"Shut up" Alex said, the words echoed like thunder.
The air seemed to thicken around them, tension crackling like static before a storm. The area was growing darker, as if the night had engulfed them.
'Do you need help? I don't mind killing a useless human,' Liza asked, her tone carrying no jokes. She was serious.
"No. No one should be killed here," Alex muttered as he scanned all their faces. His eyes glowed red.
Ash remained silent, golden eyes fixed on the ground, body trembling but face blank—rage, shame, and exhaustion all locked behind that mask she'd worn for years. The fresh burn on her neck wept a tiny bead of clear fluid, the skin around it already blistering.
Jake took a step forward, cracking his good knuckles.
"You think you're some kind of hero? You broke my hand last time over that slut Anna. Now you're sticking your nose in my business again?!"
Alex didn't flinch. "I broke your hand and you couldn't do anything about it?... Instead, you blamed it on a girl? Huh"
It was surprising how cunning Jake was. Knowing he couldn't do anything against Alex, he vented his anger on Ash.
Jake barked a laugh. "Ahh~ this bitch is weak as fuck, even in high school—ask anyone. She's crazy. Violent. Everyone knows it haha~"
Ash's shoulders twitched, but she said nothing. She had gone to the same high school as Jake and had to cope with his ego for years.
"You know this bitch laid her disgusting hand on me for a wuss? Hahahaha! I can't forget that day this slut stood up to me like I'm a villain. Funny to remember, look who's eating dirt now!"
Jake had always been a person who saw weakness as an insult. He knowingly bullied dozens of his classmates and other students.
But one day Ash stood against him, only to get all his focus. He revenged for a slap she gave him and the explosion he almost got from high school.
Along with the public humiliation and his parents' punishment. He came from a wealthy background, but with that incident, all his doings came to light.
So now, his ego still remembered that day and wanted to always make Ash suffer.
Even looking at her background, using his father's affiliations and power to make matters worse for her and her mother.
Basically a crazy wealthy boy still living the dream of having his own kingdom although he was old enough to be in college.
"You need to wake up" Alex spoke with a cold voice. He had to teach this guy a lesson and finally put a stop to his triumph.
He looked at Ash—really looked. The fresh burn on her neck. The older bruises peeking from under her hoodie sleeves. The way her hands shook even as she clenched them into fists at her sides. The faint tremble in her legs, like she was ready to run or collapse.
The rooftop flashed in his memory again—that silhouette in the same oversized hoodie, toes over the edge.
Jake stepped closer, chest puffed. "You are the one who needs a wake-up call! I'm going to teach you a lesson this time."
Alex met his eyes. "Let her go. Walk away. Last warning."
Jake laughed—a short, ugly bark—and swung a heavy fist straight at Alex's face.
It was sloppy, telegraphed from a mile away.
Alex caught the fist mid-air, fingers closing like steel around Jake's wrist. He twisted—sharp, controlled—and Jake dropped to his knees with a choked yelp, face going purple.
"Arghhhhh!!"
Feeling the pressure on his arm increasing, Jake was desperately gasping for air. He was athletic and quite muscular.
He had played professional wrestling before, and it was the first time someone squeezed his arm like Alex. The pain was unbearable and freezing.
Alex held Jake there, pinned, voice low. "I said last warning."
He released the wrist and shoved Jake back with a kick hard enough to send him sprawling into the dumpster with a metallic clang.
The girls backed up, suddenly pale.
Jake scrambled to his feet, clutching his wrist, face twisted in pain and humiliation. "How... How are you this strong... Monster!!"
The feeling of being weaker than others made Jake lose his mind. Putting his hand into his jacket and pulling out a pocketknife.
He flicked it open and charged towards Alex, who calmly stood in his place. He was inexperienced in street fights or any fights in general, but knowing the current strength of his body and also the magic of Liza backing him up, he had nothing to be scared of.
A swing to his face was easily dodged, and many more actually lethal hits he avoided. Jake's ego wasn't letting him stand the humiliation in front of all the girls.
"This is enough."
Alex shook his head before raising his hand above his head and swinging his palm at full speed, landing it perfectly on the furious guy's face. It was no longer a slap, but a smack.
"Agrhh!! F-Fuck!!?"
Jake collapsed to his knees and his knife bounced a few times as he groaned while holding his head. His ears were ringing and his vision was blurry. Alex's hit wasn't weak, to say the least.
'Bend over, I wanna traumatize this kid,' Liza, watching the bully struggle to regain his senses, requested Alex to kneel face to face with him.
He was confused at the beginning but felt that the succubus was definitely going to reprogram the evil and bad in his head.
Face to face, Jake was still holding his head, but he stared in anger at the handsome face closely in front of him. However, soon the anger turned into absolute terror.
The succubus, using magic and illusion, transformed Alex's handsome face into something uglier and wicked—the most terrifying demon face she could think of.
"Welcome to hell."
Accompanied by a horrifying cold voice that sent chills across the whole body. For a normal human, it meant a nightmare.
"Eeeeeeeeekkk!!!"
Jake let out a sharp scream as he saw the demon in front of him, before he suddenly collapsed to the ground. He fainted out of fear.
Foam escaped from the corner of his mouth and his jeans were slowly starting to get darker.
"What did you do to him?"
Alex stood up. He backed away and asked. Jake was down and his annoying voice disappeared for a while.
'Just showed him a glimpse of hell. Pretty sure he won't mess with you again~' Liza chuckled. That illusion definitely carved a deep fear in Jake's head.
Alex nodded hopefully. He turned around just to find the three girls staring at him with wide confused eyes. The two girls with Jake, sensing his cold stares, hurriedly escaped and ran away.
They didn't see Liza's illusion but still the fact that he made the unstoppable Jake pee his pants meant they were next.
Only Ash remained, standing with the wall behind her. Tears were spilling out of her wide confused golden eyes. She understood nothing of what happened.
Between fear, shock, and worry, her head was still processing everything. However, she did recognize Alex. She met him the day before and was creeped out after he came out of the store after it had been closed for hours.
"Hey... are you okay? It's over now, rest assure—he will never lay a hand on you. As for your mother's debt, I can help out" Alex uttered with a gentle voice and eyes.
His cold attitude faded, so was the atmosphere around them. Ash's tears began falling to the ground. She had no idea the reason for them—the pain inflicted on her body and soul or the fact that someone finally saw their struggle.
They both stood still. Alex was feeling awkward about how to approach a crying girl, but thanks to the succubus's help, he stepped closer and gave her a hug.
Brushing her back. Ash's tension was slowly fading and she deliberately pushed into the hug, crying her eyes out on his chest.
'I will heal her serious injuries, so stay hugging those huge titties~' Liza let out mischievous giggles, but actually did start healing Ash's bruises. A pink warm energy was engulfing both of them, but Ash was unable to feel it.
Only feeling a sense of warmth, safety, and energy. Her injuries were quickly disappearing but the minor ones were left to avoid confusion or suspicion. Small bruises that would heal on their own after a day or two.
"I-I'm sorry..."
After a few minutes and after feeling so much better, Ash opened her eyes again and uttered in a low voice. She was still in his embrace but was too embarrassed and awkward to look him in the eyes.
"No problem. You just need some rest now. Things will get better" Alex patted her head, feeling the smoothness of her brown hair in his palm before slowly breaking their warm hug.
Ash's face was ruined with dry tears and dust, but thank God, no more bruises. Her eyes were a little lighter at that moment but she still felt so much worry and uncertainty.
Despite Alex's calming words and promises, she couldn't guarantee that tomorrow she wouldn't wake to Jake demolishing the store.
Alex noticed that uneasiness and decided to show her a relieving smile before turning around to Jake—still fainted on the concrete ground, while his pants had a big dark spot.
He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. "You don't need to worry about this monkey anymore."
Alex couldn't tell her that Liza showed him a demon's face and was pretty sure he wouldn't come near them again, but he decided to take some photos in case he acted out.
Ash also stepped forward and stood side by side with Alex before muttering in a low voice. "Thank you."