Hunting II

As Lucius observed the aftermath of the battle, he felt a strange sensation within him. The wounds inflicted by Yu Xuan's force, which had left him in agony only moments before, began to mend themselves with unnatural speed. He cast a glance at Yu Xuan, his expression unreadable.

Yu Xuan met his gaze with a smoldering glare, clearly displeased that his force's effects had not lingered as intended. His frustration was palpable, as though he had hoped the damage would serve as a lasting reminder of his power.

"Ah, you're fine now," Harriet remarked with a light chuckle, her eyes briefly scanning Lucius for any remaining signs of injury. Lucius offered a nod in response, and together they approached the fallen beast to examine it.

"It resembles a bear," Harriet observed, her tone thoughtful. "I believe it's edible!"

Lucius studied the creature's massive form, noting its sheer size. "Are we planning to take the entire carcass?" he asked, his voice tinged with practicality. "It's quite large..."

Yu Xuan scoffed, his voice sharp and condescending. "Are you an idiot? Did you not witness our strength? Harriet can manipulate gravity. We're more than capable of handling this."

Lucius fell silent, his eyes flicking between Yu Xuan and the colossal beast. Before he could respond, Harriet playfully reached out and tugged on Yu Xuan's ear, her tone both teasing and chiding. "Careful, Yu Xuan, or I might just use that strength against you. Behave yourself, young man."

"H-Hey!" Yu Xuan protested, struggling against her grasp, while Harriet chuckled at his discomfort.

As they bantered, Lucius found himself staring at the lifeless creature, his mind drifting into deep thought. The world around him faded, the voices of his companions a distant echo as he became lost in his reflections.

Suddenly, Harriet called out to Lucius, her voice cutting through the haze of his thoughts. She had already begun to use her force, lightening the weight of the beast with effortless grace. Lucius blinked, returning to the present as she spoke. "What's on your mind, Lucius? We're finished here, so let's head back," she said with a gentle smile.

Lucius nodded, falling into step beside her. However, just as they were about to depart, he halted abruptly, his entire body tensing as a sense of impending danger gripped him.

"Lucius?" Harriet and Yu Xuan turned back, noticing his sudden silence and the rigidity in his posture.

Yu Xuan, ever impatient, scowled and barked, "Hey, if you're not going to move, we'll leave you behind!"

But Lucius did not respond to the harsh words. Instead, he slowly lifted his head, his eyes wide with terror, his voice barely more than a whisper. "...Someone is here..."

Harriet and Yu Xuan exchanged puzzled glances, confusion evident in their expressions. Harriet took a step toward Lucius, concern creeping into her voice. "Lucius, what's—"

Before she could finish, the ground beneath them trembled violently, and with a deafening roar, it exploded, sending all three of them hurtling through the air from the force of the sudden impact.

Yu Xuan and Harriet, caught off guard, tumbled to the ground alongside Lucius. "What the hell..." Yu Xuan grunted, pushing himself up.

Through the mist and shadows, a tall figure emerged, his presence commanding and ominous.

Lucius narrowed his eyes, his gaze hardening as he studied the figure with a keen intensity. The man was tall, his skin dark as night, contrasted sharply by his stark white hair. He was clad in tight black clothing that covered most of his body, save for a gaping hole in his chest that exposed bare skin. Curiously, he wore no shoes, his feet bare against the earth.

Harriet and Yu Xuan scrambled to their feet, glaring at the mysterious intruder. Lucius slowly rose as well, his senses on high alert.

"Who the hell are you..." Harriet demanded, her eyes fixed on the stranger.

The man's eyes widened, and he paused, standing tall with an unyielding posture. "Are you... one of the seven dead corpses?" he asked, his tone curious, almost reverent.

Harriet and Yu Xuan exchanged confused glances, their thoughts immediately turning to Lucius. But they remained composed, not betraying their suspicion. "What do you want?" Yu Xuan shouted, his voice laced with authority.

The man chuckled softly before bowing with a flourish. "Apologies for my delayed introduction... I am Megh, second in command to Agnatos Amon."

The mention of Agnatos Amon struck a chord in Lucius's mind, dredging up memories of his past encounter with Bram, who had spoken of this name. His body tensed, and he instinctively clenched his fists, taking a wary step back. Megh's eyes immediately caught the movement, his smile widening with recognition.

"The one back there... You... Your appearance..." Megh grinned, easily discerning Lucius's true nature. Harriet's voice suddenly rang out, filled with urgency.

"Lucius, run!" she commanded, but Lucius found himself frozen, unable to heed her words. Megh's laughter echoed in the air, dripping with malice.

"Just hand him over to me, and I promise no harm will come to anyone else here..." he offered, his tone deceptively calm.

Harriet stood firm in defiance, but Yu Xuan's gaze flickered toward her, a moment of hesitation betraying his thoughts. "Harriet..." he began, the possibility of accepting the deal flickering in his eyes.

"I will not hand him over!" Harriet declared fiercely, her voice brooking no argument. "Yu Xuan... you' II stand with me." Yu Xuan's resolve hardened, and he nodded, readying himself for the impending battle.

Megh's expression twisted with displeasure as he clicked his tongue in irritation. "Then I' II just have to kill you all."

Before Harriet and Yu Xuan could react, a multitude of shadowy hands emerged from the ground, surging towards them. They stumbled back, momentarily caught off guard.

Yu Xuan's hands began to glow, summoning an electric guitar into existence. With a swift strum, he unleashed a powerful, resonating chord that sent shockwaves through the air, forming a protective barrier around him. Meanwhile, Harriet, her fists imbued with the force of heavy gravity, struck back at the encroaching hands with unyielding strength.

But Megh pressed on relentlessly, his assault unceasing. Lucius, paralyzed with fear, stumbled to the ground, his eyes wide with terror as he watched the battle unfold. A hidden arm darted towards him, seeking to ensnare him.

Yu Xuan's music tore through the air, shattering the arm before it could reach its target. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU IDIOT?!" he shouted, his voice sharp with frustration.

Megh's annoyance grew, his eyes narrowing as he extended his arms. More shadowy appendages erupted from the earth, converging on the group with relentless fury.

Harriet, determined and resolute, threw herself in front of Lucius and Yu Xuan, shielding them from the onslaught. "You two, run!! I' II hold him off!" she commanded.

Yu Xuan, however, refused to flee, standing his ground to protect Lucius and support Harriet in the struggle.

The battle raged on, each moment stretching into an eternity. Megh's irritation mounted, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "Enough of these games."

In an instant, a massive arm shot out, seizing Harriet in its crushing grip. The sound of her bones cracking under the immense pressure echoed through the air, a horrific testament to the pain she endured. Yu Xuan, eyes wide with panic, attempted to rush to her aid, but another colossal arm slammed into him, driving his head into the ground with brutal force. His body was flung aside like a ragdoll, leaving him unconscious and bleeding profusely.

Harriet's screams pierced the night, raw and agonizing, as Lucius stood paralyzed, his body trembling with helplessness. He had no force to call upon, no power to wield. He could only watch, horror-stricken, as Megh finally released Harriet, her body crumpling to the ground, broken and nearly lifeless.

Lucius's breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes fixed on Harriet's motionless form. Megh began to advance on him, a slow, menacing approach that only deepened Lucius's terror. Lucius remained rooted in place, the onset of a panic attack rendering him utterly defenseless.

"Come now," Megh intoned, his voice dripping with cold assurance. "You won't be needing them anymore..."

Lucius's heart pounded violently in his chest, each beat echoing like a drum of war. Rage began to simmer beneath the surface of his fear, growing hotter with every passing second. His vision blurred, not with tears, but with a fury so intense it consumed him entirely.

And then, in a blinding flash, Lucius moved. One moment he was standing frozen in terror; the next, he was in front of Megh, his movement so fast it was like a bolt of lightning striking from the heavens.

Lucius's body transformed, becoming a black void, an abyss of swirling darkness. A malevolent aura radiated from him, pulsating with raw, unbridled power. His eyes, once filled with fear, now glowed an eerie white, burning with a rage that knew no bounds.

Megh stopped in his tracks, his confidence wavering as he beheld the transformation before him.

Lucius stood before him, no longer the frightened boy, but something far more terrifying.

"There you are..."

To be continued -