Sorry for the long wait, everyone! It's just that the site I would normally find the shield hero light novels has been shut down and the new one I found doesn't have all of the volumes to read, so i'm just doing all this from what I can remember. But, then it dawned on me that since this is my story, I can do what I want. So, we're going to skip over a bit of content where Naofumi would travel to the forest and face a horde of familiars. Which means we're going right into the Spirit Turtle arc. Now, I don't want this story to drag on forever, so, I've been thinking long and hard of what i'm going to do with this series. And thus, I've made my decision. The spirit turtle arc will be the final canon arc in this story and i'll conclude it in a way that'll fit fine with how this story's been going. Then, after the arc, we'll go into the very last climactic arc that'll conclude this story once and for all. I may change this decision down the line, but for now, that's how things are going to go. Now, let's finally get back into the story! Enjoy!

-One Week Later-

In the quick week since I came to this truly strange world, I've already learned so much. The friends who were part of my sister, Ayuma's party, they taught me how to fight and how to wield a weapon and magic. Turns out I was very fluent in using dark and ice attributes of magic. And, while I never actually trained with Alex, both Krystal and Xev proved to be excellent teachers. They told me all about my sister and what she's done in this world. Besides her being enslaved, tortured and becoming a host to a genocidal demon, it all sounded incredible. 

And Shulu had reawakened now too after being healed. She thanked me for protecting her when she was attacked even though I really didn't do much. She decided to stick around too because she claimed she'd just go back to being board on her farm. And she has a friend who lives nearby so her animals won't starve. 

Today it was more training for me. But at this point, I was getting frustrated. No one had still seen my sister at all yet and no signs were seen either. I just wanted to leave so I could go and look for her, but everyone was telling me that I wasn't ready yet and that it'd be too dangerous. They let my sister and the other heroes go off into the world immediately when they got here but they won't let me go? What the hell's the difference?

Even though I could match both Krystal and Xev in combat skills, it just wasn't enough for them to let me go. I began to suspect that they just didn't want to lose me the way they lost my sister and her companion who was named Neela. But I do everything tactically, I know how to play things safe all the time. If they gave me a shot, i'm sure I could help them bring my sister back.

"No, you can't go. It's far too dangerous in this world for someone who's only been here a few days." Krystal said to me as I tried pleading with them again.

"Then tell me why my sister and all the other heroes could months ago. How come they could leave but I can't?" I asked with an angry tone as they both sighed. 

"Because there was a wave closing in at the time so they had to get out in the world and level up. So they could stand a chance. And believe me, the heroes are out there right now looking for her as we speak. If anyone will find her, it's them." Xev told me as Shulu walked into the training grounds. 

"Come on, guys. It's his sister we're talking about. I know she's one of the cardinal heroes and all, but she may be in trouble. What if I go out there with him? Will you let him go then?" She asked as Krystal and Xev both looked at each other. 

"Absolutely not. You're just as inexperienced as he is. You'd just get yourselves killed." Krystal said. 

"Then fight me. If I win, you let us go." I said to them as they both rolled their eyes. 

"Jeez, you can definitely tell Ayuma's your sister.... Look, since none of this is getting through to you, then we'll fight. You can go off and die if you win, but you're staying here and listening to us if we win, got it?" Xev said as I agreed to his terms. 

"Shulu, get back. This may get a little rough." I said to her as she walked back to the entrance to view us. Meanwhile, the three of us stood about 20 feet apart from one another, just waiting for one of us to make the first move.

"As source of thy power, I order thee...." Krystal began to say as her hands started to glow. 

"Decipher the laws of nature and bombard my target with a bright and shining light! Glimmer Flash Pellets!" She roared as she created 4 balls of light that floated around her. Then all at once, she sent them flying at me. 

"As source of thy power, I order thee! Decipher the laws of nature and shroud me in darkness! Pitch Black Mist!" I chanted as I clapped my hands together. I became engulfed in a dark misty aura that surrounded me on all sides. When Krystal's attack neared me, it didn't make contact at all. She couldn't locate me in the mist at all. 

"Time to see if my skills with a blade are just as good as my skills with magic!" I shouted as I leaped out of the mist and went straight for Krystal. From my right hip, I unsheathed a 3 foot long rapier sword. 

"Night Shroud Saber!"  I yelled as I encased my blade in a dark aura.

"Xev, a little help here!" Krystal shouted as Xev jumped in between us. 

"Full Reflect!" He roared as I was suddenly struck with an invisible force that blew me away from him and Krystal. 

"Damn. That magic of his is really annoying. I need to play around it if I want to take him down." I thought as Xev raised up both of his hands and held them straight out in front of him. 

"As source of thy power, I order thee! Decipher the laws of nature and redirect the target of my choosing! Reverse Air Cannon!" He shouted as he suddenly made the air right in front him shoot forward at me. I slashed away with my dark blade and I was lucky enough to deflect all of the projectiles. 

"I need to keep them from moving! That's how i'm going to win!" I thought as I quickly sheathed my weapon and brought my hands together. 

"As source of thy power, I order thee! Decipher the laws of nature and trap my foes in a sheet of solid ice! Frozen Encasement!" I roared as I slammed both of my hands flat on the ground. From my hands, I began to freeze the entire ground around me, and the ice was quickly making its way to Krystal and Xev. I froze both of their feet in place and prevented them from moving. This would give me the edge I needed over them. 

"Don't think this'll slow me down! Lightspeed Boots!" Krystal shouted as her feet began to glow from within the ice. With one hard tug, she broke through the ice and began running for me. 

"Dark Gauntlets!" I roared as a black aura surrounded both of my arms. I charged Krystal as well and we both clashed. She swung her right leg at me as I threw a punch with my right hand. Our impact made a shock wave that cracked the ice.

"Light and Darkness, two opposites that always end up clashing. But in the end, light always wins!" Krystal yelled as she leaped off of her other foot and jumped over me. Then, when she was right above me, she wrapped both of her legs around my head and squeezed tightly. I couldn't see anything or breath and she flipped me over onto my back. But I was far from done. 

"I'm..... gonna find..... my sister!!! And nothing you do.... will stop me!!!" I roared as I smashed my dark aura fists into Krystal's legs. I heard her let out a quick scream as she loosened her grip on me. But it was enough to shove her off. We both stood up at the same time and put our hands together and brought them to our right sides. 

"As source of thy power, I order thee...." We both began to chant as we both started charging up powerful attacks. 

"Decipher the laws of nature and obliterate my target with a light that burns all shadows! Sparkling Heaven Star!!" Krystal roared as she thrusted her hands forward. 

"Decipher the laws of nature and annihilate my target with a dark light that consumes all!! Dark Matter Cannon!!" I roared as I thrusted forward mine. We both unleashed incredible beam attacks as they collided. The force of the two attacks was making us both slide back on our feet and was literally shaking the entirety of the training grounds. 

"You're not ready for this kind of world!! You're just gonna end up like Neela!!" Krystal cried. 

"I don't care!! I just want to find my sister!!! I have to know she's alright!!! I have to know she's safe!! I'd do anything to protect my family!!! I don't care if I have to die to ensure their safety!! So I will endure any pain you bring to me now!!! I will never submit to anyone!!!" I roared with determination as I amped up my power and started pushing Krystal's spell back.

"What? There's no way! How can you be this strong!?" Krystal said in disbelief as she was struggling to push back against my spell. 

"I'm just like Ayuma! Full of a fearless spirit and unwavering strength! We don't lose!" I screamed as my spell broke through Krystal's and blasted her across the grounds. I hit her straight into a brick wall which she proceeded to break through as I stopped my assault. When the dust cleared, I could only see Krystal's legs underneath a pile of bricks. My guess was that i'd knocked her out. 

"Come here, you little brat!" I suddenly heard Xev shout as I looked to my right and saw a hand grab my face. It was him and he forced my head into the ground.

"Full Reflect!" He shouted as he used his reflective force on his hand to push my head even further into the ground.

"No way.... Even if his magic counters mine.... I'm not gonna lose!" I thought as I activated my dark magic on my legs, surrounding them in dark aura. I then curled both of my legs up and made contact with Xev. I don't know what I hit but it was enough to knock him back and allow me to pull my head out of the ground. I spit up some pieces of stone and brushed off some dust before turning to face Xev. 

"You're not gonna stop me, Xev! I'm leaving to find my sister!" I declared as he started cracking his knuckles. 

"Not gonna happen. We're doing this for your own safety, Mav. Do the smart thing. I know your sister well, and I know she's alright and alive. So just listen to us and stay here, please! I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have!" Xev told me as he raised his fists back up, just in case I retaliated. 

"The only way you're keeping me here is if you beat me to near death. But even that's not gonna happen because i'm finishing this right here and now." I said as I clapped my hands together. Both of my hands began to glow but each was a different colour. My left hand was black and was wielding my dark magic, while my right was light blue, representing my ice magic.

"As source of thy power, I order thee! Decipher the laws of nature and grant me the power to merge two into one! Magic Combine: Black Ice Wave!!" I howled as I unleashed a powerful magic beam of the two magic types.

"I know you're smart enough to know that won't work on me! Full Reflect!" Xev shouted as he raised up his hands and prepared to redirect my attack back at me. Exactly what I was hoping he'd do. 

"Magic Disassemble: Dark Matter Cannon and Frigid Blaster!" I shouted as my combined magic spell split apart. The two attacks went around the reflective barrier Xev was making in front of him and they both came together again as he was struck by both of them simultaneously. He was engulfed by a huge cloud of smoke and I quickly stopped my attack to see if it was enough to take him down.

I quickly looked over and saw Krystal was moving the bricks off of her slowly, but it was clear she was in pain. And, as the smoke cleared, I saw Xev was still standing. But, his legs were shaking and he had scratches and bruises all over him. I could probably tap him and he'd fall over. I began walking over to him so I could finish this feud of ours. 

"It's over. I beat both of you. I've earned my right to leave this damn kingdom and find my sister." I said as I came up to Xev and grabbed the collar of his jacket. I raised up my left fist to end our battle for good, but as I just started to move it, someone began to shout. 

"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" The person roared through the training grounds as I looked over to the entrance and saw Alex standing there. He looked incredibly pissed off and his anger was enough to make me let go of Xev. 

"What do you want?" I asked him. 

"I do not care for what all of you've just done. Right now, I need all of you to come with me to the throne room. There is dire news you all must hear." Alex said to us as I simply rolled my eyes. If he personally came to tell us then it really must be serious. I apologized to Krystal and Xev before I took off after the king and made my way to the throne room. Shulu, Krystal, and Xev all arrived shortly after. Naofumi and his party members were present as well. And, it was here where Alex and his mother, the queen told us this urgent news. 

"Now that you all are here, let's get down to business. My spies have informed me that an ancient prophecy in our land has suddenly come to be once more." The queen told us. 

"And what exactly is this ancient prophecy?" Naofumi asked her. 

"The Spirit Turtle. Every thousand years, this legendary creature the size of many mountains awakens. It's existence threatens to destroy not only Melromarc, but every country we're connected to. It is a being of pure magic, it cannot be destroyed." Alex explained. 

"So, this great creature has reawoken and is now rampaging, I assume? Any chance we know where it is right now?" I asked as the queen nodded.

"We do. It is currently making its way through a country to the East of Melromarc. But, as my spies have informed me, it is quickly making its way here. We assume it is because of the gathering of the cardinal heroes, making this kingdom rich in magic energy." She explained to us. 

"But there's supposed to be a wave hitting in 3 or 4 days. How're we supposed to deal with this creature and the incoming wave at the same time?" Krystal asked. 

"Actually, we won't have to worry about it. I didn't know why at first, but for some reason, the countdown to the next wave has stopped." Naofumi told us as nearly everyone gasped. 

"What he says is the truth. The only logical reason is due to the Spirit Turtle's awakening. And until we stop it, the wave will remain in stasis." Alex said. 

"Besides the country that this giant turtle is rampaging through, have you informed any of the other countries of this situation?" Shulu asked. 

"I sent my spies out to each and every one of them. As this cataclysmic event has occurred before, all countries are gathering together to stop this threat. In fact, we're to meet with all the leaders of each tomorrow and discuss our plan of attack." The queen informed us. 

"Oh, terrific. Of course, once I finally earn my freedom to go looking for my sister, a god damn world ending event has to occur." I frustratingly said as everyone looked to me briefly. 

"Look, we really do understand how you feel, but right now, this is more important than her. I'd like to find her just as much as you do, but we've all got our jobs to do. So would you stop your whining and do what you're told to do?" Naofumi said as he walked right up to me and the two of us glared at one another. 

"Both of you, stop it. This is no time for your bitterness. Fighting among ourselves will bring catastrophe. We all must work together, however hard that may be, if we want to achieve victory." Alex said as we both turned back to face him. 

"What about the other heroes? Have you informed Ren, Itsuki and Motoyasu about this yet?" Naofumi asked as the queen gave us all a nod. 

"Yes, but.... that's also another problem..." She said as I saw Naofumi roll his eyes and sigh. 

"Oh god, what the hell have those three done now?" He asked. 

"After receiving word of the Spirit Turtle, the spear, bow, and sword heroes and their parties disobeyed my orders to return to Melromarc. All three of them headed to the eastern border and broke through it. They've all gone to try and deal with the Spirit Turtle themselves, despite none of them knowing how to stop it." The queen explained. 

"Jeez, I heard about those three from what Krystal and Xev told me, but I really didn't want to believe they could be that stupid. But, if they actually went off on their own to deal with something like this, then I guess they're unfortunately as bad as I was told." I thought to myself as I now let out a sigh. 

"Can't those idiots just think things through before charging in recklessly? My god, I swear they're going to be the death of us all. Any word on what they're doing now?" Naofumi asked but both the queen and Alex shook their heads. 

"Unfortunately, no. After crossing the border, the heroes obtained Filolials and became too quick for our spies to follow. We have no idea where they are now, and there's been no sightings of them at the turtle yet." Alex explained. 

"What about the Axe hero? Has there been any sightings of her at the turtle or by any of the borders?" Shulu asked as I gave her a quick glance. She sent me a smile and I did the same for her. 

"The same is said for her. Princess Ayuma is still nowhere to be found. Not in any other country, not by any border, and not where the turtle roams." The queen said in a sad tone. 

"I.... I understand...... So.... what do we have to do to stop this turtle?" I asked. 

"Thankfully for us all, with all the kingdoms coming together, it means we'll have a grand army to oppose the massive beast. And, if the other kingdoms do their jobs, which I believe they will, then they will give us our time to once again seal away the creature." Alex told us as most of us became curious. 

"How exactly do we seal something so massive away?" Raphtalia asked. 

"With an ancient and grand spell. Tens of thousands of years ago, the first cardinal heroes created this spell to seal the Spirit Turtle away. But, in order the cast it, we first must destroy the core of this creature. It's heart. The heart of the turtle acts as a shield for it, capable of stopping any spells that are aimed directly at it. We can harm the outside of the beast, but the heart, it'll take something of great magnitude to destroy it." The queen explained as everyone except for me and Shulu looked to Alex. 

"Then it's a good thing someone here has a grand spell of their own. Looks like you're the one who can destroy the heart, Alex." Krystal said to him but Alex shook his head.

"As much as I would love to agree with you, that is simply not the case. Recall back to the great war against the demons. During the final battle, after I lost my leg and after Aidoneus slayed Neela, I passed on my grand magic ability to Ayuma. That was not a temporary passing, it was permanent. I gave her that ability, meaning I cannot use it anymore." Alex explained as nearly everyone let out a heavy sigh. 

"Well that certainly makes things a whole lot harder. Ayuma's got a guaranteed method to take down this Spirit Turtle and she's nowhere to be found. And, if we haven't found anything from her yet, then our chances of finding her before the Turtle gets here are slim to none. We need something else to deal with the Turtle's heart." Naofumi said as we all agreed. 

"What about your Curse Shield?" The queen suggested as we all looked to Naofumi. 

"I'm not sure if it'll be strong enough. Yeah, it rivals the power of Ayuma's demon axe, but in the face of a grand spell, it doesn't compare. Is there anything else that you know of that might do the trick?" Naofumi asked but the queen shook her head. 

"No, there isn't. But, perhaps there still is a way to do this with your Curse Shield. You say it can redirect any attack back at its user at twice the strength, yes?" The queen asked as Naofumi nodded. 

"If we can strike that shield with enough energy, then it may be enough to destroy the heart. But, finding something so powerful to strike it with won't come easy. And we do not have much time." The queen said as Alex stood up and walked over to a door on his right. He opened it up and a butler was standing in the entrance. He was holding something bit gave it to Alex. 

"There may be one thing capable of fulfilling this duty...." Alex said as he turned and revealed a black and purple double bladed battle axe in his hands. 

"Is that....?" I tried to ask but Alex quickly gave me a nod. 

"Yes, it is. This is your sisters weapon. The axe of the legendary Axe hero. It was found at her daughter Neela's grave. We believe she left it there so she could.... well.... run away from her duties as a cardinal hero. She's chosen to take all of the blame on herself and has placed herself in exile. She's become afraid of everything she's ever done and what she might do as a hero. And, i'm not even certain the threat of a wave would get her to return." Alex explained as he walked over to me and held the axe out. 

"The fact that this weapon is not in the hands of someone else confirms that your sister is indeed alive. And while you may not be the axe hero, I believe this weapon is best suited in your hands, Maverick Saruwatari. You may not be able to wield it to its full capabilities, but it will bring you strength. You will be able to surge your magic through it and amplify all of your abilities to their maximum. Please, wield it in a way that would make your sister proud." Alex said as I took the axe and held it firmly in my hands. 

"Thank you..... this.... this really means a lot to me...." I said to him as he gave me a nod before returning to his throne. 

"With the axe, Maverick's dark magic may be strong enough to unleash an attack so powerful that Naofumi's Curse Shield will be able to redirect it at an even greater strength upon the Spirit Turtle's heart. That is our one and only strategy we have as of now. I suggest you get to practicing with that mighty weapon." The queen said to me as I gave her a stern nod. 

"I will..... try my best, your majesty." I said to her as I saw Krystal and Xev were staring at me. 

"What happened to Mr. "I just wanna get out of here so I can find my sister?"" Xev asked me as I just let out a sigh. 

"As much as I would love to do that, this is more important. And besides..... it what my sister would do if she were me. I'll stay.... i'll learn how to use this weapon..... and we'll stop this Spirit Turtle." I said to them as they both gave me some nods. And then, all of a sudden, Melty came rushing into the throne room. 

"What is it, Melty? It looks as though something is distressing you?" The queen said as she ran over to her out of breath and then faced us all. 

"Everyone, I've just received word from our spies in the next country over. Judging by the speed and direction the turtle is headed in, it'll reach the capital of said country by evening tomorrow. And, more importantly, the spear, bow, and sword hero have been sighted. They've engaged the Spirit Turtle." Melty explained as everyone became shocked. 

"Those dumbasses are gonna get themselves killed! For once can they just do what's right and listen to us!?" Naofumi shouted in frustration. 

"Have they made any progress to stop the beast?" Alex asked but Melty shook her head. 

"No. They've only just begun, but so far they haven't made any progress. The Turtle hasn't shown any signs of slowing down at all yet." She explained. 

"Please keep me updated on their status. As soon as any word of them comes in, tell me at once. If anything happens to them, it may spell doom for us all." The queen informed Melty as she gave her a nod. 

"Yes, mother. I'll return to the communications room now." Melty said as she left the room.

"Now then, as I stated earlier, we're all heading East tomorrow to meet the gathering of leaders. All of you, when we arrive, you let me do all of the talking unless spoken to, understood?" The queen said to us all as we gave her nods. Hearing her say that meant that these other leaders probably wouldn't be too kind to us. 

"Then if all of you understand, we're done here. Maverick, you'll be coming with me to my quarters. With the little time we have, I will show you how to wield that axe, just as your sister did." Alex said as he got up from his thrown and escorted me out of the room. 

I may not be the one to be chosen as the axe hero like my sister was, but even so, I will live up to her legacy. I'll prove i'm just as deserving to wield this weapon. And with it, we'll all be able to stop this Spirit Turtle and seal it away for the next one thousand years.

Meanwhile..... POV: ???

I was currently scrounging around in a town near the border of Melromarc. I hadn't eaten in days and my body was feeling weak. I had no money, I abandoned my armor and weapon, leaving me with nothing but some leather clothing and a cloak. But this is what I had to do. I just couldn't see people die because of me anymore. 

"There's gotta be something to eat around here that hasn't turned rotten yet...." I said as I coughed a bit while searching through a pile of garbage. But, to my luck, there was nothing but fish bones and moldy bananas. 

"Damn it...." I said as I came out of a dark alleyway and looked down the street. At the end of it was the border to the next country. A way out of Melromarc. 

"It's what I have to do..... it's what must be done.... I'm sorry everyone...." I said to myself as I began to cry and walk towards the border. I kept the hood of my cloak lowered so no one would see my face and recognize me as I walked down this street. But, as I got closer and closer to the border, I turned my head for a brief moment to see if anyone was following me. And when I turned it back forward, the border wall was gone. There was nothing but trees now. In fact, everywhere I looked there was trees. I don't know how but I was in the middle of a clearing in a forest. 

"What the hell's going on? How did I end up here?" I questioned as I heard footsteps coming from all around me, but the things making them were just out of sight. 

"Why are you running away?" I heard a girls voice ask as I turned around to face them. Standing before me was a person i'd met before, but never physically. She had medium length white hair, and she wore a pink and white dress with angel wings coming out of her back. 

"Fitoria...." I said in disbelief as she gave me a nod. 

"Yes, that is me. We have met before, but the circumstances were much different then. This is the first time we've met face to face. Now, answer me. Why are you running away?" She asked me. 

"I..... I can't do it. People die because of what I've done and probably what I will do. If I continue, then more people I love will meet that same fate." I told her but she gave no sort of emotion to me. 

"How far you have fallen. The mightiest of the cardinal heroes, Ayuma Saruwatari. You were the one to bring the others together, something none of the other four could do. And now because you have lost your daughter, you've simply chosen to deny your duty and run away, ensuring the death of all in this world." Fitoria said as I fell to my knees and cried. 

"I can't do it anymore! I can't do it without her! Without Neela! She was everything to me, my family in this world! I don't know what to do anymore!" I cried as Fitoria walked right up to me and placed her right hand on my head. She sent a surge of energy through me that made my vision become blurry. And shortly after, everything blacked out for me. 

"Then I will return you to the path you must take. I am taking you back to my sanctuary, Ayuma Saruwatari. I am taking you to my kingdom."