10 Seconds Ago
Assad was hurtling through the open sky, the piercing wail of the homing missile chasing him down like a ravenous predator. Every twist and turn he made only seemed to tighten the missile's grip on him, its mechanical shriek drilling into his brain.
This was definitely not how he envisioned his brief comeback would unfold.
"COME ON, MAN!" he yelled into the rushing wind, his voice cracking under the pressure. "WHY IS THIS THING STILL ON MY TAIL?!"
His mind was already foggy, his body felt like it was on its last legs, and it was as if someone was hammering away inside his skull.
Thinking. The one thing he despised. The one thing he tried to avoid. The one thing he was absolutely terrible at. But now, he had no choice.
I… I have to THINK? Seriously? Right now, in the middle of THIS?!
His thoughts were a chaotic mix of panic, anxiety, irritation, and a pounding headache all at once.
Assad groaned inwardly.
"Okay. Okay. I can handle this… maybe. No, I can't. YES, I CAN. Think, genius, think!"
He tried diving down, then shooting up, then veering sideways. Nothing worked. The missile followed him with graceful precision, like a devoted pet or an overly clingy ex.
"This is SO INFURIATING! STOP TAILING ME LIKE A LOST PUPPY!"
He dove again, his breath catching in his chest. That's when he spotted something below. A random car speeding by, music blasting from its speakers. Heads bobbing inside. People shouting, drinking, laughing living it up.
Assad blinked, then a grin spread across his face.
"Well, well… looks like someone's got a death wish."
He watched for a moment, taking in the drinks and the sight of someone half hanging out the window.
Yep. They clearly weren't too concerned about living.
"My brilliant 900 IQ plan… starts NOW."
He crossed his arms tightly against his chest and dropped like a spear. The missile screamed behind him, adjusting on a dime.
Assad spun around, dodging to the left as the missile followed suit, then it veered right without missing a beat. Next, it shot upward, still in pursuit.
He let out a sharp breath.
Time for the real trick.
He twisted hard to the left, then juked right, diving back toward the car faster than gravity should allow.
The missile overshot him, momentarily thrown off.
Then Assad dropped straight down into the bushes by the roadside. The missile scanned for a target but found none. It corrected its course and zoomed straight for the getaway car.
Inside the vehicle, chaos erupted.
"HIP HIP—!!"
"HOOORAY!!!"
"WE'RE FREE FROM KESORE, BABYYYY!"
Someone was twerking in the backseat for no apparent reason. Another person spilled beer everywhere, while someone else leaned out the window, yelling at passing trees.
Then, a truck and four black cars sped by.
"What the hell!?" the passenger shouted. "Learn to DRIVE, you maniacs!"
He turned to look ahead.
"What's that falling—"
KA-BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A fiery explosion engulfed the car. Metal twisted like burning paper. The blast rippled across the road, scattering debris everywhere.
Assad flinched, covering his ears.
"AAAHHHH MY EYES MY EARS WHY IS IT ALWAYS SO LOUD!?" he yelled, rolling in the dirt.
When the noise finally subsided, he looked up and froze. The scene was utter devastation. A crater in the road, smoke billowing, flames flickering, and the air vibrating with heat.
Assad exhaled, eyes wide.
"…I actually dodged a homing missile. Holy crap. I'm a genius. A tactical mastermind. A—"
His hand twitched, a deep, low tremor traveling up his arm. His smile faded. His time was running out.
"Tch… annoying."
He glanced down at his failing host body and smirked weakly.
"Alright, you cheap knockoff. Take care of my body, will ya? It's worth more than your entire life. Oh, and enjoy the 'artwork' I left for you."
The Original Assad faded away. Toon regained control, blinking back to consciousness as he gasped for air, feeling it rush into his lungs.
"Wh—what—?! Why was I trapped? Why couldn't I see anything?!"
He stumbled forward, then suddenly froze.
A burning car crackled ominously in front of him.
With his heart racing, he approached slowly, only to be met with the horrifying sight of charred skeletons inside. Blackened bones, melted metal, and ash filled his vision. Toon's stomach churned violently.
He couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Wha… what is this…?"
He retched again, and then a flood of horrifying, chaotic images crashed into his mind.
Assad blowing up a helicopter.
Assad riding a door through the sky.
Assad dodging a missile.
Assad diving.
Assad smiling.
Assad reveling in it.
Assad deliberately choosing this very car.
More vomit.
"How could you—" Toon gasped, tears welling in his eyes. "How could you do this? You demon! You monster! You don't care about human life at all!"
His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto his hands and knees.
Is this what it feels like to share a body with a demon?
Moments later, Shuren and Mya landed, the destruction hitting them like a punch to the gut. Mya dashed straight to Assad.
"Assad!! Are you hurt!? Are you okay!?"
Toon continued to heave, wiping the remnants of his sickness from his lips.
Shuren stood still, her gaze fixed on the devastation.
"…what happened here?" she whispered.
Sho landed next, casually brushing dust off himself.
"What a destructive boy," he remarked.
Shuren raised an eyebrow. "…You think so?"
Sho sighed. "It's odd. He tears through everything in his path… yet feels regret afterward. That contradiction is either a curse… or a clue."
Shuren frowned but stayed silent. Finally, Toon wiped his mouth clean.
Mya placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Assad… are you okay?"
He met her gaze and forced a smile.
"I'm fine. Don't worry too much. Let's head back to the others."
Mya didn't buy it, but she nodded. They both walked toward Shuren and Sho, who had crossed her arms.
"So, Ace. How was your little stunt? Fun?"
"…Yeah," Assad replied. "Very fun."
Shuren narrowed his eyes just a bit.
Then Assad asked, "So, how are we going to catch Zheng Yan? They could already be at the trading point."
Shuren smirked.
"Don't sweat it. Our ride just pulled up. Plus, another squad is handling them."
Assad's eyes went wide.
Another squad!?
So, he nearly risked his life chasing that truck…for nothing. His eye twitched. A car rolled up, and Tasia leaned out the window.
"Hop in!"
Everyone jumped in except for Sho.
"I'll sit this one out," he said flatly.
Shuren shrugged right away. "Yeah, whatever, old man. We never really needed you anyway."
Sho's vein throbbed.
"HEY—!! You—!!"
Tasia hit the gas, and the car took off. Sho let out a deep breath, rubbing his forehead.
"What an annoying girl…"
Then his gaze shifted to the bushes.
"…So, how long are you planning to stalk me? Are you madly in love or something?"
A low growl responded.
Out stepped a massive creature, distorted and grotesque. Two human bodies fused together, crawling on clawed limbs. Skin stretched tight. Teeth jagged. Eyes hollow.
A failed merging. A monster born from despair. It roared and lunged at Sho. Sho cracked his knuckles, calm as a sleeping dragon.
"Water Master Technique," he murmured.
Then he took his stance. And the fight began.