The Untrusting Hero From Another World

Seven and a Half Months Since Summoning Day, Ryan, Age 15

My eyes widened beneath my visor as I watched the Goliaths struggle to stop the giant floating island. The people of Mao Zhua watched in shock, seeing not only another floating island but one that floated even higher above them. I looked to Min, who seemed equally shocked, "I take it this is what he needed the staff for..."

"And you believed him?" What am I saying? Of course, she did! She had no reason not to in a world like this! With that in mind, I grab her by the shoulder and turn her to me, "Listen close. You need to begin evacuation. I'm going up there to help stop it."

"But what about the people? They could die! Don't you care?"

"Look, I don't know what happened with your family and these other heroes. But we can't be everywhere at once, and trying to will make us fail at both. I'll get Xandric to send some Shadow Soldiers, but a lot more people will die if I stay so..." As I'm lecturing her, a purple beam begins to fire from the floating island. It then split into multiple separate beams, each targeting a different person. One even went straight for Min. Without thinking, I jumped in the way. Looking around, the people who were hit seemed physically fine, but their eyes lost all life, just blank stares as they stayed in whatever position they found themselves in before being hit. But me? I felt fine. The suit must have absorbed it somehow. It is made of Mana, after all, and the suits absorb that for us. With no more time to think, I turned back to Min and screamed, "Go!!" she hesitantly nodded before running to assist with evacuation. With that settled, I flew to the floating island at top speed while spewing orders into my communicator, "Black, send some Shadow Soldiers to assist with Evac! Blue, status update!"

"Could be worse. Yellow found his power."

"For real? That's great! Wait, not a good time. Just hold on a little long. I'm on the way," I assure, and not long after, I tackle Cass to the ground just as she starts to get up. Looking around, my team was pretty banged up but could certainly keep fighting. Xandric immediately leaped to my side, spear in hand.

"Most of my Shadow Soldiers are still back at where this island came from, but I sent what I could down to help."

"Good work. Now, let's take her down quick."

"Right," Jaune said as he and Makoto stood beside us. They each pulled out their Boost Medals and placed them on their chests.

"BOOST UP!!"

"Mermaid Reborn: Blue Mythic Hero!"

"Thunderbird Reborn: Yellow Mystic Hero!"

With each of us fully powered up, we rush Cass head-on. Jaune and Makoto have ten minutes before their Boost Medals begin acting up. Thanks to my fight with Min, I have roughly half that amount of time, so we need to wrap this up quick. We would attack from all angles, but none of us managed to hit her unless she wanted it to charge her for her Thunder Strike. She would release a mighty punch, only for us to narrowly dodge it and be sent back by the shockwave. It didn't take a genius to know I'd be dead if she hit me while absorbing our combined power.

"Everyone stay back!" Jaune ordered before letting out a roar that nearly sent her overboard. I could practically feel his cocky smirk beneath his mask, "Thunder Strike is what you called that move, right? Well, how about I call mine Roaring Thunder. It Doesn't hurt as bad, but it causes no small pain to your ears, right?" he mocked. Cass growled and tried to get up, but another roar stopped her in her tracks. I quickly applied Draconic Presence to slow her down. She had total tunnel vision on Jaune, allowing us to wail on her alongside our Heroic Spirits, who we took a brief moment to summon, pinning her down. Xandric took a moment to stab her hand, causing her sword to fizzle out in small cackles of lightning. From overhead, Jaune went for a final slash when suddenly...

CRACK!!!

We were each sent flying back in all directions, with Xandric being sent spine-first into the rocks of the cave, Jaune into a nearby tree, and Makoto and I going over the side. I could just barely grab her by her wrist in time, "Got ya!"

"Thanks for the assist. But what was that...?" Makoto asked, nervously looking down at the distant ground below. I looked up to answer her question, but I couldn't describe it as anything short of a monster, panting and groaning like an animal; its right hand turned into a blade while the drum, similar to the Oni Goliath, was attached to its shoulder.

Meanwhile, Kai, Age 10

"Everyone! This way!" I call out, waving my arms in the direction of the crowd. I may not be able to fight yet, but I can still help. One of those beams blasted through a building. There must be a person in there. I hurried inside, dragging the husk of a person out. They look like they lost their souls. That means they can come back, right? I dragged their body out, trying to keep it shielded. I was so busy trying to do so that I didn't even notice that there was a beam aiming right for me. If not for a barrier spell appearing behind me, I would have lost my soul, too. Looking around, I saw the King taking the body off my hands.

"You are a smart one, young man. I can see why Ryan values you," He said with a warm smile, "But this is no place for a child. Hurry to the shelter beneath the castle."

"B-But what about you?" I asked as he walked away, readjusting his cape. Suddenly, barriers began erecting around every single person.

"I will do my duty as the king. enoyrevE tcetorP!"

Ryan, Age 15

I struggle to catch my breath as I pull Makoto up. All of us are in shock at this new monster form. She almost seemed feral, muttering the same words over and over, "Never again... Never again... Never Again!!" before dashing directly at Jaune. Before any of us could react, he was impaled on her new sword arm, "I will never lose someone I love ever again!!!" As she roared out those words, souls stolen from the beam began to be channeled into her, making her grow in mass. I was prepared to dash but suddenly let out a grunt of pain as I fell to my knees.

"Are you okay? Let me heal you!" Makoto insisted in a panic, but I gently pushed her away

"I'm fine... Just running out of time with the Boost Medal. Go help Jaune... Xandric and I will hold her off," I weakly insisted, earning a skeptical expression beneath the helmets, "C'mon. I can't be the only one expected to trust their team..." I joke, and while still clearly hesitant, she complies. Stumbling to my feet, I dashed at Cass. Suddenly, she hit her drum, causing me to stop. If it was like the Oni Goliath, I expected to be struck by lightning, but instead, it struck her. Oh no. Seeing where this was going, me and Xandric both rushed to grab her free arm, but she hit the drum again, sending us back to avoid getting shocked. Any time either of us tried to get close, she would blast us back with a lightning bolt, charging herself while also keeping us away. Once she was charged, I didn't even get to see her before she sent Xandric into the stratosphere. That just left me and Makoto with the others out of commission while Cass just kept growing. Suddenly, my chest felt heavy as I gripped the Boost Medal when suddenly I heard something.

'They are all you have left... They will die on your watch... But we can protect you...' a raspy collage of voices said in my head, 'But you can save them... I can save them. I just need to unleash our rage!' he called out as black and purple goo began to escape from the Medal, slowly covering my body. As the Darkness consumed me, I could see Makoto's panicked expression as she looked towards me.

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Makoto, Age 15

What the-? What's happening? Ryan just seemed to go limp, but my Mer Eyes didn't detect anything wrong. Darkness began to leek out as Ric flew off him towards me. As we used them more, we learned that our Goliaths could still be used in our Mythic Forms so long as the Mana trail remained uninterrupted. But as of this moment, Ryan's trail to Ric was completely cut off, "Okay, Dragon, start talking! What's going on?"

"I don't know, but... this power isn't coming from me," Ric answered in shock as his suit began to change, the wings growing larger and looking more like blades than dragon wings. Black and purple armored plates reinforce the existing Mythic Hero armor, leaving only sparse patches of red that the slime couldn't cover. Lastly, the dragon wings on his helmet were covered and used as the basis for a new pair of dark horns. With this new form, he looked almost as feral as Cass, who was quaking in fear now. Gritting her monstrous teeth, she began hitting the drum, repeatedly striking herself with lightning while Ryan watched. Once she was ready, Ryan flew at her. Cass was barely able to reel her fist back before punching him in the face. The entire island shook, with a few pieces breaking it off. Ryan should've been sent flying. Instead, he let out a vile roar, grabbing her by her now deformed head and slamming her into the ground. He would then proceed to drag her towards the cave wall, where he then proceeded to stomp her repeatedly. Cass would run him through with her new sword arm in what should have been a killing shot. He didn't so much as flinch, instead digging the blade deeper into him to continue beating on her while she was trapped. As he growled, snarled, and roared like a rabid animal, I only felt one thing while watching him. Fear...

Meanwhile, Eliza, Age 15

I struggle and squirm weakly in my bindings. A small barrier around my heart shielded me from the beams, but the barrage would eventually wear it down. If I could just get this damn cloth out of my mouth, I would be set. Suddenly, I heard rumbling. What the heck is going on out there? Luckily, it made a stalagmite fall down down to the cave floor. With a flash of inspiration, I used what little mobility I had to position it upright. Sliding the spike between my cheek and the gag, I tugged away multiple times, ripping it clean off, and muttered, "kaerB yM egadnoB." The shackles fell, and I quickly grabbed the staff and ripped the stone off before smashing it. Faint human-like specters rushed out of the remains, presumably back to their owners. With that, there was only one loose end left. I transform into Hero White and hurry to help my team, only to find... Cass unconscious. Her form was much more monstrous. Her chitin-like suit took over her body and deformed her head. A drum was attached to her shoulder, and her arm was turned into a sword. Ryan didn't look much more human himself, panting heavily as he grabbed her by the head, lifting her up to deal the final blow, but for some reason, I got in the way, "That's enough. She's beaten," I said, trying to reason with him. I don't know why, but I just couldn't let him do it, not like this. It's not right. She can't fight back. Instead of stopping, though, he sent me flying with a single strike. This was followed by a roar that sent chills down my spine. Jaune quickly helped me up, bleeding from his shoulder, "Are you okay?" I asked. This is my fault, after all, so I couldn't help but worry.

"Don't worry, dear. Makoto healed it up. I'm good enough to fight," He assured before zipping us both away with Storm Step. Ryan stood where we once did, a crater left where his fist landed, "I don't think he's doing too well, though."

"I think it's coming from his Boost Medal," Makoto noted as she looked on with her Mer Eyes, "The Darkness used to create our Golaiths' hearts must be eating away at him, driving him feral."

"Just like Felmi said..." Xandric muttered

"Then we just need to get it off him," I ordered and immediately sent a wave of Mana through the ground. The resulting earth would shoot up, and I would harden it to restrain him, but a simple roar and flex of his muscles broke him out. The Goliaths, all fully grown, slam themselves onto Ryan, cracking the island and making it split into pieces. As the pieces of the island began to fall, the Goliaths tried to get away, but Ryan held a death grip, crushing their metallic frames as the Darkness formed a large hand to hold it in place. I quickly sent a large water dragon at him to send him flying back into Jaune, who began slashing at the dark substance alongside his Heroic Spirit. However, any piece he chipped off would regrow from the Boost Medal.

"Did you guys see that?!" Jaune called out via communications before Ryan caught him in mid-air and threw him towards the ground before flying behind him and kneeing him in the spine. Shadow Soldiers began to dogpile him, but each was impaled by dark spikes.

"Makoto! Suijin Dome!"

"Right!" Makoto responded to my order, creating a dome the moment we reached the ground. Tendrils of water restrained Ryan, and no matter how hard he thrashed about, he couldn't escape. With ease, I approached and ripped the Boost Medal clean off. The Darkness disintegrated, and Ryan fell into Makoto's arms, unconscious. With the Dark Dragon Warrior now handled, I rushed to find Cass but had no luck. She was gone, along with the stone.

Two Days Later, Cass, Age 15

"Damn it!" I shouted, punching the wall of the lab and turning to Ritto, "What the hell was that?! I unlocked my Monster Form and got all those souls powering me, and I still lost!"

"Did you, now? I would say that was quite the success," Ritto argued, passing all three of us a piece of the broken stone, "While true, the stone did lose many souls, several were already processed. It being shattered just means you can now each have your share."

"And you didn't tell her this, why?" Riley asked, visibly annoyed at Ritto keeping secrets. It's honestly kind of funny, given what we have planned.

"Simple. I wanted her to fight with all her heart. Unlocking the Monster Form requires you to fully embrace the Darkness your suits absorb, and you wouldn't do that unless you felt you had no choice," he explained, but that also opened my eyes to what happened. That gold coin thing began leaking Darkness. Did that rookie undergo the same process we did? Before I could ask, Ritto would walk out of the hidden room with us following after. So long as I'm alive, I'll keep getting stronger, and I will take back Eliza.

Meanwhile, Eliza, Age 15

"Queen Min Zhao. What you have done is not up for debate. You endangered the people of the nation you swore to protect and traded my daughter to the enemy for your own personal gain. While I understand your reasons, that does not make up for the harm you caused," Dad spoke as he sat on the throne in the Mao Zhua Royal Palace. Queen Min confessed to everything soon after the battle and was taken away for trial. The people watched on with betrayal and hatred in their eyes. It clearly made Ryan, Jaune, and Makoto uncomfortable, likely something they were quite used to seeing back in their world as Dad continued, "Have you anything to say for yourself?"

"Only that I am sorry. My desire to see my family returned to me led me to fall for a lie from the enemy that cost many lives. Apologies are not enough, so please, just get it over with."

"Very well then, I sentence you to death..." My eyes widened at Dad's words. The death sentence hadn't been used in centuries. We had all been so united. To go through something so severe showed how quickly our island was dividing. Mummering began to fill the room before I eventually stepped forward.

"Wait! I object!" I demanded, everyone turning to me as I raised my voice, "After all, I was the one kidnapped. Should I not give my input?"

"She betrayed us all; countless are dead! You think your own input is more important?"

"They're not dead! Their souls have just been taken! If we defeat the one who holds them, they can be restored! But their bodies need to be cared for in the meantime. Our Kingdoms are at their best when they are united. That's what you fought for, and that's what I wish to keep!" I insisted as parts of the crowd began to argue. I can't expect them all to agree with me, but if we start falling to division and distrust, we may as well call Zeddral saying that we surrender, "I suggest we put Queen Min's execution on hold and instead place her under a form of house arrest where she would be obligated to take care of the bodies of the soulless. Should my theory fail, then we may proceed with the death sentence." The fighting continued behind me, but each hero slowly stepped up

"I'd do anything to be reunited with my mother. I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I stood by," Makoto said softly.

Jaune smiled and moved some small strands of hair behind his ear, trying to act charming, "She seems to be both a victim and perpetrator."

"Ritto is the one who caused this, along with much more pain than this. He should be our priority, not a grieving mother who he used," Xandric continued. We all looked to Ryan, who stood there with his arms crossed.

"My team's said their peace, and I agree. But what about you?" Ryan asked, narrowing his eyes as if testing my father somehow. Dad let out a sigh as he rubbed his eyes.

"Very well, your terms are acceptable," He reluctantly answered before turning to me specifically, "And I take it you won't be hanging up the staff?"

I shake my head and smile, "Whatever helps our people." I could see him look slightly shocked. Still, he calmed himself and nodded.

"Very well. Best of luck to you, Hero White. Just please come back safely."