Sasaki immediately used Switch Mode, taking Alfie and Jackson with him.
They reappeared several meters away, facing the direction from which they had heard the voice.
"No, no, no, no, no... Don't be frightened now."
The same voice came from above them.
All three slowly looked up.
A figure was levitating high above them, his hands resting behind his back.
He was barefoot.
Unlike most Darkside Spirits, his appearance was far more humanoid. His body looked almost like a human's, but the strange aura surrounding him made it obvious that he was something else entirely.
"Mr. Reaper..." Alfie muttered.
"I don't know, Alfie. This right here... I don't know," Sasaki replied, his eyes fixed on the figure.
"There's no way that's human," Jackson said.
Which left only one answer.
"A Darkside Spirit," Alfie and Jackson said together.
"Is it a Special Darkside Spirit, Mr. Sasaki? I haven't seen one before," Jackson asked.
"That can't be a Special Darkside Spirit."
Sasaki's expression became serious.
"His aura is way higher... and much stronger."
"That's correct."
The figure's voice came from above.
He suddenly used Switch Mode.
In an instant, he appeared on the ground.
Both hands remained behind his back as he slowly began walking toward them.
"You know... there was a time, some months ago."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Isn't that what you humans call it? After thirty days... or thirty-one days sometimes?"
He paused.
"That's a month, right?"
The three remained silent.
"Stay close to me, both of you," Sasaki said quietly. "Whatever this thing is, he means trouble."
Alfie and Jackson nodded.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit continued walking.
"I came across this bunch of human weaklings, and I wanted to flex my strength a little."
A smile appeared on his face.
"You know... frustrate them."
His voice became more excited.
"As they watched their..."
He paused.
"'Comrade.' Isn't that what you humans call a friend?"
He chuckled.
"Yeah. That's right."
He continued walking.
"I wanted to watch their comrade die right in front of them. The fun I would have seeing the pain in their eyes... knowing how powerless they were against me."
His smile widened.
"That gives me so much joy."
He suddenly stopped.
"But..."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit touched his chin.
"There was this human. This man..."
His expression became thoughtful.
"I thought I couldn't sense any Renshi from him. I was sure I didn't sense a single trace of Renshi."
He slowly looked at Alfie.
"But still... he was the one who immediately went berserk and gave me a punch straight to the face."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit laughed.
"It took me a few seconds to process everything because... damn."
He grinned.
"That punch was powerful."
He shrugged.
"But nevertheless... I got back up like nothing happened."
His eyes narrowed.
"And I played with him a little."
He spread his arms.
"I gave him a little hope that he could possibly defeat me."
The smile disappeared.
"Then, after he exhausted all his strength..."
He placed a hand against his chest.
"I drained him of his Renshi."
His smile returned.
"With joy in my heart."
"What's the point of telling us all this story?" Jackson shouted. "What do you want?"
"Shh... shh... shh."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit raised one finger.
"I have no business with you, kiddo."
He continued walking.
"You're for the Betas and Alphas."
Jackson's expression tightened.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit suddenly chuckled.
"But he said something that caught my interest that day."
His eyes became distant.
"And I still laugh about it even now."
He stopped.
"'My son is going to find you... and kill you.'"
The words echoed inside his head.
"My son is going to find you... and kill you..."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit slowly looked toward Alfie.
"I never knew that son wasn't a myth."
His grin became wider.
"But he's actually real."
He spread both arms.
"Which means..."
His voice suddenly exploded across the mountains.
"I HIT THE JACKPOT AGAIN!!!"
He burst into loud laughter.
Jackson's face went pale.
This isn't good.
Don't tell me it's what I think...
Alfie's eyes remained fixed on him.
"So... it was you."
His voice was calm.
But tears slowly rolled down his cheek.
His expression hardened.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit smiled.
"Hey, since you did that to his father, why bother talking about it?"
Sasaki stepped forward.
"If you're really confident in your strength, you don't need to put your opponent on edge before fighting them."
His voice was angry.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit looked at him with interest.
"You're unique and different, aren't you?"
He tilted his head.
"Your Renshi feels familiar... but at the same time, it doesn't."
His eyes narrowed.
"What are you?"
"That wasn't the question, you fool!"
Sasaki shouted.
"Why are you talking about the man you killed?"
"Calm down now, will you?"
The Ultra Darkside Spirit chuckled.
"There's plenty of time for you to scream if you want."
His smile widened.
"Just don't do it while feeling yourself too much."
Alfie lowered his head.
"You..."
His voice trembled.
"You started... all of this."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit stopped smiling.
"Mama..."
Alfie's fists tightened.
"Eli... Marcus... Master..."
His eyes became colder.
"And Rebekah..."
His voice was filled with anger.
"You ended a good man's life because you enjoyed it."
Alfie slowly raised his head.
"You started all of this that's been going on in my life."
His voice grew louder.
"All of it!"
The Ultra Darkside Spirit stared at him.
"And you have the guts..."
Alfie's voice became quieter.
"To come here..."
His fists trembled.
"To come here... and tell me you did it."
He slowly removed his cape.
Then his shirt.
Jackson stared at him in surprise.
"This will not end well for you."
Alfie looked directly at the Ultra Darkside Spirit.
"I promise you that."
He turned slightly toward Jackson.
"Jack..."
"Mr reaper...."
Jackson's eyes widened.
"Stay out of this."
Alfie stepped forward.
"This is my fight."
He looked back at the Ultra Darkside Spirit.
"My papa said it to your face."
His voice became colder.
"That I would find you... and kill you."
He clenched his fists.
"I guess papa was right about one thing."
A small smile appeared on Alfie's face.
"I didn't find you."
His eyes sharpened.
"You found me."
He took another step forward.
"But..."
His voice dropped.
"I AM GOING TO KILL YOU."
The Ultra Darkside Spirit stared at him for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"Awww..."
He wiped the corner of his eye.
"That's so sweet to hear, little guy."
His expression became mocking.
"How do you intend to do that, kiddo?"
He pointed toward Alfie's fists.
"You think you can hurt me with those little fists of yours?"
He burst into laughter.
Alfie's entire body began trembling.
Sweat started dripping from his face and body.
His teeth shook from the anger building inside him.
"What's going on, Mr. Sasaki?"
Jackson stepped toward Alfie and reached out his hand.
The moment his hand got close....
BOOM!
An invisible force suddenly blasted Jackson backward.
"What...?"
Jackson rolled across the ground before stopping.
Sasaki's eyes widened.
"What is this?"
Jackson quickly stood and looked toward Alfie.
Alfie was no longer moving.
His trembling had completely stopped.
He stood perfectly still.
His eyes were wide open.
His body didn't move even an inch.
"Alfie?"
Jackson slowly approached him.
"Alfie..."
Nothing.
He didn't respond.
He didn't even blink.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit smiled.
"Ohhh..."
He laughed softly.
"Looks like little guy can't keep his promise to his papa."
He stepped closer.
"What's wrong, little guy?"
His grin widened.
"Lost in your thoughts?"
"Shut up!"
Sasaki shouted.
"Don't you say another word!"
The Ultra Darkside Spirit glanced at him.
"You better watch your mouth now, will you?"
He sighed.
"Seriously... I think I played with you guys too much."
His eyes became cold.
"It's time to wrap this up."
He used Switch Mode.
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Alfie.
His hand slowly reached toward Alfie.
But before he could touch him.....
"ALFIE!"
Jackson drew his sword and attacked immediately.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit didn't even look at him.
Click.
He simply snapped his fingers.
BOOM!
Jackson was sent flying.
He crashed into the ground, his ribs and knee badly injured from the impact.
"AHHH!"
He shouted in pain.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Without hesitation, Sasaki launched himself forward.
His fist was aimed directly at the Ultra Darkside Spirit's face.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit caught it effortlessly.
Sasaki's eyes widened.
The Darkside Spirit twisted his arm.
CRACK!
Pain shot through Sasaki's arm as the bones inside were broken.
Before Sasaki could react, the Ultra Darkside Spirit opened his palm.
"Get out of my way."
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave exploded from his palm.
Sasaki was launched deep into the forest.
The ground beneath him was destroyed as his body tore through the earth.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit turned back toward Alfie.
He reached out again.
His fingers were only inches away from Alfie's body.
But....
BOOM!
An invisible barrier stopped his hand.
The Ultra Darkside Spirit's eyes widened.
"What...?"
He pushed his hand forward.
Nothing happened.
The barrier didn't move.
"What is this?"
He stared at Alfie.
Alfie remained standing.
His eyes were wide open.
His body didn't move.
Not even a muscle.