Atashi rushed towards Douma and swung the giant axe in all directions. The axe lit up in flames every time Atashi swung it. While it was already engulfed in flames, the constant flicker of fire was an indication of the remaining strength Atashi was containing within him.
The shrine leader got down and consecutively swiped his two fans at the giant axe that was only a few centimeters away from where he was standing. Even though his weapons were smaller than Atashi's axe, he was still able to manage the impact of its weight against each fan.
"Atashi, are you even aware of the consequences? This power you're craving for isn't worth it, look at what it's done to you. Is this who you want to be?"
"What are you talking about?" In annoyance Atashi slammed his axe into the ground leading to numerous cracks forming on its surface. Douma had swiftly dodged it making him furious at his own efforts that he started plunging his axe into every other surface.
Douma hovered in the air, watching the chaos unfold on the ground. Atashi wasn't thinking sanely anymore, he was just attacking anything to land a hit on the shrine leader who wasn't even in any of those places. The boy desperately wanted to accomplish Tanashi's twisted goals, without giving it a thought that he had been misled.
"If you remain as this monster, nobody is going to recognize you as Atashi anymore. Are you prepared for that?" Before the axe could strike, Douma swat it away with his fan startling Atashi who stumbled away.
"Are you kidding me right now? I am Atashi this is just another form of mine I could always return to my former self."
"And what makes you so sure that you can do just that? You just admitted not too long ago that you have taken this path which will change how others will perceive you from here on out."
"You're not making any sense. This is another form that I've taken, it's temporary, got it? Tem-po-rary, no one's going to see me like this unless I want them too."
The blonde narrowed his eyes at the monster who was clearly misunderstanding what he was trying to say. "No Atashi, this is who you are now. Should anyone step on your toes, this is the first thing they're going to see. You have confined yourself within this power that you have accepted to take control of your life. This form is a reflection of your current restless self."
In anger, Atashi slammed his fist on the ground sending rubble flying into the air around him.
"How dare you call me a monster! You're no better than those jerks who called me hurtful things!"
The giant axe was about to crush Douma who stood there analyzing what to do from here. Perhaps I should grab a hold of Eonith's weapon.
"So you've proven them right." Douma said, casually holding the axe that was about to strike.
"No that's not possible stop it."
"I doubt there was any forward-thinking being put into this decision." Douma went on. "Are you seriously going to give your life away just to prove these people right? Look at yourself, this is the exact troublemaker they were talking about."
Trembling from the pressure and bewilderment, Atashi stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to say. He was certain that this was the only way to prove others wrong, there was never an intention to transform into a monster and live as one. Was there something he had completely overlooked on? Did others see it the other way around?
"A monster who was now showed his true self, and there's no going back, you've accepted this form as your actual appearance. Instead of a boy who was driven to turn into a monster, you are now a monster who deceives others in the form of a troublemaking human."
No this is just his tactic to make me give up my power. The words circulated in his head continuously as Atashi backed away trying to find comfort in the corners away from Douma. But no matter where he stood, fear began consuming his determination to fight.
"Who's to say this isn't irreversible? If it is, you would have returned to your human form by now to prove me wrong. Which means this monster has in fact taken over your place."
Panic stirred within the overlord's chest. "Are you seriously going to give your life away just to prove these people right?", "A monster who was now showed his true self, and there's no going back, you've accepted this form as your actual appearance.", Atashi leaned against the wall, his breathing quickening hastily.
Those statements kept repeating in his head and every time he tried to ignore them, another one would surface. "Which means this monster has in fact taken over your place." There was a familiarity in these statements, one that reminded him of something.
That time he got his test results back. He was still in class after dismissal, staring at the paper with a gleeful smile on his face.
"Well done Atashi, you've gotten better at Math. Keep it up!" His teacher said, impressed by his hard work and efforts to achieve a decent grade, it all paid off.
"Woohoo! This is awesome! I'll score higher the next round!" Atashi grabbed his backpack as his teacher smiled at his enthusiasm. While getting ready to leave, Atashi remembered the discussion he had with Haru after school the other day.
Oh I can't wait to tell Haru about this!
Atashi rushed out of class and ran down the hallway. He spotted the familiar figure of Haru walking towards the stairs at the end of the hallway, carrying one of her files.
"Hey Haru I passed the test! Told ya I wasn't going to bum around this time! So can I take you to the movies today? We made a deal after all."
"So you kept your promise. That's great." Haru replied, her back still facing him while the wind blew down the quiet halls.
Atashi jumped animatedly and began cheering, oblivious to everything around him. The boy just couldn't contain his excitement. He finally got a chance to go out with Haru after a lot of work and convincing.
However, Haru didn't seem to share the same sentiment, the girl stared at Atashi in horror like she had just seen a ghost in this quiet and gloomy hallway.
"A m-m-monster... What's a monster doing here... Where's Atashi?" The girl said pointing a shivering finger at Atashi who was confused by her strange behavior.
"Huh? What monster?" Atashi spun around confused, Haru was pointing in his direction but he didn't see any monster, there was nobody else in the hallway. The boy couldn't tell if this was a prank of some sort. It doesn't make sense for Haru to be doing such a thing especially at a time like this.
That's when the realization hit him.
"Haru what are you talking about? I'm right here!" Atashi waved at Haru but she didn't move, that frightened expression of hers was still on display.
"You kind of remind me of Atashi though... But still this is just awful." Haru began stepping away from where Atashi was standing. "What are you? Stay away from me!" She cried.
"Haru it's me! Why are you walking away?" Atashi reached out to her, the change in the appearance of his arms was apparent but he didn't seem to notice it except Haru.
After a while, Atashi's mind returned to the ongoing battle he had with Douma. The monstrous arms stretching towards Haru came into view and it shocked him to his core. This was a memory that had been vaguely tarnished by present events.
"I'm not a monster..." Atashi cried, tears began rolling down his face. They burned the ground upon making contact with its surface.
Douma walked over to Atashi, keeping one of his fans.
"It was never my intention to hurt people or scare them away. Everyone was always picking on me, sometimes Eiko. I couldn't just sit there and let it happen, I wanted Eiko to see me as a worthy brother whom she can rely on."
Atashi stared at the claws and appendages on his arms. "Is there no other way to protect my family?" While Atashi sat there he wondered if he could even return to being a human. Every bit of humanity within him had subsided. If Douma hadn't brought up his mistake, Atashi wouldn't be able to experience the reminiscent of humanity anymore, they'd be non-existent. At least now, he could sense the memories returning to him, trying to help him out of this mess he had brought upon himself.
"There were so many options for you to choose from Atashi, but this time you made the wrong choice." Douma said watching Atashi look up with fear in his eyes and tears flowing down his face. "This is what so much power can do to people, and it's a good thing you realized that."
"But there's nothing I can do to fix this. It's too late I can't go home, Eiko would be horrified and it pains me to see her so afraid." In addition to that, Atashi had nowhere else to go. He was more than an outcast from society, a creature that would be locked away if anyone spotted him. As gut-wrenching as it may sound, Atashi felt that he might as well spend the rest of his time in Cryptic Sanctuary, even as a circus animal if he had to. As long as Eiko was safe.
The blonde winced at Atashi's agonizing expression and restlessness. As if he had read everything Atashi was thinking about, Douma began to speak up again.
"Hiding from everyone isn't going to solve anything nor will it put an end to your troubles. It's going to be an endless cycle of pain and suffering, is that what you want Atashi? To be reminded of your ongoing problems? These same obstacles that you overcame a long time ago without breaking a sweat?"
"What if I stay a monster forever? How am I going to face people if all they're gonna do is run away." Flashes of the hallway where Haru ran from him, appeared in Atashi's head. The exact same reaction he'd get from others. It didn't matter if he was harmless.
"There is a way for you to gain back your humanity, and it's for a greater cause." Douma responded, awaiting Atashi's next decision that will determine his fate.