Chapter 6

As the woman's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, Akudama began to distance himself from the scene where a multitude of frightened onlookers gazed at him in awe of his defeat over Daido. Unbeknownst to Daido, he had never bothered to learn the name of his formidable opponent, nor had he made any inquiries about it. Just as Akudama commenced his departure, he initiated the conjuring of a meteor from the depths of outer space. With each step he took, the meteor emitted resounding impact sounds that reverberated throughout the vicinity of the small town. The bewildered townsfolk cast their gazes skyward and uttered in confusion, "What is that?" Realizing the imminent peril, a group of individuals unleashed a chorus of screams, exclaiming, "It's a meteor! Everyone, flee! Run as swiftly as you can!" Panic gripped the populace as they desperately endeavored to escape, inadvertently colliding with one another in their frantic haste. Meanwhile, the meteor continued to sow chaos, its destructive presence unfurling turmoil amidst the people.

***

Moving forward, Akudama had left behind the place where he once resided, and the focus now shifts to the current events unfolding in the city. As Akudama's departure became evident, the sorcerers in the city grew increasingly angry, vowing not to let him, the perceived monster responsible for countless innocent lives lost, escape justice. One sorcerer voiced their frustration, commenting on Akudama's act of fleeing without engaging in combat, labeling him a weakling who shied away from confronting those less powerful.

Driven by their anger and a sense of duty, the sorcerers began devising plans to pursue Akudama beyond the confines of the city. Their determination to hunt him down and bring him to justice extended far beyond their current location, as they prepared to embark on a mission that would take them across the entire world in search of the elusive Akudama.****

As Akudama continued his relentless journey, the meteor unleashed its devastating impact upon the small town, sending shockwaves that rippled for dozens of miles. Even from a distance, Akudama could feel the force of the resulting gust of wind. Gazing upon the destruction he had caused, he witnessed the aftermath of the obliteration he had brought upon the town. Thousands of lives were lost in an instant, consumed by the destructive power of the meteor.

In the face of this devastation, Akudama turned back, a smug smirk adorning his face. He uttered words that echoed a twisted philosophy, "As they always say, the weak perish while the strongest endure. It seems they have surpassed each other time and time again." With a cold detachment, he observed the consequences of his actions, seemingly reveling in the power he possessed and the distinction he drew between the strong and the weak.

As Akudama contemplated his lack of proper attire, a sudden disturbance shook his body, causing him to look up towards the darkened sky. To his astonishment, a colossal eyeball emerged, shrouded in darkness, its presence engulfing the entire world. The eye's ominous gaze seemed to permeate every corner of the planet, causing tremors felt by all living beings.

Amidst the unsettling phenomenon, a figure descended from the eye, making its way towards Akudama's location. The whole world quivered under the weight of this encounter, including the place that Akudama had left in ruins. Despite the overwhelming vibrations, Akudama stood resolute, withstanding the effects of the disturbance. As the person reached the ground, Akudama discerned that it was a girl who had emerged from the mysterious eye.

As the girl landed gracefully in front of Akudama, he couldn't help but be captivated by her presence. Her long black hair, black eyes, and the distinct combination of a light-colored kimono with a black edge, a black scarf, and black shoes created an enigmatic aura around her. She stood just a few centimeters shorter than him, and Akudama found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her.

Intrigued and filled with curiosity, Akudama pondered in his thoughts, "Who is this girl? And what connection does she have with that massive eye phenomenon?" Meanwhile, the girl looked up at Akudama, her voice quiet yet commanding, as she asked, "So, it's you. How did a young boy like you acquire such powers?" Akudama was taken aback, questioning his own perception of being referred to as a young boy. But before he could voice his confusion, the girl seemed to read his thoughts and replied, "I'm not as young as you might think."

The realization that she could read his mind left Akudama shocked. However, he quickly composed himself, adopting a serious expression as he noticed the similarities between the girl and himself—both possessing black hair and black eyes.

Akudama's curiosity and frustration grew as he demanded answers from the girl before him. He questioned, "Who are you, and why have you come here?" In response, the girl introduced herself as Nozomi. However, Akudama's reaction was mixed with a whisper of recognition as he muttered, "Nozomi?"

Nozomi acknowledged his reaction and confirmed her statement, referring to him as a young boy. Annoyed by this, Akudama retorted, "Stop calling me a young boy. My name is Akudama." He stared at Nozomi with a stern expression, conveying his disapproval.

Nozomi, undeterred, reiterated her purpose. She declared that she intended to take away Akudama's powers and prevent him from plunging the world into chaos. Akudama, drawing closer to Nozomi, met her serious and upset gaze, responding firmly, "No, I cannot die in this world. I have a reason for my existence, and I will make everyone love me, you know."

Nozomi let out a small laugh and challenged his assertion, questioning how he could expect people to love him when he had caused the deaths of thousands of innocent lives. Akudama was taken aback by Nozomi's knowledge of his actions, claiming it to be a misunderstanding, emphasizing the speed at which events had unfolded.

Akudama's hands trembled as he covered his face, expressing despair over his transformed state. He confessed, "I'm no longer human. The urge to kill grows stronger within me, and I want it to stop. But I won't let myself be killed by you."

Nozomi huffed in response, asserting that Akudama had no choice but to disappear from this world. She declared herself as the mother of the heavens, a figure who stood above the principles that governed human existence. Her words carried an air of superiority and power.

As Akudama removed his hands from his face, he repeated, "The mother of the heavens." Nozomi's smile widened, and she blushed slightly as she confirmed, "Yes, I am the mother of the heavens. I possess immense strength, too formidable for any ordinary human to fathom. It is an ability that surpasses the limits of human potential. And you, with your unlocked demonic powers, are not truly human."

Akudama was taken aback by the revelation that he was now facing a god-like being who sought to end his life.

As Nozomi declared her intention to kill Akudama, he felt a surge of shock and instinctively tried to escape from her. However, Nozomi swiftly pursued him, refusing to let him get away. She drew a black sword, its long metal blade shimmering with a purple hue.

Nozomi swung the sword towards Akudama, who managed to evade the strikes, leaping and tumbling to the ground. Bewildered, he exclaimed, "What the hell is that sword?!"

Nozomi held the sword near Akudama's shoulder, her grip firm as she answered, "It's called Vienzola. Its ability obliterates everything, even a being's spiritual form. It can erase the very essence of existence."

Akudama, filled with desperation, pleaded for Nozomi to stop, expressing his fear of death. However, Nozomi disregarded his plea and prepared to strike him down with the sword. In a last-ditch effort, Akudama summoned his ice magic to defend himself. But Nozomi dismissively remarked that ice magic would not be enough to halt the power of Vienzola.

To Akudama's astonishment, the ice magic he conjured began to vanish from existence. The sword continued its relentless pursuit, aiming to strike Akudama's body. However, something unexpected occurred—the sword shattered upon contact with Akudama's inner being, his soul. Nozomi, her voice barely above a whisper, uttered in disbelief, "Impossible..."