Mahou Academy Fantasy

Chapter 15 Awakening - part 2

       Yasu yelled as veins popped out across his body, his physical strength doubling, and he burst free from the gravitational field. "What?!" the Black Star Guild member exclaimed, shocked. "No one else can do that! People usually just struggle and move within the field, but... this is the first time I've seen someone, especially a teenager, break out of it." The guild member couldn't do much except maintain the ward to control the beast that was losing control.

      Suddenly, Yasu was struck from the other side. The corrupted spirit, Date Masamune, had arrived. "Masamune, huh? Just in time! Hold that kid off while I finish taming this beast's soul!" the Black Star Guild member shouted, giving orders.

      Masamune roared and rushed at Yasu, throwing a punch. "You're in my way!" Yasu blocked the attack and countered with a strike. He noticed his punch felt lighter and stronger. "My body... it feels so light. Is this because of the gear?" Yasu thought, quickly focusing again.

       Yasu rushed toward the guild member, but Masamune blocked his path once more. "I told you, you're in my way!" Yasu yelled, blocking the incoming attack before delivering a powerful kick that sent Masamune flying.

      "Strike that man down! I sense something familiar from that beast!" the voice in Yasu's mind echoed again. "You're still here?!" Yasu thought, startled by the voice. "I'm a part of you. Don't worry about me. Just strike that man down!" the voice urged, as Yasu closed in on the guild member.

       At that moment, Masamune appeared behind Yasu with a katana. "A katana?! I can't block that!" Yasu thought, unable to react in time. But the blade was blocked by someone else. "Good job holding out, Kusonaki. I'll handle this corrupted spirit!" Kazuhiko said, kicking Masamune away.

       Yasu nodded and rushed toward the guild member again. "Reinforcements?! Tsk, I was almost done taming this beast's soul... Come on!" the guild member panicked. Yasu swung his fist, but suddenly he fell to the ground—the boost effect had worn off. "Damn it... Why now?" Yasu thought, powerless.

       "I don't know why, but it looks like you've run out of time. It's my win," the Black Star Guild member said with a smug smile. But then, he was suddenly punched away. "Gah! That hit... Was that a distortion?!" The guild member, thrown far, struggled to get up. "You're here too, Satou Katsuyori?!"

         "Sorry I'm late, Kusonaki. We'll handle the rest," Katsuyori said.

        With no one holding the ward, it broke apart, and Hajime stepped out. A menacing aura, the Maatsu, flowed from his body. Katsuyori quickly turned to prepare for Hajime's attack, but then Hajime suddenly started writhing in pain. "What the-?" Yasu and Katsuyori were both shocked by what they saw.

       Moments earlier, inside the ward, Hajime's soul could feel the pain from the ward on his body. "Ah... If this beast gets fully tamed, I'll stop being human... but if I stay like this, I'll die too. Sorry, Grandpa... I guess I'm going to die..." Hajime thought in despair, feeling hopeless.

       "Do you want to live?" a voice echoed from the darkness. "Huh? Who's there?" Hajime searched for the source of the voice. "I am Albion Gwiber, or you could say I'm the divine construct carved into your body," the voice responded. "Divine construct? Ah, the thing Kusonaki mentioned..." Hajime realized.

       "I can see you're at a crossroads between life and death. And I sense a familiar presence outside—maybe it's Ddraig, which is why I've awakened now," Albion said.

       "And how can you help me? I can't move. I can't even lift a finger," Hajime replied.

       "If you want to live, I'll tell you the true name of your divine construct," Albion said.

       "Read it aloud—the name is right in front of you," Albion's voice echoed, and the name of the divine construct appeared before Hajime. "Dividing Gear: White Dragon Emperor's Dragon Hand," Hajime read with his mind. His right hand began to glow with white light, forming a gear similar to Yasu's, but in white.

      "Now, place your Dividing Gear on your chest and use its ability," Albion instructed. "What?! You want me to divide myself in two? Like how I divided Ken's ability?!" Hajime was shocked. "Do you have any other option?" Albion asked.

       "No..." Hajime replied, looking at the Dividing Gear on his right hand.

       Struggling, he slowly moved his hand toward his chest. "Dividing Gear... Divide!" Hajime shouted in his mind, terrified of what would happen but knowing it was his only chance to survive.

      Outside, Hajime's body split into two, and the white light freed him from the beast's control. The berserk body released a massive burst of black lightning, and suddenly, a giant tree began to grow rapidly, scattering those nearby.

       The tree grew so tall it could be seen from far away. "What is that?!" a citizen yelled. "Papa! Mama! Look at that big tree!" a little girl said, pointing out of her window in Tokyo City.

        Once the tree finished growing, the beast revealed its true form: a giant turtle large enough to crush the land. Hajime, now with white wings, flew above it, staring in awe. "This is... Xuan Wu... the legendary beast my grandpa talked about," Hajime said, realizing he was flying. "Oh, I can fly?! Wow!" Hajime exclaimed, surprised by his wings and his newfound ability to fly.

         "But how am I supposed to fight this thing? It's huge..." Hajime thought, struggling to figure out a plan. Suddenly, he noticed a familiar figure appear beside him. He turned to look and widened his eyes in shock. 

                                                                        "Satou... Ken?!"