"So then." Inari said as she stood before Akuro. "What now? Are you going to kill us? End the world?"
Akuro laughed. "I'm not going to kill you, so long as you stay an ally. If that story should change, well, I can't say I won't. And as for ending the world, that is not my plan. My plan is to destroy the gods."
"You do realize there will be more casualties than just the gods, right?" Inari asked, "An all out war between demons and gods would obliterate the earth, no to mention changing the human race forever."
"I'm not an idiot, Inari, I realize that." Akuro growled, "But I think it's time for change. The human race is stagnant, stuck in an endless loop of sin and greed. It's about time they woke up and realized there is more."
Onoma glared at Akuro, frowning, "You're beginning to sound like Adeline."
Akuro scowled at Onoma, "Don't associate me with that weak bitch. I don't plan on eliminating or purifying the human race, because in the end sin is a part of their existence."
"'Their'?" Inari asked.
"Yes, their, we are no longer human, don't you get that?" Akuro said, "We are changed, forever, we are not human. At times I wonder if I ever was."
Inari was taken back by Akuro's words then. What did he mean by that? The words played back in her head, 'At times I wonder if I ever was.' What was he referring to? What happened to him?
"You have changed, Akuro." Onoma said. "I don't know you well, but I can tell that you are not what you used to be. I remember how you had no real intent to fight, no real drive, but now you are determined. But at the same time... you seem... corrupt."
Akuro's eyes locked with Onoma's. They glared at one another for a time, as if sizing one another up, then Akuro sighed. "Nothing of what I used to be matters anymore." He looked down at his hands, the metal embedded in his skin, the pain he'd been through. "To bring about change, at times, you yourself must change who you are. You can't expect to change something without making an adjustment to yourself, if you think you can, then that's just naïveté." Akuro raised his eyes to Inari's. "To change is to grow, and to grow is to change."
"What about the person you really are?" Inari asked, she was running on a short fuse now, frustrated with Akuro. "What about stupid anime, video games, living without people bothering you, what about that?"
"Look around you, girl!" Akuro roared, "Look at me, do you really think living in peace is a fucking option?" Akuro reached up to his shoulder, placing his hand on the metal spike. "This world will never let me be free. And so, I will kill the old me, and grasp this world in my hand, only then can I be free of the curse of hatred..."
"Is that what this is?" Inari asked, "Revenge?"
Akuro closed his eyes. "No." He said. "This is retribution."
"It's the same thing, and it never ends well."
Akuro's eyes opened at her words, dead and spiteful. "Since when was there ever a happy ending for me?"
Inari was silent then. She had no answer for him, after all, what did she know about him? In the end, she knew nothing, yet she was acting as if she did. She was just being stubborn, trying to control someone and change someone she knew nothing about. She looked around her, the chamber she stood in, the place she was in, the world above. And she looked at Akuro, his heartless eyes, his pale skin, the metal that bit into his flesh. She realized that he was right, peace was not an option. Deep down she knew that, but she just wanted to bring back the Akuro she'd seen before. Seen before? She realized then how stupid she was, she was trying to bring back someone she didn't even know.
Just then the door opened behind Inari and Onoma, Gozzu walking into the chamber.
"Well," Akuro asked, "where are they?"
"They do nots accepts you as kings.. theys wish to meets yous in, arenas, to tests your strengths." Gozzu said.
Akuro sat silently for a moment, then suddenly broke into laughter. "They want to test my strength? Fine. I'll play their game. How many of them are there?"
"There used to be nines, nows there only sevens, not includings mes, Liliths or Lucifers ."
Akuro stood from his throne. "Fine then. I will fight them, all of them, at the same time."
"I wouldn't do that..." Lilith spoke.
"And why is that, scum?" Akuro asked, putting a foot on her back, pushing her lower to the ground.
"Because.. one of them... you could take on the others, but not him with them..."
"Him? Who?"
"Zealous..."
"Zealous?"
"Yes, he's considered the true king of hell, he is the brother of Azazel.." Lilith spoke.
"Brother? And you say he's considered the true king..?" Akuro asked.
"Yes.."
A smile crossed Akuro's lips. "So, if I challenge him directly, and win, then I'd be considered the strongest, right?"
"Well... yeah."
Akuro turned to Gozzu. "Take me to them."