The black mist slowly dissipated.
Sharky was still standing. But he was no longer quite himself.
His body had changed. Taller. More massive. His skin was covered in dark scales, his eyes gleamed with a red light. His teeth — already sharp — seemed even more pointed.
He was smiling.
Not a human smile.
A monster's smile.
"Ah…"
He looked at his hands. His claws.
"Ahah…"
He chuckled.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His voice echoed throughout the room.
Takemichi, the scientist transformed into a giant scarab beetle, looked at him.
"You made a pact with that blade? You're insane. It'll devour you from the inside."
Sharky didn't answer. He looked at the blade.
A small sphere spun on its guard. Numbers. Letters. Shadows.
A gacha.
"So, shall we play?"
He spun it.
The sphere stopped.
2.
Advantage.
The blade grew. Doubled in size. A red flash ran along its edge.
"Go home, insect," Sharky murmured.
He charged.
---
THE FIGHT – SHARKY vs TAKEMICHI
The impacts were titanic. Walls cracked. The floor sank. Neon lights exploded.
Sharky laughed with every hit.
The scarab struck him. He took it. He stepped back. He laughed.
"Again!"
He struck. The scarab lost a leg.
He spun the sphere.
2.
His blade caught fire.
Blue flames licked the carapace. The scarab screamed. It transformed — a new form, purple and green — faster, more aggressive.
Sharky spun again.
3.
Advantage: damage multiplied by 50.
Disadvantage: the blade weighs a ton.
He couldn't lift it. The scarab took advantage. It struck him. Sharky flew across the room, crashing against a wall.
He got back up, blood on his lips.
"Ahah… AHAAH…"
He spun.
1.
The blade became tiny. A dagger.
He spun.
1.
The blade dealt no damage.
He spun.
3.
The blade became electric. It electrocuted him.
His body trembled. His hair stood on end. But he held on.
He spun again.
In his mind, a scale appeared.
Percentages. 10%… 30%… 70%…
He spun.
100%.
His eyes turned entirely red. The T on his chest began to burn — red, orange, white.
An inferno.
Sharky no longer had any connection to humanity.
He was nothing but a beast.
---
THE FINAL BLOW
He raised his blade. An immense shadow. The scarab retreated.
Takemichi looked up.
A flashback.
A woman. Long hair. A smile.
She was laughing with him, in a field of flowers.
Erasered.
Then Crow. A gloved hand. A black car.
She was taken away. Transformed. Erased.
Takemichi sank into chaos, despair, hatred.
He swore to avenge himself against Crow.
The flashback ended.
Sharky's blade came down.
The scarab froze.
Then it split in two.
Takemichi died without having his revenge.
Sharky collapsed.
The T on his chest went out.
The blade created a chain — bright, strong — which fused to his wrist.
---
THE CORRIDORS – MIDAS vs FRE
Midas landed blow after blow. His golden hands struck, blocked, parried.
Fre was a master of CQC. He dodged. He counterattacked.
Then he pulled out a wheel.
A magical wheel, suspended in the air, engraved with blessings and curses.
"You want to play, Midas Grey?"
He spun it.
Blessing: speed x2.
Fre became faster. Midas took the hits. He retreated. He struck.
Fre spun the wheel. Arrogantly.
Curse: loss of right arm.
His arm fell off.
Fre fell to his knees, screaming.
"FUCK! WHAT?! WHY?! I'M THE BEST! I'M…"
He unleashed a torrent of insults. Midas raised his hand to finish him.
CLANG.
A fist stopped his blow.
Dong. The cat mask. The warrior's posture.
"I'll take over for you, Fre. Go get healed."
Fre retreated, growling, his stump bloody.
Dong turned to Midas.
"So, you're the leader of the Family?"
Midas didn't answer.
Dong smiled.
"I hope you're up to it."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…