The Bounty Hunter - Chapter 132: The Will to Save

April 1st, 2090

General Ando’s POV

“Is what I’m seeing here true Corporal?”  I demanded as I glanced across the screens that showed the situation across Japan.  The Chinese managed to get a good sucker-punch in, sending us reeling as they rapidly spread across the country.  If it weren’t for them inexplicably committing the bulk of their forces to Tokyo, we’d have been overrun already.  As it stands, the JSDF has been holding the line against those Chinese bastards.  Hopefully we can hold out until the USA gets off its ass and helps us.  Several troop carriers are inbound from Hawaii, but it’s little comfort considering that our satellites have shown the Chinese determined to exterminate every single living soul.  This isn’t an occupation, it’s a genocide.

Reports also indicate chaos is erupting elsewhere in the world, making it quite possible that a 4th World War is on the horizon.  I shudder at the thought.  Haven’t we fucking learned our lesson from last time?  This is all neglecting the fact that Dante is an actual goddamn demon lord and Pandemonium is a group of demons.  Gods, it’s like this is the plot of a shitty web novel.  My men and I have been watching slack-jawed as a goddamn magic battle has been occurring across Tokyo, with cat girls and elves and magical girls and all kinds of other shit going on.

And now this.  I’m staring at the screen stupefied.  I thought that there was nothing that could surprise me anymore.  I was wrong.  Apparently, this fantasy setting now has a healthy dose of zombie apocalypse as the DEAD ARE COMING BACK TO LIFE!!!!  Zombies, skeletons, and even ghosts of samurai from the goddamn Warring States era have been spotted!  I’ve already received numerous reports asking for orders as the casualties throughout Japan are rising up against the invaders.  Not a single undead has been hostile to the JSDF, so I decided to just roll with it.

“Tell all troops to focus their efforts on the Chinese.  Ignore the undead, providing they remain indifferent to us.”  I ordered.  “But sir…”  one of my men was about to object, but I cut him off.  “I’ll take all the help I can get, colonel.  Even if it’s from a Shinigami, damn it!”  I bellowed.  “Now give me an ETA on our forces headed for the capital!  I also want any available gunships to double time it!  I want air support to help those girls ASAP!”

???’s POV

It did not know how long it has been floating in the ether between the two worlds.  It had been destroyed, broken into pieces after the failure of its previous master.  However, it was of divine origin, and as long as its creator existed it would be remade in time.  It had even been reunited with the five pieces of its sheathe, both of them becoming whole once more.  This thing did not have a consciousness per say, but it did have a basic awareness.  It wished to be used again, to protect those in the name of its creator.  And so it searched, desperately seeking one who was worthy to wield it.

It had many wielders in the past, legendary figures who were beyond reproach.  They were perfect in every sense of the world.  However, its last owner’s demise had it reassessing itself.  He had been perfect, yet he went astray and died in pursuit of his dream.  Perhaps it is time to search for something else in its new wielder?

Time was an unknown quantity between dimensions, it could have been searching for millennia or merely a few minutes.  But then it felt something that resonated with its very being.  The will to save.  The will belonged to a fragile soul, flickering feebly like a candle’s flame in the wind.  The owner of this will was weak and dying.  This human was far from the perfection it desired in its wielders.  But his desire was so pure and determined, that it couldn’t help but be drawn to it.

Yes, it had decided.  It shall return to the world once more.  Let’s see to what heights its new master could rise to.

Reiji’s POV

I watched in a mixture of confusion and awe at the sight before me.  Jumbo’s attack had been blocked by a sword that appeared out of nowhere.  A masterpiece of metal, the sword was a brilliant white that glowed with holy power and shone brightly in the darkness.  In lieu of a sheathe, the sword was wrapped by a chain composed of links that alternated between the colors gold, red, white, black, and silver.

I reached out my shaking hand, and grabbed the blade.  I felt strength surge up from deep within me, as the blade sang out its joy in having found its new wielder.  It spoke its name to me as its radiance forced Jumbo back.  I have no clue on how to use a sword, but it guided my actions as I raised it up high.  Words unbidden came to my lips as the blade shined ever brighter.  “Free us from the evil in the world!  Liberator!”  I swung Liberator downwards, unleashing a blast of magic beyond anything I had ever seen.  Jumbo cried out in agony as he was vanquished by the holy light.  Ori and the other demons were purified in an instant, not even having the chance to scream.

“You did it!”  the people behind me cheered as I stood there panting.  To my dismay however, one of Minato’s memory wiping artifacts he had given me suddenly activated, knocking out everyone who had just seen my epic comeback.  Damnit Minato!  Why do you keep giving me artifacts that activate on their own?  Don’t you trust me!?!  I limped back into the bank, looking over the rows of now unconscious people, casualties to Minato’s paranoia.  He really is thorough, I’d be willing to bet that when those people wake up they won’t remember me or my magic.  I then looked up and down the street for anymore enemies.  Seeing none, I gratefully collapsed and let unconsciousness take me.  Even with the added strength from Liberator, I had reached my limit.  But it was worth it.  I managed to protect everyone after all.