Previously On Unknown: On the second floor, Hisashi absorbs Shiden's elemental energy during their battle, culminating in a clash of devastating attacks that leaves both fighters unconscious. Meanwhile, Akishima ascends the stairs to the top floor, eager to confront Yuji. Upon reaching the entrance, he is met with anticipation from the mysterious figure seated on the throne, signaling the beginning of their confrontation.
(Continuing)
*The Aftermath Of The Battle On The Second Floor…*
Matsumoto walks over to an unconscious Hisashi, as he stares at the unconscious boy he muses, "Hmm… The boy surely would've lost that final clash but it seems however, that luck was on his side." He chuckles. "At the last moment just before his inevitable loss, his desperate desire to win allowed him to manifest his first special elemental technique, 'Voidborne: Kyu' that was the name." the old man reflected. "I can't wait to see your further growth. You've done two outstanding things today. Firstly, the activation of your special element and secondly, you have become something the world only viewed as a theory, you have become the first Sexta-elememtal in human history…"
Matsumoto proceeded to store Hisashi within his temporal gate and after finishing, his gaze turned towards Shiden who was also unconscious, probably even dead. "Oh," Matsumoto chuckled, "you know, for a second I thought you were dead but you're far stronger than I anticipated. It would be a waste to let you die." Matsumoto commented as he also stores Shiden within his temporal gate.
After storing Shiden, Matsumoto stared up at the ceiling. "The other one must be up there by now, however, before I teleport there I think it'd be best if I check out what's on the stairway." Matsumoto contemplated. "Earlier I sensed that Akishima was fighting someone on the stairway. If it took him as long as it did, not to mention the numerous mana spikes I sensed, it's safe to say that whoever he was fighting must be very formidable." Matsumoto concluded.
With these thoughts in mind, Matsumoto quickly teleported towards the aftermath of Akishima and Kaori's battle. Seeing the destroyed walls and stairs, Matsumoto's curiosity grew and that was when he saw
Kaori, whom were stuck in the cracked wall. It instantly clicked in the old man's head, "Wait, the only technique that could've caused this destruction must've been that technique." Matsumoto analyzed. "So, it took Akishima one of his strongest moves to take down this girl… How impressive." Matsumoto voices whilst stroking his long white beard.
The old man couldn't help but smile, thinking that he was storing so many people within his temporal gate as if they were a collection of sorts. In the same instant he also absorbed Kaori within his temporal gate.
"Hm, now that that's done, I think I'll check on them." Matsumoto thought, before a glowing orb of greenish light slowly manifested in his right palm and as he stared at it, images started to appear.
*Within Matsumoto's Temporal Gate…*
There is a huge cube made out of a green tinted glass. This very cube is floating within an empty space of greenish light rays and clouds. Inside the cube are two rooms split half and half. In one room are Tsukikage, Kaori and Shiden and in the other is Hisashi and the boy who fought Commander Daiki.
The boy who fought Commander Daiki is unconscious, his finger twitches and soon after, he opens his eyes, slowly adjusting to the bright light. He sits up surveying his surroundings. "Where am I?" He rhetorically asked. It was at this moment that he saw Hisashi lying on the floor and as he looked up he saw a transparent green tinted wall that blocked him from entering the other side where Tsukikage, Kaori and Shiden are.
Still feeling woozy, the boy just sat there trying to catch his composure. He wonders where he is as he doesn't remember ever entering here. "Just what exactly is this place?... Am I… in the afterlife?" He considered, "No, no, no what am I thinking? That couldn't be. But if I'm not dead then where am I…?" He rhetorically questioned.
Abruptly, a voice spoke, "You're within one of many cubes in the temporal gate."
"Huh?!" The boy was startled but then he figured out whose voice it was, "Sensei?… Wait, sensei? Where are you?" he frantically searched around.
"Don't worry, you are within my temporal gate. I store u in there so u could be safe and use reverse healing to slowly heal your injuries by going back in time before you got those injuries." Matsumoto explained.
The boy, now understanding the situation, asks, "Sensei, could you let me out now?"
"Huh?... You're ready to leave?" Matsumoto seeked assurance.
"Right." The boy assured him.
Matsumoto granted the boy's request, releasing him from his temporal gate. "Ok boy, listen, we're now going to head up to the top floor but before we do that…" Matsumoto turned around facing the cracked wall where Kaori was flung, "…There's something here… So let's check it out first." Matsumoto exclaimed he had a stern expression as he gazed at the wall, this only meant that whatever was on the other side must be important.
"Ok, sensei." The boy assured standing behind his master with an expression of seriousness, curiosity and nervousness.
*Back To Akishima…*
At the entrance to the top floor, Akishima stood only ten steps away from standing in the same room as "The Warden Of Garton". His fists were clenched and his eyes gleamed with anger.
Abruptly, the person spoke from within the room, "Akishima, you've made it, finally you've arrived. But it still won't be as easy as you think… It will be way harder for you to go up those last few stairs." The person's voice echoed towards Akishima and a huge gust of overwhelming force followed with it. Akishima dropped to his knees instantly, the pressure was too powerful. It was as if he was being crushed by an invisible force.
The person spoke once more, declaring, "Three, there are three trials you must endure before you can be acknowledged to stand in the same room as me." He continues, "This is the first. To reach the second you must first reach the entrance to my throne room, you must walk up those remaining stairs." He explained. "See, Akishima, this is why you must stand down, you hold no chance of defeating me!" he shouted, "You're chasing an unrealistic dream! Thinking you could defeat me!" He rises from his throne as he continues, "Listen boy," he stretches both arms out with a malicious grin. "There isn't a possibility of a brat like you standing on the same ground as me! You're nothing, worthless like the rest! No one on this island can defeat The Warden!!!" He shouts, letting out a sea of bloodlust.
Akishima became tenser, his body reaching its limit. Beads of sweat dripped from his face as he struggled to stand.
"No… No!… You're wrong!…" Akishima struggled against the force, but his desire to beat Yuji stood relentlessly. With sheer will power he slowly stood and when he stood tall, he declared, "You're wrong. You're not the strongest on this island and I'll prove it!" Akishima began walking up the stairs step by step. With each step he took the pressure became heavier it was as if trying to topple a mountain, but as he reached the final step, he stopped, and not of his own will.
"What's going on? My body, it won't move!" He muses. The huge wave of bloodlust disappeared but still Akishima couldn't move.
Suddenly footsteps were heard coming closer and closer. Akishima was close enough to see inside the throne room and as he gazed upon the king's sanctuary, he saw the king coming towards him. "Huh…" Akishima was startled at the unexpected move.
Akishima stares upon an incoming king with each step the king takes, the air becomes heavier. He gulped and a bead of sweat fell from his chin.
*A Couple Months Ago…*
The light rays of the sun shone upon Garton. It was another day in the junkyard. Akishima, Hisashi and Matsumoto were all having a conversation somewhere outside Matsumoto's hideout. "What I really want to know is what Yuji looks like currently?" Matsumoto inquired.
Akishima proceeded to answer his question, "What does Yuji look like? Well…"
*Back To The Present…*
Akishima couldn't help but remember when he explained what Yuji looked like to Matsumoto. "Standing at a height of 6 feet and 2 inches, with a compact, muscular figure and brown spiky hair with a huge curving scar on the left side of his face, stretching from his forehead to his chin. He's wearing a scarf with a t-shirt, pants with many pockets, and shoes. His eyes are hazelnut coloured, and within the centre of his pupil, there's a flaming ember," Akishima explained as the king stopped walking, his gaze meeting Akishima.
"But that's not what makes this person so terrifying…" Akishima stared up at The King whose eyes radiated bloodlust. "...What truly makes this person terrifying is his mastery over the fire element…" he continues, "... And his ruthless fighting style… That is the person The King Of Garton is… That is the person Yuji, The Beast is." Akishima's face was filled with terror as he stared at Yuji and Yuji only met his gaze with a malicious grin.
(To Be Continued)