Chapter 182: Kogen's End

Chapter 182: Kogen’s End

Before we finish this fight, let’s take a look at Kogen’s past. We go back over forty years ago.

Kogen is a small child playing alone in his grandfather’s yard. There are no other houses nearby, only open land stretching out around the property. Even at this age, Kogen already has the same hairstyle he will carry into adulthood. Both of his eyes are still intact.

A man approaches him, walking with a sly smile on his face. It is Korobu.

“Hey there, little kid. Is Nairo Drogen home?”

Kogen beams with childlike glee and excitement. “Yeah, he’s my grandfather! He’s so cool!”

Korobu’s smile shifts to a more relaxed one. “I want to meet with him. Can you take me to him?”

“Sure thing!” Kogen says eagerly. “I want everyone to know how cool my grandfather is!”

Korobu lets out a quiet chuckle. “Yes, you could say that I want to see his ‘coolness’ in person.”

Kogen leads Korobu inside the house.

Outside, demons begin surrounding the property, keeping eyes on all possible exit points.

***

“Hey, grandpa Nairo!” Kogen calls out. “This guy says he wants to meet with you!”

Nairo appears, walking out from his personal office. He has messy gray hair and a bushy gray mustache. Wrinkles line his face, and he wears a white lab coat.

“Yes, who is—?” He freezes the moment he sees Korobu, not finishing his sentence. “Kogen! Get away from him!”

Kogen’s eyes widen. “Huh?”

Korobu grabs Kogen and pulls him close, placing a hand near his throat.

“Greetings, Nairo Drogen,” Korobu says smoothly. “I suggest you cooperate with me unless you want this boy to die. Hmhmhm.”

Nairo clenches his fists. “Damn you, Korobu… Fine.”

“Okay everyone, it’s time to come in.”

Demons flood into the house. Some seize equipment while others destroy furniture and walls.

“Nairo Drogen. You are coming with me,” Korobu commands.

“…Okay,” Nairo says quietly. “But just leave my grandson alone.”

“Nope,” Korobu replies. “He’s coming too to make sure you cooperate.”

Nairo looks at Kogen, who is crying uncontrollably.

“What’s going to happen to us, grandfather!?”

A drop of sweat flows down Nairo’s face. “I wish I knew.”

***

Later that day.

Korobu and a handful of demons emerge from a small portal in Hell, with Nairo and Kogen having their hands tied behind their backs.

“If you can still go back and forth between Hell and Earth, then why not just launch another invasion and wipe us out already?” Nairo asks.

“It’s not that simple,” Korobu replies. “There are many factors.”

They head toward a castle-like structure. It’s tall and imposing, built with dark materials. The entrance door is comparatively massive, towering above them a few times over. The doors open, allowing them to enter. Further inside, they are brought before the Dark Goddess, who sits on her throne.

Korobu kneels. “My goddess, I have brought Nairo as you requested.”

“That is good,” Dakame says calmly. “You have done well, just as you always do, Korobu.”

“I am honored, my goddess.”

Dakame turns her gaze to Nairo. “I know of your research, Nairo. I’m keeping you here.”

“Fine, but let my grandson go back!” Nairo begs.

Dakame looks down at Kogen. He is shaking, unable to stop trembling.

“I have no problem with that.”

Nairo exhales in relief.

“But he will not go back the same way.”

Nairo stiffens. “What do you mean by that!?”

“He shall become an Enigmus and then will be sent back.”

“Why can’t you just send him back as is!?”

“Because he will be a valuable test subject,” Dakame replies. “You should thank me. Without becoming an Enigmus, the divine energies here in Hell will soon tear him apart. And don’t worry, I will be making some enhancements to you so that you don’t suffer the same fate.”

Nairo’s eyes narrow in frustration. “Using a child as a test subject… Unbelievable!”

Dakame smirks. “You’ve been studying internal enhancements to advance humanity. You should be pleased that your grandson is participating.”

Two demons grab Kogen and begin dragging him away.

Kogen screams in terror. “No!! Please don’t!! Harmona, please help us!!”

“Hmhmhm,” Dakame laughs softly as she stands. “Fool. The Light Goddess can’t help you here.”

She walks away, following the demons who have Kogen.

“You are pure evil!” Nairo shouts.

“Korobu, take Nairo where we keep our demonified humans,” Dakame says.

“Can do,” Korobu replies.

***

A little bit later.

Kogen lies unconscious on an operation table as the Enigmus procedure continues.

“He probably wouldn’t be able to handle having the demon heart put in his brain,” a demon remarks.

“Then take out his eye and attach the heart to his brain,” Dakame orders.

Later on, the procedure finishes. A beating demon heart rests behind Kogen’s right eye socket.

“Excellent,” Dakame says. “You may take him back to Earth now.”

This ends the story of Kogen’s past.

***

Kogen, standing about eight times Sasha’s height, is at full power and stares down into Sasha’s cold Dark Divine Eyes.

Kogen thinks, “Those eyes, they’re just like her mother’s! Now I really am thinking that I should kill her to get back at the Dark Goddess!”

Sasha’s chest heaves as her eyes turn fully red for a moment, but she quickly shakes herself out of it, thinking, “I nearly lost control there for a moment… Something primal is clawing at the back of my mind! I must keep control!”

Kogen aims his hands down at Sasha and fires a barrage of orange-glowing magic orbs. Sasha takes flight, flying directly up to avoid the orbs that blast through and destroy the rubble nearby. She stops once she is as high as Kogen’s head. Her eyes turn fully red once again and she places her hand against her forehead, trying to shake it off. A short red tail sprouts, puncturing through her pants. The tip forms into a scythe-like blade.

She slaps her hands against her face, muttering, “Come on, Sasha, keep it together. Don’t lose control before the finish line.”

Kogen thrusts his fist forward while she is distracted, blowing her far back.

“Sasha!” the other heroes shout in concern.

“You are just a bothersome fly to me now!” Kogen shouts.

Far back, Sasha steadies herself in the air and wipes blood from her chin.

“That’s what happens when I can’t keep it together,” she mutters. “Damn… That actually hurt a lot.”

She double fist-pumps, clenching her fists tight. “Okay, time to finish this!”

She flies back in Kogen’s direction.

***

In Heaven.

Harmona stands, watching the battle unfold through her ability to watch down upon Zeth.

“I saw that, Sasha. You’re playing a risky game with this. If you reach Stage 4, it will all be over for you.”

***

As Sasha comes into view, Kogen unleashes more powerful orbs straight for her, varying his hands’ positions so they’re not all in a straight line.

Sasha smirks. “I can avoid these easily.”

She weaves through the oncoming balls of magic. She forms a Black Energy Ball between her hands in the process. After dodging the final orb, she unleashes her attack. The Black Energy Ball heads straight for Kogen, who is now too big and tall to avoid it. It slams straight into his chest and explodes with a release of dark energy.

“Gaaahhh!!!” Kogen roars.

Blood flows down his chest from the new wound.

Sasha continues flying his way and goes over his shoulder, dragging her scythe-like tail along it, which opens up a severe cut.

Kogen roars in pain once again and flails his arms around, trying to hit her, but she is too agile for him to land a single hit.

“Hold still!!” Kogen yells.

Sasha laughs with sadistic pleasure. “Ah, what’s the matter? Can’t swat a simple fly? You did call me just a fly, right?”

She zooms toward his head, forming smaller Black Energy Balls in each hand. “I’ve grown quite fond of your barrage attacks! Let me try!”

Sasha zips around Kogen’s head, releasing continuous mini Black Energy Balls while still avoiding his flailing arms. Each blast does minor damage, but the continuous blasts begin to add up.

As she flies, she once again loses control as her eyes go full red again. She roars with primal rage, once again giving Kogen an opening to attack. He slams the palm of his hand down onto Sasha, smacking her down into the rubble. Dust launches up like a geyser from the sheer force of the impact.

Zeth’s eyes widen as he clenches his teeth just before screaming, “Sasha!!!”

“She’s not coming back from that,” Kogen says with a grin. “That had enough force to shatter her bones.”

The rain pours down harder. Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes brighten the area for just mere moments. The lightning strikes near the rubble that pushes to the side as Sasha emerges, her eyes fully red as she exhales with a demonic noise. Blood drips down her whole body.

Joe trembles, staring into her primal eyes. He gulps as he thinks, “Is this it for her? The metamorphosis… Gido was right!”

Sasha’s chest heaves as she glares up at Kogen.

“Kogen!!!!” she roars with a monstrous tone. She once again takes flight, launching herself toward Kogen’s face. Her eyes return to her normal Dark Divine Eyes in the process. She raises her arms above her, forming a massive Black Energy Ball. “With this, I will destroy you for good!!!”

Kogen forms a massive orange orb between his hands, eclipsing the size of Sasha’s ball. “I’m genuinely surprised you can still move, but I’m pouring everything into this attack! You will die!!”

“We’ll see about that!” Sasha monstrously roars. “Here, take it!!”

She launches her massive Black Energy Ball straight toward Kogen, who releases his attack. The two balls are on a collision course.

The two attacks collide and push against each other. Their force causes heavy winds to blow outward in all directions.

“I will win!!” Sasha declares. She releases more dark energy from her hands, strengthening the ball. However, it strains her body, cracking her skin all over.

Her Black Energy Ball begins to push Kogen’s orb backward.

“No!!” Kogen yells. “This can’t be!! This is my full power!!!”

Some of the cracks in Sasha’s skin burst, splashing out blood. She roars, making one final push forward. The last bit of energy fully allows her ball to overcome Kogen’s, sending them both toward him.

His eyes widen in total shock. “Impossible!!!!”

“This is it!!!!” Sasha screams. “You’re finished, Kogen!!!”

The two balls slam into Kogen, igniting a massive explosion of dark energy with a mix of orange. The explosion fully engulfs Kogen.

“Nooooo!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!”

The other heroes take cover, and Sasha flies in place, watching the explosion with a cold expression.

The explosion destroys what’s left of the upper floors. Once the explosion dissipates, Kogen falls to the floor, back to his normal size and human body. He lies on the ground dying, his entire body covered in blood wounds. Sasha lands in front of him, and the other heroes walk up to him.

Kogen coughs before uttering, “I can’t believe… I was defeated…”

Sasha stares at him with a stern expression. “In the end, you blew your opportunities to win this fight. I will give you this, you were the first person, even counting demons, that I have killed using my true power that actually put up a fight.”

“You all sound so sure of yourselves that you can beat the Dark Goddess…” Kogen mutters between coughs. “If you end up being nothing more than talk… then humanity is doomed…”

“We will defeat the Dark Goddess,” Zeth says. “You can be assured of that.”

“I may have lost to the Dark Goddess’s daughter…” Kogen utters between coughs. “But I will die knowing that I’m not the devil’s spawn! Hahahaha…”

Sasha has flashbacks to when her step-parents called her the devil’s spawn. In her anger, she forms a Dark Spear and stabs Kogen in the heart with it. He stops laughing and dies.

“That’s enough out of you!” she growls, still having the monstrous tone. Her chest begins to heave again as her eyes turn fully red. She roars and glares at the other heroes, who tremble in fear.

“Sasha?” Kurt utters in fear.

“Snap out of it, Sasha!” Emily shouts.

She starts walking toward them, ready to attack. However, Zeth lunges forward and hugs her tight. Sasha resists, trying to break free.

“Sasha, please stop…” Zeth begs with rising emotions. “This isn’t you!”

Sasha’s eyes widen, even in their fully red state. She ceases her struggle, and her arms fall limp by her side. After a few moments, she screams and pushes Zeth away.

The others watch, not sure what Sasha is about to do.

She uses her hands to start grabbing and ripping her own skin, causing more blood to release. At last, her eyes return to her normal Dark Divine Eyes. Her skin and hair return to their normal colors. Her horns, tail, and wings retract into her body. Her teeth return to normal sharpness. Finally, her muscle tone returns to normal.

She collapses in exhaustion, but Zeth grabs her before she hits the floor. The rain washes away much of the blood as she tries to catch her breath.

“Sasha, are you alright!?” Zeth asks, worry in his voice.

“Yes,” she replies. “That fight just took everything I had… Thanks for helping me snap out of my condition…”

“Don’t listen to Kogen,” Zeth says. “No matter whose blood you have, you are still a good person.”

The other heroes nod their heads, even if in relief, and for the first time since her true powers were unlocked, Sasha genuinely smiles happily. A few tears flow down from her eyes.

“So your eyes…” Emily starts. “Are they going to stay like that?”

“Yes,” Sasha replies. “My Dark Divine Eyes are my natural eyes. My eyes only looked human-like before because my dark divine powers were sealed away and my father is human.”

“Well, mission accomplished,” Zeth states, finally relaxing. But he suddenly opens his eyes a bit wider. “Except… Where is RAG?”

“Keith, did you see him?” Kurt asks.

“No, I didn’t,” Keith replies.

“Then we need to look for him,” Joe says.

The heroes have finally put an end to Kogen’s Enigmus Project. However, they remain unaware that RAG was captured by the mysterious boy.

Chapter 182 END

To be Continued in Chapter 183: Enigmus Arc Aftermath