Invasion Arc
I dreamt of a world without magic—a peaceful town where I could live as an ordinary person. Lying on the grass beneath a clear blue sky, I closed my eyes and savored the gentle breeze on my face. It felt utterly serene.
A voice broke the tranquility—it was my little sister, Chisaka Tosaki, calling me. I'm Arisu Tosaki, ten years old, and we live alone, without memories of our parents. Our grandfather took us in and taught us to survive. Right now, living with Chisaka is all that matters to me. However, I sense there's a greater purpose to my life, one that I intend to discover through adventures.
I walked Chisaka back home to bathe. As her older brother, I always worry about her, so I help her with everything, including bathing. Afterward, I told her I was going out to wander, and she promised to handle our breakfast.
I was sprawling out on the grass when a girl approached and sat beside me. Our house, nestled between two towering trees, is a beautiful place. Inside, it has three shrines and cherry trees that lead to a hilltop where we often enjoy gatherings. Grandpa said we own the hills, so I take great care in maintaining them, setting traps not to harm, but to alert me of any intruders. My magic allows me to see through anything, be it magical flows or physical bodies.
This girl sometimes wanders our territory, but she's never caused trouble. I was surprised she joined me here, at my favorite spot.
"The weather is lovely today, isn't it?" she said.
"Yeah, I wish this feeling could last forever," I replied.
"So, what brings you out here? I mean always." she asked.
"I actually live here," I said.
Nearby, I noticed a boy chopping wood and offered to help him. He and his father had a deal with me: they needed wood and would replant more, so I agreed. This arrangement had forged a friendly bond between us.
"Let me help you with that," I said.
"No, it's my job. I need to do it alone!" he protested, struggling with the heavy wood.
"Don't worry. I'm just bored and could use the exercise," I said.
The girl wanted to help too, but I told her, "Girls shouldn't be doing this kind of work."
"Boys should handle it because we're stronger," The boy said, the girl pouted.
Halfway through, the remaining wood was too heavy for him.
"Hey, can you help me with this? It's really heavy!"
After finishing the work, we lay down on the grass to rest.
"Oh, I forgot to ask—what are your names?" I inquired.
We introduced ourselves: Tokiro Shoyo, the blonde-haired boy, and Yuzuha Urawa, the girl with pink hair.
Yuzuha asked Tokiro out of nowhere about his dream.
"I want to become a full-fledged swordsman," he said.
"That's a great dream. I want to be the top healer in the land and protect all the swordsmen. What about you, Arisu?"
"Me? I'm not sure. I don't really have a dream yet."
"Nothing at all? Is there something you wish for?"
"I have amnesia and don't know about my real parents. I just… feel like I want to find peace."
"Tomorrow is our first day at Dakini Magic Academy. Meet us at the town's gate. My father will take us to the city," Tokiro said.
"Sounds good. I'll head back to town for now. My parents might be looking for me. See you!" Yuzuha said, leaving with Tokiro.
I returned to my house and I smelled something that I'd tasted before.
"Wow! Omelet rice!"
"Here's the soup, big brother!"
"It's so delicious, you're a great cook. My little sister is growing up so mature! She also cooked for Big Brother's breakfast. How great my life is!" Chisaka flattered.
"Big brother always takes care of me so I'll take care of big brother's food!"
"Our grandpa told us that if we entered the Dakini Academy, we didn't need to pay. He also told me that he has an acquaintance who can take care of you. Is that alright to you, Chisaka?"
"It's not a problem! I don't want to mend with your dreams. You've been practicing magic and I really want to watch you doing some magic!"
"Thank you, my dear little sister! I'll teach you fire magic later as a reward!"
"Really!? I'm excited! I want to improve my fire magic!"
"Go on. Let's eat and we'll train for the whole day!"
Chisaka and I were born with an immense magical capacity and strong mana control. We each inherited mastery over the five elemental magics: fire, water, wind, earth, and thunder. However, I've always excelled in fire magic alone, a skill that has been honed since Grandpa was alive.
Chisaka extended her palm toward the wooden dummy dolls, a tiny flame igniting and steadily expanding. Once it reached the size needed for a fire bullet, she skillfully molded it into an oval shape.
"Keep your focus! Feel the magic coursing through your hand. Assess the flame's concentration—does it feel steady and well-focused? When you're sure the flames are stable, you can release them by commanding 'discharge' if you find it hard to maintain focus."
She exhaled slowly and aimed at the dummy. Her flame bullet struck true, destroying one of the targets and showing a marked improvement in her technique.
"Once you've perfected that technique, you'll be able to unleash multiple attacks with ease. Watch closely, Chisaka!"
I raised my hand and chanted, "Fire Magic: Flame Riffle!!!"
The Flame Riffle, while similar to the Flame Bullet, differs primarily in size and power. It travels faster and requires greater concentration. Beginners can usually manage only one shot, but with mastery, you can fire more than ten. The Flame Riffle is a more advanced version of the Flame Bullet, showcasing its enhanced power and precision.
"Now that you've mastered the Flame Bullet, it's time to elevate your skills. We're about to dive into the main event—the moment you've been eagerly awaiting."
"Fire Art! Yay!" Chisaka's excitement was palpable.
On this continent, weapon art is a crucial technique. By channeling mana into weapons, you can perform magic-enhanced attacks, making them far more effective against demons. While pure magic is powerful, it alone is often insufficient to defeat high-level demons. Weapon art, especially those weapons designed specifically for demon slaying, provides the necessary edge in combat.
I guided Chisaka through the process, giving her hours to practice infusing mana into her sword. After she successfully completed this stage, we moved on to the next. As she channeled her fire magic into the blade, the wooden sword remained unharmed, its durability enhanced by the mana. Delighted with her progress, she experimented with various slashing techniques.
"That's a good start, but it's not quite the art yet. To truly master fire art, you need to refine the form and technique within your mind. Let me show you how it's done."
"Fire Magic: Dragon Dance!"
The Dragon Dance starts as the Sword Dance, which involves a series of precise sword movements: a diagonal slash from the top right, the opposite diagonal slash, a horizontal slash from the right, followed by a diagonal slash from the bottom left, its opposite, and another horizontal slash. These movements should be executed with a relaxed yet focused body, fast speed, strength, and proper breathing technique. If you can perform the Sword Dance continuously for one minute, your body will feel lighter, heat up, and your attacks will become sharper and faster. Perfecting this one-minute routine transforms the Sword Dance into the more advanced Dragon Dance, achievable in a single sequence.
The technique might not resemble a dragon in form, but its name, "Dragon Dance," carries a deeper tradition. The name reflects the essence of the art rather than its literal shape. The true power of the technique lies in understanding its historical significance. According to our grandpa, the Dragon Dance was inspired by legendary warriors who defeated dragons using this very sword technique, their movements reminiscent of a dance. Over time, this technique became known as the Dragon Dance, its name embodying the spirit and history behind it.
To truly harness the power of an art, you must grasp its core meaning, which often surpasses the effectiveness of standard battle arts. You can develop your own unique battle art through practice and innovation, or seek out a master to guide you in inheriting their techniques.
Chisaka expressed her desire to develop her own unique battle art, so I refrained from teaching her the dragon sword styles. Instead, she dedicated her time to perfecting the fusion of fire magic with her sword.
I observed her progress as the sun dipped below the horizon. With nightfall approaching, we decided to wrap up for the day and gather our belongings, preparing for the next. Our evening meal consisted of fried fish—caught by us, not bought from the market. We embraced this simple, self-sufficient lifestyle, finding joy and a sense of adventure in it. Both Chisaka and I felt content with our healthy, satisfying way of life.
"Big brother, are you bringing that sword—the one with the dark red blades, like a dragon?"
"I'm leaving it behind for now. It's not the right moment to use it, and besides, no one can get into the secret room. Even if they managed to blow up the place, they'd still need to perform a specific magic circle to open it."
"But Grandpa said you should never leave that sword behind."
"Don't worry, I'm strong enough on my own!"
"Well, you're right! Big brother is strong!"
"Let's eat now and get some rest. I'm excited for tomorrow!"
Our house hides a secret room, concealed within a spatial dimension. Even if someone were to blow up the entire place, they wouldn't find it. This secret room is a treasure trove of historical and magical texts, and it holds some extraordinary weapons. Grandpa, who was a wellspring of knowledge, was the only one who could access this room. He once taught me how to unlock it, revealing its wealth of stories and spells. While I haven't read everything, I've perused about 20 percent of the books of magic. Grandpa once entrusted me with a dark red blade and insisted I protect it with my life.
I'm confident that no one could ever access the secret room. I've studied the space magic spells thoroughly and know that replicating Grandpa's original spell is impossible. Grandpa once told me that this spell was passed down from someone who had vanished long ago, the very creator of the spell. Since this spell is not found in any public space magic books, it remains hidden. That's why I've chosen to leave the sword in its secure place.
Chisaka had already fallen asleep, but my excitement for tomorrow kept me wide awake. Unable to rest, I decided to step outside and sit in front of the house.
"Damn it… I can't sleep..."
As I paced around, an idea struck me, and I grabbed a wooden sword from the rack.
"Red flames... Kusanagi... Maybe I should give it a try. It's a technique based on sun magic, but since fire is a lesser form of the sun, it might work."
Any fire magic user can control their body temperature to extreme levels, which is crucial for performing the powerful technique known as Kusanagi. This technique requires the practitioner's body temperature to be precisely 40 degrees Celsius. However, using Kusanagi demands rigorous practice in breathing techniques to prevent lung damage from the intense pressure. Additionally, red flames, which are heavier and more difficult to control, can become dangerously unstable if the user loses focus while wielding them.
I raised my hands into a high stance, concentrating on synchronizing my breath before executing the slash. As I prepare, I channel my magic throughout my body, enhancing my muscle strength.
"Kusanagi!!!"
As I slashed down, red flames ignited along the sword, but I lost focus and control over the heavy flames. The imbalance caused me to lose my footing, and I fell to the ground, struggling to catch my breath from the intense pressure.
"Damn… This is heavier than I expected! I can't breathe!"
Realizing that handling Kusanagi was beyond my current capabilities, I understood that even a lesser form of sun magic could wield these flames. Despite the challenge, I remained determined.
After the struggle, I continued practicing my sword slashes, hoping to build enough control and strength to handle Kusanagi more effectively the next time I attempted it.
The next morning, I woke up groggy and dehydrated, slumped in front of the house. My exhaustion from the previous night had finally caught up with me, and I had managed only a few hours of sleep.
Chisaka, visibly worried, handed me a drink to help with my dehydration. I panicked when she reminded me that we had to depart in just thirty minutes. I hurriedly rushed to the shower, skipping breakfast in the process.
"Damn it! I'm still so tired—I barely got three hours of sleep…"
Chisaka and I scrambled to the town's entrance, struggling with our luggage. There, Tokiro and Yuzuha were already waiting, busy arranging their things on the wagon.
"Oh, you made it! Did you oversleep?" Tokiro called out.
I thought to myself, More like a lack of sleep.
A few minutes earlier, I had collapsed beside Chisaka, my body exhausted from the night's training. Tokiro and Yuzuha had been concerned, asking Chisaka what had happened. She explained that she had found me sprawled on the ground, covered in bruises, which indicated the intensity of my training.
"He was training? For what?" Yuzuha inquired, puzzled.
Chisaka replied, "Deep down, my brother has a mission. I once overheard him sleep-talking, murmuring things like, 'I need to protect everyone. This world needs a hero. I must do it. Only I can do it. This is my mission alone.'"
"Then Arisu's dream is to be a hero, isn't it?" Tokiro commented, piecing things together.
Yuzuha nodded in agreement, saying, "He claimed he didn't have a dream, but it turns out he does."
Chisaka added, "Big brother used to have nightmares, but recently he's stopped having them. It didn't seem like nightmares to me; it was more likely his past trauma. Although we both lost our memories, I haven't seen any signs of nightmares in me."
"He must have endured a lot," Yuzuha remarked sympathetically.
Tokiro suggested, "It's probably related to demons. You two might have encountered demon invasions before."
Chisaka responded with a hopeful smile, "But I'm not worried anymore. My big brother has become stronger than ever before!"
As the three of them continued their conversation about Arisu, an hour passed unnoticed. Suddenly, the wagon jolted to a halt, and Tokiro's father's voice came through urgently, "We're being ambushed by a group of goblins. Stay inside the wagon!"
The surprise was palpable. The route they were on was a secret path to the capital city, a path they believed to be secure. None of them had anticipated that goblins would be wandering along this secluded road.
Fifteen enemies faced a lone warrior—Tokiro's father. Despite his skill, he could only kill three as he dodged arrows while fighting off others. He charged at the attackers, but a volley of arrows forced him to split his focus. Realizing the arrows were targeting his vulnerable spots, he couldn't adjust his attack because of the goblins rushing at him. Just as the arrows closed in, they were incinerated, sparing Tokiro's father from harm.
"Fire Art: Dragon Dance!"
Tokiro and Yuzuha watched in awe as I unleashed the technique. Their eyes widened in surprise at my swift movements.
"That's impressive, kid," Tokiro's father said with a mix of admiration and urgency. "I'm amazed you mastered it at such a young age. Let's deal with these goblins first. Your technique is fast, so you take them out up close while I handle the ranged attacks. Stay sharp!"
In a single fluid dance, I took down more than two goblins at a time, and within just two dances, I had cleared the area. Tokiro's father, with his formidable defensive skills, spun his sword to deflect all attacks, including magical ones. Thanks to his protection, we vanquished the goblins in less than twenty seconds.
"You're stronger than I thought! Looks like this old man has been outmatched!" he chuckled, clearly impressed.
As the three of them emerged from the wagon, they marveled at the scene before them.
Now I've done it… I was trying to keep it a secret! I spent the entire night perfecting it, damn it! I thought to myself, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.
"What technique was that?" Yuzuha asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's a weapon art," Tokiro's father explained. "You've seen the techniques used by the city guards, right? Those are weapon arts. You haven't learned them yet, but starting this year, you'll be taught these techniques until you graduate from the Dakini Magic Academy."
"Really!? But how did he learn it?" Yuzuha asked, astonished.
"He must have had a trainer. Are you familiar with the cops, boy?" Tokiro's father inquired.
"My grandpa used to be one of them," I replied.
He asked for my name and my grandfather's, but I could only provide my name, as Grandpa never shared his.
"If you graduate from Dakini Academy, you should travel to the Land of Royal. You'll find something interesting there. Now, let's move—time waits for no one!"
After half an hour, we finally reached the capital of Founder Land. Since Tokiro's father's wagon couldn't enter the city, he left us at the city gates and arranged for a guide to take us to the academy.
As we stepped into the bustling city, it was clear that our adventure had truly begun.