As I observed the room further, it was apparent that it was a lab of sorts, with various mechanisms, and items of machinery running through it. That wasn't the main concern though. Sitting on an iron throne on the far end of the room, sat a woman. She wore elegant white robes, adorned with fluctuating blue patterns. Her hair flowed with a force unbeknownst to me.
If this wasn't the Great One, then I'm a fucking tree.
She hadn't seemed to notice me yet though. It seemed as if she was...dormant? That's the best way I could describe it. Like an idle NPC in a video game. I was confused, but it was an opportunity nonetheless, so warily, I approached the terminal gate.
"Okoramo..." Phlora's voice whispered into my ears in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
"Yeah?" I whispered back into the headset.
"She's already cut you."
With these words, a searing pain shot through my body, my vision blurring, pupils dilating. Coughing up a spray of blood, I looked down to see the tip of a blade pierced right through my stomach.
"I was expecting more from you, Okoramo Kubihige." A voice seeped like honey into my ears. Behind me, blade lodged through my back, was the Great One.
...But she was still on her throne too...
Mustering all of my strength, I twisted my waist, dislodging the blade, though causing myself excruciating pain. Falling onto my knees, I grasped my stomach, pooling my soul toward the wound. How the fuck could I have forgotten?!?! She can influence the actions of others upon coming into contact with her chemical. The mist from before was a distraction so I wouldn't notice her real toxic mist within the terminal- and if she could manipulate physical actions, why didn't I assume that she could manipulate those of the brain in general?!
Adjacent to me, the woman almost gracefully wiped the blood from the edge of her blade. "Pathetic."
Glowering, I rose to my feet, blue flame flickering from my wound. "Look, dude. Nothing personal, but I kinda have to kick your ass."
This cockiness was completely fabricated. I knew that once this chemical was in my system, there was no way that I was getting it out.
So I just had to deal with it.
In a flash of iridescent red energy, I swerved to the side, before lunging forward.
Unmoving, she uttered one word. "Fuku,"
Erupting from below me, spires of black sludge shot me into the sky, bludgeoning me upwards through sheer force.
I gritted my teeth, brow furrowing in anger. Slamming my palm into the tendril below, I discharged a blast of pure energy. It writhed in pain, before dissipating into black mist. Below, the Great One winced...
As if I had hit her.
I grin with a sinful malice. They were connected.
Bursting to life from my back, twin wings of electricity flapped in the air as I barreled down back toward her.
She flipped her hand upward. "Stop."
Then I felt it. The most powerful urge I had ever felt in my life compelling me to obey her every command.
And I did.
Without halting my descent, I slammed head-first into the ground below, with a sickening crunch. I writhed in pain, limbs contorted, bones displaced.
She leveled her sword to my throat. "Is this all you've got, man who rivaled Jigoku?"
What the hell was wrong with me?! I KNEW I was stronger than this. My entire body felt like static. I couldn't bring myself to move. It hadn't even been a MINUTE and I had been completely and utterly humbled. If this was the true extent of her power...
No.
I won't think like that.
I won't pity myself.
I'll tear her fucking limb from limb.
In a burst of wild blue flames, my body begins to snap back into place- fiber by fiber, bone by bone. She recoils in disgust, face contorting in horror.
I exhale a breath of flame. "Try again, bitch."
She simply glares back in response.
I don't care if I'm wasting my energy. I'll deal with that later. Because if I don't beat her right here right now, I won't even have a chance to use the energy I've conserved. I'll go all out, and I'll fucking eviscerate her.
I clap my hands together, shooting forth a beam of concentrated, piercing soul. In a hastily quickened motion, she throws herself out of the way.
She snaps her fingers, "Kacha."
A signature of soul to the left.
Leaning back, I weave out of the way of a stabbing spire of sludge, that then careens into a wall, devastating it. Wasting no time, I spin around, darting toward her. Expression now terrified, she opens her mouth to yell.
"S-stop!"
Unwavering and without halt, my fist slams square into her chest, sending her flying backward.
I take a step forward, smoldering flames laying waste to the ground beneath my feet. The metal comprising the room groans and wanes under the heat.
I spit at the ground before her. "The commands of the mind are nothing to the commands of the soul."
She backs up further. "H-hey..."
Another step.
"S-stop?"
Another step.
"Stop!" She breaks into a cold sweat.
Another step.
"Stopstopstopstp!!!" Tears begin to run from her eyes.
"Stop-"
My eyes burst into flame, my legs propelling me forward, fist cocked back to strike, the ground below me finally giving way to exertion. In a flash of wildly immolating blue flame, my fist explodes outward, before slamming directly into her chest- a spray of blood erupting from the wound.
A sickening scream escapes her lips. I simply stare right back into her eyes. I don't look away until there is no life left in them. With a sickening wet noise, I slip my hand out of her chest, slick with blood.
And right then, a man walks through the terminal gates.
----------
Darkness.
Cold.
Restrained by the chains of reality, those were the only two things that still tethered him to the mortal plane. Keeping him from slipping into the embrace of death.
Who was he?
In an instant, he was whisked away.
Now he stood in a city. Perpetual rain fell from the sky, the smell of cigarettes and smog all around. Flashing neon lights flooded his eyes.
It seemed almost familiar.
"You know,"
A voice.
Funny. He felt like he had heard this voice before.
"I may be rough on you sometimes, but I really do mean well- you know that, right?"
He finally turned to the voice. Before him was a girl- a tall girl- she had flowing blonde hair, face obstructed by the glaring sun.
He squinted, though her features remained hidden.
"I know you probably won't forgive me for the way that I've treated you. Ever. And I probably deserve that. But I want you to know this."
A tear ran from his eye.
"I'll always love you."
Lips quivering, he choked out one word. "S-sister...?"
Her smile cast away the blinding light obstructing her face.
"On your feet, Shinimaru. Your friends need you."