Pain echoed through Nathan's unconscious body. The lightning bolt seemed to have paralyzed him momentarily. He groaned unconscious, searching for a moment of relief as distant-like voices called out to him
"Nate! Nate! Nathan! Wake up, please!!"
Echoed a familiar voice. The voice was soothing and reminded Nathan of warm milk and cheese but it wasn't quite enough to wake him up."Damn it, let me do it!" Complained another familiar voice— this time that of a male's.
The sound of a slap then quickly followed as Andrew's hand kissed Nathan's face immediately bringing him back to consciousness.
"Ouch, son of a... ugh!!!" Screamed Nathan as he grasped his cheek in pain."Nate! Thank goodness you're ok!"Exclaimed Sindy with relief as she hugged him tightly."Sindy, please... I need... air..!"Reluctantly, Sindy released Nathan to give him some space to breathe. She was happy he was alive but wished he was more appreciative of her affection.
"Dude, you were out for like three hours! We weren't sure you would wake up..!" Exclaimed Andrew with a breath of relief.Nathan rubbed his bruised cheek with a distressed face before replying, "Three hours? What happened..?""I wish I knew... My memory's kinda fuzzy too. All I know is that I woke up in this creepy forest beside you and Sindy...""Creepy forest..?" Murmured Nathan becoming aware of his surroundings.There were dead trees as far as the eye could see drowning in darkness and mist. The air was moldy and the ground was covered in bits of white rock which strangely resembled broken bones.
"H-How did we get here?!""No idea... As I said, this is where we woke up and it doesn't seem like anyone brought us here either."Sindy sneezed due to the moldy air— sniffling her nose before speaking, "I-I think it had something to do with the strange weather and the lightning bolt we were hit with. That's the only explanation for all of this as weird as that sounds..."
Andrew quickly agreed, "Well, if we want answers, then the first thing we have to do is find a way out of here."
"That's something I can agree on," seconded Sindy. "Nate, can you stand?""Yeah, my head's still a little hazy but I think I can manage."Shortly after, the three friends huddled together as they desperately searched for an exit. As they marched onward, Sindy stole a few glances at Nathan as if he was about to disappear again. After his sudden disappearance back at the theatre, she was not willing to take any more chances with him.
"I'm not gonna just disappear into thin air, Sindy... You can take it easy," comforted Nathan.
"Sure, I'll be the judge of that..."As the three walked on, the darkness seemed only to grow thicker. Their only source of light were the dim stars in the night sky which poorly aided their vision.
After another ten minutes of walking, the friends began to grow desperate. It was almost as if the forest was endless."Man, I swear I'd piss myself if something were to suddenly jump out at us..." Said Andrew unsettlingly.
"Oh my gosh! Andrew, please don't! This is creepy enough as it is!" Argued Sindy.They were then quickly interrupted by the sound of something or someone moving in the darkness just ahead of them. The three friends immediately came to a stop trying to figure out what they had just heard.
"Oh no! What was that?!" Panicked Sindy as she latched herself around Nathan's arm."Sindy, don't worry! Andrew probably just stepped on something to try and scare us. He's just messing around again," reassured Nathan with an optimistic smile.Andrew was known for being a troublemaker as he sometimes loved to pull pranks on his friends. However, this time it was surely not him.
Nathan's reassurance then quickly turned into fear when he saw Andrew shaking his head, implying that it was not him.Suddenly, stepping out of the darkness into full view was a five-meter wolf-like creature. It had bright red eyes, black fur, and paws that looked like they could slash a full-grown man in half.
Scared witless, Sindy released a blood-curdling scream. Unfortunately, this seemed only to infuriate the massive beast more causing it to charge towards them."RUN!!" Screamed Andrew cowardly.
Nathan and Sindy didn't waste a second to hesitation. They all began dashing through the forest, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs as fast as they could. It almost looked like a scene from a horror movie where the three victims would inevitably be caught and devoured whole.
The massive wolf was however extremely agile and strong. It ran recklessly towards them, knocking over countless trees while snarling aggressively. To make things worse, it was gaining on them quickly.Just when things looked like they couldn't get any worse, Sindy found herself tripping over a log. Her body tumbled into the dirt and broken bones with a powerful thump. She quickly tried to regain her footing but it was much too late. The beast now stood over her ready to make her its next meal.
"Sindy!" Yelled Nathan in horror.Nathan did not wish to see one of his best friends die at the paws of some massive beast. He had to do something, no matter the risk. It was the hero thing to do, right?
Recklessly, without any real plan, Nathan picked up a broken branch and charged the five-metered beast with a battle cry."No, Nate! Don't be a hero!" Screamed Andrew helplessly as he watched both his friends fall into the mouth of danger.
Fortunately for Sindy, the beast identified Nathan as a threat and decided to attack him instead. With jaws open wide, the beast charged and snapped at Nathan aggressively.
Thankfully, with the aid of some luck, Nathan was able to lodge the broken branch into the creature's mouth, preventing it from closing just over his head. If he had failed, he would surely be headless by now.However, that was far from enough to stop the massive beast. It then tackled Nathan to the ground in anger while shaking the branch free from its mouth.
Nathan did his best to crawl away but the beast sank its teeth into his right leg before tossing him into the side of an old tree which crumbled upon impact.Pain then crippled Nathan's body leaving him unable to fight back. He was in big trouble.Flaming with rage, the beast went in for the kill. Death looked straight into the soul of Nathan as he found himself helpless against the beast.Suddenly, the beast yelped in pain as a rock slammed into the side of its head. Andrew had thrown a rock at the creature to buy Nathan some time to escape.
"Sorry, Nathan doesn't taste too good! He would leave a bad aftertaste... Not that I taste any better of course!" Trembled Andrew.The beast, more agitated than ever, switched targets to Andrew. Unfortunately for Andrew, he tripped over the same log that had caused Sindy to fall over earlier.
"Crap! Looks like this is it! I hope I poison your ass when you eat me you damned mutt!"
Sindy did her best to get on her feet to help Andrew, but she had twisted her ankle upon falling. There was nothing she could do to help him.
Nathan also watched in horror as the beast went in for the kill. He wished it was all just a bad dream he would soon awake from but he knew better than to make wishes that were never going to happen. This was reality and wishes weren't about to save anyone. He had to help Andrew somehow.Writhing in pain and feeling as if he could collapse from agony at any moment, Nathan forced himself back onto his feet.
He was determined to prevent his friends from dying such horrible deaths. His emotions dictated his decisions but they also fueled him with the adrenaline he needed to win."A true hero doesn't make excuses as to why he didn't save someone..! Come at me you oversized mongrel!"The beast halted and turned to charge at Nathan once again. It had detected an odd energy signal suddenly radiating from Nathan which put it on its guard. It had to defend itself.
With its teeth covered in the blood from Nathan's leg, it snarled before charging towards him. Nathan then quickly picked back up the broken branch and waited for the beast to come closer.As soon as the beast came close, Nathan aimed the branch towards the throat of the beast. Suddenly, a dark flame-like aura covered Nathan's hand, fueling him with immense power. It slammed the beast through five trees upon contact as the sound of bone and wood snapped.Bloodied and bruised Nathan stood but he was victorious. He then watched the beast gasp for air with a broken windpipe resulting in its inevitable death before weirdly disintegrating into dust.
Nathan's hand also throbbed with pain from the force of the strange power. He had no idea why this strange power suddenly came over him. It felt dark and scary as if there was something sinister behind it. Nathan however had no time to think of it. His friends were currently his top priority.
"Nathan!" Shouted Sindy in relief.
Both Sindy and Andrew ran to his side breathing as if they had just finished a marathon."Sindy, Andrew, are you guys okay?! That thing didn't hurt you did it..!?""We're perfectly fine... Worry about yourself for once!" Cried, Sindy."You're in bad shape... We need to get you treated, but we're stuck in this damn forest!" Cursed Andrew.Nathan gave a dim laugh. Though their predicament hadn't improved much, he was glad they were still alive, "Nah, things could be worse. It's just my leg and my back. Worst-case scenario I won't be able to walk again for a while.""Your back?! Bro, then the worst-case scenario is that you won't be able to supply Sindy in the future!"Feeling flustered, Sindy slapped Andrew so hard, that the sound vibrated through the dark forest. Andrew was immediately silenced with pain.
"We just need to get out of here an-an-and..." Sindy was unable to finish her statement, due to the impure thoughts that flooded her mind.However, once more the three friends froze as another sound suddenly echoed from the distant darkness. It was similar to the one they had heard earlier before the beast had attacked them.
"Oh no! Not again... Please, I don't wanna be dog food man!" Cried, Andrew.
Sindy and Nathan looked on in horror expecting a giant creature to pounce on them at any moment. The sound got closer until two figures came into view. A girl that looked around 18 years with lush straight purple hair and sparkly purple eyes came into view. By her side was a male that looked just a year younger with a dark, cool complexion, dark-brown eyes, a muscular body, and hair shaved in a buzz cut. They both wore uniforms with the logo AA which had the words Assassins Agency written stylishly underneath.
"People?" Queried the female stranger curiously,
"What are you all doing out here..? It's dangerous in this forest!""Look, one of them is injured! They need help, Amanda!" Exclaimed the male figure as he stooped to inspect Nathan's wounds.Hope washed over the three friends as they felt like their luck had finally changed for the better.
"We're saved! And by a hottie too!!" Declared Andrew, staring at the female stranger."Wait... how do we know we can trust these people?" Asked Sindy making her suspicion known."We assure you, we're friendly. See, look here!" Said the female stranger as she pointed to the AA logo on her chest."Yeah, sorry we don't know what that's supposed to mean. Not to mention, the word ASSASSINS doesn't seem very friendly.""Sindy, we need any help we can get right now. Not to mention, we need answers as to where we are..." Noted Nathan dimly.The strangers then paused and spoke softly to one another as if discussing something important. Their conversation lasted for at least 30 seconds before they turned back towards them.
"Okay!" Started the female stranger, "Weirdly enough, it seems you all really don't know who we are... Based on the fact that you don't even recognize our organization's logo probably means you're all not from here or you have serious amnesia... Though that's quite odd no matter how I look at it... However, I promise you that we're one hundred percent friendly!"
The male figure then stepped forward ready to introduce himself.
"My name is Leo and this is my teammate Amanda. We would love to explain everything to you but it would be best if we got you out of here and back to HQ where it's safe.""That's fine by me," declared Nathan.
Sindy was still suspicious of the two but she knew that it was the best option based on their pitiful situation."Well then, shall we go?" Asked Amanda.The friends then all agreed since it seemed like the most logical option. Slowly, they then disappeared into the darkness with the two strangers. Little did they know that a story of suffering and pain was about to begin.After what had felt like an eternity of walking, they had finally made it out of the forest. They had stepped into a beautiful area filled with flowing rivers that sparkled under the moonlight. The scene was complemented by a variety of gorgeous sweet-scented flowers and other tiny animal-like creatures that were roaming through the grassy plain. The most beautiful part was a waterfall that was flowing peacefully down a cliffside which made the view even more stunning.Slowly, the group then began to approach the waterfall before Amanda signaled them to stop."Why did we stop? Nathan can't take much more of this. His leg is getting worse..." Complained, Sindy."Not to worry... We're here!" Replied Leo.Andrew looked around intently as he did not see anything except the peaceful waterfall a few feet before them, "Uh, I don't see anything..."Amanda and Leo then moved towards the waterfall before placing their hands gently against the flowing water. To eve
Nathan, Sindy, and Andrew were all patiently waiting for Alondo to return. His proposal from the previous night was the only thing that they could think about. They still knew so little about the Mind World, yet they were already being offered a seemingly complex job."So, what do you guys think about the captain's proposal..?" Asked Nathan."I don't know... I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm sure he'll explain when he gets here," replied Sindy, playing with her dead smartphone."Man, our phones are the only thing we have to remind us of the Real World, huh?" Queried Andrew with a topic change."Sadly, they don't even work anymore. They malfunction as soon as we even try to turn them on..." Complained Nathan bitterly.A sudden knock then pierced the ears of the three friends interrupting their conversation."May I come in?" Asked a familiar voice from behind the door."Yeah, come on in," prompted Nathan.The door then
After finishing breakfast, Andrew, Sindy, and Nathan arrived at the training room with the aid of their new phones.Upon arriving, they noticed it was filled with many dome-shaped structures that seemed to be used for training purposes. The domes had glass ceilings and white metallic walls that were aesthetically pleasing to the eyes."So these are the newbie assassins Alondo told me about..!" Suddenly exclaimed a cool deep voice from behind. "...The girl looks like an annoying brat, the blonde kid looks dumb, and that last one is a twig..."The friends then turned around to see a tall muscular man around his early thirties. He wore dark sunglasses with a huge cigarette perched against his lips. He had a slightly shaved beard, black spiky hair with faded sides, an army-green jacket with camouflage pants, and big leather boots."Uh— who are you..?" Asked Sindy curiously.Instead of responding, the man rudely placed his massive hand on top of Nat
Sindy was almost unable to avert her eyes. She keenly watched as Nathan changed into his new AA uniform for the mission. Over the past month of intense training, Nathan had been working hard and the had results began to show on his body. He had abs developing on his stomach, his chest was much firmer, and his arms were just the perfect size. It was almost a miracle how much he had transformed over such a short period."What's wrong, princess? You seem lost all over Nate's body," teased Andrew to Sindy."Shut up Andrew..! I just spaced out a little...""I bet you're spacing out in more than one way in that head of yours... Hehe..."Sindy then picked up her bag and began to walk out of the room. She didn't know why, but recently she started becoming extremely frustrated whenever Andrew teased her about Nathan."Just mind your own business..."Sindy knew Andrew was just trying to look out for her in his own silly way but she did not need it. Inst
Both Sindy and Andrew were barely holding on. Their enemy, whom they referred to as the, Beast Controller was very powerful. They now understood what Instructor Brady had meant when he had warned them about being overconfident. Their enemy was a very powerful opponent."Aagh!!" Screamed Andrew in pain— a solid kick had landed in his stomach almost tossing him into a nearby wall."Andrew, are you okay?!" Asked Sindy worriedly."Yeah... He managed to land a hit on me but I managed to block it just in time. It's just the knockback that hurt..."The Beast Controller grinned like a maniac with a red metal scythe placed calmly on his shoulder. He was of medium complexion with dark brown eyes, shaggy black hair, and a nasty scar present on his right cheek. He also wore a tattered brown cloak which had just made him look even crazier."Are you kid's done already? That's a shame because I'm just getting started!" He laughed."Who the hell are y
Approximately one minute before Nathan arrived to fight the Beast King..."What's your name?" Asked Nathan to the little girl."M-my name is, Rosie...""Okay Rosie, my name is Nathan. I'm going to leave you right here in this small alleyway. It's not easy to find so you should be safe. Stay here and don't come out until I come back to get you, okay?""N-no! That's what my parents said and they didn't come back! Please, don't leave me too!!""I promise that I'll come back. I won't leave you nor allow anyone to hurt you. You've got my word! Heroes never break their promises."Nathan then smiled warmly before extending his pinkie towards Rosie, "Pinkie promise, okay?""Okay!" She smiled. "Pinkie promise!"Rosie was now feeling a sense of reassurance from Nathan's words. She believed that he would return to help her as he promised, "Where are you going?"Nathan's face then hardened as he answered;"I'm going to he
Nathan sat on his bed staring blankly through the infirmary window. A third plate of breakfast remained beside him untouched for the third day. The battle against the Beast King had left him broken in many ways.His face was pale and bags sat underneath his eyes. He hadn't slept or eaten since the mission.Sindy and Andrew were also left in a depressing state. Thankfully, they weren't nearly as bad as Nathan."It's been three days and he hasn't even uttered a word, Andrew... He doesn't eat, sleep, or talk to anyone..! I-I don't know what I'm supposed to do for him!" Cried, Sindy."I'm sure he'll be fine eventually, princess!" Said Andrew with a smile. "Just give him some time and he'll be back to normal before you know it!""I don't understand how you can be so optimistic after what happened... After we were knocked unconscious, that monster killed everyone in the village... He didn't even spare the children!"Andrew then gave a short laug
The day had arrived for the high-ranking mission. After speaking with Alondo, Sindy had managed to gain permission to take part in the dangerous mission. Her main goal was to find out what Andrew was planning and put a stop to it before it was too late.She tied her hair into a ponytail, equipped her gear, and sheathed her knives by her side. She felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she thought about what the day could bring.Instructor Brady's words had dug her from the emotional grave she had found herself in and it was now her turn to do the same for Andrew.If Instructor Brady's theory was correct then Andrew was lost in his search for vengeance. On the contrary, Nathan was lost in his failures, unable to move on.Sindy had realized how pain could be interpreted in many ways. Some might seek revenge, some might strive to prevent the same mistake from repeating, and others would sulk in their failures, unable to move on. It
Nathan, Ava, and Evan felt a rush of nostalgia. The memories they created in Youkatai Mountain would stick with them no matter where they went. It was now time for them to venture into a new chapter of their lives. Ava and Evan wished to see the world for themselves and Nathan was adamant about defeating the Cliques.They were now set to leave the village. They were all carrying heavy bags that had food, water, weapons, and other necessities needed for their journey.Rikugan smiled before wrapping his arms around them for a warm hug."Remember you three, you're always welcomed here no matter where your journey takes you. I am proud to have you as my students and grandchildren!""Thank you, grandpa..! I'm going to miss you so much!" Sobbed Ava."Take care of yourself, gramps! We'll come back when we're finished helping Nathan! Until then, please be well!" Added Evan tearily."I will. Now, please behave yourselves while traveling with Nathan. On your journey, you'll come to see many thi
Nathan felt like the world had stopped moving. His heart thumped against his chest and his breathing became heavy. His eyes became as cold as ice and the air around him became filled with blood lust. He was fueled with rage. He couldn't accept that Sindy and Andrew had been killed."What did you just say..?" He asked in an unsettling voice, looking at Illumi.Illumi began to chuckle like a child, refusing to answer. Due to this, Nathan charged toward the commander burning with rage. However, Rikugan grabbed onto his arm, stopping him from going any further."Nathan, control yourself!" Deterred Rikugan. "There's no guarantee your friends are dead! He could just be provoking you!"Ava and Evan also rushed to Nathan's side, trying their best to calm him down."Dude, calm down..! Gramps could be right! They might just be provoking you to get you to come over to them so that they can grab you and run!" Soothed Evan."Evan's right! Besides, you're in no condition to take on two commanders
Nathan..!" Squealed Ava in shock.Rocca and Illumi were also stunned. Nathan, the Mind Hero, who they believed to be dead was now standing before them. They were sure that he had been killed in the explosion back in Conscience City over a year ago. It made no sense why he was still alive."You..! This isn't possible... You're the Mind Hero, aren't you..? How are you alive..?" Asked Rocca in shock.Nathan didn't give an immediate response. In truth, he had recognized Rocca as well. He was the commander that Rick had fought back in Conscience City over a year ago. If his memory served correctly, Rick had called him The Man Of Steel, Rocca, also known as the most powerful Clique commander."I'm no hero. My name's simply Nathan and I have no interest in telling you how I'm alive."Rocca laughed, "This is great!! There was an order to capture you and that #4 assassin, Isabella! So when we heard you had died, we were quite disappointed!"Nathan ignored Rocca's statement. He was much more co
The fight had begun. Tension was now in the air and adrenaline began to pump. Rikugan lunged at the commanders with his hands shrouded in dark Spirit Energy.Swiftly, he snuck below Illumi's guard and slammed his fist into his stomach. Illumi's mouth widened as the air was squeezed from his lungs. He staggered backward, struggling to regain his balance.However, Rocca was not about to let his partner be defeated so easily. He swung his massive axes at Rikugan, quickly activating an Art Style."Steel Art: Metallic Cut!"Rocca's axes shone brightly as they approached Rikugan. Rikugan had to defend himself. Metallic Cut was an Art Style that sharpened weapons to the point where they could cut even titanium like butter.Nonetheless, Rikugan was prepared. Quickly, he activated a Zen Barrier that barely managed to block Rocca's attack. Fortunately, this had created an opportunity for him to counter."Destruction Art: Destructive Touch!"Rikugan didn't have much Spirit Energy at his disposal
After leaving Nathan behind, Rikugan arrived at the part of the village that was being attacked. The area was ravaged and left in a deplorable state. Houses, shops, and other buildings were now piles of wood scattered across the streets. Flames flickered and smoke danced its way up into the air. However, the fighting had already seemed to stop. The only thing in sight was destruction and bodies of the injured and the dead. This was strange to Rikugan given that he could still sense the Spirit Energies of those who had attacked the village."Grandpa!" Shouted Evan who had finally arrived with Ava. "Why are you just standing around?! Some of the villages are still alive! We need to help them!""Wait, both of you! Don't move!" Warned Rikugan."Huh..? Is something wrong?" Inquired Ava.Rikugan didn't answer. Instead, he peered his eyes before him as if someone was there."I won't fall for such a cheap trick! I know you're there! Save me the trouble and show yourselves!" Shouted Rikugan.
Nathan was exhausted. He had exerted almost every drop of Spirit Energy he had to defeat Death. The only good side to his fatigue was that his real body had no physical injuries. Since it was his Spirit Energy that had been fighting Death, his injuries had not been transferred over physically."Nathy!" Squealed Ava as she wrapped her arms around him. She was filled with joy to see that he had made it back alive."Hey," he replied tiredly. "I told you I'd be okay... I kept my word..!"Evan and Rikugan were also thrilled to see him. Truthfully, they had feared that he wouldn't be able to defeat Death. They were happy this was not the case."Are you feeling okay?" Asked Evan curiously."I'm mostly okay but I'm extremely tired... I feel like I could collapse at any moment...""Well, that's better than being back in Tartarus.""I agree..!" Sighed Nathan"And the seal?" Interjected Rikugan.Nathan then showed his katana to Rikugan, revealing the imprint of Death's name on the side."Wow! Do
Even though he felt like he had just been hit full force by a fast-moving truck, Nathan painfully picked himself up. Despite Death's threat to kill him, he refused to stay down."I see..." He began in a pain-filled voice. "Now it makes sense why I haven't been able to outrun you...""Have you lost your senses? You talk as if you have everything figured out even though you're about to die," proclaimed Death."I'm sorry, Death, but I don't have time to be dead. I'm no longer that kid who always failed his missions and lost every fight. And I'm about to prove that by defeating you!""Don't get cocky, you brat!" Boomed Death as he flew towards Nathan.Once again, time seemed to slow down. Nathan knew that running was pointless. No matter how fast he moved, Death would be able to catch him. His only option was to stand and fight.Nathan then took a deep breath as he prepared to activate an Art Style. His eyes began glowing bright blue while electricity flowed from his body like a beacon. E
Nathan clawed his way out of the grave. His body was rigged with pain but he couldn't allow himself to stay down. He had to defeat Death, no matter what."It's true," smirked Nathan. "You are strong... But that's exactly how I like it. The stronger you are, the stronger I will be when I make your power mine!""You insolent pest!" Boomed Death in annoyance.A dark sword made from flaming Death Energy then formed in Death's hand. Nathan knew that this meant trouble. However, before he could properly prepare himself, Death flew toward him at insane speeds.Following this, Death swung his sword violently at Nathan. Nathan, however, managed to block the attack with the blunt of his katana at the last second. Sadly, he had not calculated the terrifying power that would accommodate Death's attack.The power of Death's attack shattered the ground into pieces like glass, uprooting dead trees and graves with ease. The force sent Nathan flying through over a dozen dead trees before he collided w
Nathan, Rikugan, Ava, and Evan all sat in a circle while holding hands. Everyone aside from Rikugan was on the verge of suffering from an anxiety attack."G-grandpa, do we have to do this? This is suicide!" Argued Evan."This is not only Nathan's problem, Evan. This problem is as much ours as it is his. If we do not find a way to tame that angel inside of him then one day, its power will destroy the Mind World. We must do this!"Evan lowered his head as he tried to calm himself. He wanted to run away but he knew he had no choice but to fight."Grandpa, how can you be so calm? I know you're strong but not even you could stand up to an angel! Why aren't you scared?" Trembled Ava."Ava, sometimes we must face the things we fear the most. That is the only way to defeat our greatest nightmares.""I'm sorry that you guys have to go through with this..." Apologized Nathan.Ava smiled at Nathan, comforting him. Evan also gave him a reassuring nod to signify that it was okay. Following this, R