Chapter 19

19

The tension inside was nearly unbearable as the group of Yakuza members surrounded me and my ex who had a determined scowl on his face.

Just when I was about to lunge for the closest goon's weapon, the door of the building slammed open with a thunderous crash, and a gust of wind swept through the room, kicking up the debris from underfoot. My heart skipped a beat as a large silhouette emerged from the shadows, towering and majestic. It was Noboru, his presence radiating an otherworldly power that seemed to command the very air around him.

The Yakuza members immediately tensed, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. I chose that exact moment to catalog the position of all their hands.

Kaito's eyes widened in shock and fury as he turned to face the divine being. "What the hell is this? Halloween is still months away, asshole," he spat, his voice filled with disbelief.

Noboru's gaze was fixed on me, his eyes glowing with an intense, almost blinding reflection of flames.

"If you wish to live, I suggest you step away from Mae," he said, his voice resonating with a deep, commanding authority.

"Fuck! You let every other freak between your legs, but you refuse me? ME? I'm starting to think I am crazy for wanting you, Mae," Kaito sneered.

Before I could react, the Yakuza members drew their guns and fired at Noboru. The sound of ammunition released from the barrel echoed through the building, the bullets slicing through the air. Noboru moved with a speed and grace that seemed almost impossible, effortlessly dodging the projectiles with a fluidity that defied logic.

With a wave of his hand, Noboru conjured a barrier of shimmering light that absorbed the bullets, rendering them harmless. The Yakuza members were momentarily stunned, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion.

Noboru's expression hardened as he stepped forward, his power palpable in the air. Did he seem a fraction bigger than before? "You dare to threaten those under my protection?" he boomed, his voice reverberating with a godlike fury.

The Yakuza members hesitated, their weapons lowering slightly as they took in the sheer force of Noboru's presence. One of the men, his face marked by a scar, tried to rally the others. "Don't just stand there! Take him down!" he ordered, his voice tinged with desperation.

The Yakuza members fired again, this time with more determination. But Noboru's barrier remained impenetrable, deflecting the bullets with an effortless grace. He moved toward them with an almost imperceptible speed, his every movement precise and deliberate as he pulled a sword out of nowhere and brought it down in a wide arc.

His blade sliced through the first goon, spraying blood like a geyser as he choked on his own life force, falling haphazardly to the ground, sliding his weapon farther away from me. Noboru flicked the blood away from his blade as he continued forward, his wings snapping out to the sides in all their glory.

"What the hell is that thing?" One of the guys cried out.

"It doesn't matter what it is, we need to kill it, you idiot!" Kaito growled.

In a flash, Noboru was upon them, his divine power manifesting in a blinding burst of energy. The room was filled with a brilliant, metaphysical light as he unleashed a wave of force that sent the Yakuza members reeling. The impact of his power was staggering, causing the very walls of the building to shake and tremble.

How far were we out to not have the cops show up yet? Unless, Kaito paid them off before bringing us here.

The Yakuza members were thrown off their feet, their weapons scattering across the floor. Some tried to rise, their faces filled with a mix of fear and determination, but Noboru's presence was overwhelming. The deity moved among them with an authority that left no room for resistance.

Ugh, when this is all over and we get home, I was going to ride him to oblivion.

My ex, caught in the middle of the chaos, watched with a mix of horror and disbelief. "W-What are you?" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of the battle. "Who are you?"

Noboru's gaze turned to him, his eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. "I am Noboru, one of the guardian units of the Eight Legions," he said, his voice cutting through the pandemonium like a blade.

The intensity of the battle was almost too much to comprehend. Noboru's power was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, a force that seemed to transcend the boundaries of human understanding. The room was filled with flashes of light, the sound of divine power clashing with the violence of the Yakuza. My ex's attempts to regain control were futile in the face of Noboru's overwhelming power.

I found myself standing in stunned silence, my mind reeling from the sheer scale of the conflict unfolding before me.

As the last of the Yakuza members were subdued, the room fell into a stunned silence, the ground soaked in crimson pools. The building was left in ruins, the remnants of the battle scattered across the floor. Noboru stood amidst the debris, his expression a mix of concern and something else I couldn't name.

He turned to me, his eyes softening as he approached. "Mae," he said, his voice gentle despite the power that had just been unleashed. "Are you unharmed?"

I nodded, still trying to process the magnitude of what had just happened. "I'm… I'm okay. But what was all that? What took you so long?"

Noboru stepped closer, his expression earnest. "I tried to call to you, Mae. I reached out across the fabric of time and space, but you didn't respond. I couldn't pinpoint your location until your essence resonated with me just now."

I furrowed my brow, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. "What do you mean I didn't respond? I didn't even know you were trying to find me! It's not like you gave me a handbook on this relationship with a deity stuff!"

He sighed, his wings shifting slightly as he searched for the right words. "You were lost in your own turmoil, blocking the connection. I felt your fear, your anger, but also your desire to break free. It created a barrier between us."

"A barrier?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "You think I was aware of any of this?"

He stepped closer, his voice softening. "I didn't mean to put that weight on you. I knew my… desires had been insatiable, affecting your life force. I was trying to give yo u time to recover. But without your call, I was left wandering."

"Wandering?" I echoed incredulously. "Wandering what?"

I didn't understand why I was suddenly so upset. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming, and I felt a mix of relief and confusion. Noboru's presence was both calming and infuriating in some ways. How could I feel so deeply about someone so quickly? I struggled to reconcile the reality of Noboru's divine intervention with the tumultuous emotions I was feeling.

And what were we going to do about all these bodies?!

I looked around at the aftermath of the battle, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of retaliation from the Yakuka lay ahead.

Noboru extended a hand toward me, his eyes filled with a reassuring warmth. "Come with me," he said softly. "Let us find a place where you can be safe and where we can discuss what comes next."

"B-But, the bodies, Noboru!" I shouldn't be mad. I needed to calm down. It's not like immortal beings ever had to worry about the clean-up of their mortal affairs.

The abandoned building, now scarred from the earlier battle, stood in eerie silence as Noboru and I stared at one another. The remnants of the skirmish were strewn across the floor: broken debris, scattered weapons, and the aftermath of godlike power clashing with human aggression. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and the metallic tang of blood .

"We're safe for now," Noboru said, his voice steady despite the violence we had just witnessed.

Before I could respond, the ground trembled with a low, rumbling vibration. My heart skipped a beat as a new wave of anxiety washed over me. The building's weakened structure seemed to shiver in response to the ominous force approaching.

"What now?" I whispered.

The door burst open again with a deafening crash, and more Yakuza members stormed in, their faces concealed behind masks of menace. This new wave of attackers was better equipped and more organized. Did someone call for backup without us knowing? I glanced around at the bodies sprawled on the floor.

Noboru's eyes narrowed as he assessed the new threat, his divine aura flaring in response. "Prepare yourself," he warned me.

With a groan, I dove for a shield behind one of the broken walls.

The room erupted into chaos once more as the Yakuza engaged Noboru with renewed aggression. Their weapons, now upgraded with more sophisticated technology, fired with unrelenting precision. Noboru's barrier of light was tested to its limits as he deflected their attacks, his movements a blur of speed and power.

Despite his formidable abilities, the sheer number and coordination of the Yakuza members began to overwhelm him. The battle raged with an intensity that surpassed the previous conflict, each side pushing their limits in a desperate bid for victory .

I watched in helpless horror as Noboru fought valiantly, his ethereal energy clashing with the relentless onslaught of the Yakuza. The air was thick with the sounds of gunfire, the crackle of destruction, and the grunts of exertion.

As the battle wore on, it became apparent that the Yakuza had a strategy. They moved with a precision that suggested they had time to plan for this counterattack. But how was that possible?

Their tactics were designed to exploit Noboru's vulnerabilities, and it soon became clear that they were not just aiming to capture him but to subdue him completely.

A wayward bullet went through the tip of one of Noboru's wings, making him grunt in pain. The barrier flickered under the relentless pressure, and the Yakuza seized their chance.

With a triumphant roar, the Yakuza members overwhelmed Noboru, their numbers and strategy proving too much for even a deity. They restrained him with chains that pulsed with a strange glow. What kind of sorcery was this? Whatever it was laced with, bound Noboru despite his fierce struggles.

The Yakuza leader, an older gentleman, stepped forward with a grandiose swagger. His face was a mask of cruel satisfaction, and his voice boomed with an egotistical confidence. "Witness the true power of the Yakuza," he declared, his tone dripping with superiority. "You thought you could challenge us? You thought a mere deity could save you? My son might be an idiot, but it's only because he's unable to comprehend things beyond his line of sight."

"Do you have to be such an asshole, Oto-San ? I'm right here," Kaito groaned, appearing behind him.

How the heck did he escape the first battle? I didn't see anyone leave!

His father paced before me, eyes glinting with a sinister light. "I've been preparing for this moment for ages. Did you think Matsui would be the only one to return? After my time in hell, I absorbed everything I could in each life, discovering ways to preserve my memories through each rebirth. Have you heard the legend of the Oni, warrior? It grants mortals powers beyond their understanding. Matsui's betrayal became my guiding star, leading me to become everything I was destined to be. And now, here we are, face to face in a battle that should have culminated in her demise."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kaito tried to cut in, but no one answered him.

Listening to the old guy's mumbo jumbo, I began to put pieces of the story together. The more I learned, the more unsettling each new revelation became. What the heck did I ever do in a previous life to deserve this kind of crap? To have the past continuously haunt me beyond the fabric of time and space?

"I will destroy you," Noboru growled, blood staining one of his wings.

The old man stepped closer, a predatory glint in his eyes. "You're merely a shadow of the warrior you once were. How quaint that you think you can protect her. Your bond with her is a weakness I intend to exploit."

"Matsui! Or is it Mae, now? Come out, come out, wherever you are," he taunted. "Is this any way to greet your previous husband? You've always been a whore."

I could hear Kaito cursing as a few of the men took him down.

Think, Mae. Think! What the heck is happening right now?

The Yakuza leader's arrogance was palpable, his demeanor that of a man who relished in his own triumph. "Don't be a fool, Kaito. Your destiny is beyond your understanding. As for you, Mae, and yes, you too, warrior, listen closely. You see, we're not just a criminal organization. We're the apex of power and influence."

I slowly peeked around the broken wall, watching as he turned in my direction with a sinister grin. "You, my dear, are now part of our grand design. Join us willingly, and you may find a place in our empire. Resist, and well… I will show you mercy by letting you watch your lover die by my hand… before I burn you alive."

What the hell kind of fucked up cosmic whatnot is unraveling before me?

The Yakuza leader's smile widened, a cruel glint in his eye. "I have to admit, I did enjoy watching my son fuck you."

"What the hell?" Kaito snapped, his arms locked behind him by one of his father's men.

"You were always easy on the eyes, Matsui. But as Mae, your newfound confidence made you splendid," he said with a wicked chuckle. "I'll enjoy watching as we dismantle everything you hold dear."