"My, my, that was one powerful attack, just what I'd expect from the elite squad Zero," the hollow taunted, his clothes in tatters, revealing a giant vulture tattoo on his back with the number 12 below it. His disintegrated body parts healed instantly, as did those of the second hollow, who bore a similar tattoo with the number 11.
"Tsk... Damn it, they're too strong," Aaron muttered through a bleeding nose, exhausted from the technique he'd used earlier.
"Elana, take him out of here now. I'll buy us some time before Saske-senpai comes back," Aaron instructed.
"Damn that old clown, he's probably doing something stupid right now," he cursed.
Elana nodded and rushed over to Rylan, who was still recovering from the earlier confrontation. As she did, the first hollow clasped his hands together and took a combat stance, initiating his technique.
"Destructive Heaven Fist of Demons!"
"Elana, watch out!" Aaron warned, but was immediately kicked away by the second hollow, crashing against a billboard and smashing it.
"Hey, don't turn your back on me," the hollow snarled with murderous intent.
It was too late for Elana as she was swept away into a domain filled with red clouds, lightning striking all around. The hollow moved with the lightning, hitting her from all directions. After landing a hundred blows on her, his domain faded.
Elana dropped to the ground, battered and bruised. She out cold and unconscious.
With both Elana and Aaron out cold and unconscious, Rylan struggled, frustration boiling over as he fought to move.
"Damn it, I'm so weak. Do something, Rylan, do something!" he screamed, crawling desperately towards Elana.
Before he could reach her, the first hollow stomped hard on his head, smashing his face into the shattered glass on the ground. The sharp pieces tore through Rylan's left eye, pulling it out.
"Aaghhhhhh!" Rylan screamed in pain and agony as blood gushed out like a river.
"Who asked you to move, you worthless human?" the hollow sneered, giving him a cold, deadly glare. He bent down, lifting Rylan's head with his hand.
"Or perhaps I can balance your look," he said, smashing Rylan's other eye with brutal force.
Rylan's world went dark, pain consuming him as he writhed on the ground. The agony was indescribable, every nerve in his body screaming in torment. He could feel the blood pooling beneath him, the metallic scent filling the air.
The hollow grabbed Rylan by the neck, lifting him from the ground as its sharp claws crushed his windpipe. Rylan struggled, his vision darkening as blood trickled down to his mouth. As the blood hit his tongue and slid down his throat, something inside him began to change. His DNA mutated, and he was suddenly transported to another realm.
In this realm, he saw a man who looked exactly like him, seated on a throne with a crown on his head. The figure wore a black kimono and a red robe, exuding an aura of authority and power.
"Huh, who's this?" the figure spoke with a majestic tone, resting his chin on his palm.
Rylan blinked, realizing he could see again. He touched his face and found his eyes intact. "Was it all a dream?" he thought.
"No, it wasn't," he muttered, walking closer to the figure on the throne. "Who are you?" he asked, but received no response. The figure only stared at him in disgust.
"Did you heal me? Can you help my friends too?" Rylan asked, but still received no answer. Frustration and desperation welled up inside him.
"Hey, I know you're strong. Help me fight the hollows!" Rylan demanded, his face filled with determination and vengeance. The silence persisted, fueling his anger.
"Lend me your pow—"
"No," the figure finally interrupted, his voice resonating through the realm. He moved with an incredible aura, making the entire realm tremble in fear.
Rylan's heart pounded as the figure mysteriously appeared behind him. "When did he move? How did he get behind me?" Rylan thought, shaken.
The figure forced his hand into Rylan's chest, searching for his heart but found none. A look of shock crossed his face. "No heart! Hey, what are you?" the figure demanded.
Rylan turned to face him, his fear replaced by a newfound resolve. "I don't know what I am," he replied, his voice steady. "But I won't let my friends die. I need your power to save them."
The figure's eyes narrowed, assessing Rylan. "You seek power for the sake of others?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
"Yes," Rylan answered without hesitation.
" fool you'll die young " the figured grinned before vanishing.
Rylan's emerald green eyes suddenly shone brightly, his long dark hair grew longer, and with a surge of newfound strength, he broke free from the hollow's grip. His eyes instantly regenerated, and his body began emitting steam, the air around him crackling with an unfamiliar energy.
"Hey, what are you?" the hollow asked, its tone now laced with concern.
Rylan gave no response, his body still shrouded in steam. The transformation was complete, and he felt a power he had never known coursing through his veins.
"Destructive Heaven, Seven Claps of Thunder!" Rylan muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, a white light enveloped the whole city. A small mouth appeared at the back of Rylan's palm, opening to reveal a black blade that slowly slid out. He gripped the blade firmly, feeling its weight and power.
With incredible speed, Rylan became a blur, moving through the city like a bolt of lightning. The hollow watched in shock as Rylan disappeared and reappeared in an instant. The air hummed with the sound of his movements, and the ground beneath him cracked under the pressure of his speed.
A thunderous clap echoed throughout the city, reverberating off buildings and shaking the ground. Every monster and hollow in the vicinity was shredded to ashes, their forms disintegrating under the sheer force of Rylan's attack. The city fell silent, the only sound the fading echo of thunder.
As the light dissipated, Rylan stood amidst the ruins, his breathing heavy but steady. He looked at the black blade in his hand, feeling a strange connection to it. The steam around him began to fade, and he felt the power within him stabilize.
He suddenly began to feel dizzy while trying to reach out to elana , he slumped to the ground unconscious.
Saske had been watching the entire fight from the top of a skyscraper, casually eating a rice bun. The elevated vantage point provided him with a clear view of the chaos unfolding below. As he observed Rylan's transformation and the unleashing of his incredible power, a subtle smile played on his lips.
"Intriguing," Saske muttered, standing up and dusting off his hands. The calm, collected expression on his face belied the intense interest sparked by Rylan's display.
With a final glance at the cityscape below, Saske leaped from the skyscraper, landing gracefully on the ground near the team. He approached.
Saske, despite the serious aftermath of the battle, couldn't resist a moment of levity. He pulled out his phone and started taking selfies with the unconscious Aaron and Elana, who lay battered and bruised on the ground.
"Can't wait to post these fun pics," Saske said to himself, a mischievous grin on his face as he angled the camera just right.
He snapped a few more photos, making sure to capture Aaron's comically twisted expression and Elana's disheveled hair. But then his attention shifted to Rylan, who lay nearby, equally unconscious but exuding an unsettling aura.
As Saske moved closer, he noticed the small mouth at the back of Rylan's palm. It spoke in a voice that sent chills down his spine. "Huh, what's a god doing in the mortal realm?" the mini mouth grinned malevolently before slowly fading away from Rylan's palm.
Saske's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a serious, contemplative expression. The implications of what he had just witnessed were profound. The presence of hollow power within Rylan was unexpected and potentially dangerous.
"kid" Saske muttered under his breath, kneeling beside the boy. He placed a hand on Rylan's shoulder, feeling the lingering warmth of the power that had surged through him. "What have you become?"