In the sky, the entity soars towards a specific location with incredible speed, concluding its business with Haruto and Riku and retrieving the fragments it had bestowed upon the nearby students. Its next destination: where the remaining students awaited.
Crossing into the border of Nessus, beyond which lay the barren land that once housed the country of Avernus, now divided among three human nations.
Eight hundred years prior, humanity arrived through mysterious means, initially bewildered and fearful. With the guidance of the resident demons, a semblance of harmony emerged between the two races. However, a dark turn occurred when humans inexplicably turned hostile, launching attacks on demon settlements, pillaging and slaughtering indiscriminately.
As tensions escalated and demonic lives were lost, the countries grappled with the inexplicable aggression, seeking resolution without resorting to violence against humans. Yet, a clandestine event unfolded, leading to the downfall of Avernus, its military crushed, royalty exiled, and its cities ravaged.
The once-cohesive world now stood on the brink of chaos, with the future uncertain and fraught with conflict.
Upon learning of the situation, other countries resorted to using force against the humans, instructing their armies to handle the issue. The demons successfully eliminated the human threat in their territories. Subsequently, the last eight kings united their forces to reclaim Avernus, only to encounter a mysterious twist. When the armies from the remaining countries arrived at Avernus, they came across a dense forest teeming with wildlife and monsters. There were no sights of the humans or anything from the prosper Avernus.
Thinking that the humans may have run away, the eight kingdoms send an expedition team into the forest searching for anything related to Avernus. They could not find anything that once belonged to Acernus or proof that it was there, as if it had never existed. The next thing the kingdoms did was to rebuild Acernus. However, their efforts were thwarted by relentless monster attacks and discord among the demons. Eventually, they abandoned the reconstruction, leaving the land untouched and naming it the Dead Forest.
The entity soared above the Dead Forest, journeying deeper into Avernus until an unexpected obstacle emerged. A colossal creature suddenly appeared and swung its hand at the entity, causing it to crash into the ground.
"Hello, descendant of the specters. I am *`7+*8*s." The colossal creature that swung at the entity shrunk to a normal human size. What was there was an armored man in his forties addressing the fallen entity.
The entity gazed up at the man who had spoken to him. His journey was now taking an unforeseen turn.
"Throughout our time here, we believed your bloodline had been eradicated. How did your kind elude our detection for so long?" the enigmatic figure asked.
The entity remained silent, glaring fiercely at the stranger who had confronted it.
"Refusing to speak? No matter. You won't escape our grasp. We will extract all the information we need from you," declared the leader as more humans materialized around the entity, totaling fifty hostile figures hovering above.
Sensing the formidable strength of its adversaries, the entity remained resolute, unfazed by the looming threat.
"Let's take care of this," they said in unison.
The unknown enemy charged at the entity with a battle cry, swiftly conjuring two swords from its power. Evading an attack from behind, the entity deftly maneuvered and kicked the assailant into another oncoming foe, disrupting their advance.
The entity deftly blocked a strike mere inches from its head, swiftly executing a 360-degree spin with its sword extended, cutting down multiple enemies within its reach. The bodies of the fallen enemies disintegrated into particles.
"Take this!" a foe unleashed a fiery attack, prompting the entity to channel power into its weapons. This created a protective barrier that successfully intercepted the fireball. However, the resulting shockwave decimated trees and ignited the surroundings.
The battle intensified as the enemy utilized intricate attacks resembling magic spells but devoid of mana, powered by an unknown source.
The ground morphed into a massive jaw, poised to trap the entity's lower half, but it leaped out of harm's way just in time.
"We've got you now," a foe declared, unleashing a storm of dark and light energy at the entity, inflicting damage.
"It's working! Keep attacking! Prepare to capture them!" The enemies coordinated, forming a network of red lights in a diamond formation.
"The prison is complete! The ceasefire," the leader commanded as the construction of the containment structure was finalized.
"Containment is successful. We have captured him!" announced another.
"Excellent. Prepare a secure area for interrogation." Before the speaker could finish, a brilliant blade of light erupted from the red diamond, slicing through the imprisoning individuals, and they disintegrated into particles.
"Inconceivable! The barrier was supposed to be impenetrable, no matter the strength of the captive!" exclaimed the enemy, stunned by the breach.
As the dust settled, they discovered the entity held a different sword in its hand from the ones he had created earlier, its design seemingly unremarkable at first glance. Upon closer inspection, they recognized the significance of the weapon—a coveted music sheet they had sought for years.
"He possesses one of the music sheets!"
"We must retrieve it at all costs. We cannot allow them to retain it any longer!"
"Very well. Unleash our true power upon them!" commanded the leader, authorizing a transformation among the humans.
Their bodies morphed into a dark black hue, contorting and expanding like trapped animals breaking free from confinement. Each enemy emerged with grotesque alterations, their limbs elongated and distorted unnaturally.
Some transformed into monstrous beings, resembling a blend of insects and mythical creatures, their bodies enlarged from rigorous bodybuilding efforts. Dark crimson-red lines covered their forms, emanating a foreboding aura of death that instilled fear in all who beheld them.
Undaunted, the entity braced itself as the dark adversaries charged forward. Two serpentine monstrosities hurtled toward the entity with unstoppable force.
Seizing the initiative, the entity swiftly evaded one serpent and latched onto it, swiftly dispatching it with a precise strike of its sword. The serpent disintegrated into particles as a testament to its demise.
Without hesitation, the entity swiftly descended upon the second serpent, cleaving it in half as it trailed its companion.
Returning to the scorched forest floor, the entity faced encroaching enemies, ready to engage in combat.
With a swift and decisive motion, a formidable foe, resembling a giant insect with razor-sharp pincers, launched a rapid assault on the entity, aiming to strike with incredible speed and strength.
The entity managed to deflect some of the incoming attacks, although one strike landed, narrowly missing its vitals. After knocking away the foe's pincers, the entity swiftly slashed the enemy into pieces, which also disintegrated into particles.
As if seeking vengeance for their fallen comrades, ten more enemies descended upon the entity, each from a different insect family. Two winged do soared into the sky while the others charged on the ground.
Dodging, parrying, and blocking their strikes, the entity engaged in combat with the relentless adversaries. The airborne enemies unleashed long-range attacks from above, testing the entity's resolve.
Overwhelmed by the close-quarters combat, the entity faltered against the long-range assaults, crying out in pain as the enemies pressed their advantage.
Seizing an opportunity, one foe lunged to bite the entity's head, prompting a swift counterattack. The entity impaled the assailant on its sword and hurled them at the aerial enemies, inadvertently causing friendly fire and disrupting their coordination.
Amidst the chaos, the enemies' battle formation crumbled as confusion reigned, marked by cries of pain and discord within their ranks.
They don't need eyes to find their target. As a superior race, they can sense the souls of their foes. They locate their enemies and unleash their attacks.
"Ttt! Ttt! Ttt!"
"Ttt! Ttt! Ttt!"
Boom! Bang! Bang! Boom!
Their relentless assault continues for hours until they sense the enemy's presence vanishes. Believing they have defeated their foe, they cease their attacks.
As the dust settles, they find their comrades slain, sliced into several pieces, and soon disintegrated into particles, with the entity gone. It took a moment, but they soon found the entity. The enemy looks up into the sky to see the entity approaching them.
The enemy quickly unleashed several long-range attacks on the entity as it came at them. Sacrificing its body, the entity came straight down from the sky, catching the two insect-type monsters and bringing them down with him, only to slam them both to the ground, turning into particles.
The entity pulled out the sword from empty space, moving into Waki No Kamae Stance. He then swung the sword in the air. A thin white line from the sword materialized in the air, resembling a delicate glass stroke. Initially appearing as a mere spectacle, the impact unfolds moments later as the trees, untouched moments ago, begin to topple as if sliced effortlessly. The entity's enemies before him soon collapse before disintegrating into particles.
Preparing to pursue the remaining enemies, the ground quakes violently, and a crevice erupts with molten magma that roars skyward. Several lava pillars shoot out from the crevice; they then converge, weaving a cage that entraps the entity.
Ordinarily untamed by such restraints, this cage, crafted by a foe wielding power akin to his own, proves formidable. With each strike of his sword against the fiery bars, a metallic echo rings out, the cage defiantly repelling his efforts.
"R@@@@@!"
"The specter's resolve is unwavering, Lord *`7+*8*s!"
"Excellent! Have the troops reinforce the second defense line within the lava cage."
The enemies move to fortify the cage, adding layers to contain the entity.
"The cage has been fortifying, Lord *`7+*8*s. The Specter will not be able to escape."
"Good. Prepare to extract intel from the Specter once we bring him to our main forces. He may hold knowledge of the other fragments in this realm."
"Lord *`7+*8*s, Something's amiss!"
As they prepare to transport the entity, a shout from *`7+*8*s's subordinate interrupts. *`7+*8*s turns to see the enemy standing within the lava cage, sword planted firmly.
The magic circle in the sky began to glow, signaling that the entity was gathering more power. A surge of energy emanated from the entity, obliterating the lava cage and the enemies nearby. The shockwave ravaged the forest, altering the landscape in its wake.
"Damn it!"
*`7+*8*s' eyes flare with fury as their foe breaks free from the cage, their numbers dwindling to 15 remaining.
The magic circle in the sky begins to shine even brighter as the entity gains more power, escalating the situation. Not only that, but the entity's body begins to become visible.
"No!"
"Lord *`7+*8* Is he vanishing?"
"It seems so. Prevent him from leaving this dimension!"
The remaining soldiers move to stop the entity from leaving this realm, but their efforts are futile as the entity effortlessly overpowers them.
A gorilla-bodied, bole-headed enemy lunges to grab the entity. The entity swiftly evades the attack and cleaves the creature before disintegrating into particles.
An octopus-like being with traits of a jackalope, weasel, and ox ensnares the entity with its tentacles. The entity ignited its body with blue flames, making the creature release him.
"Kaaaaaa!"
Now free, the entity deftly swiftly dismembers it with precision strikes. The body of the octopus also disintegrated into particles.
"Vvvvv!"
Above, a vast rumble forewarns the entity, who deftly dodges the impending strike, creating a crater where he once stood.
Emerging from the debris stands a massive creature with an elephant-like visage and multiple arms poised to strike.
"Faaaaa!"
The elephant lashes out, and its blows are met with the entity's sword in a clash of titanic force, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
The entity focuses on the elephant, unaware of five attackers closing in from behind.
Their coordinated assault lands hit, weakening the entity and leaving him vulnerable to the elephant's devastating punches.
Struck down, the entity loses his grip on his sword, hurting him through the air.
Some trees manage to break his fall. The entity quickly recovers, and he witnesses the elephant reaching for his fallen weapon.
Before he can react, a colossal serpent-like enemy emerges, swallowing the entity whole before retreating into the earth, leaving no trace behind.
"Finally, we've captured the Specter," one of the five figures exclaims triumphantly.
"And we've also secured a piece of the song of freedom."
"Our dream draws nearer with both the song pieces and the captured Specter."
Filled with joy and determination, the five allies celebrate their victory and progress towards their shared goal.
The approaching elephant, sword in hand, interrupts their moment of reflection.
"Thank you for your help back there. I couldn't have held out against that attack much longer without your assistance," the elephant acknowledges the five.
"No problem. Your distraction allowed us to strike," one of the allies responds.
"Let's return to headquarters. Our comrades need us for the Specter's interrogation," the elephant suggests.
As they prepare to depart, the snake that had swallowed the entity bursts forth from the ground, writhing in apparent distress. A blade made out of light pierced from its body and then quickly made a circle, cutting it into two pieces. The entity emerges from the lower piece of the serpent in search of something. That was until he spotted the six enemies who had insulted him earlier.
The elephant-like creature realized the entity was looking for them.
"Hold off the entity while I deliver this piece to the commander!" the elephant-like creature commands as the allies ready themselves for one final confrontation.
The Five figures moved in front of the elephant, wielding their weapon. They launched a coordinated attack at the entity, but it dodged effortlessly. With a swift punch, the entity destroyed the figure in the center.
Two figures beside the fallen one quickly extended blades from their palms, aiming for the entity. Anticipating the attack, the entity dodged and struck back, slashing off parts of their skulls.
The remaining two figures retreated, but the entity ensnared them with chains made from its energy, preventing their escape. It unleashed a powerful force upon them, causing their bodies to disintegrate into particles amidst agonizing screams.
The entity channeled energy into its legs and sprinted after the fleeing elephant, intent on reclaiming its sword. Despite the delay caused by the five figures, the entity was determined to catch up to the elephant swiftly, no matter how far it ran.
With a sudden burst of speed, the entity closed the distance to the elephant, swiftly punching it into the ground.
"Vvvvvv!"
The entity drove the elephant's head into the earth using its foot.
"Vvvvvv!"
Repeatedly, it smashed the elephant's head with relentless force until its skull was crushed, destroying its brain only to have its body disintegrated into particles.
As the entity reached for its weapon on the ground, a sudden weakness overcame it, forcing it to collapse onto all fours.
"Bz! Bz! Bz!"
"Hohoho, it seems like my power is finally taking effect on you."
A mysterious female voice taunted the entity, claiming her influence was taking hold. Despite searching, the entity could not locate the source of the voice, only seeing a strange aura as if it was surrounded by fog.
"Now, Specter, cease your resistance and accompany us," The voice commanded. Three formidable foes emerged from the shadows: a massive wolf-like creature, a chipmunk being with eyes on its shoulders and a mouth on its stomach, and a colossal figure resembling a Cyclops with a towering stature.
The wolf snatched the entity's sword with its jaws and bolted off in a direction.
"Now, Specter, it's time to join us," the female voice declared.
Approaching the entity, the chipmunk reached out to grab him. But before it could do that, the entity's body ignited in blue-white flames.
"Wow?! Aaaaaa!"
Caught off guard, the monster recoiled as the flames consumed its arm, inflicting a numbing cold rather than searing heat. Patting out the fire, the monster's dark skin now bore frostbite marks.
Despite being engulfed in the chilling blue-white flames, the entity remained unharmed. The fire emanated coldness, freezing everything they touched.
"FREEZE."
With those final words, a frosty transformation began. The ground turned dark blue, and plants and creatures, including the entity's foes, were ice-cased.
"Aaaaaa!"
"Aaaaaa!"
"Eeeeee!"
The entity's power extended to the air, turning surrounding fog into delicate snowflakes. The female voice and her companions screamed in terror as the icy grip tightened around them.
The entity's icy power extended for miles until it captured the wolf monster that had fled with its sword, encasing it in ice.
Crafting a bow with its abilities, the entity unleashed three arrows: one aimed at the towering Cyclops, another at the chipmunk monster, and the last at the distant wolf monster. The enemies shattered into tiny fragments, including the fourth member hidden within the surrounding fog. The four enemies each ignited.
Reaching the spot where the wolf monster fell, the entity found that it had passed the sword to another figure, who stood there confidently waiting.
This new foe, resembling an average armored man in his forties with a pitch-black body and glowing crimson veins like the others, acknowledged the entity's strength. This was *`7+*8*, the enemy that introduced himself to the entity. Thinking about another possibility, the enemy feels the entity has gathered more pieces of the song of freedom that they have been looking for.
"I underestimated you. I thought that you just awakened with only a fraction of your power," the enemy spoke, acknowledging the entity's prowess. "But now, I thought of a possibility. You must have gathered other pieces of the song of freedom to reach such strength. However, that still won't be enough. Ill this ends now!"
He pointed the sword at the entity; the enemy prepared for a showdown.
The enemy charged at the entity, brandishing the blade. It targeted the entity's head, but the entity swiftly dodged the attack. Undeterred, the enemy continued to swing the sword, only to have the agile entity evade each strike.
As the enemy prepared an overhead strike, the entity closed the distance, deflecting the attacks with one hand and countering with a precise strike.
"Uaaaa!" The enemy stumbled back, carving the ground to regain balance.
Seizing the opportunity, the entity pressed the attack, closing in on the enemy. A sharp sound pierced the air as the foe raised the sword to defend the entity's attack.
The entity and the enemy collided. Their power surged, creating a massive energy dome that expanded rapidly, carving a deep crater in the earth.
As the energy dome spread, the two combatants stood alone in its center. In an instant, they seemed to teleport from one spot to another, exchanging blows with each move, generating energy domes that distorted the land.
*`7+*8* guided the entity toward a rocky mountain, landing a brutal blow before stepping out of reach and preparing for the next strike.
Seizing an opportunity, *`7+*8*. raised its sword high, doing a downswing, releasing a crimson beam that sliced through the mountain rock with a loud sound.
The entity shrieked in agony as the sword cut deep into its shoulder, emitting light particles instead of blood.
Anticipating another attack, the entity dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding decapitation as a mountain peak was cleaved behind it.
Swiftly recovering, the entity confronted *`7+*8*, delivering a powerful punch that sent it hurtling back to the ground, piercing through mountains in its path until *`7+*8* found himself in a lake.
"Damn you, how can you be so powerful? How many pieces of the Song of Freedom do you possess?" *`7+*8* yelled as the entity descended towards him, with one of his legs coming down as an ax kick.
Spotting the entity's approach, the *`7+*8* swiftly evaded.
The entity's ax kick connected where *`7+*8* had stood moments before, causing water from the lake to erupt and create chaos illuminated by the glowing circle above.
The water cascaded back down, transforming into hailstones mid-fall, aimed at the entity.
Sensing their target, the hailstones moved with purpose, forcing the entity to dodge skillfully to avoid being struck.
One hailstone struck the ground with a sharp crack, creating a large crater. The entity moved swiftly, evading the incoming hailstones.
His movements, a blend of speed and precision, seemed almost like a dance; he weaved and dodged with agility reminiscent of a complex ballroom routine.
Avoiding the hail targeting his feet and legs, the entity danced through the onslaught, ensuring minimal damage to keep fighting, moving with a grace akin to a skilled dancer performing a Rumba or Samba.
As the hailstorm intensified, making evasion increasingly tricky, the entity swiftly shifted his tactics to street dancing styles - Locking, Popping, House, Voguing, and Bboy-Break Dance.
Despite the unconventional approach, the entity sustained less damage than expected. When the hailstorm finally ceased, the battleground lay in ruins, marked by craters from the avoided attacks.
Amidst the devastation, the entity stood tall, scanning the area for his adversary, who remained armed and dangerous.
With a fierce cry, the entity jumps back, deftly evading the enemy's surprise attack from above. Seizing the opportunity, the enemy continues to press the assault.
Despite sustaining only minor injuries from the initial strike, the entity, weary from previous battles, struggles to maintain his strength, pushing himself to his limits.
As the entity's movements slow down, *`7+*8* makes a series of cuts on it, leaving slash marks on its garments. From these marks emanate particles of light instead of blood.
Sensing victory within reach, the *`7+*8* infuses power into the sword, causing its blade to resonate with a dark crimson hue.
Witnessing the ominous transformation, the entity attempts to evade the sword, but it is too late. The dark crimson blade slashes directly into the entity's chest, inflicting a severe wound.
The entity cries out in agony as it falls to its knees, gasping for breath, struggling to endure the pain.
*`7+*8* approaches the entity with indifference, appearing unconcerned.
"Well, it seems this is the end, Specter," *`7+*8* declares before delivering a powerful kick, sending the entity reeling backward. "Your interference has disrupted our plans! Do you comprehend the effort and time required to cultivate compliant and powerful individuals?"
With a sinister laugh, *`7+*8* continues to assail the entity, expressing frustration and joy for the pieces of the Song of Freedom obtained.
"It's not all bad. You have provided us with a few pieces of the Song of Freedom. It is time for you to accompany me," *`7+*8* asserts as he seizes the entity by the collar.
In a defiant move, the entity grabs the *`7+*8* arm, resisting being taken away. Enraged, *`7+*8* hurls the entity to the ground, shattering the earth beneath them.
"Just surrender! There is no escape for you. Will you come willingly or choose death?" *`7+*8* threatens, pointing the sword menacingly at the entity's chest. *`7+*8* tone was cold and unforgiving.
After a moment of hesitation, the entity lifts its head defiantly. In a swift and merciless act, *`7+*8* plunges the sword into the entity's chest, bringing a sudden and final end to its life. Silence descends as the entity's body goes still, its life extinguished.
*`7+*8*, frustrated by the turn of events, scolds the entity's seemingly resilient nature while headed toward the three human countries.
As he laments the battle losses and the delay in reinforcements, *`7+*8* notices the glowing circle in the sky intensifying, prompting him to turn back towards the entity's body.
In a sudden twist, the entity rises unexpectedly, launching a swift and decisive counterattack that sends *`7+*8* flying.
"Why are you still alive?" *`7+*8* exclaims in disbelief, realizing the entity's survival. *`7+*8* stabs the right side of its chest, where its heart should be, assuming the entity was a demonic opponent. *`7+*8* did not know that the entity was actually human.
The entity retrieves the sword from the ground before *`7+*8* could stand. In a split second *`7+*8* moved towards the entity, trying to take back the sword, the entity channeled power into his hand, forming a spear of energy which he hurled at *`7+*8* before he could come anywhere near him.
*`7+*8* halted, conjuring an energy shield to intercept the incoming attack. The clash of spear and shield sent sparks flying as the spear strained against the shield, gradually overpowering it.
"No! Not now!" *`7+*8* screamed as the shield shattered under the spear's relentless force. The spear pierced *`7+*8*. body, propelling him into the air with a pained cry.
A deafening explosion, akin to a nuclear blast, erupted in the distance, marking the end of the confrontation between the entity and *`7+*8*.
As the battle concluded, the entity emerged victorious. But, his body gave way to the weight of his injuries. Unable to stand any longer he began to collapse. In the sky the large magic circle that covers starly night slowly vanishes, with no trace of it ever being there.
It was then the sounds of the wind, animals, and bugs disappeared leading to a silence that seemed impossible. Time came to a standstill in a sudden twist, freezing the entity and the world around him. An enigmatic portal materialized before him, its mysterious origins shrouded in uncertainty.
From the portal arms outstretched, grabbing hold on to the entity, pulling him inside as time resumed, leaving behind only echoes of the extraordinary event.