The next morning, Lass finally got up with Ikarisa by his side, for once not having to worry about her whereabouts. When he finally left the bed, he spotted yet another message directed to their room. This time from none other than the general herself.
'Hey, kid. Sorry if I surprised you by finding your hotel room, but thanks to my connections, and you being an all-time star thanks to the tournament, it was pretty easy. Listen, I'm not gonna drag ass this message a lot, I'll just get straight to the point. You probably don't have what it takes for the tournament finals, so I'm gonna cut you a deal. Enter the first match today and just surrender on the spot, and I'll give you 250k merits and a goodbye kiss. Please just do so and avoid hurting yourself. Heista.'
He was both surprised and angered at the same moment. If he truly didn't possess the skills to make it to the finals and win, then was all of this for nothing? His mind wandered between anxiety and anger, finally coming to an end as he saw Ikarisa behind him, reading the message he had left on the table.
"Don't you dare! Lass, you have gotten this far and risked so much! You'd be stupid to give it all up now, just because of a message from some random lady we found on the streets yesterday! You're going and that's final!"
"That 'random lady' is someone with years of experience in the field. But still...call it any resemblance of pride, or something else, giving up after 3 tough matches and a city-wide assault..."
With that and a sparkling look in her eyes, it was more than enough to make Lass want to get up and give it his all. He lift himself, thanking Ikarisa, before they both realized that he had, yet again, been late. They barely made it in time for the announcer to make comments on their situation.
"Hey-hey, village boy! What happened?! You got stuck in bed sleeping it out or what?!", the announcer eagerly said.
"Just start the thing. I'm in no mood to deal with the likes of you.", Lass scoffed at the announcer.
"Oh, being a little grumpy today as well I see? Very well then. Ladies-"
Before he could finish his sentence and start the match, someone walked into the arena which was highly unexpected.
"Cut it out Asimore I wanna do something first.", Heista said as she cut in.
"Wait a minute. This guy's name is 'Asimore'?", Lass said, containing his laughter.
"God dammit Heista! Once again you're trying to ruin my awesome and robust public image!", Asimore cried in despair.
"Yea-yea whatever asshole. You still won't get any piece of the pie, no matter how hard you try. I just need a minute, so back off and do something else ‘till I'm done!", Heista replied with a powerful look on her face"
With that, she turned around and looked at Lass, leaving Asimore behind her, him lamenting his career choices.
"So...I guess that your greed wouldn't let you get away with a fourth of the price, huh? You wanted it all?", Heista asked.
"I'll admit, I did start this because we came broke to Reingard, but I'm not doing it for that anymore. I'm keeping up because I have to prove to both myself and morons such as you, that I'll not be defeated so easily. Even though this is all new to me, both my abilities and power. I will not lose.", Lass said with a fire in his eyes.
"Huh...pride? On you? How absolutely golden....good one! Fighting a battle where you don't know your powers and limits! I don't know where that determinant attitude came from...but I'll be honest. I kinda like it! Now then, I shall be up there in the VIP seats watching your ass get kicked. But please, even if you do get your ass kicked, just try not to get it kicked too much. We wouldn't want you to get hurt too much, right kid?
"Say that one more time and you'll be the next to face me. No matter how much you flex your muscles and power at me, I won't budge. No matter their size.", Lass said as he took out his sword.
"Hmph. Not now.", she pushed Lass's sword away.
With that, she left up for the seats. Lass paused briefly as he wondered how someone with her attitude could be in such a powerful position, to begin with. But he couldn't dwell on it for long. He then shrugged off her words and focused on the target. Thankfully for him, the announcer had lost his cheerfulness which was music to Lass's ears.
"Alright now that we got that out of the way let's just begin...village boy versus Rafgo or whatever.", Asimore said in a dull, uninterested way.
"This delightful pessimistic attitude from him. Sure then Mr Ass, I'll give the people a good show.", Lass said with a smug.
“Oh really mature, what are you, 6? This coming out of a guy whose name is also L-ass, it’s precious!”
”At least I start with something else other than my Ass.”, Lass made a comeback.
“Shut it, village boy! It's Simore for short!", Asimore said, obviously annoyed. "This revelation will be detrimental to my follower count on all social media platforms. My attractive full-of-mystery guy persona is ruined!", he whispered.
"You really should try to find the nearest patch of grass, buddy. I've been hoping for something like this since the tournament started. Off you go.", Lass smiled as he waved his hand away from the announcer.
With that Lass turned around and faced his opponent, suddenly realizing that he should've been out of there a long time ago...but he seemed...different.
"Wait a minute, what? Didn't I pulverize your face last time? How are you back?", Lass asked.
"You bastard! Thanks to all those idiots being hurt last time in the monster attack, the casualties were too much and there had to be a draft to make at least the final round...and I was drafted. Thanks to you I was humiliated...my pride! Thanks to you my life is ruined. And now...now you'll pay me back with yours!", Rafgo screamed.
"How can a buffoon like you, who was yelling 'smash' all the time last round, come up with these words? Something about this isn't right at all...guy clearly wasn't an intellectual, for obvious reasons too. This problem of his...dammit, I despise what they did to the poor guy! Wake up, moron! They're using you as their pet, you're objectively a braindead idiot with brawns only! You need help, not a fight to be someone's commercial lapdog!", Lass said, taking his stance and preparing for the worse.
Trying to catch him by surprise, Rafgo jumped right at Lass, this time with a fierce charge and a clear intent for killing.
"Heap!", Lass swiftly blocked Rafgo's attack, coming face-to-face with him. "What the hell is this? You were neither this strong nor intelligent before. What did you do, you hard-headed moron?!"
"This...this is how revenge can fuel you. So feel it. Feel my revenge!", Rafgo began to go wild again.
"I might have to retract my previous statement of intelligence. At least you can talk sensible sentences, so that's a minor improvement.", Lass scoffed.
He managed to knock Lass out of his stance, grabbing and tossing him to the other side of the arena. Lass then glared at Heista, as she had gotten out of her seat. Both Lass and her knew something was not right, but she didn't look like she was doing a thing. She was paralyzed and forced to watch. Rafgo then jumped straight at Lass, again trying to mercilessly crush him, but he blocked him again, bringing him up close. He saw his eyes, them being scarlet red. Something was seriously wrong, they both knew it, but couldn't grasp on what was wrong. As he grabbed Lass and launched him back to the other side again, he saw his waist. Rafgo had that black, malevolent-looking, glowing rock around his belt. He had hidden it too well for others to see besides up close, but what he said next, sealed Rafgo's fate almost immediately.
"So how does it feel?! Being destroyed by the one you looked down upon?! And no, I won't end it with you. After I'm done, I'll hunt down that little Wolven friend of yours and I'll rip her tail apart, before killing her too. And that little shy moron you escort all the time...I'll slaughter her. I'll make sure her last seconds in this world are the most painful that can be! Now die!”
"Dammit...that bastard...", Lass said as he paused, grabbing his head from the momentary pain.
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"Tsk. Does he actually think he will make it out of here alive? Even hurt Ikarisa? So insignificant. Come on already...you know you want this, let me at him.", the voice inside Lass echoed.
"Haha.", Lass lost it, "He is all yours. Go for it.", Lass chuckled, placing a smile on his face and letting go of his control.
Something at that moment made him snap. Lass felt an unbelievable hatred grow within him. Overwhelmed by the sheer rush of emotion, he completely lost control of his body. He almost fainted, but he barely managed to keep himself together, thanks to "him", shifting the way he looked in the process. Still, the rage had completely taken over, tunnelling his vision on the threat in front of him, and taking most of his rationality away from him.
"My, oh my me. Finally a clear shift. Been a while. Now...", 'Lass' said as he pointed his sword menacingly with a smile at Rafgo. "I'll make sure that shitty power of yours is the sole reason for your final moments to be amongst the worst to be felt by mere mortal bugs. Let us begin.", he said as he menacingly approached with a mad laugh, spreading his arms as if he were to hug Rafgo.
He couldn't hold on to anything back. It felt as if he was erased from this world. As if he was just gone. And someone else had taken his place and body.
"Kill! Destroy!", Rafgo screamed as he smashed the ground
He could see everything. He could hear everything. He could even feel his every emotion...and hear every single thought. But he could only watch like he was far away. Paralyzed and unable to move. 'Lass' hit Rafgo way too many times and it was clear that Rafgo was way out of his league. He could simply not stop. All he was aiming for. All he was thinking...was taking away Rafgo's life. 'He' was getting ready for the finishing blow but then, something even stranger happened. Lass felt some sort of light. Someone reaching out to him. And trying to save him. They momentarily made his body stop and let him take control back.
"Don't let go of your powers. Stay focused, calm down.", the distant voice echoed.
"Hmph. Imbecile. Have you no shame to realize the clear effort of kindness I'm putting to ensure 'our' wellbeing?", 'Lass' replied.
"This is not 'him'. 'He' is hurting.", the voice worryingly said.
'Lass' paused, looking at his body. Horribly bleeding and awfully corrupted and broken, it was clear that it was not just the work of adrenaline indulging 'him' in such a state.
"Hah. How weak. Fine...I'll admit my mistake over the rush of battle if that makes you feel better. Your turn.", the voice in Lass's head scoffed at the voice in the distance, giving control back to Lass himself.
"Tseh! This took a bigger toll on me than I expect.", Lass panted.
"Apologies. Now, finish him off while at it. Do not divide yourself with the troubles of morality. This 'thing' is far gone anyway. Show them grace, by granting them death.", the voice in Lass's head scoffed.
"But...that's no monster. It's not just a mindless animal."
"Hah, really? Would you not kill a pig if you were hungry to eat? Would you not kill a bull if it threatened to stab an innocent with its horns? You fail to kill this 'thing', which is already worse than a mindless animal, expect to change your hated career path to an undertaker.", 'Lass' echoed in his mind.
"But still...dammit."
"There's no choice here, Lass. You know you'd have to do it sooner or later. Better not let innocent take the hit for your indecisiveness."
Lass paused in the realization that 'he' was for once speaking nothing but truth and logic. Rafgo's fate, in his voice mind, was already sealed the moment he decided to take on his new, horrifying abilities. He paused to question what he was about to do, if it was worth it or not, stuttering and freezing before his opponent, Rafgo recovered slowly from the ground.
"Stop screwing around! Stutter any longer, you will either die or let it get away!", 'he' echoed once again, forcing Lass out of his stuttering and pushing him over the edge.
Lass snapped out of it, "Alright. I'll end it then!"
Lass then managed to take back control, slamming his sword to the ground and grabbing Rafgo. He still had whatever overwhelming power came over him. This time slightly weaker, but he was in control. He then snapped Rafgo's entire arm, which was holding his blunt weapon onto. Despite his thick armour, it still snapped like a twig. Proceeding further, he then grabbed the part of his armour next to his waist that he had implanted the glowing stone on and ripped it clean off. He then turned that stone to dust with his bare hands. It was scary to even come close to thinking that such a creature possessed such power. Because even if he was in control. That clearly wasn't 'Lass'. It wasn't who he saw in the mirror, for so many years now.
"I don't think...", he doubted himself, "He isn't a monster, still. Too intelligent.", Lass said.
"Oh for the love of the gods. Enough! This ends, here!", the voice inside Lass's head screamed, taking full control of Lass's body.
"Wait!", Lass yelled.
"I'll make sure to cherish every single moment of this merciless slaughter. Be grateful. Your blood will be used by none other than me to paint the bigger picture!", the voice inside Lass's head menacingly said as he laughed.
After that, 'he' immediately got full control back and it seemed that whatever damage was done to Lass's body from all of Rafgo's hits had been completely healed. Lass was...feeling fine. But Rafgo not so much. After he broke the stone, Rafgo was starting to feel dizzy and 'Lass' immediately pushed Rafgo away from him out of pure reaction. Even 'he' wasn't expecting what was about to happen.
"What the hell? What is this?", the voice inside Lass's head said, giving control back to Lass.
"Couldn't...couldn't you've done it in a different way?", the distant voice said.
"Hmph. Whatever. I'm done here.", the voice inside Lass scoffed as he gave control back.
Rafgo then started vomiting blood. A lot of it. At one moment he stopped, but he was trying to still let it out. Something was clogging his throat. He continued to try. And what followed next, was one of the most gruesome and gory things Lass, and everyone around him had ever had the displeasure of seeing in their life. Rafgo vomited his own heart out of his own body, followed by a large splatter of blood. It was terrifying. And the feeling that went down his spine was indescribable.
His heart was just there. Dropped down on the floor, still fully functional as if nothing had happened. But instead of pumping blood, it pumped some sort of red muck. Lass didn't think twice before grabbing his sword and stabbing the thing until it was done for. Such faith...he wouldn't wish to his worst of enemies.
He had lost all feelings about where he was and what was happening. Almost as if he was in a trance. Before he had a chance to completely lose himself, however, another calamity approached from above. The entirety of the arena looked up, and then they saw something even more terrifying gliding down. Kalimo...the legendary demi-human of Gardard, who had lost all his mind and willpower and had instead given in to his primal instincts. He was a total monster that had grown way out of normal proportions, exactly like Rafgo before him.
That beast of a monster dropped into the arena landing on Rafgo's body squishing it to oblivion. The sight was terrifying. Gruesome. So horrible that it could fuel nightmares for a lifetime. The entire arena was ordered to evacuate, but the contenders once again stayed there and took their stance, including Lass. Whatever had happened to Rafgo, he was sure, it was that "thing's" fault. And no matter how good or bad both Kalimo and Rafgo once were, they were still warriors, fighters. One of them at least still stood the chance of returning back to one. And Lass was going to avenge, not them, but their now shattered title. They all took their stance but the thing was too strong. Obsulyte-infused arrows took flight, bullets did too. Steel clashed and all put their deepest effort to take it down was brought forth. But it was to no effect. Its skin had hardened and iron was quick to break. Its breath of fire was enough to melt mountains whole and took away the lives of those who dared to show resistance in its way. It was easy for it to just knock every one of them away like they were mere mosquitos to it. Then as the beast was about to take Lass's life, Heista jumped in front of him, finally taking action, and blocked the beast with just her giant claymore.
"God dammit kid, get up! I ain't gonna sit around here and save you all the time so just do so!", Heista yelled at Lass.
"I-I can't. What happened...what I did. The sight of it...", Lass hesitated.
"Bullshit. You saw how he had become, leaving him alone would make it ten times worse! Now don't get all scared and stuff 'cause otherwise, you're dead! Now lift yourself and let's go!"
"B-But I...", he replied, still in shock.
"Huh I see...could work.", Heista whispered. "So this is it? This is how you're gonna protect everyone you love? Pretty damn pathetic if you ask me."
"What?"
"Fine, go on and play the hero. We all know you're just gonna die like the miserable creature you are in the end. Just another body in the pile.", Heista kept on provoking.
"That's not it...you do not know me.", Lass said as he got up.
"Yea right! You're just gonna sit there and cry all day, it's what you're good at. Much like her. But don't get any ideas, because once that giant dragon kills your friends and that little lover of yours, I ain't going to save them, just watch as I did before..."
"Hmm? She is trying to provoke your powers out of you? How uncouth.", the voice inside Lass's head said.
"Since when did you get so active?", the distant voice replied.
"I have my reasons. Lass. I'll show you the true end of power. This entire situation is but salt to the wound...such a drag on. Use this and finish them all off. Pathetic of them to think they even had a chance, to begin with.", 'he' chuckled amusingly.
"But if he uses any more of that power than this-", the distant voice said.
"Please. Look around you. You think he has a chance if he doesn't use the powers that are rightfully his?", the voice inside Lass's head replied.
"Dammit...", the distant voice said.
"Alright. This damn brute...now disappear!", Lass yelled as he reused his powers.
Lass then got the same horrible feeling as before. But this time...this time he knew it was for good. He knew he had it under control. He punched the massive dragon in the air as if it was just a feather.
"Away with you.", Lass scoffed at the enemy.
He then proceeded to pierce the beast straight through its chest and out its back. He then did it again, and again, and again. With the only thing in mind was to erase its existence. After that, everything just stopped. He looked around him for a bit and saw a couple of wounded contenders. All before he started fading out. He almost dropped to the ground before being caught by Heista.
"Huh. Not a bad kid...not bad at all. Even controlled it now...despite the hits, and him being in this form, I guess he will live. I guess you deserve some rest. I'll get you to the hospital but make sure to be up for it tomorrow at the grand finale against the previous KoK champion. Even if it'll be unofficial, after all this rising hell. Would be disappointing if you don't give me a show...after all you ain't all that hurt. You might just have what it takes to win.", Heista said.
All Lass could see then was the road getting bigger and bigger as they were leaving the arena. He could do nothing but stare back at it. Magi's words were calm, as she collected herself. The only thing he could do was wonder...who was she, really? Her face had plagued him with constant wondering since the moment he faced her. That was the only thing in his mind before he completely lost his senses.