Return of the Fallen Volume 9 Chapter 119
Zephris told Detra exactly what was coming for her son for all of the atrocities he committed. If it were just his words, she would not take them seriously whatsoever but she knew that Kazuki was on Zephris’s side and she knew Torzz had actively tried to kill and block Kazuki several times. It was plain as day, Kazuki and Torzz were enemies and with Kazuki’s strength, there was no stopping what would come.
Just as she was terrified of what would come to pass, Kazuki appeared within his soul world.
(Kazuki!)
Detra had been observing the outside world and Fera had just given Kazuki two options. Save his friends or take his revenge on her and suffer the consequences. Deta did not expect Kazuki in this perilous time to show up here and was taken aback.
Zephris as well was surprised.
(What are you doing here? Fera cannot defeat you, finish her right now before she ascends.)
Kazuki was pissed.
(You think I don’t want to! She’s threatening everyone I care about. If I go for her, the world is lost but if I defend the world then she escapes my grasp. Everything I’ve gone through, everything I’ve endured, those I loved that were taken from me or those that are still left. I know I should protect them but this is my only chance to destroy Fera.)
Zephris stared at Kazuki with rage and his voice was filled with urgency and held no empathy.
(YOU FOOL! WHO CARES ABOUT THOSE HUMANS! FERA IS ALL THAT MATTERS. DO YOU THINK EVERYTHING WILL JUST END IF SHE GOES TO A HIGHER REALM? IF SHE CAN’T GET TO YOU SHE CAN SEND DEMIGODS ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHOUT MERCY. EVENTUALLY YOU WILL BE OVERWHELMED, EVENTUALLY YOU WILL BE DEFEATED, AND THEN IN THE END THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT WILL DIE ANYWAY. FORGET THEM, SEVER TIES NOW AND TAKE FERAS HEAD AND THEN TORZZ.)
Kazuki could feel nothing but cold from Zephris and he felt bitter because of this. He knew that Zephris was harsh but some of what he said wasn’t wrong. Fera was bound to her hatred as if it were her own life and it was something he knew she would never let go. He knew she would send others after him if she couldn’t kill him and the echoes of those battles would most likely destroy everything he cared about.
Taking Fera’s head obviously made sense. To let her remain alive would be the ultimate mistake and Kazuki understood this. He wished death upon Fera with every fiber of his being but at the same time, how could he abandon Nunully, Asuna, and the rest. Kazuki was torn more now than any other time in all of his life.
(I can’t just abandon my people.)
(FUCK YOUR PEOPLE! THERE IS MORE THAN JUST THEM ON THE LINE. WHAT ABOUT TORZZ, WHAT ABOUT SEPHRA? WHAT ABOUT MY REVENGE? IF YOU DON’T ABANDON THEM THEN YOU’RE ABANDONING ME. ARE YOU SO UNGRATEFUL AFTER I SAVED YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR AFTER I PULLED YOU OUT OF THE DARKNESS AND BACK INTO THE LIGHT!)
(Shut up! do you think this is easy for me?)
(What is easy Kazuki. When it comes to this world this life, it’s never been easy.)
(Stop it.)
(I gave you life, I gave you power and you dare tell me to be silent you want me to stop. This is not something you can just push aside. You have to destroy Fera. Kill her, rip her to shreds do what needs to be done before it’s too late.)
Kazuki’s aura flared up and the clouds in his soul world became dark as he roared at Zephris.
(I SAID SHUT UPPPPPP!)
Zephris finally went quiet but he glared at Kazuki as if he wished to rip him to pieces. The swirling clouds in his soul world calmed after releasing some of his pent-up rage.
After witnessing all of this, Detra spoke up.
(Kazuki, you already know how I feel about the world so I won’t mention it as there is little time. Instead of all of that noise, you came here because you need to make a hard decision and you need to make it fast but I think there is something you are overlooking. Why can’t you choose both? Why can’t you have both your revenge while at the same time protecting those you care about.)
Detra knew she got Kazuki’s full attention and even Zephris became curious.
(How?)
Detra shook her head.
(Before that, I need you to agree right here and now on one of my favors. Remember, after I saved your friends and then helped by bringing Zephris back. You owe me twice.)
Kazuki looked down at Detra, a brow raised.
(One of those favors can you really claim they count. Saving my friends, that was something you agreed to with Danny and not me. That favor could be considered false. As for you returning Zephris to the battlefield, that would be legitimate but then again, I just saved your ass from being fully destroyed. Does that not mean that you and I are now square, are we not even?)
Detra was shocked. Yes, the first favor was something decided between her and Danny but she felt Kazuki disregarding it after his friends were saved was beyond wrong. As for the second favor being canceled out because she was rescued by Kazuki, that stung but she could not dispute it.
Detra felt her world was starting to fall apart. Kazuki though was running out of time and he needed something, anything. If Detra really had the answer, he would not deny her what she wished for.
(Danny’s word, I will accept it. The first favor remains, what is it you want me to do?)
It suddenly felt like a light had been reignited in a dark space as hope returned to Detra. Only getting one favor was harsh but she knew there was little time and Kazuki wouldn’t budge from here. Neither could wait so she just came out with it.
(My favor.)
Detra glanced at Zephris before looking back at Kazuki.
(My son, no my sons. You can’t kill either one of them no matter what.)
Zephris’s anger began to rise.
(WHAT!?)
Zephris wanted to just attack Detra here and now. With both of them being souls, inside of this place where he could borrow some of Kazuki’s power, he held the clear advantage. He was just about to rush at Detra when Kazuki glared at him.
(I do not have time to deal with you. Another outburst like that, and you can consider our ties cut.)
Zephris came to a complete stop and once more bit his tongue. That was twice now that he was shut down and talked down to as if he were a child.
Kazuki didn’t even need to think about it.
(I can agree to this under one condition.)
Detra was eager as she nodded.
(Yes, anything.)
Kazuki appeared directly in front of Detra and towered over her. Were there a sun in this place, he would leave a dangerous suppressive shadow over her small form.
(Your sons, neither one of them will harm or bring harm to another living creature on Gordonia. This world may have been created by their father but that does not give them the exclusive right to play with it and the inhabitants that live on it as if it were a toy. If they break this rule a single time, a single instance, if they harm even a tiny ant, then their lives at that exact moment are forfeit. You will not get in the way, you will not try and protect them. I will end them then and there. If you can agree to this, then I can agree to your favor, what say you?)
Looking up at Kazuki, Detra for the first time in her life she felt intimidated by a human. She could barely look at the cold glare he gave her and she felt her soul shudder. She knew that Kazuki was absolutely serious and he would not hesitate to destroy her sons were they to step out of line.
Detra nodded and her voice was a bit weak as she agreed.
(I will see to it that they never lay a finger on anyone ever again, you have my word. This I swear.)
Detra spoke to here and deep within she etched this feeling of dread in her psyche. She told herself that when this was all over she would immediately go to her sons and tell them all that happened and she would beat this agreement into them if she had to. If they still wouldn’t agree, she would remove them from this world and lock them away for as long as possible until they agreed to these simple terms.
With that settled, Kazuki took a small step back, and with a fake smile, he urged her to hurry up with his eyes.
(Now tell me Detra, how can I save those I care about while at the same time taking my revenge?)
Comment (0)