"W-What...?" Zenkichi looked down at the looked down at the tall figure that had appeared from the chaos, his body tense as his flames flared up instinctively, only for it to slowly dim.
'I'm getting low....the others are also running on fumes now after unleashing that combined-attack on Envy. They can't handle another battle against a Monster.' With that thought in mind, he quickly communicated with the others via Empathy.
Unsurprisingly, most of them objected—Jaguarman was the only one who agreed, rather quickly as well, as she went towards Gudako and the others.
She certainly was going to get a lot of scolding and other...punishment later on.
Zenkichi did everything that he can to convince them to take a....tactical retreat, to get their bearings and recover as much energy as they could.
Only after they retreated into the Lord Camelot, Zenkichi deactivated both his God Mode and Vollständig, causing him to fall onto the ground and stood up. His shining golden hair almost instantly turn jet-black and his eyes as well, with black swirling marks all over his body.
[Monster Authority(Gluttony) — Devour!]
The magical energy and remnant divine power in the air surged violently, converging around him like a tornado before like a ravenous tornado.
The swirling energies crackled with chaotic hues of gold, cyan, and orange, blending with a deep, ominous black aura emanating from his body. The marks on his skin pulsed rhythmically, as though drinking in the immense power.
"Hooo. So that's the ability of Gluttony...."
Zenkichi looked towards Leon, his black eyes narrowing as the swirling marks on his body continued to pulse, feeding off the vast power he had just absorbed. The chaotic energy surrounding him stabilized, coiling tightly around his form like a living armor.
The man, no, the monster's presence was suffocating—exuding an aura of dominance and overwhelming power that made the air around him collapse under the pressure, bending to his will.
Leon, the so-called Monster of Pride, stood tall and immaculate without a single care of his surroundings. His slick-back black hair shimmered unnaturally, as if absorbing the very light around him, and his sharp crimson eyes gleamed with an overwhelming sense of pride.
Leon furrowed his brows at Zenkichi, displeased, and said. "Kneel."
"?!" Zenkichi's eyes widened.
All of a sudden, an overwhelming, crushing pressure descended upon Zenkichi. It was as if the weight of the heavens themselves had been thrown onto his shoulders. The very air grew heavier, and the ground beneath him cracked and groaned as if it too were struggling to withstand the force.
"Encounter." Zenkichi muttered, and a invisible barrier appeared over him and the overwhelming pressure disappeared—and was pushed towards the monster before him.
"Hm?!" Leon frowned, his crimson eyes narrowing as he felt the crushing pressure he'd unleashed suddenly rebound toward him. The air around him quivered, and cracks formed beneath his feet. "You reflected it back to me? That can't be Gluttony's Authority or Greed....is it Sloth's?"
Raising his chin, the crushing pressure on him immediately disappeared. "Hmm. No, something's off. Human, tell me."
Zenkichi snorted and rolled his neck around, loosening his shoulders—taking a long time before replying to Leon, which clearly annoyed him.
Especially after he heard Zenkichi's reply.
"And why the fuck should I tell you?"
"Huh?! What did you say to me, human?"
A vein popped onto Leon's forehead as he walked forward, his arms on his sides as a threatening violet aura exuded out of his body.
Zenkichi smirked as a similarly threatening dark-blue aura emanated from his body, the black markings around his body pulsed as he spread his arms apart.
He then decided to do one of the most used memes in anime history, which would certainly make a certain master either squeal or groan.
"Oh? You're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right at me?"
"Ha! Me, the leader of the Ancient Monsters, running away? As the monster incarnation of the Pride of Humanity, such cowardice is beneath me!" Leon declared, his voice booming like thunder. The violet aura around him erupted into an inferno, the sheer intensity of his presence causing the ground to tremble. "If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Zenkichi's smirk widened, "Oh oh! Try me, bitch!"
Leon didn't know what that word meant, but the tone and clear disrespect in his eyes was enough to set him off. His crimson eyes flared, his violet aura surged violently like a raging inferno as two long, curved red horns erupted from his forehead. His shadow shifted unnaturally, expanding and contorting into hundreds of shadow hands.
Zenkichi's eyes widened in shock. 'That's Envy's power! The black heart....was that her monster authority, and he absorbed it?!'
Leon laughed at Zenkichi's stunned expression, "Impressive, isn't it? To absorb an authority of another Monster of Sin, you, our greatest enemy was the only capable of doing so and possibly even Gluttony if they were still alive."
He spread his arms wide, his voice dripping with arrogance as his crimson eyes burned with unyielding pride. "After all, I am the greatest being in all of existence! The embodiment of humanity's Pride! To wield the powers of lesser beings like Envy is not just my right—it's my destiny!"
The hundreds of shadow hands writhed and twisted, each one crackling with malevolent energy as they hovered menacingly in the air.
He let out a deep breath and stared at Zenkichi.
"Authority of Envy..."
Swish!
Leon disappeared, Zenkichi's eyes widened and he turned around to block a hand, poised like a blade, aiming for his neck.
Boom!
The moment Zenkichi blocked Leon's hand, a massive shockwave erupted from their clash, shattering the ground around them and sending debris flying in all directions.
'Hm? His strength....'
Zenkichi narrowed his eyes as he stared at Leon, who returned his gaze with a blank expression.
"Hmm. So that's how Envy's Authority works? Such restrictions is annoying to say the least. Hmph. Whatever. As the Supreme Being of all existence—the world bends to my will regardless." Leon's voice was cold, dismissive, and laced with condescension as his crimson eyes bored into Zenkichi's.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
....
"Is Zenkichi going to be alright?" Gudako asked, glancing at Quetzalcoatl and Altria.
Altria reluctantly turned away from the intense battle, and answered Gudako's question with furrowed brows. "Honestly speaking? It looks like Master has got this handled, and this new enemy is slowly being pushed back by him it seems."
"Eh?!" Gudako and Mash looked at her in surprise, they didn't expect her to say that. The former couldn't follow the fight while the other didn't have as much fighting experience as almost every Heroic Spirit.
"A-Are you sure, Altria? He proclaimed himself as the leader of the Ancient Monsters! The boss of that powerful Envy!" Gudako said.
Merlin chimed in, tapping her shoulder and chuckled at her startled expression. "Ah, but don't forget. He proclaimed it. That man over there, Leon, is the Monster of Pride.....and what is Pride? Do you really think that a Monster of Pride wouldn't proclaim themselves as the leader or boss among its kin? To be the greatest, the strongest, the most perfect being in existence."
He narrowed his eyes, a suspicious glint flashed in his eyes. "To say anything less is beneath him. However, Pride is derived from a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction from one's own achievements. When dealing against a prideful person—they are simply two types; one who can't back up their claims, or one who can bark and bite down hard."
Gudako nodded and turned towards the battle.
"And I hope for all our sakes, that monster is all bark..."
...
Leon took a step forward, his violet aura expanding like a tidal wave—and Zenkichi wasn't going to back down and effortlessly held his ground by simply devouring the energy that enveloped him.
"Hahahaha! How fun! If I had known fighting you would be this fun, I would've started hunting you down!" Leon exclaimed, laughing maniacally as he, once more, disappeared and reappeared on another side of Zenkichi and lashed out a powerful kick aimed at his head.
"Encounter."
Boom!
The force of the kick was effortlessly rebounded by an invisible barrier that materialized just before it could connect. The shockwave from the impact rippled outward, shattering the land and sending debris flying as Leon escaped the counterattack—disappearing and reappearing beside Zenkichi, his fist was an inch away from Zenkichi's chest, violet energy crackling around it with destructive intent. "Got you now, human!"
"You sure?" Zenkichi smirked.
"Encounter."
The instant the word left Zenkichi's lips, Leon's attack was nullified once again. The immense force from the punch didn't reach Zenkichi. Instead, it ricocheted back toward Leon, sending a shockwave exploding outward.
Leon snarled in frustration as he was forced to use Envy's Authority once more, yet, he was shocked to feel blood dripping from his nose and a painful sensation in his chest.
"W-What? But I dodged that!" With gritted teeth, he turned towards Zenkichi, who was calmly walking towards him. "Human! How did you—"
"....I get it now," Zenkichi interrupted him with a cold grin, his pitch-black eyes eyed him down. "Envy's Authority...it's time manipulation, isn't it?"
Leon's eyes widened. "What? How did you—?!"
"Damn, I was right?" Zenkichi smirked.
"You.....You lowly human!"
Leon let out a furious growl, his crimson eyes glowing with fury and he raised his hand.
However, to the shock of everyone, he pierced his hand into his abdomen—blood spurted from the wound.
He then pulled back his hand, revealing the beating black heart with thorns wrapped around it.
To the further bafflement of everyone, Leon's expression gradually turned calm and compose.
"Haaa....Envy, Envy. To think you would corrupt your authority..."
The sky suddenly began to change, turning completely red and swirling with ominous clouds. Red lightning crackled across the air, splitting the sky with blinding flashes of energy that filled the battlefield with an eerie, ominous glow.
Leon slowly raised his head, his face cold and calm as he gazed upon the beating black heart.
"To go so far.....for a mere mortal? How utterly pathetic."
He let out a sigh and placed the black heart into a small space.
"If you weren't of my kin, I would've destroyed your heart." he remarked, turning towards Zenkichi. "Sorry for that ridiculous demeanor I showed you earlier. I wasn't myself."
'....What's going on?' Zenkichi thought, clenching his fists. 'He's completely different than before! Not just in attitude, but the energy emanating from him is several leagues stronger than before.'
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AN: Merry Christmas to everyone! Hope you had a wonderful year of 2024. As a Christmas Present, enjoy 4 chapters at the end of the year~
Cause I'm not posting anything next week because I'll be out with the fam. See y'all later~
Use this code over at my patreon: 97397 for 50% off on membership~ C'mon now, feel the spirit of Christmas~ Hohohoho~
1/4 chapters