(Flashback at the Church).
Axel: "Those who fail will face death."
He stated calmly, looking at his fellow cult members.
Axel: "Failure cannot be tolerated. I demand success in this mission. Any who fail will be killed."
(End of Flashback).
(In her mind).
"It's my fault. I never should have joined this cult. Axel, I hope you burn in hell."
She remembers the moment when Hiromi saved Kiyozawa from her own sword throw.
"Why would she save an enemy?"
"I thought demonics were always discarded. Judging by her face she was horrified that I threw the sword at him"
(Flashback).
Hiromi: "Is that... Kiyozawa?"
*She whispers to herself, her heart pounding. She watches in horror as Lujuria hurls the dark energy sword towards the tunnel entrance. Without hesitation, Hiromi unleashes seventy-five percent of God's power, darting forward to intercept the weapon.*
*With lightning speed, Hiromi reaches Kiyozawa just in time, pulling him aside moments before Lujuria's sword strikes true.The dark energy blade misses its intended target but pierces another demon who had been battling Hayden nearby.*
(End of Flashback).
(Out of her mind).
Hiromi: "I have to speak with you later, Kiyozawa."
*She said hurriedly as she immediately ran towards the cult member, remembering the moment when she saved Kiyozawa.*
(In her mind).
"He may be an enemy, but at that moment, I couldn't let him die. My body just moved on its own; I have a vague understanding of how God's power works. As long as I don't dwell on negative thoughts, then I'll be okay."
(Out of her mind).
*She quickly runs over to the injured cult member. Her eyes widen in shock as the goat cult leader suddenly appears, holding the injured member. The sudden disappearance and reappearance leave her stunned, her heart racing with a mix of fear and confusion. The cult leader's presence looms large, casting an eerie shadow over the tunnels.*
Hiromi: "Don't you dare hurt her!"
*Her voice echoes through the tunnels, her demand filled with urgency and protectiveness. However, her words are swallowed by the darkness as the tunnels abruptly close in on them. The heavy stone walls seal shut with a thunderous boom, leaving the cult leader trapped together in the claustrophobic space with the injured cult member.*
(In the tunnels).
Ira: "That stupid bitch almost killed me..."
*He mutters, his voice laced with anger and pain. He transforms back into his human form, his body trembling with exertion. He turns his gaze to Lujuria, who is sprawled on the floor, bleeding profusely.*
Ira: "At least it's better than losing the second link."
*He mutters under his breath, then glances up to find Axel standing beside his former opponent.*
Hayden: "Well, this is rare."
*He remarks calmly, his voice steady as he draws out his sword. The goat cult leader stands directly in front of him*
Axel: "Your power - it's impressive. I've met few who come close. But today... I encountered someone who matched it. A woman of royal status, though her power wasn't... substantial."
*He meets Hayden's gaze evenly, his voice surprisingly calm.*
Hayden: "I'll get revenge for Zentarō. That man may have changed his ways, but I don't believe he's dead. I have a feeling he's still out there, biding his time."
*His blood blades shimmer menacingly as he speaks, his voice low and intense.*
Axel: "You'll die here just like all the others."
*He declares, the black liquid swirling around him like a deadly mist. Axel's eyes flash with a dark determination as he begins to manipulate his black liquid, the same substance that has claimed countless lives. His voice is cold and unyielding.*
*The blood blades fly towards Axel with precision, but the black liquid reacts instantly, blocking and absorbing each one effortlessly. Hayden doesn't hesitate; he charges forward with his sword raised high. The blade cuts through the black liquid like butter, but every second counts as he knows one touch could be fatal.*
Axel: "Feeling? Right."
*He pulls out his book, the pages flipping rapidly before settling on a specific page. The black liquid disappears as he activates the power of the current links - a test run, nothing more. Suddenly, the sky turns pitch black, an ominous darkness enveloping everything.*
Hayden: "This reminds me of Yusuke's power black moon."
*A sudden flash of light from Hayden's energy cuts through the complete darkness, illuminating the chilling sight of black shadows closing in from every angle. The memory of Yusuke's black moon power crosses his mind briefly as he focuses, using his sword to block each shadow attack with lightning-fast reflexes.*
Axel: "The book is an intriguing creation. I'm delighted to have been selected to welcome it. The day at the church is where the book was first created."
*He instantaneously teleports himself and Hayden to the church where the book was first created.*
Axel: "The book's creation was built upon sacrifice. This entire town was sacrificed for the book's existence. Everyone died just to bring this book to life."
*Hayden was busy dodging the black shadows, which were either trying to kill him or restrain him.*
Hayden: "Blood Style: Ultimate Move Black Blood!"
*He immediately changed the color of his blood from red to black, using it against the shadows and cutting them down. He then ran straight towards the cult leader.*
Axel: "..."
*He was momentarily stunned, realizing that the new black blood was capable of cutting through the shadows created by the book. Axel's shock quickly turned into a scowl as he watched Hayden effortlessly dispatch the shadows with his altered blood.*
*Hayden closed in, but was blocked by the shadows before he could reach the goat cult leader. Axel glared at him, silently wondering what had changed - after all, the black blood was now cutting through his shadows.*
Hayden: "Blood Black is an ability that uses the darkness mixed with blood, making it similar to your own power,"
*He explains, his voice echoing through the tense atmosphere. His words hang in the air as Axel processes this information, his glare intensifying with newfound suspicion and understanding.*
*Hayden gazed calmly at the goat cult leader, expertly controlling the black blood. He remembered learning the technique directly from the Dark Orb King himself. His eyes never leaving the cult leader's face. Axel's expression darkened further as he realized the extent of Hayden's connection to dark powers since he's just a Blood Orb King.*
Axel: "Oh really? Almost similar to my power?"
*He sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm and suspicion.*
Axel: "I wonder what else you've learned from that Dark Orb King."
*His eyes narrowed as he stepped forward slightly, ready for whatever Hayden might throw at him next.*
*He unleashed a torrent of shadows, testing the boundaries between their powers. The shadows and black blood collided violently, creating an explosive reaction that shook the very foundations of the church. The ancient building couldn't withstand the force of their clashing abilities - walls crumbled, the ceiling collapsed, and debris flew everywhere.*
(At the Tunnels).
Kiyozawa: "Father..."
*He bursts into tears, crying uncontrollably as he looks at the spot where his father had died. A realization came crashing down upon him like an avalanche as he finally understood that he kidnapped all those children for nothing. Everything seemed meaningless now. Kiyozawa's eyes widened in horror as he convulsed violently and vomited black liquid uncontrollably. His body trembled uncontrollably but he didn't care about any of these symptoms all he cared about was his dead father.*
*Without hesitation, Ira suddenly grabbed Kiyozawa and dragged him away, ignoring his desperate struggles. Kiyozawa thrashed and kicked wildly, but Ira's grip remained firm, his expression cold and determined as he carried the broken young man away from the scene of his father's death.*
(Outside of the Tunnels).
*As the dust settled and the church miraculously began to rebuild itself, Axel stood amidst the chaos, his shadows dissipating into nothingness. He stared at Hayden in disbelief and growing frustration. Hayden emerged from the rubble unscathed, his black blood still pulsating around him like a dark aura.*
Axel: "You're much stronger than I thought you'd be."
*He admitted, his voice low and dangerous.*
Axel: "But I'm just getting started."
*He turned towards the lake, and the dark liquid began to churn and rise in response to his will. The black water sloshed violently as Axel summoned it once again.*
*Hayden smirked confidently, his black blood slowly crawling up his sword.*
Hayden: "I have all the time in the world."
*He echoed, his voice dripping with calm assurance as he prepared for the upcoming battle. The black blood seemed to absorb into the blade, enhancing its deadly edge.*
*In a flash, Hayden and Axel clashed, their dark powers meeting once more. Axel manipulated the black liquid like whips and tentacles, striking fast and unpredictably. Hayden countered with his black blood sword, parrying and slashing through Axel's watery attacks, leaving dark splashes in its wake. Each clash of their powers sent shockwaves through the rebuilt church. Black liquid sprayed from Axel's attacks, while black blood flew from Hayden's sword like dark sparks. The air grew heavier with each passing second as their powers pushed against each other, testing their limits.*
Hayden: "..."
(In his mind).
"...for some reason, I think he's just messing with me,"
*He thought to himself as his concentration never breaking as he dodged another powerful black liquid strike. Despite his internal doubts, his movements remained controlled.*
(Out of his mind).
*Suddenly, Axel's power surged by another percentage, his black liquid extending rapidly and gaining even more force. It collided with Hayden's sword once again - this time pushing him back several feet with sheer power alone. The church walls shook violently from the impact of their clash. Hayden staggered slightly but maintained balance quickly.*
*Hayden quickly regained his composure and attempted to cut through Axel's thickened black liquid with his black blood sword. However, as he struck downwards, he felt an unexpected resistance - his blade merely dented the surface without breaking through. The liquid seemed to have hardened significantly, defying his attempts to sever it.*
*His eyes widened slowly as realization dawned on him.*
Hayden: "One percent at a time."
*He whispered to himself, watching intently as Axel's powers grew incrementally. His black liquid had hardened slightly more after their last clash, its defenses strengthening with each boost of power.*
Hayden: "If this continues..."
*Determination flashed in Hayden's eyes as he gripped his sword tighter. Instead of matching Axel's incremental power increase, he decided to overwhelm him with a sudden surge. Hayden's blood powers surged dramatically by 100%, his black blood sword glowing intensely with renewed vigor and deadly intent.*
(In his mind).
"The goat cult leader is the focus. He's dangerous to both Orbkind and Humankind. I can't let him walk away from this—I have to kill him."
*His grip on the sword tightening as he prepared for a decisive strike.*
(Out of his mind).
Axel: "Extending your power is insignificant compared to mine."
*He scoffed, his black liquid flashing into a swift, precise strike that severed Hayden's arm cleanly. However, Hayden remained unfazed, his energy immediately activating to regenerate another arm.*
Axel: "Well, I must admit, you're more powerful than I initially thought."
*He conceded, a hint of respect in his voice. It was the first time he had faced an opponent who could withstand his attacks and regenerate so quickly. The battle had lasted longer than any of his previous encounters.*
Hayden: "You're strong, but also dangerous."
*He growled, stepping forward with renewed determination.*
Hayden: "I can't let you live knowing your ideals."
*In an instant, a figure clad in black with a mask covering their face appeared behind him, driving a blade straight through Hayden's stomach.*
*Hayden's eyes widened dramatically, his body stiffening as the blade pierced deep within him. He coughed up blood, his blood energy flickering slightly from the sudden, unexpected attack. The masked figure behind him was skilled - they had struck without warning or sound. His black blood sword lowered slightly.*
(In his mind).
"I didn't hear him or sense him coming."
(Out of his mind).
Axel: "The first link didn't expect you to show up,"
*He stated coldly, his black liquid forming a hand that grasped the hilt of the blade still embedded in Hayden. He began to twist the blade slowly.*
Axel: "Your fight is over Hayden."
(First Link).
Aaron: "I couldn't resist the opportunity to kill someone. I derive great pleasure from harming others, especially women—they're so weak and fragile."
(In his mind).
"Especially that little girl who got away from me. She is still out there, waiting for me to kill her!"
*He remembers the little girl named Emi who managed to escape during his killing rampages. He targets women who resemble Emi—hair color, and facial features—as substitutes for the child he never caught.*
(Out of his mind).
*Hayden quickly sprang backwards, pulling himself away from the blade with a swift, decisive motion. He turned and fled, his mind racing with confusion and questions.*
(In his mind).
"The First Link?"
*He thought to himself, his heart pounding in his chest.*
"What in the hell is going on?"
(Out of his mind).
Axel: "Let him go."
*He commanded, turning his attention back to the First Link.*
Axel: "I have something more pressing to attend to."
*The First Link nodded silently, disappearing into the shadows as Axel's black liquid began to disappear.*
This will be continued on the next chapter.