Act: 17
- - - -
Minutes passed by of Taku limping his way to the Guild. Upon arrival he stumbled by the front entrance, causing a small banging noise, knocking over boxes he thought could support him while leaning on them.
'I... Can't die now... I won't allow it... This small hole... Won't stop me from getting stronger... If anything, this will make me-'
*Bleh*
Blood splattered over the boxes as he coughed, feeling hazy and dizzy, almost collapsing.
"Blood?! How is this possible..."
Lifting his shirt, he noticed that the small hole widened out and became much worse during the time he was walking. Without noticing the ice melted and the hole gradually opened over time.
"Damn... I didn't even realize I was killing my... self. Even though my Ice was the only thing keeping me intact..."
"Help… Please… Anyone..."
Falling onto the ground and blacking out. Taku laid in front of the guild entrance lifeless without a muscle to move, and a pool of blood slowly formed underneath his body.
*Voowsh*
Standing off in the far distance, a dark robe figure stood by a set of trees, the same one who had talked to Hano earlier.
"Hm? Taku. You seem to be on the verge of death, this is my perfect opportunity."
Nobody was in sight and the dark-robed figure slowly approached Taku's withering body as more and more blood seeped.
- - - -
"I really am losing count of my days. What do you think, Mars? Can I break this rock before the Colosseum?"
"Howl?"
"No! I know better. I will break this rock before the tournament!"
"Howl...!"
Shizu inspects the rock, seeing that the progress he's been making is somewhat decent. Small dents scattered all around and a solid crack in the middle from when he struck it with almost everything he had.
Clenching his fist out of determination and a small smirk on his face, alongside Mars who looked happy. They were ready for any challenge to come their way.
"It seems that if I continue with the same dent I previously made? I can break this in no time! Anyways, Mars, let's go get some food. I'm starving. How about we try and find a huge animal this time?!"
"Howl!"
The sun was still up but it was a matter of time before the sun would set, Shizu and Mars went out for another run to continue with their daily training, with that in mind of looking out for a huge animal for dinner. Even though Mars would just sit and watch Shizu eat all the food for himself. Running back into the forest he decided to take a different path than usual. Exploring new areas that he may not have been familiar with, though his sense of direction and general knowledge of the forest had been getting better over time. He began to understand his routes much more without the help of Mars taking him back whenever he ended up getting lost.
Slowing down from running, he began to jog around instead to make sure that he could spot a good source of where the food could be hopefully something worth wild if possible and not another Giant Ant.
"No sign of any animal… Or disgusting insects… That's odd? Maybe I was better off with my usual route, at least I could've found food by now…?"
Time passed and not a single animal was in sight, nothing. Shizu went from running around the area and then back to jogging and running once more. He stopped for a moment and proceeded to walk away from pure confusion about where all the animals were. Thinking to himself that tonight's lunch may have to be herbivorous.
"..."
"Bark! Bark!"
"What now Mars! Uhh, I haven't done anything to upset you?"
"Bark! Bark!"
Mars left his side and ran off trail and into a darkened part of the forest where light barely shined.
"Wait Mars where are you going! That area doesn't look too pleasant! Wait! Come back here! We may be seriously lost if you go over there!"
Shizu chased after Mars running into the suspicious part of the forest that was oddly dark. With a little light dimming the pathway, something strange must be going on for this area to look and feel ominous. He tried looking for Mars but had no luck, he lost Mars and was nowhere to be found.
"Mars... Where did you go... Do I have to re-summon you... I can't, though. I won't even have enough energy to do so."
Before coming to the conclusion of re-summoning Mars, to the right side of him, a faint growl was heard.
'That has to be Mars.'
"Mars hold on, I'm on my way!"
Carelessly running and smacking branches out of his way he followed the direction of where the growl had been coming from before it vanished. Looking around anxiously for some clues, Shizu was greeted with a huge cave entrance to where the noise seemed to come from.
"Mars hold on, I'm on my way!"
Entering inside he saw the outline of Mars hunched into a fighting stance, taking on a group of giant rats and noticing that it had already taken down two on its own. Approaching Mars Shizu uppercuts one of the rats in the skull then grabs it and slams it into the cave wall crushing its head, which was attempting to sneak up on Mars from behind. Mars looked barking with joy to see that it was Shizu ready to help.
"Don't worry bud, I've got your back. So next time try to not get ahead without me. For now, let's just get rid of these nuisances, plus I'm not sure if I want rats on the menu…"
"... Although..."
Shizu dashed at the horde of rats blocking their way to get further access down the cave followed behind Mars going in for the kill. He punched each rat aggressively, dislocating its jaw from each punch. His training and how many times he's had to punch the rock seemed to be paying off because these rats stood no chance against the two of them. The Dynamic Duo or so?
Finishing up with the last of the rats, he grabbed it by the head seeing that it was trying to scurry away, and noticing how eager it was trying to escape, Shizu showed some sign of sympathy and gently set the rat down patting it on the head. The rat looked at Shizu before turning around and going deeper into the cave until it was almost out of sight. A splash of blood couldn't be seen spraying the dark air by them. In the meantime, he was looting and collecting some meat unaware of what had happened to the freed rat.
"Alright, Mars! Ready to explore this cave?"
"Howl!"
"Ok! You know, I'm really happy you found this hidden cave. Thanks, buddy."
Bending down he got to eye level with Mars, rubbing and patting its translucent face for a minute. Standing back up the two of them make their way deeper down the narrow cave. The rat that had run away was plunged into the cave wall as Shizu and Mars passed by; they couldn't even tell that the rat was there, the only thing that they noticed was the fresh puddle of blood under their feet and large footprints leaving a trail. Curious about where or who this mysterious creature was, they decided to follow the only clue that was given.
Outside of the cave entrance. A person in a dark robe outfit watched from afar.
"Shizu. I hope you like the little gift I gave you. I can't wait to see how far you grow my precious key. Just do not fail me. I wouldn't want to restart. Who knows how you're paren- Hm? How would they feel?"
"Heh."
*Voowsh*
"Do you wish to interrupt me."
The other dark-robed person appeared and kneeled.
"I'm sorry Master. I just came to report that we have now acquired the Fortune Star you asked for."
"Good. Thou shall return soon."
"Master if I may ask. Why don't you just get Shizu to join us?"
"Simple. He is special and incomplete. If he were to join us my plan for Rebiirth would fail. I must draw it out."
"? I don't quite follow, Master."
"We wait. Prepare for what will unfold when I finish. The days to come."
"Ok? Master? Anyways I will head back and wait for your return."
*Voowsh*
The dark robe person vanished and the only one left was the Master observing Shizu.
"I must thank you Hikaru for progressing my plans, bringing Shizu out here was perfect. Monster Forest is our spot. Sadly, I can't continue watching for now, after all, I have a Star to consume. We will meet again, Shizu."
*Voo-*
"I do hope you like the gift-"
*wsh*
- - - -
Back at the unknown building. The three dark robe people and the returning Master stood as they all observed the man with a bowl cut and brown colored hair with baggy eyes, known as the Star of Fortune.
"What the hell do you want with me!"
"I am your Master, and I will have you starting today join us. I know you must be aware that this is already going to happen."
The Star of Fortune looked around as he was tied up on a wooden chair observing his surroundings. Noticing a table and couch with chairs. The place almost seemed like a comfy living room with a TV and everything.
"Do you mind uniting me first? It's not comfortable and even if I try to escape, where else can I go with your lackeys who will eventually catch me?"
The Master put his hand to his chin thinking about the situation and what he said.
"Untie him."
One of the people came out from behind the Master and proceeded to untie him, slowly backing up towards Master.
"Now that you are free. I would like to make a deal. That would be you joining us."
"Hm? Just what is this group you want me to join and especially what's in it for me."
"Anything that you desire, with the power I can give you and if you follow me I can show you to a better world or even… You can do whatever you want with the strength and skills I provide."
"..."
Silence filled the air as The Star was thinking about his decisions.
"Interesting... What if I decline?"
"I hope you don't resort to that option. If that would be the case, then I will take what I need by force."
'Force... Just who does he think he is. Does he not realize I can predict the future and find a way out or I better yet could just kill everyone in this entire room, it's not like it would be that hard... After all, I am an S class Ranker.'
The Master chucked filled with joy.
"Do you think that would actually work? You shouldn't underestimate my strength. Go ahead- look for a future where you can escape. I will wait."
The Star looked back at the Master's covered face, wary of his true power and somewhat scared of how he would read his mind. Activating his Star, his eyes began to glow white with a faint Star appearing on his chest. Looking into the future he searched for a route of his escape that was considered successful.
"..."
"Impossible..."
The Star of Fortune dropped to the ground with his hands shaking. Gradually he looked up at the Master almost with mercy.
"I- I- Can't escape..."
Trying to force the words out of his mouth, he struggled deeply as for what he witnessed.
"What is that. What the fuck did you do to me… I died no matter what- not a single route worked. And! For whoever that was, your! Art! You're insane and fucked up!"
A woman's voice from across the room was heard laughing insanely before calming down.
"You mean to tell me that I was able to make art with you! Oh, why don't you try and run! I wanna see what art I make badly!"
A different dark-robed person walked over to her and booped her on her head.
"Shush. Master is at work, do not interrupt."
"Hmph! You should just go run back to that Hano boy!"
"What the hell did you say! Watch it-"
The Master turned over in their direction.
"Enough out of you two."
Turning his head back over at the Star user, raising both arms and he began to speak with a high and mighty yet evil tone.
"So, Star of Fortune. What is the path you choose."