365. The duty of the youth to protect.

WARNING!

The story contains graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, strong language, and/or other mature themes.

[The Demon's God Pursuit: Arc 17]

Once upon a time, on Planet Earth, a young girl was born; the story goes that her identity was never adequately clarified, but she was effectively known as the 'Holy Light.'

Her title depicted the real life of one's planet. Humankind did not know the Dimensions that had appeared alongside her birth, only of the Spirits that had been destroyed or disappeared.

The woman... The Holy Light, the heir of all the inhabitants, was not born alone. The arrival of the Demon God, whose name was Rez, caused anarchy, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.

Humans terrified him because of his recklessness and hunger for blood, and Demons started to manifest all over the Earth and The World of Zero, alongside alternate races such as The Inner Fiends, The Shades, Wraiths, and Spirits.

To combat the challenge, a new breed of people has awakened, the 'Spiritual Duelists' and 'Substitute-Duelists,' who have been dubbed the "First Army to Face Evil."

With their Legendary Weapons, the Ginken. This swarm of humans increased the world's cleanliness to the greatest extent possible, overwhelming the Demons of various grades and placing their survival at risk.

But, after several years of waiting, the 'Holy Light' gave birth to a human child, a girl of theoretically greater worth than Zero herself, but unlikely to become the next 'Holy Light,' their Goddess gave the girl to a friendly family, and since her mother needed to participate in protecting the divinity, the girl's memories were wiped.

But there is another royalty trapped within the shadows that have been concealed for millennia, even longer than the birth of a Demon...

The only one who has beaten the 'Holy Light's own is the Fiend Lord. Its lurkers will undoubtedly be wiped out, and the newfound foe will ready the battlefield...

- Yashikami City, Monday, 5.10 pm -

Reaching towards the bench, the pendant was lifted in front of a bright blue eye, while the pendant waved left and right, releasing sunshine from behind.

"I haven't had this in a long time..." The girl spoke after opening the pendant and unveiling the picture she had hidden inside it.

"How come I've never managed to open it, even after all these years?" Ayuka was perplexed when she saw herself and her mother in the picture, despite the fact while she was still an infant.

"As much as I'm disappointed that you lied to me, I'm grateful I had such an honorable mother in my life..." However, when a yell was heard, the door swung to the side in a moment. "Hey, Ayuka! He's gone!" Elliot cried, shocking Ayuka, and the pendant crashed to the floor, smashed into a glass, and scattered, bouncing.

- Yashikami City, Monday, 5.25 pm -

"What do you mean, he's no longer here? He was just here yesterday!" Codey yelled, forcing a response, at which point Sakami grabbed for the document.

"He left it." Ayuka grabbed it the moment both Codey and Elliot stared over her shoulders, straight at what was written.

["You're probably going to see this, but I got a call from someone yesterday evening and traveled there. And before you think I'd try to cover it, please know that it isn't true, so please if you don't see it that way.

I'm certain that whoever this person is might or could support us. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but in the meantime, take care of yourself.

Tim."]

"You ought to be kidding me. Couldn't he have at least waited until today to head out, wild?" When Ayuka had turned the paper, Codey questioned her. "Is there anything else that could point us in the direction of where he went?" Ayuka, however, spoke in disbelief.

"... That was the only thing he wrote... "

When Codey reached for the text, he felt compelled to rip it. "What a bunch of nerves that man has... Damn it, why can't he just stick to his schedule and do his analysis on Ena?" Elliot, on the other hand, pointed to the paper. "There's another thing written." Codey flipped to the next page and began reading.

["I almost forgot to mention that after I left, I saw the new grandmaster as well as the agency scouting the area; I'm not sure or certain, but one of you may have been targeted by them."]

They were taken aback by this. "Who is he thinking of?" But just then, someone knocked on the threshold.

"Excuse me, we just wanted to ask you a few questions." When the male voice was heard, Codey hid the paper inside a book, and Sakami opened the door.

"Hello, you must be one of the Guild's "Higher Ups," correct? Are you here, Katorishi Codey, Kirashito Ayuka, Masahiro Elliot, Hashujin Sakami, Azumi Hotaru Kylin, and Shinkaku Timoshī, to cleanse it properly?" The man was perplexed, but the people demanded disbelief.

"N-No, Kylin is actually working out at the gym," Ayuka said. "And how about Shinkaku Timoshī?" All remained silent as soon as Tim's name was said. "We have no idea. He's gone, but most importantly, why are you here?" Sakami was perplexed when the man spoke and adjusted his tie.

"We've come to ask you a few questions about Ena, a baby." Codey's mouth rattled the moment they said her name. "Exactly what do you want us to know?" He inquired.

"We've been told she might be the next threat. Grandmaster Murano had come into touch with the few sights that she had been dragged here and that she may have the essence of the 'Demon's God... So, with instructions, we would request that you introduce us to her." Which irritated the majority of them.

"Please excuse me. But we don't have a baby girl in the Guild, and we've never heard of one..." Though she was careful to keep it a secret, Ayuka claimed.

Codey was taken aback after hearing her words. ("... Ayuka...") "Excuse us, but we will be compelled to speak with this 'Guild's leader. Please, kindly, that you announce his name right now!" The order was given, but the majority likely declined.

"His given name is Toyama Shin..." Elliot said, taking a step to the left. "Thank you, and please introduce us to him. We'll support your efforts to conceal the child, but until we validate the word with your boss, we'll be forced to identify the whole structure." With a solemn expression, the man explained.

"We are unable to assist you. He's not currently at the 'Guild'..." Sakami asserted while still keeping the door open. "Let it be, I've understood. However, tomorrow in the morning, if we discover that this child has been resting hiding down here, we will return and cover the area. We'll have to put her on the execution." Changing the feeling in Codey's head nearly caused him to go insane, but he felt his wrist being caught and realized Ayuka had stopped him.

"We comprehend. We'll appreciate you in the morning tomorrow, have a good day." Sakami closed the door on them so the men could return their thanks.

"Those wretched bastards! I'm not going to let them get their filthy hands on Ena!" However, in order for him not to begin screaming, Ayuka calmed him down once more.

"Don't scream, Codey. They'll notice." Ayuka said, calming him down, as he stood upright and crossed his arms.

"I don't think Ena will be the next 'Demon God,' or, more accurately, 'Demon Goddess.' I recognize that she is of the same and different bloodline as the Demon God, but... I don't want to think that way..." Once Codey reached for the book and took out the paper, Ayuka sighed.

"We couldn't be certain, so we may as well come up with a solution..." Sakami claimed, her voice quiet enough to mask her lack of words.

"Why don't I just get her out of here? That way, they won't be so 'needy,' and she won't be captured. She's my sister, the baby hasn't been terminated, and I want to keep her safe for as long as I'm with her. I will never give her up because she has yet to mature." Codey grumbled, sending them an irritated expression.

"We appreciate your concern about her, but do we want the next 'Demon God' to emerge and begin humanity's potential extinction? That's not for me." Elliot added with a shake of his head.

Codey grabbed Elliot's collar and yanked it. "Stop talking! If you intend to abstain from our proposal, I couldn't care less! I hope she becomes the new 'Demon Goddess,' so she can exterminate you!" However, while Codey said that, Ayuka spoke aside.

"You two have to quit up. This the wrong way to think. I'm certain we should do anything to keep her out of their possession. Just not by complaining, or else we'll all perish!" Ayuka said, aiming for Codey's arm and dropping it peacefully.

Finally, Codey staggered toward the door and stormed out.

"Yeah, you'd best get out of here, moron..." Elliot spoke up after sitting and bending his right leg over his left knee.

"Everything's falling apart. At the end, we won't have a proper solution or answer for her birth, nor will we know what Tim is up to." Ayuka spoke up, grabbing her brow.

"In any event, I'm sure Tim won't be gone for long. I suppose he is attempting to assist us in some way..." Sakami said, adjusting her sleeve.

- Gyuma City, Monday, 8:55 pm -

Tim lifted his head as he took a walk to the front of the building and found a palm picker.

He glanced down at the map and took a step forward, at which point he reached for the door and opened it, finding himself in a long corridor with orange flames pointing at the torches.

Moving through it until he reached the edge, he came into view of a large room, entering it at which point he was greeted by a man sitting on the top of the counter, drinking coffee.

"For once you came..." He spoke as he carefully placed the cup of coffee on the table, lifting his eyebrows. There were two other men seated in the bar room's corner.

"You are aware, however, that you will be required to stay for more than a year... Who knows, maybe more than two or three years..." The man claimed, his gaze fixed on Tim.

"It makes no difference. I came here for my own gain..." Tim asserted as he slipped the document into his pocket. "Yes, I'm aware. But be aware that it will take some time..." The guy spoke up.

"What I need is your name..." Tim was in a hurry to reach him.

"A time saver, huh... Tsukamoto Kaoru."

"I assume that by coming here and accepting our bid, you wish to increase the stability of your 'Universal Flame,' correct?" Kaoru was perplexed.

"..." Tim was silent. "But, at the same time, you want to better yourself by training here?" Tim just stared at Kaoru, and he believed him.

"We might be able to help you... In any case, get to know the other two. Nobuo Hagiwara and Shigeru Nishi These two, like you, will pitch in."

Tim was unconcerned with them because what he saw was a lengthy period of preparation.

"Let us start with a little treat. If you want some coffee?" Stepping behind the bar, Kaoru inquired. "Sure..."

- Yashikami City, Monday, 9.00 pm -

Codey entered Ena's room after putting on the backpack and calmly resting her body in it, partially zipping it so she wouldn't fall.

"Don't be scared there. We'll escape together, and I'll keep you safe..." Finally, Codey quickly opened the bedroom door and snuck outside, running for the exit, before taking his keycard and jacket and dash through the night's neighborhood.

("They can't do this to you when you're just a child. So stay cool, your brother is going to back you up with his life ") "Be sure to get plenty of rest; we'll need it if we're going a long distance."

Once Codey's eyes were mirrored in the light of the moon, it was done that Codey was bound to escape while still searching for the antidote to the curse.

To be continued...