NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Change
Mochizuki: That was close.
(In his mind).
"Piece of trash just passed me up."
He recalls the Heaven Orb King passing him by and swiftly approaching the man engulfed in flames. As he watches, a suit of armor materializes, covering the Heaven Orb King's entire body. The sword, now freed from its previous position, moves away from Dabi.
(Out of his mind).
Ashton: ...
He stood silent, his gaze shifting between Dabi and the Heaven Orb King, who was smirking at him with an air of superiority that made his heart tremble in fear. The smirk was all too familiar, stirring up memories of his time with the Heaven Orb King when he was younger.
Dabi: He killed Endeavor. That was my kill...
He mutters it to himself, his eyes fixed intently on the man adorned in golden armor, as the blue flames dance around his body, casting a mesmerizing glow.
Dabi: You'll pay for that!
Shooting out his intense, vibrant blue flames directly at the man clad in the gleaming golden armor.
Anastasia: Heh.
She utilizes her energy to create chains, wrapping them around Dabi, despite the high risk that Heaven Orb King might kill her as well, just like he did to the man with the flames.
Dabi: What the hell?
He glances back slightly, catching a glimpse of an unusually tall woman, likely a size seven, before feeling a tug on the chain and turning to see Mochizuki standing beside him.
Anastasia: Hey Mochizuki. What's the point of protecting a stranger when you couldn't even protect Kaien?
She smirks while summoning Kaien right before her, and Kaien was severely injured at that moment, a consequence of using his powers to heal Toga's injuries.
Mochizuki: Kaien...
With a burst of intense energy, twenty percent of his power manifested as black flames that swirled around his body, casting flickering shadows on the surrounding environment. He locked eyes with Dabi for a brief, tense moment before shifting his gaze to Anastasia.
Dabi: Unchained me so we could beat up this stupid bitch.
He looks at Mochizuki, but can't help wondering why the man in the golden armor hasn't attacked them yet, unless he's lost interest in the fight altogether.
Mochizuki: Good idea.
He melted the chains that bound Dabi, freeing him from his restraints. As Dabi stood up, he and Mochizuki turned to face Anastasia, who was watching them with a twisted, sinister smile spreading across her face.
Anastasia: You two going to battle me? Just for my sex slave/slave? Kaien is not important to the stranger so don't waste your time.
She glances over at Dabi, her eyes pleading with him to reconsider and back out of the fight, knowing that his chances of winning are slim, especially against her own formidable skills, and her ego is fueled by the confidence in her own superiority.
Dabi: Shut up whore.
He glares at her with intense hatred, his eyes blazing with a fierce anger. This hate fuels his quirk, allowing it to surge with power. As both Dabi and Mochizuki unleash their flames, Mochizuki skillfully matches Dabi's intense flames by changing the color of his own flames to a deep blue.
(In the background).
Heaven Orb King: It's been a while, hasn't it, Ashton? You're eighteen now, but you still look like the young kid from back then.
He creates a protective barrier around himself and Ashton, isolating them from the outside world and preventing others from getting too close.
Heaven Orb King: I recall when you and I were in bed. You were so young and helpless. Do you remember that, Ashton?
He slowly makes his way towards Ashton, his footsteps quiet on the ground as he approaches his old sex slave.
Ashton: ...
His eyes widened in terror as his heart pounded furiously in his chest, causing him to tremble uncontrollably. The gas mask that covered his face suddenly cracked, the sound making him jump. He was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or speak, his body frozen in a state of utter terror.
(Outside of the barrier).
Anastasia: Heaven Orb King must be enjoying his old sex slave.
She smirks, her eyes darting between the energy barrier and Dabi and Mochizuki, who are now sprinting directly towards her with a sense of urgency.
Anastasia: Well now I guess I'll enjoy myself.
She carefully placed her hand on the ground, calling forth the seven deadly sins in their most powerful forms. As her energy coursed through them, they grew stronger and more formidable. With her newfound allies by her side, she charged into battle, leaving Kaien to remain still, his injuries too severe for him to move.
Mochizuki: Fire Style: Ultimate Move Sun Control!
With unrelenting focus, he channels one hundred percent of his energy to control the sun, causing it to undergo a mesmerizing transformation. As the sun's rays descend, they ignite in a fierce blaze of blue flames, engulfing and incinerating half of the seven deadly sins. Meanwhile, Dabi charges straight towards Anastasia, his entire body enveloped in a raging aura of blue flames as he unleashes a torrent of fiery blasts in her direction.
Anastasia: A human coming after me?
She channels her energy to form a protective shield, safeguarding herself from the intense blue flames. By expending her energy, her levels surge to forty percent, which in turn enables her to heal the seven deadly sins who were severely affected by the flames.
Anastasia: Humans and orbs sin every day. The more they sin, the stronger I become. I am indifferent to the nature of their sin.
She stretches out her hand towards Dabi, disregarding the intense blue flames engulfing his body, and manages to grab hold of him. The sins of humans and orbs, which have been fueling her power, render her immune to the pain that would normally come from touching the fiery inferno surrounding Dabi.
Dabi: Fuck!
He intensifies his flames to the point of exhaustion, pushing his body to its limits as the pain from his quirk becomes increasingly unbearable. However, despite his best efforts, he realizes that his flames have no effect on her, leaving him bewildered and concerned.
Mochizuki: Dabi hold on!
He channels his energy directly towards Dabi, providing him with the assistance needed to amplify his flames to scorching temperatures reminiscent of the sun's intense heat.
(In his mind).
"How is this a morality of fear? I know I need to confront fear, but it seems like there's more at play here, and the black figure may be manipulating us."
(Out of his mind).
Dabi: Prominence Burn!
He unleashes a powerful beam of vibrant blue flames, shooting it straight towards Anastasia and engulfing her in its intense heat, forcing her to release her grip on him. The blast sends her flying across the area, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The blue flames continue to burn along the path, scorching the trees and leaving them charred and smoldering.
Dabi Woah...
He breathes heavily as he deactivates his quirk, feeling the strain of its intense use finally begin to dissipate. He slowly sits down on the floor, his eyes fixed on the seven deadly sins as they gradually fade away, disappearing completely into nothingness.
Mochizuki: Kaien!
He rushes towards him, embracing him gently as he takes care not to worsen Kaien's injuries, showing his support and concern for his well-being.
Kaien: ...
He looks at him intently, then shifts his gaze to the barrier as he whispers something softly in Mochizuki's ear, his voice barely audible.
Kaien: Help your friend...
He says it softly.
Mochizuki: ...
He releases his grip on Kaien, diverting his attention to the barrier before shifting his gaze to Dabi, who appears severely injured from the intense heat he just withstood.
Kaien: Bring him to me...
He says it softly once again.
Mochizuki: No, I just can't bear the thought of you suffering any more, I have to find a way to help him. Just wait here.
With a sense of urgency, he swiftly walks away from Kaien and approaches Dabi without any hesitation. He then gives Dabi a bite on the neck, a deliberate act intended to transform Dabi into a half-Orb, thereby granting him the ability to heal himself, albeit at a slow pace. Dabi has transformed into a being that is half fire orb.
Dabi: What did you just do?
He looked at him with a mixture of confusion and curiosity, wondering what was happening, but noticed that his wounds were healing slowly, the raw, red skin gradually returning to its normal tone. At least the severe burn marks had healed completely, leaving behind only faint scars as a reminder of the injury.
Mochizuki: We need to help Ashton... He protected your ass earlier.
He extends his hand, grasping Dabi's arm and helping him to his feet as they both gaze up at the shimmering energy barrier.
Dabi: Alright then let's get this bastard!
He smirks slightly as both he and Mochizuki display their vibrant blue flames. Both of them shot out their intense blue flames, sending them towards the energy barrier in all directions, covering it entirely.
The energy barrier dissipates completely, not due to the flames, but because Heaven Orb King has concluded his interaction with Ashton. He then proceeds to put his royal attire back on, doing so nonchalantly in front of Dabi and Mochizuki. Ashton lay unconscious on the floor, completely naked.
Heaven Orb King: I just had sex with my former sex slave it's been so long...
He states it calmly as his golden armor reappearing around his body once again, as he turns his gaze towards Mochizuki and Dabi.
Dabi: So you raped the guy?
He looks at the Heaven Orb King with a mixture of disgust, yet he can't shake off the feeling of heavy energy emanating from a distance. As he glances up slightly, he catches sight of the woman from before, her body badly burned and charred, but her eyes blazing with a fierce anger that seems to pierce through the air.
Mochizuki: I always wanted to kill Heaven Orb King... He deserves to die... Dabi take Ashton and Kaien away I'll distract them.
He looks at Dabi with a mixture of concern and caution, not wanting him to put himself in harm's way. As one thousand percent of his energy begins to manifest around his body, it transforms into black flames that engulf him, radiating an intense heat.
Dabi: Nah I'm staying no matter what.
He unleashes his blue flames once again, the intense blaze a clear indication to Mochizuki that he is determined to stay and fight.
This will continue in the next chapter.