S1 Ep.19

The city's power came back but yet the city itself was silent.

Not any animals were heard or anyone as Koji entered a shopping market.

Even after intentionally dropping a wooden box there wasn't a sound to be made which raised koji's attention before he found himself surrounded on all sides.

But Koji sensed all of their essence's to be on pair with Madam Bo.

"(By order of the Osaka family we are here to place you under arrest. Do not resist or we-)"

"(You will not stand in my way.) Soul Art 193:Domain of the King."

Everyone began to panic as they felt their Soul Essence cut off while Koji charged at them like lightning and paralyzed them all in just under a minute.

Koji looked around before he used Sword Ki Flight to soar above the city in the beautiful night.

"Where are you….."

Koji stretched out his Essence and found them both but was puzzled as they were hundreds of feet below the surface.

However Koji was determined to get his revenge but was instantly in the talons of a bird made of thunder while the sky lighted up.

"You have caused enough trouble for one night."

It was Stanly Wole who set the thunder Bird against Koji.

The technique was very effective for normal people but Koji was far from normal.

"Soul Art 81: Reverse Mirror."

Koji used a counter attack and sent the bird back at Stanly.

"Get out of my way!"

However Stanly wasn't the Chairmen of the S.H.S for no reason and even was often called another name, Thunder God.

Stanly looked like the physical manifestation of Thunder itself as he swallowed the bird whole and spoke was electricity sparked from everything in his body.

"This is your last chance, Stop."

Koji started to condense his essence into Hatasho with anger and vengeance in his eyes.

"Let's see who's left standing. Soul Art 8: Nova Slash."

Many would be utterly terrified by how much essence Koji was pouring into his blade but Stanly matched that same amount in seconds.

"If you will not listen to my words then you will learn from my fists. Shatter their hopes, Zanda! Fist of Judgment!"

The entire sky was lighted up by a giant fist of thunder aim straight at Koji but he felt no fear but instead joy, excitement even.

'What's this throbbing in my chest! Why am I happy… I'm… happy.'

Koji's focus wavered for only a second but that was enough to shatter the Soul Art all together leaving Koji helpless to take the full force of the fist.

After the dust settled Stanly stood over Koji who was too weak to move and said as Japanese Soldiers had arrived at the scene.

"Why did you give up? Why stop when you could have won?"

Stanly had judged it was a fifty percent chance of victory but only saw Koji smiling as he was dragged away.

"I… found… happiness… thank… you…"

Stanly saw Koji smiling even as he was put in chains and dragged away by soldiers.

Some would say Koji had lost his mind and became psychotic but Stanly had seen that look before as he was the one to do it after discovering his calling.

~The Next Day~

Koji was placed in holding and yet none dare to approach Koji as he was still wearing a wide smile on his face that even creeped out most of the guards.

But Koji kept thinking about the thrill, the rush he experienced fighting Stanly.

But Koji had a visitor, Madam Bo.

"Hey Koji. I'm glad you stopped while you could. Let's go home."

Home, a term Koji knew little of but yet that single word rang in his ears.

The word was echoing through his head like a train horn before finally it stopped while another memory.

Koji's eyes widened as he looked around and saw an empty cell and opened it and started drawing strange shapes on the wall with some chalk.

"Koji? What are you doing?…!"

Koji had made a gateway to what only could be seen as an underwater temple.

Koji spoke no words and dived into the gateway before it closed behind him leaving Madam Bo behind.

'I swear I am going to kill him…!'

Madam Bo felt the ground shake beneath her feet and thought it was an earthquake but it wasn't just happening in Tokyo but everywhere.

It felt like the earth was cracking apart piece by piece but it was Koji who was lifting a sunken Temple out of the sea.

But it was more interesting to Koji because of where it was.

"I guess the Bermuda Triangle was a smokescreen for the temple. Let's get to work."

As Koji opened the temple an ungodly stench was flowing from the temple along with the water that made sewage water seem more drinkable.

"Eww! What is that smell."

Koji was disgusted by felt a dozen people behind him before turning to see it was everyone in the Zodiac Counsel, including Father.

"What are you doing here? Don't get in my-"

The Ox was the first to speak followed by the Rooster.

"We aren't here to stop you but to help you."

"This is interrupting my beauty sleep. So let's just get this done."

Koji was the last to enter after his father before the temple door closed itself shut.

It did not take long for Koji and the others to reach the end of the hall but Koji was in awe to find a gladiator arena that could hold at least over ten thousand people in the stands alone.

But this wasn't the only thing that shocked Koji as he saw a creature he never dreamed he would meet and it even spoke as an eye opened.

""Who dares enter the Lair of the king? Begone!""

It was a Dragon the size of a mountain but only Koji drew his weapon before the Ox stopped him as the Father Slowly approached the Dragon.

"Save your strength."

""What's this? You challenge me? You are just one Mor-""

In just one movement with his hand the Father Cut the Dragon in two.

"Lets continue."

Room after room Koji and the zodiacs encountered mythical monsters and beasts that Koji knew he couldn't defeat easily.

Fenrir, Grand Wizards, Immortals and Demon Lords, every room had a different type of opponent but yet still Koji didn't even get to fight any of them as the Ox would Stop him every time while the others took care of the boss.

Koji suddenly realized that they had reached the 50th room because of the white chalk outline on the wall which amazed Koji.

Not only were the types of opponents changing but their rooms were as well.

One of said rooms could be on a beautiful beach while the next was a volcano.

The scenery was always different and yet some parts were familiar but only to Koji.

These familiar pieces were small yet quite noticeable for Koji. A teacup ride from a fair or a slightly burned teddy bear.

As they progressed through the temple more and more items appeared.

The Father soon realized what Koji was looking at and placed his hand on koji's shoulder before Koji moved away.

"They are just illusions son. Meant to distract you."

Koji reach for a ring made of scrap metal that he made himself for his mother before it turned to dust.

But this sparked the flames of curiosity as he looked at his father in the eyes.

"How did you know? What aren't you telling me? Why come here?"

Koji had little hope to gain an answer from his father but was surprised to hear one as he signaled the others to stop.

"The one who saved us warned us of this place but told us not to enter until it was found by you. You are still only at the surface of your power, Son."

Koji looked to see the others sweating and panting before he finally drew his blade.

"If I was meant to find this place then these battles are mine to fight, take them and go."

The Rooster was about to mend his minor wounds and continue but stopped at the fathers words while he turned to the exit.

"Your right Son, this is your battle to fight…. ZODIACS! ….Fall back."

One by one they left Koji alone until the father gave one last goodbye to his son as Koji kept his back to him.

"You've made me proud my son, until we meet again."

As Koji heard the gate close he continued onto the 51st room to see it was a small house in the middle of the desert.

Koji started looking around before a chilling breeze was felt alongside a voice.

""how Long has it been… how long since I've felt the wind on my skin or the sand in my feet.""

Koji readied himself to battle will all his might before a coffin raised itself out of the dirt.

Koji saw a creature with Bat like wings and bloodshot eyes emerging from the coffin and knew exactly what it was.

It was a blood sucking vampire but Koji was curious on why it wasn't being roasted by the sun before the vampire noticed Koji and gave a elegant bow.

""I believe it is time we introduced ourselves before our battle, I am Volmir Teppesh, Daywalker.""

A vampire who was immune to sunlight, truly this was to be a battle to be fought with nothing held back.

But Koji felt inclined to respond the same way with a bow.

"I am Koji Stanton, Soul Guardian."

Volmir tilted his head in confusion.

""Soul Guardian? Are you not what Mortals call Cultivators?""

Koji was then reminded of how he was called Immortal Cultivator once in his past life and sensed Volmir had information that his father and the zodiacs refused to share.

"May I ask you a question? Who put you here?"

Volmir thought for some time before coming up with a response.

""It seems that I can't remember. Now you must answer my question. Has the Tournament of Power started?""

Koji shook his head while he started the fight by super charging Hatasho.

""That's a shame, I would have enjoyed breaking free from this place after killing you and seeing what other Divine Beings I could fight. Blood Rain.""

It felt like burning oil raining down over Koji despite it being blood.

"Soul Art 66: Counter. I don't plan on dying here today.

Koji soon realized that he had just fed a starving day walker Vampire as Volmir was basking in the rain of blood.

Volmir only laughed as his muscles and hair regained their strength and energy as if he aged backwards a thousand years.

""How stupid can one be? I'm a Vampire you fool! Although I give you praise for providing such nutritious blood for me.""

Koji was turned into a helpless punching bag against Volmir.

'I need to find a way to beat him. I can't believe I was so stupid to feed him blood. Wait that's it!'

Koji had an idea as to what he could do to beat Volmir as he let go of Hatasho.

""What's this? Are you giving up already?""

Koji looked up at Volmir with a smile before Koji elongated his mouth and swallowed Volmir whole.

This skill was one taught by The Pig of the zodiac counsel called Unending Hunger.

Using such a technique had many requirements to use but Koji already had the qualifications to do it but now he had to contain Volmir in both Mind and Body.

But it wasn't easily done as Volmir shouted from Koji's belly.

""You are so gross for an immortal! Eww What have you been eating! Wait what!?""

Koji had a lot of Garlic Bread that he had been eating during his journey alongside the zodiacs and all that garlic was now burning Volmir away.

However Volmir still had his mind intact.

""I won't die like this! I refuse!""

Volmir casted a spell from inside koji's stomach and Entered his mind laughing.

""Now I will make you suffer! I will break your mind and soul!… wait what?""

Volmir expected Koji to have something in his mind but found nothing but the physical manifestation of Hatred itself.

In koji's mind Volmir could see everything that happened to him in this life and stopped fighting as he too knew the lost of family.

""Koji was it? I surrender."

Koji however was too occupied looking through Volmir's memories and found them to be just like his own life.

"You… You've also experienced my pain… your wife and child were taken from you… as were my parents…"

No words were spoken but much was said between Koji and Volmir.

Once Koji released Volmir the two sat down in silence.

"What were their names…"

""Alin and Rosette… and you?""

"Aylin… that's my mothers name… my father and sister are alive but…. I feel like they aren't really the same anymore…."

For the first time Koji had someone. Someone who knew and shared his pain.

""We share this pain, but it is what also fuels our hearts….""

"If… If you could speak to them again… what would you say…"

""I… I would say I love and miss you….""

Koji noticed tears dripping down volmir's eyes and shed a tear as well.

"We live on with their memory in us… but now… we must finish this battle."

Koji once again took his stance but found Volmir disarming himself.

""My Family is gone…. Forever. But yours is not. Will you let me see them again?""

Koji smiled as he was ready to thrust his blade through Volmir's heart.

"May you find them again, goodbye."

It was painful but yet Volmir kept a smile on his face while Koji felt a tingling sensation everywhere.

As Volmir crumbled to dust his ashes seeped into Koji's hands and eyes.

Koji could see every single grain of sand across the floor and felt his nails grow into claws before retracing back to normal.

"I… I absorbed him and gain more powers? Wait could that mean…"

The went back to the 50th floor to see the corpse of the last boss was there.

After cutting open the chest of the beast and stabbing it Koji felt the same sensation as before while it crumbled to dust.

Only this time Koji felt his Soul Essence thicken and condense.

One by one Koji visited the other floors and collected the boss's corpses and found many of them just condensed Koji's Soul Essence more and more while some gave new abilities.

But now Koji turned back and ventured further in with an urge to take more from bosses found deeper in as Koji knew that the further he went the stronger the opponents he would find.