Asol Ansaldo's PoV
(1 week later)
After the events that transpired after Fujiwara's concert, everyone's been on edge.
The Saviours finally making their appearance, Fujiwara being taken by them, and me being utterly helpless. It was all disastrous.
Due to this world's media presence, everyone and everything who were involved had their piece in the news articles and whatnoy. The CEO dealt with all the buzz for the past week with barely any sleep.
After the Saviours left me on the ruins of the dome, Toma and Hikari arrived just missing them. In case you're wondering, they were at HQ. What they were doing there is beyond me.
Now, I'm venting my anger off in the training room.
BOOM!
With every Kaiju hologram destroyed, my frustration grows. I keep thinking about my destroyed world, my family, my missing arm, and now Fujiwara whose been taken by the people that worship the things whose sole purpose is to destroy everything!
POOM!
CRUMBLE!
As I stand before another hole in the wall, I take a knee and a breather. I had been destroying holograms for multiple days without rest, with the occasional food.
I look down at my one arm that I've been enduring this world with.
"Sigh. It keeps getting harder with each day that passes."
Eversince the concert, the KAC put every effort into finding Fujiwara and The Saviours. Toma and Hikari joined the hunt. I would be out there, however the CEO insisted I stayed at HQ to train.
He wanted me to figure out what I can do with my Aura, like Fujiwara or Hikari. Aside from enhancing my body to tank hits or hit others hard, I'm practically useless against those who can use their Aura to the full potential.
Sigh. I'm tired. I should get some sleep. It's been days.
Although...
In the tenth training session I had with Toma, she's talked about the concept of meditating. Or Samadhi, as she called it. She learned it from an overseas idol named, Arhat Gotami, who had collabed with Fujiwara some time ago when I started as her manager.
According to Toma, there were three stages of Samadhi when it came to Aura.
The First was basic concentration of feeling the flow of Aura and subtly influencing it. Achieving this would allow one to begin understanding Aura.
The second stage is concentrating on the potentials of Aura, likn enhancing physical strength or shielding others. Fixating on one of these would make them more raw. More potent.
The last stage is being once with Aura. Although it's true nature is unknown to us, we can become one with what we can understand. Becoming one with Aura, allows an individual to tap into their full potential.
Unfortunately, I'm barely in the first stage. Yes I can enhance my body with my Aura, however it's unreliable in a sense where I can't consistently do so.
I sat, crossing my legs and closing my eyes, visualizing my entire body being surrounded by Aura.
Throughout my body, I could feel a cold yet light feeling of whatever it was coursing through my veins.
It was...
Calming.
Almost to the point where I had almost forgot about everything that happened to me. This cold wave then spread throughout my entire body.
This was it.
The first sta-
"ASOL ANSALDO!"
What the-
I immediately stand up and turn to the direction the voice originated from, only to see the CEO waving at me. A small frown appeared on my face as I made my way towards him.
"Asol! I see you're still training hard! Did you manage to figure out what your Aura can do?"
His voice roared throughout the training room as he pattedcmy back and observed the many holes in the walls around us.
"No. I was meditating in order to be more connected to my Aura."
Just talking to the CEO made me remember about our conversation days before the concert and what happened with The Saviours.
"I know what you're thinking, Asol. That it's my fault that I didn't tell her. Or that you were helpless and couldn't save her."
"You're right."
The CEO sighed, lifting his head facing the ceiling, and spoke.
"Strength doesn't come from what you can do."
"Pardon?"
The CEO continued.
"It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't do."
What the heck is he talking about about?
"What are you talking about about?"
"Sigh. Asol. You are riddled with internal conflict, doubt, hesitation, and loss. All those things are holding you back. Heck, you're so broken that you refuse the prosthetic arms we offer you. You are holding yourself back. And you don't even realize it. That's why everything happened. That's why you blame yourself for not preventing Fujiwara's abduction."
"I..."
Some tears flowed from my eyes as he continued.
"If you let all of those go, then you can beat them, The Saviours. And, you can access your Aura with its full potential."
I don't know what to say, but...
He's not wrong.
I've been harboring all these problems in me, and beating myself over them.
"Even on your worst days, you're one step closer to the person you want to be Asol. If you can get pass through all the things you've endured, then you can bring her back."
Sigh...
Perhaps...
"Mr. CEO..."
"Yes?"
"I understood why you couldn't tell her the truth. It's difficult telling someone you care about, that they are going to be hurt."
"I know. And I'm sorry to put this weight on your shoulders, even though it's understandable if you were to refuse."
"You all helped me. I should be the one to repay my debt."
Now that the air was cleaned up between us...
"But you didn't come down here to make amends with me right?"
The CEO smiled.
"That's my boy! See! I knew you were smart! But yes. You're right."
He continued.
"Remember the place where Shibuya once stood?"
Shibuya?
"You mean the place of that incident?"
"Yes."
"What about it?"
"That's where The Saviours are holding Fujiwara."
"What? How'd you guys find out?"
The CEO lifted an eyebrow as if to tell me that I can figure it out.
"Right. You knew the entire time and didn't tell me huh?"
"Yes. But you wandered onto their turf, remember?"
Ah.
That day when I went behind the barricades and fought that Saviour. I remember...
But to think it's their place of operations. No one or anything would go to a place where it reminds everyone of loss.
"So what are we going to do?"
"No Asol."
What? No?
"No? What?"
"I need you to keep figuring out what your capabilities are. You're intelligent. I know you can do it. But right now, you're not ready. I thought you were before, but I was mistaken when you got into that Aura Clash with Hikari."
The CEO said as he started making his way towards the elevator.
"How can I connect more with my Aura, Mr. CEO?"
I yelled.
The CEO stopped in his tracks and turned to me.
"Keep meditating. That's what you were doing right?"
Right...
The Samadhi...
...
...
...
Fujiwara Kane's PoV
Ugh...
What is that smell? Why can't I move?
As my eyes opened, I observed my surroundings to see cracked walls and floors that rusted pipes protruding from.
It was a dim room.
I was strung up like an animal being prepped to be butchered.
"HELLO!"
I called out as my voice echoed through the room.
How did I get here? Ugh...
My head hurts...
Memories from after the concert flashed through my mind.
That's right.
Me and Asol...
We were fighting-
"WELL, WELL, WELL! THE PRINCESS HAS AWAKENED!"
What the?
A male's voice roared in the room.
I looked up to see a figure in a blue robe that adorned an intricate design. Their leader.
"Fujiwara Kane. It is an honor to be in your presence."
Who is this guy?
"Who are you! Where am I!"
I cried out.
The figure laughed.
"I am the leader of The Saviours! And I hafta say Fujiwara Kane, it took quite some time to figure out how to get you here in order to fulfill our plans."
Plans?
"Plans? To what? Summon more Kaijus?"
The figure tilted their head as if they didn't think I knew. They spoke.
"It seems I was misinformed. I was told you weren't aware of our capabilities to summon Kaijus. Interesting..."
Yea. I knew...
I also knew what Asol was going to tell me on the day of the concert. In fact, I knew everything.
From the Saviours summoning Kaijus and to destroying Shibuya. I found out from accidentally eavesdropping on a certain conversation between the CEO and Asol.
The Saviours were the cause of how I feel. They destroyed my world, Dystopia, the same world that Asol was from.
I was angry, disappointed, and frustrated at first. But then I understood why they didn't tell me. Why the CEO didn't tell me.
They didn't want to hurt me.
Kite would've done the same thing.
Though, a question about Asol lingered in my mind:
What happened to him during those twelve years inside the gate? And what was he doing? How come he didn't age 12 years?
"Hello? I'm still here girl."
Ah. Right.
The leader continued.
"I want to ask you a question."
A question? With me being strung up like an animal?
"What is it?"
"Do you actually know what our plan is? Especially with The Rock?"
The Rock?
"The Rock?"
"That's right. The thing thing that killed your best friend. Unless you've somehow forgotten because of your new friend. His name was, Asol Ansaldo, right?"
No. I haven't forgotten about Kite. But what did they want with the rock? They summoned it, but...
"No. I haven't forgotten. But why the rock?"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
He's laughing?
He stopped for a bit and then continued.
"I know of your unique ability to perceive Aura in its purest state. But there's so much you can do than just see it."
I stayed silent, thinking about what he means as he continued speaking.
"You can manipulate it. You can reform and reshape Aura itself. You think you created that dimension with just your own Aura? What was it called? The Land of the Golden Lord?"
What does he mean?
"No. You reshaped an entire reality by bending the purest form of Aura, in which no one else in all Creation can."
What is all this nonsense he's saying? What is this implying?
"What are you trying to say!"
I ask, crying out.
"If you manipulate the purest form of Aura, you can bring Him back."
"Him?"
"Yes. Kite."
Kite...
Wait...
Kite?
"I know how empty you are. I can see it. Even with that boy, you still feel some emptiness in yourself. But with your powers, you can bring back the one thing that filled your emptiness. That is if you are willing to help us hatch the rock."
Huh. Hatch the rock? It's an egg? No. He's delusional.
I respond.
"Scoff. You can stop trying to manipulate me. My friends will find you. The CEO will find you. And Asol will find you."
The leader laughed.
"Hahahahahaha! You're very funny! That is what I like about you! But let me tell you this."
"..."
"You will use your abilities to hatch the rock. It will bring all of us to salvation."
The figure said as he left the room.
What was that? Oh gosh...
My head...
...
...
...
Asol Ansaldo's PoV
Hummmmmm.
Ugh. I've been sitting alone with my legs crossed in the training room, meditating the entire day. And nothing.
Just nothing.
Maybe there is a reason I can't fully use my Aura. It's like God put like a limiter or something on me. Hah. As if.
Sigh. Ill just go home. It's been days since I've gotten rest.
...
(Later)
"A white space? Where am I? Is this a dream?"
'Yes'
"Who's there!"
'You know me, as I know you. I've been with you ever since you were born'
A girl appeared in front of me.
"A girl? No. You're that girl from my other dream. The one with that weird symbol in the eyes."
'So it seems'
"Who are you?"
'That doesn't matter. Not yet at least'
"Then why are you here?"
'You seem to be having issues with your Aura. That's my fault'
"Your fault? What do you mean your fault?"
'I will lift one of many restrictions I have placed. With this, you will have the power needed to save her'
What? Restrictions? Save her?
"You mean Fujiwara?"
'...'
The girl then fades away as I try to reach for her.
"Wait!"
...
"WAIT!"
I screamed waking up in the middle of the night, reaching towards the curling.
"What the?"
My body feels light?
(30 minutes later)
As I step into the training room in the middle of the night, I lift my left arm towards the ceiling as I feel my Aura gathering in my clenched fist.
SHRIEEEK!
A bright light lit up behind me and formed into a Kaiju Hologram.
POOM!
Punching the hologram instantaneously, it fell.
The power and speed that I was capable before, was nothing to the power I held now. But, what could I do?
I kneeled and placed my palm onto the concrete ground beneath me and focused my Aura into it. I can feel it.
I know what I can do.
I can save her.