Hiromi continued to unleash a flurry of punches, her fists a blur as she tried desperately to land a hit. Despite her using God's power amplifying her strength, Aaron's speed was unmatched. He moved with supernatural agility, dodging each blow with ease, leaving Hiromi frustrated and panting heavily.
Aaron: "Just a small portion? That's all you got? No threat at all."
He smirked cruelly as he stabbed Hiromi in the stomach, causing her to cough up blood. He withdrew the blade and followed up with a powerful punch to her face, sending her sprawling backwards onto the cold ground.
Aaron: "I've snapped necks of babies, slit throats of toddlers. This is child's play."
He said callously, licking the blood off his blade.
Hiromi slowly rose to her feet, despite the stab wound causing her to bleed profusely. She continued to channel God's power, enhancing her abilities even as blood flowed freely from her injury.
Aaron: "Kids like you should be dead... But I do enjoy watching them suffer first."
He whispered with a twisted smile, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure at Hiromi's pained state. His words dripped with genuine malice and enjoyment of causing pain to innocent beings like Hiromi.
Hiromi: "Monster!"
She spat out, her voice shaking with anger and disgust. She then began to focus on God's energy into powerful sound waves, launching them directly at Aaron.
Caught off guard, Aaron staggered backward as the intense pressure threatened to burst his eardrums.
(In the background).
Creation Orb King: "Interesting... She possesses the Death Angel ability. How peculiar. I wonder where she acquired such a powerful and rare power? It's not common for Orbs to obtain such abilities."
The figure in the gas mask muttered to himself, taking a step closer to observe better.
The Black Figure: "God's power grants abilities after the girl saves someone or changes a person's heart. That girl saved Kiyozawa from being killed, and now she possesses the ability of a Death Angel."
(In his mind).
"God's power is something I want."
(Out of his mind).
Aaron: "Well, well... This just got interesting."
He laughed maniacally as he charged towards Hiromi. Immediately upon reaching her, he activated the book's power, sending out multiple spikes of dark energy hurtling directly towards her with terrifying speed and precision.
Aaron: "But mark my words, little girl. I'll be the one burying you,"
Hiromi barely managed to dive out of the way as the dark spikes narrowly missed her. In an instant, she stomped her foot heavily on the ground, causing cracks to spread outwards in all directions. A large hole opened up directly beneath Aaron's feet, swallowing him whole as he fell into the newly formed pit.
Aaron emerged from the hole, his body covered in a dark aura as he used the book's power to its fullest extent - 1000%. Blood trickled down his face from a wound on his head where he had hit a spike. His eyes burned with anger as he looked at Hiromi.
Aaron: "You know what? You actually surprised me."
He sneered, wiping blood from his face.
Aaron: "For someone who looks like that Emi girl, you're surprisingly strong. Usually females are so... weak."
He added with a cruel smirk, his gaze roaming over Hiromi's form dismissively.
Hiromi remained silent, unaffected by Aaron's words. She had no interest in his twisted attempts at conversation. Her mind was solely focused on one goal - bringing down the monster before her who had taken so many innocent lives. Justice was all that mattered now. Her eyes hardened, determination unwavering.
Aaron: "Not much of a talker, huh? Most dumb kids can't shut up."
He muttered, his patience wearing thin.
Aaron: "But I've had enough playing around. Time to end this."
He snarled, the dark aura surrounding him intensifying dramatically as he prepared to unleash his full power.
Hiromi: "..."
She suddenly dashed forward, her fist swinging rapidly as she attempted to land multiple punches on Aaron. She infused God's power into her attacks, hoping to finally break through his defenses and deliver a decisive blow. The air cracked with the force of her God-enhanced strikes as they collided with Aaron's dark aura.
Aaron easily dodged most of Hiromi's punches, his reflexes lightning fast. But in his arrogance, he underestimated her next attack. As he moved to the block, he accidentally slipped on the cracked ground. Hiromi seized the opportunity and landed a powerful punch infused with God's power right on his face.
The punch sent shockwaves through Aaron's body. For a moment, everything went black as pain exploded in his face. He felt himself starting to fall unconscious but forced himself to stay awake, clenching his teeth and grinding them together to stay conscious. Blood trickled down from his split lip and broken nose.
Hiromi's next punch landed squarely on Aaron's chest where the life force was embedded.
Aaron: "AAAHHH!!!"
He let out a piercing scream.
The impact sent agony shooting through his entire being as the crystal cracked from the divine force behind Hiromi's blow.
Aaron collapsed onto the ground, clutching his life force with both hands. Tears streamed down his face for the first time in his life, wracked by the intense pain he had never before experienced. His body convulsed as sobs shook him, the reality of true suffering finally reaching the monster who had never known mercy.
Hiromi: "Don't like it, huh?"
She said coldly, stopping her use of God's power.
Hiromi: "Then maybe you should have thought twice before hurting innocent people. This is just a taste of the pain you've inflicted on others."
She gazed down at Aaron with contempt, her voice steady and firm.
(In the background).
Kaito: "The first link lacks motivation."
He snaps his fingers, bringing Emi onto the battlefield to trigger Aaron. A twisted smile spreads across his face, the anticipation of impending chaos fueling his excitement.
Kaito: Things are about to get interesting."
He thinks to himself, relishing the moment before the storm breaks loose.
As Aaron looked up, his eyes locked onto Emi standing beside Kaito. The twisted smile returned to his face instantly, all pain forgotten. The girl he had obsessed over, the one he wanted to kill... standing right there. His hand moved to grab something hidden in his pocket.
Aaron: "Emi!!!!!"
He pulled out a knife from his pocket and ran past Hiromi towards Emi. His eyes were filled with madness as he lunged at the terrified girl who had been the source of his obsession since he killed her parents. Emi screamed and tried to back away but Aaron was faster.
In the blink of an eye, Hiromi appeared in front of Emi, scooping her up quickly and beginning to run away with lightning speed. Aaron's frustration boiled over as he chased after them, his knife still clutched tightly in his hand.
Aaron: "Emi! You little piece of shit!"
He screamed, his voice filled with rage and obsession. He decided he couldn't let her slip away again and activated the book's power at infinity percent. His eyes turned completely black as he unleashed every bit of his dark power.
In the blink of an eye, Aaron appeared right in front of Hiromi and punched her chest with immense force, creating a massive hole. Hiromi's eyes widened in shock as God's power disappeared instantly from her body. Emi screamed in horror, seeing the girl who saved her get critically injured and possibly killed.
Aaron: "Finally..."
He whispered, his twisted smile growing wider as he watched Emi run away crying. He ignored Hiromi's lifeless body falling to the ground, his obsession for Emi taking over completely. His dark power surged as he chased after her, ready to finally kill his obsession.
Hiromi: "..."
(In her mind).
"Get up! I have to save her!"
She struggles desperately, her lifeless body refusing to cooperate. But then, she sees it—a faint spark of God's power lingering nearby.
"I can't die here!"
With a surge of determination, she reaches out, grasping at the divine energy.
(Out of his mind).
Aaron: "Die, you little bitch!"
He growled, his voice dripping with hatred and obsession. He slowly walked towards Emi, enjoying the terror written all over her face. The knife in his hand gleamed menacingly under the moonlight as he raised it high, ready to plunge it into her heart.
Aaron immediately stabbed downwards, but instead of piercing Emi's heart, his knife stopped as if hitting a golden barrier. He looked back in shock to see Hiromi standing up again, determination burning in her eyes despite the massive hole in her chest bleeding profusely. God's energy surrounded Emi protectively.
Aaron: "Damn you! Just let me kill her already!"
He screamed angrily, his infinity percent dark power clashing violently against Hiromi's God energy protecting Emi. The explosion was immense, resembling a nuclear blast as both powers collided head-on. The ground shook violently around them. Smoke and debris flew everywhere.
The entire town was vaporized in an instant. Hiromi had unknowingly activated God's power at infinity percent to protect Emi. The two ultimate powers clashed again and again like galaxies colliding, causing massive destruction. Buildings crumbled, the ground split open, and mushroom clouds rose into the sky.
Aaron glared at Hiromi with pure hatred burning in his eyes. He couldn't believe that this teenage girl had been chosen to possess God's power. It didn't make sense to him that a woman could be so powerful. Men were supposed to be stronger, right? His ego and obsession blinded him.
Aaron: "Why do you insist on saving that worthless little girl?! She's just a weak, insignificant child who deserves to die!"
He shouted angrily, his face red with rage and confusion.
Aaron: "Children are the most fragile and pointless beings in this world! Why waste God's power on saving such a pathetic creature?!"
Hiromi: "I might be young."
She said firmly, ignoring the hole in her chest that continued to bleed.
Hiromi: "But I'm still a police officer. We protect the innocent and those who can't protect themselves. I won't let you harm this child, no matter how weak she may be!"
Aaron: "SHUT UP!"
He screamed, his anger reaching a boiling point. With a snap of his fingers, giant spikes erupted from the ground, heading straight for Hiromi and Emi. He wanted to prove his point - that women and children were weak and deserved to be eliminated.
Hiromi let out a fierce scream, her voice echoing like thunder as sound waves blasted outwards, shattering the giant spikes into harmless fragments. Kaito watched from the shadows, his smirk widening as he observed the powerful clash between Aaron and Hiromi. The girl's determination was truly impressive.
With each passing moment, Aaron's annoyance grew into a seething rage. He wanted to kill Emi once and for all, but that damn girl kept standing in his way. Her relentless defense was infuriating, and he couldn't understand why she was so determined to protect someone so weak.
Aaron: "You know what your problem is?"
He snapped at Hiromi, his dark power swirling around him like a storm.
Aaron: "You only got a tiny fraction of God's power! If you had the full package, this fight would've ended already! God himself would've smite my ass by now!"
Hiromi: "I don't want to kill you!"
She shouted back, her eyes filled with determination and a hint of sadness.
Hiromi: "I just want you to stop! Stop trying to hurt her and stop this pointless fight!"
She raised her hands again, ready to defend herself if needed.
Aaron: "Pointless?"
He sneered, his eyes burning with madness.
Aaron: "There's everything but pointless about this fight! I WANT to kill you, to stop God's power from ever existing again!"
He stepped closer, his voice lowering to a menacing growl.
Aaron: "The Goat Cult knows what would happen if that power remained."
Hiromi: "You don't have to side with them!"
She pleaded, taking a step closer to Aaron, her hands still raised in a defensive stance.
Hiromi: "You could change, right here and now! Choose a different path instead of following the Goat Cult's evil plans. It's never too late to make things right!"
Aaron: "It's too late for me."
He muttered, his voice filled with self-loathing.
Aaron: "I've killed so many women and children throughout my life. There's no redemption for a monster like me. No forgiveness, no coming back from the horrors I've committed."
A twisted smile slowly spread across Aaron's face as he turned his attention to Emi. All the self-loathing and internal conflict vanished, replaced by a singular, dark obsession.
Aaron: "You know what? I don't care about redemption or second chances. All I want is to kill that girl."
Hiromi: "Like I said before. I'll stop you."
She declared firmly, her voice steady despite the tension.
Hiromi: "But I won't kill you. I still believe you can change. Deep down, I know there's good in you that hasn't been completely consumed by darkness."
She took a defensive stance once more.
Aaron as the narrator: "Death and destruction are one of my favorite topics besides killing children. I have killed perhaps hundreds or even millions back in my world—that's when I was chosen to wield the book's power before coming into a strange world called Orb World."
"I became an orb, allowing me to live forever at my leisure. I do enjoy the suffering I inflict upon others. However, being linked to others is a nuisance, especially Kaito—I had forgotten that he possesses the ability to grant the links their allotted energy."
"Who would have thought that one thousand percent could cause such destruction? I wonder what would happen if it were infinite percent."
"I was placed under house arrest after my rampage—killing twenty police officers and nearly getting that little girl. Instead of locking me up in prison with other inmates (who I would undoubtedly murder), they decided to keep me confined at home, believing I'm too dangerous even for jail."
(Flashback at the other world).
The simple and plain dimension known as Dimension 27 remained unchanged for eons. It mirrored the human world in every aspect, devoid of any supernatural or mysterious occurrences. People lived their lives, went to work, and returned home without ever experiencing anything out of the ordinary.
Until one fateful day, when everything changes forever. The goat cult leader arrived, stepping through a portal that flickered into existence right in the middle of the bustling city square. He was tall, imposing, with glowing red eyes and horns that curved menacingly.
The goat cult leader's sudden appearance caused panic and chaos among the ordinary citizens of Dimension 72. People screamed and ran in every direction, trying to escape the unsettling figure. The cult leader ignored their fear, his red eyes scanning the crowd intensely as he searched for his first link—the chosen one.
With a swift movement, the goat cult leader dropped the ancient book he was holding. It vanished instantly, consumed by the portal from which he emerged.
(At Aaron's Home).
With a twisted grin, he sharpens his sword. The bloodstains from his latest victims, relishing in the memories of the countless lives he's extinguished. His mind wanders to the countless more he yearns to add to his gruesome tally.
Aaron: ''If only I'd killed that little brat, Emi."
He thinks bitterly, his obsession with the girl who escaped his clutches consumes his every thought. His twisted desire to eliminate her from existence burns brighter than ever, fueling his already insatiable bloodlust.
His gaze falls upon the rotting corpse of his hidden victim, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he reaches out to caress the decaying flesh. Suddenly, a book materializes before him, catching him off guard. He snatches it up, his eyes narrowing with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
Aaron: "What's this?"
His brow furrows as he examines the mysterious book more closely. As his fingers make contact with the cover, an intense pain shoots through him, forcing him to drop it. Looking down, he sees the book glowing with an eerie light, bearing a goat's head and a pentagram symbol.
The book vanishes suddenly, leaving him coughing and gagging as black liquid erupts from his mouth.
(In his mind).
"Who's this guy?"
Panicked, he stumbles backward only to collide with someone behind him. He turns around slowly and freezes—standing before him is a terrifying figure wearing a goat mask.
Without hesitation, he grabs his sword and attempts to slash the masked figure but finds himself abruptly stopped mid-swing. The goat cult leader moves with unnatural speed and strength, effortlessly catching his wrist mid-air.
Axel: "The book has chosen you."
He hissed.
(End of Flashback).
He pushes aside thoughts of the past encounter as he focuses solely on the present battle against Hiromi. His obsession with Emi—the little girl who escaped—burns brightly in his mind, overshadowing everything else.
He stood there in silence, his gaze shifting from Hiromi to Emi, a mix of confusion and dark intent swirling in his eyes. The part of the book's power within him stirred, making him question whether he was truly experiencing the full extent of its infinite potential.
(In his mind).
"Why is she stopping me from killing Emi? This is getting annoying,"
He thought to himself, his frustration growing. The part of the book's power within him pulsed with impatience and malice, urging him to act on his violent instincts.
His gaze shifted to Kaito, who was indeed watching the scene with an amused expression. The original link to the book seemed entertained by Aaron's struggle against Hiromi. Aaron felt a surge of anger and humiliation knowing that Kaito was likely manipulating the power within him on purpose.
"I forgot that Kaito controls the power I receive."
He thought bitterly.
"I'm supposed to be at infinity percent but he's probably only giving me a fraction of what I could be capable of. Maybe I'm only at one thousand percent right now."
His frustration turned into rage.
(Out of his mind).
Kaito: "Hurry up my Goodman."
He said with a twisted smile, his voice dripping with mockery and impatience.
Kaito: "I'm getting bored watching you struggle against a mere girl."
His words stabbed into Aaron's pride and fury, fueling the dark power within him to dangerous levels.
Kaito suddenly appeared beside Aaron, his presence commanding attention. He walked confidently in front of Aaron, his twisted smile widening as he stared at Hiromi with cold intent. His gaze then shifted to Emi, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
Kaito: "It's useless trying to protect her."
He said dismissively, his eyes never leaving Emi.
Kaito: "Her fate has already been sealed. Nothing you do will change what's coming for that little brat."
His words sent a chill down Hiromi's spine, the implication clear that Emi was marked for some horrifying destiny.
Hiromi: "That can't be true..."
She whispered under her breath, her resolve hardening. She refused to believe that Emi's fate was already sealed. She channeled her energy, focusing every ounce of strength on protecting the little girl from the impending death that Kaito's words suggested.
(In her mind).
"That's Akuma-tekina gyakusatsu Yakuza's Leader Kaito,"
She thought to herself, translating the name in her mind to "Satanic Slaughter Yakuza." She knew she was facing something far beyond ordinary evil—a man who reveled in death and destruction.
(Out of her mind).
Kaito: "Aaron, do you mind if I rip this little brat's throat out right now?"
He asked with a sadistic smirk, his hand already reaching for Emi. His eyes challenged Aaron, testing his resolve and loyalty. The air grew thick with tension and the scent of impending violence.
Aaron's eyes flashed with a dangerous intensity as Kaito's words hung in the air. The request to kill Emi was like a red flag to a bull for Aaron. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword, his voice cold and deadly when he spoke.
Aaron: "Over my dead body."
Without hesitation, Hiromi scooped Emi up and turned to run, knowing full well that staying any longer would be deadly. The air behind her crackled with tension as Aaron and Kaito faced off.
Kaito: "Smart Girl."
He whispered softly, more to himself than Aaron.
Aaron: "..."
His face contorted with rage as he glared at Kaito.
Aaron: "You knew where that brat was all along, and yet you kept her from me!"
He snarled, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The twisted smile never left Kaito's face as he met Aaron's glare head-on.
Kaito: "I enjoy messing with people, even if they're comrades,"
He replied, his twisted smile widening.
Kaito: "And your obsession with that little girl? It's creepy, but it's also quite enjoyable to watch."
He chuckled softly, clearly relishing the tension and anger radiating from Aaron.
Aaron, fueled by rage, lunged forward and thrust his sword directly at Kaito's chest. However, Kaito reacted with lightning speed, summoning his demonic symbol to block the blade mere inches from his heart.
Kaito's twisted smirk remained unchanged as he activated the book's power at only five percent, easily snapping Aaron's sword in two with a casual wave of his hand. Before Aaron could react, he found himself suddenly pinned down, Kaito's hand wrapped firmly around his throat.
Kaito: "Shh."
He whispered, his grip tightening around Aaron's throat as he began to choke him.
Kaito: "Let me remind you that you're nothing more than a pawn for the goat cult. You're just the first link and nothing. You're easily replaceable."
He held Aaron in a chokehold, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure as he watched Aaron struggle and gasp for air. The sight of someone suffering at his hands always filled him with a dark, twisted satisfaction. He slowly increased the pressure around Aaron's throat, enjoying every moment of his discomfort.
Aaron frantically tried to activate the book's power, his eyes widening in horror as he realized that the book wasn't responding to his commands. Kaito's smirk grew wider as he maintained complete control over the book's activation, allowing only a minuscule amount of power to flow through it at his discretion.
Kaito: "You're nothing without me."
He hissed, his voice cold and menacing as he tightened his grip around Aaron's throat.
Kaito: "Now be a good boy and let me handle this."
He maintained his chokehold until Aaron's struggles weakened, and finally, he went limp, unconsciousness claiming him.
He released his grip on Aaron's throat once he was sure the other man was unconscious. He didn't kill him; punishment was enough. He roughly dropped Aaron's limp body onto the cold ground, his twisted smirk still playing on his lips as he stood over the unconscious figure.
Kaito: "Stupid pawn."
His gaze shifted suddenly as he noticed the faint footprints leading away from the scene. He followed them with his eyes, realizing that Hiromi had managed to slip away during their confrontation. His smirk returned, this time with a hint of amusement and excitement.
(At the Abandoned Church).
Axel: "..."
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the figure before him. A young man with striking white hair and piercing green eyes stood there, his presence commanding despite the calm demeanor Axel maintained. Curiosity stirred within him as he pondered the identity of this mysterious individual.
Takumi: "So you're probably the one behind hurting Kai."
He accused, his tone sharp and accusatory as he addressed the goat cult leader, who remained concealed behind the unsettling goat mask. The mask seemed to leer back at Takumi, making the confrontation even more unnerving.
Axel: "You're likely referring to one of my subordinates..."
He replied calmly, though there was an underlying menace in his tone.
Axel: "However, the boy named Kai possesses an intriguing ability. I intend to keep him under my protection."
His words were measured, making it clear that Kai was now under his "guardianship".
Takumi: "I can't allow you to do that..."
He stated firmly, his disbelief in Axel's claim evident. With a sharp snap of his fingers, time froze around Axel, the goat cult leader suddenly immobilized mid-sentence. Takumi's expression was stern and unyielding, indicating his resolve to prevent Axel from keeping Kai.
(At the other side of the tunnel).
Aaron groaned, his hand instinctively reaching for his throat as he woke abruptly, a spark of the book's power forcibly rousing him from unconsciousness. His vision swam briefly before focusing on Kaito standing nearby, arms crossed with an infuriating smirk playing on his lips.
Aaron: "You choked me and now you're waking me up?"
He glared at Kaito, his voice hoarse with irritation and pain. He rubbed his throat, trying to ease the lingering discomfort as he stared at Kaito with a mix of annoyance and resentment.
Kaito: "Someone had to wake your stupid ass up,"
He retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kaito: "And I chose the most efficient method - choking you out then forcing the book's power to revive you."
He leaned down slightly, his smirk turning mocking.
Kaito: "Problem with that?"
Aaron: "..."
His obsession with Emi consumes his thoughts. He remembers Hiromi taking Emi away, fueling his desire to kill her once and for all. The need for vengeance against this one small girl overwhelms his rational thinking.
Kaito: "This time, I won't intervene..."
He states calmly, his gaze fixed upon Aaron's wild, Emi-obsessed eyes.
Kaito: "Do whatever it takes to satisfy your twisted desires. Just don't expect me to clean up after you."
(At the Abandoned Church).
Axel: "So many interferences..."
He mutters, glancing at Takumi who's preparing to fight. The black liquid appears beside Axel as he hears footsteps approaching rapidly. In a blur of speed, Takumi utilizes his time energy to rewind Axel, catching him off guard in a fast-paced maneuver.
Takumi: "I'll rewind you out of existence!"
He declares as Axel taps into the book's power at ten percent to cancel the attack immediately.
Axel glares at Takumi, his eyes burning through the goat mask he wears. Despite the mask hiding his features, the intensity of his gaze is palpable, a clear challenge to Takumi's aggressive stance. The air between them crackles with tension and unspoken words.
Takumi: "Time Style Ultimate Move: Ultimate Rewind!"
He shouts, his anger fueling the attack. One hundred percent of his energy surges around him, creating a blinding flash as he rewinds Axel faster than ever before. The speed is incredible, a blur of motion that seems to defy physics.
Axel sees himself rapidly aging backwards, realization dawning. He quickly counteracts the attack by summoning the black liquid to slash at Takumi. However, Takumi's reflexes kick in, rewinding the attack mid-strike, leaving his chest unscathed. The cut heals instantly, returning to its original, unmarked state.
Axel: "..."
(In his mind).
"He's powerful than I thought."
(Out of his mind).
This will continue in the next chapter.