Chapter 4: Fist of Heaven and Earth
Kim was still inside the sphere of light. The only difference was he's not screaming anymore. The existing lights show that he's still alive and the pure energy that was swirling wildly just now has calm down, forming a perfect sphere.
"This kid... he managed to take it all in. I knew he had the potential but I didn't know he was this amazing. Still, it's too late"
Even though the Cerberus was severely injured, a mythical beast is not small fries. It recovered from its previous state and finally noticed the instability that was happening in front of it. It flinched a bit and felt a sense of danger just by sensing the energy that was concentrated within the sphere of lights. Cerberus didn't waste its time and raise its massive paw to strike with full force. The threat causes its beastly instincts urging it to finish the fight soon.
BOOOOM! Deafening ringing sound spread within the vicinity.
"What?!"
A large amount of blood was splattering after the impact. Blood continued to drip from where the paw of Cerberus was. One of its limbs has gone which caused it to be in dazed. However, it didn't waste any time to recover and started to charge another gigantic fireball to fire off at Kim's direction. 3 seconds, 5.. 7.. 10 seconds! Although a bit smaller than the one it did with its three head functioning, the force behind it was not something to look down on.
Because of the dire situation, instead of making a wide range attack Cerberus focused all its energy into one point making the fireball as compact as possible which causes it to be extremely destructive. Everything within its perimeter has melted due to the overheated flames. Finally, it shoots with full force and loud explosion with blinding lights envelops the area.
Huge crater of a 100-meter radius was formed due to the fireball. Everything else left to nothing. The light was no more, and there's only smoke coming out from the ground.
The Cerberus stayed cautious. In a split second, a small shadow appeared in the middle of the crater and vanish instantly. Moments later, a man appeared in front of Cerberus. His body is emanating shining radiance that is white in colour. Some of his black hair turned to white, and his eyes were glowing brilliantly.
The instant Kim reaches his range, he kicked the chin of the middle head with tremendous force. The impact has caused Cerberus to stand up on its two hind legs. Kim land on the ground and cracks appeared on the ground. He looked up searching for its target; the knife that was stuck at the beast throat.
He aimed perfectly and jump up which caused a loud boom and formed a small crater several meters deep into the ground. Kim focused the energy in his body to his fist while aiming at the knife. He could feel the energy synchronizing with the blood in his vein. He felt like he was one with the whole world or even the universe. Unknowingly a name come into his mind causing him to shout fiercely.
"Fist of Heaven and Earth!!!"
As the fist landed on Cerberus, powerful destructive forces obliterated the surrounding area. The grounds split and float for a moment, then shattered to pieces. The sky split apart and a gigantic hole has formed within the atmosphere. It was a spectacular view and shuddering scene which could make people think that the world has gone mad. And it is true. The world has already gone mad with a Cerberus suddenly appeared and destroyed everything in its view, and the same mythical beast has been reduced to a non-existent and may stay as a myth due to the only person who saw It alive, has killed it.
Kim landed flat on the ground. He looked at the hole that was formed in the sky. He still couldn't believe what happened as everything was so sudden. What he couldn't believe more was the fact that he was still alive even with all that happened. Unknowingly, tears started to come out from his eyes while he loud laugh exploded from his mouth.
"I did it. I avenged all of you. I really did it. Hahaha!" Kim continues to laugh as tears keep dropping until he fell asleep.
"Kim, wake up"
"umm.."
"Wake up Kim"
"Just 5 more min- ahhh! Why do you hit me? Ehh... ehh? Tata?"
"Yes, it's me. Now bow down to me"
"No. And where are we?"
"Haha, what's wrong with you man? We are at school"
"Ehhh? Rin... Tata... Rin…Tata! Both of you... I thought the two of you…is this.. a dream?"
Tata and Rin look at each other in confusion. Looking at the always calm Kim sudden flustered. They then laugh and hit Kim head simultaneously.
"Oww what was that for?"
"For being silly, silly. Let's go"
"Where are we going?"
Both Tata and Rin didn't reply to him and continued to walk. Kim didn't bother and just follow them obediently. After a while, they reached their classroom. Everyone was in their seats. The teacher was teaching as usual. The three of them took their place.
"Where is Nas?"
After a short silence, Rin finally replied "He's not here Kim"
"What do you mean he's not here? He should be here right?"
"Well I don't know what happened but he's not here. And.."
Rin was about to say something but his lips just trembled without uttering a single word.
"And what? Nas.. did he….did he really died?"
Tata and Rin look at each other in confusion. Tata went and reach Kim's hand.
"No, Kim. He's still alive, and so do you"
"Really? Then we just need to wait for him to come. And we can play like usual! Hahh!"
Kim sighs in relieved knowing that his friends are all safe now. But the next word coming out from Tata's lips shooked his heart causing him to tremble.
"We can't play with each other like usual"
"What? What do you mean? Don't we always do that? Because of UPSR?"
Rin remains silent as his expression becoming gloomy. He looked as if he's going to cry any second soon.
"No. It just that, it's not the time yet. Not for you Kim. You need to go back."
"Back where? I'm here where I'm supposed to be right?"
"Listen... Kim... Although I'm a guy like you and Nas, I'm always the weak one. I'm not brave or anything and I'm not smart. But you all still accept me as your friend. I appreciate that a lot. And Thank you, Kim. You can't be here man. You... need to stay alive for us... Okay?"
Rin can't speak anymore as tears start to fall. Tata expression changed and she looked into Kim's eyes with her gentle face.
"I'm the same with Rin, Kim. Although I'm not the loveliest girl out there, you still willing to take me to all of your little adventures. I had fun, Kim. We both do. And we didn't regret it a bit in our life. Take care of Nas and stay safe okay?"
Kim couldn't utter a single word as his mind went blank. He thought that he could spend at least a bit more time with his friend. But it's too late. No matter how he wanted it, there's no way to go back to his normal daily life.
"Kim..you need to wake up. Wake up, Kim…
"Wake up Kim!"
A familiar voice resounded at his ear. He slowly opened his eyes as his pupil dilates and contracts to try to adjust itself with the light coming in. After he blinked several times, Nas's face finally surfaced.
"Dude! Get up already we need to move"
"Nas.. how long did I pass out? By the way, I saw- Wh-What??!! What happened to your leg?"
After Kim woke up, he was shocked to see Nas without his right leg. Then he noticed the blood trails that continued for several hundreds of meters. It seems that Nas had crawl over just to wake him up.
"What happened?"
"No time to spare Kim get me up and run!"
Then he heard a loud roar as fierce as Cerberus smashing through his eardrum. Kim barely grasps what is happening, but he knew it was going to be devastating if he didn't run now. He let Nas lean to his shoulder and walked slowly away from the source of roar just now. However, no matter how hard they tried, Nas with one leg can't move as fast as they want to.
There was a voice trailing them whenever they move and it keeps getting closer and closer. Kim was curious enough to look back but the thought of surviving kicked in since his friend was in danger. He already promised to Tata and Rin he's going to take care of Nas. He won't let his only friend die just like that when he barely managed to kill Cerberus.
"It's a Hydra if you are curious"
"A Hydra? That Hydra?"
"Yeah, giant snake. Multi-head. You know the stuff. I won't be shocked if a Chimera actually appear. They are siblings after all"
"Then what? After we killed all, Echidna and Typhon come to kill us?"
Kim and Nas laugh along as they continue their hot topic of Greek legend. The game they played usually based on Greek mythology as a concept to portray its monsters. Cerberus, Hydra, Chimera, Echidna and Typhon, they are all ferocious boss-like monsters in RPG or adventure games. Not only that, the five of them are family. Echidna is the mother, Typhon is the father, and the other three beasts are their children.
"Never knew we would actually fighting them in real life huh?"
"Never knew my friend would kill one of them!"
"Well, it was your knife that helps me!"
"I know. Now bow down to my greatness!"
They continued to joke around while trying to keep up the pace as the voice that was trailing them is getting closer. Then, it was silent. They could only hear their own footsteps. When Kim was about to turned around and checked he was pushed away by Nas.
"Live on Kim. It's nice that we could have our last talk. I had fun man"
Kim turned around and saw a purple breath emanating from a huge serpent-like creature with nine heads engulfing Nas as it melted through his bones until he was no more.
Now Kim is facing Hydra face-to-face on his own. Although the serpent is as big as the Cerberus was, Kim didn't pay any attention at all. Instead, he locked his eyes to where Nas was. He couldn't move an inch with his jaw dropping to the ground.
So many things going through his mind. The day he spends with his friends, the normal simple life he once had, and the last promise he had with Tata and Rin. He thought that after killing Cerberus he could finally relax. He thought that everything was over. No matter how much he processed his thought there was nothing.
It was different when Tata and Rin died since it did not happen in front of him. This time, his last and only friend has died in front of him without him able to do anything. His leg gave out and he fell with his knee on the ground. His head drooped down as tears come rolling onto his cheek. He couldn't hold back the hot throbbing sensation passing through his veins. he felt like a thousand needle has pierced through his heart.
The Hydra noticed that its prey has stopped moving and it slowly moved towards Kim. Kim, however, didn't bother at all what Hydra is doing. The painful feeling in his heart would make anyone thinking of killing themselves. Finally, he let out a loud cry as sadness comes running in.
Kim has fallen into despair.