CHAPTER 50
Following the collapse of the body to the ground, Mike's muscles began to tense. His savage, monstrous form was slowly dissolving. The dense, reddish fur, colored by dried blood, dispersed like a mist, giving way to smooth human skin. His sharp, razor-like claws retracted, shrinking to normal fingernail size. The dark glow in his eyes faded, returning to normal, tired human eyes. The pointed fangs hanging from his mouth disappeared, and his jaw and facial features reverted to their old, familiar state. Sweaty and exhausted, as if he had gone through a difficult birth, Mike had returned to his human form.
He turned to Patricia, his voice still trembling with fatigue: "Patricia, now you've seen what I am."
Despite Mike's terrifying transformation, the young woman appeared unshaken. In her eyes, there was more gratitude and compassion than fear. "Yes, maybe you're right, maybe I was scared, maybe you are a creature, but you saved me, Mike. That's what's important."
A brief shadow fell across Mike's face. His eyes drifted to the other victims he couldn't save. "But the others, I couldn't save..."
His words were cut short by Patricia's sudden and warm gesture. The young woman moved closer to Mike and kissed him on the lips.
Mike didn't try to speak or object further. His face instantly flushed with an embarrassed blush. Setting aside his surprise, he responded. The kiss, in stark contrast to the bloody and chaotic scene they were in, created a long, silent, and unexpected moment of solace. When their eyes met, there was only silence between them.
After the silent kissing and gazing, Mike tried to pull himself together, speaking tensely: "Look, there are cars stopped at the town entrance. If they are broken, I'll fix one or rather, I'll try to fix one; I know a little about repairing things. Then you can leave with the car we start up, Patricia."
Patricia's voice was calm: "Alright, Mike, if you say so."
Following their conversation, they walked together toward the vehicles at the town entrance. Mike went to one of the cars and turned the ignition to see if it would start. To his surprise, the engine roared to life with a single growl, and the car started immediately. There was no need for repairs.
A sad smile spread across Patricia's face. "Well, it started. That means this is where we part ways. So... I don't know if we'll ever meet again, but remember, you saved my life today."
Mike shrugged, trying to suppress his emotions. "Look, Patricia, I just did what I had to do. You already gave your thanks with that delicate kiss from your beautiful soft lips. And I'm grateful for that kiss, so that thank you is enough for me. As I said, I just did what I had to do."
Curiosity was in Patricia's eyes. "So, where are you going, Mike? Where do you really live?"
Mike's gaze drifted far away, into the misty depths of the town. "Patricia, my work here isn't finished yet. There's something I need to find. I can't leave without finding it."
"Well, Mike, is there anything I can do? Anything you want..." The young woman reached out her hand.
"No, Patricia. Just take care of yourself and drive safely."
Patricia paused before opening the car door. "Hey Mike, come here. I'm going to tell you one last thing."
Mike slowly approached. Patricia, without a moment's hesitation, kissed Mike on the lips one last time. This kiss was shorter than the first but more resolute.
"That was my final thank you, Mike. Take care of yourself."
Mike nodded. "You too, Patricia. See you."
Accompanied by the sound of the engine, Patricia quickly drove away toward the town exit. Mike took one last look at the car's disappearing lights, then focused all his attention on his own task.
"Yes, I still need to get out of here. I hope my friends, my family, my loved ones are okay right now. I need to find the mask as soon as possible."
Mike closed his eyes. Pushing aside the surrounding chaos and his fatigue, he surrendered his mind to the mask's powerful connection. Even with his eyes closed, the mask's hazy route began to appear before his mind like a map, as if due to the psychic link between them. Mike opened his eyes and began to follow the route he saw.
After a while, when he reached the end of the route, he saw someone holding the mask.
Mike approached with determination. "Hey, you! I'm talking to you. You don't know how dangerous that thing in your hand is, so put it back down."
The man looked at the mask in his hand and grinned. "Hey, who are you, and how do you know I don't know how dangerous it is?" The man's voice was gravelly and mocking.
Mike started to lose patience. "Look, forget who I am, just do what I say."
The man holding the mask suddenly looked at Mike and said, "He didn't mention there was another mask, and he said almost no one knew of the mask's existence. And you... there's something strange about you. Normally, I can see everyone's soul, their inside, their goodness, how I can devour their soul, but when I look at you, I see pure darkness, I see pure death. I don't know what you are, but I will enjoy killing you, kid."
The man's voice was full of menace.
Mike paused for a moment, his voice rising in surprise. "You... you must be the previous wielder. Look, stop! Look, you have your mask too. Give me that mask, and let's not have this fight. I'll go where I belong."
The mocking expression on the man's face instantly vanished. "No. No, there's no way out for you here!" His voice suddenly transformed into a deep, booming roar that transcended human limits.
"Look, calm down," Mike said, taking a cautious step back. "I don't want to fight you. Calm down."
Growls rose from the man's throat. "Hrrr... You can't hrr... fight me anyway hrrr."
The man, who dropped the mask in his hand, suddenly underwent an unbelievable transformation. His eyes instantly sharpened, his veins bulged, and they began to glow fiery red, like a dragon's eye. His teeth lengthened like a shark's sequential and terrifying jaw. His jaw turned into a strong, lockable structure like a T-Rex. Huge, ragged wings, resembling those of an eagle but of colossal size, burst from his back. His entire body was engulfed in flames; orange and crimson heat waves distorted the air around him. His physique had swollen like that of a gorilla, but this was a monstrous hybrid form, the most savage and terrifying.
"Hrrrrrrr I'll eat you! Rrrrroaaaaaaggghh!" The man-turned-creature roared and attacked instantly. With a very fast and powerful movement of his giant wings, he tore through the air, coming straight at Mike. His sole purpose was to swallow Mike in one bite. Mike barely managed to dodge by throwing his body to the side, seeing the attack at the last moment.
"Haaa! Damn it, my strength isn't fully recovered! I had just transformed! I've never transformed this many times in a row before, but I have to try!" Mike muttered to himself, breathless.
The monster, after its failed first attack, lunged again without waiting. Although Mike realized exactly where the attack was coming from, it was too late against the creature's speed.
Mike could do nothing to counter the colossal punch. Mike took the punch the monster threw. However, like an instinctive protective shield, his powers spontaneously activated to protect him.
He suddenly began to transform. This new form resembled a true devil, but a much larger, much stronger version. With red, scaled skin, sharp, curved horns, malevolently glowing yellow eyes, razor-sharp claws, a long, whip-like tail, and massive wings, he was the realistic image of a complete devil depiction.
Despite taking that terrifying punch, Mike's strength multiplied as he changed form, and before the monster could retract its punch, Mike caught and tightly grabbed its arm in the air.
"Hey! You might call yourself strong, but I was strong enough to banish a devil to another body!" roared Mike's new, echoing voice.
And with a sudden and sharp movement, Mike tried to tear off the monster's arm. As he pulled the monster towards him by the arm he held, he simultaneously kicked the monster's incoming body, causing the monster's arm to detach at the shoulder joint. Blood and flames gushed out. From that moment on, the tide of the fight had turned.