n

n

n

"Prepare yourself, kid. This is as far as you get.

" He said.

nI knew he wasn't bluffing. Arts were deemed to be absolute forms of power. During my life as a Primordial, no such things existed. Humans relied solely on their wits and natural abilities. That was why they had so much faith in the gods since they used their supernatural powers to help humanity.

nFor Arts to exist, supernatural work was at play, and the natural couldn't trump the supernatural. But what was this I was seeing? It was so familiar for some reason.

n

"H-How do you know Hex?

" I asked the man.

n

"Heh, do you finally realize now?

" He said to me confidently.

nI was beyond surprised, or did I hear wrong? I would soon find out. The Leon guy now had my attention. I was unsure of the outcome of the battle before me... As long as Hex was concerned.

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"Hex #98 'Orb of Destruction'

" He declared.

n

"98?

" I grimaced. I had to get away.

nSuddenly, a crimson ball of flames appeared in front of Leon. The heat radiated around him, causing his image to be distorted.

n

"Be burned to nothingness.

" He said, launching the ball of crimson flames to me.

nI was too stunned to react properly, however, in the split second that the flames nearly reached me, I managed to dodge. The flame grazed me, however, so I felt its heat.

n

"Impressive, however... You're finished.

" Leon said.

nThe ball of red flames returned from the direction in which it was headed and connected with my back, causing a fiery explosion.

nThe pressure caused even Leon to cover his face. The smoke generated was also great.

n

"That is why I told you not to get overly confident,

" Leon said with a confident smile.

n

"I have to admit... You had me for a second there...

" I said, emerging from the smoke.

nNot only had the flames charred my outfit, but the smoke was also annoying. I couldn't properly breathe or see. It was utterly annoying.

nWith the swing of my sword, I cleared the remaining smoke in the area, making everything clear once more.

n

"I-Impossible!... You survived?

" Leon's face exhibited shock and nervousness.

nIf I had to guess, I'd say what he just used was a surefire attack, a one-shot move that always worked against his opponents. This was it?

n

"You... I'll ask you again... How do you know Hex?

" I said, mildly annoyed.

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"M-My Hex... How can you survive it?

" Leon said, still shaken.

nI was beginning to get pissed. Not because of Leon's actions or even him refusing to answer my question for the second time, though that did tick me off. What ticked me the most was...

n

"You call that Hex?

" I said to him.

nHe looked surprised, why wouldn't he be?

nI was surprised too. When he mentioned Hex I was a bit apprehensive. Without appropriate precautions, the damage could be great, even for me. How did the humans get to know about it in the first place? Was it due to my absence? If that were the case then things must have gone fairly well.

nStill though... I couldn't help but express my disgust at the awful and pitiful display he had just shown me. Why was I so agitated? Because Hex was...

n

"I'll show you my ultimate move. A more powerful one! The Highest Hex I have mastered!

" Leon interrupted my thoughts.

n

"Hex #95!

" He declared.

nEnergy burst from within him. Was he planning on using up all his remaining energy?

nWithin Leon's thoughts, he was conflicted. No one had ever survived any of his Hex. He had only mastered two out of the Hex made available to the Imperial Knights. The one he most often used was #98

"Orb of Destruction.

"

nHowever, he had his final trump card. His most destructive move. While this would use up all his energy and he would be worn out after its use, the power it offered was worth it.

n

"With this, I'll destroy this person. After he is dealt with, the fairy should be no big deal.

" Leon thought to himself

nHe looked at the stranger before him. He was still confused about what Art he used. There were only two types of Arts. Hex, and the other one. The other one was not one just any person possessed. It is said that the other was one endowed upon an individual by god. Unlike that, Hex had to be mastered.

nIt was the product of the greatest researcher known to mankind. The entire archive was discovered nearly 3,000 years ago, right after the Dark Ages. It contained a means by which humans could access the supernatural. The man's name and identity remain a mystery to this date, but his legacy remains. That is the greatness of Hex! The unstoppable Art of destruction!

n

"Hex #95

" He shouted, pouring all his energy into this final move.

"Orb of Implosion

"

nImmediately, all his energy converged, forming an orb that was dark purple. It began swirling, sucking everything in its path. Like a mini black hole, it absorbed things within it endlessly. It grew larger and larger. Leon held it with both hands above him.

n

"Descend!

" He said, bringing his hands down and directing the orb to my location.

nThe orb rushed at me, devouring everything in its path. This was... This was...

n

"Pathetic!

" I said out loud.

nI couldn't contain my displeasure anymore. Any further and it would have driven me to utter embarrassment.

nI stretched forth my hand to the orb and made a sigh.

n

"Disperse

" I commanded.

nThe ball of distorted space immediately dissolved and imploded, disappearing from sight. Before it reached me its form had entirely faded away.

nLeon, who was looking exhausted after expending his energy, now had the look of terror in his eyes.

n

"Oh? Where did your confidence go? Exhausted after only two Hexes... Truly pathetic.

" I said to him.

nHe shook his head as though he could not believe what he had just seen. A Hex being so easily countered by a human? Impossible!

nLeon was dumbfounded. He could not utter sensible words and choked on what to say.

n

"H-How... W-Who A-Are Y-You...

" He managed to say.

n

"It would be wasted on you,

" I told him.

n

"However, I will tell you one thing... This pathetic display you just showed me isn't at all what Hex is.

" I added.

nHe required an education. It was the least I could do after seeing such rubbish.

n

"Let me show you... What Hex really is.

" I told him.

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"Hex #99,

" I said, mentioning the least powerful Hex

nTheo looked at me with despair as he saw what was forming on my index finger which was pointed above.

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"Orb of Beginning,

" I said.

nHe was nearly in tears as he looked above him and saw the giant structure resting on my index finger. His legs were no longer able to support him and he fell on his knees.

nThe white ball suddenly began to compress in size until it was merely a tiny ball of light that danced around my finger like a firefly.

n

"Do you realize now, Your foolishness?

" I said to him.

nHe had the expression of absolute fear. His body trembled... He could tell that within the small orb that was on my finger was a more devastating energy than his two attacks combined. I took no pleasure watching him lose all will to live, and from the looks of things he wasn't capable of learning anything.

n

"H-How...?

" He let out.

n

"Do you even know what Hex is at all? Interfering with the Aspects that make up the world. Do you think it is possible with your energy alone to do that?

" I said to him.

n

"How can you...?

" He asked.

nI smiled at the ignorant human.

n

"By attracting the very essence of the Aspects around. That is the way to use Hex. You get exhausted after using two of the lowest Hexes, and only at this low level of mastery and output. However, I merely used a fraction of energy to attract phenomenally greater essence from around me. Causing me to effectively alter the very Aspects that build up the world.

" I said to him.

n

"Who... Who are you...?

" He asked again.

n

"I am the true creator of Hex, the one who stands above everything you know,

" I answered him.

n

"I am Hexarion,

" I said.

n

"The Evil one... The Demon God... Y-You can't be.... Impossible... Inconceivable!!!!

" Leon was now in a frenzy.

n

"This is why I didn't want to tell you anything. Your mind is too small to comprehend anything.

" I said to him.

n

"Arghhhhhh

" He roared, attempting to stand and attack me.

nI sighed. Such a pointless struggle.

nPointing my index finger at him, I launched my

"Orb of Beginning

" to him.

nAs Leon rushed to me in desperation he thought to himself.

n

"Is this the end for me? No, It can't be! I dedicated my whole life to strength. I even got the opportunity to learn Hex, the ultimate Art of destruction... Yet... Yet... I would have sold this fairy and gotten so much money. The boys and I would have had our fill of some good beer at the local pub. I would have risen in ranks until I became truly unstoppable. I would have...

" He thought to himself.

n

"Goodbye. I can't say it has been pleasant.

" I said as I watched the white orb contact his body and cause it to fade away, like dust.

nLeon's desperate face began to fade away, along with his entire body, leaving the armor and other clothing he was wearing. Everything, other than Leon himself remained, falling to the ground. The wind howled and took away the fragment of dust that Leon had turned to.

n

"From dust, back to dust...

" I said, turning away from the pitiful sight before me.

n

"Now... Where were we?

" I said, turning to the Fairy I had just saved. She was nowhere to be found.

n

"Oh don't tell me...

" I thought to myself.

n

"That foolish girl,

" I said, vanishing from the place I was staying and on my way to catch my little runaway.

n