Almost an hour have passed ever since I left that mountain. I continued to travel towards that mysterious place I saw. Still, questions in my head needs answers. And the only way to get it is to go there. I must investigate that place at once.

I continued to jump from tree to tree. My current state is not something that can be called as "Human". My current form was something that of a character taken straight out of a fantasy battle story.

After some time, I saw the road. Probably it's the main highway. Six lanes in total. I'm sure this will lead me to that place or should I say, city. To avoid any contact with strangers, I keep jumping on trees.

----How strange. There isn't that much vehicles in this road.

I don't know why but I'm sure there's something going on. I hasten my speed and continued to pass more trees. Soon after, that city becomes much closer to my eyes. Feeling a little bit excited, I increased my already fast speed.

"What a high wall..."

I reached the end. What blocks me is a wall so high you'd think this city is a fort. But there's no way it is a fort right?

I also saw the entrance leading towards the inside of the city. Judging on how I would look, I would be suspected as something like a terrorist and might call authorities on me. Not that they can do anything to me but being discreet is better. I don't want any unnecessary trouble.

"Now what should I do?"

I asked myself. I took a peeked towards the entrance again and turned my head towards the sky. There, an idea came in to my mind.

Taking a little bit of distance away from the entrance, I went to the side, surveyed the whole area and when I confirmed that there's no person nearby, I readied myself.

Channeling my strength towards my legs and feet, I put myself in a ready position. When it was the time, I performed a jump. That jump was so powerful that I reached the top of the wall immediately. I landed there and took a look at the city in close up once again.

"Woah... this place. This is something like a sci-fi movie would have."

Skyscrapers towering towards the sky. There were also flying vehicles that supposed to be representing as a car. Looking closely, I could see one building that is higher than the others. That could be the center of this city. A building people where those of high position is located.

"That must be the headquarters of the organization controlling this city. Or maybe just something like a tourist spot?"

If that building located at the very center of this city, there were also buildings that can be called high too. Four of them located on one end of the city. As if they were placed in north, south, west, and east respectively. And the existence of those buildings made the entire city look bland.

I don't know but those four buildings looks important. And they support that big building in the middle. Well... there's no answer to those questions right now and I must venture more further to get them.

I started once again to jump forward. Gliding towards the sky was one thing and that would make anyone happy. But I am not in that mood to enjoy such thing. I must keep my profile low. Not allowing anyone to notice me.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOO~!!!

---!

Did I make them aware of presence!? Shit! I must find somewhere to hide, quick!

Landing on one of the buildings below, I immediately searched for a place that I can hide myself. I turned my head left and right in hurry. Then I saw it. A place where I can go to and hide for a while.

In movies or in TV shows, that place is full of thugs hanging around and sometimes there's no one really in there.

Yes. The place that I'm talking about is the alleyway behind this building. Running towards the edge, I jumped down. There was no hesitation. I was not afraid of falling down. The building that I landed, a five-story building is nothing.

Reaching the ground, I bend my knees a little bit to soften the impact.

Boom~! Crack~!Crack~!

My landing created a little bit of crater. Cracks were made but it wasn't that much big. It was just the size of a dancing platform in a dancing game in the arcade.

I straightened myself. Doing a little bit of stretching and looked up to the sky. There were helicopter like vehicles that passed through then followed by a numerous flying vehicles that resembles a police car.

WEEEOOO~!! WEEEOOO~!!

Their sirens were loud. As I thought, I'm the one they're looking for. An unknown trespasser suddenly entering an area with no permission or whatsoever.

"........ugh"

Hmmm?

What was that?

When I turned my head, there was a man lying down on the ground, unconscious. What the-? What is this guy doing here? More importantly, what happened to him?

He wore something like an ordinary teenager would wear. Jacket, shirt, pants, and a... bonnet? There's something that he's holding in his hands too. It looked like some kind of paper bag.

I tried to open it and only to be surprised from the contents of it. Pictures of women doing different poses. They were naked, wore their underwear only. Some was wearing nurses' uniforms. There were also school girls too. Police uniform, nuns, bunny suits, etc...

"Geh....! Isn't this an adult magazine!?"

But I could care less. I reverted back to my human form. I hold my card in my hand trying to put in my chest then I realized.

"I'm not wearing anything besides this shabby looking robe."

I looked at the unconscious guy once again. Now that I thought of it. I could just steal this guy's clothes. Besides, no one will surely find out.

"Ugh.... what happe-----gufuuh!"

I punched him.

He was already conscious but I must keep him asleep. So I punched him. With that,  he fell asleep again as I robbed him of his consciousness.

"Sorry but I need your clothes to get away from here."

I started to strip him. Surprisingly, his clothes fits with my body. In exchange, I covered him with the shabby looking robe I have. Then I started to find the exit from this alleyway.

I turned left and right. It took me quite while but I finally saw the end. The whole area looks clean. There were stores left and right. There were robots that looks like trash cans collecting trashes in the roads. There were also robots who's handing the food which is definitely ordered by the people sitting in the restaurant. The vehicles passing by really looks like taken out from a sci-fi movie. They looked cool but they really doesn't impress me.

Exiting the alleyway, I was surprised once again by an unexpected event. The cars and other vehicles nearby stopped. There were almost an accident by collision.

BOOM~!

I covered my face in reflex. I was completely surprised by that.

There were smoke going above. Looking at how big it was, it wasn't that far away from here. Wait! Then those vehicles earlier wasn't after me but for something else?

I was quite glad with that. But then, that explosion makes me curious. Black smoke started to rise up towards the skies.

Gah! No need for hesitation. I must go there quick!

I ran towards the direction of that explosion. I took the alleyway once again to avoid suspicion and to keep my profile low.

I sensed something... very ominous.  Quick! I must find the source of that explosion. I may find some answers if I go there.

Wearing that bonnet from that unfortunate boy from the alleyway earlier, I ran. At least I don't look that much suspicious. Or am I?

Traversing these alleyways wasn't that hard but can be quite confusing especially when you don't know the area you are currently at. But then, with my sheer luck, I found the source of that explosion.

There were barricades around. There were also those flying vehicles earlier. One of them had someone standing in an opened door. It seems that person is a woman. Wait... a reporter? That's a vehicle used by the media?

There were also vehicles that travels on land. Some of them looks like an ambulance while the others looks like an armored van used by police or was it SWAT? It looks like this is quite the situation. There's something major going on.

"Hey you! What are you doing there? Huh? A civilian?"

---Tsk!.

I was seen. I can still make it if I run away. But they have weapons while I have none. Well, I do have a thing that can be called as a weapon. But I want to keep my profile low and it seems that he sees me as a civilian. I should go along the flow for now.

"A-ah. I was panicking earlier sir. There was an explosion and the quite scared the crap out of me and ran towards the alleyways. But it seems that I ended up here."

Ji~~~~~~~~

He's suspicious of me!

"N-no! I'm telling the truth mister officer sir."

I put on a troubled face. He tapped the communication device in his ears and spoke to someone. Maybe his superior or someone in charge of this operation thingy. After he confirmed the order given to him, he closed his eyes and started to speak.

"Come with me. It's much more dangerous if you stay in the alleyway. You might get caught in the fight."

---Fight?

I was dumbfounded by his words. A fight he say. Maybe the upcoming firefight because there was a robbery incident or something. Anyways, I must stay out of trouble for now. I followed him towards to one of the armored vans. There, his comrades are readying their armaments.

If this was a dream then this would be what gun nerds and technology nerds dreams every night. Their guns have traces of this world's futuristic setting. From the stock up to the muzzle, it's length was eighty centimeters. It has bulky appearance and quite heavy if I do say so myself. These guys must have trained hard for them to carry that kind of weapon. They also wear cool-looking breastplates. They also wore helmets that made them look like from that robo sci-fi game with laser guns and electric swords. Totally robotic.

I stayed back and looked at them from behind. Apparently, a suspected demon is on rampage. When I heard that word "demon", my whole body twitched. I suddenly remembered my sworn enemy, Ouroboros. He was a demon god planning to take over the world and turn it into his own playground. He almost succeeded in his plans but all of it was thwarted by my presence. I defeated him at the start only to be revived by the "Infinite Ritual" thus bringing him back from the dead. We, once again, clashed in a deathmatch. But everything was different for me and him. We fought one another with our might. We have nothing to lose at that time. Not his plan to conquer the world nor my shred of hope in living. We had nothing left. We fought to end everything.

From a distance away, I can see the silhouette of a man. He looks like your average skinny looking martial artist from a certain dojo. There was something mysterious about him. He was walking in a weird way. There was also that smile on his face which resembles those maniacs and those who went gone insane. There's no doubt that he's the demon they're talking about. But what made him to be a demon? Demons are different existence. They loathe humanity and would slaughter them without second thought. This isn't right. And that answered one of my questions in my mind.

"I.......... am........... gest........ I AM THE STRONGEST!!!"

With a loud roar, he transformed. Black miasma appeared and started to envelope his whole body. His body started to go in an weird change. His thin body became bigger and bulkier. As if he was that certain green hero with superhuman strength. He grabbed one of the concrete barricades which was set there to stop him and threw it to my direction. I stepped back and one of the armored van in front of me got crushed.

----That amount of power. There's no mistake. That guy is demon.

But how did a human turned into a demon?

That was the question added to my pool of questions in my head. I definitely needed to investigate this city but for now, I must stay away from danger. But I still need to observe first. I'll just intervene later. I must refrain from acting like an idiot.

"HAHAHAHA!!! No one! None can match my strength!"

I have a couple of hypothesis in my head. One, this guy isn't really a demon but a product of human experimentation that went wrong. Second, the existence of supernatural beings and powers truly exists and someone is behind this guy's transformation. Third, there's an unknown thing happening that me and these people don't know which could be the original cause of this phenomenon. Perhaps an extraterrestrial stuff.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm the stron----what the!"

The next thing happened in a flash. The bulky guy got hit by an armored van. That van was different from the other vans. As if it was the van for special ops. It continued to run and made a drift turning to the side. A door opened from the side and there were people coming out from it. Some of those robot armored police guys came near to them. Not want to be left out, I also secretly went near too.

"Good work holding him off. We will take care of it over from here."

"Ah..... please do minimize the damages."

"Noted."

The squad leader guy talked to a girl who seemed to be their leader. By the way, she seemed to be the same age as me. But I felt skeptical about them. There were four of them facing against that bulky guy. Then that means either they're stronger than these robocops and have better equipments or they themselves are just like that bulky guy. Possessing some sort of power to against him.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

But it seems it was both. I was amazed what happened afterwards. Their group is consist of a girl with shoulder-length brown hair which must be their leader. Another girl also had a shoulder-length hair but hers is black. The third one is also a girl with a long, blue hair. And lastly, is a guy with reddish hair. He looks like the problematic member of the group. I can tell that he's an energetic guy but it seems trouble is all he have.

"We're going to finish this immediately! Also Kagerou, stop acting foolishly and follow my orders properly. Get your SysRod ready."

Said the brown-haired leader.

"I will remember that senpai!"

Said by the red-haired junior. So Kagerou is his name. His way of speaking annoys me.

"Okay, let's go! Ready?"

"""Ready!"""

Uwaaaaaa. They look embarrassing. But what happened afterwards made me drop my jaw in amazement.

They transformed. Yeah.... they transformed too. Just like that guy. But unlike that bulky guy that was called demon, they were different. They pulled something that resembles a rod. Apparently, she, the leader said earlier that they must ready their SysRod. This must be what they are talking about. They were white and would be measured around twenty-five centimeters.

"Hopper System, Activate!"

'Hopper System: Change~!'

Inserting that mysterious SysRod to the slot in the brace attached to her left feet, the brown-haired girl stood up. Unlike the bulky guy getting covered in miasma, hers was different. Fitting to the futuristic setting of this city, green neon lights came out of her brace. They were following a line pattern and revolved around her. And then, the lines formed an armor like pattern followed by hexagon patterns around the gap from each line. The green lines became more brighter forcing me cover my eyes. The light settled and then she changed. If the enemy they called "demon" was bulky because of his enhanced physical appearance, she was covered in bulky armor. Mostly the upper part only.

From her head to her body and to her arms, they were covered with armor. Of course the lower parts have armor too but unlike her upper body, there isn't that much armor. Maybe it's like that for their legs to move faster. But I doubt it to be like that. Her base color was green and the armor silver gray.

After her, the other members started to follow her.

"Pillar System, Activate"

'Pillar System: Change~!'

Unlike their leader's so called Hopper System, her's was called Pillar System she connected her SysRod. to the the bracer attached to her left arm. Just like what the brown-haired girl's lights, her's was orange neon lights. Lines made of that light came out and formed a figure of an armor then followed by hexagon patterns filling the gaps of each line and lastly, the lines became brighter then settled down.

Her armor isn't that bulky like the brown-haired girl's armor. Her armor had a wing like accessory on her back. She had a black base color with orange lines in the side and her armor is colored metallic orange.

"Brood System, Activate!"

'Brood System: Change~!'

The third girl with the blue hair was also different. She inserted her SysRod to the modified holster attached to her hips. Purple neon lights formed a figure of an armor. Hexagon lines filled the gaps, then the lines became brighter. After that, the light settled down.

Her's this time was something amazing. The armor on her body isn't bulky though the arms and the legs are quite big. There's also a rib like structure on her armor. Her base color is pale red while the armor is metallic purple.

Then the only man among this group consist of females did his thing too.

"Ifrit System, Activate!"

'System Start: Change Ifrit~!'

His SysRod was inserted to the gauntlet in his right arm. Red neon lights came out of it and started to form a figure of an armor around his body. Hexagon lines were seen on the girls but his is different. They were pentagon lines filling the gaps between the red neon lines. Just like the others, bright lights started to become stronger and then settled down immediately.

His armor resembles those of medieval armors except for the head part. There were two bent horn on each side protruding to the front. It was like a horned demon itself wearing an armor. His base color is red while the armor is metallic black.

After they transformed, they simultaneously attacked the bulky demon guy.

Green Hopper girl ran towards him and jumped. Giving a flying kick towards his face. The demon received the attack and by the looks of it, he head was quite bent towards the side. Green Hopper did not stop. She continued to deliver more kick to his body and finished it with an axe kick.

Switching Green Hopper girl, Orange Pillar girl came in. She held something like a whip in her hand continued to swing it. Damaging the skin of her enemy. The demon can't attack and defended himself from her attack. Never he knew, there was two person rushing towards him.

Purple Brood girl and Red Ifrit boy. Purple Brood girl had blade at the end of her arms and positioned herself at the of the demon. Just like what Orange Pillar girl does, she continuously slashed the back of him. The two stopped and then Red Ifrit boy came in. Dashing towards the enemy and released a punched towards his chest.

"Guhaa!"

The demon was hurt. That punch made him roll across the ground or should I say, road.

"Kagerou. Finish it."

"Yes!"

Red Ifrit boy pulled the SysRod from his gauntlet and and inserted it to the slot in his leg.

Crackle! Crackle!

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

His right foot started to make crackling sounds then followed by flame covering his foot. He dashed and after reaching a certain point, he jumped high that an ordinary human couldn't reach. With a loud roar, he descended from the air. Doing a kick with his foot covered in flames. This must be his some sort of finisher move. That's what I thought.

He descent became much faster and I thought that this bulky demon guy is finished. But I was wrong.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

"--!"

The bulky demon guy caught Red Ifrit boy in her leg. After that he swung him like a towel then tossed him towards the his comrades.

"Gua!!!!"

I can hear their roar of pain from that impact. This is bad. That's what I thought. They'll be defeated if they can't stand back. The robocops were slightly terrified and worried about their condition. Trying to buy them time, they open fired towards the demon in front of them while I stepped back to avoid being dragged in that firefight. The demon noticed us and started to come after us.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUU!!!" With a loud roar, he ran.

Kagerou, the Red Ifrit boy stood up and chased after the demon. Gave it a flying kick and stopped it in it's track. Then Kagerou being a brave man, exchanged blows with the demon.

"Wow. It's quite surprising he can exchange blows with that monster."

"Wha-!? You're still here!? Get away from here! We don't want any civilian casualty!"

---Tsk.

I was quite offended by his words. Then I replied,

"At this rate, they'll lose and there's a high chance they'll be killed during the fight."

"We know that. We can only provide support by distracting the enemy. There isn't really much us Troopers can do."

"Troopers eh..."

Troopers huh. I see. They are called Troopers. And mostly, they are just disposable pawns every operation. These guys with that SysRod thingy most likely garner all the fame and such.

Heh. I look at myself once again and asked. Should I help them?

Then, a sharp pain invaded my head. I held my head in reflex but didn't agonize from the pain. In fact, I'm smiling.

'Eliminate the demons. Eliminate the threat~'

Then someone tugged my(stolen) jacket.

"What will you do, master?"

It was Yuki who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"There's no need to ask. You know what I'll do."

With a smile. She nodded to me.

"Haa.... Haa... This guy.... Haa... is tough."

"Grrr.... I'm the.... strongest....!"

Both of the stopped from exchanging blows. That boy, Kagerou. He's something.

"O-oi! What are you doing!?"

""Huh?""

Both the demon and Kageou looked at our direction. Me and Yuki passed through the robocops while ignoring their shouts and started to approach the demon and Kagerou.

"What do you think you're doing!? Bringing a child here. Are you out of your mind!?"

He shouted at me. Thus I replied.

"Don't be foolish amateur. Yuki, do it."

"As you wish."

Woosh~!

With a swing of her arm. Mysterious ice started to appear and froze the whole body of the demon.

"Wha-!?"

Kagerou, his other comrades, and the robocops were surprised. Of course, it was something they didn't expect. Moreover, it was done by a child. But then, Yuki is not a child though she looks like one.

"GUAAAAAA!!! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!!!"

The demon broke out from the ice. But then, that was just an opening act. The real deal starts here.

"Let me show you all. How to deal with this smallfry."

"What did you say!?" Kagerou replied with a voice in anger.

I pulled one of the cards from the small box hanged in the belt of my(stolen) pants located on the left side of my hips. It was a card with the size of the credit card. In the edge, there were unknown letters called Runic Letters. In the middle of the card, there's a big letter that resembles the letter "G".

Tap~ Tap~

If these guys are fighting with scientific kind of weapons, then I'm the opposite. After tapping the card twice with my index finger while being hold by my thumb and middle finger, a belt appeared in my waist. Just like magic, it appeared out of nowhere.

The belt had a strange design. The belt strap was thick while the buckle had a shaped of an oval. There were two holes near the top edge for my fingers to fit in. I putted my index and middle finger and pulled it up. Two sides of the buckle opened up in forty-five degree angle revealing a slot where the card in my hand could be inserted.

"Start"

'Change Rune'

I said the word "Start" then inserted the card to the buckle and then buckle said the words "Change Rune". To their eyes, it would seem that I was not that different from them. True. But theirs' is more techy than mine which is more leaning to the magic side. I can't deny about the buckle saying something though.

"Activate"

'Genesis: Demon of Salvation~!'

Pushing the lever that I pulled, the sides of the buckle closes. Then it fired a rectangular see-through screen. It resembles the card I was holding that was inserted to the buckle. Doing a little bit of light stretches, I ran towards the screen. Passing through it broke the screen but the fragments of it revolves around my body. It started to merge with my body forming different parts of an armor.

When I was within the range of the demon, all fragments from the screen already merged with my body. I gave the demon a straight punch and sent him rolling on the floor.

All of them were in shock. Despite their faces covered by the helmets of their armor, I can tell. They were shocked to see this. Me, a random civilian transforming into something they don't expect.

Prior to this transformation, I stood there. I remembered what I need to do. Why am I still alive. Those words that telling me to eliminate the threat. This was it. Demons were my enemies and they will always be.

"Enemy of this world. It's time for you to receive your punishment. I, Genesis will give you your end!"

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Somewhere within this city, a number of people were seated on computers. There's a large screen in front of them and it played the live footage of the fight between the demon and their special soldiers.

Among them, there was a girl in her teens dropped down to her knees. She was covering her shaking mouth but did not covered her crying eyes.

"Femme, what happened!?"

There was a guy wearing lab coat who approached the crying Femme who was in the ground. He was worried because she suddenly acted like this after an unknown guy appeared and transformed in front of their eyes.

"N-no way.... I don't believe this!"

"Femme! Can you hear me?"

She can't hear his voice. Her eyes were fixated to the mysterious person in the screen.

"Y-you are alive! Sekai!"