Earthquake

The trio made their way through the small maze inside the bunker, Amana guiding them. "We're almost to the exit, or you could call it the entrance. Now, when we go outside, make sure that your auras are low. The Beastpeople are extremely sensitive to mana, so imagine your mana as ten times stronger than it normally is." Amana reminded them, specifically warning Ezrahel. "Yeah, I experienced that first hand. I shot out an aura of mana to demonstrate my power, so I won't be doing that again." Soul reassured Amana before looking towards Ezrahel. "Don't worry. My aura will be at zero. It's just so I don't do anything stupid. After all, I don't want to accidentally poison everyone here." Ezrahel responded with his hands by his side.

"Alright then. Come on. We're at the exit of the maze." Amana informed them as they walked out of the mini-labyrinth. The stairway to the top was in sight, and as they began to walk towards it, they could hear the sound of the ground rumbling. It was as if a small earthquake had struck them. "What the hell is that?!" Amana yelled out in confusion, rushing towards the entrance of the bunker. Soul and Ezrahel quickly rushed up behind her as Ezrahel pulled Amana out of the way while Soul kicked the door down. The metal door flew out of their way, allowing Amana, Soul and Ezrahel to witness the horror that was unfolding.

The city, or village, was burning. White-hot flames lit up the sky as a white-haired swordsman stood in the centre of the surrounding flames, his back turned to the bunker. "Ronin!" Soul yelled, rushing towards Ronin with an angry expression on his face. Unsheathing Tsuyikagiri as he ran, Soul increased his speed as he went, hoping to outspeed the pyromaniac. Tsuyukagiri glowed purple, the sign of Ten Thousand Telekinetic Strikes activating. Soul swung Tsuyukagiri, trying to land a solid hit so he could remove this pestilence from this world.

A flash of silver lit up his eyes as the sight of a thousand blades blocked Soul's strike before condensing into a single sword. Ronin turned around, staring him in the eyes. "Well, look what we have here. Aaron Stone, back to cause me annoyance." Ronin responded, a devious smile on his face. "Ronin! Why are you here?!" Soul yelled at Ronin, not bothering to correct him. "Well, I have a tendency to hold grudges. Think of this as my payback for humiliating me." Ronin replied, his sword flashing in front of Soul's face, sending him backwards. "I'm more powerful than you'll ever be now. Do you think that YOU were strong? You are PITIFUL!" He yelled, laughing as he did it. Soul almost snapped after hearing that, but he needed to keep his composure. One more snap and he might be gone.

Soul rushed forward, swinging Tsuyukagiri at Ronin's chest, trying to damage him. However, Ronin had become much stronger since he was last seen and had prepared himself. Ronin bent down, the sword passing over his chest as his spine became parallel to the ground. He swung his own sword at Soul, who hadn't anticipated this. Ronin's blade swept cleanly across his chest, leaving a wound on his skin. "Pitiful. So, you can't even dodge me?" Ronin mocked Soul as he stumbled backwards. "Well, Aaron Stone, you're outclassed. I have met a rather unique person since I last saw you. He gave me two items that you can never hope to get your hands on! However, it seems like you got past the first test. Come on, surely you're not so weak to lose to a person with 80% Boundlessness!" Ronin announced as Soul realised what that object that Ronin was talking about.

"A willingly purified Demonoid God Soul?! How?!" Soul yelled in realisation, staring at Ronin with a fire in his eyes. "Well, it all stems from the singular fact that I am worthier than you of receiving this power. I was contacted by a person using the name 'L', and they gave me these objects of unimaginable power!" Ronin taunted him, and this almost drove Soul to the point of no return. However, what happened next was something that Soul had done before.

Ronin lifted up his hand, and the body of the Beastman that he had rebuilt earlier flew into his grasp, held up by the neck. The Beastman was still alive and tried grasping at Ronin's hand but to no avail. "I saw you building this guy back up after I dropped that dragon in on you. I haven't seen that dragon since, but I know that this will get you riled up." Ronin told Soul with a grin on his face. White flames engulfed the Beastman, setting him alight as he screamed out in pain. No words came out, only the horrified screams of a dying man.

This was enough to snap the thin thread holding Soul together.

Soul stood up, his wound still seeping. "You know what? I'm done with your bullshit, Ronin. I've put up with you for long enough!" Soul yelled, rushing towards Ronin while letting out a primal scream. Soul dropped Tsuyukagiri to the ground, preferring to use his hands for this. "What kind of barbaric ploy is this, Stone?" Ronin asked Soul. "You must be an absolute idiot." Ronin taunted him, wielding his sword with a customised style of swordsmanship designed to counter. It was reminiscent of the Italian tradition of Longsword established by Fiore Dei Liberi. Ronin had to have come from Earth to know that style of swordsmanship, but Soul didn't pay enough attention to care.

Thousands of Soul clones appeared around Ronin as Soul teleported at speeds that no being should be capable of. However, what was more surprising was Ronin's reaction to the whole situation. He appeared indifferent, just a smirk lining his face as he predicted where Soul would move. Ronin stuck his hand out and clasped his hand shut quickly, trapping Soul in his grasp. "You aren't doing this to me, Stone. After all, I'm stronger than you'll ever be." Ronin told Soul before crushing his throat in his hand.

"Now, return to the heavens, and live on another planet where I never have to see your ugly face ever again." Ronin commanded him. Soul's body fell limp, but the second that Ronin let go of his lifeless body, Soul's body exploded into a wave of Corruption, reforming itself. However, this Soul wasn't the Soul from before.

{New Stage Unlocked}

{Rageful Incarnation: Soul Incarnate}

{New Ability Unlocked}

{Stage 2: Rageful Incantation: Enraged Corruption}