Chapter 32:
7:05 AM….
The girl’s eye color were clearly contact lenses. Her braided hair was also dyed white as well. The girl wore long winter dark leggings, a white winter coat and a brown beanie with red ear muffs. The only distinct difference between this girl and Mirana was that she had a bigger bottom lip and carried an aura that was less mysterious than Mirana’s. To be more specific, she felt like a normal everyday girl compared to Mirana.
The girl waited expectantly for Jin’s answer, hoping for a yes.
“No” I flatly replied. Though I didn’t like to disappoint a girl, I had things to take care of first. The first things that is in order is my bad breath for I have yet to even brush my teeth! Heck, I was hungry. My stomach’s rumble sounded like a loud burp. “Sorry. I need to take care of a few things first. I’m currently hungry so… Sorry.”
The on lookers who were watching the two felt like slapping Jin upside the head. Here was a pretty girl that looked like she was begging him to come with her. Any fool would’ve just followed along. ‘Specially the horny ones. They would forget about food and go along with lust as the fuel.
The girl felt slightly dejected pulled something out her right pocket. “Here. Have a cracker.”
What she pulled out wasn’t a cracker but a fortune cookie. She placed it into Jin’s hands and… suddenly dragged him in the direction she desired.
“Whoa! Wait! Wha- Where are we going!?” Jin did his best to get the girl to let go of his hand but her grip gotten tighter and tighter whenever he tried.
8:00 AM …
Soon enough, he was pulled into the girl’s dojo that she’d mentioned.
Inside, only a small handful of students were actually practicing martial arts. The other tens of people were either lazy or tired.
“Teacher! I’ve found someone who wanted to join!” the girl cried.
The teacher, who was teaching the active students perked his head up to see the girl waving. “Alright! Those in red belts! Repeat your forms! For black belts, spar! I’ll be back!”
The teacher jogged over covered in a bit of sweat. The teacher who the girl was referring to wasn’t even that old. He was in his late thirties or so. Maybe early forties. But he sure was built well with long wavy hair. His muscles were not too big for his height as he was about six five and the breathing technique he used made it look like everything around him was calm. “Eh? You didn’t pull him off the street just cuz he looks good and rich like the last guy right?”
“Uh… I’m pretty sure he wants to join right?” The girl leaned onto Jin’s arm, pressuring him with her cleavage. But that was not the only thing that was pressuring him. Her hands that held his arm gripped with the strength of a vice.
To a normal person, her vice grip hands would hurt anyone to wince in pain from just slightly to over bearing. But Jin crossed the threshold of being abnormal a long time ago.
She thought it would hurt him and pressure him to join. But Jin indifferently shook her off.
The girl was partially shocked. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes. But behind those tears was a conniving witch. “!!! I… I… I let you touch my boobs and this is how your reply? H-How could you!!!? I!!! I even let you do this and that to me!”
Those who heard this stood up in disbelief and discontent. These people were te students who were in the dojo, the teacher, and…
A man roared from the bathroom stall of the dojo. “WHO TOUCHED MY DAUGHTER’S TITS!?”
A voice that Jin knew well. ‘Oh no… it can’t be.’
The door swung open wide with a bang and an angry man came out of the bathroom stall. “I WILL RIP HIS…. Oh Jin. Is that you?”
Jin nervously smiled and said, “Uh… Yeah…”
“OH NOW I FINALLY GET TO HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS! I have been tryin to contact you for the longest time now. So, done anything with my daughter yet? Huh? Huh huh huh?” Octavious nudged at Jin’s shoulder.
Right now, Jin looked like a young boy who’ just found his first love. But he was actually more afraid of the hammer of justice than Octavious wielded. “We uh…. Umm… Kissed? Does that count?”
“!!! NO WE DIDN’T DAD! HE’S LYING!” The girl next to Jin refuted. She didn’t know that Octavious and Jin was talking about her sister.
Octavious’ lips curved upward just a bit before saying, “Do you know how many men kissed my daughter?”
Jin could’ve sworn he heard the father’s fists cracked. “Uhh haha… ummm…. No?”
“Do you know how many men actually kissed both my daughters!? BOTH MIRANA AND GWEN!? ” a vein popped up on Octavious’ head.
Those who’ve heard this gasped in awe. Awe at the audacity of dating two daughters at once.
But the most shocked was Jin. “Hold up Octavious. Uh… Sir. I didn’t- Wait… Who’s Gwen?”
Octavious’ anger suddenly died down. “Eh? You don’t know who Gwen is?”
Jin violently shook his head left to right.
Octavious’ anger exploded. “You don’t know the girl next to you is Gwen? You didn’t know that she was my daughter?”
“Oh. So she is Gwen? Never met her till now.” Jin’s words made it sound like the girl’s existence meant nothing.
Seeing that Jin was telling the truth, Octavious calmed down and spoke in a mild manner. “So… Up until now. Everything is a big misunderstanding? Then why are you here? And what is this I am hearing about you touching her boobs?”
“Uh… See, I was dragged her after sleeping for a long time. Even if you don’t believe how long I’d slept, I can tell you now that I just woke up. Gwen… right? Well, she pulled me here and I believe she is currently pulling a prank on me.” Jin honestly told him. “But I didn’t lie about kissing Mirana.”
“Oh okay. That’s fine. At least there is some progress. I’ll forget the fact that you used the house I bought for you for another family then.” Octavious shrugged.
‘Oh man…’ Jin actually wondered if he should’ve told Octavious that Mirana voluntarily kissed him, let him fondled her, and maybe seduce her. It was more like she threw herself at him multiple times.
Gwen on the other hand could not believe her ears. Not only did her father didn’t get mad, but the guy next to her just got off scot free. Her father was also being strangely unreasonable today. But then again, now that she recalls, he always was unreasonable. “Wait. What is this I am hearing about you, dad, and my sister?”
“None of your business Gwen. Now that I know you were just being spoiled…” A vicious glare burned in Octavious’ eyes. “I may be a loving father. But I still have to punish a bad daughter. Your credit cards frozen for the entire month.”
“!!! Q>Q But dad!”
Octavious sighed. Rasing a daughter like Gwen was never easy. But when they become spoiled, the parent would naturally have to punish them without remorse. It was for her own good. But this was ridiculous because Gwen was already 18. “No buts Gwen. Or you will get a RED BUTT after this. And no forms of social media. If I see you online chatting and it is not college related, I will be freezing your computer with liquid nitrogen.”
“!!! Y-Y-You’d stick up for an outsider than family?” Gwen had never been punished this badly in her life before. It was worse than her mother’s spanking. Her discontent face contracted and her cheeks puffed up. “WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY DAD!?”
Octavious’ patience finally reached his limits. Love was definitely one thing he had for his daughter. But with love comes punishment. “Go to a corner and face the wall. Don’t come out until I tell you to.” His eyes grayed and his tone flattened. Anyone at this point could see that he was dead serious.
“!!!” Gwen wanted to say no. She didn’t want to be treated like a kid. But her father bore an imposing aura of fatherly sternness. In the end, she gave in and went to a corner to face. For the first time in a long time, she was treated as a kid. It was a humiliating moment for her.
Octavious didn’t want to hit or yell at his daughter. So he chose to punish her mildly. “Sorry everyone had to witness that. Sorry that you had to be the victim in this Jin. *Sigh*….”
“Oh come on now Octavious. I mean sir. It was just a small prank. Nothing I can’t handle right?”
Octavious felt a little better that Jin didn’t take it to heart. “It’s fine I guess. She is a handful. More than Miri if you know what I mean. And… Honorifics doesn’t really matter between the two of us in places like these. Just don’t over kill or forget it in the right places.”
Jin acknowledges Octavious’ words by lowering his head a bit. This showed that he still respects Octavious as an elder and of higher status while following along with his wish. “But Octavious. I think that I am not suited for your daughter. I really mean it. And there may be another small problem.”
“Oh nonsense. If I acknowledge you as someone of my par then you are surely worthy of her. What’s is the problem? I’m sure we can solve it.”
His words made Jin blush a bit. But this was not a problem to be solved alongside with him. If anything, Octavious would kill him in another minute because Jin would tell the truth that he was trying to see some other girl beside Mirana.
Beads of sweat rolled down Jin’s spine. After gathering enough courage, he said in all honesty, “I uh… I’m trying to see some other girl than your daughter. But I do have a list of people who is fit for her.”
Gwen who stood in the corner had a look of disgust on her face. “What!? You unfaithful d*ck! You! You You You You You….” Using this moment, she turned her body and opened her mouth to continuously curse Jin out. “You seduce a girl and then tell her father that there is another man better than you!? Do you have no shame or courage at all!? Or have you been playing people like a fool? Do you do this to every girl? No wonder you are a loser! You-”
“SHUT UP!” Octavious’ voice boomed. Octavious finally broke through his limits. He raised his right hand high and prepared to slap her with the back of his hand until Jin stopped him.
If I were to compare his slap with Ophelia’s slap, Octavious’ hand held a lot more power even though he was holding back. Maybe twice as strong as Ophelia’s. I had to use both my hands to prevent him from going overboard. “Wait Octavious! Can’t we let it go just this once? Hm?”
“Get out of the way! I’m disciplining my daughter right now. Never have I been humiliated by her in public before. But she is just showing that she does not know anything right now!”
“Octavious. You said that you acknowledge me as an equal right? So see things through my point of view. I do not need that many people to know about me. If that’s how they see things through their own eyes, then let them. I’m sure she lived a sheltered life right? So… Why not forgive her? As of now, it’s innocence and not ignorance right?”
Jin’s words managed to calm down the angry father some. “*hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii* *phuuuuuuuuuuuuuu* Alright. You’re right. I’ve been doting on them too too too long. Maybe more of her than on Miri… So... Gwen.”
“!!? Y-Yes? Dad?” Her body was still trembling from seeing her dad being really angry with her for the first time in a long time.
He walked up to his daughter with malicious intent in his eyes. In his heart, fury was filled up to the brim as well as love. His promise with Jin also brought back his senses. He’d nearly forgotten about how sheltered his daughters were. He wanted to release the anger but using domestic violence was not the right way even if it is under discipline. This would ruin his public image. As a boss of a big company, image was important. So he thought of another way to release his anger. “Your computer is going to be password locked on a five layer password protected security plan, your phone will be replaced with an old phone using limited text and talk minutes so chat all you want but chat wisely, your room will be filled with books that I will choose that will be needed to be read and memorized, and you will not be able to go outside for an entire month after today. If I see a person within my house without my consent, and it is because it is a world where love is diverse, I will break their arms and extend your groundings. Do you understand me!?”
“Understood dad….”
“Alright then Gwen. Just… turn back to facing the wall.”
Jin’s mouth gaped because this was one of the most unreasonable punishment he’d ever heard in his life. It seemed as if his interference with her disciplining slap only made things worse for Gwen. Maybe there was a bit in Jin’s heart. Maybe there was fear. ‘I’m ninety percent sure that I’m not going to be a part of his family now…’
Gwen was partially right in the eyes of the public and it is because she does not know Jin’s background. If she did, she would’ve understood some things and make her argument a bit more sound and true. ‘Cept the mistake she would’ve made would’ve been huge.
What Octavious feared was’t to give Jin a piece of his mind because he was equally angry. Yet at the same time, he was glad that Jin was honest. Even though he was more angry than glad.
If she had offended Jin in any way, then regardless of who Jin’d liked or loved, he would still become a powerful enemy. Not to mention that he admired Jin when he acts as a prosecutor. Crime actually gets done right. So things are a lot better when a person who is of the right creed is place in the right position. The only dangerous part is when that person in a position of power comes after business people like Octavious. Even Octavious hid things from his family so they could get by through the depression.
‘If… By some slim chance that he… investigates me. Or distrust me… then I might be in danger. If I am in danger, then my identity is in danger. If…‘
JIn could see it on Octavious’ face that hundreds of things worries him. This was the same face when people saw him as either Belphegor or Sloth. There was no real respect. It was pure fear that had for him. A feeling that makes a person of high power feel lonely. “I’m a nobody Octavious. Don’t worry too much. I’ve yet to repay my debt to you you know.”
“Eh?”
“I said, ”Stop looking so worried”. You are too tense. I know! Let’s spar things out. Is there a place where we can spar?” Jin seemed a little too enthusiastic in Octavious eyes.
He’d never seen Jin fight as Belphegor or Sloth. ‘But he looks so… damn weak. Look at those slender arms! Wait… thinking back now… this might be a golden opportunity to gauge his strength. Alright. I can’t pass this up now.’
Octavious whispers some things to the teacher of the dojo and instantly, the teacher ordered every person in the dojo to make space. “Everyone! Including Gwen! Go rest on the sides!”
“Now there is a place where we can spar right?” Octavious smiled satisfyingly. He tossed Jin some practitioners’ gloves so that both of them would not be able to damage each other. “Wait Jin. I also need a bullet proof vest! You might need to wear one as well!”
Jin thought of the people around who was watching him. So he obviously can’t go one hundred percent right off the bat. He also remembered back to the armor beneath his body and shook his head smiling. The two donned on fighting gears and readied themselves for a good sparr. “Alright! Let’s do this!”
On the side, Gwen never thought her father could fight. He owns a lot of places as well as this dojo. But whenever it came to physical labor, her father would avoid it with either telling that he’s going out to drink with friends or escape with his two legs never to be seen until the job is over.
“This is going to be a three point match! If you get knocked down on your back, then that would count as a KN and the winner would be awarded with one point! If you fall on your back, then that is a full point! There is also a KO rule! If the opponent is unable to move, or falls unconscious, then that is a KO! IF your opponent is knocked out on the first round, then that would be counted as a TKO! Each match has a five minute limit!” The teacher explains.
“Wait! Extend it to twenty minutes each. I have a feeling that this will be one long and worthwhile match.” Octavious grinned. His bones trembled with excitement.
“Uhh okay! Begin!”
*Doom*! “Sorry we don’t have gongs so we are forced to use drums.”
When the match began, Octavious already strategized the entire match in his head. He prepared himself if Jin charges at him from the front, side, or do feint attacks. He even thought of ways to counter Jin if Jin actually were to try to counter his counter. “Come on youngster. I’m not getting any younger.”
Jin could not even see the battle aura that usually surrounds people when they prepare to fight around Octavious. It was more like the qi around him was neutralized. “Heh… Interesting… As you wish Octavious.”
*Tap* WOOSH*
‘A sudden breeze? Maybe from the air conditioners? Wait… They aren’t on… So where is this cool breeze coming from? Hm? Who is that stand next to Jin? I thought we were the only two here…’ Octavious blinks his eyes. ‘Eh? Was I seeing things? Wait… I see it again? Now it’s gone again!? Okay, now I know I’m crazy. Gotta cut back on the rums.’
This was not a breeze like how Octavious thought. He was not seeing things either. This was actually Ren appearing next to Jin. Those who have yet to reach saint level cannot see Ren. But those who are close to saint level can feel the qi of the saints. If one is close enough, they can see the blurry image of the saint.
But the one who could also see the image of the person standing next to Jin was the teacher of the dojo. He was a secret qi practitioner as his predecessors before him. Before his father passed away, a legend was passed down to him that if a person reached a certain state, they would become one of the warriors of the heavens. These warriors of legend are actually the saints. Qi practitioners who’d become one of the strongest humans on their planet and are recognized by the heavens as official saints. His father also told him that if a saint reincarnates, qi practitioners of certain levels are able to see them. He recalls it as, ‘If you are able to see the shadow or even the image of these warriors behind a person, it meant that you are close to being a warrior of legend yourself! Those who have reincarnated from these warriors are burdened with a mission in life. So if you see one, be careful.’
The teacher grinned from ear to ear. The appearance of a saint is akin to that of a king. Majestic, strong, and respected, this was his idea of what a saint was. ‘Amazing…’ The teacher had to admire. The over flowing feeling that Ren radiated almost made him forget his own existence.
Ren notices this and disappears from sight and left Jin to his own sparring.
*Tap*
A step. Like a water droplet falling onto a calm lake, invisible ripples formed upon the surface of the dojo’s floor. “Are you ready? Block this if you can.”
Jin’s arm became like a blade and slowly drew a crescent moon-like arc horizontally, cutting nothing but thin air.
Waves of unforeseeable power gushed forth from where Jin’s arm had slashed…. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Octavious roared in pain. His body tumbled backwards from the pain landing on his back.
The teacher was like Octavious and even he felt the power of the slash. It was more like he saw it actually. The mysterious invisible blade looked extremely long as it flew across the air, knocking everything who could feel it out of its way. The blade grazed only his side and even then the pain he felt was real.
Jin, who was on the other side smiled. “Hey! Wake up!”
His words awoken both the teacher and Octavious back to reality and found himself unscathed. Both of them couldn’t believe in the reality anymore. They couldn’t even believe the person in front of them.
“You… Was that… a manifestation of intent? What have you done to get to this level?” the teacher unconsciously asked. “Wait, I mean… NO point! Octavious stumbled and it was not by opponent’s doing! Resume! Unless the other side is able to explain how Octavious fell!”
Octavious didn’t let Jin answer the teacher. He was over joyed when he learned this. Instead of asking questions, the vigorous man swung his fist at Jin and stopped only five inches away before meeting Jin’s face. He repeatedly used this and was planning to simulate the same manifestation of intent with an extra mix. Except this was more a different form of manifestation. If Jin’s slash was pure intent, this was a mix of intent, not allowing Jin to know which punches were real and which were intents. Some of those were both!
*doom*doom*doom*doom* Droplets of blood flew from the corner of Jin’s and landed on Octavious’ clothes. Octavious became more vicious sending a full salvo onto his opponent. Yet Jin was able to avoid most of the savage blows and took only the safe ones to his body. This was how round one concluded.
Heck, the round concluded but even the referee, the teacher, didn’t stop the match!
The on lookers couldn’t even tell that it was a battle of intents. Gwen thought her dad was just thrashing Jin in the first match. ‘But why are the two moving so slow this round!? This is like watching turtles race each other!’ she pouted. ‘Whatever, Dad is still winning. I just wish he could land a point!’
What she couldn’t see was that Jin was overwhelming Octavious because the both of them were using pure intent, reading far ahead into the battle. In terms of power, Octavious confirmed that Jin didn’t use power in the previous match for two reasons. One was because so many people were watching. If not, the two would have a chance to go all out. The second was, Jin decided that this was a better way of testing battle prowess rather than just throwing fists. Even in the previous match, Jin didn’t use any physical contact moves because he was still overwhelming. Jin was locking Octavious’ moves with techniques of pure intent hinting the other side what would happen. If we were to describe this fight in simple terms, both sides considered the other as an equal and that this was a battle of intelligence rather than just power. Reality may show different results, but this was showing how different their mentalities were! This was far more interesting. Just like a game of rock paper scissors except there are hundreds of more options and variations of those choices with combinations.
In the second round, the two moved slower than turtles using only pure intent to battle each other and only slightly contacting each other. 5 more minutes passed and the second round concluded as well without any points awarded. This round was completely slow as Gwen thought. Both Jin and Octavious were using what they knew against the other. Both Jin and Octavious seemed to be equally knowledgeable in the east Asian martial arts.
When it came to applications, Octavious had more practice than me and is clearly a cut above me. A whole new level. But, as compensation to my lack of training in martial arts, I am more well versed in applying physics to real life situations! I really don’t like admitting defeat when I have someone as amazing as Octavious here as a sparring partners. If I admit defeat here, there would be no shame.
My eyes locked with Octavious. The passion of fighting within out blood roiled and coiled throughout our bodies the longer we fought. Through his eyes and actions, it was like he said, “Don’t you dare quit now! You’re making my fighting spirit boil in ways I’ve never thought possible! So don’t you dare run!”
Through competitive sparring, the two fought long and hard while teaching one another about their fighting styles.
“Ah… So Octavious is the type to rush into battle with a calm collective mind. But that calmness is gone once he feels like he is in danger or feels like his opponent is worthy… When it comes to this, his battle style changes to instinctive movements while retaining the principles of martial arts… Maybe… Octavious is evolving as well!”
“Heh… So this is how Jin fights. He has no fighting style. He switches fighting styles depending on the situation. I could feel a bit of tai chi mixed with judo in that last one. But what shock me most is his creativity! Genius! He is able to think up of new and unorthodox moves on the spot to counter the traditional ones! Maybe even counter the new non-traditional ones! These moves… They looks as if they have been practiced thousands of times… Far from traditional… Hundreds of times… no… hundreds of thousands of times he must’ve tried in order to come up with the perfect move for each situation… He is… the epitome of hardwork!”
The two of them battled for thirty five minutes straight without stop. The third round began long ago but the teacher forgot to tell them. Not that it mattered. The two were dead lock into testing each other’s strengths. At the very end of the 3rd round, Jin suggested to use physical contact moves and Octavious had manage to grab Jin’s clothes, throwing him over with mountainous force. At this point, the time was almost up and Jin had to prioritize different things. He needed to rest early and so he allowed Octavious to throw him over revealing the body underneath. Scars upon scars over lapping with different types of wounds flashed through their eyes. “!!! THE HELL!?” the teacher and Octavious simultaneously gasped. Only the teacher and Octavious got to see it while their bodies obscured the visions of the others.
Jin swiftly pulled down his shirt to prevent anyone else from seeing. “OI! Pervs! I knew you guys were gay! Jeeze! Is round three done yet!?
“Uhh umm yeah! O-Octavious D. Silva is the winner by one point! Give a round of applause for these two!”
*Cricket sounds being played by multiple people* *Chirp*chirp*chirp*chirp*
“MOTHER F*CKERS! Who is playing those damn cricket sound!?”
The students who played those cricket sounds dragged everyone who was not involved to blend in leaving only Gwen behind.
“I-I-I didn’t do it! It’s those guys!” she quickly said to save herself.
“Ah no problem. When those guys comes back, if they ever come back, they will be in one hell of a training session.What looks like old men square dancing was actually monsters dueling. No eyes. No respect. I should just kick some of them out… *ugh*” The teacher revealed a hint of new found respect in both Jin and Octavious.
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Both Jin and Octavious became exhausted from that satisfyingly strange spar of intentions.
“Oh man! I thought slow fights were usually boring! You sure proved me wrong! Where did you learn to fight like that!?”
“Haha.. Octavious. You praise me too much. But if you want to know… Travel to the CSC!”
“!!! The CSC!? You’re lying! There’s no way you could’ve… How long have you fought in the CSC!?”
Jin shook his head from side to side. “Secret! *huff*huff* But…. *RUUUUUUUMBLES* OH CRAP… I’m really hungry now…”
“*Haaa…*Haaaa…* Oh you hungry? *Huff*Huff* My treat! There’s a close pizza store nearby. Order as much as you want! *huff*huff* Wait a damn minute… You aren’t as sweaty as you look! Forget the damn bath and just eat! Though I can smell your bad breath from here, forget brushing your damn teeths! Eat an apple!”
Jin wore a sort of helpless look on his face and helped Octavious up using his shoulder as a support. “Alright. Let’s order like ten pizzas, maybe some pizza steaks, fries, apples and maybe add large supplies of sodas as a part of the order.”
“*Tch* I’m old and you want me to drink soda!? You want my bones to become brittle?”
“Ah yeah… I am tryin to make your bones brittle. So next time when we fight, I can win more easily against a genius like you” Jin said in a playful tone. In the underworld, maybe Jin would be an equal. As Prosecutor Sloth, he would be a bit under him in terms of wealth and status. But once the masks were off, he was no different than a normal person. He was just Jin. No one knows of him until he wears the masks. Just the way Jin prefers to be.
“Genius? Me? Ha! I’m old. Now if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black. You are the damn monster in sheep skin!”
“Oi… stop that. I’m not all that amazing.”
“Jin. Learn to take praises where it’s due. Sometimes, you just gotta stop being modest.”
“At times, honesty is the best modesty right?”
“Eh… Poldio Gran Ve Cez’s saying? Didn’t he die because he was too honest? Calling his government corrupt, he was executed for conspiracy right?”
“I don’t know. But I do know that if I don’t go eat now, I’ll faint.”
“Good idea. I’m about to faint myself. Gwen! Let’s go grab some pizzas!”
“Uh… Sure dad. But what about-”
“Punishment? Girl don’t think you are off the hook because I had a good day! …. It’s reduced to one week.”
‘What a doting father… No wonder she is spoiled…’ Jin promised never to be that kind of father in the future if he does become a saint.
“!!! Oh~~~~ Thank you thank you thank you dad!”
“Now now. That just means that you gotta remember those books faster. If not, I’m extending it. Remember that! I’m still angry with you young lady.” Octavious warns his own daughter in a very… memorable way.
See, the next batch of disciples were about to arrive. So this time, Octavious turned around to fart in his daughter’s face and ran.
“Ew! Ew! That’s disgusting dad! *cough*cough*”
Jin…. He followed Octavious to go eat. Can’t really pass up free food when it is offered to you right? He don’t really want to stay around to smell things either.
“My car is this way.”
“We are walking. Not driving…”
“B-But… my cool and expensive car…”
“Walking is good for the health right?”
“B-But my cool and expensive car… I just bought this last week…”
“Daaaad! Wait up!!!”
“Eh… Go away person. You stink. Pee-ew!!!” Though he said this, he tackled his daughter, threw her over the shoulder and ran with her on his back.
The image of Octavious playing with his daughter almost aligned with the dream Jin recently had.
The teacher peered out the window to see Octavious and Jin walking side by side. He envied people like Jin and Octavious. ‘Are they geniuses? No… wait… maybe that blue hair dude is not a genius… more like someone who’ve fought monsters all his life and was forced to grow… Well, it seems like I am from from what they are. If geniuses exists then surely people like him are born to challenge these geniuses… I too… I too want to become a warrior of legend… I too want to become someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with geniuses…’ One person was able to withstand pain to reach the threshold of the strong while the other was born naturally strong. The teacher was naturally the former but he has yet to reach that level.
______________________________________
11:00 AM
The three of us came back after having our fill. Actually, two really. Octavious sent Gwen home for her early punishment and we talked for a while.
The teacher of the dojo suddenly became polite now that he knew the relationship between Octavious and Jin a little better. It just like a relationship of in-laws but more of a form of friendship. “Well uhh. If you two need to talk, there is a table over there. My students will serve some soft drinks or refreshments if needed.”
The two also thought that sittin and talking was much better than standing and talking. Besides, there were soft-drinks to be drunk.
Jin sat down to continue to talk with Octavious until he heard a few familiar voices coming from the girl’s changing room. Three of them he could make out actually. “Oh noes…. Uh… Octavious. I uhhh have some things to take-”
But that was too late…
Eight girls came out of the changing room wearing the traditional gi/dogi.
Jin’s heart sank when he saw the faces of the three girls he recognized so much. So he unconsciously turned around.
Mirana was the one leading the group so she stood at the very center and front. To her right was Rosa who was talking to her. But to Mirana’s left was Meracle who looked conflicted inside with many emotions.
But all those emotions came to a stop when her eyes locked onto Jin. “Jin? Is that you?”
His heart sank even further when she called his name. This was not how things were supposed to go in his plans. He didn’t prepare for this. He’d recently woke up from a long time of sleeping and the fact that he slept too long threw him off his own plans. What would he say right now? How would he look in her eyes if he turn around? What would be the best choice? His heart trembled at the very thought of making one wrong move.
Talking casual won’t work in this situation. Mainly it was because his last impression was that of ice. He terrorized Meracle’s family under the pretense of evil. He wasn’t sure that Meracle knew that everything was an act to keep her safe. And that it was… for the attention of the government, and the world for a matter of fact, to be refocused on Prosecutor Sloth.
*GLUP*
Ah crap… my throat became extremel parched. Am I shaking? No… I have to calm myself down. I have to recondition myself right now.
But what if she speaks to me first? What if she has questions for me that I can answer. But what answer(s) will bring more trouble? What then!? That would be too irresponsible of me if I were to just come back like it was nothing.
Octavious on the side glanced back and forth between Jin and the group of girls. He could already guess the possible situations that Jin was in. So he decided to lend a hand. “Oooooooo myyyyyy MIRIIIIII” He rushed over to hug his little girl. “Oh and you two as well. Forget the other five. Ya’ll not important.” He joked around. “I’m just kidding. If you girls don’t mind, I’ll borrow these three for a bit. Okay? Okay. You. Face. Jin or whatever your name is. Come over here as well.”
Octavious took control of the situation and sat them accordingly with Meracle and Rosa sitting on both sides on where Jin sat. Octavious sat with his daughter Mirana. “Now that are gathered here. Let’s talk things through. Jin you start first.”
“Umm… This is actually a lot bigger than what you might want to think Octavious. I would prefer it to be a private conversation. But…” Jin’s fingers fidgeted as his eyes shifted over to Meracle. He didn’t dare to directly look at her. His eyes was all the way to the corner though.
“How complicated can it be?” Octavious chuckled.
“Well, we would need Blake to be here…”
“Huh? Why would we need my dad to be here Jin?” Meracle asks fom the side. She almost sounded as if nothing big happened between them.
Jin dared not to answer. He was already nervous as is from just meeting Meracle again.
“It can’t be that big right?” Octavious trying to act nonchalant. He waves his hand in the air and said loudly, “Hey! Can we get five grape sodas over here and some scallops with lobsters?”
“This is not a five start hotel or restaurant Octavious…” The teacher of the dojo said. “Only grape sodas…”
“Alright! Now then Jin… Cotinue.”
Jin swallowed his own saliva hard before finally saying, “The two SSS. Both of them…”
The nonchalant attitude faded and a serious look that even Mirana never knew replaced her father’s face. “Haha… That… is practically Defcon level one… How in the world…”
Jin nodded. “Now do you know how serious it is?”
“Okay… Okay… Wow… Uhh… Great. *GROANS*… Anything else before I choke you?” Octavious rubbed both his temples.
Jin made a face of remorse. “… Can we all speak in private before getting into deeper stuff? And get Blake here? I… might as well tell the truth anyhow.”
Octavious’ face twitched violently now that he knows that there are more bad news. “Okay… You girls go away. Me and Jin need to find Blake before things get out of hand. Now.”
Octavious was the first one to get up and quickly dragged Jin out the door forcefully. He tossed Jin into his car and left the three girls behind as smoothly as possible. This was also the first time Mirana saw her father so strong as well. It made her speechless.
“How long have you known this?” Octavious asked with all the seriousness in the world.
“Eh… When I tried to help Blake’s family. I think I was asleep for a good long month.”
“The hell were you doing!? Hibernating!? If you knew about this, where the hell are the blueprints now?”
“? I know where they are. But I am afraid that the blue prints might’ve been already ½ complete. I think they might’ve reverse engineered both the SSS.”
“Well you better hope they stay half complete dammit! Lets find Blake’s ugly face first! Where is he!?”
“In the very first home you bought me. I originally wanted them to move to keep their location… hard to find. But now you know.”
“GOOD. That damn idiot!”
*VROOOM*
The car raced down the street swivin and swerving through traffic at the fastest speed it can. With Octavious’ driving skills, he quickly got to Blake’s house.
12:00 pm….
Octavious bolted out the car and into the house forgetting to keep calm. “BLAKE YOU FOOL! WHERE ARE YOU!?”
Ania was actually the only adult in the house to show up. “My dad? What’s wrong? Something bad happened?” She became worried since a month ago after so much drama happened.
Jin calmly walked in to take care of the situation. “Nope. This is Blake’s friend. He just want to have a drink with him after not being able to see him in a long time.”
“Uh. Yea! I got something special for him! And I just couldn’t wait. So… can you tell me where your father is?”
Ania sighed in relief. “He’s still at the hospital. Remember the bullet that was shot? Well, he is stuck there because his wound re-opened. Something about postoperative hemorrhage.”
Octavious didn’t waste a second and re-tossed Jin back into the car and drove off to a hospital. “Dammit… wait. I forgot to ask which hospital.”
“I know where it is. It’s the hospital I drove him to. They have a VVIP room there.” I said while fixing my clothes in the car.
“Sometimes, I think you are too calm you know that Jin!?” Octavious’ face became grimmer and grimmer by the seconds.
Maybe it was just me. After being in danger for too long, my nerves has never been calmer. If I fell from a building, I probably wouldn’t scream and just laugh at the very last second.
Form the time I became Belphegor, I became the most wanted man on this planet. Every secret project that was ever kept secret is stored within the archive that Mammon had. And I read each and every one of them carefully to remember them. That being said, my brain is a collection of hush hush activities from everyday bribery to maybe… assassinations and experimentations. I just… never would imagine that Blake would be involved in one of the top five. “I know it’s serious. But it is also the same reason why we need to act all the calmer. Also, I’ve sorta been hibernating for the past month so you aren’t wrong. I literally just woke up this morning.”
12:30 PM
The hospital VVIP Room where Blake resides…
This VVIP hospital room was fairly large as it took entire the upper floor. This was the twentieth floor of the hospital room and had a great view of the suburbs. Only the privileged classes would be able to access this room. The room was divided into five equal parts with an elevator as a part of the VVIP treatment at the center of the room.
For the past month, Blake was in a long coma. Blake’s gunshot wound normally wouldn’t be that serious. For a man his age, he kept himself as fit as possible. Even the doctors said so when they opened him up. Blake’s life was saved after the long operation. But the doctors couldn’t explain why Blake couldn’t wake up. Even after multiple tests, all it showed was that Blake had a healthy body. Every now and then, the gunshot wound would re-open and the doctor had to re-operate on him. Only after two months of testing did the doctors suggest to check his brain activities.
What appeared on the monitor shocked everyone. There was almost no brain activity at all. Periodically, there would be surge of brain waves where Blake would most likely wake up and then show that his entire body shut down for two minutes before his brain and body regain normal activity. This became one of the rarest case in neurology that the hospital invited some of the most amazing doctors all around the world. These doctors are the ones that’ve been deemed as gods of the medical field; from medical records of fastest surgeries to new discoveries of surgical techniques and medicinal development. Their desires were to not only make a new name for themselves in the neurological department but to gain ties with government associates.
Throughout this entire time, Leah had never left Blake’s side. She held his hand every day and prayed that he would wake up. Every day she watched Blake’s life flicker back and forth through the gates of death many times. Each time she saw that he’d died, she felt partially responsible for his death. She’d thought that maybe… if she’d been a better wife, none of this would happen. That if she’d paid more attention to her husband’s worries then maybe something would’ve been different. She wanted to do something for him to wake him up like kissing him on the lips to wake him up.
The doctors did all they could but to no avail were they able to wake him up. When some of the doctors saw that they could not aim to save Blake’s life but to only extend it, they shifted to other options. The first was to give up in which many did. They’d rather admit to their lack of skills than to possibly kill a man while in pursuit of fame. The other options that the doctor had was… “I think it is best off to let your husband die a nice and peaceful death” one of the doctors said. “Maybe it’s time you let him go and… move on.” They spoke as if Blake had already died and would never come back. Even the best doctors that came so far folded their hands and agreed.
“Y-You’re lying. Stop talking like he’s already dead! He can’t die!” Leah became crazed by the mere thought of her husband leaving her. And… for a long while, she was thinking of suicide. She thought of death because she wanted to repay Blake in any way possible.
A person walked through the door and grumbled loudly, “Damned woman. Why the hell are you running a way!?”
His visage shocked Leah to near death as she found herself trembling.
“I’m not Jin dammit. So don’t worry. I’m actually here to save your husband on Jin’s behalf.”
“You’re lying! You’re lying about your identity again aren’t you!? If-”
*WOOSH*
Twelve large pure white wings shot out from this person’s back. “I’m not Jin! My name is Lucian! And I am … one of the twelve legends of the heavens! The highest angel and most powerful. I am far older than this newly reformed planet itself. Do I have to perform a miracle for you to believe me!? ”
“H-Highest angel? You really are an angel? I… I thought they were only stories…” Everything became hard to take it. Her faith in her religion diminished so much that she had a hard time believing that an angel would come down. If there are angels and gods, then why haven’t they come to stop the depression? Why haven’t they come to prevent her from being corrupted?
“Woman. Move aside. LIGHT BINDING!”
Six rings of light suddenly appeared in the air and bend themselves around Leah to restrain her.
Lucian strode forward towards Blake who resting on the bed. “This damn… F*cking reaper! Just cuz you can’t get Jin to sign the contract, you go after another soul!?”
“Reaper? They exist as well?” This was her first time hearing the existence of a real reaper.
“… Ugh… Read your scripts! Do you know what happens to sinners? Some of them aren’t thrown into an eternal burning hell. Not every sinners get the easy way out like that! This! IS WHAT A REAPER IS!” Lucian said and thrust his arm in the air to grip something that was there.
An old man dressed in a dark cloak was held high by Lucian’s grip. “*CHOOKE* DAMNED LUCIAN! *CHOOO* I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! SO IT WAS YOU! YOU DID IT YOU F*CKER! THAT WAS MY ONLY- *NRGH* OUT OF THIS!”
“VANISH FROM THE FACE OF THE WORLD! BY THE POWER OF THE JUDGEMENT! FOR USING YOUR ABILITIES AS A DEATH SAINT AND ILLEGALLY TAKING A SOUL THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO DIE, I SENTENCE YOU TO THE THIRD HELL PLANE AND WORK AS A CARETAKER OF DEATH FOR THE MAXIMUM PENALTY! TEN YEARS!”
The messenger of death, the one who’d taken Jin’s life by mistake, was sentenced to the 3rd hell plane! The plane’s levels are different as they become worse as one descends. Any sins you commit, should they break the threshold of sin limit, you’ll fall even deeper into hell. The first plane is the sin of lust which draws sinners to commit more sins in order to bring a soul down another level. The second plane was stealing. Steal to survive! The third plane is to kill! The more you kill, the further you fall. The fourth… could be called the worst because it is the very sin of gluttony. There, demons could be out to eat your soul like hungry wolves. If you eat something down there, that is considered being a glutton! In addition, the food in the fourth plane forces a person to have an insatiable hunger. This also means that the creatures here will devour anything they can get their hands on. But the thing these hungry creatures loves the most are freshly fallen souls. They don’t get devoured, they get chewed up, and out the rear door of any creatures. So the more you eat, the farther you fall. So as you can see, it only gets worse as you fall deeper and deeper. The only level that actually destroy a soul is the 10th layer. But that layer is reserved for those who are rated as 9/10 abomination. There are many more rules, but these are the main rules.
If one would judge from the heavens, Lucian already went too far by giving the maximum penalty. But he could also argue that the messenger of death probably made a lot of mistakes in the past and never reported! There was no way to prove it wrong. Only evidences can tell truth. It also just so happen that Lucian was willing to use Jin as evidence as well if anyone wanted proof from him. They might die before they see proof so Lucian’s argument is rock solid with strength to back it up.
Hands of darkness pulled the messenger down like quick sand. The messenger of death… no.. the demoted messenger wailed miserably and curses out vengeance. “You’ll burn in hell! You’ll all burn in hell! The contract!? It’s already in effect! Just watch! You’ll all be sorry you took me out!”
“F*ck you! Biggot! Now I wonder where the angel of light is..."
A second person with white wings responded to Lucian's insult. A young man with white hair came out of no where. "*Tch* I had to clean up your mess. But there are more pressing matters to take care of. The only thing I can tell you is that the messenger wasn't lying and- Wait... why is she here and awake to see this? .... God dammit Lucian! Why are you so damn sloppy!?"
The angel of light who'd helped Jin out came in his true form only to find out someone had seen him.
"Angels... More angels..." Leah gasped. In all her life, she'd never witness a miracle as big as this. "Y-You're all here to help?"
"Ugh... See, this is the reason why we don't show up dammit! Every time we appear, people expects help. Get over it already! In fact, go to sleep!" The angel of light tapped her forehead and she fell asleep instantly. He then positioned her right next to Blake with the two holding hands. "I also found out something else Lucian."
"I know Eruhiyo. There is a traitor in the heaven right? Well I'm gonna find him and-"
"That's just it Lucian! We know who the traitor is!"
"What!? Where!? Tell me now so I can kill him!"
"He's... already dead. The guy opened a passage for the false heavens... no.. their name is Arcadia now... He even told me that there is one more powerful traitor in heaven! Well point is, they are able to open the gate between hell and the false heavens in the time of three years. The current problem is that Arcadia needs an anchor to open it. A king to lead them. Someone's whose body is strong enough. Someone who's currently alive. You know anyone who fits that description?"
Lucian thought for a while and there was only one person who does fit the requirements. "No... I-I've been tricked again!?" The skies darkened and lightning fell down like rain from the skies.
"!? What's going on Lucian? What do you mean tricked!? Who tricked you!?"
"Don't you get it!? The contract, allowing us to bring back a person, Arcadia, the traitors, the time limit. Haven't you connected it all yet!? Their aim was him! They were after Jin all along! AGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Say that you are right. Say that they are after Jin. But from what I gathered, there may be one more person to fit the requirements. Other living paragon candidates on this planet."
"There are more!? Where are they!?"
"Cool your head Lucian! Stop shouting. Ugh... The second paragon candidate... is the paragon of darkness unlike our Jin. That person is more suitable. But we should still keep Jin in mind."
"Of course. But I think you are seeing this wrong Eruhiyo. If Jin does become a saint, he will have a strong body will he not? If he become corrupted, then he is an even better candidate!"
"Why is that Lucian?"
"Because.... Because I gave him the ancient cultivation method and helped boost him up to the 50th stage already!"
"!? Oh my... GAHHHH! Oh my head... I have to worry about this and now I have to worry about... This would've never happened if you became god Lucian. You were a better candidate for being an overseer than that idiot above!"
"You know he can hear you right?"
"WELL F*CK HIM! I HOPE HE CAN HEAR ME! THAT LAZY M*TH*R F*CKER HAS BEEN SITTING ON HIS ASS FOR PRACTICALLY AN ETERNITY! IT'S ABOUT TIME WE KICK HIS ASS OFF!" The angel of light's wings radiated a red color and steamed rose from his head. "SH*T! F*CK*SH*T*F*CK*SH*T*F*CK... Know what? I think i got a better idea now that I calmed down. We eradicate Arcadia, help Jin become a saint, kick the overseer's ass and then make you god. Deal?"
"I told you Eruhiyo. I don't want to be god. If I have no desire, then I am nothing more than a burden up on heaven. I can agree to eradicate Arcadia, but even we need Jin to become a saint before then. He is our anchor. If we lose him, then it will be hard for us to help. So you prioritize erasing Arcadia and any threats that might come in Jin's way before then. We'll get his ass to rise like the ashes."
"Oh right... I forgot that your strengths are considered a taboo in this world. Well, I'll do what I can. If that door opens, then not only will the souls of the dead won't have a good place to go, everyone will suffer for god knows how long. This is much bigger than the time Ragnarok struck us. We might have to use "it" again... Geeze... *WOOSH*"
"Let's hope it won't come to that..." Lucian muttered. He lifted his head to see that dark and cloudy skies only getting darker. The lightning stopped but the cloudy skies didn't disappear. "I hope nothing goes wrong..."
______________________________________
AN: 10 burst! Now.... Test time!
Some of the many things I am feeling or thinking right now... [th_0fire.gif] [th_0kick.gif] :this: :blood: :imdead: