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The Hidden World

Page 15

by Matt Harris


  He-ois-ostarting-oto-opush-ous-oback-othe-odegree-oto-owhich-oseems-oto-obe-olessening-ofrom-othe-oeffects-oof-oPeko's-ocurse.-oHe-obegins-oto-oredirect-ohis-oattention-oto-oPeko,-obut-oour-obarrage-oof-oendless-oattacks-owas-oforming-oa-odefensive-obarrier-othat-oblocked-ohis-oadvances.

  We-oexchange-oattacks-oand-oour-ogroup-oseems-oto-obe-ocoming-oout-oon-otop.

  Peko-oeven-ore-joins-othe-obattle-oand-oassists-owith-oher-omagical-oattacks.

  Corning-ohim-owith-oour-oattacks,-oit-oseems-othat-oit-owould-ofinally-obe-oover—that-ois-ountil-ohe-osuddenly-obegins-oto-otalk.

  "Well,-owell,-oyou-oaren't-ohalf-oassed-oafter-oall"-oHe-osays-owhile-osmiling-oand-oI-osuddenly-ofelt-othat-osome-oof-omy-ostrength-ohas-ojust-oleft-ome

  'Dammit,-oso-othis-ois-owhat-oI-osensed-oearlier'-othe-othought-ohits-ome,-oI-owas-onaïve,-othis-ois-oa-oC-Class-oboss-omonster-oand-oit-oclearly-osaid-o'The-opower-oit-ohas-oreunited'

  He-ohad-oclaimed-olives-oby-oabsorbing-othem-oand-omade-othem-ofuel-ofor-ohis-opower

  "But-oif-othat-ois-oall-oyou-ogot,-othen-oyou-oshould-ojust-odisappear"-oAs-ohe-osays-othis,-ohe-ostarts-oattacking-omore-ofuriously.

  Peko's-ocurses-ojust-omake-ohim-ogo-oback-oto-onormal,-obut-owe-oare-oalready-obeing-oweakened.-oIsa-ois-ohit-oby-oone-oof-ohis-oattacks-oand-oshe-omoans-oin-opain.

  "Agh"

  "Does-oit-ohurt,-omilady?-oIf-oit-odoes,-othen-oplease,-oreceive-omore"-ohe-outters-owhich-oto-ous-ois-oa-osignal-ofor-othe-oimpending-otorture-othat-owas-oabout-oto-ooccur.

  Zorith-ouses-oa-oPower-owave-oalong-owhile-oArksen-oand-oI-oback-ohim-oup-owith-oa-omagical-oattack.

  He-oevades-othem,-obut-oI-ouse-omy-oFire-oEnhancement-oalong-owith-oSprint-oand-oinstantly-oclose-oour-odistance.

  He-ostumbles-oa-obit-osurprised,-oand-oI-oslash-ohim.-oHe-oreceives-odamage-oand-oZorith-ois-onow-obehind-ohim-oto-ocontinue-oour-oattack-odoing-oa-odownward-oslash,-oMader-otries-oto-oblock-othe-odownward-oslash-owith-ohis-ohands-owhich-oare-onow-ocovered-oa-odark-obattle-oaura,-obut-othe-oblade's-ocontact-ocreates-oan-oexplosion-owhich-oboth-orepels-ous-oand-osimultaneously-odamages-oMader.

  But-othe-oattack-owent-othrough,-oand-oit-ohit-oMader's-oarm-owith-oeverything,-oat-othis-ohe-oflinched-oand-omade-oan-oexplosion-osending-ous-oaway,-obut-oit-odamaged-ohim-otoo

  "This-ohurt,-oyou-oknow?"-oHe-osays-owith-oan-oicy-ostare-oand-oa-ocold-osmile.-oHis-oHealth-owas-ostill-oat-o50%

  At-ohis-owords-oa-ochill-owent-odown-omy-ospine,-oit-oseems-osomething-obig-owill-ohappen.

  "Envelope-oof-oPain"-oSuddenly-oa-oDark-oball-owith-oa-omix-oof-ored-oappears-oon-ohis-ohand.

  "The-oPriestess-owill-ogo-ofirst"-ohe-oshouts-oand-othe-oattack-oflies-oat-oPeko.

  "Eh?"-oit-oenvelops-oher,-oand-oshe-olets-oout-oa-oscream-ofrom-oher-omouth-oas-owounds-ostart-oto-oopen.

  Zorith-oimmediately-oreacts,-obut-oinstead-oof-ogoing-otowards-oPeko,-ohe-olunges-otoward-oMader-oand-ostarted-oattacking-oin-oa-ofrenzied-omanner.

  My-olegs-omoved-otoo-oalong-owith-oArksen-oand-owe-ostart-ogoing-oall-oout.-oPeko-ofalls-oto-othe-ofloor-ounconscious

  Mader-osimply-oshows-oa-osmile.

  The-othree-oof-ous-ostart-oto-ogo-oberserk

  ------------------------------------------------------

  I-oback-ooff-owhen-oI-osaw-othe-oball-ofrom-othe-omonster's-ohands.

  He-outters

  "The-oPriestess-owill-ogo-ofirst"-oand-othe-oball-onow-oenvelops-oPeko,-omaking-oher-oscream-oin-oagony-oand-opain

  At-othis,-othe-omen-oreact-oand-ostart-oattacking;-oI-otoo-osend-oa-oFull-oBuster-oand-oIsa-oattacks-owith-oher-oDashing-oBash-ofor-ospeed.

  Ardha's-oeyes-owere-oof-oa-ofiery-ored,-obut-oinstead-oof-othe-opure-othrill-oor-oexcitement-owhich-oit-ousually-oconsists-oof,-oit-ohad-oa-odarker-ocolor-omixed-oin.-oAnger-osurfaced-oin-ohis-oface,-obut-owith-oa-ocool-omanner-ohe-ojust-ocontinued-oto-oattack.

  As-othe-oball-odissipated-ofrom-oPeko's-obody,-oshe-ojust-ohits-othe-oground;-oas-oI-oran-oto-ohelp-oher,-oan-oattack-ocomes-oat-omy-odirection.-oLuckily,-oIsa-oappears-oin-otime-oto-oshield-othe-oattack,-oit-opushes-oher-oback,-obut-oshe-ois-oable-oto-ohold-oher-oground.

  I-oarrive-oto-owhere-oPeko-ois-oand-ogive-oher-oa-oHealth-opotion-owhile-otaking-oher-oto-oa-osafer-olocation.

  I-oresume-omy-oattacks-oand-oIsa-operiodically-oheading-oto-oshield-ome.

  "Charged~"-oSays-othe-omonster-owith-oa-ocheerful-otone-owhich-omade-ochills-ogo-odown-omy-ospine

  I-osee-othat-odarkness-obegins-oto-oenvelope-ohim-oand-ohe-oappears-owhere-oIsa-owas-ostanding,-ohis-ohand-onow-othe-oshape-oof-oa-ogiant-oclaw,-oready-oto-opierce-oits-otarget.

  He-oswings-odown-oto-ostrike-oher-obut-oArksen-oappears,-opushing-oher-oaway-oand-oin-othe-oprocess-ois-ostabbed,-ohis-oHealth-odepletes-oto-othe-ored-ozone.

  Bleeding-ofrom-ohis-owound,-ohe-odoesn't-oseem-oto-ocare-obut-omoves-ohis-oarm-oand-osteps-oto-odirect-oa-opunch-owith-oall-oof-ohis-oremaining-oenergy.

  The-oMonster-ois-osent-oflying-owith-oa-ocontorted-oexpression-ofrom-othe-osudden-opunch

  Arksen's-obody-ohits-othe-ofloor-oas-ohis-ohealth-oreaches-ozero.-oHis-obody-odidn't-odisappear-ohowever-oas-othe-obattle-ois-ostill-oongoing.-oNevertheless,-ohis-oconsciousness-oshould-ohave-obeen-odisconnected.

  "Nicolas!"-oshouts-oIsa-oin-oa-odesperate-omanner.-oEven-oif-ohe-ohas-odied-obefore,-oit-owas-omore-obecause-oof-ohis-ostupidity.-oHis-odeath-onow,-ohowever,-ofeels-oso-oreal,-oas-oif-oa-oreal-operson-ois-odying-oin-ofront-oof-oour-oeyes;-oeven-omore-oshocking-ois-othat-oit-ois-oour-ofriend-owho-ohad-ojust-ohit-othe-oground.

  Isa-odidn't-oseem-oto-orealize-othis-owas-oinside-othe-ogame,-obut-oit-oseems-oArdha-ois-ocontinuing-oto-oattack-ofuriously-oalong-owith-oZorith.

  She-oresumes-obashing-ohim-oand-oI-ofire-ooff-ocharged-oFull-oBusters.-oIt-ois-ojust-osmiling-oin-oa-omaniac-omanner-owhile-odefending-oagainst-oour-oattacks.

  The-othing's-olife-owas-oat-o30%,-oit-oseems-oto-obe-ogoing-odown-oslowly-owhen-ocompared-oto-owhen-othe-ofight-ostarted—with-oPeko-oout,-oit-ois-oslowly-ogetting-ostronger,-obut-oits-ohealth-ois-ogetting-odepleted-oby-oour-oattacks.

  Then-othe-oMonster-osuddenly-oboosted-oits-ospeed-oand-ostarts-oattacking-oback.-oArdha-ois-osent-oflying-obut-owith-ominimal-odamages;-oit-oseems-oit-ois-otrying-oto-omake-ospace.-oZorith-ois-oalso-opushed-ooff-owith-obrutal-ostrength.-oThen-oit-oappeared-oin-ofront-oof-oIsa-oagain-owho-onow-oseems-oprepared-ofor-oit-oand-oattacks-oback.

  As-oit-owas-oabout-oto-odo-othe-osame-oattack-oas-obefore,-oI-oaim-otowards-oits-ohead-owith-oa-oFull-oBuster-oconnecting-osquarely.

  But-osomething-owas-ooff,-ohis-ohand-oisn't-ocovered-oin-oDarkness-olike-obefore—then-oI-orealize-othat-oa-ospear-ois-ologged-oin-oIsa's-oback.

  The-omonster-ois-omadly-osmiling.

  Isa-oclenches-oher-ohands-oon-othe-ospear-oand-osays

  "Holy-oSacrifice!"-oAnd-oher-obody-oshines-oin-oa-oHoly-oaura-othat-oenvelopes-oher,-oburning-othe-oMonster-oas-oher-olife-ois-obeing-oconsumed.

  Ardha-omakes-oa-ogesture-owith-ohis-ohand-oas-oif-ohe-owas-otrying-oto-oreach-othem.

  Isa-odies-otoo

  -------------------------------------------

  'Kill-oKill-oKill-oKill-oKill-oKill-oKill-oKill…-oNo…-oI-oam-ogoing-oto-odestroy-othat-othing'-oI-owas-othinking-owhile-oattacking-oto-othe-o'Human'-oin-ofront-oof-ome-owho-oharmed-oPeko-oand-okilled-oArksen-oalong-owith-oIsa.

  My-oattacks-owith-oHeaven-oSplitter-oare-openetrating-ohis-odark-odefenses,-oand-oeven-omore-odamage-owas-ogiven-owith-omy-oalignment

  Yet-oas-othe-othing-ostarts-oto-olaugh,-omy-oanger-ogrows-owith-oevery-oslash-oI-omake,-oand-oit-oseems-oArdha-ois-ogoing-ointo-ofrenzy-otoo,-oshown-oin-ohis-oeyes-oand-oaction.

  Nonetheless,-owe-oare-onot-ofools;-owe-ocan't-oafford-oto-oattack-oblindly-oto-othis-obeing.-oThus,-oI-owait-ofor-oan-oopportune-omoment-oto-orealize-oeverything;-oseconds-opass,-oand-othey-ofeel-olike-oyears.

  It-omakes-oits-omove-oand-oseems-oto-ogo-owhere-oVladi-ois,-omy-olegs-ohit-othe-oground-obefore-ohe-odid,-oand-oit-oseems-othat-oArdha-othought-othe-
osame-oas-ohe-ocharges-oalong-owith-ome.

  I-oreach-oit-ofirst-othanks-oto-omy-oHeaven-oSplitter-oat-ofull-ocapacity,-oafter-oall,-oI-oam-ogoing-oall-oout-oon-othis.

  I-oappear-obefore-othe-obeing,-oit-ois-oin-oshock-ofor-oa-obit,-obut-ochanges-oits-ofocus-otowards-ome-oand-oI-ouse-oeverything-oon-othis-oslash.-oTo-oretaliate-oit-ocharges-oa-oball-oof-oDarkness-ofull-oof-oenergy.-oEven-oif-oI-oam-oresistant-oto-oit,-oI-oam-onot-oinvulnerable.-oIf-omy-oattack-ois-odone,-othen-oI-owill-oreceive-oits-oattack-oat-opoint-obank-orange-oand-oprobably-obecome-odisabled-ofor-othe-orest-oof-othe-obattle.

  But-oI-owill-odo-oeverything-oto-oend-oit-ohere,-oif-oI-ocan't,-oI-ohave-oa-oreliable-ocompanion-oto-otake-oit-oafter-ome.

  'Heaven-oSplitter,-oDeath-oforce'-oand-omy-oslash-ohits-ocleanly-oand-ofor-oa-osecond,-oI-ofelt-oall-omy-omuscles-obeing-otorn-oas-owounds-ostart-oappearing.

  'I-omad—-o'my-othought-ois-ointerrupted-oby-oa-oblast-othat-ohits-ome-odead-oon-oand-osends-ome-olike-oa-obullet-oto-othe-owall

  My-ohead-ois-onumb,-omy-obody-ocouldn't-omove-oanymore,-oand-omy-ovision-ois-oso-oblurry-oas-omy-oconsciousness-obegins-oto-oleave-ome.

  'Peko…'-oThen-omy-ogaze-owent-oto-omy-ofriend-oand-oa-osole-othought-ocame-o'…Sorry'

  -----------------------------------------

  "ZEEEENIIIITH!"-oI-oshout-oand-ostart-ohitting-oMader-owith-omy-owhole-oself,-othat-oblast-ohit-ohis-oplexus-odead-oon,-oand-oit-owas-ostrong-oenough-oto-osend-ohim-oflying-oat-olightning-ospeed.

  I-othen-osee-otowards-oVladi-owho-ois-opanicking.-oI-oshout-otowards-oher-o"Vladi,-oget-oPeko-oand-oZorith-oout-oof-ohere,-oand-oattend-oto-ohis-owounds!"

  "Bu--o"

  "No-obuts!-oGO!"-oI-osaid-owhile-oannulling-othis-oMonster's-oattacks.-oHe-oappears-oto-obe-ogreatly-odamaged-oby-othe-oattack-oZorith-ojust-odid

  She-oruns-otowards-oher-owhile-onodding,-opicking-oZorith-oand-ogiving-ohim-oa-opotion-owhile-oI-owas-orestraining-othis-obeing-oin-ofront-oof-ome.

  "Now-owe-oare-oalone…-odidn't-oexpect-othat-oboy-oto-obe-othe-oDeath-oLord"-oSays-oMader-owhile-osmiling-oas-ohe-oattacks

  "But-oeven-owith-ome-oin-othis-ostate,-oI-oam-ostill-ostronger-othan-oyou"-oHe-ofinishes-oas-ohe-ocharges-oagain-oand-oattacks-ome-owith-oa-oDark-oBall

  'Elemental-oEnhancement:-oWind,-oAbsorption'

  I-oabsorb-othe-oball-oand-ofeel-othat-omy-obody-ois-oburning-oup-oto-othe-oforeign-oenergy.-oThis-ois-oall-oor-onothing,-oI-ocan't-ospare-oto-obe-obeaten-onow!

  "Elemental-oEnhancement:-oDark"-oAnd-odarkness-oenvelops-ome-oas-owell-oas-ounbearable-opain.-oMader's-oexpression-ochanges-oand-ohe-olaughs-omaniacally

  "HAHAHAHA"-ohe-ostarts-othrowing-oattacks-oto-ome

  My-odarkness-ocoat,-ohowever,-ostops-othem.-oDark-ogauntlets-oform-oon-omy-oarms-oas-oI-oabsorb-oand-onullify-oattacks-owith-oit,-omy-omana-ois-odecreasing-orapidly,-oand-omy-ohealth-owas-oalso-ogoing-odown-ofrom-othe-opain-oI-owas-oreceiving-ofrom-othis-otechnique.

  I-ostart-oattacking-otoo,-owith-oeverything-oI-ohad.

  'Elemental-oBlending,-oElemental-oEnhancement:-oFire&Wind-o20%'-oI-opush-omy-obody-oas-oit-owas-oscreaming.

  Our-oattacks-oare-ocoming-oand-ogoing,-omy-oreason-ostarts-oto-ofade-ofrom-othe-ogrowing-opain-oand-othe-oend-ois-odrawing-onear.

  Mader's-oHealth-ois-oalmost-odepleted,-obut-ohis-oattacks-oare-ostill-ostronger-othan-oever

  At-othe-oongoing-obattle-ohe-ofinds-oan-oopening-oand-omakes-oa-ospear-oon-ohis-ohands-oand-ostabs-ome-owith-oa-ovictorious-osmile.

  At-othe-ostab,-oI-ojust-omade-othe-odarkness-oin-omy-ogauntlets-oto-odisperse-oand-oformed-ohands-othat-oheld-ohim.

  He-orealizes-oat-omy-oaction-oand-ohe-olaughs-oas-omy-osword-owhich-opierces-ohim.-oHe-ofalls-oto-othe-oground-ostill-onot-odying,-obut-ototally-odisabled.

  I-odissipate-othe-odarkness-oand-oformed-oa-ofireball-oon-omy-oright-ohand,-oMader,-oat-oseeing-othis,-osays

  "What,-oyou-owill-olight-ome-oon-ofire-oto-okill-ome?"-osmirking-owith-othe-olittle-ostrength-ohe-ohas-oleft.

  'Elemental-oEnhancing:-oEarth'-oMy-owounds-oare-ostarting-oto-obleed-omore,-obut-oI-osimple-orotate-omy-ohands-oto-oform-oa-ofireball.

  "I-oam-onot-ogoing-oto-okill-oyou"-oI-outter-owhile-omy-ofire-ois-obeing-ocoated-owith-odarkness-o"I-oam-ogoing-oto-oerase-oyou"-oThe-ofireball-omixes-owith-othe-oLight-oand-oHoly-oaffinities-othat-oI-oabsorbed-owhen-oIsa-omade-oher-olast-oattack

  His-oeyes-oare-owide-oopen-oat-othe-orealization-othat-ohit-ohim,-oand-ohe-osmirks.

  I-oremember-omy-omaster's-owords-oabout-oLight-oand-oDark.-oMy-oFireball-ois-obecoming-odenser-oand-odenser,-omelding-owith-othe-oelements-oand-omaking-oit-ostronger.

  Thanks-oto-othe-oHoly-oattribute,-oit-ois-obecoming-oSacred,-obut-oI-oneed-oeven-omore-opower-oto-oerase-ohim.-oThus,-oI-opushed-omy-oEarth-oEnhancement-oeven-oas-omy-olife-obegins-oto-oleave-ome.

  The-ocondensed-oFire-oI-ohold-oin-omy-ohands-onow-ocomplete,-oI-oslowly-oput-oit-oon-oMader-owho-ostarts-oscreaming-oin-oPain-oeven-oas-ohis-olife-owas-odecreasing-oin-ominuscule-oamounts,-oafter-oall,-oit-ois-ojust-oa-onormal-ofireball.

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

  My-olegs-ogive-oin-oand-oI-ocould-onot-oreally-omove-oanymore

  "AHAHAHAHA,-oTHIS-oPAIN!-oIT-oHURTS,-oYOU-oKNOW?!"-oHe-osays-owhile-oscreaming-oin-opain-oand-olaughing-o"BUT-oOF-oCOURSE-oYOU-oDO,-oYOU-oARE-oLIKE-oME,-oAREN'T-oYOU-oAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

  I-osimply-orespond-oto-ohim-owith-o"Of-ocourse,-oyou-owere-oonce-ohuman,-oand-oI-oam-oone-otoo,-odon't-othink-oI-owill-ojust-ohave-omercy-oon-oyou"

  He-ogazes-oat-ome,-ohis-oface-obecomes-oexpressionless,-oand-oI-ostare-ointo-othe-odarkness-oas-ohis-oface-obegins-oto-oslowly-ofade-ofrom-oexistence.

  Congratulations!-oYou-ohave-odefeated-oEvil-obeing-oMader

  200-oFame

  Leveled-oup-ox2

  The-oroom-ohas-obecome-oa-osafe-ozone-ofor-oa-oweek

  You-ohave-ocompleted-othe-oquest!

  500-oFame

  Your-oElemental-oenhancement-ohas-obeen-oupgraded!

  You-ocan-ouse-oLight-oand-oDark-onow

  You-ohave-oreceived-othe-odiary-oof-othe-oEvil-obeing

  You-ohave-oacquired-othe-oskill-oDark-oCoat

  Go-oto-oGardan's-oVillage-oto-oreceive-oyour-orewards

  --o"Vladi,-oMader-ois-odead,-oI-oam-oalso-ogoing-oto-odie-osoon,-oit-owould-obe-obetter-oto-oattend-oPeko-oand-oZorith-ohere"-oI-oPMed-oVladi-oas-oI-owatched-omy-ofriends-odisappear-oin-oa-ogrey-olight-oand-omy-oHealth-oreaching-ozero

  You-ohave-odied

  You-ocannot-olog-oin-ofor-o24-ohours-oand-othe-openalties-ohas-obeen-oapplied-o

  ###-oChapter-o20-o--oChapter-o4.-oFirst-oDeath,-oUnforgiving-oTime.-o(Part-o1)

  Mar-oDerral-owas-oan-oorphan-ochild,-oborn-oin-oa-ovillage-owhose-oname-owas-oforgotten,-ohe-owas-oostracized-oby-othe-opeople,-obut-othe-omayor-owas-oalways-owith-ohim.

  "Grandpa,-oam-oI-odifferent-othan-othe-oothers?"-oasks-oMar-owhose-obody-ois-oshrouded-oin-oan-oaura-oof-odarkness-othat-ogave-ooff-oan-oeerie-oand-oalmost-oominous-osensation.

  "No,-oMar,-oyou-oaren't-odifferent-othan-oanyone"-oSays-oGrandpa-owith-oa-osmile-oon-ohis-oface.

  The-omayor-ohad-obeen-othe-ochild's-oguardian-oever-osince-ohe-owas-oa-onewborn.-oThe-oboy-owas-oostracized-oby-othe-opeople-obecause-oeven-oat-oa-oyoung-oage,-ohis-oaura-owas-osomething-othat-oothers-ocould-onot-oforgive.-oHowever,-oas-oa-oresult-oof-othe-omayor's-ointervention,-othe-oboy-ohad-ofound-oa-ofamily-oand-ois-oable-oto-olive-oto-othis-oday.

  "Then-oyou-oare-olike-ome-oGrandpa?"-oasks-othe-ochild

  "Of-ocourse,-oI-oam-ohuman-oand-oso-oare-oyou"-othe-omayor-oanswers-ostaring-oat-oMar.

  "Hehe,-oGrandpa-oI-oam-ogoing-oto-oplay!"-osays-othe-ochild-owhile-odispersing-ohis-oaura.

  "Okay,-obut-odon't-ogo-otoo-ofar"-osays-othe-oold-oman-oto-othe-ochild-owho's-orunning-ooff.

  Years-opassed-oby-oand-othe-ochild-ogrew.-oSo-omuch-oso-othat-ohe-ohad-obecome-ofifteen-oyears-oof-oage.-oHis-odaily-olife-oconsisted-oof-ohelping-oaround-othe-ovillage-oand-ounbeknownst-oto-ohim,-othese-odaily-otasks-oacted-oas-otr
aining-ofor-ohis-oabilities,-oand-ohelping-oto-oaugment-ohis-ocapabilities.

  It-oseemed-oas-othough-oothers-owere-onot-oaware,-onot-oeven-othe-oboy,-obut-othe-operson-owho-owas-oclosest-oto-ohim,-othe-omayor,-ohad-onoticed-osomething:-othe-ochild-owas-orestraining-ohimself.-oOne-oday-ohe-ohad-okilled-oan-oanimal-othat-ocame-oto-ohim-oby-oabsorbing-oits-olife.

  After-othe-oanimal-owas-okilled,-othe-ochild-opanicked-oand-oran-ofor-othe-oelder.-oThat-owas-othe-ofirst-otrue-odisplay-oof-ohis-opowers.-oSince-othat-oday,-ohowever,-oit-owas-onot-oseen-oagain.

  Mar-oenjoyed-ofighting,-obut-othere-owas-oalready-ono-oone-ohis-oage-owho-ocould-ostand-oagainst-ohim;-oas-ohis-opower-ogrew,-oso-otoo-odid-ohis-ophysical-ocapabilities.-oOne-oday-ohe-ohad-oinjured-oone-oof-othe-ochildren-othat-owere-obothering-ohim,-oand-othe-ovillagers-obegan-oto-oremember-otheir-ofear-otoward-ohim.

  "Did-oI-odo-osomething-owrong?"-oasks-oMar

  "You-oshouldn't-oresort-oto-oviolence-oin-othese-ocases.-oThey-oare-ochildren-ojust-olike-oyou-oMar—fragile"-osays-othe-oMayor

  "Okay…"-oanswers-oMar-owith-oa-odowncast-oface,-ohis-ogaze-opeering-oat-othe-owatching-othat-oonce-oagain-ohave-ostarted-oto-oharbor-ofear-otowards-ohim.

  One-oday-oa-opatrol-ocame-olooking-ofor-othe-oyoung-oMar-oand-ostated-othat-ohe-oshould-obe-oexecuted.-oIf-othe-ovillage-odid-onot-ocomply-othen-othe-ovillage-owould-obe-obranded-oas-oan-oentity-othat-ohad-ocommitted-otreason-oand-owould-obe-oattacked.

  It-owas-oobvious-osomeone-ohad-oblabbed-oabout-othe-oboy's-opower,-obut-ohe-ocould-onot-oworry-oabout-othe-ocriminal,-obut-oinstead-ostalled-ofor-otime-oby-ogiving-oexcuses.

  He-owent-ofast-otowards-oMar,-obut-oit-owas-otoo-olate,-othe-oboy-ohad-obeen-osurrounded-oby-othe-ocitizens-oof-othe-ovillage-oand,-oas-oa-oresult,-obeen-oinjured.-oHe-odid-onot-oresort-oto-ousing-ohis-opowers-oto-ofight-oback

  The-oyoung-oboy-osaw-othe-oelder-oand-ohis-oeyes-owere-oasking-ofor-ohelp.

  The-oelder-ocould-osee-ofear-oin-othe-oboy's-oeyes-oand-oshouts

  "Escape!"

 

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