Between Two Worlds 2

Between Two Worlds 2

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The atmosphere inside the castle was charged with tension, and the cold air that enveloped the place intensified Ethan's unease. Leo was still trapped in the main hall, but Ethan knew that this situation wouldn't last long. Leo's "hero's luck" would inevitably find him a way out, sooner or later. He had to do something decisive before it was too late.

"Master Darius, Leo is moving towards the eastern wing!" shouted one of the guards as he rushed into the room.

Ethan stood up from his seat, trying to hide his confusion. "The eastern wing?" he whispered to himself. "That means he's getting closer to the secret room."

In the original story, the secret room contained valuable treasures and magical weapons that Leo used to enhance his power. But Ethan had decided to change that. "I want all guards focused at the main entrance of the secret room. No one goes in or out!" Ethan commanded firmly.

The servant nodded but hesitated slightly. "Master, if Leo enters the secret room, he may gain the power he needs to defeat you."

Ethan looked at him sharply. "He won't enter the secret room. I have a plan."

After the servant left, Ethan began executing the second part of his plan. He knew that Leo relied on his intuition and luck to find the secret room, but Ethan decided to create an alternative path. He ordered the guards to move the treasures and magical weapons to another location and set up additional traps in the corridors leading to the room.

"If Leo thinks the secret room is the key to his victory, I'll make him waste his time searching for it," Ethan muttered to himself, smiling slyly.

At that moment, a loud crashing sound echoed from afar. Leo was getting closer. Ethan took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "It's time."

Ethan left his room with confident steps, though his heart was racing. He knew that this moment would determine his fate—whether he would escape the inevitable "Darius" fate or become just another victim in Leo's story. The cold air around the castle only heightened his anxiety, but he tried to stay focused.

When Ethan reached the main hall, he found Leo standing in the center, his sword gleaming in his hand, his eyes filled with determination. "Darius! Come out and face me!" Leo shouted, expecting the villain to appear with his usual arrogance.

But Ethan did not appear in the way Leo expected. Instead, he emerged slowly from the shadows, smiling coldly. "Leo, you've made me wait," Ethan said in a calm voice, but with a subtle threat behind it.

Leo stared at him in surprise. "What is this game, Darius? You know I will defeat you in the end."

Ethan shook his head. "Are you sure about that? Things have changed, Leo. This time, it won't be as you expect."

The atmosphere in the hall was thick with hostility, and the threats exchanged between Ethan and Leo filled the room with escalating tension. But Ethan didn't feel the fear that Leo had anticipated. Instead, there was an air of confidence mixed with mystery surrounding him.

Leo eyed Ethan warily. "You seem different, Darius. Do you think just changing your style will change your fate?"

Ethan smiled slightly, his eyes glinting with a cold sparkle. "Leo, if you were aware of what's happening around you, you'd know that appearances can be deceiving." He took a step forward, approaching Leo, but without showing any sign of unease.

Leo raised his sword, ready to attack, but Ethan didn't move. Instead, he gestured toward the walls, where hidden doors opened, revealing a group of guards armed with bows and arrows. "You think you're the unbeatable hero, Leo, but you never considered that I might change."

Leo quickly scanned the room, trying to assess the situation. "Do you think these little tricks will stop me? I'm Leo, the hero who will defeat you!"

Ethan chuckled lightly. "A hero? Perhaps. But even heroes have weaknesses."

Suddenly, Leo heard the sound of bells ringing in the distance, followed by the sound of scattered footsteps. He felt a moment of confusion, but he tried not to show it. "What are these games, Darius?"

Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he gestured again, and the ground beneath Leo's feet began to tremble. Another trap was triggered, forcing Leo to leap aside to avoid falling. "You rely too much on your luck, Leo. But this time, luck won't be enough."

Ethan didn't stop smiling, but he knew that Leo wouldn't give up easily. "You're strong, Leo, but your strength isn't enough to match intelligence and planning," Ethan said, watching his opponent with amusement.

Leo, trying to focus on the hidden doors where the guards emerged, raised his sword high, ready to strike. "There will be no tricks this time, Darius!" he shouted as he lunged at Ethan with swift motion, defending himself with all his might.

But Ethan had anticipated this. Suddenly, with unexpected speed, Ethan moved to avoid the attack and seized Leo's arm with a decisive move. "You're fast, but you follow the same old patterns. And that's what's going to make you fall into the trap."

Before Leo could respond, he felt something heavy pressing on him, and he was surrounded by more guards from all sides. "What is this?!" Leo shouted, struggling to break free from their grasp.

Ethan stood a few steps away, his eyes gleaming with quiet triumph. "This is the difference between us, Leo. You rely on strength and instinct, while I rely on planning and intelligence," he said, raising his hand, signaling the guards to tighten their hold on Leo.

Leo tried to resist, but the guards were well-trained, and their weapons were pointed at him from every direction. "Darius, you're a coward! Why don't you face me yourself?" Leo yelled, trying to provoke Ethan.

But Ethan didn't take the bait. Instead, he smiled coldly. "Why waste my time fighting you when I can simply put you in a position where you can't escape?"

Ethan approached Leo, carefully observing his tense state. The atmosphere in the hall was charged with tension, and Ethan's eyes gleamed with a touch of mystery.

"You're strong, Leo. I see that now, but there's something I can't talk about... something too big for me to explain..."

Leo didn't pay attention to the words but was focused on watching the guards around him, desperately searching for a way to escape. "What do you mean?" he asked in a tight voice, trying to understand what Ethan was implying.

"Do you know you're just a pawn in the hands of...?"

Ethan suddenly stopped, as if hesitating to finish the sentence. His eyes flickered with a mysterious gleam, as if he held a secret. Leo, trying to make sense of what was happening, felt his confusion deepening.

"What do you mean? Who's playing with me?" Leo shouted, trying to free himself from the guards' tight grip.

Ethan smiled again, but this time his smile was even colder, as though hiding a deeper secret. He moved closer to Leo, as if enjoying watching him in this trapped state, trying to escape but knowing deep inside that there was no way out.

"You know, Leo..." Ethan said in a low voice, but his words were clear, filled with craftiness and cunning. "You still don't realize the size of the game you're playing. You've always been just a pawn on this chessboard."

Leo, his anger building up, tried to scream: "What are you talking about? I can't believe you're deceiving me like this!"

But Ethan didn't give him a chance to speak. "You move through battles, relying on your ability, depending on your instinct and luck. But you haven't noticed that the game has changed. It was always under my control, Leo. I am the one pulling the strings in the shadows."

Leo's eyes widened in disbelief. He tried to take a deep breath to calm himself, but his heart was racing, trying to comprehend what was happening around him. "You..." Leo whispered, "You've been manipulating me all along, haven't you?"

"You know, Leo..." Ethan said in a low voice, but it was filled with power. "You're a strong person, even more than I expected. But it's time for me to show you something different."

Ethan spoke the words calmly as he gestured to the guards to release the restraints holding Leo, leaving him free.

This turn of events surprised Leo, who sat down on the floor for a moment, stunned. He hadn't expected this shift to happen so quickly, nor for Ethan to do something like this. He didn't know if it was just a trick or if Ethan had another plan.

"Why?" Leo whispered, trying to understand what was going on. "Why are you releasing me now?"

Ethan smiled coldly, as if measuring the impact of his words on Leo. "Because, Leo, you weren't just a threat to me in the beginning. I freed you because I want you to see for yourself how things are changing."

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His brothers claim he possesses mystery and charisma.