Awakening

A terrifying aura emanated from the figure shrouded in the black cloak, sending shivers cascading down Kaminari's spine.

"Alright… first things first," Kaminari muttered, patting himself down anxiously. "Good, I'm still alive. Second—" He glanced around, eyes darting nervously. "How do I escape from here?"

The voice resumed ominously, "You have entered a cursed dimension… where death awaits those who—"

Without hesitation, Kaminari picked up a nearby rock and hurled it toward the voice. "Nah, shut up. I've had a long day."

Silence followed for a brief moment.

"Poison mist!" the voice suddenly shouted.

Kaminari instinctively leaped upward, narrowly evading the deadly cloud. "Alright, alright. Stay calm… just like in the manga—"

But the cloaked enemy instantly jumped up after him.

"NOPE—THIS WASN’T IN THE MANGA!" Kaminari panicked, frantically attempting to run mid-air but quickly realizing his helplessness.

The demon delivered a brutal upper-kick, sending Kaminari crashing back into the poison mist. "I am Jigoku," the demon declared coldly.

Coughing violently, Kaminari stumbled out, feeling numbness spreading through his body. "Cool, cool… but before we fight, I just have one question."

Jigoku scoffed impatiently. "Hmph. Speak."

"How do you pronounce your name? Like 'Jee-go-ku' or 'Ji-goh-ku'?" Kaminari questioned earnestly. "I don’t wanna disrespect the guy who’s about to kill me, you know."

Jigoku hesitated, bewildered. "…Does that matter?!"

Kaminari shrugged weakly. "Hey, if I'm gonna get beaten up, at least let me scream the right name in pain."

"Tch!" Jigoku clutched his head, visibly irritated. "You are pathetic. How did you even enter this dimension, and how did you free the Devil King?"

"I am not pathetic." Kaminari turned his focus inward. "Devil King! Give me a little amount of aura!"

"Hoi!" came the Devil King's reply.

Before Kaminari could respond, Jigoku's kick sent him smashing through an invisible barrier that shattered like glass. Using the aura granted by the Devil King, Kaminari increased his speed to match Jigoku's attacks.

"Oye, fool!" the Devil King shouted in annoyance.

Kaminari struggled to dodge the demon's rapid punches, his numbed body sluggish and unresponsive. Jigoku's counterclockwise kick connected powerfully, flinging Kaminari through the air.

Shivering, Kaminari rose unsteadily, throwing desperate punches. Jigoku effortlessly dodged each strike, his movements fluid and mocking.

Cloaking his fist in a sinister purple aura, Jigoku announced, "This punch marks the end of your pathetic story," before driving it into Kaminari’s solar plexus.

Bloodied and severely injured, Kaminari collapsed against a wall. Jigoku turned, declaring coldly, "Game over."

In his despair, Kaminari’s mind drifted. (What was I thinking...? I'm weak. Always have been. Always bullied, laughed at...)

Jigoku began walking away.

Memories flooded Kaminari's mind—the relentless beatings, the humiliating laughter, the loneliness. His mother, gone in a heart attack. His father, hospitalized. His only friend, Shakazuki, vanished. Tears mixed with blood as anger surged.

"This time…" Kaminari stood slowly, voice firm with resolve. "I'll win."

Jigoku paused, sneering over his shoulder. "This is where weaklings fall."

Clenching his fists, Kaminari’s hands sparked briefly with dark aura, digging into the ground. "Not again… never again. I won't lose."

"Tch. What was that supposed to be?" Jigoku mocked, stepping forward to deliver the finishing blow.

With a surge of raw emotion, Kaminari shouted defiantly, "I said... THIS TIME I'LL WIN!!!"

An explosion of dark aura erupted from within Kaminari, enveloping him completely—a power unknown even to the Devil King.

"What?!" the Devil King exclaimed in shock. "This isn't my power! What's happening to him?"

Unfazed, Jigoku laughed madly. "No matter what you do, you'll be hunted!"

"PAUSE THERE!" Kaminari commanded in a deep, terrifying voice.

He moved in a blur, landing a fierce punch that forced Jigoku back, the demon smiling with sinister excitement. "This fight starts now!"

They clashed violently at blinding speeds. Kaminari unleashed an onslaught of punches, forcing Jigoku into defense. Countering, Jigoku grabbed Kaminari’s fist, throwing him upward—only to see Kaminari’s dark aura extend protectively like a tentacle.

"My mother is dead," Kaminari roared, "So why do I sense her aura from you? Who the hell are you?"

Stunned, Jigoku rushed forward, fist cloaked in aura, but Kaminari caught his elbow and delivered a brutal kick to his stomach.

Jigoku smirked. "Kaminari, isn’t it? Let’s get serious."

Launching into the air, Jigoku unleashed punches so powerful the air currents sliced Kaminari’s skin. Bleeding and disoriented, Kaminari regained consciousness to find his full dark power extinguished, with only his fist still cloaked.

"Was I unconscious…? How did I keep fighting?" Kaminari wondered frantically.

"No time to overthink!" the Devil King urged. "He's wide open!"

Trusting instinct alone, Kaminari charged, narrowly avoiding Jigoku’s counterattack, and landed a devastating blow to Jigoku’s solar plexus. Jigoku violently coughed up blood, overwhelmed by Kaminari’s dark aura.

"Tell me who you really are," Kaminari demanded.

Jigoku smiled weakly, almost fondly. "Kaminari, you were this powerful? I guess my efforts were good for nothing."

Kaminari froze, recognition dawning with painful clarity. "What...?"

Slowly, Jigoku reached for his hood, pulling it back gently. Kaminari’s heart raced, breath caught in disbelief. As the hood fell away, Kaminari stood paralyzed.

"It's been a long time… Kaminari," Jigoku whispered softly, regretfully.

Kaminari could barely form words, disbelief choking his voice. "N-No... it can't be...!"

—To be continued.