CHAPTER 47
"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down, calm down! I don't know who you are, but stop, please!"
He screams, "Aaaaaaaaa," his voice echoing in the room, breath coming in short gasps, panic embedded in every movement. His eyes widen with fear and helplessness, and his hands tremble involuntarily.
"Haaaa… I need stronger demons, I need to empower myself… I must absorb their evil, their death energy; otherwise, he'll defeat me too easily."
Psychologically, I might have the upper hand, but I still cannot face Mike; my hair stands on end, my heart pounding rapidly in my chest.
"Yes, today's topic of study is human psychology. Human psychology is far stronger than you think; even if your opponent has physical superiority, dominates in everything, if you play on their psychology and manage to get inside their mind successfully, your opponent will succumb very easily."
As he spoke, his voice carried both calmness and a sharp persuasiveness; his words seemed to vibrate in the air.
"Yes, Mike, this is exactly it! That's exactly how he plays with you. Sure, you may be weak, but remember, he is in an even weaker position; after all, the body he's imprisoned in is one of the last types he would want. That's why he's always being poisoned. Until he reaches his full potential, if you maintain your psychological composure, you will defeat him."
His words slowly started forming a plan in Mike's mind; each word instilled confidence step by step.
"You're right, Zack. That's why I'll strike in a way he doesn't expect. While he continues to think he has the psychological upper hand, I'll attack at exactly the moment he is vulnerable. Last month, when we went back to that house, after the transformation, I felt something different in myself. I felt it; as if every day, every time I push beyond my strength, I get one step closer to him. Through that bond, through the bond created when imprisoning him… That's why I need to train myself again, both physically and mentally."
Determination coursed through Mike like a warm current wrapped around his body; his eyes glimmered faintly, a silent tension pressed at the corners of his lips.
Mike, without any clue, had been pushing himself relentlessly for six months, every single day harder than the day before. His muscles ached, his mind and spirit tested their limits.
After six months, he began to sense a clue about the devil's place; it was as if a dark whisper had brushed against his mind.
He finishes today's training and, after cleansing, goes to sleep; laying his head on the pillow, he falls asleep. When he turns to the other side, he suddenly wakes up.
He finds himself standing in front of the place where he first found the mask, holding its broken pieces. He can't believe his eyes, astonished; he doesn't understand what's happening, but he realizes it's connected to the clue he felt today, and that it will lead him to the devil.
The mask trembles as if commanding Mike, glowing slightly; its light spreads softly, shadows dancing. It seems to want to be placed exactly where it was found. When Mike suddenly turns his head backward, he finds himself in front of a wall with a hole perfectly fitting the mask. He quickly places the broken pieces into the slot one by one; the ground begins to tremble. The mask slowly emits white light, merging the broken fragments; a faint glow falls on Mike's face.
After the final piece is set, Mike suddenly opens his eyes in bed. He doesn't understand what happened but quickly opens the box where he stored the broken mask pieces and sees the mask has truly returned to its original state. He quickly puts it on to gain new knowledge; yet he knows he still must remain cautious of the mask.
He wears it; instantly, he finds himself in a place he doesn't recognize. It's different from his home; outside, structures reminiscent of the past surround him, yet the town seems alive. He begins walking quickly and reaches the city square, noticing celebrations lights and decorations everywhere, people laughing joyfully. New Year's celebrations.
But then he notices the date: 12.12.1979; seeing a banner saying "Welcome 1980," he realizes he must understand how the mask transported him to the past. Yet the main question remains: why?