John braced for impact, he could not dodge the spear mid-air, he would have to accept the hit. But as the spear got closer, it melted into nothing as a blazing inferno surrounded it.
John’s feet touched the ground and nodded towards Dalia who had just saved him.
"John! Are you alright?" Octavia asked as she approached and placed her arm over his shoulder.
"I’m fine, thanks." John smirked and looked at the trail of destruction the mad dog caused.
Theodore’s men panicked when their leader was dealt with and most fled. Only a few stayed behind and fought, but they were no match for John’s women.
Lydia appeared next to them, panting, and cussing. Her beautiful brown hair was damp with sweat as she watched the carnage before her. "I guess the bastard can’t run anymore."
John smiled wryly as he asked, "how did it go back in the base?"
"The damage is substantial, but nothing Echo can’t fix. We’ll just have to hunt for monster materials." She answered, her face wrinkling with disgust.
John nodded and his lips parted, but before he could speak, a violent burst of invisible Energy enveloped the forest and his head snapped in the direction of the source, where Theodore’s body hovered above the ground.
"We could’ve done this the easy way, my boy. But you just had to make things difficult, didn’t you?" Theodore spoke with a haunting calm as if nothing had happened moments prior, his body cracked and creaked as he stretched, his spine making a sound.
"Is there an easy way with a snake? You would probably betray me as soon as you get what you want, just like you betrayed your friend and my mentor." John took a fighting stance with one arm tucked at his hip, the other crossed over his chest.
"ENOUGH!" Theodore barked and his aura extended in all directions, engulfing John and the group in its essence, knocking the wind out of their lungs as the raw power pressed down on them. "Enough of the nonsense, boy. It’s time to end you." The flames within the old man’s eyes spread like an unquenchable wildfire as his muscles flexed underneath his charred skin.
The old man’s aura turned darker, like a storm cloud descending on them, the temperature seemed to plummet with his presence, raising goosebumps on their skin, and filling them with a sense of dread.
A soft gale caressed John’s taut muscles, rustling the leaves on nearby trees, blowing dust and dry vegetation away in its wake as the gale whistled past the forest and all around him.
It seemed as if night had descended upon them as the aura darkened the surroundings until the forest was pitch black and John could not see a thing, his other senses worked in overdrive, searching for anything to hint where the old man was. But even his sense of smell could not pinpoint a single trace of Theodore or his aura, all was still and quiet.
Theodore had vanished.
And that was more unsettling than if he had remained where he stood.
After what seemed an eternity, a faint rustle pierced the silence of the forest, causing his skin to prickle and sweat to gather at his nape.
A gentle gust of wind tickled his neck as a dark form approached him and touched his flesh and made him gasp.
With a hard twist, his limbs were bound, stretched apart and secured in place before he had a chance to even blink.
"Fuck!" John cursed as he struggled to break loose of his bonds.
Theodore’s taunting laugh resonated within John’s ears, driving him nuts. "Stop wasting my time, and accept your fate, son." Theodore leaned close enough to make John wince as the old man’s breath lingered on his skin, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
John could do nothing. He could not see or hear anything, unless Theodore wanted him to.
"You’re wondering what this Skill of mine is?" Theodore’s smug tone sent chills down John’s spine as he felt helpless, pinned down by his own darkness.
"Nope. I don’t really care. I’ll take your power either way."
John’s cockiness seemed to please the old man, whose laughter only increased in volume until a tear rolled down his cheek and onto his stubble.
"I’ll tell you this for free, boy. Everyone gains a Skill like this if they’re strong enough to advance their Class to the next level. It’s called a Class Skill, but you still have a long way to go."
John’s eyes stretched wide at the mention of the Class Skill and a snarky voice resounded in his head.
"You’re ready, John, heh..."
The System’s laughter echoed in John’s mind as his body began glowing, accompanied by a winding sound like a jet engine taking off.
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Everyone’s eyes widened as the glow from John’s body pierced the absolute darkness of Theodore’s Class Skill.
Stephanie’s breath caught in her throat and unconsciously bit her lip as she observed the blinding aura coming off John’s body and noticed its immense power, making her tremble with anticipation and anxiety.
Maria had never seen John in his most powerful state and she could barely keep her legs together, watching John emit such a dangerous, imposing aura.
"We have to help him!" Julia shouted as she ran towards John but Octavia’s arms restrained her from behind and held her tightly within her embrace, preventing her from approaching John.
"You can’t," Octavia spoke in Julia’s ear and added, "we don’t know what’s about to happen."
"No, let me go!" Julia cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks as John’s aura completely enveloped the forest, overwhelming Theodore’s dark aura.
Dalia gritted her teeth, trying not to let her emotions overwhelm her, but her resolve crumbled and she joined Octavia in restraining Julia.
Theodore’s men cowered in fear when John’s aura overpowered his Class Skill.
Stephanie took a step forward, drawn to the aura as if she could not resist it, but Lydia placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head.