Vol. 15 - Chapter 15: The Successor´s New Journey

The sky is covered in grey clouds as if it is about to rain. There is silence in the jungle, Daniel and Julia head to the center. "Hey Daniel, by mentioning your brother, are you referring to…"

"That´s right, the Horseman of War."

"So he is real? I only heard stories about him, but many of us in Japan thought that he was a legend."

"Well he is real, and he is about to awaken. My calculations were off by one day. But that´s okay, soon you will meet him."

"Hey Daniel, is he really that scary?"

"Scary ehh, well that´s something you need to judge for yourself."

Julia imagines Uriel as a giant muscular man with a scary face, he has his tongue out similar to a Japanese oni.

In the Ministry, Maria was observing the novice practice, Griselda enters the room and says; "Hello hija, how are you doing?"

"I´m doing great sister, these children have helped me keep my head busy."

"I see, so your daughter is now an I…"

"SHHH, Don't say out loud."

"Oh yeah, sorry." Griselda and Maria chuckle.

Suddenly, they see birds flying away from the forest. Griselda and Maria feel a powerful manna appearing in the jungle.

"STAY HERE CHILDREN" Maria and Griselda head to the where Carolina was located. Carolina was in the gates of the Ministry; she looks at Maria and asks:

"Maria, what´s happening? That´s where Uriel went right?"

"Yeah that´s right, I think the day has come…" Maria makes a smile with tears, Griselda and Carolina look at her as she says:

"My son will return to us…"

It´s time to awaken, I am the Beginning…I am the end… I am the sorrow…I am the joy…I am the Horseman of War…

(BADUMP, BADUMP)

Young successor, you have completed your training…

(BADUMP, BADUMP)

You are now an official Horseman…You must never doubt yourself or your powers will consume you…

(BADUMP,BADUMP)

The moment has come…Awaken…Young Successor.

(BADUMP, BADUMP)

Awaken, Uriel Di Fiore��

(BADUMP, BADUMP)

In the darkness of the chamber, a figure opens his eyes revealing the eyes of the horseman. Suddenly he releases manna from his body and begins to cover the entire sanctuary.

(BBBBOOOOOMMMM)

A massive pillar of crimson manna begins to form destroying the mansion, the pillar expands into a 5 km radius. "What´s happening?" Julia asks frightened, Daniel grabs her arm and summons a platform out of black manna. They elevate to the sky and see the pillar consuming the jungle.

"The Horseman of War has returned."

(BBBBBOOOOMMM)

Massive wind blows hard, the animals run away, the birds fly away. The air reached the Ministry. "GYYYAAHHH" The nuns and novices in the ministry as wind blows. Griselda creates a golden barrier protecting them.

"This manna, there´s no doubt it's Uriel" Griselda says to Maria who looks with excitement.

Throughout the world, the moon and the sun both turned crimson illuminating the sky. "Muchacho, you finally returned." Juan says with excitement, he along with Alexa and Isabella look at the sky. People from all over the world witness this phenomenon.

The pillar disappears leaving only a large smokescreen with a giant crater around 5km radius. Daniel looks at his GPS, and says; "I found you."

They slowly go down into the crater, Daniel walks looking his GPS, and Julia walks behind him with a preoccupied expression. "Is he close?"

"He sure is, jut stay behind me okay, to be honest, even I don't know how he will react." Daniel says making Julia feel more scare.

"His coming" They see a silhouette of giant monster; it has red eyes and walks closer. Julia feels a preserve aura coming from it. "Is he the Horseman? I can feel that he is intimidating." Julia shakes as she grabs Daniel´s arm.

"Calm down." Daniel looks at Julia. He walks forward and says; "It´s been a long time, Big Brother."

The smokescreen clears, the giant silhouette turns into a young man with brown skin. He is completely naked; his body is muscular but not buff, he has long hair that covers his eyes, and his hair goes down to his back.

Julia blushes, "Is that the Horseman, he´s kind off handsome, and he is NAKED? GYYYAAHHH" Julia screams as she covers her eyes.

The young man grabs a ring under a stone and puts it. The ring begins to shine cover him in flames. The flame clears revealing his new appearance. He has long but neat hair, he has soulless green eyes. He is wearing a black buttoned shirt with blue pants, black shoes.

The young man walks towards Daniela and Julia. "Hello Daniel, you´ve grown up."

"Uriel, it´s nice to see you again." Daniel replies with tears in his eyes. In the gates of the ministry, Maria and the others wait for their arrival.

Suddenly, three silhouettes appear in the jungle; Maria begins to run towards them, "It´s him, my son, it´s my son." Maria sees Uriel and hugs him tightly as she cries:

"Uriel, you´re alive, and you came back."

"I´m home, mother." Uriel says without any emotions, Maria looks at his eyes and thinks:

"Uriel, your soul is really gone."

"Is that Uriel? I can´t feel his presence at all" Griselda says looking at Uriel with suspicion.

A few hours later, the outside of the dining room is filled with girls as they observe the handsome young man eating food. Inside the dining room, Uriel, Daniel, Julia, Maria, Carolina and Griselda discuss what happened to Uriel.

"Thank you Carolina, it´s the first time I ate in 18 months." Uriel says as he hands over the plate. Maria gives him some tea, Carolina smiles and asks:

"I´m glad to hear that, did you enjoy it?"

Uriel looks at her without making any expression; "Enjoy huh, I´m sorry but I couldn´t enjoy it. I can't savor food anymore."

"Oh, I understand." Carolina lowers her head. "Please don´t feel bad, I know from the past that your food is delicious but right now, I can´t comprehend the meaning of flavors anymore."

"Uriel, what happened to you during these 18 months?" Griselda asks Uriel. "I will try to explain accordingly but I can´t do it f they are observing me."

"GYYYAAHHH" The girls scream with heart shaped eyes as Uriel turns to see them. "His looking this way, he´s so handsome." The novices say as Uriel turns around.

"All right everyone, would you please be so kind to go to sleep now. Tomorrow you will have to clean up the entire ministry okay as punishment for feeling lust." Carolina says with a red aura coming out of her. "

"AAAAWWW" The girls begin to head to their room. Only Mariana, Abril and Fabiola stay because they know Uriel for so long. "I´m sorry Uriel, they are novices so they don't see handsome men like you every day."

"I apologize for this; I will try to stay hidden." Uriel says without any expression.

"Uriel, please tell us what happened?" Maria says to Uriel, Uriel nods as he sees Julia. "I´m sorry, I should probably leave." Julia says as she blushes, Fabiola looks at her and thinks:

"Another rival? This can´t be happening to me."

"No, you can stay, we don't mind." Maria says with a smile, Julia sits a few tables away from Uriel because she feels her heart pounding faster when she near him.

"Very well, I shall begin to explain. In order to control this power, I trained for 18 months nonstop. I even died once because of the lack of food, water and rest. You could say that I died as a human."

Everyone is in shock as they heard Uriel´s words.

"For the first month, I laid on my back in the pitch darkness with my body rotting, my bones shattering, and yet, I couldn't die. One day, I began to absorb manna from the atmosphere."

Uriel looks at his tea and remembers the past.

"I stood up and began to see in that darkness, I saw aura, I could see in the darkness like a bat. I began to trained once again and gain power. I gain power until I destroyed the sanctuary not knowing that 18 months have already passed. For me it felt like days."

Uriel takes a zip of the tea. The others look at Uriel feeling bad. "I´m sorry to hear that Uriel, it wasn't our intention to have you remember those moments of pain."

"Don't worry about it, as I said before, I don't feel anything anymore, for me the past, the present and the future don't exist. The only things that matter to me are my objectives."

"Uriel, how come we can´t sense your manna anymore?" Sister Griselda asks with suspicion.

"I can suppress my manna completely now, in order for people to not notice me. I f I do this…" Uriel releases a small amount of manna; everyone is in shock on how the air pressure change. The air pressure feels heavier and causes everyone to be intimidated. Uriel stops releasing the manna. "That was just a small portion of my power. If I were to release all of my power, the weaker souls would vanish in an instant."

"That´s good to hear brother because one of your objectives has gotten stronger; Aleister Lucifugus now dominates part of Eastern Europe. He is the emperor of the Lucifugus Empire. "

Uriel looks at Daniel, as he continues to explain; "The Lucifugus Empire has a powerful army, among their forces, vampires and other mythical creatures have joined their ranks. The Enlightened have also taken over the United States, Canada and parts of South America. I just wanted to let you know brother."

"I understand, thank you, but I don't plan on going to Europe right now, I have another objective in mind."

"You´re going to search for Irene right?" Daniel replies to Uriel, he nods in agreement. "Do you perhaps mean Irene the Blue Witch?" Sister Carolina asks Uriel.

"Yes, she is the only one who can break the spell Alexandria gave to Marjorie and me. Once I break that spell, I will go after Aleister."

"I knew you would say that, here…" Daniel hands out a plane ticket to Uriel. "A plane ticket to Japan?" Uriel asks Daniel, Daniel smiles:

"That´s correct, Director Yoshiro knew that you would go to Japan, he said he made a deal with you. That´s why he sent this, you and Julia will head to Japan tomorrow."

"Wait, why me? I thought I was here to help you?" Julia says confused. "Julia, you were stationed here to work with me until Uriel returned. Now that he is back, you will return to Japan and be assigned to another mission."

"I see, if those are my orders, than I will obey them." Julia looks down smiling thinking; "I will go with him, I´m so excited."

"That man-kidnapper, she will go with Uriel, damn it, why can´t I go too" Fabiola jealously says in her mind as she glares at Julia.

"Very well, I need to…" Maria slams the table, and interrupts Uriel. "Now wait just a minute young man, I haven't given you permission to go anywhere. Yes, I permitted you to travel before, but this time is different."

"Maria, what are you saying? Are you against Uriel leaving?" Sister Griselda asks with a surprise look on her face. Everyone else is in shock; Uriel looks at her mother and says:

"I understand your concern, but I need to go."

"I know that, but I want to make sure that you won't hesitate again. Last time you hesitated this happened, you almost died and now you´re telling me that you want to go to war? Do you think a sane mother would permit that?"

Daniel looks at Maria and thinks; "That´s right, mama has been through a lot suffering because of Uriel, but Uriel needs to do this or else…"

Uriel stands up and says; "Very well, I will show you that I won't hesitate ever again, mother, you and I will have a duel right now."

Maria smiles and says; "I accept"

"WWWWHHHAAATTT?"

A few minutes later, everyone went outside of the ministry, "Honestly, to put a barrier twice in a day for my age is exhausting", Griselda says grabbing her shoulder.

Uriel and Maria stand face to face, the other are looking inside the barrier, everyone is in the gates including the novices.

"Uriel, I won't hold back, I will attack as if I am trying to kill you." Maria says with a serious tone.

"Very well, mother, use your divine power and attack with full force." Uriel says without any expression, "Al right then, Uriel tries to evade this. If you survive this attack then I will let you go."

She summons her lance and puts one foot in front of the other making a stance she puts lance straight and chants:

"En el nombre de mi señor te libero: ¡FORMA DIVINA- RITA!" (In the name of our lord I release you: DIVINE FORM -RITA"

The cross in the spear begins to shine, suddenly Maria shines as well, her hair changes into a golden color along with her eyes that glow a golden color as well. Her dress changes from black to white with a yellow belt in her hips. Wings begin to grow in her back and a golden circular crown like an angel glows behind her.

"WOOOWW" The novices say as they witness Maria´s form. Julia is impressed to her by asking; "What happened to her?"

"She enhances her manna into her body causing her to release a form similar to the Celestial Mode an esper suit uses." Daniel explains to Julia who looks impressed.

"Sister Griselda, does Maria want to kill Uriel?" Carolina asks nervously, Griselda shakes her head and says; "No my dear, I bet she wants to test her son´s new power.

"You look beautiful in that form mother." Uriel says to Maria, Maria smiles:

"Thank you, but just by complementing me, doesn't mean I will hold back okay."

Maria spreads her wings and flies to the sky at high speed as she thinks; "Forgive Uriel, but I too made a mistake by trusting you when I knew you weren't ready, that´s why I want to test you, to see if you are ready."

Maria prepares to throw her spear at Uriel she gathers manna at the spear causing it grow, the spear takes form of long sword with a curve in its blade.

Daniel looks at Uriel standing there with his hands on the pockets of his pants. "Wait a minute, Uriel hasn't even changed into his Charro form, or does he plan to fight at all?"

"Uriel, show me how strong you´ve become. PURIFICACION DE RITA" (Rita´spurification)

The sky shines in a golden color, wind blows at high speed, and she swings her arm and throws the spear towards Uriel. The spear descends at high speed; Uriel only looks at the spear and begins to think about the vow he did 18 years ago: "Good Bye Uriel Di Fiore, your weakness won't hold me any longer. Next time, I vow to win..."

(BBBBOOOOMMMM)

The spear connects with Uriel, causing a massive golden explosion. "GYYYAAHHH" The novices scream as wind blow a powerful current almost breaking Griselda´s barrier.

"What powers, Maria you don't hold back don't you?" Sister Griselda says with a mad expression.

The dust cloud, everyone is surprise to see the result. Uriel holds the spear with left hand; the spear is just millimeters away from his heart. There is no crater or any damage, Uriel isn´t harmed at all. Maria descends, as she thinks; "Uriel, you did not change into your Charro Form and yet, you stopped my most powerful attack.

Maria smiles at Uriel; "Impressive, that attack wounded a king of hell many years ago, and yet you stopped it with your hand and without moving an inch, you didn't even take any damage. Well done my son."

Uriel hands over her lance saying; "You´re wrong, it did damage me a little" Uriel shows his left hand, a small cut was in his palm." Maria begins to laugh, "Incredible brother, you sure have gotten stronger, I think he prove himself right mom?"

"Indeed he has, Uriel, you have my permission to go." Maria hugs Uriel as she says:

"Uriel, remember that a smile moves the world, you lost yours, but I am letting you go with one condition."

"What that condition'" Uriel asks Maria, Maria looks at him in the eyes; "Promise me, that once you return from your journey, you will show me a big sincere smile, not a fake one okay."

"I promise you mother, thank you."

The Next Day:

Once again Uriel said his Farewell to the sisters. He, Julia, Daniel and Maria head to the airport as their flight was about to take off, at the airport, Uriel says his final Goodbyes.

"Big Brother, I wish you good luck on your journey, and don't forget that we need to stay in contact okay. Valerie said that she would see you in Japan someday, so be prepare for her nagging." Daniel hugs Uriel with tears in his eyes, Uriel chuckles; "I understand, I will keep that on mind."

Maria gives him a rosary,"Uriel, I know that you will find many obstacles on your journeys but I know that you will meet new people that will help you get back your soul. Because the world is bigger than what you imagine, please don't forget to have fun, my son and don't forget that I will love you always…"

Uriel hugs Maria and says; "Good bye mother, I promise that I won't hesitate anymore."

Julia looks at them and makes a warm smile; "I wish, I could´ve had a mother like her…"

"You little lady, please take care of my son, I entrust you with that." Maria says to Julia as she nods in agreement."

Passengers leaving to Tokyo, Japan, we will start boarding soon…

Uriel and Julia leave the terminal together; Maria and Daniel look at him with a smile. The plane takes off; Uriel looks at the window as he thinks:

"Japan ehh, I wonder what kind of adventures I will have there, but my objective is clear, I will find you Blue Witch. I will never hesitate again, because not only I am the Horseman of War, but also, I am El Charro Negro."