Chapter 152 - A PROMISE (1/2)

He walks slowly to the man waiting for him. He swished the sleeve of his robe and dust off the dust and ashes from his chest and hips.

He sighed and then he smiles like a big burden being lifted off from his shoulders. He moves the boulders and wood structure in front of him using his telekinesis.

But even as he is walking his mind is fast at thinking. What went wrong? He shakes his head. He knew what went wrong.

He is….weaker.

Hirate possess a lot of abilities. He possesses vast telepathic powers, and is among the strongest and most powerful telepaths in the world.

Hirate would not deny he found some other levelers that were like him.

But his Unique Class made him unique even among telepaths.

Like Raymond who is different than just an Elementalist and Sina who is different than just an alchemist.

Hirate could perceive the thoughts of others or project his own thoughts within a radius of approximately 50 km.

If he could reach the peak of his evolution and transformation he could maybe even use his telepathy to cover the entire world.

Now that he is in Energy Disperse Stage his psionic powers enable him to manipulate the minds of others, warp perceptions to make himself seem invisible, project mental illusions, cause loss of particular memories or total amnesia, and induce pain or temporary mental and/or physical paralysis in others.

Within close range, he can manipulate almost any number of minds for such simple feats.

At least at this moment in time he could only do this.

But Hirate is confident given enough time and resources he could train his mind to become the most powerful weapon in the world.

One of his abilities is that he can perceive the distinct mental presence or brain waves of other people within the radius of his power unless his ability is amplified which is why he valued The Inventor.

The Inventor creates a thing for him to be able to amplify his mind to search for people.

It is the reason he could recruit many talented people during the early formation of the World Government.

Hirate prided himself as a great tactician and strategist, effectively evaluating situations and devising swift responses.

But now as he walks step by step approaching Lord Shadow, he almost wanted to laugh at himself.

He was wrong in his evaluation of his enemy. He did not devise a plan if Lord Shadow seals the space of the Island.

That was the first miscalculation.

Buy now, the blue seal of the Ring has disappeared. It disappeared along with the splitting of the island during Lord Shadow last attack.

When Lord Shadow was contending with the Monk, Hirate has tried countless times to penetrate Lord Shadow mind.

Nothing but glimpses.

Considering that Lord Shadow was a whole realm above him, it should have been obvious that he could not read his mind.

The suppression of energy when facing with another user who is on another higher realm than you is no joke unless you have some external source or some divine artifacts.

Second miscalculation. Hirate overestimates himself and underestimate his enemies.

From a far Hirate could see Lord Shadow. He was standing there, hand crossed, his robe like attire billowing and his hood is no longer covering his face.

His long black hair freely waves with the wind, his face was of manly features and his posture is the posture of a man confident of himself.

His eyes are piercing, like he could see through almost everything.

With high waves rocking behind him and the scene of destruction stretches as long as the eyes could see, it almost looks like Lord Shadow was destruction embodied.

He embodied at this moment, fear and chaos. His shadow seems to be elongated like his presence covering this whole island under his shadow.

He was too….big. He was more than just a man.

Hirate has on occasion stressed to the Council many times, of how dangerous it is to let Lord Shadow and his group to grow.

At the time, who would have thought a ragtag bunch of an archer and a trickster could be such a dangerous entities?

And when the Council keep conceding to Lord Shadow demands and fear his retaliation, Hirate could already see the decline of the World Government as a force that should have control the world.

Lord Shadow has become more than just a man. He has become a symbol. A symbol of resistance, a symbol of freedom.

A symbol is given power by people. Lord Shadow may not believe what people believe of him but it doesn't matter.

Before his rise, the World Government possesses almost an unbelievable influence in dictating certain matters in the world.

The Revolutionary Army was nothing more than the confederation of the weak and the dispossessed.

If not for Jean and Katarina, the Revolutionary Army would not possess any threats at all. But Lord Shadow poses a more grave threat.

He became a symbol for anyone that dislike the rules of the World Government.

And because he becomes a symbol; he becomes more than just a man.

And that was exactly what comes to the minds of his enemies. Lord Shadow…..becomes something larger in their minds.

The fear he inspires and the strength he has demonstrated gives him leverage and influence over people.

When people saw him, saw the hooded figure, saw the black attires, hear the thunder screaming and the wind howl, they feel fear.

They know that he has comes. The thunder announces his arrival; the howling wind signifies his anger.

He makes speeches. He warned the people he is going to kill. Like a showman.

All part of a larger agenda.

All part of his theatricality to enlarge his image in the minds of his opposer.

The thunder that come preceding him, the shaking of the earth all gave him the image of an all-powerful god.

All part of the theatricality. All Seed Forming User could summon the thunder and quake the earth but none do it so artfully like Lord Shadow.

He embraces the persona people give to him. As a savior. As a judge. As an executioner.

But Hirate knows who the man behind the hood is. He is a man. Powerful, yes…..but still a man.

He bleeds like the rest of us. Only differences is that the people that is able to fight him in equal terms does not exist yet.

Hirate wanted to know what happens in the one year that Lord Shadow disappeared.

From the reports he reads about Lord Shadow, there was a period of one year that lord Shadow wasn't anywhere to be found.

Even using the Mind Enhancer Helmet he couldn't find him. It was like Lord Shadow vanished from the face of the Earth.

As he walk closer and closer to his supposed execution, Hirate could not help but remember the city before Lord Shadow come.

Hirate remembers the morning before the battle. He was having a tea in the Underground Prison chatting about nonsensical thing with some of his officers in the break room.

He remembers last night when one of the villages in the periphery of the island held a feast after managing to capture a gigantic fish.

People were dancing across the fires, singing and rejoicing.

Hirate remembers a week ago when a new construction was scheduled for some of the residential district in the center of the island.

He remembers the prosperous cities that once stand mightily on this island. And he sighed again. This must be his second sigh by now.

'Hah'

Now all he could see and smell was dust and ashes. He could see parts of what used to be a residential region being flooded by the rushing seawater.

He could see hills falling down into the sea.

Even now as he was walking he could feel the movements of the waves under his feet churning something terrible.

A tsunami is about to steer itself to this island. His mind was filled with the cacophony of minds screaming in pain.

He could feel and hear the distress of life forms under the sea. Even after all of this destruction it seems the world is not done with the World Government.

Disaster will land upon this already battered island. Lord Shadow was truly a man of his word.

He has broken the World Government. He risk everything even the world safety for a man. To Hirate this is a selfish decision on Lord Shadow part.

He could have sacrifice Will for the greater good. He could have closed one eye to Hirate decision.

But he could not.

'Because he is a man' Hirate mutters under his breath

His plans to use the formation he embedded deep inside the island was crushed the moment Lord Shadow spliced the island.

Third miscalculation.

Then there was another plan. The plan to try to pierce his mind also doesn't work. His mind control couldn't even pierce any important memories.

Fourth miscalculation.

Hirate was beaten…..so thoroughly that he didn't even have the strength to complain.

The closer he comes to Lord Shadow the larger Lord Shadow seems to him. There is sweat forming on his foreheads. His hands trembled involuntarily.

The feeling of powerlessness.

And then before he knows it he only a couple of meters from the man. And he stopped. Amidst the sweating and the trembling he was in front of the man.

Then as calm as he can he said

'Lord Shadow' Still there is nervousness dripping all over his words. And Hirate was sure that Lord Shadow could hear his heartbeat jumping like jackrabbits.

Lord Shadow looks at him with a scowling expression or was it disdain. Hirate couldn't remember and he couldn't be sure.

Nervousness filled his mind and his heart.

'Ashikaga Hirate. I never liked you' that was his first word and with each word it was pressuring.

His voice was deep and powerful. Dark shadows surrounded him. An aura of darkness rises up from his feet.

All serves to enhance the fear in the hearts and mind of his enemy.

Imposing. Intimidating. Dark.