After hearing the old man's explanation, Touka and Laura decided to continue their journey. They knew time was against them, and Xaldrak's threat was drawing closer. However, before venturing further, they decided to stop briefly at a quiet, small supermarket.
The midday air was hot, adding to the already tense atmosphere. Touka walked ahead, picking up some food and drinks for their supplies. Yet his steps felt heavy, his mind drifting back to what he had just heard. The old man's words kept echoing in his head:
"Xaldrak is searching for something left behind 15 years ago. And that something… is inside you."
Laura followed behind, occasionally glancing at Touka with worry. Since leaving the park, Touka had been acting strangely. He was quieter than usual, though he seemed to murmur to himself now and then. His normally calm demeanor now looked tense, as if he were battling something invisible.
"Touka..." Laura finally gathered her courage to speak, her voice soft yet hesitant. "Are you okay?"
Touka gave a short nod without turning to face her. He knew Laura was worried, but he lacked the energy to explain.
Inside his head, the parasite's voice returned, loud and brimming with emotion.
"Don't be a fool! Do you think you can face this alone? You need me! You know that!"
Touka gritted his teeth, trying to hold back. "Shut up," he muttered softly, barely audible.
But the parasite didn't relent.
"Shut up? You're telling me to shut up? After everything I've done for you? You should be thanking me! Without me, you'd have been dead long ago!"
Touka stopped for a moment, clenching his fists. "You're the one who's made everything worse. This city is in ruins because of your power. If I could, I would have gotten rid of you by now!"
The parasite chuckled, its tone mocking.
"Get rid of me? You know that's impossible. You need me more than I need you. And you know what I want... I'm hungry, Touka. Feed me fresh meat!"
"Touka?" Laura touched his arm, pulling him back to reality. He stared blankly at her for a few seconds before letting out a deep sigh.
"I'm fine," he said curtly, though it was clear he was anything but fine.
Once they finished gathering supplies, they resumed their journey. Their steps quickened, as if trying to escape the dark shadows that loomed ever closer.
---
The darkening sky pressed heavily upon them. Touka and Laura arrived at a ruined intersection, littered with abandoned vehicles. But something in the air felt off. Heavy footsteps echoed in the distance, followed by faint tremors on the ground.
"Touka..." Laura murmured, her gaze shifting toward the source of the sound.
Before she could say more, a massive figure with red-black skin emerged from behind the rubble. It was an Omnivorax, sent by Xaldrak to hunt down the remaining parasite. Its body was lean yet muscular, with red electric sparks radiating from it, a clear sign of the immense power it wielded.
"So they've come," Touka muttered.
The parasite inside him sprang to life, its voice brimming with excitement.
"Let's tear them apart, Touka! But you know the deal, don't you? Give me your blood!"
Touka exhaled heavily. He knew this was inevitable. With trembling hands, he sliced his palm with a knife, letting fresh blood flow. A thick, purple aura enveloped his body, accompanied by searing pain that coursed through him.
"Finally!" the parasite's voice echoed, full of satisfaction. Touka's body began to change—his muscles bulged, parts of his skin turned black, and his eyes glowed with an ominous red light.
The first Omnivorax lunged at Touka, its attack swift as lightning. But Touka, now transformed, dodged effortlessly, his large body moving with the grace of a predator.
"Pathetic," Touka muttered flatly before delivering a crushing blow to the creature. The Omnivorax was sent flying, slamming into a concrete wall that crumbled on impact.
Suddenly, Touka's body froze—not from fatigue, but something else entirely. The parasite's voice grew louder in his head, almost a ravenous scream.
"I said I'm hungry, Touka. And now... I'll take what I want!"
Touka's glowing red eyes sharpened. His body moved on its own, crouching over the lifeless Omnivorax he had just defeated. Laura watched in horror as Touka tore open the creature's chest with his claws, ripping apart its flesh and organs. Black blood splattered everywhere, staining Touka's already battered body.
"Stop, Touka!" Laura screamed, her voice breaking with fear. But Touka didn't hear her—or perhaps he no longer cared.
With brutal precision, Touka sank his teeth into a chunk of the Omnivorax's flesh, tearing off a large piece. The creature's blood and tissue dripped from his mouth, creating a grotesque scene.
Laura's eyes widened, her body trembling. "Touka… what are you doing?" she whispered, her voice filled with terror.
Finally, Laura's voice broke through Touka's frenzy. He paused in the middle of his savage act, staring at the bloody remains in his hands. Slowly, his human consciousness returned.
The last Omnivorax, seemingly the leader of the group, let out a deafening roar before activating its full power. Its body was engulfed in intensifying electric sparks, ready to unleash a devastating attack. Touka wiped the blood from his mouth and stood, his purple aura growing darker and denser.
A thunderous explosion followed as Touka launched his final attack, leaving him standing alone amidst the ruins. His red eyes turned toward Laura, who stood frozen, her body still trembling.
"Touka… are you still yourself?" Laura asked, her voice shaky.
Touka didn't answer, only lowering his head with a heavy sigh, realizing he was losing the line between human and monster. Deep down, he knew the battle was far from over.