Chapter 9
Whoosh !!!!!!!
Faster... We have to go faster !!!
Whoosh!!!!!
Sakura and Renji soared through the sky, the wind tearing past them with ear-splitting intensity. Clouds whipped past like frozen streaks of silver, but their focus was unwavering. Every beat of their hearts seemed synchronized with the pulsing mana surging through the air.
Sakura broke the tense silence first, her voice trembling despite her composed posture. " I don't understand januza-sama How… how is a god here and why now? It's… impossible." She clenched her fists, feeling the raw force of the energy surge as another pulse hit.
GBIM!!!
The mana surge slammed into them like a physical blow, the very air vibrating with power.
Renji bared his teeth, a faint, grim grin tugging at his lips. "Tch… we don't have any time to waste," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing to sharp slits. Is this really Azerin? No… it can't be. It has to be someone else… let's go!
His body tensed, muscles coiling as if ready to spring. Sakura mirrored him, letting her mana flow freely through her veins. Her eyes glowed like twin beacons, reflecting the surging energy that twisted the sky around them.
With a synchronized movement, they shot forward
Whoosh!!!
slicing through the clouds with terrifying speed, the world blurring into streaks of gold and white beneath them.
Meanwhile down below, the stadium was chaos incarnate. The usual roar of fans had been replaced by screaming and panic as a colossal purple gate materialized directly above the pitch.
Dozens of SS-ranked hunters had gathered, their eyes wide with awe and fear. The air itself throbbed with the intensity of the mana, bending the very space around the stadium.
Elena Warwick, one of the Nine Pillars of Humanity, stood at the forefront. Her posture was rigid, aura simmering with control, every fiber of her being focused. Around her, the other SS-ranked hunters trembled, their fear almost palpable.
One whispered, voice trembling, "It… it feels like my body is being destroyed from the inside out… just by looking at it."
Another echoed softly, "Are… are you feeling this too?"
A third, barely audible over the din of the energy, muttered, "Ooooi… are you feeling what I'm feeling right now?"
It's like it's alive how is a gate fucking alive!!
Elena spun around, glare sharp enough to cut steel. "EYES FORWARD! If you are scared of death, then leave! Now!" Her tone was harsh, commanding, and laced with deadly authority.
She scanned them, voice low and unyielding. "If none of you cannot look death in the eye… if you cower at the first hint of danger… then tell me! Tell me your will to leave! Your purpose is meaningless if you abandon courage!"
GBIM!!! Another pulse from the gate slammed into the stadium, sending hunters sprawling, their mana shields barely holding against the raw onslaught. The purple aura twisted and writhed like a living thing, pulsing with intent.
Elena's teeth clenched. A gate isn't meant to survive seven days like this… but this… this is alive. Shit… is this what happened in Japan?
Her lips curled into a determined smile. If this is the challenge that will take my life today, then so be it. I, Elena Warwick… one of the Nine Pillars of Humanity, the Pillar of Light… will not back down.
With a surge of mana flowing through her entire body ... her aura erupted like a supernova. Light cascaded from her body, wrapping her in a radiant cocoon of energy. Her eyes shone pure white, burning with energy
The other hunters staggered, blinded by the sheer brilliance.
One gasped, awe in his voice. "That's it… that's Elena Warwick… Lumin Mantle… her Mantle of Light!!"
Elena screamed once more, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "EYES FORWARD!!"
Then, BOOM!!! Two figures slammed into the stadium. The shockwave flung hunters across the field, the stands rattling as if caught in an earthquake. Dust, debris, and mana swirled around them, the noise deafening.
When the dust cleared, all eyes fell upon Renji Kurogane and a mysterious figure..Sakura.
The hunters' shouts rose in unison, a mixture of awe, relief, and disbelief. "Ooooiii! It's Renji Kurogane!"
Renji's gaze locked on Elena Warwick, sharp and unwavering. His presence radiated authority, the aura of a god brushing against the limits of mortal comprehension.
Elena's eyes widened, shock and disbelief flashing across her features. "Renji… Sakura-san… how… how are you here?"
Sakura stepped forward, her aura crackling like lightning, eyes shining like polished gems. "We felt the magical energy of the gate," she said simply, her voice carrying over the chaos with an almost calm authority.
Elena blinked. " Huhh Are you serious? You felt the magical power… despite being in another country?"
Sakura smiled faintly, amusement glinting in her eyes. " Uhhh well… why am I surprised?" She glanced at Renji. "Renji is technically a god… and you… well, you're on another class entirely."
Renji's gaze turned to the gate, eyes narrowing as recognition flickered within. The energy was unmistakable. He knew it.
This aura… this mana… it's not just powerful… it's something else entirely... Why do I recognize this aura , it's familiar...
Meanwhile, in Renji's home, Lily screamed, clutching her head as waves of magical energy erupted from her body uncontrollably.
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" Her voice echoed through the room, raw and pained. Her body shook violently, energy flowing through her like molten fire.
Lily's eyes glowed gold, tears streaking her cheeks as she gritted her teeth. " What....What… what is happening to me?!" she screamed, body trembling as it seemed to act of its own accord.
And Dracan felt it...
From the void, darkness swirled into existence Dracan. He had felt the surge from his own dimension and arrived instantly.
"Lily-sama!" He touched her briefly, recoiling in shock at the fire burning within her.." impossible she's burning like the sun.." Then, swiftly, he cloaked her in darkness, the energy stabilizing as he healed her from the inside out.
"It's okay… Lily-sama… you're going to be alright," he whispered, eyes wide with concern.
Shit! "Renji-sama… where are you!!"
Back at Old Trafford, the gate finally shattered violently. BOOM!!! Hunters were thrown backward as the shockwave of energy ripped through the stadium, debris flying like deadly hail.
Renji, Sakura, and Elena stood their ground, their auras flaring in response. The wave of energy pressed against them like a physical force, suffocating and overwhelming.
Then without thought and without question
GBIM!!!
Another pulse erupted, driving all three to their knees. The air itself seemed to conspire against them, dense and unyielding.
"This… this aura…" Sakura gasped. She struggled to steady herself. "I know this magical energy…!"
A figure slowly emerged from the broken gate. Her presence was divine, radiating an aura so immense it warped reality around her.
Silver hair danced in the wind, nine golden rings rotating perfectly around her form, each pulsing with synchronized power.
Renji's eyes widened in shock, disbelief strangling his voice.
Sakura's mouth opened, but words failed her.
How... How??
"My… L…" She couldn't finish, frozen by awe.
Finally, Renji's voice broke the silence, raw and trembling with recognition.
" M..Mother!!"
Time seemed to freeze as the figure descended fully, her divine energy radiating like the sun, golden rings orbiting with perfect harmony. Even the remnants of the stadium trembled beneath her presence.