With a hostile aura emanating from Koro, the creature twitched and convulsed as its jaws crushed Mika's forearm. The foul beast rose over Kenshiro, the sickening sounds of skin stretching, bones cracking, and straining as Koro grew in size. Ken tracked the creature as it rose over him, his scowl unchanging.
He remained fearless as Koro reached his full size towering over Kenshiro. The snarling, drooling, toothy maw opened exposing row after row of teeth in varying shapes and sizes. As Koro arched over Ken, his doll-like eyes peered down on him.
An otherworldly groan grew in Koro's throat, the flames intensified, and the trees bent and swayed as the creature let out a horrifying guttural roar. Chealse and Taki attempt to cover their ears from the rumble.
"AGH! Aunt Chelsea! I can't hear anything!" The boy screamed.
Chelsea grimaced as the howling reverberated in her head, the pain almost unbearable, "Gah...is this...is this the power of Hekatonkheires? It's unreal!"
Shielding herself from the harsh wind lashing at her face, she could see through her fingers that Ken was still standing there, showing no signs of discomfort.
"What the hell is he doing? I know he's strong, but he can't fight that thing, Ken, you need to run!"
Chelsea watched as Ken stood still, the howl dissipated. The flames settled, and there, the two stared each other down. The silence was palpable.
"HAHAHA! How do you like that?! That is the true power of my Koro!" Seryu cackled.
Ken turned his attention away from Koro and glanced over to Seryu, "So...which of you two is the monster? I'm having a difficult time telling you apart." He said while cracking his knuckles.
Bewildered by Ken's seeming indifference to the nearly fifteen-foot-tall beast about to devour him, she exchanges a confused glance with Koro.
"Y-you dare mock us?! Koro! Ki-,"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH-," Ken shouted.
Ken emitted a spiritual pressure that pushed everyone in the vicinity back, the grass under his feet waved violently. The fires danced with even more intensity; trees collapsed from the energy flowing outwards.
"What the hell?!" Seryu shouted, "His power increased? How is that possible?" Her eyes widened.
"-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ken continued to scream, his energy expanding; building exponentially.
"K-Ken"! Chelsea yelled as she felt the energy from Ken pressing down on her; she could not explain this feeling. It was, even stronger than Koro's howl. It felt overwhelming.
The Maelstrom of power crashed into the ruins of the village; it trembled in Ken's presence. It was as though God himself had appeared in front of her, and he was a vengeful God.
Chelsea hardly considered herself religious, years of death and destruction had made her numb to the idea of a higher power. But now the sky became chaotic, the earth trembled, and it was as though the heavens themselves shouted, "ENOUGH!"
Enough of the senseless wars, enough of the greed, and unnecessary bloodshed. Countless innocent lives lost due to evil men who flaunted their sins in God's face. Believing themselves above his judgment, now their time of retribution has arrived, and this man would carry out their long-overdue punishment.
Electricity encompassed him, his muscles swelling. The leather jacket split under strain, its shards disintegrating. Chelsea's eyes widened as she saw the grotesque scars that lined his torso.
"Seven scars...". She counted, and they appeared to be in a pattern resembling a ladle, "What on earth...what happened to him?" She said to herself.
Seryu looked on, her face in shock as she could barely withstand the force pushing against her. "What kind of evil is this?" Shielding her eyes, she noticed Koro faltering. "Koro?"
Seryu glared back at Ken, his energy dissipating. The winds calmed, and Ken exhaled readying himself into a fighting stance.
"You think your little temper tantrum is going to save you? Resign yourself to your fate! The fate that all who follow evil are destined to face!" Said Seryu.
Ken's eyes narrowed on the pair, "You two will be the first."
"What?"
"In this world to experience the full, unrestrained fury of Hokuto Shinken!"
"Enough! Koro! Kill those two!"
Seryu commanded her beast as it lunged towards Chelsea and Taki, spiraling towards them. Its fangs bore down on the two.
"Coward!" Ken yelled.
Unable to move, Chelsea watched as the beast barreled toward her. The world seemed to slow down as it grew closer, "N-no!" She said — Shielding Taki.
Ken dashed in front of the two standing directly in the path of the beast hurtling towards them, "WAHTAAAA!" He intercepted the monster. His leg slices into Koro like a sword cutting into its flesh leaving a massive gash on the beast's face and sending him crashing into Mika's Cabin with a tremendous crash.
(Nanto Rekkyaku Zanjin!) Ken spoke.
"KORO!" Seryu screamed.
Ken turned to Chelsea, "Get into the forest!" Ken Ordered.
"O-ok, I'm going," Chelsea complied with a slightly panicked tone.
Seryu turns towards the three, her face full of rage and insanity, "PUNISHMENT TO THE WICKED!" She screamed pulling her sidearm out and opening fire on the group.
Diving into the bushes; Chelsea hides, Seryu fired wildly in a broad pattern, it was easy enough for Ken to weave through; no matter how hard Seryu tried she was only able to hit where he was a moment ago.
Chelsea popped out from behind the foliage, "Ken...he doesn't know, I have to warn him!"
As Seryu continued firing, Chelsea started to notice a pattern, a method to her madness. Every missed bullet was leading Ken...leading him not only to her but towards the ruins of Mika's cabin!
"Ken!" She shouted, "That Teigu can regenerate! You have to destroy its core!"
"What?" Ken yelled, suddenly a clawed fist shot from the fiery rubble of Mika's cabin "Argh!" Ken winced as he backflipped out of Koro's attack range, the blow grazing him.
"KEN!" Chelsea screamed.
"How do you like that barbarian? You fell right into my trap!" Seryu laughed maniacally.
Landing on his feet, he staggered and recovered his balance. He stood firm in front of his two foes. His hand traced the fresh wound, and he felt the three shallow claw marks that grazed him.
Raising his bloodstained finger towards his lips, he tasted it and spat it out, demonstrating his complete indifference towards the pain Koro inflicted on him.
Seryu smirked at Ken "Don't you dare underestimate Koro wrongdoer! He's not just some mindless beast! His next attack will lop your head off! KORO! ARM!" She ordered.
The creature spasmed once more as its arms twitched and stretched. Its muscles became more defined, its paws resembling human fists with sharp black claws protruding from each finger. Its head contorting into a bizarre man-beast hybrid, drool trickling from the beast's jaws.
Pushing aside the burning remains of Mika's cabin the creature growled, enraged as the giant gash across its face quickly healed. The otherworldly moan echoed into the night.
Its body was expanding, becoming thicker and stronger by the second no longer did it resemble a dog, But a massive monstrosity.
"Ugh...disgusting." Chelsea groaned.
Ken prepares himself; he challenges the beast to attack. "Against Hokuto Shinken you're nothing more than a rabid dog, I will put you down before you hurt anyone else!" Ken exclaimed.
The creature stalked out from the ruins, emitting an audible noise as it approached Ken, "Kyuuuuuu-," with every step, the earth quaked under the beast's weight.
Seryu remained convinced that her Teigu could defeat the man with seven scars, "You think you can beat Koro? How foolish, but what can one expect? Stupidity and evil go hand in hand! Know this evildoer, not only is my Koro strong like me but he is also an expert fighter! You have no chance!" She cackled
Koro moved his arms in a circular motion readying himself into a defensive stance. "-Kyuuuuuuuuu." the beast bellowed. He was waiting for Ken to make his move.
"Humph." Ken thumbed his nose in defiance of his opponent, "So you are capable of human intelligence, in that case, I shall feel no remorse in killing you!" He proclaimed.
Chelsea looked on as the battle unfolded, the two combatants remained still, waiting for the other to make their first move.
All around them, the fires consumed the village, wooden beams collapsed from the intensity of the flames. The once tranquil and welcoming atmosphere was replaced by an inescapable feeling of dread.
The blaze threatened to consume them both, yet they stood unmoved, they continued to focus on each other. Every step, every flinch, and every shift. "If you're going to attack, you better do it now, Ken!" Said Chelsea.
Koro let out a howl as he stormed towards Ken, the brute reached back with his fist and brought it down towards Ken. Smashing the ground with tremendous strength, Ken stepped forth and, with an elegant swipe, severed Koro's arm from his body.
The monster shrieks in pain as his arm falls to the earth with a resounding thud. With the swiftness of a bird of prey, Ken lunges back towards the wounded bio teigu. Koro could not even attempt to defend himself from the volley of slashes.
Ken became a blur; unseeable to the human eye. Neither Chelsea nor Seryu could keep up with his movements. The cutting intensified the sound of flesh, muscles, and ligaments separating, blood spraying from every cut.
"KORO!" Seryu screamed, her eyes in shock as her beloved partner was ripped apart in front of her. Finally, the attack ceased. Ken appeared in front of Koro with his back turned to him.
Chelsea could not comprehend what she had just witnessed, a man, without the aid of a Teigu was currently handing one of the most dangerous Teigus its ass on a platter, "He might do it. He might beat him!" She thought to herself.
Koro staggered as his armless body swayed from the attack, blood pouring out of every wound, it pooled on the ground painting it red.
Ken turned his head towards the beast. (Nanto Hicho Rangeki Ha!) He spoke.
Koro began to topple, falling backward. His eyes shifted rapidly.
"KORO! GET UP! DON'T GIVE IN TO THIS FIEND"! Seryu begged.
Like a second wind, Koro's eyes honed in on Kenshiro. His arms reformed, he lungs towards Ken sezing him, his gaping maw bearing down on him, Ken shifted just in time to catch Koro by his jaws.
"Augh!" Ken strained from the pressure Koro put on him, his claws gouging into his back, inch by inch the bio Teigu's mouth closed in on him.
"Great Koro, TEAR HIM APART"! Seryu roared with jubilation.
Chelsea's heart sank as she watched the creature capture Ken in a death-hold, now it was only a matter if Koro would rip him apart with his bare hands or devour him whole, "Ken, No!" She cried.
As much as she did not want to admit it, she knew this was her chance to escape. She did not want to abandon Ken, but she must save Taki. "Damn it...I'm sorry Ken," She turned away and looked at the child still huddled under her.
"Taki...on the count of three; we're going to run. Don't look back. No matter what happens". She said to the boy trying to hold back her tears. She looked towards the village as Ken struggled to hold Koro back, "Please forgive me." She had only met him yesterday, but she still felt an awful feeling of guilt for him.
As she was about to run, she felt a jolt of energy pulse through her mind. turning back towards the village, she saw an incredible sight, "It can't be..." She said the tide of battle had turned.
Ken's pure force was wrenching Koro's jaws apart; the flesh on the beast's mouth split open. Koro wailed in pain as his mouth tore. Ken's grip crushed Koro's muzzles, crunching and cracking echoed throughout the village.
A deep groan builds in Ken's throat, "aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAA-," Energy building off of him, his eyes glow white as his rage increases. "-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Unleashing his fury, he rips Koro's jaws apart with a sickening snap dislocating them.
Koro reels back clawing at his face, "KORO"! Seryu yelled, "Damn it, he won't last much longer even with his regeneration. He'll be out for a month, but I have no choice!" She was desperate to end this fight and would take any measure to ensure a victory.
As Ken watched the creature's jaws reform themselves, he noticed the base of an orb-like object sticking out of his upper jawline. "Interesting...". Returning to his fighting stance; he resumes his attack lounging towards the beast.
With a flash he rushes Koro, intending to put an end to this battle. As he was about to strike, Seryu screamed out towards her partner, "Koro! Trump card activation: BERSERKER!" As Ken dived towards Koro, a plume of steam enveloped the beast.
"What's this-" Before Ken could finish the thought, a massive red fist descended on him, leaving him only enough time to block before the attack collided with him. It sent him careening into the forest, "-Ugh!" Ken cried out as he crashed into the trees.
"She activated it...she activated its trump card, that thing...my god..." Chelsea looked on her eyes wide. As the steam dissipated a massive red-skinned monstrosity stepped forth, it's muscles bulging under strain. A toothy snarl permeated its face.
The blood-red eyes watching Ken, it was a battle between two predators for the title of the apex and Seryu would secure it at any cost. "You might have been able to hold your own up to this point scum, but this is it! I have activated Koro's ultimate form! He'll crush you into paste!" She cackled.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, he rose back to his feet, "All your tricks are growing tiresome. hey, beast, try that again." In defiance or lack of common sense, Ken strode towards Koro a look of determination in his eyes.
"What a cowardly man you are Kenshiro, accept the fact you will die! No matter how hard you struggle justice shall always prevail!" Seryu taunted.
"You keep saying that word...You are ignorant as to what it truly entails. The sacrifice it requires, you claim to fight to protect the masses, yet you kill out of hatred; you murder indiscriminately. You walk the path, not of justice but evil!" Kenshiro proclaimed. "The heavens have entrusted within me the fist of the god of death, a fist that does not kill for personal reason nor vice, specifically to stop monsters like you!"
"God of death? The Heavens? What is he talking about, Is this the source of his power? " Chelsea thought to herself.
"ENOUGH OF YOUR PHILOSOPHICAL GARBAGE! KORO PULVERIZE HIM!" Seryu shouted.
Koro unleashed a volley of fists towards Ken; wave after wave shooting out in rapid succession, Ken sweeping back into this fighting stance returned with his attack.
"aaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-,' A massive flurry of fists slammed into Koro's barrage, each impact thundering into the night sky. Trees splintered, the ground kicked up. What remains of the cabins smashed into pieces.
Chelsea ducked for cover as the strikes threatened to overtake the entire area, "Kyaaaa!" She cried, holding Taki as everything around her collapsed and exploded. "This is insane; How long can they keep this up?!" She thought to herself as the chaos unfurled.
Seryu watched with glee as Koro held his own, the ear-splitting sounds seemingly not affecting her, But the mad woman's joy faded with a horrifying realization. With every hit and every blow, Ken was advancing toward Koro. Inch by inch, the man with seven scars closed the distance.
"K...KORO, DON'T LET HIM GET CLOSER!" She screamed, but it was too little too late, Ken reached the beast. Koro continued the assault, a desperate last-ditch effort but by this point, Ken was casually blocking each blow with one arm.
Koro's blows became so monotonous and predictable that Ken no longer put forth the effort to evade them. With one last strike, Koro pulled back and with all his might struck at Ken only for him to casually parry the attack and counter.
"WAHHHTA!" Ken's fist struck Koro straight in his sternum; the creature staggered as Ken ground his fist into him. Energy radiated from Ken as he inhaled deeply, "aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA-'! His fists shot out pummeling Koro. "-ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT-" The speed of his fists increased by the second his movements impossible to track.
"This is unbelievable! He can't be human; no human can move this fast without the aid of a Teigu!" Chelsea tried to rationalize the situation; rationality was her forte. She could pin down any person just by meeting them.
It was a skill that made her calculating, blunt, and pessimistic. This man, this man challenged all of that. She waited for reality to set in and take him down like so many others who claimed to 'Defend the innocent" before him. However, it never came.
He defied all logic and reason, and it finally sunk in for Chelsea. This was real, this was happening. It was reality.
"KEN! KICK HIS ASS!" Chelsea shouted jubilantly.
Faster and faster Ken's fists smashed into Koro, his arms became a gale of pain. Seryu staggered back stunned that Koro could be manhandled so effortlessly by a man with no Teigu of his own. "Ahhhh...". was all she could sputter out, her jaw agape.
"-ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATAT-," Ken's barrage had become so intense that Koro's large frame lifted off the ground. "-ATATATATATATATATATATATAT,-" Pulling back one final time; Ken exhaled, "-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-,!" and struck driving his fist into Koro's forehead. "-HOOO WAHHHHHTAAAAAAaaaaaaaa"! His battle cry reverberating into the night.
Koro tottered in place; his weight could take no more as he fell backward with a loud fall. Ken, his back turned to him spoke. "(Hokuto, Hyakuretsu Ken!)"
Ken walked towards Chelsea's location. "Ko...Koro..." Seryu said her voice cracking as she broke down, Koro started to twitch, and his eyes opened up once more. Rising back to his feet, he regains his balance and prepares for another attack.
"HA HA HA! Did you think a flurry of punches would bring Koro down? I already told you, no matter what you throw at him, he'll get back up!" Seryu screamed.
Ken ignored Seryu and continued unabated, "Ken, what are you doing? He's getting back up!" Chelsea yelled, "Turn around!" She repeated. Ken closed his eyes as he walked away.
Koro kneeled down and then spun towards Kenshiro, a spinning mass of teeth and claws closing in on him by the second, and yet Ken seemed indifferent to the certain painful death quickly approaching him.
Seryu and Chelsea both shouted at the man who seemingly ignored their pleas.
"Finally given up evildoer? I don't blame you; you have nothing left!" Seryu taunted.
"KEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Chelsea pleaded.
"HAHAHAHAH! EAT HIM ALIVE KORO!"
"KENNNNNNNNN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TURN AROUND!"
Koro charged towards Ken, fangs bared and ready to kill, nothing would stop this enraged mass of muscles, claws, and ferocity. He would destroy him no matter what nothing would st-,
The battlefield fell silent everyone collectively gasped, Koro had stopped dead in his tracks mere feet from Ken. Frozen in place, unable to move.
Taki looked up to Chelsea, "Aunt Chelsea, why did he stop moving?" The boy asked.
"I...I don't know..." Chelsea said, This had to have been one of the craziest days she had ever experienced, nothing made sense anymore, and in the middle of this madness stood a man indifferent to it all.
"Koro? What's wrong?" Asked Seryu
Ken opened his eyes and finally spoke, "Omae Wa Mou...Shindeiru."
Chelsea had never heard that language before, and yet for some reason, she understood its meaning and its finality. She knew the battle was over.
"The hell does that mean?" Seryu demanded.
"I was able to identify where the core was on your pet; once I figured out where it was, I struck the corresponding pressure points. Koro's anatomy was similar enough to a human, and I could easily find them and strike them in one hundred blows, allow me to translate, your pet is already dead!" Ken proclaimed.
Seryu's pupils shriveled as she heard Ken's explanation, "W-WHAT?!" She yelled. Just then, she overheard the groaning and howling of her partner. "K...Koro?" her voice laden with fear.
Koro grabbed his head in discomfort, his wailing intensifying as his head pulsates. His skin bubbled as he spasmed, his body swells and twitching and writhing awkwardly, it began to bloat.
Chelsea, Taki, and Seryu watch as the creature blasted into pieces. The sounds of something glass-like fragmented, the beast threw up its arms as its head grew in size and ripped apart as the rest of his body contorted and blew up into bits. The large meaty chunks covered the area.
His lower extremities were falling over as the glass shards from his core shattered on the ground. Seryu stood in silence, her partner...was dead. "K-K-Koro? Koro? KOROOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?! YOU BASTARDDDDDDDDDDD!" Seryu rushed towards Ken with reckless abandon, hell-bent on vengeance.
Rushing at Ken, she attempted to strike him down; only for Ken to deflect the blow and counter in kind hitting her across her left cheek "AHTA!" He cried out. "It's over...give up Seryu; you can't beat me," Ken warned.
Dropping to her knees, she struggles to regain her composure. Nursing her cheek, she looks up at Ken, enraged, "I'll never give in to evil, no matter how hopeless it is I will fight'! She screamed.
Rising to her feet, she assumed a defensive posture; ready to attack. Ken returned to his natural fighting stance, "Taking the lives of others to appease your broken heart and justify your twisted ideology leaves nothing but pain and misery in its wake; You can never achieve justice with such thinking." Ken stated.
"You feel better now? Did you get that all out of your system?" Seryu flippantly remarked.
Kenshiro stared down at the woman, "I pity you."
"I don't need your pity!" Seryu roared leaping at Ken. "Take this!" She screamed sailing towards Ken with a dive attack, her leg outstretched, coming down on him like a missile.
Ken leaned back as Seryu descended spinning around her to her side and shooting his fists out; cracking her in the face, "WAHTA!"
Seryu flinched as she stumbled back grabbing her nose, "I...I could not even read his attack..." She thought to herself.
"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to kill me," Hopping in place, Ken waited for her to attack.
"You...don't you toy with me!" Once more, the madwoman rushed towards Kenshiro; Swinging wildly at him. Throwing out punches, kicks, flurries. She tried dashing around him trying to get some advantage. It was as useless and foolish as a man picking a fight with a mountain.
She gasped heavily, nothing worked. "Damn you..." She threw one final punch towards Ken's head, he slapped it away and struck her in the gut. "GAHHHHH!" Seryu vomited as she reeled backward, falling on her ass. She struggled to catch her breath.
Ken towered over the worn-out woman, "A zealot like you could never defeat a martial art handed down over one thousand eight hundred years! Face it, Ubiquitous! Your justice rings hollow!"
"Heh...is that right?" Seryu smirked, spinning around towards Ken; she aims her sidearm at him point-blank range, finger on the trigger. "What a dense fool you are! Even at this range, you won't be able to avoid the shot in time!" She cackled as she stood back up.
"I don't need to."
"W..wha-," Without warning her arm turned on herself, the gun pointing at her square in the face. Her pupils shriveled as her thumb cocked the hammer, "EHHHHHHHHHHHHH?! What the hell?! I can't move my arm?!" Overwhelmed with panic, Seryu flailed her arm around. But no matter what she did, her arm followed the movements of her head.
"What the hell did you do to me you fiend?!" She demanded as she tried to crane her head away from her arm.
"I've struck a pressure point on your arm, and I would suggest that you do something drastic or you are about to have a rather...messy accident," Ken explained to the girl currently fighting her arm.
Seryu struggled in vain against her arm that had turned against her, looking around for something to prevent her face from getting perforated. Noticing a sword on the ground, she jumps for it, "Damn it, Damn it!" Gripping the weapon, without hesitation; she chops at her arm.
"AGH! GAH!" She awkwardly hacks at her appendage, her eyes crazed as she slices through tissue and bone. Blood splatters all around her as the arm falls just as the gun fires past her head.
Slumping in a pool of her blood, panting and heaving she grabs the bleeding stump where her arm once was. "You're only prolonging this," Kenshiro said, standing over her once more.
She did not reply, she had either gone into shock or was ignoring him. As Ken raised his fist skyward aiming to deal the finishing blow, Seryu's eyes darted towards Ken. The sound of metal shifting through flesh caught Ken's attention as a rifle appeared before him.
"THE WICKED SHALL BE PURGED!" Seryu screamed.
With a wicked grin, Seryu opened fire upon the man with seven scars. "She's modified!" Chelsea had only heard of rumors that the empire was altering their soldiers but nothing concrete, but now before her very eyes, the horrible truth was laid bare for all to see.
"RUN! RUN, YOU COWARD!" Seryu shrieked as she fired at Ken.
Going back on the defensive Ken dashed out of harm's way darting around, "Enough!" Ken roared. Rushing headfirst towards the volley of bullets, Ken spun around and delivered a vicious sweeping kick smashing into Seryu's jaw.
"GAHHHHHHHHHH!" Seryu cried as the blow sent her spiraling toward the ground with a terrible crash. "Ugh...It...gah...I can't Ugh..." Seryu struggled to get back to her feet only to succumb to her injuries and pass out, her eyes rolling back into her head.
The battlefield fell quiet. Only the rustling of leaves and the crackling of flames remained. As Chelsea and Taki left their cover rushing towards Ken. "He...he did it...He defeated a Bio Tegiu and its master...barehanded!" Chelsea thought to herself amazed that anyone was capable of such a feat.
"KEN! That was amazing!" Chelsea shouted as she ran towards Ken. As they approached, he turned towards them his once-imposing scowl replaced with a kinder smile, a loud crack rang out through the night sky as Ken lurched as if something struck him.
"Augh!" Ken grunted.
The world fell silent as the crushing blow of reality set back in. Chelsea confused frantically calls out to him, "K-Ken? KENSHIROOOOOO!" Her eyes widened as she saw Ken staggered back.
"hehe hehe heh," The sound of deranged laughter grows becoming louder by the second. "hehe hehe he HA HA HA HA!" Chelsea turned towards the direction of the mad cackling only to witness the cruel figure of Seryu Ubiquitous standing victorious.
The forest behind her consumed by the flames; the intensity was giving the appearance that the fires of hell threatened to overwhelm all. "JUSTICE IS SERVED!" She proclaims, a small-caliber pistol jutting out of her mouth.
"With your death, the light of justice rains down on all washing away...No...It can't be...that's impossible!" Seryu pupils shriveled astonished by what she was witnessing
Chelsea turned back to Ken, and he had not fallen over; In fact, he was standing as though nothing happened. "Unbelievable..." Was all Chelsea could say.
Between his two fingers, the bullet spun in place until it stopped, Ken's eyes dead focused on Seryu. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the shot back to Seryu.
"(Hokuto Nishi Shinku Ha)!" Ken stated. The bullet whizzed past Seryu's face. Her eyes went wide as she felt the bullet nicked her right cheek.
"What the hell?!" She yells as she looks back to see a bullet hole in the tree behind her. Grabbing her cheek, she turns her attention back to Ken. "You bastard... where did you go?" She shouts in confusion.
The man with seven scars had seemingly vanished, Seryu looked around the area. Desperately trying to gain control of the situation, passing a glance at Chelsea and Taki, only for them to appear as confused as she was.
Slowly she raised her gun, aiming it towards the forest, sweeping it around the area, her aim trembling. Her voice was fraught with dread. "I don't get it...you completely outclassed me, you killed one of the most powerful Teigus in existence. How did you slaughter all my men? How? Where are you? What are you?" She received no reply.
"Damn you...answer me...What are you-WHO ARE YOU!?" She screams into the night.
"Just a man."
"GAHHHH!" Seryu Jumps as she hears a voice behind her, only to turn to have Kenshiro facing her.
"aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-" Ken Drives his tumbs into Seryu's temples. "-OH WAHTAAA!" Seryu's eyes went wide as she stared up at the man towering over her.
"Simply a man with no destination." Ken calmly stated as he claimed victory. "Once I remove my thumbs, you will have three seconds until your body rips itself apart...use what little time you have left to reflect on those you murdered."
Beads of sweat formed on Seryu's forehead as her pupils contracted mortality gazing down at her, "Wait, please, You can't do this. I-I don't want to die here, not like this." Seryu pleaded.
"I'm sure Mika and the villagers said the same thing," Kenshiro replied coldly to the madwoman.
"B-but, they were all evil...I was only doing what was right, Father, I was only trying to do what was right; I'm sorry this evil man was too powerful." She sobbed.
"Defiant to the very end, I see...I have no sympathy towards delusional scum like you, die." Kenshiro said indifferently, removing his thumbs.
The village fell silent as Seryu gazed into the void of nothingness. She smirks one last time letting out a faint chuckle, "Hehe hehe hehe HA HA HA HA- GAHHHHH! UGHHHHHHH!" Her body contorts and twists as her skull splits open, and her body rips itself apart, only her maniacal laughter remained.
Ken turns back towards the gory pile that was once Seryu Ubiquitous, "Justice...is served."
Ken walks towards Chelsea and Taki, their ordeal now over. The night passes as the flames settle and only a smoldering husk remains.
"There...there were no other survivors," Chelsea said in a somber tone.
As Ken looks over what remains of the village; Chelsea strokes a slumbering Taki. The child is exhausted; she looks over to Ken. "This boy...he's an orphan now. No family, no home, nowhere to go. This is how the empire governs, This is the way of our land Kenshiro." She looks out towards the horizon.
"So, what are you going to do?" She asks.
"I will go wherever the north star guides me, there are others that will need my help," Ken states.
"What? You can't leave us here! You don't even know where you are, look, come with me. You have no idea where anything is, trust me. It's a week's walk to HQ." Chelsea pleaded with Ken.
"I still have a mission to complete, and maybe we can find out how you got here. So...for now partners?" Chelsea raised her hand towards Ken.
Ken glanced at the headphone-adorned girl with auburn hair extending her hand towards him. "...Understood." He said
"Good to know...partner," Chelsea said.
The two gazed into the distance as the sun rose, the clouds parted as daylight expelled the dark from the land. Life took hold once more as the eternal cycle continued. As the pair looked on into the deep blue sky, so far and away.