A World Reborn: Rise of Hide Arc
Chapter 1
I woke up in cold sweat, tears running down my face. It's not always I have that dream but, it recurs a couple of times a week.
Getting up from my bed I take a good look around my room. The size of a one bedroom apartment with no kitchen. I'm glad it comes with a bathroom at least. Today is the day right? I better go take a shower.
As the little droplets of lukewarm water rain down on my head caressing it's way to the rest of my body I recall the dream. How I wish it was just a dream.
11 years ago I lost both my parents, and the year after that a ton of friends. Two of whom saved me from a hulk demon alongside the pub owner and Azzy.
Being told to run away, there was no way I'd go against that. So I ran. Looking back was also pretty hard not to do. He was smiling, and mouthed off some hard to make out words. He stumbled towards the ground afterwards where the finishing blow was dealt. My legs stopped working and gave out on me on the spot.
Squeezing his gauntlets tightly against my chest it was hard to believe everything that had happened up till now. Darkness, I couldn't see anymore. The feeling of cold rigid metal overlapping my tearing eyes. My vision came back, followed by a wave of intense heat sweeping through the area. Gazing at where he took his last breath I saw it, a giant bird swirling in fire.
"Ariza take Hideyoshi and Ethan out of here!" Yelled one of the guys who risked his life for us.
"But Vin-"
"NOW!"
Darkness engulfed my surroundings, no sound to be heard. My hands could only rest upon the solid layer of darkness. A few moments pass by, suddenly my body pushed up against whatever it was that was keeping me inside. Were we moving? Were we safe?
His gauntlets felt a bit warm, maybe from the fire bird earlier? I almost forgot I had these with me. The swelling died down from these pouring eyes. Curled up with his gauntlets I succumbed to exhaustion. Maybe this was all just a dream.
Azzy told me afterwards that it was just me and the pub owner that made it out. She had no idea what happened to them afterwards. That means they could still be alive. At least that's what I was hoping for.
Drying myself off, I put on my black v-neck shirt and layered over it with a white sleeveless hoodie. To match I pull up into my black shorts and strapped on my black boots. Looking around the room again, I need something that can cast my reflection.
Almost forgetting something even more important than my appearance I paced towards my bed and looked under it. His gauntlets were there, well mines now anyways. The pub owner told me I should keep them to honor their memory. Keeping them for memories, sure. But I wasn't going to let them sit around collecting dust.
Using the clawed gauntlets that I had repainted black as my mirror I could barely make out my appearance but my I could tell my hair was getting long. Long hair plus my feminine face? I'll just be mistaken for a girl even more so now. Whatever I'll just leave my hood on.
The gauntlets felt really natural to me. Almost like a family heirloom that was passed down to me. What time is it now? I'd better leave now before she gets on my case again.
"HIDE(pronounced hee-day)!"
Oh crap she's here. Letting out a deep sigh I approached my door and opened it. Standing outside was a girl wearing the exact same outfit as me. Only difference was her hot pants, her revealing navel, the light blue hair, and her two different colored eyes. The right one was brown and the left purple.
"Genie..." The name mumbled between my lips.
"I told you to stop calling me that, it's just Jean!" Throwing her hands down into fists she glared daggers at me.
"But you always liked that nickname when we were younger."
"Yeah but at 16, that's like embarrassing for me now."
"That's only two years younger than me and you still call me Hide."
"That's different! Girls are allowed to give nicknames to a lot of things."
"Whatever."
She pulled on my arm and started walking.
"Let's go Hide, we're going to be late."
"Alright Genie."
My room was part of an old apartment building that was fixed up a couple of years ago. It's a decent place to live in, especially during a time with the world in this shape. Leaving the building we made our way to the town gates where our quick mission debriefing was going to be held.
"Today's mission is pretty important Hide, there will be no rooms for screw ups." Said Genie walking backwards.
"Don't worry we'll be fine. We're just taking down an Oni."
"But it's an Oni! They're supposed to be like super strong right?" Genie threw her hands up in the air to gauge the Oni's strength.
"Doesn't matter, we'll take it down even if it's just the two of us."
"Hide, I don't know where you get your confidence from but don't get too full of yourself. There's always going to be someone better and stronger than you."
"Yeah, I remember. That's why I need to get stronger."
Genie's words recalled the dream and my powerlessness all those years ago. How it haunts me like flies on a dead body.
We could see the rest of the members as we approached the gates.
"Hurry up now you two!" Shouted a voice from the gate.
"See Hide, the captain is already there." She pouted.
Picking up our pace we got into the little group circle formed before the gates.
"Sorry we're late captain. Hide here took forever to get ready, like an actual girl." Genie was bowing her head at a 90 degree angle.
"Doesn't matter we're already here, just get on with it captain." Not in the mood to retort back to that statement, I'll let that slide this time Genie.
Captain Izel, as his title suggests, he's the blonde haired leader of our little town defense squad. Besides Genie and I, there are three other members in our group. Oh and as a side note, Genie's target of affection.
"Now that everyone's here I'd like to continue with the quest debriefing. As you may have heard, an Oni has been wrecking the town's fields." Explained captain Izel.
"Now can anyone tell me about what an Oni is?"
"I got it captain! An Oni is a Yokai from Japanese culture. It's similar to an ogre from other cultures." Gloated Genie with confidence.
"That's correct. But to add on, they're believed to have super human strength, maybe even more so. But our task doesn't end there. We need to find the Oni's hideout and rescue the three women that were abducted by it."
"So what plan do you have in mind this time Captain?" I asked. Judging from the looks of it bait is necessary.
"We'll have Jean become bait."
"You hear that Genie?" I asked.
"No problems there captain!" She replied with a smile.
"Are you serious Genie? You're going to have to become that thing's spoil!" Warning her probably won't change her mind but i decided to do it anyways.
"Is Hide worried about me?" She elbowed my sides.
"Not particularly." I muttered.
Genie began pouting again and raised her hand up.
"I fully accept the role as bait Captain Izel!"
"Good. Let's head out to the town fields and ready our plan then." Captain Izel ordered as we all exited the town.
The town fields, thanks to some research and the determination to survive by the townspeople we were able to get agriculture back into our lives. Really hate to admit it, but it was also thanks to Izel's contract with Cernunnos the god of nature and fertility.
"Captain, how do you know if the Oni is going to show up here again?" Asked a wondering Genie.
"According to the farmers, the Oni has been coming every other day since it first showed up. Today is one of those days, so we'll wait here until something happens."
That's the captain for you, definitely good at analyzing things. If he was here, would he be able to outsmart the captain? That's definitely be fun to watch for sure.
"Remember when the Oni shows up, we'll fight it to see what it's attack patterns are like. After a bit we'll have Jean run out and appear helpless in front of the Oni. That should be enough to get it to take her captive." The Captain explained.
"What if the Oni doesn't find Genie as it's type?" Just had to ask. The expression on her face was priceless.
"As a back up, we'll tire it out so it'll have to withdraw and head back to wherever it came from. From there the plan stays the same and we follow it."
With that we decided as a group to split up into two man teams and patrol around the fields. Genie got stuck with me, her disappointed look told me she'd rather have the captain with her for patrol.
We had several fields within our agricultural lands. A couple of them grew wheat, another potatoes, corn, and other crops.
"Hey Hide, why'd you get so riled up about me being bait anyways? Not that what you say will change my mind."
"I wouldn't be able to stand it if I lost someone close to me again." That was a bit embarrassing to say for some reason.
"You know what happened back then wasn't your fault." Genie grabbed my hand trying to console me.
"I know! I'm alive because of them, and I'm grateful for that." Quickly letting go of her hand I put some distance between us.
"I'll be fine Hide, mom taught me how to use some fire magic. Plus dad taught me how to fight, and you know how he is when it comes to fights."
Just imagining what she just told me relieves me a little bit and gives me confidence to believe that she'll be alright.
"You've sparred with me enough to know how good I am Hide. I got this." Genie gave me a reassuring smile.
"Fine, Fine, you got me." Genie and I both looked at each other before laughing a bit.
"THE ONI IT'S HERE!" One of the farmers called out to us.
"IT'S IN THE POTATO FIELDS! HURRY!"
Genie and I looked a each other, nodded, and sprinted our way towards the potato fields.
"Everyone into formation, ranged units give me support fire!"
That was captain Izel's voice, we're almost there.
"Hide look it's the Oni!"
Getting closer to the sounds of battle, my eyes caught glimpse of a towering red fiend.
"What in the-" I was at a lost for words.
In front of us was, a tall red muscular humanoid. The Oni was definitely a lot more slender than a Hulk demon. Black hair, big white horn, and even a spiked club. This was definitely not going to be an easy fight.
"Genie!"
"I got it Hide!" Genie started chanting something in a different language after grasping her hands together.
"Dancing Gale." Green dots of energy emitted from Genie's hands. Each one took the shape of a shuriken and began spinning in place. Once they reached a certain speed they homed in on the Oni.
From what I could make out, the majority of her shuriken stuck onto the Oni for a bit before disappearing.
"That thing has some really tough skin." I commented.
"To tough for you Hide?" Genie remarked.
"Won't know until I sock that thing."
The two of us reached captain Izel who was now holding a spear.
"Great you two made it on the time. Stick to the plan." Captain Izel stabbed the butt of his spear into the ground.
"You three! Start providing cover fire for us! Plan starts now!" With Izel's order every single one of us in the town defense squad answered back with a hearty yes sir.
Speeding up, I tightened my right fist concentrating some of my energy into it. The energy pulsed white, shining even brighter as more energy went into it.
"STRAIGHT FLASH!" Calling out the name of my skill, my armored fist made contact with the Oni's abdomen.
Those abdominals were the real deal. I couldn't even twist my fist to increase the damage dealt. If anything, it felt more like he was hold my knuckles in place by contracting it's muscles.
Glancing upwards, the Oni looked down on me with a cocky grin. Was it enjoying this? Did it think this was enough to stop me?
"Don't you... LOOK DOWN ON ME!" Screaming at the top of my lungs and shaking hand free winding it up for another punch.
My rage began to build up. The Oni's grin still fresh in my mind, I began punching it in the gut with both hands, each punch filled with just a little bit of my energy.
With each strike my determination to make this giant drop to his knees became more and more prioritized.
"Hideyoshi look out!" Those words came from the captain. Without even a chance to see what he was talking about the Oni had raised it's club over head.
"Damn idiot!" I was shoved sideways into the ground which was followed by the sound of cracking earth.
The club had crushed the ground I was just standing on. Looking down, Genie had her arms around me coughing from the looming dirt cloud.
"Hey Genie are all right?"
"What do you think? You damn idiot!"
Genie scolded me with a punch to the face.
"What was th-"
"You almost died! Control your damn anger you power hungry idiot!"
She was right, I was getting pretty hot headed. It really could've been the death of me. The club being lifted back up reassured me of that.
"Hide your hood came off."
"Wait what?"
My fingers began combing through my hair. Usually it wouldn't be too much of a concern but a giant red hand firmly grasped Genie and I.
"Close, too close!" Genie squealed.
"Not my fault!"
The Oni brought us to his face. Even as it squints it's eyelids you I could follow it's eye movements. The Oni was definitely inspecting us for something.
"Wait a sec, don't tell me-" As soon as I thought that, the Oni nodded and started walking.
"It's taking me too?" I knew it! Damn this feminine face of mines!
"Psst Hide. Don't worry! At least the plan is in motion now!" Genie whispered, almost ready to burst out laughing.
"Don't go there Genie!"
"Operation maidens captured, success." Genie was holding in her laughter.
Annoyed at the fact that she was laughing, especially in the situation we were in, I tried squirming a little bit.
"Hide stop, they're rubbing against each other-"
"I told you not to go there-"
"I'm sorry I'm sorry just please stop moving like that otherwise-"
What's this soft feeling? My curiosity stopped my squirming, what was that softness? Looking at a flustered Genie my eyes slowly began their descent. I didn't realize this until now but, we're really up against each other.
"Genie, they're pretty soft."
As soon as my sentence finished, Genie gritted her teeth and gave me an angry look. She tilted her head back and before I knew it, I had already lost consciousness.