I emerged into a city that was virtually unrecognizable. The once vibrant Kyoto was now a broken shadow of its former self, the aftermath of the "Soulburn" event brutally evident. Cars were strewn haphazardly across the streets, abandoned in the chaos. A commercial airliner had crashed into one of the skyscrapers, the wreckage spilling onto the streets below.
As I navigated through the desolate academy, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. This was my home, the place where I grew up, learned, and lived. And now, it was on the brink of annihilation.
The silence was deafening, the usual hustle and bustle of city life replaced by an eerie quiet. I could see no signs of life, no survivors emerging from the wreckage, no emergency services rushing to the scene. It was as if the city had been swallowed whole by the disaster.
I pressed on, my senses alert; my Oull detection was never as heightened as this. I could feel the flow of Oull around me, pulsating with life and energy, even amidst the destruction. At least this indicated that there are in fact people still alive.
And then, I felt it - the powerful Oull signatures I had detected earlier. They were close. Too close for comfort.
Steadying myself, I realized the intensity of the signatures were growing rapidly. They were coming closer... moving at a breakneck speed. I strained my eyes, searching for any visual sign of the approaching entities.
Just then, a deafening boom echoed through the desolate land, like the sound of the air being ripped apart. Instinctively, I ducked behind the closest wreckage, my heart pounding in my chest. The ground beneath me shook violently, a shockwave of energy rippling out from the point of impact.
Peeking out from my makeshift cover, I tried to make sense of the situation. A plume of dust and debris was slowly settling, revealing the source of the disturbance. My breath hitched in my throat as I took in the scene before me.
A figure emerged from the settling dust, shrouded in an enigmatic, shifting veil of shadowy mist. Its height was imposing, exceeding that of any human I'd ever encountered, a full foot taller than the tallest person I'd seen. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but it was clear that this entity was far from human.
The dark mist that enveloped it seemed to be in a constant state of flux, churning and swirling around its form in a dance that was as captivating as it was unnerving.
Its silhouette was subtly distorted, as though it wasn't entirely solid. Its limbs were unnaturally long. They tapered to fine points, reminiscent of razor-sharp blades rather than fingers, adding a threatening edge to its already unsettling appearance. It was a sight that was as fascinating as it was terrifying.
Just after the creature's arrival, the air split with an explosive force, a sonic boom echoing across the devastated cityscape. My eyes shot upwards, tracking a rapidly descending figure from the sky.
"ARE YOU DONE YET, PIPSQUEAK?"
The voice was thunderous. As it echoed off the crumbling buildings, the figure slammed into the ground, right on top of the creature.
The figure was a behemoth of a man, his towering frame packed with muscles that rippled under a skin as rough and unyielding as weathered stone. His hair, was wild and untamed, dark with streaks of green. His eyes, a piercing blue, glowed with a ferocity that matched his loud yell.
His attire was reminiscent of a battle-hardened warrior, a blend of traditional and modern armor that spoke of countless battles. Strapped across his massive torso were dual weapons that were not constructed of any usual material, but rather, of an extremely dense and solid manifestation of Oull.
The rough, unrefined appearance of the Oull gave them a violent, elemental look, resonating with raw power. These weapons looked far too heavy for a normal man to wield, but in his hands, they appeared weightless.
Before he could land another blow, a strange, pulsating sound reverberated through the air, akin to a vibrating hum. The alien figure seemed to vibrate with this sound, its form shimmering and distorting.
In an instant, a powerful force emanated from the creature, sending the massive man hurtling through the air. The force of the impact was so strong, it was as if an invisible hand had swatted him away. He crashed into a nearby building, the structure groaning under the impact, debris scattering around. The dust cloud from the impact billowed out, obscuring my view of him.
The alien creature, meanwhile, slowly rose from its previous position, its form seeming to solidify once again after the powerful expulsion of energy.
As it rose, it turned to face my direction. Its gaze, if it could be called that, locked onto mine. A deep, guttural robotic voice, resonated from it. The words it spoke were slow, deliberate, carrying an ominous weight.
"You...Ishtar...Kill..."
The creature's words were cut off abruptly as a blur of movement caught my attention.
The man, who had been flung into a nearby building moments ago, was now a speeding bullet, his trajectory aimed straight for the creature. In mid-flight, one of his Oull weapons morphed, its form swirling around his clenched fist, augmenting the power of his impending strike.
He collided with the creature with the force of a freight train, his Oull-infused fist landing a devastating blow that sent it hurtling miles away. The creature's form vanished in the distance, swallowed by the city's ruins. The resulting shockwave from the impact rippled through the city, shaking the rubble under my feet.
The dust settled, and the man, standing tall amidst the debris, spoke.
"That should keep him busy for a while," he said.
He paused for a moment, cocking his head to the side as if listening for something. "Come on out, little lady," he called out, his tone authoritative yet non-threatening, "I know you're there."
I emerged from my hiding place, dusting off bits of debris from my clothes. I approached the towering figure cautiously, meeting his gaze with steady determination.
"Are you.." before I could finish my question, he immediately spoke as if he knew what I was going to ask.
The man's grin broadened, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He struck a dramatic pose, his voice taking on a theatrical tone, "Well of course! I am the one, the only, the unstoppable force, the immovable object, MAUGA!" he paused for dramatic effect, then flexed his right arm, revealing a large, bold number three tattooed onto his bicep, "The Third!" His proclamation echoed through the desolate streets, a spark of life amidst the devastation.
So this proves my hypothesis with the professor, the human signatures were indeed that of the Arcanas, and the other signatures were likely of other creatures just like the one he was just fighting.
"Wait!" I blurted out, my voice echoing in the desolate city. "What's going on? What was that... that thing? Is everyone okay? And what about the golden aura that appeared?"
My questions hung in the air, my heart pounding in my chest. The joviality in Mauga's eyes faded slightly, replaced with a hint of seriousness. He gave me a long, hard look before responding.
"Whoa, slow down, kiddo!" He held up a massive hand, chuckling. His tone, despite the situation, was light and somewhat teasing. "One question at a time, please. "
The reality of the situation loomed large, and my concerns remained. The creature... it was unlike anything I had ever seen.
"What was that thing? It's not human... nor is it anything I've ever seen," I pressed on, my gaze intense.
Mauga's expression turned thoughtful, "Well, you're right about that. Not your typical neighbourhood stray, huh?" He gave a rueful laugh. "Those things, we're not entirely sure what they are, but they're the reason we're in this mess." He gestured broadly at the destruction around us.
"As for the golden aura, that was the eighth's doing. A barrier put up by her to slow down input and output of foreign Oull of every human on the planet. It's not perfect, but it bought us some time."
As he explained, my mind reeled.
"But what about the others, what about everyone who just vanished..?"
Mauga's jovial demeanour faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "Kid," he began, his voice heavy with regret, "We did what we could. But the truth is... we were caught off guard. The same way everyone else was. We've faced numerous threats before, but this is like nothing we've ever faced before. We couldn't possibly have predicted something like this."
His words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the tragic reality of the situation. My mind ached at his words, but I knew he spoke the truth. This was a reality we had to face.
As we spoke, a chilling sensation crept over me. A powerful surge of Oull resonated in the distance. My gaze turned skyward, and there it was, the creature was back, hovering menacingly in the sky, a sinister aura swirling around it, radiating an intense bloodlust that made the air itself feel heavy.
Mauga's playful grin returned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Looks like round two's about to start," he declared, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
"You should hide, kid." he advised, his tone serious despite his light-hearted demeanour.
I stood my ground, meeting his gaze with a determined look. "No," I retorted, "I'm staying. I am going to help."
Mauga turned his attention toward me for a moment.
"Really now?" He retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice as he turned to face me. "You think you can take that thing on?"
Before I could respond, an ominous energy began to coalesce around the creature in the sky. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before, a sphere of pure scarlet Oull that seemed to grow larger and more potent with each passing second. The sight of it sent chills down my spine, and for a moment, I tensed up.
"Well," Mauga continued, his gaze fixed on the expanding energy sphere, "guess we're about to find out anyway." His words were casual, but I could sense an undercurrent of tension in his voice.
The creature's energy sphere surged forward, hurtling through the air with a terrifying speed.
Mauga didn't hesitate. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, and the ground beneath him groaned as if it could barely withstand the pressure. Energy swirled around him, coating his fists and extending beyond them, forming a pair of massive Oull hands mimicking his own.
"Try and catch up." He said, with a playful tone.
With a powerful leap, he shot into the air, charging directly into the path of the oncoming attack. As he met the sphere, he threw his fists forward, driving his Oull-empowered hands into the core of the energy ball.
『ATLA'S STRIKE』
The resulting explosion was enormous. A shockwave rippled through the air, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The very ground trembled beneath the force of the impact. The collision of these massive forces was a spectacle of raw power that dwarfed anything I had ever witnessed thus far.
Watching him, I was reminded of the great divide in strength between an average Songseeker and an Arcana.
Mauga, the third Arcana, had just challenged a creature that would have effortlessly decimated a whole group of highly trained Songseekers. It was an entirely different league, a terrifying demonstration of raw power that left me reeling.
As Mauga descended from his assault, I approached him. The words were already on my tongue, questions and remarks about his overwhelming strength, his fight with the creature, and...
But he cut me off before I could speak. His eyes were locked onto the smoke, his playful expression replaced by a stern one. "Hold those thoughts, kid," he said, his voice a low rumble. "This dance ain't over yet."
Turning to follow his gaze, I could see the smoke beginning to swirl violently, a dark figure emerging from within it with a speed that was nearly impossible to follow, bolting directly at us.
The sudden ambush by the creature caught me by surprise, but Mauga was prepared. Even as the monster rocketed towards us, the towering man stood his ground. He braced himself, massive arms wide open, ready to grapple with the incoming threat.
The collision was intense, the sheer momentum of the creature pushing Mauga backwards, his feet sliding across the cracked pavement, leaving deep gouges in their wake.
I couldn't just stand still like an idiot anymore. Not after what I've seen, not after what I've learned, this is why I came out after all.
It's time I demonstrate my own abilities.
The song within me responded to my call, dividing my aura into two distinct paths, each gravitating towards one of my outstretched hands.
On my right, the Oull took on an intense tone of red, representing ferocity
『MARS』
Simultaneously, on my left, the Oull embraced a cool shade of blue, representing gentleness
『NEPTUNE』
The Oull morphed into dual swords, extensions of my own spirit. I gripped them tightly, feeling their pulsating hum within my hands.
I knew my moment had come. Mauga had the creature locked down, his grip unyielding despite the creature's desperate struggle. Its attention was on him, giving me the perfect opportunity.
I closed my eyes, grounding myself in the midst of chaos, but I drew in a deep breath, channelling my Oull. It blossomed around me, a vibrant aura that mirrored my resolve.
Somewhere, in the depths of my consciousness, I could sense it - a shift, a change. It felt like standing on the edge of a great precipice, staring into an abyss of the unknown. Like a single arrow released in the middle of a war, its trajectory unknowable but its intent clear.
I couldn't explain it, I couldn't understand it, but I knew that something was happening, something beyond my comprehension.
Suddenly, I felt a change in the Oull within Mars. The fiery red blade began to shift, a pure, gleaming white starting to bleed in from the hilt and inch its way towards the tip. The vibrant red that once consumed the blade was slowly, yet certainly, being replaced. It was as if a new power was gradually taking over, rewriting the nature of my sword.
A loud yet quiet melody, just as I had heard earlier.
『OPPOSE』
"Mars..?"
The whitening of Mars was baffling, but I had no time to ponder on it.
It was not the time to think.
With a deep breath, mustering all the energy within my body, I launched myself forward. The wind rushed past me, carrying with it the sounds of the city: the crumbling buildings, the distant sirens, the furious struggle between Mauga and the creature. Yet, amidst it all, I found a strange sense of serenity. My world was reduced to the sight of the struggling creature, my target.
"Sorry for the wait," I muttered under my breath, a steely determination in my voice. And then, with Neptune poised and ready, I lunged, driving its icy blue blade into the creature's skull.
There was a moment of tense silence as Neptune sunk into the creature's head, its body frozen in shock. The monster let out an ear-splitting screech, its body convulsing, trapped on Neptune's blade.
With Mars held high, bathed in a new, ethereal white light, I brought it down in a decisive arc. The instant Mars made contact with the creature, the sword's glow flared aggressively, leaking a torrent of the white Oull within the sword that seemed to reject the very existence of the beast.
This surge of energy from Mars sliced through the creature, severing it in two with an irrefutable finality. The halves of its body tumbled to the ground, twitching violently. But to my disbelief, the creature began to pull itself together, its form undulating and reshaping in a desperate attempt to restore its integrity. Yet, the residual white light from Mars clung to the creature, as if waging a silent war against it.
Taking advantage of the moment, a blur of motion surged forward. Mauga, eyes burning with fierce resolve, tightened his grip on his fists. With a swift, powerful motion, he unleashed an onslaught of dense Oull, smashing into the creature's body. The impact was final, effectively extinguishing the last vestiges of life within the creature.
Mauga finally disengaged from the now motionless creature, his Oull dissipating as he turned to look at me. There was a new gleam in his eyes, a spark of approval that hadn't been there before.
"Not bad, kid," he acknowledged, offering me a nod of recognition.
I felt a slight flush creep onto my cheeks at the compliment. "Thank you..." I responded.
His eyes, however, lingered on the dual blades. An appreciative chuckle escaped him as he approached, "And these," he motioned towards her swords, "now these are a sight for sore eyes. Nice choice, kid."
"Well, I've always been a fan of dual blades, I've been training with these for a while," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.
He barked a laugh, slapping his knee, "Ha! Just like I thought. You've got good taste, kid!
Yet, amidst the laughter and conversation, there was a detail that nagged at me. Mauga hadn't mentioned the sudden shift in Mars, its new, gleaming white form that accompanied the surge of power. I felt a twinge of uncertainty. Had he not seen it?
The levity of the moment was brief, however, as the gravity of the situation at hand snapped us back to reality. "But where are the others?" I asked, glancing around at the empty, scarred cityscape.
"Well," he began, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "I was fighting four of them alongside the Fifth and Ninth. With their combined power, I doubt they'd have trouble finishing off the other three."
"But..." I started, a furrow in my brows, "I only felt the presence of two humans and five of those things..."
Mauga paused at that, squinting at me in disbelief. "What are you on about? We were right there, you know? Dealing with four of them."
I shook my head, my heart pounding. "Something's wrong, really wrong."
"I'm certain. these things... they have unusually soft bodies, almost as if they are amorphous," I began, "That could suggest an advanced level of plasticity, an ability to reshape and reform themselves... possibly even mimic others."
Mauga went quiet at that, seeming to consider the possibility. I could practically see the gears turning in his head.
"If that's true," I pressed on, "Then couldn't one of them have masqueraded as the Ninth or Fifth Arcana? If they could copy their appearance, their mannerisms... to some extent. It wouldn't be impossible."
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath hitched as I looked at Mauga, my eyes wide. "One of them... they could be in danger."
The color drained from Mauga's face, "Shit," he muttered under his breath, turning to me. "Can you track where they're fighting?"
I nodded, focusing my senses. It wasn't easy, but I was able to pinpoint the source of the Oull I had detected earlier. "Near the police station, outside of the campus," I reported.
"No time to lose," Mauga grunted. He shot me a look, "You a fast runner?"
"Yes," I replied, confidently
"Good. Try and keep up." And with that, he took off, his movements a blur as he dashed away.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself to follow him. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't match his speed. I watched him disappear into the distance. He would reach our allies before me. All I could do was hope that I would not be too late.