For far too long, the world has been at war with the Majin. Slowly, the Demons took over the world, crushing every country that stood in their way. In a desperate attempt to push them back, Countries from all over gathered their strongest warriors and launched a massive assault on the uncharted landmass the Majin’s hailed from, The Dark World.

Hundreds of the world's strongest warriors embark on this journey, only one return. Gravely injured, the man repeatedly utters one sentence as he was carried to the nearest hospital. “We won.”

Weeks later, Majin’s all over the world retreated to their homeland. Thus concluded, the long war and beginning the age of strife.

With the Majins defeated, rulers could once again focus on their selfish desire. Countries severely weaken from the demonic invasion were conquer by stronger nations. Soldiers abandoned by their lords turns into bandits and pillages towns and villages.

With each passing year, the neighboring countries that once fought together grown to despise one another. Quietly, everyone waited for the spark that would ignite the next war, and everyone believes the time finally came when the king of Morningstar was killed.

Chapter 18.9

Spark of War

“New Dawn. Once just an ordinary city, now the pride of Morningstar, due to the destruction of the original capital a hundred years ago. People worldwide travel to the flourishing new capital hoping to escape from the scars of the war and start a new life. Unaware of the dark side of the city.

The Pleasure District. Only at night, this section of the town comes to life. Ruled by five gang leaders that called themselves "The Pillars." Slaves, blood sports, drugs, and other forms of illegal activity can be found here in this town's lawless section. Due to how lucrative this district has become, officials have turned a blind eye to all the crimes in this part of the city.

“I knew it was bad, but I never imagine it was this bad.” A young man around the age of eighteen anxiously fiddled with his dog tags as he watches a couple of thugs beat up a foreigner in the middle of the street.

“I don’t understand; why is no one helping him?” The young soldier grinded his teeth in frustration as he watches people laugh at the man getting beaten.

“That’s the pleasure district for you. Everything is a form of entertainment, even someone else suffering.”

The young soldier looks over at the young woman standing at the very edge of the building. Her green eyes gave off a soft emerald glow as she looked down at the city.

“Miss Bella, permission to leave my post?”

“Denied,” Bella said without even bothering to look at the soldier. “If I let you go, you’ll end up spending all night trying to stop petty crime. Only to be arrested or killed by the corrupt adventurers or soldiers patrolling this side of the town.

“So, we’re supposed to let bad guys do whatever they want? What’s the point of us soldiers if we don’t serve the country we swore to protect?!”

The young soldier quickly covers his mouth when he realizes he just yelled at a superior officer.

“Your name Zane, right?” Bella finally looked at the young man. Her emerald color eyes cause the soldier to take a step back.

“Y-yes, ma’am.”

“You remind me of the old man. Always preaching about justice like you’re the only one that cares about others.” Bella approach the young man. Even though the soldier was a head taller than Bella, it feels like a giant beast was looking down on him.

“Do you think I’m heartless? Do you think I possess no empathy”?

“N-No.”

“Then stop acting like you’re the only one that wants to help people.”

Zane looks down to avoid Bella’s glare, only to see her fist trembling with rage. Realizing she was just as angry as him, Zane gathered his courage, looked Bella in the eye, and said. “I’m sorry.”

“I know it’s painful not being able to help those right in front of you. But you’ll never be able to save anyone if you let your emotions control you.” Bella gently places her hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Focus on the mission. If we take down the pillars holding the pleasure district up, we’ll be crushing all the scumbags here in one go. You understand?”

Zane looks back at the foreigner. At some point during Bella’s speech, the scumbags that were beaten the foreigner up walked away, leaving him in the middle of the street, letting other scums walk over his motionless body like it was a rug. After confirming that the foreigner was still alive. He turns his gaze back to the city. “I got it,” Zane said while scanning the area for his target.

There have been rumors that the pillars have been planning to assassinate the king in retaliation to the crackdown on crime. In response to this rumor, multiple teams were dispatched to capture the five pillars and confirm this rumor.

Bella and Zane's target was a pillar who simply goes by the name Skull. A beastman whose rumor to smuggle illegal weapons like bombs and poison.

“We know his name, what he looks like, and his operation, but how we’re going to find him?

“By looking.” Bella once again took a position on the edges of the building. Her eyes rapidly darted around back and forth.

“Easier said than done. There are thousands of people roaming these streets. Not to mentions, the pillars rarely show themselves in public. If they did, we would’ve been fou-

“Found him.”

“What, really?” Zane looked over at Bella, thinking she was joking, but she was dead serious. Zane tried to follow Bella's line of sight, but everyone looks the same when your six-story high. “What do we do? Should we call for help?”

“No, I’ll handle myself. You’re free to backup me up whenever you catch up to me.” Bella took one step forward, letting one of her legs dangled off the building.

“Bella, wait!” Zane ran towards, but it was too late. Bella closed her eyes as she fell from the six-story building. A soft white light enveloped her body. The light shielded her from the impact. The moment she slammed into the ground, she dashes forward, her eyes fixed on the large back in front of her. The man she was chasing abruptly stop and turn around, swinging a knife. Bella jumped over the man. As if he knew that would be her response, the man pulled out a gun and aimed it upward. But before he could pull the trigger, Bella threw a dagger knocking the weapon out of his hand.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing?!” A woman screamed. Bella glances down to see she landed on top of a dining table, smashing a couple’s dinner and quickly becoming the center of attention in the outdoor restaurant.

Somewhat embarrassed, Bella tosses a few coins at the supposed boyfriend without ever looking at him. Humiliated, the man opened his mouth but immediately closed it when he sensed Bella's tension and the approaching beastman.

“I think we should leave.” The boyfriend grabs his girlfriend, and forcefully dragged her away.

“Bella Hellsing. I’m honored that they sent someone as strong as you after me.” The beastman bow slightly. His fancy black suit tightly hugged his tone body that it looked like it would rip if so, much moved a muscle.

“Before we do this. I suggest you turn yourself in. It’ll make your life easier, and I won’t have to drag your half-dead body across the city.

“But that wouldn’t be fun at all.” The beastman slowly undid the buttons on his suit. “There are two things I love the most in the world. Women and fighting. So, getting to fight a strong woman like you, I can’t think of a greater ecstasy.” With a wide grin showing off his fangs., the beastman tosses his shirt away, revealing dozens of skull-like tattoos etched into his dark skin. Bella knew exactly what the skulls on the beastman meant. They represent all the people he has killed. “Don’t make this a boring fight.”

The beastman lunge forward. Bella reached into her pouch and pulled out a gun. The beastman eyes widen as he helplessly watched Bella pulled the trigger.

Bang! The moment he heard the explosive, he found himself lying on the ground, blood spilling from his leg.

“Did you enjoy our little fight?” Bella said as she approaches the injured beastman.

“You fucking coward!” The beastman roar while pressing down on the bullet wound in a futile effort to stop the bleeding.”

“Coward? What a childlike insult are you going to call me a cheater next?” While looking down coldly at the injured man, Bella places one of her on his wound and presses down, causing him to howl in pain. “Going by your tattoos, I’m assuming you came from a warrior tribe. Which means you should know better than anyone else that anything goes in a real fight.”

“Heh heh.” The beastman howls of pain turn into cold laughter. Startled, Bella tried to back away, but the beastman grabs her leg and squeeze hard enough to make her wince. “You’re right. There are no rules in a real fight. So, I’m sure you don’t mind if I invite friends to our little battle.”

Suddenly, Bella sense something approaching her from behind. She turns around to see a fist coming right for her face. Before her mind could react to the threat, her body was already in motion. She raised her arm, stopping her assailant’s attack with her elbow. The attacker’s bones smash into pieces. Before he could scream, Bella fired her gun at the assailant's leg to keep him from running.

“So, you had guards hiding among the crowd. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” While her attacker hugged his leg screaming, Bella carefully scanned the crowd that gathered to watch the fight. “Well, does anyone else want to join this fight?” Everyone took a step back when Bella’s intense gaze fell on them.

“What the hell are you guys doing?!” The beastman roar. “I’ll add your skulls to my collection if you don’t do what I paid you for!”

Gathering their courage, a small group of armed guards emerges from the curious crowd. Bella raises her gun but then immediately lowered it when she realizes a stray bullet could injure a bystander.

Time slows to a crawl as Bella raises all six of her senses to their zenith. “Carefully, she identifies who her attackers were and who was innocent. “Eight of you, huh?” Bella reaches into one of her pouches. The thugs charging at her froze when Bella pulled out and threw five needles. The thugs scatter to avoid her projectiles, but Bella's aim was true. Each one of the needles hit its mark. The thugs fell unconscious as soon as the needle pierces their skin.

“Five down. Three to go.” Bella reaches into her pouch again. One of the assailants kicks a dining table at Bella to stop her from grabbing any more needles. Bella easily sidestep table, just like the thug expected.

“Got you!” The thug shouted as he swung his knife. Bella grabbed the man’s wrist and pulled him close enough to knee him in his stomach.

“!” The man opens his mouth as if he wanted to scream, but nothing came. The knife he held fell out of his hand. Bella kicks the knife before it touches the ground, sending it flying towards the second thug charging towards her. The knife sank into the man’s thighs, sending him tumbling to the ground. While still holding the first guy's wrist, she spun her pistol around and smack on the side of the head with her handle knocking her attacker unconscious.

“One more to go.”

“!!!” A giant of a man let out a beastly roar. Bella leaps into the air, barely avoid the enrage beast fist, which slams into the concrete where she was standing a moment ago. While still in the air, Bella fire a couple of rounds at the man. The giant of a man charge at Bella, her bullets bouncing off the dark scales on the man’s body. The giant stopped where Bella would land and swung upward. Unable to dodge in midair, Bella readjusted her body and planted her foot on the giant’s fist. The force of the punch launch Bella into the air once more.

As she fell, Bella kept fire her gun to stop him from giving. A smile begins to creep on the man’s face as the bullets continue to bounce off his body.

“Surrender, little girl. You can’t hurt me.”

“Is that so?” Unfazed by the scaley man's resilience, she took the magazine out of her pistol. There’s were only two bullets left. “Two, huh? I guess that’s all I really need to take you down.” Bella said as she calmly put the magazine back into her gun.

“Arrogance. Fine, I’ll force you to submit.” The beast charges forward, knocking down everything that stood in his way. Bella kicked a table at the enraged man.

“Pointless!” The beast shouted, smashing the table into pieces with one punch. “Your attacks can’t hurt me!”

“We’ll see about that.” Bella instantly closes the distance between the two using the table debris as cover. She places the barrel of her gun under the man’s chin. “One.” An explosive sound ran endlessly in the man’s ear. The bullet didn’t pierce his skin, but getting shot point-blank, caused the man to stagger backward, daze.

“I’m borrowing your trick for a bit cat ears.” Multiple beads of light suddenly formed and dance around her arm.

Aura is a technique that allows one to surpass their natural limit. This powerful technique can only be master by those who rid themselves of the plague called doubt. Normally it would take years for a person to be able their aura at a competent level. However, Catherine manages to learn the technique in three months. Not because she’s a natural genius or she trained harder than anyone else. It all came down to creativity.

Unable to completely conquer her insecurity, she fuses the little aura she could conjure with her imagination creating an attack that could rival veteran aura users.

“First Round.” Bella chanted. The orbs fuse, transforming into a blanket of soft white light the covered her arm. “Fire,” Bella said as if she was getting ready to shoot in an actual cannon. Bella slammed her fist into the giant man’s stomach with enough force to lift the giant off the ground.

“Well, did this hurt?”

“Gah!!” Unable to speak, all the man could do was wheeze loudly.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Bella removes her fist, letting the man dropped to his knees. While the man gasps for air, Bella places the barrel of her gun on the back of the man’s head.

“Two.” Another gunshot rang through the pleasure district. The bullet didn’t penetrate the man’s thick skull. However, the impact snatches away what remains of the giant’s fading consciousness.

“Anyone else?” Bella turns her attention back to the crowd. The people that simply came to watch a fight were now terrified. And the remaining of Skulls’ guards lost their will to fight after watching Bella taking multiple people down, including an armored beastman.

“I would like to face you one more time.”

“You just don’t learn, hu-“Bella froze when she turns towards Skulls. The guy who should’ve been on the ground hugging his injured leg held a knife to a woman’s throat.

“Coward.” Bella snarled

“Coward? What a childlike response. Are you going to call me a cheater next?” Skulls chuckle as he repeated Bella's words. “You said it yourself. Anything goes in a real fight. So be a dear and drop your weapon.”

Skulls smiles widen Bella, watching reluctantly toss away her gun. While Skulls enjoyed defeating his opponent in a fair fight. He also found it entertaining to humiliated prideful warriors.

“I dropped my weapon now, let the hostage go. Before I lose the little patience I have left.”

“So cocky. You still think you’re in control, despite the situation your in.” Skulls look over at the crowd. “To the cowards, still hiding. Come out of hiding and show our little friend her place.”

Two guards hesitantly approach Bella. They slowly realized that Bella wouldn’t make a move as long as skulls held the hostage with each step they took.

“About time you came.” A small smile blooms on Bella’s. A sliver staff flew through the crowd and hit one of the men on the side of their head, knocking him unconscious. A young man dash towards the last goon. The young man suddenly dropped to the ground avoiding the goon’s panic punch. The young man swept his foot across the ground the knock goon off his feet.

“Took you long enough.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I can’t dive off a building like a certain superhuman!”

“Do you not understand the situation you’re in.” Skulls press the knife closer to the woman’s neck. The woman went pale as she felt blood trickle down her neck.

“Let her go!” Zane roar. Bella grabbed Zane’s collar to stop charging at Skulls. “Let me go. He’s going to kill her!”

“No, you’re going to kill her if you don’t control your emotion.” Remembering the conservation they had earlier, Zane took a deep breath. So what do we do.” Despite his best effort to sound calm. Bella could still sense the urgency in his voice.

“Watch.” Bella slowly approached Skull and said, “Should be aware now that you have no chance of winning. Let the girl go, and I’ll guarantee your safety.”

“You’re right. I can’t defeat you. But you know, you’re not really in a good position yourself. What do you think will happen if I kill this woman in front of everyone” Skull's grin grew impossibly wide as he watches Bella’s expression darken.

“The people's faith and their new king is already low. Once word gets out that one royal guards, the king’s elite fail to save a woman begging for her life, people all over will demand the king’s head.” Skull grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled her close.

“Now scream, let everyone know how your protector failed you.”

“Please, someone save me!” In between her sobs, the woman begged for her life. Bella tightens her grip on Theo, who was desperately trying to break free from her.

“Let go of me! He’s going to kill her!”

“No, he’s not.” Bella’s eyes begin to glow a bright green. Chill travel up Skull’s spine. He could feel a presence behind him. Time seemed to stop completely for Skull as he unconsciously looked behind him. The moment he looked the thing in the eyes, he found himself high in the air. The world spun slowly around Skull, allowing him to occasionally catch glimpses of his body still holding the hostage, seemly unaware that it lost its head.

As Skull's vision darker, the last thought that went through his head before his life came to an end was trying to figure out what exactly he saw.

Skull’s headless body went limp like a puppet that had its string cut.

“What? What just happen? Did you do that, Bella?!”

“Does it matter?”

“Yea, it matters! Wasn’t he our only lead to the other pillars who are planning to assassinate the king?”

“Would you rather I let the hostage die?”

Zane glances over at the trembling woman sitting next to the headless body. Even a toddler would be able to tell she isn’t having a good night.

“Take her home. I’ll handle things here.” Bella turns attention back to the crowd, not bothering to check if Zane was tending to the woman. Satisfied with the blood bath, the audience begins to disperse.

Bella didn’t want to think about it, but Skull's words echoed endlessly in her head. As much as she hates to admit it, Skull was right. The people's faith in their king and soldier is at an all-time low. Even though Bella manage to stop Skull from creating a riot, the powder keg was still ready to blow.

“And to make matters worse, there’s been rumors of Majins being spotted near the capital.” Bella let out a sigh and looked up at the starless night sky. “It seems one way or another the spark that’ll set this country ablaze is going to be lit. The question is, who’ll be the one to light it?”

.

.

.

A lone man clad in worn armored climb his way up a steep hill underneath the starless night. At the top of the hill was a field of rusted swords stabbed into the dried dirt. Dog tags dangle on the hilt of each sword. A bitter smile forms on the man when he realizes the names on the tags were eroded.

“So, this is how they honor your sacrifice? By burying you on a random hill forgotten by time itself. You deserve better, my brothers.” The armored man grabs the hilt of a sword impales into the ground.

“Brothers, please lend me your strength.” The ground begins to tremble as he pulled the sword from the dirt. “Let me be their reminder that regardless of the era, be it war or peace, warriors like us will always be needed.” The armored man raised the rusted sword in the air then swung downward, splitting the ground in half.

“For conflict is eternal.”