Raijin, the Rank 0 of Asterisk
Chapter 4
Descent to Instability
Seidoukan Auditorium
“NOOOO!”
Arashi’s shout was the only thing that broke the silence as Hikaru started the match.
His movements were extremely graceful. Each and every movement of the Raijin took down a few
opponents. The ominous scythe in his hands danced dangerously as it took down the opponents of its
wielder, not even receiving any resistance. The scythe also started gaining a green colour in a pattern
and the structure of the blade became clearer, with a darker black in the middle and a lighter black at
the edge of the blade.
opponents. The ominous scythe in his hands danced dangerously as it took down the opponents of its
wielder, not even receiving any resistance. The scythe also started gaining a green colour in a pattern
and the structure of the blade became clearer, with a darker black in the middle and a lighter black at
the edge of the blade.
The Void Order members started firing bullets at the teen. All of the bullets were stopped by the teen.
They levitated in mid air before him and the black blade of the scythe cut through them as they fell to
the ground.
They levitated in mid air before him and the black blade of the scythe cut through them as they fell to
the ground.
Suddenly, a man carrying a large claymore swung the aforementioned sword at Hikaru. The scythe
stopped it in its tracks before Hikaru was stabbed in the back by another sword, spilling blood onto the
floor.
stopped it in its tracks before Hikaru was stabbed in the back by another sword, spilling blood onto the
floor.
“Hikaru-kun!” Sylvia and Claudia shouted at the same time as the teen grunted before taking a Lux
from his left pocket. The Lux turned into a shotgun and the sound of a gunshot echoed in their ears.
from his left pocket. The Lux turned into a shotgun and the sound of a gunshot echoed in their ears.
Gore and brain matter fell onto the ground and onto the teen as a gaping hole appeared where the jaw
should be and Hikaru kicked the now dead body to the ground before turning around and slashing with
the scythe, bisecting the member at the waist.
should be and Hikaru kicked the now dead body to the ground before turning around and slashing with
the scythe, bisecting the member at the waist.
Hikaru then shot with his gun a few more times, killing 5 people.
His face was set into an emotionless facade, the only emotions on his face displayed in his eyes, rage
and remorse.
and remorse.
Hikaru then turned around as one of the members shouted, “MONSTER!”
The proclaimed monster didn’t show any reaction, only swinging his scythe and cutting him vertically in
half, the two halves of the corpse falling down to the ground.
half, the two halves of the corpse falling down to the ground.
Many of the students felt lucky that they didn’t eat anything, as the scene before them was disturbingly
violent.
violent.
“He is in one of Seidoukan’s underground stadiums.” Kyouko recognised the area.
Seidoukan Academy
Underground Stadium
Hikaru stood in the middle of a circle of men, all of them pointing a weapon at him.
His hair and clothes were now caked with fresh blood and his scythe had blood dripping from the blade
onto the ground.
onto the ground.
His heart was in turmoil as he killed each person.
I have to kill them or everyone will die.
Meanwhile, another, darker voice whispered at him.
Really? Are you not enjoying killing them?
No, I am not enjoying this. I am-
Are you really? Because you don’t seem hesitant at all.
Sh-shut up!
A gunshot brought him out of his conversation as the bullet grazed his right arm. He returned it with his
shotgun, blasting the head apart, spilling blood on himself and a few others.
shotgun, blasting the head apart, spilling blood on himself and a few others.
He then swung his scythe as he descended into another deadly dance of death.
His eyes were a mixture of blue and red as he mercilessly slaughtered each and everyone, ignoring
their screams of pain and their cries for help.
their screams of pain and their cries for help.
Close off your heart. Cold, heartless…
How do their screams sound? You enjoy them right? You thrive in that? How does the blood
taste? The sight of the blood? The corps-
taste? The sight of the blood? The corps-
SHUT UP!
He slashed before him and a blade of lightning cut through a group of people in a wide arc, all of their
lives stolen by him without any single bit of resistance. Their lifeless bodies fell to the ground, cut into
pieces by the blades of lightning.
lives stolen by him without any single bit of resistance. Their lifeless bodies fell to the ground, cut into
pieces by the blades of lightning.
He grit his teeth as the smell of burning flesh reached his nose and shook his head, setting his face
back into the emotionless facade.
back into the emotionless facade.
How many did I kill? How much blood is on my hands?
A bullet lodged itself into his left arm and his eyes widened at the sudden pain. He suppressed the cry
of pain and fired the shotgun again, killing his attacker.
of pain and fired the shotgun again, killing his attacker.
He then deactivated the scythe Lux, strapping it to his left arm before shooting the shotgun again and
again. Moments later, a sword met the gun, cleaving it in half. The sword drew blood as the tip met his
arm as he threw the gun away, jumping back a few metres. He tapped one of the Lux strapped to his
left arm and the scythe materialised again. He swung at the gigantic man in a wide arc while pushing
his Prana into the blade. Sparks of lightning danced across the blade as it cut straight through the flesh
and bone before bisecting him. The teen continued the swing, performing a full circular swing, taking
the lives of at least 5 men. He then tapped another Lux and two swords appeared in mid air. He caught
them while storing the scythe away.
again. Moments later, a sword met the gun, cleaving it in half. The sword drew blood as the tip met his
arm as he threw the gun away, jumping back a few metres. He tapped one of the Lux strapped to his
left arm and the scythe materialised again. He swung at the gigantic man in a wide arc while pushing
his Prana into the blade. Sparks of lightning danced across the blade as it cut straight through the flesh
and bone before bisecting him. The teen continued the swing, performing a full circular swing, taking
the lives of at least 5 men. He then tapped another Lux and two swords appeared in mid air. He caught
them while storing the scythe away.
The two chokuto swords had a blue hilt with black lines and a black blade, with a blue on the blunt
sides.
sides.
His speed increased drastically as he cut each person at twice his previous speed. The two swords
crackled with lightning as he carved through the members of Void Order like a hot knife through butter.
crackled with lightning as he carved through the members of Void Order like a hot knife through butter.
Screams of fear and pain rang in his ears as he cut through them while a maniacal voice was
whispering to him in his mind.
whispering to him in his mind.
Go on. Kill everyone! Kill! KILL! KILL! DESTROY! KILL! DESTROY!
“SHUT UP!” He roared out loud, slashing both of his swords at once while channeling his Prana,
releasing sharp dangerous blades of lightning which cut through hordes of the Void Order grunts and
he stopped mid-slash as he recognised the opponent before him.
releasing sharp dangerous blades of lightning which cut through hordes of the Void Order grunts and
he stopped mid-slash as he recognised the opponent before him.
Seidoukan Auditorium
“A CHILD?!” Many of them shouted
“That bastard!” Arashi growled, watching as Hikaru’s facade broke for an instant before he steeled
himself again.
himself again.
He looked away as Hikaru closed his own eyes and slashed, stabbing the child in the heart, instantly
ending his life and giving the child a painless death.
ending his life and giving the child a painless death.
“You used a child as a pawn to fight me? Was that supposed to be an obstacle or something?”
Hikaru’s voice was emotionless as he killed another person.
Hikaru’s voice was emotionless as he killed another person.
Hikaru then stood in a stance unlike the one he used against Arashi in a practice session, holding one
chokuto before him horizontally at chest level and the other behind him at waist level.
chokuto before him horizontally at chest level and the other behind him at waist level.
Electricity started to dance around him and the two swords and he disappeared for a few instants.
Seconds later, many mutilated corpses fell to the ground around him, while Hikaru stood in the same
spot he was a few moments ago.
Seconds later, many mutilated corpses fell to the ground around him, while Hikaru stood in the same
spot he was a few moments ago.
“He didn’t use that technique when he fought against me.” Arashi muttered.
“He was holding back?” Claudia wondered out loud.
“No.” Kyouko said, looking at the screen closely. “He is improvising. The techniques he used in the
duels are all reserved for just that, duels. They are meant to only stop. These moves, they are meant to
kill. Nothing more, nothing less. He won’t use these moves in a duel, especially not against you people. He cares about you guys very much.”
duels are all reserved for just that, duels. They are meant to only stop. These moves, they are meant to
kill. Nothing more, nothing less. He won’t use these moves in a duel, especially not against you people. He cares about you guys very much.”
Hikaru then threw the two chokutos into the air and took the Lux in his right pocket. The activated Lux
then brought about two swords, looking like a cross between a katana and a chokuto, with a black
blade with a serrated edge and blue blunt sides, with a few holes for balance. He swung the two swords
before him and then caught the two falling chokutos in the holes of each blade.
then brought about two swords, looking like a cross between a katana and a chokuto, with a black
blade with a serrated edge and blue blunt sides, with a few holes for balance. He swung the two swords
before him and then caught the two falling chokutos in the holes of each blade.
The two chokutos then deactivated and he ran forwards into the group of people, beginning another
deadly dance of blades.
deadly dance of blades.
The sound of metal cutting flesh and lightning crackling in the air was drowned out by the screams of
fear and the cries of help.
fear and the cries of help.
A majority of the students were looking away from the screen, flinching every time a scream was heard.
“How is he able to handle that?”
“He is not handling that, President.” A new voice spoke. A brown-haired teen with brown eyes and a
scar on his left cheek sat next to Arashi. His uniform was mostly the same as Arashi, but he wore a
green hoodie underneath the jacket.
scar on his left cheek sat next to Arashi. His uniform was mostly the same as Arashi, but he wore a
green hoodie underneath the jacket.
“You are…”
“Yabuki Eishirou, same class as Hikaru.”
“What did you mean when you said that he’s not handling that, Yabuki?”
“He is just closing off his emotions or trying to. He is not trying to deal with the deaths he caused while
fighting. He is just focusing on two, maybe three things. His movements, his weapons and the
opponents. Be careful of your movements, use your weapons properly, dispose of your opponents
quickly.”
fighting. He is just focusing on two, maybe three things. His movements, his weapons and the
opponents. Be careful of your movements, use your weapons properly, dispose of your opponents
quickly.”
Yabuki Eishirou’s words perfectly described Hikaru at the moment. That was the fact that Arashi
realised as he looked at the blue-haired teen on the screen.
realised as he looked at the blue-haired teen on the screen.
Just how many did he kill? How many lives did he take? And how many will he continue to take? Just
how much more will he sacrifice himself for us?
how much more will he sacrifice himself for us?
Arashi clenched his fist tightly as he watched Hikaru stop for a moment.
“Another child…” Kyouko said with sadness in her voice as she watched Hikaru close his eyes before
stabbing the child in the heart.
stabbing the child in the heart.
The light left the young child’s eyes and Hikaru disappeared in a burst of lightning, appearing at
another end of the stadium where a group of men were firing at him.
another end of the stadium where a group of men were firing at him.
All of the bullets bounced off the lightning surrounding him and he swung his two swords repeatedly,
creating arcs of lightning.
creating arcs of lightning.
The arcs of lightning cut through the group of men, spilling blood and guts onto the floor.
Suddenly, all the bullets on the floor started levitating in the air and started flying towards the remaining
opponents, killing countless number of opponents, their screams filling the air.
opponents, killing countless number of opponents, their screams filling the air.
Once the barrage of bullets ended, the number of opponents was relatively low when compared to the
number at the beginning.
number at the beginning.
However, Hikaru stopped once he got a good look at the opponents.
“THAT BASTARD!” Arashi shouted in anger as he looked at the remaining members of Void Order sent
to die.
to die.
“T-th-they are all…” Sylvia trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
“Children?”
“He has to kill those children, all of them are around his age.” Kyouko finally got out the words from her
mouth, watching with a grim look on her face.
mouth, watching with a grim look on her face.
Seidoukan Underground Stadium 1
Hikaru looked at all of his remaining opponents. “Children…”
Almost all of them were visibly trembling in fear as they looked at him. They were all holding weapons
of various kinds, a gun or a knife or a sword or some other weapon.
of various kinds, a gun or a knife or a sword or some other weapon.
Only a few of them kept their composure before him.
“I can see the fear in your eyes. You are scared of me, are you not?” Hikaru asked, his voice hollow
and cold.
and cold.
The eldest of them, a boy of just 15, shouted, “SHUT UP! We are going to kill you, right here! Right
now!”
now!”
Fear and doubt laced his voice and Hikaru almost hesitated as he took another Lux from his right
pocket. The swords he previously used were now hung at his waist, and the chokutos at his back.
pocket. The swords he previously used were now hung at his waist, and the chokutos at his back.
The Lux materialised into another chokuto, with a black blade and a red tint on the blunt side with a
red and black hilt.
red and black hilt.
This chokuto looked more dangerous than the previous ones somehow as Hikaru held it in a tight grip.
“I understand your fear. It is natural to fear death.”
Seidoukan Auditorium
“Just what the hell is he doing?”
“He is doing what is right.” One of the high-school students answered the girl’s question.
“What do you mean, Nester?”
Nester Fandorin, the Rank#4 of Seidoukan Academy, answered, “He knows that he cannot just close
his eyes and kill them like he did with the other children. There are how many, 50? 100? Look at them.
They saw him kill the trained soldiers like they were chop liver. What are these children to him? The
moment he saw them, he could have killed them.”
his eyes and kill them like he did with the other children. There are how many, 50? 100? Look at them.
They saw him kill the trained soldiers like they were chop liver. What are these children to him? The
moment he saw them, he could have killed them.”
“He will kill them anyway, won’t he? He is a damn monster!” The former Rank 3, Celeste Ragris, said
with indignation.
with indignation.
“Monster, huh?” Nester muttered as he looked at the teen with a slight amount of worry and frustration.
“That monster you are speaking about, he is trying to at least make their deaths painless. He is trying
to-”
to-”
“Don’t bother, Nester.” Arashi’s voice said calmly and coldly from behind. “There is no need to bother
about ignorant fools like her.”
about ignorant fools like her.”
“What?! You are supporting that mons-”
“Call him that again and you will regret the consequences!” He retorted angrily.
“Hikaru is trying to reassure their fears.”
“I know that you are scared. Don’t resist. I will try to make it as painless as possi-”
BANG! The sound of a gunshot rang in their ears as Hikaru was hit in the right arm by a bullet.
He didn’t show any visible reaction.
“Shut up! You! You killed my father! You killed him right before my eyes! You killed him even
when he begged you! He was begging till his last breath to not kill him!”
when he begged you! He was begging till his last breath to not kill him!”
The teen didn’t even flinch at the accusations. “Yes. I did.”
“You did? You murderer! You monster! MONSTER! DIE!”
Hikaru’s eyes showed emotion for the first time after looking at the children and he looked away as
another bullet hit him in the leg.
another bullet hit him in the leg.
“I may be a monster. But I have a heart as well. And now, you are suffering because of me.
Because of him. I find you to be similar to me in many ways, you see?” His voice was laced with
sadness and remorse. “You suffered due to him, just like me. And that’s why, even if you hurt me,
I don’t hate you. All I feel for you is… pity, because I see myself in you people.”
Because of him. I find you to be similar to me in many ways, you see?” His voice was laced with
sadness and remorse. “You suffered due to him, just like me. And that’s why, even if you hurt me,
I don’t hate you. All I feel for you is… pity, because I see myself in you people.”
Another shot echoed but this didn’t hit. The sound of the two halves of the bullet was heard clearly as
Hikaru stood in the same position. “Aiming to kill?”
Hikaru stood in the same position. “Aiming to kill?”
Hikaru then shifted stances, gripping his sword with both hands while his legs were spread apart. His
Prana flared around him before lightning started dancing around the blade.
Prana flared around him before lightning started dancing around the blade.
“I promise to make this as painless and be as merciful as possible.” He ran his own finger along
the blade, drawing blood and the blood ran along the blade from the tip to the hilt and stained his own
hands red.
the blade, drawing blood and the blood ran along the blade from the tip to the hilt and stained his own
hands red.
“I’m sorry.”
With his eyes still open, he ran at the group of children, who were now visibly trembling as he started
killing them without hesitation.
killing them without hesitation.
Blood spilled onto his face, hair and clothes, dying his white clothes red and staining his vibrant blue
hair with fresh and dried blood.
hair with fresh and dried blood.
His sword also had blood dripping from the tip as he moved gracefully, appearing almost elegant were
it not for the blood on him.
it not for the blood on him.
In 3 minutes, he was done and stood in the middle of the carnage he had caused, his chokuto already
deactivated, now without any visible weapons.
deactivated, now without any visible weapons.
The only one in the room was himself and he slowly fell to his knees, looking down, his hair shadowing
his face. He was visibly shaking for some time as he looked at his own hands, stained with the blood of
the scores of people he had killed ruthlessly.
his face. He was visibly shaking for some time as he looked at his own hands, stained with the blood of
the scores of people he had killed ruthlessly.
A few moments later, he stood up again, his face set into an emotionless facade. Prana started to
surround him before it receded into his body. A moment later, all the blood spilled on his face, hair and
body flew away from him, being repelled by the protective covering of Prana surrounding him. The
dried blood on his hair and clothes, among other things, made him sigh lightly before he walked away,
levitating in the air.
surround him before it receded into his body. A moment later, all the blood spilled on his face, hair and
body flew away from him, being repelled by the protective covering of Prana surrounding him. The
dried blood on his hair and clothes, among other things, made him sigh lightly before he walked away,
levitating in the air.
Seidoukan Underground Stadium 1
Hikaru fell to his knees as his feelings overwhelmed him momentarily. His tears threatened to overflow
as he shut his eyes tightly while clenching his fists tightly. His nails dug into the skin, drawing blood
again. This time, it was his own blood that was drawn.
as he shut his eyes tightly while clenching his fists tightly. His nails dug into the skin, drawing blood
again. This time, it was his own blood that was drawn.
I… killed all of them. How many did I kill? Who did I kill?
It doesn’t matter whom and how many you killed. You enjoyed it didn’t you?
Enjoyed it?
Didn’t you enjoy it? You were close to laughing as you cut down and shot each of them…
NO! I didn’t enjoy that! I only did it because I had to!
You did it because you WANTED to!
No! No! NO!
As he was having his inner conversation, he was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes registered the blood
covering him and he almost puked, but stopped himself in time.
covering him and he almost puked, but stopped himself in time.
See, you are not even crying… you enjoyed killing them! You enjoyed taking their lives. You
enjoyed the fear in their eyes and their screams as you cut them down ruthlessly without any
mercy…
enjoyed the fear in their eyes and their screams as you cut them down ruthlessly without any
mercy…
NO! SHUT UP!
And you even killed all those children without any hesitation, without any mercy. You truly are
a monster. A cold-blooded murderer! A MONSTER!
a monster. A cold-blooded murderer! A MONSTER!
SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
The teen forced himself to tune the voice out and compose himself, schooling his face back into the
emotionless facade and used his Prana to remove the blood spilled on him.
emotionless facade and used his Prana to remove the blood spilled on him.
He then took his weapons before looking at the shotgun which was cleaved in half.
“This thing is useless now.” He muttered and broke it to pieces, crushing it to bits.
Hikaru then headed towards the door, leaving behind a scene of carnage and disappeared from the
view of the camera.
view of the camera.
Seidoukan Auditorium
The doors opened and Hikaru stood at the doorway, no sign of the previous carnage except the dried
blood on his clothes and hair, his gaze towards the ground.
blood on his clothes and hair, his gaze towards the ground.
Arashi met him and stopped him at the door. “Hikaru, are you fine?”
Hikaru didn’t answer for a second and then finally said, “Yeah. I am alright. I removed the knives and
bullets and other things. The wounds are also closing.”
bullets and other things. The wounds are also closing.”
“That’s not what I am talking about.” Arashi said, his voice containing a small hint of fear and pleading.
Hikaru finally looked up and his eyes were glistening, but also they were somehow hollow and empty,
and his voice also sounded broken.
and his voice also sounded broken.
“Yeah, Arashi. I am alright. Don’t worry about me.” He said with a sad smile and passed him.
Arashi’s eyes widened as he turned around and clenched his fist in anger.
Damn it! He’s changed. He’s hollow. Empty. It should have been me! I am the one who asked for the
things. Why? Why does he have to suffer? Why am I so powerless? Why? Damn it! Why am I so
powerless?! Why am I so weak?! Why does he have to suffer for our sake?! Why does he have to
sacrifice himself, hurt himself for our sake?!
things. Why? Why does he have to suffer? Why am I so powerless? Why? Damn it! Why am I so
powerless?! Why am I so weak?! Why does he have to suffer for our sake?! Why does he have to
sacrifice himself, hurt himself for our sake?!
As these thoughts ran through his head, Hikaru announced to the group of hostages.
“I talked with the head guard. We can go to the cafeteria. Don’t try to run or they will shoot. Go in an
orderly manner and don’t attempt anything or they will shoot. You have access only to the cafeteria
and the backyard there and we can get bedding for all the people here. Is anyone here ill or has any
medication they need to take?”
orderly manner and don’t attempt anything or they will shoot. You have access only to the cafeteria
and the backyard there and we can get bedding for all the people here. Is anyone here ill or has any
medication they need to take?”
His voice broke the silence but nobody answered.
He turned to a source of a voice that meekly said, “I-I need medication.”
He turned to a source of a voice that meekly said, “I-I need medication.”
He tried to smile and managed a forced feeble smile. “Can you adjust for 1 more day?”
She flinched at his voice before saying, “Y-yes. I have some with me and I can use that for today and
tomorrow.”
tomorrow.”
“Good. Do you have it in your dorm room?”
“Um… no. I take it from the nurse’s office. They come once a month.”
“Did they arrive?”
“Y-yes.”
“That is fine. Then I will make sure that you get your medicine by tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
He then turned to the others and asked, “Anyone else?”
“Tch. Don’t behave like you belong with us, you monster.” The comment was no more than a whisper
but Hikaru turned around all the same.
but Hikaru turned around all the same.
“Do you have any problem with me being here, Miss Ragris?” He asked calmly, turning to her.
Monster?
Monster?
She flinched as he turned towards her, almost expecting him to hit her or worse, kill her.
“How could you?” Huh? What does she mean?
“How could you kill all those people? How could you do that and still be that calm? How could you be
so heartless?”
so heartless?”
“Heartless?”
“You monster! You killed them! You even murdered those children!”
The blue-haired teen stared without any reaction as the woman continued pushing accusations at him
and then said, “Are you finished?”
and then said, “Are you finished?”
As she was interrupted, Hikaru then turned to Arashi and said, “Arashi, I trust that you three can lead
them to the cafeteria.”
them to the cafeteria.”
He walked towards the door.
“Wait. Hikaru, where are you going?”
“Me? I’m going to get a few cans of coffee. I didn’t have much sleep so I need some caffeine to work
on. I will buy a few for myself before all of them are bought.”
on. I will buy a few for myself before all of them are bought.”
“Stop! I am not done with you!”
A blast of wind blades was sent at the unsuspecting teen, hitting his left arm, which was now bare and
cutting it up severely.
cutting it up severely.
Another blast of wind hit the already injured arm, damaging it further and he gasped a bit in pain.
“Hikaru-kun!/Hikaru!” Three voices shouted as they ran towards the downed teen before a barrier of
electricity appeared between him and them and they stopped as the electricity crackled threateningly.
electricity appeared between him and them and they stopped as the electricity crackled threateningly.
The barrier disappeared and the teen stood up, the wounds slowly being closed by his powers.
Suddenly, tendrils of electricity surrounded his attacker and levitated her in the air before bringing her
before him. Her face could only be described by one word. Fear. Pure fear.
before him. Her face could only be described by one word. Fear. Pure fear.
Hikaru said coldly, “You know what it would take for me to kill you right now? Nothing. I just snap my
fingers and these tendrils will electrocute you to death. Or I could stab you in the head or neck or heart
or another fatal spot or just behead you.” Each word of his became increasingly colder. “I could kill you
in just a single instant. Without any effort.” Somehow, many of the students and teachers were certain
that he could and fear gripped their heart.
fingers and these tendrils will electrocute you to death. Or I could stab you in the head or neck or heart
or another fatal spot or just behead you.” Each word of his became increasingly colder. “I could kill you
in just a single instant. Without any effort.” Somehow, many of the students and teachers were certain
that he could and fear gripped their heart.
“The only thing that is stopping me, hell, even I don’t know. But I know that a monster wouldn’t stop
before killing you.”
before killing you.”
With these words, Hikaru continued his walk towards the doors as the shocked and scared female
student was released from the tendrils and fell to the floor, almost on the verge of unconsciousness.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned around and everyone became gripped by fear at the sight.
student was released from the tendrils and fell to the floor, almost on the verge of unconsciousness.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned around and everyone became gripped by fear at the sight.
Hikaru’s eyes were now a mixture of blood-red and blue and were looking like a predator’s eyes eyeing
his prey. His hair and clothes, stained with blood, along with his eyes, made him look like a bringer of
death and his Prana itself amplified that appearance.
his prey. His hair and clothes, stained with blood, along with his eyes, made him look like a bringer of
death and his Prana itself amplified that appearance.
“If you attack me like that again, I will kill you.”
Some of them passed out from sheer fear as a heavy pressure, more darker and more overbearing
than Reaper’s, bore down on them, almost like a malicious predator, like a dragon which destroyed
everything in its path.
than Reaper’s, bore down on them, almost like a malicious predator, like a dragon which destroyed
everything in its path.
At that moment, Hikaru’s form was surrounded by a pitch-black dragon, which coiled around him as he
unconsciously released the Narukami’s power. The dragon’s eyes, which looked just like Hikaru’s,
glared at the hostages as he spoke.
unconsciously released the Narukami’s power. The dragon’s eyes, which looked just like Hikaru’s,
glared at the hostages as he spoke.
As he disappeared from the auditorium, the pressure dissipated.
Sylvia and Claudia stared at the doorway where Hikaru stood previously, worry and concern written all
over their face, along with a small bit of fear.
over their face, along with a small bit of fear.
Arashi’s face had despair, regret and fear written on it as he continuously punched the floor in anger,
his head hung down.
his head hung down.
XXXXXXXXXX
Seidoukan Cafeteria
Hikaru stood before the vending machine and selected the coffee before selecting the quantity.
A few seconds later, the cans of coffee appeared in a cover and he took them before walking towards
the line at the counter.
the line at the counter.
Why are they looking at me in fear? I didn’t hurt them at all, so why?
Many students were looking at him in fear and flinching if their gazes met. As he reached the counter,
he noticed the lady at the counter flinching and his face scrunched up in confusion.
he noticed the lady at the counter flinching and his face scrunched up in confusion.
“Tanaka-san, can you man the next counter? There are more people there.”
“Y-yes!” She replied, a bit too quickly.
The second woman stood before him and asked with a kind smile, “What do you want, Narukami-san?”
“I will take the usual, Miyamoto-san. Can you make it with a bit more quantity than usual? Because I
think I will need more energy for the upcoming events.”
think I will need more energy for the upcoming events.”
“I will have Enfield-san bring it to your table. Please take a seat.”
“Thank you.”
“It is I who should be thanking you, Narukami-san.”
Hikaru went towards the table in the backyard, one of many and sat at an empty table.
He noticed the flinches as he passed by tables filled with students.
Both Seidoukan and Queenvail? And not only the students, but even the faculty.
He sat at the empty table before taking out the Luxes he had used. He inspected each of them for
damage before nodding to himself.
damage before nodding to himself.
“Hikaru-kun, is this seat empty?”
“Go ahead, Sylvie.” Hikaru said, not looking up from his work. “Where’s Claudia?”
“Claudia-san is coming over. She was helping Onii-chan in directing the students.”
“I see.”
“Hikaru-kun, here is your mea-” Claudia’s voice came from behind but was interrupted by a sudden
shriek.
shriek.
As Hikaru suddenly appeared before her and caught her from falling, another person appeared before
him, balancing the tray that he was carrying along with the one Claudia carried.
him, balancing the tray that he was carrying along with the one Claudia carried.
“Are you alright, Claudia?”
She nodded while Hikaru observed the third person.
Hikaru said, “Thanks, Eishirou.”
“You are welcome. But I will accept a can of coffee if you want to treat me.”
With a dry laugh, Hikaru said, “You seriously need to make better excuses and requests. Come over,
we have space at the table.”
we have space at the table.”
“Thanks.”
As Hikaru and co. sat at the table, Eishirou said, “You know, the president is pretty mad that you were
holding back.”
holding back.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Then?”
“Those techniques were all different. A different style. Different from the Narukami-ryu. This technique,
it’s the first time I have had to use it consciously.”
it’s the first time I have had to use it consciously.”
Hikaru then started eating his lunch. “Hikaru-kun, isn’t that spicy?”
“No, Sylvie. It’s normal for me.”
“Wait!” Eishirou said. “Now that you mention it…” He looked at Sylvia and suddenly whipped out a
paper and pen before her.
paper and pen before her.
“Ms.Lyyneheym, please give me your autograph.”
Hikaru sighed internally and continued eating the curry. Suddenly, his eyes saw red and he recoiled.
Red blood was dripping from his hands to his plate. He closed his eyes and opened them again,
blinking a few times and it disappeared.
Red blood was dripping from his hands to his plate. He closed his eyes and opened them again,
blinking a few times and it disappeared.
What was that?
He continued his meal, quickly finishing it.
As he stood up, he was joined by Eishirou. He subtly nodded and they walked together to a secluded
part of the building, in plain sight but out of earshot.
part of the building, in plain sight but out of earshot.
“What about the Kageboshi?”
“Unfortunately, only a few of them are able to fight now.”
“I know. They were injured during the initial fighting.
“Hikaru, how are you holding up?”
He received no answer.
“Eishirou, contact the remaining members of the Kageboshi. Tell them to be ready. If needed, they will
have to protect the students.”
have to protect the students.”
“Understood, Leader.”
“And…”
“Yes?”
“Tell them to be prepared for anything.”
“Yes.” Yabuki Eishirou answered seriously, his previous friendly demeanour already lost.
Anything?
Shut up! I didn’t want to talk to you!
But you can’t ignore me. I am yourself. So tell me, how did it feel, the aftermath? Everyone is
calling you a monster, right?
calling you a monster, right?
Shut up…
Monster… Murderer… Killer…
SHUT UP!
“Hikaru-kun?”
He started as a hand was laid on his shoulder and turned around instantly.
“Sylvie…” He said as he spotted the violet-haired girl and she asked, “Are you alright? You seem out
of it.”
of it.”
“Sylvia-san! Don’t go close to him!” A shrill female voice said angrily and a girl in the Queenvail
uniform marched up to them before dragging Sylvia away by her arm.
uniform marched up to them before dragging Sylvia away by her arm.
“Who knows what that monster will do to you?!”
“But!” The violet haired girl turned to where he was standing, only to find him already gone.
XXXXXXXXXX
It was the time of dinner
The Raijin of Seidoukan Academy sat on a high branch of a tree, looking up at the night sky. Why is it
that everyone is calling me a monster? It’s not like I enjoyed killing those people. And I did this so that
everyone could be safe.
that everyone is calling me a monster? It’s not like I enjoyed killing those people. And I did this so that
everyone could be safe.
He tried to close his eyes and sleep but immediately sat up awake.
What was that? That blood, those corpses…
He looked at his hands, only to see them covered in blood and his eyes widened.
“Monster…” “Murderer…” “Killer…” “Murderer…” “Cold-blooded killer…” “Heartless…”
As these words echoed again and again in his mind, he shook. He shook uncontrollably, all the while
whispering, “Stop…” over and over again.
whispering, “Stop…” over and over again.
The faces of each and every person he had killed appeared before him, calling him a monster.
“Stop it…”
“Stop it…”
Suddenly, he felt darkness overwhelm him as a sharp pain erupted across the back of his head.
“Why do you sacrifice yourself so much for our sake even when we don’t respect it?”
The voice was familiar to him and he muttered the person’s name as he felt a pair of arms pick him up.
“Arashi… thank you.”
“Arashi… thank you.”
As Hikaru fell unconscious, Arashi picked the younger teen up and sighed. “Why are you thanking me?
It’s us who should be thanking you and still we are rejecting you.”
It’s us who should be thanking you and still we are rejecting you.”
1 hour later
Seidoukan Auditorium
All the students were back in the auditorium, wearing expressions of relief on their face.
Arashi leaned against the wall, arms crossed, making a head count.
Good, everyone's here.
He then looked down at the floor.
Claudia was beside him, leaning on the wall and sleeping. Sylvia was also asleep, sleeping in a sitting
position. Hikaru was also asleep, his head on Sylvia’s lap. All three of them were sleeping soundly,
sharing a big blanket taken from the teen’s mansion.
position. Hikaru was also asleep, his head on Sylvia’s lap. All three of them were sleeping soundly,
sharing a big blanket taken from the teen’s mansion.
“Looks like his nightmares have stopped.”
“Yatsuzaki-sensei.” Arashi nodded at her. “His nightmares seem to have stopped. But he is occasionally
twitching, muttering something or suddenly stiffening up.”
twitching, muttering something or suddenly stiffening up.”
“The girl’s song did some good at least.”
“Sylvie’s ability is omnipotence. She can do anything, given the right amount of Prana and the right
song. She sung that song mainly to calm him down.”
song. She sung that song mainly to calm him down.”
A few moments passed in relative silence and he asked, “Are you not going to sleep, Yatsuzaki-sensei?”
“No.”
“Then can you tell me why you care for Hikaru so much?”
“His mother.”
“His mother?”
“Always making me feel so guilty. I owed her a favour for getting me and my friends out of a tight spot.
And she made me promise to look after her son if he entered Seidoukan. And he reminds me so much
of her.”
And she made me promise to look after her son if he entered Seidoukan. And he reminds me so much
of her.”
“I understand. Then, sensei, can you take over?”
“Sure, sure. Get some sleep, brat.”
Arashi quickly fell to the ground, lying on the recently brought beds and fell asleep, exhaustion
catching
up to him as he drifted off into dreamland.
catching
up to him as he drifted off into dreamland.
A few seconds later, Kyouko kicked Hikaru in the gut lightly. “Oi, Narukami, wake up. The idiot’s asleep.
I know that you were acting.”
I know that you were acting.”
Hikaru got up, being careful to not wake up either Sylvia or Claudia.
“You didn’t have to kick me in the gut, did you, Kyouko-sensei?”
She didn’t answer and he stood up with a sigh before leaning against the wall. A look at his eyes
revealed that they were filled with remorse and at the same time filled with a feeling of emptiness.
Even his posture was different, as if he was carrying a huge burden.
revealed that they were filled with remorse and at the same time filled with a feeling of emptiness.
Even his posture was different, as if he was carrying a huge burden.
“How are you holding up?”
“Huh?”
“I can see that you are affected by all the lives you took for our sakes today. It’s affected you and it’s
affected you badly.”
affected you badly.”
“Maybe.”
“How are you dealing with it?”
“I am not. Eishirou told you right? I was only focusing on taking them down. Not dealing with all the
deaths that I caused.”
deaths that I caused.”
“You… you knew that you were being watched, right?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I knew that I was being watched. But I made a mistake in the thoughts running through their minds.”
“Half, no, most of them are scared of you. Hell, even I was scared by that ruthless efficiency you
showed. Deadly grace, elegant movements, no wasted movement.”
showed. Deadly grace, elegant movements, no wasted movement.”
“Every single move, calculated. Every single breath, used optimally. Every swing, with ruthlessness
and efficiency. Every weapon, taking lives.” He said in a hollow voice.
and efficiency. Every weapon, taking lives.” He said in a hollow voice.
“Don’t say that in such a tone. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Doesn’t suit me? I don’t know what suits me anymore, Kyouko-sensei. Each time I try to get back into
that time, the memories come back to me.”
that time, the memories come back to me.”
“Memories?”
“The blood. The screams. The cries. Their faces. The fear in their eyes. Their expressions. The anger.
The hatred. Their calls. Monster. Murderer. Ruthless killer. Cold-blooded murderer. The blood on my
weapons and my hair. The pungent smell of blood and corpses. The sight of the corpses. Their voices
calling out to me. I just can’t get it to stop.”
The hatred. Their calls. Monster. Murderer. Ruthless killer. Cold-blooded murderer. The blood on my
weapons and my hair. The pungent smell of blood and corpses. The sight of the corpses. Their voices
calling out to me. I just can’t get it to stop.”
He was trembling slightly as he talked.
“I don’t know what I can do to help you, Narukami. I’ve never felt what you did. But… all I can say is,
just hold on. You have many good memories, right? Think of them. Hold on to them. Never give up.”
just hold on. You have many good memories, right? Think of them. Hold on to them. Never give up.”
“Memories?” He muttered as he looked at the sky, visible through the windows.
As he heard a yawn from beside him, he said, “Kyouko-sensei, you must be tired. You can take some
rest. I will take watch. I am not getting much sleep anyway.”
rest. I will take watch. I am not getting much sleep anyway.”
“Is it really alright?”
“Yes. I insist.”
“Then… thank you, Narukami. Remember, the memories you have, all of those precious memories,
hang on to them. No matter what happens, don’t sink in darkness.”
hang on to them. No matter what happens, don’t sink in darkness.”
With those words, she left him alone to his thoughts and he leaned against the wall in deep thought
before slowly sliding against the wall, dropping towards the floor.
before slowly sliding against the wall, dropping towards the floor.
He looked at the door, frequently letting out bursts of Prana in small quantities to sense everything in
the auditorium.
the auditorium.
Good, no one is trying to leave. Well, I’ve set traps around the area anyway and ordered the
Kageboshi to set up traps around all entrances and exits. If anyone tries to leave, they will be knocked
out. It’s too extreme but… it’s necessary.
Kageboshi to set up traps around all entrances and exits. If anyone tries to leave, they will be knocked
out. It’s too extreme but… it’s necessary.
He looked at his hands and saw blood again. He bit his lip and tried to make the pain help him focus.
“Memories? Most of the memories I have… they end in darkness.” As his hands saw blood again, he
grit his teeth. “Those memories I have, I don’t want to taint them with this blood. Whenever I try to
remember them, I remember the blood. I don’t want to taint those happy times. I am scared that I will
just lose even that. I don’t want to. I don’t want to be alone again. I don’t want to feel loneliness again.”
grit his teeth. “Those memories I have, I don’t want to taint them with this blood. Whenever I try to
remember them, I remember the blood. I don’t want to taint those happy times. I am scared that I will
just lose even that. I don’t want to. I don’t want to be alone again. I don’t want to feel loneliness again.”
He looked at the three sleeping figures before him and smiled as his eyes landed on the violet-haired
girl, sleeping peacefully.
girl, sleeping peacefully.
“I remember meeting with Sylvie. It was in a park, I think.”
As he tried to remember the past, he felt sleep slowly take over.
“Leader, I will take over.”
“T-thanks, Eishirou.”
He fell asleep, leaning on Sylvia and she unconsciously leaned her head on his shoulder.
With a small but sad smile, the brown-haired spy placed a blanket over them.
Flashback/Dream
A young Hikaru was in the park, hanging on a bar, not showing any exhaustion despite the obvious
effort he put in.
effort he put in.
“The two pairs of wings known as thought and memory, move around move around speedily run
around, hold the voice of the captive beloved child, pass the sea of clouds of the dawn, ride on the
wind of twilight, open guidance from the edge of dusk, the black servant of thought and memory, come
down before me and speedily show me.”
around, hold the voice of the captive beloved child, pass the sea of clouds of the dawn, ride on the
wind of twilight, open guidance from the edge of dusk, the black servant of thought and memory, come
down before me and speedily show me.”
He heard a melodious voice singing and became drawn to it, dropping down from the bars and heading towards the source of the voice.
He found a young violet-haired girl with violet eyes on a swing, singing while a light blue glow
surrounded her. Meanwhile, a beautiful young woman in her late teens with well defined features, her
light blue hair matching her blue eyes as she watched the violet-haired girl.
surrounded her. Meanwhile, a beautiful young woman in her late teens with well defined features, her
light blue hair matching her blue eyes as she watched the violet-haired girl.
A small sound made her turn towards the bars, where a boy the same age as the girl dropped down
from them without any visible injuries and walked towards the swings.
from them without any visible injuries and walked towards the swings.
He was able to hear Sylvia’s voice? A Genestella?
As the violet-haired girl stopped singing, the blue glow disappeared and a small clapping sound was
heard. The blue-haired boy was clapping gently with admiration in his eyes.
heard. The blue-haired boy was clapping gently with admiration in his eyes.
“That was a very good song.” He complimented. “I’ve never seen you around here. Did you move in
recently?”
recently?”
As the young girl was a bit flustered at being heard and caught a little off-guard by his questions, the
young woman stepped in and said in a kind and caring voice, “We moved here recently. I am Ursula
Svento and that is my student, Sylvia Lyyneheym.”
young woman stepped in and said in a kind and caring voice, “We moved here recently. I am Ursula
Svento and that is my student, Sylvia Lyyneheym.”
“I’m Hikaru. Narukami Hikaru. Or, Tatsuya Hikaru, you could say. Nice to meet you.” Hikaru said with a
smile and then said, “So, Ursula-san is teaching Sylvia music?”
smile and then said, “So, Ursula-san is teaching Sylvia music?”
“How did you know that, Narukami-san?”
“Hikaru is fine. And about that, well, I hear my mother sing from time to time. When I heard Sylvia’s
song, she was good, but there were a few mistakes. And since you were watching her, I assumed that
you knew her somehow and because you seemed to be concentrating on your hearing, you heard me
when I dropped down from the bars and from that, I can tell that you were listening to her song. So, I
think I am fairly correct in my assumption that you are teaching her about music. And since both you
and her are Genestella and from the Prana that was flowing around her when she was singing, you
are training her.”
song, she was good, but there were a few mistakes. And since you were watching her, I assumed that
you knew her somehow and because you seemed to be concentrating on your hearing, you heard me
when I dropped down from the bars and from that, I can tell that you were listening to her song. So, I
think I am fairly correct in my assumption that you are teaching her about music. And since both you
and her are Genestella and from the Prana that was flowing around her when she was singing, you
are training her.”
The blue-haired woman had a momentarily shocked expression on her face before it settled back into
the same caring smile.
the same caring smile.
“Pretty good deductions. Pretty impressive for someone your age.”
“Thank you, I guess.”
A small shifting of the air behind her made her turn around and she spotted a young man with silver
hair and yellow eyes running over to them.
hair and yellow eyes running over to them.
“Ryu!”
“Hikaru-sama! I told you to not go out of my sight!”
With a small laugh, Hikaru disappeared and appeared on a swing, startling Sylvia and said, “Your
mistake. You let me out of your eyes.”
mistake. You let me out of your eyes.”
“Now Rin-sama will get angry at me!”
“Your own fault.” Hikaru replied, before suddenly floating in the air.
“Huh?”
Ryu’s hand was outstretched towards him and Prana was flowing around his arm and around Hikaru.
“Let me down!”
“No.”
“Now!”
“No, Hikaru-sama.”
Hikaru grumbled and said, “I’ll tell Rei-san that it was you who broke her vase.”
“No, you will not.” He tried to keep a composed voice but there were traces of panic and fear in his
voice.
voice.
“If you don’t want me, just let me down.”
As the silver-haired teen didn’t do anything, Hikaru sighed. “Fine. Do what you want.”
His own Prana started to flow around him and lightning crackled around him. A few moments later, a
female voice spoke from his pocket, “Hikaru?”
female voice spoke from his pocket, “Hikaru?”
“Rei-san, I know who broke your vase.”
“What?!”
“It was Ryu! He threatened me so that I wouldn’t tell you.” His voice contained a fake note of panic,
which, to the others, appeared quite real.
which, to the others, appeared quite real.
“RYUUUUU! I WILL KILL HIM!”
“He is in the park!”
“PERFECT!”
The call was cut and Hikaru suddenly started to fall towards the ground. As the others gasped, he
caught one of the chains supporting the swing and slid down, his hand smoking slightly. Once he
reached solid ground, he let go and the chain also started to smoke, the smell of something burning
slightly also being felt.
caught one of the chains supporting the swing and slid down, his hand smoking slightly. Once he
reached solid ground, he let go and the chain also started to smoke, the smell of something burning
slightly also being felt.
Hikaru looked at the silver-haired teen with a smirk. “Ryu, Rei-san is going to get here any moment.
You better run.”
You better run.”
Not a moment later, the teen disappeared, leaving a smirking blue-haired boy and two confused
females in the park.
females in the park.
“Um, what just happened?” Sylvia asked, still confused as she tilted her head in confusion.
“Well, he knocked down the favorite vase of a friend and she is angry at him. So he is running, but he
is just delaying the process.”
is just delaying the process.”
As the sky started to grow dark, Ursula said, “Sylvia, let’s go. It’s gett-”
“Wait, Ursula-san. Where do you live?”
“In the nearby apartment.”
“How long will it take for you to get there?”
“30 minutes, why?”
“So you live in the same building as us. Well, I think waiting here is better.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s going to rain in a few moments, 2 minutes, give or take. And there won’t be any taxis passing
through here now. And the rain will be heavy. So I think we should wait.”
through here now. And the rain will be heavy. So I think we should wait.”
“How do you even know?”
He put his hand forward, bringing two fingers together. A small ball of electricity started forming at his
fingertips.
fingertips.
“This. I tried concentrating my Prana. And as you can see, there’s electricity. But it’s higher than
normal and since I am tired from playing and the little trick I performed, it should be lower. But due to
the charges in the clouds, it’s higher.”
normal and since I am tired from playing and the little trick I performed, it should be lower. But due to
the charges in the clouds, it’s higher.”
“What does that mean, Ursula-san?”
“What he means is that a thunderstorm will occur in a few minutes. So we should take cover.”
In a few minutes, the three of them were in a cozy looking room with a few couches and an
entertainment system.
entertainment system.
“What is this place?”
“Welcome to my humble abode, ladies.” Hikaru said with a mock bow and said, “Take a seat. We will
stay here until the rain stops and it’s not going to stop anytime soon.”
stay here until the rain stops and it’s not going to stop anytime soon.”
He went towards one of the doors and returned in a few minutes with a tray and three cups.
“Hot chocolate.” He said at the questioning glance of Ursula and took a seat on one of the couches
near the windows before pointing his hand towards the controller sitting next to the entertainment
system.
near the windows before pointing his hand towards the controller sitting next to the entertainment
system.
A small spark of electricity flew from one of his fingers towards the controller and the speakers flared
to life, playing some music.
to life, playing some music.
“This is tasty!”
“Thanks, Sylvia.”
“I have to agree with her, Hikaru-san.”
“Thanks again.”
He then made small talk with Sylvia before saying, “So, you two will be moving back to the US in a
few months?”
few months?”
“Yup.”
A sudden strike of thunder gave two different reactions, Hikaru and Ursula were nonchalant and Sylvia
was whimpering as she curled up into a ball.
was whimpering as she curled up into a ball.
“Now that I think about it, Hikaru-san, won’t this place be hit?”
“Nope. Even if it does, it would all be directed to me, since I am constantly using my Prana. And I
won’t be hurt, because I am lightning-oriented.”
won’t be hurt, because I am lightning-oriented.”
“Aren’t you two scared?!”
“No.” Ursula said in a deadpan voice. “No one in their teens will be scared of lightning.”
“But Hikaru-kun isn’t scared either!”
“Um, Sylvia, I can control lightning. I think it would be odd if I was scared of it if I could control it.” He
said with a sweatdrop as his mind created a mental image of a chibi version of himself being scared of
lightning and then tried to control his laughter.
said with a sweatdrop as his mind created a mental image of a chibi version of himself being scared of
lightning and then tried to control his laughter.
When he heard a stifled yawn, Hikaru said, “Sylvia, you can sleep if you want to. I am sure that
lightning won’t hit you. Besides, you seem pretty tired.”
lightning won’t hit you. Besides, you seem pretty tired.”
“He’s right. Sylvia, take some rest. That is an order as your teacher.”
“Fine.” Within a few moments, she was asleep and then Ursula said, “Hikaru-san, why did you
approach her?”
approach her?”
“Honestly, I felt that her voice was similar to my mother’s. Us Genestella, sometimes, we feel lonely.
Especially in cases like this. The kids I used to play with, they didn’t play after they found out that I am
a Genestella. I can see that Sylvia is the same as me in that case. And I knew that you were about to
move to the US before talking with Sylvia.”
Especially in cases like this. The kids I used to play with, they didn’t play after they found out that I am
a Genestella. I can see that Sylvia is the same as me in that case. And I knew that you were about to
move to the US before talking with Sylvia.”
“As I thought, you are her son. I thought that you were related to Rin-san somehow.”
“Well, I look like her in many ways. And she talked about you two. So I at least want Sylvia to
remember this place with some good memories if she can.”
remember this place with some good memories if she can.”
“Good memories?”
“It’s never a good thing to have bad memories and regrets when leaving a place.”
With a small smile, she said, “You are wise beyond your age.”
He nodded before saying, “So, Ursula-san, you have an Orga-Lux, right? It’s still sealed. You have it
but it is sealed. I won’t pry into it but I know one thing from experience. And that is… Orga Luxes can
be very dangerous. Please be careful or you will hurt not only yourself, but everyone around you,
including Sylvia.”
but it is sealed. I won’t pry into it but I know one thing from experience. And that is… Orga Luxes can
be very dangerous. Please be careful or you will hurt not only yourself, but everyone around you,
including Sylvia.”
“I know. That is the reason I haven’t used it.”
As Hikaru nodded and turned back to the window, she noticed one thing.
“That is… an Orga Lux!”
“Yes. I can control it fully. A katana and shield hybrid. And this is why I know about your Orga Lux and
how I was able to sense it.”
how I was able to sense it.”
“But how?”
“I can’t say that now.”
Anymore words she was going to say were interrupted by a phone ringing.
“My mother?”
He answered the call and a holographic screen appeared before him.
“Kaa-chan, don’t worry. We are in the house. Rain. And I have Ursula-san and Sylvia with me. We will
come home once the rain stops. Don’t worry.”
come home once the rain stops. Don’t worry.”
As his mother said something to him, he nodded.
“Uh huh… don’t worry. I’ll tell them.”
He cut the call and said, “Ursula-san, my mother wanted to invite both of you over for dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“She insists. Meaning that she won’t stop until you accept.”
“We would be honored.”
“That is good.”
As time passed, the rain stopped and they finally reached home.
Flashback/Dream end
It was now almost morning and the sun awoke a few of them.
Hikaru was still asleep and was muttering something in his sleep. The violet-haired girl, who was now
wide awake, heard his muttering and strained her ears.
wide awake, heard his muttering and strained her ears.
“Then, Sylvia, Ursula-san, I’ll see you later.”
Hmm?
“I enjoyed today, though most of it was spent in the house but I did enjoy talking and playing with you.
We’ll meet again tomorrow.”
We’ll meet again tomorrow.”
Ah… I know. He is dreaming about the time he met me and Ursula for the first time.
“I don’t want you to get hurt. Even these memories, I don’t want to taint them with my sins.”
W-what is he talking about?
He started to shake suddenly. “D-don’t hurt her!”
“Hikaru-kun?” She tried to wake him up.
“NO!” He shouted, still in his sleep. His breathing increased and he started to hyperventilate, while his
shout woke up both Arashi and Claudia, along with Eishirou, who was only now starting to fall asleep.
shout woke up both Arashi and Claudia, along with Eishirou, who was only now starting to fall asleep.
A few moments later, a sharp pain awoke him and he jolted awake, sitting up straight.
“Hikaru, calm down. What happened?” Arashi’s voice brought him back to his senses.
“N-nothing. Just a nightmare. Don’t worry.”
With these words, Hikaru sat against the wall.
“Eishirou, take some rest. You did good.”
“Thanks, Leader.”
Hikaru then said, “It’s still dawn. Arashi, once the students are awake, find out how many need
medication. No matter how small it is, just find out who and how many and of what. Note down the
medicine, quantity and the name. Sylvie, Claudia, you too. Help Arashi. Ask the teachers too. If
someone offers help, mostly the Page Ones and the Disciplinary Committee, tell them what I told.
Once everything is done, give the lists to me.”
medication. No matter how small it is, just find out who and how many and of what. Note down the
medicine, quantity and the name. Sylvie, Claudia, you too. Help Arashi. Ask the teachers too. If
someone offers help, mostly the Page Ones and the Disciplinary Committee, tell them what I told.
Once everything is done, give the lists to me.”
“Uh huh.”
“Fine.”
“Alright.”
As the three of them went to fulfill the task, Hikaru took his Luxes and checked each of them.
All the weapons I used yesterday, apart from the shotgun, are working. I don’t need to do maintenance
on them. But I may have to discard some of them. However, that weapon is still with me.
on them. But I may have to discard some of them. However, that weapon is still with me.
After a long time, he stood up and made his way over to Nestor Fandorin.
“Nestor-senpai, I need some help.”
“Yeah?”
Nestor grimaced internally as a few younger students flinched when Hikaru walked over to them and
glared at them.
glared at them.
“I need you to create a few carts. For holding medicines. And I need you to use your powers to create
a suitable environment to preserve the medicines.”
a suitable environment to preserve the medicines.”
“Alright. I can do that. Why do you need that anyway?”
“I will secure medication for the students. Since most of them need to be stored in cold areas, I need
you to use your ability to create storages, preferably with wheels or something for easy movement.”
you to use your ability to create storages, preferably with wheels or something for easy movement.”
“How will you get the medication? We are not allowe-”
Suddenly, his eyes widened and a small gasp escaped his lips as he said, “No!”
“Nestor, please. I can’t back down here. Many of the students need my help.”
“I don’t understand, Hikaru. Why do you still want to help them when they are scared of you?!”
“Because I have a duty to.”
“Duty?!”
Hikaru slowly removed Nestor's hands from his collar and said, “Nestor, I will ask you a question. It
applies perfectly to this situation. I want you to answer honestly. Can you?”
applies perfectly to this situation. I want you to answer honestly. Can you?”
“I will try my best.”
“Then, listen carefully. If you cannot answer, ask others this question.”
“Alright. Let's hear it.”
“If there is an evil that cannot be beaten by justice, will you stay steadfast to your justice even if it
means giving in to evil? Or will you commit evil to defeat the greater evil?”
means giving in to evil? Or will you commit evil to defeat the greater evil?”
As Nestor opened his mouth to answer, Hikaru said, “Think carefully. Ask the other Page Ones also.
Anyone who is someone. I want to hear their answers. Do that for me.”
Anyone who is someone. I want to hear their answers. Do that for me.”
With those words, Hikaru walked towards the door.
XXXXXXXXXX
Seidoukan Auditorium Entrance
The door to the entrance opened and Hikaru stepped out, the door still open.
“Hey brat! Get back inside.”
“Shut up! You're annoying me.”
A single gunshot rang out and the guard who spoke to him fell to the ground, blood leaking out from
the hole in his forehead.
the hole in his forehead.
“I am going to my house.”
A few guns were trained on him and he sighed in annoyance. A handgun materialised in his hand and
he shot a few more times, corpses falling to the ground after each shot.
he shot a few more times, corpses falling to the ground after each shot.
“I killed 6 more, huh?”
Without looking back, he went towards his mansion.
Meanwhile, the students and teachers inside the auditorium witnesses his actions and shuddered in
fear before he disappeared.
fear before he disappeared.
“Just why did you do that?” Arashi spoke, more to himself than anyone else as he watched the teen
disappear from view.
disappear from view.
About an hour later, Hikaru reappeared, carrying a metal cart with him. Many of the students flinched
as he pulled something out of the cart.
as he pulled something out of the cart.
“Toono Mozuhi-san, here. I think that his was the medicine that you were looking for.”
He threw a small box at her, which she caught after fumbling a bit.
“I don’t know about the others, so, Arashi, I’m leaving this to you. I think I have a stock of most of the
medication they need but there may be something that isn’t. And there are some things for first-aid.
Well, you understand so I’m leaving it to you. If there is anything that is left, have Nestor put it in some
ice so that they can be stored.”
medication they need but there may be something that isn’t. And there are some things for first-aid.
Well, you understand so I’m leaving it to you. If there is anything that is left, have Nestor put it in some
ice so that they can be stored.”
He then went towards the door before leaning against it, his arms crossed.
I killed 6 people. But… I don’t feel much remorse. Is it because they weren’t children that I killed or
because…
because…
He recoiled instinctively at the implication. I am getting used to killing? I am becoming a monster?
He was still in deep thought about his feelings before he heard Arashi’s voice. “The first-aid supplies
were useful. But there are some medicines that are in another box but we couldn’t open it. It requires a-”
were useful. But there are some medicines that are in another box but we couldn’t open it. It requires a-”
“A PIN. Those are not for the others. Those are mine.”
“Yours?”
“Sleep. I can’t sleep properly some times. And a few others when I use my powers excessively.”
“Sleep? But you slept properly yesterday…”
One look at the teen’s appearance made Arashi doubt himself and he asked heatedly, “What did you do?”
“I am not telling you.”
“You will.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I pretended that I was asleep. And the twitches, they were involuntary, I didn’t sleep for 3 days and
those memories started to come back to me and I couldn’t stop them at times. And as for how I fell
asleep in the morning, I forced myself to sleep. Some rewiring of circuits in your brain and you can
sleep. But it’s only temporary. I mainly went there so that I could get these things.”
those memories started to come back to me and I couldn’t stop them at times. And as for how I fell
asleep in the morning, I forced myself to sleep. Some rewiring of circuits in your brain and you can
sleep. But it’s only temporary. I mainly went there so that I could get these things.”
A punch landed on his gut and his eyes widened in shock.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“What would you have done, Arashi?” Hikaru replied back, his voice cold and calm. “You can’t do
anything. There are things that you can’t change, no matter how hard you try.”
anything. There are things that you can’t change, no matter how hard you try.”
A pressure suddenly appeared over them. Most of them seemed affected. Hikaru and Arashi felt it the
most, the black haired teen finding it hard to breathe.
most, the black haired teen finding it hard to breathe.
“Annoying!” Hikaru exclaimed before flaring his own Prana.
Suddenly, the pressure disappeared and a quiet aura filled the whole auditorium.
Prana was being radiated by Hikaru and filling the room with a mystical glow and a quiet atmosphere
filled the place.
filled the place.
“Arashi, go and sit.” Hikaru said in a calm but panicked voice.
As he followed without question, Hikaru nodded and turned towards the doors, just in time as they
opened and Reaper stepped in, flanked by two cloaked individuals.
opened and Reaper stepped in, flanked by two cloaked individuals.
“Your guards seem to be weak.” Hikaru commented nonchalantly and said, “I killed 6 and I went to my
house once. So, that makes it 5 extras. Now, what is the price of medication and medical supplies?”
house once. So, that makes it 5 extras. Now, what is the price of medication and medical supplies?”
“You! How dare you call us weak!” One of the guards said in a clearly male voice, moving to attack him.
No one stopped him as he moved to punch the teen.
No one stopped him as he moved to punch the teen.
In an instant, the man was on the ground and the teen was on on him, two hands gripping the neck
tightly, suffocating him while the man struggled to break free.
tightly, suffocating him while the man struggled to break free.
Just as his attacker was about to fall unconscious, the teen released him and kicked him into a wall,
producing cracks.
producing cracks.
“I asked, what is the cost for medication and medical supplies?” His voice was now cold.
“Impressive. To be able to hold off my Prana and presence for this long without even flinching, truly
impressive.”
impressive.”
“What.Is.The.Cost?”
“1 for 1 person. And supplies will cost 10 for 100.” The leader replied back, visibly amused.
“1 for 1 and 1 for 10?”
If what I counted was correct, the number of people who need some medication is 589, because what
I had, it won’t last long. So 589 for medication. And medical supplies, it’s better to have enough for all.
As there are 2000, I should make it enough for all. And with my own supplies, I’d say that the amount
required would be 211.
I had, it won’t last long. So 589 for medication. And medical supplies, it’s better to have enough for all.
As there are 2000, I should make it enough for all. And with my own supplies, I’d say that the amount
required would be 211.
“I’ve decided. 800. In 1 hour.”
With those words, he took his own Lux from his right arm and said, “Oh and remember, I figured out
your identity, Reaper.”
your identity, Reaper.”
With a hidden smirk, he prepared for the fight, taking a few Luxes out and laying them out before trying
each one of them.
each one of them.
After a few minutes of deep thought, he picked up a few weapons.
“This should do.”
The scythe, pair of chokutos and the single sword from before were strapped to his left arm, while the
Narukami and the unused Lux from before were strapped to his right arm.
Narukami and the unused Lux from before were strapped to his right arm.
“Now there’s only waiting.”
“No.”
Another voice spoke.
“Why are you stopping me, Sylvia?” She flinched at the usage of her name over her nickname while
Hikaru stood up.
Hikaru stood up.
“It is the right thing, Hikaru.”
“Arashi, not you too.”
“Why?”
“You cannot understand.”
“I can.” He said in a low voice. “I killed people too. I can understand how you feel.”
“You weren’t conscious when you did. You blacked out, Arashi. When you awoke, what you saw were
corpses, Arashi. Corpses. You didn’t consciously kill them. There’s a difference.”
corpses, Arashi. Corpses. You didn’t consciously kill them. There’s a difference.”
“What are you even talking about?”
“Did you hear them screaming in fear? Pain? Crying for help? Did you see as their eyes lost the light
and became empty? Did you see their lifeless orbs?” His voice slowly rose in magnitude until everyone
in the auditorium could hear his words.
and became empty? Did you see their lifeless orbs?” His voice slowly rose in magnitude until everyone
in the auditorium could hear his words.
“Did you?! You didn’t have to! I had to! I had to hear their screams, their cries, their voices calling me
a monster! I had to spill their blood with my own hands! Cut them down without any hesitation! Do you
ever know what it feels like?! The sounds of their screams and cries! The pungent smell of blood and
corpses! Each time I look at my hands, I can see the blood covering them. Each time I try to even eat
my meal or drink some water, I see only blood and corpses! And what else?! I had to kill children! They
were all harmless to me! Couldn’t hurt me even if they tried! And guess what! They didn’t even try to
resist! They resigned their lives! They let me kill them! And I did!”
a monster! I had to spill their blood with my own hands! Cut them down without any hesitation! Do you
ever know what it feels like?! The sounds of their screams and cries! The pungent smell of blood and
corpses! Each time I look at my hands, I can see the blood covering them. Each time I try to even eat
my meal or drink some water, I see only blood and corpses! And what else?! I had to kill children! They
were all harmless to me! Couldn’t hurt me even if they tried! And guess what! They didn’t even try to
resist! They resigned their lives! They let me kill them! And I did!”
His eyes were almost bloodshot and his words were not calm but angry.
“I’m not finished! Why did I kill them?! Because I am a cold-blooded psychopath?! It was because he
threatened that he would kill you! All of you! You think I could let him even hurt you?! And I killed them!
For your goddamn sakes! So that you wouldn’t starve! I tried to at least return some semblance of a normal life to you! And what do I get in return?! Nothing! Only the goddamn nightmares which don’t stop! Those voices of the dead which whisper to me and scream at me! And what about you? The number of people that feel grateful to me, I can count them on my hands. You, Claudia, Sylvia, Kyouko-sensei, Eishirou, mostly the Page Ones, a few faculty and some students I know. A few students are grateful for the help That’s all! The rest of you, you call me a monster! A murderer! You try to live your life, ignoring the danger you are in! Ignoring the sacrifice that I had to make! You despise the sacrifice I made! You laugh in joy the moment you feel some comfort! You laugh in ignorance! Those laughs sound like scorn and disdain to me right now! Those calls of monster and murderer! I had to become a monster and murderer for your sake! So that you could live! And you idiots attacked me! Insulted me! That is why I made a choice! If the world rejects me, then I will reject the world! I don’t care about what you think of me! A monster! Killer! Cold-blooded murderer! Think what you want!”
threatened that he would kill you! All of you! You think I could let him even hurt you?! And I killed them!
For your goddamn sakes! So that you wouldn’t starve! I tried to at least return some semblance of a normal life to you! And what do I get in return?! Nothing! Only the goddamn nightmares which don’t stop! Those voices of the dead which whisper to me and scream at me! And what about you? The number of people that feel grateful to me, I can count them on my hands. You, Claudia, Sylvia, Kyouko-sensei, Eishirou, mostly the Page Ones, a few faculty and some students I know. A few students are grateful for the help That’s all! The rest of you, you call me a monster! A murderer! You try to live your life, ignoring the danger you are in! Ignoring the sacrifice that I had to make! You despise the sacrifice I made! You laugh in joy the moment you feel some comfort! You laugh in ignorance! Those laughs sound like scorn and disdain to me right now! Those calls of monster and murderer! I had to become a monster and murderer for your sake! So that you could live! And you idiots attacked me! Insulted me! That is why I made a choice! If the world rejects me, then I will reject the world! I don’t care about what you think of me! A monster! Killer! Cold-blooded murderer! Think what you want!”
“W-we think of you as a friend!”
“Ask the majority what they think! I am telling this to them. I will ask a question. If there exists an evil
that cannot be defeated by evil, then what will you do? Will you cling steadfast to your justice, even if
it means giving in to evil? Or will you commit evil to destroy the greater evil? Answer me! We have all
the time. Split into two groups. It’s even better. Justice on the right side. And the lesser evil on the
other side.”
that cannot be defeated by evil, then what will you do? Will you cling steadfast to your justice, even if
it means giving in to evil? Or will you commit evil to destroy the greater evil? Answer me! We have all
the time. Split into two groups. It’s even better. Justice on the right side. And the lesser evil on the
other side.”
When no one moved, he shouted, “NOW!”
A few minutes later, Hikaru stood in the middle and the auditorium was split into two groups. The left
had noticeably less people than the right.
had noticeably less people than the right.
“Well, here is my answer and my opinion. Pertaining to this situation, I will tell you what each answer
means. Justice, don’t kill anyone. The end result, all the students are DEAD and these guys win! The
lesser evil, kill a few and then kill yourselves! End result, all the students are dead even then!”
means. Justice, don’t kill anyone. The end result, all the students are DEAD and these guys win! The
lesser evil, kill a few and then kill yourselves! End result, all the students are dead even then!”
“Then what is the correct answer?!” Arashi almost shouted.
“The answer that is correct, logically, and the path that I have chosen, is the third answer. The greater
evil. Become the greater evil that destroys evil itself. The absolute evil.”
evil. Become the greater evil that destroys evil itself. The absolute evil.”
A sinister smirk was on his face and he said, “One can only destroy something that one cannot change.
I cannot change them. So I can only destroy them.”
I cannot change them. So I can only destroy them.”
“There is no going back, Hikaru. Stop it now. You can come ba-”
“There is no returning, Arashi. You know whom I killed?”
“Those guys are-”
“They were all humans. Normal humans.” Hikaru said, greatly shocking the others. “And the
punishment for killing a human, in self-defense, is lifetime imprisonment. What about me? I killed 600
and I will kill a lot more. And I know that the bastard is broadcasting the video of me killing them on the
world’s channels, so that everyone will see me. What happens when he does that?”
punishment for killing a human, in self-defense, is lifetime imprisonment. What about me? I killed 600
and I will kill a lot more. And I know that the bastard is broadcasting the video of me killing them on the
world’s channels, so that everyone will see me. What happens when he does that?”
“You are viewed as dangerous.” Nestor was the one who answered his question.
“Correction, I am viewed as a homicidal, dangerous, mass-murdering, cold-blooded, monstrous
psychopath. And you think it can go back to normal? They don’t know of the circumstances
surrounding why I had to kill.”
psychopath. And you think it can go back to normal? They don’t know of the circumstances
surrounding why I had to kill.”
“If we explain it to them, then they will surely understand!” Sylvia said but was rebuffed by Hikaru
coldly. “Understand? Explain? More than half of the fools for whose sakes I condemned myself to this
shit, they view me as a monster and a killer. And what makes you think that they will explain the
circumstances to them? And I don’t believe that the Stjarnagarm will accept the students as witnesses.
Even if they do, the IEF won’t accept it. I will have an arrest warrant, or worse, a kill-on-sight order, on
me. The only safe place for me will be Seidoukan. I won’t be allowed to attend the academy itself.
Probably house arrest. I will just spend the whole day, and whole years, locked in my own home, not
able to go out. And they won’t stop at that. They will send assassins after me. I will have to kill all of
them and leave no traces. Basically, a life filled with killing and blood. You think I want a life like that?”
coldly. “Understand? Explain? More than half of the fools for whose sakes I condemned myself to this
shit, they view me as a monster and a killer. And what makes you think that they will explain the
circumstances to them? And I don’t believe that the Stjarnagarm will accept the students as witnesses.
Even if they do, the IEF won’t accept it. I will have an arrest warrant, or worse, a kill-on-sight order, on
me. The only safe place for me will be Seidoukan. I won’t be allowed to attend the academy itself.
Probably house arrest. I will just spend the whole day, and whole years, locked in my own home, not
able to go out. And they won’t stop at that. They will send assassins after me. I will have to kill all of
them and leave no traces. Basically, a life filled with killing and blood. You think I want a life like that?”
“What will you do then?”
“I will disappear. Until his innocence is proven, Narukami Hikaru will disappear.”
“Disappear? What are you talking about, Hikaru? You can’t just-”
“Even if I am seen as a monster by everyone I care about, even if all the experiences I have will be
despair-ridden and tragic, I will do all the dirty work, change this situation and make sure that
something like this won’t happen again, once I am finished, then… I can disappear.”
despair-ridden and tragic, I will do all the dirty work, change this situation and make sure that
something like this won’t happen again, once I am finished, then… I can disappear.”
A punch to his gut made him widen his eyes in shock as he looked at his assailant.
“Did everything mean so little to you?” Arashi asked in barely concealed anger.
“All the time we spent together, the two years you spent in Seidoukan, the time you spent in your home,
your friends from Tokyo, everyone that cares about you, the things in Asterisk that you considered
precious, did they all mean so little to you?”
your friends from Tokyo, everyone that cares about you, the things in Asterisk that you considered
precious, did they all mean so little to you?”
Hikaru didn’t answer before suddenly, he pushed Arashi back and then executed a leg sweep, making
him fall on the floor.
him fall on the floor.
“Did they all mean so little to me?” He repeated. “I care about them very much. Probably will. That is
why I won’t let them be tainted by my sins. After all, I… I can’t return to this world until I destroy this
group.”
why I won’t let them be tainted by my sins. After all, I… I can’t return to this world until I destroy this
group.”
“You can’t return? You're not sad at all?”
“No.”
“Then why are you crying?”
True to Arashi’s words, tears ran down Hikaru’s face as he spoke.
“Crying? Who knows. I am not exactly stable, with all that happened in the last few days.” His voice
was extremely low and almost close to breaking.
was extremely low and almost close to breaking.
With those words, Hikaru walked towards the door, slamming it shut behind him, leaving many shocked
people behind.
people behind.
Meanwhile, Hikaru walked towards the underground stadium, a broken expression on his face and
activated the scythe Lux.
activated the scythe Lux.
“Concentrate. Focus.” He spoke to himself. “I can’t back down now.” As he held the scythe in his hand,
it started to shake.
it started to shake.
“Huh?” The screaming that haunted him intensified as he walked towards the stadium.
“SHUT UP!” He shouted out loud as the voices did not stop, holding his head as he fell to his knees.
You are feeling it now, huh? The voices, they don’t stop. They will... The voice in his head trailed
off as he held his head tightly while lightning danced around his kneeling form.
off as he held his head tightly while lightning danced around his kneeling form.
Suddenly, his hand moved on its own and broke a finger on the other hand, making him wince from the
pain. The voices seemed to stop and he stopped trembling, shakily standing up. His steps were heavy
and slow as he opened the doors of the stadium, where a similar scene to yesterday was seen. Many
men and women, wearing the black uniform of Void Order, carrying various weapons.
pain. The voices seemed to stop and he stopped trembling, shakily standing up. His steps were heavy
and slow as he opened the doors of the stadium, where a similar scene to yesterday was seen. Many
men and women, wearing the black uniform of Void Order, carrying various weapons.
“You have children here today too, huh? It won’t matter. Not anymore.”
A laugh echoed as one of the men exclaimed in glee, “Huh?! We have to kill this kid?! Those previous
guys were failures!”
guys were failures!”
Hikaru laughed at that. He laughed darkly, his insane laughter echoing around the closed walls of the
stadium.
stadium.
“I will leave none of you alive. So just die already!” Hikaru shouted in an insane voice with a scary grin
on his face and a trembling hand holding the scythe, which glowed an ominous black and green on the
blade.
on his face and a trembling hand holding the scythe, which glowed an ominous black and green on the
blade.
“Let’s begin the dance… the Dance of Death!”
The massacre began as the young teen, who ran forward at blinding speeds while bullets flew and
screams rang out. But the most shocking and clear sound was laughter. The sound of a blue haired
teen laughing insanely as he slaughtered everyone mercilessly and remorselessly without any
hesitation while their blood spilled on him.
screams rang out. But the most shocking and clear sound was laughter. The sound of a blue haired
teen laughing insanely as he slaughtered everyone mercilessly and remorselessly without any
hesitation while their blood spilled on him.
Seidoukan Auditorium
The students and teachers in the auditorium stood shocked as the teen started a new massacre
without any hesitation.
without any hesitation.
“H-he’s lau-”
“He’s laughing?!” One of the teachers shouted, outraged, as the teen swung his scythe in wide arcs,
killing any who stood in his way.
killing any who stood in his way.
“He’s snapped.” A calm voice said.
“What do you mean, Yatsuzaki-sensei?”
“After his previous outburst and whatever happened to him on the way to the stadium, he is shaken up.
Badly.” Kyouko answered Arashi’s question calmly but her frown made it clear that she was angry.
Badly.” Kyouko answered Arashi’s question calmly but her frown made it clear that she was angry.
“And he realised one thing, he has no choice. He has to kill. He cannot return to this world until his
innocence is proven. And I don’t think half the cowards in this room have the guts to say it outright that
the kid is fighting and killing for their sakes, so that they won’t have to starve and won’t have to die.”
innocence is proven. And I don’t think half the cowards in this room have the guts to say it outright that
the kid is fighting and killing for their sakes, so that they won’t have to starve and won’t have to die.”
Meanwhile, Hikaru stopped as he killed a few people around him and then said, “Oi, where are the
others?”
others?”
His voice caught their attention, making them stop their conversation briefly.
“I counted. Each and every person I killed. There were 678. Where are the others? Surely,
you’ve not forgotten our agreement, have you, Reaper?” Hikaru spat the name with venom in his
voice.
you’ve not forgotten our agreement, have you, Reaper?” Hikaru spat the name with venom in his
voice.
“Look around you, Narukami Hikaru.”
“Huh? There are about 50 in the upper ceiling, just waiting to fire their gatling guns at me.
However, that won’t work. And the rest? There should be 800. 678, and the 52 above, that makes
730. Where are the remaining 70?”
However, that won’t work. And the rest? There should be 800. 678, and the 52 above, that makes
730. Where are the remaining 70?”
“Look around you. There are women, aren’t there? Among the people that you killed?”
“What does he even mean?” Nestor questioned before realisation crossed his face and his eyes
widened in shock and fury.
widened in shock and fury.
At the same time, Hikaru sunk to his knees, trembling.
“Nestor, what happened?” A girl next to him asked in concern.
“Th-those women he k-kil-killed were…” He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
“You made pregnant women fight me? So, the remaining 70, those were unborn babies who
were growing inside their mothers’ wombs, huh?”
were growing inside their mothers’ wombs, huh?”
“Have you realised it yet?”
“What?”
“That you are a heartless monster? You aren’t even shedding a single tear, even when you took
the lives of unborn babies.”
the lives of unborn babies.”
“Why should I?”
“Why should you?”
“Why should I? If I don’t kill all of them, you will kill all the students. If I hesitate, then the life of
an innocent student is on my hands.”
an innocent student is on my hands.”
“Even if you die-”
“HAHAHA! Even if I die? It seems that you are mistaken. When you tried to kill me, when I was 9,
and my mother stopped you by causing an explosion, one of the ice shards hit me. Pierced me. Right through the heart and went through the other end. And still, I survived.”
and my mother stopped you by causing an explosion, one of the ice shards hit me. Pierced me. Right through the heart and went through the other end. And still, I survived.”
“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”
“I don’t expect anything, just accept it as it comes. And the truth is something you should learn
to accept. If you want to kill me, you will have to behead me, pulverize my heart and brain and
then burn my corpse to ashes and scatter them. Hell, even if you do that, I will remain. I will
haunt you until you die.”
to accept. If you want to kill me, you will have to behead me, pulverize my heart and brain and
then burn my corpse to ashes and scatter them. Hell, even if you do that, I will remain. I will
haunt you until you die.”
“Enough! This farce has gone on long enough! Kill him. Collapse the stadium!”
“Yes, Master Reaper!” Many voices echoed and the sound of gatling guns firing at the teen was
drowned out by loud explosions which shook the ground.
drowned out by loud explosions which shook the ground.
“Hikaru/Hikaru-kun!” A few students exclaimed in fear and shock.
There wasn’t any sound apart from the sound of falling debris and shifting dust.
“No! He can’t die!” Sylvia shouted, falling to her knees as tears ran from her eyes and down her
cheeks.
cheeks.
Suddenly, the ground started to shake again and an insane laughter started to echo from the screen
as a deadly burst of Prana exploded while the mana in the air started to thin. A killing intent greater
than anything they felt bore down on them, forcing many of them unconscious and the conscious ones
to their knees. Some of them vomited as they saw visions of their own deaths in different ways while
some of them fainted outright from the frightening visions. Claudia was relatively unaffected by the
visions while Arashi was shaking a bit.
as a deadly burst of Prana exploded while the mana in the air started to thin. A killing intent greater
than anything they felt bore down on them, forcing many of them unconscious and the conscious ones
to their knees. Some of them vomited as they saw visions of their own deaths in different ways while
some of them fainted outright from the frightening visions. Claudia was relatively unaffected by the
visions while Arashi was shaking a bit.
The laughter continued as the debris started to shift slowly along with the dust and smoke. Suddenly,
the rocks were blown away as another explosion occurred and a roar was heard before a beast made
of lightning jumped out of the rubble.
the rocks were blown away as another explosion occurred and a roar was heard before a beast made
of lightning jumped out of the rubble.
It looked like very humanoid, and had cloth-like armor covering its body and a scary mask on its face.
Inside the beast, at where its heart would be, was Hikaru, his hand covering part of his face and
laughing insanely. “HAHAHA! YOU THINK I WOULD BE KILLED BY A STUPID EXPLOSION?!”
Inside the beast, at where its heart would be, was Hikaru, his hand covering part of his face and
laughing insanely. “HAHAHA! YOU THINK I WOULD BE KILLED BY A STUPID EXPLOSION?!”
His voice was a bit distorted and the lightning surrounding him crackled with each word, as if reflecting
his emotions.
his emotions.
Suddenly, a scythe appeared in its hands while Hikaru held his scythe in his hands. “You know… the
Narukami, the Blade of the Black Dragon, it chose me as its wielder and will obey only my
command. It’s assimilated to me. This beast is made out of the Narukami’s power. The only
thing that can stop it is another Orga Lux stronger than the Narukami itself.”
Narukami, the Blade of the Black Dragon, it chose me as its wielder and will obey only my
command. It’s assimilated to me. This beast is made out of the Narukami’s power. The only
thing that can stop it is another Orga Lux stronger than the Narukami itself.”
Suddenly, six people appeared before the intimidating beast of lightning and started to fire many
attacks at it, ranging from fireballs to landslides.
attacks at it, ranging from fireballs to landslides.
All the attacks bounced off the beast’s cloth-like armor and the scythe in its hands slashed at the
people, cutting them in half.
people, cutting them in half.
“That level of attack won’t stop me. And it won’t stop your fate. Your fate of getting killed by
my hands.”
my hands.”
His voice was cold and at the same time, sounding crazy and unstable.
Suddenly, a wave of ice hit the beast, pushing it back.
One of Reaper’s executives, wearing a black cloak, stood before Hikaru, and his hand was
outstretched towards Hikaru while mana flowed around him.
outstretched towards Hikaru while mana flowed around him.
“Interesting… to push back this lightning beast. Let’s see who is stronger!”
Suddenly, sharp rocks hit him in the back, pushing him forward, into a big hammer made of ice.
“Ouch… that really hurt!” At the same time, Hikaru swung his scythe at the ice-user and then swung
around, firing a bolt of electricity at the rock-user.
around, firing a bolt of electricity at the rock-user.
“He’s fighting them off without any effort…” Arashi muttered.
“Those guys are strong. That is something I can say without doubt.” Kyouko said and watched as
Hikaru activated his chokuto Lux and the scythe dissipated into lightning before forming into the two
chokutos.
Hikaru activated his chokuto Lux and the scythe dissipated into lightning before forming into the two
chokutos.
The beast mirrored Hikaru’s stance before suddenly, Hikaru was launched forward out of the humanoid
beast.
beast.
A hammer made of ice hit him square in the back, smashing him into the ground. He gasped in pain
and looked forward, where Reaper stood, a hand outstretched towards him.
and looked forward, where Reaper stood, a hand outstretched towards him.
“Place him under the gas.”
“Yes, Master Reaper.”
Suddenly, smoke surrounded Hikaru, obscuring him from view. The audience watched with bated
breaths. Suddenly, ear splitting screams started echoing from the smoke, making most of them widen
their eyes in fear.
breaths. Suddenly, ear splitting screams started echoing from the smoke, making most of them widen
their eyes in fear.
Arashi dashed towards the door, kicking it open and ran towards the now-collapsed stadium, the
Crescent Moon appearing in his hands.
Crescent Moon appearing in his hands.
He arrived at the collapsed stadium in record time, running straight into the smoke.
Seidoukan Underground Stadium 1
Hikaru laid on the ground, clutching at his head tightly while his ability went out of control, lightning
dancing wildly around him.
dancing wildly around him.
He screamed as excruciating pain ran through him while the voices which haunted him started once
again, louder and more intense. The smell of blood grew until it became pungent, almost making him
vomit.
again, louder and more intense. The smell of blood grew until it became pungent, almost making him
vomit.
“ARGHHHH!” He screamed in pain as his voice became hoarse from his continuous screaming.
He vaguely registered someone kneeling beside him and trying to calm him down.
The voices and the pain didn’t stop and he tried to stop his screaming, trying to stand up. Eventually,
his two swords became a support for him and he gritted his teeth at the pain.
his two swords became a support for him and he gritted his teeth at the pain.
“W-wh-what did you do to me?” He muttered weakly, even speaking was difficult and excruciatingly
painful.
painful.
A dark laugh came from the cover of the slowly dispersing smoke before Reaper’s voice echoed in his
ears.
ears.
“That gas is a stimulant. You won’t sleep and you have become hypersensitive. It’s effects will diminish
slowly but everything will cause you pain. Pain you have never experienced. And it will amplify any
disease you have. That includes… insanity as well.”
slowly but everything will cause you pain. Pain you have never experienced. And it will amplify any
disease you have. That includes… insanity as well.”
“What are you saying?!” A voice shouted beside him. His ears rang as the sound echoed and caused
him pain again, making him release another scream.
him pain again, making him release another scream.
“Now, you, boy, will go through 5 sleepless days of excruciating pain and insanity. If you survive, boy, I
will listen to another one of your demands.”
will listen to another one of your demands.”
The words of Reaper were lost on the blue-haired teen as he tried to focus through the pain that ran
through his body. However, he failed as the pain intensified with every little breeze that hit his skin and
every breath that was taken.
through his body. However, he failed as the pain intensified with every little breeze that hit his skin and
every breath that was taken.
Before long, he passed out from the pain but suddenly, he awoke again.
W-what is this? I can’t sleep but the pain is not stopping!
His mind tried to form another coherent thought but he found it hard to focus.
He barely registered the fact that someone was carrying him with his arm across their shoulder while
his feet were dragged against the ground while pain ran through his body.
his feet were dragged against the ground while pain ran through his body.
After what felt like an eternity of pain, he felt his body being laid down on something soft. The smell of
perfume assaulted his nose but the smell of blood was still present and more overbearing than ever.
perfume assaulted his nose but the smell of blood was still present and more overbearing than ever.
“What should we do?” He heard a female voice speak worriedly. He squirmed in pain as each voice
rang in his ears and made him let out another pained gasp or scream.
rang in his ears and made him let out another pained gasp or scream.
Seidoukan Auditorium
A few students were gathered around Hikaru’s form, most noticeably Arashi, Sylvia, Claudia and
Nestor.
Nestor.
“What happened to him, Arashi?”
“I don’t know. That guy said something about a gas or something. He’s hypersensitive due to that.”
Arashi shouted frantically, worry obvious in his voice.
Arashi shouted frantically, worry obvious in his voice.
It won’t stop. The pain won’t stop! Hikaru screamed internally while trying to get his mind to focus. The
voices which haunted him continued screaming louder and louder. Stop it! I didn’t have any choice!
I am not a monster! I didn’t choose to be a monster!
voices which haunted him continued screaming louder and louder. Stop it! I didn’t have any choice!
I am not a monster! I didn’t choose to be a monster!
“MONSTER!” “MURDERER!” “KILLER!” “COLD-BLOODED!” “HEARTLESS KILLER!”
“MERCILESS MURDERER!” “HEARTLESS MONSTER!”
“MERCILESS MURDERER!” “HEARTLESS MONSTER!”
SHUT UP! I AM NOT A MONSTER!
Eventually, his thoughts turned to words, making the people around him step back in fear involuntarily.
Eventually, the voices calmed down, receding into his mind but the pain remained.
He tried to use his Prana and shield himself with it, making him glow in a blue light.
“W-water.” He spoke hoarsely and a glass was pushed near his mouth and he greedily gulped down
the cool water.
the cool water.
He looked around slowly, making out the shapes of the people who surrounded him.
“A-Ar-Arashi, in the cart, to the right, there is a box of syringes. Bring me that box.”
“Alright.” He said and Hikaru recoiled in pain.
“And if you need to talk, talk slowly. My ears are too sensitive and it hurts.”
He saw the black-haired teen disappear after nodding.
Two pairs of hands supported him in sitting up. “Thanks, Nestor, Sylvie.”
A few moments later, a box was presented before him.
“I need some help. Inject this into my arm. 3 of them. My hand, forearm and wrist. Simultaneously. I will
lower the Prana on the count of 3.”
lower the Prana on the count of 3.”
When he lowered his Prana around his left arm, he had to bite his tongue to stop a scream from the
sudden pain that ran through his arm and the subsequent one as the needles pierced his arm.
sudden pain that ran through his arm and the subsequent one as the needles pierced his arm.
A few moments later, he covered his arm in Prana again.
“Now I see.”
“What was it that we injected you with?”
“Morphine. Enough to knock me out normally.”
“HUH?!”
“Don’t shout!”
“Sorry.” They replied, embarrassed.
“Due to my ability, my body metabolism can be increased for a certain period of time if I want to. The
normal time for humans to go without any sleep is 3 days.”
normal time for humans to go without any sleep is 3 days.”
“After that, they will have micronaps.” Claudia added.
“However, that is different for me. If I pushed myself and increased the amount of energy and
everything, I can run for 1 week without sleep. That thing you injected me with, it would knock me out
immediately for a solid 6 hours at minimum.”
everything, I can run for 1 week without sleep. That thing you injected me with, it would knock me out
immediately for a solid 6 hours at minimum.”
“However, it didn’t.”
“Based on what he said and what happened now, we can summarise two things. The gas is a
stimulant. And it also makes me hypersensitive.”
stimulant. And it also makes me hypersensitive.”
“Hypersensitive?” Sylvia asked.
“Extreme sensitivity, Sylvie. Example, I can hear everything that you can’t hear. And the sounds next
to me are amplified. You shout in my ear and it sounds like a big noise ringing again and again, like
the explosion of a bomb, in my ear. And that hurts me. Basically, all my five senses are amplified.”
to me are amplified. You shout in my ear and it sounds like a big noise ringing again and again, like
the explosion of a bomb, in my ear. And that hurts me. Basically, all my five senses are amplified.”
“Narukami, you forgot one thing. It also stimulates your mind and amplifies any disease or something
that you may have.”
that you may have.”
“That’s Kyouko-sensei for you, I guess.” Hikaru said weakly. “It is a stimulant. It will intensify my brain
activity. Normally, that won’t be a problem. However, due to recent events and due to the effect of the
stimulant, I can’t stop certain voices.”
activity. Normally, that won’t be a problem. However, due to recent events and due to the effect of the
stimulant, I can’t stop certain voices.”
“Voices? What do you mean… Nevermind, I got it.”
“Thanks, Arashi. However, I think I have a cure.”
“Cure?”
“If it fails, it will hurt like hell. If it works, the effects will reduce. To maybe half.”
“What is the probability?” Arashi asked seriously.
Hikaru didn’t answer and took a knife from his uniform jacket and positioned it at his left arm.
“Ok, here goes nothing.”
Him lowering the shield of Prana and stabbing himself occurred almost simultaneously.
A dull blue glow surrounded and he smiled slightly before suddenly screaming.
“Hikaru!” “Hikaru-kun, what happened?!”
Just as suddenly, the blue glow disappeared and he let go of the knife, slumping against the wall.
He was panting for breath and gasped out, “I am fine. Just hurts-Ouch- a lot.”
A fist found its way to the top of his head and he cried out in pain. “Ouch. It still hurts, you idiot! Don’t
go hitting me suddenly!”
go hitting me suddenly!”
“At least you are fine.”
“Yeah.” Hikaru answered with a smile but it faltered a bit. Fine? The stupid voices are even louder!
They won’t stop!
They won’t stop!
“But there’s a problem. I’m paralysed right now.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t move. Well, not make any precise movements. Say, how many days has it been since shit hit
the fan?”
the fan?”
“Um… this is the 4th day I guess.” Arashi answered, surprised by Hikaru’s swearing.
“So 3 days remain. That is partially good news.”
“3 days? For what?”
“3 days of food. After that, it goes back to starving.
The others’ mood dampened considerably and he said, “There is at least one good news.”
“What is it, Narukami? I can hardly think that there is any goo-”
“The number has decreased. And the students are not scared and tense anymore. Or they have
gotten good at hiding it.”
gotten good at hiding it.”
“Number?”
“The number of terrorists. I tried to sense the number of people they had. The number of people I
sensed about 1500, excluding the leader and his 12 personal lackeys. I killed 1400 of them.”
sensed about 1500, excluding the leader and his 12 personal lackeys. I killed 1400 of them.”
“Then it should be 100 only!”
“No.”
“What?”
“Nestor, remember. Whom did I kill?”
“Ah!” He let out an exclamation.
“That’s right. Pregnant woman. I can’t sense unborn people. So I sensed who were alive, even children.
And that means, they came in with 1500 people, including the children. Don’t count the babies. What
does that mean? It’s not 100, but more than that. About 170. And the leader plus lackeys.”
And that means, they came in with 1500 people, including the children. Don’t count the babies. What
does that mean? It’s not 100, but more than that. About 170. And the leader plus lackeys.”
He pulled up a map with his free hand and said, “Here. The locations are these. There are 170 of them
along with 13.”
along with 13.”
“Then if we try and restrain-”
“Don’t even try that.” Hikaru cut off Sylvia with a cold voice. “These guys. Since I became
hypersensitive, I also could control my abilities better and I could briefly manipulate the mana in the air.
I sensed the Prana in them. Adults. Genestella. They are trained killers. Can you go up against them?
Because there is one fact which cannot be disputed. Capturing someone and restraining them is harder
than killing them.”
hypersensitive, I also could control my abilities better and I could briefly manipulate the mana in the air.
I sensed the Prana in them. Adults. Genestella. They are trained killers. Can you go up against them?
Because there is one fact which cannot be disputed. Capturing someone and restraining them is harder
than killing them.”
“But-”
“Why do you think there is this order, ‘Capture if possible, terminate if necessary’ on high-priority targets?”
“A trial.”
“I don’t know whether I should call you naive or innocent, Sylvie. But I will go with innocent. However,
blind innocence will get you killed in Asterisk. A trial. Nope. If it is a person with a unique ability, they
will experiment on him. If it is a useless person, then they will execute him. If capture is impossible,
then they are killed so that they won’t be a threat.”
blind innocence will get you killed in Asterisk. A trial. Nope. If it is a person with a unique ability, they
will experiment on him. If it is a useless person, then they will execute him. If capture is impossible,
then they are killed so that they won’t be a threat.”
Sylvia looked a bit hurt by his remarks but nodded.
“Even me too, if I was required to restrain all 1400 I had killed, then I would be having some difficulties.
I would have to take care in not inflicting fatal injuries. Because my sole objective was to kill them, I
could attack without restrictions. But I digress. The price of food is 5 for 100. There are 170 of them.
That makes 3400. So, approximately one day. And the rest will be casualties.”
I would have to take care in not inflicting fatal injuries. Because my sole objective was to kill them, I
could attack without restrictions. But I digress. The price of food is 5 for 100. There are 170 of them.
That makes 3400. So, approximately one day. And the rest will be casualties.”
“How can you speak so freely that you killed them?”
“I can’t. Each time I remember that, it makes me almost retch. Makes me hate myself. Makes me
angry at myself. And it makes me disgusted. But there is no choice.”
angry at myself. And it makes me disgusted. But there is no choice.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise, Nestor. Even I am shocked that I am able to speak so freely like this about how I
killed them.”
killed them.”
“Say, Narukami, what’s the price of your Orga Lux?”
“Hai?”
“Your Orga Lux. The price for using it. Rin didn’t tell me what it is.”
“That’s the thing, Kyouko-sensei. The price of Narukami is different for each wielder.”
“Different? That’s the first time I’ve heard of an Orga Lux like that.” Arashi wondered.
“Mine is, in exchange for a temporary power boost-”
“Like that lightning beast armor?!”
“Yes. For a temporary power boost… kill something I hold dear.”
His ominous voice made everyone gulp uncertainly.
“Today, to summon that beast, I killed part of my heart, a part of my emotions… frustration.”
Suddenly, the door opened while a pressure bore down on them. Reaper stepped in with two of his
guards and walked straight towards Hikaru and his group.
guards and walked straight towards Hikaru and his group.
Suddenly, Hikaru stood up mechanically.
“What do you want, bastard?”
“You didn’t kill all of them, boy.”
“I didn’t? Of course, you made them kill themselves in order to kill me… so, let me ask you, how much
are your guards worth? I know that out of the 52 there, I killed about 32. And you obviously hold your
guards in much more position. So, how much are they worth?”
are your guards worth? I know that out of the 52 there, I killed about 32. And you obviously hold your
guards in much more position. So, how much are they worth?”
Suddenly, he was struck down and fell to the floor.
“It won’t work. So, how much are your guards worth, Reaper? Enough to compensate for some pawns,
or are they so useless that they aren’t even worth 20 of your pawns? Tell me, I’m dying to know.”
or are they so useless that they aren’t even worth 20 of your pawns? Tell me, I’m dying to know.”
The others watched as this scene played out, unnerved by Hikaru’s tone.
“Anyway, I am going to kill them. But I want to know, what is the price for killing them.”
“You think you can kill my executives, boy? My personal knights?”
“Knights? I don’t know what you mean by knights but I can kill them.”
Suddenly, a spinning scythe cut off the head of one of the executives and lodged itself deeply into the
wall.
wall.
“See?” Hikaru said with a sadistic smile. “It’s that easy.”
Reaper appeared a bit shaken and quickly turned around.
“Hey, what about the other guy?”
The said other guy quickly picked up his fallen comrade’s body and head and then glared at the teen.
“I will have my vengeance for Edward.”
“I will have my vengeance for Edward.”
“Sorry but you won’t. And tell your boss, if he annoys me too much, I may just kill him. Or worse,
reveal his identity.”
reveal his identity.”
XXXXXXXXXX
“Thanks, Sylvie.” Hikaru said as he swallowed a mouthful of curry. “And sorry for the trouble.”
“No problem. I am free anyways.”
Hikaru nodded with a smile as he was being fed by her. “But I do have a question though. How did you
move?”
move?”
“I used my technique on my own body. The one where I control people’s movements. But due to my
current state, moving hurts like hell. Since it was an emergency, I did it.”
current state, moving hurts like hell. Since it was an emergency, I did it.”
“I see.”
He laughed at the expression on her face and said, “You don’t understand, do you?”
“Mou… I don’t know about your abilities very much!”
“Simple. In the human body, there exist electrical impulses along with chemical impulses in the
synapses. And with my ability to control electricity, if used correctly, can be used to control the
synapses in the body. So I can theoretically control the movements of a person even if they are
unwilling. And I used that method and applied it to my own body.”
synapses. And with my ability to control electricity, if used correctly, can be used to control the
synapses in the body. So I can theoretically control the movements of a person even if they are
unwilling. And I used that method and applied it to my own body.”
Sylvia’s eyes were swirling and she looked at him with a blank face, making him sigh.
“Seriously?”
“You made it more complicated!”
“Fine.”
He concentrated on the mana in the air and said, “Sylvie, jump in the air one time.”
Without even knowing it, she jumped. “Huh?!”
“There. I demonstrated it. Now, you should eat too.”
“It’s alright. I am not hungry anyways.”
“Eat, Sylvie. If you don’t, I will have to control you and make you eat.”
Arashi was watching them while keeping watch on all the students.
At least he is calm or appears to be calm now. And Sylvie seems fine too.
“Fufufu… worried about the lovey-dovey couple, Arashi-kaichou?”
“Claudia-chan.” Arashi acknowledged her as she sat beside him. “Hikaru said that he is paralysed. But
he didn’t say anything about his mind. The voices he hears. Their leader said that he would be
tormented. But he appears normal to me.”
he didn’t say anything about his mind. The voices he hears. Their leader said that he would be
tormented. But he appears normal to me.”
“Perhaps… he was able to heal himself fully.” Or he is hiding it. Claudia finished the last sentence in
her thoughts and observed the subject of their conversation carefully.
her thoughts and observed the subject of their conversation carefully.
“What do you think will happen after 3 days, Arashi-kaichou?”
“First things first, no food.” Hikaru’s voice came suddenly.
“And the students will start to get uneasy then.”
“Hikaru, you understand what needs to be done, right?”
“Right now, I think I understand what needs to be done fully, Arashi. And that is simple. Finish
everything within 3 days. There are 170 people remaining. If I can heal within 1 or 2 days, then I can ki-”
everything within 3 days. There are 170 people remaining. If I can heal within 1 or 2 days, then I can ki-”
“Stop! We aren’t talking about tha-”
“Face the truth.” Hikaru said bluntly. “You saw the leader’s power. And the guy I killed today, that guy
was the weakest among Reaper’s 12 executives. And there is also the matter of Reaper himself. He is
far stronger than us. And we need to keep the executives occupied or take them out of the equation
completely. And that leaves the 170.”
was the weakest among Reaper’s 12 executives. And there is also the matter of Reaper himself. He is
far stronger than us. And we need to keep the executives occupied or take them out of the equation
completely. And that leaves the 170.”
“Can’t it be done peacefully? If we wait for the Stjarnagarm to somehow enter by the harbor block, then
they can d-”
they can d-”
“If we wait long enough, a chance will come? Someone will do it for you? That’s just self-justification.”
Hikaru said coldly to Arashi’s statement. “I know you don’t want me to kill anyone anymore. But I
cannot back down now. If I just stand back and watch, nothing will change. Change won’t come if you
don’t make it happen. And I will make it happen.”
Hikaru said coldly to Arashi’s statement. “I know you don’t want me to kill anyone anymore. But I
cannot back down now. If I just stand back and watch, nothing will change. Change won’t come if you
don’t make it happen. And I will make it happen.”
“Even if you lose yourself?”
“Even then.”
“Why?”
“Because I have many memories in this place and I won’t let it be destroyed. And for my own revenge.
He killed my parents and hurt those I cared about. And I will return everything to him, many times over.”
He killed my parents and hurt those I cared about. And I will return everything to him, many times over.”
“You will get hurt.”
“I am already hurt, Arashi. Mentally, I’m unstable. I can tell. All those voices. They won’t stop. Until I
have dealt with the deaths I have caused, I can’t be calm.”
As the two teens were having a heated but silent conversation, the two girls were talking about
something else, not hearing a bit of the other conversation. The two boys continued talking about their
own moral beliefs.
have dealt with the deaths I have caused, I can’t be calm.”
As the two teens were having a heated but silent conversation, the two girls were talking about
something else, not hearing a bit of the other conversation. The two boys continued talking about their
own moral beliefs.
“And you are fine with that?”
“I will spend some time in solitude. And you too won’t have to deal with the trouble of trying to defend
me. And once I come to terms with everything, I will see what I can do then.”
me. And once I come to terms with everything, I will see what I can do then.”
“I want you to know one thing.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Arashi. If you win in a Festa, don’t ask for me to be declared innocent. Even
if you do, the IEF will still send assassins after me. Until I prove my innocence on my own, there’s
nothing that can be done.”
if you do, the IEF will still send assassins after me. Until I prove my innocence on my own, there’s
nothing that can be done.”
Arashi quieted down as there was nothing that he could say to dispute Hikaru’s argument and said, “I
hope you know what you are doing.”
hope you know what you are doing.”
“Me too.”
XXXXXXXXXX
MONSTER! MERCILESS! MURDERER! KILLER! COLD-BLOODED! KILLER! MONSTER!
MURDERER!
MURDERER!
A blue haired teen was slumped against the wall and was trembling terribly, whispering, “Stop. Shut up.”
over and over. He closed his eyes and faces appeared in his mind, covered in blood and gore, pointing
at him while the voices grew louder and louder.
over and over. He closed his eyes and faces appeared in his mind, covered in blood and gore, pointing
at him while the voices grew louder and louder.
Someone make these voices stop!
No one could do anything as he held back all of his screams so as to not wake up anyone and
screamed internally.
screamed internally.
He spent a sleepless night, tormented by the voices he never wanted to hear and the nightmares that
he never wanted to see.
he never wanted to see.
In the middle of the night, Sylvia woke up suddenly, only to notice Hikaru trembling in fear.
“Hikaru-kun? Are you alright?”
She crawled over to him and tried to touch him. She recoiled as he was constantly leaking Prana,
shocking her.
shocking her.
“What happened, Hikaru-kun?” She tried to touch him again and grit her teeth from the shocks. When
she lay a hand on his shoulder, he slowly looked up. Bloodshot and wide eyes looked at her with fear.
His voice was hoarse as he whispered, “S-Sylvie…”
she lay a hand on his shoulder, he slowly looked up. Bloodshot and wide eyes looked at her with fear.
His voice was hoarse as he whispered, “S-Sylvie…”
She hugged him tightly while he tried to push her away.
“Stay away, Sylvie. I… I am a monst-”
“No! You are not a monster! Don’t talk like that!”
“Those voices won’t stop! They won’t stop screaming at me… no matter how much I try to block them
out, they…” He trailed off.
out, they…” He trailed off.
“It’s alright. It will be alright.”
“No! Every time I close my eyes, I can see them. All the nightmares I never wanted to see. My hands
stained with blood. You, Arashi, Claudia, Setsura, everyone I care about, dead. Killed by me! Those
voices, calling me a monster… I can’t shut them out. No matter how much I try, I can’t stop it…”
stained with blood. You, Arashi, Claudia, Setsura, everyone I care about, dead. Killed by me! Those
voices, calling me a monster… I can’t shut them out. No matter how much I try, I can’t stop it…”
After a few moments of silence, Sylvia then said in a slow voice, “Hikaru-kun, can you imagine a song?
I will sing a song and you try to imagine something you love.”
I will sing a song and you try to imagine something you love.”
“It’s useless, Sylvie. Everytime I close my eyes, only those horrific images appear.”
“Just try it once.”
In a low voice, she started singing.
“The two pairs of wings known as thought and memory, move around speedily run around…”
Hikaru’s eyes widened in recognition as he felt a familiar image form in his head.
“...hold the voice of the captive beloved child, pass the sea of clouds of the dawn…”
A familiar swing appeared in his mind along with the image of a beautiful violet-haired girl singing, her
violet eyes appearing to glow in the twilight.
violet eyes appearing to glow in the twilight.
“...ride on the wind of twilight, open guidance from the edge of dusk, the black servant of thought and
memory, come down before me and speedily show me.”
memory, come down before me and speedily show me.”
His eyes relaxed and he stopped trembling as the voices stopped and the horrific images were
replaced by the image of Sylvia singing as she sat on a swing at twilight.
replaced by the image of Sylvia singing as she sat on a swing at twilight.
His breathing became stable and he spoke slowly, “Thanks, Sylvie.”
“So who was it? Whom did you imagine?” She asked excitedly.
With a sleepy voice, he replied, “It was you. You were on a swing, singing, at twilight. You appeared
very beautiful in that image.” With that, he fell asleep, leaning on her shoulder.
very beautiful in that image.” With that, he fell asleep, leaning on her shoulder.
She blushed slightly at the close proximity before recalling his and her own words.
“I told him to picture someone whom he loved. And he pictured… me.” Her blush turned brighter as
she realised the implication behind his words. “And he called me beautiful too.”
she realised the implication behind his words. “And he called me beautiful too.”
She stole glances at the now sleeping teen before sleep overcame her as well.
XXXXXXXXXX
“Are you alright now, Hikaru-kun?”
“Yeah, Sylvie. I am fine now. I slept peacefully after a long time yesterday.”
“That’s good.” She said with a bright smile.
Hikaru clenched his fist tightly and then stood up. He slid into a stance before doing some shadow
sparring.
sparring.
“Woah… impressive.”
Hikaru frowned as he leaned against the wall, seeing no point in sitting again.
“Not my best day but it will do.”
“What will do?”
“Sylvie, if anyone asks, tell them that I will return in 30 minutes, 1 hour max.”
“Um… alright.”
As he walked towards the door, she suddenly called out.
“Hikaru-kun, be careful! And remember, you are not a monster! To me, you are someone I care about!”
“Thanks, Sylvie.”
As the purple-haired girl watched him leave with worried eyes, her face scrunched up in confusion as
she noted one thing. Why is his hair beginning to turn white?
she noted one thing. Why is his hair beginning to turn white?
Hikaru walked out while summoning his scythe. As he walked out the door, a few guns were trained on
him.
him.
“Don’t get in my way.”
With a twist of his wrist, six heads fell to the ground and the bodies followed shortly after. “164 left.”
In less than 3 minutes, 30 corpses lay on the ground near the auditorium door. Hikaru’s scythe was
dripping blood from its blade. However, not a single drop of blood was found on the teen’s being.
dripping blood from its blade. However, not a single drop of blood was found on the teen’s being.
“140.”
He suddenly disappeared in a burst of lightning while all the bodies disappeared as a black blur
passed by them.
passed by them.
“Damn, he’s going all out.” The black blur muttered to itself.
Meanwhile, Hikaru was on a rooftop and was standing over 6 corpses, glaring coldly at them.
“120.”
He disappeared in another burst of lightning and appeared on another part of the roof. Immediately,
bullets started flying at him and he let out a burst of Prana while converting the mana into lightning. His
own Prana amplified his technique and all the bullets stopped in the air.
bullets started flying at him and he let out a burst of Prana while converting the mana into lightning. His
own Prana amplified his technique and all the bullets stopped in the air.
“Die.”
All the bullets reversed their direction and flew to where they came from. Screams ensued as he
disappeared in another burst of lightning, trusting the bullets to do their job.
disappeared in another burst of lightning, trusting the bullets to do their job.
A minute later, Hikaru was standing over another corpse, blood dripping from the scythe in his hand.
He threw the scythe up as the sound of gunfire was heard again.
“Idiots.”
He slid into a throwing stance and then applied his Prana to the Manadyte of the scythe while
manipulating the mana itself.
manipulating the mana itself.
The scythe crackled with electricity and he threw it towards the gunfire. A blade of lightning formed
around the scythe’s own blade as it spun.
around the scythe’s own blade as it spun.
A few moments later, screams began and were cut off as the scythe cut through their flesh and bone,
spilling blood everywhere.
spilling blood everywhere.
“75.”
Hikaru then retrieved his scythe.
Heh, I guess I look like a grim reaper now, with a scythe and all.
With a small laugh at the thought and the mental image of him dressing in a black cloak and hood, he
continued his attack.
continued his attack.
He then jumped towards the middle school building, crashing through one of the windows into a
classroom.
classroom.
“Talk about an entrance.” He muttered to himself.
He then ran towards the stairs, looking as if he teleported from one place to another. Lightning danced
around him as he jumped up the stairs, going at inhuman speeds towards the roof.
around him as he jumped up the stairs, going at inhuman speeds towards the roof.
The door and a part of the wall was blasted apart as he slid to a stop before taking out his scythe. The
bullets flying at him did little to stop him as they were reflected to their owners while he continued his
dash.
bullets flying at him did little to stop him as they were reflected to their owners while he continued his
dash.
A few minutes later, he glared at a beheaded corpse and its head. He then looked at the college
building rooftop and started channeling all of his Prana into the scythe. The mana in the air started to
turn into lightning and danced around the scythe.
building rooftop and started channeling all of his Prana into the scythe. The mana in the air started to
turn into lightning and danced around the scythe.
After 10 seconds, he released the scythe towards the rooftop. Silence reigned as the scythe cut
through the air. Once it reached the solid stone, it cut through without any resistance without any sound.
through the air. Once it reached the solid stone, it cut through without any resistance without any sound.
Blood spilled into the air and the scythe wielder smirked.
He then turned towards the auditorium as the scythe returned to his hand. One could see a thin metal
wire connecting the scythe and the scythe wielder’s wristbands.
wire connecting the scythe and the scythe wielder’s wristbands.
He jumped down from the roof, crouching without any injuries, while an explosion occurred on the
college building rooftop.
college building rooftop.
With a smirk, he ran towards the auditorium while using Denko Sekka.
Using lightning to increase one’s metabolism and everything… if only I had this idea during training,
then beating Arashi wouldn’t have been so hard.
then beating Arashi wouldn’t have been so hard.
Once he reached the auditorium, he stopped at the doorway, hidden.
A few of the Void Order grunts had walked into the auditorium
They were toting guns and pointing them at a few of the students and teachers.
All of them had Prana surrounding them, mostly like a shield.
“Say, you trigger-happy idiots looking for me?” Hikaru asked from the doorway in a nonchalant tone.
Immediately, the soon-to-be-dead 10 idiots turned around, firing their guns at the doorway. Quite a
number of students screamed in fear.
number of students screamed in fear.
“Seriously? Bullets won’t work on me.”
Hikaru was standing safely at the door, all of the bullets floating before him.
Suddenly, Hikaru disappeared and reappeared behind the 10 Void Order grunts, his scythe in his hand
and blood dripping from it.
and blood dripping from it.
Ten heads and headless corpses fell to the ground at the same time as the bullets and Hikaru turned
around, swinging his scythe and twirling it before deactivating it, putting the Lux back with a twirl.
around, swinging his scythe and twirling it before deactivating it, putting the Lux back with a twirl.
Quite a few students looked at him with fear and apprehension. He ignored all the looks and walked
back to his usual place while a black blur disappeared with the corpses one by one.
back to his usual place while a black blur disappeared with the corpses one by one.
“0. That’s all of the grunts left.”
“Impressive.” A new voice said from the doorway.
Hikaru immediately turned around, his scythe back in his hand and glaring at the figure standing at the
doorway.
doorway.
A blonde woman with gray eyes stood at the doorway and was looking coolly at the blue-haired teen,
meeting his glare with cool eyes.
meeting his glare with cool eyes.
She suddenly appeared beside him.
“You seem to care about that little group of people very much. How about I show you a vision of your
hell?”
hell?”
She touched his forehead for a moment with her hand while she spoke and immediately jumped away
as Hikaru swung his scythe, snapping out of his shock.
as Hikaru swung his scythe, snapping out of his shock.
“Such a dangerous weapon… only a monster will use something like that.”
She disappeared as mysteriously as she appeared.
Hikaru suddenly fell to his knees, his scythe falling beside him with a clattering sound before he fell
forward, trembling like the night before.
forward, trembling like the night before.
He heard a mixture of voices calling his name before he succumbed to darkness.
XXXXXXXXXX
Blue-red eyes gazed into violet eyes. The purple eyes were partially shadowed by purple hair and tears
welled up in them. Suddenly, a sharp blade appeared out of nothingness and blood spilled everywhere.
A scream.
welled up in them. Suddenly, a sharp blade appeared out of nothingness and blood spilled everywhere.
A scream.
Everything faded to black before another image appeared before him.
Black hair shadowing blue eyes was dyed red while a sad smile was tainted by blood and the blue eyes
closed forever. Another desperate scream.
closed forever. Another desperate scream.
Blonde hair was stained with blood, while vibrant violet eyes, no longer vibrant but dull and lifeless,
stared back at him. A pained scream.
stared back at him. A pained scream.
Images flashed before him, all dyed red and stained with blood. Screams. His own screams echoed in
his ears as each image flashed before him again and again.
his ears as each image flashed before him again and again.
Blood.
Screams.
Lifeless eyes.
Silent words.
An apology.
Tears.
Laughter.
Sadness.
Anger.
Hatred.
Despair.
Madness.
Insanity.
Darkness.
Death.
He screamed loudly as his eyes opened. Immediately, a group of people were near him, trying to calm
him down.
him down.
After a few moments of struggle, he calmed down and looked around him. All the images flashed
before him again and overlapped with the faces of the people around him.
before him again and overlapped with the faces of the people around him.
He mumbled, “I’m fine. Just need some space. The backlash of Narukami.”
Everyone understood and dispersed, leaving him to think.
He trembled as he recalled the nightmare that refused to leave his mind.
Just what was that? Everyone died in my arms… everyone died and I couldn’t protect them?
No one except a purple-haired girl noticed his hair turning more white as he trembled. She moved a bit
closer to him, almost touching him.
closer to him, almost touching him.
“Sylvie, I need some space.”
“A-alright. Sorry, Hikaru-kun.”
“No. Sorry. I should be apologising.”
He spent a sleepless night as the nightmares haunted him throughout the night. Even if he kept his
eyes wide open, the images flashed before him continuously.
eyes wide open, the images flashed before him continuously.
He tried to raise a hand to his face but nothing happened. Weakness.
He felt weak. Unable to move. Unable to do anything. Unable to protect them.
Dull, lifeless, empty eyes stared at him. He tried to close his eyes but the cruel reality still didn’t
disappear.
disappear.
Their voices asked him, shouted at him. “Why didn’t you save us?” “Why did you let me die?”
“Why did I have to die?” “Why did you leave me to die?” “Why did you let us be killed?”
He clutched his head tightly while his heart started beating faster.
Fear. Despair. Darkness. Death. Blood. Kill.
Stop.
He clenched his fist tightly and closed his eyes, trying to take a nap.
“I’ll get some water.” He heard Sylvia’s voice and closed his eyes again.
Suddenly a scream reached his ears, making him open his eyes immediately and stand up.
Sylvia was standing with a sword to her neck, fear clearly visible in her eyes.
A rapier.
At the hilt of the rapier was a hand leading to a familiar face, with blue eyes shadowed by blue hair.
Hikaru almost growled out. “Celeste Ragris.”
“What are you doing, Celeste?!” Arashi and Nestor shouted in unison.
“Don’t come near me!” She shouted. “Everything was going fine. Everything was going according to
plan! And you!” She pointed at Hikaru with her free hand while putting the rapier closer to Sylvia’s neck.
plan! And you!” She pointed at Hikaru with her free hand while putting the rapier closer to Sylvia’s neck.
“Everything was going according to plan! Then you had to step in! You interfered! You humiliated me!
And you killed them! All the people whom I grew up with! All of them! And you killed my father! In cold
blood!”
And you killed them! All the people whom I grew up with! All of them! And you killed my father! In cold
blood!”
Each accusation made them look at the now shocked teen standing still.
“You are nothing but a monster! What will you do now?! Kill me?! Kill everyone here?!”
“Celeste! What are you saying?! He didn’t kill yo-” Arashi tried to say but was interrupted.
“SHUT UP! A monster like him! I can’t kill him! This girl! She is stupid! You are stupid! All of you, you
care about that monster! If I will be killed anyway, I will at least kill her!”
care about that monster! If I will be killed anyway, I will at least kill her!”
Meanwhile, Nestor was trying to slowly freeze both of the girls. However, it was too slow as he was
concentrating on not alerting any of them.
concentrating on not alerting any of them.
Hikaru meanwhile was in shock.
“Celeste! Y-you… you were one of them?” Arashi asked, mortified.
“YES! I was a honored member of the great Void Order! I was about to become Master Reaper’s
knight! And that monster destroyed my chance!”
knight! And that monster destroyed my chance!”
Hikaru meanwhile was shaking as an image overlapped with Sylvia’s form.
Blue-red eyes gazed into violet eyes. The violet eyes were partially shadowed by violet hair and tears
welled up in them. Suddenly, a sharp blade appeared out of nowhere and blood spilled everywhere.
A scream.
welled up in them. Suddenly, a sharp blade appeared out of nowhere and blood spilled everywhere.
A scream.
He muttered to himself, “Not again.”
He walked towards the pair, while his Prana was unconsciously summoned. The sheer force of his
Prana cracked the floor with each step while the mana in the air turned into lightning, surrounding him
and his hair stood up straight, as if spiked up.
Prana cracked the floor with each step while the mana in the air turned into lightning, surrounding him
and his hair stood up straight, as if spiked up.
“Don’t move!” The hysterical shouts did little to stop him.
“If you come near me, I will kill this girl!”
He suddenly disappeared, leaving cracks in the floor from the sudden power. He suddenly appeared
before the pair and moved at lightning fast speeds, taking both of Celeste’s hands and moving them
apart. With a twist, he threw her towards the wall.
before the pair and moved at lightning fast speeds, taking both of Celeste’s hands and moving them
apart. With a twist, he threw her towards the wall.
“Sylvie, go.”
She nodded and slowly walked back where Arashi helped her.
Meanwhile, Celeste stood up, glaring at the teen and released a barrage of wind blades at him.
Hikaru summoned his scythe and swung it. A blade of electricity overpowered the wind and crashed
straight into her, making her scream as she was electrocuted.
straight into her, making her scream as she was electrocuted.
“That’s enough, Narukami. Fandorin, freeze her. Except the head.” Kyouko ordered.
“Enough?” Hikaru repeated coldly, picking up the rapier that was discarded, rather, the rapier that fell
as her hands were damaged by him.
as her hands were damaged by him.
“I won’t make the same mistake again.” He suddenly threw the rapier. With incredible accuracy and
speed, it pierced Celeste Ragris right in the stomach. She screamed in pain as she was pierced by
her own weapon. The sheer force behind it stabbed herself and attached her body to the wall in a
standing position.
speed, it pierced Celeste Ragris right in the stomach. She screamed in pain as she was pierced by
her own weapon. The sheer force behind it stabbed herself and attached her body to the wall in a
standing position.
While everyone watched, shocked at the turn of events, Hikaru walked towards her, twirling the scythe
before deactivating it.
before deactivating it.
A gun materialised in his hand as he walked towards her. The temperature in the room seemed to
lower considerably as he walked towards her, his eyes becoming cold and almost demonic.
lower considerably as he walked towards her, his eyes becoming cold and almost demonic.
Lightning bolts stabbed her limbs, firmly keeping her in place while making her scream.
He pointed the gun at her and placed the muzzle right at her forehead.
“You are the mole. The one who is responsible for this. All this destruction. And this situation too.
Come to think of it, you were the one who called me a monster at the beginning. Tell me, if I am a
monster, then what about you? You betrayed everyone, the friends who cared about you, the students
who admired you. You betrayed everyone and dragged them into a mess that scarred them.”
Come to think of it, you were the one who called me a monster at the beginning. Tell me, if I am a
monster, then what about you? You betrayed everyone, the friends who cared about you, the students
who admired you. You betrayed everyone and dragged them into a mess that scarred them.”
His words were cold as he spoke. “And you made my life hell. Do you ever know what it feels like to
be tortured by your own mind? I can forgive you for all of this. I don’t care if you hurt me. That was a
mistake. Mistakes can teach you a lesson. And they will also teach you to regret your mistakes. Do
you regret this, Celeste Ragris?”
be tortured by your own mind? I can forgive you for all of this. I don’t care if you hurt me. That was a
mistake. Mistakes can teach you a lesson. And they will also teach you to regret your mistakes. Do
you regret this, Celeste Ragris?”
“Yes! I regret this! I apologise! I apologise!”
“It’s too late to regret anything. Reality just keeps on moving ahead cruelly. And even if you regret it, it
won’t change the situation. But what you did just now, that wasn’t a mistake.”
won’t change the situation. But what you did just now, that wasn’t a mistake.”
His voice turned even colder.
“The people I care about, trying to hurt them… that’s a sin. And for a sin, there is no forgiveness. Only
judgement. The judgement that I am giving you is…”
judgement. The judgement that I am giving you is…”
He slowly pulled the trigger.
“NO! STOP, HIKARU!”
“Death.”
BANG!
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