An eruption of water showers the land, a gaping, raggedy rift left in the tide, with zero foreseeable bottom. Jigoku's body simply floats there, for a moment, smoke rolling off his body, before he drops down, toward the sea.
Man.
I feel like I should save him.
But like.
He's kind of a dick...
FUCK! FINE!
Diving down toward him, I grab his wrist in my hand, before hoisting him up over my shoulder. I sigh in reluctance, and slowly descend toward the shore.
----
The city is in shambles. Nigh obliterated. Between my fight with Jigoku AND Enshi, God knows how many people actually survived. I honestly couldn't care less, but i feel like I should.
Collapsing onto the sand, I sprawl out, heaving like a fucking beached fish, throwing Jigoku to the side. Man, fuck this demon king shit. I just wanna sleep. That was like- six chapters. That's like, 2,310,000 babies. Shit.
I hoist myself to my feet. I still got more shit to do though. I glance over at Jigoku's charred, blackened body. He's still alive- I can sense his soul still burning- but he won't be in ANY shape to fight for a while. Damn. Never figured out how Hellcutter was able to cut me physically that one time. Almost like SOMEONE forgot to explain that.
If you're dim, it can just kinda switch between soul cutting and physical cutting sometimes.
A hand grabs onto my ankle, and I immediately kick it away, recoiling. Jigou's hand flops onto his chest. "Still kicking, huh?"
He heaves a sigh. "Do you ever shut the fuck up? I was going to commend you."
"Gee, thanks. Look, the only reason I kept you alive was a sense of obligation. I still hate you."
"Likewise. But I recognize your skill and potential, Manifesta-"
"I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD- IF YOU CALL ME THAT ONE MORE TIME I WILL TEAR YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF RIGHT HERE AND NOW."
"Okoramo"
"The fuck do you want?"
"Look at your chest."
The fuck? There's no point in not doing it I guess. Throwing my already torn jacket to the side...huh?
Around the area that my chest should've been...well, it was stll there, but something was off.
My flesh was glowing a bright white, rendering it almost transparent- revealing the blue INNER glow, painting my heart and ribcage an azure blue. I press my hand to my heart, feeling a soft hum, akin to a motor. I flinch.
"What the hell..."
"That," Jigoku says. "Is the Corazon. Something I thought you would've been knowledgeable of."
"Bitch I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about."
"It's the hereditary trait of the Manifesta. The Coarzon, or the Unbridled Heart. It's scientific function is unknown to me, but in mythology, it's said to bring that which is desired to reality. A vessel of dreams. However, I'm assuming that just manifested recently whilst you were underwater, so you wouldn't have any prior knowledge on it, but the traits of being a Manifesta are apparent within you. Manifestas bring into being what is desired, which explains how your abilities pertaining to your twitch so far deviate from its original purpose."
"The fuck you mean?" I'm not following any of this.
"You're a degenerate. Your ability shouldn't be anything CLOSE to what it actually is. Manifesting electricity and bending it in ways not even physically possible- as well as your mastery over splicing. All together, this is nothing to be overlooked."
I think on this for a moment. I hadn't really thought about any of this before. It kinda just came naturally to me from the start.
"Whatever the case," Jigoku says. "That Corazon must've manifested moments after you had initially been killed as a reaction somehow built up genetically I would assume. This initial shock probably sent your soul into an uproar, healing you in mere moments, and sending you into a reinvigorated state."
"Cool. I don't really care-"
"However, despite having these abilities off the bat due to your Manifesta bloodline, they have likely been greatly amplified by Corazon."
"Can I go now?!"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET ME BE COOL!!"
"Shit, fine..."
"And as recognition for your defeat of both my mother and myself,"
He reaches to his side, unlatching the katana at his waist. "I'd like you to have this. The blade she gave me."
"Uh. Sure?"
Crouching down to my knees, I lean over, taking the blade from his hand.
"Treat it with care, but know this. We WILL meet again. And I WILL be taking it back"
---------
It was nearing morning, the crest of the sun grazing the line of clouds above. The island where Atticus was meant to be was just in sight. It was a rather baren, tropical island, with but one structure placed upon it: A large white mansion.
I'm nearly-
Without warning, I'm met head on my an invisibke force, nearly toppling me over into the ocean. A wall? It was invisible though...
I reach my hand out, and sure enough, it's stopped with an absolute drive. I draw back.
"What the hell...."
A loud buzzing noise snaps me back to reality. In front of me forms a huge...holographic screen? It was gargantuan in size, at least fifty feet in width, displaying a video of a man. He wears a red, velvety tuxedo, and is sitting regally at the head of what seems to be a control panel. His face wi aged, but chiseled sharply.
Wait.
I've seen that before. Or at least something like it....
After a moment, the man turns his head almost casually, meeting eyes with me. He lowers his glasses. "Frivia's boy didn't get the job done? How disappointing." His voice oozes boredom. Almost without care, he looks away again, and resumes his activities.
I furrow my brow. "Don't ignore me! Are you Atticus"
"Yes." He responds as if it was a chore to do so.
"Aren't you supposed to be stopping me or something?"
I rumbling starts up from the sea, a ripple of waves running through the depths.
As if something huge was moving.
"I won't have to do anything of the sort."
Lifting up from the ocean, as if awakening from a long-extended slumber, a growth of earth, and foliage atop its back, droves of water parting in its wake...A fucking turtle? The groan of whirring gears and mechanisms drone on as it powers up, blue, glowing lights slowly flickering on.
It wasn't organic, that much was obvious- but I feel like I recognize its structural style....
"WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!"
Its large, metallic head slowly turns toward me- and a low, buzzing noise can be heard as the force separating us fizzles out. Its eyes flicker to life- two enormous, glowing chasms.
This is one of those Akashiro beasts Gin told me about in Neo City! I mean, it's just a guess- but a very well-backed one.
"Shit...[chapter ending line]"
---------
Shin made sure to keep a close eye on the man. He still had to stay on guard. He could be anyone. They had been walking for about five minutes and had long since left behind the town they had started in, and were now wading waist-deep in grass, in the center of a clearing.
Shin was puzzled.
"You sure this is where you wanted to bring me?" There was nothing in sight but trees in all directions. The man nods. "Yeah. Actually, right here is probably a good place to stop."
"Alright..." There really was nothing around here...
"Hey." The man says from behind.
"Yeah?" Shin responds, taking note of the capitol in the distance.
"What'd you say your name was?"
Shin freezes.
"Uh-"
"No need to lie, Shinimaru Andonius."
"How do you know my-"
Shin whips around, only to be met with the man's index finger pressed against his forehead.
"You really aren't a good liar."
His head becomes light, almost drunken, before all fades to black.