*What was that? What power it holds—it forced me out! Nothing has ever broken my ability's peeking power. What are you really, Drake Lorenzo?* Seris's mind raced as she stared at the mysterious young man.
Drake watched Percival and the others strategize against Havoc, concern gnawing at him. *I hope you guys are up for the challenge. Havoc is clever—be careful.*
"Alright, listen up." Percival's voice cut through the tension like steel. Both Fred and Sofia turned toward their leader, noting the grim set of his jaw.
"I've got history with this Soul Wretch."
Sofia's brow furrowed. "What kind of history?"
Percival's hands clenched into fists. "He tried to rape my friend Elsa. Now look what he's become—a monster."
"Ah, so this is the Havoc you mentioned before," Fred said, his usual carefree demeanor sobering.
Sofia's eyes blazed with fury. "Another perverted scumbag. I hate guys like that." Flames of anger danced in her voice.
Drake's throat tightened, old memories stirring.
Fred clapped Percival on the shoulder. "Then the killing blow is yours, brother."
A grateful smile crossed Percival's face. "Thanks." He turned to Sofia with questioning eyes.
She let out a heavy sigh, cracking her knuckles. "He's all yours—though I wouldn't mind ending this creep myself."
"You're the best, Sofia." Percival reached out and patted her head.
A deep blush bloomed across Sofia's cheeks.
"Oh ho ho!" Fred burst into laughter. "Look at Miss Tough Guy acting all girly! Someone's got it bad!"
"W-what?!" Sofia jolted away from Percival's touch, her face burning. "I told you to stop doing that!"
Percival's laughter rang out as Sofia grew more flustered by the second.
"Enough!" Havoc's voice boomed across the battlefield. "You brats are wasting my precious time. I have business to attend to—step aside, or I'll crush you myself."
Three pairs of eyes widened in shock. "It can talk!" Fred, Sofia, and Seris exclaimed simultaneously.
"Soul Wretches aren't supposed to speak," Seris muttered, unease creeping into her voice. "What strange phenomena keep manifesting today?"
"That was my exact reaction," Percival said grimly.
Fred smirked. "Great. Not only is it hideous, but it's got a mouth on it too. How delightful."
"Grrr!" Havoc's growl shook the air. "I've heard quite enough from you." His cannon arm swiveled toward Fred. "You die first."
A mocking smile played at Fred's lips—lazy, amused, supremely confident.
From his position against the rubble, Drake called out urgently, "Be careful! That cannon isn't for show—look at what it did to those buildings!" He gestured toward the gaping holes torn through concrete and steel.
"Relax," Seris said, moving to Drake's side. "They'll manage just fine."
Drake studied the absolute confidence in her expression. "If you're sure."
"I am. Now worry about yourself—you're badly wounded." She knelt beside him, examining his injuries with practiced eyes.
"Yeah, you've got a point there." Despite everything, Drake managed a smile.
"Where did your arm land? Is it nearby?"
Drake pointed weakly. "Over there, in that pool of blood."
"I'll retrieve it. Much easier to reattach than reconstruct from nothing." Seris's smile was reassuring as she moved toward the severed limb.
Meanwhile, Havoc's glowing eyes locked onto Fred, rage building like steam in a pressure cooker.
"Time to put our 'dear friend' down for good." Sofia cracked her knuckles with anticipation. "Hope you're ready for your first real Soul Wretch, boys."
"Absolutely—but let's make it quick. I'm starving over here." Fred's stomach actually growled on cue.
Percival's eyes began to glow with an inner fire. "Then let's finish this."
*One blast. That's all it'll take,* Havoc thought, his mechanical heart pounding as he surveyed his opponents.
"Everyone ready?" Percival dropped into a charging stance, muscles coiled like springs.
Sofia and Fred mirrored his position.
Havoc's breathing grew ragged as tension filled the air.
A desert wind whistled through the ruins.
"Now!" Percival exploded forward.
Fred and Sofia followed, their battle cries echoing off broken walls.
*Finally—let me see how strong you really are,* Drake thought, transfixed despite his pain.
"Time to light up these streets." Havoc's smirk was filled with malice. His cannon arm whirred to life, energy crackling as dust rose from the charging mechanism.
"You seeing this buildup?" Fred asked as they closed the distance.
"Yeah—it's going to be one hell of a blast," Percival replied.
"Stick to the plan!" Sofia commanded.
"Roger!" both boys responded in unison.
"BLACK SERPENT SHOOT!"
THROOOOOMP!
The devastating blast tore from the cannon barrel, a lance of destructive energy aimed directly at the charging trio.
"Now!" Percival slammed his massive war hammer into the ground.
Sofia and Fred leaped onto the hammer's head in perfect synchronization.
"Here we go!" Percival roared, every muscle in his body straining. "Aaaaar!" He launched them skyward like a human catapult.
Drake's eyes went wide. "Incredible!"
The energy blast consumed the space where Percival stood, creating a crater of molten stone.
"Noooo!" Drake's scream tore from his throat.
"Haha! That arrogant brat is finished!" Havoc's laughter was triumphant. "All that presence, all that big talk—just for show. Though... what did he launch into the air?"
"Wait." His mechanical head swiveled upward. "Where are the other two?"
"Up here, ugly!" Fred called out cheerfully.
Havoc's gaze snapped skyward. "What the hell—how did they get up there?"
Fred and Sofia soared through the air with impossible grace. "Ready for the express delivery?" Fred asked.
"Born ready." Sofia extended her arm, and Fred grabbed it with iron certainty.
WHOOSH!
With a powerful spin, Fred hurled Sofia downward with all his considerable strength.
SWOOOOOOSH!
Sofia's velocity built exponentially, the wind whipping her hair into a wild banner as she plummeted toward her target.
"No! Too fast!" Havoc's panic was palpable.
Sofia cocked her fist back, every ounce of momentum channeled into the coming strike.
"Yaaaa!"
BAM! CRACK! DOOM!
Her fist connected with Havoc's face like a meteor impact. The force sent him crashing into the earth, carving a massive crater as shock waves rippled outward. Debris exploded in every direction.
Sofia landed gracefully in the center of destruction, dusting off her hands with casual satisfaction.
"Nice work," Fred said, dropping down beside her.
"Excellent throw. Have you been working out more?" Sofia's tone was teasing.
"Hey, I've always been this strong." Fred protested, flexing slightly.
"Sure you have, Mr. Couch Potato." Sofia's grin was wicked.
"Ouch. Harsh but fair, I guess."
"That was incredible teamwork!" Drake shouted as the dust began to settle. "But what about Percival?"
"Don't worry about him," Seris said, arriving with Drake's severed arm in hand.
"How can you be so calm? That blast could turn a normal person to ash!" Drake's voice cracked with worry.
"True enough. But Percival isn't normal." Seris's expression grew serious. "That attack was nothing compared to the training he's endured. Besides..." She paused for effect. "He commands the flames. Fire magic and anything flame-related—it's his domain."
FWOOSH!
A sudden wind swept away the smoke and steam. There stood Percival, completely unharmed and glowing with inner fire. His hood had burned away.
"Impossible!" Drake gasped.
"Told you so. That man continues to amaze me, even after all this time," Seris said with genuine admiration.
*Come to think of it,* Drake mused internally, *I survived that blast too, and Percival is definitely stronger than me. It makes sense.*
"Percival! Good to see you in one piece!" Fred called out cheerfully.
THWACK!
"Shut up! You were hoping he'd die!" Sofia smacked Fred upside the head.
"Ow! Sofia, that hurt!" Fred whined, rubbing his skull.
"Sorry, can't die yet." Percival's grin was fierce and wild. "Not until I put this freak six feet under."
"Right, right. Sometimes I forget what an absolute monster you are," Fred said, still nursing his head.
---
"Show me the wound," Seris instructed.
Drake extended his injured arm. With practiced precision, Seris aligned the severed limb with surgical accuracy.
"I'll begin the incantation now."
"Ready when you are."
"OH HEAVENS ABOVE, HEAR MY PLEA!" A complex magical circle bloomed beneath them both, intricate patterns glowing with ethereal green light. "RESTORE WHAT WAS SEVERED, MEND WHAT WAS BROKEN, GRANT THIS SOUL WHOLENESS ONCE MORE!"
The magic circle erupted with blinding radiance. When the light finally faded—
"Ugh, what happened?" Drake groaned, pressing his palms against his temples.
"Are you alright?" Concern colored Seris's voice.
"Yeah, but that light was intense."
"The spell taking effect. Your arm has been successfully restored." Pride filled her tone.
Drake looked down at his right arm in wonder. It was perfectly attached—no scars, no stitches, no sign it had ever been severed. "This is impossible."
"Let's just say I'm rather skilled at healing magic."
"More than skilled—you're incredible. Thank you." Drake flexed his fingers experimentally, marveling at the perfect sensation. "It's like it was never gone."
"Arrgh, my head!" Havoc groaned as he struggled to his feet. As his vision cleared and focused on Percival still standing, disbelief washed over him. "How is this possible?"
"Oh good, you're still breathing," Fred said conversationally.
"I'm sick of you damn brats!" Havoc's roar shook the foundations of nearby buildings. "You keep mocking me, insulting me, treating me like garbage! I'll kill every last one of you! I'll paint these streets with your blood!"
Fred scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Wow, someone's having a meltdown. Are a few screws loose up there, big guy?"
Suddenly, a voice drifted on the wind—ancient, smooth, and dripping with malevolent honey:
*"Release your restraints... let the power flow freely. Hold nothing back."*
Havoc's eyes began to glow with unnatural light. "Yes... I won't suppress anything anymore."
The voice continued its poisonous whispers: *"They ridiculed you, didn't they? Called you names? Forced you to kill your own ally?"*
"Yes... they did all of that!" Havoc's voice cracked with rage and pain.
"What's wrong with him?" Sofia took an instinctive step backward. "He's talking to thin air."
"I told you—screws are definitely loose," Fred repeated, but his usual humor was strained.
"Quiet!" Percival's sharp command silenced them both. "Something's very wrong here."
Drake watched from the sidelines, tension building in his chest. *Why isn't anyone moving? What's happening?*
"I should join them now," Seris said, rising to her feet. "You'll be safe here."
"Let me help—"
"Absolutely not. You're nearly drained of mana. I didn't heal you just to watch you die." Her tone brooked no argument.
"But—"
"No buts. Trust us to handle this." Seris's smile was warm but firm.
Drake sighed in reluctant defeat. "Fine."
"Good. I'll be back." She moved to join her teammates.
Meanwhile, the insidious voice continued its mental assault on Havoc:
*"Unleash the madness within you... burn everything to ashes. You are stronger than all of them combined. Prove it."*
"Yes... I will!" Havoc's growl was inhuman now.
The very atmosphere began to shift and writhe around them.
*This feeling...* Percival's instincts screamed danger. *I can sense a malevolent presence. It's distant, but incredibly powerful.*
"What's happening to me?!" Havoc screamed, clutching his skull as if trying to keep his brain from exploding.
The voice grew stronger, more commanding: *"I'm removing all your limitations. Trust me, and I will grant you the power to destroy them all."*
"No! Get out of my head!" Havoc thrashed wildly.
"This is bad. Really bad." Sweat beaded on Fred's forehead.
"What's going on with him?" Sofia's voice was tight with apprehension.
"I think he's being influenced—controlled by someone else. The same presence I'm sensing." Percival's eyes never left their transforming enemy.
WHOOOOSH!
Dark mist began swirling around Havoc's form as he levitated off the ground.
"This can't be good!" Sofia gasped.
"What's happening over there?" Drake strained to see from his position.
Havoc's mana erupted uncontrollably, his core blazing like a dying star. Power beyond comprehension built within his mechanical heart.
"Everyone back!" Percival commanded.
Fred and Sofia immediately retreated to safer ground.
"Ahhhhhh!"
BOOOOOOM!
Blinding light erupted from Havoc's form. When it finally faded, he lay motionless on the scorched earth.
"Was that it?" Fred scratched his head in confusion. "I thought he was going to explode or something."
"No." Percival's voice was grim. "Can't you feel it? When he wakes up, he won't be the same creature."
"What do you mean?" Sofia demanded.
The voice returned, now triumphant: *"Rise, Havoc. Level this pathetic place. Show them no mercy whatsoever."*
Havoc's eyes snapped open, glowing blood-red.
His entire presence had transformed as he rose—darker, more menacing, radiating barely contained violence.
"Brace yourselves, everyone." Percival's grip tightened on his war hammer. "This just became infinitely more difficult."
Sofia and Fred watched in growing horror.
"Raaaaaaah!" Havoc's roar shattered windows blocks away.
*"Now go on your rampage. Tear them limb from limb,"* the voice commanded with sadistic pleasure.
Havoc responded with another earth-shaking growl.
*What's happening to me? I can't control my own body!* Havoc's consciousness fought desperately against the invasion. *This voice—I can't get it out of my head. Everything is going dark. I'm losing myself...*
"Care to explain what we're dealing with?" Fred asked, trying to mask his nervousness with casual banter.
"I wish I knew," Percival admitted grimly.
"This is way beyond anything we've faced before." Sofia's hands trembled slightly.
"Whatever it is, we still have to fight." Fred forced a smile. "No backing down now."
Drake watched the transformation with growing dread. *Havoc just became something else entirely. What the hell is possessing him?*
Inside Havoc's mind, the final battle for control raged:
*"Stop resisting, Havoc. Submit completely, and I shall grant you power beyond imagining."*
"I will never submit! This body belongs to me! GET OUT!" His consciousness blazed with desperate defiance.
*"Too late, my puppet. You already belong to me. Your body is mine to command."*
"NOOOOOO!" Havoc's final scream of resistance echoed through both the physical and mental realms.
The voice laughed—a sound like grinding metal and dying screams: *"Showtime, Havoc. I expect a magnificent performance. Give me a spectacle worthy of my attention."*
—TO BE CONTINUED—