382. The Earth-shattering duelist.

WARNING!

The story contains graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, strong language, and/or other mature themes.

[The Fiend Lord: Arc 18]

Once upon a time, on Planet Earth, a young girl was born; the story goes that her identity was never adequately clarified, but she was effectively known as the 'Holy Light.'

Her title depicted the real life of one's planet. Humankind did not know the Dimensions that had appeared alongside her birth, only of the Spirits that had been destroyed or disappeared.

The woman... The Holy Light, the heir of all the inhabitants, was not born alone. The arrival of the Demon God, whose name was Rez, caused anarchy, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.

Humans terrified him because of his recklessness and hunger for blood, and Demons started to manifest all over the Earth and The World of Zero, alongside alternate races such as The Inner Fiends, The Shades, Wraiths, and Spirits.

To combat the challenge, a new breed of people has awakened, the 'Spiritual Duelists' and 'Substitute-Duelists,' who have been dubbed the "First Army to Face Evil."

With their Legendary Weapons, the Ginken. This swarm of humans increased the world's cleanliness to the greatest extent possible, overwhelming the Demons of various grades and placing their survival at risk.

But, after several years of waiting, the 'Holy Light' gave birth to a human child, a girl of theoretically greater worth than Zero herself, but unlikely to become the next 'Holy Light,' their Goddess gave the girl to a friendly family, and since her mother needed to participate in protecting the divinity, the girl's memories were wiped.

But there is another royalty trapped within the shadows that have been concealed for millennia, even longer than the birth of a Demon...

The only one who has beaten the 'Holy Light's own is the Fiend Lord. Its lurkers will undoubtedly be wiped out, and the newfound foe will ready the battlefield...

- Yashikami City, Sunday, 10:20 am -

Codey and the others had been inside the room waiting for Eva when it happened... The door swung open, and everybody turned to face it.

"We'll be available shortly..."

- Yashikami City, Sunday, 10:20 am -

Eva searched for the map and put it on the table, surrounded by all of the duelists.

"So, what is our strategy?" Kylin inquired, gazing at the map and lifting her gaze to meet Eva. "I've gathered a lot of information about the other team's base. They're apparently being kept in a city far away from ours. The city is very large, though its lack of public transportation is quite concerning; nevertheless, we should assume that the road toward it will be a true course... We're bound to run into an enemy, if not many, which is why I suggest we stay together before we enter the city." Eva explained although the rest of the group was perplexed.

"... Hmmm... But do you know what the name of the city is?" Looking at it, Kylin was perplexed. "Yes, Hidomari City is located past the Yashikami Ocean, so we'll need to take either a ship or a plane... Of course, the plane is more likely to arrive sooner, but the ship is less likely to be spotted." Eva explained as she looked at her. "Wait... But I'm sure Tsuneo will have a bigger force to support them in their attack on us? Have you managed to round up any other allies who may be able to assist us?" Codey continued, his face trusting.

"Yes... But she hasn't arrived yet... Wakamatsu Jessica is her name... She's a relative of mine and another 'Arcane Duelist.'

Her assistance will be greatly appreciated..." Eva added as she looked at them.

"I wonder what kind of person she is..." Elliot spoke quietly.

- Yashikami City, Sunday, 10:21 am -

When taking a sip of her coffee, the woman went for it, and drunkards emerged behind her. "What the frick is going on? Are you attractive?" Asked a fellow, who was holding a beer in his arm and smiling, while blushing from a drunken state of mind.

"What's going on under the shirt? Please allow me to observe!" He smiled, which prompted the woman to turn around, pick up the luggage, and walk by him. "No, thank you." She passed the guy with it before attempting to enter the exit, but another pair of people stepped in front of her.

"Sexist, where are you going?" The guy smiled and pointed at her. "I'm moving elsewhere... I'd appreciate it if you could move back, or you'll be pushed aside with violence." She moved her right arm onto her hip as she spoke.

"Come on, you know you want to! We just want to have some fun. I promise you'll be free to go until we're done! Besides, you're obviously going to need some help with it!" The guy behind her laughed. "I'm not kidding. Keep out of my way..." She asserted as she took a step forward, but at the precise moment, someone grabbed for her shirt, blocking her.

"Now, hold on a second... We'd just like to check you out and maybe feel you out a bit." But when the man grinned, the woman sighed and slammed the man into the top of his face with a swing of her suitcase, knocking him aside as he hit his head in the wall.

"Hello! Stop doing that!" When the other guy was about to punch forward, he roared. Due to his inebriation, he had no balance, and with that, the woman simply ducked and twisted her wrist, at which point she smashed her fist right into the man's stomach, at which point she swiped him to the side, while the third man quickly reached with his arms out, until the woman ducked and bent her left knee, behind, while smashing him right into the stomach, and stunning him,

She looked down at the three people who had been knocked before reaching for her shirt and adjusting it. "I've forewarned you..." She then walked through the entrance, which closed behind her.

"Jeez... these people are already drunk in the morning..."

- Gyuma City, Sunday, 10:25 am -

As he saw his reflection, Tim looked towards his sword and raised it in front of the snowy sky.

"Hey, Risa..." Risa lifted her head when he asked her while sitting on the steps. "Yeah, yeah..."

"I was never given the right answer... Why isn't my sword returning to its 'Kodachi' state? It has a little feel to it..." Tim said, perplexed, as he rested his arm next to his hip and turned around to face her.

"... I'm not sure..." Risa spoke after Jomei stepped forward and leaned against the stairwell's fence. "Oh,? You're on a date?!" Tim was asked by making fun of him. "Do you think you could assist me?" Tim pondered, staring at Jomei, who had been perplexed.

"What do you mean?" With his arms crossed, Jomei pondered. "Why hasn't my Ginken returned to its original form after four years...?" When Jomei rubbed the back of his neck, he thought. "... That's a question I wasn't expecting you to demand... Perhaps it's just the 'quality of your Henshin, as it has been overused and the sword might be unable to shape back... Or maybe you're just unfortunate..." He said this while exhaling the ice.

"... I haven't really used Henshin in a long time... The last time I used it was in the 'Underworld' after obtaining this power... And it's been four years..." He frowned, perplexed. "Maybe the power manifested itself on your body, eradicating your Kodachi... Isn't there something wrong about it?" Risa inquired, her knees leaned against her kneecaps.

"There's nothing wrong with it, I mean... Still, if you catch my drift, it sounds unoriginal..." Tim frowned and shook the blade. "Yes, I see what you mean... But... there isn't a true, or proper, response to that yet... I'm certain you'll obtain it someday..." Risa was added, and Jomei reported.

"Oh, I hope you're right... I suppose I'll have to make do with what I've got. It's not that there's much of a distinction..." Tim continued, turning the blade to examine it.

"How long have you had the sword for?" Risa pondered as the breeze blew her hair away from her face. "It's been five years... When I first got it, I was 16... By Giovanni, a 'Spiritual Duelist'..." Tim said as he turned to face Jomei and Risa. "5 years, hmm... Now I can see how far you've come in just five years... You've definitely increased in power..." Crossed arms, Jomei said.

"That's what I have to do if I want to keep my promises... I don't have any other choices... Let's just assume that ever since I met Giovanni, my world has been turned upside down... I never imagined this would be my life..." Tim sighed, softly lowering his arm and allowing the sword to scatter.

"You're going to return to the others in a month, right?" Jomei lifted his head in response to his query. "Yes, that was the idea. But I just don't know. I need to boost this 'Universal Flame,' or else I'll end up accomplishing little." Tim addressed them while seated on the table, facing them.

"Okay, then... Got it. Your robe, by the way. It's been sewed, now it's useful again.." When Tim nodded and thanked Risa, she explained. "Thank you, Risa." Ryozo peered into his turtleneck sweater at the precise moment.

".... Then I believe you should take a break... We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow..." Tim was astonished by Ryozo's addition. "Yes, I understand. Thank you..." Tim walked past them, up the stairs, and into the building with it.

"Do you think he'll be able to... pull it off?" Risa pondered as she looked ahead. "What are you going to do?" Jomei, perplexed, inquired. "Can he finish his preparation before the end of the month?" She raised her gaze, perplexed. "Yes, I'm certain he has what it takes... He'll do it, without a doubt..."

- Yashikami City, Sunday, 11:05 am -

Eva was standing in the guild's main living room when the door opened and a female body was seen.

"Oh, look, she's there." Eva smiled as the others looked at her.

- Yashikami City, Sunday, 11:07 am -

"Everybody! This is Wakamatsu Jessica, a member of the Arcane Dueling Agency's Top Tier Class... She's considered to be more professional than I am." When others were perplexed, Eva smiled.

Jessica surprised Kylin by leaping forward at the precise moment. "Your name is Kylin! Oh my goodness! It's great to finally meet you in person! I can't believe what I'm doing!" Kylin was excited, but she was still perplexed. "I've read a lot about you! I'd like to get an autograph! Or a photograph! Come on, just a little something!" Jessica called as moisture dripped down her brow.

"When it comes to those specifics, she's a little... overreacting..." Eva apologised, as Kylin's eyes became more enigmatic. "I'm going up and down... My head hurts..." With it, Kylin's ears let out steam while slipping backward in confusion, until Jessica was above her and cuddling with her cheeks.

"She can even be a little immature..." Though everybody was shocked, she was embarrassingly named Eva.

"She may be great assistance to us. And if she doesn't seem to be very professional, she is. She is prioritizing Terra Kineticism so that it is well-built." Codey asked as Jessica started to cuddle with Kylin.

"What about Terra? That could be extremely beneficial to us! But should we put her to the test first?" Looking at Eva, Codey was perplexed. "Sure, as soon as she's finished with... yeah, whatever." All were bored by it. "How long would she do that for?" Elliot wondered, puzzled.

"She does it nonstop for at least two hours..." All snuck out as soon as Eva said it.

"Oooh! I can't believe I'm actually right in front of you! I love you so much, so much, so much!!!" Called Jessica, while rubbing her cheeks into Kylin's.

"... I could use ... assistance...." Kylin said, feeling uneasy.

To be continued...