Chapter 33: Joshua Egoshin vs The Kaimi Daja
Chapter 34: The Broken Sword
Chapter 34: The Broken Sword
¡°You are like a sword. Your only purpose is to slaughter your enemies. You have no other purpose¡±
¡°I guess that makes me a broken sword huh?¡±
Chapter 35: Illusions
Zero: (to Joshua) Now what can you do with a broken sword?
The rest of the Kaimi Daja members ran through the lake and met up with Zero after he shot Joshua with a water bullet.
Lokk: You okay Zero?
Zero: Yeah. I¡¯m fine.
Lorra: Don¡¯t just rush in like that!! You could¡¯ve gotten hurt!!
Zero: (grinning at Lorra) Were you worried about me, Lorra?
Lorra: (blushes) Um¡
Jokita: Hey! This isn¡¯t the time to flirt Zero.
Desmond: (sighs)
Zero: Right. Anyway... (glancing at Joshua) That water bullet didn¡¯t do enough damage to put him down, but at least I¡¯ve taken out his sword. Now, he¡¯ll have to draw the Luminary Sword.
Desmond: So, that¡¯s why you broke his sword.
Lorra: You¡¯re forcing his hand.
Zero: Exactly. But Joshua Egoshin isn¡¯t stupid. He knows we¡¯re trying to lure him out. It¡¯s up to him now to decide how he¡¯ll respond. (to Lokk) You tagged him already, didn¡¯t you?
Lokk: Yeah I did.
Zero: Good. The moment he activates his technique, you activate yours.
Lokk: Right.
On the other side of the battlefield, Joshua began healing the chest wound inflicted by Zero¡¯s water bullet. His jacket sleeves were torn, his right glasses lens cracked, and despite his efforts with harmonic restoration, he looked worse for wear. Holding the broken sword in his hand, he adjusted his glasses with grim determination.
Joshua: (to himself) Damn it. They¡¯re forcing my hand. I¡¯ve used everything in my arsenal, but with two of them able to use harmonic restoration, they just keep healing and coming back. I can¡¯t let this fight drag on anymore. If they want the Luminary Sword, fine¡ªbut I won¡¯t give them the chance to act once I bring it out.
Joshua stood, gripping the broken sword in his mouth. His eyes burned with determination.
Zero: Looks like he¡¯s ready to go again. Get ready, everyone.
Everyone: YEAH!!!
The Kaimi Daja prepared for two scenarios: one where Joshua brought out the Luminary Sword and one where he didn¡¯t. But in the end, only one scenario unfolded.
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Joshua: [WHITE: LUMINARY SWORD]
The Luminary Sword, a power derived from the All Mother¡¯s left god hand, had been passed down the Egoshin Clan for 800 years. It had the devastating ability to inflict wounds that even harmonic restoration struggled to heal. This was the power the Kaimi Daja had been scheming to steal.
As the sword shone brilliantly in Joshua¡¯s hand, Zero signaled Lokk to activate his technique. But the moment Joshua took the Ch¨±dan-no-kamae stance, the members of Kaimi Daja froze, remembering why Joshua Egoshin was a Level 1+ Hunter.
Joshua: [PERFECT MANIFESTATION: GRAYSCALE KENJUTSU]
Joshua Egoshin¡¯s Perfect Manifestation, ¡°Grayscale Kenjutsu,¡± was the ultimate expression of his Divergent Moon Technique. The ability transformed the entire range of the manifestation into a grayscale landscape, draining the area of color and vitality. Within this monochrome field, movement was drastically slowed for anyone caught inside, as if an oppressive weight bore down on their bodies. The Kaimi Daja found themselves trapped in this distorted reality, struggling to react.
With the Luminary Sword in hand, Joshua moved like a phantom. Swift and precise, he exploited his opponents'' slowed reflexes, striking them one by one.
Zero was slashed across the chest, the blade grazing up to his cheek.
Lorra suffered a deep gash across her stomach.
Jokita barely managed to block, but the force of the strike nearly severed his right hand and left a brutal cut across his torso.
Lokk was struck cleanly across his chest.
Desmond took a savage blow down his back.
The only member spared was Gaki, who lay unconscious on the lake¡¯s surface, oblivious to the chaos.
By the time Joshua completed his assault, each member of the Kaimi Daja bore injuries severe enough to overwhelm even their restorative abilities. The battlefield was silent except for the faint hum of the Luminary Sword as Joshua stood amidst his incapacitated enemies. Joshua ended his manifestation, convinced the fight was over.
Joshua: (to himself) That should¡¯ve taken care of them. Now to call HQ and ask them about the situation.
But the mistake that Joshua Egoshin made was that he did not deactivate the luminary sword the moment he brought down his perfect manifestation because the moment that he tried to make a phone call to the HFA headquarters, Lokk¡¯s lighter technique went active.
Lokk: (despite his injuries) [WHITE: BINDING TAGS]
Suddenly, Joshua felt his strength vanish. He fell to his knees, his body too weak to stand.
Joshua: (to himself) What is this? I¡¯ve suddenly grown weaker? But how? My lighter energy has dropped because I used perfect manifestation but not to this extent of making me this weak. So why is this happening?
Lokk¡¯s Binding Tags technique equalized his opponent¡¯s energy and physical strength to match his own weakened state. Joshua, tagged at the start of the fight, was now as drained as Lokk.
Joshua didn¡¯t have time to comprehend why his strength had drained so rapidly. Despite the wounds inflicted by the Luminary Sword, Desmond Gravy staggered to his feet and charged toward him with determination burning in his eyes.
Joshua, though severely weakened, refused to give in. He attempted to conjure a Spinning Vortex, aiming to blow Desmond away. But before he could execute the technique, Lorra, battered and bloodied, summoned a medium-sized tree. The roots and branches shot up from the ground, coiling around Joshua and locking him in place.
He struggled, thrashing against the bindings, but his body was far too weak to break free. In the blink of an eye, Desmond was upon him. Joshua¡¯s defiance flickered, but he couldn¡¯t move¡ªhe couldn¡¯t fight back.
Desmond seized Joshua by the face with his left hand, locking eyes with him.
Desmond: [WHITE: MIND ILLUSION]
Mind Illusion, a devastating skill from the False Reality technique, plunged Joshua into a fabricated world constructed from his own memories and deepest fears. This ability could only be activated through direct contact, and now, Joshua¡¯s mind became its battleground.
Within seconds, he found himself standing on a lake¡ªa lake filled with the blood of his victims. The crimson waters stretched endlessly, the weight of his actions pressing heavily on his soul.
Ahead of him, a small figure emerged: a young boy, the lone survivor of Joshua¡¯s first mission. Tears streamed down the boy¡¯s face as he stared at Joshua with eyes full of anguish and betrayal.
The boy: (crying) "They were different¡ They wanted to change what the world thought of us. Why didn¡¯t you give them a chance? Why did you kill them?"
The words cut through Joshua like a blade. He collapsed to his knees, trembling.
Joshua: (voice cracking) "I¡ I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t understand. I was blind to what was right in front of me. Your family¡¯s death¡ªit¡¯s my greatest regret. I swear, I¡¯ll do everything to make it right."
The boy¡¯s expression darkened, his voice twisting into something monstrous
The Boy: Too late, Joshua. Too late for apologies. The wars, the bloodshed, the endless cycles of pain¡ªit¡¯s been going on for 500 years. How do you intend to fix it now?
The lake erupted. From its depths, the undead forms of Joshua¡¯s victims clawed their way to the surface. Pale hands latched onto his arms, legs, and torso, pulling him downward. He struggled, screaming, but the weight of his sins dragged him into the blood-soaked abyss.
Back in the real world, Joshua''s body tensed as he fought to break free of Desmond¡¯s illusion. Gritting his teeth, he let out a roar and shattered the mental chains binding him, clawing his way back to consciousness.
But it was too late.
As he returned to reality, agony surged through him. A thorned sword pierced his chest, its vines sprouting vibrant roses that spread across his body. Lorra¡¯s shadow technique had rooted itself deep within him, and the thorny blooms used his body as fertile soil to grow.
Joshua gasped, his strength fading rapidly as blood trickled from every wound. He dropped to his knees, powerless, as the members of Kaimi Daja surrounded him.
Zero: (smiling while still heavily injured) This is our win.
With a single, decisive slash, Zero severed Joshua¡¯s left hand, claiming the Luminary Sword and the God Hand.
Chapter 36: Reason
The battle between Joshua Egoshin and the six members of Kaimi Daja had drawn a large crowd, their eyes glued to the gruesome conclusion unfolding before them.
Joshua knelt on the blood-soaked surface of the lake, a sword of thorns embedded in his chest. Vibrant flowers sprouted from his wounds, feeding off his body as he bled out. His Lighter energy had been completely drained, rendering him too weak to use Harmonic Restoration to heal himself. To make matters worse, moments earlier, Zero had severed his left God Hand, stripping him of its power.
As Joshua gasped for breath, his broken sword slipped from his mouth and sank into the crimson-tinged water.
Joshua: (coughing blood) How¡?
Zero: (cleaning blood from his mouth) It was Lokk¡¯s Lighter technique. The moment he tagged you, he linked your energy flow to his, dropping your stats with every move you made. Gaki¡¯s sound technique at the start? That wasn¡¯t just to disorient you¡ªit scrambled your focus, making it easier for Lokk to connect. From the very beginning, you were already in our grasp.
Lokk: (grimacing, clutching his chest) It worked¡ barely.
Desmond: (supporting Lokk) Still breathing, huh? That¡¯s a win.
Joshua coughed again, blood staining his lips.
Joshua: You¡¯re still standing after a slash from the Luminary Sword? Impossible¡
Zero: Oh, that? We activated Harmonic Mantle Essence the moment we saw your stance. It dulled the sword¡¯s effects. I won¡¯t lie, it still messed us up, but with Harmonic Restoration, I can move around¡ though healing will take some time. (coughs blood)
Lorra: Are you okay, Zero?
Zero: Yeah, yeah. Worry about yourself¡ªyou¡¯re injured too, remember?
Lorra: (looks away) "Hmm."
Zero: Exactly. Take care of yourself. (turning to the group) Everyone else holding up?
Desmond: Yeah.
Jokita: (nods his head)A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Lokk: Yeah, Still breathing
Zero: (grinning) "Good. Then let¡¯s wrap this up."
Zero turned back to Joshua, his tone mocking.
Zero: You lost, Egoshin. Not because you lacked power, but because you hesitated. If you¡¯d killed us when you unleash your Perfect Manifestation, we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation. Your mercy cost you everything.
Behind them, the crowd watching from the distance murmured nervously.
Jokita: Looks like we¡¯ve drawn an audience.
Lorra: Should we kill them?
Zero: (cartoonish face) Oh no. Someone will eventually have to call the HFA to pick up his corpse. More importantly¡(looks at Jokita who totally understood)
Jokita: Right. [BLACK: SCALE SHIFTING]
Jokita smirked, then stepped forward, using his technique to shrink Joshua¡¯s severed left hand into the size of a small pill. He handed it to Zero, who swallowed it without hesitation. Almost immediately, a surge of energy coursed through Zero¡¯s body, leaving him visibly stronger..
Desmond: Did it work?
Zero: I dunno let me see. [LUMINARY SWORD]
In his hand, the Luminary Sword materialized, glowing just as it had when wielded by Joshua.
The group stared in awe, except for Joshua, whose shocked expression betrayed his disbelief.
Joshua: (weakly) "What¡?"
Zero: (mocking) Huh? You¡¯re still alive? Tough cookie. But judging by the blood loss, not for long.
Joshua: (gasping) You¡ said your purpose is to eliminate Shadows and Lighters. How many more have to die to fulfill that goal?
Zero: (coldly) As many as it takes. I¡¯ll kill anyone who stands in my way to ensure the 2003 Incident never happens again. You were in my way¡ªthat¡¯s why you¡¯re dying.
Joshua: (coughing) We¡¯re not so different. I wanted to end the cycle of hatred too. To change the way the world sees Shadows¡But killing for your goals? That makes you no better than the monsters you claim to despise.
Lorra: (gets annoyed)
Zero: (stoic) And what would you do if someone stood in your way?
Joshua: (weakly) There are always alternatives. No matter what happens, I¡¯d find a way to fulfill my goals without ending someone¡¯s life because believe it or not life has a way of bringing your actions back to you. And I don¡¯t want that to affect those close to me.
Zero: Then I guess we simply can¡¯t understand each other. The only way to end the cycle of hatred in this world is to eradicate the very thing that causes it. And that¡¯s by removing shadow and lighter energy itself from the world. The fact that you don¡¯t agree with me doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m wrong and the fact I don¡¯t agree with you doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re wrong either. It¡¯s like you said earlier, our goals are similar but the way we go about it is different.
Joshua: (coughs blood)
Zero: Well it¡¯s a shame that you¡¯re gonna die now. Any last words?
Joshua didn¡¯t respond, his strength slipping away.
Zero: (grinning cartoonishly) No? Too bad. Let¡¯s go.
As the group prepared to leave, a Shadow Monster carrying Giles and Dylan swooped down, to pick them up. Jokita and Desmond helped the injured board, while Lorra cast a lingering glance back at Joshua, his life slipping away.
For a moment, guilt and regret flared in her chest as she asked herself the recurring question that kept coming back every time to haunt her:
Lorra: (to herself) Why did I have to turn out like this?
The Shadow Monster ascended into the sky, leaving Joshua alone on the blood-stained lake
As Joshua Egoshin lay bleeding out, his strength fading with every passing second, his life began to flash before his eyes.
Joshua: (weakly, to himself) Is this it? Damn it¡ Not like this. Not like this.
Images of his younger brother, Eric, flickered in his mind. He could almost hear Eric¡¯s voice, excited about their plans.
Joshua: (muttering) I just¡ I just wanted to see my little brother one more time. We were supposed to watch that movie together¡
The sword of thorns embedded in his chest pulsed, draining what little life he had left. Joshua struggled to summon Harmonic Restoration, but his energy was too depleted. The technique failed, leaving him with nothing but the pain and the weight of his regrets.
Memories washed over him¡ªhis carefree days at the academy, the faces of his friends, the laughter and camaraderie they shared. He thought of Jason, his closest friend, and of Eric, waiting for him to return home.
Joshua: (to himself) I¡¯m sorry, Eric¡ Looks like I won¡¯t be able to make it back.
As the world around him blurred and his body grew colder, Joshua let out one final, shuddering breath.
At just 27 years old, Joshua Egoshin closed his eyes for the last time, unable to save himself.
Chapter 37: Death Of A Flower
Bruises and scars on the surface of her skin
They used her body like an item for their needs
She was labeled a monster when she fought for herself
But what about you, who used her for yourselves?
I grew up in a small town called Nirvia. Most people have never heard of it, and it¡¯s not even on the country¡¯s map. Life there was miserable. I never knew my father, and I hated my mother. She made it clear every day that I was a mistake she never wanted.
My mother¡¯s name was Natana Hawks, the owner of a brothel where she had other girls who slept with men who came in looking for a good time and earned money from it. But ultimately, every money made would be given to my mom and she would then pay the girls their share of the total sum.
According to the other girls, my father was one of my mom¡¯s customers who didn¡¯t use a condom when he went to meet her for¡¡.. and when she found out she was pregnant, she decided to keep me instead of going for an abortion. And so I was born into this shitty household.
I think my mom was frustrated by the fact that she couldn¡¯t find my father, and she ended up taking that frustration out on me every day. But during that time, the other girls stepped in to look after me while my mom focused on her ¡°work.¡± They treated me like a younger sister, and I came to see them as my older sisters. For a while, life felt peaceful.
That is¡..until I turned 18.
That¡¯s when my mother decided I was old enough to start working for her at the brothel. On my 18th birthday, she forced me into a room with a man who was probably close to her age and told me to sleep with him. I couldn¡¯t understand it. It sounded so absurd to me. When I refused, her true nature came out. She started beating me every time I didn¡¯t comply with her demands. She used a branch from the honey locust tree out front, striking me over and over, her words cutting deeper than the blows.
¡°I wish I never gave birth to an ungrateful child like you¡±
¡°You owe me everything for taking care of you for the past 18 years¡±
¡°You¡¯re a cursed child!!! Why won¡¯t you do what I say!?¡±
Each strike felt like it was breaking something inside me, but all I could do was whisper through my tears:
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±
As a result of all the beatings I took from my mother, I got scars on every part of my body. So to avoid taking beatings from my mother, I decided to do everything that she said and to service her clients whenever they showed up. And that also brought another problem.
Everywhere I went, the men in the town looked at me with eyes full of lust, and I hated it. I knew it was because of my body, and I felt powerless against it. When I tried to talk to my so-called sisters about it, they only mocked me.
¡°What did you expect?¡±
¡°You work in a brothel now, so get used to it¡±
¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about? You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re useful for something otherwise your mother would¡¯ve thrown you out¡±
Their words stung, and it wasn¡¯t long before the teasing turned into bullying¡ªmocking me for the scars on my body, my pink hair and for daring to dream of finding someone who might love and respect me.
It only got worse at home. My mother started beating me again whenever she felt the money I brought in from "work" wasn''t enough. Trying to explain myself was pointless; she would beat me no matter what.
At 22, I finally reached my breaking point. Fed up with the life I¡¯d been trapped in, I decided to confront my mother. I was leaving the brothel, no matter what she said.
Lorra: I¡¯m leaving, Mother. I can¡¯t do this anymore.
Natana Hawks, a stern looking woman with a nose ring & navy blue hair which differed from Lorra¡¯s pink hair, turned her chair around when Lorra made such a bold statement.
Natana: Leaving? To where?
Lorra: I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m leaving this place. I¡¯m done with this life.
Natana: (scuffs) You¡¯re not going anywhere. There are clients coming tonight, and you have a job to do.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Lorra: I won¡¯t do it. I won¡¯t be part of this anymore. I¡¯m leaving.
Natana: (coldly) You can¡¯t leave. You haven¡¯t been given permission. You have a debt to pay. Stop with this childish nonsense, Lorra.
Lorra: (furious) WHY DON¡¯T YOU CARE ABOUT ME, MOTHER? Every day, you let those men do whatever they want to me! Do you ever think about how I feel?
Natana: (dismissive) Of Course I care about you. I¡¯ve taken care of you for the past twenty two years haven¡¯t I?
Lorra:(shouts) YOU CALL EVERYTHING YOU DID TO ME, ¡°TAKING CARE OF ME¡±!?
Natana: (unmoved) Of course. You haven¡¯t fallen ill for the past twenty two years have you? You never went hungry for the past twenty two years did you? You always had a roof over your head for the past twenty two years didn¡¯t you? I did all that because I care. All you have to do is to work off that debt you owe. Now if you get that, then get ready for the clients I told you about.
Lorra: (tears welling up) No. I¡¯M NOT GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAY ANY MORE. YOU¡¯RE JUST USING ME AS AN MEANS TO AN END AND I DON¡¯T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
Suddenly, without warning, Natana slapped Lorra, sending her crashing to the ground. Her mother¡¯s heavy boots pounded on Lorra¡¯s body as the same cruel words she¡¯d heard for years rang in her ears.
Natana: (stomping on Lorra) WHY ARE YOU BEING SO DIFFICULT, YOU CURSED CHILD!? I''VE DONE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE YOU SURVIVE, TO SEE YOU REPAY ME FOR EVERYTHING I''VE DONE FOR YOU, AND YOU WANT TO LEAVE JUST LIKE THAT!? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL. WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN!? WHY DID I HAVE TO GIVE BIRTH TO A CHILD LIKE YOU?!
For some strange reason, every time my mother laid her hands on me, I would picture my mindset as a rose. Each time she struck me, petals would fall, symbolizing the slow crumbling of my state of mind. I never understood why this image haunted me so much, until the final petal fell and all that remained were the thorns of the stem. In that moment, I finally understood.
But not in the way I had imagined.
It was then, as I stood at the edge of despair, that my shadow technique awakened.
Though Natana Hawks had always been human, Lorra had believed herself to be human as well. But that belief shattered in an instant, as a dark power surged from within her. Unconsciously, Lorra summoned a massive rose thorn from inside my own body, which stabbed her mother in the stomach. The shock was immediate¡ªher life was snuffed out in an instant.
Lorra stood frozen, unable to fully comprehend what had just transpired. Before she could make sense of the situation, the room was flooded with people rushing in. They were greeted by the horrifying sight of Natana, stabbed through the chest by a massive rose thorn, with Lorra standing motionless in a pool of her mother''s blood.
The crowd outside, mostly Lighters, confirmed what had become painfully clear: Lorra was a Shadow. The realization struck like a thunderclap, not just to the onlookers, but to Lorra herself. She had always assumed, with the certainty of youth, that she was human¡ªafter all, her mother was human. But now, with her shadow technique awakened and the confirmation from those present, the truth began to sink in.
She was not her mother¡¯s daughter in the way she thought.
The answer was simple yet devastating: she was a Shadow because of her father.
Her father, whose identity she had never truly understood, was the one who had shaped her in ways she hadn¡¯t known.
Due to her awakening and the uncontrolled use of her shadow technique, Lorra had exhausted too much shadow energy, which led to the creation of the thorn that killed Natana. The overwhelming strain of the energy had caused her to pass out.
When Lorra regained consciousness, she found herself tied to a wooden stake, surrounded by an angry crowd. The people of Nirvia had decided her fate¡ªburn her alive, rather than call the HFA to handle her. It wasn¡¯t just a few individuals; the entire town stood before her, demanding her death. Her so-called sisters, her clients, even those who had once been her friends and neighbors, were all part of the mob.
Lorra struggled to explain herself, but her words were drowned out by the venomous shouts of the crowd. They jeered at her with hateful names:
¡°MONSTER¡±
¡°WITCH¡±
¡°MURDERER¡±
¡°EVIL CREATURE¡±
¡°DEMON FILTH¡±
As the insults rained down upon her, Lorra couldn¡¯t help but find it all absurd. The same men who had used her body for their own pleasure, the ¡°sisters¡± who had bullied and dehumanized her, were now the ones calling her a MONSTER. A bitter laugh escaped her lips, her voice a mixture of disbelief and cynicism.
Lorra: (laughs bitterly and addresses the crowd) I¡¯m a monster!? What about all of you who used to sleep beside me every night? What about those of you who laughed at my scars, who bullied me for the way I look? None of you ever cared about how your actions affected me, but I¡¯m the monster now? Fucking hypocrites!!!
Her words only fueled the crowd''s anger, and they began to intensify the flames at the stake she was tied to. Lorra braced herself for the flames as they crept higher, her clothes starting to catch fire.
But then¡
A sudden rush of water poured over the flames, dousing them in an instant. The crowd turned in surprise, eyes wide, as they saw Zero standing at the edge, his presence commanding attention.
The lighters in the crowd felt a strange energy emanating from him¡ªsomething they couldn¡¯t quite identify¡ªand for a moment, they were paralyzed with confusion. Zero moved through the crowd, unbothered by their stares, and approached Lorra. Without hesitation, he used his water technique to slice the ropes binding her, and caught her gently as she collapsed from the strain.
Zero: Are you alright?
Lorra: (confused and wary) Who are you?
Zero: (with a calm smile) Me? I''m Zero. Nice to meet you.
Lorra: (still suspicious) What do you want with me?
Zero: (carefully lowering her to the ground) I know a lot about you, Lorra. And I need your help.
Lorra: (glaring) Need my help? What for?
Lorra quickly became aware of her exposed state, her clothes burned away by the flames, and she instinctively covered herself, assuming Zero''s interest was the same as every other man who had taken advantage of her.
Zero: (noticing her discomfort) Oh, no, I don¡¯t mean it like that. (He quickly removes his jacket and offers it to her.) Here, take this.
Lorra: (hesitating, then accepting the jacket and putting it on) Alright, fine. But what do you need my help for, anyway?
Zero: (seriously) I want to create a world where people can live in peace without hurting each other.
Lorra: (skeptical) Yeah? And what¡¯s that got to do with me?
Zero: I know everything you''ve been through." (He gestures toward the crowd, still watching from afar.) "These people never cared about you. They used you, dehumanized you, and now, because you''re a shadow, they want to kill you. They call you a monster, but the truth is, they are the real monsters. I won¡¯t treat you that way, Lorra. I promise I¡¯ll build a world where people respect you¡ªnot because you''re a shadow, but because of who you are. You''re stronger than you think, and I need that strength to make this world a reality. What do you say? (He stretches out his hand toward her.)
For the first time in her life, someone said something kind to Lorra. Words she never knew she wanted to hear. She looked into Zero¡¯s eyes, and for the first time, she saw honesty¡ªno lies, no hidden agendas. He wasn¡¯t like the others. His smile, gentle and sincere, was a promise she could finally believe in.
In that moment, Lorra felt something stir within her¡ªa feeling she hadn''t known for years. She felt seen. And for the first time, someone truly accepted her. She took his hand, her heart racing.
Zero: (smiling) I can take that as a yes?
Lorra: (blushing, hiding her face) Yeah.
Zero: (grinning) Thank you, Lorra.
But as the crowd saw Lorra¡¯s allegiance to Zero, their fury intensified. They rushed at him, weapons raised, intent on ending him. But Lorra stepped forward, positioning herself between Zero and the oncoming attack. In that moment, something in her snapped.
Lorra had once overheard a conversation between her "sisters" about how lighters chant "White" and shadows chant "Black" to activate their techniques. The memory surfaced, sharp and clear. As the crowd closed in, she whispered the word¡ªBLACK.
Instantly, dark vines began to erupt from the scars on the left side of her body, twisting and writhing like a living thing. Her shadow technique had unlocked¡ªunstoppable, violent, and pure in its fury.
Without hesitation, Lorra lunged forward. The rose thorns and plant vines that grew from her body became her weapons. She moved with a deadly grace, each strike felling one of her would-be attackers. The women who had once called her sister, the men who had used her for their pleasure¡ªone by one, they fell, their bodies pierced by the thorns, their lives extinguished by the very hands they had once controlled.
In the chaos, Lorra felt a surge of liberation¡ªlike a dam had burst, releasing all the fury she had bottled up for years. The rose that had represented her mental state now reflected her complete unraveling. The last petal had fallen, and with it, the fragile part of her that still clung to hope.
She slaughtered them all. And when the la
st of her tormentors lay at her feet, Lorra stood among the blood, her breath heavy, her heart numb. The seed of her destruction had been planted long ago, but now, it had fully bloomed.
Chapter 38: Resistance & Improvement
Meanwhile, at the Hashido Estate, Mira was heading to the training grounds to watch and assist Kato with his training. On her way there, she crossed paths with the Imperial Guard, who were en route to answer a call from the elders. The Imperial Guard was made up of four formidable Shadows: three men and one woman.
Daemon Evans (Age: 23)
Aisha Randrich (Age: 24)
Rio Shushan (Age 26)
Doma Arikata (Age 25)
These were the members of the imperial guard and they were led by Doma Arikata who was the strongest among all of them. They were formidable shadows in their respective clans and were personally picked by the elders to be their protective guards who would protect the elders and go on personal missions for them. This mission would require them to slaughter innocent lighters, humans and shadows who didn¡¯t cooperate with them.
However, since Ervin Hashido decided to properly involve himself in the affairs of the shadow society, the missions the Imperial guard had to go on were reduced drastically. Just like the elders, the imperial guard believed that the only way for the shadows to live peacefully was for all humans and lighters to be utterly culled. But since Ervin Hashido wanted to create a world where all beings could live peacefully, his involvement in their affairs had put a stop to the slaughtering of innocents and the elders and the imperial guard disliked Ervin Hashido for this. And because they hated Ervin Hashido, they also hated anyone related to him by blood.
So by extension, they hated Mira as well because she was Ervin Hashido¡¯s daughter but the one who hated Mira more was Doma Aritaka and he bullied her when she was younger. But now Mira had grown past them.
Needless to say, the interaction they were about to have was not about to be a friendly one.
Doma: Oh? It¡¯s the half ass brat.
Mira: (ignoring his insult) Nice to see you too Doma.
Doma: So, how¡¯s the new guy doing?
Mira: Huh? What are you talking about?
Doma: (annoyed) Don¡¯t play dumb. I¡¯m talking about Kato Hamura. He¡¯s been here for three months and can¡¯t even manifest the God Eye that was destined for him. What an insolent fool. I don¡¯t know why the elders even allowed him into the Shadow Society. Then again, anything involving your bloodline ends in tragedy and catastrophe.
The other members of the Imperial Guard laughed as Mira kept her composure and began to walk away.
Aisha: We see you always watching Kato Hamura train every single day like the creep you are. (gasps) Are you perhaps in love with him?
Rio and Daemon: (burst into laughter)
Doma: I guess she did inherit something from her father after all. Both of them fall in love with weaklings who have no value.
Mira¡¯s composure began to crack at their words.
Mira: (coldly) YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE NEXT WORDS YOU¡¯RE GOING TO SAY.
Aisha: (mockingly) Uh-oh she¡¯s angry.
Doma: Or what? You wanna go at it right here right now?
Mira: (sighs) You know your techniques would never work on me right?
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Doma: Won¡¯t it? Guess we¡¯ll wait and see how long we¡¯ll hold out then.
Doma¡¯s hand began to gather beads of shadow energy as he prepared to strike, but before he could, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Kenji standing behind him.
Kenji: That¡¯s enough now Doma. Besides, you should know by now that your techniques won¡¯t work on her.
Doma: (shrugs off Kenji¡¯s hand) TSK! I don¡¯t need you to tell me that, you piece of trash.
Kenji: (sighs) Call me a piece of trash one more time and I¡¯ll hit you so hard that you won¡¯t have time to feel it.
Doma looked at Kenji who stared right back at him for a few seconds before finally deciding to back off.
Doma: (to the rest of the imperial guard) Let¡¯s go. We have more important things to do than waste our time here.
Kenji and Mira watched the imperial guard as they walked away.
Mira: (annoyed) Those guys just piss me off!!! Who do they think they are!?
Kenji: Lowlives like them are the reason I never joined the Imperial Guard when they asked me. Anyway, you were heading to watch Kato¡¯s training, right?
Mira: Yeah.
Kenji: Why do you watch him train every day? Are you¡ª
Mira: (cuts him off) I¡¯m heading out then. Are you coming?
Kenji: (smirks) Yeah.
Both of them headed to the training grounds, where they found Arou, Isaiah, Ervin, and Uta already observing Kato¡¯s progress.
Isaiah: (notices them) Oh, you guys came.
Kenji: Yeah, I just wanted to see how Kato¡¯s doing. As for Mira¡ª
Ervin: She never misses a day. She¡¯s always here.
Mira: (cartoonish face) Shut up, you stupid dad!
Kenji: (laughs)
Isaiah: (smiles)
Kenji: So how¡¯s Kato doing?
Arou: He¡¯s been doing great actually. He¡¯s drastically improved. It¡¯s actually amazing.
Mira: (smiles)
Kenji: For real?
Arou: Yeah. But he does have one problem though.
Mira: Huh?
Isaiah: Hmmmm.
Kenji: What problem.
Ervin: Well, you see, Kato¡¯s problem is...
Chapter 38: Resistance & Improvement
As the training began, Kato and Roshi faced off in a friendly battle to test the hand-to-hand combat techniques Arou had taught Kato, and the Shadow Rush technique Roshi had taught him.
Both Kato and Roshi took the ¡°TURTLE HERMIT¡± fighting stance. Both opponents had their eyes locked on each other and prepared themselves for battle and that was when Kenji noticed the bandages Kato had tied around both of his hands.
Roshi: (smilies at Kato) Show me what you¡¯ve got, young blood.
Kato: (clenches his fists) Right!
The fight began. Kato threw a kick with his left leg, but Roshi blocked it with ease. Kato followed with another kick, which Roshi blocked again. Kato closed the distance and threw punches with both hands, while using his right leg to strike Roshi¡¯s left side. Roshi blocked all of Kato¡¯s attacks.
Roshi stepped back, and Kato rushed forward, throwing a punch with his left hand. Roshi deflected it and countered with a blow from his left hand. Kato dodged and landed a strike on Roshi¡¯s left side. The battle continued like this, with both fighters landing blows, blocking, and evading attacks.
Roshi then retaliated by throwing a massive punch at Kato with his right hand but Kato dodged it and was able to land another blow on Roshi¡¯s face using his left hand to punch him. But then Roshi attacked again with his left hand heading towards Kato¡¯s face and Kato used his left arm to block the attack. Roshi tried to use his left arm to attack further but Kato dodged it and landed another blow on Roshi¡¯s face using his left hand.
This shocked everyone including Roshi himself who didn¡¯t think that Kato had grown this much.
Kenji: (surprised) Oh. He really is good.
Mira: (smiles) Yeah he is.
Isaiah: He¡¯s landed three hits on Roshi already.
Arou: (cartoonish face) I taught everything he needs to know.
Ervin: (smiles) This kid is full of surprises, huh?
Meanwhile, both Roshi and Kato were smiling at each other because they were happy with the way the training was going. Kato felt more confident in himself and was determined to continue.
Roshi: (smiles) Not bad young blood. But now is the time to apply pressure.
Roshi suddenly began to attack with both of his arms and put Kato in a position where he had to constantly be on defense or he would take multiple blows to the head. Kato kept on blocking and when he saw an opening, he landed yet another blow on Roshi using his left hand. But Roshi responded immediately by landing his own blow on Kato¡¯s face with his right hand sending him to the ground.
Kato stood up immediately and attacked Roshi¡¯s legs using his right leg. Roshi blocked it and tried to throw another punch at Kato but then just when the blow was about to hit, Kato jumped and kicked Roshi in the chest and pushed Roshi back by four steps.
Roshi regained his balance and began to throw punches at Kato who kept on blocking and dodging them. Just as Kato was about to land another blow, Roshi kicked Kato in the chest and he began to stagger and before Kato could regain his footing, Roshi jumped and kicked Kato in the chest twice sending Kato to the ground once again.
Kato stood up once again and Roshi began to attack him with multiple blows and he had no choice but to block all the attacks. Roshi began to corner Kato and then Kato responded by kicking Roshi in the face with his right leg sending him to the ground as well.
Roshi: (grinning) Well, this is getting interesting. You¡¯re putting up a good fight, young blood. Now, let¡¯s see you do it. Use the Shadow Rush technique on me.
Kato: Huh!?
Mira: Huh!?
Kenji: Oh¡.
Isaiah: What is he thinking!?
Kato: Are you sure Mr Roshi? You told me how much damage it causes¡.
Roshi: It¡¯ll be fine. Just trust me. Do it.
Kato gathered shadow energy into his right hand as Roshi prepared for the attack. The Shadow Rush technique, developed during the war between Shadows and Lighters, allowed those without natural techniques to fight back. Shadow energy is normally light blue and it turns black when it is being compressed. By compressing shadow energy in a particular part of the body, its impact of the attack is doubled.
With the energy compressed in his right hand, Kato and Roshi rushed towards each other. Roshi threw a punch with his right hand but Kato deflected it with his left hand. While still in that state, Roshi tried to punch Kato with his left hand but then Kato deflected it with left hand again. With that, Roshi¡¯s frontal torso was wide open and then¡¡..
Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]
Kato hit Roshi¡¯s torso with the shadow rush using his right hand which surprised everyone. The impact was massive, knocking Roshi back.
Kenji: He did it huh?
Mira: (smiling) That was amazing Kato!!!!
Ervin: He¡¯s come a long way from the way he was a few months ago.
Kato Hamura had grown significantly since he joined the shadow soc
iety three months ago and everyone who watched and witnessed the training could testify to that. Kato had taken the first step in becoming stronger by learning his first shadow technique.
Chapter 39: That Little Boy
For six whole years,
We were in each other¡¯s heads
But for totally different reasons
Roshi had used Harmonic Mantle Essence to neutralize the impact of the Shadow Rush Kato had landed on him. As Kato¡¯s confidence began to rise, he noticed something disturbing ¡ª he was bleeding from his knuckles again.
Kato: (grunts in pain)
Kenji: (finally understanding) Is that it?
Ervin: Yeah. That''s the problem I was telling you about.
As Kato winced in pain, Roshi suddenly knocked him on the head, causing everyone ¡ª including Kato ¡ª to freeze in shock.
Roshi: (shouting at Kato) I¡¯ve told you a thousand times to reduce the amount of shadow energy you gather in your hand before compressing it! Gathering too much for the Shadow Rush will damage your body! How many times have I told you this, young blood!?
Kato: (cartoonish face) You could¡¯ve told me all that without hitting me on the head!
Roshi: (grinning, teeth gleaming) Well, since you don¡¯t seem to get it when I tell you nicely, maybe you¡¯ll get it when I knock it into your head! That¡¯s how I taught everyone else!
Kato: (thinking to himself) Why does he look so proud of that?
Mira walked over to Kato, wrapping fresh bandages around his hands.
Mira: (gently) Be careful next time, Kato. If you want, I can show you how to use the Shadow Rush more effectively.
Kato: (smiling nervously) Oh¡ thanks, Mira.
Roshi: (with a mischievous grin) Are you two dating?
Kato & Mira: (both shocked, cartoonish faces) Huh?!
Kenji and the others burst into laughter, but Isaiah remained stoic, not amused.
Kato and Mira: (blushing furiously) NO, WE¡¯RE NOT!!
Roshi: For real?
Arou: (teasing) But they¡¯d look good together, don¡¯t you think, Ervin?
Ervin: (smiling knowingly) Who knows?
Kato: By the way, where''s Yamato, Cookie and Uta?
Roshi: Surprised my little brother isn¡¯t here to gloat?
Mira: Yamato and Cookie went out on a date.
Isaiah: And Uta said something about going shopping.
Kenji: Shopping?
Isaiah: Surprised me too.
Kato: (thinking to himself) It kinda stings that everyone else gets to go out, and I¡¯m stuck here because I¡¯m a wanted fugitive.
Just then, Kenji¡¯s phone vibrated. He looked at it, then turned to the others. It was a text from Uta, urging them to check the news. Roshi received a similar call from Yamato.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
They all rushed inside, turned on the nearest TV, and saw the breaking news.
JOSHUA EGOSHIN, THE LEVEL 1+ HUNTER, HAS BEEN KILLED BY THE TERRORIST GROUP KNOWN AS THE KAIMI DAJA.
THE HUNTER FORCE ACADEMY WAS ALSO ATTACKED BY THE KAIMI DAJA TODAY. TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
The news hit everyone like a ton of bricks. No one expected the Kaimi Daja to make such a bold move and bring themselves into the public spotlight.
Kato: (thinking to himself, troubled) The Academy was attacked?? Is Takimo okay?
Suddenly, Isaiah stormed out of the room. Kato caught a brief glimpse of his face ¡ª it was full of anger and frustration. The rest of the group understood, but Kato had no idea why Isaiah was so upset.
Ervin: (sighs deeply)
Kato: (to Mira) Why did Isaiah look mad just now?
Kenji: Wait, you guys haven''t told him yet?
Kato: Huh? Tell me what?
Mira: (softly) Oh, that¡¯s right. I didn¡¯t tell you. Isaiah¡¯s angry because Joshua Egoshin was the one who killed his family. And from the looks of it, he¡¯s not happy that he wasn¡¯t the one to kill him first.
Meanwhile Isaiah walked back to the training ground and stayed there. He was so frustrated and angry and then the memory of that fateful day began to replay in his mind.
Chapter 39: That Little Boy
Year: 2015, six years ago
My life was once simple. I lived with my dad, mom, and my older sister, Kana. Our family, the Gushman Clan, was an important part of the shadow society, known for their ability to craft weapons used in the long-standing war between shadows and lighters. But as the years went on, the clan began to shrink in numbers due to the ongoing war. Most of us left the shadow society, trying to live more peaceful lives.
My parents and sister always taught me that violence wasn¡¯t the answer ¡ª it wasn¡¯t the way to end the hatred. But the world didn¡¯t see it that way. To them, shadows were all the same, and they kept fighting.
I couldn¡¯t help but respect my father¡¯s way of thinking. And Kana, too, followed his beliefs. There was one time when I got into a fight at school with a kid who kept bullying me, and I ended up getting suspended. My parents couldn¡¯t pick me up, so Kana came instead.
Kana: (angry) Damn it, Isaiah! Why did you have to fight him?
Isaiah: (defiant) He had it coming. He was always picking on me.
Kana: You could have just reported him to a teacher you know?
Isaiah: Why would I let another person deal with my problems? It¡¯ll make me look weak. So I had to deal with it myself. Now he won¡¯t mess with me anymore.
Kana: Then I guess you feel really good about yourself huh? Was it worth getting suspended from school?
Isaiah: (silent)
Kana: You know, asking for help isn¡¯t a bad thing. It just shows how much you rely on people. It is never okay to attack people.
Isaiah: (sharply) Save the sermon for the lighters who keep attacking us.
Kana: (sadly) Sometimes I wonder if you¡¯re really only twelve.
Then, June 14th came. I spent the whole day with Mira and her mom. We had so much fun, I lost track of time. Normally, my sister or mom would pick me up, but they didn¡¯t show. So, I walked home alone.
The door was wide open ¡ª something wasn¡¯t right. I stepped inside, and the sight that greeted me shattered everything.
My dad, my mom, my sister, Kana ¡ª they were all lying on the floor, dead. And there was a hunter standing over them, covered in their blood.
They¡¯d always called shadows "monsters," but here was a man who walked into a family¡¯s home, slaughtered them, and justified it by calling us monsters who need to be cut down.
The hunter started to walk toward me, probably to finish me off, but before he could, I screamed.
Isaiah: (with tears in his eyes) They were different! They wanted to change! Why won¡¯t you give us a chance to change? Why kill us?
For some reason, the hunter stopped. He didn¡¯t kill me. I took that opportunity to run, not daring to look back.
Mr Ervin, Mira and her mother took me in after they heard what happened to my family. Later, I found out that the hunter¡¯s name was Joshua Egoshin, a Level 1+ hunter and the heir to the All Mother.
Every time I saw his face in the news, my hatred for him grew, reminding me of what he¡¯d done to my family. And so, I trained. Every day. Pushed myself further than I thought I could go.
I PUSHED MYSELF FURTHER!!
I HAD LIMITS SO I SURPASSED THEM!!
BECOME STRONGER!
BECOME STRONGER!!
BECOME STRONGER!!!
PUSH MYSELF!
PUSH MYSELF!!
PUSH MYSELF!!!
I had to get stronger, to¡ª
Ervin: (interrupting Isaiah¡¯s thoughts) Didn¡¯t I tell you not to carry hate and the desire for revenge in your heart?
Chapter 40: Hard To Accept
Isaiah sat alone in the training ground, his thoughts consumed by memories of Joshua Egoshin¡¯s destruction of his family. The weight of those thoughts was so heavy that he didn¡¯t notice Ervin approaching until he stood behind him.
Ervin: (interrupting Isaiah¡¯s thoughts) Didn¡¯t I tell you to stop carrying hate and revenge in your heart?
Isaiah: (annoyed that Ervin was there) I don¡¯t need to hear how you understand what I¡¯m feeling right now. Not from you.
Ervin: (grins) Well, sucks to be you, because I¡¯m still gonna say it anyway.
Isaiah: (cartoonish face) HUH!? Go Away!!
Ervin: (sitting down beside him) Let me ask you something. Why did you want to kill Joshua Egoshin?
Isaiah: (confused) Huh? Why do you need to ask that? You already know that.
Ervin: Yeah I know the reason. But I want to hear it from YOU.
Isaiah¡¯s mind flashed with the image of his family, slaughtered, their faces forever seared into his memory.
Isaiah: (clenching his fists, voice low with rage) I wanted to kill Joshua because he took everything from me. He slaughtered my family like they were nothing. I trained for years¡ªevery day, pushing myself so I could be strong enough to make him pay for what he did. But now¡ he¡¯s already dead. (He slams his fist into the ground next to him.) DAMN IT!
Ervin: (sighs deeply) I know this is hard. But I¡¯ve been there, Isaiah. I lost my brother, Kenji¡¯s father, back in 2003. Eldon Snyder attacked the Shadow Society, wiped out so many people, including Kenji¡¯s dad. You probably know the story. But even with all the power I have, I didn¡¯t go after him. Do you know why?
Isaiah: How should I know?
Ervin: (serious) Because revenge doesn¡¯t solve anything. I didn¡¯t let hatred consume me. I could¡¯ve used my strength to get revenge, but instead, I worked to break the cycle of hate that¡¯s been going on for centuries. I used my position as the head of the Hashido clan to end the bloodshed, not contribute to it. If you think killing Joshua would bring you peace, you¡¯re dead wrong.
Isaiah: (clenches his fists) What are you trying to say to me right now?
Ervin: (calmly) Isaiah, you¡¯ve trained for years to kill Joshua, building all that strength, pouring all your hate into it. But now that he¡¯s dead¡ what do you do with all that power and anger? You¡¯ve been running toward a goal that no longer exists.
Isaiah fell silent, his fists trembling. The frustration bubbled up, but Ervin¡¯s words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. He had worked so hard, every day, thinking that revenge would be his salvation. And now that Joshua was gone, the purpose he had built his life around felt¡ meaningless.
Ervin: ((noticing Isaiah¡¯s silence, continues) You have potential, Isaiah. Massive potential. But if you continue channeling it toward hatred, it¡¯ll destroy you. What will you do with all that strength now that the reason for it is gone?
Isaiah: (to himself) What do I intend to do? I¡¯ve spent so long building myself up to reach his level, filled with hatred and a desire for revenge. Now that Joshua Egoshin is gone, that hatred has nowhere to go. It¡¯s like I¡¯ve been running towards a finish line that no longer exists. (clenches his fists)
Ervin stood up, preparing to leave.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Ervin: (pauses) I¡¯ll leave that for you to decide on. I don¡¯t need to hear your answer. But I¡¯ll tell you this, whatever answer you come up with, don''t let it hinder you from growing because It can come back and bite you in the worst way possible.
Ervin walked off, leaving Isaiah to grapple with his emotions. A moment later, Ervin saw Kato, Mira, and Kenji approach, all clearly concerned about Isaiah.
Ervin: Oh it¡¯s you guys.
Mira: How is he, Dad?
Ervin: Angry. Frustrated. He didn¡¯t get to kill Joshua.
Kato: Is he going to be okay?
Ervin: He¡¯ll be fine once he works through it. But for now, let¡¯s give him space.
Kenji: (nods his head)
Ervin: Besides, I have to tell you something important Kato.
Kato: (points at himself) Me?
Ervin: Remember when I said the Kaimi Daja were after you because of the god eye? Well, it¡¯s worse than we thought. They¡¯re targeting all the Heirs, including me and you. From what we saw on the news, that¡¯s what happened to Joshua. If we cross paths with them, we could be next.
Kato: (shocked) For real?
Ervin: For real. So now we have targets on our backs.
Kato: (concerned face) What should I do?
Ervin: Stay vigilant. Watch your back, Kato. They could come after anyone. I won¡¯t stop you from visiting your mom in the hospital, but just¡ be careful.
Kato: (nodding, but trying to hide his worry) I¡¯ll be careful Mr Ervin.
Ervin: (cartoonish face) Attaboy!!! (to Mira) Also Mira you are gonna help Kato with his shadow rush technique so he doesn''t hurt himself every time he uses it.
Mira: (surprised and happy) Got it! You can count on me
Kato: You seem a little too excited about this.
Kenji: (muttering to himself) You still don¡¯t get it, do you?
Meanwhile, at the HFA, Karla had told Jason everything she knew about the Kaimi Daja, including the identity of Zero. But they refused to reveal the location of their hideout. Karla, Annie, and Veto were taken to prison beneath the HFA headquarters. Soon after, Joshua¡¯s body was brought in, confirming his death. Seeing Joshua¡¯s lifeless body stirred memories in Jason¡ªmemories of when his father was eaten alive by a shadow monster.
Two days later, October 7th 2021.
The funeral of Joshua Egoshin was held in his hometown, Tarma, located in State B. The air was heavy with sorrow as everyone dressed in black, their faces somber. The pastor spoke briefly, but no one else said a word; the loss of Joshua was still too fresh.
Jason found it hard to accept that Joshua was truly gone. As he watched Joshua¡¯s coffin being lowered into the ground, he recalled the conversation they had just days before¡
¡°I want to change the world and stop them from killing shadows who haven''t committed any crimes. I want to change the HFA. I want to change the way the world views shadows and most importantly, I want to live my life without anyone telling me what to do. I want to end this cycle of hatred that has been going on for the past 500 years.¡±
Jason had not come alone. He also came with Haruto, Marlo, Lisa and Koichi who were also saddened by the loss of their friend. As Jason watched them bury Joshua¡¯s coffin he suddenly remembered what Joshua had said about reincarnation.
¡°You know I''ve always wished that I could be reborn as a normal human. No powers and no big responsibilities on my shoulders. Reincarnation sounds like something out of a fairytale movie.¡±
Jason: (to himself) I hope you get reincarnated into a world where there isn¡¯t any war or conflict and you can live in peace. I know you¡¯d probably expect me to carry out your dream for you¡.but I can¡¯t. Ever since your body was brought in and I saw those thorns that were in Sanito¡¯s body, I got that same feeling I had when I watched my father get eaten by a shadow monster. I know I said I¡¯d be able to help but, I can¡¯t do it. I can¡¯t bring myself to carry on your dream. I¡¯m really sorry Joshua.
As Jason stood there, Haruto came up beside him, his own grief evident.
Haruto: How are you holding up?
Jason: I¡¯m barely hanging in there. You?
Haruto: Empty. We¡¯ve lost too many people¡ªAiden, John, Alex, Sasaki, Maya, Derrick, Dax, Sanito... and now Joshua. It makes you numb, you know? Like there¡¯s nothing left..
Jason: I totally get that feeling.
Haruto: I think this is the first time we¡¯ve agreed on something.
Jason: Don¡¯t get used to it.
Just then, it began to rain, and the group scattered to seek shelter. Marlo called out to them, urging them to head back.
Marlo: Hey, we should start heading back!!
Haruto: (taps Jason¡¯s shoulder) You coming?
Jason: Yeah. Let¡¯s go.
As they walked away, Jason glanced back at Joshua¡¯s grave, only to notice a young boy standing near it¡ªsomeone who looked strikingly like Joshua. For a moment, Jason thought he was seeing a ghost. But he quickly shook it off and turned back to his friends, trying to push the unsettling thought out of his mind.
Chapter 41: Within & Without
OCTOBER 8TH 2021,
Darkness surrounded Zero, the air thick with an unfamiliar silence. He stood on what felt like water, with no other soul in sight. As he glanced around, he noticed something unsettling ¡ª his reflection. But it wasn¡¯t his own. The face staring back at him was shrouded in shadow, except for the devilish smile that stretched across it, sending a cold shiver down Zero¡¯s spine.
Suddenly, Zero jolted awake, gasping for breath. The remnants of the nightmare lingered, but he quickly shook them off.
Zero: (to himself) It was a dream huh? Guess I shouldn¡¯t think too much of it. But¡(remembers the devilish smile of the reflection he saw) why am I seeing stuff like that?
Rising from his bed, Zero moved towards the family altar in his room. The pictures of his deceased family stared back at him as he silently prayed for two minutes.
Zero: (after he was done praying) I¡¯m heading out now, you guys.
With a final glance at the altar, he exited his room. The Kaimi Daja were still recovering from their battle with Joshua Egoshin. Though they had succeeded in defeating him, Joshua¡¯s final moments had left an indelible mark on them, and healing would take time.
When Zero entered the living room, he saw everyone gathered, casually chatting. He was relieved to see Gaki awake and seemingly recovering well.
Lorra: (noticed Zero first) Zero.
Zero: (grinning) Looking lovely as ever Lorra. (to the others) Seems you guys are looking fine.(smiles at Gaki) I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay Gaki.
Gaki: (cartoonish face, playfully) What part of this is okay? I lost my hand dude. Kinda lucky he didn¡¯t just kill me there.
Zero: (cartoonish face, mocking) Well he slashed me too. (points at the slash on his left cheek) See? See?
Gaki: (grinning) At least you have harmonic restoration to heal yourself and regrow your limbs back if he decided to cut your arm off. I don¡¯t have that luxury.
Zero: I¡¯m sorry Gaki. It was my idea for all of us to attack Joshua Egoshin and so I¡¯m equally guilty.
Gaki: Nah, don¡¯t sweat it. I wasn¡¯t expecting to make it out alive. But since I did, things are looking up. Don¡¯t apologize.
Lorra: What about your technique? Joshua cut off your left hand, the one you use to activate it. Does that mean it''s gone?
Gaki:It¡¯s not like that. The technique¡¯s engraved in the body. I can still use it; I just need to use a different part of my body to activate it.
Zero: That¡¯s good to hear man.
Jokita: Guess you won¡¯t become completely useless then.
Gaki: (cartoonish face) Uh¡..I guess??
Zero: (addressing everyone) I know it¡¯s sudden, but we need to move on to the next phase of the plan.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Desmond: (exaggerating) For real??????
Zero: Yes, for real. It¡¯s time to capture Kato Hamura. Since most of us are still recovering, Dylan and Giles will carry out the mission.
Giles: Huh?
Dylan:(points at himself) Me?
Zero: Yes. Your technique will play a crucial role in what I¡¯m about to explain. Listen carefully¡
OCTOBER 9TH 2021
Kato had decided to visit his mother, still in a coma at the hospital. Ervin, who would have gone with him, had been summoned by the Elders. Instead, Arou offered to accompany Kato. Before leaving, Ervin gave Kato a special necklace that altered his appearance, keeping him concealed from society, as he was still considered a wanted shadow.
Meanwhile, in the council room, Ervin stood before the Elders of the Shadow Society: Randar, Kiba, Akami, and Kuyomi. Despite their appearance of unity when Kato was present, Ervin had never gotten along with them ¡ª particularly...
Ervin: (sighs) No need for the charade this time. The kid¡¯s not here, so why did you call me?
Randar: Ervin, has the boy awakened the god eye yet?
Ervin: He might have. Who knows?
Kiba: You¡¯re making jokes at a time like this?
Ervin: Yeah. And if it bothers you, cover your ears, you old fart.
Kiba: (fuming) YOU PRIDEFUL BASTARD!!!!!!!!
Akami: (sighs)
Kuyomi: (sighs) Not again.
Randar: (calming Kiba) Stand down, Kiba. (to Ervin) I asked you a question. Has Kato Hamura awakened the God Eye?
Ervin: Why are you even asking now anyways? You never cared to ask him about him after he first came here three months ago.
Randar: If you¡¯re unaware, the Kaimi Daja killed an Heir of the All Mother four days ago. We still don¡¯t know why they¡¯re targeting the heirs. If Kato has awakened the God Eye, he should be brought to us¡
Ervin: (interrupts Randar) ¡..so you can turn him into a weapon? A tool for your own agendas?
Randar: I don¡¯t know what thoughts you have, but everything we do is to ensure the survival of the shadows.
Ervin: (irritated) At least give the kid a break. He was turned into a shadow against his will and his mother has been at death''s door for about three months. Now he has to worry about the Kaimi Daja who are after a power he may not even awaken. And now you want to turn him into a weapon? This is why I was never fond of you guys from the start.
Randar: You still haven¡¯t answered my question.
Ervin: And you¡¯re NOT getting an answer. I¡¯m not letting you turn Kato into a weapon for your schemes. (Starts to walk out)
Kiba: (angered) HEY!! WE¡¯RE NOT DONE HERE!!!!!!
Ervin: Well I am. Maybe you guys should consider retirement because you¡¯re getting too old for this line of work. It¡¯s making you make dumb decisions. And for the record, I¡¯m not letting you turn Kato into a weapon for your schemes. (Exits)
Kiba: TSK!! Wished there was a way to put a dog tag on him.
Randar: (sighs)
Dana Hashido (Kenji¡¯s mother and Ervin¡¯s sister-in-law) worked in the same hospital where Kato¡¯s mother was admitted and she was the doctor assigned to Korra Hamura¡¯s case. Kato and Arou had already gotten to the hospital because of Kinara¡¯s teleportation technique but Ervin decided to drive to the hospital himself.
As Ervin drove through the forest roads toward Benville City, he thought about his conversation with the Elders, growing more irritated by the minute. They were so focused on shadow dominance when what the world needed was a way to end the cycle of hatred.
Ervin: Those geezers never change. They just want to rule. They¡¯re too blind to see that nothing will change if they keep going like this¡
When Ervin stopped at a red light, a sudden barrier appeared, trapping him and the other cars in the area. Everyone around him was confused and helpless, unable to escape. Ervin stepped out of his car and assessed the situation.
Ervin: Now this is a spectacle. (to himself) A barrier huh? So they''re making me their next target huh? From what I''m seeing, this barrier has lighter energy in it. But why involve innocent people when I''m the one they''re after?
Ervin turned and looked behind him and saw Dylan and Giles on one of the trees behind him.
Giles: He noticed us huh?
Dylan: (scratches his head) We''ve got his attention now. There''s no turning back from this.
Ervin: I take it you''re the one behind this barrier huh? TAKE IT DOWN. I''m in a hurry.
Giles: Well, hate to break to you, but you''re gonna have to beat us to get out of here.
Dylan: (nervously) HEY!! DON''T TRY AND PISS HIM OFF!!
Ervin: Oh? (grinning) This is turning into something interesting.
Chapter 42: One-Sided
Zero: (to everyone) I know this is sudden, but it¡¯s time to move to the next phase of our plan.
Desmond: (cartoonish face) For real?
Zero: Yes, seriously. The plan to capture Kato Hamura. Since most of us are still recovering from the last battle, this phase will be handled by Dylan and Giles.
Giles: Huh?
Dylan:(points at himself) Me?
Zero: Yeah. Your technique will play a big role in what I¡¯m about to explain. Now listen carefully. According to ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, Kato Hamura will be going to see his mother in the hospital tomorrow. That would be his time to swipe Kato out of their hands.
Giles: Yeah. If ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö already doing that part then what are Dylan and I supposed to do?
Zero: That¡¯s the tricky part. According to ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, Ervin Hashido is scheduled to meet Kato at the hospital later. If that happens, our plan will fail. I need you two to stall him.
Giles: Oh boy¡ I had a feeling this would take a turn.
Dylan: Huh? Who¡¯s Ervin Hashido?
Giles: He¡¯s the strongest shadow of this era, according to ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. He fought Eldon Snyder during the 2003 Incident.
Dylan: (suddenly realizes) WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!???? And you want us to stall him!!??? You¡¯re basically sending us to our deaths!!!!
Zero: Not necessarily. The reason I¡¯m sending you two is because Dylan¡¯s technique can buy us time by distracting him. If things get too rough, Giles, you¡¯ll be the one to fight him.
Giles: (cartoonish face) HUH!?
Zero: (cartoonish face) PLEASE??? YOU¡¯RE THE ONLY ONE I CAN ASK TO DO THIS.
Giles: (sighs) Fine. But you better heal my injuries if I get any.
Zero: Alright. Alright.
Meanwhile, inside the barrier...
Ervin observed the barrier surrounding him, his eyes flickering over to Dylan and Giles who sat calmly atop a tree. The rest of the humans trapped inside struggled to break free, but it was futile.
Ervin: (looking up at Dylan and Giles) What are you, a couple of monkeys? Get down here.
Dylan: (cartoonish face) NO WAY!!!!
Giles: Don¡¯t mind my friend. It¡¯s just that he¡¯s scared of you and the strength you possess, Ervin Hashido.
Ervin: (surprised) Oh¡you know who I am?
Giles: Yeah I do. And I know you¡¯re the one who Eldon Snyder fought back in 2003.
Ervin: (surprised) You know that much huh?
Giles: Yep. It¡¯s why my friend here is spooked.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Ervin: (to himself) Apart from the two of them in front of me, it seems that they aren¡¯t any other shadows or lighters. And two of them happened to be a shadow and lighter. They are Kaimi Daja members and I¡¯m their target. And they seem to know a lot about me. But how did they know that I would be here? And why only send two people? Something''s fishy about this but I¡¯ll access their memories after I take down this barrier to know what their plan is.
Ervin began to prepare his shadow energy for a shadow rush but that¡¯s when he noticed that his shadow energy he had planned to power up his shadow rush had been sucked into the barrier around him.
Dylan: (nervously) I think he figured it out.
Giles: Yeah I know that. Now that he knows what the barrier does, he shouldn¡¯t use his shadow energy or his techniques or they¡¯ll get sucked up.
Ervin: (thinking) It seems that this barrier absorbs shadow energy and techniques. The fact that they haven¡¯t used their techniques either proves this. Or the barrier could be the techniques of one of them. If it was anybody else they would have had them but lucky for me I KNOW how to get out of this.
Ervin then took a different approach. With a dark grin, he focused his energy on his shadow beast, KOU.
Giles: (surprised) HUUUHH!?
Dylan: (sweating in fear) WHAT IS HE DOING!!?
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION, KOU]
A monstrous shadow beast appeared, roaring as it lunged at the barrier. The moment it entered, the barrier began to shake and crack. Dylan¡¯s body flushed red as if overheating.
Giles: (noticing Dylan¡¯s condition) Dylan, are you okay?
Ervin: (to himself) Seems it¡¯s working like a charm.
Ervin¡¯s shadow beast KOU has a special ability which allows it to fire shadow energy like a cannon. Which meant that it had a large amount of shadow energy. The Barrier surrounding them was an application of Dylan¡¯s Absorption Area technique where he could increase the range of his technique and create a physical barrier which could affect others.
However the barrier had a limit to the amount of energy it could absorb and after it had absorbed KOU, it had surpassed its limit and the barrier began to crumble. Dylan¡¯s body would also take some damage as well should the barrier surpass its limit.
As the barrier collapsed, the trapped humans saw Ervin¡¯s face and realized he was a shadow, a grave mistake.
But Ervin had prepared for this too.
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION, MNEMOSYNE]
A feminine figure appeared from Ervin¡¯s shadow. Mnemosyne was the second shadow beast that Ervin Hashido possessed in his arsenal and like the Greek goddess, it had an ability which allowed it to access the memories of people. The shadow beast then erased what the humans had seen from their memories, causing all of them to pass out.
Giles: (to himself) Damn it! The barrier is down, and Dylan is in no shape to fight. We¡¯ve stalled him long enough. (to Dylan) We need to get out of here!
Dylan: (struggling to move) I can¡¯t... I¡¯m too weak...
Giles: Shit! (reaching into his inventory) I need to get us out¡ªNOW!
But as Giles attempted to open his book inventory, Ervin appeared behind him, cutting off his escape.
Ervin: (sneering) You think I¡¯ll let you leave that easily? I¡¯ve got plenty of questions for you. You¡¯re not going anywhere.
Giles opened his book inventory in a desperate attempt, but Ervin gathered his shadow energy into his right leg, compressing it for a devastating strike. Giles saw it coming too late.
Giles: SHIT!
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]
Ervin kicked Giles who was able to use the book inventory to block the kick but it still sent him flying across the road and into the woods on the opposite side of the road. While Giles was still in the air, he noticed Ervin was in hot pursuit determination in his eyes.
Giles: (to himself) Why do I always end up fighting the strong ones? I have to find a way out of here.
Giles landed hard and quickly opened his book inventory. He summoned five shadow monsters from his book to charge at Ervin, hoping to buy himself some time.
Ervin: (grinning) Nice try, but I know how to deal with them. [BLACK: SHADOW BEADS]
The Shadow Beads Technique is another technique that was developed at the early stages of the shadow and lighter war. It allows a shadow to create giant beads of shadow energy and throw them at their opponents.
Ervin created shadow beads¡ªmassive, powerful orbs of shadow energy¡ªand threw them at the oncoming shadow monsters. They were obliterated instantly.
Giles: (fuming) Are you kidding me?!
Giles quickly began to draw something else in his book inventory, but before he could finish, Ervin moved again.
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION, ARATA]
A fearsome, ghostly figure emerged from Ervin¡¯s shadow¡ªArata, a creature with the ability to instill overwhelming terror in its opponents. As Arata¡¯s gaze met Giles, a paralyzing fear gripped him, causing him to fall to his knees, helpless.
As Giles fell to his knees, Ervin stood before him and dispelled Arata who returned into his shadow.
Giles: to himself) Damn it... Not like this...
Ervin: (looking down at Giles, smirking) Now let¡¯s wrap things up.
Chapter 43: Traitor
Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION, MNEMOSYNE]
Giles: (to himself) Damn it. I can¡¯t move.
Mnemosyne¡¯s ability allowed it to access the memories of anyone it touched. Everything it uncovered was relayed back to Ervin. With Giles still immobilized from the effects of ARATA, Ervin seized the opportunity to delve into the motives of the Kaimi Daja and their identity.
Mnemosyne placed its hand on Giles¡¯ head and began sifting through his memories. As it scanned Giles'' mind, Ervin saw what Mnemosyne saw. The memories revealed plans, motives, and a truth that shook Ervin to his core. He sent Mnemosyne back into his shadow, his mind racing.
Ervin: (to himself) They have such formidable allies¡ Shadows and Lighters working together? No hate, no conflict. Just like the world I¡¯m trying to build. Even he¡¯s there too¡ but I didn¡¯t expect to see¡ª
His thoughts were interrupted. The effects of ARATA wore off, and Giles was already back on his feet, albeit breathing heavily.
Giles: (breathing heavily)
Ervin: Still want to go at it? I¡¯m fine with that, but I have questions for you and your meddling group.
Giles: (grinning, reaching for his book inventory) Questions? (laughs) Didn¡¯t you look inside my head? You¡¯ve got your answers, man. You should already know why we¡¯re here. This is just a distraction so we can take the kid. And I¡¯m going to make sure you stay right here.
Giles opened his inventory book and released a swarm of shadow monsters. His book, containing over a hundred pages, could hold two items per page. Normally, Giles used it as both a canvas for his art and a tool to store his creations. In this moment of desperation, he unleashed all the shadow monsters he had stored.
Ervin: (eyes widening at the sight of the swarm) He had this many monsters stored? That book¡¯s mysterious. Too bad I didn¡¯t check his memories for its origin. (notices Giles climbing onto a flying shadow monster) Damn it. He¡¯s getting away. I¡¯ll shoot him down with SHADOW BEADS.
Giles: (noticing Ervin preparing to attack) Don¡¯t you think you need to worry about the other things?
Ervin¡¯s attention shifted to the shadow monsters. They weren¡¯t attacking him¡ªinstead, they were heading for the unconscious civilians lying on the road.
Ervin: Damn it. (to Giles) Targeting innocents so you can escape? A cowardly move.
Giles: (scuffs) Call it what you want. As long as it keeps you here, I¡¯m fine with being a coward.
The monsters closed in on the civilians. Torn between chasing Giles and saving the innocents, Ervin chose the latter. He rushed in, killing the shadow monsters one by one. As he fought, Giles escaped into the evening skies on the back of the flying shadow monster, carrying Dylan with him.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Kato sat silently by his mother¡¯s bedside. She was still in a coma. Arou stood quietly at the door, watching him. Whenever Kato visited the hospital, he never said a word, simply sitting in silence for an hour or two before leaving.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
After an hour, Kato rose from his chair and motioned to leave. Arou followed him to Dana¡¯s office to inform her.
Dana: You¡¯re leaving already?
Kato: Yeah (bows his head) Thank You for taking care of my mother, ma¡¯am.
Dana: (concerned) Oh, no need to thank me. I¡¯m just doing my job. But¡ are you okay?
Kato: Honestly, I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t felt this down since my dad left. Knowing there¡¯s nothing I can do to save my mom¡ I feel hopeless.
Arou: (concerned face)
Kato: (puts on a fake smile) But, you don¡¯t need to worry about me. Let¡¯s go, Arou.
Arou: (checks a message on his phone) Yeah.
Dana: Yeah. I¡¯ll see you guys later.
As they left, Kato¡¯s necklace¡ªa gift from Ervin¡ªconcealed his identity, allowing him to walk unnoticed. A few blocks from the hospital, Kato stopped.
Arou: What¡¯s wrong?
Kato: There¡¯s somewhere I want to go. Do you mind?
Arou: Sure. Lead the way.
Back in her office, Dana¡¯s phone rang. It was Ervin.
Dana: (answering, irritated) Where the hell are you? You¡¯re an hour late! I told you I had something important to tell you!
Ervin: Whatever it is, it can wait. Where¡¯s Kato?
Dana: Huh? He just left now with Arou. Why?
Ervin: DAMN IT!! He¡¯s already left?
Dana: What¡¯s wrong?
Ervin: Listen carefully. I know you¡¯re busy, so get Kayomi to track him down. Kato¡¯s life is in danger.
Dana: (shocked) IN DANGER!?
Ervin: We¡¯ve had a mole leaking info on Kato to the Kaimi Daja. I found out after accessing one of their memories.
Dana: (horrified) A mole? Who is it?
Ervin: The Mole is¡¡¡.
At the Hashido estate, Kayomi and Kinara were admiring baby items for their child on the way. Kinara was thrilled, though Kayomi¡¯s enthusiasm was more subdued.
Kinara: (cartoonish face) OMIGOSH!!! THESE BABY OUTFITS ARE SOOOOO CUTE. I REALLY HOPE WE HAVE A GIRL.
Kayomi: (holding tiny clothes) They¡¯re small¡ and expensive.
Kinara: (cartoonish face) HEY KAYOMI. WHAT GENDER DO YOU THINK THE BABY IS GOING TO BE?
Kayomi: A boy.
Kinara: (cartoonish face) A BOY???? I WANT TO HAVE AN ADORABLE LOOKING GIRL CHILD FIRST!! BOYS ARE SUCH WUSSES.
Kayomi: Whatever works I guess?
Kinara: (not satisfied with his reply) AT LEAST SHOW SOME ENTHUSIASM. IT¡¯S YOUR BABY TOO YOU KNOW. YOU¡¯RE GOING TO BE A DAD AND I DON¡¯T WANT OUR KID TO THINK HE HAS A GLOOMY AND BORING FATHER.
Kayomi: AM I GLOOMY AND BORING?
Kinara: NOT TO ME THOUGH. BUT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS SO.
Kayomi: EVERYONE?
Kinara: YEAH. I ASKED DANA, AROU, ROSHI, YOSHI, ERVIN, MIRA AND THE OTHER KIDS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. EXCEPT FOR KATO SINCE HE DOESN¡¯T KNOW YOU ALL THAT WELL.
Kayomi: (gloomy face) I see.
Kinara: (cartoonish face) You¡¯re being gloomy right now. Smile a little.
Kayomi¡¯s phone rang. It was Dana.
Kayomi: Dana? You hardly call me. What¡¯s the occasion?
Dana: I know you''re busy Kayomi but this is important. Kato¡¯s life is in danger and you¡¯re the only one who can find him right now.
Kayomi: (shocked) Kato¡¯s in Danger? What¡¯s happening?
Dana: You see¡¡¡
After Kinara teleported Kayomi to the hospital, he began tracking Kato¡¯s location. He moved quickly, hoping to make it in time.
Meanwhile, Kato and Arou arrived at Kato¡¯s old home. The house remained untouched since July, shrouded in an eerie stillness. Inside, memories flooded back¡ªTakimo waiting for him at the kitchen table, his mom teasing Takimo about his Studio Ghibli obsession.
Kato: (to himself) Why couldn¡¯t things stay the way they were?
Arou: Come on, Kato. We need to leave before anyone sees us.
Kato: Right.
Outside, Kato apologized to Arou for dragging him along.
Arou: Don¡¯t worry about it. I get how you miss the life you used to have.
Kato: Yeah. I wish things had stayed the same, but¡ (recalls Gaki¡¯s words about the world¡¯s indifference to desires)
Before Kato could finish, Kayomi appeared, startling both of them.
Kayomi: Found you.
Kato: (confused) Mr Kayomi? What¡¯s going on?
Kayomi: (running towards Kato) KATO!!!! GET AWAY FROM HIM RIGHT NOW!!!! HE¡¯S¡..
Kayomi didn¡¯t have the time to finish his sentence because, at that moment, Arou grabbed Kato by the hoodie and disappeared from his sight, taking Kato with him.
Kayomi: DAMN IT!!! I WAS TOO LATE!!!
Kayomi briefly recalled what Dana had told him on the phone. It was the same thing that Ervin had shared with her¡ªthere was a mole among them who was secretly a member of the Kaimi Daja. That mole was Arou.
Chapter 43: Traitor
Chapter 44: Unbelief
Kato was in his usual hand-to-hand combat training with Arou, a few weeks after beginning his shadow technique training with Roshi. As usual, Kato was improving rapidly, and Arou was visibly impressed by his progress.
Arou: You¡¯re amazing, Kato.
Kato: Really?
Arou: You seemed good at hand-to-hand combat even before now.
Kato: Well, I did a little karate back in middle school.
Arou: It¡¯s not just that. Your body packs a ton of strength and power. Every blow you send my way is backed by incredible force. It¡¯s almost like that shadow bug gave you superhuman strength alongside your shadow energy.
Kato: (cartoonish face) You mean like superman¡¯s strength?
Arou: (cartoonish face) Let¡¯s not go that far.
Kato: (cartoonish face) OH¡¡¡
Arou: Kato, can I ask you something? Hope you don¡¯t mind.
Kato: Sure, go right ahead.
Arou: I know you probably answered this question before but how do you feel being turned into a shadow? Like one minute you were having a normal life and the next minute you¡¯re a shadow and your mom is¡¡.(suddenly stops) Sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said that.
Kato: Oh, no, it¡¯s fine. (pauses to think) To be honest, I was terrified at first. I used to think all Shadows were evil. But after staying with you guys for a while, I realized I was wrong. I was only seeing things from one side. My time with you has been¡ great. And about my mom¡ (remembers what Yamato and the others told him)¡I think I¡¯ll be ready when the time comes.
Arou: (looks at Kato and feels bad) I see. Kato¡¡..
Roshi: (suddenly appears behind Kato, smacking him on the head) ALRIGHT, YOUNG BLOOD! TIME FOR TRAINING!
Kato: (groans in pain) Right.
Arou: (cartoonish face) So loud.
Chapter 44: Unbelief
Kato didn¡¯t fully understand what had just happened. One moment he was at home with Arou, and the next, Kayomi burst in, shouting something about ¡°getting away from him.¡± Then, everything blurred. He found himself in an abandoned building with shattered windows and debris strewn across the floor..
Kato: (to himself) What the hell? One minute I was home, and now I¡¯m here? What is this place? An abandoned building? (suddenly remembers) Arou?
Arou: I¡¯m here Kato.
Kato turned to see Arou standing on a balcony inside the building.
Kato: Huh? What are you doing up there? (looks around) Forget that¡ªhow did we get here?
Arou: I brought us here.
Kato: Huh? Why would you do that?
Arou: Because I¡¯m kidnapping you, Kato.
Kato: (confused) What? What are you talking about, Arou? Stop messing around. Let¡¯s head back.
Arou: (expression turns cold) I¡¯m not messing around.
Kato¡¯s heart sank. Kayomi¡¯s warnings suddenly began to make sense. Something was very wrong.
Kato: Why would you want to kidnap me?
Arou: The Kaimi Daja¡¯s goal is to gather all the pieces of the All Mother. Since you¡¯re the last descendant of the Hamorabi Clan, you became our target. We need the God Eye¡ once it awakens in you.
Kato: (shocked) Kaimi Daja? What the hell are you talking about, Arou?!
Arou: (sighs) I forgot to mention that part, huh? Yes, I¡¯m a member of the Kaimi Daja. I was sent to spy on and watch you.
Everything came rushing back to Kato¡ªthe losses, the warnings, the painful realizations:
¡°You ain¡¯t human anymore.¡±
¡°Your mom¡¯s in a coma because she wasn¡¯t compatible with shadow energy. She¡¯s going to die.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
¡°The world doesn¡¯t work according to your desires. You¡¯re one of us now, and there¡¯s nothing you can do about it."
Kato: (to himself, horrified) How did it come to this? Mr. Ervin warned me the Kaimi Daja would come for me¡ but we had one of them with us this whole time?
Arou: (jumps from the balcony, landing in front of Kato) I¡¯m sorry you had to find out like this. But we have a dream, and you¡¯re one of the keys to achieving it.
Kato: (angrily) ¡°WE?¡±
Arou: It¡¯ll be best that you don¡¯t resist. You¡.
Kato: (shouts) DON¡¯T TALK LIKE I¡¯M LETTING YOU TAKE ME! GIVE ME A BREAK!
Arou: This isn¡¯t easy for me, you know. I was the one who taught you hand to hand combat and treated you like a little brother. I also wish you weren¡¯t the one we were after so we could¡¯ve been¡¡
Kato: BEEN WHAT!? (steps away from Arou) YOU¡¯RE THE REASON WHY I¡¯M IN THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU ASKED ME THAT QUESTION BACK THEN!? WHY DID YOU ASK ME THAT QUESTION!?
Arou:(hesitates) I wanted to understand how you were coping with everything we put you through. And I needed to confirm something¡ but I never got to ask.
Kato: Confirm what?
Arou: Do you believe Shadows, Lighters, and Humans can ever live in peace again?
Kato: Why are you asking me this now?!
Arou: Like I said I want to confirm something. And I won¡¯t get a chance like this again.
Kato: (thinks briefly) I believe it is possible. Despite the hatred and bloodshed, I want to believe there¡¯s a way to make peace.
Arou: And how do you intend to do that?
Kato: (looks at Arou with anger and determination) I¡¯ll start by stopping you and the Kaimi Daja from hurting anyone else and also stop the actions of the bad shadows from and eventually change the ideas and minds of everyone about shadows.
Arou: The same answer as always huh? Do you believe in that on your own accord or because Ervin told you to?
Kato: Huh?
Arou: (gets annoyed) EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER!!!!! YOU ALL SAY THE SAME THING BECAUSE ERVIN TOLD YOU THAT WAS WHAT HE BELIEVED IN. TRY AND THINK FOR YOURSELVES FOR ONCE!!! YOU ALL THINK THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED BY TALKING THIS OUT AND CHANGING OUR WAYS EVERYBODY GETS A HAPPY ENDING. BUT I DON¡¯T BELIEVE IN THAT. BUT THERE IS NO ONE WHO BELIEVES OTHERWISE ASIDE FROM ME AND THAT¡¯S WHY I HATED ALL OF THEM AND JOINED THE KAIMI DAJA. WE DESIRE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
Kato: And you think going after all the heirs is gonna help stop this cycle of hatred?!
Arou: Yes. Their powers are instrumental to our cause. Until you awaken the God Eye, we intend to capture and contain you.
Kato: And the people you¡¯ve hurt for your goals? Don¡¯t their lives matter?
Arou: They do. But I can¡¯t bring myself to worry about them if it doesn¡¯t affect our goals. They were necessary sacrifices for our goals to be realized.
Kato: (enraged) SO YOU¡¯RE CALLING MY MOTHER A NECESSARY SACRIFICE?
Arou: (sighs) Yeah.
As soon as Arou spoke, Kato''s shadow energy spiked, and his eyes burned scarlet red, just as they had during his fight with Kenny when he was kidnapped by the Kaimi Daja. Arou remained unfazed, watching the transformation with clinical detachment.
Arou: (to himself) It¡¯s exactly how Gaki described it. His shadow energy spikes, and his eyes change color. It must be tied to his shadow technique. But he doesn¡¯t seem to know how it works, and even Ervin is clueless about it. This should be manageable.
What Arou didn¡¯t anticipate was Kato¡¯s sudden burst of speed, far surpassing anything he had displayed during training.
Arou: (to himself) He¡¯s faster? Could this be his technique? A body reinforcement ability, maybe? No matter. It¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle.
Kato rushed at Arou, launching a flurry of punches. Arou blocked each strike with ease, analyzing Kato¡¯s movements. When Kato threw a hard right hook, Arou intercepted it, countering with a swift punch to Kato¡¯s chest, followed by another to his face, forcing Kato to stagger back. Undeterred, Kato¡¯s fiery determination burned in his eyes as he launched another assault.
Kato¡¯s strikes came fast and relentless, but Arou remained impenetrable, blocking every blow and landing counters with precision. Kato swung his right fist again, only for Arou to deflect it and drive a powerful punch into his chest. Before Kato could react, Arou¡¯s left hand connected with his face, sending him skidding across the ground.
Kato scrambled back to his feet, frustration mingling with resolve.
Kato: (to himself) He¡¯s insanely strong. I haven¡¯t landed a single hit. So he was holding back during training? Damn it! I can¡¯t stop now. If I give up, everything everyone has done for me¡ªErvin, Mira, Isaiah, Takimo¡ªit¡¯ll all be for nothing. I have to fight. I have to find a way out of this!
Memories of his friends flashed through his mind, fueling his determination. Kato rushed forward again, throwing a wild combination of punches and kicks. Arou remained calm, deflecting every blow. Each counter from Arou landed with punishing force, sending Kato sprawling to the ground time and again. Still, Kato refused to stay down.
Arou: (sighs) This isn¡¯t going anywhere. You¡¯ve realized by now, haven¡¯t you? I was holding back during our training. You can¡¯t beat me.
Kato: (shouting) SHUT UP!!!
Fueled by rage, Kato lunged with a high kick aimed at Arou¡¯s head. Arou blocked it effortlessly. Kato followed with a left hook, only for Arou to counter with another precise punch, snapping Kato¡¯s head to the side. Kato retaliated with a desperate right hook that Arou dodged, grabbing Kato¡¯s hood and sweeping his legs out from under him. Before Kato could recover, Arou delivered a kick to his face, sending him reeling.
As Kato staggered, Arou pressed the advantage, unleashing a barrage of punches too fast for Kato to counter. Then, Arou uttered the words:
Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
Two clones emerged from Arou¡¯s shadow, grabbing Kato¡¯s arms and restraining him. The real Arou stepped forward, delivering a brutal sequence of blows that left Kato dazed. His head swam, a sensation eerily reminiscent of the night he was taken by the Kaimi Daja. As Arou dismissed his clones, they dissolved back into his shadow, and Kato collapsed to the ground, his scarlet eyes fading back to their usual yellow.
Kato: (to himself) Damn it¡ I have to get up¡ I can¡¯t let it end here¡
He tried to rise, but his body refused to obey. Looking up, he saw Arou towering over him, his victory assured.
Arou: (sighs) I didn¡¯t want it to come to this. You forced my hand, Kato. And where has that gotten you? Since you can¡¯t move, taking you back to the hideout will be a lot easier.
Arou activated his technique again.
Arou: [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
Two clones reappeared, moving to lift Kato¡¯s limp body. But then¡
Chapter 45: Awakening
When the mind and body are in synch
When your soul works with the desire from within
What you seek will become within your reach
And all you''ll have to do is stretch your hands
Kato: (to himself) Damn it. I have to get up. I can¡¯t let it end here. (tries to get up but fails)
Kato looked up and saw Arou towering over him, claiming his victory.
Arou: (sighs) I didn¡¯t want it to end this way. You made me fight you, Kato. And where did that get you? Since you can¡¯t move now, it¡¯ll make taking you back to the hideout way easier. [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
Two clones emerged from Arou¡¯s shadow, moving to pick up Kato. But then¡¡
Kayomi burst through the roof of the abandoned house, landing between Arou and the clones. In an instant, Kayomi destroyed the clones and caught Kato before he fell. Both Arou and Kato were stunned by Kayomi¡¯s sudden appearance.
Arou: (to himself) He took out my clones in an instant? He¡¯s as strong as they say¡ but why now?
Kayomi: (to Kato) Are you okay Kato?
Kato: (still in pain) Yeah¡ I¡¯m fine.
Kayomi: (to himself) They were already fighting before I found them. Kato¡¯s badly hurt. I didn¡¯t believe it when Dana told me this, but after seeing that¡ (to Arou) What¡¯s the meaning of this, Arou!?
Arou: So you figured it out. Saves me the trouble of explaining again. How did you find us?
Kayomi: Kinara¡¯s technique allows her to teleport people. Even after she teleports people her energy will still linger on the person she teleports for a while. The same thing happened to you and I tracked her energy on you to this place.
Arou: For real? Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have let Kinara teleport us.
Kayomi: How long have you been with the Kaimi Daja?
Arou: Hmm¡ about a year now. But why does that matter?
Kayomi: Why are you doing this? Ervin took you in, cared for you. We all shared the same dream to change the world. What changed? Why did you join them?
Arou: I still want to change the world but not the way you all want to. ALL of you have the same mindset, same goals and want to use the same methods and it¡¯s all because Ervin told you that He could. I eventually got fed up with this because I wanted to chase something different but there was NO ONE who could understand me. But the Kaimi Daja d and I¡¯ve chosen to follow those who understand me and I will do everything possible to make OUR goals come to fruition.
Kayomi: Your goals are hurting people. Don¡¯t you¡ª
Arou: (interrupting) See? This is why I hated all of you. The same speeches, the same questions. Nothing unique about any of you. I¡¯m done with you. I¡¯m not part of your group anymore. Treat me as your enemy. [BLACK: SHADOW FRAGMENTATION]
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Arou summoned two clones and prepared to fight.
Kayomi: Not happening, Arou. (to himself) His technique tips battles in his favor, but I can handle him.
Kato: (trying to stand) I¡¯m fighting too, Mr. Kayomi.
Kayomi: Huh!? No way. You¡¯re too injured to fight. You can barely even stand.
Kato: It¡¯s fine. I can push myself. (tries to move but collapses)
Kayomi: This isn¡¯t the time to be stubborn Kato. I¡¯ll fight Arou. If you manage to gain enough strength, get out of here. I already called for backup and they¡¯ll be here soon. But until then, stay put or if you can, RUN. [BLACK: SHADOW HARDENING]
Kayomi hardened the skin around his arms and legs, engaging Arou in battle. Kato, too injured to fight, could only watch, a deep feeling of helplessness washing over him.
And as Kato battled with this feeling of helplessness, his mind raced with Arou¡¯s earlier words:
¡°EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER!!!!! YOU ALL SAY THE SAME SHIT BECAUSE ERVIN TOLD YOU THAT WAS WHAT HE BELIEVED IN. YOU ALL THINK THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED BY TALKING THIS OUT AND CHANGING OUR WAYS EVERYBODY GETS A HAPPY ENDING. BUT I DON¡¯T BELIEVE IN THAT. BUT THERE IS NO ONE WHO BELIEVES OTHERWISE ASIDE FROM ME AND THAT¡¯S WHY I HATED ALL OF THEM AND JOINED THE KAIMI DAJA. WE DESIRE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.¡±
At that moment too, Kato remembered what Ervin had asked him after his meeting with the elders back in July:
Ervin: Back there you said you want to change the way the world views Shadows. Do you mean that or you just said it to get in the Elders good graces?
Kato: Huh?? Of Course I did. I really want to change it so we all don''t have to hide from the world.
And as if on queue, Gaki¡¯s words also echoed in his mind:
¡°Sorry to break it to you but the world doesn''t work according to your desires¡±
These memories replayed as Kato watched the fight, immobilized by his injuries and doubts.
Kato: (to himself) I formed my goals because of everything that happened after the shadow bug bit me that night. I wanted to change the way the world views shadows so that I and other shadows who are out there and are not evil can have a chance at a normal life without hiding who they are from the world. I started training and getting stronger so I can be strong enough to face and stop the people who put my mother near death. But now, face-to-face with someone responsible for all of this, I can¡¯t do anything.
Kato looked up and saw Kayomi fighting Arou literally ten feet away from where he was.
As he watched them fight each other, a part of him began to feel that maybe it was okay to let Kayomi fight for him because after all ¡°THE WORLD DOESN¡¯T WORK ACCORDING TO HIS DESIRES¡± so it wouldn¡¯t matter how much he trained.
If he wasn¡¯t strong enough to beat Arou, he wouldn''t be able to do it no matter how hard he tried.
But just when he was about to succumb to this notion, images of his mother and Takimo flashed in his mind.
Kato: (to himself) Since when was I ever the type to give up? Since when did I have such a naive and primitive mindset? YOU¡¯RE BECOMING A FOOL KATO. (tries standing up) I won¡¯t let things continue like this. (Images of Mira, Ervin, Isaiah, Yamato, Cookie, Uta and Kenji flashed in his mind) I WON¡¯T LET EVERYONE¡¯S EFFORT AND HELP BE IN VAIN!! I¡¯LL SHOW THE RESULTS OF EVERYTHING THEY¡¯VE DONE FOR ME UP UNTIL NOW!!!
Despite the pain, Kato stood and began walking toward the battle, determination burning in his eyes. Unknown to him, his resolve had triggered something within.
Meanwhile, the fight between Kayomi and Arou intensified. Arou summoned two clones to overwhelm Kayomi. As Kayomi fought them, Arou seized the chance to strike with a shadow rush.
Arou: (to himself) He hasn¡¯t hardened his whole body. I¡¯ll strike here!
Arou then tried to hit Kayomi with the shadow rush but Kayomi saw this and realized he won¡¯t be able to harden that part of his skin on time.
At the last second, Kayomi grabbed one of the clones, using it as a shield. The clone dissipated. Wasting no time, Kayomi threw the second clone at Arou and hit it with a shadow rush, sending Arou flying. But Arou remained unharmed, the clone absorbing the damage.
Kayomi: (to himself) This fight is getting rather tedious. If I drag this out for too long it¡¯ll probably end up badly. Maybe I¡¯ll harden my whole body next. But what I¡¯m worried about is that¡¡..
Arou: (to himself) He was fast enough to avoid getting hit by my shadow rush without even hardening his full body. My guess is that he¡¯ll harden his whole body and it¡¯ll be difficult to land hits on him. And that also reveals the other risk. His hardened arms along with a shadow rush will deliver more decisive and fatal blows which is why I¡¯ve had my clones take the damage for it. If he hardens his whole body, his attacks will be devastating. I¡¯ll use my trump card to end this now.
As they prepared for the next round, Arou sensed someone approaching. Turning, he saw Kato charging toward him.
Kayomi: (shocked) WHAT ARE YOU DOING KATO!?
Arou: (to himself) Attacking from behind? Pointless when I can sense you coming.
Kato, undeterred, continued his advance, chanting:
Kato: [BLACK:...]
Kato had chanted the word ¡°BLACK¡± and the conclusion that Arou drew out was that Kato was going to hit him with the shadow rush technique. And to protect himself, Arou summoned a clone from his shadow to defend him. But what happened next shocked everyone, even Kato himself.
As Kato threw his right hand to supposedly punch Arou¡¯s clone with the shadow rush, Kato¡¯s arms suddenly hardened, and the force of his punch sent the clone¡ªand Arou¡ªflying.
Arou: (to himself) WHAT!? The force of his blow increased!? (sees Kato¡¯s hands) That wasn''t a shadow rush¡
Kayomi: (stunned) WAIT! THAT¡¯S MY¡
Both Arou and Kayomi stared at Kato, whose right eye now glowed light lavender.
And in that moment it all made sense to them.
Kato: (to himself, determined) I¡¯ll prove my worth. Right here, right now!!
Kato''s self-reflection, his goals, and his unwavering determination had all led to the awakening of a power he was destined to unlock from the very beginning. He noticed this shift as he looked at his now-hardened arms, which resembled Kayomi¡¯s. It was then that Kato realized he had awakened the Right God Eye¡ª
an ancient power passed down through the Hamorabi clan before their annihilation in the war. This eye granted him the ability to copy techniques.
Chapter 46: Overwhelming Desire
It is the desire to make a difference that drives us
To achieve our goals
Inside the abandoned house in the middle of the forest, the battle between Kayomi and Arou raged on. It was a classic one-on-one clash, with both combatants giving their all. But everything changed when Kato joined the fight, his determination to prove his worth pushing him to awaken the God Eye. This awakening shocked everyone, as the God Eye¡¯s ability to copy techniques allowed Kato to replicate Kayomi¡¯s shadow hardening technique. Arou¡¯s nerves were on edge¡ªthis unexpected turn of events made the fight more dangerous than ever.
Kayomi: (running to Kato) Kato!! I thought I told you¡
Kato: Mr. Kayomi, please let me join you in this fight. I¡¯m the one Arou¡¯s after, so I want to face him too. I HAVE TO PROVE MY WORTH. Everyone¡¯s efforts to protect and help me can¡¯t be in vain. I¡¯m not running away.
Kayomi: (seeing Kato¡¯s determined expression) Guess there¡¯s no stopping you, huh? (noticing Kato¡¯s hardened arms) Still, it¡¯s amazing that you awakened the God Eye and copied my technique.
Kato: Is that why my arms hardened like yours? Honestly, it was pure instinct. I didn¡¯t even realize I¡¯d awakened it. So, this is the power of the God Eye? To copy techniques? (briefly recalls asking Ervin about the God Eye and not receiving an answer.)
Kayomi: Doesn¡¯t it have conditions?
Kato: It does¡ Wait, how do I know that? Suddenly, I just understood how it works.
Kayomi: (to himself) Perhaps awakening it automatically downloads the knowledge into his mind. (to Kato) We can talk about this later. Right now, we need to focus on Arou.
Kato: (nodding with determination) RIGHT!!
As Kato and Kayomi prepared for the next phase of their battle, Arou was filled with conflicting emotions.
Arou: (to himself) He awakened it? Brilliant. That means our plan CAN still succeed. But if Kato already copied Kayomi¡¯s technique, he could copy mine too. Or has he already? No¡ there must be conditions. DAMN IT! There¡¯s no time to overthink. If the God Eye can copy techniques, I¡¯ll use something it can¡¯t replicate.
Kayomi and Kato walked towards Arou to continue the battle but then they stopped their advance because they sensed Arou¡¯s shadow energy beginning to spike up. Arou spread his arms wide, and his shadow energy spiked. Kayomi immediately recognized the technique Arou was about to unleash.
Kato: What¡¯s happening?
Kayomi: Damn it. He¡¯s using it.
Arou: [PERFECT MANIFESTATION: BOUNDLESS ZENITH]
As Arou activated his perfect manifestation, his shadow suddenly grew larger and wider and covered the ground around them. At that same moment too, numerous clones emerged from the expanded shadow and surrounded Kato and Kayomi.
Kato: (shocked) What the hell is this!?Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Kayomi: It¡¯s Arou¡¯s perfect manifestation. Now he¡¯s had us outnumbered. Stay close to me Kato.
Kato: Right!!
Arou: (watching the two of them) Now I can finish both of them in one fell swoop before they can have time to react. No matter what happens, I WILL fulfill our goal.
Arou''s signature ability, Shadow Fragmentation, allows him to break his shadow energy into distinct pieces, creating independent clones from those fragments. This technique stems from Arou¡¯s deep desire to have others like him, symbolizing his longing for connection.
Each clone functions autonomously and serves multiple purposes. Arou shares his vision with his clones, enabling him to observe multiple locations simultaneously. Furthermore, the clones possess a unique teleportation ability: when a clone is dispelled, any item or person it holds is instantly teleported to Arou. This is how Arou managed to teleport Kato Hamura from Kayomi during their first encounter¡ªthe "Arou" with Kato was actually a clone.
The number of clones Arou can create is usually limited to four. However, this restriction is lifted when Arou activates his perfect manifestation, BOUNDLESS ZENITH. In this elevated state, Arou¡¯s shadow expands exponentially, enabling him to create an unlimited number of clones and fully unleashing the potential of Shadow Fragmentation.
Kayomi: (examining the clones) This will be a hassle.
Kato: (realizes something) Is that how it works? (to Kayomi) Mr Kayomi, I have a plan that might just work.
Kayomi: A plan?
Before they could act, the clones attacked, forcing Kato and Kayomi to defend themselves. Every time they defeated one wave, another emerged. Arou¡¯s strategy was clear: exhaust them and take Kato once he was too weak to resist. But Kato¡¯s mind raced, and as he fought, he pieced together a solution.
Kato: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]
Kato hardened his legs and used shadow energy to amplify his speed, tearing through the swarm and heading straight for Arou. The key to defeating a perfect manifestation was severing the user¡¯s connection to the Nexus, and Kato knew this was their only chance.
Arou: (seeing Kato approach) Hmph. Impatient, aren¡¯t you?
Arou reached out to grab Kato, but Kato vanished just before contact.
Arou: (to Kato) IS THAT IT!? You copied my technique with that eye of yours and used it to distract me and you think that¡¯s going to work? Too bad for you because NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, OUR GOAL WILL STILL BE REALIZED!!!
Above him, Kato descended, aiming a powerful stomp with his hardened legs. Arou raised both hands to block the strike, but the sheer force drove him into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.
Reacting swiftly, Arou grabbed Kato''s leg and slammed him into the ground, trying to immobilize him. As Arou glanced up, he froze¡ªKayomi was already in front of him, his shadow energy compressed into his right hand. Arou realized too late that Kayomi was far too close for him to evade the impending strike.
Kato: (to Arou) You can¡¯t summon clones if you¡¯re distracted, right? Thanks to this eye, (pointing to his right eye), I can see that.
With Kayomi already in front of him, there was nothing Arou could do to defend himself from the incoming attack.
Kayomi: [BLACK: SHADOW RUSH]
Kayomi unleashed a devastating strike, shattering Arou¡¯s connection to the Nexus. The clones surrounding them instantly vanished, and Arou¡¯s shadow energy receded to its normal state.
Arou lay sprawled on the ground, grunting in pain, while Kayomi lay nearby, utterly exhausted. Kato staggered to his feet and walked toward Kayomi. The strain of maintaining the God Eye and copying two techniques had taken its toll. The shadow-hardening on Kato¡¯s arms dissolved, and the glow in his right eye dimmed, returning it to its usual yellow hue.
Kayomi: Are you alright, Kato?
Kato: I¡¯m fine, Mr. Kayomi. Just a little weak.
Kayomi: That¡¯s expected. You used a lot of shadow energy maintaining the God Eye and copying those abilities. Anyone attempting that for the first time would feel drained.
Kato: (glancing down at his feet) The shadow hardening tore my shoes apart. I didn¡¯t think that would happen. Your shoes seem fine though. Are those even shoes?
Kayomi: They¡¯re called ¡®Tabi.¡¯ They¡¯re made to withstand shadow hardening. I¡¯ll get you a pair when we get back.
Kato: Thanks.
Kayomi stood up, brushing off the dust on his clothes.
Kayomi: We should get moving. I¡¯m surprised the others didn¡¯t show up before we finished the fight.
Kato: Others?
Kayomi: Yeah, I called¡ª
Before Kayomi could finish, someone dropped from the ceiling of the abandoned house. In an instant, Kayomi was attacked and restrained by writhing tree vines. The source of the vines stood before them¡ªLorra Hawks, who had appeared without warning.
Kato barely had time to react before he too, was ensnared by Lorra¡¯s vines. Just then, two more figures descended from the ceiling: Zero and Jokita.
Zero: Careful, Lorra. Don¡¯t kill them.
Lorra: Yeah I won¡¯t.
Arou: (lifting his head weakly) You guys? What are you doing here? I said I¡¯d bring Kato in myself.
Zero: Well I was kinda worried when you started taking too long, so I decided to check up on you.
Arou: (smirks) Aren¡¯t you the kind one?
Zero: But man, you look like hell. Was Kato Hamura really that tough?
Arou: He¡¯ll be even tougher if we don¡¯t take the God Eye from him now.
Jokita: (wide-eyed) He¡¯s awakened it?
Arou: (nods his head in agreement)
Zero: (grinning) Now it¡¯s getting interesting. Let¡¯s not waste time¡ªwe¡¯ll take the eye here and now.
Zero strode toward Kato, who was struggling against Lorra¡¯s vines. Sensing Zero¡¯s presence in front of him, Kato ceased his struggle and looked up, his face twisted in confusion and
frustration.
Kato: Who are you?
Zero: (smirking) I¡¯m Zero, leader of the Kaimi Daja. The one behind what happened to your mother.
Chapter 47: Similarities & Differences
You are me and I am you,
Despite our differences,we are yet so similar
Zero walked towards Kato, who was struggling to break free from Lorra¡¯s tree vines. Kato froze when he noticed Zero standing in front of him.
Kato: (confused) WHO ARE YOU?
Zero: (smiles) I¡¯m Zero. Leader of the Kaimi Daja. The one behind what happened to your mom.
Kato¡¯s thoughts raced back to the image of his mother in a coma at the hospital. Anger flared within him, and his scarlet-red eyes ignited with fury. With a surge of rage, Kato broke free from Lorra¡¯s tree restraint and charged at Zero, fists flying. His raw power shocked everyone except Arou, who had seen this transformation before.
Arou: (to himself) That thing again?
Kayomi: (shocked) Kato!? (to himself) This isn¡¯t the God Eye. This is something different¡ªhis own shadow technique?!
Lorra: (to herself) He broke free from my technique so easily!?
Jokita: (amused, watching silently)
Zero effortlessly blocked each of Kato¡¯s strikes. Kato, undeterred, continued his assault, his anger fueling him as he faced the man he blamed for all his suffering.
Zero: (while blocking punches) You¡¯re not very cool-headed, are you? And what¡¯s with the disguise? You don¡¯t look like the guy on the wanted posters.
Kato: (enraged) SHUT UP!!
Kato threw a powerful punch, but Zero caught his fist mid-air, holding it firmly. Zero reached for the necklace Ervin had given Kato¡ªthe one that concealed his identity¡ªand tore it off. Kato¡¯s face became instantly recognizable to Zero, Lorra, and Jokita, who had just entered the abandoned house.
Zero: (smirking) Now you look more like yourself.
Kato: (struggling) His grip is too tight! I can¡¯t free my hand!
Kato attempted another punch with his left hand, but Zero swiftly kicked his leg, throwing him off balance. As Kato fell, Zero delivered a powerful kick to his head, sending him rolling backward. Struggling to regain his footing, Kato saw Zero ready his next attack.
Zero: [WATER MANIPULATION: PISTOL]
Zero fired a water bullet. Kato, reacting quickly, chanted ¡°BLACK¡± and activated his god eye & shadow-hardening technique simultaneously, blocking the bullet with his hardened left hand.
Zero: Impressive, Kato Hamura.
Kayomi:(shocked) What the hell was that!? He used a technique without chanting BLACK or WHITE! What exactly is he?
Kato: (to himself) Damn it. He¡¯s good. If I keep going like this, I¡¯ll lose. What do I do? (looks at Kayomi) Mr. Kayomi¡¯s still trapped in that tree. I¡¯m on my own. (looks at Zero) He¡¯s after my God Eye¡
Zero:You don¡¯t seem to control the God Eye on command, but on instinct. Frustrating, isn¡¯t it? I have to take your eye while it¡¯s activated. You¡¯ve only just awakened it, haven¡¯t you?
Kato: (deactivates his god eye)
Zero: (smiling) So you¡¯re from the Hamorabi Clan. This is almost too perfect. It¡¯s as if the world is guiding me toward my goals.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Kato: (angered) YOUR GOALS!? YOUR GOALS HAVE TRAMPLED ON THE LIVES OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND THAT DOESN¡¯T AFFECT YOU!!? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HARM OTHERS TO GET WHAT YOU WANT!?
Zero: I don¡¯t want to harm people. Truly. If there were another way, I¡¯d take it. But that choice doesn¡¯t exist anymore. I¡¯m sorry about your mom, but she was a wall we had to tear down to get to you.
Kato: DON''T EVER MENTION MY MOTHER AGAIN!
Zero: Oh? Did I offend you? You expect an apology? (mockingly) NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Kato: (angered and determined) I¡¯M GONNA STOP YOU AND THE KAIMI DAJA FROM KILLING THE HEIRS AND TAKING MORE LIVES!!!! I¡¯LL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STOP YOU AND AFTER THAT I¡¯LL¡¡¡.
Zero: And then what? Go on. SAY IT! I NEED TO HEAR YOU SAY IT!
Kato: (no reply)
Zero: (sighs) I see. I get it.
Kato: (irritated) Get what?
Zero: You know, we¡¯re not so different.
Kato: (angrily) HUH!?
Zero: You heard me. We¡¯re the same.
Kato: (more irritated) THERE¡¯S NO WAY I¡¯M¡
Zero suddenly closed the distance, placing a finger on Kato¡¯s lips, silencing him.
Zero: SHHHH. I¡¯m still talking.
Lorra¡¯s vines restrained Kato again. Exhausted, his scarlet eyes faded back to yellow.
Zero: As I was saying, we¡¯re not so different if you think about it. Aside from the fact that we can both copy people¡¯s techniques, our goals are also the same. We both want to CHANGE the world. From what Arou has told us, you want to CHANGE the way the world views shadows and stop us from affecting more lives with our plans. Our goal is to CHANGE the world by eradicating shadows and lighters from the world. And how do we do that? By eradicating shadow and lighter energy itself from the world. And for that to work, we need the parts of the All Mother the heirs have.
Kato: Our goals aren¡¯t the same!
Zero: They are. We saw a broken world and vowed to change it. The difference? I¡¯m willing to do whatever it takes. Are you?
Kato: I¡¯M NOT LIKE YOU!
Zero: Earlier you were yelling about how you are going to do everything you can to stop us from achieving our goals. Now that itself is a good goal but you didn¡¯t finish your statement. You didn¡¯t say how far you would go to accomplish those goals you were rambling about. You mind telling me why?
Kato: (looks at Zero in the eye) Because I¡¯m NOT like you.
Zero: (smiles) BINGO. The difference between you and me is that I¡¯M willing to go that far to achieve my goals and YOU still want to achieve your goals and keep your hands clean. YOU can¡¯t eat your cake and still have it.
Kato: You¡¯re wrong. You don¡¯t have to necessarily kill people to make the world a better place. There are always other ways to do things.
Zero: And where has that gotten anyone? Nowhere. I¡¯ve sat back and let others find different ways to CHANGE this world but it never ended well. More people ended up dying as a result. (a memory of a boy in the midst of a destroyed neighborhood flashed in his mind) The conclusion I got from that is that no matter what path you decide to take, there will always be death and pretending that you can stay clean through it is BULLSHIT. No matter what you do, the choice to kill will always find its way to you.
Kato: (thinks about what Zero said for a while) I¡¯m not going to accept it. Just because You couldn¡¯t find a path that doesn¡¯t lead to death doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t find it. (after a pause) If I can¡¯t find a path without death, I¡¯LL CREATE IT!
Zero: That sounds noble of you, BUT I DON¡¯T CARE. I¡¯ve made up my mind a long time ago and you¡¯re not about to talk me out of it. We¡¯re gonna fulfill our goals and if you want to stop me, YOU¡¯LL HAVE TO KILL ME, KATO HAMURA.
Kato: I¡¯m not going to do it. I won¡¯t step down to your level and kill people.
Zero: Still saying that? Why won¡¯t you?
Kato: If I begin to kill people to fulfill my goals, the value of their lives would begin to change within me and I¡¯m scared of the kind of person I would become when that happens. SO I WON¡¯T KILL YOU OR ANYONE. I¡¯ll prove to you that there CAN be a way to change the world without taking lives.
Jokita: (to himself) Interesting.
Kayomi: (to himself) He¡¯s got a good head on his shoulders.
Zero: (smiles) I knew it. You remind me of who I used to be.
Kato: (shocked) Huh?
Zero: It¡¯s too bad I¡¯ll have to kill you after I take the god eye away from you. [WATER MANIPULATION]
A large amount of water suddenly appeared in Zero''s hands as he prepared to use it to push Kato Hamura to make a choice.
Kayomi: (to himself) This is bad. (to Kato) KATO!!!!!! (tries to break free)
Zero: (to Kato) I¡¯m giving you a choice. Activate the god eye or I¡¯ll kill your friend over there. Maybe then you¡¯ll want to kill me after that.
Kato: (shocked) WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?
Zero: Are you deaf? I¡¯m not repeating myself again.
Kayomi: (to himself) What!? I¡¯m the target!?
Zero: Make a choice, Kato. Now.
Kato: (to himself) DAMN IT! DAMN IT!! DAMN IT!!! I ONLY LEARNED IT JUST NOW. I DON¡¯T KNOW HOW TO ACTIVATE IT ON COMMAND
Zero: Still nothing? Perhaps you need a little push. [WATER MANIPULATION: WATER PISTOL]
Kato: WAIT!!!!!!!!
All the water around Zero¡¯s hands all converged into his gun finger on his right hand and then he fired the water bullet towards Kayomi who was still struggling to break free.
Kato: MR KAYOMI!!!!!!!!!!
Kayomi: (seeing the bullet coming) Damn it. I can¡¯t harden my body while I¡¯m restrained like this. Even if I chant black right now, It¡¯s hopeless if the shadow energy can¡¯t move to my head because of how tight these restraints are. (the bullet flew closer) Damn it. Is this it? I never got to see Kinara and the baby before¡¡..
As it closed in, Kayomi braced himself for death, only for the bullet to vanish at the last second. Mira Hashido appeared, her technique neutralizing the attack.
Zero: (confused) The water bullet vanished? How?
Kato: (shocked) Mira!?
Mira: Hey, Kato. Hope we¡¯re not late.
Kato: We?
All of a sudden, Isaiah and Yamato entered. Isaiah¡¯s shadow dagger pressed against Zero¡¯s throat, while Yamato¡¯s lightning freed Kato from the tree.
Yamato: (grinning) Hopeless without me, huh?
Kato: (groaning, cartoonishly annoyed) Now¡¯s really not the time for your jokes, you know!?
Isaiah: (to Zero) Back off, creep, if you value your life.
Zero: (smirking) My, my. Such a sharp tongue for a boy. Care to back those words up?
Finally, Roshi arrived, swiftly cutting through the remaining restraints and freeing Kayomi. The backup Kayomi had called¡ªRoshi, Mira,
Isaiah, and Yamato¡ªstood together, their combined presence shifting the balance of the fight.
Zero: (smiling) Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.
The battle was far from over.
Chapter 48:; Collapse
Roshi, Yamato, Mira, and Isaiah had arrived, turning the tide of the current battle in their favor. Mira had arrived just in time, and though it wasn''t clear what she had done, she managed to stop Zero¡¯s water bullet from killing Kayomi. Roshi had freed Kayomi from his restraints, Yamato had freed Kato, and Isaiah held a dagger to Zero¡¯s throat.
Isaiah: (to Zero) Back off if you wanna live, you creep.
Zero: Oh? (smiles) You''ve got a foul mouth, boy. I''d like to see you try.
Isaiah didn¡¯t have the chance to attack Zero, as Lorra, seeing the developing situation, became infuriated when she saw Isaiah holding a dagger to Zero¡¯s throat.
Lorra: [BLACK: FOREST EMERGENCE, ROSE THORNS]
Lorra fired her rose thorns at Isaiah, attempting to kill him. But Isaiah acted quickly.
Isaiah: [BLACK: SHADOWSMITH TECHNIQUE, SWORD]
As Isaiah spoke, a sword emerged from his shadow, and he began deflecting all the thorns Lorra sent his way. Zero took this opportunity to leap and create distance between himself and Isaiah. He then regrouped with Lorra, Jokita, and Arou.
Lorra: (concerned) Are you okay, Zero?
Zero: I¡¯m fine. (looks at Isaiah) Quite the technique you¡¯ve got there. Not to mention the rest of them who just showed up. I can tell they have interesting shadow techniques. But¡ (glances at Mira) her energy feels different. She must be...
Mira Hashido, daughter of Ervin Hashido, was born with two shadow techniques. The first was the hereditary "SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION TECHNIQUE" of the Hashido Clan, and the second, which developed from her childhood experiences, was "THE NULLIFICATION TECHNIQUE." This second technique nullifies any and all techniques that get close to her or anyone she¡¯s close to. She had arrived just in time to prevent Zero¡¯s water bullet from reaching Kayomi¡¯s head, nullifying it with her ability.
Isaiah Gushman¡¯s shadow technique was called the "SHADOWSMITH TECHNIQUE," which allowed him to create weapons from his shadow energy. The Gushman Clan had originally forged weapons for the Shadows during the early stages of the war. Unlike other members of his clan, however, Isaiah was limited to creating only swords and daggers.
Roshi and Yamato, being brothers, shared a lightning technique inspired by an ancient tale of a lightning deity from their home country of Lumina. Unlike Jason Enderby¡¯s lightning powers, theirs were influenced by the tale told to them by their family before they moved to Haiwa.
Roshi then regrouped with the others after freeing Kayomi from his restraints.
Kayomi: Took you guys long enough. What kept you?
Roshi: NOT EVERYONE HAS GOOD SENSORY SKILLS LIKE YOU SO IT WAS HARD TRYING TO TRACK YOU. (to Kato) ARE YOU OKAY, YOUNG BLOOD!?
Kato: Yeah I am. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Yamato: Of course you¡¯re okay. I just saved your life.
Kato: That¡¯s true.
Mira: (laughs)
Roshi: WE CAN CHIT-CHAT LATER. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN ENEMY IN FRONT OF US. I CAN¡¯T BELIEVE AROU IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THEM.
Kayomi: Surprised me too. But we¡¯ll talk about that later. We have to stop them from trying to take Kato¡¯s god eye.
Mira: (surprised) God eye!?
Isaiah: (to Kato) You awakened it?
Yamato: That¡¯s insane.
Roshi: EYES FORWARD, EVERYONE. THEY¡¯RE ABOUT TO MAKE A MOVE.
Meanwhile, Zero had regrouped with Lorra, Jokita, and Arou. After analyzing the situation, he decided to take action.
Jokita: So what do we do Zero? Retreat? They outnumber us now.
Zero: That¡¯s true. Retreating would be a good choice. But¡ I want to push Kato Hamura some more.
Lorra: Push? (to herself) This isn¡¯t like Zero. He never gets like this with anyone. Is he that desperate to take Kato Hamura right now?
Lorra received no answer, as both sides prepared for battle. Just as they began to approach each other, Giles¡¯s flying shadow monster dropped from the ceiling of the abandoned house, with Giles and Dylan on its back. This shocked everyone, including the Kaimi Daja, who hadn¡¯t expected Giles to show up.
Jokita: What is it, Giles!? Why are you here!?
Giles: We have to move NOW! Ervin Hashido will be here soon to take us all down!
Roshi: What?
Kato: Mr Ervin?
Mira: Dad!?
Zero: For real!?
Giles: YES! FOR REAL! WE HAVE TO MOVE NOW. IF YOU HAVEN¡¯T TAKEN THE KID, WE CAN GET HIM ANOTHER TIME! NOW WE HAVE TO MOVE!
Zero: (sighs) Well, this is a mess. (to Kato) Guess we¡¯ll finish this another time, Kato Hamura. When we meet again, be ready to kill me, because I will be ready to kill you.
Kato: TSK!!!!
Roshi: YOU¡¯RE NOT GETTING AWAY!
Roshi activated his technique in an attempt to stop Zero and the others from escaping. But before he could do so...
Zero: [WATER MANIPULATION: OVERFLOWING STREAM]
Zero summoned a massive body of flowing water from both of his hands, pushing Roshi and the others back. The water flooded the house, filling every space and corner it could find, eventually reaching the building¡¯s foundation. As a result, the house began to collapse. By the time the house crumbled, Giles had already taken Zero, Lorra, Jokita, and Arou with him and flown away.
Minutes later, Ervin arrived, only to find a collapsed house. As he was about to question where everyone had gone, Mira¡¯s shadow beast, Gaya, which resembled an eagle, emerged from beneath the rubble. Underneath its wing were Kato and the others.
Ervin: (calls out) HEY! You guys okay!?
Mira: Dad!
Kayomi: We¡¯re fine.
Roshi: But you did take your time to get here.
Ervin: (scratches his head) My bad. So I guess you¡¯re gonna fill me in with everything that happened here?
Kayomi: Right.
Kato and Kayomi then explained everything to the group¡ªfrom when Arou revealed himself as a member of the Kaimi Daja to when Kato subconsciously awakened the god eye in battle. The information shocked everyone.
Ervin: I see.
Yamato: So Arou always hated us?
Mira: And it¡¯s all because there was no one to relate to him.
Isaiah: We should try and think for ourselves? What does he take us for?
Mira: (to Ervin) How did you find out Arou was part of the Kaimi Daja, Dad?
Ervin: Oh yeah. They attacked me on my way to the hospital to meet up with Kato in an attempt to buy time to take him. I defeated them and accessed one of their member¡¯s memories. I saw Arou and everything they¡¯d been planning up until today. Arou had been a member for a year and was recruited to watch me and predict my movements. This was long before we met Kato. Afterward, they assigned him to watch me and, when the time came, kidnap Kato.
Kato: (feels down)
Ervin: Kato?
Kato: What is it?
Ervin: You said you awakened the god eye and copied two other techniques? Which one¡¯s did you copy?
Kato: Mr. Kayomi¡¯s hardening technique and Arou¡¯s cloning technique.
Yamato: WOAH!!!!!! That¡¯s amazing Kato!!!
Kato: (nervous) You think so?
Ervin: (to everyone) I bet we all have a lot of questions, but we need to rest first. We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow. For now, let¡¯s get back to the estate and clear our heads. Let¡¯s go.
Ervin led everyone out of the rubble and out of the forest to his car, which he had parked at the entrance. As Ervin drove, Kato was lost in thought, reflecting on everything that had happened. Zero¡¯s words replayed in his head:
¡°I¡¯ve sat back and let others find different ways to CHANGE this world but it never ended well. More people ended up dying as a result. (a memory of a boy in the midst of a destroyed neighborhood flashed in his mind) The conclusion I got from that is that no matter what path you decide to take, there will always be death and pretending that you can stay clean through it is BULLSHIT¡±
¡°We¡¯re gonna fulfill our goals and if you want to stop me, YOU¡¯LL HAVE TO KILL ME KATO HAMURA¡±
Kato also thought about his friendship with Arou and how his betrayal had hurt him. Arou was the one who taught him hand-to-hand combat and seemed to care for him more than anyone else¡ªaside from Mira, of course. Yet, Kato had learned that Arou was partly responsible for his mother being in a coma. At that mome
nt, Takimo flashed in Kato¡¯s mind because, in a way, Arou reminded him of Takimo.
Kato: (to himself) Takimo. What are you doing right now?
Chapter 49: Faith & Loss
OCTOBER 11TH 2021,
Following the tragic events of October 5th and the death of Joshua Egoshin, the Hunter Force Academy (HFA) suspended all academic activities for the rest of the week. The institution needed time to regain its footing and mourn the loss of one of its own.
Joshua¡¯s death reverberated throughout the continent, and the public¡¯s faith in the HFA began to waver. Many blamed the Hunters for failing in their duties, while others criticized the system itself, questioning the leadership of Gabriel Esthath. Parents of students in the General Training Course started pulling their children from the academy, unwilling to trust the institution¡¯s ability to protect their children.
The media didn¡¯t help the situation, amplifying the backlash with an article that read:
¡°SHOULD THE HFA BE TRUSTED WITH THE PROTECTION OF LIVES IF THEY CAN¡¯T PROTECT ONE OF THEIR OWN?¡±
The article discussed the HFA''s failure to locate and capture the Kaimi Daja, the group responsible for the deaths of two Hunters within the academy and the Shadow Bug incident that plagued the continent between May and July, causing countless deaths. It questioned whether public funds should continue to support the Hunter Force.
Despite this intense criticism, the HFA resumed its activities the following week, as if it were business as usual. However, the situation within the academy left Jason''s students feeling unsettled.
On October 5th, during the battle exams, it was revealed that Karla Yoshida was a spy and a member of the terrorist group Kaimi Daja. She was subsequently taken into custody and locked in solitary confinement beneath the HFA headquarters. Before her betrayal was uncovered, Karla had been a student in Jason and Lisa''s class. Her discovery left the students shocked and struggling to process the events of the past few days.
Takimo, Rin, Tendo, Silva, and Kazemaru sat together in their classroom, waiting for Jason and Lisa to arrive so they could make an announcement. Each of them (except Silva) wore bandages, the visible marks of their injuries from the battle exams.
Tendo: So, what do you think is going to happen to her?
Takimo: They¡¯ll lock her up forever and we may never get to see her again.
Tendo: (scratches his head) DAMN IT!! I can¡¯t accept this!!!
Silva: Me either.
Rin: I know you had feelings for her, Tendo, and I get that you were close to her, Silva, but there¡¯s nothing we can do about it.
Tendo: But she turned herself in after her ¡°sister¡± started going too far. She shouldn¡¯t be treated like this!!
Kazemaru: (getting annoyed) She shouldn¡¯t be treated like this!? What about all the others she hurt before she turned herself in? Give me a break, man! She stabbed our upperclassman in the chest and almost killed me! And let¡¯s not forget, she¡¯s part of a terrorist group responsible for the death of a Level 1+ Hunter!
Tendo: I KNOW THAT!! (frustrated) You¡¯re acting like she¡¯s the one who did all that. It wasn¡¯t her!! She said it was her sister¡¯s soul dwelling in her body that did all that!!
Kazemaru: How does that change anything!? Stop talking like it¡¯s possible to punish her so-called sister and leave Karla out of it. Don¡¯t let your feelings for her blind you, man.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Tendo: BLIND ME!?
Tendo and Kazemaru stood, tension rising as if they were about to fight. Before it could escalate, Rin and Takimo stepped in to stop them.
Takimo: Stop fighting, you two. Things are already bad enough. Don¡¯t make things worse by fighting each other.
Rin: (to Tendo) Kazemaru¡¯s right. Karla probably knew what would happen when she turned herself in and had prepared herself for it. Getting mad about it won¡¯t change anything. So calm down.
After some time, both Tendo and Kazemaru sat back down, their anger simmering down.
Tendo: (scratches his head) DAMN IT!!! Why did it have to come to this?
Silva: It¡¯s just so hard to accept this. She WAS our friend. And she looked so innocent. I felt like I knew her so well but it turns out I was wrong. WE were wrong.
They sat in silence, each reflecting on the memories they shared with Karla before the betrayal came to light. They remembered how she had been kind, caring, and always seemed to have a friendly ear. The realization that she had been sharing her body with a bloodthirsty sister and was involved with the Kaimi Daja was a painful betrayal. They had thought they knew her, but the truth shattered that illusion.
The group¡¯s internal struggle echoed what Takimo had felt when Kato was revealed as a Shadow and a fugitive. The same hopelessness, the same desire to deny what their eyes had told them, swirled within them. They wanted to believe that Karla wasn¡¯t a bad person, but they couldn¡¯t escape the conflicting feelings tearing them apart.
Tendo: Hey Takimo?
Takimo: What is it?
Tendo: Is this what you felt when your friend was accused of being a Shadow and became a wanted person?
Takimo: Yeah. It was just like this.
Tendo: I see.
Rin: (to Takimo) And do you still believe that he isn¡¯t what everyone says he is?
Takimo: (briefly thinking of Kato) Yeah, I do. He¡¯s NOT what everyone says he is.
Rin: (sighs) I can¡¯t call you out for that, since I¡¯m doing the exact same thing. Despite everything that¡¯s happened, I can¡¯t bring myself to hate Karla. From what Tendo and Silva have said, she was fighting back, right? Against her sister¡¯s control, I mean?
Silva: Yeah, she was.
Kazemaru: But she still ended up stabbing Tendo and almost killed me and the upperclassman. I just feel indifferent about her after this. I don¡¯t want her dead but I mean¡ (briefly remembers when Karla/Annie was about to kill him)..... She could¡¯ve killed me back then.
Silva: (moves to Kazemaru and pats him on the shoulder)
Rin: (to himself) He¡¯s traumatized by her... (to the group) Let¡¯s just hope the HFA makes the right decision regarding her. And we need to look out for each other. I don¡¯t want to lose anyone else.
Takimo: (whispers to Tendo) Rin¡¯s taking on the big brother role, huh?
Tendo: (whispers) Maybe he feels responsible because he¡¯s older than us.
Rin: I can hear you, you know.
Meanwhile, Jason was on his way to meet his students when he received a message: Gabriel wanted to see him. He decided to take a detour and head to the HFA headquarters. As he approached the entrance, memories flooded back¡ªhe recalled the report he made to the HFA board in August and how Joshua had waited for him at the very spot where he now stood.
Jason: (sighs) It¡¯s been almost a week, huh?(sighs) It¡¯s been almost a week huh?
Gabriel, lost in his thoughts, didn¡¯t notice Jason¡¯s arrival. It took four calls of his name before Gabriel snapped out of his daze and acknowledged Jason.
Gabriel: Oh it¡¯s you Jason. I didn¡¯t hear you come in.
Jason: You don¡¯t look yourself sir. Are you okay?
Gabriel: (rubbing his head) I¡¯ve just been under a lot of stress. Since last week¡¯s events, the academy has been in chaos. Parents are pulling their children out of the academy because one of our students was a member of the Kaimi Daja. We¡¯re also short on Hunters to protect the civilians. Everyone¡¯s questioning my leadership, and the board is calling for a meeting.
Jason: That sounds like a lot of pressure.
Gabriel: (sighs) It is. How have you been since Joshua¡¯s death? I know he was your best friend.
Jason: (sighs deeply) To be honest, sir, I¡¯ve lost a lot of friends ever since I took this job. I thought I¡¯d get used to it. But seeing Joshua¡¯s lifeless body that day... It''s been haunting me. I can¡¯t seem to shake it. I realize I¡¯ll never get used to this feeling.
Gabriel: (to himself) He feels that way too¡ (to Jason) I¡¯m sorry, Jason.
Jason: Why are you apologizing? It''s not your fault that Joshua died.
Gabriel: I feel responsible. I was the one who sent him on that mission. If I had known the Kaimi Daja would attack him...
Jason: Sir, you¡¯re not to blame. Don¡¯t let the media get to your head. If Joshua had known he was walking into an ambush, he would¡¯ve still taken the mission. That was the kind of person he was.
Gabriel: You¡¯re right. That¡¯s the kind of man he was. (sighs) Now, to the reason I called you here. Since we¡¯re short on Hunters, I¡¯d like to speed up your students¡¯ training so they can take on those roles as quickly as possible.
Jason: You want to rush their education?
Gabriel: Not necessarily. We can have them follow you on missions and actively participate in them. I¡¯ve seen them during the battle exams. They have potential, but your students¡ªKazemaru, Tendo, and Silva¡ªwill need to retake the exams. They never had a chance to shine before the attack. I want you to schedule a make-up exam before November ends.
Jason: Understood, sir.
Gabriel: Also¡.there¡¯s one more thing. You¡¯ll be getting a new student in your class soon.
Jason: A new student? Isn¡¯t it too late for anyone to join?
Gabriel: It is, but after reviewing his file, I had no choice but to admit him. His family insisted on it, despite the late registration.
Jason: What¡¯s so special about him?
Gabriel: (pulling a file from his drawer) It¡¯s better if you see it for yourself.
Jason: (collects the file and opens it) Now let¡¯s see what¡¯s so special about this kid that they had to¡¡.WHAT THE HELL??
Jason took one look at the file and he slowly began to understan
d what Gabriel was talking about. Meanwhile, a figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Joshua Egoshin walked through the HFA entrance.
Chapter 50: The Late Entry Student
A few minutes earlier¡¡..
A large shadow monster shaped like a frog suddenly emerged from the city park river, wreaking havoc on the peaceful citizens who were leisurely walking around. A mother and her young daughter, part of the crowd fleeing from the creature, slipped and fell to the ground. In that instant, the shadow monster noticed them and lunged toward them, intent on devouring them. The mother held her child close, preparing to face their grim fate. But just as the monster was about to strike¡
A boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to Joshua Egoshin appeared, stepping between the pair and the monster with a sword in hand, surprising everyone present. No one had called for the HFA.
The boy stood before the shadow monster and assumed the Waki-gamae stance, his eyes locked on the creature as he poured his lighter energy into his sword.
[WHITE: KENJUTSU SLASH]
In an instant, he drew his sword and cleaved through the shadow monster in one fluid strike, destroying it completely. The boy¡¯s name was Eric Egoshin, the younger brother of Joshua Egoshin, who had passed away only a week ago at the hands of the Kaimi Daja.
Eric: (turning to the mother and child behind him) Are you two alright? Are you hurt?
Mother: (nodding her head) We¡¯re fine. I don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened if you hadn¡¯t shown up just now.
Eric: (smiles) I¡¯m glad you¡¯re both okay.
Mother: (suddenly noticing the resemblance) Wait¡ you look just like Joshua Egoshin.
Eric: (laughs) I do? Well I get that a lot. He was my big brother, after all.
Chapter 50: The Late Entry Student
Meanwhile, Jason was going through the file Gabriel had given him when the name ¡°Egoshin¡± caught his eye. Realizing who Gabriel was referring to, Jason¡¯s mind raced.
Jason: He¡¯s Joshua¡¯s brother!?
Gabriel: Indeed, he is. His family was insistent that I enroll him, even though it¡¯s late. Considering the power he possesses, I couldn¡¯t deny that he could be of use to us if we continue training him. So, putting him under your tutelage will help him bring out the results his family is expecting. Though, I¡¯m still not sure about this, considering it¡¯s right after Joshua¡¯s death.
Jason: They¡¯re sending him to fill his brother¡¯s place? And you want me to teach him!?
Gabriel: Yes. After seeing how your students performed in the exams, my faith in your skills has grown significantly. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Jason: (scratching his head) It¡¯s definitely a lot to process. But if he¡¯s got the potential they said he does, we should give him a chance, right? What¡¯s his lighter technique? (Jason picks up the file and sees something that shocks him) WHAT!? You mean¡
Gabriel: (nodding) Yes. He has not one, but TWO techniques, making him¡
Jason:.......AN ANOMALY!?
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Eric Egoshin entered as Gabriel had instructed him. The moment Eric and Jason laid eyes on each other, they recognized one another immediately.
Jason: HUH!? You¡¯re the kid I saw at the funeral! You look just like Joshua!!!
Eric: Of course I look like him. He was my brother!!!
Gabriel: (laughs) It seems you two have already met.
Jason: Yeah!? I thought I was seeing Joshua¡¯s ghost back then, but I was wrong.
Gabriel: (laughs) Alright. Seems I don¡¯t need to introduce you. (to Eric) Eric, this is Jason Enderby. He¡¯s going to be your teacher while you¡¯re at the academy.
Eric: I already know who he is. My brother told me everything about him. You were his best friend, right?
Jason: Yeah.
Gabriel: Well then, Jason, you can show him to his class where he can meet his peers. Also, when you schedule the make-up battle exams, make sure Eric participates.
Jason: Roger that, sir.
Gabriel: Off you go then.
As Jason and Eric walked to the academy, Jason couldn¡¯t shake the awkwardness. Eric looked exactly like Joshua, even wearing similar glasses, which made it feel like Eric was cosplaying his brother. Still, Jason decided to break the silence with a question that had been on his mind.
Jason: (to himself) I guess I¡¯ll go ahead and ask. (to Eric) Hey, kid. I¡¯m going to ask the obvious question. Why? Why are you joining the academy now? Admission started back in August. Why enroll now, after your brother¡¯s death? Did your family send you to fill Joshua¡¯s shoes, or do you have your own reasons for being here?
Eric: (sighs) That¡¯s a lot of questions, you know?
Jason: Well, do you blame me for asking them?
Eric: (sighs) My family wants me to fill my brother¡¯s shoes now that he¡¯s gone. And since I¡¯m an anomaly with the same potential he had, my enrollment was easy. That part is true. But that¡¯s not the real reason I¡¯m here. (They stop walking)
Jason: (nodding) So what is the real reason?
Eric: My brother told me everything he went through on his first mission.
Jason: (remembering his conversation with Joshua the day before he died) He told you about that!?
Eric: Of course he did. I¡¯m his brother.
Jason: (to himself) Seems they were awfully close.
Eric: He told me how he hesitated to take a life, because not all shadows or people labeled as evil are actually evil. I respected that about him. I decided to follow his mindset. But then¡ he died.
Jason: (remembering Joshua¡¯s death)
Eric: After he died, I thought about his ideals. I realized something.
Jason: (raising an eyebrow) A flaw?
Eric: My brother couldn¡¯t take the lives of people, even his enemies. Even when they were evil and tried to harm him. And it got him killed. That was the mistake he made. (gripping his sword tightly) But I¡¯m NOT my brother. I won¡¯t make the same mistake. (his face hardens) IT DOESN¡¯T MATTER HOW STRONG THEY ARE. WHEN I FACE THE KAIMI DAJA, I WILL CORRECT MY BROTHER¡¯S MISTAKE AND CUT THEM DOWN.
Jason looked at Eric, seeing the serious determination in his eyes, and couldn¡¯t help but think of what Joshua had told him about the cycle of hatred. Now, it seemed as though that cycle had come full circle with Joshua¡¯s death.
Jason: (to himself) The cycle doesn¡¯t seem to end, huh? Even Joshua¡¯s death has brought his brother into it. How was Joshua planning to end this cycle?
As they arrived at the academy, they met up with Lisa, who joined them as they walked to the classroom where Takimo and the others were waiting. When the three of them entered, Takimo and the others stood to acknowledge their teachers.
Jason: (sighing) I¡¯m glad you guys are recovering after what happened last week. I know you¡¯re all worried about Karla and her situation, but dwelling on it won¡¯t get us anywhere. The best we can do is get stronger and watch each other¡¯s backs. Understood?
Everyone: YES, SIR.
Lisa: I know it¡¯s sudden, but we have a new student with us. (points to Eric) His name is Eric Egoshin, and he¡¯ll be joining your class starting today. So please get along with him, okay?
Tendo: Egoshin!?
Kazemaru: You mean like Joshua Egoshin!?
Eric: Yeah. He WAS my brother. (to himself) How many times have I said this today?
Takimo: (to himself) He looks just like him.
Silva: (to herself) He¡¯s kinda cute, though.
Rin: (to himself) Is he joining the academy to get revenge on the Kaimi Daja? Enrolling two
months late isn¡¯t normal.
Meanwhile, back at Benville City hospital, Dana was doing her daily check-in on Korra Hamura when she sensed something unusual in the room where Korra was resting.
Dana:(to herself) What¡¯s this strange feeling? It¡¯s like someone else was here¡ And these energy residuals? Shadow energy!? A shadow was here!? But who?
Before Dana could ponder further, Korra coughed and slowly opened her eyes.
Chapter 51: Conditions
Meanwhile, back at the Hashido estate, Ervin gathered Roshi, Kayomi, Mira, Yamato, Isaiah, Kenji, and Kato to discuss the events that took place last week. They all gathered in the training area on the roof of the main building.
Ervin: So is everyone here?
Kayomi: (looks around) Yeah, it seems so.
Mira: We¡¯re all here, Dad.
Ervin: Good. So, it¡¯s no secret why I called all of you here. As you know, the Kaimi Daja made their move last week, leading to two significant events: the death of Joshua Egoshin and the awakening of the god eye in Kato.
Yamato: (to Kato) For real!?
Kato: (with a cartoonish expression) I told you already, didn¡¯t I?
Ervin: Now, we knew the Kaimi Daja were targeting the Heirs of the All Mother after Joshua¡¯s death, but we never knew why. A few days ago, they came after Kato, which made us realize there was a traitor among us, and that person was...
Ervin was about to mention Arou¡¯s name but hesitated, noticing the hurt expressions on everyone¡¯s faces.
Ervin: (to himself) They¡¯ve probably heard that a million times already¡ No need to say it again.
Mira: Dad? What¡¯s wrong?
Ervin:I zoned out for a second. (sighs) Moving on, after seeing the memories of one of the Kaimi Daja members, I now know their main goal and how the Heirs fit into it.
Kato: (whispers to Mira) Can Mr. Ervin really access people¡¯s memories?
Mira: (whispers back) Yeah. It¡¯s part of his shadow beast powers, but I¡¯ll explain later.
Ervin:The Kaimi Daja¡¯s goal is to collect the special body parts of the Heirs and use them to awaken the All Mother¡¯s power.
This revelation shocked everyone.
Kenji: Awaken the All mother¡¯s power?
Isaiah: I get that if you were to have all the special body parts in one body, it can work but¡¡
Mira: The power won¡¯t work on a person who isn¡¯t from the Clan that owns it or doesn¡¯t have a body like the All Mother¡¯s. So what¡¯s the point of gathering the parts if no one can use it?
Yamato: Right? If they don¡¯t have anyone who can use that power, why bother killing the Heirs?
Kato: But the fact that they didn¡¯t spare Joshua Egoshin and were ready to kill me after taking the god eye means...
Roshi: (realizing) So they do have someone who can use it, don¡¯t they?
Ervin:From what I saw in Giles¡¯ memory, their leader, who calls himself ZERO, has a technique that allows him to absorb the special powers of the Heirs by consuming their body parts once separated from them.
Kato: (briefly remembers Zero) Him?
Kayomi: But how is that possible? I thought the power wouldn¡¯t work on a shadow or lighter who isn¡¯t from the hereditary clan or doesn¡¯t have the All Mother¡¯s body type. Is this ¡°ZERO¡± person a shadow or a lighter?
Ervin: Neither.
Kenji: Huh? Neither?
Isaiah: What do you mean by ¡°neither¡±?
Ervin: What I mean is that Zero isn¡¯t a shadow or lighter. He has the byproduct of both shadow and lighter energies in his body, NEXUS ENERGY. His body and energy are similar to what the All Mother was 800 years ago. This means he can use the Heirs¡¯ special powers because he¡¯s essentially like the All Mother. He has a constant connection to the Nexus, which means every technique he uses is classified as a Harmonic technique¡ªhe doesn¡¯t need to chant the words ¡°black¡± or ¡°white¡± to activate them.
The revelation stunned everyone into silence.
Kato:So, if he gets all the special body parts, he¡¯ll become as powerful as the All Mother?
Ervin: Yes. And they intend to use that power to remove shadow and lighter energy from the world.
Kayomi: That doesn¡¯t sound too dangerous, though.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Ervin: It doesn¡¯t, but there are two possible outcomes if they succeed. The first is that removing shadow and lighter energy could kill everyone who possesses it.
Kayomi: Now it sounds dangerous.
Mira: Huh!?
Kato: Huh!? Kill us!?
Ervin: Shadow and Lighters have shadow and lighter energies in their bodies. Our bodies and souls are bound to that energy, so removing it could result in the deaths of everyone who¡¯s been born with it. Even the conduits could be affected.
Mira: (worried) No¡..
Yamato: That¡¯s insane.
Kayomi: (sighs)
Roshi: But that¡¯s one possibility right? What¡¯s the other one?
Ervin: The second possibility is that we don¡¯t die at all and just become normal humans. But before that happens, myself, Kato, and many others would have to die.
Kato: (cartoonish face) HUH!?
Isaiah: Why?
Ervin: From what we¡¯ve seen the Kaimi Daja do, they don¡¯t leave their enemies alive. They don¡¯t hesitate to kill innocent bystanders, as we saw when they used the Shadow Bugs to lure Kato. That means they¡¯ll kill me, Kato, and the other Heirs to make their goal a reality.
Kato: (cartoonish face) Why is the situation so bad for me even in both scenarios?
Kenji: Sucks to be you, Kato.
Roshi: But the plan is to prevent both scenarios, right?
Ervin: Yeah. I¡¯m working on a plan for that.
Kayomi: But why tell us? Why not tell the Elders?
Ervin: The Elders don¡¯t care about the Kaimi Daja¡¯s threat. They only care about the Shadows dominating the world, and that¡¯s not what we should be aiming for. It¡¯ll just make things worse. Plus, they probably have someone from the Imperial Guard eavesdropping on us right now.
Kayomi: That¡¯s true.
Kato: (to himself) The situation is bad for me no matter what scenario it is. Is this how it¡¯s going to be until we stop them?
Ervin: Well then. The obvious thing we should do is get stronger so we can put a stop to their plans.
Yamato: (raises his hand) But what about the HFA? They''re probably going to be stopping them too, right? What happens when we cross paths with them?
Ervin: We engage of course. We will fight them BUT we won''t kill them. Doing that will only fuel the cycle of hatred that we are trying to put out.
Yamato: Oh that''s true.
Kato: (to himself) But would NOT killing our foes really be enough to end this cycle?
The words Kato had heard from Gaki, Arou, and Zero echoed in his mind...
¡°Sorry to break it to you but the world doesn''t work according to your desires.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve sat back and let others find different ways to CHANGE this world but it never ended well. More people ended up dying as a result. The conclusion I got from that is that no matter what path you decide to take, there will always be death and pretending that you can stay clean through it is BULLSHIT.¡±
¡°EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME ANSWER!!!!! YOU ALL SAY THE SAME SHIT BECAUSE ERVIN TOLD YOU THAT WAS WHAT HE BELIEVED IN. TRY AND THINK FOR YOURSELVES FOR ONCE!!!¡±
Ervin: While I work on the plan to stop the Kaimi Daja, I also want to focus on something else that happened last week: Kato awakening the god eye and using it right away.
Kenji: Oh yeah I heard about that from Yamato the other day. How exactly does it work, Kato?
Ervin: I was about to ask him the same thing. Do you know the conditions for the eye to work?
Kato: Yes, sir. The information on how it works came to me the moment the eye awakened.
Isaiah: (to himself) That seems appropriate.
Kenji: It¡¯s like how a bird is born knowing how to build a nest.
Yamato: (amazed) Oooh¡.
Mira: I didn¡¯t even think of it like that.
Kato: So based on what I know, the god eye has four conditions it has to go through before I can copy a technique. As these conditions are:
The god eye has to see the technique being used first while it is activated
When the god eye sees it, it begins to process the technique¡¯s information, which is transferred to the user (me).
The god eye begins to imprint the information it has gained into the user¡¯s body so they can replicate the technique it has seen and this will take 14 seconds.
Within those 14 seconds, I have to be within three meters of the person using the technique. If I¡¯m any further, it won¡¯t work.
The god eye doesn¡¯t copy the entire technique. It only copies the specific aspect of the technique that¡¯s being used in front of it. (So, just because I copy a fireball skill doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll be able to use other fire techniques. The god eye will only copy the fireball skill.)
Kayomi: So, that¡¯s how you were able to copy my technique and Arou¡¯s?
Kato: Yeah.
Kayomi: Makes sense coz you were close by when we fought and used our techniques.
Yamato: That¡¯s pretty cool if you ask me.
Isaiah: Hmmm
Kenji: I agree with that.
Mira: Right.
Ervin: The same thing happened to me when I was a kid. The moment I awakened the shadow heart, all the information on the technique was placed in my head immediately. So, you have four techniques now, Kato.
Kato: Four? Don''t you mean three?
Ervin: No, I mean four. And I¡¯m not talking about the god eye¡ªit¡¯s not a technique, it¡¯s a special power. I¡¯m talking about your actual techniques.
Kato: Actual techniques???
Mira: Huh? I don¡¯t quite follow.
Ervin: So far, you¡¯ve learned three techniques:
Shadow Rush, which Roshi taught you.
Shadow Hardening, which you copied from Kayomi.
Shadow Fragmentation, which you copied from Arou.
Roshi: But that''s only three.
Kenji: Yeah.
Ervin: Right. But what about the technique you were born with?
Kato: Born with?
Kayomi: Oh. I get it.
Kato: What is he talking about, Mr. Kayomi?
Kayomi: You awakened the god eye, which was the power of the All Mother that was given to the Hamorabi Clan¡ªone of the great shadow clans back then. Being a shadow from the Hamorabi Clan means that the hereditary technique of that clan would have been in you from the moment you were born.
Kenji: But Kato was just a shadow conduit with only 1% shadow energy until a few months ago. A technique wouldn¡¯t exist in a shadow conduit, would it?
Ervin: It would. But a conduit would never be able to use it because of the low shadow energy they possess. That was the case for Kato, too, until he was bitten by a Shadow Bug and became a shadow himself.
Kato: But how can we know that I really do have this technique? I¡¯ve only ever used the ones I learned or copied, and you said you can¡¯t teach me a technique you or anyone else doesn¡¯t have.
Ervin: That¡¯s true, I did say that. But you¡¯ve already used another technique besides the three I just mentioned.
Kato: I did?
Kayomi: Yes, you did. Think back. When the leader of the Kaimi Daja came, your shadow energy levels suddenly spiked. Your eyes turned red, and your strength and speed increased significantly. That¡¯s not something just anyone can do on the fly.
Kato: (suddenly remembers his first encounter with Zero and how he had suddenly gotten strong enough to break free from Lorra¡¯s tree restraints and began to fight Zero) So you''re saying that could be my actual technique?
Ervin: Exactly.
Kayomi: How did you feel in that moment? When you suddenly attacked Zero back then?
Kato: (thinks back for a moment) I felt so angry. Stronger than I usually do. I could feel the shadow energy and blood moving within me, and everything seemed so clear in that moment. And it¡¯s not the first time. It happened before¡ªwhen the Kaimi Daja made me fight one of their members after I was first kidnapped. But I got taken down by another hunter before I could do anything else.
Mira: (to herself) I didn¡¯t know that.
Ervin: Ever since the Hamorabi Clan was annihilated all those years ago, we¡¯ve had no knowledge of their hereditary technique or how it connects to the red eyes Kayomi mentioned. The only person who might have answers is¡
Kato: (clenches his fists) My father, right?
Ervin: Yeah. But we don¡¯t know where he is or how he¡¯s still alive after 500 years. There¡¯s so much mystery surrounding him, and we won¡¯t get answers until we find him.
Kato: I don¡¯t think he wants to be found, considering he left his wife and son without ever coming back.
Ervin: (to himself) Still holding contempt for him, huh? (to Kato) Anyway, I¡¯d be careful about copying any more techniques if I were you.
Kato: Huh? Why is that?
Ervin: A normal shadow or lighter can only have three techniques. The Heirs and anomalies, like you, can have five. You already have four, so copying another technique would bring you to your limit. Your body and brain can¡¯t carry more than that. So, the next technique you copy needs to be something truly worth it.
Kato: Understood.
At that moment, Ervin¡¯s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw Dana calling.
Ervin: (answering the phone) Hey, Dana. What¡¯s wrong this time?
Dana: Nothing¡¯s wrong, actually. Is Kato there?
Ervin: Yeah, he¡¯s here. Why do you ask? (suddenly realizing) Oh.
Dana: Hand him the phone. I need to tell him something important.
Ervin: Alright. (to Kato) Kato, Dana has something to tell you.
Kato stood up and walked toward Ervin, ta
king the phone. As he did, everyone noticed the tabi sandals he wore¡ªa gift from Kayomi to help him master the shadow hardening technique.
Kato: (taking the phone) Ms. Dana?
Dana: Kato¡ It¡¯s your mother. She¡¯s awake.
THE KAIMI DAJA ASSAULT ARC ENDS
Chapter 52: Departure At The End
Later that evening, with Kinara''s help, Ervin and Kato teleported to Benville Hospital, where Kato''s mother was being treated. As they approached her room, Kato braced himself, uncertain of what to expect.
When they entered, the sight before him matched what Dana had told him. Sitting on the hospital bed was his mother, awake but visibly thinner and frailer than he remembered. Seeing her like this brought tears to Kato¡¯s eyes.
Kato: Mother?
Korra: (turns her head slowly) Kato?
Without hesitation, Kato rushed to her side, and they embraced. Both of them cried, overwhelmed with relief and joy after so long apart. In that moment, Kato pushed aside the questions about how she had woken up. None of that mattered now.
Kato: (still crying) I thought I lost you mom.
Korra: (stroking Kato''s hair) I thought I lost you too, son.
Meanwhile, Ervin stepped out of the room to give Kato some time alone with his mother. He found Dana waiting in the hallway, her expression serious. She had something important to share.
Ervin: Alright, Dana. First question: how is she alive?
Dana: From the tests I¡¯ve run, it seems her body has been trying to adapt to the shadow energy forced into her.
Ervin: Adapt? That shouldn¡¯t even be possible. She¡¯s human, right?
Dana: Yeah she is.
Ervin: So¡ does that mean she¡¯s become a full shadow, like us?
Dana: (whispers) NOT SO LOUD!!!!
Ervin: (cartoonish face) Sorry.
Dana: (sighs) No, not exactly. I had to run more tests to figure out why she woke up and why she¡¯s still alive, and I think I¡¯ve found the reason.
Ervin: Okay. I''m ready to hear it.
Dana: Her body was trying to adapt to the shadow energy because¡ well, because she mated with a shadow to have Kato. Carrying him¡ªsomeone with 1% shadow energy¡ªin her womb likely contributed. Her body adapted to handling 1% shadow energy back then, and that adaptation persisted even after Kato was born. That¡¯s probably what stopped her from dying immediately or turning into a shadow monster after being bitten by a Shadow Bug.
Ervin: For real? So she¡¯s awake now because her body fully adapted?
Dana: No.
Ervin: (cartoonish face) I''m starting to get confused here.
Dana: (cartoonish face) At least let me finish!
Ervin: (cartoonish face) Sorry.
Dana: She¡¯s awake because her body failed to adapt to the 99% shadow energy forced into her back in July.
Ervin: Wait, what? Then how is she even conscious?
Dana: I suspect it¡¯s because of Kato¡¯s father. He must have had a unique trait¡ªsomething in his physiology that allowed him to adapt to foreign energies. By having a child with Korra, it seems some of that adaptability passed to her as well, which let her handle 1% shadow energy without dying. But she doesn¡¯t have enough of that trait to adapt fully to the 99% shadow energy now overwhelming her body.
Ervin: (scratches his head) Ugh¡ This is so complicated.
Dana: I know, right?
Ervin: If her body failed to adapt, how much time does she have?
Dana: (somberly) A few minutes. Maybe less.
Ervin: (frowning) Why didn¡¯t you tell Kato?
Dana: (looking down) Because¡ his mother wanted to tell him herself.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Meanwhile, back in the hospital room, Kato and Korra continued their heartfelt conversation.
Kato: And that¡¯s how they accepted me into the Shadow Society, Mom.
Korra: (smiles) I¡¯m so glad you were able to meet good people who saved and took care of you. When I regained consciousness, I was terrified you¡¯d been captured by the HFA or, worse, killed. But seeing you here, alive and well, makes me so happy, Kato. Truly.
Kato: (smiles) When Mr. Ervin and the others took me in, accepted me, gave me a place to stay, and trained me, I remembered what you told me¡ªthat not all Shadows are evil. You were right, Mom. Not all of them are as bad as the world says. But¡ I wish I¡¯d found out differently. Not like this.
Korra: I see. And how do you feel about all of this?
Kato: First, it was knowing you were going to die, and then me becoming a Shadow. Then finding out I¡¯m the last descendant of the¡ (scratches his head) Hamorabi Clan, was it? And that I¡¯d awaken the God Eye, which would make the Kaimi Daja come after me. At first, it all felt like too much to bear, but¡
Kato paused, recalling his conversation with Mira and the others in Chapter 19. He also thought of Takimo, who had never given up on him.
Kato: The friends I¡¯ve made and the fact that Takimo still believes in me kept me going. It gave me strength and confidence to face whatever comes my way. It also made me determined to end the cycle of hatred that¡¯s been going on for so long so that no one else has to go through what I did.
Korra: Oh, Takimo. How¡¯s he doing? Have you heard from him?
Kato: Not really. I haven¡¯t seen him since that day¡ or when I snuck into school for graduation. He¡¯s joining the HFA to find a way to see me again. Sometimes I worry about him because of how dangerous their work is, but I have faith in him. (smiles faintly) He even gave up on his dream just to see me again.
Korra: There aren¡¯t many people out there like Takimo. Make sure you both look out for each other, okay?
Kato: Right, mom.
Korra: (sighs softly) Sometimes, I imagine this world as one big garden.
Kato: A garden?
Korra: Yes. I picture it as a vast, beautiful garden. The sky would stretch endlessly, painted with the colors of peace, and the trees in that forest would thrive under the harmony everyone shared. It would be a paradise. But¡ that paradise was taken from us. Disagreements turned to division, and now the sky is heavy with gray clouds, reflecting a broken world. The forest is tense, scarred, and burned by flames of war that haven¡¯t stopped for over 500 years. I used to wonder¡ Can we ever go back? Can the garden become beautiful and welcoming again?
For a moment, Korra and Kato both closed their eyes, imagining the garden Korra described. It was serene and full of life, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed¡ªconsumed by flames, choking on ash.
Kato: (clenching his fists) I¡¯ll bring it back, Mom. Like I said, I want to end the cycle of hatred, and I¡¯m going to do it. Now that you¡¯re awake, everything is going to be fine. I¡¯ll protect you and keep you safe. I won¡¯t let the Kaimi Daja hurt you ever again. I¡¯m getting stronger so I can make it happen. I will make it happen.
Kato looked at his mother with fierce determination in his eyes. But as he spoke, he noticed her expression change. Korra averted her gaze, her face growing sorrowful. She looked down for a moment, then slowly raised her head to meet Kato¡¯s eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
Korra: Kato, I¡¯m dying. Today.
Kato: Huh?
Korra: According to the doctor who was here earlier, I only have a few minutes until the shadow energy in my body kills me. She said it¡¯s a miracle I lasted this long. I don¡¯t have much time left, Kato.
Kato froze in complete and utter shock. A cold line of sweat ran down his forehead. The words he¡¯d spoken earlier about strength and resolve suddenly felt hollow, thrown back at him as if they meant nothing. A voice echoed in his mind, one he¡¯d heard before:
¡°Sorry to break it to you but the world doesn''t work according to your desires.¡±
He zoned out for a moment, paralyzed by the weight of his mother¡¯s revelation. But he snapped back to reality when he heard her coughing violently. Blood trickled from her mouth and nose.
Kato: Mother!!
Korra: (continues coughing)
Kato: I¡¯ll get Ms. Dana! (He turns to leave, but Korra suddenly grabs his hand.)
Korra: Wait¡ I have something I need to tell you.
Kato: That can wait! I need to get Ms. Dana to look at you¡ª
Korra: I already told you. I only have moments left. (coughs) Even if you call her, there¡¯s nothing she can do to save me.
Kato: But¡¡
Korra: At least listen to me, Kato! (tears in her eyes) Please, just this once, don¡¯t be stubborn¡ not when it¡¯s the last time.
Seeing the tears in his mother¡¯s eyes, Kato felt compelled to sit down beside her. He clenched his fists, trembling with frustration.
Kato: (through gritted teeth) DAMN IT!
Korra: Before I pass, I feel it¡¯s only right to tell you about your father. Your father¡ he¡¯s¡
Kato: He¡¯s a Shadow, isn¡¯t he? I already know that much. They explained it to me when I arrived at the Shadow Society. But why are we talking about him now? He¡¯s not important. He left us, just like that. I don¡¯t want to talk about him.
Korra: I know your father isn¡¯t your favorite person because he left us¡ (coughs) but he¡¯s not the man you think he is. He left for a good reason¡ªto protect us.
Kato: Protect us? Where was he when we were bitten by Shadow Bugs? Where was he when I was kidnapped by the Kaimi Daja? He never came to visit you in the hospital, never even tried to find me. How am I supposed to understand a father like that? Doesn¡¯t he care about us?
Korra: Your father¡ he¡¯s had a complicated life and made many mistakes. But you and I were not one of them. He cares for us, Kato. He loves us deeply. (coughs) He left, not because he doesn¡¯t care, but because staying would¡¯ve brought his enemies straight to us.
Kato: His enemies?
Korra: Why do you think we moved to Benville City after he left? He¡ (coughs violently)
Suddenly, blood began pouring from Korra¡¯s eyes, nose, and mouth. Her breathing grew ragged, cutting her explanation short. At that moment, Ervin and Dana returned to the room.
Kato: (panicking) What¡¯s happening to my mom?!
Dana: She¡¯s dying. Her body is collapsing under the strain of the shadow energy. It¡¯s reached its limit.
Kato: (tears streaming down his face) PLEASE, DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!!
Dana: I¡¯m sorry, Kato. There¡¯s nothing anyone can do. I¡¯m so sorry.
Kato collapsed to his knees beside the hospital bed, gripping the sheets as despair consumed him. His worst fear was becoming reality.
¡°The thought that she''s going to die and there''s nothing I can do about it stays on my mind everyday and it scares me.¡±
Kato: (sobbing) I can¡¯t accept this. I¡¯m not ready for this. I¡¯M NOT READY FOR THIS!! I TOLD MYSELF THAT AS LONG AS I HAD PEOPLE AROUND ME, I COULD FACE ANYTHING THAT CAME MY WAY.
¡°Don''t worry man. Whatever happens to your mom we''ll be here for you.¡±
¡°We''ll be here for you when the aftermath starts.¡±
Kato: (voice breaking) But I was wrong! All the goals I set, all the times I said I could handle anything¡ªit was all a lie. I¡¯m weak. I¡¯m not ready for this. I CAN¡¯T ACCEPT THIS PATH! I CAN¡¯T LIVE THIS LIFE WITHOUT YOU, MOTHER! SO MUCH HAS BEEN PUSHED ON ME ALL AT ONCE, AND I¡¯M NOT READY! I¡¯M NOT! PLEASE, COME BACK FROM THIS! PLEASE! I CAN¡¯T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! PLEASE!!!
Through her labored breathing, Korra gently pulled Kato into her arms. Her voice, though faint, carried a firm resolve.
Korra: (softly) Kato¡ my brave boy¡ strength isn¡¯t about never feeling afraid or overwhelmed. It¡¯s about facing those feelings and moving forward despite them. It¡¯s okay to feel unready¡ (breathes heavily) to feel like everything is too much. But know this: you are not alone. You have friends who care for you deeply, just as I do.
She paused, looking into his tear-filled eyes with love and seriousness.
Korra: I won¡¯t be there physically, but my love and belief in you will always remain. Trust in yourself and in the bonds you¡¯ve built. It¡¯s okay to lean on others when you need to. (breathes heavily) But never forget the incredible strength you hold within. You have the heart of a protector. That will guide you, even in the darkest times.
Her voice grew weaker with each word, her final moments drawing near.
Korra: Promise me, Kato, that you¡¯ll keep moving forward, no matter how hard it gets. Promise me.
Kato: (sobbing) I¡ I don¡¯t know if I can. I don¡¯t want to make promises I can¡¯t keep.
Korra: (smiling faintly) You are stronger than you realize¡ and I know you¡¯ll find your way.
With those fin
al words, Korra gave Kato one last tender smile. Her breathing slowed, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She passed away with that loving smile on her face.
Chapter 52: Departure At The End
Chapter 53: Kato Hamura
Can I still find my way,
When you''re gone?
A few hours later, Kato and Ervin returned to the Hashido estate. Ervin went ahead to inform everyone about Kato¡¯s mother¡¯s death. Even though Mira and the others had anticipated it, the news still saddened them. Kato, new to the shadow society, bore the heaviest weight.
Kato went to his room and locked the door. Alone, he sank into his thoughts, the emotions swirling until they overflowed. Tears streamed down his face, unrelenting, until¡
A six-year-old Kato played on a swing in the local park with other children. Suddenly, he heard someone call his name. Turning, he saw his mother, Korra, standing at the park entrance, waving.
Korra: (waving) Kato! It¡¯s time to go home now.
Kato: Alright, Mom!
Kato jumped off the swing and ran to her. He smiled and grabbed her left hand as they headed home together.
Korra: Did you have fun?
Kato: (nodding) Hmmmm!
When they arrived home, they found a man with blonde hair¡ªKato¡¯s father¡ªalready preparing dinner. His face wasn¡¯t clearly visible, but his presence was unmistakable.
Kato: Dad! We¡¯re back!
Kato¡¯s dad: (smiles) Welcome back.
Chapter 53: Kato Hamura
Before my mom and I moved to Benville City, we lived in Keys Town, a small place near the city. I attended a tiny school and had many friends. Life was simple and happy, especially coming home to my mom and dad waiting for me.
My parents always did their best to be there for me. My father taught me to, ¡°Always look out for others and help them when they can¡¯t move on their own.¡± I admired him for that and believed he lived by those words.
But¡¡..
One night, I overheard my parents arguing about something. I was supposed to be asleep but had gotten up to use the bathroom. On my way back, I caught snippets of their conversation. I couldn¡¯t hear everything, but I remember my dad saying, ¡°I have to go. But I promise I¡¯ll be back once I finish this.¡±
The next morning, my dad was gone. When I asked my mom where he was, she said he had something important to do and would be away for a while. There was sadness in her eyes, but I decided to trust his words and wait for his return.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
One year passed.
Then two.
By the third year, my mom and I moved to Benville City. Despite the move, I clung to the hope that he¡¯d come back. But he never did. I never saw him again.
My mom took over his role, working tirelessly to provide for us. She smiled around me but wore a sadness when she thought I wasn¡¯t looking. She missed him.
I missed him too.
But he left us.
Did he not care about us? Were we not important to him?
I have to go. But I promise I¡¯ll be back once I finish this.
Those words lost their meaning over time. After three years with no contact, I stopped believing in his promise. To me, it was clear he didn¡¯t care and had found a way to escape from us. He wasn¡¯t coming back.
That¡¯s when my hatred for him was born. He didn¡¯t value us, but I decided I¡¯d be different. I¡¯d value others and always help them. That¡¯s how I met Takimo and why he became my best friend. I also vowed to value my mom and make her proud.
I excelled in school, acing every test and remaining at the top of my class. My achievements brought a smile to her face. Her happiness became my reward. I lived for others, not for myself, and for a while, life was good.
Then the Shadow Bug incident happened. I became a Shadow, and my mother passed away.
The scenery shifted. Kato found himself back in the park in Keys Town. He wandered until he reached the swings and sat down, staring at the ground. His eyes were swollen, and his face was bleak.
Suddenly, he heard crying. Lifting his head, he saw a six-year-old version of himself standing before him, tears streaming down his face.
Kato (6): Mom¡¡Mom¡¡.Mother is dead.
Kato: That¡¯s right. Mom just died. Of course, he¡¯d be sad. I¡¯ve cried so much that I can¡¯t cry anymore. (thinking of his mother¡¯s final moments) Mother just died¡
Kato (6): (crying harder) Damn it! DAMN IT! Mother! Why? Why did it have to be this way? Why did you leave me all alone? I miss you so much! MOTHER!
Kato: I miss her too. (sighs) I miss her too.
Kato (6): DAMN IT!!! (wiping his tears) Why do I feel this way? I thought after Mira and the others shared their experiences, I¡¯d be ready for this. I thought I could face anything. So why do I still feel this way?
Kato:It¡¯s my fault. You had nothing to do with it.
Kato(6): Huh?
Kato: You had nothing to do with it. Your goal was to value and help others, to be there for Mom. You did that perfectly. I¡¯m still able to do it thanks to you. But me¡? I¡¯m nothing but a liar and a coward.
¡°Sorry to break it to you but the world doesn''t work according to your desires.¡±
Kato: I¡¯ve never been honest with myself since becoming a Shadow. I lied about being ready to face this path. I lied that I was strong. I lied that I could handle my mother¡¯s death. Deep down, I¡¯ve been denying everything, hoping it was a bad dream that would end when I opened my eyes.
Kato (6) wiped his tears
Kato: Someone once told me, "The world doesn¡¯t work according to your desires." Even though he¡¯s a member of the Kaimi Daja, I knew those words were true. But I still tried to deny them. Deep down, I never truly accepted that I was a Shadow¡ªnot even after realizing that not all Shadows are evil. I kept lying to myself, pretending that if I ignored the truth long enough, it would disappear, like a bad dream I could wake up from.
Kato(6) moves to sit on the swing next to Kato.
Kato: Even when Mr. Ervin told me my mother¡¯s chances of survival were zero, and Ms. Dana said she was awake, I discarded everything Mr. Ervin said. I clung to this childish belief that they were wrong and everything would somehow turn out the way I wanted. But when Mom said she was dying, I realized how foolish I was¡ªhow I was denying reality. I made you believe in that fantasy too, and for that, I¡¯m truly sorry.
Kato(6): I¡¯m not mad at you. But don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too hard on yourself? Calling yourself a coward and the weakest person in the world?
Kato: But it¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve been lying to myself and to you, even though the truth was as clear as day. I can¡¯t even bring myself to honor Mom¡¯s last request because I¡¯m so full of doubt. I¡¯d probably lie to myself again and say I can handle it, but I know I can¡¯t. No matter what I do, I¡¯m just a liar. Maybe it would be better if the Kaimi Daja took the God Eye from me and ended my life. At least the world would be free of my existence. (clenches his fists) I hate myself.
They both sat on the swings in silence after this as the wind blew them and the swings swayed a little even as they sat on them.
Kato(6): What if, instead of hating yourself, you tried to forgive yourself?
A knock at the door snapped Kato out of his thoughts. He glanced at the clock¡ªit was already 7 a.m. He had spent the entire night lost in his own mind, the evidence clear in his swollen, tired eyes.
Rising from his bed, he walked to the door and opened it. Mira stood there, her expression soft but filled with concern.
Mira: Kato¡ can we talk?
Chapter 54: Something I Couldnt See
There was always a wall between us
It stopped me from reaching out my hand to you
But that wall doesn''t exist anymore
There was a knock on the door that snapped Kato out of his thoughts. He glanced at the clock. It was 7 AM already. He had spent the entire night lost in thought, his swollen eyes betraying his lack of sleep.
Kato stood up and trudged to the door. When he unlocked and opened it, Mira was standing there, her expression a mixture of concern and determination.
Kato: Mira?
Mira: Kato¡ can we talk?
Kato: (sighs) Sure¡.. why not.
Mira: Also I don''t want to talk here. Let''s go outside.
Kato: Outside? Do I have to?
Mira: (grabs Kato''s right hand) Yes you do.
Soon, Kato and Mira left the main building of the Hashido estate and began walking toward the garden. Kato¡¯s gaze drifted to the people around them, their smiles radiant and carefree. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to smile back. The weight of his guilt and sorrow felt insurmountable.
Mira, walking slightly ahead of him, stole glances at his downcast face. Her heart ached as she recognized the same pain she had once carried.
Mira: (to herself) This feeling¡ I know what it is, Kato. I know exactly what it is. Because we¡¯re the same. I, too, lost my mother, and it sent me spiraling.
Chapter 54: Something I Couldn''t See
When I was younger, I struggled with low self-esteem. I felt different from everyone else. And it wasn¡¯t just because I was born a Shadow.
My mom owned a flower shop, and my dad was the head of the Hashido Clan¡ªthe highest-ranking family in the Shadow society. But none of that was why I felt different.
I always believed that because of the roles people play in your life, they won¡¯t always tell you the truth. Sometimes, they lie to spare you the pain the truth brings.
When I didn¡¯t do well in my shadow technique training¡
When I accidentally broke the flower vase at home¡
When I didn¡¯t do well in school¡
I felt useless. I thought I deserved to be scolded or reprimanded. But no one ever did. Instead, they always said things like:
¡°Oh well. You can get it better next time.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself. Not everyone gets it at first¡±
¡°No need to say sorry. Everyone makes mistakes right?¡±
I know encouragement is supposed to help, but sometimes it felt like a mask for the truth. And their refusal to tell me the hard truths only deepened my insecurity. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
The only people who ever said what I thought was the ¡°truth¡± were the Imperial Guard, who clearly didn¡¯t like me. But hearing their harsh words didn¡¯t make me feel better. It only made my self-esteem worse.
By the time I was thirteen, things had reached a breaking point. My mother, Ayane Smith, noticed my behavior and called me to talk.
Ayane: (combing Mira¡¯s red hair) Is something wrong, Mira? You¡¯ve seemed down lately.
Mira: Oh, no. Nothing¡¯s wrong, Mom. (puts on a fake smile) I¡¯m fine.
Ayane: We both know that¡¯s not true. Come on, you can tell me anything. It¡¯s just us here now.
Mira: (lowers her head) Mom, do I have value?
Ayane: (eyes widen) Of course you do. Why would you even question that?
Mira: Because I always seem to mess up, no matter what I do. And everyone just says the same things over and over. It feels like they¡¯re hiding the truth from me. And not saying it hurts even more.
Ayane: (gently lifts Mira¡¯s chin to look into her eyes) Oh, Mira, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. It¡¯s okay to feel like you mess up sometimes. We all do. But those mistakes don¡¯t define your value or who you are. You¡¯re good. I promise you that my words, and your father¡¯s, aren¡¯t meant to hide anything; they¡¯re meant to show you that you¡¯re good but can be better.
Mira: You think so?
Ayane: I know so. You have so much potential¡ªnot just as a Shadow, but as a person. Mistakes are just steps in the journey to becoming who you¡¯re meant to be. If anyone ever lies to you, it won¡¯t be your father or me. Okay?
Mira: (nods)
Ayane: (pats Mira on the head) Just continue to improve on yourself and I assure you that you¡¯ll find the value you claim you¡¯re lacking. Whenever you need help, call me or your father. We¡¯¡¯l be there to help you.
Mira: Okay.
Of course she won¡¯t tell me what she actually felt. She¡¯s my mother.
She did say she¡¯d be there for me and that gave me some hope. But the very next day, my mom was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Exactly one year later, she was gone.
Even before her death, she tried her best to help me see my own value, but I just couldn¡¯t see it.
But even then I tried & improved on myself and became better at doing things but the way I viewed myself didn¡¯t change¡ªnot until that day in high school.
It was after class, and I was the last one in the room, finishing my notes. I overheard a conversation outside the window. Curious, I peeked out and saw Kato, Takimo, and two other boys talking.
They didn¡¯t notice me because they were deep in their conversation which seemed to be about which girl they would date in our class.
¡°Such a boy thing to do¡± I thought.
Boy 1: Hey Kato, it¡¯s your turn to talk now. Which girl from our class would you date?
Kato: (scratches his head) If I had to pick, I¡¯d choose Mira Smith.
Takimo: Mira?
Boy 2: HMMMMMMM¡¡
Boy 1: (pats Kato¡¯s back) She¡¯s way out of your league, bro. Give up.
Boy 2: Out of his league?
Takimo: I mean, she is the prettiest girl in our class.
Boy 2: But she doesn¡¯t have any friends!
Takimo: What does that have to do with anything?!
Boy 2: (laughs)
Boy 1: Why would you want to go out with her, anyway? What do you see in her?
Kato: Well, I admire the way she always tries her best, even when things don¡¯t go as planned. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s better than doing nothing at all.
Boy 2: Huh?
Boy 1: I¡¯m lost right now man.
Kato: My point is that I admire the way she tries to show her worth. And¡ Her red hair is kinda cute too.
Takimo: (to himself) That¡¯s Kato for you. Always seeing the good in people.
Boy 2: If you ask me, you¡¯re looking at things too deep. Just say you like her because she¡¯s pretty.
Kato: Huuh?
I left before they could see me. But for the first time, I smiled.
I don¡¯t why but I always felt that because of the roles people play in your lives, they won¡¯t ever tell you the truth all the time and they¡¯d sometimes lie to you to spare you the pain that the truth brings with it.
But this was different.
Kato and I weren¡¯t even friends at that point, and his role in my life then was nothing more than that of a background character.
Yet, he saw the value in me¡ªvalue I couldn¡¯t see in myself¡ªand he had no significant role in my life at the time.
So he couldn¡¯t have been lying, right?
Right?
If what Kato said about me was true, then that means everything my mother and father had said to me was true as well.
¡°I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. It¡¯s okay to feel like you mess up sometimes. We all do. But those mistakes don¡¯t define your value or who you are. You did good. I promise you that my words and that of your fathers aren¡¯t meant to hide anything; they¡¯re meant to show you that you are good but you can do better¡±
The words my mother, my father, and everyone close to me had said weren¡¯t lies. And it took hearing those same truths from someone outside my family for me to finally believe them.
I was such a fool.
After that realization, I decided that the cruel words others¡ªlike the Imperial Guard¡ªsaid about me didn¡¯t define who I was. It was in that moment of clarity that I awakened my second shadow technique: the Nullification Technique.
Mira continued leading Kato, who trudged slowly behind her through the garden. At one point, she stopped walking and turned to look at him. He didn¡¯t notice her gaze, lost as he was in his thoughts.
Mira: (to herself): This is just like back then, except now our roles are reversed. Your words unknowingly helped me change how I saw myself, and for that, I¡¯ll always be grateful. That¡¯s why I chose to be your friend.
To chase after you.
To be that person you always saw.
To see the value in people the way you saw the value in me.
To always be close to you.
You think me being the second best after you in class is a coincidence?
You changed me, Kato.
Your words saved me, Kato.
¡°We''ll be here for you when the aftermath starts.¡±
Mira: (to herself): Just like you helped me back then, I¡¯ll fulfill my promise to help you now. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to bring you back from this. I¡¯ll do anything just to see your smile again. Because I¡
Chapter 55: Moving Forward
Mira led Kato through the lush garden, her steps purposeful, though Kato trailed behind, lost in his thoughts. She stopped abruptly and glanced back at him. Kato, oblivious, barely noticed her gaze.
Mira: (to herself) This feels just like back then. Only now, our roles are reversed. Your words unknowingly helped me see myself differently, and I¡¯ll always be grateful for that. That¡¯s why I chose to become your friend.
To chase after you.
To be that person you always saw.
To see the value in people the way you saw the value in me.
To always be close to you.
You think me being the second best after you in class is a coincidence?
You changed me, Kato. Your words saved me, Kato.
Mira: (to herself) Just like you helped me back then, I¡¯m going to fulfill my promise to help you now. I¡¯ll bring you back from this darkness. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to see your smile again. Because I¡
Kato: (breaking her thoughts) Mira? Why did you bring me out here?
Mira: Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m fulfilling the promise I made to you back then. Don¡¯t you remember?
¡°We''ll be here for you when the aftermath starts.¡±
Kato: I remember. But... (looks down) I don¡¯t think you should bother with me. I¡¯m just a liar who says anything.
Mira: (looks at him silently)
Kato: I always told myself I was ready to take on everything as long as you guys were with me. But when my mom¡ in her final moments, I realized I never truly believed those words. I¡¯ve been lying to myself this whole time.
Mira: (sighs)
Kato: It¡¯s better that¡ª
Mira: (walks up and taps his forehead gently) Idiot. You think saying that will make me back down from my promise? Sorry, but it¡¯ll take more than that to get rid of me. Now come on, everyone¡¯s waiting.
Kato: Everyone?
They walked until they reached a giant tree with a house nestled in its branches¡ªa treehouse. Perched on top, Yamato was waiting for them.
Kato: A treehouse?
Mira: Yeah. My dad built it when I was a kid. It became our hideout to escape from the adults. Everyone¡¯s up there now.
Yamato: (noticing them) Took you love birds long enough.
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Mira: (blushes) Love birds!?
Kenji: (appearing from the treehouse) Don¡¯t mind him. You two, come on up.
Inside, Kato found Isaiah, Cookie, and Uta already there. The treehouse was surprisingly spacious, comfortably fitting everyone. The group fell silent as Kato entered.
Kato: You guys,......
Isaiah: Yo.
Uta: (nods silently)
Cookie: We heard what happened to your mom. I¡¯m so sorry.
Kato: Thanks. But it was always going to happen, wasn¡¯t it? I just deluded myself into thinking everything would be okay. But... (sighs)
Yamato: Come on man, lay it all out. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.
Kenji: Yeah, spill it.
Mira: (nods)
Isaiah: (pats Kato on the back)
Kato: (sighs deeply) I feel so hollow. There¡¯s this emptiness in my chest¡ªexpected, since my mom¡¯s gone. But it¡¯s more than that. (takes a deep breath)
I¡¯m so angry with myself. After you all promised to stand by me, I told myself I could face anything. But then everything happened:
The Kaimi Daja came after me
Arou turned out to be one of them.
Mr. Ervin revealed that, in every scenario, their plans lead to my death.
My mom¡¯s death...
I denied it all, convincing myself it was just a bad dream. But when my mom was dying, I realized I¡¯d been lying to myself and to you all.
Kato: (clenches his fists) I wasn¡¯t ready for anything. The words I said were just excuses to feel competent. It infuriates me. I hate myself for it. And now... I don¡¯t know how to move on. How do I honor my mom¡¯s last wishes when all I do is lie?
Mira: (places her hand on his shoulder) Kato, it¡¯s okay to feel this way. You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s ever felt unprepared or scared.
Kenji: Yeah. None of us are ready for everything life throws at us. Especially one where everyone would hate and try to kill us. It''s not wrong to have told yourself those things. You did what you thought you had to. It doesn¡¯t make you less human.
Cookie: You don¡¯t have to carry this alone, Kato.
Yamato: We¡¯re here for you, Kato, just like we promised.
Isaiah: Your mother wanted you to be happy and to live your life fully right? She wouldn''t want you to be weighed down by guilt or self-hatred. Honoring her wishes doesn''t mean you have to be perfect or have all the answers.
Kenji: There''s no one who''s perfect and has all the answers. It just means you keep moving forward, even when it''s hard, and that you stay true to the person she raised you to be.
Mira: You always see the value in people. Don¡¯t stop being that person.
Cookie: You don¡¯t need to have everything figured out. Take it slow.
Yamato: And if you stumble, we¡¯ll be here to help you back up. Your strength doesn¡¯t come from never feeling weak, it comes from finding the courage to keep going, and we''ll be here for you.
Uta: (taps Kato on the shoulder) // You''ll be fine. We''re here.//
Kato looked around all of them and saw the look on everyone¡¯s faces and he saw the sincerity in their faces that they meant every single word they had just told him.
Kato: But¡¡.what if I end up doing the same thing again? What if I end up lying to myself and you all again?
Yamato: Then I''ll come with my knuckle sandwich special fist and knock some sense into you.
Kenji: More seriously, though...
Cookie: We¡¯re here for you, Kato.
Mira: All of us. If Takimo were here, he¡¯d say the same.
As Kato sat among them, he suddenly recalled the words his mother had said to him before she died.
¡°Kato, my brave boy, strength isn¡¯t about never feeling afraid or overwhelmed. It¡¯s about facing those feelings and moving forward despite them.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay to feel unready, to feel like everything is too much. But know this, you are not alone. You have friends who care for you deeply and believe in you, just as I do.¡±
¡°I know I won¡¯t be there physically, but my love and belief in you will always be with you. Trust in yourself and in the bonds you¡¯ve built. It¡¯s okay to lean on others when you need to, and it¡¯s okay to grieve.¡±
¡°But never forget the incredible strength you have within you. You have the heart of a protector, and that will guide you, even in the darkest times.¡±
Kato: (to himself) Here''s everyone assuring me that they''ll be by my side no matter what. Trust in the bonds you''ve built¡.
¡°What if instead of hating yourself, you tried to forgive yourself?.........¡±
Kato sat quietly, lost in thought, surrounded by his friends.
.
Chapter 55: Moving Forward
Meanwhile¡
A man with blonde hair, wearing a brown jacket, white shirt, and a brown scarf, sat on a park bench. Bandages wrapped both his hands.
He sat close to a pond which had some ducks moving around the pond and he started feeding the ducks with the piece of bread in his hands.
Suddenly, someone came and sat beside him and this person was none other than Ervin Hashido who started a conversation with this man on the park bench.
Ervin: You seem pretty down.
Blonde Hair guy: (to himself) He¡¯s talking to me? (aloud) Yeah. Not in the best mood.
Ervin: Want to talk about it?
Blonde Hair guy: You wouldn¡¯t get it.
Ervin: Try me.
Blonde Hair guy: Why should I tell you? I don''t know who you are. What good would it do for you if I tell you?
Ervin: You''re right; you don''t know me. But sometimes talking to someone outside your circle helps. No judgments, no expectations, just a fresh perspective. And maybe, just maybe, it might do you some good.
Blonde Hair guy: (sighs) I lost someone special to me. She was the one light that shone in my cold and dark world. And now that light has been put out and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Ervin: I know that feeling. I know what it means to lose someone special to you.(chuckles lightly)
Blonde Hair guy: Something funny?
Ervin: No, just... you have the same look as him.
Blonde Hair guy: Him? Who are you talking about?
Ervin: Kato. You¡¯re his father, aren¡¯t you? Hiroshi Hamura.
Chapter 56: Dust & Ashes
When someone you love becomes a memory,
That memory becomes a treasure
October 12th 2021,
Later that day, Benville City Hospital announced the death of Korra Hamura. The news quickly spread nationwide, shaking the hearts of the people in Haiwa. With no surviving family to claim her, the hospital decided to cremate her body.
Takimo Zenoshi, a close family friend, was contacted by the hospital since he was the nearest to Korra¡¯s family in her final days. It was his responsibility to receive her ashes after the cremation.
After her body was cremated, Takimo carefully collected the ashes into a jar. His hand trembled slightly as he performed the solemn task.
Takimo: his feeling again? It¡¯s been so long since I felt this hollow... not since Mom, Dad, and Grandma. (he places a hand over his chest) Why does it always come back like this?
As Takimo worked, a woman entered the room. She wore a white lab coat and had a warm but somber presence. It was Dana, the doctor who had been assigned to care for Korra.
Dana: You''re Takimo Zenoshi right?
Takimo: Yes ma''am.
Dana: I was the one who made the call that brought you here. I''m sorry if it''s too much for you.
Takimo: (shakes his head) It¡¯s fine. Mrs. Hamura was like a second mother to me. After my parents and grandmother passed, Kato and his mom became my family. And now... this.
Dana: Are you going to be alright?
Takimo: (takes a deep breath) I will. I¡¯ve known deep down for a while that this day would come. I¡¯ll be fine.
Dana: (to herself) Are you sure about that?
As Takimo turned to leave with the jar of ashes, Dana reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an envelope.
Dana: Wait. (holding out the envelope) Korra asked me to give this to you. It¡¯s a letter she dictated before she passed.
Takimo: (staring at the envelope) A letter? From her?
Dana: Well, technically, I wrote it for her. She told me what to say. (hands him the letter)
Takimo: Thank you ma''am
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Dana: No worries. I''m just doing what she told me to.
Takimo: I¡¯ll be on my way now (begins to walk away)
Dana: You take care of yourself alright?
Takimo: (waves back at her)
As Takimo walked away from the hospital, he paused under a streetlamp. The rain began to drizzle softly, and he opened the envelope with trembling fingers. As he read Korra¡¯s final words, his expression grew even more sorrowful. The drizzle turned into a downpour, matching the storm in his heart.
Chapter 56: Dust & Ashes
A few hours later, Takimo stood in the rain at a cemetery. Three tombstones stood before him, marking the graves of his mother, father, and grandmother. In his hands, he held the jar containing Korra¡¯s ashes.
Takimo: (to himself) Why do they all keep leaving me behind?
Footsteps approached, and an umbrella was suddenly held over his head. Takimo turned to see Silva standing beside him, her expression soft and understanding. Rin stood a short distance away, silently offering his presence.
Silva: You¡¯ll catch a cold.
Takimo: (smiles faintly) Thanks, but I can regulate my body temperature. I¡¯ll be fine.
Silva: Well, I¡¯m still going to keep you dry.
Takimo: Do what you want.
A moment of silence passed before Silva spoke again.
Silva: We all heard what happened. I¡¯m so sorry.
Takimo: Thank you. You know, Mrs Hamura was one of the only people I had left to call family. Everyone who seems to be close to me is always leaving me behind. First it was my mother and father, Grandma, Kato & now Mrs Hamura. Now nothing is left of them except for the tombstones and the ashes in my hand. Kato¡¯s out there somewhere, hiding because people think he¡¯s a monster. It¡¯s just me now.
Silva and Rin listened quietly, letting Takimo speak his heart.
Takimo: My parents were pilots. They were hardly ever home, but they made up for it by taking me on their plane and showing me how it worked. They promised one day they¡¯d take me on a trip. But a few years later, their plane¡¯s engine failed, and they... (voice breaks) they never came back.
Rin: (gently pats Takimo¡¯s shoulder)
Silva: (to herself) A plane crash? That¡¯s awful.
Takimo: After they died, my grandma took care of me. She was my everything. But one night, a burglar broke into our house. She told me to call the police while she distracted him. He tried to attack me, and she fought him off... but she didn¡¯t make it. (clenches his fists) She died protecting me.
Takimo¡¯s voice trembled as he continued.
Takimo: Then it was Kato becoming a Shadow, and now Mrs. Hamura. Everyone¡¯s gone.
The rain began to ease.
Silva: (holds Takimo¡¯s hand) Don¡¯t worry Takimo. I know we don¡¯t say this a lot but we¡¯re here for you. I know it feels like everyone is leaving youtube we won¡¯t. We promised to watch each other''s backs right?
Rin: That¡¯s right. We have each other''s backs now. We gotta ensure that no one feels the kind of pain we¡¯re all feeling right now.
Takimo: (takes a deep breath) But we can¡¯t get rid of this feeling. It¡¯s not possible as long as people die at the end of their lives. So even if I¡¯m going to die, I want to use the time I have while alive to cherish the memories of those who have died & everyone around me and keep working towards the goal I have in my mind.
Silva: (smiles) That¡¯s the spirit.
Takimo: (looks at them) Thanks for coming guys. It means a lot
Silva: Don''t mention it. What are friends for?
Takimo: (turns to Rin) Although I''m surprised that you''re here Rin. What about the others?
Rin: Kazemaru and Tendo couldn¡¯t make it, and Eric doesn¡¯t know you well yet. He¡¯s grieving too¡ªhis brother just passed.
Takimo: (to himself) Everywhere I look there''s death. Would I lose you guys too when we officially become Hunters?
Silva: So, what are you going to do with her ashes?
Takimo: (looks at the jar) I¡¯ll keep them until I see Kato again. Then we¡¯ll spread them in Keys Town. It¡¯s what she wanted.
The rain resumed as the three friends began to walk away, leaving the cemetery behind. In Takimo¡¯s hands, he held the jar of ashes and the letter, which read:
Takimo,
If you''re reading this, it means that I''m already dead and the female doctor who was assigned to me has given you this letter that I told her to help me write.
I wanted to speak with you before I passed but it wasn''t possible so I thought using this letter would be the best way to speak to you.
I want to thank you for always staying by my son''s side all these years. He doesn''t say it but you''re the best thing that has ever happened to him. I want you to watch each other''s backs. My son tends to be stubborn sometimes so I beg of you to please look out for him. I have faith that you two will see each other again.
Lastly, when my body is cremated, I want you and Kato to go and spread my ashes in our hometown; Keys Town. I want both of you to be the one''s to do it and no one will do it without the other cause if you don''t, I''ll know. I always know everything.
Well I think this is the end of the letter. I''m glad I
was able to be a mother to you while I was alive and I''m glad Kato has a loyal person like you as his friend.
Farewell,
Korra Hamura
Chapter 57: Those Who Are More Blessed
It was the same thing for both of us¡..
October 19th 2021,
Jason woke up just before his alarm went off. Once again, sleep had eluded him, haunted by the recurring nightmares that had become all too familiar. He sat up, his gaze falling on the picture frame on his bedside table¡ªa photograph of his younger self standing proudly between his father and mother. He sighed deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
If only his kid self knew what he was like now.
Jason pushed himself out of bed and headed to the sink. He splashed cold water on his face repeatedly, but the dark circles under his eyes stubbornly remained. With a weary look, he removed his shirt in preparation for a shower, revealing a burn scar that stretched from his neck down to his shoulders. The scar was a cruel reminder of a mission he had almost failed, a painful memory etched into his very skin
An hour later, Jason was dressed and ready for work.
Jason and Lisa had scheduled the makeup battle exams for Kazemaru, Tendo, Silva, and the newly admitted student, Eric Egoshin, to take place that day. Unlike the main battle exams, this session would be more private. Only Jason, Lisa, and the students who had previously passed the exams would observe the battles. After ensuring the participants had fully recovered from their injuries sustained during the previous tests, the two instructors decided it was time for the retake.
At the moment, the students stood at the entrance to the battlegrounds¡ªthe same area used in the prior exams. As they prepared to start, Lisa stepped forward to address them.
Lisa: Listen up, everyone. Before you head into the exams, I need to explain the rules. Pay attention because I won¡¯t be repeating myself. Got it?
Everyone: Yes ma¡¯am!
Lisa: So unlike the other exams, this time, you won¡¯t be fighting each other.
Kazemaru: We won¡¯t?
Silva: Why not?
Lisa: For starters, we only have three second-year students, and two of them are on a separate mission right now. The last one is still recovering from being stabbed in the chest after that incident at the hospital.
Tendo: (clenches his fists)
Kazemaru: (sigh) Makes sense.
Lisa: So, for this exam, you¡¯ll be battling the shadow monsters that have been set up in the battlegrounds. You¡¯ll be graded and ranked based on how effectively you use your skills and techniques during the fight.
Eric: (to himself) Shadow monsters, huh? (adjusts his glasses) I guess I won¡¯t have any problem going all out then.
Lisa: (glances at Eric briefly) That¡¯s all. When you hear the signal, begin your exams.
Everyone: YES MA¡¯AM!!!!!
Meanwhile, Jason stood at a distance, watching Lisa address the students retaking their exams. After a while, Lisa approached and stood beside him..
Lisa: He looks just like him, you know?
Jason: (smirks) If I had a dollar every time someone said that, I¡¯d be rich. Even Haruto and Koichi mentioned it.
Lisa: Haruto and Koichi haven¡¯t left yet?
Jason: Nope. Apparently we need more hands here in HQ since we''re heavily understaffed right now so they¡¯re sticking around for now.
Lisa: Where are they now?
Jason: They said something about escorting Gabriel to a meeting he has with the board members today.
Lisa: That doesn¡¯t sound good.
Jason: (cracks his neck) It¡¯s not. Gabriel¡¯s been under fire for his leadership ever since the deaths of our former classmates and the Kaimi Daja incidents. People are tearing him apart for how little progress we¡¯ve made in capturing them.
Lisa: But we¡¯ve taken down some of them, haven¡¯t we?
Jason: Yeah, but aside from what Karla and her... bizarre sister situation revealed, we¡¯ve got almost nothing. The leader of the Kaimi Daja is apparently like the All Mother from 800 years ago. But even with that, we don¡¯t know their base. Without that, how can we take them down? The board will just keep pinning all the blame on Gabriel¡ªand that¡¯s why I can¡¯t stand them.
Lisa: Do you think things will ever go back to how they used to be?
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For a moment, a memory of their time as students at the Hunter Academy flashed through both their minds. They shared a bittersweet smile.
Jason: No, they won¡¯t. But I wish they could. If they did, everyone would still be here with us.
Lisa: Yeah. Sanito and I would¡¯ve gotten married. You and Joshua would still be bickering while Marlo tried to break it up. Haruto would still be chasing after Koichi. And everyone else¡ they¡¯d still be alive. Safe and sound. But¡
Jason: (sighs)
Twenty seconds later, Jason signaled the students, and the make-up battle exams began immediately.
The students quickly demonstrated their skills and techniques, making swift work of the shadow monsters released into the battlegrounds. From the observation room, Jason, Lisa, Takimo, and Rin watched intently.
Kazemaru, Silva, and Tendo performed exceptionally well, efficiently taking down every shadow monster they encountered.
Jason: (to himself) They¡¯re all doing well, just as I expected. They have high potential. But they¡¯re not the ones I¡¯m focused on right now. (looks at a screen showing Eric running alone) It¡¯s him. Eric Egoshin.
Lisa: (noticing Jason¡¯s focus) He hasn¡¯t run into any shadow monsters yet.
Jason: True. He¡¯s unlucky, isn¡¯t he? I was hoping to see what he could do.
Lisa: Oh, wait¡ªlook! He¡¯s found one!
Jason: Has he?
Lisa was right. Eric had finally encountered a shadow monster as he moved through the battlegrounds.
The creature was navy blue, stood eight feet tall on all fours, and had three hideous eyes that made it terrifying to behold. Its grotesque appearance could unnerve the average person¡ªbut Eric remained unfazed.
Eric: (to himself) A shadow monster, huh? Took long enough to find one. (examines it from head to toe) So, this was once human? It doesn¡¯t look human at all anymore.
The shadow monster began to circle Eric slowly. He calmly assumed the HEITO stance, preparing to draw his sword.
Eric: (takes a deep breath) Just like big brother used to do it. [WHITE: CRESCENT AURA].
Jason: (smirks) Just like Joshua, huh?
Eric Egoshin had two unique lighter techniques in his arsenal. The first, ¡°Divergent Moon,¡± was a technique he had mastered by studying Joshua¡¯s training and teaching himself.
The shadow monster suddenly rushed toward Eric, but he didn¡¯t draw his sword. Instead, he charged toward it. Just as the monster¡¯s claws were about to reach him, Eric vanished from its sight.
In a swift motion, Eric leaped above the shadow monster, unsheathing his sword mid-air.
Eric: [WHITE: KENJUTSU SLASH]
He slashed, but to everyone¡¯s surprise, his blade didn¡¯t make contact with the monster. It appeared as though he had simply cut through the air.
Takimo: Huh!?
Rin: It didn¡¯t work?
Jason: (smirks) That¡¯s not it. It did hit.
A moment later, the others understood what Jason meant.
Though Eric¡¯s sword hadn¡¯t touched the shadow monster, multiple slash marks suddenly appeared across its body, striking it all at once. The creature collapsed and died almost instantly.
Lisa: Oh, I see now.
Rin: He didn¡¯t need his sword to touch the monster.
Jason: Exactly. He can send slashes flying with lighter energy, without needing to make physical contact.
Takimo: That¡¯s incredible.
Jason: (to himself) Joshua didn¡¯t have that. That must be Eric¡¯s second lighter technique.
Eric Egoshin¡¯s second lighter technique, ¡°Kenjutsu,¡± allowed him to channel lighter energy through his blade and send slashes flying at his enemies. These slashes didn¡¯t just cut¡ªthey erased whatever they struck on contact, making the injuries far more severe and nearly impossible to heal.
Eric smiled as he saw that his attack landed exactly as he intended.
Eric: It landed. Just the way I wanted it. (Looks at his sword) Big brother, watch over me.
At that moment, numerous shadow monsters appeared, surrounding Eric. He took his stance, ready to face all of them.
Lisa: He¡¯s quite the fighter. And not to mention, he has two techniques. Seems like he already had some training before he came here.
Jason: (nods his head)
As Jason watched Eric slay the shadow monsters, he recalled something Eric had said when they first met:
¡°I won¡¯t make the same mistake. IT DOESN¡¯T MATTER HOW STRONG THEY ARE¡ªWHEN I COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE KAIMI DAJA, I WILL CORRECT MY BROTHER¡¯S MISTAKE AND CUT THEM DOWN.¡±
Jason: (To himself) His heart is set on vengeance, and he¡¯s using it as his motivation. That¡¯s probably a good thing. It¡¯s the one thing Joshua never did. He never fought for vengeance. (Sighs.) So I guess there¡¯s finally a difference between the two of you.
2014
During their academy days, Jason was always trying to outdo Joshua, but he never succeeded. Frustrated, Jason decided to challenge Joshua to a fight. He told Haruto, Lisa, and Marlo beforehand, but their reactions were less than encouraging.
Lisa: Huh?! Fight him?! Are you crazy!?
Jason: YES!! I¡¯m going to challenge him and end this rivalry once and for all
Marlo: It¡¯s not a rivalry if you¡¯re the only one bothered by it.
Haruto: So, you just love making a fool of yourself, huh?
Lisa:But why fight him? He¡¯s a pretty nice guy, and everyone seems to get along with him.
Haruto: Everyone except his dumb ass. (Points at Jason.)
Jason: He just annoys me so much! He gets everything on the first try, while the rest of us have to work hard for it.
Haruto: He¡¯s an Heir of the All Mother, you moron. Of course, he¡¯d be good at almost everything.
Marlo: That¡¯s true. The heirs are usually born more gifted than the rest of us.
Jason: Doesn¡¯t that infuriate you guys?
Lisa: Nope
Marlo: No
Haruto: Not really. Why get mad over something you can¡¯t control? You¡¯ll just go bald early thinking about it too much.
Jason: (Biting his lower lip.) I¡¯m still going to do it.
Haruto: What? Challenge him?
Lisa: You¡¯re already number 2 in the whole class. Isn¡¯t that enough?
At that moment, Joshua walked into the classroom
Jason: HEY THERE JOSHUA!!!!!
Haruto: (Slaps his hand on his forehead.) What an idiot.
Joshua: Oh Jason. What is it this time?
Jason: I CHALLENGE YOU TO A HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT FIGHT!
Joshua: Huh? A fight with me?
The entire class overheard Jason¡¯s declaration and gathered to see Joshua¡¯s response.
Jason: (points at him) That¡¯s right! I¡¯m challenging you to a hand-to-hand combat fight.
Joshua: But why? I don¡¯t want to fight you.
Jason: You¡¯ve been a pain in my neck ever since we came to this academy, and I just want to settle the score.
Joshua: Score?
Haruto: (to himself) What are you, five?
Later, Jason and Joshua stood outside, preparing for their fight. Their entire class gathered to watch the showdown. However, the fight was over in ten seconds¡ªJason lay on the ground, his right cheek bruised from Joshua¡¯s single punch. The crowd voiced their disappointment as they dispersed, leaving Jason on the ground.
Joshua: (Walking away with a stern expression.)
Haruto: (helping Jason stand up) We all told you this was a bad idea.
Jason: (scoffs)
Later that evening, Jason went to the nurse¡¯s office, where his bruise was treated with a small bandage. On his way back to his room, he heard someone call his name. Turning around, he saw Joshua beckoning him to follow. The two walked outside and sat down, watching the sun slowly descend.
Joshua: How¡¯s your face?
Jason: It hurts. (sarcastically) Thanks for asking.
Joshua: (Looking down at his feet.) Well, I¡¯m sorry for hitting you.
Jason: (touching his bruised cheek) Don¡¯t be. I was practically asking for it. I picked a fight with you.
Joshua: Yeah, but why? Why did you want to fight me?
Jason: Huh? I already said the reason, didn''t I?
Joshua: I could tell that wasn¡¯t it.
Jason: (cartoonish face) HUH!? You did!?
Joshua: (smiles) NOPE. But you just confirmed it by your answer just now.
Jason: (cartoonish face) DAMN YOU, FOUR EYES.
Joshua: (Laughs.) Well, I have a guess. Correct me if I¡¯m wrong. You joined the academy because you feel like your powers were given to you for a purpose, and you want to give it your all. That¡¯s why you¡¯re number two in the class. But since I¡¯m number one, it makes you feel like you¡¯re not doing enough. You wanted to fight me to prove to yourself that you are.
Jason: Wow. You really got everything right.
Joshua: I did?
Jason: NOPE. I just wanted to make you feel like you were on the mark.
Joshua: (smiles) Trying to get back at me?
Jason: I guess it didn¡¯t work, huh?
Joshua: Keep trying and maybe you¡¯ll get it.
Jason: Maybe?
Joshua: Look, I won¡¯t say something obvious like ¡°I understand what you¡¯re going through¡± because I really don¡¯t.
Jason: (cartoonish face) Bragging much?
Joshua: But you shouldn¡¯t compare yourself to someone who¡¯s more blessed than you. You¡¯ll just end up with low self-esteem.
Jason: So, what do I do then?
Joshua: You¡¯re number two in our class. Isn¡¯t it obvious? Hang around those at the top. See what they do right, and learn from it. Maybe then, you¡¯ll beat me in a fight.
Jason: (smirks) I¡¯M GONNA BEAT YOU TO A PULP WHILE I¡¯M AT IT TOO.
Joshua: Do that after you¡¯ve learned from me.
Jason: Right
Chapter 58: Dethroned
What happens to a king once he loses his throne?
Gabriel Esthath was arranging his desk as he prepared to leave his office for a meeting with the board members of the HFA. The meeting was set to start in a few minutes. While tidying his desk, Haruto and Koichi knocked and entered the room.
Koichi: Mr Esthath. You¡¯re¡¡..
Haruto: We¡¯re late old man. What are you still doing here?! HUH?!
Koichi: Lower your tone, Haruto.
Gabriel: (sighs) Still as loud as I remember you, Haruto. I¡¯m ready now. Let¡¯s go.
Moments later, Gabriel, Haruto, and Koichi arrived at the meeting room, where the seven board members were already seated around a round table. Haruto and Koichi stood at the entrance and watched as the meeting began. One of the men stood up, signaling the start of the session.
Man 1: Gentlemen of the board, we¡¯ve called this meeting to address the current crisis: the decline in our forces.
Man 2: In the last ten months, we¡¯ve lost a significant number of Hunters due to the shadow monsters and the Kaimi Daja.
Man 3: Losing a Level 1+ Hunter was a severe blow. We now appear weak not only to our enemies but also to the very people we are sworn to protect.
Man 1: This is unacceptable, Gabriel. All of this happened under your watch.
Man 6: Have you nothing to say!?
Gabriel: (bows his head) I apologize for my incompetence as a leader. I promise to do better and ensure this never happens again.
Haruto: (whispers to Koichi) Never thought I¡¯d see the old man like this
Koichi: This is why I hate being in these kind of meetings
Man 2: Well, that will not be the case anymore.
Gabriel: (raises his head) What do you mean?
Man 4: The President of Haiwa was about to cut the HFA¡¯s funding until some of us personally assured him that changes would be made.
Man 5: And how did you assure him?
Man 6: We promised to improve by starting with a change in leadership.
Haruto: Wait¡¡
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Koichi: You can¡¯t mean¡¡.
Man 1: Gabriel Esthath, we thank you for your decade of service to this organization, but your tenure as head of the HFA ends today.
Man 2: (gestures to the seventh person) Vincent, this is your cue.
At the far end of the table, a stern-looking man stood up. This was Vincent Harade.
Man 1: From today onward, Vincent Harade will assume your duties as the head of the HFA. You, Gabriel Esthath, will be reassigned as the principal of the Hunter Academy. You will no longer have any involvement with the Hunter Association, and all Hunters will now report to Vincent Harade.
Man 2: That concludes the meeting. Adjourned.
Gabriel sat silently, his face etched with disappointment and sadness. As the other members congratulated Vincent, Haruto and Koichi approached Gabriel.
Haruto: This is some bullshit! Why are they putting the blame on you, old man? All of them are sitting there acting like they can do a better job.
Koichi: Lower your voice. They¡¯ll hear you.
Haruto: And what are they gonna do? Fire me? They can¡¯t do that because they said it themselves, the Hunter force is declining so they can¡¯t do anything to scare me.
Gabriel: That¡¯s enough Haruto. They were right. Everything is happening because of my incompetence. I should be lucky that I wasn¡¯t fired and that I still have an opportunity to continue working.
Haruto: But you¡¯ve been here for over ten years. They should at least...
Gabriel: Enough, Haruto. (stands up) I¡¯d better go clear out my office.
Haruto and Koichi watched as Gabriel left the room. From the other end, Vincent Harade observed them quietly.
Marlo had heard the news about Gabriel and rushed to his office, where he found him packing his belongings into a brown box. The sight of it filled Marlo with dread.
Gabriel: (looking up) Oh, it¡¯s you. You can help me pack those things over there.
Marlo: Mr. Gabriel! I heard what happened. I¡¯m so¡ª
Gabriel: (interrupting) It¡¯s okay, Marlo. To be honest, I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. All I¡¯ve done is send you youngsters to your deaths and achieved nothing in return.
Marlo: No, you didn¡¯t, sir! We all look up to you. You¡¯ve helped the HFA for the past 10 years and saved countless lives. If it weren¡¯t for you... I¡¯d still be sitting under that streetlamp. They can¡¯t just drop you like this after a decade of service!
Gabriel: (sighs, dropping the box and placing a hand on Marlo¡¯s shoulder) I know you¡¯re hurting because I¡¯m like a father to you. I know you think I deserve better. But what¡¯s done is done. There¡¯s no need to dwell on it anymore. We can¡¯t get the board to change their minds, and I¡¯ve made my peace with it.
Marlo: But it¡¯s not your fault what happened to Sanito and Joshua¡
Gabriel: I know, but there¡¯s nothing I can do anymore. (pauses, sighing deeply) Now, will you help me pack?
Marlo: (reluctantly) Yes, sir.
The news of Gabriel Esthath¡¯s removal from his seat in the HFA spread quickly. He was replaced by Vincent Harade, a decision that brought renewed hope to the citizens of Haiwa. The change began to restore their faith in the HFA, which had waned over the years.
Later that evening, Vincent Harade sat in his new office, typing on his laptop. Suddenly, the sound of a chair being pulled interrupted his focus. He looked up to see another person sitting across from him.
Vincent: Don¡¯t you think you should¡¯ve knocked?
The visitor leaned forward, revealing his face. It was none other than Zero.
Zero: Even if I had, you wouldn¡¯t have heard it. You¡¯re too locked in on that system of yours.
Vincent: (smirks) Fair point.
Zero: So, everything worked out, huh?
Vincent: (gesturing to the office) I think this answers your question.
Zero: Guess everything I did wasn¡¯t a waste.
Vincent: How did you think this would play out?
Zero: Well, the plan was to get members of the Kaimi Daja to infiltrate the prison cells. But I needed someone to keep an eye on them. That¡¯s where you came in. You were already on the board and a peripheral member of the Kaimi Daja. Call it fate, if you will.
Vincent: (sighing) When I joined the board, I thought it would be my first step toward changing the world for the better. But it all led nowhere.
Zero: Which is why you came to me. We could help each other. That¡¯s why I brought you into the Kaimi Daja.
Vincent: Now that I¡¯m head of the HFA, what do you want from me?
Zero: Kenny, Karla¡ªwell, Annie now¡ªand Veto are in the cells beneath HQ. For now, I need you to watch over them. I¡¯ve put them there for a reason: they need to talk to someone.
Vincent: By someone, you mean¡ HIM?
Zero: (nodding) Yeah. Eldon Snyder. The man responsible for the 2003 Incident. He¡¯s essential to a bigger plan I¡¯m working on. (pauses, looking distant) And one of the reasons I started down this path.
Six floors beneath the HFA headquarters, the prison buzzed with activity. Guards patrolled the corridors, their eyes scanning the inmates. Each prisoner wore a collar around their neck to suppress their abilities. For Lighters, it nullified their powers; for humans, it sapped their strength, making escape impossible.
Cell 184 housed Kenny, who had been imprisoned since the incident with Kato in July.
Cell 214 held Veto, struggling to remove his collar with his one remaining arm.
Cell 240 contained Annie¡ªformerly Karla¡ªwho was fast asleep.
And in Cell 999 sat a bearded man with a massive, reinforced collar unlike any other.
He leaned back against the wall, his eyes dark and unyielding. This was Eldon Snyder, the man whose actions had ignited chaos over two decades ago.