When Alex first arrived at the hospital, an unexpected interaction with the receptionist had led him to bump into another Dragon Roar faction member.
Although their exchange was brief, the slightly chubby man—holding a half-eaten donut and looking utterly unbothered—had helped Alex out of a tough spot.
But now, the same man stood in his way, blocking the door.
Alex, gripping his blood-stained axe tightly, glared at him furiously.
"Get out of my way!" Alex shouted, his voice filled with rage.
"Calm down, kid; you look like you're—" the man began, his tone casual.
Before he could finish his sentence, Alex swung the axe with all his might.
Strangely, the man ducked at the last second, the blade slicing harmlessly through the air above his head. He straightened, still calm, though his eyes were now more focused.
Alex didn't pause. He lunged forward, swinging the axe again and again, each strike aimed with precision. Yet, every time, the man dodged with surprising agility for someone of his build.
The room echoed with the sound of Alex's missed swings and the man's effortless movements.
Eventually, the man let out a sigh, his patience running thin.
Clenching his fist, he let it vibrate with a faint glow of energy. As Alex swung his axe for another attempt, the man struck.
His glowing fist collided with the blade of Alex's axe. The force of the impact sent the weapon flying out of Alex's hand, clattering loudly against the far wall.
A small burst of force radiated from the man, hitting Alex and the two injured men behind him.
"Enough, kid. You're not thinking straight," the man said firmly.
His name was Saka, a member of the Dragon Roar Faction.
Alex stumbled but quickly got back to his feet, his eyes locked on Saka. Stretching out his hand, he called back the axe, which materialized in his grip. However, the moment he held it, he noticed something unusual.
The axe's blade was slightly bent, its balance off. The change was subtle, but Alex could feel it—the weapon's weight had shifted.
"You did this..." Alex muttered, his tone sharp.
"It's a self-healing axe," Saka replied nonchalantly. "It'll get back into shape."
He was right. Alex's axe had a built-in self-repairing ability, designed to restore itself when not in use. Still, Alex's grip on the handle tightened, his frustration visible.
Saka, however, remained calm. He gestured toward Alex. "Let me tell you something, kid. You don't look good. Take a moment to check yourself out."
Alex glanced down.
His clothes were drenched in blood. It covered his hands, his arms, and his chest, staining every inch of fabric.
"Anyone who sees you out there will think you're some kind of freak," Saka continued, his voice steady but direct. "And judging by what you've done in this room... maybe they wouldn't be wrong."
The aftermath of Alex's actions was gruesome. The room was soaked in blood, with shattered bodies and torn flesh scattered across the floor. Alex himself was drenched, his clothes and skin smeared with blood and bits of flesh. Anyone who saw him in this state would have thought he was a bloodthirsty demon.
"My mother... My mother is in danger..." Alex said, his voice trembling as he stepped forward.
But Saka blocked his path again.
"Hold on, kid. I think something else is going on," Saka said, his tone firm.
"What do you mean hold on?" Alex shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Of course, something is going on!
Someone is trying to kill my mother, and you're stopping me from saving her!"
Saka didn't flinch at Alex's outburst.
"Your mother... she's safe. I can assure you of that. Pick up the phone from earlier and see for yourself," he said calmly.
Alex hesitated, his breathing heavy as he glanced around the room. Among the pile of bodies and blood, he spotted the phone that had been used to show him the video earlier.
The device was slick with blood, but its screen was still glowing.
Alex crouched down and picked it up, his hands shaking slightly. Blood dripped from the phone as he held it, but the video feed was still running, showing what was happening in his mother's office.
Finally, Alex could see for himself what was going on.
Anna let out a mighty scream, one that sounded far from human. It was loud, ear-piercing, and almost unbearable.
Doctor Guity, standing closest to her, felt the full brunt of it. His ears throbbed painfully, and blood began dripping from his nose. He clutched his head, swaying as if he might collapse.
The scream echoed through the room, shaking everything in its wake. Finally, it stopped, and Anna sank to her knees, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Doctor Guity, with staggering steps, managed to get back on his feet, still holding the dagger in his hand. However, he didn't attack. Instead, he froze, his eyes wide in shock.
He was staring at something unbelievable.
Right where the dagger had pierced Sera's chest, the blade began to push itself out. Nothing visible was forcing it out, yet it slid out of her wound and clattered to the floor.
Moments later, Sera gasped sharply, as if she'd been holding her breath for an eternity. Her chest heaved, and she took in deep, ragged breaths.
Seeing this, Anna's tears flowed even harder. She threw her arms around Sera, pulling her into a tight hug.
"What were you thinking…!" Anna cried, her voice breaking as she held her friend close.
Sera managed a weak smile despite the situation. "Because I know what you're capable of," she said softly. "How would I have healed you if you were the one who took the dagger instead?"
Anna sobbed even harder, her grip tightening on Sera. The room, though still chaotic, seemed to fall silent as the two embraced.
"Hahaha!!!"
A sudden burst of laughter interrupted Anna and Sera. It was none other than Doctor Guity. His laughter echoed through the room as he tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.
"Look at you…" he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "You could have done this peacefully, and no one would have gotten hurt."
He took a step forward, his dagger gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Oddly enough, the pain that had wracked his body moments ago had vanished. He could move freely again, but he didn't spare a thought for the strange phenomenon. His focus was entirely on Anna.
"Now you've seen what you wanted to see," Anna said sharply, her eyes narrowing as she stepped in front of Sera protectively. "Why not leave? What more do you want? Yes, I have some kind of power. I use it to save people, not harm them!"
Her voice was firm, but her anger was evident.
Doctor Guity stopped and chuckled again, a dark glint in his eyes.
"Really? You think I've come this far, risked everything, just to discover your secret and walk away like it means nothing?" His tone was cold, his words laced with menace.
Anna's frown deepened as Guity's presence grew more threatening. The tension in the room was palpable, and even Sera, still recovering, tensed behind Anna.
"You've shown me what you can do, Anna," Guity continued, his voice lowering. "And now, I'll make sure the world knows… but only after I've taken it for myself."
"You will teach me how this magic works," Doctor Guity demanded, his tone sharp and unwavering. "Do it, and I'll assure the safety of not just you and your friend, but also your son."
As he spoke, he removed his doctor's robe, revealing an array of daggers strapped to his belt. Each blade gleamed under the faint light, adding a chilling edge to his threat.
"Alex…" Anna's voice trembled as her eyes darted to the weapons. "What are you planning to do to my son?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Guity replied, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "That is, if you refuse to give me what I want."
Anna froze, her mind racing as fear gripped her. She didn't know what to do.
"So," Guity pressed, taking another step forward. "Are you going to teach me?"
"I… I don't know how to teach this power!" Anna pleaded, her voice desperate. "It's not something I learned—it was given to me! I don't even fully understand how it works! Please, just leave my son out of this!"
Guity's smile twisted into a sneer. "Then I guess you've chosen the hard way. Just like before."
He raised his hand, ready to strike. But before he could move, the door behind him swung open with a loud creak.
"What did I tell you two idiots about interrupting me—" Guity began, turning sharply toward the door.
But the words died in his throat.
The person standing in the doorway wasn't who he expected.
It was a chubby man holding a half-eaten donut in one hand. His expression was lazy, almost disinterested. However, his other hand gripped an unconscious body by the neck, dangling it like a ragdoll.
Looking past the man in front of him, Doctor Guity noticed another figure lying unconscious on the floor behind him.
"You… Who are you?" Doctor Guity asked, his voice sharp and alert.
"I'm Saka," the man replied casually, taking a bite from his donut. "And you're lucky I'm the one standing here and not her son."
"Alex? Have you seen Alex?" Anna interrupted, her voice laced with concern.
"Your son is safe. He was never in danger," Saka replied, briefly glancing at Anna before turning his attention back to Guity.
"I'll make you an offer," Saka began, his tone calm but firm. "Allow me to wipe your memory of everything that happened here today. Do it peacefully, without putting up a fight, and I promise you won't suffer much. Or—"
Before Saka could finish his sentence, Doctor Guity launched his attack.
Several daggers flew through the air toward Saka with deadly precision.
'I guess you chose the second option without even hearing it,' Saka thought, sighing internally.
Three daggers flew directly at Saka, aiming for vital points. However, the instant they touched him, they passed through his body as though he were nothing but air.
Doctor Guity's eyes widened in shock. His jaw hung open as he stared at Saka, who stood completely unscathed. It was as if he had seen a ghost.
Before Guity could react further, Saka suddenly disappeared from where he was standing.
In less than a second, he reappeared in his original spot as though he had never moved. Meanwhile, Doctor Guity collapsed to the ground, clutching his body and screaming in agony.
When Anna and Sera looked at Doctor Guity, they gasped in shock. His hands and legs were mangled, twisted in unnatural angles. Saka had broken his limbs with precise brutality.
Saka walked over to the crumpled figure of Doctor Guity, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him off the ground with ease. Placing his hand firmly on Guity's head, he spoke in a calm, commanding voice.
"You will forget what happened here," Saka said. "You'll forget everything that led to this moment. Instead, your mind will focus only on what I am about to tell you."
Anna and Sera stood frozen, watching as the stranger dealt with Doctor Guity like he was nothing more than a nuisance. Saka's control over the situation was terrifyingly casual.
Meanwhile, Alex was observing the scene from the doorway. At first, he was surprised to see Saka appear to be in two places at once. But after a moment of thought, he understood what was happening.
"It's the Astral Body," Alex muttered to himself.
Seeing that his mother was unharmed and safe, Alex felt a wave of relief wash over him. The tension in his shoulders eased, and his grip on the axe loosened slightly.
As Saka finished with Doctor Guity, the man slumped to the ground unconscious. Saka turned away and approached Alex, his expression shifting to something more serious.
"Now, Alex," Saka began, his voice low and steady. "I need to ask you something. Are you aware of your mother's ability?"
His question hung heavily in the air, demanding Alex's full attention.