The Kingdom of Scavia #9

 Akiro awoke, his eyes shooting open, but the beautiful scenery of the rooftop view was not what greeted him; instead, a dark space did, the floor consisting of an inch of blue water, and the darkness slowly meshed with it in the distance.

Akiro jumped up from the ground, but despite having lain on the wet surface, he was dry. He looked at himself, all dressed up in his armor, but his weapons were not with him; so this place was not in the arena.

“Where is this place?” He asked out loud, his voice only echoing dumbly in the place. He expected a response, but not from himself.

“You’re subconscious, child,” Akiro replied, only his voice much higher and younger. However, unlike his child-like form, his speech was refined and formal.

Akiro turned around, where the voice came from, and he was greeted by its source, his younger self. “W-Who— What are you?” Akiro corrected himself, knowing full well that whoever this was, it was not him. “Where is this place, and why have you taken me here?”

“Oh, so many questions.” The childlike version of himself replied, shaking his head. “We are in your subconscious.”

Akiro gulped, tasting the dignity radiating from his past form. “L-Like a dream?

“Maybe it is? But you shouldn’t just think of it as a dream, but a vision. After all, this is only one of the many, but least-painful methods of communication.” The Child turned around, his hands placed behind him, and he slowly began to walk, and Akiro followed him without question. “You are incredibly smart, a genius born from determination; but that is not enough to survive this world and its coming future.”

“You speak like you know the future,” Akiro questioned, “Are you some sort of—”

“Don’t finish that question child, or else the burden of the answer will destroy you.” The child stopped moving, “The plausibility is already starting.”

Akiro raised an eyebrow, but only then did he understand. “Agh! Ahhh!”

Haruto was speechless at the command, and even if his mind protested, his inner desire for righteousness was all crushed by his instinct and duty. It was a different reality now, and killing is the only way for them to grow stronger and protect the populace that called for their aid.

But even killing monsters was hard to stomach for Haruto, because despite them being monsters, they were just like humans that experienced joy, greed, sadness, and grief. He had seen it first-hand when he first killed a goblin family.

And he also learned that it came with the job of being Humanity’s mightiest heroes, as they must kill more in the future to protect what was important to them; so he instilled within himself a code; to never kill the defenseless, the innocent, and those that have surrendered.

So why? Why is he raising his sword against Akiro, who is now defenseless, whom he and his team had bested— why is he following along with the King’s command? Why was his short sword raised, the blade aimed at Akiro’s head?

“W-What do I do?” Haruto gulped down on his spit, looking at the King. “W-Will he be disappointed if I refuse? What would happen if I don’t—”

“He’s hesitating.” King Stephen noted, watching as his hands trembled with unease and indecision. “He won’t kill him. He doesn't have the resolve. Akiro on the other hand— I wouldn’t be sure, but he is ruthless enough, so maybe—” He huffed, looking down at Akiro, his finger twitching. “--Oh? Would you look at that? He’s not done yet.”

“Huff– augh…W-What the hell–” Akiro cursed, brought down to his knees as the pain he felt for only a second, was nothing he ever imagined before. “I felt as if I was going to be ripped apart–”

“But you now know the answer.” The child replied, looking down at him, “That is the principle of this world, and that is Price. Everything has a cost, whether it be love or power.”

“S-So,” Akiro stammered, getting up from the wet floor, “You must be paying quite the price then, to talk like this.”

“Sharp, I like it.” The child smiled, “But we’re running out of time to converse, so listen to me well.” Akiro nodded at that, and he continued. “Our goals align, so join hands with me.”

Akiro looked at the stretched hand, “What will happen to me? My soul?” he questioned, obviously apprehensive to receive it.

“...too sharp.” The child clicked his tongue, making Akiro frown. “Not much, but by joining hands with me, You will be identified with me, and you will have many enemies.”

Akiro crossed his arms, frowning at the child, “You already tried to trick me once, I don’t think that’s all.” he said, “That’s not just the catch, is it?”

“You!” the child roared, the space shaking slightly, “Impudent! You’re just like—” But he slowly convulsed as Akiro did, but the only difference is that he didn’t cry in pain. “Damn it. State your terms.”

“Whoa— so he’s affected by it too, huh?” Akiro stepped back, “I just don’t want to sell my soul to some demon or something is all. How about a give-and-take?”

“That will suffice, after all, you’ll need me in the future. You’ll need to take ‘them’ down.” The child nodded, “Well then, I will approach you with a more direct approach. Be prepared then, because your future is not a kind one.”

“O-okay then.” Akiro breathed a sigh of relief, “Finally, it's over.”

“And one more thing.” The child spoke, “A word of advice.”

“Yeah?”

“Be one with the dark, it will be your shield, your sword, your protection, and your wings.”

“What are you doing!?” Masashi erupted from the stands, his body covered in bandages, “Do the job! What are you hesitating for!?”

Haruto flinched, looking over to the side, to where Masashi was resting. “W-What should I do!?” He asked himself, seeing Akiro below him, in between his legs as he stood over him. “The king must have reason! y-yeah! That makes sense! Or else he wouldn’t ask me to do this!”

Haruto breathed a heavy breath, and raised the short sword, ready to descend. Haruto roared as he stabbed, closing his eyes as he did; and Akiro’s eyes shot open.

[ You have awakened ]

Shing!

Queen Kaguya gasped in surprise, Stephen’s hidden dagger unsheathed and ready to intercept Haruto’s sword. Her husband would have followed through to protect the other hero as he was sure of the former’s resolve, but he didn’t need to; because Akiro dodged by a hair's length.

Haruto gasped, jumping from him, but Akiro reached for the hooked daggers he sheathed on his waist, slashing Haruto’s chest and abdomen with the protruding blades as he did.

Shing!

“Haruto!” Yamazaki called, knocked back into attentiveness. She was preoccupied with celebrating with Yaso, Kenji, Ryuta, and Matsuko.

“I-I’m alright! Mostly…” The superior knight winced, feeling pain in everything he breathed because of the slash on his belly. “D-Don’t go near him! He’s dangerous!”

“Retreat first!” Matsuko called, “You’re bleeding!”

“Wow…” Akiro sighed, slowly getting up from the ground, “The pain is still there,” he thought, nursing his beaten stomach.

“But I’m healing quickly.” He then returned the blades to their sheath, taunting the martial artist who landed six devastating blows to him specifically. “Was that the best you could do?”

“Get back! I’ll deal with him!” Yamazaki gritted, frowning as she ran towards Akiro, pushing Haruto back as she did. “I’ll wipe that grin off your face!”

“[ Sprint ]” Akiro leaned forward, running straight to the rampaging bruiser. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but—” He smiled, leaning left.

Yamazuki clenched her left hand into a fist, her middle knuckle in the form of a triangle, forming a speartip. “[ Phoenix Punch ]”

But Akiro saw through it, stopping abruptly with his left foot, he stepped away from the punch and weaved an uppercut under her arm. Before the blow could land, Akiro smirked at her. “Checkmate.”

Pow!

The surrounding mages gasped at the situation, the favorabile tide turning against Haruto and his friends. The blow to her chin rocked her mind and she fell unconscious on her knees.

“Who's next?” Akiro grinned, tossing the martial artist aside, using her collar. “Kenji? or Haruto? Which one?” he grinned confidently. “Besides the unconscious, only those four are left for me to deal with.”

The guardian amongst the remaining gulped down on his spit, watching as Akiro slowly approached them, his dangerous aura looming over them. Something was different from earlier, and whatever it was, they screwed up.

“Even rats bite cats when they’re backed into a corner…” Ryuta mumbled, “We pushed him too much–”

Akiro licked the drying blood from his lips, reaching for his katana, drawing the first few inches of the blade. “If you’re not going to come to me– I’ll come to you!”

“Shit!” Kenji cursed, rushing to intercept him, “I’ll hold him! Matusko! help Haruto heal quicker! I’ll buy as much time as possible.”

“I’m sorry– I’m sorry that I’m holding you down.” Haruto glumly said, Matsuko shaking his head in response.

“Don’t be, you tried your best. No one in their sane mind would willingly stab a classmate.” The alchemist tried to console him, “Except Masashi, which is a given; but who knew Akiro would. I mean he’s not exactly popular, but he surely does not have a grudge? Right?”

To his dismay, his hopes were not exactly confirmed, but neither is it proven wrong. Kenji gagged, his face swollen from the blows; but he stood there defiantly, stubbornly. Even while under heavy fire, Kenji glared with resolve “[ Restrai–”

Pow!

“Skills take time to activate,” Akiro hummed, sidestepping to the right and left, throwing left and right jabs in between the gaps of his defense. “My sword is too good for his shield, and it will only prove to be dangerous. So I’ll just beat you into submission!”

Bam! Bam! Wha-Bam! Pow!

Akiro danced, his memory flashing to middle-school, back to when Masashi would bring him to the back of the school, acting the role of his sandbag. His form, his footwork, his combinations– all copied and seared into his brain, except now, he was attacking at inhuman speed.

It was only a matter of time before Kenji succumbed to the pain and fell back, defeated; landing with a thud.

Thud!

“Ten seconds!” Haruto yelled, running towards Akiro, directly behind Kenji, “Thank you for buying me ten seconds!”

“Oh it’s you, finally–” Akiro leaned to the side, the shortsword grazing his shoulder, “A rematch!”

Clang!

The pale-blue blade clashed with steel, Haruto and Akiro glaring face to face, and eye to eye. “W-Why are you going this far!” Haruto demanded, “You should’ve just accepted defeat gracefully!”

“I’ll only accept defeat when my corpse falls on the floor!” Akiro shot back, leaning more to add weight behind the sword. “This world is not kind enough to let you off if you surrender!”

Haruto looked at Akiro, his eyes flashing an emotion of desperation, “I’ve got to return– And I don’t care if I have to beat everything that stands in my way!” the assassin explained, “I’ll do whatever it takes!”

Shing!

Haruto’s eyes widen, his short sword falling into pieces as Akiro’s slices cleanly through it; but he didn’t have time to think, because an anger-infused kick lands on his diaphragm.

Bam!

Matsuko gasped, ducking out of the way as Haruto flew overhead, landing on Hitomi, knocking them both out of the arena. Even wide-eyed, the king still announced their elimination. “Haruto Itsuki, Nishimura Hitomi, Kenji Kinote, and Yamazaki toshiyuki— out.”

Akiro huffed, sweat pouring from his hair, but he still advanced to the non-combatants, “Care to surrender?” he asked, drawing both his knives for either of them.

The Alchemist and the Tamer only nodded profusefly, “W-We surrender!”