Ten days have passed and my True Recovery Mode was completed. I opened my eyes and felt someone in bed with me. I looked to my side and noticed Shira laying beside me. I slowly sat up and Shira made a soft sound then slowly opened her eyes. She noticed I was sitting up and she sat up and rubbed her eyes, smiling.
"Good morning.." Shira said.
I rubbed Shira's head then smiled back. "Good morning." I said then used my Crest of Magology to clean myself up and rid myself of an unpleasant aroma and give myself a pleasant smell.
Since I was out for ten days I wasn't able to properly clean myself so I used my Crest to clean my skin and hair thoroughly. I felt refreshed and ready to go. Shira got out of bed and went to get herself ready for the day as well.
I walked up to the main deck and noticed we had made it to Adristan. Everyone else had already left the boat to explore the Adristian Empire. I waited for Shira so we could go explore the Adristian Empire together. A few minutes went by and Shira hurried over to me. She smiled at me then I poked her forehead then we headed into the empire.
Adristan was a country full of powerful warriors who were skilled in different elements, mainly Fire. Adristan and Yggdrasil Woods were connected via the Infernal Caves the Adristian Empire had. Adristan also had the largest volcano in the continent named the Ember Volcano, in fact the Infernal Caves was located inside the Ember Volcano.
As we walked around, I accidentally bumped into someone. I looked at the person I bumped into and she looked up at me. The woman had a very mysterious presence. She had long black hair that stopped her back with two pigtails, her left eye was red while her right eye was covered by her bangs. I narrowed my eyes down and studied her figure. She had a thin figure with a medium bust. She wore a white button up shirt, black jeans, and black boots. I noticed a distinctive mark on the side of her neck and because of that I recognized her.
"You're...Misaki Catastrophe..." I said.
She stared at me with an expressionless, stoic face. "Shiryo...Ragnarok."
"You know her?" Shira asked then looked surprised when Misaki pointed her knife at me.
"I don't know why...but I find you threatening. I don't trust you so I will eliminate you to soothe my mentality.." Misaki said.
I looked at Misaki then looked at my hand. My body felt 100% restored so I was able to fight without any restraints. "Alright, I'll fight you."
"But you just woke up!" Shira said.
"It's fine. I'm sure this would allow me to warm up. Hey, there's too many people in the area. I want to fight where I don't have to worry about hurting anyone in the process." I said.
"I know a place we can fight. Follow me." Misaki said then walked off.
I looked at Shira and she looked at me. We followed Misaki and stayed a safe distance from her.
"Why do you want to fight me, Misaki? What makes me so threatening?" I asked.
"You are more like Shidao than you are Reina. Your destructive capabilities, the way you fight, you mannerisms in battle, the way you act. I can't live knowing history could repeat. That is why eliminating you would be the best choice possible." Misaki said.
I looked at Misaki then noticed her vanish. She appeared in front of me and kicked me away. I grunted and landed on one knee.
I stood up and dusted myself off. "Alright...Let's play!" I dashed towards her and vanished.
She looked around and sensed me. She attacked behind her, but I faked get out then turned her around and struck her stomach. She groaned and looked surprised. I kicked her and made her slide backwards. I ran ahead and flipped on one hand. I spun around as I kicked in a circle. She blocked the kicks and noticed me spring into the air with summersaults. I kicked downward and she blocked that attack as well, but took slightly damage on her arms.
"Heh.." I smugly chuckled and smirked.
Misaki looked confused then a clone of me appeared in front of her then struck her body. She grunted then I vanished, allowing my clone to strike her with consecutive strikes then knock her into the air. I appeared in front of her and hit her with a tornado roundhouse kicks then blasted her down to the ground with an energy blast. Misaki rebounded off the ground and landed on her feet.
"Had enough?" I asked then smirked.
'He's more cunning than your typical Ragnarok. He is using strategy instead of relying on raw destructive power. I can tell he's even holding back, he hasn't used a single one of his Crests. Granted I haven't even used mine nor my End Form. He's just that skilled in battle. Alright, I guess I have to use my eye to even come close to this guy.' Misaki thought to herself.
Misaki moved her bangs and opened her right eye, revealing a blue eyeball. "I'm getting serious how, let's see how you handle my Eye of Preflex!"
I looked at her then got into my battle stance. I dashed to her and went for an attack, but her perfectly blocked my attack. I tried to get into my defensive position but she used her Eye of Preflex to act seconds faster than me, striking me with a powerful kick. I grunted and slid backwards. She dashed ahead to me and I looked at her. She swung her knife at me quickly, but I dodged each attack and flipped backwards to create distance between us. I tried to tap into my Ragnarok State but she interrupted me with a roundhouse kick to the face. I groaned then she kicked me away.
I rolled backwards and recovered on one knee then I awakened my Crest of Tranquility. I stood up and entered into my Tranquil State. A silver aura surrounded my body and calmly flowed around me. In my Tranquil State, I was able to use 100% of my mental capacity and move freely without restraint.
'He's more calm...What's going on?' Misaki asked herself.
I dashed ahead and vanished. She used her Eye of Preflex to predict me, but I outpredicted her then kicked her in the air. I jumped from tree to tree to reach her and kicked her down to the ground then shot an energy ball at her using my feet. Misaki grunted as she hit the ground then noticed the energy ball and moved out the way.
"He's so calm. I've ever seen him so calm before.." Shira said in awe.
I landed on the ground and looked at Misaki. I ran to her once again and slid forward, knocking dirt into the air. I jumped up and kicked dirt in her right eye, forcing her to close it thus deactivating her power. Misaki groaned as dirt got in her eye. I knocked her into the air then trapped her inside of my Field of Nothingness.
"Void Seal." I said then balled my hand into a fist then an explosion happened in the air.
Misaki fell to the ground, defeated. I reverted to normal and looked at Misaki. Misaki slowly sat up and I used my magic to get dirt out of her eye.
"You lose, you have no reason to fight me anymore. Just know...If I wanted I could've killed you." I said then walked away. "Come on Shira."
Shira nodded then followed me. She looked back at Misaki and got an off feeling from her. She stuck close to me and held onto my arm.
We made it back to the main city of the Adristian Empire. Shira and I walked around the city and tried to find our friends. We spotted Gideon, Freya, and Esta then walked to them.
"Hey." I said as I walked to them.
"Ahh, finally awake sleeping prince?" Gideon smiled and crossed his arms.
"Yeah." I nodded.
"It's nice to see that you're awake finally, also hey Shira." Freya smiled.
"Hey!" Shira smiled.
Esta got an off feeling and noticed Misaki behind me. "Uhm...who's she?"
I looked back and noticed Misaki. Shira squeaked as she noticed her as well then hid behind me. She caught up with us rather quickly. I noticed her cold expression, but something was different about her.
"Misaki." I said then she looked up at me. She wasn't expressionless anymore. Her eyes had a shine in them, a shine that meant she was lovestruck. It was all in the way she looked at me, her innocent lovestruck eyes, the way her lips parted...
"She doesn't seem dangerous, but she's...looking at him in a way that's unsettling." Freya said.
I grabbed her shoulders. "Misuki!"
Misuki snapped out of her trance and her face went back to expressionless and stoic. "Yeah..?"
"You followed us..?" I asked.
"Yes." She said in a cold tone.
"Why?" I asked.
"You've peaked my interests. My dad briefly spoke about you, saying how you were Shidao's son. I assumed you were like him, but in our battle...you were a different fighter than him. Like you said, you could've killed me...but you didn't. That means you've got feelings for me." Misaki said.
"What..?" I asked, confused.
"Huh?!" Freya asked in shock.
"What the hell is she talking about?!" Shira asked, surprised.
"Another competitor..?" Esta sighed.
"And just when the little competition had calmed down.." Gidoen chuckled.
"You're touching me right now...You have feelings for me.." Misaki said.
I quickly removed my hands from her shoulders then touched Gideon's shoulder. "Look, I'm touching Gideon, but that doesn't mean I have feelings for him. You're getting the wrong idea here."
"Yeah! You're getting the wrong idea bucko!" Shira puffed her cheeks.
Misaki looked at Shira. Shira got chills and gripped my shirt. Misaki looked back at me. "Is she your sister?"
"Yeah..?" I answered.
"She's a lovely woman it seems. I sensed it in our fight that she wanted to help you when I awakened my Eye of Preflex. It would've been find if she did. I can sense your unbreakable bond with her." Misaki said.
"Thanks?" I said.
Misaki walked away.
"Okay, that was fucking creepy!" Freya said.
"Alright, let's just get our minds off it for now alright?" I said then looked at them. "Where's everyone else?"
"Serafina wanted us to wait here while she got permission from the Emperor of the Adristian Empire for us to see him." Gideon said.
"Master!" Mika tackled me into a hug from behind.
I grunted and looked back, noticing Mika then smiled. I rubbed her head and her tail wagged slowly. "Hey, Mika."
Serafina walked back to us along with Aaron and his crew. She noticed me and on the inside was happy that I was still alive, but on the outside she kept playing hard to get. "Glad you're still with us, Leader. Would've sucked if you were dead."
"Aww~ Did the Princess miss me?" I teased.
Serafina blushed and had an irritated look on her face. "Now I wish you had died! No I didn't miss you, idiot! I was only concerned because you're the best asset to our team, not because I missed you!"
The tsundere side of her was as clear as day. I chuckled at her outburst then decided to stop teasing her.
"Anyway! We're allowed to go to the citadel to see Emperor Avant. He's more interested in speaking to you, Shiryo so move your ass so we can get back to the castle!" Serafina said then walked off.
I smiled at her then looked at Gideon and the others then walked ahead, following Serafina to the citadel.
Fujo and his army made it to the Yggdrasil Woods since that's where a few people have reported King Icas and his army going. They walked into the forest and noticed it was already conquered by King Icas and his army.
"Look at all of these worms...pathetic insects plaguing the sacred Yggdrasil Woods. Don't stand in my way!" Fujo bellowed and summoned our grandfather's legendary spear.
An enemy knight noticed Fujo and his army then blew a horn signalling an attack.
"Kill them all." Fujo said then walked forward. "Make the enemy suffer."
Both armies bellowed and charged forward into battle. Fujo rushed ahead and blitzed through the waves of enemy knights with zero regard for their lives, killing them out of vengeance and in cold blood.
"All men attack their leader!" A general commanded and the knights charged at Fujo.
"Fujo..." A voice spoke to Fujo in his head. "Let it out..."
"Let's all see how long you last!" Fujo smirked and his eyes shined a dark red. He dashed ahead into battle and his dark aura surrounded his body.
"Fujo!" Blake yelled.
Fujo killed the enemy knights one by one and an Evil Crest shined on his hand. The Crest of Yin shined on his hand and Fujo embraced his malevolent side that he's hid for all this time. The side he controlled for the longest time with the help of his father and grandfather.
"Fujo..." Blake said as he knew there was nothing he could do anymore. Fujo had already accepted the darkness within.
"I've got you now!" A general bellowed and stabbed Fujo's left eye.
Fujo groaned then chuckled and laughed. He smirked as an arm made from his dark energy formed and grabbed the general. He took the general's dagger from his eye and tossed it aside.
The general grunted and groaned as the dark energy hand began crushing his body.
"You don't deserve to live...for as long as I'm still standing, I'll avenge my family...by killing you worthless specimens. Lowly worms don't deserve life!" Fujo yelled and crushed the life out of the general then the dark energy hand dropped the general's lifeless body. Fujo then stabbed the general's chest with his spear and glared at him.
The Yggdrasil Woods was conquered with Fujo getting the most kills. Fujo looked at the sky and blood streamed down his face from his left eye.
King Icas forced Titania and Rosenea to guide his faction of the army to the Infernal Caves. "Hurry the hell up! We've got to be there before those clowns get there first!"
Rosenea grunted as she was pushed by Erin to keep walking. Rosenea used her Crest secretly to call Yewwood from the Temple. King Icas and the others heard a roar and Yewwood leaped from the Temple to their location and landed in front of everyone.
"The Guardian I see..? Heh...well we have a bit of time to kill so we can go ahead and destroy you!" King Icas said then summoned his claymore.
Titania used her wood magic to break Rosenea's chains. "Go Rosenea! Run! Run as fast as you can and don't look back!"
"But what about you?!" Rosenea asked.
"Don't worry about me! You're more important! Just know that I'm always with you..." Titania smiled at Rosenea.
Rosenea looked at Titania then ran off before Erin could catch her. She had tears in her eyes and she called upon a moose then hopped on its back and the moose pranced off quickly.
"Ahh...Playing savior for the Descendant of Yggril huh? Well that will cost you greatly." King Icas said. "Kill her."
Raicho unsheathed her katana then looked at Titania. She impaled her with her weapon and Titania grunted loudly then lowered her head and smiled softly. This angered Yewwood and he roared with rage gaining a rage boost and the four ghosts boosted his power even more.
"I'm sorry, Rosenea..." Titania said before dying and dropped to the ground.
"Raicho, Erin. Pursue Rosenea. Bring her back to me alive." King Icas said.
"As you wish." Raicho said then vanished. Erin warped away.
King Icas looked at Yewwood and got in his battle stance. "Time for you...to die."