Don’t think too badly of me
The apostle to the god [Beldrana], and the leader of [Anthrax], Benante.
To him, tonight’s battle was outside his expectations.
He deemed it implausible that an organization would attack them when they were conducting their ritual as he was returning to the island.
There were only a few select people that knew he would be coming back to the island to perform the ritual. Most of them were in organizations that stood equal to [Anthrax].
Only the top brass of such organization like [Metallica] and [Mega Death] would know he would be here, and it was implausible that they would launch an offensive against him.
He would be lying if he said he didn’t panic when he recieved news of the attack.
But, that was it.
From what he could understand from the reports, it was someone from [Metallica] who deffected.
They were led by names such as Nate Komori and Reiji Ikeno who were impressive youngsters, but they were not a threat.
Even if they were elites, they were only some small scale organization.
They only had few troops in the island, but their quality was top notch. They were brothers that believed in the same faith. In the worst case scenario, they could call in reinforcements from outside.
While the enemy was being led by a well known commander, he wouldn’t lose by comparison.
‘There is no way I would lose. Nate Komori.. He was only in [Metallica] for a few years, yet he managed to rise up to an executive position. He’s certainly a capable person.’
He will admit, this man had an impressive resume. Despite his brilliance, he made a mistake.
Benante himself wanted this fight to happen. He wanted to acquire Metallica’s technology, but he couldn’t just go and provoke them. Now that defectors from Metallica attacked them, they would have no complaints if they salvaged what they left after the battle.
A [Slayer] that kills? That only made him laugh.
‘I, Benante, will handing down god’s divine punishment down unto you lot’
‘We were satisfied in our little island, worshipping our god without obstruction. Yet, outsiders came and meddled in our worship. We couldn’t just stand by and wait for our demise. So we became strong. We went out the island to preach our god’s teachings. We finally achieved peace’
‘And they want to destroy us? A mere newly founded organization dare attack us?!’
Ten years ago, Benante’s father, who was then the chief of their tribe, was killed by a [Guardian] during one of their blood rituals.
His female childhood friend that volunteered to be a sacrifice, was saved. Those outsiders sullied her resolve to devote herself to their god.
After she was rescued, the heathens burned their holy forest and desecrated their god’s altar.
The savages desecrated and destroyed everything he valued.
He made a resolve to prevent the same thing from happening again.
He trained himself on the shamanic arts, and despite the hypocrisy, he studied the outside world which he hated so much. He seeked knowledge to survive.
To win, he even resorted to cowardly tactics. Poison, traps, and other despicable methods didn’t bother him. Winning is winning. That’s all that mattered to him.
Objectively, his versatility was quite high. Unlike his fellow tribals, he had the aptitude to deal and adapt with the outside world.
It was expected of him, the High Shaman of [Anthrax].
He was pure in the eyes of god, stale yet unyielding. He was the most promising youth in their tribe in the past. Naturally, he would come to lead [Anthrax].
“It’s almost time.. preparations should be finished by now”
Grasping his unyielding faith and indomitable will, he knelt at the altar located in the middle of the island, taking command. Their ritual was proceeding smoothly.
“B-Benante!”
Just as he was about to issue his commands, a tribal in his late years was running towards him with a panicked face.
“Is there movement?”
“Half of the demonic beasts we sent on the west…”
The man’s voice was shaking, but Benante fully grasped the situation.
“They got cornered by the river, and some fish people attacked them. Only half remains”
“Eh…? How did you-…?
Through the wyvern’s eyes, he saw everything. The one leading the aerial battle was Reiji Ikeno. He was also a turncoat of [Metallica], and a brilliant strategist. With his wits, it didn’t make sense why he would desert [Metallica], but now wasn’t the time.
“In the center, the enemy’s subordinate Niina is fighting unassisted, all the while shifting their central forces to other areas. Am I correct?”
“… Is god’s voice guiding you…?”
“Indeed”
The aged man was taken aback. His laughter soon resounded as he looked at Benante.
Of course, this wasn’t true. God wouldn’t waste his time with such petty things. He got information of [Slayer] from [Metallica] itself. The smaller details could be rationalized with simple analysis.
Benante believed that he wasn’t telling a lie. After all, charisma and leadership is built upon the member’s beliefs.
“There is no need to worry. While their schemes may be working, it will all end in a draw. There is no threat of immediate defeat, and time is on our side.
Their forces merely consist of what they brought to invade the island, but we have reinforcements en route from outside.
If the situation arises, I will head on to the battlefield myself”
That’s right. The situation was under control. With their schemes read, the enemies were now getting impatient. They may stand on equal terms with them for now, but it was just a matter of time till they get exhausted. Victory was certain.
Their enemy must have noticed it too.
While it was good that they rushed in incessantly into battle, they would be soon surrounded. It would be safe to say that the enemy underestimated their prowess, prompting in this reckless assault.
Despite the recklessness, they still continued to fight.
“Hmm.. but is he okay? That ‘Charisma’ guy..”
That’s right. He was expecting something from that person.
“Nate Komori. The man called ‘The Devil’s Charisma’
Benante knew Neito well. He combed through countless [Metallica] files to find that the man stood out too much.
He took down [Maroon 5] and the hero [Dylan], managed to bring the Santäna under him and took over [Crimson]. In Manhattan, he managed to kill the famous [Slipknot], desecrating his body in front of millions through national television.
While he was certainly unpredictable, there were some parts he could analyze.
His strength lied in this erratic behavior and his cunning tactics. His firm will to use heinous methods and brutal tactics, sparing no thoughts of the implications were his core strength.
“That’s right… he’s hiding himself at the moment.. we should be careful”
“Indeed. But he will appear sooner or later. That’s why..”
Benante already knew what Nate was after.
He was going behind their lines stealthily, waiting an opportunity to assassinate him and effectively cutting off the the head. Or maybe he would capture him and force [Anthrax] to work under him. There were various lines of thought he could follow, but it was all useless.
Through the wyvern’s eyes, he saw him jump out of the aircraft without parachute nor transformation, transforming only a few seconds before he hit the ground.
His courage was certainly commendable, but Benante didn’t feel he could lose.
Even if Nate appeared in front of him, beating him in a fight, [Anthrax] wouldn’t fall to ruin. Everyone believed the their god [Beldrana]. He was no more than a prophet in the tribal’s eyes.
If he could become a hostage and incite the tribals to further anger, he could die happy.
And previously..
“I have a way to deal with Nate Komori, and it’s already in motion”
Benante scantily laughed, and told the old man the truth.
‘Nate Komori. You certainly have the talent to stand amongst the strong. But all those victories you had were against the forces of [Justice]. But I am different
I do what I want and protect what I come to protect, no matter what it takes. We are but the same side of a coin.. you and I are both villains. I already know what you are going to do.
Understand that you are not the only villain in the world.’
Benante was now waiting for the trap he prepared to be sprung.
※※
“They would crumble in an hour huh…”
Neito blended in the dark bushes surrounding him as he checked his watch.
They already discussed the plan when they were still in the aircraft.
The plan gave him an hour of opportunity. He needed to defeat Benante by then or they would lose.
He didn’t know what was currently happening, but he knew Tsurugi must have already transformed and engaging enemy, all the while Ikeno was able to stretch the enemy lines thin.
It was now a race against time.
Neito slowed his breathing and moved forward.
He knew he could arrive at his destination in a few minutes if he transformed, but he didn’t do it.
If he got caught up in a fight against demonic beasts, then he could get easily surrounded. Once his position was known, it would be all over for them. (1)
Advancing in a dark forest where demonic beasts could show up anytime took a toll on him both physically and mentally. Yet, he had no choice but to continue.
He wasn’t against allies of justice this time. He was up against [The Prophet] Benante. While he was in Metallica, he researched about him thoroughly, knowing he would eventually fight him one day. He wasn’t an opponent he could let down his guard with.
To defeat him, he needed to go into this one man mission.
If he manages to bring [Anthrax] under his control, [Slayer] would have the means to bear fangs against the world.
“… Once this is all over, I should try and invite Ikeno out for drinks..”
His thoughts began to wander off.
While they hated and had a debt to settle with each other, there was nothing wrong with inviting a comrade out for a drink.
“… No, never mind.. that’s a bad idea.”
He understood that he was getting tired. his mind was even thinking of preposterous ideas. He needed to focus and push on.
As he stepped forward, he heard noise coming from behind him.
Coming from above, a sharp cut of blade cutting through air rang from behind.
The next moment, he felt his back burning hot.
It took him a second to understand, but he understood he was just hit from behind.
There was someone who was able to identify his current location and send out an attack.
He tried turning around but he couldn’t do so.
Before he knew it, he was punched in the face and was tumbling sideways.
He felt the power of a right hook punch thrown with a perfect form aided by the power of the thrusters.
As he was in his untransformed state, the attack was too much for him to bare.
“.. Guhaa–!!”
He slammed into a giant tree, and as he fell to the ground, he took a look at his attacker.
An imposing height and a elongated face. An expression that that yelled confidence. Shrouded in a white and blue color, his [Armor Thruster] rang as the dim light emmitted by the [Break•Blade] shone.
“That” man was standing in front of him.
“.. Don’t think too badly of me Komori”
His voice was as smooth as always, always attracting women to him.
“… Ike.. no…”
With those two hits, Neito was on the ground. He wouldn’t be able to get up anytime soon.
The man he entered the company with together, as well as the man who he was in a cooperation with, stood in front of his beaten body.
1. Changed “Magical Beasts” to “Demon beasts”.
And I thought this was a shounen novel.. It’s never too late to change the genre to Seinen.
Food for thought: “If you shove a finger to a person’s arsehole, you would technically be wearing them as a ring”
Don’t think too badly of me
The apostle to the god [Beldrana], and the leader of [Anthrax], Benante.
To him, tonight’s battle was outside his expectations.
He deemed it implausible that an organization would attack them when they were conducting their ritual as he was returning to the island.
There were only a few select people that knew he would be coming back to the island to perform the ritual. Most of them were in organizations that stood equal to [Anthrax].
Only the top brass of such organization like [Metallica] and [Mega Death] would know he would be here, and it was implausible that they would launch an offensive against him.
He would be lying if he said he didn’t panic when he recieved news of the attack.
But, that was it.
From what he could understand from the reports, it was someone from [Metallica] who deffected.
They were led by names such as Nate Komori and Reiji Ikeno who were impressive youngsters, but they were not a threat.
Even if they were elites, they were only some small scale organization.
They only had few troops in the island, but their quality was top notch. They were brothers that believed in the same faith. In the worst case scenario, they could call in reinforcements from outside.
While the enemy was being led by a well known commander, he wouldn’t lose by comparison.
‘There is no way I would lose. Nate Komori.. He was only in [Metallica] for a few years, yet he managed to rise up to an executive position. He’s certainly a capable person.’
He will admit, this man had an impressive resume. Despite his brilliance, he made a mistake.
Benante himself wanted this fight to happen. He wanted to acquire Metallica’s technology, but he couldn’t just go and provoke them. Now that defectors from Metallica attacked them, they would have no complaints if they salvaged what they left after the battle.
A [Slayer] that kills? That only made him laugh.
‘I, Benante, will handing down god’s divine punishment down unto you lot’
‘We were satisfied in our little island, worshipping our god without obstruction. Yet, outsiders came and meddled in our worship. We couldn’t just stand by and wait for our demise. So we became strong. We went out the island to preach our god’s teachings. We finally achieved peace’
‘And they want to destroy us? A mere newly founded organization dare attack us?!’
Ten years ago, Benante’s father, who was then the chief of their tribe, was killed by a [Guardian] during one of their blood rituals.
His female childhood friend that volunteered to be a sacrifice, was saved. Those outsiders sullied her resolve to devote herself to their god.
After she was rescued, the heathens burned their holy forest and desecrated their god’s altar.
The savages desecrated and destroyed everything he valued.
He made a resolve to prevent the same thing from happening again.
He trained himself on the shamanic arts, and despite the hypocrisy, he studied the outside world which he hated so much. He seeked knowledge to survive.
To win, he even resorted to cowardly tactics. Poison, traps, and other despicable methods didn’t bother him. Winning is winning. That’s all that mattered to him.
Objectively, his versatility was quite high. Unlike his fellow tribals, he had the aptitude to deal and adapt with the outside world.
It was expected of him, the High Shaman of [Anthrax].
He was pure in the eyes of god, stale yet unyielding. He was the most promising youth in their tribe in the past. Naturally, he would come to lead [Anthrax].
“It’s almost time.. preparations should be finished by now”
Grasping his unyielding faith and indomitable will, he knelt at the altar located in the middle of the island, taking command. Their ritual was proceeding smoothly.
“B-Benante!”
Just as he was about to issue his commands, a tribal in his late years was running towards him with a panicked face.
“Is there movement?”
“Half of the demonic beasts we sent on the west…”
The man’s voice was shaking, but Benante fully grasped the situation.
“They got cornered by the river, and some fish people attacked them. Only half remains”
“Eh…? How did you-…?
Through the wyvern’s eyes, he saw everything. The one leading the aerial battle was Reiji Ikeno. He was also a turncoat of [Metallica], and a brilliant strategist. With his wits, it didn’t make sense why he would desert [Metallica], but now wasn’t the time.
“In the center, the enemy’s subordinate Niina is fighting unassisted, all the while shifting their central forces to other areas. Am I correct?”
“… Is god’s voice guiding you…?”
“Indeed”
The aged man was taken aback. His laughter soon resounded as he looked at Benante.
Of course, this wasn’t true. God wouldn’t waste his time with such petty things. He got information of [Slayer] from [Metallica] itself. The smaller details could be rationalized with simple analysis.
Benante believed that he wasn’t telling a lie. After all, charisma and leadership is built upon the member’s beliefs.
“There is no need to worry. While their schemes may be working, it will all end in a draw. There is no threat of immediate defeat, and time is on our side.
Their forces merely consist of what they brought to invade the island, but we have reinforcements en route from outside.
If the situation arises, I will head on to the battlefield myself”
That’s right. The situation was under control. With their schemes read, the enemies were now getting impatient. They may stand on equal terms with them for now, but it was just a matter of time till they get exhausted. Victory was certain.
Their enemy must have noticed it too.
While it was good that they rushed in incessantly into battle, they would be soon surrounded. It would be safe to say that the enemy underestimated their prowess, prompting in this reckless assault.
Despite the recklessness, they still continued to fight.
“Hmm.. but is he okay? That ‘Charisma’ guy..”
That’s right. He was expecting something from that person.
“Nate Komori. The man called ‘The Devil’s Charisma’
Benante knew Neito well. He combed through countless [Metallica] files to find that the man stood out too much.
He took down [Maroon 5] and the hero [Dylan], managed to bring the Santäna under him and took over [Crimson]. In Manhattan, he managed to kill the famous [Slipknot], desecrating his body in front of millions through national television.
While he was certainly unpredictable, there were some parts he could analyze.
His strength lied in this erratic behavior and his cunning tactics. His firm will to use heinous methods and brutal tactics, sparing no thoughts of the implications were his core strength.
“That’s right… he’s hiding himself at the moment.. we should be careful”
“Indeed. But he will appear sooner or later. That’s why..”
Benante already knew what Nate was after.
He was going behind their lines stealthily, waiting an opportunity to assassinate him and effectively cutting off the the head. Or maybe he would capture him and force [Anthrax] to work under him. There were various lines of thought he could follow, but it was all useless.
Through the wyvern’s eyes, he saw him jump out of the aircraft without parachute nor transformation, transforming only a few seconds before he hit the ground.
His courage was certainly commendable, but Benante didn’t feel he could lose.
Even if Nate appeared in front of him, beating him in a fight, [Anthrax] wouldn’t fall to ruin. Everyone believed the their god [Beldrana]. He was no more than a prophet in the tribal’s eyes.
If he could become a hostage and incite the tribals to further anger, he could die happy.
And previously..
“I have a way to deal with Nate Komori, and it’s already in motion”
Benante scantily laughed, and told the old man the truth.
‘Nate Komori. You certainly have the talent to stand amongst the strong. But all those victories you had were against the forces of [Justice]. But I am different
I do what I want and protect what I come to protect, no matter what it takes. We are but the same side of a coin.. you and I are both villains. I already know what you are going to do.
Understand that you are not the only villain in the world.’
Benante was now waiting for the trap he prepared to be sprung.
※※
“They would crumble in an hour huh…”
Neito blended in the dark bushes surrounding him as he checked his watch.
They already discussed the plan when they were still in the aircraft.
The plan gave him an hour of opportunity. He needed to defeat Benante by then or they would lose.
He didn’t know what was currently happening, but he knew Tsurugi must have already transformed and engaging enemy, all the while Ikeno was able to stretch the enemy lines thin.
It was now a race against time.
Neito slowed his breathing and moved forward.
He knew he could arrive at his destination in a few minutes if he transformed, but he didn’t do it.
If he got caught up in a fight against demonic beasts, then he could get easily surrounded. Once his position was known, it would be all over for them. (1)
Advancing in a dark forest where demonic beasts could show up anytime took a toll on him both physically and mentally. Yet, he had no choice but to continue.
He wasn’t against allies of justice this time. He was up against [The Prophet] Benante. While he was in Metallica, he researched about him thoroughly, knowing he would eventually fight him one day. He wasn’t an opponent he could let down his guard with.
To defeat him, he needed to go into this one man mission.
If he manages to bring [Anthrax] under his control, [Slayer] would have the means to bear fangs against the world.
“… Once this is all over, I should try and invite Ikeno out for drinks..”
His thoughts began to wander off.
While they hated and had a debt to settle with each other, there was nothing wrong with inviting a comrade out for a drink.
“… No, never mind.. that’s a bad idea.”
He understood that he was getting tired. his mind was even thinking of preposterous ideas. He needed to focus and push on.
As he stepped forward, he heard noise coming from behind him.
Coming from above, a sharp cut of blade cutting through air rang from behind.
The next moment, he felt his back burning hot.
It took him a second to understand, but he understood he was just hit from behind.
There was someone who was able to identify his current location and send out an attack.
He tried turning around but he couldn’t do so.
Before he knew it, he was punched in the face and was tumbling sideways.
He felt the power of a right hook punch thrown with a perfect form aided by the power of the thrusters.
As he was in his untransformed state, the attack was too much for him to bare.
“.. Guhaa–!!”
He slammed into a giant tree, and as he fell to the ground, he took a look at his attacker.
An imposing height and a elongated face. An expression that that yelled confidence. Shrouded in a white and blue color, his [Armor Thruster] rang as the dim light emmitted by the [Break•Blade] shone.
“That” man was standing in front of him.
“.. Don’t think too badly of me Komori”
His voice was as smooth as always, always attracting women to him.
“… Ike.. no…”
With those two hits, Neito was on the ground. He wouldn’t be able to get up anytime soon.
The man he entered the company with together, as well as the man who he was in a cooperation with, stood in front of his beaten body.
1. Changed “Magical Beasts” to “Demon beasts”.
And I thought this was a shounen novel.. It’s never too late to change the genre to Seinen.
Food for thought: “If you shove a finger to a person’s arsehole, you would technically be wearing them as a ring”
