"Are you okay, Kaz——Senpai?"
I am not, but I should be, so if I pretend I am it will be okay.
I will not run away from this war. Honestly, there is no choice but to wield the arms against everyone here. Even if I don't try to battle or kill the other candidates who are dragged into this war too, they will attack me or even try to kill me to survive here. I cannot lose. There are many people I want to live with! I am just human. I want to survive here. Survival here means victory and victory means another day to live. I hate this human nature but I have to embrace this nature.
"I want to ask you a question, Father Skorzeny"
Priest looked at Beatrice.
"At least, you treat me and call me father for the first time since I took you under my care, little child. I will answer any of your questions. Only one question to be precise, my child"
"My question is something that only you can answer. You already knew about my relic and what is its properties"
"Oh, the sword of flame which ignores one's defence and directly strikes upon the soul of your enemy. Damage is directly proportional to the amount of sins(killing) one committed in their life"
Priest smiled to himself. Why is he smiling like a creep? One cannot find what he is thinking behind that mask of smile.
"I used that sword against one enemy.....but, he wasn't killed in one hit"
He smiled.
"Was the opponent of yours, someone who is very old?"
"Yes"
He signed with a smile with his eyes closed.
"Beatrice, my child, you are still young and inexperienced. This is why you still didn't know full capability and potential of the magic you are using"
Now, this is what I call supernatural conversation. I wanna step into this conversation.
"What do you mean?"
"The magic we, the chosen ones of God, are using a special type of magic. It is the teaching of God to encourage us to learn the way of being Apostles and spread his Gospels"
"I don't think the God of yours will teach you to murder several innocence lives for meaningless war where there is no fruit to get"
"True. In general, this magic is way older than any religious concept. Whoever made this concept sure belongs to some sort of barbaric religion. Like Mexico and American tribe who believe in sacrifice to the God"
"I get it that the nature of this magic is based on some old style traditional ritual. But, how does this answer the question of Beatrice?"
"I am answering. Nowadays youngsters always speak before their elders. This is why this generation is not getting better. There is no discipline among the youths of today's era. In my era, everything was routine and disciplined. Back to the topic, my child, tell me.....if I pull one hair from your head, would it make any change in your body?"
"No"
"It is the same thing for the people who are going through the process of god. If I kill a person in a big city like Tokyo or New York. Death of a single person wouldn't be even noticed unless someone found the body and put civil codes in the case. This is the selfish nature of humans"
Beatrice stepped between us. It looks like she is feeling like she is being left out in a conversation which is related to her.
"Hey!! This is a conversation about me! My weapon also comes under the law of this magic! So, by this logic, he shouldn't be dead in one hit. Then why?!"
"You are still inexperienced, my dear. You don't know the true potential of yours yet. This is why you are only able to burn away stock of the souls that he collected. Once you become experienced in this magic then you will able to kill any sinner in just one hit"
He turned his back on us. He is now leaving from what I can say.
"Now, you kids should go away. This is the start of the war now. Lose or win. It depends upon you. As we all are chosen ones of God. Only one of us can survive in this war. It was just luck that 10 years ago, few people were able to survive the war. A miracle. Nothing more than that. Now, you kids can leave this church"
He left us alone in this large chapel in front of the altar.
I will survive! I will live! I refuse to lose, not out of fear, but——defeat is unacceptable. Thinking about defeat is the very embodiment of death. I have to survive.
"We should get along"
"I get it"
We left the church. The pressure which was built by the priest is gone. I am feeling relaxed. There is definitely something wrong with him. I had seen a supernatural being of higher caliber than him in terms of posture and presence, like he is a warrior, this is why his presence was that of a hungry monster. But this priest was a soldier. Then why?
The woman who called herself Divine Sword is waiting outside for us. She was standing firm like a warrior, her face had the glow of royalty. No fear. No cowardly expression. Pure determination and dedication.
"Where is my brother?"
My gaze goes around everywhere but these eyes of mine cannot find him anywhere.
"I cannot feel his presence"
So, Beatrice is not able to sense his energy. He is not here.
"Master, he left the place as soon as you went into the church. He was just a wretch. How dare that wretch doubted my blade to not be able to protect you?"
Thank goodness. He left. For an unknown reason, she hates my older brother like he is some sort of traitor or killed her family. If he had stayed a little more time then I think.....these guys would have split each other's throat.
"Let's go. You will see him again, Yus——Senpai"
After saying that, Beatrice starts walking.
We follow her. She is walking a little bit apart from us. Actually, it's because I have not bathed since before I was attacked. Maybe my chest is covered in blood and my pants are soaked in urine. Actually, forget the last words. It is a common reference to death. I am just joking. Don't take my words seriously.
"Beatrice. You are still a young girl. I don't want to kill you in this war. I don't wanna get into a battle with you"
"What are you saying all of sudden? This is a war. Are you thinking about saying those words, so I go easy on you? Who said that you will be able to kill me?"
"Not——I mean.....you kinda suck"
"Wha——"
Beatrice Alighieri is silent. Not because of the words I spoke to her but for a different reason that I will find soon. Her eyes widened as she was looking behind me.
"Are you done speaking?"
A feminine voice came behind me. I turned towards the source of the voice. The holy maiden who is Divine Sword looking at the enemy. She knows that the source of this voice is our enemy.
She has long, flowing black orange hair. Her eyes are a striking shade of red. She wears a white military style jacket with black trim. She also wears a white skirt with frills and a layered design.
I am thinking in metaphor but she got mother nature.....you know, the food source for the baby comes from, she is big there.
"Good new day, everyone who are present here"
From where I am standing, she doesn't look innocent. She is just terrible.
She is different. Her presence is different compared to the priest.
Should I cut her in half before she is able to do a shit?
Unlike me who is paralyzed in fear, Beatrice is standing like saying that our battle would be legendary.
"Sorry to be rude here. Nice to meet you even though it will be my last meeting with you guys here. I will you kill you all"
"Stay back!!"
Before I could react. Air trembles. Both of their fists clash into one point.
".....!"
I can see the expression of pain on the face of Beatrice. It can only mean one thing. The person she is facing against is a monster in disguise.
The enemy swung her hand but Beatrice was able to dodge her attack. But, the pressure created by that swing was enough to cut off the street light pole.
"Gelobt sei Gott——Wunder!"
A large amount of energy start to surround her. The fact is that, the energy which is concentrated at one point can be seen by anyone. It was not invisible. She was drawing the energy. It was not the energy of her own soul, nor it was the energy of the souls like the magic those monster.....and now, me, use.
A blast of light happened from that concentration. The light which was releasing blind my eyes. It can't be!
"Ahh!!"
I cannot see anything. All I know is that after the light, here comes, the sound of the explosion.
When the light down——
"What is this?!"
A monster. A true monster was standing now. Beatrice is nowhere to be seen. A crater had been formed where she was standing before the light devour her. Is she dead? Will I die like her too?
"What happened?! You don't like my form?"
The monster speak. This voice. It seems familiar like I heard. She was——
"You are that girl! You can turn into the monster?!"
"Hahahahaha!! I heard that you are the golden warrior?!"
"Golden what?"
Before I could understand anything. I feel weight. The golden divine sword is right now my hand. I am feeling different now. My mind is overwritten by the will of sword who will not allow me to accept defeat. Yes! I will win!
"I want to see if the great mighty golden warrior is strong or not!"
The girl in the form of monster laugh like a true demon.
Her face is skeletal and grotesque. She got glowing, sinister red eyes. Her long flowing red hair just gives her the most demonic appearance. Her upper body is muscular, she is not having any feminine appearance but a neutral monstrous form. Her pale skin is marked with some weird tattoos that you find in tribal clans.
"This is gonna be interesting"
She raised her two fists. She had let her guard down here. If anyone who is experienced and master of combat, he would take the advantage of this and instant death for her if the person is stronger than her in this monster form.
Without any warning, she threw a punch towards me.
"Ahh....."
Her fist closed my eyes. I can feel that my nose is broken. Hot sensation is coming. The feeling of flow of the hot red blood from my nose.
I flew from her fist. The impact of fist was so strong. I roll down on the road until my face tastes the dust of the road. What a strength she holds! She is just a woman! This is an insult if I cannot defeat her! I will win!
I can hear the footsteps. She is coming towards me. Noise generated by her footsteps is sending vibrations in my ears. I can only hear the sound of her footsteps. She grabbed me by my clothes. She lifted me high towards her monster face. Her mouth smelled bad maybe because she is in her demonic form.
"Where did your.....boobs go?"
Another fist. This time, she struck my guts. My stomach. I feel like the food that I ate this morning is going to come out of my mouth. But, this time, I am going to give her this pain back. I implant my sword into her hand.
"Damn! You sure.....hit harder, man!"
I was holding my stomach in pain.
"Oohhh!!"
My blade is stuck in her fist. Even though I had spilt her left fist, the power of impact was great.
Another attack happened on my face. The strength of her punch had sent flying again. The sword is in my hand. Before I was thrown away, I took out this sword from her fist. She is a monster right now. Both in appearance and in strength.
I get up from the ground. I am still holding my stomach.
"Wait! Hold for a moment, we still don't know each other and who you are and why are you trying to battle?"
She bow down her head for a second.
"Sorry to battle you here but you are the special case not only among the humans——even among the candidates chosen by God. Tale of golden warrior with the divine sword is very famous among the followers of this magic"
"Why is this case? What was the legend of this legendary golden warrior that everyone are speaking about? Why am I important piece in this war?"
"You are the most important. Legend of the golden warrior story tell us about that whenever evil rise then a hero, ultimate white will rise who wields the divine sword craft by the hands of God himself"
I laughed. I cannot stop my laugh despite my body is in pain.
"So, am I like hero who is destiny to kill the evil of this world or something?"
"There is more than this. There is a big rumor in the society of candidates and several theories. One of the theory states that the golden warrior is none other than the Devil. Many people thinks that the golden warrior, the hero who is worshipped in various form is just devil who comes to kill the candidate who is close to becoming God"
I chuckle. So, the main point is that——
"You guys want me dead for your future where you are God? Right?"
She nod her gigantic monster head.
"You know what, girly monster? I am completely healed now. Take a good look"
I point at my nose. It is healed. I recover from her damage.
She swing her huge arm towards me in a fist. I get it one thing now. I don't have to take the damage from her.
I dodge her punch. I am fast. My speed had increased than before. I slash her back. A deep clean cut I give to her.
"What happened? Feeling slow?"
She swing again. This throw the fist of her which I had already cut through. I blocked her attack with my sword. The sword again gone deep into her left fist. Solid! She didn't move an inch in pain.
She tries to punch me with her other hand. I left my sword digged into his hand.
"It would be not a fair fight if I let you fight without your sword. I want to see the true strength of the Golden Warrior"
She took out the sword from her left fist. She throw my sword towards me. Before the sword could hit me.....sword halt in its pathway. Just few inches away from my face. So, I got an advantage here. She cannot hit me with my sword. I am the owner of the sword. It will hesitate. Sword will hesitate. No, sword cannot hit me as she is bound to me.
I grab my sword and rush towards her. I don't know what my mind was thinking at this moment but in anger and crave for the hunger. I slashed her several times. Maybe ten or more than ten times I cut through her in that moment.
"You are stronger than I expected, my divine warrior"
"Huh? You think so? It is my second fight"
She is walking towards me. Her huge body is like tower compare to me.
She rise her hand. I also rise my hand in response to her.
"What do you want?"
She holds my my hand in my hand. What the fuck?! Monster X Me?! What is this shit?! I am not into these types of monster things!!
Wait.....this is not romantic scene. Wait a second, she is monster and I am Japanese!
She broke my arm. This is the grip contest. Her grip made my left hand useless.
"You got some——grip"
She grabbed my face. She starts to pin me down on the ground. My legs lost its strength. Her pressure is so strong! The force of strength she is putting upon me broke my legs. I am pinned to the ground.
"Guuhhh!!"
I was crushing into ground. My body collapsed under her giant mass. The force of impact was so strong which was destroying my body. I was sink into the ground.
What a disappointing. She forget to blocked me off completely.
I slash of her stomach in deep cut. I get out of the body of her.
"I thought that I am inexperienced here but you are the most. You let your guard down so many times. I could had taken the advantage of this from the very beginning but I am also inexperienced. Techniques are needed to defeat an opponent weaker than you but your magic strength is far superior to mine"
She is not getting up after that attack.
She is far stronger than me. You are thinking that I easily able to cut her. In reality, I was boasting my attack power several times so I can cut through her. In order to protect myself from her attacks, I was increasing my body to rock hard. In short, whenever she tries to attack me, I always increase my strength, defence and speed. Whenever she land a hit, I heal myself.
She get up from the ground. What a willpower!
"Are you two going to keep flirting with each other?"
Our eyes goes to one direction. There was——
"Brother"