As the bullets were deflected by the shield, an eerie stillness settled over the room. The women stood frozen in astonishment, their faces contorted with a mix of fear and confusion. But their shock was short-lived as a chilling presence enveloped the chamber, suffusing the air with an otherworldly aura.
Asher, though aware of Shadow's presence, felt a strange sensation this time. Instead of fading away, he suddenly started feeling the control of his body gradually getting weaker. Yet, he remained conscious, all his five senses active sensing everything that was happening.
Suddenly, in front of Asher from the void a black, numeric-like window materialized in front of him, displaying the message
[The Ascendant Point Title has been activated.]
As Asher's body stood before Serena, her eyes widened in fear. In a desperate attempt to defend herself, she raised her rifle, but before she could even aim, Asher's body lunged forward with supernatural speed and strength. With a lightning-fast strike, his fist collided with her stomach, unleashing a powerful blow.
The impact sent Serena staggering backward, a gurgled gasp escaping her lips as pain coursed through her body. Her rifle slipped from her trembling hands, clattering to the ground. She fought to maintain her balance, but the excruciating pain overwhelmed her, and she collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.
As Asher's body moved with eerie precision, the remaining women could only watch in horror as their companion fell victim to his relentless onslaught. With each calculated movement, he exploited their momentary vulnerability, launching a barrage of devastating strikes.
One by one, the women met their fate, their bodies unable to withstand the supernatural power that now inhabited Asher's form. The room echoed with the sound of bone-crushing impacts and cries of pain, drowning out any remnants of resistance.
As Asher watched the last one of them fall, injured, and bloody, his gaze shifted to Serena, who was kneeling on the ground, with one hand on the ground and the other gripping her stomach. Then suddenly he felt that his mouth was opening, ash he understand that Shadow was trying to say something.
"Who are you?" Asher asked, His voice pierced through the lingering silence, filled with a mix of curiosity and coldness.
Serena, her voice quivering, looked up at Asher, her eyes filled with a desperate plea for mercy. She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing to find the right words. "If I tell you, will you spare us?" she finally managed to whisper, her voice barely audible.
But before Serena could grasp the gravity of her situation, Asher's body moved with a swiftness that defied human limits. His leg raised, poised in the air, and then, with an overwhelming force, he brought it crashing down upon Serena's hand. A sickening crack reverberated through the room, accompanied by Serena's anguished scream.
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"Ahhhh!!!" she cried out, the pain searing through her body.
The coldness in Asher's expression remained unyielding, his voice devoid of compassion. "I won't ask again," he stated, the words carrying a finality that sent chills down Serena's spine.
Desperate and gasping for breath, Serena managed to find her voice amidst the agony that consumed her. "I-I was just a biologist on the 33rd floor," she stammered, her words punctuated by pained pauses. "I saw you there one day, that's all."
Asher's cold demeanor remained resolute, unaffected by the pleas of the women. The weight of their actions hung heavily in the air, intermingled with fear and desperation. Ava's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Asher, please don't do this. We're sorry," Ava pleaded, her words saturated with a genuine sense of remorse.
Mara, her voice shaking, added her plea to the chorus of apologies. "Yes, Asher, please try to understand. We still don't know how people turned into monsters like you. As an experiment, you are very dangerous to society. We had to do this."
Serena, gasping for breath, joined in their plea, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Asher, please understand."
Asher's gaze hardened as anger and pain mingled within him. The words echoed in his mind, resonating with his own conflicted emotions. "Why should I understand you?" he retorted, his voice dripping with bitterness. "I don't care if you were right. Why should I die or suffer just because you had a reason? You betrayed my trust, and for that, you will pay with your lives."
Although Asher wasn't the one who voiced those words, he found himself resonating with their sentiment. Gripping the fallen rifle tightly in his hand, he felt a surge of determination. The pleas of the women fell upon deaf ears, drowned out by the mounting anger within him.
"No, please, Asher, we are sorry. Don't do that," they cried out, their voices filled with desperation.
But their pleas fell upon a heart hardened by betrayal. Ignoring their cries, Asher raised the rifle, his finger tightening around the trigger.
Fire!!
Gunshots reverberated through the room, each shot echoing with resounding finality. One by one, the bodies of the women fell to the ground, lifeless. The once vibrant chamber was transformed into a somber tableau of loss and regret, as the silence settled over the aftermath of Asher's relentless onslaught.
As the gunshots faded, a heavy silence filled the chamber, punctuated only by the faint crackling of settling debris. Asher stood amidst the lifeless bodies of the women, his mind slowly regaining control over his own body. He glanced around, taking in the scene of carnage and destruction, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. And then, his eyes caught sight of something peculiar.
Floating before him were six small, glowing white orbs that had emerged from the women's bodies. They hovered in the air, casting a gentle radiance that contrasted sharply with the grim aftermath. Asher's gaze locked onto the ethereal spheres for a moment before turning his attention to the shadow that was standing by his side.
"So, what did you remember?" asked Shadow while looking at Asher with a calm expression.
"I only remembered my days in the facility, but I didn't remember before this place," answered Asher with a calm expression. "And also, my memories on the 35th floor are blurred and incomplete."
"So what are we going to do now?" asked Shadow.
"You already know," Asher said. "We will take our revenge."
Hearing Asher's words, a twisted smile drowned Shadow's face. "Yes, I can't wait to kill those bastards."
Looking at Shadow's twisted smile, Asher said slowly, "So, you're finally showing your true personality."
"Haha, it seems that your personality had changed after regaining your memories," Shadow said, looking at Asher's emotionless eyes. "Haha, this is good. I was so bored from your pathetic behavior."
"...," looking at Shadow for a bit, a smile was also drawn on Asher's face as he answered, "It didn't change that much. It's just that I will never let anyone hurt us again."
"By the way, why did you try to hide your personality from me?" asked Asher.
"Oh, I was afraid that if you saw my real personality, you would remember a fragment of your memories. But I wanted you to regain all your memories at once. I'm sure you know why, don't you?" said Shadow with a smile on his face.
Asher raised his hand slowly, and the six white orbs and the black shield that had turned into a black orb as well floated to Asher's hand as he said, "To make sure I won't lose contact with my title."
[Revenant Binder Title has been activated.]