Chapter 25: Military Sector
"How much more do I have to walk?" Ray grumbled.
Ash chuckled. "You're bothered by just this? What if I hadn't teleported you directly here yesterday?"
"But we've been walking for half an hour, and all I'm seeing are vast gardens, glimpses of palaces, and this endless road I'm on."
"It's not endless," Ash replied. "Why don't you use your teleportation technique?"
He knows about that too… Ray thought.
Then he said aloud, "Can I?"
"Why are you asking?" Ash countered.
"Did you forget we're going to the military sector to examine your skills? You can definitely use it."
Ray instantly vanished, reappearing 100m away. He then turned to look behind him and said, "Like this." But he saw nothing.
From ahead, someone called out to him, "Ray, I'm here, use more!"
"I thought he was behind me, but I'm behind him," Ray murmured, impressed.
"He really is a Special Rank."
Both of them continuously used their teleportation technique, covering 200m with each jump. They finally arrived before a massive iron door, a door the size of a building.
"I thought you would exhaust yourself, but you're fine," Ash commented.
Ray didn't hear Ash's words, his eyes fixed on the massive iron door.
"What the f*ck is this!" Ray exclaimed, murmuring to himself. "I've never seen a door this large! How was it even made?"
Ash, seeing Ray's wonder, said, "This door is massive because you're standing before the military sector. This is where the soldiers live, and it's crucial that this sector remains unbreachable. The door was specifically designed to withstand the most powerful attacks an assailant could launch."
"But, how will we open it?" Ray asked.
"Don't worry," Ash replied. "This door is programmed in a way that it will open if someone worthy tries to open it."
Ash turned to the door, then said to Ray, "Ray, go. Give it a try!"
Ray teleported, appearing directly in front of the door, with Ash behind him.
"But, what do I have to do?" Ray questioned.
"Nothing, just try to push it."
Ray turned his head towards Ash. "Don't prank me. How am I supposed to open it?"
"Just try, I'm not joking."
Ray then turned to the door, raised both hands, placed them on the surface, and thought, I don't know if I'm worthy or not, but I have a demonic presence inside me.
Ray pushed the door with all his strength, but it didn't open.
"Looks like you're not worthy," Ash remarked.
"Let me try again," Ray insisted. Now, I'm going to unleash everything I've gained from Ebon. Ray thought.
Ray pushed it again with all his strength, including that of the Curseman.
Internally, Krishna communicated with Ash: The door isn't opening, not because he's unworthy, but because it has sensed danger from him!
Ash's eyes widened, looking at Ray's hands. "What!"
Ray's eyes glowed purple.
Suddenly, cracks spiderwebbed across the door from Ray's hands, spreading unpredictably over the entire gate.
"Ray, stop!" Ash shouted.
Suddenly, an unknown, invisible force threw Ray meters away. Ray lay on the ground.
Ash came near Ray. "Are you okay?"
Ray straightened his clothes while sitting.
"Yes, I'm fine. But the door didn't open for me. It seems I'm not worthy."
"Forget that, I will open it," Ash said. "Let's go."
Ray stood, and with Ash, they reached the door. Ash didn't even try to push it, and the door simply opened.
Ray looked at Ash, thinking, He's too strong, he didn't even have to push it.
Ash, looking toward front, thought, He made cracks on a gate that was made to protect the military sector from the most powerful attacks. He's got something different. Let's see what more he can do.
*******
A group of armored people approached the door, some with swords in hand, others bare-handed, and a few with artificial weapons. One of them shouted, probably their leader.
"Who broke this door?"
The crowd began murmuring:
"Who could be strong enough to make cracks on this beast of a door?"
"Is he a Curseman?" "We don't know, but if he is, then the war isn't over yet."
Suddenly, their leader again shouted, "Silence!"
Everyone quieted.
Then one of the soldiers, who was assigned there, reported, "There was a boy with Lord Ash. He tried to push the door, but he failed and left these cracks on it."
"Lord Ash were here, so it's not a problem," the Leader said.
"But don't you know the name of that so-called monster, that 'boy'?"
"No, I haven't seen him here," the soldier replied. "He was probably an outsider."
"An outsider!"
*******
"So, where are you going to test my skills?" Ray asked.
"I will not," Ash replied.
"You will be examined by the soldiers here."
"This place is enormous!" Ray said, looking around.
"There are gardens upon gardens, bordering multiple crossing roads. It's so noble! I haven't seen a single soldier since that large gate."
"Okay, let's use teleportation again," Ash suggested. "I'm going, follow me."
Like this, by teleporting again and again, they reached an open field, with dimensions of 5 KM x 5 KM.
Many people were fighting each other; some were striking with swords, others meditating.
"Is this the place where I'll be examined?" Ray asked.
"Yes."
"This place is immense, like a battlefield," Ray observed. "It looks as if it's been ruined by these people."
Ash walked into the open field. He clapped his hands loudly to attract attention, speaking in a booming voice:
"Everyone! Hear me carefully! This boy, standing behind me, challenges all of you! He says no one can defeat him! Is there a man here who can prove this wrong? Or is he saying right!"
Everyone stopped and looked towards Ash. Ray instantly came near Ash.
"Hey, what are you saying…" Ray whispered. "When did I say this?"
Ash interrupted, looking at the approaching people.
"This is just a way to examine your skills. You just have to fight."
"But I can't fight them," Ray protested.
Ash didn't hear him.
One person from the crowd approached, muscular, tall, and bulky. His eyes were clear red, and only a black rope covered his lower body; his upper body was bare.
A red aura emanated from him.
"I will defeat him! Where is he?" the Person declared.
"He's on my right side," Ash replied.
"Where?" The bulky man lowered his head slightly and turned it to Ray's right side.
"He? This Spiritman will fight me? I quit, I don't want to put 'killer' in front of my name."
"Are you afraid?" Ash challenged. "Are you feared he will defeat you!"
"Why are you provoking him?" Ray muttered.
Ash, ignoring Ray, looked towards the bulky man. "You can go. Someone else will try if you are frightened."
"Me? And frightened?" The bulky man scoffed. "Hey, boy. Come here, fight me! I just didn't want you to be a burden on your parents, but today, you are dead!"
Ash turned his face towards Ray. "Ray, go."
"Why don't you understand?" Ray said, exasperated. "My powers aren't for dueling; all of them will die!"
But, no sooner had Ray said this than the bulky man attacked him. In an instant, the man exploded into blood and pieces of flesh, which flew outwards, splattering near the other people standing there.
Everyone stepped back in fear.
Ash looked at the crimson earth. "Oh, his whole body exploded. Mine, only a hand yesterday."
Ash then called out, "Is there anyone else who can defeat this boy? Or are there no men living here?"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Who is he?"
"How are we supposed to fight this demon?"
"Don't you see what he did to that bulky man?"
"I love my life; I'm not going there."
Suddenly, a man emerged from the crowd, armored and carrying a sword. A bottle of wine in his hands, he drank as he approached.
"I will kill him!" the man slurred. "No… no, I will defeat him!"
It looked like the man was intoxicated by the bottle of wine.
"Will you fight him?" Ash asked Ray.
"Why? He will be killed! Understand!" Ray exclaimed.
To make Ash understand what he was saying, Ray reached out to put his hand on Ash's shoulder. But suddenly, his hand was cleanly severed.
Ray looked at his hand, but it had been severed at the elbow.
The man spoke, his position changed; he was now behind Ray instead of in front.
Ray's severed hand was in his grip.
"Boy," the man's voice was serious and cold. "Don't be full of yourself. Even if you are strong, you are insulting your superiors."
He threw Ray's hand on the earth.
Ash thought, He is fast. He can't be a mere trainer.
Then, in a loud voice, Ash addressed the man, "This gentleman will fight this boy. But, Gentleman, this boy can kill you. Do you still agree?"
"We aren't afraid of death; we are chosen to make death afraid of us," the man stated. "I agree!"
"Then it's decided," Ash announced. "Both start on my count of zero. Three!"
Ash understands, I will die. Ray thought.
"Two!"
"Hey, stop this counting!" Ray pleaded.
"One!"
Wait, Ray thought, I can use him to test my powers.
"Zero!"
Ray's eyes glowed purple.
Both vanished.
They both reappeared: Ray behind the man, and the man's sword sent flying. The man spun around, and with incredible speed, he tried to attack Ray with his bare hands. But Ray slapped his head with his other hand, and the man's head was crushed, bursting into a spray of blood that splattered across Ray's face.
"Ash," Ray said, looking at him. Clear excitement on his face, like he got something suddenly, that he was trying to gain from a long time.
"Can I fight them all too…?"