Previous Scene [you can skip]
With that, she turned and began to walk away, leaving Ivan trembling with rage and despair. "This is not over," he shouted after her. "I'm not done yet! Killing you... come here, coward!"
Rebecca kept walking, not even bothering to look back. Ivan tried to take a step forward, but his body betrayed him, a fresh wave of blood pouring from his nostrils. He collapsed to the ground, his vision fading.
Rebecca stopped and turned slightly, watching him struggle. She knelt down and removed his broken mask, taking the half-intact piece and placing it on her own face. "Remember this moment, Ivan," she said softly. "This is the last time you will see me as anything but your destroyer."
------------------------------------------
[Continue]
Thunder clapped as the rain fell harder with every passing moment. Louis ran as fast as he could, his breath coming in roughed panting, his clothes soaked through.
The rain stuck his hair to his forehead, and his shoes squished with each step. The cold water had soaked through his jacket and shirt, sticking to his skin, and his jeans felt heavy and tight.
"Is he still alive?" The thought of Ivan's still reeling in his mind.
"Have we reached there yet?" Aaron asked, his voice tinged with tiredness. His hair was messy with rain.
"What the hell is wrong with that guy?" Xander asked, his voice edwith anger. "Facing a hundred sinners all by himself."
"Yeah, since the time we came to this academy, he's the dumbest person I've met," Louis replied, shaking his head. "Was he like that when you were kids?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah, just the same. He always wanted to prove he was stronger than others, always trying to bully everyone. I used to hate him sometimes, but now... well, time changes things. Sometimes the strongest people are the ones who bear the most pain."
Louis and the others ran through the forest, the green vegetation gradually changing to a blackened wasteland. The trees and grass were burned, like the left overs of a great fire. Parts of the area were still burning slowly, with small flames licking at the remains and thick smoke rising into the air.
"I think he's here," Louis said, his voice filled with confidence.
They slowed down as they saw Ivan lying on the ground, motionless.
"Do you think he's okay?" Aaron asked as he knelt down beside Ivan, pressing his ear to his chest.
"Is he dead?" Xander asked, his voice wavering.
"No, his heart is beating at a normal rate," Louis answered, his voice steady.
"How do you know?" Aaron asked, curious.
"My Enhanced Hearing," He said. "It seems the sinner he fought with didn't kill him. It's like they spared his life."
"Then why did they kill Ryo?" Xander asked, a mix of anger and confusion in his tone. "He was a high-risk target. His brother is an S-rank pro Guardian, part of the Top Ten in the country. Any sinner would want to kill someone with that kind of connection. It would send a message, one of fear and power. Ryo's death wasn't just a loss; it was a statement said Louis."
"We should get out of here. There are more coming in this direction," He said as he stood by Ivan. He heard Ivan whispering something under his breath.
"Rebecca..."
"What is he saying?" Aaron asked, curiosity piqued.
"Just breathing, trying to catch his breath," Louis said. He knelt down and lifted Ivan onto his shoulders. Ivan was heavy, like a sack of stones, but Louis bore the weight without complaint.
"Who is Rebecca?" Louis wondered to himself.
"We should get back to the camp," Louis said as they began running again.
-----
Natalia, Olivia, and the other students reached the camp, only to find it in ruins. Surroundings torn apart, supplies scattered, and the ground was scorched and trampled. .
"What happened here?" Stella asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"It seems they reached here before us," Natalia replied, her eyes scanning the devastation as they walked through the wreckage.
"If they came here, then Mr. Lyrius and Miss Maria are—" Olivia began, but Hazel cut her off.Don't dare say it
Natalia interjected sharply. "They can't be gone that easily. They're teachers, well-trained and strong—"
Natalia's words turned to ashes in her mouth as they all stood frozen, the reality of the scene sinking in.
"This can't be possible," Hazel whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.
"What? Mr. Lyrius? Miss Maria?" Olivia shouted, tears welling up in his eyes as he rushed forward, followed closely by Natalia and the rest.
They found Mr. Lyrius and Miss Maria lying on the ground, their bodies lifeless. Blood soaked their clothes and pooled on the floor. Mr. Lyrius had a black katana thrust through his chest, pinning him to the ground. Miss Maria's face was twist in a final expression of pain and courage, her body covered in deep, brutal cuts. The sight was horrifying.
Natalia's fists clenched in anger, while Olivia and the others knelt by the bodies, tears streaming down their faces. "Ryo is gone, and now Mr. Lyrius and Miss Maria... This is going crazy. I wonder who's going to be next," Cole said.
"What the fuck are you saying? You think this is a joke?" Max shouted, grabbing Cole by the shirt in anger. "I can make you the next person rather easily."
"Get your filthy hands off me, asshole!" He shouted back, pushing Max away. Their fists clenched, ready for a fight.
Enough!!!! Natalia shouted We can't afford to fight among ourselves when there are Sinners out there. We're not enemies; our strength lies in our unity. Let's channel our anger into finding the Sinner and bringing justice to Mr. Lyrius, not towards tearing each other down."
"Talking about justice?" A firm voice echoed behind them. Everyone turned to see a man holding a black katana, accompanied by a squad of eighty Sinners or perhaps more. He walked towards them with a cold, calculating smile on his face, his voice smooth and filled with chilling certainty.
"Justice?" the Sinner with the black katana mocked, walking slowly.
You think justice is a virtue? No, it's a weapon. We wield it to reshape the world in our image. You fools think justice is about righteousness and fairness, but it's about power and control. True justice isn't bound by your laws; it's the balance we create in a lost world. In the end, the strong define what justice truly is.
The man paused, his eyes gleaming with evil. "And I will show you what true justice looks like... from the edge of my blade."
---
Louis pushed forward, carrying Ivan's weight on his shoulders, his body soaked from the relentless rain. Each step was a struggle, his muscles aching under the burden. "If he's heavy, let me carry him," Xander offered.
"No, I'm okay," Louis replied, his voice strained. "We need to keep going. I don't want to slow anyone down."
"We need to reach the others at the camp as fast as we can," Aaron said, worry etched on his face. "Do you really think they're okay with Mr. Lyrius?"
"Yes, I think so. Maybe they've already prepared for any attacks," Louis said, trying to reassure them.
"Stop!" Louis suddenly shouted, his enhanced senses picking up something.
"What's wrong?" Aaron asked, alarmed.
"There's someone coming. It might be a Sinner," Louis warned. Xander and Aaron quickly positioned themselves in front of Louis, ready to defend him and Ivan.
The trees in front of them suddenly fell, crashing to the ground. "What the heck is that?" Xander shouted, his eyes wide with fear.
A man emerged, walking towards them. He was shirtless, revealing his muscular body, his long black hair tied back with a red cloth. "It seems I have hit the jackpot," he said dramatically, his voice filled with amusement.
Louis and the others held their breath, preparing for a confrontation.
"I'm Zhang Wei, the leader of the Crimson Wrath's first division of the fifth order in the sinners society. I'm here for Xander. If he comes with me, I promise I won't hurt any of you. I just need him."
"And what if he doesn't come?" Xander asked, defiance in his voice.
Zhang Wei smiled, a small, menacing laugh escaping his lips. "Then I will slaughter you all..