From the fifth floor to the first, without using the elevator but leaping down the stairs, it only took ten seconds.
And within those ten seconds, Naoki's world fell into a sea of blood.
Blood flooded the floor, corpses that looked like they had been bitten by something, limbs with all the muscle tissue gone, and bodies scattered across most of the first-floor lobby.
This was what Naoki saw upon arriving on the first floor.
[Unforgivable]
Such a voice suddenly echoed in his mind; his heart felt like it was burning, radiating a heat that filled his chest cavity.
Although there was no mirror to see it, Naoki was sure his expression right now must have been so enraged that it was completely distorted.
"What a horrific sight..."
Anger was also palpable in Aoko's voice; compared to his own feelings, hers must have been the same as Naoki's.
Anyone with a normal and sane personality would most likely have the same reaction after seeing this scene.
And the mastermind who caused this hellish sea of corpses before their eyes—
"There are still some alive."
As if his entire body was wrapped in darkness, a burly man wearing a black coat directed his gaze at Naoki and Aoko.
His body was as strong and solid as steel, his face as firm and cold as stone; even from a distance of almost ten meters, Naoki felt like he was facing a wall.
Nero Chaos!
"A bunch of useless trash; you couldn't even clean up two pieces of meat?"
Pieces of meat?
Naoki observed the earthly hell around him; this man called the situation before his eyes, these people who had died so tragically, pieces of meat?
'Ah... So that's how it is...'
[Unforgivable]
'This man is a Dead Apostle, a bastard who uses ordinary people as blood bags to eat...'
[Unforgivable]
'Within the scope of these beings' understanding, life other than their own is not life, but rather a food supply...'
[Unforgivable]
"We have to kill him, right?"
A voice like a devil's temptation sounded in his ears—it was Sajyou Manaka's voice.
Like a game guide, Manaka whispered softly in Naoki's ear: "Your purpose in life is to help as many people as possible, in other words, to save, and this Dead Apostle's actions before your eyes are trampling on your ideals."
That's right, he was trampling on them.
"Then, what you must do is clear."
Yes, very clear.
Why Manaka's voice sounded, why she who had ignored him all this time suddenly spoke to him, what her purpose was in saying all this—Naoki no longer wanted to think about it, because what she said wasn't wrong; she was just conveying what was in his heart.
And what he was about to say next was the most honest impulse of his heart right now!
"Kill him, vixen."
—Finish him off!
*BANG!*
Magic circuits fully opened, maximum Mana output—all that was left to do now was to forget all his thoughts, then release all his killing intent and anger!
*WHOOSH!*
Like a launched rocket, the terrifying Mana directly slammed into Naoki's entire body and sent him flying!
The distance became zero—in just the blink of an eye!
The right fist, shimmering with golden light, had already landed on Nero Chaos's face when caught by his eyes, then like an exploding bomb, brilliant golden light suddenly burst forth!
*BAM!*
The golden magic current instantly swallowed Nero Chaos's body! Not just his head, his entire body was also instantly sent flying backward, like a home run, directly breaking through the ceiling and walls and being thrown outside!
Aoko didn't have time to react.
No, more accurately, she only reacted at that moment; after all, only a few seconds had passed since she and Naoki arrived on the first floor. She had never expected that in just a few seconds, Naoki would suddenly go berserk.
Just like herself ten years ago.
"Miss Aoko, leave this to you; please give first aid to those who aren't completely dead yet; there should be... no, there definitely still are! There must still be some who haven't completely died, definitely!"
"In that case, I'll leave the one over there to you. Be careful."
Without needing to say much, Naoki understood, and his eyes had already seen it—a ferocious gaze piercing through the hole in the ceiling and walls!
'Let's go, vixen.'
Manaka's tempting voice sounded again, soft as if she were hugging him from behind with both arms, whispering in his ear.
'This time you really have to kill him, right? Yes, you have to kill him; you didn't save anyone, those dead people weren't saved by you; you were too late, so you have to kill him, right?'
"That's right."
He had to kill him.
*BANG!*
The tip of his toe lightly touched the ground, instantly leaping high, out of the hole he had created and shooting towards the roof of the building across from the hotel. Seeing Nero Chaos standing on the edge of the roof, staring at him with a gaze as if observing prey, golden light once again radiated from Naoki's body.
Die, you.
The moment that thought arose, Naoki was already back in front of Nero Chaos.
*CLANG!*
Both arms collided violently; although it was a physical impact, the sound produced was like swords clashing.
Eyes as sharp as an eagle stared at Naoki's body; Nero Chaos suddenly withdrew power from his arm, allowing Naoki's arm to tear through his body—
*PU-CHI!*
Piercing through the gap in his self-torn body, Naoki immediately turned to face Nero Chaos.
"So that's how it is; you and I are the same kind." Nero Chaos said coldly, "Truly unexpected; I never thought I'd meet such a young generation in this easternmost land."
*PU-CHI!*
Naoki's reply to Nero Chaos was a merciless punch piercing through his chest!
You and I are not the same kind—those burning sky-blue eyes seemed to convey that thought; Nero Chaos could see it.
But!
*SHUA!*
The darkness beneath him suddenly surged and swirled like waves! Three huge, jet-black wolves appeared without warning from the shadows, instantly biting both of Naoki's legs and arms from point-blank range!
Then the chest that Naoki had pierced instantly transformed into a lion's head, directly biting down on the arm that had willingly been inserted into its mouth!