"Y-You're right...Tsubaki. We need...to run for now!" It was obviously causing Black*Star no end of distress to have to admit this. Soul heard the assassin's defeated voice, tinged with shame at what he was forced to do. "Ha!" Soul said, grinning down at the blue speck and his sword. "What makes you think I'm going to let you get away?"

"Smoke bomb mode Tsubaki!" Black*Star shouted, Tsubaki forming into a ball in his hand which was quickly tossed to the ground. Soul blinked and sighed. "Really? That the best you can do? How uncool."

The billowing smoke filled a large part of the area, shrouding the buildings and street in darkness....unfortunately it was all pretty much useless since Soul's senses had been sharpened to an uncanny degree, allowing him to see Black*Star's running shadow in the smoke. He grinned and leaned down, effortlessly grabbing the ninja in his huge fingers. Despite the fact that Black*Star could take residence inside one of Soul's toes, Soul was able to hold him with an infinite care so as not to crush him. Along with increased senses he received an increase in the ability to control his body as well. Soul brought Black*Star up to his crimson eyes and smirked. "Just think...I used to be as small and pathetic as you!"

Soul laughed, his huge mouth opening, air rushing out and over Black*Star, the gigantic cavern taking up all of his sight. His eyes took it all in, the rows of razor sharp teeth, the glistening tongue that could so easily pin and subdue him, the dank, black hole of his throat, the pulsing fleshy walls of his inner cheeks and back of his throat, the dangling uvula...it was like looking into the gates of Hell. Soul slammed the gate shut, his trademark grin filling Black*Star's view instead. "Now...you won't be needing THIS anymore!"

He plucked Tsubaki out of Black*Star's resisting hands. Black*Star screamed as he reached out for his partner, the sword turning back into a young woman as she was dangled over Soul's maw. "BLACK*STAAAAAR!"

"TSUBAKIIIII!"

*GULP!*

Black*Star's body shook with rage, sadness, and a twinge of fear as Soul dropped Tsubaki, screaming, onto his tongue and easily swallowed her whole. "Aah...friends make the best food!"

"SHUT UP! YOU DAMN MONSTER! I'LL KILL YOU!" Black*Star shouted, struggling in between Soul's fingers in a fruitless attempt to escape. Soul laughed mockingly and held Black*Star up to his eyes again. "Settle down you little spaz. You're not doing anything except being the sole witness to the birth of a new god! So just sit back and enjoy the ride....or I might forget where you are and "accidentally" mix you in with a bunch of my snacks."

Black*Star glared up at Soul but didn't say a word. The only reason he didn't say anything was because if he stayed close to Soul he'd have a better chance of finding some weakness, ANY weakness, to take down the towering weapon. Unfortunately for Black*Star, Soul HAD no outstanding weakness any more. The only way to take him down would be finding the book that did this to him...and even then there was no guarantee of a cure! Soul rubbed his crotch a little and said, "Man...I'm starting to feel pretty active down there..."

He grinned at Black*Star and said, "Found your new carrying case!"

"What? NO! You've gotta be kidding!" Black*Star shouted, the fingers now holding the back of his shirt. Soul pulled open the waistband of his pants and briefs and said, "Relax, I showered today. Have fun down there!"

Without further ado, he dropped Black*Star into his pants, the tiny assassin screaming all the way down before he landed in the field of white hair. Soul snickered and let the band go, snapping it against his waist as he felt a familiar surge of energy. "Ah...growing again!"

Soul waited happily for the change and was disappointed as he only grew slightly larger, his body adding MAYBE a story or two to his height. It was barely noticeable. "Man...Tsubaki turned out to be a total dud! Totally uncool."

He kicked a building over sullenly, looking around for more food. His belly was already starting to rumble. He started wandering back toward his house to see if he missed anything over there...

"Any luck yet?" Stein shouted out from atop the rubble, his lab coat tossed aside as he searched.

"Nothing yet sir!" various people shouted from all over the wreckage.

"Alright! Remember, keep a look out for anything that looks remotely like a book, paper, or anything that has writing on it! The book might have been destroyed in the wreckage!" Stein ordered. "Yessir!" came the reply.

"Sir! Bad news!"

"Oh what is it now?" Stein asked.

"Soul has been spotted in the area! He's coming this way!"

"Alright people you know the drill! Get ready to fight Soul if it comes to that, but try to avoid conflict if possible! For now, hide!"

Everyone scattered, hiding themselves amongst the rubble as Soul's hulking frame appeared over the hill. His massive foot landed directly in front of them, his big toe inches from Stein's hiding place. "Huh..." Soul said, his voice rumbling intensely over them. "Looks like most of the city is abandoned... I can't believe I used to live here!"

Soul laughed and lifted up his foot, preparing to stomp it down on his once spacious apartment.

As the foot descended, Stein and his group broke from their hiding spots and ran to avoid it. Soul laughed even harder and put his foot down away from the wreckage. "I thought some ants might be hiding out!" Soul cracked his knuckles. "Time for some more fun!"