The Coward's Paradise

~As a result of the chaos that ensued, the conventional world government system fell, and from the debris rose a new order. Special units composed of ability users were established in the surviving countries, as well as a joint and unified international Unit known as The Zenith~

YEAR: 2161

LOCATION: UNKNOWN

Tension filled the air, as both man and beast kept looking at each other, none taking any steps, making any moves, and taking any chances. This was the perfect time for Tenny to think.

His mind had suddenly become clearer, and he had a definite grasp on the distance between himself and the monster. Not only that, but he could also somewhat feel the movements that occurred in his vicinity. What surprised him the most were his senses. He still couldn't see well, but somehow he knew where everything was... their exact location! Since he had dropped off his glasses a while back, he couldn't see too well, and due to the darkness, there was not much of a difference. However, this time was different. That was not the only thing that had changed.

At the moment of truth, Tenny had awakened his latent special ability, which allowed him to teleport 20 meters away from the monster when it attacked. This assured him of safety from the enemy's attack. However, it was not enough. Since he had just recently awakened he knew next to nothing about his ability and how it worked. For one, his teleportation sent him to a random area and he had not figured out how to use it intentionally. Furthermore, though his senses were sharper than ever, it weighed heavily on his mind and was causing him mental exhaustion.

His wounds had closed and the pain was numbed, however, he was not sure how long it would last. His busy was using its last ounce of energy and so he could not afford to drag out the battle. He would go for a decisive and quick battle.

"Ok, battle plan formulated," He said to himself with a half-smile.

"Let's go!"

He ran toward the monster, who was clearly stunned by his quick and surprising sprint. The beast then roared and ran toward him as well.

As he reached striking distance, it stretched its long hands, aiming for his head, to pierce him with his sharp claws. Inches away from Tenny's eyes, Tenny could only see a blurry, dark, and shadowy image of the grotesque sight, but he had already sensed the monster's movements. His eyes closed in automatic reaction to the attack and he once again gained some distance from the enemy, however, it was just 2 meters, and he appeared right behind it.

He leaped forward and with all his might gave a heavy punch aimed for the monster's head. In response to him, the monster turned to face him, and his fists connected with its eye. The soft sensation that Tenny felt on his hands as it landed on the monster's greatest advantage gave Tenny a satisfying feeling. The creature screamed in pain as it lunged to attack Tenny, but he teleported 20 meters from it totally unharmed.

"Just as planned," He said smiling.

He had decided that, while dragging out the fight was to his disadvantage, as the monster had more energy and physical prowess than he did, he needed to learn more about how his ability worked. He then made his decision. He would use what he knew, as well as test his hypothesis on the beast, while also immobilizing it at the same time.

The monster did not seem to have ears, neither did its nose look out of the ordinary, so its eye must be its major sensory organ. It was also always open and it glowed, which meant the creature most likely had night vision and freakish seeing perception. In order to win, he had to take out the eye first! He had also decided to test his hypothesis of whether he could teleport a specific distance away or toward his enemy, and that proved to be a success as well, killing two birds with a stone.

The monster kept screeching as its hands covered the already damaged eye. The eyeball was soft, and so it must have been a very sensitive area for it. It probably wouldn't function properly in a while. He was wrong.

Steam began emitting from the monster's eye as the eyeball began to regenerate, and in a few seconds, the eye was back, good as new.

"Damn, how could I forget?" He chided himself.

Monsters had exceptional regenerative traits, some more than others. This one was one of the lesser ones, but still... his regeneration was fast. That meant he did not deal sufficient damage to it. If only he had a weapon, but he had gone past the point of wishing. He had to stick to his resolve, any lapse in judgment, any hesitation and he would be dead. He started moving once again as he could not stay in one spot too long or he might collapse from exhaustion as his body was nearing its limits!

"I should finish this with this last move." He concluded within himself.

The monster's eyes suddenly started glowing and as though he had a premonition, he knew it spelled bad news.

"Laser beam!" He said in a panic.

He barely dodged the fine energy blast that surged through the one eye of the vile creature. The blast lasted for 5 seconds before dissipating, as the monster's eyes kept following him, and so did the surge of energy.

After it dissipated the monster grunted as it heaved a sigh of exhaustion.

"It must be exhausted from using that attack. Not only that but it has also used regeneration, which utilizes a great deal of energy and has also been chasing me non-stop for hours. It must also be tired, though I assume in a battle of attrition, it would still outlast me." Tenny said to himself

Tenny took his chance while it was still recovering as he dashed towards it. Due to him evading the eye blast from the monster, he had created even more distance between himself and the monster, which meant he had more ground to cover. He had exactly 37 meters and 2 inches distance from it, and he needed to quickly attack it before it recovered from its exhaustion. If only he could... Wait, could he? He decided to test that theory as he ran toward the crouching figure before him. It was a risk he was willing to take.

As he was charging toward it, he imagined himself exactly in front of the monster and tested his theory. If his theory was correct, he would appear right in front of it, just as he could escape from it. It was a bit far-fetched, but that was his best shot, he could only hope for it to work! It did not work. He was still more than 33 meters from the creature, which was already gaining its strength and rising from its leaning posture.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" He cursed as he kept moving.

"Snap" He heard his bones sound as he came tumbling down.

Due to his momentum, he crashed on the hard rough ground, sustaining bruises on his body. He could not move. He had reached his limit! His body began aching him and unimaginable pain surged through his body but he was too tired to scream. His wounds started reminding him of its presence and all the different sensations permeating through his body made even being conscious unbearable. He had to stand. He would not die here... But his body refused to yield to his resolve as he watched the beast slowly approach him. He was helpless and powerless.

"Even after I awakened... and unlocked such a sweet ability, I still couldn't beat it. I'm pathetic!" He thought to himself.

He however gave himself a pat on the back. At least he fought until the end.

"But it's not the end... Is it?" The question flashed through his mind. No, it wasn't... it was not over until he was dead.

"Even if I'm a pathetic loser, I'm not going to die surrendering! I won't be such a docile meal! You hear me you ugly face! Disgusting cyclops... or whatever the hell you are! I'll kill you even if I die!"

He kept shouting at the monster as it kept advancing, ignoring his taunts. Tenny stopped making sense altogether as he kept saying unrealistic things as though he would not die in a few moments.

"I'll save the world! I'll be president! I won't die!" He kept saying, and before he knew it, his inevitable end was right in front of him.

He looked at death, staring face-to-face with it, and he blinked. He closed his eyes as the monster's mouth drew near to finally devour its troublesome dinner. Tenny wished the monster would disappear! Even with his eyes closed, he could tell the monster was right on top of him, as his body lay on the floor, unable to move an inch. He could feel its movement, as its hands stretched for his already worn out and damaged body.

"Don't touch me!" Tenny screeched as he opened his eyes defiantly to the beast and found its hand which he had stretched forth already gone.

As though it had been sliced clean through. Its entire hand... gone! In a literal blink of an eye. Purple fluid splattered out of the gaping hole created in his shoulder as the monster cried out. The monster in pain and impatience stretched its other hand, going for the kill when Tenny shut his eyes and whispered to himself

"Just disappear."

He did not sense the monster anymore. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but the strange blood of the monster splattered on the floor and its flesh scattered like chunks of meat on the ground. He recognized its eyeball as it stood among the pile of disgusting monster guts.

"What the hell just happened?" Tenny asked himself, puzzled

Did he just defeat the monster? But how?

"You seem confused!" He heard a voice echo through the darkness.

Tenny was startled. Was there someone else here besides him? The strange figure walked toward him, the sounds of the footsteps were ringing heavily in his ear. Just who.... could it be? And when the mysterious character got close enough, Tenny could clearly tell who it was.

"Why don't I explain to you what just happened" Michael spoke, with a smile on his face, as Tenny was still trying to process what and how to feel about it.

"Y...ou... W...why are..." Tenny stuttered.

Michael shrugged, giving Tenny an amused grin, mixed with a form of pride and elation.

Was he happy that Tenny had survived?

"Now, now... you're confused. I understand. Let me explain to you... What just happened, and what it means. Where do I start?"

TO BE CONTINUED...