Cocytus Void Dimension, Coordinate Point X20 Y7 Z0.
The handsome man--- Radiath Draigg exhaled huge breath as he finally freed himself from the imprisonment of [Divine Interruption] casted by Asya to pin him. Beads of sweat rained down his cheek as he refocused his attention again towards the operation.
His two companion had already been in front of him as he took huge breath, waiting for him to regain his composure.
“So a Demigod level void slayer can do that to you even after all that preparation….” Muttered Draigg to no one
in particular, firmly accepting the dread one have to face when dealing with Asya.
“Yes. And not only that, although we won the battle, we have lost the match.” Exclaimed Shiori, frowning as she brought the limp dead body of Anastasia towards him.
“Her heart was… gone?!” his calm demeanor slightly dimmed as he realized that everything he had been preparing, from capturing and intentionally freeing Haru, and making a fake capture of Shiori was all for naught.
Anastasia Nikolaschka is a girl blessed with the Terminus Flame Body; a type of divine body which gives birth to the ancient flame of myth, the Black Terminus Flame. The said flame is said to have its bearers, with their mortal bodies, burnt many mythical gods from time immemorial when it matures. Their bodies will have great growth of prana from early infant phase, and then starts to produce the black Terminus Flame when they neared the start of adolescence. In the moment of its reappearance, the area surrounding them will immediately burn to ashes in black flame, signifying the grand revival of the god-killing inherent ability of a divine body.
Six years ago, Radiath Draigg, as a greenhorn lower tier void king slayer witnessed the moment of its grand revival in a certain void dimension, when the little girl rescued an apprentice kid, who later became known as Kazunari Haru from the clutches of the void king in less than half a minute.
When he witnessed it, he immediately feel tremendously elated because the Terminus Flame needs a period of 50 years when it reaches maturity, becoming an authentic legendary god slaying ability. After some more researches, he figured that the source of the Terminus Flame lies in its bearer’s heart; the place where the life vein which is the vital point of prana purification is located.
The truth is, the impure prana the bearer has will be purified by his soul which contains the essence of the Black Terminus Flame. After the purification and amplification, the said impure prana will automatically be realized as an entity others defined as the Black Terminus Flame. And all of that, happened inside the bearer’s life vein. Thus, even if one were to refine the heart and integrate the essence contained within, it will never be as strong as the authentic Black Terminus Flame.
Even so, as one of the god-killing inherent ability, how could it not raise any desire and longing of those who figured it out? Thus the reason behind Draigg’s action.
“Unfortunately for you, Draigg…. But the main reason of our failure this time is because you aimed at his heart instead of beheading him.” Exclaimed Shiori, blaming the failure upon him with a calm tone.
“But, what was I supposed to do?! I didn’t know that she would have the resolve to gouge out her own heart for him!” Relented Draigg with a frantic expression, trace of calmness evidently disappeared from his face.
However, ignoring his reasoning, Shiori then immediately dashed towards him with her maximum speed, and then stabbed him in the heart with her seele.
“This stab was the one which made our operation fail, right? I return it to you!” raged Shiori in a flat tone, her fury however was evident in her words. Her overbearing demeanor and ruthless behavior taught Paul of the cruel fact at that instant as he watched the last wisp of Draigg’s life dimmed, till nothing was left.
So the real perpetrator of this whole operation was not this man, but it was actually the girl, whom I had taken as a hostage…..
Fear creeped its way into Paul’s spine as he recalled all the misbehavior he committed towards her while she was his hostage. He breathed big, long breath of cool air as he said with a humble, and slightly fearful tone: “Miss, I have been assuming our position too wrongly, and cannot recognize miss as the mastermind. I beseech miss to grant this one her mercy and forgive me.”
Shiori went silent for a bit as she casted her gaze towards him for a moment, till she said shortly after: “Although you yourself had many place where you have wronged, and not sharp enough, your devotion towards the tasks you have been entrusted with gained my interest and appreciation. If you really intend to apologize, then from now on you must become my hands and legs, and do what I tell you to do.” Said Shiori in a firm tone, not allowing any refusal.
“……”
“Of course, I intend to give you the appropriate treatment, as long as you do not disappoint me severely like that man earlier. With your aptitude, reaching the level Draigg was at should only be a matter of time, if you receive my pointers. How about it?”
A carrot and a stick. Naturally, as the person who personally killed Apate Aletheia and obtained a seele refined from its core, Shiori understands this principle.
“And, what kind of appropriate treatment, are you going to give me?” asked Paul hesitantly. He had seen with his own eyes as Radiath Draigg, a man, whom he’s not very sure to easily kill if he were to fight him, easily died by her hands. So, it had to be said that his reaction is very obvious and rational.
“Resources to increase the overall quantity of your prana, and many skills outside the known three main system of mudra to advance your fighting capabilities. I also intend to give you the sufficient protection you might need in case somehow you unintentionally meet a grave trouble. I will not, however, help you if you look for it yourself.” Answered Shiori, curtly.
“…..” Paul went into deep thought for a moment, and then asked another question: “What do you intend to have me do?”
“Just follow my orders without question and failure. Regarding the orders, just describe it as something like what you and Draigg had been doing before. Not something too different and far too much out of your expertise, right? It shouldn’t be too hard for you.”
“…… fine. Even if I refuse, you would have me killed, anyway. I accept.” With a shrug, Paul readily consented, helplessness evident in his demeanor.
“A smart decision, I see.” A satisfied smile filled her face as she nodded lightly towards Paul’s affirmative response. She then walked towards Draigg’s corpse, and then with no ripples of emotion appearing in her person she burnt his dead body till only ash was left.
After having deliberately terminating Draigg’s remains, Shiori then proceeded to retrieve the still perfect glove seele, which is exactly the deceiving seele, Apate Aletheia.
“Disappointing…. Even with this state-of-the-art seele and my help, he can only manage to deceive and fend her off that far….only to fail in the end.” Complained Shiori, as she let out a long sigh.
“That girl, and the boy too…. Both of them were extraordinary. Does missy have any special grievances with them?” Paul abruptly asked as he wondered about the cause of this whole incident.
“Those two were…. Haha, you can say they were my friends.” With a slight laugh, she answered just like that, like it was nothing important to her at all.
And with that little response, Paul immediately understood….
The nature of this woman, is really not simple at all!
Treating people whom she called as friends as a target to exploit with schemes, to the extent of killing too…. With that vicious nature, and her capabilities….
I must never get on her bad side, thought Paul.
“It must have been a very deep grievance then, for missy to personally act and put so much effort to such an extent. However, since at least one of them died, I express my congratulations towards missy’s fortune.” Said Paul, in attempt to comfort her from the failure the two suffered.
“No, there was nothing like that at all.” Shiori said as she turned her face towards Paul and faintly smiled, and then continued: “Both Haru, and Asya were very good people. If I had the chance to choose, I might like to preserve both of their life too. However, since their life has a very great relation to my objectives, I could do nothing but aimed at them with all I had to accomplish my mission.” Explained Shiori, in a flat tone.
A girl gifted with the talent to pull the trigger, and kill regardless of her feelings, and at such a young age at that….
Paul discovered more and more frightening points about his new superior.
“And what is that objective missy is talking about?” asked Paul, out of curiosity.
“Fufufu, you don’t need to know just yet.” Answered Shiori in a joking manner, ones she never show whenever she’s around Asya and Haru.
“Then, might missy mind if I ask another question?” asked Paul one more time, hint of confusion appeared in his voice and face.
“What is it?”
“If missy had the killing ability to kill Draigg in one strike, then since missy had always been near the targets, without relying on those deliberate plans and deceptions to such degree missy should be able to kill the two successfully, right?” said Paul, trying to confirm.
“Oh, so you at least have the needed intelligence to comprehend that, while Draigg couldn’t. You have my praise.” Shiori then continued: “but there are two crucial things you have overlooked, which is the biggest reason why I have always suspected that simple deception or direct confrontation will result in failure. And even with all that deliberate deception, and the current fighting capabilities we have, the only thing we have achieved is killing a few rookies and prodigies of this country’s military, right?”
“….. I have misspoken. I beg missy to indulge me.” Said Paul, humbly.
“It is fine…. The first thing is, you and Draigg had always been underestimating Asya too much. Even if she’s a klutz when panicked, just a random reflexive counter was enough to burn a large area till no life can survive… her will to protect Haru, can be said to be stronger than her survival instinct…. Which is why that is the first reason this operation ended in failure.” Explained Shiori.
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“……” Paul pondered about what his superior said as he went into a moment of silence.
True…. Neither I nor Draigg expected that that girl would give us this much resistance, even if that boy and missy didn’t help her…
If missy didn’t try to prevent her from randomly burning every nook and cranny of this void dimension, then both of us will be burnt till nothing was left without realizing who had attacked us with what intentions.
“Regarding the second reason, you will have to contribute more for me to let you know that.” Said Shiori in an ice cold tone.
Paul pondered her words in silence, as Shiori then immediately ordered him to retrieve the sword Draigg had been using, and then have him go outside the Void Dimension, to prepare himself and rendezvous with her at a certain place.
When she was finally alone in the gloomy space of Cocytus Void Dimension, a tinge of regret surged in her heart, as she failed to simultaneously kill the two.
“Crud. This way, all my preparations are wasted…. Not only will I have to start from square one, this time it will be a bit harder….now that Haru’s wary of me…..”
As Shiori lamented, she looked down on her bloodied hands, stained with the blood of the military forces she had killed before.
She then turned her gaze towards the gloomy sky, the illusory roof of the Void Dimension.
I have failed big time……
She reached her hand towards a pendant hanging on her neck. As she opened the lid, displaying the picture contained within, she heaved a long sigh as she regretfully lamented…
“Wait for me, father….. I will surely kill and terminate Kazunari Haru with the Terminus Flame, and save the world from the apocalypse hidden inside him.”
Her bloodied clothes fluttered in the fierce wind as she then leaped rocks over rocks, and continued till she’s covered a great distance from where she initially stood till she’s out of the Void Dimension. She then walked in a calm manner as she went past many void slayers from military while she pondered her next move to gather the necessary pieces to kill Haru with the Terminus Flame.
“Hmph, forget it. Before anything, I need to gain a supreme standing in the military and covertly gathered the many treasures scattered about in this plane… before I have my way to burn him with the Terminus Flame.”
She then used her seele to conceal her presence and then flickered through the crowd as she headed towards the rendezvous point with Paul.
As her enchanting figure tore through the wind with her graceful leaps while putting her utmost effort to suppress the sense of failure swelling up in her heart. Her sigh drowned in the silent night, none can figure out the meaning hidden inside.
“Missy.” Paul took the initiative to greet her as she reached the rendezvous point, which is her own house to plan the next move.
“I suppose your name was Paul, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Firstly, Haru is missing, and Asya had been confirmed to be dead. This, will be what I report when I faced the military. Those who knew that I am the mastermind of the incident are all dead, except you. But at the same time, from what I heard before, the military already has you in their sight so for now you will be my covert agent, moving to accomplish the mission I give in the shadows. Understand?”
“Roger that, ma’am.”
“Now, I will lead you to a place where you can steadily increase your battle prowess, and sharpen your battle instinct. Consider yourself to have become the most wanted criminal; never let your guard down at all times since should someone can make a relation between you and me, I will never hesitate to kill you.” Shiori gravely reminded him of what was already obvious, as if he’s actually new to this kind of situation which slightly surprised, and annoyed him a bit. However, since she is indeed her superior, what can he say?
“Okay, Miss. It’s not like I haven’t gone through this kind of situation before….” Said Paul helplessly, as he tried to calm his seemingly frantic superior.
“Paul…..” Shiori called out to him in a flat tone, as she turned her solemn gaze towards the bewildered him.
“Y,yes?”
“Don’t make me waste my resources on a stupid corpse.”
“…….. Roger, ma’am.” He immediately straightened his posture in respect and fear as he curtly answered her firm warning. He then realized that that Radiath Draigg who was so strong he couldn’t hold his own against him was killed by her own hands. If she nurtured him and then killed him herself, then she certainly did waste her resources on a corpse. Immediately, he realized the gravity of the situation he was in and sharpened his mind to its peak.
“Um, Miss Shiori?”
“What is it?” Asked Shiori back.
“What will you be doing while I train then?”
“I will make the groundwork for our next operation.”
“And the objective is…?”
“You will know when it is time for you to move. For now, head to this location I highlighted in this map stealthily. Mark my words; don’t make me waste my resources on a stupid corpse.” Her eyes solemnly stared at Paul as she reminded him once again, sending shivers deep into his marrow.
She then waved her hand and brought a device from her spatial ring. “Use this Seele and input this coordinates along with this code to contact me when you reached the destination. Your training will then begin after I regroup with you. Until then, you will have to train your survival instinct there. The current you right now, is too weak to participate in my battlefield.” She briefly said so as Paul received the seele Shiori offered him.
After taking the seele, Paul briefly bid his farewell to Shiori and then departed full speed.
Shiori, alone as she had always been, started thinking.
The river in which she found Asya’s corpse leads to another world, to the realm beyond the Void Dimension.
With this implication, it is obviously obvious that Void Dimension not only provide a way for beings of The Void to conjure a dimension in this world, but beings of this world are also
capable of using the Void Dimension to make a somewhat forceful entry to the realm beyond the Void Dimension as well.
Of course, this means that Shiori has some leeway to chase Haru to the realm beyond the Void Dimension. However, clever as she was, she was never a rash and reckless person. Thus came the reason why she will postpone chasing Haru for now and focus and gaining the strength and reinforcement she would need in order to cover her blind spot should she attempt to chase. After all, everything that lies in the realm beyond the Void Dimension was completely unknown to anyone of this world, albeit her knowing of the terminus flame was indeed a bit unique.
“Tankers, swift killers, nukers, healers, carriers….. I have so much to prepare. Hm, maybe I should let the military have a glimpse of the Legendary Thirteen Magnanix Void Slayer’s relic and obtain some opportunities.”
She rummed through the insides of her spatial ring, and pulled out a communication device.
Although it was indeed a communication device, it was indeed different from Seele, as the core material which is the seele core was not used to make this peculiar device.
“Senior Sister, it’s me.” Greeted Shiori, unable to hide her sense of failure.
“Oh, Shiori? It has been a while. Have something finally gotten in your way?” The person across the conversation guessed in a rarely seen surprise as she finally identified the caller.
“The operation failed, the key and the target ran away. Not only would This Junior need to start from square one, the target had become wary of me. This Junior request some assistance from the Kingdom of Seyrun to dispatch the Celestial Dragon Squad and aid me in raiding the scattered Void Dimensions in this lands to obtain some opportunities.”
“…..” hearing the unexpected situation in which her beloved and proud junior sister who has a sharp intuition and mind failed, She silently gasped in surprise. Her mind, however, immediately calmed down as she replied:” Shiori, you do understand that the Celestial Dragon Corps are the elite of the elite, a squad who will only move under the direct order of the Queen. Do you understand the gravity of the matter, and the importance of this squad to our Kingdom?” the caller curtly asked, a hint of surprise and solemnity evidently appeared in her domineering tone.
“Junior Sister understand the gravity of the matter, and the importance of the squad to our kingdom. However, Junior Sister also understand that the target which had always been
dormant will be wary sooner or later, thus begin the race of time in pursuit of power. This Junior believes that, if Junior proceeds in this pace, Junior sister will be left in the dust, and eventually be killed by the target. It would be fine if the target only killed this junior, but knowing his curious and somehow dangerous temper and sharply honed intuition and mind, if he can somehow find the relation between This Junior and the Kingdom, Then The kingdom will surely face a calamity sooner or later.” Explained Shiori, as she pleaded towards the opposite person she was speaking---- which is her senior sister, the Queen of Seyrun herself.
“….” She then went silent as she pondered for a bit, and them answered: “I understand the situation. Of the thirteen experts of the Celestial Dragon Squad, five of them will accompany you amassing strength. Will that be enough?”
“…….Will do. I thank Senior Sister for the benevolent consideration.” Shiori answered. However, in her mind, she was actually complaining, though a bit.
If she were to obtain three, no….. two more members of the Celestial Dragon Squad, all the blind spots she will need to cover will be perfectly fortified. This way, the efficiency and the speed of her pace will be greatly increased. Of course, it doesn’t mean that having five is not complacently assuring too.
With that, Shiori builds the groundwork for her next operation.