Darius arrived at the location, standing on the edge of the bridge, looking down with a look of fury. All the metal he had dropped earlier had piled up around the riverbank, creating a visual barrier that made it difficult for him to track where his prey had escaped. A flash of impatience appeared on his face as he realized his targets had eluded him, at least for the moment.In an authoritative tone, Darius called his subordinates, who immediately assembled around him. "Keep searching!" he ordered coldly. "They can't be far. The entire area around the river needs to be thoroughly checked."His subordinates nodded, quickly spreading out in every direction to comply with the order. Darius remained standing there, his eyes scanning every corner that might be a hiding spot. His anger burned even fiercer. Although he was confident in his abilities, he knew that his prey this time was not an easy opponent to deal with.***Meanwhile, in the dark and dense forest surrounding the river, Aria
Evan, Aria, and Riley found a hiding spot along the riverbank, concealed by the shadows of the dense forest. Flashlight beams approached from a distance, cutting through the darkness. Evan's mind raced as he prepared to face their pursuers.“We have to make a decision here,” Evan said with determination. “We'll use a hit-and-run strategy. We need to strike quickly and then retreat. We'll whittle down their numbers and sow confusion.”Aria nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings for strategic advantages. “Let’s set up some traps. If we can lure them in, we might be able to take out a few before they realize what's happening.”Riley, still feeling uneasy but trusting Evan’s leadership, prepared his equipment. “I may not be much help, but I’ll do my best.”Evan nodded. “Riley? You'll move with me and keep monitoring the comms. Aria will move on her own. Is that okay?”Aria looked at Evan and Riley. “No problem. Take care of yourselves.”They spread out, setting up traps with the limit
Darius could no longer contain his anger. The worsening situation had caused him to lose control. The hit-and-run attacks launched by Evan and Aria had devastated his men, and their inability to capture the small group had made Darius even more furious. Feeling that he had no other option, Darius finally decided to take matters into his own hands. He could no longer rely solely on his subordinates; this had become a personal matter. Without hesitation, Darius stepped into the forest, leaving a trail of anxiety among his remaining men. As he moved among the trees, Darius felt his rage intensify. With every step, his desire to destroy his enemies grew stronger. He extended his arms, and powerful energy began to flow through his body. Darius manipulated the metal around him, lifting it from the ground and trees, using it as a deadly weapon. A loud crash echoed as Darius controlled the metal, hurling it in every direction and tearing the forest apart with his power. Trees toppled, the
The battle between Evan and his group against Darius was now unavoidable. The forest, which had once been their refuge, had transformed into a nightmarish battlefield. Every snapped twig, every whispering breeze seemed to warn that the end of this cat-and-mouse game was near.Evan and Aria realized that if they exited the forest, the situation would only become more perilous. The open space would give Darius an advantage, allowing him to launch metal attacks from every direction without obstruction. They had to resolve this fight here, within the forest that had become their hiding place.Aria looked at Evan, her eyes filled with determination. "We have no other choice. We need to fight him here and now, before he destroys us all."Evan nodded, though there was a trace of doubt in his heart. He knew that Darius's power to control metal made him a very dangerous opponent. They had to find a way to overcome this power if they were to have any chance of winning."We need to be smart," Ev
The battle was becoming one-sided. Evan and Aria were cornered, with no way to defeat the giant metal rhino that continued to destroy everything in its path. Every attempt they made to get closer was blocked by the brutal attacks of the metal beast, perfectly controlled by Darius. The trees in the forest that had once provided them shelter were now reduced to rubble, shattered by the destructive power of the creature.Suddenly, heavy rain began to pour down, adding to the difficulties they faced. The ground became slippery and muddy, making their movements even slower. The rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning in the distance only added to the tension that continued to mount. Amidst the chaos, an idea started to form in Evan's mind, a plan that might be their only way to stop Darius.Hiding behind the remains of a large tree still standing, Evan took a deep breath, trying to calm his fear and think clearly. He glanced over at Aria, who was also taking cover beside him, her face s
After the exhausting battle with Darius, Evan and Aria lay on the ground, their breaths heavy and their bodies trembling with fatigue. The rain that had just stopped left behind a biting cold, but both were too weary to care. Blood and sweat mixed, clinging to their clothes, now tattered and torn from the intense fight.Aria, despite her exhaustion, managed a faint smile. "We did it, Evan. They can't hurt anyone anymore."Evan nodded slowly, his eyes gazing up at the clearing sky. "Yeah, but I didn’t expect it to be this hard. If it weren't for the rain and our last strategy, we might be the ones lying unconscious right now."Beside them, Riley sat with his knees drawn to his chest, his body still trembling, though this time not from fear. He had just witnessed an extraordinary battle, and even though he hadn't been directly involved, the adrenaline from what had happened still coursed through his veins."That battle... it was incredible," Riley murmured, his voice soft, almost as if
Upon arriving at the Ironfist family estate, Evan, Aria, and Riley were warmly welcomed by those who had been waiting for them. The tension and fatigue from their battles began to fade as they were enveloped in the familiar and comforting atmosphere of the estate. The grand main hall of the estate was filled with relief and joy. The servants immediately came forward to assist them, offering warm towels and water to clean the remnants of their battle. Their clothing, still damp and torn from the fierce combat, starkly contrasted with the elegance of their surroundings. Despite the evident signs of their struggle, the warmth and attention from the Ironfist staff made them feel at peace. Daniel and Maria, Evan's parents, emerged from one of the side rooms, their faces shining with joy and relief as they saw their child and his friends. The elderly couple quickly moved towards them, embracing Evan first, holding him tightly as if to reassure themselves that he was truly safe. “Thank th
Late into the night, Evan remained awake, his gaze fixed intently on his status window. After the exhausting battle that ended with Darius's defeat, Evan realized his powers had increased. In the corner of his status window, a new ability had appeared, one he hadn't possessed before: Metal Manipulation.Evan sighed deeply, contemplating this change. He remembered when he defeated Seraphine, how the woman's power had transferred to him, granting Evan control over the water element. And now, after his battle with Darius, the power to control metal—Darius's signature ability—had become his.His mind raced rapidly. If every time he defeated a strong opponent, he gained their powers, then his potential for growth in the future would be immense. This was not merely an additional ability; it was the potential to become far stronger than he had ever imagined.Evan understood what this meant. He was increasingly motivated to face Victor and his subordinates, not just as enemies to be defeated,