"Catch my hand, Isleor!” Apollo shouted from above, reaching out to his sister as a bolt of thunder struck in the distance. He quickly looked away to assess their surroundings, aware that the rain could trigger the arrival of more Mist Walkers, as it strengthens their scenting abilities.
“You still have that bad habit of grabbing me hard, Apollo.” She growled, having climbed the rock.
“And you’re still getting annoyed by that more than five years later? I expected more from you, Isleor.” He muttered, glancing away with a sarcastic smile, having annoyed her.
Apollo grabbed Isleor tightly once again and led the way back home. Home? Isleor struggles to see it that way. Home is too beautiful a word to be used for their case... A rusty, old house they found after their return from there… She could never truly call that place home. Apollo can’t disagree, but he does acknowledge the fact that they must get used to it. “We should be grateful for even finding a home.” Apollo always says. “That’s anything but a home.” She commonly replies.
“Look there, Apollo!” Isleor noticed... “Three Mist Walkers on the right, one on the left.”
“No worries.” He replied as he prepared his stance.
Apollo’s Halo started shining, shadows emerging from it, covering his entire body. A polar bear-like figure began to take shape over his body… That’s Vursus.
~ “Electric Claws” Apollo whispered...
Assuming his stance, Vursus unleashed an electromagnetic wave from his claws towards the sky, in a both vertical and horizontal direction. Not long after, the wave came back to his hands, charging his claws with electricity.
In a matter of seconds, Vursus had flashed toward all 4 Mist Walkers, slashing them in half. Their bodies soon vanished in the air, leaving nothing behind.
“That’s job done.” Apollo said, while Vursus was fading in shadows, completely leaving his body.
“No time to waste.” Isleor quickly mentioned after reaching Apollo.
Surprisingly enough, no other Mist Walker blocked their way home... not like it would be a serious deal for Apollo anyways. However, most of the times that Apollo goes out for hunting, there are a ton of Mist Walkers on his way back.
Entering their “house”, Apollo headed directly towards the only, half-broken, table of the “house”, leaving a bag of raw meat there. Isleor closed the door behind her, lying on it relieved.
“Easy as that” Isleor sighed.
The house, on a mountaintop right next to the Ora city, is a round building with shattered walls from side to side. When they discovered it, about five years ago, they expected to find someone living there—perhaps someone who could offer them help. However, all they found were stacks of boxes, scattered materials, tool cases… and a rat. It looked like an abandoned warehouse. Who would leave behind a house with such a breathtaking view of the entire Ora city?
Taking a break, they stared at each other for a moment before a devastating sound was heard from inside the forest. Isleor looked at him nervously...
“What is it?”
“You stay here.” He answered.
“Are you leaving again?” She questioned, grabbing his arm.
Apollo paused for a moment, before turning to Isleor. “That was a Poltergeist in the woods... The sound was similar to the A class Poltergeists’ tunnels.” Apollo quickly mentioned.
“What would a Poltergeist of that level be doing in a location as random as here?” Isleor asked, letting go of his arm...
“That’s what I want to find out... I'll be back soon. Go to your bed, below...”
Apollo didn’t waste a second. He grabbed the door, slammed it shut and summoned him.. Halo shining, shadows erupting... Vursus covered Apollo’s body once again.
“Ready?” Apollo asked, his voice now deep and groovy, altered by Vursus’s form.
“Of course I am.” Vursus answered.
The rain had gotten visibly more intense. Apollo had to stay alert for the Poltergeist... He was soon reaching its Death Rumble, where the samurais of the Thunder Union were probably at. He should be extra careful not to be seen.
“This indeed is an A-Class Poltergeist, Apollo.”
“The B-Class Samurais that usually guard this area can’t drive it away all alone... However, I can’t make an appearance either.” He struggled to decide.
“Let’s take it slowly.” Vursus suggested.
The first Mist Walkers showed up, immediately getting demolished with a claw-slash. However, Apollo could actively sense something being wrong around the area the Poltergeist was at... Amongst all the Samurais in the central area of the Poltergeist’s Death Rumble, there seemed to be one outstanding Valo… To a normal samurai, it would seem terrifyingly intense, but that’s not the case for Apollo. The gap between his Valo and the Samurai’s wasn’t that big, or at least that’s what Apollo’s ego was commenting in his mind.
They decided to keep a safe distance, while still securing that there’s nothing they should be worried about, like the Poltergeists finding and chasing Apollo again.
“The Death Rumble is getting seriously denser...” Vursus stated after some time spent running.
“Vursus that Valo amongst all the weak ones...”
“I sense that Apollo, it might be Rethegradi. Doesn't matter who that guy is, their power with him is definitely enough to send the Poltergeist back to Hell's Core.” Vursus replied, indirectly suggesting Apollo to return home.
“Alright, we’re goin-” Before Apollo could finish, he sensed a weird presence moving fast towards them.
A big wave of Mist Walkers, like a pack, were running at high speeds.. Or actually, rolling…
“What the hell is that..” Apollo wondered.
“No idea, we should be on our way, Apollo.”
A quick reaction from both, Apollo and Vursus were heading back home with a pack of twenty-thirty Mist Walkers chasing them.
After some time spent running, Vursus thought it would be a good idea to attack the Mist Walkers. “Apollo I can’t act on my own while in the Coverage form in your body, think of something-”
“Well I would if it was necessary, I’m trying to understand what led to the creation of a rolling ball of Mist Walkers…” Apollo replied, causing an argument..
“Well that’s nothing to be worried about now… If they keep stacking like that they will be harder to eliminate afterwar-”
“Stop talking for a minute.” Apollo told him.
“Stop interrupting me and think of something!”
“Fine, will that satisfy your need so much?..”
“Yes, just do it already.”
Apollo pivoted, preparing his arm, and aimed towards the Mist Walkers..
~ “Electric Jolt”
Creating a pistol-like shape with his fingers, Apollo unleashed a small orb charged with Electricity. Upon touching the Mist Walkers, it caused an electroshock, throwing them in different directions. Not long after, the Mist Walkers froze in place, something Apollo and Vursus call “Freeze after Thunder”.
The Mist Walkers were now gone, leaving Apollo and Vursus in silence. No other conversation begun until they got back home. Both were still questioning the cause of the Mist Walkers to appear like that, a large ball with a rolling pack of Mist Walkers.. Vursus left Apollo’s body and waited on the main floor, while Apollo was opening a hidden hatch door, leading to an underground room. This is where Isleor was sleeping, a room dug by Apollo to ensure her safety. The hallway towards that room down there was really short and thin, Apollo was barely able to go through it. Reaching the room, he opened another hatch door, giving him sight of Isleor.
“O, Apollo, that was quick wasn’t it?” Isleor questioned him, laid upside down while playing with a yoyo.
“Nothing serious…”
“Can you stop being so boring, what do you mean by-” Apollo put the hatch door back before Isleor finished talking.
“Ey, where are you going??” Isleor screamed.
“We’ll talk tomorrow, love you sis.” He replied, leaving her in blushes...
“Good night brother.” She replied.
Little did they know they might not be together tomorrow...
Apollo climbed back to the main floor. Vursus was staring at him in silence. Tired as Apollo was, he laid on the bed without saying a word.
“So, any idea what that thing back there was?”
“I thought you only cared about getting rid of it?” Apollo answered.
“Quit the jokes.”
“Well, I have no idea. We will talk about it tomorrow Vursus.”
“Not so joyful I see. Well, goodnight, Apollo.” Vursus replied before fading in shadows.
At that point, Apollo just wanted to relax, but memories were breaking into his mind… All he could now do was question himself upon these memories. He was wondering how he ended up in a small house with so many responsibilities as a 16-year-old that he was. Memories of his family, memories of Zeche… Memories started playing in his head like a CD in a CD Player…
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Poltergeists attacked Earth about 120 years ago. Ugly shark-like creatures in a human body shape, without vision but instead really intense senses. Their skin is usually dark blue or dark purple, always sharp and durable. They can manipulate fire and create tunnels that lead to… Well, nobody knows… To declare war they create a small domain called “Death Rumble”. Death Rumble is an area similar to a fog, that spreads a lot of miles wide. If a Death Rumble is released, Mist Walkers also spawn for total domination. Mist Walkers are smaller, much weaker, versions of Poltergeists, without legs, but instead with 2 big arms that allow them to jump far away to their victims. Their only goal is to kill humans. Without logic, they totally rely on scent. Additionally, Samurais made categories for each Poltergeist—C, B, A, S-, S, S+—which could be detected by the density of the Death Rumble, its temperature, and other rare phenomenon that could appear inside the Death Rumble, like small, white orbs.
Before the Poltergeist attack in 1405 A.D., there was peace… No unions and Samurais guarding the cities. In fact, Samurais were mocked back then as they were living separate from the rest of the world, on mountaintops, in small societies. Their children didn’t go to school. Instead, the Samurais themselves used to teach their children what they considered to be necessary. Another action that contributed to a public hatred against Samurais was their appearance. Samurais would show up carrying swords in big cities, something that citizens didn’t like. There were rumors about them using their swords so well that they looked as if they were flashing from place to place, similar to the use of magic. However, the humans’ high ego also led to the public hatred against Samurais, thinking that the rumors were made by the Samurais themselves.
During the Poltergeist Attack, no human could believe in their eyes... “Where could such creatures come from, what even are they?” humans were wondering. However that's not the reaction that Samurais had. They did teach mythology, and they were well educated about unexpected phenomenon that could occur on Earth at any time, so such creatures didn't really come up as a surprise to them. Samurais were the only ones who stood a chance and fought for Humanity, however, with simplistic sword techniques, they couldn’t take down a single Poltergeist. Even Mist Walkers were sometimes an issue. They managed to delay the extinction of humanity, but they were still losing hope... About 80% of the total population was gone in a year. From 12 Billion to about 3 Billion in 1406 A.D.
At that historical year, 1406 A.D., Overheavens arrived to assist the Samurais. Overheavens are animal-like figures shaped by shadows (similar to ghosts) who can appear in 2 different forms, Coverage and Free. In the Coverage form, they join their “owner’s” (User’s) body, covering it entirely. In the Coverage form, also, the Overheaven and the Human need to be synchronized; the human needs to have clear thoughts of their next action for the Overheaven to execute the action properly. Communication between the Overheaven and its user is completely possible during the Coverage Form, the Overheaven and its User can speak separately as well. In the Free form, Overheavens can move freely wherever they wish, not too far away from their User, of course. However, they cannot use abilities or interact with any physical object, much like ghosts once again. Overheavens have 7 different types: Air, Earth, Water, Shadow, Light, Thunder and Spirit. Each type can have further divisional types as well,. For example, a Water-type Overheaven could evolve the usage of Ice abilities. However, Apollo’s occasion with “Freeze After Thunder” is something special, never seen again…
Overheavens also grant a Halo to their users, which has many different functionalities. Initially, the Halo displays the type of the Overheaven, based on its color. In a Halo Samurais can also store their swords, and get them out at any time, with the only issue being that they cannot use their swords during the Coverage form of their Overheaven. So, Overheaven users usually use their sword in simple quests, when they don’t want to use their Valo for abilities. Valo represents the strength of a Samurai when bonded with their Overheaven. The quality of Valo enhances the power of their abilities, increasing their damage output and making their Halo shine more intensely and densely—though within certain limits. However, strength isn’t just about quality; capacity is equally important. A higher Valo capacity allows a Samurai to wield more abilities before exhaustion.
The Halo visually displays both the quality and the capacity of the Valo. As abilities are used, the glowing aura within the circular Halo begins to shrink. Once it fully depletes, forming a complete empty ring, the Samurai is left unable to use any more abilities until their Valo regenerates.
As Overheavens arrived to help the Samurais, Poltergeists showed their special ability to create tunnels. Every time the Poltergeists were about to be eliminated, they created tunnels with electromagnetic fields, pushing anyone that tried to fall in away. Poltergeists use tunnels very frequently to return to… somewhere… and then come back to fight again. This made Samurais worry about the eternal threat of Poltergeists, since they were never able to completely eliminate them.
After years of being hated, Samurais finally became respected, with some humans even treating their leaders like gods…
Over time, rumors about a terrifying Poltergeist, referred to as “Him” in some historical books, began to fade. Few people believed in that tale, and most hadn’t even heard of it at all.
As the need for guaranteed safety rose, Samurais decided to establish “The Seven Unions”, each defending a different region of Earth. Each Union also corresponds to one of the seven types of Overheaven. Most Samurais didn't have an Overheaven; in fact, over 95% of them didn't. As a result, they simply joined the Union of their region. Each Union is additionally commanded by a Duke, who is considered the strongest Samurai on Earth…
Overheavens acknowledged some things about Poltergeists to the Samurais, however they didn’t know much either, or just pretended that they didn’t. Overheavens kept their identity hidden as well... Questions like 'where do they come from' and 'what are they' remained unanswered. In addition, when the Samurais considered using a title like 'Leaders' for themselves, it was the Overheavens who suggested the title 'Dukes' instead. Dukes held slightly less power in the hierarchy than Leaders, making this an odd decision.
…Along with all the thoughts of how the world looks like now, Apollo was also recalling memories of his parents….
In 1510 A.D. Zeche was a beautiful city, well known for its kind people. It had the largest crops for everyday products, and Zeche supplied the entire world. Its citizens also had unique characteristics, such as afro-type hair and slightly darker skin.
Zeche was Spirit Union’s territory with a few popular Samurais living there. One of them was Merogeo Ress, a tall Samurai with dark hair and a brownish goatee. After years of serving without an Overheaven, Merogeo finally awakened one—a Thunder-type. Even so, as a true Zechean that he was, he never left Zeche with his family to go to a big city under the Thunder Union’s territory, such as Ora. Instead, he travelled for hours every day to go to the neighboring Thunder Union and serve there.
Merogeo also had a 10-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, Ress Apollo and Ress Isleor. His wife Hoanne took care of Apollo and Isleor, and the little days he had off work he spent them with his children. Merogeo was also very popular for his merciful character. Most wealthy and powerful families in Zeche had slaves working for them, but that was not the case for the Ress family. Buying slaves to do all the work for them, even if they are well-treated, is still considered slavery for Merogeo.
There was one specific day when Merogeo felt like taking out his son to teach him more about the Unions, Poltergeists, and the essential knowledge he would need. They were both lying on the ground gazing at the exceptionally beautiful dark blue sea across the horizon.
They spent hours chatting there. Merogeo got carried away by the conversations with Apollo…
“What sword would you carry if you were a Samurai, Apollo?”
Apollo glanced at his father before turning his gaze back to the night sky.
“Poltergeists are much more terrifying than I thought...” He replied “So I guess a very long sword to keep a safe distance”
Merogeo let out a deep, hearty laugh “Not a bad thought but, you’re too weak to carry such a sword don’t you think? His laughter softened into a quiet chuckle as he turned to Apollo “But come on now, let’s go.” Merogeo said, while getting up and brushing off his kimono. Apollo got up, still annoyed, and followed his father on their way back home.
There was one last stop before home—the market. Merogeo was thinking about seafood for a late-night meal, imagining the fresh flavors of sashimi or grilled fish, something light but satisfying after a long day.
As they made their way through the very quiet streets to the market, a group of Samurais bumped into Merogeo…
“The Ress-guy. Hey, we found him.” One of the Samurais called out, loud enough to echo through the nearly empty street.
Merogeo chuckled softly, nudging Apollo aside.
“You’re chasing attention, aren’t you?” The samurai said, pulling out an article and reading aloud: “The kindest Samurai of Zeche—No slavery allowed in his house. Travelling for three hours every day to work, Merogeo stays loyal to his home city.” He then dropped the sheet of paper and trampled it.
“Well that’s me.” Merogeo answered.
“Wealth doesn’t equal strength, dear ‘Merogeo’. You can’t steal the fame from the Barzroll family.” The samurai said with a self-satisfied tone.
He must be a slave of the Barzroll family… Depressing, Merogeo thought.
“Feel the need to test me?” Merogeo replied, dropping his sword to demonstrate his confidence in beating them without it, before receiving a chuckle from the Samurai.
..
Not long after, the job was done.
“What are you going to do with their paralyzed bodies now, dad?” Apollo asked.
A crowd of nearly ten people had gathered during the fight. Before answering Apollo, Merogeo dragged the bodies of the Samurais into a dark, narrow street right next to the market.
“I’ll tie them right here and come back to release them later.” Merogeo said, tightening a rope around the bodies of the four Samurais into a tube to form a bundle. He then walked out with Apollo, leaving the crowd speechless with his fighting skills.
Not long after, Merogeo came out of the store with Apollo laughing at one of his jokes. He navigated around the market, heading back to the dark alley—with barely any light passing through. Few people remained, waiting for Merogeo there. By the time he returned, the Samurais had regained consciousness.
“So, don’t you think I deserve an apology?” Merogeo asked, placing the bag of seafood on the ground.
He quickly noticed the Samurais having soiled themselves...
“Come on, that can’t be real. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“We’re sorry, can you let us go?” One Samurai initiated the apology.
Merogeo sighed in relief as he walked towards the rope to release it, signaling for Apollo to grab the Samurais’ swords. However, he unexpectedly froze in place.
“Sir… W-What is it?” The Samurai tied at the front asked...
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“I sense something coming…” Merogeo replied as two massive tunnels erupted from the ground, destroying nearby buildings. Two Poltergeists of at least S Class emerged, taking stances ready for domination. The moment they came out of the tunnels, they started forming a Death Rumble—heavily cold and dense—with Mist Walkers hopping out of the ground.
Merogeo was quick enough to release the Samurais. He then turned to Apollo, his expression a mixture of nervousness and anger.
“Apollo, get back home now!” Merogeo screamed, turning back towards the location of the two Poltergeists.
Now is the chance, in a moment they will be gone... Merogeo thought, flashing towards the Poltergeists with his purple Halo shining.
...All Apollo could remember from that moment was his father screaming something, then creating a large barrier in an area, locking the Poltergeists inside of it and forcing them to fight him. He didn’t even manage to see his father’s Overheaven… To this day, Apollo still wonders how his father used to fight, how skilled he was, how did his Overheaven look like and how strong it really was…
Merogeo managed to trap the Poltergeists inside the electrically charged barrier he had created, while Apollo was fueled by adrenaline, sprinting back home.
I love you, Apollo. Merogeo thought while deflecting the Poltergeists’ attacks with his sword.
After a long run, Apollo finally reached his house—which was on fire with shattered walls from one side to another. He pushed the door of his house open, only to find his mother’s lifeless body on the floor…
“Mom...” He whispered, his voice breaking. “No, no, no.” He screamed, punching the wall in frustration.
“Isleor… At least Isleor” Apollo shouted facing the floor above. “ISLEOR!”. He raced up the stairs to his sister’s room. Bursting through the door, he saw another Poltergeist, right in front of Isleor, ready to brutally attack her. The Poltergeist gazed at Apollo, a wide smile on its face.
“This has to be Ress’s son, huh? Don’t worry little one.” The Poltergeist turned to Isleor—who was shaking with fear—and prepared its sharp arm for a punch. “Let me finish with her first.”
“Apollo…” Isleor glanced at him, hear eyes full of terror.
“ISLEOR!” Apollo shouted, rushing in front of her right before the Poltergeist unleashes its punch. Apollo let his head fall and opened his arms wide to protect his sister.
Two with one punch. The Poltergeist thought in joy as it punched the air, sending a flaming projectile.
At that very moment, a white Halo materialized above Apollo's head, releasing thunders around. The flaming projectile was absorbed by the electricity, as moments later the thunders froze along with whatever they were in contact with. The awakening of an Overheaven caused Apollo to faint on the floor, leaving his sister terrified behind him.
A kid… Awakening an Overheaven… This cannot be. The Poltergeist thought in shock. He released electrical waves, which also froze later. Which type does this Overheaven fall under? Thunder, Water? However, the Halo is neither purple nor blue, its white… This could be a branch of a Spirit-type Overheaven, but it makes no sense…The Poltergeist decided… I’m taking these kids with me. Grabbing Apollo’s unconscious body, and Isleor’s hand. After getting out of the house, it dived into the ground creating a tunnel…
Merogeo didn’t last long. The third Poltergeist had left with Apollo and Isleor, however it had already destroyed a huge part of the city. The two other Poltergeists, that Merogeo tried keeping busy, kept killing humans and demolishing the city. No other Samurai stood a chance against them. Every single human died that day, with the only survivors of Zeche being Apollo and Isleor.
Help would normally have arrived in Zeche long before, however the Samurais of one of the neighboring Unions—the Light Union—who first received the news about a Poltergeist attack, sought revenge against their Duke because of the massive wage reduction. In doing so, they tarnished the—already bad—reputation of the Light Union even more, and news of the Samurais’ incompetence quickly spread everywhere.
“They might be paralyzed for a little while.” The Poltergeist who brought Apollo and Isleor to something they call “Hell’s Core” said. “I dragged them inside the tunnel, their bodies have been through the electromagnetic fields inside.”
“That also means that they are now immune to these electromagnetic fields I created.” Poltergeist ‘Geistein’ said. Geistein is a caring scientist who provides new equipment and creations for the others.
The Poltergeists locked Isleor in a jail, without any interest in her, and waited until Apollo woke up.
About two hours later, Apollo was up, feelish fresh as if nothing had happened. Upon opening his eyes, he was startled by the sight of Poltergeists above him.
“W-What is going on… H-How…Where am I?” Apollo managed to utter, panic creeping in his voice, laid on a bed-like platform.
“Let me welcome you, to the Hell’s Core!” Geistein started, his voice full of diabolical enthusiasm.
Apollo pushed himself up, scanning the entire room in search of Isleor. The only thing he could see was a purple matter of which the entire Hell’s Core was made, and a place with some ready tunnels the Poltergeists had prepared for their next attack, leading back to earth.
“I-Isleor… Where is she?” His voice trembled with horror.
“Don’t worry, you'll be in a jail right next to her" A dark purple Poltergeist called ‘PG’ mentioned. "But, before that, we need to see you summon your Overheaven.”
Apollo could count about twenty Poltergeists surrounding him, yet he could also feel their presence in a way he couldn’t understand or explain… That’s the Valo sensing he gained after the awakening of his Overheaven.
“I… Don’t know… How to summon it…” Apollo replied terrified.
“Obviously.” Geistein glanced away. “He cannot command it to come out the first time. I will gatekeep that kid. You can all trust him with me” Geistein finished.
Meanwhile for a year…
A few days later, Apollo’s Overheaven—Vursus—did come out. At first, Apollo was confused… He was entirely covered by Vursus, as if he had gotten in a robot, but it’s made of shadows. Whatever Apollo did Vursus copied, his movements, actions… It seemed really cool to Apollo. Vursus ignored every question Geistein asked him, keeping everything regarding him hidden.
Geistein used to take Apollo and Isleor out nearly every day to show them the entirety of Hell’s Core. One night, while Geistein was away, Vursus introduced himself to Apollo, attempting to help him grasp the situation. He explained Coverage and Free form and also tried to teach Apollo how to declare his next thought for Vursus to execute. Night after night of silent training, Apollo managed to clear his mind and think determinedly about his next move, successfully synchronizing simple punches with Vursus.
Apollo rarely met Isleor, only when they were left out of their jail. Isleor could hear Apollo and Vursus train, but she didn’t understand much. Terrified as she was from the horrors she went through in the last months, she wasn’t really talkative anymore.
Apollo changed as well. He remained silent during every interaction with the Poltergeists and showed no fear. However, one day was an exception…
- 1 Year Later –
(1511 A.D.)
“I’m sure these were the keys for your gate.” Jurosimus—a S-Class Poltergeist—said, trying to unlock the gate of Apollo’s jail. “Geistein told me it was the golden key… but there are thirty golden keys here.”
“Can you hurry, finally?” Apollo asked, nearly dead of boredom.
“Shut up little one.” Jurosimus snapped in frustration. After a moment of searching, he found the right key. “See, here you go.”.
“Useless.” Apollo told him while walking out of the jail, leaving with a chuckle. Jurosimus turned around red with anger, watching Apollo walk to Isleor. When Apollo was close enough, he smiled softly and hugged her.
“Today is your birthday Apollo, isn’t it?” she asked gently, resting her head on him.
“If Geistein has been calling out the days correctly, then yes, it is.”
“Happy birthday brother.” Isleor continued, completely resting her head on him.
“Thanks.” Apollo replied hugging her tighter.
“No time for hugs, humans. Follow me.” Jurosimus stated.
They made their way through the main room, a vast circular area, bathed in dark purple, and headed towards a room with a well-crafted diamond door. Apollo started feeling weird, his Halo also started slightly shining, meaning that Vursus was signaling Apollo that something was going wrong. The Poltergeist placed its hand on a detector and the door slid open. As they were getting closer to another tall, circular room, that Apollo hadn’t been to before, both Jurosimus and Apollo started getting affected by an absolutely terrifying presence… They opened another door before entering the final room, Apollo could hardly breathe. Isleor, who couldn’t sense the presence of Poltergeists, still started getting cold and horrified. Apollo had also started getting dizzy, his vision getting unstable. First thing he noticed entering the room was all the other Poltergeists kneeling with their heads bowed in front of… Something… Someone. As they got even closer, Apollo’s body collapsed on the floor, without him being able to control it. With great effort, he managed to heighten his head and look ahead. Sitting on a throne in front of them was a much larger, more imposing Poltergeist, its head resting casually on one massive arm… Apollo was... more than just horrified.
Keeping the same position for about five minutes, Apollo finally managed to get his body working again, assuming a protective stance next to Isleor…
“Bastard… I don’t know who the hell you are-” coughs “But I would never kneel to anyone, especially a fucker like you.”
The Poltergeist got its head up without saying a word, strengthening its presence even more, leading to the Poltergeists spitting blood while Apollo managed to resist…
“Who do you think you’re talking to, Apollo?” Geistein asked with his voice breaking in shock.
Apollo’s Halo quickly started emerging shadows, summoning Vursus. He grabbed Isleor and tried running towards the exit of the room, while the other Poltergeists were unable to get up.
“Where do you think you’re going boy?” Velortwin, a S+ Class Poltergeist shouted.
Apollo turned to the Poltergeists, all staring at him, and gave them a dead look…
“Like hell I'd stay here...”
He left the room, slamming the door, leaving all the Poltergeists in frustration. That mysterious Poltergeist, with its whopping presence, didn’t seem concerned about revealing itself to an eleven-year-old. It knew no one would believe him anyways.
“Apollo, cleanse your mind! I need you to have a clear image of what to do next.” Vursus guided.
He grabbed Isleor, who felt strongly vulnerable after his actions, and sprinted towards the main room, where the ready tunnels were.
“Isleor, relax.” Apollo felt the need to ensure she was okay.
Apollo waited a few seconds to catch his breath before getting into the tunnel with Isleor and letting its electromagnetic fields drive them toward the surface of Earth.
The tunnel was terrifying, it was as if the ground was forced to create a circular path. There were linear electricity streams everywhere, generating an electromagnetic atmosphere inside the tunnel, that also worked as a barrier preventing humans from surpassing.
After about five minutes Apollo was back on Earth’s surface, with Isleor resting in his arms. Thanks to the Poltergeist pulling them inside the tunnel the first time, they gained immunity to it, so the second time they didn’t get seriously harmed.
Getting out of the tunnel, they ended up in a very green and rocky area, with a mountain behind them. Apollo laid Isleor on a platform-like rock he found, while he just stood there.
“We came from, down there?” Isleor asked in despair.
“We sure did.” Apollo replied.
“I just...” Isleor tried to continue, her voice scattering “Cannot believe… everything.”
“We saw something… extremely terrifying…” Apollo started, while Vursus was fading in shadows. “Not only will we not be believed by anyone, but even if they eventually do, it will only bring terror to humanity… Let’s just let everything unfold as it normally would…” Apollo suggested.
“What are you talking about Apollo?” Isleor said, puzzled, after all the overwhelming suffering they had endured “We can’t just forget everything… Or at least I can’t.”
“Trust me, Isleor. This past year I’ve thought about it over and over… There are so many… bad... scenarios that can happen… It’s not worth risking for tiny chances that everything works out perfectly...”
They both remained silent for a little while, before Apollo took the decision:
“For now, we need to find a shelter. Even if it’s something small.” Isleor nodded. All they could do now is scavenge for food and search for a place to sleep for the nights ahead.
…
Some days later, it was time for Apollo to go steal from a small town. Isleor was hiding behind an enormous building, her back pressed against the wall, waiting for Apollo to return. The hustle and bustle of the town gave her a sense of safety, leading to her sneaking a look at Apollo.
She squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of all the movements. “What is he doing?” She muttered. “He’s using the clock to cover his Halo?” She turned back leaving a chuckle. “He’s always been that way.”
As she chuckled to herself, a sudden shift in the air caught her attention. She heard a rustling sound from deep inside the street. She turned and found a dead-end deep inside the street, where a tattered dog house was. She walked closer, curiosity having drawn her attention, only to find a black and white puppy—perhaps Pitbull as she thought—trembling, probably because of lack of food. She scanned the area around before dipping her arms inside the doghouse. The puppy looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes.
“That’s ADOR-” She was about to shout. “That’s adorable.” She eventually whispered, before getting up, carrying the puppy in her arms and getting ready for Apollo’s signals…
..
“What… Why would you steal a dog you found in a doghouse?” Apollo questioned, running alongside Isleor outside of the town with a few citizens chasing after them.
“Are you kidding me?” Isleor shot back. “You are literally stealing food from stands in every town we find!” She turned to look behind.
“Well, I’m doing that for our survival!” His voice presenting obviousness. “A dog will only slow you down.”
Isleor turned her head back to him “Not like these old men will ever be able to overspeed us.” She said full of disgust for the ugly people chasing them. “Let’s not even talk about the fact that this dog will seem useful once grown.” The puppy was still resting curled up in her arms.
“We barely have food for the two of us, a dog would only cause-” He paused as realization dawned him
“Hm, there you go, you get it now. A dog will help your hunting, I’m overwhelmed seeing your unsynchronized fights with Vursus trying to kill wild boars.” Isleor quipped, her grin widening.
“Look I’m trying, understanding what that polar bear means when he says “clear you mind and thoughts” is harder than you think.”
“Well, that’s what this doggo is here for!” Suddenly, a rock flew from the crowd behind them. Without hesitation, Apollo pushed Isleor aside, helping her dodge the rock, before they reconnected.
“Fine, we’re keeping him.”
“Her.” Isleor corrected, still clutching the puppy to her chest.
“What?”
“She’s a girl, Apollo. She doesn’t have that long thing that men have.” Isleor explained.
Apollo groaned, twisting his face oppositely, before shifting his gaze back to Isleor.
“You will pay for this, kids!” A citizen shouted, his voice and face tinged with anger as he quit chasing them, soon followed by the rest.
“We don’t have cash to pay you.” Isleor called back over her shoulder “That’s the reason we’re stealing, duh.” She finished.
A few months later...
“Seriously?”
“Did you honestly expect anything better, Isleor?”
Apollo had found a small, run-down house at the edge of a mountain. The mountain had a view of a city called Ora, the biggest city of the Thunder Union. Apollo recognized the location because of the unique volcanic islands all around the Oran sea. The only sea in the world with such islands. In the past, humans used to live on these islands, but after the Poltergeist attack, the need for safety led to everyone leaving them…
Isleor wasted no time to search the “house” further and organize it. Apollo was outside, finally having found time to train with Vursus.
“Oh, yes, how will we call that dog you found? Have you decided yet?” He questioned aloud, shifting his attention to Isleor.
“Once again, focus Apollo. You will talk about that dog later.” Vursus muttered annoyed.
“I’m thinking of ‘Hera’. There’s something in this name that fits her.” She paused, expressing a wide smile as she saw something useful... “Do you mind using your brain for once to think of a name as well?” Meanwhile, Isleor had found an old broom and used it to clean the entire place roughly.
“How so you didn’t answer to such a saying Apollo? You’re growing.” Vursus said in a sarcastic tone.
“I agree!!” Isleor shouted from inside the house.
Apollo groaned, trying to focus on his next punch in the air.
Days later...
“I can see it now.” Vursus mentioned with satisfaction. “You’re thinking through your moves clearly. I can feel your thoughts now.”
“That means we’re synchronized now?” Apollo asked as Vursus shifted into Free Form.
“We definitely are. However, you are still not ready to use my abilities. For now, we should go find a Gruelohgold and craft you a sword.” Vursus suggested.
“Gruelohgold?”
“Gruelohgold is a rare substance used to connect the sword with the user’s Halo. Even those without an Overheaven craft their swords with Gruelohgold, as it enhances their swords with special abilities.” Apollo still had a weird expression on his face, indirectly asking for further explanations of what Gruelohgold itself really is. Vursus took a heavy breath before continuing… “It might sound weird, but Gruelohgold consists of Crystalized substances and honey. In rare cases, mountainous bees go inside caves and drop their honey on a flower-like crystal, resulting in the creation of Gruelohgold, a liquid found in crystals.” Vursus explained.
“So, where can we find Gruelohgold?”
“Well, it’s usually found around mountaintops or inside caves.”
Apollo didn’t say a word, bored by the thought of the entire Gruelohgold-searching process. Gazing towards their house.
“Isleor.” He shouted.
“What is it?” Isleor answered from inside the house
“We’re leaving, wanna come?” He continued.
“Are you going hunting?” Isleor questioned.
“Well, no… We might take a few days to come back.”
“A few days?” She replied, pushing the door open before giving Apollo a weird look.
“Well, are you going to be safe without me?” Isleor asked.
“What?”
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’, see ya brother.” She finished, shutting the door.
“Well, we should be on our way.” Vursus mentioned.
…
“This is already boring.” Apollo muttered, his tone as dull as his expression. He was running alongside Vursus—in free form—a few miles from Ora city.
“Stop growling.”
“What? You were the one who insisted on crafting me a sword.”
“Do you think you could go without one for long?” Vursus answered, turning to Apollo. “I thought u wanted to be a Samurai.” He finished, turning his gaze towards the other side.
“Well…” Apollo tried to explain but eventually sunk in silence.
Making their way through the uphill, Vursus caught sight of a cave, not too high on the mountain.
“That’s where we’re going.” He turned to Apollo.
Apollo gave him a nod and followed an alternative way.
Above them, the sky was a heavy shade of gray, filled with rain clouds. A storm was coming, perhaps before they come out of the cave.
“Isn’t that just a normal cave?” Apollo wondered.
“It is, if you’re and eleven-year-old who can’t tell those aren’t ordinary crystals.” Vursus pointed deep inside the cave.
Apollo frowned “What do you mean?” They both stepped closer to the crystals jutting from the cave’s ceiling. Apollo could now see clearer, some crystals were dripping with a vibrant, colorful substance.
“You get it now, don’t you?” Vursus reached out to one of the crystals. “Now all you have to do for the liquid to come out-” He interrupted.
“Huh?” Apollo hesitated, confused by Vursus’s sudden silence.
Vursus stood frozen, his head tilted as he stared at a particular crystal near the cave’s entrance.
Apollo followed him to the crystal. Curious as he was, Apollo stepped closer. “Is there something wrong with this one?” He nudged Vursus trying to snap him out of it.
A grin spread across Vursus’s face. “We’re getting this Gruelohgold.” Without other words, he grabbed Apollo’s backpack and rummaged through it for the vase.
“Hey, talk to me.”
“This Gruelohgold is different… I can’t tell what makes it special, but trust me.” Vursus kept speaking, his eyes locked in the crystal, while pressing against the tip of it, urging the Gruelohgold to drip out. “The white rays surpassing the crystal’s wrap, the strangely comforting smell… This one is surely unique.”
“And you want to test it on my first sword?” Apollo questioned, lifting his head with a hint of irritation.
“It won’t harm your sword, relax.” Vursus turned to Apollo, having finished filling the vase.
…
“You were only missing for 2 days.”
“We found what we needed much sooner than we expected, Isleor.” Apollo returned alone, Vursus in his Halo… “Where is that damn vase?” Apollo muttered, searching for the vase in his backpack.
“Are you searching for this one?” Isleor pointed at a case in the back of the backpack.
“Oh...” Apollo muttered, shifting his attention to Isleor, with her egoistic facial expressions. “So, how did you spend your time while we were out there?” Apollo asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
“I took care of Hera and organized this…” coughs “…‘Home’… But the real question is, did you make good use of the vase I found?” Isleor questioned “What did you put in there?”
“Gruelohgold, it’s a substance that…” He slowed down “Can be used to enhance swords, in some way…”
They sat in silence for a moment…
“Well… Where’s your sword itself?” Isleor logically questioned.
…
“What do you mean you had a plan?” Apollo asked, irritation creeping into his voice,
“I just needed to relax first. Your whining on the way to the cave was too brain-consuming. Your Halo was the only peaceful place I could go.” Vursus replied, with the intension of teasing Apollo, enjoying the sight of his mad face. “Come on son, I’m just joking, don’t look at me with that glance.”
Apollo slowed his pace, gradually turning red with anger.
“Maybe if you were clearer from the start, I wouldn’t have asked questions on our way to that cave.”
“We don’t have time for that now. Stay here, I’ll explain the plan.”
They reached the outskirts of the city, slipping behind a stone building. The streets were lively—merchants shouting, carts rattling, boots clicking against cobblestone—but in the alley where they stood, it was quiet.
Vursus phased out of Apollo’s body, materializing beside him in free form.
“It’s Sunday. Blacksmiths never work on Sundays in Ora—day off, remember? There are a few blacksmiths around the city. Once you find one, I’ll hop into Coverage Form again, and we’ll break through. Just don’t use full force; the sound will overpower the hustle and bustle. We’re just going to grab the necessary equipment and leave.” Vursus finished the instructions, receiving a nod from Apollo.
He vanished, his form dissolving back into Apollo’s Halo. Apollo exhaled sharply, adjusting his posture before slipping into the city.
Wandering around the city with that same cloak he uses to cover his Halo every time, he found a building with a big label “Blacksmith”. He made his way behind it and prepared a punch, whilst his Halo activated, forming Vursus around his body.
Here we go… He thought.
The punch unleashed a jolt-ball surpassing the gray concrete wall, allowing Apollo to get inside.
“Look ahead Vursus, there’s an ant right there.”
“Woah, what’s a blacksmith doing in a closed workspace? This was your only day to relax, and you preferred to waste it here?” Vursus annoyed the guy, who got terrified on the sight of an Overheaven. A middle-aged worker who was simply minding his own business. That was the victim…
..
“Do we need anything else?” Apollo asked Vursus, who was searching the place on free form.
“No, we’re done. Don’t forget to release the man.” Vursus replied, getting back to Apollo’s Halo.
Apollo got closer, letting out a soft laughter.
“You look angry old man. Sorry, we’re taking your tools with us.” He stated, before grabbing a knife and slowly going all the way behind him. He then gently brought the knife in contact with the blacksmith’s hand, just to creep him out, before he cut the rope. The man fell on the ground out of terror, taking the tape off his mouth.
“K-K-Kid, I-I will fi-find you! A be-be-bear-like Overheaven! I-I will surely... find-” Apollo interrupted him by shutting the exit door.
“This bag is harder to carry than I thought…” Apollo sighed, glancing away from it and turning to find the route home.
…
Apollo sat down to catch his breath, while Isleor was examining the heating tools with her eyes wide. “Does Vursus even know how to use these?”
Apollo glanced up to his Halo, waiting for Vursus to respond.
“I sure do. Apollo, you didn’t need to rush back home. Now you’re all tired.” Vursus mentioned whilst forming in Free form. “Come on now, get up. There’s a sword we need to forge.”
Apollo took a heavy breath before adjusting his shoulders, ready to get up.
They placed all the heating, shaping and hardening tools on the table and started working—no time wasted.
For an entire week, with only six hours of sleep each night, Vursus guided Apollo through the sword-crafting process.
Isleor had nothing else to do but watch them work all day long. Teasing Apollo, however, was the best part of the process for her.
…
“I think I’m going to faint…”
That tiring week had finally passed.
“But you don’t want to lose the best part of the process, do you, brother?”
Vursus nodded in agreement with Isleor, both staring at the half-dead Apollo lying on a couch.
Apollo built up enough anger to quickly get up, grabbing the vase of Gruelohgold and pouring it into a small capsule-shaped part that would work as a secondary handle for the sword.
“There we go.” Vursus muttered.
Apollo then closed the cap of the capsule and attached it onto a small protuberance of the sword. While most swords have their Gruelohgold built-in, Apollo liked the idea of an attachable-detachable component… Or at least, he thought he did…
“Why does it look like that?”
“Are you kidding me?” “Oh, come on.” Vursus and Isleor fell into a chaos of muttering.
“You said that a handle in that position would be comfortable, didn’t you?” Vursus’s voice cut through the noise.
“Hm… You know what? I like it. It is comfortable, just as I expected. This weird position when I hold the sword like that, I like it.” Apollo eventually decided, having locked his attention to the sword with a big grin and wide eyes. Apollo held the sword next to his head, gripping it tightly by the capsule component. He found the stance comfortable, thankfully…
Isleor sighed in relief…
“Apollo, one last thing before you can finally relax…” Vursus said, his gaze serious. “Detach the capsule again.”
“Alright…” Apollo averted his attention from Vursus and grabbed the capsule, pulling it out of the sword.
“Hit the capsule on the blade of the sword.” Vursus continued.
Apollo slowly moved the capsule towards the blade, tapping it gently against it, as if he was knocking on a door.
“This will be the alert sound. If you ever need my help or want to signal anything to me but you cannot verbally, simply make this sound.”
Apollo waited for Vursus to finish before nodding his head in agreement.
- 5 Years Later –
(1516 A.D.—Today)
All these memories of the past kept Apollo awake for hours… Two, three? He couldn’t remember. He was in that in-between phase, neither awake nor asleep, his brain still sluggish. He dreamt of that rolling ball of Mist Walkers, what could it be? He opened his eyes…
What…? He questioned himself, twisting his head around and realizing… He was in a cell.