Chapter 35: Linward Vs Zabi
It is said that everyone has their own kryptonite — a weakness powerful enough to bring them to their knees in an instant, even when they believe they stand at the highest level of power.
"No... it can’t be... no... impossible!" Ross muttered to himself, laughing weakly, sounding like a madman locked in rehab for five years with nothing to show that he was getting better.
The memories burned.
Jaguar’s fists.
His body being broken.
The merciless beating.
The pain ripped straight through his soul like freshly cut wounds that never had time to heal. The sting, the swelling, the storm of emotions crashing into him at once, like rain poured carelessly onto a body that was already shattered.
"Oh my... oh my..."
With a sympathetic grace, the Genki descended to the ground, lowering himself until he stood on the same level as his visitor.
Medussa’s gaze sharpened.
[Snap out of it, Ross!]
The shout echoed violently inside his consciousness.
Nothing worked.
[He’s tricking you. If you don’t wake up, he will kill us.]
She persisted. If she had hands, she would have shoved him back to reality — but it was useless.
[Manual Override.]
She called for the final decision.
[Manual Override — Restricted!!!]
Useless.
Unlike the first time, Ross was in full control. His autonomous systems were active and stable — there was no opening for Medussa to seize.
[I made a mistake bringing him here... He is not ready for a Genki.]
She screamed inwardly, drowning in doubt.
There was no other way.
Once again, their survival rested entirely in Ross’s hands.
"I really like how these things work," the Genki said softly, stepping closer to Ross, who was frozen, one knee trembling against the ground.
"You enter my domain uninvited... destroy the very creatures I created... and in return, I gain physical exercise... and every piece of information about you. Even the things you haven’t uncovered yet."
He leaned closer.
"My condolences for your father. He made many mistakes in his life... but telling you to quit after I beat you down wasn’t one of them. He loved you. Cherished you. And you repaid him with impossible dreams — childish dreams that would never survive the real world. Funny... isn’t it? He showed you a straight path with—"
"Don’t talk about him like that!"
Ross cut him off, forcing himself upright. The weight in his knees trembled as they tried to give out.
"Hm?"
"You’re talking crap!"
The veins in Ross’s neck bulged. His eyes burned with fury — the kind of rage that made you want to beat someone’s soul out of their body.
"After the tournament, I didn’t understand him. Telling me to stop fighting... I hated him for it. Every time I saw him. But years later... I finally understood why."
His breath shook.
"He wanted to protect me. Not from injuries. Not from being a punching bag. But from that terrible feeling... when you fail your dream and live your life full of regret."
Slowly, he forced the other leg up, trembling, dust scattering beneath his foot.
"That’s why I have to fight even harder... for him."
Suddenly—
[Confidence]
A.O.I — Activated
Arkon, God of Arms
[Special Skill Activated: KINETIC BOMB — A bomb that grows stronger as more kinetic energy enters it]
A massive golden surge coiled through the air. Yellow energy spiraled violently, twisting like a tornado in Ross’s palms. Sand lifted from the ground, drawn into the spinning storm as it compressed tighter and tighter in his hands.
"Hahaha!"
The Genki smirked.
"So that’s your power..."
His tone wasn’t threatened.
It was amused.
"I is for Thunder Dash. O is for that freeze skill. And A is for this move. A nice combination... but what can you really do with them?"
The bomb’s humming roar filled the air.
"Don’t worry," Ross growled. "When I’m finished... you’ll leave that kid alone."
"Hahaha!"
The laugh was disgusting. Hollow. Mocking. It scraped across Ross’s skin.
And worse — Ross never noticed what was happening elsewhere.
"You’re really quick-blooded," the Genki said calmly.
"Let me tell you something."
His face twisted — smiling like a maniac, teeth exposed, craving suffering.
"I’m not leaving this child’s body for anyone, you hear me? The feeling of his suffering... mhm... it’s delicious."
[Do you think you can take him on?]
Medussa warned, deeply concerned.
"Don’t worry. I think it’s time for my retribution."
Ross tightened his stance, holding the glowing sphere of death between his hands, compressing it further — completely unaware of what was happening back home.
...
Mutts Residence
"Aaah!!"
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Linward opened fire the second he saw a foot cross into the house.
The first five shots shattered the door and tore through the first soldier who entered.
Strangely — it wasn’t Zabi.
He escaped death like he had seen it coming.
"Fall back!!" Zabi ordered.
They pulled away instantly, leaving no targets. Linward stopped firing immediately — never the kind to waste bullets.
"Come on, mates... you really don’t want to have fun?" Linward taunted, his English accent sharp and taunting.
"I’ll fucking kill you!"
One soldier leapt in like a frog, desperate to shoot him in mid dive.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Linward dropped him instantly. The bullets shredded through the supposed bulletproof vest.
"Fuck..." Zabi muttered.
"That’s the fate waiting for all of you bastards!" Linward shouted.
Then—
"Aah..."
Zabi exhaled slowly from outside the door.
"Linward, ain’t it?" he said, his African accent thick.
"And what is that to you?"
"I see you’re an intelligent man. The way you’re holding that gun — you’re experienced. And you’re experienced enough to know you can’t hold that position forever."
Linward tightened his grip.
"Get to the point."
"A fight to the death. Just you and me," Zabi said.
"If you win... you’ll have killed the man responsible for your boss’s death before you die."
Linward froze.
His heart slammed violently.
"You already knew something was wrong. That’s why you ordered an autopsy on his body before you buried him," Zabi continued.
Linward’s blood went completely cold.
He knew. Whoever this man was — he had been watching them for a long time.
"Deal?" Zabi asked.
Linward thought for only seconds.
His mind was already made.
Elod Mutt.
The man who gave him everything.
The man who made his life mean something.
And a chance to revenge him.
"Deal."
Zabi walked inside slowly,empty hands raised.
Linward stepped into a fighting stance. He wasn’t an amateur — he was a killer. Ross never knew the full truth... but Linward had taught him just enough.
They stood two feet apart.
"I will kill you, motherfucker," Linward whispered.
Zabi tilted his head, smiling.
"So those are the last words you chose?"
Linward blinked.
"What?"
POW!!!
Zabi fired.
The bullet shattered through Linward’s skull.
How...?
He saw it as he fell.
Zabi had entered with empty hands... and now he held a gun.
Impossible.
His vision blurred.
Blood flooded the floor.
Phu.
Linward collapsed.