- Sacrifice
Genjiro and his army invaded the planet successfully. They defeated most of the elite soldiers and imprisoned the rest, including the supreme leader. Some soldiers, like Shoto, who agreed to work with the Shibatas, were spared.
The human population dropped from over fifty million to just ten million. The invading forces took a month to gain full control over the royal capital and the southern regions. Only a few human inhabitants remained in the north, east, and west. The Shibatians completely controlled the centre and south but only partially controlled other areas. Except for Nagoya in the north, bandits and gangsters ruled the other regions, terrorizing the people and opposing the Shibatian government. It has been twelve years since the invasion.
"Say, Kenji, do you know why they haven't attacked us up until now?" said Denki, the only surviving combatant of the forces that opposed Genjiro, looking at the high mountains, standing at the castle tower along the king, Kenji.
"Yeah, you mentioned that the other day too. It's not that they can't attack; it's just that they didn't attack us by coincidence. Perhaps that's the only explanation. However, they continue to send low-ranking soldiers, which the Titan Regiment handles easily," said Kenji, smoking as he gazed at the blue, open sky.
"They've not attacked up until now doesn't mean that they'll not attack today...Say, Kenji, what if they attack today?! Will the Celestial Defenders and Titans be able to take care of them? "
Denki was deeply concerned about the future of humanity, especially with a formidable opponent like Genjiro still out there. Even though it had been twelve years, he couldn't forget that day; how his mates were all killed by that single man, who meant no good news. He still remembered it, as if it was just yesterday. The thought that a threat such great as Genjiro continued to exist, and that there was possibly no one who could defeat him, troubled the young man.
"Who knows...I've prepared myself to die for the sake of humanity when the time comes. I still remember the day you suddenly appeared right in front of me, holding that Shibatian girl in your arms...And now I look at today when you and that girl have a eleven-year-old brat...Come to think of it, how's your boy Mahito doing?" Kenji said, to lighten the seriousness of the situation.
"He's always lively, and ever since Izumi told him about the huge world beyond the mountains, that's all he talks about - crossing the mountains. Meanwhile, your daughter, Hanako, keeps clinging to him. It seems like she's obsessed with him..."
"Tsk brats these days..."
In the village of the north, Mahito's laughter echoed through the streets. He would fool around and often get into mischief, and his friends Izumi and Hanako had to intervene to help him out of trouble.
"OI! ALL MY FELLOW VILLAGERS! I'VE MADE UP MY MIND NOW! I'M GONNA JOIN THE TITAN REGIMENT AND SEE THE OUTSIDE WORLD!" declared Mahito, as stood on the tallest tower in the village.
People had mixed reactions to it. Children laughed it off, while the workmen ignored it. The old farts of the village trembled with fear. One of them rushed towards the tower and slapped him.
"Idiot! You...you have no idea about how cruel the outside world is!" said the old man, with tears in his eyes.
He continued "Our village has already lost many young men who joined the Titans...Do you know, kid, the Titan regiment has failed every single mission they did?! Their jobs are not just to keep those devils away but also to secure secret land routes towards the royal capital and the Okizaki district, the nearest district to ours. But to date, they have secured none! Even though they have elite soldiers like Ginko and Hibiki, in every mission about thirty per cent of the Titans die!"
"So in other words, you are saying that joining the Titan Regiment signifies dying?!" said Mahito, with a cold look in his eyes.
"Ye-Yes it is! We should disband the Titans in the first place! Celestial Dragons are enough for defending our territory!"
"Oi, old geezer!" He suddenly raised his voice, "DO YOU WANNA FOREVER REMAIN INSIDE THESE CRAMPED MOUNTAINS? WE RIGHT NOW LIVE IN THE SHITTIEST WAY POSSIBLE, AND HAVE THE CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING ATTACKED! WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THOSE DAMNED SHIBATAS!"
"They have not attacked us till now!"
"That said, that doesn't guarantee that they'll not attack today! ONCE WE MAKE IT OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS, FREEDOM AWAITS US! "
"No kid, outside the mountains the enemy awaits us!"
"But once we defeat them - "
A girl suddenly intervened in between, knocking out Mahito and taking him away to his home.
"Sorry old man, you see, he gets crazy sometimes!"
"Bah, whatever, take him away, Little Princess!"
"Oi Hanako where the hell are you taking me?!" said Mahito, as he regained consciousness.
"Just shut up! I'm taking you home!"
"Say, don't tell mom about all of this!"
"She already knows!"
"Eh?!"
"If you'll get on that tower, and shout, then the whole village would be able to listen, no?!"
The kids made it home, where awaited Mahito's mom in anger!
"Hanako! Thank you for bringing him back! Now you may leave, my girl!"
"Yeah sure aunt!"
"OI MAHITO! LEMME TEACH YOU A LESSON! YOU ARE GETTING SPOILED DAY BY DAY! WITH WHOM IN THE WORLD DO YOU HANG OUT WITH?!"
"With-with Hanako and Izumi" stammered the young boy.
"HUH?! SEEMS LIKE YOU DO HAVE A NICE COMPANY...Those two are well-mannered kids never abandon them at any cost! And forget about joining the - "
His mom was suddenly shot. The alarm buzzer went off - it was an enemy attack. Mahito sat on the floor with tears in his eyes, holding her hand tightly as he checked her pulse. She was dead. He then gave a deadly look to the soldier standing at the doorway, the one who had shot his mom. The soldier raised his pistol towards Mahito but surprisingly didn't shoot. It was soon that Hanako appeared out of nowhere, and with a knife in her hand, she stabbed the soldier from the back.
"Mahito! Hurry up! We need to get out of here"
The eleven-year-old boy was still in shock from what had happened. He witnessed two people dying in front of him, one of them being his mom. He couldn't even move an inch.
"Yo-you kill-killed him?!"
"Yeah of course! He killed Aunt and was about to kill you too!"
"Ho-how come yo-you are here?! What happened to the guards protecting you?!"
"I sent them to evacuate the citizens. I'm fine on my own because I feel I'm strong."
Stolen story; please report.
Another soldier entered and Hanako quickly killed him too.
"How-how are you able to kill people?!"
"Because I have realized... "
"Realized what?"
"that we were born in an evil world, where the only way to survive is to kill!"
"Bu-but mom used to say that killing is inhumane!"
"Sheesh! You'll forever remain dumb Mahito!"
Mahito remained perplexed. He was a soft and honest boy. Killing in front of himself was, probably, the last thing he could have imagined in the world to happen. The world was greatly changing in front of the young boy. He now witnessed the terror of being at the mercy of the Shibatas.
"Now get up! We need to move away quickly!"
Realizing that Mahito wasn't moving, Hanako grabbed his hands, dragging him pathetically out of the house. Watching what was happening outside, Mahito was stunned. The Celestial Defenders were fighting the soldiers and at the same time evacuating the citizens. There were corpses all around, and everyone's clothes were red and bloody. The stream that ran down the village had turned red. There were broken limbs of people, randomly lying on the ground. Soldiers struggled to fight and protect at the same time. The eleven-year-old kid couldn't possibly understand all this. Why was blood being shed unnecessarily? His mother was dead, and there wasn't any guarantee that his father was alive.
"What in the world is happening?!"
Suddenly a horse cart came.
"Climb up, you two!" said Izumi.
"Where are they taking us?"
"To the outskirts of Nagoya"
"Is it all over?" said Mahito, as he wiped his tears.
"OI YOU TWO! SE-SEE THE SKY!"
Everyone looked up at the wide sky, now filled with soldiers flying towards the royal palace!
At the same time Mahito's mom was shot, Kenji got to know about the enemy invasion.
"Tsk. Bad timing. The Titans have all gone to secure a route to the Okizaki District and won't return for a while...Denki! Deploy all the Celestial Defenders to all four villages! Tell all the backup soldiers present in the villages to commence combat and hold the enemy until reinforcements come!"
Denki shivered in fear. Just the thought of Genjiro's arrival, and how much of a threat it could possess made him tremble in fear and pain. He turned pale. He couldn't understand what could be done against him, who appeared a beast, an invincible creature who had suddenly appeared in the world and brought ruins.
All the top leaders were urgently summoned to the royal palace, to discuss the final strategy to defeat the invading forces.
"Now I shall tell you my plan! We're short on time so I want no interruptions. Firstly, we must contact the Titans and tell them to retreat and strengthen the defence forces. Secondly, we must assume Genjiro's coming...The only one who can hold him for some time is me. I'll buy you guys time. Till that time, Denki, you use your teleportation and bring the Titans back here while others must fight those who come along Genjiro. Soldiers would evacuate the citizens! Humanity's survival should be our utmost priority!"
"So then I'll teleport - "
"Long time no see, NUMBER TWO! Sorry, I didn't want to kill you like this, but, you know what, your teleportation ability is the most troublesome one I found here. I have been looking for you for twelve years and see, this is how we meet. Congratulations! You have been backstabbed by me!" said Genjiro, who all of a sudden bumped into the royal palace, along with his soldiers.
Denki fell to the ground and immediately died. All the big shots sitting there suddenly stood up.
"We'll proceed according to the plan. I'll fight him! You guys get outa here!" said Kenji, as he pulled out his swords.
"No one's going out! My soldiers shall take care of you all! I'll personally deal with you, Kimura!"
Genjiro raised his hand, to remove the cloth which hid his eye and unleash his full strength, but Kenji interrupted in between.
"I won't let you uncover your eye! Denki told me everything about the fight he had with you!"
Kenji Kimura - a person with a raw aura. His clan was cursed about a hundred years ago by the wife of the dead king - Katsuki Harada, and thus his clan members could only use raw aura. Changing the aura form into any element was out of their control. Even still, Kenji was equal in strength to the overpowered Ryuzaki. He used two swords and infused his raw aura in them to fight.
"Perfectly fine for me! I'll kill without using my eye power! Gravity-type Meteor Rain!" said Genjiro, as he sheathed his sword.
The force pulling Kenji down suddenly increased by ten times. Suddenly four meteors fell upon the castle simultaneously, obliterating it. The royal palace was in ruins. Everyone except the two beasts was wiped out. Kenji quickly made it out of the palace and saw Genjiro right in front of him. He had pulled out his sword again and was about to attack. Kenji quickly backed off.
"That's it! Now we've got a place to fight! Let's begin!" said Genjiro, excitedly.
"Lemme show you now, the power of an elite soldier!"
Kenji disappeared suddenly and reappeared just in front of Genjiro, who could barely dodge the sword attack that followed. Kenji kept on attacking him from odd directions, as knew that if he could defeat Genjiro, that was his only chance.
"Damn it! I can barely defend myself with my sword. I can't use my gravity-type attacks without sheathing the sword. If I sheath it, I will be wide open for a while, and he won't miss that chance to attack and possibly defeat me. And if I let go of my sword, I won't have anything for defence for a while. If I don't, he will keep on attacking me until my sword breaks. He likely knows about my situation" thought Genjiro.
"Now that it has come to this I might as well take my chances!" said Genjiro.
He coated his body with his aura to minimise the injury and then dropped his sword. Kenji's sword pierced through his stomach at that moment. Genjiro coughed blood. Even with his aura coating, the injury was fatal. Kenji pulled out his sword from his stomach, planning to stab him again. Knowing what was coming, Genjiro used his repel attack, which made Kenji fly yards away. It seemed that he was no longer in a shape to fight.
"It hurts, you bastard!" said Genjiro, as he got hold of himself and picked up his dropped sword and threw it metres away. To Kenji, this appeared a stupid act, but he thought to ignore it.
Both of them again got engaged in combat. Kenji had the upper hand this time since Genjiro was injured. Genjiro slowed down him by increasing the gravity. But this wasn't enough to take down the beast. Kenji kept on attacking him striking powerfully towards the enemy with his sword. His strikes were powerful enough that each of them wounded his arms badly. Genjiro's arms were covered in blood. In between he would use the repel-attract ability to attack. But Kenji was a monster in terms of brute strength. Genjiro couldn't hold him up for much time.
"Gah! This is getting nowhere! At this rate, he'll defeat me in no time. He's not even giving me room to uncover my eye" thought Genjiro.
"What happened kid?! Your face, which was full of hope a while ago, has turned pale now!"
"This is getting more and more interesting, KIMURA! I, SHIBATA GENJIRO, THE STRONGEST CREATURE OF THE WORLD, DECLARE YOU MY GREATEST FOE OF ALL TIME! TO THINK THAT I WOULD BE PUSHED TO THIS EXTENT...YOU ARE THE ONE WHO'S THE CLOSEST TO THAT MAN...THE LATE KING, KATSUKI HARADA!"
"Huh?! How the hell do you know about him?"
"It's a long story...forget it Kenji, you'll soon be as good as dead."
Genjiro suddenly disappeared and his sword appeared in front of Kenji, who was puzzled. The next minute, Genjiro stabbed Kenji! Kenji didn't even have the time to react. He realised the presence of Genjiro only after he was stabbed. Genjiro's eye cloth was removed!
"What do you think, Kenji? Technically, using the sword puts me at a disadvantage, but I still carry it. What happened was that I simply replaced my sword with myself, so I had time to uncover my eye, while you stood perplexed."
"So..so that's the reason you...threw your sword...sword away a while back so that you could replace yourself with it when the time comes!"
"It's over, Kenji Kimura!"
Kenji quickly backed off, but he suffered a great deal of damage. The wound was fatal enough to immobilize an ordinary person, but Kenji was a different case. He could still move in that shape and continued to fight. But open-eyed Genjiro was stronger than what Kenji anticipated. He used an attract-repel attack on Kenji at the same time, which slowly squeezed his body and he fell to the ground.
"Farewell, King Kimura! You caused me a lot of trouble...I don't think I'll be able to fight anymore though - "
Both the beasts were in bad shape to fight. Kenji was on the brink of death while Genjiro was badly wounded and fainted as a result of overusing his eye-power. All of a sudden, a soldier came out of nowhere and holding Kenji in his arms, he retreated to the outskirts of the region.
"Ginko! You?! Has the Titan Regiment arrived?!"
"Mhm...they're still crossing the borders though"
"Tell them to evacuate all the citizens and retreat..."
"But the Shibatas have already destroyed most of the towns and villages..."
"What?! What in the world happened to the Celestial Defenders?!"
"They were all wiped out..."
Ginko took him to a spot where the commander of the Titan Regiment with his fifty-soldier army and around six homeless children stood.
"LAY DOWN YOUR LIVES!"
'Lay down your lives' was the official salute of the Titans. They would raise their right hand, hit their forehead, and shout.
"Listen, Yoshiko, humanity's survival is the utmost priority. Twelve years ago Ryuzaki was defeated, and perhaps, he left the responsibility of protecting humanity on my shoulders. And today I leave this responsibility to you! So I'm counting on you for the rest, Ogawa Yoshiko, 25th Commander of the Titan Regiment!"
*It suddenly started raining*
"Look! Even the sky's crying!"
The entire regiment sobbed upon the king's death, mourning over the loss they faced, accusing themselves of not being able to protect the king and their land, while the kids stood there silently, watching the ripples being formed on the ground by the rain, lost in their own thoughts.
What awaits the young kids?
How do you feel about the story up until now ?