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Post by Professor Fann on Feb 22, 2010 23:51:22 GMT -5
Alright, this is the second part of the reply to the mgx0’s giant commentary. This second part consists of Chapters 19 to 21. Hope this answers all your curiosities and critiques.
One is … Chapter 19: The Soul’s Moment of Change
What a coincidence. Hahah. Hoh’s dad Mr Hoh is rich, so why not?
Back in the first chapter, according to law, the Reploid cops are given permission to arrest, beat up or jail any lawbreakers, human or not, as part of the central government’s agenda to maintain social harmony, prevent crimes and suppress subversive behaviour. So there. They’re just carrying out the President’s iron will.
Ken likes the Ultrablast a lot, as seen in Chapter 4. And yeah, we’ll see when only will he practice the relaxation training.
Ken has his spiritual senses open since the day Emi forcibly possessed him, so he can really feel Emi. Not technical error, not something you missed. I just didn’t mention this fact outright.
It’s purely coincidental, yes. Nothing related. Emi … let’s just say you and I can have our brains let some things slip from memory, and needs refreshing.
True, but given time and events, people can change, if they fulfill their own responsibilities.
They’re bullies, just like our own real-life society. What’d you expect?
Nah, I can believe that. I don’t remember my primary days, but during secondary school, I was bullied a lot. When I entered college, I was freed from all that.
Eh … oy. Don’t get too emotional now. Discipline your mind, as Severus Snape said once.
Hahah, interesting resemblance, despite the time gap.
I can understand. It’s hard to leave your best friends, because when you do, you miss them a lot. A lot. Lot. LOT.
Yeah, about time we got that hurdle cleared. You can’t keep Emi from others forever.
Emi is Emi and Ken is Ken. But yes, it’s scary when it looks … scary.
Thank you very much! And congratulations to you.
Two is … Chapter 20: The Soul is Serious This Time.
No, Mrs Hoh was never in town ever since the day Mr Hoh took her out of Yange and they abandoned the manor there when moving into Shijun city. I think it was said at the end of Chapter 17. Yes, Hoh rarely sees his parents, so they both must be busy. With work.
True that indeed.
You’re correct at everything here, except that Yange town has no cabs. The most everyone has is a horse-driven cart. Probably didn’t say this earlier. Oh well, now I do.
Maybe in due time we can see that happen. Things can change, I dunno.
It’s a culmination of many messes Ken has faced since he first met Emi. In other stories, this is usually bound to happen since … they’re all real in that scenario.
It’s called the clichéd and convenient plot device. Hahah.
No, it’s just you. Mr Ahashi has always been strict and fierce.
Again, he’s just strict. And fierce. Very strict, and very fierce.
You can be surprised, what with the millions of personalities and histories in our entire world, let alone this planet EraS.
It’s said in Chapter 10 that he’s the class representative of Class 3-A. There’s bound to be all kinds of school affairs which need help handling with. So why not?
I refuse to answer any questions with regard to Bak until the time is right.
Wei’s a strong girl. Though she has limits, but she’s still strong. It all depends on her.
Yes, as mentioned in Chapter 7 when Ria was first introduced, and when Hoh told Ken some facts about the Osada family.
No individual is exactly alike.
Poor poor Maz. Pity the hardworking boy then.
Back in Chapter 14, Ria was psyched by Wei’s pure anger and rage. Hence the issue.
Three is … Chapter 21: The Soul Has a Living Opponent.
With his performing the work of so-called salvation, as testified by those demons in the Meifujang valley last time, you know there has to be lots of work. They’re just doing it as fast as they can.
He’s not insane. I would prefer to see him as a fanatic. Ria’s fanaticism on this same issue might be a whole newer level than Jia.
As commented above.
Well, the issue of school discipline and stuff tends to be around a lot, you know? Students are getting smarter hiding stuff from prefects and the disciplinary boards. I would say it’s this, plus with a mix of random good luck. Otherwise … you know how it goes.
There are certain circumstances that require swords as part of the play of the arts too, even in our real world. We just don’t know them.
Let’s just leave it at that comment of Ria’s whole new level of fanaticism to the holy scriptures.
Nope, it’s not you. Wei has been delayed for quite a while.
You know how Ria is obsessed with the spiritual arts. With some effort and time without caring how long it takes, one can do it too.
You can say it is a form of a spell binding circle. But, well, since the topic here is Ken at hand with Emi in him … and Ken being spiritually open with his awakened senses since Emi’s forced possession … I decided it so.
It was the only thing I thought at that time when I needed something that is well-known to be both flexible and forceful at the same time. Giant hooks is okay, but it’s too stiff.
No … no dirty stuff. Given the situation I don’t think there’s time to even think of those.
No … you have not seen Ria being friendly all the while, didn’t you?
… and that is all for this second part of the giant reply to the giant commentary! Stay tuned to tomorrow for the final part of replies!
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Post by Professor Fann on Feb 23, 2010 23:14:13 GMT -5
I’m back, and now it’s the third part to the mgx0’s giant commentary earlier. This part consists of Chapter 22, 23 and that giant tale of a dream of his.
One is … Chapter 22: A Surprising Ally for the Souls
Eh, I’m just fine with his current weapon. Refer back to my first part of the replies. I wanted something more unique.
Hm, nothing much I can say about that. It depends on time and the perspective.
In reference to the original line:
She (Ria) muttered some more incantations and rallied a lot of dark magic smoke to surround Ken from far away. They took the form of black spiked wrecking balls.
Ria has been fighting with only dark magic, nothing else. Not physical objects.
True, the flames didn’t really hurt her. But Wei is already in such deep emotional confusion from all the mess concerning Ken and Ria’s kidnapping that I think, she would let that slide aside. Which is pretty bold of her.
She enjoys practicing dark magic. Her deep interest in it. Somewhere along the line I think she developed the capability to fight well.
Not sure about the personality denial part, can’t comment on that.
Again, the previous comment on the fanaticism to the holy scriptures on a newer level than Jia. It would have been nice if coexistence of good people and beings occurred from the start, is it not?
In a perspective, Emi did brashly take Ria’s iron rod away from her. Then again, she has been insane on Ken. I think it’s a bit ambiguous on this one. I’m not taking sides. Hahah.
I don’t really understand this line, but I can safely say that Emi’s being a martial artist and her displayed prowess is not affected by Ken’s body. She is an expert after all.
Those with a really, really strong sense of righteousness, responsibility and guts will dare to do that in this event.
You get to learn it all in Chapter 24. Hahah. But he’s definitely the opposite of the cloaked villain, but he’s not the leader of Yellow Springs, since the place already has a King ruling and judging over it. You should have known by now he is Han’s master.
It’s a good clichéd plot device to gain another ally in the yet-to-be-known central plot of this tale.
Well, after the events of the crazy school fight and Shinjuku Han’s visit, I think we can expect more normalcy soon.
No, there’s no RPG influence. It’s one of those common but exciting attacks when the protagonist or bad guy waves and pulls out a rain of attacks of varied elements. That’s all. Just wanted one of those.
And Ken is the mage that deals with fire stuff and Hoh is the mage that deals with lightning attacks. Hahah. All three of them can use the light energy endowed in their weapons to fight off the evil. It’s not magic for them in this case.
You know when things happen. As the great Stan Lee said, ‘Nuff said’.
Two is … Chapter 23: Frustrated with Some Souls
Mr Ahashi is a very rational person who relies heavily on what you see only and not what you can’t see, so spiritual stuff comes to this type of people as nonsense and illogical. Plus, he’s had years of experience with Ken as a delinquent; that attitude is likely to stay for a long time.
After Maz bails them out, it really does end there. No further need to see.
Maz has his own values and beliefs, just like everyone else. He might even have his own reasons too. I dunno.
As said, it all ends when Mr Sanada accepts Maz’s answers and he lets the silver-haired kid bail the trio out of the mess.
Hahah, well, it is her first time encountering a spiritual being in front of her eyes, and it’s not something everyone gets to do, even in our real world.
People enjoy playing with their new-found play things when they get it, is it not? But then after a while, you get used to it and it dies off.
Except Ken’s apparent girlieness. Bwahahah.
Yes, it obviously is. I don’t think this needs further repetition.
Han has nothing to do with the Yellow Springs and such. Just the Voice’s apprentice / disciple / assistant person.
Find it out all in Chapter 24. The next update. Hahah.
You can write down these two questions on a paper, store it safely and wait when the time is right to ask these questions again. These are very important questions, and are quite central to the main plots.
Because of the incident in the nurse’s office. Mystery. Dun dun duuun.
Hahah. Congrats on appreciating the philosophy behind the insanity. But … I have nothing to say with regards to your raining experiences. Most people don’t like getting wet.
Emi has been staying with Ken for a while and going through lots of things with him, right? Surely they will bond.
Who doesn’t love peace and a normal life? You’ll find out the answers in the next update.
Two scenarios: (1) Hoh and (2) Wei. For Hoh, he has two reasons. First, in chapters 3 to 7 or so, he was able to see Emi as a white blur, meaning that he still could do so even now. Second, upon hearing Emi’s tale in Chapter 19, he knows Emi and Ken are always together. For Wei, it’s just only the second reason of Hoh’s. She only knows the tale and can hear her speak, but she cannot see Emi even as the white blur Hoh sees.
Glad you asked this question. Other people might be confused as to how Hoh and Wei perceived Emi at this point of time. Hope this clears things up.
And lastly … the third part of this final part of the commentary. A really giant part, something I really cannot chop into pieces and comment on separately.
I don’t usually do cliffhangers, in fact, I avoid them. I don’t like an incomplete story unless given the circumstances, the ending or the result is very obvious. Too obvious that it doesn’t need telling.
… this entire dream deserves a WAAAAAAAAATTT.
It. Is. Just. Plain. Unbelievable. I mean … wow, simply wow. You dreamt an entire short story in your head based on the story. So … again … WAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT.
Well, it is a nice short. It really is. Hahah! Personally for me though, I will never think of this kind of story – Emi turning alive in a real body – because, personally, to me, it totally defies the laws of the spiritual and physical planes. For me, when I embarked on writing this story, I make it as much as possible not bending these laws. The dead do not become alive again by an extreme miracle. It’s just impossible.
But, putting that aside … wow, you have just dreamt an incredible piece of short, based on mine. Just saying here though, I don’t want anyone to write stories based on mine.
This event just shows, perhaps, the wild side of your particular corner, mgx0, and how creative and imaginative you can be when you’re very immersed in something. Hahahah! That’s just me though.
… and that is all for the commentary’s replies! Chapter 24 will be updated soon! Stay tuned for the end of the month! Thank you!
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Post by Professor Fann on Feb 27, 2010 12:54:15 GMT -5
Alright, and today is the day of the next chapter update - Chapter 24! Hope everyone of you have understood the replies to the commentaries well and that you look forward to this answer-giving chapter! Thank you!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 24: The Soul’s Arranged Revelation
“Happy birthday, my daughter-in-law!” Grandpa Ojiro burst out in the living room to a surprised mother Saya. The old man blew a birthday trumpet at her and danced some more on the spot. As Ken said yesterday, today – 27th September a Thursday – was mother Saya’s birthday. Father Ajima was yawning before he entered the dining room.
The teen had bought a delicious pound fruit cake, laid on the dining table, with the message ‘HAPPY 43rd BIRTHDAY TO SAYA MINATO – FROM YOUR SON – KEN’ creamed neatly on the top. “Happy birthday, dear sweetheart!” Father Ajima said.
Saya blushed from her husband’s praise. “Thank you! Our eldest son bought me a cake! Along with this card! The darling must have wanted to give me a good surprise! No wonder he left home so early!” The clock ticked 7.15 am on the kitchen walls. Ken had already eaten a light breakfast and skipped off to school without her knowledge.
“The boy told me to wish you a happy birthday on his behalf! Let’s light and blow out the candles now!” While everyone helped themselves on the cake, sister Ayumi and brother Ryushi came down the staircase in full uniforms. “Wow! Cake cake cake! Yummy!”
Ayumi couldn’t believe her eyes. “Who bought that cake? It looks delicious!” While mother Saya told off brother Ryushi for being in the way of lighting up the candles, father Ajima replied: “Your brother Ken did. He seems to be in a rush today.”
The girl felt like her head was smashed to pieces by a hurling rock. “That Ken … he outdid me … I was planning to do the same, only earlier … so I can mock at him … I lost.” Ayumi mumbled fiercely under her breath. Mother Saya blew out all the candles.
The brown-haired teen was already on his way to school via aerotain. Emi was certainly in a great mood as she looked back on what Ken Kazuguchi did just yesterday.
“Wow, I guess your mother must be really happy by now, huh? Leaving that cake behind ... it was a better idea to buy the cake yesterday and entrust it to military-style strict old Grandpa Ojiro. You can always trust a former military commander on a promise.” Emi remarked as they disembarked from the aerotrain. Ken sighed. “Yeah … I guess.”
“Aw, cheer up, Ken. You did a great thing. Why the glum face?” As they descended the staircase, Ken took out and peeked into his wallet. “The cake cost me 20 EraSean dollars. Half of my wallet is empty now.” Emi hung her head down, full of dumbstruck.
“Ken … some things are worth far more than money, you know that?” Pretty soon, they entered class 3-A and met up with Maz and Hoh, both who are always together somehow. “… That’s rather good then. Very nice. Oh, good morning, Ken!”
“Hey, Hoh! What’s going on?” The silver-haired teen turned to Ken. “Ria’s behaviour improved drastically … some girls in our class … she mingled with them … like a normal girl would. As her brother … I’m quite proud. Ria’s a normal girl now … all those things of dark magic … ghosts … exorcism … should have been long gone.”
The brown-haired teen bent an eyebrow. “Don’t your parents want to hear about this?” Maz sighed. “They don’t need to … I don’t think they should.” Ken and Hoh awkwardly stared at him before he departed back to his own class. “Uh … okay …”
They exchanged faces before going back to their seats. “Hey, we should change into sports tracks now. There’s PE today!” Hoh looked back. “Shouldn’t we wait for Wei?” Ken shook his head. “She’ll be fine. It’s not like she’ll get lost and can’t find us.”
School started with everyone performing warm-ups before let loose to play whichever games they wanted to. Ken, as usual, headed for football, whereby Emi cheered on him from the side, Hoh went for badminton and Wei went for basketball.
“Today’s game was good! The 3-on-3 was awesome!” Wei said after swallowing a whole lot of water in the cafeteria. She crushed the plastic bottle and neatly discarded it. Hoh sat on the chair next to Wei and panted. “Wei … Ken said that he already delivered the cake to his mum, so we won’t be slowed down after 3 o’clock today.” Hoh said.
“Oh, that’s neat! No disturbances of any sort and we can finally get the answers we need! Why are we given those swords and staffs, what the heck is going on, everything!” Wei bent her back and grabbed a slice of sandwich she bought from the cafeteria. “Huh …” The both of them heard Emi sigh as she floated lifelessly towards them.
“Ken’s not resting just yet … he still wants to play for 5 more minutes.” Her feet took form as she touched the floor tiles, and walked to the duo. “Hey, look, it’s Ria.” They turned to see Ria walking to the principal’s office, holding a letter. What Hoh saw was true to Maz’s words – she was a normal student, void of medium fanaticism.
“You know … now that Ria is not a fanatic medium who charges at whoever she assumes has a ghost or is possessed by one … she seems kinda cute.” Both the girls glared awkwardly at Hoh. Emi fidgeted. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
Wei made a cheeky eye to Hoh. “Looks like Chesong Hoh is interested in Ria Osada. Is this some sort of developing love?” The bespectacled teen blushed and shook his head.
“What!? No no! That’s not what I meant! Ria is now … a normal person! She now has the chance to do things normal girls … would do! Isn’t that simply wonderful!?” The ghost girl Emi glared from Hoh to Wei and back again. “I’m not saying a word …”
Wei sneered at him. “… I still think you’re interested in Ria. A love is developing …” Hoh fumed and snorted at her. Just then, Ken came running to the three of them. “Argh … I need some water … or food … whichever … breakfast wasn’t enough.”
“Ah, you can have my sandwich. I’m full.” Wei gave him the ham sandwiches on a plate, which he ate without hesitation. “Just be sure to not eat the plate … big brother.” Ken nearly choked while Emi and Hoh were stunned to hear that. “Urgh … hak ... what!?”
“Ha ha … sorry about that, Ken. I just felt like calling you that. Like I said, you really resemble my older brother. I just hope he’ll be fine … I want to see him soon.” She smiled at him. “Whoa … Wei, you’re not crying. I guess you’ve gotten over that incident, eh?” Wei shook her head. “Not really … you are my big brother for now. Get it?”
The girl waved her green hair before laughing lightly. Emi joined in the laugh whereas Ken made a weak laugh and smile. Hoh was confused as ever. “Can someone tell me what’s going on? Ken a big brother?” Emi looked at Hoh. “No can do, Hoh.”
The rest of the day in school was normal to them – teachers making last minute revisions before the school semester ends. The routine will most likely last until next week, and it was time for exams on 7th October a Sunday. By the time school ended, everyone was so relieved to go home and relax … before going back to their study routines.
“Well … here we go. We’re going off to meet Han … Ken’s other friend.” “He’s not my friend, Hoh! That guy’s still a stranger to me!” They uttered as they crossed the street to the aerotrain station. Not far away, Bak and Maz were walking with a cheery Ria. The silver-haired teen looked onto the trio. “Hmm … those three are together recently.”
Upon boarding the aerotrain, they scrambled for the seats nearest to the door. The instant they arrive at Handao village, they would proceed directly to Han’s home. Ken managed to sport some time yesterday to search for the location, so he was leading the way.
“I wonder what kind of issue would be this urgent, seeing that voice person or whoever it is arranged for Han to see us.” Wei leaned on the cushion seat. Ken and Emi stared at the outside scenery whereas Hoh managed to peek into his books for some minor revision. “I just worry that this may be a very long-term thing and if I can commit to it …”
The bespectacled teen looked at her. “Long-term thing?” Wei adjusted her sitting posture. “You said that some cloaked person was after Ken and Emi, and now that you and I are into this fighting stuff, he might just be after us as well. Who knows how we’d be able to shake him off. It won’t be that easy for sure.” Ken and Emi exchanged worried looks.
All four of them arrived at the Handao train station. “Ken … show us the way.” The teen looked at Emi. “Well, I wasn’t with you. I decided to stay home.” He sighed. “Alright, it’s this way …” The trio students walked the rough soil road, just opposite the road leading to the Kazuguchi house. It led further down to more fields and little homes.
“Well, it’s over there. That home at the forest border.” Everyone observed a small double storey home near to a corner of a large plot of empty land, presumably entirely pasture land. It was surrounded by the forests at the backyard and other farmlands and houses. “Whoa … that home just gives me the creeps.” The ghost girl somehow shivered.
Hoh hit realization. “That reminds me … maybe we can use this chance to see Emi properly. All I just see of her is … just a white blur.” Wei agreed. “Yes, Emi’s just a blur even to me.” Emi stared at Ken. “Only you can see me clearly, I think.”
“Yeah, we’ll see to that somehow.” A few more minutes down some bends and curves, they arrived at the home. Some cows were visible and their mooing was so loud. “Cows … real-life cows … it’s better than seeing them on TV.” Wei stared blankly at Hoh.
Ken arrived at Han’s doorstep. Before he even knocked, the door simply opened and Han was there to greet him. “Aha, welcome. I’ve been expecting you.” Ken nearly jumped in the air. “Do people like you enjoy surprising everyone else?” Han ignored Ken and welcomed the gang into his brightly-lit living room. Hoh was awed at the sight.
Modern furniture was everywhere. Orange cushions and sofas surround a glass table facing a flat screen TV hanged on the wall. The wall was of brown lacquered wood and other religious decorations. The 2 windows had dark green curtains.
“… I didn’t expect a farmer’s home to be something like this … so nice.” Wei stared even more blankly at Hoh. “Have you never seen anything else in this world other than on TV? We peasants are not as poor as you city folk think we are.” Han gave her a nice clap. “Nice defence. Now … just sit down comfortably and I will tell everything.”
The instant everyone chose a seat for themselves, even Emi, Han took out a vat of water and sprinkled it all over Wei and Hoh. “Whoa!” Ken nearly jumped on his seat and the duo reacted with partial disgust. “Hey, what was that for!?” “Don’t get me wet all over!”
Han smiled. “Didn’t you say earlier you wanted to see your ghost friend here clearly?” Wei was stunned. “How did you know that?” The peasant adjusted his straw hat. “The one who sent me told me. I think you’re familiar with the term ‘I’m everywhere’?”
That jolted Ken deeper than the rest. “Yeah … I remember that one clearly.” Everyone looked at Ken. “He was rather persistent on not letting me know his identity.” Han smiled again. “Well, you’re going to know it in a while. May I see your weapons? I’ve been told that he gave three fighting weapons.” Without hesitation, the trio took them out.
All three weapons – a sabre sword, machete mechanisms and a giant awl attached to staffs – flared their hot auras furiously. “Aha … as expected of my master. Nothing less than the finest quality in his collection.” Hoh turned to Emi, whom he saw clearly with the clothes and face, even her purple hair. “Hey, isn’t that Emi!? Yes, it is!”
Wei looked at her too, and was similarly stunned. “Yeah, just like the photo in that newspaper article!” The girl blushed and waved. “Ah … hello. It’s me alright.” Han looked on. “I merely sprinkled some of the water he gave me. I think every temple and religious site in this country should have a vat full of it. It’s extremely powerful stuff, and only top religious leaders can use it. Be lucky you can get this rather easily.”
Ken hit realization. “What!? Wait! Are you trying to say that the one who gave us these weapons, this holy water!?” Han nodded. “It is as you suggest. You three had interaction with the National Shaman of the Republic, the highest religious authority in the country.”
“The National Shaman!? Wait, I remember now!” Ken took out his History textbook and referred to a specific chapter he knew. “It’s stated right here! The National Shaman is an office of a council of collectives! … No wonder he said he was in this textbook.”
Han nodded again. “Exactly. I hope you’re aware of what medium-like activities you three are close to be engaging in because … most of the time, the National Shaman does his affairs like this.” Hoh was aghast. “His affairs!? Then, what about the council!?”
“This is why the government says the National Shaman is a collective council; in spite of the fact he’s just a single person. See the contradiction? They don’t want you people to know the real thing; it may be confusing and difficult for the people of the Republic to accept.” The four of them imagined an all-powerful being in dark shadows laughing.
“But … the part of a collective council is false. The rest are real. Regulating internal, family and religious affairs according to how he sees fit … those are real. He oversees the work of several ministries … and our Premier even allows it. If you plan to ask anymore than this, I don’t really know more of how the politics of this country work.”
Han watched at Wei silently clenching her left hand. “Well … so, what have you done to Ria? You caused her to change her personality. Did you force her to be possessed or something!?” Han initially didn’t reply. “I did nothing like that kind of cruelty to her.”
“I came to see her, no doubt, as ordered by the master. He asked me to calm everything in her head down and isolate any memory so long as they have the potential to cause trouble for all of you. Basically … all memories regarding to her fights and the knowledge of her spiritual abilities have been isolated for your convenience.” Han sighed.
Hoh was quite disturbed. “Isn’t that unethical? To lock those memories away and stuff?” Han adjusted his straw hat again and said: “Would you like it if she would come and claim that the three – no, four of you are going to kill her? Even if she was said to need psychological counseling, your school has reason to suspect you three of misconduct. You’ll be expelled and your future is down the drain. Do you want that?”
Silence permeated the room. “So, everything has been done for your convenience and she won’t be bothering you in the near future. Hm … anyone care for some juice?” Han took out a tray of cups of blackberry juice on a table beside him and offered to them.
“Eh … thanks.” Hoh was the only one to grab a cup. The rest had no mood for drinks. “Um … Han, so can you tell us … why were Ken and everyone here given weapons? Why is the National Shaman helping us? Even so … why am I not taken away to the other side yet? Those guards from the Yellow Springs didn’t even arrest me …”
Ken looked at Emi. “Emi …” Han leaned on his sofa and smiled. “I was hoping you’d ask that. The National Shaman was very … anxious that you’d be wondering of that. So … I assume you’re all aware of a … cloaked figure and his grand ideal?”
Thunder struck through everyone’s minds. Wei only heard of it, but Hoh spat with disgust with memories that he was nearly killed by him and both Ken and Emi were furious upon the mere mention of that term. “Ah … I guess you all do.”
“This cloaked figure has been concocting a secret plan to cause widespread chaos with the help of demons and ghouls alike. The National Shaman informed me that … he has the ability to control them with his mere thoughts and even … inject them into human bodies. The idea of the plan is to create … a new society centered on himself.”
“You, boy with glasses.” Han turned to Hoh. “The National Shaman mentioned that you nearly died under two accounts of dark magic influences.” The bespectacled teen bent his eyebrows. “Yeah … that’s true.” Ken and Emi looked at him. “Hoh …” They remarked.
“Imagine that exact same thing … to the province’s 32 million people.” Hoh’s eyes widened with shock. “That’s … sick.” The peasant nodded lightly. “The National Shaman chose you all for the mission of eradicating the source of this outrage, and he is working with you by firstly, giving you the weapons and knowledge to handle them.”
“Secondly, he needs your help to approach this madman behind the schemes and stop his further activities. He helps you in taking away the ghouls and demons that the madman sent to kill you all, but additionally he asked me to request of you an extra favour.” Everyone gulped and remained silent, waiting while Han breathed deeply.
“The National Shaman requests that you three be trained by me personally to continue warding off the evil agents sent and also, in order to track down the cloaked person.” Han clasped his hands together. “Please, this is his most sincere request.”
Emi interrupted: “Hey, what about me?” Han rubbed his chin. “Oh, the National Shaman knows about your martial arts skills … and he knows how you first met Ken here. I don’t think you need extra training.” Wei then raised her hand and had a bent eyebrow.
“Hold on, if the Shaman knows everything, why can’t he just stop this evil person by himself? Why assist us when he can just confront the source directly and finish off everything? Why involve us in the first place?” Han refrained from speaking for a while.
“Interesting question … how do I say it … why don’t you ask him yourself?”
All of them were shocked. “I don’t really know the answer … but my best guess is that you three are already targeted by the madman, and the Shaman can’t stand to see you all die. He might want to make it where the situation allows him to directly interfere and stop this mess. Otherwise, it would be more difficult to apprehend the culprit.”
No one spoke for a while. Everyone felt distressed – sure, they got a lot of answers, but they got no answers for the more critical issues. “Now, please, don’t feel angry that I can’t give you more answers, but I’m sure he has his reasons for not revealing more. Well, even I got the same treatment from him previously.” Han shrugged.
Ken asked immediately: “You’re his assistant and he wants you to train us further?” Han adjusted his straw hat for the third time. “Yes, that’s right. Let me first say that the National Shaman’s spiritual training is not an easy one, and that I’ll train you the same way he tested me. The end result – you’ll be much better than what you are now.”
“He wants the best for you, nothing more.” Ken looked back at the three of them. “So, what do you say? Fight and prevent 32 million people from dying?” That last sentence inspired the rest instantly. “Of course! I don’t want my folks to be involved in this!”
Wei clenched her fists. Hoh made a determined face. “Yeah! I don’t want anyone to go through the same experience as I did!” Emi smiled. “If Ken goes, I’m going too.” The brown-haired teen nodded. “Alright, it’s settled. Han, we agree to be trained.”
The peasant smiled. “Excellent choice. You have the gratitude of the National Shaman, and indirectly, the government.” He rose up and dusted his clothes. “If it is okay with you, what say … we start training coming Saturday? On a daily basis?”
All four of them twitched. “Everyday? But … Ken and everyone are …” Emi protested weakly. “I don’t know … everyday?” Ken turned to the rest. Wei sighed. “Darn … I was right … long term commitment.” Hoh didn’t react at first. “I think I’ll be fine … I can handle a few days of not studying … my results will be fine.” Emi stared at him.
Han clasped his hands together. “Please. This is my master’s most sincere request. We have 32 million lifes at stake. I’ll do anything possible to accommodate your needs. I hear you have exams soon?” All students looked at each other, trying to decide fast.
“Oh, by the way” – Han turned to Ken – “the one who ordered the demon to come after you two on your family lands is the same one who frequently orders other ghouls and demons to attack you on various occasions.” Ken gulped at that statement.
“Ah … yeah, that was quite obvious by now.” Emi looked worriedly at him. “Ken …” Her remarks wasn’t heard by him. “Someone wants us all dead for some grand ideal of bringing salvation to the undead … fine, I’ll try and come here every afternoon after school, or also on the weekends. I’ll just say to my folks I’m studying at Hoh’s.”
“Hoh’s place, huh?” Wei sighed. “I don’t know how I’ll do it … but I’ll try and join in as much as I can.” Emi toughened herself. “Wherever Ken goes, I go.” It was Hoh’s turn to make a decision. “Um … things are going to get busy nowadays … Saturday it is.”
The peasant applauded. “Once again, the National Shaman is very grateful for you. We’ll start on Saturday at 8 in the morning. Judging by your weapons, I’d say we can move and improve your fighting skills on a more advanced level. Do come by anytime you want. I’ll always be here.” Hoh raised his hand. “I have a question …” “Ask, dear child.”
Emi and Ken fletched at that term of Han’s. “What’s the difference between a medium and the Shaman?” The peasant rubbed his chin again. “Being a Shaman means holding far more powers and abilities than mediums in the temples can ever have. Like I said, the Shaman is truly … everywhere.” He snapped his fingers.
Immediately, many ghosts surfaced in the living room. “Gah! More ghouls!?” Wei shrieked whereas Hoh freaked out. “Please … help us … show us the way of bliss!” The haggard-looking male and female faces pleaded. “Hmph!” The trio armed themselves with their spiritual weapons, causing them to retreat. “Don’t come near me!”
Hoh, still fresh with memories of dealing with ghouls and dark magic, was most afraid. “Oh my … you all are so worried. Before you leave, I’ll like to point out you can send ghosts to the other world with your weapons. I caught a bunch here for you to try out.”
Wei glared at Han. “Are you crazy? How’d we do that!?” Emi looked at Han. “So … what about the ancient poem? The one about pine trees and the portal …” Han shook his head. “Oh no, the National Shaman merely made it like that for you and the boy, because he wanted to introduce me to you that time.” The ghost girl was surprised.
“All you need to do …” Han walked forward to Hoh and grabbed his spiritual weapon. “… is merely draw a circle around them.” Han swiftly drew a circle about the ghosts he saw and a large bubble was created. All ghosts trapped in that bubble were shocked and crying out to the five of them. The bubble shrunk and was thus no more.
“See? Simple as that. You might be able to overcome your fear like this.” Han slapped a hard palm pat onto Hoh’s right shoulder, shocking him in turn. “You can’t hear their cries and curses; easy as pie. Now, you try dealing with the rest.” Han had deliberately left about two-thirds of the original crowd of ghosts for the rest to do.
“Wow. This is rather easy.” Wei had easily sent off her third of the crowd to the other world. “What happens to them after this?” The peasant drank some blackberry juice himself. “Oh, they get judged by the King of Yellow Springs, go for any punishments for their misdeeds and they’re held for who-knows-how-long.” Wei was aghast.
“WHAT!? Isn’t that cruel!?” The two student boys jumped in the air upon hearing Wei’s outburst. “Well … provided a ghost has done nothing wrong throughout his or her life, he or she gets to go to Paradise instantly. You should read more of your country’s myths.”
Ken had just finished sending away the remaining third of ghosts. “Hmm … if only everyone knew the horrors of the Yellow Springs.” Han sighed and walked into his kitchen. “You all are free to go. Remember, Emi … your time is not up just yet.”
The outside clouds were grey. Everyone spent about an hour at Han’s place. Now, they have to find the time and proper excuses to attend the series of spiritual fighting training. “Sigh … I was an ordinary girl from the hometown of Gaowu, and here I am fighting dead spirits and stopping 32 million people from being killed.” Wei sighed.
“I’m sure this will be all over if we focus our minds onto it.” Emi tried to assure the rest that everything would be fine. “Yeah … I agree.” All eyes turned to the teen named Ken. “We can’t afford to be sad or depressed now. It’s a crucial time … and I’ll need all the help you can give me, Emi.” He smiled to the ghost girl.
“Oh, Ken, you’re such a sweetheart.” Emi immediately held on tightly to Ken’s chest and leaned her head on his neck. Somehow, Wei seemed jealous. “Hey! Don’t keep big brother Ken all to yourself!” She instantly hugged tightly onto Ken’s left arm. “Argh!”
“Hey! Ouch, you’re yanking my arm off!” The teen protested but the green-haired girl ignored him. “What’s the matter, Hoh? Don’t be so lonely and upset!” Wei yanked Hoh’s head under her left arm and dragged him closer to herself. “Argh! Hey, leggo!”
“Come on now! Best of friends and we’ll definitely get through this!” Wei was the only one in a sudden good mood and laughed out loudly. Ken and Emi merely gave a weak laugh at her whereas Hoh was still struggling under Wei’s grip. Everyone walked on back to the proper route to Ken’s home, ignoring minor attention from onlookers.
“Hey, mum!” Back in the Kazuguchi home, sister Ayumi was holding a wrapped box. “This is my present to you! Happy birthday!” She smiled widely. “Sigh … thanks, honey, but I’m afraid I’m just too full now.” Mother Saya replied. “Ken’s cake was too much.”
“Um … okay. Grandpa, would you like to try some? It has your favourite flavour in it too.” She reached it out to the old man. “Oh my … I can’t … me and your mother ate the entire cake for tea, not this morning … and I’m full too.” The old man gasped.
Ayumi became a little angry. “Grrrh … that Ken really beat me to it … and I was waiting for this time …” She calmly put the box of birthday cake on the dining room. “And where exactly did he go to now!? Being late from school! He just makes me mad all the time!” It was later at supper that father Ajima and brother Ryushi ate her whole cake.
“Hey, everyone … I’m home.” Ken tiredly said; behind him was Emi. Sister Ayumi darted at him: “Where have you been!? So late from school!” Ken grimaced. “Just because you’re a prefect for Grade 1, it doesn’t mean you can apprehend me here … wow, nice cake. Who’s it for?” Ayumi blushed with anger and stormed away. “You know, Emi … I think I smell seaweed in the cake.” The ghost stuck out her tongue.
Meanwhile, again in yet another dark place, two figures were negotiating a deal under a dimly-lit bulb. They were sitting face to face at a table in a dark room. Outside, it was a small wooden home perched on a safe cliff overlooking a wide river. The trees have shed nearly all of their leaves due to a strong wind earlier.
“You want me to deal with this person?” The muscular man held a photograph in his right fingertips. “So … he has been a troublemaker to society, is it?” The second man, one of baldness and necklace beads said: “Yes … his attitude is in defiance of the holy scriptures. It’s too horrible to even mention the crimes he committed.”
The bald man seemed to sob. “Every time I tried to talk sense into him, he ignores me and runs away. Oh, how pitiful an ignorant soul is … if only you can … make him come to me and … we can sort things out? That soul of his needs some … cleansing.”
The muscular man coughed. “Hmm … if it is the wish of Your Venerable, then I shall bring him to you. In the name of the holy scriptures. Pleased to deal with you. My name is Cenge Ang.” The muscular man firmly gripped the bald man’s hand in a handshake.
“Come now, we must make haste. The longer he has his … dirty soul, the worse he could become. I’d pay the fee for the train travels. We’d safely arrive in Handao town and I’d lead you to the boy. Bring him back alive at all costs, even by force.” The bald man said.
Both men left the dark room. The muscular man however left the photograph on the table with its image exposed to the cold air. It revealed the face of Ken Kazuguchi.
Continued in Chapter 25.
Notes: A birthday, a revelation and more mess. Refer to Chapter 20 for Maz always covering up for Ria. Even up till now, Wei and Hoh could never see Emi clearly. Anyone who read the Comic Arts will be familiar with the National Shaman and go back to Chapter 7 for that History textbook claim and Chapter 16 for the issue on Wei’s brother. Stay tuned.
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That is all. A giant plot of a mystery and the National Shaman ... dun dun duun.
Thus, todya I have a special relaxing song for you all to listen, if you want to. It's from that stop motion film called Coraline. A decent predictable plot, but the fact that you use silicon puppets to act them out slowly bit by bit and watch that whole culminated film ... it's quite wonderful.
Thank you all! Stay tuned for the middle of March!
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Post by Professor Fann on Mar 14, 2010 0:39:18 GMT -5
At this time, the 14th March 2010, I present to you the update of Chapter 25! Hurray! Enjoy it everyone!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 25: Frustrated Soul and the Muscleman
The cloaked villain stood still in front of his altar. “The next human candidate is already working to destroy the boy and the ghost girl.” His minion ghoul looked up at him. “My lord … you didn’t arrange for all the human subjects to attack the boy and girl?”
“I didn’t. The perfect chance came … and I merely watched.” The villain slapped his sleeves again. “I assume the ghoul mobilization plan is going well?” When the ghoul realized his boss was asking a question, he replied: “Almost complete, my lord!”
The villain smiled. “Very good … I shall survey the local plants and find … the correct human bodies for the select few to … cause the necessary mayhem. You’re dismissed.” He simply walked out of the altar hall and the minion ghoul disappeared from sight. The fiery candles which lit the room had put themselves out, darkening the hall.
“Wake up, Ken! WAKE UP!!” “GAAH!!” The teen of messy brown hair jumped out of his bed and fortunately, did not fall down on the side of his bed. He rubbed his eyes and stared at a blur image of a frustrated Emi. “Ugh … what time is it? Is it morning?”
Emi fumed at him. “No … it’s 11 o’clock at night. You promised yourself you were going to study tonight, and I’m going to see through that you would!” Ken stared back at her. “Urgh … alright. I’ll get to work … after five more minutes of sleep …”
The ghost girl was infuriated to see Ken lie back on his bed. “Ken Kazuguchi, I am very disappointed in you! Furthermore, even if you want to sleep now, you should at least brush your teeth! How unhygienic!” The teen opened his study drawer and took out a familiar green strip. “Um … Ken … that is … NO! Seaweed!! Why is that thing here!?”
Ken ripped the plastic seal and munched a bite on it. “I took some from the refrigerator just after dinner … in case my mouth gets twitchy during study time. So, now I don’t have to brush my teeth just yet.” He swallowed the first gulp and licked his lips.
“Mmm … delicious.” Emi reacted with disgust to that statement. “I can never understand how you tolerate something like that.” Emi rubbed her nose a little. “Anyway … when you’re done eating that … thing, just start studying already. Sheesh … seaweed.”
“Oh, so you’re going to help me, Emi? You’re the girl who scored high all the time in school when you were alive. I can use your help.” Ken looked at the sulking girl. “Yeah, I suppose so … I’m always with you, so why not?” She avoided looking at the teen.
The following day – 28th September a Friday. Ken had studied all the way till 3 o’clock in the morning, before he finally succumbed to sleep. True to her word, Emi had coached Ken so far as to the parts which she had known and corrected his wrongs.
Both of them walked out of the Kazuguchi house, as mother Saya bade her son farewell. “Another day, another … something. I can’t find the right word.” The teen scratched his head. Emi still had some of her distaste for the seaweed strips last night, so she replied rather bluntly. “You’ll think of the word when you don’t want it the most, Ken.”
Ken made a sulky look at her. “Aw, come on. Get over the seaweed snack already. It’s not like I’m going to force you to taste it, right? Do you want me to do that?” Emi felt her head pang and she leaped 25 feet ahead of the teen. “That would be a total nightmare, Ken Kazuguchi.” They further walked on down the soil road of the village.
As Ken walked up the stairs to the aerotrain station counter, two pairs of eyes looked on from the dark corners of a back alley. “That’s the boy. See him? He has … a dirty soul with him. Pursue him till he gives up.” A voice said. “Very well … I shall go.”
The teen took his train ticket as the counter receptionist received his cash. A firm and heavy grip landed on his shoulder. “Eep! Ken!” Emi yelped as she looked at the figure first. “Um … who is that?” Ken turned back and saw a muscular man of black clothes, hair, a stern face of sharp nose and blue eyes looking back into his own eyes.
“You, boy. Come with me. I need you to meet a friend of mine.” Emi and Ken gulped as they looked on to the man of 6½ feet height. “Um … sorry, I need to go to school now. Your meeting will have to wait.” He then felt the man’s grip tightened further.
“I said, come with me. This will take a while.” The man’s voice raised in volume and ferocity. Emi turned to the teen. “Ken, something’s wrong here. I suggest you do something so you won’t miss the train …” The clock ticked 7.19 am. Ken gulped. “Um … hey, what’s that thing over there?” The muscular man quickly looked behind him.
“Now, Ken!” The teen quickly dashed and the man’s grip was off his shoulder. “What!? Hey, don’t run away from me! Come back here!” Some receptionists looked on curiously as Ken tried to avoid the stranger. “No way! I don’t even know you! Leave me alone!” Ken zipped his ticket into the slot hole and the counter checked him past the fences.
“You think you can avoid me!? You’ve got it wrong!” The muscular man got past the separation fence by ripping the metal bars apart with his bare hands. “What the!? This man is strong!” Ken reacted with fear, and so did the other aerotrain users.
“Security, we have someone making a mess! Hurry over to the main platform!” The receptionists beamed through their microphones and human cops came forth. “Hey, you! Stop whatever you are doing!” “Get back here!” The muscular man looked over with contempt. “Don’t get in my way!” With a simple punch, he knocked a cop in the air.
“WHOA! AH!” The second cop was thrown into the air. People started to panic. “Ken, what do we do!?” Emi asked, waiting for any instructions. “If you don’t want to come with me, I might as well make you!” The muscular man proclaimed and slammed his fists together. Ken dodged the man by running behind a rather thick concrete pillar.
“Don’t think you can hide from me, boy!!” The man simply broke through the pillar, smashing all that concrete out his way. “AAAH! Help!” Public citizens started to scream and flee the scene. “Come back here, boy!!” He smashed his way through another pillar.
“Whoa! Hey, you’re destroying the place, mister!” Ken exclaimed as he further dodged the man’s attempts to grab him by force. “Boy, this would be a lot easier if you just came with me!” The man smashed another concrete pillar. “I don’t talk to strangers, mister!”
“Oh, then why are you talking to me!?” His muscular right arm nearly grabbed hold of Ken. “That wasn’t a very good joke, mister!” The teen dashed past him to the check-in counter. “You want to see a joke? I’ll show you a joke!” Ken yelped “Whoa!” as the man destroyed the check-in counter by merely smashing it with his strong left fist.
“We need back up here! The suspect’s a strong muscular man and he’s aiming at a local teenage boy! Suspect is very dangerous, so be careful!” More human cops arrived and watched as the man jumped high and stomped hard on the floor, creating huge tremours and a crater on the spot. “Duck!” All cops ducked below for their safety at the side.
“This has gone long enough! Ken, I’m coming in! Give me some room!” Emi said as she entered his body. “Ah!” Ken gave a yelp as he retreated and Emi took over. “What do you think you’re playing at!? What do you want!?” Emi yelled as she deflected the man’s punches and slammed her fist into his chest. “OWW!!” The stranger shouted in pain.
“That’s a strong one, boy! I wasn’t expecting that; he didn’t say you were strong!” Emi bent her left eyebrow. “You want strong? I’ll give you strong!!” Emi gathered some energy in her right hand and landed a palm attack on the man’s chest.
“OUUGGH!” He was thrown off to the back, bursting through the check-in counter and eventually crashing onto a nearby concrete pillar some 40 feet away. “Freeze! Don’t move or we’ll shoot!” Seven cops aimed their pistols at the stranger. “Oww …”
Fortunately, the aerotrain just arrived and when Emi wanted to move Ken to safety, she took one last glance at the stranger. She had a shocking revelation. “Gasp … it’s him! What is he doing here of all places!?” The aerotrain doors slid open and few passengers came out. Him? Emi? You know that man? “GWAARRH!!” The man shouted.
With one swipe, he threw off all seven cops aside, making some cowering onlookers scream. “Don’t think you can escape from me, boy!!” Emi gasped and hurriedly entered the aerotrain, which conveniently shut its own doors. It immediately left the station and also left the panting stranger behind. Emi caught a glimpse of him leaving the platform.
Some of the onboard passengers stared at Emi, seeing what just happened. Emi merely ran for it and sat at a lonely corner. She tried to control her shock, but was clearly failing. Emi … who was that? Do you know him? Ken softly asked the ghost girl.
“That was … my uncle. The same man who trained me in the ancient martial arts of controlling bodily energy. My mother’s brother, Ken.” Emi had gotten quite sad just mentioning it. WHAT!? That muscular stranger!? Your uncle!? Ken blurted out.
She nodded. “Yes … my uncle. His name is Cenge Ang, or Uncle Ang as I often called him. One of my closest relatives … he lived in Yange for some time. That’s how I was able to train martial arts with him. He taught me how to break boulders easily.”
Ken said nothing as Emi began to sob. “He does an oddball of jobs for a living … but … I …I never thought being an assassin was one of them … I never thought I’ll see him here coming after you … Ken, you’re in grave danger now … but why … Uncle Ang?”
She buried her face in her palms and cried lightly. Other passengers retreated further from her, preferring not to be involved with her. “Ken, you have my word … I said I’ll protect you from any harm … even if it means my own uncle.” She mumbled and curled up on the seat. “Uncle Ang … why you?” Ken felt sorry for her. Emi …
Minutes passed by in a blink of an eye, causing Emi to nearly miss the stop in front of Aoyaga Private Academy. “Ah!” She gasped as she stepped onto the platform. “Ken … I could have made you late … I’m sorry.” She hung her head down in shame. No, Emi … it’s okay. It’s not your fault, okay? Let’s just go to school calmly … together.
She rubbed the tears off her cheeks. “You’re right … let’s start this new day happily, and forget the mess just now.” With that, she walked them past the street to the front gates of Aoyaga Private Academy. She looked on the many students walk and the trees bristling with the calm soft wind. “Mister Kazuguchi, what are you standing here for?”
Emi turned and saw Mr Ahashi talking to her. “Ah, um … good morning, Mr Ahashi sir.” They stood and face each other. “You seemed dazed, boy. What’s the matter?” Emi let out a hiccup. “Oh … it’s nothing, sir.” The discipline teacher snorted. “Then, I suggest you get moving. Don’t waste your time here, or you’ll be late for class.”
“THERE YOU ARE!!” The both of them, and other students, turned to the voice’s direction. “Gasp! No!” Emi said as she spotted Ang not far from her. “You made me run all the way here! I’m not letting you off easy this time!” Ang ran forward to her.
“Oh no! Mr Ahashi sir, come on!” “Whoa!” Emi grabbed onto the teacher’s hand, pulled him and ran into the school grounds. “Come back here!” Ang jumped high in the air and stomped down on the school soil, creating tremors to which Emi and Mr Ahashi collapsed. “Eekk!!” “Aaahh!!” Other students screamed as they collapsed too.
“Hey, you! I need some help here!” Emi shouted to, surprisingly, a nearby Bully One.
“Huh!?” Bully One looked around. “Are you … talking to me?” Emi hurriedly nodded. “Yeah, I’m talking to you! Get your other friends before that man hurts anyone, even you I might add!” She shot serious eyes to Bully One, making him do just as she commanded.
“All of you, come on! Let’s pound on that guy!” The nearby Bullies Two to Five were confused, but the moment they looked at Bully One’s face and then a fierce look from ‘Ken’, they freaked out and simply obeyed. “Let’s pound on that stranger!”
“Yeah!” “Awesome!” It was not before long that Ang found himself being attacked by the five bullies. “What the!? Argh!” It was then that Mr Ahashi shot a fierce look at Emi. “Mister Kazuguchi, what is going on here!? Why is that man coming after you!?”
Emi tried to adapt to Ken’s mannerisms as much as she could. “I … I don’t know at all, sir! Honestly! Some stranger just comes out of nowhere and … he’s trying to kidnap me! I have to defend myself, right?” Convinced with such reasoning, Mr Ahashi immediately issued fierce directives to all the other students around the scene.
“All you maggots, evacuate the place now! We have a kidnapper on the loose! No one is to be here now!!” Everyone screamed and ran for their lifes towards the school building. “Ken! Ken!” Emi turned around and found Hoh, Maz and Bak running towards him. “Hoh!” She exclaimed. “Ken, I saw the whole thing from class upstairs! What –?”
“Messrs Hoh, Osada and Kim! Get away from here now!” Mr Ahashi retorted at the trio, who stopped on their steps. The five bullies continued to pound on the screaming Ang and even the local police entered the school grounds. “We’ve received information from Handao town that a madman is on a rampage! Oh, there he is! Under those five!”
Six cops took out their pistols and loaded in bullet magazines. “Freeze! You are under arrest for damaging public property and for public assault!” Although no one noticed, but apparently Wei was among the crowd of students told to evacuate from the scene. She watched from behind Emi, the students and Mr Ahashi the whole thing. “Oh dear …”
Before the cops could even approach Ang, the tough muscleman was able to rage his way out from his captors. “RAAWWRR!!” The five bullies were screaming as they were flung up nearly 10 feet in the air due to Ang’s rage. Two bullies had crashed onto four of the cops. “AH!!” “Ow … so painful … that hurts …” “Ouch, get these boys off of me!”
“Hold your fire! We can’t shoot! There are students here!” One free cop warned his partner. “Darn … we’ll just have to restrain the suspect ourselves. Come on!” Ang had then dashed forward, aiming for Ken and Emi. “I’m going to get you, boy!!”
“Leave Ken alone!” Bak made a surprising move by running forth to confront Ang. Emi was shocked. “Bak, what are you doing!? You’ll get hurt!” Maz grumbled. “That kid! Come back here!” The silver-haired teen rushed forward to try and hold back Bak.
The frail boy was getting closer to Ang. “I won’t allow you to hurt anyone!” “Out of my way, child! My business is only with Ken Kazuguchi!” With that, Ang used his right arm to swipe Bak out of the way. “AAAAAH!!” Bak screamed as he was thrown off. In turn, that made Maz rather angry. “You idiot! How dare you hurt Bak!?”
Oh dear, no! Ken yelped as Emi dashed to Ang. Mr Ahashi was aghast. “Mister Kazuguchi, what the heck are you doing!? Come back here!!” Emi didn’t hear the teacher and kept on gathering energy in her limbs. “You’re starting to annoy me!!”
Emi shouted before she released a fury of hand and leg combat moves onto Ang, to which he was incapable of countering. “Ouff!! Argh!! Oww!! Gaahh!!” Ang could only yell as Emi repeatedly kicked and punched him in various body areas – chest, arms, thighs and even the chin. “Ouughh!!” He yelled once more as he was thrown back.
“Urgh!” Ang got up fine. “You’re strong!” Ang lunged forth a couple of tight fists, but Emi dodged them just as easy, moving backwards left and right where necessary. All students awed at ‘Ken’. “This is amazing!” Emi gathered slightly more energy this time in her palm, being the most she used so far. “HAVE IT AT YOU!!” “Wha – AARGH!”
She pounded all her force onto his stomach in one go, briefly stunning Ang. “Ouggh … this is … impossible.” He mumbled under his breath. “A young boy … so strong …”
Hoh awed on whereas Maz returned to his state of neutral emotion. Ang crashed onto the ground and rolled backwards about 30 feet from Emi, clenching his stomach tightly. “Ouughh … gah … I never thought you were this strong …” He struggled to stand.
“Urgh … gah, Bak … are you okay?” Ree had surfaced out and smirked at Ang. “That monster … harming Bak just like that … I wish I could make a mess on his face right now!” Before Ree could make his own move, Maz reached up to him and restrained him.
“Aahh! Maz … let me go! That guy needs to be mixed up like pulp!” The silver-haired teen twisted Ree’s arm to further suppress him. “Silence … the fighting should stop … see, that man … knows when to quit.” Ang had managed to stand up properly on the spot.
Ang pointed his giant finger at Ken. “I’ll be back for you soon, Ken Kazuguchi! Mark my words! You have what the temples want of you!” With that, Ang ran off out of the school grounds in an unbelievable speed. Public onlookers were frightened at Ang’s presence. Even the cops were too late to catch up to him, as they had to handle the five bullies.
The crowd of students stared on as Emi panted and walked towards Hoh and gang. “Well … that’s over for now. Gosh, I feel so tired …” Both Hoh and Wei rushed out towards the girl. “Whoa, Ken! I mean … Emi, that was amazing.” Hoh was the first to speak.
“Yeah … I saw the whole thing too.” Wei pressed her right hand on Emi’s shoulder. The ghost girl merely smiled. “Ha hah … thanks. I was just protecting Ken …” The trio heard rough footsteps approaching them and found that it was the stern and fierce Mr Ahashi.
“Mister Kazuguchi!!” He first boomed at the trio. “Under normal circumstances, I find fighting in school unacceptable!! You could have earned yourself a suspension!!” Ken gulped inside his head. “But … seeing that there was a madman trying to kidnap you, and even the police is involved … I’ll let you off since you were only protecting yourself.”
Emi sighed. “Phew … thank you, sir.” Mr Ahashi was quite taken aback with Emi’s gentle nature, but decided to ignore it as he found it to be a waste of time to find out.
“You have another 11 minutes before class starts. I recommend you go to the nurse’s office for an exempted rest, but the choice is yours. Now, get moving. I’ll have to see that those five be taken care of.” He hinted to the five bullies and soon walked away.
Gradually, things began to settle down. Wei and Hoh supported Emi back to class 3-A, amid the curious stares and whispers. Back on the school grounds, Maz was able to see that Ree retreat and Bak brought back out instead. Mr Ahashi had seen to that the five bullies sent to the nurse’s office for treatment instead and he voluntarily cooperated with the police on clearing issues with Ken. He was only back in school by noon.
Throughout the lessons, nothing was said as everyone focused on their revisions. Oddly, Mr Ahashi was the only teacher present to witness the earlier chaotic scene, so the other teachers had said no word about it, not even during class. When the school bell rang for lunch break, Ken found himself the object of attention by numerous other students.
“Whoa, Ken, that was awesome!” “Could you teach me martial arts? Ha hah!” “You were so cool out there!” Those were some of the comments the others made to the brown-haired teen. He felt rather guilty, since it was Emi who did all the work instead. The tired girl had retreated control of his body to rest, and he hadn’t heard of her since morning.
“Ha ha … alright, people, back it up! Ken needs his rest from those fighting just now!” Hoh tried to usher the students away. “Yeah, give him some room!” Wei was tougher on the students, compared to Hoh. To make matters worse, Bak came in the class too.
“Darling Ken!!” Everyone stared at Bak, who was … not really Bak. Hoh freaked out. “Oh no … it’s Yon!” The different self of Bak had bubbled cheeks. “Oh, sweetie Ken! Are you alright!? That fight just now was so dangerous! I was so worried!!”
“WAAAH!!” Ken yelped out as Yon rushed forward and gave him a tight bear hug. “I haven’t had the chance to talk to you, Ken darling! Are you okay? Are you hurt? You must be so awfully tired from the fight this morning!” Yon asked as she leaned her chin on Ken’s shoulder. The teen was freaked out. “Gah! Someone get Yon off of me!!”
All the other students reacted with silent disgust to the scene. Hoh twitched his fingers as his eyes looked on. “Aaahh!! My eyes! It burns!” He exaggerated and covered them with his hands. “Someone make her stop!” Other students mumbled. “Isn’t Bak a boy?”
Suddenly, Yon felt chills running down her spine and something extremely furious rising up behind her. “Umm … uh …” She trembled as she slowly turned her head behind. “Yipe!” Even Hoh was scared, just looking at the furious Wei clenching her knuckles.
“Let’s see here … how hard should I smack Bak’s girlish self here on the head!?” Lights sparkled on Wei’s eyes; she seemed to have sharp gritted teeth and she had a very menacing smile at the same; the recipe for untold gruesomeness. “Eeekk! I know you! You’re the one who smacked Bak on the head last time! Scary! SCARY!!”
With that, Yon instantly let go of Ken and ran away from the scene. “Don’t hurt me! Don’t hurt me, I beg of you!!” She screamed all the way to the staircases. All other students were filled with fear and looked back at Wei. “Now … who wants some?”
“Um … I need to go somewhere … now!” “Me too!” “Wait for me!” About 22 students left the class, making the place empty except for the three of them. Hoh stared blankly at her. “Wei … you really are a scary person.” The girl folded her arms tightly. “Well, everyone seemed to be bothering Ken and Emi. I had to do something, right?”
Emi took control and laughed her heart out. “Ha hah hah! That was so amusing, Wei! Ha hahaha! Thank you for giving us some peace and quiet!” She laughed some more until she had had enough of it. Hoh and Wei sighed with relief as Emi coughed a little.
“Alright, let’s get down to business.” The duo grabbed seats and sat at Ken’s desk. “Well, with Emi taking hold of Ken’s body, could any one of you two explain what’s going on? Why was that madman after Ken this morning?” Hoh rested his chin on his left palm. Emi coughed and stared sadly at the ground. “You see … it’s because …”
Emi told them about all that happened in the morning. She recalled the experience of seeing her Uncle Ang smashing pillars and creating craters on the floor. Throughout the whole time, she struggled to keep her tears from flowing out of her eyes. “And … that’s about it. I’m so confused …” Emi buried her face in her palms. “Sob … sob …”
She sobbed some more, but Hoh sobbed exaggeratedly. “How sad … how treacherous people of the world are …” Wei stared blankly at the bespectacled teen. “Oh, come on. Stop putting on that face already.” “But, it’s true! It is true! Isn’t it, Wei!?”
The ghost girl retreated silently so she would have some time for herself. Ken abruptly came out and wiped the tears off his face. “At any rate, I’m sure Ang will be back for me somehow … he said that I have something the temples want. I don’t know what he meant by that … he gave no answers … and I don’t owe the temples anything I know of …”
“Well, that’s odd … too bad we don’t know anything for sure.” Hoh scratched his head. “Maybe it could be – whoa!!” Hoh jumped the instant he heard some glass breaking. Wei saw in a split second that a regular-sized brick was thrown out of nowhere, smashing one of the class’ large glass windows into millions of pieces. “What the heck was that!?”
The brick, which appeared to be wrapped up in white paper, crashed onto a nearby student desk. “Wow, good thing no one was around here …” Hoh looked around the class. Ken had a bad sign and hurriedly walked over to the paper-wrapped brick.
“What is this paper …?” He said as he separated both items. “Oh no …” He remarked as he saw the contents of the paper. “It’s a threat note … written by Emi’s uncle.” HUH!? NO, IT CAN’T BE!! Wei and Hoh immediately rushed over to the teen. “What was that!? Read it!” “Come on, Ken! What’s it say?” They gathered beside him.
“‘Ken Kazuguchi, You have something the temple authorities want of you and as far as I have been informed, you are violating the holy scriptures by committing the gravest sin ever. As a man hired by the temples to solve this problem, I must deal with you myself.’
‘It saddens me to see a young lad like you go against the religious authority. We must settle this for good; meet me at the barren fields of Puqingdi town at 7 pm sharp, or else I’ll be coming after you. – Cenge Ang.’” Ken crumpled the threat note up. “Grrh …”
“Gah! What is up with everyone!? What is all this about violating the holy scriptures!? First that priest Jia says this! Then Ria says that as well! Now it’s Emi’s uncle!? What is with all the holy scriptures!?” He felt like ripping his hair off the base of his skull. AH! Hey, Ken! You’re hurting me! Ouch! Ken felt jolted. “Oh … right, sorry, Emi …”
Wei noticed something. “Hmm … Ria said it, huh? Do you think … that Emi’s uncle knows about Emi being with you!? Just like Ria! She also knew that you had Emi here with you!” Ken’s eyes widened. “Oh … you have a point. But that’s awkward though …”
Hoh interrupted them. “Wait a minute, if that’s Emi’s uncle, and he’s coming after Emi, don’t you think he’ll be at least happy or something, knowing that his niece is here and alive, instead of being sent to the netherworld?” Emi gulped inside Ken’s head.
“Yeah … you’re right there. Probably he doesn’t know that … he said he was hired by the temples to come after you. Maybe … that’s how he didn’t know that.” The green-haired girl remarked. “Personally, I am a lot more confused of this than you are, Ken, but I know one thing for sure – the holy scriptures did say that ghosts shouldn’t linger on.”
“Linger on in the human world, I mean. I had a whole stack of those scriptures back home in Gaowu when I was younger, all out of curiosity. So, that was a good reason why Ria did what she did – she did repeat that same sentence. Back then when she nabbed me and lured you into her little dark magic trap and fought.” Wei shook her head.
Hoh and Ken vividly remembered the incident well. “Hmm, considering that the people of this country have long been taught under this particular religious teachings … I guess it’s no surprise that Ria’s one of those loyal ones too. But she was rather extreme.”
Ken slammed his palm on the desk. “And Emi’s uncle is no more extreme than what Ria used to be, Hoh! This is why I’m going to that town tonight and settle this once and for all!” Hoh was shocked. “Ken, that town’s about 2 hours from Handao! We’ll have to leave early too if we want to arrive in time and stop Emi’s uncle from another rampage!”
The brown-haired teen was confused. “Um … we?” Wei slammed her palm on the desk. “Yes, we! All three of us! We’re doing this for Emi’s sake, alright! Friends in need are friends in deed! Wasn’t that the reason why you wanted to go to Yange town so badly in the first place!?” Ken’s eyes glittered a little. “You guys … alright, we’ll go.”
“Alright!” Hoh cheered in the air. “This is awesome! Another adventure!” Wei said.
Emi felt awkward at the situation. I don’t really think it’s an adventure … but thanks … Ken … everyone. Thank you. Ken clasped his hands together. “Alright, we’ll meet up at my place’s aerotrain station at 15 minutes to 5 o’clock! But, first we need to think of a way to avoid our folks and all those suspicions …” Ken sighed hard.
Hoh waved at the two of them. “Say, I don’t mean to interrupt you guys, but … the rest of the class is coming back, and I don’t think we want to be seen as having broken that window. I suggest we report this to Mr Ahashi or Mr Sanada to maintain innocence.”
Ken nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s do that!” The trio students rushed out of the class amid the flow of other students, leaving behind the gasps and whispers made. Of course, that was before they saw the wreckage of that broken glass window in the class.
Emi was left pondering. Uncle Ang … why? Why … have you done this?
Continued in Chapter 26.
Notes: They are off again! Alas, we have not seen Yon out since Chapter 7. In Chapters 21 and 22, Ria cites from the holy scriptures that ghosts ought not linger in the living world. The moment Wei and Hoh see Ken fighting, they instantly know it is Emi instead. This fact is established by now. What will happen next? Stay tuned.
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Tsk tsk tsk. What a mess. Who is the person responsible for asking Uncle Ang to instigate on Ken and Emi?
Today, I give you a very long extended song of the Sonic and Knuckles game's zones.
And that is all for now! Thank you all for reading and stay tuned for the next update!
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Post by Professor Fann on Mar 29, 2010 14:02:01 GMT -5
Hi everyone. Although today is the 30th of March 2010, and it's still one more day to go, I've decided to get this update up and early with! Hope you enjoy it! Prepare yourselves! -------- This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter Chapter 26: Two Souls Get Their Dues Ken, Wei and Hoh met up with Mr Ahashi, the fiercest teacher in Aoyaga Private Academy, and lodged an official report regarding the class window which Emi’s Uncle Ang purportedly broke. The trio sighed with relief, having maintained their innocence and were allowed to leave. The clock in the teachers’ office ticked 12.32 pm. Hoh shut the teachers’ office door tight. “That’s done … guess we should head back to class now. I don’t want to talk about Emi’s uncle for now. He’s creepy …” He stretched his hands and sighed. “Mind you, I haven’t eaten lunch yet.” “Yeah, me too.” Wei looked down on the floor. “I was so busy keeping Bak and the class away I forgot about my hunger.” Emi smiled to herself as the trio shared a light laugh. Back in class, they avoided the stares of other students and ate their lunch together. The remaining 2 hours of school was a quiet one, with everyone back to studying. Ken let out a small yawn while doing his revision sheets, whereas Hoh bit on the tip of his pencil. Nothing much really happened, so naturally when the school bell rang, all students were relieved and rejoiced in getting a rest. The trio grouped at Ken’s desk. “Now, about our folks … I’m sure they want to know where we would go and why we are coming back late. Let’s just say that we are holding a group study at Hoh’s place. My mum and dad know that Hoh’s a genius, so they won’t mind.” The bespectacled teen blushed. “Aw, come on, Ken o’ buddy. I’m not really a genius or anything like that.” Emi stared back at Hoh. I think you ARE a genius … Only Wei was uncomfortable. “I can’t guarantee I’ll be there though … I’ll try to convince my dad of this … lie, but… never mind. I shall try my best.” Wei worriedly played with her two fingers. “In case anyone calls home, I’ll have the servants answer the phone and say we are busy working together. That way, no one will be suspicious of us.” Hoh lifted his school bag on his shoulder. Just then, the duo of Maz and his sister Ria entered the class. “Hello you three …” The cold voice of Maz greeted them first. “Ria here suggested … we all go for some ice cream … the parlour down from school … care to come?” The ex-fanatic medium girl waved at the trio, where they showed meek smiles back at her. “Um, no thanks. We have something to do later … we need to go now.” Hoh said to Ria, who waved her beige hair. “Hm, I see. Maybe next time, we’ll all go together then!” Hoh became shy from that eye contact and looked away. Wei looked suspiciously at Hoh, confirming to herself what she speculated previously: “Hoh’s interested in Ria …” Maz sighed. “Suit yourself … I’m paying the bill today … see you all later.” Maz pulled his sister away as he walked on, making her protest lightly on his hard grip. “Ria has become a totally different person indeed.” Ken remarked and then got back on topic. “It’s settled then. See you at the aerotrain station at my place at 4.45 pm!” Ken arrived home and had a warm shower, which Emi felt shy of, as she shared his body. She watched through his eyes as he began to pack some light school books and some light snacks in his bag. “I’m packing them just in case I don’t eat dinner”, he said. When she found him walking off, mother Saya demanded to know where he was going this time, to which he replied he would be studying at Hoh’s till late at night as planned. Luckily, he was granted permission and let off easily. Sister Ayumi complained, saying that she had no similar chances to do so. Father Ajima intervened, saying that Ken is quite mature and could handle himself well whereas she was not fit yet. It was his mum and dad together who bade him farewell, with Ayumi sulking behind their backs. I’m amazed, Ken … your folks really love you. You should be grateful they let you off so easily. Ken shrugged. “Yeah … I’m really grateful to them, but I can’t tell them the truth and make things worse, right? Sigh …” He walked on to the aerotrain station. “Gah, they’re not here yet … the train leaves six minutes from now …” The clock in the aerotrain station ticked 4.42 pm. Holding his ticket tightly, he waited and waited, but no sign of his two friends. As the aerotrain arrived, he heavily sighed and checked past the counter machine. To his surprise, the aerotrain sliding doors revealed the duo in jackets and warm clothes, already occupying seats in front of him. “Whoa!” “Hey! You’re here, Wei! You had me worried that you wouldn’t come!” The girl smiled. “Ha ha hah. Thanks a lot. I managed to convince my dad, though he gave me the eye of suspicion … he keeps me under his eyes a lot of the time, so it was hard to get him to let me come.” She sighed as Ken stepped into the aerotrain and Hoh flipped something. “Erhm … Hoh? Why are you reading a book here?” Hoh made a dog ear on the page of his Accounting book before looking up to Ken. “Even if I am going somewhere, I’ll never stop studying!” Ken slapped himself in the face. “You bookworm.” Emi fumed: See!? He’s studying! Why aren’t you!? You really make me worry so much, Ken!“Alright, alright … I’ll come back home and read that Literature textbook after we deal with your uncle.” The aerotrain doors slid close and departed the station. It moved on the rail tracks heading to the north and eventually approached the Handao border region. “Hey, look. There’s Han’s place. He’s there! And so are his cows!” Wei pointed out at Hoh’s corner window. True it was; there were the unmistakable large plains, two herds of grazing cows and the peasant himself sitting on a large marble rock. “Ha ha. What a coincidence …” Hoh remarked before turning back to his book and Ken looked on. The teen got a surprise when Han suddenly looked up at him and gave him a very quick thumbs-up. “Huh!? What the!?” Han had retreated back to his herd overseeing when Hoh glanced at him. “Ken, what’s wrong?” The teen gulped. “Um … it’s nothing.” No one said anything throughout the journey. This time, they were facing something real and serious. Emi had warned everyone that Uncle Ang is very strong physically and uses real-life weaponry in fights and practice. Spiritual swords and awls can’t do any damage this time. This fight would be more serious than what the trio have faced. “I am getting impatient … yet I must wait on. I am confident the boy will come.” Ang muttered to himself, standing there in a large plain of tall grass. The wind blew onto a signboard reading ‘Puqingdi’, yet the sturdy muscular man remained standing there. “I know he will come … being able to fight me earlier today … he is a man of character.” A figure who was perched up a tall tree above Ang spoke. “You have done well … the temple pardons your use of violence today … for what is being done here is that we are … cleansing a dirty soul. As a member of the religious authority around … I must see that it be done.” He snickered to himself. “Heh heh heh … Ken Kazuguchi.” The aerotrain moved on, gliding under its aerial hanging tracks. Hoh was worried, as the clock ticked 6.39 pm. “Two hours are almost up … it’s time to face Emi’s uncle … I don’t think Wei and I will be of much help, but … I can’t just not be here …” He wrote something on his textbook and Wei was troubled as well. “What a mess …” Wei remarked; chin on both palms. “We can’t let the police get involved … what will happen to us if we fail?” Ken said nothing, standing up on the walkway of the aerotrain, holding onto a support. “That’s why we can’t fail tonight. We have to win.” Hoh finally closed his textbook. “Buddy, are you saying you have a plan?” Wei looked on at the serious face of the teen. “Not just me. We have a plan. Emi and I.” The aerotrain rumbled on as it neared its destination. The evening had turned more ominous, thanks to the horrible atmosphere mingling with the effects of a dark night. “We’re here … let’s do this.” Ken said as the aerotrain opened its sliding doors. The trio rushed out onto the platform and checked in at the counter with their tickets. The place was rather empty, with only a security guard watching the place. Uncle’s town … I heard of it before in his letters … but I never thought I’d see it. Emi said that. In front of the station was an adjacent large paved road and neighbourhoods of small homes and much undeveloped land, laid with ancient trees and stone statues. “I see a large plain field. To the right.” The trio rushed, being led by Ken. “I don’t like this place …” Hoh mumbled as they entered that large field, going further into the land. “Aha, you arrived on time, my boy! You truly are a man of honour!” Ang bellowed from far away as he struck his staff on the ground. The field was truly very far and wide. Wei and Hoh looked on, mouths slightly open, as Ken faced Ang of 200 meters away. “Ang … was it? What do you want with me? Why would the temples want anything from me?” “You have a dirty soul! A dirty soul that needs cleansing and starting over! From the impression I was given, you have been the sole source of disturbance to the temple and you must be cleansed accordingly!” Ang shouted as the grass was swayed by the wind. Ken frowned. “Wow … dirty soul, huh? There’s a serious misunderstanding here.” He doesn’t know I’m here, Ken … anyway, to stop Uncle, we need to corner him psychologically. Ken, distract him for a while. I can lend you some help, but I’d need you to do your part. Remember what we planned. Are you ready? Ken clenched his knuckles and looked at something interesting – a large box next to Ang’s left leg. “If you want a dirty soul, a dirty soul you’ll get! But you’d have to fight me first!” He shouted back to Ang. Hoh watched nervously as he rubbed his hands. Ang shook his head. “Such stubbornness … I’ll have to force you. GRAAHH!!” “HAAH!!” The duo ran forward to each other. Ang held his staff but kept it at a distance, intending to grab Ken with just his hand. Get a strong weapon you see! Luckily, Uncle Ang still carries that box around with him … “Don’t think this fight will be easy, Ang!” Ken remarked as he dodged an incoming hang grab from Ang and circled behind him. “Good move, boy! But not good enough!” Ang turned to his right and so did his left hand. “Whoa!” Emi used his hands to block Ang’s hand lightly and return a soft yet firm punch at Ang’s back. “Ofmph!” He remarked just before Emi launched a kick on him. Forgive me, Uncle Ang! “Arghh!!” The muscular man was struck off guard and collapsed. Now, Ken! Grab a weapon! “Alright! I got you!” The teen rushed forward 60 meters to the box, which was the size of a small cupboard. “Whoa … can people be strong enough to carry something like this?” He wedged it open. He found a variety of ancient weapons, some he never saw before. “Hey, that’s the spiked ball weapon I see on the cartoons … oh, and a large bow and a set of arrows too! Aha! My favourite!” Ken picked up a long metal double-edged sword, which he held easily. Wei was surprised. “Wow, that looks heavy … can Ken do an arm combat like this?” Hoh adjusted his glasses with a smile. “Ha ha … I think he can handle it.” Wei turned to him. “Eh? What do you mean?” Hoh exhaled out. “Hmm … oh, that’s right, you never fought a ghoul before … remember our spiritual weapons?” Wei silently nodded. “When Ken and I fought ghouls down at the Meifujang valley previously, we really had to use energy to strike them. It felt very … real, as though those ghouls, even when dead, are alive … with flesh and all that. Like a real living person. The enemy’s resistance is very real … so, with Ken using a sword, it’s like fighting a ghoul again. The enemy pressure and countering resistance is … very real. It should be easy for him.” Wei looked at him shrug. “Well, that’s what I think anyway … I believe Ken can fight off Emi’s uncle, even if he can blast off another giant boulder.” The bespectacled teen watched calmly as Wei looked on worriedly. “Oh … I hope he’ll be fine … Ken …” Ang stood back up. “Oh, you want to fight me with that!? Give your best, boy!!” Ang thrust his staff forward while Ken held onto his weapon harder. “All the fights with the ghouls … I hope this works. RAH!” Ken dashed forward and stuck his hardest onto Ang’s staff. “Oh!!” Ang exclaimed from the vibrations he felt with both hands. “You’re good! GRAAH!” Ang lifted his staff high and smacked it down. “Oh no!” Ken exclaimed, realizing the impact was too hard to counter. He dodged and the staff created a small line of a crater on the soil. “Take this!” The teen swung forward, but Ang was fast and the duo clashed hard again. “AAAH!” Ken lifted his sword and slammed it again. “Hmm … what are the odds that metal can break bronze, I wonder, boy?” Ken ignored that and continued his attacks. “I’m not laying down, old man!” He shouted as he attempted to attack Ang’s left rib. “Oh! Sneaky!” Ang commented as he repelled the blade’s body with his open palm. The teen almost lost grip of his sword. “I don’t intend to go back to the temples over this silly issue, Ang!” He swung his sword in several circular revolutions and blocked a series of staff thrusts by Ang. “They have no idea what they are talking about! Who are the temples to judge if I have a dirty soul or not!?” He swung his sword upwards, hitting the staff and repelling Ang to his back. “What do you think they have planned to do, Hoh? This seems to be going nowhere …” Wei turned to a bothered Hoh. “I don’t know … Ken seems to be stalling him. He’s also getting tired …” Things started to take a turn from here. “Well, boy … it’s my turn.” Ang held his staff with his left hand and clenched his right hand. Uh!? Oh no! Ken, watch out! Ang began with a series of non-stop punching. “Ugh!” Ken repeatedly dodged them by jumping backwards, but Ang kept on going; not a bit tired. “Ha ha! You can’t keep dodging me forever! Take this!” Ang growled. He thrust his staff forth, which was blocked by Ken, and then twisted it around and smacked him on the back. “Urgh!” Ken yelled in pain as he hunched. “What’s the matter, boy!? Can’t take the pain!?” Ang blasted on his chest again another palm attack, throwing Ken backwards. “ARGH!!” Ken yelled as he was flung in the air. Ken, I’m coming! Emi grasped partial control of Ken’s limbs and stomped on the ground, landing him to safety. “RAH!!” Ang yelled out as he jumped in mid-air, getting ready to strike his staff on Ken. “Tsk!” Emi grumbled as she quickly jumped out of the area and Ang caused a tremor by merely stomping on the solid ground. Phew … ah! Hey! Emi cried out as Ken abruptly resumed control of his body and dashed to Ang. “Uuurgh!” He struck Ang’s staff, but with less strength however. “Oh, what’s wrong, boy? Tired already? Let me put you into a nice deep sleep!” Ken would be terribly injured if he hadn’t dodged more of Ang’s attacks, aimed at his stomach and chest. “Argh!” He was then punched on the cheek by the muscular man, who continued by slapping him left and right on the face with that firm palm. “Urgh! Ah! Oww!” Ken could only cry in pain and balance himself up while being beaten repeatedly. No! What are you doing!? Let me have control! Emi pleaded to him, but was denied quickly. “Emi … it’s nice you help …” Ken coughed a little; Ang continued his beatings but didn’t hear him speak. “But … this isn’t part of the plan.” He smugly looked at Ang. “If the temples say you have a dirty soul, then you do!! How can we go against our spiritual teachers and the scriptures!? Do you doubt their wisdom!? I hate native people like you who doubt the religious teachings of this country!” Ken received one last punch which threw him to the left. He collapsed on the ground but quickly got up. “I’m still not giving up … URK!!” Ken nearly collapsed again due to the pain on his back. Ang used this moment to charge forward and gather some energy in his fist. “Your defenses are weak, boy!!” Ang slammed a tight fist onto Ken’s chest and back. “AAHH!” AAH! Emi had absorbed part of the pain inflicted onto Ken. No! Ken, look out! Emi cried as Ang slammed an open palm on Ken, throwing him off. Wei and Hoh were aghast. “Ken! No!” “Buddy!” Ken rolled hard on the ground, which eventually stopped. “Urgh … pain everywhere …” He was bruised all over his face and he felt sore throughout his body. The duo rushed to him. “Ken! This is too much for you!” “Let’s retreat! You’re weak all over!” Hoh and Wei said respectively. “No … I’m fine …” His hands gripped the soil and moved his legs. “I have to keep going … I don’t care if I get hurt … think of it worse … if I’m attacked again … if I give up now.” Emi was extremely worried for him. Ken … no … you can’t do this … Wei and Hoh saw Ang doing something, and immediately retreated far away for safety. Ken! I’m coming out to help you! Just before she could do anything, Ken tightened his grip on the sword and banged it on his head. OW! What was that for!? The teen panted and struggled to stand. “Emi … making your uncle back to his senses is your job … I was supposed to distract him, remember? Just focus on what we planned …” Emi wanted to protest but dropped the idea. You’re right … keep fighting, Ken! Just wait for the right moment to hit him back … I won’t fail you, Ken! You can rest when this is all over! Ken wiped the saliva off his mouth. “Alright … here I go again!” Ang held his staff firmly to defend himself. “Charging at you!” Ken jumped in the air and struck the staff. “I won’t let you make your moves!” He said as he aimed for Ang’s right arm, which was blocked. Both of them fought with great speed and agility. Ken was fired up, more determined than before to distract Ang till Emi can make her move. “Urgh, you’re annoying, boy!” Ang struck his staff out to deter Ken, but the teen blocked the move by using one of the blade’s edges to slide the staff on and deliver a punch on his face. “ARKK! Why you!” Ang tried to swing a fist at him, but Ken drew an edged blade at the man, forcing Ang to draw forth his staff again. “RAAH!!” Ken struck the staff. “Amazing! You’re still fighting!” Ang remarked as he held his staff harder. Ken struck the staff 5 continuous times. “Why are you going against me so much? Why not give up to the religious authorities and start a good life all over?” Ken panted as his feet trenched on the soil firmly. “Because … I do not have a dirty soul! There’s a misunderstanding!” He lashed out at Ang’s rib area, to which it was successfully blocked by the muscular man. “Orgh!” The teen returned to striking harder on Ang’s staff. I’m ready but … if only there was an opening for me … “What? What misunderstanding could there be? Why are you so strong? So … defiant and determined? Why?” Ang grumbled. “I remembered our days when we used to break cinderblocks together, Uncle Ang.” Ken’s voice suddenly said. Ang’s curiosity was triggered. “Urgh!” He said as Ken hit harder on his bronze staff. “Rah! Rah! Rah!!” Ken shouted as he continued his strikes. “Oh no! Ken is exhausted!” Hoh exclaimed. “Come on, you can do it!” Wei cheered on him. Ken’s eyes were getting smaller and he panted more. “Raah! Raah! RARH!” He struck Ang’s staff with increasing energy. “Uncle Ang? Where have I heard that before? Someone once called me that … I am not your uncle, boy!!” Ang retorted back. The teen glanced an eye at him; this time with a mixture of seriousness and concern. “Oh no?” Ken struck the staff harder; tiny cracks formed unknown to anyone. “You have forgotten me already?” The teen panted harder as he lashed another strike of his sword. “This afternoon in Ken’s school … do you think it possible for merely him to perform that fight without any help? The fact that he used your own martial arts against you?” Emi said via Ken’s mouth. “Urgh!!” Ang grunted as Ken struck harder again. “The fact that he could have countered you so well … because your niece helped him?” “GAAHH!!” Ken shouted one last time, striking onto Ang’s staff, finally breaking that bronze object into halves. “Ugh!” Ang exclaimed as he was thrown back. “Ofmph!” He collapsed on the grass. “Niece? My niece? What are you talking about, boy!?” Ken dropped his sword down and retreated at the right time. Emi then shouted back at him. “Uncle Ang … look at you! I’ve seen it all through this boy’s eyes … you destroyed public property … you even fought the police … you harmed public citizens! You’re not the kind, loving uncle I once knew! You loved this girl, stroked her purple hair whenever she hugged you … how can that loving uncle do terrible things to all others!?” “What is this …” Ang remarked as he balanced himself up. “Uncle Ang? Girl? Purple hair? Cinderblocks? Where have I known those before?” He struggled to remember until it hit him. “WHAT!? Impossible! How did you know about her!? A boy like you!” The ghost girl shook her head. “I am not Ken Kazuguchi now … I am your niece now. Emi Takahiro. The girl who admired her uncle so much. Uncle, I am here. After I departed from my body, I met and lived together with Ken. Can’t you tell it’s me?” Ang almost felt like crying, but he shook his head in denial. “Rubbish! How can Ken Kazuguchi be Emi Takahiro!? My niece! My little niece has never been as far south as to Shijun city before! What proof do you have that you are my dearest beloved niece!?” “Remember this, uncle?” Emi cleared her voice. “ Meadow by the river ~ so sweet and tender ~ why can’t I be with you ~ I am so unfortunate ~ my time is limited here ~ I wish you my best.” Ang trembled with a shocking revelation. “That poem … that’s my niece’s most favourite poem! I taught it to her at her tender young age …” “My dearest niece … is that really you, Emi?” Ang rushed forward and held her in a tight hug. “Emi … Emi … it really is you! I don’t believe it … I’m sorry … I never had the chance to see you in the hospital … your mother called me …” The muscleman cried out tears of joy and sadness together. Hoh sighed. “Aww … I love a happy ending.” Emi leaned on Ang’s body; that tenderness struck him. “I … I don’t believe it! IT IS YOU!” Ken partially felt the tight grip, as though he was being squished to bits. Emi didn’t care; she only wanted to hold onto her uncle. “Emi … I’m sorry. I have done terrible things. How can you ever forgive me?” Emi shook her head. “It’s okay, Uncle Ang … it’s okay. I’m here. I’m so glad … to see you after a long time. I … I forgive you.” Ang cried some more. “I couldn’t come to see you … I was injured myself … I fought this tiger that charged at me in the woods …” Wei stared back at Ang’s outrageous claim. “Did he walk into an animal reserve or a zoo or something at that time?” Ang continued on. “But … the scriptures say that each soul departs to the netherworld. So, how come –?” Emi looked up with crying eyes. “I chose not to go … I wanted to say on, even when I saw the way … I have seen many souls go on, but many too … wished to stay behind. Forgive me, Uncle Ang.” Emi rested her head on Ang’s chest. “It’s … it’s alright. I understand. It’s your choice … I can’t force you. But … wait a minute! YOUR VENERABLE!!” Ang yelled out with anger as he stared at the giant tree. The priest Jia was clearly sitting on one of its sturdy branches. Hoh was shocked. “That’s the priest who approached Ken again and again!” Wei was confused again. “Is there something else … that I need to know, besides Emi?” Ang let go of his niece and clenched his fists tighter. “Your Venerable! I get the feeling that you are hiding some things from me! That is not an act of a temple priest!!” Jia gulped with fear. “Um …” “Your Venerable Priest Jia! Explain to me what is going on! What exactly are you referring to as the dirty soul in the first place!?” Jia tried to explain his viewpoint. “This boy … he had a ghost with him … he was going against the holy scriptures … I tried to get him to talk … so I had to come to you! The famous martial artist Cenge Ang!” Ang was further infuriated. “That dirty soul, which you are trying to take away, is my niece! How dare you do so by force!! You … you are no better than the lowest criminal on the planet!!” With all his ego, Jia became angry as well. “How dare you say something like that to me!? Do you know who you are talking to!? A temple priest!!” “Hiyah … if I didn’t know any better, I’ll say muscleman here is right.” The instant the voice stopped speaking, a heavy fog blew over the entire field. “Urgh!” “Ah!” Wei and Hoh shielded themselves. “Whoa!” Emi likewise did the same. Ang did nothing of that sort, but only watch as Jia cower in fear. “What’s going on!? Huh!? AAAAH!!” Jia lost balance on the branch, as the fog had blinded him too, and fell about 30 feet down to the soil. “Well, well, what do we have here? A priest, straying from the very teachings I approved. I have been watching your ego rise for months now. Your actions here today … are totally contrary to what I approved of the standard moral and etiquette.” Emi hit realization. “Approval? Does that mean … you are!?” The voice said nothing, as suddenly four helicopters descended on the fields. “Team Four, prepare to move! Arrest that monk as ordered!” The figure from a police squad came out of Chopper Two. “Argh!” The wind blew stronger in the fields, irking Hoh in his eyes. “My eyes!” He rubbed them hard. “Ah!” Wei strengthened her own feet, holding onto the soil below. “Team Three, arrest that muscular man as well!” Beside that cop, a figure of similar height came out. “Ah … very well done, officer. See to that Team Two secure these three kids first. They are in a terrible situation. We don’t want them to get worse.” “Yes, sir! Team Two, let’s move!” Instantly, three teams of five cops each came out of the fog, dressed in paramilitary uniforms and holding machine guns. Team Four dragged Jia up to his feet whereas Team Three tried to handle Ang. “No, you can’t do this to me! I’m a priest! I’m a priest! You can’t do this to me!” Jia cried as he was dragged away. The voice spoke to Jia, although Jia never saw him. “Hmph. I had my eyes on you for some time now. I approved your High Priest’s recommendation to become a temple priest … and I can banish you and put you in jail as well. Do you know who I am now?” Jia’s eyes widened with fear. “NO!! That’s impossible! Why are you here!? Aaaaaaahh ~” Jia had said his last, before being silenced and brought up Chopper Four. The cops slammed the doors shut and the personnel inside struggled to bring him under control. Emi rushed forth. “No! Don’t arrest my uncle! Let him go!” The other duo were shocked. “Emi! No!” They shouted as they dashed forward too, just before the police stopped them on their tracks. “Please stay calm! We are not going to arrest you and your friend! We have evidence against Cenge Ang for public assault and destruction of public property!” “Uncle, you can’t go! Leave him alone!” Emi, overwhelmed by emotion, struggled with the cops. Ang felt pitiful to his niece. “Emi … let it go. I have assaulted your friend here … and I destroyed things earlier today … I deserve to go to jail … a man of honour knows when he’s wrong now. Boy … it has been a great honour … to meet you …” Emi felt like glass smashed to millions of bits. “Uncle … Uncle Ang … why?” She bent down on her knees and sobbed. “All suspects secured! Let’s move out!” A police officer shouted to the teams. Ang was being quietly led away to Chopper Three. “All clear!” A cop gave the signal and Choppers Three and Four flew into the air. “No! Not Big Island! NOO!!” Priest Jia shouted before he was shut up. That left police squad Team Two, the trio students, Emi and the figure in the fog. “Ah … we are alone now.” “Why are you doing this … sir National Shaman? Why?” Emi mumbled softly at the figure. Wei and Hoh were shocked. “What was that!?” While the scene calmed down, four individuals stood close to seeing one of the most secretive people in the Republic. “Ha ha … I finally have the honour of meeting you children at last.” The voice spoke with joy, and gradually a blur black figure appeared behind the fog. He appeared to be a person slightly taller than Ken himself, but other details could not be figured out now. Continued in Chapter 27. Notes: Hope you enjoyed that fight, folks. The conspirator Jia is finally revealed … or you may have guessed it’s him since the end of Chapter 25. Refer to Chapter 18 – Emi’s favourite poem. Ang is a sensitive and sentimental person – how else could he so quickly accept Emi in Ken’s body? Big Island prison – short details in Comic Arts Page 31. So, what will happen next to everyone now? -------- I posted up that reference note to Chapter 18 in the notes to prove that I did not simply create any 'Emi's favourite poem'. It's the same thing. With reference to my old comic series - Comic Arts - here is the link to Page 31, that details Big Island, as the 1-and-a-half-years-from-current-story-plot Axl explains it in quick terms. Hope the panels don't give you a headache. msiafanwriter.deviantart.com/art/FanWriter-s-Art-81-Page-31-68654036In the mean time, here's a treat of an Oscar Best Music-nominated music called "Sherlock Holmes - Discombobulate". It's the main theme you keep hearing throughout the movie. Thank you for coming! Stay tuned for the next update!
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Post by Professor Fann on Apr 15, 2010 0:27:31 GMT -5
Everyone. Today I give you the exciting update of the Chapter 27. Hope you enjoy!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 27: All Souls Get Some Answers
Ken had just fought Cenge Ang, Emi’s uncle, the strong martial artist and had him see the error of his ways. The conspirator Priest Jia, who was hell-bent on taking Emi away from him, using a religious teaching as reason for his actions, has been arrested.
“You have performed splendidly.” The Shaman said with a light tone. “I have been waiting to oust that priest for months, due to all that rising ego after his promotion from being a monk. I can’t have that in any of my temples now, can I?”
Emi looked up. “Must my uncle … be arrested?” The Shaman initially said nothing. “Dear child, you saw him damage public property at the boy’s hometown. That’s good evidence enough for the police to charge him. I cannot interfere in that.”
Hoh stepped forward. “How did you come here!? I didn’t hear or see any helicopters coming!” The Shaman seemed to rub his chin. “You forgot what Han said? Being the Shaman is more than just a medium. That’s how I can carefully plan this entrance.”
Emi had retreated control and Ken’s body collapsed on the soil motionless. “We’ll talk more in the helicopter.” He turned to the Team Two cops. “Get the boy treated. We’re leaving this place now.” Team Two merely complied. “Yes, sir! Let’s move!”
The police escorted all into Chopper Two, and Wei found it suspicious that the National Shaman boarded Chopper One instead. “What kind of people are running this country …? It’s so messy …” The helicopters departed from the fields and the fogs dissipated.
Ken laid unconscious two rows behind Wei and Hoh. Two cops were sitting facing them, two piloting the helicopter and two more treating Ken’s bruises. The girl grumbled: “I want my answers now!” Hoh looked on at her silently, not sure of what to do now. “Um, Wei … I don’t know if he can actually hear us …” He muttered.
In Chopper One, a character of a yellow shawl covering his whole body leaned on his seat. His right hand, covered by a large brown glove up to his elbow and having a star design, picked up a nearby microphone. “You … girl … your name is Ziwei Chou?”
His voice boomed in Chopper Two. “Yes … that’s me.” The Shaman laughed lightly. “Well, Wei … and you too … Chesong Hoh, I believe?” Hoh looked up at the speaker. “Um … yeah.” They waited for a reply. “Very good. Since the boy … and the girl are being treated, and they can’t say anything right now, I’ll explain what happened.”
“I’m quite sure they have told you everything since their first meeting except … this priest you saw earlier.” The duo looked on without replying. “You see … when a person dies a terrible death, there is bound for some leftover energy onto the person’s spirit.”
The Shaman continued: “This dark energy causes ordinary people to shiver in cold when in contact with them. Almost a week after the boy and girl met, the boy decided to stop just that and consult a local temple for a solution … without revealing her presence.”
Wei nodded. “Okay …” The Shaman said on: “The priest earlier, Jiahui Zhang, has some spiritual abilities, after 20 years of meditation. Naturally, he was alarmed when he sensed the girl with the boy. The fact that the boy refused to confirm the ghost’s presence to the priest, and he being tempted by curiosity, made him pursue the boy.”
Hoh was surprised. “Two weeks and on … man, that guy was persistent.” The Shaman laughed lightly. “Ha ha hah … good, you get the picture. Now … this priest Jia is very arrogant. Orphaned during the Civil War as a child, adopted by the same temple, 10 years of scripture studying, 20 years of meditation … he solved problems of many families.”
Ken was breathing nicely on his stretcher. “So, his High Priest recommended I make him a Priest. I do not deny his achievements, but … I sensed a black aura in his heart, one of the many hundreds of those throughout the whole country. I was very troubled.”
“The only way to beat some sense of humility into them … was to punish them red-handed on the spot. All I can do is wait and watch. Your friends … helped me a great deal. The moment the priest used my water without my permission to cleanse them … I have every right to interfere in what he is doing.” Hoh and Wei silently nodded.
“He is among the last few bad eggs I have to … re-educate. I have dealt with the other hundreds of monks and priests with a black heart. Usually, I’m involved with them at the end, but never … in the process of waiting for them to do something extreme.”
The Shaman then laughed. “Ha ha hah! Getting back onto this priest … him contacting the girl’s uncle to force the boy to confess, that was the final straw. I had the right now to properly oust him from my temple grounds. It makes sense, don’t you think so?”
Wei asked back: “I don’t know about that … now, regarding us being selected for this mission of yours! Why can’t you solve this yourself!? Why must we be involved too!?” The Shaman simply replied: “You are the only ones who can do it.”
“My assistant, Shinjuku Han already told you why … how can I save 32 million people from a dark magic crisis somewhere in the province if I don’t have anyone to work with? Do you want everyone to come near death like Chesong Hoh if shot with dark magic?”
Wei countered: “But … you are the National Shaman! Far more powerful than any medium! Surely you can do this on your own!” She was countered in turn: “I’m not the all-powerful Creator of this universe. Yet, even He needs someone to work with.”
The Shaman continued: “The boy cannot get high scores for his school work if he didn’t work together with Hoh to change. I needed to work with you so you could fight off the demons and ghouls that keep coming after you too, right? That … is my reason.”
Hoh mumbled. “So … how did you deal with the others who have been … bad?” “Ah … most of them have done repeatedly bad things in the sly, any kind of deed which is generally bad at motive. When I finally lose my patience watching them … I come in at the end and arrest them red-handed.” The Shaman sighed lightly after that.
“Religious people are supposed to be moral examples to the public … I won’t tolerate seeing anyone of them breaking the rules or doing something bad. All followers of the planet EraS’s 6 major religions that preach in this country are no exception. That’s what I do … I regulate every religious affair in this country. It’s a difficult job.”
Wei spoke. “But, if people change their attitude for the better, you wouldn’t have to arrest them, right?” The Shaman snapped his fingers. “Exactly. But, humans like Jia … only change after having a severe blow to their pride. If not … they will be arrogant forever. And as the authority that approves them … it pains my heart just looking at them.”
The mood turned solemn as the helicopter flew on south. They were above a city unknown to them and an airplane flew high above them. “I hope you are satisfied with the answers I have given you for now, girl. Any more than that, I’ll only talk when the time is right. In the meantime, please work with Han during your spiritual training.”
“You will arrive at the boy’s home in one hour. If anyone there asks, tell them … that he risked himself to save you all from local thugs. This matter must be kept a secret. Ah … and you all deserve a rest, after what just happened today. Got it?”
Wei was a little uncomfortable with his strict tone. “Yeah … I got it. Thanks … for sending us back.” “It’s a great pleasure … child.” Unknown to any of them, the Shaman was smiling to himself. Hoh then asked: “So … if you saw Priest Jia’s black heart in the first place, why did you still make him as a priest instead of rejecting him?”
“Ah, good question.” The Shaman replied. “If I rejected him, there’s a possibility he could breed more hatred in his heart. I’m not going to risk that, so making him a priest and fall out of my favour is the better way to make him learn and control him.”
“I see … interesting.” Hoh mumbled and indirectly, that was the end of their talk. The four helicopters flew on south, amid the display of city lights below them. Ken had fallen into a neat sleep and the bespectacled teen was going to doze off. Wei remained awake.
Needless to say, they got off by landing at an empty land close to Ken’s home. His family was shocked to find the police carrying him up into his room for a rest. Hoh explained the prepared lie to father Ajima and mother Saya burst into tears again. Minutes later, the cops have left and the duo preferred to stay behind until Ken woke up.
“Urgh … where am I?” Ken rose up on his bed, surprising the duo. “KEN!!” They uttered simultaneously. “Oh, buddy … thank goodness!” “You had us so worried back there!” The teen rubbed his face. “Ow … that hurts … why are you guys in my room?”
The green-haired Wei told him everything from the start, while Hoh fumbled at his study desk. “Whoa … that was the Shaman, huh? Too bad I can’t see him … I was already knocked out the moment Emi took over to talk to Ang. Where is she anyway?”
Wei shook her head. “I haven’t seen her. Maybe she’s still inside your body, resting as well.” Ken grunted and stared at his carpet floor. “Emi …” Hoh decided to take a look at his comic book collection. “Well, thank you, guys … for backing me up when I fought Ang … man, those punches were much worse than the five bullies did me before.”
“Come on, Ken … you need your rest.” The clock on his table ticked 9.43 pm. “Oh … and I guess it’s time for us to go as well. My dad would be worried sick by now. Come on, Hoh! Let’s get going! I won’t want you to worry your servants too much!”
Hoh looked up to her. “Aw, but Ken has some comic book series I haven’t bought yet! Pal, can I borrow them!? Maybe for a week or two, please!” Wei slapped herself on the forehead. “For Heaven’s sake!!” She stretched out her hand and grabbed Hoh by his back collar. “WE’RE LEAVING!!” Wei mercilessly dragged Hoh on the floor.
“No! The comics! Um …” Hoh stared at Ken. “I’ll come back for them later, Ken!” With that, Wei slammed his door shut and he hung his dead down in relief. He heard noises made by both his friends as they met with the rest of his family. “Darn it …”
He stared at some of his books on the desk and even his bag pack. “Emi would probably want me to study now … guess I should get to it.” The moment he tried to lift his leg, he felt his body wouldn’t obey him. No … rest now … that is my wish for you.
“Emi!?” Ken let out his surprise. “Emi! You’re fine!” The ghost girl sighed. Come on, Ken … I wake up whenever you wake up in this body of yours … I heard all of Wei’s explanations, so you don’t have to tell me. Just … take a good rest … for me.
“Fine … I’ll get back to studying when I wake up.” The teen walked over to his sliding door and took a peek outside his balcony. He saw Wei pulling Hoh by the arm, making sure he didn’t come back to Ken. “Ah … you’re definitely right. I should rest.”
Meanwhile, somewhere far away, a chilly wind blew lightly on two large burning candles. The cloaked villain was walking to his hideous altar. “Minion.” He said, and the ghoul came directly to his aid. “Yes, my lord?” The figure halted on his steps.
“That human candidate has failed … that confirms my feelings from the very start. The boy and the girl are indeed a threat to the grand salvation ideal.” The cloaked villain uttered dully in front of his hideous altar. “My lord …” The minion ghoul said.
“But that doesn’t matter. The final phase, when carried out, will surely kill them all. That’s because …” Using his mere thoughts, he projected in the hall several detailed layouts of some sort and the facial profiles of some living humans. “I have selected the bodies the elite demon team will need to possess in order to wreck provincial havoc.”
“Congratulations, my lord!” The minion ghoul complimented, but immediately bowed in fear the instant the cloaked villain looked at it from the side. “Yes … but first, I will need to teach them how to wreck havoc … plant by plant, factory by factory. So that they can handle the machinery well … and unleash the clouds of disguise.”
The both of them remained in the altar hall. “It all ends … in five days. With the demon armies on standby ready to move … all sitting in their allocated positions and ready on my command, the entire province will be mine to control.”
The next day – 29th September a Saturday. Ken only woke up about 6 o’clock, and just only remembering that he should meet Han for spiritual training, he washed up and got ready. Emi, who had been freed from his body, reminded him to pack some textbooks for studying, since he didn’t wake up the previous night at all to study.
“Alright, alright … my revision is close to completion though …” Ken grumbled. Emi simply hugged him from behind. “There, there … don’t want to slack off now, can we?” Ken didn’t move as long as she held him tight. “You can do it, Ken … exams and the training …I really, really like you so much.” The teen sighed and hung his head down.
“Going out again!? Your exams are near!!” Mother Saya clearly didn’t approve of him going out again after what happened last night. “But, mum! I’m just going to Hoh’s place to study! I won’t tackle any thugs by my own, okay? Really!!” Ken objected to her.
After a long argument around 7 o’clock and a light breakfast, he finally went off. He promised Wei and Hoh that they’ll meet at the aerotrain station and then sneak towards Han’s place, without being spotted by mother Saya. “The things I have to do …”
A firm palm then rested on his right shoulder. “Ken …” He turned to see a sighing Wei. “We all knew this was going to happen. We have to make up more lies just to save our behinds. It’s already too late to go back. It all started when we got our weapons.”
In due time, the four of them arrived at Han’s place. The cows were grazing.
“Word is from my master you have dealt with the girl’s uncle successfully. Well done.” Han merely said as he greeted the four of them. “We’ll go straight to training now. But first … you’ll have to change into tracks. We don’t want you all to sweat unnecessarily on those clothes of yours now.” Ken had a puzzled face as he entered the door.
The trio were bluntly given blue track suits. Naturally, everyone took their turns using Han’s bathroom upstairs just to change in. “Hey, that looks sporty on you, Hoh.” Ken remarked as he stared at the blue tracks with single white strip on the side. “Kind of reminds me of PE sessions … I want longer hours of sports playtime … boo.”
Han approached them. “You all ready? The training hall is down the cellar.” Wei raised an eyebrow. “Cellar? We’re training in a cellar?” Han merely smiled. “If I wanted you all to train in the local gyms, I would have booked the place, won’t I? Let’s move.”
Initially, everyone had a bad impression looking at a crumby wooden door at the back of Han’s kitchen. “You’re sure it’s here?” Hoh looked at a silent Han. “Move on … you’ll have a nice surprise.” Wei glanced at him with doubt before she descended the stairs into darkness below. After some time walking down, her feet felt hard ground.
“Is this … lacquered wood? In a cellar? What place is this!?” She let out her fuss in the dark place. “Ha ha … behold.” Han switched on a light switch and all lights instantly brightened to reveal a gigantic well-furnished hall of light brown floor and walls, decorated with arts of the occult. It was about the size of a basketball court.
“Amazing … a place like this under an ordinary farm!” Emi commented as everyone awed on. “Alright, everyone come to the center.” The trio did as they were instructed by Han. “Line up in a straight line.” From the left to right were Wei, Hoh, Ken and Emi.
“Emi Takahiro?” Han called out to her and she merely obliged. “Um … yes?” Han adjusted his straw hat. “Like I said, you are excused from training, so I need you to help me coach them in their physical training.” Wei was shocked. “Hold on! I thought this was spiritual training! Why are we doing physical training now!?”
“All three of you know the basics already! Your weapons already gave you the knowledge you need to fight!” Han bellowed back, shocking her more. “I said previously we are moving to an advanced level, right!? You need to pump up those muscles!”
Hoh protested. “But!” Han raised his hand and showed him his bare palm. “No ‘buts’! The bad guy now may send ghouls to attack you lot anytime, and I want you all to be prepared at all times! Think of it as many more Cenge Angs coming straight at you! Ken here only lasted an average 8 minutes during each fight! We’re talking about hours!”
“Do you want to admit defeat and die to this total stranger who controls millions of demons!?” The trio looked down on the floor, all speechless. Emi was worried that Han was too strict. “Good! Let’s get going! All of you give me 100 push-ups NOW!!”
Everyone did as they were told. Hoh barely lasted 10 push-ups and Han came in and kicked him at the side. “What is this!? You city folk are all lax and weak! If you don’t give me 100 push-ups non-stop, you’re not going a rest!” Hoh moaned.
“Come on, Ken. You can do it!” Emi was by the teen’s side, cheering on him. “Urgh … I know, I’m trying … I think I’ve been lazy to do push-ups in PE class …” “Hey! Did I say that you are free to talk!? Don’t lose your focus!!” Han bellowed at him. “Grrh …”
Ken grunted and continued doing push-ups. “I’m done!” Wei said and stood up. Han looked at Emi, who acknowledged that Wei did them all, but didn’t smile. “Good, now you can do some more. Start by doing 100 laps around the hall! No rest halfway!”
The training has just begun 15 minutes ago, and Hoh was tired beyond measure. He still tried his best. Ken was moving on just fine. “Urgh … 65 … 66 … how the heck did Wei move so fast? Even I can’t do as fast as she did …” Emi looked on as Wei did her second lap. “She probably just moved on … she ignored the pain and aimed for the goal.”
“Aimed, eh?” The ghost girl nodded before coming back to her senses. “Hey! Stop talking and keep on going! Even I had to go through all these pain when I was young, you know!” Ken exhaled and did his 71st push-up, quite contrary to Hoh’s situation.
“Urgh … I’m too tired! I can’t do any more!” Apparently, Han sympathized for him a little, because he said: “City folk … fine, go and join your friend at the laps. You have 23 more push-ups to do. Go!!” Hoh really didn’t feel like moving, but he had no choice.
Ken looked on at Hoh as he did his 73rd push-up. “That’s the spirit, Ken! Keep it up! You can do it!” Emi cheered on him. “Why are you cheering on me now, when you barked at me earlier?” He stared at the shrugging ghost girl. “It depends, but mainly I want you to stay focused and help you. Come on, 27 more push-ups to go!”
Han intervened. “Very good, girl. You really know how these trainings work.” He clapped lightly at her. “Boy, move on. After this, you can take a 5-minute break and then continue the push-ups. This time, I want you to do 50. Push-ups, then rest, push-ups, rest. That way, your body can get used to more stress and perform better.”
“Alright! Now, that’s a plan!” Ken enthusiastically returned to the push-ups. Hoh panted as he dragged on behind a running Wei. “Girl! Complete all your remaining laps in 20 minutes! Then you deserve a break!” She nearly dropped her jaw just hearing that.
“What!? Are you crazy!?” Han merely sat on the floor. “That’d be an average 5 laps per minute. Get moving if you know what’s good for you!” She grunted as she had to oblige and sped forward. “Ah, Wei! Wait up for me! Don’t leave me behind!” Hoh cried out.
“By far … that city boy is the weakest of you lot. I’m going to gradually move him up myself. I can trust you oversee the other girl and this boy, Emi?” Han looked at her, who in turn saluted him. “You got it, Han! … Oh, Ken! You have 10 more push-ups!”
Han then ordered that Hoh finish all his laps in 15 minutes, who groaned in response. Even Wei was dragged on tightly, but she managed to complete her laps in time, so she earned a nice 10-minute break for her performance. “Alright! This is neat!”
Meanwhile, Ken had finished his 100 push-ups and moved on to his first 50-push-up exercise and was close to completing it. “Go, Ken, go!” Emi smiled widely at him.
The clock in the hall ticked 8.50 am. “Oh yes! I’m done! 5 minutes break!” Ken allowed himself to collapse on the floor. Han clapped lightly at the teen. “Very good. Alright, I guess all three of you can rest now. Let us … review your performances.”
Everyone sat on floor, drinking as much water as their thirst wanted from all that sweating. Han was walking to and fro lightly on short steps with folded arms. “So far, I have found city boy here the most pathetic. You two … are fine. You two are going to perform the same routines on and on … within a limited time frame, till I’m satisfied.”
Wei sighed. “Figured that out earlier.” Hoh let out a tiny whimper. “It’s not like I want to be so terrible in sports and stuff … I’m just weak. If I only can overcome that …” That sentence made Han halt his walking and turned to Hoh. “Eeep!” He squealed.
“Hmm … you’ll undergo the same routine as the boy then. This time, you’ll do 70 push-ups, 80 laps of running and … some weight-lifting. I’ll watch over you myself so you don’t slack off.” “Aw!!” Emi hung her head down. “I feel sorry for Hoh already …”
“Sorry, you say, girl?” Han turned to her. “Well … yes, but … I know we’re fighting demons and ghouls and you want them to sharpen their minds and responses to threats much quicker …” The peasant snorted. “Then, why are you still in doubt?”
“I …” Emi couldn’t find an answer. “I’m sorry.” Han preferred not to respond to the ghost girl. Ken looked with anger in him, seeing that Han made Emi sad. The peasant walked around some more. “If you all continue this, and if I see progress, I’d even allow you all on a 1-on-1 fight with me. Using real weapons. To sharpen your minds. I’d like to see how you deal with dark magic where it strikes when least expected.”
Wei remembered something. “What exactly is dark magic?” Han stopped walking and she continued. “I mean, we are familiar with it. You say it, we fear it. Why is it so powerful in harming people?” “Ah, yes … dark magic. Simply put, it’s a kind of energy as well. Spiritual energy. I assume you’re familiar with dark energy?”
Ken nodded. “Yeah … energy created when a person dies and lingers on to his body. Emi told me that before.” Han rubbed his chin. “Very good. The difference is … dark energy is a side-effect of moods, events that people experience. Dark magic … is intentional and born out of evil desires. Technically, anyone can create dark magic.”
Wei was shocked. “But, that’s impossible! I don’t know how to make it!” Han smiled. “Exactly. A great majority of people don’t know how to harness that dark energy and turn it into a lethal weapon. You see … it all goes back to your heart. Dark magic originates from evil desires. The more the evil, the deadlier the dark magic produced.”
Hoh shivered from listening to that. Han continued: “The only entities who are able to use energy of hatred and turn them into dark magic are those who have been immersed in hatred and evil-doing for a long period of time. Demons and resentful ghouls can do it.”
“What about humans? The one who attacked us?” Ken asked. “Hm … like I said, he’s so immersed in hatred … evil and probably … he delights in it.” Emi bent an eyebrow of worry. “Is it possible to learn how to use dark magic?” She asked Han nervously.
“Well … there are. But, it’s mostly through self-education. Such skills … learning to make dark magic didn’t originate from the heavens. It involves curiosity, determination, trial and error – all turned to the wrong direction.” Han drank some water.
“Hey … so what about Ria?” Everyone looked at Hoh. “She was able to summon a dark magic body and affect the entire school that day! Surely the Shaman knows how!” The peasant sat on the floor as well. “As far as I’ve been told, she has apparently learnt how to harness her own hatred based on ancient skills involving talismans.”
Han continued: “That’s what the Shaman said anyway. By regulating spiritual affairs and the recognition of mediums, he is able to control the passing of knowledge of the dark magic arts. Thus, the dark magic arts cannot be passed on from person to person.”
Ken countered: “But, Ria was able to perform dark magic! Also, the Osada family being a family of mediums – what if she learnt that from her own parents!? Isn’t that wrong!? If so, the Shaman should have arrested the Osada elders by now, since he approved them as full-fledged mediums!” Han was quiet. “I have not been told anything of this.”
“I’ll talk to my master later then. Right now … let’s continue your training for 1 more hour. Then, you will have 2 hours to study as much as you can.” Both Hoh and Wei moved up from their spots first towards the middle of the hall. Ken wiped his forehead. “Strange … maybe Ria didn’t deserve to have her memories erased …”
Emi tapped on his shoulder. “You know, Ken … remember when Han said he isolated all of Ria’s memories and sealed her spiritual abilities as ordered by the Shaman? Maybe the knowledge of using dark magic was gone by then.” Ken nodded in agreement.
“Yeah … you’re probably right.” Ken stretched his hands; Han had made sure that Hoh was lifting heavy weights now and Wei had started on her own push-ups. “Sigh … I hope I can make this through. We’d see how much my body can fare against –”
“I believe in you, Ken.” Emi smiled and said to him. “You said you were willing to go through the same hard training that the Shaman gave Han last time, and I know you can do it. I have faith in you.” The teen was touched by her declaration. “Emi …”
“Boy! Get over here and do your push-ups again!” Han yelled to the teen. “Later, I want you to do 120 laps around the place too! Come now!” Emi sighed heavily. “There you go … Han is calling you … you might as well go now.” “Alright then … watch over me.”
“Watch over … oh, of course! I’d do my best to guide you in this training!” Emi gave Ken a thumbs-up, who replied with a smile. “Here I go.” For an instant, Emi suddenly heard pint-drop silence for a millisecond and remembered something else. “Ah, Ken! Wait! I want to talk to you first!” The teen stopped his first step and turned to her.
“Um … Ken, there’s something I want to talk with you about Bak.” The teen instantly pictured the normal, frail, chirpy Bak in his mind. “Uh … sure, what is it?” Emi fidgeted with her fingers. “Something I have noticed of him since I first saw him. It’s … um …”
“BOY!!” Han bellowed at Ken again. “Uh, we’d talk later, okay?” He rushed off to Han; Hoh was doing weight-lifting. Emi looked on with worry. “Ken …” She mumbled.
Meanwhile, at the villain’s living quarters, he chose to allow sunlight to penetrate into his altar hall this time. He still had his grey cloak and hood up to maintain the strong aura of mystery. He sat down on the floor, conversing with his group of demons.
“Understand now? That’s how you do it.” He uttered coldly to the pack of five. “Yes, my lord … we understand.” All of them said simultaneously. The villain silently nodded and made the gesture so they could leave. All demons left, and his minion ghoul came in.
“My lord, the second group is ready for your briefing … is something wrong?” It looked on to the face, whose eyes were hidden by the hood’s shadows. “Something is wrong … I had searched everywhere for those four … the boy, his friends and the ghost … but I was unable to locate them … I found no traces of them. This is dangerous …”
“What?” The minion ghoul felt its own spine shiver in coldness. “Oh, dear me …”
Continued in Chapter 28.
Notes: The National Shaman reveals some vital answers … the secrets of the dark magic demons have used are revealed – ‘dark magic’ is an EraSean term specially for this; we refer to it as ‘voodoo’ in real-life actually. Refer back to Chapter 6 for Ken’s encounter with Priest Jia and Chapter 12 for Emi’s observation on Bak and further references there for dark energy. Our villain has sensed something wrong … what is soon to happen to the gang?
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Or in this world, we refer it to also as 'black magic'. Well, I chose 'dark magic' to make it distinct in this case. Not to be confused with 'black magic' from Final Fantasy games - those spells are offensive purposes, like Fira ... and others. But this one is just different.
Well, nothing else to say here. Just enjoy the story and stay tuned to the next update at the end of this month. Thank you!
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Post by Professor Fann on Apr 29, 2010 12:24:22 GMT -5
Dadadatah! Everyone, I am back with the end-of-the-month's update. Please do enjoy this Chapter 28 update. Thank you!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 28: A Soul’s Dream Tale Continued
For the four of them, an entire day had been spent on undergoing Han’s training. Well, of course they had their moments of rest and where Han considered that they had to revise for the coming national exams. Everyone sighed as they left his place at 5 o’clock.
“Have a nice day, you lot … see you tomorrow.” The peasant saw them off at his front porch. His herd of cows mooed loudly again. “Ugh … sure, no problem.” Ken massaged his twisted right arm. “My back hurts …” Wei slammed. The front door was closed.
“So painful … muscle cramps … ow …” Hoh said, turning his back and got a loud cracking noise. Ken stared at him with horror. “Whoa, that does not sound good. Are you okay, Hoh?” The teen wanted to move to Hoh but a single twitch caused his leg muscle to ache. “Ow! Ow ow! That hurts!” Ken collapsed, kneeling on the soil road in pain.
“Ken!!” Emi rushed back to him. “Oh no … Ken, are you okay? The training must have been too hard on you! Oh …” Ken forced himself to smile. “Nah, I’m okay … the pain will probably go off …” Wei herself was also enduring the pain on her stomach.
“My stomach muscle hurts … my legs also hurts from all that running. But … you know, there’s no way I’m going to succumb into the pain, okay?” Wei looked on as she massaged her left leg. “Darn it … you’re right.” Everyone turned to Hoh.
“I’m sure all this will go away … in fact, if we can get used to the pain, I bet we can become as fast and as strong as Han expects us to be. Urgh …” The bespectacled teen struggled to straighten his spine. The other three smiled lightly at him. “Way to go, Hoh! I like that spirit of yours!” Hoh smiled from Emi’s compliment. “Heh … thanks.”
“Come on … let’s all go to Ken’s home for a while, then we’ll head back.” In the end, Wei dragged both boys toward the Kazuguchi household. Emi merely followed behind.
They were met with welcoming yet cheesy eyes of the teen’s family. Grandpa Ojiro got into one of his moods for telling his story of how he had been fighting wars for decades long. Ken served his two friends some drinks, since they were already attracted to the old man. “Sigh … he tells his stories again.” Ken slammed the door of his room shut.
“Aw, come on. Give your grandfather some time. Let him do as he wants. I may be rude, but … it probably won’t be long before … his time is up. My time … is not yet up …” Emi hung her head down in embarrassment. “Sorry … I said something bad.”
“Meh, I don’t really care. It’s not that of a big deal.” Ken slammed his bag on his desk. “After all that training today … what I really care for now is the national exams.” He then picked out a Math book and began looking through some of the problems.
Emi waved her hair and sat on his bed. “Ha ha. That’s good. Study hard, Ken. I know you can do it.” She showed a thumbs-up at him. “Yeah, thanks … but, you’re not going to help me during the exams themselves, are you?” Emi immediately fumed.
“What!? Of course, I’m not going to help you! That’s the same as cheating!” She rolled on the bed to the right side, preferring not to see him. “Honestly, just because I’m a ghost and no one else can see me, it doesn’t mean I’ll do just anything …” Ken sighed.
“I know, I know … I’m just asking for fun.” Ken waved his hair and continued on with his work. Emi grunted some more until her mood was calm. “Hmm … maybe I’d just lie down for a while … the balance of soft and hard on his bed makes it very relaxing.”
She rolled to her left and spread her body wide on the bed. “Ah … so nice …” She mumbled as Ken jotted down some notes for Mathematics. Wei and Hoh were still being entertained with Grandpa Ojiro’s tales. “Ah …” Everything spun into darkness for her.
Then, there was a loud bang on the door. “Ah! What was that!? Huh!? Where am I!?”
Emi looked around her. She was no longer in Ken’s room; she was being bound by metal chains to a wall of solid metal with many exposed bolts and nuts. In front of her was a prison door and its corridors. “AH!?” She let out another gasp. “Quiet, Princess!”
“Princess?” Emi looked and saw that she adorned a pink dress, similar to that of a medieval era. “Wait a minute … it’s that dream again. Ken and everyone were here … Ria … even the priest Jia …” A rotund figure appeared at the prison doors. “Ho ho.”
In a nutshell of the previous dream, Emi the Princess was kidnapped by Ria the Witch and Jia the Fiend, holding her native kingdom as ransom. Ken the Knight and Hoh the Wizard were sent by the King to rescue her. Passersby Maz the Mechanic and Bak the Soldier assisted them, but Messrs Ahashi and Sanada the Air Pirate and Mate nabbed her.
“Oh, right … it’s Mr Sanada.” She commented to herself. “Ah-hyuk-huh. It’s time for the girly princess to have her lunch … and then the captain Air Pirate shall hand you over to the Evil Mage.” The Air Mate unlocked the door and placed Emi’s porridge on a table.
“Evil Mage? … Who’s that?” Air Mate rushed out of Emi’s cell and unlocked her binding chains with a nearby machine. “Ah-hyuk-huh. The Evil Mage intends to own your kingdom as well, Your Highness. He was the one who got the Witch and her Fiend to kidnap you, as well as hiring Air Pirate to chase after you in case you escaped.”
“WHAT!?” Emi rushed over to the door, and Air Mate in turn jumped far away. “Forced marriage!? This … this is unacceptable!” The rotund man chuckled. “It can’t be helped. It was the Evil Mage who kidnapped you, and also influenced your father the King to announce that whosoever came back with the Princess safe shall be the next king.”
Emi couldn’t believe her ears. “I won’t accept this! I won’t!!” Air Mate chuckled again. “We’ll see about that. This is my chance to earn a seat in governance! Wah hahah!!” The rotund man walked away to his left, slamming another prison door shut tight.
Emi panted from anger. Simply put, in this tale of a dream, everything that occurred was all in accordance to the Evil Mage’s plan – to own her and the medieval kingdom too.
“No … I don’t want this fate. Even in this imaginary world to which I have returned … I don’t want this! Where is that knight in shining armour!? I need him!!” Emi screamed her loudest and suddenly, a large explosion just at the wall where she was bound. “AAHH!!”
The pieces of metal that formed the wall cracked apart and were sucked outside by the strong pressure. “Your Highness!!” Ken the Knight and Hoh the Wizard jumped in. “Her Highness is alright!” Wizard shouted to the person outside.
“Excellent … now, let’s get her out … head back to the capital alive.” Maz the Mechanic gave a thumbs-up to Wizard. “Yahoo! The princess is finally back where she belongs!” Bak the Soldier, clapped his hands loudly. “You guys! What took you so long!? How did you manage to keep up … with the Air Pirate, or whatever his name is!?”
Knight sheathed back his sword into its place. “Your Highness, we were able to regroup after that fall. We met the Hunter and her assistant Muscles, and she was kind enough to provide us transport Mechanic could use to innovate and catch up in a mere hour’s time!” Emi looked around. “So … where is this Hunter and Muscles?”
She then heard another loud bang somewhere outside the prison. “Hiyah! Chaaah!” Emi recognized the voice. “Is that … Wei?” A door was clanked onto again. “Urgh! Argh!” A minion pirate was kicked into the air, crashing onto an adjacent wall. Out came Wei the Hunter. “That was just the kind of fun I was looking for! Hiyah!”
Hunter took out a large club and smacked it hard on the metal prison door, blowing it down in an instant. “Your Highness! Be careful!” “Whoa!!”Knight took her away just in time. Hunter smiled. “Ha ha ha! How fortunate I was to be distracting them away from you all so that you could rescue the princess! Oh, Your Highness!” She knelt before Emi.
“Um … uh … rise, I guess. Now, let’s get out of here!” Everyone rushed to the hole which Mechanic created earlier. A giant explosion rocked the airship again. Hunter became worried. “Oh dear … Muscles! He must be held up by the other minions!”
When the group first approached Mr Ahashi the Air Pirate’s airship, his minions spotted them but the Hunter, with Muscles joining her, jumped on deck to give the group time to save Emi. Muscles was holding up with 20 minions, allowing the Hunter to go ahead and reach the group at Emi’s prison. “Muscles! I have to go back for him!”
Mechanic snapped his fingers loudly. “I have an idea … board this flying boat now. We’re going to save your assistant.” Hunter was initially skeptical, but agreed with him nonetheless. “Alright, let’s move!” The Knight, holding Emi, jumped first.
“Here I come!” Wizard and Hunter jumped together and landed roughly on the reinforced wooden platform. “I hope this works …” Mechanic punched on the accelerating peddles and they flew upwards over the airship, damaged with multiple explosions and smoke.
“En garde thee!” Muscles, who clearly resembled Ang, was throwing off minions on the top platform and trying to fight against the sword-wielding Air Pirate, who resembled Mr Ahashi. “Urgh! I shall not succumb to a measly, low-life Air Pirate like yourself!”
Muscles stopped the broad sword in between his own palms. “Oh, you dare to defy me, the King of the Sky!? I have destroyed countless airships that have wandered into my airspace! You are nothing!!” Air Pirate took out a small knife from his pocket.
“Muscles! Watch out!” Hunter yelled out after dusting her brown vest of clothing. “Oh! You think something like that can sneak up on me!? How dare you!” Muscles broke the blade apart and thrust his hand out to stop Air Pirate. “Urgh! Unhand me, you thug!”
“As you wish.” Muscles sneered to the Air Pirate, twisting his hand, and caused him to spin around in vertical circles. “AAHH!!” The pirate could only shout in vain. “See you around!” Muscles let go of Air Pirate’s hand and the man was flying upward into the sky. “Enjoy your airspace, King of the Sky! Bwah hahahah!” Muscles taunted back.
“NO~!” The Air Pirate was soon falling down to the forest blanket below after swirling high in the air. “Captain, the airship engines can’t take it anymore! Argh!” The rotund Air Mate was caught in another explosion, presumably killed in the engine room. The giant horizontal oval of an airship rocked again and was crashing down.
“We need to save Muscles! Mechanic, could you steer this thing closer!?” The Hunter turned with despair to him. “Alright … I’ll do my best …” Mechanic gripped on the steering wheel hard and spun it to the left. “Alright … it’s going fine …”
Another explosion occurred on the rooftop, causing Muscles to duck for cover. “Argh! These explosions are going to be the death of me!” He uttered as the group closed in. “Assistant! Come on here and quickly jump!” Wizard stared on. “That may be bad …”
“I’m coming, master!” Emi felt awkward hearing an Ang-lookalike call the Wei-lookalike his master. “Here I cometh at thee!” He ran over the metal floor and leaped high in the air. Wizard and Knight turned frightened. “Ye gods! Beware!” Mechanic held onto his steering wheel very tightly. “Urgh … come on! The pressure is killing us!”
Muscles pounded hard on the group’s flying boat, jerking it downwards and making all nearly jump up as well. “Oh dear!!” “Eek!!” “Dear lord!!” Several of the characters cried out in surprise as the flying boat rocked. The giant airship rocked in another explosion, spurting away many metal pieces from its body. “URRKK!!”
All of them heard a cry of pain and found that the Mechanic had been stabbed in his chest by a large pipe-like object. “AAAAAH!” Emi cried out in shock, seeing him spitting out blood from his mouth and nose. “Urgh … aahh …” Mechanic then collapsed on the platform. “Holy pancakes! Arghh! Someone steer the ship on course!” Knight said.
“I’m on it! Whoa!” The Soldier was going to hold the steering wheel, but Muscles was already on the job. “Hang on tight, everyone! Full speed onward to safety!!”
“AAHH!!” Everyone shouted as Muscles stepped hard on the accelerating peddle. The Air Pirate’s oval airship finally crashed into the ever-green forests and exploded into oblivion. Emi looked on as they left it far behind. “Thank goodness …”
Muscles drove the flying boat on, as Wizard and Hunter tended to the severely-injured Mechanic. “Urgh … I am happy … that I helped … return the Princess to her home … I pray … you will be safe …” “No … you must hang in there! You can’t leave just yet!” The Wizard’s plea was useless, as the Mechanic allowed his life to depart just like that.
The mood on the boat turned gloom. Soldier tried to hold his tears back and was being consoled by the Hunter. “Alas, alas …” She mumbled. Wizard dusted his hat. “Alas, so many people were killed today, but look here; we have saved the kingdom from great despair together, for soon we will celebrate joyously of Her Highness’ return.”
Emi hit realization. “Oh no! We still can’t let our guard down! … Even if this is all a dream …” Soldier turned his bubbly face to Emi. “But, Your Majesty! Are you saying that there’s more trouble?” Emi nodded. “Yes, there’s still the Evil Mage!”
“I don’t understand. What are you saying?” Wizard looked at her. “The Evil Mage ordered Ria … I mean, the Witch and her assistant to kidnap me, so that he can own my people and my kingdom! Mr Ahashi … I mean, Air Pirate was ordered by him as well to retrieve me back to his evil clutches, since the both of them failed!”
Muscles looked at her. “Then, we must hurry to check if the kingdom is alright!” They sped on, albeit faster. The overall journey took an extra 35 minutes, of which Emi spoke to no one at all. “We are approaching the kingdom!” Soldier cheered to the group.
But, the Hunter was suspicious. “A foul smell in the air … something terrible has struck the kingdom.” Indeed, black fog surrounded the lands. “Come, let us find a suitable spot to rest and discover the truth of all this!” Knight said and to which Muscles nodded.
“I see a large area covered of rock, surrounded by many houses. I shall land us there!” Muscles said as he steered the ship. “Ah, the common market I see. Let us go.” Wizard remarked. The flying boat landed on a walking lane slowly and Emi departed it first.
“This is horrible!” Emi sunk her eyes into the sight of thousands of motionless bodies laid on the roads. The air itself smelt foul and farm animals ran wild. “We … we have to do something!” Emi was on her knees as everyone else continued surveying the scene.
Suddenly, a thunderous earthquake hit the place. “What disaster is this now!?” Soldier looked around in horror. All buildings in the area crumbled to their very bricks and roads were up-heaved in one go. “Run! A tornado cometh!” Muscles yelled to everyone.
The entire group ran by the northeast road of the gathering square as the tornado wrecked up the place. “Oh no! We forgot about the Mechanic’s body!” Soldier was too late; the aerial body sucked their flying boat into itself and Mechanic’s body was unseen thus. “We don’t have time for that! Safety we must seek!” They eventually approached the royal palace grounds, where there was no havoc. Even the tornado stopped still there.
“We are safe! … Hang on, why is the tornado …?” All six of them were in a large empty compound outside the royal gates, bordered by rubble and wood. Flames and turmoil surrounded them. “I am the power over Nature. I rule over all. You are no exception.”
A figure bluntly stepped out of the royal gates, which opened on his command. “This kingdom is mine … as well as the entire world.” Emi shrieked: “You must be the Evil Mage!” Everyone took offensive positions. “Why, yes, my dear. I am the Evil Mage.”
The gates slammed shut tightly on his mere hand-waving. “It’s time for me to reclaim you as my queen, Your Highness.” Evil Mage held out his white scaly palm, to which Emi spat at disgust. “Dream on!” Everyone stared at her. “My … such language.”
“You … how could you do this, master!?” The Wizard yelled out. “You coached me … now, you faked your own death 50 years ago and even turned to the dark side!?” Knight was equally shocked. “Your master!?” Evil Mage grunted. “The dark side is more … rewarding. Imagine all the power over the world and beyond! The universe as well!”
“The master I knew has died 50 years ago!” Wizard turned his wand forth and shot flying flames like fireworks. “I shall have the pleasure of killing you!” The Evil Mage flapped his sleeves and repelled the attack with his palms. “I will enjoy killing my apprentice!!”
His hood remained as it was, covering his head and face, and he unleashed a spell of dark green aura from his side pockets. “Kill them all!” It took ghoulish forms and darted at them. “Disgust filthy creatures!” Muscles lifted up a wooden crate and threw it at them.
“Raahh! Stay away! Stay away!” Soldier took out his rifle and fired multiple bullet shots. Unfortunately, all those metal bullets were deflected by the aura. “Raahh! I will not be defeated by something slimy!” Hunter jumped in the air, wielding her sword, attempting to slice the slimy thin apart. However, the aura merely swiped on her a hard slap.
“Urgh!!” She was thrown far away, crashing onto the wall of rubble. “Your Highness, be careful!” “Aah!” The Knight grabbed onto Emi tightly and jumped out of the aura’s path. Evil Mage watched the fight with absolute amusement. “How entertaining …” The aura took the chance to destroy the incoming crate to pieces. “Have more of this!”
Muscles grabbed as much rubble and junk as he could and threw them all at the aura. “Gah! Rah!” The green aura merely smashed them all to their constituent bits. Evil Mage smiled. “I’ll deal with you first.” Soldier gritted his teeth. “I won’t let you!” He made several shots aimed at Evil Mage’s head, but they were halted by his energy force.
“Gasp!” Soldier gasped as Evil Mage played with the bullets, two inches away from his left palm. “Now, now … one can’t be hasty. I’ll deal with you later.” The instant he tightened his fist, the metal bullets were crunched and fell to the stone ground below.
Soldier trembled in his legs. “No … impossible …” He fell down to his knees. Just then, Hunter balanced herself up, having injured her left shoulder due to sharp broken glass. “No! I must help them!” She rushed forward to help Muscles, but was repelled by Evil Mage again. “AH!” “Foolish woman … don’t interrupt us. Die, you barbarian!”
Evil Mage said as the aura took the form of a spike and stabbed directly in Muscles’ heart. “NO!!” Emi cried out in shock; the blood spurting out and himself shaking. “Urgh … no.” The aura dissolved itself and Muscles collapsed to the ground dead. No one noticed, not even Soldier, that he too was quickly attacked by the same aura.
“Ah! AAAAHH!!” Soldier cried out, being burnt alive by emitted fire and, shaded as a black figure behind orange fire, disintegrated into pieces. Even his skeleton and armour were not spared. “SOLDIER!” The remnant ashes were blown away by the breeze.
The Evil Mage turned to them. “Only three people left … as obstacles on my course of total world domination. This is an hour of evil!!” Knight and Hunter held their swords tightly and Wizard’s wand sparked fiercely. Emi decided to retreat behind them.
“Good, Your Highness … retreat and witness the beginning of the great reign of evil.”
“I shall not let that happen!” Knight dashed forward to the Evil Mage. Hunter toughened her feet and dashed as well. “I’m not dying in the hands of an evil overlord!” It was only this once that Evil Mage was caught off-guard. “What!? This speed! How is this possible! I have checked; no one in the royal army should be able to sprint this fast!”
The Wizard conjured forth a sharp stake of wood, of which he sharpened its tip by the movement of his wand. Meanwhile, both Hunter and Knight clashed with the aura. “All my training in the stables is not going to waste!” He pierced through a part of it.
Emi was crying over the dead body of Muscles. “Why … why is it so horrible in this dream?” The Evil Mage had a hard time defending himself. “This is impossible!” Hunter was similarly inspired by Knight’s words. “Yes, even I, who have trained my body to hunt for food in the forests, will not let a measly human being kill me easily!”
She slashed apart the green aura and the Knight landed a punch on Evil Mage’s nose. “Ow!!” The Wizard had taken the chance to speed up behind him to make his move. “You annoying filth!” Evil Mage flared out red flames from his sleeves, throwing them back screaming. “This ends now!” Unfortunately, before he could move …
He felt an excruciating pain behind him on his back. “Argh … what is this …?” He mumbled. The Wizard had stabbed a large wooden stake into him, kind of paralyzing him. “The master I knew died 50 years ago … I have no regrets finishing you off.”
The Evil Mage found it hard to verbally counter Wizard. “Burn in the abyss for all I care, you vile thing.” Wizard chanted a quick spell, setting the stake ablaze. “ARGH!!” Evil Mage cried out as his body burnt inside out. His skin tore open hole and lots of black-purple goo poured out. “Goodbye.” Wizard retreated to the back to his comrades.
“AARRRGGH ~” Evil Mage screamed in peril as the fire engulfed him and took his life. The remains of his body were charred and the fire put itself out. “Indeed, a detestable sight.” Hunter remarked, right hand on injured left shoulder. “Let us move on.” Emi had already stopped crying and hesitantly followed the trio beyond the palace gates.
The black fog dissipated and the kingdom saw sun again. “The air … the darkness is gone!” Hunter remarked. “Look, the people have begun to awaken!” Limp bodies moved in consciousness. Bewilderment and confusion were in the air. “What … happened?”
“Urgh … my head was spinning … what the?” Even the palace guards were too weak to stop the four of them from moving on. “Who goes there – oh! It’s the Knight!” Wizard called out: “Your Majesty, where are you!?” “Father! Father!” Emi called out.
The King lay like stone in the courtyard and he too was waking up. Emi was awkwardly surprised to see that the King resembled Mr Takahiro a lot. “The King … is my dad. Urgh …” The old man rubbed his forehead. “Oh, my head aches … huh? Who …”
“Oh, my! My daughter is safe!” The old man rushed forth to hug Emi. “Um … yeah, I’m fine … father.” He caressed onto her purple hair as he cried on. “Who saved my precious daughter? I must know!” Everyone turned to the Knight. “It’s him, Your Majesty. We merely accompanied him.” The Knight bowed. “I did it because it was my duty.”
“You deserve a reward for this, my lad! A hand of my daughter and the throne! I am willing to abdicate for what this man has done to save my kingdom!” The King simply put. Both Emi and Knight said nothing, while the King immersed himself in joy. “The marriage shall begin 3 days from now! We must clean up the kingdom now!”
“Marriage!? Oh … right … but, I’m … I’m not ready for this …” She mumbled, every word getting softer from the last and eventually inaudible to any of them around.
The King saw to it that his kingdom restored to the way it was before the Evil Mage’s sudden onslaught. Emi was very uneasy with the idea of getting married, but she could do nothing. On the day itself then, the entire nation was celebrating the so-called joyous occasion, after the massive clean-ups. She witnessed it herself from her balcony.
Countless people were shouting in unison: “Long live Her Highness! Long live the kingdom!” People on the balconies threw confetti all over the place and doves were released to fly. Emi spotted what seemed to be the entire Kazuguchi family as ordinary citizens in the crowd. “Hey, that’s Ken’s family … wow, everyone is here …”
“Your Highness … it’s time to wear the wedding gown.” Several maids approached her. Emi looked down on the floor with sorrow. “Um … yeah, let’s do it.” It took her 20 minutes to be properly dressed and she was led down to the front hall of the palace, on a platform in front of the Knight and being watched over by a cathedral priest.
After a long-winded speech, the priest in black robes got straight to the point. “You may now kiss the bride.” The hundreds of people looked with anxiety. Knight initially blushed upon the sight of her beautiful face, and leaned forward to kiss her. Hunter looked on with pride. “Ah … all’s well and ends well … Your Highness?”
“Ugh … no … I’m not ready for this … I’m not ready …” The girl mumbled as Knight’s lips approached closer to hers. She felt very awful inside and tried to avoid it as much as she could. “No … I can’t take it … I’m not ready! No! Don’t! DON’T!”
“AAAAHH!!” Emi gave a loud scream and woke up with half-opened eyes. She was back in Ken’s room, lying down on his bed. “Emi!” Ken had his ears plugged with his fingers, and so did Wei and Hoh who had entered the room. “Hey! Cut it out!”
She looked around. “Ah, back in Ken’s room again … thank goodness. It was all a dream … or a nightmare in this case.” Wei fumed. “The instant we entered this room, you jumped out and screamed like you never screamed before! What was that all about?”
“It was … a nightmare.” Emi remarked before she embarked on a long recalling of that medieval tale of her dream. She even recalled back the first dream where she was in a volcanic dungeon-castle and everyone came to rescue her. “Ha … hahahaha hah!!”
Wei couldn’t control herself anymore. “Even I was in there!? That’s the most whacked-up dream ever! You should write a book about it! But, but it was interesting! Just like your grandfather’s stories, Ken! Fortunately, your mum made him stop telling!”
Ken nodded grimly. “Yeah … he can go on for hours and hours of his years in war.” Hoh shivered his spine. “Marriage … the next step in relationships.” Wei fumbled before she had a sneaky thought in her mind. “So, assuming that Ken and Emi do get married … as in real-life and Emi not being dead at all …” The duo’s faces turned red.
“So, do you share Ken’s bed with him?” Wei made a cheeky eye at the ghost girl. “What … hey! I don’t do that! I sat on his chair all the time! Well, except for the nights where we both shared his body …” Ken looked as Emi hung her head down shyly.
“Alright you guys, let’s just drop this whole thing. We’re still going to meet together at Han’s place for training, right?” The duo nodded lightly. “Bring all the books you can for studying. We’d be facing the time of our lifes here.” Hoh let out a wide yawn. “Huah … I don’t know about you, but I’m leaving back home for dinner. The servants will be fussy.”
“Hey, that’s right! I should be leaving too!” Wei brushed her hair behind her ears. “I’d see you two tomorrow then! Bye!” She chirped happily and exited the room, leaving Hoh the one to shut the door tight. Ken and Emi stared at each other. “Are you sure?”
“Huh? Sure about what?” Ken blushed a little upon her asking. “Um … you sure that … I was going to … kiss you? On the lips?” The ghost girl blushed even harder than him. “I dreamt those things, Ken! I’m positively sure! And I detested every moment of that!!”
The teen looked away with contempt. “Yes, like I even want to do that kind of thing! Geessh!” Emi also turned her head away from Ken. “Hmph!” The silence that lasted tens of seconds was broken up by mother Saya’s calling him down for dinner.
“Ken!! Time for dinner!!” The teen was briefly shocked. “Oh … I forgot that I had to eat too. You coming, Emi?” The ghost girl also woke up from dazing away. “Um … yes, definitely!” The both of them sighed and walked out of his room, proceeding down the stairs. The door closed tightly and slowly, softening the sound of happy talk downstairs.
Elsewhere, our cloaked villain was scheming something up. “Those four … are up to no good … let me test them soon … with some demon brigades. Be prepared … all of you. Don’t lax off … because the unexpected … is about to begin.”
Continued in Chapter 29.
Notes: Refer back to Chapter 9 for the previous dream. Both these chapters, including this one, are more of a relief work, something easier and different. I hope you have enjoyed them, despite the large chapter gap. Stay tuned for the continuing development.
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And basically, that is all. Thank you for taking your time off here! Stay tuned for the next update in the middle of May!
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Post by Professor Fann on May 16, 2010 3:40:48 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I'm back with a belated fortnightly update of this original story of mine, a spin off of the comic series I am currently posting on my art thread.
Hope you enjoy the Chapter 29, and possible recall all the events that took place in the last 28 chapters ... enjoy!!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 29: Simultaneous Challenges of the Souls
The following day – 30th September a Sunday. As promised, Wei, Hoh, Ken and Emi gathered at the road junction close to Han’s home to attend another session of physical training. Once again, Emi was overseeing their training, and Han did over Hoh’s.
“Yay! Nice one, Ken! You completed your 50 push-ups! Now go for your 100 laps!” The ghost girl cheered over the teen. “Yeah … let’s go with that.” He rose up and started running. “Hey! Wait for me!” Wei called out to him, but he went ahead. “Grr … that Ken … he’s getting better and better … I’ll have to catch up to him!” She grumbled.
“My, my … turns out that Wei was quite an athlete back at her hometown. But, since Ken has been playing football and has experience fighting, he’s moving faster than Wei. In just a day! Amazing!” Emi shrugged and smiled to herself. Meanwhile, at Hoh’s side …
The clock ticked 9.45 am. “Urgh … I don’t know if I can do more than this …” He lifted weights of about 10 kilograms each with struggle. “Just one more and you can stop the weight-lifting.” Han looked down on him without mercy. “Urgh …” Hoh muttered.
“Gah! I’m done!” The bespectacled teen nearly slammed the weights on the floor, but he did it. “Hah … hah … finally, 30 lifts …” Ken nearly slipped on his feet just hearing that. “Very good. Now, go join your friends in the 100-lap run.” Han watched Hoh pant.
The minute needle ticked louder in the underground hall. All three humans were running laps around the place. Hoh was panting, trying to keep up to Wei, who in turn was keeping up with Ken. Emi flew to stand next to Han, who was adjusting his straw hat.
“Say, Han, do you know why everyone has a level of spirituality?” Emi asked as she watched the trio do their running laps. The peasant looked at her. “Oh? Why do you ask?” Emi looked downwards. “Ah, nothing in particular … just curious.” She was actually wondering why so many people could see her, rather than just one.
He chuckled. “Ha ha … there’s nothing wrong with being curious, my dear. Let’s see … all of humanity is endowed with spiritual abilities. Something really messed this up … and that’s why today’s humanity has varied levels of spirituality.”
Ken dashed ahead of Wei, who called out of envy and raced up to him. “Something messed it up? What was that?” Han preferred not to answer her and walked away. “Hey! I’m talking to you! Come back here!” Emi chased after him, floating in the air.
“Aiyah … I’m afraid I can’t tell you that part just yet. That knowledge … is only to the Shaman’s understanding. How complicated it is.” Han brushed his two great locks of hair in front of his face. Emi bubbled her face in anger and disappointment.
The lap running continued, until Hoh eventually collapsed. “Argh!!” Ken immediately stopped on his tracks. “Hoh!” “Oh dear!” Wei too rushed back to tend to the bespectacled teen. “Hoh! Are you okay?” He rested his chin on the floor. “Urgh … my muscles …”
“You have cramps!? I can massage for you!” Wei pounded her fists together, which freaked Ken and Hoh out. “No … I’m saying … my muscles are tired … no strength … too much stress. I just need rest …” Han began to walk forward to the group.
“That’s the purpose of this training – to stress your body even ahead the limits. Once you get used to it, even an hour’s fight is possible. We can’t take any chances. But … I suppose you get to rest. You two … move on.” Wei sulked and continued running.
Han held Hoh by the shoulder and let him lie on the floor. Hoh’s orange tracks were quite wet all over with sweat. The peasant sat next to him and so did Emi; their eyes all fixed on Ken and Wei. “Say … when can we do some fighting? I’ll rather do that now.”
“Aiyah … if you improve, I will challenge you myself.” They were shocked. “You? Fight us yourself?” Emi stared on at Han with curiosity. “Yes … I’ll be fighting you with a real sword myself. You’ll get used to fighting demons even better.”
“Oh … but fighting demons and dark magic is more fun. We get to do the extraordinary stuff!” Han smiled to Ken, eyes still hidden under that straw hat. “I don’t have a spiritual weapon and I don’t lock up any ghouls I spot on the road for your leisure.”
The training went on and on, but they still managed to have a study group. Hoh got Ken to fully understand a math concept in Advanced Math and Wei and Hoh shared some tips on Basics Language. The ghost girl Emi simply looked on with a happy heart.
Everyone left Han’s place at 5 o’clock and parted ways at the Handao aerotrain station. “Today was good … you know, Ken, if you keep this up, why, you can even fight against me. That would be fun!” Ken stared at Emi awkwardly. “Eh … I don’t want that.”
“Aw, come on! I’ll even go soft on you!” The duo entered his house and shut the front door. Having greeted a cheerful Grandpa Ojiro and a suspicious sister Ayumi, he quickly dashed up to his room. “Brrr … it’s rather cold today. Darn … brrrh.”
“Maybe a nice hot shower can do?” Emi suggested lightly, to which he nodded. “Yes, that would do.” Ken took off his jackets and entered his bathroom. Emi sighed and sat on his bed, and was going to lie on it when she heard him shout loudly in agony.
“Ah!? Ken!” She darted up and flew into his bathroom without thinking twice. “Ah!” She gasped as she spotted Ken with messy wet hair and his clothes wet too. “Argh … that darn pipe sprayed the hot water all over me … that’s going to stink on for a while …” Emi couldn’t help but laugh as Ken cleaned himself with a nearby towel.
Meanwhile, a group of demons vanished off in front of the cloaked villain in his altar hall. “Excellent, that’s the 23rd elite group so far … we have another 24 more elite groups to teach … on how to operate the human chemical facilities.” He then sighed lightly.
“I spotted those four … gathered at a place near the boy’s home. I have no idea what they are doing.” The cloaked villain mildly commented. His minion ghoul stammered: “My lord … shall we get the designated demon squad to attack them? Just as you requested the other day?” He flapped his sleeves forward, scaring the ghoul.
“No. Leave them be … not today. But, I assure you, pretty soon, the demons can do as they please to them.” He folded his sleeves back. “We’ll see exactly what they are doing in that little farmhouse. Call the next demon squad now.” The ghoul went off.
The following day – 1st October a Monday. Everyone headed back to school. Ken had a heavy heart for two reasons – he really hated the idea of an exam paper filled with tough questions and that he hasn’t completed his studies. Thus far, he finished studying about 65 percent of each subject. He has another 5 more days to complete all the rest.
“What’s strange … is that Han told us there wouldn’t be any training for today.” Emi said as Ken scratched his head, walking on the zebra crossing to the entrance of his school. “Meh … I deserved a break. Actually … I kind of appreciate the normal life I used to have before all this.” Emi looked at him, worried. “So … what about now?”
He smiled lightly at her. “Life just had gotten better.” Emi was surprised at the response, and in turn gave a very cheerful expression. “Good for you! Ha hah!” She flew about in the air in joy and then descended, only to embrace Ken on his shoulders behind him.
“Hey, buddy!” “Good morning, Ken!” It was the call of Hoh and Wei respectively. “Oh, hey, guys.” Ken merely gave them a light hand wave. Hoh took notice of Emi and asked: “Is she going to do that all day?” Wei looked on with childish disgust. “Eiiww.” Emi ignored the both of them. “I don’t care. I’m just comfortable staying with Ken.”
The trio met up with the five bullies, who seemed to have retreated from sight in fear in light of ‘Ken’s’ recent fight with Uncle Ang in the school grounds. Other students were not as afraid as them, but kept a small distance and made light whispers. Classes of exam revisions for the coming 4 hours proceeded as though nothing happened.
It was time for lunch break. The school bell rang. All four decided to eat out at the lonely football field compound. “Ah … peace and quiet.” Ken remarked as he ate a small rice pack. “Say, Hoh, could you help me with some Accounting problems later after school?”
“Yes, why not? I’m always here for you, pal.” Emi somehow ate a slice of cake mother Saya packed for Ken. “It is delicious! Even if I don’t have a real stomach!”
Hoh hit realization. “That reminds me, I was able to learn the cause of Emi’s death.” The ghost girl was particularly interested. “Really? What was it?” Hoh dug into his beg and pulled out documents with complex data. The rest were spinning eyes just by looking at the mess. “Heh heh. I got confused just looking at it too.”
“Anyway … my dad happened to be the major investor in Yange town. He poured a lot of money into building the place, including the hospital Emi was sent to for treatment 6 months ago, so it was naturally easy for me to contact the relevant doctors there.”
Hoh paused to drink some water. “I got curious since Emi’s dad told us her story. It turns out that Emi’s bleeding is due to a rare genetic disease of the greatest severity. It’s called the Erik Aland Disease, named after a foreign doctor who discovered it 40 years ago.”
Several students walked past by them. A familiar pair of legs was approaching them wobbly. “Aha, dearest Ken is over there!” She spotted that particular lump of brown hair from over a staircase step. “I’m coming!” That person ran over to him.
Emi was intrigued. “Is that possible?” Hoh scratched his chin. “Simply put, this disease you inherited from either your mum or dad prevents your cuts and wounds from healing and makes them bleed non-stop. Its severity is Level 3, meaning it’s the worse of its kind. It could be healed but … the doctors ran out of the supplies that time.”
“If you lived on, you might have never met us at all.” Wei looked at her. “Emi … I’m sorry.” The ghost girl nearly let a drop of tear out, but quickly brushed it away. “No … it’s okay. I’ve … sort of gotten over it already. In fact, I’m glad that I met you all.”
The wind blew gently on their cheeks. Just when the scene was all sentimental, a voice of familiar speaking tone shattered all that. “Ken, dearest! I haven’t seen you in days! AH!!” Ken turned with anxiety to a panting Yon, the girlish self of Bak. “Oh dear …”
Yon’s eyes shook with fear. “You’re the evil greenhead! What are you doing here!? Shoo! Go away!” Wei was slightly ticked at Yon’s childish behaviour. “You’re the most disgusting side of Bak I’ve seen so far! Get out of here if you don’t want a fist!”
“Gaaahh! Evil girl! I hope you get what’s coming at you!” Before she knew it, the silver-haired cold Maz pulled her by the hair. “Do you have enough disturbing others, Yon? You’ll giving Bak a lot of trouble.” Yon stuck her tongue at him. “I am not! Let me go!”
“Bah, another bothersome self of Bak! Why can’t you all leave Bak be!?” Wei wanted to charge forward and give Yon a good beating, but was stopped by Ken and Hoh. “Hey, don’t do that here!” “Wei! Cool it down!” They struggled to drag her backwards by pulling her arms. “Oh dear … this is bad …” Emi could do nothing but watch on.
Maz made Yon bow to them with his mere right hand. “Apologize, Yon … you do not want me … to ask Sim … to deal with you.” The trio had stopped their own bickering.
That self of Bak bubbled her face with both anger and sadness. “Fine … I’m … I’m sorry, Wei … for saying that to you just now.” Some light tears dropped out of her eyes. “You didn’t have to … be so hard on me … Maz.” Wei even started to pity her.
“Hmph … you are not here … to trouble others … you are supposed to look after Bak!” Maz gave Yon a slap on the head, which shocked the rest. “Hey, isn’t that a little too much!?” Ken stepped forward to counter Maz. “I don’t think so … it’s quite routine.”
Emi and Wei were shocked, but Hoh was silent. “So long as she and Ree … are not doing their job properly … either I do something … or I get Sim to do it. Bring back Bak out now.” Yon looked on with contempt and then retreated to allow the frail boy out. “Ow … you didn’t have to treat Yon that badly.” Bak scratched his head, looking at Maz.
“I suppose so … come on. Ria’s waiting for you …” Maz pulled Bak by the hand and walked away to the school cafeteria. “Yon shouldn’t have rudely come out just now …” “Aw, come on. Don’t be that mean, Maz! She just wants to have some fun!” Maz said nothing in return; and there was Ria waking to the duo. “Over here! Come on!”
Hoh blushed at the sight of a happy Ria. “She looks so pretty …” The other trio stared awkwardly at him. Ken was surprised and skeptical. “Did he say what I think he said?” Emi clasped her hands together. “Eh … forget about it, Ken. It’s best for you.”
Wei scratched her head. “So … what is exactly with Maz and the other selves of Bak? Why is he treating them so rudely? Why is Bak the exceptional one?” Hoh curled his lip. “Hmm … I’m not really sure, but I’d go with what he said. Sim did say that he, Ree and Yon are supposed to take care of Bak, along with Maz. Sigh … poor orphaned Bak.”
“The Osadas were friends of Bak’s parents for some time, and when Mr and Mrs Kim perished in a house fire more than 3 years ago, they quickly took Bak into their home as their own.” Hoh sighed as the others gasped at that horrible truth. “What was that!?”
Wei gasped the hardest. “That’s horrible! Burnt to death!?” Hoh simply nodded. “Yes … terrible. Maz was then entrusted to look after Bak, but Ria at that time wasn’t really bothered. I think … it was around that time that Ree, Yon and Sim came to exist.”
“How did you know all this, Hoh?” Emi asked the bespectacled teen. “Well … I first met Maz 2 years ago, when he, Ria and Bak transferred schools that time. Maz said to me that he was tired that someone else wasn’t looking after Bak too well. That time I was confused, but I remembered this bit today. I’m just guessing things here.”
Emi then frowned. “Bak and Maz are the most mysterious people I have seen so far …” She joined the trio in looking at the silver-haired teen eating lunch with Bak and Ria at the cafeteria table. Bak was happy and Ria was teasing around with him. “But … why is Maz … so cold … so emotionless … so cold-hearted … yet warm sometimes?”
The school bell rang, everyone proceeded for two more hours of classes and it was the end of the day. “Remember to study smart, people! Good luck with your exams!” The teacher said as all students prepared to leave. “Well … another day gone …”
Ken and gang headed off for another study group in the cafeteria, which lasted till 6 pm since they never checked the time even once. As a result, everyone had to rush home and Ken got a mild telling-off by his mum for coming home so late. He sighed, left a worried Emi sitting on his bed as he immediately went for a quick bath before dinner.
At the same time, the cloaked villain had 200 demons lined up in groups of ten in his nest. “You are summoned here for a purpose. Behold the enemies.” He waved his hand in the air and four orbs appeared, each having a different face – Ken, Emi, Hoh and Wei.
“Attack them at will! Now!” All groups of demons instantly vanished on the spot. His minion ghoul awed on. “Yes … attacking them separately will cause them more trouble … let me see how you deal them on your own!” He gave a loud evil laugh, echoing deeply in the hall. The wind blew even stronger and colder outside.
The clock ticked 6.31 pm. At Wei’s apartment home, the girl entered the front door and locked the extra protective gate. “Dad! I’m home! Let’s eat dinner together!” She took off her shoes and placed them on a shoe shelf. “Man, it’s cold … dad! I’m back!”
Wei’s home was rather large for an apartment. The living room could accommodate 50 people in it, has a decent TV set, many chairs and pictures on the wall and led way to the kitchen, bathroom and dining room. She saw dinner in plastic-wrapped plates.
“A note from dad?” She picked up a paper and read its contents: “Ziwei, I made dinner early. I have to go back to the office for extra work. Might not be back till midnight. Love, Daddy.” She sighed. “We rarely spend time together these days …” She immediately settled down, got into casual clothes and ate the dinner alone.
The girl remembered what Ken said yesterday during Han’s training: “Fighting demons and dark magic is more fun. We get to do the extraordinary stuff!” She chewed on her roast duck meat. “Come to think of it … I haven’t fought demons before …”
Wei played with her rice. “My first experience with this supernatural stuff is fighting Ria’s giant dark magic pillar on the school rooftop. I wonder … if fighting demons will be different.” The cloaked villain, who was watching her, snickered. “Begin …”
She suddenly felt a chill all over. “What was that?” Wei looked around the place, finding nothing. All windows and entrance doors had been locked; there couldn’t be an intruder. “This is bad … I sense something unnatural.” She drank the last of her soup and wielded her spiritual awl-like weapon. “I’m not scared … even if I am alone tonight …”
“Really!?” A loud voice boomed and black vapour filled the place. “Ah!? What the!?” Before she could react, several large black darts came flying to her from the living room. “Urgh! This is dark magic!” A thick protective aura then shielded her from the darts, breaking them into millions of bits. “Reveal yourself, foul entities!” Wei shouted.
The black vapour took shape, solidifying into demon bodies. “Gwah hahah! Puny girl here thinks she can fight us!” A large demon scoffed at her. A larger demon gave it a punch on the face. “Don’t underestimate her! She’s stronger than she looks!”
“Says you! RAAH!!” A sully muscular demon lunged forward with a fist at Wei, only to have been countered by a giant icicle piercing into its chest. “GWAAH!!” Wei gripped on her weapon tighter, drilling the icicle at the end of her awl deeper in the demon.
“Take this!” She dashed forward, creating a pulse wave that hit onto the crowd. “Urgh!! Argh!!” They were all thrown back, crashing onto various objects in the home. Luckily for Wei, none of the furniture really broke. “You pathetic creatures! Come get some! And, really … to fight me in my own home? That’s just wrong.”
She shouted, jumped in the air and stabbed her ice-blade-like tip in a demon. “AAHH!!” It was immobilized completely, so she turned to the others. “Don’t get smug on us, little girl!” Four big ones leaped forward to try and strike her. “Ha ha hah – Wuuaarrghh!”
Wei formed a thicker and stronger shield around herself, throwing them off-guard. “Wow, all that training really pays off, even if it was just two days.” She looked on at the moaning spirits. “This place isn’t safe. I’m getting out of here!”
The shield still protecting her, she rushed to the living room, grabbed her cell phone and wallet, slipped them into her trouser pockets and grabbed the house keys. “I need to go somewhere wide – whoa!!” The door opened, revealing a demon squadron there.
“You lazy fools! Come up here and stun the girl!” One demon yelled to the moaning others. “I don’t think so! HAH!” Wei focused more energy in her weapon and created another pulse wave, repelling them off. “AAHH!!” All screamed as they fell 20 storeys down to the ground. Wei smiled to herself. “Try beating that. What the!?”
She sensed incoming dark magic arrows aimed at her head from behind her. “Tsk!!” She tilted her head left and let the dark magic fly by. “We missed!” “How did she avoid that so fast!?” Wei got angrier. “Now, you eight are finished!” She charged at them.
“ARGH!” They screamed as Wei sliced wounds on all of their chest and neck areas and collapsed on the floor motionless. “Now to deal with the others … GAH!!” She yelped as a demon, of large unusual wings, fierce red aura and its crocodile’s mouth wide open, attempted to bite her head. “DIE, GIRL!!” Wei grumbled and prepared herself.
In his dark altar hall, the cloaked figure conjured up a large screen-like orb. “The attack on the girl has begun.” Behind him, a crowd of 300 demons roared and cheered. “Get her!” “Destroy her!” The figure smiled slyly as they watched Wei fight the demons.
The girl was forced to retreat into the living room, doing her fighting there. It was quite spacious actually, so she afforded to run around with ease. “Grrk!” She stabbed on a demon’s chest. “Ah!” She repelled off another. “I must get out of here fast!!”
Emi had gone out of Ken’s room to briefly stay with the Kazuguchi family, while Ken studied his books. “Hm? There’s something smelly in the air.” “Oh, Saya … are you sure you’re not seeing things?” “No, I’m not, Ajima!” Emi overheard them and also became suspicious herself. “That’s strange … I can smell it. Oh dear, Ken!” She flew off.
“Aaahh!!” Emi was shocked as she floated through the bed’s front wall, seeing Ken on the defensive with about 11 demons in his room. “What do you demons want!? Your boss sent you here, didn’t he!?” The pack of demons laughed horribly. “Correct, boy!!”
“Ken, this is bad!” Emi called to him from the sliding window. “We have tens of demons waiting outside the house!” The teen turned around, finding a larger crowd of demons clenching fists and growling loud. “Well, this bites. We’re going to do this the hard way.”
One demon in his room scowled. “What do you intend to do!? Wah hah!” Ken made a smug smile. “Emi, come!” With that, he moved backwards swiftly, unlocked his sliding door and jumped off the balcony. “KEN! Are you crazy!? Wait for me!” The demons turned angry. “Get him!!” They jumped out of his room past the roof into the outside.
Ken jumped in the air, stomped on the brick fence of his home and landed hard on the ground. “Get lost!” Ken took out his sabre sword and scorched all demons in sight. “OOHH!!” “HELP!!” Many demons leaped out of the blaze’s path.
“Ha! Eat this!” Ken easily whirled his sword to some demons. “You missed – ARGH!!” Several demons were burnt and immobilized on the spot. “Disperse yourselves! Don’t let him get you!” They flew around randomly in the air. “Hmph! Really!” Ken tried his best to get them all. Others formed a group and tried an assault behind him.
“Wah hahah!! He’s defenseless!” But, just then, Emi appeared and delivered lightning-speed kicks and punches onto all their faces. “ARGH!!” Emi snorted at them. “Come on! You forgot about me already!? Getting to him won’t be that easy!”
“Regroup! Regroup!” Some demons formed teams and moved in different formations to attack Ken. “This might make my job here easier!” He maintained the rays of flame emitted from his blades and even managed to immobilize a group full of ten demons.
Ken’s family did not exit their home, leaving him in peace to battle the demons. “Urgh! Gah!” He shouted as he sliced off more targets. Ken had stopped his fire attacks for the time being, since he wanted to lure the demons closer to him so that he could finish them off quicker. “ARGH!” A demon screamed as it was stun-pierced at its chest.
He went on to fight for the next 10 minutes, with Emi protecting him as well. “How about this, kid!?” A demon took out a green slimy ark magic sword and clashed heavily with him. “Not bad, beastie!” He clashed more and it wasn’t long before he was joined by other armed demons too. “Oh, you really make me sick!!” He clashed with them.
The other neighbours looked on awkwardly as Ken ‘danced around’. “What is he doing?” An old lady spoke. “I don’t know … but it’s cold for Heaven’s sake!” The old man remarked before coughing. “I think we should leave him and go inside …”
Emi maintained her performance of ever-fast combat. “AAH!!” She spun a demon by the ankle in circles before crashing it onto a large burly demon. “Uffph!” “Take this!” One sneaky thin demon created a sword of dark magic in its palms and charged at her. “Ah!?” She gasped but dodged them all, and they went fighting upwards to the sky.
“Come on! Get them get them GET THEM!!” A skinny demon mobilized a larger number of about 40 demons to simultaneously charge at Emi. “You scumbags!” Emi remarked before charging forward. “EMI!” Ken called to her, but found more spears, swords and darts being aimed at his head. “Urgh!” He gasped.
“It is this particular boy … and his ghost friend that I detest. Anyone here who wants to fight him … go ahead.” The cloaked villain taunted coldly and his audience cheered loudly. “Yes!” “Let’s go and enjoy ourselves!” Several demons vanished from the crowd, but the minion ghoul turned to its master pitifully. “Is it okay … to lose more of them?”
“Personally, I don’t mind. Last time I checked, I now have 32 million ghouls and demons under my control.” He looked back at the screen orb, watching Ken and Emi fight.
The bespectacled teen Hoh had just returned safely to his penthouse mansion. “Master Hoh, your dinner is ready.” An elderly servant bowed to him. He stared on at a lavish chicken feast on his dining table. “I’ll eat after changing my uniform, thanks.”
“Gah!! What are demons doing here!?” Hoh shrieked as he saw demons everywhere in his large room. “We have come for you, boy. The master wants you dead. You have been interfering with our ideal for too long now!” One fierce demon charged at him instantly.
“Oh no, you don’t!” Hoh shouted and thrust forth those sharp rotating machetes, which instantly appeared in his hand, piercing into the demon’s heart. “AAH!! THE PAIN!!” Other demons took the chance to sneak on him in all directions. “Get that arrogant boy!!”
“Swirling blades!” Hoh yelled as he whirled his machete weapon in perfect revolutions in all directions, creating a sphere of blades that ripped on the demon skins. “OW!!” “AH!!” “ARGH!!” He used the chance to stab as many demons as he could. “Grrhm!!”
He stabbed one on the chest, stomach, close to the waist and on the neck. “Urgh! Why do you insist on bothering me and my friends!?” He stunned one by slamming his rotating machetes on its head. “That’s because you are a threat to our grand salvation ideal, petty human!” Hoh narrowly dodged a skinny demon’s fist. “Salvation my foot!”
“What you are doing is selfishly using 32 million people for your own pleasure!” Hoh stabbed into the demon’s shoulder blade. “AH!!” The moment it collapsed immobilized, a giant ghoul appeared out of nowhere, even stomping some minor demons under its feet.
“Gwah!” The giant slammed his fist on Hoh’s floor; him dodging the move by jumping on his bed. “Take this!!” He jumped and hurled the rotating machetes at the giant; tearing a large wound on its neck. “RAWWRR!!” It screamed and collapsed, immobilized as well. “Yes!” Hoh rushed forward, claimed his weapon and fought with the others.
“Master Hoh, is everything alright? Should I come in?” The same old servant knocked on his door. “No! I’m fine! Just some trouble … but I can do it myself! Could you seal the dinner first!? This may take awhile!” Hoh said behind the door. “Um … yes, master.”
“Oh? More humans outside?” The demon paused fighting Hoh for awhile. “This should be interesting! Let’s go poison them!” Hoh’s eyes widened with shock. “Oh no YOU DON’T!” He rushed to stop the flow of evil beings flying through his walls. He opened his door and leaped out, much to the surprise of his old servant. “Aaah!”
Four different conjured screen orbs, each showing the fights with different targets. Wei was stalled in her apartment home, Hoh tried to avoid causing real damage in his place, Emi kicked the chins of many demons and Ken was engaging with armed ones.
“Gah hahahahah!! How marvelous!! Do all of you think you can last long!?” The cloaked villain laughed maniacally in the altar hall as the other watching demons cheered wildly.
Continued in Chapter 30.
Notes: Onward with the battles. The Erik Aland disease is renamed from the real-life von Willebrand disease in planet EraS, Erik after its discoverer and Aland after the place where it was first observed, but details are essentially the same. Refer to chapter 12 for Sim’s claim that he, Ree and Yon vowed to protect Bak. Chapter 10 mentioned Wei’s apartment on the 20th floor. Stay tuned for the continuing fight.
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Dut dut duut. More training, Bak's past, and a sudden onslaught. I hope you like these.
Please stay tuned for the coming update at the end of May 2010. Thank you!
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Post by Professor Fann on May 29, 2010 2:53:50 GMT -5
Hey there everybody. I am back with an early update of the Chapter 30! Whee! More excitement and battle fun! Read and enjoy at your own will!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 30: The Souls’ All-Out Battle
In a certain skyscraper in the Republic capital Core City, two people were conversing. “Very well … you may go.” A brown-glove-wearing left hand tapped softly on a luxurious wooden table. “Yes, sir.” The other person gave a bow and left the chamber.
“Hm hm …” That person covered in a large yellow cloth, wearing brown gloves, baggy trousers and shoes mumbled. “Those four are fighting some demons now.” The Shaman threw a paper plane in the air. It flew around the room as it pleased.
Passing by brown walls, gold ornaments, a plasma TV set, large glass windows and some statues of local myth, the paper plane finally flew back into its maker’s hands. “I believe all of you can persevere to the end. If the situation calls … I’ll help you all.”
The cloaked villain in his altar hall stared at the screen-like orb featuring Wei. She had just pierced her giant awl-like weapon through a demon’s large crocodile mouth, past its neck. She flung that injured entity crashing through the living room wall.
“AAAH!!” Wei shouted as she struck and pierced the neck of another demon. “I’m not letting up no matter what!” She dragged that same demon, icicle firmly holding onto its neck, and pounded it on the floor. “AH!! The … pain …” It then passed out.
“Charge!!” Wei swiftly turned behind her, finding several demons at her front door throwing dark magic javelins at her. “Tsk!” She instantly set up that protective aura layer again, dispelling those evil things. “You still don’t have enough pain, do you!? Come get some!” Before those 5 demons could retreat, they were slain deeply on their chests.
“AAHH!! Urk … no …” Wei panted lightly as the demons collapsed. “Wow … really, that was fast … those training did pay off … let’s see.” She looked around, seeing about 20 demons stunned and paralyzed on her floor. “GAH!!” Two other demons successfully landed firm punches on her back. “Hah! We got her! Subdue her now!!”
“In your dreams, you filth!” She turned over and stabbed hard into their abdominal regions. Pain beyond measure, they couldn’t scream and were paralyzed on the spot. “Pant … this is bad … must get out of here now!!” She rushed to her front door.
“There!” Wei locked up both the front door and metal gate of her apartment. “With those stunned demons inside, I can focus on anymore coming!” She turned to her left; already 3 demons were halfway going to pounce on her. “YES!! We got her at last!!” Wei dashed to her right, down the corridor. “Missed me!” “Why you shrimp!” One demon hissed.
“Big mistake calling me that!!” Wei fired many sharp icicles from her awl, striking their demonic bodies ever so fast. “AAHH!!” Again, they screamed and collapsed on the corridors. “One of your friends was right! You shouldn’t just underestimate me!”
Wei instantly set off for the staircases. “It’ll definitely be troublesome to fight these things in the elevator … sheesh!” She decided to jump down entire halves of staircases so that she would move down floors faster. “I have to go somewhere that doesn’t confine me!” Some winged demons of the earlier group managed to approach her. “GAH!”
“That’s right, girl! Time to retire!” Sharp claws were aimed at her. “Darn it! Tsk!!” Wei wanted to attack them, but she could only run as planned. “You can’t escape forever, girl! Wah hahah!!” As she ran down the stairs, she dodged the demonic claws one by one.
“I don’t think this is going to end – AH!!” Wei encountered another group of beastly demons on the 17th floor corridor. “YAAWW!!” An ugly demon pounced forth on her, thus making her fall. “I’m not going to die here!” Wei immediately fired icicle shots, piercing its body many times, and gripped on tightly to the stair railings. “Urgh!”
“Argh! Ow!” She swung her body over the railing and landed with a thud on the 16th floor staircase. “Kill her! Kill her!” All earlier demons and new ones holding large clubs and spears rushed up to her. “Whoa! Ah!” Wei was thrown back towards a window-like outlet by the stairs’ side. “NO!!” She screamed as she fell 16 storeys downwards.
“YES! She’s dead for sure!” The other demons and ghouls roared in horrible laughter. “Hey! That girl’s falling down!” “Whoa!” Several people on ground level pointed anxiously to the falling Wei. “Oh my goodness! Watch out!” Wei groaned. “Ugh …”
She saw a series of pipelines below her and a tall pole hoisting the red Republican flag. “This is risky, but I will not die from this! RAH!!” Wei tilted her body upside-down, heading for the pipes. Both humans and demons were aghast. “Hey!” “What!?”
Wei managed to firmly grab a thick pipe, snapping the wires inside. “Yaah!!” Gathering energy in her feet, she kicked back on the walls and leaped for the flagpole. “Here goes!” She tightened her grip on the pole’s surfaces. “Rrghh!” Wei slid all the way down and landed her feet on the rough stone column. “OW!! Hey … I did it! I made it!”
“Hey, you! Girl!” Men and women alike rushed over to Wei. “What was that for!?” “You could have killed yourself!” “Who did this to you!?” They bombarded her with many questions. “Urgh …” The girl tried to stand firmly. “Ah … I’m okay. Ow, my ankle …”
“SHE!! She’s survived! Get her!!” The demons roared angrily and leaped in the air, meteoring towards her. “Gasp!” Wei was shocked at the sight of 30 charging demons. “Um … listen, I have to run! I suggest you do that too!” She ran away from that large stone compound, leaving confused citizens behind. “Hey! Wait!” “Come back here!”
She ignored the pleas of others and ran to another wide compound area. “YAW!!” Six winged demons flapped their wings, flying over another apartment building and stomped on the ground in front of Wei. “Gah!!” She quickly jumped backwards. “Really!”
“Have this!!” She leaped forward and stabbed her awl icicle into a demon’s chest. “Yaw!!” Wei bent her eyebrow in anger and tore off its arm, piercing into a demon beside her. “Get her! Charge en masse!” Most of them threw dark magic weaponry to her in the air. “Think I’d be that stupid!?” She yelled as she formed her protective aura layer.
All such dark magic items dissipated instantly on contact. “This won’t do! Body combat’s the only thing that’d harm her!” “Then, let’s do it!!” Many demons charged on foot to her. “Ziwei, is that you?” Wei was shocked to hear her father talk from a corner.
Mr Chou was a humble and mild man, wore small glasses, a formal shirt, necktie and trouser, had slight wrinkles on his cheeks and short brown hair. He was humming while swinging his briefcase. “Oh no … tsk!!” Wei quickly stabbed into an incoming demon’s rib cage and smacked another right on the face. “ARGH! That hurt, girl!!”
“Ziwei, what are you doing here? Have you eaten your dinner? And … what exactly are you doing?” Mr Chou watched his daughter do strange movements of arm-bending and random thrusts forward, sometimes retreating and charging forward. “Oh dear …”
“Dad, I’ll love to talk, but I’m kind of busy here! Gah!!” Those sharp icicle blades made deep cuts on many winged and human-like demons. A giant pounded its fist on the stone ground, making her jump backwards. “Urgh!” She stabbed into its burly fingers.
“GAWRH!” Black ooze poured out of those wounds. It roared on as it tried to soothe the pain, mainly by grabbing other demons and damaging them in turn. “ARGH!” “NO!” “The ideal! No ~!” Mr Chou remained standing over there. “Ziwei, is it acrobatics?”
“Um … yes, it is! Shouting with might is also part of the practice! Ha hah!” She made a guilty laugh as she cut the necks of 4 ghouls. Mr Chou awed. “Ooh, acrobatics. It is fun, definitely. I should do that too to be healthy.” Mr Chou made flimsy dances on the spot.
Back in the altar hall of evil, the cloaked villain rubbed his chin. “Hm … that girl is impressive … let me see how our spectacled friend is doing.” He then looked at the screen orb displaying Hoh’s situation. The teen had just burst out of his room.
“Urgh … I feel so sick …” Hoh’s old servant gasped for air on the marble floor. “NO!” The bespectacled teen rushed to the elder. “Filthy scum!!” He then struck his rotating machetes into the skulls of 3 demons who had used dark magic on the elder. “MY HEAD!” “OW!!” “AH!!” Having severe wounds there, they instantly collapsed.
“No! You’re going to be just fine!” Hoh held onto his weapon harder and drew a circle around the elder. “Hah … hah … I can breathe fine …” The protective aura dissolved all dark magic attachments instantly and he was fine. “This has gone too far!!”
“Ah!!” The remaining demons attacked more servants and maids in his home. “My head hurts!” “Leg muscle cramps … help!” Several maids have fallen victim to the dark magic. “Oh no you don’t!!” Hoh rushed over to heal them, but was halted by large burly demons of 10 feet height. “RAWRRH!!” Hoh watched them lift their big fists.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea. That servant of his being attacked … demons! Attack anyone in sight as you please! Let’s see how he deals with that!” The cloaked villain spoke to the orb screens while the audience cheered wildly. “Yes!” “Do it!” “Hurray!”
Hoh ran and dodged the giant pounding fists in the large living room chamber, where the fighting is now. “I should have done this earlier! Haah!” The tips of the rotating machetes sparked and culminated in a giant electric-like plasma blast. “GAWRR!!” The blasts hit their eyes, making them run amok in the home and pounding other demons.
A demon in Hoh’s penthouse manor had his sharp pointed ear ringing. “What’s this?” It hissed. “The lord wants us to severe anyone close to the target!” Another demon smiled nastily. “Let’s check if this place has more humans – ARGH!!” The duo were injured by stabbings in the torso. “No way you’re going to survive here, dirty creatures!”
Hoh extracted the blades of his machetes and ran to his groaning maids and servants. “Urgh … dizzy … can’t see a thing …” The crowd of smaller demons laughed in evil as the last of the maids collapsed unconscious. “Watch out!” A small fry warned his group, but most of them had been slashed deeply on their bodies by the raging Hoh.
“Get out of my home!!” He rotated his pole of a weapon in fast circles, striking on other demons as well. “Owmph!” One moaned as it was struck on the face. “Aaah!” One moaned as it was hit behind its neck. “I’m still not satisfied! Leave my home now!” Hoh went ahead to slash deep wounds on their bodies. “AH!” “HELP!” “NO!”
“RAWR!!” A burly giant came out of nowhere and slapped on Hoh’s body heavily. “ARGH! Why you!!” The bespectacled teen nearly collapsed on the marble floor, but got his balance right and stabbed into its right elbow. “AAHH!” Black ooze poured out of the wound. It cried out more and went on a smashing rampage. “Uh oh …” Hoh remarked.
“Whoa!” Hoh jumped out of its path as the giant collided onto another giant; the latter still sulking over the injury on its face. “Right. I have to go and heal my servants and maids!” They were already near-breathless due to earlier inaction by Hoh to heal them.
“No … master …” One maid struggled to control her shivering hand. “HAH!!” Hoh made the rotating whirling machetes of his form a big beam of light and made a big circle around the whole room. All dark magic leftovers dissipated and everyone was shielded.
“Oh … huh …” All the housekeepers started to breathe just fine. “There’s no way … I’m letting everyone here go through the same thing I did. I nearly died …” Hoh commented as he wiped his sweat away. “HA HA! You were better off gone, boy!”
“HEY!!” Hoh shouted rudely as he dodged an incoming sword. “Hold still, human!” A muscular demon continuously stabbed onto the marble floor, making Hoh roll on and on. “Tsk!” He jumped back up and attacked its chest. “ARGK!! No …”
“Get him!” “Rah!” Six demons ran up to Hoh, hoping to restrain him somehow. “Aura of protection!” Hoh yelled as an aura layer emitted from his weapon shielded him. “AAH!” All demons screamed as they were electrocuted upon contact with it. “Ha hah! Cool!”
The giant demon, whose elbow wound poured much black ooze out earlier, was tearing minor ones limb to limb and even nearly swiped Hoh off. “GAH! This one is giving trouble for too long!” Hoh threw his weapon high up and the rotating machetes struck its neck, oozing more black goo out. “GWAAW!!” It then collapsed unconscious.
By now, the situation had improved better. “Phew … not many demons left. At least … the servants and maids are fine. I want this to end … AH!” Hoh dodged to his left in the large chamber as a demon of sharp biting teeth attacked him from behind. “Oh, you’d pay for that!” He retrieved his weapon back and slashed it heavily. “YEOW ~” It collapsed on this stomach on the spot. “Pant … Is there … no end to all this?”
Hoh sighed to catch some breath. Due to tire of a great degree, he somehow fell kneeling on the floor. “There is an end alright, boy. Your end!” Demons Hoh didn’t manage to attack earlier started to regroup and surround him. Three more giants came forth with giant spears in their arms. “MEET YOUR END, HUMAN!!”
Several demons of the group attacking Wei left to make their move on Mr Chou. “Our lord has spoken. He says … attack all humans around the girl!” Wei didn’t hear a single word, though curious of their departure, as she dealt damage to another 4 more demons.
“La la la la laa …” Mr Chou sang as he flimsily danced. The sun had just set and a dark evening finally set. “Urgh … what is this feeling? Urgh … ah!” He collapsed in a slow-motion manner as Wei watched the horror. “Dad, NO!!” She rushed over to him.
Bold demons had struck him with dark magic spears. “Yes, stab him! Stab him more!” Spears were piercing Mr Chou’s head, heart and his stomach. “YES! YES! AARGHH!!” They cried as Wei slashed on their torsos. “Get away from my father!!” She further stabbed their stomach areas. “NOO!!” They collapsed instantly. “Dad … DAD!!”
While the giant demon earlier continued to release its anger and pain on smaller demons, Wei rushed to heal her father. “No! Dad, please be alright! Please!!” The old man was breathing just fine. “Oh … the pain … I need to sleep more …” Wei stared awkwardly as he mumbled just like that. “Right, let’s see … oh dear, more people.”
“More pitiful humans to attack!” “Yesss …” Several demons charged at unsuspecting older men and a young lady. “Yes, that was odd …” “So you see …” They happily talked away while long sharp dark magic swords were going to pierce their crania. “YES!!”
“NO!!” Wei countered the hissings of a sneaky demon and stabbed her awl through its body. “Ah!” “Gasp!” While the human onlookers responded with shock, Wei already simultaneously punched two demons on the face, throwing them off far away.
“Hey! Watch it!” “What are you doing?” Wei exhaled as she looked at them. “Sorry, can’t talk! Raahh!” She pierced the wings of an incoming demon and gave an elbow hit on its head. “AH! Ugh …” Having stunned it, she ran over to other humans being attacked. “That girl’s weird …” “Let’s get outta here now.” Those humans ran away.
“Let’s see … I think I can create an ice wave … here goes!” Wei focused more energy into her icicle awl and slammed it into the ground. A shock wave beamed on the ground and gushed out huge waves of water and icicles. “Whoa! That’s so cool!”
“Everyone, look!” Some demons pointed out. “What the?” Waves of icy cold water continued to sprout out of the ground. Their height increased, and volume-wise too, but it didn’t envelope Wei. “Bombs away!!” She shouted and giant tidal waves gushed ahead.
“Hey! What’s that!?” “Argh! Help!” All the demons tried to evade the tidal waves, but were swept away instead. “AAAHH!!” Similarly, all the dark magic were brushed off the civilians. “ARGH!!” The tidal wave crashed into an apartment building and vanished; all demons collapsing to the ground severely hurt and silent, then motionless.
“Gah … hah …” Wei panted. Most demons had icicles stabbed into their bodies, being motionless on the ground from the large attack. Some groups were left out, still involved in internal bickering due to the raging giant demons. “Great … now, to go for dad.”
The audience in the altar hall booed and moaned on the sight of utter defeat. “Oh no …” The cloaked villain’s minion ghoul fearfully said. Its master clenched his fist tightly, possibly being angry. “Dad! DAD!!” Wei rushed over to Mr Chou. “You okay!?”
“Oh … I had the worst headache in my life …” The old man sat up on the ground. “Dad! Come on!” Wei bent down and rubbed his back. A giant demon was still venting its pain on smaller demons; the fight in the pack not over. “Oh … yes … I’m okay. Phew.”
“Come on, dad! Let’s get you out of here before … those headaches come back again! Yeah! Come on!” She tried to make him stand and walk quickly out of the danger zone. “Oh! My little girl is so fierce!” “Dad, this isn’t the time to joke around! Let’s move!”
“GWAH!!” Wei turned her head with shock to the giant demon earlier. “Oh great … it’s coming this way.” The giant had finished venting its anger on random targets and is now going after its proper target – Wei. “Gah … sorry, dad! You go first now!”
“Hey!!” She roughly let go of her father and dashed forward to the giant. “PUNY GIRL DIEZ!!” The giant roughly shouted and attempted to grab Wei in its giant palms. “Not a chance, you disgusting thing!” As fast as light, she slashed deep cuts on the giant’s knees.
“YEEOW!!” Wei quickly dodged to her left as the giant collapsed on the ground. “Oh!” She commented from the tremors. “Now, to stop it for good!” She immediately stabbed deeply into the giant’s forehead. “GWA ~” It couldn’t scream anymore and was stunned on the spot. “Gosh … look at this mess.” She took back her spiritual weapon.
The large apartment compound was filled with the bodies of stunned, unconscious demons. Humans attacked earlier were able to flee the scene, except for Mr Chou.
“DAD! What are you still doing here!?” She impatiently rushed to his side. “Urgh … I’m just tired, Ziwei … after that headache, I’m not sure I can move … I need rest.” The girl decided to quell the impatience and anger inside her and ushered Mr Chou to safety.
“There.” Wei said, after walking Mr Chou far from the compound where she just fought. “You just sit on this bench here and rest. Don’t move. Sleep there even if you have to.” Mr Chou panted lightly. “Fine … I’ll do that … still busy are you, Ziwei?”
Wei didn’t know how to answer him. It was an awkward situation concerning demons and safety, and most ordinary people can never understand things they can’t see. “Dad … just rest there … until I’m done. No more questions.” “Oh, really now, girl?”
She gasped, finding more demons walking towards her in all directions. “You didn’t fight us, girl … but you got our comrade, the giant, to beat us all up …” One of them muttered and clenched its right arm. “Even if we are worn out now … we can still defeat you!” Mild laughter surfaced in the air and the atmosphere turned rather black.
Wei toughened herself and made a defensive pose, holding her weapon glaring white all over. “You really just don’t want to quit, do you? Come get some!” A skinny demon smiled. “WITH PLEASURE!” Wei prepared herself as a flood of demons and dark magic items were aimed for her way. “LIKEWISE!!” She shouted before charging forward.
The demon audience cheered at scene of her fighting on. “Hm … something is wrong. Why are they still standing? The previous fights … lasted less than 10 minutes. This one … it’s about 20 minutes already. Why are they still standing?” The cloaked villain said.
“My lord … it is possible that they have been … training.” Minion ghoul stepped forward to him. “What was that?” The villain stared under his hood. “The greenhead girl said ‘training’ several times already. They may have trained for this … in that house. That farmhouse you said you couldn’t go into to spy. Remember that house, my lord?”
On Ken’s side, he and Emi were doing fine. “RAAH!!” Ken stabbed his sword deep into the head of a skinny demon. “Have some of this! And that!” Ken unleashed a wave of flames from that fiery blade onto a group of ten demons.
“ARGH!!” “HELP ~!” They were burnt alive, and when the fire subsided, they were charred black all over and collapsed stunned. “Alright! This is much better than fighting on and on!” Ken made his sword blaze more, shooting flames at demons like a person firing a modern machine gun. “Wow, Ken … you never cease to amaze me.”
Emi smacked a strong punch into a demon’s face and kicked another upward in the air on its chin. “Argh!” “Arkkh!” She was fighting demons of her part in the air, having done so to pull as many demons away from Ken as possible. “I’m not through with you yet!” “What!? Ah, no!!” A muscular demon was grabbed tightly on the leg by Emi.
“See how you handle this!!” Emi spun her captive in strong circles, forming a spinning top. “Hah HAH!” That top began to spin in various directions, so long as there were demons present. “What the!?” “Argh!” Many demons were smacked hard by that.
“Let go of me!!” The demon being spun by Emi begged for mercy. “As if I’d ever do that! This is fun!!” Emi kept on spinning as a top. “ARGH! OW!!” While many demons fled the aerial location, a lot were also knocked down to the ground by that top. “Whoa! Ah! Hey!” Ken remarked as he dodged demons crashing on the ground here and there.
“I must move quickly! RAH!” Ken made his sword blow spiritual fire everywhere. All helpless demons were scorched under the immense pain and couldn’t attack any more. “Yes! Time to finish off the rest of these things!” He turned to other demons.
“We’re not afraid of you!! Get him!!” A sergeant-like demon called on others to strike the teen first. “Watch out for my arrows, boy!” A skinny demon hissed and aimed dark magic arrows at Ken with its bow. “Raahh!!” Another one wielded an axe and another a large mallet. Both of them charged at Ken. “Hah! I can take you on just like earlier!”
He formed that protective aura layer that dissipated all dark magic bits and rushed forth to challenge the attackers. “HAH!!” He took aim, and cut that mallet into half. “NO!” “Oh, yes, you demon!” Ken slashed hard on the demon’s chest and tackled the one wielding an axe. “You don’t stand a chance on me, boy!” They clashed their blades.
“Really? Let me see!!” Ken struck forcefully on both demon and dark magic. The axe broke into its million dark magic bits. “ARGH!!” Enveloped in red burning aura, the demon was charred black all over and collapsed as well. “Phew … now …”
“Don’t get arrogant, boy!!” Fifteen more armed demons charged at him from all sides. “I never said I was arrogant to begin with! GAHH!!” Ken descended onto the family’s plot of farmland and fought them in one go. Meanwhile, more trouble was brewing.
“I hear … new orders.” A demon spoke. “Yes, I heard it too. It says … attack any humans in sight of the boy!” Another spoke. “I have an idea! A body of dark magic!!” A sullen demon shouted. Instantly, there was a chorus of agreement. “YES!! YES!!”
Emi heard that bit of talk. “GAH!!” She first gave a bulky demon a swinging back-kick, jumped over it and darted to Ken on the ground. “Get out of the way!!” Emi shouted as she launched multiple punches and kicks on all the demons’ heads. “ARGH!!” YAAH!!” “AHH!!” All fifteen demons were repelled about 30 meters away from Ken. “Urgh! No …” The demons scowled and collapsed of weakness. “Gah! Made it to you!”
The teen merely stared at Emi. “Hey, you spoilt my fun, Emi.” She looked on angrily. “Ken! This is not the time for fun! Some demons are going after your family!” They looked at the house rooftop, where 8 demons formed a circle and stretched out their hands. “NO!!” Ken rushed off the farmlands to the main road of soil.
“Extract your dark magic! Form a pillar of darkness, gloom and evil! Haha HAH!!”
A sneaky-looking demon howled as it formed a dark magic sphere in its palms. “Let’s do this!!” Many spheres were formed and darted to the center of that circle, accumulating and eventually forming a large tall pillar above Ken’s home. “All shall perish!!”
That pillar crashed down into the house, but caused no physical damage at all. “GAH! Come on, Emi! Let’s go!!” “I’m with you!” The duo rushed to the house’s brick fence to climb to the rooftop, only to have more encounters with other raging demons. “Great! More bothersome things!” Ken pierced his sword deeply into the chest of a demon.
A demon of sharp ears, horns and claws howled in laughter. “Spread the evil! Let this whole town suffer! Glory to our master!!” That dark magic pillar poured out black mist and enveloped the whole farming areas of Handao. “NOO!!” Ken shouted.
“AAHH!!” Mother Saya screamed as she dropped a basket of fruits on the floor. “My head hurts!” The other family members were shouting in pain too. “Ah! What is this!?” Ayumi fell on the floor from her seat in her room. “Someone … someone help!”
“Urgh …” Father Ajima collapsed on the stairs unconscious. “Oooh, my head! My body! I feel like exploding!” Grandpa Ojiro rocked on his chair harder and also fell on the tiled floor of the living room. Similar experiences occurred everywhere. Ken got angrier. “GET LOST!!” He unleashed a humongous wave of fire onto the demon populace.
“AAAHH ~!” Over 60 demons were caught in the flame and soundly defeated. Another 40 somehow escaped and came back for him. “Ken, this is no use! We might not be able to stop the dark magic flow on time! AHH!” The dark magic mist spread onto the duo, of which Ken conjured his protective shield on himself. “Emi, you’d be fine out there!?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine! That dark magic’s designed to affect only those alive! I hope it is for now …” Ken wiped the sweat on his forehead. “Exactly the same as Ria did last time … That’s it! Let’s see if this works! Emi, fend off those things for me!” “Got you, Ken!” Emi went on to face the new demon troop coming in while Ken did an amazing thing.
“Alright!” He had his sword charge up energy in its blade. “Here I go!” Ken swung the sword from his left to the right once, firing three gigantic fireballs towards that towering dark magic pillar amid the evil mist. “What the!?” Some demons squealed in shock.
The instant the fireballs touched the pillar of evil, a huge spiritual explosion occurred. “ARGH!!” All demons cried out as multiple shock waves hit the lands; that pillar disintegrating into vanishing pieces. “AH!!” Ken was hit by the waves too; his aura shield disappearing and he was thrown back on the ground. “KEN!!”
All demons were terribly injured from the blast, though not immobilized. The evil mist disappeared and every human in the area were starting to recover. “Urgh … what was that?” Mother Saya and the other Kazuguchis groaned as the pain soothed in them.
“Ken, are you okay!?” Emi rushed forth to tend to him. “Ah … I’m fine, thanks. I still have an appetite for more of those foul things! I’m not the least bit tired!” The whole place was empty, except for Ken, Emi and the demons. “My mind is fully focused!”
The demon audience still watched on the fights on the screen orbs in the cloaked villain’s altar hall. “I remember that farmhouse … training, is it? That explains why they lasted so long … training in a way that their bodies can handle more pressure and force …” He rubbed his chin and quickly looked at all four screens. Things got even worse.
“All demons are to surround those four and strike them with the strongest dark magic NOW!!” He suddenly yelled to the screen orbs. The minion ghoul choked heavily and the demon audience stopped cheering instantly. Why was their master so angry suddenly?
The Shaman rubbed his nose in his office. “Hmm … I sense a rise in anger. Apparently, the target is mad that the battles are taking so long. No matter … I have faith in those four.” He threw the paper plane in the air before writing gibberish on his notepads.
Continued in Chapter 31.
Notes: The battle continued and a spot of Mr Chou’s silliness. Wei did say the word ‘training’ several times since the start of the battle – just search it up. Chapter 27 is where our cloaked villain was first suspicious of Han’s home. Chapter 22 is where Ria conjured a dark magic pillar in her fight. What shall happen next? Who will fall?
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In laymanish terms, we say "Oh noes! What be happening soon!? Will them girls and boys live past the evil man's anger!?". And yeap, it's fighting simultaneously in three different places. Hope you've enjoyed the battles.
Stay tuned for the next update in the middle of June! Thank you very much!
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Post by Professor Fann on Jun 14, 2010 0:55:59 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I'm here with yet another early chapter update. Hope you've enjoyed everything so far. Thanks!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 31: Grand Moves and a Soul’s Success
The demon audience shivered slightly. “My lord … is he angry?” “What’s going on?” Some whispered among themselves. The cloaked figure shook his sleeves again. “My lord … is something the matter?” His minion ghoul tried to approach him safely.
“Hmph!” He stared as his minion from under that hood and something horrible happened. “Argh! Urgh! Master!” It cried out as its head jerked, its fingers and limbs twisted and bent so rapidly. “Master! Mercy! Aahhh!!” It cried as its body bent out of shape.
“All demons are to circle around them and use your strongest dark magic on them NOW!!” He yelled to the screen orbs above him in the air as the minion ghoul’s body twisted even worse. “Of course something is the matter, you twit! They are!!”
No demon dared to say anything. “They are the most serious obstacles to the grand salvation ideal, and I most certainly won’t want them around! Don’t ever ask a silly question like that again!” The minion was never more grateful to be able to move freely.
“Urgh … darn, my right ankle hurts. RAAH!!” Wei dashed forward again and slashed onto 3 incoming demons. “I’m never going to yield to you at all!” She fired large icicle from her awl-like weapon in every direction possible. “Rah! Avoid those! Hurry!!”
Demons flew here and there, dodging the icicles. “AH!!” “UGH!!” Some were hit deeply in their chests and torsos, thus collapsing to the ground. “RAH!!” Some tried to repel them, but were severely exhausted by the attempts alone. “Die you demons, die!!”
Suddenly, everything turned quiet. “What the?” Wei looked around cautiously. “What’s that sound?” There was the sound of wavelengths passing by, and affected the entire compound. Demons jerked their heads hearing that and all collapsed to the ground.
“Huh!?” She moved backwards to avoid demons falling down in the air. “What’s going on!?” Then, all demons rose up very slowly, just like lifeless zombies would do. “The master … new orders … surround the humans … use dark magic …” All of them mumbled. “What? What did you just say!?” Wei demanded fiercely from them.
Before she knew it, she was in the center of a circle of demons with right hands raised. “Strongest dark magic … come forth.” They simultaneously mumbled and emitted dark spheres on their palms. “Prepare to attack.” Those spheres took the form of large broad swords and they gripped onto them tightly. “Oh dear … this can’t be good.”
Similarly, on Hoh’s side, all the demons retreated and formed a large circle. “Grrh! What are you planning now!?” He demanded as he toughened his feet. “New orders … destroy you … strongest dark magic possible. Be prepared … die …” All demons, normal ones and giants, did exactly the same thing as those confronting Wei did.
“Oh my!” Hoh exclaimed with shock as giant broad swords were thrust forward, nearly inching onto his body. “Darn … what am I going to do?” One of the giants mumbled: “Prepare to meet your end …” It raised its dark magic weapon higher.
“Yaahh!!” Ken slashed another demon on the shoulder blade. “Take that!!” “NO ~!” That demon collapsed on the soil unconscious. “You impudent boy!!” A giant rushed forward to him, only to be burnt by the flames of his sword. “You’re just too slow, demon scum!”
“URK!!” Emi remarked as she slammed two demons’ heads together. “Silly girl!!” A sneaky one commented as it fired dark magic darts at her. “Too slow!” Emi dodged them one by one, moving closer to it. “Oh no! AARGH!!” It was punched in the stomach in turn. “Look at who’s slow!” “IT’S YOU!!” A burly demon pounded Emi on her body.
“AAH!!” She was thrown off-guard; falling onto a demon Ken was fighting. “Whoa!” He jumped backward as Emi crash-landed terribly on the demon’s back. “Darn … I was caught off-guard … Ken?” She somersaulted over the demon, but also heavily kicked its head.
“AW!” Ken stared at her. “Um … huh?” Silence prevailed in the air, and again the wavelengths vibrated loudly in the atmosphere. All demons turned limp and halted their actions. Emi frowned. “Wait, something is not right here.” Like the demons confronting Hoh and Wei, they surrounded the duo in a circle and took out dark magic items.
“This bites. Probably a hundred demons and they all have the most irritating dark magic I’ve ever felt.” Ken gritted his teeth and flared his sword harder. “This is going nowhere. They just keep coming. Is there no proper solution to end this?” Emi asked.
Just that instant, in the Shaman’s office in Core City, he halted his right hand. He had moved away from his desk and was playing with darts at the opposite end of the office. “Hm?” The dart remained clinched in his hand. “It seems it’s time for me to come in.” He brushed his unusually long hair back and dropped the dart. “Ahem.”
“Ah … I am so proud of all of you.” The Shaman’s voice boomed in the air. Wei looked up, having recognized that voice, and shouted: “You! Did you do all this!?” The Shaman laughed. “Why should I? You’re my cherished students, whom I had Han train. I’m not the bad guy here. You and your other friends are facing the same situation too.”
Hoh looked around anxiously. “What!? You mean Ken and the girls are being targeted too!?” “Correct … I am talking to all four of you at the same time.” Ken looked up to the dark gloomy sky. “Hmph, so our evil guy is really desperate to finish us off.” Emi said with worry: “How are we going to fend off these things!?”
The cloaked villain looked on curiously at the screen orbs. “Who are they talking to exactly? I hear no one else talking to them.” His demon audience exchanged faces with worry as well. “What exactly are they planning to do?” The Shaman smiled.
“The knowledge you have … given to you from me … what is the greatest possible attack you can inflict on them? Think back.” Hoh looked onto his machete weapon for a while. “Greatest attack … oh, yes! There’s that move as well!! Thanks a lot!!”
Wei nodded lightly. “I … I know that move … but, I have never tried it before.” Mr Chou was snoring loudly on the bench he sat, briefly distracting her. “Either way … it’s better than nothing at all.” Wei held her awl-like weapon firm on the ground. The demons still had their dark magic swords and daggers. “I’m giving it a try now!!”
“I think it’s time to hide.” Emi proclaimed to herself but stopped by Ken. “Ha ha. What are you worried for, Emi? I’m not going to harm you. The ultimate move I know …” The cloaked villain raised an eyebrow under his hood. “What? Ultimate … move?”
“Get ready … for here comes me.” Ken charged up his blazing sword and wind started to whirl around him. “You’d have a shock coming.” Hoh’s machetes rotated even faster and sparks came flying out of the rotations. “It’s time to end this.” The broad surface of Wei’s awl-like weapon gleamed silver and seven more icicles surfaced from it.
“This is ridiculous! Attack them now!!” The cloaked villain yelled at his screen orbs. Instantly, all demons howled wildly and charged at the four of them. Emi held tightly onto Ken’s shoulder. In slow motion, as the demon rushed forth, Ken released his attack.
“HELL’S FLAMES!!” “Eek!” Ken shouted as Emi gasped. He pierced his weapon into the soil and a large circle with designs of Northlands text appeared. “GAAHH!!” The area of radius 100 meters saw an eruption of the hottest fire ever. All demons were burnt on the spot; their cries and screams barely audible due to the sound of waving fire.
“RAGE OF ICE!!” Wei waved her weapon furiously; a fury of 10-foot-tall ice spikes emerged from the ground and rolling spiked balls of 15-feet-diameter appeared out of nowhere. Demons were stabbed in various body parts by the ice spikes, or were hit over by the rampaging rolling balls. “AARGH!!” Wei ignored their screaming as she went on with her ritual-like waving of her weapon in the dark atmosphere.
“LIGHTNING FURY!!” The light blue sphere gleaming on the tips of those rotating machetes was struck on his marble floor by Hoh. Darkness dimmed the entire manor and huge lightning erupted from above, striking all demons with an instant-kill. “AAHH!!” Hoh could hear them howl, and shielded his eyes from the ghastly sight.
“WHAT!?” The cloaked figure was greatly shocked by the sights. Even his audience was taken back by such events. “All wiped out instantly … this is their power?” Seconds later, it was all over. Bodies of unconscious demons lay everywhere; a gruesome sight.
Emi opened her eyes slowly. “Is it over?” Ken looked at her. “Yes, it is. No more demons are coming … I think.” The plain of fields were just empty, but to the spiritual eyes, they were covered with knocked-out demons. “Ken … you did it!! Hurray!!” Emi smiled, laughed and hugged him even tighter. “You did it! The nightmare’s over!!”
“Alright!! The Hoh has beaten them all! Yeah!!” Hoh jumped with joy in his penthouse.
“Finally! I thought that would never end!” Wei sat on the ground and panted lightly. The minion ghoul fell on the floor too. “This … impossible …” His master never said anything. All demons looked at each other; their confidence was shattered.
“… Have no more demons attack them. We retreat this time.” Minion ghoul hurriedly stood up. “Yes, yes, right away, my lord!” The Shaman, comfortably sitting in his office, gave himself a nice laugh. “Hah hahahah! Splendid performance, all four of you!”
“Marvelous, isn’t it? That’s the reason why I had Han cancel your training for today … I knew they would come after you lot. My last request, however, is for you to clean up the unconscious demons wherever you see them.” Wei was the only one to oppose him.
“Aw, come on! We just fought countless of them! Why can’t you send your … guards to pick them up!?” Mr Chou snored even louder. “Now, now, girl … think of it as having them pleasure to see the last of them.” The Shaman laughed lightly as Wei grunted and drew circles with her weapon, warping all demons to the realm beyond.
The fight was finally over; nearly 25 minutes of it. Hoh went to bring all his servants and maids up on their feet and ordered them to take a well-needed rest. Ken was relieved that his family was fine as well. They too decided to rest for awhile. Wei had to assist her father all the way to their apartment on the 20th floor. “What an evening, really …”
Ken laid on his bed. “Am I glad to rest from all this! Wow!” Emi smiled as she sat on his left. “So … what are you going to do later?” The teen rubbed his nose. “Well, exams are coming up … so I’d have to get to it. And then, there are seaweed strips to eat.” Emi stuck her tongue out childishly. “Yuck … seaweed.” Ken merely laughed.
After the demon audience left by his ushering, the cloaked villain walked slowly around his altar hall. “I have seen those three receive their weapons falling out of the skies … but who would have thought … such immense power … those that can rival mine?”
“They must be spied on for these coming days. Same goes for that suspicious farmhouse. Attack if you will … but do not fall to their attacks. Go. Bring in the next demon elite squad for me.” He merely sat on his wooden floor while minion ghoul vanished off.
The following day – 2nd October a Tuesday. Ken woke up with a terrible headache for another day of school. “Urgh … all those fighting last night … took the energy away from me …” He grunted and rose from his bed. “Ken, you can skip school …”
Emi was sitting on his study chair, looking very worried. “Did I just hear what I think you said? Me, skip school? That’s not the Emi I knew. She would push me to go to school every day!” Ken rubbed his eyes and looked at her. “But … but …”
She tried to protest but to no avail. After avoiding his folks’ retelling of the strange headache last night, he rushed out of his home. “I wonder how Wei and Hoh are … I didn’t call them on my cell phone last night … I’d like to know how they fought …” “Aw, c’mon, Ken. Don’t worry, you’d get to know about it soon enough.”
A figure was approaching Ken fast from behind. His senses caught that sharply. “Hah!” In a split-second, he stabbed his sword into the right chest of a large ghoul. “Eep! What is that doing here!?” Emi exclaimed. “Ah … aaah … darn you, boy …”
“Tsk! Your boss doesn’t have had enough, does he!? Be gone!” Ken drew out his sword and created an enveloping bubble that transported it to the netherworld. “I bet there’d be more … just like last night.” “Ken … you’re lucky no one’s around …” His cell phone clock ticked 7.20 am. “Argh! We have to go! The next aerotrain leaves in 4 minutes!”
Throughout the journey, a ghoul or two would pop out of nowhere to assault Ken. Emi would fend them off, being cautious since the earlier incident, and Ken would stun them with his sword piercings and send them off to the Yellow Springs. Even at the school grounds, he wasn’t free from their moves. “Oh dear … there are students too …”
“Just … try and act as normal as you can, Ken! Ah!” Emi repelled a gaudy demon’s punch and punched it back on the face. They rushed across the street to the school gates. Ken made a swift turn and slashed a wound on the gaudy demon. “Ahem.” He coughed and made minimal movement, sending the demon away to the netherworld.
“Nice one, Ken.” “Thanks.” He heard a familiar noise and turned to find Wei and Hoh running together. “Hey, it’s the guys – wait! Some ghouls are chasing after them!” Ken exclaimed at the traffic light. “Come on, Hoh! We … don’t want to be late!” Wei said.
“Um … yes, I know! If only … the bad wind doesn’t chase us!” Ken spat on the ground. “I’m going.” “Ken, wait!” The duo rushed past the crowd of students. “Hi, guys!” Ken made quick movements, those which only Emi and his friends could see, and slashed deep wounds onto the three ghouls chasing after them. “ARGH!!”
“Oh, hey, Ken!” The bespectacled teen gulped. “Come on … let’s head to class!” Ken quickly sent the ghouls away to the Yellow Springs and ran after the duo, where Wei dragged Hoh by his arm. Other students would only watch on. “Those three are weird.”
“Made it!” It was as though Hoh had leaped in the air just to enter the class 3-A. “Yeah … that’s good. Come on, grab a seat. We need to talk.” Ken said as he panted. The class at that time had few students, and the trio gathered at Ken’s desk to talk about last night and the morning’s incident. “In other words, the evil guy is still after us?”
Ken nodded to Hoh. “Yeah … so we might want to be more careful in the future … speaking of which, I find it strange we are not attacked here.” Everyone looked around. There were no signs of any ghouls or demons. “Hm … you’re right.” Emi remarked.
Wei supported her chin with her right hand. “Maybe … the school building is protected from those things? It’s sealed off?” Emi sighed. “That’s impossible. I’ve been to places where supposedly spirits are blocked off. I even took shelter there for several days.”
“Well … in any case, let’s just enjoy the time-off for now. I’m still bushed from all those fighting last night.” Ken nodded to Hoh again. “It was awesome. I kept on dodging those demons and attacked them on and on … brought lightning to finish them off!”
The green-haired girl smiled. “I jumped off the stairs 16 floors at my apartment and slid down to the ground with a flagpole. Otherwise, I would be dead by now. The trouble was me being spotted by other people while fighting those demons off.” She was stared back at by the trio. “Did you really … jump off a building? That’s … that’s!”
“Yes, I know, Emi … it’s impossible. But it happened. I hurt my ankles from that; here’s the proof.” Wei took off her left shoe and pulled down her sock, revealing a bandaged foot. “Oh … I’m sorry.” Emi hung her head down in shame. “It’s okay … I wouldn’t believe it either if anyone of you had been through something like that.”
“Urgh …” Ken rubbed his head. “My head hurts … probably from last night. I just don’t know what to do … the pain keeps coming back. AH!!” A pair of hands reached out from behind him, shocking the other trio. “Hello again. It’s been a long time since we met.”
Bak was there behind Ken, massaging his head on different spots. “There, there … you’ll be just alright.” Emi glared on the person with suspicion. Wei looked with doubt. “Oh, great … another self of Bak. Hold on, are you that one called Sim?” Sim smiled in turn.
“Aha, thank you for being able to recognize me. I came out the instant I saw you all here and again, your friend here has headaches.” Wei bent her eyebrows with a smile. “Yeah … you look like Ken’s personal masseur. Didn’t you massage his head once before?” Hoh and Emi glared awkwardly at her. “Ha ha … why, yes. What a strange coincidence.”
“Coincidence or not … you’re being helpful … as expected of Sim.” Everyone turned to look at the class door. There were the silver-haired emotionless Maz and his fraternal twin sister, Ria. “Hello, everyone … I see cheery … faces.” He merely looked on.
“Maz, why are you always being so cold to everyone? Can’t you at least put up a smile?” Ria chided on her brother. “Sorry, Ria … I will try next time then.” Ria got a little upset. “Aw, seems like you’re never going to try at all!” She waved her hair and Hoh looked on to it, feeling a little embarrassed. “Wow … such a beauty … amazing.”
Ken, Sim, Wei and Emi stared blankly at him. “… He said it again – AH!!” Sim had forcibly cracked the teen’s neck to the right. “There we go. You should all fine now.” Even the calm Sim found it uneasy to look at Hoh have a funny face. “Funny … I have never seen Chesong Hoh like this before.” Hoh was struck back to earth.
“AH! Um … it’s just the way Ria waved her hair. That should have been made into a painting or something …” Emi and Wei stared half-eyed at him. “I knew it. Hoh has a thing or two for Ria.” Wei smiled cheekily at the bespectacled teen. “What!? No! I … would never do anything like that! It’s too fast … and I’m too young for love!!”
Wei snapped her fingers. “I never said it was love.” Hoh’s face turned red and hid them under his arms on Ken’s desk. Emi giggled lightly and Bak resurfaced, quickly surprising Ken of that unnoticed change. Wei sighed, Ria held on firmly to Maz’s left arm and snuggled her head on his shoulder. “What a mess … what a mess we have here.”
Maz looked as though he was not aware of Hoh’s staring at Ria. “In any case … the bell is going to ring … I suggest we head back … to our class.” His words rippled the calm of Ken and his friends. “So … cold.” Ken muttered, after Maz’s group was gone.
Throughout the 6 hours of lessons, the usual things happened – last-minute revisions for the national exams, Mr Ahashi bellowing at people who couldn’t get questions right and Mr Sanada had Ken trying to translate Basics to Northlands. But something interesting occurred during lunch break. “Yay, lunch! Let’s see what Wei has for lunch …”
“Hmph, this lunch is all mine. Mine.” “Hey! That’s not nice! Just one bite, please!” Ken munched on salmon-wrapped rice packs as Emi squabbled for a bit of Wei’s food. Maz and Bak joined them for lunch in the class as well. “The fried squid is excellent!”
Maz looked at Bak. “I appreciate it, Bak …” “No, really! It’s delicious! As expected from you! You have always cooked for me, and I treasure the experience.” That statement earned Ken’s attention. “Cooked? Maz cooks? What about his mother?”
“Um … Mr and Mrs Osada are mediums, so … they are away from home a lot. Maz here learned a lot from the local neighbours back in Zhili town, so he cooks for us all these years. Right, Maz?” Bak turned to the emotionless teen, who preferred to stay silent.
“Basically, yes, he cooks.” Bak gave Ken a light smile. “Wow … that’s amazing.” Maz shrugged off the praise. “It’s nothing … you have to learn … survival is important.” The brown-haired teen wondered what he meant by that, but returned to his lunch instead.
Emi studied their conversation, putting aside the earlier sire to pig out of Wei’s lunch box. “Hmm … Maz’s body aura … surprisingly warm. Then, the first time was …? I guess he’s just human, like everyone. Ria lost her memories, and he was very happy to get a normal sibling … but his affection and care for Bak never changes …”
“But … Bak … Sim said that he and the other two are one with Bak … born out of his mind … but what I saw … I need to talk with Ken or anyone of them later … something is very fishy with this boy … from the start.” Emi sat lightly on the teacher’s desk.
Hoh adjusted his spectacles. “Say, Maz, where’s Ria?” The emotionless teen shrugged. “She insisted … to stay in her class … probably … mixing with her new friends.”
Maz munched lightly on some beef balls. Hoh looked on the ground, all confused and red. “Hmm … I need to go to the washroom. I’ll be right back.” Hoh stood up and hurriedly walked out of the classroom. “Hey, where are you going, Hoh?” Ken asked.
Wei looked up. “Hey … the washrooms are to the left. Why is he heading to the right?” Hoh hurriedly ran off, leaving other students looking at him. “Hmm …” “Yay! I get the meatballs! Mm! Delicious!” Emi happily munched on a spiritual bit of Wei’s lunch.
“I’m done … see you all later …” Maz packed his lunch box and exited the class. “Hey, wait for me! See you later, Ken!” The frail boy followed after him, nearly tripping off his own chair. “Ow! Oops … I should be more careful …” Ken looked on awkwardly.
“That Bak … well, I’m done with lunch too. Just where did Hoh run off to?” The teen closed his box tightly. “Isn’t it obvious?” Wei gave him the half-eyed face. “He’s run off to see Ria. Probably asking for a date or something like that.” She rested her head on Hoh’s desk. “What!? That’s impossible! Hoh would never do something like that!”
“You don’t believe me? Fine.” Wei turned to Emi. “Hey, Emi, could you go and check Hoh out?” The ghost girl was aghast. “What!? That would be just invading his privacy! Ken, say something!” The teen sighed and waved his hair. “… I’m not involved in this.”
“Ah!” Emi fumed at him. “Fine … I do this just once for you, Wei. Just this once!” She floated in the mid-air and flew past through the wall of the back of the class. “Heh heh heh … the heir of the Hoh family engaged in love. This should be exciting!” Ken slapped himself on the face. “Have you been reading any romance stories lately, Wei?” “NO!!”
“I feel so disturbed … spying on Hoh …” Emi commented to herself as she flew through a number of students and walls. “Oh, there he is! I should hide! He can see me!” Hoh was standing close to a group of female students around Ria and her desk. Blushing red, he was thinking of a way to cut in. Emi observed from behind class 3-F’s teacher’s desk.
“Oh … I feel sorry for him. Huh?” Ria had made eye contact with Hoh. “Ah, Hoh. How can I help you?” The other girls were looking on the embarrassed bespectacled teen. “Um … could I talk to you … outside? For a while?” The girls giggled, so Hoh blushed more.
“Sure, why not?” Hoh led the way outside the classroom, leaving Ria to shut the door behind her. The other students earlier giggled harder. “Ria’s found herself an admirer!” “Do you think someone like him has a chance to catch her heart?” “Impossible!”
Emi fumed at them. “Grr … invading privacy is one thing, but I hate backstabbing even more! If I were alive now, I’d beat them good!” She flew off from the place and stuck her head through the class wall. Ria and Hoh were heading to the nearest balcony available.
“Erhm … sorry to call you on short notice, Ria, but … it’s rather important that I talk to you about this.” “It’s okay, Hoh. Go ahead.” That girl, formerly a medium fanatic, revealed her original character of sweetness and delicateness. Hoh tapped his feet lightly on the concrete floor. “Wow, Ria said that?” Even Emi was surprised with her words.
“Yeah … um, you see, ever since you first transferred here … I have been keeping my eyes on you … um … but …” Hoh stammered. He was going to say that it was her fanaticism on spiritual abilities stopped him from ever approaching her, but the reminder that Han had sealed all such memories and abilities made it irrelevant.
“But what?” Ria tilted her head to the left in confusion. “Um … no! It’s nothing!”
Hoh scratched his head. “Well, I mean … I sort of know you, along with Maz, and Bak too … but I never really got to know you. You’re a cute, nice, friendly person … and I really would like to get to know you even better. Is that okay with you?”
Ria pointed a finger to her chin. “In other words, you want us to be friends?” Hoh shuddered a little. “Um … yes, if that is okay with you. If you just want to stick with your other girlfriends there, I mean, friends with girls … that’s fine … I understand.”
Emi slapped herself on the forehead. “Hoh … you really are gullible … interaction with the opposite side is the last thing you could ever do …” “Sure, why not!? Isn’t it just cool to have more friends?” Ria burst out those words. “Oh! Yes, I know that … ha hah …”
“What’d you know? Hoh was rather lucky on this one.” The ghost girl commented to herself. “Say, um … it would be nice if we can arrange some time so we can talk together … alone … just the both of us …” Hoh played with his fingers. “It is fine, right?”
“Of course it’s fine with me. But … I mean, exams are coming up and I need to finish my revisions … I suppose I can spare some time off. I need to stay up late I guess … so, you think you can make it today?” Hoh immediately nodded to her. “Yes, yes, definitely!”
Ria giggled and Hoh stammered again. “Ha … so, would it be okay … at around 7 later? At the ice cream parlour down the street from school?” That brown-haired girl gave it a thought. “It’s a deal. I’d just tell Maz later at home I’d be going out. See you around!”
With that, Ria skipped off back to class, leaving behind a shaking Hoh. “Whoa … whoa.” Emi then clasped her hands together. “Congratulations, Hoh. You deserve it.” She took some time to herself and glance at Ria. “Wow … she is actually quite beautiful.”
“That was scary … I didn’t think I’ll manage to pull it off.” The bespectacled teen wobbled as he walked back to class. It was five minutes till lunch break officially ends. Emi silently retreated back to Ken’s side and told Wei everything she heard. “Amazing, Hoh managed to arrange a date with her! And it’s our job to see it pulls through!”
“Are you insane? I’m not involved in this. It’s Hoh’s business and I’m not in it.” Ken vehemently refused. Wei fumed and immediately wrestled Ken’s head under her right arm. “ARGH!” She knocked his head several times hardly. “Hoh’s your friend and you don’t even want to help him in something he’s not good at!? How ungrateful!”
Several students stared on, as Wei wrestled with Ken. “All those times he tutored you and you don’t want to do him a favour!?” “Argh! Ahh! Alright, alright! I’ll come with you!” Wei glared nastily at him. “I’ll be with you first to make sure you’re coming.” Emi gulped at Wei’s nastiness. Just then, Hoh entered and classes and normalcy resumed.
At the end of the day, all four of them walked together on the school grounds, even Emi used her formed feet. Outside the school gates, the peasant Han was waiting for them. He dusted his yellow peasant clothing and adjusted his straw hat shielding his eyes.
“Hello, you lot.” Han folded his arms. “I’ve come to personally pick you up. My master says that there’ll be training today. Two hours straight.” Ken moaned. “Huh!? I’m rather tired today, Han! Can’t we just have a break for once!?” He hunched his back.
“Sorry, orders are orders. Come, we are wasting time here.” “Fine …” The four of them, including Emi, followed behind Han as they walked to the aerotrain station opposite the school. Having bought the train tickets to Handao, they waited for the aerotrain to come.
Hoh felt his heart beat faster than usual, leaning on one of the concrete pillars. “At the ice cream parlour down the street from school …” He mumbled to himself. “Gulp … Ria …”
Continued in Chapter 32.
Notes: I guess you can call Hoh having a … date. Chapter 5 has the timetable for Tuesday, including Mr Ahashi’s bellowing. Chapter 12 is where Sim massaged Ken’s head first. A reminder that Maz and Ria are fraternal twins; they are non-identical in many ways. Stay tuned for Hoh’s first time of spending alone with anyone ever – Ria Osada!
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Oh dears. Something big might just happen.
And for your information, remember back in Chapter 27, there is this following paragraph:
In Chopper One, a character of a yellow shawl covering his whole body leaned on his seat. His right hand, covered by a large brown glove up to his elbow and having a star design, picked up a nearby microphone. “You … girl … your name is Ziwei Chou?”
His voice boomed in Chopper Two. “Yes … that’s me.” The Shaman laughed lightly.
And then, we go back towards nearly the end of Chapter 1 itself:
The teen sighed as he chewed over some meat of salmon. The TV continued with its news broadcast, while the rain simmered down on his windows. Meanwhile, far away from Shijun city, into the pouring central capital Core City, a figure was sighing.
“Ah … good rain … it’s been a long time since I last felt it … that tender life it brings to all things …” Sitting on a roof of one of the many skyscrapers, he allowed the rain to flow down his yellow shawl, brown baggy trousers and brown peculiar shoes.
“The time has come … to settle one of the issues in that province … with the help of this young boy … Ken Kazuguchi.” The figure let his hair be wet and he smiled creepily.
These info were separated by chapters so far apart that I thought I decided it better to bring this up to your attentions.
So ... based on the hint of the yellow shawl clothing .... clearly, the Shaman has been eying on Ken from the start! And now, the important question is this: WHY?
To be answered in the coming chapters ahead!
Thank you for coming to read! Stay tuned to the update at the end of June!
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Post by Professor Fann on Jun 29, 2010 8:10:46 GMT -5
The update at the end of the month cannot be made due to some overwhelming personal difficulties, which I feel I really don't want to elaborate here.
However, rest assured that the upcoming Chapter 32 update will be posted together with that of the update after that - Chapter 33 - in the middle of July 2010. Thank you all for understanding.
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Post by Professor Fann on Jul 19, 2010 16:54:03 GMT -5
Hi everyone! I know the update has been delayed, and is late even by now, but man, it takes quite a number of hours to retype back one chapter from printed copy into Word again. I hope that in the next few days, I can manage Chapter 33 be up here.
But for now, please enjoy this Chapter 32 which was supposed to be due the end of last month! Thank you all for understanding!
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 32: The Soul Learns Something Good
“Put some muscle into it, boy! You want to last longer in fights!” Han bellowed at Hoh who was trying to carry 10 kgs of weights on both hands. “Urgh …” Wei was running faster on her 100 laps around the hall. “Huff … puff … I can do this …”
Everyone was back into the so-called routine training. As Han repeatedly implied, while their receiving the knowledge of combat from the Shaman was great to battle the ghastly evil, physical confrontation was needed. The current training is meant to enhance their physical performances; though short, its results were clear during yesterday’s fights.
“A bit of sweetness makes the whole drop delicious.” Emi mumbled to herself. Ken was now doing his regular push-ups. “49 … 50 … I can’t help feeling that some other presence is around … trying to spy if I really am here … she might tell off on mum.”
Earlier, sister Ayumi went to Ken, demanding to know where he was going to, thinking he was up to no good. Hoh backed him up, saying they were studying at a friend’s place. Ken couldn’t help but feel that Ayumi might be spying on him right now.
“Um … just so you know, I’ve checked around. I didn’t find her.” Ken continued his push-ups. “Did you check if she’s back home?” “As a matter of fact, yes, I did. Five minutes ago, she was studying in her room. She has exams like you too.”
“AH!!” Hoh suddenly shouted. Everyone turned their heads at him, who raised the weights high with both his hands. “Yes! I did it! I finally did it!” Han applauded lightly. “Very good. Let’s see you do that for the next 15 minutes non-stop.” “AW!!”
“Say, Han, I am curious about one thing.” The peasant turned to the running Wei. “Don’t you ever take off that hat of yours?” She pointed to Han’s straw hat. He quickly held onto it fast. “Aiyah … I have an issue with sunlight. Even lamp lights. There are cases where people are sensitive to light, yes? Same here … just on areas higher than my nose.”
“Erhm …” Wei decided not to comment on that queerness. She looked as though she was leaping in the air by that running. “Well, well … look at her fly. Girl! Ten more laps and then go for the weights like this city boy here!” Han shouted. “Alright, got it!”
“You know, Emi, I still have reason to be cautious. Ayumi pointed out that I was the only one who had no headaches last night …” Ken made his 67th push-up. “But you know that’s not enough to prove that you’re doing what you’re doing here, Ken. Let it go.”
“I don’t know … Ayumi is one to never leave suspicions be …” Finally, they stopped after an hour’s training. Wei was fine with the weight-lifting, but Hoh had cramps all over. “Muscles like these keep you going, boy, when the time is right.” Han slapped his legs and Hoh yelped in pain. “ACK!” “I have something for you three.”
“My master came by yesterday … and told me to give you these amulets.” Han threw them and everyone caught them nicely. “Hey, these are nice jade items. What are they for?” Wei looked up to Han. “Mm … notice that no demons or ghouls came to us?”
Throughout the journey from school to Handao, indeed, no one has met any demons. “That’s because I carried these amulets with me. The Shaman blessed it as an extra shield to protect you and anyone around from random attacks of those things.”
“So, at night, if you place this amulet in your room, your house and family members are protected. You can sleep in as peace as well.” Hoh stared at the dragon-carved amulet. “Those demons might attack us any time … amazing! I’m very grateful!”
“Can we use it for self-protection?” Emi asked the peasant. “Hmm … you have the gift of martial arts; your friends have the gift of armed self-defense already. Those amulets are for your homes.” She stared blankly at him. “Next time, just say NO.” Ken and Hoh drank some water. Han suddenly clapped his hands. “Now, back to your training!”
All three of them went on strengthening those body muscles for another 65 minutes before Han finally bid them farewell. Hoh ached all the way home, sighing heavily. Ken and Emi arrived back home as quick as they could to get a well-earned rest.
“Argh … I don’t know if I could last any longer of that …” The teen sighed as he opened the door of his home. “Just get some rest, okay Ken? Then you’d be fine –” Emi stared as Wei dragged her feet into the Kazuguchi home, softly closed and locked that door.
“Um … Wei, why are you here?” Emi asked. “I did say I was going to stay with Ken to make sure he comes with me to see on how Hoh will be doing on his first date.” She waved her green hair. “Um … I won’t call it a date exactly, Wei …” Ken said.
“Anyway, my dad will be home late, as always, so I don’t mind spending the time I have with you.” She took out some textbooks from her school bag. “We’ll do some studying; finish off the last portions of all subjects together. Come on, I’ll coach you.”
Hoh was back home, lying on the floor in his room. “Urgh … muscle cramps … I have an appointment with … Ria … must move to closet … to change clothes … argh! It hurts!” The teen somehow clenched his leg muscles and was crawling on the floor.
“This is the big moment. Ria agreed we go out together … I’m too excited … and tense. I have to pick a nice set of clothes … think of what to say to her … ice cream shop? Why did it have to be the ice cream shop!? Not some other place!? Ow, my legs hurt!”
Meanwhile, the former fanatic girl Ria was dressed in a lovely pink dress and whistled. “Ria … what are you doing?” Maz suddenly approached her at the front door. “I’m going out for a while. Can you wrap up dinner for me? This might take a while.”
“Sure … as you like.” That pale teen walked away from her. “Brother is strange … so cold all the time …” Ria remarked before exiting the door herself. She walked on the stone compounds of the large Osada temple, which the family manages. With many rock statues decorating that ancient Northland place, it gave a scent of sentimentalism.
Sooner than everyone imagined, it was close to 7 pm. Ken and Wei had studied together and had finally concluded their studies. Ken wasn’t too sure if he managed to get all that knowledge into his head, so that was where Wei dragged him to the aerotrain station. Of course, after enduring some of sister Ayumi’s and Grandpa Ojiro’s verbal teases.
“Those two … sheesh …” Ken said as he walked, being pulled by his left hand by Wei. “Don’t let it get to you, Ken. Only we know what’s going on.” Emi tried to support his state of confidence. “Alright, if you say so.” He smiled weakly at the ghost girl.
“Good! Let’s go back to school!” Wei charged on forward. “Argh! Hey, let me go already, Wei!” “Hey, wait up!” Emi chased after the duo – both still had their own school uniforms on. Wei clenched her fist. “Time to see the date’s success!”
At the ice cream parlour down the street from Aoyaga Private Academy in Chaoge, Hoh was dressed in blue shirt, a rough grey jacket and long black trousers. “Urgh … it’s so cold … I wonder where Ria is …” Not far from him, three people were spying on him.
Come to think of it, make it two. “Guys, you’re intruding Hoh’s privacy … and I don’t like that.” Ken, Wei and Emi were hiding behind a large mailbox across the street from where Hoh was. Emi played with her fingers. “Um … I’m just curious, Ken.”
“This is Hoh’s first date! No way am I going to let him fail this one!” Wei declared; her eyes fuelled with determination. “You are starting to sound like you’re his best friend already, Wei …” Ken was glared upon by her. “Quiet, Ria has just arrived!”
Indeed, the girl was fast approaching the ice cream parlour. Hoh stammered upon looking at her. “That … that … that’s Ria!?” Emi’s eyes glittered in admiration. “Wow! She looks wonderful! That dress fits her!” Ken merely grunted beside Wei. “Hmph.”
“Hello, Hoh.” Ria simply walked up to him and smiled. “Um … uh … hi, Ria! My … that’s some dress you’re wearing! It makes you … cute!” Hoh uttered up embarrassedly, looking to the evening sky instead. Wei slapped her head. “He shouldn’t be talking to the sky! Really!” Ria giggled. “You’re so funny … come on, let’s choose a seat.”
“Alright … what kind of ice cream do you want? My treat!” Hoh shivered as he walked. Wei clenched her fists tightly. “Come on! Even if it’s his first date, he should stop shaking in fear so much!” Emi watched on carefully at both Ria and Hoh.
“They’re eating … Ken, have you eaten your dinner yet? Maybe we should go get something for you.” The teen merely shook his head. “No thanks, I’m still full with mum’s snack of fried potatoes and salad. I’m not in the mood for more food.”
“Quiet! They’re choosing a table to begin their lovely conversation!” Ken and Emi stared half-eyed at Wei. “Emi, if you want to watch, go ahead. I’m just Wei’s company.” The ghost girl was initially skeptical. “But …” Ken didn’t feel like talking anymore. “Just join Wei, okay?” “ … Alright, I will. You’ll be fine, just here?” “Yeah.”
She joined Wei peeking onto Hoh and Ria, who have had a table and looked at their menus. “Ahem … let’s see, what kind of ice cream do you want, Ria? How about lemongrass and chocolate? I heard that’s your favourite!” “Ah … yes, it is. Sure!”
“Excuse me, waiter! I’d like to order …” While Hoh talked to the waiter at hand, Wei was definitely happy. “Nice! Paying for the girl’s meal is a good step to earn her trust!” Other passersby stared on both Wei and Ken as they were hiding behind that mail box. Emi frowned lightly. “I wonder … if that was me and Ken … how’d it look like?”
“Any more orders?” “Nope!” The young waiter walked away from their table. “Ah … well, that’s done.” Hoh found himself being looked at by Ria. “So, Hoh … you said that you wanted to get along with me, right?” “Ah! Um … yes! Yes! Um … let’s see …”
“Ria, personally … what do you enjoy about … life itself?” The girl was slightly bewildered at that question. “Oh … well, I’m not really sure … I haven’t really given thought about it … I just go to school, sit for the exams, go out with friends …”
Before some more complicated things came in, Hoh decided to cut her short. “Ah, no! I mean … I touched a sensitive topic for you! I’m sorry!” “No, silly. It’s okay for you to ask. You said you wanted to get to know me better, right?” Ria looked back at him.
“Well, yes …” “So, why not you tell me about yourself, Hoh?” Wei gripped onto the mail box’s corner tighter. “Um … okay, sure. What I enjoy about life itself … um … the happiness with the company of your best friends, I guess. Sadly, I have never seen my folks too much … so, I guess my friends are the only company I can get so far.”
“Oh … I see. You have a good attitude there, Hoh.” Ria gave him a light thumbs-up. The bespectacled teen was confused. “What’d you mean?” “Likewise, I have rarely seen my folks too … they have always been out at work … I don’t have that kind of attitude.”
“But … you have Maz and Bak with you!” Ria looked down on her part of the table. “I know, but … Maz is cold all the time, since we were young siblings … I don’t really know about Bak … but he’s quite unstable … ever since he came into the family.”
Hoh gave her words a thought. “Could this be … the reason why Ria became a fanatic medium from the start? So inclined into spiritual matters … because of loneliness?”
Ria continued on: “I … I had nowhere to turn. I kept it all to myself … the bitterness, the pain, everything … deep in my heart I feel so resentful. Piling up, never ceasing … for some reason, recently I was able to spill it out and even forget it. Oh …”
Hoh became sympathetic to her. “Ria … argh, maybe I shouldn’t have brought this up.” The girl quickly stopped him there. “No … it’s okay. You’re the first person I’ve talked to about this … I don’t mind … thank you.” She gave a laugh, and Hoh followed suit.
“It’s hard to believe that Ria would say something like that.” Wei and Emi had moved up closer to the duo, away from the mail box they hid behind. They were now hiding behind a wall of the ice cream parlour’s side alley, close to the duo. “That might be the real Ria.”
“I agree.” Emi said her opinion. “Perhaps since Han isolated all her memories regarding spiritual affairs, her long suppressed feelings and thoughts are finally emerging. I have seen things like this before meeting Ken … it even makes me cry sometimes.”
“Speaking of which, where is Ken?” Both girls looked around. Ken was not with them, not even behind the mail box opposite the street. “Oh!! I knew it! He ran away because he doesn’t care about Hoh’s first date! I hate that guy!!” Wei nearly screamed her heart out but quickly covered her mouth, so that Hoh wouldn’t discover her presence.
Ken left, heading for a park further down the street. He approached a cross-junction of roads where taxis and trucks flowed, people walked and activity continued on in the occupied buildings. “That’s the place where we were first attacked by demons …”
He stared across the street at the very end of the zebra crossing, where the five bullies were possessed by demons and did the cloaked villain’s bidding to kill him and probably Emi too. “Hmm … no way am I succumbing to demons or the like … never.”
It was at the very spot where all his spiritual adventures began to develop further as time went on – gaining Hoh and Wei as allies, finding out an evil guy was plotting to create a selfish society on himself and going out to stop him, also evading Jia and Ria.
“This one’s a smart boy … hisss.” Ken turned around in shock. Amid the thin crowds were several demon figures standing 30 feet away from him. “He’s the strongest of all the master’s four targets … hisss.” “Can’t we destroy him now!?” “No … we can’t. Hisss.”
“Huh?” Ken walked up close to a jewellery shop, where 5 hideous, winged demons stood. To avoid suspicion from people, he reverted to mental communication. What do you mean, you can’t attack me now? Are you scared? They growled and hissed.
“He speaks with his mind …” One demon growled. “Yes, boy … we cannot attack you now. Our master said not to attack you, seeing how … that protective barrier is still up.” Ken raised an eyebrow. What protective barrier? I didn’t set up any of those.
“What!? That’s impossible!” A demon on his right snarled. “Easy … hisss … ever since the four of you had followed that shabby-looking person back from your school, we have been unable to confront any of you. That’s because a barrier has stopped us.”
“Oh?” Ken remembered the amulets that Han gave them. “Let’s see …” Ken searched himself all over and took out his jade amulet. “Hisss … that’s the one … it generated that protective barrier. His other friends have it too … hissss …” One demon scowled.
Hah. No wonder none of you approached me when I left home. I’ll be holding onto this then. Ken smirked at the hissing demon. “Very well … you win this round, Ken Kazuguchi … but the way against this province is not over. Hisss …” It slithered its tongue out of its mouth. I won’t lose … I will never give into you all.
With that said, Ken merely walked off. The demons snarled as they watch him walk. “I must have this kid … I want to finish him myself … hisss.” That demon said. They all leaped into the air and vanished elsewhere, presumably to their master’s lair.
“Oh, Hoh! I didn’t know you collected many comic books about romance! Same here! What are the newest series coming out?” “Well, there’s …” The duo of Ria and Hoh rambled on as they ate their ice creams. The green-haired Wei stared on awkwardly.
“They have been talking about comic books, games and personal stuff all along! I don’t believe it! Girls reading comic books!?” Wei clenched her left fist even tighter with irritation. “Now, now, Wei … at least this date seems to be going fine. The both of them are getting along rather fine, as you wanted.” “Oh yeah … good point.”
“Hello …” Ken mumbled as he approached both girls. Wei was utterly frustrated. “Come here you!” “Whoa!” She hurriedly pulled Ken out the street into the side alley where she and Emi hid. “Huh? Did you hear something, Ria?” Hoh looked around.
“No, I don’t hear anything. What’s wrong?” Ria ate her scoop of lemongrass ice cream. “Ah … no. It’s nothing.” The bespectacled teen returned to his ice cream. Meanwhile, Emi was trying to stop Wei from doing something bad to Ken. “No! Please, stop!!”
“Where did you wander off to, Ken!? I endured their 15-minute conversation all about games and comic books and whatnot and you disappeared; leaving me all alone!” She cornered him at a wall, whispering furiously at him. “Well … I couldn’t help it!”
Ken said back to her, without any intention to defend himself. “Oh, I simply hate boys your kind who slack off, not bothering about their best friends!” “Hey, I didn’t want to come here! It’s Hoh’s business, not mine!” He accidentally stepped on sticky fluid.
“Guys … I’m right here. Did you all forget about me?” Emi unsuccessfully tried to cut in. Wei and Ken were growling with gritted teeth at each other. “Oh dear … oh dear …” Emi whimpered on that helpless sight. “CAN YOU ALL STOP IT!?” She finally shouted.
The other two stopped growling at each other and looked at Emi. “Please! Wei, listen … in the first place, you dragged Ken into spying on Hoh with you, and you are still violating his privacy whether he knows it or not! But, we’ve come too far to go back!”
“Ken, on the other hand, I agree with your thoughts about violating his privacy and disagreeing with Wei. But, the least you could do as a gentleman is just quietly go along with her and bear with it! You went through days of Jia and everyone who were prying you to admit I exist! Why couldn’t you bear with Wei for a mere hour or so!?”
Both of them stared at each other. “Um … so, whose side are you on, Emi?” Ken raised an eyebrow at the ghost girl. “I’m on your side, Ken … but I came along just to watch out for the both of you, in case something else goes wrong.” She shrugged.
“Fine … let’s get this over with. See how Hoh is doing and then, we go back home.” Wei smiled at Ken’s words, but guiltily avoided the angry stare of Emi. “Alright, let’s see how Hoh is now.” The trio leaned onto the side alley wall and looked at Ria and Hoh.
Ria put aside her second bowl of ice cream. “Ah … that was delicious. It has been a long time since I last ate ice cream. The last time was … with Maz, four years ago. My folks came back and gave our monthly allowance. We went to the ice cream man.”
“Hmm. Interesting.” Hoh wiped his mouth with a tissue. “Do you want to order some more food? I can pay. It’s all on me.” Ria shook her head. “No … I’ve had enough ice cream, thanks. I’m saving my stomach for Maz’s dinner.” Then, Hoh cut her words.
“You know … I also like plants. In fact, my house has some of the rare species plants in the country. Their fragrance is very relaxing. Kind of like your own aromatherapy. So … maybe … you’d like to come by my home some time?” Wei was surprised.
Ken twitched slightly. “Wow, inviting her over to home already?” Emi merely looked on. “Sure, why not? That’d be cool. I like the scent coming from purple petal flowers though. Those are my favourite flowers.” Ria said to Hoh. “Oh … wait, I have those too.”
“Amazing! I’d gladly come by!” Ria chirped. The waiter served ice cream and meals to other customers before seeing to Hoh’s raised hand. “I’d like to pay for the bill please.” “Okay, just a minute.” Silence prevailed briefly at the table as the waiter left them.
“Um … Ria? Would it be okay … if I could be … your boyfriend?” Hoh embarrassedly blurted out. Ria herself blushed upon hearing that question. “Why would you ask me of this?” Hoh played with his fingers. “Because … Ria … I really … really like you!”
“I like you a lot, that’s why! And I would do anything to be with you! Just to be close to you, to know you and to do things with you!” Hoh panted after finishing that sentence. “It’s as if … I can’t live without you for long! Ever since the day I first saw you …” Wei was stumped, trying to imagine Hoh approaching Ria as the fanatic medium.
“That’s a confession from Hoh, wasn’t it?” Emi tugged on Ken’s arm. “Definitely. I never thought Hoh had this much affection for … Ria the former weirdo.” Back at the table, Ria’s uneasy eyes looked everywhere from the floor to the wart on a customer’s knee. “Be … your … girlfriend? Are you serious, Hoh?” Her fists tightened a little.
“I have never been more serious, Ria! I am!” The bespectacled teen waited for her reply. “Oh … this is exciting. Will Hoh succeed on his first date ever!?” Wei nearly squealed. Even Emi was nervous. Ria closed her eyes for ten seconds before replying.
“I’m sorry, Hoh, I cannot accept your request.” Ria shook her head lightly. Hoh felt like a giant rock exploding into a million pieces upon struck by lightning. “Huh!?” Wei and Emi gasped from behind the post box. Ken sighed: “It’s a failure after all.”
“But … why!? We can’t go out together and see each other often!? Why not!?” Hoh stammered and waved his hands about. “I want to get to know you even better, that’s all! So, why!?” Ria shook her head lightly again. “Hoh, do you know what you are doing?”
Ria dusted her pink sleeves. “Hoh, you intend to commit yourself to me for the years ahead. I can tell. But, the thing is, now I’m more concerned for you that you may stray down the wrong path instead of the one love is supposed to lead you.” Hoh gasped.
“I … I … urgh.” He hung his head down in shame. Ken remarked to Emi: “That was an outright rejection.” “Yes, I can tell that. Thanks, Ken.” Ria coughed lightly and went on: “Hoh, I understand how you feel about me … and that’s very kind of you. But …”
“There are articles I read about in the past, even recently, in the newspaper … articles telling about many older teenagers and young adults – how they fell in love initially, even engaged. In the later years, their marriage and family issues turned out horribly. I don’t want our relationship, if any, to develop into that in the future.” Ria coughed again.
“Do you understand how horrible it is to read people, even husbands and wives arguing among each other over trivial matters? Horrible things happen in the end! I can commit to a relationship between us, but … I don’t want those horrible things to happen to us.”
Ken rubbed his chin. “Wow, Ria has a point.” Both Emi and Wei looked at him. “Years ahead in the future, I’d hate to have that kind of thing in my own family.” Hoh stuttered; his mind in confusion. “But … I won’t go like that far … I promise. Really …”
“I appreciate that promise, Hoh, but we are still too young for love. I don’t feel mature enough to go through all these love and commitment just yet. I don’t want us to make the mistakes of the flawed others out there. The same goes to you.” Ria sighed.
Ken snapped his fingers. “That was a downright rejection.” Emi looked blankly at him. “Um … yes, I can tell that too, Ken. Thanks.” Hoh hung his head down disappointed. “Well … in that case … I understand … it’s okay … sorry to trouble you here.”
The waiter arrived with the bill and Hoh merely handed him a 100 EraSean dollar note. “But … Hoh, I like your attitude. You seem to have given this a lot of thought. I think I heard some strong commitment in that confession. I admire that sincerity.”
Hoh scratched his head. “Um … yeah, well, I have been thinking a lot about it recently.” Actually, Hoh thought about it for only the recent 4 days. Again, the fact that the past Ria was a spiritual fanatic had prevented him from even thinking about the love idea.
“So … I’ve decided that I’m willing to consider your request. I’ll be happy to accept it when the time is right for the both of us.” The trio spying on Hoh were utterly surprised, but Hoh was the happiest. “Really? You mean it!?” Ria nodded lightly.
“I have to keep options just in case. If all men out there are the nasty types … then you’ll be the first person I’d gladly go out with on my list.” The spectacled teen felt like exploding fireworks of joy. “However –” Ria continued; suddenly dissipating his joy.
“Try not to focus so much on this issue, okay? We have more important things to do now than love. For now … let’s begin as friends, alright? We can still do things together … but as friends.” Hoh looked on to Ria. “Um, yes, sure, of course! I’d be glad to!”
He nervously reached out his left hand to her. “Oh, come on. Don’t be so scared, Hoh!” She quickly held his hand tightly with her left hand, stunning him. “Whoa!” Ria giggled. “When the time is right, Hoh. When the time is right.” She gently shook his hand.
“Yes … when the time is right.” Hoh reached out his other hand and held onto those contacting hands. “With pleasure.” Ria in turn did the same. A chilly but relaxing wind blew by them; leaves blown on its path. “We’ll always be in touch from now on.”
Emi felt like crying due to the sentimentalism of that scene. “How … wonderful!” She rubbed her eyes, removing any traces of tears. “See, Ken?” Wei also sobbed. “I told you … his date would be … a success!” Ken sighed. “Fine … really, that surprised me.”
They released their hand grip and the waiter returned just in time to hand Hoh his cash balance. “Oh, thank you!” The duo left their table and the parlour, walking up the street to the aerotrain station. Realizing that, Wei and group followed behind them.
“Maybe in the future, I’ll get approval from my folks so you and I can officially be a couple.” She winked her right eye at him. “Eh … you’re right, Ria. That’s a little too far ahead already.” The girl chuckled at him. “That’s how things work. Our parents must approve of our relationship, right? Otherwise … we will fail like those flawed people.”
“Please look after me in the future, Hoh.” Ria gave him a last cheerful message and walked off quickly to the aerotrain station. The wind howled again, blowing leaves off from the trees. The taxis went on their journeys. Hoh looked on. “See you around, Hoh.” She waved him goodbye and walked to the reception counter. “Awawa …”
The trio stayed at another shop alley behind Hoh. “That guy really surprises me. And Ria … who’d thought she’ll act like this if she weren’t a fanatical medium in the first place.” Wei rubbed the back of her head. Ken sighed. “Well, that’s done … shall I walk you home, Wei?” “Hey, that’d be awesome! Thanks … big brother!” “No, I’m not!!”
Wei grabbed tightly of Ken’s left arm and walked onto the streets. “Hey, like I said, you really do resemble my big brother! Come on!” “Whoa!” He kept up to her walking pace as she walked on faster. They eventually passed by Hoh, forgetting he was there.
“Hey … Ken? Wei? What are you doing here!? Hey, wait up!” Hoh rushed after the duo, leaving only Emi behind. She didn’t mind though. Despite the reluctance to follow Wei, in the end, she witnessed some happy developments. “I wonder if Ken and I … I …”
“No, that’s absurd!” She slapped herself in the face twice. “I’m dead, but Ken is alive! But … I do know … that I like Ken very much, just as Hoh likes Ria too. I guess … I can only do my part to protect him and be by his side all the time … to express my love.”
Emi flew on to catch up to the trio ahead of her. Despite the semi-dark evening and the full moon above, this is truly another lovely scene for everyone to remember.
“Love, eh?” The Shaman remarked in his office in the Republican capital Core City. “All those kids are smart … unlike the many idiots around this land. Family affairs are under my jurisdiction … and I’m glad I don’t have to deal with those four.” He brushed his dark brown hair and gave a wild laugh, echoing everywhere.
Continued in Chapter 33.
Notes: Enjoy the tale! Use your free imagination to picture the Osada temple abode. Chapter 29 details how Bak became unstable, in a way. Chapter 12 details the tale when they were first attacked by our cloaked villain. In some cultures, parental approval first of a boy and girl to be official couples is considered compulsory; it cannot be freely-decided by either the boy or girl. This chapter was a little tough to write …
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Lovey dovey. If I were Scrooge, I'd say Bah Humbug. Haha.
In any case, I hope the next few days I can find time to post up Chapter 33. Thanks for reading!
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Post by Professor Fann on Aug 1, 2010 2:25:30 GMT -5
Hey, folks. It's me again. I have bad news again.
Unfortunately, since I am late with my work, and since typing out each chapter takes like 5 or plus hours into Word again, I'm going to say that I'm postponing the Chapter 33 update to middle of August itself. And then only the chapter after that for end of August.
Please bear with me as I am going through these hard times for now. Thanks!
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Post by Professor Fann on Sept 8, 2010 7:13:44 GMT -5
... hi, everyone. Yeah, I know, I missed the end of August deadline for posting up both Chapters 33 and 34. It's still a hard and trying period for me, as of now even.
So, what's next?
I hope to allocate some small free time and retype Chapters 33 and 34 for posting on this site. And hopefully post them up soon, at middle of September, or around.
A post of mine - 3 posts above and a lot of time ago - when I mentioned some personal difficulties - simply put, the soft copy (Microsoft Word) documents of all the chapters were gone. Missing. Kaboom. Fortunately, I printed out everything, so I just have to retype them again, but ... it's kinda clashing with my Honours degree ... so yeah.
Wish me luck in the coming days.
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Post by Professor Fann on Dec 10, 2010 16:01:12 GMT -5
*uses the leaf blower and blow off the massive dust on the thread.
Hi people! Guess what! I managed to take some time off and retype the entire Chapter 33 from the printed book into Microsoft Word! I deeply apologize for the 3 month late delivery, but bleh ~ you know it's school ~
In any case, I hope the time gap didn't affect your knowledge or memories, depending on what viewpoint you're taking, on the story so far. Without further ado - and who knows when the next update will be - I give to you CHAPTER 33!
*throws confetti all over
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This original fiction is mine, and all characters belong to me unless they are those of whom you know do not. I hope this fiction will be entertaining as you proceed along. - M’siaFanWriter
Chapter 33: He Decides to Test the Souls
That same night, our cloaked villain was discussing affairs with his minion ghoul. “Yes … all the special demon squads have been fully educated. They can now possess humans … and cause the necessary havoc for our grand ideal of salvation.”
“Nicely done, my lord … as for the demons you sent …” His minion ghoul said. “I know that … some sort of protective barrier surrounds them since the afternoon. I told them only to observe the enemy … nothing more.” He flapped his right cloaked sleeve.
“What about that farmhouse?” His minion shivered a little. “My lord … we tried to breach into it, but every inch of its walls repelled us. Its occupant, that peasant … he has the same barrier too. We don’t know if he even knows our presence … something is very odd.”
He grunted. “It most definitely is. You are dismissed.” The cloaked villain walked out of the altar hall via an exit door on the right. “My lord …” That minion ghoul mumbled to itself. “It is close … the day when the evil shall be unleashed onto the lands …”
The following day – 3rd October a Wednesday. Ken Kazuguchi yawned loudly with a wide mouth. “Ah …” He rubbed his eyes, messing with his blankets. “Another day of school …” “That’s a big mouth, Ken.” He shut his mouth tightly and stared at Emi.
“Hey, I can yawn when I like it, right?” He scratched his messy hair. “Um … yes, I suppose so, but I’m right here … well, it doesn’t really matter.” Emi flew out of his room past that wall, downstairs to the living room. “What was that all about?” Ken said confusedly. Without hesitation, he got up and cleaned himself in his bathroom.
“Have a good day at school, Ken!” “I will, mum!” He replied back as he ran towards the aerotrain station. Mother Saya and father Ajima waved their farewells to him. Emi looked at them as she flew behind Ken. “Sigh … I miss my own folks seeing me off to school.”
Today was going to be a good day – Ken thought. On the way to the station, he spotted two yellow-red butterflies flying side by side by him. “Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve last seen butterflies.” Emi smiled and shrugged. “Lovely aren’t they, Ken?”
As usual, the duo made it fine to class. The clock in the class 3-A ticked 7.46 am. “Sigh … Hoh said yesterday that last week’s PE class was the last for the year. That Mr Ahashi … I think I want to strangle him.” Ken made a madman’s face, pretending he really had Mr Ahashi’s neck in his grasp. “I want to strangle you! I want to strangle you! AH!!”
Emi twitched upon that creepy sight. “Ken … you’re starting to scare me.” The class door slid aside open, and Hoh and Wei entered together. “Hey, Ken! How’ve you been, buddy?” “Hello, Ken! Hello … Emi.” Wei lowered her voice mentioning Emi.
“Oh … good morning, Wei. You know, you can communicate to me with your mind. That way you don’t have to open your mouth just to talk to me.” The green-haired girl was stumped by that. “Oh … I didn’t know that. I guess I’ll give it a try later.”
Hoh sat on his chair. “Ah … last night was amazing, don’t you agree so? I was frankly surprised to see you where … never mind.” The other trio knew what he was referring to, so they didn’t bother to ask. “It was lovely … ah, how wonderful it was.”
That bespectacled teen danced around the teacher’s desk, drawing the attention from the other students. Emi sighed. “He never told us about the meeting with Ria last night …” Wei cut her short. “It’s a date, Emi.” “… no, it’s not.” “Yes, it was!” “No, it’s not.”
“I don’t care what it was.” Both girls turned to Ken. “What’s important is that Hoh made a friend out of Ria … say, Wei, what’s that you’re holding?” He pointed to a rolled red-blue poster she had in her hand. “Oh, this? It’s a poster promoting zeppelin flights.”
“Zeppelin? What’s that?” Ken imagined a free-roaming vehicle on the roads, other than the state taxis frequently seen. “It’s like an aeroplane, but it flies in the air using light air … forgot what’s it called, flies rather slow and fast and you get a good view of the city.”
Wei unfolded the paper and read its details. “There’ll be demonstrations at the Chaoge Stadium; it’s quite far away from school, starting today until the end of the month. After that, the Minister of Transport will officially inaugurate its nation-wide use for all people.”
“Oh. So, does that mean we can get around places even faster?” Ken rubbed his chin. “Hmm … I’m not sure. That’s why I was thinking after the exams, maybe the three of us can go and give it a try. Well …” Wei stared at Emi. “You’re with him all the time.”
“Yes, that’s right!” Emi chirped at her. “Wherever he goes, I go!” Hoh had finished dancing and resumed his normal self. The school bell rang. “Well, back to reality. I feel so happy …” Other students entered the class and so did the subject teacher.
Everything was usual for the coming four hours – revision for the exams. Ken seemed to improve on some of his subjects during the course of random tests, for which both Wei and Emi were happy of. Hoh did the expected – scoring everything neatly.
However, today’s Hoh was different. Unlike his usual self where he concentrated so much on his education, his brain was full of yesterday’s outing with Ria – and her face.
“Alright … here I go. I have to tell the guys about last night … they’re my friends.” Hoh braved himself during the lunch break and finally told him of his meeting with Ria. The rest tried to act normal as if they had no idea that Hoh did go out with her.
“Congratulations, Hoh!” Emi was able to put up her normal reactions to things like this. “Um … yeah, good for you, Hoh! I knew you were in love with her!” Wei made sneaky eyes whenever she saw Hoh act strange because of Ria. “No, I’m not!” Ken really wasn’t bothered and merely offered Hoh his best wishes. “Good for you.”
Anticipating Ken’s lack of care, Wei tightly squeezed his arm and said “Big brother!” to annoy him. “Hey, what’s that for!? Argh!” Emi, feigning a little jealousy, flew around him and also hugged on him tightly. “Yay, Ken!!” Hoh scratched his head confusedly.
At the end of school, the four of them walked with other students to the school gates. “Fuh … fuh … man, it’s cold.” Hoh said as he exhaled hot air on his hands. “Maybe you should wear mittens, Hoh.” Wei said and she tucked her arms in her pockets.
“Probably we should wear extra jackets from now on.” Ken said, looking at the grayish-blue sky. “Cold, even though it’s not winter yet. Really … hey. It’s Han.” Emi looked at the peasant standing at the school gates. “Even he’s wearing a blue winter jacket on.”
“Ah … hello, everyone. Ready for possibly your last day of training?” They were surprised at his announcement. “What do you mean, our last day?” Ken asked him abruptly. “Hm … let’s just say the Shaman is highly satisfied with your performance.”
Pretty soon, everyone was back at the farmhouse. “Winter … graceful, isn’t it? White snow, breezy winds …” Han mumbled, opening the door of his home. Hoh tugged onto Ken’s uniform shirt. “Um … Ken, did you know … that there are demons around us?”
“What!?” Ken turned around and found that some 30 meters from Han’s home, many ugly demons and ghouls were surrounding them in a circle-like manner. “Whoa! What are these things doing here!?” He took out his sword and flared it hard. “Ken!!”
“Hisss!!” Almost all the demons hissed at him. “Are they here for trouble!?” Wei took out her giant awl-like weapon and its silver aura enveloped it. Hoh shivered a little. “Ah … I hate them. Creeping onto us so quietly.” “That’d be enough, all three of you!”
Han stopped them before they did anything else. “Do you remember your jade amulets? I have one too, so they won’t be causing us any trouble. Let’s get going.” Ken disarmed and hit realization. “Oh yeah, the amulet’s at home now … I guess everything is fine.” Quietly, all five of them entered his abode whilst being stared. Some cows mooed.
“Seems our evil target has found out about this place.” Wei remarked and lifted 5 kgs of weights on both hands. “Obviously, he doesn’t want to lose.” She slammed the weights on a holder nearby. “I’m going for the push-ups. Wow, look at you, Hoh.”
That bespectacled teen was lifting 10 kgs weights on both hands up and down rather quickly; quite an improvement. “Ah, thanks … I’ve been doing this at home since the day we got attacked separately by those demons. I’ll need all the speed I can get to win this.”
Everyone was now in the underground chamber. Brightly lit orange, it was also warmed up by installed heaters. “Very good, boy. That’s why I said earlier that your performance was highly satisfactory, according to my master.” Han drank some tea.
Hoh slammed the weights on a nearby holder and panted. “Hah … hah … yay, I made it.” The peasant clapped at him. “Nice. Now, go for the push-ups. Only 100 more to go.” “Aw!!” Hoh sulked again. Emi laughed weakly, sitting on Ken, himself doing push-ups.
The clock ticked 3.51 pm. With everyone except Emi and Han in their orange tracks, they went on for their physical training. To recap, initially Han promised spiritual training, but reverted to physical training so that they could fight better against every kind of villain.
“Gosh, I’m done.” Ken collapsed flat on the floor. “Argh … muscles are cramped, but they don’t hurt so much … that’s cool.” Emi flew off him and her feet formed to touch on the lacquered wood floor. “You okay, Ken? You need some rest.” She rubbed his back.
“Yes … a little rest, and then back to training.” He walked up slowly to a cupboard far away. “Yes …” He remarked before drinking a lot of water and even ate some seaweed strips. Emi felt disgusted. “Ew … seaweed. Why do you even bring them along?”
Meanwhile, Han was in deep thought. Ken and Wei watched him together as they did non-stop running laps. “Hey, look at him. He seems serious.” She was stared at briefly. “But, doesn’t he always look like that?” “Uh, not really. This time, I can feel it …”
Then, he snapped his fingers. “Alright, you two. Do your laps until city boy here finishes his 100th push-up. It’s time.” Emi was surprised by that order. “What does he plan to do?” Ken shrugged at Wei’s question. “I don’t know … I think it’s best not to ask him.”
Hoh groaned just hearing that. “What happens if I can’t finish these push-ups!?” The peasant stood up from his chair. “It would be most regrettable if you didn’t. I have a surprise for all of you.” Wei shouted at him: “Hoh! Just do it! Don’t hesitate!!” “AW!!” It took them longer than expected for Hoh to finish all 100 push-ups.
“Argh! I’m so tired!” With that, he collapsed flat on the floor. “Can I have a rest!?” Han walked over and inspected him. “Really … how weak you are.” He gave Hoh a tough kick on the side. “I like you, boy, but it’s sad that you can’t last for the push-ups.”
“Come on.” He reached out his hand to Hoh. “I’ll walk you over to the corner so you can rest as long as you need.” Hoh struggled to ease the pain on his side. “Fine … thanks I guess.” He grabbed tightly on Han’s palm, was pulled up and even supported by the shoulders. “Some nice water, probably some light snacks?” “Yes, please. Thanks.”
All four of them gathered around Han at the southern part of the hall. “The Shaman feels that you have been sufficiently trained through physical means. As I know it, you have performed splendidly during spiritual battles. Let’s see how you do today.”
“Wait. Are you saying?” Han cut Emi short of her curiosity by rising from his chair and walked adjacent from where they were. “What’s he doing now …?” Wei became uneasy of his avoiding them. Han reached a part of a wall where a door handle was attached to one of the wall’s many rectangular pieces. “Remember when I said I would fight you?”
“This is the final phase of your training. Your opponent … is me.” He gathered strength and forcibly pulled that handle outwards, revealing a large cupboard with wheels on the bottom. “Whoa!” “What is that!?” Emi and Hoh respectively exclaimed.
“Here we go!” Han pulled that handle even harder and the entire cupboard surfaced. It was actually a stand holding various live weaponry – from swords to mallets and awls. “Choose your weapon and engage me!” He dragged it all the way to the center of the hall.
“There’s so many of them!” Ken’s eyes felt like popping out in awe. “We’re really … going to fight!?” Wei retreated slightly to the back. “Yes, we are! I’m going to test how much your physical training works when you are fighting some real living people!”
“Boy, you’re up first!” Han pointed fiercely at Ken. “Ghost girl, I don’t need you to fight you. I have been informed of your past when you are alive by the Shaman. I don’t want you to possess anyone just to engage me. I’m already convinced.” Emi obliged by nodding.
Ken clenched his fists. “Alright, here I come.” He walked towards the display of weapons and undoubtedly, his choice was a live sword. “Whoa.” It was rather heavy, but he got used to it soon. “Ken, remember your fight with Uncle Ang! Use it!” Emi cheered on him. “Ah, yes. Thanks, Emi. I’ll remember that.” He swung his sword onto his shoulder.
“Very good.” Han picked up a simple spear and faced Ken. “Let me see how good you are. AAHH!!” He suddenly charged forward at Ken, who was totally taken aback by that. “Ah! You’re … you’re fast!” Ken blocked Han’s spear tip with the broad blade of his.
“Impossible! You’re even faster than the demons!” Ken broke their contact and swung his sword at Han’s side. “Aha. Not bad.” In a split second, Han used his spear’s tip for brief contact with Ken’s blade and jumped up in the air. “Whoa!” Ken exclaimed.
“Taste this.” Han attempted multiple attacks with his spear, but were successfully repelled with equal speed by Ken. “Urgh! How come you are so fast!? Ah!” Ken dodged the spear thrusting to his ribs to the right and struck forth his sword. It nearly hit Han’s face. “Not bad too, boy.” Holding his spear tighter, Han repelled the sword even harder.
“Gah!” Ken’s grip was nearly loosened, as his sword deviated to the right a little. “Aha. You’re repeating the errors during your fight with the girl’s uncle.” Han tightened his fist and smacked hard into Ken’s stomach. “ARGH!!” The teen was thrown off-guard.
“KEN!!” The other trio simultaneously shouted. “Ah!” Ken skidded on the lacquered floor. Han smirked at him. “This is the final phase of your training. You’ve fought demons, learned to strengthen your physical body but … we haven’t touched your brain.” The peasant smiled and used his left finger to point repeatedly at his own head.
“What!?” Han swung his spear to his side. “The final phase … is teaching you to fight smart with more flexibility. You may have won over her uncle, but that was pure luck with a fight of direct contact.” Han swung his spear in several revolutions.
“What did you mean I was repeating the same mistakes when I fought Emi’s uncle!?” Ken demanded as he stood up. “Simple. You forgot your defense to near-range arm combat. You better improve on that during this fight.” Han waved his finger a little.
“RAH!!” Ken charged at Han. He swung his sword in many directions, aiming to at least injure Han a little. “Ah, missed me, missed me.” The peasant held on his straw hat and dodged the attacks by moving backwards. “Here I come.” Han swung his spear and neared onto Ken’s neck. “Urgh!” Ken pulled his sword back and repelled the spear.
“Nice. You see … that’s why I said you have to be prepared at all times. Your enemy can just sneak up on you anytime.” They blocked each other’s attacks and were closely approaching the weapon stand. “I sped at you and you were caught off-guard, correct?”
“Yes, but why did you say that me defeating Emi’s uncle was pure luck!?” Ken’s sword struck hard on the wooden floor. Han jumped backwards, threw away his spear and took a long silver staff. “Aha, that part.” He swiftly blocked a blade attack at his torso.
“You won because he was too focused on protecting himself from your onslaught. Imagine how the fight would have turned out if he fought you smartly instead of roughly charging at you.” Ken repelled a swift punch of Han away with his arm-twisting action.
Han continued, swinging his staff toward Ken’s head, which he skillfully blocked. “Chances are, your physical living opponent is smarter than all the demons you’d ever meet. Something like … your fight with Ria Osada.” He smacked his staff on Ken’s sword hard, throwing him off. “ARGH!!” Ken skidded on the floor again.
“Fight me smartly, Ken Kazuguchi. Even if our fight is short compared to your training, use this chance to use all your brawn, knowledge and experience in fighting to open your senses further.” Han struck his staff, piercing into the wooden floor about an inch.
Emi couldn’t believe what she heard. “He’s right … when I trained under Uncle Ang, I had to use my mind and senses all the time. There was no room for error.”
The teen stood back up. “So … it I do that, I’ll win?” Han smiled. “All three of you can easily win over all fights. You’ll be invincible.” Ken sped to Han and thrust his sword out. “Watch me!” Han used his bare palms and maneuvered the sword away from him.
“What the!?” The peasant then punched Ken in the chin. “Ah!” Ken was briefly caught off-balance. Han stabbed the staff on the floor; hands secure and tight. “Watch me, boy.” Han swung himself around the staff, like a well-trained gymnast, neatly evading Ken’s brash sword thrusts here and there and eventually kicked Ken’s knee swiftly.
“AH!! Ouch!” Ken jumped backwards and then forward. “Here!” He struck that silver staff and Han replied with another kick. “Not this time!” Ken avoided the kick, slightly retreating backwards. Suddenly, a left leg reached out to him. “Here comes!”
“No way!” Ken threw his sword in the air, swiftly grabbed onto Han’s leg and pulled back again. “Missed me!” Ken retrieved back his sword. Han pulled his staff back and assumed an offensive. “Very good, boy. That’s the way to fight.”
“Any of you two are welcome to come in and attack me as well … if you can, that is.” Wei was flared up by that insult-like taunt. “Oh yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!” While Ken and Han fought, Wei picked up a short double-edged bladed lance from the weapon stand and strengthened her legs. “You want company, you get company!”
Emi was getting excited. “This is cool! I’m watching all the real moves!” Hoh was a little afraid, but eventually toughened himself and rushed to claim his own weapon. “Count me in too!” He grabbed a staff with a crescent-shaped blade at its end.
“This is where the real fun begins.” Han remarked to himself. Wei entered the fight by charging her rotating bladed lance at the peasant. “AH!!” Hoh entered by simply slashing that crescent blade up and down. “Try and avoid this, Han!” Han merely smiled at them.
“I can do that.” His staff’s end blasted back at Ken’s blade, throwing him off. “Whoa!” He moved the staff and slit it through a corner of one of Wei’s blade teeth and forcefully pulled the weapon out of her grasp. “Hey!” “Oh, I’m sorry, girl. You want this back?”
“ARGH!!” She was thrown off by a palm attack on her stomach. “Wei!” Hoh called out to her, but Han made his move on him by forcefully grabbing hold of his staff’s body and giving him a kick by his left side. “YEOW!!” Han held tight to Hoh’s weapon and threw him off as well. “Ow wow wow!” Hoh likewise skidded on the floor.
The trio moaned as they stood back up. “That was … awesome.” Wei remarked as she dusted her tracks. Han smiled again. “The boy was good. You two, girl and city boy, are not doing so well. Blindly charging in, even losing attention on your target!”
“RAH!!” Ken yelled and sped at Han. “Ah hah!” Ken launched a swift kick on Han’s right hand and kicked Wei’s and Hoh’s weapon in the air. “Very good! Very good, boy!” Ken used a quick arm to throw back the weapons to his friends. “Catch them!”
Emi jumped in the air. “Well done, Ken!!” Han remarked as he then rotated his staff in revolutions: “Very good! Use your intelligence to counter my every move! Even my own arm combat!” Hoh smiled and bent his eyebrow. “With pleasure, Han! Aaahhh!!” Before Han could deal with Hoh, he had to deal with a surging Ken just behind him.
He attempted to slash a cut on Ken’s cheek but was blocked off by the teen. “HAH!” Ken made multiple attacks; Han blocking off every move. “Ah hah!!” Han jabbed the staff against Ken’s leg. “OW!!” Ken gripped harder on his sword. “Silly boy. That was quite an opening.” Han smacked the staff on Ken’s hand, throwing the sword upwards.
“Yah!” Wei cried as she leaped and grabbed that sword. “Double attack!” The peasant dodged to his right from her attack. “I’m not going easy on you either, girl.” He kicked on her forearm, forcefully breaking her grip on the lance and kicked the weapon away.
“I know that!” Wei retorted as she managed to grab Han’s incoming fist. “Ah, not bad.” He forcefully broke that grip and aimed his staff at her neck. “Hey!!” Wei bent her back to the floor. Using her arms as new support, she launched a strong kick at Han’s feet.
“That’s good! Nice!” Han jumped in mid-air, even briefly stepped on Wei’s right leg and jumped even higher. “Quick as lightning, light as a feather, eh, girl?” “Tsk!” Wei slid on the floor towards Hoh and Han landed with a stomp. “Hm? What’s this here?”
Striking his staff backwards, he blocked off Wei’s attack by making that end of the staff press hard onto the blade’s wide body. “What the!?” “Are you surprised, girl?” He applied more force on that staff and threw off Wei just as easy. “ARGH!!” “You’re not having it easy!” Hoh and Ken used the chance to face him. Ken held Wei’s lance in turn.
“Wow! I’m so glad I can see all this! Even if they’re fighting with real weapons …” Emi commented to herself from far away. “AAHH!!” Both boys swung their weapons in all sorts of manner at Han. “Aha.” The peasant merely commented as he dodged them.
“Time for me to attack.” Their battle was heading back to the weapons display and Wei realized it. “He’s going to change his weapon again!” Ken fended off a joust of that staff. “What was that!?” Han struck onto Hoh’s crescent-bladed staff even harder. “Argh!!”
“Try stopping this!” Han held his staff even harder and smacked both weapons out of their hands. “Whoa!” “Agh!” The shock threw both boys off-balance. “You’re not good enough.” Han remarked as he threw away his staff and took a trident instead.
“Don’t forget about me!” Wei shouted as she ran to Han. “Oh ho.” He allowed Ken’s sword, which she used now, to clash onto the trident’s body. “Nice.” He swirled the trident in revolutions and they clashed again. “Ugh … rah!” Wei grunted.
The trident’s three throngs struck on her sword’s wide blade. “Having trouble, girl?” He pulled the trident back and started multiple attacks on Wei. “No, I’m not! Gah!” She dodged to the left and right. “Let’s see how you fend on this!” She thrust the sword out.
It clashed. “Sorry, not good.” Han moved the trident and caught the sword between two of the throngs in a split second. “Ah!?” Wei exclaimed; her sweat dropped on the floor. “Ha hah.” He spun the trident in circles again, making her release her grip on her sword.
“Ughhraahh!” Wei used her eyes and spotted a split-second moment for her to retrieve her weapon. “Here goes!” Her hand reached out without hesitation. “Oh!” Han saw her hand held onto her sword’s grip. “Very well done, girl!” He spun his trident again.
But, Wei successfully reclaimed her weapon. “No, you don’t!” She hit out at him. “Ah!” He repelled her sword off with a mere palm attack. “That’s impossible!” Wei exclaimed. “Nothing is impossible, my girl!” He thrust a tightly-fisted punch at her stomach area.
“UWARGH!!” She cried out as she was thrown skidding on the floor. “Ouch!” “Hey!” Wei collided onto both Hoh and Ken. “Ow …” Emi was slightly disturbed by that sight. “Whoa … who’d have thought Han was this powerful?” Wei dusted her clothes.
“That’s because … huh … my master, the National Shaman, taught me the essentials.” Han panted. “I merely applied them into this battle. That’s why … huh … I hope these fellows will fight their opponents wisely.” The peasant allowed himself to collapse on the lacquered floor. “Ah, I’m so happy to fight you three. My master would be pleased.”
He wiped the sweat off his cheeks. Ken and Wei reclaimed their weapons from each other and Hoh stood next to Wei. “Say, Han, how exactly does the Shaman look like?” Ken asked. “Oh? Curious, are you?” Han slowly adjusted his straw hat.
“Yeah, he’s there helping us from the start … and he’s a mysterious person. We never get to see his face.” Wei continued. Han rubbed his nose lightly. “Hmm … he’s the scariest person you’ll ever meet in your life. One look in his eyes and you see pure horror.”
The trio and Emi pictured someone even fiercer than Mr Ahashi, laughing out with pure evil and chasing the discipline teacher in fear. “That’s rather … difficult to imagine.” Emi shivered on the spot. “To think someone like him is running the government as well …”
“Say, can we get a rest? We’ve been fighting for ten minutes already.” The clock ticked exactly 4.30 pm. “No.” Han stood up that instant. “You can only stop when you pass this test, and I cannot say that now.” He struck his trident on the floor. “Begin!”
“I’ll gladly go first!!” Ken shouted and swung his sword in many ways. He clashed with the peasant many times on the trident. “Oh! Much faster this time! Good work, boy!” Han repelled off the enemy’s attack. “Is this all you’ve got!? Is this going to be a repeat of how we fought just now!?” Han taunted back at the teen while punching him strongly.
“ARGH! Hah, it doesn’t hurt so much now!” Ken repeatedly jumped backwards as Han made his multiple attacks. “Sneak attack!” Han remarked as he quickly blocked off Wei’s attack from behind him. “Darn, not fast enough!” “Speed is just one factor, girl!”
Wei was shocked that Han elbowed at her lance. “Ah!!” The blade of the lance fell towards her, so she dodged to her right. “See? Not careful enough!” Han slapped heavily on Wei’s defending arms, throwing her off. “Argh!!” “Let me deal with the boy here!”
“Not so fast!” Ken blocked Han’s right hand fist. “Good. But, aren’t you forgetting something?” Han launched a hard kick on Ken’s left thigh. “No, you don’t!” He also did the same kick, holding on tightly to that leg. “Good! But!!” An incoming open and firm left palm smacked him hardly on the chest. “OMPH!!” Ken fell off backwards.
“It’s my turn too!” Hoh ran fast to Han, who swiftly grabbed the body of his crescent-bladed staff. “Your mistake is brashly entering the fight without thinking.” He smacked the bespectacled teen on his shoulders. “Ah!!” “Really, now, city boy …”
“If you can’t even lay a finger on me, city boy, how’d you expect to fight against the one who tried to kill you?” The last half of the question struck Hoh’s mind hard. “Why’d you think I’m doing this fighting for? Soon, you’d have to confront that person himself.”
Hoh flashbacked again that villainous figure in grey cloak and hood, looking over as he was repeatedly shot all over his body with dark magic. “No … no! I refuse to give up! I was fight on!” Emi was a little shocked seeing his determination. “Wow … wow!”
“That’s the spirit, Hoh!” Ken cheered on him and armed his sword into combat again. “Awesome! If we beat Han, we can surely beat that monster!” Wei also had her spirits burnt up and thrust her lance forth. “Let’s do this!” Hoh smiled with confidence.
“AAAHH!!” The trio shouted as they ran towards Han. Once again, the peasant smiled. “My, my … how interesting this will be.” In a slow-motion play, Han prepared to face the onslaught of the incoming trio under his tutelage.
Continued in Chapter 34.
Notes: Enjoy. Well, the fight is a bit messy … but once you concentrate, you can fully imagine it. We see Han reveal more reasons on how Ken was able to defeat Uncle Ang in battle in Chapter 26, rather than just fighting. A reminder that all Thursdays usually have PE class; the last session was in Chapter 24. Han said he would fight the trio in the beginning of Chapter 29. This battle’s not over yet; stay tuned!
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I hope I can take some time off soon to retype Chapter 34 in Microsoft Word from my printed book ~ hope you enjoyed the chapter! See you!
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