The Search Begins

 Iki immediately went back to The Association to check on his chaplet collection, making sure none were taken by Lorenzo Cain while he was stalled. When he ensured this, he grabbed a few extra Yellow Egress Chaplets that he had and took off. Not having Yahiko’s ability made it harder for them to teleport places, but Natsuki’s speed with his shard also provided them some leisure.

Goro walked with Astro in the direction of the Coolian Mountains. He halted using a Yellow Egress Chaplet because he wanted to talk first.

Goro: “You didn’t talk much, and I don’t believe I introduced myself when you arrived. My name is Goro Retsu.”

Astro: “Yeah I heard you. I heard the last name. I just didn’t know if I believed it.”

Goro: “Yes. I’m Dante Retsu’s son. So you know him?”

Astro: “Yeah, but it makes no sense that you're his son. You’re like 60 years old. However, I’m not stupid. You clearly used Growth Chaplets. I’m assuming tot try and get him back.”

Goro: “Growth Chaplets. They are pretty useful, at least in my case. Let’s just say I’m doing whatever it takes to get my father back. I’ll worry about the consequences later.”

Astro felt the need to apologize all of a sudden. Even though he put up a front most of the time, he was a lot more emotional than he seemed.

Astro: “I-I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough to protect him, and I’m still not. This is the first time I’m hearing that my scythe is powerful enough to avoid the Time Chaplet, but my body was not. It unfroze me and then I learned why, but I let Dante go right through my hands just like everybody else in my life. I thought he was dead for the longest time, but I tried to hang on to hope. I tried to find him, and when I learned he was alive, something inside me sparked, and instead of being selfish like I always am, I seeked help. I found Michiaki and I pleaded in the best way I could despite my pride. He said no at first, and I was willing to give my life for the kid, but then Michiaki came back to help. I let him do his thing, and well, now we’re in this situation. Same thing with the other kid. They were buddies and I couldn’t do anything.”

Goro: “Other kid?”

Astro: “Yeah, he had a friend that hired me. His name was Lucky. He’s the brother of Kouki and Yasuhiro. He’s alive too apparently, but something similar happened to him I guess. I was off to look for him too right after Michiaki took over, but right as I was about to leave, the Time Chaplet took effect. The trackers that we have don’t work now. Stupid Great Sovereign. If you’re so great, then why don’t they still freaking work?”

Goro: “Interesting. I did not know of this. Please, I’d like to visit my father first just for a minute.”

They teleported there via an Egress Chaplet as Goro and Astro just stared at Isamu who was stuck in place on the ground, covered in blood, and his head chopped off on the ground.

Michiaki had done a number on him, but the effects of his power were still suspended in the air. Not only would this resume once the Time Chaplet was up, but many other factors would take place. Michiaki’s strength ensured that these powers wouldn’t destroy the world, but it would still do a lot of damage within 50 miles once the Time Chaplet was released. They had to get going. Goro once again used an Egress Chaplet to transport to the Coolian Mountains.

Goro: “There have been multiple rumors amongst many sources that connect to these shards. The mana supposedly is very similar to them. I’m not the best at comparing, and Michiaki said that he can’t even do it at the moment. I wish we had that Clara woman to help, but unfortunately we don’t. This is the exact spot that the rumors say the mana is pulsating. It’s walls and walls of rock that lead to the middle of the mountains. Apparently, anytime that someone tried to break into even the first wall, they ended up losing their minds. It’s like it wants people to try and get in on purpose. Otherwise, I would assume the mana would be concealed like the shards. I wonder what’s inside. It could be the other 2 shards, but why would the mana be showing for the last 2? Can you try to get in with your scythe?”

Astro: “Yeah, I doubt it’s going to do anything though…Charon’s Hammer, Cerberus’s Tail, Hectate’s Eye of Gruumsh…Black Zenith!”

Dark black particles filled the air surrounding them, then fired out black beams of light with an outer coat of white color constantly, but when the smoke cleared, only dents remained in the wall. It had barely done any damage to the first layer of many.

They figured that they would need Michiaki, but Goro pulled out a Manuscript Chaplet that was dark blue with a random gold design on the inside. It looked as if mini chaplets were inside as well, but it was just the design. Astro didn’t know what this did, but as Goro used it, he understood. It allowed the user to create symbols onto objects that created what was written. It was almost like you could create anything in the world, however seeing Goro using it, he realized that there were lots of limits on it.

Symbols appeared on the wall such as “Destroy, Demolish, Break, and Shatter,” but none of them did much damage in comparison to Astro’s ability.

Goro: “I thought I’d give it a shot, but this chaplet isn’t really all that. It’s considered rare, but it can’t really do much damage. It’s more for everyday use for moving things and stuff like that. That’s why you probably don’t see many people with it. Well, let’s move on to somewhere else. We need to find a bunch more Luck Chaplets. I used all of them for the Time Chaplet. Once we do, we can try a Tracker Chaplet combined with it and see what it does for us…”

Michiaki walked for a little while with Welpen and Saikou before telling them where they were going.

Michiaki: “Deceased Paradise. You said Clara was there. I wanted to see what she was doing. Not sure if you know, but she was going to be fighting against something pretty strong. I wonder if there was something there that she needed. Could’ve been a shard after all.”

He stopped in his tracks and then turned towards Saikou. He pointed his sword at him and Welpen jumped in front asking what his deal was. He seemed like a pretty reasonable and strong person in Welpen’s eyes, but at this moment, he was his enemy.

Welpen: “Hey! What’s your problem?! Drop your sword! My friend did nothing to you!”

Michiaki: “I protected you earlier, but I want to know. How did you escape the Time Chaplet? You barely have any mana, you don’t talk, and you wear this goofy outfit. If you can confirm you’re not a threat to my family, then I’ll drop this sword. You have to be connected to the Dark Mold to escape its effects. So, who are you?”

Saikou still didn’t talk, but put his hands in the air and shook his head like he was innocent. Michiaki started to laugh then and said, “Just kidding!”

Welpen didn’t find this funny and they continued on until they reached Deceased Paradise, walking purposely in a line to make sure Michiaki didn’t try anything. Welpen knew he couldn’t stop him, but apparently, he was important and if he died, then the world would too. ‘That’s probably why he went with me. He wants to protect me if anything goes wrong,’ he thought.

When they reached the border, Michiaki walked in like it was nothing. Grabbing the boy's hands, they darted off to where the most mana was held, to the place where Clara just was. They got there quickly with Michiaki’s speed, and the shard that also lit up along the way. They didn’t even need chaplets at this point, although Welpen had been training to become stronger and faster.

In front of them was the land of sand and bones and a castle bigger than most made completely out of skeletal material. Michiaki heard Ezra’s voice call out to him not to enter, but he ignored it. She had been explaining the entire time what had happened when they got there.

Michiaki: “Believe it or not, I actually have never been here. Before we were set to raid this place, the Titan War happened. We were supposed to kill every creature here, but it fell through and then I turned away from violence. I’d prefer not to kill anything that I don’t need to kill. Ezra, I hear what you’re saying, but first off, I wouldn’t lose and second off, it seems as if this thing is frozen too. I can see it from this distance. It’s just standing there not moving a muscle. Although…The mana is pulsing from it as if it isn’t affected. Interesting. It is quite strong. Not as strong as Isamu, but it seems different somehow.”

Welpen: “This place is different than when I was here. Why is all the sand black?”

In the far distance, giant worms emerged from the black sand, but not moving either. Tons of different types of creatures were lined up, probably numbering in the thousands of all different shapes and sizes.

Michaiki: “Looks like they were heading here before the Time Chaplet took control. So Clara was fighting this thing over here? Let’s check it out…Hmm, Kastor correct? I believe that’s his name.”

Welpen: “That’s not what the man looked like when I was here? He was different.”

Ezra explained again, and Michiaki finally understood, although he didn’t know why Kastor was not in control in the first place if he was stronger than the man before.

Michiaki: “Well, that’s a question for someone else. He doesn’t have a shard, so we’ll get moving. Welpen, do you wish to kill this thing? Someone that you don’t even know?”

Welpen: “I-I don’t know.”

Michiaki: “What if I said it could destroy your family and the world?”

Welpen: “Well, then yeah, I probably would.”

Michiaki: “So you would kill something that you don’t know anything about because it is a threat?”

Welpen: “I-I think so.”

Michiaki: “I said it could destroy the world, not that it would. Don’t you think I could destroy the world if I wanted to?”

Welpen: “I don’t know…Probably.”

Michiaki: “So, will you try to kill me?”

Welpen: “I’m not strong enough to even if I wanted to, but I don’t think I would.”

Michaiki: “But, I could snap at any moment and up and destroy everything you love.”

Welpen: “Hmm, what’s the point of this? I’m confused.”

Michiaki: “Nothing, just asking. Let’s keep going. I’m being ringed by Goro already with a Tone Chaplet…”

Michaiki tried everything he could do to break the layers. He got through 7 of them, and waited for night to pull his moon down. He attacked the walls with everything he could, but only broke through another 2 layers with all his strength as the others admired his insane strength. Astro especially felt a huge pressure just weighing him down even though Michiaki wasn’t fighting with him.

Goro: “Well, it’s better than anybody else is going to do. We’re not even halfway though and that’s everything we got. This is going to be a long 5 years. Everyone strap in.”

Michiaki: “No. I know something that can break a couple more barriers. Everyone come close to me.”

Raising a Yellow Egress Chaplet in the air, he called out, “Land of the Rising Phoenix."

This was similar to some of them that had already been here, but as Michiaki approached the veil of smoke, Astro and Welpen screamed out, trying to stop him. However, he went in without any hesitation and they followed him inside.

Astro and Welpen were scared, knowing that this would lead to nothing good like before, but when they entered, everything was fine. It was just white smoke and they walked easily through it to where Michiaki was. When they caught up, he was looking straight at a woman with large white and purple wings, bright white long hair, and a long black and white dress that extended past her feet as she ascended in the air.

Michiaki: “Ah, so the Time Chaplet even got you, Morlin the Magnificent.”

Goro: “Morlin?!”

Astro: “Morlin the Magnificent?! She’s a woman?”

Goro: “The leader of the fairies?”

Michiaki: “Yeah, and my master. She’s pretty powerful. I would’ve thought that she escaped the Time Chaplet’s effects. I guess not. It’s not your fault, Goro. It’s whatever killed the Time Horse and Toshiro. Otherwise, a lot more people I know would be awake right now. Well, I’m only here for the sword. This bad boy will destroy another 2 layers, and maybe more, but after this, I’m not sure what to do.”

Morlin was beautiful in her natural body. She looked like a siren with long light blue hair, water symbols on her cheeks, earrings made of grass, purple bright eyes, and a gorgeous yellow dress. Even in the state she was in, she looked elegant.

Goro: “If we use this sword and combine everybody else’s power, then we might be able to get more, but everyone will lose their mind except you, Michiaki Sen. Eventually, we’re going to get to a point where we can’t do anything. It’s useless. Astro started to feel dizzy after a few tries.”

Michiaki: “Maybe, but this sword is stronger than mine believe it or not, so I’d like to have it in the meantime. We’ll scratch the layering idea and continue to look for the shards and chaplets to help. We’re going back to our groups. We have 4 years and 364 days. Search the ends of the world with all you have or we’ll all perish. If you’re tired, don’t stop. If you’re hungry, don’t stop. Do as much as you can without regret, or it will eat you alive if we fail. Goodluck everyone. Call me again if you need anything Goro, Astro…”

With this, they were off again to search.

The only thing that Michaiki taught Welpen was how to craft swords along the way. He broke 6 Knack chaplets, which summoned multiple common swords and showed him how crafting works. As he picked up swords along the way, he did the same over and over via Michiaki who knew how to craft. Even if they could find a Master Blacksmith, they would be frozen in time, so Michiaki did it for him until he could eventually craft a legendary, mythical, or ancient sword. They had 5 years to do it just in case. It was a race for time when all time had ceased to exist…