Chapter 12:

Hu-Mai, The Commanding Exorcist/Divine Judgement Cometh

Prophet of A Destroyer!


(Aoki then begins to train his body more day by day, night by night as Banri was unable to be reached by him. As the time was two AM at night, Aoki then takes a break with a sore body but unfortunately wakes up Hu-Mai who was pissed with the noise but eased himself quickly after noticing it was Aoki.)
"Hu-Mai: It's two in the morning Aoki.. What the hell are you doing..?"
"Aoki: I was training my body..."
"Hu-Mai: Hm?"
(Aoki then explains everything to Hu-Mai which he's familiar with most of the information.)
"I see. You're afraid of Banri taking over your body like last time so you wish to get strong enough before it happens again?"
"Aoki: Yes. But no matter what I do, I seem weaker... Its like, I'm always going to be this way.."
"Hu-Mai: I do not know much of your private history, Toshiharu. But if I'm being frank from what I hear... You're cowardly."
"Aoki: Ow!"
"Hu-Mai: Incapable of handling a fight without being severely hurt."
"Aoki: Come on..!"
"Hu-Mai: And I wish you didn't exist."
(Aoki was crushed to defeat by Hu-Mai's cold and cruel words but he stood up on his feet.)
"But I do understand how you feel. So go get some sleep tonight, Aoki. Because tomorrow, I'm going to personally train you myself until Banri's reawakened so I can get a glimpse of how powerful he is."
"Aoki: Wait.. Really?"
"Hu-Mai: To determine how serious your situation is with Banri, I will use a Forcible Curse technique to force him out of you. So prepare yourself."
(As Hu-Mai was walking back to his office, Aoki then returned to his room to sleep as morning the quickly arrives hours later. In the occupied training ground, Lou and Elvire were standing by if things were to go south quickly.)

"Aoki: How is this going to work?"
"Hu-Mai: As you stand in the curse's exorcism circle, I will be performing a technique which will force your curse to take over your body. Once that happens, I will fight Banri long enough to keep him maintained to see what you're dealing with."
"Aoki: So how painful is this gonna be..?"
"Hu-Mai: Have you ever felt a lightning strike hit you six times in the chest?"
"Aoki: Uh..."
"Hu-Mai: That's what I thought."

(As Hu-Mai then clapped his hands once, the lights were all off as the circle was glowing and beginning to generate high amounts of Hu-Mai's mental energy. As his eyes then forces open, the wave of energy blasts out of the exorcism circle as Aoki began screaming in astronomical pain as Lou and Elvire were still watching from afar while Hu-Mai continued with undivided concentration. As Aoki's neck began to glow, it was a sign that Banri has awakened as the exorcism circle was beginning to crack at a fast pace for Elvire was a little nervous.)

"Elvire: The circle is going to break, Hu-Mai..!"
"Hu-Mai: ..."
(As Hu-Mai kept silent throughout the entire process, he'd strengthen the technique as Banri has once again corrupted Aoki's body as Banri combats the exorcism technique in order to escape.)
"Lou: My my, I can sense that power level from here.. Oo..~ It reeks of the strong..!"
"Hu-Mai: Elvire!"
"Elvire: Yes sir?!"
"Hu-Mai: On my command, have your voodoo ready to sanction Banri's body."
"Elvire: Yes Commander!"
"Banri: You... INSIGNIFICANT FLEAS!!!"

(As Hu-Mai's right eye began to glow green, Banri was chained down by the technique for Hu-Mai to calculate how powerful Banri truly is while Elvire assists as Hu-Mai gives her the command to use her voodoo doll to keep Banri pinned down. Suddenly, Aoki's skin begins to show a jet black color in the veins as his eyes were now bloodshot for Banri was completely pissed off and is in use of 40% of his full power. As Banri then surpasses the voodoo's control, he'd release a loudly shrieking howl as Hu-Mai then notices the circle losing its stability as Banri then dashes right towards Hu-Mai and battles him head on in anger as Hu-Mai only uses one sword while timing his strikes, sharpening his defenses and continues to sense Banri's presence. Suddenly, Banri kicks Hu-Mai's sword into twos as he then suffers an explosive left hook to the face which only left a scratch instead of an actual cut as Hu-Mai then smirked at the fact he could have fun.)

"Lou: Commander~! Should we step in?"
"Hu-Mai: No. Leave the Magician of Darkness to me, I want you two to just carry Aoki's body back to the infirmary once we're done here."
"Elvire: I'll get a nurse nearby."
"Lou: Be careful!"

(As they were given the order and Elvire leaves to get the infirmary nurses, Banri out of frustration then storms towards Hu-Mai who was completely unarmed as Banri laughs manically and blasts the entire ground of the training room into bits as Hu-Mai nonchalantly walks on a platform created by his own power as Banri springs himself from every angle in an omnipresent direction to land a destructive blow on Hu-Mai which resulted in a series of explosions as sets of debris was settling in the training room as Lou summoned a force field for him to avoid being attacked by the debris. Suddenly in the debris, Hu-Mai suffers a clean slash across his torso which also revealed six scars across his chest as Hu-Mai no longer felt the need to hold back but does not attack for he was not truly hurt by Banri's devastatingly strong slash.)

"Hu-Mai: Kind of upsetting, I think I understand it now. You're not the weakling Banri, its Toshiharu's body entirely. The only reason you can't kill or harm stronger adversaries is because the host you've made a contract with is nowhere close to an A+ rank adventurer."
(Banri was suddenly ticked off as Hu-Mai delivered a confident smirk with a small grin.)
"So tell me, why exactly is it that you've chosen this individual to be your host?"
"Banri: This clown is hiding far more potential in his power and I plan to awaken it... But to do so, I've had to beaten, strangle and terrify this stupid bastard for months."
"Hu-Mai: Is that so? In truth, I heard all about you Banri. Emmeline of the Magic Region's Royal Knights, she's responsible for killing you back then, huh?"
"Banri: Tch... So what of it?! My plan is to gain revenge against the divine...!"
"Hu-Mai: I have no interest with involving myself with anything that is related to gods or divinity, but how do you plan to do that if Toshiharu's weak?"
"Banri: ...Without the sealed potential from this weakling, my revenge will not come to pass. Now personally, I could kill Toshiharu Aoki right now and save myself the trouble but where's the fun in watching him fall to his defeat?"
"Hu-Mai: Its just as the origins say, you have evil intentions but you manipulate the weak to do it for you. Its perfectly clear now. Then why don't we cut a deal?"
"Banri: Hehe...! HAHAHAHAHAAA! WHAT COULD A FOOLISH EXORCIST WANT WITH A CURSE LIKE ME? I AM THE FEARED MAGICIAN OF DARKNESS AND I-"
"Hu-Mai: In exchange for information about all curses, I will force Toshiharu to release his hidden potential that is locked away inside him."
(Banri was then silent at the offer Hu-Mai has offered and thinks about it for a moment as Lou was a little curious himself.)
"Lou: Commander~? What exactly is the use for information on all curses?"
"Hu-Mai: You'll understand in time, Pritchett."
"Banri: ...I have just one condition. Whenever I control this brat, I want you to use every last ounce of full power until I can land a decent strike. That will determine if this brat even has gotten stronger."
(Hu-Mai gave a slight smile as they've reached an understanding deal.)

"Hu-Mai: I'm surprised at such a simple condition, very well."
(As Banri and Hu-Mai then shakes hands and the contract between them is sealed, Banri then powers down and has Aoki retake control of his body for Aoki was then unconscious due to the pressuring pains of the exorcism technique earlier as Elvire returns in time with two infirmary nurses as they then realize the destroyed training room.)
"???: Goodness, Hu-Mai... Did you do this again?"
(As the familiar voice had Elvire and Lou bow their heads, Eterne arrived in the training room as Hu-Mai kept a stern look on his face as he watched Aoki being transported to the infirmary.)
"Hu-Mai: Empress Eterne, I would like permission from this day forward to personally train Toshiharu myself."
"Eterne: Hm? I have no problem with you training him but is there a good reason why?"
"Hu-Mai: Let's just say, me and his curse agrees on what we both want to happen for Toshiharu."
"Eterne: Hmm..."
(Meanwhile in the Nation of Deities, Vuella and Reika were seen speaking to a counsel of six gods who are debating their official judgement towards the two.)
"Qhitarr (Divinity Counsel Leader): Destroyer Reika and Goddess of Dreams Vuella. As Rothor here has explained everything to us and after reviewing all sources of evidence, we wish to now hear your cases of this "Aoki Toshiharu" individual."
"Vuella: If I may, your honor. It is true that Aoki is cursed by the Magician of Darkness and we do not know The Magician's true objective. But I speak for Reika and myself that we've been keeping surveillance on Toshiharu just for the potential outcome that he could be corrupted by Banri for he is known to be rouge due to Aoki being weaker than him."
(As the counsel members murmured, they then turned to the disappointed Reika who's head was down but surrounded by a cloud of emotion.)
"Qhitarr: Reika, is it true that all what Lady Vuella said is accurate?"
"Reika: Yes, your honor. All is accurately true."
(As Qhitarr then begins to decide the fate for the two, Rothor smugly looks at Vuella and Reika for he expected a demotion in the deity ranks for the both of them.)

"Qhitarr: Reika and Vuella. Conspiring and/or interacting with a cursed being is a violation under the Divine Code. However, I've also managed to reach contact with the rulers of the Magic Region and they've agreed with everything Vuella has mentioned moments ago. Therefore... There will not be no punishment given."
(Reika and Vuella were a little eased but had their guards up still.)
"But. Knowing the resurrection of the Magician of Darkness is clearly an issue we cannot ignore. For the time being, I will be allow you two to continue to watch Aoki Toshiharu. Destroyer Reika, you however are now left with a task. When the day comes that Toshiharu is no longer himself and Banri has taken over, under Divinity Law, you are ordered  to destroy him. Understood?"
"Reika: ...Yes. Your honor."
"Qhitarr: Very well. Please be sure to report anything suspicious from this day forward. You two are now dismissed."
(As the counsel and the jealous Rothor leaves the courtroom along with Reika and Vuella, Vuella was relieved that they were let off the hook as Reika was silent but was pissed off at the same time for she realized Aoki is in serious danger.)
"Vuella: Thank goodness we're let free..!"
"Reika: ... Yeah.. "Thank goodness..."
"Vuella: Hey. Is this about Aoki?"
"Reika: No.. It's not."
"Vuella: Reika. I know its been a while since you've seen him and I do get that what Qhitarr told you to do is hard... But you still can see him you know?"
"Reika: Its not! It's not..."
(A small tear began to leak from Reika's eye for she was holding back her emotions and Vuella quickly hugged her.)
"Vuella: You're not a good liar at times Reika, I've known you longer than anyone else."
(Reika then lifts her head as her eyes were yellow and black out of frustration for her memories and emotions and lets her tears flow at the fact she's remembering memories she wished to forget but at the same time is remembering the memories with Aoki.)
"Reika: Its hard... Its easy to come to terms with the fact that I have to destroy him as an order... But its hard that... He's a human, a human who didn't..- Didn't ask for me to be in his life..."
(Vuella then tightens the hug as Reika hugged her back for comfort.)

"Vuella: You may have appeared into Aoki's life, but look at what happened between you two. Aoki is still alive and well right now and you have a chance to go and see him until that day comes. Reika... We both have to come to terms with the understanding of one thing. Aoki is a Cursed Human, you are a Destroyer Goddess. A human has free will but a destroyer is destined to only destroy. You'll live for thousands upon thousands of years, Aoki will die someday. Even if Banri is still his curse, he can't control or stop Aoki's aging process."

"Reika: I know but.."
(She then sighs as she wiped her tears away.)
"When it comes to that human..."
(Reika then begins remembering their first time meeting along with every good memory they had together, including Reika's first taste of stir fry with rice while remembering a dark memory of her own past in the process.)
"I care too much about that idiot sometimes..."