Chapter 5: Against The Rampaging Beast
George and Baal looked on from the roof of a ten-story hotel as the beast laid waste to the streets below.
The monster's roars of rage and destruction echoed through the streets like a wave of terror, sending clouds of dust and debris into the air. The ground trembled beneath their feet as their hope of salvation dwindled away.
"Baal, the sword. Give it to me."
No. You must battle him on your own. This time, I will not assist you.
"What?! Why? Didn't you say you're going to assist me every time we hunt?"
Not this time; I need to see how you engage in combat first.
"Alright... fine. So how do I hide my face?"
Baal didn't respond.
The air around George felt heavy and almost alive, as if it were emanating its own energy.
George felt his arm and shoulder move involuntarily.
His arm moved without his permission, and soon, his palm moved in a sweeping motion, and a black smoke began to curl into the shape of a fearsome mask over his face, its eyes glowing red in the night.
The black, demonic mask had a V-shaped design that resembled horns, with a set of sharp teeth in the mouth area.
It only partially covered George's face, leaving his cheeks and forehead exposed. The mask was tightly fitted to his facial skin, muscles, and nerves so that he could open and close the mouth.
This is our demonic transformation. Its final form generates a bone armor that completely covers your body. In its incomplete state, it may be used to construct gloves, boots, or a mask.
"Okay... I'm jumping down."
George leapt from the building, a human cannonball hurtling through the air.
He plummeted towards the ground, accelerating with a deafening roar, his body brushing the air like a shooting star.
His feet crashed into the ground with a thunderous boom that shook the earth, an explosion of dust and debris that caught the attention of the monster lurking in the shadows.
The ground shook violently as the monster let out an earth-shattering roar. Its piercing eyes burned with fury as it bore down on George, its razor sharp teeth gleaming with hatred. An aura of pure terror smothered the air.
It moved like a blur, its movements so fast that George could barely keep up. Its four legs pounded against the ground as it raced towards him, thick saliva dripping from its open mouth.
It came at George like a freight train, the air around him shaking with its pounding energy.
When it was just a few steps away, it suddenly spun in a circular motion and its tail swiped across George's body with the force of a meteor falling to Earth.The force was so great that George was sent flying backwards.
George flew through the air, propelled by the force of the monster's powerful tail. He crashed through a nearby building, sending debris and fragments of the wall everywhere.
The people inside, who were cowering in fear of the monster, cried out from the confusion and the cloud of dust that permeated through the air. They began to scramble to get away from the danger they sensed.
George leapt to his feet, sprinting towards the destroyed wall.
With each step he could feel the vibrations of the monster's destruction, like an earthquake of destruction.
As he reached the wall, he saw the monstrous beast outside, smashing everything in its path with a wrath that seemed unstoppable. Pain surged through George, but he took a deep breath and leapt through the broken wall into the carnage.
George had no choice but to take on the creature, adrenaline surging through his veins.
He tried to keep up, but it moved like a hurricane, faster and faster. He knew he had to come up with a plan - quick - or else the beast would kill him.
He felt the pressure of imminent danger, sweat beading on his forehead.
The terrifying creature came at him from out of the shadows, looming ever closer.
With every step, panic surged through his veins, numbing him.
Desperately he went through every imaginable solution in his head, but before he could come to a conclusion, the monster suddenly vanished into thin air.
"What the- Where did it go?"
Above you, BLOCK IT!
George reflexively covered his head with both hands.
The demonic beast who was in midair was spinning like an unstoppable wheel of destruction, a dark energy radiating from its body. Its tail shot downwards like a whip aimed directly at George, ready to smash the very soul of its target.
George screamed out in agony as the overpowering impact sent a scorching fire of pain through his veins. His consciousness was fading away, but he fought against the darkness in his mind to stay awake. With every ounce of determination he had, he pushed through the pain and struggled to stay alive and fight back. Three-fourths of his body sank into the pavement.
The monster reared back and bellowed a deafening roar, sending shockwaves of terror through the air.
From its horns a ball of blazing red energy was summoned, slowly at first, then quickly swelling to a fiery maelstrom that threatened to consume all in its path.
"Oh sh*t..." The last thing he saw was a flash of red before darkness overtook him.
Agonizing pain surged through his body as he felt the searing heat of the crimson burst of energy rip through his clothes, the skin and the flesh beneath, until not even a single scream of anguish could be heard.
The beast slowly advanced towards George, its burning eyes fixed on its target.
Its enormous frame swallowed the light, casting a shadow of death that deepened as it came closer. Its roar shook the air, shaking George's bones.
An unearthly screech pierced the air as the creature inched closer, its long leg reaching out with a razor-sharp claw. With an excruciating crunch, it stepped down on George's charred body, driving its talon deeper and deeper into his skin as he lay motionless.
With wide eyes and an ear to ear grin, George moved his arms, clamping his hand around the monster's foot. His fingers dug into its hard skin, refusing to budge as if held in place with an invisible force.
"Kokorowatari."
A pitch black sword materialized from the depths of oblivion, its obsidian surface reflecting an eerie glow. It hovered in the air, radiating an aura of malevolence and death.
Malevolent Slash.
Themonster roared in agony as thepitch black lightrippedaflaming gashthroughitscalf.
Hot,scarletbloodsprayedlikea geyser, showeringthegroundas thecreatureclawedatits wound, desperate to stop the flow.
Theair was thick with the scent of burning flesh and screams of pain.
The beastsnarled at George andturned away,limpingpainfullyandgrowlingwithrage.Its gait was staggered as it stumbledaway,leavinga trail of crimson blood dripping from its wounds.
Itwasasslowasa turtlein comparison to its impressivespeedonlymomentsbefore.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
Georgecackledlike amadmanas the demonic energy of the sword filled him with power.
Hefeltasifaeuphoricdrughadbeeninjecteddirectlyintohisveins, flooding his veins and cells with pleasure.
His laughter was thatofanaddict,whowasovercome witharushafter monthsofharshwithdrawal.
Thepleasureranthroughhisbody,fuelinghiseverycellwithanurgetounleashhis deep-seatedviolentdesiresthathe never knew hepossessed.
Hestaggeredtohisfeet,hisskina raw, seared patchworkofagony, andeveryhaironhisheadsingedaway.
His maskremainedunscathed,yethisclotheshadbeenincinerated,leavinghimexposed and vulnerable.
George chased after the monster with speeds that were incomparable to him before.He was a walking nightmare, possessed by a ferocious energy that made him an unstoppable force.
Heclenchedthebone hilt of thepitch black sword,feeling his veins surgewithadrenalineasheswung it with all thestrength he could muster.
Anythingthatgotin hisway was cut down mercilessly, the blade slicing through whatever stood in its way like a hot knife through butter.
Georgehurledhimselfthroughthe city,rippingandtearing through anything in his way.
Buildings crumbled,carsrippedapart, and trees crashed down like thunder ashefought his way closer and closer to the monster.
Thebeastlashedoutwithitslong, hard tail,desperatetoescape.
Georgedrewhis sword andblockeditsattack--thesound the impact echoing in the air.
The monsterscrambledwildlyintotheshadows of thealleyway,its breath coming in rapid gaspsas Georgestormed closer.Inadesperateattempttoflee,itpushedforwardwitheveryounce of its strength.
With one final leap, the monster jumped from the ground and soared into the skies.
"Oh no you don't!" George roared as he lungedforwardlikea raging bulland grabbedthe monster's tailwitha deathly grip.
He yankeditbackwardsand slammed itto the groundwith a thunderous crash, sending dirt and dust flying in all directions.
"Isn't it a shame that you have to leave when we've only just begun?" George said in a mocking tone.
Themonsterlaid motionless in the murky shadows of the alley. Its claws curled into tight fists, its muscles tense with rage as itwas unable to move,pinnedhelplessly to the pavement.
George raised his sword. Hebrought the blade downwithathunderous clang, chopping off thetailof his adversary in one precise blow.
The beast'shorrificscreamsechoedthroughoutthenight,reverberationsofitstorment shaking the very earth below.
Itstailtwitchedin pain as it soon oozed thick crimson liquid that spilled onto the ground, staining the soil with its deathly tears.
George's cruel smirk widened as he jeered,"Nice tail... oh wait,it's gone now,"hisvoicedrippingwithmalicious glee.
His mocking laughter echoed through the air and barely concealed his sadistic joy.
He fiercely gripped the hilt of the sword as he marchedtowards themassivebeast.
With a violent thrust of his arm, he stabbed the blade deep into themonster's chest.Thecreaturehowledinagony as hot crimson blood spewed fromthewound.
"Beg for mercy."
The monsterletout a piercing howlanddesperatelyscrambledinawildfrenzy.Itslimbsflailed aboutanditracedatbreakneck speed, its body blurring likeacometasit moved through the space.
Exhaustion set in but it kept running, as if its life depended on it.
Georgeletoutamaniacal laugh that echoed through the nightas he watched thebeastfleein terror.
Hiseyes glittered with delight as he savored the creature's fright, and his face contorted with pleasure in the moonlight.
He reveled in the moment, cherishing the power and might that he held over this hapless monster.
With a feral snarl, he uttered a final command."It's over. Ignite, Kokorowatari!"
Theswordemittedanotherworldlyradiance,bathingthecreature in a sinister black light.
Darkflameslickedatitsbody,devouringitinasearinginfernountilnothingbut avaporof ashes remained.
The creature was completely annihilated with a single, powerful stroke.
Herecovered the swordhighabovehis head, feelingtheweightofhundreds of eyes upon him in the oppressive silence
He could feel theburninggazeof the police and JSDF on him,theirairofhostility so thick it could be cutwithaknife.
The tension was palpable as they waited inanticipation ofa confrontation.
He heard a thunderous voice boom from somewhere in the crowd.
"You're under arrest! Drop your weapons now or face the consequences!"
