Rondal groaned as his body trembled. Blood trickled from his lip, and his movements were sluggish. The earlier blast had already weakened him and this impact had nearly knocked him out.
The Chaosborn let out a sharp, screeching sound that echoed like tearing metal. It stepped forward, slowly walking toward Rondal. Its motions were strange,almost like a robot, but filled with killing intent.
Rondal struggled to stand. He gritted his teeth, picked up shattered debris, and began hurling it—bricks, tools, whatever his hands could grab.
The Chaosborn dodged softly, almost playfully, weaving between the objects like it was barely trying.
It paused sensing something and waves its hand shooting out a beam.
BOOM!
Another loud blast echoed from somewhere else in the building, causing the ceiling to tremble and dust to fall.
The Chaosborn reached him.
Raising one hand, its fingers spread open. The azure halo above its head glowed brighter, focusing toward Rondal. Rondal shouted something but it was too far for Hex to hear.
The Chaosborn's body tensed as the halo flickered ready to fire.
Suddenly..
THUNK!
It jerked forward slightly as something struck its back.
"...?"
A glowing question mark appeared over its head.
The Chaosborn paused, then ducked its head down at the object that was hitting it.
A small child was kicking its leg repeatedly, tears streaming down her face as she cried.
Hex who saw the scene froze.
His eyes darted down toward where Mira had been hiding.
The space was blank.
"What the…" he screamed in shock.
"How did this kid went there so quickly
"
Then he groaned in disbelief. "Damnnn! These kids…"
He clenched his fists, breathing heavily. His body tensed with frustration and panic.
He wasn't afraid of the danger, not for himself.He was used to this. But these people, especially the kids, were something else.
Hex breathing halted as his mind started to race.
He didn't have a habit of seeking death nor did he care about some stranger he met on the way however..
Remembering about the promise he made to the kid,his heart wrenched.
"I… I promised them…" he muttered. The feeling of betraying a promise left him a bitter after taste.
"Then let's do this.It's better to die then live in guilt and regret."
The Chaosborn began to turn.
Hex cursed under his breath and gritted his teeth.
He scanned the ground quickly and spotted a steel rod sticking out from a chunk of debris. With a swift motion, he yanked it free, breaking from a pile of concrete.
Without another thought, he rushed forward—eyes blazing, steel rod in hand, his body moving with all the speed he could muster.
....
"Leave my father alone… Bad guy…"
"Bwahoo… Leave it…!" Mira shouted furiously, mustering all the courage she could. She kicked Chaosborn's leg with her tiny foot.
The Chaos born didn't have eye lids lest it was blinking in confusion.
"MIRAAAAA!"
Rondal shrieked in pure terror. His entire body trembled as the Chaosborn turned its head slowly toward Mira.
Screams erupted as people noticed the little girl standing in front of the monstrosity.
The Chaosborn raised its hand to strike.
But in a desperate move, Rondal lunged forward and threw his arms around the creature's waist.
"NOOO!" he shouted frantically.
The azure halo above the Chaosborn burned against Rondal's skin, sizzling it with energy, but he didn't let go. He held on, trying to pull it back with all his strength.
Suddenly, the Chaosborn began to glow—its body flickering like a bomb ready to explode.
"Run, Mira! Run! Please!" Rondal begged, his voice trembling.
But Mira was frozen, trembling, too afraid to move.
Just as Rondal's despair reached its peak—
"You can't explode…"
A steel rod flew through the air, whistling as it pierced toward the Chaosborn.
The creature tilted its fleshy body and ducked its head just in time to avoid it, but in that split second, a blur shot forward.
A man passed through him.
The sudden wave startled both Rondal and people who were watching this.
He grabbed the rod as is moved past Chaos born as it dodged and, with all his might, thrust it toward the back of the Chaosborn's head.
At close range, he was sure it would hit—but the creature twisted, narrowly dodging the blow.
But Hex wasn't done.
With a snarl, he pulled another rod—smaller, hidden beneath his palm and slashed sideways.
SHNK!
The rod cut through the air with a whistle and stabbed directly into Chaosborn's left eye.
SPLAT!
Violet dews sprayed out as the rod sank deep. A monstrous, distorted scream erupted from the Chaosborn.
Hex landed, panting, and then slammed his foot into the creature's body with all his force, roaring.
"Uncle Rondal, run!"
BOOM!
With a violent impact, Hex and the Chaosborn crashed down into the debris-covered floor.
Rondal wasted no time. He grabbed Mira and ran toward the building's interior.
On the staircase, people who had scrambled to the second floor turned to see him struggle with each step.
Rondal body was weaker, already injured. In contrast, Hex had moved like a storm.
Back on the ground floor, Hex gritted his teeth and jumped back up immediately.
He knew one thing for certain he couldn't win.
So instead of heading inside, he turned and sprinted toward the exit. He crashed through a glass door and burst out onto the road.
This was his main plan all along.He knew staying inside was instant death.
"I don't know if they can heal… but if it explodes, I'm done for," he muttered.
Behind him, the Chaosborn growled, yanked the rod from its eye with a sickening tear.
SPLASH!
Blood and flesh flew out. Ignoring the wound, it raised one glowing hand.
Hex sensed the incoming attack and cursed. "SHIT—!"
He hadn't gotten far when the world around him lit up in blinding light.
WHISSSS!
His vision flickered.
In that instant, everything went dark. His memory blanked, as if a piece of it was sliced away.
Just moments later when his sight returned he found himself lying atop a pile of broken rubble.
He didn't feel pain.
But blood was soaking his clothes, and a cold numbness spread through his body.
He tried to move but couldn't. His muscles wouldn't respond. It was like his body wasn't his anymore.
And then, his worst fear.
The Chaosborn was already standing over him.
"Ahhh…!"
He wanted to scream—but the words caught in his throat.
"Am I really going to die like this…?"
Rage surged inside him.
For eighteen years, he had lived in fear and caution trying his best to avoid trouble.
But a certain incident blocked his path of graduation.
Along the way had endured countless humiliations, just to survive but it seems all was done.
So why did it happen to him?
Because he was weak.
All he ever wanted was freedom.Freedom to choose.Freedom to live without fear.
But now—
All of it was slipping away.
While these thoughts flooded his mind, the Chaosborn raised its hand once more.
The azure halo spun, shining ominously.
But Hex… had already closed his eyes.
He accepted it.
Death was just a fleeting step away.
Or so he thought when a sound echoed in his mind.