kai of Great adventure:EPO 5

Sozen's lips curled into a dark smile, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a man who had just found a hidden treasure. He stepped forward, his long black cloak sweeping the ground behind him as he gazed at the figure standing before him—Kai, but not the Kai he once knew.

"It really is you," Sozen said, his voice low and filled with amusement. "Banned from all kingdoms for what you did all those years ago... I always thought those were just myths. The stories they told, whispers in the dark. But here you are, in the flesh. What an honor, to be fighting a legend."

Kai's eyes, once calm and thoughtful, were now burning with an unnatural fury. His voice, laced with venom, twisted by something darker than mere anger. It wasn't just Kai speaking—it was the thing inside him, something much more dangerous. The entity possessing him had hollowed out the man's heart and soul, leaving behind a shell of vengeance.

"Enough talk," Kai growled, his voice echoing with an otherworldly tone, sending a chill through the air. "Where is Akuma? I need to make him pay for what he's done to me."

Sozen chuckled, thoroughly amused by the demand. He leaned in closer, his grin widening as though he had just been told a joke. "Haha, yes, my lord—"

"Kai! There you are!" A familiar voice cut through the thick atmosphere, snapping the moment in two. Kai's body stiffened as he heard his teammates rushing towards him. Gordon's urgent voice followed close behind, filled with concern and warning. "Kai, step away from him! He's dangerous!"

But Kai was no longer listening. His thoughts were racing, a torrent of confusion and rage swirling inside him, drowning out the world around him. *Wait... you told me Sozen killed them... You fucking liar... You said they were dead. You made me believe it, you put me under an illusion spell! Why?! We had something, something real... Why would you do this to me?*

Suddenly, as if the universe itself was punishing him for the realization, Kai's world twisted and distorted into a nightmarish vision. The vibrant colors around him drained away, replaced by a suffocating monochrome. The air grew thick, cold, like a vice tightening around him, squeezing the very life out of his body. Every muscle, every fiber of his being froze, paralyzed by an invisible force. It was as if time itself had come to a grinding halt, each second stretching out into an agonizing eternity.

His breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest as he tried to process the sensations overwhelming him. His mind spun wildly, the world around him blurring as the boundary between reality and nightmare collapsed. He felt like he was drifting, falling endlessly into a dark abyss, his soul unraveling as if it was being torn from his body.

And then—he snapped back to reality. The world rushed back in a disorienting blur, and Kai's eyes widened in horror as he looked to his right. Standing before him, like some twisted reflection in a mirror, was a perfect replica of himself. The doppelganger's eyes gleamed with malice, a smirk twisting across its lips.

Sozen stood behind the clone, his hands raised high as he chanted in a language too ancient and dark to be understood. The air around him crackled with dark energy, swirling like a tempest. With a final word, Sozen unleashed the spell—a blinding white light exploded from Kai's mouth, tearing its way out of his body. The ethereal glow seemed to pulse with his very life force, as if his soul was being ripped out, and it surged towards the clone's open mouth.

"Everyone, stay back!" Gordon shouted, his voice sharp with alarm. "I think it's—"

But before he could finish his warning, the air grew heavier, thicker, as something ancient and powerful stirred. A voice, low and calm, cut through the tension like a blade through flesh.

"Hmmm... wow, 400 years and demons are still alive," the voice mused, almost lazily. It belonged to a figure that had been lying dormant, hidden within the dark magic that Sozen had unleashed. Now, the figure stretched its arms, as if waking from a long slumber. "Gotta give it to you guys—you're great warriors, but really, what a nuisance." He chuckled, glancing around with a casual air, as though the scene before him was merely a mild inconvenience.

The man's eyes glinted with recognition as he took in his surroundings. "I don't know who you are, Sozen, but thanks for resurrecting me. It's been a while. Now... what should I do with all of you?" His gaze swept over Kai's team, lingering for just a moment before turning toward Sozen.

Zetsu, standing a few feet away, clenched his fists, his anger bubbling to the surface. His voice, sharp and biting, cut through the tense silence. "Don't you dare talk down to my clan! I don't know who the hell you are, but I'll make you eat those words!"

The stranger—Azzel—looked at Zetsu with mild amusement, his eyebrow arching as if he had heard this all before. "Classic demon," Azzel muttered. "You lot never change. Always full of rage, always eager to fight. You're nothing but a waste of breath. You should know by now—no matter how strong you think you are, you're not on my level."

Gordon stepped forward, trying to calm the situation before it escalated further. "Zetsu, we don't have to—"

But Zetsu had already made his move. Fueled by fury and pride, he charged at Azzel, his speed unmatched by any normal soldier. In an instant, he was almost upon the angelic figure, but before he could land a single blow, Azzel's third eye opened, glowing with unnatural power.

With a wave of his hand, Azzel summoned a crystal-clear force field around Zetsu, freezing him in midair. The barrier shimmered like glass, locking Zetsu in place.

Azzel sighed, as if bored by the whole ordeal. "I'll show you why angels are superior," he said calmly. "You attack without thinking, without understanding what you're dealing with. I don't even need to lift a finger."

The gravity within the force field intensified, and Zetsu's body buckled under the immense pressure. His knees hit the ground, bones creaking under the weight. Azzel walked toward him, unaffected by the crushing force, and knelt beside him, inspecting the demon as though he were a curious specimen.

"You're a hybrid, aren't you? No full demon would be this weak," Azzel murmured, shaking his head in disappointment. "After 400 years, your kind has grown soft. Pathetic, really."

Zetsu gritted his teeth, struggling to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Azzel's gaze turned cold as he applied more pressure, pushing Zetsu further into the ground.

"Look, I'm not here to kill you—yet," Azzel said nonchalantly, sitting on Zetsu's back as if the demon was nothing more than a chair. "I just need some information. Ever heard of someone named Melissa?"

Gordon stepped forward, desperation in his voice. "She was banished from the kingdom. Let the boy go, he's done nothing wrong."

Azzel chuckled darkly, leaning back. "His bones... I hear them cracking. Such sweet music." He pressed his foot against Zetsu's spine, eliciting a sickening crack. "I've got about thirty seconds before he turns into a pancake. It's been a while since I've had one of those."

"Her lab!" Gordon shouted, his voice raw with desperation. "Her lab is in King Arthur's dungeon. Please, just let him go!"

Azzel sighed, disappointed. "Damn. I really wanted that pancake." With a flick of his wrist, he desummoned the force field, letting Zetsu collapse onto the ground, gasping for breath. "Consider yourself lucky, kid."

Azzel turned to Sozen, casting a final glance at the team. "You'll see me again," he promised, his voice laced with menace. "Be ready."

As Azzel and Sozen walked away, the tension in the air finally broke, but the fear remained, thick and suffocating.

"Where's Kai?" Gordon asked urgently, his voice strained. "And get Sarah to heal Zetsu."

Kira nodded, still shaken by the encounter. "Yes, sir."

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