The Kingdom of Alizad

Outside of the capital

Thousands of meters above the ground dashed Shin forward with a pained expression.

Cracking sounds could be heard clearly as his bones were breaking apart and mending itself the next second.

The pressure Shin was giving off was gloom and anger, every motion he does puts an enormous stress on his body.

Even with this, Shin continued to dash forward to where he sensed a clash between two powerhouses.

“Cough cough!”

Shin coughed violently, he wiped it with his right hand, only to find his hand covered in blood.

Don’t fall now.

Not now, I must continue!

Shin’s eyes which looked like the night sky were slowly getting white, but determination could be seen deep in his eyes.

The Kingdom of Alizad

The capital

Everyone in the room was absentminded when Shin vanished.

Kali and Azane were the first to react, they glanced around and spread their aura as far as they possibly could.

Sadly, they couldn’t sense Shin’s presence no matter how far they searched.

Laura, Susan, Eline, Tharia and Leo were all stunned and didn’t know what to do.

All they could do was to dumbly stare at the bed Shin was laying on.

Aria had it the worst, her small smile froze as her consciousness was tearing apart from the shock she was given.

She weakly raised her face and asked with a shivering voice.

“W-w-what did, did just h-happen right now?”

Aria’s pupils were trembling as she glanced at everyone in the room, fearing them answering her.

“He left…”

Leo could only softly say while dumbly staring at Aria’s frail looking body.

Aria didn’t answer, only her whole body was trembling in fear.

Before anyone could say anything, Aria dashed towards the window and jumped out of the room.

She leapt thousands of meters high into the sky, glancing everywhere, hoping to find the whereabouts of Shin.

Deep inside of Shin

“Sigh...”

Kuugo sighed sadly.

“Did he really have to do something like that?”

“Mekina, how is his body keeping up?”

Kuugo asked in a worried tone.

Mekina strained voice barely sounded out.

“It's looking bad!”

“I can barely keep up with the injuries his body is taking by just soaring the skies!”

Mekina voice was slowly fading away as the red shine of her sculpture was weakening.

Why this early...

If only I had a little more time.

Shin, please don’t act recklessly.

Please let there be enough time!...

Kuugo was in deep thoughts while quickly ordering the other Guardians.

“Ker'Vrak, help me out with the process of shattering my soul mark.”

“The others, support Mekina to the best of your abilities.”

“I will not allow Shin to perish here!”

“Mekina, draw powers of your soul mark if needed, we can’t let Shin take a risk.”

A silver and a grey light appeared in front of the silver shining sculpture.

Kuugo placed his right hand on the sculpture with a nostalgic smile.

I’m glad for the vision we saw.

If it wasn’t for that, we would have made a grave mistake.

Even if us Guardians aren’t saints, even devils would fit us better, that was stepping over the line.

I’m sorry for making your life tougher and harder, Shin.

We twelve promised to not do what we saw in the vision, but no matter what, we are only troubling you, Shin.

Kuugo was determined and didn’t hesitate at all.

Ker'Vrak behind him, supported him by touching his back.

Kuugo turned around and glanced at Ker'Vrak, he smiled faintly while nodding towards Ker'Vrak.

“The moment we became Guardians, our lives were already his. It was our fault for doing what we did in the past, let us do anything we can do to make up for it.”

“Isn’t that right, Kuugo?”

Ker'Vrak had a faint smile as he spoke to Kuugo.

Kuugo didn’t speak but slowly turned against his silver sculpture which was representing his soul mark.

Kuugo’s face turned deadly pale.

“Crack!”

Small fissures appeared on the sculpture.

Outskirts of the Kingdom of Alizad

Hath was sweating profusely as his armour was barely on his body.

Blood was oozing out from tens of scars around his body.

Even so, he stood like an unmovable mountain!

On the other side, Muir stared at Hath in a disdainful manner.

“Humph!”

“Back off, I might consider not going after you after I have killed the ‘Child of God'.

Hath calmly gazed back at Muir, sighing softly as he answered casually.

“Even if I die, I will make sure that you aren’t in a good condition!”

Haha...

I’m glad that he is protected by the Guardians and those two.

Even if I die, they would be able to defeat her in her weakened condition!

“I will tell you, even if the heavens collapses, I will not allow you to pass unless it’s over my cold body!”

Hath's voice turned cold as he fiercely gazed at Muir.

He lifted his ordinary looking sword and slashed towards Muir.

“You!”

Muir was beyond angry.

These mere mortals dare to stand in my path!

I will kill that child, even if it’s the last thing I do!

It is because of him that we’re suffering this fate!

Muir didn’t hold back anymore, she dashed forward towards Hath at a speed far beyond his imagination, gripped his head and hurled him like a lightning towards the ground.

Hath only saw the sky, he had no idea what happened, but the next second, his whole body was broken.

He could barely even breathe normally.

Muir descended slowly, standing right above of Hath.

“You’re just a mortal, you cannot stand in the path of us who are destined become Divine beings!”

Muir's voice was filled with despise and hate towards Hath and the human race.

She extended her arm towards Hath's neck, wanting to squeeze his neck.

But before she could grab his neck, a gloomy aura engulfed the whole surrounding.

Muir glanced up at the skies, to find a small youth with a pained expression staring back at her. His eyes were shiny black, but his eyes were slowly turning white.

Muir frowned as she narrowed her eyes.

She asked smilingly.

“Are you perhaps the ‘Child of God’?”

Shin stared at Muir, he had no idea where he was or what he was supposed to do.

But, he knew one thing.

She is the cause of all the pain to those I love.

At this moment, Shin's eyes were totally lost and tears emerged in the corner of his eyes.

Who are they again?

Tears started to run down Shin’s cheeks.

What were their names?

How did they look?

Why am I crying?

“Humph!”

Muir flew towards Shin, standing ten meters away from him.

“Haha, should I thank you for coming here willingly?”

Hath could only hazily see two figures in the sky, a female and a youth.

His heart skipped a beat. He tried to move but blood gushed out of his mouth before losing consciousness.

“Why aren’t you answering me?”

Muir frowned as she saw that Shin was ignoring her.

“Y-you, it, it is your fault...”

A cracking voice sounded out from Shin’s mouth.

Muir's aura exploded like a volcano!

She dashed forward, sending a punch towards Shin’s chest.

“Tump.”

Only a weak ‘tump’ sounded out when Muir's fist hit Shin’s chest.

A shocked expression could be soon on Muir’s face. She would never have thought a twelve-year-old kid would be able to survive something like that. She thought that at least he would have been in a half-dead state.

In return, Shin’s small fist punched right in Muir’s face, blowing her over five kilometres away!

She’s the enemy...

She has hurt their feelings...

Them... they are the ones who love me...

“Uwwaaah!!!”

Shin roared out loudly and dashed towards Muir.

Even if Muir hasn’t injured him yet, his body is in a terrible state.

Time, I need time.

I need to hurry!!!

Blood was flowing out of Shin’s mouth, ears, nose and eyes.

Shin extended his arms, a katana and a dagger appeared in his hands.

He wildly slashed his two weapons towards Muir, not giving her any time to rest.

Muir’s was shocked and could only block off Shin’s rushing attacks.

“Die, die, die, die!!!”

Shin roared out with an unrecognizable voice as he continued to attack Muir.

After successfully blocking off one of Shin's slash from his katana, Muir managed to leap back two hundred meters.

She smirked while staring at Shin.

This time, Shin didn’t pursue Muir, he bowed down as blood was gushing out of his mouth.

“You seem to be in a bad state.”

Muir snickered as Shin's condition was becoming worse by the second.

“I don’t know what they saw in you, you’re just a stupid brat.”

She shook her head as she found it funny.

Shin wasn’t able to respond, he had lost his senses. He could only see Muir, he couldn’t even hear her any longer.

He slowly raised himself up, his whole body was drenched in his own blood.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he raised his head towards the heavens.

I remember...

I remember their names.

Aria, Laura, Kali, Peutoa and Eline.

I can’t remember how any of you look like, please treat me well if I ever meet you in this life or my next...

Shin calmed down as he slowly put his eyes on Muir.

Even when blood was oozing out from everywhere, Shin forgot all about his pain.

“Let me finish this”

Shin spoke in a soft voice to himself.

An ominous aura engulfed Shin and the surrounding thousand kilometres.

Shin was hazily staring at Muir before he stepped on the air and once again dashed towards Muir.

Outside of the Kingdom of Alizad

Aria was soaring at a lightning speed, following behind her was Kali, Azane and Peutoa.

Aria worriedly glanced around, her eyes were bloodshot and she was barely managing to keep her consciousness.

“Aria, we will find him.”

Kali tried to calm down Aria, while in doing so, she hoped that she would calm down too.

But, even when trying for comfort herself and Aria, she barely could keep on. She was worried too much about Shin.

Just where is he?!

Kali's eyes narrowed as she continued glancing around. She was in a very bad mood, she had no idea where Shin was at, but she knew that Shin was most likely fighting the enemy by himself.

Peutoa was behind them, her face wasn’t showing any kind of expressions, but she had her eyes closed and tried to sense Shin's location.

“Wait!”

Peutoa said in a deep voice, she turned to her left with a shocked expression.

Aria and Kali turned and glanced at Peutoa.

“Peutoa, what is it?”

Not even a second after Kali finished speaking, an ominous aura engulfed everything around them.

Kali narrowed her eyes as a frown appeared on her face. She felt that the aura was over a thousand kilometre away, but the aura was already pressuring her body.

Aria didn’t even think before rushing towards the ominous aura's centre.

Her breathing became rougher the nearer she came.

Peutoa and Kali were behind her half a step, sweat was dripping down their faces, but they didn’t slow down.

Deep inside of Shin

Kuugo and Ker'Vrak were motionlessly standing in front of the silver sculpture with deadly pale skin.

“Ugh!”

Kuugo moaned in pain as he wrinkled his eyebrows.

“Mekina, how is his body doing?!”

He asked in a hoarse voice, it seemed that his bearings have aged thousands of years in less than ten minutes.

Silence...

Kuugo didn’t get an answer, but he waited patiently for it.

“Not good...”

Mekina managed to weakly respond.

“He is going berserk, I don’t know for how long I can heal him.”

“Don’t stop no matter what!”

Ker'Vrak said while his own grey sculpture was starting to get weaker.

“Hump!”

“I will not let him fall before I do!”

Mekina roared out as her red sculpture erupted in flames!

“break!”

Kuugo roared out in a loud voice.

The silver sculpture in front of him had an arm broken and the whole body was covered in fissures.

He won’t be able to continue for long.

Break for me!

Outskirts of the Kingdom of Alizad

Shin violently clashed against Muir.

Harder!

Faster!

I need to finish this!

Shin could sense his body barely managing to handle the strength he was possessing.

Before he noticed, his own body and Muir's body was filled with cuts.

Shin’s black eyes turned white before it swiftly turned black once again.

“Hahaha!”

“You don’t seem well, who knows how long you're able to continue this senseless struggle!”

Muir was somewhat overjoyed, she was barely able to keep her life in the fight against Shin because she had exhausted a lot of strength against Leo and some against Hath.

She raised her right hand and a red orb appeared.

The red orb rotated slowly, guarding Muir.

Shin was breathing heavily, he could barely stand up straight.

His arms were aching, his trembling hands could barely hold onto his weapons.

Shin's consciousness was slowly turning black.

Suddenly, Shin heard an aged voice calmly asking him.

“What do you wish for?”

Shin didn’t know how to answer.

He glanced quickly around but finding nothing, he saw an unconscious person on the ground, so it shouldn't have been him.

The aged voice started calmly speaking.

“You have been struggling for a very long time.”

“What do you wish for?”

The voice asked once again.

This time, Shin didn’t hesitate to answer.

I, I want to defeat the person in front of me!

Shin closed his eyes as she calmly thought.

I wish to rest after this...

“Strength...”

“I will give you strength, but there will be no return.”

The aged voice calmly stated before patiently waiting.

Shin calmly opened his eyes.

“Let me have it...”

Shin softly answered as a faint smile appeared on his face once more.

“Very well...”

The aged voice sounded both happy and sad by Shin’s answer.

A white lightning descended from the heavens, thundering and roaring as a wild beast as it was falling on top of Shin.

Muir widened her eyes as she backed off over a kilometre away, shockingly staring at the white lightning above Shin.

The white lightning fell on top of Shin’s head quickly.

Shin's body slammed on the ground with a force, leaving the surrounding ten kilometres in disorder.

“Uwaaaah!!!”

Shin roared with his eyes widened, he felt like his body was being torn apart.

Muir didn’t think before grabbing the red orb and throwing it towards Shin.

The red orb created several spikes on its core. It flew at a lightning speed towards Shin who was roaring on the ground.

The orb hit Shin's face, the impact itself broke the orb and sending Shin flying hundreds of meters back.

This time, Shin didn’t land on the ground. His feet were a couple of centimetres above the ground. His whole body was covered with two types of auras, his left side was black and his right side was white.

He vanished and reappeared in front of Muir, sending a slow punch towards Muir.

But, even with the slow punch, Muir wasn’t able to react or dodge.

The slow punch landed on Muir’s chest, sending her flying down to the ground.

Muir tried her best to stand up before Shin did something else.

She stood up swiftly, only to be hurled towards the ground once again.

Shin appeared above her and kicked her shoulder.

Who am I fighting against?

Why am I fighting?

Shin asked himself while attacking Muir without any mercy.

Muir was bleeding and most of her bones were broken.

She was frightened! Muir couldn’t do anything against Shin’s onslaught.

“GET OFF ME!”

Muir yelled her lungs out as she vanished from where she laid on the ground.

She stood high in the sky, staring down on Shin in disdain before flying in the other direction.

Shin emotionlessly tried to pursue Muir, but he fell on the ground before he could even move a muscle.

Luckily, Muir was nowhere to be seen.

His black and white aura slowly vanished, the black one sucked itself into his body while the white one flew up to the heavens.

Shin was laying on his back, watching the sky with hazy eyes.

“I, I, won…”

Shin wasn’t able to smile, he felt his own body being crushed.

“I can finally go home.”

“Home…”

“Where is home?”

Shin asked himself in a hazy voice.

Shin’s vision turned hazy as he watched the sky.

High up in the air, Shin managed to spot four figures.

They descended swiftly towards him with shocked and worried expressions.

Who are they?

“SHIN!”

Aria roared out when she saw Shin barely breathing on the ground.

Shin?...

Is that my name?

“T, tell me…”

“Shin, is that my name?”

Shin asked weakly, his voice was fading away in the wind.

Aria, Kali, Azane and Peutoa who heard his question, widened their eyes in shock before tears started to roll down their cheeks.

Kali stepped forward, kneeling right beside Shin, stretching out her right hand and placed it on Shin’s face carefully.

“Shin…”

Kali had no idea what to say, her golden eyes were watery as her tears fell on Shin’s face.

Shin felt a pain in his heart, he quickly tried to say something.

“Thanks.”

Shin slowly closed his eyes as his breathing became weaker.

“Shin!”

Aria fell on her knees, she had previously checked his condition, only to find out that his whole body was simply destroyed.

Peutoa was simply lost, her eyes showcased sadness and she could barely stand on her feet.

Deep inside of Shin

“KUUGO!!!”

Mekina roared out with a frail voice before the flames on her sculpture died out.

“FOR GOD’S SAKE, BREAK FOR ME!”

Kuugo yelled out and he withdrew his palm, sending it back with an unimaginable speed, punching the sculpture.

“Bang!”

The silver sculpture broke off into thousands of pieces, turning into dust.

A refreshing smile appeared on Kuugo’s face when he saw that.

At the same time, Kuugo’s body was slowly vanishing.