“Yes, I am, and I’ll hurt you both badly if you don’t drop the girl!” Henry threatened, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “You sure about that?” Tae replied, a smirk creeping across his face. “You really think you can take down two grade A Awakeners? You must be a grade S Mage Hunter to have such confidence.” “I don’t give a damn about your grade! I’m warning you—drop Ava now!” A fiery aura erupted around Henry, illuminating the room. Tae laughed, already sensing the strength radiating from Henry. “Based on that aura, I can tell you’re not stronger than me. Maybe a high grade C or a grade B Awakener.” “You really want me to put the girl down that badly? Fine.” Tae feigned compliance, letting Ava drop unceremoniously to the floor. In an instant, Joon dashed toward Henry, delivering a powerful punch to his gut. Henry slammed into the wall behind him, winded but not out. With a quick fire explosion, he propelled himself back to his feet and summoned his sword. “You’re not go
Dexter stormed into the mage hospital, his heart pounding. His steel-blue eyes scanned the sterile hallways, and the air around him felt heavy with tension. As soon as he entered, Henry rushed over, his face a mix of concern and guilt. "Dexter!" Henry called, pulling him aside. "What happened to Ava?" Dexter demanded, his voice sharp. Henry glanced at Chainy, who stood silently, arms folded, biting her lower lip. When she avoided his gaze, Dexter’s stomach sank further. Something terrible had happened. Dexter’s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. A cold rage simmered beneath his calm exterior. “Tell me,” Dexter demanded, his tone now carrying an edge of fear. "Ava was kidnapped, by two grade A awakeners." Dexter’s heart stopped for a beat, disbelief flashing across his face. “What?” he whispered, anger already rising. “You were supposed to be with her!” Chainy flinched at his words, guilt heavy in her eyes. “I... I wasn’t fast enough. They came out of nowhere. I s
Arriving at the old warehouse, Dexter hesitated outside, the dilapidated structure looming like a dark specter against the moonlit sky. He pushed through the creaking door, heart racing, and stepped inside. The air was thick with dust, and the faint glow of moonlight filtered through the broken windows, casting eerie shadows. His gaze fell on a figure slumped against the wall—Ava, unconscious and vulnerable. Relief washed over him, but it was quickly overshadowed by the darkness creeping in at the edges of the room. Just then, he felt it—a deathly aura washing over him, icy fingers crawling down his spine. The twins emerged from the shadows, their expressions unreadable, but the menacing energy radiating from them was palpable. Dexter recognized them immediately, Joon and Tae, grade A awakeners notorious for their ruthlessness. “So you’ve come,” Joon said, a sly grin curling his lips. “How touching. You really think you can save her?” “Let her go,” Dexter demanded, stepping forward
He could feel the struggle weighing on him, but then a notification flashed in his mind: “Mission Update: Defend Ava. Power boost activated.” Dexter felt the surge of energy, a rush that propelled him forward with incredible strength. He swung his dagger with newfound speed, catching Tae off guard as he thrust forward, landing a decisive strike. “Enough!” Joon roared, fury lighting his eyes as he unleashed a massive wave of magic, sending shockwaves that rattled the very foundation of the warehouse. Dexter braced himself, feeling the force push him back. But he wouldn’t give up. With the system at his side, he summoned every ounce of power, channeling it into one final, desperate attack. “System: Overdrive!” Magic surged around him, amplifying his abilities to their peak. Dexter lunged forward, a whirlwind of energy and steel, as he faced the twins head-on in a last stand. The battle raged on, the clash of magic and weapons echoing through the warehouse, and Dexter fought not ju
As Tae launched another fireball, Dexter dodged to the side, his body moving on instinct. He retaliated with a Shadow Slash, a quick slice of dark energy aimed at the twins. “Firestorm!” Tae shouted, countering the attack. The two spells collided, erupting in a blinding explosion of fire and shadow. In the chaos, Dexter spotted Ava stirring, her eyes fluttering open. “Dexter?” she murmured, groggy but aware. “Stay back!” Dexter commanded, feeling a surge of protective instinct as he faced the twins. With Ava conscious, he had to end this quickly. “Overdrive!” Dexter activated, pushing his abilities to their maximum as he charged forward. The air crackled with energy, and his speed increased tenfold. He aimed his daggers at Joon, determined to take him down before he could recover from the previous attack. Joon’s eyes widened in surprise, and he barely had time to react. Dexter struck with precision, landing a series of rapid blows that forced Joon to retreat. “Stop him!” Tae yell
With a sudden burst of determination, Dexter made his choice. “I won’t leave anyone behind!” he yelled, feeling the weight of his decisions press heavily on him. He wouldn’t be like them—he wouldn’t abandon anyone, even those who had tried to harm his sister. “Dexter, no!” Ava screamed, tears brimming in her eyes as the building shook around them, dust and debris falling from the ceiling. But before he could act, Joon, now half-conscious, began to stir, his expression filled with rage and desperation. “You’ll pay for this, Dexter! You’ll regret letting us live!” Dexter shot a glance at Joon, sensing the potential threat. “You’re wrong,” he replied coolly, summoning his energy for one last strike, his daggers glinting in the dim light. “Wait!” Tae shouted, panic clawing at his throat as he realized the stakes. “We don’t have to fight anymore! We can help each other!” Dexter hesitated, torn. The system buzzed in his mind, assessing the situation. But the crumbling warehouse left him
The dim light of the hospital room cast shadows over Ava’s still form, hooked up to various machines that beeped softly, measuring her vitals. Dexter paced anxiously by her side, his heart racing as memories of the night before flooded his mind. He could still hear the chaos—the screams, the battle, the moment he had torn her away from the Deer Twins.“Stay with me, Ava,” he murmured, gripping her hand. “I need you to wake up.”The door swung open, and Henry rushed in, his expression serious. “Dexter, are you okay? What happened out there?”Dexter turned, his face a mix of determination and worry. “I thought I could handle it, Henry. I thought I could save her,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.“You did save her,” Henry replied, stepping closer. “But we need to figure out what’s next. The mage cops are on their way to deal with the twins. They’ll be here soon.”Dexter felt a surge of frustration. “They’re not here yet. What if they come back? What if they hurt her again?”He
The officer’s words barely registered as Dexter rushed past her, his heart racing. He pushed through the emergency door and back into the hospital, his mind consumed with worry for Ava. As he entered her room, he found her still unconscious but stable, the machines beeping steadily beside her.“Thank the stars,” he murmured, relief flooding through him. He pulled up a chair beside her bed, gripping her hand tightly. “I’m here, Ava. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”Minutes turned into hours as he sat by her side, replaying the encounter with the Deer Twins in his mind. The adrenaline rush from the fight was fading, leaving behind an unsettling mix of anxiety and guilt. If only I had been stronger, he thought. If only I could have finished them off.The door creaked open, and Henry slipped into the room, a worried expression on his face. “Dexter, what happened out there?” he asked, taking a seat beside him.“Just what I told you,” Dexter replied, still looking at Ava. “They came after me. T