Call me Akuma

Akuma looked at the Angel of the Afterlife and said, "Old man, if there's anything I can provide you through my three requests, just tell me." 

The Angel of the Afterlife studied Akuma closely, his expression unreadable. "Are you certain, sir? What I would ask of you would require the use of all your requests. And do not fall into the belief that doing so would please my master or earn you any additional blessings." 

Akuma shamelessly scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin flashing across his face. But his expression quickly turned serious as he locked eyes with the old man. "Just ask, old man. I promise I'll do it—even if it costs all my requests." 

The Angel's gaze sharpened; his tone steady but firm. "Think carefully, sir. My master won't grant you any more requests or blessings if you agree. And with no requests left, you'll lose any chance of achieving your ambition." 

Akuma clenched his fists, frustration simmering beneath the surface. His voice rose in exasperation. "Fucking hell, old man! Just tell me already! It's hard enough making this decision—don't make it worse for me!" 

Hearing Akuma's outburst, the Angel's lips curved into a wide smile. "You cannot grant me anything I truly desire, sir. However, I am pleased with you, nonetheless. Therefore, I shall bestow upon you a blessing of my own." 

The Angel paused, his smile softening. "In keeping with your name, Akuma, I shall grant you the body and power of Akuma from Street Fighter. It will serve to aid you on your journey." 

Akuma raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Wait, what? But what about your request?" 

The Angel's gaze turned earnest; his tone solemn. "All I ask is this: live your next life without regrets." 

Akuma stared at the old man, a mixture of suspicion, confusion, and unease clouding his expression. "Old man, you're being way too nice to me," he said, his voice tinged with unease. "It's starting to scare the shit out of me. I can't figure it out—what do you want from me? What do you stand to gain? Everything I have is worthless to someone like you... so why? Why are you being kind to me?" 

The Angel's smile didn't waver, but his eyes softened with a tinge of melancholy. "Sir, you've been burned by fire so many times that you no longer trust its warmth—even when it's genuine. You're so used to pain and suspicion that kindness feels foreign to you." 

The Angel leaned forward; his voice steady but filled with quiet conviction. "Just live without regrets. That's all I ask of you." 

Akuma's throat tightened as he looked at the old man. Words felt inadequate, but he forced himself to say the only thing he could. 

"Thank you." 

The Angel of the Afterlife nodded at Akuma. 

A loud voice snapped Akuma out of his thoughts. "Yo, shithead! Make your request already!" The being's tone carried a sense of urgency, but Akuma, unbothered, shot back, "Why the rush? Let me think before I decide." 

The being smirked, leaning in slightly. "Maybe I should think too—about whether or not I should grant your request at all." 

Hearing this, Akuma panicked and blurted out, "Okay, my request is to have the power of One Above All from the Marvel Universe!" 

The being leaned closer, cupping a hand to his ear. "I can't hear you. Speak up." 

Akuma repeated, louder this time, "I want the power of One Above All from the Marvel Universe!" 

The being still feigned ignorance, leaning in even closer. "Still can't hear you. Louder!" 

Realizing the mockery, Akuma sighed in a defeated tone. "Alright, I get it." 

The being fixed Akuma with a threatening gaze, his voice dropping to a chilling tone. "If you waste my time again with those ridiculous requests that even you know I won't grant, then I'm going to lock you in a two-foot by two-foot metal box for all eternity. Do you understand?" 

Akuma gulped and, without hesitation, quickly switched gears. "Okay, then can I have the powers of Superman?" 

The being instantly replied, "No." 

"How about Galactus?" 

"No." 

"Doctor Manhattan?" 

"No." 

"Goku?" 

"No." 

"Molecule Man?" 

"No." 

"Sentry?" 

"No." 

Akuma's frustration deepened with every rejection, but he refused to give in. Relentlessly, he listed the names of powerful beings, legendary artifacts, and mythical abilities he had read or heard about. Each time, the answer remained the same—a firm and unwavering "no." Yet, despite the mounting frustration, he clung to a shred of hope and continued rattling off names, determined not to stop. 

"Saitama?" 

"No." 

"Phoenix Force?" 

"No." 

"White Lantern Ring?" 

"No." 

"The Infinity Gauntlet?" 

"No." 

"What about a Death Note? You can at least grant that." 

"No." 

After the unending stream of rejections, Akuma's frustration boiled over. "Then what the fuck can you do?!" 

The being fixed him with an intense stare, his grin fading. "I can make you a dung beetle for the rest of your life. Or maybe a worm. Hmm, tough call—they're both excellent options. Care to help me decide?" 

The menace in his gaze sent chills down Akuma's spine. "S-sorry," Akuma mumbled in a low voice. 

The being's grin returned, as if nothing had happened. "Apology accepted. But remember—you're making a request, not a wish. It's up to me whether I grant it or not. Now hurry up and make your request, or your soul's getting erased for loitering here too long. And if my wife shows up, you won't even get the chance to make a request." 

Akuma hesitated, then cautiously asked, "What kind of request do you accept?" 

The being's grin widened. "Ah, finally, a smart question. I'll grant any request that lets you earn the power. I can't just hand you strength on a silver platter because you asked for it. That's against my rules. So, ask for an opportunity to become strong." 

Hearing all of that, Akuma took a deep breath and said, "Can you give me the opportunity to become so strong that I'll never have to face helplessness again?" 

The being raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the bold request. "You're asking for something tough," he said, his tone shifting to something almost contemplative. "I can grant you that opportunity, but it'll cost you two requests." 

Akuma frowned. "Two requests?" 

The being's grin returned, sly and sharp. "That's right. And as for your final request…" He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with wicked glee. "I'll be the one picking it for you. Take it or leave it." 

Akuma hesitated, his mind racing. "And if I refuse?" 

The being shrugged nonchalantly. "Then you can make your requests until your soul gets erased—or until my beautiful wife comes. Your choice." 

Akuma's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. He wanted to reject the deal outright; after all, two of his requests would be consumed, and the final one would be left to the whims of the infuriating being in front of him. But deep down, he knew he couldn't stall forever. 

The air around him felt suffocating, a sharp reminder of his helplessness—an emotion he despised more than anything. His anger flared, boiling over as he glared at the being. "Fine!" he snapped, his voice dripping with frustration. "Have it your way." 

The being's grin widened, clearly savoring Akuma's frustration. "Good choice, shithead. Now, let's get started." 

Out of thin air, a massive spinning wheel appeared, its colors dazzling and ominous. The being gestured toward it with a wide grin. "From your memory, I noticed how, in novels, people often gain powers from spinning wheels. So, I thought, why not do the same thing here? On this wheel, you've got all 200 World Items from YGGDRASIL in the slots. But there's a catch—there are also 200 slots marked with death. If the wheel lands on one of those, you die instantly. So, your odds are fifty-fifty." 

The being leaned forward, his grin widening with amusement. "You can spin the wheel as many times as you want. But be careful—don't let greed blind you, or it could cost you everything. Of course, you also have the option to walk away and not play at all. So, what's it going to be, Akuma? Will you risk everything, or will you take the safer path? Make your decision." 

 ----

Also, Beggar King has left a few pop culture references and memes. If you find them, comment, and Beggar King will give you a like. 

If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!