Chapter 175 - Summoning The Men

(Jane's PoV)

However, as I finally got a good look on the one I caught, I was stunned for a split second. On the next second, I stepped back, my whole body went on full alert and ready for combat.

I wasn't the only one who understood how grave the situation was, but also Sanji and Tom who already put on a stance to fight, shielding me with their bodies. Even their previous relax expression was gone, only frown and hardened jaw was seen on their face.

"Ah, that hurts..." came a muffle groan from the one who was sprawling in front of us. It pushed itself up, shaking off the dried leaves stuck on its body.

My eyes followed its move -ah no, it should be 'his' movements closely. The moment he had stood straight while rubbing the back of his neck, I knew that whatever he was, he couldn't possible be in this form for just a short period of time. He must have assumed this form for a really long time, which was why his every movements were so identical to what human would always do. Even his facial expression was flawless.

The only thing different was the pain tolerance.

For a non-human entity to have a human form for a long time, he must be a powerful one. What kind of human could enslave this powerful human? Or rather, how many sacrifice did he demand to get this human form?

"Hello, little girl." He smiled. His form was a young man, probably as young as Sanji or Tom, but I couldn't see any trace of his original appearance at all. Clad in a black sport trousers, black t-shirt, and a pair of running shoes, he looked like a harmless tourist having a good morning jogging in the forest. He wasn't necessarily handsome, but at least he was not ugly at all.

Ah, what was I thinking?

I shook my head slightly to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts inside my mind. Since he could create this form and even blended with this form so well to the point I couldn't even see the difference between him and the form he was created, I was one hundred percent sure he was indeed riddiculously powerful.

I watched as his thick eyebrows frowned. What? Why did he look like he was about to slap someone?

"Little girl, is that how your parents taught you when someone older than you greeted you first?" He asked in displeasure.

"Well, my parents taught me not to speak to strangers." I replied casually.

His expression changed. "Good, good, good." He nodded even though he was gritting his teeth. He might not know that I could reply like that to him. As an old soul, he might find my way of speaking disrespectful.

"You purposely blocked our way, even tried to intimidate us, and you want us to have a nice conversation with you? Tell me, is that even possible?" Sanji spoke in a matter of fact tone.

"Who sent you?" The chains around his wrists made a dull sound when Tom moved his hands.

"Ah, kids nowadays are seriously needed a beating or two to straighten them up. How dare they talked to an elderly like this?" He sighed in a righteous manner.

Chuckles escaped my lips when I heard him said that. Shouldn't he make his appearance be more believable if he wanted to accuse us for that crime? With twenty something human form, he expected us to treat him like an elderly? Was he joking?

"Next time, try to appear with an elderly form and make a good start, that way we might treat you better." I said lightly. It was not a suggestion. I even doubted that we would meet again after this one.

His expression darkened when he heard that casual remarks from me. I really didn't know what could please him when he would take everything that we said seriously. He got offended easily, really.

"Now, maybe you can tell us, who ordered you to wait on us?" I repeated Tom's question.

"Did he order you to harm us?" Tom added.

"Nice question and nice assumption." He pointed at us with a sneer. "I thought that I wouldn't need to use any of my strength since that old man has dispatched his best fighters before me. But, it seems like you guys have a good skill. I don't know how you managed to defeat them, but I will say one thing to you, I'm not as easy as them."

The longer he talked, the scarier his form turned into. It might not be his true form, but I could roughly guess what his true form looked like.

Monster; a terrifying one, if I could say.

"Stand back!" Tom reminded me before he pounced forward towards that scary looking man.

A fight broke out between the man versus Sanji and Tom. By number, it was a win on our side. Sanji and Tom were excellent fighters, but against this sole man, I was surprised to see that it was them who got on the losing end.

I knew that the man was powerful, but I was too careless to think that he would not be that strong.

"Siji." I called out softly and the man appeared right after the last letter was spoken.

"Milady." He bowed a bit and followed the line of my gaze. He was quick-witted as he saw the fight in front of us. He understood that someone had sent this human imposter to me in attempt to harm me.

"Do you think we can take him down?" I called him out not to ask him to fight, of course. I needed advise from him, after all he was the one who knew about the limit of our power.

"It's not totally impossible, but it would take some time. Especially since Sanji and Tom had exerted much of their power and energy on the previous fights. Both of them couldn't take down this level of shadow all by themselves. And your set of training was only for your own self, means it can't be used in group. Anyone who tries to fight on your side will end up harming you, instead. So, it could only be you fighting against him." Sanji explained.

"But, it will take some time, right?" I repeated what he told me before. Siji nodded. "Is there any other way to make it fast? I want to visit that old man and ask him what he wants exactly."

"Of course, there is a way, Milady. By using the power of White Army, command the men to capture him. After all, if he wants to show off his power that he got after years of being a shadow and feeding off human's blood and soul, our men don't lack any of those power. We are First Army, after all." Siji smiled reassuringly.

"Then, let's do it. I can train some other time after I reached that Hidden Village. For now, let's get rid of the one who wants to harm me."

After saying that, I unleashed my full power, as well as summoning all of the White Army men. In a second, lines and rows of white clothed men were standing behind my back. The glow of their white clothes lit up the forest in a mysterious way. Siji stood on my left, with a thin smile on his lips. His white robe lit up the same way with the rest of the men.

"Get them back." I gestured for some of my men to take Sanji and Tom back. It would be hard for Sanji and Tom to find an opening by themselves to retreat.

Ten of my men flew towards the agile enemy in front of us. Four of them caught hold of Sanji and Tom's left and right arms before they leapt backwards and landed in front of me while the six of them helped them to stall for time.

Sanji was almost running out breath as his eyes were still as focus as he did in the battle. I let him rest a bit further away from us. Compared to him, Tom was in a better shape.

"General, join the men." I looked at him.

Tom looked startled a bit but then he calmly accepted my command. His whole body was covered in white mist and the next second he had changed into a set of General-like clothes, only it was in white. He also let out faints of mysterious white glow, but his was denser.

His earlier grave expression turned solemn, as if the one in front of him didn't mean anything to him. My whole men was finally complete. It felt good, somehow.

I looked at the shadow and smirked. His eyes widened when he saw what happened.

"Don't let him get away. Capture him alive." I commanded. I could feel my spiritual power, the smokes like power, rushed out of my body and enveloped the whole army. Even so, I didn't feel anything strange at all.

"Swords, surround him! You heard the Master! Don't let him get away! Capture him alive!" Tom commanded to the men behind him. A sword appeared in his hand as he himself led tens of men wielding swords to surround the surprised shadow.

An even intense fight broke out near the river bank. This time I could see some differences in Tom's move. It might be because he was using his power as a General, he looked more agile and totally in harmony with the men. It was as if they had been training for years together.

"Damn you! I'm not gonna be captured here alive!" The shadow yelled in fury, as it turned into something bigger and more powerful than his previous form.

"Here he comes." Siji said as he stared at monster in front of us.