The World Legacy: Sekai No Isan

"Didn't expect to run into trouble here…" 

She remarked with a smile, her tone surprisingly calm despite the circumstances.

"Miyaki…"

Skyler's voice faltered with shock as he witnessed her emergence from the dark hallway, his surprise evident in his widened eyes.

"Skyler? Hehe, didn't expect to see you here, my student…"

Miyaki's voice carried a note of genuine surprise as she laid eyes on him, her astonishment evident in how her eyebrows arched and her eyes widened at the unexpected encounter.

"I'm not your student anymore…"

Skyler retorted with a hint of defiance in his voice, his gaze meeting Miyaki's with a mixture of determination.

"From my eyes, you still are a student to me…"

Miyaki replied, her voice calm and steady. She gave Skyler a gentle smile, filled with a sense of understanding and perhaps a hint of nostalgia, as she looked at him.

The mysterious man began to chuckle softly, amused by the unfolding reunion between Miyaki and Skyler.

"Hehehe... Oi, sensei, you kinda interrupt something important here right now..." 

He teased, his tone mocking as he addressed Miyaki with a disrespectful familiarity.

Miyaki's expression hardened as she fixed a stern glare on the man. 

"You have no right to call me that. I don't even know who you are, or what kind of devil's soul may be inside of you, but seeing two of my students hurt like this... it's making me quite pissed."

She responded, her voice steady yet brimming with rising anger at the threat to her students.

The man's laughter filled the air, rich with provocation.

"...you flatter me. Two students getting hurt makes you mad, huh? What makes you feel that way about Skyler? After all, he's sided with me now…" 

He said, a smug smile spreading across his face.

Miyaki responded calmly, her smile tinged with confidence as she looked towards Skyler. 

"Because the real Skyler I know… wouldn't join the dark path that you're in." 

Her words were firm, reflecting her belief in the better side of her former student, challenging the man's assertion.

The man smiled as his command was sharp and clear. 

"Skyler… get rid of her."

Skyler's expression shifted to one of surprise and inner conflict when the man issued his harsh command. 

Though taken aback, he felt trapped by the situation, believing he had no other option but to obey the directive given to him, despite his evident reluctance to do so.

"Miyaki… please leave. I don't wanna hurt you." 

Skyler said, his voice heavy with reluctance. His hesitation was palpable as he slowly reached toward the katana strapped to his left hip, his fingers brushing against the hilt but not quite drawing the blade.

Miyaki raised an eyebrow, a defiant smirk playing across her lips as she faced Skyler.

"Hmph, if you surrender…" 

She taunted, challenging him with her confident stance and the unwavering gaze that dared him to make his next move.

Skyler's frustration mounted as he made his decision. With a tense expression, he finally reached with his left hand to draw his katana. 

Revealing small white lightning flickering along the blade—a sign of the intense energy contained within.

With the weapon now drawn, he pointed it directly at Miyaki, his expression hardened and resolute, signaling he was ready to engage in a duel that neither of them had sought but now seemed inevitable.

His movements were deliberate, signaling his readiness to confront whatever might come next in this unavoidable confrontation.

Miyaki's posture was calm and collected as she prepared to draw her katana. Her movements were smooth and deliberate, and as her hand grasped the hilt of her sword, a vivid red aura began to emanate from the blade, casting a glowing light around her. 

With her hand steady and her stance confident, she faced Skyler directly, the intensity of the red aura reflecting her readiness and unwavering focus for the duel ahead.

"Let's see what you've changed over the past 10 years..."

Miyaki's voice was calm and steady, filled with a mixture of curiosity and challenge as she spoke. 

A confident smile played across her lips, reflecting her readiness to measure the skills that Skyler had honed since they last crossed paths. 

Her posture relaxed yet alert, she prepared to gauge the extent of his growth through the dance of their upcoming duel.

The man smiled wide and sinister as he anticipated the thrilling duel about to unfold before him.

"This is gonna be fun..." 

He murmured to himself, barely containing his excitement at witnessing what he expected to be a spectacular display of skill and power between two formidable opponents.

As the two former swordsmen faced each other, a mix of worry and curiosity filled me. It had been 10 years since they last sparred, and I wondered how the dynamics of their relationship would play out in this fight between student and sensei.

"Don't blink like last time, Skyler…" 

Miyaki taunted with a playful yet challenging smile, her tone light but her eyes sharp.

Skyler expression was intense and serious as he met Miyaki's gaze squarely.

A heavy silence fell over the area, only broken by the sound of the wind rustling past them. 

Skyler and Miyaki stood motionless, eyes locked in a deep, piercing stare, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The tension was palpable, hanging in the air like a thick fog, as the moment stretched on.

As a single leaf drifted slowly toward the ground, Skyler and Miyaki exploded into action, their movements a blur to my eyes. 

In the blink of an eye, they were engaged in a fierce battle, their blades clashing with the speed and ferocity of a lightning storm.

Their movements were so swift and precise that it was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. Skyler attacked with the rapidity of lightning itself, his strikes sharp and relentless. 

Miyaki countered with equal speed, her responses so fluid and seamless it seemed as though they could continue this dance indefinitely. 

The clash of steel rang out, echoing around them, a testament to their skill and the intensity of their duel.

"You've gotten faster, Skyler." 

Miyaki remarked, a proud smile spreading across her face as she noted the marked improvement in Skyler's fighting skills.

"... even though… you only use your left hand." 

She teased, skillfully parrying his attacks while continuing to engage him verbally.

Skyler's pace quickened noticeably in response to Miyaki's taunt, his focus sharpening as he launched a flurry of rapid strikes. 

"It's none of your concern…" 

He replied tersely, his concentration evident in his swift, precise movements.

As their battle escalated in speed and intensity, Miyaki's experience began to show. 

She smirked slightly, her confidence growing as she started to outmaneuver Skyler, slowly surpassing his strength and speed with her superior technique and strategic thinking. 

Each exchange of blows heightened the stakes of their duel, turning it into a breathtaking display of skill and mastery.

As Skyler realized Miyaki was beginning to outpace him, he swiftly dashed back, putting some distance between them. His face betrayed his annoyance as he retreated from Miyaki's relentless advance.

"Come on, Skyler. I know that's not all you have in you…" 

Miyaki called out after him, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched him regain his composure.

Skyler paused, maintaining his silence for a moment longer, his expression serious and contemplative. The air around them seemed to thicken with tension as he finally spoke, his voice low but resolute.

"...you chose this, Miyaki."

With a dramatic flourish, Skyler threw back his cape to finally reveal his right arm, which until now had been hidden. 

To everyone's astonishment, instead of flesh and bone, his arm was mechanical—a sophisticated robotic limb, its sleek metal surfaces gleaming under the ambient light. 

The revelation added a new layer of complexity to the duel, hinting at untold stories behind his transformation.

Skyler's right robotic arm reached for his katana, and as he gripped it, his aura surged, enveloping the robotic limb in white electricity that flickered and crackled intensely around it. 

The katana itself seemed to hum with the building energy, ready to unleash its power.

"White Lightning Aura: 20% Power Up." 

Skyler announced, his voice steady and confident. As he spoke, his eyes began to glow a fierce white, mirroring the electric energy coursing through his arm.

Facing Miyaki with unwavering determination, he prepared to strike, his entire body tensing as he channeled his power.

"So it's finally revealed…" 

Miyaki responded, her voice tinged with excitement and a hint of admiration. She smiled, a soft laugh escaping her as she took in the full extent of Skyler's transformation. 

Her stance relaxed slightly, not out of carelessness, but from the thrill of facing a worthy challenge, eager to see how this new development would elevate their duel.

In a swift blur akin to lightning, Skyler's movements accelerated, charging toward Miyaki with newfound speed and determination. 

Despite his increased velocity, Miyaki skillfully intercepted his attack, parrying his blows with precise timing and finesse.

Realizing that his current speed was insufficient to overcome Miyaki's defenses, Skyler felt a surge of frustration building within him. 

With a determined grit, he focused on amplifying his power, increasing his aura percentage to 50% as he sought to gain the upper hand in their battle.

Taking a few steps back to create distance, Skyler honed his concentration, channeling his heightened energy into each strike as he prepared to unleash a devastating blow upon Miyaki. 

However, as he poised himself for the decisive attack, Miyaki met his gaze with a confident smile, her expression unyielding as she calmly uttered:

"Dark Red Aura: Strike Into The Darkness."

With those ominous words, a shadowy aura enveloped Miyaki's form, hinting at the formidable power she wielded. 

Despite Skyler's intensified efforts, he could sense that the true test of their confrontation was only just beginning, and he braced himself for the impending clash of forces.

Just as Skyler and Miyaki were poised to unleash their most powerful strikes against each other, an unexpected force intervened. 

The man, who had been observing the duel, suddenly enveloped me in shadows, pulling me away from the scene with an eerie swiftness.

When I regained my senses, I found myself in an entirely different location. It appeared to be an old church, with rays of light streaming down through the large, stained-glass windows, casting vibrant patterns on the stone floor. 

The atmosphere was solemn and hushed, a stark contrast to the battleground I had just been torn from.

Before me, on the stage that seemed more suited for a preacher than the scene unfolding, stood the man who had dragged me into this place. 

His back was turned towards me, giving the unsettling impression that I was merely an audience to his orchestrated performance. 

The sight of him standing there, seemingly in control of everything around him, sent a chill down my spine as I tried to understand the role I was meant to play in his mysterious plan.

The man's giggle resonated through the quiet church, bouncing off the stone walls and creating an eerie echo that filled the space.

"Unfortunately… we cannot watch the show finish as their powerful impact will kill us..." 

He explained casually as if discussing the weather rather than a potentially fatal duel.

"Why did you bring me here…" 

I asked, my voice laced with confusion and a growing sense of unease.

"Well… yours is the prize that I value most, so I need to harness your power for my gain." 

The man replied with a cunning smile, his intentions laid bare.

"You will not steal this power from me." 

I declared, the resolve in my voice sharp and unwavering.

Upon hearing my words, the man turned around slowly, his face twisting into a sneer that was both malevolent and triumphant. 

As he faced me, he stepped aside, revealing a chilling sight that struck me like a physical blow, causing my heart to skip a beat in utter disbelief.

"Still remember the question you asked me... about what I did to her? Well... here is your answer."

The man said, his voice dripping with malice as he gestured to the scene behind him.

There, tied to a chair, was a familiar figure—Siana. Her face was streaked with tears, and her body bore visible wounds and scratches, a testament to the ordeal she had endured. 

She looked up with a mix of fear and desperation, her eyes meeting mine in a silent plea for help.

"Your choice is now begun, Aki…" 

The man declared, his tone brimming with cruel excitement as he watched my reaction intently.

The gravity of my decision loomed large, casting a shadow over the fate of both Siana and myself.