CHAPTER 41
The moment the two of them entered the castle, they realized something was wrong. Mike took a deep breath and grimaced.
"There's something here… The air is different. It's as if it's already been taken over by a force."
At that moment, darkness began to surround them. From one side, a man appeared holding a book, while from the other, another man emerged, his sword coated in poison and his eyes glowing fiercely.
Before Mike could roar, the man with the book began muttering incomprehensible words. Vlad's eyes widened, his claws tightening.
"No…" he said through gritted teeth. "This is a trap. My uncle has already been killed… This is Marcus' doing. He set an ambush for us."
The man lifted the book and stepped closer, slowly. Vlad's voice trembled:
"Malcolm…"
On the other side, the man gripping the sword was familiar.
"And… Ethan."
Mike's vision darkened. The words leaving Malcolm's mouth drilled into his mind. His strength drained from his veins, his muscles slackened. His black flames extinguished, and he began reverting to human form. He fell to his knees, then collapsed to the ground.
A mocking smile spread across Malcolm's face. "What happened, huh? Was that all you could do, Mike, despite Vlad boasting endlessly about your powers?"
Before Mike could ask what he meant or what the book was, he lay motionless on the ground.
Vlad turned to Ethan. "Why now? Wasn't it supposed to happen when the moon phase was complete?"
Ethan laughed. "Hahaha! Let's say my priorities have changed. Don't worry, I'll fight you at that phase. But for now, Malcolm needs some of Mike's powers. And I have to present them to my real father. You understand?"
Vlad's eyes widened in shock. "Your real father… what the hell?" he screamed. He was about to strike Ethan when Malcolm grabbed his tail.
"Hahaha!" he roared. "With the powers Mike temporarily gave me, I'll finish what I started!"
Vlad clenched his teeth and glared at Malcolm. "No! You can't touch Svetlana!"
His anger exploded. He roared and swung his claws at Malcolm, but Malcolm instantly countered, and Vlad's claws landed on the Mike lying on the ground.
Mike screamed in pain. His body convulsed, but he couldn't move. Then his consciousness darkened, and he fainted.
When he opened his eyes, he was not alone in the darkness. A demon stood before him, laughing as soon as it saw him.
"Hahaha! Long time no see, Mike. Of course, when you're cornered, you come to me again, right? Pathetic human."
Mike gritted his teeth. "Okay, I know… I haven't fed you for a month. I know! You'll say, 'Why do you work with your enemies instead of eating them?' And you're right. But the visions you showed me a year ago after the war… they really changed me."
The demon smiled silently, narrowing its eyes.
"That's why…" Mike continued, breathless, "by feeding you, I would continue to remain human. That still stands. If you get me out of this situation… I'll allow you to consume everyone except my friends."
The demon's eyes gleamed. "Sweet Svetlana included?"
Mike bowed his head. "Yes, her too. But I still don't understand what you want from Svetlana. Enemies… and you. What will you gain from her?"
The demon laughed mockingly. "You talk too much. I have my permission. The rest is up to you."
Suddenly, Mike opened his eyes. His wings blazed, his hair had grown and shimmered. His muscles expanded explosively. With a wicked smirk, he stood up.
"Say hello," he said in a sinister voice.
Everyone stared at him in shock.
Malcolm turned, stunned, looking at the Mike on the ground. "No" he started to shout, but Mike had already begun tearing and devouring his soul.
Vlad and Ethan's eyes widened in horror.
Meanwhile, outside at the camp,
As Mike and Vlad stepped inside, the camp outside had fallen into silence.
Marcus stood up from where he was sitting and shouted, "Hey!"
Zack, Emily, and Svetlana immediately turned to Marcus, looking at him with expressions that showed they didn't understand what was happening.
Marcus' command was sharp:
"You three! Hands behind your backs, get on your knees!"
Before they could even understand what was happening, weapons suddenly struck their heads. Heavy blows knocked them out, and the world went dark.
Zack slowly began to wake, blinking his eyes open. He looked around; he was alone, pressed against a railing. He brought his hands to his head.
"What… is this?" he muttered, trying to sit up.
He began thinking: Is this a trap? I hope the others are okay… But first, I need to find them. And of course, I must avoid those hundreds of people outside.
What should I do… think, Zack, think.
At that moment, voices started coming from afar. A rhythmic, spine-chilling sound… it sounded like Svetlana's voice. As if a ritual was taking place, and Svetlana was the main focus of it.
"Yes, you are all here. We are all here," Marcus' voice said, deep and terrifying, "before us stands the chosen one. We will shed their blood."
Zack could hear Marcus continue as his heart raced:
"That night… even his family had given up. This child had been kidnapped by his brother. And that night, his entire family, including his uncle, was destroyed. But luckily, both the brother and he were unaware of our offerings. The brother, to never experience such weakness again, had fled of his own will… and they returned here, to this island."
Zack held his breath. He tried to form a plan in his mind. Svetlana was at the center of the ritual.
Think, Zack, think… what can I do?
The silence in the darkness gradually intensified, and Marcus' ominous voice, along with the ritual, surrounded the place like chained fear. Every step, every breath smelled of danger.