Chapter:18-Auction House(2)

The oppressive air of the darkened hallways, thick with the scent of rust and oil, seemed to press in on Adam with every step. The faint hum of failing lights overhead did nothing to calm the nerves; in fact, it made him feel even more isolated, as though he was trapped in a cage with no escape. His body ached from the previous battles—torn muscles, bruised skin, and a growing sense of weariness, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him alive, his heart hammering in his chest like a war drum.

His eyes narrowed as he glanced down the hallway. It was barely lit, the floor cracked and uneven from the destructive blows he and the brothers had already exchanged. Smoke swirled in the air, adding to the haze of confusion as debris from the collapsing ceiling rained down in jagged pieces. If Adam didn't stay focused, the environment would end up as deadly as the brothers themselves.

From the corner of his eye, he saw their shadows. Shaltrin and Altrin.

The atmosphere seemed to shift, growing heavier, as the thundering footsteps of Shaltrin echoed down the hall. His massive exoskeleton-clad legs seemed to shake the very foundation of the building with each step, sending tremors that threatened to destabilize the ground beneath them. It was as if the ground itself feared the power of this behemoth.

"Ready to die, Adam?" Shaltrin's voice was low, rumbling, as though the very walls were trembling in fear of him. He wasn't just talking—he was delivering a promise.

Altrin's voice cut in sharply, the younger, more unpredictable brother. "I hope you've been practicing your dance moves. You're gonna need them!"

Adam's lip curled into a grin, despite the gnawing pain in his side. "I'm no dancer, but if you want to keep throwing punches, be my guest."

Before Adam could react, Shaltrin's massive fist came crashing toward him. The force was so great that Adam barely had time to react before the entire corridor around him seemed to implode. Shaltrin's knuckles slammed into the ground with a deafening crack, the floor beneath Adam's feet splitting apart as if it were made of paper. The shockwave from the punch sent Adam stumbling backward, his feet skidding across the jagged floor.

He managed to catch his balance, just in time to see Altrin closing in. The younger brother was a blur, his insect-like legs propelling him at an inhuman speed. Altrin's kick struck the side of Adam's torso, sending him tumbling across the floor, his body sliding in a cloud of dust and rubble. Adam slammed into a column, the impact rattling his bones, and the metal supports creaked and groaned under the pressure.

"You should've stayed down," Altrin taunted, his voice full of twisted satisfaction as he crouched low, his muscular legs tense like coiled springs. He was preparing to launch another attack, his speed more than enough to outpace Adam's reflexes.

But Adam wasn't done yet. Far from it. His muscles burned, his mind raced, and he was still alive. He pushed himself off the ground, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead, and his eyes locked onto the brothers. No more running. This was his fight, and he would finish it his way.

Adam's fists clenched as he darted forward, the metallic scent of the environment mixing with the scent of his own blood. The pain in his body was all-consuming, but his resolve was stronger. Every step he took shattered the ground beneath him, small tremors rippling through the floor as he moved with dangerous precision.

Shaltrin was still looming in the background, watching him like a predator waiting for the kill. Adam launched himself at Altrin, closing the distance between them faster than the younger brother could react. The moment Adam reached him, he swung a punch straight into Altrin's face. The impact was like striking steel, but the younger brother staggered back, clearly surprised by the force of Adam's blow.

Before Altrin could recover, Adam used the momentum to grab his arm and twist, sending Altrin crashing into a nearby wall. The impact was deafening—metal and concrete groaned as the younger brother crashed through, the environment taking the full brunt of the attack. The walls cracked and split, and a cascade of sparks showered down from the exposed wiring. The entire corridor seemed to tremble as if the building itself was begging for mercy.

But Shaltrin was far from impressed. He was already on the move, and with a terrifying roar, he charged at Adam, his huge body lurching forward like a living bulldozer. Adam barely had time to react as Shaltrin's fist came down, obliterating the ground in front of him. The sheer force of the blow sent debris flying in every direction. Adam rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the crushing attack. But the ground beneath him cracked open further, chunks of concrete and metal shooting up, leaving him no choice but to leap into the air to avoid being trapped.

As he landed, the floor buckled beneath him again. A massive chunk of the ceiling came loose, crashing down. Adam managed to dive out of the way, but the impact of the falling debris sent a shockwave through the room, and a series of pipes burst open, releasing a high-pressure spray of steam into the air. It was as if the building itself was fighting back against the madness unfolding inside it.

"You're lucky this place is still standing," Adam muttered through gritted teeth, feeling the heat of the steam wash over him. It was scalding, but it didn't stop him. He had one goal now: survive.

Shaltrin's shadow loomed large behind him as the massive exoskeleton-clad warrior moved again. With a single, savage swipe, Shaltrin smashed through a nearby wall, sending chunks of the structure raining down on Adam.

Adam had no time to react. He had to move, and fast. His legs burned with exhaustion as he sprinted to the left, ducking beneath falling debris and narrowly avoiding another swipe from Shaltrin's massive arm. The entire hallway was collapsing, the structure cracking and groaning under the force of their battle.

The entire environment was a weapon now. Adam darted toward a large, twisted piece of scrap metal lodged into the floor, his hands closing around it as he yanked it free. The makeshift weapon felt solid in his grip, and he spun to face his opponents.

"You think you can take me down with that?" Altrin sneered, his insect-like eyes narrowing. He had recovered from the last hit, but it was clear that Adam's raw power was starting to take its toll on him. He launched himself at Adam once more, his legs propelling him through the air with deadly precision.

Adam met him head-on, the makeshift weapon clashing against Altrin's outstretched limbs. The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the ruins of the hallway, the sheer force of their collision sending shockwaves rippling through the environment. The entire structure seemed to shudder under the strain, but Adam held his ground, his eyes burning with defiance.

"You're not getting away," Altrin growled.

"I'll make sure of that," Adam gritted, grinning through the pain.

The battle waged on, a brutal war of attrition. Shaltrin and Altrin were relentless, their attacks like waves crashing against Adam, but Adam was determined. His mind raced, his instincts kicking in. He knew that the environment would eventually be the deciding factor. The walls were closing in, the floor cracking, and the ceiling was buckling. This battle had become more than just a fight for survival—it had become a fight for control.

The lights above flickered again, casting the room in a dim, eerie glow as another explosion of dust and debris filled the air. Adam's pulse raced as he prepared for the next onslaught. This was far from over.

End of Chapter