Chapter 28: Demon Awakening
Ryuma's grin widened, blood still dripping down his chest.
Ryuma:"ZZHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter shook the jungle like thunder.
Orimo pushed himself back to his feet — blood pouring from the wound across his core.
Ryuma:"Stay down, you brat."
Ryuki (urgent): "Don't force yourself, Orimo!"
But then—
The sky darkened.
Black clouds rolled overhead.
The air grew heavy.
Orimo's eyes began to glow — faint, eerie, unnatural.
Ryuma (brows tightening): "…What's wrong with you, brat?"
A thunderbolt tore from the sky—
THUD!
It struck the earth right beside them, shaking the soil.
Ryuma's feet trembled.
For the first time—his laugh dropped.
Ryuma:"Z…Zzahaha…?"
A slow, unsettling smile crept across Orimo's face.
Thunder fell again.
And again.
Like rain.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Ryuki's eyes went wide.
The ground cracked beneath Orimo.
Then—
Orimo laughed.
Orimo:"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU IDIOT!"
Ryuma's expression shattered.
Sweat rolled down his cheek.
A violent energy burst from Orimo's body — the earth itself trembling under its weight.
Lightning crawled over his skin, moving faster than thought, faster than breath.
Ryuki could only whisper:
Ryuki: "What… is this?"
Ryuma stared — no longer laughing.
Ryuma:"…You really are the Malevolent Generation… ZZHAHAHAHA—"
But there was fear now. Real fear.
He ran.
No taunts.
No pride.
Just fear.
The smoke and lightning faded as quickly as they had come.
Orimo's body dropped, collapsing to his knees.
His breath ragged. His aura gone.
Ryuki: "Orimo!!"
The awakening was over.
And the jungle fell silent.