hotmtlnovel Chapter 69: NO. 69 - My Flames Are Yours
Chapter 69: NO. 69 - My Flames Are Yours
Chapter 69: NO. 69 - My Flames Are Yours
[General POV]
"W-what do you think you're doing?!" An older man with three arms said in fear as he watched his convenience store be ransacked by four men wearing masks with four eyes. "Stop this immediately!"
"Shut the fuck up, old timer!" With a swing of his bat, one of the mask-wearing men yelled at the cowering store owner as he smashed through one of the glass doors within the store. "Unless you want me to bash my bat into that thick store of yours, I suggest you shut up!" With another swing, the man smashed several glass bottles from the store's drink aisle.
"Don't you know who we are, you old geezer?" Stepping up to the counter, a grey-skinned man with a mask peered down at the old store owner with an air of superiority. "We're Sukuna's men. Now, if you don't want the King of Curses to come kill you, I suggest you sit back and relax as we do our thing."
"S-Sukuna?!" The old man gasped in fear as his legs shuffled back until he hit the wall behind his counter.
"Good. Looks like you know the boss. Now be a good old man and hand me all the money in your register-"
"I have no men."
The loud crashes and smashes in the background all stopped as an oppressive pressure filled the air within the store. Slowly, the grey-skinned man turned his head to see Sukuna standing in front of the store's main doors.
"Shit. It's h-him. It's really him!" One of the men who were destroying the store whispered as he and his two other companions walked up slowly to the trembling grey-skinned man.
Sukuna made no comment as he looked around the ruined store before focusing on his four so-called men.
"You four hold your heads quite high within my presence."
Before the store owner's very eyes, all the men who were destroying his store were quickly beaten to the ground effortlessly and mercilessly by the King of Curses. Throughout the beatdown, the men's masks were all quickly shattered. Once they were all broken and unconscious, Sukuna threw them all out unceremoniously into the dark, dingy streets.
The store owner could do nothing but remain in his kneeled position as Sukuna turned to him.
"...these pieces of trash don't work under me," Sukuna uttered with his hands in his pockets. "Due to their crimes against you, I'll hold their fates in your hands."
Confused, the old store owner looked up at Sukuna. "...what?"
"Choose. These men can either all die or lose their arms." Sukuna said as he walked out of the store and stood at the center of all four men. "You have five seconds."
The store owner stood in shock at Sukuna's offer, thanks to his old age. The man knew that the King of Curses was dead serious. Still, even if he knew that the store owner couldn't possibly be responsible for the lives of these four criminals. Even if they did destroy his store.
Even so... if he had to decide. The store owner would choose the option in which all four men continued living.
"...their arms."
"Very well."
In the blink of an eye, each of the men's arms were sliced off from the elbow down by an invisible force that caused blood to splatter and burst from their limbs. It was only thanks to their unconscious states that the men weren't screaming in agony. Seeing such a brutal and violent display, the old man cried in horror and quickly threw up.
"There. Their debts are now paid." Sukuna said before vanishing into the dark skies above.
Falling to his knees, the old store owner looked around at the mangled bodies of all four men before tears fell over his cheeks.
"Oh god..."
Wait... do I have mental problems?
Nah.
"You want to destroy Endeavor?" I turned to Dabi, my body relaxed and loose. Contrasting his tight and jittery body language. "What a lofty ambition... tell me, what use do I have for your strength."
At my comment, Dabi frowned and canceled his flames. "Despite how powerful you are. Eventually, those heroes will gather their numbers to the point where even you won't stand a chance. Add on the fact that if All Might finds you as well. I doubt that even you could stand a chance against the Number One hero-"
Slice!
[+55 SP]
Dabi's eyes grew wide as the walls at his sides split apart, leaving behind deep gouges that began to crack and tremble before calming. Slowly, he turned back to see that the slashes reached all the way across the length of the alleyway.
Turning back to me, Dabis's eyes widened when he saw me standing within an arm's length away with a finger pointed directly at his head.
Easy there, Dabi. While I don't plan on killing you, I still have to play the role of Sukuna.
"Are you saying I'd lose to that man?" I uttered lowly. "I suggest you consider your next words carefully."
[+30 SP]
Despite his perilous position, Dabi's heart was calm. "...right." Despite his arrogance, Dabi didn't intend to piss me off and get himself killed before his goals were realized. "Sorry about that. Still, my point stands. Eventually, you're going to need strong allies."
"You're saying you're strong?"
"Despite how I look, my flames are as strong as they come. If it weren't for Endeavor, I'd be the strongest fire user in all of Japan." Dabi grinned and motioned to himself. "The way I see it, having me on your side can only benefit you, besides, for someone like you. Helping me take down Endeavor should be a cakewalk. Barely an inconvenience."
He's buttering me up. If I was an egotistical prick, that would probably work. Now then, what to do...
"...very well. Let's find out how strong your flames truly are." Dropping my arm, I began walking away from him with my hands in my pockets. "If you're capable of lasting more than five minutes against me, I'll allow you to work under me."
[+25 SP]
"Five minutes?" Grinning madly, Dabi raised an arm covered in blue flames. "That's it? I hope you're not underestimating me, Sukuna. Otherwise, you'll end up burned."
"We'll see about that... Now follow me. Fighting here will only grab unwanted attention."
"Heh. You got it, boss."
"...don't get ahead of yourself."
-
AN:
This Chapter was one of the hardest ones I've written so far. Not because of its content but for its direction, I went through three other iterations of events before I was somewhat satisfied with what I ended up with. It's not my best work, but I hope you all enjoyed it.
Until next time!