(STOP RESISTING!!!)

"SHUT UP!!!"

I continue to sway back and forth in my office at the hospital, knocking stuff down as I try to maintain control. For the first time in so long, I am in control, so I wish to do what Oren recommends and do something right for a change.

Batan!

Batan!

My screams drown out the others here at the hospital. The sounds of agonized groans and screams as the remaining yakuza members under me are treated and healed using the hospital's resources. Luckily, the cries of Mr. Wave, Sutoria, Tarran, Ripperu, and the previous patients of the hospital are unheard, as they are kept under serveillance in the basement.

My "cruel" side turns my left hand into a snake, sending it to bite me.

"SSSHHHAAAAA!!!"

I counter with another snake with my other hand, biting my other side's snake just below its head. The injured snake, my "cruel" side, and I all wince in pain.

(You really think you can make ammends after everything I've, no, WE'VE done!?)

"Unlike you, the least I can do is try to think about others!"

(As a failed pseudo successor candidate, I thought you would've realize by now. I am you. The real you!)

"For once, shut up! I of all people know that all you speak of are lies!"

(You came to me for wealth! Power! And I've given you all that! And this is how you repay me!?)

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I didn't want all those for myself! It was for my friends! My family!"

(You never had a family.)

"Shut up, Apis!!!"

...

(So, you knew?)

"We share the same body! You know I knew! Ever since I met Master Besuro, I've known!"

(Perhaps, but I never believed that you believed the facts. We share the same mind, but clearly not the same heart. But it doesn't matter. I let you exist out of mercy. But when this is over, all that will remain will be me!)

"I will defy you with every ounce of my being! Not just for myself! But for Oren, Sutoria, Ripperu, and everyone you harm!"

(When this is over, all those you've named will be no more! I got what I've desired. I got what WE desired. The master you love so much will continue with his plans. And when he does...I will overpower him and take everything he's worked for. Then everything will be mine! Everything!)

"Silence, you greedy snake!!!"

"Having another one of your fits?" a familiar voice asks.

I look over at the open window...

And see one of my allies. A boy with short, spiky, untamed brown hair. A body covered in red scales. And wings that drag along the ground. Wings that have never, and will never, fly. The lighting in my room makes it difficult to see all these features, but I've known him long enough to recognize him.

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"Hello...Drayden..." I say, trying to stay in control.

"So, you're the one talking to me." Drayden says. "That's rare. And refreshing too. I hate your other side."

"Did...you bring it?"

(Bring what?)

It's amazing how unobservant Apis is. He only sees what he wants to see. Only hears what he wants to hear. At least, at times like this, that is an advantage.

Drayden takes out a piece of paper.

"Thought you'd never go through with it." he states.

(!!!!!)

"Thanks." I say.

(YOU WOULDN'T!!!)

Drayden walks over to me and puts the paper down on my desk.

It's the last will and testament I worked on, but never signed, years ago. Master Besuro was one witness, and signed it despite me not doing so because of Apis, in the event I should ever change my mind.

That time...is now.

As I inch over to the desk, Drayden takes out a pen and writes down his name, making himself another witness.

(I refuse to give up everything I've worked for to those undeserving!!! I am a superior being! Higher than all humans! Higher than you!)

"SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

Another snake from my right arm tries to coil around my legs....

BBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

"SSSSSSHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

Before Drayden blows fire on it, killing it.

More snakes disperse from my body as I advance towards the desk. I summon a few snakes to kill and stall Apis's snakes, while Drayden occasionally attacks those my snakes miss.

Eventually, I reach the table...

And sign the contract.

"Hope you know what you're doing." Drayden tells me as he leaves.

(No. No. Nonononono! NO!!!)

After struggling for so long...

I lose control.

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As Drayden makes it to the window, he turns around and burns all the snakes sent his way.

"Well, look who's back." he says sarcastically.

"GIVE ME THAT PAPER!!!!"

"Not a chance."

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He burns the area of the room surrounding him, preventing my vapor and snakes from reaching him. It shouldn't be long before the sprinkler system activates, but it's still enough time for him to escape! Especially with Riva interfering!

"Well...it was nice while it lasted." Drayden continues.

"When I finish up here, you're dead!!!"

"You really think Master Besuro will let that happen? You're strong, but nowhere as strong as him. And I'm strong enough to give you a good fight by myself."

I look at his wings. Wings punctured with bullet holes.

"You really should be more grateful." he states. "Although you told Besuro that you would handle our plan's funding on your own, I still took the time to aid you in your operation. Surely you didn't think fighters weaker than us could get the job done?"

"You may be strong, but I'm still stronger! You couldn't even hold your own against one Keisetsu member!"

"I don't protect my wings. You know that. But given how the fight was going, I would have won if we continued. Do I look injured anywhere else?"

I look over his body, and he doesn't look injured otherwise.

"Besides, I'd be crazy to stick around too long in one of your schemes."

Pi-po! Pi-po! Pi-po! Pi-po! Pi-po! Pi-po!

The fire alarm activates...

And causes the sprinklers to turn on, putting out the flames.

"SSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!"

I send seven snakes his way...

BATAN!!!

Which get coiled around by an eighth snake, stopping their advance.

"DAMN YOU, RIVA!!!!" I yell.

Drayden puts his back to me, preparing to jump.

"Two outcrosses. An artificial dragon who can't fly and a hydra with dual personalities. It's amazing how Besuro puts up with us."

I try to make my snakes escape, but to no avail.

"You know 'Hunter', I hate you. More than you know. And yet...I don't hate you enough to want you dead."

Drayden struggles to raise his wings. They may not be good for flight, but can at least help him glide short distances.

"Just...don't do anything you'll regret. Okay?"

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"

My snakes break free...

But miss Drayden, as he glides out of the window just before contact, barely escaping the poisonous fumes.

I try to follow...

BATAN!

But am tripped by another snake.

(I won't let you!) Riva thinks.

...

I retract all the snakes. Wasting any more rhime on him will only make the final step in my plan difficult.

I walk over to one of the drawers of my desk...

And take out a vial of asp poison. Or rather, an asp poison, LSD concoction created by Huarwar to bring about a slow death while maximizing the chances of instantaneous flashbacks.

The perfect drug for awakening harmones.

I chose to not mention this to Oren, but I have another purpose for his antidote. To awaken the harmones of those under me, and give them the antidote upon their awakening. All to create an army of harmone users. Drayden is right, I'm not as strong as Besuro. But even he cannot defeat an army of harmone users.

I head down to the basement. There, I find the Wave family in the makeshift cells of solidified magma that are guarded by Jericho and a few other lackeys. I walk over to Sutoria's cell, and she stops singing Riya from Eufonius's part of sasakure.UK's "Tsuigeki no Ignite".

"Hey, Su." I say kindly.

She turns away from me. Can't say I blame her.

"Look, I'm sorry it had to end this way." I lie. "The plans I set didn't work out as desired."

"You planned this all along, didn't you?" Sutoria says.

"As a plan B. Oren's sword would've been enough."

...

"I'll admit I'm greedy, but my other side, my 'true' side, has taken a liking to you. She even tried hard to struggle against me for your wellbeing."

"What?"

"It's for that reason I couldn't bring myself to use you like I orignally planned. Funny how the heart can sway the mind."

Batan!

I use a snake to break away the magma to her cell.

"Whether you are a friend or an asset, I cannot bring myself to kill you. And should you help me with one last request, I'll leave your alive for good."

...

"People...are going to get hurt, aren't they?" Sutoria asks.

"Afraid so. I have some unfinished business with Oren Tsurai. And Ken, I'll need you to cooperate too."

"Don't you dare hurt Oren or my dad!" Tarran yells from his cell.

"And if I refuse?" Sutoria asks.

I sigh...

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"

BATAN!

Then send a snake into Tarran's cell, dragging him out and coiling around him. I bring the snake's fangs close to his neck...

And puncture it with the tip of one fang.

"TARRAN!!" Ken yells.

"Cooperate, and he lives." I say.

Tarran struggles to break free, but is starting to get weaker.

"Oren...and company...will defeat you..." he says.

And all I can do is smile.

"I'd like to see them try."

Ken will die "accidentally". Oren will die. The Keisetsu cannot stop me.

I've got one last trump card up my sleeve.