Acknowledge Pain - [Chapter 2]

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March glanced over Dan Heng's shoulder at the crimson armored man again.

"Are you okay?" She asked with softness of her voice. - (March)

The man slowly lifted his hand towards the light from the spaceship. It was the faintest move, but it is something at least.

"Look, if you're not here to fight, maybe just… Say something?" She suggested, her voice barely above a whisper. - (March)

Dan Heng remained ready, firmly gripping his spear. "We're not hostile, but you need to answer us." - (Dan Heng)

Silence again enveloped them as the crimson armored man struggled to find his voice, yet his gaze flickered.

"This universe… Shall know pain…" Came the pained declaration, followed by a cough that sent droplets of blood splattering to the floor. - (???)

He struggled to push himself up, but his body betrayed him, leaving him unsteady and forcing him to stagger before finally collapsing again.

This guy was talking about pain like it was the beginning of some grand tragedy, but it wasn't scary enough.

"Uh, are we supposed to be scared?" March asked, her voice a mix of concern and bewildered optimism. - (March)

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing between Dan Heng and the man.

"Scared? Maybe," Dan Heng muttered, trying to gauge the sincerity behind the stranger's words. - (Dan Heng)

Pain, after all, had this annoying habit of bringing out the worst in everyone. "But I'm more concerned about him actually following through." - (Dan Heng)

March knelt down, her brow furrowed. "Hey, mister, you need to take it easy. No need to—uh, how do I put this? Turn the universe into a horror show." She offered a hand, looking torn between wanting to help and not wanting to get caught in whatever he was planning. - (March)

No one should suffer like that, even if they were spouting ominous threats. "Look, whatever you're planning, know that pain doesn't solve anything." - (Dan Heng)

"Exactly!" March chimed in, her voice hopeful and bright. "There's gotta be a better way than this, right? You want to change the universe? Let's talk about it instead!" - (March)

Glancing between Dan Heng and March, Stelle spoke out. "Should we call for help? Maybe someone else could—" - (Stelle)

"No," Dan Heng replied, his eyes narrowing as he kept a vigilant watch on the figure. "We need to give him some space. If he's serious, we don't want to provoke him." - (Dan Heng)

They stayed a little distance away, their breaths heavy with tension.

As the man continued to struggle, they could only watch and wait, hoping he didn't act on his dark words.

As the man in crimson armor pushed himself to his feet, Stelle, Dan Heng, and March held their breath.

The moment he opened his eyes, they were taken aback.

Each eye was a bizarre swirl of colors; the left was a deep crimson with spirals and dots, while the right was a stark white with the same spirals and dots.

"Are those… Red eye with spirals?" Stelle murmured, her voice a mix of awe and unease. - (Stelle)

Dan Heng took a good look, his brow furrowed. "It's not just that. The other eye… It's white but has the same pattern. Unless he has a very rare heterochromia, that's not normal." - (Dan Heng)

March tilted her head, eyes wide with curiosity. "That's... Really unsettling. What does it mean?" She couldn't help but to take a good look at his eyes. - (March)

The man blinked slowly, adjusting to his surroundings, and when his gaze settled on them, it felt like ice ran down their spine.

"Stay back," Dan Heng warned. His instincts were on high alert, and he instinctively stepped in front of Stelle and March, ready for anything. "He could be a threat." - (Dan Heng)

Dan Heng eyed the newcomer with a mix of curiosity and caution. The guy seemed a bit disoriented, clutching his head like he was trying to piece together a puzzle.

"Where's this...?" He asked, his brows furrowing as he scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. - (Madara)

"We're currently in the Herta Space Station," he replied coolly, trying to maintain a steady tone. "Who are you?" - (Dan Heng)

His gaze drifted as if searching for something lost. "My name...? My name is..." He paused, rubbing his temples as if the very act could dredge up his identity. - (Madara)

It felt like an eternity, the air thick with anticipation. Dan Heng exchanged glances with the others, sensing the tension.

"Uchiha Madara..." Finally, the man straightened. - (Madara)

-Who was he really? Is what Dan Heng thought.

"Uchiha Madara?" Dan Heng repeated, not quite sure what to make of it. "You don't seem like you belong here." - (Dan Heng)

Madara glanced around, taking in the sleek walls and vibrant displays of the station. "I don't even know where 'here' is," he muttered, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Last thing I remember…. Well, I don't remember much at all, honestly." - (Madara)

"Sounds like you've got a lot going on," Dan Heng said, tilting his head slightly. "Look, I'm not sure how you got here, but we've got our own stuff to deal with." - (Dan Heng)

At that, Madara seemed to regain some composure. "Deal with? What do you mean?" His dark eyes narrowed, assessing Dan Heng. - (Madara)

"You're not the only strange thing we've encountered," Dan Heng replied, crossing his arms. "But if you're looking for answers, maybe we can help each other out," he said, keeping his tone neutral. - (Dan Heng)

Madara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Help each other? Sure, I'm in. Where should we go?" - (Madara)

"Back to the master control zone," Dan Heng replied, pointing down a corridor. "Asta and the other researchers have gathered there." - (Dan Heng)

March chimed in. "Plus, that's where we parked the Astral Express! Don't worry; we'll protect you from the monsters and clear up this mess." Her enthusiasm was bright, contrasting nicely more than Dan Heng's more serious mood. - (March)

"So, who are we dealing with?" Madara asked, adjusting his armor while trying to shake the dust off. - (Madara)

"The Antimatter Legion," March replied nonchalantly, as if it were just another casual outing. "They're goons owned by the Destruction. You're lucky that the most dangerous Lord Ravager among them isn't around, just nasty minions. But we'll take those invaders out soon, don't worry." She added, assuring him that everything's gonna be alright.

ADAM'S POV (AKA MADARA)

-After a bit of chatting, we were all set.

"So, what's the deal with the Gunbai? Why's it so huge?" March asked, raising an eyebrow. - (March)

I chuckled, adjusting my grip on the Gunbai. "Well, it's more than just a shield. It's a statement." - (Madara)

Dan Heng tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "But it's so unwieldy. Doesn't it slow you down?" - (Dan Heng)

"Not if you know how to wield it," I replied. "It's all about technique. Sure, a regular shield gets the job done, but this…" I swung it lightly, feeling the weight of it history in Naruto, "it's versatile. This can deflect attacks and counter in one smooth motion." - (Madara)

March crossed her arms. "So, it's like a fancy way of dodging? I don't know… Seems a bit over the top for just shielding." March said, crossing her arms and giving me a skeptical look. - (March)

"Observe," I replied, gripping the Gunbai firmly. I swung it in a horizontal arc, just to show them what it could do. - (Madara)

In an instant, a powerful gust of wind erupted from the movement, catching March, Dan Heng, and Stelle by surprise. I could see their eyes widen, and I couldn't help but smirk.

March's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "Whoa?!" - (March)

Dan Heng raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "That was... Unexpected." - (Dan Heng)

Stelle looked equally surprised, her mouth slightly agape. "Did the wind just come from that thing?" - (Stelle)

I feel pretty satisfied with their reactions. Their reactions were priceless!

"In any case, let's get out of here," I said, shifting my stance and getting ready to move. - (Madara)

All of them nodded in agreement, the earlier surprise still lingering in their expressions.

"Good idea," March said, glancing around as if the environment might suddenly change. "I still can't believe that thing does that!" - (March)

Dan Heng nodded, his face set with determination. "Let's keep moving. We have a long way to go." - (Dan Heng)

Stelle adjusted herself with a bat, her eyes bright with curiosity. "I just want to see more of what that Gunbai can do!" - (Stelle)

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You'll see plenty—if we run into trouble." - (Madara)

With that, we took off, ready for whatever the future holds.

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