Anima Requiem: I Bought a Katana Online and Triggered the Apocalypse Chapter 4: Time Slows Down

Bang!

The sound thundered through the hallway as the gun recoiled.

Axel gritted his teeth as he fell back, the flash of the gun's muzzle reflecting in his eye, smoke slowly curling upward as the bullet erged, spinning, approaching his chest.

Odd, Axel thought, his eyes trailing the bullet as it inched closer.

The bullet's slow…Is this the before death ti glitch.

Thud!

He hit the ground. Heart thundering beneath his ribs. His gaze dropped down to his chest, no blood, no pain.

Axel's eyes narrowed, then went round as he looked up. The bullet was still spinning, crawling through air, slow and steady.

His gaze shifted to the man frozen mid fall. The gun still pointed out, its recoil crawling backward slowly, too slow.

"What is this…did I awaken so sort of power?"

A green glint caught the periphery of his vision. His eyes flickered to his right hand, the katana, its hilt glowing green.

His eyes widened. It's doing this? It has to be right.

Not like he had ti to think about that.

His lips twisted, forming a small smirk.

Pushing himself up, his gaze settled on the bald man's scrunched face, frozen in ti.

He's clearly not here for anything good. Probably the katana, but he did try to kill .

He frowned. "That justifies this."

The katana dropped, cutting through the man's frozen wrist—the hand holding the gun.

The blade sliced through flesh, bone and ligant like it was butter.

Yet the hand didn't fall, it stayed mid air, as if still linked to the remaining arm.

He glanced at the man's neck and gulped.

I can't do that. He shook his head.

Besides, I still have questions.

He shifted his gaze toward the man's right hand.

Raised the katana, getting ready to slash. But before it dropped, the glow suddenly disappeared.

Crash!

The man hit the ground. His severed hand flew aside, still clutching the pistol.

The bullet finally accelerated, tearing through a wall, embedding itself.

"F*ck!" the man scread, clutching his wrist as blood spurted freely.

"Huh." Axel stood still, breathing heavily, he staggered back for a second.

He looked towards the katana, no glow.

That confirms it.

Axel turned his gaze locking with the man, whose face was contorted in pain, terror written all over it, blood pooling beneath him.

The man tore his gaze away, to the gun. He lunged for it, grabbing it with his remaining hand.

But as he looked up, getting ready to use it.

Axel's leg slamd into his face, launching him out of the door.

Axel blinked.

I work out, sure… but that was not my normal strength.

While he was processing that, the man sat up, gun raised.

Axel noticed a flicker of motion and kicked the door shut.

Bang!

A hole tore through the wood, bullet grazing Axel's abdon.

He hissed, clutching his side, cursing at his arrogance. It seems it won't always aid . But at least I confird it isn't ordinary.

Bolting the door shut, he sprinted towards the stairs.

I need to call the cops.

He froze as he entered his room, his gaze lingering on the monitor.

More n outside the door, filling the corridor. I can't afford to be trapped here.

I'll call them when I get out, he quickly stuffed his backpack.

Thud!

The sound of sothing crashing ca from downstairs. They're in. He rushed to the window and looked down.

"A dumpster, huh…" He winced, rubbing his shoulder.

"Never thought I'd be doing sothing like this, but I don't have a choice."

He sheathed the katana and tossed it out the window.

Watching the katana fall, he mumbled "what am I doing?"

It would have been better to leave it here wouldn't it. After all that's what they're after but…

Too late for regrets though as he heard footsteps coming from the stairs.

And I believe after cutting their friend's hand, they won't be keen on talking.

He glanced back. "Additionally it's legally mine. I paid for it."

Axel climbed out the window, sat on the fra.

Eying the garbage bin below, he sighed and jumped.

His nose scrunched due to the putrid sll, as he scrambled out of the trash.

Hastily brushing himself off, he grabbed the katana, and hurried out of the alley.

Adjusting his bag, he peeked from the corner.

More of them.

He spotted two black cars outside the building, n in suits waiting.

Seriously? All these people… for you? His gaze dropped to the katana. What are you?

He quickly lowered his head as one of the n looked his way, then turned calmly and walked the other way.

His heart hamred as he prayed not to be noticed, the next turn feeling like a mile away.

Fortunately, he reached it without an incident.

He exhaled sharply, not realizing he'd been holding his breath. "Safe," he muttered.

His hands dipped into his pocket, reaching for the phone to call the cops, only to see cracks, webbed along the screen which flickered with static

That's done for.

He sighed and looked up, his breath caught.