THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 259: 259. A THOUSAND ARROWS

”Open the latch!” Suddenly, Seya barked, and as if whatever had been happening till this moment was just a play, the Tatani fighters pulled back just as a million arrows were let loose.

”I win this round!!” Seya cackled in victory.

”You are a conniving woman,” Sagiri said. Even so, he did not have time to hesitate. If he did not move, his teammates were going to die for sure. Even the shadow squad could not survive such a shower. He was going to make Seya pay, but that could wait. He might have pushed the woman too hard, and she had bitten back.

More latches opened in quick intervals, and with each that opened, more arrows were released in hundreds and no less.

”We are all dead.” Ulekai shuddered in fear.

”Dying in battle is an honor for a man. Pull yourself together.” Kaka snapped, getting into a position to defend and fight till the last moment. Typical Asakana.

The markings on Sagiri’s skin stirred with the urge to protect. His killing intent grew to suffocating levels in an instant, and the air froze then surged with energy. The markings on his body stirred and ignited, making the very hairs on his skin stand with how charged he was.

The place he had been standing on curved in instantly and shattered with the force and speed he moved. He disappeared from beside Seya in an instant. He tore through the air, a blur and a flash as he headed for the square. The arrows tore through the air at the same time with so much speed that in only a second, his friends would be wiped out. He was really beginning to have a hate relationship with arrows.

In this state, however, he was faster. Everything seemed to stand still, and only he was in motion. Even the arrows seemed too slow in his eyes.

The next moment, Sagiri landed in the middle of the square with so much force that there was a small depression where he landed. In that split second, he could feel the relief of his friends wash over them.

”What took you so long?” N’varu seemed even more relieved, as if he knew Sagiri had been around the whole time.

”I was measuring manhoods with the kun of Tatani,” Sagiri said, but his voice was so cold that what should have come out like a joke came out like a threat. Sagiri pushed the archive out. this time not to move within it but to shield his friends. This was going to cost him half of his strength. He could feel the archive layer. Its sigils were humming around before they tightened to form a tight, invisible shield around the two squads. Only he could see the archive after all. The massive invisible structure crackled with energy.

Time seemed to stop as the arrows closed in. The markings on Sagiri’s hand crawled on his skin and accumulated on his right hand. He held his hand out as if reinforcing the connection between him and the archive in that moment to complete and strengthen the barrier.

Just as the arrows touched the invisible archive...

The arrows froze.

They came to a stop in a sequence, but in a spreading halt, like something invisible had caught them in layers. The front lines locked first, then the ones behind, then the rest followed until the artificial sky of Tatani itself seemed suspended, filled with thousands of arrows hanging in place.

Sagiri exhaled slowly. The Archive pulsed through him and around him with so much energy. He could feel the weight of the hanging arrow as if he were somehow carrying it, and they would crush him at any moment. The archive hummed and held them in place. A pressure filled the space, dense and controlled, holding every arrow exactly where it was. Some trembled slightly, their momentum still fighting against the restraint, but none moved forward.

The markings on Sagiri’s body had now pushed out, changed shape, and taken circular forms. They were visible, and to those watching, it felt like his body had strings of energy around him.

”What!” Sagiri could hear Seya gasp in shock. It could seem he had won the manhood measuring duel.

”What...?” one of her fighters breathed, then many more followed. Sagiri could feel their fear.

”What is he?” Another small voice said, almost too scared to believe whatever they were witnessing.

Yoka was shocked and soon loosened his defensive stance. His eyes were fixed on the sky, on the impossible stillness of it. Arrows that should have torn through them now hovered like they had struck an invisible wall. A Shadow operative stepped forward slightly, head tilted upward.

”There’s no barrier,” he said, voice low. ”How is he holding them?”

Ulekai let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. ”He is holding all of them?”

No one responded. Because there was no other answer.

Sagiri stood beneath it all, unmoving, as if the weight of it meant nothing. The Archive pressed outward from him, unseen but absolute, locking every arrow in place, denying gravity and motion itself.

Kiuga’s grip tightened on his weapon as he moved a distance behind Sagiri slightly.

”Sagiri the blind, you really do love dramatic entries. I love it.” He said in awe.

Above them, the arrows quivered. Sagiri raised his hand slowly, even in wonder at his capabilities. He twisted his hand slightly. Every eye followed the motion, and the arrows responded.

It began with the ones closest to him, their tips shifting slightly, turning away from his position. Then the movement spread outward, rippling through the entire suspended storm. One by one, then in waves, the arrows rotated mid-air, their directions changing with precise, controlled alignment.

The squad watched in silence. Thousands of weapons. Turning and Obeying.

”Fire more!!” Seya barked with panic this time. Hundreds of arrows were released in Sagiri’s and the squads’ direction again. The archive expanded in response to hold the new weight, and it hummed with the weight. The same thing happened again. The arrows did not have space to touch the archive this time before they froze mid-air. Sagiri pushed his hand up and held the weight before he turned them one by one. Every fighter in the square, even those hidden, had an arrow pointed at them.

A Shadow operative exhaled sharply.

”...he’s aiming for them.”

”Does it matter? They wanted to kill us first.” Tavora said. He was staring at the scene with a mixture of horror and awe. Perhaps he was realising he did not stand a chance against Sagiri and how easily Sagiri could have killed him if he wanted.

After Sagiri was sure he was holding the weight intact, he finally turned his gaze onto Seya, who was staring in horror. Her prideful composure had been crushed.

”You celebrated too soon, Kun of Tatani. I think I am about to win this round by a landslide.” Sagiri’s cold voice cut through the place.

”It seems you will only leave Tagayia dead. I already told you I care about the people closest to me. And anyone who harms them has to pay.” Sagiri’s voice grew even colder.

”Now you watch!” Sagiri snarled.