"... Did my move really kill her?" Kaioshun asked as he walked away from the city, towards a desolate wasteland that stretched out for miles. He was determined to find Flynnigan Shotaro now that Jumkou Katatoria is nowhere, he completed half of his objectives.

  "... Did she give up her own life to save Eria? But that doesn't make sense."

  Kaioshun thought hard about what happened. He was sure that he killed Jumkou with that attack. There's no way she could've survived such a powerful attack.

  But then why couldn't he see any Soul-Energy residue? If she really is dead, he should've been able to see some Soul-Energy residue left behind.

  He looked around the crater. He saw nothing, not even a body. The only thing he could see was the snow that was blown away by his attack. He sensed something too.

  "Jumkou is nowhere to be found, why pester?" Kaioshun stopped, turning around.

  "I have completed my mission. I don't need to stay here anymore. So let me on my way and I'll spare you. Or are you going to make this more difficult than it should be?"

  He saw Asheera and the Royal Squad standing there, ready to fight. He felt a large amount of Soul-Energy radiating off them, but nothing compared to him. He had fought the Great Kamisword, after all.

  Kaioshun sighed. "The Second-Leader of Testharia. Let me reiterate. Your city only suffered because of Jumkou Katatoria's existence. Had the Great Kamisword not admit her in, none of this would have happened."

  Asheera scoffed. "Miss Katatoria or not, you've caused unnecessary bloodshed in our city. Your path of destruction has come to an end, terrorist!"

  "I have a name." He simply said, putting his hand on his forehead, looking at the ground. His identity was concealed. A black, corrupted outlined aura engulfed his entire body. "And that name is... Kaioshun-Rymela."

  "The killings of the inhabitants of Yucaras Town, as well as the unfortunate fallen in the Tristate City will not go unnoticed. As per Article 3, Chapter 2, Section 1 of the Testharian Constitution, you are hereby arrested and to be executed on the spot. Any form of resistance is prohibited and will result in stronger force being used against you-"

  "I've already completed what I need to. Jumkou Katatoria is nowhere to be seen, felt or sensed. She's executed, even if I have not confiscated the Soul of Time. I have no need to fight any longer."

  Kaioshun put his guard down and turned around but that was stupid to do, especially when dealing with the Royal Squad.

  "You will not go anywhere!" Kaelan yelled, throwing his 4-meter war axe towards Kaioshun. It flew at significantly fast speeds, and it could stun Kaioshun if it hit. Leaving this terrorist roam freely around would pose big problems later.

  "Hmph." Kaioshun simply extended his hand and stopped the axe, gripping onto the handle tightly. Such intense speeds would even pierce through the strongest Soul-Wielders, but Kaioshun just stopped it and didn't even deviate from his course.

  "...Don't get in the way of my mission, you half-brained creatures!" Kaioshun discharged his war axe at the same speed back to Kaelan, who jumped out of the way.

  Kaioshun fired a volley of beams at the Royal Squad. They all scattered while Samuell Dargen stayed behind to heal if needed. He was the only Support-Type in the squad, so he had to stay in the back.

  There are 5 types of Soul-Wielders.

  Power-Types specialize in dealing damage and focus on pure firepower and destructive force.

  Weapon-Types can create all sorts of weapons with the use of Soul-Energy, and can have a Signature Weapon that they will be most effective with. All Soul-Wielding Testharians are Weapon-Types.

  Hybrid-Types are more akin to Power-Types, but can focus more on a variety of different things, such as using animals or being one. They typically are the most versatile.

  Support-Types lack the capability to inflict heavy damage but they can restore Soul-Energy, heal and empower other Soul-Wielders, as well as themselves.

  Mental-Types are able to influence up to 5 senses of the human body along with the sixth sense, their Soul. They're also able to conjure illusions with the use of Soul-Energy, making it harder for opponents to land attacks.

  The Royal Members were all Weapon-Types, which is why Kaioshun had the upper hand. Weapon-Types were bad matchups against Power-Types.

  However, they won't go down without a fight.

  The Royal Squad diverted the beam's trajectories or nullify them by using their weapons, swinging them away. As the path was safe, they charged at them in unison.

  Asheera stood behind to preserve her energy, she was the trump card. Marin went in first, swinging her 3 meter long Dustfade, which was her Warhammer. The end of the hammer had a spike that could easily pierce through armour if swung hard enough.

  Marin aimed the tip of her Warhammer at Kaioshun, swinging it downwards on Kaioshun, however it proved to be a fault move. Kaioshun swiftly evaded the swing by moving to the left, and then used his right leg to kick the Warhammer out of her hands.

  He was following up with another kick but was intercepted by Kaelan, his war axe in front of him. Maduk had jumped over Kaelan's war axe and followed up with an attack from above. His weapon of choice was a Katana, a long thin sword with a curved end.

  Kaioshun looked up at Maduk and saw him coming down with an overhead swing.

  "Simple weapons won't hurt me."

  He caught Maduk's katana by the blade with his bare hands and dispersed corrupted Soul-Energy from his hand to decay the weapon.

  "What!?"

  Maduk was vulnerable now without the weapon and was kicked away by Kaioshun. Kaelan swiftly moved behind Kaioshun and swung his war axe. He did so with great speed and precision, but he was stopped by Kaioshun by a Soul-Shield.

  "You men are torn are built from the ground up All this led up to this moment of your lives! But this is still not enough against me!"

  Kaioshun hammered his fist into Kaelan's war axe and destroyed it, leaving him unarmed too. He then swiftly turned around and punched Kaelan in the gut, sending him flying.

  Marin swung her Warhammer, using the spike end to impale Kaioshun's head. All this prove to be futile as Kaioshun imbued a strong Soul-Barrier over his body, making it impossible for him to be penetrated.

  The impact that Marin expected never came, instead she felt the full force of her own attack and was pushed away.

  "H-how!?"

  Kaioshun jumped up and simply kicked Marin to the ground, before following up with a strong punch to the face. He heard bones cracking from the impact of his fist and Marin flew several meters back, landing on the snow. She coughed blood and struggled to get up.

  "Guh..." Maduk tried getting up, holding his side. "I... I can't believe that we're being pushed back like this..."

  "G-get up, Maduk! We hafta get 'em!" Marin yelled at him.

  "DAMNIT!" Kaelan yelled in anger, having manifested a new war axe and attacked Kaioshun.

  Kaioshun was finally knocked from the ground as Kaelan swung the war axe in intense speeds. It wasn't direct damage, but the wind pressure of the swing itself was enough to send Kaioshun flying back.

  "Hm!" Kaioshun eliminated all his momentum and stood firmly on the ground, waiting for Kaelan to strike again.

  Kaelan used his war axe as a lay up to jump high, as he spun around and then threw the axe downwards. Kaioshun punched the axe away and then swiftly dodged to the left to evade Kaelan's punch.

  Kaelan landed on the ground, breathing heavily. His war axe flew back into his hands like a boomerang and discharged a crescent shaped beam of energy.

  The beam hit Kaioshun... but not his body. It simply hit his Soul-Barrier, which was still intact. It would've taken a lot more than this to break through. None of the Royal Squad's attacks were strong enough to even deal damage to his body. Why wasn't Asheera doing anything if she was on another level? Why was she waiting?

  That question would be answered soon.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  "... Strong teamwork, indeed. But how would that help you on your endeavours if it's all show but no damage?"

  Kaioshun shouted at them, simply to patronize them. He was so far out of their league that he couldn't be damaged by their weapons, let alone their fists or kicks.

  "Jumkou Katatoria is dead, there is no reason for you Testharians to continue. Don't reduce yourselves to die in vain and I shall complete my mission and leave the planet."

  None of the squad members responded. They knew that they couldn't defeat Kaioshun in combat. This was something far beyond their paygrade. However, none of them were willing to give up.

  "You can't just kill Miss Katatoria and expect us to step aside." Asheera stepped forward, her right hand glowing. She finally manifested Pummeler, her Signature Weapon.

  "You simply just do not understand, do you?" Kaioshun facepalmed himself, sighing deeply.

  "The Soul of Time is the most dangerous Soul. Of course, Jumkou Katatoria was too frantic that she has used it in larger scales and thus must've either have been eliminated or had her Soul confiscated by me."

  Asheera gripped Pummeler tighter. "... And how does killing innocent people fit into this? You are no different from a common murderer!"

  "I am on a time crunch, Asheera Eria. The deaths of your people helped save time for my mission. I do not intend on wasting anymore time than needed, but I had no choice."

  Kaioshun crossed his arms and didn't waver at all. He was simply unfazed by everything, even the death of Jumkou Katatoria. But why?

  "The Soul is capable of anything, Asheera. It gives life, it IS life. Souls love Soul-Energy, they take pleasure in it because it's the source to all and everything. A source that makes our own essence. Our life and power. That's why my very own Soul Energy is in greater heights. I've had years of training and had years of refinement. The Soul never stops developing until you die. It is a living thing after all."

  "Innocent lives, Kaioshun... Innocent lives! You're talking about the Souls of those poor people whose blood you spilled. They'll never rest in peace with this much blood on their hands. Not only have you taken the life of Miss Katatoria but the life of hundreds of people!"

  "Spare me your sentimental musings!"

  Kaioshun quipped back. "My mission does not involve anyone else but the ones I swore to kill, as well as anyone who stands in my way. I am stopping a catastrophe from happening. A catastrophe that will make sure that everything you know will be erased!"

  So much heart and life into what he say. His emotions are not fake. It was like he was fighting for something greater than himself. Funnily enough, Jumkou Katatoria said the same thing. She wants to stop a catastrophe, and it seems as if Kaioshun also has the same goal.

  But their methods are entirely different.

  "So, stand down, Asheera Eria, and let me complete my mission. This is your last warning. If you continue to interfere, then I'll make sure that you never see the light of day, ever again."

  "..." Asheera gripped her Pummeler tightly, looking down at the ground. All this information washing down on her, it was too much to take in.

  Jumkou Katatoria and this Kaioshun-Rymela want to stop a catastrophe from happening, but Kaioshun needs to kill Jumkou and this Flynnigan Shotaro guy to do so.

  But Jumkou has come from the future and knows the exact events of the past. But now she's gone, and nobody can believe her anymore. So, who's the real villain here?

  Kaioshun-Rymela or Jumkou Katatoria?

  Whichever had the better story, would be deemed 'good' in the eyes of everyone. How does one simply come from the future? Like Kaioshun said, the Soul is capable of anything, so it isn't as far-fetched.

  But why does Jumkou and this Flynnigan Shotaro need to die? Why?

  Why is death needed for a catastrophe to be prevented in Kaioshun's perspective? And why does Jumkou Katatoria need to locate Flynnigan Shotaro to stop the catastrophe that will happen?

  And moreover, why is Flynnigan Shotaro the key point to both stoppages to the catastrophe?

  Who is Flynnigan Shotaro?

  The easy way is to designate both Jumkou and Kaioshun as the villains, but Jumkou didn't possess any evil intentions, at least Asheera thought so.

  "... You and Miss Katatoria, foreigners who happened to magically appear in Testharia, and now we're facing the biggest crisis in history..." Asheera looked up, clenching her teeth. "Still... that does not make you any less guilty of what you've done! You're still arrested!"

  "... Testharians really are stupid."

  Kaioshun closed his eyes and concentrated, all of his Soul Energy condensed in his eyes. Asheera was closing in with her Pummeler and struck lightning towards him.

  However, the lightning just disintegrated before it hit him, and much to Asheera's dismay, Kaioshun opened his eyes which were glowing, along with his Soul-Aura.

  "Jun Mak Sien." He changed in his own language, which prompted Kaelan, Samuell and Maduk to stand in front of Asheera and attack Kaioshun.

  However, whatever he chanted, the three would feel a stinging sign of danger - forcing their Souls to cancel their attacks.

  Maduk's body felt heavier than usual, Kaelan's war axe was discharging sparks of electricity around him and Samuell Dargen felt a piercing headache that was hard for him to ignore.

  Kaioshun formed a small dagger from his hand, imbuing something into it.

  It glowed raging purple and it felt like a heavy presence of power was exuding out of it. It was terrifying enough for Asheera to freeze in fear.

  She couldn't move, even though her body wanted her to. It was like her Soul and body were separated, with one wanting to fight and another wanting to run.

  Then, her Soul warned her of the same thing.

  "Samuell, Kaelan! Maduk! Watch out-"

  Marin tackled Maduk out of the way so that left Samuell and Kaelan to take the attack head on. Kaioshun used his incredible speed to swing at Samuell and Kaelan, but the blade would not pierce them.

  Instead, it simply phased through them.

  There was no blood coming out, there was no wound on their bodies.

  It was a strange phenomenon that happened to Samuell and Kaelan, leaving them confused as they tried to process what just happened.

  Kaioshun sighed. "It amazes me just how little Testharians know about the Soul."

  Kaioshun's blade wasn't intended to strike physical damage, but to pierce all their Souls, hence why it phased through them.

  Kaioshun's hand began to overheat from the consistence use of his blade. He wasn't a Weapon-Type and as a result, it would hurt himself everytime he used it.

  Samuell Dargen and Kaelan Usthari fell to the floor, seemingly unconscious. Their Souls were shattered by Kaioshun, which turned them into vegetables. This was what they were reduced to.

  They will never move, speak, eat, hear or feel ever again.

  They're gone forever.

  "W-wha... S-Samuel? Kaelan?" Marin watched in shock as she stood up, walking over to the two men lying on the floor.

  "W-wha' did ya do ta em!?" She asked, glaring at Kaioshun.

  Asheera lowered her arms, her Pummeler hitting the ground. Her eyes screamed anger, tears streaming down her face as she glared at Kaioshun.

  It was an overwhelming feeling of sadness that made Asheera feel nauseous. Kaelan Usthari, someone that Asheera knew for years and Samuell Dargen, someone who she looked up to as a brother was now rendered lifeless and dead.

  She acknowledged long ago that she couldn't beat Kaioshun-Rymela but whatever just happened... she can't unsee it anymore.

  She felt anger.

  She felt rage.

  She felt her blood boiling.

  She felt the need to kill Kaioshun.

  She felt the need to satiate her lust for blood.

  She wanted to make Kaioshun bleed profusely until he could no longer breathe.

  She wants to kill him.

  She needs to kill him.

  "... Kaelan! Samuell!" Marin called out to them, hoping for a response. She shook Kaelan's body around, and then put her hand on his neck to check if he had a pulse. Maduk just looked in shock and didn't move.

  "YOU FUCKING BASTARD, I'LL KILL YOU!" Asheera said, nothing like her usual self. She gripped her Pummeler hard and tried to slam it down on him but was stopped by his arm. He used his whole arm to block the pressure of her swing.

  "I gave you one last chance."

  Kaioshun lightly tapped his finger on Asheera's Pummeler, completely shattering it. Now that Asheera was vulnerable without a weapon, he simply zig-zagged towards her and forcing his arm through her guts.

  Asheera coughed up blood as he did so.

  Maduk and Marin watched in horror as the second strongest Soul-Wielder in Testharia was reduced to nothing but a common mortal.

  It was terrifying to see the difference in power between Kaioshun and the Royal Squad.

  "I did warn you..." He used almost all of his Soul Energy into a punch that sent her flying into the wall of a building outside of Tristate City. She crashed through the wall and fell unconscious inside of the building.

  "...”

  Maduk and Marin just stood there, shaking with fear. They have never seen such raw power before. The difference in strength was so big that it was terrifying. Kaioshun had no intention to kill, but even so.

  What were they going to do against an opponent that they couldn't defeat?

  Fortunately for them, Kaioshun turned the other way and walked away. "I am done here." This allowed Maduk and Marin to help out Samuell and Kaelan, while also calling in backup. They could only hope that they arrived soon enough.

  "Samuell... Kaelan... Fuck! Fuck, Marin! What are we gonna do!?" Maduk asked, checking their pulses. They were still breathing but it was faint. He didn't know what to do at all. Samuell Dargen was a healer, not a fighter, so he could only pray for the best.

  "... We lost... How couldda I fight em? 'ow couldda we've ever won?" Marin sat down on the floor, holding her head low. "I can' believe it... We're da strongest team of Testharia! But when faced wit em, we're jus' normal people!"

  Marin stomped the ground in anger, crying. "Asheera expected dat we wouldda'be able ta buy time fo' Sachiel ta find Miss Katatoria. But nah! We failed our mission an' lost our friends because of it!"

  "Marin, go and help Asheera... I'll stay here and keep an eye on Samuell and Kaelan." Maduk said, his eyes glued on the unconscious men.

  Marin nodded, standing up and wiping away her tears. "... Y-yah... Ya gottit, Maduk."

  With that, Marin ran over to where Kaioshun struck Asheera.

  Asheera was helped out of the building by Marin and she was laying on the ground, bleeding from her stomach. Her uniform was soaked with blood and was torn around her stomach area. Her body was littered with cuts and bruises, all because of Kaioshun's fist. Her gonads weren't visible but it looked like she had internal bleeding.

  She needed the best medical help immediately but without Samuell Dargen, nobody could heal her properly. He was the only one who knew how to heal.

  "Fuckin' figures!" Marin smacked the ground again, angry that they weren't able to prevent any deaths or injuries. "I'm so sick an' tired of bein' so fuckin' weak!"

  Asheera opened her eyes slightly, seeing Marin crying on her knees. Asheera coughed blood, and then reached her hand out to Marin. She took it and held Asheera's hand tightly.

  "... M-Marin..." Asheera started off. "I'm so sorry... I should've known better..."

  "Shut yer' dam' trap, ya hear!? Don't speak! You're gonna live an' ya better damn well live if ya wanna see Sachiel again!" Marin yelled at her. She knew that Asheera wouldn't survive for much longer, but she wasn't giving up hope.

  "... H-He killed him... He killed Samuell and Kaelan... They're gone... and it's my fault... If I hadn't... let them fight-"

  "Hush!" Marin put her finger on Asheera's lips, silencing her. "Save yer energy. Ya have ta get treated."

  And like that, Asheera fell silent. She closed her eyes and laid on the ground, slowly breathing in and out. Marin held her hand, while crying her eyes out.

  Maduk was still tending to Kaelan and Samuell's wounds, keeping himself together as best as he could. It was a truly difficult time for them. They lost their two strongest members in one single fight and now their leader is on her last breaths.

  But what's even worse is that Sachiel, the Great Kamisword, is nowhere to be seen.

  "... We fucked up bad." Maduk said, sitting down on the floor.

  "..."

  "..."

  "...Allrriightt!!! Now this is what I call some amazin' action!! I've always wanted this!"

  They heard something coming from Asheera's comms. The comms were still functional, even after she got beat up so badly. She heard that voice before... but where?

  "Who in da hell is speakin'!?" Marin asked, grabbing the comms and putting it next to her ear. "Who is dis!?"

  "This is Captain Claude Magami of the Star Gazers Squad, reporting in!"