This chapter contains scenes of violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Irene picked up another cookie and quickly bit into it.
Sweet.
She could feel Adrian's gaze fixed on her, deep and quiet, but she was too absorbed in the taste to care. She let him be.
…
The peace suddenly stopped.
Adrian's expression shifted instantly.
His body stiffened.
He felt multiple presences,
footsteps storming toward them.
He turned sharply to his left, toward the shack, his eyes narrowing as he stared in that direction.
Still munching on her cookie, Irene noticed his sudden tension. Curious, she followed his gaze.
And then she saw them.
Children burst forward from the direction of the shack, at the front was Brian.
Again.
It was clear he had come looking for her today, after failing to catch her yesterday.
Irene swallowed the cookie hard and tried to stand.
But Adrian held her down firmly.
She looked up at him, startled.
He met her eyes and smiled gently.
"Stay here."
"Adrian-"
Before she could respond, his grip loosened as he stood up, placing himself between her and the crowd.
"Adrian, !"
She reached for him.
But it was too late.
Pain shot through her ankles as she tried to stand again, and she fell back onto the grass.
Adrian stepped forward, stopping directly in front of Brian.
Brian smirked, but anger burned beneath it.
"Who the hell are you?" Brian demanded, staring straight at him.
Adrian didn't answer.
He looked at Brian.
Then past him
counting the kids behind him, measuring the threat.
"Didn't you hear me? I asked who the hell are y, "
"What do you want?" Adrian interrupted calmly.
Brian's face twisted, his patience snapped.
"Step aside" he growled.
Adrian understoods.
He remembered what Irene had told him that she didn't get along with the village kids.
He hadn't imagined it was this bad.
Brian's intent was written all over his face.
Adrian wasn't letting anyone pass.
His gaze sharpened.
"Get lost."
Brian exploded.
"Do you have a death wish?!"
"Do you?" Adrian shot back without hesitation.
Triggered
Brian storms foward.
He tried to shove Adrian to the ground, but Adrian stepped back smoothly, caught Brian's wrist, and yanked him forward.
Smack.
Adrian's other hand struck Brian's face cleanly, sending him crashing back into the kids behind him.
Brian hit the ground hard.
And lost all temper control.
"GET HIM!" he screamed.
The group surged forward.
Hearing so, Irene tried to stand again, this time forcing herself upright despite the pain.
One kid rushed Adrian first, Adrian blocked the blow and slammed a punch into his stomach, dropping him instantly.
Another kid swung from the side, he hit landed on Adrian's face
But Adrian didn't even flinch.
His eyes snapped toward the attacker.
The boy froze.
Terrified.
Adrian grabbed him by the neck, his stare cold and merciless.
Then he threw him onto the grass like discarded weight.
Irene finally stood, shaking, but stable.
She looked at him
Adrian had already taken control of the situation.
Was he always this strong…?
She remembered his grip from the first time they met.
Adrian's strength wasn't normal.
…
Another kid rushed in.
Then another.
Adrian held his ground.
One by one, he knocked them down fast, precise, relentless. Some managed to land hits on him, fists slamming into his body, but it was like striking a brick wall. Adrian didn't stagger. Every attack was met with immediate retaliation, simultaneous punishment, merciless and overwhelming.
The sound of bodies hitting the ground filled the clearing.
Brian stayed down.
Horrified, he sat frozen in the grass, staring at the scene unfolding before him. He was too afraid to stand, to even move.
Adrian looked different now.
His movements were sharp. His expression wild, eyes focused solely on the fight in front of him.
He didn't look like he was thinking anymore.
He looked out of control.
Seeing that, Irene's chest tightened.
"Stop…" she tried to say.
Her voice came out weak, swallowed by the chaos. Adrian didn't hear her. He lifted another kid by the collar, fist raised, ready to strike again.
"ADRIAN!"
This time, she screamed.
Her voice tore through her throat, loud and desperate, cutting straight through the moment.
Adrian froze.
His fist stopped midair.
Slowly, he let go of the trembling kid, who collapsed onto the grass. Adrian stepped back once, breath steady, but his face was still cold
He looked around.
Bodies scattered across the ground.
Kids groaning.
The fight had ended long before he realized it.
Finally, his gaze landed on Brian.
Giving him one final death stare.
"Get lost," Adrian said calmly.
Brian scrambled to his feet immediately.
"You beast!!" Brian screamed, voice cracking as he turned and ran for his life.
Seeing their leader flee, the other kids panicked. One by one, they stumbled up and followed, retreating back toward the village without looking back.
The forest fell silent again.
Only Adrian remained standing.