Chapter 19: Great Strike Exia – Episode 19

 

Chapter  <ⅩⅨ>

10 years, and 21 days before

 

   A wall was built, by the rough sweating hands of strong men, a wall up twice their heights and lined over the grassy valley, around their humble village, their home.

  There as the working men parted, letting their respectable leader, a man of confidence, of hardship, a grin that lifts the weight of the world from his comrades’ shoulders, a tall chad robed not of luxury but of the same wrinkled dingy garments the commoners wear, sweating also of the same labor he endured with his fellow brothers in arms, this man, of young prospering age and confidence, placed the last brick into the remaining nitch, completing the week-long endeavor of bringing a town of peace and benevolence from dirt to the ground up.

 

  The commoners stared in awe at the humble wall erected, before cheering with utmost joy.

 

  The leader of the good hearty men laughed with.

 

  “ Ready the goats and bring out the wine, brothers !!” The head man called out to all

“ Let this day be remembered by our children, the birth of their home proud Mecralis !!”

 

  The hearty crew applauded and went to prepare the feast.

 

  “ But Tenmei sir, are you not going to rest with us ?” asked a crew member loyally to this head man who chuckled with much leisure, sitting down under a great birch tree on a small hill by the wall.

 

  “ I want to have a good look at this wall, that’s all.” this respectable man, our hero Tenmei Tarou smiled in answer as his loyal comrade smiled back and let him rest and enjoy the afternoon breeze, beholding the brick wall made by hand and dreams of a better world, a guarding embrace of thy new home Mecralis.

  Tenmei Tarou smiled, and closed his eyes to nap, 

 

  but before his eyelids veiled his sight, a glisten above among the shadows within the many crooked crisscrossing branches and ample leaves, that came falling to him, 

 

  to his forehead, 

 

  a glistening of a knife.

  Our hero shot up his well-trained arm in an instance, catching not the blade that comes after his head, but a thin hand that gripped said knife of murder, still pushing down with much frenzy did a small shadowy entity, thin like a skeleton with dark dirt stained dry skin draped upon that malnutritioned frame of a boy, dirty silver hair covering those wide wrathful eyes, unlike a human child but more a beast devoid of thought and humanity, without a least of hesitation in that unearthly ruthless stare at our hero man’s head the child tried to puncture and sever.

 

  Amazed by such an unexpected encounter, Tenmei Tarou our hero looked at the boy up and down with awe and respect

  “ Nice moves !” Tenmei Tarou admired, before slamming the thin boy down onto the grass, twisting the knife-holding arm backward against its anatomic bend, and with a cry of agony the frenzied child dropped the weapon which Tenmei Tarou quickly kicked away far off reach.

 

  And with a hand chop on the untamed boy’s head, did Tenmei Tarou smack the boy to instant slumber, knocking the assassin out cold.

 

  “ Tenmei sir ?!” cried some loyal men who heard the rustling commotion from the tree

“ What is it? Assassin ?!”

 

  “ No, no !!” Tenmei Tarou chuckled, holding the knocked-out boy up with his muscular arms

“ Just a famished child that fell off the tree. Hurry, prep some food and water and a bed for this misshaped traveler !”

  The villagers did suit and the boy did they place in a small cottage room, on a flat quilt-like bed on the tatami. As soon as the villagers left the boy on his own, the murderous child sprang up again like a beast out of its cage and headed out the window when he fell, smacking face-first onto the hard tatami floor with a loud splat.

 

  A heroic laugh echoed within that bedroom behind the boy who tried to rise but fell onto the floor once more, to see that his hands and ankles were bound together not of strings nor rope, but Blue energy bends of no solid matter but restraining more than any substance could.

 

  “ Nice struggle !” Tenmei Tarou our hero admired, seeing all things befitting even in their most simple and unremarkable form

  “ Well now, try to sit up and face me, so we can talk.”

 

  But the boy with unchained rage shot up like a crocodile hunting prey at the river bank, snapped his jaws to bite Tenmei Tarou on the neck with his bare teeth, but failed for our hero seemed close at a hand’s length, but always far off a small distance from the furious child.

 

  After numerous attempts of failure, the unhinged boy lay on the tatami floor, panting with exhaustion and starvation, unable to move.

 

  Tenmei Tarou place a bowl of water and soup before the boy

 

  “ I’ll give you a spoon if you promise to not bite.” Tenmei Tarou asked of the boy, but in seconds, burying his whole face into the bowls, spilling rice and water everywhere, the rice and water were all gone, devoured fiercely by this savage kid.

 

  “ Hmm, well eaten.” Tenmei Tarou nodded with respect

“ That is how you eat, wholeheartedly and with gratitude, wasting not a single grain.”

 

  But the boy answered with a beastly roar, lunging with his body over and over again as Tenmei Tarou our hero dodged every bite with ease.

 

  “ I am here to talk !” Tenmei Tarou spoke up to catch the frenzying boy’s attention

“ I promise, if you talk, I’ll release your bands, and better yet, I’ll let you fight me !”

 

  Surprisingly, the boy stopped attacking and sat straight up with his bound feet menacingly staring at Tenmei Tarou, in silence.

 

  “ Very well, indeed! We are making flying progress.” Tenmei Tarou smiled and sipped his tea

“ Now, what’s your name, my boy ?”

 

  The boy stared at Tenmei Tarou in cold angry silence.

 

  “ Hmm, no name? That’s too sad, for I am Tenmei Tarou! Hero for free, for those in need! And recently built a town with my brothers to protect the weak! You wanna join ?”

 

  Surprisingly, the boy though silent, shook his head in disapproval.

 

  Tenmei Tarou’s eyes lit up

“ So you understand my words quite well, splendid! Then tell me, young sir, What is it that you come here for ?”

   Tenmei Tarou asked.

 

  And with a slow, raspy voice that had not spoken for days and weeks, the boy finally answered

 

  “ ……..Kill……You…….”

  Tenmei Tarou nodded understandingly

“ I should have known that by now. Sorry for my stupid question.” 

Tenmei Tarou apologized with a small bow

 “ Then why is it, young sir? Why Kill me in such zeal?”

 

  The boy hesitated long, before answering in a quieter voice of unease

 

  “.......The…Voice……told me……..”

  Tenmei Tarou nodded, in curious wonder.

 

  “ Can I speak to that voice ?” Tenmei Tarou asked seriously.

 

  The boy shook his head.

 

  “ Can you, speak to that voice ?” Tenmei Tarou asked.

 

  The boy hesitated, and did not reply.

  “ I see.” Tenmei Tarou nodded, and stood up, snapping his fingers with a smile, and with that snap, the restraining blue energy belts tying the boy’s wrists and ankles vanished and the boy leapt up to his feet in surprise.

 

  “ We have had a fine talk, and as promised, I’ll let you fight me. Come !! Show me What you’ve got !!” 

 

  Tenmei Tarou laughed challengingly and crouched down, reaching out with his bare fists and at that moment, even the boy could sense a gust of wind burst past him from this unarmed hero man, a Blue aura of pure might emitting out of this man’s whole presence.

 

  With a cry of determination, the boy charged forth to smite this big man and big aura, only to have himself a good hour of intense beating and defeat.

 

  “ How about I use just one hand? What say you ?” 

  Tenmei Tarou suggested and fought the boy with just one arm, not even with his dextrous arm, and still, the boy had another good hour of intense beating and defeat.

 

  

  And finally, the tatami room door slid open, and in came bearly men and heroes alike

“ Tenmei Sir !! The feast is ready !!”

  the good men cheered with joyous atmosphere.

 

  “ Swell! Count me in !” Tenmei Tarou rose and was about to leave

“ Wait, Imma bringing this boy with me !”

  and Tenmei held the nearly fainted boy up to his shoulders and set him there, leaning exhausted on Tenmei’s head.

 

  “ Who is this ?” the maidens of the town gasped in shock and envy

“ Who is the mother ?!?!”

 

  “ Nay mother, I adopt this boy !” Tenmei Tarou laughed cheerfully

“ Come! Let’s celebrate !! To Mecralis our Home !!”

 

  “ Mecralis our Home !!!”

 

  And feasted the did, as the boy joined also, squeezed and showered with generosity from every villager Tenmei Tarou brought him to meet, been given every ounce of food the commoners prepared.

 

  “ Eat up, eat up !” Tenemi Tarou encouraged the hesitant boy, who was too shocked by the hearty hospitality of strangers

  “ In here, we are all family.”

 

  The boy looked at the numerous roast meat and cuisines in his bowl in silence

 

  “ …….family……..”

 

  “ Yes. Do you have a family, young sir ?” Tenmei Tarou asked curiously, biting a boar leg.

 

  “......Yes.” the boy replied, still looking at the good food in his hands

 

“ ………but I left them……..”

 

  “ Then you are a hero.” Tenmei Tarou gave the boy a cup of drink and hit the boy’s cup gently with this bottle of rum

  “ Remember your family, young hero, and find them one day you should.”

 

  And with the merry villagers feasting and dancing over the bonfire, Tenmei Tarou and the boy ate their meal in peace. 

 

  “ But Tenmei sir !” a loyal folk asked of the leader man

“ What should we call your boy ?”

  Tenmei Tarou laughed aloud

 

  “ Well, Call him Tenmei Akiro !! For our meeting is of the fine work of destiny !”

  And so it was known, that on the day Mecralis was born, Headman Tenmei Tarou found himself an adopted boy, a boy he named Tenmei Akiro, who while no one’s watching, sneaked up on the hero man and tried to fight him, but loses every time. And while they aren’t fighting for their lives, Tenmei Akiro followed big Tenmei Tarou around the small but wholesome village, helping out the folks with heavy duties and issues of minor to major import, meeting people, and learning the ways of society.

 

  But the fighting and attempts to murder Tenmei Tarou never stopped, and Tenmei Tarou never refused a good fight.

 

  “ Just curious.” Tenmei Tarou one day asked, as he and young Tenmei Akiro his adopted son were fighting against each other once again outside the village, under the great birch tree

  “ What does the voice tell you about me that urges you to kill me so ?”

 

  “ ……You have….something….it wants….” young Tenmei Akiro panted, resting by the tree with a knife in hand

  “....It is part…of the mission.”

 

  Tenmei Tarou sighed, lowering his hands, and sat down under the tree with his legs bent together in a yoga sitting.

 

  Young Tenmei Akiro sat down before him.

 

  “ I too, have voices inside me.” Tenmei Tarou spake in a mentoring tone

“ And they were loud and demanding. But I know a way to make them silent.”

 

  “ ….How ?” young Tenmei Akiro asked, out of curiosity.

 

  “ Do it after me.” Tenmei Tarou smiled and inhaled a long breath, and sighed them all out slowly, both eyes closed

 

  “ Just Breath, Akiro.” Tenmei Tarou bade his adopted son

“ Breath, and focus on each moment when the air comes and goes. Don’t stop, don’t think, just breathe.”

 

  Young Akiro was doubtful at first but did as he was taught, and in that rhythmic breathing, focusing on nothing but the inhaling and exhaling, in and out, up and down, then came

  True Silence.

  Young Akiro finally reached a silence he had never had for a long time.

 

  The boy opened his eyes once more, tears at the rim of his eyes.

 

  Tenmei Tarou smiled

 

  “ Now let me ask you, Akiro.” Tenmei Tarou spake

  “ Do you want to kill me ?”

  

  “ …….No.” Young Akiro replied with utmost earnestness from the depth of his heart

“ But I have to do it……..It’s the mission…..it’s the right thing to do……..”

 

  “ The right thing to do, you say…” Tenmei Tarou scratched his chin

 “ What do you think, is the right thing to do, Akiro ?”

  What is the right thing to do?

 …

………….

  The town now in flames, mobile walkers shooting down the walls and houses within. Brave commoners of Mecralis lay dead over the ruins as the remaining heroes fought on against the Tron armies led by Lasvet swarming in with mobile giants and machine guns.

 

  Young Akiro dashed from rubble to rubble in haste, running past many dead bodies of villagers he once knew, who took care of him during his short stay.

 

  A flurry of missiles landed and blew up the road young Akiro ran upon, throwing the boy off to the air high, and seconds of buzzing in his ear as he began to fall, head first to the sharp debris and ruin, just before a whoosh caught him before Akiro’s fall and sent him to a side, hiding behind the one last standing portion of the wall they built.

 

  Young Akiro looked up, to see it was Tenmei Tarou our hero, carrying Akiro to safety, with his armor and cloak all stained in blood and ash, as orifices punctured by bullet holes bursting out blood all over his broad chest.

…

………..

  “ Perhaps, the right thing to do… is the thing that makes the most people smile.”

 

  Tenmei Tarou replied, looking afar at the sunset over the mountains

 

  “ If you don’t know what to do, think of those you dear, of those you care, and do what makes them smile, and be happy.  That’s it, I think.”

…

…………

  “ Are you hurt ?” Tenmei Tarou asked Akiro, the blood of his wounds dripping more and more onto the ashen ground.

 

  And before Akiro could reply, Tenmei Tarou our hero fell to his feet, sitting with his back on the broken wall, his breathing quickening and turning shallow after each breath.

 

  “ You have to go.” Tenmei Tarou whispered, his voice breathy and ethereal by now

“ …before they find you…….here…….”

 

  And Tenmei Tarou grabbed young Akiro’s shaking arm, that arm with a knife, 

 

  the same knife Akiro used to fight and murder this hero unsuccessfully of the days he spent in the this tiny wholesome town.

 

“ Help me…..help me one last time….”

 

  But Akiro refused, pulling his knife-holding hand back, but Tenmei Tarou pulled the boy’s hand close, sinking the knife in Akiro’s hand deep into his chest.

 

  “ Stop…..Stop, Please !” Akiro begged but Tenmei Tarou smiled, as his chest burst with more blood and something else, something glowing blue with his ribcage.

 

  “ Akiro….this is the right thing to do……”

 

  “ NO….!!”

 

  “ Listen…..” Tenmei Tarou cut Akiro off in a weak whisper

 “ …..You have to take it…I believe in you………” 

  And before young Akiro could refuse, a missile flew down where they hid, and all were swept away to darkness.

  When Tenmei Akiro rose again from the wreck, he heard a shout of a kid nearby.

 

  “ Ahh !! A living dead body !!”

 

  Tenmei Akiro crawled out from below, to see a frightened kid younger than he, cowering in fear as he revealed himself, and behind the kid was an older girl not far away.

 

  And near the children, was a ticking bomb, about to go off.

  “ You are not the voice, Akiro, you are you….and I believe in that boy that remembers his family……”

  With a great lunge, young Akiro sprang to his feet, grabbing the younger kid and older girl’s hand like vice, pulling them with him as he dashed as fast as his feet could carry, 

 

  As the bomb behind them exploded, pushing them further into the vast scorched plain away.

 

  

“.........and tries to do what is right…….. “

 

  

 

  The three children slowly stood back up to their feet, looking back at what was once a proud village, now a burning ruin among black smoke and debris, but the other two children soon turned their eyes towards young Akiro, who looked down.

 

  A glowing Blue Rune now engraved to his chest, blazing majestically as it sank deep into young Akiro, he and the Rune becoming one.

   “...This is yours now, Akiro….use it……and make everyone smile……I know you can……”

  Clenching the Blue Rune that slowly fade inside of him, young Tenmei Akiro wept, 

 

  shouting in agony towards the dark smoke-covered skies.

…

……….

.

.

.

  Tenmei Akiro opened his eyes, such a delicately carved ceiling that was over him up high, of dark wood carved in elaborate squares and curves, unlike any plain ceiling he had ever seen, from the dim and soothing lights from lamps hanging around and above.  

  His shirt was gone, and wrapped over his chest were thick rolls of bandages, and a soft quilt over him, on a cozy bed that sank downward more as Tenmei sat up slowly.

 

  And next to him, leaning by the side of his bed, looking at Tenmei’s abbs with wide curious googling eyes, 

 

  was a small young girl, dressed in majestic garments and a pajama of royal linings and sewing.

 

  This young girl, wide of eyes with deep pupils, white of hair tied meticulously to circling braids on both sides of her small head, and a face so pure and clean, pleasing to all eyes a fairy-like look that tickles the saddest heart to joy.

  “ You are awake.” 

 

  The small girl whispered in a breathy tone of excitement

 

  “ And crying.”

 

  

  “ Apparently.” Tenmei Akiro quickly wiped his face dry with his bandaged arms

“ Where is this place? Grand Royal Hotel ?”

 

  “ This is my home.” 

 the small girl replied

  “ It’s not a hotel.”

 

  “ Hard to believe.” 

  Tenmei whispered back, observing the antiques and historic vases placed on the low tables and corners of the wide tall room, paintings that belong in museums hung on each side of the wall

  “ Is this Herunia ?”

 

  The little girl laughed cheerfully, covering her mouth with her tiny hands elegantly

  “ You are funny. I am Isabel, what’s your name ?”

 

  “ Tenmei Akiro.” Tenmei replied smoothly

“ Am I the only one here? The last time I recalled……I had friends with me….”

 

  After the fight on Denteinmong tower, against the armored Ark’arios and that devastating cloaked hooded being from the palanquin, he was injured pretty bad, and so did Luka, and Master Striker Hassan Hellsing.

 

  “ They are sleeping in the other rooms.” little Isabel replied

“ They say you are a Lord bearer of the Exia Rune. But you are crying in your sleep.”

 

  “ Don’t we all.” Tenmei Akiro sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed as he wiped his face with his palm once again and looked out at the relic window veiled with beautifully sown curtains on his side, only to see nothing but darkness outside.

 

  “ Can I leave ?” Tenmei Akiro asked Isabel who shook her head.

 

  “ You have to ask sister Nanali first.” Isabel replied and yawned.

 

  “ Where is this Nanali now ?” Tenmei asked and the door to the luxurious room he stayed in suddenly opened.

  “ Here.” 

  replied the one figure that entered, a young woman with long orange hair tied to a top ponytail at the back of her head, glasses she wore, and a long coat-like uniform of pale white and silver that tightly wrapped around the Nanali, slightly expressing her ample body frame.

 

  “ Mr. Tenmei Akiro, we met not long ago. 

 

    I am Nanali Hikaru, and I serve the Emperor of all Kingdeniom and Lord bearer of the Silver Exian Rune, Keiken King. 

 

   If you are willing, The Emperor would like to have a word with you.”

  Tenmei looked at little Isabel and back to Nanali with blank eyes far beyond shock

 

  “ I’ll be needing some clothing for that, thank you.” Tenmei Akiro spake and was ready to leave the cozy bed.

…

………….

  That same night, as the waves beat the shores harmoniously, Haru woke up with a jolt, gasping for air as she sat up on the bed covers of the golden company, sweating all over with dews of tears in her eyes.

 

  Haru had a dream, a calm dream of blue light, and a person back facing her, with long hair standing between her and that blue light.

 

  The person was calling her name, 

 

  in a muffled voice as if the speaker was under the sea.

 

  It seemed like a docile scene out of a painting, but something about it brought fear and unknown dread that forced Haru to shake herself out of that dream back to reality, where she was faced with a bigger problem.

 

  The Seed of Herunia, blessed Herunia of Miracle and Light, inside of her, glowing ominously brighter and brighter, as her heartbeat skyrocketed, her vision blurry.

 

  The Seed inside her about to explode.

 

  Haru rushed out of her room and out of the guest lodgings, out to a balcony by the mountains of Aurora island that faced the lower parts of the magnanimous golden company and the deep blue sea surrounding her.

  She rested at the red antique fence, for her legs started to numb and her conscious slipping.

 

  The Seed is about to explode.

 

  With just seconds time, the Seed began to erupt, and Haru gave out a strained quite scream as the Seed’s light, the dazzle of the Herunia gateway blossomed and all was about to be too late, 

 

  When suddenly, 

 

  Haru felt a soft push behind her, helping her let go of the blooming Seed explosion and before Haru knew it herself, she had sent the Seed explosion like a cannonball of sheer blue and white energy blasting out of the wide balcony, out above the golden headquarters, and sailed through the night sky in full speed until it descended to the far away horizons, plummetting into the sea, which bulged and exploded, steam and smoke and blue and white flame, dancing upon the waves as the ebb and flow slowly wash all the destruction away and the sea regained its harmonic rhythm, beating the waves softly as nothing had happened.

 

  Not believing what she just did, Haru realized something coming her way slowly behind her, only to see a figure, dressed in flourishing night lodging kimono, floating down slowly from the pagoda far above near the top of the mountain to Haru’s presence.

 

  Haru gasped, as she beheld the ever so loved revered by all on this island, 

 

  Hayami Gozen, Ladyship of the Dawn, spouse of the Awesome Lord Toshiumi of the Gold Exia Rune, Mio Al Seraphim herself landed softly like a flower petal in the night breeze to the wide balcony where Haru stood, amazed by her ladyship’s entrance.

 

  “.......You can fly…….” Haru stammered, shaken so by the Seed explosion that just left her.

 

 “ Not too long, but I sure can fall slowly.” Mio chuckled, with a smile that could mesmerize even the blind and rejuvenate the soulless.

 

  Haru blushed at her ladyship’s gentle smile and the ability of speech taken by abashness and replaced with awkward silence.

 

  “ Are you alright ?” Mio asked caringly

“ It sure does drain the spirit with an energy burst like that.”

 

  “ I…..I am fine….thank you, your ladyship….” Haru whispered awkwardly, trying to leave, yet her legs were still numb and not firm enough to carry her back.

 

  “ Please,  you don’t have to call me that.” Haru jolted as Mio implored kindly

“ Call me Mio. What can I call you ?”

 

 “ ………Haru……”

 Haru whispered back, looking at her feet that has yet to regain their senses.

 Mio smiled, knowing the unease and loneliness of dealing with an uncontrollable force bursting from the inside all too well.

 

 “ How was your stay, Haru ?” Mio asked, lending Haru a hand as she carried the high school girl to a rock-carved stool by the balcony to rest.

 

 “ …I don’t think I’ve stayed long enough to answer that…” Haru blurted out, to which she quickly realized her rudeness and hurriedly replied again.

 “ I mean, it’s pretty fine. It’s better than any hotel in Tron….I guess. I don’t know………I am sorry….”

 

  And Haru decided that silence might be best to keep decent relations with people, especially with the wife of an Exia Lord, and a very strikingly beautiful person at that.

 

 “ It’s alright, I have never been to Tron before.” Mio said, continuing the conversation with her thin soft fluffy musical soothing voice

 “ But Toshiumi has been to Tron, and many many places as well. The stories of his adventures over Great Kingdeniom are the best. One time, he met a magic thug with a tattoo on his tongue and the thug was molesting women, so Toshiumi Sama fried him like a frog caught by lightning. And another time someone was nearly crushed by a building and Toshiumi sama saved the man through something called..C…CPR..? Probably….”

 

  Mio went on and on about tall tales of Toshiumi, and with each tale wackier than the last, before Haru realized, she too was listening to Mio’s tales about the Awesome Lord intently.

 

  “.....and that is how Toshiumi sama won the tournament against the pompous Terminas knight, with his horse cut in half but still running intact.”

  Mio finished an abridged version of one of Toshiumi’s exploits on Terminas the floating isle where he was assisting Varche in unifying the high-tech isle.

 

  “ There are still many Awesome things Toshiumi sama did on Terminas, like helping Milina….”

 

  Mio’s voice died out slowly and the young lady of gold started blanky at the void, with a smile that express no joy which slowly faded as did her voice.

 

  Haru quickly remembered what Rang had been muttering before they landed on the Aurora isle on the Axalara.

 

  “ Aiyah…how will Lord Toshiumi explain to her ladyship that her best friend had died……oh, my strategies….oh…..”

  “ I…I am sorry.” Haru spoke softly, placing her small hand on Mio’s, trying to keep her company.

 

  “ Eh…Oh, it’s alright, Haru. Thank you…” Mio quickly regained her lively self, pulling herself out of the dark void within her somewhere

  “ Oh dear, I have become the one that’s been comforted. Let me, Haru !”

 

  And Mio wrapped her arms around Haru, freaking the high school girl who was never a fan of close intimate physical interactions, but Mio was soft and tenderly touchable, with a scent of sweet flowers and honey fragrance that Haru didn’t resist and let her ladyship embrace her all she wants.

 

  “ There, there.” Mio caressed Haru’s small curly blue hair, patting her head gently

“ You are very strong, Haru, and you have met your fair share of hardship as well. You are very remarkable, and your parents, even Sensei Rang are all very proud of you. Whenever you need help just say it, and we will surely help you.

   So, let us pass this one last hardship together, as allies on the same boat! What say you ?”

 

  Mio beamed with sunlight, smiling with life and never diminishing energy from the heart.

 

  Haru blushed again, feeling vulnerable yet safe in Mio’s arms, like she was her loving older sister she could always count on.

 

  

  “......Yay….I guess ?” Haru squeezed an awkward smile back, and Mio nodded assuringly, patting Haru continuously on the head like Haru was the long-lost younger sister she always wanted.

 

  “ Yay.” Mio cheered as she and Haru slowly went back to bed, 

  While Toshiumi the Awesome Lord of Golden Exia. watched caringly from afar, on the rooftop of the high pagoda, 

 

  his mind onto someone, a big looming threat that is coming.

…

………

  And on that very night, over the Denteimong ruins, he stood, watching the mishap, wounded generals stagger and crawl beneath him out of the rubble, like a god looking on these lesser beings’ unfortunate happening without sentiment.

 

  Akahanon Zabi sneaked up onto the deity of doom on the mound of wreak he stood

 

  “ Spokesman, we have…”

 

  “ Call me Grand Disciple Shisei.” 

 

  ordered Kaburagi Shisei of Kaminosato, the most dastardly man alive, he who in spite of Toshiumi, raped his own sister Mio and cursed her to make the Awesome Lord suffer, presumed dead but revived by the Director of the Illuminatus League, becoming the Director's New Disciple and Spokesman, per the League’s design.

 

  “ Sure, Grand Disciple Shisei….” Akahanon Zabi mumbled disgruntled.

“ We have gathered the remaining League members, but most of them are wounded. We need a new base to start over.”

 

  And without a word but quick action, a wave of his hand did this New Disciple of the Illuminatus League Kaburagi Shisei conjure an invisible hand that started rebuilding the fallen Denteimong Castle and within five seconds of building montage, Denteimong castle was back to its old glory, the tower held said platform high as before.

 

  “ Start over now.” League spokesman Shisei ordered kingly, talking to Akahanon Zabi like speaking to a page boy

  “ And bring me Asuka Hikaru and the generals of Tron. I need to seek their audience.”

  Asuka was brought to the Grand Disciple’s presence alongside his late father Lasvet’s generals, Yukari too accompanied Asuka to meet this League Master.

 

  “ What do you want from us, League Spokesman ?” Asuka asked on behalf of his father’s men.

 

  “ I want you, Asuka Hikaru, to be in your father’s stead, lead the troops and storm Vilencia castle tomorrow morn.”

  ordered the League Disciple in charge without sentiment.

 

  “ I refuse to be like my father.” Asuka Hikaru refused

“ I will not wage war on Vilencia, or any province, ever !”

 

  “ What are you talking about !!!”

 

  Asuka looked up in surprise, for he was expecting the League Spokesman to fly into a rage, but instead of the Grand Disciple, who was calm and silent, it was one of Lasvet’s generals that hollered in anger

 

  “ Have you no idea of the current state of Tron right now, boy ?! If news of the Prime minister’s death leaks, All those lands now governed under Tron will revote !! Xin-an will rise and snatch the bay towns, and Vilencia will swarm down and seize the valleys !! Tron will be no more the capital of power but a pie cut in pieces !!!!”

   shouted the general angrily, as did many veterans who nodded in approval.

 

  “ And the money from Emperor Keiken, son! Have you considered that ?!” 

Hollered another veteran general to Asuka’s daunted ears

  “ The Emperor’s annual sponsor, son !! Billions! All invested in military arsenals and weapons research! If we don’t fight and spend the cash, billions will be wasted !!!”

 

  Asuka however tried to speak up to the elders

  “That cash can invest in other things, such as technology and agriculture….”

 

  “ Fool !! Then you’ve ended our lives and career !” 

the generals shouted, all in dismay

  “ Brothers in arms! I dim this son of Hikaru a sissy !! A hypocrite who thinks of invalid dreams and pretty words! We should elect a new Prime Minister among us !!”

 

  “ Among Us !!” The Generals agreed, uttering the two words aloud suspiciously.

 

  But suddenly a general yelped in utter pain and exploded like a buddle of meat and flesh, blood and severed organs flying and splattering on the generals' terrified faces and dusty uniforms.

 

  “ I want Asuka Hikaru, to be in his father’s stead.”

 

  spake New League Spokesman Shisei, slowly and clearly

 

  “ He will lead the troops towards Vilencia, as Prime minister of Tron. Am I clear ?”

 

  The generals all bowed in silence.

 

  Asuka Hikaru could but bow also, in dead silence.

 

  And with a wave, The Grand Disciple of the Director have them generals scram and go prepare for the battle against Vilencia tomorrow morn while he left into the Denteimong castle halls.

  Asuka nearly fell to his knees if Yukari had not come to support him before his fall

 

 “ I can’t stop it…Yukari….” Asuka uttered in desperation

“ The Evil has rooted too deep into our hearts…..there’s no way I could persuade them to peace !!”

 

  “ Nothing changes the heart in seconds, Asuka !” Yukari spoke reason to the desperate new Prime Minister

  “ The world will change, but it takes time.”

 

  “ But it should have changed……” Asuka murmured, horrified

“ It should have changed…..now that father is dead……father is dead……because of me…..”

 

  And Asuka suddenly realized something and he whispered, only to himself that Yukari did not hear

 

  “ ……..they too..the old generation…should all die…….!”

…

…………

  Dawn was coming, as Nison Char, the battered, the Loser, the Sister deaded,  noticed the blackness around him slowly turn grey, and lo, with a sudden heave of something from above, light blazed over his presence and the grey skies blinded his vision temporarily.

 

  This Nison was still buried under thick Helltron rubble. Without the will to survive, Nison Char was planning to either bury himself alive or starve to death, for he wishes no more to live that his sister Milina is dead, all because he was being a prick and stood against those fighting the Archdemon.

 

  “ Leave me be !” this once Demon puncher and nightmare of Arkadia spake with much melancholy

  “ I am a man that should be dead.”

  “ I…need…you….Nison Char.”

 

  

  Nison Char opened his eyes, for it was a stammering voice of a young woman, and ladies still can catch his attention.

 

  And lo, it was the mysterious machine-like young woman Varis, that was half human half homunculus which Nison had helped fix when Varis was punched near death by the Ark’arios.

 

 “ Huh? It’s you.” Nison Char resumed his wreck lying for Varis was not a girl that match his taste

 “ You don’t need me. I am as well as dead.”

 

 “ You..are..pretty alive,” Varis spoke what she observed, a man lying among ruins and pretending to be dead despite the lesser wounds compared to others that also withstood the Helltron war

 “ I need..your help. Please….”

 

 “ Be gone.” Nison Char waved the armored Varis off

“ Who you see now is but a man who had his sister killed through plain idiocy. You don’t need such a man like me. Get yourself a pooch, pooches are better companions.”

  Varis was silent and Nison saw her turn away, so the crestfallen vagabond resumed his starving sleep.

 

  Only to be kicked up to the air with Varis’ backflip kick, sending the hardened noble slayer flying and crashing to another mound of wreck far away.

 

  “ The Heck You !!!” 

Nison crawled up, ready to fight back and beat this young woman up with his bare hands

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  “ I saved you !!! And you return my kindness with such humiliation ?!”

 

  “ I…am…saving..you…..” 

  Varis replied with her influent words, which she tried to convey as fast as she could

  “ I can’t…leave you…to die….alone…..”

 

  “ Well, you should !!” Nison Char snarled, in anger, in sadness

“ I deserve to die…I should be dead, not Milina…!!!”

  “ I had…many brothers..and sisters….”

Varis began with a subject Nison was least expecting to hear

  “ And they are born….from me…..copied…from me….”

 

  “.....Like, hormunculus clones ?” Nison wondered why this Varis is mentioning this all of a sudden.

 

  Varis nodded slowly

  “ I had…..more than ten…..brothers..and sister…but most of them….. died…. failed in experiments…..killed…..I could only watch…..I could not save them……I know……that pain…..”

 

 And Nison was silent, contemplating what he had learned.

 

 He was not alone.

 

 He was not the only person living with the scars of the past.

 There are those, that had lost more than him.

  “.........This is not of my concern !” Nison Char snarled, turning away to hide his saddened manly tears from Varis

 “ Anyone can do the job! Why drag me out for this ?!”

 

 “ Because…you worked…for the League…..”

Varis replied

 “ You know…..Akahanon…..Zabi……”

 

 “ Yeah, I worked for him. So What ?!”

 

  “ Zabi…and the League…they are using the Ark’arios….to doom Tenka……” Varis spake seriously

“ The Ark’arios…that killed…your sister…..also killed…my brothers..and sisters….”

  Nison Char’s mouth opened wide but lost words.

  And Lo, Varis reached out her hand, a sharp long object in her hand, and Nison Char saw it, recognizing the object with wide eyes.

 

 It was Milina’s ice rapier.

 

 Dusty, but well preserved in one piece.

 “ I found this….before I found..you…” Varis explained

“ I have to…return it….to you…..”

  Nison Char, with great resolve and newfound determination, 

 

  came forth to Varis and took the Ice rapier into his rough hands.

  The Icy blade hummed as if in answer.

  “ Where do we start ?” Nison Char asked, strapping the Ice rapier to his back.

…

…………

  Tenmei Akiro our man, followed this Nanali Hikaru down the long dark elaborate corridors, watching the profound paintings on the walls and exotic ornaments over the low tables on both sides, as the world outside the splendid window panes started to slightly lit up bluish grey by the dawning day.

 

  “ Have we met ?” Tenmei Akiro asked.

 

  “ Yes.” Nanali Hikaru replied calmly, her rhythmic footsteps nonstop

“ On a metro to Freedom and Justice memorial tower days before. I was there, and I witnessed you kill hijacking terrorists. You saved me when one of your accomplices, who is also here in one of our rooms, tried to kill me. I owe you my thanks, Mr. Tenmei.”

 

  “ Well, that did happen.” Tenmei Akiro nodded, though his memories of that time were still shattered, parts of it, along with his hidden past have started to return in blurry images inside his head, for the more he experiences and encounters, the more he remembers of himself.

 

  “ But I, I mean, We have been watching you long before the Metro incident, Mr. Tenmei.”

Nanali spoke, slightly slowing her footsteps

  “ You are of great import to us.”

 

  “ How so ?”

 

  “ Of how you, an engineered presence, are able to harbor the Archdemon inside and not perish, and also carry an Exia Rune by your side.”

  Nanali replied, turning back with her calm eyes, now behind silver-framed spectacles, looking straight into Tenmei’s

 

  “ You are like a miracle, the only fitting person to accomplish the great task.”

 

  “ The Great Task ?” Tenmei uttered as they continued onward into a hall, a long wide dining hall it seems with a long table clothed with clean linen and plates and candles placed accordingly atop. 

 

  At the far end of said long table, at the wall at the very back, a huge painting hang, drawn upon it a canvas of old, of the struggles of ancestors fighting what seemed like a winged eight-legged freak with an armored upper torso attached to that spider-legged apparatus, wielding double blades and laser guns as its lesser light human opponents held wooden pikes and straight swords.

 

  And before this grand painting, stood, 

 

  an old man, robbed in many colors with jewels and diamonds upon his sleeves and collar, 

 

  a silver crown dazzling with runes of power engraved upon its side, sat on top of the old man’s head,

 

  a white long beard that reached to his lap, 

 

  with a benign seasoned gaze looking upon the canvas of their history.

  Nanali led Tenmei Akiro to this old king’s presence and bowed courteously in formal ritual of meeting a royal member of utmost reverence.

 

  “ Your highness, I have brought Mr. Tenmei as per required.”

 

  Tenmei bowed with her, for the atmosphere in the wide dining hall and the sheer presence of this old being calls for it.

  “ Thank you, Nanali.” spake this old revered existence with a kind soothing low voice like the echoes in the mountains and the far waves of the night shore

  “ And thank you, young Tenmei Akiro, for joining us. Much appreciated.”

 

  “ The honor is mine.” Tenmei Akiro managed to blurt out a formal response before this King who chuckled, this King of the whole of Kingdeniom, the legendary ruler of the empiric dominion, the beacon of hope to all equal folk, and the Lord Bearer of the Silver Exia Rune, 

   Keiken King of Kingdeniom.

  The old King came close to Tenmei and Nanali with a benign smile over his big beard

  “ Nanali must have told you everything about me.” Keiken King chuckled welcomingly

 

   “ Of course, King.” Tenmei Akiro replied nervously feeling a slight unease in the honored presence of the King of the whole of Kingdeniom, but the respectful attitude and comfy voice did make Tenmei feel a little more at home.

 

   “ Good, good.” Keiken King patted Tenmei on the back as the old man led them forth toward the passage to his garden

 

  “ Let’s take a walk, while I enlighten you, of the World’s Fate.”

  “ What do you know, of yourself and the Ark’arios, Tenmei Akiro ?” asked Keiken King like an old friend as the three of them strolled slowly under the brightening dawn in Keiken King’s garden, at the back of his mansion, the Weiwu Mansion so it was named many eons before.

 

  “ I have a feeling from the memories that I had lost now returning to me, that I am designed to accomplish something, through the Ark’arios. Your Highness.”

  Tenmei replied as formally as he could, almost forgetting to address his highness as they walked over a small stone bridge across a pond full of Koi fishes swimming by leisurely, bobbing their mouths wide open from time to time for some snacks as people pass

 

   “ And though my makers planned for me a path of destruction and bloodshed, I never wanted to tread that path. I just want… to do what is right,  for as many as possible. ”

  Old Keiken King nodded at Tenmei Akiro’s words of sentiment, stroking his big bushy white beard

 “ You are Noble,  Young Tenmei. You are designed genetically to finish a heinous task, not only through the Ark’arios but also with Exia Runes, and to choose for the greater good rather than power and domination,  you have proved yourself more than your maker, a man I know personally, for he was my apprentice, and too far gone has he become.”

  “ My Maker…your apprentice…. ?!” Tenmei uttered in surprise

“ Then...What exactly does he want of me, of the Ark’arios and Exia Runes ?!”

 

  Keiken King looked at the koi fishes below gravely with a saddened frown

 

  “  He wants to reshape the World. ”

  “.........Reshape … ?!!"

 Tenmei Akiro was so confused. 

 

…

…………..

  Grand Disciple of the League Director Shisei entered the halls of castle Denteimong, where the pump of Lasvet once was, now but a silent empty round hall, with long oblique window seals lined over the circular walls as the dawning sun rays beam in from the surrounding windows, casting the light all joining to one point in the middle of the lighting hall, 

 

  a metal throne, 

 

  and on that throne sat melancholy Lord of the Red Exian Rune, King of Terminas, the Oochu Goten King of Vengeance Varche Scrirocco the Revenjaja, first of his name, 

 

  sitting naked and defeated, his fire of power swirling and fuming over his bruised flesh.

  Kaburagi Shisei stood before this melancholy Lord 

  “ I come in peace.”

 spake this Spokesman of the Illuminatus League still in that toneless voice

  “ And seek to enlighten you from the mirage that deceives thy vision.”

  “ You League set loose the Lord Slayer and killed my love !!” Varche boomed, the hand he gripped on the throne handle burnt and cracked as the red Exian lord slowly stood up to fight.

 

  But this Kaburagi Shisei stood his ground, his hood shrouding his expression and his eyes sealed under that black runes cloth.

 

  “ We have plans to use the Archdemon, not to slay Lords, but to gather the Lords.”

 

  explained Shisei emotionlessly

 

 “ Gather the Runes the Exian Lords bear, and with the Seed, the Archdemon craves, open the gates to sacred Herunia.”

 

 “ That has nothing to do with me !" Varche shouted, pointing a finger that shot out a red beam that bent right before hitting This Kaburagi Shisei, striking down a pillar at the side of the hall

 “ I will kill you, the Archdemon, and all that is responsible for Milina’s death !!!”

 

 “ Then if so, you would be your own killer.”

 spake this Disciple, without sentiment.

 

  “ What means thou thus ?!” Varche demanded furiously.

 

  “ I mean, our plans are all about opening sacred Herunia, and seeking the secrets within.”

 

 

 

…

…………

  

 

  

  Old King Keiken looked up to the dawning sky

“ Long have we, the descendants of the first children of Light, believed that the Light that kept all things alive after the first World Fall is passed down to us. That Light, powered by our feelings and Memories, in the form of Strike that exists in all of us, life and lifeless, flows endlessly in the cycle generator of goddess Yuidis’ grand design, a way to keep all our Lights infinitely to our offsprings, and our offsprings’ offsprings, through Herunia. 

  It is through Herunia, that the Lights in our hearts can move on even when we perish and enter the cycle and return to the flow of life and lifeless, existing indefinitely, and producing new light in the process.

  We as children of Light, sons, and daughters of great Kingdeniom, live with that belief and teach the ways to our children, and they to their children, of how Herunia keeps our Light in this cycle and preserved our Light and Memories always in this world.

 

  So, in seeking Herunia, one opens the gateway to all the Light, the Memories, the Feelings, the Strike Force, all that existed before and will come to exist, and with all that at reach, one can turn the world over in ways none could imagine.”

 

 

  Tenmei Akiro raised a hand to ask politely and Keiken King paused to listen.

 

  “ …..You mean…My Maker, He wants to open up blessed Herunia…?! A one-way trip into heaven ?!”

  Tenmei Akiro asked, incredibly dumbstruck

 “ Is it even possible…. ?”

 

 “ It is. With the Seed now in our age and time, it is.”

Keiken King answered gravely

 “ You know of the Seed, don’t you? You have been in close contact with it have you not? Surely you must have seen firsthand the energy the Seed constantly emits. That is but a minuscule portion of what is within Herunia, but powerful enough to open it.”

…

………..

…………………

  “ Nonsense !!!........ You just covet the Seed…!!” Varche King accused of the League Master Kaburagi Shisei

“ But the Seed…..!!! ”

 

  Varche stopped half sentence, for he knows the importance of the Seed to Toshiumi, which is now in the Awesome Lord of gold and also his sworn brother’s base.

  Toshiumi needs the Seed and Herunia’s powers, to cure his wife Mio.

  “ I know where the Seed is, and what Toshiumi that scum will be using the Seed for.”

 

  Kaburagi Shisei replied, with a fit of slight anger in that toneless voice

 

  “ But I won’t let him. He doesn't deserve all the wins and glory he gains through petty tricks and schemes. This scum must be stopped.”

 

  “ I won’t let you.” Varche King spoke determinedly, standing up from his throne

“ He is my sworn brother.”

 

  “ I Knew Him The Moment He Was Born.” 

League spokesman Shisei boomed with a shockwave voice that pushed Varche back to sit on that iron throne

  “ He had his way back with his charm and looks, his cunning and treachery. Look at yourself no further, King of Terminas! Where is this sworn brother of yours when your love has perished and your exploits in big fail ?! He stays with his wife, with everything he wants, everything he makes others do and get for him while leaving you, a loyal friend to rot and die alone in despair. 

  You don’t know this Toshiumi well enough, but I do. And unlike him, I will propose a way of fare payment,  if you ever consider helping me in this grand endeavor.”

 

  Varche Scrirocco, fists hardened and clenched, with his thoughts onto Toshiumi his friend now conflicted and deranged by Milina’s death, looked up slowly at the calm League Master before him

 

  “ What can you possibly propose to change my mind ?!”

Varche asked with a conflicted snarl.

  

 

  “As I said, our plans both need to open Herunia with the Seed.” 

Grand Disciple Kaburagi Shisei proposed with open arms

 

  “ And with the Herunia opened, one can have the powers to forge Miracles, not as far as….

 

  to bring back Life.

 

  What say you, King Varche of Terminas?

 

  Are you with me, or with your loyalty to the scum that forsakes you so ?”

  Varche Scrirocco, sitting in deep brood on that iron throne, faced at a crossroads of conscience and dignity, and want

 

  for Milina’s return.

…

………

………………..

  “ The secrets and miracles of blessed Herunia have enticed many of our time, but none had made it this close than my apprentice, who has gathered a League for himself. A certain Illuminatus League, quested in achieving powers we should not have tampered with.

  Help me, help Kingdeniom, please, Tenmei Akiro, you must get the Seed before the League and bring it to safety, for there is no one more fitting of this task of saving our current world than you now.”

 

  Old King Keiken took our man Tenmei’s hand in his, with a gaze of sure hope.

  Tenmei Akiro nodded slowly

 

  “ I know the Seed.” 

  Tenmei replied after a short pause of thought

  “ To me, she is a kind, but sometimes slightly rude individual, but overall a good person. She is the one that believed I was more than just the Demon that sought of nothing but killing, and who helped me out of the Ark’arios’ grasp.

   I was wondering, if there is also a way, to help her separate from this Seed of Herunia, and keep her safe from those that seek the Seed’s power ?”

 

  Keiken King looked at Tenmei’s determined eyes long in silence.

 

  “ You seek more of the safety of the individual that carries the Seed, than the Seed itself ?” 

Keiken King questioned, a small portion of gentleness leaving that benign voice.

 

  Nanali noticed it too, but kept silent, waiting for Tenmei’s answer.

 

  “ Yes. Don’t get me wrong, King! I will help save the world, but it is that I hope to help Miula…the carrier of the Seed also. 

  Because…..it is something I want to do, for her.”

  Old King Keiken sighed, a long sigh, and chuckled soon after, patting Tenmei Akiro’s back gently

  “ Noble heart, Tenmei Akiro ! Of course, there is a way to separate the Seed from its bearer! Bring her back to me, and I will see what I can do.”

 

  “ Thank you, King !!” Tenmei Akiro bowed with gratitude.

 

  “ But, there is one more thing.” Keiken King ushered Tenmei to follow him to the end of the garden, where there was a dome-shaped greenhouse of glass situated among the trees in the shade.

 

  Tenmei and Nanali followed the old king, to see the greenhouse was ten times larger than it seemed from the outside, an empty hall with glass that opaque the outside viewed from within, and nothing else in between.

  Not even a spec of dust can be discerned.

 

  “ To get the Seed, you will most likely face the wrath of the League.” Keiken King explained, walking to the center of the glass hall

  “ That includes the mystique powers of their Disciples, and also, the Ark’arios.”

  Tenmei recalled the last time he encountered the menacing foe of the palanquin on Denteimong tower.

 

  That being was no trifle opponent and could kill him with just simple waves of the hand or a flick of the fingers.

 

  “ You mean, to provide some weapons for me to bring along on this mission ?” Tenmei asked the old King, as Tenmei looked around the glass hall room.

 

  Still pretty empty.

 

  “ No, no. There is no need for me to provide you with any more weapons of import !” 

Old King Keiken chuckled 

  “ Now, show me your Sword.” 

 

  

  Tenmei looked at Nanali, who shrugged back, and back to the smiling old King in sheer bewilderment.

 

  “ You mean, a literal sword? Or Lifthrasir, which I don’t have anymore……”

Tenmei Akiro replied, but Keiken King laughed wholeheartedly

 

  “ Not that sword, Tenmei. Your Exian Rune Sword !!”

And Keiken King tapped Tenmei’s chest gently, and Lo, as if activated by a push, Tenmei Akiro’s chest burst with a blue flare under the bandages of his wound, and immediately, the Blue Exia Rune lit up above all their heads, like a winged sword of many curves and arches wrought on its blue flaring blade of pure energy.

 

  Tenmei uttered a gasp of shock at the sight coming out of his own chest.

 

  “ Can it be, that you have not used this power yet, Tenmei ?” Keiken King inquired curiously.

 

  “ I have, but…without the knowledge,  that is....” Tenmei replied, his eyes fixed on the beautiful blue aura that flows in and out of the Rune Sword above him,

 

  reminding him of that certain person,

 

  that gave him this same Rune, 

   of Tenmei Tarou,  his mentor,  a man he would call father, 

 

   The man that Lightened his life a new path other than killing and destruction. 

  “ You were made to carry the Ark’arios, to collect the Exian Runes from the Lords long before. It was all part of the plan of the League. Now, we will use this advantage to stop the League at their plans.”

  Keiken King began to enlighten Tenmei with a smile

 

  “ Now, listen well, Tenmei, for this is an integral part of the plan to stop the League. 

These Exia Runes, are the essence of great hardship, a proof, and embodiment of the Elden Heroes’ strife. They are formed under the utmost determination through the Strike Force, through the Light Hearts they gave their all, of the different parts of humanity they sacrificed so they can obtain through Strike a stronger form, the Exia, to either save this Tenka, or save their loved ones.

    Exia Runes are runes of immense power written with the epical lives of the Elden Heroes’, and it has passed down either to those that are worthy, or some kept within themselves throughout the passing of time. 

    The League uses the Ark’arios, not only to track the Seed, but also slay the Exian Rune bearers and collect their Exian Runes.”

  Tenmei nodded, as he remembered the League Superhuman that tore open his rib cage to take his Blue Exia Rune the night before.

  “ Why are they collecting the Runes ?” Tenmei Akiro asked.

 

  “ For gathering the Runes means conjoining the vital parts of humanity the Elden Heroes sacrificed once again, to form the paramount weapon of Man, the Great Strike Exia, the reforging of the Seven Exia Runes into a grand Rune Sword, which is capable of cleaving even the bonds of blessed Herunia.”

 

  “ Cleave….Herunia…..?!?!” Tenmei Akiro and Nanali both gasped at the old King’s ominous warnings.

 

  “ Yes, the Great Strike Exia can surely accomplish such a cut, not to mention any other things it wished to sever as well. If the League did gather enough Exia Runes, 5 out of 7, then the Great Strike Exia Rune Sword is imminent.” 

 

  Keiken King warned gravely

 

  “ Therefore, with Your Blue Exia Rune, and mine of Silver, we need to make an alliance with the other Exian Lords to prevent the League and the Archdemon from possessing the Runes!

   I fear the Red Exian Rune and the Golden one is too close in the League’s grasp, we have to gather those near us.”

 

  “ How can I help ?” Tenmei asked without hesitance.

 

  “ There is a certain stubborn Lord that heeds no more of my audience, due to a sour past we share. I may need you, Tenmei, to beseech this Exian Lord’s favor.”

   Keiken King suggested with thought.

 

  “ Which Lord shall I meet ?” Tenmei asked.

  And Keiken King looked away at the opaque scenery outside of the glass walls, a saddened gaze over those benign eyes.

  “ The Lord of the Parusefors, Lord bearer of the Exia Rune of Purple, 

 

  Nirvariel Nero, the Prime Paruseforon.”

  The same Parusefor Lord that he fought in chapter 13, back in the mountains next to the peach blossom village. 

   Even with the Ark’arios and the Blue Exian Rune power,  Tenmei Akiro could barely survive the fight. 

  Tenmei opened his mouth to reject the offer, but courage made him accept with closed lips.

 

  “ ……I’ll see what I can do…….”

 

  Tenmei Akiro said in a cowed whisper.

…

……….

…………………..

  Asuka Hikaru looked over the misty valley through his binoculars, 

 

  of the Vilencian gates within the dawn fog, aligned with the horizon at the far end of the northern valley.

 

  “ Are you sure about this, Asuka ?” Yukari asked, her voice sounding fearful, a foreboding of what was to come.

 

  “ Yes.” 

 

  Asuka Hikaru put down his binoculars in answer calmly

 

  “ It has to be done.”

  And thus the remaining Tron cavalry of Mobile Walkers and airships started to move forth towards the Vilencian border.

  “ Phaldemon King !!!” uttered the heralds of Vilencia to the warrior King of the North, armored and ready in his mobile walker also behind the closed gates.

 

  “ Tron has set forth !!!! The Enemy is rising !!!! The Enemy Rises !!!!”

  And to all Vilencian soldiers’ shock, Phaldemon Filediak King, with his red sharp-shouldered bird-headed mobile walkers, shot a bazooka that blew up the main gate open with a bang !!!

 

  “ SONS OF VILENCIA !!!!!!”

 

  Phaldemon King hollered to all his men 

 

  “ LASVET SHALL BE LIKE THIS DOOR !!!! GUNNED DOWN AND DESTROYED !!!! 

WE WILL FIGHT WITH OUR GATES OPENED, FOR THERE IS NO TURNING BACK !!!!!

THERE IS ONLY VICTORY !!!!! OR DEATH !!!!!!!!!!”

 

  “ VICTORY OR DEATH !!!!!!!!” hollered back the brave Vilencian sons as they rolled their mobile walkers and tanks and horses.

 

  Yes, horses, for even in the age of mobile walking giant robots, the fighting style of horseback is still revered as an honor and efficient in disabling mecha and bursting through enemy ranks, of course, the rider has to be well-versed in battle, and strategy.

  And that leading general of the horseback calvary, be the courageous Andrew Alesdale of the Alesdale house, the remaining son of Alesdale after First son Vlite’s untimely death by murder of the obscene third son Legion, whose body was never found after the brain-wash scourge of Vilencia castle Wintercold.

 

  “ TO ME RIDERS !!!!!!” 

 Andrew Alesdale shouted to his fellow riders as they burst to speed as the raging wind off by the mobile walkers’ feet, faster and deadlier than any arsenal.  

 Red in armor, blazing like the red moon, riding a red mare who the Vilencian children named Redback, Andrew Alesdale rode forth to protect his home, protect his fatherland, and protect the Alesdale family name.

 

  And soon the two forces clash, mobile walker against mobile walker, airship bombing at airships, and horse riders piercing down Tron soldiers with lances.

 

  Andrew rode forth nonstop, slashing his way forth with his katana for one thousand miles, as fast as a plane, over the valley mobile walkers fall to their severed metal knees and cannon pedestals cut off to pieces, for Andrew has only one goal, and that is to cut off the enemy commander’s head!

 

 

 

  Over the battlefield on the Denteimong tower, Austria stood and watched the Tron and Vilencia battle with great interest, with a thin sneer forming uncontrollably at his lips.

 

  Akahanon Zabi came to this sneering nerd and asked

 “What so funny ?”

 

 “ I was wondering why this Asuka Hikaru refused my offer of a strategy to fight the Vilencians. Now I know why.”

  Austria whispered cheerfully in answer, fanning his black feathered fan.

 

 “ Why ?” Akahanon Zabi asked brainlessly.

 

 “ He has his own plan.” Austria explained with the least words he could

“ He knows from the League Spokesman he is not meant to win, so he will lose, in his own winning way.”

 

  “ I don’t get you.” Akahanon Zabi scratched his long nose, disgruntled.

 

…

……….

  “ Lord Toshiumi !! I strongly advise you to not go to Vilencia !!”

 

   Rang the military strategist bade but still, Toshiumi donned his Golden armor and took his saber, and strapped it to his waist.

 

  “ Their men are mostly wounded by the brainwashed scourge,  Rang. ”

   Toshiumi replied kingly

  “ The Tron armies are heading north because I have the Seed,  and it is my responsibility to help Lord Phaldemon,  whose hospitality I will never forget. ”

 

  And Toshiumi The Golden Exian Rune Lord marched out of his office,  and to his beloved wife Mio he kissed the pink rosy lips passionately

 

  “ I will be back,  as soon as possible. ” Toshiumi promised to Mio who he hugged close in a tight embrace.

 

  “ I know. ” Mio smiled back and kissed Toshiumi again at the cheek

  “ Remember to find your friend Varche,  and help him.”

 

  “ That I surely will. " Toshiumi promised and with a super jump to the skies, 

 

  Toshiumi Al Seraphim, Brave of Zabanya and Savior of Lutvaria flew off to the horizons, 

 

  flying all the way to the valley before the Vilencian border where the fire raged, mobile walkers clash and explosions erupt, and adding explosions onto explosion, Toshiumi landed like a comet, crashing down on a dozen airships with one dropkick, as all the Tron air offenses were wiped out in one entrance, 

 

  stabbing down a mobile walker that was sneaking behind Phaldemon King as Toshiumi landed, just himself with his trusty saber Kouzuki.

 

  “ Praise the Sun like Toshiumi !!!!” Phaldemon praised as the Vilencian morale was boosted greatly.

 

  

  Andrew Alesdale and his trusty stead Redback however were riding closer and closer to the Denteimong gates, ready to cut down the enemy general’s head.

 

 “ Should I stop him, Asuka ?” Yukari asked, already donning her mobile armor pilot suit.

 

  “ No.” Asuka Hikaru answered and pulled out a button for activation

“ Stay, Yukari. Just stay with me.”

 

  And pressed this button did the New Prime Minister Asuka Hikaru.

  “ Huh ?” The battling Tron veterans and generals looked down at their Mobile walker controls in their cockpits, hearing an eerie beeping sound under their pilot seats.

 

  Lo, the Tron veterans bore witness

 

 of bundles of ticking bombs, strapped to their seats !!!!

 

 “ NO—”

  Toshiumi sensed an unease in the air.

 

  “ RETREAT !!!!!!” Toshiumi shouted to all the Vilencian men just a second before all the mobile walkers started to explode, all and all, bursting into large balls of flame, and one flame caused the other, one explosion enhancing the next as immediately the whole valley was filled with nothing but fire and destruction.

 

  Andrew and Redback were pushed back by the immense force high into the air, crashing back to the burning fields, and Redback’s ankles broken.

 

  Asuka Hikaru smiled and laughed at the sight of endless flame and death of all the Tron Veterans that stood with his father’s immoral sense.

 

  “ Here ends old Tron.”

Asuka announced to Yukari proudly with hope sadistically addressed

 “ Now is the start of a New Age, an age of peace !!!!”

 

  Yukari, mortified and dumbstruck by all the loyal Tron soldiers Asuka killed shuddered in disagreement

 

  “ This is not the right way …..!!!” Yukari shouted in terror and disgust

“ You are just killing those that disagree with you…..just like what your father did !!!! Asuka, you have become—”

 

  But before Yukari could finish, a quick hard slap did Asuka flung at Yukari’s face, slapping the female soldier to the ground with such force.

 

  “ I am not my father !!” Asuka Hikaru cried in self recognition

“ I am Asuka Hikaru !!!! The Prime Minister of New Tron !!!!!!”

  Asuka Hikaru, the New Man of a New Age,  ushering a wave of revolution against the old generation that has doomed the younger generation in years of war, shall face retribution in the same form of violence, repeating itself yet again. 

 

…

………

  On the hellish plains of ruthless flame, Andrew crawled up to his feet, coming to calm his wounded loyal stead who has lost the ability to stand ever again.

 

  “ Redback…..you have done well….” Andrew wept, hot manly tears as he caressed this gentle beast’s bright orange mane

  “ I am sorry……Rest now, Redback….rest now…….may you run with your brothers and sisters in the endless plane of Herunia…….”

 

  Lo, Andrew was hit by his own flashback attack, of how when he was still a kid of nine, a mare he saved on time, before the pirates stole her from the stable, he called the police for scores to settle.

  And here we are that man and stead, must part ways to once again meet, 

  With a sentiment thrust of his knife, Andrew honored the horse queen’s life.

  Mourning by his companion long, remembering its valiant deeds in song.

 

  But hurry we must to Toshiumi the Awesome, 

  For a pinch, he now faces a threat of Vengeance, 

 

  None other than Varche the Revenjaja !!!!!

 

  Toshiumi’s mouth was left ajar !!!

  “ Rhymes won’t save you now !!!! TOSHIUMI !!!!!” 

Varche shrieked as loud as a tsunami !!!

 

  “ I am not the one that needs saving, Bro.”

Toshiumi answered like a humming virtuoso.

 

  And the best way for friends to express, 

 

  Is for them to clash and relieve their stress.

  And with a million punches Varche hurtled, 

 

  Toshiumi returned with slashes unrivaled!

 

  Flying kicks Varche sent a thousand forth, 

 

  Toshiumi returned with twenty thousand slaps and more!

  But little did Toshiumi realize,

 

  He was stalled in battle like paralyzed!!!

  Fighting against Varche as an equal, 

 

  as a traitor Arashi dug a tunnel !!!!

  From Denteimong basement, 

 

  All the way to Aurora settlement !!!!!!

  To snatch Mio the fare, 

 

  And the Seed Haru unaware !!!!!!!

 “ Stop the rhyming." Kaburagi Shisei the League Disciple demanded,

 

 So our episode has to end, before anyone and the readers we offend.

 

  

[.................to be continued]

  

 

 

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