Chapter 49
"So, you see a woman's face. Well, that just makes things easier," the attacker grinned darkly, his sharp gaze locking on Drogen. Without hesitation, he lunged again, his attacks faster, more precise, and unnervingly powerful. Each strike echoed through the air like thunderclaps, forcing Drogen to meet him blow for blow.
"Why the hell do you have her face?" Drogen growled, his voice low and seething as he deflected each strike with calculated precision.
The man laughed, his voice chilling and mocking. "Oh, let's just say it's a little trick of mine," he sneered. "You see the face of the person most important to you. So, tell me, is she your lover?" His words were coated with venom, his cold tone daring Drogen to lose control.
Drogen's rage boiled over. His eyes flared with an intensity that could burn through stone. "How dare you," he rumbled, his voice a storm ready to unleash its fury.
With a swift motion, Drogen's hand moved to his neck, ripping off a necklace from his neck. The artifact clattered to the ground, its fall echoing ominously in the charged air.
The necklace was supposed to limit his immense powers to prevent disaster in the human world, but this person was proving stubborn and difficult to defeat.
Instantly, an overwhelming surge of dark energy exploded from Drogen, crackling like black lightning. The ground beneath him trembled as his aura consumed the space, shadows twisting violently around him. The air became heavy, suffocating, as the sheer force of his unleashed power overwhelmed the surroundings.
The attacker's grin faltered. Panic flickered in his eyes as he strained to track Drogen's movements. But Drogen was too fast—his presence became a blur of shadows and speed.
Without warning, a crushing force hit the attacker, sending him hurtling through a wall and out of the building. The impact shattered the structure, debris raining down. He didn't even get to see where the attack came from because of how fast Drogen moved
The illusion spell on the man shattered with the blow, revealing his true face—scarred, twisted, and fierce. One eye was blinded, a jagged scar running from his brow to his cheek. The force of Drogen's punch sent him spitting out blood as he coughed and gasped for breath.
He struggled to rise, his limbs shaking under his weight, but Drogen wasn't about to let him recover.
In a blink, Drogen was upon him. He grabbed the man by his collar, lifting him effortlessly before throwing him high then he used a punch to send him flying higher into the sky.
Before gravity could reclaim him, Drogen teleported higher above him, delivering a second devastating kick with his hill that sent the man plummeting back to the earth like a meteor. The force of the impact shook the ground, leaving a massive crack where the body landed.
Drogen then teleported back down, his dark aura still crackling around him like a storm barely contained. His crimson eyes burned with fury as he approached the still figure lying broken in the crater. Blood pooled around the man's shattered body, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles.
Drogen knelt beside him, his expression unrelenting. Just as he reached out to confirm the kill, a sickening crack echoed through the air.
The man's bones began to snap back into place, his flesh mending itself with horrifying speed. Within moments, the attacker stood again, his mocking grin plastered across his bloodied face.
Drogen's eyes widened. Was this man… immortal?
"Damn, that hurt," the attacker said, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand. He spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground and smirked. "You're stronger than we thought. I'll admit, you surprised me."
"What the hell are you?" Drogen demanded, his fists clenched tightly, his tone laced with suspicion. "And who's 'we'?"
The man chuckled darkly, his voice grating like nails on stone. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. But not today." He tilted his head mockingly. "We'll meet again, Drogen."
Before Drogen could strike or stop him, the man dissolved into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.
Drogen stood motionless for a moment, his aura slowly dimming as his rage subsided. He stared at the empty space where the attacker had been. This wasn't just a dangerous enemy—this was a threat far bigger than he could handle alone.
He needed to inform the underworld. His gaze scanned destruction around him, this was the most intense fight he's had in ages, and no one had been capable of pushing him to his limits except this stranger.
Just who was he. He needed answers—and fast.
************
Somewhere deep within a shadowy cave, a group of hooded figures stood in a circle, their faces obscured by intricately designed masks of various shapes and colors. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with an unnatural chill. Torches mounted on the cave walls cast flickering light, creating long, shifting shadows that seemed to dance ominously around them.
At the center of the circle was a stone dais, and just beyond it, a raised platform. A man emerged from the shadows and stepped onto the platform. His face, still bruised and scarred from the earlier fight, was unmistakable—it was Kogen, the same man who had clashed with Drogen.
The tallest figure among the group, draped in a deep crimson robe and wearing a mask adorned with golden patterns, took a step forward. His voice was deep, resonant, and carried the weight of authority. "So, Kogen, how did it go?"
Kogen bowed his head slightly, his posture a mix of exhaustion and pride. "As you suspected, I pushed him far enough to sense it. He does have the key—hidden within his spiritual pressure." His voice was steady, but there was a tinge of awe, as though he still couldn't fully grasp the magnitude of what he had faced.
The leader let out a low, satisfied chuckle, the sound echoing eerily through the cavern. He clasped his hands behind his back, his movements slow and deliberate, exuding confidence. "I knew it," he said, his tone triumphant. "Drogen is the vessel. The key has been lying dormant within him all this time."
The other robed figures exchanged glances, their masks hiding their reactions, but the tension in the air was palpable.
"I forced him to unleash his full power," Kogen continued, his voice lowering. "That's when I felt it—the energy. It's ancient, deeply embedded, almost like a part of him. But it's still there... waiting."
The leader stepped closer to the edge of the dais, his golden mask gleaming faintly in the dim light. "You did well, Kogen. Very well indeed." He turned to address the group, his voice rising with conviction. "Now we know for certain. The key lies within Drogen. All that remains is to extract it... and destroy the seal that binds our master."
A murmur ran through the group, a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"But," Kogen interjected cautiously, "retrieving the key won't be easy. Drogen's power is immense, and if he realizes what we're after, he'll become even more dangerous."
The leader laughed, a chilling sound that silenced the murmurs instantly. "Dangerous? Perhaps. But he is only one man. And now that we know his weakness is that woman, he is vulnerable." He turned back to Kogen, his golden mask catching the flickering light once more. "Do not underestimate him again. The next time, we will be prepared. Failure will not be tolerated."
Kogen nodded, though his jaw tightened. He remembered the force of Drogen's blows, the raw power that had sent him crashing to the ground. Facing him again was a prospect he did not relish.
The leader's gaze swept over the group, his presence commanding. "Once the seal is broken, our master, Donman Kroger, will be free."