Chapter 17: In Control (2)
No POV:
The ruins groaned under the wind. Half-shattered towers leaned against each other like tired giants, and the ground was littered with broken steel and stone. In the center of this desolation stood Axel, his cyan eyes darting from left to right.
From the shadows of a crumbled archway, Yuri emerged. Tendrils unfurled from his back in smooth arcs, brushing across the ground, lifting dust and pebbles into the air. Each cord moved with eerie patience, like snakes waiting to strike.
Yuri grinned snapping his neck back in place "That was a good strike... I don’t know who you are but I’m starting to enjoy this"
[Warning: Host has lost control.]
[Demonic Entity Linked: Nyroth]
[Attempting to regain control...]
[Failed]
"Tch". Ignoring the floating screen in his sight,
Axel’s possessor tilted it’s head and grinned, eyes narrowing. " You underestimate me.."
The first tendril lashed out, whistling as it sliced the air. Axel leaned just far enough to let it pass, sliding one foot back on the rubble, then pivoted into a graceful counterstep.
More tendrils snapped forward, weaving together to form a wall of writhing cords. Axel exhaled, crouched low, and wove through them, each movement just shy of collision. To an onlooker, it looked less like a battle and more like a dangerous dance.
"You can’t touch me,"
Yuri growled, tendrils tightening around pieces of debris. Chunks of stone and steel were ripped free and hurled toward Axel. Instead of dodging back,
Ax surged forward, planting one hand against a flying slab, flipping over it with inhuman control. He landed lightly, only a few steps from Yuri.
The tendrils reacted instantly, a dozen snapping to form a cage around Axel. The ground quaked as they slammed down, dust clouding the air.
For a moment, silence.
Then, Axel stepped calmly through the dust, unharmed, the cage bent open just wide enough for him to slip through. His possessor’s voice was smug:
"Strength is nothing without foresight."
Yuri’s tendrils retracted slightly, swaying in agitation. The devil’s form shimmered, his cords rising higher, spreading wide as if to blanket the ruins themselves.
The battle had shifted into a game of patience. Both combatants stood among the wreckage, testing, probing, each strike meant not to destroy but to outthink the other.
Then Yuri started moving. Flash stepping all over the place leaving after images in all directions. Axel gritted his teeth and used his eyes to follow him.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Up. Down. Left. Left. Right. Up. Right
He used his eyes to keep up; still not moving from that spot.
[Warning: Host has sustained significant damage to eyesight]
Even though his eyes started to bleed he kept following. Blood dripped from his face to the ground but he kept following.
Until....
**BOOM**
Yuri landed with an axe kick but Axel was fast enough to block with his hand.
He smiled and leapt off then another stand off.. this time...
The both disappeared fighting at speeds that were nearly impossible to follow with normal eyes. The only thing anyone present could see was just clashes and the occasional flicker of two devils.
"Hayley! What is going on there? Status report"
Hayley recognized the voice in her head. It was the commander; she could sense the urgency in his voice as he spoke.
"Sir, all teammates are alive,sustained injuries multiple casualties,a 6 year old orphan is all we could save"
It was silent on the other end then she heard him take a deep breath
He spoke, calmer this time. "And what about Axel? You say all teammates are alive but we were unable to detect any of his vitals"
Hayley looked up; towards the raging battle Infront of her.
"Well he’s.... I don’t know what he is but he engaged the devil not long ago. They seem evenly matched and...."
"Oi..."
When Hayley looked up she came face to face with Axel looming over her; though still possessed, covered in blood and looking at her with bleeding eyes...
"I dunno what you’re taking about but I’d rather you keep quiet.... I can’t concentrate."
He spoke, his voice a combination of human and demon. He fell quiet again his eyes shifting to the whimpering child in her arms.
"What a drag"
Turning around, he brought his finger close to his ear and rammed it inside.
[Warning: Host has sustained significant damage to hearing]
Hayely looked on in disbelief. ’The only way to sever a telepathic connection is brain damage. Did he... Gouge his ears?’
She tried her best to calm the wailing child in her arms.
’what are you?’
Vaden spoken again. "Listen to me... The moment he reverts abandon the mission and make sure you bring him back alive... We can’t afford any other casualties"
Axel pulled out his finger. It was already covered in blood and blood oozed from his ear as he tried to listen for Yuri’s whereabouts but since he gouged his ear, the sounds were muffled from one end.
[Warning: Hearing severely damaged. Combat abilities compromised]
Then...
**SQUELCH**
He was stabbed. Through the chest... He looked down and saw a tendril running through him covered in blood. Yuri came out of hiding laughing.
"Not so tough are ya?.. I admit you’ve dealt extensive damage but the damage you’ve suffered are enough to leave a normal human dead"
Ax smiled. The next moment he held the tendril preventing Yuri from pulling out.
"Heh..."
Trghh
He slammed his head against Yuri’s in a vicious head butt. He slammed it so hard that both their skulls cracked.
Yuri stumbled back and Axel started laughing hysterically
"Hahahahahaha... hahahahahah. Yesss this is it... This is the thrill I’ve been looking for!!"
[Warning Host is in critically condition...]
His hand started quivering. It seemed his own skin was vaporizing revealing Axel’s own skin underneath
"Heh i guess my time is up... I truly enjoyed the little time i spent with this body. I think I’ll come again"
Yuri stepped back.
"This is getting out of hand. In my current condition I’ll actually get killed.. i can’t risk that. I’m bailing this joint."
With that he leaped away leaving a puddle of blood behind him.
Axel on the other hand stood as the demon skin started to fade till it reached his face. He turned to Hayley.
"You! Take care of this body... I won’t tolerate any issues next time I come for it.."
His eyes shifted to the child one last time. He cracked a smile. A very devilish one before completely disintegrating leaving Axel’s actual body behind.
He fell on his knees. His body bleeding violently, his vision blurred and his hearing obscured.
He brought his hands to his face.
[Warning: Host is facing psychological turmoil.]
’What was that feeling... It felt like i was being consumed. It...it was terrifying.... The darkness was terrifying’
"Hold on!!"
His hearing slowly recovered but his consciousness faded but right before he passed away out his gaze shifted to the wailing child in Hayley’s arms.
’What... Happened?’
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