Highschool DxD: Adventure Of Black Flash

by DarkDracul1252

Nawin Makasha, a boy, changed after a dark event occurred in the past that left him scarred. He and his family moved to Japan to start a new life, but when Nawin joined Kuoh Academy, things began to change for him when he is thrust into the world of supernatural by force. Past will come back and haunt, Evil will rain down, Bonds will be severed. Will Nawin and his friends be ready?

166. Shocking Reveal, Ophis's Proposal

Hi everyone! I hope all of you are safe and well!

Sorry for the delay of this chapter. Things have been quite hectic for me lately.

As always, thank you for being so supportive and pateint!

Now without further ado, here is the latest chapter. I hope all of you enjoy it!

"Asia." Softly calling out her daughter's name, Yao enters the room then gives a knock on the door to wake the sleeping girl. Not getting any reaction, Yao blinks at this, considering Asia would easily get up by a simple knock since she's quite a light sleeper like herself. Walking into the room and stopping by the window, Yao pulls the curtains wide to allow the morning light to brighten the space. Again, no reaction from the Blonde. "Weird. Lucy told me she went to bed very early last night. Hope she's not sick."

Getting a bit concerned, Yao walks toward the bed but halts when noticing a piece of paper laid on the side of the desk. It was very noticeable considering Asia likes to keep everything in an organized manner, and this paper is just sticking to the side. Grabbing it and pulling it up, Yao's mouth opens to let out a soft gasp when recognizing that handwriting. "Don't worry. She's safe and will be even better when she is awake. Take care of her..." Clenching the paper softly, Yao looks at the handwriting with sadness. Her son was here and left without saying anything to her. Tears wanted to escape, but the Mother sniffs and forces them down.

Placing the letter back on the desk, Yao focuses her attention on the slumbering Asia. "Will be even better..." She whispers those words on the note, wondering if it truly means what it is, what she hopes. Bringing her right hand near Asia's forehead, Yao gently moves the bangs away that's covering the closed eyes. She gazes at her daughter's face with warmth for a moment before standing straight. "Wake up soon, Asia." Yao turns to the letter and takes it in hand before marching out of the room. Gently shutting the door, the Mother head to her room.

Peeking from her room, Lucy watches her Mother disappear around the corner. She did not miss the letter held in hand. She had read that letter last night and was overjoyed to know that Asia's eyes are healed. Although her sister hasn't awoken yet to make that complete fact in her eyes, Lucy trusts her brother to succeed. Though with that fiery look she saw in her Mother's eyes, Lucy wondered what she is planning.

Hyoudou Household

"One Hundred and Eighty-One... One Hundred and Eighty-Two... One Hundred and Eighty-Three." Sweat upon sweat drips down the bare torso of Issei as he does his routine morning workout in the backyard. Done with jogging and sit-ups, he is now finishing it off with pushups. The once thin-framed boy is no more as thanks to the new routine that Kokoro and Rias have put him through. And Kokoro's dedication to having him eat correctly, Issei never looked the best as he is now. A lean built muscle with enough bulk to not cause an issue with speed. He may still not possess an impressive physique like his best friend, Nawin, but he was close.

When flipping the last white omelet to the other side, Rias shifts gaze away from the pan momentarily to look through the window at her lover. Though instead of viewing what Issei is doing as training, Rias sees it as an outlet to release stress and clear his mind. Like herself, Issei has significantly been concerned about the situation between Akeno and Nawin. And with the latter still nowhere to be seen, it continues to loom over them.

Picking up the omelet with the spatula and setting it on the second plate, Rias heads to the fridge to fetch some orange juice. Inches away from grabbing the handle, Rias comes to a halt then looks over to see Grayfia standing by the hallway. "Grayfia?" Gremory whispers with great shock, not anticipating her Sister-In-Law's visit. "Rias. Glad to see you are doing well." The Queen offers a warm smile she receives only for selective people. Rias nods. "It is good to see you too, Grayfia. Been a while."

"However," Rias faces forward and crosses her arms below her breasts, eyes sharpen. "Why are you concealing your mana?" "I prefer to discuss this matter solely with you, Rias... I'm afraid Issei Hyoudou will simply make things more complicated if he is aware of this" "Aware of what?" Entering the kitchen, the Queen stops by the table and raises her right arm to summon a photo. "One of our scouts that's stationed here took this" she informs and set the item down on the table.

With an eyebrow raised, Rias stops near the table and leans over to fetch the photo. Turning it around to look at it, her breath hitch as her eyes widens in speechlessness. "That was captured a few days ago. It's authentic before you make assumptions," Grayfia states. Rias remain quiet as she simply stares at the photo of Nawin and Sayomi laughing together in a festive area. Both holding hands in an intimate way like couples. "I-I don't believe it," Rias finally blurts out, looking up at Grayfia. "The scout swore on his life, Rias. That image is real."

Gremory shifts back to the picture and her eyes soften at that bright smile worn on Nawin's face. He looks genuinely happy. 'Because of her?' Rias stare at Sayomi, who looks equally as happy. "And this is a problem?" Grayfia raises an eyebrow at the reply, "You are aware of who he is with, correct?" "Of course, I do... But... But he looks happy." Truthfully Rias is so conflicted, but seeing that real smile on Nawin's face, she can't help but feel relief.

"Right now, only You, I, and Lord Sirzech knows of this photo's existing, Rias. You don't seem to realize just what kind of damage that can do to Nawin." "I know that she's the enemy but, Grayfia..." Rias pause for a moment but continues, "I don't believe she is to Nawin. Our journey to Vamhaven makes me believe it." "While that is somewhat difficult to believe considering I saved both you and Nawin from the Pureblood's assault once in the past. That, however, doesn't change the fact that he is seen in a friendly term with a dangerous adversary, Rias." Grayfia's tone is sharp and serious as ever.

"This could ruin Nawin's reputation, a reputation that is very important to the people of Vesarima. You are aware he is viewed as a Hero and hold enough of the public support that even the Old Council can't touch him. But this," Grayfia indicates to the photo, "Can change all that. A bullet for the Old Council to use to destroy his reputation" "You must be exaggerating here, Grayfia!" Rias retort, "She hasn't done anything significant like Khaos Brigade did with the invasion."

Grayfia releases a deep sigh before, once again, looks up at Rias. "Do you know of the Ancient Treaty?" "... No." "I expected as such. This generation would not know of its existence as it was created a long time ago. During a time that even Fallen Angels weren't created yet. It was created after the Devil and Angel defeated the Vampires and successfully sealed away Alucard. To this day, Alucard is the greatest crisis that has ever step foot in the Supernatural World. He made the name Pureblood Vampire be feared for generations, and the First Satans, along with God and Seraphs, realized that. So, a deal was created between the Leaders of each faction. A Treaty that can be activated if somehow another Pureblood Vampire was to appear or if Alucard was somehow able to escape from the seal. This Treaty will need to uphold even if the relationship between the two factions is unbalanced. Now... Do you understand just what kind of danger that Pureblood can bring, Rias? She may not be hostile towards Nawin, but can you confidently say she won't be hostile towards you and the rest of us?" "..." "And let's not neglect that she isn't the only one. You informed us that her Brother is also a Pureblood, and that makes the situation even more severe. They may not be as powerful as Alucard, but they do hold the potential to become that powerful because there is a chance they are his offspring." Silence is all Rias could give as her head hangs down. She remembers when Sayomi has hurt her friends on multiple occasions and sealed away Asia's vision to blind her permanently. And she recollects the devastation Kaizen brought in Shigemi.

"Then, why?" Rias lifts her head and once again stare at the photo in hand "Why is he with her? Why does he look so happy?" "That's the reason I came here. Lord Sirzech wants you to question Nawin on this. He wants to know the reasoning before things can get out of hand. Your Brother did Nawin a big favor by altering the scout's memory of discovering that. Even though the scout is unaware that Sayomi Dracul is a Pureblood and believes she is merely a Vampire. Lord Sirzech still wants to make absolute certainty no words could reach the Old Council's ears."

"I understand, Grayfia," Rias sighs and places the photo on the table. "Right now, Nawin's whereabouts are unknown, but I'll find him and talk to him about this. Give me a few days," "Understood... I'm sorry to put you in such a difficult position, Lady Rias. But you are the best at handling this specific task." Summoning the teleportation, Grayfia soon disappears in the bright gray light.

With both hands resting on the table, Rias's eyes remain on the photo. "What are you doing with her, Nawin-kun?" she whispers to herself, trying to come up with some explanation in her mind, but it proves futile. The facts are the facts. Her friend is seen with an enemy of Devils and Angels. Worse is that they look to be very close to one another. Rias now realized why her Brother is so concerned.

Hearing the backdoor slid open, Rias promptly snaps out of her thoughts and swiftly grabs the photo to teleport it to the pocket dimension. "Sorry for the long workout!" With a big grin, Issei steps into the kitchen while wiping the sweat away with the towel in hand. Rias offers a smile. "It's fine. You really went all out, hmm?" "Yeah," Issei swings the towel around his neck "I felt like burning a lot of sweat this morning. By the way, those look delicious!" He exclaims, staring at the omelet and blueberry oatmeal.

Rias grins brightly then ushers toward the chair. "You can shower later. Just take a seat while I fetch us some orange juice." "Ehehe, I don't know what I would do without you," Issei admits and sits down. Rias simply giggles before turning around to open the fridge. Her expression though turns troubled when away from Hyoudou. She wants to tell him about Nawin, but she knows well what he's reaction will be when setting eyes on that photo. Issei will defend Nawin to the death and will get angry by the thought of the Old Council willing to pull a stunt that can damage his best friend's reputation. It will cause him to act drastic. Rias can see why Grayfia would only want her to know as she can look at both sides. She may trust Nawin with all her heart, but she knows he can be a Wild Card. She is aware that the moment she decided to revive him. 'I'll handle this before things get out of hand.'

Dasuma

Gently shutting the front door, Akame makes way to the kitchen to drop the grocery bag on the table. Listening to the silence in the apartment, the Knight assumes her King is still asleep and heads for her bedroom. Even though last night Nawin said he was fine sleeping on the couch, Akame refused that idea and forced him to sleep on the bed with her. When seeing him in such a state, the Knight wants to have Nawin be resting in a comfortable place to ease her mind. With his weak state of mind, Makasha did not bother fighting and went along with his Knight's suggestion.

When entering the living room, Akame halts to notice Nawin standing by the window like a statue. He stares at the beautiful ruby brooch held in the right hand. With the light shining on it, Akame examines the jewelry gleaming brightly, making it very striking. She perceives the sadness in those brown eyes from Makasha while he gazes at the brooch.

"Nawin-kun." Calling him softly, Akame gets a response and watch some light shines back into his eyes. Wrapping the jewelry in his hand, Nawin turns around and offers a weak smile. "Morning, Akame. Sorry, I didn't notice you returning." Without a word, Akame strides forward and, when in range, lift her right arm up to deliver a sharp slap to Makasha's face. The sound echoes around the silent room. Utterly speechless, Nawin slowly cocks his head back to see that glare in the Knight's glossy eyes. "Don't do this again... Not again!" Nawin remains quiet as his expression saddens. "Don't put Misako and me through this again... When you are hurt, so are we, Nawin-kun. I can imagine what happened, and I know Sayomi wouldn't want you to be like this after she left. No one wants you like this!"

"So... Please." Akame steps forward and hugs her King, burying her face to his chest. "No more sadness..." Few remaining tears fall from Nawin's eyes as he returns the hug. "You're right. I'm sorry, Akame." Letting out a dry chuckle, "I really have been a useless King lately, haven't I?" "Far from it, Nawin-kun. Even in this tough time, you still think of others. You put great trust in me to share Miraya's secret. You took the time to contact Misako to ease her worry. And I'm positive you've done more without me knowing. You aren't useless... You are far too kind and considerate to be that."

Pulling back, Akame wears a beautiful smile that's filled with warmth. "You are a wonderful King. A King I will happily serve under for the rest of my life." For the first time today, a genuine smile spread across Nawin's face. "The same thing can be said about you, Akame. I can't ask for a better Knight and, most importantly, a Friend."

As the atmosphere shifts to a lighter tone and her worry lessen, Akame's stomach chooses the time to make a noise to signal her hunger for the morning. Nawin blinks at the growl while Akame's entire face turns red. "... Let's start preparing some breakfast for ourselves, yeah?" Makasha suggests with a hearty chuckle while Akame quietly nods in agreement, still embarrassed.

Not wasting time, Nawin and Akame get to work in the kitchen to prepare a big English style breakfast as both are starving. While cooking, Akame can't help but throw a glance at Nawin as he cooks the sausages. Returning to her current task, which is opening a can of beans, she smiles at the warm feeling of having another person cooking in her kitchen. Most of the time, it is only herself cooking here. Having Nawin by her side at this moment makes it feel special. Makes the whole morning feel more radiant, and no doubt, after everything is done and she is having breakfast with him. It'll be even better compared to eating alone, like most mornings.

"That's nice of Senna to invite you and Misako to an Onsen. I assume you too never been in one?" Nawin asks before taking another slice of egg into his mouth. Akame cuts a sausage into four pieces to make it easier to eat. She nods to the question. "Correct. I am excited about this trip." "Good, I'm glad you are going to have a wonderful day today. I think it is good that all four of you get out of Kuoh for a bit. Rejuvenate yourselves." Continuing to eat, Akame pause at the last piece of the meat to looks up, "Do you want to come along with us, Nawin-kun? Senna and Misako would be delighted to have you" "I know they would... But," Nawin wears a regrettable smile, "This isn't a good time, Akame. I would only bring the mood down. What I need right now is some time on my own" "... I see."

Something in Nawin's eyes catches Akame's awareness. Something she is very familiar with. Lost. Her heartaches at that look. However, she can see why it's there. After everything he's been through and Sayomi leaving, Nawin now finds himself in a tough position. What is his next step now? Go back to the things as it was? Akame knows that's easier said than done. He is directionless right now. His goal is unknown. And in truth, she doesn't know what to say to Nawin to help him with this. It is something he has to decide on his own.

Finishing everything on his plate, Nawin drinks down a cup of milk in one go and drops the glass on the table. He releases a gentle sigh and smiles. "That's a delicious breakfast, wouldn't you say, Akame?" "Yeah. We did a good job," she replies with her own smile, already done eating. "So," Nawin sets his elbows on the table, resting his chin on top of his hands. "What's your exact plan, Akame? Will Misako be coming here to pick you up?" "No," Akame shakes her head then reach below to pull out her phone. "Senna said she'll meet us at Misako's place, so I'll have to leave for there shortly" "Alright. I'll leave when you do... Stay alert, ok, Akame? Just in case. I know you are going there to relax, but you never know where danger will strike." "Of course," Akame gives a reassuring smile, "I'll be on guard, Nawin-kun. Don't worry. Misako, Senna, and Momo will be safe." "I know you'll protect them. Remember to use the ring if you need me, alright?" "Understood." Akame smile a bit at the worry Makasha holds for the four of them. She can understand why as Strays and Criminals from the Supernatural World do come to the Human World to hide from bounty hunters and military soldiers, so danger can be anywhere. And with herself and Misako being Devils, that'll surely attract some attention.

Ichiru's Bakery

"You sure you got everything you need, baby girl?!" Akira's frantic voice booms from the bedroom's doorway as he watches his precious daughter doublechecking the duffel bag for all the stuff she needs for the trip. "Um, I think so." "Clothes?" "Yes," "Towels?" "Yes," "Slippers?" "Yes," "Money," "Yes, Dad, you gave me a tone" "... Gun?" "What?!" Misako snaps upwards to look at her Father with a speechless expression, "Why would I need a gun?!" "To shoot some bastards that dare to touch yo-" "Enough!" Moka pops out of nowhere and wallops her husband on the head.

Misako zips the bag shut and giggles at her Father's whine. "Dad, it'll be fine. I know you are a bit worried that Nawin-kun won't accompany us, but Akame-chan is coming along, so you don't have to worry." Akira sighs and stands straight, rubbing the back of his neck "That is true. Still, you are new to this, and being a devil now means there's a more likely chance of you attracting unwanted attention. I will be much more at peace if he is tagging along" "I know, Dad. But... Nawin-kun right now is busy with some other more important matters. So I rather not push him to come" "Ah, alright." Seeing Misako's sincere expression on the topic makes Akira stop pushing.

"Well," Moka stops forward and beams, "Do have fun, Misako. Don't be over-worried, ok?" "Ehehe, I won't, Mom!" Misako grins, "I got Akame-chan with me, and if there's any trouble, I do have Nawin-kun by my side." The Parents blink before their daughter lifts her right hand to show that black ring worn on her finger, the white crystal gleams brilliantly. "No matter what, I know he'll always be there when I am in trouble!" Moka and Akira can't help but smile at the pure faith their daughter holds for Makasha. Love is also evident in those beautiful and gleaming sapphire-blue eyes. "Alright," Akari nods to himself, grinning and gives a thumbs up "You are all set then! Now, head downstairs! Don't want to keep Senna and Momo waiting long." Misako nods and throws the bag over her shoulder before rushing down the stairs. "See you later, Mom, Dad!" "Have fun, sweetheart!"

A grin spread across Senna's face when the front door is swung open and out walks her Pink-haired friend. "Got everything set, Misako-chan?" "Yep!" Both Senna and Momo also have their own backpacks, carrying the essential items for the trip. All three girls are smiling brightly, excited for this little getaway. "Have you contact, Akame-chan?" Misako asks, "Yep. She'll meet us at the train station so we can head there now!" Senna answers and points at the north, "Onwards!" "Wrong way," Momo inserts and points to the west. Senna blinks before straightening herself and coughs, "I mean, of course!" she exclaims then correctly points toward the west "Onwards!" Misako giggles while Momo shakes her head but smiles nonetheless at her dear sister's antics. 'This trip will definitely be entertaining.'

The walk toward the train station wasn't long as the three girls converse the whole way there. All planning on what to do in Jinka besides going to the Onsen. Misako notes how overly Senna is excited about getting out of Kuoh. She wondered if something happened like if she got into an argument with her parents. But, Ichiru did not push on as she worried it'll ruin the mood.

"Ah!" Senna beams when spotting that unmistakable long black hair in the distance, waiting by the ticket counter. "There she is! Akame!" The Knight blinks and shift to the right and sees the group rushing toward her. "Morning," Akame mutters. "Wow," Senna looks unimpressed, crossing her arms. "Really? That's your enthusiasm for today?" Akame merely gives a blink expression, which causes Senna to whine and start trying to grab the Knight's face to shift that straight line lip into a smile. Akame takes a step back to dodge the girl's intent, all the while Misako and Momo giggle in the background.

After a full minute of trying to get Akame, Senna throws her arms up in the air. "Fine! You don't need to smile now, but you better be smiling when we are in Jinka!" "We shall see," Akame reply. "Oh, we better get the tickets now" Momo speaks up and points at the monitor hanging on the wall that indicates the trains arrival and departure time. "The next train to Jinka will be here in Six Minutes." Not wanting to miss their train, the four girls quickly head to the ticket booth and buy their tickets before rushing to the correct platform, sprinting through the moderately busy station.

"Alrighty!" Senna nods to herself, "Our train should be here in a few minutes!" While the girls quietly wait for the transportation, Akame pulls out her phone from the carry bag then turns to the rest. "Before we board. I have something to show you all." This immediately catches the three's attention. Misako tilts her head, "What is it, Akame-chan?" "Something that'll help all of you three feels a bit happier today." Turning her phone around to show the screen. Misako, Senna, and Momo lean close to the phone to look, then all of them let out a gasp.

What's shown on the screen is a picture of Akame alongside Nawin, who's wearing a bright grin and giving a thumbs up. There are some words written on the bottom, and all of them can see it is Nawin's own handwriting. 'Have fun on the trip, Misako, Senna, Momo. Sorry I couldn't come with you as I have some important matters to attend. But, I promise I'll make it up to you all when we meet. "N-Nawin-kun," Misako whispers in joy when seeing that bright grin on her dear friend's face. He looks so much better now compared to the last time she saw him. Instead of just speaking to him, now she sees him, and it brings great joy to her heart at how better he looks.

"You met him?!" Senna shouts, looking happy but at the same time concerned, "He is ok?" "Yes," Akame gives a smile, "He's fine, as you can see in the photo." "He does look happy," Momo remarks with a gentle smile before looking to Akame. "How recent was this?" "This Morning. He visited me for some personal matters. Before I left my place to here, he suggested taking this photo to sooth you three's worry." "It would be nice if he'd at least see us off," Senna comments with a pout but still gaze at the photo "As he said," Akame reply "He is busy with important matters."

Closing the screen and putting the phone away, Akame shifts to Misako and gives her a knowing smile. Ichiru responds with a big grin as thanks for showing the photo. "Thanks for showing me that, Akame-chan," Senna speaks up, wearing a more sincere smile "That actually helps a lot. I was getting quite concerned for him." Akame simply nods, "It's not a problem. Now," she smiles "Let's enjoy this trip, shall we?" "Yeah!" Senna, Misako, and Momo cheers in agreement.

Elsewhere

At the far south of Kuoh lies an old neighborhood that surrounds a one-way street called Shincio-sagaru. Once a lively community is now a shell of its former self as it is slowly turning to a construction site for big shopping malls and hotels. Many have already moved or planning to move to get away from the change and noise.

Stopping in front of the neighborhood, a sigh release from Nawin's mouth as he looks at the familiar plot of land. Many of the houses that he remembered being there are either abandoned or gone entirely. The depressing sight of it brings sadness in Makasha's heart. This place used to be where he lived before leaving Bangkok. Many memories of him with Sayomi and Miraya were here. Playing games like tag or hide and seek together with young Lucy. Having the routine Sunday Night Barbeque at the front porch. It's hard to believe that this gray place used to be so bright and colorful, filled with unforgettable childhood memories.

"Knew you'd be here..." Nawin remains in place and simply glances back to see his Mother stood there, wearing a tender expression as those brown-eyes that share the same color as his display concern. "Knew?" Nawin faces forward, "What makes you think that, Mother?" "Even after knowing the truth from Sayomi... And now that she left. You'd still clutching onto the past, and it led you to here" "... You knew she'd leave?" "She would do anything to protect you. Her leaving was the best option for that result."

"Do anything to protect me," Nawin repeats then lots out a hollow chuckle "I never asked her to do that for me." "She didn't require your permission. She protects you out of love. You know that strongly, Nawin." "Well... Look at me now. Standing here, reminiscing about the past while she's out there... I'm doing fucking jackshit, and she's out there protecting me!" Nawin pants for air after the sudden outburst. His hands clench to fists. "The hell am I supposed to do now? Go back to the way the things used to be?" "... Can you?" "No... Not while knowing Sayomi's out there facing against unknown dangers like the Akumi. She's doing all of that for me... How can I possibly go back to my normal life with a smile, knowing that?"

Nawin lets out another chuckle and turns around to face his Mother finally. "Is this why you suppressed my memory? To make me not suffer so much with this knowledge that's now torturing me inside?" The howling wind blows past the Mother and Son. "There's one motive Sayomi strongly shared with your Father and I... And that is never to have you be involved in the Supernatural World. She shielded all the dangers from you when you were young. She did us a significant favor because your Father and I restrained ourselves from using our powers to protect you and Lucy. Me suppressing your memory is another step I had to take for that reason... You were hurt after that loss, and I can see it was eating you inside, taking you down the path that'll ultimately lead you to know of the Supernatural World." "I had my suspicion even when I was young..." Nawin admits, "That Sayomi was different... That she was special because she looked like no one else" "Yes... I had to take action before things could get worse."

Looking at his Mother in the eyes, Nawin sees no regret shown. "You don't regret it?" "No." Even though Yao holds a look of apology, her answer was quick and truthful. "I don't regret that decision. If you want, I will apologize, Nawin, but in the end, I did what I did to protect you." Closing his eyes, a small smile form on Nawin's lip. "I don't want you to apologize, Mom. Truthfully, I am no longer mad at you or Dad. Both of you, along with Sayomi, did so much for Lucy and me. Protecting us from the Supernatural World... It would be a lie to say I don't hold some anger for you by suppressing the memory of Sayomi, but you had a good reason for it and... I was a weak child back then, so it isn't like I have much say in the matter. You took the decision that you thought was best for me, and I respect that. I can't imagine it must have been easy doing that to your own Son." When saying that, Nawin sees Yao's eyes grow incredibly solemn. "It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make, Nawin. No Mother should have to do such a thing to their beloved child. But when I saw how broken you were... Then when you started to want to venture out to find Sayomi. I knew it had to be done."

Nawin's eyelids slightly drop as he recollects that night. After days of crying and locking himself in his bedroom, one night, he decided to sneak out to find Sayomi. A truly naive decision as he didn't have the faintest of clue even where to begin looking for Sayomi. But with his emotionally vulnerable state, common sense was gone. He just wanted the pain to go away and finding Sayomi would help that. But, Nawin did not get far before his Father appeared out of nowhere and dragged him back to the house. That month was truly a living hell for him.

Looking up, Nawin notices how tense his Mother is. Appearing in front, he pulls her into a warm embrace. "Don't look sad, Mom," Nawin softly whispers "It hurts me seeing you like this." Yao buries her face on her Son's shoulder while hugging him tightly. "You had such a hard life... I'm sorry, Nawin. I-I could have done more... I shou-" "No," Nawin firmly inserts, "You've done more than most. There are things you can't control, Mom. No matter how strong you are... Even when you are one of the strongest people in the world, you would not have been able to prevent Miraya from dying on that hospital bed. And you wouldn't have been able to know that Tomo would be where he is before they killed him... I am still here and sane because of what you and Dad did for me. You both are always there, guiding me when I needed you. I couldn't have asked for better parents."

Sniffing lightly, Yao lets out some tears she was holding back. "... W-will you come home, Son?" Pulling back, Nawin lifts his right hand up to wipe away the tears off his Mother's face. He gives a soft smile. "Not yet, Mom." "... Is it because of Akeno?" "No. I just need some time to myself... Think of what to do next." "Nawin," Yao cups her Son's cheek "Don't think that you are weak and helpless, got it? You are strong" "Not when it comes to the Akumi or Khaos Brigade, Mom. I'm weak" "Then do what you do before and train." Nawin didn't reply and simply smiled.

Yao still looks concern and is about to continue, but Nawin goes first. "Let me take some time, Mom. Don't worry, I'll be home soon," "..." Yao stares at her dear Son with a conflicted look before acquiescing. "Ok... But please be safe." Nawin chuckles, "Come now, I'm not planning on doing anything extreme, Mom. I'll be back soon as I want to see Asia again when she opens her eyes," "S-so, she's really recovered?" "Yes, Mom. Sayomi healed her." Leaning forward, Yao plant a kiss to her Son's cheek before pulling back, looking at him in the eyes. "I love you, Nawin" "I love you too, Mom." For an extra measure to comfort her, Nawin gives a bright grin that is able to bring a smile to Yao's face.

Jinka

"And we have arrived!" Senna exclaims before twisting the key and slides the shoji door sideways to reveal their room for the night. It is a traditional Japanese room with the interiors being elegant and made of polished wood. Beautiful handmade paintings of sceneries are hanged throughout the clean white walls, helping make the place feel more vibrant. Then there's a big window set at the center of the room to show a sizable view of the town.

"Woah," Misako stops by the window, checking the scenery "This place is so... Peaceful," she stated with a smile. Unlike Kuoh, Jinka is much more tamed. No crazy skyscrapers or huge malls can be seen. Just the essentials for the people that reside here. Even and moderately constructed buildings and houses. Below them is a street market that's currently bustling with activities considering it is nearing lunchtime.

Akame turns to the grinning Senna. "Don't you think you went too much with this hotel?" "Oh, come now, Akame-chan!" Waving her hand and shaking her head in disapproval, "I wouldn't want my friends to stay in a dump!" "Not saying we should, but this is a bit excessive... We're only staying for the night" "You realized I paid for this, right?" "That's why I'm asking," Akame bluntly retort. Senna blinks, relatively surprised by the response. "Um..." Now this time, Akame blinks, seeing how her response has made Senna go unresponsive. "Akame," Momo slides in and whispers, "Senna tends to like giving as a way to build or strengthen friendship. She gets quite worried and nervous when thinking she's done something wrong, so please let her do what she wants."

Akame glance at Momo for a moment then back at Senna, who is now looking at her feet, clearly agitated. "... Sorry for pushing that, Senna. I am grateful you thought much of our comfortability for this trip. I just worried you are spending too much on our behalf." "Oh!" That bright grin returns to Senna's face as she looks up, shaking her head "So that was what was bothering you?! Ahahaha, don't worry about that, Akame-chan!" She points to herself and winks, "I got a load of money!" "Hmm," Akame hums, raising an eyebrow at this new fact. 'She's a bit of mystery for a spontaneous person.'

Momo moves across the room and slides the other door open to reveal the bedroom. The room is spacious, with four traditional futons neatly laid on the floor. "This room will be where we sleep for the night." Quietly, Akame walks pass and starts unpacking her stuff, taking the futon on the right end. Momo sweatdrops at this but does the same, choosing to take the one on the far left as she knows Senna would prefer to sleep in the middle and next to Misako.

"So, what are we gonna do next?" Misako asks as Senna stops beside her. "Best we go fetch lunch first. I'm famished!" "Yeah," Misako pets her stomach "I am getting quite hungry too." "Wise not to overeat, you two" Momo advise as she steps back into the living room. "Considering the Onsen is new, we had to book it to get one of the private rooms. And if I remember correctly, our time is at One-Twenty, and they recommended we best not be late" "You worry too much, sis!" Senna pokes fun. "You can get cramps in Onsen, Senna" "Really?" "Well, probably not us, but considering you'll no doubt be slashing everywhere like a child and treating it like a pool, I have no doubt you'll get some if not careful" "Huh... Good point." Akame shakes her head at Senna's childishness while Misako giggles.

After both Senna and Misako unpacked their bags. The four girls head out to find a restaurant for lunch. While this trip is meant for them to loosen up, Akame still remains vigilant and had both eyes open. Since arriving here, she took a moment to concentrate on scanning the town for anything suspicious. Fortunately, nothing caught her attention. As far as she comprehends, everyone in Jinka besides herself and Misako is ordinary.

"Don't be so tense, Akame-chan." After setting the cups of water down on their table, the Blue-haired girl sneaks behind the Knight to rub her shoulders. Akame blinks and glances back to give a blank look at the grinning girl. "You are getting too touchy." "Oh ho! I bet you wouldn't mind if Nawin-kun was doing this, aye?" That gets a reaction as Akame sends a quick glare before facing forward to Misako, who giggles at their banter. "Now, now," Momo takes a seat beside the Knight after setting the last two cups down on the table. "Stop teasing, Akame-san, Senna."

"Ehehe," Senna pets Akame's exposed shoulders before heading to her seat beside Misako. After a bit of searching, the group found a simple Tonkatsu restaurant that served a variety of dishes with the primary item being with breaded deep-fried pork. "So, are we going to do anything else after relaxing in the Onsen?" Misako asks, "Depends if we even want to do anything else after that," Momo answers. "Even though it is new, this Onsen is already considered the best around here. So good chance after having it we all would just be lazy for the rest of the day."

"Here are your orders!" The two waitresses greet the group with a bright smile before placing their selected dish on the table. With a respectable bow, they head off to the other tables to check on any other costumers in need of assistance. "We did come here mainly to relax at the Onsen, Misako," Senna states, breaking the chopsticks into two. "You don't have to worry about going crazy about exploring right now. But if you want, we can do some of that tomorrow as our train back to Kuoh will arrive in the afternoon, I believe." "Correct," Momo swiftly inserts "Three PM to be exact" "There we go! So, we got some time tomorrow to look around. Maybe get some souvenirs for ourselves and Nawin-kun!" "Oh!" Misako's eyes gleam, "That's a great idea!" "Ehehe," Senna slings her arm around Ichiru's shoulder and giggle, "You are just adorable, Misako, when it comes to Nawin-kun" "Huh?!" A vibrant blush forms on the girl's cheeks "U-um, thanks?" Senna continues to giggle and softly pinch her friend's soft cheeks. Eating their food, both Akame and Momo smile at the two's heartwarming interaction.

Kuoh

Knocking on the door once more, a sigh of annoyance release from Rias's mouth. Currently, she is stood in front of Akame's apartment, desiring to discuss with the Knight about Nawin's whereabout. Rias knows that if anyone was to have the best chance of holding the knowledge of his location, it would be Akame. "Seems like she's not here." Rias's eyes suddenly narrow when noticing something. Next, her eyes glow in crimson. "Hmm... It's faint, but." She takes another step back to examine the doorframe "Nawin was definitely here. His mana still lingers, so it wasn't long ago... Maybe even this morning."

With her eyes reverting to normal, Rias's expression turns calculative, thinking of her next move. "... Best I go see Misako. She must have a good idea of where Akame is." With nothing else left here, Rias turns around and sets off to the Ichiru Bakery.

As she is keeping this task to only herself, Rias has kept her magic signature hidden so her friends wouldn't be able to detect her from a distance. She also had to lie to Issei about going on a particular contract, which could require her to be away for an entire day. She hates to do all of this and be secretive, but for Nawin's sake, she had too. If others know about the situation, things could get messy. Even though Rias believes all of them would gladly listen to Nawin's reason, she is more concerned about Nawin's reaction to being discovered. Worse, she is worried about what Sayomi could do as it is clear the two of them were trying to be secretive in that photo.

It did not take long until Gremory finds herself standing in front of the vibrant bakery. Rias takes a moment to looks through the open windows and notices some customers are browsing around for the specific bread or desserts. Taking a deep breath, she grabs the handle and pushes the front door, causing the alert bell to ring, signaling a customer entering the store.

"Oh, Rias!" Moka greets the Crimson-haired girl immediately with a bright grin. "Welcome!" she stops in front, holding a tray of freshly made sweet buns. "Have you come here to try my new buns?!" "Um..." Rias panics a bit, hearing the horrid stories from Nawin about all the new breaks Moka would force him to try. "No... Sorry. I've already eaten lunch, so I'm quite full, Moka-san" "Ah, I see." The Mother pouts before reverting back to that grin, "So what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" "I wanted to talk with Misako."

Moka blinks, then her expression becomes more tamed as she shifts to the right to set the tray down on the empty folding table. "She's not here right now. Senna and Momo have taken her away on a trip outside of Kuoh" "A trip?" Rias repeat with surprise, "A weird time for one." "It is, but Senna is a spontaneous girl, so I wasn't that surprised when Misako suddenly revealed the news of the trip." Moka rests her hand on her hip, looking straight at Rias in the eyes, "Is something wrong? I get the feeling you want to talk to Misako about something that isn't so ordinary."

Rias simply nod, remaining truthful. "I want to speak to her about Akame's whereabout. There's something important I have to talk with her actually, and considering they are close friends, I imagined Misako would know where she is as Akame present at her home." "Oh," Moka nods, "I see. Well, Akame is actually with her on that trip. She too is out of Kuoh right now." Rias bite the side of her mouth in annoyance by this new fact. Of all days, why is it today that Akame decides to be away from Kuoh. "When will they return?" "Tomorrow. It's just a short trip to relax in an Onsen in Jinka" "I see." Rias gives a respectable bow. "Thank you for telling me this. I'll be on my way now" "No problem... Rias," Moka calls out as Gremory was ready to leave "Yes?" "Is this thing you want to talk about a big issue?" "I am trying to make it not become that," Rias simply reply with a smile before exiting the store.

After leaving the bakery, Rias steps into a dark alleyway to get away from potential peering eyes. Lifting her right arm and the palm begins to emit in faint crimson. "Matsu," Rias whispers the name, and popping in existence is her familiar. The colorful bat smile as it stops in front of its Master. "Matsu," Rias speaks in an authoritative tone, "I want you to track down Nawin Makasha. You remember what he looks like, yes?" The Familiar nods, "Good. Please scour Kuoh and even Vesarima to locate him. When you do immediately report back to me.' With another nod, Matsu shoots up to the sky to begin the search.

Scratching the back of her head in frustration, Rias exhales a tired sigh. "Not much now for me to do other than just wait for tomorrow." She looks up at the clear blue sky with eyes filled of sadness. "Why are things like this?"

Jinka

After receiving the key for their private Onsen from the front desk, the girls now stood in the changing room. "The Onsen must be through those curtains!" Senna points and about to make a beeline there until Momo snatches her by the collar. "Get undress first, Senna!" "Oh, right."

"Can we go nude?" Misako shyly asks, "Of course," Momo gives a warm smile. "It's only us here, Misako, so don't worry. And fear not about any peeping toms. The penalty for it here is very brutal for that." "Really?" Akame raises an eyebrow with some curious, "And it is?" "A fee of Five-Hundred-Thousand Yen and life ban" "Wow," Misako gasp, "That is brutal!" "Ahaha, yeah. The manager was very adamant when she told me they don't tolerate those behaviors."

With nothing to worry, Misako begins undressing. She stood a bit away from the rest, still shy as this is the first time for her to go nude with other people in the room. After removing the shirt and reaching behind to unclip the blue bra. Grabbing the bra and setting it in the locker, Misako lets out a squeak by Senna suddenly appearing from the right. "Woah, your breast is even bigger than mine, Misako-chan!" "Eeeh!" Out of embarrassment, Ichiru quickly covers her exposed chest with both arms, her face entirely turned red. "What Cup are they?" Senna devilishly grins and scooch closer only to force Misako to move further away. "Mines are Double-D!" Senna points towards her exposed chest, "So wh- Gahhh!" Out of nowhere, a hand comes slamming down on the Blue-haired girl's shoulder. Spooked, Senna quickly cocks her head to the left and see Akame giving her a sharp look. "Enough with teasing her." Puckering her lip, Senna glances at the Knight's breast, "You are just jealous that yours are average size, Akame-chan." "..." Silence falls on the room before a loud thud erupts, follow by the scream of pain from Senna as she holds her head, rolling around the ground after getting whacked on the head.

"Honestly." Akame shakes her head then brushes the bangs away from her eyes, looking at the groaning girl "You are exhausting at times" "Momoooo," Senna turns to her sister with the puppy eyes "Akame-chan hit me" "You deserved that."

With all done undressing, the girls head through the curtains with much excitement. What greets them on the other side is a steamy view of the Onsen. It is a very traditional style with large rocks surrounding the hot water. Massive bamboo walls built on the sides to hide away any peering eyes and to help separate the private Onsens. To create a soothing atmosphere, they are some vibrant garden planted in the front of the Onsen, filled with greens and other colors that are pleasant to the eyes.

"Whoa!" Senna's eyes sparkle in amazement "This is even better than the pictures I saw!" "It truly is," Momo nods in agreement "The website doesn't do it justice." "Come on, Misako-chan!" Senna grabs her friend's hand and pulls, "Let's jump in together!" "Ok!" "Wait," Momo tries to speak until a huge splash erupts, and waves of water hit her and Akame in the face. "... This isn't a pool..." Momo mutters, "No use reasoning with her, Momo," Akame blankly replies.

"Ahahah!" Both Senna and Misako rise from the water, giggling in fun before releasing a relaxing sigh as the Onsen's water starts working its magic. "Come on in, you two," Senna lazily waves. "It's... Incredible in here. Ehehe." Momo can't help but giggle at both Senna's and Misako's adorable dreamy expression as they lean on the edge. When both entered the Onsen, Momo and Akame immediately let out a long sigh, and just like Senna and Misako, the two leans on the side, wearing a soothing expression. All their muscles relaxing, their shoulders lose the tenseness and simply allow them to rest.

For a moment, only silence is heard as all the girls have their eyes closed, and occasionally they would release a pleasant sigh, enjoying the peace and comfort the Onsen provides. "This is the best," Senna moans out. "It sure is," Misako agrees. "Though," Looking over with curiousness, "If Nawin-kun was to come with us, where would he be relaxing at, Senna-chan?" "Here with us, of course" "Eh?! They allowed that?" "There is a Unisex section here, so of course!" Senna then gives a coy smirk, "It's a shame that he couldn't tag along, aye?" That question makes Misako's face turn bright red, knowing what her friend is implying. "Get your head out of the gutter, Senna" Momo scolds, "What?" the other sister blinks innocently. "Can't I be curious about my bestie?" "Not in that way," "You boring, Sis." Momo release a sigh. "How do you do it?" Akame asks, which gets a chuckle from the girl beside her "Well... When you are the older sister, you will do anything for your younger sibling, Akame-san. Even though her antics can be troublesome at times, it is just the way she is, and I accept it. And being honest," Momo watches Senna chatting with Misako before turning to Akame, wearing a fond grin. "Her antics always brighten my day. There's never a dull moment with her. I can never really be sad when Senna is around." "... I see." Momo blinks when noticing how there's a shift of emotions in Akame's red eyes, though it was for mere seconds, she would have sworn there was immense sadness in them.

For the next hour, the group quietly enjoys the Onsen while casually talking with one another until their time is up. After using the free shower in the Onsen's room, Senna, Misako, Momo, and Akame now wanders the town, on the way to the hotel. "Aaaahhhh!" Senna moans, stretching both arms in the air, "That was heavenly!" "Yeah," Momo slowly nods, a bit sleepy from such a relaxing experience. With how slow all four are talking, they all felt dozy from the Onsen and simply want to get back to the hotel to either relax or sleep.

"Misako," Akame speaks up when noticing the girl is stumbling a bit in her steps. Out of all of them seems like she's the one that most affected by the Onsen. "Be careful; there's a bike ahead." Considering this is the main road of the village, occasionally some vehicles would drive through. Misako blinks when noticing the sports bike coming towards her, the rider looks to be a man judging by the bulky figure, he is dressed in all leather with a silver helmet to protect his head. She gives the nod to the rider then stir to the right to get out of the way.

Though instead of riding along, the Biker pulls the break and stop beside the group. "Hmm?" Misako blinks while the others, too looked confused. "Oh!" the man flicks his fingers, then points at Senna. "I know you!" Senna blinks while Momo moves in front of her in protection, eyeing the stranger with caution. "Who are you?" Momo question, "Hmm? Me?" the Biker points at himself with his left hand and chuckles heartily. "Oh, you know..." Before anyone could register it, the man's right arm raises to reveal a double-barrel shotgun. "Just a mercenary for hire," he utters in a dark tone then pulls the trigger to fire the bullets into Momo's chest.

"Kyaaaaa!" "Aaaaahhhh!" "G-Gun!" As the civilians quickly get away from the scene in fear, Senna, Misako, and Akame standstill in stunned by what just happened. "Gargh!" Momo grunts in pain, and blood pours through her chest, painting the clothes. She stumbles back and falls. "Momo!" Senna shouts, snapping out of her shock to catch her sister. "MOMO!" "Huh," the Biker turns the gun to Misako's face and ready to pull the trigger till Akame blast forward and kicks the man in the helmet with such force it sends him flying off the bike and crashing into a convenience store.

"MOMO!" Senna cries out, holding her sister closely. Tears are dripping down her eyes as she sees the blood continuing to pour down from the wounds. Misako is still in a state of shock as she looks at the scene with hands covering her mouth, her body shaking. Akame glance back and grits her teeth. 'She isn't going to make it...' She can see that one of the bullets has made contact with Momo's heart. "Sis! Talk to me!" Senna screams, but Momo only stares back in silence, her breather going fainter by the second. "S-So-sorry..." Those weak words left Momo's bloody lip before her brown eyes loses life. "N-no," Misako tears up, able to hear Momo's heartbeat stop. Senna remains frozen, a look of disbelief plastered on her face as she stares at her dead sister.

Clenching her hands so tightly that blood starts oozing out, Akame creates a barrier around them to stop any civilians from seeing what's to come. Though all ran away for safety, no doubt, the police will soon get involved. "You," Akame seethes as the Mercenary explodes out from the window and, without a delay when hitting the ground, fires another round. In a blink of an eye, Akame summons the Black Thunder, unsheathing it and cut all of the bullets into pieces with unmatched precision. Throwing the sheath to the ground, Akame points the crimson sword at the enemy.

"Huh?" The Mercenary tilts his head, the helmet still on. Akame takes notice of how she still can't sense his mana. 'So that's why I didn't pick up any suspicions...' Eyeing the faint purple seal planted on the side of the helmet 'That helmet blocks his magic signature.' "I didn't expect to fight the Black Flash's famed Knight here. Why don't you move aside and let me take the Princess out of your hands." 'Princess?' Akame glance back at Senna, who's still unresponsive.

"… They sent a Mercenary?" Everyone turns when seeing Senna speaks, her tone cold and sharp. "... Those bastards would do such a thing." Snapping her sight at the Biker, Senna's eyes glow brightly in gold. Mana explodes around Hinamori that sends Misako flying back. Akame quickly acts and rushes to the right, grabbing Misako's hand then stab the Black Thunder to the ground to keep them on the ground. "What the hell?" the Mercenary shouts, not expecting such power. Adding mana into the shotgun, he fires another round. The bullets blast through the air, and when in contact with the mana, it vaporizes from existence. "You killed my sister..." Senna mutters, holding onto Momo's corpse tightly. The barrier starts cracking and shattering by the intense pressure. "Die." The ground beneath the Mercenary glows, and before he even noticed it, a pillar of blinding light shoots up, encasing him inside. "Aaaahhh! Haaaahh!" Scream of agony booms from inside the pillar as Akame and Misako watch in shock, seeing the Mercenary's silhouettes figure being burnt alive, they watch as his flesh and bones get melts away until nothing is left. Utterly vaporized from existence.

'This feeling...' Akame watch Senna with wide eyes filled with shock 'It can't be... She's a devil?!' Before the barrier could entirely shatter, the pillar of light fades, and the intense mana around Senna vanishes from existence. Pulling the Black Thunder back up and releasing Misako's hand, Akame steps forward with some caution. "Senna-ch-" Ichiru was about to rush but stops when Akame lifts her other hand, signaling her to halt. "Akame-chan?" "..." Without a word, Senna gently takes Momo onto her arms and stands up, carrying her deceased sister.

"Take me..." Senna speaks and turns around to face Akame and Misako. "P-please take me to Nawin-kun!" Akame's shoulders loosen as she stares at Senna's tearful and trembling face. "Please!" Hinamori cries out once more, "I-I can't lose Momo! It's my fault that this happened! Please help me!" Feeling a hand grab her arm from behind, Akame glance back to see Misako looking out her with begging eyes, she too is crying. She had so many questions, but when turning forward and looking at Momo. Akame's eyes soften as the pain in her heart again resurface. A person she considers a friend is dead. "... Understood."

Kuoh

Stood in the middle of the tallest mountain in Kuoh. Nawin collapse to one knee and pants heavily for air. His body littered in sweat and cuts. His red eyes slowly look up to scan the area that's filled with craters and destruction. For hours he's been here training to get rid of rusts. Ever since returning from Tokyo after completing a contract, he has not done much in terms of fighting.

"Damn," Nawin cuss and slams his right fist to the ground, causing it to crack and split. "Come on... One more." Forcing himself to stand, Nawin opens the right palm and charges up the Demonic Lightning. The sound of electricity radiates the air. Gritting his teeth to maintain control, Nawin entirely shifts his right hand to the side, and the black lightning begins to change to crimson. The same technique he discovered when battling with Marius and used to effectively killed him. How he found the Crimson Lightning was through a pure accident. During that last moment with Marius, Nawin, with so much anger and determination and fueled with emotions. He added Sairex's mana into the Demonic Lightning to mix it with Tairex's, and that's how the Crimson Lightning was made. The concentration for it is exponential. Even though he was tapping into Sairex's mana as much as Tairex's. One mistake could lead to the technique going out of control and exploding right at his face, potentially leading to a fatal injury. Even though that hasn't happened, Nawin can just tell by the scary amount of mana generating in his hand when charging up the Crimson Lightning. He has already decided only to use it in battle as his final resort.

Planting his feet firmly on the ground and exhaling to calm his beating heart, Nawin takes a step then bursts forward at blinding speed, his target is the massive boulder ahead. When in range, Nawin brakes and thrust the right arm forward. "Crimson Lightning!" An explosion erupts when Nawin pierce into the boulder, splitting it into two pieces cleanly. Instead of it being more of explosive aftermath like the Demonic Lightning, the Crimson Lightning is sharper and more precise, able to cut everything that comes into contact with it. That be the most durable material in the supernatural world or even something as small as an atom.

Utterly tired, Nawin collapses to his knees and takes a moment to breathe, getting air into his aching lungs. "Impressive technique." Makasha's breathing hitch by that emotionless voice comment made from behind. Shooting up and turning around, he comes face to face with the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis. Shivers run down Makasha's spine when staring at those cold and emotionless gray eyes. He can see the extraordinary power hiding behind those orbs. Power that scares him. It has been a long time since he comes face to face with Ophis. Moreover, all the encounters he held with her would end badly for him.

"However," Ophis continues with that soft, monotone voice "An attack is worthless if you can't hit your target." Sliding his right feet back, Nawin silently gulps. With his mana low and knowing the danger of the person stood in front of him. Nawin was ready to retreat. A smallest of a smile tug on Ophis's lip, precisely knowing what's on Makasha's mind. "Use that special teleportation of yours," Ophis speaks, moving her right arm to the side then points the index finger toward the direction where Kuoh lies. "And you'll be saying goodbye to your home." Nawin's heart skips a beat when seeing the dark yellow orb form on the tip of the index. "W-wait!" he shouts and steps forward, "I-I won't do anything."

Satisfied, Ophis dispels the orb and drops her arm. "Frustrated?" she questions, surprising Nawin. "That you can't do anything. If I were to discharge that orb, the only thing you can do is helplessly watch your home get decimated. Your dear friends and family perished." "And what are you trying to say?" Nawin utters in a seething tone, clenching his hands in rage. "Just stating facts. No matter how hard you train on your own or get guidance from that Fallen Angel. You will never be a threat to someone like me or even to adversaries like the Akumi."

Each word coming out of Ophis's mouth continues to build anger within Makasha. Because deep-down, he believes it to be true. "You want to help your precious Pureblood?" Nawin's eyes widen at the mention of Sayomi "Right now at your current state you are nothing but a nuisance for her. Getting in the way. It's one of the reasons she left you" "SHUT UP!" Enrage, Nawin glares at the Deity with his eyes glowing bright red. The mark begins pulsing to life. A dark smirk form on Ophis's lip. "Don't be naive. You know deep down that's true. She loves you too much to admit it to your face, Nawin. You are nothing but a burden for her to protect. Without her, you'd be long dead."

In a blink of an eye, Nawin appears in front of Ophis midair with his right arm pulled. The mark covers half his body while his slit red eyes glare venomously at her. "Aaaaahhhh!" With a roar, Nawin thrust the fist forward with such strength the ground beneath them implodes by sheer force. Lifting her right hand up, Ophis blocks the strike with the index finger. "Urgh!" Nawin is stunned by the counter. A mere finger is all it took to stop a punch that had all his strength in it. Even with some of the mark's energy he used, it still was useless.

"This is your reality." Ophis's smirk grows, and in an unparalleled speed, she pushes Nawin back then knocks him to his knees with a simple chop to the shoulder. "Gah!" A grunt escapes from Makasha's lip when he feels his left arm gets dislocated from the shoulder and now hangs loosely by the side. "You are weak. Too weak to protect yourself and anyone that you care for, Nawin."

Ophis watch Makasha go silent for a moment. Then, his head shoots up to look at her, and his eyes glow bright gold. Seeing it coming a mile away, Ophis catch the right hand aimed for the side of her face. "Pointless." A sickening crack erupts, followed by a scream. "Aaaahhhh!" Nawin cries in pain as Ophis crush his wrist into two, leaving his hand limping in an unnatural angle. Releasing the arm, Ophis catch Nawin before he could hit the ground facefirst. "I don't take pleasure of hurting you," Ophis state, holding Makasha by the chin and raise him up to look at her in the eyes. "I am merely showing you the sad state that you are now in. What you are right now is what you are currently in terms of power. Pathetic and weak."

With her eyes gleaming in power, Ophis leans close to near Nawin's ear. "If you want power, then I can give it to you. Enough power for you to become someone exceptional. Enough power for you to protect your loved ones. Enough power to stop you from becoming a burden. Tell me, Nawin... Do you want that?" "... At what cost?" Leaning back to face him, Ophis wears that smile that already signal victories, "Be mine and serve under me. Help me to achieve my goal, Nawin Makasha. Do that, and I will give you all the power you need. That I promise."

In silence, Nawin stares at Ophis for a moment with empty eyes. "Will I have to leave them?" "If you serve me, then I want you by me, Nawin. Aside from your peerage that'll prove useful for you as tools, your friends are not a factor. They give you nothing. That's the cost... Will you accept it?" "..." For a moment, there is no reply, but then, an image of Sayomi appears in Nawin's mind, and he finally opens his mouth "Yes."

With a satisfied smirk on her face, Ophis leans forward to plant her lip onto Nawin's. "Urgh!" Makaha's eyes widen in shock at first before it changes into displaying pain as he feels a sudden burst of power coursing through his veins. His body grows hot as Ophis bestow some of her power. The mark on the neck glows brightly, and the restriction seal that Sirzech placed begins to fade from existence. Nawin feels his injury starts to heal itself. His arm pushes itself up to lodge back into the socket. The bones in the wrist heal at an accelerating rate.

Opening her eyes, Ophis pulls back and releases Nawin to make him fall onto his back. "What I gave you is just a taste," she states, her smirk grows in pleased. Nawin simply stares up at the sky, panting by the discomforting heat still coursing through his body. "I'll be waiting for you, Nawin. One of my subordinates will come and get you very soon." With nothing more to say, Ophis turns around and vanish from existence.

Nawin remains on the ground and tries to get his breathing in check, but it is proving impossible. He grunts in agony by the stinging pain on his neck from the mark. His vision begins to get blurry. 'N...N-Nawin-kun!' Voices start emerging in his mind, clearly desperate. 'Nawin-kun! I-It's Momo! Please be here!' 'Nawin-kun. It's me, Akame. Where are you?!' Misako's and Akame's voice boom in his head, but Nawin can't muster a response as his eyelids begin to grow heavy and his conscious slipping. With the pain too much and his energy utterly empty, Nawin passes out as the desperate cries from his friends continue.

Next Chapter: New Path, The Lost Sister