chapter 32: A One Sided Battle, Ethan Vs Poku

I stood my ground, my fists clenched in a fighting stance, facing off against a small black cat that was busy licking its own paws, not paying me any attention. Yeah, that pissed me off even more.

"Here I come!" I yelled as I rushed forward, covered in Tzelem. My fists were raised—oh my god, I am literally about to punch a cat.

It didn't take long to reach my target. As my fast-moving body came to a stop in front of Poku, I raised my fist, ready to attack, and paused for only a moment as Poku's yellow eyes slowly looked up at me.

"Here I go." Those were the last words I thought before I brought my fist all the way down.

"BOOM!"

Dust and small rocks filled the air as my fist made contact with the ground below, creating a small crater where my fist rested.

I couldn't see ahead because of all the dust in my eyes, but I was certain that I didn't feel the small body of a cat, only the hard ground against my fist.

I looked around for Poku, but even as the dust began to settle, I couldn't see anything.

"Crack!" I flew through the air as something sharp slammed into my face. I went rolling as my body hit the ground, but I was able to regain control. I dug my fingers into the ground to stop myself from flying backward. I raised my head and looked ahead, and there he was, just sitting comfortably on the ground, Poku.

"You have power, young man, but power isn't enough," Poku said calmly.

"I'm not done yet," I said, rushing forward, more determined to punch this cat.

My body must have been like a blur as I rushed forward, my fist like a bullet as it cut through the air and headed towards the damn cat.

Poku, with that same calm demeanor, disappeared in a flash, making my punch hit nothing but air.

"What?!" I yelled as I looked to the side and noticed Poku perched perfectly on my arm.

"Well, at least you didn't hesitate this time," Poku said.

"Crack!"

My face slammed into the ground, cracking the earth upon contact as something hit the top of my head. My mind was hazy as I was about to lose consciousness, but I could still feel something land on the back of my head. It was Poku; it just had to be.

"Well, that was fun," Poku said as he began to walk off of my head.

I slowly began to rise, my face hurting as I did so.

I slowly began to rise, my face hurting as I did so. I felt a deep sense of disappointment weighing down on me. I had lost the fight, and it stung more than any physical pain could.

Poku's laughter pulled me out of my thoughts. He perched nearby, still calm and collected, his yellow eyes gleaming with amusement.

"You know," he began, "I've only been using about 5% of my strength." He paused, letting the statement sink in. "You're strong, kid, but brute force isn't going to cut it in battles like these."

I clenched my fist tighter, frustration bubbling up inside of me. Poku continued speaking. "Madelyn has been fighting these kinds of battles for quite a while now. Her experience far exceeds your own," he said matter-of-factly.

He began to walk away but looked over his shoulder one last time. "If you want to be helpful to her—if you truly want to stand by her side—you need to get stronger." With that final piece of advice hanging in the air, Poku disappeared into the distance.

As I stood there, watching him leave, I made a vow to myself. My fists tightened further as determination flooded through me.

"I will get stronger," I whispered with unwavering resolve. "I swear."

***

"So you met the boy, huh?" Mr. Adams asked as he stood in front of the bookshelf in his study.

"Yes, indeed I did," Poku said, sitting on the wooden desk that rested in front of a huge window.

"What do you think of him?" Mr. Adams asked with a smirk.

"He's a stubborn fellow, I'll give him that," Poku said with a smirk. "He'll make a fine Pillar someday, but..." Poku trailed off.

"But what?" Mr. Adams asked, turning towards Poku.

"The power inside of him, his demon..." Poku said, looking down in deep thought. "There's something different about it."

"Different how?" Mr. Adams asked.

Poku was silent for a moment. "I am a spirit from the dark realms, and as such, I am able to have a general understanding of a demon's power, for their power comes from darkness. That is rarely the exception," Poku said, walking across the desk.

"You said rarely," Mr. Adams stated. "So does that mean you have met an exception?"

Poku looked towards Mr. Adams, his eyes gleaming. "Indeed I have, with the young man."

Mr. Adams stroked his beard. "Ethan?"

"I don't know why, but what I sensed deep down in that boy's psyche wasn't the normal dark energy I usually sense in other Pillars. It was something different," Poku continued.

"Could these differences be dangerous to the order or to the world?" Mr. Adams asked.

"I don't think so, but I would advise keeping an eye on the young man. Train him well," Poku said as he began to disappear into shadow.

Mr. Adams walked towards the window and looked out to see the many people walking down the street. "Ethan Brumfield, who are you?"

Mr. Adams asked as he looked up at the blue sky. "Lord Solomon, is this also your will?" he pondered, his hands clasped behind his back.

***

In the eerie darkness, the sound of giggling echoed all around. She floated in this void, her eyes shining crimson, her sharp teeth exposed as her arms crossed.

"Keep going..." she whispered, her voice a haunting melody in the silence. Her long black hair cascaded around her face like a dark waterfall. "Keep growing more and more stronger, Ethan Brumfield, until your body becomes mine."

***

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