Thomas stood frozen while staring at the empty crater, not because of shock but due to the words only he could hear.
[Boy, I'm sure this isn't a rift. This feeling... it's almost like spatial magic yet a little different.]
For an intent Thomas almost lost control of his emotions when the demon lord's voice ressounded inside his mind. Unlike him, Kez'ganak has lived much longer and accumulated a lot of knowledge. Thomas himself only came to know the existence of magic, so he trusted the demon lord that this wasn't any dimensional rift as this much was pretty clear to see.
'What about him, is he still well?' The only thing he could keep off his mind was his cousin Rodrigar. After that time Thomas helped him, Rodrigar stopped hanging out with his "friends" and they were way closer than before.
He must have been in the middle of class when it happened so he wasn't sure about his current status.
'It's also too dangerous around him, I should send mom a text and go see her Aunt Marie.' Despite the fact no monsters had walked out of the vortex, a dozen adepts arrived on the scene and drove all civilians away before encircling the crater where the Dexia Institute used to be.
From the uniforms and energy density around their bodies, Thomas was sure none of those adepts were of a high rank. At least they seemed to be in the early 2-star. Still, now isn't the time to act, he would need more information before acting harshly and so he sent a text to his mom about the strange phenomenon that made the institute vanish before heading to his aunt house.
It has been a long few years since the last time he had been in his aunt's place. He recalled it was located in a residential zone pretty far from where he lived.
Yet as he was on the way, Thomas caught sight of a suspicious black-clad female. His senses were stimulated to its limits but it wasn't enough for him to see through the her which made him alert.
For a moment he hesitated before following the mysterious lady. As he expected the woman was too fast, so much Thomas found it difficult to keep following.
Thomas didn't know for how long he kept following that woman, moments ago it was in the middle of the afternoon and now the sky was dark before he noticed. The woman roamed the whole city several times. Even Thomas was starting to believe she had seen through him when the latter stopped by a abandoned factory. The same factory he left a huge hole on the ceiling when fighting those eight Adepts.
The police had come here to investigate the fight that took place here, but couldn't find anything so they left if like that.
Seeing the woman heading there, he was even more sure of his suspicions and brought forth a purple mist which covered his whole body before dispersing. Once it was gone, Thomas was sure even Adepts would find it hard to detect his presence.
[Good, you really did learn it. I remember the Moon clan were the most talented in the art of assassination due to the incredible Camouflage characteristic of their demonic energy.]
Inside his head, Kez'ganak praised him for being able to learn the uses of Moonshadow demonic energy.
'It wasn't all that hard. But I guess it is useful after all.' It was incredible how just a simple characteristic of his demonic energy could be useful.
Back to the mysterious woman, Thomas observed from afar as she walked alone deep into the factory until she was sure no one was following her.
'It's coming.' Everything was quiet until that moment.
*whoosh!*
Out of nowhere, a dark red shadow dropped from the sky before assuming a humanoid form. Instantly, Thomas saw it was a man. With long blood-red hair tied into a ponytail, elegant posture and a pair of deep crimson eyes filled with devilish air.
It had to be told even Thomas felt envious of that man, he looked straight like those ice-cold princes with a dangerous aura around him.
The woman wasn't surprise by the man's appearance and simply sighed before removing the hood and mask she used to cover herself.
Thomas only saw the long scarlet hair that was previously hidden by the hood. There was no way he would fail to recognize the woman who made him feel such strong reaction.
"Tell me, was it you, wasn't it? Why did you do that?" The flame Empress which was as cold as ever clenched her teeth before asking the devilish-looking man. Even from far away Thomas could feel the animosity between.
Instead of answering, the man seemed to act as he did hear her words."What are you talking about? I arrived only yesterday. Seriously, I thought you would look a lot happier meeting me."
"Don't play games with me!"
Boom!
A wall of scarlet flames rose from her body, even the metal scraps melted immediately in that immense heat.
"I know it was you. There is no one else who could kill so cleanly. Not just that, I felt that thing what was left in the crater very familiar. Is Carter here with you?"
"Hehe. Now you ask about that? I remember it was you who made the choice. Well, It doesn't matter now, soon I will make sure they all pay. However, I can't let you risk ruining all my plans so I guess this the last time we meet...." For some reason, the devilish-looking man's body started to grow faint as if he would disappear at any moment.
"Don't leave, Chris we are not done yet!" The flame empress shot a dozen scarlet fireballs at him, but they all passed through the air since the manw as already gone.
'F*ck!' Despite feeling angry at him, there was nothing she could do as over twenty-six shadows surged at all directions surrounding her.