I was forcing the motorcycle to go faster and faster in that dense forest, if it hadn't been for several years I would have crashed into a tree. I was close to finding the road that led to my house, I only needed to find a place to go down the cliff that was right next to the road where I was going, but at least I could see who Mr. Takeshi was talking about.
When I got to the cliff I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Along the road walked a group of people-like things and I say people-like because they were much bigger than a person, about seven meters tall and had six arms instead of two, their skin was the color of clay and for some strange reason they were only dressed in loincloths. But the strangest thing, apart from the loin clothed giants, were the other two that walked in front of them. One of them was bigger than the other, had a brown hairy body and seemed to have arms longer than legs, he also had a long tail like a scorpion and seemed to be talking to the other guy. The other guy was human, or so it seemed. He had blond hair, he was tall and thin, he carried what looked like a sword on his back, apart from that he had nothing strange, but something told me that he was the most dangerous of all.
What I had to face was a group of strange creatures that I didn't even know existed, I didn't have the slightest idea of how to face it nor the time to ask for help, although it was impossible that someone would help me in this. But I had to do something and fast. I didn't need to look for many reasons to know that they were the ones who attacked Mr. Takeshi and that he had sent me to fight them to protect my family.
I had to come up with a plan and fast, but there was literally nothing I could do. But I remembered one of my teacher's lessons "sometimes you will have to fight enemies you know nothing about, so you have to wait for them to make the first move and take an opportunity. But if there are many of them and they haven't noticed you have to take advantage of the surprise factor –
Well, the surprise factor I had, now I just needed something to face those giants, a rocket launcher would not be bad at all or a machine gun, but I had none of that, just a motorcycle and my own hands. I could hear something buzzing from me, in one of the branches of a tree there was a hive of bees. I came up with a crazy plan that might even work.
I climbed up the tree to get the hive out and wrapped it in my jacket so the bees wouldn't get out, although I did get a few good stings.
-Well, this is the only plan I have, so it better work – I said thinking out loud, praying that it would actually work.
I started the bike and backed up a bit to gain momentum. I rode along the cliff another bit to catch up with the group heading towards my house, luckily they seemed to be very slow.
-It's now or never! – I shouted trying to give myself courage.
I jumped off the cliff towards the giants, luckily I crashed into the head of one of them, but I couldn't hold on to the motorcycle and flew away. I took advantage of the moment and I licked the hive of the two that were ahead of me. Luckily I had been taught what to do in those moments, I turned my body in the direction of the giant in front of me and tried to land on my feet right on his chest, luckily it worked and the giant lost his balance and fell. When he fell I went flying again but this time I rolled on the ground a little. I stood up to see if the plan had worked, but it didn't go at all as I had planned.
I had managed to get two of the giants to fall, but the hive got stuck in the ear of one instead of landing near the two guys ahead. The motorcycle was destroyed by the giant, so I could not run away, I could only fight face to face, but the problem was that there was only one with whom I could fight, but seeing him face to face surprised me too much.
It was a guy who looked my age, blond hair and black eyes, plus his face was very similar to mine, only his skin tone was pale. He had a cold look and a twisted smile, just by looking at him I knew he was dangerous.
As for the other one, his face was that of an adult man, only that he was getting lost in all the hair that was coming out of his body, he looked like a strange mixture of a lion, with a scorpion's tail and a man's face.
-Well, well, what have we here? I see the hero finally decided to show up. I hope you're more fun than that old man from before, he just kept talking about things and was very easy to beat – said the guy with the pale face.
-Calm down, remember what you were taught – I thought trying not to fall into his provocation.
-That "old man" you are talking about is my teacher, so I will not allow you to speak ill of him. I know what they did to him, he told me everything. I know I'm alone and I don't have a gun, but I'm sure I can kick your ass – I said as I faced him.
I tried to look as brave and threatening as I could, but I didn't know if it would work with someone who had giants and that hairy thing on his side. But the guy just laughed.
-I see you really have guts. You jumped off the cliff, you beat up two of my giants and now you're challenging me, yeah that's great! If you only knew who I was, you'd cringe with fear – he said as he pointed at me.
-Even if you told me it wouldn't matter, I would never give in to fear and even more knowing what you did to my master and you want to do the same to my family, that's why I won't let them pass from here! – I shouted trying to make him talk more and give me time to think of a plan.
Now he changed his expression to a serious one, made a sign for the others not to come closer and took a few steps forward.
-I am Apollyon, former commander of the Chaos army. The shredder of wills. Supreme chief of the underworld and general of Tartarus – he said as if he was speaking in front of a large audience.
The monsters behind him began to shout with enthusiasm, as if they had won something.
-I'm sorry, but that name doesn't ring a bell at all – I said, trying not to sound so confused.
He changed his expression to a confused one and had a depressing aura.
-But what do they teach these young people now. Before they all prostrated in fear just hearing my name. But that's all right, after all, many centuries have passed since I was back in this world – he said, returning to his old attitude.
-I don't care about that, I just know that I can't let you pass from here – I said trying to process what he had said.
-And how do you plan to do that? Without a weapon or anyone to help you, how do you plan to take them all out, huh? – I asked in a mocking tone.
-I don't plan to beat everyone, just you – I said as I pointed at him.
He just laughed again.
-If you manage to do it, we will leave the others alone, but I warn you that you are dealing with someone much superior to you, so I won't use my sword or all my strength, so you will have an advantage – he said, he seemed very confident in his words.
-Well, thank you for all that advantage, I hope you don't regret it – I said while I put myself on guard.
This time I was a little confident, I was confident in the skills I had been taught and I tried to let them know it. I stood still, waiting for Apollyon to make the first move.
-What happened to that confidence? You're not going to attack? Then I will! – he said as he started to move.
He launched an attack right in front of me, he threw a punch that I was able to dodge very easily. When he missed, he kept trying to hit me, but I just dodged or blocked his blows with my hands. We continued like that for a few minutes, until I realized how he was fighting, so I decided to attack.
He threw a blow at me and I deflected it with my left hand and with my right hand I gave him a strong punch right in the face, he lost his balance a little but did not fall. I took advantage of the moment and continued attacking. I went towards him, hit him in the stomach, when he moved forward I gave him a knee in the face and finally a kick right in the side. This time he fell to the ground.
He got up with some difficulty, I knew that with those blows they should knock out a normal person, but he didn't look too hurt. This was going to be harder than I thought, but I had been waiting for a challenge like this for a long time.
-I didn't think you'd be this strong, I underestimated you. But you couldn't expect anything less from someone who possesses the blood of the gods – he said as he wiped his face.
-I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but don't think that's all I've got, I'm still warming up – I said as I got back on my guard.
-Then let's see if that's true! – he shouted excitedly.
We both went on the attack, but for some reason Apollyon seemed faster than before. He threw a punch at me and I could barely block it with my hand, he kept throwing punches at me faster and faster. But not only that had changed, his blows were stronger. I couldn't waste any more time, I had to hit him with everything I had.
He threw a punch at my face, but I ducked and took momentum to hit him just below the jaw, it was a blow that my teacher had taught me, in which all the strength of the body was used. It worked so well that he lifted a few inches off the ground. I had to keep attacking this time. I pulled him with one arm and with the other I gave him another punch to the face, then more blows to the stomach with my knee, I got him to lean forward a little, I joined my hands and gave him another blow with all my strength to the head, so he fell to the ground. I grabbed his feet and started to spin him around, only to end up throwing him towards the giants. I watched as he rolled on the ground until he lay motionless.
The giants looked stunned, perhaps at the sight of their leader lying unconscious on the ground. But I hadn't realized that the thing with the hairy body was gone, I had to be alert in case it attacked me from behind.
I was turning every which way to see where he was, until I saw that Apollyon was trying to get up, but it looked like he was really struggling. He spit out something that I thought would be blood, but it was a golden liquid.
-How... how could you possibly have that strength? Did you... No! That's impossible! We would have smelled your scent for miles! – he said while trying to get up, he seemed to be furious.
-I don't understand the stupid things you say! The strength I have is because of the training I've had for years with my master, also because I want to protect my family from you that's why I have the strength to be able to defeat you! - I shouted trying to look for the other monster that had disappeared.
-Now the one who doesn't understand is me, but the only thing I know is that I must defeat you and take you with us even if I'm dead! – he shouted again as he stood up.
He lunged at me again, only this time much faster. I barely had time to see a flash and move my head to the side. A black colored sword passed close to me, close enough to make a cut on my left cheek. My instincts took over and I managed to hit Apollyon in the back of the neck and he fell to the ground again.
I thought that would be it, but I felt a stabbing pain in my back, as if I had been stabbed with a knife, at that moment I remembered that thing had a scorpion tail, it must have attacked me.
I turned quickly to see where I was, but I could only see a giant hand coming towards me, but I could do nothing to stop it from catching me. Apollyon got up again, but I could see that the blow affected him a lot.
-Enough with the games, there's no time to do these stupid things. You, you know what to do with him – he said to the giant who had lifted me off the ground.
The giant obeyed the order immediately. He put his other hand around me and began to squeeze me like a lemon. I could feel my body being compressed more and more by that enormous force, it wouldn't be long before all my bones would turn to dust. A few seconds passed, but it seemed like an eternity, the giant let go of me and threw me to the ground as if I were a ball of paper.
My whole body hurt and I couldn't even move, but I couldn't give up, I had to find strength from somewhere. I felt my heart pounding like I had never felt before, but I decided to ignore it.
Somehow I managed to stand up, which left everyone surprised, but Apollyon seemed annoyed.
-I see that you are very resilient, but you have no strength left to fight. In the end you turned out to be as weak as any mortal. Although the humiliation I received from you can't stay that way. We just wanted to use your family as a pretext for you to appear right here, but I think we should pay them a little visit now and help them pass on to a better life – he said in a sinister tone that made a shiver run through my whole body.
He had a sinister smile on his face that told me he was serious. I just couldn't let that happen.
-I...I won't let...you do that – I said as loud as I could.
I could barely speak, let alone fight, but I couldn't give up. I started walking towards him, not caring if I could fight or not. It didn't matter if something happened to me or if I died, I had to protect them at all costs.
-I see you don't understand – I said as I saw him approaching me.
I just snapped my fingers and one of the giants hit me, sending me flying for a few meters. At that point the pain ran through my whole body, somehow I managed to stand up again, I could feel something hot and salty in my mouth and I could only spit the blood I had in my mouth to the ground. I walked back to him, but now I was barely conscious.
-How annoying. Hey, get out of there and attack it, but make sure you don't kill it – said Apollyon turning to the side.
In a second that hairy beast came out of nowhere, buried its stinger in my leg and grabbed me by the neck.
-Don't worry, my poison won't kill you, it will only make you feel more pain – said the beast with a smile on its face.
His smile only got bigger as he hit me. Each blow only hurt more, I thought I would pass out, but apparently the poison made me stay awake. It seemed like that beast enjoyed hitting me too much.
-That's enough! I said don't kill him, we still need him – said Apollyon when he saw all the blows he was giving me.
-It's ok, but I was really having fun – said the beast disappointed.
He let go of me and I fell to the ground like a sandbag. I couldn't move, I could barely hear, my vision was blurred and I could only feel pain. I was really finished, there was nothing more I could do. I felt helpless, unable to defend my family, I could only stay there and die. Soon tears started to roll down my cheeks, it was really useless.
But, if there was at least a chance, if I could at least stand up one more time.
-They need me... alive. If I die... maybe... they will... leave my fa... family alone – I thought at the helplessness I felt.
Somehow my body had the strength to move and I tried to stand up. My heart was beating harder than ever, with each beat my vision cleared for a few moments. Something was happening to me, for better or worse I had to move on.
-You are really annoying, I could kill you right here and that wouldn't change the fact that I will finish with your family, no one must know that you were in this world more than us – he said while he was watching me, he turned to see that beast and ordered him – Go get him.
The beast approached me, leaned a little to tell me something.
-Don't worry about your family, I myself will see to it that they die a slow and painful death, that's the best entertainment there can be in the world – he said with the same cheerful tone as before.
He raised his hand to grab my head and in that instant the world stopped.
-I really can't do anything. No matter how hard I try to fight... no matter how hard I try... I... – I thought about to cry.
They would kill my family no matter what I did, they would make them suffer to death. My father, my mother, my sister.
-Always remember our promise – I heard a voice, the voice of a little girl. I didn't know if someone was talking to me or if it was a memory.
-That voice...whose voice is that. It's so... familiar to me – I thought immediately.
-I will never give up if you don't, because...it doesn't matter if we split up... – the voice said again, it sounded like it was crying.
-Yes, we'll get back together. I swear – That was my voice, my voice as a child. I couldn't remember anything before my 12th birthday, was that a memory? What had happened back then?
I saw a small blue light in the distance, a small sphere of light that was in front of me. For some reason I felt the need to touch it, to take it in my hand. And so I did, the light ran through my body in a second and I came back to reality.
No, I couldn't, I simply couldn't accept defeat, I had to keep fighting, I had to win. My heart was beating harder and faster, a warm and calm feeling flooded my body, the pain disappeared, my senses became normal or even better.
-Surrender at once boy, so your death will be slow and painless – said that beast, he was so close to me that I could feel the heat emanating from his body.
-Surrender... that... that... – I said in a low voice.
I clenched my fist tightly and felt as if electricity was coursing through my body.
I punched the beast right in the stomach, its expression didn't change even after its feet dragged on the ground, until after a few moments its expression changed. I moved to the side and jumped up to hit it with my elbow right behind the head. When I hit the ground I lunged towards the giants.
-THAT EVER!! – I shouted with the new strength that flooded my body.
In one leap I managed to get to the stomach of one to punch him, I took the opportunity to propel myself and get to the shoulders of another and kicked him, he lost his balance and at that moment I jumped towards another, I grabbed his head with my hands and kneed him right in the center of the forehead, I jumped, but he managed to hold me. He threw me towards another giant who looked like he was ready to hit me, but I didn't care. I felt my body full of energy and I had the need to hit something. In the air I raised my fist to hit him, but something was glowing, the medallion that Mr. Takeshi had given me gave off a golden glow while something else glowed in a blue tone.
In an instant the giant threw a punch at me and I did the same, only my fist penetrated his skin and was making its way and in a second I had gone through him completely. I was still in the air, so I spun around and landed on my feet on the ground, but ready to keep fighting.
I could feel a somewhat strong breeze surrounding my body, but when I paid attention to the air it swirled around my body as gusts of wind blew outward, my hands glowed a shade of blue and the medallion radiated an intense golden light.
I saw the giants I had hit, they were all on the ground, but one was missing, instead I saw a small mountain of clay on the ground. But Apollyon was scared, he gave the impression that he had done something unbelievable.
-No, this is not possible! No one is supposed to be able to awaken that kind of power! Especially not you, who has never had any training with a god! – he said frightened.
-I don't know what's going on or why, but I do know that this happened because I will never give in to anything or anyone! – I shouted trying to threaten him. Another strong blast of air shot out of me at that moment.
-I never thought you would awaken the divine blood that runs inside you, let alone have so much power from the beginning, this simply cannot be happening! – he shouted angrily and lunged at me again.