My left elbow successfully hit the asphalt. It hurt like hell. The sound of the wall collapsing still echoed around me, as well as the thick smoke and dust still rising, making my vision blurry and difficult to see.
"Arga!"
My eyes immediately rounded and shocked when I saw Arga's body lying motionless a hundred meters away from me. His head was covered in blood from hitting the boulder beside him.
"Argaaaaa!"
A loud crash sounded so close, causing debris and also the road to split. I immediately backed away as an axe stuck into the asphalt just two steps away from where I was.
Alright, now what?
I couldn't control my increasing heartbeat. Witnessing the chaos that I had only experienced in my entire life, why was this happening to me?
I stared straight ahead at the puff of dust that was shrinking, leaving a field that had been destroyed. Even the three-meter high wall that flanked the alley in front of me was no longer there. But that wasn't the most frightening thing, it was the three figures that were now walking slowly towards me.
The girl had gotten up again, her clothes and appearance were not as clean as before but it could be said that there were no scratches on her body. Even though Arga's attack hit her hard. Then the two-meter-tall man seemed to be carrying a boomerang on his shoulder. While the man with a stocky body raised his hand while saying something. And miraculously the axe that was stuck on the asphalt pulled itself out and flew quickly back to its owner. The man swung his axe for a moment and then immediately put it behind his back.
"Come with us Kazo! The king is waiting for you," the girl exclaimed as she stared intently at me. She had already put away her weapon as if trying to negotiate without a fight. I was still frozen with a confused face and uncertain feelings. I still don't understand this situation, all of a sudden they appeared, made a mess, then Arga who could release power like the wind and now they invited me to come with them.
"Who are you guys? What do you want?"
The girl took a step forward while shaking her black hair. "My name is Glara. An Arlo of the Aryan Nation born in Agni City. A soldier of the Loka kingdom who faithfully served King Rodra. After twelve years of searching for you, you finally showed yourself. I didn't expect the Locana family to hide you in a place like this."
"What are you talking about? And what were you looking for me for?"
"You don't know anything about yourself? So that man you call father didn't tell you anything?" Glara's voice sounded mocking. "Alright, let me tell you. Your name is Major Hiroki Kazo, son of King Hiroki Aiken and the last descendant of the noble Hiroki family. We are looking for you because of King Rodra's orders because you are the key and the only person who can open the Hiroki gate, the last gate in Porta Loka."
I obviously couldn't hide my surprise. That girl had just said some nonsense about the kingdom and claimed that I was a son of the King. She even bragged about keys and gates that I didn't understand at all. Was I going to just believe her?
"What nonsense are you saying? I'm the King's son and what else. Look, my name is Major Locana Kazo and I have nothing to do with the world you're telling me about. You have the wrong person, so leave!"
I didn't want to waste any more time because Arga's condition was quite severe. I walked slowly to where Arga was still motionless.
Before I could reach Arga's place, a big blow hit back around Arga. Making Arga bounce even further away with worsening body injuries.
"Argaaaaa!" I shouted while running over to Arga. I saw that the tall man had just slashed his boomerang. He made his shots miss to scare me into submission.
My blood was boiling, how could they attack someone who was not moving?
"What are you doing? Stop bothering us!"
"If you're neither stupid nor deaf you should understand what I'm telling you. Follow us and you'll find out how special you are," the girl explained again. I couldn't contain my anger anymore. I could see Arga's eyes closed with a big wound on her head.
Why can't I even protect my brother? Am I really this weak? If I am strong and special like that girl said why don't I have any strength? Even now I look like a crazy person hoping to gain impossible powers.
I suddenly felt a chill swirling around me. I looked around and stared at the three figures, what else would they do now?
But this cold felt more and more piercing until I saw my palm which suddenly appeared white and blue crystal grains like a layer of ice. I widened my eyes, it was impossible but it was happening to me. Until I realized that the cold didn't come from anywhere but from myself.
"This is impossible!"
I was stunned as I continued to stare at the layer of ice in my hand that kept swirling as if waiting for an order. Was this something special that the girl had said? If this power was indeed given to me, perhaps this was the right time for me to seek answers for my own life and also protect the people I cared about.
I stared at the three strangers who were also surprised by what had happened to me. I gripped the layer of ice tightly until it turned solid. A strong vibration could be felt, along with a strong gust of wind hitting my face.
And when I opened my eyes, a sword nearly ninety centimeters long was clutched tightly in my hand. I was still staring in disbelief at the heavy object in my hand with a black hilt and a shiny blue-white blade that looked sharp.
"This is amazing!"
But my awe was only temporary as an explosion hit right where I was standing. I saw that the stocky man had just swung his axe, causing the street to split again.
"You've been able to awaken your Vimal power," he snapped in a hoarse, harsh voice. The tall man and the girl took a cautious stance and immediately drew their respective weapons. Honestly, I've never touched or used a sword. But I knew that swords were used for slashing and cutting.
"I don't know who you are and what you're doing to me. This life I live is my own, and if I have another destiny let me seek that destiny and truth on my own. So... Get out of here!"
I shouted as I swung the heavy sword with all my might at the three figures standing there. A chill ran through me, and I never thought what would happen if I swung the sword. Maybe just a small slash, that's what I thought. But I was surprised myself when my body was instantly bounced away because it couldn't withstand my attack.
A strong gust of speed formed a sharp blade made of ice coating from my sword. It struck with a roar at the three figures that were there. The sound of explosions echoed each other and devoured the surrounding buildings and ground.
Chunks of earth and concrete turned to ice scattered around each other carrying flakes of ice and snow as well. The ground that was hit by the slash of my sword formed a large, overhanging hole.
I was still frozen in place, sitting on the edge of a large hole that resembled a crater. I stared wide-eyed with my body trembling. What had just happened? Did I do all that?
I didn't know. Because the next thing I knew, the whole scene turned completely dark.
Continued...