Cherreads

Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Ashes and Souls

Shu: *Think* What the hell is this feeling? There's something here that doesn't add up, but what is it?

Lowa: What's going on? You don't have a good face

Shu: Doesn't that sound strange?

Lowa: What are you talking about?

Shu: It's been a long time since Eden and Yohei should have met someone, but they haven't said anything even though the fight should be over by now

Lowa: Maybe they've fallen asleep

Shu: *Smile* What a stupid conclusion

Shu: Thank you

Lowa: There is no need to

Lowa: For now we have to focus on our own thing, I'm sure they will both be fine

Shu: yes... you are right

*Footsteps begin to be heard approaching through the forest*

Shu: Lowa!

Lowa: Yes

*The two are shown ready for combat*

*Out of the trees comes a burly man in a smart suit and reading glasses*

Stranger 39: Wow, it looks like I got a little lost

Shu: *Think* Who the hell is this guy? I can't perceive a drop of energy in it

Unknown 39: Sorry Could you tell me where a boy named Eden is?

Lowa: Eden? I'm sorry, but we don't know who that is

Unknown 39: It's a shame, I was hoping to get to it soon

*Shu's surprised face is shown when he sees a tattoo of a star on the stranger's neck*

Shu: Lowa, that guy...

Lowa: Yes... He is part of those wretches

Shu: We can't let you get out of here

Lowa: Yes, I know

*Shu and Lowa begin to expel energy*

*Lowa lunges with great force towards the stranger, landing a blow so hard that it shakes the trees behind him*

Unknown 39: You're a little inconsiderate young lady

*Lowa is surprised to see the stranger completely unharmed after his blow to the face*

Lowa: It can't be...

*The stranger grabs Lowa's arm and throws her to the ground, cracking it and causing Lowa to spit blood*

*The stranger throws a big blow at the ground breaking it completely, but Lowa manages to dodge it and backs up next to Shu*

Shu: Are you okay?

*Lowa starts coughing, and draws a lot of blood*

Lowa: *Panting* I think he broke two ribs in that attack

Lowa: *Panting* This guy will be a real problem

*Shu's surprised face is shown*

Lowa: What's going on?

Shu: N-I can't find any weak points

Lowa: Hey, hey, is this serious?

Shu: *Think* Do we really have no chance against him? There must be some way...

*Lowa is shown smiling as her face shows concern*

Lowa: Damn, it looks like we'll just be cannon fodder

Shu: Huh?

Lowa: Does this always happen when you're with that guy? I find it very funny

Shu: What will you do?

Lowa: We have to stop them no matter what, I don't know what they are looking for in that guy, but it can't be anything good, if we allow them to get to him, it will be very bad

Shu: yes... It seems that we have no other option

*Shu's eyes change color to gold, which leaves the stranger intrigued*

*Shu and Lowa dive in with the stranger*

*Shu begins to throw a flurry of punches towards the stranger who dodges them with ease, just like Lowa's attacks*

*The stranger caught Lowa's fist, hitting her with a blow that broke the bones of her arm, and then throwing her into the air and kicking her, sending her towards Shu, causing the two to collide in the air*

*Shu manages to brake and sees Lowa very injured*

Shu: *Think* Shit, we haven't managed to get a scratch on it, if this goes on, we'll die

Stranger 39: So are you ready to talk yet?

Shu: I...

Lowa: *With a weakened voice* No... We don't know anything

Unknown 39: It's a shame... They'll have to die here

Shu: Lowa, please resist

Lowa: I will...

*Shu's body begins to expel a large amount of golden energy*

Shu: *Think*What was he afraid of? Was he really going to confess to save me? I'm really a disgusting person, I'm the worst

*Shu recalls agonized screams as his face is shown to be covered in blood*

Shu: *Thinks* of dying... I was afraid of dying, not only now... That time too

*Shu remembers his terrified look when Eden used his demonic power*

Shu: *think* and that...

*Shu remembers all of Nork's events*

Shu: *Think* Always, all my life, I've been a coward, over and over again, I've never stopped running away

*Shu remembers Athena's look of contempt*

Shu: *Think* yes... that time, I shouldn't have survived, it should have been him... I always thought that, but... Did you ever feel that way Eden?

Shu: *Think* Have you ever looked back and decided to run away? Why haven't you done it even though the world is against you? I don't understand it and I won't understand it

Shu: *Think* Still, once, even once, I want to fight, even if it costs me my life, even once... I want to create my path...

*Shu feels the support of a hand on his shoulder, which leaves him shocked*

*Shu is annoyed at this and his face changes to an angry look*

Shu: *Think* Don't get in my way now

*Shu's body begins to become much stronger, while his hair begins to become more pointy*

*In the blink of an eye, Shu appears in front of the stranger throwing a powerful blow that generates a very powerful wind wave*

Unknown 39: oh, interesting

*The stranger launches an attack on Shu, but he manages to dodge it by throwing a blow that finally hits the stranger's rib*

*The stranger is forced to retreat after Shu's well-aimed blow*

*The stranger sees the mark left by Shu's punch, so he smiles in surprise*

*Shu launches into the attack again, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks, forcing the stranger to retreat continuously*

Unknown 39: *Think* I'd better start with this

*As Shu throws another punch, he suddenly feels a big direct punch in his chest*

*The stranger's finger is shown piercing Shu's chest, causing him to spit blood*

Stranger 39: I think I've had enough fun with you

Shu: C-Damned

Unknown 39: It's a shame, but...

*The stranger's surprised face is shown when he perceives a mark on Shu's neck*

Unknown 39: It can't be, you... you're one of them...

*The stranger's head receives images of a laboratory full of blood and many capsules filled with a strange liquid

Shu: *Think* Now!

*Shu takes advantage of the stranger's distraction to kick him in the neck that sends him flying, causing him to crash into a nearby tree*

*The stranger is shown with broken glasses after the crash*

Stranger 39: *Think* I didn't expect to find someone like that here, damn it, what do I do now?

Shu: *Think* What's going on? Why doesn't it move? I have to...

*Shu looks at Lowa full of wounds on the ground*

Shu: *Think* No, I must take her as soon as possible, if she is still there, she will die, I have to...

*The stranger appears right behind Shu*

*Due to his speed, Shu is unable to react and is pierced by the stranger's hand, causing him to spit out a lot of blood*

*Shu falls to the ground without energy*

Unknown 39: It's over...

*Shu is shown on the ground covered in wounds and blood*

Unknown 39: I'm sorry...

Unknown 39: It's Time to Go

*Behind the stranger Shu is shown staggering up and without strength*

Shu: *smile* Hey, can you stop playing?

Stranger 39: *Surprised* What are you talking about?

Shu: *Panting* If I'm going to die here... I want you to give it your all, don't hold back, you bastard

*The stranger closes the book he has in his hands and takes a serious look at Shu*

Unknown 39: *Sighs* I hope you don't regret this...

*The stranger's hands begin to change shape to that of a pincer just as pointed legs begin to emerge from their sides*

*The scene fades and Shu is shown on the ground while the stranger looks at him in embarrassment*

Stranger 39: You didn't deserve this, nor did you... nor any of them...

Tiresias: Wow, wow, I looked like I found an interesting guy around here

*The unknown 39 is surprised to see Tiresias behind him*

*Unknown 39 walks away from Tiresias while he is puzzled*

Unknown 39: *Think* He's fast, really fast, I didn't feel his presence until he spoke

Tiresias: It seems that you and your friends have made a big mess

*Tiresias looks at Lowa and Shu*

Unknown 39: Why didn't you kill me sooner? You could cut my throat if you wanted to

Tiresias: I'm sorry, it's not my style. Plus, you're more human than I thought, much more so compared to those two friends you have

*Puppet and the unknown 59 shown*

Unknown 39: What are you talking about?

Tiresias: I could tell that you haven't aimed at any vital point or any point that could be serious

Unknown 39: I don't know what you're talking about

Tiresias: Either way, at least you deserve a human death, so I'll finish you off quickly

*Tiresias unexpectedly attacks the stranger, landing a large blow that stuns him*

Unknown 39: *Think* Who the hell is this guy? How can it have so much strength?

*Tiresias releases a great flash of Light that blinds the stranger*

Stranger 39: *Think* Shit, I don't see anything, where is it?

*Tiresias is shown examining Lowa and Shu*

Tiresias: *Think* It seems that there is still time, but, I don't think it will be much...

*The stranger regains his sight and realizes that Tiresias is not looking at him*

Stranger 39: *Think* What the hell is he playing? He could have taken advantage of it to kill me again

Unknown 39: What do you want, old man? If you keep playing, those guys won't survive

Tiresias: I appreciate the concern, but the game is over a long time ago

Stranger 39: Huh?

*Various explosive devices are shown surrounding the stranger*

Tiresias: Goodbye

*A gigantic explosion is generated in the place, destroying dozens of trees in the vicinity*

*The place trembles while many of the trees are burned and destroyed due to the gigantic explosion*

*Tiresias is shown protecting Shu and Lowa as he watches the explosion*

*After a few seconds the whole place is shown razed and full of flames*

Tiresias: *Smiles* I knew it wouldn't be easy to win, but you still surprised me

*A man is shown with a large cortex throughout the middle area of the body, with 3 pointed arms on each side, as well as two large pincers in his hands and finally a huge stinger*

Tiresias: *With sweat on my face* It's a shame I can't see you now, but, I'm sure you're very scary

Stranger 39: I have to admit that I didn't expect an attack of that magnitude coming from an old man like you

Unknown 39: You are a rival to be feared, if it had taken me a microsecond longer to react, I would have blown up

Unknown 39: What's your old name?

Tiresias: Tiresias

Unknown 39: You can be proud Tiresias, you are the first one who has pushed me to the limit, therefore, I will respond using all the power I have, I hope you can bear it

Tiresias: What's yours?

Unknown 39: My Name Is Beast

Tiresias: It's good to know, so I can make a tomb in your honor, Beast

*Both smile nervously while staring at each other*

*A large burst of energy is generated near the site*

*Tiresias is shown surprised at the amount of energy he is sensing, while Yosa is shown in her new form*

Tiresias: Don't tell me that...

*Beast appears in front of him and throws a powerful blow*

Beast: Don't look away, old man!

*Tiresias blocks the attack and backs away, however he notices his numb arms due to Beast's great strength*

Tiresias: *Think* Hold on a little longer, Yosa, please

Tiresias: *Think* Fuck, I have a lot more problems now, if this goes on like this...

*Beast launches into the attack by launching powerful attacks towards Tiresias, with which he breaks the ground every time he connects*

Beast: Come on, come on, show me what you're capable of

*Beast manages to collide with an invisible thread, which causes several spikes to emerge from the ground that cross his body*

*Beast spits out a lot of blood while being surprised at what happened*

Beast: Hey, hey, at what time?

Beast: You're more unpredictable than I thought, Tiresias. But...

*The spikes break as Beast tries to break free from them*

Tiresias: *Whispering* I guessed it... The only way to beat a monster is to become one

Beast: How much do you whisper, old man?

Tiresias: I'm sorry, but it's time to end this

*Tiresias begins to overflow with a terrifying amount of energy*

Beast: What?

*Tiresias' body begins to become much stronger, growing muscle in an absurd way*

*As his body becomes more muscular, Tiresias opens his eyes, revealing eyes of a very bright golden color*

Beast: Hey, hey, is this serious?

*Tiresias is shown fully muscled and with a serious look*

Beast: *Smile nervously* You're a lot more trouble than I thought

Tiresias: Shall we end this once and for all?

Beast: Yes...

*In the distance a great explosion of overwhelming energy can be heard, which leaves everyone surprised and impressed*

Beast: Is it serious?

Willoc: It seems that we are late

*Stranger 59 is shown smiling as he sees the energy that Eden gives off*

Beast: It's a shame, I think we'll have to leave our meeting for another time.

Tiresias: What?

*Willoc, Beast and the unknown 59 disappear instantly, leaving everyone they were confronted with bewildered*

Tiresias: What's going on here?

*Shun is shown face to face with Yogen*

Shun: *Think* It depends on what happens today, the world will change one way or another, I can't have a margin for error, we have to end this, now

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