A soul broke away from existence.
A bloody man exhaustingly spoke—
"S-So… one of your own.. has left, eh.." Monk Artemis coughed up blood.
Julius had looked at the sky.
"Unfortunate." He grabbed a leaf flying by— and crushed it.
The broken leaf flew back into the wind.
"You are strong. It's disheartening— had you gone against anyone here, you would've been victorious. But thankfully, I had the pleasure, Monk Artemis."
Artemis had coughed once more.
"Julius, I believe I have given you much credit. Perhaps you are strong, but not as strong as the First Emperor, A-"
Artemis' words were interrupted. Julius' eyes turned of rage. He couldn't believe the insult.
Julius had propelled himself into the air, rotating his body and smiting his leg into Artemis' skull.
bwoooosh! The sound of stone turning into dust.
Artemis was lodged into the ground.
"Old bastard..!" Julius had said with conviction. He had spit onto the ground next to him—
"Wh-what?" Julius had seen blood mixed in with his saliva.
*Internal damage?* He clenched his fist. *The old monk did get his punches on me…*
A burst of dust had occurred.
Julius' eyes searched for the source of power—
*It's Artemis?!* Julius' mind wouldn't accept the fact that the old monk could withstand a kick of that force.
The dust had cleared… blood dripped and echoed onto stone.
"Hhha… you know… not that polite.. to.. hurt an old man." Artemis spoke in intervals.
Julius' eyes turned to passion.
"Alright… I'll hit you good…"
Inside of an alleyway—
hrrrund! A pile of trash condensed into itself.
wuuuush! A slice of freakishly fast wind had cut through stone.
Hughman had been leaping wall to wall and sliding off the pavement to avoid the attacks.
"Coward..!" Marie clenched her jaw. "You try erasing this city to fit the agenda of your empire, and this is how you fight."
Hughman scoffed—
"Yeah, in words of Guri Janaden IV, in moments of distress, play like a wuss!" Guri returned the same animosity back to Marie. "I'm sure your Reaper plays like this too! Have you seen my brother's body?! NO CHEST!!"
Naomi had focused onto Hughman—
*There.* She had spread her fingers as wide as she could.
And closed them.
The weight of the air was heavy— impossible to carry.
Hughman felt as if the entire world was upon his shoulders.
Hughman's body collapsed, his left arm—
dismantled.
"Rgmmm…." He wanted to roar, he couldn't.
*It's my duty. As the new head of Janaden. It's my duty to be a man.*
Naomi had turned to Marie— "Nice work. You made him focus on his feelings instead of survival." She smiled.
"The quicker we kill him, the quicker we can save North City." Marie smiled as well.
Naomi walked towards Hughman.
*Kill me..?*
Hughman's mind turned blank.
…
…
*Kill me?*
*No, I don't wanna die?*
*I haven't mastered my Soul Pact.*
*I haven't said goodbye to my mother.*
*I haven't lived to my expectations.*
*I haven't filled Guri's shoes.*
Naomi's footsteps grew closer.
He closed his eyes— tears forming.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" He screamed with all his life.
Naomi's face turned to shock. She abruptly stopped her advancements.
*This… soldier. Yet all his glory and rank, his special little squad. He still shares the same fear we all have— death.*
Naomi's eyes turned wide.
*He's still— human.*
She turned away from Hughman—
"You didn't get to use your Soul Pact on us, that's unfortunate. Perhaps next time."
Marie looked baffled—
*She didn't kill him..? Seriously?*
"Alright, let's go." Naomi had concentrated energy in her feet and leaped into the sky— then followed Marie.
Hughman's face turned into defeat.
"Damn it…! DAMN IT!"
Tears rolled down his face, his nose red and lips quivering.
His body turned limp. He was exhausted.
"Big Guri… I'm just too… weak…"