Chapter 124: Nyala–The Tip of The spear!
In a sudden blur, a woman appeared, flanked by two others. Oxlade squinted, startled. This wasn't the Tessa he remembered; her face was different, masked by her alter ego. But Chinelle, the owl, knew her instantly. Their bond was strong, and the owl's instincts sharpened as it recognized its companion.
With a powerful flap of its wings, Chinelle swooped down, clawing at one of Oxlade's attackers, drawing a startled yelp from him as blood trickled down his scalp. The owl then returned, landing gracefully on Tessa's outstretched arm, eyes glinting with fierce loyalty.
Adrian and Nyala stood close behind Tessa, both catching their breath after the sprint. Adrian looked unfazed, his god-like confidence intact, while Nyala, who was panting slightly, eyed the thugs with a hardened gaze.
Unlike Adrian and Tessa, Nyala wasn't an alien with celestial blessings; she was a warrior, sworn to serve the moon goddess, and devoted to their human training, though her strength far exceeded that of an average human.
One of the thugs stepped forward, trying to regain the upper hand, though he couldn't hide the tremor in his voice. "So, who are these clowns?" he sneered, trying to keep up his bravado. "Did you come to play hero?" He forced a laugh, but the weight of Tessa's gaze seemed to pin him down.
"Oxlade, long time no see…" Tessa greeted, her voice carrying an eerie calm as if the group of thugs didn't even exist. She moved with a powerful ease, her gaze trained on him with a familiarity that went beyond words.
Oxlade blinked, taken aback. "Tessa? Is it really you…?" He studied her, and a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes. "You look… different, like you've… stepped into someone else's skin." He squinted, trying to reconcile the memory of the girl he'd grown up with and the formidable presence before him.
This Tessa was anything but petite. Her face, normally softer, now had sharp angles, lending her an intense aura. Her form had transformed, strong and broad-shouldered, more like a warrior from myth than the Riverdale girl he once knew.
In her altered form, she had the gravity of a superhero—the fierce stature of Wonder Woman with the unstoppable aura of Superman. To those who opposed her, her very presence would seem as unsettling as a thunderstorm on a silent night.
She stepped closer, her eyes scanning him with a protective warmth. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softer now as she looked him over for injuries.
"I'm fine, Tessa," he replied, a grin spreading across his face. He stood taller, his own confidence rekindling in her presence. "I knew you'd come. These pathetic excuses for lowlifes… they have no idea what they've just invited."
With Oxlade's defiant words, Tessa's gaze shifted to the thugs, her expression hardening. Adrian and Nyala, who had been standing behind her, moved forward, flanking her like silent sentinels, their eyes locked onto the attackers. The thugs shifted uneasily, the full weight of their mistake dawning on them as Tessa's silent wrath grew.
"Nyala.." Tessa called, her voice calm but commanding. She knew Adrian was far too dangerous in his current state- anger smoldered behind his eyes, a quiet storm always waiting for the slightest reason to explode.
This wasn't the time for that kind of devastation; this wasn't a battlefield, just a necessary reminder to those foolish enough to challenge them. Nyala, steady and controlled, would be the perfect choice.
Nyala stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "With pleasure," she replied, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes as she gripped the spear in her right hand.
The group of thugs laughed, amused at the sight of a lone woman facing them all. "One woman? Against us? She must be delusional!" one sneered, grinning wickedly.
But their laughter barely lasted a heartbeat before the first thug felt a jarring impact. Nyala's fist connected squarely with his nose, sending him stumbling backward, clutching his face in pain.
The second man barely had time to react before her spear struck his shoulder with brutal force, knocking him to the ground. With a swift, deadly grace, Nyala spun, her movements flowing like water as she turned on the third and fourth men.
Her spear was a blur, every movement precise, every strike calculated, sending each thug crashing to the ground in pain. They never even saw it coming.
Oxlade watched in awe, his mouth agape. "If Nyala is supposed to be the lesser' option compared to Adrian..." he thought, "then Adrian must be on another level entirely. And Tessa...just the thought of her strength is
terrifying."
Across the battlefield, the leader of the thugs watched with widening eyes, his earlier confidence melting into fear. "If this is what they consider holding back.." he thought, swallowing hard.
He glanced back at Tessa, the flicker of a smirk on her face as she stood beside Adrian, both of them observing Nyala's movements with calm, deadly assurance.
Nyala's spear flashed through the air as she took down another thug, each movement like a performance of carefully controlled fury. By the time the fifth man stumbled back, breathless and pale with fear, the battlefield was silent, except for the soft, cold wind blowing around them.
"Still think one woman is no match for ten of you?" Nyala asked, voice steady as she raised her spear, her gaze icy and unyielding.
The remaining thugs stepped back instinctively, realizing they were outmatched and utterly defeated. Tessa exchanged a look with Adrian, the two of them smiling knowingly. They hadn't even needed to lift a finger.
Tessa raised her hand, halting Nyala just as she prepared to finish off the remaining five thugs. With a smirk, Nyala stepped back, positioning herself beside Adrian, who watched with an air of calm detachment.
The scene was a mess. Five men lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain, clutching wounded arms or broken noses, some bleeding profusely from where Nyala's spear had struck.
The other five looked pale, their legs trembling as they glanced at each other, horrified, and helpless. The leader, who had been blustering and fearless minutes before, now stood rooted to the spot, his entire body trembling.
Tessa stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the leader. "And you're supposed to be the tough one here?" she said, her voice edged with disdain. "A moment ago, you were roaring like a bull. Now, look at you—all bravado gone."
She cast a look across the group, her voice quiet but steady. "Each of you has been marked." The men instinctively looked down as a faint glow appeared on their wrists, barely visible but palpable—a lingering reminder of her presence. "If you get involved in any more nonsense like this, your lives will end on the spot. Consider it your only warning."
Uncertainty flickered in their eyes. They couldn't tell if Tessa's threat was a bluff or something real, but none of them dared to test her resolve.
The leader, still shaking, took a cautious step backward. When Tessa made no move to stop him, he bolted, his pride and rage entirely forgotten. The others scrambled after him, their steps faltering until they all disappeared from sight, leaving only silence in their wake.