The dust settled slowly, as if time itself hesitated to move forward. Dan panted, fists clenched, blood trickling down his forehead as he kept his eyes fixed on the strange man before him. The creature smiled at the corner of its mouth, its demonic energy pulsing like a heartbeat around its twisted body — as if all the fighting so far had only been a warm-up.
— Hah... you still able to stand? — the possessed man taunted, the demonic aura thumping with each word.
— Shut up... — Dan spat blood onto the floor and dropped into his fighting stance once more. — I'm not falling… not until I make sure she's safe.
A few meters away, among the wreckage, Stella lay unconscious, her body curled like a wilting flower. The blade in her hand trembled faintly. Her breathing was uneven, and her face wore an anguish that seemed rooted deeper than any physical wound. The demon that fed on pain smiled quietly from within the conflict, siphoning everything from her — fear, guilt, sorrow — making the strange man stronger with each stolen emotion.
A crash echoed through the room.
The far wall ripped open as if it were paper. Through the hole, covered in soot and dust, clothes partially torn and eyes blazing, Tekio appeared. His chest heaved with exertion.
— Dan! — he shouted, sprinting toward his friend.
Dan turned, both relieved and tense.
— Tekio... she needs you. Now. Go!
Tekio glanced at Stella and his body froze. She was far too pale. He rushed to her, kneeling at her side and carefully taking her cold hand.
— Stella... it's me, Tekio... wake up...
She didn't answer. Sweat beaded on her brow, her eyes shifting beneath her lids. Trapped. Alone.
— She's being drained — he muttered through clenched teeth.
There was no time to process more. A thick presence filled the air, followed by slow footsteps over the debris.
— Hmm... finished outside — a hoarse, mocking voice said. — The woman with glasses was too dull... easier than I thought.
Dan's eyes widened.
— N-Nick...?
From the shattered entrance, a tall, lean man stepped forward. His silver hair was tousled; a long, ragged coat hung from his shoulders. Black marks webbed across his skin like corrupted roots. His red eyes glittered with a morbid pleasure. In one hand he held a short blade — alive and cruel.
— Who are you? — Tekio rose slowly, his body already tensing for a fight.
The stranger sneered.
— They call me Velkros.
The man laughed.
— Has the time come, then?
— Yes. — Velkros twirled the blade lazily. — We shouldn't leave any of the kids alive. It'd be a waste to let them grow… especially that one.
He fixed a hungry stare on Tekio.
— You... you're like him — Tekio murmured, gesturing toward the possessed man. — From the same organization.
— Exactly — Velkros replied with disdain. — Two monsters in the same place. And you... a small piece of meat waiting to be ripped apart.
Before Tekio could answer, a weak voice whispered:
— Tekio...! — Stella breathed, thin and pained.
Velkros paused. The name sparked a memory in him. His eyes narrowed.
— Tekio...? — he repeated, savoring the sound. Then he twisted his mouth into a crooked smile. — Now it all makes sense... you're the brother of that woman...
Tekio froze.
— Which woman...? — he asked softly.
Velkros stepped closer, sadism glinting in his gaze.
— Ah, of course... how could I forget her? Dark hair, intense eyes... fearless like a cornered dog. She gave me trouble, I'll admit. — He began to laugh. — Made me bleed until... but in the end, she cried. She cried for you.
Tekio trembled. The air around him began to hum.
— She screamed your name like it would stop her from dying. Tekio! Tekio! — Velkros mocked in a high, taunting tone. — I almost spared her, but... watching the fear in her eyes as the blade slid between her ribs... that was pure art.
Small sparks skittered across Tekio's skin. Tiny electrical pops, involuntary, traced along his arms.
— You should have heard the sound she made when she fell to her knees. A mix of sob and moan. Beautiful. And then... silence. Just her blood on the floor. Warm.
A distant rumble of thunder rolled through the sky. Outside, the light began to dim.
— But you know what was the most beautiful part? — Velkros leaned in, smiling like a child watching flames. — Her eyes never closed completely. It was as if... she still tried to see you one last time. Pathetic.
The floor creaked. The energy surrounding Tekio flashed in pulses; the air grew heavy, almost choking. The thunder outside boomed louder and black clouds began to churn.
— You will die... — Tekio whispered.
— You gonna try to kill me with your pain, little brother? — Velkros taunted, spinning the blade with relish. — Show me. I want to see how long you last before you break like she did.
Tekio lifted his gaze. His eyes were different now. His aura trembled, alive. Then he moved forward.
With his first step, the thunder cracked across the sky.
To be continued...