There were questions popping up in their minds as they entered the teleporter. Why was Alvarox on Earth, and why was he at Ryan's place? This wasn't the time to look for answers. Their friend was entering a trap created by their archfoe, and he knew it.
Ryan got there within seconds. His eyes were flaming, his fiery temperament reflected in them, and thoughts rushed through his mind. This was the only person he had left. He couldn't lose him .
As his lenses caught sight of the flames bathing the barn,his uncle was in there
With superspeed, like a flash of blue light, he entered the barn. His fury prevented him from even perceiving how fast he was moving. He just wanted to save his Uncle that what matters now.
His life, which had always felt like a curse, would not stop him.
The others appeared. They stood around for a moment, watching what was happening.
Ely: "Where is he?"
Iriel's vision spotted Ryan inside the fire. She ran immediately without even informing the other two. They chased after her.
Her emotions were leading her, but what was she feeling now? It was strange—something deep, something she couldn't explain. She couldn't stand watching Ryan suffer. Feelings and thoughts whose roots she couldn't even identify rushed through her system.
She didn't care.
She was about to enter a burning barn to save someone she had only met a month ago.
What brought her back to her senses was a flaming log that fell from the barn. She paused for a moment, and Ely seized the opportunity to move in front of her.
Ely: "Iriel, you have to calm down."
Alicia: "You don't know what would happen if you go in there!"
Iriel: "But Ryan is in there."
She snapped, and a tear fell.
Hazel (through the comms): "He can't be affected. It is his element. The fire can't do anything to him."
Ely: "You see?"
This eased Iriel a little, but her heart was still beating as if it were about to explode.
Ryan — Inside the Fire
Ryan was moving through the flames.
Ryan: "Uncle!"
With his speed, he moved deeper into the burning barn. Even his clothes remained intact. He was glowing bluishly, his eyeballs a deep sapphire blue.
Then he heard a faint cry within the fire.
Voice: "Ryan!"
Without even trying to discern the voice, Ryan leaped toward the direction from which he had heard it.
He cared less about the powers he was manifesting. His mind was focused on one thing.
Somebody else couldn't die because of him again.
It was enough ten years agoit can't repeat itself
Now, that couldn't happen again.
He ripped open a flaming wooden door, but instead of finding his uncle, a greenish blast struck him. The force sent him flying out of the barn.
He landed on his back, grunting in pain as he tried to adjust himself.
Suddenly, Alvarox landed as well—without his mask, exposing his face.
Ryan's lenses caught sight of him.
His brain was not slow to process who this was.
Shock and disbelief crept across his face as he stared at the figure standing before him.
This answered all his questions.
Why had Alvarox gone after his uncle?
Why was he on Earth?
And what did he want?
Alvarox dusted his suit without a ghost of shame on his face. A sudden smirk appeared, as if he were satisfied by Ryan's confusion.
He perceived that Ryan's friends were coming.
He stretched out his hands and created a powerful barrier that protected them.
Alvarox: "I won't allow any form of disturbance, you know."
Immediately, several skeletons started appearing around them—the same creatures that had attacked them when they were trying to take the projectile.
Ely: "Oh, crap! Not these things again!"
Iriel turned sharply toward the creatures. They were coming toward them.
Alicia: "We have to get to Ryan."
Ely: "Not with these things in our way."
Iriel still wanted to do something to help Ryan. But she had to save herself first.
The skeletons surrounded them, advancing slowly.
Ryan staggered to his feet, leaving only a few steps between himself and his foe.
Alvarox grunted and smirked.
Ryan had completely forgotten his shock. His eyes were fixed on Alvarox, but his uncle remained his priority.
Ryan: "Where is he?"
His tone was stern and commanding.
His hair fell over his face, covering his sapphire eyes. His body glowed furiously, emphasizing his rage.
Ryan: "Where is he?"
This time, he didn't wait for an answer.
His flaming wings appeared behind him. His hair turned blonde, his weapon forming in both hands as he advanced.
Alvarox was ready.
He flew.
Ryan followed.
The battle started in the air.
It was a close fight. Even though Ryan was more powerful and stronger than before, he was still no match for Alvarox's strength.
Alvarox had the upper hand.
Ryan fought with his energy, fighting with pure grit to save his uncle—the only person he had left.
Alvarox, on the other hand, seemed to be taunting him.
But unlike their first meeting, this time Ryan had few chances.
It was becoming visible that Earth was not used to that kind of energy.
Clash after clash, the atmosphere seemed to repel their powers, giving signs of abnormal thunder.
As Ryan was busy fighting in the air, his friends were also fighting on the ground.
The skeletons kept coming.
Every time they destroyed them, more appeared.
The trio fought hard, trying to end the battle quickly so they could help Ryan.
Suddenly, a blast struck Ryan in the back.
His wings disappeared, but his blades remained.
Iriel's body quivered as she saw him staggering on his feet.
She was infuriated. She wanted to end this quickly and get rid of these boneheads.
Alvarox landed in front of Ryan.
Alvarox: "You know, Ryan, you are a bit stupid and blunt. But your uncle… he seemed nice. Good at bearing burdens, too. Can you believe he gave me a welcoming tea when I arrived?"
He clenched his tongue.
Alvarox: "What a pity. Your weakness would cause the death of a person like that. Ryan Vins, you should feel guilty."
He was taunting him, and it was working.
Alvarox: "A pity."
Ryan: "Shut up."
He growled.
His fury leveled up.
Something inside him was changing. It seemed Alvarox's words had triggered it.
Ryan was tapping into something different.
Not the light of his energy.
Something beneath it.
A darkness beneath his light.
Before he could fully understand what was happening, Alvarox brought him back to reality.
Greenish power ropes shackled Ryan's hands.
Alvarox: "You are not ready for that power, Ryan."
With speed like a greenish blur, he punched Ryan, who struggled against the energy chains.
The impact sent him flying backward until he crashed into a pole.
With his superspeed, Alvarox moved toward him and placed his right hand, coated in steel, against Ryan's chest.
Ryan was pinned against the pole.
Immediately, greenish spikes emerged around Ryan's body, covering his blue light.
Alvarox was draining his powers.
The pain was excruciating, as if the spikes were stabbing into him.
Alvarox was poisoning him.
Ryan screamed.
After a while, Alvarox moved away.
Immediately, Ryan fell to his knees.
Alvarox: "If you want to save your uncle, you know the deal. Your energies, everything—it comes with a price. And you could ask for a little help."
He gazed toward the trio battling his skeletons.
Alvarox: "Good luck with that, Ryan."
A smirk cracked across his otherwise emotionless face.
Instantly, he flew away.
Ryan remained on his knees, gasping in pain.
He clenched his jaw hard, blood staining his mouth. His left arm rested on the ground while his right hand pressed against his chest.
He couldn't utter a word.
The moment Alvarox left, everything calmed.
The skeletons disappeared.
The barrier vanished.
Immediately, the others ran toward him.
Iriel knelt beside him, her eyes filled with tears. Her heart ached as she watched her friend suffer.
The only thing that mattered now was stopping his pain.
Ryan could feel it in his heart, spreading rapidly through his system.
Iriel: "It's going to be okay. Just hold on, Ryan."
Her supersight looked into his system.
There was a black spot in his heart.
The poison.
And it was spreading fast.
Iriel: "He is poisoned."
Ely: "What?"
Alicia: "Ely, find a way to contact Hazel now."
Ely tapped his Kryck.
Hazel's face appeared on the projected screen, concern very visible on her face.
Iriel: "Ryan is poisoned."
Hazel: "I have perceived it."
Hazel understood what was happening.
Ryan was dying.
He had now laid his head on Iriel's shoulder. Their body heat mingled as she supported him. This was the closest she had ever been to a boy, but this wasn't the time to think about anything else.
He was still bleeding, his blonde hair covering his right bloodshot sapphire eye.
Hazel: "Ely, you are the only one who can help him right now."
Ely: "What do I do?"
Hazel: "I need you to use your energy as a draining force to pull out the poison string. Your strength is the only thing that could do that."
Ely: "How do I do it?"
His voice sounded bold despite the situation.
Hazel: "From behind. Give it all you've got."
Ely moved behind Ryan.
Hazel: "It's going to hurt, Ryan, but you have to stay still."
Iriel held him tightly. She could feel his tense temperature against her skin. This wasn't about romance. Ryan was suffering, and she only wanted to keep him conscious.
Alicia held his shoulders to help keep him still.
Iriel could feel his heart beating rapidly.
Ryan was practically leaving his whole weight on her.
As Hazel gave the signal, blue energy began coming from Ely's hands, connecting to Ryan's back.
The energy became blackish, as if it were drawing the poison out.
Ryan grunted from the pain.
Iriel tightened her hold around him.
Ely continued draining the poison with force.
Ryan screamed.
The poison, which looked like a dark pellet, vanished immediately from Ely's hands.
Ryan gently freed himself from Iriel's grip.
He stood up, not bothering to adjust the hair covering the right side of his face. Blood was still on his lips.
He staggered away slowly.
The atmosphere was cold and silent.
They could still hear the echo of his scream in their minds as they watched him walk away.
They no longer saw Ryan exactly as they had before.
They were seeing someone who had almost died for someone he cared about.
Ely whispered:
Ely: "He really is a badass."
Iriel felt something stirring inside her—a growing desire to understand the boy who seemed to carry so much pain in silence.
She could only watch as he walked away.
Ryan was already accustomed to pain, perhaps even pain worse than what he had just endured.
But now, he had caught Iriel's attention.
She wanted to know him.
She wanted to understand who he really was.
Was he just some random handsome guy in Canyon Bridge, or a new guy at Degriss High?
Something inside her told her he was more than that.
She could feel it.
He was hurting, and he was always silent.
Now, the only person left in his life was being held captive by a lunatic hungry for power.
Author's Note ⚔️
Thank you for sticking with The Mart Force! The journey is only getting started, and the greatest battles are still ahead. If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote, comment, and share your thoughts. Your support keeps this story alive. See you on Thursday 🔥❤️