Anger

They continued their escape but not without entering a forest ti escape as the large but dark green labd fir animals or any creature that lives in the wird was a labyrinth of towering trees and dense underbrush, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and pine.

Moonlight barely pierced through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows as Zale and Jared sprinted through the uneven terrain, their breaths ragged and their bodies pushed to the limit.

They had barely escaped the stronghold, only to be relentlessly pursued. The guards had been tenacious, refusing to let them disappear without a trace. But now, as the distant sounds of their pursuers faded into the background, it seemed they had finally lost them.

Zale staggered forward, his vision blurring. His limbs felt like lead, his Avatar barely responding. The exhaustion that had been creeping up on him since their capture finally hit him like a crashing wave.

Jared grabbed his arm, steadying him. "Come on, we're almost home. Stay with me, Zale."

Zale barely managed a nod, forcing himself forward. Every step felt heavier, his body weighed down by something far beyond mere fatigue.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached their destination—a small, run-down apartment nestled in a forgotten corner of the city. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the tension in their bodies melted away.

Jared locked the door behind them, pressing his back against it as he exhaled. "We made it."

Zale didn't respond.

He took two more steps before his legs buckled beneath him.

"Zale!" Jared rushed forward, catching him before he hit the floor.

Zale's breathing was slow, his eyes barely open. The weight of Sloth's power had finally overtaken him. He had pushed himself too far, and now his body demanded rest.

Jared carefully dragged him to the couch, setting him down. "Damn it. You really don't know your limits, do you?" He let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Guess that's on me for expecting anything else."

Zale didn't reply. His body had already shut down, deep in unconsciousness.

Jared sighed, running a hand through his hair. He sat down beside Zale, rubbing his temples.

"Five hours," he muttered to himself. "Five damn hours, and everything went to hell."

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His adrenaline was still high, but exhaustion was creeping in fast. He wanted to sleep, but something in the pit of his stomach wouldn't let him relax.

Something felt off.

---

Elsewhere…

The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the soft glow of a chandelier above. The air was tense, thick with an unspoken fury that made the walls feel like they were closing in.

A man sat in a large leather chair, his fingers drumming against the armrest. His black hair was slightly disheveled, and though he appeared calm, the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his true emotions.

Across from him stood another man—older, his face pale with barely contained anger. His suit, though pristine, was slightly wrinkled, as if he had been pacing moments before.

"You mean to tell me that he's alive?" the older man's voice trembled with rage, his hands clenched into fists. "That Zale—the man we had confirmed as dead—has returned?"

The younger man sighed, rubbing his temple before glancing up. "Yes. It seems the reports of his death were… exaggerated."

The older man slammed his fist onto the table. "Exaggerated? You incompetent fool! He and his friend just wiped out half our stronghold and escaped! And now you sit here, acting like this is a minor inconvenience?"

The younger man's expression didn't change. Instead, he simply leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded with an almost lazy disinterest. "I do wonder how he managed to survive. And more importantly, how he became this powerful."

The older man's nostrils flared. "This isn't a game! Do you realize the consequences if he decides to come after us? If the others find out about this—"

"Then we'll handle it," the younger man interrupted, his tone calm yet firm. "Panicking won't change what has already happened."

The older man's face turned red with anger, but before he could explode again, the younger man straightened in his seat, his gaze finally sharpening.

"We need information. We need to know what he is now and how far his abilities have developed. Only then can we decide our next move."

The older man took a slow breath, his rage still evident but somewhat tempered by the logic of the younger man's words.

"Fine," he muttered. "But don't think for a second that this is under control. If we don't act fast, we might not get another chance to eliminate him."

The younger man smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Understood."

He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against his chin.

"Zale... let's see just how much of a monster you've become."

---

Back at the Apartment

The sound of rain tapping against the window was the first thing Zale registered when he finally stirred. His body felt heavy, as if he had been submerged in water for hours.

His eyes cracked open, and the dim light of early morning filtered into the apartment. He groaned, shifting slightly.

"Finally awake?"

Zale turned his head, seeing Jared sitting at the small kitchen table, a cup of coffee in his hands. He looked exhausted, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes.

"How long was I out?" Zale asked, his voice hoarse.

Jared took a sip of his coffee before answering. "Almost a full day. You really pushed yourself back there."

Zale exhaled through his nose, slowly sitting up. His muscles protested, but the familiar sluggishness of Sloth's power made it easier to ignore the pain.

"Any news?" he asked, rubbing his temples.

Jared sighed. "Nothing good. The CEO escaped, but you already knew that. The stronghold? A bloodbath. Not just from us, either."

Zale frowned. "The shadow?"

Jared nodded. "Yeah. Whatever that thing was… it wiped out everyone left behind. The news is calling it a massacre. No survivors."

Zale was silent for a moment, thinking. The memory of the shadow's eyes sent a faint chill down his spine. It had acknowledged him. And then it had vanished.

It wasn't random.

"I don't think it was after us," Zale murmured. "If it was, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Jared set his cup down, looking at him seriously. "So, what do you think it was after?"

Zale didn't have an answer.

Instead, he leaned back, exhaling slowly. His mind was still clouded with exhaustion, his body demanding more rest.

But there was no time for that.

He could feel it—something bigger was coming.

And this time, he wouldn't be caught off guard.