Chapter 36: Crimson Eighty-Two Strikes.
....
Alexis Kerib didn't like it at all.
Kihara 's heart contained not even a trace of negative emotion. It felt eerily similar to that old enemy, the one who always believed in humanity, trusted in their potential, and never lost faith in their goodness.
And what had that belief led to?
The moment Gridman arrived in this world, he had been ambushed by Alexis and Akane, shattered into pieces and scattered across some unknown universe.
Still… the more positive Kihara's emotions were, the greater the negative emotions he would release when he finally broke.
That made him even more appealing.
So Alexis decided to break him—both physically and mentally.
Like a storm unleashed, Alexis attacked.
His speed was lightning-fast, his strikes relentless, crashing down like torrential rain.
But Kihara wasn't the same as before.
After fighting through that brutal "meat grinder" battlefield, his combat level had risen to Level 4. Not only had his physical abilities improved, but his fighting instincts had been tempered through blood and fire.
Even though he could only defend right now, he minimized the damage with precise movements.
"By the way," Alexis said casually while attacking,
"Do you know how delicious Akane's negative emotions are after becoming my nourishment?"
"That blend of regret and jealousy… mmm~ it's the finest delicacy in existence."
"What a pity. Once I devour this entire world, that flavor will disappear forever. Akane will become nothing but an empty shell."
"Oh right, since you like her body so much… if you survive until then, I could give that empty shell to you. How about it?"
"Gulp."
A loud swallowing sound echoed across the battlefield.
Kihara, already starving due to energy depletion, subconsciously focused on one thing:
Food.
"…That 'nourishment' you mentioned… can I eat it?"
"..."
Even Alexis froze mid-attack.
After a brief silence, he muttered:
"…If I'd known you were this kind of human, working with you might've been easier."
"Yeah, no thanks."
Kihara spat, stuffing the last bit of food into his mouth.
"If I'm gonna eat anything, I'd rather eat Akane's soft buns, who the hell wants to eat something that sounds like sewage sludge?"
The food instantly converted into energy, spreading through his body.
Not much… maybe 1% recovery.
But it was enough.
Because during all that "getting beaten up," Kihara hadn't just been defending, he'd been observing.
Every failed counterattack had taught him something.
Alexis was afraid.
Afraid of something.
"Heh… talked too much."
Alexis' expression darkened as he resumed his assault with even greater ferocity.
"Let's continue. You'll learn pain suits you better."
"Exceed Charge!"
Kihara fired a crimson drill-like kick.
But Alexis was prepared this time.
The barrage of fists shattered the energy field mid-air, reducing the attack to fragments.
"Haa… haa…"
Kihara panted, staring straight at him.
"Alexis… this body of yours… it's made from those monsters, isn't it?"
No answer.
But the attacks grew sharper, more desperate.
That was enough.
Kihara smiled.
He had guessed correctly.
"So that's it…"
From a certain point onward, Alexis had started targeting his transformation device, not him.
If Alexis' body was made from those monsters, then he must share the traits of the Orphnoch race.
And the Faiz system was specifically designed to counter Orphnochs.
Destroying the belt was the logical move.
Kihara 's grin widened.
"Then the outcome is already decided."
"The law of victory… has been determined!"
A pillar of crimson light suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping him.
Alexis' eyes widened in horror.
That power—
It contained Akane's final divine authority.
Inside the light, Akane's faint silhouette appeared.
She handed Kihara a suitcase-like device.
"This… is for you. My protagonist."
"Faiz Blaster…"
Kihara immediately recognized it, the final upgrade.
But even this might not be enough.
His body was already on the brink of collapse.
Half of it was numb.
The armor was barely holding him together.
If he transformed back.
He'd probably turn to dust before even hitting the ground.
"…Then there's only one option."
He grinned.
"Burn my life away."
"For my current girlfriend and my future one!"
He inserted the device.
Pressed the code.
555.
"AWAKENING!"
Blinding light erupted.
When it faded—
Faiz had entered his Crimson Blaster Form.
But Kihara didn't stop there.
He pressed the acceleration watch.
"START UP!"
"RAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
A beast-like roar tore from his throat.
Blaster Mode already pushed Photon Blood into overdrive.
But now, with acceleration stacked on top.
It exceeded all limits.
Crimson patterns spread across his face beneath the helmet.
The Photon Blood had begun replacing his own.
Only by doing so...could his body withstand this monstrous power.
The shockwave from his transformation shattered the pillar of light,
blew away the smoke and clouds,
and revealed the city's sky, a dome woven from glowing circuitry.
"This is impossible…!"
Alexis staggered.
"That power… it surpasses even Akane!"
For a split second—
He saw it.
Behind Kihara —
Akane's faint figure.
"Damn it!"
Realizing the source, Alexis turned to kill her.
to crush the cage imprisoning her.
But it was too late.
A massive crimson blade tore through the sky.
Severing his connection to the cage.
Countless crimson drill-like projections pinned him in place.
locking him midair.
Kihara raised his weapon.
His voice roared across the battlefield:
"CRIMSON DRILL… EIGHTY-TWO STRIKES!!!"
.....
Thank you for reading.