The Curse had unleashed its ultimate technique. They were now trapped in its domain, a space where it held absolute control.
Here, the wind wasn't just a tool of destruction, but a force of nature that obeyed the Curse's every whim.
Gusts swirled around Ryosuke, threatening to shred him at any moment, but he remained still, his smile widening.
"Perfect." His eyes gleamed with a wild light. "I knew you were capable of this."
The Curse, standing at the center of the maelstrom, glared at Ryosuke with pure hatred. Its multiple eyes burned with fury as it sent even more violent wind gusts his way. Invisible blades of air slashed through the rock spikes, but Ryosuke dissipated them with ease.
"So, this is what a domain is?" Ryosuke taunted, a mocking grin on his lips. "Impressive. Your attacks have indeed become unstoppable. If not for Overhaul..."
The Curse roared in rage, cutting him off, and the winds around them intensified. The sky—or what seemed to be the sky—darkened as black clouds gathered, lightning tearing across the horizon.
"Oh?" Ryosuke tilted his head.
Lightning began to strike with uncontrollable frenzy, bolts crashing down in every direction, smashing into the ground with unimaginable force. The air reeked of scorched sulfur, while furious gusts spiraled, trying to crush Ryosuke.
But at the heart of the chaos, Ryosuke remained calm, almost nonchalant. The lightning darted toward him, but instead of striking, the bolts faded into a soft blue glow, dissolving before they could even touch him, as though they'd forgotten their destructive purpose.
"Terrifying," he murmured, his voice tinged with admiration as he watched the lightning dissipate around him. "Truly impressive."
Frustrated by its failure, the Curse launched another series of devastating wind blasts. Furious gales tore through the air, but Ryosuke, still unmoving, continued to smile.
"You must be a special-grade Curse," Ryosuke said with icy calm as he effortlessly dispersed the lightning and the gales.
His smile broadened.
The landscape around them began to tremble, as if on the verge of shattering. The howling winds weakened, the energy swirling around them lost its intensity, and in an instant, everything disappeared. The Curse's domain disintegrated, fragmenting into thousands of shards of light that evaporated into the air.
The cursed territory collapsed like a house of cards, returning the two opponents to the real world, amidst the smoldering ruins of the hospital.
The Curse, now standing in the center of the debris, remained motionless. Its grotesque body was frozen, and its once furious eyes now reflected nothing. The cursed energy surrounding it had vanished, leaving it powerless, unable to move.
Ryosuke walked slowly toward the Curse, his footsteps echoing across the devastated ground. He stopped right in front of it. "Let's stop here," he murmured, his words hanging in the silence. "Even though this is an isolated place, there's no guarantee it won't attract unwanted attention."
Ryosuke sighed and bent down to pick up a small pebble at his feet. He rolled it between his fingers, watching closely as the stone began to change. It slowly transformed into a small black pearl, faintly glowing.
Ryosuke let the pearl slip between his fingers, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
"And now, you'll become my second chimera," he said softly, his voice almost singsong.
He approached the Curse, lifting the pearl to its multiple eyes. In an instant, the massive monster was sucked into the pearl, its body disintegrating and reducing to a mere trail of energy that disappeared into the object.
Ryosuke gazed at the pearl in his hand. A quiet laugh escaped him, filled with a childlike sense of satisfaction. He slipped the pearl into his pocket and glanced back at the ruins behind him.
The world had fallen silent once again, as though the epic battle that had just unfolded had never happened. Only the wreckage of the ruined hospital remained, a testament to the violence that had shaken this place.
Ryosuke stretched his arms, a casual expression on his face. "Well... That was a very satisfying experience," he said, rubbing his chin. "Now, I need to find my bag... what a hassle."
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N:
Along with the chapter, I've included in the auxiliary a section summarizing the main character's profile. Take a look at it.
Next Chapter: Back Home