In all my short years of life, and mind you, I haven't racked up the decades like most folks, but I never, ever thought that by the tender age of 15, I'd find myself in a scrap with a certifiable psycho who seemed way too old to be picking on teens. This guy? He was no run-of-the-mill troublemaker itching for a brawl with kids. Nah, he had these freaky jet-black eyes, Hulk-level strength, and could practically teleport. They've called me all kinds of things: a dumbass, a bastard, an idiot, even a handsome devil, but I figured a beatdown was coming sometime in my hopefully long life. But seriously, at fifteen, from a total stranger I'd never even seen before? Yeah, fate, destiny, karma, or whatever it is, sure has a dark sense of humor.
Oh, and to make it even more mortifying, I had my school idol and crush, Madelyn Adams, trying to shield me. Seriously, fate or whatever it is, you're a total jerk.
There she was, the girl who'd occupied my daydreams for years, showing nothing but steely determination as she squared off with the dude who'd pounded Harold and me into the ground. I couldn't help but wonder what made Madelyn so fearless. I mean, compared to the guy who hadn't broken a sweat trouncing two teenage nobodies, she didn't exactly look like she could throw down, but then I glimpsed her eyes, and she had this look like she was ready to straight-up murder someone.
Madelyn? Y-you have to run, take Harold and run," I painfully managed to say as my ribs throbbed with intense pain; a couple of them might even be broken.
Madelyn momentarily froze, her fierce expression fading as she turned to meet my gaze. Was that genuine concern on her face, or was my infatuation with her playing tricks on me? Either way, I couldn't have been happier, despite the agony coursing through my body. Madelyn Adams herself was looking into my eyes. I could die a happy guy right there, but unfortunately, now wasn't the time to be lovestruck.
Even though I couldn't piece together everything that was unfolding, a nagging feeling in my battered body told me that this dangerous man was gunning for me. Madelyn's worried look confirmed my suspicions.
Madelyn's worried look melted into an empathetic smile that sent my heart racing.
"Ethan... You don't have to worry, because I am here, and I will protect you both," she said with unwavering determination. It was the kind of thing you'd hear in a superhero movie. I almost wanted to believe her, but I couldn't help but be confused. How did Madelyn think she could handle a monster like this guy?
My mind swirled with disbelief as I stared at her, but then I noticed Harold. He lay there on the cold, unforgiving ground, unconscious and battered, blood splattered across his face and pooling around him. It was painfully clear that he was in worse shape than I was, and he needed help – fast.
"HAHAHAHA!!!!" The man who'd attacked and hurt both Harold and me now cackled with a twisted madness that sent shivers down my spine. His laughter echoed eerily as he focused his attention on Madelyn.
"Dare I say another pillar standing right before my eyes?" he asked with a perverse glee, as though he'd just won the jackpot.
"I have to say, your demonic aura is far stronger than the boys'," he claimed, and as he uttered those words, his pitch-black eyes locked onto me.
"Is my luck truly so high?" the man pondered, gazing up at the sky as if he were asking God himself. Everything about this guy screamed bad news, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were in some kind of deep trouble.
Madelyn kept her focus on the formidable opponent standing before her, and then she did something that not only baffled me but also left the man, who had finally stopped gloating, clearly unnerved.
"You smile as the end draws near?" the man remarked, a sly grin on his face that seemed to betray more agitation than genuine happiness.
"I know not if you are brave or foolish," he mused, stroking his chin and appearing deep in thought.
"I... am neither brave... nor am I foolish," Madelyn replied with a calm and composed tone as she took a few deliberate steps forward.
"I smile because you believe that my arrival will bring you luck, demon. But you are wrong," Madelyn declared.
"My coming will only bring forth your damnation!" Madelyn shouted with unshakable conviction, quickly raising her right hand in a dramatic gesture.
"I AM NOT BRAVE, NOR AM I FOOLISH!!!" Madelyn repeated with a shout that resonated with her unwavering determination, never breaking her gaze from her formidable opponent.
"I AM SIMPLY ALIVE!"
As Madelyn belted out those final words, a strange stillness overcame my entire body, and every hair stood on end. Something was about to happen.
By now, I thought I couldn't be surprised anymore, but I was dead wrong. Right before my eyes, I witnessed a spectacle that belonged solely to the realm of the supernatural.
I could feel it. Madelyn's dark aura was intensifying, evident as the wind accelerated, pavement cracked further, and the oppressive pressure made it difficult to breathe. The darkness surrounding Madelyn converged above her hand, forming a mysterious, dark vortex. The wind howled louder as the vortex expanded, ultimately reaching the size of a basketball. It was then that I realized something was emerging from that very vortex, something long and slender.
"Is that a katana?" I couldn't help but blurt out as a sword encased in a blue and black sheath began to slowly materialize from the vortex.
I wasn't exactly a sword expert, or any kind of weapons connoisseur for that matter, but as I stared at the katana concealed within its sheath, it was apparent that this was no ordinary weapon. Just gazing at it sent shivers down my spine, and for some reason, my mind kept wandering back to the crimson-eyed girl who had been in my house earlier today. I couldn't quite fathom why.
Madelyn firmly gripped the sword, and her presence practically erupted with power.
"In the name of the great wise man, the True Maharashi I will exorcise you, demon," Madelyn declared resolutely, drawing the katana from its sheath and assuming a formidable fighting stance with her blade aimed at the man.
Madelyn's katana gleamed with a dazzling brilliance as the sun's rays kissed its edge. The sword was a thing of beauty, and deep down, I could sense that it was no mere imitation. But what truly captured my attention was how the hardened blade was enveloped in a swirling blue aura of energy that seemed to incinerate the very air around it. I didn't want to be anywhere near that sword. Just the thought of touching Madelyn's katana made me feel like I'd turn to ashes.
"I can feel it," the man said, a hint of fear quivering in his voice.
"You truly are a dangerous young pillar," his smile returned, but I could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Very well, come and face me, child! Face me and discover the essence of true damnation!" The man roared like a madman.
"I will obliterate you and your sword, child!" he threatened, his voice ringing with menace.
Madelyn let out a small, defiant laugh. "You think you can break my sword, demon? Well, how about you come over here and try."
In the blink of an eye, everything changed. One moment, I was lying on the ground, battered and bruised, watching Madelyn confront the man she called a demon. The next moment, they both disappeared, leaving behind nothing but chaos.
The streets, built from solid concrete, couldn't withstand the cataclysmic force. Enormous cracks tore through the surface, and craters seemingly materialized out of thin air. Thunderous booms reverberated through the area, shaking the ground and shattering a few glass windows in nearby houses. It was as if the very environment was unraveling.
"What the hell?" I shouted in disbelief, shielding my eyes from the swirling dust.
It seemed impossible, but I had a hunch about what was happening. Madelyn and the so-called demon were moving so fast that ordinary people couldn't perceive them, and all the explosions were the result of their intense clashes. The strange thing was, I could almost see them. I had to strain my eyes so much that I couldn't even blink, but as time passed, my vision adapted, tracking Madelyn and the man's movements. Maybe I wasn't as normal as I'd thought.
Madelyn, armed with her mighty sword, seemed to have the upper hand, despite the man fighting empty-handed, which didn't strike me as particularly smart. However, he managed to hold his ground, emphasizing the fact that he wasn't human. With every clash between Madelyn and the man, the ground quaked, creating yet another crater accompanied by thunderous explosions, as if the earth itself protested their battle. Anything caught in the vicinity of these explosions faced complete annihilation.
I couldn't help but wonder why there were no onlookers for this epic showdown. Scanning the area, I noticed that it was eerily devoid of life, except for me, Harold, Madelyn, and, of course, the man she was locked in combat with. I couldn't fathom what had happened to all the kids walking home from school. Even the cars that should be on the road had vanished.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"
A piercing scream snapped my attention back to the battle, and what I saw stirred a maelstrom of emotions within me. The man was on his knees, Madelyn standing triumphant over him. I was a mix of amazement, happiness, sadness, and disgust. Amazement because I had no idea Madelyn possessed such incredible strength; it seemed impossible. Happiness because it seemed that Harold and I might live to see another day. Sadness because the girl of my dreams had to come to my rescue and had clearly suffered serious injuries. Her torn and bloodied clothes revealed the many wounds covering her body. Disgust because the defeated demon was now missing his right arm, which lay on the broken, cracked ground a few feet away from him. Madelyn held the tip of her sword at the man's throat, her face a picture of unwavering resolve.
"It's over, demon," Madelyn declared, her blade poised to deliver the finishing strike.
To everyone's surprise, the demon began to smile and even chuckled, though his voice was laced with pain.
"Do you think that this is over?" he asked, looking up at Madelyn. "This is not over... it's just beginning!!!" he shouted without providing any further explanation, taking a deep breath.
I initially assumed the man was taking his last breath before meeting his demise, but I quickly realized I was mistaken. As he exhaled, a dark purple smoke poured from his mouth, shrouding the entire area. The smoke blocked my view of Madelyn and the man, and peering into its depths, I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding. The smoke began to creep ever so slowly towards Harold and me. I had no clue what this substance was or whether it was hazardous, but my gut feeling told me that we definitely didn't want it touching our skin.
My body ached as I struggled to get to my feet. I had to reach Harold before the encroaching smoke did, but I wasn't sure if I could make it, let alone carry him to safety. My body was just too battered.
Just as I attempted to rise, a humanoid figure burst out of the smoke with incredible speed.
"Madelyn!" I couldn't help but exclaim with relief as Madelyn appeared right in front of me.
"It's time we got out of here," Madelyn said, helping me stand.
"W-what about Harold?" I asked, doing my best to ignore the pain.
"Don't worry, I already have him," Madelyn assured me, gesturing with her left arm, which held Harold, still unconscious. Without my knowledge, Madelyn had already secured him. I realized there was little I could do in my condition.
"Ethan, you need rest. You and Harold are safe now," Madelyn spoke with sympathy, and it felt as though my body fell under her soothing spell. My eyelids grew heavy, and I started to doze off. The battle had ended, Harold was safe, and I could finally rest.
"Grandfather is going to kill me," were the last words I heard Madelyn say as I succumbed to sleep.
***
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