c5 - The Dangerous Boy in the Shadows
Green, who had been constantly circling in the darkness, vanished at some point. He was nowhere to be seen, leaving only House standing firm in a defensive stance.
Mullen frowned, his sharp instincts kicking in. He listened intently, but even with his battle-hardened senses, he couldn't pinpoint Green's location. His earlier assumptions were wrong he had underestimated these brats.
Impatience crept onto his face, and he sneered as he advanced toward House, his steel-knuckled fists gleaming under the moonlight.
"Hmph, do you seriously think you can take on the great Captain Mullen alone? Don't make me laugh. I'm a pirate with a two-million bounty on my head. Even the Marines can't handle me!"
"In the West Blue, my strength is one of the best!"
BOOM!
With a single devastating punch, Mullen's iron-coated fist shattered House's wooden shield like brittle glass. Splinters flew in all directions as House, gritting his teeth, lashed out with his machete in a desperate counterattack.
Blood spurted.
With a thud, House was sent crashing into a massive tree behind him. A sharp, stabbing pain coursed through his body, and blood trickled from the corner of his lips. His ribs were screaming in agony his internal organs had taken a serious hit. But despite his injuries, a smirk appeared on his face.
Mullen's expression darkened as he examined the fresh wound on his left arm. A deep gash, about the length of a dagger, was oozing blood. It stained half of his forearm in crimson.
"Tch… Damn brats." He flexed his muscles, causing the wound to tighten and halt the bleeding. His eyes then snapped toward House with pure rage.
"You little bastard... You dared to wound me the great Iron Fist Mullen?!" His lips twisted into a furious snarl. "I'll break every bone in your body! And as for your friend… I'll tear him apart in front of you! I want you to hear his screams before I crush your skull!"
His killing intent was suffocating.
House wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, his smirk widening. Then, without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the dense forest behind him.
His positioning had been deliberate there was a thick cluster of trees behind him. Mullen's own overwhelming force had sent him flying back, creating just the opening he needed to escape.
The realization hit Mullen like a slap to the face.
"You little rat!!"
CRACK!
A tree snapped like a twig as Mullen's powerful kick sent it flying. His muscles coiled, and in an instant, he lunged forward at an inhuman speed.
BOOM!
Another tree exploded into splinters as he bulldozed through, hot on House's heels.
But House was fast like a nimble rabbit darting between falcon strikes. His small frame weaved through the obstacles with practiced ease, making Mullen's monstrous attacks miss by inches.
Mullen's eyes blazed with fury. He wasn't just angry he was insulted.
"I'll crush you!!"
SWISH!
A faint whistle cut through the wind. Mullen's instincts flared danger!
He barely had time to react.
His iron-clad fist slammed into the incoming blade.
PFFT!
Blood splattered.
A shadow zipped past him, vanishing into the dark forest.
Mullen's breath hitched. He looked down.
A fresh wound had opened on his right arm deep, bleeding profusely. If he hadn't reacted in time, the blade would've torn through his throat.
His eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness.
"The other one…"
The brat who should have been down for the count had come back. Not only was he still standing, but he had just tried to kill him.
Mullen clenched his jaw, debating whether to keep chasing House or turn back.
"Damn it… They're just two kids!"
Mullen snarled and pressed forward, but this time, he slowed. A rare sense of caution settled in his gut. These weren't ordinary brats. Their coordination, their instincts they were trained survivors.
On the other side of the forest, Green didn't stop running after his attack. He didn't even look back.
He had pushed himself beyond his limits. He could feel it in the burning of his lungs, in the weakness gripping his legs. And after forcing himself a few steps further
THUD.
His knees buckled. He collapsed onto the damp forest floor.
"Huff... Huff..."
His ragged breaths cut through the silence. Sweat dripped from his brow as he clutched his aching ribs.
He smirked bitterly.
"Dammit... That guy is a monster."
Even though he had executed a near-perfect ambush, it still wasn't enough. Mullen was on a completely different level from anything he had faced before.
But he wasn't dead. That meant he could still fight.
With a grunt, Green forced himself back onto his feet. He swayed but steadied himself.
Then, without hesitation, he disappeared into the darkness again.
---
The Coast
House paced anxiously, eyes fixed on the dark treeline.
He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity. But Green still hadn't appeared.
His grip tightened around the handle of his machete.
"Dammit..."
He was about to turn back, ready to charge into the forest, when
Rustle.
A faint sound echoed near the rocks.
House didn't rush forward. Instead, he vanished into the shadows, pressing his back against a nearby boulder. His sharp gaze locked onto the direction of the noise.
A moment later
Green emerged.
He was limping, his body battered, his clothes torn, but his eyes his eyes were still sharp. Unshaken.
House exhaled a breath of relief and sprinted forward.
"Green!" He grabbed his friend's arm, his voice laced with concern. "Are you alright?!"
Green managed a smirk, though his face was pale.
"I'm fine. Just need… a moment to rest." He sat against a rock, exhaling slowly. Then, in a calm but firm voice, he continued. "We can't stay here. That guy's a two-million bounty pirate. He'll come after us."
House's expression hardened. He nodded. The golden strands of his hair shimmered under the moonlight like flickering flames.
"Then we move. We did everything we could. Now, it's up to fate whether the villagers survive."
They had done more than expected. Not only had they successfully lured away the pirates, but they had also drawn out the strongest fighter. If the villagers couldn't take advantage of this opening, then there was nothing else they could do.
House pulled Green up, supporting him as they prepared to move. They had several hideouts scattered across the island concealed places perfect for avoiding pirate patrols.
But before they could take a step
"Hey... I told you…"
A chilling voice slithered through the night air.
"You can't run from me."
House and Green froze.
Slowly, they turned.
Emerging from the shadows, fists clenched, was Mullen. His lips curled into a sinister grin.
And his eyes were filled with bloodlust.
...