Days went by.
Michael finally began to tumble left and right, his shot wide open as he blasted through the logs on his feet, looking left and right for Gina.
A few seconds passed.
Then he began to laugh.
For the first time in a long time, Michael felt fear.
Not because he was afraid of dying.
His body wasn't the one afraid.
His brain had simply imprinted Gina into his mind as something to fear.
Michael sat back on the ground, thinking about the fight.
"She really did spare me... But then, what am I? She said something about the Fallen One. She also seemed to use the same power I use, but hers was superior. Even in technique, she completely outclassed me.
Maybe Elizabeth was right."
He laughed quietly.
"I really do make impulsive decisions."
Michael stood and stared at the ground where they had fought.
Something was strange.
Everything had been organized as though nothing had happened.
The area was filled with greenery and mud, exactly as he had found it when he first made camp.
It didn't make any sense.
Michael decided to keep that in mind as he continued wandering, thinking about his next move.
Then—
A deep killing intent washed over him.
It was so intense that Michael immediately drew his dagger.
Or at least, the dagger he thought he still had.
He looked around.
A multitude of beasts surrounded him.
Yet none of them moved forward.
Michael slowly walked toward them.
They weren't afraid of him.
Something was stopping them.
And honestly, Michael was grateful.
If this many beasts attacked him at once, he would be dead.
But that left one question.
How was he supposed to leave?
As Michael approached the invisible wall separating him from the beasts, he noticed something floating in the air.
A note.
He reached for it.
Written across the paper were the words:
"When you're able to break the barrier, then you can kill the beasts. XOXO, GINA."
Michael's eye twitched.
"Who does this bitch think she is?"
She had eaten his free food.
Beaten the shit out of him.
Lectured him.
Protected him.
Then imprisoned him.
And now she was training him.
"But why would she do all this?"
Michael's expression slowly became serious.
"Wouldn't that mean she knew who I was from the start?"
He paused.
"If she read my energy signature during the fight, then she possibly recognized it before that. Meaning she already knew I had some relation to this special father of mine."
His eyes narrowed.
"The one she kept talking about..."
Michael clenched his fist.
"But why?"
There were too many questions.
Too many things he didn't understand.
"What is all of this?"
Michael sat down.
"I can't get any answers until I leave this place."
He looked at his hands.
"I need to focus on utilizing this newfound power. I need to actually understand it."
His expression hardened.
"My plan won't be straightforward."
He closed his eyes.
"I can't impose death if I'm not strong enough to command it."
Michael began channeling his Emo.
His body immediately trembled.
"AGHHHH!"
Blood rushed up his throat.
He bent forward
BLEGH!
Blood spilled across the ground.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest
BOOM!
A girl was ragdolled into a tree.
Her body slammed against the trunk before falling heavily to the ground, blood dripping from her head.
It was Precious.
"I CAME OUT OF THE FUCKING PORTAL AND THIS IS WHAT I GET?!"
She spat out a tooth in anger.
Precious glared at the massive bull-like beast standing before her.
Its horns were so long they curled into enormous spirals.
The beast lowered its head.
Then
ROOOAAAR!
It charged.
Precious didn't hesitate.
"ABILITY: PROPHECY!"
Her eyes sharpened.
"I COMMAND THE TREE TO STOP MY FOE!"
She ran forward.
Prophecy allowed Precious to impose her will upon anything whose true name she knew.
But knowing the name wasn't the only limitation.
If whatever she attempted to control completely outclassed her, then her command would be impossible to enforce.
And right now—
Precious was an ant running toward a nuclear bomb.
"TREE! RAISE ME UP!"
The tree beside her violently erupted from the ground, launching Precious into the sky.
She poured her strength into her arms.
Her body screamed from the strain.
Then she shouted—
"WITH THE PAIN OF MY PAST, I CALL UPON THE SKY!"
She pointed toward the heavens.
"BRING DOWN LIGHTNING!"
Nothing happened.
The beast below looked up at her.
Precious's eyes widened.
The sky wasn't obeying.
Then she saw something familiar.
Someone.
Iyi.
Her heart stopped.
But she didn't know
The Iyi she knew was no longer there.
A voice came from the body below.
"Oh, baby Sapien."
Precious froze.
"Iyi is gone."
The voice smiled.
"God is here."
Her heart began racing.
Her breathing became uneven.
"And I remember you."
Even the beast below could feel the aura radiating from Iyi's body.
It was something far beyond what it could comprehend.
Precious screamed.
"I COM—"
Before she could finish
BOOM!
Iyi slammed her straight into the ground at lightning speed.
The impact shattered the earth beneath her.
Iyi looked down at Precious.
"You commanded the sky."
He smiled.
"And now the sky is here."
His eyes gleamed.
"Just that the sky doesn't obey mere mortals."
He tilted his head.
"Anywhere this body goes, I am hungry."
His gaze fell upon the beast.
"And you look good."
With a simple wave of his hand
KRA-KA-BOOOOM!
Devastating lightning descended from the heavens.
The massive bull-like beast was instantly reduced to a burnt corpse.
Iyi stared at the remains.
"Such weaklings."
He smiled.
"Now that I have you, no one can awaken Iyi."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Now to find Michael."
His smile disappeared.
"I must kill him before he kills me."
Iyi picked Precious up with one hand.
Then, with his other, he lifted the three-ton beast as though it weighed nothing.
His body rose into the air.
BOOM!
He disappeared at wind-breaking speed.
Back inside the barrier, Michael remained surrounded by beasts.
Then
A massive flash of lightning illuminated the distant sky.
Michael slowly raised his head.
His eyes widened.
"Could it be...?"