Someone whispered in the ear of an injured team member, his voice a mix of fear and awe, "Damn… monster kin. Who are you?"
Alex kept walking, slow and steady. His steps were uneven, his breath shaky. The others watched, eyes fixed on him, following the crimson trail that dripped from every step.
He stopped in front of Ben, swaying slightly.
"Sorry," he muttered, his lips cracked, voice barely holding together. "I think I got a little too excited, Ben…"
Then his body gave out.
"Damn... I think I'm out of energy again…" he murmured as he collapsed forward.
chapter 17 : courage3 hours agoBen caught him instantly, panic rising as he scanned Alex's battered body. His hands were bruised and bloodied, his knuckles split and raw. Cuts ran down his face, bleeding fresh. Alex was barely conscious, his skin pale beneath the mess.
Without hesitation, Ben lifted Alex and ran—no words, just desperate speed toward the hideout.
Behind them, Athina stared, shaking her head.
"Did he really lose it? Fighting alone like that?"
Gwen snapped, her voice sharp. "He was trying to win. Did you see any dead bodies? No. He made them immobile—crippled every one of them. But look at him now…"
Athina's voice cracked. "What kind of monster was that? Is he really the same sweet boy who used to run after Aunt Amber, laughing and playing tag?"
Then Athina saw it—the blood seeping heavily from beneath Alex's jacket.
Ben's voice broke through the panic. "Focus! We need to move!"
They burst into the safehouse. Ben lowered Alex gently against the lead-reinforced wall, ripped off the bulletproof vest, and saw the damage—fractured ribs, heavy bruising where impact bullets had struck.
Ben dug into Alex's jacket pocket and found the small cloth bag Alex had handed him before the mission. Inside was an elixir.
Ben uncorked it, poured a few glowing drops onto Alex's deepest wounds, and carefully let some trickle into his mouth.
Alex twitched in pain, then went limp. Sleep took him.
Gwen and Athina watched Ben slump against the wall, barely staying awake.
Gwen stepped forward. "Ben, get some sleep. Me and Athina will stand guard."
Ben nodded tiredly, eyes closing as he exhaled in relief.
Gwen stepped outside and drew a glowing rune in the air, a magical alarm for approaching danger. The symbol pulsed softly in the shadows.
She sighed, muttering to herself. "Why did you cry, Alex? You used to laugh. You used to mess around, play like nothing could hurt you… Idiot. Why do you carry everything on your back?"
She turned and resumed her watch, eyes sharp.
4:00 AM
Gwen stirred awake, rubbing her eyes. She walked to Ben and shook him gently.
He jolted awake instantly, alert like a soldier trained for chaos. His wounds were healing fast—too fast.
He raised an eyebrow. Gwen whispered, "It's time. We've got three hours left. Let's move."
Ben nodded, checked his side, and then leaned over Alex.
"Alex," he said softly.
Alex opened his eyes slowly. Pain shot through the cut on his cheek like a spark. The haze of sleep faded instantly.
"What happened…? What time is it?"
"It's four o'clock. Early morning," Gwen replied.
"Four o'clock... three hours left," Alex thought grimly.
He sat up slowly, reached into his pocket, pulled out the elixir bottle, and let a single drop fall into his mouth.
He exhaled. His voice, though tired, was calm and clear. "Guys."
Everyone turned.
Alex looked at each of them, seriousness returning to his eyes. The fire flickered back.
"From now on… we run fast. If anyone catches us…"
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
They all understood.
They started running, crossing the no-camera zone. A voice rang out:
"Spotted: four moths in the lounge corridors! Guards—move!"
Alex heard it and immediately shot the camera. A guard appeared, gun raised.
Ben grabbed Alex's arm and threw him with incredible force. Alex jumped, landing on the guard. He pressed the barrel of the gun to the man's forehead.
"Look—I think you know what I'll do if you don't talk."
The guard nodded nervously.
"Where's the throne room? How many guards?"
The guard glanced at his jacket pocket. "It's in the seminar hall. Guarded by thirty elite soldiers."
Ben searched the guard's jacket, pulling out a map. Alex knocked the guard unconscious and turned to Ben.
"Ben, Athina—start moving. Gwen and I will be the distraction."
Ben nodded and ran with Athina, following the map. They ran for nearly an hour, looking for signs of the ceremony hall.
Then—
"Alert! We just captured two cubs! They've been caught—Sector 1!"
Alex's eyes widened. "No... I sent them through a low-patrol zone. How—"
He paused.
"It was a trap."
"Gwen," he said.
She met his gaze, fear in her eyes.
"Ben and Athina are captured."
Tears welled in Gwen's eyes. Alex turned to her.
"Teach me the mist and illusion magic. Now."
Gwen nodded, guiding him. Alex absorbed the training rapidly, mastering it within half an hour.
"How are you learning this so fast?" Gwen asked, stunned.
"I was raised in Heaven," Alex replied. "I've learned many things... it comes naturally."
Suddenly, a squad of guards rushed toward their location. Alex peeked from behind the wall, saw them approaching, then turned and shot another camera.
Mist began forming at the corridor's bend. A guard noticed and approached.
Shhh... he was dragged into the mist without a sound.
Alex held a gun to his head.
"Where are my friends? Tell me—or else."
"The ceremony hall," the guard stammered. "That's where your awakening will happen! Please—don't kill me!"
As the guard blinked, Alex vanished into the mist. Gwen and Alex rushed toward the hall. Alex gathered mana as they ran.
"Alex!" Gwen called. "Why are you crying?!"
"I don't know… I just can't stop the tears," he replied, wiping his face. Gwen nodded.
They reached the ceremony hall and halted. Alex nodded to Gwen.
"Let's begin the mist spell."
Inside, the guards were alert, watching for Alex and Gwen.
Suddenly, mist crept in through the gaps in the doors.
The captain gestured for one of them to check.
The man opened the door a crack—and was pulled in instantly.
Tension skyrocketed.
"How can a bunch of kids scare us this much?"
"Bastards. I'll rip them apart myself!"
The mist thickened, seeping through the hall like poison.
BANG! BANG!
A scream echoed from outside.
Whispers spread.
"One of them crushed Squad 4… killed two captains… he drinks blood—they say he's a psycho."
Suddenly, the giant doors slammed open.
Fog rolled in. Silence fell.
A ghostly figure emerged from the mist—dripping with smoke and fury.
The guards opened fire.
He vanished.
BANG! BANG!
They began falling like leaves.
It was Alex—using his mist technique to become untouchable.
"All guards! Ceremony hall breach! Send backup now!" one shouted.
"They just keep coming!" Alex growled, grabbing his walkie-talkie.
"Gwen—go. Help them. Leave the rest to me."
"Okay. I'm on it!"
Gwen slipped into the hall with stealth magic, rushing to the cages.
When she saw Ben and Athina, she broke down in tears.
"A-Alex…" her voice trembled through the walkie.
"What is it?!" Alex whispered, ducking behind a pillar.
"They're hurt… Ben's arm is fractured, his face swollen. Athina… head trauma, broken ribs... her face is bruised and bleeding."
Alex's rage ignited.
"Use the elixirs. Just a drop is enough."
As Gwen moved, a man grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back.
"Let go, bastard!" she screamed.
Her screams echoed through the walkie.
Alex's heart pounded with fear of losing his friends. He couldn't bear to see them like this.
"It's okay! I can do this! I have to! Please, please!"
Alex closed his eyes, trying to focus, but his mana wouldn't respond. He could feel his desperation building.
His scream tore through the air in agony. "Come on... come on, damn magic... please!"
"ArHAH! AHRAAAHHH!!"
A great light erupted from his body, illuminating the entire castle in brilliance. His scream echoed with the light.
"AHHAAAAH!!"
Agony and rage shattered his limits.
"Break it! Let go! I have to protect them!"
With a flash of light, thunder cracked across the mansion's ceiling. Lightning exploded from the sky, destroying pillars and shaking the ground.
When Alex opened his eyes, the ground trembled beneath him.
he hit his face with hands , he wipe his hair up .
Flashback:
Alex stood before Hercules, his mind a storm of questions. "Uncle! What is courage? What does it truly mean?"
Hercules looked at him, his brow furrowing with amusement. "Why do you ask?" he asked, his voice rich with curiosity.
"I just... I don't understand," Alex admitted, frustration lacing his words. "It doesn't make sense to me."
Hercules paused for a moment, his voice shifting to one of warmth and seriousness. "Alex, courage isn't about fearlessness.
It's about what happens when you're standing on the edge of the abyss, and your body screams at you to turn away.
It's when everything in you—the fear, the doubt—wants to make you run.
And yet, you step forward.
Even when death looms, you choose to fight, to stand your ground. That is courage."
as he was standing alone against several member of guards point who gun barrel at him .
smile bloom his face , " so this what courage like ! a feeling like ".
i felt nothing in me but my heart was rumbling ! this what they courage ! "
"Courage is choosing to fight… when running feels safer."
a Golden lightning cloaked his body. His aura radiated fury.