Invader

With Yamato in the lead the three friends stepped into the woods. Yamato and Zack took quiet steps to be stealthy, but Shandy didn't seem to care.

"I can't believe we are doing this," She said softly.

"Keep it down," Yamato said.

Shandy gave him a profound look. "Why? You think such an expert don't already know we are following him? Better to walk faster so we can catch up quickly,"

"Still.. Be quiet, we can't be sure he's heard us,"

Shandy gave him a tired look but she complied, shutting her mouth and walked in silence.

It had not been five minutes since the strange expert walked into the woods but there was no sign of him now. There were dozens of footpaths that interconnected so Yamato and Zack where lost with no idea of how to continue following him.

At that moment like an angel falling from the sky to shine brightness to the world, Shandy stepped forward and showed them the way. She tracked the expert with some mysterious method, leading them further into the woods.

The woods were eerily quiet as the three walked through it; They walked for some time before a wooden house came into view. The young man called Banker was standing in front of the door with his back to them. Yamato and the others quickly hid behind some shrubs and watched.

The door of the wooden house suddenly swung open. A man clad in black armor from head to toe walked out of the house. His dark helmet was in the shape of an insect and his armored shoulders were adorned with vicious looking spikes. Glowing red eyes from within the eyeholes glowered at Banker.

It looked like a fight was about to break out at any moment, however the armored person's gaze suddenly snapped towards Yamato and the other's hiding place. The three quickly ducked behind the bushes but it was already too late.

"What are kids doing here Realm Knight?" The armored man asked with a rough but gentle voice.

"They followed me here," Banker said simply, scarring the 'kids' so much that they were about to run away. But his next words calmed them. "Perhaps they could be witness."

The armored person nodded as if it made sense. "What about the old man?"

"He won't get involved in a Realm Battle,"

"Good,"

Saying that the armored person walked to the center of the yard. He summoned a black spear in his hand and started drawing a large circle in the sand. As he did that the Banker turned to the bushes the three kids were hiding behind with a smile.

"Come out kids, don't be shy,"

The three came out of cover with solemn expressions. Their eyes traced every movement the person in the dark armor made. The problem was the word their overheard, Realm Battle. That means that this dark armored person is probably an Invader; an alien that crosses into the Human Realm without authorization.

This the only time a Realm Battle can happen. More than that though the kids were more curious about the armored person after all this is the first otherworlder they have seen.

"Are you a Realm Knight?" Shandy turned to Banker and asked.

"I'm," Banker replied.

Hearing that Zack and Yamato were very excited. They are both boys that likes to hear stories of heroes. And which hero is better than one that protects the human realm?

After all, in this world with many alien races that are eying the Human Realm from afar, searching for the slightest weakness, Realm Knights are the only force holding those alien warlords back from coveting the Human Realm.

That's Yamato and the others kept eying the alien because for a Realm Knight to be here this armored person must have broken the law. He could even possibly be an invader or spy!

If Banker was to falls here doesn't that mean the Invader could theoretically ravage through Kreal city unchallenged, if he so much wishes to, until someone strong enough to stop him appears? Or if he's a spy he can escape to his home world freely. Thinking of it Yamato felt it was too terrifying and wanted to run far away from here, but he also felt excitement, wanting to see what will happen next.

Banker seemed to understand what Yamato and the others were thinking and smiled. "If I lose here this guy will proceed to kill all of you, loot the city and return to his Realm successfully,"

The kids turned pale.

"Stop scaring kids with lies," A voice suddenly said from behind. The three kids turned around to see a white haired old man that would have looked like some martial arts grandmaster if we was wearing a white robe like an immortal. He wasn't instead he was wearing jeans and hoody. He walk out of the woods with his hands behind his back.

Yamato narrowed his eyes in shock of recognition. "Old man Risla?!" He shouted loudly. After all standing before him is the strongest man in Kreal city. A man that despite the fact that he did not grow up in Kreal city has humbled any Fighter in the city that dared to challenge his place.

These days everyone stepped around this man on the street, not daring to stand on his way! This is the man that made Yamato realized he wanted to be a fighter all those years ago!

"Oh, it is young Yamato huh?" The man chuckled stroking his nose existent beard. His face was cleanly shaven after all.

"You know me?"

"Yeah this kiddo has said a lot about you," the old man said looking at Shandy.

Yamato looked from Shandy to the old man with his mouth wide agape, finally he regained his composure and asked, "You know Shandy? No... It is more like Shandy you know old man Risla?!"

Shandy nodded. "He's my grandfather,"

"That's right, Shandy is my granddaughter," Risla shrugged as if he couldn't be bothered by anything. But if one looked closely they'd see the malicious smile he was trying so hard to hide. After all he was messing with Shandy.

'This should teach her that lies can't be hidden forever, and truth is eternal!' Risla said in his mind.

Done with teaching his granddaughter a lesson, or more precisely playing pranks on his granddaughter, the old man looked at the Invader that had finished drawing the circle and now sat cross legged chanting a prayer in a strange language.

"Where's this guy from?" He mused curiously.

"Alrer," Banker said helpfully.

"Oh so what's his story Realm Knight? He doesn't look much like an alien army's vanguard to me,"

"That's because he's not. He's the brother of the Emperor of Alrer that was recently dethroned. He escaped here with his family. However he did not pass through the official process thus the law must do its work,"

"Meaning killing him?" Risla sneered.

"The price of trespassing is blood..."

"Well no way he can have time for a lengthy processing when running for his life right?"

"I did not make the law Street Fighter, I am just its blade. And know that these laws are necessary to keep the Human Realm safe,"

"But he's still a poor guy right?" Risla said. The Banker didn't know how to respond to that so he chose to ignore it.

As the two adults were talking, Yamato stared at Shandy quietly. He was trying to see how this friend of his could actually be his idol's granddaughter. And she has told Risla a lot about him but not the other way around! Yamato was feeling betrayed at the moment.

Shandy knew what she did so she refused to make eye contact with him, she just kept a straight face as she stared at the scenery.

At the side the armored guy finally finished his chants and rose to his feet. "I am ready Realm Knight," he said.

"Good. My name is Jake Banker, I am fighting you to fulfil my duty as a Realm Knight. Should you win then it means I have fallen, and your sincerity will be considered. But if you lose you'll die, however your blood would cleanse your crimes,"

In theory it was a generous offer. Win and you will be spared. That is how it is suppose to be, but who can predict the thing called emotions? After all the gist of it is that the only method to cleanse the crime of trespassing into the Human Realm is by blood. Either the Invader's or the Realm Knight that was negligent in his duty will have to die today.

No matter the result, as far as the alien trespasser is not a spy nor a troublemaker, the Realm Knights will not bother them. However who can watch their colleague or friend die in the hands of an alien and do nothing because of some stupid ancient law?

In fact that's the reality of the world. If the armored guy really kills Banker today, in a few days some Realm Knights disguised as bandits will come and kill him and his family and even burn his house!

That's why the Invader was silent for a moment. "What about my family?" He asked finally.

"Your crime is just trespassing, nothing major, so your family need not be touched either. This is the mercy of we humans,"

"I see..."

"As far as the price of passage is paid in blood they'll be free to stay in this Realm,"

Forget all the sweat words Banker was actually telling him to give his life for the sake of his family! "I understand..." The armored guy said.

And so the two men fell into their unique individual stance. The Invader stood with his legs shoulder length apart and his spear pointed at his opponent, while Banker, the Realm Knight, lowered his stance and held his right hand to the side.

With a flash golden light a resplendent golden armor covered the Realm Knight from head to toe, ending with a red cape flapping like a flag on his shoulder. This is the famous Divine Armor of the Realm Knight order.

The Divine Armor is different from an Astral weapon, as even though the details is not known by the public, its nature of creation is quite known to everyone with some amount of influence in the Human Realm, unlike an Astral weapon that is shrouded in mystery.

And just like an Astral weapon it made a person very powerful. After cladding the Divine Armor Banker's aura soared, becoming so strong that even Risla felt some pressure. But Banker wasn't done yet, his Astral weapon came next.

The rusty crimson great sword appeared in his grip, shimmering in the air like liquid blood. The atmosphere instantly became sharp from the sword intent.

Zack felt his sword heart shake and threaten to collapse. It is similar the situation that if a person aspires to be a dancer one day goes to a dance show and witness a very good pro dancer in action. That expert dancer made all the moves the person does at home look like a joke.

The aspiring dancer will naturally feel suffocated and starts to doubt himself. There's no doubt the person's confidence will take a hit after seeing someone far ahead of him in what he thought he's good at. That's what Zack felt at that moment, he felt like giving up.

However he immediately gritted his teeth and stabilized his emotions. 'One day I'll definitely surpass this guy!' He swore. 'One day...!'

"Daddy!" At that moment a cry broke the solemn atmosphere.

Everyone looked towards the wooden house and spotted a little girl of about 10 years old rush out of the door. Following closely behind her was a woman. Everyone's eyes turned strange. It was obvious why.

The girl and the woman were aliens. They had grey skin and long elfin ears, they were dressed in old fashioned dresses, like the ones seen in medieval movies. The woman was trying to catch the girl but she'd already ran to the armored man and hugged his waist.

"Daddy please don't die!"

The armored person paused for a moment then straightened and used his free hand - not used to hold the spear - to stroke the girl's red hair. "It'll be alright Tila, I promise," he said softly.

"No it won't! These bad men are trying to kill you!" saying that the girl turned and glared at all the gathered strangers. Including Yamato and his friends.

By the way, Yamato and the others couldn't hear what was being said between the father and daughter as they were speaking in their alien language! Still none of them were slow and they understood the gist of it.

"Please stay aside with your mother little Tila, daddy will take care of everything,"

At last it took a long time before the girl agreed to separate from her Father and rushed to her mother all the while sobbing heavily. Like that the mother and daughter still stepped away.

Actually the girls pitiful cries touched everyone's heart but she'd delayed the fight for too long already and things has to proceed.

The armored guy took a deep breath, his eyes hardening. "Let's do this!" He said clenching his fist resolutely. "I'm going to live past this Realm Knight!"

Banker sighed, his youthful features looking suddenly aged and weary. He'd hoped the man will go down quietly for his family's sake. "You have made your decision?" He said.

"I need to live on for my daughter,"

"Very well, let's begin!"