It had been three days since the attack at the Yagami Resort from the Ghasts and Schwartzreiters. Hiro contacted his mother to inform her of everything that happened, the pain in her heart of hearing the number of people injured and dead felt like a knife to her soul with a heavy coating of grief. She felt responsible for it all because of her suggesting the use of the resort. Hiro would calm her in her grief but his mother would still feel as if she had to make arrangements to help the families of those who died.
Anna heard the same news once Megumi and Barnaby told her when they were healed up, she halted the new semester for the time being because of the circumstances that transpired, her eyes flowing with sadness at the loss of her students.
"Thank you both for telling me this. I'll send extra support to help with the damages and security. I'm sorry I only sent you two when Yagami Ayane called to ask for support for her son, I should have sent all five of you." Anna said apologizing even more.
"Forget it. Not like any of us expected those deadheads and crazy knights to appear. We're gonna take it easy for now till it's time to go. Don't worry, we have this covered. We'll see you soon Jefa. Adiós" Barnaby hung up after that hoping it calmed her down for now. He grabbed his glass of liquor to take a sip, but Megumi snatched it before he could drink it. She was lying next to him on the bed of his room, keeping her word to reward him for surviving the fight.
"What did she say?" Megumi asked.
"She'll send more backup to help up with the recovery. I don't blame her for being bummed out after this mess she'll recover once she sees us all back, till they get here how bout another go hmm?"
Megumi could see his lustful eyes staring at her. She gave a mean smile back, seeing how cocky he was that he got a night with her.
"Oh ho, you sure bout it. I went easy on you last time. This time you'll need a safe word."
"Like I said. Like a woman who can kick my ass." A cocky Barnaby responded not afraid of Megumi or her drive.
All around the media in Japan from television news to social media accounts, the news of the attack broke out, and all the events were revealed because of some of the guests taking photos and videos of the attack. The mood would have been horrifically bad for people's hopes and feelings of security that a massive gathering of Ghasts attack a peaceful resort when they were mostly known to migrate in dead areas or war zones, had not one of the students who survived being in the Journalism Club given her side of the story. She stated that the causalities were minimal thanks to the help of Koutetsu and the others fighting off the Schwartzreiters and the Ghasts. The video footage of them fighting the Schwartzreiters despite the odds stacked against them gave the public new hope, even if it was a small flicker it was enough to help ignite the fires of hope inside them. Anna saw the footage too, she was depressed in her home holding a glass of scotch when seeing how bravely her students fought gave her a powerful sense of pride. She felt hope because of them for standing up for everyone and winning the war against the Schwartzreiters and Ghasts. Not wanting her students to feel alone in this, she contacted Gentaro, Alexandra, and Akira to join her in visiting the resort to help out, she was going to keep her word in helping with the new invigorated spirit inside her.
Back at the resort in the medical tents, Koutetsu and the others were being discharged finally to go back to their rooms to rest up. Itsuki stayed in the medical tub with him the entire time, her constant flow of ice magic helped cool his body down after the time period to activate Survivor skill's auto-recovery worked.
Even though Astarok was still inside him, it became a part of Koutetsu now thanks to Noir, Survivor wouldn't recognize it as a threat for the time being.
He still wore medical bandages around his arms to help with the healing process of the scars. They wouldn't fade away but there was still a residue of pain from them including the one on his face. Ryuji was finished having his blood cleaned of the remaining magic in it, he felt drained badly like he ran a marathon without any water to stay hydrated, the doctors would scold him if tried to light a cigarette in his current state, his stubbornness still intact even with everything.
Tatsuya was able to talk again, his voice was still weak but he could talk better at least without pain. Ren's eyes were still healing, he had to wear sunglasses for the time being till his vision cleared and any light source wouldn't hurt his eyes with them being sensitive at the moment.
Hiro was back to work helping the survivors with trauma therapists and the emergency response team had arrived, he was not about to let another attack happen like this again. His conscience weighed heavily as is, he didn't need any more blood on his mind dragging him deep down to a point of no return.
Koutetsu made it to his room with Itsuki helping him walk there in his exhausted state. He was ready to sleep in bed again after the tub made his back and neck stiff. The moment the door opened, Rumi tackled him in utter happiness that her brother was ok. She sobbed heavily rubbing her face into his shirt, her grip was tight enough to dig into his skin too. Itsuki helped him stand up as he continued to hold Rumi in his arms.
"There there, I'm ok Rumi. You're big brother's not gonna die that easily."
Rumi continued crying, it felt like she was as close to losing him as she did Mana. Koutetsu carried Rumi to the bed to lay her down, but she refused to let go, he wasn't going to argue or push the issue, so he laid down on his back as Rumi snuggled to his side holding tight still, he waved to Itsuki that he was ok before she took her leave to her own room.
Rumi's grip on him was still strong, she was worrying the whole time that he wouldn't recover from that fight. Her fears of him being gone like with what happened to Mana surfaced. Her body shivered in fear, and the feeling of loneliness she felt after losing Mana crept back into her mind. Koutetsu saw those signs in her because he lived with them since Akane's death, he held her back till she fell asleep, his eyes also entered the rem cycle once she was calmed down, and his dreams once again shifted to the Spirit World as before.
He figured Jado was coming again to greet him like he did before when he hinted at Rumi's arrival. He wasn't going to put his guard up this time. Instead, he sat down cross-legged waiting for whoever would come to him.
Instead of Jado however, it was a bird of shining beauty, the colors of red, orange, and gold flowed like flames across the body with six magnificent wings flying in the air. The one who approached this time was Suzuka the Sun Monarch, she landed in front of him, her radiant eyes staring him down from above.
"I suppose another Monarch wants to speak with me without their leader's consent. Judging from that dramatic entrance and how you look you're Suzuka correct?" Koutetsu said with confidence.
"Correct. It's a pleasure to formally make your acquaintance young one." Suzuka responded in turn.
Suzuka like Jado before her made a seat for Koutetsu and one for herself, a table with a chess board was also created. Koutetsu looked at it, wondering what she had planned for their talk. Suzuka was then engulfed in light, and soon her body changed from her phoenix body to a human's body. She appeared as an older woman with a motherly atmosphere. She wore a traditional kimono with a large sash, a fan in one hand, and six hairpins in her hair mimicking her wings.
Koutetsu's mouth gaped at the sight, not from her appearance but more so that she changed into a human whereas Jado did not do that before.
"Ah young one, it's very poor manners to stare at a woman with such eyes isn't it." She teased while fanning herself. Koutetsu shook his head getting himself out of that mindset before she took it as an offense. He was not to tick off a being that was on the level of God. He sat in the chair still trying to figure out what just happened exactly, it was a big surprise for him.
"Forgive me, it's just I didn't know you could do that. Can you all take this appearance or is it just you?" He asked Suzuka.
"Oh, we can. Some choose not to depending on the situation. I'm guessing when Jado met you he didn't change. No surprise really, he hates his human look. Poor old turtle takes the appearance of a fat balding man with a large beard."
Koutetsu started to imagine it, seeing Jado as a drunkard old man in a tavern in ancient Japan. It made him snicker just thinking of that from how regal he looked as a turtle.
"I see you're thinking of how he would look. Don't worry we all laugh about it, Raimei would always make fun of his beard and how messy…"
Suzuka stopped speaking, her eyes were filled with sadness and pain remembering her fallen sister.
"She must have meant a lot to you. Did she?" Koutetsu could see how hurt she was remembering Raimei now that she was gone.
Suzuka didn't respond right away, she just moved a chess piece in silence. Koutetsu followed behind her setting a piece forward as well. He could see it on her facial expressions, saying the name must have been hard as it was. They were all together in the beginning, the centuries they spent as comrade in arms, family practically was special to them.
"Jado told me everything, including Byakurai's past. I understand his pain now. I'm sorry for taking his child from him."
Suzuka looked at his face, she gave a faint smile before moving another piece.
"It's not your fault, that was all Jabi's doing. She means well. She takes her duties seriously, even overstepping if she feels it's needed. Same as Jado hinting at your sister."
Koutetsu moved another piece, he was only a few moves from beating Suzuka. Suzuka was regaining her composure while playing with Koutetsu, she made a fast move that ruined his display strategy.
"Can I ask you a question? Was he hinting at her part of a plan? I know he said things have to move naturally, but was hinting at Rumi having another reason behind it or am I just overthinking things?"
Suzuka moved another piece, she was thinking both of her next move and the right words to say without messing anything up to the natural flow of time.
"It was. Jado may be old but he's actually rebellious in his own way. His age is a result of his breaking the natural rules of the world in small moments. Even we Monarchs suffer consequences for messing with the natural order of existence. Jado believes that giving small hints into the future will help the growth of those in need. When you met Rumi, you noticed a change didn't you, you weren't filled with regrets, anger, or loneliness were you? What was it you felt?"
Koutetsu thought of what she said. Rather he tried feeling it, the emotions he felt around Rumi, they were warm, filled with brimming happiness. The moments she laughed, and fell asleep in his lap, even the annoyance he felt with everyone hovering over her, he felt a small flicker of fire in his soul. It was the same flicker that snapped him out of a daze when he mentally broke hearing about Mana. Before he wouldn't have snapped out that easily, it would have been a miracle to help him. It was a first for him to do it on his own like that.
He realized what Jado's intentions were now, it was to help Koutetsu get over his Thanatophobia on his own by finding an anchor to bring himself back to the brink when he would hit his lowest. After saving Rumi that fear of death disappeared, he wasn't even afraid of dying when fighting Einz, he felt more determined to live fearlessly.
"I felt, I felt like I wasn't afraid of death anymore. I felt more at peace with her around. When she was in danger I almost lost her because of my stupidity. But hearing my friends calling out to me to save her and her calling out to me, I felt something else at the moment. I wasn't afraid of death anymore, I felt more, more like I had to save her, like how…"
"Like how your Primary Mother felt when she sacrificed herself to save you?"
His eyes widened upon hearing it. Suzuka was right, Akane didn't flinch at the idea of defending him against Shiro even if meant dying. She fought her as badly wounded as she was even if it meant her death. Koutetsu felt a tightness in his chest, then the warmth in it from when he bid Akane's soul farewell.
"You feel it, don't you? That feeling inside. That's a feeling that'll make you stronger, the feeling of bravery. You originally set out for revenge after your Primary Mother's death when you trained, in that time you never tried to focus on overcoming your trauma completely just your vengeance. When you came back you thought you were well enough to carry out your goal but you still lost control, it's because you were sparked by anything that reminded you of that day. Even the words of your Birth Mother being taken by Shiro broke you, didn't it? That's why Jado slipped those words for you. It was because he wanted you to become stronger by confronting your trauma for good to face it with the personal courage you'll need in the future." The words meant more to Koutetsu than he realized.
"I thought I confronted it when I died that second time and vented to Jabi about my old life and suicide. I said so many things before I wish I could apologize to my old parents for it. Was that not enough to conquer the fear of death?" Koutetsu asked questioning if he missed something in his return.
"No, you merely took a step forward with overcoming it. Admitting all the mistakes you made that led to your suicide helped you root out what made you the host for Jagan. The next step was to conquer your fear, by finding a reason or rather a real purpose to break free you were able to fight off that fear and strengthen your soul. The more you gave in the more it would be easier for Jagan to take over."
The words pierced Koutetsu, he didn't realize he was making it easier for his enemy to take over his body because of him not getting rid of his pain and trauma.
"Why does Jagan need me so badly? Can't someone else lay claim to me like their vassals if they found a loophole?" That question had been burning in the back of his mind since meeting Jado.
"No, they can not. Shall I tell the secret? The reason magic was born in this world. How Espers came to be. Why there are certain rules we can not break even if want to or suffer for it in doing so."
Suzuka moved another piece, taking a bishop off the board. In the time they talked, Suzuka had taken two bishops, a rook, three pawns, and a knight. Koutetsu had only taken a few pawns and one knight, Suzuka proving she was better at strategy than he was.
"You see there exists many worlds, a multiverse to put in perspective for you. In those many worlds, different realities exist along with different outcomes with the smallest similarities. This world you're in, was the first discover magic and physical power from the other worlds. You have heard of the theory called Prima Materia; the primitive formless base for all matter. In you're world it was a theory or principle that was used by alchemists, here it was used in deciphering a secret in this world that led to the ability of learning into the basics of magic by peaking at the source code from other worlds. Casters deciphered its magical sequence that led to unlocking the nature of magic and being able to use and teach over time. Of course, not everyone can do that kind of sequence anymore now that it's become very basic to obtain or takes the trial and error method." Suzuka moved another taking another from Koutetsu.
"Soon humans used that method in other fields. Eventually using it to unlock the potential to use one hundred percent of the human brain that leads its evolution. Unlocking the ability to obtain the psychic powers they use today thus born were the Espers you see now. Although it doesn't make them necessarily more intelligent. That help screen you see, the knowledge it has, the leveling up, the skills you earn from certain conditions. All were born by unlocking them through humanity's efforts to discover the secrets of the other worlds. Taking a look into them taking the spells and skills to make into their own, this process was repeated for years, centuries at that, till it started doing it in its own with human involvement."
"I see, so this world is like the place where everything from the other worlds came to become better and stronger because of what the ancestors of this this universe did. That explains Prime Calibers doesn't it? Applying the fields of study to master both sides comes with risks but if you're smart enough to research well with practice the reward is worth it." Koutetsu commented making an astute observation.
"Correct. Being born one is very rare in that it's considered a mutation to the theory or a gift from an unknown divine force. Not from us specifically none of us Monarchs have a hand in that. However, in peaking into the other words and taking their knowledge came with a terrible price. Truths such as our existence, the revelation of Heaven and Hell, and rare items like Sacred weapons or Hell weapons raised the expectations of humanity's greed soon the negative emotions and energy they emitted for their sins and desires gave birth to evils. You witnessed them firsthand. Shiro is one of those births. A manifestation of wrath born from children and teens who live for mayhem and causing suffering. All that evil gave birth to Shiro, who hopes to be the new horseman of death."
Suzuka stopped moving her pieces to speak more with Koutetsu without distractions.
"Jagan is the same. Jado mentioned it. Jagan is born from the negative emotions of suicide and incompetence. Think, what evil is the strongest that causes people to continually commit them than give up when they don't want to try anymore. Incompetent people will always blame others for their unhappiness or inability to accomplish anything. They'll cheat, hurt, blame, or even kill because they can't accept anything is their own fault. Eventually, the worst ones will end themselves because they fail to realize how much they have the ability to change things, just throw their lives away for meaningless reasons."
"Just like I did. I see now, that's why I was picked as a host. If I just tried harder and was a better person I wouldn't have given Jagan a new body to have. I'm so sorry." He apologized feeling like he screwed the world's chances with his death.
"It's not your fault. Someone would have been picked eventually. It just happened to be you at the right moment they used their summoning ritual to find a host. But to answer your question, no, you belong to Jagan. You see not even we understand how the rules of magic work in this world compared to the others. They are different and absolute, breaking one rule has cosmic consequences. We asked God why his response was 'This world is fine as is. Don't force a change where it's not needed.' We thought it was an empty answer but we understand what he meant. This world like the others needs to flow naturally within their own rules. That's why Jagan summoned you here. It wants to break free by gaining knowledge from other worlds to destroy this one's order. To be free in causing as much discord as possible. The time we met its first host, they killed all the Monarchs of the south. Those eyes we saw, the emotionless eyes filled with evil, we'll never forget them."
The revelation Suzuka gave him helped him better understand his situation and how the world he was in worked. All those questions he had were gone, now he was more determined to defeat Jagan and stop them from gaining his body.
"Thank you, Suzuka. I know I haven't been the easiest to work with but I am grateful for everything you and Jado have been trying to do to help. Checkmate."
Suzuka looked at the board, she couldn't believe it, he tricked her, he had been making plays that gave her a false sense of security that allowed one of his knights to be in a perfect position to take her king. She gave a defeated but accepting smile at the play. She erased the board and table from the sight, changing back to her original form before asking Koutetsu a favor.
"I'm in no position to ask this of you after everything we're asking from you already, but I have a request. It's about Byakurai."
He didn't like where this was going, it could be a tall order or something important that he didn't want to fail at.
"When you fight him, please don't do so with the intention to make him submit. He's been through so much that violence won't make him cooperate. Rather, save him. Save his soul, show him that vengeance isn't the answer. Remind him why God created him, why he was deemed worthy to be a Monarch. Please, I beg of you, help him remember the love Raimei had for him. Please, save my sister's lover. I beg you."
Koutetsu saw it in the majestic eyes of Suzuka, the care she had in them crying out for his help. She really cared for her bond with Raimei so much that she wanted to help her by saving Byakurai's soul from his tormenting hate for Jagan. He was not sure how to help him if it was even possible within his power, but he didn't want to fail Suzuka either, she asked this of him with honesty with how much love was in her heart. Koutetsu nodded, he made his promise to her, and he want going back on his word. Suzuka was beginning to fade in the fog, but before she completely disappeared she left parting words just like Jado did, a prize for defeating her in chess.
"The worlds Jabi gave you, the first two weren't literal, they're hints at reforging the Ronin's sword. The last one is where it's located. The sword must accept your determination, or it will never be reforged for you. See you again when you get it. Goodbye, young one."
Koutetsu placed it in his mind. Hearing this was like a cheat code to a god-tier weapon. Even if he did take the words literally during his fight with Einz it still helped him win and unlock a new form. Only now, he got a puzzle piece needed to figure out how to obtain his real prize. Suzuka completely vanished, with her visit over Koutetsu briefly woke up, he looked at Rumi still sleeping at his side. He rubbed her hair, her innocent face moving as she felt the warmth from her brother's care. Tsurara sat next to him, he didn't notice her earlier when he was asleep, she gave a look to him like she knew what happened in his sleep. Koutetsu petted her, she purred as she nestled to his face wanting to be closer to him.
"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise. I'll save your papa's soul. I promise I'll do for him what Akane did for me. I promise little one."