This is nuts… Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, I held the shield in my right arm, which had mysteriously appeared to protect me and the woman beside me. Despite the exhaustion, I sensed a surge of strength within me, empowering me to stand against the formidable figure of Hibiki above us.
" Oya, oya, oya??? How did you manage to stop but also absorb my attack stranger." He questioned me, confused about what happened.
Hibiki, displaying veins on his forehead, became increasingly frustrated as he questioned me about how I had managed to stop and absorb his attack.
"Frankly, I have no idea myself," I replied, matching his frustrated expression.
Hibiki's frustration intensified as he observed the shield I held expanding in size after devouring his Spirit Bomb attack.
"Hmm... Is it just me, or is that shield getting bigger?" I heard Hibiki mutter, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and irritation
I couldn't help but smirk at his remark. "You know, sometimes life surprises you with unexpected power-ups. Guess it's my lucky day."
Hibiki rolled his eyes, clearly unamused. "Lucky or not, it won't save you from my wrath. Prepare yourself!"
"Do your worst. I still have a lot in store for you," I lied, although in truth I was merely bluffing to his face.
BZZZZZTTTT.
Before I could even register it, the shield expanded and emitted a sun-colored ray into the dimensional gap. However, deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was about to unleash something.
"You're planning something, aren't you?" Hibiki growled fiercely at me, his anger giving him the appearance of a rabid dog. "Not on my watch."
He ascended higher into the air, reaching a height from which he dove toward us. I felt nervous and uncertain, unsure of how to react while I remained suspended. I couldn't simply abandon Izumi behind me. What would be the best course of action? I desperately needed to think quickly.
"Just because your weapon has mystical properties doesn't mean I can't destroy it with my bare hands," he said, accelerating above us.
"Now what?" I thought, and then my shield began to glow. "Why do I suddenly feel like I know how to use this? No time to think. Here it goes."
I aimed my large, glowing shield at him and shouted a name...
[HELIOS EKRIXI]
A powerful blast surged forth from the shield, striking him with a vibrant yellow energy.
As he was pummeled by the continuous blast from my shield, I managed to halt his mid-flight momentum, preventing him from reaching us.
"What the? "He gawked, It appeared that he was attempting to recover from my relentless attack.
Amazed by the tremendous power of the shield, I found myself astounded. "This weapon is incredible, almost reminiscent of the Rising of the Shield Hero," I mused. I couldn't deny that the light novel and manga adaptations of Shield Hero were fantastic, as they depicted the realistic challenges one might encounter in another world.
Squinting my eyes, I noticed that Hibiki, despite struggling against my relentless assault, was embracing the power I had unleashed upon him. But that wasn't the only cause for concern.
"My shield is shrinking! What is happening?" I exclaimed, confusion washing over me as a sense of panic set in. The energy within the shield seemed to be receding, diminishing in size and strength.
Within seconds, my shield had shrunk to the size of a regular plate. Its once vibrant yellow hue had vanished, leaving behind a dull black-and-white appearance. As I was preoccupied, trying to make sense of the weapon's transformation, Hibiki emitted a radiant glow, gracefully reveling in the power he had absorbed from it.
"I don't know what you did, kid, but I feel even stronger because of it!" he shouted triumphantly.
"How is that possible? You should have been consumed by its power. It possesses mystical properties," I exclaimed in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the situation.
"You do realize that Kryptonians are powered by the sun, right?" Hibiki questioned me, his tone dripping with condescension as if implying I should have known better.
"Wait! Sun power," I paused, a sudden realization dawning on me. I closely examined the weapon, paying attention to its intricate design. "These designs, they resemble Greek artistry... it must be!"
(IMAGE RIGHT HERE)
"I remember, there was this game that gained popularity during the days of PlayStation due to its gory gameplay, intense fighting style, formidable enemies, and perhaps some explicit content. I recognize this shield from the game called..." I muttered.
"God of War," I whispered, the realization sinking in.
"God of War? What is that?" Hibiki asked, his tone filled with curiosity.
I looked at him and sneered, unable to hide my surprise. "You don't know? It was a popular game during the age of PlayStation," I explained, a hint of condescension in my voice.
"Hmmmm? I've never heard of it, and there are no such games you speak of," he replied, a big question mark appearing above his head.
It struck me as odd. We were in a fictional world where knowledge was our forte, yet the game 'God of War' seemed to be non-existent in his realm, judging by the way he responded.
"Hey, kid!" he called out to me. "How did you know that my attacks are inspired by an anime called Dragon Ball, huh?" he questioned, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"What?" I was taken aback by his question. "Isn't it common knowledge for hardcore anime fans out there?" I replied, still feeling a bit confused.
"Intriguing," Hibiki remarked with a menacing smirk. "My sister is also a hardcore anime fan, but she hadn't even heard of or watched Dragon Ball when we first met," he continued, looking at Izumi.
"You're right," Izumi replied weakly, confirming Hibiki's statement. I was taken aback by this revelation.
"EEEK!!!" I yelped in exaggerated surprise as she replied from behind me. "Oh, I see how it is. I've been carrying you on this epic adventure, and you choose this moment to reveal yourself? Well played, Izumi, well played," I chuckled, adding a touch of humor to the situation.
SMACK
"OOFFF!" I groaned, rubbing my head after she smacked me once again.
"Don't mess with me, boya," she warned, her eyes filled with anger yet her lips formed a smile that sent chills down my spine. It's a truly terrifying sight when you get on her bad side which I'll never do it again.
" Im curious…" He said. " Who are you kid?" Really of all time he could've told me that before he tried to kill me, now Im gonna kill him that's for sure.
I decided to respond calmly, but an unsettling smile formed on my lips. "James Conrad is my name," I stated, my voice taking on a sinister tone.
"You already know my name," he said, quoting my previous interaction with his sister. "Let's skip the introduction, shall we?" His eyes gleamed with a twisted curiosity.
Hibiki's eyes bore into mine, his piercing gaze enveloped in an aura of suspense. His voice dropped to a low, intense tone as he posed the question, "Tell me, James Conrad, who are you?"