Chapter15: When Smoke Bleeds
From the moment the middle-aged man stepped into the chaotic fray of Damon's battle, his presence draped the air like a heavy, predatory shadow, thick with menace. Damon felt the sharp weight of his gaze, an instinctual chill coursing through him, unmistakably aware that he was outmatched. In that moment, the formidable threat of the rank 4 Vulcan ape loomed like an afterthought, eclipsed entirely by the calculated malice radiating from the newcomer.
"This presence is infuriating," a voice echoed inside Damon's mind, resonating like distant thunder. Confused, he shot a glance at his clone, which stood with fierce determination, its gaze locked onto the middle-aged man. Panic flickered in Damon's thoughts but hadn't yet matured into despair. "Stay focused," he whispered urgently. "That man is a beast. He has the defense of a turtle and the strength of a tiger."
Impulsive and reckless, the clone smirked. "You've really changed," it retorted, before bolting toward the middle-aged man's position. But in an instant, a vice-like grip snapped around the clone's face, silencing its defiance. "Shit!" it yelled, only to be hurled violently toward Damon, disintegrating into an explosion of air and light upon impact.
The middle-aged man didn't just attract Damon's attention; he provoked the ire of the Vulcan apes. Their guttural screams shattered the air like thunder, but the newcomer remained unfazed—only a flicker of annoyance flitted across his features.
"Silence!" he bellowed, his voice ringing like a grim chime. Instantly, an aura of dread descended upon the Vulcan apes, suffocating them as they plummeted silently from the trees above. Damon stood frozen, horror dawning on him. "Who the hell is this monster?" he thought desperately. "I need a plan—now!"
In the midst of the chaos, the rank 4 Vulcan ape fixed Damon with a venomous glare, hatred boiling in its molten core. It knew the night would claim its life, but it would not yield quietly. With a roar shaking the very earth, it transformed into a torrent of magma, unleashing a sonic scream that sliced through the air with piercing brutality. Damon fell to his knees, hands pressed against his ears, agony writhing through him. "This damned ape!" he shouted, pain blurring his vision.
The ape grinned sinisterly, reveling in the prospect of claiming Damon's life.
From a distant rise, the middle-aged man observed with twisted amusement. "Oh, my brilliant young genius," he taunted, a placid mask concealing a tempest within. Channeling raw energy, he leaped forward, his form a blur before crashing down onto the Vulcan ape. Blood and viscera erupted around him, staining the ground in chaotic splatters. Leaning down, he asked softly, "Who are you?" The tension coiled in him, restrained only by a veneer of composure. "If not for decorum, you would be mine already."
Laughter erupted around them. "Hahaha!" Damon chortled, causing the middle-aged man to rise from his crouch, captivated as if witnessing a thrilling performance. "You're all so goddamn impulsive!" Damon's form evaporated like smoke, dissipating into the air.
The middle-aged man's eyes twinkled with childlike wonder. "Truly magnificent! How did you accomplish such trickery?" He stepped forward, astonished by the reality fracturing around him. What was once tangible transformed into a surreal realm littered with the bones of unimaginable creatures—an abysmal tapestry that thrilled his blood with excitement. "Who is this boy? I am genuinely impressed," he mused, relishing the potential he sensed. "Why do you run? I mean you no harm, others only if you co-operate" he urged, stretching out a hand red-stained like a predator's claws, "I can feel the devil's path coursing through your veins. I, the Heavenly Demon, know this is your destined journey." His laughter rang hollow, a mask concealing his true nature.
Suddenly, two ethereal figures materialized from the shadows—one cloaked in flames, the other radiating cosmic energy. The middle-aged man tensed, muscles coiling like a predator ready to strike, only for the figures to glide past him, entirely ignoring his presence. "Follow me," he said, voice smooth yet threatening, "where your true potential can be unleashed and if you refuse, I fear you won't leave here alive." Frustration bubbled within him as he grasped the very essence of the illusion surrounding him.
A voice pierced the thick tension. "Darling!" The Heavenly Demon turned in exasperation, his gaze landing on a young woman from afar. She smiled sweetly, beckoning him closer with innocent gestures. "…" He pondered, emotions swirling, irritation rising. "Foolish boy, how dare you play such childish tricks on me?" With a furious thrust of his hand, he tore at the illusion enveloping him.
Before him, Damon materialized, gripping Velma tightly around her throat. "Let me go, and she remains unharmed," Damon threatened, tightening his hold.
"I'd advise against foolishness, boy," the middle-aged man warned, rage simmering just beneath the surface. "How laughable to think you could negotiate with me." He sprang forward, intent on removing Damon's head in a single strike. "Even the heavens won't shield your life today!" he roared, attempting to remove Damon's head with his bare hands , only to realize he passed straight through him as though he were smoke. "Am I ensnared in an illusion?" he wondered. Laughter echoed through the Raksha Forest, punctuating the unease. "Did you truly believe I'd make a bargain without a plan?" Damon laughed,
possessing the essence of an ancient devil and the cunning to match.
"You dare play tricks on me, boy?" he glared, unleashing an oppressive aura that rippled with sovereignty. "I must admit, you're sharp for your age," he sneered, recognizing the threat he faced.
Velma's voice quivered, breaking through the charged air. Fear laced her words; she saw the resolve in Damon's eyes. "Please, let me speak with him!" she implored, darting anxious looks between Damon and the man. But Damon was steadfast, acutely aware of their true nature. "You must take me for a fool," he scoffed, his grip tightening around her neck. "The moment I let you go, that old bastard will have my head."
Damon whirled away, activating his Crazed Steps, vanishing in a blur and covering a considerable distance while keeping a firm hold on Velma. "This old geezer is cautious," he thought, recognizing how long the man had been gauging his position, merely waiting as if he had everything under control.
"Damn this old bastard!" Damon snarled as the middle-aged man suddenly appeared before him, too fast for thought, too swift for speech. "Such a pity, that a geniusof such caliber ,dies today." Before Damon could even move, the Heavenly Demon slashed with hands that unmistakably resembled those of a devil. "F*ck!" Damon thought as the man's hands closed in, mere inches from severing his head from his body. A sickening smile crawled onto the heavenly demons face yes he had not gotten the chance to claim him for him self but at list he could claim his life.