A strong wind brushed through the field of tail grass with dozens of people spread out. They were all varying in age, but had one thing in common, confusion. All of their homes had disappeared suddenly without warning or explanation. Around them was only grass and some had begun to panic. There were those that had remembered past occurrences that rang familiar that they had been casually dismissing because it was so brief. However, it had persisted for far longer than any time before. They wanted answers, but everyone was all clueless.

Momoko had been preparing to go to her class at the college when their house had disappeared on them. She had wanted to panic, but felt something inside her that she could not explain. It felt familiar to her in a way. “…Yuki? Why…”

Chapter 60 – Reborn

“The real one?” Yuki said slowly measuring out his distance. His muscles were tightening up with the emotions that were still running through his body. When he had thought that he had ended it with Demosthenes much of it had been finally released. Some had been returned, but his mind was starting to see more clearly than it had. Yuki would have charged after him immediately if he had still been completely fueled by anger. There did remain an annoying sense that the old man was being cocky with is declaration, but Yuki had difficulty seeing that from his opponent. All that was painted on his face was the serious stare he had had before of someone that took a fight in a very rigid planned manner. “So you’re saying that you’re much stronger than that clone of yours?”

“Correct, if you ever took note my field was never centered under it. So it was further away from thus weaker.” Demosthenes put his spear down in the ground and materialized a new spear that looked lighter. The purpose was clearly different from the previous spear he wielded. It was a spear meant for throwing unlike the former which was meant for close combat.

Yuki narrowed his eyes seeing the new tactic that was being used. ‘If that’s true, how much stronger is he now? I should not tempt things right now…’ The spear was launched into the air towards Yuki with surprising speed, fearing that there was some field law at work aiding it. Taking his own advice he stepped out of the way of the spear, but it disappeared immediately upon hitting the ground. However, he had no time to think about as another was already inbound against him. Several more were followed in similar fashion with Yuki evading the attacks skillfully. ‘This seems against his style, what’s he doing?’

There was little time for Yuki to try to understand Demosthenes’ tactics as the spears became almost constant as a stream that he was forced to continue to evade, that felt as though they were locked on him. He was able to keep ahead of them, but they were narrowing in on him with each attempt. Yet it was not the goal in mind as he reacted a moment too late. Demosthenes had charged in at Yuki wielding his original spear once more taking a swing at him. Yuki barely managed to see it in time, but it was still not enough. The tip of the spear cut through the cloth of his vest coat and down to his robe underneath. He tried to leap out of reach of the spear, but found that he was suddenly completely surrounded by all of the thrown spears that had been thrown at him. They nearly numbered into the hundreds it seemed. ‘Trapped, this was his plan all along…’

Something that Ayumi had said to him once came flashing back as Yuki began to understand the man’s strength. ‘A Meso Prosecho user’s worth is judged heavily on how many objects that they can maintain in their field at one time and still be able to function.’ The thought made Yuki give pause for a moment before he had to evade another attempt at him, but tripped up by the spears.

‘If he can maintain all of those and still fight like this against… Just how strong is he?’ Yuki narrowly escaped another swing from Demosthenes, but became even more boxed in. ‘The only thing keeping me alive right now is my reflexes and luck, but I’m running out of both.’ The next thrust at Yuki was unavoidable with his position and he was force to take the spear against his shoulder cutting down to his skin to draw blood. ‘He managed to get through my defenses! Is he stronger than the King’s power I supposedly have?’

Yuki evaded the next attempt deciding to take to the offensive seeing that relying on his defense was no longer going to work. He tried to get in close past the spear, but Demosthenes rotated the metal shaft of the spear down as Yuki came underneath the attack. The end of the shaft slammed into Yuki’s already wounded shoulder forcing him to grind his teeth through the pain. It turned him away into a wall of spears that his back fell against. His moment lasted no more than second as the spear was already coming in again, swinging. Yuki rolled across the grass to avoid it with the hopes of getting inside once more. His efforts were not completely wasted even though Demosthenes prevented him from hitting him with his spear. It pushed back the stage enough for Yuki. ‘Hope this works…’

As Demosthenes was recovering in the moments after Yuki’s counter, Yuki jumped back getting to his feet and spun around. In motion, his leg plowed through all of the shafts of the spears blocking him snapping off the wooden shafts. It gave him the room to escape his cage just as Demosthenes was trying to restore the damage. Once freed Yuki immediately went on the counterattack coming around Demosthenes. There was an almost pleasing sound of Yuki’s fist hitting inside his defenses and making his first connected punch on Demosthenes that stumbled him backwards.

The pause to enjoy the moment had become a liability for Yuki. He made the attempt follow through with his momentum once he came out of his held position, but Demosthenes was already recovering making use of his thrown spears. All of the spears began to pull themselves free from the ground and turn themselves towards Yuki, which he caught out of the corner of his eye. ‘Too many to dodge…’ he thought quickly. His hands began to lightly glow a soft blue as he fully extended his arms towards the incoming projectiles. It was just in time as the spears were almost upon him. They were all halt in mid-air shaking violently trying to pierce the invisible barrier that Yuki had constructed. However, the barrier was not enough to hold the spears as they began to push through with Yuki having to shift his position to avoid a couple that broke through. ‘Even at this range?! I can’t hold them back!’

Around the spears, the air turned violet as red hues began to surface. It engulfed the spearheads first and transitioned on covering the shaft as behind the spears were disintegrating. Once it was over Yuki dropped his hand down at his sides before looking over at Demosthenes.

“Your mastery is certainly impressive for only just awakening…and you’ve seem to have found a strange power to suit yourself,” the old man commented as he straightened himself out. “I can still feel it on the inside, it’s no mere punch and your defenses as well. I must admit my own curiosity.”

Yuki was left watching the eye-patched man carefully, waiting for the next assault. “It’s just manipulating physical energies,” he said willing to give into the break in the fight. “Call it spiritual, magical or psychic its makes no difference. I have covered my entire body in it creating an invisible protective armor which I can convert into something like kinetic energy that I can transfer through any part of my body, namely my fists. It can penetrate flesh and muscle causing internal damage being far more potent than a simple punch. And since it is a close as possible to my body, it makes maximum use field’s effects.”

“I see. I understand now. That’s a very logical tactic. You seem to understand the basics, however you’re wasting so much of that power.” Demosthenes turned his head about to look at the environment. “It’s clear that your power is indeed on par with that of the King and yet I’m still able to break your defenses. It’s a question you’re asking yourself now isn’t it? You still barely understand the power.”

The words were not something new to Yuki, but he had thought that the supposedly immense power of the King would be enough to make up the difference. It had been what saved him before. Yet there was a very clear difference between them. “Are you even stronger than the King?”

“No, but you’re wasting your strength on allowing your field to be fully projected.” The short grass of Demosthenes’ field suddenly expanded outward rapidly going far out of sight and was partially cut off by the natural strength of Yuki’s field. It had been a near perfect circle before that remained at a radius of twenty meters. However, Yuki was stunned by the sudden revelation that he could expand his field. “I can have a field nearly as impressive as yours, but it’s a waste. All you’re doing is flaunting your power, it’s unrefined. That’s why I’m stronger than you. And why you’ll lose here.”

The short grass field swiftly fell back to its normal size as the tension in the air suddenly jumped. Yuki dropped into a defense stance recognizing the killing intent in the man’s eye. The break was over as the next wave of spears being thrown forced Yuki to move. He was not going to be caught in the same trap as before. Yuki kept moving forward, and always against the direction that Demosthenes was trying to lead him, to close in the distance while evading the spears. Once he reached the range of the wielded spear in Demosthenes’ hands he was forced to keep dodging the trusts and swipes. He had doubled the thickness on his energy armor that was able to soften the blows that he was forced to parry with his arm. The spear’s blade was still getting through, but it was left as only bruises rather than cutting him. ‘I can’t keep up with him anymore…I’m being overwhelmed… This isn’t about power anymore, but experience…’

Yuki was knocked back by Demosthenes, but he quickly returned to his feet using some awkward footwork to get around behind the old man. He tried to make a strike as the spear came around behind him in rotation with the man’s body to bring them face to face once more. ‘I don’t think even at my peak I could have stood against him. He’s a trained soldier… He’s so far out of my reach…’ Their violent dance continued to play out in the expansive field of grass with fatigue quickly creeping up on Yuki with each of his failures.

A mistake by Yuki’s legs left him in a vulnerable position. The spear wasted no time in taking the opportunity and pierced through the defensive layers of energy to dig into Yuki’s side just below his ribs. Yuki eyes grew wide in the shock with his teeth grinding through the pain. His defenses were broken and he was stumbling backwards after the weapon had been removed. Yuki’s chest took a long slash from a follow up swing by the spear spraying blood through the air as he fell back. He collapsed to the ground panting heavily through the fatigue and sore muscles. ‘Come on! Damn it! Move I refuse to let this be it! Not now!’

“This is over now!” Demosthenes brought up his spear lunging it down at Yuki’s heart for the final blow, but he suddenly met resistance. “What?!” he exclaimed in surprise seeing Yuki’s less injured hand up holding back his spear. He tried to push in through the invisible force holding him back, but there was more than a half a meter between it and Yuki’s hand. “I see, you’re focusing all of your armor into a single point, but that won’t be enough!” The spear was beginning to make some progress in penetrating the energy slowly digging.

Across the field held to watch was Saki inside Ayumi’s barrier. ‘…Yuki…’ She had been forced to stay on the sidelines during the fight. It had left her palms raw from the stress. For her, inaction was the worst thing to happen to her. However, the fight had been going badly for Yuki recently making her muscles burn. She turned back towards Ayumi when she saw Yuki fall back cornered. “Ayumi! Let me go now!”

“I can’t, none of us are able to take him on. We have to believe in Yuki!” The same cold empty looking green eyes were drawn into Ayumi’s face.

“Don’t you care that Yuki is going to die!?” Saki looked over at Yuki once more seeing that he was struggling. There was so much distance between them that she could not see it all clearly, but it only made the situation worse for her. “Ayumi!” She charged for Ayumi with her fists raised up, but was brought to a stop by a wall of ice blocking her path. “Let me go or I’ll hit you so hard you’ll be feeling next week!”

“Anger isn’t the answer. You’ll just die!”

“I don’t care! Yuki’s out their alone being killed!” Saki became distracted when ice tendrils came up to grab her restraining her from moving. It only made Saki even angrier at the lengths that Ayumi was going to stop her. She broke the ice with her arms and turned back towards the barrier to try to get around again. However, her eyes caught the attention of Yuki with him coming into even greater danger. Saki ran to the barrier her fists raised up. “Let me out, Ayumi!” Her fists hit the clear barrier echoing through the enclosed space. She kept pounding against the barrier.

“It’s useless. It’s far too strong for you to break.”

None of it matter to Saki. The only thing on her mind was getting out. She was nothing thinking anymore continuously pounded her fist against the barrier until it suddenly developed a crack. Her fist rammed into it again increasing the crack.

Ayumi was quickly alerted to the damage and sealed it up quickly. ‘Impossible! No human could have the strength to break this!’ However, it was not enough as Saki’s fist rammed into the barrier once more creating an even larger crack than before. Ayumi was not fast enough as Saki’s next punch completely shattered the barrier to her utter shock.

“Yuki!” It was then in that instance that Saki suddenly disappeared from everyone’s sight even though they were all watching her.

The spear was breaking through the last of the layers and Yuki could no longer hold up his arm. It was the last of his strength that he had used to keep Demosthenes at bay. Yuki fought with his body to move, but it refused him. ‘No!’ Time began to move slowly as he watched his imminent death coming in on the tip of the spear.

However, a brief shadow was sharply cast over him followed by a loud crunch and thud. The spear was no longer coming at him. In fact, Demosthenes was nowhere to be seen. Yuki fought to focus his eyes on scanning the area until he saw that Saki was standing in front of him. “Saki?” he said slowly not believing it at first. Saki turned and helped him up to his feet. He tried to look around again for signs of the old man, but there was nothing. “Where is he?” His single mindedness would not let it go.

“I don’t know. I searched, but I couldn’t find him.”

“It would seem neither of us is in a position to keep fighting,” echoed Demosthenes voice from all around them. The sound of his voice carried disguised pain that was threatening him. “I shall retreat for today. Come and face me in our homeland and prove to me that you’re worthy to be our King.” Afterwards, his voice could be heard no more. Silence fell over the grounds leaving Yuki and Saki to guess that he had departed.

“Huh?” questioned Yuki not clear on what had just happened. “What’s going on? He wasn’t beaten!”

“What did you do, Saki?” asked Hiroshi coming up behind them. Everyone with them looked out of breath from running the distance to reach them, while Saki looked as she always had. Ayumi was even breathing heavy from the run, but still to conceal it.

Yuki looked at Hiroshi and then at Saki becoming even more confused. “What’s he talking about, Saki?”

“…I don’t know…” she said shrugging her shoulders at him. “I just remember trying to stop that man from killing you and…”

“Saki covered the distance from us to you in less than a second and literally sent the man flying with a single punch,” Ayumi said filling in the details for everyone. However, there was a hint of disbelief in her voice as it seemed impossible. ‘How did she break my barrier and then run that fast that I couldn’t see her? It’s not possible!’

Saki looked over at Ayumi and the others. “I don’t remember any of that. I’m just relieved that Yuki is safe.” Her heart had finally stopped pounding and her muscles could begin to relax. “But he needs you to heal him, Ayumi.” She let him rest on the ground as Ayumi nodded silently. Once the work was done and Yuki was healed she looked around the school grounds.

In the distance, their ruined school stood lined with cracks and shattered windows. Along the first floor and foundation sat a small pile of debris from the created earthquake. The ground itself was whole as though it had never happened, but the building still stood as the reminder. Students were beginning to gather around with the threat over. They all had the look of awe and confusion.

“Need me to punch you in the head, Yuki?” Saki offered knowing that he could not turn off his powers.

Yuki shuck his head at her. “No, it’s already off,” he said. His school uniform was back on him, though with blood and rips left in them from his battle.

“What’re you talking about? No, it’s not. There’s still grass everywhere even in the streets. See?”

“I’m certain it’s off.” Yuki stood up feeling better, but weak. He could see the school and the neighborhood of houses and small shops all around. However, wherever he looked there was grass everywhere. The sidewalk, the roads and the gardens all of it was covered like his field. Yet Yuki knew it could not be possible. ‘Maybe I’m mistaken. I guess there’s only one way to find out.’ He turned towards Saki with uncertainty. “Whack me…”

“Yuki?” said Saki pulled back from searching the horizon. She forced herself to focus back on the immediate matter and tightened up her fist. It made all of the students around gasp and shout to try to stop her, but she was already in motion. Her fist connected with him and immediately stunned him removing any sort of concentration he could have. She looked around again, but found the grass was still present. “Ayumi?”

Ayumi was equally confused by it having an unusually concerned look on her face. She activated her field quickly to check something. ‘It’s not being affected by him.’ The snow disappeared as she turned her gaze to Saki. “He’s telling the truth. His power is not active. Don’t know how to explain it, but he’s somehow permanently altered the area with only his power.”

“I thought it was just an illusion!”

“It is, but he’s made it actually real.”

“What?!”

“Hey everyone…there’s a strange broadcast coming in on the radio,” a male student said pulling down his headphones that were connected to something in his uniform pocket. “They’re saying something’s happened across Japan. That everything changed!” His words spread panic throughout the crowd as everyone began to whisper and talk between each other making wild speculation and guesses.

Yuki had come back around hearing what they were talking about and only becoming even more confused. He rose to his feet and looked around at his friends. “We need to find out what’s going on!”

“Yeah, but how?” Hiroshi said.

“The news seems to know something.”

“But the school a wreck and I doubt anyone’s going to let us in their house.”

“We don’t need to!” Yuki snapped his fingers and summoned a TV on the ground that was immediately broadcasting a news station.

There was about to be questions, but they were cut off by the reporter’s voice reaching out to everyone. “…in Ibaraki Prefecture. We only have reports for the Kanto region still, but early signs indicate that the entire country of Japan is no longer as we know it. Strange animals and plants have appeared in numerous areas. It has been described as though every work of fiction, myth and dream has suddenly become reality in Japan!”

To be continued…