Volume 2 Reconnect: The past, and Shiro
Shiro...
Nightmare kill count: 499
The cockatrice...
Part beast, part dragon, part turkey?
Running into that kind of mythical beast, was pure bad luck for us. From mythology, this legendary creature is said to have cast even the strongest warriors into stone with just look o
f its gaze.
"You gotta be kidding me, this thing is the floor boss!" I exclaimed.
Boss type monster are among the strongest types of creature right next to the final boss, lucky...we were very lucky the fact that even saw it means, we almost stepped into its territory. In other words the objective.
The goal...
After clearing out the nightmares of this floor, it was the only one that remind meaning eventually we have to face it sooner or later. Not a single nightmare had entered its territory, it was definitely gave off the aura of the strongest creature.
Do not fuck with a creature from mythology.
And yet...
"I'm sorry!" Lailah cried out.
"Apologize until after were out of danger, just keep running if you wanna live!" I bellowed out.
The cockatrice let out a cry as it chased the both of them.
Wwwrrrrryyyyyyy!
"Even his cry is annoyingly out of place!" I irritatingly pointed out.
"THAT'S What your worried about!?"
...This might take a while...
[...]
Leon...
Flashback... three years ago. Unknown planet.
Rubbing his drowsy eyes, Leon at the age of thirteen walked through the long corridors into the kitchen area. He saw Shiro also the age of thirteen leaning against the rails of the balcony looking at night sky. Leon made some tea and joined him.
"Can't sleep, tomorrow's a big day, ya know!?" Leon asked handing Shiro a mug of tea, which he accepted.
"Thanks and yeah I know, were joining the deviluke on the front lines. Tomorrow, whatever happens, it will be the deciding factor in this war. In all out assault on Mundus magicus, the inverse mars, our home planet." Shiro state with a solemn look.
"Right back to where we started, you know this seem to be a running theme with us. Like a wild goose chase all over the galaxy." Leon chuckeld.
"Weren't you the one who said it was impossible for us to get loss? That was the last time I'll ever trust you with a map." Shiro quipped.
"Shut up, at least we made it this far in the end!" Leon softly punched Shiro in the arms The two boys burst out laughing. After calming down, they stared into the night sky enjoying the breeze. "Okay, So what's wrong. I can tell something bothering you?" Leon asked.
"Heh-heh, am I that obvious?" Shiro softly laughed. "I was just thinking after the war, what to do in the future, I never really thought about that kinda stuff. There's still so much I don't know about, I thought about going back to the magical institute and finish my education. And then, travel the galaxy helping people along the way, you know without the whole 'everybody trying to kill us thing' that would be nice wouldn't it?"
"The future, huh?" Leon had always harped on Shiro for being to simple minded, but even he never thought that far, he just assume he'd follow Shiro on some crazy adventure, wherever he went...just to keep him from doing anything stupid, not because he cares for him or anything. "Do whatever you want, just don't drag me into your crazy affairs, ya know!"
"No promises!" Shiro cheeky grind.
Ugh, this guy!
Before Shiro left the balcony he turned to speak once more "You know my gramps use to say that people can change overtime, but is that really true? If they decide they want to fly will they grow wings?" He looked at the sky then at Leon. "I don't think so. You don't change yourself. You change how you do things. You have to make your own way. You have to create a way to fly, even while you stay the same."
That was the last time I had truly spoken to him. The following morning was the last day of the war. If I had know...That would be the last time I would ever see Shiro-My friend-I would never have let him join the war.
...
..
.
Present day...
Leon gritted his teeth as he fired off five of his blades towards the Nightmare doppelganger, Hollow wing blade his artifact was just as the name suggested hollow blade that artificially created by his artifact, he can mentally control each blade as such three of the five he fired stood behind wait for his command.
Yuuma smirked as swatted them all away with own sword. "What's the matter, If your not gonna come towards me, then I'll finish this right now!" He rose his hand and started chanting. "Come, spirits of air and lightning! Let the Southern Storm Blow With Lightning. Jovis Tempestas Fulguriens!" [Jupiter's Lightning Storm!]
"Son of-" Leon cursed narrowly avoiding the huge beam lighting that also carried a raging gust of wind, it shredded through the area. "To case a high level spell like that so early on, it could only mean he has full confidence in his mystical Artes!" The moment he landed on ground, Leon prepared his attack. "Gather, and strike my enemy, 20 spirits of lightning. Magic Arrows, Series of Lightning. 20 Sagitta Magica!"
20 small energy balls appeared behind leon as they sparked with electricity.
"My my, still playing on the defensive, fine i'll humor you a bit longer." Yuuma said with a bored look on his face. "Gather, and strike my enemy, 50 spirits of Darkness. Magic Arrows, Series of Darkness. 50 Sagitta Magica!"
Over twice the amount arrows appeared behind Yuuma, unlike Leon's arrows these covered in menacing dark aura. "I'll show you how the game is meant to be played!" Yuuma declared.
With Leon was worried he didn't show it. Sagitta Magica or Magic Arrows is a very basic yet versatile type of spell that's taught to all different types of elemental magic, fire, wind, ice, lightning, light or darkness. Depending on the type of effect your looking for solely depends on the element of your choice. For instance, at the average range of 10 feet. A magic arrow can fire at 5 seconds, adding lightning on top it would increase its speed clocking in at 2.5 second. In other words, lightning arrows were the fastest type of arrows period.
"Tch, It doesn't matter if one person know a hundred or even a thousand different spells, all I need is the one spell to finish you." Leon declared to Yuuma. Leon shot off his arrows, while Yuuma fired off his own. The attack overwhelmingly bombarded his own creating a massive explosion. Leon dogged and deflect many of the arrows forced their way through his.
Yuuma smirked upon seeing Leon dancing around his arrows, however he noticed in the smoke cloud an arrow shot through speeding towards him. "Nani!?"
Yuuma acting on reflects, before the arrow nailed his head, casted a barrier spell at last second, avoiding a very lethal blow. However, he still felt the force of the impact, which tilted his head back. His eyes widened as two more lightning arrows came at him from the side. The barrier spell had a recharge time limit of 10 second, he narrowed his eyes at the smirking Leon.
"Don't get cocky, bastard! 10,000-fold!" Narrowly avoiding the arrows Yuuma shifted the swords weight slamming into the ground. Leon mentally counted the seconds it takes for the barrier to regenerate.
10
9
8
7
The sound of lightning screeched the air near the area Yuuma landed. "0-fold Vanishing Lighting!" What seemed like an instant, Yuuma flashed over to Leon.
Leon jumped back out the sword swinging reach. However, he still received a huge slashed. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. 'Was that Shundo, no it was something different.'
6
5
4
Leon cast a single Sagitta Magica, and held it by the palm of his hand. "I told you, all I need is the one spell to finish you." He stated as fired his arrow, Yuuma jumped back dodging the arrow.
"Y-YOU!"
3
2
1
"I'll admit you're strong, you get that much from me before you die!" Thanks to the reflection of his sword however, another arrow from the back of his blind spot. with barrier spell in use he avoided a fatal blow yet again. "F-from behind!" Yuuma gasped as realized his position.
"Gather, and converge 101 spirits of light. Magic Arrows, Series of Light. 101 Sagitta Magica!" Leon chanted
Yuuma eyes widen, A time delayed spell! He planned that far in advance, there was now he could dodge it at this range. To think this human could push him so far. Leon gather all the collective energy of 101 arrows into his fist. He had Yuuma right were he wanted, there's no way he'd let this chance slip.
Haaaaaaaaaaaa!
He punched Yuuma with all his might, sending him flying. Not only did he punch him with the force of a 101 arrows but they were arrow of light, Yuuma was a nightmare a creature of darkness, in other words it doesn't matter how powerful he was, he was going to feel that pain.
Leon puffed in exhaustion.
[...]
Mundus Magia...Three years ago.
Shiro and I pulse the other five members of our group , our comrades. Cloaked and armed, rused passed the two armies as the war raged on. Our mission was to infiltrate the enemy's castle and take down the acting commanders. Near the base of the castle entrance a plasma sword greated us.
"Halt! Whether It be enemy or allies, none shall pass point, so long as I hold breath!" Zastin Command.
"I'll comply to that!" One of our allies spoke as he flipped over us and landed near Zastin. His arms turned into to adamantium blades and clashed with Zastin. "Yo, chief command Zastin! We meet again." Xyaqom age fifteen spoke with the utmost confidence dripping his voice. "Ya know, we gotta stop meeting like this!"
"You! The tran-assassin!" Zastin parried his swing. "So you working with the enemy!"
"Feh, nope for I am on neither side, I'm simply betting against fate! And right now, you're standing in my way!" Xyaqom nodded over to us. "Go on, I'll hold him back!"
Shiro stepped forward. "Let's go!"
"But what about-"
"We'll only hold him back." Shiro interrupt Leon.
Shiro nodded towards Xyaqom who nodded back. "Oi brat, were not done with our match, so don't you dare die out there!"
"I won't and thanks for everything!" Shiro shouted back before dashing off into the castle, Leon along with everyone else ran after him.
"Wait!" Zastin called out only to dodge Xyaqom slashes.
"Your fights with me, old man!"
That was last Leon had saw Xyaqom squaring off against Zastin. They wouldn't meet again until years later.
[...]
Shiro...
"200-Fold, Tiger Blade!" I shouted jumping of the side of cliff.
OOOORRRAAA!
With the force of the blade slamming down on top of the Cockatrice's head. It bucks it's head under the swords pressure, before knocking me off by slamming its head into the cave wall.
"Wah!"
Luckily, I managed to change the weight of my sword back to 0-fold and rolled of to the side before I got caught in its destructive rampage.
"Damn, what a tough little bird you are." I cursed as I ran behind a boulder.
"Shiro I told you, cockatrice are resistance to physical attack!" Lailah called out over the ledge hiding. Making eye contact with the best would lead to petrification, best safe to hide if possible.
"Being resistance to something doesn't mean immunity, It obviously took some damage!" I answered back in my own hiding spot. Although I say that, I stil couldn't believe it shrugged off 200-fold like it was nothing. The cockatrice was looking around the area, like some sort of ninja I vanish for his sight and blended in well with the environment, if only I had such a skill in real life, I would have no need for 'Stealth-Shiro'.
Welp, there goes my surprise attack.
Now, what to do about this predicament situation. I glanced at my sword remembering Yuuma words from earlier. 'You wanna be taken seriously. 2000-fold, master it at that level.'
"Damn it, I'm still far behind!" I mumbled.
...
..
.
Flashback continuing from last chapter...
"It's too reckless!" The blade shouted.
"I have to try! Otherwise, I'd regret it forever if i didn't face him with everything I've GOT," I exclaimed with a solemn look. "He's been suffering alone for three years waiting for my lazy ass show up!"
'Be strong, be happy.' I gritted my teeth. "And how do I repay him! By forgetting everything including my own Name!"
The artificial sword gave a deep sigh, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with my statement. "Do you regret it? The life that you live right now, It's not to late to turn back and continue living it you know. Will you throw it all away just to to save one person!"
I've always wanted to be hero for as long as I could remember.
I remained silent after all, what could I say that!? Various images of my friends flashed through my mind. Saibai, Mikan, even Ren to a degree, Saruyama, Rito, and Lala.
In the end, it's impossible to save everyone.
Do I honestly regret ever meeting them? Hell no I don't regret it!
You still have a lot to live for.
"No, I don't regret it all. Maybe, I'm just all talk, but at the heart of it all is just a wish." I continued on. "A wish for this Nightmare to be undone, the unfulfilled wish of a man who only wanted to help others, only to lose everything he ever worked hard for in the end."
It'll be scary, all alone in a new world, I have faith you'll live a strong happy life.
"What he believed in, no what he still believes in. It's up to me to show him his choice wasn't the wrong one!" I didn't just state it, I declared it.
"Pfft, hehe!" The sword let out a stiff chuckle and tilted a bit as it points its hilt towards me. "Then it prove to me as well, and in exchange I'll allow you to weld me however you see fit. Prove to me that I wasn't wrong in choosing you as my vessel!"
I grabbed it's hilt and smiled proudly. "HELL YA! LET'S DO THIS!"
...
..
.
End of flashback...
"If I'm wanna prove myself, guess the first thing I should do" I looked back towards the cockatrice who was retreating back father in the cave. "Is beat the opponent that's stands in my way!"
I stood up from behind the rock and faced the retreating beast. Artifact in hand, I began to pour all the Aura I had into the blade. I signaled Lailah to do the same, she nodded a began chanting her spell.
"Being resistance to something doesn't mean immunity." I mumbled. "Then we'll continue to push through till we find something that does work. I'll pour it all into a single strike, The only way to fight a dragon is with a another dragon!" I charged towards the Cockatrice, flames warped around around my sword. Sharpening my aura and then condense it, push through my own limits! "2000-fold, Soaring Dragon!"
Haaaaaaaaaaaa!
With a mighty leap, I swung with all my might, I imagine this what it feel like when two dragons fight each other. I was able to mortally wound the Cockatrice with a deep slash while it was distracted. It cried out in pain.
Wwwrrrrryyyyyyy!
That damn cry, that I'm not gonna miss. Off course, despite my effort, the damn thing was too strong for me to finish it off. And that folk is way we have a back up plan.
"DO IT NOW!" I roared out to Lailah as a large gust of wind pick up some sort of magic circle appeared beneath the beast. And I landed near the damn thing, I was still within the blast range.
"Gather spirits of fire, strike down in a pillar of flames, come and blaze forth, Nova Ascension!"
I'm outta here- Fuck!
BOOOOOM!
Is it just me or do I seem to have terrible luck with explosion lately? Note to self, stay far far away explosion base magic.
[...]
Chaos...Would be the one word to describe the situation at hand. The moment we stepped foot inside we were attacked by units after units enemy hoards. They were relentless. Soon after, the leaders picked us off one by one separated us from the group. Eventually only Shiro and I managed to defeated the two that targeted us, We met up near a long hallway that lead to the throne room. The other were either still fighting there battles, or worse dead.
"Ngn, this pressure, a domain!" Leon grunted. "She's definitely nearby."
"I'm surprised, you just now sensed it, It expands a few hundred kilometers away from the castle. Practically covering the entire landscape." Shiro stated.
"For real! Just how crazy strong she, she could practically subject the world with just this pressure if she wanted to." What could only describe as an insane force, froze the both of us place. This was different then a domain, the man who walked up the step was admitting aura far beyond what we ever face. This man was Gid Deviluke the king of deviluke.
"I got tired of waiting, I was hoping for bit of fun stomping on the devils army. But imagine my surprise when find two brats waiting here, what a let down." Gid spoke scratching his head his Aura flared as he glared at them.
"Get lost!" He commanded.
Thing just got a whole lot worse...
[...]
Leon..
"Are you regenerating!?" Leon asked. "No, no, no, please don't- I want you dead for personal reason."
Yuuma who had taken a nasty blow from Leon's early attack was slowly recovering his wound. The left side of his face distorted and regenerating, he growled as he stood up. "Ugh! Man, that pack a hell of punch. Can I like level with you for a moment? What the fuck was that!"
"What are we playing twenty questions? Cause, I've got plenty to ask myself?" Leon retorted.
"Ufufufu," Yuuma seemed amused by Leon's proclamation. He held out a hand and some kind black spear almost hits Leon. "In the end, I'm no longer a swordsman, but a Nightmare who is Caster." Yuuma retracted the shadow spear that nearly hit Leon greasing his cheeks slightly.
Leon was shaken up, he didn't even notice the speed of the spear until it strikes its targets. That attack, it was fast!
Yuuma's right arm was wrapped around shrouded in darkness, as it untangled it self, it swirled around before launching several spears at high velocity. "Shadow Spear!" He called out
"Not this again!" Leon groaned dodging said spear left and right. They were faster then the magic arrows, leaving little to no breathing room. He would have to create another opening before he can finish him. He pulled out eight small gems. "Sorry Xyaqom, I know it pain to waste these, but it's a matter of survival!"
These were expensive gems, very hard to come by. Meh, I'm sure he'd understand that he 'took' some with him for insurance. Leon air dive using Shundo and rolled out the range of incoming spears. He placed one the gems on the ground, It glowed before disappearing. "Set:One!" Leon muttered.
"And what on earth do you think you're doing, Hmm!? You think I'll let you win that easy!?" Yuuma grew frustrated at Leon's pointless endeavors.
Spears emerges from ground, Yuuma attacks were getting ferocious by the second. Luckily, Leon made to destination safely, which was a bit further away from the first point he was just at, he placed another gem down as it repeated the same process. "Set: Two!" He muttered.
"It may be pointless, but who honestly knows, guess I'll just have to try a bit harder." Leon openly admitted. Leon with mighty leap, jumps over Yuuma and throws down four gems. "Like so, scatter Gale Shards!"
Yumma gritted his teeth as the gems broke and unleashing a turret of mini wind shards that was more sharper then the average magic Arrows. Ngh, he can't add to waste his barriers non lethal attack like before. In other words, he was trapped...Again. "Runic circle!" He roared out.
"Another barrier!?" Leon analyzed the black aura spear surrounding Yuuma, he noticed some of the shards broke through the aura piercing Yuuma, while the other were bouncing off it, instead collided into it. "No, it's not blocking it's repelling my attacks, he's using the gravity to shift the shards off course."
Well, not that Leon was concerned, Yumma was preoccupied that's all that matters. He landed and set another gem. "Set:Three!"
As Leon's attack gale shards came to end, he was already set in place. Yuuma's robes had some tear in them, with some minor injuries and some blood dripping, others that he was fine for the most part. "You know, I've heard of gems capable of storing magic inside of them," Yuuma puffed out. "If think it's enough stop me-"
"Stop you? Please, I doubt there enough to kill you." Leon set down his last gem. "But there enough to stall you at least. Set:Four!" Leon stood up.
"Release! Spirit of binding, Magic Restraint!"
A magic circle appeared underneath Yuuma as four ropes held him in place. "What is this, my Aura- A sealing spell!"
"Spread forth, and extend magic circle. Capture targets one through ten. Lock on. Release Spirit shackles!" Leon's aura flared as roughly ten magic circle targeted Yuuma, Leon prepares for his final spell. "Gather, Spirits of wind, let the northern storm blow violently, Ventus Gale Storm!"
Yuuma chuckle. "Fuhaha, If all you wanted was a contest of power I'll gladly play. After all," Despite being held in place Yuuma shuffle into stand. "This spell only saps away my Aura. Unfortunately, I still have a ton left in reserve. Come, spirits of air and lightning! Let the Southern Storm Blow With Lightning. Jupiter's Lightning Storm!"
The attacks collided with one another, creating a massive clash of exploding force that struggles for dominance. Leon stood his ground. "Ngn! Amazing, even at such disadvantage, you have this power left! But, I won't run away, I-I still have to find a way, a way to fly my own way, just like he did!"
Yuuma eyes narrowed as there attack continued struggle against each other. "Hmpf, a way to fly, Huh?" He muttered.
'Surely you haven't forgotten, Partner? The words that carved your path.
"...!..."
'You don't change yourself. You change how you do things. You have to make your own way. You have to create a way to fly, even while you stay the same.'
"That right, to create a way to fly, while remaining the same. It's too late for me, but not for him." Yuuma muttered as his thoughts lead back to Shiro. "I bare all the darkness, so that he can live in the light! I'm his Nightmare, his shadow, and his darkness. I am Mashiro Yuuma! Even against you, I won't hold back!"
"Raaahhhhhh!" Yuuma's aura flared as his attack began to overwhelm Leon's. "In the end, lighting consumes everything!
"Second Wind!" Leon muttered. Despite, having the overwhelming advantage. Leon's attack was overpowered. And Leon was consumed by the blast...
Leon was defeated.
"Tch, that bastard escaped!" In the end Yuuma was left alone, battered and injured. It would take away for his wound to heal.
[...]
A loud explosion erupted out the dust Shiro flew out of it flipping backwards landing on his feet. How? Just how is he even keeping up with Gid freakin deviluke was beyond Leon, even he could tell just how far below he was compared to them, but that meant nothing to someone like Shiro.
"Damn it, why are you fighting us!? We should be working together!" Shiro tried to reason to Gid, who walked through the smoke cloud without scratch on him, nothing Shiro threw at him had any noticeable effect.
This man was a monster of his own kind.
Gid narrows eyes as if he was gauging them, no not Leon. He wasn't even in Gid radar, all his attention was on Shiro. Leon couldn't stopping the shaking in his hands, his feet glued to the ground, He was paralyzed in fear. "What use would I gain from teaming up with couple of brats, I'm not some damn babysitter. You would only get in my way!" He scoffed.
Run away. We can't beat him.
We have to run.
Leon's thoughts raced Like a storm. However, Shiro stood firmly facing his opponent, with a fierce determined look. "I don't wanna fight you, the real enemy lies ahead! We can end this war, nobody has die."
"Words of a fool." Gid dismissed. "People in die wars, only the strongest survive and weak perish. That's how it's always been. You're stills to young to needlessly throw your life away. Are willing to give all up to save one person!"
"...Maybe I am just child, and I'm nothing but all talk, but at the heart of it all is just a wish." Shiro said. "A wish for this Nightmare to be undone. Even if just a wish, I'll give it everything i've got to make it a Reality!" He pointed his sword towards Gid.
"King of Deviluke, with all of my strength, I'll defeat all of yours!" Shiro declared.
"...Fuheheh." Gid crackle. "If only there were more fools, like you in the universe. Very well, show me your foolish resolve!" Gid grinned as flared his aura. "Don't disappoint me!"
[...]
Shiro...
"I wanna go home!" I exclaimed lying faceplate on the floor.
The gravity sword that I held grasped in my hand muttered back to me. "It's up to me to show him his choice wasn't the wrong one! That's you, that's what you sound like." It stated.
Ugh, and no one asked for smartass sword for a partner either. I sighed once more and sat up rubbing my head. "I know what I said before, the faster we deal with this, the faster I can go back to the comfort of my bed."
"Shiro!" Lailah called out from the distance. Jumping down several ledges to reach her partner and embracing him.
"Gah! Hey now, you really don't hold back, do you?" I grunted feeling the shift in weight pressing against my body. "There, there, I'm fine now." I patted her head for a job well.
"That was reckless!" She cried out.
"It turned alright in the end though." I pointed out.
That was the wrong thing to say. Her glared sent shivers down my spine. While he fight his way it most situation. Life lessons have taught me, females wrath are unbeatable creatures. In other word, I fucked up, message received.
"Oh, oh alright, I'm sorry." I pleaded sweating nervously. "Please forgive me."
Lailah let out a tired sigh. "Fine, I just worry about you Shiro. Constantly putting your self out there. It's too much to watch."
"Lailah." I whispered her name. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry, I promise to you, I will not die!"
We sat there embraced in silence. No words were needed as we rested for the next upcoming battle that lies ahead.
[...]
Leon...
*Huff* *Huff*
"I guess, this is my lost." Leon leaned against a wall back in the real world. The sight of his body was horrible today the least. He was bleeding and bruised all over.
"Second wind. A spell that leaves user some life force at coast of there Aura." Leon muttered. "If that attack hadn't done me in, the the lost blood will."
He was tired. He couldn't move.
A little rest wouldn't hurt.
A figure walked up to Leon narrowing his eyes.
Xyaqom was not happy.
Phew, finally done a whopping 5k chapter. To the average reader, that's probably nothing to scoff at. But for me, it's enough to cramp my hands as I slaved over to bring you this glorious chapter.
Now only three more chapters remains until the end of Volume 2.