As I lay on the frozen ground, my vision blurring from the stranger's devastating kick, my body suddenly moved on its own. A surge of dark, suffocating energy wrapped around my limbs. My hand shot out at a speed that defied reality, the black blade grazing the stranger's cheek before he could even blink.
A thin line of blood appeared on the man's flawless face. He touched his cheek, staring at his blood-stained fingers in absolute shock.
"A moment ago you were on the ground!" the stranger roared, his arrogant composure shattering into pure rage. "You have scarred my face... I will end you for this! You want a contest of speed, boy? Fine! One of us dies here!"
The man, whose true name was Volak, pushed his body to its supersonic limits. He darted around me like a violent, invisible whirlwind, kicking up a storm of snow and ice. But as he lunged forward from my blind spot to deliver the killing blow, he froze mid-air.
He couldn't move closer. I was standing perfectly still, my head tilted to the side, smiling at him like an ancient, starving predator watching a trapped rabbit. It was not my smile; it was the Demon Lord projecting his terrifying malice through my features.
What is this feeling? Volak thought, his pupils shrinking in sheer panic as a cold sweat broke out across his neck. Fear? Impossible! I am Volak, the former pride of the Spear Clan! I will bury this feeling!
Before Volak could force his trembling body to strike, a thundering voice echoed through the frozen clearing.
"Enough!"
The killing intent in the air snapped instantly. Julian stood at the edge of the trees, his heavy and commanding presence radiating a suffocating magical pressure of his own.
"Volak," Julian said coldly, his hand resting on the hilt of his ice blade. "I did not expect you to turn your blade against a young recruit. Have you fallen so low? Are you a coward now?"
"I am no coward!" Volak snapped, stepping back, though his breath was visibly ragged. "I came here for you and your Commander, but this boy stood in my way."
Deep inside my consciousness, Nikerson glared at Julian with simmering irritation. Annoyed that his fun had been interrupted, the Demon Lord scoffed and retreated back into the black sword, allowing my own consciousness to violently claw its way back to the surface.
I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as the agonizing pain from Volak's earlier kick finally registered in my ribs.
"That is no excuse," Julian said firmly, stepping between me and the supersonic fighter. "Stand down, Volak, or face me right here and now."
"I will do neither," Volak replied, straightening his posture and regaining some of his noble composure. "I wish to speak with the Ice Lord. Not as a foe... but as the former vice-captain of the Spear Clan."
"If that is your wish," Julian sighed, his eyes narrowing with suspicion, "then let us go."
Julian glanced over his shoulder at me. "Andrei, bear the pain a moment longer. I will see you avenged for this unprovoked attack, but not today."
"It's fine," I groaned, leaning heavily on the hilt of my black sword to push myself up. "I've had worse."
Julian nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He cast a brief, wary glance at me before turning back to Volak. That overwhelming, monstrous power I felt just a second ago... Julian thought, his grip tightening on his sword. Was that truly Volak's killing intent? Or did it belong to something else entirely?
As Julian escorted the rebellious shadow toward the village, small footsteps crunched rapidly through the snow.
"Andrei! Are you okay?" Emily cried out, running from her hiding spot and throwing her small arms around my waist.
"Yes," I whispered, the sheer exhaustion of the demonic possession finally setting into my bones. "Don't worry."
"Thank goodness," she sobbed, burying her tear-stained face into my coat. "I don't know what I would do if something terrible happened to you."
"Hush now," I said gently, patting her head despite the searing pain in my chest. "Your big brother is strong."
From the dark, snow-laden branches high above, Maurice watched the touching scene unfold. A serpentine, malicious grin stretched across his masked face.
"I thought you were nothing but an empty, bloodthirsty vessel, Andrei," Maurice whispered into the freezing wind, his eyes gleaming with dark delight. "Since when did you grow a human heart? No matter... my plan is proceeding even better than I envisioned. The higher you climb, the harder the fall will be."