The confrontation [86]

Aaron's steps were leisurely, a stark contrast to his earlier urgency. With Rui's meticulous exploration of the enemy base, each detail downloaded like a brick removed from their digital fortress, victory felt preordained. Their secrets lay bare, their once impregnable stronghold reduced to mere child's play in her nimble hands. A dry chuckle escaped his lips, tinged with a dark humor. These self-proclaimed gods, oblivious to the invisible spiderweb Rui had spun around them, were about to face their downfall at the hands of an anomaly, an outcast.

Yet, beneath the veneer of amusement, a shadow flickered in his eyes. Was he becoming the monster he fought against? The line between liberator and tyrant blurred, the weight of past trauma and social rejection a heavy burden.

His gaze drifted to a young couple, their laughter painting the air with carefree joy. A pang of envy shot through him, a stark reminder of the normalcy he could never achieve. The "woman repellant" label, a cruel whisper that followed him like a phantom limb, burned deep within.

Suddenly, a mischievous tug on his sleeve brought him back. Rui materialized beside him, eyes sparkling with playful defiance. "Think I found their main power core," she chirped, her voice laced with the promise of chaos and liberation. "Wanna play some fireworks tonight?"

The question hung heavy, charged with the potential to tip the scales. In that moment, Aaron stood at a crossroads, teetering on the edge of a knife's blade. Would he become the hero this world needed, or succumb to the darkness festering within?

Since when did he become a philosopher and since when did he care about murder a bunch of people,he would just snap their neck if it  come down to it,he could just murder them in cold blood,he wouldnt feel anything to be fair.

To him that would just be another body that will be added to enormous pile of body that he taken care of the pass,he wonder what would happen if he filled their lungs with acid,or fill thier lungs with webs fluid killing them slowly.

He could turn them into a vegetable, he had no pity for those people whatsoever.They had no pity on him so why should he, he is a monster and a freak of nature so why should he show pity.

As those thoughts flowed through his mind, unbeknown to Aaron, his eyes started to turn red along with the fact that his shadow seem to change a bit.

Though that apperance vanished as at the corner of his eyes he noticed something.

His eyes, however, were drawn elsewhere. A storefront window displayed a familiar blue square: Minecraft. He'd heard of the game, whispers of endless possibilities and creativity, but life as an anomaly - missions, gambles with fate - had never afforded him the leisure to explore it. Now, with a few days before recruiting Ace, a rare lull in the storm, Aaron found himself drawn in.

He stepped into the store, the cool air a welcome contrast to the afternoon sun. The game nestled comfortably in his palm, a mere ¥2750 – a pittance considering his and Rui's abilities to slip into any bank account, undetected. Stealing felt almost quaint, even amusing, compared to the advanced technology he knew. These people, for all their advancements, hadn't even cracked interstellar travel or teleportation. What they did possess, however, was something the people of the future lacked – genuine compassion, an empathy they couldn't replicate.

The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, the familiar hum of teleportation filling Aaron's ears. He materialized in his dimly lit base, the silence broken only by the soft hum of his hidden tech. The game case, still warm from the store, felt strangely comforting in his hand, a tangible reminder of the fleeting normalcy he craved.

He stretched, the tension of his mission momentarily forgotten. "Rui," he called out, his voice echoing softly in the vast space. "Fancy a break from infiltration and domination for a bit?"

A flicker of light materialized in the corner, coalescing into Rui's mischievous grin. "Is that a game I see in your hand, Onii-san? Is Onii-san finally taking a break" She sounded a bit excited upon hearing those words,she really was excited about this.

Aaron chuckled, a genuine sound that rarely graced his lips. "Perhaps," he admitted, holding up the case. "Found it while strolling around. Thought it might be a good way to kill some time before we you know,cause some mayhem."

Rui's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Chaos or liberation? The line blurs ever so finely, doesn't it?"

Aaron met her gaze, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. "Maybe," he conceded. "But for now, let's just enjoy a bit of harmless fun. Besides, who knows, maybe we'll learn a thing or two about building before we go tearing things down."

A playful glint lit up Rui's eyes. "Challenge accepted, Onii-san. Prepare to be schooled in the art of pixelated domination!"

With a laugh, Aaron activated a hidden screen, the sterile white walls of his base replaced by a vibrant digital landscape.

Aaron reveled in the pixelated chaos, his pickaxe a blur as he felled a towering oak. Gathering resources was his domain, a rhythmic counterpoint to Rui's intricate architectural symphonies. A ghost of a smile danced on his lips, a memory playing on repeat. The TNT trap, the baby zombie's panicked shriek, Rui's indignant sputtering – all fueled by a mischievous spark that never quite left his eyes. Though she feigned annoyance, he knew the shared laughter still lingered in her digital echoes.

Now, a new adventure beckoned. He sauntered into the imposing structure, hands buried in pockets, nonchalance a well-worn mask. The familiar walls whispered forgotten echoes, each creak and groan a faint melody of the past. A whistle, low and mournful, escaped his lips, carrying the weight of memories yet unspoken.

"Where are you headed, Ace-sama?" A melodious voice sliced through the silence. Aaron peeked around a corner, a sardonic grin twisting his lips. "Just a pretty boy getting ready for some gut-wrenching fun," he quipped, his voice laced with a familiar bluntness.

Ace whirled around, a sigh escaping his lips. He knew the voice, the swagger, the irreverent humor – only one person could be so audacious. Yet, disbelief clouded his eyes. "Aaron?" he breathed, the name a ghost resurrected from the ashes.

Tsumuri stood frozen, not by the words, but by the impossible sight before her. Aaron, the fallen hero, stood there, flesh and blood, defying the whispers of his demise. Her mind reeled, struggling to reconcile the past with the present.

"Yo, I'm borrowing your brother for a while," Aaron said bluntly, looking at Tsumuri. Her jaw dropped at his words, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "He needs to... act like a groomer real quick. It's either that, or some old man will get his hands on him."

This was definitely Aaron, Tsumuri thought. No one else she knew would phrase a mission so blatantly.

"A-Aaron... are you... alive?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

"In the flesh. Want to touch it?" he replied with a mischievous grin. He clearly enjoyed seeing her flustered.

"I was just teasing you, Tsumuri-chan," he said with a wink. "But I'm taking your brother now."

With that, he grabbed Ace's arm and walked away, leaving Tsumuri speechless in his wake.

"Really, Aaron?" Ace sighed, exasperation lacing his voice as he trailed behind. "Out of everyone, you should know me best. That shouldn't have surprised you."

Aaron shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, yeah, wild card and all that. You should be used to it by now."

Ace couldn't help but admit defeat with another sigh. Aaron was right. Predictable he was not.

"So, what's the plan, then?" Ace asked, shifting to a more serious tone.

Aaron grinned. "Alright, first things first. Did you manage everything I asked?"

Ace nodded curtly.

"Excellent. You know their base like the back of your hand now, so getting lost won't be an issue. No more babysitting you like a lost child inside, though I must admit, the thought of you calling me 'daddy' was amusing."

Ace rolled his eyes. "That will never happen."

Aaron chuckled. "Pity, really. I bet your mom wouldn't mind, though."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Ace's face. He couldn't deny a sliver of truth in Aaron's words, which only fueled his irritation.

Suel emerged from the medicinal pod, groaning as his muscles protested the movement. Each step felt like pulling against a heavy tide, but fueled by purpose, he forced himself forward.

"Suel-sama," Zitt announced, bowing deeply. "Beroba and Kekera have arrived."

Suel glanced at the monitor displaying their arrival. The sight of them carrying a limp figure, likely Ace, sent a jolt through him. He tightened his jaw, pushing down the surge of emotions.

"Let them in," he commanded, his voice raspy but firm.

Moments later, Beroba and Kekera entered, dragging Ace's unconscious form behind them. They wore matching smug expressions, a stark contrast to their cargo.

"We brought you Geats, just like you requested," Kekera announced, her voice dripping with a perverse glee.

Beroba chimed in, her sadistic smile wider than ever. "His suffering was truly delightful to watch."

Ignoring their theatrics, Suel focused on his prize. "Hand him over," he demanded, his eyes narrowed.

Kekera raised an eyebrow. "What about our payment? We had a deal, remember?"

Suel met their gaze, his coldness palpable. "Zitt, fulfill our agreement."

The silent attendant bowed and retrieved a box, placing it on the table before them. Beroba and Kekera eagerly opened it, their smugness replaced by avarice as they beheld the promised reward.

"Pleasure doing business," Kekera chuckled, pocketing the box.

As they turned to leave, Suel's chilling gaze followed them. Their fleeting satisfaction did little to soothe the storm brewing within him. 

The sudden crack of a bullet shattered the silence. Beroba, caught off guard, stumbled back as a projectile whizzed past her head, the box in her hand exploding in a shower of sparks and smoke.

"Hmph, that should take care of them," Suel muttered, a cold satisfaction settling in his chest. But his triumph was short-lived. Voices, tinged with amusement, cut through the smoke-filled air.

"I told you, acting like a child groomer was too obvious. He saw right through it," a familiar voice drawled, laced with a hint of smugness.

"Wouldn't have made a difference," another voice replied, equally familiar but carrying a sharper edge.

The smoke cleared, revealing two figures standing amidst the debris. Ace, his eyes glinting with defiance, stood beside none other than the Anomaly.

Suel's blood ran cold. The impossible stared back at him, a mocking smirk playing on Aaron's lips. The Anomaly, supposedly dead, was very much alive, and he had returned with a vengeance.

Suel's heart lurched into a frantic drumbeat, a cold dread gripping him like a vice. The dissipating smoke wasn't just obscuring the room; it was unveiling a nightmare he'd thought buried deep. There, standing beside Ace, his smirk as sharp as a shard of ice, was the Anomaly.

Aaron. Alive.

The impossible choked Suel like a fistful of ash. Every rumor, every whisper of his demise, evaporated in the face of this living, breathing contradiction. His carefully constructed world, built on the foundation of Aaron's supposed absence, crumbled around him.

Terror, raw and primal, flooded his veins. The Anomaly, the unpredictable, the unstoppable force that had haunted his dreams, was here, his eyes burning with the cold fire of vengeance. The smirk on his lips wasn't playful; it was a predator savoring the sight of its trapped prey.

Suel's vision blurred, the room shrinking to the confines of Aaron's mocking gaze. Every past encounter, every threat, every fleeting victory replayed in his mind, amplified by the stark reality before him. The Anomaly, the one he'd underestimated, the one he'd dismissed as a mere nuisance, was now his undoing.

His breath hitched, trapped in his throat. The carefully cultivated mask of composure slipped, revealing the raw fear beneath. His eyes darted, searching for escape, for any flicker of hope in the face of his living nightmare. But there was none. He was trapped, a cornered animal facing the predator he'd sworn to destroy.

In that moment, Suel understood. He hadn't defeated the Anomaly. He'd merely postponed the inevitable. And now, the reckoning had arrived, its icy grip tightening around his throat, slowly squeezing the life out of him.

Suel's mind reeled. This was impossible. The Anomaly, the monster that had haunted his nightmares and left him scarred, both physically and mentally, was standing right before him. The flashbacks came flooding back, each one a fresh wave of terror.

He remembered the crushing blows, the searing pain, the feeling of his very life force being drained. He remembered the humiliation, the despair, the utter helplessness. Aaron had broken him, left him a shell of his former self. And now, he was back, his eyes glinting with a sadistic amusement.

Suel's breath hitched in his throat. He wanted to scream, to run, to do anything to escape the suffocating fear that was consuming him. But his body was frozen, paralyzed by the sheer terror of the situation.

"So, Suel," Aaron began, his voice a honeyed drawl, "surprised to see me?"

Suel could only manage a choked gasp, his voice failing him.

"I told you I wouldn't be gone forever," Aaron continued, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "And now, I'm back to finish what I started."

Fear turned to a cold, calculating rage within Suel. He wouldn't let this monster break him again. He wouldn't let him win.

Gathering all his strength, Suel met Aaron's gaze, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I won't let you," he rasped.

The thrill of a predator sizing up its prey danced in Aaron's eyes as he watched Suel. The man trembled, not from excitement as Aaron pretended, but from sheer, unadulterated fear. Aaron savored the sight, his smile stretching wide. "Wow, who knew you'd be so enthusiastic about a reunion, Suel? Almost makes me think you missed me."

A flicker of defiance sparked in Suel's eyes, but it was quickly snuffed out by the weight of Aaron's gaze. Zitt, his faithful attendant, instinctively stepped forward, positioning himself like a shield between Suel and the Anomaly.

Aaron scoffed, disappointment lacing his voice. "Really? You think your glorified babysitter can hold me back, Suel? Pathetic."

Ace, who had remained silent until now, felt a smirk tug at his lips. Aaron's theatrics were impressive, almost believable. He knew, however, that Aaron was far from his peak, still recovering from the wounds he had received previously. This bravado was merely a distraction, a tactic to unnerve their enemies.

Suel trembled, not with excitement as Aaron mocked, but with a bone-deep terror that radiated from him like a miasma. His carefully cultivated composure had melted away, leaving behind a raw, vulnerable core. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to run, hide, do anything to escape the predator's gaze.

He remembered the first encounter, the one that had irrevocably shattered his confidence, leaving him a mere fragment of his former self. The searing pain, the humiliation, the utter helplessness – it all came rushing back, fueled by his present fear.

Seeing his master's terror, Zitt, loyal and unwavering, interposed himself between Suel and Aaron. But even Zitt seemed to shrink under the Anomaly's intense scrutiny. Suel knew deep down it wouldn't be enough.

Aaron's amusement morphed into disappointment. "Pathetic," he spat, his words like bullets piercing the already-fragile silence.

Yet, in the face of absolute fear, a desperate spark ignited within Suel. Survival, like a drowning man grasping at straws, became his sole focus. He wouldn't be broken again. He wouldn't lose.

His eyes flickered towards Zitt, an agonizing decision playing out within him. Zitt, sensing his master's intent, recoiled slightly, his unwavering loyalty warring with a flicker of understanding.

With a guttural growl, Suel reached out, not with aggression, but with a deep, hungry yearning. A sickly green light pulsed around his hand, tendrils reaching towards Zitt. Power, raw and potent, flowed between them, visible as the light intensified.

Zitt resisted at first, a silent plea in his eyes. But Suel, consumed by his survival instinct, wouldn't be swayed. He drained the power he himself had bestowed upon Zitt, siphoning it back into his own depleted core.

Zitt wilted, his form shrinking as the power left him. Yet, a faint acceptance flickered in his eyes, a recognition of the desperate necessity driving his master's actions.

As the last tendrils of green light dissipated, Suel stood taller, a semblance of his former power returning. Fear remained, tinged with a cold calculation. He knew this stolen strength wouldn't last, but it was enough for now. Enough to stand a chance, to fight back against the monster who had shattered him.

A/N So hum,so yall think Aaron kept his promise of giving him Ptsd