PHASE 19 - THE OUTSIDER IS OUT!

Gate Guardian for Dummies Vol. 2 page 10. Quintessence are orbs of light where we can use in order to use our powers in Earth Realm. For each Quintessence consumed, we are granted fifteen minutes to become superhuman. We can obtain Quintessences by killing an Eidolon.

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My consciousness went back to me when I heard the clap of my classmates and the Idol Club leaders. In front of the classroom, is Tiara who is completely flustered with joy. She bowed to the whole class after the sweet performance.

“You’re in!” One of the Idol Club members said. Then the other went in front and gave a handshake to the shrine maiden. “Welcome to the Idol Club.”

Tiara’s smile reached her ears as she expressed her gratitude once again. “Thank you very much!”

“Rikkun! Nette-Senpai! I did it!” She jumped with joy as she went to our side. She gave Jeannette a high-five, and mine, a fist bump.

I was happy yet worried. But I don’t want to show her that I’m anxious. I don’t want to say what will happen to her either. I don’t want to ruin her special day.

Because this might be her last smile. She’s so precious when she smiles.

Must PROTECC that smile.

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It was already evening when we reached the foot of the mountain of the Kozukata Shrine. Tiara did nothing but stare at her Idol Badge along the way with that dumb smile. She also hums her winning song on over and over that my brain suffered from last song syndrome.

“Anxiousness, vexation, happiness, that’s what love is… Ooooh…”

I understand that it’s her childhood dream to become an idol, but it’s just a school Idol Club. Some people really yearn for something so shallow...

After our 75th step in the stairs, we noticed an unfamiliar shadow above. It looks like the apparition is waiting for us. A gust of wind made the nearby trees sway. My eyes widened as I realized that the mysterious person is wearing a scarf that is quite familiar...

“Alaric Eisenhower. Long time no see… “ The apparition gave off a glare with his red eyes.

I can finally remember him! He’s the person with weird eyes in my nightmare. Teenage looks, white hair, black jacket and a scarf. He is…

“The Outsider,” I muttered. Tiara looked at me with confusion. “Looks like we have to fight our way here.” I pulled out my watch, creating a katana.

“Rikkun…” Tiara had a slight doubt, but she curled her eyebrows and looked at the mysterious guy with determination. “I-I don’t get anything, but I’ll trust you!” She grabbed her hairpin from the back of her head, and a pair of metal gauntlets materialized from her fists!

We both made a guarded stance as we wait for the enemy’s movements. I activated my Guardian Ability to predict his movements but I couldn’t see anything!

Suddenly, he was already there, between me and Tiara! How did he do it!? Did he teleport!? We were stunned because of the mysterious man’s sudden movement. This man… can finish us in an instant!

Cold sweat ran down my cheeks.

He whispered creepily to my right ear. His voice is cold like a killer clown.

“Your only predicts the future. It won’t work for me, because I can change it. I can change your future or Tiara’s future. All you have to do is form a contract to me.”

“As if that would happen!” I shouted!

Tiara took it as a cue as we both swiftly attacked with our sword and fist! But unfortunately, we are only able to hit the air. The enemy disappeared again. And now, he’s back to his original position, as if he has a super speed or teleport. His red eyes glared at us with disgust.

“It seems like you need a sample for my proposal.”

The guy named The Outsider grabbed his chest, and a small Gate opened on his heart. He used his hands to pull a golden-hilted short sword. The Gate disappeared when he finally drew the sword, and he swiped it to his left and right.

Time froze. Literally. The trees stopped swaying even if it is windy, and the leaves that should have been falling stayed in the air, motionless. I can’t move any part of my body, as if I’m a living statue. But I’m completely conscious. I can only move my eyes.

Like everything around us, Tiara is frozen. She’s unconscious and standing stiffly. Suddenly, I saw that smirking red-eyed guy walking slowly towards the helpless shrine maiden. He readied his short sword for a fatal stab straight to her chest.

“Stoooooop!!!” I cried.

“Heh.” The Outsider made a single laugh. Then the time’s flow went normally. Seeing that she almost got her heart stabbed by a short sword, Tiara was engulfed by her fear. She was shaking, and she lost the strength to stand up.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a swish of the wind destroyed the silence of the night! A blue blaster burst towards the enemy’s direction, and a wide explosion emerged! The whole place is filled with smoke!

We heard a jet engine, and as we looked at our backs, I determined a familiar face. It was a blonde woman who has the size of six feet. She has this mask covering her lower face, and she’s fully equipped with two submachine guns and two hip boosters. This woman is the one who saved me back in Mirose Grande!

“Lord Freya!” Tiara made a smile filled with hope.

The smoke faded, and surprisingly, the man called The Outsider managed to block the blaster by using a transparent shield. It must be his Weapon Gem.

“Freya… What is the fragment of the Frozen Soul doing here?” The Outsider gritted as she glared at the tall blonde woman. And then he shifted to a smile, like a mental person. He laughed so hard that his voice echoed throughout the mountain.

“Hahahahaha! I see.” He said. His golden-hilted short sword vanished, and his shield returned to being a gem encased on a cylinder. “The Goddess, the Witch, and the Prophet. The ones who are described in the Song of the Frozen Soul. This is a peculiar change of fate indeed.”

“Get ready!” The woman named Freya shouted as she pointed her submachine guns on the red-eyed maniac.

Tiara and I made a ready battle stance. The blonde woman used her hip boosters to dash forward with an unbelievable acceleration and speed! When she was close enough to the enemy, she shouted!

“!!!”

Freya waltzed as she made a series of blinding kicks and wind-breaking side chops with her guns! Every move she makes leaves a golden streak!

That’s how fast her attacks were, but the man with the red eyes managed to block all those with his shield as if he has already memorized the blonde’s patterns!

“Now!” Freya shouted.

While The Outsider was busy blocking the attacks, Tiara sneaked behind him. She has been charging her attack all along with her golden fist.

The same goes for me!

“!!!” , “!!!” Tiara and I shouted with all our might!

In the nick of time, Freya used her hip boosters to fly up in the sky to evade our incoming spells from front and behind!

A giant golden dragon and a piercing wind drill clashed to The Outsider guy! That is a perfect pincer attack! There’s no way he can block powerful attacks from both sides!

There was a loud explosion which made the whole mountain tremble. Everything was once again covered with smoke.

But it seems that all our attacks are nothing against this guy. The wide cloud of smoke revealed a silhouette of that crazy man. He made a mischievous laugh like a troll, and his voice echoed all around the place.

“I shall give you some more time to think. Cherish your sweet moments, young lovebirds.”

Then the silhouette disappeared.