The heel of Shinzo's slippers imprinted itself on the guard he just beat up, not allowing the poor man hold up. "Tell us where Aizawa went."
The guard glared at him. "I refuse."
Shinzo's slipper dug deeper, Paolo crouching in front of him, his smile with all malicious intent. "We weren't asking you a question; we were demanding an answer."
The guard considered the pros and cons and concluded the odds were not in his favor so opened his mouth to speak. "He went to the island with about a thousand men to start a coup."
"Shinzo…"
"I can take five hundred," Shinzo stated casually.
"Same."
The guard stared up at them in disbelief. "Y-you don't actually plan on winning."
The bottom of Shinzo's slipper seemed to take a liking to the disgruntled guard, digging even deeper on his back. "Do you really believe scum like you have a chance against me?"
The guard yelped, obviously not enjoying the bottom of his slippers as much as it did him.
"Shinzo, let's go."
Shinzo walked past the guard to Paolo while the king who had been watching the exchange quietly followed behind, staring at the back of the two boys.
.....
People stepped away from the sharp spears pointed in their direction, very adamant about avoiding confrontation. Aizawa walked pridefully down the square, his men following at a rhythmic pace.
Having none of his nonsense, Mikan blocked the middle of the road with Shoto and some of the island boys who held their own weapons.
"Aizawa, what is the meaning for this foolishness?"
Aizawa looked down on the elderly woman, her gray hair falling loosely out of her bun. "Move out of the way Tanaka."
She held her ground, her chin tilted upwards. "Or what Aizawa, what are you going to do?"
The advisor didn't bother with her taunt, snapping his fingers. The guards with him willingly attacked her, but Shoto moved in to protect his mother alongside the island boys.
Shoto showed anima prowess almost on equal level to his brothers, flexing his knowledge on the first and third form of anima. The guards attacking could hardly keep up with him, but the same could not be said for the island boys.
The island boys barely escaped injuries, having a hard time fighting the guards. Some pulled away when the reality of them dying hit home while others were lost of stamina, but fought as best as they could.
Aizawa watched satisfied at the havoc only for the smile to be wiped clean along with his air by a swift punch from a small, heavy pair of fists. His body crashed backwards into one of his men, blood dripping from his lips.
Mikan blew at her fists. "Just because I'm old doesn't mean I'm weak."
Shoto smiled,
Aizawa's face turned a startling purple, the vein in both his necks and head about to combust. He turned to his guards, pointing angrily at Mikan and Shoto. "Clear everyone in my path especially that damn Tanaka family."
They charged forward, but seized their movement when two figures landed in the middle of the two fighting forces. A ray of hope lit in the hearts of the islanders once they spotted their very own anima master. They had no idea of what value Paolo's existence held as he stood beside Shinzo, but they disregarded any ill feelings knowing anyone close to Shinzo was probably strong.
"Shoto, good job holding them back." Shinzo turned to his mother, his thumbs up approvingly. "Nice punch."
Aizawa froze at his appearance, trying to pieces what just happened. "How did you escape?"
"That doesn't matter all that does is that I'm going to kill you," Shinzo snapped.
Regaining himself the angry advisor turned to his frozen men. "What are you waiting for, get them."
They did as they were told, rushing forward with their eyes set on the two boys. Paolo and Shinzo blasted forward, kicking and punching them away. The guards just couldn't keep up, the strength of the two boys far surpassing their expectations.
Paolo and Shinzo's back's collided, the guards surrounding them.
"You better have my back, Shinzo," Paolo said.
Shinzo smirked. "Of course, captain."
They came attacking in full gear, Shinzo and Paolo just not giving them room to succeed. Two attackers came from each side of the two boys, but Shinzo took out Paolo's attacker the latter doing the same for his vice-captain.
In a matter of minutes, all the guards had been wiped out. Shinzo with his newly acquired stepping fetish, stepped on one of the defeated guards. "What a bunch of weaklings, I didn't even have to use anima."
Aizawa, not being the kind to accept his loss or as they call it being a sore loser, activated his third form. "You brats shouldn't get cocky, I won't let you win."
His body size multiplied and the arms of his yukata ripped apart, the muscles forming on his arm looking abnormal. "Let's see how you can beat me now."
Paolo crossed his arms in answer to his provocation, the golden glow from his eyes casting a shadow on his eye lids. Shinzo with the same glow in his eyes, clenched his fists and activated his Ferro form.
In a combo attack, Aizawa spiraled backwards, the concept of breathing becoming nonexistent to his body and consciousness fading into the realm of nothingness. Blood spurt out of his mouth, his eyeballs rolling to the back of his head and his body landing heavily on the ground.
"Don't compare your weak ass Ferro form to mine," Shinzo said to the body of the advisor below him.
"Shinzo, Paolo." The king alongside men clad in black suits. On the breast pocket, a badge of a compass with the acronym AG for the Adventurer's Guild rested on it. "I brought the…" the king trailed off, the sight of both Aizawa and his men startling him to the point that his reaction came out disjointed. "Oh wow, you did it."
.....
After the battle on the bridge, Paolo, Shinzo and the king watched as the guild carried Aizawa and his men away. Medics also arrived at the scene to heal the island boys who had been injured.
The guild head, an old man in his seventies, bowed to the king.
"We'll take care of the mess, your majesty. You can rest up, after all, it's our job to apprehend criminals."
The king shook his head. "I have rested too long."
The guild head nodded, turning to Paolo. "I don't think I've seen you before are you a new adventurer because you deserve a reward."
Paolo shook his head. "I'm an adventurer to be."
The guild head smiled. "Then I hope to see more of you Mr…."
"Paolo, Paolo G. Rigards."
....
Shinzo stared at the moon, the faint glow illuminating the porch he sat on. The day had been so busy that he didn't get the time to think about taking Paolo's offer.
"Can't sleep?"
Shinzo tilted his head to acknowledge his mother presence before looking away. "I'm leaving the island tomorrow for the first time ever, sleep isn't something I need."
"Well it's to accomplish your dream, so it can't be helped."
"I feel uneasy about leaving the two of you alone."
Mikan pinched his ear, his yelp satisfactory to her ears. "I'm not some weak old woman and you underestimate your brother's strength too much. We'll be fine."
"But dad…"
"Your dad wouldn't want you to waste your time here on this island when he knows you could be someone more than you are right now. Take the first step to your dreams, Shinzo." She smiled softly, stroking her son's hair. "You inherited your father's will, I know you can do it."
Shinzo leaned into his mother, her warm embrace putting a smile on his face. "Thanks mom, I needed that."
After a while, he said his goodnights and left the old woman alone on the porch. She smiled at the moon,
....
The sun peaked out of the clouds, signaling the start of a new day. Everyone on the island woke up to carry out their everyday duties as if the other day a coup had not been staged.
The same thing went for the Tanaka household, sitting in the small Tanaka dining room with omelet rice served for each person, except Shoto who headed to the dojo earlier.
"You boys should eat up," Mikan said after they said their prayers.
Paolo eyed the food skeptically before digging his spoon in. The tangy sweetness tingled on his taste buds, a moan slipping from his lips. "This is so good."
"My omelet rice is the best," Mikan bragged. "I don't make it all the time, but since you boys saved the island this is my reward."
Paolo grinned. "I am going to become the greatest adventurer after all." He then pat Shinzo's back "And now I have a comrade."
"Do we have any plans after this?" Shinzo asked. "The greatest adventurer has to have a lot of crew members."
Paolo nodded, pulling two pictures from his cargo bag. Two of the pictures had been cut out of magazines, one of the picture was of a girl with light brown hair and spectacles over a pair of gray eyes while the other was a girl with red luscious hair underneath a red witch's hat.
Paolo pointed at the brown haired girl. "This is Aline Bisset, adopted daughter of the late Alexandre Bisset of the famous Bisset family. She was featured in the East Sea cooking magazine and is known for her sword skills and cooking. Sadly. She hardly takes requests from recruiters because she is dedicated to her family's small restaurant in Alimas Island."
"Why bother with someone who doesn't even want to join?"
Paolo grinned. "Who doesn't like a little challenge? Plus, a cook who can fight is a major asset."
Shinzo sighed, pointing to the redhead. "What of her?"
"Luna Clarabon, the daughter of Dion Clarabon the famous cartographer. She's famous for saving Kartus Island numerous times and has experience in navigating small ships to near islands."
"Speaking of navigator, what's your plan for a ship?"
"After getting Luna and Aline, we're heading to Festus' Engineer's in Badeus Island to get a ship and also recruit an engineer."
"At least you have that planned out," Shinzo said, dropping his spoon on his empty plate.
Shoto entered the dining room. "Paolo, Shinzo, the ship is here."
.....
Mikan hugged Shinzo, the whole island awaiting their departure. "Go and become the greatest martial artist and when you do make sure to come back home."
Shinzo smiled. "Of course." He then turned to his brother. "Shoto."
"Shinzo." He gave his brother a pat on the back. "Don't lose sight of your dream."
"I won't." he turned to Paolo. "Shall we go?"
Paolo nodded. "Yeah."
Shinzo tugged at his heavy luggage, Paolo leaving him behind to check out the ship. After a stressful five minutes, the two now stood on the poop deck, waving their arms frantically as they stood on the poop deck.
"We'll meet again soon, everyone," Paolo shouted, the people below shouting their goodbyes. "See ya."
Tears welled up in Mikan's eyes as the ship revved into the action and began to sail away. She watched her son sail into the distance, a proud smile on her lips,
.....
Water from the cell ceiling dripped on Aizawa's skin, the ex-advisor not paying attention to the cold feeling on his face. His black hair cascaded his face, his eyes staring lifelessly at the ground.
Due to scarcity of guards, the Adventurer's Guild appointed adventurers to watch over the prison cells in the palace. Every five minutes, they would pass his cell before retreating down the dimly lit hallway.
Like he did every five minutes, he lifted his head to acknowledge the guard that had come towards his cell only for his eyes to widen when that was not the case this time. The person's face could hardly be seen, the only visible thing being his golden locks and his black cloak with a lion symbol printed at the back.
Aizawa immediately went on his knees, his head pressed to the cold hard floor. "I-I'm so sorry master."
"Aizawa, I gave you a job and you failed." The man appeared inside the cell, Aizawa's apologies increasing as he hovered over him. "Unfortunately, keeping you alive will hinder our existence." A golden glow poured out from his eyes, his arms outstretched to the trembling human being below him. "So die."