1 | Who Are You?

"How's she doing, Danny?" Hachiro asked the doctor. "She'll be fine. A couple of days of rest should do the trick. I'm still curious about what happened to her, though." The doctor wondered. "I'm not sure myself. I just know she was bleeding from her head and unconscious when I found her. Hopefully, she can tell us what's going on when she wakes up." Hachiro implies as he stares at the girl. 

"Yes, that would be the most logical approach. You should get some rest too, you know. You've been here all night."

Hachiro continues to stare at the face of the girl. What is this odd feeling? Why do I feel so tethered to you? I've never even seen you before. I have yet to speak to you. Yet- 

"Hachiro, are you ok? Danny asked. "You're spacing out over there." "I can't leave," Hachiro answered. "And why is that?" Danny replies. "I don't know, but I feel like I need to be here." What is it? Why am I drawn to her? Hachiro questioned. 

"I understand. You found her in terrible condition. You want to ensure she is safe, but you can't stay. If you're that worried, swing by in the morning." The doctor suggested. "Yeah, I can do that. Sorry, Danny." 

Hachiro turned around, left the tent, and left the infirmary. There's something more than just me wanting to ensure she's safe. I've saved people multiple times before, and I've never been hung up on anyone. Hachiro continued his walk forward until he reached his quarters. He takes off his shoes and shirt and jumps on his bed. Something is off about this whole situation. Especially the way I found her and that ki. That Ki I felt—such a calm yet menacing feeling. Something is off for sure.

(A few hours ago)

Hachiro patrols the outskirts of Twin Base. He has to walk around the base walls for two hours to complete his walk-through. The sky is clear, and the stars are bright. The moon is full, glowing like the sun. Hachiro looks up and admires the sky in boredom. "Haaaa," Hachiro sighs.

Another night, another tedious job. Hachiro thinks to himself. "Patrol this, Patrol that," Hachiro says, mocking Captain Rona. "I'm the strongest member in TBM, yet I never get to do frontline duty. Just because these people see me as some little kid, sure, I might be young, but I'm powerful."

"There is more to combat than just raw strength." Hachiro mocks again. "Blah blah blah. If you're the strongest, you won't have to learn anything. I can take everything out in a flash. Boom, no more problem." Hachiro talks to himself. I wish they saw it that way.

Hachiro continues his last walk around for his patrol when he suddenly gets an eerie sensation. He looked to his left into the tenebrous woods. Is someone watching me from in the woods? "Hmph." Hachiro smirks. There might be some action for me after all. 

He walked over to the woods and shouted. "You know I can sense you, right? Your ki is kind of...well, let's say weak. So, you might as well come out now and save me the trouble. Oh, and trust me. You won't like it if I come in."

There was no reply. Just the pitch darkness and subtle wind. "Ok, don't say I didn't warn you." Hachiro rushes into the woods in a flash. (Flash is a unique skill Hachiro taught himself, focusing his ki on his legs and feet, greatly increasing his speed and agility. A skill he created that doesn't require enchantments.) Hachiro Scattered from tree to tree using unorthodox movements. He was making it hard for anyone to track his position. To the left, now the right. His movements were so sporadic, yet he kept moving forward. 

Hachiro reached the target, but no one was there. Nothing but a space surrounded by gigantic trees. He looks around in confusion. Did I just get tricked? Hachiro questioned. No, that ki. It's gone completely. It's like they vanished. Did they lure me here? Why the hell would they do that? Wait, the base. Hachiro was filled with panic. I'm the most vital member here. I was lured away from the base, wasn't I? Whoever was here is better than anticipated.

Hachiro turned around and was about to flash back to the base but stopped in his tracks. "What tha..." Hachiro's heartbeat started to accelerate. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. There lay a girl with short midnight purple hair, with blood slowly leaking from her head down to her nose. "You...you weren't there before," Hachiro says nervously. Her blood began to drip from the tip of her nose onto the dirt. Hachiro walked up to her unconscious body and stared in disbelief. Hachiro clenched his fist. {Foresight} he yells as a powerful burst of ki erupts from his body, reaching a 100-meter radius. 

(Foresight allows Hachiro to expend his Ki to detect anything around him like a radar, even if someone is suppressing their ki. The amount of ki he expends can change the radius to greater distances or less. But if he expends too much, he will weaken himself.) There's no one around. It's like whoever was here teleported. This is bad. This girl's ki is fading fast. Who was that? And did they leave her here? Or maybe they were doing some "bad things to her" and escaped when I came around? 

There's no time for this. I'll question all of this later. I need to get this girl to Danny before it's too late. 

(Somewhere in Utopia, The Realm of The Gods)

"Commence." The Lord speaks.

"Preparations! Preparations! The Lord of Chaos has declared thy march. "Horns blare, and the rumbling of the feet of hundreds of soldiers inch closer. The Lord's Gatekeepers open the throne room's massive steel and marble doors. 

The Gatekeepers, cloaked in all-black armor, shout to the army outside. "Walk!"The army marches into the Lord of Chaos throne room. It was decorated with violet-red curtains and war banners. Two powerful assassins, known as the Left and Right Hands of Chaos, stand high on their designated sides of the throne. 

The soldiers cry out.

"WAR...KILL! WAR...KILL! WAR...KILL!" The shouts of the soldiers rattled the castle and echoed across the room. The soldiers march closer to the throne, led by their commander. Zane the Executioner. 

"WAR...KILL! WAR...KILL! WAR...KILL!" The soldiers dispersed into ten rows, with twenty soldiers each, with Zane in front of the Lord's throne. Once all the soldiers entered the throne room, the Gatekeepers sealed the door.

"Speak." The Lord of Chaos demands.

The atmosphere immediately changed. It was as if gravity densified. The armor the soldiers wore seemed heavier. The being they were in the presence of conquered the demon realm alone and destroyed divine cities. He killed deities in the name of chaos. The realization sunk in. They were face to face with Choas itself. The commander speaks.

"It behooves me to mention that a boy with sundry blood was discovered on Earth," Zane announced. The soldiers gasped, and chatter filled the room. Even the Gatekeepers looked at each other in disbelief. "Mixed blood?" "How did that happen?" "That can't be true!" The soldiers question what they have heard. 

"Silence!" The room became as silent as the depth of the night in an instant. "Speak out again, and I will eliminate all of you where you stand." The calmness of the Lord's voice sent shivers down the soldiers' spines.

"Proceed." The Lord spoke. 

"Twin City is a city in District 6 of Earth. That is where he resides. He was spotted outside District 6's most powerful base." Zane informed. "And how did you find out about this taboo?" The Lord asked. 

"My spy after The Great Fracture overheard a conversation between an angel and The Great Demon Solgrod. They talked of the taboo they committed. And to make matters worse. The angel was Lady Luna of The Crescent Moon." "Lady Luna and Solgrod you say?" This information shocked even the Lord of Chaos. "It is hard to believe that the likes of Lady Luna would willingly commit a taboo such as that." 

"It is true, my Lord," Zane replies. "And you've concealed this information since the war?" The Lord questioned. 

"I wanted to assure you the tale was true, my lord," Zane answered. "The boy has solid white hair and bright yellowish-orange eyes, just like Lunas. Yet he inherits more of the demons' abilities. I don't believe the Guardians know of his existence. If we invade now and get a hold of him, we can use him to reopen the Gates of Judgment before he grows too powerful. 

"Denied. Even though the opening of the Gates could improve our numbers, an invasion of Earth will catch the eye of the Guardians. Even if the boy has mixed blood, I'm sure he doesn't know it. Luna has been dead for years now. And Solgrod has been locked away in the Gates. It'd be best not to let him discover his potential. We can't win a war with the Guardians with these numbers. Our demons have grown weak. Give it time, and leave that thing be.

Dismiss-" 

"Your Lord, this could be our only chance to capitalize on this!" Zane interrupted. "What if the angels or even the Guardians find out about him? We found him what makes you think they won't."

The Lord, about to strike down Zane, listened to his plea.

"My spy can lead the charge. Invade the base without the Guardians detecting him!" Zane proposed. 

"You won't lead the charge? You must entrust this dog of yours."

"He is a master of ki manipulation. He is as strong as me but can condense his ki not to alert the Guardian's moderation of Earth. He can bring these soldiers with him as well. They are weak, but the numbers will help."

"I'll accept and permit you to order your dog to retrieve the boy and return him to my throne room. But if he fails, I will personally put you through torment worse than death. And send you on your way to the Gates." The Lord threatens.

"I understand my lord." Zane kneels. "Now, Raise your head." The Lord demanded. As Zane raises his head, a beam of compressed ki is shot from the direction of The Lord's throne. The blast completely evaporated the left ear of Zane and took out every soldier in the row behind him. 

Zane doesn't utter a single word. It was as if nothing happened. He knew why he was being punished. 

Interrupting a Lord. If what he said after the interruption was deemed pointless, he would have been killed on the spot. Knowing this, Zane enders the pain as blood leaks from the side of his face.

"Dismissed." The Lord spoke.

The Gatekeepers open the marble and steel doors. "March!" The Gatekeepers shout. Zane stands and turns around, walking out over the burnt bodies lying on the floor behind him. He led his soldiers out of the castle, revealing the crimson-red sky. Outside the castle gates, the spy of Zane awaited.

"Take them," Zane retorts. "Do as you please, but don't get the Guardians involved." 

"That's how we planned it anyways, commander. Ain't that right, Zaney?" "I hate that repulsive way of speech," Zane replies. The spy looks at the missing ear and gushing blood coming from the side of Zane's head and laughs. "Now I see why you're in a shitty mood, aye." The spy mocks.

"Just get the job done!" Zane commanded. 

{Scatter} Zane enchants with a devilish voice, teleporting himself.

It's my turn to pull the strings again. The spy chuckles. "This should be good." 

(Back on Earth)

'Knock Knock'

"You may enter." Hachiro opens the rusted office door. "I was told you wanted to see me," Hachiro says to Captain Rona as the sun from the open window glares into his eyes. "Yes. One of our members received a severe leg injury. I want you to take his place in our next frontline mission." 

"WHAT! You're letting me go to the front lines. I've been waiting on this for years! So many boring patrols! I was so sick and tired of those things! You don't understand how long I've been wanting-" 

"You're only taking his place temporarily. You'll be back on patrols after two weeks." Rona interrupted Hachiro's rant. "Way to kill the mood," Hachiro replies. "The mission will be tomorrow. It'll take place underground in the Witchers Cave. There have been reports of unnatural creatures spotted in the area. "Demons?" Hachiro asked. "It's possible. Even children have gone missing or have been found in pieces scattered across the forest."

Hachiro gulps and his expression changes. He looked concerned and disgusted. The thought of children in pieces made his flesh crawl. I never knew how serious frontline missions could be. Hachiro thinks to himself. "We believe the creatures are using the cave as a hideout. You and a team of 5 will investigate the cave, take anything you find, and report any details back to me once returned." "Trust me. I won't let you down." Hachiro says with confidence. "I'll prove why I should have been in the frontline for a long time now." I'll show no mercy to those who kill children. 

Damn demons. 

Hachiro walked out of the office and was about to head outside. "Hachiro! I've been looking everywhere for you." Danny says in excitement. "Hey Danny, what's up? Oh! I finally got a frontline mission." "That's great. I've got some more good news for you then. That girl you saved; she woke up." 

Hachiro's eyes opened up wide in excitement. "Sorry, Danny." Hachiro flashes to the infirmary. He reaches the girl's room in under 5 seconds. "That damn kid," Danny says as Hachiro seemingly disappears in front of him. "I bet he's already there even though the infirmary is across the base." 

Ok, ok. Questions. What to ask? So many things to ask. Where do I even start? Maybe ask for her name first? Or maybe I'll ask her about that ki I felt. I- I should have waited on Danny. Ok, new plan. I'll return to Danny quickly, and we can figure this out together.

Hachiro turns around and freezes, just like the night before. There, right behind him, stood the girl he saved. He stared into her eyes, and she stared back. It was as if they were frozen in time. Hachiro struggles to utter any words from his lips. Her eyes, they're so beautiful. He thinks. What a color. Hachiro says in his head. It is such a nice, delicate purple.

When he could finally speak, Hachiro said the first thing that came to mind. 

"Who are you?"