"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 burning with pain."So how did you end up in the same situation as me" I asked inquisitively."The thing is....." I was now listening attentively, waiting for an answer as I stared at him."My aim was to fail, so I entered the namigazi intentionally." He smiles as soon as he finished the statement."You what?"His response almost sent me falling, I can't believe that the guy who I was striving with wanted to fail, his aim contradicts mine."So why have you been following me?"I asked coldly. "Our aims are different, and by the way thanks for your support but, I think we'll have to part ways this time." I said almost immediately after asking the question."Cmon! Don't be too hard" he chuckes"I wanted to fail but, when I saw your resolve I changed my mind.......And I was scared, you don't know, a wild animal could just pounce on me and eat my brains like the ones I read in novels".Jeez! I thought this guy had IQ, well yes he has but still he's so dense. Can't he use his IQ to get himself out of troubles?Damn I'm so dizzy."I thought you we're very smart?" I asked"Yeah I am! But, I don't think animals understand that, all they want is to chew out your system".Arrggh! I hit my forehead with my palm, so stupid!..... No, he's beyond it."So why did you join the army?"I asked as we kept walking"I joined because of gramps, that's his greatest wish for me, he is also a retired general." He replied"I see...... But, why is this guy as scared as a chicken?" I thought"You might be seeing me as a chicken." He said."No no no!" I lied, with a nervous smile on my lips which made it so obvious.Crap! Can he read mind also?."But I'm a bit brave, it's just that I have the phobia of a few things.""So what's your phobia?" I asked."Hmmnn.... Let's see... Animals, war, ghosts,...stress, banes, and many other things"I shook my head in disappointment.Who the hell would save me from this guy? How can you have the phobia for things you can't at least but see once in a week?Why is he even in the trials to join the army, when he has the phobia of wars?As I thought, I staggered forward, moving out of his support.I looked at the sky and all I could see reflecting on me was misery, this was my life! Or should I say this is?."But what I hate the most, are people with no emotions." He clenches his fists in anger."And who told you I had emotions?"I smiled as I asked him."You saved me, that's more than enough kindness." He says as he walks up to me.I saved him? Hmph! It was for myself anyway. I didn't want to fail that's why I did that."Hey!" I called his attention."What?" He asks."I'm emotionless, I feel nothing, I'm numb inside". I said blankly."Ha ha ha" he holds his chest as he laughs. "You just told me the truth!" He says as he tries hard to stop laughing then suddenly, he had a mood swing, from laughing to giving a very stern look."That's enough for me."Wow! This guy's creepy sometimes, I thought."You're just scary that's all." Shinsui says."Me scary? Look at the person who says someone's scary."_I thought"Are we friends?" He asked further, as he stretched forth his hands, wanting a handshake."Don't make me laugh!" I said with a smirk as I gently use the back of my palm to hit the back of his palm."I take that as a yes." He says"Don't get the wrong idea, let's move or we won't make it." I cautioned.Of course, we still had a test to pass."You're using it as an excuse, so kind of you." He teased."What?" I asked because, I didn't hear him clearly"Nothing!..Hmm...Yeah, what I said was that, I have to support you to aid your walking speed." He lied."Oh! Okay, just this once".I said as he tried to aid me in walking fast.At least, the pain has gone down a bit."Man! This guy's an awesome fellow, strict but very kind, what a paradox. Don't let me down bro, and you'll be my first friend ever." Shinsui said inwardly.I looked at him, and when he knew I caught him lost in thoughts he asks an unnecessary question."Erm! What's your name again?" He asks"I won't repeat myself!" I said. "I'm Kazumino Fujishimo." I announced."Yeah!, okay! Well I'm shinsui Kyonotaro"He said, before chuckling in a very nervous manner."I'm aware of that!" I said with celerity."He's really thinking of something else." I said to myself."Sorry, my bad!" He chuckled, as he ushered me in walking.***It's been few minutes of endless walking, and I was completely exhausted from all the events that happened as I was in contemplation whether we had already failed or not."We're almost done, others are ahead now, and the clock tower hasn't sounded yet."He says confidently."How does he have much information about these things?" I wondered.He says further, as if he read my mind."Before we started, we were told that once you hear the clock ring, game over."Oh! I didn't pay attention, just imagine what would have happened if I hadn't met this guy.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
With ten minutes left, tons of people have been sent out, and my page is still empty."Jeez! What am I going to do?" I pondered.How am I going to scale through this? Man this is not good....As I was pondering on the next thing to do, she walks up to me."Have I done something wrong?" I thought."Hello, are you having any problems?" She asks with a broad smile."Yes of course, why do you think everyone's staring at the ceiling, and chewing their writing pens?" I said Inwardly."I'm sorry, you say what?" I asked in the politest way, so as to prevent any problems. You know, it could get to her head, and she decides to send me out so, I must take the safest route in communicating with her."That's a bit rude." She says as she kept smiling."Okay that's creepy." I thought."Well no need to panic, my name is Leonard Iris. You can call me Iris." she says with no malicious intention."Sorry mam," I said, almost being sarcastic. "What do you want?" I asked humbly, "Eh! You're really interest
I stared at her blankly as she looked at me in awe.I don't know but it felt like she was expecting me to pacify her, even though it was with just a word. It looked like joy had been restored to her heart, as she was smiling broadly in no time."Everyone submit." She said with authority.Eh! Su... bb...... mi..mit? Is time over?Damn I've failed this exam, how the hell was time up?As I tried to look into my script, it was already gone.I looked back up, and everyone's script was now with Iris."Arrrgghh! I never wanted to fall into her trap but, it looks like she got me." I thought, as I gave her a lazy stare."Crap! And this was how I failed." I whispered to myself.Iris was still smiling at me but, I was already crying internally.H.. How did the time move so fast?"I hope you did your best?." She said as she walked past me.Yes, I did my worst! I'm done for this time!.----------------------------------->"I summoned y'all to this meeting because of the casualtie
We were told to go to the place where instructions was given to us by the general of the army before the practicals took place, it looked like there was an update in our test results.Still standing at the said location for five minutes without any of the generals or officers around, was so annoying. Especially when I was aware that I was in no position of being lucky enough, to pass the written aspect.After all I didn't write down a single alphabet, apart from my name and personal details until I submitted. Or should I say until it was hijacked!I was still soliloquising until I noticed that everyone was now silent. As I looked up, I saw the whole crew that coordinated the exams except for my aunt and dad.General Minamino removes his jacket, placing them on his shoulders as he prepared to take his speech."I can see your faces are brimming with joy. Despair not, for you all did a great job!" General Minamino announced."A great job? That's nice of you to be mocking us ironical
I walked away as I stared at everyone with pride. It was then I remembered that he who laughed last, laughed better and longer.Now, where was the guy that provoked me?"Damn! He isn't here anymore." I muttered with clenched fists.But, I didn't seem to care about it too much, because I was happy that I made it through.Wait! Come to think of it, I didn't write anything. And I was sure others too didn't. Except some rare beings. Speaking about rare beings, where's Shinsui?I've checked the whole area but, I couldn't find him still."Hmmn, how in the world did I pass the test?" I thought, as I was now trying to crack a code I had built by myself.Or Could it be?! Because, I'm the general's.... Well, not like I gave a damn!"Fushi!" A voice called my name, it sounded like that of a female.Was it the warrant officer two?I let out a sigh, as I finally sighted the person that called my name out. It was my dad cute looking sister. In other words, my aunt."Fushi!" She called out again as s
.......(Hiroshi's POV)We were now camping miles away from the battlefield, one of the two sides which was: sangotaro or the rebels, had to come out first. The rebels had refused to set out; which would have been a sign of readiness to battle. I on the other hand, was just to bored and frustrated to step on the battleground first. "It's been years, and they don't seem to even care. It feels different this time around. It looks like we'll have to start the battle." One of the soldiers who went with me to the last battle against these same rebels, said as he walked up to me."Let's wait" I muttered."Sir?""!Let's keep it low for now, I'll decide what we'll do later." I added.Truly we were on a battleground, we could get bombed or even ambushed but, this case is different. They followed rules even as rebels, they only attacked when both parties were ready although, it only applied during our battles against them.However as far as they caused harm to our country or so, they are still
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