(CHAPTER 32) CULPRIT

with sheer determination. FH got off the ground and stood on his own two feet, although he did look sluggish, his will to win this battle far exceeded Mordreds hunger to cause pain and destruction. "I won't lose dammit! I can't....Neons counting on me....that boy has a mission.....and he will change the future. We will not die here!" FH screamed as his body electrified with power. Using his Chi, he summoned his shadow scythe once more. FH wielded his weapon of destruction, its dark energy pulsating with the desire to smite their enemy. With a surge of determination, FH launched himself at Mordred, swinging the scythe with precision and fury. The shadow scythe sliced through the air, leaving trails of darkness in its wake.

But Mordred, displaying unmatched power and resilience, deflected FH's attacks effortlessly. The clash of their energies resonated throughout the battlefield, a testament to the magnitude of their confrontation. FH could feel his strength waning, his resolve tested to its limits. "I already told you. If you want to defeat me, you'll have to use a lot more power than that. your cheap tricks won't work on me." Mordred growled frustratedly. He wanted some entertainment and the one person who he thought could give him a good fight was starting to fall in front his very eyes. "You disappoint me Open Wound." He said glaring at him with malice. "This is the person the demons feared....this is just pitiful. Your nothing but a weakling who betrayed his own kind." FH looked at the demon with burning eyes of hatred. "Tsk, you know nothing but to cause pain and destruction, THAT is pitiful. I didn't betray the demons, you could never understand." FH then began clutching his head as a void of nothingness gaped in his mind. "Dammit, I don't even understand....but I will when I get my lost memories back." FH said with grit and frustration. He tried to remember the full reason why he attacked the demons. He had always thought that the demons attacked him, however, maybe him losing his memories distorted that memory. He needed answers to what really happened all those years ago. "I will find the truth to what happened...that's why, I refuse to die here!" FH yelled as he fueled himself with rage and power.

Drawing upon his immense powers, FH delved deep into his reserves, intertwining his thermokinetic and electrokinetic abilities. The air crackled with energy as he channeled his newfound power, creating a fusion of blistering heat and electrifying currents.

With a burst of determination, FH unleashed his combined abilities, directing a wave of scorching flames and crackling lightning toward Mordred. The power surged forward, aiming to engulf the powerful demon in a cataclysmic storm of elemental forces. As the attack approached the demon. He still held a face of disappointment. "Is that the best you could do....(sigh)" Said Mordred as he prepared himself to use his special power, reality warping. Using this ability, he deftly manipulated the fabric of the world around his. With a wave of his hand, Mordred bent reality to his will, distorting and nullifying FH's powerful assault. The flames extinguished and the lightning fizzled out, rendering FH's attack useless.

FH's heart sank as he realized the futility of his efforts. Mordred's reality-warping abilities had effectively neutralized his formidable attack. The odds seemed insurmountable, and defeat appeared imminent.

But FH's determination did not waver. He knew he had to think on his feet, to adapt and find a way to overcome Mordred's overwhelming powers. With every ounce of resilience, FH sought to uncover a new strategy, a hidden potential that could turn the tide.

In the midst of battle, FH's mind raced, analyzing the situation and considering every possibility. And then it clicked—an idea, a daring plan that just might tip the scales in his favor.

With a surge of focus, FH honed his powers, shifting his approach. Instead of launching a direct assault, he began manipulating the environment around him. He sent surges of energy coursing through the ground, causing the very earth to tremble and crack. Rocks levitated, vines snaked through the air, and flames danced at their command.

FH's new strategy was not to directly attack Mordred, but to disorient and distract him with his mastery over the elements. The chaotic display of thermokinesis, electrokinesis, and environmental manipulation created a maelstrom of confusion, throwing Mordred off balance.

Seizing the opportunity, FH launched a swift and precise attack, exploiting the momentary vulnerability in Mordred's defense. His power surged forth, striking true and inflicting a critical blow upon his adversary.

Mordred, caught off guard by FH's ingenuity, staggered backward, his confidence shaken. "What the.....I didn't think he could conjure three abilities and fuse them! That caught me off guard" Mordred grunted as he winced in pain.

Upon seeing Mordred be hit by his devastating attack, FH smiled however, his energy was all burnt out. "Hehe....at least I dealt a critical blow..." FH whispered weakly. As he dropped to the floor, his body started reverting to its original form. As FH transformed, his white hair darkened to jet black, and his crimson red eyes reverted back to their original black hue.

Neon, the person who had resided within FH's demon form, now found himself exposed and vulnerable. "FH? WHAT HAPPENED?" Yelled Neon as he started to experience all the pain Mordred had inflicted on his body. "I'm sorry Neon, but he's stronger than I thought. You cannot....win this fight." FH said weakly. "Listen to me.....you have no chance of defeating him....you've got to survive, so create every opportunity for you to run....you have to survive kid." FH said as his voice faded making Neons heart drop. "Nononono, FH.....FH?" There was no response. The possibility of Neon being killed weighed heavily upon his shoulders. It was all up to Neon now...would he survive from this monster or be killed by this monster. All would be answered soon, but Neon knew he couldn't cower in fear. He stood up on his feet as the demon slowly approached, however with each step it took, it felt as though Neons heart was going to come out his throat. He couldnt stop this emotion no matter how hard he tried.....he was petrified at the thought of him being killed. "HAHHAAHA, Open Wound is all tuckered out now huh....and now it's you then. It won't be a problem to get rid of you. I can tell just by looking at your scared eyes, your much weaker than him. I dont even know how you dealt with Malachi, but no matter. Soon, your life will come to an end too" The demon said as it clasped its hand into its fist. Neon wanted to fight for his life, but his body was frozen in fear. But he knew that if he didn't do anything, he would surely be killed. As he attempted to compose himself, he managed to gather the courage to speak. "Wait..." Neon shouted trying to stall the demon. "I just need to by time." Neon thought as he hoped that someone would arrive to help him. "Since your gonna kill me, I wanna know a few things." Said Neon his voice quivering. "You know...I do feel sorry for you....I mean, you don't stand a chance in defeating me so I guess I can indulge you." Said the demon as it grinned with malice. "My form....how...." "How did I aquire it." Said the demon finishing off Neons sentence. "It was easy, you see. I've been here for a while Neon. Obviously I needed to see what the person looked like if I wanted to use his form. When I took your form, I was lurking in the woods where you trained. Remember when you saw the bushes rustling?" Neons face was consumed in fear as he realised what happened. "It was me of course, but to cover my careless mistake, I used my photokinesis ability to conjure an illusion of....." "A squirrel." Whimpered Neon realising the truth. "Thats exactly right Neon.....MMAAHAHAHAAA." The demon started to cackle uncontrollably as it loved the reaction of pure fear his victim had on his face. "I have one more question." Neon said as his head faced the ground in defeat. "What did the traitor say to you when he entered you in the schools barrier." "Ah the student that betrayed the school. Well instead of humans hating us. He, for some reason admired us and even went on to say he wanted to become one of us.....a demon! However, it was impossible for a demon to possess him as he had an ability, but there was still a way. However, we wanted him to prove his resolve and that's when you came in to play. He told us we could kill anyone we liked, but he pointed out a specific person and told us to make his life a living hell, and once he was content, only then could you be killed...HAHAAHAA WITH WHAT HE HAD DONE, HE WAS ALREADY A DEMON HAHAH, you humans are so interesting sometimes." Cackled the demon as it continued to grin. "Oh I forgot to mention, he was also in the courtroom, and I must say, he revelled in your suffering." Said the demon as he unleashed chains of darkness upon Neon, swirling energy wrapped tightly around Neon's body, constricting his movements and binding him in place. Mordred, with eyes filled with malice, grinned wickedly as he reveled in his triumph.

As Neon struggled against his ethereal restraints, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief at the sight of culprit who was behind everything, a once-trusted ally, standing before him. Betrayal emanated from Keith's very presence, staining the air with a bitter sense of treachery. "If I'm being honest, it took all I had to stop myself from laughing at how pitiful you looked Neon." Neon's voice trembled with a mix of anger and confusion. "Keith, why? Why would you betray your kind and our mission to protect humanity?"

A smirk twisted Keith's face as he approached Neon with a syringe in hand, a vessel hungry for Neon's lifeblood. The syringe glinted with a dark and twisted allure, a grim promise of a transformation that could bring about untold devastation. "Oh, Neon, my dear friend, it's simple. Humanity has faltered for far too long. We have lost the war against the demons time and time again. I refuse to be on the losing side any longer."

With a chilling calmness, Keith continued, "You possess the power of the demons, yet you squander it on defending a fragile race. But imagine what I could do with that power, Neon. With the strength of the demons coursing through my veins, I could control the world itself."

Neon's eyes burned with a mixture of anger and disappointment. "You speak of power and control, Keith, but you fail to understand its true purpose. It is not meant to be wielded for personal gain or domination. It is meant to protect and preserve, to bring balance." Mordred tightened his hold on Neon, the chains pulsating with dark energy. "Enough banter," Mordred hissed, his voice resonating with malicious delight. "Keith, get it over and done with."

Keith approached Neon, his hand steady as he prepared to extract Neons blood. Neon's heart sank, realizing the depth of Keith's betrayal and the lengths he was willing to go to attain that power for himself. Despite Neon's chains and the loss of his strength, his resolve burned brighter than ever. He knew he had to find a way to escape, to stop Keith and Mordred from wreaking havoc upon the world.

With a surge of inner strength, Neon's eyes locked with Keith's. "You may desire power, Keith, but it is the choices we make with that power that define us. I will not allow you to plunge our world into darkness. I will fight to protect humanity and restore the balance."

As Keith brought the syringe closer, Neon's mind raced, searching for any glimmer of hope. He knew that even though his movements were contricted, his spirit remained unyielding. And with that spirit, he would find a way to overcome this betrayal and fulfill his destiny as the protector of humanity.

The struggle for power, loyalty, and the very fate of the world hung in the balance as Neon braced himself for the impending darkness that awaited him. Neon's eyes widened in horror as Keith inserted the syringe into his arm, extracting his blood. Every drop of blood flowed into the syringe, which Mordred quickly enshrouded with his demonic power, infusing it with an unholy energy.

Mordred's voice resonated with dark triumph. "Give it time Keith. Soon, the blood In the syringe and my demonic essence will merge, transforming you into a servant of darkness.

Keith, his face contorted with a perverse satisfaction, stepped back and spoke with a venomous tone. "But that's not all, Neon. The school you once called home, the place where dreams were nurtured, now houses a hidden threat. I have planted a series of bombs containing a volatile chemical energy. When detonated, they will release a toxic mist that turns all who inhale it into mindless beasts, devoid of reason or humanity. Ahhh it's too bad you won't be there to see the amazing spectacle unfold."

Neon's heart sank at the revelation. The stakes had risen to unimaginable heights. Not only was his own fate hanging in the balance, but also the lives of countless innocent students and faculty.

Defiance sparked within Neon's eyes, he pushed through his fear, his resolve unyielding even in the face of imminent doom. He knew that he had to find a way to break free, to stop Mordred and Keith from unleashing chaos upon the world.

As Mordred and Keith reveled in their cruel victory, Neon's mind raced, seeking a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. He knew that time was of the essence, that he had to thwart their plans before it was too late. With a sadistic chuckle, Keith taunted Neon. "Oh, Neon, my dear, the time for your suffering has come to an end. But don't worry, I've had my fun. Mordred here will take care of the rest."

However, before Mordred could finish Neon off, Frustration flashed in his demonic eyes. "What is it!?" Shouted Keith noticing the demons agitated state. "Its that teacher with the chaos ability, he's approaching us. Dammit." He could sense the approach of an unwelcome presence, someone who had bested him before—a formidable opponent by the name of Master Hiro.....