Humanity's Last Stand

Part 18

The mob gang galloped towards him and drove their weapons. However without movement, Akashi unleashed blazes. Burning the men into a crisp.

Their corpses burned into asunder as so did their weapons. Akashi walked towards Hanzai "What are you trying to accomplish here? What is your goal?"

"I doubt you'd believe but I will tell you," he revealed a syringe "Hanzo and Hercules has been developing a cure to beat Koichi and his horde, giving humans the edge."

That's the cure or is this some trick? Akashi thought. He walked closer "That is hard to believe considering that Koichi is assisting you."

"He assists us merely because he does not know our true goals," Hanzai said "Hanzo, me and Hercules are all people willing to kill a thousand to save a million."

Akashi drew his sword. He wasn't sure what to think or say but if this is the truth then is Hercules really their enemy?

"You and Shiki are angry because you're the ones who won't get your hands dirty," Hanzai said "But don't blame us for doing things that would save a million."

"That's enough," Akashi looked down with a dark look "I would agree that your work is not evil but you discriminately used working class and middle class people to achieve your means," he clasped his sword harder "You're actions are meant to be good but you're arrogance makes me sick."

Hanzai closed his eyes and sighed "I knew that you were going to say something like that and Shiki will too because you both care too much about these useless—"

A slash came downwards. Hanzai's chin cut and blood dripped to the ground. Akashi glared at him. This man will die for the people has killed, Akashi thoughted.

"You are quite a hot head aren't you?" Hanzai moved backwards and pointed his handgun "I'll have no choice then," he shot him.

Akashi repelled the bullet with his flames. He moved in and swung a backhanded slash across the chest. Arcing backwards to dodge, Hanzai kicked him in the ear.

The pain rang his head. Akashi swung his sword again but this one connected with Hanzai's knee.

Flesh torn into tendons. Hanzai popped his gun at him. The shot tore Akashi's shoulder and blood drippped down his arm. For a moment, he could see Hanzai's kick aiming the stomach.

So instead Akashi catched his leg. Hanzai's eyes widened "How can you react that quickly?"

"I am a general and close combat is something I am used to," Akashi generated heat into his hands "Now burn."

Fire imploded through Hanzai's leg and into his whole being. He screamed. And dropped to the ground as the instense heat burn his skin into nothing.

Akashi looked at his opponent screaming in pain. He smirked. He deserved this for what he has done to the working class people, he thought.

As he walked away, Akashi noticed the syringe on the ground. This must've dropped during the fight. He placed it inside his pocket. He knew despite the methods that it would prove to be a turning point to humanity.

Hurried back to the streets, Akashi began wondering about the intense power he could sense. This is no normal power so what is it?

Meanwhile, Shiki launched towards the bulk of the horde at the city's center and pick them apart with his evolved powers.

Tatsuya watched Shiki the destruction that he laid. The corpses piled up with their heads pulled apart and their arms severed.

This rampage attracted the rescued civilians in the city. The people witnessed Shiki annilihating the horde with his bare hands as his sword was now sheathed.

Tatsuya looked at the civilians and closed his eyes "I guess this is expected," he lowered his eyes "I am wondering as well what power allows a man to rampage this much."

The civilians watched on and spoke to one another in excessive cowardice as Shiki continued killing.

Shiki stopped as the horde experimented men and women were annilihated. Corpses beaten and severed. The civilians watching talked in fright. He turned around and saw the people witnessing his onslaught.

He stared at his own hands. Covered in blood. An eye gouged out in one hand and an intestine in the other.

Shiki remained silent while looked at the ground. Tatsuya stood in front of him and eyed the civilians "You people should leave now or else the horde creatures may come here again."

"How can you stand there with that monster!"

"He is no monster," Tatsuya said "This man saved you all even in the cost of his own morals."

The civilians leave the area but unconvinced. Tatsuya kneeled down and placed his hand on Shiki's shoulder "I don't understand what happened there but don't blame yourself."

Shiki stood up and closed his eyes. He knew what he did was wrong but it was necessary to save the remaining survivors.

Then Akashi arrived at the area and witnessed the torn up corpses all over the place "Explain what happened here."

Horde creatures's noises echoed as the monsters came closer. Shiki's hands began glowing again

"So you're the one generating that immense power," Akashi said "You get the others out now while I hold these creatures back."

Tatsuya nodded and pulled back with Shiki. Facing the horde creatures, Akashi drew his sword "You won't pass here," Flames coursed through his blade.

Deep in the temple, Kaise trained with the monk and generated flames into his hand. He could harness the power with great control.

The monk nodded "You've done it," he said "I am impressed that you managed to learn it that well perhaps you deserve to know the truth behind those bodies."

"What do you mean?"

"Those bodies were the previous monks murdered by someone who uses lightning powers and his name was—"

Lightning erupted and killed the monk. From below. Kaise looked down through the hole and saw a man he recognized. Seitou. You're the one?

While evacuating the middle class people, Hakura walked next to Mei Ling as the two exchanged words.

"You met someone named Kaise?" Hakura asked

"I did," Mei Ling replied "You know him?"

"No, I only heard about him," Hakura turned around and saw a dagger propelled at them. She repelled it with her sword.

"Well, well, you saw that one coming," Yamagata said "I didn't expect someone like you to be a general."

"Yamagata," Hakura pointed her sword at him "I don't know why you turned on us along with Hercules but I won't let you harm these people."

"Those people are not what I am here to kill," Yamagata smirked "I am here to kill you and lure Shiki to me."

"Then come and try it," Hakura stance her blade and body "I am not someone who takes threatens lightly."

"Then let's do this."

Hakura looked at Mei Ling "Hurry and let me deal with this."

"Be careful," Mei Ling fled with the others.