A thunderous crash tore through the shop as Drake's massive body slammed into the shelving unit, sending it rattling violently against the wall. When he hit the ground, the force didn't stop there—his bulk skidded across the floor for nearly four meters, leaving a harsh scraping sound in its wake. Dust and debris shifted in the dim light, the aftermath of the impact settling like a warning.
Locke stood exactly where he had been a moment before, his posture steady and composed as if he hadn't moved at all. His eyes flicked briefly toward the terrified female clerk nearby, and without hesitation, he knocked her unconscious with a casual strike, ensuring she wouldn't get caught in what was coming next. Only then did he turn his attention back to the man rising from the ground, his gaze calm but carrying a quiet, suffocating pressure.
"It's you!"
Drake's voice came out as a low, guttural roar, the sound thick with rage and something deeper beneath it. His eyes burned a vivid scarlet, filled with raw violence and fury, though a faint trace of fear lingered at the edges. That fear didn't escape Locke's notice, but he didn't comment on it.
"Drake," Locke said evenly, his tone almost indifferent as he watched him stand. "You really didn't make it easy to track you down."
His expression didn't change, but the air around him seemed to tighten, a subtle yet undeniable pressure radiating outward. He stood there without the slightest hint of fear, as if the creature in front of him was nothing more than an obstacle to be removed.
The next instant, heavy footsteps pounded against the floor as Drake lunged forward, his body surging with explosive force. His fist cut through the air with brutal power, aimed straight at Locke without restraint.
"Well done."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Locke's mouth as he stepped in to meet the attack head-on. His gloved fist shot forward without hesitation, colliding directly with Drake's punch in a violent clash.
Boom!
The impact echoed sharply through the cramped shop, the sound of flesh striking flesh reverberating against the walls. Locke was forced to take two steps back, the shock of the blow sending a dull ache and numbness through his hands, and for the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. Drake, on the other hand, staggered back four full steps before barely managing to steady himself.
"Who the hell do you think I am?" Drake roared, throwing his head back as his voice tore through the space like a beast's howl. "You think you can come after me like this?"
Before the echoes faded, he charged again, but this time, the difference was obvious. Gone was the straightforward exchange of power—his movements became sharper, more calculated, his attacks layered with refined technique honed over centuries of combat.
His body blurred into afterimages as he unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. Locke reacted instantly, his figure shifting with precision as he dodged each incoming blow, narrowly slipping past the deadly combination of punches.
He wasn't surprised by the sudden escalation. The man in front of him had lived for thousands of years, and that kind of experience couldn't be dismissed. In terms of pure combat technique, Locke knew he might not have the edge.
Drake's frustration grew as he pressed the assault. Locke was clearly stronger, yet the gap in speed made the fight uneven in a way he couldn't accept. He was supposed to be the origin, the pinnacle—the true ancestor of vampires, something closer to a god than a man.
The thought only fed the violence burning in his eyes.
He didn't slow down, didn't hesitate, driving Locke backward with increasing intensity. Each step forced Locke closer to the wall behind him, until there was nowhere left to retreat.
At that moment, Locke's eyes sharpened.
He twisted his body at the last second, narrowly avoiding a punch, and countered immediately. His fist snapped forward like a streak of lightning, slamming hard into Drake's jaw.
"Roar!"
The blow sent blood spraying from Drake's mouth as his entire body lifted off the ground. Locke didn't waste the opportunity. He leapt upward, his leg snapping forward in a brutal kick that drove Drake's descending body straight into the floor.
Boom!
Tiles shattered beneath the impact as Drake crashed down, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface. His fangs extended instinctively, his face twisted into something feral as he glared up at the man now standing over him, a foot planted firmly against his chest.
The humiliation hit harder than the blow itself.
In an instant, Drake's hands shot out, grabbing Locke's leg with crushing force. Before Locke could react, Drake twisted and hurled him away, sending his body flying across the shop.
Drake surged to his feet and leapt forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Locke had just slammed into a display counter when he saw the incoming strike, a heavy foot aimed straight down at him.
His eyes hardened as his body shifted, leaving behind a faint afterimage. The kick passed through empty space and slammed into the counter instead, shattering glass and stone in an explosive burst.
Before Drake could recover, Locke was already beside him.
His fist drove into Drake's waist with crushing force.
"Roar!"
Pain flashed across Drake's sculpted features as he lashed out instinctively, swinging a powerful blow in retaliation. Locke leaned back just enough to avoid it, then countered again, his fist smashing into the side of Drake's face.
This time, however, Drake didn't go down.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as his head snapped to the side, but instead of collapsing, he surged forward, slamming his forehead into Locke's with brutal force.
Boom!
The two were thrown apart instantly. Locke staggered slightly, shaking off the sudden dizziness as he steadied himself. The unexpected headbutt had caught him off guard, disrupting his rhythm.
A shadow rushed toward him again.
Locke's expression darkened as he stepped back, but Drake was clearly pushing himself to the limit. His movements carried a slight instability now, his balance wavering just enough for Locke to notice.
Seizing the opening, Locke moved forward again.
His fists exploded into motion, a relentless barrage of strikes raining down on Drake's massive frame. Each punch landed with precision, driving him backward until his body was lifted off the ground once more and slammed violently into the wall.
Cracks spread rapidly across the surface as Drake's body embedded itself into it.
Locke didn't stop.
He surged forward, gathering his strength before delivering a vicious kick straight into Drake's abdomen.
Boom!
The force shattered the wall completely, sending both man and debris crashing out into the street. Outside, pedestrians who had been drawn by the noise froze in shock before panic took over, their screams filling the air as they scattered in every direction.
Locke's chest rose and fell steadily as he stepped through the wreckage, his figure flickering as he appeared beside Drake, who lay among the rubble, struggling to rise.
His eyes briefly swept over the terrified crowd before returning to his opponent.
Without hesitation, Locke crouched down and grabbed Drake's thick leg, dragging him back into the ruined shop as if he weighed nothing.
The moment they crossed back inside, the assault resumed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each strike landed with bone-shaking force as Locke drove his fists into Drake's body again and again. The final blow crashed into Drake's head, snapping it violently to the side.
"Roar!"
Blood poured down Drake's face, his fangs fully exposed as he continued to snarl and roar. Yet with every sound he made, another punch followed, each one heavier than the last.
Gradually, the resistance faded.
His body slackened, collapsing onto the floor as if the fight had been beaten out of him.
Locke flexed his aching arms slightly, then looked down at the man beneath him, who still stared back with a burning gaze. Calculating the timing, he slowly raised his hand, hovering it over Drake's head.
"Heh…"
Drake let out a low, mocking laugh.
In the next instant, his body began to change.
Locke's expression shifted sharply as he watched Drake's features distort, his skin splitting open to reveal raw, crimson flesh beneath. Muscles swelled unnaturally, his entire frame expanding as his height surged from six feet to nearly seven.
His body became grotesque, flesh writhing and bulging as if it could barely contain the power within. Compared to the form Locke had seen before, this version was far larger, far more monstrous.
The difference was unmistakable.
Before Locke could fully process it, a fist blurred through the air and slammed into him.
The impact sent him flying backward instantly, crashing through debris as he was thrown across the shop.
"Roar!"
Drake rose to his feet, his monstrous form towering over the destruction. A savage grin spread across his twisted face as he locked his gaze onto Locke, who was pulling himself out of the ruins.
....
Join my exclusive P@treon community for 60+ thrilling chapters!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)
If you join now you will get 2 Chapters for free as well.
Don't miss out, join now!