Chapter 4: Cursed Blood

Two seconds. Then Time resumed.

I still held onto the dagger, cold sweat dripped down my cheeks, constantly appearing then disappearing the same way waves would. A slight trembling had overtaken my legs, and contrary to my expectations, I was still up, alive and kicking.

This meant I had survived Tezca's trump card, but how? With that question came a headache bringing forth a flow of hazy memories; it was my childhood, from when I discovered the strange man to when they discovered the truth, but there also were memories that felt wrong, as if slightly altered, but I still clearly remembered the end; the dagger had appeared inside my dream and because of it I returned back to reality.

But the most important thing was the creature standing before me; an expression of utter disbelief was drawn on its face, contrasting with the cold-blooded monster that couldn't seem to be bothered from moments ago. I did not know why, but that feeling of powerlessness coming from that thing made me feel exhilarated.

"You come from an inferior species... yet the seed of potential can still be found within yourself. Do not take this victory for granted, however, for this is but the least you shall do to entertain my being."

As soon as he finished his sentence, a terrifying murderous aura arised, settling deep within my bones, and once again its face turned to stone, hiding away any emotion the creature might have had.

For the first time I felt my surroundings. I could sense the flow of air and the contraction of each and every tendril in my body. If I had to explain it, I'd say it was a survival instinct pulled to the fullest of its potential, as to why I possessed that new sense, I could only wonder

That new instinct felt somewhat hazy, as if not fully developed, and yet I could clearly see the gap between me and that monstrosity; I could feel something tremendous emanating from the monster, and it was telling me how worthless my existence was in comparison to the being I faced.

I brushed off those thoughts and analyzed my enemy and his every move, from the way he positioned his hands, or how his feet were anchored to the ground, to the direction he glanced at; it all boiled down to predicting his next move. The reason I went to such extents to predict his next course of action is because he's a whole lot stronger than I, so I can't just hope to win by rushing in without thinking. Luckily, it's not my first time fighting against the odds, so I'll just have to follow the teachings of master.

A flash of light blinded me for a second, and the monster had disappeared when I opened my eyes back.

A voice rose behind me.

"You. Are you not even aware of your awakening? Is that the state humans have fallen to? Truly pathetic, to think your species held on for so long. That is why I am here, to correct that failure of mine that this city represents."

A terrible pain spread from the middle of my back to all of my body, I had the impression someone had entirely folded my body like one would paper. My breath was cut short, a silent scream erupting form my mouth was followed by another punch from the creature sending me to the ground.

What even was this power! You couldn't compare it to the usual gods roaming around the city; this one was different, be it his talent or attitude. To better explain, compared to them, it was simply More.

I remember Leolio affirming it coming from a dead species, annihilated by humans. I finally met the existence that was feared by even humans.

Without letting me time to get back up, the being charged once again, this time aiming for my torso, the punch created a small burst of wind, it was followed by a second punch to my right, I felt bones cracking. The immaculate light forming every seconds was but the prelude to each of the attack that came, yet I couldn't keep up; it was a total annihilation, no techniques could save me from that.

A punch from behind sent me hurtling to the wall; the shockwave that followed my crashing was comparable to an earthquake: deep cracks could be seen throughout the wall, all starting from my impact. As for me, it would have been an understatement to say I was in a dire situation; I felt like I was under a hydraulic press, every part of my body hurt like hell, and from the blood escaping my mouth, the last attack must have caused some internal injuries.

Every passing second felt a little longer, bringing excruciating pain to my half-numbed body. Despite all that I still held on tightly to the dagger. When I first found it, I only was mesmerized by its beauty, but now that I could feel my surroundings, I realized all the power this dagger possessed, the problem being I couldn't comprehend how it was meant to be used. I couldn't just lose such an important item, at least I couldn't let it slip in the hands of that monster, so I hid it in my inside pocket, hoping for it to go unnoticed.

"Is that the limits of your potentials? Such disappointment, to think I believed to have recognized that dangerous aura of theirs in you, I must have been mistaken. You really just are an above-average insect."

I now realized something was wrong with his voice. I did not know how, but I had the feeling he transmitted hiw will to me as he talked. It felt like someone in your head showed a picture for each word he spoke.

As I thought about it, he approached me ever so calmly, each of his footstep releasing a cloud of light. He seemed carefree, as he talked to me, comparing me to people I did not know of. That relaxed attitude of his made a contrast with the loud tremors of light produced by his walking. It felt as if Earth itself cowered in fear in front of that abomination.

When he was only meters away from me, I thought I saw a shadow appear amidst the mist of light; it was followed by a loud metallic clash that created an explosion of smoke and made the mist of light sizzle like bacon.

Explosions repeated for minutes without weakening, then someone talked.

"You are interfering in a personal matter, Cursed Blood. Step aside if you wish to live."

It was Tezca talking, and surprisingly, he seemed to want to avoid confrontation against the newcomer.

"Sorry but no can do. See that guy lying on the ground, welp my mission's to make sure he doesn't die, and I'm pretty sure you won't let us go that easily. Will you?"

"So you have chosen death."

"Still the same lines you're saying? Isn't it a little cringe, like, last time you said that and I'm still here. Guess even centuries could not change you."

As he finished talking, a sea of darkness overtook the entire room. The newcomer seemed to be confident in himself to blabber so much, he also appeared as quite antagonistic toward Tezca, considering how he mocked him.

"Is this a game to you?...Very well, you have no one but yourself to blame for what is about to happen."

A halo of light suddenly birthed amidst the darkness, it grew more and more until it was equal to the menacing dark. I knew I had to get out of here as soon as possible, yet my legs refused to move, my newly awakened sense told me any move from me would be my demise. Those weren't humans fighting, nor were they gods, they were nightmares.

A tremendous heat was felt from the light while the darkness released a freezing cold. Two opposites battled, limbs of darkness and parts of the misty light severed from the constant clashes. It was something I never could have imagined possible.

"Hey, listen, kid, you gotta get outta here, you understand me? The fight's about to get serious, you'll die if you stay, so I'd appreciate if you started running now."

...Running away? Could I really do that, when my body refused to move and felt like it weighed a ton? But if I stayed here, I would die, I knew it, yet it took a tremendous effort to even lift a finger, and when I tried moving, an intense pain seared across my body and my aura terrorised me. I felt like a child facing a giant.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm down by reminiscing master's first teaching; slowly inhale through the nose, wait some seconds, then slowly exhale through the mouth. I started the next step: to cleanse my mind from useless thoughts; for that I needed to forget the pain, no, the only way was to accept it, I needed to walk in spite of the crushing aura, for that I needed to think about something more important, that was capable to make this pression seem like a childish worry... that something was N, that betrayer ready to go as far as to stick a knife in his only friend's back! I didn't forget, and I never will! You will get what you deserve, N.!

My left leg was limp and my right shoulder was throbbing in pain. I was heading to the door, trying my best to swallow the pain.

I stopped in front of the door and glanced behind me: my savior appeared to be controlling the darkness whereas the Light obeyed to the monster.

The shadows were in turmoil, but they soon calmed down and formed a scythe; it was a little longer than my height and emanated a worrisome aura that itched to lacerated anything standing in its way.

As for the light, it was still formless, rampaging and extending throughout all of the room.

The real fight was about to begin, I could feel it. I couldn't stay any longer.

Boom Boom Boom

Deafening explosions of Light and darkness could be heard from behind. It was something beyond what any human could ever dream to achieve. A true fight of Gods.

"Fool. You may belong to my people, but this shall not stop me from killing you! At once, stop entraving my path, Cursed Blood!"

"Like I'm gonna listen to what you say!"

"Fine. Then you shall be dealt the same way as that clueless girl you grew to love."

Although I was already far away from the scene of the fight, I could still hear them talking in-between each explosion.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that! You hear me, bastard! Being one of the three Primary Gods doesn't mean nothing to me! I'll kill you, you pathetic excuse for a God!"

His words were ferocious, unveiling a deep hatred and tragedy belonging to the past.

"Funny how you can still feel pain and sorrow, even after having mastered the Will of Void. I thought you would have become an empty shell. I must have been wrong."

All of a sudden, the dark swallowed every ounce of Light. Dark evolved, morphing into Void, forbidding existence to the five senses. The only thing I could think of was that it must be what it felt like to walk in space; a deep feeling of emptiness, surrounded by only darkness.

Soon, beams of Light pierced through the veil of Void, bringing forth a strident, chilling cry full of pain and sorrow; that of my savior.

I ran up the stairs as explosions sounded from below, making my hears buzz and the wall tremble. Each time I tripped because of the rubble falling from the wall I sped up, thinking about the fate awaiting me must I not escape soon enough.

After what seemed like hours, the stairs came to an halt. Instead stood the alley from where I jumped down on Tezca.

Explosions kept on resounding, shaking more and more the walls. It had been already some time since I couldn't breath, feeling an invisible chain blinding my eyes, weighing down my throat and entangling my legs.

As seconds burned, the darkness flickered, disappearing along a part of the chain weighing down my body. I could now see, which was a good omen, however I still couldn't stop now, the fight was still going on, scarce balls of Lights and trickles of dark Void escaping up toward the sky, creating mini explosions each time they came in contact.

I passed the armory without batting an eye to the corpses and weapons that lay down my feet. Despite my composed appearance, my heart was racing, excited I was by this spectacle. How long had it been since I felt like that? It that must have been... yes, it must have been back then, when I escaped that damned Cerro de Oro. It's funny when you think about it, to think I was convinced not a second time would I feel this alive. I felt all of my blood coursing through my body, each hair on my arms I felt rising, and I was sure I could control all of my body to the perfection.

I heard muffled voices of men crying orders. Slowly, I stopped and drew my Glock Vespid. I silently walked, each of my steps worthy of the agility of a snake, proof of a deadly art learned through talent and perseverance. At the end of the hallway stood people bossed around by a big guy screaming orders.

I tightly held my weapon, my heartbeat calmed down, and slowly levered my weapon toward the head of the chief.

Pang Pang Pang

Three bodies collapsed, they were the chief and his two minions closest to him. I'd say there still were seven enemies, four at the end of the hallway, two to my right and the last one to my left.

Click

I switched to automatic mode, I still aimed in front of me, then I pushed the trigger.

Pang Pang Pang Pang Click

The magazine was empty when the last of my enemies facing me collapsed. Without waiting for the bandits to recover, I threw my weapon on the enemy to my left, he fell under the impact. I ran on the last two bandits and took out my dagger.

"Just kill him already, he's alone for Tovernus' sake! We're not gonna let some asshole kill us all, now are we?!"

One of the survivors shouted.

I cut the trachea of the first one, a trickle of red water elegantly escaped his throat, his soul setting sail to the Styx. The second wasn't luckier, his heart butchered to pieces without even reacting in the slightest. Now I just had to kill the one I knocked out.

But as I turned around, an ear-piercing scream of metal wailed, and the smell of burnt powder hurt my nostrils.

And I saw it.

A bullet aimed at my head.