Elric crouched down, holding Henry's severed head in one hand like a grotesque trophy. The man's face was pale as paper, sweat dripping down what remained of him—somehow the separated head still produced moisture, still showed signs of life.
"Hey," Elric said softly, his tone almost pitying, like a doctor delivering bad news. "Didn't I tell you not to get worked up?"
He sighed with what might have been genuine regret. "You made me do this. I really don't like taking people apart."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Dismemberment was messy, even when done surgically. But sometimes it was necessary to make a point.
Henry's lips trembled, trying to form words. "Please—please don't kill me. I'll talk. I'll tell you everything you want to know."
Elric tilted his head, his expression unreadable—somewhere between curiosity and indifference.
"Then tell me. Where did you get your power? You have three seconds before I flush what's left of you down the drain."
The threat was delivered casually, but the certainty in his voice made it clear this wasn't an empty promise.
Henry froze for a moment, his mind racing through options he no longer had—then broke completely.
"I found it! On the rooftop—there's this white vine up there, growing out of the concrete like it was always meant to be there. It had three white fruits on it, glowing faintly!"
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his severed neck—a disturbing sight. "I ate two of them. That's how I got this strong. But there's one left! I swear! It's still up there!"
Elric's eyes lit up with genuine interest, sharp as a blade catching light. "So there's still one fruit left?" he murmured to himself. "Interesting…"
Henry nodded frantically, desperate to provide valuable information that might spare him. "Y-yeah! But—there's a problem. There's a huge bird guarding it! Like something out of a nightmare. Its feathers glow with this sickly light, and its eyes… god, its eyes look almost human. I didn't dare go near it."
"A mutant creature," Elric said under his breath, a faint smile touching his lips. "Makes sense. Power always has a price. Nothing valuable comes unguarded."
He turned his gaze back to Henry, the faint red light in his eyes dimming as he deactivated his scanning ability.
"Thanks for the information. That's all I needed from you."
Henry's mouth quivered, his eyes widening with renewed fear. "Wait—you said you wouldn't kill me!"
Elric's tone turned colder than ice, dropping several degrees in temperature. "No, I said I don't like killing people. Doesn't mean I won't when it's necessary."
He raised his hand slowly, deliberately. A faint shimmer of energy—like a scalpel made of pure air, invisible but undeniably present—flashed once with a sound like tearing silk.
The head fell silent immediately. What remained disintegrated into dust that scattered across the floor, as if Henry had never existed at all.
Elric straightened up, brushing imaginary dust from his hands, and glanced around the wrecked activity room.
A group of terrified teachers huddled near the corner, watching in stunned silence. Their faces showed horror, fear, but also… relief? The tyrant was dead.
"You," Elric said, pointing at them without particular emotion. "Get rid of the rest. His body, his mess—tie it up, throw it out the window. You'll feel better afterward, trust me."
No one argued. No one dared.
They nodded quickly, some almost eagerly, grabbing torn sheets and cords to gather the remains of the man who'd tormented them.
Even the timid female teacher in high heels—Professor Grace, who'd nearly been assaulted—kicked one of the bundles hard before helping toss it into the fog outside. The action seemed cathartic.
When it was over, when every piece of Henry had been disposed of, Elric walked deeper into the room.
Stacks of bottled water and canned food filled one wall—supplies Henry had hoarded while others starved just floors below. The amount was substantial.
By the looks of it, it was enough to keep three or four people alive comfortably for several weeks, maybe longer with careful rationing.
Elric gave a small nod of approval. "Not bad. He was organized, at least."
He turned to the two women behind him—Natasha and Jenna—both still tense from witnessing the violence but trying to steady themselves, to appear useful rather than frightened.
"Take everything edible," Elric ordered, his tone matter-of-fact. "Leave the water—we have plenty already."
Natasha nodded immediately, moving quickly to gather what she could, organizing items by type and portability with practiced efficiency.
Jenna hesitated for a moment, then whispered nervously, "Are we really going up there? To the roof?"
Elric's faint smile returned, not quite reaching his eyes. "Yeah. If that vine's still growing, that last fruit's mine."
He glanced upward at the ceiling, crimson light flickering briefly in his eyes—his Thousand Eyes ability scanning the upper floors, piercing through layers of concrete and steel.
Through the obstacles, he could already sense movement—something large, wings shifting in the fog above, creating air currents that disturbed the mist.
"Get ready," he said quietly, his voice carrying certainty. "Next stop—the rooftop."
There is 35 chapter Advance with 2 chapters every day, in my patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439