Solomon vs Voban vs Masaru

Masaru and Paolo stopped near the borders of Rome, the reason for this was there was currently a rumour of a kidnapping case in the neighbourhood that was quite far from cities so the Police force was a minority compared to other places since there were only a few houses among large farms.

Yet the reason that they have come, is due to the fact that magic was involved. Or more accurately, supernatural, paranormal activities that can't be "understood" or "accepted" in the current era. It would probably be faster for the younger generations to accept, however, the continued effort to keep this world hidden from the rest of the world continued even to this day.

The Copper-Black Cross knights were already in position, some were acting as hikers and some were working on the farm with pikes and shovels, Masaru and Paolo went to a different position and stopped a distance away from the house while hiding behind a bush.

"Your task would be to get kidnapped by the men in that house" Paolo explained the plan to Masaru,

Masaru looked at his father although there was no fear, he still felt nervous when he heard of this "You're not abandoning me are you?"

Paolo who heard this coughed since he was used to his son's antics he was not flustered, however, seeing Masaru's uncertain eyes he gently rubbed his head "I will never abandon you"

Masaru felt a bit relieved that Paolo reassured him, yet he too hoped to see his flustered expression but that one failed completely.

"If I was not convinced of your abilities, I would not have allowed you to go. But I need you to create a commotion within the house once you are with the rest o the children" Paolo gave simple instructions, all he needed was for the base to become distracted to leave an opening for them.

Masaru thought for a moment before asking, "How will you know when I make a commotion?"

Paolo looked at his son with an apologetic smile, "You need to make it very flashy and attract as much attention as you can"

Masaru, always been a smart child since he was born but that was what he thought himself, so he understood what he had to do so it was not that hard. 'Flashy? Maybe I can set some buildings on fire, I always wanted to try fire magic after all' he thought

After getting changed into dirty rags while applying dirt all over himself, Paolo felt a stinging pain in his heart when he saw this appearance, it reminded him of the time he found Masaru and renewed his vow to ensure this boy will grow up splendidly.

Masaru however simply thought he could finally play some realistic game of house since now he could dress as someone different and act it out for real he was thinking of treating this mission as a game.

"You ready?" Paolo asked,

"Yes, see you later," Masaru said with a warm smile, silently as possible he travelled quite a round trip to approach the house from the opposite direction his father was watching him from. When Masaru came close to the house his instincts could tell that there were several spellcasting mages in the house preparing to attack him, but he still bravely knocked on the door while putting on his most pitiful face.

Don't look down on this boy who lived in the streets before, he could scam a man without him realizing it and now it was no different. When a man with the appearance of an average delinquent opened the door he was totally shocked to see such a young boy was knocking at their door, "Who are you and what you want?"

Masaru raised his eyes looking at the man pleadingly, "Sir, I have no food... I have been travelling from Rome in hopes to survive, I hope I could ask for some food"

The man did not answer immediately but when one of his teammates gave him the okay gesture, he allowed Masaru to enter the house.

The inside of the house was a mess and there was barely any furniture except for a few couches and a TV set when Masaru came inside one of the men guarding behind the door grabbed Masaru from behind before covering his mouth and nose with a drug-soaked cloth, being a skilled magician Masaru was naturally not affected but he still faked his attempt to resist before falling "asleep".

The men monitored the boy making sure he was out, "Never expected we would be able to catch the last one we needed... I almost thought we are going to die for not meeting the deadline" One of the men spoke,

"Should we send him off to the boss?" One of the goons asked,

The leader nodded as they began to load the "sleeping" Masaru into their Van before leaving the house, but never would they imagined they were being trailed secretly.

Masaru who was currently in the van was still relaxed as he knew this father of his will never abandon him so he kept himself motivate not to be scared and to be brave, he never feared the people around him but he still feared of being left all alone since he experienced this once before. Currently, the Van was heading to a secluded area in the southern sections of Rome which was also the location where the Ritual will be held.

"We will soon be there and then we can get rid of this problem, I am done working with those lunatics that want to chop up children for their ritual." The leader complained while they turned around the corner to stop when the door flung open they threw Matteo towards the two men wearing black Robes.

"I see you managed to complete your part of the deal" One of the men in the robes spoke with a gleeful voice.

"Our job is now complete," The leader said before speeding away, the two black-robed men said nothing in response and simply started to carry Masaru deep within the forest where they will be hosting the Ritual.

"Never thought they would be able to complete it" One of the robed men spoke while they were walking, the other one did not speak at all.

It was only when they threw Masaru inside an improvised room that was only recently built with Wooden planks, Masaru opened his eyes looking at the children sleeping peacefully. 'This...'

"This is going to be big trouble, I can't create a commotion here" Masaru spoke to himself looking at the children with worries, he began to think about his current situation was not favourable as he imagined.

Enhancing his body's prowess with devil power, he moved silently as possible to the corner of the room he used his bare hand to forcibly loosen a plank to check his surroundings, from the looks of it, it appears he was in something similar to a Military camp, lights were moving around the camp and at times there would be a patrol passing by.

'I have to attract attention but the best place needs to be somewhere I can defend, or hide for a long enough time' Masaru broke off a piece of wood making it was sharp before he began moving some planks aside for him to exit the wooden house, he still made sure to move things back in place to prevent them from instantly discovering him.

When he looked around he could see several tents set up but only a single building was discovered in the middle of the camp, Masaru felt going to this building would be dangerous but to create a commotion it would be best. 'This place... gives me the creeps' Masaru thought as he moved faster, not wanting to stay longer in this place, he felt like as if he was a prey.

What he did not realize was the fact an old man was watching him with interest, "Interesting... You, go get some of your men and move the children into the tower, use the back route" The old man said with a dignified voice, his eyes glancing at Masaru as if he was a prey he could squash anytime he wishes.

"Yes sir!" The subordinate moved fast wishing he had another pair of legs to help him move faster, he still remembered the time he lived leisurely and now his life was on a thread. Working for a Campione was dangerous, and it was not even a day ago his predecessor died at this old man's hands.

The patrols were becoming tighter making it almost impossible for Masaru to enter, "It feels as if someone is playing with me" Masaru muttered, he knew the soldiers did not know he was there. Yet each time he would be forced to stop when troops "coincidentally" appeared before him, once was fine, twice too. But three times?

'If I did not have to be careful in using magic I would have already done so' Masaru thought, he was not experienced in the field of infiltrating like a professional. The best he could do currently with his ability, was to observe his surroundings and move bit by bit at each opening he finds.

By this moment the Old Man was already gone no longer paying attention to the boy as he wanted to see if this boy could surprise him.

Masaru already picked up that things became smoother at this time, glancing at his surroundings 'Was it my imaginations that I thought I was being monitored?' he thought before shaking his head, increasing his vigilance while moving, even if he felt confused. He had to take every single possibility into account.

>\/<

"Sir, it appears the camp was more fortified than we imagined" One of the scouts came to report the situation to Paolo who was quite worried if he made the wrong choice, looking at the map marked accurately with their troop and their enemies troop positions.

"How confident do you feel we can breach?" Paolo asked with a stern expression, he had to consider many things. Masaru for first.

The scout smiled confidently "100%, the only problem lies in the fact we are not certain of the Campione's intention of starting this situation" The scout felt depressed, the fact they had no information of the Campione's intentions made this entire operation sticky.

Paolo nodded, "Get the men ready, we will be striking soon"

But never would Paolo realize his choice sent many innocents away from this world, and how it would affect Masaru's mentality on a fundamental level.

>\/<

Masaru who was still moving suddenly halted his movement at the sound of gunfire and explosion caused by modern weapons and magic reverberate throughout the camp. Glancing at the direction where the combat was occurring, Masaru felt anxious as this movement was not part of the plan. 'Did dad not believe in me? Or did someone force him to?'

Masaru knew his father must have felt something was wrong or someone pressured him to make a move, yet Masaru felt intuitive that this choice to move ahead of schedule was wrong. Since the people were being attracted away, Masaru could move with less pressure on him in a swift manner through the camp and went ahead towards the building he wanted to set on fire at first.

Since the plan changed, he still went for the building because for some reason he felt he would regret not going there. Fate was a strange thing even when meeting once, at times one could sense when the people they just met could be in danger although at times this is a false alarm, however, at times it could be true. 'I will see what it is that my heart is making me chase after' Masaru thought

Coming close, Masaru glanced up towards the skies where the black tower made of strange metal built high as if trying to grasp the moon. He was not certain why they build this tower was built for, yet he smells a faint familiar fragrance filled with iron and something distinctive yet he could not grasp the word for it.

Coming close to the metal doors that were slightly open, Masaru peeked through the door not daring to open the door. Glancing inside, he realized that there was no light and the room was dark, taking a breath after considering whether or not to take the risk. Masaru took a step forward, gently he placed his hand on the door, and pushed the door open slowly while his eyes were scanning the darkness.

Yet even with the explosion lights flashing in the background, and the moonlight shining bright. It did not even illuminate a fraction of the room, remaining utterly dark. Letting go of the door as he took another step inside the door, he was caught off guard when the door creaked as it slammed shut with a bang.

'Oh no...' Masaru felt the blood in his face was cold, becoming pale, his heart beating increasingly louder with each beat. His eyes swimming around the room that suddenly became brighter, yet still dark, at least he could see that he was within a massive hallway with pillar built scattered across the room carved with runic letters written in the old Israel runic letters.

Swallowing his saliva, sweat perspiring from his forehead. Masaru still continued moving forward, it was his only choice. He already tried to move the door, but it was shut tight. With a light yet swift steps Masaru moved silently as possible while using the pillars as his shield if he had to hide at any time, he felt his body was becoming heavier from the tense atmosphere.

It was after a short while Masaru found a door leading to stairs, glancing upwards Masaru felt his body was shivering. A Part telling him to go, yet now there was another part that told him not to go. The pupil in his eyes was shaking, expanding and shrinking as his body was flooded with the desire to know the unknown, but also deep fear towards the unknown.

Even he knew, that heroes and strong warriors had all experienced this during their first true step to becoming powerful. That one step that could become a life-changing choice, whether it was good or bad depending on their luck and fortune. Taking one step at a time Masaru moved with each step becoming heavier than the next, his heartbeat slowing down.

At the distance he could see some light trying to break through the door that was partly open, he knew that someone was beckoning him to come. He knew it, yet he had to go. He believed in his heart, and chose to follow it.

Despite the initial warnings, he felt before he took the steps, his curiosity got the better of him when he went forward and pushed the door open. A strong stench of blood, along with faeces which Masaru was familiar with.

What entered his view was a floor decorated with pale looking kids who died, some appeared sucked out like dried mummies, some had their eyes popped from the sockets with blood running from their mouth, nose, ears and eyes sockets. Some even had ruptures across their bodies as if something exploded from within them, there was only a single girl that survived. But she was unconscious.

Masaru's breath became rougher, his eyes shaking fiercer. This was not the feeling of despair, this was the feeling of pure unadulterated rage that came from his soul. He who once lived as the guardian of the people in his previous life, has been stimulated. His rage, to see the children who had a long life ahead of them to be used as sacrificial tools.

When Masaru looked upwards he noticed there was a hole leading to the roof where he could see shadows confronting one another, he clenched his fist tightly, his nails digging into his flesh causing it to bleed yet he did not even notice it. His anger, an emotion he was not entirely familiar with was something he could not control accurately. He sensed that he would lose himself into it if he did not do what his feelings desire.

Thus he used a basic magic spell Masaru knew which worked similar to the principles behind Telepathy, Long Distance Call. That could only be used with people Masaru registered leaving a faint magic circle on their souls, "Father, the second floor is full of children..."

Paolo shivered when he heard what Masaru said, he did not have a chance to speak when Masaru continued "Their dead, all of them except for one girl"

Paolo who heard shivered, even more, he knew it. What he heard and sensed in Masaru's voice, that was a kind of rage a child should never have. He was all too familiar with this feeling as he too felt this the day when Erica's parents died, such unadulterated rage was dangerous.

He knew he introduced the boy too soon to this kind of world, he believed Masaru would be able to handle it since he already experienced life tougher than others before. He did not think that Masaru would lose his calm like this, "We will be there soon"

Masaru said nothing, he glanced at the children with a stoic face. His face devoid of emotions, yet his eyes were gleaming with a strong light. Even a faint trace of blood veins appeared within his eyes, he went over picking up the girl who managed to survive and took her out of the building before he heads back inside.

This time he continued to use the staircase heading upwards, going up each floor and his steps were powerful yet swift. He wanted to take a look at the bastard who killed the children like they did not hold any value, he did not understand why he was feeling like this and thought that after he got rid of this intense feeling he might be able to understand then.

Meanwhile, Voban was completely oblivious that he set a trap for himself, but in front of him was a human wearing a black robe, long dark brown curly hair wearing a golden crown. On each of his fingers was a ring with a different design and several books floated around him.

One book continued to summon imps of the underworld, another book continued to summon lesser angels from heavens while the third book continued to allow him to summon high ranking demons of the 72 pillars to support him in his fight since he himself was not powerful in close combat.

Yet that was a lie, with the ten rings this man was able to face against Voban who fought with him in close combat. It was just that this man preferred to command the devils and angels to do his bidding that made him more a commander, than a warrior.

"Time to die, King Solomon!" Voban said sinisterly,

"This king has arrived to lead the world of men once again, I will guide the people to the paradise of heavens with my own hands" Solomon spoke fantastically, despite being a heretic god he still kept his faith in his God. It was only that it became twisted when he became a heretic god, hench him wanting to "kill" all the humans to send them to heavens.

Voban wanted to kill and see if he could get a decent authority from Solomon in his sleeves, it was just that what he did not count on was Masaru who was looking at Solomon intently, if he gazes at Voban then he too would have felt someone was looking at him which was why Masaru was still safe since the Old Man was focusing on Solomon despite the latter was distracted.

"T-This hatred--" Solomon muttered, his soul shivered as he never felt such pure rage in his entire life. When he glanced downwards he saw Masaru, his eyes squinted in rage feeling humiliated that he a heretic god was scared of a child.

Voban noticed Solomon's odd looks, following the direction of Solomon's gaze he too saw Masaru whom he once played with a bit. Yet he felt anger, at the fact that he was completely ignored. When he used his singing spell book authority to send several magic spells towards Solomon, the latter decided to ignore Masaru after feeling threatened by Voban's relentless attacks.

"I, Masaru Hayami, have never once hated anyone more than the two of you" Masaru muttered while looking at the two of them not caring whether they heard him or not, but they did. What Masaru wanted, was to say what he felt at this moment.

"This is the first time, I really felt this unique feeling I am not used to. An intense feeling that makes me think that killing is the only way to get rid of this feeling" Masaru closed his eyes, he knew the laws, he knew morals, he knew manners and common sense. But right now, he simply thought that those things were meaningless, if those two did not abide with it then why would he?

He had to face them in the same field, same mindset. He simply wanted to kill... them. Raising his hand towards the two of them, gathering devil powers alarming the two of them. Not out of danger, but due to that fact they could not recognize the power Masaru was using, except for Solomon who could.

"Devil Barret"

After Masaru's mutter, a crimson coloured magic circle with the crest of the Belial Family appeared in front of his hand unleashing a barrage of crimson miniature compressed devil power spheres towards the two in rapid succession.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Voban and Solomon both blocked the attacks, yet the attacks seem to be endless and Masaru kept it up. He knew that his other magics would be of no use, even his sword techniques. Even what he was doing was of no use, yet. HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING!

"YOU! Why can you use Demonic power!? If you are a devil then you should be under my control!" Solomon roared in rage while defending Masaru's attacks.

'Demonic power? Could this child be an offspring of a devil and a human?' Voban thought as his eyes had a gleam of interest, wanting to dissect this boy and research him.

"You can't control anything without that book" Masaru muttered, "Without it, you're worthless. Without the rings, you're worthless"

Masaru remembered his father told him about Divine and Sacred Beasts that would at times appear in the world. Masaru had considered killing a god to gain his own divine authority, only with the strength he could step forward. Thus, no matter how foolish his actions was he had to fight. 'If only I can get an opening' he thought.

"DIE!" Solomon waved his hand sending a squad of imps flying towards Masaru from a gate of hell that materialized on the top floor.

"The hell" Masaru cried out in surprise, what appeared in front of him was a creature that looked similar to how goblins appeared in one of the images he saw on the internet. But this one was black in colour, much smaller and had wings and a single horn on its forehead. its physical appearance was much creepier and skinny, making it look frail yet Masaru did not dare underestimate it.

Cloaking his legs in devil power, he stomped hard into the ground causing the tiles below him to break with pebbles to float upwards for a short instance. With a jump, twisting his body, Masaru launched a back kick sending the pebbles flying towards the imps.

"KWEEE!!!"

"KKWEE!?"

The Imps that were struck, some died when the pebbles penetrated their eyes into their skulls while somewhere injured. This attack made the imps stop for an instant, glancing at Masaru with wary eyes, they were cannon fodders so naturally, they were not any use against Masaru.

"Tsk" Solomon clicked his tongue, just seeing his cannon fodder flinch at a child made him angrier. But that was only the start, when he saw Masaru sprinting forward using the opening, his rage boil, even more, when Masaru began to pummel the imps using his devil power which Solomon recognized as Demonic power killing them with his barehand.

BOOM!

"Don't ignore me you fake king" Voban roared,

"Begone imbecile!" Solomon roared back

Soon Solomon and Voban continued their combat while Masaru continued to reap the lives of the imps, the psychological reaction towards killing imps did not impact Masaru mentally since he did not view these imps as sentient beings, or in other words human.

What Voban and Solomon were not aware of, was the fact Masaru was gathering his devil power towards his right fist which he was not using and his legs. He knew the only shot he got, was to launch an all-out one strike, whether it will kill him or not will depend on fate.

Masaru knew, if he could not force Voban to retreat here and kill Solomon, then all the men and Paolo who came to stop them would die.

>\/<

Paolo led a few trusted men into the building where he saw the numerous dead children, his face became pale when he saw this but thanks to his years of experience he was about to compose himself to order the men to clean up the corpses so they could be sent back to their parents for proper burial.

But suddenly an oddly familiar explosion occur above his head, from the sounds he could tell it was not a grenade or magic explosion so he sprinted up the stairs but when he pushed the door open he already saw Masaru flying towards Solomon with his fist covered in transparent devil power, that was oddly similar to how it was in his previous life. "MASARU!!!!"