Chapter 24: I Hate You
From the Perspective of Michael...
The wind roared around us as we found ourselves in the southern part of Sakura Square, shadows flickering in the distance as buildings—actual buildings—began to lift from the ground, floating into the air as if gravity itself had become a puppet to someone's twisted command. I glanced at Kail, the question on my face mirrored in his wide-eyed stare. We didn't get the chance to process it further.
A sharp, whirring sound cut through the noise, and a glint of metal flashed past my vision. Before I could react, Kail stumbled back, blood streaming from a gash across his arm. My heart seized as I saw the smug grin across Galaxy's face as he retracted his pistol arm, the barrel smoking from the shot that had ricocheted straight into Kail.
"Oh, you're really going for it now, huh?" I growled, fists clenched, and I could feel the heat of adrenaline beginning to course through me. But Galaxy just laughed, his face twisting with a sick, ecstatic glee as he ran his claws down his own face, peeling the skin and drawing rivulets of blood that only seemed to fuel his fervor.
"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP THE CRUSADE OF BLOOD?" he sneered, his voice echoing with a metallic distortion, every word trembling with malice. "I AM UNSTOPPABLE! NOTHING YOU DO CAN FUCKING STOP THIS!"
Kail and I exchanged a look, and he gave a slight nod as he gripped his injured arm, his expression hardening. We had faced tough opponents before, but Galaxy was something else. His whole being seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy, as if his very presence was designed to taunt us, to draw out our fear and helplessness.
Without warning, Galaxy lifted his pistol arm, and I saw the faint glint of stardust begin to spiral around the barrel. I knew what was coming.
"Move!" I yelled, just as a blinding blast of star magic erupted from his arm. I barely managed to dive to the side, feeling the searing heat singe past my shoulder. The ground behind me exploded in a shower of concrete and metal as Galaxy's shot tore through it, leaving a gaping hole that swallowed an entire chunk of a nearby building.
"What is he?" I muttered, pushing myself up, sweat dripping down my face as I glanced back at Galaxy. He was pacing toward us, an unhinged grin spread wide across his face, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing intensity.
Kail growled, clutching his arm tighter as his own magic pulsed faintly, but I knew he was saving his strength. We didn't know what Galaxy was capable of yet, and it was better to play it smart.
"GALAXY!" I shouted, trying to draw his attention. "If you think you're unstoppable, prove it!"
"OH, I WILL PROVE IT, MICHAEL!" he snarled, his voice vibrating with a sick, frenzied excitement as he raised his pistol arm. "LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN KEEP UP, LITTLE BITCH!"
With a flick of his wrist, Galaxy fired another shot, this one arcing toward me in a trail of shimmering stardust. I twisted my body, barely dodging the blast as it tore through another building behind me. The sound of crumbling concrete was deafening, but all I could hear was Galaxy's insane laughter echoing through the destruction.
I darted toward him, drawing a dagger from my belt, aiming to close the distance and disrupt his long-range attacks. But as I approached, he whipped around, his clawed hand swiping toward me in a wild arc. I managed to duck beneath his claws, stabbing upward at his side—but he moved fast, faster than I expected.
"YOU THINK THAT WILL HURT ME?" Galaxy spat, his body twisting as he dodged my blade with a maddening agility. "I CANNOT BE TOUCHED!"
