372 372. Is she the one and only true love?

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, Thursday, 11:00 am -

When sitting up against the city wall, Kichirou reached for a cigarette and lit it with a lighter.

"So, how precisely do we plan to scout them? We don't have any appropriate signals or information... And I'm sure these people won't know where to look..." He said this while turning his face toward Kenta and holding his suitcase.

"I'm sure we'll figure something out..." Taro frowned as he opened his phone to unlock it. "The Virtual Directional App, or VDA, may also be useful. I'm certain we'll find him if we spot the Half-Demon or his profile..." Taro said as Kenta crossed his arms.

"Is that so, huh?" "How exactly does the VDA work?" Kenta asked, perplexed, as he exhaled a cold breath. "Similar to GPS, but much more precise and defensive... It also eliminates the ability to be detected by other GPS or VDA chart users.

"I see... That's really useful..." Just wait... Wasn't it going to be four of us at the conference yesterday?" Kenta wondered as he looked at them. "Yeah, some kind of girl who's already good at these hunts... I guess we don't know what her name is yet..." Taro yawned as he looked at them.

"Do you know when she'll arrive?" Kichirou inquired as he turned on the VDA. "Nope... No idea..."

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 11:05 am -

The guy was waiting in the department when a woman approached him.

"Hello... You've arrived, I see." When he dropped the cigarette into the garbage can, the guy smoking in it. "Yes, sir, what do you want me to do?" The lady, who was carrying a suitcase, was perplexed.

"Is it Koizumi Eva?" The man was perplexed after the girl checked her identification with the keycard. "Really good. Your mission is straightforward... You must track down the 'Half-Demon,' whose name is Katorishi Codey. Since you are a senior member of the department, I have just agreed to entrust his name to you... In other words, he's being pursued by three more people, so I suggest you meet them outside, somewhere in Yashikami City... When you get there, make sure not to tell them the name of the enemy... Eva, do you understand?" The man was perplexed, though Eva agreed.

"Of course, sir, all understandable... I'll make sure to exterminate the demon as soon as I spot him..." Eva took a step toward the door with it. "Oh. Also, don't forget. If you excel, you will be rewarded handsomely... I am confident in your ability to complete this task." Eva nodded and waved her long hair as she gave her final look.

- Gyuma City, Thursday, 11:08 am -

Tim drew his sword forward, regaining control of its momentum. "Good, now concentrate the fire on the blade's body; it will follow behind your blade like a current, and as you spread its spirituality, it will raise its heat and be ready to be released from your sword... Try it out..." Tim sighed as he reached out with his sword, running his left palm over the blade, igniting a white fire that ragingly and quickly started to flame out again.

"All right, now make sure to do it dangerously, because it can only work that way..." He clarified that as Tim took a step forward, pushing his left arm in front of his stomach, and once extending his other arm to the side, the blade started to flame out.

They became as ferocious as a storm, and Tim found a white spark shooting through his cheek, slightly burning him, as he proceeded to see the vortex of flames. "Focus, you won't be able to handle it completely if you don't focus on the sword... or the fire," he said while Tim's mouth rattled.

("Pay attention... I'm attempting to do so, but it's not working ") The flames grew larger at that point, and his eyes shook. "Keep an eye on it! If you don't regulate the tip, it will blow!" But, against Tim's best efforts, the flames began to grow in intensity, from weaker to stronger, as well as hotter and colder, while his right arm shook.

"Damn this nonsense! What's the deal with this? Why can't I seem to get the hang of it? Any other skill I possessed allowed me to master it with ease!" Tim screamed furiously. "Getting upset will only cause the fire to flare up more often, and you will be consumed by it! Your body is not yet prepared to protect against such heat! It's hotter than the Neutron Star! So keep your cool and don't let things get out of hand!"

Even then, Tim's thoughts were scattered. ("Oh, no! This is unthinkable! Why don't you just go to work?!") Tim caught the sword with both hands, keeping the weapon as far away from his clothing and body as possible.

"Don't do it! More Symbolism on it will just make it bigger! Extremely!"

"How am I going to keep it then? It's as though I'm carrying a nuclear device!" Tim screamed furiously. "This fire is solely the product of concentration and a relaxed mind! And you don't have all of it right now!" Even then, Tim's lip trembled. "Stop talking!!!"

"No way! Please halt! Don't worry! Allow the sword to fall!" But it was too late; the white fire had already engulfed Tim's body. "Get yourself out of there! Right now!" And the moment Kaoru attempted to climb in, the fire totally engulfed Tim, forcing him to come to a halt.

"No way! Damn you, moron!" yelled Kaoru, enraged at the sight of the white flames. "PSYCHOPATH, LET GO OF THE SWORD!!!"

Tim's torso, though, was trapped in the center, his hair flapping alongside his clothing, unable to be avoided. His eyes were almost losing their color, and his clothing couldn't have kept him together any longer.

("Why isn't it going away? Simply relax!") However, Tim's body was sweating profusely and he was unable to rise. "Stop, stop, stop... Just calm off!" The fiery aura, on the other hand, was roaring furiously into the air.

But, then, Tim's body blurred into white, and a huge blast of white heat emerged, sending Tim spinning into the air, straight through the wall, as his body bounced forward and the sword was let go while his body tried to stay conscious.

Kaoru dashed towards him when he reached out towards him. "I've ordered you to let it go! What on earth were you thinking?!" Kaoru then picked up Tim and rested him on his back, carrying him down to the treatment area.

- Gyuma City, Thursday, 11:15 am -

Tim's body was being treated by a woman who was covering it in bandages.

"Don't ever do that again, okay? I doubt I'll be able to handle you the next time..." She talked while grasping for Tim's cheek and staring him down. "Y-Yeah... I'll give it a shot... Thank you, Eri..." Tim felt a little self-conscious in front of her.

"Don't be concerned... Okay, take a break." As Tim saw his bandaged body, she assisted him in standing. "Yes, I'll do that... Thank you once more..."

"You're fortunate that Eri is here to heal your wounds. You'd be dead right now if she hadn't been there..." Hagiwara spoke up. "Today's meal will be prepared by me... Make sure to get plenty of rest whilst I'm cooking..." She took a step past Tim, laughing at him and making him blush.

- Gyuma City, Thursday, 9:20 pm -

Tim was in his cell when he was approached by Eri.

"I've prepared dinner for you... I'm hoping it won't be too bad..." She opened the cell door and put the tray on the end table. "T-Thanks..." Tim talked while staring at his wounded side.

"So, no improvement, eh? The last few days, when I've been around... I'm shocked you're still so involved in your practicing... Shouldn't you be taking a few days off?" She inquired, sitting beside Tim on the bunk.

Tim returned the stare while exhaling coldly. "I won't have something by the end if I rest..." Tim said as he shifted his hair to the left.

"I don't believe so... The more rest you get, the more stamina you'll have in the coming days..." She spoke with a gentle chuckle. "Y-Yeah, I suppose. But I do want to do it as fast as possible..." Tim asserted as he gazed at the floor. "Do you have a special someone in your life? Return to the Guild? Or... W-What requires you to return there... It's a lot of fun and cool to be around you..." Eri spoke, looking ahead and blushing as she moved her hair behind her ear.

"No way... They're probably all worried because I have no idea what happened..." Tim spoke as he rested his arm on his hips. "Oh, I see... But..." Tim turned to face her the moment she spoke.

"What would you do... If you loved someone?" When Tim looked at her in confusion, she was perplexed. "W-What exactly do you mean?" Eri was acting a little warmly, he thought.

"I'm curious... What would you do if you loved someone?" She was surprised when Tim responded. "I'd protect them and love them with all my heart... But I'm not sure what the point is..." He asserted as he softly dropped his back. "W-Well... Would you like to give it a shot?" Tim's eyes shook with confusion as he noticed Eri standing right in front of him, looking timid.

"I-I.... I'm not sure..." When he felt Eri grab for his right leg, she spoke up. "I'm sure you'll make a decision..." She spoke as Tim softened and saw Eri reaching out with her lips, when Tim was perplexed, but right at the moment...

Tim's memories of the past were returning until he suddenly recalled...

{She whispered, which shocked Tim, and she reached behind his head. "Please forgive me for this..." She gently leaned her lips onto Tim's own before kissing him, with the ocean instantly surrounding them, but right there, when Tim's eyes shook, he realized when his 'Spiritual Symbolism' was turned off, and his body collapsed into unconsciousness.}

When Tim was upset, he put his right palm between his lips and Eri's, and his eyes were calm.

"I-I don't believe I'm prepared." I don't think I love you the way as you do... please forgive me..." Tim said this as Eri smiled and slowly backed away.

"Well, of course... Please notify me if you ever change your mind... So, bon appetit and a good night's sleep.

"Yeah... Thank you..."

To be continued...