Previously, I was immersed in an offensive posture, with tense muscles and heightened senses, but a sudden wave of reflection invaded my mind. It was as if a flash of awareness had illuminated my understanding, revealing the absurdity of attacking a defenseless ant.
After all, crushing such a tiny creature was not only disproportionate but also an affront to my own moral integrity. With this epiphany, I decided to abandon the idea of aggression and lowered my hands, exposing my guard in a vulnerable manner.
I turned my gaze to the man who stood before me, as if seeking an answer in his expression. On the man's face, an expression of astonishment was clearly drawn.
He quickly reacted, moving his hand towards me with dexterity. A red attack was launched in my direction, as if he wished to test my resolve.
With the clear realization that this individual represented a much more significant threat than a mere ant, I did not hesitate to activate my Speed Iz ability.
In an instant, I crossed the distance between us with unbelievable speed, leaving him perplexed by my sudden and surprising maneuver.
While he continued to throw crystals in my direction, I emerged on the other side, appearing as an insurmountable shadow behind him. Finally, the inevitable happened, and the man knelt before the power that I represented.
"What's happening to my body?"
The ant, still on the ground, displayed silent agony, and I approached it with calculated slowness, a subtle smile dancing on my lips. A cold and relentless murderous intent emanated from me, hovering in the air like a sinister shadow.
"You foolish ant. You should have realized who the predator is here. On a whim, you challenged me, and on a whim, I will crush you to death, like the ant you are."
Approaching the ant, I activated my murderous intent, letting a icy determination show in my gaze. I raised my foot firmly and, with undeniable force, delivered a lethal blow, mercilessly crushing the tiny creature against the ground.
"What have you done to my body?" I could feel his trembling words as a sense of terror enveloped him.
"At the brink of your death. You still question this? I'll tell you before your death. I was simply so fast that your body didn't have time to process the pain. I call it 'Delayed Punch,'" I replied calmly but with a cruel smile on my lips.
"Arrrrggggghhhhh!"
I continued to stomp on the ant, leaving no room for any chance of survival, while his students watched in despair. Each step was a dark display of power, a brutal lesson unfolding before their eyes.
However, as the ant disintegrated under the relentless pressure of my boot, something began to accumulate on the sole of my footwear. It was a strange and unfamiliar sensation, a puzzle that quickly turned into an imminent threat.
Without fully understanding what was happening, I acted on instinct. I swung my boots with incredible speed, as if trying to rid myself of something unwanted and mysterious.
"What is this?"
As I swung my leg, I could see blood coagulating in the area where I directed it.
"I see. Insolent ant. Even on the brink of death, you try to defy me? You asked for this," my voice was filled with contempt and cruelty.
"Wait..." he tried to plead, but I cut his words abruptly.
"Too late," I uttered the final words with coldness.
Before executing the stomp that would crush his head, I heard a piercing cry echoing my name.
"Izumi!"
I turned my gaze around and identified the figure desperately calling my name, seemingly without hope. It was the devoted servant of the very demon himself.
"Excuse me, but have you seen Ui?" The servant appeared before me with a concerned expression on his face and asked the question with noticeable anxiety.
"This has nothing to do with me," I replied.
"Please, tell me. She simply disappeared and said she was going to meet you. And who is this?" The servant looked at the mysterious figure, curiosity in his eyes.
"Wait."
An idea began to form in my mind: perhaps this servant could be the solution to my problem with Ui. Surely, she would be at my home, waiting for me.
"Alright, but first, I'm going to finish off this ant."
"Please, don't do that. He's already defeated. He's not even conscious at the moment. If you kill him now, he will never truly feel the humiliation he wants to impose," the servant intervened, trying to appeal to reason.
"Hmm? You have a point."
What he said was undeniable; killing the ant at that moment would not bring any benefits. Enjoying the fear in his eyes from a distance would provide much greater satisfaction. Hahaha! I eagerly anticipated the negative energy he would surely provide me.
"Okay, follow me."
"Yes."
Miguel's Point of View.
When I received the news that the infamous Izumi had returned and defeated the fearless, a mixture of emotions overcame me. The joy of finally having the chance to face him blended with the fear of his formidable reputation.
Aware that I couldn't simply approach him and challenge him, knowing that such audacity could result in my imminent death, I decided to devise a meticulous plan that would allow for a confrontation without the risk of fatality.
Before this, I used to train young cadets at a safe training location, but I harbored a secret: I knew of a forbidden training ground, a terrain we should never use for combat practices.
It was there that I led my cadets, who, despite being hesitant and curious, agreed to follow me. They were not yet aware of the grim news of Izumi's return.
When we arrived at the forbidden training field, an eerie aura of anticipation hung over us. And then, he appeared: Izumi in all his grandeur. My heart began to beat faster with each step I took toward him, as if part of my own essence was slipping away from me.
The moment Izumi released his murderous intent was overwhelming. I almost wished to retreat, but I couldn't miss the opportunity that lay before me. With unwavering determination, I proposed a duel, but this gesture proved to be a colossal mistake. What followed was not a fair fight; it was a brutal display of his superiority.
As Izumi once again enveloped the field with his murderous aura, I stood frozen, helpless before his overwhelming power.
Fear coursed through my veins like an electric current. Even with my trust in my bloody crystal, a weapon I had placed my faith in, Izumi knew the exact moment to rid me of it, leaving me unarmed and vulnerable.
As the battle continued, I found myself on the brink of imminent death, and inevitably, I lost consciousness. Even in the face of the grim prospect of my own demise, I felt no regret.
Dying at the hands of someone so extraordinarily powerful was, in a way, an honor that I accepted with dignity. After all, Izumi was like a demon incarnate, an implacable and inscrutable force of nature.
'Goodbye, world!'
'Don't go!!!'
'That voice? Kritina?'
'Yes! I'm alive.'
Before I could even think, tears began to flow uncontrollably, tracing salty paths down my cheeks. The agony of defeat and the feeling of powerlessness merged into a whirlwind of emotions. My heart was heavy, and the frustration of losing before the woman who filled every corner of my heart was overwhelming.
'I'm sorry, Kritina. I'm weak.'
'I don't care. I love you just the same.'
While tears still streamed down my face and frustration dominated my thoughts, she finally broke the silence. The moment her words left her lips, something incredible happened. A mysterious woman emerged from the shadows and enveloped me in a warm embrace.
Her entire body radiated a deep red hue, as if it were made entirely of blood, but her touch was surprisingly human. The warmth emanating from her embrace was undeniably real, like that of a living person.
In that instant, the comforting sensation of her embrace made me forget, if only for a brief moment, the defeat and frustration I had experienced moments earlier.
'Is this how you are?'
'Yes. Do you like it?'
'No, I loved.'
I returned the embrace warmly and passionately. The woman I loved, whose true appearance had remained unknown until that moment, had transformed into a figure with long hair and voluptuous curves. Her embrace was intense, enveloping me deeply and affectionately.
As her hands caressed my back, I could feel the strength of the love between us growing overwhelmingly. It was as if, in that embrace, all the secrets and uncertainties disappeared, and the world around us dissolved.
Once again, I experienced the feeling of being loved by her in a unique and unforgettable way, a love that transcended all barriers and doubts. It was a moment of deep and emotional connection that filled our hearts in a way that words could not express.