Bab 3: Training Begins
Just a little warning before we begin, I've already put this as a tag and explained this before, but if I've learned anything on Webnovel there's always somebody that either misses, forgets or chooses to ignore early warnings. In my old Chosen by God story I made it clear that the MC oils be evil and hinted to him raping someone and while I didn't show it in detail just so I could get a feel as to how people would react, a few people still got angry and upset at me. So here we are, Mikoto is going to do a seriously messed up act in this chapter, nothing sexual just yet, but his actions cause quite a shocking event. Therefore, I suggest you read it and understand that this is what Mikoto will be like throughout the story. You have been warned.
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Folding the last of my clothes, I zipped up my suitcase and dragged it down from it's place on my bed. I struggled a little, despite the copious amounts of exercise I did, I was still only a seven-year-old boy. A human body had limits and I couldn't train to excessively hard from a young age without doing some serious damage to my body as I grew up. I did not fancy staying a midget due to a stunted growth caused by excessive training from a young age.
As I dragged my suitcase behind me, I reached the top of the stairs and looked down to where Miki and Gorou were talking to an elderly man I had later learned was called Saechōrō, grandfather of the National Junior Kendo Champion, Saeko Busujima. Now that had been a shock for a multitude of reasons.
Most importantly being that she was from an entirely different franchise and left me wondering why she was here. And furthermore, what impact that would have on the little knowledge I had and if there were others? All questions I had no answer to, but something that I had no intention of stopping me. This world obviously wasn't purely High School DxD like I had originally believed which meant that even if I had serious prior knowledge to the ongoing of the story - which I didn't, - it wouldn't matter anyway. Saeko's presence alone told me that this wasn't purely just DxD, there was also Highschool of the Dead and who knows what else out there?
It didn't affect me much though; I didn't have much knowledge on DxD anyway and had no intention to stick to a certain series of events anyway. All it provided me was an extra target to claim for myself.
Anyway, currently I was about to set out for a two-week trip to a martial arts convention in Germany. Saechōrō had invited me due to the 'talent' he recognised in me and the fact his granddaughter was apparently being grounded for rebellious behaviour. I didn't know whether to believe that or not, but either way I was looking forward to it. Maybe I could find some mysterious powerful martial artist to take an interest in me and train me as his pupil? Maybe I could learn how to use magic from this sensei?
I was getting excited just thinking about it.
But of course, the adults weren't too thrilled with me going on a trip with a man they had never met before. An understandable concern, but one that unfortunately meant Miki would be joining me and Saechōrō on this trip. Issei was ill and Gorou was here to take care of him while also going to work. Miki, being a housewife was the only one that was able to come with me.
Again, an unfortunate series of events.
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"I'm just going to the toilet, okay honey?" Miki told me and I nodded my head, plastering a fake smile upon my face. Giving me a smile back, the woman rose from her seat and made her way down the aisle. As soon as she was out of sight, my smile slipped and I let out a little frown. Honestly, this whole trip was boring, I didn't have a phone, nor did I have access to WiFi. Which left me to play with the crappy toys Miki and Gorou had gotten me over the course of the years.
I just hope this trip turned out to be worth it and not just a massive waste of time.
"How very amusing." Saechōrō noted and my frown deepened and my inattentiveness. I had forgotten that the old man was next to me in my frustration. "Does your okaasan know that you're not the happy boy you pretend to be?"
"What concern of it is yours, old man?" I snapped out frustrated with my lack of foresight. "You gonna tell her?"
"No, like you say, it's no concern of mine how you present yourself to the world. I just wonder if she's noticed that you're quite the, frustrated child. Tell me, why is that?" Saechōrō asked.
"Why would I do that?"
The Busujima patriarch chuckled. "You don't need to, I can already tell why you're frustrated, I've seen the look in the eyes of my young granddaughter and in the mirror on many occasions. It's the look of someone with a craving for power but unable to achieve it." That made my frown lessen, turning to Saechōrō questioningly. "The reason I tell you this, is because I have no intention of taking you to the convention in Germany."
"You know that anyone listening could quite easily mistake that for you doing something nefarious with an underaged boy, right?" Then I paused. "You're not actually a pedophile, are you? 'Cos if you are, I'm gonna scream that you touched me."
Yet despite my warning, Saechōrō just laughed. "Even if you did, no one would hear you. Tell me, have you ever heard of magic?"
Have I heard of it? What a stupid fucking question. I've heard of it, spent the last few years trying to unlock it only to fail miserably. Of course I've fucking heard of it because it's been an endless source of frustration for me. Frustration I take out on my sparring partners, which also happened to be the reason I was moved up into an older age group, besides my 'prodigious talent.'
"I've heard of it. You say you're gonna pull a rabbit out of your hat? Make it turn into a dove? Wave a magic wand and all that nonsense?" Though it was best not reveal that I knew about it, that would raise questions as to how I knew about magic.
Instead, best to treat this like a joke.
"Well, not only that." I'll admit, that I got a slight smile out of me. "I'm more talking mass destruction like crashing this plane for instance."
I turned and stared at him, trying to tell whether Saechōrō was joking or not, he wasn't. "Go on." I said, listening intently to what he would say next. This could very well provide me with exactly what I need and perhaps even better, allow me to fake my death and train without scrutinisation.
"Well, I have lost my son and daughter-in-law. My clan, the Busujima clan has taken a significant dent in its power and influence in the world of magic. A talented individual such as yourself is incredibly valuable and I'd like to take you on as my student and make you stronger and in turn, make my clan stronger." So, he was intending to use me, not an unexpected outcome but he was surprisingly honest about his intentions.
I could appreciate that.
"The question remains, what are you willing to do for power?"
It was in that moment I noticed Miki walking towards us, a smile on her face when she saw me looking in her direction. "You said you were going to crash the plane, right?" I asked, turning to him with a firm look. "Power does not come without sacrifice and I'm willing to pay whatever price is necessary for it."
"Even at the cost of your family?" For a moment I hesitated, not for Gorou or for Miki, but for Issei. My words now would forever change his life and despite not being a real person, I quite liked him as he was now. But at the end of the day, I have and always will be a selfish person and, in this world, power was necessary for survival and I wanted to live more than anything in this world. And Issei, if it happened like in canon, would be introduced to the Supernatural world eventually. No doubt making enemies that could possibly target me as a potential hostage for leverage, I refused to let that happen.
I would not be used as leverage, tossed aside when no longer serving any use. I would survive, no matter what the cost, that was who I am.
"Yes."
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"In other news, tragedy has struck with the recent crash of the A350-900 airplane flying out of Osaka-Itami when it suffered an unknown accident causing it to crash. All 263 passengers on board tragically lost their lives in the crash. CEO and President of Japanese Airlines, Yuji Akasaka has of yet issued no official statement on what has happened other than to inform the public that he is currently investigating the cause of such an accident."
That news was like a knife through the heart and Gorou's head dropped into his hands, the shock of it all so overwhelming that he had no idea how to respond.
His wife and his son, they were dead.
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I was alive bitches!
Now I'll tell you what, free falling through the sky was a rush that I never thought I would ever experience, let alone enjoy. Yet I surprising had, of course I did get massively worried and terrified when we continued to plummet towards the ground without any way to stop himself. Luckily, Saechōrō had come prepared and with a timely slash of his blade, made a burst of wind that struck the ground and rebounded. This burst of wind rushed to meet us and slowed our descent enough that we landed safely.
Well safeish.
And now we were making our way through the forest and towards an unknown location. "So, what exactly will you be teaching me first? How to unlock my magic? Magical theory?" I asked, my eagerness at finally gaining the chance to learn magic beginning to take hold.
Saechōrō shook his head. "No, you will be taking part in atheism first of your tests to come. Tests that will determine whether you are worth the effort and time to reach." That certainly wasn't what I was expecting or wanting to hear. "Fail them, and you'll end up exactly like your okaasan, except no one will find you."
That was slightly ominous and I felt a chill go up my spine.
"Wait, didn't you want me to help restore your clan's prestige after the death of your son and daughter-in-law, surely me dying would be counterproductive to that." I argued and Saechōrō came to a stop, looking down at me.
"All Busujima's undergo these tests. Saeko has already begun and has passed the first test already. If you want to gain power under my tutelage you will need to pass these tests. Do you think I'd teach you the secrets of my clan without you having to do something on order to prove yourself?" I frowned at the admonishment. "You said it best yourself, power comes with a price."
"I thought my price was to make the decision to sacrifice those in the plane?" I shot back and Saechōrō smirked.
"Hardly." He responded. "Whether you could do it or not, that plane was going to crash. Unlike Saeko, I am not your legal guardian and therefore, cannot take you out of the country for years without raising major suspicion. Faking your death was the easiest of solutions."
That final part made my brow raise in questioning. Since when was faking a death an easy solution?
Shaking my head of that thought, I crossed my arms over my chest and continued to follow Saechōrō through the forest. "Fine, so what exactly is this test?" Silence was my answer and my frown deepened. "Okay then, it's a mystery." I couldn't hide the sarcasm in my voice as we continued to make our way until we broke through the foliage, coming upon the sight of mass of people, all martial artists by their getup gathering around a slope leading to a large stone door.
"This is you test, Mikoto Hyoudou." Saechōrō told me. "Your aim is simple, survive until the time is up." All paused in that moment as the huge stone doors opened with a groan revealing pitch blackness.
I didn't even bother asking how long that would be, I doubt I'd get an answer. Or at least a meaningful and helpful one anyway. "Did Saeko go through the same test?"
"She did."
That thought made my fist clench and I stalked towards the group of martial artists beginning to walk down the slope and into the darkness of the man-made cave below. I refused to be beaten by Saeko once more, I'd survive this test no matter what.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Carrots123
Carrots123 So, like I've said before, this is an instance of how dark and evil Mikoto can become. Don't expect Mikoto to be purely evil as he is somoene who manipulates people. Sometimes the best way to manipulate people is to play the hero, hence the title. He's not a hero, nor a villain. He simply plays a role.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone