Chapter 44: Once upon crimson ashes - Under an Azure moon.

Reiji's body grew and contorted, muscles charring; growing. Arms became thicker than any tree trunk, his torso even wider. Human skull widened to resemble a bull's skull; twisted horns and burning crimson eyes. His entire body smouldered crimson from small fissures. The new monstrosity stood as tall as Gruen; as bulky as two brutes combined.

The crimson emperor was gone, all hail the crimson emperor. All the fire, energy, and power that he had built up had been condensed into this form.

"You have forced the emperor of flames. The source to all my flames." A voice of pure gravel and stone, rumbling like a volcano. Each breath, steam and embers came forth from his mouth. "I... will not fall so easily."

*Whack*

With the whip still around his neck he pulled Eren towards him. A fist swung towards the reaper; a swift smack against his mask, sending him sailing across the battlefield.

Eren felt his brain rattle in his skull, blood leaking from his nose, ears, and mouth. A concussion no doubt; a real nasty one.

*Whoosh*

The flame emperor launched itself towards Eren. Quickly, Eren attempted to roll out of the way. Missing the full force of the charge, but still enough to knock the wind out him.

The ground beneath shook violently. Erens head throbbed, a pulsing that made even seeing a struggle.

"No more shadows, no more minions, no more tricks."

Grabbing Eren's left ankle, squeezing until bones cracked. A sharp stabbing pain ran up and down his leg.

Another slam into the ground; with another shaking beneath. No longer was the machoistic smirk on Reiji's' face. Instead, a determined, focused mind. A sadistic fire in his eyes. Enjoying each moment, each second of the Reapers agony.

*Whack*

With ease he tossed Eren across the arena. Landing with chunks beneath him giving way and crumbling. Below was a dark tunnel; crimson lights illuminated inside it.

'I need to get down their...'

Guren appeared from the shadows below.

"Bring it down." Gruen nodded and charged an orb; filling slowly from his own essence.

"What are we doing?" A deep voice rumbled from behind.

"You can't bring me down that easily."

The beast of flame jumped up high; foot aimed for the final blow to the reapers head. Eren barely rolled out of the way. A shockwave rippled through the ground, shattering concrete, rubble flew about.

Guren unleashed his orb attack. A barrage of blood arrows struck the roof above him; more and more, until finally the ceiling collapsed. Taking the crimson emperor down, as well as Eren.

Caught in a freefall Guren caught his master. While the beast thumped into the ground; further shaking the area.

It continued to fall and fall. Crimson light dimed with each floor, until all that remained was the dark.

---

*Cough* *Cough*

Eren landed in the safe hands of Guren; body still throbbing, head pulsating, and ears ringing. Despite his Reaper body, he had far gone past its limit. Any human would have died 4 times over during the siege. His amour near gone, burnt, or destroyed; only the mask was intact, as though it was indestructible.

"Where are we?" He asked knowing that Guren didn't speak. He was in some kind of underground chamber — a vast, hidden hallway beneath the base. Dimly lit by the flickering crimson sky above, endless abyss in both directions. A musty smell lingered in the air; dust and dampness permeated the atmosphere. No one had used this place in years.

*Thump* *Thump*

But there was no time to take in the details. For heavy footsteps echoed in the darkness. Crimson lights began to shimmer once again.

"You cannot run from me, Reaper!" Voice of thunder and rage; a beastly roar shook the hallway. Dust fell from the roof; small stones fell too. Drawing closer and closer, with every thump.

At least now his shadows could gather. In this hallway, they were safe from the burning skies.

"Take me back up."

*Nod*

Guren did as asked. Taking Eren back to the hole above.

With a moment of peace Eren could think of a plan. Looking around, only rubble remained. Fire's burned away, even if something of value had been here. It was ash now.

'I need something to douse his flames. Even in that form he must have a weakness.'

In truth Eren only had a hunch. With the flames gone, perhaps his powers would fade.

"I will not let you flee." Reiji's voice echoed from below. From the hole the beast jumped out with great momentum. Landing before them, towering above. Crimson eyes met with the Azure.

*Thump*

Eren was struck into the chest. Ribs cracked; his body was tossed through the flames. Guren Knocked over with another slam.

Landing on the side of a building; the monster didn't let up. Grabbing him by his head. Smell of burning hair, smoke rising from his scalp.

"You need to work on your one-on-one fighting." *Punch*

"You rely too much on your minions." *Backhand*

"I expected so much more from you, Reaper." *Kick*

"...Y-Yeah... But they..." A gasp for air. "They make it... So much easier… too-"

*THUMP*

With the demon distracted; Guren absorbed another orb from the shadows below.

*Blood flash cannon*

Like its namesake, a cannon of black blood fired directly beside the beast. A large hole where his right arm and side should be. Blood singed flesh.

The Beast smirked one finally time before letting go. Falling to his death, back down into the tunnel, this time not so intact.

"You got me. You got me." The emperor mumbled.

Charred chunks of muscle fell away from his bones. Slowly reverting to his human form; previous injuries of the man remained. The crimson sky overhead began to calm, until a gentle quiet was all that remained.

---

Yellowed tint began to colour the clouds. Dawn was on the horizon; a new day was upon them.

Reiji was at the Reaper's feet; bloodied from his wounds and charred flesh. A look of content in his eyes. Even with all the wounds and fatigue, he still managed to pull off a toothy smirk.

"Well... That was fun…" A cough. Blood and saliva spluttered, as he struggled to breath.

"Finish me."

Whip unfurled from his hand; the ring demanded his soul. Pulsing with hunger. One lash of the whip and he could end this. Having that beast at his disposal would be a boon in later battles.

However, hesitation stayed the blade. The defeated man before him; no fear in his eyes. In fact, he was ready, accepting even.

The whip retracted back into Erens' arm. The content look was quickly taken by confusion. "What are you doing?"

"You will not die today..."

"He, ha ha ha *Cough* *Cough*" Blood muffled his chuckle.

"You would leave me to the hands of those dogs? You are a sick bastard, ha ha ha *Cough* *Cough*"

"No. Your former master. He still has a use for you. He gave me a choice; take your life or let you live under his mercy."

"..."

Reiji didn't argue. Instead, he looked to the sky, as dawn began to rise, watching the last stars fade away.

The distant footsteps of boots on pavement drew closer. The police were arriving; Eren began to limp away into the last remaining shadow.

*Cough* "Why?" A whisper from a beaten man. Not out of spite or anger, just pure curiosity.

"...Hiro. How he looks at you and you him. You are his family." Another cough.

"You'll both serve something other than yourselves now."

The Reaper limped away, gone. And the police arrived, surrounding the wounded man. Weapons drawn, ready to open fire on any moment's notice.

"Don't move!" They yelled.

Reiji's' body was beaten and battered; barely an ounce of energy left.

"Ha hahahahahaha." A laughter erupted from him. A pure glee at the spectacle that had unfolded before. All his plans, years of work and effort, now gone. What would come next? Who would he be next?

"Reiji Kikuchi. You're under arrest." Captain Shimada said. Stepping forward, to cuff him personally. Although the man could barely move. His laughter off putting too all, a man who long accepted his impending doom given life. A cruel joke by the universe indeed.

***

Through the city now; an exhaustive journey.

Eren's' head still throbbed and pulsated with each step. Coughing up blood clots intermittently. He couldn't stop though. Home was so close.

The horizon chasing away his shadows; a cool breeze soothing his charred skin.

'I'm almost home, just a bit further.'

Arriving in the terrace to his complex, all was quiet. Empty streets, a lone bird chirping, and not a soul awake. Yet the world was still turning. A new day was about to break.

*Click* *Creak*

Up the stairs and to his room; fatigue finally caught him. Collapsing mere centimetres from his bed. Landing with a soft thud. Only the sound of his own breathing could be heard. A blissful silence at last.

However, the thud awoke Eren's sister. Still half asleep, rubbing her eyes; she stumbled from her bed and into the corridor. What she saw was her older brother, collapsed on the floor, beaten, and charred.

"Eren!?"