the search for truth part 3

Having left the coffee shop, Rylan rubbed his cheek slowly, feeling the sting from the slap. "Jeez, what's her problem?" he muttered under his breath.

He made his way to the underground staircase, each step echoing with a mixture of frustration and determination. Descending into the subway, he navigated through the throng of commuters, some hurrying to their destinations, others idly waiting for the next train. Rylan found an empty seat on a waiting bench and sat down, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of the strange sensations coursing through his body.

The subway buzzed with life, the hum of conversations blending with the distant rumble of approaching trains. Rylan glanced around, his emerald green eyes scanning the crowd but seeing nothing that could distract him from his internal turmoil. His body felt different, charged with an intense energy that he couldn't explain. He needed answers, and he knew the dungeon might have some.

He picked up his phone, hesitating for a moment before calling Nana.

Ring... Ring...

But she didn't pick up.

"Still angry, huh," he muttered, feeling a twinge of guilt. maybe the thing at the coffee shop was clearly still bothering her.

Finally, a train arrived, and he boarded, finding a seat near the window. As the train zoomed off, he watched the cityscape blur by.

Suddenly, something moving with incredible speed darted along the walls of the train tunnel. Rylan's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of a figure clad in green samurai clothing, wielding a giant scythe. The figure leaped from the wall, executing agile flips as it hurtled toward him.

In an instant, the window glass shattered with a deafening crash.

"Die!" the figure shouted, its voice filled with cold malice.

Instinctively, Rylan threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly swing of the scythe aimed at his head. The passengers around him screamed, ducking for cover as the train car erupted into chaos.

Heart pounding, Rylan scrambled to his feet, trying to get a better look at his attacker. The figure was already preparing for another strike, eyes burning with lethal intent.

With no time to waste, Rylan swiped his fingers in the air and said, "Status." A holographic image appeared before him, but to his dismay, it was completely blank.

"Tsk... damn it, damn it! Work, damn you!" he cursed, frustration boiling over. His usual means of checking his stats and abilities had failed him at a critical moment.

Heart racing, he scanned his surroundings, anticipating the next attack. The figure in green seemed to vanish, blending with the shadows and the chaos of the moving train. Rylan's senses were on high alert, every muscle tense as he tried to predict where the assailant would strike next.

Passengers continued to scream and scramble for safety, adding to the pandemonium. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Rylan caught a glimpse of the green-clad figure reappearing from above, the giant scythe arcing down towards him.

Reacting on pure instinct, Rylan rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the deadly blade. He felt the rush of air as it passed dangerously close, shattering the seat where he had been moments before. The attacker landed with feline grace, eyes locked onto Rylan with murderous intent.

"You dodged? You're the first to dodge my initial attack. Perhaps I'm not surprised, you human who has sided with the Hollows. The likes of you deserve to die a miserable death. Don't worry, I'll cure those you've infected and deliver the justice humanity deserves."

A terrified man nearby stuttered, "Hey, it's the Elite Squad Zero. What are they doing here? Is there a monster close by?"

The green-clad figure turned towards the passengers, voice ringing with authority. "Listen, you fools! This human has betrayed humanity by siding with the monsters!"

Rylan's mind raced. The Elite Squad Zero were known for their unparalleled skills and unwavering dedication to protecting humanity. The fact that one of them was attacking him meant that something had gone horribly wrong.

"I'm not a traitor!" Rylan shouted, gripping the metal pole tighter. "You've got it all wrong!"

The Elite Squad member sneered. "Lies! Only death can atone for your treachery."

Rylan knew he couldn't reason with someone convinced of his guilt. He had to survive and find a way to prove his innocence.

"Listen to me!" Rylan shouted, trying to reason with his attacker.

"I am the Reaper, and I make the calls here," the figure responded with a serious tone, positioning his scythe menacingly. "So listen to me and die."

The Reaper shifted into a stance, raising his scythe as a dark aura enveloped him. "Death Haven! Falling Skulls!" he intoned, and suddenly, the environment transformed. The train car dissolved into a hellish domain filled with the skulls of humans and monsters, an eerie landscape of death and despair.

Rylan's heart pounded as he found himself standing amidst the macabre scenery. The air was thick with a suffocating darkness, and the ground beneath him felt unstable, as if the very world was bending to the Reaper's will. Skulls began to rain from the sky, crashing down with bone-chilling force.

Desperation fueled Rylan's movements as he dodged the falling skulls, his instincts on high alert. The Reaper moved with unnerving speed, his scythe slicing through the air with lethal precision.

Like a flash the reaper vanished.

"He vanished. Where's he?" Rylan thought, frantically scanning the eerie landscape. Suddenly, the Reaper reappeared, his scythe high in the air, poised for a lethal strike. With blinding speed, he landed a clean slash on Rylan's neck.

Just as quickly, the hellish domain vanished, and they were back in the train. The Reaper's expression shifted from triumphant to shock.

"Huh?" the Reaper muttered in disbelief.

Rylan's neck revealed a mouth holding the scythe blade tightly between its teeth.

A scary smirk appeared from the mouth on Rylan's neck, and two eyes materialized beneath his own. His emerald eyes glittered with an unnatural light, as if he were possessed. A surge of dark energy pulsated from him, sending chills down the spines of everyone nearby.

Passengers on the train, witnessing Rylan's sudden transformation, screamed in terror. "Monster!!!" they shouted, scrambling to escape as the train screeched to a halt. In the ensuing chaos, they bolted out, leaving behind Shoji, who had now fully taken over Rylan's body, and the Reaper.

Shoji's dark aura filled the train car, intensifying the fear in the air. He turned his gaze to the Reaper, giving a deadly, menacing look. "Hey, I'll kill you," Shoji said, his voice dripping with malice.

The Reaper, momentarily taken aback by the transformation, quickly regained his composure. "So, this is your true form," he said, his grip tightening on his scythe. "No matter. I'll eradicate you just the same."

Pocketing his hands, Shoji sat down majestically, exuding an air of ancient malevolence.

"It took two gods to seal me away. What makes you think you can defeat me?" Shoji taunted, his long nails sharpening with an eerie sound.

The Reaper tightened his grip on his scythe, undeterred by Shoji's display of power. "I've faced creatures like you before," he retorted, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

"Fine, I'll give you a shot," Shoji said, his expression shifting to one of murderous intent as he turned to face the Reaper. The train car seemed to darken around him, shadows swirling in response to his malevolent presence.

"But remember," Shoji continued, his voice low and dangerous, "if you miss, I'll kill you."

The Reaper narrowed his eyes, calculating his next move. He knew the stakes were high; Shoji was not an opponent to underestimate. With a swift motion, he lunged forward, scythe swinging in a deadly arc aimed directly at Shoji's chest.

Shoji's laughter echoed through the train car as he effortlessly dodged the Reaper's attack, his movements fluid and unnatural. Shadows flickered around him, shielding him from harm.

"You'll have to do better than that," Shoji taunted, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

The Reaper gritted his teeth, regaining his stance. He couldn't afford to let Shoji's mockery distract him. With renewed determination, he launched another assault, his scythe slicing through the air with precision and speed.

This time, Shoji didn't evade. Instead, he caught the Reaper's scythe with his bare hands, the dark energy crackling between them. Their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills, each determined to gain the upper hand.

"You're stronger than I expected," Shoji admitted, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "But this ends now."