experience, her magical powers, and her Mental Manipulation ability. He promised not to show this power unless dire circumstances were evident. Not only out of respect for Miya, but wary at the suspicion it may draw upon to any inflicted by mental manipulation.
He did not stand up, but looked out the seaside window, content with watching the dark storm clouds rolling in. Tatsuya had yet to notice the green glow flashing out of his shoulder blades.

August 4, 2095
Tatsuya, in all his emotionless glory, was anxious. He had lost sight of Miyuki, when he left the beach in order to find refuge from prying eyes and ears. It was apparently important, as Major Sanada had been informing him of the once more growing threat of the Great Asian Alliance – a union made up of territories consisting of modern day China, Dahan, the Korean peninsula, the north of Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. Together with the USNA, the Soviet Union and the Indo-Persian Federation, they formed the Four Great Powers of the world post-World War III. It had been nine years since Miyuki became his charge, and there was only once – three years ago - that Tatsuya had mistakenly let out of his sight – and the ones responsible were exactly who the Major had called him up on. He had messed up again. He should not have brought Miyuki to the party Mayumi organised at the beach after we had won the Nine Magic Schools Competition. He promised Miya-sama that he would protect her.
In a burst of his Elemental Sight, a "scanning ability" that lets him observe the world around him by monitoring the interactions of particles around people and objects, he attemped to find Miyuki. When he did though, he found two forms – one a familiar form, Miyuki, with the particles gently coating her, lying on the ground, and a second, unknown form, that stood over her. The pushions were whizzing around the unknown form like crazy, and that wasn't a good sign. If anything, that was a sign of a supernatural figure. Natural particles would not react so violently in presence of regular humans. Gritting his teeth, he headed off. Miya was right.