Chapter 15: Assistance

"Go!" shouted Mono.

Mono and Aruta immediately charge at the creatures. One of the creatures leaping, try to pounce on Mono. Aruta jump over Mono and struck the creature. Mono slide under the creature and slice it in half.

Mono standing up, but not long after, another creature try to pounce on him. Mono kick the creature's arm and swiftly decapitate it with his sword. Shortly after, another creature appear. But Aruta dash in and land a kick on the creature. Mono follow up by slashing that creature's head off, causing it to lose its head instantly.

Aruta charge back into the midst of the remaining strange creatures. He grab one of the creatures tightly. As all the creatures leap and pounce on Aruta simultaneously, he jumped using the head of the creature he was holding as a foothold. All of that strange creatures end up hitting the creature Aruta was using as a foothold. Aruta then release his grip, sending himself flying through the air. At the same time, Mono dash in and decapitated all the creatures that had gathered below Aruta.

Aruta landing perfectly but immediately charge at one of the remaining creatures. He approach and begin pounding the creature's head repeatedly. That creature try to grab Aruta with its hand, but Aruta kick its arm away. The creature then clench both its hands tightly and swing at Aruta, but Aruta managed to jump back just in time, causing the creature's punch to miss and crack the floor where it landed. At that exact moment, Mono come in and swing his sword, splitting that creature in two.

That creature fall, and when Aruta and Mono look around, no more creatures are coming. Only the remains of the earlier creatures turn into a red smoke and slowly disappear.

"Phew, seems like that was the last one," Mono said. "Your fighting style is pretty good."

"Yeah, I was taught by my grandpa," Aruta replied. "Oh, by the way, is this what you were looking for?" Aruta asked, pulling out the strange stone he got from Vins.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," Mono said, taking the stone.

"These creatures are so annoying. They've been bothering me since I was a kid," Aruta said.

"Since you were a kid?" Mono asked, raising an eyebrow while putting the stone in his pocket.

"Yeah, why?" Aruta asked.

"Nothing, it's nothing," Mono replied.

"Huh?" Aruta raise an eyebrow but decide not to dwell on it. "By the way, what exactly are these creatures?" Aruta asked.

Before Mono could answer, they see another creature appear. This one look like a crocodile but had horns and a fairly large body.

"Ugh, they just keep coming," Aruta said. "Oh, by the way, what's so special about that stone that you were looking for it?"

"This stone-" Before Mono could finish, the creature suddenly ramming into Aruta and Mono with incredible speed, sending them flying into the field nearby.

Mono quickly try to get back up. "Hey, Aruta. Are you okay?"

"Your right!" Aruta shouted.

Mono turn and see that creature charging at him, now just inches away. Mono was hit by that creature's charge and sent flying hard into the fence on the other side of the field.

"Mono!" Aruta quickly sttand up and dash toward the creature, punching it. The creature staggering slightly but quickly regain focus and begin charging at Aruta again. Just as the creature was about to hit Aruta, he jump and landing behind it. Aruta grab the creature's tail with both hands and trying to throw it, but he can't.

"Damn, it's heavy."

The creature, seeing Aruta holding its tail, begin thrashing its tail around, causing Aruta to swing back and forth while holding on. The creature then whip its tail hard, causing Aruta to lose his grip and be sent flying. Aruta land hard in the middle of the field.

"A...ruta!" Mono standing up, ignoring his injuries, and dash toward the creature. Mono swing his sword at the creature's body, but the sword didn't even scratch it.

"It's so tough!" Mono muttered in disbelief.

The creature quickly turn and whip Mono with its tail, sending him crashing hard into the ground. Meanwhile, Aruta was still trying to get up.

"Quick. I have to... help him!" Aruta muttered.

Aruta see the creature charging at Mono, who was sitting covered in wounds, ready to pounce on him with its mouth.

"N-no! Get up. Hey, stupid body, get up NOW!!"

That creature is getting closer to Mono. Mono grip his sword tightly, preparing for the worst. But suddenly, a large red aura appear in front of Mono and exploded, sending the creature flying. It was Aruta, who had landed a punch on the creature. Both of Aruta's hands were covered in a blazing red energy, his eyes wide and focus on that creature, and his breathing is slightly fast but steady.

The creature roar in anger and charge at Aruta. Aruta charge back at that creature. But before they could clash, someone jump from the second floor of the school. The person leaped high above the creature, illuminate by the moonlight. Her hand were covered in a massive red aura, and they descend swiftly, slamming into the creature with tremendous force, causing a red aura explosion.

"Huh?" Aruta shield his face with his hands from the blast wave, and the red aura on his hands disappear.

After the red aura dissipate, a woman in a school uniform with bandaged fists appeared. It was Mona. As for the creature, only one of its eyeballs remain after being hit by Mona.

"Sis?" Mono asked.

"'Sis'?" Aruta asked, turning to Mono.

"The student council president is your sister?" Aruta asked.

"Yeah, why?" Mono replied.

"Uh, nothing," Aruta said.

Mona walking over to Mono and Aruta.

"Good job, you two," Mona praised, clapping her hands. "Oh, and I just found out you can see them. Your fighting style is pretty good too," Mona said to Aruta.

"Ahh... thank you," Aruta said.

Not long after, they hear someone approaching, "Hmm... that 'junoi' are quite terrifying, huh."

Aruta and Mono turn around and saw someone in a brown leather coat with a bandage on his right hand.

"Mr. Kuroto?" Mono said.

"Yo, I thought you had given up looking for that thing," Kuroto said. "Did you find it?"

"Yes." Mono hand the stone to Kuroto.

"Okay, good job," Kuroto said to Mono. "By the way, I'm quite interested in you," Kuroto said to Aruta. "I saw how you fought earlier. What's your name?" Kuroto asked.

"Oh, thank you... I'm Aruta." Aruta notice the bandage on Kuroto's right hand, and when he saw his face, Aruta remember the person who had save him years ago.

"Wait, are you the one who saved me a few years ago?" Aruta asked.

"Hmm, ah, you're the kid who was being chased by the 'junoi' at school that night, right? Yeah yeah, I remember. I didn't expect to see you again," Kuroto replied. "Oh, by the way, I see you earlier fighting that creature. You had a red aura around your hands, right?" Kuroto asked.

"Y-yeah. I saw it too. But I don't know how to summon it. It just appeared on its own," replied Aruta.

"You have an incredible power. Your physical strength is also impressive. You could definitely help a lot of people with your abilities," Kuroto said.

"Hmm, look who's promoting here," Mona said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Hey, don't interrupt me!" Kuroto said.

"So? What's your goal?" Aruta asked.

"I want you to join our organization, the Juntoshi Mage. You could save a lot of people there," Kuroto said.

"Juntoshi Mage?" Aruta asked.

The Juntoshi Mage. Juriko has already joined them. Juriko has probably saved a lot of people by now. Juriko has saved many people, and I'm just an ordinary kid wasting time in an apartment. I can't lose to him. With my abilities, I can protect others. If I can, why not?

But as Aruta is lost in thought, Kuroto suddenly speak again, "You're Juriko's sibling, right?"

Aruta was shock that Kuroto said that.

"Juriko has joined the Northern Continent's Juntoshi Mage headquarters. He's already helped quite a few people. Come on. You don't want to lose to your own sibling, do you?" Kuroto said.

Aruta paused for a moment before finally answering, "Alright. I'll join you."

"Yay!! Welcome!" Kuroto said, immediately grabbing Aruta's hand and shaking it vigorously.

"H-hey, no need to be so rough!" Aruta said.

"Welcome!" Mona said.

"Your injuries are pretty bad. Let me take you to the infirmary," Mona said to Aruta and Mono.

"Is the infirmary even open?" Mono asked.

"Hey, come on. Don't underestimate your big sister. Even if it's closed, I have the keys. I can treat you," Mona said.

"Ah, thank y-"

Before Aruta cam finish, Mona suddenly lift both Aruta and Mono onto her shoulders.

"H-hey, what are you doing?" Mono asked.

"Alright, we'll take our leave now, sir," Mona said to Kuroto.

"Okay," Kuroto replied.

"Ready? LET'S GO!!" Mona dashed off at high speed, carrying Aruta and Mono.

"BWAAA!!" Aruta and Mono screamed.

"Hehe. I hope you've grown stronger, my kids. I'm sure you can protect this world and become my successors," Kuroto murmured with a smile as he watch Mona dash away.