| The Cyber Ascension |
Arc 5 — "The Founder of Phoenix" |
Chapter 52 : "Hell's New Target."**
Shinonu's voice lowered, carrying an eerie weight.
Shinonu:
"After that incident… Hell finally understood something.
Killing Shimono was impossible.
So they changed their strategy."
He looked toward Queen Victoria Reona.
Shinonu:
"They decided to target Kiyomi."
Reona shivered, lifting a hand to her mouth.
Reona:
"Oh… if Hell kills Kiyomi, Shimono would…
He'd wipe out humanity.
He's only holding back because he wants her love."
Jin Yuan leaned forward slightly.
Jin Yuan:
"So… did Hell get what they wanted?"
---
[ The Past... ]
Shimono and Kiyomi sat together for dinner—
two fishes each, a bowl of rice, simple soup steaming in the cold air.
Shimono:
"Kiyomi… tonight's dinner is delicious."
His gentle smile softened Kiyomi's eyes.
Kiyomi:
"Really? I'm glad you like it."
She still wore the black rose in her hair.
Shimono still held the blue rose she gifted him between his fingers.
As they ate quietly, warmth filled the small home.
Shimono:
"Kiyomi…
I'm glad I found someone who loves me… purely."
Her cheeks burned red.
Kiyomi:
"And I'm glad I found someone who's so gentle and sweet to me…"
Shimono smiled.
After eating, they prepared their sleeping mats.
Kiyomi kept glancing at him—blushing harder each second.
Kiyomi:
"Shimono…
c-can I sleep with you tonight? I mean… while hugging…?"
Her face fully red.
Shimono lay down, patting the space beside him.
Shimono:
"Yeah… let's sleep like that."
Kiyomi curled against him, her head on his shoulder, clutching his kimono gently.
Kiyomi:
"Good night… Shimono."
Shimono wrapped an arm around her protectively.
Shimono:
"Sweet dreams…"
They slept.
But Shimono woke first—
again sensing Hell's presence.
He slowly slipped away from her warmth and stepped outside.
But tonight…
there were no Hell soldiers.
That alone made him suspicious.
He walked deeper into the forest.
Time passed.
He eventually returned—blood coating his sleeves from the usual battles.
Shimono:
"Ah… again…"
But something was wrong.
The door of their wooden house was open.
The snow showed deep footprints.
The inside was a mess—
blankets tossed, objects scattered, signs of a struggle.
And Kiyomi was gone.
Shimono:
"…No."
He ran.
For the first time—
his steps were desperate.
Tense.
Uncontrolled.
He rushed to the place where fate first tied them—the seashore.
His heart fell apart at the sight.
Kiyomi stood alone on the snowy sand.
Millions of Hell's soldiers swarmed her.
They dragged her toward a massive portal swirling over the sea.
She resisted with her ice powers—
but millions overwhelmed her.
Shimono's eyes darkened into a void.
He unsheathed his katana.
And descended into carnage.
Kiyomi (weakly):
"Shimono…"
She had never seen this side of him.
Shimono:
"Kiyomi! Don't move! Hold on—I'm coming!"
She smiled faintly through tears, wiping blood from her lips.
But then—
A Hell soldier appeared behind her, locking her arms tightly in iron chains.
Kiyomi:
"Shimono—!!"
The blue rose fell from Shimono's fingers.
His eyes widened—
then emptied.
Completely.
The sky dimmed into blackness as the moon flickered behind clouds.
Thunder cracked—
BOOM!
A violent surge of energy ripped through the air.
Shimono transformed.
His greatest ability—
one he had never used—
activated through pure, primal rage.
He grew to 13 feet tall.
His kimono fell from his shoulders.
His torso—ripped with ten-pack muscles—flashed under lightning.
Veins pulsed electric blue under his silver-gray skin.
His black hair rose like dark flames.
Another pair of arms burst from his sides—
then another.
Six arms.
Six weapons of destruction.
Shimono:
"AAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
His roar thundered through the sky.
Kiyomi staggered back—
eyes wide, tears falling—
not in fear of him
but in fear for him.
She broke from the weakened soldiers and stepped forward.
Shimono tore through Hell's army like a storm of blades.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
No sanity.
He grabbed the soldier who chained Kiyomi—
crushing his skull in his bare hand
until it exploded.
The sea turned red.
---
[ Back to Present... ]
Shinonu exhaled.
Shinonu:
"That was the first time…
Shimono ever showed anger.
Real rage."
Queen Victoria Reona leaned in.
Reona:
"Then what happened? After that?"
Shinonu lowered his head.
Shinonu:
"History only recorded up to that point.
Everything afterward…
was erased."
Jin Yuan narrowed his eyes.
Jin Yuan:
"That's… unfortunate.
I really want to know… what happened next."
Reona nodded slowly.
Reona:
"So… we can never know?
The truth after that moment will remain lost forever…?"