The next day, several birds flew freely over the training ground, which was located right behind the Sword Society headquarters.
Hayumi was already standing there holding her sword, Julian and Nana were also there, where Nana was just sitting on a long chair, while Julian was preparing materials for Hayumi.
"Well Hayumi, this exercise aims to test your abilities, I also want to see where your fighting skills are," Julian then threw an apple up and then he slashed the apple before it fell to the ground.
"Didn't I already know how to fight yesterday?" Hayumi said while swinging her sword.
"Where is it, when we fought Hycos you were just gaping," Julian mocked.
Julian then showed several techniques from his sword, pulling out several daggers formed from water, the daggers floated around Julian.
"Look, this is one of the techniques of the Leviata sword which represents the ocean element, each sword has a different technique," said Julian.
"Like this?" Hayumi pulled her sword out with a slash of light that split the clouds.
"Not bad, but that's just the basic technique, now hold your sword and try to focus your mind on the sword," said Julian while sheathing his sword again.
Hayumi just nodded, then she raised her sword and closed her eyes, while she was focusing suddenly heard a whispering sound from the sword.
"Draw your sword, then the light will follow your will, move without gaps and attack without hesitation," whispered the mysterious voice.
Hayumi who heard it could only be dumbfounded, but Hayumi suddenly lost consciousness, soon she opened her eyes, her pupils now turned light yellow, but her nature was very different from the original Hayumi, before Hayumi looked normal but now she looked colder, she then pulled out her sword and launched a light slash towards Julian.
Julian who saw it swiftly created a water shield to block Hayumi's slash, but the girl had already disappeared from before him.
"Where did she go?" wondered Julian while looking around.
Then suddenly Hayumi appeared behind Julian. Hayumi immediately swung her sword right at Julian's neck, but the water dagger that had surrounded Julian immediately blocked Hayumi's sword attack.
"Ah, good tactics," Julian counterattacked with several water daggers that immediately shot towards Hayumi, but some of the daggers were quickly parried by Hayumi.
Hayumi with a cold gaze immediately launched a light attack that formed like an angelic shadow
"Angel Slash!" the attack shot towards Julian.
"Divine protectos!" Julian created a water shield that successfully blocked Hayumi's attack.
Nana, who had been sitting, only said.
"Calm her down or you'll die Julian," Nana said while sipping a glass of tea.
"Take it easy, I have a way to tame this girl," Julian replied, he just avoided the attack from his sister.
Hayumi who had been controlled by the sword looked very annoyed, she then took the stance to launch her strongest attack, but before she had time to gather her energy, she accidentally looked at the plate containing 6 pieces of watermelon on the table near Nana sitting.
"Eh watermelon?" the sword's influence disappeared instantly and Hayumi finally regained consciousness, then Hayumi ran towards the piece of watermelon.
"Well what I said right," said Julian while patting Nana's shoulder.
"I didn't see it," Nana replied while taking a piece of watermelon and eating it.
A few minutes later 1 plate of watermelon was eaten by Hayumi, while Nana was still sitting sweetly, while Julian massaged Nana's back.
"So what did you feel earlier Hayumi?" asked Julian.
"I felt like I lost my consciousness, I couldn't control my body, but I could still see you two," Hayumi replied, her eyes back on her sword.
"Well you obeyed the whisper of the sword too much," said Julian.
Hayumi just scratched her head in confusion.
"Huh! How did you know?" wondered Hayumi as she re-sheathed her sword.
"Well actually, the sword is not 100% safe for the descendants of Aether to use, let alone a sword that only has the remaining power of the Archeons," said Julian.
"What do you mean?" asked Hayumi who was still confused.
Nana suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"I'm sorry I interrupted your conversation, I have permission to add that all Aether descendants must experience the same symptoms, the way to overcome these symptoms depends on the user's mentality, if his mentality is fragile like a wooden branch then the Archeons sword user may fall under the influence of the power of the Archeons, even worse he will become a follower of the Archeons," said Nana.
Julian responded to Nana gently.
"Ah, thanks for adding to the explanation Nana, well you heard right Hayumi? You seem to be experiencing a similar case, but just calm down you must be mentally strong because when you saw the watermelon you suddenly came to your senses."
Hearing her sister, Hayumi just narrowed her eyes as if she felt ridiculed.
"Do you want to educate me or mock me?" Hayumi was annoyed.
"Cup cup cup cup don't be angry, here's a plate of cold watermelon for you," Julian said while placing a plate of watermelon on the table.
"I want it! You're the best," Hayumi exclaimed excitedly while Nana just smiled.
On the other hand, inside the Sword Society laboratory. Ryota was researching the sample of Hycos that he got from Reyshibe yesterday. Moments later, someone entered the room and it was Hazu.
"Did you get any results Ryota?" asked Hazu, he walked towards Ryota and looked at some samples that were being analysed.
"So far, I've only got a few clues from these samples, firstly I feel this is a body part from an empty vessel, secondly I finally got the location of Hycos' hideout, and thirdly I believe that his Aether seed is located in his weapon," replied Ryota while displaying a hologram in the shape of the previous Hycos.
"So you're saying that the soul and power of Hycos resides in the spear he wields?" said Hazu while staring at the Hycos-shaped hologram.
"That's right, from some of the history I've read, it explains that Hycos actually no longer has a divine form because his body was destroyed by the black crack, inevitably he transferred his soul and power into the weapon he had been using, but he also made his own body, Hycos used some bones from alter world creatures to create a new body," said Ryota.
Hazu began to understand Ryota's words.
"Alright, so it's time for me to shine this time?" asked Hazu, he pointed his sword at Hycos' sample.
Ryota, who was already very confident, stepped towards the cupboard and took out his neatly stored sword.
"Definitely, I'm going this time, with Memo sword, everything will be revealed," Ryota spun his Memo sword and pointed it at Hazu.
Hours later, the Aether Descendants gathered in the Sword Society lobby. Hayumi, Julian, Reyshibe, Ryota, Naomi, and Nana stood before Luna, soon Luna moved her baton to create a hologram of the alter world map.
"Alright on this mission we will carry out an operation to subdue the Chaos Archeons, Hycos. Based on the results of Ryota's research, the Archeons reside in the alter world precisely in an abandoned colosseum in the middle of the forest," Luna explained while pointing at the map.
"For this mission, Ryota, Julian, Naomi, and Hayumi will go down the mountain to face Hycos, while Nana and Reyshibe will guard the headquarters," Luna said.
Everyone readily accepted the order including Hayumi.
"Orders received Mrs Luna, eh by the way I didn't see Hazu. He should be the most suitable for this mission." Julian broke the ice by asking about Hazu's whereabouts.
"He's on business with the Sword Society officials, he'll catch up with us anyway" Naomi replied.
Not long after, Luna spoke again while activating the alter world portal behind the headquarters.
"Alright the portal is open, this will take you straight to where Hycos is, I hope you succeed in this mission."
Hayumi, Julian, Naomi, and Ryota headed straight for the portal while sheathing their swords.
"Alright guys, we seize the seed of chaos," Julian ordered, he stepped into the portal first, followed by Hayumi and the others.
On the other hand, Hazu stood in front of a Sword Society official sitting on a throne whose form was obscured by the darkness of the room. Beside him were two bodyguards guarding the high-ranking officer.
"They've started moving to retrieve the seed, but you're still standing there," said the officer.
"Cih, I'll definitely catch up with them, after all, chaos energy isn't that easy to conquer," Hazu said while playing with his sword.
"You're overconfident Hazu, just so you know that the power of chaos has something to do with the Archeons of destruction," said the senior officer.
"It is my destiny to receive that power, my mentality is not soft like the previous heirs," Hazu said confidently then he turned and walked out of the room.
"Remember Hazu, the heir to chaos will not easily conquer his destiny," said the officer.
Hazu didn't listen to him, he finally walked out of the room.
"You underestimate me too much, old man," he grumbled as he walked out of the headquarters.
Back to the side of Hayumi and friends, they finally came out of the portal, in front of them was an abandoned colosseum, but the weather in that place was very cloudy.
"Wow, so the place is not a castle anymore? Interesting," Julian praised, before he tried to go inside.
"Hey! Don't be so rash, we don't know what's in there," Ryota explained, but he stepped over and went in too.
"Emmmm, that's a bad reprimand," replied Hayumi who immediately patted her forehead.
"Let's go in Hayumi," said Naomi then pulled Hayumi's hand until they both entered the colosseum.
Inside the colosseum, they began to explore several rooms of the building.
"This building was destroyed around 3000 years ago, but I feel a strong aura of Archeons inside this building," Ryota said while looking at each ancient carving.
"It's too dark in here, light shiner!" Hayumi drew her sword, and the blade gave off a beam of light that illuminated the place.
"Good job Hayumi, where did you learn that?" asked Julian in a joking tone.
"It's okay, I just thought of it, it's really dark here," replied Hayumi while holding her sword tightly.
As they began to enter the main room, suddenly one Arcebyss monster jumped towards them.
"Look out!" panicked Hayumi.
Without thinking, Ryota slashed at the monster with his Memo Sword which made the Arcebyss monster fall in an instant.
"Yey that's really cool," said Julian while giving applause.
"Save your applause for later, focus on our mission," Ryota replied while putting his sword back into the sheath.
"Yeah well, you can't take a joke," Julian said.
They continued their search until they finally arrived at the main room of the colosseum, the room looked like a large gladiatorial arena. When they set foot there, the aura around the place turned very tense, in the middle of the arena there was a humanoid who was holding a spear, but moments later he immediately noticed the presence of Hayumi and friends.
"Ah, you guys are once again challenging the chaos? How pathetic" Hycos got angry.
"Well, this time I can understand the language, like yesterday," said Julian, he drew his sword and prepared to fight.
"I won't let you take the seeds of chaos! face me pest creatures!" Hycos, spun his spear, then the Arcebyss monsters sprung out from behind the colosseum building.
"Alright this time it's more dangerous, guide me big brother," Hayumi said as she drew her sword as well, followed by Ryota and Naomi.
The Arcebyss immediately rushed at them, followed by Hycos who immediately aimed at Ryota.
"Spirit scrap!" Ryota let out a projectile attack that made several Arcebyss die instantly.
"Hayumi let out an area attack from your sword!" Julian exclaimed while slashing several Arcebyss.
"Don't forget the name of your sword is Dawnbinger Sword!" exclaimed Naomi, she issued a root attack to trap the Arcebyss monsters.
"Dawnbinger! Vitality Slash!" Hayumi swung her sword which issued a slash effect with area damage.
"Good!" Julian also created several water daggers that stabbed straight at the Arcebyss monsters.
The battle was fierce, so all the Arcebyss monsters had been defeated and left Hycos alone.
"This is our chance! Create a combined attack!" Julian said.
Hayumi, Julian, Ryota, and Hayumi began to dart towards Hycos releasing their best attacks. But Hycos stomped his spear to the ground which made the four of them fail miserably.
"The fire of chaos will never be extinguished! Scatter in silence!" Hycos launched a rain of spears from the top of the colosseum.
"Protective leaf!" Naomi created a protective umbrella from plants thanks to the power of her sword.
"One now!" Hycos held his spear tightly with both hands and then from the sky above the alter world formed a giant sword blade ready to fall.
"We're pressed, this attack could destroy this place!" Ryota said, trying to create a protective area covering the entire colosseum with his memo sword.
Seeing the opportunity, Hycos tried to dart towards them, but suddenly sharp crystals appeared from underground and trapped Hycos and made him unable to move.
Hayumi and friends were immediately shocked to see it, from behind the dust of the ruins appeared Hazu who was wearing a robe with a little armour on his shoulders, he pointed his sword at Hycos then created several sharp crystals that immediately shot towards the Archeons. Hycos managed to free his body but he was pierced again by the sharp crystals.
"Looks like I'm a little late," Hazu said.
Julian who saw it only laughed slightly.
"Oh, so the potential heir has arrived," said Julian.
"Hazu!" exclaimed Naomi.
Hazu began to approach the four of them while holding his Pando Sword.
"By the way this place is my territory, I won't let it be destroyed in vain!" Hazu created another sharp crystal that stabbed straight at Hycos.
"His aura is very charismatic," Hayumi murmured in admiration.
Naomi removed her protective root because Ryota had made a bigger one, soon Hycos finally broke free, he then took a fighting stance and raised his spear angrily.
"How dare you!" exclaimed Hycos.
"This is our chance Hazu," said Naomi.
"This time I will take the seed, the chaos! Your suffering is now over, we Aether descendants will give you a dramatic and painful farewell!" exclaimed Hazu.
Hazu then created several crystal swords that floated around him. Followed by Hayumi, Julian, Naomi, and Ryota were already preparing to counterattack Hycos.
———Continued———