Chapter Nula/One
Now, I know what you are probably thinking about this story. Your average boy trying to fulfill his destiny in becoming the number one hero or one who tries to find this nest of monsters, or to be the OG ninja.
This isn't My Hero Academia or Naruto. I think about the bigger pictures here. I don't have one goal.
And truth be told; I'm not your typical protagonist. Probably heard about this so many times.
And this is not an ordinary tale. So, let me tell about it.
Okay, our Earth is somewhat like yours, but so different as well. This is called Mid-World, due to our world being in the middle of the ten realms. Here, the society of heroism, cutting edge technology and wonderful magic coexist with another. We have a another realm called Somnus; where fantasy becomes reality. We also have two worlds that are reminiscent of Heaven and Hell, and six more realms. People don't really talk about those, though.
Compare to us, Somnus is more magically advanced but the normal Earth that I have is more technologically advanced. The enemies of Somnus is Tenebrau, militant as those two worlds, Pandemona and Heaven are. We try to stay away from the conflict, yet they bring souvenirs to your world.
You'll see soon enough.
Heck, people of Somnus still have a King sitting on the throne. I should give them some credit, though. We maintain peace with them for seven-hundred years, with the Tenebrau Dynasti being the thorns they been known for.
There are schools where you can be one of the six; Protectors, Shinobis, Hunters, Meisters, Vanguards and Wreckers.
Protectors are hero-oriented, Meisters the magician-oriented, and so forth. The greatest school to enroll in is Surwick, which is in the N.U.S.N.
More on the N.U.S.N. later in the story. I am acting like I'm a transfer student from Raven River. However; that's a lie. I hope it is a clever, yet reasonable lie. If I actually tell people about what I am actually—Not the Heart-Bond part, the other part.
I'm an assassin, actually---a child soldier from a faction of mercenaries that were involved in a horrible accident in May 10. My powers are so powerful, I have yet to fully control them. A Heart-Bond; that's what I am. An endangered species with powers that can make heathen gods of olden times tremble in fear.
To become one, you must bond with a Heart. That's what we call the creatures sent by God. However, they were more feared than respected, hunted by the very humans that idolized them. My Heart's name is Igneus and let me tell you; he is a pain in the rear to deal with.
I am trying to redeem myself, to be greater.
To be a Hero.
So, with the abundance of skeletons in my closet, I'm going to Surwick for four things:
To restore my species' honor.
To become the first Heart-Bonded Protector in history.
To escape my bloody and violent past of a mercenary.
And last; to find out on why my parents were murdered that night.
If I can find truth with two of these: I will feel contempt within self.
My name is Ryoji Dragomir Kazama.
Me and my future classmates will pave the way to the Realm of Hearts.
"The world is all yours now, my beloved."
SOMEWHERE IN NEO-TRANSYLVANIA...
May 25, 2027
I remember when I used to dream things, things so small and useless that I forget then...I remember. That was, when I was younger and back at Surwick, that was....eight years ago; when I was only twelve years old. Damn. Has the time really escape my grasp? I felt old all of a sudden, watching the birds land in their nest and deer eating grass innocently in this old castle that belonged to the late Alucard. I remember: I was twelve when I took Avignon as my permanent residence.
Now I'm twenty years old, my birthday was about fifteen days ago, and one I will never forget. I spent it with people who love me unconditionally. I felt the pain in my heart and filled it with mercy and love. Although I feel old, I wasn't as I looked in the mirror. My hazel hair was short and had plenty of blond streaks in it, which was a far cry as I used to have brown hair as long as Rapunzel. Heh. My body was rock hard, which was the cost of genetic experimentations and strenuous training. There were two scars on my face: One on the bridge of my nose and one on my right cheek. I got that one from you, ol buddy. Sure, they have faded but that was one hell of a fight. Good times. I was wearing the standard uniform that was given to all of us from this stupid war, but added my spin.
....What's that? I'm not gonna tell you about it. This is only a sneak peek into the future! I fought the most dastardly of villains, traveled to many breathtaking places.....And that's that...Tako je kako je....Deal with it.
"Hey, Ryoji." Said a orange reptile, I knew him. It was Igneus: My Heart, my partner-in-crime. He used to be so small! His height used to be about 3'08", now he was about 6'8" and weighing 472 lbs. Igneus's hair was riddled with prismatic-colored hair, long, pointy and expressive ears, and lit up every room with his smile, filled with dagger-like teeth. He had clothes on, he wasn't a nudist or anything like that. "Igneus. Kako si?" I asked him in Croatian, my father's tongue.
"Ništa." He said, he looked down at me as I used to for him when we were younger. "I just came back from Somnus with some good news: King Regis will back us up with 800,000 soldiers. They will arrive in the Realm of The Moon tomorrow."
"That's pleasant to hear." I said before scoffing. "King Regis. I remember when he was an asshole of a prince. Time really has gone by. Has it, Iggy?"
He nodded with a tearful look. "I can't believe it, either. We're...We're actually adults now."
"You really think that?"
He pounded his chest once, a habit he used to do when he wanted to become riled up for a fight. "Damn straight I do!"
"Get help." I jested with himself to ease his anxiety. He was the most anxious of the two of us, always been since we first became one. He hugged the hell outta me too, praising me and how much he cares about me. "Once an asshole: Always an asshole!"
I managed to get out of his dragon-hug, with a simple question. "I forgot to ask you since she was with you and Elliot. They were supposed to meet up with Funka and me. Where are they?"
"They were right behind-"
"Here am I!!" Yelled a familiar yet feminine voice, there was Akina. She ran towards me and gave me a big hug, I spun her around before I put her down. I won't really describe her because she's the yin to my yang in this magnificent story, she is as important as I am.
"I met up with Funka and her army about five minutes ago. They finished up the battle of Jeila."
"How many dead?"
"Just twenty brave souls who didn't follow her orders. She's the best of the best."
Another female entered my room, and I knew just who she was. Funka Redbird Berunji, whose spiky hair reminded me of the orange leaves of autumn, her pink eyes shined bright with happiness about seeing the man she once hated. She had a beautiful, yet athletic figure and stood about 5'8". Her neck had a scar on it because of an attempt on her life was taken and had succeeded. So, she had a tattoo reminiscent of that of a bead necklace with some cardinals holding it to hide the inflicted scar. She used to be decent-looking when she was younger—But now she is so goddamn gorgeous. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her as she lit up a warming smile
"Thank god you're alive." She sighed as I kissed her hand, she blushed slightly from it. "Oh, Ryo," that was her nickname for me, "you shouldn't."
I rose up. "I should. I am, after all, speaking to a proficient commander who managed to only lose twenty lives in the Battle of Jeila. I am honored to even-"
Funka was not one to enjoy long praises. "Cut the bullsh*t. Even to this day, you still give me these long winded appraisals, you still haven't changed a bit after all these years. You two: go back to the front gate, we'll catch up."
The two looked at each other and grinned mischievously, thinking of vulgar and lewd acts. They saw their commander getting boiled up, so they left with Funka taking a deep breath. Her and I walked slowly, she would grab her long, brown dress with red feathers so that she wouldn't trip on them as she did nearly five years ago, so it was a habit she picked up. Funka was a tomboy at heart—a dress like this she abhorred initially, now she wears the dress with dignity.
"They are so dirty-minded, those two. I remember when I couldn't stand Igneus, he was such a perv. Do you remember?"
I chuckled before answering her question."Yep. I reckon so, you didn't have him living inside you for ten years—Now did you—Um..That sounded wrong, didn't it?"
"Yes and no." She smiled before it turned into a serious face. "Ryoji: How are you feeling?" She didn't used to do this but ever since our bond has became so strong, she would put her luke (not onions) warm hands upon my face; it felt so good when she did this. "I want the truth and nothing but the truth."
I hesitated at first, until her eyes grew big on me. "I don't know what to think, anymore, Funka. I have witness so much death I have seen in the past year than my days as an assassin. I don't want war anymore. I don't want discord anymore. I want-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, my—" she held her tongue and rephrased, "I know how you feel. I do, we need to do this. You, me, Akina, everybody have endured just as much." She took her hands off my face, and the bleak reality returned. Come to think about it, we used to hate each other so much but now...I feel as if she is my world and I need to protect her—at all cost.
Finally, we have reached our destination: The front gate. I looked at some of my comrades, I didn't want to spoil their names or anything, so I won't give you even their description about their personality, their powers, their looks, etc.
Spoiler Alert: you will not see some of these guys in the first year.
Every year I had since becoming a part of Surwick has been octane packed. Every year with the end being an even-number, there is a curse where tragedy unfolds in Surwick. I've—no, we all lost friends and loved ones here. All of us are ready to take back the power Corheim stole and convert it into peace.
"Are you ready?"
"To go into Corheim-The Realm of Heartz? It's time to finish this bloody war. For the friends we lost.."
"To the innocent lives that were took away."
"Even though I only have three percent of my power, I will participate in this battle."
"The Royal Sentinels started this. Now: Let us give them the courtesy of giving them a Buluc entree."
"Enough talk! I'm ready!"
"Yeah! I'm all hyped up for this!"
"I'm tired of seeing unneeded blood spilt. Let's go."
Funka and I both asked the crowd at the same time. "Surwick: What do we do when we fight our enemies?"
All of them had their hands up in the air and shouted from the bottom of their lungs, "SHOW THEM OUR MIGHT!!!!!"
It is time to go back where life started, Corheim: The Realm of Heartz...
It's time to finish the job....
—-////////////////////////—-
CHAPTER 1. LIFE OF RYOJI, THE CROATIAN-JAPANESE HEART-BOND, BEGINS!!
______________________________________________
It was a rather chilly Saturday in July. It was July 22, 2018, and the boy with a dark secret past stood the gate of Avignon. "So... This is Avignon, eh? Just like Stric Zanko said, the perfect place to perfect my skills into become the first Heart-Bonded Protector in the history of men!!" Declared our young protagonist with a prideful glee.
He entered the large entrance of the somewhat corrupted city of the American-sponsored state of the N.U.S.N. He was aware about the dangers that this city produces, it did not mean that he was naïve or dimwitted; it was that his brazen heart was as courageous as any knight of Arthurian times. He felt like he could take on anything today, for he had a good day today.
But who was this 12-year-old boy?
His name was Ryoji Dragomir Kazama.
And his amazing but tragic story begins here. He walked to see that the capital; Surwick, was the New York City of the New United States of Nations; or the acronym N.U.S.N. The New States were founded after the Japanese-American War, also known the "Forgotten War". Why was it called the Forgotten War?
No one recollects who won. Who lost. Why did it happen? All they know is how N.U.S.N. was formed.
Well, duh. That's why it's called the "Forgotten War". Ryoji thought to himself, remembering no one was able to answer the world's most recent mystery. NATO and Japan signed a peace treaty, and the enormous land that was split from Japan became the very ground that 19.6 million denizens walked and breathed the air of their states.
For the United States, it was the promising Avignon. Spain's represented state was Jupira, a breeding ground of high-profile criminal activity. Ineka, or Turkey's representative, is the main manufacturer of oil and other valuable products and other four states in the grasp of the N.U.S.N'S.
Unebi, the Japanese-sponsored state, had a riase in criminal activity recently. The German-sponsored and England states Windvoren and Houndspire was where all the rich people lived there with their out-of-this-world parties and the arrogant atmosphere.
Then there was Leiznice—The Croatian State of the N.U.S.N. Although he didn't have much information on it, he heard from the street that is the most beautiful one of them all.
The atmosphere was quite different than what Ryoji thought it would be. In his entire life traveling our blue Earth, Somnus and Tenebrau and the rumors he has heard from his uncle and gossipers, He thought it was quiet.
Too quiet...
But nonetheless, caring about the noiselessness wasn't his objective. He never worried about the minor details, only the big picture. His primary objective?
To find the school his cerebral uncle enrolled him the second time; Surwick Academy for Heroes. Surwick, for short.
Hence the school's name, adolescents who wants to follow in the footsteps of a Professional Hero, then this would be number one. The highest rank of any superhero could achieve is the S-Rank, where their missions are world-threatening and possibly extra-dimensional.
Actually, what I just said about him is nothing but a ruse. Ryoji used to be an assassin—up until two months and two days, where he quitted due to a terrible accident.
Ryoji stared at his map that his uncle given him, but he couldn't understand it due to it being in Japanese.
"Da**it Zanko, next time give me a map that's in English or Croatian..." Ryoji complained silently as he wandered the ebony but well-polished side streets. Ryoji fully embraced his Croatian heritage, not his mother's Japanese culture, he always pondered on why his parents gave their only child a Japanese name. Ryoji and his Uncle lost his parents, his family when Ryoji was three-months-old. Zanko believed that they were massacred by an anicent evil.
He always preferred cevapi to ramen, and other European cuisine. But Ryoji didn't mind other culture and their wonderful array of delicious food to offer. He wasn't picky and thus tend to know his limit when it came to dinner.
Since then, traveling over the azure seas and emerald continents seem a bit disinteresting to him recently. Going all over place, Ryoji always wanted to stick to a place; a place where he can call home. A place where he can drink hot chocolate in winter with a side of tranquility, rather than running from the bombs dropping on Israeli soil.
Ryoji has longed for actual affection, despite him and his stubborn uncle being quite close. When he was in Canada for research about his parent's murders, he met a girl named Sadira Cheshire. Sadira was half Persian and half Canadian, with her hair blacker than the abyss and eyes like sand; Sadira was sometimes mistakenly known as the "Last Princess of Persia". Despite her cold exterior, inside of her husk is a young girl; trying to understand life and her purpose. Ryoji and Sadira were as close as thieves, although she evanesced without a trace.
Dear Kazama, he cried for a week, his heart broke but reshaped quickly after finding temporary clues about the homicide of his parents.
Even her doting parents didn't know what happened to her, but there is some evidence indicating she was abducted by an unknown entity.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? If you can hear my voice, please help me find Surwick Academy. I'm a transfer student from Raven River School." Explained Ryoji falsely as he heard a faint cry from a far distance. He had an extraordinary sense of hearing. It was rare for a human. Well, pretty uncommon for a kid like him.
Wait...Was that a girl crying? Hold up, girl; I'm coming to save you. Ryoji wondered, he strolled further into the day. Into the depth of the city, he looked at the dirty-looking clouds, as if the skies wanted to cry. He discerned the voice grew louder as day.
Those were the screams of agony. His attitude changed, from pure curiousness to seriousness. His hand reached for his steel whip, his dark brown hair sometimes got in the way. He wants to cut his hair sooner than later, sue to the annoyance of commoners mistaking Ryoji for a girl rather than a boy.
It angered him, but many things made Ryoji tick. Villains, swarming the streets like cockroaches in Corpus Christi. He visited there once during a vacation from all the stress he has endured. The water tasted like paper dragged through a swamp, if that was too severe at the time. Grasses were too long and coarse, and decayed in the ghetto of Texas.
One night in a shabby motel, an army of very low rank villains ambushed him and his uncle. Though it proved ineffective, one of the scumbags escaped with the last memory that Ryoji has of his parents; a pendant shaped of a golden eagle. Now, he has nothing to reminisce them by. Not a sound of his father's advice, nor a mother's embrace.
Why? Killing his parents? Could it be other scheming parents who disowned them, not his loving parents who helped the community they lived in?
No....I shouldn't think about that, what I should be worrying is that person in need! He thought, he starts to increase his walking speed.
"NO!! PLEASE!! DON'T HURT ME!!!" Screamed a voice, it sounded like a young female. Ryoji knew that was very wrong and personal, it sounded like a scream of terror.
He knew that sound. Everywhere he goes, those screams will always follow him: the shrieks of the dead, soldiers he slaughtered when he was a mercenary. That is the reason on why Ryoji wants to become a Hero, more importantly; a Protector.
To atone his sins, he caused.
The noise echoed in a filthy alleyway. His eyes saw three cruel-looking men with crooked teeth, dirty faces, and bloodshot eyes. The fourth gangster, the honcho of the three thugs, grabbed a young girl by the throat. She was on the verge of dying, with her mouth open and her eyes rolled in her sockets.
"Yu know, thiz Surwik bi**h actually lookz cute. What happnz if we have a little fun with her?" The honcho asked, as a dimwitted gangster replied, "Maybe we can watch a movie-"
"How da f*ck are youse a gangster? Ourz purpose is to take thiz Heartz Prism to the big boss! Rapzing a little girl!! Ohhh, boi—I'll definitelyly gets a upgrade!!! Then maybez you'll get a promotion, if only ja werz smart fur dat..." He explained his plan as he started to rip her clothes piece by piece.
Ryoji unfolded his whip to make his debut, for these little punks. He lashed it across the big boss's hand, the gangster in charge grunted in pain as he dropped the girl. His hand was squirting blood, one of his men vomited in the dumpster; Ryoji smirked because he knew his whip ruptured an artery in his hand.
As he was holding his hand, he screamed in pain. He yelled out in an aggressive tone, "Who da f**k did this to mah beautiful hand?!?!? WHO?!?!" A gangster pointed at Ryoji, who landed with ease. The girl used the last of her strength to crawl to Ryoji, who then looked at her.
Tears fell out of her goldenrod eyes and her head was bloody from blows of the gang. She whimpered in agony as she was close to Ryoji's feet. He couldn't imagine the pain she endured, as she cried for not stopping them.
"You did well, but now is my time to whoop their asses."
"Thank you..." She thanked him as she passed out expectedly, the Heart-Bond checked her pulse on her neck just to double-check it. Traveling across the world has its perks, you start to pick up a few tricks up your sleeves.
CPR, ability to kill with ease, even learning to pilot a giant mech known as an Odysseus Nitro V.1. An Odysseus Mech is a harbringer of destruction, manufactured by South Korea originally as peacekeeping machines. That is until, Chinese spies stole the blue prints.
It was known as the Seoul Incident, it occurred in the ending days of 2016. When the Chinese spies were caught, World War III almost happened.
But it didn't happen, because the No. Two Hero of the N.U.S.N, Chief Apex, ended the conflict with one mighty blow.
When you're a hero, you can help anyone. Regardless of my reputation as a Heart-Bond, I will become the number one hero. No matter!!
That was Ryoji talking to himself mentally, so that he can be brave.
"Ah, you dah one who'se responsible for doing this to me?" The head of the gang asked, pointing to his bloody hand. All his crew had their guns and knives out.
Guess I have no choice but to fight.... He thought as he put his whip back in its place. "Yep, I'm the one who did it. What are you going do about it, crying like the spoiled giant brat that you are?" The honcho snorted when Ryoji finished his insult, followed by the rest of his gang giggling sadistically. He unsheathed a bowie knife, too large for it to be an antique.
He licked the blood of it, Ryoji's stomach turned in many ways. Our faithful protagonist stood taller than day, despite not wanting to fight them. All what he wanted was to go to Surwick, not to be intervene with a conflict.
But, this Heartz Prism seemed interesting. If this was related to him, he kind wanted it but then again: Maybe it's best to give to the officials...
"Eh got guts, kid. But you'se dealin' with second-in-command of the Mighty Don Sarbello, Mario Mattioli!! And thiz is his territory, right boys?" Mario introduced himself as his "boys" reluctantly agreeing with him.
Kazama's plan was initially to intimidate them into running away, but now he couldn't see that happening.
Da*nit, they're gonna feel this for the next week. He thought as he cracked his hands.
"Before we fight, I have a question; why is the Mafia beating up on a girl? I thought they have more important errands to run; like bootlegging or watching Godfather or something." Ryoji Kazama questioned. The second-in-command's face show pure wrath with his fist clenched, but he cackled like a hyena on drugs.
Why do I have to provoke them? If I was with my old...No, can't think about them. I need to focus on saving the girl and apprehending these idiots. I should refrain from killing them. I can intimidate them without breaking their necks the lethal way.
No, wait. It's common sense to do so.
"Aren't you'se so full of yourself?" Mario asked him.
"I am, the reason why is I'm stronger than you all combined. Plus, why should I fear someone that looks like a humpback whale on crack?"
He couldn't mask his rage anymore, "You wantz the answer? Ya damb muthafu*ker!! Eh'll give it for you!!! Well, thiz b**ch from Surwick took something that doezn't belong to her. After recovering on what we need; we're gonna kill you ands the girl!!"
The honcho finished his threat as he attempted to stab Ryoji in the stomach, but counters it with a hook to the mouth. Mario's mouth was filled with blood as he recovered with a lunging punch, yet again; it proved ineffective. Ryoji dodged it with ease like no one has ever.
Throwing punch after punch, Mario grew furious as Ryoji smiled mischievously. A gangster tried to come up from behind, but Ryoji kicked him in the nose. He grabbed Mario by the hair and kneed him in the face, and continued his quarrel with the guy he kicked in the nose.
"Are you gonna keep crying like a bit*h or are you gonna fight like a man?" He asked him with a slight undertone of sadism, he threw his heel into the face at quick speed. More blood gushed from the
gangster's' face.
"Grahhh!!" Mario shouted as he ran with his blubber in the way, the Heart-Bond flicked the second-in-command on his shiny forehead.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity for it, Ryoji uppercut him in his lower jaw.
CRACK!!
Mario was now flying in the air as if he was a clumsy bird. Ryoji reaches in his back pocket and throws ten needles to Sarbello's second-in-command, to paralysis him from doing something cruel to an innocent being ever again. Mario's body was lifeless, but he wasn't dead.
"Holy sh** bro! This gurl is the Wolverine!!" Stated a gangster as he pulled the trigger of his gun in fear.
"If you can't shoot correctly or while in fear—then why even think of becoming a low-life." Ryoji insulted them inside as he swiftly dodged all thirteen naked bullets. Heh. Wolverine, huh?
I'm a h*ll lot worse than him. Another gangster threw a kick but Ryoji broke his leg in the middle and threw the 100 something pound low-life a good distance. The orphan was too powerful and experienced beyond his years. He giggled mischievously as he threw a smoke bomb. He grabbed the girls' body and hid in the shadows, like a Shinobi.
The smoke was the only thing that worked in his plan, now he was nowhere to be seen. The remaining hooligans searched thoroughly, completely unaware of the traps Ryoji Kazama planted for them.
They were caltrops, waiting for the unfortunate to step on them. The first one yelled out; "CRAP!!!" Of course the smoke didn't help out for the villains, but it shouldn't.
Only to him, Ryoji.
A large hole of nothingness appeared and sucked the smoke that the Heart-Bond used.
"Huh. That ended sooner than I thought it would. A pity." Ryoji murmured as he was sticking to the shadows.
Reinforcements came. Even though I have the strength to fight reinforcements, it's not even worth my time. Ryoji thought carefully as the girl's body was almost noticeable from the glooms.
A new boy came out of the black hole, an older African-American kid. Ryoji shook in fear due the amount of Aether in that boy. He wore a magenta masquerade mask with golden accents. He was quite tall, about 5'11 but little bit toned. His eyes were two different colors, evidence of heterochromia. One eye was a dust rose, while the other brown. He squinted like an old man reading a newspaper without his reading glasses. His hand were adorned with golden knuckledusters.
After a tiresome 21 minutes, he gave up on the searching. He stood tall as he slapped the gangster who stepped on Ryoji's caltrop.
"Report." The gangster simply ordered, his voice was low, not too deep however. "Invictus, a girl did this. At first, it was a girl who wanna be a Shinobi from Surwick. Then it was that girl from I mentioned a few seconds ago, she was like the Wolverine."
I'm a boy, you dumbass. Ryoji assured inside his thoughts as Invictus' interest was piqued. He removed the trap roughly from his fellow hooligan's foot.
"A girl?"
"Yea, with long hair. Is the Heartz prism here or did they take it?" The gangster questioned as the young goon held the small ruby gem with his thumb and his pointer finger.
The third criminal sighed in relief, "Nope. I got it right in my pocket-"
"Give it here." He ordered harshly and grabbed it quickly and shove it in his satchel. "Damn it, that's an amethyst! A Heartz Prism is red and is shaped like a heart!!" He yelled at the gangster as he saw Mario was gaining consciousness, so he slammed his foot in into his stomach and electricity came out of it.
"Stay down, Mario. You'll only make your execution faster than it'll have to be." Invictus looked down at him for him being the meek worm Mario has always been.
Ever since Invictus joined the leagues of Don Sarbello, Mario Mattioli and him never got along. The blubbering fool thought Invictus was very suscipous to him; he saw that the boy, despite how young he is, had a secret agenda. Invictus abhorred him because in his words, "he's a fat idiot that makes the Paul brothers Einstein."
"So, you're saying that you lots got your asses handed to you by a creepy girl with long hair?" "
"Well, she was pretty smart. Even dodging bullets like they were slowed down or somethin'!" One gangster stated, Invictus looked at him annoyedly. "How can you tell if it was a boy or a girl? Even boys can have long hair.."
One of the gangsters just puckered his lips before answering his questions, "She had a girly face."
Sighing from their idiocy, he resumed on figuring out on who could've done this. "Okay, here's a lil theory I'll with you boys: This girl was someone with experience. Highly advanced smoke bombs? Iridium caltrops? Surwick must be really stepping up their security procedures in hiring over-the-top bodyguards or it could be a drifter—seeking to go somewhere. If so, Don Sarbello could really use these items for his advantage." He theorized as he took Ryoji's items in a little satchel. He's taking
my stuff with him!?!? If I attack this person—this girl could die! Ryoji thought as he continued to do so.
But why isn't he leaving? Does he know I'm here?
I can't read him, his movements; he's a genius. But this aether of his, it was very powerful, but a hint of evil. Could he really be? The sun started to shine through the clouds, ending the gloomy atmosphere of Avignon. "Let's leave. If we stay longer than what we have to, more heroes from Surwick will come looking for the girl. Maybe the police can up their fatasses up and maybe arrest us for a change. "
A large gangster, named Luis, walked up to Invictus and stared him down. "Who put you in charge, runt? Last time I heard, you were the Banzhee's umbrella boy. Were you not? Kids like you should know their place in this godforsaken world." One of the gangsters barked at the young thug, Invictus stared at this fellow but dim-witted hooligan. The others agreed with Invictus, but there is always a bad seed in the bunch.
Someone who rebel against your orders.
"Yes, you're absolutely correct on that part, but what you don't know is that I deflected to Sarbello and became one of his best generals. Also, it's not kids or the creatures of the night that plague our Earth; but Heroes are the main cause. And Don Sarbello plans to get rid of them, me just as well," He breathed out as he continued, "we have a common goal; him and I. It is to make a perfect world where ordinary people like us are treated fairly. A world with no violence. Sure, we just caused some, but it was for the greater good! So, here's a word of advice, Luis, mouth me ever again;" He placed his hand on Luis' chest and started to shock him with lightning from his hand, "I will annihilate you so much, not even Satan himself will greet you in his gates of the underworld due to your ugliness. I mean, you're already nasty-looking but I'll make it worse for you. Besides, I will become Sarbello's second-in-command after he kills Mario. No doubt about it." Invictus threatened Luis, who smiled sheepishly as he picked up Mario with ease. Invictus did the same but with placing two gangsters on his shoulders.
Luis talked a bit faster from his shocking to the chest. "Sure-e thing Boss. But the other two kids? Want me to follow them and kill them?" Luis asked with his legs trembling in fear.
"No, don't Luis. Even if we founded and killed them, then Surwick will be on our asses. I do not to have a fight again with Sora Minami, he's a pain in the rear with his Pyschomancer's Blade Justu." Invictus added as he evanesced into the hole, same as Luis carrying the body of his paralyzed boss.
Ryoji coughed quietly after they left, he stayed a bit longer in the shadows until he knew they were fully gone. He landed in the alleyway as soft as he could with the girl in his arms. As the faithful protagonist landed on the alley, he notices more of her outer traits.
The rays of sunlight gleamed on her skin, causing to look a diamond.
A diamond in the rough, so it seems.
The girl was very attractive even to the brink of being an actual young goddess. Ryoji was in awe of her beauty, even wanting to kiss her. But he resisted his primal urges; the urge to love a woman. Or in his case, a girl. Also, what would the dead girl he liked think if he did probably nothing, but that incident that occurred two months and he still couldn't get over it---the pain at first was too much to bear. But now, progress has begun to show.
Back on the topic, she was probably Ryoji's age, or so he thought. She had a fair skin complexion like a celebrity and her dust rose hair was silky to the touch. He caressed it until he snapped out of it. The girls' hair was medium length, and he was thinking on what shampoo she used for it.
Holy crap. I need to get a move on! He started to panic as her pulse started to fade faster than a lighting bolt crashing down, Ryoji had begun mouth to mouth CPR.
As two minutes went by quietly, even you could hear the thoughts of our protagonist. Damnit girl, wake up! Wake the hell up! Ryoji thought hysterically while continuing mouth to mouth resuscitation.
One more attempt resurrected the young girl as her youthful face appeared to be quite terrified. Upon her reawakening, she crawled away from the faithful hero.
"My fir-rst k-kiss came-e fr-rom a g-girl!?!?" She worried, Ryoji showed some anger as she rubbed her tongue on her bloody alabaster sleeveless qipao. She had a very tranquil high pitch when she spoke.
This girl is an idiot. He thought furiously as the girl's goldenrod eyes were full of tears.
"Why does everyone think I'm some girl?!!" He yelled louder than a oncoming train, the girl folded her arms and blurted out; "Well-l, if-f you cutted your hai-rr, then maybe nobody-ody would mistake you as a girl then!!?!"
"Really? So that's how you show someone who just save you from by low-lifes!?!" Her eyes widened with realization. She regretted for what she said. "Oh..I'm sorry-ry. Did you-u get the prism?" Ryoji nodded yes after switching it out with an amethyst, from what he told. He knew he forgot something, so he sat down the ground. It was his whip that he forgot, in which Invictus and his lil posse didn't grab.
The girl wiped her tears and sat beside him, her face showed resentment of what she did. "I tried-ed to fight them-em, but I simply....."
"Don't worry about it. Low-lives like them have a penchant to beat up girls. They're a sexist bunch.."
She kept beating herself up about it. "If only-y if I was stronger..."
"I'm sorry-ry for being mean to yo-you." She apologized, Ryoji quickly said; "No, don't be. I was being rude to you. You fought your hardest."
She immediately turned that compliment down. "Phooey."
"It's true. Before you try to kill me for telling you this; I am a Heart-Bond. Don't try to get your pitch fork out, I wanna introduce myself. My name is Ryoji Kazama, and I aim to become the first Heart-Bonded Protector in existence. I want to prove that all Heart-Bonds aren't bad. I never really met anyone else who was like me....But I hope I get to meet some along the way. By the way, I didn't catch your name, though. What is your name?"
"I'm not-ot going to get a pitch fork out. I thought Heart-Bonds were-re always misunderstood, like not-t every human-man aren't-t bad-bad." She smiled gently, fixed her hair so it wasn't in the way. "M-My name-e is Akina Willoby. I'm hoping to-to become a kunoichi, so I decided to en-enroll in Surwick. I'm not the best-est, so I'm try-ying and train-ining to become a decent one, if God permits." She introduced as she groaned in pain, clenching her stomach.
The Shinobi are a faction of Heroes, who assist other factions when there are major threats in the battlefield. With unique Justus, shuriken and so forth, make them a major asset. The Heart-Bond got to his feet.
"Can you show me the way to Surwick?" Ryoji asked, his hand waiting for her hand to meet. Akina nodded yes as he pulled her up. "Sure! Foll-low me!" She gleefully said as the duo went to a beloved Pizza Chain. After that, to one of the most difficult but advanced school there is; Surwick: The Might Bastion of Heroes-In-Training.
They went giggling and smiling with pure delight as if they were all alone. With the unconquerable sun in the horizon, they felt they could win anything.
One to forget the past.
And one eager of the future.
These will be with each other's side before the end of time.
Oh if only they knew the horror that followed them to the school...
--Track 1 Ended--
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: RYOJI DRAGOMIR KAZAMA (12)
THE POTENTIAL SAVIOR OF ALL HEART-BONDS
BIRTHDAY: 5/10
HEIGHT: 5'0
LIKES: Helping others, playing dumb, cevapi
DISLIKES: Villains, Sushi, his past life of being an assassin
THE INSIDE STORY:
I wanted someone who wasn't your typical main character. I didn't want Ryoji just be a Naruto or Midoriya clone, so I decided to make him by him playing like he is dumb and overly upbeat. In truth, however; he is a sad boy who wants answers because he feels no self-worth. Ryoji wants to undue the mistakes he made; for all the sins he has committed. So, by playing dumb when it comes to certain people, they would know how he truly feels. Another struggle for him to experience will be to keep his identity a secret from everyone he meets throughout the story. I'll probably spill his darkest secrets later on.
His Heart-Bonded form is pretty cool to say the least. He has somewhat control of it, compare to the protagonists I'm a little inspired about. He can't recall where he was born, according to him, either Pasadena, CA or somewhere in Germany.
I think he will a large amount of character development. Guaranteed.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: AKINA WILLOBY (11)
THE STUTTERING-KUNOICHI WITH HIDDEN POWERS
BIRTHDAY: 12/2
HEIGHT: 4'8
LIKES: Her foster parents and foster brother, pecan pancakes, proving herself to people
DISLIKES: Bullying, her stuttering (many people can't understand her from it), liars
THE INSIDE STORY:
In the very first rough draft of Realm of Heartz, she didn't stutter, she was born in Tennessee, and was murdered in Chapter 2 by a car crashing into her while walking to her house. Did I also mention she was sixteen?
Yeah. I did not like that, either. Since this didn't feel good in my stomach, I made her younger and a native of the N.U.S.N. There, I feel giving her the role of being a Kunoichi is ten times better than her previous fate.
Since she is the main female protagonist, I'm planning on having her appear a lot throughout this crazy world, so I needed for her to be shy but smart. A yang to Ryoji's yin. She was born in Kurikami; Unebi, but now lives in Zanark Town in Avignon. She is absolutely loved by friends and family. Since Ryoji, who is new to this place, she will be his navigator. She may look weak on the outside, but she has a power inside of her that she isn't aware of. Also, don't talk to her about her real parents. They might have left her or died. Who knows.... Finally, I want her to have a pivotal role in the story. She won't be useless, unlike someone else in anime.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
VILLAIN: INVICTUS (???)
DON SARBELLO'S STRONGEST ENFORCER
BIRTHDAY: ???
HEIGHT: 5'11
LIKES: Don Sarbello
DISLIKES: The society of Heroes, police, idiots
THE INSIDE STORY:
Ahh...This guy.
I create Invictus to be the living embodiment of unlikableness. He's strong and he knows it. And when he wants to flaunt his strength, so be it. I want to keep his identity a secret because he is truly someone with power.
This and another chapter early on the story he will appear for the sake of it. He is a characater who isn't too important like Akina or Ryoji to appear frequently, but he will pop in the later chapters. Otherwise than that, he's busy because the plans he is carrying out for the mob boss, Don Sarbello.
Hates Mario because he is aware of hitting his wife frequently. Huh; even notorious gangsters have a sense of morality.