"So. Teleportation. An useful technique admittedly spammed by us Airentines because of its ease and efficiency obviously, but all that convenience comes with a prize. Its the most hardest technique to master"

Captain said standing in a baseball filed under a railway bridge running across the nearby river. He walked back and forth as he talked into a phone. On the other end of the line was Tarou and Aoki stationed on the roof top of his house.

He was wearing his school tracksuit and had headphones on. "I think this distance is a little too far, let's just take smaller steps, can't we?"Aoki asked nervously "Sometimes you have to run before you can walk Matsumoto" Captain replied.

"Don't you think we should explain molecular dispersion first ?" Tarou suggested to captain loudly from behind.

"That's ancient, besides if he can't concentrate enough he will combine into another object, or something might get trapped within him, he'll end up sticking out of a tree or a vehicle" Captain warned. "Captain, I'd prefer anything concluding with me being alive please" Aoki requested.

"Time space displacement technique is modern, refined and no dispersion and combination is required, hence. Less strains are burnt. Its a simple A to B bridging with travel time compressed to milliseconds and distance to millimetres"Captain said.

"Okay...Science stuff from a wizard" Aoki sighed.

"Alright, now concentrate on your magical projection, imagine where I am, breath in and hold it, count to 3 if it helps and Start multiplying your channel paths into more than three partitions, it will merge back into single channel within seconds, you need to pretend to take off before that. The fusion will phase you through reality into the palace you were thinking of"

As captain finished his explanation, Aoki vanished. Tarou was not expecting him to get it on the first try. He teleported to captain's location... Or so it seemed but Aoki hadn't reached. Tarou instantly joined captain. Both of them were a little worried.

"Umm, where's the kid?"Captain asked.

"Seriously captain?, We shouldn't have skipped the basics"
Tarou complained.

"I think that's the first time you have ever blamed me"

"I said we captain"

"You were always polite Tarou, why don't you just say it"

"Say what?, that you expected more from him just because he was a Matsumoto and now he has disappeared into thin air without a trace hence YOU are responsible for it?"

"A simple I told you so was enough"

"I can't believe this is the conversation we're having, just use the phone sir"

"It's disconnected"

"Well, redial then"

"How do you do that?"

Both looked at each other and then at the phone. Aoki is stuck underground beneath them struggling and screaming, with no room to even breath. Tarou and captain managed to open the phone app. Aoki continued screaming.

"He is here somewhere I can feel his presence" Said captain
Both of them look around and heard a faint muffled scream. Both slowly looked down at the ground and back at eachother.

Few moments later**

"Okay. I'm never doing that ever again" Said Aoki sitting on the slope leading to the field and dusting off mud from his head and coller.

"forget everything I said let's start from the basics" Said captain in an apologetic tone. Tarou clapped sarcastically
Captain sighed and bent his head.

"Now listen carefully. In time space displacement teleportation you actually will walk the real distance to the place you want to teleport to, but it happens so fast that your brain can't register it, hence you'll have to practice one thing. Awaken your brain during the walk and maintain your path on a straight line. If you feel like you're climbing uphill, then you'll end up above the targeted destination, if it feels like down hill, you know what happens" Captain explained.

"I don't remember anything, I Just closed my eyes clenched my butt and bhoom, I was buried alive"
Aoki said

"This is going to take a minute Tarou"Caption said while scratching his tattoo.

"This is exciting, I'm loveing this, it's like Naruto learning rasengan or Ichigo mastering bankai"

"What?" Both asked simultaneously

"Wait. I have an IDEA!"

Tarou exclaimed as he looked at the street light poles.
Captain turned towards Tarou as he stood up with excitement. he couldn't help but notice his enthusiasm, the glow in his eyes, the keen interest to be a mentor, the true passion driven by his inspiration. Like he felt when Tarou was a student. Captain realised that he has to step aside and guide Tarou to improve rather than intervening. He also sees some self doubt and hesitation in him but that can be talked out of.

Your will still stands Hinaro...I hope you're proud.

Captain stood up with a bright smile and approached him
"Nice Tarou, he can master accuracy and precision at the same time" Captain said as they both look at the trail of street lights placed at equal distance along the road.

After a few minutes Aoki was standing on top of a street lamp getting ready. Barely able to balance.

"Now teleport to the pole in front of you, not in the lamp shell, on the pole head"Tarou said.

"That's not enough surface area to stand on!"Aoki cried out.

"Exactly!, Focus and pinpoint your destination, streamline your channeling and go"

Aoki vanished and missed the mark, he flew back and went for it again, still missed. He frustratedly repeated.

"Hey Aoki. Calm down. focus. picture that pole head is the most important place you have to get to, where you want to be, because one day, the safety of the people you love may depend on how fast you get to them" Tarou said.

Aoki nodded and tilted his head away from him and looked at the pole, took a deep breath and leaned forward. The next step he took was on the second pole. Aoki successfully made it. He surprised himself as he tip toed on the bald metalic surface.

"You will be going home over the poles Aoki, so keep it up. Teleport from one onto the other till we reach home, skip a pole or two if you're confident enough" Captain said.

Aoki did so as Tarou and captain walked beneath him on the street. Their shadows elongated as the last rays of the evening sun was fading, another day of training was completed.

"At this pase we can start with the Tsenjin forms soon"
Tarou exclaimed. "His attribute is Animalion and he has only one within him, which happens to be a rank-less Helldemon"Captain replied.

Tarou realised the fact and did not respond, he glanced at Aoki who was performing successful jumps on the 2nd day of teleportation training. He is hopeful in producing the most powerful worrier of modern Heavensworth, but he is reminded of the competition, the Half blood factor, Aoki being a criminal's son, There is nothing the future holds that is promising other than Aoki's raw strength and willpower. the dark history always crept up to him, he hung his head down feeling stupid for talking about Zeto Tsenjin. Captain understood Tarou's feelings.

"All I'm saying is that the Animalion attribute is rare and occurs once in a few Hundred years, last recorded person was from the Ethenio Tribe Existron. The record also says that the user went berserk"

"I understand captain, we shall take very careful steps"
Tarou replied still looking down.

"Tarou Zanguro! look at me" the captain ordered as his magical projections spiked. Tarou looked at him respectfully.

"I know what you feel, the burden you hold, But that boy up there is going to pull you out of your past, the connection you two have is special, you're getting along with a teenager? just saying that out loud feels odd"
Tarou put on a fake smile as captain spoke.

"Look, some things happens and... They weren't in your control, but that was a life time ago, look at where you are now?, A lieutenant. A certified Class 3 sorcerer. Most importantly a sensei!, Let me tell you something, He is what you needed. Aoki is going to cut you loose of your emotional baggage, he will save you one day!"

***

Those words of captain's echoed in the back of his head as he saw Aoki standing in front of Mustang with small pointy horns bulging out of his head. His hair slowly flailing as if there is no gravity, both of his foot had no flesh, they were bare bones also not that of a human's, it was big and fitted around the rest of his legs without needing any flesh on it. He stood there in a completely calm attire, Tarou's eyes slowly shut as he drifted away into unconsciousness with a grin.

Mustang raised up "The fly is hard to kill apparently"He said. Aoki is not at all phased. "Mustang Listengaurd, you pathetic swine" Aoki said in a voice which was not that of his own, confusing and surprising him. "Elite among the Hell warriors, but can't track down a human?... Disgraceful!" Aoki continued in a deeper and gravelly voice.

Aoki had fully become the medium for his inner demon as it talked using him.

"What? Who are you?, How do you know my name?"
Mustang asked furiously. "Oh I know, I know everything, the past, present and future of the demonworld, I know when Ark'A'ton Wakes up, and when he'll strike"

Shivers ran up his spine as Aoki mentioned that name.

"Just tell me who you are, you are not Aoki Matsumoto, this can't be" Mustang said.

"Let's throw some punches shall we? Let's see what training the boy has gotten" Aoki said.

Mustang took a step back, but Aoki is already right beneath him, he punched Mustang in his gut, his fist did not connect but there was a fist print on him bigger than Aoki's hand, like there was a huge invisible armour around his actual fist.

Mustang's hip went backwards while his legs and upper body stayed affixed. blood squirted out of his mouth as he was lifted up, his body was bending further and further, a circular shockwave was emitted from the impact creating a crater on the ground below, Tarou's body rolled away by the sheer force. Mustang was blasted across the locality through multiple Houses, eventually landing in a playground sand box. He  made himself upright and throw up some more blood while panting.

Aoki appeared hovering over him.

"That was too much. My bad. Guess I have to stoop down to your level to enjoy a good fight" he said mockingly.

Mustang got up and spat blood again. He applied pressure on the hit with one hand and hanged the other one free as he was a bit dizzy and patted his lashes to correct his visual orientation.

"I don't know who you are, and I don't care.
You're strong and strong people piss me off"

Mustang said and charged towards Aoki screaming, they fiercely indulged in a very fast paced hand to hand combat. Aoki was handling him effortlessly. Clearly he had the upper hand, he wiped the playground with Mustang. Literally.

"This is accelerating, this body is light and agile"
Aoki said and laughed in excitement.

"SHUT UPPPP" Mustang screamed, he pulled out his axe and continued combating using that, which was also futile. Aoki avoided and blocked every blow with incredible ease.

Mustang gained some distance and held his axe below his chest and tried to stab Aoki. As he got closer he threw the axe up, confusing him. The axe was suspended up over Aoki's head. Mustang caught and pulled it down with all his might on Aoki's head  which was random and beneficiary for him. Aoki blocked it by pulling his fore arm up but the axe cut the arm clean off. The blade landed on Aoki's shoulder. Mustang screamed and drove the axe further down his shoulders by giving it everything he had. Aoki showed no signs of pain but had a smile, the severed part of his arm was squirting blood, the visible bone from that arm grew out. Both ulna and radius. Slowly forming his  wrist, carpal bones then fingers, all the while Mustang struggled to harm him. The bones fully materialized with zero flesh. The size was not proportional to the rest of the body or the right hand, it was substantially bigger similar to his feet.

Mustang was trying to pull the axe out but it was not coming off, He was frightened by Aoki at that point, who is still having a deadly smile on his face.

"So the frog disables all magic of the person it looks at? intersting!" Aoki said out of nowhere.

Mustang was very confused and terrified by Aoki's bloodthirsty presence.

How has he figured out our strategy, he hasn't even seen Anura... who is this guy?

Mustang stared at Aoki's glowing green eyes and pondered upon its familiarity. Anura who was hiding on the roof top of a nearby building, felt the same blood-lust as his ability was ineffective.

"No wonder you managed to take down a lieutenant class mage. That's totally unfair" Aoki added.

He gripped the axe with his boney hand, the axe heated up red hot from his point of contact. Mustang detached himself from it and fell back.

"You see my magic comes from my own cells, I dont have to Channel anything from anywhere" Aoki said as his eyes got brighter. The horns in his head grew longer and curved backwards while twisting, like a ram. He pulled the axe out and threw it towards Anura, who dodged it barely. The axe spun past him with inches to spare. Anura was feeling relaxed as he escaped the attack but Aoki appeared behind Anura, He caught the axe and sliced Him into two halves and Bathing in his blood.

Mustang knelt down with his hands loose, he bowed and remembered the horns from flashes of his past, the tone of his voice also was somehow familiar to him.

"The one who scares death itself.... The true embodiment of fear... supreme knight of the demonworld, sire Kan'A'tsoro, This was a mistake my lord, I can't possibly comprehend what I have done, I shall rid myself off the mortal reality for bringing this discomfort upon you whilst your unholy deeds" he said with a shakey voice.

Aoki appeared in front of him"And now its boring... this is why I hate myself, quit with the formal crap, come fight me" He demanded.

"I'm sorry your grace, I am nothing but a worm that you can stomp away, you must rightfully do so" Mustang begged.

"Hmmmm, the fun is over after all, but...you are a formidable fighter, you lack purpose, motivation.., let's fix that" Aoki said and walked closer before placing his thumb on his forehead. Aoki began creating false memories of Mustang having a family and developed him so as to love them unconditionally, later he made all of them to be killed by Aoki, brutally in front of him. He leaned closer to mustang's ears and said. "Now get stronger and come back for your revenge Mustang Listengaurd!"

Mustang fell down on the ground unconscious.

"Nice, entertainment scheduled... Indefinitely!" Aoki said as his horns grew further and started winding in curls.

Aoki was then the sesmic fucus of a tremendous amount of energy which encapsulated within a single human's body. His body heat ignited the vapours around him to steam instantly. He levitated before melting the ground. Such immense energy if released as an explosion could mimic a few multiples of a nuclear blast.

Suddenly time stop all around, Tarou entered the ground drenched in blood, he was leaning on a wall for support. The paused time did not stop Aoki, he turned towards Tarou and slowly approached him. The palm of Aoki's hand glowing red hot. Tarou took a deep breath and whispered.

"Zenbara!"

The man in a cage from before appeared in front of the tree where The beast is tied within Aoki's spiritual realm. The legs of the beast were loosened, and Mel was found fallen in front the tree. He phased through the bars of the cage and came out. He lifted his hands up and closed his fist, all the chains on the beast got tighter, he proceeded towards Mel. "Thank you for saving him but never try to do that ever again"He warned and vanished slowly.

Mel saw just a blurry image of him before she completely opened her eyes. She resurfaced out of Aoki's body to find both Tarou and Aoki knocked out. Aoki was missing three of his limbs and  there was no sign of anyone else, Mustang had disappeared with anura's body. Moments later Max arrived at the scene thanks to tonic's senses, he rushed towards them immediately and began healing.

A 200ft iron cube submerged in deep sea held down by 4 gigantic chains in each corners. three gaurds and Caption Shisuke were swimming towards it. They went under and into the air pocket within the submerged cube. Once they swam inside, there were steps on all four sides leading up to a center platform. The inside was considerably warm and humid.  There was an artificial nano star floating around which illuminated the insides and maintained the temperature. The entire space within was hollow and empty with absolute silence. On the podium, there was a lift operator waiting for their arrival. Once they stood on the platform the operator gave them a nod and  tapped his leg in a specific rhythm and the ground started to sink, the nano star followed them downwards with constant distance.

"How long ago was it?"Captain asked the operator
"It was a Rank 1 magical array transcending dimensions. Couple of minutes ago. No one has ever been able to even channel minimum magic to stay alive in these walls, this man is on another level" The operator said.

The platform stopped at an opening with nothing in front of it. Shisuke and company stepped out of the pocket but there was no path in front of them, it was just a wall. The operator tapped his feet again and the the wall moved to revealing a maze. The wall which was also a part of it moved sideways, all the walls reshuffled to make a way leading them towards a lock up straight ahead.

One of the guard said "woah" under his breath. The operator looked at him with a smile and said.

"Woah indeed...this maze is intricate and different every day, it always leads back to the cell on command. It's impenetrable and unbreakable. If anyone tries to break in, they will die of fatigue before they reach the cell or out of it" The operator said with pride.

"Ok. Do not advance, I'll talk to him" Captain commanded and he went forward alone. He walked up to the cell to find him sitting on his bed reading a book upside down.

"You couldn't find anymore guards?" Zenbara asked as he flipped a page. He was in the exact same cage with which he used to appear within Aoki's spiritual realm.

"You keep this up they're going to station a guard in front of your cell permanently" captain said angrily and sighed. "what was it this time?" He added a question as he glanced at the guard who were more curious about the surroundings than the mission.

Zenbara closed his book "Helldwellers!" He said.

"What...? For Ayame?"

"Most probably"

"What kind?"

"A herbivore, who outranked Zanguro, and a reptile obstructor with visual provis" Zenbara said as he closed in towards captain.

Did they handle it?" Captain asked curiously

"The demon was on the loose, but it's taken care of, the injuries might be major" he said while holding the bars.

"Everwell and his pet had made contact with them so injuries are nothing to be worried about"Captain consoled.

Zenbara sighed and leaned against the grills.

"She is going to get here eventually, she will be captured zen, and also the Helldwellers will not let a damned soul go just like that. She's being cornered out there" Captain expressed.

Zenbara did not reply he stood there looking at the floor in deep thoughts.

"Why are you letting them keep you in here? Your son is not going to get the normal life you were hoping for, he is going to end up in Heavensworth, one way or another. Why wouldn't he?, both of his parents will be here after all"
Captain said and stopped expecting a response.

Zenbara kept quiet naturally.

"What do you think is going to happen to a half-blooded mage?  You need to be there for him. What about your people, your team, is this what your Father would have wanted for you?, to drag you family name through filth? Do you think Otsukoshi will be happy to see you like this?"

Captain questioned while getting louder and faster with each one.

"Well he's dead, isn't he? Doesn't matter if he's happy or mad. Kyoten was right about people in power, he's an unattainable golden standard, unmatched, now all that responsibility is on Ao, he didn't ask for it"

Zenbara said as he turned and showed his back.

"You don't mean that, you don't talk about Hinaro like that zen, I'll get in there and punch you myself" Captain said in a shivering voice.

"Just listen to me this once, I..."

"Just leave Shisuke"

Zenbara said without turning back.

Captain walked away from the cell after a brief stare. He went towards the guards agressively.

"What was it captain?"One of them asked. He turned back and then looked forward.

"False alarm" he said and walked into the elevator followed by the guards. The walls re aligned into a maze behind them.

Aoki woke up in his bed with fully grown legs and arm. He felt like a mess and had no memory of anything after he got punched across houses. He raised from bed to find Tarou on the edge of the roof outside his window. He slipped out of bed and climbed through. He approached Tarou quietly and noticed that the surrounding was unhindered, the front yard and house, all the other houses, he took care of every damage. He didn't feel like bothering him any further with anything. He also had a slight guilt for lashing out on him earlier, so he simply just sat next to him, looking up at the starry night.

"Ayame is traveling through dimensions to get to Heavensworth, she wants to free your father"

Tarou said, he felt guilty for hiding it and had no reason to give against the same. Aoki was surprised but curious.

"Her soul Has been damned because of your grandfather and she will be forever hunted by the Helldwellers, I want you to stop blaming your father Aoki, all he ever did was protect you, and still does. He is the most kind and selfless man I've ever met. Tarou said and smiled.

"I don't understand. Grandpa is the reason? How? Why?" Aoki asked as his eyes started to full up rapidly

"I know you will be having so many questions but I'm not the one suited to break it to you. The right person and the right time will come, until then, I just want you to know that your mother went through hell raising you. And did so happily without any regret. She hated herself for what people called you and how they treated you but she held hope, she endured all hardships to see you smile" Tarou said and looked down.

"fate took her away from you. Aoki. I'm sure that she's out there thinking of you, every single moment. fighting for you. Both are. You are the driving force for them in any hardship. they'll destroy Heaven and hell to keep you safe. No child can ask for more. She said it and I will say it again, you are entitled to greatness Aoki" He added.

Aoki sobbed audibly and bowed down. He always thought that he lost the mother he once loved. He was wishing every single day, every single second of his existence that the person with him wasn't his mother. The gut feeling he had that his mother was elsewhere was proved to be true, amazingly. His emotions were a blend of everything, denial, sadness, anger...but most importantly he was genuinely happy, after a long time. He felt Joy. He cried for a good while. Before wiping his eyes he felt a warm embrace from Tarou, he wrapped his arms around him.

Aoki suddenly pulled out "what about those helldancers?" He asked and sniffed.

"Oh Helldwellers? Let's say it was taken care of " Tarou said Aoki sighed.

Tarou placed his hand on Aoki's shoulder and said "You should take some more rest" Tarou said and stood up.

"You knew them. My parents" she said softly.

An image of an infant and it's mother flashed before Tarou's eyes.

"Yes" he said and disappeared.

Aoki looked at the sky and smiled.
"I always knew she was the coolest "Aoki said "if you are any indication, your mother is much more than cool" Mel replied. Aoki gazed at the stars while his eyes refilled.
"I've never thought about it but I think now I have it"
Aoki said

"Have what?"

"A purpose"

"A purpose?"

"Yeah. A mission. Something to live by. Something to fight for" he stopped for a bit and sighed.  "I used to think I can go about my life tossed around by bullies, depressed and all alone. but now, I am part of something greater than anything this world can comprehend" he said with confidence.

"first. I've got a responsibility to make up to, the reason why Tarou waited for all these years, and then.... my goal!" Aoki added

"Well what is that?"

"I'll get into Heavensworth to help my mom rescue dad. She will be so surprised to see me" he chuckled as a tear rolled down his cheeks.

"My life turned upside down since the moment I met Tarou. Surprisingly this is way better than right side up. I'll make him proud" He said.

"Then why are you still crying?" Mel asked

"This will be the last one"

"Are you sure?"

"The next time I'll cry will be when I see my mom again" he said wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

Tarou heard all of it from below but time in time he was reminded of the darkness within Aoki. That raging intend to kill, the blood-lust. He felt that in the playground  yesterday. when he was coming at him in his demon form. Training Aoki is going to be far more difficult  than he'd ever imagined but he's looking forward to it. optimistically.

***

Tarou entered the room where Ayame was resting. It was a small cabin in the woods. There was a small portal open beside a table where Max was writing. Max turned towards Tarou and approached him while the pen continued writing on its own till it completed a sentence and then stopped.

"Where's tonik?" Tarou asked as he removed his cloak

"Oh he's running some errands for me" Max said and closed the door behind Tarou. The cabin disappeared to a different location within the same forest.

Tarou looked at Ayame.

"She's in pain. A lot of pain. She wants it to end, so much so that she thinks of death frequently. Max said.

"Are going to do anything about it?" Tarou asked

"I have something in mind but it has to be
tweaked" Maxwell said as he took control of the pen.

Tarou walked up to the window and coverd the curtains.
"We need her. This strain is the only way home for the Prime Ayame" He said.

The moon has been disintegrated and all of it's rubble formed a ring around the planet Earth. The surface was rarely seen due to the dark and thunderous clouds enveloping the planet. Where the most valuable substance  was water as the rain content was mostly Acid. No one was ever seen outside. Majority of the landscape was filled with acid adapted cactus and corroding infrastructures, but all those problems are for the native inhabitants since mages are unaffected. They trespass religiously to dispose of criminals. Worlds that offer such dyer conditions to survive is chosen to exile rogue mages.

A forest behind strain Aoki's residential area was such a hotspot, it can't be called a forest anymore as it was just a cluster of rotting logs with hollow branches buried in slimey dirt. The rain sprayed as usual. The pungent smell of rotting matter prevailed. Amongst all this a small figure was sitting behind one of the logs, holding a square of glass by two suction holder over her head to shield from the rain. The figure peeked out every now and then.

She was none other than the prime Ayame. She changed her position to a tree ahead and peeped to see a portal opening at a distance. A mage in cloak brought a man who had long hair and chiseled body who was only wearing minimal Undergarment. He was dragged by his chains attached to his wrists and thrown into the rain. He laid there helplessly  while the mage seemed to be having an invisible dome around himself but the refuge's body was steaming due to the continuous burns by small drops of acid.

The man was not showing any sign of pain as one would have died screaming. Ayame was genuinely surprised by his persistence. The mage stomped on him for a while and left through the portal. Ayame rushed towards him and gave him cover. The man looked over and asked.

"What year is this?"

"2008" she replied.

"Considerably young planet, such a shame!"
He said.

"Now you answer me.  Which sector are you from?"
She asked.

The man's interest peaked.

"Were you stranded too? Where are you from? Kyrosghur? Munfles?  Are you even an Airentine? don' tell you are an Aquaril!" He asked many.

"I am not a mage just answer my question and you'll be out of the rain.... and the chain" She said.

"Sector 456 Terrotrophe" he answered.

"What do you know about sector 111"
She asked by leaning forward.

"That's thousands of kilometres away from us, besides why would a lithore be knowing about an Airentine sector?"
He replied.

"You are useless to me then" she said and began to walk away.

"But you told that you'd provide shelter if I answered" he said in a grundy voice because of the pain.

"Your answer didn't satisfy me"

"Come on, I'll die here"

"Why do l care, you probably killed someone"

"The supreme province will behead for murder not strand"

"Oh how noble of them. I mean look at yourself- is this what you deserve for theft or burglary?" Ayame asked as she walked back to him frustrated.

"It's actually child abduction but I get what you're saying" he said.

"WHAT?" she exclaimed.

"Look just save me and let's talk this out okay? You clearly need someone from Heavensworth. What other options do you have?" He reasoned.

Ayame sighed and started pulling on his chains.