Harunobu was mistaken. The first impression he had when he first met with 'the boy in the pillar' was somewhere along the line of 'A demon that can kill even god'. But apparently said 'demon' was actually quite friendly.
"Then what is the different between your country governing systems with that of a theocracy?"
And he's pretty smart too.
"Well you see, in japan the country is still ruled by president who is elected every 5 years. However Taisha role here is not to 'govern' over these people but rather to 'guide' the government and by extension the people toward a life that is peaceful and prosperous by showing them the teaching of Shinju-sama." Explained Harunobu tiredly. It's 7 in the morning he's been answering this boy question for 8 hours now.
"I see" the boy put his hand on his chin "despite us being in the age of gods some aspect of humanity's culture have survived. I thought that if these freaking lolicon rule over the world they would ask something like a virgin every 2 years, or someone's heart for a sacrificial ritual or something." Said the boy. "Not that it change anything tough I still will kill them all." Add the boy. A dangerous gleam flashes in his ayes for a second.
"Hey. Now it's my turn. Can I ask a few question please? I really want to go home." Harunobu has been tasked by the arch priest (who's probably too afraid to go face to face with the boy) to become the boy's 'observer' he is to observe and report any action that this boy do. He too is tasked about finding out as much information as possible from the boy. 'Oh Shinju-sama please help this lost follower of yours'. Prays Harunobu in his heart.
"Yeah sure, I have been asking you about this world for the past seven hours after all." 'Eight hours' argue Harunobu. Mentally
"Right, okay. Can you tell me about your name please?" asked Harunobu
"My name is Hasan sabah Al-Farisi, from Nusantara Island, Imari kingdom. Call me hasan, or sabah, or al-farisi. I don't mind whichever it is" said the boy who is now called… Al-farisi?
Harunobu mentally groan. He never heard that country's name before. This is going to be a long conversation.
"And why are you trapped in that stone pillar?"
"I don't know" said Al-farisi casually while shrugging his shoulder. "The last thing I remember was the fight at the Haha valley. Other than that I forgot"
"Fight, what fight? Are you in war with other country?" while he is writing on his notepad.
"Not other country-" Al-farisi said. "-the gods" he said as his demeanour change drastically. "The very same being that you currently worship. That is what WE fighting against" add the boy with emphasis on the 'we' part.
"By 'we' you mean…"
"Humans" cut the boy. "We humans are fighting against gods"
Maybe it was his imagination but Harunobu could swear he can see the hate in his eyes when the word 'gods' was said,
"Let me tell you a story. About MY time," at this time Harunobu still doesn't realise that what he is going to hear is a secret that gods try to make people forget.
As usual Sumi is by the pool. Doing her morning ritual. 'I still got time before breakfast. Maybe I will meditate for a while.'
As Yamato Nadeshiko her mind and body must always be at their peak condition. While he train her body by practicing Kyudou and hero's training. She usually train her mind by meditating like this. Even so her parents still don't understand why she is so obsessed with being a yamato nadeshiko.
Even though she said she is going to meditate her mind cannot focus at all. She's still thinking about what her sensei said yesterday. Her shooting is still too slow. Of course she can shoot faster but her accuracy will dropped significantly. She has to train harder. For this country. For HER country.
Not long the maid has come to call her for breakfast.
For Nogi Sonoko school time is one of her favourite time of the day. She can talked with her friends play, sleep and write without the maid from her house disturbing her. Yes, Nogi Sonoko likes school.
By the time she arrived at school it was 7.30 she see that the class is still empty not that she mind. She could fill the time with some sleep.
One by one the other student start fill the room. The class that was quite a few minutes ago start bustling with activities. Some is chatting with their friend, another one is doing their homework etc.
"Good morning" said Sumi. Hearing her friend voice Sonoko open her ayes a little.
Washio Sumi. A classmate and fellow hero. She always have a cool and serious aura surrounding her, as fellow hero Sonoko has a great respect on her. She wish she can get closer to her
"Good morning Washio-san" greet Sonoko.
"Good morning Nogi-san. Sleeping before the homeroom again?" asked Sumi.
"hehehe. You know what they say. If you eat well and sleep well you will grow into a big kid. In the future I want to be 3 meters high."
"No. that's impossible. Nogi-san" said Sumi with a deadpan expression.
Not long after their conversation
The teacher arrive. "Good morning everyone". Said the teacher
"Good morning Aki-sensei."
You might be wondering what Aki-sensei is doing here. Well the truth is, as one of her duty to support and train the heroes. She has been given the position as the homeroom teacher at the class where the heroes is studying.
As she's about to start the homeroom. A girl is running to the classroom.
"WAIT"
The girl turn on her heel and make an abrupt stop. Then she release a relived sigh.
"Save"
"No you're not. You're late. Minowa Gin-san" scold Aki-sensei softly as she lightly hit her head with her attendance book.
Seeing the act of their friend the class turn into a laughter for a while. Even Sonoko herself let out a small chuckle "as always huh? Minowa-san" she said.
After the whole shenanigan Aki-sensei asked the student that is on praying duty this morning to lead the Morning Prayer.
"Yes" responded Sumi. "Rise" everyone stand "bow" following Sumi's lead everyone bow to the teacher. After that they turned to a small temple located at the back corner of class then they said their prayer while bowing to the temple.
"It's thanks to Shinju-sama that we are here today." Said all of them
"Give thanks to shinju-sama" after they bow again to the temple they are going to sit down but…
Washio Sumi notice that none of her classmate are sited. In fact none of them are moving. Not even Aki-sensei. The only people that can move is Minowa Gin, Nogi Sonoko and her. The heroes.
"This is…" not long the sound of bells was heard at the distance. From the direction of the great bridge.
The three of them know. This is their signal for battle. The time to fulfil their duty.
The Vertex has Arrive.
Harunobu is conflicted. He is trying to decide whether or not the boy is tricking him. After all what the boy had told him about his time is outrageous.
The boy had told him that his time was called the age of chaos. A time where the gods fought each other for an absolute control over the world. The god of storm create a raging Typhoon that destroys hectares of jungle, god of sun throwing a miniature sun toward his enemy. Destroying the landscape in its process, god of iron creating golem made from the strongest metal to fight his battle. While god of sword summon an uncountable blade on the sky and rained his enemy with it.
In an age where god wreak havoc and magical beings ravage the land. Some human stand up to arms and face the supernatural beings. They are called Yaksha or Demon. A biologically enhanced human specially trained to kill the divine.
In his time there is also some kind of 'science' called art of sealing (fuuinjutsu) and alchemy (renkinjutsu) these two are their weapon against the divine. And they're working really well.
With the rise of the demon the gods, threatened by their presence, put aside their fighting and join forces to fight the human. This marks the beginning of this world first world war.
Al-farisi told him that he is in fact one of the demon that fight against the gods. And has kill some of them.
Harunobu do not want to believe what he just heard. After all a human killing a god is an impossible feat. Human cannot even 'see' god's form. let alone kill it. But still other evidence suggest the opposite.
The Holy sword that was used by the great hero Nogi Wakaba, Ikutachi. That sword has been used to hurt gods in more than one occasion. If said sword is accepting this man as its user then what he said maybe just true.
"Hey I have a question" said Al-farisi.
"What is it?"
"Who is using my sword while I was trapped in that stone? There is some foreign energy in this sword and its ruining the sealing array that I have infused with the blade." Said Al-farisi as he inspecting the blade's black edge.
Hearing the word 'my sword' Harunobu cannot help but feel insulted. "That sword was to the great hero Nogi Wakaba's not yours. Even though that sword accept you as its wielder that doesn't mean it's yours." Said Harunobu rather irritated
"That is where you are wrong Follower of the great tree" the tone Al-farisi's used has changed. There is a hint of anger in it. It also sounds colder and…deathlier.
"This is MY sword. I am the one who created it." He throw the sword in the air and catch it by its handle and point it at Harunobu "Do you noticed the colour of the blade has changed? The sword you called 'ikutachi' is nothing but a hijacked version of this blade. Hijacked so it's usable by the servant of the gods to fight on their behalf.
This is the real form of this sword. Dokutou Mekki. A sword I created solely for killing gods." Declared Al-farisi the blade now emitting a black smoke-like substance.
Harunobu groaned. "Give me a break. Just a few hours ago you came out of a pillar looking like a demon and declare that you will kill the gods, then you told me that you came from an age where gods fight each other and the humans had to take arms to fight for survival, and now you claimed that the sword that our great hero used was a hijacked form of YOUR sword. Give me a break." Harunobu massage his temple. It's too much of information to swallow.
While Harunobu is distracted Al-farisi felt something. It felt like a small gust of wind. Not a literal wind. It felt like something just lightly brush against your skin. His expression changed. He know this feeling. He know this atmosphere. And he loathe it. Al-farisi close his eyes. Trying to focus on his 6th sense.
Then he smiled. No, he grinned. 'How convenient' he thought.
"Well looks like you don't believe me. So why don't I just show you?" he said as he stand up.
"What?" before he said anything else. Al-farisi rip a few papers from his notebook and start writing something with his pen. "Hey!"
Ignoring his protest Al-farisi start to draw some lines in his paper. A circle surrounded by some of rune-like letter. He added a couple of vertical line and a small Kanji-like letter at the bottom left corner of the paper.
"It should be enough." he mumbled under his breath. Without warning he pull Harunobu to his side, lift up his shirt and slap that paper on his back
Surprised by his action Harunobu let out a small cry. "What the hell?" he said before suddenly he felt like his something warm just shroud his entire body
Looking at his body, Harunobu could see some kind of a faint white glow is surrounding his entire being. It felt… warm. It feels like you are wearing an invisible, weightless jacket. Strangely it doesn't feel uncomfortable. In fact it feels nice.
"What is this?" asked Harunobu.
"An interference seal. It disrupt any outside divine power that try to affect you"
Before Harunobu could ask anything else. Suddenly everything turn quiet. "What? What happen?" Harunobu start to feel uneasy. He goes to the window and open it. He see a bird freeze mid-flight. A falling leaves that is stuck in the air. Not moving at all. People that is taking walk suddenly stopped in their track.
It's as if the time itself has been stopped,
And suddenly he hear a sound. A sound of wind bells clinking at the distance getting louder and louder. The sound is coming from the great bridge.
Now. Harunobu is not a high ranking priest in Taisha. But, as the keeper of the holy sword he had been debriefed by Taisha regarding some secret that they usually don't let a normal priest know. One of them is regarding the Vertex.
Harunobu start to panic.
"Let's go" Said al-farisi. He put his hand on Harunobu's shoulder and suddenly they are at the underground temple from last night. Harunobu is speechless.
"Close your mouth. The enemy will come soon. Help me gather these seal."
Still trying to process what just happened harunobu absent mindedly gather the seal they used on the stone pillar that contain him.
While Harunobu is gathering the Ofuda al-farisi takes out his sword and slice his right hands palm. The blood start flowing from the wound. But instead of stopping the blood, he use it to draw a circle on the ground.
The circle is 3 meter in diameter. Inside the circle he draw a hexagon with each corner point of the hexagon is touching the circle. Then he proceed to fill the circle with a lot of strange looking writing.
Finished with collecting the Ofuda. Harunobu give the seals to al-farisi.
"What are you going to do now?" he ask.
"I tell you that I will show you that I have been telling the truth right? Since, conveniently, those gods decided to attack us now so I think 'why don't I show him that I have been telling the truth by killing a god' "
Harunobu's face turned white as he panicked once again. "Wait, waitwaitwait, WAIT. Are you crazy? I CAN NOT FIGHT A GOD. I AM HUMAN AND NOT A HERO!" he yelled.
"Who said that YOU will FIGHT the god? I said I will show you that I will KILL the god." Al-farisi's hand is still working on the Circle. The Ofuda has been placed with a strange pattern inside the circle.
"This should be enough. Step aside" he warned.
Al-farisi clapped his hand in front of his chest. Then slam both of his hand to one edge of the Hexagon.
Suddenly a trickle of electricity is form. The trickle is getting stronger and stronger until it turns into a full blown arch of lightning. Seeing this Harunobu take A LOT of step backs.
"WHAT THE FUCK" he scream. This is too much.
After the electricity has been subsided the ofuda has been burned into ash. What remain is 5 piece of papers?
"Here take this. Put one on your shirt, one on your body, and one on your pants." He instructed.
Harunobu follow his instruction. Albeit reluctantly. As he put the seal Al-farisi tap the seal and then the seals glow with a faint blue light and the writing on it disappear.
"It's a reinforcement seal. It keep the shape of an object. Make it harder for it to change shape strengthen it so the object will be harder to break." He explain "and take this one too." Al-farisi throw him another seal. "Hold that and don't let it go. That is YOUR lifeline in case things goes out of hand" he warned him with a serious look.
Harunobu hold into that seal as if his life is depend on it. It might be is.
"Good everything is perfect, come into the circle" Harunobu obliged
"All right here we go" al-farisi slam his hand into the circle and with a flash of lightning, they disappear.
When Harunobu open his eyes. He is in the world of tree's root. The sky is as black as night. Even though it is supposed to be morning right now. In the distances he can see a bridge made out of tree. Near the bridge there is an explosion. "Heroes" muttered Harunobu under his breath.
Beside him. Al-farisi is having a different thought. He know that the moment the time has stopped some kind of divine power has been used. When he used his 6th sense, a reality marble quickly throw of his clairvoyance. Judging by the speed of the reality marble manifestation, Reality alteration, and how his clairvoyance has been foiled. He estimated that the god who use the reality marble is at least as strong as a Major God. But he is wrong.
Using his 6th sense he scanned the area. Near the bridge there is 1 star cluster. Against it, is 3 Being with a very strong divine power. Judging by their aura, this must be what Harunobu called 'Heroes'.
He turned his sense into the direction where the divine power is most concentrated.
"So that is the great tree" he whispered at himself. 'It feels underwhelming' he thought.
"Hey Harunobu, you okay?" yelled al-farisi.
Hearing the boy's sound Harunobu set his full attention to him. "What is it?" he answered.
Without warning his body suddenly floated. Surprised by his sudden situation Harunobu let out a frightened shriek.
"We will help those 'hero'" said al-farisi floating beside him.
And with that both of them fly towards the heroes at an amazing speed. Followed by a scream that sound like it comes from 12 years old girl rather than 18 years old young man.
Sumi is in a pinch.
This vertex has been able to block all of their attack. The battle has been going for 20 minutes. At this rate the damages to the real world will.
"Washio-san" a blonde said. "Are you okay?" she ask
"Yes, I'm all right. But at this rate."
"Then there is no other option. I will stop his track. Washio-san, and Nogi-san. Please find a way to destroy this thing." Gin said.
With that gin leap to the front of the vertex.
"Stop there you big thing" she yelled. "I will not let you move forward more than this." Preparing her twin axe. Gin lunge forward attacking her enemies.
The vertex shoot some of its water bubble towards gin. Seeing the bubble gin cut down 3 of it and dodges another 2.
While gin is distracting the vertex. Sumi jump back to a higher platform where she can shoot better. She pulled her arrow. At the tip of it a circle with a flower pattern appear. One by one the petals of the flower began to glow as the arrow is filled with more energy.
Watching the danger presented by Sumi, the vertex shoot a high pressured water cannon towards gin. Trying to push Gin out of the fight. However said water jet is stopped by Sonoko who had turned her spear into a shield
Seeing as the power in her arrow has reached maximum power. Sumi launch it at the vertex's 'aye'. However, the arrow is blocked by 5 bubbles banded together to act like a barrier.
The vertex then turned the water cannon towards Sumi. Too late to act Sumi is thrown off by the water cannon.
"Washio-san" yelled Gin.
Worried by her friends condition Sonoko let her guard a little. But that was a mistake. Seeing the chance, Vertex launch several bubble towards them. The bubble explode and send both girls into the ground.
After confirming the threat has been neutralized. The vertex continue its advance toward Shinju.
Even with her wound Sumi's brain is working extremely hard.
'what should I do?. My arrow is not enough to damage him. Minowa-san is very strong but she cannot get close. And I don't know how to manage Nogi-san' she thought 'of this continue shinju-sama will-'
Her train of thought has been interrupted by a large explosion just near her.
"well. Sorry. It looks like I still cannot control my power output." Said a boy must be not older than herself. His black hair is messy because of the wind.
"hah. Hah, hah. If you want to fly people, please. PLEASE! Give me a warning first." Another man said. "this is bad for my heart. WHAT IS WRONG WITH TODAY?" this man is clearly older than her. His brown hair is dirtied with flower petal.
"How can you fly anyway?" said the older man as he dusted his clothes. Is that Taisha's uniform?
"Washio-san. You okay?" yelled a voice.
She turn around. And Sumi see her fellow Heroes is running towards her. Their body is covered in bruise.
Seeing the newcomer. Al-farisi turn his attention toward them "hmm. So You three are what they called 'Heroes' huh? You are younger than I expected."
Confused Sonoko want to ask some question but is cut off by the boy.
"I wall answer any question later. But first." He pointed his sword towards the Vertex. "I will eliminate that thing." He turned to them again. "Stay here and protect that guy" he pointed to Harunobu.
And so the boy leap into the air and go straight into the vertex.
"What? Who is he?" ask Gin to no one in particular.
The three of them watch as the boy go near the vertex.
Noticing the new enemy the vertex launch several bubble towards him. Seeing the projectile that is coming, rather than cut the bubbles up. He dodges it by sliding left and right. His movement is so fast and sharp that the heroes has a hard time following him with their eyes.
Seeing a gap in his defence. The boy jump for the attack. His jump is so hard that it create a sonic boom. The vertex, cannot dodge the boy's attack, has one of his 'arm' cut off by his sword. Not stopping his attack. Al-farisi turn around and cut both of its 'feet'. overwhelmed by his enemy's attack. The vertex shoot his bubbles in all direction. Forcing Al-farisi to step back.
The three Heroes has their mouth open. 'Fast' they thought. The exchange before them is on entire different level.
As he goes into a save position Al-farisi start examining his enemy. 'That bubble of his is troublesome' he thought. The vertex is beginning to heal its wound. 'I see. It has self-recovery system. I have to destroy the core'.
Activating his clairvoyance al-farisi scanned the vertex's body. Looking for the core. Sensing danger he dodge the attack from his back. It looks like the vertex is sneaking its bubbles behind him. Another wave of bubble comes. Al-farisi jumped to dodge it. But, it was a mistake. the vertex has been waiting for him and shoot his water canon toward him.
Al-farisi do not dodge. He don't have to. Drawing his blade. He cut through the water jet. Even under the immense pressure of the water jet. His position in the air is not change. Then he smiled.
"That is a wrong move, Doll" his smile is not happy, nor scary. His smile is insulting.
Suddenly, a small paper that is taped on the vertex back flashed. Al-farisi's body flickered out of existence and reappear behind the vertex. And with a single move.
"Tell your god. I'm back" he said to the vertex.
10 consecutive attack slice the vertex body into ten pieces.
As soon as the enemy's body is fallen. Shinju already performing the ceremony of chinka. A bright light fill up the dark sky. As flower petal is falling from the sky. A calm and peaceful aura wash over the entire area.
"Whoa. A purification ceremony? Looks like I underestimated shinju a little" said al-farisi while walking toward them casually
The three heroes look at him. With admiration?
"that's cool, that's rock. How did you do that? You were fast like swoosh and then like scring and…" gin is bombarding him with excited question.
"that is awesome. How can you move so fast? Are you a hero too? I don't know there is a hero other than us. And a boy too" there is stars in Sonoko's eyes
"Ehem" said Sumi stopping everyone and gaining everyone attention.
"I know It's seem rude after you helped us but, who are you?" asked Sumi with serious expression
"Now that you mention it. i have yet to introduce myself didn't i?"
Al-farisi widen his legs. Put his left hand behind him and his right hand is clenched on his left chest. Right in front his heart.
"Greetings the servant of the great tree" his voice turn hard and cold
"I am from the ground self-defence force's eastern force, 787th Anti-god special unit, of the new humanity creation plan. Its captain, Maou Hasan Sabah Al-farisi."
The Heroes has meet with The Demon.
