Chapter 15: Volume I - Chapter 15
After she left, there was a somewhat strange atmosphere due to my shyness. It had been so long since I spoke to Lisa, and I was somewhat embarrassed about it.
She, as if understanding, broke the silence and began to speak: "Kuroto, I haven't seen you in a long time," she said, bringing her hand to my face and stroking it slowly. "You have changed a lot; you've become a handsome boy. You're going to break hearts, kid," she said, chuckling softly.
My face formed into a small sincere smile, and I replied, "Well, the girls better watch out."
We both laughed softly, and the tension quickly dissipated. She soon looked at me with those curious blue eyes and asked, "So, how did you end up here?"
I shrugged, kind of saying: "Imagine it as exchange student vacation." I lied to her; I didn't want to worry her, and it seemed like she noticed.
"Look at that, over time you started to become a liar, young man," she said, pinching my cheek.
"Ah, it's okay, I may have kind of run away slightly," I said, holding my now red cheek.
She widened her eyes and grabbed my arms: "You did what?!"
"Look, I didn't really run away. It's like I was there, and now I'm here," I said, giving her a silly smile.
She frowned, clearly not buying my evasive answer. "Kuroto, you have always been terrible at hiding things from me. What really happened?"
I sighed, realizing that I couldn't escape her questioning. "I was tired of all that, the demands, the expectations, the 'all for a greater good'. I just want to have a normal life, you know? Like, only worry about what I'm going to eat tomorrow, or something like that. I don't want to have to worry every single day if I will have to go somewhere and never come back."
She looked at me, her deep blue eyes overflowing with empathy. "Kuroto, I'm sorry, you've been dragged into all this since you were little. I can't imagine how you must be feeling, kiddo. And it's unfair that you have to carry such a huge responsibility so young."
"That's the worst part, Lisa. I don't want to be responsible for anything. I just want... a normal childhood, you know? A chance to be a regular boy," I confessed, feeling a lump in my throat.
She caressed my face, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Kuroto, I'm so sorry. I should have stopped the bishop from taking you away from me; I would have protected you from all of this. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world."
I lowered my head, feeling the shame of my feelings. "It's okay; you were just wanting a better future for me, I thank you for that. I just wanted someone to understand, to see that behind 'Kuroto' there's a scared boy who just wants a normal childhood."
She pulled me into a hug, and I allowed myself to be enveloped by her comforting arms. "I see, Kuroto. I always have. And I will do everything to protect you."
We stayed like that for a while, finding comfort in each other's presence, until she pulled away and looked at me seriously. "But you have to promise me one thing."
I swallowed hard, asking: "What?"
"Promise me that you won't disappear like you did with the Vatican, without telling me or at least leaving a message. I worry about you, and I couldn't bear thinking that something bad could have happened to you," said Lisa, with a rare seriousness on her face.
I hesitated for a moment, recalling all the reasons why I had fled the church, still in doubt about what really happened. However, looking into Lisa's eyes, I realized that I couldn't leave her in the dark, worried. "Okay, I promise. But you also have to promise not to hide anything from me. We need to be honest with each other."
Lisa nodded, "I promise. No secrets between us." She paused, looking deeply into my eyes. "Kuroto, regardless of the circumstances, I want you to know that I'll always be by your side. You are and will always be my little boy," she said, with a gentle smile, and stroked my hair.
A shy smile appeared on my lips. "Thank you, Lisa. It means a lot to me to hear that."
She smiled back, a warm and comforting smile unique to her. "Come, you must be hungry. Let's eat something."
I accompanied Lisa through the corridors of St. Mary's Parish, feeling a wave of familiarity and comfort enveloping me. Even facing all the adversities and challenges that life threw at me, I knew that having Lisa by my side, I could face anything.
We walked together, and I couldn't help but get lost in thoughts about everything that had happened and what was yet to come. But for a brief moment, I allowed myself to absorb the peace and love that Lisa's presence radiated. In my heart, I felt a renewed hope that together, we would find a way to overcome obstacles and live the life we so desired.
...
...
...
It's been some time, a few weeks actually, and there hasn't been any news from the church, which is surprising; they are usually quite competent in that department. Considering what happened, they might think I'm dead... if that's the case, they should have already come to check on Lisa, unless they were just observing Lisa, this really started to worry me.
"Kid, it's R$15,00!" the attendant at the small market exclaimed, looking at me with an angry look while a long line waited.
"I'm sorry, I got distracted." I took out the money Lisa gave me for the groceries, paid the attendant, took the change and the purchased items. I quickly thanked her and left, trying not to attract more attention.
Walking through the streets of the town, I felt a growing discomfort and worry. The silence from the Church was deafening. They are not ones to give up easily, and the lack of any move from them made me nervous.
Upon arriving at the Parish, Lisa was waiting for me at the entrance. She looked at the bags in my hand and smiled. "Did you manage to buy everything? Last time you took the list and still bought the wrong items," she said, looking at me with a sharp glance and then squeezed my cheek.
"I followed the list properly this time," I replied, trying to get rid of the grip of her hand. "I know that last time I confused the skim milk with the whole milk, but it won't happen again."
Lisa let out a laugh and released my cheek. "I'm just joking, Kuroto. I'm happy that you are trying. But what had you so distracted at the market? You took longer than usual."
"I was just... thinking," I began, hesitant to share my fears and worries. "About the Church, about why they haven't come after me or you."
Lisa sighed, her eyes showing a shadow of worry. "I've been thinking about that too."
I've been having strange dreams lately, but it's not something I should share to not worry Lisa. The dream basically comes down to me hearing her voice, and when I finally reach her, she's lying in a pool of blood, lifeless. This has been constant, which is making me increasingly tense.
She took me inside the Parish and sat on one of the benches, indicating for me to sit next to her. "Kuroto, I know you're worried, and I am too," she said.
I looked at her and hugged her. "Relax, everything is fine, it's just a silly worry."
She said nothing, just stroked my hair for a few seconds and then, with her gentle voice, said: "I'm worried that you are trying to carry such a big burden."
I looked at her face with a small sincere smile and said: "There is no burden heavy enough when I'm with the best person in the world," and hugged her again, burying my head in her lap.
"Oh, you little rascal," she said, trying to tickle me.
Days passed smoothly, and I quickly began to forget the exhausting routine of the institute and the church, returning to the monotony of a common life, although it didn't help to improve my dreams.
The frequency decreased, but over time, they seemed increasingly more realistic and recurrent. I began to have sleep crises where I really couldn't distinguish what was dream or not. And every time I saw that scene, I realized it was a dream, but they were becoming more realistic each night.
I woke up again after another dream like that, sweaty and terrified. "What a shitty dream, damn," I said to myself, putting the pillow over my face.
When I looked at the window, I saw that it was still dark and decided to get up to cool off my head. I went to the courtyard; it was cool. I sat on a bench and stayed there, admiring the starry sky. "What a so-so life," I took a deep breath and relaxed my body on the cold bench.
It was then that I heard clapping, and surprised, I quickly tried to get up, but chains of light coming out of a magic circle at my feet held me, burning my skin and tearing my clothes.
"Ah, Kuroto, you thought we wouldn't find you? You were foolish enough to come back here," said a hateful voice.
"Manuel! What the hell do you think you're doing? Release me!" I yelled, trying to free myself from the chains.
Manuel approached with an arrogant smile. "Kuroto, did you really think you could escape from the Church?"
"For someone who is one step ahead, it took you long enough, old man!" I said, laughing as I saw his arrogant smile disappear.
He made a gesture, and a spear of light pierced my stomach, making me spit and widen my eyes. "You are still the same arrogant and insolent boy as before," Manuel said, approaching.
"What do you want, Manuel?" I asked, trying to control my anger.
"I want you, Kuroto. You belong to the Church, and we will make you remember that," he replied with a cruel smile.
"I never belonged to the Church. I am free!" I yelled, struggling against the chains.
"You are special, Kuroto, and you have a destiny to fulfill," said Manuel, approaching.
"I just want to live my life in peace with Lisa!" I exclaimed, feeling tears of anger and frustration.
Manuel smiled, touching my face with his hand. "Ah, Lisa. She is a distraction, Kuroto. And you will learn that the hard way."
"What have you done to her?!" I shouted, overtaken by terror.
He laughed again, backing away. "You'll see soon enough."
Suddenly, the church door opened, and I saw Lisa being dragged out by two Church guards. She was gagged and tied, her eyes filled with fear and concern.
"Lisa!" I screamed, trying to break free from the chains holding me. "Let her go, you monsters!"
Manuel turned to me with a cruel smile. "I'll give you a choice, Kuroto. If you surrender and accept your destiny, I will release her. But if you resist, well, I can't guarantee her safety."
I looked at Lisa, and our eyes met. She was scared, but there was a determination in her look that I had never seen before. She shook her head, telling me not to give in.
"I won't give up on you, Lisa," I murmured, tears streaming down. "And I won't give up on us."
Manuel snorted. "Very well, then. If that's how you want it, so be it."
With a wave of his hand, the guards began to drag Lisa away. I screamed and tried to break free, but the chains held me firm. Manuel came to me, his face full of disdain.
"You made your choice, Kuroto. And now you will live with the consequences."
I heard Lisa scream as she was dragged away. In one last desperate glance, her eyes met mine. I tried with all my might to free myself, but the chains were too strong.
Manuel approached, his gaze locked on mine. "You're a fool, Kuroto. You could have had everything, but you chose to sacrifice yourself for her."
"I would do anything for her," I replied, love for Lisa burning in my chest. "I will never bow down to you or your damn Church."
He laughed, a cold and cruel sound. "We shall see."
"You should be careful when you get close to me, you bastard!" The cursed energy exploded, engulfing me. In seconds, the chains that held me began to melt due to the degradation attribute of the cursed energy. Quickly, I tried to grab Manuel.
The moment my hand was about to reach him, a spear of light appeared between us. I looked up and saw a battalion of 5 fallen angels ready to stop me. "I see you brought a bunch of crows... you think they're going to save your ass, you old son of a bitch?"
Manuel looked at me, arrogance still present, but with a trace of caution. "These are Grigori's best fallen angels, Kuroto. You might be strong, but facing them all at once? That would be suicide."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Do you really think I fear death? After all I've been through, the life you and your damn Church stole from me? I have nothing to lose."
One of the fallen angels, a woman with black wings and golden eyes, stepped forward, her hand radiating dark energy. "Then why don't you show us what you're capable of?"
"Do you know how my technique works?" A spear of black flames with reddish edges formed in my hand. "My spears are similar to your light spear projection, basically an improved copy. My energy has a specific degradation attribute, so everything it touches..." I touched the tip of the spear to the ground, which quickly deteriorated until it melted.
She looked confused. "Why are you telling us this?"
The spear seemed to radiate more intensely and grew stronger; I advanced in a second, reducing the distance enough to attack. She tried to back away and defend herself with her spear, but I threw mine, which went through her light spear, piercing her body and heading towards the other angels behind her.
They soon flew away, escaping the spear. The angel held her chest as she tried to recover, but the hole was enveloped in my cursed energy, and as if consuming her, like a flame, it enveloped her, and soon her body's flesh began to melt, as if exposed to acid, and in a few seconds, she fell, consumed by the crimson black flame.
Manuel looked terrified at the grotesque and brutal scene. "You abominable kid!"
I smiled evilly at him and said, "What's wrong, Manuel, are you scared, old man? Don't worry, your end will be worse than hers."
Several spears were launched in my direction, however, with a simple move, some cursed energy daggers formed and were thrown at the spears, stopping them and causing a small explosion when they hit each other. I ran to one of the walls, supporting myself and propelling forward to jump on an angel.
As soon as I reached him, I grabbed his wings; he tried to push me away. With a devilish laugh, I firmly grabbed his wings and coated my hands with cursed energy, and in a brutal sound of tearing and screams, his wings were ripped off with brute force, while I quickly threw a spear towards the falling angel, killing him instantly.
The other angels used the opportunity while I was falling to throw their spears at me, however, with the fallen one's wings in my hands, I used them as a shield, which worked perfectly, stopping the spears and throwing the wings towards them.
"Two down, who's next?!"
The remaining angels hesitated for a moment, watching in horror at the carcasses of their fallen companions. Kuroto's power made them question their own abilities and the decision to confront him.
One of them, the youngest and most audacious, flew toward Kuroto at high speed, his blade of light ready to strike. Kuroto, in turn, was already prepared and, with a quick movement of his fencing technique, dodged the attack and embedded his blade charged with cursed energy into the angel's abdomen. The young angel let out an agonizing scream, and his body began to disintegrate under the effect of Kuroto's energy.
The last angel, more experienced, knew that a direct attack would be fatal. He began to chant a spell, surrounding Kuroto with magical circles. Kuroto felt the pressure of the magic against him but did not feel pain, thanks to his pain suppression skill.
"Do you think simple magics will affect me?!" Kuroto shouted, concentrating his cursed energy. The magical circles began to tremble and soon broke under the pressure of the dark energy.
The angel, in an act of desperation, launched all the blades of light he could conjure, trying to bring down Kuroto in a barrage. Kuroto, with his fencing skill, dodged all the blades and, in a fluid movement, appeared behind the angel, embedding his sword directly into his back. The angel let out a scream of pain before falling, incapacitated.
Manuel, watching the scene, was pale and trembling. He backed away, realizing he had underestimated Kuroto's power.
"The time for revenge has come, you little shit," said Kuroto, walking slowly towards him, his cursed energy enveloping him like a black cloak.
Manuel, in his last attempt, invoked a shield of light around him. Kuroto, with a malicious smile, concentrated his cursed energy and shot directly at the shield. The energy began to corrode the shield, making it tremble and crack.
"You can try to buy time like the worm you are, or die with honor, you trash; in the end, this shitty shield won't save you," I growled at him, furious.
Manuel, looking desperately around for an escape, realized there was no way out. With the shield disintegrating rapidly under the force of the cursed energy, he closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable.
A spear formed in my hand, pointed at the face of that damn old man. "Know that I'll enjoy doing this a lot," I muttered with hatred boiling in my veins.
The moment I was about to throw the spear, I felt my strength wane for a moment. I looked down and saw several blades of light piercing my chest. "What?!" I shouted, as my body knelt, losing strength exponentially.
A fallen one with three pairs of wings approached me, looking at Manuel. "How ridiculous, how can you lose to a kid, letting my brothers be destroyed by this insignificant being called Manuel," he said with disdain.
Manuel, regaining some color and confidence, looked at the powerful fallen angel. "Lord Kokabiel, you arrived in time. I underestimated the kid, but it seems you managed to deal with him."
Kokabiel, with a cold and distant look, observed my weak and wounded body. "Never underestimate your enemies, especially those with as much power as this one," he warned, approaching and bending down to look into my eyes.
Despite the pain and weakness, I gathered my strength to speak, my eyes burning with rage as I stared at the fallen angel. "Ah, it seems that another little bitch came to help you, Manuel... You'll end up like the others, you shit," I growled with all the contempt I could muster.
Kokabiel smiled coldly, his presence emanating an oppressive aura. "Bold words for someone on the brink of death. But I like that, it makes victory feel sweeter," he mocked, while I spat blood, looking at him with eyes full of hatred and contempt.
"Relax, little crow, even in this condition, I only need one shot to send you to join your brothers," I threatened, as my cursed energy exploded from my body, making the light blades stuck in my body start to melt instantly, and the explosion nearly hit Kokabiel and Manuel.
However, at the last moment, in a quick action, Kokabiel grabbed Manuel and moved away quickly enough, just to have part of his sleeve hit, giving an idea of what my energy was capable of. "Really interesting this boy's energy, it seems like demonic energy," he observed, intrigued.
Manuel, still recovering from the abrupt movement, adjusted his posture. "We need to finish this now, Kokabiel. He's too dangerous to be left alive," he said, as Kokabiel nodded, watching me with a calculating look.
I tried to pull myself together, burning an absurd amount of cursed energy just to stand, until I saw Manuel get up and look at me with a malicious tone, heading towards the parish, which made my blood boil with rage. "Don't even think about running away, you worm!" I shouted, hurling a dagger made of cursed energy in his direction.
But before the dagger hit its target, Kokabiel moved with dazzling speed, intercepting and deflecting the dagger with a simple hand movement. "Do you really think you can stand against me, boy?" he mocked, as I was thrown against the wall, spitting out a large amount of blood before falling to the ground.
"Flap your wings while you can, I'll make sure to pluck your feathers, you piece of shit bird," I replied, trying to get up, but my body started not to respond, and pain suppression helped me force my body to move.
The moment I managed to get up, I heard Manuel say, "It's over, kid!" I looked at him, and he was holding Lisa in his arms, with a dagger directed at her neck. "LET HER GO NOW, MANUEL!" I shouted, staggering in his direction, hatred burning in my chest.
Manuel, with a cruel and victorious smile, pressed the dagger a little more against Lisa's skin. "It seems like you are not in a position to make demands, Kuroto," he mocked, with anger and despair overflowing in my eyes. "But, if you kneel and beg, maybe I'll consider sparing her life."
Kokabiel was behind, watching indifferently, curious to see how I would handle the emotional pressure.
I breathed deeply, trying to control the storm of rage within me. My body was weak, but the will was strong. I stared directly at Manuel and growled: "You will pay for every tear she sheds, I swear."
"Empty words," Manuel provoked. "Now, kneel."
With enormous effort, I forced myself to kneel, keeping my gaze fixed on Lisa, silently conveying a promise of rescue. I wouldn't allow her to be hurt because of me.
Lisa was pale and trembling, but when our eyes met, a silent understanding passed between us. She knew I was giving my best and was ready to fight. With a quick move, she kicked Manuel, making him falter, and managed to get away from him.
Driven by fury, my body created a small and sharp object, a needle, and I projected it with surprising speed towards Manuel, who was hit in the leg, falling to the ground with a scream of pain.
Kokabiel seemed about to intervene but hesitated. Lisa ran towards me, eyes full of tears and determination. Kokabiel, with an evil smile, launched a sword of light against Lisa, brutally hitting her in the chest.
Kokabiel laughed, a cruel sound devoid of empathy. "The girl was brave, but in the end, she is still just a fragile human."
Trembling, I crawled over to Lisa, holding her in my arms. "No, Lisa, you're going to be okay," I said, my voice choked with desperation, as tears, blood, and dirt mixed on my face.
"Ku-Kuroto," she whispered, her voice weak, but her eyes shone with a soft, loving light. "Be grateful... for living in such a beautiful world... it's a blessing to be alive."
"Lisa, don't speak, everything is going to be okay," I said, tears streaming down my face, mingling with the blood and dirt. "Just stay awake; I will find a way to save you."
System notifications began to flash, obstructing my vision with red alerts. Desperate, I cleared them from my sight, unable to comprehend the words amidst the chaos.
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『WARNING』
ALERT FORCED ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE SEAL
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A sad, sweet smile crossed her lips. "Be strong... Live... be happy, that's all I ask of you, little one," she said, gently touching my face before her light faded, leaving her lifeless body in my arms.
The world around me began to distort; reality seemed to shatter at Lisa's death. An unimaginable rage surged within me, a storm of uncontrollable hatred and power. I let out a roar of despair and anger that shook the foundations of the church, causing windows to shatter and walls to tremble.
Something inside of me seemed to vibrate, shattering; my eyes began to burn intensely, I felt something viscous and liquid running from them and my nose, as more windows popped up in my vision.
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『ALERT』
ALERT: RESTRICTIONS IN CRITICAL STATE, RESTRICTIONS RELEASED
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╔─━━━━━━━━━━━░★░━━━━━━━━━━─╗
『ALERT』
FORCED RELEASE - MANA
SACRED GEAR - FORCEFULLY ACTIVATED
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A feeling of being enveloped in indescribable comfort overcame me for a second, as my body seemed to energize in a way I had never felt before.
My eyes seemed to burn like hell, as a strange energy enveloped me. I looked at my arms, seeing a rainbow flame form, wrapping me like a cloak. The energy was too much to be contained within my body; it kept coming, as if it had been accumulating for a long time and was now being released all at once.
I let out a scream of fury and despair. That energy, resonating throughout my being, formed a gigantic pillar with the rainbow flames, extending beyond the clouds, like a massive beacon of light drawing everything's attention.
"I WILL KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE HERE! NONE OF YOU WILL LEAVE!" I exclaimed, as my vision blurred and gradually darkened. I began to see not the colors of the world, but something more ethereal, as if I were seeing the flow of energy itself.
My body glowed with intense force, as I saw streams of energy emanating from the fallen body and from Manuel. It was too much to process; my eyes were hurting; I simply didn't know what to do with all that information and energy arriving at the same time.
Manuel, with a tone of panic, tried to back away but seemed to only drag himself further away. "What... what is this?!" he exclaimed, trying in vain to crawl away.
Kokabiel, however, displayed a tone of euphoria and understanding in his voice, but his expression, to me at that moment, was simply nonexistent, as I could see his silhouette enveloped in energy, but no longer his features. "This power... This energy, these colors! HAHA, now everything makes sense, you are the descendant of that witch!"
Kokabiel continued to laugh madly, his body being consumed by a dark and sinister energy, feeding off the misery that permeated the environment. "It's useless to resist, Kuroto! Even with all this power, you can't undo death! She's already gone!"
Everything around me was immersed in an ocean of ethereal colors, energies circulating like invisible rivers. I could feel the power within me, a volcano ready to erupt, but at the same time, an astonishing clarity invaded my mind. "You... You will pay," I growled, my voice echoing like the roar of a dragon, making space vibrate with the intensity of my hatred.
Trying to control the immense energy that flooded me, I sought to absorb it by releasing my cursed energy, and it worked. The cursed energy seemed to consume the rainbow flame as fuel, and the pillar soon acquired the color of my cursed energy, disappearing quickly.
I advanced in the blink of an eye and hit Kokabiel's face with a punch, making him fly through the debris of the church, passing through several of its walls until he disappeared from sight. The impact created a shockwave that reverberated through the air, causing the debris to move and the remaining structures of the church to tremble.
Manuel, seeing Kokabiel being thrown away, tried to get up, terror stamped on his face. He knew he would be next.
"You... What are you?" he stuttered, looking at me with eyes filled with terror. The energy emanating from me was suffocating, an overwhelming pressure that seemed to distort the space around me.
"Me? I am just the child you used to bully," I replied, my voice deep and resonant, echoing through the debris of the church.
I walked up to Manuel, each step resonating with the power that flowed within me. The cursed energy emanated from my hands; mercilessly, I crushed Manuel's injured leg, looking at him with contempt.
His screams of agony intensified while my face, expressionless and furious, stared at him. I bent down to be at his height and said: "Don't think even for a moment that your death will be quick."
Manuel trembled, sweat, and blood mixed, running down his contorted face in pain. "You are not... human," he managed to murmur, eyes wide open, consumed by terror.
"Humanity?" I laughed, a deep and terrifying laugh that echoed through the ruined church. "Humanity was ripped away from me when you touched her, when the light in her eyes went out. No, Manuel, now I am something beyond, something your fragile mind will never be able to understand."
My hand tightened harder around Manuel's injured leg, letting the cursed energy flow through him, tormenting every fiber of his being with excruciating pain. "I will make you feel every atom of pain she endured, every moment of terror," I promised, my voice a storm of icy rage.
And so, I released even more of my dark energy, allowing the curse to slowly consume his body, each cell being annihilated by my fury. Manuel screamed, a tortured scream that reverberated through the church, but received no mercy. This was his punishment, the retribution for his evil.
The heavens seemed to echo my fury, black clouds gathering, lightning tearing through the skies. The reality around me seemed to oscillate, energies from distinct universes flowing through me, fueling my vengeance.
After long minutes of torture, I abandoned Manuel, his semi-conscious and trembling body lying on the dirty floor of the church. I turned in the direction where Kokabiel had been thrown, intent engraved in each step to hunt and destroy any enemy who dared cross my path.
Kokabiel was there, trying to compose himself, madness still residing in his eyes. He looked at me, a twisted smile adorning his face. "So, what will you do now? Will you spread chaos like the whore from whom you descend? Will you plunge the world into darkness with your new power?"
"I will avenge her death," I declared, pointing to Lisa's inert body. "But you don't deserve even a second of mercy."
Our gazes crossed, and the silence that followed was deafening. Only the sounds of settling debris and Manuel's distant screams broke that quietude.
Kokabiel, with a smile on his face, brought forth in his hands two blades made of dark energy. It was obvious what he wanted. "Let's see what you're made of, descendant."
With ridiculous speed, Kokabiel launched his strikes against me. With precise steps, I dodged each one, keeping my eyes firmly on him without even blinking. Kokabiel's energy, his fighting style, everything seemed clear to me, as if I were seeing in high definition.
I could anticipate each movement he made. It was as if I had access to a sea of information. Kokabiel's energy was intense, but seemed disordered. He relied only on his brute strength and speed, but I had something more in my favor.
My eyes, now capable of perceiving the flow of energy in its purest form, gave me an advantage. Whenever Kokabiel prepared to attack, I noticed a specific pattern of energy in his body. It was as if I could read his movements even before he executed them.
At one point, predicting his next move, I quickly shifted and held his wrist, preventing his dark energy blade from hitting me. With my other hand, I channeled my cursed energy directly into him, causing Kokabiel to release a scream of pain.
He tried to escape, but the firmness of my grip was relentless. The cursed energy devoured his hand and arm, dissolving skin and flesh with its brutal corrosion. His eyes, once overflowing with madness and arrogance, were now flooded with terror and despair.
"You... How...?" He stammered, his voice vibrating with the agony consuming his being.
"You will pay for killing her," I murmured, allowing each word to permeate the air with the promise of a dark revenge. "Do you really think that being a fallen, you are superior?"
I intensified the pressure on his wrist, feeling the bones yielding and crushing under the power of my hand. Kokabiel released a shrill scream, the last resistance shattering. With a violent and ruthless movement, I tore off his arm. "There goes one of your feathers, crow," I spoke, looking at him with icy contempt. He, in a desperate act, turned around, wings open, trying to escape the imminent torment.
With an agile leap, I reached him, firmly holding a pair of his wings. "I told you, I'll pluck you, you shitty crow," I yelled, and with a brutal pull, I shattered the wings I held, and a deafening scream tore the silence.
He plummeted, a heap of pain and despair, blood staining the ground, as I advanced, each step an echo of my cruel intent. The fallen, once a monument of power and vanity, now lay broken and shattered, a plaything at the feet of my vengeance.
"Please... spare me, for the love of God!" He begged, crawling pathetically, trying to escape my wrath.
I stopped, contemplating him with cutting disdain. "You dare ask for God's mercy? The God you betrayed? How ironic," I retorted with a deadly coldness in my voice.
He crawled, a trail of pathetic and desperate pleas filling the air, trying to escape the judgement of my eyes. "I... I was wrong," he admitted, his voice a trembling murmur of remorse. "Please, allow me to live."
Shaping a spear from the cursed energy, I pointed it at him, my eyes set with a grim determination. "Ask your father for mercy, not me," I declared.
The moment I prepared to deliver the final blow, a magical circle appeared beneath him. A smile twisted his face. "We will meet again, boy, and I will rip your head off," he promised.
My eyes widened, and with a fierce motion, I hurled the spear in his direction. An explosion of dust eclipsed the sight, and when the curtain dissipated, Kokabiel had disappeared. "YOU COWARD SON OF A BITCH! I WILL KILL YOU!" I screamed, each word impregnated with the promise of unyielding vengeance.
After Kokabiel's disappearance, a heavy and furious silence enveloped the devastated place. The sound of my heart beating resounded like a grim echo in my ears. I stood there, the spear imbued with my cursed energy firmly in my hands, the air around me pulsating with unreleased power, with insatiable fury.
The atmosphere seemed to share my anger, the clouds in the sky churned with heightened violence, and the winds howled frantically. My eyes fixated on the empty space where Kokabiel had escaped, a silent promise of revenge burning in my gaze.
"You won't escape, Kokabiel," I murmured to myself, feeling each word laden with the promise of retribution. "I will hunt you to the ends of this universe and beyond. You will pay for what you've done."
I took a deep breath, slowly, trying to regain some control over the chaotic energies that raged within me. I still saw the world in layers of energy, feeling the residue of Kokabiel's corrupt power, the pollution of his evil presence.
I turned my gaze to where Lisa lay. A wave of despair flooded my chest, the harsh reality of her absence began to settle in. I walked over to her, feeling a dull pain with each step.
I knelt beside her body, my eyes sliding over her peaceful face, an expression of peace contrasting with the chaos and violence surrounding us. I touched her face gently, feeling overwhelming sadness consume me.
"Lisa," I whispered, my voice choked by emotion, "I promise, they will pay. All of them." Tears flooded my eyes, and I embraced her, allowing the pain to take over, I cried like a child who has just lost their mother.
I stayed there for a while, until distant sirens began to invade my ears. Recalling the chaos we had caused, I realized that we had attracted the attention not only of the authorities. I got up, wiping my eyes, and gave Lisa one last kiss on the forehead, promising vengeance. "Know that I love you... and I won't rest until I exterminate that bastard. I know you wanted me to be happy, but I will only allow that to myself when I have avenged you."
With difficulty, I got up and ran away from the church, seeking refuge. After distancing myself a few blocks, I took shelter under a bridge, feeling my body on the verge of collapse. Exhaustion and the shock of the energies dominated me, spitting blood as I tried to keep myself standing. I looked at my reflection in a pool of blood, and the only thing I could perceive, besides my deplorable state, were my eyes "Blue...", I murmured, before darkness consumed me again.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Kuroto_Tennouji
Kuroto_Tennouji For those who can, donations are open to help a struggling author, here is the Patreon link for support:
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Hey yo! What’s up, guys! Sorry for the chapter delay, I tried to make a longer chapter and ended up with a double one, lol. But I hope many of you will like it. And yes, for those who were anxious about it, our dear Lisa has passed away. Everyone, please pay your respects in the comments and a moment of silence.
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Alright, getting back to the topic now, the style of the story will change since Kuroto’s values have changed, from an insecure person who was afraid of losing everything, to someone who has already lost everything. So, now expect him to be more rugged and unrestrained.
And yes, I'm thinking of doing a small ask me every 30 chapters, what do you think of this idea to clear up some doubts from the readers? Please give me your feedback.
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