2:06 PM
Hayai stood opposite of the three Joshin who blocked his path with a frown. The Joshin were Miyamoto Sho, Han Yopei and Kinomoto Sensui. Three men whose name he’d been briefed on before hand but passed in one ear and out the other sometime ago.
The only thing they were to him right now were obstacles in his path, obstacles preventing him from retiring on this mission early.
Lips curled into a snarl he pointed to Sho who raised a brow in response. “I’m gonna peel your eyes open first, then I’ll pop fatty and flatten wrinkly. After you three are done I’m gonna go deal with glasses and scar mouth.”
“Is that so?” Sho hummed, rubbing his chin. He was on the taller side with long dark brown hair that reached to nearly his lower back, his face was thin with high cheek bones and shut eyes. With his auburn turtle neck and Hakama skirt you wouldn’t be wrong to assume him a priest of some kind. “Quite bold of you to explain your plan isn’t it, do you feel that confident? Well why don’t you just try it?” He grinned.
[Ride The Lightning]
With a flash of light and the clap of thunder Hayai appeared above Sho, his leg stretched out he prepared an axe kick, his heel ready to slam down onto Sho’s head and split his skull open.
Sho, Yopei and Kinomoto’s eyes all opened wide at Hayai’s incredible speed, the first to react being Han Yopei who threw his hands out before him and formed a square shape with the thumb and index finger of his two hands pressed together.
[Freeze Frame!]
With the sound of a click Hayai found himself frozen mid air, his heel only an inch away from Sho’s skull, the fabric of his shorts still up in the air. He froze me again!? He growled, though no sound left his throat.
[鰒毀壊丸: Wrecking Ball!]
Taking in a giant and loud gasp for air, Kinomoto began to expand and his body curled inwards forming a ball like shape, fresh spikes jutting out of his body he now rivaled the size of a car and charged straight towards Hayai who was still locked mid air.
Shi-
BANG!
Kinomoto smashed into Hayai, spikes digging deep down into his flesh to the very bone he was suddenly able to move right as he was thrown across the street. “Ow, ow ow Damnit!” He cried with fresh tears in his eyes. Smashing into the neon sign built in the brick wall above a shop's entrance it exploded into a spray of glass shards and electrical sparks. Bouncing off the sign he fell down to the flor with a wed thud and gasp for air. “Gyah! My back, damnit my back!”
“Did that get him?” Sho asked looking to Yopei who shrugged nervously.
“I’m surprised he could still talk after I hit him.” Kinomoto muttered as he began to deflate, blowing bits of smoke out of his mouth like a whistle.
“He’s a Venator Society member though right? Makes sense he’d be tough.” Yopei nodded. “We should bring him to-”
“Ah, all better.” Hayai cut in as he stood up and dusted himself off to which the three men spat at. His previous injuries now gone, the only evidence was the bits of blood on the pavement and his clothes. “I suck at healing normally, so good thing I brought these huh?” He hummed, lifting his shirt to reveal three scrolls tucked into his waist line.”
Healing Scrolls!? The three Joshin wondered in unison, furrowing their brow.
“I can heal a cut or two, but if you put holes in me that’s a different story. So good thing I managed to snab these things from my table before I was teleported huh?” His grin turning into a scowl Hayai flicked his eyes towards Kinomoto in a glare. “But you, fatty, have really managed to piss me off. So I’m gonna deal with you first.”
“!”
Quicker than Joshin could react Hayai sprinted towards Kinomoto, coming to a stop with a slide before him, he thrust his hands out with both palms pressing into the man's side softly.
[Tazer!]
There was a flash of light and the sound of electricity crackling as an absurd amount of electrical voltage was shot into the muscle of Kinomoto who began to convulse like a fish out of water. His eye bulging from his skull and frothing at the mouth he began to bleed from his nose.
He’s that fast!? Both Yopei and Sho thought at the same time, they’d expected him to use [Ride The Lighting] for the attack but to imagine he was just as fast on his feet- no if not faster then with the spell-
[Thunderbolt!]
Spinning around from Kinomoto Hayai leapt at Sho, clapping his hands together there was a rumble from the sky as a bolt of cracking golden electricity shot down.
[Defenders Prayer!]
In a panic Sho clapped his hands together and a wood dome formed overhead, but it wasn’t enough. The lighting bolt came down right upon the wood and shattered it to singed splinters which flew through the air. As if made of popsicle sticks his defense collapsed and Sho was victim to the full power of the lightning bolt which struck him down to his very core.
“GURAAAAH!”
Sho screamed out as he fell to the floor, black foul smelling smoke coming from his scorched flesh SD he let out gargling.
“Next.” Hopping over Sho Hayai charged straight for Yopei, his hands already coiled with his uniquely electric aura which snapped and crackled.
Yopei wrinkled his brow and grit his teeth, Hayai already nearly upon him. He’s fast, too fast! Though seeing that Sho was still alive even if only as a writhing burnt body on the ground he had a chance, he could still beat- “This Brat!” He cried out, throwing his hands before him.
[Freeze Frame!]
As the spell was cast the walls of the territory formed around Hayai in a circular shape, Hayai acting as the target of the territory would be bound in place for exactly one second, however to someone as fast as him- it might as well have been an eternity.
“Do it now, Sho!” Yopei screamed as loud as he could and though nearly dead with what little bit of energy he had Sho raised his hand and pointed his index finger at Hayai.
[Fungal Infection!]
Tearing through his flesh as it sprouted was a gnarled and knotted wooden branch which shot towards Hayai and stabbed straight into his achilles tendon with a jolt of pain.
As soon as he was unfrozen Hayai whipped around so fast the wind hissed and he threw his leg up above his head, .”What did you just do!?” He asked, ready to swing his foot down onto the man and reduce him to ash.
“!?”
However when Hayai lifted his right leg overhead, what sprouted out from the flesh of his knee appeared to be a clump of wood. Gnarled and twisted just like that which had grown from the finger of Sho a moment before it. “What!?” Hayai barked, trying to jump back; he felt fear fill his blood stream as the wood quickly grew, digging into his flesh with new roots, drinking blood and spreading further up his thigh. Growing in such a strange way it appeared more like stacking shapes than any kind of natural growth pattern.
Gritting his teeth he didn’t have time to analyze the situation properly before he felt something cold and hard smash into the back of his head. Throwing him forwards and straight into the spiked covered body of Kinomoto. [鰒毀壊丸: Wrecking Ball!]
“Ack!” Hayai gagged in pain as the spikes of Kinomoto bore into his flesh. His vision blurring as the fresh wounds burned with pain he grit his teeth and flicked twisted his hips. Right leg aiming for the liver of Kinomoto with a kick, Hayai found it to be locked in place, as if the joint had been forged from metal.
That wood which had sprouted from his knee now nearly reaching his groin and ankle. Falling to the ground Hayai rolled backwards to avoid a kick from Kinomoto and leapt to his feet, sweat dripping down his brow to mix with the blood that came from the fresh gaping wounds across his flesh he panted. It grows when I extend a joint? Biting his lip Hayai tried to keep his joints just as they’d been, but doing that while facing two Joshin would be impossible. If this shit keeps growing up my body and reaches my organs will I die? It’s only affecting the outside and not inside me so probably not. But I can also feel how heavy this stuff is.. Damn that bastard! If it doesn’t kill me by messing with my organs it will when I end up weighing so much I can’t move!
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Hayai had no counter to provide when Han Yopei came at him from behind with a stop sign he’d ripped from the ground already swinging. The sign itself already dented from having hit Hayai before it made a popping sound as it burst open and Hayai was thrown forwards towards Kinomoto once again.
“God Damnit!” Spinning forwards Hayai threw his hand out to try and stop himself but only found elbow locking as the angular wood burst from his flesh. It’s not just stuck to my leg!? Not ready to give up yet Hayai forced all 120lbs of his body to the side in order to just barely avoid Kinomoto. Using his straightening arm as leverage he pushed off the ground and back to his feet, skidding down the road.
“Ha-ha-ha.” Adrenaline had reduced the pain Hayai had felt but not the panic. His mind racing he felt ready to vomit. I can’t even grab a fucking healing scroll without this shit spreading up me! How the hell am I supposed to get rid of it!? Long Hair should still be alive- even if only barley but if I kill him would that do anything to stop this or is it a curse type that persists after death? Grinding his teeth Hayai used his right leg as an anchor and forced all of his weight on it while he rotated his hip, shifting his body to the side even if only a little he could now accept an attack from either side or opponent. Or I would; if not for this shit! He screamed internally.
“You good Sho?” Kinomoto asked, wiping the blood from his bugling eyes. His eye brows and lashes having been singed off from being electrocuted.
“...”
Hearing no response from the long haired man it was Yopei who shook his head. “He might as well be dead, no use to us now.” He spat, frowning at his weapon- the stop sign having a hole in the center of the red hexagon.
“...”
“...”
There was a moment of paused silence as Hayai panted while watching Kinomoto and Yopei, the two exchanging a look as if speaking telepathically only a second later they moved at the same time.
[Rolling Rampage!]
[Freeze Frame!]
Both men acting at the same time Kinomoto rolled himself into a ball and flew towards Hayai while Hopei cast his spell at the same time. The territory locked Hayai into place for exactly one second.
“Gyaaah!” Hayai screamed out as Kinomoto ground into his body, spikes ripping flesh into deep lacerations which spilled blood onto the asphalt. Eyes full of tears and teeth grit Hayai felt nothing but pain as he was slammed down to the ground, Kinomoto bouncing off of him and back into the air.
[鰒毀壊丸: Wrecking Ball!]
[Ride the Lightning!]
Hayai teleported right as Kinomoto would have been upon him, the inflated man instead crashing to the ground with a spray of debris as a crater was formed into the asphalt. With a clap of thunder and flash of light Hayai had appeared atop the roof of a car behind Yopei. “Ho?” He hummed looking down to see the wood which had just a moment before spread to cover nearly 1/4th of his body vanished completely.
“Shi-” Yopei didn't even have time to curse before Hayai’s fist slammed into his face, bending it inwards with a wet thud. Following the punch through with max enhancement behind it Hayai sent the man down the ground where he bounced off of it with a pop.
“Yopei!” Kinomoto screamed, curling into a ball he flew towards Hayai who frowned as he saw the wood having sprouted again from his elbow.
“So the damn thing wasn’t exorcized, just reduced.” But that means something I did caused it to break down, was it the act of teleporting? Nah, that wouldn’t be enough, it should have moved with me then. Maybe… The heat? Like how fire burns wood, maybe this gunk is weak to hot things?
Spinning on his ankle to meet Kinomoto and ignoring the wood which sprouted from that action as well as the pain which rang out from the deep lacerations across his body he prepared to meet the attack head on. Stretching his hands out and not caring that the wood now grew from his wrist and elbow he rubbed his hands together for a moment building static before pulling them apart. The parasitic wood being charred to black ash with chirp. The electricity like slime being ripped apart hissed and crackled with sparks as it was spread between Hayai's palms.
Hayai made a motion as if drawing a bow and the electricity followed suit, forming the M shaped limb in his left hand as his right drew back the golden string with a hiss.
[Torden: Ullrskadi!]
The sound of thunder clapping echoed as Hayai released the string, a bolt of lighting whizzing through the air leaving a trail of sparks and piercing Kinmoto.
As soon as the bolt hit Kinomoto there was an explosion of light and fog of black smoke. All the air which the man had pulled in leaving his body out of every orifice pushing the black smoke away he fell to his back as he writhed on the ground. Foam came from his mouth as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. A pool of fresh urine gathered around his lower body.
“Gross…” Hayai sighed as he shook his hands. The sensation of using [Torden] in any form always came with numbness- as if having lost circulation to his hands. Looking to Sho who was still laying on the ground, he scowled. Pulling from his waist line a healing scroll it burned away and he was healed of all injuries he’d sustained. Only one more left though…
[Ride the Lighting]
Appearing above the man with a clap of thunder and flash of light Hayai knelt down and grabbed him by his hair, pulling him up to meet his eyes. “Wake up!” He barked.
With a stir and mutter Sho opened his eyes, they were surprisingly round- at least that’s what Hayai thought when he saw them. “We failed, how unfortunate.” He sighed, with a weak frown and his eyes glazed over.
“Dont’ care, how do I get rid of this?!” Hayai asked, pointing to the wood which was still coming from his joints.
Ignoring Hayai sho let out a rasping laugh. “Heh, I’ll see you in hell, brat.”
CRACK!
His neck snapping wood shot out from the fresh cadaver distantly. Reaching out for Hayai the strange shaped wood snapped and crackled as it grew out. Hayai pulled back with a yelp however the wood grabbed his ankle pulling him down- I can’t use [Ride the Lightning] when I’m held down! “Shit, shit shit!”
“We meet again, Iginus-San.”
“!?”
Hayai couldn’t turn around, and he’d only heard that voice once but he could remember it clear as day and assign a face, that of Tatematsumi Nordon.
[Curse Breaker]
Drawing a seal from his coat Nordon threw it into the air and the paper sigil caught a flame, burning until the dust fell in sync with the wood which crumbled around Hayai freeing him.
“Ha- thank god!” Hayai laughed as he fell to the floor on his butt.
“You did well, fighting three Joshin is no easy task Ingius-San.”
“Just Hayai is fine, don’t call me any of your weird names!” Hayai barked.
“I was told you hand in an opposition to Edojin despite being once yourself.” Nordon frowned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Pulling another 3 seals from his coat he let them burn as three sets of chains appeared, [Sealing Chains] to be exact.
“I’m not Edojin! I’m Afurenthosian…” Hayai muttered, his face turning sour as he stood up and dusted himself off. The clothes he wore already had multiple holes in them so he pulled the tattered shirt off to reveal his petite yet densely muscled frame.
“I stand corrected, then. Please forgive me.” Nordon bowled lightly. “Would you mind assisting me Hayai?”
“Sure, sure…”
“You’re injuries, I saw you heal them with a [Healing Scroll] just before I appeared. Were those from Cao-Li-San?” Nordon asked, raising a brow as he began to wrap the chains around Han-Yopei. Though he grimaced upon seeing the man's face nearly caved inwards as blood pooled from his mouth and nose.
“Yeah, he loaded up on them the last few months in preparation for this.” Hayai nodded as he began to wrap up Kinomoto Sensui. “Long hair is dead if you couldn’t tell, he snapped his neck right in front of me.”
“So I saw, feel free to keep the [Sealing Chains] Then.” Reaching into his pocket Nordon pulled out a flare and let it off into the sky, a magical flair that is- one which only certain people could see- those who were part of the [Venator Society].
“It looks like we all prepared for this huh? But don’t tell me Jin didn’t cough up any healing scrolls. Stingy bastard should make some himself!”
“He did not, but with [Little Helper] I don’t need them anyways, they’d be better used on others.”
“Suit yourself.” Hayai shrugged, “I was trying yo fight one of those Hachibuto thingy ya know, the one with the glasses and flat wrinkled face? Sorta like that one over there but even more ugly.” He said, pointing to Han-Yopei.
Frowning, Nordon pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose once more. “I see, which direction did he head?”
“That way.” Hayai answered with a shrug, pointing behind him. “Hey- wait a minute! He’s mine. I wanna go home already!”
“There is no such thing as claiming in this mission. It’s on a first come first serve basis, Hayai.” Nordon answered in his normal lecturing tone.
“Says who?!?”
“Says me, Captain of the Edoland Branch of the Venator Society and Commander of this mission.”
“Wow, wow hold your horses now that’s Jin!”
“Incorrect, Jin is the main fighting force of this mission. The secret weapon if you must. I am the one with the authorization to both begin and end the mission as I see fit.” Nordon smiled warmly- which made Hayai shudder.
“D-damn you four eyes! Stupid bastard!” He shrieked as he turned and ran in the direction which Aotori had gone before. “I’m gonna get Aotori first and then we’ll see who’s in charge here!” His voice trailed off as he sprinted down the street. The sound of a siren and flashing lights coming up from behind Nordon- a pick up for those captured by the Venator Society.
“Immature, just like Jinen.” He sighed with a frown.
2:12 PM
Sharp eyed readers might be wondering why they’re using [Sealing Chains] instead of [限織抑: Genshikiyoku] which were used in the Izumika Incident. And for this there are two main reasons, the first being that [限織抑: Genshikiyoku] are just hard to create! [Sealing Chains] are incredibly powerful tools which restrict one’s magic completely and seal their soul, they can only be broken with physical strength which someone requires quite a bit of to break them. They’re also mass produced by the Venator Society, you see I explained in I believe chapter 10 that Runes are something incredibly rare for anyone to learn anymore and difficult to create right? Well that is true, but there is a certain book which was made thousands of years ago and is considered what you could call a manual for various rune works. However almost all of them have been lost to history except for three copies. What do exist are single pages or “copies” of the pages which show the formulas and layouts for various spells that runes can be used to cast.
Now it doesn’t mean that everyone is using this for Runes, some people might be able to learn them through other ways, but the only people who can do complex things for the most part are those with these pages. And the Venator Society has a page which has a formula for mass producing [Sealing Chains], though over decades those in Alpha and Kappa working together have managed to upgrade them significantly into what they can mass produce now.
Another thing to note is that pages sometimes show up on the 2nd hand or black market only to be bought and be fakes! You might carve the runes and prepare to cast the spell and they’ll just go ahead and explode or do some other nasty effects since it’s just gibberish code!
Oh, what was I talking about again? That’s right, the 2nd reason! That being, well I sorta just explained it but Edoland doesn’t have a way to mass produce sealing chains. And since the trade between the main land Venator Society and the Edoland branch were rough for a while there they had to whip the old [限織抑: Genshikiyoku] out of the storage units.
I might as well explain it here as well but there is a certain line of runes which allows one to use [Kami] instead of mana to activate, this is how you have automatic effects, however this is super dangerous for reasons I’ll explain later in the story!
[鰒毀壊丸: Wrecking Ball] – Puffer Fish Demolition Circle.
