When does our futility end?
Is there really a moment where the actions we make are no longer futile, where our actions have relative to exponential meaning to the world around us. Is there a point where our words reach the ones we love, a time when we have the strength to preserve through even the most death defying odds. I wish that case happened often given the strife everyone endures nearly every day of their existence.
However, without futility and experiences that come with it, one cannot build character and become truly stronger in mind and body.
A man known throughout the land as Dante Astaire, the prince of death lead this through and through as he started his life in futility, despair and envious of others in his war stricken world.
"This is the hall of the Hansmen, every single hansmen to date has been recorded and portrayed in some way through this hall. This man here, Dante Astaire, he's a ancestor of mine who's known as the father of this country and the hansmen secret police unit."
"I see.."
I looked around the hallway and continued to see more and more portraits, tomes even. All of which displaying either adventures, exploits or scenes within hansmen history. Above all else it seemed to have dated back nearly two and a half millennia. It was a surprise that all of this survived for that long without being randomly destroyed and demolished with how destructive and crazy just one hansmen was.
Another thing that stuck with me was the fact Uriel said that Dante was his ancestor and that he was the father of the country and the hansmen. Connecting a few dots I realized some crucial information. Uriel is the spoiled bastard prince I've heard so much about, the one that got invited into the family because the eldest died in a recent succession battle by an unknown power. Consequently he ended up being the only qualified candidate left for the crown along with having the talent and sufficient technique to continue advancing in his separate time as an adventurer from a young age.
Typically no one in the public has seen his face for quite some time and generally wouldn't be able to tell let alone figure out that he's the leader of the hansmen since they are in essence a secret police unit separate from the government punishment.
Despite this he's fostered a appearance outside the country as a cruel and vile adversary known as a courtier of death and requiem. I envy the day I'll get the really cool vague nickname hinting towards what my powers might be. Something really ominous and spooky would be cool. Something sending chills through your spine everytime you heard my name.
I'll get there eventually.
"And that basically sums up the entirety of how the hansmen were founded."
"What."
"I explained in great detail each of their exploits and how the hansmen became a signature force to be reckoned with despite only being a band of misfits, convicts and outcast. Essentially setting a precedent on how later Hansmen members would be chosen."
"yeahhh.. the ending really got me yknow..—"
"You weren't listening at all were you..?"
"No, not really.. lost me at the first name you said to be perfectly honest."
He stared dead into my soul with nothing but disappointment and regret.
"You're honestly my biggest concern and you bring me nothing but disappointment, I hope you know that."
"I know, so that's why In our next training session which is around 3 days from now I'll surprise you with a Chordatta application worthy of being within the hansmen."
"Pipe down, I honestly doubt anything you give me will truly surprise me."
To be honest I was genuinely about to shit my pants cause I was still shocked at their reaction from the first time I used Chordatta in front of them and they just gave me a dry applaud as if I was a toddler giving them poorly made macaroni craft to hang on the fridge but they need to feed my little child ego so I don't grow up depressed when in reality I'm actually perfectly conscious and aware of their reactions.
"Ignoring your blatant attacks at my person despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, I've got to ask you about sacred arts. I noticed more so recently I'm capable of doing things far better, and extremely proficiently, more so than before whenever I use sacred arts. My chordatta has seemingly gotten better when I used sacred arts to endure my training. I just need to know if there's any general connection between using arts and Chordatta.. ?"
"Well, I'm glad you caught on. I would've abandoned all hope if you didn't catch on by the end of the week.."
"What..? Explain real quick to me, I'm genuinely very slow."
I expressed the dire utmost confusion as I didn't know what he meant. He was being vague again and I didn't like it.
"Putting in terms so a simpleton like you can understand but still complex enough so you can slowly build up your comprehensive abilities."
This asshole is calling me stupid.
"Sacred arts was the starting point of all things, distinctive to each and every person as we'd all eventually get it upon engaging in battle, training one's mind, body and spirit. Connecting with yourself and whatever method you might use to fight and survive. It's sacred in the sense you won't just get it right off the bat nor is it easily accessible to someone weak. It's basically your life line when you're in battle. Sacred arts have been using to part seas, divide countries and grant people the ability to win wars in a matter of seconds due to their arrival. The raw power sacred arts holds is unfathomable but due to the fact the farther you progress, the stronger you get people inevitably stop after a certain point since they feel there is no longer any point in improving since they've hit that point. But..— there were and still are individuals who continued to improve as the properties sacred arts holds keeps you youthful and consequently leave you as an untouchable existence.."
Taking all of this in I still didn't full understand but figured it had to be some sort of prelude to the main point. I waved towards him to get to the point and he ended up showing visible irritation to my insensitivity. I proceeded to flip him off as a result but he ignored it.
"Probably around the same Dante Astaire and his band of hansmen assembled for the first time, a calamity occurred and magic was born among a reclusive tribe. Their secrets spread slowly as various cliques and societies fell within nights because of the threat magic posed. How it even came about? Stretching the limits of Sacred Arts, searching for truth through arcane means known only to wizards and mages usually being a epiphany of sorts. I'm not too sure on the details but it's said that they were all bloodlusted with the genuine intent on wiping all out that stood in their pathway for truth. Thus started the first cataclysmic magic conflict, Dante Astaire and his band of misfits prevailed against this force and ended up saving hundreds of not thousands of lives, conquering their land and much else resulting in the creation of the province. The few survivors of the opposing side ended up going to the bayards or the wizarding country Alexzandryl. Now it was almost a century or two later before the next magic conflict occurred and chordatta was born as a result by sages in the mountains hoping to bring a end to this blood thirsty conflict. The same way magic was created by stretching the limits of sacred arts in search of truth, chordatta was created using magic as a prerequisite some would say but only to oppose it. In reality, it's a mystery how it was even created in the first place. No real records exist for it, nor did anyone at the time have a real understanding on what it could've been used for.."
I sat and listened in awe hearing about this worlds history, the terror and fear that must've occurred to bring it to the point it's at right now.
"Uriel, how many magic conflicts have occurred in total?.."
"Around 9, the longest one lasted around 247 years before finally being resolved. It started as a bloodthirsty war and fizzled out into a Cold War to starve countries and end societies from within. And the most recent one stays in the mind of those who's lifespan ranges longer than your average humans given it was only 150 years ago yet it lasted for 30 years."
Goku could've stopped it in one day..
"It's sad to hear that, but thanks none the less."
"Hm, I figured someone as culturally inept as yourself needed a little lesson given your clear lacking in fashion sense."
"Hm..?"
I looked down and saw I was wearing the same clothes I was brutally murdered in, My sweat pants and sweater. It's really my only memento of being back home since the clothing everyone wears makes me feel like I'm in a episode of game of thrones or I'm a contributor to a 1700s documentary.
"Yeahhh.. fashion in my country is just a tad bit different you see.."
"To each their own I guess."
After that we departed and I headed out the door to wander the courtyard before I went into town. I had to have a quick moment to myself before checking out what's going on in the city now that I figured out there's a core connection between how I use sacred arts and Chordatta.
Almost the same moment as me exiting the building I encounter an eccentric green girl, her face was familiar and instantly my face started to sting in a nostalgic sense. She was the one who pimp slapped me several times in a row asking for money. And right next to her was someone loathed and detested, Selene. Of course in golden dick glory, he looked at me with a look of detest. Clearly he didn't like the fact I was even here and very easily expressed that with his whole body language changing. I tried to look away in a attempt to just back away from the situation only for the green one to fidget towards me in my direction as if she was going to slap me only to stop abruptly. Of course I flinched as a natural response cause I genuinely didn't wanna get hit by any of them ever again.
"DUDE, STOP BEING SO SCARED HAHAHA! you can't seriously be a hansmen candidate if you're getting frightened by a little slap?.."
"Zel. Pipe down, I'd rather we not spend any more time conversing with this filth than we have to. Just knowing I ran into her today makes me wanna burn the clothing I'm wearing, I'm breaking out in hives just being near her. This executable waste of sperm should kill themselves right now."
"Then we skull fuck their corpse..?"
"Bro what.."
"Sorry the voices were talking to me again..—"
"You concern me sometimes Zel but then again you're scary to other countries because of this."
What kind of comedic act was this, I'm kind of just imagining some 1920s laugh track plays in the background while they look towards a camera smiling and chuckling to signal the crowd as if they're "in" on the joke. I just gave them a awkward smile before trying to sneak away from these weirdos
"I don't know what you think might be going on, but everyone in the hansmen don't even acknowledge to—"
"Let me stop you right there Selene, it's funny you assume I even care that I'm in the hansmen, or that I even care about what any of you think. As far as I'm concerned, you're all just a bunch of childish, immature pricks without any real adult supervision. So if you don't get your golden glitter dick ass out my face right now you pissant, you know what.. it's a waste of time just talking to you."
I had to leave right then and there since any further conflict would've definitely gotten me a bruising with one of them. And right now, I don't wanna have to fight any of them until I've gotten my chordatta down to pat.
"That little shit. I'm gonna split her body in half one day out of pure rage, some how some way."
I heard that, all that's in my mind now is fear and determination to make sure I get stronger than Selene.
After some time I finally made it into town given the location of the hansmen headquarters is rather strange location wise. It's a floating island hovering over a large abyss relatively 2 kilometers away from the town. The thing is however, once you reach a couple meters away from the headquarters it completely warps and turns into a regular scenery of land as if nothing was really there to begin with. It's genuinely a peculiar thing, and to make sure I don't get lost or forget how to get back, I was told the headquarters is exactly North of the town gate.
I was only going to the town since there was a abandoned building scouted out a few days into my arrival to this world. It stuck out to me as not much foot traffic went near it, typically it's perfect for anything I wanted to do away from the public eye and probably the hansmen eye at this point. Going through various pathways and finally breaking a piece of wood on the side of the building I squeeze through and make it into the dusty warehouse or abandoned building. I can't exactly tell what it is only that I was about to stay in here for training until I've gotten everything down to my own perfect degree, where performance was at its peak 24/7.
I dressed down partially since I didn't want my mementos to get ruined, it was then I realized my body was rather toned. I wasn't just kinda thick but borderline anorexic, I had some muscle forming. I'm just going to assume this was the results of my gift from that god deity thing or simply the gains of hard work and grinding. Either way I admired myself for a bit before going straight into setting up my training area.
I set up 3 boxes at a distance while standing at the very end of the building for practice one. I'd see if I could use my application to create a technique allowing me to cast it outside my body. And really, before I get into that I'll just say right now what my application will be.
Literary devices.
You might be confused, but it makes perfect sense to me
In fact, allow me to explain my first victim.
Personification - the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.
I'll be using Chordatta to emit human characteristics to the box, now how I'm going to do that is the biggest concern. I'd figure I'd focus on the human emotion or construct that I want it to convey while using chordatta.
I'd wave my hand towards the box in a anime like nature as if I was going to shoot a beam towards it or perhaps lift it with my mind. Instead; I started at it intently with hopes of my idea actually working. Consequently I'd be met with the mental image of myself looking like a dumbass realizing that it wasn't working out.
It actually just dawned on me personification wouldn't work for the idea I have in mind currently. The box itself would start walking towards me and pick me up randomly. But that's not how it works. Usually it'd be like, 'the box sat there menacingly in the corner of the room'
In that same instant I heard creaking.
I looked slowly towards the box as a humanoid figure was in place of it. It was around the build of a masculine boy but it held no face and only faced my direction. It freaked me out from how otherworldly this was but then it hit me this whole world is otherworldly. I approached it with caution as it continued to watch my movements but not doing anything, only sitting there with its knee propped up and arm resting on it.
Maybe, personification only works under certain prerequisites instead of it just being making things do human actions on whim.
"How do make this thing to stop is the main though, it's kinda just freaking me out."
I kinda just waited it out and after a minute or two it slowly crept back into being a box.
I stepped back a bit before thinking carefully, my initial idea on how using literary devices immediately came crashing down as I realized there's innate prerequisites that my own mind is placing instead of just letting me do whatever I want. I'd have to figure out a way to circumvent that in the future but as of right now I'm kind of stuck.
I'd move down the list and hit 'hyperbole'
I've actually got a better chance of using this in battle compared to any of the other literary devices.
This only being because hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. In rhetoric, it is also sometimes known as auxesis. In poetry and oratory, it emphasizes, evokes strong feelings, and creates strong impressions.
As a figure of speech, it is usually not meant to be taken literally. The use of this ability can make literal meaning of whatever hyperbole was used. Except, that's just what I expect and hope to happen.
Now, going off the basic assumption id have to verbally enact or preform the ability kinda weighed on my conscious. It seemed rather corny. I'm just gonna hope that after a while I'll be able to execute the technique without having to say it.
"My strikes bear the weight of the world?"
My first didn't feel any heavier but when I went to go strike the box the entire thing shattered on impact.
Immediate success, I was dumbfounded at how well that worked. Generally confused at how well it worked, almost worked too well. Anyway, with that working the way I want I'm gonna move onto the more versatile option which is guaranteed to bring results.
Simile's.
feel as if these will be my most use and probably the spam likely option in the future.
That's only due to how they work, similes are a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind.
Typically used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox ). And because of how I'm going to be applying my chordatta, it'll be even more literal than the way hyperbole is applied.
"My breath was as cold as ice..—"
I exhaled and let out a distressed sigh only to see frost forming on nearby objects. I blew as hard as I could upon this realization and saw the scape of the area around me surrounding in a rather white and bleak blanket of ice and frost.
Joy was only one of the things I felt knowing how successfully executed this was. I wasn't concerned about how cold it got, nor did I care that I basically destroying the environment I needed to train. Actually, I should find some way to fix that.
"The room warmed up again like spring coming?.."
Flowers began blooming from under the frost as things began to warm up. The entire room started to defrost from its previous snowy state which was caused by myself. I'd bring my attention back to the back to the boxes which I was practicing on prior.
I'd need one more attack based command in order to get the wrap up on today.
"My attacks are like Thor's hammer."
My eyes became serious as I stepped back slightly and planted my feet. The ground crackled before me as I rounded up my fist and pivoted my body ever so slightly. I could hear a storm brewing outside but that didn't distract me. I dashed towards the box at a speed that the human eye wouldn't be able to perceive, a clap and crackle followed behind me which would only echo throughout the city for an unparalleled amount of time compared to that single moment.
The box was atomized from how it was previously. nothing remained but the faint ashes from my strike. Lightning crackled faintly off my body as I released the tension from still being in a striking position. With the success of that, I knew I was ready to take Uriel on during training in the next 3 days.
The one thing that dawned on the back of my mind would be how I'd use my ability granted by that person?
Those three days passed probably just as fast as well, every douchetubers upbringing and downfall. Actually, it probably passed just as fast goku's "warmups" before going straight into super Saiyan blue.
Id make my way to the training field rather confident given I made some initial improvements to how I'd counteract Uriel or even go about fighting him. But it was then I realized I know literally nothing about his powers, how his abilities work or what method of fighting he uses.
"Alright you little imp, ready to be schooled. Gonna show you how I'm the leader of all the misfits and then make you fight one of the misfits."
"Wait huh..—"
I stood at the opposite end of the training field while Uriel and another figure stood at another. Uriel stretched a bit releasing whatever tension he had before jumping up and down. Behind him was a what seemed to a be a timid boy who had to be roughly my age or at least a little bit older. He appeared to he confused on why he was there. I felt bad for the dude, if I was gonna be fighting him then he's definitely going down after a few punches when I'm done with Uriel.
I pitied him.
I stretched a bit before finally getting the gist of the entire situation.
"So Uriel? Mind telling me how this session is going down today..?—"
"Firstly, you'll be fighting me so you truly gauge where you stand among the hierarchy of power which is the hansmen. That way you'll just be working yourself from the ground up to be a proper asset to us since you not only posses the qualities of one gifted in chordatta but magic as well."
"I see.. and who's that behind you?.."
"Him? That's Luci, he's around the same age as you I think.. he's probably the weakest hansmen right now but my most promising candidate in succeeding me."
"I thought I was the most promising?"
"You're more likely to wipe all of us out, if anything he'd be here to stop you if things go awry since I doubt the others would be able to handle your raw potential."
"I see, your flattery is appreciated none the less.."
"You know I was just calling you a— you know what's nevermind. Do you want me to come at you or are you gonna attack me, the result is already decided either way."
"What do you?.."
"I've already won you see."
The look in Uriel's eyes was serious, there wasn't a single utterance behind that. I can confirm that much at least.
He'd wave his hand around the area before casting a field or film of some sort. I'd just assume it would make sure the destruction caused by our little thing wasn't permanent.
I'd figure with that I'd take it upon myself to attack first, using a simile I'd pick up some rocks and threw them as hard as I could at him.
"Those rocks are flying like meteors."
With that in question multiple meteors ruptured from deep within those small little pebbles, seemingly beyond my own expectations but I couldn't say the same for Uriel's.
Sliced downward with refined precision the meteors were immediately parted and out of their way. I figured I could knock out two birds with one stone but that wasn't the case.
"I'm glad you're determined today, disappointed you're trying to kill us both but it's whatever."
"It's comments like that make me wanna send another meteor at you."
"Ehh..—"
I picked up a stick, gripped it slightly.
"This stick is strong just like Excalibur.. on top of that my skills, intuition and experience like that of a masters."
The moment those sentences ended and the words were brought into existence, the stick transformed from the bottom up into a sword beyond anything this world has ever seen. In legend, Excalibur is a holy sword wielded by only those worthy enough to draw it from the stone it was encased in.
The entire sword was faintly white with gold embroidery and highlights. It was an extraordinary blade with features that put any regular sword in shame, it was a great sword like no other. Just one swing from it sent a gale of wind so sharp the ground before it split in half. Everything around it trembled and crept, light was all that came from it as intentions opposing the users would be wrought down by its wrath.
"With my will alone, this sword will bring you down."
"I'd like to see that.."
I'd plunge into a stance and dash towards Uriel only for him in response to draw his own blade which was decorated slightly. His caped roared brazenly as he soared towards me, my sword raced towards him only for his to do the same. A flash of light came and followed my blade as the impact of our two swords caused a massive shockwave. He didn't hither or flinch but pressed on, he'd follow up to use the impact to jump back and follow up with another attack going slightly under.
I'd find myself just a bit shocked with his quick response, clearly he has the experience of battle which has led him to this decision but with the power I've claimed for my own. I'd bring down the sword to counter him, pouring my strength into it a great aura surged from it. It roared ever so vibrantly as the force generated pushed Uriel back.
He hopped back a bit before waving his hand outwards, he had a smirk on his face before he got even quicker than before. Anatomical lightning of sorts surged from off of him from his sheer speed. He'd send a barrage of attacks towards me where I'd be receptive enough to counteract each of them. The fact I had kept up this much meant that the power Excalibur had wasn't for the sword alone but for the wielded to access as well.
I'd plung the sword towards him in a straightforward fashion like a javelin while he blocks it by pivoting his body to the side and letting Excalibur glide along his blade. Sparks flew from the impact as he brought himself closer to me before punching me square in the face with the force I've never felt before.
A gust of wind followed as I was sent flying and Excalibur along with me. It flew out my hand as I was brought to the end of the training field. Uriel simply tread closer. I called the blade towards me to return because any weapon I have should be able to fly back in a really cool manner.
"EXCALIBURRR.."
It flew back in my hand in a blinding flash just fast enough so I could counter Uriel in time. As far as I could tell Uriel wasn't using any sort of holy or enchanted weapon. It was honestly a surprise he'd be able to have a weapon withstand all of this blunt force from Excalibur.
Finally I'd pick up another stick nearby, and I'd call upon another weapon.
"A stick with power just like Thor's hammer, Mjölnir!"
"Mi-what now?"
The stick transformed almost instantaneously into a hammer like figure, the weight was more than what I expected. Lightning crackled from it as I could physically feel both the power from Excalibur and Mjölnir simultaneously surging throughout me, I wrung the hammer and threw it with all my might towards Uriel.
He was sent a distance away before he pivoted the hammer away from him and escaped its path. I called the hammer back to me before I started throwing my weapons in rapid succession and calling them back after impact was made. Each time the hammer made contact a wave of pure lightning followed as a result, consequently striking Uriel. Excalibur sent pure waves of light and raw power towards him, promptly beating him into submission but something bothered me.
He easily deflected each time they came towards him, in fact he seemed to been getting stronger with each strike.
It was only that I had to figure something out, I'd used my eyes and activated the 'divergent' ability in order to see what was really happening.
All the energy after each hit was transferred right to him.
Uriel's Sacred Arts Technique
—Belphagor—
• any electrical or magical energy to make contact or get within the vicinity of the user is consequently absorbed and converted into a processable energy for the user.
•objects or ideas without form are slowly broken down before the user and absorbed.
- applies to constructs, concepts and abstraction
After figuring this much out I realized I've been feeding him this entire match as Excalibur feeds pure raw energy into every attack to overload one's senses. I was confused on why nothing I tried worked or why he could still stand in the first place.
It wasn't until I sent Mjölnir once more before he caught it with his hands and deflected it with his sword. His whole body was swarming with energy and it was equally circumventing through the sword as if it was a extra body part.
The rate Mjölnir was flying towards me I could even react properly before getting hit with it. He'd dash towards me as a follow up and hit me on the top of my end with the flat end of the sword knocking me for a bit.
I didn't realize how futile all my attempts were until the very end, in spite of how strong I thought I got. It was really for naught, but I was still impressed by the fact I caused craters in the ground with just swinging my sword.
Perhaps my futility was clouded by my ignorance until the last moment.