~'¶\ Broken Lies \¶'~(Ai Hoshino X OC)

Chapter 31: Uncontrollable

-Shibuya, Tokyo-

"Grrr... I didn't expect him to be this powerful..." Mira gritted his teeth. Each word was strained, a testament to the beating he was taking. He slowly, with visible effort, stood to face Kai. The effort to simply stand seemed to take more out of him than he wanted it to.

Before Mira could even brace himself, Kai blurred into motion, appearing in front of him with impossible speed. A swift, clean punch landed in Mira's gut, stealing his breath and sending a shock of pain through his core. Kai didn't relent. Opening his palm, he unleashed a barrage of ki blasts point-blank into Mira's abdomen. Each blast seared the area, and Mira choked, a strangled cough escaping his lips as he felt his flesh burn away. Kai held him close, stopping Mira from being launched away.

Purple electricity crackled around Kai's body, a visual display of raw power barely contained. His stare was devoid of emotion, analytical, as if assessing the damage he'd inflicted. He simply waited, an apex predator toying with its prey.

Kai tilted his head slightly, looking down at Mira with what could almost be mockery. The gesture was subtle, but it was there.

Mira's fist clenched, knuckles white with anger and frustration. He pushed himself up, ignoring the agony in his abdomen, ready to continue the fight.

Nearby, Bardock lay broken on the ground, every breath a pained wheeze. Towa watched the battle, her crimson eyes narrowed in thought, calculating. Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes Kai had toyed with Bardock, ragdolling him across the battlefield before finally delivering a devastating blast that left the Saiyan warrior a crumpled mess.

"Damn him..." Towa's fingers tightened into fists, nails biting into her palms. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. "His power is monstrous. If Mira falls... I have no choice. I have to unleash him."

-Meanwhile, with Ai-

Everything shook violently. Panic seized the crowd; screams echoed through the air. Aqua, pale and trembling, could barely stand, fear paralyzing her. Miyako clutched Ruby, still lost in unconsciousness, closer. Ai watched in helpless horror as another explosion ripped through a nearby building.

"Kai-kun..." she whispered, his name a mournful sigh on her lips. Something was terribly wrong with him. He fought with a detached brutality, unlike anything she'd ever witnessed. It was as if...

"He's a monster!" The cry came from a bystander, voice cracking with fear, as they pointed a shaking finger at Kai, who had just slammed the demon into the ground. Disbelief rippled through the crowd. Their protector was tearing their city apart.

Ai's heart twisted with each blow. Stealing glimpses of Kai's face between attacks, she saw that his usual warmth was gone, replaced by an emptiness that chilled her to the bone. Only a profound sorrow remained etched on his features.

There is nothing she can do now. Driven by instinct, Ai ran towards the battle without hesitation. She doesn't know why, but her body reacted on its own. Even so, she continued to run.

"Ai! DON'T!" Saitou's desperate shout was almost lost in the cacophony. He lurched after her, but a violent tremor threw him off balance. Aqua, struggling against the waves of nausea, fought to his feet. His legs felt like jelly, threatening to give way, but he pressed on, fueled by a burning vow to protect Ai and Ruby, no matter the cost.

He clenched his teeth. Aqua immediately went after Ai, even though Saitou yelled at him to get back too. Ruby woke up and saw the chaos. She looked at the sight of Kai, it was terrifying. Even so, her heart told her to go to Kai and help him rather than sit here. But the will to move and help was lesser to the fear that she felt in her heart. She could only watch as Ai ran to the sight of the battle.