General Minamino could be seen on a tall building, addressing the new set of soldiers."Men of valuable talents, your perseverance and guts have been rewarded. You all belong to the army as from today. Like I had promised, the top ten thousand would be given the opportunity to chose if they want to belong to the marine, Air force or militias.You can still choose to remain in the army of course. And yes, the top ten thousand can choose any division they want to belong to that's if they decide to remain in the Army"."Whoooa!!!""That's cool!""I'm so jealous!" Series of comments, and compliments could be heard from diverse angles."Keep your mouths shut!" Echoed the warrant officer, whose name was Steve Clark.And immediately, everywhere became as silent as a cemetery. Although, some murmurings could still be heard."Jeez! Must he yell every time?" A voice whispered. "What did you say?" Steve asked to confirm if he heard someone complaining, or it was just an assumption. The war
Alright, it's been few weeks since I entered the army. I'm still at the bottom but, according to what the warrant officer(Clark) declared.....There were three ways to secure a higher rank for yourself:*Your training and battle performances are the most important.*Secondly, engaging in duels & dethroning*Thirdly, through recommendation.He also mentioned other guidelines, which I didn't pay attention to.Speaking of the devil, his cold stare almost caught me off guard, and his eyes were as hard as a rock, even though it was right behind his transparent goggles.His eyes were red, pointed nose and black hair which he typically keeps slicked-back.Slim fitted white shirt on black trousers, alongside a pair of white sneakers to complete his attire."Good day sir!" I bowed, before walking swiftly to avoid an eye contact. Even though I took a quick glance at him.His facial expressions was as stern as usual but, observing people wasn't in my schedule today.Oh yeah, time for my fir
"I can walk myself up". I said blankly."You are so full of yourself". He replied with a warm smile.Hiroshi's POV(point of view).We were now at the front of a very tall gate, and this was another investigation sect. Just like the one I and my sis visited, when we went to meet Jinoshi."You had better behave yourself as from now!" I ordered, putting on a poker face."Aye Sir!" He replied nonchalantly, as he mimicked the accent of an ancient pirate. However, what pissed me of the most was the way he kept devouring his finger nails with his teeth.I couldn't take it any longer, as the door creaked open in a slow manner."And stop picking your nose!" I yelled, as I vibrated my head in a comical manner."Aye! aye!" The repetition of his response got me fuming like a mad bull.Immediately I entered, there were maids standing at the entrance to receive us."Which room sir?" A fair lady asked, alongside a slight bow.Seemed like she was one of their new staffs."Fool! It's the captain, lead
Note:This chapter was meant to be before *checking the billboard and after *time's up.Please bear with us.Made some mistakes during sequential uploads.*"We're here!" I uttered with both eyes closed. We were now standing at the front of a tall building.I brought out a chip, then inserted it while licking my left thumb."I can't believe that's the entry code." Hinata said as she heaved a sigh."Yeah! That's the only way of preventing unwanted outsiders." I said as I removed the chip.It was so funny to say but yet, it was a medium of high restriction. One needed the chip to asses the building but, without licking your thumb it isn't going to open. That was the entry sign because of unwanted intruders."You can wait for me here." I said with a serious tone."Humph! You worry too much, I'm okay." She replied me as she raised her hands midway in nonchalance. Her bright and positive way of approaching things never seem to erode or diminish.I didn't like it when she followed me to buildi
I should have allowed Floch and others to finish them off. I said inwardly."No!" I shook my head, as I felt what I did was right. "They keep treating us like we are pawns." I mused.I was now walking towards Kenji's direction, still deep in thoughts. And oh! That reminds me, as soon as we get out of this mess, I'll inquire from Jinoshi about the welfare of Jack and Denki.One thing I knew of a surety was that the soul heaters were full of battle talents."The dust in the wind....." I muttered to myself, as I tried to remember who I had heard that statement from."Oh crap, I almost forgot about Kenji." Immediately I remembered, my mood soured in an instant.I peeped to check, if Kenji was moving or doing anything suspicious but to my surprise, he was sitting lazily on the chair I asked him to sit on as he kept looking at the surroundings in a sluggish manner."What's still keeping him?" He sighed, before readjusting his sitting posture.On sighting me, he got up quickly, then walked to
'Grab!’ My hand was stuck to something. I quickly turned to look at the object that got entangled to my left hand.I looked down to see if there was anything like leaves that was fastened to my hand, then in a split second, I remembered that I collided into someone seconds ago.Like it was a camera movement, my eyes rolled as I raised my head up quickly. Due to my swift movement, my vision blurred for a moment like it was covered by a vignette which opens back almost immediately as I stared at the individual who held me with a deadly look."Uh! Oh! So it's you". He sounded indifferent, as he had a very striking resemblance to someone I knew but, why did he hold on to my hand?My eyes twitched from left to right before spotting a resembling scar on his left eyebrows. Still reminiscing, I saw a star shape tattooed on his neck.My facial expression became dark in an instant, I recognized those d*mn tattoos. I quickly used my other hand that was free to grab Kenji who was waiting for me to
"You for real?” He asked with one of his brows arched up."Yeah!" I replied, giving him a strange look."Ha ha ha!" He laughed heartily. "That's nice to hear". He makes a turn to continue going. Has he forgotten he is to stay with me?Oh! Trying to run away? That won't work on me."Idiot!" I shouted in a comical manner. "You're meant to come with me. My place is this way. Don't try running away". I pointed towards the left for emphasis as I spoke."I am not running away, I just forgot I was to follow you". He continued to convince me he wasn't running away as we walked towards my place-----------------------(Two weeks later)The sky was blue as usual, dry leaves surrounded the area as people were edging closer to summer.It was quite hot as most people held unto one thing or the other to keep themselves cool, while others had umbrellas over their head. Towards the mountains, beyond the plains, was a mighty fortress were the military forces of sangotaro resided.Kenji could be seen si
"What do you want to see me for?” He asked, as he stood up to offer me a seat.While rubbing the back of my head in slight embarrassment, I finally talked while staring at the ground."You know dad, you could have really choose to continue instead of dismissing th----"He interrupts me with a wide smile"I could never choose meetings over my family. Not even my own very s--""Dad please!” I didn't know were those words came out from but, all I knew is that I brought his speech to an abrupt end.Everywhere became as silent as a graveyard, all we did was to stare at each other, before we were called back to consciousness by papers that fell from the table to the floor.I took my sit as he walks further from me and nearer to his seat to pick the papers that fell to the floor."Sorry". I replied curtly but, with a hint of guilt."No, *He chuckles* it isn't your fault". I could see his remorseful look behind his wide smile. It sent chills to my spine as I thought of myself as being overbear
They searched the area meticulously, but there were no signs of struggle, no footprints, and no clues beyond the strange symbols Binary had found. It was as if William had been plucked from the battlefield by an unseen force.As the sun began to set, they decided to set up camp nearby. They needed rest and a chance to regroup before continuing their search. But Fushi’s mind refused to settle. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them.*_*The team approached a hidden lair on the outskirts of Sangotaro, their footsteps soundless against the forest floor. They had followed every clue, traced every lingering trail of magic and whispers across enemy territories, and now, after months of relentless searching, they were finally here.The lair stood half-buried within a hill, camouflaged by creeping vines and ancient stone. A dull hum of power radiated from within, as if the walls themselves pulsed with restraine
A full year had passed since the infamous battle with Joe, and though the Sangotaro forces had emerged victorious, peace was still a fleeting illusion. Tensions simmered just beneath the surface of diplomacy. Joe and Laina had been dispatched to a neutral territory, Norlund, a nation within the W-5 alliance that still maintained treaty talks with Sangotaro. While they served as emissaries, the rest of the W-5 alliance grew more hostile, viewing Sangotaro’s growing influence as a threat. Meanwhile, Sangotaro’s generals, eager to prevent any coalition from fully forming, launched a series of covert attacks across the W-5 nations. Troops were sent on sabotage missions, engaging in brutal skirmishes that saw both modern weapons and supernatural powers clash on the battlefield. Soldiers armed with rifles and grenades fought alongside those who wielded abilities capable of bending reality itself. Flames and bullets filled the air, explosions rocked cities, and the skies darkened with smok
The towering gates of the Sangotaro army base loomed ahead as Fushi and Arianne made their way back. The journey had been quiet, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Fushi was unsure how his father, General Hiroshi, and the head of the army, General Minamino, would react to his plea on Arianne’s behalf. She had been an enemy not too long ago, and bringing her back into the fold of the Sangotaro forces was a gamble. As they approached the main hall, Fushi steeled himself. Arianne, beside him, had her face set in determined resolve, though a flicker of anxiety remained in her eyes. Inside the hall, General Hiroshi and General Minamino stood conversing in low tones, with General Nazumoto leaning casually against a nearby wall. Fushi could feel his heart beating in his chest, each step toward them heavier than the last. “Father,” Fushi started, bowing his head in respect, “I come with a request.” Hiroshi, his sharp eyes focused on his son, raised an eyebrow. “What is it, Fushi?” F
Fushi drifted in the depths of unconsciousness, his body still and unmoving, yet his mind was far from at peace. A voice echoed in the void, a cold, sinister whisper that sliced through the darkness like a blade.“Coward,” the voice sneered. “Why don’t you just sleep forever? You’re nothing but a failure.”Fushi, though disoriented, tried to respond. “Who are you?” he asked, his voice a shaky echo in the empty space around him.The answer came quickly, almost mockingly. “I am your conscience, the part of you that will soon take over. You’re weak, and I’m tired of waiting. Soon, this body will be mine.”Suddenly, Fushi was no longer floating in the darkness. His vision shifted, and he found himself standing in what seemed like his own sea of consciousness. The sky above was a void, starless and black, with only faint streaks of red lightning breaking through the oppressive gloom. The ground beneath his feet was cold and damp, littered wit
The news of Joe’s defeat spread like wildfire across Sangotaro. Whispers filled the air like a relentless storm, carrying both shock and relief. Joe, the once-feared leader of the Nefarious Team, had been brought down. His defeat was a major victory for the Sangotaro armed forces, but not all was well. The sudden disappearance of William, added a shadow of concern that no one could shake off. The army felt it deeply—a lingering unease, like the calm before another storm.As the Sangotaro forces began to return to base, their footsteps heavy with the weight of the war, the scene was a grim reminder of what battles leave behind. Death, injuries, and the bittersweet taste of victory. Soldiers limped back, their faces etched with pain and loss. The victory over Joe’s forces didn’t erase the scars left behind. The Limo clan, once on the brink of chaos, was now back in check. A new leader was appointed to replace the fallen, and the clan slowly returned to its former st
Joe lay on the ground, his body broken and bloodied, the spear wound in his chest leaking the last of his strength. His cosmic aura had long since faded, leaving him looking small and fragile against the towering forms of General Hiroshi and General Nazumoto. His breathing was ragged, each gasp seeming to pull him closer to the edge of death.Yet, even in his defeated state, his eyes burned with a mix of fury and disbelief as he gazed up at Kenji, his once trusted friend who now stood over him, the wooden spear still dripping with Joe’s dark blood.“Why, Kenji?” Joe rasped, his voice a mere whisper of the thunderous power it once held. “Why would you betray us? Betray me?”Kenji’s purple eyes flickered with an emotion Joe couldn’t quite place. Sorrow? Regret? Whatever it was, it didn’t change the fact that the man who had stood by his side through countless battles was now the one to bring him down. Kenji knelt beside him, his expression calm but filled with a deep weariness. “I saw
The air grew thick with tension as Joe faced the two generals—Nazumoto, a figure wreathed in mist, and Hiroshi, with his steely eyes and unyielding gun. The battlefield felt small beneath the enormity of their powers. Dust and debris scattered with every impact, and the ground beneath them quivered as though terrified of what was to come.Nazumoto’s mist swirled around Joe, obscuring his vision, but Joe’s eyes never wavered. He could feel Nazumoto’s presence, the way the air shifted when the general moved. Without warning, a fist as large as a boulder slammed into Joe’s side, sending him skidding across the ground, his boots tearing through the earth like a plow through soil. Joe gritted his teeth, twisting his body mid-slide to brace himself for the next blow.Nazumoto appeared from the fog again, his fists hammering down like thunder. Joe barely had time to dodge, each punch creating shockwaves that shattered the rocks beneath him. He swung back, his ow
A deep, unsettling hum reverberated through the battlefield as the blue, maze-like borders began to form around Joe’s feet, glowing with unnatural light. The lines traced the air around him, like cracks spreading across the very fabric of reality. The energy swirling around him intensified, a dark storm brewing in the heart of Joe’s aura. His eyes glowed with a malevolent gleam as he locked onto his two adversaries—General Hiroshi and General Nazumoto.The two generals stood their ground, their expressions hardened, but even they could feel the oppressive weight of Joe's power pressing down on them. It was like standing on the edge of an abyss, staring into the unknown depths.Joe’s voice was a cold whisper, barely audible but filled with malice. “You think you’re ready for me? Let’s see how long you can last.”Nazumoto was the first to move. His massive frame suddenly blurred as a thick mist began to rise around him, obscuring his form in a shroud of gray fog. The mist curled and t
Clark’s face was tight with worry as he paced back and forth, his fists clenched in frustration. The weight of the situation was suffocating, and he couldn't shake the image of Fushi being dragged away. He needed answers, and fast.“You said they took him?” Leonard Iris asked, her voice measured, though there was a sharp edge to her words. She stood with her arms crossed, watching Clark intently.Clark nodded, his voice strained as he explained, “They took him, Leonard. Fushi is gone, and I don’t know where they’ve taken him.” He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “How bad is it, Leonard? Tell me straight.”Leonard sighed, her eyes darkening. "It’s bad, Clark. Not as bad as it could be, but bad enough. We’ve got most places under control. The soldiers Joe’s been funding with W-5 money? Defeated. The Limo clan? They’re neutralized. But Joe and the rest of his nefarious crew are still out there. And they’re not going to go down easily.”Before Clark could respond, a brillia