Cold dread washed over Rowan, realising it was Nero who had just been thrown aside like a ragdoll. As the dust dissipated, Rowan's gaze locked onto Nero's crumpled form on the ground, unmoving.
Damn it! He knew the stupid plan was never going to work, and now it was his turn to face the same fate.
Rowan turned to the creature once more, and there it was standing. The sun had completely set now, and darkness was everywhere. Distant sounds of battles could be heard, and Rowan wondered if he was going to make it out of here alive.
He had lost a lot of blood, and his gaze was getting blurrier by the minute.
Then, the threat began to move. Rowan froze, terrified out of his mind. He couldn't even bring himself to run anymore, knowing very well there was no escape for him.
The creature's unnatural gait brought it closer and closer. Its twin embers of malevolence seem to fixate on Nero's still form. Rowan's breath hitched, a silent sob stuck in his chest.
Then, something unexpected happened. The Minor threat walked past Rowan without sparing him a glance, like nothing was standing there. Its shadowy form even brushed against him, sending an icy dread through him, yet it didn't stop.
A chilling realisation dawned.
Rowan wasn't his target, at least...not yet. Its hunger was solely fixed on Nero, who was finally moving and trying to stand back on his feet.
But still... something didn't feel right.
Rowan's fear didn't subside, it only twisted into a more horrifying form of helplessness.
The brutal attack had left Nero gasping on the cold stone, his whole body screaming in protest. The metallic tang of blood filled his nose, and he could feel something flowing down his head.
Blood.
Pain and terror seem to further paralyse him, especially when his gaze settled and he caught the creature approaching him with death in its eyes. He couldn't believe he was going to die so early into this so-called Blood mission, and his chest knotted with hatred and regret.
He hasn't lavished in his newfound wealth just yet.
He hasn't enacted his vengeance yet!
He cannot live years of poverty, only to suffer an agonising death. He could already imagine the look on his relatives ' faces and Daniel's, laughing when they hear the news of his tragic death.
Wait, would they?
No, it didn't matter. Death just wasn't an option right now.
Suddenly, a foreign feeling stirred inside of him, which had the words of the shrouded figure coming back to him.
*You've unlocked a power you never knew existed. Now...your debt will be paid*
*Everything is already in your memory.*
*Focus, Nero. You still have your own Free will*
This time, a different kind of fear pulsed through him, and he forced himself back to his feet.
Screw the pain in his body, and screw the lingering fear of the creature still targeting him.
It was a desperate instinct to survive the blood contract, fueled by the sudden chilling awareness of the dormant power that lay inside of him, a power that wasn't his but now intrinsically linked to his fate if he wanted to survive this.
As the Threat prepared to attack again, a flicker of heat bloomed inside Nero's chest, a sort of burning alien warmth spreading quickly through his body, tingling with otherworldly energy.
It felt eager to be released, as if it had been trapped there for a very, very long time.
*Everything is already in your memory* the words repeated again.
At that very moment, Nero forgot about all his fears. A ragged cry of hatred screamed out of his lungs, and he trusted his hands forward.
The melted remains of the infestation sprang toward the Minor threat like they had been commanded by something foreign, and wrapped around it tightly, keeping it in place. It could have easily escaped the attack with its superhuman senses, but it had caught the attack at the later second.
Then, a torrent of incandescent flames erupted from Nero's Palms, a roaring inferno that painted the darkness in searing orange and yellow light, banishing the darkness that was the creature's domain.
It was a raging flame, crackling with intense heat and swallowing up everything in its path. The shadowy form writhed as the flames swallowed it, licking ferociously at its unnatural substance.
It began to screech, a high-pitched grating sound that spoke of intense pain. Tendrils of solidified darkness lashed out wildly, its long limbs and claws flaring, but the sheer intensity of the flames kept it at bay.
Focusing even further, sweat dropped down Nero's head along with blood as he somehow shaped the flames into a more focused stream with deadly accuracy.
What was left of the Minor threat were wisps of dissipating shadow, lingering smell of ozone and something acrid.
Weakening and visibly agitated by the fire's raw power, it finally broke. Its red eyes flickered with desperate fear, and its body completely dissolved and was swallowed up by the flames, leaving not a single wisp of darkness.
Nero lowered his hands, the flames receding. He was breathing hard and fast, and his body still ached badly.
Goodness! That had been so intense.
At the exact same place Rowan had been standing, he was still there, but this time, both of his arms were outstretched and there was a focused expression on his face.
A bit of blood pooled down his nose.
Telekinesis.
That explains the melted remains that had come out of nowhere.
Then, both boys looked at each other, disbelief and shock passing between them. It was like a deep conversation was going on, and an even deeper look of relief shone in their eyes.
Then, Rowan crumbled to the ground.
Nero rushed down to him, "Rowan, Hey!" He checked for any signs of breath. The abdomen wound must have been quite deep for it to still be bleeding, and while Nero pressed on it, hoping he won't die...
Credit Alert: Shadow stalker - Minor Threat
# 50,000.
Account number: xcxxxxcxxx
Description: Transfer received from Soul Reaper
Debt paid: Silver - Half litre - #30,000. Minor Threat - Two litres - #100,000.
Total - #130,000.
Balance: #89,999,999,999,947,050,000.
It appeared boldly in his mind in a way he could literally still see it, and then he realised. It wasn't just his blood that could be used to repay the debt, it had to be his own blood or...the blood of something he had killed or else Rowan's name would have probably shown up too.
Suddenly, the wound blood on his stained hair and his face vanished. Even the ones that had dropped on the floor disappeared, shocking Nero once again. Nero ran his fingers through every inch of his head, but there was no ache anymore, or a single drop of blood.
Could the Shrouded figure be absorbing it or what?
A blinding yellow light appeared on the wall next to them, and Nero's eyes slowly adjusted, and he realised that it was actually carrying the form of a door.
The door that would transport them to school!
And then, Rowan would get proper help!
Ignoring the aches on his own body, Nero carried Rowan on his back and walked into the open door. The door slammed shut with the two of them in it, disappearing again with the maze turning dark once again.
Inside the door, Nero stood there. It was a small space, illuminated by the same orange light that had almost blinded him, but it was much controlled this time.
He anxiously waited for something to happen. What did happen wasn't expected.
"Congratulations, Rowan Crimsyn, Silver Blade, for passing the second assessment. You'll be transported to the school immediately," A feminine voice pronounced.
There was something very hypnotic about it.
Very.
Nero's eyes began to spin heavily, and he struggled to stay on his feet. The next second, he had collapsed on the ground along with the person he was carrying.