When Alex called Oda the 'Mechanical Man's dog,' he expected an immediate attack—and he wasn't wrong. But the cause of the assault wasn't the insult itself; Oda was acting on orders to eliminate anyone obstructing the Mechanical Man's plans. By decree, he was to remain inconspicuous near Hanako until her soul fully succumbed to infection.
However, being exposed forced Oda into action. Activating blades that resembled mantis claws, he lunged toward Alex, aiming to deliver a fatal strike. But his blades clashed against a force spear from G.I.R, preventing them from reaching Alex's neck.
Alex watched Oda with a cold, piercing gaze, examining his soul, now overtaken by chaos and madness. Almost nothing remained of the former Oda; his soul was consumed by darkness, leaving only a hollow shell.
This made Alex frown—not just because of what Oda had lost, but because after full corruption, Oda's soul would be destroyed permanently, leaving no chance for redemption or rebirth.
«So quick to succumb, Oda? Only a few days have passed, and you're already gone,» Alex remarked, staring intently at Oda's twisted, hate-filled face—an expression unfit for any living person.
Realizing his initial strike had failed, Oda retreated with inhuman speed, seeking a new opening for attack. Hanako, shaken by the scene, suddenly grasped that her bodyguard had turned into something monstrous. His face was distorted with hatred, his eyes a sinister yellow tinged with red, and his skin was marbled with dark purple veins. In confusion, she instinctively moved closer to Alex, sensing that beside him was the safest place now.
Alex noticed her presence nearby but didn't object. He had come here to check on her condition, knowing he was partly responsible for her involvement in this dangerous game.
Beside him, G.I.R, his loyal companion, stood ready, intensely watching every move Oda made. Alex, however, remained calm, observing the mutations that were transforming Oda into something grotesque, driven only by a thirst for destruction.
«We've found you. You're one of those obstructing our plans,» Oda's voice suddenly broke out, layered with multiple, fractured tones.
Hanako went cold with fear, watching the changes in her bodyguard. He was no longer the calm protector she knew; something dark and merciless had awakened within him. She recalled how he had become silent and withdrawn over the past few days, though he had once given her advice. Only now did she realize that all these changes marked the start of his transformation into a monster. Terrified, Hanako gripped Alex's arm, desperately trying to find some support in this nightmare.
Alex frowned, noticing the desperation in her gaze and sensing her infection intensifying. Realizing it would only hasten the process, he cast a spell to calm her mind. The less she feared, the better her chances of resisting the transformation.
«So, you've been looking for me. I can't say I'm thrilled by the attention,» Alex replied, keeping his gaze fixed on Oda.
Meanwhile, the changes continued: the veins on Oda's face grew darker, his eyes were consumed by blackness, and his voice thundered with many tones once more.
«Our eyes are everywhere, yet we cannot find you. Who are you to elude us?» Oda asked, his voice echoing like a rumble from the underworld.
Alex stood up, gently freeing his arm from Hanako, who stared at him in fright. He exhaled slightly, pressing a finger to her forehead to completely dispel the lingering traces of infection in her soul.
Then he turned to Oda, whose face, twisted with malice, looked at him like a ravenous beast ready to strike.
«I am the one who owns everything, and I am the one who will destroy your plans.»Alex said, slowly stepping to the side, positioning himself face-to-face with Oda, whose eyes flashed with fury and hatred.
Alex moved to the side and stopped a few meters away from Oda, and they locked eyes, each studying the other's movements. Initially, Alex had wanted to observe the extent of Oda's mutation, but he realized there was no time to waste. Reinforcements could arrive at any moment, and it was crucial to protect Hanako without revealing his true power. Let the Mechanical Man continue believing he was merely a powerful human, difficult to track.
Alex decided to strike first, before Oda completed his mutation and became a being that would be difficult to destroy without magic. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot and appeared before Oda, using taijutsu techniques to conceal his true strength. He didn't want to cause destruction or harm innocent people, as this chaotic infection could spread uncontrollably.
«Taijutsu Technique: Leaf's Thunderbolt,» Alex whispered, delivering a swift kick to Oda's ribs.
(«Leaf's Thunderbolt») — A taijutsu technique by Might Guy, involving a powerful side kick so fast it creates a flash resembling lightning.
The lightning-fast strike caught Oda off guard. He tried to defend himself by raising his arms, but the force of the blow was so great that there was an audible crack of bones. Oda was sent flying deeper into the penthouse, smashing through walls one after another. Alex watched the hole calmly, knowing that Oda would soon recover. The blow wasn't fatal, and Alex knew that Oda had rapid regenerative abilities.
In less than a minute, Oda burst out from the rubble, now wielding a katana enveloped in a sinister purple energy. Alex sidestepped to avoid him and positioned himself close enough to deliver another blow. The previously broken arms of Oda had already healed, becoming even stronger.
«Taijutsu Technique: Strong Fist,» Alex said, landing a powerful punch to Oda's chest.
(«Strong Fist») — A combat style aimed at breaking the opponent's bones.
Oda was knocked back into the wall, sinking to the floor as thick, tar-like black blood dripped from his mouth. Alex gave him no time to recover, immediately continuing his assault, leaving behind an afterimage to throw Oda off and prevent him from identifying the real target.
«Taijutsu Technique: Leaf Whirlwind,» Alex whispered, sweeping Oda's legs out from under him to destabilize him.
(«Leaf Whirlwind») — A taijutsu technique that deals significant damage to the opponent. Primarily used to throw the enemy off balance by knocking them off their feet. If countered, it can knock the opponent down, causing serious bruises or fractures.
When Oda lost his balance, Alex seized the opportunity, striking again.
«Taijutsu Technique: Leaf's Rising Stone Breaker,» Alex said, slamming his elbow into Oda's body, sending him crashing through yet another wall.
(«Leaf's Rising Stone Breaker») — A taijutsu technique by Might Guy in which he charges at the opponent with an elbow strike, using the other arm as support. As the name suggests, it can shatter rock.
Hanako watched everything unfold with a mixture of awe and worry. She had seen that her former bodyguard had turned into something horrifying and wanted to intervene, but G.I.R stopped her, raising his spear before her. He indicated that it was too dangerous and that his priority was to protect her while Alex fought.
Alex brushed his hair back again to keep it out of his face and realized it had grown longer and started to get in the way. Just as he managed to do that, Oda burst out of the hole in the wall again, aiming for Alex's head. Alex ducked, dodging the strike, and shifted into a new stance, ready for another attack.
«Taijutsu Technique: Rising Leaf Stream,» Alex declared, delivering a powerful kick to Oda's chest, sending him airborne.
(«Rising Leaf Stream») — This technique involves a kick that connects with the opponent above the user's head.
The fight continued, with Alex methodically accumulating damage on his opponent, preventing him from fully mutating. Alex crouched after dodging Oda's attack and countered, preparing for his next move. He kicked Oda in the chest with such force that he crashed into the ceiling, becoming stuck there. Oda struggled to free himself to continue the fight, but Alex had no intention of giving him that chance. Pulling his hand back, he prepared to use another technique from Might Guy's arsenal, aiming to deal even more damage as Oda's regeneration slowed, along with his mutation.
«Taijutsu Technique: Morning Peacock,» Alex said, launching a cascade of strikes so fast his fists ignited from the friction with the air.
(«Morning Peacock») — The user opens six of the eight gates, kicking the opponent high into the air, then sending them back down with countless blows that ignite from the force of the friction.
In truth, the technique was adapted, as the strikes usually send the enemy downward. But since Oda was stuck in the ceiling, Alex adjusted it to the current situation. Under the barrage of attacks, the ceiling broke apart, and Oda's body crashed through the structure, flying up to the next floor. Alex jumped right after, determined not to give his opponent a single second to recover.
Hanako, watching the battle, couldn't believe a human could deliver such strikes. She was especially awestruck at the moments when Alex's hands literally flared up from the speed of his attacks. Her penthouse now looked like a battlefield, with a massive hole in the ceiling. She wanted to get closer, but G.I.R, her loyal protector, blocked her way with his spear, signaling the danger of intervening.
On the next floor, Alex surveyed his surroundings warily, preparing for a possible ambush. A rush of wind behind him forced him to dodge an attack aimed directly at his chest. Despite his slowed pace, Oda continued mutating: additional eyes appeared on his face, and strange extra layers formed on his pupils, giving him an eerie look.
Alex quickly closed the distance, grabbing Oda by the face in a vice-like grip and slamming him into the floor, creating cracks around them. Knowing he had limited time to finish the battle, he formed his hands into a seal resembling a tiger's face.
«Taijutsu Technique: Afternoon Tiger,» he announced, releasing a powerful compressed air blast that took the shape of a tiger and struck Oda with devastating force.
(«Afternoon Tiger») — After opening seven of the eight gates, the user strikes with a powerful blow, leaving a tiger-shaped trail in its wake.
The compressed shockwave shattered the floor beneath them, and both Alex and Oda plummeted back down, landing directly in Hanako's penthouse, where G.I.R was still protecting her. Oda's body, covered in black blood, was twisted and torn with countless open wounds. Alex noticed that even such devastating damage hadn't been enough to finish Oda off, so he decided to go with a more drastic approach. He pulled a new V2 incendiary grenade from his pocket and forcefully embedded it into Oda's chest.
«It's time to go,» he said, approaching Hanako.
«Go? What does that mean?» she asked, confused, stepping back, unable to comprehend the situation.
Alex didn't answer. He simply lifted her into his arms, princess-style. She tried to break free, unsure why he was doing this, but he paid no attention. G.I.R retracted his spear into his inventory and jumped onto Alex's back, gripping tightly. Alex walked to the shattered window, where a strong wind whistled through. Looking back, he saw Oda staring at him with hatred and contempt, as if Alex were nothing more than an obstacle in his grand plan.
Suddenly, a strange, chilling voice echoed in the room, seeming to come from the very air around them.
«I will find you, mortal; you won't be able to stop me from achieving my plans,» the voice sneered, dripping with scorn and coldness. «Many have tried and ended up as nothingness or became part of me. This world will belong to me, for I am the only god here. Your pathetic power cannot overcome what awaits this world.»
Alex recognized the voice—it was identical to the avatar of Nyarlathotep he had fought before arriving in this world. Realizing he should keep his identity hidden for now, he decided to throw out some misleading words to make the Mechanical Man think Alex was unaware of his true identity.
«A pathetic artificial intelligence, dreaming of a body, dares to call me mortal,» Alex replied with disdain. «Stop playing god. You'd be better off deleting yourself.»
A loud, scornful laugh, full of arrogance, echoed through the room, but Alex ignored it. He glanced at Hanako and calmly told her to hold on tight. Not immediately understanding, she guessed Alex was about to jump from the building's edge as they stood right at the precipice. Clinging to him, Hanako frantically tried to dissuade him, but ignoring her protests, Alex sharply pushed off from the edge, leaping into the air to the mocking laughter of the Mechanical Man.
Hanako screamed, convinced that the fall would be fatal. However, Alex landed skillfully on the roof of the neighboring building and set her on her feet. As soon as she touched the ground, Hanako dropped to her hands and knees, mentally thanking every god she could think of for her survival.
Forgetting her fear, she glared at Alex angrily, but he seemed oblivious to her gaze, his focus entirely on her penthouse. Catching his wary look, Hanako also glanced at the crumbling building, awaiting what would happen next.
«G.I.R, get the camera,» Alex said calmly.
G.I.R understood his intent and quickly pulled out a camera, ready to capture the grand spectacle. Hanako couldn't quite grasp what they were planning, but her curiosity outweighed her confusion. Leaning on Alex, she stood up, eager to see what they were preparing. At that moment, the entire floor of her penthouse erupted in bright flames.
Flames erupted from the windows as if a dragon was raging inside, breathing its hellish fire. Hanako froze, unable to believe her eyes, and her shock only deepened when she heard the camera's clicking sounds—G.I.R was taking shots of the blazing building from different angles.
«What the... what the hell happened to my apartment?» Hanako exploded, forgetting her manners and etiquette.
Alex looked at her in surprise, not expecting such a fierce outburst from a noblewoman.
«Do you want the short version or the long one?» he asked with a slight smirk.
«What difference does it make what version you tell me?! My damn apartment is burned down, my bodyguard turned into something with hideous eyes, and you've destroyed the entire penthouse while fighting him. And after all that, you're asking me which version to tell?!» Hanako snapped, completely losing her composure.
Alex felt a twinge of sympathy for her—she had lost everything in such a short time, faced unimaginable horrors, and endured the impossible. He wanted to comfort her, but she sharply pushed his hand away, glaring at him with contempt.
«I don't need your help! Just explain what the hell is going on and who that voice was calling itself a god,» she said coldly.
Alex shrugged and decided to give her a brief explanation to clarify the situation before they found a safer place.
«Your bodyguard was infected by a very unpleasant entity and started mutating. The fire was necessary to finally rid him of that corruption. As for what's going on here and who this 'god' is, it's best not to discuss it now—it's not the time or place,» Alex replied.
Hanako, one of the smartest women, quickly grasped the meaning of his words. She realized that Oda had been infected by something that caused his mutation and made him a difficult opponent. She also connected the events with the mysterious voice that claimed to be a god. However, more questions began to plague her as she remembered how the voice in her head vanished after Alex touched her forehead. She understood that it was probably him who freed her from that tormenting influence.
Meanwhile, Alex noticed that Hanako had fallen into thought, so he shifted his attention to G.I.R, who was still taking selfies in front of the burning penthouse. Alex gave him a slight kick to get his attention.
«Find the nearest entrance to the sewer so we can get home,» Alex ordered.
G.I.R put the camera away and quickly scanned the map, optimizing the route. Receiving the coordinates on his phone, Alex saw that the nearest entrance was very close. Thanking his little assistant, he turned back to Hanako, who was still lost in her thoughts, and touched her shoulder to bring her out of her reverie.
She turned to him with an irritated look.
«What do you want?» Hanako asked, annoyed.
Alex didn't respond to her irritation, simply turning his back to her and crouching, inviting her to climb onto his back. Hanako raised an eyebrow, not understanding what he wanted from her. Realizing her confusion, Alex decided to explain.
«Hop on, we need to hurry before they start looking for us. We've already lost a lot of time, and the longer we stay in one place, the higher the chance they'll start hunting us down,» he explained.
Hanako froze for a moment but eventually climbed onto his back, surprised at how wide and sturdy it felt. Wrapping her arms and legs around Alex, she held on tight, ready for the journey. Once Alex was sure Hanako was securely settled, he called out to G.I.R, signaling him to latch onto him as well. G.I.R effortlessly jumped up and hung onto Alex's chest, gripping tightly.
Hanako briefly glanced at the strange creature that had appeared next to Alex but decided not to ask any questions, realizing it was not the right time. She decided to remain silent, though she was becoming more and more curious about where G.I.R's spear and camera had gone.
«Hold on tight. I'll run fast,» Alex said, and without waiting for a response, he jumped off the roof into the dark alley.
Hanako nearly screamed, feeling the familiar sensation of freefall, and clutched Alex tighter. Landing, Alex quickly moved through the alleys, heading for a manhole that led to the sewers. Once inside, he followed the pre-planned route, avoiding dead ends and breaking down obstacles with his foot. Checking the path on his phone, which G.I.R was updating, Alex made sure they were headed in the right direction.
«Looks like we're here,» Alex said, glancing up at the manhole leading outside.
G.I.R confirmed it was the end of the route. Alex nodded and, noticing the manhole cover was closed, grabbed a stone from the floor and skillfully knocked it off. Soon, they emerged on the lower level of the underground parking garage in the tower where Alex lived. Hanako breathed in the fresh air, relieved to escape the awful stench of the sewer. She looked around and noticed cameras scattered throughout the space.
«Aren't you worried they might track us through these cameras?» she asked, pointing.
Alex followed her gesture, shaking his head as he replied, «The whole building is under my control. No one will see anything I don't want them to,» he said, heading toward the elevator.
Hanako was still clinging to his back, unable to slide off as Alex continued walking. She decided to stay, taking advantage of the moment.
«What do you mean, you control this building?» she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
«It means that G.I.R controls all the cameras here. If anyone tries to hack into the security system, they'll only see what I allow them to,» Alex answered, pressing the elevator call button.
She relaxed, nodding. This day had been so unusual for her: from the meeting where she learned about the infection, to the mutation of her loyal bodyguard, and finally, the complete destruction of her penthouse along with her personal belongings. When the elevator doors closed, Alex silently watched Hanako, understanding that she needed time to process everything that had happened. It was possible that the hunt would soon be after her as well. Maybe she had become an important figure for their enemies, or perhaps she had just stuck her nose where it didn't belong, and infecting her was the only way to get her out of the way.
Reaching his floor, Alex stepped out of the elevator calmly, with Hanako still on his back and G.I.R securely fastened to his chest. He headed toward his apartment, and upon entering, he heard the sound of the TV playing a report on the recent fire at Hanako's penthouse and her mysterious disappearance after the explosion. Upon hearing the news, Hanako frowned.
Alex walked into the living room, where the girls were already looking at him: Gloria, Lucy, and Kiwi met him with stern looks, silently questioning what had happened after he and G.I.R completed their mission and sent them back home. Rebecca and Valerie, on the other hand, were smiling, clearly eager to hear the details of what had transpired. However, what surprised them the most were Alex's blood-red hair and the fact that the missing Hanako Arasaki was now sitting on his back.
«Yo, I brought a guest,» Alex greeted with a light smile and a raised hand.
The girls only sighed in response to his carefree greeting and finally noticed something strange hanging from his chest. It was G.I.R, but now in new clothes. Hanako, however, felt completely confused. She didn't understand what was going on or why everyone was looking at her so strangely, as if laughing quietly. The girl with green hair stood out in particular, as she seemed to be genuinely entertained. Beside her stood a girl with red hair, whose face Hanako caught a hint of pity on.
The situation was becoming increasingly baffling for her, but she decided that answers would come soon enough. Hanako was determined to wait for Alex's explanation, deciding that she wouldn't give up until she learned everything she was curious about.
To be continued...