Chapter 19: Unleashed
Replay.
Slow motion.
Barzok's massive hand slammed down—
Airi gasped—
Her body glowed faintly—
Then collapsed into Haruto's arms.
Her ring dimmed.
Silence.
Not from the watch.
Not from magic.
Just... pure, soul-crushing silence.
---
Narration — Flashback Tone
With a single hit... she was gone.
Airi — the one who stood by him through everything — struck down helplessly.
And in that moment... something inside Haruto snapped.
---
Back to Present
Haruto's body trembled violently.
The air around him distorted — shimmering, breaking.
His eyes blazed gold.
A powerful, circular flow of light spiraled outward — not from the watch.
From within.
From his soul.
Blinding light surged from his heart — raw, divine, chaotic.
Ancient symbols ignited across his arms — forgotten runes bursting into existence.
The watch on his wrist flared gold, unlocking with a series of radiant pulses, ancient markings racing along its surface.
Haruto's voice shook with uncontainable fury.
"Baaaaaaaaaarzok—!!"
He raised his head.
His golden eyes seared through the air.
---
Barzok grinned mockingly.
"Oh? So the cub finally bares fangs—"
Too late.
In a blink — Haruto appeared in front of him.
CRACK!
A devastating punch slammed straight into Barzok's jaw — splitting it with a brutal snap.
Blood sprayed.
Shock flashed across Barzok's monstrous face.
Another punch — even harder.
Another — even faster.
Haruto's roar shook the heavens.
"YOU TOUCHED HER!!"
He grabbed Barzok's horn — yanked him downward — and SMASHED his skull into the shattered ground.
A punch to the gut.
A slam to the throat.
Golden lightning exploded from Haruto's body — fracturing the earth around them.
Trees split down the middle.
The air itself vibrated violently.
Barzok coughed blood, staggering backward.
"W-What is this...?!" he gasped.
"This power...?!"
Haruto stepped forward — relentless.
"This is what happens..." Haruto snarled, voice vibrating with rage.
"When you make me watch the person I love fall right in front of me."
He seized Barzok by the throat.
Lifted the giant demon like he weighed nothing.
SLAM!
Down into the earth — leaving a deep crater.
Barzok struggled.
But Haruto wasn't done.
For over a minute — it was merciless.
Punch after punch.
Fist after fist.
Bone-shattering blows.
Screams.
Cracks.
Roars.
Golden light surged from Haruto — blinding.
The watch shone like a newborn star.
Divine energy screamed through the battlefield.
When it finally stopped —
Barzok was barely alive.
Broken.
Bloodied.
Twitching.
Barzok coughed, blood pooling at his lips.
"S-So... this is... divine wrath..." he whispered.
Haruto stood over him — breathing hard.
Eyes glowing like suns.
"No," Haruto said, voice low and furious.
"This... is me not holding back."
He raised his glowing fist one final time — light condensing into it like the core of a dying star.
And then—
SMASH—!!
A blinding explosion of golden energy erupted outward.
Barzok's body blasted backward — ripping apart mid-air — disintegrating into nothing but scattered, burning dust.
---
Silence.
Dust floated through the air like falling ash.
Haruto stood alone.
Chest heaving.
Blood dripping from his torn fists.
His watch still glowing.
The battlefield shattered around him.
Slowly, painfully — he turned.
Airi still lay there.
Unmoving.
Haruto collapsed to his knees beside her.
His voice broke into a desperate whisper.
"...Airi..."
The scene faded to black.
---
TO BE CONTINUED...