Previously, in a ferocious but alas one sided between me and a Kaiju ,I was defeated badly and on the other hand Mei was in between a battle with the three quasi-spirits.
"Who sent you?" Mei demanded, her voice carrying over the sounds of battle. "Why are you here?"
The quasi-spirits exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
"We have our orders," Arta replied coldly, her swords ready for another strike. "That's all you need to know."
"But you're not walking away from this," Kuki added with a sneer. "Not if we have anything to say about it."
Mei's eyes narrowed. They were confident—too confident. She had to find a way to break through their defenses, to turn their arrogance against them.
As the battle raged on, Mei pushed herself harder, her green aura pulsing with every move. She dodged, parried, and struck back with everything she had, knowing that time was running out—for both her and Izumi.
Just as arta prepared to unleash her Spirit Art: Mighty Hammer, an attack that could ignore any defense, Mei's instincts screamed at her. The hammer came down with a force that could shatter mountains, but Mei didn't back down. She gathered all her remaining strength, her Aistia flaring to its fullest extent.
The ground beneath her cracked, the air vibrated with the clash of power, and the battle continued, each side pushing the other to their absolute limits.
Mei's body slammed into the ground, the force of Arta's Mighty Hammer reverberating through her bones. The impact was so severe that she felt as if all the air had been knocked out of her lungs, her vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought it was over—thought she had lost. But as she staggered to her feet, she realized something.
Arta's attack, powerful as it was, had inadvertently flung her right next to the tunnel. The realization dawned on her like a beacon of hope in the darkness. This was her chance. The petals on her cheek were now 3/5 filled, the curse edging ever closer to overwhelming her, but she still had time—just enough to make this count.
She braced herself, ready to charge toward the tunnel and execute the plan they had desperately concocted. But before she could even take a step, she felt it—a surge of power emanating from Qupa. The little quasi-spirit's crimson catalyst glowed with an eerie light as she chanted, her voice echoing with the weight of her spirit art.
"All is ash," Qupa declared, and the world seemed to slow down as the devastating red and black beam, boosted by the effects of All is Safe, shot toward Mei.
*All is safe is one of the spirit arts which boost and buff very stats of the user and to any resonated teammates *
It happened so fast. Mei barely had time to react, her defenses completely shattered by Arta's earlier attack. The beam struck her head-on with a force unlike anything she had experienced before. It wasn't just an attack—it was annihilation. The moment it hit, the beam exploded upon impact, engulfing Mei in a storm of destructive energy.
The world around her seemed to disintegrate. The tunnel, the last hope of luring the quasi-spirits into a trap, was completely erased from existence, reduced to nothing but ash. The force of the explosion sent Mei hurtling backward, her Aistia shattered, her body reverting to its usual form with her blue hair falling limply around her face.
She lay on the ground, barely conscious, her body ragged and torn from the sheer power of the attack. The petals on her cheek faded, the curse taking hold as she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. She could feel her strength leaving her, the weight of defeat pressing down on her like a crushing burden.
"Why… is this happening?" Mei murmured weakly, her voice barely audible over the sound of her labored breathing. "I was… overpowered… I don't want this to end like this… I'm a demon lord candidate… I can still fight—"
Her words were cut off by a sudden, searing pain in her back. Mei gasped, her eyes widening in shock as she looked down to see the tip of a blade protruding from her chest. Blood spilled from the wound, staining her clothes as the reality of what had just happened sank in.
Kuki, the sword-wielding quasi-spirit, had driven her sword through Mei's back, her expression cold and indifferent. The blade was slick with Mei's blood as Arta twisted it slightly, ensuring the wound was fatal.
"No…" Mei whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and despair. The world around her grew dimmer, the pain in her body overwhelming everything else.
The three quasi-spirits gathered around Mei's fallen form, their expressions a mixture of satisfaction and triumph.
"We did it," Arta said with a smirk, her hammer resting on her shoulder as she surveyed the aftermath. "The demon lord candidate is no more."
Kuki withdrew her sword from Mei's body, wiping the blood off on the edge of her cloak. "She was strong, I'll give her that. But in the end, she was just a girl playing at being a lord. It was inevitable."
Qupa floated closer, her eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction as she observed Mei's ragged form. "I didn't think she'd survive the first All is Ash. But that second one… it was glorious, wasn't it? Her defenses were completely obliterated. She never stood a chance."
"I almost feel bad for her," Kuki added with a mocking laugh. "All that power, all that potential, and she couldn't even stand up to the three of us. Guess the title of 'demon lord candidate' isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"Power without control is meaningless," Arta said, her tone cold and dismissive. "She fought with desperation, not strategy. That's why she lost."
"She was strong, though," Qupa mused, almost as if she was considering Mei's final moments with a sense of pity. "If she had more time… maybe things would've been different."
"But she didn't," Kuki cut in, her voice firm. "And now, she's nothing. Just another failed candidate."
Arta sheathed her sword, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around at the destruction they had caused. "It's time we report back. Our mission here is complete."
"Yeah," Arta agreed, lifting her hammer. "We've done what we came to do. The demon lord candidate is dead, and the tunnel's destroyed. There's nothing left for us here."
Qupa nodded, her crimson catalyst glowing faintly as she prepared to leave. "Let's go. Let's fulfil our world domination plan."
The three quasi-spirits turned away from Mei's fallen form, their victory assured. The battlefield was silent, the remnants of their destructive power lingering in the air like a haunting memory.
As they were about to leave the area ,the kaiju dragged my unconscious body, its claws slick with blood, leaving a trail of red behind as it lumbered toward the trio of quasi-spirits. With a grunt, it flung me onto the ground in front of them. My body landed with a sickening thud, motionless, blood pooling around me. The kaiju, satisfied, glanced at the quasi-spirits and rumbled, "My mission is complete"
The sudden, unfamiliar voice caught Mei's attention. She fought against the overwhelming pain and fatigue, forcing her eyes to open slightly. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out my crumpled form on the ground. Blood stained my clothes, my skin pale. Mei's heart clenched with despair as she realized what had happened.
"No... Izumi..." Mei whispered, her voice weak. The sight of my lifeless body filled her with a deep, seething rage. Revenge burned in her veins, but her strength was fading. She had lost, and now, she believed, so had I.
The quasi-spirits turned their attention to the kaiju, their expressions a mixture of satisfaction and amusement. Arta, the sword-wielder, stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she regarded the kaiju.
"Good," Arta said, her tone clipped. "With the demon lord candidate and her companion out of the way, our path is clear."
Arta snorted, hefting her hammer onto her shoulder. "It's almost too easy. These so-called threats are nothing more than insects. All bark, no bite."
Qupa floated closer to my fallen form, her crimson catalyst glowing faintly as she observed me with detached curiosity. "I thought the boy would put up more of a fight," she mused. "But in the end, he was just another obstacle in our way."
The kaiju rumbled in agreement, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. "These mortals never stood a chance against us. The power of the quasi-spirits is unmatched. And now, with both of them out of the way, nothing will stop us from fulfilling our true mission."
"World domination," Arta said, a smirk curling on her lips. "The era of gods and demons is over. We will carve out our own place in this world, one built on the ashes of those who dare oppose us."
Kuki nodded, her expression dark. "And once we've secured our dominance, we'll eliminate any remaining threats. The humans, the demons, even the gods—they'll all fall before us."
Mei's heart raced as she listened to their conversation. She felt a surge of helplessness wash over her. The quasi-spirits were planning something far more sinister than she had anticipated. And with me lying motionless on the ground, she was certain that their victory was complete.
But then, something shifted.
In the darkness of unconsciousness, I heard their words. They were talking about world domination—about killing Mei. Something in my mind snapped. Rage flooded my senses, drowning out the pain and exhaustion. It was as if a dam had broken, unleashing a torrent of anger that engulfed my very being. I couldn't let them get away with this. I couldn't let Mei die. Even though I had been beaten and bloodied, an overwhelming urge to fight surged through me.
Suddenly, I moved. My body, trembling and broken, somehow found the strength to push itself up from the ground. The quasi-spirits continued their conversation, unaware that I was regaining consciousness. It wasn't until I was on my feet, wobbling but upright, that Arta noticed me.
"He's still alive?" Arta's voice cut through the air like a blade, drawing the attention of the others. The quasi-spirits turned to face me, their expressions shifting from surprise to annoyance.
"These guys never know when to give up, do they?" Arta remarked with a roll of her eyes, hefting her hammer.
I didn't speak a word. My eyes were focused solely on the kaiju, the creature that had dragged me here and thrown me down like a discarded toy. In my mind, there was only one thought: revenge.
"I will avenge you, Mei," I whispered, my voice low and filled with determination.
The quasi-spirits laughed, mocking me. "Look at him," Qupa sneered. "Barely standing, yet still thinking he can fight. How pitiful."
"You should have stayed down, boy," Arta said, her tone cold and dismissive. "You're no match for us."
But they were wrong. A strange sensation washed over me, one I had never felt before. The air around me crackled with energy, and suddenly, lightning surged through my veins. My hair began to change, the tips turning a bright yellow, and sparks of electricity danced across my skin. The power was overwhelming, yet it felt natural, like it had always been there, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
The sparkles of lightning coalesced around my fist, forming a brilliant white aura. The intensity of the energy was almost blinding, and for the first time, the quasi-spirits seemed taken aback.
"Impossible," Qupa whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Where is he getting this power?"
But I didn't give them time to react. With a speed that surprised even myself, I launched forward, my lightning-imbued fist aimed directly at the kaiju's neck. The plan was simple: behead the beast in one swift motion.
But just as I was about to strike, kuki intercepted me, her sword flashing as she blocked my attack. Her blade was as sharp as the edge of reality itself, yet it met my lightning-infused fist with a violent clash. Sparks flew in every direction as the opposing forces collided, the sheer power of the impact sending shockwaves through the ground beneath us.
For a moment, we were locked in place, both of us pushing against the other with all our strength. But then we broke apart, both stepping back to reassess the situation.
The kaiju, seeing an opening, decided to charge at me once more. It moved with terrifying speed, its body a blur as it bore down on me. I knew I had to act quickly, or I'd be crushed under its immense weight.
"Demonic Art, Level 5: Geo!" I shouted, slamming my fist into the ground. Massive pillars of rock erupted from the earth, rising up to immobilize the kaiju. But the creature was faster than I anticipated. It dodged the pillars with ease, its monstrous body closing in on me in a blink of an eye.
It was too fast. Before I could react, the kaiju's massive fist collided with mine, the force of the blow nearly sending me off my feet. The impact reverberated through my body, the pain searing, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. My fists met its blows again and again, each strike heavier than the last. The ground beneath us cracked and shattered under the intensity of our battle.
The kaiju struck me with brutal force, each hit driving the breath from my lungs and sending pain lancing through my body. But I fought back with everything I had, landing punches of my own, fueled by rage and desperation. It was a brutal exchange, an endless series of blows that left both of us battered and bloodied.
The quasi-spirits watched, unimpressed by the struggle. To them, it was a waste of time—a pathetic display of defiance from someone who was already beaten.
"This is pointless," Kuki said, her voice filled with disdain. She decided to end it, her sword flashing as she prepared to throw it. With a swift motion, she hurled the blade at me, intending to end my life once and for all.
But I wasn't going down that easily. "Demonic Art, Level 2: Water!" I shouted, summoning a massive geyser of water that erupted from the ground. The force of the water deflected the flying sword, sending it spiraling off course.
But the momentary distraction was all the kaiju needed. It lunged at me with terrifying speed, its massive fist driving straight through my chest. Pain exploded in my body as I felt the kaiju's hand tear through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed from my mouth, and the world began to fade as my consciousness slipped away.
The kaiju's voice echoed in my ears as darkness closed in around me. "Finally," it rumbled, its tone filled with cruel satisfaction.
My body crumpled to the ground, falling onto my knees. Blood pooled around me as I struggled to breathe, the pain overwhelming. My vision blurred, and the last thing I saw before the darkness took over was the kaiju looming over me, its victory assured.
As I fell to the ground, the world around me seemed to blur into darkness, stretching into what felt like an eternity. In those fleeting moments, memories of my past began to resurface—moments I'd buried deep inside, trying to forget.
When I was a child, in preschool, I was the quiet kid everyone liked to pick on. They teased me relentlessly, calling me useless and telling me that I couldn't hold a proper conversation with anyone. "Izumi can't stand up for himself," they would say, laughing as they pushed me around. "He'll always need to hide behind someone stronger." It was something that haunted me long after those years ended.
In middle school, I made a friend—a kid who turned out to be a karate player. I admired him so much, proud to be his friend. We were close, sharing secrets, hanging out after school. But one day, I overheard him talking to some other kids. "Izumi is always such a coward," he said, his voice full of disdain. "He can't even ask for help on his own; he always gets me to do it for him." Those words cut deep, severing our friendship in a way I never could have imagined. I didn't confront him. I just drifted away, too afraid to face the truth.
In grade ten, I made another friend, someone I thought I could trust. We were inseparable, or so I believed. But everything changed one afternoon on our way home. Some bullies surrounded us, their sneers sending a shiver down my spine. "Izumi, run!" my friend shouted, trying to protect me. And like the coward I was, I did exactly that—I ran without looking back. I abandoned him, and in doing so, destroyed our friendship. I never spoke to him again. A few days later, he transferred to a better school. I've often wondered where he is now, if he's doing well. I've wished countless times that I could apologize, that I could somehow make amends. Maybe then, the regret that gnawed at me would ease, even if just a little.
These memories flooded my mind, barely holding onto consciousness. Everyone talked behind my back, no one ever truly supported me. The constant weight of their whispers drove me to the brink. I even considered ending it all once—my life, which felt like a string of failures and disappointments. The only thing that held me back was my mom and Yuki. I couldn't bear to leave them behind.
When the first kaiju appeared and the building collapsed around me, I thought it was the end. I welcomed it, convinced that my life, with all its emptiness, was finally over. But then, amidst the rubble and despair, a light shone through—Mei. She wasn't human, yet she saved me. The moment I saw her that night, with her bright crimson hair and those piercing eyes, something inside me changed. Without realizing it, I had fallen in love. It was the first time I felt something other than fear and self-loathing.
And now, I wanted to protect her. I wanted to spend more time with her, go on more dates, and confess my feelings. I wanted to see her smile, to make her happy. But it was too late. I was too weak, too broken to do anything. My strength had left me, and I knew the truth—I was useless. Just trash, not worth saving. I could feel death closing in, cold and inevitable.
But even as I hovered on the brink, one thought burned in my mind: I couldn't let her die. I had to protect her. I had to protect her. I had to protect her. I had to protect her. I had to protect her.
Summoning the last of my strength, I whispered, "Demonic Arts Level 1: Mist…"
A thick mist began to envelop the area, growing denser with each passing moment. The quasi-spirits and the kaiju were confused, glancing around as the fog thickened into an impenetrable shroud. My voice, weak and fading, carried through the mist, "I… love you, Mei… goodb...ye." And then, I fainted, the darkness claiming me as the mist rose, so thick that it looked like clouds swirling above us.
In the eerie silence that followed, the quasi-spirits tensed, unsure of what to expect. But then, to their astonishment, Mei began to stir. She pushed herself up, using her hands for support, her body trembling yet defiant. Dirt and blood marred her once-bright features, but she wore a sweet smile.
"Well," she murmured softly, her voice laced with affection, "I love you too, Izumi."
She straightened herself, her eyes narrowing as they began to glow a deep crimson, brighter than ever before. The air around her rippled with a powerful aura, her emotions fueling her demonic energy. "Now then," Mei continued, her voice cold as ice, "I'll show you what happens when you hurt my love."
Her crimson aura flared up, enveloping her in a bright, fiery light. "Demonic Art Level 132: Crimson Aistia!" she shouted, her aura exploding with intensity, covering a radius of five meters around her. The ground beneath her melted from the sheer heat, the air crackling with energy as the flames burned bright enough to resemble the sun.
The quasi-spirits recoiled, fear flickering in their eyes. The catalyst wielder, Qupa, gulped nervously, her voice shaky as she said, "This… this looks bad."
Arta, however, refused to back down. "No! We can't give up now. She's already heavily injured. There's no way she can fight for long."
Kuki glanced at Arta, hesitating for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Yeah, she's on her last legs. If we press her now, we can still win."
Qupa steeled herself, gripping her catalyst tightly. "Then let's finish this. No holding back."
Kuki's eyes narrowed as she readied her sword, determination etched on her face. "Right. We strike together. No more games."
To be continued...