Ch 50 Going back

In the midst of the devastated wasteland, two figures stood in stark contrast against the barren, scorched earth. One was a menacing, black humanoid creature, its skin seemingly absorbing the harsh sunlight. Four imposing horns jutted out from its face, creating an eerie, intimidating visage. Above its head, a golden ring hovered, pulsing with a faint, otherworldly light.

Facing the creature was a 13-year-old boy, his youthful frame completely bare naked under the relentless sun. Despite his vulnerable appearance, his grip on the sword in his hand was firm and resolute. His eyes, sharp and calculating, sized up his formidable opponent with a calm intensity that belied his age. The sword he held glinted with a dangerous promise, its edge razor-sharp and ready for the impending clash.

The air around them seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive heat causing the horizon to waver and distort like a mirage. The desolation of the landscape was punctuated only by the distant cries of scavenging birds and the occasional gust of hot wind that swirled the dust at their feet.

Suddenly, without a word or a signal, both combatants vanished from their positions. The ground where they had stood cracked and splintered from the force of their departure, sending debris and dust spiraling into the air. In an instant, the battlefield was empty, the tension lingering like a ghost, promising a fierce and fateful encounter yet to come.

'In order to end this, I need a decisive plan,' Ichiro thought, his mind racing. "I already have my trump cards; all I need now is to set the plan in motion."

As Ichiro meticulously formed his strategy, his keen eyes caught sight of Ergo's massive sword hurtling towards him.

'Since my sword is no longer effective, the best I can do with this weapon is deflect or parry any attacks. So, for now, let's parry it,' Ichiro resolved.

Their swords collided and Ichiro's eyes widened in shock as Ergo's great sword seemed to phase through his weapon and continue its lethal path towards him. The blade cleaved through Ichiro's torso, but as it did, his healing factor sprang into action, knitting the flesh and bone back together almost instantaneously. To an onlooker, it appeared as if Ergo's sword was simply passing through Ichiro's body, leaving no lasting damage.

Ergo, undeterred, launched a relentless barrage of attacks. Each swing of his great sword phased through Ichiro's parries and into his body, the wounds healing just as quickly as they were inflicted.

Seeing no other option, of fighting back Ichiro decided to create some distance. He prepared to leap back, but Ergo, anticipating his move, lashed out with a powerful kick. The blow landed squarely on Ichiro's right ribs, the force of it sending him skidding across the scorched ground.

Ichiro immediately stood up, his eyes locking onto Ergo, who was already retracting his arm, poised to deliver a crushing blow to Ichiro's head. Ichiro's lips curled into a smirk as he quickly dropped to the ground, sweeping his leg in a wide arc. His leg connected with Ergo's ankles, causing the hulking figure to lose balance and momentarily hover above the ground.

Without missing a beat, Ichiro followed through with a powerful upward kick. His foot connected with Ergo's midsection, sending the larger combatant hurtling into the sky. As Ergo ascended, the sunlight glinting off his dark form, Ichiro took advantage of the brief respite to summon his most formidable ally.

With a commanding gesture, Ichiro called upon the Red Dragon. His shadow elongated and darkened, spreading across the barren landscape. From this deepening shadow, a majestic, colossal dragon emerged, its scales a vibrant crimson that seemed to glow against the harsh surroundings. The dragon's presence was awe-inspiring, its massive wings unfurling and casting a wide shadow over the battlefield.

Ichiro, with practiced ease, leapt onto the dragon's back, settling just behind its powerful neck. The dragon roared, the sound reverberating across the desolate wasteland, before launching itself into the sky with a powerful beat of its wings. They soared upwards, the ground rapidly falling away beneath them as they pursued the airborne Ergo.

As they closed the distance, Ichiro began to focus his cursed energy. He could feel the cursed energy coursing through his veins, responding to his will. Concentrating, he shaped his cursed energy into a tangible form, forging it into a sword that shimmered with a dark, ominous light. The sword materialized in his hand, its blade sleek and deadly.

With his cursed energy sword in hand, Ichiro urged the Red Dragon to accelerate. The wind whipped past them as they streaked towards Ergo, who was beginning to regain his composure in mid-air. The dragon's powerful wings sliced through the air, propelling them forward with incredible speed.

Ergo noticed the giant Shikigami, the Red Dragon, with Ichiro riding on its back, ascending towards him with ferocious speed. Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Ergo drew his sword mid-air, ready to face Ichiro in an aerial confrontation.

Ichiro readied his cursed energy sword, the blade pulsating with dark energy. With a swift, precise strike, Ichiro's sword sliced through Ergo's neck, severing his head from his body in an instant. The momentum of the strike continued, and one by one, parts of Ergo's body began to separate, as if the cursed energy blade had cleaved through him a thousand times in the blink of an eye. Chunks of Ergo's dismembered form plummeted towards the ground.

As the remains of Ergo's body descended, the Red Dragon unleashed a torrent of fire, its breath a searing inferno. The intense flames scorched the earth below, causing the already cracked ground to fracture further under the immense heat. The dry soil baked and hardened, forming a crust of scorched earth. Any remaining moisture in the ground vaporized, causing ghostly wisps of steam to rise. The heat radiated outward, creating a shimmering haze that distorted the horizon. The cracks in the ground widened, the edges blackened and brittle from the dragon's fiery breath.

The air shimmered with the residual heat, distorting the scenery around Ichiro as he and the Red Dragon descended back to the ground. The dragon landed gracefully, its massive wings folding against its body as Ichiro dismounted. He stood amidst the scorched earth, the heat of the sun beating down mercilessly.

Ichiro scanned the desolate landscape, expecting Ergo to resurrect as he had done before. He waited, tense and alert, for any sign of movement. But there was only silence. The air blew gently, ruffling Ichiro's hair. The unforgiving heat of the sun bore down on the dried, cracked land, the distorted scenery the only reminder of the fierce battle that had just taken place.

Minutes passed, and still, there was no sign of Ergo. Ichiro's grip on his cursed energy sword relaxed slightly as realization dawned on him. The eerie silence, the lack of any regenerative movement from Ergo's remains, confirmed his suspicion ergo has now been tamed.

As Ichiro drew a sigh of relief, he stood up and felt a rush of excitement course through him. With a broad smile etched on his face, he raised his hand and summoned his new and final Shikigami.

"Ergo," he called out confidently.

Patiently, Ichiro watched as his shadow began to enlarge, darkening and spreading across the scorched ground. From this shadow emerged a towering, menacing figure—Ergo, now reborn as a formidable Shikigami. Standing at an imposing height of around 9.4 feet, Ergo exuded an aura of power and dominance.

Ichiro's happiness was palpable as he circled Ergo, his eyes wide with amazement and pride. He took in every detail of his new Shikigami, from the sharp contours of Ergo's form to the dark energy that seemed to radiate from him. Ichiro's heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the battles they would face together.

"Ergo, return," Ichiro commanded, his voice filled with satisfaction.

Obediently, Ergo dissolved back into Ichiro's shadow, disappearing from sight. With a contented sigh, Ichiro turned his attention to his next task. He summoned Griffin, another of his loyal Shikigami, and gracefully mounted its back. The majestic creature spread its wings and took to the sky, carrying Ichiro home.

As they neared his home, Ichiro guided Griffin to land quietly. He dismounted and moved stealthily, making his way to his room with practiced ease. He was careful not to alert Kyle, wary of the questions and concerns his mentor might have about his appearance right now.

Time passed swiftly, and before Ichiro knew it, three years had gone by.

In the bustling airport, people couldn't help but be drawn to a striking figure among the crowd. Standing tall with an imposing presence, Ichiro drew whispers and stares from every direction. Some onlookers gossiped about his height and looks, while others snapped pictures, and a few simply watched in awe.

Near the boarding gate, Kyle stood with teary eyes, his emotions barely contained. He looked at Ichiro with a mixture of pride and sorrow, like a father seeing his son off for the last time.

"I can't believe it's already that time, huh," Kyle began, his voice choked with emotion. "You've grown so much over the past years. I never thought this day would come where I have to see you off. Truly, I'm a blessed person."

Ichiro, sensing the depth of Kyle's feelings, tried to lighten the mood. "Kyle, you don't have to be so emotional, you know. And also, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I'm truly grateful for you. Thank you for teaching me how to become a good sorcerer, and thank you for always being there for me."

Kyle couldn't hold back his tears any longer. "Ahh, just go already. You're making a grown man cry," he said, his voice breaking. As tears streamed down his face, Kyle reminisced about their time together. In truth, Kyle thought of Ichiro as his own son, having grown deeply attached to him over the years. The thought of Ichiro leaving filled him with a profound sadness.

Ichiro gave Kyle a reassuring smile. "Well, I'll be leaving now, Kyle. Please take care of yourself."

With a final wave, Ichiro turned and walked towards the plane. As he did, Kyle wiped the last of his tears and looked at Ichiro for what felt like the last time. He mustered a smile and waved back.

"Be safe, Ichiro," Kyle called out, his voice filled with both hope and a lingering sadness.