Chereads / Star Holder / Chapter 16 - Star Control

Chapter 16 - Star Control

Arashi's heart races as he fumbles in his pocket, realizing too late that he left the key item in a bag by the hang glider. He glances at Victor, who is already starting to heal fast.

"Victor!" Arashi shouts, his voice sharp. "Carry Ryu while I get what we need to take him down!"

Victor freezes for a moment, disbelief in his eyes. But he knows Arashi's plan might be their only chance. He nods and jumps Infront of Ryu.

Arashi sprints toward the hang glider, toward the bag, toward their last hope. Every second feels like an eternity. The air is thick with tension. Can they defeat Ryu before it's too late?

victor stands Infront of Ryu his face twisted in Anger. "Utter Level Trash!" he bellows, channeling his power into a devastating snap. The shockwave explodes outward, hurling Ryu through the air and scorching his flesh. Ryu's screams echo, a chilling sound of pure hatred.

Understanding the moment, Victor launches a relentless barrage of attacks. His fists blur, striking with precision and fury, each blow meant to confuse and cripple. Ryu staggers, his defenses shattering under Victor's unyielding assault.

Victor fights like a Unleashed Demon, every muscle straining, every strike a desperate attempt to bring Ryu down. The battlefield quakes with their clash.

On the other side, Arashi dashes to his hang glider and unzips the bag. Inside shines a shotgun and two silver bullets. He mutters under his breath, "These cost a fortune—I could only afford two." His eyes fixate on the bullets; he knows they can harm werewolves, like Ryu.

He lovingly caresses the shotgun, a Baikal MP 27, retrieved from Winston's hidden stash. Despite its age, it remains a reliable weapon, ready to unleash its power once more.

With a determined nod, Arashi loads the silver bullets into the shotgun. Each click of the shells echoes his resolve. "Let's see if old Winston knew what he was storing," he murmurs, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The stakes are high, but he's prepared to face whatever comes next.

Arashi quickly sets up the shotgun, taking aim directly at Ryu. Victor watches with a mix of hope and tension, realizing that Arashi has discovered their chance to end this Beast. He grips Ryu tightly, his fingers digging into the half-formed wings of Ryu.

"Goodbye, Mister Ryu Takahashi," Arashi whispers.

BOOM.

The silver bullet streaks through the air, piercing Ryu's heart with deadly accuracy. Time seems to slow as the shot echoes through the forest. Victor releases his hold, and Ryu collapses to the ground, his monstrous form crumbling away.

A heavy silence descends, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the labored breaths of the exhausted fighters. Arashi lowers the shotgun, relief and weariness etched on his face. Victor approaches Ryu cautiously, staring at the fallen figure. They've done it—they've finally defeated their relentless adversary.

Arashi exhales deeply in relief, but as he glances to his side, his eyes widen in shock. "WHAT—" he starts to say, but cuts himself off with a sharp breath as he sees that all the possessed ones are still fighting Ashura and Raven, seemingly unaffected by Ryu's demise. "Hell naw," he yells, disbelief and dread creeping over him.

He shouts to Victor urgently, "Runaway!" Victor's eyes widen in realization, and he leaps out of harm's way just in time. Suddenly, Ryu's body convulses violently, a grotesque transformation overtaking him. His chest splits open, revealing not one, but three pulsating hearts. Four additional eyes sprout from his forehead, blinking unnaturally in the dim light. Wings burst forth from his back, unfurling with a sickening sound.

Arashi stares, horror and determination warring on his face. They had thought it was over, but now they face an even greater menace. The battle is far from finished.

Ryu's transformation reaches a terrifying apex as his body morphs into a defensive beast, adapting to nullify his enemies' attacks. Victor hurls flames at Ryu, expecting them to sear through his defenses, but to his horror, Ryu's wings prove fireproof. The flames dissipate harmlessly against the infernal shield, leaving Ryu unscathed.

With a thunderous impact, Ryu's fortified wings slam into Victor, sending him hurtling through the jungle. Victor crashes into a tree with bone-jarring force, the impact echoing through the dense foliage.

Arashi's heart races as he watches his friend's helpless flight through the air. Ryu's transformation has made him more formidable than ever, his abilities now seemingly tailored to counter every threat they pose. The odds have shifted dramatically against them and it's not even his star awakening.

Arashi whispers grimly to himself, "It's come to this... Plan B, even though I didn't want it to come to this."

Ryu's roar reverberates through the entire area, shaking the ground and sending tremors through the trees. His single wing releases a shockwave that topples trees in its path, a testament to his newfound power. Amidst the chaos, Ryu catches a glimmer in the distance—a faint light shining through the darkness. It's Arashi, standing resolute with the shotgun in hand.

"Star Control," Arashi intones calmly, a bright flash of light erupting around him. Thunder crackles in the air as Arashi merges his star-infused ability with the shotgun. His focus narrows on Ryu, determination etched on his face as he takes aim.

Boom.

The bullet erupts from the shotgun with a thunderous crack, breaking the sound barrier reaching almost light-speed, as it hurtles towards Ryu. Each shot echoes like a lightning strike through the air, closing in on its target with unstoppable force. It finds its mark, striking Ryu's left hand with pinpoint accuracy. Ryu falls, his monstrous form faltering as he watches his hand revert back to human flesh.

Arashi doesn't hesitate. With practiced ease, he reloads the shotgun, this time with a bio-electrical bullet. His fingers move swiftly, expertly guiding the round into the waiting smoking barrels. Ryu, realizing he's outmatched, attempts to Run in desperation, but it's too late.

The shotgun roars again, unleashing the bio-electrical bullet with astonishing speed and precision. It streaks through the air, a comet of energy aimed directly at Ryu's fleeing form. With a resounding impact, the bullet pierces Ryu's human heart, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap.

The forest falls silent once more, the only sound the ragged breaths of the defeated Ryu. He lies unconscious, transformed back into his human state, the battle finally over. Arashi stands over him, the shotgun still in hand, relief and exhaustion washing over him in equal measure. They had faced the ultimate adversary and emerged victorious, but the cost weighs heavily on their hearts.

Arashi smiles with relief as he looks around and sees all the possessed ones lying unconscious, finally realizing the battle has come to an end. Suddenly, he senses a menacing presence behind him. He turns slowly and sees Victor standing there, fully healed. Their eyes lock, and Victor breaks the silence.

"You've got a nice Star Control," Victor remarks, his tone carrying both admiration and acknowledgment.

Arashi nods appreciatively, a mix of exhaustion and gratitude in his voice. "Thanks," he replies quietly, understanding the unspoken camaraderie that has deepened between them through the trials they've faced together.

Arashi and Victor carefully lift Ryu's unconscious body, securing him with specially designed handcuffs that neutralize his shapeshifting abilities with electrical shocks. Ryu's transformations are countered by the cuffs' rapid electrical pulses, ensuring he remains subdued and unable to escape.

With Ryu secured in the car, Arashi and Victor set off for home. The drive is tense but quiet, the weight of their victory and the lingering danger still palpable. Ashura coordinates, sending the possessed humans back to their homes under the guise of being found in the jungle. It's a delicate cover-up, but one that buys them time to regroup and assess the situation.

Arashi can't contain his anticipation as they approach home. He looks forward to sharing the story of their first mission as star agents with Johnny and June, eager to recount the harrowing battles and the ultimate triumph over Ryu. The prospect of rewards for their success looms ahead, promising recognition and perhaps even advancement within their ranks.

As they arrive, Arashi's mind races with plans for the future, knowing that their journey as star agents has only just begun with a big fish on their bucket.