Chapter 127: A Lesson, Punishment, and Crushing Sadness

Chapter 127: A Lesson, Punishment, and Crushing Sadness

The heroes find themselves up against Kogen’s forces for declining their Enigmus plan.

Zeth thinks, “She’s right. The five of them combined are stronger than the five of us combined. We should find a way to escape, but I feel that won’t be possible. We have to fight!”

“Close your eyes!” Zeth shouts.

The others do as he says. He activates his Star Light Shield, and the sudden burst of light blinds four of their five opponents. The only exception is the silent one, the man with long red hair covering his entire face.

“Run!” Zeth commands.

The heroes sprint out of the factory, only to find the silent one already waiting outside, having teleported ahead of them.

“Shit!” Zeth mutters.

He prepares to release a Star Shine Blast, but the silent one teleports to point-blank range and strikes Zeth in the face with his palm. The impact sends Zeth flying back into a tree, the force strong enough to knock the entire tree over.

Behind the remaining heroes, the other four enemies appear, already recovered from the blinding light.

“Your trick didn’t help,” Udana says.

“You will learn a lesson,” Gido adds.

“Punishment will be given,” Goro says.

“And then you will die,” Gen finishes.

Kurt’s eyes widen with rising nerves. He shouts with impulse, “We have to separate!”

The heroes split up, each heading in a separate direction.

The silent one turns his attention toward Zeth.

Before Udana goes after anyone else, she looks back at Zeth. “Feel the power of an Enigmus, as that is what Subject 7 is. We rid them of their names and replace them with numbers in order of their creation. Another aspect of the Enigmus is that they all have a scar that is about one inch wide somewhere on their body. Lift up your shirt for a moment, Subject 7.”

Subject 7 lifts his shirt, revealing a one-inch-wide scar running down his chest. He then lowers his shirt again.

“An Enigmus’s scar is a mark of pride,” Udana states.

“I don’t need your damn scars…” Zeth says, gritting his teeth.

“If you do not agree to become an Enigmus, Subject 7 will take you down.”

Zeth gets back to his feet and ends his Star Light Shield.

“Subject 7?” Zeth says. “Alright then. I will have to show you my power!”

Zeth charges forward, throwing multiple punches, but Subject 7 teleports each time, avoiding every strike.

Growing frustrated, Zeth unleashes several Star Shine Blasts one after another, but Subject 7 teleports away from each one.

Suddenly, Subject 7 speaks, ending his silence with a calm, almost monotonous tone. “Go ahead. Try to punch me. This time I won’t teleport.”

Zeth rushes toward him. As Zeth throws his punch, Subject 7 holds out his palm, and the blow connects. Their clash turns into a struggle, but Subject 7 overpowers him, pushing Zeth back.

“How!?” Zeth shouts. “All you did was use your palm!”

“Your raw power is higher than mine, but I’m far better at using mine efficiently,” Subject 7 replies.

Zeth remains in shock, and Subject 7 takes advantage of the opening, striking Zeth in the chin with his palm. The blow deals heavy damage, and Zeth’s eyes widen in pain and disbelief. Splashes of blood burst from his mouth and nose.

***

Udana confronts Emily, walking toward her with a cold stare.

Emily pulls out her B3 Tide Shotgun and prepares to fire.

“Sword. Silver,” Udana says. Her sword shifts into a shining silver color.

Emily fires her shotgun. However, she stares in shock as the shells stick to Udana’s blade.

“You use weapons, but you’re an amateur compared to me,” Udana says as she flicks her sword, sending the shells back. Emily is struck and takes heavy damage, the shots breaking through her skin and opening wounds.

“Sword. Red.”

The blade turns red as Udana lunges forward. Emily blocks by raising her shotgun, but the slash cuts it in half, rendering it useless.

Emily draws her Shadow Sword, her irises turning dark red.

“I don’t care what you say, or how strong you are! I will not lose!” Emily declares, taking heavy breaths as she glares at Udana.

Udana briefly glances at the Shadow Sword before returning eye contact. “A shadow sword? Interesting.”

Emily charges, screaming with a warrior’s rage. She swings repeatedly, but her attacks fail to connect. Udana’s speed far surpasses hers.

Emily jumps back and puts the sword away, returning her iris color to normal. She pulls out her Dual Spinning Blades and throws them.

Udana smiles. “Sword. Yellow.”

Her sword turns yellow, gaining speed. She strikes both blades back toward Emily.

Emily cannot dodge in time. The blades slice through her right leg, severing it completely. She collapses to the ground, screaming in agony as pain surges through her body.

“Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!”

“Come,” Udana says. “It’s time.”

***

Joe battles Gido, who smiles with creepy pleasure.

“Come on!” Gido shouts as he charges. “Don’t you want to get more powerful!?”

“I don’t need your damn help to get stronger!” Joe shouts back.

Joe delivers an electrified chop, but Gido leaps into the air to evade it. On the way down, Gido grabs Joe’s head and slams him backward into the ground, leaving him lying flat on his back.

“You need to learn a lesson not to defy us,” Gido states with amusement.

Gido drives a powerful punch down into Joe’s gut, dealing severe damage.

“Gahh!!!” Joe groans as he coughs up blood.

“Your insides might be messed up,” Gido says. “Maybe I can help you.”

He flashes a disturbingly wide smile and pulls out a knife.

Joe trembles violently, fear overtaking him at the sight of the blade and Gido’s expression.

***

Kurt faces Goro, who stares with a serious expression.

“I like to call my magic Bulldoze Magic, because it gives me the ability to resist flinching and destroy my target,” Goro says.

He activates it, his body taking on a brownish tint.

“I need to take him out in one attack!” Kurt thinks. “I need to use a massive amount of magic!”

Kurt charges his magic energy as Goro rushes straight at him, his feet stomping into the ground with each step.

Kurt shouts, “Aura Beam Force!”

A massive beam of aura slams into Goro, dealing damage, but Bulldoze Magic does its job. Goro does not flinch.

Goro retaliates with a powerful punch, smashing into Kurt’s left arm. Bones shatter on impact.

“Aaaaaaahhhh!!!!” Kurt screams in agony.

***

Sasha fights Gen, who stares at her with villainous intrigue.

“You’re quite the interesting one,” Gen says.

Sasha throws Dark Spears at him, but he slices through them effortlessly with his arm. She follows up with a Shade Punch, but Gen dodges with ease.

Gen counters with a brutal kick, sending Sasha flying into a river, where she crashes into the water and begins drifting downstream.

Gen does not pursue her. He simply watches, a smirk forming on his face.

“Not just yet… dark princess. Walk away from this situation alive while your friends are taken from you forever.”

***

Zeth is thrown into the river as well, landing unconscious. He drifts downstream, bloody and broken.

Sasha spots him farther ahead downstream and swims as fast as she can toward him. She grabs hold of his body as they drift together, letting the river take them wherever it leads.

“Zeth! No! Damn it!” Sasha cries. “Emily, Kurt, and Joe! We can’t save them!”

Tears stream down her face as the current carries them away, coming to acceptance of their brutal loss.

The heroes have suffered a crushing defeat, and Emily, Kurt, and Joe are left behind, now at the mercy of Kogen’s followers.

Chapter 127 END

To be Continued in Chapter 128: Rock Bottom