Chapter 7: The Truth
"This is really happening," Bianca asked herself.
She couldn't believe it, the golden glow coming from the ring on her hand flowed through her body, that warm sensation was comforting and felt familiar.
Just a few minutes ago, our protagonist Bianca was lying on the ground, breathless, waiting for it all to end.
Now, Bianca stood, confused by what was happening to her body.
Was she going through a metamorphosis?
Probably not.
These kinds of things are what the kids today call a power-up, the kind of stuff that only happens in books, or in movies or TV shows, where the protagonist awakens an unknown power to recover from a battle and save the situation.
Save?
Bianca realized something and grew worried. She had forgotten about Alice, the poor blonde-haired girl was still there, in front of that man dragging his tentacles on the floor.
Alice, frightened, with tears falling down her cheeks, couldn't move, she was terrified by the penetrating gaze of this monster.
"Don't be scared, Alice," Alice told herself. Although tears started to fall down her face, her eyes showed seriousness. She seemed determined not to run away. Bianca needed help, and she was going to help. Even though throwing a stone helped prevent the teenager from being finished off, Alice had become the new target of the humanoid creature.
The monster, now in front of the girl, could only say, "That hit really hurt," annoyed. He was strong but not resistant to pain, and that stone hit irritated him greatly.
"Don't blame me for your actions," he said coldly to Alice. He blamed the little one for starting this, and now he wouldn't be responsible for hurting her. Raising a tentacle above his head, the man would finish her off with a single strike.
Alice, with no escape, closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the final blow.
Clang!
While still having her eyes closed, she heard a metallic sound that resonated strongly in her ears. Noticing that the man was taking longer to attack, she became confused. When she opened her eyes, Alice saw a golden flash alongside black hair with pink tips that fluttered in the wind. Bianca had stopped the attack.
Bianca was standing there, in the middle of the two, blocking the black tentacle with the metal bar she had held moments earlier.
Surprise quickly spread before the two people who were staring at Bianca in shock.
While Alice was amazed to see Bianca again as if nothing had happened, the man was stunned by the girl's appearance.
"It's impossible, she should be weak, how is she still standing?" The man wondered with surprise in his voice.
Taking a few steps back and looking at the teenager with annoyance, a golden aura was covering her body, and the wounds he had caused were disappearing without a trace.
How was this possible?
Not long ago, she was on the verge of passing out, and now she was back to her old self, bothering him again.
He didn't understand how a normal human could recover so quickly; it was like magic.
Looking more carefully, the man focused on her hands that held the piece of junk, noticing that the glow surrounding Bianca came from the crystal of the ring she wore.
Could the ring have something to do with her recovery?
It must be why her owner tasked him with obtaining the ring as soon as possible. He had thought his mistress wanted the ring simply because she liked jewelry, but now it made more sense. That ring was special, and his mistress wanted it, so he would give it to her.
Seeing the girl next to the little girl in front of him, he thought this had become a hassle.
"Miss?" Alice asked.
"Alice, are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Bianca asked the blonde girl, who shook her head.
Bianca knelt down to her level and wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands.
"I'm glad, for a moment I was worried. You're very brave, thank you for giving me some time," Bianca said more calmly, appreciating Alice's actions with a small smile.
"Alice, can you go back to where you were hiding? I'll take care of teaching that bad guy a lesson," Bianca said again.
"But miss, will you be okay? What if he hurts you again?" Alice asked, fearful of seeing the scene of the young girl defeated again.
Bianca stroked her head, making Alice calm down. Her hand was warm compared to the cold of the street; this feeling was comforting.
"Don't worry, it won't happen this time," Bianca responded to Alice's questions. Her smile grew bigger, radiating bravery and confidence.
How could anyone not trust that smile?
Alice obeyed the order and went back to her safe spot behind the light beacon, watching the battle.
Once Bianca saw Alice return to her safe place, she turned her attention back to her target, the man with parts of an invertebrate animal, twisting his limbs erratically, with his face falling apart.
This guy owed her a rematch, and she was going to get it.
—Hey, octopus man, did your face fall off? Or did you forget it at home? — Bianca exclaimed, shouting with amusement in her voice.
Her eyes showed that spark of excitement that had been missing; this feeling made the flame she had lost years ago burn in her heart, the thrill of facing a real challenge.
The words she spoke only made the creature angrier, its flame of hatred grew with every second as it watched the girl in front of it, mocking its condition. The black liquid bubbled on its head and its tentacles began to move furiously. If it had its face, Bianca would see that it was angry.
—You damn brat! — It shouted with hatred at the girl. It would not forgive this.
Round 2 was about to begin.
Bianca gripped the metal bar with both hands, feeling the heat flooding her body. The monster roared with strength, ready to end this once and for all.
—Black mass: deadly blade! — The creature uttered, the tips of its black appendages sharpened like knives pointing at its victim.
Bianca ran towards the man, who started launching his tentacles at her. With a quick twist, she dropped to the ground to avoid the strike and counterattacked, hitting one of them.
The blow she landed had cut one of the appendages, causing it to fall to the ground, still wriggling like a lizard's tail.
The man thought, "Not only have her wounds healed, but she's also gotten faster and stronger."
The monster responded with brute force. The remaining limbs started to stretch out and surrounded Bianca on all sides like a black cage of shadows. One of the tentacles shot out from a side, attempting to hit her but missed by mere centimeters. Bianca shifted her head slightly and dodged it.
It attacked again in the same way, from left to right, from top to bottom, the tentacles came out like spears at high speed, slicing through the air, and Bianca dodged them with ease. Her legs, arms, and even her posture changed constantly, her movements graceful as if dancing, cutting some of the tentacles in the process.
Frustrated, the man increased his speed even more.
Since Bianca began to be covered by the golden aura, her body felt incredibly light, enhancing her physical speed and mental agility. Her brain moved faster than before, her body reacted to danger in a fraction of a millisecond; it was like having spider senses. Her muscles had become stronger, which is why she could cut through part of the appendage.
—Technique 3: Tornado Burst! — Bianca said, using the metal bar to spin like a whirlwind, making small cuts in the appendages made of the monster's black mass, preventing them from getting close to her.
Seeing that his attempt to trap Bianca in a cage, with the attacks coming randomly, failed, and that his anger grew from not landing a blow, he opted to attack more directly.
The man charged towards the girl. If he couldn't hurt her by trapping her, then he would give her the close combat she wanted.
The beast, now with rage in its eyes, pushed off with its legs toward the teenager. She was fast, but so was he. If his "giant fist" attack landed, he would be the victor. The only problem was, if she dodged it, he would be left vulnerable again, and he didn't think he could take another blow to the head. This was his best chance to end it, but with the reflexes Bianca had shown, he needed to have a plan in mind. He had to trap Bianca in a way that she couldn't move freely.
Knowing speed wouldn't help him, the man clenched his left fist, leaning his body back to pause before attacking. He had come up with an idea to win.
He would make Bianca fly through the air, and when she descended, he would wait for her with his "giant fist" technique to finish her off.
Bianca saw in slow motion as the terrifying man approached her in an instant, in the blink of an eye, he was crouched in front of her with his fist ready to strike her face. By instinct, she crossed her arms in front of her to protect herself.
The blow came quickly, and Bianca felt her feet leave the ground. The impact was so powerful that it sent her flying several meters upward.
—Black mass: giant fist! — He shouted with all his strength, all his tentacles started to tangle together, forming a large black ball that emitted a putrid smell.
Bianca knew she couldn't dodge this time. While she flew, she felt the wind on her face. Her body spun in midair, but there was no way to stop her fall. She was rapidly approaching the ground, and with it, the impact of the "giant fist."
—This is over! — The man shouted at Bianca, and a loud explosion was heard. It was so powerful that it seemed to shake the earth.
Bianca had been hit by his attack and was sent flying like a projectile, crashing into a wall, destroying it, and creating a curtain of dust.
—Miss! — Alice shouted. She had just seen Bianca thrown into a building, and she was very worried about her. This was bad.
The man, exhausted, breathing heavily, watched how the battle turned out. His smile quickly appeared. He had done it. He had defeated the girl. Finally, it was over. He could finally give the ring to that crazy woman, he could finally be free and return to his family.
—That's it — he said, satisfaction in his voice. Though it was over, he swayed in place. He was exhausted. Using the black mass was very taxing on his body. He felt like he could collapse at any moment. He didn't have the strength to move his tentacles, which had formed a giant ball that crushed the girl. They had separated and fallen to the ground. He hadn't expected to have to fight like this to defeat a teenager. A teenager who had faced him with nothing but a metal bar in hand. It had been harder than he thought, but it would all be worth it.
But suddenly, he felt something was wrong. As the dust cloud began to dissipate, the monster saw a figure rising from the rubble. His eyes showed disbelief. Bianca was still standing. Not only had she withstood the blow, but the golden aura around her was shining even more brightly than before.
Alice was relieved to see the girl. For a moment, she had been very worried. It seemed like Bianca hadn't taken any damage; it was as if nothing had happened to her.
—This must be a joke! You shouldn't be alive! — He exclaimed angrily. He couldn't understand how this was possible. He had struck with all his might, with his best technique, a fatal blow that no one could survive. And yet, she was standing in front of him. The girl's willpower was incredible, but to him, this was unbearable.
—Do you know why I keep getting up? — Bianca asked, wiping off her clothes, which were dirty from breaking through the wall. The man in front of her, confused and angry, just stared at her, waiting for an answer.
—Because in my heart, the flame of duty burns. In moments of injustice, I will always protect those who cannot defend themselves. — Bianca replied, showing her big smile, full of confidence.
Fear was no longer a problem in Bianca's heart. This time, she felt at peace.
The man grabbed his head in frustration, ruffling his black hair desperately. His strongest attack hadn't worked, and his body wouldn't withstand much more stress from using this creature form from hell for so long. His eyes were uneasy, his breath heavy, and the fear of failure flooded his mind.
—I can't... I can't... I can't fail. —She said, trembling, with her head lowered, looking at the ground.
—I have to go back home... —Her voice turned nervous, her teeth clenched tightly. Bianca, who was watching her in confusion, noticed her attitude shift from anger to fear in a second.
—...If I don't get... that damn ring then... —She turned her gaze to Bianca with bad intentions.
—...I'm a dead man! —he yelled from the depth of his soul.
Although Bianca had a strong will, he also possessed a desire that went beyond his own.
Without thinking, he charged recklessly.
His limbs flailed like whips, tearing through the air uncontrollably.
Bianca was momentarily stunned, as when someone no longer sees a way to win a fight, they surrender without trying to get back on their feet. Although he was exhausted and seemed unable to continue, he kept fighting. This was the ultimate honor one could offer their opponent.
Bianca had no more doubts; she would give this person the final fight he deserved.
Bianca moved calmly, dodging the attacks, her mind was clear, and her eyes showed her the way. Although the tentacles covered a large area, they had limitations in the direction they moved. She shifted her body just a few inches to avoid the relentless attacks coming at her.
The man's eyes showed exhaustion and desperation. He couldn't land a single blow, and his energy grew more frantic. His movements became increasingly clumsy and predictable to Bianca, who, at that moment, grabbed her weapon again.
Waiting for the opportunity to land a final blow, her eyes shone as she saw the tentacles she had cut fall, leaving her opponent defenseless.
—Technique 4: Fast Impact. —Bianca whispered, her grip tightened, her feet cracking the ground beneath her, her eyes showed determination, and the glow surrounding her intensified.
A loud crash rang through the place. The grayish area lost its color and was replaced by white. In a second, Bianca appeared in front of the out-of-control creature, her body in an attacking stance, making a diagonal slash that marked the man's chest. The black parts of his body scattered, staining the already damaged street.
—That was my gift for you, sir. —Bianca watched as the man fell onto his back, his exposed jaw hanging open, slowly exhaling air, marking the end of the fight.
Silence.
Bianca let out a sigh. The aura surrounding her disappeared. Bianca began walking toward Alice. As she walked, she analyzed the battleground. Seeing the damage caused, she could only thank that no one was there. She had destroyed a trash bin, a car, and even a house wall. With each step, she began to stagger. She wanted to reach the girl before the adrenaline completely left her body, but...
Bianca fell to the ground.
The metal bar rolled out of her reach. Her face showed pain.
—Miss! —Bianca heard Alice's familiar voice. The girl's small steps echoed louder in Bianca's ears as she saw the blonde girl running toward her.
—I'm fine, don't worry. —Bianca told Alice, her tired smile showing happiness. When she got home, she would take a well-deserved rest.
—Miss, that was so cool! Where did you learn to make those moves? —Alice, less worried after seeing Bianca's smile, asked.
—My father taught me to fight as long as I can remember. —Bianca answered. For a long time, her father raised her to defend herself from bad people. When she started practicing, her arms would get tired, her legs numb, her lungs almost bursting, and her head spinning. If she were honest, she'd say that the training was torture. But with time and persistence, her body adapted, leaving fatigue behind. However, at that moment, she felt her body burning in the flames of pain. The fight had been back and forth. She had won by a miracle. She was relieved to be able to relax her body. When she got home, she'd take a well-earned rest. After everything, it was all over.
Or so she thought.
---
The man still lying on the floor had a confused expression on his face.
What just happened?
That wasn't normal. That girl moved like lightning and finished him off in a second.
He had been winning, and out of nowhere, his opponent gained a new power.
It wasn't fair.
His body wouldn't move, the pain in his head was unbearable. No matter how much he tried, his body wouldn't respond. This was normal after pushing it so much with such a fragile body.
He wondered how he ended up like this. In his mind, the image of two people came to him: a little girl and a woman with dark hair, both smiling as they saw him come home. The warmth, the hugs, and the love of a family. He remembered them vividly.
But he also remembered the pain, the helplessness. He remembered his daughter lying in a hospital bed, motionless.
Flashback
—If we don't operate, she won't survive. —Those were the words that came from the doctor's mouth, his voice serious and worrying, freezing his heart.
—But we don't have the money to pay! —he exclaimed desperately.
He remembered his wife crying in his arms. It wasn't fair.
What could he do to save his daughter?
He remembered being in a small room, with one wall having bars that prevented his escape.
He ended up in jail for stealing money from an important person to pay for his daughter's surgery. They caught him, and that was where he ended up.
Was it wrong to want to save his daughter?
He could only regret not being able to do more.
He heard the cell door open and glimpsed the body of a beautiful woman with red hair. She looked at him with a sinister smile.
—Hello, Thomas. I know what you're going through, and don't worry, I already paid your bail and your daughter's surgery. —Those words caught Thomas off guard. He could only thank the woman standing before him.
—But in return, you have to do something for me. —Her smile was wicked and sinister. He wasn't sure whether to accept, but he couldn't refuse the person who had solved his problems.
After that, he only felt pain and loneliness. Once he accepted the help of that woman with the personality of a demon, there was no escape.
He hadn't seen his family in a long time and wanted to know if they were okay, but he could never disobey his mistress.
—You are my property. Do you want your freedom? Find a ring that emits energy and bring it to me. And if you see someone wearing it, kill them. —Those were the last words he heard from that woman. He thought it would be easy, but now he was defeated.
It wasn't fair.
His body was no longer human. He had become a monster. He did this for his wife, for his daughter.
Not seeing his family was like being dead.
—Black mass: Savage Beast. —he whispered weakly. His body began releasing the black liquid in torrents, and everything around him became stained with the darkness of his heart, which pulsed strongly. The flame of his heart had not yet gone out.
Bianca felt a bad premonition in her back. She turned her head to see where the man she had fought was, only to see something that made her freeze in fear.
The man was slowly getting up. The black mass spread through parts of his body, giving claws to his hands. His muscles hardened. His eyes showed pure white, which was unsettling. His mouth revealed sharpened teeth, and his will had not fallen.
—I want that ring... —The man said, his voice rough and filled with rage. His body had taken the form of a terrifying creature that appears in the darkness.
There is a truth that few people know.
When someone with great ambition feels they've lost their chance, they will do whatever it takes to get what they want.
He had given up his humanity to become a monster.