<Ⅲ>

Yuri woke up, injured but alive, but not Kiro, who is motionless not far away.

Yuri tried waking the immobile kid up, to no avail. Impossible, Yuri thought.

And Lo, Kiro's Soul Light floated out of his chest and like a bubble it floated upwards slowly at first. Yuri tried to bring the soul light of Kiro back, but it suddenly flew at full speed to the skies that Yuri couldnt reach.

At such despair, Yuri heard a girl's scream.

" KIRO !"

a pink curly haired loli with two bangs jumped out of the dark shadows with tears, and following behind were more and more children ! Loli and kiddies, mostly younger than Yuri all came out of the cracks and tunnels of the canyon and wept for the unmoving Kiro.

The children brought Kiro back into the small tunnels within the canyon and Yuri followed, and arrived at a great wide clearing inside, many lamps and many younger children.

" Are there any grown-ups here ?"

Yuri asked.

The children shook their heads

" Neo is the oldest."

Neo, a serious looking kid came And also examined the stone still Kiro.

While the children discussed what they heard from Yuri about Kiro's Soul light flying away, Yuri noticed someone behind her ,staring silently.

It was A purple haired girl with calm half opened eyes, her hair tied to twin ponytails o both sides of her head.

" .........Welcome home, Yuri."

The purple haired girl whispered with a smile.

" Huh ?"

Yuri didn't understand.

The purple haired girl then came closer to Yuri and stared so close into Yuri's eyes, and just stared.

" umm.....how did you know...I am Yuri...?"

Yuri asked the calm staring girl.

The girl didn't immediately answer, and backed a few steps after a long stare, slightly , very slightly hidden in her golden eyes a small glance of sorrow

" I am Lima."

the calm purple haired girl introduced herself finally.

" And we are Thoka and Ashoka !"

Introduced the Obligatory twin brothers who energetically butted in the conversation.

" I am Feira, and this is Neliya, who's shy."

introduced a red haired girl behind Yuri accompanied with a quite girl holding a thick book.

" Woo woo.... I am Neliya...squeak !"

squeaked the shy girl.

" And I'm Rio, brother of Neo ! Second oldest !"

Rio boasted, eager to earn this Yuri's attention.

" No, Kai is second oldest. You are third."

red haired Finnir, brother of red haired Feira corrected like a wise kid.

" Nya." Neruko the cat eared loli yawned, woken up from slumber.

"......"

Said nothing the kid with long messy grey greasy hair sitting at the back, who they call Owl.

Tricia the silent loli nodded to Yuri politely.

" But Kiro !!"

Wept the first loli Yuri met, the loli with pink curly hair who they call Lucky cried out desperately

" Kiro is gone !"

And the children all went into chaotic weeping and desperado. Even Oldest Neo and second old Kai can't hold the situation together.

" We were supposed to discover the Land of Light together......Kiro said he will help study the Truth of the Light !"

Lucky wept tremendously

" Now Kiro gone, how can we know if the land of Light is true or false ?!"

" Listen to me !"

Yuri cried out to all weeping children and they all listened, as if she was once their long lost leader

" Let me take Kiro to my Ship. Then my Father can help find Kiro's Light back."

Yuri proposed to old Neo and second old Kai.

" No !"

Neo adamantly rejected StarBreakers ideals

" StarBreakers can't be trusted ! Like what Sensei told us ! Light is a Lie ! We must protect ourselves ! From these Light soul snatchers !! Lock this StarBreaker Up !!"

" Nani ?!?!" And before Yuri realized what was going in, she was thrown into child made prison down below their platform.

" ..... I mean no harm..."

Yuri tried to convince them but Oldest Neo speaks for all and the children could but turn away from Yuri, though they wish to know more about her.

Yet the girl called Lima stayed not far away from Yuri, sitting by her cell quietly, observing her with her golden calm pupils.

So as the older children, Neo, Kai, Neliya, Lucky, Feira, Finnir discussed what to do, the other children sat at all sides being melancholy.

Yuri listened to all their discussion from her cell just below them.

" .... Remember what Sensei once said ? About the Core of the Planet ?"

Kai the white haired kid asked his colleagues.

" ......I have it written in my Book....." Neliya squeaked as she presented the others her thick thick Book of Stories from this so called Sensei. Sensei who ? And the Core ? Thought Yuri, is it the same like papa Bradson's story book ?

" Umm, guys, I think I have seen this Core you are talking about...?" Yuri tried to make conversation but the Leader of children Neo made everyone ignored her.

" The Core is what is True."

Neo spoke aloud

" Kiro had a fall, his Soul Light and his body has separated, now his Soul Light must has ventured far to where all soul Light goes....!"

" Then What are we waiting for ?!?!"

Lucky cried

" Let's Go Go ! To the Core !!"

" ....... But.... it is not written in the book....."

Neliya squeaked sadly

" We have to find it ourselves...."

Neo gravely looked at his kin and Kai nodded back.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

" Then we set off Tomorrow !!"

Neo spake to all and all cheered.

" Hey wait."

Lima called out all of a sudden, not at all sounding surprised, standing next to Yuri's cage

" Yuri says she knows Where the Core is."

" What ?!" Yuri shock. She hadn't said anything, and she doesn't know where exactly the core is.

" Really ?!?!" The children, especially Lucky cried out in delight despite Neo's disapproval

" Tell us, StarBreaker, Tell us !!!"

" Don't listen to StarBreakers !! StarBreaker Bullshit !!"

Neo argued

" Remember Sensei's teachings ! We don't need StarBreaker help !"

Yuri suddenly had a plan.

" Oh no ! Then too bad, I won't be able to Help Kiro !"

Yuri reasoned on with the children

" I have information of this....Core thingy you mentioned ! Let me out, and I will tell you !"

The children begged for Neo to let Yuri out desperately.

But Neo won't give in, and his brood was long and grueling.

...

.......

On the other hand, Firren returned with his helmet off, looking for Yuri. They came to the cliff, to see some dead Haiju demons.

" .... I fear the worst...." Firren cursed himself for being incompetent and losing teammates yet again due to his rash leadership.

" I fear the next."

Bradson spoke to him through the microphone, and observed the lands from his cabin

" Did you feel it, Firren ?"

Firren felt the air, listened to the environment.

Something is off.

The world is becoming darker, and demons far away stareted to howl in unison, as if heralding an arrival of imminent doom.

Firren jolted with realization, fear struck him to the bones

"Can it be........!!!!!"

...

........

" On my ship, we have dozens of Books, thicker than yours, all over the shelves !"

Yuri went on trying to convince the children and especially Neliya was convinced thoroughly

" I have read of this Core, but you have to free me first !"

" Free her !" Lucky begged.

" ..... Free her...?" Neliya suggested.

" Free her ! She can help !" Rio loudly said.

Neo stood up, from his plateau shaped seat

" What If I free you,"

Neo spake grimacely

" Then you suck our lights all into your Light Keys ?! How can I trust a StarBreaker like you ?!"

Yuri thought for a moment, then replied

".....Because...I have seen the faces of those Light souls that were taken, and they were not of hapiness but fear and sorrow. I think something is wrong about what the Starbreakers are doing, and like what Kiro said to me, I also plan to do it, to find proof and Understand What the Land of Light really is !"

The children were moved my Yuri's speech.

" I read some stories on my Ship."

Yuri continued

" The Core, is the Heart of our Star. And the Origin of all Light. That, is the Land of Light.

That is where I will go and find the Truth, So let Us go there to Find Truth, and find Kiro, Shall we ?!?!?!"

" YAYYY !!!!!"

And the children cheered and set Yuri free without Neo having any say about it.

"「Only through finding the Core can we truly see the Truth of the Land of Light」........."

Kai said with enlightenment

" Sensei said so too ! This StarBreaker can help us !!"

" Wait a Sec !!"

Neo, still angry, called a wait at Yuri

" We already know What the Core is. You haven't told us exactly WHERE it is !!"

Yuri opened her mouth

" I...Uh.... The Book On my Ship Knows !!!"

Neo flew into a scorpion rage

" She's tricking us to follow her !! And then keeping us in glass jars !!! A bitch !"

" No No ! I swear, no one will put any of your soul lights in glass jars on my watch ! You can trust——"

Suddenly, the cave in the canyon rumbled and everything tilted while shaking violently at the same time.

Children screamed ! Neo growled !

Something is coming from below !!!!

...

.......

" Hoh hoh ! Finally, The strongest of Demons Yo !!"

Laughed the Yellow StarBreaker standing at the edge of the canyon with his Lightning Great sword on his shoulder

" Our Battle Will be Legendary !!! To me, Vitas !"

" Right away. " And the Green StarBreaker spread its metallic StarBreaking energy wings all wide and carried the Yellow StarBreaker up towards the bottom of the canyon.

The yellow StarBreaker laughed, looking forward for a legendary battle,

While the green StarBreaker is looking for something else, Someone.

............

" It is coming closer !!" Reina gasped, reporting back to her Captain Bradson

" But how about Yuri ?!" The secretary asked the brooding Captain.

"...... We deal with the Arch Demon first."

Ordered Bradson Captain.

Firren could but put his worries aside and prepare a grand battle about to commence.

Arch Demons, the looming old ones that have not yet been killed by any Starbreaker yet, spreading the already barren land with dark and despair.

...

.......

" The secret passage had crumbled !"

Kai ran back in haste

" Neo ! We're screwed !"

" We need to fly !"

Yuri suggested to all.

" Don't listen to her !" Neo barked

" Listen to me !!"

" Guys, Look." Lima called to all nonchalantly, pointing at the platform under theirs

" we still have that."

" Oh Right ! The escape Pod !!"

Rio knocked his palms dramatically like he always does.

" It's Broken, you idiot !!" Neo Shouted angrily at his brother Rio.

" Everyone !! Hop into that escape Pod, Quickly !!"

Yuri cried out to all, lifting the platform for them to jump down.

" What are you doing ?! It's useless !! It's broken !"

Neo furiously Shouted.

" I have a plan, and It's the Only Way I can think of."

Yuri replied and jumped down after all the other children have entered the escape pod safely except Neo.

" NEO ! JUMP !!" cried the children

" NEO !! Noble heart ! Join us and flee !!"

Reluctantly, Neo succumbed to his flawed leadership.

" But StarBreaker！Why aren't you joining us ?!"

Lucky cried as Yuri came to the back of the air pod.

" I am !"

Yuri called back and with two hands trying to lift the air pod.

" She can't do it."

Neo doubted.

" ....Lima, where are you going ??" Neliya asked worriedly as the Lima loli jumped to the back of the pod.

" Fix the motors. Someone, start the engine."

Lima said calmly, and Rio jumped onto the steering wheel and started the pod.

Yuri closed her eyes.

She couldn't summon her StarBreaker to save Kiro, because she was in doubt,

In doubt of the Light,

In doubt of her mission.

But these doubts... They cannot be resolved,

Only if she finds the Core, The Land of Light !!!!!

The platform is crumbling, the Growl of the Arch Demon is coming closer !!!

Yuri cried out as she heaved with all her remaining strength !

She must take them all to safety !!

She must !!!

She Can !!!

She passed the body transposing operation, she is a StarBreaker ! And a StarBreaker's mission ...!!

Yuri felt As if Bradson Captain was there next to her and spake

" ... To protect them, from Darkness."

The platform crumbled to pieces !! The children screamed !!

But the Air pod was floating,

For Yuri, in her StarBreaking armor finally summoned held it up with her power grappling hooks, pulling the air pod and herself up and up and up in accelerating speed.

The motors were fixed !! The engines are working !! The children cheered !!!

But Lo !! The motors knocked Lima off board !!

" LIMA ! ! ! ! " Screamed the Lollies.

" Keep Driving !!!" Yuri cried out, shooting five of her grappling hooks to the air pod and grabbed one grappling hook down to save Lima.

Then, Yuri saw, behind the falling Lima,

The dastardly face of The Arch Demon, bursting out from darkness depth, its serpent body covered with large sharp crooked scales hard as stone, black demonic ash spewing out between the rock like scales as its long huge stake like fins impaling and crashing the sides of the depth of the canyon , while its crimson eyes of sheer chaos Staring back at Yuri with its immense mouth wide open , long razor crooked teeth all piercing towards the falling Lima.

Yuri had never seen such a legendary Demon before. she felt tiny, minuscule before this unstoppable Being.

Yuri feared, Yuri wavered. Her Faith, diminishing as the Arch Demon neared in seconds.

Could she, a small new StarBreaker, save a young girl from the mouth of such unstoppable force of beastly wrath ?

At this, Lima, answered Yuri's questions of doubt.

" Fear No Darkness, Yuri."

Lima cried out to her, her eyes, staring at into Yuri's, and in that glance was not sadness. It was of longing.

With a cry, Yuri sped forth, her StarBreaker force fully functioning with Pale Blue light bursting out as runes of power on her armor.

Yuri sped force and got Lima, hugging Lima tightly, and with that one energy grappling hook shooting back up to the exit, they sped up, escaping just in front of that one thundering bite of the Arch Demon. Up Up, and Up they go.

Lima pulled a small bomb out of her pocket, and dropped it onto The Arch Demon.

It went Boom, and the Arch demon was irritated.

" This will save us some time." Lima explained calmly.

" I.... Have many questions...."

Yuri said to Lima, slowly realizingshe was someone special.

" Look."

Lima pointed, turning the topic again as always and there before their eyes was the light of Day, Dawning on them, and they were out and free. The escape Air pod soared nearby as they reached the other children cheering..

" YURI ! ! ! !"

Reina, seeing Yuri appear not too far away from their Airship cried in astonishment and relief, sending Androids to escort them back to safety.

The children saw the swarm of androids flying close.

" The Androids ! They are coming !"

Kai cried and to their Shocking surprise, the Androids pointed their lazer guns at them.

Yuri leapt to the top air pod and protected the children, and Lo, a comet of sheer flame landed on to the Air pod as well.

Firren, had arrived.

" Hold Fire !" Reina ordered the Android system.

" Don't hurt them, Commandrer Firren !"

Yuri pleaded, shielding Lima at her back.

" Yuri, an Arch Demon is coming for their Light souls ! They are not safe here !"

Firren spake, holding out the Light Key to Suck Light from people, and the children screamed and cried at the sight of it

" This is not where they belong. They belong to the Light !!"

That StarBreaker liar, Thought Neo angrily, grabbing his small dagger ready to pierce someone, He knew that Yuri can't be trusted.

" They have something important that has to be done."

Yuri spake sternly, stopping Firren

" And I am with them. I Won't Let Anyone Take Their Light before it's Done !!"

Firren after a long silence, put the light key back to his belt

" Then you have to help them get as far away as Possible !"

Firren ordered and lo the Arch Demon has reached out from the depth, its serpentine sharp blade armored body snaked up and circled around the skies menacingly, letting out its deafening, eerie screech, heralding the coming of despair.

" GO !"

Firren kicked their Air pod off to safe distance and dashed down to fight the Arch Demon.

But suddenly out of the side, another force struck the Arch demon before Firren, and Firren turned, to see,

The Yellow StarBreaker joining in on the fight, falling from above and crash landed onto the sharp hide of the Arch Demon and began striking. A Lightning great sword the yellow armored new comer wielded and he swung thy great sword, emitting lightning strikes at the Arch demon, causing great explosions and causing the great serpent mild annoyance.

Then in response to such discomfort, the Arch demon opened its rock plated scaled hide and released swarms of huge deranged mosquitoe like demons towards the skies, swarming in full speed to harvest on the children !

But before all that could happen, A Shield of Power rejected all that's repulsive and vulgar with invisible force, Cleansing the air and sweeping the large insect demons away with a flurry of fierce whirlwinds.

And The shining great wings of a shinig Emerald StarBreaker swooped down to Yuri and Lima as the new comer turned around slowly, opening his helm.

Lima gasped.

And Yuri felt something she couldn't figure out as she set eyes on this Emerald StarBreaker, the looks of this young man that's as old as She caught Yuri off guard which surprised her so, yet she didn't know why, this feeling, of her heart beat slowing down its pace but slightly increase in velocity ,her chest warmed up deep inside without any sound reason.

The Emerald StarBreaker stared back, with the same feelings as Yuri.

[...........To be continued]