"You are not looking good, Suna," Sōren said, clearing the dust off an old book.
"The tanto I was stabbed with two months ago had a poison that is still in my blood," Setsuna Vesper said, sitting down.
"Anyways, how are the Sterlings?" Sōren asked, opening it.
"That's too odd of you to ask about someone's situation 'cause most of the time you are the one creating them," Setsuna said, taking a book from the shelf.
"You can say that, but when I ask, it just means I want to know if there is something I missed," Sōren said, pulling out a cutter.
"Oh! So are you missing something? Actually, that's a vague question. Just ask what you want," Setsuna said, pulling up a chair.
"Heard they told you to spy on some people... two months ago, and you are also on this duty for the next four months," Sōren said, turning the page.
"Right," Setsuna said, a butterfly knife falling into her palm.
"But that is too private to tell you, even if you made me come all this way," Setsuna said, turning.
"Oh! This is a surprise. I thought you would think it is just a coincidence," Sōren said with a smirk.
"I am not that much of a fool that I don't know who Sōren Shikyō is," Setsuna said plainly. "So just ask what you want to."
"Nothing that serious. I just placed a bet. I wanted to know if I would win..."
"Don't play with me. I have asked you several times; I won't next time. Just ask," Setsuna said, turning the page.
"Oh, okay. Just give me the report you prepared by spying on all three of them over these two months." Sōren's glare sharpened.
"And if I decline to do so? You will fight me?" Setsuna smiled. "It would destroy the whole city to find a winner."
"Actually, no. It is already decided. Which is..."
WHIP!
Setsuna unleashed the knife directly towards Sōren with blinding speed.
CHING!
The knife, exactly 20 meters away from Sōren, changed its trajectory to the roof as a piece of blade hit it.
[Setsuna's thoughts]
When did that happen? That blade... Oh! I see it now. The cutter in his hand—he pulled it like a bow and launched the blade directly at the knife to change its trajectory.
FWIP!
In the blink of an eye, Setsuna's neck was in Sōren's hand.
"Me," Sōren completed.
"If you win, leave the report; I will tell you myself," Setsuna said, protecting herself.
BOOOOM!
Sōren pushed Setsuna to the ground, ignoring her defense with an ear-piercing blast.
The blast turned the library into dust, creating a wave of dust so thick and dense that one couldn't even see themselves.
The cloud over San Francisco was like a curtain containing the wave. But then it began to clear.
Inch by inch, hundreds of dead bodies, destroyed buildings, and craters stretching into the distance were revealed, followed by the red flames burning the remains.
And on one of the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge stood Sōren Shikyō, completely intact, with an almost unconscious (covered in her own blood) Setsuna Vesper on his shoulder.
"Hello! This is Jessica Lawrence from Star News. We are providing you with the latest news on the terrorism going on in America," a reporter on the ground said into the camera.
"As you can see, there were multiple bomb blasts as stated by the police, but the sheer volume of destruction we can see indicates that it was a bomb or weapon equivalent to a nuclear bomb," the reporter shouted in anger.
"Listen to this, Suna. They are so lame; they blame others like them for every action. Hence, the problem of clearing things up that you were worried about is solved," Sōren giggled.
"Anyways, let me take you somewhere safe where you will be giving me the report." Sōren vanished.
Snap!
The cameraman on the ground tried to click a photo.
"What did you try to capture on the tower, fool?" the reporter scolded him.
"Ma'am, I really saw something there; it was not human," the cameraman said, his face drawn.
"Just cover the ultimate TRP-giving story and stop thinking rubbish like this," the reporter shouted.
"Yes, ma'am," the cameraman said.
Click! FLAP!
The picture scattered across the surface.
"You know this is your failure," the CEO of Star News said.
"Are you intoxicated?" General Magatsu asked.
"No, why? And is this how you talk to a respected person?" the CEO shouted.
"Actually..." General Magatsu stopped.
BANG!
General Magatsu shot the CEO in the knee and shoved a paperweight into his mouth so he wouldn't shout.
"First of all, the only voice that should be heard in my office is mine." General Magatsu took a pause. "Second, the destruction of an international harbor in the Netherlands, my lack of attention to security..." General Magatsu removed the paperweight that was blocking his voice.
"Ahhh! I will go to the president regarding this. I will get you suspended at all costs," the CEO shouted.
"Cry about that later. Tell me, why do you blame me?" General Magatsu said, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Sir was there for many things. He gathered the proof of how you killed over a million soldiers and destroyed a major city," the CEO's assistant said.
"Shut up! We are not talking to him at all costs," the CEO shouted.
"Just tell me," General Magatsu said in a commanding tone.
"At the time the Netherlands' port was destroyed, a ship from our country had just reached there. So we are saying you are not maintaining security and are making this state a terrorism capital," the assistant said in fear.
"Hey, don't come near us! Don't come near us!" the CEO shouted, straining his neck as the General approached him.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Sōren walked into an old, empty, destroyed cargo container with Setsuna on his shoulder.
"Okay, this looks perfect," Sōren said, dropping her.
"Although very easy, still, destroying San Francisco... after that fight, don't turn your back on me," Sōren said, putting Setsuna down on the ground.
"I gave you my word; there is no turning back," Setsuna said, coughing blood.
"In these two months, I was sent to spy on Zorian Sterling, Pearl Vesper, and Arashi Ushimoto..." Setsuna took a pause.
"You didn't have to mention his surname. Who doesn't know Mr. Worldwide?" Sōren came closer. "I also know your daughter very well, Setsuna Vesper."
"Then I will just tell you the report. Except for Zorian, Pearl and Arashi follow a daily routine they call Hell's Syllabus," Setsuna said, bleeding.
"Don't die before telling everything," Sōren laughed.
Sssss.....
Towards an island surrounded by water on all sides, with never-stopping winds and waves.
Moving forward, there is a calm volcanic mountain somehow covered with plants. There is not a single part of the island that is not green with plants.
"Although I could travel there in minutes by merging between people, I took a 7-day ride on a boat," Setsuna said, reliving the moment.
"Every day exactly at 3:30 am, a clock rings, its sound travelling over 12 km."
"And just as I was about to stand, a large blast happened there—same time, same place," Setsuna stopped.
"I didn't understand instantly, but with time, I understood that no one else heard those blasts because they were coming from the Arcanists—my targets," Setsuna said, her face suddenly calm.
Tap..... THOOOM! Tap..... THOOOM!
With every step Arashi took, he narrowly dodged an air blast that was destroying the part of the mountain he was leaving behind.
Sling! Grasp!
Arashi was running as fast as he could, but suddenly, Vance appeared in front of him and grabbed Garuda.
WHAM! KRAASH!
Vance twisted his hand a bit, and Arashi went flying into the volcano's radius.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! GRAB!
After breaking through four layers inside the volcano, Vance caught Arashi mid-air.
"Healing perfect, defense nice, but attack zero," Vance said in disappointment.
"20,000 push-ups, sit-ups, and sword slashes now," Vance said, throwing Arashi.
BOOOOM! Click! Cling...
The teacup on the table bounced once, twice, and then settled as Genryū held it.
Genryū drank from the teacup in front of normal humans, who were horrified as they saw a wall blasted away by Zorian's single attack from his bloody leg—or was it his broken, purple hands?
"You should also heal during the fight; only attacking won't save you," Genryū said without turning.
FWOOSH!
Zorian vanished with the wind.
"Point noted, Sensei," Zorian said above Genryū, throwing another attack.
SNATCH!
Genryū caught Zorian by the neck mid-air.
"Too slow," Genryū said, pulling out a tiny glowing ball.
Without the slightest second of delay, Genryū beat Zorian in 117 different ways, making him feel every pain ever experienced in this world.
"What is this?" Zorian asked, licking the floor as Genryū released him.
"This ball contains the power of 10 nuclear bombs. I got it from Ren a long time ago now..."
"...and I know an arcanist in Apex Convergence who could easily dodge this," Genryū said, his face dark.
THWACK!
He punched Zorian in the gut, reopening his other healed injuries.
FWOOSH!!
With his one leg in the air, Genryū didn't even grab Zorian; he pulled him with himself, vanishing.
Pat....
Sōren patted Setsuna's cheeks to keep her conscious.
"I followed both of them to the middle of the ocean," Setsuna said in her least conscious state.
Shuff...
"This is pure evil. You want me dead, pull that out of my pocket," Zorian said in a low voice.
"Being a teacher, I will teach you everything. This is my duty, but will this—I mean your weapon—melt or not?" Genryū said.
"I don't know," Zorian said, looking down.
"Well, you will know now," Genryū said.
"Wait..." Zorian wasn't able to complete his sentence...
THOOOOOOOOOM!!
Setsuna's eyes were wide open.
"I don't remember seeing such a powerful blast. Even the one in America that had Magatsu in it... was much less powerful than this," Setsuna said.
"So Zorian is dead. Only two remaining. Well, that is off plan," Sōren said, thinking.
"No, can't say about that... But there was another blast far away, and something from that impact arrived here." Setsuna took a pause. "I could only see his back."
KBOOM!
Arashi was lying in the crater he had just created from falling.
"What do you mean by 20,000 more push-ups? I need to pee right now, gotta find a restroom. I will see Sensei afterwards," Arashi said to himself.
CLUNK!
Arashi opened the door of the washroom. But as he opened the door, he saw Genryū in the washroom peeking inside the shower room.
"Hey child, close the door fast, otherwise we are dead," Genryū said in a very low voice, almost a whisper.
"We? And when was I included here?" Arashi said in disbelief.
"Ahhhh! There are two men in our washroom," a girl shouted.
"No... No, you are getting me wrong," Arashi tried to prove himself innocent.
"He is definitely with me! In fact, he was the stool for me just a second ago so I could peek," Genryū shouted at the girls.
"Beat them!" everyone lunged towards them.
Lick....
On a park bench, after a long beating, sitting and eating ice cream were Arashi and Genryū.
"Oi, Arashi! You are here; your punishment is double as of now," Vance shouted from a distance.
"Sensei, I will bear the punishment rather than roam with people nowadays. Isn't that good?" Arashi frowned.
"Ah! This isn't bad; rather, it is a part of my training. If my student was here, he would have told you," Genryū laughed.
"Old man, isn't this wrong? What do you mean? Moreover, you are even eating ice cream with my money. I wonder who is the fool that is your student," Arashi replied.
"Fool? Nah! You know, he is someone I am able to trust after a long time. He is exceptional; he will definitely defeat you," Genryū smirked.
"Huh! Looks like the fool old man got a fool student," Arashi said, unleashing Garuda.
Sling!
Sōren picked and cut an apple to give to Setsuna.
"Why are you telling me this? Setsuna, give me something valuable. The way you are explaining, I need time to process every transition." Sōren raised his eyebrows.
"As Arashi was about to stab Genryū," Setsuna continued to speak.
YANK! BAM!
Ren grabbed Pearl's one needle, pulled it, and hit her in the gut, sending a small shockwave into her body that pulled cracks in her spine.
THK! THK! THWACK! THUD!
The continuous attacks from Pearl that were tackled by Ren in the easiest possible way could destroy armies.
"It wasn't that my precious daughter's attacks were weak; her teacher is the strongest," Setsuna said with a smile.
"Understood, continue now," Sōren said calmly.
SNAP! SLAM!
Ren instantly broke her forearm and pinned her down on the ground.
"Sorry, love, would you like me to go easy on you?" Ren asked.
"I didn't ask you to become my Sensei to go easy on me. Just teach me with your 100% power, Sensei; don't hold back," Pearl said, standing.
"100%?" Ren asked, confused. "You really have guts, love. That is why you have got potential, or is it the reverse?" Ren smiled.
Silence.
The calm before the storm.
"But leave that. You want to be equal to the children who could literally manifest Shūkyoku Kengen at 12," Ren smirked. "Which is already impossible, and you also want me to give my 100%."
"Then take this. If you survive this, you definitely have potential." Ren pulled out a tiny glowing ball, the same as Genryū's.
Rustle....
WHOOOM!
Ren kicked her out of the aircraft, breaking the walls of the aircraft and sending her flying.
"Ah! The air pressure here is unbearable, repair this," Ren ordered.
THOOOOOOOOM!!
Sōren's face was completely calm and relaxed.
"By your reaction, I can say everything is going right as you planned?" Setsuna asked.
"Even if it weren't, you wouldn't see it. But why do you keep giving me these cliffhangers? What happened with Zorian and Pearl?" Sōren asked.
"As if you don't know, or you just want to hear it from my mouth."
THUD!
In a complete black tracksuit with bandages on small unhealed wounds, Zorian set foot in front of Genryū.
"Oi! Zorian, I knew you would come. See how well you healed," Genryū appreciated.
"Puff... This is how you react after killing me," Zorian said in disbelief.
"Leave that. There is a girls' bath near here. Come on, let's go," Genryū blushed.
"Hell nah, I am not going with you anywhere like that," Zorian said, turning his face, relieved.
THUD! CRR NNK!
Ren unburied the largest rock which Pearl was buried beneath.
"Oh! What a surprise, you already did it," Ren smiled.
"But wasn't it too easy?" Ren teased Pearl.
"To stand right beside them, this was too simple," Pearl said.
"And yes, pretty easy," Pearl said, tears running down her face.
WHOOOM! SLING!
"You didn't even need to tell me that it's Arashi cutting Vance's air blast, haha," Sōren giggled.
"What a cinematic sequence this is," Sōren said, his face calm.
"This was all over the two months," Setsuna said, relieved.
"It was amazing, Suna, although I don't need you now 'cause the next will be after 4 months. They will meet their different versions after these four months," Sōren turned.
"In the Apex Convergence...."