《Within A Thousand Phantasms》


 CHAPTER 1: ARRIVAL

    He finds himself floating in an absolute nothingness. It felt like an eternal dream for him.


    All he could see was just pure darkness...


    He wondered how in the world did he get himself in this unfamiliar place. Then he remembered, and he could only mentally nod that it was his own doing, to begin with. He didn''t regret it rather, he was more satisfied with what he had done. At least in some alternate reality, she will be saved. She will obtain the dream that she wanted to grasp...


    To run across the grasslands with a smile on her face.


    Yes, there was nothing to regret. He could only hope that his other self from that universe could make Altera''s dream a reality, something that he wasn''t able to do with his version of Altera. He felt sad but satisfied.


    There was nothing to regret.


    Still floating in an endless void, he suddenly felt a tug behind. He cocked his head and turned his whole body behind. His eyes were amazed by the apparition that dawned in front of him; a bright white light with a rainbow-colored jewel-like brilliance on its center. It was surreal and beyond human interpretation yet he knows this place from the archives of the Moon Cell.


    This place... is supposed to be the "force" that exists outside of time. A theoretically metaphysical location that exists at the top of all theories in every dimension, as well as the source of all events and phenomena in the universe. To put more emphasis, it is more like the bigger and larger version of the Moon Cell.


    It was where everything had begun and came from...


    Akasha.


    The force of the pull becomes more pronounced and he realized where he was heading. He surmised that he will return to where he came from and knowing what that entails, he closed his eyes as if resigning to his fate. He could feel the warmth of the light brushed against his naked figure and the brightness that it brought to his sight despite closing it.


    Suddenly he felt the impatient siphoning of his very own being. He felt his body being stretched or "spaghettified" yet he didn''t let out a whimper. He couldn''t feel any pain or discomfort. Rather, the experience felt bland and plain unlike when he was deleted in the Moon Cell. A moment after that, from his closed eyelids he could feel his surroundings went dark once again. A few minutes passed and for some reason, his eardrums suddenly registered an audible voice...


    ...No, voices he corrected himself.


    He concluded that he was now inside the Spiral of Origin and going outside is impossible since touching it means the erasure of his very existence. Yet he wondered if he was erased as in "ceased to exist" then why he could hear murmurs of people? Such was something very impossible and absurd. He had to reconsider, however, since there was no one ever to describe what it is like to be the Root.


    Maybe this is what they call Paradise? Or perhaps Nirvana?


    "He''s regaining consciousness...!"


    The voices that kissed his ears somehow become comprehensible and the words that caught his ears caused him to be curious. From what he can gather from his sense of hearing, it appears to be that a crowd was surrounding him and panicking.


    But why?


    Without any internal monologue, he decided to open his eyes. The moment he enacts such action, he felt his vision sting as the simple ray of light soothe his rondures. A few seconds and he can see images of people garbed in white but all of it was blur and unrefined.


    "Call the doctor!"


    XXX


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    XXX


    It has been a week since Hakuno Kishinami woke up.


    He was still very surprised that he was alive, not in a frame composed of Spiritron particles but in real flesh, bones, and blood living on Earth. Breathing and feeling the breeze that touched his skin and hearing the sounds that are composed, for someone like him it was a dream that can''t be so real yet it was. He had come to a conclusion that this was an Adjacent World andnotthe World where he came from, seeing the calendar hanging on his wall with the year 2010 plastered on the white paper.


    He has still his memories from the Moon Cell from his world which wasn''t surprising but what surprised him was that he had also the memories of the Hakuno Kishinami of this world, the body that he was currently inhabiting. The fate of the this world''s Hakuno wasn''t very different from his world; both suffering from Amnesia Syndrome, a brain disease that caused memory loss and would eventually lead to death. And like from his reality, the disease was something that the doctors in this reality weren''t able to find a cure.


    From what he can gather from the memories of this world''s Hakuno, his other self, had a tough life and he could only sympathize. He was an orphan, being raised in an orphanage. When he reached legal age, he finds a place of his own, working in the day and schooling himself at night. Got graduated in a vocational school at the early age of 17 and was trying to get a degree in history until the disease struck him and everything after that went downhill for his other self, being in a coma for almost 10 years.


    Although he had to wonder how can his other self, had retained some memories of his past despite the effects of the brain disease, Hakuno assumed that such recollection came from the body; experiences that were etched to the frame and transmitted to him as "recollections" or "memories".


    Another fact that surprised him was the non-existence of the Moon Cell in this World Line. The golden Regalia ring, the symbol of his authority as a Sovereign and the only sole proof of the megastructure''s existence was absent on his finger, where it was supposed to be. As much as he wanted to get out from his bed, he couldn''t lift even a single finger. The ten-year stasis had left him somewhat in a vegetative state and while the hospital staff was very generous to him by giving him acupressure massages while he was still out cold for the past 10 years, it wasn''t enough.


    With his body still in a weakened state, Hakuno resigned himself in his hospital bed as he let his scrawny build regain some body mass and strength.


    XXX


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    XXXIf you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "I must say, your health is improving."


    A female doctor smiled as she delivered her diagnosis to him. It has been a month since he woke up in this Adjacent World and since he was still unable to leave his bed, he could only release his boredom by watching some news or entertainment through the television hanging on the room''s wall. How he wishes he could get out from his confines and depart from the hospital.


    Sadly it wasn''t the case.


    His reasons for leaving isn''t how he was neglected by the medical staff or the bills of his medication. In fact, the doctors and nurses were treating him nicely with their daily visitations, and assessing his well being, and the large sum of hospital bills that he accumulated for the past 10 years was something that he had no worry about since the government will pay half of his medical invoice. The half of it, he could find a job to pay the unpaid debt once he''s healthy and fit though there were doctors who offered to pay his balance.


    Rather, it was the fact of the unwanted attention that he garnered for himself from all the best neurologists across the globe.


    His disease was the first case within the world of medicine that it garners the attention of the world''s best neurosurgeons and the news of his miraculous recovery somehow amounted a large number of attention from such doctors. There were others that wished to see him and speak with him, most of them were foreign doctors that came to Japan just in order to observe him.


    In all honesty, he was stunned on how assorted the doctors that came to visit him. Some of them were Americans, Canadians, Koreans, and Chinese, with most of the visiting doctors being Europeans.


    Most of them would ask him questions relating to his memories, which he honestly answered that he remembered all of it, starting from his childhood down to his days before succumbing to the effects of the disease. Of course, his answers bugged the doctors out of their minds. He could understand them after all, his recovery from what to be an incurable and "new age" disease can be said a miraculous event. Even the media were on his ass, trying to get an interview out of him every day. He was thankful that the tight security of the hospital was there to halt any advances from the press, despite an incident where a sly photojournalist managed to sneak in and got pictures of him by dressing as one of the medical staff.


    The current doctor assessing his recovery jotted some notes on her tab before tucking in the pen on her coat''s breast pocket. The assisting nurse accompanying the female doctor then slowly wrapped his arm with a strap as the said nurse began to take his blood pressure. It took some couple of minutes before the male nurse unstrapped his left arm.


    "So how''s my blood pressure?"


    "It''s normal, Sir. A 120/80 average."


    He silently nods as his eyes hovered towards the female doctor who uncovered the window curtains from his room. Ray of sunlight touched the clear glass and window pane, making its way inside his almost white and bland room.


    "So how are you feeling?"


    "Other than the random headaches, fine I guess...?"


    He replied to the female doctor at the same time flexing his muscles and clenching and opening his hands, trying to get his nerves filled with vigor and activity after a long 10-year lethargic monotony. His answer was uncertain and he had the right to be. On occasions, he would be assaulted by headaches. The doctors reassured him however those such things are normal phases experienced by comatose patients like himself.


    He looked up at the doctor who was staring at him intently with an analytical gaze, her greenish rondures had a peculiar glint on it. He suspected that the woman somehow discerns that there was something not quite usual with his recovery.


    "That''s it for today. I''ll visit you tomorrow morning and maybe we can move you around the hospital with a wheelchair."


    "That would be great, Doc. Have a nice day."


    "You too, and please take a rest."


    "I will."


    Bowing his head in gratitude, the female doctor and her assistant nurse exited from his bland room before closing the wooden door. His mind then drifted to the female doctor who had just visited him.


    Among all the influx of doctors that regularly visited him, there was one who stands out to him the most, a female doctor named Penny Moe.


    She was a beautiful doctor, he admits. With a long purple hair tied in a bun, yellow rimmed eyeglasses over her green eyes and a voluptuous figure accentuated by her clothes and European overall appearance, surely one could admire such rare beauty. However, it wasn''t the awestruck physical appearance that caught his attention but it was the sensations that his body was giving off.


    ...As if she was someone that needs to be watched carefully.


    She reminds him of one of Tamamo''s adjutant, Medusa especially the aura that she exudes. Now all alone in his hospital room once again, he decided to consume all day''s worth by watching some shows on the television despite it being such an unhealthy lifestyle.


    As of now, he can tolerate such activity.


    XXX


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    XXX


    Opening his eyes, Hakuno wandered his orbs as the nostalgic scene welcomed his vision. He knew this place from his memories during the last fight against Twice and his Servant before he won the Holy Grail War. As far as he could remember, he was just sleeping in his bed. But how was this possible? He was very sure of himself that such thing didn''t exist in this World Line and yet here he was, standing in front of a familiar place where his odd adventures had begun.


    The ripples of clear water that anchored his feet as if it was the ground... The floating azure cube above his head... A miniaturized model of the planet rotating inside the cube... The infinite number of white clouds floating in an endless azure sky...


    There was no doubt, he was inside the Moon Cell, at its core nonetheless. However, he felt something unusual. His instincts were telling him that his Spiritron frame was anchored to something... A dawn of realization came to him as he shot his bewildered gaze upon the floating cube.


    "You can''t be serious..." Hakuno muttered to himself, shock evident across his visage.


    Then without warning though, he felt a powerful influx of data flowing inside his head. He had to grip his crown with his right hand as he unconsciously knelt on the floor with one leg, its fingertips digging its way to his scalp as he reined the uncomfortable feeling resonated with his Spiritron core.


    "Dammit... sothisis what caused my headaches..."


    Though still dealing with the minor aching sensation throbbing inside his cranium, Hakuno was, for the lack of better word stupefied by this ordeal. To think that the Moon Cell actually came with him to this World Line and not to mention that it fused itself with his mind and soul! He wondered what the heck was the pseudo-intelligent being thinking, fusing with him and such.


    A burning sensation enveloped his right ring-finger as the aching sensation in his head drifted away. A familiar golden ornate with a single jewel embedded on top now rests on his finger. The proof of his kingship...


    ...TheRegalia.


    "All this time...you were with me, huh."


    Staring at the cube hovering above him, Hakuno Kishinami''s countenance portrayed a look as if he was given a revelation. Indeed it was, for the influx of data that razed his consciousness wasn''t just any kind of particulars but his memories as a Human back from his homeworld.


    "It''s all coming back to me now..." The lad shut his eyes as he delved into his rediscovered memories, and slowly opened them up as he looked at his hands. "All of my past... all of the sins that I''ve committed...and the suffering that I''ve inflicted on others."


    He remembered it all, down to the last detail.


    He was born in an era that was filled with strife caused by the cataclysmic pole shift, insinuated byAylesbury Valestiritual; a grand ritual that resulted in the world''s mana being dried up. Like the Hakuno Kishinami of this World Line, he was an orphan too, but that was the end of all similarities between him and his other self. Unlike Hakuno Kishinami of this world that lived a very mundane life, his was very different.


    Sold to an organization by the orphanage in infancy, Hakuno was trained at the very young age how to take one''s life. He was trained to be a soldier, an assassin, a killer. Only firearms and daggers were his pen and paper while he was growing up. His field trips were actual live combat in the battlefield and his education came in the form of brainwashing. His apprenticeship came in the form of murder, massacre, and genocide, all for the sake of one twisted ideology being spoon fed to him ever since he was little.


    Eventually, though, he had already made peace with his history.


    He shook his head. There was no point in holding to that past. Just like how he promised himself to seek redemption for his actions back at home, all he need to do was to move forward and continue living his life.


    "First thing''s first." With a solemn look on his face, the brown-haired lad raised his hand as he accessed theRegaliaon his finger.


    The white jewel shone brightly with multitude colors as it was flooded with his Prana.


    For someone who was transported to a different world, learning the world''s tradition and history would be the best approach for someone like him. As he kept fueling the ornament with his magical energy, his mind was submerged in a sea of data that the spiritual computer system calledAutomatonhave archived ever since their appearance to this World Line. TheAutomaton''s quantum calculations are capable of Retrocognition. In this sense, it can be concluded that it had already discerned the past and past events of this World Line including the birth of the planet and the stars surrounding it.


    Such gigantic amount of information is something that a human mind can''t handle. However, theRegaliatranslated such huge influx data into something that his mind can manage.


    As the light faded away, Hakuno opened his orbs with an understanding.


    "I see...so that is the case of this World."


    From the intelligence he received from the Automaton, this World Line wasn''t based in the "Affirmation of Human History" let alone the "¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö of Human History" but instead based in the "Affirmation of Divinities".


    In other words, a world where Age of Gods didn''t die down.

 CHAPTER 2: GETTING BACK ON TRACK AND AN INVENTION

    A period of two weeks has passed.


    A taxi cab slowly drove off as one Hakuno Kishinami stood quietly in front of what it looks like to be an old building. He had been discharged from the hospital after the doctors find him fit to be out from hospitalization and his debts accumulated from his admission for treatment had already been paid by the state, which he was granted for. Of course, without the knowledge from his physicians, he secretly healed himself with one of his Codecast spells. After all, he was a Wizard and though he can recover himself in just a minute, he opted to do it gradually so that no one in the hospital would make a fuzz about his accelerated healing.


    His miraculous recovery from a brain disease already garnered him unwanted attention, he didn''t want to add another to his already filled ganta. It would be such a hassle.


    Apparently, the building in front of him was his apartment 10 years ago prior to his hospitalization. Now, as he looked at the place, the entire building was now already abandoned and deserted. Even the landlord that used to verbally harass him for not making it the time when it comes to payment was also non-existent.


    Heaving the backpack on his back, Hakuno entered the building''s front yard as he slowly stepped on each steps leading to his room. Everywhere he looked, he could see weeds growing from the cracks and crevices of the dusted and cemented platform. He dampened his forefinger over the side railing covered with tiny earth particles, tracing the surface of the paling in each step that he takes, under the clear tinted monocle that he wore, his brown baby blues glance at each one of the unoccupied rooms that use to be filled with people whom he used to know and interact in the past.


    It gives him a wafting wave of nostalgia.


    It didn''t take him that long enough to arrive at his intended destination. Hakuno stared at the entrance to his supposed apartment; a wooden door carved from mahogany. The vibrancy of the door had been wiped off from its surface, its lacquer tint faded and across its overall exterior were scrape marks etched randomly along its veneer. The doorknob was, unexpectedly missing from its supposed location.


    "It seems someone has broken in my abode." He spoke to himself as he placed his offhand hand on the door, pushing it gently. The door made some creaking sound from its hinges at it revealed its contents to its owner.


    "Just as I expected..."


    Hakuno sighed, scratching his head as he stared at his old apartment room that was now in shambles. His drawers and cabinets were out of place, their silvery metal handle along the contents of those boxes was missing. His mirror that usually hangs on the wall adjacent to his bed was shattered, its broken glass pieces lay down at the bottom. As for his bed, the mattress, the blanket, and the pillows were left unscratched and untouched.


    At least, the scavengers who raided his abode was very considerate to leave that one out. He knew, the moment he was gone for 10 years, something like this was bound to happen. Seeing the state of what once he called "home", Hakuno grabbed a stole made of wood, dusted some powdered grime from it with his hand, and sat on it.


    He was surprisingly calm despite the situation in front of him. If this was another person, surely they will be pissed off, steam blowing from their ears but not for him, not someone like Hakuno Kishinami.


    Still seating on the stole, Hakuno reached for his worn eyepiece and slowly removed it. Now, one might wonder why he was wearing such glasses in the first place. The answer to that was, it had to do something with his apparent encounter with the Moon Cell back at the hospital. The moment that he removed those spectacles from his eyes, what were once to be brown orbs were now replaced by a pair of blue irises with rainbow shimmers surrounding the edges of his black pupils, both glowing and radiating. Those unusual vision scanned and roamed the entire room for a second before Hakuno worn again his eyepiece back.


    "I see..." He said softly, as he nods his head in understanding.


    It took him just one single glimpse to gain some valuable information on whom might be responsible for ransacking his dorm and the things that were stolen from him, including valuable documents and incentives. He couldn''t care less for those thieves though, what was more important were the valuable papers such as records and diploma, that were gone missing which he needed to start all over again in the race called life.


    Now one might wonder how did he manage to create such feat. The answer lies in those eyes that he holds. From where he came from, these special vision prowess were referred to as Mystic Eyes. Mystic Eyes grants the power to interfere with the outer world. Acquisition of Mystic Eyes happens when there is some sort of mutation in the Magic Circuits; a pseudo-nervous system that stores magical energy, located in the area around one''s eyes. Mutations like that can be done artificially through a process similar to forging a Magic Crest; a series of Magic Circuits that were given a more stable form in order to act as an archive of thaumaturgical capability.


    Mystic Eyes usually work like Single Action spells and are activated through the use of magical energy. It is a proof of a first-class magus since it grants great power while being easy to conceal. Mystic Eyes are broadly classified under a system called Noble Colors separated into three categories; Gold,Jewel, and Rainbow. Those that shone gold fall under the Gold Noble Color, indicating their powers had transcended beyond normal ones while those that shone in a multitude of colors fall under the Jewel and Rainbow Noble Colors, their visual prowess has reached the realm of gods with Rainbow being the pinnacle and the highest grade.


    Hakuno''s eyes were not crafted but instead were a unique mutation, a direct result of being "one" with the Moon Cell. It was a "representation" of the Moon Cell''s godly observation ability translated into his soul and given a physical manifestation in the guise of Mystic Eyes. He attained this visual ability after he made contact with supercomputer embedded in the deepest part of his conscious one night.


    His Mystic Eyes allows him to see, to observe present events in real time. It isn''t limited to one area though, for he could observe the entire Earth and the different dimensions associated with it, the entire galaxy, the entire universe, the extant of parallel universes and even those beyond these realities. Not only that, his eyes can also see both past and future, achieving the highest retrocognition and precognition abilities that reached, or even, surpassed the realm of divinities.


    He dubbed these visual power as God Eye, Mystic Eyes of Omniscience.


    Truth to be told, he was still adjusting with his newfound eye powers. It was a bit uncomfortable seeing these visions and he felt unsettled especially those awkward scenes like someone taking a bath, or taking a dump, or even engaging in some sexy time and he felt like his violating the rights of these people. Yet he couldn''t do anything about it since it was the ability of his "eyes". The only thing he could do however was to minimize the scale of its prowess by wearing a special eyepiece called Mystic Eye Killers, though it didn''t entirely nullify God Eye''s ability.


    Naturally with all of this excessive information, one could point out that his brain should be fried or explode due to the massive amount of data that his mind was being subjected to. Thankfully enough, the information was already compressed into an acceptable amount, just enough that his brain can handle. The summarized pieces of information are then compiled by the Moon Cell into its archives.


    "Well look at the bright side," Hakuno said as walked towards the window, gazing at the scenery on the other side. "At least I can prevent something like that from happening again."


    What he was talking was about the Great War fought between the different factions of Christianity. It was something he came across the night that he unconsciously entered the Moon Cell. As a stranger of a new world, it was imperative for Hakuno to learn more about this World Line and the most appropriate thing to do was to read the data that was already compiled by the Moon Cell upon their arrival.


    And he did learn something from browsing the archives. Like how the Supernatural World have some influence on humanity''s politics, the various pantheons contending with each other and of course, the war that they fought and embroiled with. Among the conflicts that caught his interest, it was the war between Christianity''s Three Factions that got his attention. Nobody could blame him considering that the details pertaining to such huge conflict involved the death the Christian God himself.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    And the result of such conflict?


    It only brought all of the belligerents into near extinction. All of them were currently having trouble increasing their numbers. The Angels cannot repopulate without the risk of falling of grace, the Fallen Angels were facing persecutions from other pantheons, and while the Devils managed to find a way to re-enlist their numbers, they were still plagued with their low birth rates.


    Another thing that brought his attention specifically to the Devils was that how most of them forced people into reincarnating them into their ranks without giving them the option to deny such offer. Most of them would employ underhanded tactics and once after the reincarnating process, the Reincarnated Devils were treated as dirt and scum of the society, and in most cases, were treated as slaves.


    While there were some that were reasonable, they were outnumbered by their malicious brethren. If this abuse goes on, in time humanity will only become "fruits for picking" for these corrupted individuals. He wasn''t happy about this ordeal, for he too was once treated as a slave, treated as a scum, treated as a dispensable person.


    It would be wrong to blame this inhumane treatment to all Devils, he supposed. If there is anything he can blame, it would be how the Devil society was structured. He saw how the new government was trying its best to reform the system that the previous Satans had established for the betterment of the society, and yet there were still those who uphold the traditional values and ways and opposed such abandonment of what they call heritage.


    He supposed he would leave it to the current administration to resolve such issue.


    Hakuno then stared back at his room. There were still many things he needs to do in order to start living his life again.


    But there''s one thing he was sure of.


    "I''m home."


    XXX


    "This should do it," Hakuno spoke as he put in place the final piece of the electrical system he crafted within his abode. "Yes, this is fine."


    Truthfully, he spends half of his day refurbishing the entire abandoned four-storey building which was now already back in its luster state, complete with all shiny glass windows and newly varnished wooden doors. The outdoor walls of the apartment including the stairs and the pavement were already pristine looking as if the entire building itself had just been built. The lawn exhibiting at the front yard was also had been rid of weeds and the grass was perfectly trimmed to symmetry.


    One might be curious, how did he manage to do all of that? The answer to such inquisitiveness is simple yet quite outlandish.


    He just "restored" the entire place back to its optimum state.


    For a human such feat is insane, to begin with. An Esper or Psychic - a person born with abnormal ability known as Psychic Power - who wields a psychic ability called Restoration could potentially do the same thing albeit in smaller scale like restoring a thing or two but restoring an entire complex was beyond human, considering that a huge amount of magical energy or Prana, in shortened term, is needed to pull of such endeavor.


    The rules of equivalent exchange do come into play in this regard and yet...


    ...The one responsible for such undertaking wasn''t exhausted at all, the small smile gracing on his lips was the actual proof that he didn''t even felt tired and was rather happy while appreciating his work.


    He isn''t a Psychic for he wasn''t born with any Psychic Powers. Psychic Powers are inherent abilities and Hakuno didn''t have such thing although since he''s a Spiritron Hacker, exhibiting such a supernatural feat was well indeed within his domain.


    A Spiritron Hacker can be said the antithesis of a Psychic. While Psychics were born with their inherent abilities - Psychic Powers -, Spiritron Hackers gained theirs from programming and encoding. One can say that Spiritron Hackers are the modern brethren of Magecraft practitioners but differ on the methodologies in the execution of their respective mysteries or spells.


    If Magi or Mages performed mysteries via Magecraft spells, Spiritron Hackers or Wizards like Hakuno utilized Codecast spells to actualize a mystery. Unlike their Magi counterpart who actualize their mysteries or spells through established Thaumaturgical Systems set by each respective Thaumaturgical Schools, Spiritron Hackers realize theirs by using Actual Reality as a programming platform where they can write and compile program codes in advance and activates them by passing magical energy through it.


    For a simple visualization, one could say that Spiritron Hackers are similar to those manga characters who have the "Gamer" ability due to the simple fact that they can interfere with reality and treat it like one giant programming interface with their variety of spells resembling that from those of MMORPG games.


    With the entire place now looking brand new, Hakuno spends the rest of his day fixing the electrical grid that would power his entire abode which was a necessity in order to power his appliances and to bring life and light on the once abandoned building. While he can call the electric company to install the electrical necessities of the complex, he opted to do the task by himself after deducing that it will be bothersome due to some procedures needed.


    The fuse box, which he installed in the complex''s basement was rather unique. Its appearance and structure, upon one glance, screams "futuristic" not to mention that the box itself was smaller and sophisticated than those prevalent types in the current era of this World Line. Moreover, the electric panel doesn''t function as its name implies. Rather it would serve as the "generator" that will provide electricity in the entire place.


    How would he achieve that kind of setup?


    "Now, to place the power source..." Hakuno spoke, looking at his opened right palm while reaching for something deep within his "treasury" embedded in his mind.


    In a second, a piece of 2 inches crimson red stone shaped in a diamond structure materialized on his palm. This diamond shaped crimson crystal is a photonic crystal, which is also known as Philosopher''s Stone. What he had in his hand wasn''t the one that the great mage Paracelsus von Hohenheim managed to create during in his lifetime but instead, the one that was made by the creators of the Moon Cell, basically the purest photonic crystal that humanity has yet to create or attain.


    Hakuno didn''t pull out the "alternative energy source" out of nowhere, he created it himself prior to the installation of the electrical system inside his abode. For someone like him who have an all-seeing eye and an alien recording supercomputer lodged into his very existence, it''s understandable that he could fabricate a Philosopher''s Stone that would put Paracelsus'' in shame.


    Well, what could he say? He just knows how to create one and no one should even bother to ask him how since he was too, bewildered by it.


    The bespectacled young adult male then placed the red crystal into its supposed slot. He took a few minutes to check the entire circuitry before switching on the power box. The moment Hakuno did that, the entire system then hummed as it generated electricity in the entire complex. The man did one last check-up before he nodded himself, impressed by his own work.


    "Hmm, what should I call this?" The bespectacled 27-year-old lad cupped his chin before snapping his fingers, a smile on his face.


    "Photonic Crystal Drive. Hmm, that sounds right."


    Any individual would pride themselves after seeing their works, especially something as profound as this.


    To explain, what Hakuno had just created was something that would change the entire history of mankind especially in regards to energy. He only just created the first ever perpetual generator in the entire world, scaled to a household fuse box and powered by just a 2 inched photonic crystal nonetheless!


    For further elaboration, the perpetual generator works by recycling the circulated electricity and energy to power the power source. The core components of the perpetual generator are divided into four components; Wheel, Generation Furnace, Stability Control, and Photonic Cast.


    The Wheel system is a system of funnels that spin throughout the generator. They absorb the photons within the power plant by spinning the funnels inwards and spewing baryonic particles through the vent of the generator. The Generation Furnace harnesses energy to produce electricity. The Stability Control is the "brain" of the generator, regulating the generator''s output. It is where the software and mechanisms for the cooling system and soundproofing are to be found. The Photonic Cast is the key component in the entire system, responsible for converting said electricity into energy using the principle of Galvanism which is then stored in the Photonic Crystal.


    Since the Photonic Drive was built with the concept of recycling in mind and the properties of the power source used, this allows the generator to create perpetual energy; the Holy Grail for most energy proponents


    As much as how he was happy at the big impact of such invention in the history of mankind, Hakuno knew that there were still hindrances for making this device public. He could see many problems that would arise should the Photonic Drive make its way to the public. Oil companies will be the first one to be affected then there are the supernatural factions.


    "Well, everything has their positive and negative values depending on the individual who used it." He sighed as he sat on the stool.


    Hakuno looked at the ceiling, contemplating on the series of thoughts swimming in his mind. A moment later as if achieving a conclusion or decision, he swiped his hand in the air materializing a holographic monitor and keyboard.


    His hands then automatically skimmed through the virtual keypads.

 CHAPTER THREE: PERPETUAL ENGINE AND AN ANOMALY?

    Grigori Headquarters, Underworld


    A glamorous woman garbed in a black and sexy secretary outfit walked in the hallway in a fast-paced manner while holding a pile of papers in her hands, her long purple hair tied in a ponytail fashion swung left and right in each step her high-heels made as her walnut brown eyes radiated a hardened yet somewhat bewildered gaze, especially when her rondures saw a very familiar door in front of her.


    Arriving at the doorway, she stood in front of the entrance for a moment before knocking softly on it.


    "Who is it?" came a voice at the other side of the door.


    "Azazel, it''s me."


    "Oh, Penemue? Come in."


    Hearing the invitation from the owner of the chamber, the woman now named Penemue slowly opened the door and entered the said room. The room, or should we say office, was quite elegant and high-class judging from the pieces of furniture and utensils displayed within. At the center of the room where a beautifully carved office desk was situated, a tall man appearing to be in his twenties with an average build, black hair, golden bangs and black goatee sitting on his chair while doing some paperwork.


    "I hope I''m not troubling you." said the purple haired woman as she approached the man who was flipping some papers before stamping them here and there.


    "Nah, I''m just doing my job as the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels though I hate paperwork." the man replied, still impressing the papers before him with a hint of disgust before glancing towards the female. "So how''s your search for that man going Chief Secretary? Any development yet?"


    Penemue discerned the underlying tone from that inquiry coming from her fellow researcher and portrayed a frown when she saw the grin on Azazel''s face.


    "It''s not like what you think Azazel," Penemue replied with emphasis. "I''m just curious about his sickness as a researcher."


    The woman refers to a certain brown man that was diagnosed with an incurable brain disease called Amnesia Syndrome - a disease that eats away the victim''s memories eventually leading to his death - which got her intrigue. It was her first time hearing such illness and yet, what surprised her the most was that the patient who was guaranteed to die did recover miraculously.


    In this regard, Penemue outlined this turn of events to Azazel who was also intrigued by this development. However, there were some facts that she kept to herself.


    One was which the odd and unfamiliar presence that the patient was exuding the moment he woke up from his 10-year coma. If there was one word she could describe that feeling, it was ancient. As in old, primitive, prehistoric, foregone... for a human.


    "Haha, I know, I know." laughed the man with golden bangs. "So any news yet?"


    In his query, the purple-haired woman just shook her head in response.


    "No, we haven''t heard of him ever since he got out from the hospital. We even received a word that he hasn''t yet contacted or even approached the government offices in Kyoto responsible for his living assistance." sighed Penemue, a hint of irritation in her tone. "I know that he''s in Kyoto but I can''t feel his presence within the entire region at all, as if, he disappeared without a trace."


    "I see," Azazel said with understanding, his attention now already piqued by such revelation. "Are you sure he isn''t a magician? Related to any supernatural faction perhaps?"


    "Unfortunately, he isn''t. I can assure you that."


    "Hmm, how suspicious..." mumbled the Governor-General under his breath, his hand cupping his chin. "Since our miracle boy is already famous thanks to the media, I''m sure that we will find him in no time so just continue your search. By the way, what''s that bundle of papers you''re carrying?"


    "Ah, this is what I came for," Penemue said with excitement as she handed the papers she was carrying to the man with black hair and golden bangs. "You better read this."


    "Realization of a Perpetual Generator...?" Azazel read the title with a raised eyebrow.


    For someone like Azazel who is a research fanatic himself, the title of the paper was quite attention-grabbing and appealing to the eyes. It has been a common goal for an energy-hungry society to look for ways, alternatives, and derivatives of energy source in order to function and sustain itself. One of this is the notion of creating a generator that will produce perpetual energy, which was considered as a "myth" by many. He was one of those who was adamant in creating such technology yet due to some complications posed by the concept itself, it was something he abandoned until a few more advancement in science can help him create such thing.


    "Just read it, already." complained the woman impatiently.


    Shrugging his shoulders, the Governor-General began to read the papers presented to him with scrutiny and slight skepticism. As minutes passed by, the leader of Grigori was immersed by the pieces of information presented within the paper changing his demeanor from a skeptical standpoint to a bewildered one, his mind being blown away by the data inscribed in his reading material.


    He shot a stupefied look at the Chief Secretary who was looking at him with stars in her eyes and an excited glee on her lips.


    "So, what do you think!?"


    "This is revolutionary!" Azazel exclaimed with excitement. "A generator that uses a Philosopher''s Stone as a power source in order to produce perpetual energy... Penemue, where did you get this!?"


    "I got it on the internet," Penemue replied. "A few days ago, some anonymous person published this on the net including very elaborate, sophisticated, and detailed instructions on how to create such energy system using current technology. It even has the details on how to manufacture a photonic crystal or a Philosopher''s Stone! And before you say that this a hoax, each government in the human world also received a copy of this research in their network. Crafting something like this is plausible, I know that you know that Azazel."


    "Yes it is indeed plausible but I have to wonder if the author of this work is a magician," Azazel stated, looking at the paper in front of him as if it was a piece of artifact. "I''m pretty sure that the various magician associations even Mephisto''s will flipped out when they see this. Heh, even Ajuka will go nuts with this information."


    Penemue have to agree with her leader''s sentiments. If there were individuals who pursuit more in creating or crafting a Philosopher''s Stone then it would be the magicians themselves. Now that someone has disclosed the mechanics or procedures how to create one, surely each Magic Associations will be on the race on crafting such legendary item.


    "Ooh! Now I''m excited!" the man exclaimed joyfully as he stood up from his seat.


    "Where are you going?"


    "Where else? I won''t let the Grigori to be left behind in the race!"


    Grinning to himself with excitement, Governor-General Azazel immediately went to his personal laboratory with the thesis paper at hand.


    Now left alone in the room, Penemue couldn''t resist visualizing the face of the "genius" that created such work.


    XXX


    Kyoto, Japan


    "Achoo!"


    Hakuno couldn''t help but sneeze when he felt a ticklish feeling in his nose. Regaining back his composure, the 27-year old brown haired man assorting an orange mechanic jumpsuit continued back on his work. It has been five days since he released the information about the Photonic Drive and photonic crystals, including the procedures on how to manufacture them and just like he expected from what he saw from the television in the past days, the opinions of the populace were divided.


    Some called it a hoax or a bluff while the other half were very enthusiastic about creating such. Of course, manufacturing the necessary equipment for parts of the Photonic Furnace/Drive needs money but the man was very sure of himself that humanity could build one, especially those of the First World countries.


    As for the supernatural world, Hakuno was very positive that they were in a ruckus right now having a race of some sorts between themselves in order to replicate his work. As much as he wanted to join in that regard, doing so will only demolish the morale and spirits from the other side considering that what he was building right now was quite ridiculous, crazy, and diabolical to the standards of the inhabitants of this world.


    He was just only building an exoskeleton frame for an 8-meter tall robot in his basement (which he renovated by the way), using the knowledge that he got from "peering" into one of the technological advanced parallel worlds using his Mystic Eyes, God Eye.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    If one would ask why he was making such endeavor, Hakuno would surely answer that he a lot of free time in his hands. Another thing is that he wanted to venture into outer space. While it may be logical to build a spaceship for that matter, the lad decided to go and create a robot instead. Besides, despite his age, the brown-haired man was very a die-hard fan of robots and mecha, especially those who were capable of atmospheric and space flight.


    Of course, there is an underlying reason for this something that he was only aware of.


    "Just a few twist here..." Hakuno spoke between breaths while he wrenched a few bolts in place on the frame that looked like a giant femur.


    In order to craft such gargantuan robotic frame, tons of materials were needed. Where he find these materials was something that he only knows, however. There were some parts that were missing but Hakuno knows that it would take a lot of time to complete this undertaking of a project.


    For the past 4 days, the 27-year old man had already accomplished a lot of things. During the first and second day, he crafted several Mystic Codes ranging from garments, ornaments, and down straight to weapons like a rapier or a gun. Mystic Codes are by definition, support equipment and weapons used by a magic practitioner, They can be also referred to as magic tools and magical artifacts. During the third and fourth day, the man designed a hoverbike utilizing a properly measured photonic furnace as its power source from an old wrecked and rusty motorbike that he found while renovating the building. He also managed to create a Codecast spell that can be used as a dimensional storage device, similar to those mechanics from certain RPGs.


    Obviously, he was very pleased with the outcome especially with the hoverbike although using it in public would stir up some commotions.


    With so much work to do, Hakuno Kishinami continued to immerse himself in his work.


    XXX


    The first day of February finally came to Gion.


    Garbed in his usual getup; a checkered polo shirt, a pair of blue jeans and white sneakers, Hakuno Kishinami strolled within the confines of the beautiful Southern Higashiyama. He had been holed up in his "project" for more than 12 days that he decided to take a breather, seeing another scenery to his eyes other than the four corners of his basement and some metallic parts and scraps coming from his project.


    Gion is a district within the city of Kyoto developed in front of the famous Gion Shrine, also known as Yasaka Shrine by the locals. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine. As far as he was aware of, in this month of the year a huge amount of people; tourist and locals from other parts of Japan, visit this district for the upcoming Setsubun Festival which will be held tomorrow. It is a festival that marks the beginning of spring according to the old lunar calendar in Japan.


    Because it marks a new beginning, the locals would throw roasted soybeans out the door of their houses while shouting "Devils out! Good luck in!" as a sign or custom of casting out old bad things and invite new good things. People also commonly eat one roasted soybean for each year of their life, plus another for good luck in the coming year.


    As kabuki drama became popular on the Gion district''s western edges, more sophisticated forms of entertainment were developed for the theater-goers, and so today Gion is known as Kyoto''s most famous geisha district. Packed with bars, restaurants, and traditional teahouses, Gion is at it''s most atmospheric in the early evening when the lanterns are lit and apprentice geisha will flit about the back streets on their way to their appointments. However, there is also a lot to see here during the day.


    And that''s what Hakuno had been doing all morning, enjoying the daytime walking tour with other other tourists and Japanese locals. During the tour session, the bespectacled man became instantly famous when one of the child tourists recognized him as the "miracle boy" from the news, and before he knew it, a lot of people wrestled him in their arms so they could take pictures of him. Even the tourist guide came for the ride.


    With all the overwhelming attention solely focusing on him, he had to immediately flee from them and that''s what he did right there.


    "Hey, are you sure he went that way?"


    "Of course! We need to hurry!"


    "Wait for us our "Miracle Boy"!"


    With all the ruckus he had induced that morning, the 27-year old man had decided to lie low and find a secluded place for himself just to avoid any unwanted attention. He had to do it though, for there were some shady characters began appearing all around Gion when a tourist uploaded his picture along with the captions "Miracle Boy in Gion!" in his social media account.


    Luckily for him though, he found a secluded place away from the eyes of many.


    With a newly bought ascot hat on top of his head and an opened newspaper covering his upper torso, Hakuno stay still on the wooden bench he was currently occupying as he let his pursuers passed him on purpose. As the silhouette of the three people fades on to the horizon, he finally laid the newspaper he used as a cover and let out a comfortable sigh.


    "Why "Miracle Boy" of all things?" he complained under his exasperated breath.


    He didn''t get it all, though. Would the epithet refer to someone who is capable of miracles instead of someone who received a miracle? As of he is now, he could technically create miracles but that was beside the point. Deciding on dismissing such trivial thoughts from his mind, Hakuno rested his neck comfortably against the upper part of the bench rest and looked up at the sky.


    For some strange reason, he felt like there were something off around his surroundings. While he can''t pinpoint what exactly it was, his gut was telling him that there was some disturbance hanging and permeating in the air. And another thing, was Kyoto supposed to be the stronghold of the Youkai faction? He didn''t see or feel even a single one of them around Gion starting earlier.


    "Hm?" he confusedly mused as his spectacle protected brown orbs notice something strange in the sky.


    "That''s..."


    At first glance, it wasn''t noticeable but with a closer inspection one could discern a small hole in the sky, its inside were painted in a darker variation of the normal blue color of the firmament while its circumference is outlined in bluish purple radiance. He had an inkling what that thing was and his assumption was right when he observed the gape above him slowly growing in size as it tries to siphon the mana permeating into the environment at a slow paced.


    "A Singularity?" Hakuno muttered to himself, slightly disturbed at the supernatural occurrence revealed in front of him.


    From what he saw within the Moon Cell''s archives in the past, a Singularity is an unobservable region that does not exist within a World''s recorded history. It''s as if a hole has opened up within the timeline, a hole that is separate from the regular temporal axis. They were circumstances that can manifest a Singularity, however, Hakuno felt that this one was different and sinister.


    "Don''t tell me that someone messed up with this World''s Quantum-Time Lock?"


    A Quantum-Time Lock or Spiritron Record Anchoring Band, to describe, is a "universal" event iterated at regular intervals within a domain for the purpose of anchoring "the average expression of phenomena and occurrences" as immutable absolutes within a confirmed History. It implies the culling and management of Adjacent Worlds, also known as Parallel Worlds.


    Any history that has been secured as a Time-Lock or Anchoring Band become as an existence impervious to interference from the past and future; events or phenomena that exist within the purview of the anchoring band are utterly immovable. Hypothetically, if one were to move to a chronological position in the past of an "anchoring band" to the end of modifying history, as time progresses unto the Time-Lock, history would be forcibly corrected (forcibly restored) to its state of the record. However, it is potentially possible that by some immense undertaking, the course of the History of the World could be fundamentally denied by the successful revocation (destruction) of a "Quantum Time-Lock" - but even by this method, that which is denied is restricted to "the History of the World (confirmed History) that falls subsequent to the anchoring band.".


    The appearance of the hole in the sky only means that several major confirmed History of this World Line had already been nullified simultaneously.


    Clicking his tongue, Hakuno dismissed his eyeglasses while activating his Mystic Eyes of Omniscience God Eye, turning his regular brown rondures into radiating blue orbs with a wonderful rainbow-colored shimmerings dancing around his pupil while staring at the manifesting Singularity above him. A various influx of data flowed into his mind as he tried to peer on the many turning points or events of the World''s history that were eradicated.


    A sense of understanding dawned on him when he finally gained the knowledge of the individuals responsible for such undertaking and he couldn''t help himself but grimace.


    A part of him blamed himself on the current happening. If he hadn''t worn the Mystic Eye Killers, he would''ve seen all of this distortions with his God Eye before it happened although in exchange he would suffer a mental fallout due to the strain of using said Mystic Eyes which can''t be willfully deactivated in the first place. Certainly, the eyepiece was there to help him mitigate the stress and huge amounts of junk data entering his human mind.


    "Huh... so you resort to doing that, Qlippoth?" he sighed, clipping his Mystic Eye Killers on the neckline of his white undershirt.


    Hakuno had grasped so much about this world the moment he arrived here. Aside from its history, he also learned of those who were very adamant in upsetting the current status quo of the world. One such entity is Qlippoth, an organization under the leadership of one Rizevim Livan Lucifer who is the son of the late Morning Star, Lucifer.


    If there is one word that he could describe the child of Lucifer, it would be the word "ambitious". He also learned that the son of Lucifer has managed to have contact and reached an accord from a being of another universe through unknown means. To make it worse, Rizevim had managed to draw several powerful and influential personalities from different pantheons under his banner.


    Something big is definitely coming because of this drastic development, and it won''t just take place in this World Line.


    "You have no idea what you just have got yourself and this world into."


    As the Singularity began sneakily absorbed the Mana of the World, the vessel of the Moon Cell had already devised a plan how to stop this madness that Qlippoth had instigated. He would need to travel back in the past in order to correct the anomalies and restore the proper flow of the World''s timeline, and he would start first at the first Singularity that appeared within the temporal axis...


    ...The Singularity that appeared in this same place 181 years in the past; Codename: Singularity Foxtail.


    It was the Singularity that caused the massive extinction of the Youkai race which would explain why Hakuno can''t detect any Youkai in the area the moment he arrived in South Higashiyama.


    Standing up from the wooden bench, the brown-haired man first checked his surroundings. Deducing that the area was clear of people and supernatural creatures, Kishinami Hakuno gazed his rondures that were brimming in a radiance of multitude colors up in the sky while drawing something within the vast library of the Moon Cell''s archives. Something that would allow him to travel in the past without any repercussions or fallout on his behalf.


    In a split second, he found what he was looking for. While the expertise that he had found within the Moon Cell''s archives belongs to someone else, more specifically someone known as the Old Man of the Jewels, the brown-haired lad had no choice but to use it. A huge amount of magical energy began to accumulate around his frame as he began to use the specified skill.


    And without any warning, Kishinami Hakuno vanished in a speck of dust as he traveled a hundred and eighty-one years into the past.

 CHAPTER FOUR: SWORD SAINT OF THE SEVEN BLADES

    "AAARRRRGHHH!"


    "GYAAAA!"


    Across what once was a beautiful grassy plain, shouts of pain and agony from both males and females filled the area. What was once a greeny and calm scenery of tantalizing fields of flowers was now soaked with splattered blood and mutilated bodies of those who have already perished. Standing on the bloody battlefield are men and women with varied animal features in certain parts of their bodies armed with their bladed weapons and spellcraft, launching them against their own species, at their canine brethren.


    They were all Youkais, yet they were slaughtering one another. A chaos that was instigated by unknown and unspecified means. A civil war between a group of assorted Youkais and a group filled with canine Youkais.


    "Fujimai! Fall back with the others at the second line of defense," yelled one young female from the Allied Youkai Faction as she embedded her Ki coated fist on one Ha-Inu attacker, pushing said creature against the earth with a loud and crushing smack, forming a large crater. "We''ll cover your retreat!"


    The young female spotted nine-tailed Nekomata, pushed forward towards the enemies in front accompanied by her Tanuki and Hebi Youkai comrades as they laid an onslaught on the incoming Okami Youkai enemies.


    "But Magari-sama!"


    The person in question, who had long white hair, white cat ears and nine tails, golden cat-like eyes, and garbed in a white Kimono complained as she blocked an incoming Touki-reinforced punch from a male Inugami before responding with her own Touki attack, landing a clean hit on the opponent''s jaw that made the being to be sent up flying in the air.


    "I can''t, Yasaka-chan is just behind there!"


    "Just do what I told you, Fujimai! That is a direct order from your leader!" Magari roared as she sent her Touki-reinforced cat tails swirling around her like a violent tornado, whipping up every enemy in a single flash.


    Clicking her tongue, Fujimai reluctantly followed her Nekomata leader''s order. Along with some wounded Youkai combatants, she led them to retreat but not before giving a frustrated glance at the place behind the enemy lines where Gion was supposed to be located.


    "Support Fujimai''s retreat!" yelled the spotted Nekomata leader to her men as she created a powerful sonic blast with her hand. "Don''t let them pass!"


    With Magari''s command, various Youkais under her command immediately formed a blockade, defending their retreating comrades against the overwhelming numbers of the Canine Youkai Faction.


    Singularity No.1


    World Foundation Value: C


    A.D. 1829


    Kyoto: The Day the Sun Sets in the Western Capital


    The Foxtail Sovereign of Youkai


    Death.


    It was the first word that came to Hakuno''s mind the moment he arrived at the distorted era, his rainbow-colored eyes saw nothing but hundreds of rotting, mutilated and disemboweled corpses of different kinds of Youkai, their stench perverse the air of what was already a sickening view.


    That sight alone was an undeniable proof that a large battle had taken place in this specific region not too long ago.


    He released a frown on his face, an evident proof that he didn''t like the scenery in front of him; one for the foul smell that permeated the entire area, two for the countless lives that had been wasted just for the sake of gaining power and revenge, and three for making him remember a nostalgic yet very gruesome piece of memory from his past.


    A time where he kills innocent people just for a shit doctrine that was embedded in his head ever since his childhood...


    Shaking his head, he looked at the direction where the present era Nishikyou Ward was supposed to be located. After all, the city of Kyoto wasn''t divided into several wards in this current time. He knew that such place was the last bastion and stronghold of the Youkai resistance. Even if most of them wanted to flee the city, such thing was futile considering that the entire large settlement was enveloped by a powerful barrier that prevents them from doing so in the first place.


    The barrier also prevents any interference from the outside world. In short, it wards off any attempt of intervention from outsiders not related to or part of the events that was designated to fall in the anchoring bands like a sort of an illusion. He then glanced at the large Singularity at the reddish night sky.


    "In order to collapse that, I''ll need to defeat the keeper of that thing," Hakuno spoke as he gazed then at a certain location far away from where he stood. "And also to secure the Observation of this Time-Lock."


    Slowly, he took a step as he began to walk towards where the "Observation" was situated which was the place opposite to the last stronghold of the remaining Youkai within Kyoto City.


    "Observation... in relation to Quantum-Time Locks, is the factor that determines the purview of a Time-Lock or secured history. In this era, the designated Observation is no other than the nine-tailed Kitsune Youkai... Yasaka." thought the brown-haired man as his body began to radiate magical energy.


    "In the correct history of this world, the "outcome" that Yasaka was coronated as the leader of the Youkai Faction is secured as a matter of record. Because it was already registered to anchoring band, it should be categorically unchangeable. Thus, time travelers would be only invariably restricted to modify the "process" that would lead to the secured "outcome". However..."


    The radiating magical energy then encapsulated the man''s entire silhouette. Within seconds, the walking human figure-like magical energy then dispersed in the air like shiny, glowing glitters scattered in the breeze. Gone was the Kishinami Hakuno who wore only a checkered polo shirt with a white undershirt, a pair of blue jeans and white snickers.


    The Kishinami Hakuno who emerged from that dispersed light earlier had now a long brown hair tied in a ponytail that reached down to his shins. He wears a jinbaori style light brown haori with black Moon Cell designs decorated on them. He wears a traditional white umanori hakama and kimono, with dark brown tekkou on his arms, and a white tabi and brown geta adorned his feet. He has a pair of fox ears and oni horns protruding on his head, and a single fox tail emerging on his lower back. On each side of his waist were a pair of three katanas, with one long katana, rested on his back.


    "...The simultaneous revocation of seven major Quantum Time-Locks from seven different eras made it possible to incinerate the "outcomes" that defines the confirmed History of the World. As such, this world will be denied of it''s "Present", unable to progress into the Future and inevitably becoming an Otherworld."


    The man paused for a bit, his rainbow-colored eyes gazed upon the lifeless bodies that laid around him. The moment he laid his eyes on the corpses, a faint light then began to emerge from the remains. Slowly the dead bodies of the Youkais on the field began to fade until there was none left.


    What he had done to them was only something that he only knows.


    "Now, its time to set this distorted era in its proper course."


    At the same time that Hakuno lets those words escaped his lips, he then propelled himself forward with a powerful kicked to the ground that released a powerful burst of shockwave in the entire arena. With each powerful stride he made with his legs, his figure became a blur outside the bound of reality, traversing greater distances with supersonic speed. But such feat was already a given the moment he changed his constitution.


    There was a reason for this.


    The human Kishinami Hakuno did not exist in this era and if someone like him who wore the same anatomy as the Kishinami Hakuno of the "present" era did something in this timeline, something like grandfather paradoxes should come to fruition as a consequence. Of course, if this was just a normal Singularity from one of the worlds he saw which only involves in defeating the cause of the Singularity then he won''t mind fixing this distortion wearing his default configuration.


    But the Singularity that appeared in this world needs the designated outcome to happen within this deformed timeline in order for it to be fixed which inevitably, needs his involvement. So by turning himself into a Phantasm, the World won''t attribute him as someone who came from the future era of History. After all, aside from the World, only those living within this era can dictate the purview of events to be registered to record in an upcoming Quantum Time-Lock.


    With the current speed he showcased, it didn''t take him long enough to reach the specific location where what was supposed to be an ambush had been taking place. He then reached out for the purple handle with golden ornates of the long Japanese blade nestled on his back, his rainbow-colored eyes hardened as he pulled out the 150-centimeter long blade from its beautifully crafted purple scabbard.


    The twin-tailed purple-colored tassels swayed in the air as the blade steel was released from its lengthy sheathe, its metallic luster shone brightly under the distorted night and giving off a brilliant reflection of infinity.


    The moment the infinite blade landed on the very earth, a surge of powerful shockwaves came to fruition followed by shouts and screams of someone writhing in intolerable pain.


    XXX


    "Haa... ha..."


    Yasaka was exhausted.


    The voluptuous nine-tailed Kitsune woman who has long golden, blonde hair tied in a ponytail and matching eyes, and nine golden fox tails and matching ears panted heavily as she was forced to her knees due to non-stop fighting that she and her fellow Youkai''s were pitted against.


    Her main attire, the traditional Miko outfit which consists of a haori that features a giant red star-shaped pentagram, surrounded by five smaller pentagrams in between the points on each sleeve was torn in many places, enough that it revealed a piece of each of her womanly charms.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Don''t let them get to Yasaka-sama!"


    "Defend Yasaka-sama with all your life!"


    Her retainers which were consisted of mostly women were busy fending off attacks from their enemies. She couldn''t help but grit her foxy teeth in anger and frustration. If only she has her full strength, she could wipe out these Inugami and Ha-Inu bastards in her real form. But alas, she couldn''t do that after her powers were being sucked by the traitorous leaders of the Inugami and Ha-Inu Factions.


    "Kyaa!"


    "No!" Yasaka shouted as she saw one of her retainers being tossed aside by an enemy.


    The female golden Kyuubi Kitsune tried to get up but instead almost fell on the ground when her badly wounded right leg reacted to her sudden movement. Noticing she couldn''t move due to her condition, Yasaka immediately formed several balls of flames which she hurled towards the enemy Youkais.


    "RAAAA!"


    "WAAAA!"


    Those who were hit by the fireballs sent out an agonizing scream as their bodies were glossed in flames, eating away their flesh as it smoldered every living cells in their build into charcoals.


    Yet even with the display of her Fox Fire, it did nothing to deter the enemies from their assault. Their numbers were increasing as more and more Canine Youkais came pouring towards them like pouring rain.


    When things in front of them seemed to be hopeless, a miracle happened.


    "GRAAAAA!?"


    A miracle that came in a form of a powerful shockwave that shook the ground, the violent gust of wind being whipped up by such sheer force, and the shriek of an enemy.


    This got the attention of the Youkai enemies as they began to focus on the commotion that was happening behind them.


    What the Kitsune Youkais saw after that were the silhouettes of Ha-Inu and Inugami Youkais being whirled up in the air as if they were being ejected from the very ground itself. And at that instant, the hairs on Yasaka and her retainers stood up as they felt a presence that they were sure to be from someone who was connected from the Heavens.


    "This feeling..." a wounded female kitsune retainer commented as he walked closer to her leader.


    "Yasaka-sama!" exclaimed one.


    "A Shinto God...!?" commented another with slight bewilderment in her tone.


    Yasaka, for her part, was slightly shocked as she felt the newly emerged presence coming from behind their enemies. As for someone who had already met several figures of the Shinto Pantheon, there was no mistaking what she and her fellow Youkais felt was a divine presence.


    A very strong and powerful one.


    Her golden eyes then widened as a figure shot up from the ground and towards the sky, twisting and twirling its body as it cut down several Ha-Inu Youkais in the air. Then without warning, it landed in front of them. The once kneeling figure then slowly stood up and Yasaka, along with her retainers couldn''t help but marvel as they were now in forefront of the cause of such intoxicating divine presence.


    The female Kyuubi Kitsune then gaze at the divine figure as he slowly stood up in front of them, revealing his entire appearance before them. Yasaka couldn''t help but be mesmerized by the male Youkai, as she believed to be, especially those radiating and glowing rainbow-colored eyes of his.


    "Heroic Spirit of the Sword, Saber. At your service."


    The moment that man spoke those words with his soothing voice, the Kyuubi Kitsune''s heart skips a beat, an innocent blush marring on her cheeks.


    The moment Hakuno saw the look on Yasaka''s face, he internally forced himself not to show a frown on his own visage. He knew the meaning of the gaze that was directed at him and the implication that entails made him feel somewhat guilty inside. His already activated Mystic Eyes God Eye already shown him the consequences of his current actions.


    With the current silhouette he was wearing, Hakuno knew something like this can''t be helped. The composite Saber-class Servant he designed was made up of seven Heroic Spirits he handpicked from the Moon Cell''s archives who have strong ties to the Land of the Rising Sun and due to the nature of Heroic Spirits gaining massive boost when employed at their land of origin, it was already a given that their default parameters will rise to a certain degree.


    The brown-haired man knows that it wasn''t his countenance that gave the Kyuubi Kitsune a faint blush on her cheeks. Rather, it was his presence brought by his Sword Saint skill that caused such pink tinge to appear on either side of her face. Even her retainers were also displaying such reaction towards him but unlike the others, Hakuno knew that he already stirred up the emotions within Yasaka''s heart which was supposedly reserved for the father of her future child.


    Sword Saint was a composite skill comprising of Divinity, Territory Creation and sword skills from Heroic Spirits that made up the Sword Saint of the Seven Blades Servant, making the Servant to be perceived originally as a Holy Swordsman whose "swordsmanship has reached the Throne of Gods". However, the massive boost that he attained from the "land" somehow warped the skill into something else akin to a metamorphosis, thus allowing him to be seen as a "Sword God".


    "I''ll take responsibility for this mess." The man thought to himself as he saw the golden-haired beauty still gazing at him in a daze. His rainbow-colored eyes then traced the woman''s left shoulder down to her pinky where an invisible red thread fixed in a bow, which he could only see, was knotted.


    From there, Hakuno then outlined a single long thread from the woman''s baby finger with his rondures as it tried to extend before approaching his own left pinky. He attempted to move his hand away as if to dissuade the red string to pick him. But due to the thread''s stubborn attitude, it finally landed on his little finger before knotting itself "happily" on the said limb.


    The brown-haired man unintentionally bound the golden-haired woman''s "fate" to him.


    Hakuno then blinked for a second when one of Yasaka''s female retainers stepped forward, shielding the Kitsune leader in a protective stance.


    "W-Who are you?" The retainer asked, her arms already raised up. The other retainers managed to snap out from their bewilderment and surrounded their leader in an instant, their guards already raised up.


    "An ally." The man said, his hand still gripping his sword before he spun around with a swift sword swing that manages to decapitate an Inugami Youkai who was aiming for his head. "As much as I want to give you all a proper introduction, I would suggest that it should be move later when we are out of trouble. Is it okay with you all?"


    Hakuno then slightly turn his head, his eyes giving a glimpse to the women behind him. He understood that they were having doubts about a stranger offering his help to them but he knows that they need to trust him if they want to make out of this mess alive. He made another arc of slashes when two Ha-Inu Youkais attempted to make a dive attack towards him in midair.


    The two were mutilated instantly when both of them met his katana, their bodies split into several parts before each of them fell to the ground, their blood painted the solid dirt with red.


    "Very well."


    "But Yasaka-sama!" The retainer tried to argue but wasn''t allowed to continue when Yasaka raised her hand.


    The female Kitsune retainer then decided to keep her mouth shut. As for Yasaka, she managed to regain her composure from her bewildered state and eyed the stranger with some scrutiny. In her own eyes, she could see it clearly that this man in front of her and her retainers was of mixed blood. Aside from the elaborate Youkai features in his appearance, the Kyuubi Kitsune could sense the human aspect of the male mixed blood Youkai, and that presence of divinity that he possesses...


    "...It felt like Amaterasu-sama''s..." Yasaka thought as she watched Hakuno mowing down Inugami and Ha-Inu Youkais with his pole-length blade. "This man might be her descendant perhaps...?"


    The golden-haired Kyuubi Kitsune observe the man''s action as he fought and caught every single glimpse that he would send to her every now and then. The female Youkai leader understood what those glimpses are trying to say; put your faith in me.


    Her mind then began to contemplate over the options that were laid in front of her. A few seconds passed, she decided to make a gamble.


    "I''m unable to fight in my current state." Yasaka began, her golden fox eyes roamed around her wounded retainers who gave her a worrisome look about her actions. "And so does my retainers. This might be inappropriate but as the leader of the Kyoto Youkai, I would like to request for your help. Can we count on you, Saber-dono?"


    Hearing her words between the crashing sound of his long katana against the sharpened claws of his enemy, Hakuno nodded his head in response to pushing both of his feet against the uneven dirt. His muscles were put into tension as he squeezed every ounce of his strength in each fiber of his flesh, magical energy began to circulate within each muscle mass before escaping from his pores as he pushed away his opponent.


    BURST!


    The pure magical energy burst outward like an erupting volcano, a fiery hot blaze intermixed with crackle violent lightning was produced and shot it towards the enemy Youkai who was then bathed in a torrent of fire and electricity. The other Inugami and Ha-Inu Youkais around him didn''t fair either for they were caught up by the blast, unleashing screams of pain and agony as their build was burnt and electrocuted at the same time.


    "That''s...!" One of Yasaka''s retainers exclaimed in shock, her foxy eyes widened upon witnessing Hakuno''s display of his mana burst.


    "Amaterasu-sama''s holy flames..." The Kyuubi whispered in awe and amazement as she watched the rhythmic dance of fire and lightning decimating the enemies while at the same time, gaze at the man responsible of such feat who continued to execute his sword dance amidst the convoluted sea of flames and electricity.


    "Not only that," Another retainer commented. "That lightning of his is also of divine attribute too."


    The female Kitsunes including Yasaka continued to watch the man with seven blades taking on the enemies which were zoning on him solely as if he became the sole target of their attention and bloodlust, effectively making it a diversion from them.


    "Ah!"


    A female kitsune retainer with a damaged arm exclaimed as if she realized something. Her reaction drawn the attention of her comrades and Yasaka alike.


    "What is it?"


    "I just realized that man''s lightning felt like Gozu-Tennou-sama''s".


    "Indra-sama''s holy lightning!?" Yasaka''s eyes slightly widened at her retainers words before redirecting her orbs towards the long-haired swordsman.


    It was already common knowledge within the supernatural creatures of the Japanese mainland that most deities introduced by Buddhism were literally members of the Hindu Pantheon that were brought by missionaries from India and China.


    And one of these "gods" is Indra. In Hinduism, he was known as the King of Gods but in Buddhism, he was known by different names; the Protector God of Buddhism Sakra, the Leader of the Four Heavenly Kings Taishakuten, and the God of Pestilence Gozu-Tennou.


    The others also showcased a bewildered look on their faces before gazing at Hakuno once more. One same question perked up from their minds as their eyes marred with disbelief, stared at the long-haired swordsman...


    "Who is this guy?"


    STEP!


    The Sword Saint of the Seven Blades took a calculated step to the side, leaning his body and tilting his head a little to the right thus enabling him to perfectly dodge a blindside blurry claw swipe from his back. He purposely spins around, his right leg swiftly connecting to the male Inugami Youkai''s cheek.


    CRACK!


    A painful yet justified sound of crushing facial cartilage resonated as the receiver of the attack was sent flying, the Youkai''s body spinning very rapidly as he plummeted towards his comrades who have also blown away due to the resultant force from the kick. Without glancing in the opposite direction, the long-haired swordsman outstretches his left hand, positioning his long-pole blade Monohoshi Zao forward at a 45-degree angle.


    STAB!


    An unprecedented weight was then manifested at the blade part of the Japanese sword.


    "GUH!?"


    One Ha-Inu Youkai writhed in both shock and pain as he found himself suddenly impaled by the long-pole blade without him noticing, both of his feet kicking violently in midair and his hands were bathed in red vigor as he gripped the blade with force trying to free himself. Before he could pull himself out of such pitiable state, his ears brushed a static sound coming from the blade and without warning his entire body began to convulsed intensely.


    "GAAAAHHHHH!"


    A long, loud, piercing cry of suffering and torture roared up in the heavens as the other Ha-Inu Youkais were soaked in an electrostatic storm that came from the long-pole blade, their bodies induced in a sudden discharge of high voltage electricity. Their mental processors were fried right alongside their winged limbs, crippling their nervous and respiratory system in an instant before falling to the ground like dried leaves of a tall tree.


    With a 360-degree vision granted to him by his God Eye, Hakuno saw the still large numbers of "corrupted" Youkais within his visual range. Deciding to end the matter quickly, he adopted a stance belonging to one Kojirou Sasaki by raising Monohoshi-Zao in a reverse piercing thrust manner. His rainbow-colored rondures produced a humming sound as he purposely induced nature interference in tandem with the sword of infinity in his hand.


    Secret Sword - Swallow Dance


    "Hiken - Tsubame Mai"


    When those words were invoked, all the witnesses saw including Yasaka that day was blood spilled everywhere like pouring rain.