The Absolute Chair
Omnipotence Is Not Freedom
Chapter 11 — Blue Scar, Broken Resolve
The hunt began at dawn.
Not real dawn—there was no sun—but the sky shifted into a darker gray, the kind that meant movement. Monsters roamed more during this hour. Li Fang had noticed the pattern days ago.
"This one," Li Fang said, pointing toward the distant valley below the mountain.
A giant moved there.
It dragged a twisted club made from fused bone and steel. Every step cracked the earth. Its skin was layered with hardened muscle and blackened plates, eyes glowing dull red.
Zuko swallowed. "That thing looks like it eats buildings."
La Dang grinned. "Good. Means it's worth it."
Karl-Jay tightened his grip on his broken sword. His scar burned—not healed, not closing. It never closed anymore.
"Positions," Li Fang ordered calmly.
The Plan
They moved as one.
Sheila stayed far back, ready to teleport anyone out in emergencies.
Siel floated above, acting as eyes and bait.
Zuko and Junior flanked from opposite sides, drawing attention.
La Dang and Li Fang took the front.
Karl-Jay stayed center—last in, last out.
No hero. No solo glory.
Only survival.
Contact
The giant roared as Siel swooped low, hurling debris into its face.
"HEY UGLY," Siel shouted. "MISS ME—"
The club slammed into the ground where he'd been moments before, shockwaves throwing rubble everywhere.
"NOW!" Li Fang shouted.
La Dang charged first, blade crashing against the giant's knee. The armor cracked—but didn't break.
Junior leapt, striking joints, ripping muscle. Zuko distracted from behind, yelling nonsense just to keep it turning.
Karl-Jay watched.
Too slow.
His chest burned.
Pain and Motion
Karl-Jay moved.
Every step sent agony through his body. His scar felt like it was being torn open from the inside.
But he didn't slow.
He accelerated.
Blue light flickered around his right hand—faint at first, then sharp and vivid. His broken sword hummed, vibrating like it was alive.
"What the—" Zuko gasped.
Karl-Jay didn't answer.
He inhaled.
Evolution: Blue Severance
His hand glowed blue, veins lighting like glass.
Time bent.
In one minute—
56 slashes.
Not wild. Not desperate.
Perfect.
Each strike released compressed blue energy, cutting deeper than steel ever could. The air screamed. The giant staggered as lines carved themselves across its body—neck, arms, torso.
La Dang stared. "That's not human…"
Karl-Jay felt it.
Every slash tore at his muscles. His bones screamed. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
But he smiled.
I can do this.
The Kill
Li Fang saw the opening instantly.
"Final strike!"
Sheila teleported Karl-Jay above the giant's head—
Pain exploded through his chest.
He nearly blacked out.
But he raised his sword anyway.
Blue light gathered.
One slash.
The giant's head separated cleanly.
The body fell like a collapsing mountain.
Silence.
Aftermath
The group stood frozen.
Zuko finally spoke. "…He just erased it."
Junior exhaled slowly. "You okay?"
Karl-Jay nodded quickly. "Yeah. Fine."
A lie.
Inside, his scar burned hotter than ever. His body shook. His vision blurred.
But he didn't fall.
He wouldn't.
They drank the monster's blood. Strength flowed into all of them—but Karl-Jay barely felt it.
Because something inside him had already changed.
Hidden Cost
That night, while the others rested—
Karl-Jay sat alone, gripping his chest.
Blue light flickered weakly around his hand.
Pain surged through his body every time he remembered the fight.
Stronger… he thought. But breaking.
Behind him, unseen—
Something watched.
Something pleased.
End of Chapter 11