Arata's Island

Kazuki met them at the Coolian Mountains as some questioned where Yahiko, Sayo, and Astro were. Kazuki ignored them for the time being, and told them that they were safe for right now.

Kouki, Yasuhiro, Agatha, Akari, Akuma, and Arata looked at Kazuki for guidance as if he was their leader.

In Kazuki’s blindspot, Kento was hiding, and swung his sword down at his neck, which he easily stopped and flew Kento into the ravaging mountains, knocking him unconscious. “We do not need that right now. Forgive me young swordsman, but I need a moment.”

Kazuki: “Alright! Everyone, let us rejoice. For we are going to win this battle. Oh? Hold on one second everyone. Agatha, come with me please.”

They teleported away not saying where they were going at all again. Kento began to slowly wake up, already becoming enraged and wanting to fight Kazuki, but realized he wasn’t here.

Yasuhiro: “Will you knock it off you absolute idiot?”

Kento: “Huh? And who told you that you could talk to me like that?”

Yasuhiro: “I’ve always talked to you like this. Besides, you’re a good for nothing braindead loser. Right now, I have more power than your left foot does. Don’t make me knock you unconscious for a second time.”

Kouki brought up strong tree roots that tied Kento together, not letting him escape. “Stop it, Kento. There is too much on the line here.”

Iki walked forward with Isara in his arms from a pathway that led up to where they were.

Kouki: “Ah, Iki Ritus? Good, we need you.”

Iki: “I did what you asked. The girl is safe. Did you kill him? Did you kill Kalbokulus?”

Kouki: “No, but I think something did.”

Iki: “NO?! You didn’t kill him?! Are you insane?! He’s going to kill everyone here!”

Yasuhiro: “Shut up and listen, you stupid leader.”

Kouki: “We had him on the ropes, Iki. But, something came out of the ground. Some skeleton-like figure that pierced his heart and took him underground. I don’t know what it was, but it took him. He probably killed him.”

Iki: “Dammit!!! Where is uncle Yureth? I asked him to meet you all wherever you were going. Goddammit! This day couldn’t get any worse. I swear if he is in his stupid trailer sleeping I’m going to kill him.”

Yureth: “Relax Iki. Have your skills grown weak? I was here the whole time. Did nobody notice me? Maybe I’m better than I think.”

Off aways from where they stood on the Coolian Mountains, Kazuki and Agatha arrived on the outskirts of Deceased Paradise where an immense power was illuminating the skies in waves.

Any normal person wouldn’t have even been able to enter the border with the intense power, but Kazuki and Agatha walked through with ease.

Agatha: “Master–”

Kazuki: “Yeah, it has harnessed the mana off all the witches that were outside of the border. How many witches are there in this era, Agatha?”

Agatha: “If I recall, there are 5 main witches in the Tribute, and then around 100, but I could be wrong. Of course, there are more outside of the witches' domain.”

Kazuki: “So about 100 witches give or take. It’s struggling to take in the mana, but even I cannot touch that right now or my covenant will be broken. Interesting. Hahahahaha! Every era is so fun. I believe this era of strength is way more extreme than it was so long ago. Agatha, do you recall the time you beat Kastor?”

Agatha: “Yes, it was a gruesome battle even at my strength.”

Kazuki: “I see. Now, he has grown stronger and you have grown weaker. I think we shall let this play out and get our allies back. There is much work to be done on this evergrowing endeavor. This will be a nice test of my strength. I’ve yet to go all out, but I feel as if an equal battle is approaching.”

They teleported back to the Coolian Mountains in front of everyone who was arguing while some tried pulling others off of each other.

Kazuki: “Oh? Lots of fighting. I wonder. Ah, the fellow that was hiding his presence earlier. You finally came out.”

Yureth: “Y-You sensed me?”

Kuazki: “Yes.”

Yureth: “Iki, who is this?”

Iki: “This is Kazuki Alcion, the rumored legend of the sword’s owner.”

Yureth: “Alcion? Nah, never heard of it.”

Iki: “Maybe if you didn’t sit in your trailer all day long!”

Kazuki: “Well, I have returned. You are quite skilled with masking your presence. Very good. You will be useful….So, everyone. I have a proposition. I think…we should all go back to our abodes.”

Everyone questioned him at the same time and started to become flustered while they argued back at him.

Kazuki: “Ah, ah, ah. That wasn’t a question.”

He sent everyone away, even Agatha to a place that only Arata was familiar with. “Wh-Why are we here? How did he know about this? How did he get us here?”

They all stood upon an island with white pillars, surrounded by water and sea monsters in the distance.

Arata: “We’re at my original home where my main body sat forever. How did he teleport us here? That shouldn’t be possible. You can only get here physically. Impossible.”

Iki: “The hell?! Let’s go, we’re going back.”

Iki lifted a Yellow Egress Chaplet, but it didn’t work. “Alright, fine,” he said, and went to the water to use his powers and get to land.

Akuma grabbed Iki by his shirt and pulled him back saying, “I would advise that you don’t do that young sir. Look.”

Hungry sea monsters sat drenched in mana spirals. Their teeth gleamed even with intense mana and inside some of their mouths sat pure fire that could burn anyone to a crisp.

Kouki: “Really? Some sea monsters? Me and Yasuhiro will go if you all are too afraid.”

Arata: “You don’t understand.”

Kouki: “Huh?”

Arata: “You don’t understand what it took to get across. Even with the strength you have now, it will take you days. It will take me days too along with everyone else. Maybe even weeks depending on what Kazuki did and is capable of. Why did he do this? Why? Why? Why?”

Kento: “Relax you fool. You’re acting like it’s the end of the world. We will cross and make the trip. Stop making such a fuss about it and wasting my time. I’m getting back to Kaazuki. These monsters aren’t worth the time.”

Kento was immediately repelled though when he tried to enter the water, which forced him backwards back onto the island. Others tried as well, but nobody could leave.

Arata: “No, is this–”

Kento: “Arata! What the hell is this?! I’m busting through this barrier! Fools Gold!”

It didn’t work.

In fact, nothing worked.

Kento tried everything he had, even using a Wight Chaplet, but he kept getting repelled back. Kouki and Yasuhiro even tried the new power that they contained, but it didn’t work either.

Arata explained…”This isn’t my island. I only just noticed it now because it’s extremely similar. Actually, it’s the exact same. However, I have the key to leave the island, and even I cannot leave right now. This is an exact replica made by Kazuki with his mana. Agatha, you can sense it too right?”

Agatha: “Yes. The master’s mana is all over. This whole place is filled with it, even the water and the monsters in it.”

Arata: “He was trying to conceal it, but it seems like even with his strength, this is too much for him to conceal. After all, this is the most powerful land in the entire world containing a power that is utterly insane, however…I still could not defeat that man with its strength. I was limited on my knowledge with swords and didn’t have time to react against him. It seems that swordsmanship truly is diminishing. Even legendary and ancient swords cannot defeat evil anymore. Or…Maybe it was me that didn’t know how to use them.”

Akuma: “If I may ask, this island is built off of this man’s power. Does that not mean that it is technically an illusion of mana?”

Agatha: “Technically, that is correct, however the master’s strength is so strong that this is also technically now a physical place until he deactivates it.”

Akuma: “So it exists on a physical plane, but is also an illusion? Hmm, so someone of equal strength could make a hole in the barrier?”

Akari: “Sister, what is he implying?”

Agatha: “I don’t know. Nobody can rival the master.”

Akuma: “That may be true, but we have 11 strong people here that can attack at once and directly target a piece of mana, until it chips away. Are you all so weak that you cannot even blast a hole in a small portion of mana? I don’t think so. Even at my age, I can help as well.”

Agatha: “That may work, but the problem is–”

Arata: “What’s the problem, Agatha?”

Agatha: “The master made this place to keep us here. Even if we blast a hole in the barrier, it will probably only hold for a few of us to get out, then it will close again. The question is…who is going to be the ones that go?”

Yasuhiro: “How do you know that’s true?”

Agatha: “I don’t, but it’s a 99% chance. My master does not make mistakes.”

Arata: “She is probably right. As much as I hate to admit it, I am not the strongest of us all right now. I think the three people that should go should be Kouki, Yasuhiro, and Agatha.”

Kento: “Huh?! I don’t care about any of the bullshit. I’m going despite what any of you say or I ain’t busting a hole in that barrier. Don’t give me that crap Arata.”

Arata sighed knowing how stubborn Kento was. He was at the point where he didn’t care. He figured they might be able to get 4 people out instead of 3, but he wasn’t going to argue with Kento.

Arata: “Fine. 4 of you will go. I will use every last bit of mana I have to keep it open. You only have half a second probably, Kento. You better make it through. I’m going to get mana poisoning from doing this. Is everyone ready?”

Iki hadn’t said a word and sat back this entire time, talking to Yureth about something where nobody else could hear and Isara laid down in the distance finally starting to wake up, but confused still.

They started without them to see if they could break it, using everyone’s strongest ability.

The abilities that combined were insane.

A beam of mana surfaced at the barrier so strong that it began to create ripples in the air, distorting the place around them, and then finally the barrier, but the hole was not big enough. Iki’s mana came in from behind, aiding them without saying a word still along with Yureth’s.

It began to expand, but even with all the Great Swordsmen here and the extra help, it still was not enough to hold a candle to Kazuki’s strength. However, Kouki and Yasuhiro’s new strength was not for nothing.

They admitted that they were not using their full strength because they wanted to test the levels of their power. They finally ensued themselves with mana and jolted it forward, which immediately opened a hole big enough for more than 4, but it began to close quickly.

Kento was the first to burst through to the other side, and then followed by Yasuhiro and Kouki, but the hole began to close when they went. “Agh! You idiots!” Arata yelled out, and threw down a Manipulator Chaplet, giving all the mana he had, including the strength of the mana spirals into the barrier, to keep it open just enough. “Agatha! Go!”

She bolted out as quickly as possible, leaving the others on this island for time that nobody knew how long they would be there for, but they needed 2 days to get to Kazuki.