The king's group were back traveling through the desert in an ocean of sand.
"So long story short we won the war and I went back home and became the Invisible king that ruled the kingdom from the shadows." The king explained.
The group was speechless but no words were needed.
"Damn dude...just damn." Luke couldn't really think of anything.
"So you're over 100?" Stagnum tried to bring up the mood again.
"Yep. I've done a lot and seen a lot. Life is amazing I can tell you like an expert. But all in all, I look damn good for my age." The king chuckled.
"That's only because of that special water." Luke was being a hater.
"Yeah but, I don't have that power anymore. I can't change my age and stay forever young. I lost it when my powers were sealed away."
"What!? Then why didn't you drink any of the water when we were back there!?" Musabi jumped in front of the king.
Everybody stopped.
"Because I didn't want to. Even If I did it wouldn't have mattered anyway." The king flicked her on the head and smiled then kept walking.
"...You're hiding something still." Musabi had a heavy expression.
The king stopped looked back at her then sighed.
"Look it's not something worth talking about right now. The moods super heavy right now as it is. I'll save it for another time." The king went over and rubbed Musabi's head like a child and tried to bring the mood up.
"Hey! I'm not 6!" Musabi yelled at the king.
"Fiine...I'll give my head pats to Ishiga." The king went over to Ishiga and started patting her.
"I didn't say I disliked it though..." Musabi said under her breath.
"Make up your damn mind." Ashly heard Musabi.
After traveling for a while they came upon another city.
"Finally!" Luke smiled excitedly.
"Man It's been a while since I had a bath. I can't wait to go and relax." Ashly stretches her arms.
"This is my first time ever going to a place like this so I'm looking forward to it." Ishiga smiled a bit.
"What are we waiting for. Let's go." The king said, walking down the hill they were on.
The group happily followed.
They walked into the city and were surprised by how big it was.
"This place is huge..." Stagnum almost started wondering off but Luke pulled him back.
They were enjoying it. They walked into a bar to get a celebration drink for completing the main things they had to do.
"Cheer boys!" The king said clinking his glass with the rest of the group. They were having fun until...
"Hey!" A man yelled behind them.
They all turned around.
"Ugh...Not these guys again." Musabi and the rest of the group look very unamused.
"Why is it every time we step into a bar something like this happens?" Luke asked.
"So these guys just follow you all around?" Ishiga asked.
"Yep. Pretty much." The king said taking a shot.
"Hey don't talk about us like we aren't right in front of you!" Scarlet yelled at them...Yep, it was these guys again. The soulless eye bitch- I mean 6.
"We wouldn't be talking about you guys at all if you just stayed away." Luke looked tired of them already.
"So how you guy's been?" Stagnum asked the group.
"Don't speak to us as if we are friends." The wannabe gangster John tried to scare them.
"Didn't I whoop yo ass like you were a kid, stop trying to act all tough." The king said throwing back another shot.
"Er..." John couldn't think of a comeback.
"We know we can't beat you in a fight so don't worry we won't try anything," Orion said sitting down next to them.
"That's cool but why do have to be sitting by us?" Luke asked.
"Because it was the first spot I saw," Orion said in a rude tone.
"Don't go picking fights you won't win." Luke's tone got a little bit more ruff as well.
"You think you can beat me? If it wasn't for your group leader we would have killed you all."
When Orion said this Luke got pissed and stood up. Orion stood up as well. And they stared each other down.
"If you're going to fight take it outside." The king said tossing back another shot.
"Fine then. Let's take this outside just one on one." Luke looked like he'd been waiting to fight him.
"Fine then let's go," Orion said walking toward the door.
Both of the groups followed them outside and they found a rooftop to fight on.
"It's a one on one matchup between Luke the unstoppable!! And Orion the bell ringer!!" Stagnum was on the sidelines commanding, The king was his co-host.
"This is an interesting match up Stagnum! I hope we get to see the best come out of them!"
"You guy's will begin on my mark! Ready...Fight!" Musabi said then she backed off of the battleground.
"It appears that they aren't rushing at each other Stagnum! What do you think about this?"
"Well, Tom they are both weird people so who knows what's going on in their heads!"
"You are certainly right about that one Stagnum."
"What are you waiting for come to me, What are scared of?" Orion was cocky.
"I was just thinking...You're so weak to me at this point I need to give you a handicap. I won't be using my right arm." Luke grinned.
"Oh man the amount of flex! Tom, It's very rare we see Luke flex like this! What do you think of what's happening!?"
"I think Luke is about to fold that man's shit!"
"I do as well Tom! Let's see how it plays out!"
"You'll regret that later." Orion looked irritated. as he started walking toward Luke, Then he pulled off his bell.
"No, I won't." Luke looked like he didn't have a care in the world.
Orion rang his bell, then all of a sudden Luke looks like he went into a daze.
"I already win." Orion walked over to look a got in his face.
"What's happening!?"
"Well Stagnum, It seems Luke has been put in an Illusion!"
"My ability allows me to control all five senses. You're completely helpless." Orion raised his bell up and brought it down hard! Right, when the bell was about to hit Luke he caught the bell!
"W-what!?" Orion jumped in shock.
"How did he break his Illusion!?" John and his whole group were shocked.
"He didn't break it. Right now Luke's body is fighting on peer instinct." The king thought to himself.
Luke threw a punch but it missed.
"Looks like you still can't see me." Orion was back to being cocky.
Orion back away and swung the bell from the right and smacked Luke in the head. Luke stumble a bit but he couldn't fill anything.
"This is over." The king said sighing.
"You saying Luke is about to lose!?"
"No Stagnum...That guy fighting Luke is."
aura...Luke felt it. It was a 6 sense. Iracuj had an aura...Kin had an aura. Luke sensed these. His body forced him to so he could win.
Orion got close again and when he did In an instant Luke was behind Orion!
"When did he-!" Before Orion could even turn around Luke kick him in the back of the leg and made Orion go down to one leg! Then he grabbed Orion's head and pull it and jumped and kneed Orion in the back of his head! Orion spits out blood and was dazed. Luke took Orion's head and slammed it on the ground that would have broken if The king didn't put A barrier on the floor. Then Luke stomped on Orion's face and knocked him out!
"...What where am I?" Luke snapped out of the Illusion once when Orion was out.
"And the winner is Luuuke!!" Stagnum and The king yelled at the same time.
"Orion was beaten so easily..." The soulless eyes 6 were in shock.
"Yall should probably get him some medical help," The king told the group as he walked over to Orion's body.
"Orion!" The group rushed over and picked him up.
"You'll pay for this!" John yelled as they hurried away.
"Yeah, we doubt it. Anyway, yall trying to go look around?"
"Yeah let's go get some food!" Stagnum jumped off the roof first.
After beating Orion's ass they got back to having fun. Walking around eating drinking and laughing. Even though the king was the one doing most of the drinking. They deserved the brake. They went into the mountains and found a nice hill that overlooked the city and they chilled there.
"When I drop you guy's off at your home town I will leave you guys. But I really do think your school idea is amazing Luke so I got something I want you to have something, Luke." The king reached into his bag and pulled out a pouch and handed it to Luke.
Luke opened the bag and the group watched over his shoulder.
"Holy shit!" It was a pouched filled with platinum coins! (1 platinum=500,000$)
"Are you sure I can have this!?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I have more money than what can possibly be called for. Being one of the greatest bounty hunters to ever live in all." The king smiled gently as the moon shined down on them and the stars shined. The tree's rustled with the gentle wind.
"Thank you very much." Luke bowed a bit.
"Don't thank me ever again, it's weird. But you're welcome."
Luke chuckled a bit "Yeah it didn't feel right when I did it."
"Why not give me a few coins to start MY story?"
"Stagnum what would you even do with the money?" The king asked.
"I would buy a boat! Then I would travel Erath and beyond!"
"...The start of an adventure starts from the ground up. Work for you're boat, and it will fill so much nicer when you receive it. Do bounties. Get money and get your boat. Your stronger than was I was when I was 15 so getting to S rank shouldn't be trouble for you."
"I guess you're right." Stagnum sighed in defeat.
"Wise and rich. Good combination. Only if you weren't so old you could have gotten the young complement as well." Musabi said laughing a little.
"Yeah whatever you tsundere."
"I'm not a tsundere!" When Musabi said that everybody besides Stagnum looked at her with so much doubt.
"Bullshit." Ashly only said that one word and Luke, the king, and Ishiga just nodded.
"Screw you guy!" Musabi's face was red as a Tomato.
They all laughed at her a bit. Then the king brought back his more serious face.
"Hey, Ishiga. When I drop them off, I want you to stay with them."
"Why? Do you have no need for me anymore?"
"No, it's not like that! It's just that, I won't be alive for much longer. In a few years...I will die." Everybody went silent when they heard that, and all you could hear was the cool wind.
"Is that the thing you were keeping secret from us?" Musabi looked devastated.
"Yeah. Sorry for not telling you guy's Earlier. But as I said in my story. When I took Suya's power he died. When your power is taken it takes a huge toll on your body. My power was taken away but I still have some left that's the only reason I'm alive right now. But my time is almost up."
They all sat there in silence for a bit and just listen to the crickets and wind.
"...Understood. I'll leave with them" Ishiga said.
The king smiled then pulled out a bottle of liquor.
"You all want some?" The king shook the bottle as an invitation.
They all nodded then took turns passing the bottle around. Talking and laughing. Sometimes you just got to relax.
"St-stagnum! Git over here!" Musabi was drunk.
"What's wrong?" And so was Stagnum. The only people not drunk were Ishiga and the king.
"Do you know how manty sines I ha gave!? An you stll haven't noticed!"
"Wha?"
"Bro, I like, love ya!"Musabi pulled Stagnum close and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, my goood! She confessed!" Ashly said sitting on Luke's lap.
"Man, that's all you had to say!? I loved you since day one!"
"They drunk as hell they not even going to remember this shit." The king sighed and took another drink then passing the bottle to Ishiga.
"Yeah but mine as well let them have fun." Ishiga was starting to get a little drunk.
"Yeah, It's good to see all them happy like this. Make sure you keep these idiots in line when we part ways." The king grinned and took another drink.
"That's a pretty big task. But I can do it." Ishiga ginned back.
They all drank and had fun. Musabi and Stagnum fell asleep holding each other. Same with Ashly and Luke. Ishiga fell asleep with her head leaned against the king.
Meanwhile in the King's dream.
The king's body felt heavy... so heavy, In a place of nothing but darkness.
"It's not your fault." The king heard a woman's voice but woke up before he could recognize it.
"That dream again. I guess it's better than the nightmares." The king woke up as the sun was coming up over the water. It was a calm morning and the birds were chirping. He sat there for a little and just enjoyed the peaceful mood.
Then he gently shook Ishiga awake.
"Hey..."
Ishiga slowly opened her eyes then stretched. Then he woke up Musabi and Stagnum. The king shushed them and told them "Don't overreact to you guy's falling asleep like this, be quiet. Let's scare Ashly and Luke awake." They nodded then gather around Ashly and Luke in a circle. Then they all took deep breaths.
"AAAAAGH!!!" They all yelled and the King shot some fireballs into the air to scare them even more.
"AAAAAH!!" Ashly and Luke woke up screaming.
"Pfft, hahaha!" The group started laughing at Ashly and Luke.
"You guys suck!" Luke said jumping up.
"We love you too buddy." Stagnum was still laughing.
"That's a good way to start the morning!"
"Alright alright. Now that everybody is up we should head down to the dock and find the boat to your home town."
"I sir!"
They all walked down to the dock where the water was calm and the sun was nice. They paid a crew ship to get them to take them to Apeira. They all bored the ship. Then suddenly.
"What are you guys doing here!?" Scarlet yelled at the king's group.
"Why do we keep running into these guys?" Musabi asked.
"We paid to get taken somewhere. So that why we are here." The king answered.
"Scarlet calm down there is no need to fight." Icarus the little nun lady.
"Yeah let's just chill." The king said.
"After what you did to Orion! No way!" John stepped up.
"There is no need to fight. I lost." Orion put his hand on Scarlet and John's shoulders.
The king pulled out his fishing pool and started completely not caring about what was going on. And when he did the rest of the group stopped caring as well.
"Smug baster's!" John looked like an angry wolf.
"Pipe down." The king was getting irritated.
"Or what!?"
"I'll show you how The heavenly demons handle people." The king shot a look at him.
"Ha! The heavenly demons are over 100 years old at this point! I bet they weren't even that strong! The legend is that 4 kids made it to S rank Bounty hunter. That sounds like complete bullshit!" John shouldn't have said that.
"So you think me, Eddy, Anna, and Eraza are weak. Let's get one thing straight. The heavenly demons got more members as they lived. Named Jahol and Mizude. One of us could take over this planet and hell by themself. And you think a small puppy like you can beat one of us?" The king stared John down.
"You think I'm scared of you!?" John was sweating.
Toyomo said no more words and he grabbed John by his shirt and pulled him close and raised up his hand, and smacked him.
"Fight back bitch." Toyomo raised up his hand again and smacked John.
"Let go of me-" Toyomo smacked John mid senteces.
"What's wrong."
"Little bitch can't fight back." After each sentence Toyomo smacked John.
"Hey! Can you please stop?" Icarus said in her gentle voice.
Toyomo stared at her. And she stared back. Toyomo's stare became more intense. And Icarus started to waver. The king stared even harder. And tears started coming into Icarus's eyes.
"Fine." The king let John go.
Icarus smiled brightly. Like an angle.
John's face was bruised like he was being smacked with steel.
"Thank you." Icarus bowed then started healing John.
"I don't need your help!" John smacks Icarus's hand away.
Toyomo without thought grabbed John and headbutted him. Then started slapping him until John's face was bloody.
"say you're sorry." Toyomo held him by the hair in front of Icarus.
"Screw you!"
"Do you not know that I will kill you in the worst way possible?" Toyomo forced him to look into his eyes. And when John did Fear rushed over his soul.
"For every second you don't say sorry I'm going to break something."
"1" Toyomo grabbed his hand and started breaking John's fingers.
"2"
"3"
"4"
"I'm sorry!! I'm so sorry Icarus! You were just trying to help! I'm sorry!" The king drop John on the floor.
"Welp my job is done. Heal this little pup." The king walked back over and started fishing.
And with that, John stopped being rude to Icarus.
See you next time space cowboy...