Volume 7 – Chapter 25 – Part 8 – Moving Parts, Devil’s Determination

Third Person Point of View

— ○ ● ○ —

Later that day, with the sounds of a roaring crowd surrounding him, Sairaorg Bael beat his opponent in the tournament with one powerful strike. The force of his fist was enough to send the other fighter flying backwards and landing hard on the ground, defeated.

[And another one goes down!! Warrior Bael has defeated yet another opponent with a single punch! Can anyone even hope to stop this man!?] the announcer screamed, excitement dripping from his voice, as the shouts of the crowd vibrated throughout the entire arena. The noise was almost deafening, a mix of cheers and gasps from those who watched the fight.

Sairaorg lowered his head a bit before walking off the stage, a strange feeling gripping him. He knew that the rest of his team, who'd come to this planet with him, were doing far more significant work, aiding the Resistances' fight while he was stuck in this tournament.

However, he also understood that he had a role to play. He was attracting attention, pulling it away from his comrades. Of course, Anran Wu was also competing, and the two would eventually clash in this tournament, even if they were teammates. That fact sat heavy with him.

He eventually reached the area near the room he was using while he waited for his next fight in the tournament. But he spotted Anran Wu leaning against the wall just beside it, her arms crossed and her expression serious.

"Anran Wu, is something up? Did you get any news from Aaron and the rest of the group?" Sairaorg asked, moving toward her. Regulus stepped out from behind Sairaorg, walking beside his Master, the small lion keeping alert, observing Anran.

"Yeah, quite a few things happened earlier this morning, and I've been keeping up with it," she stated, gesturing for him to enter the room.

They entered and locked the door. Once inside, they put up a barrier around it, shielding them from eavesdroppers. Anran then told Sairaorg all the events that had happened since the last time they spoke, Sairaorg nodding along as she spoke, the information solidifying in his mind. She finished speaking, and a brief silence filled the space between them.

"We just need to keep doing our jobs. I can sense at least two strong powers in this arena. There's no doubt that one, maybe two, of the remaining generals are here," Sairaorg remarked, his eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the implications of that information. He knew the tournament was about to get a lot more dangerous.

"Right… well, I should go," she said, opening the door before stopping. "When we end up facing each other in the tournament, I don't want you to hold back. I really want to see how far I've come and you're one of those people I'm very interested in fighting." She stepped out of the doorway slightly, wanting a reaction.

"Of course, holding back would be disrespectful to both you and me," Sairaorg answered without turning toward her, his gaze still focused on the floor, his mind already processing the information she had given him. He continued his thought process, thinking deeper about the situation they were facing.

After that, Anran Wu went out, closing the door behind her, and the protective barrier dissolved. Sairaorg stared at the floor, trying to figure out the identities of the two powerful individuals in the arena, his thought process being disturbed by Regulus.

[Do you think anyone else slipped into this planet to cause us trouble, Sairaorg-sama?] Regulus asked, observing his master with his bright green eyes, his small body almost trembling with tension. He was anxious because of the information they had just received.

Sairaorg looked at the small orange-haired boy that was his Sacred Gear and shook his head slowly. "No, Aaron would have informed us about it if that were the case. So, I find it very unlikely. Unless, he chose to withhold this information, letting us try and find it ourselves. Though I don't believe that is the case this time." He was sure that his friend would never do something like this.

Sairaorg sat down, lost in his thoughts, trying to understand the situation they were in, while Regulus also sat down beside him, mirroring his master's behavior, his small brow furrowed as he, too, processed the information.

They sat in silence, letting the weight of the unknown sink in, both focused and contemplating everything they had learned.

This went on for several minutes, the quiet of the room only interrupted by their occasional sighs until Sairaorg's name was announced on the speaker system in the room. The tone of the announcer was excited as he waited for Sairaorg to enter the arena again.

"Shall we get going then?" Sairaorg said, a rhetorical question, not truly expecting an answer from Regulus, but more to break the silence that hung in the air, and to prepare himself for what was coming. He knew that each fight was becoming more important.

Regulus silently agreed, his usual energetic attitude somewhat diminished by the seriousness of the situation, and they both stood and left the room to go fight another match. The preliminaries were nearing their end, and the main event of the tournament would begin soon.

Sairaorg thought it wouldn't last this long, but it was mentioned that the number of people who'd signed up this year was far more than in previous years. He understood that the tournament would become even more intense from now on.

— ○ ● ○ —

Anran Wu evaded a strong punch from her opponent, the force of the blow sending a shockwave behind her, making the air around her vibrate. She immediately ducked low, sweeping her leg across her opponent's leg to unbalance him, before following up with a powerful palm strike to his chest. She channeled her energy into the blow, amplifying the impact and making the strike that much more destructive.

The opponent, showing impressive resilience, managed to cover their body with their own energy, mitigating some of the damage from the strike. He dug his feet into the arena stage, forcing himself to remain in place, preventing himself from being knocked out of the arena. He showed signs of strain, but he was still standing.

Anran Wu's opponent, a large man with a very muscular build, standing at seven feet eleven inches, charged back toward her. His fists were raised, a bright emerald energy covering them, and the energy quickly transformed into enormous emerald gauntlets, surrounding his fists. The gauntlets looked menacing, ready to unleash chaos.

He slammed the oversized gauntlets down toward Anran, who jumped out of the way. She responded by doing swinging motions with her arms, unleashing crane-like energy constructs towards her opponent. He looked up at the incoming attack and fired multiple shockwave blasts from his own gauntlets, the two attacks colliding midair with an intense explosion of energy.

Before the dust could settle from the collision of their attacks, Anran Wu charged toward her opponent again, raising her right fist high, then hurling it forward like a cannonball. Her opponent, confident in his strength, had already anticipated this move, throwing his own gauntlet-covered fist toward her, a smirk playing on his face. He was sure that he was about to win this exchange.

In the large man's mind, he had already won this encounter because he believed he was physically superior, and with his gauntlets adding power, he was sure he would smash her. He already pictured himself as the victor of the match, having crushed his opponent with brute strength and his powerful gauntlets.

Yet, the moment her fist made contact with his gauntlet, his gauntlet exploded into pieces, sending shards of metal and energy flying everywhere. He felt his fingers, fist, and arm's bones shatter into millions of pieces, a searing, agonizing pain flooding his entire being.

He was thrown backward with incredible force. He screamed continuously, the pain was unbearable, before crashing out of the arena and slamming into the arena wall, the agonizing screams not stopping, his body in shambles from the raw power of the attack.

Anran Wu had wanted to gauge the strength of her opponent, so she had held back in the first few exchanges, testing his capabilities. But she quickly changed her approach after remembering the urgency of her mission, realizing that the man in front of her wasn't a worthy opponent.

She decided to end the fight swiftly and without any more wasted effort, her power far exceeding his own, resulting in a devastating one-sided fight.

[T-the winner is Warrior Anran Wu!! She's taken down another crowd favorite in just a few moves!] the announcer exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement and surprise.

His words were followed by even louder screams from the audience, a mix of awe, shock and admiration, the crowd had been blown away by the speed and power of Anran's fighting style. [With this, the preliminaries have officially concluded! Starting later today, we will be conducting the main stage matches!! Get ready for an intense showdown!]

Another large cheer erupted from the crowd, a surge of energy filling the arena. They had mostly enjoyed the preliminaries, finding them entertaining, but many of the fights were underwhelming, with a few exceptions.

However, now, the real entertainment that everyone had been waiting for was about to begin, the main stage fights of the tournament! The anticipation was almost palpable, the audience eager to see the stronger fighters clash.

Anran Wu bowed her head toward her defeated opponent before leaving the arena floor. Once she left the arena completely, her first destination was a food stand, as she was quite hungry after using so much energy during the fight.

She quickly scanned the area, and after spotting a vendor that looked promising, she bought some food and walked away, eating as she went.

Many people noticed her moving through the crowd and gushed from a distance, some even waving at her. Anran responded with a smile and a small wave of her own, showing her appreciation for the attention she had gotten from the crowd, showing the crowd that she was a humble and likable individual.

She arrived at a bench, deciding it was the perfect spot to eat her food. As she ate, she also scanned the entire area, observing the people around her, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Even though her role wasn't to actively look for threats, she couldn't help it, it was her sense of responsibility pushing her, always wanting to be ready for the unexpected.

She didn't see anyone she considered "suspicious," but she did notice a few strong fighters who she might end up facing later in the tournament.

This knowledge ignited excitement within her, but the one she truly wanted to fight and test her abilities against was Sairaorg. She had a burning need to gauge his strength.

Anran Wu really wanted to fight Sairaorg when he was using his Sacred Gear, wanting to push him to his limits. She also doubted that she would be able to do this, since she understood that the difference in their powers was huge, his potential far exceeding her own.

While she was sitting there, eating and lost in her thoughts, she was approached by someone.

That person was an older woman, around her forties, and she looked visibly angry at Anran. Before Anran could say anything, the woman spoke, her voice filled with an edge of desperation.

"Lose. If you do not, it will ruin my family." With those words, the woman walked away, leaving Anran Wu stunned and confused by the bizarre encounter and the threatening words.

She frowned, watching as the woman walked away, confusion and irritation mixing inside her. "That's not going to happen… I have no idea what is going on within your household, but I won't purposely lose this match, not for anyone, regardless of your situation. I'm sorry," she said quietly, mostly to herself, trying to understand the woman's desperate plea.

With that new resolve forming in her mind, she continued eating, but her thoughts were now centered on the reasons why the woman would approach her and tell her to lose the match, the situation making no sense to her. She knew that people had their own personal reasons, but this seemed different.

Her contemplation was abruptly broken when she looked up to her right. Her eyes met with those of someone she was vaguely familiar with, one of Virion's Generals, Liora. Much like her name suggested, she was a humanoid being with the features of a lion, the aura around her felt aggressive and dominating.

Most of her facial features were human-like, but she also possessed the ears and tail of a lion. Her pupils were also slits, like those of a predator, as she stared down at Anran Wu, making Anran feel uneasy, even from this distance.

From her sitting position, Anran could see that Liora was wearing her usual gold and black battle attire, which befit a high-ranking commander, along with her same signature hat. The uniform gave Liora an aura of authority, her posture was erect, her expression stern and unyielding. The woman had power emanating from her.

Liora kept staring Anran for a few more seconds, her look intense and sharp, before finally turning around and walking away. Anran let out a sigh of relief, realizing that she had been holding her breath during their brief stare down, the intensity of Liora's presence was very unnerving, it made her feel small, but also intrigued her.

"...So, she's one of the generals that I might face during the main stage matches," she mumbled quietly to herself, her voice barely a whisper, as she processed the encounter. She was certain that Liora would be a troublesome opponent.

In the past, she never would have imagined herself being able to go up against any of Virion's generals, but now she felt a sense of anticipation and excitement at the possibility of fighting them.

Yes, she was aware she might get hurt during the fight, but that possibility was still something she would prefer, rather than living in fear of the powerful individuals she's bound to face sooner or later.

Anran clenched her fist, her excitement building as she considered the possibility of fighting Liora, a smile forming on her face. "I want to fight her…" she whispered to herself, her fighting spirit beginning to awaken and fill her with determination. She craved the challenge and the opportunity to test her skills against one of the very best.

She finally calmed herself down and returned to eating her food. She knew that there was nothing she could do now, other than to wait and see how the rest of the day would unfold, knowing that it would be full of exciting and dangerous encounters.

— ○ ● ○ —

An hour before the start of the main stage tournament, Anran Wu, Sairaorg, and Regulus met up at a nearby restaurant, wanting to get together before the chaos began again. The restaurant was filled with chatter and excited murmurs, as many people came to eat before the tournament was about to continue.

"Any new news from the others?" Sairaorg questioned, his tone calm and composed, before he took a sip of his drink. His eyes were narrowed slightly, waiting for any details that might have come up.

"I got word from Aoife that they are starting another investigation in a different location on this planet, but that's all. She mentioned that we should just focus on our roles here and let them do their thing," Anran explained, going through the message she had received, making sure that nothing was left out.

Sairaorg listened carefully, nodding his head as he processed the information. "Then, we'll follow her orders. Make sure you get to the finals, Anran Wu, because I'll be waiting for you there. Whoever wins that fight will have the chance to go up against Virion himself," he said, his eyes closed and his arms crossed, exuding an air of calm confidence that always seemed to surround him.

"Of course, you know I'll be there. Just make sure you don't lose either," she replied, a determined smile forming on her face, feeling excited by the challenge that Sairaorg had given her, the anticipation of the fight was making her restless.

Regulus could feel the intense energy of their silent challenge, understanding the competitive bond between them. He decided not to say a word, realizing it was a moment best left between the two warriors. He felt like it wasn't his place to interrupt, he just allowed the powerful auras of the two warriors to speak for themselves.

After talking to each other for a little while longer, they decided to go their separate ways, each of them needing to prepare themselves for the next fights, and made their way back to the arena. The atmosphere inside was buzzing with anticipation as everyone waited for the main event to start.

What they found out earlier, as they waited for the start of the main stage tournament, was that there were a total of eight warriors left, including themselves, which meant there were six others who were still competing.

One of the six was a general, and another was a general's disciple who was also considered incredibly powerful, making it difficult to gauge who would come out on top.

They were also informed that a total of two matches would be done for the rest of the day. The remaining matches would happen the following day, but even with this limited amount of matches, the crowd was very excited for what was to come, the energy of the audience was undeniable.

Sairaorg and Anran Wu went to their own designated rooms since they did not know if they would be one of the two that may be called to fight in today's first two matches. They had to be prepared, no matter what might happen, since they were not going to be caught off guard.

[Ladies and gentlemen! You know what time it is, so I won't delay it further! Can Warrior Anran Wu and Warrior Uligo please come to the arena stage!!] the announcer shouted enthusiastically through the speakers, his voice filled with the thrill of the competition and the anticipation of the audience, his words echoing throughout the arena.

Upon hearing that announcement, Anran Wu let out a small sigh, she knew that she was going to be one of the first ones to start the main stage matches. She didn't know anything about the warrior called Uligo, but she was determined to win, no matter what this opponent might throw at her. Her mind was set on victory.

She walked towards the arena floor, and at the other end, she saw Uligo, already waiting. He was a tall, thin man, his appearance resembling what [Team DxD] would call a "ninja," a fact that intrigued Anran.

She assumed it was because Phumera's organization had copied and incorporated elements from different universes they had conquered, a scary thought as it implied how many of them they had overtaken.

However, what stood out was the tail behind the man and the sharp blades that were attached to his arms, which made him a bit more unique, giving a predatory feeling. His weapons were very different from what Anran had encountered before. She had to be wary of them.

"Are both fighters ready!?" the arbiter asked loudly, making sure that the both of them were prepared to fight. Both of them nodded their heads in confirmation, showing that they were ready. "Then…begin!" he shouted, swinging his arm down to signal the start of the match, the crowd erupting into cheers as the match was about to start.

The man made rapid symbols with his hands, his fingers moving with incredible speed, before his eyes glowed a menacing red color. "Expand," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper, before the entire arena was encased in a large dome of impenetrable darkness, completely surprising everyone, and leaving them disoriented by the sudden change.

[Ooooh! I can't see a thing?! What kind of move did Warrior Uligo just use?!] the announcer shouted, his voice filled with surprise and confusion. He seemed as puzzled as the rest of the audience by the sudden change in the arena.

"An Amplifica…!?" Anran Wu exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock, realizing that the sudden move was similar to the techniques used by powerful warriors in her own universe. The ability was both impressive and terrifying, the knowledge of this ability set her on edge.

Her instincts suddenly screamed at her, warning her of danger, so she jumped up and back, just barely avoiding an attack from Uligo. His body flew past the spot she had been standing in, his blades narrowly missing her by a fraction of an inch. The attack was fast and precise, showing Uligo's incredible skill as an assassin.

Anran Wu spun in the air, and unleashed energy blasts, shaped like cranes, toward the spot where Uligo had been. But the man suddenly vanished into nothingness in the darkness, leaving no trace behind. She clicked her tongue in frustration as she landed back on the ground, she was not happy with the situation that she was currently in.

Suddenly, multiple copies of Uligo appeared all around her, their eyes glowing a menacing red, the figures moving with incredible speed before they charged at her, each of them holding their blades ready to strike.

Anran frowned, seeing that he was able to create clones of himself, but she didn't panic, her mind remained calm as she focused her energy into her palms, then quickly made motions around her entire body, creating a circle.

The speed at which she did this was incredibly fast, almost too fast for the human eye to follow, and from the momentum she had created, she generated a barrier around herself, using her energy to repel the attacks made by all of the Uligo clones. The energy barrier was a clear white color, contrasting the darkness that surrounded them.

The assassin was visibly surprised as his copies were repelled away, the force of Anran's barrier causing the blades attached to his arms to crack, surprising him even more.

He landed back on the ground, a grimace on his face, before creating even more copies of himself, the figures appearing once more around the arena, before unleashing powerful energy blasts made of pure darkness towards Anran Wu's barrier.

The dark energy blasts quickly shaped themselves into wolves, each of them howling menacingly, as they repeatedly slammed against her barrier, trying to break through. But much to Uligo's frustration, the barrier held strong, not showing any signs of wavering under the assault. Anran suddenly stopped generating the barrier and vanished from the spot, and before Uligo could even react, he felt a powerful palm strike his chest, the force of the blow blasting him away like a ragdoll.

Uligo managed to dig his feet into the arena floor, stopping himself from being knocked out of the ring, but before he could react, another powerful palm strike slammed into his face, sending him stumbling backward and momentarily dazing him.

The force of the blow reverberated through his body. He tried to block the incoming attacks, but maintaining the darkness-filled arena was draining a significant amount of his energy, forcing him to make a quick decision.

He could either maintain the darkness, giving him an advantage in the fight, or take it down, exposing himself and potentially losing even faster. He didn't have much time to weigh his options, so he chose the latter.

He quickly canceled his technique, the darkness receding, revealing the full arena to everyone, and managed to slip away from Anran Wu's immediate attack.

Using a speed-enhancing technique, he teleported himself to the other side of the arena. However, he barely had a chance to turn around before Anran Wu charged at him, her fist blazing with energy and aimed directly at his face.

Uligo raised his arms, his blades extended to block her attack, hoping to deflect her blows, but the blades shattered the moment Anran Wu's fist connected, the force of the impact being overwhelming.

Anran Wu, not giving him a moment to recover, threw another powerful punch towards Uligo, breaking the bones in his left arm before spinning around and delivering a devastating roundhouse kick directly to his chest.

The kick connected with a loud crack, sending Uligo flying through the air as he coughed up blood, the force of the attack making it almost impossible for him to stand.

Uligo was launched out of the rectangular arena and slammed against the hard walls, the impact knocking him completely unconscious, immediately granting Anran Wu the win.

A brief moment of silence overtook the arena as everyone processed what they had just witnessed before it erupted into loud cheers and applause, showing their appreciation for the intense display of power.

She stood there, letting out a sigh of relief as she realized that she had managed to end the fight in just under two minutes. She didn't expect the fight to be overly difficult, but she also wasn't expecting Uligo to use an Amplifica right at the start.

She was relieved that she managed to counter it with her quick thinking and her raw power, she decided that maybe she and Uligo were just simply incompatible fighters, as their fighting styles were like oil and water.

[The winner is Warrior Anran Wu! She takes down another opponent with little to no effort! Will there be a worthy opponent for her anytime soon!?] the announcer exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement, while he was also joining in with the cheering crowd. The announcer seemed as amazed by Anran's power as everyone else.

Anran Wu left the arena floor as the medical team rushed in to assist Uligo, who was still unconscious after the devastating fight.

As soon as she stepped into the hallway for the competitors, she felt a sudden chill, the air around her seeming to drop in temperature, and looked in the direction it was coming from. She knew that this chill was not natural.

There she saw Liora staring directly at her, her expression intense and unreadable, before she turned and walked past Anran, the large feline tail swishing behind her. As soon as Liora was gone, the next announcement was made, catching Anran's attention.

[Ladies and gentlemen, the next and final match for today is…between Warrior Beyten, who has won many of his matches using his impressive speed and regenerative abilities, and…someone many of us know already…and that is…! The Piercing Claw herself, General Liora!!] the announcer shouted, his voice booming throughout the arena, and from Anran Wu's spot in the hallway, the entire building shook from the intensity of the crowd's excitement, clearly showing their interest in this particular match.

Anran quickly made her way to her room, making sure she didn't leave anything important behind before leaving once more. She went to the stands to watch the fight in person, wanting to see how a general of Virion's army fought, and found Sairaorg and Regulus already there, waiting for the match to begin.

She found a seat near them and prepared herself for the spectacle that was about to unfold.

Sairaorg narrowed his eyes, his focus locked on the two warriors who were standing at opposite ends of the arena, preparing to fight, before saying, "This won't last long." His voice was calm, but it had an undertone of certainty and anticipation, he was eager to see how this fight would unfold, and he was already sure about its conclusion.

Anran Wu, caught off guard by his statement, asked, "What do you mean? Is the difference between them that much? I know Lord Virion's generals are incredibly powerful, but Beyten is also quite strong from what I have seen, he's not someone who should be taken lightly." She was unsure if she should trust Sairaorg's assessment, even though he was usually right about these things.

"I can feel it. Surely you can too, right? Do not try to understand it using your mind or logic, feel it with your body, your soul, and your spirit as a warrior should," Sairaorg replied, his gaze never leaving Liora, his body language was relaxed, but his eyes were focused. He could feel the power difference, and he was confident in what he was saying.

Anran Wu fell silent, understanding that Sairaorg had a point. Logic could only go so far, and as a warrior herself, she knew exactly what he meant, the importance of trusting her instincts, rather than just relying on her sight and hearing, and after hearing numerous tales about Liora from Raerea and Virion, she shouldn't have been as surprised by his assessment. She had to trust her honed instincts.

"Are both warriors ready!?" the arbiter asked, his voice loud and clear, as he eyed them both, making sure that they were both prepared to begin the match. He wanted to make sure that there was no hesitation from either side.

Liora crossed her arms, her posture relaxed, but those who were trained could see that she was completely focused, her body language showing that she was aware of all her surroundings. Beyten tensed up, preparing himself for a fast attack, and brought out his weapons: a dagger and a sword. A strange combination, but it worked well for his unique fighting style. Then, both warriors nodded at the same time, showing their readiness to fight.

"Begin!" the arbiter shouted, swinging his arm down to signal the start of the match. The audience erupted in cheers, eager to see the clash between the two competitors.

Immediately after, Beyten charged at Liora, appearing beside her in an instant, before swiping his weapons towards her. Liora's eyes glowed golden just before Beyten's strike was blocked by a strange, unseen force, completely shocking him. He was not expecting his fast attack to be blocked.

Before Beyten could even react, Liora's leg slammed into his face, sending him flying back with immense force, while also creating a powerful backdraft behind herself. Beyten temporarily lost consciousness from the powerful blow. But he quickly regained his senses, before throwing his weapons towards the arena floor.

There were chains attached to them. As soon as they dug themselves into the arena floor, the chains acted like anchors, stopping his momentum. He managed to land on the ground, his face feeling incredibly sore and throbbing from the powerful kick he had received.

Beyten began swinging his weapons around, both the dagger and sword being flung around by the chains he used to stop himself from flying away. He then stomped on the ground, and large swords erupted from the ground around them, as he dashed towards Liora once again, his attacks now more aggressive.

The swords surrounding them suddenly came out of the ground and flew towards Liora, aiming to pierce her from all directions. However, Liora didn't move a muscle, she simply stayed where she was, her body completely relaxed and her expression unreadable.

Before the attacks and Beyten could get too close, she vanished, leaving a small golden glimmer behind, confusing and shocking him with her sudden disappearance.

However, Beyten suddenly felt a powerful fist slam into his stomach, the force of the blow knocking the wind out of him and launching him high into the sky.

Liora calmly stared at Beyten's body as it ascended into the air, her gaze unwavering and her posture still relaxed, before thrusting her hands forward, shaping them into the form of a lion's head.

She then muttered something under her breath, a powerful incantation, before an enormous energy attack, shaped like a golden lion, flew out of her, its roar echoing throughout the entire arena. The attack slammed into Beyten's body, creating a powerful and enormous explosion in the sky, a bright flash of light that briefly blinded everyone.

Once the light from the enormous explosion dissipated, Beyten's body slammed back to the ground, completely unmoving, his limbs bent in unnatural directions.

The arena fell silent for a few seconds, the crowd stunned by what they had just witnessed, before a few gasps were heard, followed by the sound of cheering echoing all around, as the crowd showed their appreciation for Liora's overwhelming victory, her power being something they had never seen before.

Liora slowly turned her attention towards both Sairaorg and Anran Wu who were staring at her back, their expressions showing a mix of awe and determination.

It was as if she was silently challenging them, knowing that they were the only two who remained in the tournament that had the potential to defeat her.

Whoever fought her first would experience her overwhelming power. Sairaorg and Anran Wu both wanted to fight her, but for different reasons.

While what had happened to Beyten was a tragedy, Sairaorg viewed it as a warrior's death, albeit one that was a little bit sadder than normal.

He wanted to test his strength against Liora, to see just how far he could go without Regulus' help, even though he already had an idea of how the fight would probably play out. His competitive nature and warrior spirit urging him to fight the strongest possible person.

Anran Wu, on the other hand, saw this as a brutal act, finding it unnecessary to kill in a tournament. She wanted to get revenge for the dead man, her anger at Liora's actions causing her to want to fight her even more. The sight of Beyten's body had lit a fire inside her and she was ready to take the fight to Liora.

— ○ ● ○ —

The next day arrived quickly, and that night, Aaron's team met up again and discussed everything they had uncovered, agreeing that they would continue their work while keeping everyone updated.

Aaron also emphasized the importance of Sairaorg, Regulus, and Anran Wu drawing everyone's attention in the coming days so that they wouldn't get caught up with what they were trying to do. They knew that their plan was extremely dangerous and secrecy was key.

Right now, Anran Wu and Sairaorg were watching two competitors battle it out in the arena. Both were formidable warriors, displaying impressive skills, but nothing too special compared to the power they had already seen, making them believe that both might be knocked out of the tournament soon.

In total, there would only be six competitors left, since two had been defeated the day before, bringing the total amount down to just a handful.

Today, there would be a total of three matches, which would knock three more competitors out, reducing the amount to three. The next day would be the final day of the tournament, with the remaining three warriors competing to see who would win the tournament, the stakes having become incredibly high.

The crowd suddenly erupted into cheers as the winner of the match was announced, meaning the second match of the day would start very soon. Anran Wu wondered when it would be Sairaorg's turn to fight, her mind already thinking of different ways to defeat him, as she watched the screen from the comfort of her waiting room. She was eager to fight.

[Next up, a very famous warrior that everyone is familiar with—a man with pride, ambition, and righteousness. It's none other than Warrior Sairaorg Bael!!] the announcer shouted enthusiastically, his voice booming throughout the arena, as Sairaorg, with Regulus walking beside him, stepped onto the arena floor. The crowd erupted into cheers, eager to see what Sairaorg could do this time.

[His opponent is also a very powerful warrior, hailing from the western half of our cosmos, we have a known genius, Kroyto! The Mad Titan of the Abyss!] the announcer shouted, excitement dripping from his voice, as a man stepped out from the other tunnel, his presence immediately demanding attention.

He had the same muscular build as Sairaorg, with purple eyes, long black hair with streaks of red, and gauntlets around his arms that resembled the [Boosted Gear], but these were a pitch-black color, which caught Sairaorg's attention. The gauntlets were emitting a strange, ominous aura.

Both men stared at one another, their gazes locked, not saying a single word. The silence between them was heavy and full of tension. The arbiter looked at them both nervously, sensing the power that was radiating off them, and asked, "Are both warriors ready!?" His voice was filled with a hint of apprehension.

Neither of them moved for a second, the silence hanging in the air. Then, the arbiter raised his arm, and swung it down, shouting, "Begin!!" The crowd roared with anticipation, excited to see the start of the match.

In a split second, both Sairaorg and Kroyto vanished from their spots, their speed too fast for the human eye to properly follow, and then a powerful shockwave erupted from the center of the arena, shaking the very ground. The force of the impact sent ripples of energy throughout the arena.

The crowd screamed in a mix of excitement and horror as both Sairaorg and Kroyto's fists collided head-on with one another, the force of the blow creating a loud booming sound. That single, earth-shattering exchange was enough to get everyone excited, their anticipation rising as they wondered how this fight would ultimately turn out.

Sairaorg was surprised by the sheer force of Kroyto's fist, realizing that he was someone who could match him in power, but he quickly increased his own strength in response.

He didn't use magic enhancements or even his touki, he just relied on his own raw strength and his determination, and it worked, he overpowered Kroyto and sent him flying back.

However, the setback didn't deter Kroyto at all, instead, it made him smile at Sairaorg, a sinister grin spreading across his face, before bringing both of his gauntlets to his sides and—

[Boost!] both gauntlets announced at the same time, their voices almost identical to one another, shocking Sairaorg, and even Regulus, who had stayed behind, stared at the gauntlets in complete shock and disbelief.

They had just replicated one of the [Boosted Gear]'s main abilities, [Boost], doubling its user's strength. It was an unexpected turn of events.

After both Sairaorg and Regulus' initial shock wore off, Sairaorg charged back at Kroyto, throwing a powerful punch at him. Kroyto raised both his gauntlets up, trying to block Sairaorg's attack, but was shocked to feel that the man had once again increased his power. The force of the blow was far more than he had anticipated.

His entire body shook violently as he was blown backward, the impact causing his bones to rattle. He let out a click of the tongue, annoyed at the fact that he was being overpowered, before slamming his feet hard onto the ground.

He barely managed to stop himself from being knocked out of the arena, his pride refusing to allow such a pathetic end to his tournament run.

[Dash!] the gauntlets suddenly shouted, the sound echoing throughout the arena, and Kroyto was launched forward with even greater speed than before.

Yet, Sairaorg was ready for it, blocking the punch that came next, then twisting his body to slam his leg onto Kroyto's back. But he was shocked when his attack was blocked.

A strange, pitch black tree branch had shot out of Kroyto's back, acting like a living armor, and blocked Sairaorg's attack with an unexpected amount of resistance.

Before the branch could grab Sairaorg's leg, he jumped away, observing Kroyto with narrowed eyes, realizing that his opponent was far more dangerous than he had previously believed. He had to be wary.

Sairaorg silently let out a breath, his expression calm, before closing his eyes, focusing his energy inward. He then enhanced his entire body using magic, his muscles visibly tensing, before disappearing from sight once more, his speed far surpassing what it was before.

Kroyto couldn't react in time as Sairaorg's fist slammed directly into his face, the force of the blow sending him crashing into the ground again. He coughed out blood once his body hit the ground, feeling incredibly dazed and disoriented.

He had expected an increase in strength from his opponent again, but not to this degree, his mind trying to catch up to the sudden increase in power.

But, the strange tree branches shot out of Kroyto's body once again, aiming to grab Sairaorg and restrain him, but the man leapt away, avoiding their grasp, his agility and speed proving to be too much. Kroyto slowly stood back up, his body trembling with pain, as he glared at Sairaorg with newfound intensity.

"No choice then…" he muttered, his voice filled with a dark determination, before bringing his arms into an x shape and shouting, "Abyss…break!"

His entire body exploded, engulfing the immediate area into a dense darkness, a suffocating black mass that seemed to consume everything. But the darkness didn't last long, as it all rushed back into Kroyto's body, slowly forming into a pitch-black armor that had menacing tree branches jutting out of every part of his body.

[Abyss break?] Regulus repeated, his voice filled with confusion, trying to understand what the man had just said. The term was completely new to him, and the sudden change in Kroyto had caught him off guard.

"It seems like… that's what Aaron was talking about quite a while ago. This universe's own Sacred Gear system has been fully realized, or at the very least, they have sent out prototypes to be tested, and it seems this is one of them," Sairaorg remarked, his eyes narrowed, as he crossed his arms.

His expression becoming serious, realizing the full implications of what was happening. "We may need to take this fight a bit more seriously." The information was concerning, the potential of their opponents growing exponentially.

Kroyto didn't hesitate any longer, charging directly at Sairaorg, his movements now quicker and more aggressive, and countless black tree branches shot out from his armor, aiming to impale or restrain Sairaorg.

Sairaorg raised his right arm, then in a single, almost unfollowable motion, swung his fist towards Kroyto, the speed of his movement was incredibly fast.

What followed was a brief silence, the arena holding its breath as it tried to understand what had just happened. Reality needed time to catch up to what Sairaorg had done, as he finished his motion, his right arm remained extended towards Kroyto in a punch-like manner, before it came. A powerful shockwave and a loud whipping sound echoed all around the arena, the result of Sairaorg's devastating attack.

Kroyto's body shuddered violently, his muscles twitching uncontrollably, and seconds later, the black armor around him shattered into countless pieces, the dark energy that formed the armor dissipating into the air.

The man himself also jolted out of shock, his body trembling from the impact, before his eyes rolled back into his head, he started to foam at the mouth, and blood erupted from all over his body. It was a gruesome sight to behold.

Sairaorg's opponent then fell to the ground, his limbs limp and unresponsive, as his black gauntlets also shattered into pieces, the strange devices losing all of their power, leaving him unconscious.

The arena fell silent, everyone stunned by the fact that Sairaorg had possessed the power to end the fight in a single, devastating attack all along. No one knew how to react, the sudden end of the match having shocked them all, until the announcer began shouting, his voice breaking the silence.

[Oh my goodness!! Warrior Bael has ended the fight instantly! Did he perceive the power that Kroyto used as too dangerous!? T-the winner of this match is Sairaorg Bael!!] the announcer screamed, his voice filled with shock and excitement, before the crowd erupted into a mix of stunned and excited cheers, the sound echoing throughout the arena. They were in awe of Sairaorg's incredible power.

Sairaorg let out a quiet breath through his nose, his expression calm, as he straightened up, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Kroyto. He wanted to take him with him and have Aaron examine the strange Sacred Gear he had, but he knew that it would be impossible to do so right now, the logistics of it would be too difficult. He needed to focus on the tournament.

Sairaorg finally turned around and left the arena floor, his expression calm and unreadable, even Regulus stared at his master in shock, not believing that he had chosen to end the fight so abruptly. He had expected Sairaorg to use a more spectacular finishing move.

Either way, he followed after Sairaorg back to their waiting room, knowing that there was still one match left before the tournament was paused for the final day, which was scheduled for tomorrow.

Once they arrived at their room, the next fighters were announced, but it didn't involve Anran Wu, so Sairaorg, with Regulus by his side, left their room again, quickly informing Anran Wu to join them since this match involved their mission more than the tournament itself. They understood that what had just happened was more important than anything else.

They met outside, keeping an eye on the area where Kroyto was being held for treatment, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was happening to him. They were all concerned about the ramifications of what they had just seen in the arena.

"Was that…?" Anran Wu asked, her voice filled with concern, as she ran up to them, her gaze fixed on the area where Kroyto was being treated, her mind trying to make sense of what had just happened.

"Yes, it seems so. I'll inform Aaron now, and whatever he says after, we'll go along with it," Sairaorg replied, his voice serious, as he touched his ear, activating their communication devices. He knew that Aaron would have more information about the device and they would act based on that information.

"Aaron, we—" Sairaorg began, wanting to give him a report on what he had just seen in the arena, but he was abruptly cut off by Aaron. It seemed that he had already been made aware of the situation.

"Yeah, I know. I'm going to give you control of this situation. What do you wish to do, Sairaorg?" Aaron asked, his tone serious and calm, waiting for his friend's reply. He trusted Sairaorg's judgement and knew that he wouldn't make a poor decision.

Sairaorg fell silent, his gaze focused straight ahead at the colosseum's structure, his mind working on the best course of action.

After a brief silence, as Anran Wu and Regulus stared at him, waiting for his command, he finally replied with firm conviction, "I will capture him so Azazel and the researchers of the Resistance's planet can analyze him. They need to see what makes this 'Sacred Gear' of theirs tick."

"Alright, that's the plan then. Do what you have to do, I'll wait for your success, and when you get him to me, I'll teleport someone back with him so we can get the analysis done quickly," Aaron replied, his voice filled with confidence, knowing that his friend would succeed.

Sairaorg agreed, and they abruptly ended the call there, having everything set in motion.

He then turned to the two people who were standing beside him, and said, "Once everything calms down, we'll follow where Kroyto goes, and we'll capture him. While I'm not very good at this type of thing, I trust that you have some experience, Anran?"

"I'm not the most skilled at it, but I have done these kinds of missions in the past, so yes," replied Anran Wu, her voice calm and confident, before she paused for a moment, her mind already formulating a plan. "I'll take the lead on this, let's get ready for now. We need to make sure that everything is prepared, and that nothing goes wrong."

Sairaorg and Regulus agreed, not wanting to argue. Following after someone, and then capturing them without much of a fuss, wasn't something that was within either of their abilities.

They were both more the honest and upfront kind of people, preferring to face their opponents head-on. But they also understood that this wasn't the right place for that kind of approach.

They needed to prioritize the mission, and that meant capturing Kroyto, even if they didn't like the method, understanding that it was a necessity for the bigger picture. They had to put their pride aside for the sake of their mission and those they were fighting for. They knew that this could be the key to their victory in this dangerous conflict.

— ○ ● ○ —

An hour later, after the tournament matches had ended for the day, Kroyto left the medical room where he had been put after his devastating loss. He had lost the match, but surprisingly, he didn't feel as bad about it as he thought he would.

Yes, he had prided himself on his own strength and the new equipment he had been given by Elanor, which was supposed to help him reach new heights, but for some odd reason, it just didn't matter to him this time.

In the back of his mind, Sairaorg was just an existence that he could never hope to reach, his power far surpassing his own, much like Elanor or Phumera, so unlike other defeats he had endured over the years, he simply accepted it, finding no reason to get angry, or try to improve. His usual drive to become stronger was gone.

The item he had been given by Elanor was something she had called an Abyss Gear. It was one of the new prototypes that had been developed and needed to be tested in many different scenarios, so she had told Kroyto to do whatever he wanted with it, regardless of what the situation may be, her interest solely on how the device worked. He was her guinea pig.

Kroyto reached an alleyway, letting out a sigh as he entered it, his shoulders slumping slightly as he did. "Guess I'm out for this, but… I don't like being followed. Show yourself," he said, his voice a low growl, before turning around, his senses on high alert. He was aware that someone was watching him, and he wanted to know who it was.

The street that he had just been on was eerily quiet, almost unsettlingly so, but after he turned into this alleyway, it seemed as though the entire area immediately became tense, the air itself feeling thick with anticipation. He felt that whoever was following him was close.

He narrowed his eyes, focusing on different spots, trying to find the culprit, but he could sense nothing, his senses not picking up any presence. He began to think that it might have just been his paranoia that made him feel like someone was watching him.

But then, an enormous gust of wind suddenly blew him backward, the force of it knocking him off balance. He turned to the source of the attack, but found nothing, and just as he was about to move again, he suddenly blacked out, losing consciousness in an instant.

Anran Wu stood above him, a mask covering her face, along with a technique that masked her aura, making it appear as though she was a different person. Sairaorg and Regulus stood in a nearby home, watching it all happen, their eyes fixed on their teammate.

[She's quite skilled in this,] Regulus remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice, staring at Anran Wu, impressed by her ability to subdue Kroyto with such efficiency, her movements precise and her control absolute. She had far more experience than him in this.

Sairaorg didn't say a word, his expression calm and collected, as they stepped out of the building, leaving the alleyway behind them. He was confident that everything would go according to plan, despite the unexpected turn of events.

Anran Wu turned to him, a hint of concern still in her voice, and asked, "Where shall we take him?" She was already planning how they would transport him to Aaron, not yet understanding that it was no longer up to them.

However, before she could even react, Kroyto's body began to glow with an intense, purple light before it completely vanished, leaving no trace of him behind. Anran Wu began to panic, feeling as though she had failed in her mission, and immediately spread her senses to try and locate him, her anxiety reaching its peak. But Sairaorg stopped her by gently putting a hand on her shoulder, his touch reassuring.

"Don't worry, Aaron took him. Let's leave Kroyto to him and relax the rest of the day. We'll most likely get an update later tonight once we meet back up with them," Sairaorg said, his tone calm and steady, reassuring her that everything was under control. He knew that Aaron would take care of things.

Anran Wu instantly calmed down, her panic subsiding, even silently chiding herself for her lapse in composure.

She had forgotten that Aaron possessed the ability to teleport people and felt a little embarrassed that she had panicked so easily. "You're right, forgive me," she said, her voice now steady, before Sairaorg nodded in understanding, and began walking out of the alleyway, his task now complete.

— ○ ● ○ —

On Aaron's side, Shirone and Kuroka stared at the unconscious body that had just randomly appeared in front of them, the sudden teleportation having caught them completely off guard. They were both surprised by this sudden appearance, and they didn't know what to make of it.

Kuroka tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowed in confusion, and asked, "What the heck is that?" Her tone was filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, she didn't understand how he had just randomly appeared in front of them.

"A person that's using an Abyss Gear. It's Phumera and Elanor's version of the Sacred Gear system that I mentioned a few months back," Aaron replied, his voice calm and focused, as he studied the person who had appeared in front of them, his eyes quickly scanning for any signs of danger, or any other details that could help him.

He put his hand towards Kroyto, and sealed the use of his powers, preventing him from using the Abyss Gear, and also kept him in a deep sleep until he was done examining it. His eyes squinted as he looked closely at the device, and he wasn't too surprised by how they had managed to do it. He had expected something similar to this.

"It's good that Sairaorg didn't completely destroy the Abyss Gear," Aaron remarked, his voice low, before crouching down, still staring at Kroyto with an intense gaze, trying to understand every little detail of the device.

"What do you mean?" Shirone asked, crouching beside him, her curiosity piqued by Aaron's words. Kuroka joined them, not wanting to be left out, crouching just because she could, her tail swishing back and forth.

Aaron gestured towards Kroyto's arms, then towards his torso, his eyes analyzing every detail of the black armor that had once been there. "The original Sacred Gear system binds the Sacred Gear to the soul of its user. When the user dies, it will leave them and go back to the system, almost like a failsafe for the device. Of course, there are techniques in our universe, and others, where they can take it out forcefully, and that often kills the person," he stated, his voice serious, laying out the basic principles of the original Sacred Gear system.

He then stared directly at Kroyto's chest, his gaze intense, and said, "But the Abyss Gear that Elanor and Phumera are working on works a little differently. With so many powerful beings within this universe, they made their Abyss Gear connect to both the body and soul of its user, making it even harder to extract from the user, a failsafe if their body is destroyed." He explained the differences between the two systems.

"So, if their soul is destroyed, the Abyss Gear will still stay connected to that body, and vice versa if it's done to the body, it'll stay in the soul, unable to be separated. The only sure way to extract it is by killing both the body and soul, or having a specialized extraction technique in your arsenal," Aaron explained, letting out a sigh, the implications of this design very concerning, the methods to extract the device were incredibly dangerous and difficult.

"So… Sairaorg destroyed just the armor, right? Or did he somehow target the soul?" Shirone asked, her voice curious, as she walked around the unconscious Kroyto, observing his battered body. She was trying to understand the nature of Sairaorg's attack and how much damage he had actually caused.

"He partially destroyed the body and cracked the soul. So, in a way, this guy is barely clinging onto life. It looks like the medics for the tournament knew a way to keep him alive, albeit not for too long. At best, depending on his will, he has around three weeks to a month to live before he dies," explained Aaron, his brow furrowed in concern, as he examined Kroyto's condition. He was clearly worried about the extent of the damage.

"Hmm~ but they designed these things like your [Boosted Gear], didn't they?" Kuroka asked, her gaze fixated on Kroyto's arms, her eyes scanning the area where the gauntlets had once been attached, trying to find the similarities between the two devices.

Kuroka, having used her ring's [Observe] ability, to get more information about the situation, chimed in, saying that he had used gauntlets, surprising Aaron with her quick assessment.

"Right. They also replicated the abilities, which is shocking in itself, but only the [Boost] and [Jet], which was changed to [Dash]. I doubt they can replicate the other abilities, but I also don't doubt that they have something similar in this universe, so it's not impossible," Aaron explained, his voice serious, fully realizing the implications of the situation.

"So…are you saving him?" Shirone asked, her voice tinged with skepticism, as she eyed Aaron, trying to gauge his intentions. She was unsure whether Aaron would choose to save a person like Kroyto, or leave him to his fate.

Aaron didn't reply right away, his expression thoughtful, because he honestly didn't know what to do. He believed in second chances, and that people should have the opportunity to redeem themselves, but after seeing the kind of life that Kroyto had lived, it was hard to justify giving him that chance.

Yes, he had been the kind of person who liked to look for the good in others, always trying to find their better side, but after the many difficult experiences he'd gone through so far, he was beginning to change, his optimism starting to fade.

He was now questioning whether he should give so many chances to people like Kroyto. He had looked into Kroyto's past, after putting him into a deeper sleep with his spell, and what he saw was utterly disgusting, a history filled with violence and a thirst for power.

Kroyto had lived a life that could be summarized into one single word: survival. That was all that he had ever done. From the second he was abandoned for being considered weak, to the present, all of his actions were done for survival and gaining strength. It was a bleak and sad existence.

"From the way you look right now, nya, you didn't like seeing what you saw, right?" Kuroka asked, her voice gentle, as she went behind Aaron and hugged him, her arms wrapping around his neck, forcing the back of his head onto her chest, attempting to comfort him.

Aaron, his expression troubled, suddenly asked, "If you were born weak and abandoned, and saw the world as survival of the fittest, would you do anything and everything to gain power? Even if it meant throwing away your morals, principles, and ethics?" He wanted to know their opinions on the matter, curious if they had any insight into such a lifestyle.

The two nekomata sisters fell silent, their gazes meeting as they considered the question, the implications of it hitting them both hard.

The first to speak up was Kuroka, her voice quiet as she answered, "I was kind of in that situation before we met, right? Not to whatever extreme you saw, but I did a lot to keep on living. Lying, cheating, stealing, seducing, and screwing people over just to get another day to live until I met up with Vali's team. So… in a way, I get him." She knew what it was like to do anything to survive.

"I would like to say no, but I really don't know. If I was pushed to it, then I'd do as much as I can to keep on living. But that's when I don't know how I would proceed. Will I randomly kill people to keep them silent so I don't get caught? I honestly don't know. Will I kill someone because they have something I want? I don't know, it's complicated and hard to say what I'd do in such a situation," Shirone said, her voice thoughtful as she looked down at the unconscious Kroyto, a frown forming on her face as she considered the morality of his choices.

Aaron listened to their opinions closely, carefully considering their words, before nodding his head in understanding. He then stretched his hand out, pointing it towards Kroyto. A bright energy began to emanate from his palm.

At the same time, Kroyto's body began to glow with a faint, purple energy before a small, jet-black wisp came out of his body, like a dark smoke, and the remaining pieces of armor around him vanished into nothingness.

Kroyto's body also began to slowly heal, the wounds closing, the pained expression on his sleeping face gradually fading to a more relaxed one, the power of Aaron's ability taking effect. He was doing all that he could to heal the man, despite what he knew about his past.

"So, you removed his Abyss Gear, now what?" Kuroka asked, her voice curious, as she let go of Aaron's head, stepping back a bit, and looking at the unconscious Kroyto. "Leave him here to figure out how to live after all this?" She wondered if Aaron had a plan for what to do with him, or if he would simply be left to fend for himself.

"Yeah, basically. Kroyto didn't do anything 'wrong' as far as the world is concerned. He also doesn't have a bounty on his head, so he's technically 'innocent.' Unless we go out of our way to do something, then he'll walk a free man. While I don't agree with his actions, and the terrible things he's done…" Aaron paused, his expression thoughtful, as he stared into Kroyto's soul, trying to understand the core of his being.

He added, "I don't think he'll be doing too much in the future." He had looked into many of Kroyto's possible futures, at least 1000 different timelines, and saw him struggling, but ultimately living a normal life, his fighting days now over. He knew that he wouldn't be a threat anymore.

"Did you heal his body and soul?" Shirone asked, tearing her eyes away from the man, looking directly at Aaron, wanting to confirm that he had taken care of Kroyto's wellbeing, despite his history and his actions. She was still a little concerned despite what he had seen.

"Partially, and I put a seal on him that only I can remove to heal the rest of the damage. So, he can function normally, but not to the point of what he could do during the tournament," replied Aaron, confirming that he had healed Kroyto, but also made sure that he wouldn't be a threat again, at least not in the near future.

Kuroka smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement, and said, "You're acting like the judge, jury, and executioner right now, nya~" It was an attempt to lighten the mood and tease Aaron, who had been acting a bit too serious.

Aaron smiled back, a small curve forming on his lips, but he still frowned slightly at Kroyto, his gaze lingering on the unconscious man. He also knew that Kuroka's words, even if they were meant to tease him, were true. He was the new ruler of the omniverse, a role he had been given after Azathoth had stepped down.

So, Kuroka was right, he was all of that. He could easily judge everyone in the omniverse, whether they lived or died was his choice. But he had been born a human and still held onto his morals, ethics, and principles. His humanity was one of the few things that kept him grounded.

The only times that he might do that, was when his emotions were overstimulated, his judgment clouded by his feelings, but Aaron was trying his best not to succumb to them, even though he did fail quite a bit. It was a constant struggle to maintain his humanity, despite his new position in the universe.

But Aaron knew that maintaining control of his emotions would be a lifelong battle, a constant challenge that he would have to face every single day. He could easily shut off his emotions, suppressing them completely, but he didn't want to.

Constantly turning his emotions off and on, quite literally, was a frightening thought to him. He wanted to still be able to "feel" everything, the good and the bad. He had friends, family, and loved ones that he wanted to continue to feel those positive emotions for.

If he just removed his emotions completely, and he had tried it once, it had terrified him. Many destructive thoughts had circulated in his mind, when he had done it, and none of them were good, most, if not all, of them ended in death and destruction.

Aaron knew that if he slipped up, he would become just another villain in those novels he had read before, and he absolutely did not want that.

"Let's go. We'll leave him here, he'll find his way," he said, his voice now firm, before touching both Shirone's and Kuroka's bodies, and vanishing from the spot, teleporting them to their next location. He had made his decision, and it was time to move forward with their mission.

— ○ ● ○ —

"So… what do we even do with this thing? My ring isn't exactly giving me much information on it," Aoife remarked, her voice filled with confusion, as she stared at the strange item that they had retrieved from their short mission, a device that seemed to defy all logical explanations.

Their mission hadn't been anything spectacular, they had just been transported to a different area, a realm that felt completely alien, then explored it for a bit, before finding this strange item that pulsed with an unsettling power. It was in the shape of an egg, smooth and cold to the touch, and after she had used her ring's ability, [Observe], it hadn't given her much in the way of useful information about it.

It simply said that the egg was "created" by a Saerstial, a being of immense power. When Aoife had tried to ask the ring to elaborate, even though she knew that it couldn't talk back to her, it had simply stated that a new demi-saerstial would be born from it, leaving her even more confused and filled with questions.

"We can only wait and hope that it is born, Aoife," Ling Feng said, her tone calm and accepting, glancing at Aoife and then at the mysterious egg, her own mind trying to piece together the limited information that they had. There was nothing else that they could do.

Aoife squinted her eyes, her expression showing a mix of curiosity and unease, and asked, "Will this thing call us its mothers if it hatches right now?" She was clearly concerned about the implications of caring for something that was so powerful, and the unknown of how it would perceive them as its creators.

Kuisha sighed at her, a small smile forming on her lips, shaking her head at Aoife's question. "Who knows? We can always ask Aaron about it…I'll do that just now," she said, and activated her ring's communication function, then informed Aaron about the strange egg they had found, asking for his insight.

They spoke for a bit, Aaron giving them the information he had, before she cut off the call. Kuisha turned back to her companions and said, "It won't hatch until tomorrow, and no, it won't recognize us as its mothers, so you can calm down about that." Kuisha smirked a little at the thought, finding Aoife's concern amusing.

"Thank god! But…I didn't know Saerstials were born in eggs… I thought, you know, they were born like humans," Aoife remarked, her voice still laced with wonder, as she kept staring at and gently poking the egg, her curiosity getting the better of her, wanting to know more about this strange creature.

"According to Aaron, they aren't. This is a special case, so we should watch it carefully. Anyway, let's go back for now since the day's ending, and only Mitsuya's team is left for tonight," Kuisha informed them, before they sped up, and flew away, making their way back to their base, their minds still trying to understand the nature of the egg and the creature that was inside.

— ○ ● ○ —

Huoshen Renqing walked through an underground tunnel, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit space, with Mitsuya's group following closely behind. The general was on a small mission to finally take down the Eluudors, a group that they had encountered earlier, a conflict that had been brewing for far too long.

Huoshen Renqing had tracked down their main base, after destroying countless smaller ones in a span of only a few days, showing her incredible skill and determination, and now, she had invited Mitsuya's team to join her. Mitsuya's team had not hesitated for a single moment, and they were now 50% through the base, having destroyed most of it thoroughly, their cooperation working seamlessly.

"More enemies ahead of us," Bisusbyu remarked, his senses suddenly heightened, feeling the growing presence of the enemy. "About—"

"73, get ready," Mitsuya interrupted, his voice determined as he activated some magic around his body, his power starting to flow, as he prepared for the upcoming battle.

Huoshen Renqing simply smiled, a confident glint in her eyes, before putting her hand forward, and a giant crimson ball of energy, with jet-black darkness swirling around it, shot forward from her palm. The giant attack tore through the space and obliterated the room in front of them, leaving a giant hole where it had once been, showing her raw power.

Huoshen Renqing glanced back at Mitsuya and the team, her expression calm, and said, "Well, let's keep going," before looking forward once more, the same crimson energy appearing in front of them, creating a bridge over the hole that had been created.

This definitely alerted those within the base to their presence, and countless alarms began blaring throughout the entire area, the entire space becoming a chaotic mess of flashing red lights, showing the level of alarm they had created. Yet, none of them were alarmed, calmly walking down the hallway they were in, their eyes set on their objective.

They eventually reached another large open space, far larger than the previous one, and within it were at least 30% of the remaining members of the Eluudors group. All of them varied in power levels, but the strongest could easily compete with Mid-Tier God-class beings, a formidable force.

Everyone in Huoshen Renqing's group immediately dispersed to deal with the countless enemies that were surrounding them, taking their own paths to fight them. The general herself walked towards a large group, a confident smile playing on her lips and a confident stride, drawing the attention of many with her approach.

Countless enemies screamed, charging directly towards Huoshen Renqing, their faces twisted in rage and hate. Many of them fired energy blasts at her, others using weapons, or swinging their weapons in a desperate attempt to land a hit. The room was filled with a chaotic mix of attacks.

Huoshen Renqing stood there motionless, her body completely relaxed, before looking up at her opponents, her eyes calm, her expression showing her lack of concern. "Hmph. Weak," she declared, her voice filled with disdain, before creating a greatsword made of crimson energy, with jet-black darkness swirling around it, and swinging it towards her enemies with incredible speed.

The enormous slash tore through her surroundings, killing her opponents in the blink of an eye. The surrounding area also exploded, the force of the attack blowing up the ceiling above them and creating a large, long hole that showed the sky above, exposing them to the outside world.

Bodies flew through the air, as well as various body parts, the room now a horrifying scene of death and destruction. Out of the 30% of the enemies that had been there, only 10% remained after that single attack from Huoshen Renqing, their numbers severely diminished.

She smirked, a confident smile playing on her lips, put a hand on her hip and her large sword on her shoulder, her posture completely relaxed. "Hmph."

Huoshen Renqing looked around her, observing the battlefield, and found that the rest of Mitsuya's team, and Mitsuya, had also taken out the remaining enemies around them with great efficiency.

Once they were done, the only thing left to do was to confront the remaining 20% of the Eluudors, the final obstacle in their mission.

They looked below them, knowing that the remaining enemies were gathered there, preparing for a final stand.

Without another warning, Huoshen Renqing raised her foot high before slamming it down onto the floor, destroying the surface beneath them, sending them all falling down to the lower level.

They then fell down into the lower level, and from the enemy's perspective, it felt like doomsday had arrived, a scene that invoked fear and hopelessness within them. Five powerful warriors were falling down, their eyes fixed on them, ready to end their lives.

What was worse was that Huoshen Renqing was also there, in the middle of the group, her eyes glowing with a fierce intensity, and a giant, unsettling smile plastered on her face.

"Attack!!" one of their leaders bellowed, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation, before all of them fired their attacks at them, wanting to survive.

They didn't want to die, believing that they had more things to do in this life, and so, they desperately fired energy blasts, and swung their weapons over and over again, their attacks futile in their panic.

Huoshen Renqing pointed directly at two individuals in the middle of the group, her gaze intense, and said, "Those two are the most important, leave them alive. The rest… kill them!" Her voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for argument or debate.

Without another word, the rest of her group disappeared, moving with incredible speed to deal with the remaining Eluudors. Various fights broke out below Huoshen Renqing, filling the room with chaos and destruction, as she floated in the air, her eyes glowing with power, fixed on the two leaders that she had marked.

Both of the leaders clicked their tongues, their expressions annoyed, before one of them brought out a double-ended saber, then vanished, instantly appearing behind Huoshen Renqing, swinging his weapon down towards her.

Huoshen Renqing didn't blink or move a muscle, she simply stretched her hand back and caught the weapon with two of her fingers, completely stunning the man with her speed and power.

"Weak!" she declared, her voice laced with disdain, before crimson flames, with swirling darkness, appeared on her hand that was still grabbing the weapon.

The weapon instantly melted, the heat of the flames being too much for it to withstand, and her fist then slammed into the man's face, sending him flying backwards, and crashing into one of the walls behind them.

Huoshen Renqing turned her attention to the other leader, who brought out a musket-like gun before firing it towards her, the blasts traveling at high speed. The general flew toward the attacks, dodging them with ease, a maniacal smile forming on her lips, as she continued her approach, not being bothered by their attacks.

The other leader powered up the musket, the weapon glowing with energy, before it unleashed a thousand energy bullets directly towards her, a barrage that was meant to overwhelm her.

Huoshen Renqing responded by swinging her blade in a single, powerful strike, cutting apart all of the energy bullets, forcing the leader to jump back, his attack failing, but she continued her pursuit.

They flew around the air, the leader firing more energy bullets at Huoshen Renqing, desperately trying to stop her approach, but the woman just kept up her grin, effortlessly destroying the bullets as they came towards her, seeming to love the chase more than ending the fight quickly like with the other enemies.

Her hunt was interrupted when the other leader came back, swinging another double-ended saber at her, wanting to take her by surprise, but she caught the attack with her fingers again, stopping the blade before it could make contact. She then spun around, and landed her heel directly on his stomach, sending him crashing away, this time with even more force than before.

"What's wrong!? Is that all you've got!?" Huoshen Renqing shouted, her voice echoing throughout the vast space, as she turned back to the other leader and instantly reappeared behind him, her speed far surpassing his.

Before he could react, she slammed her fist into the back of his head, sending him crashing to the ground.

The force was so great that it knocked the man out instantly and made an enormous crater in the ground beneath them, the impact shaking the entire area. Huoshen Renqing had made sure not to use too much force, not wanting to kill him, but enough to rattle him and, of course, knock him out cold.

She then turned her attention to the other man who was charging at her with rage in his eyes, a desperate attempt to avenge his fallen comrade. Water rings appeared on the ends of his blades, glowing with a strange, blue energy before swinging his weapon at her.

Giant water rings flew directly towards her, spinning rapidly and becoming sharp, able to cut through almost anything.

Huoshen Renqing wasn't impressed, not seeing the attack as a threat, as she aimed her right palm towards the incoming water rings and launched a singular crescent of blood, cutting the attacks apart, stunning the man. The sheer power of her attack was plain to see, her control over blood was terrifying.

Mitsuya suddenly appeared beside Huoshen Renqing, his eyes surveying the destruction that she had caused, before turning to look at her face, taking in her expression. "Done?" he asked, even though the question was obvious, given the state of the room and their enemies.

The general smirked, a confident glint in her eyes, and nodded her head. "Of course, now, someone get the other fool I kicked away, and let's start this interrogation," she said, her voice commanding, and Aubilca appeared beside them with the rest of the team, dragging the unconscious double-ended saber-wielding leader.

Once both leaders were brought in front of her, Bisusbyu put the anti-magic and power-dampening cuffs on both of them, rendering them unable to use their abilities. Huoshen Renqing then forcibly woke them up by using her crimson flames on their faces, causing them to jolt awake, screaming in pain and surprise.

The second they woke up, they tried using their powers to attack the group, but found that they couldn't, realizing that they were cuffed. So, they glared at them in rage, their eyes filled with hatred and anger.

"Who—" began Mitsuya, his voice stern, but was cut off by both men screaming profanities at them, their words filled with venom and hatred, unable to contain their rage at being captured.

Mitsuya… didn't let them speak, as he immediately threw a punch that broke both of the leaders' noses, the force of the blow stunning them into silence. The sound of breaking bones echoed throughout the room.

"Shut your mouths… you don't speak unless spoken to," he said, his voice laced with venom, his tone leaving no room for argument. His usually calm demeanor was gone.

Mitsuya then brought out a small, ornate box. He opened it, revealing a handful of pills, along with… a single white rabbit, its fur pure white, with red eyes, and a small, sharp horn on its head, its appearance innocent.

"K-Kanzaki-kun, i-is that…?" Kirino asked, her face paling, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Mitsuya silently nodded his head, confirming her fears, before looking back at the two confused men, his expression unreadable.

"You each get a chance to answer my question. Failure to do so will have immediate consequences," Mitsuya explained, his tone cold, then he looked directly at the leader with the double-ended saber. "Why did you create that monster?"

The man laughed, a cruel, mocking sound, as his nose bled, the blood dripping down his face. "Hah! You think I'm going to tell you, you Resistance bastard!" the man shouted, his voice filled with rage and defiance, his eyes burning with hatred.

Mitsuya's face blanked, showing no emotion, as he gestured to the rabbit then to the man, a silent command. The rabbit suddenly jumped towards the man, causing him to laugh, finding the action ridiculous, but then… it bit his eyeball, sinking its sharp teeth into it, and began chewing on it, making him start screaming in pain and terror, the sound echoing throughout the room.

The man beside him froze, his body trembling, his face paling as he saw what was happening, the reality of the situation sinking in. The rabbit kept going, its hunger insatiable, until it tore the eye out completely and ate it, the sound of its chewing making everyone's stomachs churn.

It continued to nibble and tear off the man's flesh, the once-innocent creature now a monster, until Mitsuya finally stopped it, his expression unreadable.

He then turned to the other terrified man, his gaze intense, and asked, "How did you create the monster? Did Elanor give you the tools? Just as a forewarning, I will have the rabbit go up your ass and eat you from the inside out." He wanted answers, and he would do anything to get them, no matter how cruel it was.

The man didn't answer right away, his body shaking with fear, but as Mitsuya put the rabbit in front of him, the creature's red eyes staring directly at him, he began to sweat profusely. He didn't want the act that Mitsuya had described to happen to him, the thought of it was too much to bear.

Finally, he snapped, unable to take the pressure any longer, and shouted, "She didn't meet us personally! She sent an envoy and gave us the necessary items and supplies to do the experiment. She wanted us to use something in the planet to create it! She might be doing something new!! I don't know what that 'thing' is, but I know the spot! It's underneath the home of the Eradicator!!" The words poured out of him in a rush, his fear driving him.

The man breathed hard after screaming all of that, his face flushed, before glancing up at Mitsuya and the rabbit, his eyes wide with terror. He didn't want to go through what his friend went through, the thought alone made him want to puke, his stomach churning at the memory.

Mitsuya turned to Aubilca, who nodded in return, her expression serious. "I don't detect a lie from him. But we should try to locate that place, or ask Aaron, your call," she said, crossing her arms, her gaze fixed on Mitsuya, waiting for his decision.

"More," Mitsuya demanded, his voice still devoid of any emotion, his expression completely blank, a terrifying sight. He wanted every last detail they possessed.

The man, his fear driving him, began to ramble about everything, as Mitsuya brought the rabbit closer to him, the threat of the creature still hanging over his head.

He told them everything he could think of, from the most mundane details about their plan, to their own personal speculations, hoping that it would be enough.

Once the man finished speaking, he was breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face, his body trembling with exhaustion and terror.

Mitsuya stared at him, his eyes piercing, then at Aubilca, who nodded in confirmation, confirming that everything he had said was true, that they had extracted all the information.

Mitsuya then turned around, put the rabbit back into the small box, and said coldly, "No witnesses," his voice chilling. Before anyone could even react, both men behind him exploded into pieces, their bodies destroyed instantly, a brutal end.

Huoshen Renqing was a little surprised by the level of brutality that Mitsuya had displayed, finding it unsettling, but wasn't against it either. She stared at the now deceased leaders before aiming her palm towards them and unleashing her crimson flames, burning their remains away, leaving nothing behind.