In a battlefield at night, a storm rages on. Corpses lay on the ground, their blood mixing with mud as fog covers the bloodshed. Through it all, Akio is running, his breath heavy, while his clothes have been torn apart. On his face, he wears an expression of uneasiness, as if he's racing against time.
---
A cold sweat runs from my face. I need to make it. I can't let it end, not like this...
---
Step after step, Akio gets closer, yet he grows more and more worried. His wounds continue bleeding, weakening him gradually. Suddenly, an orange light appears. Akio knows what that means, and he uses all of his power to launch himself toward it.
- "Aoi!!"
His scream roars through the surrounding area, nearly deafening anything and anyone who hears it. Akio lands in front of an injured Aoi, who can barely even stand upright on her knees.
---
In front of me I see a giant fireball, with the capacity to destroy all in its wake. However, I can't stop it, as I face it head on...
---
With a gasp, Akio opens his eyes, instinctively raising his right hand and grabbing his hoodie.
"Aoi..."
Akio gets up, seeing that she's actually alive and well. Tears are running from his left eye, the sclera of which turns red due to a hemorrhage. Aoi, who's putting on her clothes again, turns to look at Akio.
Her eyes widen. Seeing Akio's eye like that has her worried, even though it's usually not a big deal. Immediately, she rushes to hug the latter, who shows relief in her safety. It seemed as though Akio thought his dream was real, but he's thankful for the fact that it indeed wasn't.
"I.."
- "Are you.. alright?"
- "Uh.. yeah. It's just that..-"
- "It doesn't matter. I'm glad that you're alright, Akio."
- "Me too."
The two share a loving embrace for a few seconds which feel like an eternity. Afterwards they separate. Akio offers to take Aoi back home, but she declines.
- "You should go home and rest, too. Don't worry about me."
- "Alright. If you say so..."
Aoi smiles and leaves, with Akio returning a weak smile as well. As soon as Aoi leaves, though...
---
I vomit blood, holding my head as I'm barely able to balance myself.
---
Akio starts stepping around, his balance fading. He hits nearby walls and his right eye becomes bloodshot. He feels extreme pain in the left part of his face, yet there's nothing there. His frustration grows, and Akio walks towards a wall.
Thud after thud, Akio hits his head on the wall in his frustration and confusion. Tears start streaming down his face.
- "Why..? Why..!?"
Due to his influx of emotions, Akio's powered-up state unconsciously activates, and the wall starts cracking. Akio's forehead is wounded and blood streams down his face, but he starts to grip the rock wall with immense force.
With one last strike, the wall collapses, and the cave follows suit. Akio shakes his head, looking up and seeing the destruction that he's caused. The roof falls down, and Akio wastes no time in running towards the exit.
Step after step, Akio gets closer, though the exit is already partially blocked. With a deep breath, Akio shoots a flame projectile, causing a massive explosion. From it, Akio comes out of the cave, his clothes having been tattered from the debris and the impact, while he himself has dropped out of his state.
Akio breathes heavily. His left sclera is white again, while his right eye is not bloodshot anymore. He stands up normally, doing some stretches. It looks like he's back to normal, and he wipes his face from any blood that he had.
"There's no use in fighting for a dream, is there?"
Looking at his bloody left arm, Akio closes it into a fist, looking into the bright horizon. He cracks his neck, turning his expression from uneasy to relaxed. Suddenly, though, the ground starts to tremble.
An earthquake begins. Akio gets outside of the forest, avoiding the danger that the trees around him pose. He gets to a safe position, trying to contact the Generals in order to get a hang of the current situation.
Akio tries to call everyone, but he gets no response. The earthquake is messing with his communication efforts, yet trying to get to the headquarters would be unwise. Instead, he steers clear of any possible hazards.
After a bit, the earthquake subsides. As far as Akio can tell, there has been no collateral damage, and he tries to call the Generals again.
Jack is able to pick up.
- [Akio, are you alright?]
- "Yeah. What about you?"
- [There has been no damage, thank God. However, I got news that a giant crack has opened-]
Suddenly, Akio's eyes widen, as he feels energy signatures weakening.. and fading.
- "Hold that thought, Jack. Gotta go."
- [Wait, you should..!]
Akio hangs up the call. If he's right, he just felt the energies of people in distress. He doesn't question the why or how, but instead he rushes towards the source of those energies.
After a while, Akio finally sees in his sight.. destruction. Collapsed buildings, cries for help and.. a giant crack in the ground, similar to what Jack was talking about. Akio doesn't stop running, rushing to help those trapped under the debris.
Akio raises parts of the destroyed buildings, helping the injured citizens below to get to safety, some having minor cuts while others have broken limbs, or worse. One by one, Akio is able to save those who're trapped, but suddenly, the air turns cold.
The General turns around, seeing a giant part of a building falling towards a woman who's helping her child get away from the debris, which she herself hasn't realized yet.
- "Watch out!"
Akio screams out, warning the woman who looks at him then up, her eyes widening. As the falling debris inches closer, Akio's right sclera starts to turn partially orange, as he jumps over the crack in order to reach the two.
Looking down, though, Akio sees orange liquid deep inside the crack.. magma. His eyes widen. The crack is far too dangerous, and he needs to get everyone away as soon as possible. However, the woman and child are his priority.
The debris shadows the woman, whose expression betrays her terror, fearing both her life and her child's lives. She prepares for the worst, closing her eyes...
---
"Get.. out of here..!"
I order the woman and child away, holding in my back the massive piece of debris with all my might. The muscles in my arms and legs bulge, as I grit my teeth, trying to keep it from causing any harm.
As soon as the two civilians get out of the way, I throw the debris as far away as I can, roaring out.
---
Akio stands upright, trying to catch his breath, but the scream of another civilian catches his attention. He turns to look at a man who fell into the crack, holding his baby boy with him. Without thinking, Akio jumps into the crack as well.
"Hold on!"
Using one hand to hang onto the edge of the crack, Akio extends the other to the man, who grabs it. The fragments of rock which break off the edge go deep within his palm, causing Akio extreme pain and making him unable to hold on for very long.
"I.. I can't hold on for much longer. Brace yourself and your son, I'll throw you up. Alright?"
- "Okay..."
With a roar, Akio raises his left hand, and with it the father and son. For a split second, Akio's right sclera turns fully orange, with the strengthened state activating just barely. With all his might, the General throws the two citizens, with the father getting to safety, but...
"No..!"
Akio's eyes widen. The baby slipped from the man's arms due to sweat and the force of Akio's throw.
"I.. got it..!"
Within an instant, Akio waves his right hand, trying to get rid of most of the fragments lodged in his palm, as he falls to catch the baby. Focusing his power into his legs, Akio creates momentum by pushing himself off the edge.
In the end, Akio does catch the baby with his left hand. However, the right can't do much due to his injuries, and he uses his legs to grab on both edges. Akio steadily loses momentum.. until he finally stops, just barely above the magma.
Akio looks at the baby, who's crying turns into a relaxed expression. Seeing it, Akio takes the baby close to his chest, hugging him.
"Hey! Are you alright?"
- "Yes, yes."
The baby's father appears up from the crack, with Akio looking directly at him.
- "Look. I don't think I can climb up, I'll need to jump upwards.. but it will be dangerous for the baby, more so than if I throw him. That being said.. if I do, will you be able to catch him?"
- "Ah, of course. I'll do my best."
- "Thank you."
With a deep breath, Akio throws the baby upwards, as his right sclera turns back to normal. The father, aided by some other able-bodied citizens, manages to catch the baby, but Akio's trying to catch a breath.
"Now..."
Grabbing onto the edge on his left side with his good arm, Akio prepares himself for a jump of faith. As magma pops, Akio points his right arm downwards, preparing to generate enough force for him to get upwards.
Akio closes his eyes. The image he sees in his mind is the baby's relaxed face. That child is one of the people who need him, who need his protection..!
"Here goes!"