Chapter 7: Scars of the Past
What the hell are you going to do now, huh?" Rajesh sneered, his smile sinister. "Tch, do you think I'm going to give up? I'm not going to let your little power scare me. I'm not going to give up on my dream. I'm going to break every limit to reach the top, even if it means destroying the very foundations of heaven. I'm going to kill you!"
He summoned all his power, unleashing a massive, painful scream: "ULTRA STAR EXPLOSION 100%!" A huge, spherical power appeared, bigger and brighter than before, with a mesmerizing display of colors. It controlled a powerful gust of wind that blew fiercely. His arm was broken due to the sheer force of the power, leaving him unable to shadow.
Rajesh smiled as the power targeted him, stretching forth his hands to absorb the massive energy.
He dissolved the massive power, and numerous veins appeared, circulating his body with a blue glow. His red aura around him grew brighter and more intense than before. "Huh, such a pleasure," he said, flying from the sky and landing gracefully on the floor.
Energy Charged [2,200%]
Stored Energy [10,000+]
Strength [650%]
Stamina [120%]
Agility [80%]
Speed [90%]
Endurance [70%]
Flexibility [80%]
Reflexes [70%]
Coordination [80%]
Balance [90%]
Durability [80%]
Acceleration [80%]
Martial Arts Prowess [99%]
Reaction Time [98%]
Regenerative Healing [800%]
"I feel so good," Rajesh said, his eyes gleaming with power. "Yeah, I can't let you go free. It seems I need to kill you." With a swift motion, he unleashed his technique: "Venox Instant Death."
In an instant, Sinner's body was slashed, and Rajesh stood behind him, his hands dripping with blood. The technique allowed him to attack his opponent with full speed, followed by a deadly slash with his hands.
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Louis slowly opened his eyes, groggily taking in his surroundings. He was in a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. His mind was foggy, but as his memories began to return, he recalled the intense battle between Rajesh and the sinner. "Did he win?" Louis wondered, his thoughts racing.
Just then, the door swung open, and Rajesh walked in, accompanied by a stranger in a sleek black suit, complete with a crisp white shirt and a tie. Louis's face lit up with a mix of surprise and happiness. "Wait, it means he won!" he thought, a smile spreading across his face.
Rajesh approached him with a warm smile. "Hey kid, I thought you wouldn't make it alive, so I wanted to check for myself if you were dead." Louis's face turned awkward, and he replied with a smile, "I thought I'd meet you in heaven." Rajesh became lightly angered and said, "What the hell, you thought I would die from that patch, Joker?" They both laughed, despite being strangers, their conversation flowing easily.
But Louis's expression soon turned from happiness to sadness, his eyes welling up with tears as memories of the old cop, the young girl, and Karen flooded his mind. He remembered their tragic deaths, and his face contorted in anguish. Rajesh's secretary looked on, confused, as Louis's tears began to roll down his cheeks.
"I'm so sorry, Karen... I knew the train was going to bomb, but I didn't try to stop you. I was too scared, too selfish... I thought only of myself, of my own survival," Louis said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Rajesh's expression turned somber, his eyes filled with empathy. "Louis, you can't blame yourself for what happened. You did what you could with what you had," he said, placing a hand on Louis's shoulder.
But Louis just shook his head, his tears falling harder now. "I should have done more. I should have saved them." Rajesh's secretary looked on, unsure of how to comfort Louis as he descended into despair.
As the scene unfolded, Rajesh's eyes met those of his secretary, and he knew that Louis's pain was far from over. The battle may have been won, but the war was far from over. And Louis was just beginning to face the darkest corners of his own mind.
Louis's questions poured out like a torrent, directed at Rajesh, the person who had saved him:
Will I ever be able to forgive myself? Will I ever be able to live with what I've done? I'm a monster, a creature without a soul... I don't deserve to live, to breathe, to exist."
Rajesh's expression turned solemn, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Louis, kid, I wish I could tell you that you can forgive yourself, that you can live with what you've done. But the truth hurts, and sometimes the pain is too much to bear. Even as a guardian, I've failed in my duty to protect the citizens. I couldn't save everyone, and that guilt will always be with me."
Louis's face contorted in anguish, his tears falling harder now. "So, I'm a monster, a creature without a soul... I don't deserve to live, to breathe, to exist."
Rajesh's voice was firm but gentle. "You are not a monster, Louis. You are a human being who made mistakes, who faced impossible choices. But the consequences of those choices will always be with you."
"But why did I survive?" Louis cried out, his voice shaking with rage and sorrow. "Why did I get to live when they died? It's not fair!"
Rajesh's eyes filled with tears, his voice cracking with emotion. "I don't know, Louis. I wish I had answers, but I don't. All I know is that you're here now, and you have a chance to make a difference. You can't bring them back, but you can honor their memories by living for them."
Louis's laughter was bitter and harsh. "Honor their memories? How can I do that when I'm the one who killed them?"
Rajesh's face was etched with pain, his voice barely above a whisper. "You didn't kill them, Louis. You tried to save them, but it wasn't enough. That's not your fault. That's just the way it was."
The room fell silent, the only sound Louis's sobs. Rajesh's words hung in the air, a harsh reality that Louis couldn't escape.
Finally, Rajesh spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Pain is temporary, but regret is permanent.
The truth hurts, but silence is worse.
Forgiveness is a myth, but learning to live with the pain is the only way to move forward. Sometimes, the only way to heal is to face the darkness head-on.The scars will always remain, but they can also become a reminder of your strength."
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Igris_Reign
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