Dark walked through the familiar halls of the Academy of the Elites, his mind heavy with the weight of recent events. He had come back to check on everything, to see if anything had changed, and to perhaps find a sense of clarity in the place that had shaped him so much. As he moved through the corridors, students and teachers alike watched him with a mixture of awe and curiosity.
Dark: (thinking) It feels strange to be back here. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same.
He entered one of the large training rooms where students were practicing swordsmanship. The clinking of the metal and the disciplined shouts of the trainees filled the air. Dark observed for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, before he stepped forward.
Instructor: (noticing Dark) Everyone, gather around! We have a special guest today.
The students quickly assembled, forming a semi-circle around Dark. Their faces were a mix of excitement and nervousness. Dark, however, remained stoic, his usual calm demeanor masking the turmoil within.
Dark: (addressing the class) Today, I'll be teaching you some advanced swordsmanship techniques. Follow me outside.
The students followed him in silence, their curiosity piqued by the presence of the legendary swordsman. Once outside, Dark demonstrated various techniques, his movements fluid and precise. Despite his mastery, there was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm in his demeanor.
Student 1: (whispering) He barely smiles. I wonder what's bothering him.
Student 2: (whispering) I've never seen him like this. He looks... disappointed.
Suddenly, a student stepped forward, his expression determined.
Kim: Dark, I challenge you to a duel.
The entire class gasped, exchanging shocked glances and whispers.
Student 3: (whispering) Finally, someone dares to challenge Dark after all these years.
Dark's eyes met Kim's, and for the first time, a spark of interest flickered in them.
Dark: (coolly) Very well. What's your name?
Kim: My name is Kim. I am Cosmic's First Habitable Creation.
Dark's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Cosmic. A small, rare smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Dark: (smiling) Now that's what I like to hear.
Kim unsheathed his sword, taking a ronin stance that exuded confidence and readiness. The class formed a large circle around them, their anticipation palpable.
The circle of students watched with bated breath as Dark and Kim faced off. Dark, still holding his katana, noticed a wooden stick lying on the ground. He picked it up, examining it briefly before tossing his katana aside.
Dark: (calmly) I'll use this.
The students gasped again, murmuring among themselves at the audacity of Dark using a simple stick against a skilled opponent like Kim.
Kim: (confidently) You're going to regret that.
Without another word, Kim launched himself at Dark with incredible speed, his sword glowing with a mix of magical energy. He swung his blade in a series of intricate and powerful slashes, each one infused with elemental magic—fire, ice, and lightning crackling along the edge.
Dark moved with effortless grace, the wooden stick in his hand parrying each strike with precision. He sidestepped and ducked, his movements fluid and almost casual, as if he were merely taking a walk in the park. Despite Kim's best efforts, Dark showed no sign of struggle or effort, his expression remaining stoic and uninterested.
Kim: (gritting his teeth) You're just playing with me!
Kim intensified his attacks, casting spells with his off-hand to augment his swordsmanship. He sent a wave of fire roaring towards Dark, followed by a blast of freezing wind and a bolt of lightning. The elemental onslaught was relentless, each spell expertly woven into his swordplay.
Dark deflected the fire with a swift swing of the stick, causing it to dissipate harmlessly. He twirled the stick, using it to break the ice blast into harmless shards and then grounded the lightning bolt with a well-timed strike to the earth. All the while, he remained calm, his eyes distant, as if his mind were elsewhere.
The students watched in awe, their disbelief growing with each passing moment. Dark wasn't just holding his own; he was making it look easy.
Kim: (frustrated) Fight back!
Dark: (expressionless) ...
Kim's fury drove him to new heights, and he unleashed a powerful spell that created multiple ethereal blades, each one aimed directly at Dark. The blades flew through the air, their edges shimmering with magical energy.
Dark twirled the stick, knocking each blade aside with minimal effort. The wooden stick moved so swiftly it was almost a blur, and not a single blade touched him. His expression remained unchanged, eyes occasionally glancing at the ground as if lost in thought.
Kim: (breathing heavily) How... how are you doing this?
Dark: (silent) ...
With a final burst of energy, Kim gathered all his magical power into one devastating strike. His sword glowed brightly, and he charged at Dark with a fierce battle cry, intending to end the duel with a single blow.
Dark stood his ground, waiting until the last possible moment. Then, just as Kim's attack was about to connect, Dark stopped moving entirely, letting the attack hit him. The impact created a cloud of smoke and dust, obscuring the view.
When the dust settled, Dark stood unscathed, a barely visible forcefield shimmering around him. He stared at the ground, his mind clearly elsewhere, unaffected by the powerful strike. The students and teachers were shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Kim: (understanding) Are you alright? You seem off.
Dark: (silent) ...
Kim's voice broke through the tension, his genuine concern evident. The duel had ended, not with a decisive victory, but with an unsettling display of Dark's overwhelming power and emotional detachment.
The duel had ended, not with a decisive victory, but with an unsettling display of Dark's overwhelming power and emotional detachment. As the dust settled and the forcefield dissipated, Dark stood unscathed, his eyes fixed on the ground, deep in thought.
Dark: (thinking) What was that power? The forcefield... where did it come from?
Memories began to surface, taking him back to a time years ago when he witnessed a similar phenomenon. During the fierce battle between Sukojo and Lord Caje, he had seen something akin to this forcefield. It wasn't just a shield; it was a guardian force, something that activated itself whenever someone got too close. A protection mechanism, an instinctual guard.
Dark: (thinking) Could it be the same thing? A protection that activates on its own? But why now?
He lifted his gaze and looked back at Kim, who was still catching his breath, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and awe. Without a word, Dark turned and began to walk away, lost in his thoughts.
Kim, still reeling from the experience, felt a surge of frustration and threw the grip and pommel of his broken sword at Dark. In an instant, Dark turned around, and before anyone could blink, his greatsword appeared in his hand from a spatial portal, held aloft with a single hand. The pommel was knocked back towards Kim, who barely managed to dodge it.
The students and teachers were stunned, their minds racing to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
Student 1: (whispering) Did you see that? How did he move so fast?
Student 2: (whispering) He pulled out a greatsword like it's nothing!
Student 3: (in awe) Is that even possible? What kind of human strength is this?
They exchanged bewildered glances, each trying to make sense of Dark's incredible speed and skill. Dark, however, showed no sign of concern or interest in their reactions. He turned again and walked away, heading back towards his home, his eyes looking downwards, lost in thought.
Dark: (thinking) This power... I need to understand it.
As he walked through the forest, Dark sensed something approaching him at full speed. Yet, he didn't bother to look up or react. The camera zoomed out, revealing a demon from hell, its arms stretched out, ready to hit or grab Dark. Just as the demon got too close, the forcefield activated again, chopping off the demon's arms with an unseen force. The demon recoiled in agony, its severed limbs falling to the ground, but Dark continued walking, indifferent to the attack.
Dark: (thinking) This guardian force... it protects me. But why?
The demon writhed on the ground, its monstrous screams echoing through the forest, but Dark paid it no mind. His thoughts were consumed with the mystery of the forcefield and the implications of its existence. As he continued his journey back home, the forest slowly began to thin, giving way to the familiar surroundings of his old sanctuary.
Finally, Dark reached the edge of the forest and saw his home in the distance. A sense of calm briefly washed over him, but it was quickly replaced by a feeling of unease. Standing outside his home was a figure unlike any he had seen before. The figure glowed with a radiant yellow light, their eyes an intense black that seemed to pierce through the darkness.
The figure wore a yellow cape that glowed faintly, fluttering in the breeze. Their aura was like fire, but yellow, tinged with streaks of red and black. The ground around them seemed to shimmer with heat. Holstered on their back was a magnificent great spear—the Spear of Light and Heavens, also known as the Divine General's Spear. The spear was a striking yellow, adorned with intricate designs and divine symbols that glowed faintly. The spearhead was razor-sharp, forged from a material that seemed to hum with celestial energy.
The figure also wore ornate armor that matched the color of their aura, detailed with golden engravings and runes. Around their waist was a belt studded with gems that glowed in harmony with their fiery presence. Gauntlets on their arms crackled with energy, and their boots were reinforced with metal that seemed almost ethereal.
Dark paused, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of this otherworldly being. The figure turned their head slightly, acknowledging Dark's presence.
Yellow Figure: (calmly) I see you've returned.
Dark: (wary) Who are you?
The figure stepped forward, their movements graceful and deliberate.
Yellow Figure: I am Nen, Grand Division of Zeno, the Divine General.
Dark's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the Divine General, a title that carried immense weight and significance. He could feel the power radiating from Nen, a force that was both intimidating and awe-inspiring.
Nen: (voice steady) I am also your older brother.
Dark: (shocked) My brother?
Nen: (nodding) Yes, our parents abandoned you in the forest when you were just a baby, expecting you to die. They believed you were too weak to survive. But I knew you would live. I have watched over you from afar, waiting for the right moment to reveal myself.
Dark: (reeling) Why now? Why reveal yourself now?
Nen: (calmly) Because the balance of this world is delicate. Your recent encounters have drawn the attention of beings beyond imaginations, YOU. Hmpft..
Dark: (thinking) Huh... could he mean Cosmic?
Nen: (continuing) You possess Linguard Korosu, a power that is rare and dangerous.
Dark: (defensively) I didn't ask for this power. It just... awakened.
Nen: (nodding) Many powers in this universe awaken when least expected.
Dark: (thinking) This guy...is he for real?... he's not just powerful....he's too calm to be serious....
Dark: (still cautious) Why now? Why come to Earth now?
Nen started laughing, his voice echoing like a storm through the forest. In an instant, he blurred out of sight, defying all notions of speed and gravity. Before Dark could grasp the concept of what just happened, Nen appeared right in front of him, grabbing him by the throat with an iron grip, and hurled him skyward with a force that defied comprehension.
As Dark soared upward, Nen crouched low, like a predator preparing to strike. With a thunderous leap, he launched himself into the air, shattering the ground beneath him and sending shockwaves rippling outward. Yellow lightning crackled around him as he ascended, a celestial harbinger of doom.
High above, Nen positioned himself over Dark, his legs coiled back and his fists combined into a sledgehammer. As he brought his fists down, the very screen of reality seemed to fracture, plunging into an inky blackness that transcended the boundaries of existence, shattering the limits of the narrative itself—perhaps even outstripping the might of Sukojo.
Dark hurtled back to the earth, crashing with a cataclysmic impact that created a massive crater. The ground spider-webbed with cracks, testament to the unimaginable violence of the assault. His back bones snapped, sending waves of agony through his body.
From Dark's perspective, the world spun in a haze of pain and chaos. Through the haze, he saw Nen approaching, his stride slow and deliberate. Nen's cape billowed behind him, flowing like molten gold, a banner of his overwhelming power.
Nen: Thou art a disappointment to the royal Kidutori lineage. And I, as their rightful heir, shall now exterminate thee and deliver thy head to them.
Nen's voice was a chilling whisper, promising inevitable death. He continued his approach, eyes locked on Dark with a lethal intent.
Nen: Then shall I claim the throne and bestow upon myself the title of Divine General of Zeno.
Dark: (thinking) What the hell was that attack? What happened? I couldn't see anything... What is this?...
Dark lay in the shattered remnants of the ground, his body wracked with pain, struggling to comprehend the force that had struck him. His mind raced, grappling with the reality of his predicament and the overwhelming power of his brother.
Then, as Nen holds Dark by his hair, gripping it intensely and lifting him into the air, he raises his other arm. With godlike speed, he flicks his whole arm towards Dark. The camera zooms into Nen's face, showing a look of shock and wide-eyed disbelief. His eyes reflect a terror of seeing something beyond his comprehension.
Slowly, the camera shifts to a different angle, revealing Dark, Nen, and a full white figure glowing intensely with a radiant white hue. Its skin is made of pure light—Divine Light. The figure gazes at Nen with disappointment and a hint of sadness in its eyes. Nen's arm, which was supposed to finish off Dark, lies severed on the ground, bleeding profusely. The cause of the injury is a mystery.
Cosmic: Oh Nen... oh dear Nen, I wanted to test you, told you where your brother would be... and here you are.
Cosmic: Hurting him.
Nen stammers.
Nen: O-O-Oh—C-C-Cosmic?...
Cosmic steps closer to Nen. One footstep from Cosmic sends a shockwave that knocks Nen backward so violently that he crashes into a giant rock that smashes his head on it, the camera unable to keep up with his sudden movement.
Cosmic: I saw through the future, knew you would not listen to me, yet I still gave you a chance to prove your worth. My strongest student, get lost before I kill you.
Nen, despite being unconscious, stirs and stands up as if compelled by Cosmic's words. His body moves even in its unconscious state, defying logic. Trees flip upside down, and water turns to dust. Cosmic turns around and looks at Dark, walking closer to him. Each step he takes restores nature and order. Cosmic crouches down and moves his hand over Dark's entire body in one graceful gesture, healing him completely. The cursed eye and its scar vanish.
Dark: So you... are Cosmic...
Cosmic: Yes, I am, but this is not my true form or body. This is one of my weakest vessels.
Cosmic: My apologies for Nen's actions. Is there anything I can do to make up for his actions?
Dark stammers.
Dark: No, you already helped me. If his hand had made physical contact with me, I would've died... thank you...
Dark gets up.
Dark: Thank you for saving my life. It is an honor to meet you.
Cosmic: No, it is an honor for me to meet such a distinguished gentleman. I hear you've made good progress at the Academy Of The Elites.
Cosmic: You have saved lives, yet I did not reward you or help you then. And I know Sukojo has been hanging around lately, but I assure you...
Cosmic: You will never be killed by a being or die of age. Would you accept immortality as a gift from me?
Dark: Immortality? No, I'll pass. What's the point in fighting and becoming stronger to win when even if I die I'd still come back?
Cosmic laughs and smiles.
Cosmic: That is a good point.
Dark: May I ask you something?
Cosmic nods.
Dark: Is Sukojo immortal? I've never seen him fear an opponent or even fear death.
Cosmic: Sukojo is not immortal, yet he cannot die. One requires the Blade of Death and Life to actually hurt Sukojo, or inflict any damage.
Cosmic then looks up at the sky.
Cosmic: Ah, I gotta go run some errands now, Shou needs me.
Dark: Huh? Who?
Cosmic then vanishes.
End of chapter 20