Tides Of Protomis XLII

The War Continues

In Shishigai, Jirou flew over the area he called home. Though the invasion in Shima stopped, the same could not be said for this area of Tokyo. Though, as he saw, there was frantic scrambling among the Kaemerge’s troops. As he’d heard, their brass got killed, and HQ destroyed in minutes, all by a single man. However, the Yakuza stopped mid-air, as he took note of a proto-human flying past him, barreling into one of the many buildings in the area. Which collapsed, buckling under the force of the impact.

He turned his attention to the direction the man came from, and where three others were. Tsumotsu Koeda, along with two women, the taller of the two, had auburn hair, tied up in a single thick braid that reached her shoulders. Her orbs are bright yellow. The shorter of the two had long white hair, many of the strands landed both behind and on the front of her torso, her irises purple in color. Tsumotsu was the first to take notice, stopping, and, soon after, they stopped as well.

“Hold on, Tsumotsu Koeda…What are you doing here?”

Tsumotsu floated toward him, as he kept his gaze on the building that lay past him.

“Unfortunately, we found that there was a traitor in our Midst... I suspected that Yamaguchi had turned against us for years, but I'd hoped that it wasn’t true.”

As Tsumotsu made his statement, He thought back to what happened just 10 minutes prior. On the busy streets, Yamaguchi, A man of large stature, with a bald head, had several blades of varying size, and shape floating around him, pointed at his former ally. All the while, Tsumotsu stood with his revolver aimed at Yamaguchi’s head. Tsumotsu’s hands inched toward the trigger, light appearing within the chambers.

“So this is how it is… it looks like I was right to suspect you…”

“That you were.”

The eyes of both narrowed, but, regardless, they remained unmoving.

The original Silver Lions Elite ops were formed by the Yamato government- with a group of adolescent proto-humans who displayed extreme combat prowess…The original 4 group members were Watanabe Taiki, Ashikaga Sara, Asano Yua, and Yamaguchi Gou- while Tsumotsu joined the group later following the southern Shīma Incident In which a weapon of the ancient alien race, The qun'mi was discovered. It’s activation was thought to be caused by a power surge…While- at first, the group failed to believe the newer member, as the third world war started- and Gou's suspicious actions became more clear… they began to think more of his claims.

The two women coming closer began to float toward jirou, The taller was the first to come forward. The Silver Lion’s Yua Asano. She seemed to smile, which caused Jirou to raise an eyebrow. With the shorter, Sara Ashikaga looking over at her. She soon reached out as she began advancing toward him.

“Oh-- And who is this cutie here..!Come Closer to auntie Asa-”

However, Yua was soon stopped as Ashikaga smacked her in the back of head And, she soon stopped, as she held it. Glancing back at her.

“Oww… what was that for?”

“Stop, being weird, Yua…”

Sara turned her attention to Jirou, as she sighed at Yua’s antics.

“Sorry about her, What’s your name?”

“Jirou… Hashimoto Jirou. One of the strongest guys in Tokyo.”

“Hashimoto…”

Sara put her hand on her chin, attempting to remember where she’d heard that name before… She snapped as it came to her.

“You mean, You’re the son of the lord of Dusk? I’ve heard about you.” She continued.

“Correct. And before you ask, no, we have not joined with the Kaemerge as well… Though some of the other syndicates have chosen to do so… But that’s beside the point. My guys are getting killed out here, so I need to fight the kaemerge as well. Stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours.”

With his statement made, he abruptly began dashing away, leaving the group to their own devices. The members of the squad looked upon this as he did so, glancing at one another… Apparently, the same thought came to their heads.

“Huh… Those two are alike in more ways than just having power.” Sara noted.

“Sounded like Arctaius through and through.” Yua agreed.

Tsumotsu nodded.

“Either way, he’s shown that he can handle himself. We should get to containing Yamaguchi.” He stated, before flying after the former member. Yua and Sara would follow suit. While, Jirou’s eyes scanned the city once more. Searching for targets. Something that stopped as he began to sense something, his eyes moved to his right.

“Another Proto-Human. Looks like they're around my level. But I haven’t sensed them before. I'll need to stay on my toes.”

Jirou brought both of his hands up, clenching his fists as the source of the protomis approached him. A fair-skinned man who was seemingly in his twenties. He wore a cloak, one which kept most of his body covered. However, his scarred face and sharp jawline were visible. His short hair was a dark green, and his eyes were hazel in color. The two stayed silent for a moment. As Jirou’s eyes darted around the man’s body. He eventually focused his gaze on his face.

“Who are you… And, more importantly- are you with the Kaemerge?”

Lucius put his hand up, waving the question off.

“Whoa, let’s slow it down a minute… Why not take some time to introduce ourselves. The name’s Lucius, Lucius Clarke.”

Jirou said nothing, frankly, not seeing a reason in responding if he happened to be Kaemerge. For a moment, no words were uttered from either. Until, Lucius sighed in response to the youth’s silence.

“The Silent type, huh- well, I’ll make this quick. I am a member of the proto-human supremacy Party, the only reason I’m with the kaemerge is that I can hope to grasp more power… Which is why I came to you- and I eventually plan to go to the Tides. With the power we have- we can stop this inferior species from gaining power. These worms that must depend on their tools to survive, cannot be allowed in any position of power.

Though Jirou listened, it was clear that he was less than interested in his words, though Lucius took note, he continued regardless.

“Just like that, We, as Proto-humans, Will rule over this new order, and THEY will be where they should be, Under us… Now tell me, how does that sound?”

“It sounds like you’re just a Rendeil 2.0… I have no interest in joining your little club or helping you gain power.” Jirou responded.

Lucius scoffed at this, as he turned his back on Jirou… Here he was, allowing him to join their inner circle, and this was the response he got?

“I see you haven’t been enlightened yet... Fine then, I shall go elsewhere… and for the record, I am much less of a fool then Rendeil.”

Lucius began flying away once more… All the while, Jirou watched this with his expression unchanged. Seeing no point in pursuing the man.

“ I Lost good time talking to that one, I'd better get moving.”

Jirou soon began flying once again, but, before he got far, an orange flash came from the street in front of him, as the wave sent flying outward devastated the buildings around them, sending rubble and dust cascading afterward. Jirou soon burst to the center of the explosion as it subsided. In the center was a silver-haired man in a suit. Unlike its usual stark white, it was now covered in red patches… But given what happened around him, it became clear that it was not his.

Around him, Platoon after Platoon of the Kaemerge who attempted to jump in range, simply exploded, time and time again. It was a meat grinder, and it became clear that nothing they were doing was changing their situation. There were supposed to be other proto-humans to handle things like this, Where were they at?! The chairman of the Hashimoto-Kai was simply not somebody they could handle themselves. As Jirou saw this scene, he yelled out.

“Pops!!”

As Ren heard this familiar voice, he looked up to see his flesh and blood. Something that made a smirk make its way onto his face, Jirou soon landed beside him.

“There you are… I thought you were off fighting in Tokyo.”

Jirou cracked his knuckles, smirking as well.

“I was, but I came back as soon as I found out the Kaemerge were here too… What do you say we finish these guys off together.”

“It wouldn’t be that hard to do alone, however… I have no issue with spending some time with my son.”

Ren and Jirou alike both raised their hands, as they both prepared to make their assaults on the enemies that surrounded them.

“Gravity Well!!!”

“Vacuum Pull… “

Now, the ground was ripped apart, as one by one, the soldiers were brought into the very center of the square, along with much of the tiles on the ground. Until a clump of soldiers had formed. Something that caused a panic between them.

“Shit, I can’t move!”

“This Isn’t gonna end well.”

The ground under them collapsed, Crushed under the Gs. And, so were they, their screams echoed into the air, and, no sooner, were they gone, as the troops were crushed into a red paste. Just like that, multiple platoons were gone, courtesy of the father and son.

Part B

Elsewhere in Tokyo, A different Youth found himself in a pod, which was laid down like a bed. His body, save for his head, covered in a green liquid. His eyelids slowly parted as he came too. His vision, at first, was blurry. But, as he began to sit up, his eyes began to correct themselves. The green liquid in the pod began to drain. He looked around the room, taking note of the fact that the other tides were sitting up as well, in their own pods. He looked to his right, where Shinto, Yudei, and Akashi stood. At first, staring at the walls, Until, Shinto turned his gaze toward them, tapping the shoulder of his two friends. And, in the same way, did the tides do so as well.

“Honda... He’s dead. It took long enough, but he’s finally done.” He proclaimed.

A smile, if a slight one, made its way onto his face... Something that disappeared as he took note of the woman who was at his bedside, that sprang up as he spoke. He’d recognize her from miles away, after all.

“And you could’ve died just as easily!! Can’t you just listen to me for once?”

Arctaius sighed.

“I won, Didn’t I? What’s the issue…”

“The issue is that we had to go out searching for you all!! The only reason we were able to find you was because of the burning forest…” She continued

Arctaius thought back to his attacks, and the subsequent fires that started, as the bolts he generated flew outward… Apparently, something the other tides took note of, given their silence.

“Looks like we forgot about that, could say it was in the heat of the moment…” Kazimir mumbled.

They decidedly did not respond to Kazimir’s statement.

“Not much we could've done about that...Looks like it went out of the storm’s range…” Alarick responded.

Zhao nodded, as he parted his lips to speak.

“Perhaps we should’ve no-”

“Quiet!!! And that’s not the worst thing- You Destroyed Mount Jihou, Kaisei, and Agaraki!!! Not only did you exhaust yourself, but you also stacked on to those injuries you got from your last fights! do you not understand h…” Asami paused as the rapidly building volume in her voice decreased. She sighed, as she sat back down.

“Sorry, I had an outburst there… That wasn’t very appropriate.”

The mood of the room seemed to change with her words. Though Ketamura opened his mouth, ready to at least attempt to lighten the mood. He’d decided against it. The silence was finally broken as the one she originally addressed, finally spoke.

“Don’t apologize... You aren’t completely wrong in what you’ve said. I understand where you’re coming from. But that’s something we’ll have to worry about later. We aren’t done with our battles, we only took out one general…”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Alarick chimed in.

Arctaius raised an eyebrow, glancing at the blonde.

“Some guy took out their HQ. We don’t know who it is b-”

Soon enough, the door to the room creaked, as a cloaked man appeared at the door. A face that four of them had seen before. And something that only proved to worsen Arctaius’ mood more. Asami looked at the new arrival, before returning to Arctaius.

“Corde, who is that?”

“Ittur-Sul Caen... The one responsible for the death of my family…”

This made all of them turn their gazes to him. It was only then that they understood the anger on his visage… Though, even with this rage, Arctaius decided to keep his calm, and wait for the man’s next statement.

“I’ve decided... I’m going to help take care of the Kaemerge. I took out the Japan branch HQ already, but. I’m aware that doesn’t exactly change what I did....”

Then, their gazes moved back to Arctaius, as he regained his prior blank expression. He wasn’t fond of the man, and that wouldn’t change, but another fact remained.

“I’ll tolerate you for now, Caen… Only because we have more important things to worry about. That said-”

Alarick reached for the table by his bedside, as he grasped his holo-phone, lifting it in his palm.

“Well. We can’t exactly fight now, we’ve already taken the Japan Branch out of the fight- at least, I’d think so… But the Kaemerge and their supporters are everywhere… As we’ve seen from this report.”

He tapped through the display, as it flipped, displaying a news article to the others. Onscreen was A well Known figure in Yamato, Miaruji no Souta, the CEO Of Miaruji Heavy Industries. A corporation that evolved from Yamato’s many former Aristocratic Families that formed after the emperor re-took his power. One of many, in fact. The text “ Miaruji Heavy Industries, Dealings with the Kaemerge discovered! Attempted revival of the Aristocracy?!” appeared on screen, giving them info about the current situation. Alarick tapped the side of the display, turning it off. Near the door, Shinto leaned on the wall, crossing his arms.

“I’m not surprised. My father dealt with a lot of corporate leaders. Out of all of them, Miaruji always was quite shady…”

“That can be left to everyone else… If you ask me, we should focus on the Kaemerge proper.” Alarick stated.

No disagreements came from those in the room.

“You guys gonna leave the country again?” Akashi asked.

Arctaius glanced at him.

“Maybe, Maybe not- it depends on our course of action…”

Alarick nodded.

“In that case. I propose we start training- we’ll do so for as long as possible, and help in the attacking of the Kaemerge Capital if they manage to find it. The apostles may be there- and as we are now, we can’t handle them…”

“We’ll need to go somewhere where they won’t interrupt us….” Kazimir added.

Zhao adjusted his position in his bed, as he spoke out.

“We can think about that later...For now- we need to focus on actually being able to get up… Which- hopefully, doesn't take long…”

“Sounds good… I’ll be seeing you later, Corde.” Iturr-Sul added, turning on his heel, before he promptly exited. Something that the Arctaius did not respond to.

“Looks like I’m going to be stuck with this one’s nagging for a bit then…”

As he trailed off, he glanced at Asami, who soon glared back at him.

“Just what is that supposed to mean?!!”

“What do you think it means? Whatever it is, it’s probably correct.”

“You really are annoying, you know that!!!”

Soon, most of those within the room smiled at this exchange,even if slightly. With the exception of Alarick.

“I’d say it again- but I think it would just be wasted on them by this point.”

Yudei stood by him, as he averted his gaze.

“You aren’t wrong.”

To Be Continued

Some days after the events, a different one took place, IN the grassy countryside of Yamato, some miles south of Tokyo, The hoshi family had returned to Yasushi’s hometown, where their family graveyard lay. A number of brown, and black haired people, old and young, stood in front. Most of the women wore black, in the same way, were the men donning suits of the same color… Including one Arctaius Corde. In front of him lay two graves. One with ほし ひさし- Hoshi Hisashi, engraved into the stone.

To its right, was another, one marked ほし てつや - (Hoshi Tetsuya). Much of the family had begun to walk off, many still questioning the circumstances behind his death… To those who knew, however, it hurt more. Knowing that he did this to change the world, to make it one those like his brother could survive in… Only to end up mixed with a group like that, and doing the very opposite. That could be said for Asami, the wounds from her brother's death were still fresh. As tears leaked from her eyes. Arctaius stood watching, this not being his thing, inched toward her. She closed the distance between them, as she began to cry into his shoulder.