Suddenly, flames erupted from the stage.
Brrruusttt!
"Ahhh! Fire! Fire!" someone screamed.
IM and I looked towards the commotion. A man was writhing on the ground, his body engulfed in flames.
"IM, look at that guy," I said, pointing.
"...That power... that person might be one of your family," IM said, his voice grim.
"Really!?" I exclaimed.
"Yeah, we should stop him..."
Just then, the person who had been approaching the stage raised his hand, and a fireball erupted from his palm, hurtling towards the performers.
What the!? Imagine an invisible barrier! I thought, frantically focusing my power to protect the idols from the attack.
A translucent barrier shimmered into existence just in front of the stage, deflecting the fireball with a loud crack. The crowd gasped in astonishment as the fireball ricocheted harmlessly into the air, dissipating into a shower of sparks.
"What the hell!?" the fire-wielding assailant exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.
Thud! He was tackled to the ground by security guards.
"What happened!?" the idols shouted in panic.
Several security guards rushed to the idols, escorting them backstage. The crowd started backing away from the fire-wielding assailant, their faces etched with fear and confusion.
I started to get up, but IM held me back. "Wait, don't go yet. Just wait a moment..."
The people in the VIP section were confused and alarmed by the commotion, peering over the balcony to try and get a better look.
Suddenly, a massive burst of fire erupted from the stage.
Brrruusttt!
"Arghhh!" The security guard who had tackled the fire-wielder was engulfed in flames, his body disappearing in a fiery inferno.
A wave of panic rippled through the crowd. Screams filled the air as people scrambled for the exits, trampling each other in their desperation to escape the chaos.
The VIP section erupted in chaos, people screaming and pushing to get away from the escalating danger. IM and I exchanged a determined look. We knew we had to act fast.
"I'll handle him," IM said, his voice barely audible over the din. "You get everyone out of here."
I stood up and yelled, "Everyone, follow me outside!"
The people in the VIP section nodded and followed me towards the exit.
IM jumped from the balcony, landing gracefully in front of the fire-wielder.
Thud! His feet touched the ground, sending a small tremor through the stage.
The fire-wielder looked at IM, a sneer twisting his face. "Hmm... what are you? You're not human, are you?"
IM rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, a blue aura flickering around his hands. "You're right. I'm not human."
"Hmph, you can't stop me from burning this whole place down," Elang sneered.
"What's your name before you die?" IM asked, his voice cold and menacing.
"Elang..."
Sreeet! IM took a fighting stance, his muscles coiling with anticipation.
"Then you will die like a bird," IM declared, his eyes narrowed into slits.
Elang raised his hand, channeling his fiery power.
Wooosh! A torrent of flames erupted from his hands, engulfing the stage in a fiery inferno.
Swooosh! IM charged forward, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between himself and Elang. The fire-wielder, though surprised by IM's speed, was not easily deterred.
He unleashed another blast of flames, a searing wave that threatened to engulf IM entirely.
Bwosh! Bwosh!
IM, however, was prepared. With a swift movement, he dove to the ground, the flames passing harmlessly overhead. He rolled to his feet, then launched himself back into the air, his fists crackling with blue energy.
Elang, realizing his opponent was not an ordinary human, unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one aimed with deadly precision.
IM twisted and turned, dodging the fiery projectiles with acrobatic grace. He moved like a phantom, his shadowy robe blending seamlessly with the smoke-filled air.
As the two clashed, their powers collided in a breathtaking display of raw energy. Fire and spectral blue light danced across the stage, illuminating the chaos unfolding before the terrified eyes of the remaining audience.
Meanwhile, I herded the VIP guests towards the emergency exits, my voice booming over the pandemonium. "This way! Everyone, stay calm and follow me!"
People scrambled to obey, their faces pale with fear. I could see the terror in their eyes, the desperation to escape the inferno that was quickly consuming the stage.
"Please, hurry!" a woman pleaded, clutching her child tightly.
"We're almost there!" I reassured her, pushing forward through the throng of people.
Just as we reached the exit, a massive explosion rocked the stadium. The ground trembled beneath our feet, and a shockwave of heat washed over us. I turned back to look at the stage, my heart pounding with worry.
Boom!
The stage was now a raging inferno, the flames reaching towards the ceiling. I could barely make out the figures of IM and the person, locked in a desperate struggle.
The air crackled with their combined energy, the heat so intense that it distorted the air around them.
As everyone else evacuated, I remained, watching the inferno rage within the stadium.
I should help IM! I thought, preparing to re-enter.
Clang! Just then, the exit doors slammed shut.
"!?" I jumped back in surprise.
A figure materialized in front of me. "Oh, you're a descendant of Wali Ra Kian, aren't you?" a girl's voice spoke, as if from thin air.
"Heh, so my suspicions were correct. Both of you are Unveiled too?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Indeed we are," she replied, her voice calm and collected.
"Why did you attack the idol?" I demanded.
"It was simply a commission, not that we wanted to do it," she explained.
"What's your name?" I asked, trying to assess the situation.
"Lili. That's my name. And I can become invisible..." As she spoke, her form shimmered and vanished, leaving me alone in the empty corridor.
I imagine I can see invisible people, I concentrated, focusing my energy.
Suddenly, my vision shifted, and I could see a faint outline of Lili moving around me.
"You know, I can still see you," I said calmly, not taking my eyes off her.
"Heh, liar," she scoffed, continuing her slow, deliberate movements.
I maintained my focus, tracking her as she walked around the corridor.
"..." She stopped abruptly, her voice laced with surprise. "You can see me...?"
Lili reappeared, a look of shock on her face. "How... how did you do that?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Let's just say I have a knack for the extraordinary," I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. "Now, care to explain what you and your fire-wielding friend were doing here?"
Lili hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth as if weighing her options. "It was just a job," she finally said, her voice barely a whisper. "We were hired to disrupt the concert, that's all."
"By who?" I pressed.
She shook her head. "I can't tell you that. It's against the rules."
"Rules?" IM scoffed, emerging from the shadows. "You're trying to tell us that there are rules for attacking innocent people?"
Lili flinched at IM's sudden appearance and his harsh tone. "It's not that simple," she protested. "We have our own code, our own reasons for doing what we do."
"And what reasons are those?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Lili hesitated again, then let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll tell you. But you have to promise to keep it a secret."
We both nodded, eager to hear her explanation.
"We are part of a secret organization called the Unveil Commission," she revealed. "We take on all sorts of commissions, everything from helping people to hurting people."
"Then what was this commission about?" I asked, leaning forward.
"...to destroy another idol group," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper.
Back on the stage, IM stood before Elang, his hand almost touching the fire-wielder's face. But Elang suddenly erupted in flames.
Whoosh!
IM was thrown back by the sudden burst of fire.
Sreeakkk!
IM regained his footing, a determined glint in his eyes. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, wiping a smear of soot from his cheek.
Elang snarled, his fury intensifying the flames that danced around him. "You haven't seen anything yet!"
With a guttural roar, he unleashed a torrent of fire, engulfing the entire stage in a raging inferno. The heat was so intense that the air shimmered and crackled, the metal structures groaning under the strain.
"I should go underground..." IM mumbled, just as he suddenly sank into the stage floor as if it were water.
Elang stood there, utterly bewildered by what had just happened.
How did he do that... there was no hole where he was standing... he thought, his eyes scanning the stage in confusion.
"Below you!" IM's voice echoed from beneath the stage.
Elang frantically looked around, his eyes darting back and forth.
Suddenly, IM burst from the floor beneath Elang, delivering a powerful uppercut to his chin.
Thud! The impact sent Elang flying into the air, his body spinning uncontrollably before crashing back down onto the stage.
"Ackk!" A pained groan escaped his lips as he struggled to regain his senses, the flames surrounding him flickering weakly.
< Chapter 114 > Fin.