NOVA ZERO
The unleashed chunk of wood rippled through the room, causing a tremendous surge that blasted a gaping hole in the side of the restaurant. Debris scattered in the wake of the redirected attack.
Lieutenant Ainz used this opportunity to attack me. He appeared beside me using the back of his hand with a swift motion, slapping me, sending me outside flying. But I allowed him to hit me. I could have countered but I was testing his power and also It was a quicker way to go outside. I pivoted on the side of another building, using my nova force abilities to slow me down. I used the building as support to launch towards Lieutenant Ains who was already outside, ready to attack me again.
The clash between us was a convergence of titanic forces, each movement laden with intent and an unspoken determination. As our hands met in a thunderous collision, a ripple coursed through the air, a palpable echo of the imminent clash.
Time slowed to a crawl, granting a lucid moment to behold the sinister grin etched upon his face. It was a visage that bespoke predatory anticipation, akin to a hunter closing in on its ultimate quarry.
In a lightning-quick response to his predatory advance, I intercepted his upward punch with a swift defensive block. The impact surged through my frame, propelling me skyward. Undeterred, he unleashed a barrage of blistering strikes, each blow charged with raw power, aimed skyward as we both ascended amidst the flurry of his assault.
With a precision honed from countless battles, I parried each incoming strike, countering his relentless barrage. Seizing a fleeting moment amidst the chaos, I seized his extended arm, harnessing the power of my gravity nova force. With a dancer's grace, we became a whirlwind, spinning in an otherworldly dance of force and momentum.
As the centrifugal force reached its crescendo, I released my grip, catapulting him towards a nearby structure. The air crackled with kinetic energy as he hurtled like a projectile, a tempest incarnate, toward the unsuspecting edifice.
The impact was cataclysmic. His collision with the building unleashed a symphony of destruction, rending the structure asunder. A cacophony of crumbling stone and splintering wood filled the air as half of the once-sturdy edifice succumbed to the force of his impact, a testament to the unfathomable power behind his propelled form.
The dust settled, revealing the aftermath of the collision. He was standing there unfazed and still smiling. I used this chance to talk to him.
"Sir, I dont want to fight you. But if you are really apart of all this going on in the city then I have no choice, I will show no mercy." I said.
The air crackled with tension as the confrontation unfolded, each word dripping with animosity. "No mercy," he bellowed, his voice thick with malice. His nails elongated, taking on an ominous hue reminiscent of feline claws, a dark blue glow casting an eerie sheen against the darkness. The charged atmosphere tightened around us, a palpable sense of danger tingling in the air.
Mr. Ainz's transformation was a grotesque spectacle. He descended to all fours, an embodiment of primal ferocity. An ethereal surge rippled across his frame, a menacing prelude to an imminent assault. The ground convulsed under the weight of his power, fissures tearing through the earth as he surged forward. In an instant, he loomed before me, his hand poised for a lethal strike. The wicked arc of his claws slashed through the air, leaving a trail of radiant blue light in its wake. The sheer force of his attack eradicated everything in its direct path, birthing a cataclysmic explosion that rent the very fabric of the surroundings. The once-sturdy edifice behind me was sliced in half then it shattered into oblivion.
A rush of adrenaline surged through me as I narrowly evaded his lethal onslaught. "He's faster," the realisation dawned upon me, the danger lurking in every swift movement he made. I leaped backward, desperately seeking distance, yet he was relentless. With a ferocity akin to a frenzied beast, he continued his assault, each swipe carving through space with increasing velocity. The fabric of my cloak shredded effortlessly under the onslaught, a mere prelude to the grazing of his claw against my skin. A searing pain coursed through me, the ethereal energy within me waning with each drop of blood spilled.
"Your Nova Force is potent," he snarled, the taste of my blood seemingly invigorating him. His subsequent onslaught was relentless, a whirlwind of strikes hurtling toward me without respite. In a desperate bid to halt his advance, I summoned forth a surge of gravity Nova Force, an explosion of power that rippled outward, annihilating everything within a 20-meter radius. As I watched the explosion unfold I could see him pushing against the gravity wave using his claws until he sliced through it like cake.
" let's just finish this madness, I have more important things to attend to." I said to Mr. Ainz.
The shock of his resilience left me momentarily speechless. "It's only finished when I either kill you or have you in cuffs!!" he roared, his determination unyielding. His rapid approach left me with no time to strategize or evade. The impact was fierce, an overwhelming force colliding with my face. My mask cracked, the sharp sound tearing through the chaos, as I was flung through the air, a hapless puppet in a violent display. With each collision against the unforgiving ground, destruction followed in my wake, a chaotic trail of devastation unfurling like a nightmare.
Amidst the chaos and pain, a desperate plea escaped my lips, a plea tinged with urgency and concern. "Dos... please... evacuate the people," I gasped, the words torn from me amidst the cacophony of destruction. As my body careened uncontrollably, skipping across the terrain akin to a stone skipping across a turbulent river, the weight of the impending disaster bore down upon me with harrowing intensity.
With a sickening thud, my body slammed into the remnants of a shattered building, abruptly halting the tumultuous skipping across the land. The impact rattled my senses, sending shards of excruciating pain radiating through my body. Gasping for air, I struggled to regain my bearings, my vision swimming in a haze of agony and disorientation.
Grimacing, I reached for my Nova comms, my fingers trembling as they fumbled through the debris. My heart sank as I realized the grim reality – the Nova comms lay in ruins, their shattered remains a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Panic flickered within me; wondering if the message had gotten through to Durato.
For a fleeting moment, a sense of despair threatened to overwhelm me. But amidst the chaos and pain, a resolve simmered within, igniting a fierce determination. I couldn't afford to wallow in helplessness, not when lives hung in the balance. With a gritted determination, I pushed aside the pain, forcing my aching body upright.
Scanning the devastated surroundings, my mind raced. I needed to act swiftly, to mitigate the havoc wrought by the unforgiving clash. A surge of urgency propelled me forward, my steps unsteady but resolute. Every movement sent a jolt of agony rippling through me, yet the need to protect the innocent fuelled my determination.
Through the chaos, I stumbled upon a group of frightened civilians, their eyes wide with fear as they huddled amidst the ruins. "Get to safety! Move away from here!" I shouted, my voice hoarse and strained, but laced with an urgent plea. Guiding them away from the crumbling structures, I urged them to seek refuge in any semblance of cover that remained. I know I had sensed someone earlier taking away the civilians but why did they miss this one.
A wave of apprehension washed over the crowd. Some regarded me with fear etched on their faces, while others displayed sheer disdain. Memories of my past in Old Spain Town flooded my mind—an echo of the ungratefulness despite my relentless efforts for the community. Similarly, here in this town, despite my attempts to aid them, some viewed me as a blight. "Why must it always be this way?" I muttered to myself, struggling to rise.
"Zeeeoro, Zeeroo, Zerrooo!" Mr. Ainz's voice cut through the tension as he approached. His demeanour exuded more menace than that of a lieutenant fighting for justice. Wearied by it all, I grew impatient. He flexed his hands as he got closer, like he hand strained it hitting me.
"Fighting you is like fighting an elephant, you're so heavy, How do you move around with all that weight? Well, no matter, this is your end." he said.
"Indeed, let us put an end to this now. Release your grip. These vermin are unworthy of your assistance," a voice insinuated.
"Silence!" I snapped.
"Ha Ha Ha, so you've lost your sanity too. Over here, Zero," Mr. Ainz taunted.
"Yes, kill, destroy, eradicate, purge. Let chaos reign. Annihilate everything in sight," a haunting voice whispered, its familiarity sending shivers down my spine. "Hahaahahah!" The voice persisted, growing louder, amplifying my emotions while the negative energy surrounding me intensified.
In a blink, it felt as though I'd been transported to an observing room, witnessing the events unfold in real-time. Mr. Ainz advanced slowly, looming over me with an air of superiority. Rage surged within me, indescribable and consuming.
"Boy, your time is up!" He bellowed, charging energy around his claws, their luminosity intensifying. With a swift attack aimed at my heart, I intercepted, gripping his hand, causing a resonating shockwave.
"You repulsive insect, do you dare address me?" I retorted, except it wasn't solely me speaking—it was my alter ego.
Mr. Ainz wore an expression of disbelief. "Ah, there you are. I knew you held more power," he muttered, struggling to break free.
"Have I granted you permission to speak, vermin?" I inquired, unleashing a gravity wave so potent that it sent him crashing to the ground, flattening like a pressed leaf. The force obliterated an entire block, reducing over ten buildings to rubble and leaving behind a deep crater.
"Where does this strength emanate from?" He struggled to ask, bewildered.
Leaning my head to the side, I cast a piercing gaze upon him. "You persist in vexing me, filth," I uttered, my voice tinged with an edge of disdain. Swift as the wind, still holding his hand, I shattered it, expecting him to recoil. Yet, to my astonishment, his resilience remained unyielding, a testament to his unflinching resolve. He only made a small sound of pain with a sharp look on his face.
Amidst this physical confrontation, an even fiercer battle raged within me—a clash of wills for dominion over my own body. It was a turbulent struggle, an internal tempest tearing through my consciousness. The ceaseless tug-of-war between my true self and the encroaching alter ego threatened to consume me entirely.
With an exertion of monumental effort, I hurled Mr. Ainz aside, his body was tossed aside like a mere rag doll, skipping over the stone-cold road until landing into a building far away. However, victory in this external confrontation was only a fleeting semblance of control in the greater war waging within. The alter ego lingered, a relentless spectre, haunting the periphery of my consciousness, a constant threat to my sanity and autonomy.