Chapter 60 – Avatar Form - One Percent

THE EMERGENT KINGDOM'S ARMY CONTINUED to march towards Shiropolis. The mobile towers had already cut down several hundreds of blancipress trees and they were already past halfway to Shiropolis.

The smoke and noise coming from the towers can now be clearly seen and heard from Shiropolis. Right below the secluded village, enormous beasts and insects were running away from the marching army.

Daisuke landed on the forest floor with ease. Something told him that trouble was coming and he had to stop it.

It wasn't easy for him to accept the fact that he really was an avatar of an Ishvara. But after the dream that he had, if that was really just a dream, he thought, Daisuke started to feel something different.

He should have blacked out already after having the overwhelming sensation he was feeling right now. But like what was happening now, he was still conscious. Although, something felt really weird for him.

All around him, he could feel...he could feel the trees. He could even feel the grasses that were stubbornly growing even though there was scarcely any sunlight due to the blancipress trees.

The enormous beasts and insects stopped running away and instead flocked around him. Now he doesn't speak beast-ish or insect-ish, but he could feel their emotions, so to speak. Just like any other animal, they felt fear. Fear from the unknown.

For these creatures, they do not know why the trees were falling down or why hundreds of metal-clad creatures were marching inside the forest. And they do not know what kind of creatures those tall towers were.

Black hexagonal patterns on Daisuke's skin became more prominent with his skin color becoming more ash-grayish. His irises glowed eerily green.

From where he was standing, he created a cherry blossom tree that sent him up to the sky, towards the Emergent Kingdom's army. As he was sent flying up, the beasts roared their lungs out and went towards the same direction he went.

* * * * *

Daisuke landed at the center of the army’s formation, which was behind the mobile towers, and used his power to create trees everywhere—both blancipress and cherry blossoms. The soldiers panicked, unaware of what just happened.

The ground started to shake even more when the enormous beasts and insects charged toward the army, now unafraid of what was desecrating their home. Even though the commanding officers shouted "Attack!!", the soldiers in front ran back while shouting "Retreat!!"

Daisuke saw the wheeled towers that were cutting down the trees. Using his power, he created a hand-shaped tree and controlled it as if it was his own hand. He grabbed the towers and threw them to the sky.

On his right arm, he created a smaller tree. A small green ball of energy manifested on his palm and shot it towards the tower in midair. As the energy ball hits the tower, a magnificent explosion of green energy occurred.

He continued to do that, destroying most of the towers, thus halting the advance of the army.

Now, even the commanding officers were stricken with fear.

“Retreat!! Retreat!!”

“Protect the king!!”

The soldiers did so as they went back to the kingdom.

Jack looked around and to his surprise, he noticed some of the familiar trees that abruptly grew all over the place—cherry blossoms.

Captain Nat ordered his men to fall back. “I’m sorry, Jack. This is a mistake. I am not risking the lives of my men for something we certainly are not prepared for.”

“Fine! I’ll do it myself!”

Daisuke saw Jack speaking with a man wearing a United Alliance uniform and casually walked towards him. The scrambling soldiers trying to retreat and escape from the beasts and insects bigger than their horses looked like they didn't even notice him.

“What’s going on here, Jack? Why are you with the United Alliance?”

“It seems you can now control your avatar powers,” Jack said as he created one jackfruit mace.

“Barely,” Daisuke answered. “Answer the question, Jack.”

Jack ignored him and swung his mace. Daisuke dodged the attack and created a distance between them.

“Why are you doing this?” asked Daisuke firmly.

“Because this is the right thing to do! You are an avatar! You are a threat to all living beings! But do not worry, Daisuke. Once the United Alliance has its hands on you, they will not kill you. They put you to good use.”

Jack attacked again. This time, he created another jackfruit mace and continuously tried to smash Daisuke, not giving him a chance to counter or to make too much gap.

Daisuke does not understand why Jack has been like that, but he could not let him do as he pleased. He created his wooden arms and blocked his attack of Jack, then tried to counter with a jab, but Jack canceled his maces and created a translucent jackfruit barrier.

The barrier would have destroyed the wooden arm of Daisuke if it wasn't for Daisuke's avatar power. Instead, Daisuke's wooden arm remained intact. He then made the wood arm grow all over the translucent barrier, trapping Jack inside.

“Everywhere you go, Daisuke, destruction will follow! Many lives will be lost! Places will be destroyed! You cannot escape that! Just look at what's happening right now! Recall what happened for the past few days, Daisuke!”

Daisuke remembered what happened indeed. Treasure hunters and loan sharks tried to take over Port Royale, causing the destruction of Raijin's fishing boat. They wreaked havoc back at Colosseum Empire and probably caused the civil war. A powerful treasure was almost taken at the Arcanas Kingdom. Now, a peaceful forest was being disturbed.

But aside from that, his head was being filled with other memories that were not his. The memories instantly faded, but he could recall some.

Such is the curse of the Ishvaras, of the Avatars, the voices told him.

“You’re right,” said Daisuke. “Anywhere I go, death and destruction will follow me like a shadow. Such is the curse of the Ishvaras, of the avatars. But I’ve already made up my mind. For my remaining days here on Laniagaea, I’ll at least make sure to bring back the Wooden Statue of Maria.”

“You are out of your mind!! You will risk the lives of many just for a cheap wooden statue?!”

Daisuke looked at Jack sternly. More hexagonal patterns on his skin are starting to appear. The tree he created wraps tighter on Jack’s barrier, almost crushing it.

“That’s right, Daisuke! Use your power to kill me and prove that you are an out-of-control avatar!!”

Daisuke closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. “The next time we meet, I will no longer hold back.”

A tree grew below Jack that resembled an enormous hand. And using the enormous hand-tree, or tree-hand, like what he did to the towers, Daisuke tossed Jack as far away as possible, not even knowing where Jack would land.

* * * * *

Everyone from the Shiropolis came to the scene. They were mesmerized and confused about the tall cherry blossom trees that appeared.

Prince Rafflesia and Prince Dionaea saw the Rogue Archers. With the remaining soldiers with them, the princes ordered to attack.

The Rogue Archers attacked the advancing soldiers with their bows and arrow. Some managed to block the arrows with their shield, others were hit.

Robin fired multiple arrows at Prince Rafflesia. No arrows wounded the prince but the prince’s armor was removed.

“R-Robin?!”

“Take another step and the next arrow will be right between your eyes,” warned Robin while aiming at the prince.

Prince Dionaea led his soldiers with their muskets but was met by Lancea and Drancei.

“Prince Dionaea, stand down!” said Lancea.

“This battle is over, Prince Dionaea. Order your men to fall back now,” added Drancei.

“No! Not without Kiana and Cattleya!”

The prince and his men continued to attack, but Lancea and Drancei easily subdued them. Lancea increased the length of her Dragonspear, hitting even the farthest gunmen. Drancei threw his Twinstars and managed to destroy the muskets of the gunmen, rendering them useless.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Second Prince. Stand down now!” said Lancea.

Rafflesia took a sword and tried to attack Robin, but a swarm of the dandelion seeds appeared and knocked back the prince. Some soldiers tried to back him up, but the seed heads went through them as well, causing hundreds, if not thousands, of cuts that rendered their armors useless.

“You really should learn when to stop, First Prince,” said Thoras.

Rafflesia was surrounded. He tried to take out a smaller gun, but he heard a familiar voice.

“Aren't you all already had enough?!” shouted Cattleya.

Prince Rafflesia fell to his knees, knowing that his plans failed. Prince Dionaea saw Kiana and Cattleya and ran towards them.

Robin went towards Cattleya as well. “You shouldn’t be here. Your wounds are still—”

“I’m fine now. Brunnhilde helped me with her magic.”

Robin sighed. “Anyway, now that you are here, I think you'll be glad to meet someone you have been waiting for a long time.”

Riku ran towards Daisuke and gave him a tight hug. Her necklace was still glowing bright red.

“Daisuke!! What happened here?”

Daisuke looked around. “The forest looked too dull, so I planted some cherry blossom trees.”

Riku noticed that her necklace started to dim. At the same time, she noticed that Daisuke's skin started to revert to normal.

Princess Cattleya and Robin approached them.

“You must be the avatar,” she said to Daisuke. “On behalf of everyone, I, Princess Cattleya, thank you for saving the people of Shiropolis,” the princess bowed.

“P-Princess, please, you do not have to do that. I only did what I thought was righ—wait, you know that I am an avatar?”

Robin smilingly looked at her. “Let’s talk about that later. First, we need to finish this conflict for good.”

“If you do not mind, I would like you to join us as we go to the Emergent Kingdom for a…diplomatic visit.”

Everyone walked towards the Emergent Kingdom.

Daisuke would create a tree or two on their way to replace the blancipress trees that were cut down. Using his avatar power, Daisuke was capable of creating other trees than just cherry blossoms.

As they reached the border, Cattleya, Robin, and Thoras led the Rogue Archers and the people of Shiropolis.

The kingdom was still on high alert and despite Edmund Onageria's protest, the king, who was already back at the border, ran toward the princess and hugged her tight. Believing that he has lost, Edmund Onageria slowly left the area, hoping no one noticed him.

Soon, everyone reached the castle. There, Princess Cattleya and Robin revealed everything in the castle’s throne room. They told the king about the people who were forced to become miners, about the ores that were being mined, the involvement of the First Prince, Minister Edmund Onageria, some of the knights of Emergent Table, and the soldiers that were paid to follow orders.

The people of Shiromori were accepted back to the Emergent Kingdom with the king promising changes on how the lower class and the people of the slum will be treated. Even the Rogue Archers were accepted back and were offered to be part of the kingdom’s archer unit once again. After all, it was Robin who trained them in archery, and was actually far better than the archers that stayed in the kingdom.

Robin was offered to regain her knighthood but refused, much to everyone's surprise.

Evening came and everyone was enjoying a banquet on the castle's ground, a celebration for the first night of peace between the Emergent Kingdom and the people of Shiropolis.

But the celebration didn't only happen at the castle. In Emergania and Cannoppia Arc, the people on the street were having a great time as well. But the most joyful were the people of Sandersonia Arc who were expecting the changes in their lives.

Prince Dionaea and Kiana were enjoying the company of each other. For the first time in forever, they finally managed to spend time together.

The people of Shiropolis filled their stomachs with food and were thankful that they could live on the ground once again after years of living on top of the trees. The same goes for the enslaved people who finally managed to eat delicious and warm foods.

Though many were happy, some were still saddened as many forced miners lost their lives down the mine.

Riku was looking for Jack, but Daisuke told her that Jack joined the United Alliance and left the group in search of his sister, much to Riku's dismay.

Despite the king's wishes, the United Alliance left the kingdom even before the festivities, stating that an urgent matter occurred back at Union Gates.

Siegfried and Mirana joined the soldiers that they’d fought the night before, now laughing and drinking with them. Siegfried showed them his sword and demonstrated his reverse grip style. Mirana showed them her ice magic that made their drinks ice-cold.

The four remaining knights were spending time with the soldiers that they once fought as well. Thoras showed his arm that was severed by Rourke and magically reattached by Brunnhilde. And Percethal became more casual with Drancei and Lancea, even though they were his seniors.

Raijin and Brunnhilde simply sat down in one corner, eating food and drinking alcohol, feeling out of place. After all, like Daisuke, they were mostly out of the scene. But unlike Daisuke, at least he got to boast his avatar power at the last minute.

“I feel like I'm nothing but a side character,” Brunnhilde complained as she down her drink.

“Well, at least you showed your magic skills back in Shiromori. I've been with the elves the longest and I feel like I'm just here as the comic relief,” Raijin responded. “As if a higher dimensional being is mocking me.”

Brunnhilde looked at Raijin. “On our next destination, I'll make sure we get more things to do.”

“Agreed. But...you know, keep it safe.”

* * * * *

Cattleya and Robin were near the large campfire, dancing to the music of the royal musicians.

“What are your plans now after this?” asked Cattleya smilingly.

“I was thinking of joining the avatar.”

“Great! 'Cause I was thinking of us...wait,” Cattleya stopped dancing. “I'm sorry, I thought you said you are joining the avatar?” she chuckled nervously.

“Cattleya, I…you know I...you don't really think that they will approve of us, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“I love you, Cattleya. I really do. But I think it’s for the best that you broke up with me. Now you’ll be able to find the right person—hopefully, a prince—for you.”

“Robin, I didn’t mean it when I said we’re done. It was all because of…of…” Cattleya's eyes brimmed with tears. “I'm sorry...”

Robin hugged her tight. Not even the distance or the dangerous forest between them faltered her feelings for Cattleya. From the day she laid her eyes on Cattleya even before she became a royal knight, Robin has always known that she loved her. But she does not want Cattleya to be shunned because of her and her feelings towards the princess.

Robin let her sob on her as they moved slowly with the music.

“So, joining the avatar, huh?” Cattleya sniffed.

“Y-Yeah. I owe them a lot. Not only did they help me save you, they even helped us save the people of Shiropolis. If not for them, I would have lost you and the other people who are dear to me.”

“Then once you have returned, and you better return, I want you to know that I’ll be waiting for you.” Cattleya kissed Robin on her lips, catching her by surprise. She then frees herself from Robin's warm hug and hurriedly left the banquet.