(Days later)
Just as I had hoped I could finally figure out what my abilities were, I was wrong. Though, it seems my physical capabilities have significantly improved.
I guess the dream with the girl wasn't so much of a bust. This was the second time I've dreamt of her.
Remembering what I did the first time I dreamt of her was, embarrassing. All that groping and kissing I did to the girl. Geez...
It makes me just want to crawl into a hole or even sit in a dark corner.
Sigh...
But what she said-that it's her fault, she sealed my abilities? If she sealed them, then how many seals are there? Actually, I should be asking who she is. The question I asked was cast aside in the dream I had, maybe I'll have more opportunities in the future.
It was worth the try...
"Mr. Ansaldo?"
Ah!
"Ah! Yes?"
"Everyone is waiting for you. Please hurry."
"Right. Yeah. My bad..."
I was called to HQ for a debrief for the mission to rescue Fujiwara.
As I opened the doors to the debriefing room, I was met with the looks of curiosity and annoyance by the people in the room. That's excluding the CEO and the girls.
The room was dark, making me seeing the faces of the individuals in the room barely visible. The warmth of the room was noticeable due to the amount of bodies here.
Most of the KAC members present in the room were high ranking individuals.
Some of them even rivaled the girls in power, or so I've heard numerous times.
After what had happened on the day of Fujiwara's concert, a lot of the KAC members thought it was my fault that Fujiwara was taken by the Saviours. They weren't there, but even I found myself at fault for being so helpless.
One of the reasons the CEO had me spend my time in the training room, aside from figuring out my abilities were, was to be isolated from all that stuff. Still, it's nothing compared to witnessing your world, your family, your best friend, and your arm to Kaijus.
I can even hear whispers meant to shun me.
The CEO spoke up while patting the empty seat next to him.
"Come, Asol. Sit. There's not a time to waste."
After taking my seat next to him, he began the debrief.
Just as he said days ago in the training room, the Saviours place of operations were in the ruins of Shibuya. The same place where Fujiwara's friend died, and where I fought that elemental wielding Saviour.
It was located between two buildings that collapsed onto each other during the fall.
According to him their numbers were in the dozens-which was about right considering the numerous Saviours that appeared that day.
Our game plan was to send the other KAC members as our frontline while the girls snuck in to free Fujiwara.
As for me-
"Asol Ansaldo! You may know him as Fujiwara's manager! Or the One Armed Wonder!"
The CEO yelled proudly as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Not so much of a wonder after the events of Fujiwara's Concert!"
A KAC member yelled out in disgust.
I, as well as everyone in the room, turned their attention to him as he continued.
"C'mon! This guy? Hah! He's done nothing but lose and lose every single fight!"
I could hear the whispers from the other KAC members agree with him.
Toma, who happened to be sitting next to me-
"Watch what you say-Kazuma Arashi! He's been through more things than you've ever been in your dual life!"
"Tch. Yeah, yea, yea redhead! Defend your, boyfriend! He can't even kill a Kaiju! Also, have you even noticed that he has a single arm? Like- What's the deal with that?"
I could see Toma fuming beside me.
"The audacity!"
Everyone else in the room could sense her Aura beginning to take form in her fists. She was ready to fight.
"ENOUGH!"
BAM!
The CEO yelled as his fist slammed onto the table, silencing the chaos that ensued.
Everyone including Toma and Kazuma Arashi turned their attention back to the CEO.
"Done?"
With the silence that filled the room, I guess he took it as a yes.
But I'm surprised- Toma sticking up for me against that Kazuma guy? After all the training sessions we've had, I suppose we developed a camaraderie.
"Now-before I was interrupted, here's how we're going to do this-"
...
...
...
Well, that didn't go as well as I thought it would. I was in the training room thinking about the course of actions I'd have to take to save Fujiwara. As mentioned by the CEO, Toma and Hikari were to sneak into the Saviour's place of operations while the other KAC members posed as distractions to combat the Saviours.
My role in all this is to take on the Leader and his strongest Saviours. When the CEO said this with full confidence during the debrief, everyone else in the room gasped and questioned his decision. After all, I'm too inexperienced and "weak" to take them on. They aren't wrong.
Why he wants me to take on the Leader and his two close men, I've no clue. Maybe he saw a future of me defeating them.
"Hello! You're Asol Ansaldo right?"
"Hm?"
I turned to be met by the gaze of a blue haired girl, in a blue dress adorned with ribbons that complimented the aesthetic she was aiming for.
I respond.
"Uh-Yea. That's me. Is there something you need from me?"
The girl straightened and introduced herself.
"My name is Aoi Shigure. You can just call me Aoi. I'm an idol from, Generation: Houkai. I was also in the debrief room! Though, I don't think you could've noticed me due to the poor visibility?"
During my time here in the KAC, I've heard of a group within this world's branch that travels between our realities. According to rumors I've heard here and there, the group consisted of individuals who possessed unique abilities. Abilities that are unknown to most. They are practically the High Guard you would read about in those fantasy knight stories. The strongest of the strong.
"Nice to meet you, Aoi. So what do you need?"
"Ah! I came here to apologize for the words my manager spoke in the debrief room earlier. I am very sorry..."
She says as she bows.
Manager? That Kazuma Arashi guy is her manager? Wait, if he's her manager then he's a part of Generation: Houkai.
"Oh, uh. You don't need to do that..."
She perked up and refuted.
"No! I have to do it because I respect you!"
Respect me? That's a first.
"Respect me?"
"Yeah! Even though you may be a figure of controversy within the KAC—you are intelligent! You don't see yourself a hero as others are led to believe. You know your limitations and past failures, yet you keep moving forward. That is why I respect and admire you!"
I'm...
"I- Uh... Thank you. I'm flattered..."
I say with a blush as I put the palm of my hand on the back of my head as she continues. But to think that someone other than the CEO and the others holds such high regards for me is...
Refreshing.
"Your welcome! I've followed and done my research on you, so I practically know everything about you!"
She said with a smile.
I don't think she's kidding about that part, should I be concerned?
Hm. Every time I have these types of encounters with other, there is always a hidden agenda with these people. The girls (minus Fujiwara), always seem to want to spar with me. To be honest, I don't know why I'm comparing the girl standing in front of me with them.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?"
I must've been thinking to myself so quietly that she got worried she did something wrong.
"Yea, I'm fine. I-"
"Oh my gosh- I should've known! The everlasting effect of verbal abuse! I'M SO SORRY!"
What?
I could see tears flow from her eyes as she started crying.
"What? No! No! You're fine! Nothing's wrong with me! Please stop crying..."
"Sniff, Sniff..."
After calming her down, her composure returned to normal? She continued on, speaking normally.
"So, you haven't figured out your abilities?"
"Pardon?"
"Your abilities! You know!"
Ah shit. I knew it!
"Uh no?"
"Sigh."
After sighing in disappointment, she continued.
"The CEO sent me and my manager to- Uh, help you."
"If he sent you and your manager, then where is he?"
A smile formed on her face.
"Follow me!"
...
...
...
The Leader's PoV
Very few individuals possess the capacity to resist the mind and the heart's desires. One of those individuals is in chains made of what is called, Living Ore. Just as the name implies, the ore is quite literally alive in a sense to where it possesses some form of intelligence, whether malevolent or not. The ore that were forged into these chains happen to possess a malevolent nature to use man's desire against themselves.
In fact, it's the reason why it is keeping the girl, Fujiwara Kane, from breaking out of her chains.
What the girl sees is merely what she desires. Yet, it is all an illusion. After observing her conversations with the illusion casted by the Living Ore, it seems deep down she wants to bring back a loved one from the dead.
But alas, it is impossible.
Those who can access Aura are basically omnipotent in a sense to where they can do what their minds think of. Of course, there are limitations. If you wanted to resurrect a loved one or just anyone really, you'd be disappointed by the limitations of Mankind even though Aura is infinite.
All I feel for the girl is pity. And in some way I can relate to her. After all, my partner died by the hands of the Kaijus.
Speaking of Kaijus, I was tasked to capture the girl. For what reason did they want with her? Even after being tasked to assassinate the girl numerous times? I'm in no position to ask. After all, they are the ones providing knowledge of their kin to me. I have a reason to believe it has to do with that rock I summoned years ago.
"The Shibuya Incident" they called it.
In my 15 years since founding the Saviours, I hadn't felt remorse of what I've until that day. I committed the genocide of numerous lives that day, all because I did it for the sake of knowledge. Knowledge that would prove to become the salvation of our species.
Throughout the years I've led the Saviours, our vision became corrupted. It was innocent. Or so I thought. I turned to the Kaijus because they were the key to our salvation. What they knew was boundless. And that was what entangled me into their trap.
I became a pawn. Their pawn.
What you see on the news or the papers is just a mere act. In fact, my acting was what gathered many of my subordinates. Most of them were mere individuals who were rejected by the society they were born in, with the goal to show the world that they are worth more than what they were told.
Each member was their own person. They were either a corporate seller or a broker who got laid off or a boxer who was ridiculed by the people who once cheered for them, or brothers who were born to a broken family that didn't want any business with them. They wanted a piece of the world.
These people wanted salvation, and they knew I was the one to lead them to it.