Terror Infinity Side B
Chapter 10, Real World I
https://youtu.be/wb2LQsAQLQ8
The Team Japan's ten second battle against the monk Sozin and Shin watched from start to finish as both he and Aqua were taken out.
The one to move first was Aqua. Already the Second Stage of the Unlocked Mode after the appearance of the monk she rushed at the monk.
Holding nothing back, summing the full strength of her Werewolf mutation and lunged at the monk. Aqua knew if she even attempted to not kill the monk in front of her she would be defeated easily, so she didn't. Aqua was about to grab the monk with an arm expanded twice it size and stab the man in the heart with her adamantium claws when-
Aqua: Huh?
Before Aqua even realized it she had been tossed into the air. Aqua had been thrown by the Monk and before she could even touch the sands of the beach she was kicked in the head and sent flying away.
Aqua landed back on to the earth and as if she wasn't fazed by the kick, and back into a stance about to pounce right back at the man. The pain of the blow wasn't enough to hurt her by a lot thanks to her am adamantium bones, yet as soon as Aqua tried to get back on her feet she stumbled over and fell unconscious.
Shin: Aqua!
Sozin: You seem to gave hard bones, but all you have to do is ignore them with an internal attack.
Shin: Bastard!!!
Saki: Shin wait!
Shin was vaguely aware that Saki had said something, but it was too late. The threat of the monk, how effortlessly he defeated their team's strongest fighter and for that personto be his beloved Aqua, Shin snapped. Unable to forgive the man that hurt Aqua Shin in the First Stage of the Genetic Constraint attacked.
Shin used Instant Movement to close in on the monk and slashed down the Gravity Blade. The sword was already at 500 Times it's normal weight and additionally Shin added Ki to reinforce tphis sword further. Shin didn't care how strong the man was as he believed there was no way for the monk to block this attack, but he was proven wrong.
Sozin: A horrible sword slash, but you made it up with your speed and power. Not bad.
Shin: ...
Shin was frozen in place in disbelief. The monk he was fighting han caught Shin's full power attack with one hand, no with just his fingers as if he was Aizen from Bleach. Shin after just one exchange with the monk knew that he was no match for his opponent and there strength, speed and experience were too far apart. It was to the extent that the instincts unlocked in the First Stage screamed at him to runaway or summit to the man before him to survive just one second longer.
Shin then in the back of his head remembered how Saki wanted him to stop and for a moment he considered it, but he also recalled the image of Aqua falling to the ground moments ago. Doing so renewed Shin's courage and was about to attack once more... But it was too late.
Not missing the moment of hesitation in Shin the monk countered with an attack of his own by sending a fist into Shin's guts. The attack was not only like a steel beam rammed into his stomach, but an infusion of Ki from the monk assaulted Shin as well.
Sozin: You should never let uour guard down for a moment in battle... But the speed you recovered from the despair of realizing the difference in our standings is beyond commemorable.
That was the last thing Shin recalled before passing out.
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Shin: Where am I?
Shin said this after regaining conscious.
The last thing that Shin remembered was the all too short fight with the monk that owned both Aqua and himself in no time at all. When he was losing consciousness he had assumed that it was all over. With both Aqua and Shin down for the count who could possibly fend off the man in monk clothes, and those two kids if they ever regained consciousness?
Shin: There is no way they Hikari and the others could have won that battle, so does that mean we were spared? Then are we prisoners of war? Not good. A handsome guy like me won't make it with my purity intact in jail!
Aqua: Shut up Shin your are too loud! Ah, my head is still spinning from that kick to the head.
Shin then hearing that voice got up and took a look around. He was in a large Japanese style room. There was no furniture of the like to be seen, but the bags of supplies that Team Japan had brought witht them to the island were in a corner of the room. And in another corner of the room and massaging her temples with a scowl on her face was...
Shin: Huh. Aqua... Aqua! Your alive!
Aqua: I said keep it down! Of course I am alive. Who can kill me?
Shin: Not counting the kick ass monk or a silver bullet, then nothing I geuss.
Aqua: If you can talk nonsense like that then that means you are okay and that fake monk didn't hit you hard enough ( So harsh, but I'm glad I can once again hear Aqua speak of her disappointment in me... Wait, does that make me a M? ).
Shin: Speaking of that, what happened back there on the beach and where are we now? And where are the others? If we were captured then why weren't we restrained?
Aqua: About that... I can answer some of your questions. After the two of us were taken out by that monk things didn't escalate further. We have Saki to thank for that.
Shin: Saki?
Aqua: Yeah. The monk that attacked us didn't target anyone else after Saki spoke up. The monk said that he didn't want a fight to begin with, but it couldn't have been helped.
Shin: How so?
Aqua: It was because of us. In Unlocked Mode we were especially sensitive to danger and monk was more dangerous then any monster we have come across as of yet. You felt it too and couldn't calm down, right? The monk saw this and came to the conclusion that words wouldn't reach us, so...
Shin: He said screw it and knocked us out since it was a bother to reason with us.
Aqua: Basically yet. From there, Saki and the rest let the two kids we captured go as a sign of good. The kids apparently made a scene and wanted to kill all of us, but the monk, their grandfather apparently scolded them and sent them off somewhere.
Shin: Wait. They were that man's grandchildren That monk looked hardly any older then Kampa or Saki. At best he could be in his mid thirties if he ages very well.
Aqua: I know, but we can get to that later. Saki and the monk then spoke at length and the monk, his name is Sozin by the way ( Should I be thankful that he wasn't the Fire Lord? ), invited us to his home at the summit of the island. That is where we are right now. The monk Sozin, despite claiming that he trained as a monk lives in a large house alone, with the addition of those two kids.
Shin: Ok, I am almost fully caught up, but where are the others? They are okay, right?
Aqua: Don't worry they are all fine, Shin. Kampa and Misaki carried us up those steps as we were still unconscious amd were lead by the monk to his home. Then after placing us in this room, the others were allowed to do as they like till the two of us wake up. Then afterwards it was decided we would talk about everything. I woke up first and heard this from Hikari who was looking after us. I volunteered to wait for you to wake up since I wasn't in any mood to move about with this headache. That Monk's kick of that was kind of like your Soul Crushing Strike and did internal damage that ignored my flesh and bones.
Shin: Are you okay, Aqua? I got hit with something similar, but not in the head like you.
Aqua: I'm fine. It isn't that bad since the monk held back, but my head is still rattling a little. Really, if he wanted to he could have destroyed my brain, Killing me with ease despite my resilient body. That was a good lesson. I'll exchange for a skill to counter this the next chance I get, but for now... Let's go.
Shin: Go where?
Aqua: Like I said the others were waiting for the two of us to regain unconscious. Now that we both are awake it it time we discovery who that man is, how in the hell does he have the abilities that he possess, this island, those kids we fought and anything else we can think up.
Aqua got up despite still having a headache and moved towards the door of the room. Then as Shin was following Aqua out she stopped and looked back at Shin.
Shin: Aqua? Are you alright?
Aqua: I'm fine... It's just that I want to apologies to you is all.
Shin: Apologies to me? For what?
Aqua: For losing to that monk. Truth be told we had no chance against him even if we knew about his existence beforehand, but that doesn't change the fact that I lost. You once said that you gained courage that I, a Player stronger than you was around and could do his best in God's Dimension because of that. I... I am sorry for letting you down.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Shin: Aqua... There's nothing to apologies over. We did lose, but what I rely on you isn't just your strength, but your presence as well. I never thought of you as unbeatable, Aqua, so long as you are alive and you are still the strong woman that I know and love than I am fine. I am just thankful that you are alive after that because... I don't have what it takes to make it in this dimension if someone like you dies on the way.
Aqua: Shin... What is with that emotional stuff just now? Love? No confidence? Aren't you embarrassed as a man to say that crap out loud?
Shin: What... You, you are the one who started it! Your the one who felt bad for losing and felt like they had to apologies to me.
Aqua: That's... That's is that, and this is this! How does one thing have to do with the other?
Then not given Shin time to make a comeback Aqua left Shin behind in a hurry.
Shin: What is that. And the way she phrased that... Aqua obviously has been wanting to get back at me for that promise feom before. How childish!
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In another room of the house on top of the island were the rest of Shin and Aqua's teammates. They entered the bare living room which only had one sofa, a few chairs and no TV. Inside the room they found Hikari, Misaki, Saki, Kampa and Shuai around the room and sitting in the chairs. Also in the room and giving Shin a small fright once he saw him, was the monk from before Sozin.
Shin recalled the sort lived and one sided fight from before on the beach with the man and shivered. The monk looked harmless and was smiling as he greeted Shin and Aqua and apologized for earlier, but it was too late. Shin could 100% no longer see this man as a kind monk just living on a island, but a wolf in sheep's clothing who could defeat both Aqua and himself with just martial arts.
Shin: ( This guy... He also used Ki in that fight and possessed internal damaging techniques like my Soul Crushing Strike. This monk Sozin is definitely connected to that dimension. Well, we can only ask and hope he tells us what we want to know. It isn't like the option of force exist here with this monk who took both Aqua and I us out in no time at all ).
Shin and Aqua spoke to their teammates for a moment to see if they were really okay, and then final got down to business and directed their attentions to the monk.
Sozin: It is nice to meet you two. Let me introduce myself. I already did so for your friends here, but let me start over since you were not here ( Since you KO'ed us ). My name is Sozin. I am the master of this island and... As you may have suspected a survivor of God's Dimension. You are all from that place as well, but have yet to be freed correct?
Shin: That's...
Saki: It is okay Shin. Our restriction stated by God is that we are unable to talk about God's Dimension to outsiders who have never been there. Other Players and survivors of that dimension are an exception and we can talk to them.
Shin: I see. That's great to know. Well, my name is Shin and I am the team leader of my group, Team Japan. The woman next to me is Aqua, our most veteran Player and you should know the rest of us, right?
Sozin: I do and it is great to finally speak to you... It just, I got the feeling that Saki was the leader of your group.
Shin: Hahaha. I get that. I was more of an elected, no one else wanted the job leader. Saki here though can be considered the brain of the group, so maybe that is why.
Aqua: You definitely lack a leaders aura, that's for sure.
EVERYONE: That's true.
Shin: How mean.
Sozin: You have a nice group there leader Shin.
Shin: You think so? I am about ready to make some trades.
Then with pleasantries and jokes out of the way they got down to the main point. Shin then began to explain his team's reason for being on the island and to visit the monk.
Shin: Then let me summarize my teams reason for coming here to the island. As you have just heard we are all Players from God's Dimension. We were all transported to that dimension after despairing over our lives in the real world, but for the most part we all want to return home. That is why so far we have been doing are best to survive the missions we are giving, using the points and rewards to become more powerful and one day hope to save 50,000 points to go home, yet even with enhancements the missions we are made to go on are not easily in the slightest. Our last mission taught us all this. That was when a new member of our group, Saki here said that she might have some information about possible survivors of God's Dimension. People who have overcome the Mission Worlds and are enjoying their lives in peace back in the real world. This kind of information couldn't be ignored or delayed confirming. If this proved to be true that their are survivors of that dimension, that it's actually possible to survive, then we needed to meet these people. That was why we decided to come here to this island for information after putting our real world affairs in order.
Shin made it seem that it was the plan from the beginning to come tonthe island, and not Saki's scheme she threw at them at the last minute. Telling the full truth would make it look like Team Japan were an easy going bunch who came here for the hell of it... Which they were, but Shin didn't want Sozin to know this so he told half truths and lucky no one on his side pointed this out.
Shin: My team and I never intended to start a fight with any of you here on the island, but we couldn't not come and check this lead out. The possibility of gaining more information about God's Dimension and practical tips about enhancements and ways to surviving the missions... These are currently the things that we desperately need if we are going to keep going on missions and survive as a group without losing anyone else. So do you mind if we ask you some questions? God's Dimension, the Mission Worlds, exchanges, God or what calls itself that, your own experiences and more about your community of survivors. I know this is a lot to ask all at once, but... Please. Won't you help us out.
Shin then bowed his head to Sozin. The other members of Team Japan who knew Shin would never imagine him bowing his head to anyone, but it couldn't be helped. In Shin's opinion he was a half-assed leader who couldn't do much, but at the very least he wants to show his sincerity to the monk. Shin never wants to see one of his comrades die like Zero because of his lack of ability to protect them.
This was especially true for Aqua and Hikari who he has developed feeling for. Shin deep down loves God's Dimension and the missions that they are sent to since he can act out the role of a protagonist, but... If Aqua or Hikari were ever to die he didn't know what would happen. All he did know was that something within himself would changed for good... And so not knowing if this change would be good for him or not, but for the moment Shin choose to believe that it wouldn't be for the better.
Sozin: ...Raise your head boy. I like your sincerity that you showed for the sake of your team, but there's no need to bow like that. After hearing out like this I have no reason not to answer some of your questions, but above all... I feel that my own actions have lead you all here and I must take responsibility for that even if it was unattended.
Shin and the others were confused, but they all noticed that Sozin had turned his head to look over at one of them. The monk was looking fondly while also looking a little sad... Towards Saki.
Shin: What do you mean? Also, do you happen to knwo Saki?
Saki: Well, there isn't any reason to hide this but I know Sozin and he seems to have recognized me as well. It has been a long time Sozin.
Sozin: I feel the same Saki, but I wished that we would never meet again, and especially under such circumstances like these. It saddens me at my age even if I don't look it.
Shin: Wait. What is going on and how do you know Sozin, Saki? You said so yourself that you were never able to reach the island before know. Did you lie?
Saki: No. I have never been here before today, but I've met this man here before. Shin, he is the one I talked about in my story. Sozin is the one who destroyed the institute that I was held at after being kidnapped and who saved me. He, Sozin is my savior and one of the ones who lead me here in pursuit of the genetic constraint and God's Dimension.
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Authors Note:
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Big reveal!
I know that a lot of you thought that this was just a filler arc of sorts, but the truth is that it isn't. The next few chapters will reveal the true shape and form of what we call Terror Infinity - Side B.