In the midst of parrying Reo's scythe flawlessly, Amaterasu proceeded to rapidly channel energy into her left hand below. Furthermore, lowering her centre of gravity downwards caused Reo to lose balance and fall forwards. Holding onto his parried scythe with her polearm whilst crouching, his torso now aligned perfectly straight onto her left hand.
For a split second, it would have appeared that her victory was imminent. But for an unknown reason, everything flashed white. The hail of light blinded everyone within her flaming walls. On one end, Amaterasu's mind became briefly stunned, and on another, Oanh hid his face behind both pairs of arms. When the light naturally subsided, two hands were forcibly intertwined.
"Did you really think I wouldn't dare lose to you!? Come on then! Let's die together! Goddess of Sun!" Firmly holding onto her hand, his reserves rapidly started depleting in an attempt to collapse his energy into hers.
"You..!" Baffled by his desperate last ditch attempt, Amaterasu felt her energy levels rapidly spiralling out of control. In response, she let go of their weapons, freeing up her right hand for a chant.
"Envelope!" Her left fingertip began burning, using the burning finger, she rapidly drew a sphere under her hip, resulting in a veil of flames connecting all the walls together. Outside the perimeter, a half sphere made of pyro could be spotted,
"Did the walls start connecting?" Oanh thought to himself outside.
"Your energy has to go somewhere right.. That's why you're constantly leaking a trail of residue in your wake whenever you're in combat!" The air around began rapidly heating up. For the pair, difficulties breathing had started setting in.
"Huff.. Huff..! But have you ever considered what would happen if it got redirected back to you!?" His wings once more sprouted from his exposed back absorbing the surrounding energy she had released prior.
Amidst the chaotic transfer of energy between both combatants, Reo finally let out a smile. His smile was abhorrent. Feeling uneasy about his facial expression, Amaterasu decided to satiate her curiosity.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Back then.. I've always wondered how I'd ever win a losing matchup against you.. The reality is that I wouldn't be able to. So I wondered, if you're practically a fusion reactor. What would happen if your Energy collapsed on itself.. Wouldn't you go supernova?" As Amaterasu struggled to stabilize her own energy levels, Reo only continued to pour even more energy within, back into her.
"You're absorbing energy with those wings aren't you?" She felt it, with her energy having trouble stabilizing whilst being locked with Reo, her options were beginning to run thin.
"Johan.. Mei.. I'm sorry." He closed his eyes. For him, the means to his journey had reached its forgone conclusion. As energy started expanding from within Amaterasu's core, it would appear that the fight was over..
For Reo.
"!" The air got tighter, almost as if it was suffocating under another form of energy.
"Hah.. Your execution is flawed." Although Reo might outclass Amaterasu in adaptability and speed. Outlasting her enormous reserves of energy would be an impossible task. Alongside her millennia of experience, she had almost seen it all.
Releasing all the channelling energy, the subsequent explosion was colossal, both in power and scale. Enveloping both combatants in a mushroom cloud, the eyes within the vicinity were all watching on.
Within the confines of flaming walls, the young boy stood. Speechless, no words exited his mouth. Instead the emotion of fear and anxiety overcame his mortal body. To him, it was akin to watching a confrontation between two otherworldly beings. Incomprehensible creatures.
"Wha- Monsters.. What the hell honestly.." What just happened. Should I feel relieved? Happy? Sad? Is that woman okay? If that Reo guy is still alive, will I be next? His mind and heart were racing. He felt cold within the echoing blaze.
"Do I deserve to be saved..? I'm not worth anything. I was just trying to eat since I was hungry.. Have I been a burden all this time? Did I get in the way of the Woman fighting? Am I only getting in the way of my sister after all too? I'm only ten but if I was stronger.. Then maybe.. "
Breathing heavily he tried to calm down, but it felt like an impossible task. With his right hand covering the nervous breakdown, Oanh's breathing eventually further became unsteady.
"You are okay now." From the depths of darkness, the light of hope reached out. Her gentle arms wrapped around his frail body, holding him securely and warm. It felt as if all his worries and distortion from within slowly subsided. He felt at ease.
"I'm glad you're safe." Her voice was soft and inviting.
"Kzzt.."
"Ah. Ahem! Can you please let go of me, it hurts.." Disliking showing any form of weakness to anyone he composed himself.
"Ah, my deepest apologies. Let us take a seat nearby and calm down now. Help is on the way." Behind, her flames were still scorching. Although her hair had now reversed into a unique colour combination consisting of her left bangs coloured in navy blue, right side with autumn red, top of her head with orange and lastly, the back being sky blue. On the other side of the great walls lied a young man, badly burned throughout his right arm. Knocked out and binded by her blaze.
"Okay." Oanh responded in a tired tone, following her lead.
With Oanh sitting down first his legs finally gave out. Glued to the bench, Amaterasu sat down beside him with a comforting smile.
"..."
"..."
This atmosphere is way too awkward! I have no idea what to say! My sister never taught me how to handle this type of situation.. Although the least I should do is probably give my heartfelt thanks to this woman. She saved my life after all.
"Hey, so um.." Looking down at his knees he felt shy to meet her eyes. Furthermore, making and breaking eye contact several times, he scratched his right cheek while slightly flustered Although after a short period of time he mustered up the courage to give his thanks..
"Thanks." Was the only word he could muster up at that moment.
Why is she looking at me with that smug grin! Did I say something wrong!? Or maybe I didn't say enough.. Alright, I'll give it another go.
Just then her carefree demeanour changed. Her smile now faded and she looked to the side, where her embers kept burning. With eyes displaying a sense of sorrow, it felt as if her previous act had dropped.
The tone accompanying her next words exuded an aura of sorrow, tiredness and uncertainty.
"Are you scared of my flames?" She asked a genuine question towards me. Looking at her flames I would have lied if I said that they weren't terrifying to some degree. The grass was burning up, a few trees had been burned down to their roots, while others got charred and lost their cherry blossoms.
Not to mention the sight of the anomaly named Reo's right arm completely charred.. It's enough to make me feel sick enough to puke. Her painful expression gave me the strength to give an honest answer.
"Yeah, they're terrifying. Just the thought of ever getting close to them puts me on edge." Her eyes seemed to close in understatement and slight disappointment before I could finish talking.
"Although they feel comforting to me." Turning her head with eyes opened up in surprise, she took a second looking at me before giving me a warm smile. It almost appeared as if a single tear carrying the burden of an entire nation dropped.
"Hm.." Am I seriously trying to comfort a grown woman right now?
"Well are you not just the cutest boy! Who taught you to speak like that?" Filled with excitement she frizzled my hair around wildly before eventually letting go.
"You will make an excellent man in the future, young boy! What's your name?" She's pretty eager to learn my name, and probably my background as well.
To be honest, I really don't want to know her any more than this. It feels like my life will become endangered if I form a connection with her. I decided to provide her with my name, despite my decision.
"Oanh."
"I like your name! Although the name doesn't feel familiar.. Are you perhaps from somewhere else?"
"Yeah." I responded back softly.
"Great! Would you perhaps be interested in-" Here it comes.
"No." Cutting her off swiftly we both stared at each other silently.
"Then maybe-"
"It won't work on me you know." I crossed my arms in affirmation.
"Please?"
"No.."
"I didn't even get to finish my question." Letting go of her polite words, she stared at me with sharp eyes intent for persuasion. I tried my hardest not to budge, although she sure is scary.
Sigh.
"Listen, I know that kids around my age have the option to begin raider training or whatever. Sis kept drilling that into my head recently. Either way, I'm not interested." Pointing my closed fist with my thumb at myself I hereby proclaimed my grand goal to her.
"I'm going to become the greatest engineer that has ever existed!" Eugh, that sounded really corny. Although it will suffice for the time being. Plus, it isn't far off from what I want to achieve in the future anyways.
"Alright, alright haha. I will not force you." Finally giving up her chase, she chuckled to herself. It does make me somewhat curious on how serious she actually was.
"What were you doing outside this late at night?"
"Uh, I was hungry." Although I in fact was hungry. I don't know whether or not I still have any appetite left after what I just went through.
"Where's your food?" Ah right. All my food blew up when I got charged by that insane man. My food..
"I lost it during the chase. I'm actually going to go back and get it soon." This will be a good opportunity to get away from her and go back home.
Just then, footsteps and loud chatter could be heard outside the flames.
"Ah, it would seem that my people have arrived." Amaterasu uttered.
"Listen closely now. You have done well today, figure out the path you really want to take in the future and grow up healthy." Her words were those of encouragement. Honestly, it makes me curious on who she really could be.
"See ya." Were the only words he responded with.
Splitting the wall in half she made way for Oanh to go back. With light steps he started walking out of the vicinity. He continued forward until the naked eye couldn't detect his outline anymore.
Eventually Amaterasu lowered the walls completely, dissipating the burning flames. On the other side, stood her fellow comrades lined up besides each other on guard with varying assortment of weapons.
"You may lower your weapons. The threat has been neutralised."
In unison they all nodded whilst following order. In addition, one particular individual seemed to be especially enthusiastic. Screaming her name out during the brief silence.
"AMA-SAN. WHAT HAPPENED!? DID YOU GET HIM?" It was none other than Hotaru himself.
With a quick slap on the back of his head, one of the seniors tried to get him to shut it.
"Behind me is a notorious criminal who has terrorised our people and fellow comrades in arms! His name is Reo, The Reaper of Souls. Take him into custody immediately!"
"Make sure to put an energy sealing collar on him and tend to his burned arm! Also, split into groups and let us fix this mess at once!" She made her announcement clear to everyone. Without wasting a breath, like clockwork everyone began working profusely.
Group A was tasked with managing repairs on the damaged area, B with calming down and reorganising the evergrowing crowd around the site and C with handling the unconscious criminal Reo. Lastly, standing on the sidewalk were Amaterasu and Hotaru discussing the recent events.
"So you're telling me you detected his presence within the local area and decided to immediately run to intercept him? You left me in a daze, you know." Hotaru asked in a confused tone.
"That would be correct." Her response bore no hesitation, nor any sympathy towards his emotions.
He sighed.
"You know, you're not usually so proactive. I thought you at least would've let me get some experience in y'know." With an agitated voice he tried voicing his displeasure in her rash decision making.
"You would have lost and died." Putting her hand on his right shoulder she gave him a cold stare that signified her difference in power compared to him.
"I once had an apprentice similar to you that died that way. Although the difference is that he had no other choice than to fight. He got cornered after all. I am not going to let the same events play out again. Never." Her eyes glowed with determination and conviction.
Completely taken aback by her shift in tone, even he felt her determination.
"My bad.." But at the same time, Hotaru felt somewhat discouraged at her words.
"Do not worry, you will face plenty of strong opponents in the future that will help you grow. Just be patient."
"I hope so." While Hotaru murmured to himself regarding different techniques and applications, she continued wondering why someone as dangerous as Reo would enter the thunderdome known as A. Terra.
He's been a wanted criminal ever since the 2016 incident where he killed two of his classmates, went on a rampage and suddenly disappeared shortly after. Furthermore, his victims have been steadily increasing throughout the decade. What's strange is that his targets have no consistency at all.
Could he be associated with those people back from the old era? Where's the source of his corrupt Nucleus? And how did he obtain it? All of these were questions that she'd have to ask Reo himself later in the interrogation room.
With Reo's body being lifted and dragged across their view, Hotaru couldn't help but to wonder how strong he really was. Crossing his arms while sighing he asked her.
"So, how was he?" Amaterasu paused slightly.
"Really strong. He is an individual whose style usually centres around pure power more than tactical prowess." She thought back on the battle. There was more to him.
"In spite of reports throughout the years, he is more than capable of switching fighting styles and approaches on demand. At times, it is as if he's taking someone else's form." Amaterasu's eyes peeled at her left hand briefly, feeling it still shaking from the massive aftershock.
"He's quite cunning and intuitive as well, despite his head being totally out of it. This time he played into my hands, I simply won utilizing the small windows of opportunity. That is how I won." Although she won decisively, having to resort to her sister's weapon towards the late stages did make her slightly disappointed.
"I see. Good for you ma'am." He said in a joking manner.
Responding back was a backshot to his head.
"Ow! That stung pretty bad you know! Had you hit me in the temple, I might have been a goner!"
"Let us go clean up this mess."
"Aye aye, ma'm" Despite joking around, Hotaru still felt a miniature amount of tightness within his chest. Almost as if the air still had trouble holding onto itself, as to not get completely drowned out by enormous amounts of energy. Nonetheless, he continued on.