## Chapter Two: Crossing Paths, Clashing Steel
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Only a few days after John's conversation with Liam, events escalated rapidly. The "Night Killer's" crimes continued, and this time the victims were close to high-ranking court figures, making the case a top priority for the Royal Guard. The King's pressure on their commander, Commander Aidan, known as "the Knight of Light," intensified.
Aidan was a man of imposing presence, with blond hair tinged with white and sharp blue eyes that reflected years of combat service. He wasn't just a commander; he was a symbol of honor and order in the Kingdom of Vestoria, firmly believing in justice and law. For him, the "Night Killer" was merely a criminal who needed to be stopped, regardless of their identity or motives.
One night, as John teetered on the edge of sleep, he felt that strange awakening once more. This time it wasn't entirely surprising; he had begun to sense the coming of the "Possessed Shadow" before it took complete control of his body. The Shadow whispered to him, incomprehensible words, but laden with hunger and blood.
When he awoke, he was standing on the glittering rooftops beneath the faint moonlight, following a trail only he could perceive. His senses were terrifyingly sharp. He heard muffled laughter coming from a narrow alley, and a foul stench of alcohol, sweat, and drugs permeated the air. These were no ordinary criminals; they were a gang of smugglers and hired killers, bearing the "Mark of Darkness" that John couldn't see, but the "Possessed Shadow" within his body clearly did.
The "Possessed Shadow" surged through John's body, moving with lightning speed. Its movements were fluid, devoid of any hesitation. It attacked the gang mercilessly. Bones shattered with every punch, and blood splattered with every kick. It wasn't an even fight; it was a swift and horrifying massacre. The "Possessed Shadow" left no survivors, seeing them merely as corruption to be eradicated.
Amidst this madness, and before the "Possessed Shadow" could finish its work, John heard an unmistakable sound: the familiar clang of steel.
"Stop, ghost!" a powerful voice shouted.
The Knight of Light, Commander Aidan, stood at the alley's entrance, surrounded by a few elite Royal Guards. Their swords were raised, their shields reflecting the moonlight. Aidan's gaze fell upon John, who stood amidst the corpses, his clothes stained with blood. Aidan didn't see a noble youth; he saw the "Night Killer" terrorizing the city.
John felt a moment of sudden awakening. He tried to regain control of his body, but the "Possessed Shadow" was still in a frenzy. The "Shadow" turned John's body to face Aidan, ready for a fight.
"Surrender yourself!" Aidan commanded, raising his gleaming sword. "We will not allow you to continue your heinous deeds."
The "Possessed Shadow" lunged at Aidan. It was faster than the commander had anticipated. Aidan narrowly dodged the first blow, and the clang of steel filled the alley with every parry. Aidan was a professional, his movements precise and powerful, but the "Possessed Shadow" was brutal, fighting with a raw, unbridled strength, using every angle of the alley to its advantage, transcending human limitations.
In an instant, the "Shadow" broke through Aidan's defense, landing a powerful blow to his stomach. Aidan felt as if a rock had hit him, and he reeled back a few feet, coughing. The "Shadow" seized the opportunity to attack the rest of the guards, who found themselves helpless against its superhuman strength and speed.
But just as the "Possessed Shadow" was about to deliver a fatal blow to one of the fallen guards, something unexpected happened. A faint blue flicker of pain flashed through John's body. It was a rare moment of weakness for the "Possessed Shadow," perhaps due to Aidan's fierce resistance, or perhaps from John's desperate internal struggle.
Aidan seized this moment, charging forward again, not with his sword, but with his shield, powerfully shoving John against the wall. John's head hit the alley with force, and he felt a severe dizziness.
That moment was enough. John was freed from the "Possessed Shadow's" grip for a brief instant. He looked at Aidan with human eyes, filled with fear and confusion. He didn't utter a word, but his gaze screamed, "Save me."
Aidan didn't understand this expression. He only saw the "Night Killer" staggering, and he seized the opportunity to try and apprehend him. But at that critical moment, as the other guards recovered, John, with a last surge of his remaining strength, leaped over the high alley wall and vanished into the darkness.
He left Aidan behind, standing amidst the corpses, panting. He looked at the wall John had leaped over and felt confused. There was something strange in the "Night Killer's" eyes in that moment. It wasn't pure madness; there was a glimpse of humanity, or rather, despair.
For John, that confrontation was a wake-up call. The "Possessed Shadow" was growing stronger, and his internal struggle was becoming more violent. More importantly, the "Knight of Light" would not rest until he captured him. He had become prey, and the King himself now feared him.