The air was thick with tension, the kind that makes it hard to breathe. The plain stretched out endlessly, black and cracked like dried blood. The mountains surrounding it rose high, their jagged peaks sharp enough to cut the sky. Everything felt off—the stillness, the darkness, the way shadows seemed to flicker without light.
Out of nowhere, a swirling black portal ripped through the silence. Its edges twisted violently, like it was barely holding itself together. From the vortex stepped Gabriel, dragging Damian like a broken doll. Damian's body was lifeless, bloodied, and torn apart. Gabriel didn't care. He flung him to the ground like trash, smirking as Damian groaned in pain.
"You're still alive?" Gabriel sneered, crouching over Damian. "How many times do I have to kill you, Caiden?"
Damian didn't answer. He barely had the strength to breathe, let alone respond. Gabriel stood, shaking his head. Dark tendrils of magic slithered from his hands, wrapping around Damian's arms and legs. The tendrils glowed faintly red, burning into Damian's skin.
Damian clenched his teeth, refusing to scream, even as the pain became unbearable.
Gabriel leaned closer, his voice low and mocking. "How did you survive? Tell me, and maybe I'll make this quick."
Damian spat blood, his voice hoarse. "Go to hell."
Gabriel's smirk faded, replaced by cold anger. He pulled out the broken silver daggers and pressed one against Damian's chest. The silver hissed against his skin, sending waves of agony through his body.
"You're still the same stubborn fool," Gabriel muttered, dragging the blade across Damian's chest. Blood welled up, spilling onto the ground.
Damian's head lolled to the side, his vision fading. He knew he couldn't take much more of this. He had been through a lot, but this… this was different.
Gabriel's sneer returned as he lifted the dagger, aiming for Damian's throat. "Time to put you out of your misery, Caiden."
Gabriel stood tall, his aura radiating raw power. "Do you know what I am, Caiden?" He spread his arms, a cruel smile on his face. "I'm beyond vampires, werewolves, witches—all of them. I am… Evolution."
With that, he raised the dagger high, ready to strike the final blow.
The air shifted suddenly, growing heavier. A strange hum filled the plain, growing louder by the second. Gabriel froze, his dagger hovering mid-air.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward, their black cloak blending with the darkness. The hood concealed their face, but their presence was undeniable.
Gabriel turned, his expression twisting into a sneer. "And u are? "
The hooded figure didn't respond. They stood still, their silence unnerving.
Damian, barely conscious, forced his eyes open. His vision was blurry, but he recognized the figure instantly. It was the one who had been helping him all along. "Dr… Adrian," he whispered weakly.
Gabriel didn't notice Damian's whisper. His patience snapped. "Fine, I'll kill you too."
He lunged at the hooded figure, his speed blurring as he aimed for their heart. But before he could strike, the figure raised his hand. A shimmering barrier appeared, deflecting Gabriel's attack like it was nothing.
Gabriel growled, summoning a wave of crimson fire. The flames roared toward the figure, lighting up the plain.
The hooded figure countered with a flick of their wrist, conjuring a wall of water that crashed into the fire. Steam hissed and swirled, obscuring the battlefield for a moment.
When the steam cleared, the figure was already moving. They raised their hands, summoning chains made of glowing red energy. The chains shot out, wrapping around Gabriel's arms and legs, pinning him in place.
Gabriel roared, his enhanced strength allowing him to break free. He charged again, his blows landing with enough force to crack the ground.
The hooded figure dodged and parried, their movements precise and calculated. They chanted something in an ancient tongue, and a circle of glowing sigils appeared beneath Gabriel's feet.
"What is this?!" Gabriel snarled, struggling as the sigils pulsed with power.
"The Seal of the Crimson Chain," the hooded figure said, their voice calm. "A spell designed to bind abominations like you."
Gabriel thrashed, his power threatening to overwhelm the seal. But the figure wasn't done. They summoned a sphere of amber light, its surface swirling like molten gold.
Gabriel's eyes widened as the amber shot toward him, engulfing him completely. His screams echoed across the plain as the amber solidified, trapping him inside.
The hooded figure stood still, his task was complete after all. He turned to Damian, kneeling beside him. His hand glowed faintly as he placed it on his chest, to stabilize his condition.
Damian's eyes fluttered open briefly, his voice barely audible. "Dr. Adrian… it's you."
The figure said nothing. He lifted Damian gently, cradling him as they turned toward the mountains.
The hooded figure, Dr. Adrian turned around, with a flick of his hand, he reduced the amber prison holding Gabriel to the size of a Rubix cube and floated it towards himself.
As the first rays of light crept over the horizon, the hooded figure carried Damian away, leaving the eerie plain behind.