[Outside the Hospital – Where It All Began]
A cold wind swept across the empty lot as two figures stood silently in front of an old, abandoned hospital. Its crumbling walls were stained by time, windows broken, and the sign above the entrance barely readable:
"St. Helion Medical Center."
Fallen stared up at it, unmoving. The weight of the place pressed down on his shoulders.
This was where he had been born.
This was where everything started.
No.2 stood beside him, calm, eyes fixed ahead. But inside, his thoughts were running.
No.2 (inner thoughts):
I have to get in first. If I can push Rinka just enough... If I get hurt where Fallen can see me... he'll snap. He'll unlock what's next. I need it.
Fallen turned toward him. "What are you thinking?"
No.2 didn't look back. "Nothing. Just... I should go in first. It might be dangerous."
Fallen furrowed his brows. "But wouldn't that put you at risk?"
A smirk flickered on No.2's lips. "I'm No.2 for a reason."
Before Fallen could argue, No.2 had already vanished—blitzing into the hospital with a gust of wind and the crack of a sonic step.
---
[Inside the Hospital – Operating Room Hall]
Dust hung in the air. Old operating lights dangled from broken chains. Surgical equipment lay scattered across the floor, covered in years of filth.
And standing right at the center, waiting with a cool expression, was Rinka Akuma—the doctor. Once a family friend. Now, a traitor aligned with the angels.
"Yo," No.2 called casually. "Let's not waste time."
Rinka gave a chuckle, brushing strands of silver hair behind his ear. "Still clinging to that No.1 obsession, huh?"
"Shut up and fight me," No.2 snapped, his tone dropping cold. "Rinka Akuma."
A smirk crossed Rinka's face. "Heh. Finally. I get to settle why they chose you over me."
With zero warning, No.2 flash-stepped behind him, throwing a brutal punch toward Rinka's ribs—aiming to end it fast.
But—ZZZAP!
A searing shock pulsed through No.2's arm. He stumbled back, staring at his hand—burned. Flesh blackened. Skin peeled.
"What the—?!"
Rinka smiled darkly. "You forgot. Close-range doesn't work on me anymore. Not after what he taught me."
No.2 grinned through the pain. "As if I care."
And then he unleashed hell.
A storm of punches rained down. His fists burned every time they connected, but No.2 laughed through the agony—his expression wild, unhinged.
"BURN ME!" he howled. "HAHAHA! YES!!"
Each punch shattered bone, ruptured flesh, cracked the walls around them. A beast unleashed in human form.
Rinka hit the floor, coughing blood.
"You done already, No.11?" No.2 mocked, breathing heavily.
Rinka wiped blood from his mouth. "You think I'm done?"
His body glowed suddenly—radiating golden light. Flames rose from his wounds as muscles stitched back together.
"Phoenix Regeneration," he said coolly. "You're not the only one who keeps getting up."
No.2 rolled his eyes. "Tch. Am I the only freak here without regeneration?!"
Rinka cracked his knuckles. "Looks like it."
Then he raised his hand.
And activated his trump card.
"Ring of Fire."
A glowing, circular ring of flame formed in his palm—spinning faster and faster until the air around it cracked. Heat burst from it like a furnace. It hovered like a disc of doom, glowing like a second sun.
"A power that breaks through any defense," Rinka said, stepping forward. "Wanna test it?"
No.2's eyes narrowed. "This is new. You never showed me this."
"Why would I?" Rinka growled. "You never deserved to see it."
Rinka hurled the Ring.
It screamed through the air.
No.2, not knowing its ability, instinctively reached out.
"I'll catch it. Throw it back—"
SLASH!
His fingers hit the floor.
No.2 gasped, staring at the bloody stumps. Blood squirted from his hand.
"…Ohhh," he whispered, trembling from the pain. "So it can penetrate anything."
His lips split into a manic grin.
"It feels GOOD. CUT ME. CUT ME!!"
His aura exploded.
Berserk mode.
He lunged forward—bleeding, laughing, insane.
They clashed violently. Punches. Elbows. Blood. Flames.
Walls cracked. Lights exploded. Floors buckled under the force.
But as brutal as Rinka was, he couldn't match No.2 in raw hand-to-hand combat. No.2's movements were unpredictable—pure instinct and chaos.
Then—CRACK!
Rinka landed a lucky hit. No.2's jaw dislocated, hanging loose.
But even like that… he grinned.
"Heh… now it's starting to burn."
---
[At the Entrance – Fallen's POV]
Fallen ran through the hospital's rusted corridors, guided by the noise.
His heart raced.
That sound… it couldn't be… No.2 and the doctor?!
He reached a half-open operating room door.
And saw it—
The moment burned into his mind.
No.2 stood smirking, body trembling.
Across from him, Rinka raised his arm.
"RING OF FIRE!!"
The flaming disc formed once more.
No.2 didn't dodge.
He didn't move.
He stared straight at the door.
No.2 (inner thoughts):
Perfect timing. Let him see this. Let him break.
The ring shot forward like lightning.
Fallen's eyes widened.
"No… NO!!"
But it was too late.
SLASH!
The ring sliced through No.2's waist.
Clean.
His upper half flew one way. His legs stood still for half a second… then collapsed.
No.2's torso hit the ground with a sickening thud, twitching, blood pooling beneath him.
His face still smiling.
Fallen stood frozen.
Breath shallow.
Chest rising and falling.
Something inside him cracked.
Shattered.
Burned.
And then—
Fallen:
"GOJOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
The walls trembled.
The ground split.
A shockwave of rage burst from his body.
Light and darkness twisted together—energy flaring up like a spiral inferno.
Rinka's eyes widened.
"…No…"
But it was too late.
---
To Be Continued