Kastor's Reborn

Clara, Ezra, and Ren all spawned on the outside border of Deceased Paradise, able to see different monsters inside, but couldn’t get close enough to where they could see Shin. Clara informed them that Kastor at least cannot use his powers outside the barrier. The huge land is controlled by him, however the moment he steps outside, he loses his strength.

Clara: “That’s what I’ve at least heard and read, but I don’t know if it's necessarily true. I assume so considering Kastor has never been seen outside his realm, but I don't know who this Shin person is. Well, let’s be smart about this. Ezra, your body obviously isn’t outside the barrier. It probably is inside his abode, but let me check the area real quick.”

Clara confirmed this as her power even stretched all the way to where Shin was. Shin couldn’t sense Clara’s mana. She was probably the only person in the world that could track mana, even completely concealed mana, and be able to conceal her own powers and abilities all due to her sword called the ‘Ambiguous Smight.’ It was considered a mythical sword that stood at the top even amongst the swordsmen.

She was praised for her wisdom and intelligence when it came to fighting. Not only was she extremely smart, but her fighting skills were worthy of her title as the 2nd Reverend, behind the one and only Michiaki. She was never looked down upon even though the sword aided her in her quest of strength.

Clara: “Alright, here’s the plan. It most definitely is inside the place because Shin’s mana is overflowing and he isn’t even trying to hide it. He certainly does have a lot. I’m sure he is strong, but don’t worry. Ren, I need you to stay behind me and heal me just in case. You still have those Healing Chaplets that I gave you, right?”

Ren: “Yeah, but I don’t need them. I told you Clara, I have been preparing to fight God for years. If I can’t heal the wounds dealt to you by one person that controls one area in this world, then how will I defeat God? Those trips to the Infinite Library were not for nothing and the knowledge I’ve gained over the years are not for nothing either.”

Clara: “Alright. I believe in your abilities. You do not need to use the Healing Chaplets…Ezra, you still have a good amount of strength without your body, correct? I need you to create a barrier around me to begin with. I’m going to throw down multiple Smile Chaplets to start and test his strength. Ren, heal me if I purposely get hit. I might need to get wounded to see how strong he really is. I will get the body out. Do not go near his domain even if he looks distracted. This man is not a ruler for no reason. There is another room I sense though. It’s a small amount of mana, but nothing insane. I’m not sure what it is, but it can't be Kastor. I don’t know. This Shin guy is confusing. I don’t ever come near this place or want to hear the rumors because it is always surrounded by death, so I avoid it. If Kastor died though, wouldn’t there have been some big celebration? Eh, whatever it is, stay away from it and try to keep safe behind me.”

Ezra: Clara, I do have a question that I think a lot of people before probably thought about, but never asked. The 2nd Greatest Swordsman’s name was not Clara Serengetti. It’s Aamon Krozolo, The Ravaging Void. So, who are you really?”

Clara: “Ah I guess I should have cleared that up, especially in front of Welpen. Although, that boy never read, so he doesn’t even know that name. During the Titan War, I was kept a secret, controlling mana from behind the scenes and calling out where others hid. It was a bloodbath and I prevented ambushes from happening. To this day, it is still kept a secret. I’m known as a mana illusionist. My sword can control and shapeshift mana however it wants and I have trained for years and years, constantly pushing myself to the brink of death to increase my mana. The Titan War was terrifying, I will say. Without Aamon and Michiaki, we wouldn’t have won. I was just there supporting when I needed to and fighting alongside the other Swordsmen. A few died though, even on my watch, and Aamon now…Well, he’s lost too. Anyways, nobody knows who I am except a select few and I intend to keep it that way.”

Ezra: “I see.”

Clara turned and stepped inside the barrier of Deceased Paradise, but shrouded everyone's mana to where Shin could not sense it. They freely walked past all the monsters and creatures that ate each other and battled one another endlessly until arriving at a huge castle of bones and sand everywhere. Skeletons lined the entryway, but Clara, Ren, and Ezra slipped past them to the front door. She could sense Shin inside, not too far from where they stood. She stepped to the side of the door along with Ren and Ezra and told them to stay still no matter what. Reaching her hand out, Clara slowly pushed open the door not even 6 inches when the door busted into thousands of pieces. Pieces of bones scattered around and Shin stepped outside, looking around for who did it. He immediately killed the skeletons that walked in the sand, taking the mana from them in rage.

Shin: “Just because your concealing mana doesn’t mean I can’t smell you.”

He sniffed around, still unable to see them. Ren stared at him with a blank expression, unphased by his stupidity. This man in front of him was a small milestone to defeating God, but Clara understood that this man was dangerous just from him being able to smell them.

Shin: “Interesting. I’ve had some interesting people come to me lately, but I will say this. Whoever you are, you are by far the best that has come here. I can’t even sense a fraction of you. Hmm, I don’t like it. Darkness Level 2: Stillness.”

The air was sucked right out of the area, causing any lifeforms in the area to drop dead after an extended period of time. There was no oxygen, but Shin still remained his normal self.

As for the three of them, Clara manipulated her mana outwards and into the mouth of Ren. Ezra did not need any air in her state, but for Ren, the mana converted into air and he was easily able to breathe.

Shin: “I know you’re still here. I’m starting to get pissed off! Darkness Level 7: Endless Devourer!”

The entire area for miles suddenly faded like a black pit of nothing. Objects began to disappear one by one including the castle until it was nothing but Shin floating with black devilish looking eyes.

Shin: “Darkness Level 6: “Cursed Oblivion!”

Pitch black swords came raining down from the sky. Clara was unable to see them with the playing field already as black as the color. She still relied on the barrier that she set up though until the first sword hit it and it started to crack. Shin heard this immediately and threw a punch so hard that it shattered the glass barrier that Clara had concealed.

Shin: “Found you!”

Clara: “Void’s Disturbance!”

Ren: “Reverse Healing!”

The black hole created by Clara sucked Shin back into it along with every sword in the area. They pierced his body before he could move from the black hole and Ren’s spell slowed down his healing process that was based on the amount of mana one had. He perfected this over the years, although this man was a monster, and had different plans.

The swords dispersed right away, his wounds healed, and he threw a single punch at the black hole, destroying it.

Shin: “I don’t like it. I just don’t like it!”

Clara: “Concealment’s Aftermath.”

Clara drove her sword into herself, creating 100 clones that looked exactly like her. They all called out, “Ropes Cloak,” which created mana ropes that extended to Shin and wrapped around his body.

It didn’t phase him at all.

He stomped midair in the darkness as if there was a floor beneath him, cancelling out every clone except for the real Clara. Ren and Clara threw down a Manipulator Chaplet to try and mimic the effect with their own strength, but he knocked the lines to the side and targeted Ren. He tried to grab him by the throat before Ezra stepped in with a barrier of her own.

Shin: “Ah, so this was your idea! I should come to the Spirit Realm myself and kill everyone you love. Darkness Level 4: Umbra Marionette!”

Ren’s eyes folded back into his skull, suddenly targeting Clara with his sword. He turned against her without knowing what he was doing, swinging his sword profusely at her. Clara evaded him, although he was faster than she would’ve thought. She knocked him unconscious and went after Shin again.

Shin: “HALT!”

After sticking his hand out and chanting this, her body froze. ‘Huh?’ she thought. He kicked her across the black void that they were in before she could think.

Clara: “Tch! I can’t change this stupid scenery. Pitch black darkness isn’t helping my cause…Hey Shin! Let’s have a chat, shall we? I’m just getting warmed up here, but I feel like we should get to know each other before we fight more. After all, I heard you were somewhat nice to my son. I guess I have to commend you for that and thank you. I have a few questions for you. How are you so strong without a sword? You’re not a witch either or an elf. What are you? I feel as if I would even struggle against you. Ah, I wish Michiaki was still fighting. He could take you down with the look of his eyes. Also, where is Kastor? I want to meet him. I have heard a lot of good things about him.”

Shin: “You’re working with this imposter of a ruler? The so-called Spirit Ruler. So that means that you are here for a reason. That boy over there certainly couldn’t have done it and she certainly can’t do it, so that leaves you. You, you, you, you, you! That sword. It concealed your mana beyond my ability to sense it. You also created a barrier that I couldn’t even peer into. Tell me, what is your name?”

Clara: “Proudly…Clara Serengetti.”

Shin: “Ah, I see. You are the one that she hired to get her body back, is that right? You have an interesting power, one I have never seen before. Although, there have certainly been stronger. My master is inside at the moment behind doors. He does wish to see anybody. I knocked earlier and he did not answer. You will not step a foot inside that doorway or so help me I’ll destroy this entire land and you along with it.”

Ren began to wake up and chanted something under his breath that prevented his mind from being infiltrated again. It was a type of healing spell that connected with mana to preserve the brain from mental effects and powers. He had already cast it before coming here, but it didn’t last forever, which is when Shin took advantage of it. It was like he knew and the second it wore off, he abused his power and controlled him.

Ren: “Round 2 whenever, Clara. He won’t touch me again.”

Clara: “Yes, I’m relying on you. Shall we get started again, Mr. Shin?”

Clara ran forward, clicking her shoes together creating sparks that flew into the air backwards, forming 2 neon green snakes ten times the size of her. They were like holograms that contained Clara’s mana, shooting out black beams with immense power.

Shin stuck his hands out, laughing and tanking the ability as Clara went underneath his feet and swiped up with her sword. He flew into the air, opened up his arms and called out, Darkness Level 5: “Absence of Light, Soul Erosion!”

Ezra: “Clara! Don’t let the rain get inside of you!”

Clara looked up to see a mixture of black rain and hail pouring down quickly. She did something that was uncommon, throwing down a Sphere Chaplet. Usually, the user picks an object that they would like to turn into and are stuck with this everytime they use a Sphere Chaplet for the rest of their lives. Clara decided to break it and turned into an exact copy of Shin himself. She gambled that her plan would work…And it did. The rain didn’t affect her at all because of the body she had, but she wasn’t granted his powers, nor did she know how long this would last. She sort of panicked and did this, recreating his body which she could turn into for the rest of her life now.

Clara: “Not so invincible after all I see.”

Ezra had been protecting Ren the entire time, but his belief in his healing abilities was so strong that he truly thought he could reverse the damage from the rain.

Clara: “Did God send you down to the ground? I cannot believe that you are simply a normal human. I do not see the merit in lying. You can tell me. Are you one of his servants? How about we exchange information? That man over there was one of his servants. He may not be a big fighter, but that is simply because his abilities were banished from God. He is a healer now and has made his choice to fight against God. We all plan to do the same thing. All we need is this girl’s body and we will be on our way. There is no point in this useless fighting.”

Shin: “Clara, Clara, Clara. I do not see it like that. You come into my territory and do not even introduce yourself. You want me to believe your story? Sure, I believe it. It doesn’t make a difference. I’m going to kill you all where you stand and you’ll be food for the Trawners of this land. How does that sound?”

Clara: “See, I don’t like that idea. What is so difficult about giving up a body of one person? You have killed many, I assume.”

Shin: “Does everything need to have a reason? I simply want it.”

Clara: “I see. Well, I won’t argue anymore. I was just waiting.”

Clara’s light blue mana swelled immensely. She stuck her sword in the air and chanted, “Bound by starlight and forgotten time, those that illuminate the world ablaze, heed my voice across the void, tear your tether from the sky, let gravity weep and shatter its knowledge…Lunar Descent!”

Even though the area was enveloped in darkness, Clara could sense the outside when it became truly night. An invisible moon in the sky suddenly came into the picture amongst the 10 moons already existing. Its light blue color shined similar to her mana and a beam of light shattered the condensed area, returning it to how it was before with the massive castle in front of them.

Clara’s body lit up completely in light blue mana along with her sword. She smiled with her teeth that looked like she was a villain amongst villains. Ren held his hands out, ready to help heal whenever.

Shin: “The Ten Moons of the Great Swordsmen. I have seen this plenty of times and nobody has lived to use that power again against me. There seemed to have been an 11th moon that was yours. I like you. Not in 400 years have I been confused like this. Although, you can say goodbye to that moon.”

Shin looked more serious than he had been the entire fight. His trash talk was kept to a minimum and he shut his mouth, stood there and awaited Clara to come at him. When she did, she was quicker than the speed of light, however Shin matched this speed, but purposely took a hit just for the fun of it. She flung him into the castle, breaking the bones and destroying half of it in one move.

Ren didn’t look phased like before.

He knew Clara had control, although when he peered into the broken castle, he saw Shin holding her sword with one hand. In this state of mind, Clara did not think so much. She went with intuition and gut feeling, swinging her sword so hard that it shattered air particles, creating ripples in the space. Shin laughed and deflected the sword one after another.

Ren: “He’s a monster. Clara should be able to get it done, but if her moon runs out, then we are screwed. I’m going to get the body.”

Ezra: “No, Ren. She is fine. She told us not to get it. She probably has a plan.”

Ren: “She might not survive this! If I can get your body, then we can get out of here and never have to see this man again.”

Ren ran out regardless of Ezra’s and Clara’s wishes. Shin saw him do this as he had his hands full with Clara, but he used his eyes and controlled broken material on the ground that flew towards him. He bounced back and forth to evade the bones, but Shin had full control of them despite fighting Clara at full strength.

Clara’s mana shot out of her body at Shin, stabbing him with mana that poisoned his body. To any normal person, this would’ve killed them instantly or it would be a little time before they perished, but Shin’s wounds healed, not immediately, but they continued to clash.

His body was hard.

Clara struggled to slice it, but she didn’t stop, bolting forward headstrong without a second thought. She didn’t even think of Ren, nor did she see him at the present moment before Ezra yelled loudly, “Ren! Look out!”

Ren was in front of 2 large doors when a huge pile of bones came out of nowhere via Shin and went right towards him. They collapsed into him and even into the door that broke the doorknobs off. Shin tried to get away from Clara to close the doors from opening to his master’s room, but Clara wouldn’t get off of him. Any movement he made, she followed and matched.

Shin: “You piece of crap! Get away from me!”

Clara cut up his body with her sword, but they healed again at a slow pace.

Clara: “You’re not going anywhere!”

He seemed completely fine throughout the fight even though Clara had the advantage, but bolted quickly away and at Ren to kill him and close the door. Clara followed behind, ramming Shin right through the doors as Ren ran to fetch Ezra’s main body up the stairs.

Clara stood over Shin with her sword at his throat, but looked around the room confused. There was nothing but a mirror in the middle. No humans, no objects, and most importantly, no Kastor. She released her moon as Shin looked around lost as well. He grabbed her foot and threw her across the room.

Ezra came over, viewing from a distance to make sure that he didn’t see her.

Shin: “Wh-What? Master! Master?! Master, where did you go?! I can make tea for you. I can boil it right now. Servants! Where are you?! Master, please where did you go? Did you leave when I wasn’t here?”

Clara was just as confused, standing there not knowing what to do. She looked into the mirror to see a little boy that looked similar to Shin. In fact, it was him, but a lot smaller. He looked like he wasn’t more than 8 years old in the mirror. Shin finally saw this as well and crawled to the mirror, confused at what was going on.

Shin: “Hey! Did you see where the master went?! I need to see him! He doesn’t want to see these people, just me!”

The boy in the mirror spoke a soft and kind voice, most definitely one that resembled Shin.

Shin(Young Self): “Did we become something?”

Shin: “Huh?!”

Shin(Young Self): “Did we sacrifice enough to rule the world?”

Shin: “Wh-Who are you? Did you take the master?!”

Shin(Young Self): “That woman bested us 300 years ago. Agatha. I remember her name. Have we sacrificed enough since then?”

Shin: “Who the hell are you?!”

He looked at Clara, thinking this was one of her tricks. She stepped back, ready to draw her sword, but Shin didn’t do anything serious.

He looked back at the mirror.

The boy began to walk forward in the mirror to his face and reached out his arms that physically went through the glass as if it were transparent. Shin reached his hand out trying to destroy the mirror, but it didn’t work. The boy walked out and hugged him.

He tried to pry him off, but he couldn’t. He felt overwhelmed and started to scream out for his master, Kastor.

Shin(Young Self): “So, we are still afraid of the darkness? Can we not change even after all this time? Can we not achieve our goal of ruling the world? No, I say we try again. One last time and you can lock me up for good. Let’s give it our all.”

The boy fused into Shin’s body. He panicked, not knowing what was going on. “Who are you?! Get off! I can’t get you off!”

Ren came running down the stairs with Ezra’s body yelling, “I got it!” while Clara sensed something severely off. She backed up as an even blacker aura came gleaming from Shin. Much like how her moon ability is activated, 20 black beams of light came raining down from the sky, merging into one and destruction was unveiling.