As those words left Vanzayoree's lips, Flauge snapped. His energy flared, his eyes turning wild as he prepared to level the entire mansion to the ground.
"Oh, wait, wait," Vanzayoree said, waving a hand dismissively as if he were bored. "You know nobody can kill me without the help of Mantinix. You definitely can't do it. Destroying this mansion is just a waste of your energy."
Vanzayoree leaned in a little, a cold smile playing on his face. "But, how about I give you a suggestion?"
"What was that?" Flauge spat, his voice shaking with pure rage.
"It's just this," Vanzayoree replied calmly. "Not everything you see and plan works out. Sometimes, things go so wrong that you won't even be able to handle the mess. And mark my words... this was our last meeting."
With that, Vanzayoree's body suddenly cracked. A web of light fractured across his skin before he shattered into a thousand jagged pieces. He wasn't dead. It was just the seal.
As the shards faded, Spark stepped out from the shadows. He was the one who had arranged this whole meeting between Vanzayoree and Flauge. He looked at Flauge with a smug, confident grin.
"Go back," Spark said, his voice echoing in the quiet room. "I have a surprise for you. Its name is Vadel."
The name hit Flauge like a physical blow. His face went pale, his jaw dropping as he took a shaky step backward. Terror washed over him, making his knees wobble.
"No... no... nooo!" Flauge stammered, his voice climbing into a panicked yell. "He was dead! He can't be alive after thirty million years!"
Spark let out a dry laugh. "Flauge, why are you so afraid? If you're scared of Vadel this much, I really want to see your face when you finally meet the boss, Vanzayoree."
"Arnold!" Flauge screamed, his voice cracking as he called for his ally.
Then, the air shifted. Vadel appeared. He looked at Flauge with a terrifyingly calm expression.
"Hey, Altranix. Nice to meet you," Vadel said. He tilted his head, his eyes cold. "I am the God of Destruction. No, no... actually, that's Vanzayoree. I'm just holding his place for now."
Flauge didn't wait for another word. He roared, the floor cracking under his boots as he charged at Vadel. But Vadel didn't move until the last second. He gathered a burst of energy and buried a fist deep into Flauge's belly.
Flauge doubled over, gasping for air, but Vadel followed up immediately with a brutal uppercut that snapped Flauge's head back. Before he could fall, Vadel reached out, grabbed Flauge by the hair, and smashed a knee directly into his face.
The sound of the impact was sickening. Flauge collapsed onto his knees, blood dripping from his nose and mouth.
"Flauge," Vadel said, looking down at him with contempt. "Without your perfect form, you're nowhere near my level. Why don't you just tell your mates the truth? Even though you're the God of Generation, you're still weak."
"My boss is not weak!" a voice roared out in defense.
Arnold lunged forward, his energy manifesting into thick tentacles that wrapped around Vadel, trying to crush him. Vadel didn't even blink. He moved with a blur of speed, thrusting a spear of energy straight through Arnold's stomach.
Arnold let out a choked gasp and slumped to his knees.
"Ow, nice attack," Vadel said, his tone almost mocking. "But did your master forget to tell you? I can use telekinesis with my eyes, too. Now, Flauge, my brother... let's have some fun."
Vadel's hand shot out, grabbing Flauge by the hair again. He swung him like a doll, repeatedly smashing Flauge's head into the walls and the stone floor. Crack. Thud. Crack. Blood began to smear across the ground, but Vadel didn't slow down. He pinned Flauge and rained down twenty-three heavy punches directly onto his skull.
Finally, Vadel grabbed Flauge by the hair one last time and began dragging him across the floor. He reached out with his other hand, grabbed Arnold by the head, and dragged both of them toward the exit.
He threw them out of the mansion like they were bags of trash. Both Arnold and Flauge lay in the dirt, broken and shivering. Vadel walked up, looming over them, and grabbed one of Arnold's fingers.
"Now," Vadel's voice turned low and serious. "Both of you. Tell me where the remaining two mates are."
"We... we won't tell you," Flauge wheezed through the blood in his mouth.
Vadel's expression went cold. Without a word, he gripped Arnold's hand and uprooted two of his fingers. Arnold's scream was high-pitched and raw, a sound of pure agony that tore through the air.
"Wait! Wait! I'll tell you!" Flauge screamed, his resolve snapping.
But before he could speak, Ayeleen appeared, dragging Spark along with her. She had a tight grip on Spark's neck, her fingers digging into his skin.
"Leave them alone," Ayeleen said, her voice trembling with tension. "Otherwise, I'll twist his neck and kill him right now."
Spark's eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down his face. "V... Vadel... please... I request you... help me..."
Vadel looked at Spark. There was no mercy in his eyes, only a deep sense of disappointment.
Suddenly, Vadel's power flared. With a dull thud, Spark's body simply blasted apart. Purple, spooky blood erupted in every direction, spraying over everyone.
The silence that followed was heavy. Everyone stood there, frozen and soaked in blood, staring at the spot where Spark had been.
CHAPTER 25 ENDS