Terror Infinity Side B
Chapter 26, HxH Greed Island
Previously, when Shin had went ahead to confront Team Germany in the city of Masadora he fell into a trap. From underground, Webber, the Bane Mutation, Earthbender, and giant of Team Germany, snuck up on Shin and dragged him underground before he could react. When Shin could finally free himself from Webber's clutches, he found himself in a pitch black man made cave underground forged by Earthbending. Shin needed to concentrate Ki around his eyes to increase his perception just to see, yet it was far from perfect.
Webber: "You ready for round two Jap!? Your cowardly attacks won't work again! Ahahaha!!!"
Webber already souped up by the fluids running through the tubes across his body yelled loudly as he summoned the earth around him into a makeshift armor. His large body, except for his joints, was now covered in heavy stones that would immobilize the strongest of men, yet as Webber charged towards Shin his speed didn't seem to be hindered in the slightest. Webber’s stone armored hand swung down to smash Shin's head.
Shin, already in the First Stage of the Genetic Constraint, dodged to the side and retaliated with Gravity Sword with an increased weight slash, but to his surprise he couldn't cut through Webber's stone armor. Webber unhindered swung his arms around to hit Shin, but using Instant Movement he retreated backwards to avoid any damage. Instant Movement allowed Shin to overwhelm those like Webber who relied on just physical power, but in a cramped space like the self-made cave Webber could easily catch up to him.
When they were in the dark cave, due to the lack of light, he didn’t receive much damage. The giant’s strikes were extremely powerful, especially his hands with the added power of his stone armor which could crush the wall into powder with just a punch... but aside from power, his senses, vision, and control over his power were weak. During the initial clash of offense, defense and retreat only a few of his punches scratched Shin, with most of them missing. Though these few grazes still knocked Shin to the wall. When one side’s power overwhelms by too much, all techniques can become useless as a wise man once said.
Shin didn’t get too close to Webber afterwards and used his superior speed and magic sword to attack from the sides. After increasing the weight of Gravity Blade to the limit without sacrificing speed and reinforcing the blade with Ki, after a few slashes the Webber's body was painted with cuts having penetrating through the stone armor and flesh. Several of his tendons were cut off and if it wasn’t for fear of the extreme strength, Shin would have probably gotten his magic sword into the giant's heart.
Webber was being pushed back by Shin's attacks despite this having a environment that gave himself the best advantage... but he wasn’t an idiot. After several sword slashes he knew he would die if he continued like this. Unable to hit his target while receiving cuts little by little the glooming realization made him shout with the insanity of a savage beast. Webber ignored everything, his own injuries and better judgement and charged at Shin, letting his black dyed magic sword stab into his stomach and cut his intestines in half. But at the same time he also got a hold of Shin and enclosed his body in his arms. Shin struggled in Webber hug, but his strength was too overwhelming.
Webber: "You can't keep running anymore, right Jap! You Japanese monkey! Break free and try to run again if you think you are really a monkey! Just become ground meat! Weaklings that only knows how to run should die!”
With that the pressure on Shin's body was magnified by several folds. Shin could hear the sound of his own bones fracturing from the bear hug attempting to tear him in two. Drowning on his own blood, Shin began screaming like mad and spitting up blood. The near death sensation fell upon him. This wasn't the first time he really experienced this sensation since he entered the mission, but he was worried that it was going to be his last. The power coming from Webber’s arms were too strong that even though activating his Ki, Silver Dragon Scales, and wearing the Lesser Fenrir Coat kept him alive, but it wasn’t able to help him escape. If he let this continue, it won’t take more than ten seconds before he gets crushed, and it was at this time he heard the dignified and rigid voice of God.
-QUEST REWARD 4, DEFEAT THE BOMBER, GENTHRU - REWARDS 4000 POINTS AND 2C RANK REWARDS. EVERY OTHER PLAYER OF TEAM JAPAN ACQUIRED 2000 POINTS AND D RANK REWARD!
Shin: (Bomber... then Aqua did it!)
Hearing this message of Aqua's success and that she was still alive gave him no small amount of relief and renewed hope. Since the time Aqua left alone to face Genthru there's been a bottomless hole in the pit of his stomach. Was she alive? Was she hurt? Did she need back up, but stubbornly chose not to? Such thoughts kept Shin on edge more than his battles with Team Germany... so just receiving one sign that Aqua was alive rejuvenated his spirit like no magic spell could ever hope to.
Shin: (I can’t die! After going through so many dangers... knowing that Aqua's alive and that my comrades need me... how I can die here?!)
Filled with renewed hope and bloodlust towards the enemy holding him back, Shin opened his mouth and bit the giant’s shoulder, devour Webber's tough flesh and bone. A taste of blood rushed into his throat. He felt a violent and blood thirsty emotion surfaced from within. His genetic constraint finally unlocked again at this crucial moment and entered the Second Stage. Shin's muscles began convulsing, two seconds later his muscles puffed up three times there norms. This was the symbol of the Second Stage, the ability to control his body at will and unleashing all its potentials.
In this form Shin held the highest strength, but it didn't end there. After unintentionally swallowing Webber flesh and it reaching his stomach a new found strength swelled up from his core and felt alive. As if he never noticed how desperately his body was starving for something, and now finally feeding on this something every cell in his body resonated with newfound energy. Shin's injuries began to heal, his stamina recovered, and overall strength grew as well. The feeling of euphoria was too much for Shin as he even ignored the next notification from God.
- SPECIAL ABILITY TRAIT UNLOCKED. BY POSSESSING A MUTATION OR ABILITY THAT ALLOWS ONE TO CONSUME THE BLOOD, FLESH, ENERGY, OR THE SOUL OF ANOTHER ORGANISM, STATS MAY BE INCREASED AND POSSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING ABILITIES FROM THE DEVOURED. TO EFFECTIVELY INCREASE ONE'S POWER WITH THIS METHOD AN INDIVIDUAL MUST SEEK OUT STRONGER AND A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANISMS WITH SPECIAL POWERS FOR GREATER INCREASES IN STRENGTH. DEVOURING A NORMAL OR INFERIOR ORGANISM WILL ONLY RECOVER STAMINA, WITH NO INCREASES TO STATS OR SPECIAL ABILITIES.
- AS A ONE-EYED GHOUL, YOU'VE DEVOURERED THE FLESH OF A SPECIAL ORGANISM! MUSCLE DENSITY+100, CELL VITALITY+30, IMMUNIZATION STRENGTH+50!
Webber: “Ghaaa! Go to hell Japanese monkey!”
Shin: "Fucking racist! You go to hell steroid junky!"
Webber was still yelling, but before he could say another word, a huge force emerged from within his arms and knocked him to the far off cave wall. Shin now freed look over towards Webber with a primal bloodlust filling his body. For some reason, Shin wanted to drink his blood, eat flesh, and chew on bone. As soon as he knocked Webber away, he jumped at the giant. The two huge powers clashed into each other. Endless combat instincts streamed into Shin’s head from Unlocked Mode. When his hands clashed with the giant’s, he kicked the ground and jumped over to Webber’s back, twisting the man's arms then... pah! His arms snapped. Webber let out a scream and then Shin knocked him to the floor of the cave and snapped both his legs as well.
It still wasn’t over as Webber used his stone armor as a proxy to control and move his body, yet Shin gave him no chance to recover. Shin released four blood red Kagune tentacles brighter than ever before and, further strengthened by Silver Dragon Scales, flew towards the helpless giant four limbs. Each tentacle stabbed straight through the stone armor, gouged into flesh and stabbed the bone. Shin looking down at Webber unexpectedly laughed seeing as he recreated a popular scene from Tokyo Ghouls, but unfortunately he didn't have the time to reenacted the scene to completion. Shin's Kagune lifted Webber up into the air, taking full control over his life, and kept slamming his body against the cave ceiling till a hole to the surface was made. With each time Webber was slammed against the cave wall he screamed, yet Shin showed indifference to it.
Shin: "Thanks for being a useful wrecking ball. Let's go!"
Saying so Shin still holding on to Webber jumped to the surface and ran back to his comrades... but not without first calling a comrade.
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Shin: "I know you have a healer in your team. Your team can regrow an arm even after I cut his off once before and I've experienced his healing spells personally. I only snapped his neck... he’s still alive, but can’t last much longer. Let go of Renji, Hikari, and Kisara, and let them leave! Then the four of us can battle it out on your terms, take him away so your healer can save him... or we'll trade losses! Choose!
Team Japan's leader Shin yelled out his demands. He was fine with fighting them here, or allowing them to take measures to save Webber, but his main priority was saving his comrades. Kisara was being restrained by Klaus and Renji seemingly under some kind of spell held a sword pointed at Hikari's back. It wouldn't even take one wrong move for everyone present to end up up dead... and Shin wouldn't have that.
On Team Germany's side most of them were in a panic. With the exception of Abigail who didn't seem to care if Webber died by Shin's hands and just wanted to kill Shin and his comrades, Klaus and Erwin cared very deeply about his death. Not because they thought of Webber as a friend, he was just a professional colleague and was a racist of a man, but his death meant a -1 Team Battle Point.
Of course, if they kill Shin's captured comrades then -1 point wouldn't mean very much, but looking at Shin who had clearly entered the Second Stage of the Genetic Constraint... they wouldn't dare believe that it would end with just only one side receiving casualties. If Abigail ignored the enemy leader's demand for negotiating then at best just one of the seven individuals present standing on the street of Masadora would leave alive. The next move was Abigail's decision. She looked at Shin with both interest and contempt at the man in front of him. She was a noble lady of Mass Enlightenment, yet a commoner like Shin was making threats, so she felt offended at him talking back.
Abigail: "The leader of Team Japan in the flesh. You've also reached the Second Stage of Unlocked Mode like in the reports and you even have high level of enhancements and magic gear. No wonder those three couldn't take you out earlier. Fuck, they weren't that much different than you in Exchanges cost and had you outnumbered... they're all trash! Hey, Erwin, have that kid there read out their mission."
On that order Erwin ordered Renji to move. Renji’s body trembled then his voice forced through his mouth. Shin seeing this felt intense hatred seeing his good natured comrade and friend being manipulated. Shin had to use all of his self-control to not just rip off all of their heads off. Renji moved slightly away from Hikari and approached Abigail following his orders.
Renji: "...Collect all 100 Designated Pocket Cards and reach Limerio."
Abigail: "...I see. Well, putting my own motivations to skin you the fuck alive for all the trouble that you've caused me... I have no reason to listen to your demands. Remember this Team Japan leader as the unspoken rule when two teams meet. If both teams are on the same level, then we will exchange information, such as how to survive a specific Mission Worlds or how to run away when the plot changes on you. That's just how it is. You can't provide us any information and nor are you in a position make any demands. Also, Team Japan's power is far less than my Team Germany! If the powers of two teams are unequal... Erwin!”
The Abigail shouted out her command and Shin watched as her right arm glowed and began to transform. Once the light died down what was once a human arm was replaced with a purple metallic arm of a robot. The metal arm looked foreign being attached the body of a little girl like Abigail, yet it seemed perfectly natural to her, if not better than her own flesh and blood body. That metallic arm's finger tips than began to glow Abigail raised it over head in a chopping motion. Shin felt danger from the enemy leader's stance and moved to dodge... but he couldn't and felt that he lost control of his body.
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Erwin: "Psyche Chain! Seal of Life!"
Erwin had casted a Psyche Force skill and crowd control magic spell with Shin as the target. Psyche Force Chain was a more powerful form of brainwashing with the added effect restricting the target's movements. Seal of Life was a magic spell to further restrict a target as it weakened the connection of the body of mind. Erwin aimed both at Shin, but was surprised that only one, Seal of Life, took effect. A blue magic formation appeared under Shin that weakened him, yet as Psyche Chain was used to take hold of his mind a silver aura wrapped around Shin and repelled the Psyche Force skill.
Shin was saved from one danger, but two more were still in play. Shin had little control of his own body and Abigail's metallic arm from its finger tips released a white glowing string that sent shivers down his spine. The only thing left in Shin’s mind was that death was looming in. Everything slowed down at this moment. Hikari looking over with tears in her eyes, Kisara looking ashamed at our own defeat and not being able to protect her comrades, and Renji in pain as his mind was being toyed with... and Abigail's attack coming closer and closer to slash him. Shin felt helpless, yet this moment in time inspired him.
Shin: (If the Second Stage of the Unlocked Mode gives absolute control over the body, does the nervous system counts as part of the body? When you unleash the nervous system’s potentials, then your reaction speed will...)
Shin’s whole body was violently convulsing. Because of the speed it was convulsing, everyone could only made out his figure, but his body and face became blurred. The world around him had slowed down to almost a standstill, yet his thoughts did not. Using the Second Stage of Unlocked Mode to push his reaction speed to the limit gave Shin the time to think before Abigail's attack hit him.
Shin needed to reverse the battle to his advantage, but first he must free himself from the magic spell binding him and at that time recalled such a method from his training sessions with the monk Sozin about Ki Energy. If one circulates a large amount of Ki, but only for a split second and emit that Ki outwardly it was possible to remove low level magic spells that restricted your moments. Shin had never tried this method before, but with no other choice then to try he did... and it worked! A burst of Ki shot out from Shin's entire body in all directions and broke the magic formation under his feet.
Erwin: “I, I can’t... I can't hold him with the Life Seal anymore!”
As Erwin finished his warning, Shin ducked down under Abigail's light string in a flash. Shin dodged the attack, but the cut on the side of his head told him that he had just barely avoided death. Another light string from the enemy's hand was released towards Shin... but the target wasn't him, it was the man still in his custody, Team Germany's Webber.
Shin couldn't tell if the light string was either meant to pull Webber to safety or to slash him in two so that Team Japan doesn't get the Team Battle Point for killing him, but whatever the case it was clear that negotiations had broken down for good. That's why Shin no longer hesitated to kill Webber. Through the weak point of the human body, the ear, Shin released a Hollow Bullet that traveled through the ear canal and Webber's head exploded just before Abigail's light string cut Webber in two.
- SIDE QUEST REWARD 5, ENEMY TEAM KILL - 2000 POINTS AND C RANK REWARD ACQUIRED!
- POINT CASUALTIES: ONE MEMBER OF TEAM GERMANY DIED. TEAM JAPAN +1 TEAM POINT AND TEAM GERMANY -1 TEAM POINT.
TEAM JAPAN TEAM POINTS: -4.
TEAM GERMANY TEAM POINTS: -1.
TOTALS WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY 2000 BY THE END OF A TEAM'S MISSION AND DISTRIBUTED TO EACH LIVING MEMBER. MEMBERS OF BOTH TEAMS WITH NEGATIVE POINTS AT THE END WILL BE ERASED.
Shin ignored the excitement in his heart to have finally started to reverse Team Japan's negative score and leaped towards Abigail. Abigail was upset that she couldn't kill Webber, but was more confused as Shin's body began to glow with a powerful silver magic aura. She couldn't guess what was coming, but the force of magic around her foe was similar to a tier A magic spell and feared such a possibility. An A rank offensive magic spell that connects could easily kill someone who has reached the third stage of the genetic constraint, much less someone like her only at the second stage. Shin raised his right hand and extended it forward as if he was grasping something as he heard music and a rhyme replaying over and over again playing in his mind. The song kept going on and on until Shin felt compelled to say it out loud.
Shin: "【 Deceiving the night ♪ Beguiling the world ♪ The darkness that saves the girl of the endless night ♪】Holy Sword Switch!"
The trigger that will activate the magic was pulled. Upon doing that a silver sword born of magic appeared in Shin's hands. Shrouded by light was a shining silver sword of heroes. A sword of hypocrisy that resembles a sword that a hero carries into battle. However, part of the blade is fake, or was before. The actual range is shorter than even a knife and the true form of the magic resides in that short portion, but that was before. Now the two-handed sword can display its powers as an actual sword while also having a small dagger form as backup.
Passively, Holy Sword Switch protected Shin from nearly all forms of brainwashing, just like when Erwin tried to take control of his mind with Psyche Force Chain. When active and the sword summoned the actual two-handed sword, once the sword is stabbed deep into the heart of anyone effected by magic or mind control, the sword silver will sever that alignment away... yet Abigail couldn't possibly know this. All she saw was a majestic holy sword appear in Shin's hands that radiated terrifying power.
Abigail then watched as Shin threw the silver magic sword towards her with all of his strength. Not understanding its true nature Abigail chose not to challenge the holy sword and moved to the side and let the sword pass by her...towards the person directly behind her, Renji.
Renji still under control of Erwin and not given a command to move to the side couldn't avoid the silver holy sword stabbing into his chest... yet that was Shin's aim. To Abigail and the others shock the silver holy shrank to the size of a small dagger that pierced just into his heart. From there a silver aura enveloped Renji which freed him from the Psyche Force brainwashing and a similar silver aura enveloped Erwin causing him immense mental damage and he fell to the floor unconscious. Holy Sword Switch safety removes all forms of brainwashing from its targets, but under its description it never once said that it would sever the connection for the brainwasher peacefully.
Abigail: "Erwin! Fuck, Klaus, kill the two girls!"
Shin: "Hikari, smoke grenade!"
The two team leader gave out commands. As Shin went to attack Abigail with Gravity Blade to keep her distracted, with no longer a sword pointed at her back, Hikari acted as instructed and took out a smoke grenade in her pocket. Klaus was also following his orders as he moved green scaled hands to crush Hikari's head before crushing the killing his captive Kisara... but a few inches before his hand could reach her head something impacted his side.
A large Trion cannon ball fired from a distance blew Klaus away, saving Hikari and freed Kisara from his grasp. From the city outskirts, their savior Connor who had been ordered by Shin to take his shot when there was a opening was glad his attack hit, but was more so shocked that Klaus was still in one piece. Connor had just unleashed the high power Ibis Trigger to kill Klaus who was about to kill off Kisara and Hikari. The Ibis was Connor's most powerful weapon available and held the power to destroy even the most durable of heavily reinforced tanks, helicopters, and building as it was designed to destroy heavy armored Trion Soldiers, yet Klaus was only blown away and not killed.
Connor: "...Don't think too much about this fantasy nonsense. Just fire!"
At the same time as Hikari pulled the ring and throwing the smoke grenade and a thick white smoke began to fill up the area, Connor switched out his weapon. He switched to the less Trion consuming Trigger Eaglet, another shot was fired. Using the smoke screen to his advantage he planned to first pick off the unconscious Erwin, but a white flash was reflected from within the smoke and blocked the Trion Bullet.
It was then that two figures came rushing out of the smoke screen. One was Shin with a long cut down the right side of his body and Kagune released and carrying Hikari, Kisara, and an unconscious Renji away. The other was the lone figure of Abigail with a furious expression clear across her face. Abigail was never exactly a stunning girl, but her anger clearly seen on her face made whatever good looks she had fade. She now chose to go after the bigger threat, Team Japan's sniper, rather than to finish off Shin and the others.
A light string pulled Abigail up a tall building and she now had the perfect view to spot Connor in the distance. There was a great distance between them, yet both were capable of striking each other at this range. Team Japan's sniper Connor had the same clear view as Abigail and he switched to the rapid fire Lightning Trigger and entering Unlocked Mode for higher skill and precision, he unleashed a barrage of shots at her. Each shot despite the distance and successive attacks were all aimed for the middle of the enemy chest, showcasing Connor's superb sniper talent. The multiple long range Trion bullets should have certainly kill Abigail, yet a light string floating around her blocked each shot of the enemy sniper.
Connor was stunned and had no more Trion to use after using the initially energy consuming Ibis and other Triggers. Shin also had his regular anti-material rifle in his Na Ring, so long distance combat was now impossible. Connor considered exiting the Trion Body and confronting Abigail at midrange with Demonic Power and handguns that he had on his person, but the enemy attacked first. A string of light swiftly closed the distance between them, wrapped around, and severed Connor's right arm. Connor understanding that fighting Abigail wasn't possible now exited his Trion Body and his in the shadows of the city. Abigail considered going after the enemy sniper, but feeling that it could be a trap decided not to.
Abigail: "A substitute body! Was that a Trigger? He's a sniper so I want to get rid of him... but if Team Japan after all of this has more forces waiting to attack us its best to retreat. Besides, I already got one of them and it is only a matter of-"
Erwin: "Le-leader!"
Abigail: "Erwin? So you're your awake. Good, we're leaving. Is Klaus still alive after getting blasted away?"
Erwin: "...I'm terribly sorry, leader. Klaus is alive, but after getting my Psyche Force backfired on me my control over him is... he's gone crazy!"
Abigail: "Tch, then just get him back under control! It takes too much energy on my part to subdue Klaus alive when he goes berserk."
Erwin: "Sorry, but my head hurts too much. If I even try in my current state I'll go into a coma. Fuck, leader, his mind has fallen into madness… I can’t control it! I can’t suppress it anymore… if he continues, he will kill everything in his sight!"
Abigail: "...Then let him go mad. Just get out of his way and join up with me. We can see how much power Team Japan has if they can repel Klaus when he goes crazy. If he can kill every one of them here, then we will start the hunt, wipe out their team!"
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Authors Note:
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Proofread by Hoebagger
Some people had concerns about Shin's actions, but I won't get into what would have happened if he acted smarter, or for a better word rational and cold. Shin can kill without mercy, but he can't look a guy in the eye and say that he won't kill him, but do it anyway. Despite his Mutation One-eyed Ghoul Shin isn't that kind of dark hero and he'll never be even if he matures. Now, as the author I can absolutely say what would happen if he made better decisions, but I won't. I'll just leave it at better doesn't mean correct. Lastly, a smart MC makes for a boring story. If one always make the best decisions then there's no room for growth and nothing bad can happen to you. If on the off chance I allowed Shin to be smart and make the best decisions and they work out 100% then this arc would have ended at chapter 10.
Now on a side note... I'm surprised that no one guessed at Klaus' ability yet. I gave so many hints and I'm famous for using scenes from the original for inspiration (Not from the original), so I'm shocked no one guessed.