Chapter 253 -: 253 Five Games of hell![1]
Chink!
A sharp sound cut through the air.
For a split second, it looked like the spear had pierced straight through Vivian’s chest—
But at the very last instant, his body moved.
Not fully. Not cleanly.
Just enough.
The spear tore past him, missing his heart by a hair’s breadth.
"Ugh—!"
A deep groan escaped his mouth.
It didn’t miss completely.
A long, burning cut opened across his chest as the spear grazed him and flew past.
Blood spilled out at once, warm and heavy, soaking into his clothes.
His body shook slightly from the pain.
"...Damn it..." he muttered under his breath, teeth clenched.
Before he could even catch his breath—
"Where is your attention, heaven’s child?"
The clown’s voice rang out.
Too close.
Vivian’s eyes snapped forward—
But he was late.
BAM!!
A fist slammed straight into his face.
It felt like being hit by iron.
His vision went blank for a moment as his body was sent flying through the air.
Wind screamed past his ears.
"Wind!" Vivian called out instantly.
The air around him twisted and gathered, slowing his fall and steadying his body mid-air.
His feet dragged slightly as he forced himself to stop.
"Tsk—!"
He clicked his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His hand rose slowly to his face.
He touched his nose—
...crooked.
Broken.
Bent slightly to the right.
"Ugh..." he groaned softly.
Without hesitation, he grabbed it.
Crack.
He forced it back into place.
A sharp pain shot through his head.
More blood poured down from his nose, dripping like water.
"Is this all it took to break your nose?"
The clown’s voice came again.
Light.
Mocking.
Vivian’s eyes sharpened.
This time—
He was ready.
The moment the clown appeared in front of him—
Vivian moved.
His left fist shot forward without warning.
At the same time, his right hand swung the sword sideways, cutting across the air.
The clown’s eyes flickered.
He jumped back to avoid the blade—
But—
BAM!!
Vivian’s fist slammed into his abdomen.
A direct hit.
"Guh—!"
The clown’s body folded instantly as blood burst from his mouth.
His entire frame bent forward in the air.
For the first time—
He looked shaken.
Vivian didn’t stop.
"How does it feel?" he said coldly.
His sword rose.
At its tip—
A deep red light gathered.
It pulsed once—
Then shot forward like a beam.
Fast.
Sharp and Deadly.
The clown lifted his head.
No fear.
Only that same twisted grin.
"Boom!"
He threw his fist forward.
The punch collided with the red beam head-on.
The air exploded around them.
But—
At that exact moment—
Vivian disappeared.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared to the clown’s right side.
His sword was already mid-swing.
Coming down.
Hard.
BAM!!
The clown reacted just in time.
He raised his right arm and blocked with his elbow.
The impact was heavy.
So heavy that his body dropped—
Kneeling in mid-air under the force.
The air around them trembled.
"Kekeke... you are really strong..." the clown muttered, his voice low and strange.
But Vivian didn’t give him even a second.
BAM!!
His left hand came again.
A clean punch to the jaw.
No mercy.
Creak—!
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
The clown’s head snapped to the side as his body was sent flying.
He spun through the air—
Rolling again and again like a broken puppet, like a kite with its strings cut.
Blood scattered behind him in small drops.
For a brief moment—
The sky went quiet.
Vivian stood there, breathing heavily.
Blood still dripping from his chest.
From his nose.
But his eyes—
Were sharp.
Locked.
Unwavering.
"...You talk too much," he said under his breath.
Far ahead—
The clown’s body finally slowed.
Still floating.
Still smiling.
But now—
There was something else in his eyes.
Something darker.
"Good... good... good..."
The clown muttered softly, his voice filled with strange excitement.
"It seems you have truly grown far beyond what I expected."
He slowly straightened his body.
His jaw hung slightly out of place—
Then he grabbed it.
Crack.
He pushed it back into position like it was nothing.
A faint line of blood ran down his chin.
"I should start taking you seriously now," he said, rolling his neck lightly.
"You are becoming quite a hassle to deal with."
Then—
He raised both his hands.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Let’s play a game... heaven’s child."
Vivian’s brows pulled together.
His grip on the sword tightened.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.
The clown let out a short laugh.
"You see..." he said, tilting his head slightly,
"now I’m going to use my Genesis Heart on you."
Vivian’s frown deepened instantly.
Suspicion flashed across his eyes.
"...Then why tell me?" he asked.
The clown chuckled.
Soft.
Playful.
Unsettling.
"Because it’s a game," he said.
"And a game can’t be played without rules, can it?"
Vivian didn’t reply.
Instead—
He slowly took a step back.
Then another.
His body stayed ready, but his mind was already moving.
’Something is wrong...’
But before he could move further—
"There’s no need to retreat."
The clown’s voice came again.
Light.
"It’s a game after all. And besides..."
his grin widened,
"no matter where you go... you’re already inside it."
Vivian’s eyes narrowed.
He quickly glanced around.
The sky.
The air.
The space itself—
Something felt... off.
Behind him, Bloody Mary hovered in the air.
Vivian spoke without looking back.
"Come back. He has already set something up."
This time—
Bloody Mary didn’t argue.
His body dissolved into mist and flowed back into the sword.
The moment he disappeared—
The clown clapped lightly.
"Wise choice," he said with a chuckle.
Then his expression sharpened slightly.
"So... the rules are simple."
He raised one finger.
"We will play games."
Another finger.
"The winner... gets one of the opponent’s limbs."
Silence filled the space for a moment.
Then—
A third finger.
"We will play five games."
His grin stretched wider.
"If you lose all five..."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Your head will be the final prize."
Vivian’s expression turned cold.
Heavy.
Serious.
"...And if I refuse?" he asked.
"Kekeke..."
The clown laughed again.
This time louder.
He slowly sat down in mid-air, crossing his legs like it was a normal floor.
"There is no need to choose," he said lightly.
"Because you are already playing."
For a brief second—
Everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Even the wind had stopped.
Then—
The clown’s tone changed.
No laughter.
No playfulness.
Only something deep.
Something heavy.
"Genesis Heart..."
A faint pulse spread from his body.
Like a heartbeat.
Slow.
But powerful.
The space around them began to distort slightly—
Like reality itself was bending.
He looked straight at Vivian.
Smiling.
But his eyes—
Were completely cold.
"Five Games of Hell."