MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE MARKET DISTRICT, SILVER QUARTER…
CRACK... CLANK...
Shop windows spider-webbed under the crushing weight of two murderous auras colliding like invisible titans.
Drake locked eyes with Havoc, letting the wind whip past as each man calculated their next move. Both knew—one wrong step meant instant death.
*Can't die yet. I just got here and somehow I keep drawing psychopaths like a magnet.* Drake's lips curved into a razor smile.
Havoc's crimson slits narrowed to laser focus, watching for any shift in posture, any hint of a surprise attack.
*Why is this moron smirking? Doesn't he realize his life hangs by a thread?* Havoc's internal monologue churned. *Still... he's strong. Every instinct screams danger when I look at those shadow pistols. How thrilling.*
His own twisted grin mirrored Drake's.
*Enough staring at this reptilian freak's face. Time to put a shadow bullet through his skull.* Drake's feet shifted backward, coiling like a spring.
Havoc caught the atmospheric shift—the air itself seemed to hold its breath.
*I know attacking first is foolish, but this bastard's face keeps pissing me off. What he did to Elsa is unforgivable.* Drake's fingers drifted toward his triggers. *Time to end this creep. Permanently.*
CRACK!
The earth beneath Drake's feet exploded into spider-web fractures under the pressure of his charging stance.
Havoc's grin widened. "Let the games begin."
---
THUMP!
Drake shot forward—faster than human eyes could track.
BAM!
Distance collapsed in a heartbeat. His right foot crashed into Havoc's shoulder with bone-shattering force.
CRASH! SHATTER!
Every shop window on the street exploded simultaneously, glass raining like crystal daggers.
CRACK!
"Arrgh!"
Havoc dropped to one knee, pavement crumbling beneath the sheer impact.
"This boy is fast..." Havoc grimaced, feeling the blow despite his hardened shell.
Claws lashed out—Drake backflipped with acrobatic grace, landing soft as a cat.
*What is this freak made of?* Drake stared at Havoc's shoulder—unmarked despite the devastating hit. His leg throbbed with feedback pain.
"Impressive kick, Drake. I didn't know you had it in you." Havoc's laugh was pure malice.
"Shut up, freak. Don't try flattering me." Drake's voice dropped to arctic menace. "When I'm done, you'll forget the concept of speech."
"I love this side of you. Feels more authentic than that heroic pretty-boy facade."
Drake's teeth ground audibly.
"I know you're like me—ruthless. We want to live by our own terms. You're tired, aren't you? Just want the life you choose?"
"Shut up! You know nothing about me!"
"Yes, I do." Havoc's smirk widened, seeing Drake tremble. "You're not happy with your current life. You feel if you don't blend in, don't meet expectations, you'll be abandoned. Become an outcast."
His voice turned venomous. "Take Elsa—you're trying so hard to impress her, save her, so you can benefit. Get praised as a hero, gain social status. But we both know you just want between her legs, lose that virgin status, gain wealth through her—"
Drake's shaking stopped.
The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
*That's... strange. Why do I suddenly feel...* Havoc's predatory instincts screamed warning.
"Join me, Drake. Drop the good-guy charade. Make the world bow to us—first this kingdom, then everything. I'm stronger than you, but I recognize potential. You'd make a worthy partner."
"Are you done mumbling?" Drake's voice had become a growl.
"What did you just say?"
Drake raised his head. His blue eyes blazed with the fury of dying stars, promising annihilation beyond comprehension.
"I asked if you're done mumbling." Each word dripped venom. "Because all I heard was rambling about me wanting social status and getting in Elsa's pants. Was I dreaming?"
His aura began spiraling, reality seeming to bend around him.
"You know NOTHING about me, yet speak like we're old friends. Since arriving here, I've met amazing people. This kingdom's citizens are incredible. And Elsa..." His presence intensified, suffocating the very air. "Since meeting her, my life has been filled with joy I never imagined. She was truly kind despite not knowing me. Nobility treating me as an equal."
Another step. The shadows themselves seemed to recoil.
"Then YOU show up. Ruin my day. Try hurting Elsa. We beat you, you go to prison. But you come back uglier, with an even shittier attitude, hurt Elsa again, then claim to know me?"
Both pistols leveled with precision.
"I'll end you. Don't care if you were once human. You intend killing us, so I'll kill you first."
His eyes ignited with otherworldly fire.
"Hahaha! You're right, Drake. We're nothing alike now. But with time, you'll understand—"
"I've heard enough. "FIGHT ME!"
Drake charged.
"As you please!" Havoc bolted forward.
---
"SHADOW LOTUS TECHNIQUE... LIMIT BREAK: OBLIVION STRIKE!!"
Compressed shadow mana cloaked Drake's elbow to fist, air rippling with contained destruction.
Havoc's punch met it with equal ferocity.
KA-DOOM!
Their collision made the street tremble—windows exploded for blocks, glass becoming deadly confetti.
Both warriors leaped back. Drake leveled one pistol.
BLAM-BLAM-BLAM!
A rapid-fire barrage of compressed shadow bullets screamed through air.
THUNK-THUNK-THUNK!
They peppered Havoc's shoulders and forehead—but barely scratched his armored hide.
"Haha! Drake, I expected more from you!" Havoc raised his arcane cannon arm. "Show me what you've got!"
WHIRRRRRRR...
The weapon roared to life, wind spiraling as destructive energy built to critical mass.
"Let me show you real firepower!
"BLACK SERPENT SHOT!"
KATHOOOOM!
The blast exploded outward, tearing through buildings and scorching pavement like hellfire.
Drake's eyes widened.
"SHADOW STEP!"
VOOM!
He vanished instantly.
BOOM!
The blast detonated where he'd stood, sending flaming debris everywhere.
"Where did he—" Havoc looked up.
A shadow danced overhead.
"RISING SHADOW KNEE!"
Drake materialized above Havoc, right knee raised and cloaked with concentrated mana.
THWACK!
His knee connected with Havoc's skull, driving Havoc's head earthward.
BOOM!
Impact cracked pavement like broken glass.
"Arrgh!" Havoc groaned.
Drake grabbed his arm, spun like an Olympic discus thrower—
WHOOSH!
Havoc sailed into the sky like a human cannonball.
*Need to get him away from populated areas. Somewhere we can unleash everything without leveling this place.*
"SHADOW STEP!"
Drake vanished, reappearing above the airborne Havoc.
*What?!* Havoc's shock was absolute—how had Drake caught up so fast?
Before he could react, Drake jammed both pistol barrels against his skull.
"PHANTOM SHOTS!"
TAH-TAH!
The bullets tore through air, carrying Havoc earthward like a meteor out of control.
BOOOOOM!
Impact was earth-shattering—pavement exploded, shockwaves rippling through the district.
"Arrgh!" Havoc groaned, vision blurring. *What's happening? Why is he overpowering me?*
Drake descended at terminal velocity.
"You're not getting me twice!" Havoc raised his cannon arm. "I'm turning you to ash!"
SCREEEEEE
The weapon roared, dust and wind rising as energy built to devastating levels.
"TYPHOON ECLIPSE CANNON!"
KATHROOOOOM!
The blast tore skyward like divine judgment.
Drake's eyes widened—then curved into a smirk.
He tilted sideways with inhuman grace.
WHOOSH!
The blast passed harmlessly by.
"No!" Havoc struggled to stand.
"You're not going anywhere!" Drake shouted.
"BLACK VORTEX!"
SWIRRRRL...
A swirling void materialized inches from Havoc, gravity becoming a hungry predator.
*What is this?!* Havoc looked around, completely dumfounded. He struggled to move but felt his strength depleting, the vortex drawing him toward its center like a black hole.
"Noooo!"
"Yeah!" Drake pulled both knees back, positioning himself like a human drill. He began spinning, momentum increasing as he descended.
*What's he planning? And why can't I move?*
WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!
Drake spun with immense speed, becoming a shadow tornado.
Havoc's eyes went wide with terror.
"Feast your eyes on my ultimate shadow technique!"
Drake spun like a drill, wind howling as debris scattered. Havoc covered his face from the hurricane force.
"SHADOW DRILL IMPACT!"
CRAAAAASH-BOOM!
Drake's spinning form slammed into Havoc's Chest with the force of a falling star.
SNAP-CRUNCH!
The earth broke beneath them, debris flying like shrapnel from an explosion.
"ARGH!" Havoc's scream echoed through the crater.
Dust rose like smoke from a battlefield. When it settled, Havoc lay broken—his hardened shell skin cracked open, vulnerable flesh exposed.
*What was that move? I've never seen anything like it...*
From the settling dust, Drake's blue eyes burned with otherworldly intensity.
"Do you see the difference between us, Havoc?"
Havoc raised his head with tremendous effort, meeting Drake's burning gaze. He jolted at the sheer killing intent.
"I fight to protect those I care about." Drake's voice boomed like thunder. "You fight only to destroy, only for yourself. That sole reason makes me stronger than you'll ever be."
Each step was deliberate, dreadful, final.
"I see my last attack shocked you. You've never seen anything like it, have you?" He loomed over Havoc, leveling his pistol with executioner's precision.
Dark smoke coiled lazily from the barrel.
"I even managed to break your hardened shell. You were really a cocky bastard for trying to get between Elsa and me. Now you pay the price."
Drake looked down with zero pity. Havoc deserved none.
His pistol pointed at exposed flesh—the final shot to end Havoc's reign of terror.
Havoc's heart hammered against his ribs. Drake's piercing gaze seemed to bore straight through his soul.
"It's the end of the line for you."
The pistol's barrel glowed with concentrated shadow energy.
"PHANTOM SHOT—"
—TO BE CONTINUED—