"Tsk."
"Brat!"
The two Priests snapped into action, the red-haired man swinging on his headphones and the brunette extending her arm in the direction of a nearby tree.
In the same second, the same nearby tree was enveloped in a green hue, shaking as it uprooted from the ground.
The brunette swung her arm toward Isaac as the tree shot toward him.
Despite this, Isaac didn't move an inch.
Instead, his shadowy tail whipped around the tree, yanking it upward and flicking it back toward the brunette.
-CLICK
Isaac narrowed his eyes, snapping his head behind him.
-BANG
Isaac blocked a heavy punch as the red-haired Priest glared at him. And as their eyes met for a second, they both had the same thought.
'He's fast.'
-CLICK
The red-haired man clicked his fingers, disappearing once again as he reappeared beside Isaac.
-WHOOSH
Isaac weaved a punch, the fist scratching his cheek.
As he did, he was quick to counter.
However…
-CLICK
The Priest disappeared again, reappearing on the side of Isaac's body that was the least protected.
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing, Open."
-CLANK
"Gyo."
-BANG
The red-haired man witnessed Isaac seemingly teleport, not leaving behind even a trace, as in the next second, a crushing blow cracked him over the side of the face.
'He's faster than before!'
They all thought.
But unlike before, the brunette snapped out of her trance far quicker, tearing the large tree in half before it reached her, redirecting it back.
But once again, Isaac disappeared.
Not like when he hit the Priest.
No, it was like the first time when it seemed as though he was no longer here.
But Isaac was indeed there.
And he made this apparent shortly after as he revealed himself, behind Aizen, his fist pulled back.
"You can't mask your soul."
For the first time since Isaac had created his Ghost's Passage, someone was able to exactly pinpoint his location as Aizen looked back, his eyes meeting with Isaac's.
-CLANG
Isaac's fist smashed against the sword of Aizen, the former's fist protected by his Nen which resulted in the loud CLANG upon contact.
"Ryu."
'80% Offensive, hand. 20% Defensive, body.'
Powered by his second gate, Scarlet Eyes, his tails ready to launch and his mastered Nen, Isaac felt invincible.
This showed in his combat as he dashed around Aizen, keeping his opponent in the middle of his constant blurring figure.
Aizen stayed unmoving, his head straight, not bothering to follow Isaac's rapid movements.
However…
"Shunpo."
Aizen mumbled, disappearing and reappearing in Isaac's path, swinging his sword.
'Crap!'
Isaac yelled inwardly, putting his arms in an X shape, trying his best to stop.
But he was moving too fast. So much so that Aizen didn't even need to move, simply holding out his sword, lowering it upon seeing Isaac's guard.
'Now!'
For a split second, Isaac focused the Nen in his body, sending it forth like a torpedo toward a single blockage at the tip of his spine.
-CRACK
First a click, then a clank, now Isaac felt a loud CRACK as his skin slightly reddened and dozens of veins bulged violently on his face and neck.
"Third Gate: Gate of Life, Open!"
The power, pain and the feeling of a nuke being set off inside him caused Isaac to yell, close to scream as his eyes turned all white.
'I know this…how is he…who are you, Isaac?!'
Logan watched, his jaw dropped as he barely recognised Isaac.
He wasn't sure whether he should be surprised at the raw strength Isaac suddenly revealed or the fact he kept it secret this whole time.
Isaac disappeared with a BANG, dodging the sword.
A second, no, not even a quarter of a second, passed before Isaac reappeared beside Aizen, shooting his first forth like a rocket.
"Ko!"
-BOOM
-BANG
Before the fist had even landed, a sonic boom exploded and rang out, the very air palpitating around Isaac's fist as, for once, Aizen's grin faded, his eyes wide.
With all this power, all the training through the month, preparing for this. Nothing else mattered in this single second, Isaac's eyes and mind clouded by one thought.
His fist making contact.
And it did…
-SHATTER
Like glass, Aizen seemingly…broke.
"Not bad."
Aizen stood behind Isaac, standing leisurely, his sword not even drawn.
'What just happened?'
Isaac looked back slowly. It was as if everything that just happened was…meaningless.
And with this thought, Isaac yelled.
"Fight me, damnit!"
How?
How could he possibly think to fix this all if…he was being made a fool of?
"Nonsense. Does a King meddle in the quarrels of his peasants?"
Isaac widened his eyes as he stared.
'King?'
"Does that surprise you? Of course, it does. I can see it in your eyes. They're the same I once had. The realisation of being…superior."
Isaac froze.
'What's happening?'
He felt…naked. Like an open book. Like all his secrets that even he didn't know were being exposed.
"But unlike me, you're simply a frog in a well. You think you've conquered the sea, but you have yet to travel to the deep dark depths."
These words stabbed Isaac's heart, and he forgot to even breathe.
Everything Isaac believed… at that moment, it felt like he was a child living in a fantasy.
"But if you insist…"
Aizen raised his hand, parting his fingers as he spoke once more.
"Hadō 90: Black Coffin."
In the next second, darkness began to rise from all the directions Isaac stood, rising as it trapped formed a cube, trapping him inside.
[Gauge: 97%]
'Damnit! It's not ready.'
Isaac yelled inwardly in the darkness, gritting his teeth as he tensed his muscles, preparing himself with a sharp deep breath.
Logan watched from outside as the cube formed, a little taller than Isaac, encasing him as sword-like spikes stuck out from the box.
And in the next second…
-SHING
-SHING
-SHING
-SHING
-SHING
-SHING
-SHING
The sound of swords slicing through the air, as well as the audible noise of flesh being torn and cut tang out countless times as Logan narrowed his eyes.
Additionally, Isaac wasn't healing.
Aizen watched with his usual grin as the two living Priests tried their best to keep their jaws from dropping.
'To think…a newborn Possession is already this strong.'
The brunette thought.
'It's like his vessel hasn't lessened his power at all.'
The man wearing headphones added.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the torturous noises ceased, the Coffin undoing shortly after.
As the Coffin disappeared, Logan and the Priests felt their heart skip a beat as their eyes stayed glued on the figure that emerged from the attack.
His clothes were torn, his body was drenched in his own blood, and giant gashes could be seen all over his small frame as his arms lay lifeless by his side; Isaac, his face darkened as his unkempt hair and wet hair covered most of it, was still breathing.
Additionally, it didn't seem as though the wounds were healing.
Though his breath was faint and his heartbeat was dangerously slow, he was alive.
And though they noticed this, it wasn't what everyone was focused on.
'How…how the hell is he still standing?'
The brunette and redhead could no longer hold themselves, widening their eyes and their mouths were left gaping.
Logan was no better as for once, his cold demeanour crumbled, overpowered by his shock.
"Why…"
Logan tensed his face, furrowing his eyebrows and he pursed his lips.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?! You're being an idiot, there's nothing for you here!"
Logan could no longer hold it in.
From Isaac following them to the forest and now enduring this torture…it made no sense to him.
"Why, you ask? Jeez, who knows at this point."
Isaac's voice was hoarse and low, a perfect imitation of his deathly demeanour.
Upon being released from the Coffin, there was a single second where Isaac asked himself the same thing.
Why save them?
Why save Ashton?
Hell, what was his reason for even being here right now?
There was nothing to gain, nothing to scam.
He was fighting for what?
However…
"You don't leave behind your own. There's more to life than power, Isaac. What good is power if you keep failing?"
These were the words Netero had told Isaac in the Dark Continent. His reason for going back and rescuing Zigg.
Zigg, someone possessed and consumed by Ai.
For all Netero knew, the Zigg he knew was gone forever. Yet he still tried.
He still went back.
Even if he failed, he tried.
'I promised him I'd spare him a fight if I ever went back. After I'm all grown up.'
But…what would Netero's reaction be if Isaac returned as a lesser man than he expected?
The same Isaac who saved him, Zigg and the insufferable Monet.
The same Isaac who faced the worst the Dark Continent had to offer by himself.
The hero he thought him to be.
Maybe it was because Isaac never had a role model in life, or the absence of a fatherly figure, but for some reason, that thought churned his insides to no end.
It was rare for Isaac to consider anyone as "His Own" but for those he did…
"It's simple. A real man doesn't leave behind his own."
Zach furrowed his eyebrows as he squinted his eyes.
"What kind of bullshit is that? You torture yourself for what? Morals?!"
Before a second even passed, Isaac snapped back.
"Yes, you jackass! Is that so hard to believe, huh?! Lemme repeat myself: you don't fucking leave behind your own, and that goes double for brothers!"
Isaac glared as he yelled; Logan was stunned as Isaac's stubborn and adamant tone made him feel as though his words would be futile, forcing him to quiet as he stared.
"Weakness. That's all it is."
Isaac turned his gaze to Aizen, recognising his gaze as the same he'd give to two street kids bickering.
Entertainment. Humorous.
The more he saw it, the more it irked Isaac.
"Allow me to prove it to you."
Aizen turned around, looking at the forest.
Isaac saw this opportunity as Aizen seemed as though he dropped his guard.
However, before he could move, he noticed something. Something Aizen was also staring at.
"It's nice of you to finally join us."
The bushes rustled as out from the forest trodden a black cat.
Isaac froze as he stared with wide eyes.
"Merlin…"
He mumbled, watching the black cat soon stand before Aizen.
"Where is it?"
Without sparing Isaac a glance, Merlin spoke in her usual alluring tone.
Aizen stayed quiet, a small hum being heard as he summoned something into his hand.
It was a small black orb… that's it.
No details, no distinctive features or any sort of "Energy" exuding from it.
It was nothing more than a rock.
Despite this, Isaac could see a glint shine in Merlin's eye.
Because she constantly wore a poker face, after time, Isaac was able to discover a few involuntary tells she couldn't help but let out when she was excited.
Aizen tossed the sphere as it dropped and rolled toward Merlin with a short THUD.
Merlin paused and stared for a second before raising her paw and placing it on the orb.
-CRACK
-SHATTER
As if an outer shell had shattered and broken from the orb, Isaac could only describe this scene as a "Shedding" as he watched the true orb hidden inside reveal itself.
[National Treasure: Morning Star Aldan]
'What…'
-BOOM
A wave of Mana exploded as purple smoke suddenly shot up from thin air, shrouding everything around Aldan.
The pure power that the treasure gave out sent shockwaves through the air, causing the two Priests to take a step back as they put up their guard.
'Merlin…'
Isaac knew what that was. She'd told him about it.
Morning Star Aldan, her "Sacred Treasure".
She once mentioned that…
"How relieving."
Stepping out of the purple smoke a tall female with leather clothing covering the bare minimum of her body, as well as long purple boots matching perfectly with her shoulder-length purple hair, stepped out of the smoke.
Her hand rested on her hip, the female walked closer, Aldan floating beside her.
Isaac stared at the female. Their eyes met as he kept his gaze on her sharp yellow pupils.
'The same colour as her cat form…'
He'd heard about her human form, but he'd never seen it.
"I hope this doesn't spoil our relationship, Isaac," Merlin spoke, standing between Logan and Aizen as they all glanced at him, her voice seductive and satisfying to the ear.
Isaac's gaze switched from each individual before him, giving them each a long stare with widened eyes.
Oliver…Aizen.
Zach…Logan.
And now Merlin.
All of them…
"Ha…hahaha."
However, in the next second, he let out a chuckle, soon falling into a fit of laughter.
'You reap what you sew, I guess. How ironic. Me, the con artist, am the victim of the greatest scam of all time.'
Was it karma for all his lies? He didn't know.
Everything…
Everyone he cared for…
The first time he wasn't alone…
"What good has it all done me?"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Next chapter title: What it means to be a Saiyan
NNext chapter title: The Power of the Golden Six
NNNext chapter title: Gap
Someone- "Oh no, slim shady has died!"
Author- "Are you sure about that?"
I've realised I probably made Lucy's character hard to guess. In the next few chapter is the BEST chance you'll have at guessing.
Gimme...dem...POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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patreon.com/JustMYSTERY