The Cyber Ascension
Chapter 8 : The Broken Heart of Kaizen
Kaizen stood before Jin Yuan and Musukoni, his mismatched eyes gleaming — one red, one blue — filled with an unholy excitement.
A grin spread across his face.
Kaizen: "Don't disappoint me… heh."
In the next instant, he launched himself into the air.
His gauntlets ignited with blue energy, releasing a shockwave so powerful the ground beneath them fractured.
Jin Yuan and Musukoni barely dodged, the air slicing past them like invisible blades.
Musukoni: "He's using compressed air… We can't just keep dodging — we have to fight back!"
Jin Yuan gave a silent nod.
Both charged forward — Jin Yuan's massive katana cutting through the mist, Musukoni's twin daggers glimmering under the blue glow.
Kaizen caught Jin Yuan's blade — between two fingers.
Kaizen: "Too slow! Come on, show me what you've got! I'll enjoy killing both of you for stepping into Shinjukuna-sama's realm!"
Musukoni's eyes narrowed, analyzing every movement.
"He said Shinjukuna-sama… so he's the one behind all of this."
He lunged from behind, his daggers linked by a spinning chain for a surprise strike — but Kaizen's counter came faster than lightning.
A gauntleted fist slammed into Musukoni's chest, sending him crashing through a building.
Jin Yuan gritted his teeth, blood trickling from his mouth.
(Thinking): He's obsessed with fighting… Those gauntlets generate shockwaves that nullify our attacks. Head-on won't work.
Amid the wreckage, Musukoni stirred, coughing blood.
Musukoni (weakly): "Yusikuna…"
Flashes of his fallen comrade — the laughter, the promise, the fire.
His trembling hand closed into a fist.
Musukoni: "I promised him… I'll keep fighting."
Before he could stand, Kaizen appeared again — a blur of speed.
Another brutal blow landed, shattering Musukoni's ribs.
Then Kaizen leapt high and smashed him down with an overhead punch.
Boom.
Jin Yuan darted forward, intercepting Kaizen mid-air.
Their clash sent a wave of energy rippling through the Blue Realm, glass shattering, the air trembling.
Kaizen smirked, wiping blood from his lip.
Kaizen: "Not bad… Now this is fun."
Below, Musukoni lay unconscious — his body broken, his promise echoing faintly in his mind.
The battle raged on — every strike between Jin Yuan and Kaizen shaking the realm itself.
Sparks scattered like shooting stars, blue mist curling around their feet.
Though Jin Yuan's movements were precise, Kaizen's sheer brute power began to dominate the fight.
Kaizen: "Is that all you've got?! Pathetic!"
He slammed his gauntlets together, unleashing another shockwave that blasted Jin Yuan backward into a metallic tower.
Cracks spidered through the steel, dust swirling in the aftermath.
Jin Yuan steadied himself, silent and focused.
(Thinking): He's stronger… I can't counter him directly.
Then — an opening.
(Thinking): He doesn't defend… only attacks.
Jin Yuan rushed forward with sudden speed.
His katana sliced through the mist — a shallow cut tearing across Kaizen's armor.
The next swing landed harder, cracking one of Kaizen's gauntlets.
Kaizen's grin widened.
Kaizen: "Ah! Now this is getting interesting!"
But Jin Yuan said nothing — his hollow eyes burned with quiet resolve.
Their blades collided again and again, thunder rolling through the realm.
Kaizen's strength, though, soon overwhelmed him.
Spotting hesitation, Kaizen drove his fist into Jin Yuan's ribs, hurling him into another tower.
Kaizen: "What an interesting match…"
The steel wall shattered. Jin Yuan's vision blurred — lights, sparks, blood.
Kaizen strode forward, gauntlets humming, grin twisted with cruelty.
Kaizen: "Pathetic. I'll kill you for daring to step into our realm."
Jin Yuan staggered to his feet, ribs shattered, blood dripping from his mouth.
Kaizen raised his fists — energy spiraling around him like a hurricane.
Kaizen: "Wind Style — Typhoon Wave!"
He thrust forward, the shockwave howling toward Jin Yuan.
Then — a chain snapped tight.
Musukoni's twin daggers, linked by steel, wrapped around Kaizen's fist mid-attack.
With a savage pull, Musukoni yanked him off balance.
Kaizen: "You're alive!?"
Musukoni: "I promised… I'd never fall."
Despite broken ribs and blood loss, Musukoni's eyes burned with ferocity.
He moved like a storm — ducking, slashing, countering with everything he had.
Kaizen snarled, unleashing furious punches that shattered the ground.
Jin Yuan watched from the debris, every breath agony.
Musukoni — battered, dying — fought on for a promise.
(Musukoni, thinking): I won't let Yusikuna's death be in vain.
The fight became pure chaos — shockwaves, sparks, steel, blood.
Musukoni landed a lucky strike, forcing Kaizen back.
For the first time, the monster staggered.
Kaizen's snarl twisted into laughter — mad, broken, human.
Around them, the Blue Realm itself flickered like a failing circuit.
Jin Yuan moved.
His katana rose high — then fell.
Crash!
Both of Kaizen's gauntlets shattered.
Kaizen stared at his trembling hands in disbelief.
Kaizen: "No… It can't be…"
Then — the memories came.
---
Flashback – Earth
A classroom bathed in sunlight.
A younger Kaizen sat nervously, staring at the girl beside him — Omaini, red hair glowing softly.
Kaizen: "Um… Omaini, I… I like you."
She smiled faintly, eyes soft but sad.
Omaini: "I like you too… but I already have a boyfriend."
The world fell silent.
Kaizen: "Oh… I understand."
He smiled weakly and walked away — heart quietly shattering.
That night, he saw Omaini's boyfriend with another girl.
His fists clenched.
She deserves to know.
He ran to the café, breathless.
Kaizen: "Omaini! He's cheating on you! Please, believe me!"
Her face darkened.
Omaini: "Stop lying! You're just jealous!"
Kaizen: "No! Please—"
Omaini: "Get out! Don't ever show me your face again!"
Her boyfriend appeared — and beat Kaizen until the world turned black.
She said nothing.
Days later, Kaizen found Omaini crying in a park.
Kaizen: "You were right, Kaizen… he betrayed me. I'm so sorry."
He smiled through tears.
Kaizen: "You deserve better. I could never hate you."
She whispered, trembling.
Omaini: "Then… let's start over."
He hugged her, crying in relief.
Kaizen: "I love you, Omaini—"
Screech. Crash.
A truck slammed into her.
Blood. Silence.
Kaizen froze, screaming her name.
Kaizen: "No! No, no, no!!"
When the police arrived, one officer spoke coldly.
Cop: "Drunk driver. We'll compensate your loss financially."
Kaizen snapped.
He punched the cop — again and again — until everything turned red.
Then a voice.
Shinjukuna: "Such pain… such rage. I can give you purpose."
Kaizen turned, eyes wild.
Kaizen: "What do you want!?"
Shinjukuna: "Serve me. Help me build a world without heartbreak."
Kaizen hesitated — then nodded.
Kaizen: "Yes. I'll do anything!"
---
Back to the Present
Kaizen's shattered gauntlets fell to the floor.
Tears streamed down his face as memories devoured him.
Kaizen (screaming): "Aaaaaaah!"
Musukoni: "He's done… he can't fight anymore."
But Kaizen stood — barehanded, trembling, eyes glowing red and blue.
Kaizen: "I'll kill you humans… You're all the same!"
He charged — but a soft voice echoed behind him.
Omaini: "Please… stop, Kaizen. This isn't who you are."
Kaizen froze. His hands fell limp. Tears burned his eyes.
Kaizen: "If that's what you want… I'll stop."
He picked up one broken gauntlet, activated its self-destruction, and embraced the fading illusion of her spirit.
Kaizen: "I finally found you…"
A faint smile — then BOOM!
The explosion tore through the structure.
Musukoni had already signaled Jin Yuan — both leapt clear as the shockwave devoured the area.
When the smoke cleared, nothing remained of Kaizen — only silence.
Musukoni: "Why would he kill himself?"
Jin Yuan: "Maybe… he was just a broken heart."
---
End of Chapter 8 : The Broken Heart of Kaizen