Book 2: Seven Demon's Hearts

Episode 75: A Stolen Arrival

Episode 75: A  S t o l e n  A r r i v a l

It was getting repetitive and tiresome, but Aiko and J-hope continued to go at their battle.

"Incredible," J-hope smirked, watching the boy move around as if he were possessed by an inner force. "Truly, if I had left you in the hands of someone like my father you'd have enough power to devastate the worlds. You must die."

Aiko wasn't quite himself, however. And Sera couldn't help but watch from a distance while Hanul slept beside her. Ever since he got up, Aiko looked like he really was possessed.

And what she was looking at, Sera assumed, was possibly his Wiska going out of control.

But it was really incredible. The power he had flowing through him, the restless nature he continued to fight with, just his focus alone was quite the feat.

Yet it was sickening at the same time. The emotional detachment was evident from the continuous blows he continued to blast at his uncle. He didn't pause for a second and his senses were extremely heightened and calculative. It was a battle that was beyond anyone's levels or expectations. Something that was never seen before.

Each time Aiko threw a hit, J-hope's perfect illusion would bring him right back to the normal state--healthy and intact. It actually seemed as if he was barely breaking a sweat while Aiko was ruthlessly giving all he got.

It was the non-strategic offense that Aiko continued to fight with that worried Sera. He was too reckless, unstructured, and savage. This definitely wasn't the rational-minded boy in control. It felt more like a monstrous beast with one goal heading into a tunnel vision.

"Hm, well now that it seems like I've tested out the limits of your strength." J-hope quickly held the boy's wrist as he shot at him. Aiko's eyes widened in surprise, the first emotional reaction since he had gotten up. "It's time to stop playing games with my little nephew now."

With a strong force of power, Aiko was thrown up from the air and down into the ground forming a large crater.

The wind gushed out of the boy and his eyes rolled back in a split second of unconsciousness, but quickly, regaining composure again, the boy snapped himself back up to his feet and charged at his uncle again.

Still, a futile attack, he was clearly outmatched by J-hope. Endlessly, it seemed as Sera watched the one-sided battle, Aiko would get back up just to get broken back down into the ground. At this rate, the boy's body was going to feel the repercussions of the attacks faster than it could heal itself.

It was almost like she was watching J-hope bounce a toy ball back and forth through the area. And even if an arm broke or a leg went limp, Aiko didn't wait for it to fully heal before charging back with a ferocious attack.

It was vicious.

And it was then when she fell in defeat--her mind rewinding to how stupid all of this was. To think they even had a chance against these monsters was hilarious. How did she think it was okay? Why did she trust him so much? She was just a stupid little girl who thought she was all grown up--Solmi was right. Now it was all her fault. It was her fault that Aiko was getting hurt like this. It was her fault that Jin was dead. It was probably all her fault that any of this started in the first place.

Her self-hatred exceeded itself at this moment than any other. If anything was defeating her, then it was the troubles of her consequences.

A loud crash overthrew her body from where she was sitting, causing her to roll around until she found herself lying flat on her stomach. As she sat and looked up at the crater formed in front of her, Sera's eyes widened with horror. She watched Aiko emerging out, both arms broken yet still forcing themselves to be in use.