The last monster squirmed and squealed underneath my foot. Blood soaked my entire body as I stood triumphant, a satisfied grin spread across my face. I mercilessly stomped on the monster until it stopped moving, while laughing like a lunatic.
“Already finished?” I sneered.
As if waiting for the right moment, the monster sprung back to life and launched itself towards me. With fangs bared, it bit into my left shoulder blades. I giggled as it latched on, furiously attempting to eat me. Its foolish attack didn’t so much as even tickle.
Amused, I began to widen my jaw. Like a wild animal, I sunk my teeth into the monster and ripped into its disgusting silvery body.
CRUNCH
Letting out a shriek of pain, it was helpless as I tore a large chunk of flesh from it. The taste of raw meat and blood filled my mouth.
It was a sweet taste, almost like honey.
The monster cowered back from me as I spat out the squirming piece with a cruel smirk.
SPLAT
Blood dripped down my chin and seeped deep into my chest.
“Come on now, aren’t you having fun?”
Howling in anger, its body begin to bubble as its right arm transformed and formed large scythe-like claws. With a roar, it strike again. Its massive claw came toward me at amazing speed, posed to rend through my body.
But I only stood there and giggled. How useless.
In an instant, my blade moved and cut apart its right arm before it could even touch me, shredding it like paper. It let out a whimper as blood gushed out. And in another I cut off its left arm. The monster cried out in pain and frustration before I sliced off its legs and grabbed it by the throat.
“Shhh…it’ll be over soon.”
WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM
I threw it on the ground again and again with monstrous force, before tossing it helplessly into the air. As it fell, in a blink of an eye, my blade flew and finished it off. Without even the chance to touch the ground, I ripped it apart. Blood came down like raindrops, further splattering across my soaked body and added to the massive pool that laid beneath me.
I threw my head back and let out a maddening laugh. It felt amazing! So much power! So much fun! I felt I could do so much more!
No, I can do more. I want more!
But suddenly coming from behind, I heard the sound of a slow clap.
“Very nicely done, Takatora Ryuuko! My, my, I am very impressed.” Alma mockingly congratulated. “You’ve passed the test with flying colors!”
I turned my head and glared at Alma.
“I’m so very proud of you.” Alma said with a smirk.
A sudden flash of rage came over me. This person…everything…everything was this person’s fault. I clutched my blade as I slowly walked towards Alma, my teeth bared.
An intense feeling of hatred overtook me. This person…most of all this person…I want to kill.
“I want to kill. I want to kill. I WANT TO KILL THIS BASTARD!” My entire body screamed as I lunged at them, the weapon in my hand posed to strike.
However, Alma did not flinch. Instead they only grinned and slowly closed their eyes. It made me even madder. In a single bound I leapt into the air and roared as I brought my blade down. I placed all my strength into my attack, ready to rip them apart.
But just as my blade was about to make contact, everything stopped. As if by some invisible force, my weapon froze in midair along with the rest of my body.
I could not move.
Alma slowly opened their eyes and looked at me. The soul-less eyes stared into mine as all of a sudden, the familiar feeling of terror came rushing back to me.
“Now then, shall we move on?” Alma giggled as they gently placed a finger on my forehead, and an intense force that sent shockwaves throughout every corner of my body came at me.
Falling to my knees, I felt every ounce of strength leaving my body as I finally passed out.
–
“Looks like she’s finally calmed down. My, my…,” Alma chuckled. “You’ve really exceeded my every expectation, Takatora Ryuuko. But…we still have ways to go.”
Alma’s grin got wider. Finally, after so long, Alma has found it. The weapon that will tip the scale in this long struggle. The one thing that will bring about their long-desired goal.
“Now, how shall we proceed?”
“Alma!” Suddenly called a voiced from behind.
“Tch.” Alma clicked their tongue. The nuisance is here, much earlier than expected.
“My, I am flattered! For the great savior to grace the area with their presence!” Alma announced mockingly. “How have you been?”
Behind Alma appeared a young man, still in his late teens. Adorned in a breathtakingly beautiful robe, every small movement of his radiated light. He illuminated the dark world as a heavenly glow shone where he floated, his golden hair flowing down and almost reaching his feet. Surrounding his head was a strange halo like crown made of light, floating without touching him, with the appearance of 6 wings fashioned tightly around it.
The young man looked upon the carnage that had occurred. The entire area was devastated, with blood and body pieces of the monsters scattered about.
“The Anti-bodies…! Alma, what have you done?” He demanded, a mix of anger and sadness in his voice.
“You’re a little late to the party. What a shame.” Alma laughed in response.
Anger filled the young man.
“This is no laughing matter! How could you?! This is…this is heresy!”
Alma stopped laughing and turned to meet the young man’s eyes. A smirk laid across their face, taunting him.
“My, have I upset them? Oh boohoo…” Alma sneered before suddenly speaking in a more serious tone. “Has playing savior for so long rotted what is left of that grey matter slushing around in your head, or have you completely forgotten about me? Or perhaps, you truly are just a fool.”
“You…!” The young man quickly calmed himself. Alma was right, there is no way possible they were able to do all this. One of the restriction cast upon Alma was the denial of material interaction within Eden. Alma was unable to touch anything converted in this world, let alone harm the creatures of their creation. But then, how…
As the young man pondered, he suddenly laid eyes on the heavily wounded one-armed girl lying unconscious behind Alma. A sudden feeling of fear washed over him as he came to the realization of what has happened.
“It… it can’t be. Th-that girl…”
A frightening grin spread across Alma’s face.
“Guess who I finally found.”
In an instant, the young man attacked. Hundreds of blinking lights flew towards where Ryuuko slept, coming down like a meteor shower.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
“I must…I must get rid of her right here and now!” The scared thought ran through the young man’s mind as he kept firing. Each light held untold power that exploded upon impact, evaporating everything it touched.
FUUUUUU…
Finally, the bombardment stopped. A thick smoke covered the area, slowly clearing away. The entire ground was completely obliterated, yet the spot where Ryuuko laid was untouched. There stood Alma, smiling, with the girl in their arms.
“You held back? I wonder, was it because of me? I’m touched.” Alma laughed. “Or could it be that…”
The young man quickly fired another shot directly at Alma, only for it to effortlessly bounce off and explode in a distance.
BOOM
It was no use. He had hoped to take out the girl in an instant before Alma could respond but from the start, they were already one step ahead of him. There was nothing he could do.
“Why…? Why must you oppose?” The young man asked, as he gritted his teeth in frustration and sadness. “Why must you fight against the good of all humanity?”
The smile on Alma’s face slowly disappeared as it was replaced by a look of utter disgust.
“You dare to still say that, after all that has happened? Good of all humanity, you truly are a fool to believe those words. You coward. You traitor.”
The words stung the young man. Desperately, he tried to respond but he could only hang his head in silence.
“I have nothing more to discuss with a puppet of the false god. If you truly believe this hell that they brought upon us is paradise and you a savior…” Alma turned away from the young man. “Then… my sister is truly dead.”
Alma disappeared. A single teardrop rolled down their cheeks, but it quickly vanished before even leaving their face.
Standing there in silence, the young man could only shamefully look at the ground.
“You’re wrong.” He mumbled, unconvincingly as if also trying to force himself to believe.
“You’re wrong…”
