- Earlier This Morning -
"Kori, what are you thinking about? You've been distracted since you woke up."
"It's nothing, Uroi."
Today's the day. In my past life, the temple was attacked by that demon on this day. I have to be prepared…
A voice in the distance said, "Ken! Follow me, it's urgent!"
"Did you hear that Kori? That sounded like master Tomoya."
"Yes, that's definitely him."
"What could be going on? I've never heard him raise his voice before."
"I'm sure it's nothing, Uroi. I'll be right back."
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"Young Disciple! Go back to your training."
"I have to go to the bathroom, Master. I'll be quick."
"Ok! Don't be late."
It's happening. That must be it, otherwise there is no reason for Master Tomoya to be this furious. I have to follow them…
Damn it, where did they go?
They moved so fast, I don't know which way they went. Think fast. Over there towards the Shrine area. I can try to trace their steps from there.
Kori tried his best to locate their direction but he ended up in a different location. He ran as fast as he could but he went even further in the wrong direction.
"Damn it. What is going on? Where did they go? If I can't find them, then I'll just have to run into them."
Last time I was so late that by the time I got to the temple, it was completely destroyed. Something like this would've happened last time too. Master Tomoya is somehow aware of his presence but I can't sense him at all.
Calm down!
I know what he was after. Come to think of it, the temple wasn't his target at all. In that case, he would've used the west side route to enter Mt. Kamadu.
That is to the North of the temple. Which means, this way is where I'll find them.
Kori finally found the right direction. As he ran towards it, he finally saw someone in the distance.
I see someone. Is that? Master Ken. He looks hurt, I need to hurry.
He approached the location and saw both masters injured.
"Master Ken. Master Tomoya. What happened?"
"Young Disciple. Ugh.. Ugh.. Kori. What are you doing here? It's dangerous, you have to go back."
Damn it. I was late.
"Don't talk, master Ken. I'll get you two to master Shiri."
Master Tomoya is seriously injured. I need to take them back to the temple.
Kori picked up master Tomoya in his arms and Ken on his back and ran as fast as he could.
I'll transfer my aura into master Tomoya's body, it might help. Cmon. Cmon, do something. It's not helping.
Kori kept transferring aura to both masters. After a few minutes, Tomoya finally opened his eyes. He woke up coughing.
"Ugh.. You brat. What are you up to now?"
"Master Tomoya, finally you woke up. Try not to speak. I'll get you to the temple."
"Stop! There's something more important happening behind you. Someone. Ugh.. needs your help more than us."
"Someone?"
"There's two disciples! I can sense them in the distance. Drop us here, go to them."
"Ugh.. Master Tomoya, you're okay. Kori, stop. I feel better now. I'll go to rescue senior disciples."
"Master Ken, you're already injured you should…"
"Stop it, Ken. Our role is finished. Let things happen as they should.
Kori go save your senior disciples."
"But master, he is just a kid. You send him to fight that monster, I'll go!"
"It's alright Ken, this is supposed to happen. It's the destiny that heavens have chosen, there's nothing we can do about it."
"Master Ken. Master Tomoya. I'll bring them back safely. Just don't die!"
"Who's going to die, you brat. I'll live longer than you!" said Tomoya with a smile on his face.
"Now go! Your brothers are waiting for you."
Kori left them and dashed back to the location of the fight. He ran for minutes and as he was reaching the location he saw Kavi. He was hurt and there were three men about to attack him point blank.
"Those bastards!"
Kori released his aura as he ran towards them. Within seconds, a gentle stream of aura covered his entire body. He focused the aura on his right hand. It started illuminating and looked like a drop of water around his hand.
The bright aura flowed silently as he moved his palm up in the air and then through the neck of the guy on the right, leaving behind a trace of the slash. The head dropped on the ground and Kori immediately slashed the blood sphere, clean.
"Aura Channeling - Iron Blade"
Kori dashed fast, reaching in front of the guy in the middle. He used his palm again, aimed at the stomach.
Damn it. He dodged. No problem.
He rushed in, moving his front arm back. With his fingers straightened and forearm stiff as a stick, he attacked the chest, piercing through his heart. At the same time, he grabbed the blood sphere in his left hand, crushing it with force.
Last one.
"Kyomu Arts - Death V…"
Before he could finish the sentence, Kori attacked him with a right foot kick that slashed right through his chin, splitting the skull open. He immediately rotated his upper body to the right as his left leg sliced the neck, leaving behind a white-blusish stream of slash.
As he landed on the ground, Kori used his both palms to crush the blood sphere. Within seconds, all three were dead and no one was healing anymore.
He looked at Kavi and said, "I'm sorry I'm late, senior brother!"
"Ugh!" Kavi coughed blood as he fell unconscious to the ground.
Damn it. He's injured badly.
Wait, these aren't normal wounds. These are caused by aura surge. He pushed his body too much. I'll transfer my aura.
Kori transferred his aura and Kavi's arm wounds started to heal. His leg started to go back to normal. He coughed out some more blood.
"Ugh.. Kori. What. What is going on?"
"You pushed yourself and your body was injured, senior brother. Don't worry, you'll feel better soon."
"Those guys, they're dead. Did you kill them, Kori?"
"Don't worry about that, senior brother!"
Kavi started crying and said, "Those guys killed master Ken and Tomoya."
"What! No, both masters are alive. We'll go back for them in a minute!"
"They're alive? I'm so glad. I thought, those guys… I couldn't reach here on time.
Wait. What happened to brother Ryuk?"
"Brother Ryuk? He is here too?"
"Yes! He was fighting that strong guy!"
Strong guy? Don't tell me?
"Brother Kavi, where is brother Ryuk?"
"He was fighting in that direction."
"Let's go, we have to hurry up."
If it's him, I have to get there before something happens to brother Ryuk.
They both ran towards the location of Ryuk. They reached the cliff but no one was there.
"Where did they go?"
"Don't tell me. Brother Kori, they're down there."
"Let's go!"
"Aura Manifestation - GodHand"
Kori dashed down and just as eight was about to attack Ryuk he used the iron blade technique to cut his arm off.
Kori moved his head back and finally saw the person standing in front of him. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen. He was looking at the enemy he hated his entire life. The reason he lost his only family he ever knew and the traumatising hell he went through, all started with the very person who was standing in front of him.
All his life, he wondered what would've happened if he had the strength to save everyone that day. He remembered the fear, sorrow and hopelessness he felt on this very day in his previous life.
In this moment, Kori was filled with immeasurable anger yet he felt calm. His mind and body were in perfect sync. Pure white aura started flowing out of his aura centre. Kori took a firm stance tightening his muscles, and with no hesitation, he channeled the aura to form a layer around his body. A fluid layer that was as sharp as the blade of a swordsman…
With his fists held in front of his face, he said "Aura Channeling - Iron Blade"