Chp 9. Blinded Morality
Alastor had taken Kiryu down into the more savage areas within the Pride Ring. As Kiryu followed Alastor through the brutality, he could almost smell the sins being committed around him. The scent of fresh blood was in the air. Kiryu could have sworn he felt the air get warmer with each step. Consequently, the screams of both pleasure and agony filled Kiryu's ears.
"Take it you fucking whore!", was heard from an apartment building.
"That's for missing your last payment dick.", echoed down a dark and misty alleyway. Kiryu stopped for a moment as he was about to peek his head into the alleyway Alastor pulled him away as they continued to walk.
"Alastor….what is this place?", Kiryu said as he looked around once more.
"This Kiryu is where the most deprived and wretched of sinners live, my lad", Alastor said as he threw his arms in the air, "and where you'll learn to take your first soul.", Alastor said and twirled his cane and placed both of his hands on the top of it.
"Let's get this over with", Kiryu said as another scream could be heard in the distance, "this place is already starting to freak me out.", Kiryu said as he looked around frantically.
"Hmmmm how about that one? Kiryu should be easy enough for you.", Alastor said as he pointed his cane at a nearby kid stabbing an imp.
"A…kid Alastor?", Kiryu said dumbfounded.
"Yes what's wrong with that we are in Hell after all, or would you rather have them instead.", Alastor pointed at a drunken Sinner exiting a club.
"I'll take him", Kiryu said as he turned to face Alastor, "you've gotta be fucking kidding me Alastor.", Kiryu said as Alastor vanished leaving Kiryu alone on this task.
"Okay you've got this, Kiryu.", Kiryu threw his hood up from his jacket as he made his way over to the sinner. Kiryu kept his distance as he watched his victim stumble. Kiryu noticed that he was going to fall and took his chance.
"You good?", Kiryu said as he caught the sinner before he fell.
"~the fuck you doing dickhead get your ugly ass off me~", the sinner said drunkenly.
"I'm just trying to help now.", Kiryu said as he walked with the sinner down the alleyway.
"~you gotta be the worst and ugliest fuckin whore I've ever seen~", the sinner said as Kiryu threw him into the wall.
"~what's your pro-", the sinner said as his face met Kiryu's fist. Kiryu threw punch after punch until his hands were covered in his blood.
"Is that good enough, Alastor?", Kiryu said as he looked to see Alastor examining his work.
"No tear him to shreds Kiryu", Alastor said as his smile grew, "He's had enough Alastor now sell your soul to me", Kiryu said as he held the sinner against the wall.
"I'll-", the sinner was about to say as Alastor hit him in his stomach with his cane.
"Now Kiryu, I told you to tear him apart. Don't you know what horrible acts this filth has done?", Alastor said as Kiryu looked at him, confused, "Murder, rape, I could go on lad now tear him to shreds.", Alastor said as he vanished once more.
"Hey I may have killed and ra-", just as the sinner was about to say rape Kiryu dug his claws into their throat stopping them from speaking.
"Grab, twist, and rip it out.", that same dark voice echoed in Kiryu's head. Out of instinct, Kiryu followed what the voice said. Their blood spurted onto Kiryu's hand and face as he blankly stared into their fearful eyes. Then Kiryu plunged his claws into their chest as he could feel their heat on his claws. He plunged deeper as he reached his heart. He could feel each pump as he started to squeeze it. The sinner tried his best to fight off Kiryu but anything he tried wouldn't work from kicking to punching, and even purposely spilling his blood in Kiryu's eyes to blind him he wouldn't stop squeezing. Kiryu slowly started to dig his claws into the sinner's heart. The heat emanating from the sinner's body transferred onto Kiryu's hand as he stopped and started to let his claw get extracted from his victim slowly.
"Let's make a deal your soul and I won't keep you as my plaything.", Kiryu outstretched his other hand as it started to glow a bright blue. The surrounding environment was soon filled with a light blue fire. The sinner quickly shook Kiryu's hand sealing the deal. The sinner's soul followed through Kiryu's arm as he could feel the power that came with it. It was almost intoxicating to
He threw the sinner deeper down the alleyway. Soon Alastor appeared and patted Kiryu on the back.
"He deserved it Kiryu.", Alastor said as he looked over at the sinner starting to crawl away.
"He deserved it.", Kiryu ranted until Alastor snapped him out of his ranting.
"You did great lad now tell how do you feel?", Alastor said as he leaned in closer to Kiryu.
"I feel amazing Alastor this power it's", Kiryu paused as he looked at his bloody hand, "It's invigorating I feel like a whole new me a stronger me.", Kiryu said as he turned to face Alastor.
"Now all you have to do is collect more souls or even an overlord and then you'll finally be able to not only become an overlord but kill Valentino too.", Alastor said with his usual smile. Kiryu smiled as he shook the blood off of him then suddenly Alastor used one of his black tentacles to grab him and throw him into a nearby abandoned building. Kiryu was completely caught off guard as he slowly started to get out of the rubble.
"What the fuck Alastor?!", Kiryu shouted as Alastor faced him.
"You've finished the first part of your lesson Kiryu now it's time for the second part survival." Kiryu scowled as he went in to attack Alastor but was quickly entangled by a mess of black tentacles. Alastor slammed him into the ground sending him flying down all 5 stories. Kiryu struggled to get up as Alastor leaned down to face Kiryu and asked him.
"Do you give up?", Alastor said as he stood tall once more.
"N-no.", Kiryu said as he struggled to get up but Alastor kept knocking him down again and again and again.
"Do you give up.", Alastor said as he grabbed Kiryu by his hair and looked into his eyes. Kiryu spit his blood in Alastor's eyes causing Alastor to let go then Kiryu used his tail to knock back Alastor.
"I've", Kiryu paused as he spat out a few teeth, "got all day gramps.", Kiryu rushed at Alastor as he grabbed his jacket and head-butted him. Then used his nuclear pulse sending Alastor threw a wall. Once He knocked Alastor into the wall he could sense his blood lust start to come back. Adrenalin filled Kiryu's body for the first time in a while. And Kiryu loved every moment of it. The thrill of battle. Being soaked in his enemy's blood. Hearing their screams as he endlessly tears them to pieces. But Kiryu had then felt another thing: regret. He could feel himself starting to become that same mindless beast that fought Valentino. Kiryu then felt ashamed as he looked down at the ground. Kiryu started to control his breathing as he tried his best to control not only his rage but himself as a sinner too. Once Kiryu could finally regain some sense of control over who he was a black tentacle came out of nowhere and nearly stabbed Kiryu. Kiryu dodged it as he quickly looked up at Alastor.
"To be an Overlord Kiryu", Alastor got up and dusted off his suit, "you must learn to take every opportunity that's given to you no matter what.", Alastor said as he grew into his larger form. Kiryu was taken aback as Alastor grabbed him and sent him flying down to the ground causing him to bounce back up as Alastor slammed down his shoe into Kiryu. Kiryu tried his best to fight back but he couldn't. He could feel himself losing more blood by the minute he could feel himself starting to grow faint as he tried one last move. His dorsal plates started to glow a bright blue then his mouth as he fired his atomic breath Alstor's shoe broke him free from under his hold. He continued to fire his atomic breath at Alastor but it didn't affect him. Until something started to change the color started to transition from what once was a bright blue to something much darker. Soon Kiryu's atomic breath started to become a dark red both Alastor and Kiryu were left shocked. But Kiryu couldn't afford to be surprised as he continued to fire it at Alastor. Causing him to put up a shield blocking out Kiryu's red beam. Alastor slowly walked towards Kiryu as Kiryu continued to fire. Suddenly he stopped he couldn't feel the heat from his beam anymore the only thing that Kiryu could feel was pain.
"Shit.", Kiryu said as he looked down and was faced with Alastor's black tentacles sticking out of his stomach.
"I'll say lad you did quite well you almost had me there haha.", Alastor said as he reverted to his normal size.
"But you still lack two things: power and experience.", Alastor said as he leaned into Kiryu's face.
"I-", Kiryu tried to speak as his blood spurted out of his mouth almost staining Alastor's suit. Kiryu could feel himself start to pass out as his vision started to get blurry he tried to escape off of Alastor's tentical but his arms wouldn't move. He had lost too much blood as he passed out.
"Oh dear I", Alastor said as his tentacle vanished letting Kiryu drop to the floor, "looks like I may have gone too far.", Alastor said as he bent down to look at Kiryu's body. It continued to leak blood until Alastor used his magic to fix Kiryu's clothes then soon they vanished and reappeared back in Kiryu's room. Alastor placed Kiryu back on his bed.
"Rest Kiryu because the next lesson will be even harder.", Alastor said as he walked out of his room. While Kiryu's body began to repair itself Kiryu had started to dream once more. Although this time the dream wasn't like anything that Kiryu had seen before. It was of that sinner he made a deal with. Somehow Kiryu was in the position of the sinner as he felt his throat get stabbed with his claws. He could feel their sharpness as they sliced his vocal cords. Kiryu tried to scream but nothing came out of his mouth except his blood. Each time he tried to speak he could feel it fill with that same red iron as it leaked from his mouth. Next Kiryu could feel his claws start to dig into his chest. The heat from his body soon started to disappear as he could feel his body start to weaken. Then his heart could feel being squeezed as he saw himself with a wicked smile staring right back at him. He tried to fight back but his arms and legs couldn't move. The grip around his heart was starting to tight as he continued to fight back. As he did so everything vanished. Kiryu then saw himself falling through the sky until he landed in a hot red hot liquid. He tried to swim his way through the liquid but it was almost too much as he started to drown. He could feel it filling his lungs as he stretched his hand for help. Kiryu didn't expect anybody to grab it as he was soon pulled up. Kiryu looked up to be greeted by the face of his father. Kiryu screamed in terror as he let go and fell into the liquid. Kiryu tried to swim out of it again but had lost the strength. He started to drown as he let his body fall deeper and deeper into the liquid. Kiryui closed his eyes as he opened them once more. Yet this time this sight was something that shook Kiryu to his core. Kiryu looked down as his mother's cold lifeless body was in his arms. He could feel her once warm blood on his body as it started to become cold. Then Kiryu felt a hand placed on his shoulder as he turned to look who it was all he could was a dark figure with red eyes. Soon everything started to crumble as Kiryu fell once more. As Kiryu fell he saw what was now a red bird-like creature start to dive towards him. It caught Kiryu with its claws as Kiryu turned to look at the creator's face he suddenly woke up in another cold sweat. Kiryu looked around his room frantically then picked up his shirt to see that his scar was fully healed. Kiryu grabbed his flask from his jacket and started to drink from it. The warm liquid ran through his throat like butter. Once Kiryu was done he put the flask away and could feel sleep start to wrap its arms around his mind once more. Kiryu then did the only thing he could think of to try and drown out the sins he'd committed. He took a deep breath as he started to sing.
Can't drink, can't drug, can't drown 'em away
Can't sleep, can't think, can't find an escape
From these dark, dark thoughts in my mind
As Kiryu sang to himself, he could feel something. He could feel the guilt start to wash over him as soon as everything started to come back to him once more. Their screams rang in his head as Kiryu continued to sing.
Can't drink, can't drug, can't drown 'em away
Can't sleep, can't think, can't find an escape
From these dark, dark thoughts in my mind
Kiryu continued to sing as that same dark voice had started to join him. Kiryu didn't have a damn clue if what he was experiencing was real life or if he was still dreaming. Soon everything had started to come back first the pain. Kiryu could feel his skin start to burn as it got hotter and hotter. Then he could feel each tear on it from every one of his battles.
There's a heavy on this mind
There's a weight behind these eyes
What if I, what if I can't stop the rising tide?
Above the undertow, do you see me down below?
A sinking stone, wondering how much deeper I can go
Then Kiryu could have sworn he had heard his mother start to sing alongside him. He could feel her warmth start to surround his body but then it was swiftly snatched away as it was replaced with his father's cold presence.
Can't drink, can't drug, can't drown 'em away
Can't sleep, can't think, can't find an escape
From these dark, dark thoughts in my mind, oh
Kiryu had closed his eyes and then reopened them only to be greeted by a sea of skeletons. He then looked down to see himself still holding his mother's skeleton as soon as it started to rain. But this rain was different it was a dark and nasty red and once it reached Kiryu's skin he could feel it start to burn. As it started to burn it ate through Kiryu's clothes as it started to reach deep into his skin. Kiryu continued to let the rain burn through him as he held his dead mom. It continued to eat through Kiryu until nothing was left but his skeleton.
A hundred stories high
What would it be like to be free from this parasite inside of me?
And at my funeral, would anybody show?
No pall to bear, just a coffin sitting all alone
This time it wasn't Kiryu singing but his father instead. As Kiryu could feel the life come back to him he was chained to a wall as his father walked up to him. He beat Kiryu senselessly as Kiryu did nothing against each of his attacks. He punched, kicked, and stabbed Kiryu until he couldn't any longer.
Can't drink, can't drug, can't drown 'em away
Can't sleep, can't think, can't find an escape
From these dark, dark thoughts in my mind, oh
My head, my head, my head is a prison
No one ever visits
It's just you and me 'til the end, the end
Waiting out my sentence
If I find an exit, will you still follow me?
Kiryu's chains began to fade as he started to hear a noise. The sound of some sorta bird started to fill the room as it quickly snatched away his father and grabbed Kiryu. It took Kiryu far away from his sins, but it took him far away from his past. Kiryu could feel something different about this bird. He felt safe, protected, and wanted. And so did Kiryu he couldn't explain it but something about this bird gave him an order of some sort to protect it. Both Kiryu and the bird as they headed off into the unknown. The deep black void swallowed him as he finally woke up from his dream. In a cold sweat, Kiryu looked around and still saw it was night. Kiryu didn't know what to do as he just sat in his bed shaking.
To kill what I create
To keep the wolves at bay
You know I've tried a million times but they still find a way to cage me
Can't drink, can't drug, can't drown 'em away
Can't sleep, can't think, can't find an escape
From these dark, dark thoughts
These dark, dark thoughts
Oh my head, my head, my head is a prison
No one ever visits
It's just you and me 'til the end ('til the end), the end
Waiting out my sentence
If I find an exit, will you still follow me?
"But he deserved it.", Kiryu said as he looked at the same hand he had used to toy with that sinner's hand. He balled his hand into a fist as he could once again feel as if it was still dripping with blood.
"If I have to deal with these nightmares for the rest of my life," Kiryu said as he grabbed his flask, "then so be it as long as it means I'll kill Valentino.", Kiryu said as he started to go back to bed.
"And protect them.", Kiryu said as he started to down the liquor from the flask. He could feel it run down his throat. As it reached his stomach Kiryu drank more. He didn't stop until it was completely empty. Once it was empty Kiryu threw the flask to the ground as he could sleep started to overtake his body once again. As he did so something far different started to happen to Kiryu. Music started to fill Kiryu's ears as he started to hum a familiar tune. As he did so the world around him began to shift into something different. Kiryu couldn't make words of it but it was just better. He felt happier, calmer, and overall a better version of himself. It was almost as if Kiryu was completed. Like he was finally put back together after getting broken into a million different pieces. Kiryu could then be seen wrapped inside the bird's wings as he slept. Everything tried to attack the bird but somehow nothing seemed to damage it. With them together, nothing could stop them. They completed each other as one. Without each other, they'd be broken and lost.
"He's got potential I'll give him Alastor said as he took his coat off.
"Then he still heavily lacks in power and experience but that'll come in due time.", Alastor said as he sat down in his chair.
"But something was different this time", Alastor said as he sat deeper into his chair, "why didn't he get angry this time?", Alastor said as he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"There's no way he could have finally managed to get that rage of his under control for god's sake without his rage he's only half as strong.", Alasot r said as he rubbed his forehead.
"Then again I've already got him in my hand all I've got to do is play my role right then his power will be all mine.", Alasor said as he got off his chair and went to pour himself a glass of liquor.
"Once I've got his power no one will be able to stop me", Alastor took a sip from his glass, "I'll finally be able to break away from my contract.", Alastor said as he put his glass down and leaned deep into his chair. Back in V-Tower Vox appeared in Velvetts room tired.
"Velvette this better be good.", Vox said as he saw Velvette doing something with her phone.
"You know how you wanted me to constantly keep an eye on that Kiryu kid Vox?", Velvette said as she started to pull up some pictures on her phone.
"Yes Velvette now what did you find?", Vox said as she leaned in close to Velvette's phone.
"Thanks to those reporters it looks like the kid is mixing in with the Goetia, especially the heiress.", Velvette said as Vox grabbed her phone and looked closer at the image of Kiryu and Octavia running from something.
"Does anyone else know about this Velvette?", Vox said as he handed her phone back.
"Currently no not even the reporters Val shot them for some dumb reason that prick.", Velvette scrolled through her phone again.
"Fuck this is going to complicate the plan even more than I expected", Vox paused as he mumbled, "Maybe if I hire that snake imp over in wrath he'll kill her or-", Vox suddenly looked up as a scientist ran in the room.
"Sir we've found something that'll need your attention.", the scientist said trying to catch his breath.
"Ugh, this better be good.", Vox said as followed the scientist back to a dark room. The room lit up with blue lights as Vox looked at a giant screen.
"The test finished sir", the scientist said as he recomposed himself, "It's something we could have never expected but the kid he's-", the scientist was cut off as Vox said.
"Nuclear…energy.", Vox said as he looked up at the screen showing Kiryu's blood and the fabric Valentino got. Kiryu's power was nuclear energy the revelation had left Vox stunned.
"It's like he's a walking nuclear reactor with anger problems sir.", the scientist said as he looked up to Vox. Vox left the room leaving the scientist confused.
"He'll be mine first Alastor I'll count on that.", Vox said as he walked towards another screen and vanished.
The song in Kiryu's dream sequence is called Dark Thoughts by The Funeral Portrait! Now this marks the end of chp 9! Now, with Kiryu learning to make deals and get souls, however, will his power begin to grow and change? With Alastor having a tight grip on Kiryu's mortality, will he ever escape it? What else is Kiryu willing to do to accomplish his goal? What's up with that weird black-red bird in Kiryu's dream? Who or what was it? Will Kiryu ever reflect on said dreams? Then, with Alastor training him, is Kiryu going to lose control again? Will any of Kiryu's friends find out about his goal and training with Alastor? Will Kiryu ever land any hits on Alastor well you'll just have to find out as the story continues in chp 10! Don't forget to like and follow for more chps and updates! Also, I don't own either Godzilla or the characters used from Helluva Boss or Hazbin Hotel they all belong to their respective owners