What a shining league
Author: Jin Hagenaya || Illustrator: Lem
Man of Steel
A certain day in July 1908, three minutes before the finale
"Hark, Bearer of Radiance. Hark, noble young one. I have heard your voice. Call for me, and I shall come."
--Nikola Tesla.
The Head of the Speculative Detective's Club. He who calls himself the 72-year-old Transfer Student. The Lightning Fiend.
"You, too, shall listen. Douglas Fairbanks."
So dignified that he was arrogant. So dignified that he was proud--
"The hundred thousand young students of Marseille Offshore Academia, all cursed by fate--"
He declares, towards the "Beast" before him.
"--I will save you all with my own two hands."
He claims to want to save everyone, just like the Superman from the Graphic Novel.
"GRRR..."
The Beast roars. No, it was certainly human.
Its body was covered in steel.
Its true face hidden behind a mask.
Thrusting forth with a sharp Saber.
Like a hero from a drama. Like a Musketeer that protects the weak.
It was originally precious. It was originally radiate.
But it had become distorted, something that had fallen to a Beast.
A roar resounded like that of the depths of Hell--
The smell of death that reeks from their mouth--
Above all, the killing intent rolling off their whole body--
It reminded him of the Beast of Gevaudan.
It reminded him of a malicious fox from the Orient.
A wolf? A fox? Or--
"The Hounds of Tindalos. Seems you were possessed by something so meddling."
"Grrr...save? You want to save? Don't kid yourself!"
Howling. Wailing. Roaring.
It moved at a speed beyond humanly possible. The Beast gallops forward, with blood gushing out and bones creaking. However, it was too slow to confront the lightning that moves at near light-speed--
"What is this!"
No! Space distorts in front of the White Man--
He of the Beast strikes from an impossible direction and abnormal angle!
"You couldn't even save New York! Now you say something like this!?"
Unable to suppress the load, his body screams. No, more than ever--
"What is there for you to save!? You powerless Superman! Man of Steel!"
Unable to suppress it anymore, his heart screams--
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--There's a comic book called Man of Steel.
--He's the main character of that book, and is similar to someone else.
--Your Master.
--He's like Superman, someone who fights alone to save people.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"God and I are equally powerless."
(Superman #25, issued in 1903)
Dark Knight
--This is Nellie Bly of the 3rd Newspaper Club.
Congratulations on getting the role of D'Artagnan in "The Three Musketeers".
To be honest, I was a little intimidated when the manager, Charles, asked me to audition. There's always been a strong attachment to "The Three Musketeers" in France, and even in the Academia, the role of D'Artagnan was usually played by a French student.
Even now, I couldn't sleep at night wondering if it was okay for me to play the role (laughs).
Of course, I'll do my best now that I've been selected for the role.
--Since your breakthrough with "Robin Hood", which received acclaim at last year's art festival, you even received the nickname Hero of the Academia.
Personally, I'm not one for fighting (laughs).
Of course, I appreciate being looked at as a hero.
But I'm not much of an actor. It's more like a battle with myself, always challenging myself with incorporating new techniques.
--There seems to have been signs of a Hero Boom lately, perhaps due in part of the rumors of the White Man. Just the other day, the Fantastic Special Cinematography Research Club announced a new work based on American Comics.
Ah...The Man of Steel. The Steel. I read it when I was young.
But I wasn't a fan of it (Bitter smile).
He who looks down on humans from high up in the sky, as if he were some sort of God. His justice is arrogant and childish, nothing more than a children's lie.
--...By the way, as a change of topics, you have any thoughts regarding the Weirdo of the Academia, Mary Pickford?
No comment.
(Excerpt from an exclusive interview with Douglas Fairbanks on the radio program "Paraliligram Potique")
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lunch break on a certain day in July 1908
"Douglas Fairbanks. 2nd Year student on philosophy. He's the kid from the 7th Arts Film Club, alright."
"7th...was there that many art clubs?"
"Indeed there is, Neon. It's the 7th genre born in the arts, hence it's called the 7th Arts Film Club. Even among movie clubs, the 7th Arts Film Club has a particularly large quantity of actors. Not only handsome, he's also from a landowner from California...so it's no wonder he's very popular among the ladies."
"What, you into that kind of stuff?"
"Oh? You curious, Papa JJ?"
"Stop it, don't be teasing me with that."
"Well, he's the kind of Don Juan I don't like. He's a guy constantly involved in scandals. I hear he made a lot of girls cry."
"What, is he really that kind of guy! Albert is the only one that can do those kinds of things."
"Hold on, Izumi. Since when did I make girls cry?"
"Anything is fine so long as it's a violation of the school's rules."
"Oh? Is it against school rules for second-year students and below to have impure straight relationships?"
"Where's the evidence in that?"
"That's right. She's aiming for a scoop. He won't let you grab his tail at the last second... He must be very skillful."
"In any case, there's no chance for me to show up for that. Apparently, the Dropout District is lively right now."
"Ah...that same Z?"
"He's a mysterious person that's been making a ruckus in the Dropout District lately. He's like the second coming of the Phantom Thief Zigomar...nay, he's more like a Villain."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--He's what you call a Vigilante.
All of the victims were delinquents from the Dropout District. Some of them suffered severe injuries, including broken bones. Naturally, we, the Disciplinary Police, do not approve of such vigilantism on the students. Some of them have even come to refer to him as the Dark Knight. To be honest, he's just an Illegal that's playing a role like that of "The Three Musketeers".
Matters such as conflicts between students are usually handled by us. But as you probably already know...this time, it's a little special. That's why I called you here.
...That's right. There's a high possibility that the Vigilante in question is an Art user.
Many of the victims were Art users who worked as bodyguards in the Dropout District. There were also A-class Art students with aggressive Arts. The only people who can keep up with such beings are those of the Governing Council--Aside from you, that is.
No, I don't think it is...but this is your kind of thing, is it?
...Ah, good. Either way, it's difficult for them to hide their identity if they have such a powerful Art.
But he's so elusive, as though he doesn't want to have his tail caught. There isn't even a reaction of the Art detector. They slip through our security network, beat up the Illegals, and leave their mark behind. Yes, a mark that he assuredly left behind at the scene. That is the origin of his nickname--Z.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ah--from top to bottom--
I--huh? From above?
I don't know. Maybe it was from bottom to top?
No.
It was K'un Lun.
--I'm starting to fall.
It was me. No. I was starting to fall.
"Why...do you fall?"
Someone said. It was the voice of a Beast.
A voice that overlapped with my own.
My voice. No, it was I.
Hands--
He was stretching a hand.
I was frightened like that of an animal while falling.
It was so "high"--I couldn't reach it.
The Beast was laughing at me from somewhere.
Its tongue stretched out like a long needle.
It was pointing to somewhere.
It was pointing to the falling me.
I. Me.
"I am...falling...?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
December 25th, 1902. The Great Disappearance.
It was the day the old Mega Engine City New York vanished. The Lost Christmas.
Yes, it vanished. Yes, everything.
Everything. Yes, everything and all of it.
Clark Kent once said, "God and I are equally powerless".
Such trash. Don't be foolish. Was he trying to portray a troubled hero with just that one cheap line? They just abandoned them. Simply gave up. A mere acceptance of reality.
I was aware of it. There was no God. Same for the Hero that saves everyone.
This World had no meaning. People drown when they have no meaning.
Everything. Yes, everything and all of it. Everything has no meaning.
I was merely sucked into the darkness. If the World had meaning, it's only when people try to force it onto it for meaning.
That's why I decided to carve meaning into this empty world.
Even if everyone abandons me, I won't give up. I won't accept it.
Henry Ford once said, "Let's forget everything."
A marvelous Brand New World will arrive after overcoming the painful events that should be forgotten.
In that case, I'll answer with this--"NEVER!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Late night on a certain day in July 1908, in the Dropout District
"Hey, you. Mind if I have a moment of your time?"
Deep within the Dropout District, facing the underground darkness that even delinquents dare not to approach, the White Man--Nikola Tesla, calls out.
There was no sign of anything beyond the darkness. Certainly, that was to be. But--
"Ho...?"
What appeared was a "Beast". No, it was certainly human.
Its body was covered in steel.
Its true face hidden behind a mask.
Thrusting forth with a sharp Saber.
Like a hero from a drama. Like a Musketeer that protects the weak.
It was precious. It was radiance.
Their calm breathing--
Their stiffened lips--
Above all, the fighting spirit rolling off their whole body--
It reminded him of a hawk hunting for its prey.
It reminded him of a cunning fox from the Orient.
A Hawk? A Fox? Or--
"I see. So you're Z?"
"Buenos Noches! I know you as well.
The Academia's First Transfer Student. The Head of the Speculative Detective's Club. The Thunder Fiend. And...the Man of Steel. Nikola Tesla."
That's what the masked person said--from Z's feet was a man dressed as a welder lying on the floor. He didn't move, as though he was severely hurt.
"Young people are so passionate. They'll even get into a fight. But there is a limit to everything."
"This dog...you just attacked him without any questions, huh?"
He responded with an exaggerated shrug. A strangely dramatic gesture.
As though everything was a play.
"Unfortunately for him, I'm not a dog. I'm a 'Fox'."
"A Fox?"
"I am Zorro."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--An exercise for the reader.
This is an exercise for the reader.
Here we have have a boy.
The boy fell into a hole.
It was a deep, large hole.
It was a deep hole where millions of people had fallen into.
Everyone has died.
The boy should have died too.
The Angel's blades should have cut them in two.
But the boy lived.
Did somebody save him?
Was it just pure luck?
Or did he fall somewhere else?
The boy didn't understand.
The boy didn't have the luxury of worrying about such things.
The boy was covered in scars all over his body.
He was hurt, really hurt, and about to cry.
And there, he sees a Beast from the bottom of the hole.
The Beast was starving.
The Beast desires to devour the boy.
--What should he do?
Should the boy remain motionless?
Should the boy close his eyes and give up?
Should the boy get up and climb out of the hole?
--And, what became of him?
Did he make it to the surface?
Did he slip and fall?
Did he get devoured by the Beast?
Or perhaps--
"That's right. Never give up."
"No matter what evil may laugh from the depths of the earth, it cannot corrupt your soul.
When you fall, you learn to get back up."
"Never be fooled by the darkness of Magai.
For there is a radiance that can be found only in the depths of darkness."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A certain day in July 1908, Postscript
Green--
There was a lot of green in the Governing Council area. A school rumor, one of many rumors surrounding the Governing Council. One of the few that matches the facts. The Governing Council area in the Central West part of the Academia was of a higher altitude than the normal places. It had a lot of greenery that was sometimes called as such.
The Hanging Garden, literally a garden in the sky. A Green Sky.
The parts exposed to the outside air had a slightly dull green tone color similar to the small and large parks of the Academia. Compared to most major cities around the world, it was closer to the green of its heyday.
True, it was still grayish.
However, this was not the case for this place.
There was a man-made garden whose surrounding environment was completely maintained using special scholar-made glass. The green color here was different.
It was fundamentally different. It was real, old green.
The garden was essentially an advanced experimental facility, where the plants grown there under a simulated sunlight environment that also used special scholar-made glass were also different from those outside.
There was fresh, beautiful greenery here.
In its center was a girl who spends a lot of her time there.
She was a 4th-year female student in the Theology Department. The President of the European Research Society, she was said to have even earned a master's degree in Natural History. A talented girl from the Academia.
She was commonly known as the "Divine Lady", the Chairwoman of the Sorority which is an umbrella group for female students where she was worshipped by many of the hundred thousand students.
Florence Ameghino Nightengale.
With a smile, she spoke, calmly and kindly than anyone else--
"Welcome to my humble garden. I thank you for visiting here. You rarely come outside."
"Ah...mmm...it gets so tiring."
"Have you met him before? I heard you two fought side-by-side in the past."
"Hm...ah, with that Penguin fellow--we fought against Arthur Gordon Pym. His muffler at the time was...you know what, miss? Let's skip over the roundabout path. It's slow and boring."
"I see. Then let's get to the point."
"Ah, okay okay. You don't have to explain everything. I know you're trying to say--yes, I am the mastermind. I was the one who set Zorro up against Nikola Tesla."
"May I ask for the reason why?"
"Hmm? Why...?"
"(Silent smile)"
"...Oh. You're scary, miss. I see it. Do you want an explanation? Guess it wouldn't hurt to explain it."
Ah, can't be helped. I got it. One moment. Reforming my thoughts.
The point...it's very simple, more obvious than staring at fire.
"--Zorro would have died if things remained the same. I needed him to stop his rampage.
I need him to stop with his obsession. I needed him to face his inner darkness--I needed him to face off against Nikola Tesla.
That guy did a great job. All he needed to say was he wanted to save the world.
...Zorro is my favorite. It'd be unfortunate to lose him now.
It's a good thing. He's a really interesting man. He is, and this is just a guess, the sole survivor of New York."
Ahaha! He's truly amazing, even to you "Divine Lady"!
Good, good! I got so excited there. Alright, let me explain.
This is how I and the Mark of Zorro--Douglas Fairbanks met."
Year One
--Young child. All that is you has been lost.
--Your Golden Age has come to an end.
--Know this. Hardships and Happiness fade away like dreams, love dissipates like dust.
--People are born side-by-side, and people die side-by-side.
--"The Suffering from being apart from one another."
--"The suffering of being together with despised ones."
--"The suffering of unsatisfied wanting."
--"The suffering from the flourishing of Five Skandhas."
--Everything. Yes, everything and all of it. Everything has no meaning.
--But, if you...
--That which erupts violently. That which burns.
--That Hatred. If you let it surge...
--I will give you everything.
--In turning that hatred into a blade.
--In turning that hatred into flames.
--In fighting and defeating a thousand enemies.
--In making your darkness your friend and vanisher.
--That is the secret of our Legion, the Akushinkage.
--The Ninpou of our Underground Demon World of K'un Lun.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1907, Dropout District
What am I doing here?
Facing off against arrogant people in a snowdrift like this?
I was surrounded by five delinquents who pretended to be some tough guys.
They were yelling at me, but I couldn't understand a thing of what they said.
They were repeating lines like coward or gay bastard like a broken gramophone. These dirtbag's vocabulary is even less than that of a three-year-old.
Having said that, I was outnumbered. That's where they needed a handicap.
Yeah, I guess so. A handicap. Make things easier.
I'm not gonna cave your skull in, nor crush your throat.
Nor would I pierce your heart with a knife. A punch would surely crush your internal organs.
I took the arm of the first person who grabbed me by the chest, and broke it. They didn't yet know what happened. Then I kicked the second person that was standing directly behind him in the face, causing him to eat five or six of his own teeth. The first one finally screams while the second guy falls to the ground. By the time it happened, the third guy was hit in his solar plexus, causing him to kneel down and vomit. Tch, dirty trash. You're trash who eats trash like trash. I then threw the fourth guy away, sending him flying face-first into a garbage bin where he stopped moving.
One person left--flames fill up my sight. Then came in severe pain.
Flames? Why flames? Where did they come from...I see, so that's what you call an Art. I have heard many Art users work as bodyguards in the Dropout District.
Shit. What humility to not know of this until now. What an idiot, I was.
Immediately, I went on the floor to fan off the flames off my clothes. Right after, the Art user came in kicking. One, two, three times. My consciousness was fading away.
This pain is my tuition fee. Thank you. Thank you so much. Because of this, I now understand how the Dropout District is like. Here's a courtesy. A specialty.
I hear the Art user scream. Deep in his right arm was the gift I threw--a Manji-shaped cutting tool. In the Orient, it was a throwing knife called a shuriken. Cool, ain't it?
Using the full might of my body, I kept up and threw a spinning kick.
A good hit. That must have been a few ribs cracked.
When the fifth person fell, the first one whose arm I broke ran away, leaving his friends behind with his face contorted in fear.
I didn't chase after him. I didn't have the energy to, anyway.
I lied there on the spot. Already, was it painful to move.
(What an idiot, you know that?)
I laughed at myself. To be honest, it was nothing short of patheticness.
What did I acquire the tools for? Why did I part ways with the master?
Was it to torment the delinquents by sweeping them up? Why did I even come to the Academia in the first place... Ah, that's right. It was a man who claimed to be a Magus. He said that if I came to the Academia, my wish would come true--
A wish. What did I desire?
Ways for me to fight. Assets too. But that was it. I didn't know what else I should have.
I tried to wait for an epiphany. I tried to hold on as the Count of Monte Cristo said. "Wait, and hope"--but I had enough of it.
I'd rather die than wait a little longer.
Even so, why was I kept alive? Just like the Lost Christmas from 5 years ago--
Rattle!
Suddenly, the manhole next to me starts to move.
I instinctively jumped back and braced myself. What was this? A new one? Stupid, why would they come from the manhole?
Rattle. Rattle, rata, rattle. Five seconds. Ten seconds.
Rata rattle. Rata rattle. Thirty seconds.
Rat...tle......
After ninety seconds, it was finally over...no--
"It's--hea--vy."
I hear from the manhole.
What the hell?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hmm...okay, finally got out of there. Thank you very much.
And...you are here. I figured you would be here tonight. Just a mere deduction. I had thought about a posteriori based on your personality, habits, and actions from the past few days.
Well then, follow me. Oh, what are you disappointed about? Don't you understand what I mean here? You thought I was a friend or something? Don't be foolish.
--I said I'll be bringing you to fight, Douglas Fairbanks. This isn't just a private fight, nor even a fight between students.
--It's war, Monseuir. This is war."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1907, Underground Passage
...What a strange girl.
Yes, a girl. A girl that came out of a manhole.
Who was she? A vagrant? Were there even any in this Academia?
No...that wasn't quite. Her appearance was a little sloppy, but was clean.
She looked young, or rather she is young. She was probably a 1st-year student like me, though I doubt we were the same sage.
She had such a delicate body, she couldn't even open the manhole. Her physical strength was less than that of an ordinary person...or was there even any?
Kii. Kii. A metallic sound, that which came from the machine she rode on.
What do you even call it? A walking machine? A walking chair? A wheelchair even?
Was she lazy? Nay, that wasn't quite either. It's true she didn't have much muscle in her limbs, but that couldn't mean she was weak. In that case, why even bother with the machine...it couldn't just be due to being lazy, can it?
--Further underground the Dropout District, located underneath, we were walking through a dark passage. The metallic sound of the walking machine and its footsteps echoed down the passage.
"An observation? Not bad. It's the basis premise for thought."
I was seen through. Was she aware of my gaze? In this darkness?
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"Boring. What a boring question, Douglas. So predictable, it's boring. Really stupid, even. You made the observation, right? Use your head. Think. Don't be lazy."
"What do you mean by war? Are you some revolutionary student? Are you planning a terrorist attack?"
"Ah...is that what you think of me? I see, Douglas. What a fool you are..."
"......"
"Hmm...ah, you're angry, aren't you? Were you bullied? ...nay, if I were a revolutionist, I'd have included many other students. You're determined not to let that happen. You'd even go as far as to use violence. Your hatred is always that of a righteous indignation, Douglas. You were the ideal candidate."
"Were you doing some sort of scouting?"
"Yes. Though I'm not a revolutionary student. What is the source of your hatred, Douglas? Was it from a past trauma, the result of your upbringing? Yes, I'm referring to your master--One of the most accomplished Scholars in the Orient, and the leader of the assassination corps, the Akushinkage. Known as the Demon Doctor and Dark General, Fu Manchu!"
"!?"
I jumped back with all of my might, getting as far away as possible.
So careless! So ignorant! What happened just now was a complete surprise. How could this girl know? There was only one possibility--
"First off, I'll tell you that you're a loser. I'm not a pursuer...if that's what you were thinking. Are your eyes like knotholes? There's no way a girl with wings like can be an assassin."
I couldn't let my guard down. Certainly, she couldn't be a kunoichi. However, the group wasn't just filled with combatants, for the Akushinkage had their hands reached out everywhere.
"You're a stubborn one. Well, that's alright. Your reaction just now compromised my reasoning. You are an Assassin of the Akushinkage--a Ninja. I can infer this from the fact you were observing me from the shadows and how you didn't make any footsteps. Above all, the delinquent whose arm you struck with a shuriken called a Zar used by assassins of the Akushinkage. By the way, the inscription name came from a wind Demon passed down from the Sun Plaeteu. I can presume you threw it given the circumstances. You don't need to explain why. Your behavior in being wary of pursuers is the best kind of evidence. Wouldn't be great in giving information to an agent that takes out his concerns on delinquents, would it?"
"That doesn't explain why you aren't a pursuer."
"Hmm...why do I need to explain so much? Think for a moment to yourself. You're a fool who can't be satisfied being a fool. It's just like how a rich man has to live their life to the fullest even when they become a rich man."
It was a teasing one, one that made people look like idiots.
However--there was some sort of will in her eyes in the darkness all of a sudden.
Her strength, her radiance, it overtook me for a moment.
"--Douglas Fairbanks. Why did you betray the Akushinkage? Were you unable to bear their penance? Were you afraid of your master? No. Nay. The same. It was the same. Your motive was always the same--it was hatred. It was hatred against evil. That's why you couldn't forgive them. The Akushinkage's ideology in sacrificing innocents for the sake of your ideals. That's why you betrayed your master. And for that, you have lost your way."
That moment, the underground passage shook. I immediately sensed for a trap, but--
A door, which was disguised as a wall, opened up through a complicated mechanism.
Beyond it was a single elevator.
There was a hole--a hole that went even further down underground underground.
"This could be a path for you to follow. This could be a trap. What will it be? You decide, Douglas Fairbanks."
"...The path."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From top, to bottom--
I was descending. No, I was falling.
Was it a sense of numbness? I was falling, spilling out.
The most important thing was I was me.
All of it was being left behind.
There was only me falling--
"Why...do you fall...?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"...What's wrong, Douglas? Feeling sleepy?"
"...No. I was just lost in thought."
"Really? Well, that's fine. We're here."
The elevator arrives. The underground of the underground.
Opening up before me was a large space of the underground space.
"--Welcome to my cave."
A rocky cave. Surely. An exposed rocky surface. With cool air, even.
A large cave created not by man but by nature.
And in stark contrast to it sits a giant artifact--
"That monster there is the Ordinatuer Zen-Mondo--It's more like a toy, but it's really good."
"That's not something anyone can just have...who are you, really?"
"It takes one to know one. It's an Oriental proverb. And if you don't have this level of performance, you won't be able to match my intellect. Now, from here on today--this cave will mine and your secret base."
"A secret base? What for?"
"To expose all evils."
"Expose...evil?"
"That's where I come in. All mysteries will be uncovered, every secret room will be opened, every labyrinth will be broken--before my intellect, no evil shall escape into hiding."
"You a great detective? You sound just like Holmes."
"Holmes? You speak of me as like that detective!? To think that I'd be lumped together with such an incompetent person is just awful!!
Listen! What he's doing is merely playing house.
Douglas...please try not to disappoint me any further..."
"So why don't reveal your true identity? Who are you, and what is your purpose?"
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself."
The girl spoke--
"I am Augustine Dupin. I've come here to uncover a conspiracy in the Academia. And now, I require a capable assistant. Yes, I need your help."
She extends her hand out--
"You that is the Beast. Douglas Fairbanks.
I say this to you--'Wait, and Hope.'"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nightfall
A certain day in July 1908, two minutes before the finale
A flash of a sword came from an abnormal angle.
A perfect blow aimed right at him--but it didn't reach the White Man!
A Tesla-style Electric Evasion--and without hesitation--
"Ignition!"
"GAAAA!"
A flash of light--nay, two flashes.
Lightning and White Blade--collided and exploded.
The Beast still lived. Their Saber was readjusted--
"...You cut my lightning? That doesn't seem to be a weapon of the Society."
"The Z Saber--Zothique, is a divine sword...it was granted to me by my master."
"Elysium? If that's true, then it stands to reason why you were able to cut my lightning. I still have my baritsu."
"Baritsu? Don't make me laugh. I have K'un Lun Ninpou Ryu."
A sneer. The Beast raises his saber.
"GRRRRR..."
The steel cladding around him emits steam as if it responded to the Beast's breath.
A roar. The ground shatters from the force of their step.
An explosive sound. The Beast ran like a bullet.
"GAAAAAA!!!"
Blood gushes once more. Bones were creaking, eventually cracking.
Their physical strength, destructive power, and speed went far beyond humanly possible--
This power was the power of storms brought about by the suit he wore.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1907, at the Cave
"As you can see, I'm not that good at fighting. I need fighting power, fighting power that can stand up against Art students."
"I don't think I can have time to get an Art."
"There is an Art that lets one go beyond sound speed, no? I don't have any expectations for your intellect, but your physical ability and technique are what I have high hopes for. That's why I'm entrusting you with this."
"What is it? Armor?"
"It's a Power Suit. One that even the military doesn't own. After all, it's a special product of Doctor P of the 2nd Department of Advanced Science."
"Doctor Porsche...that mad scientist? Seems this won't be easy, after all."
"Hm, yes. Its output is far too high for the average person to use properly. During a test run, a student from the wrestling club wore it and suffered broken bones all over his body, causing him to nearly get expelled."
"You sure you're not an Assassin trying to kill me?"
"It's just that normal people can't handle it. It's different for Ninja's, though."
"Is what you think Ninja's are...very well, it'll probably work out somehow. So? What's the name of this corpse-making machine of an armored skin?"
"Zamiel is what Doctor P called it. The Angel of Storms."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A certain day in July 1908, one minute before the finale
1907, Three months after they met, At the Cave
A certain day in July 1908, The finale is near
A certain day in July 1908, the Finale
A certain day in July 1908, Postscript
Killing Joke
A certain day in September 1908, Hanging Garden
She was commonly known as the "Divine Lady", the Chairwoman of the Sorority which is an umbrella group for female students where she was worshipped by many of the hundred thousand students.
Florence Ameghino Nightengale.
"Welcome to my humble garden. I figured the day would come. That there would be another Killer Clown. Another Joker."
"Oh my gosh! There was a story about the 'Divine Lady'. I thought that was just folklore? But this is good. Really good!"
--Ah.
"As this is a great opportunity, I'll be taking on those names! Killer Clown and Joker! I'll be taking on anything else! The Academia's Rumor! The Academia's Darkness! The Academia's Stain! And so on!"
--She could not turn away her sight from the dancing clown.
"The hundred thousand students of Marseille Offshore Academia! All of you who are cursed with decadence and self-pity! I am here! I will save you with these hands!"
The Clown was laughing. The Joker was laughing.
"Kihi! Kihihihi, kihihihihi, kihihihihihihihihihihihi!!!"
It was a shark-like smile.
Like that of the Sneering Moon. Or the Smiling Rose.
"You cannot leave the island until you graduate--this rule comes with a certain problem. The love between students and the natural consequence--children."
She speaks while her eyes were tinged in love.
Even so, she dares not to avert her eyes as she stares right at the Joker's own.
"Normally, children born in the Academia are either left with relatives until their parents graduate, or raised in child-care facilities on the island--However, another problem arises in this situation."
"Second-class students...hmm, aren't those gone now? Wahoo! The Governing Council is really working hard now. Quite amazing."
"--They aren't protected by the Academia, because such children never existed to begin with."
The Clown was laughing. The Joker was laughing.
The woman's heart felt like a knife of malice gouged it out. Deeply. Gravely.
--Even then, she did not avert her gaze.
"The abandoned illegitimate children of the Academia. Your right. That is the darkness of the Academia that we have kept a blind eye to."
"You can call me the Spawn of Gahkthun. Pretty cool, ain't it?"
--Never turn your eyes away from him.
"Dr. Caligari was a mesmerist who was at the Academia until about four years ago. He would gather up children together who had no family and conduct illegal human experiments on them. During one of the experiments, it manifested in one of the children."
--Yes. His right eye.
"The Golden Eye--"
--Stare straight into his radiant, Golden Eye.
"That child's name was Cesare--he was sacrificed to the Bell four years ago."
"I go by Conrad Veidt now.
I'll continue to look forward to it...oh right, I haven't made any business cards yet. Too bad."
As he said that, the Joker shuffled through the playing cards he took out of his sleeve from out of nowhere.
"For now, let's just use this as a playing card."
He throws a card onto the table--baba, Joker!
"...Are you truly Cesare? Your appearance doesn't match the age written in the report. Besides, you're still alive even though you were given to the Bell."
"Hou? Perhaps it was a whim of the Bell? Who knows, I could just be lying... Or maybe I'm just crazy. No, to be honest, it's not like it matters now. I was sacrificed before I could even remember anything, after all."
"Second-class Students status is already a thing of the past. The Academia can save you this time."
"Save? Save me! Kihihihihiihihihihihihihi!!!"
The Clown was laughing. The Joker was laughing.
The Moon was laughing. The Rose was laughing.
"What are you talking about? I don't think you understand. I was saved a long time ago!"
--Everything and all of it, they pretend like it's a bad joke.
"Thanks. I feel grateful, yes? It's all thanks to you! Before meeting the Rose, I was nothing! You gave me to them! Me, a small poor boy! Just mere spinach!"
"What is your purpose here? Is it for revenge...?"
"No, no, no, no, no! Listen to what people have to say.
I merely want to give something back to the Academia.
I want to show everyone the world I see.
--Cheer! Cheer! Foxtrot, stomp stomp stomp, step! The rain shall turn into a wall clock after midnight! Tick Tock! Tick Tock! It's time!
The Moon and Golden Eyes, the grinning mile, the high cheese! OH! YEAH! At the end of the Golden Spiral Staircase! There is my love! There is the form of my madness! Kihihihihihihihihi!!!"
The Clown was laughing. The Joker was laughing.
The Moon was laughing. The Rose was laughing.
Kihihi. Kihihihi. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Kihihihihihi...
"I see. You've already..."
She was basked in the Joker's laughter.
She spoke quietly, yet her hidden will was strong.
The golden color of her right eye became slightly cloudy.
"The Rose--is that right? If so, I must stop him. Even if he vows to save the hundred thousand students--"
The "Storm" rises--
It was light. It was dark. It was the manifestation of a savage soul.
"Other! Seriously, you're really getting serious."
"Even if I'm disobeying his wishes, this madness ends here."
Light and Darkness--without hesitation--it attacks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ah--the Darkness. I can't escape from it.
No matter how radiant it is, it's too faint.
No matter how radiant it is, I cannot escape.
The stronger the radiance is, the deeper the darkness becomes.
I can't escape. There's no escape for me.
Never from the darkness. Never.
So...choose.
What will I choose?
Darkness
Radiance
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A Hero Can Be Anyone
A certain day in July 1908, an hour after the fight
"Hi, my dear Douglas Fairbanks. Or how about dirty rag?
Has your head cooled off yet? Oh yeah, that's right. It's just as I thought.
I'll use an Oriental expression: A little scolding to the fool who got carried away in violence.
Hmm...are you angry? No, that's not quite. Are you currently in the midst of self-loathing? Ah, I'll tell you this, Douglas. You are truly an idiot, a big fool. An animal that didn't have the rationality of a monkey. A dog that chased its own tail. Oh wait, was it a fox? But foxes are clever creatures. At the very least, you were always a suicidal user who ingested large quantities of Liaodan and used the suit's power to its limits to the point of self-destruction.
So, what will you do? Should I call the Health Committee? Jeez, how long will you stay depressed like that? You're such a delicate chap, even if you are a fool.
That's right. Let me take a guess. Douglas Fairbanks.
December 24th 1902. Your parents took you to a Broadway musical to see Ginger Rogers, a rising superstar at the time. But then, that heinous event, the Great Disappearance, happened.
From here, I can't quite guess how you could have survived. You were picked up by Fu Manchu, and trained for four years as a ninja until you were found in the Himalayas in 1907. After that, rather than going to your uncle, a large landowner in the United States, you entered Marseille Offshore Academia. It makes sense...ah, don't be in a rush. Here's the reasoning.
That is, between 1903 to 1907, you had no chance to experience American culture. You even answered this in an interview a while back that you read comics when you were young, but that you didn't like childish lies.
That's strange? Isn't this a contradiction? You know the line.
I and God are equally powerless--Those were the words said by the main character in 'Superman' #25. Even though it was a popular line that became a social norm in the U.S., it was particularly popular in the Academia. Comics from the United States are forbidden, except for geeks in the Special Cinematography Research Club. 'Superman' #25 was published in 1903. Had you not enrolled in the Academia and returned to the U.S., you would have had a chance to read it. Yet you know the line. It's possible you may have heard of it by chance.
However...I'd like to make a hypothesis here. Before you and I met, Douglas...what was it that drew you into the Dropout District? Surely it was just beating up delinquents from the start.
In other words, you had to have been breaking some school rules. Was it alcohol? You're too young for that. Was it women? That's not quite. Oh, I understand that you're a playboy in the world's eyes. Let's just say you don't have any problems with women...so what was it?
Douglas...you were collecting back issues, weren't you?
Hehe...what an embarrassing guy you are. But that's okay, Superman.
Faster than a bullet, more powerful than a shell train, able to leap buildings...
It's because I'm weak that I admire that kind of stuff. I don't despise that sort of thing.
So...Douglas. Why don't you consider this? The Man of Steel is still fighting. Even after having witnessed New York--
He doesn't want anyone to die this time around."
She said--
"Your Golden Age is over, Douglas. There may be no omniscient God, no Hero to save us all. But remember why you call yourself the 'Fox'.
--Who can be a Hero?
We have to keep rejecting Karashrer, to never give up on reaching out. Everyone has radiance of the destruction in their hearts.
An age where those who possess silver weapons that can cut down that evil is created.
That's right--that's the Silver Age."
She extends her hand out--
"You are my Hero, Man of Steel.
The you in the suit. My Mark of Zorro.
I will keep saying this over and over to you--'Wait, and Hope'."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yes, everyone--
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
March 15th 1909, Neon Scalar Smilja
"Get on board, Neon Scalar Smilja!"
"Neon. For sure, I'll send you right back to him."
"Go and say hello to him."
"Go and ask that man to do something about this!"
"Neon. I give my blessings to you."
"Albert already told me to do the same, Neon. I don't quite know what to say, but I wish you luck!"
"Not a single person will die or be expelled. I won't permit it."
"...Hm, to go even to the depths of Hell."
"If you come back in one piece, how about a kiss?"
"Things will work out somehow. Or maybe we'll do something about it. The Academia is full of students, is it not?"
"Wah!" "My Art transcends all of space!"
"E Flat Major!" "Good luck, Neon!"
"Hold on!" "Just keep going!" "Take this!"
"Art...still getting used to it. Stones are much easier."
"The locomotive is coming! Let's go!"
"You're going to see him, aren't you? You're his assistant, right?"
"I don't remember it well, but you helped me out."
"I don't really understand it much, but good luck." "Do your best."
"Leave these guys to us. We won't let a bunch of weird dolls take our city!"
"Then go. Run. Run, and pull that person back."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Are you sure? We have to protect Neon Scalar Smilja."
"It's fine. I'm not the only Hero here, and we have other things to take care of.--Where to?"
"Evacuation zone--90 seconds left. Chance of causalities is 62%. There's no time."
"--I can make it. I won't let anyone die."
He ran through the sky where the Rose's eyes glared. He was flying.
His body was clad in steel.
He controlled the lariat freely, jumping over high-rise buildings.
Like a Hero from a drama. Like a Musketeer that protects the weak.
That was something precious. That was something radiant.
The sight of him flying...
The way he fights for the sake of their life...
The way he extends out his hand--
It reminded others of a glowing sword.
It reminded others of a passionate wind.
Glowing Sword. Passionate Wind. In other words, it was him.
--The Mark of Zorro.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Tesla!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"There is nothing that can surpass Our radiance! You have nothing, Tesla!"
"I do. It's here. A single radiance."
"Lightning--"
"LIGHTNING KERAUNOS!"
From Hell
--So that's that.
After defeating the Evil Rose, everyone is happy. Congrats! Congrats!
Well then, everyone, see you in the next work.
...Sike!
I remain! I wish! I yearn for it!
I told you, didn't I? He would respond to the encore. That's why--
--I will inherit the Rose.
"They're just mere dregs, though."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
March 16th 1909, Spawn vs Temporary HQ
"You can't use your Art? What do you mean, Lord Walther?"
"I couldn't control it right. Like I couldn't turn or stop. I nearly ran into an ordinary student and could have killed them."
"Even my Calculations don't cover around the Tower of d'If area occupied by the Joker. It's like something is interfering with it, making calculations difficult."
"I can't get close either. Who knows how much damage I'll cause if my Physical Manipulation gets out of control."
"...Is this the doing of the Joker's Art?
Florence Nightingale."
"Yes. He was a sacrifice to the Bell, and has a deep connection to it. It's Conrad Veidt's Art--The Hacking of the Bell."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"This is my Art. This is my power!
This is Conrad's Veidt's Mockery!"
The Clown was laughing. The Joker was laughing.
He stood on the exposed floor of the collapsed Tower of d'If.
With a microphone, Conrad Veidt scoffs.
He hijacked the telegraph networks and radio stations in the Academia.
It was mockery. It was roaring laughter. It was spite. It was madness.
It was going to be delivered to the hundred thousand students of Marseille Offshore Academia.
"Florence Ameghino Nightengale!
We are sending our love to you all from the Tower of d'If!
We are the Spawn of Gahkthun!
We have taken over Marseille Offshore Academia!
We have but only one evil request!"
The Clown, the Joker, takes a deep heavy breath. A Hub Ring.
A demonic voice that stirs the air.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"In short, a student's Art..."
"Will get distorted by his Art.
That means the more powerful an Art is, the more damage will be done to our surroundings.
This means that we, the Governing Council, cannot do anything."
"Ain't it grandpa's turn?
Master's Art doesn't come from the school, right?"
"About that, he..."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yes...uhm, yes. Ever since yesterday...
Yes, I think so. He used up a lot more power that time, so I guess he...
There shouldn't be anything to worry about. But when the time does come...
--Oh, already! At a time like this!
Master! It's serious! We're not finished yet!
Please, please wake up! Stay awake! You have to stay awake!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You mean Nikola Tesla hasn't woken up?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
March 17th 1909, Disciplinary Police Front Lines
Oh! What else is there!
As if we don't have enough on our hands!
Spawns keep coming from below!
The Villains are taking advantage of the chaos and starting a riot!
The Vigilantes? Don't be foolish. It's getting even more complicated because they're doing their own thing!
...Hm? What now? Huh? A plane crash?
What are the people from the Aircraft Machine Research Club even doing at this chaotic time!?!?!?
...No? It's something from outside the Academia!
The pilot...is a kid?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
March 17th 1909, Crash Site
..I thought I was gonna die.
There's been a lot of trouble lately, like with Moon Beast.
Besides, this island...yes. I know, Zophie.
This presence...it's the same as the three pillars of Ahtu that destroyed my hometown.
It's him. My nemesis. The Evil God, Nyarlathotep!
...It's OK. I will never lose again.
--Even under the Gray Sky, Evil will not escape starlight
I swear on this lantern that collects starlight.
I swear on my ordinary rose that is not gold or anything.
I will not let anyone be killed ever again.
Looks like there's someone on this island that came to help.
What is this guy? He looks amazing.
He looks like a Hero, just like the Three Musketeers.
But he's in tatters. Seems like he's been constantly fighting.
Just like me and the White Man--
"Mm...I'm fine. I'm not hurt, but thank you for coming to my rescue. I'm Antoine de Saint-Exupery--I'm an Alien."
Justice League
It has been a whirlwind of a week.
This week was like turning over a witch's cauldron.
The chaos from those times still left deep scars on the Academia even now at the start of the new school year.
It was the start of a new era at Marseille Offshore Academia.
There were new problems, new hope.
From the False Golden Age of the Rose Ruler--
--To the Silver Age where everyone can be a Hero.
Yes, everyone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That's right. My lantern here has the power to collect starlight. It was a body of steel and machine made for the Gods who were supposed to vanish. The God of Light, Zophiel--this is just a fragment of their power. If it is just a husk of Nyarlathotep, my light can shatter it!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Don't leave me hanging, darling."
"...Curiosity will kill the cat."
"That's alright, because this cat has nine."
"This is not a game, Miss Cat. Cat Woman."
"How about a more gentler name, and call me Shadam Coco?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You...did you say Zorro? Yeah, I've heard of you. You seem to be pretty fast, but...huh, what's this? A mask? Why are you forcing this on me? Huh? A name? Flash? What are you talking about? Hey, hey! Talk about people..."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This is everyone's Justice League--
Mark of Zorro
March 20th 1909, Collapsed Tower of d'If
At the collapsed Tower of d'If.
He stood before the Joker who kept everyone's Art at bay.
His body was covered in steel.
His true face hidden behind a mask.
Thrusting forth with a sharp Saber.
Like a hero from a drama. Like a Musketeer that protects the weak.
It was precious. It was radiance.
Their calm breathing--
Their stiffened lips--
Above all, the fighting spirit rolling off their whole body--
It reminded him of a hawk hunting for its prey.
It reminded him of a cunning fox from the Orient.
A Hawk? A Fox? It was none other than him--
"--Zoroooo!!"
"Buenos Noches! Have you ever danced with a devil under the Gray Sky, Joker?"
"What's this? Why can't my Art get through to you?"
"If I were Augustine, I wouldn't even bother answering that. What seems to be impossible is actually possible. All that has to be done is proving it--and it's quite simple, Conrad Veidt--"
He responded with an exaggerated shrug. A strangely dramatic gesture.
As though everything was a play.
"--I'm not an Art user."
"...Hey, don't be so foolish. That's a funny joke there."
"It's just my ninpou and your magic trick. The Hounds won't be summoned here anymore."
"Kihihi...Kihihihihihi!!! Don't think you've won yet, you fool! You would be fearful if you knew my magic tricks! You are but a simple man!"
Said the Joker, taking out a wolf doll--
"I call upon the shadow of the Black King. Come forth, my shadow. My form."
The wolf doll sways.
The Joker's shadow responds eerily.
As though it were responding to his will. As though it were responding to his words.
It was a shadow. It was a curse filled with malice.
It was a thing that took form, using his words and voice as its guide.
It was black. It was dark. It was the manifestation of a savage soul.
"Hundred thousand scumbags of Marseille Offshore Academia. I will be the one to save you all."
What came was the roar of a Beast, tearing through the wolf's belly.
"Saliva of the dirty Beast--Crooked teeth of the brutal Beast--
and the bruises of the satiated Beast. Heed my call, and respond to me.
Demonic Beast that craves the end.
Critter, La Bete du Gevaudan!"
The shadows multiplied at an alarming rate. The shadows expanded at an incredible rate.
The hungry Beast attacks the Academia.
"Kihihihihi! This is a piece of Other that I managed to tear off from the 'Divine Lady'! Human with no powers! There's no way for you to kill a Critter! Shame, on, you!"
They were ruthlessly arrogant. They were ruthlessly comical.
Towards that Academia that created him.
Without hesitation, he strikes.
"Your bruises are my bruises. Your Sins, all of them are my Sins. Come forth, Critter La Bete du Gevaudan. Your enemy is in wide view...you disgrace!"
Before the gaping jaws of the Beast that stands over 20 feet tall--
The "Fox" stands. Zorro stands. And he--
"--'Beast'."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--An exercise for the reader.
This is an exercise for the reader.
Here we have a boy.
The boy had fallen into a hole.
The boy swore to save a life.
He didn't want anyone to fall into a hole ever again.
The boy was clad in steel.
The boy wore a mask.
The boy readied his saber.
And the boy gave himself the name "Zorro".
--But why was that?
Was it because he liked foxes?
Was it because foxes were cunning?
Or perhaps--
"I am a fox. I am the prey that must be hunted."
"If the hounds and wild beasts try to kill me--
That means no one else will die. That's why--"
"I am Zorro."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Annoyed you may be, I still say this to you--
Fate may have abandoned you, Conrad Veidt. But--"
And today, his heart, too, radiates with silver--
"With my hand, I will save you."
No comments:
Post a Comment