PART IV-ARRIVAL OF THE GIGIANT
I pushed open the gate. It swung too easily. Mom usually kept it locked.
The front door stood slightly ajar. Darkness waited inside.
"Mom? Dad? I'm home…"
My voice echoed in the empty hallway. A cold draft brushed my face. The air carried a sharp, metallic smell that made my stomach twist.
I stepped inside. My shoe landed in something wet and sticky on the carpet. I froze.
Water? No… it's too thick.
I crouched down, heart pounding. The scent of iron filled my nose.
Blood.
My breath caught. I crawled forward on shaking hands, eyes adjusting to the dark. Behind the couch, I found them.
Mom lay on her back, eyes open but empty. Her polished nails — the ones she had done last year — caught the faint light from the window. Dad was slumped beside her, one arm stretched out as if trying to reach her.
They weren't moving. They felt stiff. Cold.
The world narrowed. My mind went blank, then flooded with noise.
This isn't real. This can't be happening.
I reached out, fingers trembling, and touched Mom's cheek. The skin was already losing warmth.
The argument from last night crashed back into me.
"I hate you."
Those words I had thrown at her like a weapon now lodged in my own chest. Tears burned my eyes, but I couldn't look away.
Why didn't I say sorry? Why did I slam the door?
A tall, unmoving silhouette stood at the edge of the room, swallowed by shadow.
"Stand up."
The voice was deep, sinister, and calm. I barely registered it.
Before I could respond, chaos erupted outside.
Screams ripped through the streets. The sky turned a sickly orange. The ground shook violently as something enormous stepped into Hoshizora Town.
"I'll leave the rest to you guys." As Gigiant said in a deep sinister voice.
"Kill them all. Leave no mercy. I want to see blood splattered everywhere." Akugoka split up with his team.
I stumbled to the window. A colossal figure — the Gigiant — towered over the buildings. Each footstep sent tremors through the neighborhood. Debris flew like shrapnel as structures collapsed around it.
One massive chunk of concrete smashed through the roof of our house, crushing my parents' bodies beneath it. Dust and rubble exploded outward. I barely threw myself back in time.
Skinwalkers poured into the streets, slaughtering anyone in their path.
Rage and grief twisted together inside me. Without thinking, I charged out of the ruined house. A skinwalker lunged at me. I swung wildly.
The moment my fist connected, something inside me ignited.
Purple cosmic energy exploded from my knuckles — stars swirling, supernovas bursting, a force that felt like time itself warping around the blow. The skinwalker disintegrated on impact.
I stared at my glowing hand, stunned. I had no idea where this power had come from, but right now I didn't care.
I ran into the burning streets, fists clenched with new purpose.
"I'll make them pay…"
I shall atone.
Well then, at least I could see the anomalies suffer, burning into dust of agony.
I was confused, I couldn't recall when I got this power. Was it a gift from the heavens above?
(Akugoka…Did you do this…?)
(Did you kill my entire…family…?)
The mages eventually arrived and tackled the skinwalkers.
"It's Master Zen! We're saved!" The citizens of the town cheered for a tall figure dressed in a glowing yellow suit and a glowing yellow top hat.
"Split up! Evacuating the citizens is our top priority now!" Master Zen flashed.
"What about you?! Master Zen!" A mage beside him questioned the figure.
"I'll deal with the big guns." Master Zen cracked his knuckles.
"As expected, Zenichi Tenshin. Everywhere I go...it's always your stupid face." Akugoka knitted his eyebrows.
Akugoka created a massive infernal tornado, it spread throughout rapidly, searing the streets and melting the road.
Meanwhile Scientist X used his railgun and blasted the mages, creating a huge explosion with each blast.
I looked around, and there he was, Prince Muteki.
You dare turn my beloved "brother" into a monster?!
I bolted towards Akugoka.
"This is for VENGEANCE!" I bawled at Akugoka.
I smashed Akugoka with my full power. I felt bones shattering in my fist. The punch was so strong it created a small nova explosion. The shockwave didn't just push Akugoka back; it traveled up my own arm like a lightning strike. I heard the sickening 'pop' of my shoulder and the crunch of my radius fracturing. The pain was white-hot, but my hatred was hotter. I didn't even care if my arm fell off, as long as I saw him bleed.
"Bastard! Damn it! How are you this strong?!" Akugoka roared, touching his bleeding face.
Akugoka coughed out blood, his eyes began glowing with anger.
"DIE!" Akugoka attempted to slash me, but something else stopped him.
Suddenly, Master Zen appeared in front of me, he pulled out a long, sharp glowing yellow sword and slashed Akugoka in the stomach..
"Get out of here! Quick!" Master Zen ordered me to evacuate with the citizens.
"It's you…Master Zen. This is our third time meeting each other." Akugoka leaped backwards, pulling him away from the sword.
Master Zen/Lightbringer—Zenichi Tenshin, is a 7-Star Mage in Heiwa Magi Corps for over 10 years. Ranked as #1 in the Top Leaderboard of mages.
"Long time no see, Akugoka." Master Zen created another sword made of light, wielding both swords with his hands.
"You're strong, but are you strong enough to stop us? Scientist X, Zan NOW!" Akugoka shouted.
Scientist X and Zan ambushed Master Zen from behind, but Master Zen swiftly swung his sword in a full circle, penetrating through the abdomens of the anomalies with powers of the light.
"Liberation is inevitable, this is war between us. Zenichi! This dimension is our freedom!" Akugoka pulled out his obsidian axe, glowing with hellfire igniting.
While the anomalies were down, Master Zen clashed with Akugoka, creating a legendary clash.
The town was crowded with citizens evacuating, while I ran, I stumbled across Hayato, who was helping his family evacuate, but the crowd blocked my vision and I lost track of Hayato.
Akugoka deflected the slashes from Master Zen using his absolute strength. The light energy pierced through Akugoka's body, creating small holes.
Zan got up and hurried towards Master Zen.
"Zan! Strike him with your full power!" Akugoka yelled, as he grinded his teeth.
Zan striked…It failed…Master Zen was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?" Zan looked around.
Suddenly a light beam striked Zan right in the head, light energy burning through his cells.
Master Zen flashed through buildings, gaining momentum and ultimately lunging towards Akugoka with full speed.
Akugoka jumped high enough to avoid the direct strike, but not the impact from the explosion from the strike. Light beams being fired constantly at Akugoka.
"Scientist X, do something quick!" Akugoka burned his surroundings, creating a fire smokescreen to flee.
"Right, got it!" Scientist X got up.
Scientist X emerged with a fractured head, and fired a plasma beam towards Master Zen from behind.
"I am not that naive!" Master Zen swiftly lunged away.
Master Zen discharged a light beam with his hands, colliding with the plasma beam. While Scientist X was trying his best, the railgun began overheating. Master Zen's light beam ultimately won the clash over Scientist X's plasma beam. Upon impact, the beam created a massive explosion, fire spilled across the area and the village. While Master Zen was worn out from using too much energy to generate such a strong beam.
Akugoka successfully stabbed Master Zen with his Hellfire Axe, fire ripping through Master Zen's clothes.
"Idiot, I'm immune to fire." Master Zen punched Akugoka, flinging him away.
He might be immune to fire burns, but the heat tore through his organs, exhausting him.
As Master Zen's blood flowed towards the ground, he pulled out the Sword Of Light, once again clashing with Akugoka with his Axe. The clashes were so powerful that explosions occurred as they clashed forward. Both of them were drawing out immense power as the explosions got stronger.
"(I'll have to defeat him as quickly as possible, there are still more to save!)" Master Zen thought.
Master Zen's body began glowing uncontrollably, blinding Akugoka from the immense light.
Master Zen consecutively punched Akugoka, each punch rupturing Akugoka's bones.
As Akugoka huffed and collapsed to the ground.
"Let's end this, shall we?" Master Zen stepped forward to finish off Akugoka.
Zan's body regenerated unnaturally, soul energy stitching his flesh together.
"It'll all be worth it!" Zan lunged towards Master Zen.
The half charred Zan rapidly sliced him, creating a huge wound over his arm.. Master Zen instantly backed up, his hand bleeding intensely from the slash.
"(This is just a small wound, endure it! Master Zen!)" Master Zen stiffened his body.
"Pathetic, the top mage struggling against someone like me?!" Zan laughed.
Master Zen used his light energy and created a bow with light arrows.
"Shooter Art Style: Arrows Of The Heavens." Master Zen aimed his bow at Zan.
Master Zen fired the arrows, piercing through Zyo's organs, and eventually creating a huge explosion out of light.
"Die...already...Zen.." Zan collapsed to the ground, as his body burned.
"Zan.." Akugoka was speechless.
Akugoka regenerated as Zan bought him some time.
"It's all your fault, my plans were ruined because of you, Zenichi Tenshin!" Akugoka lit up his body in flames.
Akugoka and Master Zen lunged towards each other.
"Burn. Liberate. Rule." Akugoka spread his flames throughout the battlefield.
"Damn it! That's hot!" Master Zen leaped backwards from the flames.
Akugoka fired a small fire beam at Master Zen, but Master Zen dodged it, the beam pierced through the buildings and created fiery explosions.
"That was close." Master Zen turned his head at the beam.
"Don't let your guard down!" Akugoka pulled out his axe and lunged forward.
Master Zen pulled out his Sword Of Light as well, as they clashed, the battleground was overheated.
Akugoka forced the axe to try and overpower Master Zen, shouting out loud and extremely fierce flames around his body.
The air itself began to scream, the brutal energy forming in the shape of a sphere, with half-searing light energy and half-scorching hellfire.
The ground fractured into a spiderweb of glowing cracks. The magma melting through the asphalt at their feet. Master Zen's muscles screamed in torment.
This will be a major disaster to the district!
"(At this point I'll overheat! There's no way I'll win this fight if it keeps going like this.)" As Master Zen struggled holding back Akugoka.
Master Zen ended the clash by detonating his body with light.
Master Zen flashed around the battlefield, colliding with Akugoka, delivering blows with his fists.
Akugoka surrounded himself with flames, his skin was charred.
As the fight continued, the catastrophic energy kept growing. The flames of the ground spread onto the entire battleground.
As the battleground glowed, fire spread towards the towns. Distant silhouettes of fleeing citizens were seen throughout the town.
Master Zen roared, as he leaped into the flames, like a moth drawn to a fire, but he was saving light energy from the start from the battle, it formed into an orb and vaporized the stomach and the upper chest of Akugoka's body. He forced himself, pushing forward, his lungs being burned by the overheated air.
-Flashback-
"Dad! I wish to be like the mages, I want to save people with my power!" Young Zenichi's mouth widened, as he admired the mages.
"That's amazing of you! Zenichi! If that's your dream, dad's by your side!" Young Zenichi's Dad patted Zenichi's head.
"I'll make sure to make you proud one day! I'll make sure everyone lives their happy lives." Young Zenichi glanced at the blue sky.
"Remember, what matters most is your spirit. Your soul that decides to push forward despite pain. Your willingness to sacrifice, to save everyone.." Young Zenichi's Dad nodded at Zenichi.
Master Zen heard the distant thunders, screams of the citizens.
"That's right! The core spirit, to defeat Akugoka, I must endure it, to the end!"
Master Zen's body glowed, absorbing the flames and drawing out his maximum output of light on his fist. He punched Akugoka in the head, shattering his skull and flinging him towards the edge of the battlefield.
Shockwaves were sent throughout the town. Both of them, Akugoka and Master Zen, collapsed onto the ground, in agonizing pain.
"Remember, never give up. Stand up and keep going." Master Zen remembered a line from his father.
It was no longer a line of memory, it was an order.
Master Zen stood up, with a burned throat and face.
"(If I lose this...The town will be in anguish, withering in the flames...)" Master Zen titled his head downwards.
As the intense heat made their feet blister, Master Zen continued with a spirit of tenacity, ready to face the consequences if he fails.
Energy surged through Master Zen's full body, charging up for a fatal attack.
"I will be.." Master Zen whispered to himself.
Master Zen leaped forward with absolute energy, and the district broke apart. He charged his fist with overwhelming energy.
"...The Lightbringer Of This World!" Master Zen shouted, his "spirit" appeared behind him.
Master Zen's full body was glowing with light energy, he charged towards Akugoka with his fist of death.
"Fists Of The Lightbringer!!!" Master Zen's clothes were lit up from the flames.
Master Zen punched Akugoka, sending a strong shockwave, the town shook, leaving a massive crater.
"I will remember you! Zen!" As Akugoka dragged his scream while being sent flying away.
Master Zen flew towards Akugoka, rapidly punching his deformed face.
"(I have no choice left, I must force myself!)" Akugoka lit up his fists with hellflame, clashing mid-air with Master Zen again.
Master Zen's punches manage to overpower Akugoka's, Master Zen smashed Akugoka down into the ground, waves of explosions occurred after the impact.
Blood erupted from Akugoka's mouth, while his ruptured body lay on the ground.
"It was an honour fighting you, Master Zen." Akugoka's orange glowing eyes slowly faded away, as he coughed out blood and rain poured on both of them.
"You're strong." Master Zen stood up, part of his clothes being burned into ash.
"I was nowhere near your level." Akugoka closed his eyes.
As Master Zen walked out from the battleground, he bowed down onto the enemies he defeated, showing respect towards their corpses.
They chose destruction… but they fought with conviction.
"Im here to report that Akugoka had been defeated, the leader of the anomaly squad that attacked this town." Master Zen reported the defeat of Akugoka through his message transmitter to the mages involved in the battle.
He did it...he took down the commander of the squad, which is an extremely strong anomaly.
As I was evacuating, there were skinwalkers everywhere and blood splashes on the street. The mages were overwhelmed by guiding the number of citizens to a safe place. I couldn't see any of my friends in the crowd, but something stopped us.
The mage that guided us was killed, it was an anomaly that could shapeshift into anyone, he summoned more of his army of skinwalkers, as the crowd was slowly wiped.
"Please help us!" The citizens screamed for help.
The Shapeshifter with its army of skinwalkers wiped out the citizens in the open street.
"Fear not! I'm here now! Don't panic!" As Master Zen covered his injured wound on his arm with a bandage.
"Master Zen?! We're saved!" The crowd cheered.
"My dear citizens of this town! Evacuate and get out of this place now! I'll deal with this!" Master Zen ordered the citizens to evacuate.
The citizens evacuated along with me, we didn't know which route to go, but we hurried and went straight ahead.
"(Damn it! Didn't Akugoka and the others promise to defeat Master Zen?! Why is he here?!)" The shapeshifter furrowed his eyebrows.
Master Zen leaped towards the Shapeshifter, with his finger exploding the Shapeshifter's body with light energy.
The Shapeshifter eventually fell to the ground, spitting out blood.
"(He finished off Akugoka?! No way, that's the true strength of the top mage..)" I acknowledged the strength of Master Zen, The Top Mage.
"This is not the end.." The Shapeshifter smirked.
The shapeshifter lunged itself towards Master Zen, drawing out his spear of agony.
Master Zen flashed behind The Shapeshifter, he kicked The Shapeshifter with his glowing legs.
The Shapeshifter fell to the ground again.
"You're quite fast, but your destructive power is inferior." Master Zen stared at The Shapeshifter.
That line from Master Zen enraged the Shapeshifter. The Shapeshifter's skin turned into glowing magma with bubbling tar.
"I'll prove my real strength.." The Shapeshifter increased his temperature.
The Shapeshifter transformed his nails into claws, as he flashed at Master Zen, scratching Master Zen.
Master Zen tried to dodge the claws, but it barely scratched the legs of Master Zen.
A small splash of Master Zen's blood was swallowed by the Shapeshifter, allowing him to shapeshift into Master Zen.
"My ability is...Shapeshift into whoever's blood I drank from."
The Shapeshifter laughed.
"Interesting." Master Zen pulled out both his swords of light.
The shapeshifter transformed into Master Zen and cracked the ground into a complex shape by creating a spiderweb using light energy, with magma replacing the surface of the ground.
"You shall feel my wrath.." The Shapeshifter's heart glowed with immense light.
The shapeshifter pumped his fists with light energy, clashing with Master Zen. The light energy from Master Zen's sword overwhelmed the energy from the shapeshifter's fist, thus ending the clash.
"(He could use my abilities entirely, but it's weaker though. This shouldn't be too hard, right?)" Master Zen questioned his instincts.
The Shapeshifter transformed himself again, this time he had multiple variants of body parts, his left arm with Master Zen's, right arm with magma, body of a werewolf, strider legs and octopus tentacles.
"Hyper-Mutated Art Technique: All In One!" The Shapeshifter smirked.
The shapeshifter increased his surrounding temperature and sent heat waves throughout the streets, burning down nearby buildings.
"My body contains more than 200 different DNAs!" The Shapeshifter laughed as he charged with his huge magma arm, along with an enormous light orb.
"But the thing is...can you keep up with me?" Master Zen gave a deadly gaze at The Shapeshifter, he flashed throughout the town.
Master Zen went up to lightning speed, no one could catch up with him. His body glowed brighter, his torn cape began to catch on fire.
"He's too fast-!" The Shapeshifter looked around, but Master Zen was nowhere to be seen.
As Master Zen began to surpass the speed to lightning, he landed a dropkick at The Shapeshifter, the impact exploded nearby structures, shattering and vaporizing anything caught in the explosion, the searing hot heat from the light, exceeding even the heat from The Shapeshifter, the heat burned through the flesh of The Shapeshifter, charring the skin of them.
Master Zen did not stop there—He kept going despite being exhausted from the dropkick, followed by a barrage of superheated lightning punches.
"Stop...please..!" The Shapeshifter begged Master Zen to stop, the bones in his body were shattered, as his skull was fractured.
"You chose this yourself." Master Zen's gaze was overcasted by the shadow of his top hat, he left no mercy for The Shapeshifter.
The Shapeshifter was hopeless—his mutated arms were charred, by the surrounding heat of Master Zen. The Shapeshifter only had one choice: Brute force, he forced himself to regenerate, at the cost of permanently losing the ability to regenerate ever again. Master Zen was exhausted, but he could quickly restore his energy back again.
"You're pretty tough, most anomalies wouldn't make it out alive from the dropkick." Master Zen lunged backwards.
"I can't...just die like this! Hyper-mutated Art Technique: Wicked Abomination!" The Shapeshifter fully regenerated, he transformed into an abomination of diverse species, they were the size of a boulder, with the main body hidden in the abomination.
"Still not giving up yet?" Master Zen glanced at The Shapeshifter, his eyes shining as bright as the light.
-Meanwhile-
While we had no mage to guide us, we were evacuating blindly. We were in a stalemate, there was a horde of skinwalkers emerging. We were panicking as we were helpless, but I remembered I had "cosmic powers", when I punched Akugoka. I had no choice but to give it a try, in order to save the citizens, instead of bearing the guilt. It's time I redeem myself—as a savior..!
As I walked forward, I felt energy building up in my body. I began to regret my decision, but my heart told me to go. In order to avenge Kaito and my family, in order to save innocent lives.. I have to start no matter what. I charged forward, closed my eyes, it felt like an empty void, but a dim, purple light began to shine in the empty void. I saw it, it was a sky full of stars. It was just like when I laid at a grass patch on a starry night, my gaze locked at the sky, bright stars twinkling in the tranquil sky. There were fireworks launched into the sky, a memory—no, an image I will never forget.
I clenched my fist, and prayed for my power to work, eventually a star sign appeared, marking the skinwalkers in a parallel way. When I punched the skinwalker in front of me, the impact travelled through the star sign, bursting all the skinwalkers that were marked on the star sign into atoms that vaporized instantly, I flashed through the star sign in just a blink of an eye.
"It..worked?" I looked at my fist, it was twisted. Blood dripped from my fist as veins popped and stopped at my bicep.
"Did he just...defeat all of those skinwalkers in just one blow?!" The citizens were shocked, their voices cracked.
"I-I can explain!" I panicked, as the citizens saw my cosmic powers.
"Someone..Help this kid! His arm is broken!" A citizen pointed at me.
"Out of the way, I'll handle this." A mage pushed the citizens aside.
"I can still fight..!" I stood up, enduring the pain.
"That isn't the problem, the problem is..how did you gain this power?" The mage pulled out his blade, as he spoke in a terrified tone.
"I-I don't know..it suddenly came into me." I stuttered.
"Very well. I'm Akito, a 5-Star Mage in Heiwa Magi Corps." Akito said.
Akito Yoshida, a 5-Star Mage in Heiwa Magi Corps for 3 years.
"5-star? Does the association have a ranking system?" I questioned Akito.
"Of course, there are 7 stars in total, the 6th star is only for mages that are capable of becoming a Captain or a Commander, while the 7th star is only for the top, finest mages in the world." Akito explained the grading system.
"I think I need a bandage.." As I requested for a bandage, my twisted arm was still bleeding intensely.
"Here, I have come prepared." Akito handed me a bandage.
"Mr. Akito, I can still fight, despite my arm being injured-" I raised my fists.
"It's my priority to keep you safe, you'll be interrogated at Heiwa Magi Corps regardless." Akito raised his blade.
"I just want to help." I locked my gaze at Akito.
"Absolutely not. You'll have to be interrogated for information." Akito sighed.
"Watch out! Skinwalkers are coming!" A citizen with a torn yellow shirt shouted at the emerging skinwalkers.
"Everyone! Stay close together!" Akito commanded the citizens to stick together.
Akito's blade glowed with green energy, he threw the blade at a skinwalker, the blade circled around him and beheaded the skinwalkers that were emerging in a circle.
"Everyone! Follow me, we're evacuating!" Akito shouted, gesturing to the citizens and me to follow him.
We followed Akito, as he evacuated us while slaying skinwalkers that were emerging in front of us. There were explosions everywhere, like a warzone.
"Akito! We need your help!" A mage requested backup from Akito through Akito's message transmitter.
"I'll be there soon!" Akito replied.
We eventually arrived at the safe point, it was a large building with a gate that prohibited anomalies to enter. Akito rushed, and the gate opened swiftly.
"Quick! Get inside!" Akito commanded, and gestured us to get inside.
We got inside, but the ground in front of the gate exploded, it was the almighty Master Zen and The Shapeshifter. They were clashing, all around the area.
"Enough of this!" The Shapeshifter, using his large body, pushed Master Zen away with his large arms.
The Shapeshifter gathered debris from the ground and formed a volcanic meteor with his magma arms.
The Shapeshifter launched the meteor at Master Zen, it was scorching hot as the citizens ran into the building. I stood there and watched the clash.
As the meteor pushed forward to Master Zen, he flashed forward and used his fist to punch the meteor into pieces.
Master Zen was exhausted, but The Shapeshifter lunged themselves at him, with his enlarged fists.
Akito dashed forward, attempting to slash The Shapeshifter's arms, but there were too many arms and The Shapeshifter shoved Akito away, hitting his back on the buildings.
Move, Yozora.
My heart told me to help, but I was afraid. My fists began to tremble. The Shapeshifter lunged at the exhausted Master Zen again.
How can I become a proper mage if I don't go?!
I took a deep breath and cleaned my mind. My eyes were locked at The Shapeshifter.
I dashed at The Shapeshifter, my fists glowed with an extremely bright purple light.
"Look over here!" I shouted at The Shapeshifter, it felt like I was challenging a monster thrice my size.
The Shapeshifter reacted, and extended their arms at me.
It is over..or is it? My life flashed before my eyes, every unforgettable memory, flashed for the last time..
I refused to give up, I forced my fist forward. It got into the "body" of the abomination.
"Don't...hurt our hero!" I used my full strength, agonizing pain flowed in my body, the punch went through the main body of the abomination.
"You bastard!!!" The Shapeshifter cried.
The atoms in the abomination's main body exploded, it destroyed the abomination's body and The Shapeshifter was launched away. My arm did not break or injure, I felt no pain.
"Hey..young boy, why..did you help me? Even if your arm is injured?" Master Zen asked me.
"I want..to avenge my dead family, and save innocent lives! I will be a mage, and defeat every anomaly!" I clenched my fists.
"Young boy..with your golden heart, I can guarantee your wish to be a mage." Master Zen stood up and patted my head.
"Really?" I kneeled down.
"Your braveness proves your will of becoming a mage, the one who makes the world a better place to live in." Master Zen pulled me up.
Master Zen gave me a card.
"Call this number and meet me at Heiwa Magi Corps." Master Zen pointed at the number on the card.
"Thank you for this opportunity! Master Zen! I'm Yozora...Yozora Kurosaki!" I bowed to Master Zen.
"Go, begin your journey. Brave Yozora." Master Zen cheered for me.
This is the beginning of my Journey To My Grail.
The Shapeshifter, with their whole body charred, still walked forward, despite his legs being fractured.
"I'm still alive!" The Shapeshifter screamed, as their blood poured heavily from their open stomach.
"I appreciate your help, Yozora, but you'll have to return to the building for now." Akito walked toward us, his head was bleeding but his body looked perfectly fine.
The Shapeshifter eventually perished from blood loss. The town was still in danger and I returned into the building and covered up my wounded arms with bandages.
The sky began to turn dark, the colors of the sky mixed together, forming a gradient of navy and bright orange. The town was obliterated, buildings were destroyed as we watched from afar.
Cold rain began to fall, washing the soot and blood from the pavement. As the Shapeshifter's body dissolved into grey ash, the droplets hissed against the dying heat of the magma.
The rest of the skinwalkers began to fade away as well.
The Gigiant eventually arrived at the center of the town.
"Did you expect me to show up?! Gigiant!" Master Zen pumped his glowing fist.
The Gigiant ignored him, as he crushed the buildings with his foot and destroyed large buildings with his colossal arms.
As the mages were evacuating the citizens, the ground shook from the steps of the Gigiant.
Master Zen blitzed and dropkicked the Gigiant's face, it deformed the face of the Gigiant.
"Is that all you've got?" The Gigiant turned his gaze at Master Zen.
The Gigiant screamed at Master Zen, the sound wave overwhelmed him and damaged his ears but he kept pushing.
Master Zen created a light orb, he forced himself and pushed through the scream, as he launched the light orb to the Gigiant's mouth, exploding it into vaporized pieces.
The Gigiant rapidly regenerated his mouth, as he tried to swing Master Zen away with his arm, but Master Zen was always faster, he pulled out his sword of light and started slashing through his arm to his head.
The Gigiant screamed at Master Zen again, this time it pushed him back.
"Why..do you persist?!" The Gigiant spoke, regenerating his arm rapidly.
"I'm made to save people, it's my goal to find peace..Once. And FOR ALL!" Master Zen shouted at The Gigiant, he created his bow and fired shots of arrows made from the peak of luminance, the arrows that shine through everything.
The arrows blinded The Gigiant, Master Zen grabbed the opportunity and flashed around The Gigiant's head with his sword, slashing every part of his head in seconds.
The Gigiant's head exploded, it looked like an atomic bomb.
"This is not the end yet!" The Gigiant rapidly regenerated his skull, and his skin.
"(He's regenerating way too fast! I'll need to draw out more firepower!)" Master Zen flashed around the town, he was as fast as lightning.
"Lightning Art Style: Superblitzed Dropkick!" Master Zen kicked the Gigiant's stomach, the kick sent The Gigiant thrusted backwards, and detonated the digestive system of The Gigiant.
"It doesn't matter, I'll just keep regenerating-" The Gigiant smirked, but a colossal wrecking ball destroyed the head of The Gigiant with just one powerful swing.
"Wait..Captain Creative?" Master Zen was shocked, as he saw one of the top mages, Captain Creative.
"Sorry for being late, pal." Captain Creative tipped his fedora at Master Zen.
The Gigiant regenerated and picked up debris from the ground, throwing multiple enormous spheres of debris towards the safe building.
"My arm can throw extremely far away!" The Gigiant's smile widened, as the debris was getting closer to hit the building.
"Top #3 Ranked Mage. Riku, help me distract the colossal monster and I'll deal with the debris." Master Zen requested, blitzing towards the scorching debris after.
"You can count on me, Bravo." Captain Creative created two supersized spears and lunged towards The Gigiant.
The Gigiant ignored Captain Creative and stepped forward to the safe building.
Captain Creative attempted to pierce The Gigiant with his spears, but the spears were grabbed by the hands of The Gigiant.
"You can't stop me, even if you can, I'll keep regenerating." The Gigiant kept marching forward, despite the weight of the spears.
"Zenichi! Quick!" Captain Creative pulled the spears to slow down The Gigiant, but his strength was overpowered.
As The Gigiant stepped closer, Master Zen reached light speed, shattering the spheres of debris into nothingness in a blink of an eye.
"Get out of my way!" The Gigiant let go of the supersized spears, it pulled back Captain Creative far away.
The Gigiant gathered debris again, but before he could launch it, Captain Creative blew off the head of the Gigiant from behind, with a colossal wrecking ball.
"Greet your nightmare that you were never awoken from." Captain Creative was exhausted, as he flew all the way back to The Gigiant with most of his energy.
Master Zen successfully shattered the spheres of debris, both Captain Creative and Master Zen were exhausted.
"Look! It's the #3 Ranked Mage and The Top Mage working together!" A kid that was in the safe building pointed at Captain Creative and Master Zen.
Captain Creative—Riku Hajime, is a 7-Star Mage in Heiwa Magi Corps for over 5 years, ranked as #3 in the Top Leaderboard of mages.
"Pathethic..our liberation shalln't be stopped!" The Gigiant roared.
The ground shook and Master Zen and Captain Creative were sent flying away from the Gigiant's roar.
-Meanwhile-
While Akito and the rest of the mages were evacuating the citizens from the south side of the town, more anomalies appeared. It was an anomaly covering its head with a paper bag with a chainsaw and an anomaly that is a moving chair.
"Fei and the others! Bring the citizens to the safe spot, I'll handle the anomalies." Akito shouted, locking his gaze at the anomalies.
"I believe in you, Akito!" Fei responded, she led the citizens along with the other mages to the safe spot.
"Thank..you..Fei." Akito was shocked.
-Akito's mind-
As a senior member of the Heiwa Magi Corps, I didn't have much fame, no one would appreciate me compared to the others. Was I too serious? Well, Fei was the only mage that cared about me, every time I was alone, she was the only one who came to accompany me, because of her, I was motivated to keep moving on, as a 5-Star Mage. As I always hated being on the job, but the association offered permanent stay and needs, it was a better choice to join them instead of ditching it.
"Bring it on, fools." Akito's body glowed with green energy.
"I will do my best. Thank you, Fei." Akito smiled.
"They call me the Boogeyman, the one who slaughters everything." The anomaly with the chainsaw giggled.
"I'm glad to see you try." Akito pulled out both of his blades, his green energy brightened.
The Boogeyman winded up his chainsaw, and the chair dashed around the area.
The chair lunged at Akito, but it was sliced by the blades of Akito.
The Boogeyman ambushed Akito from behind, but Akito reacted quickly, he flitted backwards, dodging the attack.
"Not bad." The Boogeyman sped up the acceleration of his chainsaw.
The chair reassembled itself, broken pieces of wood stuck together.
Akito clashed with The Boogeyman, sparks were flying everywhere around them, but the chainsaw began to chip the sharpness of Akito's sword.
The chair carried out repetitive attacks by colliding at Akito, every time Akito sliced it, it reassembled itself.
"(How does this chair keep reassembling itself?!)" Akito tsked.
The Boogeyman jumped at Akito, the chainsaw sawed through half of Akito's blade.
"5-Star Mage?! Is this a joke?!" The Boogeyman snickered.
Akito pushed The Boogeyman back with his sword, but both the anomalies were still barely scratched.
"Things are about to get real flashy.." Akito grinned.
"Make me impressed then, Akito Yoshida!" The Boogeyman and the chair leaped at Akito.
Akito flitted and rapidly sliced The Boogeyman and the chair, the body of The Boogeyman began dripping blood, as there were slices everywhere around his body.
"Both your attacks are plebeian, fools." Akito mocked the anomalies.
"That was impressive.." The Boogeyman coughed out blood, his paper bag was torn.
"Give up and surrender, your squad will be defeated regardless. With your leader already being slain by the Top Mage of course." Akito spoke loudly, resting his swords over his shoulders.
"Very well." The Boogeyman regenerated.
Akito flashed, and delivered a strike from his leg to the skull of The Boogeyman, it shattered the skull of The Boogeyman and tore off half of his neck.
"Farewell-" Akito glanced at The Boogeyman in agonizing pain, but the chair rammed at Akito from behind.
Akito coughed out blood, as his head began bleeding, but he rampaged around the area along with the chair.
"Still not dead, huh?" Akito grinned his teeth.
The chair persisted and repeatedly collided at Akito, the repetitive collisions of the chair shattered itself into flints of wood, but Akito's body was severely bruised. As the chair tried to reassemble itself, Akito pierced it and transferred most of his energy to the chair, overbloating the chair and exploding it and also finally stopping the chair from reassembling itself once and for all.
"That..was almost all of my energy.." Akito fell to the ground.
"So your Magic Trait is absorbing energy and transferring it..Interesting." The Boogeyman pierced through Akito's stomach with his chainsaw, and wound it up.
"Not even going to fight back? I'm honored." The Boogeyman smirked, as he moved the chainsaw upwards in Akito's body.
"Stop.." Akito turned his blade behind, and stabbed the eye of The Boogeyman.
Akito flitted with his remaining energy, while The Boogeyman was distracted pulling off the sword Akito pierced into his eye.
"I..will..finish my job no matter what..!" Akito lunged forward with his full energy, and sliced the stiff neck of The Boogeyman while he was distracted.
"(Damn it! The sword won't even budge!)" The Boogeyman panicked.
The sword of Akito's cut deeper and deeper, The Boogeyman attempted to grab Akito's blade with his hands but it was no use, the blade went in even deeper, as Akito forced with his remaining energy.
"Stop it..!" The Boogeyman frowned, he tried to pull the blade away but the energy overwhelmed his strength.
"Almost...there!" Akito pushed the blade, he poured the remaining energy into his arms—and it finally beheaded The Boogeyman, the blade absorbed the energy of The Boogeyman.
Akito gained a massive amount of energy, but his wound stopped him from continuing, he collapsed to the ground, with his bleeding stomach.
Another part of The Squad of The Anomalies was stopped—The mages were getting closer to stopping the entire squad, but will they stop the Gigiant?
-The Gigiant-
The persistence of Master Zen and Captain Creative drew the ire of The Gigiant.
"My wrath is..unstoppable!" The Gigiant roared even louder that the glass of the safe building began to shatter.
As Master Zen and Captain Creative were blown off from a distance to The Gigiant, Captain Creative shared his plan of stopping The Gigiant with Master Zen's help.
"Hey, Lightbringer. I have a sneaky plan that might stop The Gigiant." Captain Creative pulled Master Zen over with his newly created chains.
"What is it? Riku." Master Zen leaned closer to Captain Creative.
"Since Gigiant's extremely slow, I'll bind him with my chains and when he is binded, use your ultimate move and vaporize him. Sounds good?" Captain Creative shared his plan to Master Zen.
"I'm not sure though, I haven't used that skill for ages. It may or may not work, but it's worth a shot anyway." Master Zen responded.
"Perfect, I knew you could do it. That's why you're the Lightbringer!" Captain Creative smiled.
Both of the mages split up and flitted to The Gigiant, Captain Creative began creating colossal chains.
"Coming back for more? Annoying flies!" The Gigiant roared at Master Zen.
Captain Creative began wrapping up The Gigiant from his legs while The Gigiant was distracted roaring at Master Zen.
Master Zen manipulated a light beam, it overpowered and tore through the roar of The Gigiant. While Captain Creative was wrapping up The Gigiant, the light beam exploded in the mouth of The Gigiant.
Master Zen continuously fired light beams at the head of The Gigiant, he pulled out his Sword Of Light. An extraordinary sword that grows stronger the more light it absorbs from the surrounding. The sword absorbed the light from the light beams and Master Zen slashed The Gigiant's head at the speed of lightning.
"Almost there!" Captain Creative huffed for air, but he kept going.
The Gigiant struggled to regenerate, his arms began to bind as he was almost fully bounded. Captain Creative used most of his strength, but he refused to give up and finally bounded The Gigiant.
"Objective..attained." Captain Creative locked the chain with his created padlock without a key.
"Make sure everyone is evacuated!" Master Zen backed up and prepared to use his ultimate move.
"Wait-There's still a mage in the south side of the town!" Captain Creative informed Master Zen with his heat detector goggles.
Captain Creative flitted to Akito, his skin was beginning to turn pale.
"Are you awake?!" Captain Creative slapped Akito.
"Huh..Captain..Creative?" Akito's eyes gradually unclosed.
"I'll bring you to safety!" Captain Creative carried Akito and flew towards the safe building.
"How..did you find..me? I thought..I was the only one left.." Akito asked Captain Creative and coughed out blood.
"Simple. Heat-vision goggles, hehe." Captain Creative giggled.
The town was in silence, like a ghost town. The Squad was near defeat, as their leader attempted to defeat The Almighty Lightbringer, but they failed unsuccessfully. Captain Creative and Akito eventually arrived at the safe building.
"Please save him as soon as possible! Thank you!" Captain Creative handed Akito to the mages.
"Don't worry! We'll take care of him!" A mage responded and rushed Akito along with the other mages to the emergency room.
The citizens in the building saw Captain Creative and they leaned at the glass.
"Captain Creative! Can I have an autograph from you?" A young boy knocked at the glass.
"Wait, Akito-?!" Fei glanced at the mages and saw Akito, she hurried to Akito.
"All done, Mister Lightbringer." Captain Creative gave a thumbs up to Master Zen.
"Stay back, Mister Riku." Master Zen gestured to Captain Creative to back up.
"Alright, you're the Top Mage anyway." Captain Creative nodded his head, and raised his eyebrows.
"Free me or you'll feel the wrath!" The Gigiant shouted at the top mages.
"I'd love to see you try." Captain Creative mocked The Gigiant's words.
The Gigiant screamed at the top mages.
"Ah, not again." Captain Creative sighed.
Captain Creative resisted the force of the scream with his shield and created a supersized hammer, he then swung the hammer, slamming the head of The Gigiant.
"Enough games, finish the job. Lightbringer." Captain Creative flew back to the safe building.
Master Zen warmed up by jumping around the buildings, his body rapidly glowed brighter and brighter. He flew up to the clouds.
"Lightbringer's Paradise: Absolute Bliss!" Master Zen shouted, the sky turned bright yellow, it became vibrant. Neon wings appeared at the back of Master Zen, it felt like Heaven was compounding with Earth.
The sky opened, light was poured at the Gigiant. It created a massive light pillar, it contained Heaven and Earth. Fire, Water, Wind and Earth all compounded with Light from the Heavens.
The Light vaporized The Gigiant, we could even feel the heat from the light pillar.
After a few seconds, the sky returned to normal, The Gigiant was vaporized and the pillar left a massive crater. Master Zen lost his wings and collapsed to the ground, but he stood up and walked away from the crater with his torn cape.
"He..did it! The Top Mage!" Captain Creative widened his mouth.
The citizens cheered, it was another day saved by The Strongest Mage—Zenichi Tenshin with the help of Captain Creative.
I was motivated to finally avenge my family and save the world and achieve my goal.
The mages ordered us to a branch of temporary residence exclusively for victims, I still struggled to find my friends in the vast crowd. We were sent to the residence from the express subway line, which were made for the mages in case of an emergency.
I kept searching for my friends on the train, but they were nowhere to be seen—"Yozora! Here!" I heard a familiar voice and I turned around. It was Hayato.
"Ah Hayato! Speak of the devil, in my mind." I was relieved to finally find Hayato.
"I've lost my father..once again." Hayato sighed.
"Where's your mother, sister, brother or whatever family member you've got?" I was inquisitive.
"They..were sent to the emergency treatment." Hayato sobbed.
"The same thing happened to me as well, except all of my family members died, before the incident even happened.." I sat down beside Hayato and glanced at his injured arm.
"I..can't lose a family again..I've already lost one." Hayato titled his head downwards.
"I understand..but we'll have to keep moving on forward. I hate to ask you this right now, but..would you join the mage association with me..?" I tightened my grip on my knees.
"I'll think of it..I'll have to deal with my family first." Hayato replied.
"I wish you the best, I'll go find the others. Thank you, Hayato." I patted Hayato's shoulder and walked away.
The train was surprisingly silent, we were getting closer to our destination, which is at the top of a mountain.
The mages may have stopped the incident of Hoshizora Town, but the war was far from over. I was certain that Akugoka wasn't close to being the strongest anomaly.
-Meanwhile at the town-
The crater that the Gigiant was in was still glowing with residual heat.
Captain Creative exhaled deeply.
"Absolutely a hellish experience." Captain Creative sighed.
Another battle won. Another dozen lives saved.
But this was only the beginning of the true war.
END OF PART IV-ARRIVAL OF THE LONGMAN