Chapter 76: Kurushimi Brothers vs Jason, the Venomous Hybrid

The air hung heavy with a sense of foreboding as the Kurushimi brothers stepped onto the battlefield once again. Their opponent this time was Jason, a nightmarish amalgamation of cyborg engineering, serpent-like agility, and demonic blood. His elongated limbs moved with a reptilian grace, his cybernetic augmentations gleaming under the pale moonlight. Fangs dripped with a toxic substance so potent it could corrode steel, and his eyes glowed with a hellish red hue. Jason was a monster in every sense of the word—a hybrid of human, machine, and demon, wielding powers that twisted the very essence of nature.

Jason hissed, his voice low and venomous. “You Kurushimi brothers think you’re unstoppable. Let me show you what true power looks like.”

The Battle Begins

Before the brothers could respond, Jason struck first. He moved with a speed that rivaled even the quickest among them, his body blurring as he closed the distance. From his cybernetic arm, a barrage of toxic needles shot out, aimed directly at the brothers.

Martin Kurushimi, ever the leader, reacted instantly. With a flicker of shadows, he teleported out of the line of fire, the needles striking the ground where he once stood. He reappeared behind Jason, his fist swinging with the force of a wrecking ball. The blow connected, sending the hybrid skidding across the battlefield, but Jason’s serpentine body coiled mid-air, absorbing the impact with a sickening flexibility.

Jason landed gracefully, his tail whipping out like a scythe. It slashed through the air, venom dripping from its blade-like tip. Krishna Kurushimi charged forward, his body a blur as he intercepted the tail with his bare hands. The venom sizzled against his skin, but Krishna gritted his teeth, his enhanced durability allowing him to withstand the corrosive poison. With a roar, he twisted the tail, snapping it like a brittle twig.

Jason howled in pain, but his demonic blood quickly regenerated the damaged limb. His glowing eyes narrowed as he opened his mouth, expelling a massive cloud of green toxic gas. The brothers immediately scattered, teleporting to avoid the suffocating fumes.

A Deadly Strategy

Temna Kurushimi hung back, his sharp eyes analyzing Jason’s movements. He noticed that the hybrid’s demonic blood enhanced his regeneration, but it required energy. The more damage Jason sustained, the slower his regeneration became.

“Focus on wearing him down!” Temna shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. “His regeneration isn’t infinite!”

Takashi Kurushimi grinned, his cocky demeanor masking the razor-sharp focus in his mind. “Roger that. Let’s see how much this snake can take.”

Takashi teleported directly in front of Jason, feinting a punch to draw the hybrid’s attention. Jason lashed out with a venom-coated blade that extended from his cybernetic arm, but Takashi dodged with an almost mocking ease. “Too slow,” he taunted, before delivering a powerful kick to Jason’s midsection.

The blow staggered Jason, and before he could recover, Martin was there, his shadow-infused strikes pummeling the hybrid relentlessly. Each punch carried the weight of the Shadow Blessing, cracking Jason’s cybernetic armor and leaving him vulnerable.

Krishna joined the fray, his chaotic fighting style overwhelming Jason’s defenses. Every strike he landed disrupted the hybrid’s regeneration, the demonic blood struggling to keep up with the damage.

Jason’s Counterattack

But Jason wasn’t done yet. With a guttural roar, he slammed his hands into the ground, sending a wave of poison-infused spikes erupting from the earth. The spikes shot out in all directions, forcing the brothers to teleport or dodge. One spike grazed Temna’s shoulder, the venom seeping into his bloodstream.

Temna winced but remained calm, using his enhanced reflexes to evade the rest of the attack. He pulled out a throwing knife, its blade glinting ominously as he infused it with shadow energy. With a single fluid motion, he hurled the knife at Jason, aiming for the hybrid’s exposed cybernetic core.

The knife struck true, embedding itself in Jason’s chest. Sparks flew as the shadow energy disrupted his systems, causing him to stagger. Jason’s movements became erratic, his regeneration faltering as his demonic blood struggled to keep up.

The Final Blow

Sensing the opportunity, the brothers moved in unison. Martin and Krishna attacked from the front, their combined strength hammering Jason with devastating blows. Takashi teleported behind the hybrid, his strikes targeting the vulnerable joints in Jason’s cybernetic limbs.

Meanwhile, Temna took aim with his rifle, his finger steady on the trigger. He focused on the core exposed by his earlier strike, his breathing slow and deliberate. With a sharp crack, the bullet flew through the air, striking the core dead center.

Jason let out a final, ear-splitting roar as his body convulsed. The demonic energy within him exploded outward, a wave of toxic energy spreading across the battlefield. But the Kurushimi brothers stood firm, their Shadow Blessings protecting them from the worst of the blast.

When the dust settled, Jason lay in a twisted heap, his cybernetic limbs shattered, and his demonic blood reduced to a blackened ooze. The battlefield was silent except for the faint hum of the shadows still lingering around the brothers.

Victory and Reflection

The Kurushimi brothers stood together, their bodies battered but victorious. Jason had been a formidable opponent, but their bond and the power of the Shadow Blessings had carried them through.

“This was just the beginning,” Martin said, his voice low and resolute.

Krishna smirked, cracking his knuckles. “Good. I was starting to get bored.”

Temna nodded, his calm demeanor betraying a hint of satisfaction. “We’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”

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Takashi chuckled, brushing dust off his shoulder. “Bring it on. We’re just getting started.”

The brothers turned and walked away, leaving the battlefield behind. The war was far from over, but they knew that together, they were unstoppable.

The Kurushimi Brothers Reflect on Michael Hawks #2 SAAHO assasin

The battlefield was quiet now, save for the distant sound of sirens. The Kurushimi brothers sat in a loose circle, their backs resting against the remnants of the battlefield’s shattered terrain. Their breathing was heavy, the adrenaline from their fight with Jason still coursing through their veins. Shadows danced faintly around them, a lingering reminder of the power bestowed upon them by the Shadow Blessings.

Yet despite their victory, a heavy silence hung over the group.

“Jason was tough,” Krishna muttered, breaking the quiet. His voice was laced with frustration. “But why the hell did it take all four of us to take him down? We’re supposed to be the best, aren’t we?”

Martin leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “We are the best,” he said firmly, though his tone carried a hint of self-doubt. “But even so, this fight shouldn’t have pushed us this far. Jason was powerful, but he wasn’t supposed to be insurmountable.”

Takashi, sitting cross-legged, picked at the edge of his blood-stained glove. “It’s because we’re comparing ourselves,” he said, his usual cocky tone subdued. “To Michael.”

The name hung in the air like a specter. Michael Hawks, the #2 SAAHO assassin—legendary for his brutal efficiency, unmatched skill, and terrifying ability to defeat seemingly unstoppable foes. The man who had once taken down Doku, a foe far stronger than Jason, armed with nothing but two 21-inch hunting knives and a single Glock 17.

“He didn’t even need a team,” Temna said softly, his gaze distant. “Doku was leagues above Jason. And Michael handled him alone. No backup, no blessings—just raw skill and determination.”

Krishna’s jaw tightened. “It makes us look weak, doesn’t it?” he said, his voice low. “We’ve got the Shadow Blessings, all this power, and still… it took all four of us to win.”

Martin shook his head. “Michael was something else. Comparing ourselves to him isn’t fair. He was in a league of his own, even among the titans of SAAHO. Doku was a monster, but Michael didn’t just beat him—he made it look easy.”

Takashi snorted bitterly. “He’s like a damn myth at this point. The stories about him make him sound invincible. You know what they say: Michael didn’t just fight his enemies; he dismantled them.”

A faint smile crossed Krishna’s lips. “I remember hearing that when Doku went into his berserk form, he could punch through solid steel and shrug off bullets like they were nothing. And Michael still took him down with a couple of knives and a Glock. The guy’s insane.”

Temna sighed, adjusting the bandage on his shoulder where Jason’s venomous spike had grazed him. “I wonder if we’ll ever get to that level. No tricks, no blessings—just skill and sheer willpower.”

The sirens grew closer, the ambulance finally approaching the battlefield. But the brothers remained seated, lost in their thoughts.

“Michael wasn’t just strong,” Martin said after a moment. “He was relentless. Every fight was personal to him, every kill a message. He didn’t rely on power or blessings. He relied on himself. That’s what made him so dangerous.”

Krishna leaned back, staring up at the sky. “I want that,” he said quietly. “Not just the strength, but the mindset. To be able to face someone like Doku and win—not because of luck or advantages, but because I’m better.”

Takashi smirked faintly, though his eyes betrayed a deeper emotion. “Guess we’ve got a long way to go, huh?”

Martin stood, brushing the dust off his coat. “We all do. But we’re Kurushimi. If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s getting better.”

The others nodded, one by one, their resolve hardening. Michael Hawks was a legend, but legends weren’t untouchable. The Kurushimi brothers would continue to grow, honing their skills and pushing their limits until they, too, could stand among the greatest.

As the ambulance arrived and medics began tending to their wounds, the brothers exchanged a silent promise: one day, they would surpass even the likes of Michael Hawks

Krishna's voice cut through the air like a blade, low and heavy with disbelief. The words he spoke seemed to hang in the space around them, resonating with a weight that made even the air feel still.

"He didn't even use the rage toxin."

The brothers exchanged quiet glances, the significance of Krishna's words sinking in slowly, like a heavy stone dropping into a quiet pond, its ripples spreading across their thoughts.

Krishna clenched his fists, frustration and awe mingling in his tone. "I’ve seen what the rage toxin does to me—what it turns me into. It amplifies everything I am, makes me more powerful, more lethal. I’ve seen how it turns even the strongest enemies into nothing more than prey for me. Yet, Michael… Michael didn’t need any of it. He didn’t rely on something like that to fuel his fight."

He looked down at his hands, the veins running underneath the skin still twitching with the remnants of the battle, the surge of power that came from his own rage toxin having already started to fade. But the memory of what it did to him—and what it could do to others—was always there, a constant reminder of the brutal edge he wielded when under its influence.

"He fought Doku without any enhancements, no poisons, no magic. Just his mind, his body, and the sheer will to win." Krishna’s voice softened for a moment, a mix of admiration and frustration there. "If he can take down someone like Doku, who’s stronger than all of us combined, without any of those crutches… then what does that make us?"

Temna, who had been staring off into the distance, spoke up quietly. "It means he’s not just a warrior… he’s something more. Michael didn't need the extra power because he had complete control over himself. No matter how many enemies he faced, no matter how strong they were, he could take them down because he understood the fight on a deeper level. It was never about the strength he had—it was about the strength of his mind, of his purpose."

Martin stood silently, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowing in thought. He had heard the stories about Michael Hawks, but hearing Krishna’s words now made everything seem different. More real. "I think Krishna’s right. It’s not just about power or strength. Michael had something more—discipline, control, a clarity that none of us have reached yet."

Krishna gritted his teeth. "That’s what burns me up. I know what I’m capable of. When I take that rage toxin, I become a monster. But with it, I don’t think. I act, I destroy, I fight. And that’s why I need it to stand on equal ground with people like Doku, with people like Jason. But Michael didn’t need to lose himself like that. He did it all by choice, with clear-headed precision."

Takashi let out a low whistle. "Man’s a freak. How the hell do you get to that level? I’ve got all the tricks in my arsenal—my speed, my unpredictability, and I can even teleport. But none of it holds a candle to what Michael did."

The silence stretched out for a moment, as each of the brothers fell into their own thoughts. It was strange, this feeling of inadequacy in the face of a legend like Michael Hawks. They had all been at the top of their game, fighting and defeating countless enemies. Yet, comparing themselves to Michael only revealed how much further they had to go.

Finally, Krishna stood up, a grim resolve settling over him. “If Michael can do it without all the things we rely on—without the rage toxin, without special powers or enhancements—then we have no excuse.” He looked at each of his brothers. “It’s time we stopped making excuses. We’ll reach that level. We’ll surpass it.”

Martin nodded slowly. “We’ll need to push ourselves harder than ever before. No shortcuts, no crutches. Just us. Our minds. Our strength. We’ll take down anyone, no matter how strong, with our own power and nothing else.”

Temna stood up with them, his eyes glinting with determination. “And when we do, we’ll be the ones they talk about in legends.”

Takashi grinned, though it was laced with an edge of seriousness. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready to see what it feels like to be that unstoppable.”

With that, the Kurushimi brothers turned their focus forward, no longer comparing themselves to the legend of Michael Hawks, but instead, pushing themselves to become legends in their own right. They had been given the gift of power, but now, it was time to turn that power into something more—something undeniable.

They were no longer just the Kurushimi brothers. They were going to be more. They were going to become untouchable.