Chapter 56: Vanished

While Drake was stuck in his unexpected dilemma and Tyler was had long since left the roof with a hurried pace. Within the large family room of the manor a shoot off had commenced. Loud gunshots reverberated throughout the room. Bullets soared through the air at light speeds. The walls had multiple puncture wounds, the ceiling threatened to fall off but the expensive bulbs had long since been put out of commission. Shards of shattered glass and splintered wood lay everywhere. The scene looking no different from cyclone hit room. Blood splattering the walls as another body dropped to the floor never to get up again. This was the third bodyguard to fall.

Currently two bodyguards remained of the five that would normally be stationed inside the main house. It had happened all too quickly. When the electricity and communications were cut off the first thing they did was to ensure that the two remaining maids who stayed for the night, namely Miss Camille and a younger maid, were safe and secured in a room. They had left two to watch the door and when they regrouped, the doors of the front were forcefully opened. It collided with the walls and threatened to fly off its hinges. They had their gazes locked onto the space of the open door or rather the figure that had occupied it. Looking into the small corridor that led to the family room.

It was a woman. Her blacked hair was tied into a ponytail as it waved left and right with the wind. She wore nothing but a black crop top the exposed her midriff. The bum shorts she wore accentuated her waist in a way that would make men drool for her and the black boots she wore seemed to only exaggerate it. But as good as that was the dangerous air around her acted like a detergent and the dual semi-automatic pistols in both of her arms only seemed to gravitate it more. This was none other than Vinny.

The guards were dazed for a moment before they snapped out of it. But when they refocused their minds it was already too late. The dual pistols barked and flashed as two bullets flew out having already embedded themselves into the craniums of two guards whose heads were flung backwards by the force of the bullets before finally dropping to the ground. The remaining three scrambled for cover. Unfortunately while they retreated, Vinny managed to unload three bullets into the back of one of them who screamed as he fell face first. The remnants of his life fading away very quickly.

…

Tai Long was directly before Drake. Drake's face turned ashen when he saw Tai Long's fist shooting towards him. The power behind it was undeniable.

Drake reacted by swerving his head to the right. The fist grazed his cheek. Drake's eyes widened because he could feel blood flowing from the grazed part…Tai Long's fist had actually managed to cut him! It would have been fine if it was done using a knife but a fist? Drake raised his knee meeting Tai Long's gut with a large force but the latter remained un-phased, not even flinching.

Drake immediately knew that this was a bad situation. Thinking quick on his feet he scrambled to move backwards, trying to put as much distance as he could. It was at that moment that a fist hit his chest. Knocking the air out of him.

Crack!

Drake fell five feet away feeling as if he had just been hit by a truck. His chest hurting with every intake of air. His rib was broken. Tai Long wrapped his hands around Drake's leg. The grip was so strong that his bones threatened to snap. Drake tried to react only to find himself hauled off the ground and swung to the side only to have his momentum suddenly halted by the firm stem of a tree. His body taking the full blunt of the hit.

Spurt!

Blood leaked out of his mouth with bits and pieces of flesh. The side of his body feeling as though someone was frying it with a concentrated flame. The pain in his kidney stung like a hundred needles, bile threatening to eject from his stomach but somehow he managed to hold it back. Drake managed to keep his head focused as he tried to think.

What the hell was with this strength? Drake remembered how he had been taking it lightly with Tai Long. He was never taking him seriously to begin with yet this was how things suddenly turned. Was this adrenaline? No that wasn't case because even his blood was pumping adrenaline through his veins at this moment but he wasn't experiencing the same boost as Tai Long. At that point Drake just thought that maybe life wasn't fair.

[AN: Pretty ironic for the guy who treated the lives of the guards like toys]

At that moment Tai Long had whipped his leg, the force behind it monstrous. Aiming for Drake's head. He could only duck.

Bang! Snap!

Splinters pierced into his neck as the tree that was standing just a few moments ago unbelievably snapped in half and fell a few meters away.

Drake's head would have been split like a watermelon if that blow had connected. Fear gripped his heart as it thrummed at an exaggerated rate. His body shivered as he looked towards Tai Long's leg that was now hanging limply before him. It was now covered in a dark crimson red some of the blood even dripping to the ground. It was clear as day that the tree wasn't the only broken thing.

A glint shone through Drake's eyes. He knew what had to be done. Without hesitation he rolled away from his spot.

Tai Long was powerful there was no doubt about it. He was now a mindless beast out for blood but he was only that, a mindless beast. Even in the past beasts had powerful bodies while humans were weak yet didn't the human race rise above them all. How did they manage that?

The answer was simple and straight forward.

Intelligence! Drake was smart and creative when it came to the battlefield. The moment he saw Tai Long's leg break after the initial strike he had a theory. What if, though, Tai long had this explosive power his body had no way of containing it? Think of it this way, a glass valve has a certain capacity of gas that it can hold but what happens when the gas stored is way above that capacity? It breaks due to the pressure! So what about a person with a weak body suddenly gaining an enormous and sudden boost of power?

"Come here you useless son of a bitch!" Drake shouted at the top of his lungs and winced. His broken rib acting up but he endured it nonetheless. He wouldn't allow his pain to distract him for what he was about to do.

Just as he thought, Tai Long's crazed red eyes locked onto him and without even caring for his broken leg he rampaged towards him. Drake inwardly sighed when he saw this. It proved that he had a leg up in this at list. Drake stood as he watched Tai Long stamp towards him. He knew he had to get the timing right.

Tai Long's fist shot forward once more. It was then that Drake moved and another tree took his place. Fist and tree met. A loud cracking sound reverberated. Tai Long's fist collapsed in on itself. Drake's gaze twinkled once more excitement evident in his gaze as he took the opportunity to jab him under the chin.

Tai Long's head shot upwards from the pressure from the punch but he only growled like an enraged beast as he twisted his torso, his broken hand shooting out with speed and force as it hit Drake square in the face.

Drake stumbled. Feeling as though a brick had been smashed in his face. Tai Long's blood blinded him as it entered his eyes.

"Argh" he groaned trying to rub it out of his eyes but he knew it was hopeless. Without his sight he was most definitely screwed. He could feel Tai Long walk towards him, the leaves rustled, a twig snapped and a sudden pressure engulfed him. Tai Long had moved once more and was using his remaining good arm forward aiming for the top of Drake's head but suddenly his body jolted and shuddered. His nervous system broke down. The pain from his broken fist, crumpled leg and gunshot wound on his collarbone all burst forward overwhelming his consciousness like a ton of bricks.

His muscles tensed up and cramped. His body had reached its utmost limit. His vision swam and before he could even think he fell to the ground. The heavy murderous intent and bloodlust all vanished as though it was never there to begin with.