As the monstrous entity lunges at Jenna from behind, she reacts with a swift and decisive swing of her sword, Itza. A brilliant red slash cuts through the air, a deadly arc of energy so powerful that it cleaves the nearby skyscraper in half. The sheer force of the attack sends shockwaves rippling through the air, a testament to Jenna's desperation and power.
Faced with this overwhelming assault, the creature has no choice but to adapt. In a blur of dark energy, it morphs, taking on an even more humanoid form. This new guise is a fusion of nightmare and beauty, a monstrous elegance that defies the laws of nature. Its features, though more human-like, still emanate a sense of otherworldliness, its eyes glowing with an alien intelligence.
Jenna, her energy spent in that last monumental effort, collapses to her knees, coughing up blood. The transformation, the exertion of tapping into such immense power, has taken its toll. Her body trembles, weakened by the intense fight and the physical demands of wielding Itza's full potential.
Breathing heavily, she looks up at the monster, her eyes a mix of defiance and resignation. "If... If I had my other baby... I would've beaten you," she gasps out, her voice a hoarse whisper. It's an admission of her limits, but also a declaration of her unyielding spirit.
The creature, now in its humanoid form, watches her with a gaze that is both curious and calculating. It doesn't immediately attack, as if pondering Jenna's statement, considering the implications of her claim. The air is tense, filled with the aftermath of their cataclysmic battle, the ruins around them a testament to the power they both wield.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
- ?#%?#$?# POV
Perched precariously, the damaged building around me shudders violently, its roof sliding off in a slow, grinding cascade. The air is thick with dust, yet I find myself unbothered by the chaos. My gaze remains fixed on Jenna, lying weakened and bloodied before me.
Intrigued by her resilience, I muse aloud. "You know, it's fascinating... You made me instinctively switch forms to block the attack. Tell me, as I am right now, do I look like a human? My transformations are based on relevance, for some reason I needed a human-like form to block... I wonder why that is?"
Jenna, despite her pained state, manages a wry chuckle. "Heh, is that so? Well, you might look like a cosplayer. But what does it matter? If anyone takes a closer look at you, they'll know you're not human."
I nod in agreement, examining my human-like hand. "Indeed," I reply, contemplating the absence of my usual claws. "No claws, huh? Regardless. I'll give you a painless death out of respect."
Just then, the roof finally gives way, crashing to the ground and dispersing the dust cloud. Jenna's laughter echoes through the debris, a sound filled with irony and disbelief. "Hahahahahaha! Oh... is it my luck? Or is it your bad luck?"
Confused by her reaction, I glance outside, my eyes widening at the sight before me. There, perched on the shoulders of a seemingly normal man in his twenties, is #*$#@, my compatriot, inexplicably transformed into a cat. His presence in such a demeaning form baffles me. Why would he choose to be a pet? It's completely out of character for him.
Curiosity piqued, I decide to finally listen to his transmissions, which I had been ignoring. I open my mind to his voice, and he immediately bursts out, yelling in fury and panic. "WHY THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN REJECTING MY TRANSMISSIONS!? FUCK!"
Taken aback, I respond, "What? Why are you screaming? I thought you planned on studying artifacts. What's going on? Why are you a pet on a human?"
His response is frantic and filled with desperation. "DON'T LOOK AT ME! I TRIED WARNING YOU ABOUT THIS DEVIL! IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT IF HE DECIDES TO KILL YOU. THERE'S NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING I CAN DO TO SAVE YOU!"
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Yawning, I'm strolling down the street, lost in my thoughts, when suddenly, a loud crash echoes from nearby. A building gets hit, and then another one. "Shit... Ugh, I better start—" My thoughts are cut short as chaos unfolds around me. The roof of a nearby building begins to slide off, and another skyscraper falls in the opposite direction. "Oh fuck!" I mutter under my breath. It's not the work of a massive monster; the destruction is too precise, too controlled.
I quickly analyze the situation. There are two possibilities. One, there's a powerful monster, human-sized, which would be an automatic death sentence. I couldn't escape something like that. Or two, it's two people fighting with their abilities. Annoying, sure, but it doesn't necessarily mean I'm in mortal danger. Either way, I decide it's time to leave.
Glancing down, I notice the cat on my shoulder shivering with fear. I gently pat its head, trying to offer some comfort amidst the chaos. "It's okay, kitty," I say softly, trying to reassure it as much as myself.
Just as I'm about to take a step away, the roof and part of a wall collapse off the building, revealing two figures inside. They're looking right at me. "Shit... I can't tell from this distance," I think to myself. They don't look like monsters, but appearances can be deceiving. "Fuck, they're looking at me."
Glancing at the two figures in the distance, I feel a mix of curiosity and caution. "Tsk, they're too far to make out clearly," I murmur to myself. But one thing catches my attention: one of them is looking directly at the cat on my shoulder. A flicker of concern crosses my mind. "Could it be the original owner?" I wonder. The last thing I want is someone trying to take my newfound companion away.
Feeling the cat shivering even more now, I try to calm it with a gentle pat. The little guy's been through a lot. When I found him, he was all alone, scared, and without any food or water. The thought crosses my mind, unbidden but insistent. "Was their owner abusing this cat?" The idea makes me uneasy. The thought of someone mistreating this little creature doesn't sit well with me. I might not give a fuck about people since they're responsible for their own actions but a cat... it's different.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
- ?#%?#$?# POV
As I observe Jenna struggling to her feet, her expression is a mix of pain and defiance. She grins through her suffering, her laugh tinged with agony. "You're going to die today... You are strong without a doubt," she manages to say, leaning heavily against a wall.
Her next words catch me off guard. "He is on a different level. A monster... I'm not sure how strong he was compared to you, but he could use abilities... He made that monster commit suicide. The monster was in perfect condition... and it decided to commit suicide as soon as it noticed Caelum."
My confusion deepens. A monster committing suicide upon noticing a human? That seems improbable, especially considering the resilience and ferocity of our kind. I glance at the man in the distance, the so-called Caelum. He looks ordinary, his calm demeanor in the midst of chaos notwithstanding. How could such a being be a threat of such magnitude?
"Hmhm~ Is that so? Tell me, just how did it look?" I inquire, a hint of skepticism in my tone.
Jenna's grin broadens, despite her evident pain. "You don't believe me? Well, it's your funeral. The monster that committed suicide was a disgusting figure that tormented people. Hundreds of different-sized eyes all over its body and it was floating."
My mind races. "W-what?" A memory surfaces – a message about Squad Leader 4 being missing. He was one of our most trusted, responsible for overseeing others. His disappearance was a mystery, as he always maintained contact. And now, Jenna claims that this human, Caelum, was responsible for his demise?
I stare at Caelum, trying to reconcile this information with the unassuming figure before me. It doesn't add up. "No, I can't believe this, I won't believe this," I think to myself. The idea that such a seemingly normal human could pose a threat to one of our most powerful is unfathomable.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Continuing to observe the figures in the building, my mind races with options. "What should I do?" I ponder, feeling a tinge of unease. If I turn and run, it might trigger a chase, them pursuing me like predators after prey. Fighting them isn't an option; even without knowing their full capabilities, I'm not one for confrontations.
The cat on my shoulder continues to shiver, its fear almost palpable. I contemplate leaving it behind and walking away, creating a distraction. It might draw their attention, giving me a chance to slip away unnoticed. But the thought of abandoning the cat doesn't sit right with me. Despite my usual indifference, I've grown somewhat fond of this little creature.
I notice one of the figures taking a step, perhaps preparing to leave the building. They were engaged in a fight; maybe I can use this to my advantage. A plan begins to form in my mind, one that relies on cunning rather than brute force.
"Let's try some reverse psychology," I think to myself.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
- ?#%?#$?# POV
As I glare at the distant figure of Caelum, a mix of disbelief and skepticism churns within me. "I don't believe it," I think to myself, trying to make sense of Jenna's claims. The idea of this ordinary-looking man being a threat of such magnitude seems absurd. There must be a misunderstanding.
Jenna, despite her weakened state, laughs with a painful edge. "Sure, you'll change your mind in a second," she says confidently. "He doesn't need to take a single step to disable you." Her grin widens as she adds, "The others and I are traveling with him, so I'm the safest one here."
Intrigued yet doubtful, I rub my chin, pondering my next move. "I'll get to the bottom of this," I resolve. But as soon as I take a step forward, an overwhelming sensation grips me. My heart plummets, my breath becomes ragged, and my body trembles uncontrollably as I collapse to the ground.
Gasping for air, I feel an oppressive aura enveloping me, suffocating me with its intensity. "What the hell is this?" Panic sets in as I struggle against the invisible force. "This is not human," I realize in horror. The sheer power of the aura emanating from Caelum is crippling, something far beyond any normal being.
Desperately, I attempt to transform, to adapt to this unforeseen threat. But as my body shifts, trying to find a form capable of withstanding this assault, the pressure only intensifies.
"This pressure... It's something only the highest of our kind have," I think, dread sinking in. "I'm going to die... No, wait, my body is finally changing!" A glimmer of hope sparks within me. "I have a chance at survival."
But the transformation doesn't go as planned. My body refuses to obey, continuing to change against my will. In a matter of moments, I'm horrified to find myself in a completely human form. "No, no, no, no!" I grasp my wrist in despair, punching the ground. "My power! It's gone!" The realization hits me like a ton of bricks. "I can't use it! I'm a fucking normal human!"
Staring at my own hands, now unmistakably human, I feel a wave of disbelief and horror wash over me. "This can't be happening," I think, the reality of my transformation sinking in. I've become what I never imagined possible - a normal human, stripped of my power, my ability to adapt and transform rendered useless.
Jenna, standing a few feet away, watches with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Look at you now, so confident and mighty a moment ago, and now just a human," she taunts, her voice dripping with mockery. "Guess your transformations aren't as reliable as you thought, huh?"
Her words sting, but they're overshadowed by the panic and confusion swirling inside me. My ability to transform, always my greatest asset, has betrayed me. It's not something I control; it's a reflex, an instinctive response to circumstances. And now, it has decided that being a powerless human is my best chance of survival.
"How is this survival?" I mutter to myself, my voice barely a whisper. I feel vulnerable and exposed. Shit... What's the point of surviving if I become a human?