At the center of the forest...
Just as General Hinomo and his men were about to eliminate their targets, Tuziku and Kutcher, Sailou—the captain of the Casoltins—appeared, instantly summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the earth and sent everyone flying.
"Shit... I might've gone overboard with that attack."
"I hope Tuziku and Kutcher weren't caught in it," Sailou muttered, a look of concern crossing his face.
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed from within the smoke.
A shadowy figure slowly emerged before finally stepping into view.
It was General Hinomo.
"That took you long enough..."
"So the captain finally decided to make an appearance, huh?" Hinomo grinned.
As the smoke continued to clear—
"Augh!"
"ARGHH!"
"Ahhh! My leg!"
The cries of injured soldiers filled the forest.
"You really did a number on my men, didn't you, Sailou?"
"I can't exactly let you kill my crew members, can I, Hinomo?" Sailou replied, cracking his neck.
"Tuziku! Kutcher!"
"...Don't tell me that was enough to kill you two."
Both Tuziku and Kutcher groaned as they struggled to their feet.
"Ugh... don't you think you may have overdone it a little, Sailou?" Kutcher asked.
Tuziku held his head.
"Sailou... we have to warn the rest of the crew. There are more of them!"
"Yeah, I'm well aware of that..." Sailou replied, his expression turning serious.
"Kutcher, take Tuziku and get out of here. Find the others."
Kutcher hesitated.
"Huh? But what about—"
"Kotcher, go. Now."
"I'll be fine," Sailou said with a small smile.
Kutcher stared at him for a moment before turning toward Tuziku.
"...Tuziku, let's go."
"We can't leave him behind," Tuziku insisted.
"We have to find the rest of the crew," Kutcher replied firmly.
"It's alright, Tuziku," Sailou assured him with a grin.
Tuziku met Sailou's gaze.
"...Alright. We'll be waiting for you."
With that, Tuziku and Kutcher ran off into the forest, hoping to reunite with the others.
Sailou forced a grin.
"Now then... I'm grateful to you for letting the kids go."
Hinomo laughed.
"You really shouldn't be thanking me."
"There's someone almost as strong as I am waiting in their direction."
An eerie smile spread across his face.
Sailou clenched his fist.
"How did you guys find us?!"
Without warning, Hinomo charged forward and launched himself into the air.
"Let's not drag this out!"
Laughing maniacally, he threw a devastating punch.
"Die, you bastard!"
Sailou quickly stepped back.
THUD!
CRACK!
The punch smashed into the ground, shattering the earth on impact.
This guy is the worst possible opponent for my ability...
"Don't you dare think about running, Sailou!" Hinomo shouted.
"We still have to settle the score from our fight three years ago!"
"I thought that was already settled after I left you lying in a pool of blood," Sailou replied with a grin.
Hinomo shook his head.
"No, no..."
"You ran away just before we got to the fun part, remember?"
He burst forward again.
"So let's settle it now!"
WHACK!
"Urgh!"
Sailou blocked the punch—
Yet the force still launched him into a nearby tree.
CRACK!
THUD!
The tree split apart and crashed to the ground.
Sailou's arms trembled.
I blocked it... and still took this much damage?!
"I've gotten much, much stronger since our last fight, Sailou!" Hinomo declared excitedly.
Sailou slowly stood and raised his fist toward the sky.
"Divine Lightning Fist!"
CRACK—BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, coating his right arm.
"Yes...!"
"That looks strong!" Hinomo's grin widened.
Sailou dashed forward.
His arm transformed into a blade of pure lightning.
I'll finish this in one strike!
Hinomo threw a punch just before the attack connected.
WHOOSH!
Sailou slipped past it.
Then—
SHHK!
His lightning blade pierced straight through Hinomo's neck.
GHK—!
Blood erupted from Hinomo's mouth and throat.
SPLASH!
THUD!
His body collapsed to the ground.
Sailou stood over him, watching as he choked on his own blood.
Ghrk...!
Is he dead for good this time?
Hinomo's body gradually went still.
His eyes remained wide open.
"...Looks like he's dead for good," Sailou muttered.
He turned away.
Then—
"GHHAAA—!!"
Hinomo's chest suddenly expanded as he sucked in a violent breath.
"Hahahaha..."
He began laughing.
Sailou slowly turned around—
And froze.
Hinomo was standing.
The wound in his neck had completely vanished.
His body had expanded dramatically.
Muscles bulged beneath his skin.
Veins pulsed across his body.
His frame was nearly twice its original size.
"There's no way..."
"How are you alive?!" Sailou asked in disbelief.
"Mmm..."
"Now this is getting fun," Hinomo said, his grin stretching unnaturally wide.
Dammit...
It's just like last time...
Is he immortal?!
Hinomo Natsushi, General of FADA's Elite Defense Force Unit 4, age twenty-eight.
He possessed a rare and absurd Abyssal Ability.
"I call it..."
"ENHANCE!"
"Every time I'm fatally wounded, I grow stronger!"
However, there was a cost.
A cost even Hinomo himself failed to recognize.
Each time the ability activated, his mind deteriorated.
His emotions fractured.
His sanity slipped further away.
Yet Hinomo continued abusing the ability.
He welcomed injury.
Refused to dodge attacks.
And sought near-death experiences whenever possible.
Over time, he became unstable.
A sociopath.
A man slowly losing himself to madness.
Back with Sailou—
Sailou stared at him in shock.
His muscles...
His veins...
It's like his entire body is overflowing with power.
Hinomo drooled slightly as he laughed.
"Try not to die too quickly, Sailou!"
FWOOSH—!
He launched himself into the air before bringing both massive fists crashing downward.
"ARGHH!!"
THUD—!!
CRACK—!!
The ground exploded beneath the impact.
Everything within a twenty-meter radius shook violently as dust erupted into the air.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" Hinomo roared.
"STOP HIDING!"
As the dust began to settle, Hinomo spotted Sailou standing atop a distant tree branch.
Completely unharmed.
The General sneered.
Sailou raised his arm.
"FATE STRIKE!!"
CRACK—BOOM!!
Lightning descended from the heavens and slammed directly into Hinomo.
The surrounding bushes ignited instantly, while a nearby tree burst into flames.
Sailou panted heavily.
Now's my chance to get out of here before he recovers.
There's no way I can beat him like this.
I need to regroup with the others.
Without hesitation, Sailou turned and fled.
Meanwhile...
As Tuziku and Kutcher desperately ran through the forest, attempting to escape—
They suddenly came to a halt.
"No..."
"This can't be happening..."
Tuziku's face filled with terror.
Standing before them was a slender man dressed in white robes, his long white hair flowing behind him.
General Ishimi.
And behind him—
Over seventy armed soldiers.
CHK—!
Weapons were raised.
Barrels aimed.
"Kutcher..."
"What are we going to do?!" Tuziku panicked.
He turned—
And froze.
Kutcher stood completely still.
His body trembled.
Blood continued to drip from his wounds.
His eyes remained locked forward.
He was utterly petrified.
"Soldiers..." Ishimi spoke calmly.
"Kill them instantly."
At that moment, only one thought crossed Tuziku's mind.
This has to be a nightmare...
CHAPTER END.