Vol 1: Chapter 6: New Page

Volume 1: Blood on Blade

Chapter 6:

New Page

Who is this girl?

From how she looks and her outfit, isn't she just a middle schooler like I was?

While I was thinking about that, she came closer again and knocked on my glass tube.

"Hello~, are you awake?"

["....."]

I didn't answer as I still cannot comprehend the situation.

What she just said?

'Go with this one'? Did she mean me?

"Hey, Minami-chan, this guy is awake right? Why they're not responding?"

This girl?!

["Yuzuhara-san, who is this?"]

"Woah, it really can talk?"

She seemed really surprised as she took a step back when I'm asking this question to the quiet Yuzuhara-san behind her.

Even Yuzuhara-san looks like she's having a difficulty to explaining the situation.

"She is--"

"Why are you asking her? I'm in front of you, just ask me!"

Hey, why are you pouting at me?

Seriously, what is wrong with this girl? Sigh~

["Who are you?"]

Yuzuhara-san even more speechless than me, so I just asked it casually as she wanted, or this conversation won't go anywhere.

She smiled,... or smirked?!

"I'm Ougasahara Aomi, 15 years old, the humanity future greatest Hero and high-spec beautiful girl who will be your one and only Master!"

["....."]

".... no reaction again?"

["You said 'Master'?"]

She, Ougasahara-san, nodded enthusiastically.

["Yuzuhara-san, I believe the next candidate test schedule is in 3 days. So what is the meaning of this?"]

"Etto~, Ougasahara-san here is quite a special case. She get the approval from Professor Livia herself to choose her own Sacred Weapon."

[".... Hey, you--"]

"Call me Master!"

Isn't this girl a little too carefree?

I don't know what is her relationship with Professor Livia, but since she got the stamp of approval directly from her, it just means this girl is anything but ordinary.

I also don't know how much she knew about me, but at least, I don't want to kill innocent people anymore.

From what I heard before the two of them came inside the lab, Yuzuhara-san had said that I'm too dangerous. Which mean, all other Sacred Weapon should be at least a safer choice than me.

I must warn her.

["Ougasahara-san, you should choose another Sacred Weapon. Did you not hear anything about me from Yuzuhara-san? I'm too dangerous. You will die the moment you touch me."]

"Why are you so sure I will die? Isn't there a chance that I will be the one who can wield you?"

["Then I'll say it straight. I killed 46 people, and make 2 others crippled near dead. Man, woman, old, young, even a child. I see everyone crumbled as a corpses in front of me. Wanting to be my master will only make you my 47th victim. So give up now."]

I really don't want to remember all of those memories of all the people I had killed. But if by doing so can make her have a second thought, then so be it.

After she is gone, I will talk to Yuzuhara-san about my plan for the next candidate test. About just turning me off--

"As expected...."

'Tap!'

...Why?

Ougasahara-san put her palm on my glass as she looked up at me and smiling with such a tenderness.

Why are you wearing that face?!

Stop!

You're making me remember her!

"... You are really such a good person."

"Ikuto, you are good child."

["Don't you hear what I just said?! I killed all the candidates before you! What part of that is 'Good' in your eyes?!"]

"Because you cried for them!"

["!!"]

Why....? No... How?

The me right now is only a cold metal weapon that doesn't even has eyes. Even when I cried many times, no one should be able see that.

Also, this is my first time meeting her.

How she seemed to know me that much?

Ougasahara-san retract her hand and turned around.

"Haha, the mood suddenly turns weird. You seems to have a lot on your mind right now, so I won't force it."

She walks pass Yuzuhara-san towards the door.

Honestly, when she said that I was somehow relieved. It seems she is not that much of a stubborn person and will choose another Sacred Weapon other than me--

"Ah, just in case you thought I was backing off from becoming your Master, I will remind you, I'm not!"

When she was already at the door, she turned around and pointing her finger at me while declaring that.

"I've already decided that you will be my Sacred Weapon and I won't back down on that. I'll prove to you that I'm the only one who can wield you. So Yuzuhara-san, make sure you prepare this guy for me tomorrow. Well then, I'm off, see ya~"

["Hey, you!"]

It was too late. She already gone sprinting down the hallway.

"She is an interesting girl, don't you think so, No.9?"

Yuzuhara-san's gaze was glued to the door as she said this.

["....That's.... I don't know..."]

"Anyway, I have a very good feeling about all of this. Perhaps she is really the one for you."

["She is a cheeky girl."]

"Ahaha, can't argue with that."

Yu-Yuzuhara-san just laugh?!

I always thought she was a cold and ruthless researchers without a sense of humor. That she is a very goal driven person, not even shaken by the mountain of corpses of candidates.

She turned her head to me, giving a very cold look that would make my heart beat slower, if I still have any.

"I feel like you just thought something very insulting about me, No.9."

["...."]

What is wrong with all the woman in this facility? Did they all have a mind reading ability or something? Is this what people call woman's intuition? I want to have it too!

Yuzuhara-san sigh and starts walking to the door.

"Anyway I will do what she has asked. I will come again first thing in the morning tomorrow, so No.9, prepare yourself."

After saying that, the metal door of the lab closed.

Now that I'm alone again, it made remember my conversation with Ougasahara-san just a moment ago.

That gaze.

That words.

She really reminds of Her.

"In your circumstances, you have every right to blame or hate your mother, but you didn't. Instead, you cry for her. That's make you a very good child in my eyes."

The words are not exactly the same, but the meaning is so similar that I see her shadow in Ougasahara-san.

Chinatsu-sensei.

What should I do in this situation?

•

•

•

Time passes and tomorrow come faster than I expected.

True to her words, Yuzuhara-san along with four other researchers, came first thing in the morning to do some last check up on me.

After making sure nothing is wrong, as usual I was picked up by the mechanical arms and placed on the Katana stand on the table with wheels just like the other day of candidates test.

On our way to the test place, we see Ougasahara-san, wearing blue shirt and blue shorts, leaning against the wall beside the door leading to the test place, staring at the distance like her minds was elsewhere.

"Ougasahara-san, you're coming early."

Yuzuhara-san greets her, and Ougasahara-san finally come to her senses and looked at us with a smile.

"Ohayou, Minami-chan. Everyone too. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Especially you, No.9."

She greeted back and it seems everyone have a very good impression of her.

If something were to happen to her at the test, it will be so awkward for me to interact with all the researchers here.

Ugh, now I'm too nervous.

"Let's go inside now."

Yuzuhara-san opened the door with her access card and we all went inside the spacious space for the test.

After my table pushed to the usual position, the four other researchers went inside the observation room while Ougasahara-san stands firm in front of me, and Yuzuhara-san checking something on the tablet on her hand beside me.

"Hello, No.9, are you ready to call me Master?"

This girl!!

["Why don't you consider it more, Ougasahara-san? You can try to look for other Sacred Weapon first. Who knows, maybe you will find another that is more suitable--"]

"Nah~, it's fine already. I don't have any interest with other Sacred Weapon. Besides, by now, almost all other Sacred Weapon should already found their Master."

["Huh?"]

"Huh?!"

Wait, why are Yuzuhara-san shocked too?

"The remaining ones are No.3 which does not suit my fighting style and No.7 is just too big for my body. No.12, well~ it's cute but I definitely will still choose No.9."

Yuzuhara-san frantically operated the tablet and looked at Ougasahara-san and the tablet screen alternatively.

"How the fuck you know all of that! Even the information and confirmation of all registered users just arrived half an hour ago! Everything should be the highest level of secret! And you knew all of that?! Just HOW!!"

["!!"]

I'm shocked for two different reason.

First, how the usually self-composed and calm Yuzuhara-san can curse.

Second, who exactly is this girl?!

Knowing the high level secret as if it were common sense. And wow, what is that proud smile on her face. I want to smack her hard.

"Well, forget about that. Can we move on with the test already? I need to go back and buy the ingredients for tonight dinner after this."

Without answering any of Yuzuhara-san's question. Ougasahara-san just said it so calmly with great confidence.

Yesterday she asked me why I was so sure she would die, but now I really want to ask her back, why is she so sure she can live after the test?

Yuzuhara breathe in and breathe out a few times, trying to control her emotion. She takes several steps back and she now is far enough from us.

"Alright, you can proceed."

With that signal, Ougasahara-san quickly grabs my handle with one hand.

"Gahh!"

The hand holding me is vibrating and she used her other hand to hold it in place.

Sweat beads start raining down from her forehead as she gritted her teeth as she is enduring something very painful.

From her nostril, blood strated flowing.

["Ougasahara-san, let go! More than this you would--"]

"Just shut up! I.... ughh, for the future I dream of! I...."

["Ougasahara-san..."]

A light shines from the back of her hand that was grabbing my handle.

"I'll make you mine!! Hyaaah!!"

She lifted me!!

She turned her body and swing my blade diagonally to the empty air.

....

'Bang!'

With a delayed reaction, a big slash mark appears on the thick concrete wall and shake the whole area for a moment.

Everyone who witnessed this was utterly speechless. The four researchers in the observation room jaw dropped, and Yuzuhara-san even dropped the tablet on her hand.

Not just them, even I feel countless kind of emotions right now.

What is this mean?

She.... is she really my master?

I don't have to kill all my candidates again?

With her, can I kill D-Mons?

Eventually, Ougasahara-san who was panting hard after that swing, knelt on the floor.

"Ugh, I can't feel my legs."

She then laid on the floor while still trying to regulate her breathing.

Yuzuhara-san who was also already come to her senses call the medical team to check on Ougasahara-san.

With a face full of sweats and blood still flowing from her nose, Ougasahara-san turned her head and smiled at me who was still tightly gripped on her hand.

"Well, as promised, call me Master."

Although her condition was such a mess, but somehow, in my vision, she is shining so beautifully.

["I.... I never agree to that promise."]

....

What kind of response is that!!

What am I? Tsundere Heroine or something?! Gahh, so embarrassing!!

"Ehhh~"

Ougasahara-san let out a long disappointed sigh at my reaction as she was lifted to the stretcher by the medical team.

I'm sorry!

But what is wrong with me?!

What is this feeling?

Is this what was supposed to happen after making a contract with my user?

Someone help me!

•

•

•

October 25th, 2050

Time passed so quickly.

After that eventful day, Ougasahara Aomi officially became my registered user.

We are now inside the training room and Ougasahara-san swinging me a few times as a warm up.

The only painful process was the time of making contract, after that she and me essentially connected and she can use all my power with ease.

The proof of that successful contract is the red "IX" mark on the back of her right hand.

'IX', a roman symbol for '9'.

My serial number as Sacred Weapon No.9.

"Are you ready, Ixy?"

["Yeah."]

Well, now I'm called 'Ixy' by her.

When she want to call me something else other than 'No.9', as it is not cute, she said.

I hesitated to tell her my real name as I still have a not so good memory with it, Ougasahara-san then decided to give me a new name.

After a series of rejection of weird name, she eventually decided to call me 'Ixy' after looking at the 'IX' symbol on her hand.

I mean, who would want to be called 'Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon'? What kind of sick name is that?!

Anyway back to the present, we are waiting for the green indicator light at the middle of ceiling of the training room to turn red.

When it turns red, many holographics D-Mons appears in the room.

"Hyaaah!"

Ougasahara-san swings me vertically and it creates a red cresent wave that fly off and erasing many D-Mons hologran before the wave disappear after a certain distance.

After that, Ougasahara-san started running, slashing the hologram on the ground and jumping high to attack the one on the airs.

A few minutes passed before all the hologram was erased and the light indicators turns back to green.

"How is it?"

["3 minutes and 25 seconds, a little better than the previous training."]

"It's still not enough. To kill that one D-Mons, I need to move faster than this."

I don't know what is this feeling, but Ougasahara-san seemed like she knew very much about D-Mons.

Did she know it from Professor Livia?

"Alright, one more--"

"I will ask you to stop for now. Professor Livia had asked for all registered Sacred Weapon Users to come to the meeting room."

Yuzuhara-san come inside the training room and stopped Ougasahara-san who want to restart the training simulation.

"Ah, so it's already the time. Alright, thanks for telling me, Minami-chan. Let's go Ixy."

While still holding me, Ougasahara-san went pass Yuzuhara-san and walked in corridor to the specified place.

"Hey, Ixy, isn't it already the time for you to call me Master? I bet all other Sacred Weapon call their users something like Master, Lady, Boss, or something. Only you who call me with such a boring 'You' and 'Ougasahara-san'."

["Are you calling your own family name boring?"]

"You know that's not what I mean. Come on, if Master is impossible, at least call me Aomi. Okay?"

["Ao--,... no it's fine."]

In our way to the meeting room, we chatted a bit.

The is no particular reason of why I'm not calling her Master.

It just, how should I put it?

If I call her 'Master', I can imagine how much of brat she will be.

And calling her that will make it seems like I was submitting myself to her. Well, in a way, it's true, but still no!

Standing in front of the black door of the meeting room, Ougasahara-san take a pair of small earpiece from her pocket and put it in her ears.

Behind the door is a dimly lit empty meeting room with rectangle table and 6 chairs on each long side with each chair marked with the roman numbers from I to XII. And one chair at the short side, with a big monitors behind it.

Ougasahara-san walks towards chair with 'IX' number and take a seat.

After she put her hand with the IX mark on the table, all other seats is filled with the hologram of all the Sacred Weapon User.

Everyone looked quite different from the others. Its because all the Sacred Weapon User are all from different country.

Like Ougasahara-san that representing Japan, there is a user from English, China, Egypt, Russia and many other countries. There is no country that have 2 Sacred Weapon User.

That's why Ougasahara-san using the earpiece. It is a tool that instantly translated all language it heard to the user native language.

On the seat in front of monitor, the hologram of Professor Livia sit there looking sharply at Ougasahara-san.

"You finally come. You are the last one, Aomi."

Wow, she seems really mad.

"Hehe, sorry. I was in the training room before and forgot."

This girl definitely didn't feel any slight of guilt.

Professor Livia sighed and looked ahead to all the Sacred Weapon User.

"Alright now that you all gathered, I will say it straight. The second Disaster will come in 2 days."

I can see the expression of everyone tensed.

A man on the right seat of Ougasahara-san raise his hand.

"Are the scale the same as before?"

"Unfortunately, yeah. That's why I will ask you all to fight this time."

A woman on seat number XI also raise her hand.

"But how exactly we will fight them? The Rift opened simultaneously all over the world, and there is only twelve of us here."

"Good question."

Professor Livia then gestured for everyone to see the monitor behind her.

The monitor showed 2 images of D-Mons.

"I'm sure you all already familiar with these D-Mons. They are the most common type of D-Mons: 'Soldier Class Lv 1' and Soldier Class Lv 2'."

Actually, in the first Disaster I wasn't really paying attention to the monster appearance. But now I looked at it again, they look like a werewolf with wings, and the other is another werewolf but with protruding thorn-like bone in each side of their arms.

"Your main focus in the next Disaster is not to just kill these D-Mons. Consider it your side mission if you will, because your main priority is this guy."

One more image shows up at the screen. This time it looks like a giant eyeball with wings.

"This is your main target for killing. You can go rampage and kill all the D-Mons in your sight, but if you want to stops the Rift, you must kill this one."

Professor Livia emphasize it with such seriousness that was completely different from my first impression of her.

"What make this type so important?"

This time a guy in seat number V asked the question.

"This one was called 'Rift Master'. They are the one who opened the Rift. As long as you kill this one, the Rift will close and the remaining D-Mons will die the moment it completely closed."

"But isn't it still impossible? There are too many Rifts compared to our numbers."

"That's the neat part. You see the orbs-like thing hovering on its body? Each orb represent 10 of the Rift it controls. Imagine you kill one of this guy with 10 orbs on its head, it means you're closing 100 Rift in your area.

And this type number is really limited. At most, in a full scale invasion, there will be at most 10 Rift Master spread out around the world. You kill all 10 of them, you stopped the Disaster. Easy right?"

For a moment, the meeting room become quiet as we all comprehend the information.

Sure what Professor Livia said made it seems easy, but there is still one flaw.

An old man on the seat number I raise his hand.

"Are you asking us to search a needle in the haystack?"

Right, even if Professor Livia made it sounds so easy, there is now way we can find them in when the world was in chaos with hundreds Rift opened at the same time.

Forget about killing 10 of them, I doubt we can even find 1 of them with just 12 of us.

At that question, Professor Livia just smiled.

One more image shows up covered the whole monitor. This time it is a world map, with 10 red dots spread out all over the map.

"I already knew the coordinates of Rift Master appearance places. So...."

Professor Livia gaze turned sharp as everyone tensed and gulped.

"Are you ready for your first battle, my Elite Enforcers?"

To Be Continued....

Next Chapter: First Battle and Result