Fifty years had passed since the world broke, but in the shadows of the Dark Zone, time felt like a stagnant swamp. Fifty survivors stood in a jagged circle, their breath hitching as their leader stared them down with eyes full of desperate fire.
"How long will you hide in these ruins like rats?" the Leader's voice boomed, echoing against the damp concrete walls. "One day, they will find us. One day, the executioners will come. If we do not forge ourselves into something stronger, we are already dead."
A sudden, chilling breeze swept through the crowd. Whispers broke out, sharp and terrified—
"He… he is back."
A void manifested in the corner of the room. From the swirling, ink-black shadows, a figure stepped forward. It was Akuma. In his grip, he dragged a human in a condition so horrific it defied medical logic. One arm and one leg had been savagely detached, yet the captive—a high-ranking enforcer—clung to a shred of consciousness.
"One day..." the captive muttered through a throat filled with blood, "your protectors will fall. We will erase every Hallow from this earth."
Akuma didn't argue. He didn't grow angry. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed—a sound like Sankiyo, a haunting, melodic madness that seemed to physically blanket the entire area in darkness. The laugh didn't just fill the room; it suffocated it. Then, the silence was pierced by the captive's final, agonizing screams.
Later, Akuma stood alone with his leader on a balcony overlooking the decaying city.
"These people... they are still paralyzed by terror. It is impossible to make them understand the power they hold," the leader sighed, his shoulders slumped with the weight of leadership.
Akuma's laugh returned, louder this time, devoid of any empathy. "None here possess a spark like mine. If they choose to stay weak, they deserve the grave. Strength is the only language this world speaks now."
He stared toward the distant horizon, where the lights of a pristine city flickered. "Tomorrow, we attack Yukanda City."
The leader hesitated, then nodded solemnly. "As you wish."
The next day, the streets of Yukanda didn't just see war; they saw an apocalypse. Rivers of blood flowed through the gutters. Even Akuma's own group trembled at the carnage.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The air became heavy, pressurized. A General Level fighter descended like a falling star. Taichi. He was a monster in human skin, having already slaughtered half the invaders without breaking a sweat.
Seeing the General, Akuma's dark voice echoed across the battlefield, vibrating with glee:
"Finally… Fear has chosen its successor."
The citizens cowered in their homes. The Anime Watchers, fueled by the carnage, began to behave like rabid beasts. Gardens were torn asunder; people were ripped from their sanctuaries.
Taichi lunged, his strike hitting Akuma with the force of a tectonic shift. Akuma was sent crashing through the pavement, skidding hundreds of feet down the street.
"It seems you have a longing for death," Taichi said, his voice cold and rhythmic. "Allow me to fulfill that desire for you."
But as the dust settled, Akuma rose. He wasn't just unharmed—he was vibrating with joy. He laughed violently, and with every cackle, his followers felt a surge of dark energy. Taichi's composure broke; his anger intensified into a blinding white heat.
The battle erupted. The very foundations of Yukanda crumbled as they clashed. Civilians died in the crossfire of their shockwaves.
"It's time to end this farce," Taichi roared, his hands weaving a massive seal. "GREAT SUN, APPEAR!"
A miniature star manifested behind him, turning the night into a scorching noon. Akuma looked at the burning orb and grinned like a demon from the lowest pit of hell.
"Not bad at all, General... but the sky belongs to me. BLOODY RAIN!"
The sky instantly turned a sickening shade of crimson. From one side, a massive, golden sun rose; from the other, the world was consumed by a downpour of jagged, blood-red needles. The two powers collided, splitting the horizon in half.
Author's Note:
"If you enjoyed Akuma's dark journey and the epic clash in Yukanda, don't forget to leave a comment and give a Power Stone ⬆️! Your support is the fuel that keeps this blood-soaked story alive! Get ready for the next chapter at 9:05 PM!"