Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 135 - False Angels (4)

Leo's eyes were fixed by Jin's intense gaze and unsettling smirk. He could smell the metallic scent of blood hung in the air, mingling with the fiery crimson fire emanating from Jin. The flames surrounding Jin were edged with an ethereal blue hue of his Fox Fire. Leo watched, unsettled, as the inferno seemed to consume Jin. Crimson flames whispered from the corners of Jin's eyes, eyes that were a deep crimson, bursting with blood. It looked as if even his very veins were on fire. Yet, it wasn't just Jin's appearance and flames that had changed; his entire demeanour had shifted. An uneasiness washed over Leo, causing his skin to prickle, and his instincts screamed that something was wrong.

Jin: Why are you backing away? Don't tell me a high-jumping fish like you is scared of some dirt~.

Jin vanished from Leo's eyes and appeared right in front of him. Leo couldn't see even the flickering of Jin's flames. He had never moved so fast before. Like a flame, Jin flickered in and out of sight. Vanishing for a moment before coming back.

Jin: Or maybe you're scared of suffocating. With these fake wings, you're like a fish out of water.

Leo: I'm faster than you damn it!

Leo spun around and tried to kick Jin at light speed. But Jin was already gone. Leo couldn't even feel it. He couldn't sense where Jin was. Only when he was poked in the cheek did he realise where Jin was.

Right beside him.

Jin: You're right. You are faster than me. But I don't need to be faster than you.

Leo tried to grasp Jin again as he disappeared. Only to feel a light slap on his face realising Jin was in front of him. He couldn't perceive Jin despite him being right in front of him. His whole body flickered so fast Leo couldn't see it and his experience had no clue what to make of it.

Jin: There are two things I need to be faster than. Not only do I need to be faster than your perception. But these well-trained instincts of yours.

Leo went to poke Jin's eyes out with the stab of his two fingers. But he didn't even realise or feel that by the time his arms were out. They were already being grabbed by Jin. It was like magic. One frame he was going to poke out Jin's eyes. The next he was being held and restricted.

Jin: So when your instincts begin to feel fear.

Jin let go of Leo's arms as they instantly flickered, at light speed. But where his punch landed, wasn't where Jin was. Leo felt the burning in his back, a flame burning his Exorcist clothing. He could smell the stench of blood, like a terrifying monster covered in it. It made Leo freeze for a moment.

Feeling fear.

Jin: You should take that as a sign. You're already dead~.

Jin laughed, teasing, taunting Leo. As if he was having fun, as if a sadistic nature was bubbling in him he had never shown before. Leo span around at speeds Jin could never see before. Speeds he could still barely keep up with. But again Jin was no longer there. Leo could smell the stench of blood, but he still couldn't see him spinning around.

Jin: Now one of two things can happen. You can struggle, and flop around like a fish out of water. Or you could drop dead right now, anyway was is fine by me. Either way, there's no fighting back against me~.

Leo said looking up as Jin was perched above him. The smile he had, the eyes he had. Everything Jin was doing and had made Leo shiver. He didn't know what it was, he didn't know what changed with Jin. But Leo felt like a bug under a sadist child's finger. Jin was teasing and torturing Leo, as if placing his hand in a bug's way, blocking its path and laughing at it from above. Hurting Leo as of slowly pulling off the bug's legs.