Darkness. As my eyes opened, that was the first thing I noticed. Complete and all-encompassing darkness. At first, I was terrified- I had no idea where I was. But as I began to remember, a sharp grin grew on my face. I wasn't dead! The Ukipok must have some form of delayed metabolism, so I hadn't been killed yet. Moving around, I got a feeling for my surroundings. I was obviously inside the middle head's throat, its flesh acting as slime-like walls. A gust of wind blew my hair in my face. It must've been its breathing- meaning it was still alive. I had no idea how long I had been there, but I had assumed that the others would've taken care of it by now. Attempting to move, I shifted ever so slightly-
An enormous gale nearly toppled me from my position as the Ukipok let out a shrill scream of pain, followed by a series of swinging, jerking motions of the neck, presumably trying to shake me out. I cursed under my breath. I would end up killing myself if I continued like this. I looked around. Its throat kinda looked like a pussy-
I smacked myself in the face. I couldn't distract myself like that right now. I closed my eyes, thinking...and then I figured it out. I clasped my hands together, molding them into the Nezumi Symbol. An aura of electricity began to expand and fluctuate around me, lightning sparking and jumping across the vicinity. As my eyes opened, they were illuminated with electric light, clouds of static escaping my mouth as I breathed.
By compressing Neo City Domain within me for an extended amount of time, it would have an effect much like a discharge, along with the effects that Neo City Domain normally provides. I uttered three words, "NEO CITY Domain!!" As I released the blast, a shrill shriek reminiscent of the hissing of a snake rang through the air, electricity exploding and bursting all around me. I heard three synchronized roars as the Ukipok's right, left, and center heads all cried out in pain. I felt a sort of pent-up pressure as I was ejected from the center head's throat.
As I flew through the air, I smirked. Directly behind me, the Ukipok's heads writhed in pain, smoke curling from their mouths and nostrils. They stayed there for a moment, angered in the heat of the moment, before in eerie unison, they snapped their attention to me, growling deeply. A pulse of energy shot outward from me as my Discord activated alongside Calamity Cloak at about 0.5%, wings of electricity catching me in the air. I looked around, puzzled. Where was Byakusen-
A sharp pain stabbed into my back, sending me barreling through the air. Flipping and struggling, I caught my descent, my powerful wings flapping and beating. I coughed up blood, wiping it away with my sleeve. About ten meters away, Byakusen stood floating in the air. He pushed up his glasses, his expression entirely unimpressed. His hands were drenched in blood. I was confused. Wasn't he fighting Shinimaru? He noticed my confusion. "Oh, him?" He said, gesturing to the ground below him. Petrified, I turned my head. Lying on the ground unmoving...was Shinimaru's body. I stopped. Stopped thinking, stopped feeling- and an explosion of energy so powerful that it shook the very earth exploded forth from my body.
25%
I just stopped- and shot forward. Byakusen was terrified as he barely dodged out of the way of my electric attack. Electricity sparked uncontrollably from my body, sharp arcs springing and jumping. I turned my head slowly, my eyes bloodshot and glowing. I said but four words. "I will kill you." Byakusen smiled nervously- and I gave him no time to do anything but that before I let loose a volley of electric beams careening toward him. In a flash, he flickered out of my vision.
His soul was above me.
I dodged unconsciously out of the way of his attack before diving down after him, two electric swords sparking into existence. His previously cool demeanor had diminished, now replaced by a look of pure horror. My swords burst into purple flame as Tamajutsu exploded around them-
Three souls. One to the left. One to the right. One above.
In one swift moment, I dodged through their tangle of attacks, leaving all three heads of the Ukipok forlorn. I barely gave them the time of day before releasing a web of unceasing strikes toward Byakusen. My face twisted in joy as I felt his flesh ripping and tearing beneath my power. I swooped down, grabbing his bloodied body by the collar right as he was about to collide with the ground below. I shot upward, dodging and snaking between the snapping and biting heads until I broke the clouds above- the only thing in my sights now was the shining moon. My expression blank, I stared at Byakusen, who was struggling and writhing- but was ultimately powerless. "Please!!" He screamed. "I-I'll do anything you wish!!" I spoke finally, between choked breaths. "You can't bring back my friend." I cocked my arm back, before throwing him toward the earth with strength that I would never wield again, and a resounding boom echoed through the air as he collided with the ground.
For a moment, I felt nothing. It felt as if the world stood still- as if I were the only one in whatever world this was...but this fantasy was short-lived. The weight of reality nearly crushed me. This was closely followed by fatigue- I had increased my flow to 25%, far outclassing anything I had reached before. I clutch my chest, heaving. The Ukipok didn't seem to have found me yet, so I was fine for the time being, but I was certainly in no condition to fight as I was now. I still had more questions, however. Where was Hiruka and the rest of my group? Why hadn't I been chewed to death? Why wasn't I watching porn? These questions only worsened my state of being- and I was about to shove them aside when I heard it.
It was a piercing scream- the Ukipok's. My confusion quickly turned to worry. Nobody else was down there that I could see...so what had hurt the Ukipok? I steeled myself, doing my best to ignore the searing pain in my chest and dove down on wings of Calamity.
The dust of the lawless lands swirled around me as I touched down, and as expected, the Ukipok lay unconscious on the ground. It wasn't dead, as it was still breathing, but it was otherwise incapacitated. I swiveled my head- nothing was in view besides the Ukipok and the capitol building behind it...
"Oh? He let one live?" The voice seemed to come from literally out of thin air. There had been no noise at all prior to this. Whoever this was hadn't been making a sound. Slowly turning my head to the noise, my eyes landed on a figure. He wore black harem pants accompanied by red basketball shoes, and a tight-fitted black jacket, brandishing his slim-fit figure. His face was bored, that of a teenager that was dragged to a family event. His hand brushed the katana at his side, sighing. "Guess I should probably take care of you..." I stepped back, sweating. This man, despite his demeanor, radiated power. Possibly even more than the Ukipok. Whoever this man was- he had the power to challenge a god.