Rebirth

'[Zero Hand]'

[Retsu POV] 

'He's gonna die.'

Instead of looking away this time at the carnage that boy was about to display, this time not even needing to 'fake' it, I continued watching, considering it an honor for such a warrior to face his death in such a way.

'How?'

I couldn't believe it.

This mere boy, being able to utilize such a technique calmly even in the face of death.

'Could I have done it?'

Still, I continued shaking my head, worrying about how the boy would take his first loss in battle.

'It's over. Even if the boy continues, Yujiro will devour his whole body next time rather than just his arm.'

Instead of rushing forward or backing out of the unwinnable fight, the boy surprised me one again, choosing neither of the likely scenarios.

Instead, he prayed.

Using his only arm that was still in commission and not hanging loosely by his side, he prayed, with his 'hands' pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards as if asking for atonement for his sins.

"HOW?!" 

I screamed out in surprise, refusing to believe that was being visualised, plain as day, right in front of my eyes.

[Kaku POV]

"Hohoho, careful there boy...."

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

"I'm far from ready to face him, KHAHAHA."

[Narrator POV]

The Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Pūrvapraṇidhāna Sūtra (地藏菩薩本願經), also known as the Sutra of the Past Vows of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, recounts the teachings and past lives of the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, illustrating his immense compassion and the origins of his vow.

In it, not only does it describe in detail Kṣitigarbha's role in assisting beings across the six realms of existence, it also includes within it his Greatest Vow.

"Until the hells are emptied, I vow not to become a Buddha. Only after all beings are saved, will I myself attain Bodhi."

Kṣitigarbha's vow to not attain Buddhahood until all hells are empty embodies the bodhisattva ideal of remaining in samsara to aid others until every single being is liberated from suffering.

Thus, he is particularly associated with the hell realm (地獄道 - Dìyù Dào), where he works tirelessly to ease the suffering of those who have fallen into the most severe and painful existences.

In Japan, he is known as Jizō and is considered a protector of children, especially those who have died prematurely.

[Kuzan POV]

That sutra had been the only one I had studied during my time at the Temple, partially to show honor for their traditions, but mostly out of self-interest.

I had wondered whether these sutras somehow continued an 'ancient lost technique' of some type that could aid me in vanquishing this demon. Although it had been for naught, I was able to gain some inspiration from it in the long run, creating my ultimate technique and naming it after that character from my previous life.

I didn't play around any longer, not daring to hold back anything, my use of only one arm of course factored into that decision.

Still, one was more than enough to execute the attack.

[Kaku POV]

'He's done it!'

I turned my head, as there was no need any longer to continue viewing the match. I could not be more pleased with the progress of my disciple, despite his show super seeding my own.

Not only had he achieved it, it had even worked!

His compassion, his fist of love threatening to vanquish the demon...

Causing it to weep in repentance.

[Kuzan POV]

It was so close...

His chest, now bare for all to see after he has ripped off his shirt to welcome my love.

I was so close...

To give the man my final present, one that would reach his heart.

I had even evaded the man's attempt to slap at my eardrums, causing him to hold out his hands in prayer, just as I had done a moment ago.

I could almost touch it, his chest, his heart, one that I would burst into pieces.

Still, whether it be being late by or a second, or late by an hour, being late is being late.

He was too fast, directing his arms upwards in embrace, locking in place my own.

I had received a lot of bear hugs from Aunt Elizabeth, some even from Melissa on occasion. But none of them could match the intensity of this one.

"Splurt"

"Sqush"

Blood pooled out of my body like a water fountain.

"Snap"

"Thuck"

My bones broke, one after the other, playing a symphony with my ribcage alone.

I was lost for breath at the orchestra that was currently being played in my honor.

The only move that I been unable to fully find a solution for, being my undoing. 

'So close...'

[Retsu POV]

'It's over.'

I flicked away the tears that had unknowlying made their way into my eyes before beginning to enter the arena through the tunnels.

It was my duty, as a disciple of Bailin Temple, to provide aid to this hero who was now lying face up, on the ground, unable to move after the demon's crushing blow.

However, I was stopped by the master's words once again, this time not directed at me.

[Kaku POV]

"YOU DARE!"

My heart was racing, as I let out a scream of pure emotion in God knows how long. I couldn't belie-no, I refused to believe my disciples's actions, abandoning Buddhahood to chase the path of incessant suffering.

To chase the path of that beast.

[Kuzan POV]

'I was wrong.'

I had finally come to the realization after being coddled by his embrace.

'I thought I had escaped it.'

I could feel it, despite knowing that I was being spared from that man's hunger, I could sense it.

This feeling of dread, as I was lying there, the concrete serving as my new hospital bed.

Again, I was back.

Again, I was unable to move.

'Am I satisfied?'

I knew that this feeling would eventually cower away when I next regained my strength, cowering away until it could next attempt to pull me back into that abyss. 

I could see it, her smile, trying to provide me with comfort, to ease my pain if only by a little.

'Is merely smiling through it enough?'

I had fallen victim to it once before, somehow being able to claw back out for the moment.

'Is merely having fun enough?'

I could do it, continue playing with the demon, entertaining him through my use of will-power alone. But what would be the use of that?

I had attempted it before, trying to make it past those hospital gates shaking me inside to suffer.

'I just wanted to see it, one last time, the life outside before I passed.'

I had walked without strength, walked with heart alone, in an attempt to make it past those gate

'And I had failed.'

[Retsu POV]

Although I recognized my master's words, taking 'revenge' for another is not looked highly upon by many teachings of the Temple.

Instead, I walked closer to the kid to provide aid in my own way, about to examine the extent of his injuries.

The boy lied still, without any strength left to give, being unable to move so much as a finger any longer.

Still, despite the overflow of blood that must have been filling his lungs, he spoke his last words that were not audible to anyone but me, with a look of absolute madness on his face.

"No."

[Kuzan POV]

[Assimilating Gene Sequence To Host]

Neither the sweet embrace of my old friend nor its promise of release would be enough to draw me in this time.

'I had failed, failed once before, falling in my path before I could escape its grasp.'

Never again would I allow it to get a hold of me, never again would I allow it to sap the strength right out of my body, leaving me without life.

I would rather face death itself.

On my own terms.

"BAPDUMP"

[Narrator POV]

The surge, also known as terminal lucidity, is a term commonly thrown around by hospice nurses in the medical field.

This is a period when a critically-ill person transiently experiences increased alertness, energy surge, and an unexpected return of mental clarity and memory functioning shortly before death.

Although it may appear that they are getting better, it usually means that patients are close to death, as the body essentially gives up focusing on its survival, thus releasing its last reserves of energy as it stops 'fighting back' against its disease.

[Kuzan POV]

'I would kill myself than falling victim to it again!'

"BAPDUMP", "BAPDUMP", "BAPDUMP!"

I rose up, like a phoenix from its ashes, all in one swift go.

However, neither my racing heart that was seemingly wanting to beat out of my chest, nor the feeling of molten lava pouring into my veins was enough to bring me out my delight.

I let out a wide grin, truly happy to experience this feeling of strength once again.

My savior turned around, with first a look of absolute shock on his face, morphing quickly into a look of extreme pleasure.

'Ah, so he's finally noticed it.'

It had been hard to hide my 'strength' from the senses of that demon, but I had been able to do so, utilizing [Phantom's Embrace] to shield my body from his prying eyes.

I'm sure that every time he looked at me during the fight, all he would see was my countless weaknesses from my past life, shielding him away from my secret.

Before I was sure that all he had seen was a skeleton, unable to see the changes that were taking place within my body.

But I had evolved, finally finishing my metamorphosis.

"Old man!"

I yelled at the beast who was about to begin his charge back into the arena, wanting to rain on my parade.

I would not be distracted however, as I reveled in the moment, my demon finally bursting out of its cage, as my shirt ripped off revealing its existence to all those present in the arena.

"IT'S FINALLY TIME TO HAVE SOME REAL FUN!"

There were no techniques, no tricks, no more words needed for us to experience this moment in full as we exchanged a devastating blow to each of our heads.

"THUCK" "THUCK"

I paid no attention to the blood that I was spraying out from inside my mouth, nor the sweats that I was fermenting onto the ground.

Next was an exchange to the guts, out fists drilling into each other, neither one of us complaining about the pain as we decided the next destinations of our fists.

I paid no attention to the time I had left before either my new source of strength passed, or before I was forced to stop by this lava when it finally spilled over to my brain.

Next was th-

"BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP!"

'[Flash]'