Merphis, running at superhuman speed above the roofs of the houses, suddenly stops. His gaze is taken by the devastated state of Tokyo, ruined buildings stretching as far as the eye can see. Buildings leaning to one side bear witness to the chaos that reigned here. Heartbreaking screams fill the air as people, hungry and desperate, beg the soldiers for food. In response, the soldiers violently push them back, trampling on their bodies with chilling contempt. It's a horror spectacle unfolding before Merphis' eyes, a stark reminder of the cruelty and inhumanity that reigns in this war-torn world. His heart aches painfully, his determination to fight against these malevolent forces strengthening further, ready to face this nightmare and bring justice to this ravaged world. Merphis stands there, motionless, witnessing the horror unfolding below. Despite his powerful desire to intervene and put an end to this violence, he realizes that to do so would be madness. Not only would he draw attention to himself, thereby risking not only his own life but also that of innocent people, but a confrontation would also result in many casualties.
Clenching her fists in frustration, Merphis takes a deep breath. He remembers the promise he made to Aika, the promise to return to her safe and sound. It is this oath that holds him back, reminding him of the importance of maintaining discretion and choosing his battles carefully. So, with resolute determination, he looks away from the tragic scene below, ready to continue on his path towards his mission, keeping in mind the goal of protecting those he loves and bringing peace to this torn world.
Merphis arrives at the designated location within minutes, his superhuman speed allowing him to cover the distance quickly. He finds himself in a devastated neighborhood, a desert of desolation where no sign of life, whether animal, plant or human, is visible on the horizon. Standing among the rubble, he observes the two buildings slightly damaged by the surrounding chaos. A heavy atmosphere reigns, the silence broken only by the wind whistling through the ruins. With increased vigilance, Merphis prepares to face what awaits him in this desert place, ready to discover the secrets that the old man promised him.
Merphis approaches the sign decorated with a strange symbol, a Pentagon inside which are inscribed four Japanese words characterizing courage, determination, faith and homeland. Each of these words is colored red, blue, white and green respectively. Intrigued by this cryptic message, Merphis focuses on the deeper meanings of these words. Red signifies bravery, blue represents unyielding determination, white symbolizes purity of faith, and green embodies love for country. Merphis, intrigued by the desert place that surrounds him, scans the surroundings for signs of life. He remains vigilant, advocating that the flag with the colorful Japanese symbol and words he discovered is the presumed representation of the rebel group the old man pointed out to him. Searching for signs of human presence, he carefully observes every nook and cranny of the devastated neighborhood, hoping to find a clue or movement that could guide him to the members of this mysterious organization.
With a quick reflex, Merphis manages to catch the arrow just in time, avoiding the sneak attack aimed at his neck. His composure and quick thinking allowed him to escape this deadly trap. With a quick gesture, he draws his sword, putting himself in a defensive position, ready to face the invisible enemy hiding in the shadows. Senses sharpened, Merphis scans the surrounding darkness, looking for the slightest indication of the presence of his assailant. His piercing gaze and determined posture reveal his readiness to fight. He knows he can't let his guard down, because the enemy can come from anywhere The arrow suddenly explodes, releasing a toxin. , Merphis carefully observes the arrow he caught and notices the burning green viscous liquid emanating from it. He immediately understands that it is a poisonous substance, designed to neutralize him , The green venom, capable of dissolving and annihilating its target, proves powerless against Merphis, resisting its deadly effects without being touched.
Merphis, quick as lightning, throws the poisoned arrow aside and prepares for the impending confrontation. His keen attention catches a faint sliver of light coming from one of the nearby buildings. Without wasting time, he moves, skillfully avoiding the three arrows that are fired towards him. But to his surprise, the first arrow explodes in a burst of brilliant light before reaching its target, releasing two foul creatures with inhuman shapes. The creatures, emerging from the darkness, are terrifying to behold. Their eyes glow with an evil glow, and their appearance evokes unspeakable horror. Merphis, armed with his sword and his power, prepares to face them. His mind remains calm despite the chaotic situation, and his determination to protect his life and defeat these monsters is stronger than ever .
suddenly a young man with green hair and golden eyes stands before Merphis, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of an elf from fantasy tales. His confident smile contrasts with the tense atmosphere of the ongoing fight. Intrigued but wary, Merphis observes the newcomer, wondering who he is and what his intention is .
- Suka, the young man with green hair and golden eyes, looks at Merphis with suspicion. "My name is Suka, and I am one of the staunch defenders of justice. And you, little runt, what are you doing in our territory?" he asks in an authoritative voice.
- Merphis responds calmly: "I came to meet you. I wish to join your group without problem. I share your cause and I want to help restore justice in this world."
- Suka bursts out laughing sarcastically. "You? A weakling like you? I don't believe you. With those clothes and that mask, you look more like a potential undercover law enforcement agent. How do I know you're trustworthy?"
-Merphis , sensing Suka's distrust, quickly assures: "I promise you, I have nothing to do with law enforcement. I am here of my own free will, ready to fight for justice. I am ready to prove my loyalty."
- Suka, scrutinizing Merphis intensely, asks in a categorical tone: "Take off your mask. If you are truly an ally, show us your face, show us your true determination."
- Merphis grits her teeth, adamantly refusing to remove her mask despite Suka's accusations. He stands, resolute and ready to defend his life and his honor. "I am not an undercover soldier, I am here to help, not to destroy," Merphis replies in a firm voice. "If you don't believe me, too bad. But I won't let myself be killed without defending myself."
- Suka, showing no signs of weakness, clenches his weapon and prepares to attack. "Your words mean nothing. The truth will be revealed in our fight. If you are truly an ally of justice, you will know how to defend yourself."
- Suka, showing a hint of frustration, admits, "It's true, I usually never miss my target. But it seems that there is something different about you. A strength that I don't can't ignore."
- Merphis, still determined and confident, responds sarcastically: "You say I'm weak, but then you admit that your arrows failed to hit me despite your supposed expertise in archery? We'll have to finally decide, are you short-sighted or am I just too strong?"
- Suka, visibly irritated by Merphis' provocation, tightens his grip on his bow. "Don't make fun of me, stranger. You may be skilled, but that doesn't mean you're trustworthy. Infiltration is the game of spies, and I won't let anyone threaten our cause."
- Merphis, not letting himself not dismayed by Suka's words, replies with icy calm: "Maybe I'm here to show you that not everyone is an enemy. Maybe I actually want to help your cause. But if you want to continue to see me as a threat, then we can work this out your way."
Suka, with a fluid gesture, transforms his bow into a sparkling sword. He then makes a hand movement, lowering his ring finger while the rest of his fingers remain erect. At that moment, the air fills with magic, and three colossal creatures appear: a gigantic snake, an immense frog and a colossal bird. Each of them stands ten meters tall, Each of them weighs 20 tons. exuding a powerful and menacing aura. In a flash of action, the enormous bird swooped down on Merphis, its wingbeats creating a powerful wind and raising a cloud of dust. Merphis' vision is momentarily blinded by the storm , the enormous bird grabs Merphis's feet and flies with him several meters above sea level before abruptly letting go. To everyone's surprise, Merphis suddenly demonstrates the ability to fly as well. With a determined gesture, he walks straight towards the bird, sits on its back and violently pulls its feathers. The bird, under the influence of pain and Merphis' command, obeys and crashes heavily against the ground, ending its threat. With remarkable elegance, Merphis landed on the ground, holding her sword tightly in her hand. The wind blows around him, making his cape flutter in the air. His gaze is full of determination, proving his worth and his power in the eyes of all the witnesses present. Silence falls on the battlefield, broken only by the blowing of the wind and the rustling of the fallen feathers of the defeated bird. Merphis stands there, ready to face any threat that dares to stand in his way.
- Merphis, displaying unwavering confidence, asks Suka curiously, "Exactly what kind of power do you possess?"
-Suka, looking at him with some respect, proudly responds, "I am a Yokai master. A summoner capable of summoning and controlling Yokai to serve me."
-"A Yokai master… what exactly is it?" Merphis asks, intrigued by this new revelation.
-Suka explains: "He is a type of summoner who can call upon Yokai spirits, supernatural creatures, to fight alongside him. These creatures possess unique powers and skills, making them powerful allies."
-Merphis smiled slightly, confidently: "I have already defeated one of your Yokai, and I have no hesitation in doing the same with the remaining two."
-Suka replies, challenging Merphis with a look: "You can try, but be aware that the two remaining Yokai are much tougher than the first. They won't be as easy to eliminate."
-Merphis responds, her voice laced with determination: "No matter how tough or powerful they are, I will succeed in decimating them all. Nothing will stop me in my quest to restore justice and eliminate the evil that consumes this world."
The unexpected disappearance of the snake summoned by Suka puts Merphis on his guard. His keen senses are on alert, scanning the surroundings for the slightest movement or sign of danger. Doubt settles in his mind, fueling his distrust of his opponent. Cautiously, he observes Suka, looking for clues in his attitude or gestures that could reveal what is going on.
The sudden reappearance of the snake, signaled by a shrill hiss, disrupts Merphis's senses. In this sensory confusion, the enormous frog summoned by Suka moves at lightning speed. Before Merphis can react, the frog is behind him in a flash, delivering a powerful punch. The creature's fist is imbued with a tough substance, which strikes Merphis' back with devastating force. The impact is brutal, propelling Merphis several meters without him being able to stop. He is caught off guard, bearing the force of the attack with resignation.
In a whirlwind of violence, before Merphis can even catch his breath after the frog's attack, Suka appears in mid-air in front of him, his sword in hand. With a quick movement, Suka strikes Merphis with his left hand, but the latter manages to block the attack with his saber, thus showing his mastery and determination. However, before Merphis can recover from this confrontation, the enormous The snake's tail suddenly appears and violently strikes Merphis. The force of the impact is such that Merphis is thrown with extreme violence, crashing against the ground and creating a slight crater. Dust rises into the air from the power of the strike, temporarily obscuring the view of all fighters present.
In the shadows of the dissipated dust, Merphis emerges, speckled with dirt and bearing a few scratches on his arms and legs. Despite his injuries, he stands resolutely, his saber pointed at Suka at a distance of five meters. His gaze is burning with determination, an inner fire that refuses to go out in the face of adversity. Suka, facing this determined gaze, can feel Merphis' indomitable will. The seconds pass in silence, each fighter assessing the other, measuring their opponent's strength and resolve. It is a moment of palpable tension, where the slightest gesture could trigger a new wave of violence , In a controlled gesture, Merphis channels her power, quickly healing the wounds on her arms and legs. His regenerative ability activates, erasing scratches and battle marks from his skin. An aura of resolve surrounds him as he masters his power with precision, restoring his health in the blink of an eye. Finally, Merphis decides to sit down, releasing the tension from his body. His saber is put away, but his gaze remains sharp, ready to react to the slightest threat. He takes a moment to catch his breath, assessing the situation and planning his next actions.
- Suka, with a smirk on his lips, mocks Merphis: "So what? You finally admit defeat? Your arrogance has left you?"
- Merphis, calm despite the provocation, responds in a confident tone: "Absolutely not, I'm just going to give you a tip."
- Suka, incredulous, replies: "No, but what tip are you talking about? Did the defeat drive you crazy?"
- Merphis continues, explaining his strategy with confidence: "I observed you during fight and I noticed two things. First, you don't use your sword, preferring to attack me with your fists. Second, you become exhausted throughout the fight. Which means that the creatures you summon takes a lot of energy and weakens you over time."
In Suka's mind, a wave of frustration rises. *"Damn, he discovered my weaknesses, this guy, it's not possible..."* he mentally mutters to himself. The realization that Merphis has uncovered his weak points fills him with growing worry. A mixture of admiration and nervousness can be seen in Suka's gaze as he mentally prepares himself to react, aware that he is now facing an opponent who understands his vulnerabilities. The battle takes an even more intense turn as the two combatants size each other up, each seeking to exploit the other's weaknesses to gain the upper hand in this fierce duel for justice and survival.
- Suka, regaining his confidence, replies: "You are absolutely right. The Yokai that I summon take a good part of my alchemical energy, which tends to weaken me in the long run. But before confronting you, I channeled some reserves of alchemical energy into my sword, which still allows me to last a while."
- Merphis, incredulous, replies in a thoughtful tone: "How is that possible? You summoned three enormous Yokai which must logically take a huge amount of alchemical energy from you. Even if you stock up some reserves, it will not help you Even though I killed one, the other two, triggering their unique abilities, take a lot more energy from you."
- Suka, regaining his calm, then replies: "Since you have beaten the big bird, I can reclaim the alchemical energy that it cost me. Added to this, I have also stored a certain quantity of alchemical energy before. Granted, their special abilities take a lot of alchemical energy, but for now, I can manage even if I feel extremely tired."
- Merphis, his voice ringing with confidence, says, "Okay, now that I understand how you work, Suka, I'll get this over with quickly."
Merphis stands up with determination, momentarily abandoning her sword. He extends both hands forward, adopting a martial stance, ready to ward off attacks from his enemies. His focus is palpable as he channels his energy, preparing to react with speed and precision to the slightest threat. Suka, observing this new posture, takes a moment to assess the situation. He understands that Merphis has changed tactics, perhaps seeking to destabilize his opponents or defend with a different approach.
The snake hisses its garble in the air, but this time, Merphis remains impassive.
- Suka, surprised, wonders aloud: "How is it possible that he resists the snake's hiss when he was affected the last time?"
- Merphis calmly replies: "Once I suffer an attack and As I understand how it works, I become absolutely immune to it."
Using his exceptional "tectonic sensing" ability, Merphis senses the giant snake crawling underground. With a precise movement of his foot, he lightly strikes the ground, triggering a seismic wave invisible to the naked eye. In an instant, he visualizes the snake's movement as if observing a real-time map of the earth's underside. This valuable information allows Merphis to predict the snake's sneak attacks .
The combat arena is plunged into a tense silence, interrupted only by the slight quivering of the ground under which the giant serpent moves. Merphis remains motionless, her gaze fixed on the place from which the snake will soon emerge. Next to him, Suka feels anxiety rising within him, his face marked by incomprehension and fear. He is totally disconcerted by Merphis' enigmatic calm, while an imminent threat looms in the darkness of the earth. In this moment of heavy silence, Merphis emanates an aura of confidence and determination. He knows that his ability to anticipate the snake's movements gives him the advantage, and he is prepared to use it wisely. Suka, meanwhile, is paralyzed by uncertainty, unable to understand his opponent's strategy.
Suka, overwhelmed by anguish and anger at Merphis' apparent invincibility, decides to take drastic measures. In a desperate move, he orders the giant frog to charge at Merphis, hoping to create a combined attack with the two monsters to overwhelm his opponent. The frog, reacting to Suka's order, leaps towards Merphis with surprising speed. Simultaneously, the snake emerges from the ground, ready to launch its coordinated attack. The scene devolves into furious chaos, with the two monstrous creatures approaching Merphis, each driven by Suka's fury.
In a move of impressive speed and agility, Merphis moves between the two monstrous creatures, skillfully avoiding the deadly attacks of the snake and the frog. As the snake attempts to engulf her with its gaping maw, Merphis jumps backwards, narrowly dodging this deadly attack. In an instant, he followed up with a phenomenally strong kick to the frog, propelling it meters away. Without wasting a second, he delivers a precise elbow strike to the side of the snake's face, throwing it away from him as well.
In a flash of action, Merphis uses his power to manipulate the elements around him. As the snake tries to get up, Merphis pulls a huge rock out of the ground with a wave of her hand and throws it with incredible force. The rock hits the snake in the face, causing it to collapse to the ground. Before he even has a chance to get back on his feet, Merphis crushes him for good by crushing his head with another huge rock, ending his threat once and for all. Meanwhile, the frog tries to get back up , but Merphis doesn't give him a chance. He instantly teleports in front of it and creates two huge rocks on either side of the frog. With one quick movement, he crushes them inwards, trapping and crushing the frog between the two rock masses. The monstrous creature lets out a shrill cry before succumbing to the overwhelming power of the rocks. The dust slowly settles on the battlefield, revealing Merphis, standing amidst the ruins, victorious. His gaze is calm and determined, testifying to his mastery and impressive strength. Suka, witnessing his creatures' defeat, is petrified, realizing that he has finally encountered an opponent he could not defeat