If you please, please forgive me for being late! But I had to give depth to the fighting. It'll be interesting to continue more but it's already a lot of words. Please give reviewslike always! I love those who do!
PART 1
Kamijou slowly walked to the place where he is designated to got to. It was an extremely large soccer field used for middle school students. The entire was filled with many people with different backgrounds and traits.
Kamijou scanned his eyes around to see who he was competing with. There were some who were identified at first glance. It's hard for them to be unnoticed because they are considered the best of the city.
One of them was Misaka Mikoto. She was frantically being surrounded by a lot of younger participants who were amazed to see a level 5 in the flesh. She was troubled to have to shake hands and sign autographs. Much to Kuroko's disapproval. She took a glimpse of Kamijou and tried to walk to him. But the sea of fans just kept her from moving forward. She actually even was being pushed back. Kamijou misunderstood her hand signs as waving and waved back.
The other was Accelerator. Kamijou didn't know how well known he is, but the people around seem to keep a distance from him. Even the boy would admit, the albino today looked more fierce and vicious than before. But too bad he was in shorts and a sports T-shirt.
Kamijou acted as if he had no relation with them to avoid attention. He then looked at some unfamiliar faces. There was a teenage boy whose eyes were like burning with passion, a little girl about twelve holding a nitrogen can, and a man carrying a large assault rifle.
(What! An assault rifle!)
Kamijou was wondering how could a sporting event allow competitors to carry artillery and weapons. But a little girl on his shoulders caught Kamijou's train of thought and answered him.
"Don't you know Touma-nii, they changed the rules of the events of few months back to allow players to carry weapons into certain areas and matches"
"But won't that not be sport?"
"This is academy city" the girl used a reason anyone would give up on "The sports festival set up by Tokiwadai is used to test the maximum capacity of esper powers. It does not matter what you use, it's up to the capacity and capability of the user to manipulate ones own power efficiently"
Kamijou understood and was amazed by the vocabulary of the young girl. He wondered if he was in another dilemma like Komoe-sensei. But Kamijou shook that thought away and was still worried about the weaponry. He pondered about it for bit and tried to find another reason why they would allow people to use ammunition and sharp weapons in such a healthy event. Kamijou then found an answer.
The level 5's.
If the level 5's participate, it would be no different than sending a bombing plane to kill a barn with no defenses or strong structure. They othres would completely be wiped out and not willing to participate further. Weapons are what best seal the gap in strength. And Kamijou considered himself also as a weapon. Because the Berserk count, described by Sena, to be a nano-weapon designed for military use.
Kamijou went to a tree on the side and decided to wait for the announcements. Trying to have some friendly conversation with Sena as he did so. Kamijou didn't know how much of a brotherly figure he could be. It must be some part of his memory that he was missing.
BEEP! BEEP!
A sound of a buzzer caught Kamijou's attention. HE stood up and looked at what was causing the sound. He looked straight and saw a stage created in the middle of the field to give public announcements. Above it stood a woman with shoulder length black hair and glasses identical to Sena. She held a mike next to her mouth and started to say something.
"Welcome contestants and participants, to the Tokiwadai sports festival" the entire group roared after that comment. All with full fighting spirit. "We would thank all of you for coming and joining us this day. As you all know, this year we received the most registration slips in all of the years academy has been around." She snapped her fingers and a pile of papers popped out of the floor like fireworks and flew through the air.
"968 competitors attended. That is why we are having this preliminary events. First, please look at your feet" Everyone looked down at her direction. Kamijou followed. He was surprised to see a small black box between his feet. "Now open that box and get what's inside"
Kamijou opened the retractable lid and took the contents outside. It was a necklace with a small sphere-like object attached to it like a decoration. It was the size of a bead. The inside was holding some type of liquid manufactured in academy city. Next to it was a digital watch that seemed to be important. But Sena stopped his hand and whispered something next to his ear.
"I've got something else for Touma-nii, so please put it back" Kamijou was obedient and left it in the box. Everyone else wore their necklaces. Some wore it on their neck, some use it as bracelets, some tied it to their belts. Kamijou had no better place to put his necklace, so he placed it on his neck. When the narrator saw that everyone was done wearing their necklaces and watches. She narrated.
"The necklace you all are wearing are small paint balls that are filled with a liquid. You'll soon find out it's functions" she smirked "Now the watches that you all are wearing are communicators you use to talk with your crew and it's also a score counter. We won't be responsible for you breaking it" She snapped her finger once more. A large holographic screen was shown behind her. It was showing two players who wore the necklaces he was wearing.
"The rules of the preliminary events is a battle royale" murmuring could be heard after she spoke those words. It was expected. Fighting the level 5's seem like an impossible task. But they changed after she spoke these next rules.
"To avoid unnecessary damage, we have found a way to limit collateral damage. Any player can break this container and that player shall lose and be sent away from the match. Of course, scores will be given to the players. Scores given will be up to the level of the esper you defeat. Level 0 : 10points, Level 1:25points, Level 2: 50 points, Level 3: 100 points, Level 4: 250 points, and level 5..." She paused to see the expectations of the participants. Sweat ran through their faces. She smirked once more.
"...5000 points"
More murmuring could be heard within the crowd. Defeating a level 5 would really give a school ahead start In this festival. All of the players are now sending their gaze at Misaka who was the only level 5 who was exposed to the public. A level 0 like Kamijou was forgotten. He didn't mind. It was better to get less attention.
"We have reserved the area from district 1-10 to let you roam and battle. Survivors after 4 hours shall attend the next round"
After that the lady on the stage told all the 'cockpit' members to get to their posts and leave the players. Sena got down Kamijou's shoulders and stared to a tent like place. She placed some thing in Kamijou's hand. He opened his hand and found what he was looking for last night. He smiled at Sena before she smiled back and left.
After Sena left, Kamijou's vision started to fade. The entire was turning all black. His legs fell limp. Eventually his entire body fell on the floor. The last thing he saw was Sena's back side and Accelerator facing a man in a red hoody.
PART 2
Screech!
A loud voice of air-tearing could be heard. There seemed to be hole opening. The anomaly was like a mixture of a shredded piece of paper and a black hole. A hand grabbed the edge of that gap and pushed itself out. The body got out of that hole and landed on the surface. The surface vibrated and let out ripples like when steeping on water. The figure stared down and saw his reflection.
It was the image of Kamijou Touma before he lost his memories.
He sighed as he was unable to return back to his dimension completely. He's been observing the other Kamijou through that small gap for some time and felt homesick. He was never able to reach into that hole until a few moments ago. He met his other personality and guided him into the right path. It would mean he would be trapped in here longer. But he was happy that all ended well for his other half.
He stared around. It was just as he remembered he left it.
Endless black space everywhere around him. No matter how far one went, nothing seemed to change. The ability to be able to see the world outside, but cannot grasp it, was more suffering than not seeing at all.
But he couldn't stop watching.
The only surface he could stand upon was the water-like surface Kamijou was standing on. The water was so clear, it had no other color in it. It only reflected the images around it which was mostly black. And he didn't sink the further he went ,even though it was water.
Someone would lose their sanity just by living in here. Kamijou is no exception.
The first few weeks for him was a living hell. He tried going from one end to the other until he had to limp. When he punched the liquid floor, the water to foam up, and Kamijou sank into the cold abyss. He was sure he was going to die back then.
But he's still here.
"So your back" a gentle voice what was broken due to old age was greeting him.
He turned to his right and saw an old man floating in a meditating position. The old man had no hair left on his hair, but his beard reached the water's surface. It seemed to be groomed frequently. His robes were as that of a Tibetan monk. A red sash ran through his left shoulder to his waist; covering left side and part of the right side of his body. His right shoulder had nothing covering it. There were tattoos of a black flame stretching from his neck to his elbow.
This was the man who reached his hand to save the sinking boy.
"So how was it?" the kind old man asked in curiosity. He didn't seem like a nosy person, but when it comes to going back to the other dimension, he can't do anything but ask. Kamijou looked up and scratched his chin. He didn't seem to elaborate his words just right.
"Just tell the old man already..." a low demonic voice which was the complete opposite of the old man, was irritatingly hurrying Kamijou. If it was the normal Kamijou, he would stand in shock at what he was seeing.
The figure talking to him was a 3000-degree-Celsius fire monster summoned with a lengthy incantation and rune cards. It is a pope-level spell which can't be destroyed unless the runes are removed or the chanter becomes unconscious.
Normally, it should have disappeared after getting out of the range of Stiyl's rune cards. But it is right now moving on it's own strength and talking with the boy.
It was Innocentius.
"Master,why did you have to save this guy too...Fukou-da" Kamijou sighed in boredom as he remembered the (old man who wants to be called master) gave life to the fire monster. Before Kamijou got sent here, Innocentius got shot first and was transported here. There was a 5 seconds delay before Innocentius disappears completely. The old man used a spell to stop the process. No one would expect that such a noble monster(?), would have such a personality.
"Don't you talk with that tone you child!" Innocentius scolded at the boy like a father schooling his son. Kamijou just gave a irritated stare before talking to the old man. Kamiijou also amazing changed into a more cynical person after entering this dimension. Maybe it's because he could only talk to an anoying flame monster and a out-of-date old man.
"Yeah master, you were right about the gate transportation" he gave a thumbs up to him "The connection between the both of us shortens when he gets in to a life and death situation."
"Well, the dimension that connects the both of us are just like different leylines that separate both worlds. The connection between this world and the other can be crossed easily if you were a form of masses compacted by emotions and memories, the connection becomes tightened when the life force of an original being becomes shortened immensely and opens up a gate way between the two dimensions. The gate way was called by the elders of my time 'garren latuk' or 'gate way of the passers. It's another thin connection where lifeforms like you could enter and interfere. This reminds of a summer in the plains of Ireland. There was a bubbly girl..." a long speech came out from that mouth. Kamijou got used to it and knew which are the most important parts just by listening a little bit.
The old man was here for about 400 years. It was not a surprise that he wants to keep a conversation with someone. Even though the only people he can talk to is a spell and a mass of memories. Those two beings would really want to teach him the ways of 'talking to people'. But it seems the old man seemed to be happy talking like that.
"How's it going?" Kamijou left the old man, who was now isolated from the world and sunk into his explanations, and talked to the other one present. It just gave an annoyed look before responding with a hating tone.
"Master was able to extract some information from the energy trail you left after you entered the 'gap' and analyzed it. He was able to grasp the spiritual essence of the dimensional shift and got some useful information"
"What?"
The demonic monster paused and gave an evil grin.
"We found a way out"
"What!" Kamijou was shocked and astound that the man who was wandering around this hopeless place for over a hundred years has finally found an exit.
"But it's risky, and we've got a job ready for us" the flame monster continued "The dimensional gap that you opened is emitting a energy wavelength similar to one we found several miles away from here. It was opened because there was a trans-dimensional spell being used. That gate also seems to be able to receive all of us into it"
Kamijou was nearly jumping with joy as he heard that. But Innocentius didn't seem happy while speaking it. Kamijou was also wondering one important issue.
Who used the trans-dimensional spell?
No one from his dimensional was able to use it. There could only be one group of beings who could do it. The beings that came from a dimension superior to his.
The 4th dimension.
There was one rule that was hypothesized by scientists in Kamijou's world. The rule told that dimensions were separated into different branches. One dimension superior to the other; making them able to change the composition of matter and physics in a dimension inferior to their own. Kamijou's world is considered a 3rd dimension because it only controls 2nd dimension distortions such as magic and esper abilities. Ars Magna was a spell trying to duplicate the powers of the 4tht dimension. But it wasn't completed due to problems that the user could not completely portray his thoughts to efficiently change thought into matter.
These dimensions are like many branches if a tree stretching; with one foundation as it's center. The foundation maybe strong and able to control the life of the branches spreading out from it, but it is
still having a dangerous outcome of being too perfect.
Their perfection led them corrupt.
They were striven for perfection, and were determined to eradicate all the imperfections. No matter what connections they have to that so call 'imperfections'.
They were beings sought to erase.
Kamijou gritted his teeth as he remembered one of the worlds that belonged to the 3rd dimension being completely obliterated before his very eyes. Those monsters are probably going to do the same to his.
"...and that was how I convinced Merlin to stop living in a clay house...so do I have to repeat anything?" he saw the serious faces on both of his companions(he assumed one was frowning because the flames seemed to flow differently). He guessed that Innocentius must have told the boy about 'it' already.
COUGH!
The old man let out a loud cough. The attention of the two changed instantly to the old man. The old man who normally used magic to float above the water was now on the water's surface, pounding his chest. The Kamijou ran towards his master, while Innocentius soared through the air to reach him. Their faces were full of worry as their savior life force is slipping away.
"you..two don't..have to...cough...worry ...about me" it just doesn't lessen the tension felt by those two. Kamijou held his shoulders. He was afraid to lose this man right in front of his eyes. The old man saw Kamijou's face and smiled. He lifted his arm that barely had energy left in it and rubbed his face. His eyes were foggy but still had a gleam of kindness in it.
"You know" his voice was cracking up and he was crying "I had a son. He was just ten years old when I left him. I see a lot of you in him"
Kamijou started sobbing and shook the shoulders of the one before him.
"He was a boy who always got in to bad situations and helps people no matter who they were. I never remembered a day he came home unharmed. When I asked him...why did he do it...heh...he said" Kamijou started to break into tears along with his master. They both paused. They were going to say the next line in unison...
"Cause it's my happiness..."
Kamijou was crying his heart out while the old man had tears gently flowing down his face. He was happy to see this young man in front of him right now. He's been here for so long, but never has he ever seen a boy so pure hearted and strong-willed as Kamijou. Everyone else would slip by the old man as though he was a side attraction. The reason he talks in such a long monologues is because he finally found someone who would receive the thoughts he wanted to give to all those thousands of people who went by.
"Why?" the boy was here alone before him "Why are saying this! You're not going to die..." his words are trying to deny it, but his voice is building a wall of doubt. The pillar that's been holding the boy in this empty world was dissipating.
"You haven't told him" the question was for the flame monster. It shook it's head. The old man sighed in pain "You always give me the hard tasks..."
(What?)
Kamijou couldn't talk anymore.
"The problem Innocentius said is this" the old man started having firefly like lights around him. Kamijou walked back cautiously preparing his right hand "Don't be afraid"
Kamijou shook.
"The door that we found is able to be entered. But there are a few ingredients"
(What are...)
"The 4th dimension beings may have only used simple means to able to open the portal. But it's different for us. A large amount of magical or esper power is needed to open it; a medium."
(What are you saying?...)
"A medium must also be at least at baron-rank to use this spell. I have not reached that level yet, but the power I've been storing in my spirit can substitute that power"
(What are you saying!What are you saying!What are you saying!What are you saying!)
"My death should lead you both to that world"
(WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING!)
Kamijou didn't allow it. He lounged his right hand towards the man. HE was hoping to stop the process. But his hand just passed through the old man like he was just a spirit. Kamijou lost balance and fell on the watery floor. The right hand splattered water on his face. He's crouching on the floor. Punching the water non-stop.
"!"
He yelled in the air in despair.
"It's been a good run, but I hope we meet again" the old man said his goodbyes without facing the weeping Kamijou. To him, Kamijou was the closest thing to his on. It must be hard for him to leave a person who was close enough to called 'family'.
But that's what family does.
If saving this boy was the last thing he did in his life. He wouldn't feel sorry, better yet, he would be satisfied.
The boy was still in a crawling position. He didn't know what to do. Not even when an identical wormhole to the one he used popped up. He just blankly stared at it with doubt.
"Now what?" the only other one left here asked. The boy just stayed still. It was as though he was dead already. "Tch!"
Vroom!
A loud noise rang out. A large flaming spear flew to Kamijou. He wasn't prepared the spear hit directly at him. Exploding at impact. Sending Kamijou into the air ten meters high.
"Ack!"
a sound escaped his throat. But before he looked at the attacker. A large shadow covered him. He turned to see, and his eyes widened.
There stood a twenty-story tall monster which resembled a skeleton with a burning crown. Most of it's body was covered in flames which was in a different intensity than it's crown. Both of it's arms were long enough to reach the floor with it's height. Spikes of pure flame pooped out of it's shoulders and backs.
"In...no..centius"
That's all he said before it's large arm swung down like a whip at the floating Kamijou. The water vibrated violently.
"Are you going to let Master's death mean nothing!" the monster asked in rage before clenching it's fists "Are you!"
It punched it's 3000 degree fist at the boy who lied helplessly on the floor. When it landed one fist, it drew it's hand away to send another fiery fist. The process repeated fist after fist. IT's abolities were increased after meeting the old man.
"You want to die here!"
another fist hit the floor.
"You want to see that world erased like the ones before!"
more fists hit him
"Don't you want everyone to have smiling faces!"
It sent it's hardest right at the floor. It didn't care to look. IT just sent it's executing move down hard.
The sound of a heavy object didn't ring out. Only the sound of shattering glass could be heard. Innocentius stopped it's movements.
Down there stood a high school boy who's shirt was covered in ashes and tar. He extended his right hand up to receive the right hand that was burning in flames. It seemed more like bumping fists for friends instead of killing each other.
The fire monster slowly started falling apart. It felldown bit by bit like rubble falling down a mountain. It did not get put out when it touched the water. Soon, the entire area around Kamijou was covered in flames. A part of the fire starting moving as though it was alive. It flowed like a servant swishing itself from left to right, up and down, back and forth. Until it miraculously took human shape. Actually, it was it's original form.
Kamijou stared at the monster. HE turned and walked towards the ate that was inviting him to enter. The black anomaly that seem to want to devour the boy. He turned at towards the monster who was now grinning at him.
"Are you coming?"
PART 3
During the same time the 'Kamijou before his memory wipe' traveled through the door, the "Kamijou who lost his memories' woke up. His eyes openly slowly, trying to get focus after passing out for some time. He placed his palm over his eyes and rubbed it after the world still seemed blurry. After finally regaining his sight after sometime, he stood up and stretched a bit before taking a look at his surroundings.
He was in a damp dirty alleyway.
"Hello..Hello..." A familiar voice was heard nearby. Kamijou used his index finger to poke into his ear. It wasn't to make sure he was hearing or not; he was tuning the earpiece he dot from Sena. "Yeah, I can here you" he responded to the girl on the other side.
"Ah, it's good to hear you Touma-nii" she talked cheerfully at her substitute brother. The boy got used to it already. But Kamijou asked something before she started anything.
"Why did I collapse?"
"Oh" she must be covering her mouth at this time "I forgot to tell you Touma-nii. The participants are to be knocked out with anesthetics so that they can be transported to random locations. It's a countermeasure for people who bugged the arena. Sorry! cokcpit crews were supposed to remind their players to beware of this!"
(Fukou-da) Kamijou said that in a volume Sena wouldn't here. He didn't blame her "It's okay Sena. It's a regular thing for me"
"Really" she shoiuted in the mic, shattering Kamijou's eardrum "Touma-nii is so kind!...Oh! did you put the things on?"
Kamijou looked down at his wrist. It was wearing a digital watch like other players. But the watch was modified and got sprayed with a different color. His was blue, while the others was red. There were three sets of numbers on it. First were small digital numbers that said the time. It said 11:00 am.
(11:00 am...I got knocked out for 4 hours)
Kamijou didn't know whether it was lack of sleep or the side-effect of the drug
He also spotted the gloves he was wearing. They were like black biker gloves that exposed the fingers and reached the tip of his wrist.
"You shouldn't loose them Touma-nii. The watch will tell you how much of the 'berserk count' you are using. Right now it should say 0 because you still are in idle mode. The gloves are what you use to control the amount being flowed. The nano-machines should adjust the dosage by using your brain waves. Not being able to control the flow will be biggggggg trouble!' she emphasized the last part. It made the teen remember what happend last night.
When the first robot sent it's fist at his face, he swung his hands back by instinct to lessen the damage. But instead of losing and arm, the robot got sent flying towards the other side of the room at fearing speeds; lasting into hundreds of pieces when reaching the wall. After that, he swung his fist at other robots. Some fists got through their bodies instantly, some didn't even lay a scratch on it. The gloves were useful for the boy if he didn't want t die.
He adjusted his gloves and double-checked his watch before moving out of the alley.
He's trying to get comfortable with the jacket since last night. The issue wasn't that it was heavy. Every step Kamijou took with it felt like he had something constricting his body. The feeling under his arms felt a bit off. The back had a stiffness in it too.
He walked normally as he could towards the street.
BOOM!
Not even ten seconds since Kamijou got out of the alley, an explosion erupted. Three shadows flew over his head.
Whack! Whack! Boom!
Those shadows belonged to humans. Two of them fell on the floor before rolling a couple times before hitting an object. The other just sunk in the hard concrete. Kamijou ran towards the one closest to him. The one who had his backside beneath the floor.
"Hey are you oka...Tsuchimikado!"
"Yo Kami-yan" The spy who also attended the event tried his best to smile back to his classmate "You really unfortunate to land here Kami-yan"
"Don't worry about that! We need to get an ambulance" Kamijou was worried of the scars on his friends body. Burns and wounds were showing all around his battered form. Kamijou tried to get his cellphone up.
"No, you don't have to worry Kami-yan" Tsuchimikado pointed towards the paintball attached to his golden necklace. It was smashed, the fluid within got poured out.
Swoosh!
The contents that flowed out multiplied and changed from paint into something that looks like a big blob of slime. It's color was green, which was the color of Tsuchimikados' paintball. It moved like it has a mind of it's own. The blob enveloped the body of Tsuchimikado. First it got over his ankles, then his chest, and finally his head got covered by the strange just stood there seeing what was happening to his friend.
The fluid stopped moving.
The green , pea sized, painball turned into a green sphere ;large enough the fill a full-grown man inside. Kamijou had the thought of touching it for an instance. But something made him stop.
The object started bouncing up and down.
(What the heck...)
Up and down.
(Is that?)
Kamijou was at a standstill. The blob bounced higher and higher like a rubber ball. Finally it bounced over the nearby building and forward to the direction which was probably the nearest hospital. Kamijou fazed out as he saw this scene. He didn't even move when the second blob that was red bounced off. Looks like the third person was able to protect his/her paintball. The sound of static reached his ear. A transmission from Sena must be coming in.
"Touma-nii did you see the emergency medic system! It was cool right!" she sadid it as though she was telling her dad hat she saw a jet flying past.
"You mean that blob thing is for transport?" it was reasonable. If the player's paintball was destroyed, the person wearing it must be injured or wounded. It's also good for taking care of players who had their paintballs smashed and still continuing the game. Sena was apologizing once more for not reminding him this. Again, he didn't mind much.
"Oh Touma-nii!" she stopped apologizing "who beat those guys?"
Boom!
A second explosion was heard. Kamijou quickly turned his head in that direction.
A human was standing there behind a wall of flames. He was wearing modified white uniform. He wears his jacket over his shoulders as a make-shift cape similar to Musujime Awaki. He also wears a white headband on his forehead to match his overall style. But the most noticeable part of him was the ensemble on his Rising Sun shirt.
From a distance, the level 0 could feel the flamboyant and hot-blooded personality of this person just through his appearance. He held the same feeling when he first met Accelerator.
Strong.
There was no doubt he was a level five. The presence was overwhelming. He made other espers feel like specs of dust when standing around him. If the one who was in front of him now wasn't Kamijou, then that person would've ran away.
(Why aren't I running away!)
Kamijou's usual self was to run and find a good counter attack. But at the moment Sogiita Gunha started spreading his immense power. Kamijou couldn't move. It wasn't fear or anything.
For some reason, he had this same thought when fighting Stiyl Magnus or Fiamma of the right.
(I've got to beat the shit out of this guy)
Their eyes were locked on to each other. The level 5 gave a friendly smile back before he inhaled an amount of air into his lungs. Kamijou stopped in response. 'Is he preparing for some type of map-clearing attack?' The opponent lifted his finger out and shouted.
"I like you! You've got guts!"
PART 4
The cockpit crew tent.
It's a small booth that was set up for different teams to let the participants 'crew' members have a work place isolated from each other. From the outside, it looks like any ordinary tent. But actually the fiber created in Academy city, are specially modified such that they have the capabilities of an interrogation room. The voices of the people inside can only be transmitted through the telecom in the tent (that is the entrance), and those "voices" won't get outside the "areas" the tents are covering. unauthorized personnel will also be shocked by lightning that will send to the the hospital the first second they step in.
But that's if you have money.
The fee for renting tent space was about 5,000 yen per hour. Skill-out wasn't going to spend the little they have on something as unsure as a level 0 with no record(or so they didn't even mind to look it up). But Hanzou was pleasant enough to let Kamijou team borrow a tent. They were happy at first, but when they saw the tent, they gave a face that was hard to predict.
Cause it was a camping tent that would only fit 3 people inside. There were a few holes here and there. The cloth used was something made of cheap linen. There were coffee stains here and there remaining from Hanzou's last trip. They had to buy new pegs because some were missing. It was amazing they agreed to use it. Or they were forced to.
'Eh? You're looking down in Sagi! She's been with me since the time before I came to Academy city! She's like a close friend...no a SISTER! You should be grateful' the rage in his eyes at the time were terrifying until Sena's cry was even louder than before. Still shocked by the fact they saw a man have an intimate feeling with a non-living object, the thought of buying a new tent never came to mind.
In that tent, a little girl with ankle-length black hair is rubbing her hair ferociously. She used half the space brilliantly. She placed all three of her high-tech monitors around it. Two of them showed Kamijou's vision from the contacts she left (when he was unconscious) and his statistics right now in a graph. The other showed multiple windows that presented the images of other players.
Sogiita Gunha's profile was zoomed in.
Sena stopped that act and counted from 1to ten to calm herself. She looked at the screen that showed her precious 'Touma-nii'. She has been using different means to observe him from a distance. Never once has she seen him take a unreasonable fight like this head-on. There could only be one cause.
The drug.
She slapped her head slowly for being so careless. The drug Kamijou drank changed his thinking pattern a bit. He's now having a few choices that are determined by past events due to the brain not working as it's supposed to. The effects are temporary, but it doesn't just go away after a few hours. It needs at least 24 hours to wear off.
"Errrmm...how should I take care of this problem?"
"What problem?"
"Gyaah!" Sena was surprised that somebody just broke in(?) to her tent. It was not like the tent had features to defend from intruders, but Sena left sensors that will make the the tent move away from that spot. She modified this last night, but it shouldn't malfunction now.
Sena picked up the glasses that dropped and adjusted them. She examined the human in front of her. It was a woman. She had features that would put her at the top that will make her the top of the swimsuit business easily. Sena called her name "Kanzaki Kaori"
"You know my name? Touma must have told you then" the saint of the anglican church talked to the girl. With the intruder being her, Sena wouldn't be surprised that her system malfunctioned. Kanzaki must have used her speed to come here without triggering the sensors.
Sena crossed her arms and puffed her face. She's been observing Kamijou for a while, she knew Kanzaki Kaori had feelings for him. Much to her denile, she said she just want to 'thank him'. But that still means Touma had a chance to be with her. Her odds seem high too because she was Kamijou's type. That means Sena had no chance.
Kanzaki just tiltled her head in a cutesy manner. She didn't understand why the girl was going to have a fit. Before Sena was going to kick her out, she fell backwards and her head hit the keyboard behind her.
Bang!
A loud sound was heard. She was rubbing her head because of the pain and sent accusing eyes towards Kanzaki. But Kanzaki wasn't the cause. She also held her Shichitou cautiously.
"Ah! Stop! Stop!" Sena waved her arms intensly to stop Kanzaki from slicing anything. She knew pretty well how Nanasen works. "It's howthis tent works. The mechanisms below it moves it if someone gets into a ten meter radius. You got in here because you were faster the sensors"
Kanzaki slowly lowered her sword and looked out through the unzipped door. They were nearly moving 200kmph. Some would wonder why such a monstrous speed was needed.
Sena gave a desperate sigh. Kicking her out now was impossible. A person as smart as her calculated that Kanzaki couldn't clearly see Touma's face and decided to find her. A cockpit member would be able to show the footage of their own player. She belongs to the Amakusa remix of church, so she must have used some spell to locate her. So letting her watch was fine.
The little one was smarter than she looks.
"I know why you're here. Kicking you out would be rude too, so...enjoy the show"
Kanzaki was confused. She didn't know how to react. She was just passing by and found the tent by accident. She planned to just to introduce herself to the girl who might know Kamijou and leave. She didn't expect to see a fight which was on the same scale as Aqua of the back.
PART 5
The wind was blowing gently.
Two silhouettes could be seen facing each other. One had the eyes of a burning fire, ready to burn down everything that gets in the way. While the other had eyes that had amazing depth and strength, they felt like it would not breakdown by anything. Nothing.
The unstoppable vs the unbreakable.
Their distance was 20 meters. Both of them weren't in a battle position. They didn't even move, nevertheless uttered a word. They just waited for the other to make the first move.
The action Number Seven takes immediately thereafter is simple.
He rushes up to the level 0, aims for his face, and throws a fist to him against the nearby wall of a buildings.
However, what would happen if that series of actions was done at twice the speed of sound?
A tremendous noise rings out.
All that took place in a mere 2 seconds. No sign of life could be felt under that cloud of dust. Sogiita smiled in victory with his hand still stretched out.
"Uck!" the level 5's eyes twitched. He felt something he didn't felt for a long time. He would've have forgotten it if he wasn't feeling it right now.
It was intense pain.
Blood was dripping from his hand. It proved that his hand was hit while he punched Kamijou. But that punch was enhanced with esper powers, it was moving at high speeds, and Sogiita had the power to not feel pain and lessen damage. But all that disappeared when he got hit back.
All that was negated.
Stomp!
He hears footsteps.
But these footsteps don't sound human. Every time the person takes a step, *PAM...!* the metal bridge below slightly tremors. One thing about the oppressive weight is that it can also be considered as a countdown to death. The shadow slowly lets out sounds of strange footsteps, as if telling the opponent his unwillingness. The dust was starting to clear out.
There stood the boy who should have been crushed and sent to the hospital. He had no scars on him. Only a smudge of what seemed like a hand mark was present on his face. It proves that Sogiita did hit his target.
"You've got some tough guts" the level 5 said while smiling "No one ever used their right hand to hit mine during an exchange" he raised his fist that was bleeding up.
"Now I'm not going to hold back" an explosion erupted behind him, thirst for battle was in the boy's eyes "Now to pay you back with some interest!"
Touma was calm enough to keep his composure. He heard once about the seventh's ability. He made an assumption of what would happen to his shield if Kamijou would use his right hand. The results were satisfying.
But sweat ran down his face. He looked down at his wristwatch. The numbers in the middle started going up. It stopped at the number 256.
I just used 256 Bcs... I should be fine if I don't reach over 500
Kamijou lifted his eyes up. His opponent was missing.
A sound of cutting air could be heard. Kamijou's mind eye that was enhanced made his had stretch to the right. A loud sound rang out.
Sogiita's fist was on his palm. He didn't let that stop him. He sent another fist at Kamijou. Kamijou lowered his head to avoid the hit. Kamijou pulled his right hand back and thrusted a left fist towards the level 5's ribs.
Sogiita glided to the back by the impact. Kamijou didn'r let the moment go to waste. He used 320 Bcs to speed his leap. His speed at reaching the level 5 was as much as the first attack Sogiita sent.
(I'm using my right. He won't win!)
Kamijou was sure of his victory. His right fist formed an arc, ready to give a strong right.
"ooooaaaaahhhhh!"
His fist got into Sogiitas gut and it stopped there. An echoeing sound of a drum could be heard. Kamijou wasn't happy. The fist should've sent the level 5 flying. Kamijou shook as a hand grabbed the wrist that didn't leave Sogiita's body. He turned his face to meet the level 5. He was smiling with one eyed closed due to pain.
"Nice...guts" he raised his right fist up "but mine are more!"
He thrusted his fist to Kamijou's face.
"AMAZING PUNCH!"
The energy goes from Sogiita's fist to Kamijou. Kamijou got sent flying instantly behind. He was heading to a building.
(oh shit!)
Boom!
Kamijou rammed into the wall and went through it. He did not stop there. He smashed another two walls with his back before rolling on a road. He stopped by hitting a pole. It bent by the force.
520 bcs.
If Kamijou didn't use that much, he would have died by that punch. But he should have used more.
His organs felt out of place. He felt his face and it seemed that his cheek sunk in. Kamijou tried to take a breath.
The level 5 didn't let him.
He dashed from the other side of that building and gave another punch. Kamijou saw that attempt and used speed to disappear from that position. Sogiita's fist landed on the empty space. Smashing the floor at contact. Kamijou used 437 bc's to run away from the monster.
But the level 5 didn't allow him to get away.
HE followed Kamijou step by step. The speed of the level 0 was far from the speed of sound, so it's easy for the level 5 to catch up. Every spot Kamijou disappeared to was intercepted by Sogiita. Kamijou managed his best to use his right hand to receive the fist.
The punches didn't seem to lose all it's strength.
Why didn't Kamijou's right hand negate that strength and defense? His right fist should have knocked him out since the last exchange.
Kamijou was wondering how did his right hand not work. The attack was strong, but it was not on a level that it couldn't be negated. Now Kamijou can feel his hand being punched by brace knuckles.
One fist went through Kamijou's defenses. It went straight to his chest. Kamijou fell backwards. He raised his defense to 689 to not fly up like before.
Kamijou's feet landed on the ground, the level 5 closed the distance once more and swung his arm like a bat to the unarmed boy. Kamijou lifted both arms up to guard the attack.
Bang!
The sound was like metal clashing. Kamijou could feel his arm dislocate.
(Too strong)
That was on his mind. He looked at the direction where he just got punched. His opponent crouched down a bit. He was preparing a finisher. And then, he jumped in the air to send the final blow.
"Amazing punch"
swoosh!
It was a miracle or not, Kamijou bent down and avoided the deadly fist. Sogiita's left flank was empty. He bent his arm in front of him and sent an elbow smash to the seventh level 5. The attack hit the target, But Sogiita only flinched a bit before using the elbow of the fist he just executed to hit Kamijou's temple. Kamijou used another amazing evasion skill to slip through the arm. He kicked the level 5 to gain distance.
He didn't even flinch this time.
He received Kamijou's attack head on. While Kamijou was amazed, he used both hands to lock Kamijou's foot. He was not able to escape.
"Ooooooooooooohhhh!" with a loud roar, Kamijou got sent in the air flying by an impressive throw. He was looking at Sogiita upside down, the boy couldn't do any moves in mid-air.
Kamijou wasn't prepared for another hit. But Sogiita wasn't thinking the same thing. The level 5 used immense strength to jump in the air. He wasn't afraid of any counterattack Kamijou might have.
That instant, the moment the level 5's fist was reaching his face, the boy realized something.
(...I know why he's so strong...)
Boom!
The third explosion of the day erupted. Rubble and ash flew through the air. Only the level 5 could be seen standing on front of that flame. His arms were crossed once more. He was disappointed. He expected to have a formidable opponent out of the level 5's attending. The easy defeat proved that he was wrong.
The boy turned and started walking the other way. He didn't even checked whether Kamijou's paintball was destroyed or not. It was his last mistake.
Covered in suet and flames, the boy level 0 was breathing faintly, his paintball was intact. Kamijou could stand up now and run.
But he decided to lie down and think. The strength behind the seventh of the seventh.
He didn't have the destruction of the number 1 or the ingenuity of the number 3. All he saw was a boy swinging his fist without fearing what could happen.
The reason his power was not negated was because he never stopped sending the power to his body. Kamijou's right hand couldn't keep up to fully negate it. Some would see the thought of sending so much power was reckless and stupid.
But Kamijou saw that as amazing and strong.
The name "Amazing punch" was no exaggeration.
Kamijou knew what he lacked in this battle. He cursed himself on not doing it before. The power he needed to end this battle was there but he ignored it.
PART 6
"Hm?" Sogiita turned back to look at the remains of his opponent. He was trying to stand up. There was something different about him. A gust of wind surged from the battered body. The power in him could be felt increasing by the second.
Kamijou himself knew that.
'Touma-nii! Why is you're berserk count reaching over 1000! Touma-nii" Kamijou ignored the voice in his earpiece. Reaching 1000 was insane. The body of a human couldn't comprehend that amount of chemicals. But the side-effects would only show if the chemical stopped flowing. So Kamijou thought.
"I've got to finish this while I'm still over 1000..."
Kamijou finally got on his feet. His eyes didn't have any doubt or thought of giving up. Sogiita smiled back. The smile wasn't for mockery; it was for praise. Most people would have given up and lied down there. But Kamijou stood back up.
It wasn't idiocy, it was shear confidence.
"You think you can use only your guts to defeat me" Kamijou raised his right finger and pointed Sogiita "Then I'll kill that illusion"
That was a sign.
The clash between the level 0 and the level 5 began as they both wielded weapons made to slay superhuman monsters.
Sound disappeared.
Light flew.
Kamijou and Sogiita charged in straight at each other and Kamijou's fist and Sogiita's struck each other. Despite the simplicity of the action, the aftereffects that spread about the area were tremendous.
With a few moments of delay, an explosive wind blew out.
Along with a tremendous roar, a dome-shaped shockwave spread out with the two boys at the center. An explosive storm spread out in an area with a radius of 100 meters and blew away the benches. Trees were torn to pieces, the weak structures crumbled, and the paved side walk path shattered as if it had been made of glass.
However, by the time the shockwave had expanded, the two boys were nowhere to be seen
Kamijou was the first to reappear. He was on a building not far from where they clashed. His fist had smoke coming out of it. His idea of 'increasing the dosage of the Berserk count' worked. The only way to defeat such a beast was to use the same ruthless tactics as it.
Brute force vs Brute force.
A blurry image of Sogiita Gunha suddenly showed up in thin air. His right arm pulling back, ready for a decisive strike.
*Don!*, the attack shakes the ground like an earthquake.
It was like a bomb. In the corner of his vision, Kamijou could see what was originally supposed to be a blue sky get burned orange. Somewhere far away, even one hundred meters ahead of him, ridiculously large flames spread everywhere.
One gave out a cry.
The other bent over so as not to take as much damage.
The spiral of shockwaves knocked them back evenly.
Kamijou jolted back up into a standing position. He looked upon the level 5 who was wiping the blood off his mouth.
They exchanged glares.
With a loud noise, the boys kicked off from the tops of the roads and clashed in midair.
Their legs gave off so much power that the asphalt they had been standing on were smashed to pieces.
The level 0 and 5 had jumped straight forward. They seemed to slide through the air as their display of strength twisted gravity and their bodies and heads relentlessly clashed at the impact point.
Sparks exploded.
A seemingly never ending stream of shockwaves spread out.
The collision of both heads made them separate from each other.
The energy they had used to drive themselves forward was completely lost in that strike and both of them began to fall directly downward. However, a free fall was no threat to those two. They continued to swing their fists in close quarters.
They were upside down, but that didn't stop those two monsters from unleashing deadly fists.
Sogiita slams another kick into Kamijou's face. Sending him flying away. Sogiita lands on the half destroyed road with his hands, and uses insane strength to push himself towards the level 0.
Soaring through the air at the speed of sound, the level 5 was in front of the boy with the leather jacket who was still flying. Sending another kick to the boy.
"GYAA…AAHHH!"
Kamijou can't help but cry out, as the spinning kick sends him flying aside. Kamijou uses the momentum caused as he's rolls back up. At the same time, Sogiita does something. He tosses a softball-sized flaming ball from his left hand. On the other hand, Kamijou picks himself up from the rubble of the asphalt ground, and does a flying tackle.
Clang! The flame ball is destroyed.
Sogiita uses this time to rush back at Kamijou.
In contrast, Kamijou rushes back into Sogiita's arms at a terrifying speed.
"Wha…!"
There's no time to even dodge or block.
Kamijou, who's closing in at such a short distance, pulls back another fist. His hand slips from Sogiita's abdomen to his chest.
In that instant.
The feeling of a bluster. With a 'bam' blunt sound, Sogiita's body arches back in a '' shape, and floats up with the chest as the centre. He continues to gulp heavily down his throat, and as his feet leave the ground by 4 meters, he is completely unable to move around with his body.
Kamijou followed him up. Their faces were on the same level. That wasn't a good sign for the level 5. He knew the level 0 was going to pull something. He couldn't do anything but lift his fist in response.
As his thoughts start to vanish, Kamijou, who finished raising his berserk count, clenched his fist.
He's planning to deal the final blow. Not by the power to erase abilities, but to crush Sogiita's bones with his fist that's as hard as granite.
Don!
The level 5's attack didn't reach Kamijou.
Sogiita got sent towards the other end of the of the block. He slides and ended up in between the door of a large building. His vision fading. The unbeatable level 5 was going to lose.
Never has he ever felt this way. Not since the time he fought against Ollerus.
This is regarding the feelings of the strong meeting his end.
(How can I—)
In his shaky consciousness, Sogiita grits his teeth. Kamijou was running this way, aiming for the necklace he was wearing.
Forcefully.
(HOW CAN LET MT GUTS IT END HERE—!)
"GYA…AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Kamijou who froze because of the sudden shout didn't give the last fist. The figure stands right back up. The whole thing took only around three seconds. Unsurprisingly, the figure standing right back up like a self-righting doll messed up Kamijou's pace.
A raging glare was sent to Kamijou before sending an uppercut to his chin. Since they were in between the entrance door, Kamijou's body bumped the frame of every window of every floor. The sound of glass shattering echoed the district. The sound stopped as Kamijou reached the top floor.
It was a 80 floor building.
The strength used to send him up here was nothing to joke about.
He spewed some blood out as he gazed down. Sogiita was crouching again as he did before. That was a sign he was going to do a high-jump.
Kamijou looked up and breathed a large amount of air. Kamijou allowed his body to fall down the building. He was free-falling head first to the bottom most floor; the exact same instance Sogiita flew up with an explosion to push him up.
Kamijou descended first, but the speed of the level 5 made them meet in the middle of the structure.
Bang!
The sound of metal banging was heard. Both their fist bumped into each other. The shockwaves were like wind breaking every window of that building. Glass flew through the air around them. They didn't blink. Not even once.
The impact made them back out and back to their original position. Kamijou landed on the top floor once again. His hand was shaking. The amount of strength that was sent to his hand was immense. He was sure that at least one of his bones were damaged.
In the bottom, Sogiita fell on his back. His case was different from Kamijou's. He was bleeding from within. His internal wounds seem worse than his battered form. The ability to make pain feel like a small prickle was working from time to time. It stops every moment Kamijou's right hand touches his body, making him feel the pain of flesh tearing.
He stood back up at a slower speed than before. The shirt he was using as a cape got blown somewhere. His headband hanged loose; blocking his left eye. It was dyed red.
He looked up. There stood the person who was strong enough to make him feel pain. The person was looking down at him from the edge of the top floor. The sun behind his back casts a shadow which engulfed Sogiita. It signifies the strength of the boy standing above him.
Sogiita looked back down. A small breaths were heard before Sogiita vanished from that spot.
Swish!
Kamijou who was looking down at the bottom floor turned his head towards his back. The level 5 was there in a kneeling position. He must have used some way of teleportation to get up here. The boy didn't lose that fiery passion in his eyes.
He disappeared once more. Kamijou was using his leveled up 'Mind's eye'. But he just stood there doing nothing. Sogiita appeared at Kamijou's backside, away from the boy's sight. HE swung one fist at him.
Boom!
He used an explosion with that punch to multiply it's effects. But Kamijou just stood there.
"Here's for that fist before..." Kamijou whispered as he grabbed Sogiita's hand from behind, lifted him up, and slammed the level 5 on the floor. The floor collapsed, sendind the boy to the floor below this one. Kamijou jumped down to finish him off.
Sogiita rolled out in time and sent another fist at Kamijou. He couldn't block this one.
The shock waves from the fist made another floor disappear.
The process kept repeating itself; floor after floor.
The exchanged fists, kicks, elbows, explosions, and stomps each floor. The devastation kept increasing as the collateral damage.
But yet a smile was present on Sogiita's face.
He was having fun. He was now having an opponent who was on the same level as him. An opponent who wasn't too strong or too weak until he got sick of continuing the brawl. He was having the time of his life.
A childish smirk was constantly coming from the gutsy boy.
It was the opposite for Kamijou. He was not a fight fanatic, so he wasn't smiling.
His form was stern, and his face was serious. The stress from the bersek count is giving him a hard time. He was pushing his limit.
A light frown was frequently coming the unfortunate boy.
These two were also using different fighting techniques.
Sogiita was using ruthless and straight-forward attacks which was similar to a carnnivore.
While Kamijou used a slightly more complex types of attacks which seemed like a martial artist.
One was a professional fighter who used normal destructive attacks, the other was an amateur with astounding fighting experience and decisive strikes.
Their clothing, personality, and skill were contrasting, yet still made a perfect match. Anyone who would see this battle would be silent and unable to blink.
Bam!
A fist collided with a defensive guard. The floor didn't fall apart this time. Which meant they have already reached the last floor. Sogiita, the owner of the guard, kicked Kamijou's ankle to let him release his fist. Kamijou's mind eye predicted the attack and he stepped back.
It would be a disaster if he lost his foot. That was a wrong decision.
That foot, what was aimed at his ankle. Was actually a step to bring Sogiita forward for another 'Amazing punch'. Kamijou was wide open. He could only raise his berserk count to receive the fist.
"AMAZING PUNCH!"
(3418 bc!)
The punch reached Kamijou's body. Sogiita's punch used the weight of his entire body. For him in that current state, it could be compared to a 50 ton tank ramming at a speed of 200 km/h downhill while carrying heavy explosives. Kamijou's strongest defense points wasn't enough for him to be uninjured.
Kamijou staggered a bit when he landed on both his feet. He shaked his head a bit ti erase the haziness. Sogiita took this chance to cautiously step out of the remains of that building, and relayed all his power to the hands.
The level 5 brought both hands together at his left flank.
His hands were pressed together at the wrist like he was wearing handcuffs and telesmatic energy flowed about. It was circling both of those hands as though he was charging power
Kamijou immediately tried to move back, but his trembling legs would not move properly.
Those hands that could crush one's soul approached before Kamijou's eyes. He knew that attack couldn't move or block this one. This was what his mind told him.
His next act lacked common sense.
He ran forward without making a guard.
"This move wasn't meant for you" Sogiita muttered "BUT YOU'VE GOT AS MUCH GUTS AS HE DOES!" as that as a signal. He thrusted both hands forward, releasing a large amount of energy crashing things in front of it.
Every thing 2 meters from those two hands disappeared in the explosion. Hundred unstable walls of psychokinesis in front of him, were destroyed with a stimulus provided by that attack. Thus creating a tsunami of explosions large enough top destroy that entire street.
The flames of destruction were nearing Kamijou. He didn't even raise a guard, not even now. His mind was telling him that he couldn't negate it. He just continued to run forward.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccckkkkkk!"
Kamijou couldfeel his hand being burned first. Then sensation went up towards his shoulders then all over his body. Enveloping in a sea of flames. The spiky-haired teen could not be seen anymore. Anyone would describe the scene as hell breaking loose.
The black and red flames creeping through the road at high speed. The flame wasn't growing. It was like a wave passing through, destroying everything in it's path. The asphalt road that was once full of cleaning robots, turned into a long path of molten rock. It was like a hill after rapid flowing lava gushed through it.
The tsunami of flames crashed in to a restaurant at the end of the road before melting it down into nothingness. Only debris and spiral shaped molten roads were left. Sogiita left his hands on his trembling knees to keep balance.
That move was the strongest move he ever invented. After his defeat with Ollerus, he tried to find moves that were more tactical and in a more wide range. It was discovered when he tried to strengthen his fist with layers of force fields. After that, he found new ways on how to use it in a long distance. It was the first time he used it out of his normal training field.
Now he was sure that he is able to defeat that guy with the blonde hair.
A smile of victory was accompanied with a fist swinging in the air. An explosion behind him that what defines him. Kamijou's defeat was what he wanted to prove his strength.
The smoke from the melted floor made it hard for Sogiita to see, but no one could have survived that.
Even so.
Pant!
A light breath could be heard. Slight foot steps rang out. The sound made chills run down his spine. Questions storming his mind like crazy.
A silhouette walked out of the destruction zone. Smoke was enveloping his body. His face and most of him was being covered by the dark cloud of carbon and ash. But Sogiita could see one thing clearly;
Eyes of determination.
It started with walking, followed by slow running, then it turned into a sprint. Kamijou was giving a straight run towards the level 5. He couldn't use the berserk count anymore. He went forward anyways.
Sogiita had no time to think. He dashed in unison. He had no strength left to use attack crash. The only thing in his mind was to punch. Both boys clenched their fist as hard rock before a two meters were left.
"OOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooaaaaaah!"
"!"
A thick noise rang out.
Both fists hit each others faces. Their eyes weren't looking at anything else. They were too focused with each other, blood flowed from split foreheads, and they both lost their balance.
But only one of them fell.
The other would surely not fall.
The fallen one looked up, but couldn't lift his neck. He stared at the one who was the victor. His necklace now visible next to his face. The battle was over.
"I told you..." the winner said with a low voice "I'll crush that illusion of yours..."
he lifted his foot up on top of the paintball.
"Now that's some guts..." complemented the beaten before he lost consciousness. The foot came down to end it all.
That wraps another chapter, hope you like it. I took some time writing than expected. I hope the fanart request got to someone. If it did, send it to . The next chapter would be a bit late because of the exams, but please be patient! Someone tell giftofheavenandsun to continue SatenXTouma.
