Tengoku e no Hangyaku - Rebellion against Heaven (english version)

Chapter 13: The Bastard Heralds and the Oath of Loyalty

Ryuusei felt energy coursing through his body as he placed the Yin-Yang Mask on his face. His vision blurred for a moment, and suddenly, a torrent of information flowed into his mind. He saw his own abilities—his powers of chaos and peace—manifesting in his thoughts as if they were inscriptions on an ancient sacred stone.

Powers of Chaos (Yin - Darkness, Destruction)

Touch of Entropy: His "War Hammers" could corrode anything they touched, breaking down structures, weapons, and even halting his enemies' regeneration.

Abyssal Vision: He could see his enemies' deepest fears and make them hallucinate.

Twilight Flames: A dark fire that could not be extinguished until the victim's death or until he willed it.

Distortion of Fate: Altered probability in his favor for a short time.

Painful Regeneration: He could heal, but with extreme suffering, as if his body were being rebuilt with burning nails.

Powers of Peace (Yang - Light, Creation)

Aura of Endurance: Reduced the impact of damage taken.

Healing Touch: He could heal others, but not himself.

Zone of Balance: Created an area where all abilities were halved.

Echo of Life: He saw glimpses of a person's past and future upon touching them.

But what surprised him even more was that he could also see the abilities of his "companions." With each name he read, the sacred weapons granted to them by Death appeared in his mind:

Daichi - Spear of Judgment (Kuroyari - 黒槍)

Impact of Condemnation: Any wound inflicted by the spear multiplied the enemy's pain.

Phantom Thrust: The spear could pass through physical obstacles without losing its sharpness.

Unwavering Devotion: Made Daichi immune to mental manipulation and fear.

Kenta - Twin Scythes of the Eclipse (Getsurei - 月霊)

Shadow Slash: Could attack from a distance using shadows.

Dance of Death: His combat speed increased exponentially.

Soul Reaper: Each kill increased his endurance and energy.

Haru - Crimson Void Bow (Akakū - 赤空)

Infinite Arrows: He didn't need a quiver, as arrows formed by his will.

Judgment Shot: Marked an enemy, and the arrow would chase them until it struck.

Crimson Rain: Fired multiple explosive arrows simultaneously.

Finally, he tried to see Death's information. However, all that appeared in his vision were endless question marks. It was as if Death's power was immeasurable—a mystery even the Yin-Yang Mask couldn't decipher.

In that moment, everything turned into a whirlwind of chaos. Instead of a figure, he saw only an absolute void, a ???. No name, no form, no essence—as if Death existed beyond what his power could comprehend.

Death noticed his audacity."Interesting… Are you trying to see me, boy?" Death's cold voice echoed. In that instant, Ryuusei felt agonizing pain in his head, as if a thousand blades were piercing his mind.

Ryuusei fell to his knees, gasping, while Death laughed in amusement."You are not ready to look at me, but I'm glad to see you've understood something… You are still nothing before me."

Shivering, Ryuusei removed the mask. He wasn't sure what more he would have discovered if he had continued, but something inside him told him that certain things were never meant to be understood by mortals.

Meanwhile, Death turned to Daichi, Kenta, and Haru. With carefully chosen words, he began planting doubts in their hearts, insinuating that Ryuusei's relationship with Aiko might be more than it seemed. At first, they hesitated, but little by little, Death's influence grew stronger. Daichi, in particular, felt an increasing admiration for the entity, his loyalty beginning to shift more towards Death than his own companions.

In the world of the living, Ryuusei had other matters on his mind. He had decided to give Aiko the "Black Herald's Sword" as a gift. Since she had no formal combat training, he thought of teaching her how to use it, or at least finding videos to help her understand how to handle it. After all, he himself had been lucky using his hammers and daggers without any real instruction. Now, he wanted to make sure Aiko had a better chance if she ever had to fight.

As they left Death's hall, the atmosphere was thick with hostility. Before them stood dozens of common heralds.

Among them, three figures stood out with an imposing presence: Daichi, Kenta, and Haru—whom Death pointed to with a slow, deliberate gesture.

"You three… shall be the Supreme Heralds."

The title hung heavily in the air. The common heralds murmured among themselves, some with envy, others with relief.

"The Supreme Heralds are my will made flesh. They wield weapons forged from the same essence that sustains me and represent the law of the Underworld. They are my order, my judgment, my execution."

The three knelt before their master, feeling the dark energy flow through their bodies.

"What about them?" one of the common heralds asked, pointing at Ryuusei and Aiko.

Death remained silent for a moment before releasing a guttural laugh.

"They… are not part of my order. They do not follow my rules. They do not obey my will."

Daichi, Kenta, and Haru's eyes locked onto the two.

"The Bastard Heralds…" Death pronounced with an icy voice. "Two anomalies that should not exist. And yet, they remain under my dominion."

The title fell like a sentence.

"One wears a Yin-Yang Mask that does not belong to him, stealing the secrets of the universe. The other—a mere girl—was blessed with a weapon without receiving my grace. And yet… I still allow them to exist."

Daichi frowned."Why?"

"Because their fate has not yet been written. And I want to see how far they go before I erase them from existence."

Death turned, letting the words sink into everyone's minds. From that day forward, the Supreme Heralds would be seen as Death's true champions, while Ryuusei and Aiko would bear the contempt and suspicion of those around them.

Ryuusei and Aiko felt a chill run down their spines. Although their status was lower than that of the Supreme Heralds, they were still part of Death's structure. They would receive the same benefits: wealth, resources, and even some authority over lesser heralds. However, all of this came with relentless hatred.

"Do not think this is a favor," Death continued, his tone sharp as a dagger. "You are bound to serve me. With every fiber of your being, with every drop of your blood. My will is absolute."

The murmurs of the heralds intensified. To them, Ryuusei and Aiko were nothing more than errors refusing to disappear. The tension was suffocating, but Ryuusei, without saying a word, simply adjusted his mask, his expression hidden behind it.

Unwavering Loyalty

Later, when everything had calmed down and they were far from prying eyes, Aiko approached Ryuusei with an unusual determination for her age. She knelt deeply, bowing in a saikeirei (the most formal and submissive bow in Japanese culture).

-From today, I am loyal to Ryuusei-sama," she declared firmly. I will become your loyal servant.

Ryuusei looked at her in complete shock. A nine-year-old girl, with a sense of duty so ingrained that she was willing to bow to him, acknowledging him as her master.

-Are you sure? -he asked, unable to hide his surprise.

Aiko looked up, determination burning in her eyes.

-Yes. Death hates us. The Supremes despise us. There is no place for me here... except at your side.

-What about your parents, Aiko?

- It is very likely that they are dead since I only had my mother, my father passed away years ago, I myself saw how my mother was crushed by a building. And I didn't see her name in the death tournament either. 

Ryuusei exhaled heavily, realizing that the girl understood far more than she appeared to. There was no point in rejecting her.

-Then... I accept.