Nightmare of Humans II

He walked aimlessly, his footsteps echoing in the deserted streets. The city, usually bustling with life, seemed strangely quiet at this late hour. The only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the occasional bark of a stray dog, punctuating the stillness of the night.

Elang's mind drifted back to the events of the past few days. The confrontation with Xian in the burning forest, the revelation of his true origins, the decision to join the Unveiled Family - it had all been a whirlwind of emotions and experiences.

He sighed, his breath misting in the cool night air. He had a long road ahead of him, a journey of self-discovery and redemption. But for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel alone.

Bwooong!

The sudden, booming sound jolted Elang back to the present. His head snapped up, his senses on high alert.

A large, shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, its footsteps heavy and deliberate as it moved from building to building. It was a ghost, its form towering and imposing, its presence radiating an aura of malevolence.

"...Should I eliminate this one?" Elang asked himself, his hand instinctively reaching for the non-existent flames that once danced at his fingertips. The ghost's ominous presence sent a shiver down his spine, a primal instinct warning him of danger.

The ghost's presence intensified with each step.

Elang emerged from the shadows, his voice echoing in the night. "Hey, you!" he challenged. "What are you doing?"

The ghost paused, its towering form looming over Elang in the dim streetlight.

Its hollow eyes fixed on Elang, the ghost let out a low, guttural growl. A wave of icy cold washed over the street, the air crackling with an unseen energy.

Elang stood his ground, his resolve unwavering. "I'm not afraid of you," he declared, his voice firm. "Leave this place, or face the consequences."

The ghost let out a chilling laugh, its spectral form shimmering with malevolent intent. It raised a skeletal hand, its fingers elongated and gnarled, and pointed towards Elang.

A surge of icy energy erupted from its fingertips, coalescing into a swirling vortex of freezing air. The temperature plummeted, the surrounding buildings frosting over as the ghostly chill enveloped the street.

Elang braced himself, his body tensing in anticipation of the attack. He knew he was outmatched, his fire powers useless against this spectral foe. But he wouldn't back down. He wouldn't let this monster terrorize the city he had sworn to protect.

"You know if you keep walking around, you'll just give people nightmares!" Elang shouted, his voice defiant.

The ghost let out a chilling laugh, its spectral form shimmering with malevolent intent. "Nightmares?" it echoed, its voice a raspy whisper that cut through the icy air. "I am the nightmare, little human. I am the embodiment of fear, the harbinger of despair."

It lunged forward, its spectral claws outstretched, aiming for Elang's throat.

Elang, his reflexes tingle in danger, dodged the attack with a nimble sidestep. But the ghost was relentless, its movements swift and unpredictable. It swiped again, its claws grazing Elang's arm, leaving behind a trail of frostbite.

Elang cried out in pain, the icy touch numbing his senses. He knew he couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed a plan, a way to fight back against this intangible foe. Desperation fueled his resolve, and he tapped into the wellspring of his power.

Swooosh!

With a defiant roar, Elang unleashed a torrent of flames, his entire body engulfed in a blazing inferno. The heat radiated outwards, pushing back the encroaching cold and momentarily illuminating the darkened street.

The ghost recoiled from the sudden onslaught of heat, its spectral form flickering and distorting under the intense flames. It let out a piercing shriek, a sound that sent shivers down Elang's spine. The air crackled with the clash of opposing energies, the heat of Elang's flames battling the ghost's icy aura.

And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the ghost vanished, leaving behind only a lingering chill in the air. The streetlights flickered back to life, casting a dim glow on the empty road.

Elang stood panting, his flames slowly dying down as the adrenaline faded. He looked around, his eyes scanning the deserted street for any sign of the ghost's return. But there was nothing, only the silence of the night and the distant hum of the city, a stark contrast to the supernatural battle that had just taken place.

What... just like that, it's gone?

Bwoop! Bwoop! The piercing wail of police sirens sliced through the night air, shattering the momentary peace.

Oh shit... I forgot I'm still wanted for jailbreaking... Elang's heart pounded in his chest as he realized his mistake. The adrenaline that had fueled his fight against the ghost was now replaced by a cold fear.

Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted towards the nearest alleyway, his footsteps pounding against the pavement as he sought refuge in the shadows.

"Where is he!?" the police officer yelled, his voice echoing through the deserted streets. The flashing lights of the patrol car illuminated the alleyways, casting long, ominous shadows that danced and flickered in the darkness.

Elang crouched behind a dumpster, his heart pounding in his chest. He held his breath, hoping desperately that they wouldn't find him. The fear of being captured, of being thrown back into the cold, unforgiving confines of prison, gnawed at his newfound sense of freedom.

"I swear I saw the fire earlier... that must be him, the pyro guy," another officer's voice cut through the night, sending a shiver down Elang's spine. They were closing in, their suspicions aroused by the lingering traces of his flames.

The sound of the sirens gradually faded into the distance, leaving behind a tense silence. Elang let out a long, relieved sigh, his body slumping against the brick wall.

He emerged from the alleyway, and leave the place seek any danger.

***

Meanwhile, Liam stood before a street vendor, his gaze fixed on the tempting array of snacks displayed on the counter.

"Want to use your lucky thing again?" Essokinesis, his Harbinger, asked, a playful lilt in his voice.

Liam nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single coin, placing it on the counter.

Suddenly, as if in response to Liam's touch, the vendor's cart seemed to malfunction. A cascade of snacks tumbled from the shelves, raining down upon the surprised vendor and the delighted Liam.

"Whoa!" Liam exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise and delight. Snacks of all kinds - chips, cookies, candies - piled up around him, a veritable feast for the taking.

The vending machine, its display now empty, stood silently as Liam gathered the bounty of snacks into his arms. With a happy hum, he left the scene, munching on a chocolate bar as he continued his patrol, his eyes scanning the darkened streets for any signs of danger.

"Tonight's been pretty quiet," his Harbinger, Essokinesis, observed, his ethereal form flickering beside Liam.

Liam nodded in agreement, crunching on a bag of chips. "Yeah, it's been a bit too peaceful for my liking," he admitted. "I was hoping for a bit more action."

Essokinesis chuckled, his voice a low rumble. "Be careful what you wish for, young Liam. You never know what lurks in the shadows of this city."

Just then, a scream pierced the night air, shattering the quietude. Liam and Essokinesis exchanged a look, their expressions hardening. The scream was filled with terror, a primal sound that sent a shiver down their spines.

"Sounds like trouble," Essokinesis observed, his ethereal form flickering with anticipation.

Liam grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finally, some action!" Then, remembering his snacks, he added, "Wait... let me hide these snacks..." He rushed towards a nearby supermarket and approached the cashier. "I'll give you 50k if you hold my snacks while I'm gone. I'll be back in an hour!"

The girl at the cashier was taken aback by his sudden request and the large pile of snacks he dumped on the counter. "Huh?" she stammered, her eyes wide with confusion.

"Why is that guy wearing a mask...?" she asked herself, her gaze lingering on Liam's retreating figure.

Liam and Essokinesis arrived at the scene of the commotion. It was a brawl involving local residents and a group of young people who appeared to be high schoolers.

"Seems they are high schoolers," Essokinesis observed, his ethereal form flickering in the dim light.

Liam nodded, recognizing the familiar scene. "Looks like they're trying to attack someone in that building, but the locals are defending it. We should stop them," he said with determination.

Without hesitation, Liam charged towards the fray, his Harbinger flickering beside him. The brawl was chaotic, punches and kicks flying in every direction. The high schoolers, their faces contorted in anger, seemed to be fueled by a reckless abandon, their attacks wild and uncoordinated. The locals, though outnumbered, fought back with fierce determination, protecting their homes and loved ones.

Liam weaved through the chaos, his movements swift and agile. He reached out, his hand glowing with a warm light, and touched the shoulder of one of the aggressors. A surge of calming energy flowed into the boy, his anger momentarily dissipating.

"What the...?" he mumbled, his fists loosening their grip.

"Calm down," Liam said gently, his voice a soothing balm amidst the chaos. "There's no need for violence."

The boy blinked, his confusion evident. But the calming energy continued to flow through him, his anger slowly subsiding. He lowered his fists, his body relaxing.

< Chapter 184 > Fin.