Kozuna
"Kozuna? Is that you?" Anari shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "Am I seeing things? What're you doing out here!?"
Heh, heh. You should see your face right now, Anari. You look like a total loser.
"I'll explain later. Short answer- let's just say I heard the news from Zara and convinced her to reactivate my curse." Had to run across rooftops to get here quickly. But I've only got like eight minutes left before my seal deactivates. Gotta make this count! "So, how's about we hurry and take Nazun down, Commander!"
"Zara said you'd be coming. About time you showed up." Kaiten's relief was evident with a combination sigh-smile. "You're on, soldier."
I unzipped my fluttering jacket as I headed toward Kaiten's side. Nazun watched patiently from afar, resting his sword across his shoulder. When I reached Kaiten, he whipped his blades around, and I pounded my fists together.
"Kozuna. I'll take Nazun's head off. All you need to worry about is creating an opening. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
I breathed deeply. My hands stretched as my body lowered into a running stance, digging my fingernails into the silky sand. I shut out every distraction around me, concentrating instead on the rippling vibrations traveling from my seal and across my entirety. It made my blood hotter than the daytime desert. I gazed directly into Nazun's eyes- my only concern and target. He watched me more closely than Kaiten.
I'll outspeed him and put an end to this quickly!
The wind stilled before I forcefully shifted it violently with a singular, sudden movement. Energy pumped through my leading foot and rocketed me across the battlefield. Kaiten and Nazun were probably the only ones who could follow my movements, and the latter didn't hesitate to release a multitude of wide-reaching whirlwinds.
Spiraling sporadically, Nazun's silver energy tornadoes struck buildings, kicked up a temporary dust storm, and threatened to shred me to the bone. But it wasn't enough to stop me- not when I felt so alive!I watched closely and pivoted into zigzags, leaving a slight trail of black and orange in my wake. I couldn't back down. Not when I knew Kaiten was counting on me!
And in no time at all, I appeared through the dust and met Nazun's rising glare once more. I spun-leaped and launched my first kick straight toward his skull! Time slowed down as I watched it happen, only for Nazun to lock his gaze and duck my blow! He heaved his blade toward my leg for what would've been a limb-chopper, but a clash of steel and sparks protected me.
Kaiten intercepted right on time, crossing two blades and deflecting Nazun's attempt at maiming me. He went in for a kill blow, just for Nazun to release a blowout of energy from his body! And blood splattered, but it didn't come from Nazun.
At point-blank range, that energy not only blew Kaiten off his feet and away, but shredded through clothes and flesh. Kaiten managed to land on his feet, but he heaved for air as blood dripped from his limbs and torso.
Kaiten coughed out some blood as he called, "Frightened, Nazun? Your attacks are becoming desperate!"
"Those who should be frightened are the ones with something to lose!"
Energy seeped from Nazun's empty left as he jerked his arm back. That same energy burst out into a massive swirling vortex that blew a hole in a nearby building, forcibly pulling civilians from their hiding place and into the open.
Weren't the citizens in this sector supposed to evacuate!? Why are they still here?
I prepared to shoot back into the fray, but even I wasn't quick enough. Nazun shut his fist, and the vortex of energy followed. It collapsed with over a dozen people trapped inside. Every last one of them was smashed into droplets of blood. But from their remains, steam-like energy black as night barreled through the wind until striking Nazun's spine. Nazun kinda arched as he smiled widely in pure relief. Or perhaps ecstasy.
"Ahhh! That felt di-vine!"
My eyelids twitched. That proud grin I had from showing up to save the day had vanished. "What? What'd you do!?"
"You've a lot to learn about curse seals, Kozuna. Idiosyncrasies and all. I absorb the souls of those I've killed and convert them into living, lethal energy!"
Wait a minute-
Kaiten growled, quickly swiveling toward the others. "Shin, Anari, Yvira! Canvas the area! Find anyone else that might be hiding! Get them away from here!"
I barely looked back, but I did catch a glimpse of Anari, Yvira, and Shin rushing off. It was better that way.
"So, Nazun... That screaming sound I always hear from your whirlwinds?"
"Sharp as ever, Kozuna. That beloved noise you've become so accustomed to is the sound of the souls I've reaped! But in all honesty, I'm bored with playing things nicely. I mean, I slaughtered all of Jigen in preparation for this day!"
My left eye twitched uncontrollably. "You what!?"
I almost bit my tongue with how hard my teeth crunched together.
"Kozuna!"
In that moment, my thoughts vanished. I flipped my knuckle knives over my fists and darted after Nazun without a care in the world for whatever Kaiten had to say. Nazun grinned like he was getting what he wanted, but I wasn't gonna give him the satisfaction.
He slashed out whirlwinds, but I blurred from one spot to another. And I quickly reached Nazun's side. I watched his head try to turn in slow motion before cracking and crunching inward from a steel-coated, speed-boosted, explosive jawbreaker.
Nazun lost his footing for a moment, but caught himself before the momentum could take him far. I rushed in to keep up the pressure, only for a glimmering black blade to come swinging for my neck. My eyes barely moved before the rest of my body did.
I disappeared from Nazun's line of sight before he could blink. And then, his gaze was flipped sky-high when I swept a leg against his ankles. He lost balance, and I wasn't wasting a second to put him out for good.
It probably wasn't even a second before I reappeared above Nazun with a fist headed straight for his skull. But that was when he swung again, only with incredible force.
His blade collided with the steel protecting my knuckle. The sheer amount of physical strength sent vibrations up my arm, and also broke me out of my momentum.
I went skidding and sliding until I went low and grabbed at the sand with my fingers. My right hand suddenly started trembling. I couldn't keep a closed fist for long, and even curling my fingers was painful on its own.
Damn it… I recognize that kind of strength. The kind used to ward off your own death.
Nazun got back to his feet, while Kaiten returned to my side, saying, "Don't rush off in a fuss, Kozuna. Remember, he wants to rattle you. He nearly killed you just now. Stay calm, soldier."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Right… He did try to take my arm off just now, didn't he?
Nazun's smirk emerged once more. "Listen to Kaiten! Save your rage for my NEXT trick, Kozuna!"
Smoky, silver energy whirled around Nazun for once, and not his blade. But instead of releasing as a mass tornado, it swirled in place. Almost as if Nazun stood in the eye of a storm. Within seconds, that translucent energy expanded into a vast, amorphous blob, with a set of billowing arms near the upper edges, and a neck-lacking head.
The only other defining characteristics were the manifestation of another oversized, city-cleaving energy blade and the pair of circular, glowing, golden eyes. They beamed down on us from what was apparently the head. Nazun's energy had grown to probably six stories tall, and the sword had only gotten larger.
Kaiten and I each took a couple steps back. All the while, Nazun started laughing some more. His fingers twitched behind the safety of his avatar. He took a few steps forward, and the legless blob followed, maintaining Nazun's position in the center.
"I call this one the Soul Colossus!"
Nazun lifted his chin smugly and folded his arms. He didn't move a single muscle to attack. However, Kaiten and I watched the Soul Colossus raise its arm and heave that street-spanning sword down with FAR more force than Nazun could EVER hope to muster. He and I sprang in opposite directions, bearing witness to the weapon cascading through the dirt and creating another enormous fissure.
And when Nazun's Soul Colossus pulled its weapon from the ground, superheated black energy crackled from the new break. I could feel the heat from a distance.
So much destruction with one swing!
Kaiten sheathed his sword. He pulled out a handgun and started blasting, but his bullets bounced right off the Soul Colossus. They were nothing compared to the growing threat in front of us.
"Kozuna!" Kaiten met my gaze from a bit of distance. "Doesn't look like regular methods will work!"
I leaped away from another incoming would-be death blow. Every attack Nazun performed, whether it connected or not, made my life ten times more difficult.
"I see that!"
Then what do we do? How much longer can I even keep using my curse?
"I know a thing or two. If we can't pierce the shell of the colossus by normal means, then we need the power of a curse seal!"
Fuck my life. He means me, doesn't he?
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
I took a looong, labored, deep breath. The realization that all responsibility was about to fall on my shoulders hit me like a fucking truck. And right then, muffled beeping started to register. I glanced at my wrist.
The little alarm I'd set was going off.
I officially had four more minutes before my curse would deactivate. And I didn't exactly know how to reactivate it myself.
Got my answer. Agh, and here I thought fighting man-beasts was the pinnacle of bullshit around here.
The wind's direction suddenly shifted, but Kaiten tackled me to the ground before I could even move. I watched as the ginormous energy sword glided right over us and smashed into more buildings. Somehow, I didn't even see it coming. Was I too distracted?
Would've cut me right in half!
Kaiten and I got to our feet and quickly distanced ourselves, though I was moreso following his lead. He immediately grabbed my arm before I could make another stupid move like earlier.
"Kozuna, how much time have you got left?"
"A few minutes, maybe."
"Alright, we'll have to make it work." Kaiten and I leaped away from another incoming attack, with him continuing, "Hold out for just a little while. I need to connect with Zara- come up with some sort of plan. She has more knowledge on curse seals than I do, and you're the only other person I can count on to keep Nazun away from the city."
What do I do when my timer runs out?
Kaiten and I turned our attention toward Nazun and the Soul Colossus. Another slice of an energy sword was headed our way, and there wasn't any time to argue. Kaiten and I ducked the attack, and then he darted in the direction of Helix's chopper. Kaiten already had his hand on his earpiece.
"You can count on me, Commander!"
"I know! Just be careful!"
"Oh, WHAT'S THIS? Running away, Kaiten? Leaving your poor subordinate to face me alone!?"
"Nazun!" I stomped into Nazun's direct line of sight, kinda hunched and breathing slowly. "You're after me, right? Quit drooling over the commander and show me what makes you Hanakai fucks so special!"
"Believe me, you have my FULL attention, Kozuna!"
Nazun didn't hesitate to bring down his blade once more. But that time, my focus wasn't on trying to take him down. My gaze shot to the right, and my body followed. I disappeared from the path of destruction, used my insane speed to dash up the walls of ruined buildings, and sprang to a high rooftop. I was about at, maybe, chest level with the Soul Colossus.
Gotta use my surroundings to my advantage!
The silver-glowing, gaseous hand of the Soul Colossus twisted viciously. The sword followed and curved, slicing through the building beneath my feet. And my eyelids shot wide open as the rooftop quaked and crumbled beneath my feet.
I leaped to another building before I could begin plummeting into a pit of rubble and death.
Can clearly see why curses are forbidden around here, goddamn!
A pattern formed within a heartbeat. Nazun and his Soul Colossus continued destroying buildings and homes in pursuit of me, and running away seemed to be all I could do just to hold his attention. Far from a well-thought-out strategy, but I was on borrowed time as it was. However, in the background, I noticed Kaiten boarding Helix's chopper.
Did he get in contact with Zara yet?
"Give up and come peacefully! Make it easier on both of us, Kozuna! I'd really hate to take a limb or two!"
"Lyin' ass!"
Gotta try and land a hit! Something to throw him off balance, at least!
"Have it your way!"
Nazun's Soul Colossus pointed the very tip of its sword in my direction. And from that precise point came something I'd witnessed earlier. A release of turbulent energy that swirled and pulled me from my feet.
The very same vortex he'd used to crush all those innocents before.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
I flipped around in midair, watching the helicopter in the distance. And at the most inconvenient of times imaginable, my watch started fucking beeping like hell. My lips flattened, and my eyes widened when I realized what that meant.
My eyes trailed toward my curse seal, where all I saw was a faded black. No hints of orange or dust in the wind. My entire hand started to tingle mere seconds before what felt like a thousand thunderbolts surging through my fucking body and frying my insides nonstop! I couldn't hold back my agonizing shrieks, and Nazun watched my suffering in obvious satisfaction.
That seal of mine had been activated multiple times within only a handful of hours. The amount of backlash was enough to make me significantly prefer death.
Time's up- what do I do? What can I do!?
I scanned everything I could until my brow fidgeted and furrowed. All of the adrenaline pumping through me was the only thing keeping me from just keeling over completely. I tucked my knives away and snatched my grappling gun from the holster.
This'd better work!
I pulled that trigger faster than anything in the world, watching and hoping for the best as the hook fired toward the closest building I could reach. Luckily, the hook shattered a window and sank into the wall. I clicked it to drag myself closer at snail speed, but it was only an incredibly temporary save that kept me dangling in place. It would only take Nazun a couple seconds to cut the cord, and he was approaching.
The pull of the vortex grew stronger, threatening to tear my skin from my body. I could only wonder how long I had before my hook broke loose.
When Nazun finally got close enough, the Soul Colossus lifted its arm to cut the cord. But when it did, the vortex dissipated. I didn't know if it was on purpose, or if Nazun needed to hold the weapon still, but I didn't give a shit which one it was! He could tell my seal had deactivated. Probably thought I couldn't escape. I found myself pulled toward the hook and landed inside with a rough roll of a landing.
There was no time to stay still, though. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to my feet despite the shocking sensations and sprained hand.
"Where are youuuu, Kooozunaaa?"
The fucking weirdo outside was, unfortunately, not someone to take lightly. Not for a second. I yanked the garrote free of my glove, hurried straight to another busted windowsill, and leaped toward a nearby power line. I ziplined my way over until landing on a small, flat-roofed home.
If I can get back to the ground, maybe I can find some cover!
"There you are, Kozuna! Right on time for my NEXT showing!"
Huh?
Just as I glared to my left, the Soul Colossus' far-reaching sword-arm suddenly sliced backward. I watched as it traveled upward and cut through Helix's chopper. My jaw dropped as the two burning halves plummeted in the distance. I hadn't even realized Nazun noticed them, and I couldn't do a thing to stop him.
My veins popped. My pained fists curled and tightened. Rather than sadness, I felt frustration above all. If anyone on that chopper managed to survive, they surely wouldn't be by my side any time soon. And they wouldn't want me wasting time grieving, not while their attacker was still causing chaos.
The shocking sensation searing my muscles dwindled away, and I knew why immediately. Small flashes of black and orange energy escaped from my curse seal, and I tucked my weaponry away. For the second time, my curse had activated all on its own.
Seems like fight-or-flight mode is the only way, so far.
Outraged up atop that old house, my gaze locked in with Nazun's down in the sand. Behind the translucence of the Soul Colossus, he grinned ear-to-ear. But all that was tattooed to my face was a furious scowl. One of us had to die in that fight. And it wasn't gonna be me.
I'm running at full capacity now, for a battle to the death.