The air in the corridor crackled with tension as Hutton and Bob dodged and deflected the relentless barrage of attacks from Franklin and his accomplices. Franklin, emboldened by the presence of the strange woman and the deathly boy, attacked with ruthless precision, while his allies unleashed dark, destructive techniques that warped the very space around them.
Hutton narrowly avoided a wave of black energy from the boy, the sheer force of it tearing a chunk out of the wall behind him. Bob, on the other hand, leaped high to evade a jagged blast of shadow from the woman, his movements fluid but strained.
"This is getting ridiculous!" Bob shouted, landing beside Hutton as another explosion rocked the corridor. "We’re going to bring the entire building down at this rate!"
Hutton wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his sharp gaze darting between their opponents. "We need to hold on until we find an opening. Just don’t let them overwhelm you."
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But the overwhelming power of their enemies was becoming evident. Each attack from Franklin and his accomplices grew more ferocious, shaking the foundations of Drake 9. Every deflection and counterattack from Hutton and Bob resulted in bursts of energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the structure.
The explosions were loud and violent, reverberating through the entire venue. Inside the awards ceremony, the attendees jolted at the sudden cacophony. The once-luxurious atmosphere of celebration quickly dissolved into murmurs of unease and panic.
Rebecca, standing on stage, quickly grabbed the microphone, her voice cutting through the growing chaos. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm! I assure you that the situation is under control!"
But her words fell on deaf ears. Another distant explosion caused the building to tremble slightly, sending glasses and plates toppling off tables. The sound was unmistakable, and panic began to spread like wildfire.
"What’s going on?" one man exclaimed, clutching his partner’s arm as he glanced around nervously.
"Are we under attack?" another woman cried out, backing toward the exit.
Rebecca tried again, raising her voice to regain control of the crowd. "There’s no danger! Please stay in your seats and allow the staff to handle the situation—"
Her words were drowned out by the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as several people bolted for the exits. The panic was contagious, and more and more attendees began fleeing, their once-elegant attire now a blur of movement as chaos consumed the hall.
Vivian, still seated at the table with Ling Fei, glanced toward the corridor with a worried expression. "What’s happening out there? Is Hutton in trouble?"
Ling Fei’s eyes narrowed, her demeanor calm but her voice firm. "Stay here, Vivian. We’ll only complicate things if we get involved now."
Vivian hesitated, her fists clenched as she resisted the urge to follow her instincts. But just then, Ling Fei suddenly caught sight of Veronica as she was coming out of the same corridor the explosions is coming out from with a miserable look on her face. And right after, Ling Fei spoke up again which caught not only Vivian’s attention, but even Kenneth who is protected them.
"But I know what we can do here that can help him"
Meanwhile, in the corridor, Hutton and Bob were pushed back further by the relentless onslaught. Another blast from the deathly boy sent a section of the ceiling crumbling down, filling the air with dust and debris.
"This is going to get ugly fast," Hutton muttered, gritting his teeth as he summoned his energy to deflect a dark spear aimed at his chest.
Franklin’s mocking laughter rang out over the din of battle. "What’s the matter, Hutton? Losing your edge already? Or maybe you’ve finally realized you’re in over your head!"
Hutton’s eyes blazed with determination as he steadied himself. "You’ll regret this, Franklin," he said under his breath, his voice low and dangerous.
Bob glanced at Hutton, his expression grim but resolute. "We need to finish this fast, or there won’t be a building left to save."
As the chaos continued to spread within and outside the ceremony hall, the battle raged on in the corridor, the fate of everyone in the building hanging precariously in the balance.
Hutton’s body slammed into the ground, tumbling until he finally came to a stop near the wall. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he coughed violently, struggling to sit upright. Bob’s eyes widened with panic, his usual composure faltering.
"Hutton!" Bob shouted, dashing to his side. He expertly deflected a volley of black spikes from the boy and a spiraling dark mist from the woman as he knelt beside his companion. "Stay with me!"
"I’m fine," Hutton rasped, his voice hoarse but laced with determination. "Just… give me a moment."
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Franklin’s laughter echoed through the corridor, sharp and venomous. "Your tricks end here, Hutton Maxwell. This little game of yours is over!" His grin widened as he gestured to the woman and the boy. "Let’s end this. Together."
The air grew oppressive as Franklin, the woman, and the boy synchronized their energies. A vortex of malevolent power swirled around them, distorting the space and creating an almost tangible weight that pressed down on the corridor.
Bob stood protectively in front of Hutton, his jaw clenched as he braced himself. "Not good. I can’t hold them off like this…"
The trio unleashed their combined attack—a tidal wave of dark energy that roared down the corridor, aiming to consume both Hutton and Bob.
But just as the attack closed in, a radiant blast of energy shot through the corridor, colliding with the dark wave and dispersing it in an instant. The sheer force of the blast sent Franklin, the woman, and the boy skidding back, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief.
"What—?!" Franklin snarled, his confident demeanor shaken.
The corridor fell silent except for the faint hum of lingering energy. Both sides turned their attention to the source of the attack.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, his movements calm yet commanding. Darlington stepped forward, his presence exuding an aura of unshakable strength and authority. His dark robes flowed behind him as his sharp eyes locked onto Franklin and his accomplices.
"Sorry for the wait and the trouble, Hutton," Darlington said, his voice steady and unyielding as he stopped between the two sides. His gaze burned with intensity as he faced Franklin and his group. "But I’m here now."
Hutton managed a faint, relieved smile, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Took you long enough."
Bob exhaled deeply, the tension in his posture easing slightly. "About time you showed up."
Apparently, Darlington informed Hutton and Bob through their phones that he was currently trapped in the throne room of the Franklin family. Although, he said he will be out from the trap, but it will take some time so they are on their own for a short while.
Darlington didn’t take his eyes off Franklin, his presence alone causing a shift in the air. Franklin’s grin faltered, replaced by a wary frown as he studied the newcomer.
"Well, well," Franklin said, attempting to mask his unease with a mocking tone. "It seems like those good for nothing were up to the task to keep you there, the righteous one. But do you really think you can turn the tide here, Darlington?"
Darlington’s expression didn’t waver as he stepped forward, his aura flaring with power. "You’ll find that I’m more than enough to deal with the likes of you. Let’s see if your arrogance can withstand reality."
The corridor buzzed with energy, the tension reaching a fever pitch as the two sides prepared to clash once again, this time with Darlington evening the odds.
As Darlington charged forward, his aura blazing with power, Franklin and his accomplices retaliated in kind, the corridor erupting with chaotic energy. The walls groaned under the pressure of the clashing forces, cracks spidering across the surfaces as the air filled with the sound of battle.
But just as the clash reached its peak, a group of security personnel stormed into the corridor, their uniforms bearing the insignia of Drake 9. The leader of the group stepped forward, his voice booming.
"Everyone halt immediately! This is a restricted area—stand down now!"
Hutton, still catching his breath against the wall, snapped his head toward the security team. "No, they need to—"
Bob’s eyes widened, panic flashing across his face as he turned toward the intruders. "Get out of here! Now! You don’t know what you’re dealing with!" he bellowed.
But it was already too late. The young boy from Franklin’s side glanced at the security team, his gaze cold and indifferent. "Pests…" he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. With a simple wave of his hand, a dark energy erupted from him, spreading out like a living shadow.
The security team barely had time to react before the energy engulfed them. Their screams were brief, cut off as the malevolent force consumed their bodies, leaving behind only charred skeletons that clattered to the floor in eerie silence.
The corridor fell into an uneasy stillness, the lingering dark energy pulsing ominously.
Hutton gritted his teeth, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. "Damn it…"
Bob’s expression darkened, his protective instincts flaring as he turned toward Hutton. "This has gone beyond reason. We need to end this now."
Darlington, his jaw tight, took a step forward, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he locked onto Franklin and his accomplices. "You’ve crossed a line you won’t recover from," he said coldly, his energy surging once more.
The tension in the corridor rose again as the fight was far from over, and now the stakes had reached a harrowing new level.