Death Gun

"Ughhh.." Petra struggled to pull herself off the ground.

"What a shame!" Death Gun mocked Julia. "Your WAY isn't just useless, but also miserable to everybody who knows you! If only I'd just known that from the beginning, hehehehe!"

"Stop... hurting.. them—" chocked Julia managed to utter.

"Let my daughter go, please!" Mr. Park begged. "I'll do anything you want, even take my own life— So I beg of you.."

"Oh, please! That's enough, let her go!" Cristina fell to her knees and cried helplessly while watching her friend still being dangled by Death Gun. "Somebody.. please..."

"Generate Luminous Element • Sphere Shape • Burst!" Eugene's voice echoed.

At that desperate moment, a ball of pure white light dashed towards the field, and exploded. The entire area was filled with blinding bright light.

"Uh?!"

"Whaa?!"

"The hell?!"

"Wait a minute!" Death Gun felt someone was quickly coming at him. The footsteps were very fast and forward.

[Sonic Leap]!!, Jaden swiftly attacked Death Gun.

~Clank!

A spark erupted out of the collision of Jaden's blade and Death Gun's gun. The impact was strong enough to force Death Gun to let go of Julia, and leap away. But when he was in mid-air, Eugene jumped and immediately caught him off guard.

"Fuck!..." he muttered.

"[Arial Swift]!" Eugene slashed him with his sword.

~Slash!

"Auahhh!" Death Gun fell down to the ground.

When the effect of Eugene's Art faded, Death Gun slowly got up, holding the cut he acquired as he was confronted by the two boys.

"O'hoo.." he panted.

"Give it up, Death Gun!" Jaden readied his blade.

"Your mind games end here." Eugene held his sword forward. "We know who you are!"

"Yes, Mr. Spensen's last testimony explained everything." said Jaden as he explained everything saw the Mail-Man said in the video.

Jaden told the story to everyone on the battleground. Eighteen years ago, there was a team of explorers who used to venture the realm, discovering new dungeon grounds and nifty treasures. The team was formed by five members. Mayor. Jaros, Mr. Je-Yong, Theodore Dolph, and Mrs. Jessica Park, and Mr. Peter Park. The latter was originally a Southern. And by the rules at that time, in order to become a true explorer and get a permit to travel wherever possible, the person has to be from the Northside.

"..Peter was a very ambitious, and greedy young man at the time.." said Mr. Spensen in video. "..He was ready to go to extreme length to achieve his desires. But that took him to a very sinful path.."

Mr. Spensen mentioned that at one of their infamous expedition to some dungeon in the levels near the barrier, Mr. Park found a round crystal ball with strange aura dubbed an artifact, a thing that doesn't belong in this planetoid. But because of his position as a mere assistant explorer to Mr. Je-Yong, Mr. Park used the influence of the Vatos family. He gave them the artifact to the Vatos in exchange for re-newing his identity.

"Exploring near the edge of the realm had always been his lifelong dream. So, Peter ended up allying with multiple people. By the end of the year, Peter was a whole new person. As if he was reborn anew as a Northern, but not without a heavy cost.." said Mr. Spensen.

When he was still an assistant, Mr. Park was married to a women from the Southside named Anita, and they had a child.

"This is a very sensitive subject.." Mr. Spensen hesitated. "But back when I was still a 'Mail-Man', I used to wake up crazy early. And one of them days, I witnessed Peter on a boat, near the walls of Petitos Dungeon with his wife and nearly 2 year old boy. It was nothing like a nice family trip! I watched the whole thing. I even RECORDED IT, so nobody could tell me one day that I was under Anthem influence!"

Mr. Spensen displayed the video of Mr. Park shooting both his wife and son in the leg, and he even tried chocking his son. He then dropped both of them in the <<Clear-water River>>, and reported that they drowned during that trip.

"It was horrific, and the sad part was that nobody would believe me. I'm just a con man from the Southside! Plus, my boss was aiding him in this crime! He even verbally threatened me in couple of occasions.."

He also explained that the after becoming a mayor, Jaros granted Peter a new identifications, and he was promoted to a legitimate explorer after marrying his partner Jessica.

"After I cut my ties with my old boss, Mr. Dolph, I heard rumors about Peter adopting some strange child he found after exploring near the edge of the realm. But how come that wasn't called an 'artifact'? I have no clue.."

Lastly, Mr. Spensen mentioned how Jessica changed after marrying Peter. He wondered how a bright and awfully talented— well-rounded person ended up crossing the threshold, and becoming an Anthem dependent.

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"This town does truely look sweet and innocent.." Jaden lastly added. "But nothing is really what it seems.."

"How could this be?.." Sheriff. Scott was shocked. "I've been a Sheriff for 22 years! This town kept it's share of crimes below murder!"

"DON'T LISTEN TO THEM, SCOTT! THEY'RE LIARS!" Mr. Park shouted. "I'D NEVER DO SUCH HORRIBL THINGS! YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL!"

"We have all the evidents that supports all of this," Jaden took out a small photo of the Mr. Park chocking his two years old son on a boat. "But this should put you in perspective."

The photo made the Sheriff speechless. Jaden even noticed Mr. Park retracted on the ground as though he was completely naked and exposed.

"I was really hoping that I'd turned out mistaking.." Jaden told him. "But I'll make sure you get what you deserve later."

"But that means—" Aksel tried to say.

"That Death Gun is that same boy that was presumed dead 18 years ago.." Jaden finished.

"The legitimate son of Peter Park," Eugene looked at Death Gun. "ISSAC PARK!"

"Huh?!" Mr. Park gasped on the ground.

"That was his name! That's true...!" Mayor. Jaros covered her mouth in dread.

"Hehehe, how long has it been since I abandoned that name.." Death Gun said.

"You killed all of these people only to get revenge!" Aksel raised his voice. "You wanted to destroy Maplewood— the entire town?"

"Why didn't you just kill you damn father?!" Petra asked.

"That man tortured me; even after I survived.. He left me in pain for all these years.." Death Gun uttered.

"So what? You're going to torture him by killing innocent people? By hurting Julia?!" Eugene argued. "She's a victim just like you!"

"I don't expect you to understand!" Death Gun replied. "But none of that matters anymore.. None of it is real after all— it's just computer made.."

"Huh?!" Both Jaden and Eugene's eyes widened as they looked at each other.

"But, how...?" Eugene muttered.

Jaden quickly looked back at Death Gun.

My UI didn't detect anything!, he thought. There's no Username slot anywhere—

— But how?

"All that matters now is this.." Death Gun raised his hand that was holding the artifact. "This glitch is the REAL TRUE thing!"

"Mado, is he—" Eugene said.

"I dunno.." Jaden replied.

"But something inside of me still feels blue, you know?" Death Gun said. "That's why this show— MUST GO ON!"

Death Gun grabbed the artifact tightly, and readied his gun. And in an instant, he Jumped off and dashed towards the two boys.

"MAJD!" Jaden yelled as he charged to face him.

"Ready!" Eugene leaped against Death Gun.

Jaden and Death Gun started exchanging blows. Jaden's Engineblade let out sparks everytime it clashed with Issac's gun.

"Hehehehehehe!"

~Slash! ~Slash!

~CLANK!

~Slash! ~Clank!

"Haaa!" Eugene slashed his sword multiple time at him, but Death Gun blocked them all. Jaden then found a chance to strike a blow.

— NOW!, his blade glowed pink. "[Sharp Nail]!" he uttered.

Jaden's blade pointed towards Death Gun's as it dashed through air, but the latter vanished in a portal.

Crap!, Jaden cursed in his head.

Death Gun was at their rear by this point. But he didn't attack them. He had a different target. Jaden turned over trying to stop him.

"Majd, he's going after Julia!" Jaden said in fear. There was no way for him to catch up to Issac's pace.

As he pushed his body towards Death Gun, Jaden leaped off, so he can grab him, but he missed as his stretched hands hung in mid-air

"Gotcha!" Eugene successfully grabbed him, and restrained him on the ground in a fraction of a second.

But to Majd's surprise, Death Gun opened a portal on the floor, and his gunned arm was fully inserted inside.

"What?!.." Eugene muttered.

The second portal open right in front of Julia's face with the gun aiming straight on her forehead.

No, Safi's in danger! I can't make the same mistake again, like I did with Majd.. I'm just always useless when needed the most, Jaden kept running towards her with desperately full speed. He's too fast! At this rate—

— I won't make it!

"Huh?!" Julia faced the ready to fire gun.

"NO, DON'T DO IT, PLEASE!!" Mr. Park screamed from the top of his lungs.

"Noooo!" Eugene cried.

"JULIA!!" Cristina cried out.

~BANG!

It was like time stood still for a couple of seconds. The girl with ginger hair and freckles had blood sheds on her face.

"No..!" Jaden fell to his knees.

But that blood wasn't coming from her. That gunshot ended up in the K-pop star look alike, Kym. He jumped in front of Julia in the last moment. Sparing her life in exchange of his own. Julia's body remained frozen as she witnessed her boyfriend's body slowly collapsing below her visual field.

"Kym...!" she muttered.

Eugene grabbed Death Gun, and rolled his hand out of the portal.

"Hehehehe!" Death Gun tried to set him free out of Eugene grip.

"You can't stop me no matter how hard you try!"

~Drop!

"Why...?" Julia embraced his body as he was bleeding through his chest. "Why did you do this..?"

"I can't..lose.. you too.." Kym managed to say through his heavy breathing.

"What about me..?" Julia's eyes were flooding with tears. "I can't bear to lose you.."

Kym used the last bit of strength he still had, and raised his hand to wipe her tears.

"I'm sorry—" he coughed. "Our plans were different from this.. they didn't include any crying—"

"Shhh, stop talking, we'll get you out of here, and you'll be okay—" Julia said through the tears.

"No, it's okay— it's totally okay.." Kym smiled as his chest were rising and collapsing vigorously. "It's actually feels right.. die in the arms of my first love.."

"Kym, please! Don't say silly things like that! I can't handle.... things like that!" Julia held Kym's body tightly as it he was slowly fragmenting and fading.

"Kim please, don't go!" Julia cried softly. "Please don't leave me.."

"My.. one and only love..my one true love.." Kym closed his eyes gently as his hand dropped down. "I'm.. glad.."

The last portion of Kym's body vaporized and disappeared from between Julia's arms. Jaden and the others on the battleground witnessed as small neon green clusters flew upwards and vanished.

"Why...Kym?.." Julia mumbled. "Now, I'm all alone.."

A tar-black stream flowed down from Julia's eyes. Her eye's white sclera turned complete black.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhh!!" her projected an unusual vibrating cry.

Safi, Jaden got up on his feet, and walked towards her. She's in a shock for sure, but I can't stand here and just watch..

But as soon as he reduced the distance between them by few meters, Jaden felt something strange.

Huh?! Where's this aura coming from?, he stood in dread.

Julia wrapped herself in her arms, and few moments later, a monstrous cry was heard all through Maplewood.

"What's this sound?" Aksel gazed at Julia. "Is it coming from her?!"

The crying sound had gradually become louder and more resonant. Everyone on Main Street felt the ground shaking beneath their feet.

"UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Death Gun seized the opportunity and freed himself from Eugene's hold. He twisted his torso, and grabbed the gloden-brown haired boy before flipping him to the ground.

"That was fast!" Eugene muttered.

"Now this— should be interesting!" he said as he picked up his gun.

But as soon as he did, Rex attacked him with a metallic pipe.

~CLANK!

"Oh ,you thought we'd lose sight of you?!" Rex smiled viciously as they clashed.

"What's going on..?" Jaden mumbled as a black stream of energy field started rising from within Julia's body. The devastated girl sat on her knees as her head faced the sky once the unknown dark stream blew upwards, and enveloped her entirely.

~SHUNN!

— That doesn't look like something Mana could create, Jaden's body shivered in place.

"What the fuck is that?!" Petra slowly went back on her feet while her body was shaking on the inside.

This— feels like a bad omen, she thought to herself.

Both Sheriff. Scott and Mr. Park were in a shock.

"Julia.." Mr. Park dropped his jaw. "What— what is happening?.."

The stream of dark energy got even more overwhelming and ground shaking. Death Gun watched as the vertical stream was being concentrated in the middle, and started taking a sphere shape.

"I've never seen anything like that before! Haha!" Death Gun turned facing his father, and glared in suspicion. "What exactly did you bring from the shores of darkness, you old man?"

The following moment, the dark giant sphere took a different shape. It grew a massive, muscular, humanoid monster with black skin. Its legs are rather short and its feet are very thin and curled upward. It has a V-shaped upper body, long arms with dark claws, and a devilish mouth-less face. Its head is covered in dozens of twisted black tentacles. Only its small, glowing yellow eyes were visible.

"GUAAAAHHHH!!!" the massive monster roared.

"Wh—what's that..?!" one of Rex's lackeys was shaking out of terror.

The gigantic black monster scooped up an orb of darkness it created, which splits into many smaller orbs that rain from the sky.

"Everybody, GET DOWN!!" one of the Red Circle members said.

~BOOOOM!!

The falling meteor-like objects fell randomly on anything on the ground. Most of the buildings around the area were damaged by the impact.

"Those who can stand, follow me!" said one of the still intact soldiers. "SHOOT THAT GIANT MONSTER!"

~Tatatataataa!

"OPEN FIRE!!" the rest of the soldiers shot at the dark monster.

Due to being irritated for shooting at him, the gigantic monster swang it's firm large arm sideways. Most of the troops were tossed farther away, and were heavily injured.

"GUAAAAH!"

Jaden, who's body was still stiff from the shock and confusion, couldn't bear seeing his friend Safi turn into such furious beast.

I might not understand what is actually happening, he thought. But I know that Safi is in there. I gotta move before it's too late to say sorry!

After taking a deep breath, Jaden tightened the grip on his Engineblade, and began running towards the black ferocious monster. His teeth were grinding as his steps were quick. All that he could see was the large monster that was wrecking havoc all around it.

"Oh, hello!"

"Damn!" Jaden jumped out.

Death Gun showed up before him, interrupting his way.

"Care to dance with me?" he shot Jaden from multiple floating portals.

~Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

~Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Jaden successfully blocked all of his shots with his blade.

"Incoming!" Death Gun abruptly dashed against Jaden.

~CLANK!

Both of their weapon collided several times as Issac kept himself at a short distant from Jaden. Then, the latter swang the Engineblade horizontally, and pushed Death Gun to back off.

"Hehehehe!" he hysterically laughed.

"I don't have much time.." Jaden mumbled.

"What a bummer!" Issac put his hand inside a small portal near his shoulder. "Because I like you already!"

Multiple portals showed up surrounding Jaden at the same time.

Not good, Jaden panicked. At this rate, I won't be able to reach Safi!

"Haaaa!"

~Slash!

~Whack!

"How did you?!" Issac fell out of balance when Eugene suddenly attacked from behind.

The portals that were around Jaden faded away.

"Mado, you go and save Safi." Eugene said. "I'll take care of him."

Jaden hesitated before nodding in agreement, and continued running towards the monster.

"You can't just leave—" Issac tried shooting at Jaden, but Eugene blocked the bullet with his sword.

"Oh no, you won't!" he readied his weapon with a sharp look on his face. "I'm your opponent!"

"Dooooaaaah!" the gigantic black monster smacked the soldiers and fighting civilians from both North and South sides. Rex took Kym's shocker-stick, and used it to stop it's assault.

"TAKE THIS!!" he yelled.

~BLOCK! ~Shutter!

Rex satisfactorily, managed to subdue the attack. "Hey, Petra, can't ya stand?!" he asked.

"I guess.." she gradually stood back on her feet.

"Huh?!" Petra noticed the monster was about to punch Rex down. "REX!" she shouted.

~SLASH!

Jaden delivered a hit to the monster's hands with his blade. The injured beast retracted and lost his balance. Jaden pushed his foot against the ground, shifting his weight before jumping off to attack.

Now!, Jaden's blade glowed pink. [Arial Swift]!!

~SLASH!

Jaden's slash had scratched through the black monster's head. The cut jerked the beast's body with both it's arms attempting to counter.

"Not yet!" Jaden twisted his body in mid-air, and pointed his sword forward. "[SHARP NAIL]!!" he pushed against the monster's double fists with the Engineblade roaring from the collision.

~SMACK! VOHOUM!

~DUMP! WIND BLOW!

"That's amazing..!" Aksel mumbled in awe.

"What kind of power is this?!" Petra's jaw was dropped.

"Giiiiaaaaaah!" Jaden pushed harder on his Engineblade, and he successfully threw both gigantic arms sideways, exposing the monster's chest wide open.

"NOT DONE YET!" Jaden grabbed his weapon as it was floating before his eyes due to the last attack.

Now is the time, UI!, Jaden's blade glowed yellow. I need a powerful skill!

"[X-ROUNDER]!!" he yelled.

Jaden delivered countless slashes in both 8- figure and X- shaped, and finally ending it with the a triangular triple swing.

~SLASH! SLICE!

~DICE!

"HAAAAA!" he yelled as this new skill made his body move in a crazily paced speed— undetectable by human sight.

And in a one forth of a second, with a blurred motioned swings, the giant monster endured severe damages, and large parts of its dark chest shattered and sprayed in thin air.

~SPLATTER!

"GUIAHDADADAH!" the monster was near collapsing.

As he was still in mid-air, Jaden found an opening while falling back to the ground.

That's my chance!, he held on his crimson pendant. "[ORACLE DRIVE]!!" he yelled.

A red magical sigil gradually grew out on the ground below as Jaden dashed down, and fell onto the black beast.

Huh!, Jaden noticed the splattered parts of the monster were being absorbed back to the whole. Is it reviving itself?! This isn't good, I'm being sucked in!

"Duhh!!" he cried as he disappeared within the gigantic monster.

"GUWAAAAAH!!" it roared.

"Uh—" Petra gasped.

"No freakin' way!" Aksel punched the ground out of frustration.

"You two," Rex stood before them. "That kid gave that giant piece of shit his all. Now, it's our turn to make sure it won't go to waste!"

Petra materialized two light-knives in her hands. "Yeah, it's up to us to protect our home.." she readied her weapons to fight.

"Yeah," Aksel stepped forward. "We can't just stand like this and watch some strangers take spotlight!"

The black large monster got back to it's destructive behavior as it swang its arms while releasing explosive rocks down on everyone on Main Street.

~KABOOM!

~CRUMBLE! SHATTER!

"Oh, no.." Eugene saw the monster got up and started shooting things again. "JADEN!"

"Your friend apparently accepted his fate and perished.." Death Gun started shooting at Eugene through various portals. "You must do THE SAME!"

~BANG! BANG! BANG!

~CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

Eugene was able to nullify his attack, but Issac continued regardless. His assaults were shifting between melee, and long ranged gunshots. Eugene got close enough, and delivered a critical hit to Issac's shoulder using [Sonic Leap].

"Now, you really got me mad!" Issac jumped from one portal to another, confusing Eugene.

Shit!, he thought as his attack missed. His speed increased.

Before he knew it, Eugene was utterly circled by Death Gun's shooting portals. He was able to dodge a handful of hits, but some of the bullets found their way into his legs.

"Ugh!" he fell down on his face trying to grab some air into his lungs.

Issac, one the other hand, landed on his feet few meters away from Eugene. "So what now, huh?!" he laughed. "Don't call it off after you got me invested like that!"

Lying on the ground in agony, Eugene tried getting himself up, but the pain took the best of him.

"Ahhh! It hurts!" he cried.

"Boy, drop it! This is a damn savage criminal!" Sheriff. Scott who was also immobile on the ground said.

"That's enough!" Mr. Park told Issac. "You wanted to torture me, right? So I'm all yours! Just don't hurt any more innocent people!"

"Hehehehe!" Death Gun laughed. "Didn't expect that one coming from you!"

He then plunged his hand in a small portal and a large number of floating portals surrounded Eugene on one hand, and formed an aisle leading straight to him. "See, now you have a choice!" he said. "You can come at me, or you can stay still. Although, all roads ends the same— Swiss cheese, hehehehe!"

There's no way out of it, Eugene thought in fear. Mado isn't here to back me up, and no one around me is able to stand. Maybe this is it..

"What is it gonna be?" Issac's portals were ready to fire. "Or you want me to choose?..."

This guy won't stop, Eugene gazed at him. He gone through all of this, even though he knows none of this is real. But I understand him— yes, I do.. Even if all of us were merely fake. Even if the entire universe is one big joke, our feelings— they're real. Issac's feelings are real—

——— But so are mine..

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"..Come on, Eugene! We'd never know if we didn't surpass our limit.."

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Eugene cracked a slight smile as that distant memory from his childhood resurfaced. "System Call • Generate Arial Element • Feet • Adhere!"

A wave of wind twisted, and twirled around Eugene's injured legs, and lifted him up in ease.

I also got what it won't make me stop!, he hovered few centimeters above the ground with both of his legs supported.

"Humph, that's a bad choice!" Death Gun prepared all the portals to shoot.

Eugene pointed his sword forward, "We'll see about that!"

The blade of the Blue Rose started glowing red as Eugene glided forward towards Death Gun. "[SHARP NAIL]!!"

"BEGONE!!" Issac shouted as all the portal started shooting while Eugene dashed against him regardless.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!" he yelled while charging forward.

—— Mado...

"Huh?!" he abruptly opened his eyes in a dark place.

He was almost positive that his eyes were wide open, but he saw nothing. With that moment of dread that he might have lost his vision, Jaden put his hands before his laid down face.

"Phew.." he sighed in relief as he was able to see his hands clearly.

"Wait a minute!" he got his back off the ground. "I got sucked inside that huge monster!"

Jaden kept touching most of his body. He checked that all his limbs and body parts were intact. "Heeh, at least I'm all in one piece.."

Afterwards, Jaden tried to look around him. But no matter in what direction he rotated his head, it was all pitch black. But he also noticed a number of white doors that looked as if they were floating in the dark.

What sort of place is this?, he wondered. UI, show up!

"Huh?! It didn't.." he mumbled. "A Mana restricted zone, I think.."

But when his eyes gazed forward, Jaden noticed something unexpected that made his eyes widen.

"Huh, is that—?!" he stuttered before getting up and walking towards it.

That scarf, those glasses, those body proportions!, he told himself. Even if she's looking the other way, I still can recognize her..

"Safi..!" he said out loud. "Safi, can you here me?"

The girl he was approaching jerked a little. Jaden noted that he was heard. So, he kept on walking straight towards her.

"It's me, Mado!" he said. "I know you might be confused by—"

~SHUNCK!

WHAT THE HECK?!, Jaden avoided a highly sharp black large thorn grew suddenly from beneath his feet as though it wanted to hurt him.

"What?!" he spotted another thorn coming at him from above, but he stepped away in the last second.

"…Mado?!…" a strange voice echoed. "You said: you're name is Mado!?"

"Who's that?!" Jaden realized that his Engineblade wasn't with him.

He then witnessed as the two thorns regressed, and instead, a tuft of tar-black roots grew up from four different directions. They gathered and spindled in the center, cuting the way between Mado and his motionless friend.

"This stench.." Jaden slightly covered his nose.

The converging part in the center twirled upon itself, and started to form structure built from braids. Two tall legs emerged out along with two arms that were wider towards the wrists and palms. The torso was very short and thin with a short neck, and a conical shaped head with tentacles directed upwards. The new creature that stood before Jaden was pitch black just like the surroundings. It had no facial features. But as it settled on the ground, a single yellow ring-shaped eye emerged out.

"…If that's true, and you're actually Mado," the voice was apparently coming from this newly formed creature. "Then, we're going to have lots of fun!"

After hearing what it said, Jaden's eyes narrowed. "After all this time living as a hunter, I've never heard you guys talk!" he said. "Maybe I still got loads of things to learn!"

Jaden clenched his fists, "But no matter what shape or attribute you take, you still smell the same." Jaden then stepped forward.

"Prepare yourself for endless pain!" the black creature transformed its hand into a blade.

"Tsk! Since you understand, I'm gonna say this once." Jaden's tone became dry and offending. "Release my friend from your clutches, or you'll meet your end—"

"— you demon!"