Side Story:
Kioshi Van Helsing
Her name was Kioshi Van Helsing, she was the strongest to ever exist. Not Godrick Walgonia, Lincoln Valentine, Prometheus Yagari, or Valor. They all pale in comparison to the woman who lived only twenty years, was known for less, but whose story echoes through time. But that isn’t how she started, she had to age and grow, and that’s where we find the currently young god. Even though she’s only existed for a month or so, she looked about ten, trying to play with the just recently titled World’s Greatest Swordsmen. After chatting with everyone on the boat leaving Oni-mas, Musashi took the young girl to his new home in the Capital of Walgonia. And just in Musashi fashion, right after a party, he sits in the office of his mansion working the day away. So she rocks back and forth on the soft carpet in the room, staring at the books that line the walls. Dusting the nearby books is the more fatherly Al, glancing at this young girl every few seconds while he cleans.
Kioshi: “I’m bored! I wanna swing a sword!”
Musashi tilts his head up from the large force pulling him down, that force being paperwork. While she glares at him with her sharp golden eyes, he feels a bit obligated to do something with her.
Musashi: “Look kid, I’m tired from the celebration. But since you weren’t allowed to go, I guess we can do something.”
Kioshi: “SWORD! MAKE THAT SOMETHING BE SWORD FIGHTING!”
Musashi: “What’s up with this obsession over swords?”
Al obviously is shaken by his hypocritical words so he gives him a deadpan look. Musashi chuckles as he leaves his office, walking down the hall, down the stairs, through another hall, all to enter his training room. It’s laced with weaponry as well as glimmering armor while all being basked in the shadow of a large Walgonian flag. With the young swordsmen frolicking in the room, Musashi hands her a wooden sword while also grabbing one for himself. She ecstatically swings the blunt weapon all around her, granting a soft smirk from Musashi. As they step into an enormous yard with fenced-in brick walls, in the middle of the capital's northern district, Kioshi jumps for joy as he is washed with the light of the morning sun. The ever-diligent Al watches from afar, cleaning the windows from the inside of the mansion.
Al, being as proud of Musashi as he is, decides not to interfere with their relationship as this is something new to him.
Al {Even when he was growing up with Gotsu, he was never this close. He’s treating her like a real daughter quite quickly…I can’t believe he’s a father, a father of this great spirit.}
Musashi stands down below, trying to get Kioshi to focus on him and not everything else. To prepare Kioshi for what’s to come, he first needs to think of what’s first to come. After a few seconds mixed with a few deep breaths, Musashi is ready. So he picks up his tone, puffs out his chest, and holds up his wooden blade all while Kioshi rolls around in the grass, getting her plain white dress messy.
Musashi: “The four sword styles of old. Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind, are all made with a purpose. Water is for countering, and flowing, while fire is fierce. Then the other opposites, as wind is all about balance, and earth is heavy and pounding. Out of all of them, if you had to pick one, which would you pick? Because in my opinion, water is by far the hardest.”
While Musashi waits for Kioshi to ponder his question she answers instantly with her hand in the air.
Kioshi: “THE WATER ONE!”
Musashi: “Really? I’d assume you’d pick fire. Why water?”
Kioshi: “Uh duh! Because you’re the world's greatest swordsman! So if it’s hard you should be able to teach it!”
Musashi is instantly stunned, but in a good way. With a quick glance to Al for help and one back at Kioshi, he simply shrugs his shoulders.
Musashi: “Well good. That was test number one, and you passed. So new knowledge for you, there are no elemental sword styles, well not anymore. But I can still teach you the Knights style, and some of my own stuff. So hold your sword, focus your mana, and try to hit me.”
Kioshi: “That’s way too easy!”
As this thirty-year-old man tells this ten-year-old girl to try and fight him, Al slides his hand down his face but still doesn't step in. Kioshi, being as anxious as she is, instantly attacks Musashi, and this attack, this very attack, is the first showing of her insurmountable strength. Her wooden sword swings through the air, causing the nearby spirits to light up and focus on it, propelling the force of her swing to a profound degree. As it causes the wooden sword to explode it also blasts toward the surprised Musashi. It rips at the ground, tearing up the grass on the way toward the world's greatest swordsmen, which he promptly blocks. Even though he blocks it, the sheer force from the projectile puts a little pressure on him. Kioshi falls to the ground, scared and drained, while Musashi is ecstatic, and a little afraid.
As the dust clears, more and more dust is sprung up, because five years later, the strongest being in the world is still at it. She’s been given the proper age of fifteen along with the proper blade of a warrior. All of the higher-ups, including nobles, elders, and anyone in any state of power knew of her existence, but hid it from the world. Until today, she’s been given her first mission as this secret avenger, one of great magnitude. Over a year, a Dulldahan wandering the continent of Saga has slaughtered almost every single member of the named guilds. By using the guild books to find out their locations, abilities, and ranks, systematically murdered them. In this year-long blood hunt, they’ve been unable to track this beast, with even Ryo Hollis having issues doing so, but Kioshi found her way. After a meeting, one meeting unknown to the world was one attended by gods. In a random spot in all of Saga, Musashi, Ryo, Lincoln, Cornelius, and Elizebeth all meet up to discuss the issue with the Dulldahan. So while they sit around a circular table covered in the dark dirty air they try to converse with each other to find the answer. The tensions are high.
Lincoln: “I’ll make this quick, I don’t want to be here. We all don’t but -”
Elizabeth slams her hand on the wooden table, holding her tiara while doing so.
Elizabeth: “YOU DARE SPEAK OVER ME!? WE ALL HAVE ISSUES HERE! But this Dulldahan is far more important than that. I cannot face the beast myself, as I have a country to run. I can’t put my life at risk for something so small.”
Musashi: “Small? It’s been a year, in a single year thousands of people have been slaughtered! In all of our countries!”
Elizabeth: “Are you calling me an idiot!?”
Cornelius lets his head fall onto the table, bored of the entire thing. Lincoln on the other hand is ready to fight Elizabeth right here, as he knows he’ll win. But as the current Queen of Athens’ attendant, doing so would mean war, a war they may not win. That’s the issue with most of the solutions they have because anything more than what’s needed could push for war. And while Walgonia would defeat Ravoira if it came down to it, it’s unneeded and worthless, as they’ve already let the issue fall out of their hands.
Lincoln: “I have a country to protect, same with Musashi and Cornelius! But we’re here, and we’re ready.”
Cornelius: “Actually…I don’t really feel like it. You guys can deal with it, and enter Valatrositice if you have to…but other than that I’m not giving any more importance to the matter.”
Picking himself back up, the ever-tired with life Cornelius steps out of the small building, entering his carriage to return to his castle. This leaves the World's strongest man, the World's greatest swordsman, and the World's greatest spirit mage all alone with the queen of frost.
Elizabeth: “That sad man is an embarrassment to us all. A joke of a king. But this monster, this headless beast isn’t. I’ve seen its monstrous strength, it’s killed some of my best men. If I faced it, I may not have won. That is my honest answer. So either we send Lincoln, Musashi, or a team of two when you include Ryo and myself. That allows for a sure win, but until we have his potion found, I’m not assisting any further.”
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As Elizabeth leaves as well, this leaves the three men to think over the whole thing. But they all seem to come to the same conclusion, to use their greatest weapon that will win for sure. As they all turn to their left, looking at the teenage girl standing in the corner. Five years ago Kioshi was just a young girl, but now, she's unrivaled.
Musashi: “I think it’s time, we need you.”
After five years of relentless training with a few Gods of War, going to the school for knights as well as starting her time at Valor’s School of Magic, Kioshi Van Helsing is ready to be introduced to the world. Wearing a shining white chest plate, white arm, and leg guards, a black-and-white mengu mask, and lastly a long black cape. But in her lap is a standard broadsword, rocking back and forth as her carriage moves.
Kioshi has been sent off to find this monster right after the meeting of the gods, as she can feel its presence. While everyone else had other things to do, they put their trust in this ultimate weapon to slay this beast. She’s silent, waiting for the moment when she has to strike. Her nature as a spirit in the form of a human, even if she doesn't understand, is leading her to this corrupted and cursed being.
She’s spent years in hiding, even now Al is the one to drive the carriage, as she needs to be kept under supervision just in case. She’s Walgonia’s future, their weapon that will defeat all else. Her already extreme strength is only rivaled by Lincoln as well and her excellent sword skill pales in comparison to Musashi’s. But what allows her to stand apart is that she isn’t number one in something, she’s number one in everything else. While her base strength isn’t better than Lincoln's boosted power when you allow her to use her true abilities she’d beat him. While her overall skill with the sword falls below Musashi, allow her to use her mana to its fullest and he’ll be lying on the ground wheezing. This world may be unfair, confusing, and hateful, but it’s spawned a hero to face all of these injustices made by society.
She doesn't need to eat, sleep, drink, or speak, as she’ll always keep moving forward. But her human aspects are what give her life, along with Musashi and Al’s mentorship to shape her values and abilities. She has everything she needs, so while sitting on the outside of the carriage, pointing her blade toward where this Dullahan should be, they reach it. A daze of the seemingly endless fog hovers over the border of Valatrositce and Walgonia, consuming the land. As Al drives the carriage through the guard fog Kioshi tries to focus on the Guild Hunter's presence. Her immense power scares all the surrounding monsters away, leaving them in this silent void of hazy mist.
A little south of the center of the fog, the loud steps of Dullahan's horse echo through this deaf space, causing Al to suddenly stop the carriage.
Al: “This is where I part. I’m sorry, but I’m far too weak to face this beast alongside you, but I know you’ll win.”
Kioshi: “Are you sure? Everyone talking about this monster is calling it the strongest to ever exist! Taking on A-rank soldiers without getting touched, without breaking a sweat….we need to head back.”
Al: “I’m sorry but I won’t be doing that. Though if you were to force my hand, I wouldn’t be able to resist.”
His calm voice soothes her panic, so she grabs her sword and moves on. While for a second the idea of taking his offer and leaving crossed her quivering mind, she decided to move forward. After walking in this chilling fog for a few miles, she finds it. Its skin has melted and warped to become this rough dark armor to cover the body, creating this headless soldier. A beast made to fight, but somehow has the capability of thought and planning. That single detail is what led the higher-ups to believe it was a cursed figure, a cursed man.
That would mean that the Dullahan was born in Oni-mas, somehow traveling across the ocean to reach Saga. But that information doesn't change what needs to happen, that it needs to die. But at this point, it may be too late, due to the fact that every single guild that didn’t die already resigned. Even though most guilds are made from new graduates and break off later, the fact that there is none is stunning. What is more stunning though is the sight held before Al. He watches from afar while Kioshi grips the hilt of her blade, staring at where the headless horseman's eyes should be. Al quickly leaves the area, so as to not be caught up in the serious damage that’s sure to ensue from such a battle as this one.
Kioshi: “Over one thousand dead. Do you know the pain you’ve caused? The destruction your actions have caused? You will pay for your awful deeds, you will fall by my blade.”
While the Dullahan doesn't respond, the demonic horse does. A single puff of air from the undead animal's nose spreads a ring of white fire around them, killing the grass they stand on. So there they are, there she is. While her life isn’t filled with as fantastical things as most would assume, she still stands above the rest in strength, but the world has yet to see this. So to the Dullahan Kioshi is only a lone girl wanting to die while emitting a grand veil of power. At the sight of her sword the Guild Hunter takes out his one. While various spikes protrude off his body, as the bone armor has grown and warped, one on his shoulder grows in length. The humanoid monster grasps the spike, snapping it off while covering it in white flames.
Kioshi remains still, waiting for her moment, waiting for the Guild Hunter to strike. The white flames fade, leaving the spike as a newly crafted sword fueled by the power of its corrupted master's soul. In a flash the horse is off, leaping into the air so the Guild Hunter can swing down this blade blessed by the devil. Kioshi returns with a swift strike, one infused without the blessing of the spirits in the air. Even so, the pure force that emerges destroys any hope for a clash of blades, as the horrific being is sent tumbling back. While the horse catches them both, the second they touch the ground Kioshi is already behind it, ready to strike again. Blinding white flames emerge around the Dullahan, which envelops its blade to clash with her swing.
For Kioshi to use her god-given strength to its maximum she needs to contact the spirits in the air, spread her will all around her and grasp onto the living spirits to use them as force. While her powers have been explained to be a result of three marks of providence, that’s a plain-faced lie. She’s a blessing made by the world, so the world itself doesn't want to hurt her. While beings like this death-hungry Dullahan exist outside of the hands of the world, mana doesn’t. So the flames around the Dullahan sword dissipate the second it gets near Kyoshi, lessening the power of its strike and allowing Kioshi’s to go through. That is her first ability, anything made or empowered by mana will fade away when sent toward Kioshi with intent to harm.
While the Guild Hunter is sent back its almost unbreakable body remains fine, but now that it knows Kioshi’s strength it begins to get stronger to match her. The horse loses its dead skin, and the armor around the Dullahan’s body grows and hardens, all while Kioshi charges up an attack. With her sword ready to thrust, she will echo through the spirits, pulling them in. Their mana floods around her body and onto her blade, causing it to light up in a blinding blue hue. So when the empowered Guild Hunter charges forward, she swings. The battle-hardened beast it rides upon instantly leaps out of the way, dodging the weaponized azure wind.
With her attack a failure she’s left open for attack, which the Dullahan’s able to land. As the horse speeds forward, leaving a trail of white flames behind, the Dullahan swings down its blade. Her lightning-fast speeds are enough to free herself from any long-lasting damage, she’s grazed on the forearm before she flashes away. The moment she vanishes the true power of the Dullahan’s attack is shown when the ground around them both splinters and shakes. However, the dystopian surrounding of the fog truly shows its face when the Dullahan vanishes within it. While Kioshi lands nearby, she grabs onto her small cut shaking in pain. With it was just a minuscule the amount of damage, the mana infused within the Guild Hunter itself flowed through its blade, causing her blood to corrupt into a poison. Luckily before it can spread the blood boils away to return to its pure state, saving her life.
Kioshi: “Dammit…we should have just sent Lincoln. I’m not strong enough for this! HIS ARMOR HASN’T EVEN CRACKED!”
Her tears swell up, but the haunting neigh of the horse flares her will back up because this is when her third ability comes to light. While her immunity to magical attacks, and the ability to use the spirits as she wills are all instantly useful, this one last power is the ultimate trump card. While the Guild Hunter charges from behind the spirits around her light up and coat her body, especially around her small wound. With a mana-charged swing from Kioshi, the ground explodes around them. The Guild Hunter is hit dead on by the insurmountable slash, cracking the bone armor around his shoulder, and forcing it into overdrive. This attack held such strength without much charge time because the third ability showed its face, the ability to gain strength as she bleeds. So as the earth cracks and explodes around them, the horrific skeletal horse jumps and runs on the emerging rock while the Guild Hunter grows stronger.
The pitch black skin under the bodily crafted armor burns away, crusting over with the armor as well. Then lastly, while it charges up its own swing, the headless neck bursts with white flames to allow the Dullahan to laugh and cackle within this mist-filled despair. His haunting chuckles force fear itself to swell from within Kioshi’s heart, building up on her internal thoughts. Because with its will overpowering her own, it begins to speak directly into her mind.
“You are strong, child. You could take on the strength and pain of the living, to help and protect. But I am beyond such simple fates, I am free. Cursed to walk these lands for all time as I am unvanquishable, not even your so-called gods are strong enough to stand against me. So why do you think you can, why do you think you’re strong? Because people told you? Because people believed in you? How shameful.”
As his words grow stronger, so does the fog. She’s unable to keep her footing, unable to stand strong. The Guild Hunter, this monstrous being, this Dullahan, begins to move closer to her.
“There are people in this world who impose death, who wield death, who think they are death. There is a man named Lazarus who can take souls and a man named Prometheus who can corrupt life and things fueled by it, but I need no such thing. WITH MY BLADE AND MY STEED I WILL END THIS WRETCHED EXISTENCE THAT ALL ARE FORCED TO EXPERIENCE. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING TO CREATE MORE, I WILL MOVE UNTIL EVERY LIGHT IS EXTINGUISHED! You are a god that neither I nor the world have met, and it will stay that way.”
Kioshi {It seems that whatever this monster has the ability to grow in strength the longer it’s in battle…that explains why it was able to kill all of those guilds. If I don’t finish this now it’ll get strong enough to kill the Gods of War…it could topple nations if given time. So I have to kill it right here, RIGHT NOW}
With a breath, a thought, and the effort to move, Kioshi stands up. Her mind explodes at the same time her mana does. As it leaves her body it becomes one with the vast area around them all before it swells back into her, all happening before the Guild Hunter can even swing its blade. So as it attempts to cleave her in two, the ground it was standing on crumbles under the weight of Kioshi’s presence.
Kioshi: “I am a present from the land above to protect this idea of life, so if you exist to go against it, I’ll have to put your existence to an end.”
She holds her blade high into the air, shining a light so bright it exposes all within the endless fog, and overpowers the Guild Hunter. Its armor begins to burn, and its horse begins to crumble, but its mind lives on. In one last attempt to counteract this biblical attack, to kill the hand of god that’s interacting with the world and its reason to live, it grows. While flames coat its body, the armor grows, and life dies, but Kioshi’s doesn't. When she brings her sword down, she brings all that can be felt along with it, cleaving this stretch of the guard fog in two. The land is flattened, the land is free, and the Guild Hunter is gone. What’s left is a shadow burned into the ground along with a skull lying on the newly revived grass. On the other end of this broken wall of fog, Al stands still with his carriage toppled over behind him. And to his side is Musashi, waiting for his daughter to prevail. They withstood the force that bounced between the ends of the fog and watched what broke it walk into the line of view. As both Musashi and Al look upon this godly feat of power, they stare at the god who did it.
Kioshi Van Helsing holds the skull of the Guild Hunter, a trophy of the dead Dullahan. And in the coming days, the world grew to hear of her accomplishment, then within a month, she was praised by her country. Kneeling before King Buford in his throne room, in the capital of Walgonia, she’s presented to the world as the final God of war. The knights within the castle shout her name, and the civilians watch and listen to her speech soon after love as well as adoring her. Her existence is to be strong, and that’s what she did. She lived her entire life working, and fighting, while also taking care of everyone she could, until the end. While her fate of death was one the world could have never seen coming, it is quite the undeserved one at that. A weapon made from Alfheim, the same domain that created her, robbed her of her power and forced her to fight with nothing. She was killed without truly living for her, a fate that seems to hold for all reincarnations of power, one she could not escape. While her upbringing was one of familial love, her name is held in the highest regard somebody would want, and her last few minutes were one of fear and confusion.
Losing the chance to rule the country to live to be saved by villainous action and trickery, she lost her life the same way. Unable to go all out due to the robbery of her power and the presence of her friends. The only thing she was given was locked away, while something she gained led to her loss. Devils of the End, apostles of malice, the self-called future pillars of justice that are the Sect of Anarchy. Living order, killed by living chaos. The corruption of the world corrupted the very thing the world made to protect itself. The End is truly inevitable, even to those who seem beyond the strings of life.
Fin