One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 72: The Sword power

“This isn’t right… My beloved darlings are going down one by one. My darling is supposed to be impossible to defeat.”

The one speaking is someone outside of the city spectating the chaos from afar. He bites his finger continuously and his body trembles. The man was covered with a lab coat. On his face was broken glass.

Beside him spectating was a decaying woman. His supposed wife died many years ago. By the power of undead magic, he was able to raise his dead wife as a zombie. His terrifying work doesn’t end with that. He’s also a scientist studying demons and monsters. Mixing their cells to create higher levels of demons. Just like the bomb demon and fire demon, Hanayuki just battles.

“I created my demons to be at a level of The powers… A mere adventure should not be able to defeat them.”

He claimed.

Right beside him, a skeleton hand was placed on his shoulder.

“That was naive thinking, Mister Nibiru… Don’t underestimate humans. Humans, despite not being the strongest creatures, always find their way up in the hierarchy… That’s why I never pulled my punches at them. I’ll unleash all my summoned danger beasts in full force to destroy them all.”

“Why are you so angry with this kingdom?”

“This kingdom is corrupted to its core… I once served this country and these people. In the end, I was tossed to the side and feared. I lost nothing less than everything. After everything, I’ve done for them… I even sacrificed my humanity and turned into a skeleton monster. Just for humans…. My love for humans is far more than anything… My love is never given back in return. My hate towards the king who banished me continues to be stacked up. The king is now on his death bed and I’m afraid I’m not the one who is going to kill him. I’ll visit him and be the one who takes his life.”

“I remembered… You were the sorcerer feared from many 50 years ago… During that time, I and my honey were still lovey-dovey together… Those pleasant times. I still remember it vividly.”

Said Nibiru.

The philanthropic Skull king curled his skeleton fist. Mustering courage to kill the people he once loved. Just to enact his revenge on the evil king.

The mad scientist took a glance at his rotten wife. Stepping forward, pressing his lips toward hers. The man was still deeply in love with his wife. His actions can be called sweet and creepy at the same time.

His admirable love is what brings him to his current self. The Skull king knew this and he respected the mad scientist's love.

“It’s our love that made us turn out like this… Our love that the world rejected…”

The skull king whispered opening a portal gate inside the capital city.

There is no curse more twisted than love.

Love is like a poison that could affect one person's mind. The poison can produce results in good and, in worse cases, evil.

“Where are you going?”

Asked the mad scientist.

“I already said it… I’ll finish the king with my own hands… I’ll breach the barrier in the middle layer and inner layer. The dangerous beasts I unleashed are just a distraction for the powers and knights… My main goal is to have my revenge on the evil king… Arthur Archangel… How about you?”

“I’ll also go inside… I saw someone interesting inside… Someone has destroyed my demons… I want her to become one of my darlings… Of course, my wife would still be the most beautiful.”

“Suit yourself…”

Before stepping to the portal gate, the mad scientist says goodbye to his wife, kissing her again on her forehead. The scientist and the Skull King make their move inside the capital city.

Unexpectedly, the rotten wife muttered words that were never heard.

“Ta… ke care… H… Honey…”

♦♦♦♦♦

Multiple demons appear in every corner of the city. Dead people all over the place.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

Running in the streets, I heard the voice of a crying girl. I responded to the voice and hastily dashed toward her location.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you to your mother.”

I said to put her at ease.

She turned her grieving face drenched with her tears on me and held a hand tightly.

My heart broke down. After a realization…

The supposed mother she’s been calling for has her body squashed down by the rock in front of her. The only thing left was her hand holding her daughter.

The girl cried non-stop.

There is no way I could give her back to her mother.

Behind us, the long serpent came appearing together with destructive force.

The girl was small and only three years of age. Her clothes and her newly bought doll in her hand still had a price tag on them.

The little girl and her mother started their day happily together… I could see it… I could see them smiling and laughing together. Only by themselves. Their life is hard, but they are happy as long as they are together. The mother always left early in the morning to work and always left her daughter alone in their house. The mother promised on her day off they would visit the amusement park and have fun together. The doll is a souvenir the little girl got as a remembrance of this day.

“From now on, I’ll make my weekends off to spend time with you…”

The mother's last words before the monster attacked and the debris crushes her down.

I was seeing their past as a movie.

Just like before with the ghost girl, Belle.

Why had such a thing happened to happen? How did God let this kind of thing happen?

I thought. The giant serpent monster had speeded up with its huge fangs open to kill us both.

“Lightning heavenly spear!”

I rotated my body at the very last moment. Throwing a giant bolt of lightning shaped like a spear. Skewering the serpent from its fangs to its back.

The serpent's head exploded and blood rained. Covering me in red together with the little girl.

My body was then loomed over by a giant shadow. I am steadily getting bigger and bigger. Another demon arrived, grabbed my body, and gave me a ride up high in the sky. It was a giant demonic bat monster. We both went higher and higher until we were above the clouds and the city became as tiny as a dot.

The little girl… I have to go back and save her.

“Lightning shock.”

Electrocuting the bat. I then mounted his back and pulled his two giant ears.

“Lightning discharge!”

The lightning brought the bat crashing back into the capital city. After our crash landing on the ground, the bat immediately recovered, unleashing a super-sonic voice. Directly on my left side. The force sent me flying and the building behind me was destroyed just by the sound of force.

If it wasn’t for the lightning speed that protected my body. I’m sure my eardrums have already exploded.

The direct blast made me confused. The surroundings spin around. I tried walking and I kept on falling.

The bat demon flaps its giant wings, blasting his body at my location.

Oh no, I can’t move yet… I have to save the little girl before it's too late…

The bat stomped my body down and pinned me down to the ground. Knowing that I was unable to move, the bat first took a deep breath, charged, and released. At point-blank range, blasting another load of his supersonic voice.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!”

I screamed in pain.

Pain directly affects my brain.

The concrete floor came cracking and shattered after his attack, putting both in the underground sewer water.

Thanks to the water, it woke up my senseless self back to reality. The bat has its body all drenched in water. Giving me the upper hand on the battlefield.

I grabbed its foot without any plan of giving off.

“Lightning bolt!”

*Zaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppppppp!!* The dirty muddy sewer water glows in white, followed by an explosive force. Toasting the bat demon. Lastly, I conjured a sword and pierced through the demon’s heart, putting it to rest.

I could still feel a faint pain in my head and muscles. I forced myself to jump out of the sewers back to the little girl I wanted to help.

My worries… I’m afraid that I’m already too late.

Going back to the location, I saw the little girl. I arrived and saw no one. The mother, squashed down, was still there and the kid had gone missing. With all the chaos happening. There is a huge chance that she is already…

“...”

I bit my lips angry at myself.

A young girl of her age could not do anything in this situation. I should have moved quicker and saved her faster.

“Hey! civilians… A shelter protected by a barrier has been created… Help yourself.”

A girl with ashen hair reaching her shoulder arrived. She is wearing light armor and a white saber in her hand.

Detecting her, I noticed the abnormal magical power in her body. It's like a tower and nothing to compare to the confident champion earlier in the guild bar.

Who could she be?

“I’m not a civilian… I’m an adventurer who volunteered to fight the invading monsters.”

“I see… You’re an admirable adventurer. Most adventurers stay in the city. Run with their lives after seeing the giant monsters… Adventurers in this era don’t have the guts like the adventurers in the old times.”

Most of them are not that strong to face those demonic monsters. Running might be the only choice for them to survive.

“Have you seen a girl here earlier?”

“You mean the girl crying with her mother's hand…”

“Is she fine?!”

“She is fine… I saved her from the horde of zombies earlier. She is now staying with the other survivors in the shelter. No need to worry, the shelter is protected by three powers. There is no way a demon or monster could breach inside.”

Powers? I don’t understand… Hearing the tone of her words. They seem to be important people. A very strong one, I guess.

I can breathe easily now… Knowing that the little girl I wanted to protect lived.

A thorn in my heart has been removed.

“ There are too many of them… After killing one army of them. They are all back to life as if nothing had happened.”

The girl with the sword said.

“... You look exhausted… Can you still fight?”

“Yeah, I can’t let this monster run around in the city after all.”

I replied.

“You’re very admirable, I see… My name is Aster, I’m the current sword power. What’s your name?”

She is one of the so-called powers.

“I’m Hanayuki… Hanayuki Travel.”

“Hanayuki Travel… That name sounds familiar. I felt like I heard it somewhere. I just can’t pinpoint where it was.”

She said and put her hand on her chin, going into deep thinking.

Really? My name rings a bell in her. Could it be that she knew me from the past? She seems like a woman in her mid-twenties after all. Maybe you know something about my past.

After a brief moment, she turned her head on me and said:

“Just forget about it… I can’t remember when I heard your name.”

“Don’t worry… It’s fine…”

I put my hopes so high immediately and it fell slamming.

Aster pointed her saber toward the horde of zombies. Making a sword stance.

“Tempest!”

Accompanied with her chant was the creation of a tornado with sharpened wind blades. Cutting down on the targeted zombies. Just with one swing of her sword, she defeated more than hundreds of them.

“That will buy us some time before they get repaired.”

“I never thought they could regenerate…”

I said.

Zombie monsters never had that ability, as far as I know.

I stepped forward to cut the zombies. By the use of lightning magic, I toasted their bodies into crisp, burning every cell of their bodies. That way, they could never regenerate themselves.

“I could not sense any magic in their bodies any longer… You’ve got a nice idea over there. Your magic is beyond normal too… I have a stroke of genius in me… Would you mind joining my party?”

“I apologize, but I can’t… I am prepared to be a solo adventurer. I do have a goal to achieve for myself.”

“You’re indeed admirable… Purpose, strength, and kind heart. Those are all the attributes I’m looking for in my team. Only a few people manage to have those qualities. I hate pushing people, but that is your last decision… I can triple your annual salary.”

Bribing me with money now…

“Sorry, I just can’t.”

“My darlings… My darlings are all killed, not just my darling, but also my creations are defeated… Curse all of you, I just wanted to be accepted by society. Accepted my love for my wife without those piercing glares as they looked at me. Looking at me weirdly… Telling me that I’m not normal.”

Who is this weirdo who just arrived?

He made a speech that no one wants to know. Based on his appearance, he looks very weird. No one in their right mind would wear a broken eyeball. His expression is full of insanity.

“This guy is not normal.”

I muttered.

“There it is... Discrimination! Those eyes of yours, I hate them… I have to purify you and become one of my darlings.”

He pointed at me with his index finger.

“I heard you completely… You just said that you’re the one who created the demons roaming around the city… Correct me if I’m wrong?”

Aster lowered her head a little and her face was covered with her bangs.

“Correct! This is a ritual to purify everyone. I’ll make everyone zombies and make a society that doesn’t have war or discrimination. Humans are free to love their loved ones who died years ago. Everyone would be happy. Everyone in this place who has already died could be used as my subjects. Join me and I’ll make sure of a better future for you and everyone.”

“I’m not insane enough to agree with your terms… Wind Blade!”

Before the wind blade sliced the mad scientist. A human figure immediately covered the scientist. Both sides of Me and Aster. Two demons were about to deliver their fist.

I pushed Aster's head and mine in sync. The two demons come to punch each other in their faces.

“That was insane reaction speed you have there…. You’re going to be a great darling.”

I have already learned from my mistake. During the battle, I need to be very agile and react to the danger in my surroundings.

Before I left Oise village, I left. The chief of the tribe gave me a gift. A magic book containing a rare type of magic. They said it is a powerful magic that could be used in dire times.

This magic is called…

I threw my dagger toward the mad scientist. He flawlessly avoided my dagger just by leaning a little. He smirks teasing me.

“What was that? Seems like your aim has lots of work to do.”

I purposely made a predictable throw.

“Switch!”

My dagger and I switched places. My body is already behind the mad scientist. Due to the speed, he was unable to react to my sudden change of position.

I curled my fist and delivered a punch right through his back.

“Lightning punch!”

His bones came breaking with the impact.

Aster was stunned in awe at the turn of events.

The mad scientist has his body down on the ground. I looked down at him and said:

“You’re going to pay for your crime in prison!”

Bringing down the mad scientist.

“Urg… If I can’t fulfill my dream... I’m better off dead.”

“There is no way you can pay for your crimes when you're dead. I won’t kill you. Make your demon retreat before it's too late.”

“Hahahaha… You’re so adorable… Innocent…. What do you mean by it's too late? It is already too late! Everything I love is already dead. There is no point in living in this world without the one you love the most.”

Another demon came to attack me from behind. I dodged and made distance by leaping backward. The two demons who come to attack us, we’re sliced down by Aster immediately and her blade once again points to the mad scientist.

“There is no way of saving this guy, Hanayuki… There is no way you can save a mentally unstable person.”

“Wait, we must give other people a chance… The chance to change their lives. Everyone deserves a chance for evil or good.”

I protested.

Aster just made a grin on her face.

“I’m happy that there are people like you who exist in this cruel world… I’m glad I’m able to meet you.”

With a flash… Aster's sword pierced through the mad scientist's chest. Blood gushes down on her fresh with a sword and a lightly armored dress.

“... But if I leave this man alive… There are thousands and thousands of people going to lose their lives.”

I was shocked at Aster's action. It was something similar to what I was before. I didn’t come to understand evil, I just defeated evil. She might be right, and I’m on the wrong side.

Aster pulled her sword and forcefully swung her sword down, cleansing her sword.

“Hanayuki, stay kind… Don’t be like us.”

Aster said to me with a sweet smile on her face.

NO, you’re wrong. I’m just like you before.

The demon which he summoned walked toward him. Aster and I made distance just in case it would come to attack us. The zombies all fell but the demons he created are still moving.

One specific zombie is still moving. She walked toward the mad scientist whose body was drenched with his blood.

“Ho…Ho…ney….”

Honey?

“Ho… ney…. Ho… ney….honey…”

The zombie’s head turned 180 degrees facing Aster and me. She opened her mouth widely, screaming.

“Gonna kill you! Die! Die! Die!”