Huff, huff...............
Everything seemed blurry, my eyes stung badly as my iris moved from left to right.Oh! I passed out during the third day of trials in the army, what a drag!As I was still trying to rally my memory round, my dad enters.....He shouts in an emotional manner"Fushi! Fushi!"Crap! Was he out of his mind? My name is Kazumino Fujishimo, a teenager probably eighteen years of age.My hairstyle: Long black hair/hair down which was a little below shoulder length, touching the upper parts of my back(spinal cord).I am barely 5'7" feet's/170cm tall, my body build was lean average.Trust me, I hardly had biceps but I wasn't slender in size. Iris color is sapphire blue and, dad was already in his forties,his hairstyle: black pompadour.He continues his speech,"Fushi thank God you are alive"."Let me be!". I replied curtlySeriously? This sucks how did I end up in this condition? As this thoughts filled my head, he ignores my attitude, and continues to express his concerns..."My boy! I thought you we're going to fall into a long term coma!".Long term what?!!!, so I was in a serious condition, I see.........."You passed out during one of the tedious tests that was imposed on you freshmen" My dad says as he takes an expensive bottle of wine.I passed out no cap! But why I'm I been treated at my house, this is annoying!"You did well son!".He says as he nods in correspondence to his wordsI used that slim opportunity to slay him with my words"You're bugging me! Let me alone!".Then I resumed to thinking about my life....... Damn! I could have been a surgeon instead. This is dumb & so is this man. My eyeballs connects with his & I closed mine immediately. During that moment I closed my eyes whether out of fear or because I was blushing, that I couldn't tell.----------------------------------------------------------------I asked my dad"Hey", in which he replies me, then I continued the conversation"Do you soldiers deal with drugs?,"Before he could react, I quickly asked in a more direct approach."What I mean is, are you into hard drugs?".With a surprised expression on his face, the glare he swings at me, even with mylackadaisical looks, I was really tensed, which leads to me making the gulp sound with my throat. Did I tamper with his happy mood & switched it to death mode? I'm toast today.Still in my world of thoughts he replies."What do you mean?" He asks as he puts on a broad smile on his face.Phew! I didn't piss him off.He resumes talking"You know I hate hard drugs, or have you started smoking? It's not like I have any problem with that.......You know........................."I interrupted quickly to remove him from his state of concern."No! I'm not into hard drugs. What I meant is that do the people who conduct the trials into the army; do they like narcotics or maybe they have slight interest in cannabis?"He heaves a sigh, then replies"Well I don't know, I'm not into their personal life".With a grin on my face, I said;"I'm sure they're into hard drugs because they've lost their heads".He cautions me immediately"Hey! you can't say things like that, never think of that or say that in their presence".I decided to tease him a bit"But you're the second in command; you're the general".A gentle but wicked looking smile was produced by me, to be purchased by my dad, man! I was a real rascal.***He stares at the ceiling, before heaving another sigh."Son! I wished your mum was still alive; I just have an advice for you don't become cold blooded. I'll book you for the second trial coming up next week, don't worry I'll make it easy entrance for you but prepare for difficult series of tests practical and written".With a friendly look I said,"You should've smuggled me right away into the army but not to worry, I'm fine to partake in the tests.Of course, my dad likes a free and fair trial of upcoming soldiers".That sarcastic statement of mine was assisted with a serious look.Understanding that I was being sarcastic, he says;"Look son, a general must never be partial.I can't guarantee you an entry the army but, I will make sure you pass the test series".As he says this, he puts his hand on my shoulder, and before responding, I hit is hand away from my shoulder gently.In other words, I removed his hand from my shoulder, before replying with a high pitched tone."I know!!!"I sighed as I eased myself to avoid making a ruckus."You don't need to tell me about your concerns, I already understand the message you're trying to convey to me".What a contradiction!, I touched my forehead gently because, I was not fully agile yet.I still felt pain around my body.Then suddenly one of my father's statement incites my memory of the past.About being cold blooded, I signed up for trials four years after the unexpected tragedy, I think I saw a figure before passing out; he must be one of those sc*mbags who massacred my family, he had a very cold expression with a devilish grin. It was like blood was written all over his face, Damn! And I couldn't do a thing & after passing out I still dreamt of eating a bowl of sushi....tsschh. I'm so pathetic. My thoughts keeps playing with my reasoning. Anytime I remember the past it pisses me of, I end up grinding my teeth and clenching my fist. Why is it that negative experiences is harder to forget than the positive?My dad, aware of my psychological situation asked,"Do you need some time alone?""No I'm okay"_ I replied.Wait! Wha? I just screwed up the perfect opportunity to send him out.Well, he isn't annoying me now.I stared at the room randomly as I had little to no expression on my face. I was so bored to the extent that I was counting the amount of dots on a painted picture just by my right.My dad was busy lost in filling his glass cup.Oh! I didn't finish my explanation earlier on my dad. He almost had the same body structure as me but he was a little muscular. His full name is Kazumino Hiroshi, that's all I can say for now. Come to think of it! Fushi......Sushi, damn that old man don't tell me......My dad, as if reading me loud and clear, declares with a serious tone, but in a comical way ."Son, he reason I call you fushi, is because it's similar to sushi."I knew it! Dad!!! What the hell do you take me for".I decided to tease him for my own satisfaction but, now it's firing back."Mum won't be happy with that idea would she" I asked him with a grin"Yeah she wouldn't, but she's not here to stop me! Fushi! Fushi! Fushi!".......He keeps repeating it in an annoying manner which made me to feel like bashing an iron rod on his cheekbone.About my siblings, my mum Teresa, was a high profiled surgeon, even before she married my dad, I don't really know much about her past experience but she was nice and humble for sure. She's was like a mentor to me.Unlike my dad, who likes to dictate your future ambition. Mum was always ready to support your future dreams, as far as it is good enough. She kept talking about the advantages of having a Dad. It's not like I objected the doctrine but my dad?What a complete drag he is.My Elder brother Yamamoto, was following my dad's footsteps indirectly, he said he had no interest in the army but he worked, and studied tediously to join the marine corps, which he later achieved. I mean, what's the difference? The marine corps is still a branch in the army.He was very ambitious, and you know the way all firstborns tend to be, he was loved dearly by our parents, especially my dad, he kept singing praises of him, so out of jealousy I also became interested in the military, which I later ditched.But look at me now, doing what I hated the most......Which is being in the army.Yamamoto was a crazy swimmer, he was given birth to three years before I was born. The week he was meant to be inaugurated into the army as a marine corps member........tssch, that's when calamity befell us. He was about to be the first marine member to join before the required age for our country, which was 18 years. But he was allowed to take the trial at seventeen years of age because of his pure talent in the water, he floored the trials & created another record of being the first person to reach 97% both in practical and in theoretical aspect. He was then told with the rest of the successors, to come next week for their inauguration.My younger sister Hikaru, an inquisitive & sharp sister of mine, she was murdered at the age of six because, the age gap/range between me an her was eight years.How......how I wish I was an overpowered being, I would have ended those guys right away.......... But, It isn't possible, is it?"Damn it! Why am I this weak?" I asked myself, and out of desperation, my eyes watered but in an unnoticeable way.--------------------------------------------------------------------"Fushi I'm leaving.......... Gotta do some things in the army, have a nice day son."He says as he whisks his cup in a glamorous manner, before leaving it on a small table"Hmph! Showoff!" I thought, as I kept mute, refusing to reply him.He then smiles at me as he makes his way to the exit of my room, then he whispers to himself;"He still has a lot to learn".Well I didn't know what was going on in his mind because I'm not a psychologist.After some seconds, he takes his leave while I lay down, resting my feeble body with a befitting nap.Huh? Days passed quickly like cards flipped by a magician.It was finally the week for the final series of test in which I was rebooked by special permissions; you know, my dad.It was the second and the final trial for all people who wanted to become militants, which means if you fail to pass, you're out of the army for life.Hmmn...... I could choose to fail because, being in the army is too much of a drag but on the other hand, I hate letting people down. I liked no one except for my deceased siblings, not even my father. I had friends although they were few, after the incident I hardly talked to other people, how in the world will I still have friends, so I care for no one & no one cares for me, except my da.......My thoughts were interrupted by a loud voiced that raged throughout the whole field--------------------------------------------------------------------"A'ight, let everyone stand with firmly rooted legs. Before the trials commences, I want y'all to know that we soldier
My dad or my aunt?Damn! Decision making is harder than I imagined.I looked at them carefully, and stealthily to avoid eye contact with them. I closed my eyes, then a parted smile that comes after dark. You know, a strange feeling was circulating inside me.----------------------------------------------------For sure, they knew I was lost in thoughts,"You could choose after you've passed the tests, it's not like I'm forci........""I know!" I interrupted my dad who was trying to make it simple for me."You know there are other generals also however, I offered to take you in first." Says my aunt."Well.....Seems I'll have to decide later. Wait! There are other generals also!" I thought, as my eyeballs rolled from left to right Woah! That's the most popular general I'm staring at.Can't believe it, he's the most admired out of all generals.Wait! I thought they were five, how did they reduce to four?But that wasn't my major concern. I pointed to the general and asked,"Who's that",
"The real test had begun," I whispered as I dashed alongside others into the thickest path of the forest. It looked gory, but the outcome might be convincingly good.Suddenly, I heard a loud scream that echoed from the thick forest. I stopped running, using my legs as breaks, as I and some people came to a halt.Almost immediately, the forest flipped over, it looked like I was falling......."Damn!" I shouted in my heart, I felt a pinch of fear, my heart started beating like it was the drums of rock musicians.Still struggling to avoid falling, I tried to swerve my body in the process, but it was to late. Sequentially, everything went back to normal.At our front, I saw a desolate land it that had little bushes, but still it was so silent, wait! Don't tell me..........."It's an illusion" someone whispered to one of his fellas"Damn! It seems like we are missing something." I thought to myself.--------------------------------------------------------*General Hiroshi's (POV).Huff! I W
"Whatever" I said blankly as I tried to remove his hands from my legs.***After another ten minutes of intense running, I seemed to be wearing out, and Shinsui's complaints and discouragements made matters worse."Keep quiet! Jeez! I'm trying to find a way out of here, and all you're doing is lamenting and discouraging me"I talked to him in a cool manner but I was obviously frustrated, he kept saying we should turn back, and accept defeat. Never!."B...bu....but.. I'm so scared" He muttered, twiddling his index fingers."Then turn back" I said coldly"I can't turn back except you accept to turn back also!" He protested."Arrrrrgh! Then just follow me. In fact why are you even following me?" I said with a frustrated look."Okay! I'll follow you!" He says as he wipes his tears. Although, I still feel that he's faking his tears just to allow me to accompany him.Just then, It felt as if I was hearing some minimal noises which isn't meant to be heard, like the strange and continuous rust
"No need to thank me, I know I'm to awesome." He smiled as he said those words, it was evident that he was already blushing,But, were we gonna make it in time?"Don't let my little praise get to your head, you understand?" I said in a friendly but, commanding manner."Yes!" He replied almost immediately."Man, he's really scary." He said inwardly.We continued moving at a slow-fast pace,Man! My body hurts! It now looked as if he was now dragging me, I could hardly walk."Are you sure you don't want me to carry you?" He asks. "I...me..mean, aren't you tired?""As if this could stop Me!"I scoffed, but before I could finish the statement, blood ran down my jaws as I fell on my knees, then got back up almost immediately.I pretended to be fine, as I wiped the blood with a napkin, before disposing it."Ahhhh!. I said in a relieved manner "This is a drag.""Just make sure you keep holding on to me" Shinsui whispered.Phew! I managed to make him believe that I'm fine but, within me I was b
Oh! I didn't pay attention, just imagine what would have happened if I hadn't met this guy.Huff! I don't know but,it seems like bitterness is sweeter than sweetness itself.I'm so confused, there are a lot of questions unanswered in my life."Arrghh! What the hell I'm I thinking of?" I shook my head from one side to another, as I tried to clear my mind of any negative thought.I don't know but, the main aim for joining the army is to protect the country and it's people but, I guess I just want to exterminate all forms of evil, I don't mind if I make an universal war to spring up.All I want to do is to exterminate evil, that's all I want......"I just sounded like a tyrant." I mumbled, as I laughed inwardly."Man! I don't know what gets into me sometimes but."Oh! We're almost visible to others now, and Shinsui was still helping me. Wait! What if we get disqualified from the tests for helping each other, since this test is done individually, I mustn't risk it. Not when we've almost re
"That's all? Tsk!" I thought, as I slightly clenched my fists.Oh! I forgot to ask whether i was in the top five thousand, arrgghh! What a drag!It was now evening, the weather was cool, and the atmosphere was dull and boring, as I kept staring at the ceiling till I slept off.I rolled from Left to right, then after few seconds of rolling, I woke up."Is it morning already?" I muttered to myself as I stretched my body. I was now feeling healthier and comfortable than yesterday.I got up from the bed, then walked towards the mini bathroom."It's nice to be well treated." I thought.After I entered, I brushed my teeth, then took my bath. As I was drying up my body, I stared at the mirror. My (thin) moustache was already getting evident, it made me look more matured and handsome but, I didn't like it that much. Although I barely had beards, but I felt they were way cooler than moustaches, soo......I shaved the moustache off. As I finished shaving the poor moustache, I washed my face wit
"Now to the top five thousand!" He says audibly."It's nice knowing this year's application for the army is very high. The top five thousand (4990) like I promised, will get their reward.Every year, the top five thousand most impressive during both waves of trials, which equals to ten thousand can choose to belong to the marine, air force or militias. But, this is only applicable when you pass the written aspect.""Cmon, why the hell did we go through all those sh*tty situations?" An unknown voice echoed and it was backed up by the remaining applicants but, silence followed thereafter. No one wanted to test the army's patience."You see," General Minamino continues his speech, not minding the person that questioned his authority indirectly."The practical aspect, is another method of eliminating unnecessary numbers, the top five thousand will still retain their reward, only if they pass the written aspect. And, this is for all of you apart from the top ten that were promoted, if you f
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