Chapter 10: The Calm before the storm (6)

"Fifth Gate, opening!" Raul's cold tone echoed through the air as his body started to glow in a dark blue color. The ground beneath him started to crack and shatter as he unleashed his immense power. Adam took a few steps back, awed by the sheer power radiating from his master. The energy was so fierce that dark blue lightning began to dance around Raoul's aura.

Torka, the orc, without a second thought, took a step back, his face showing a look of fear.

"Torka is stronger!!!" the orc screamed before releasing a surge of dark aura. His markings, which looked like tattoos, started to envelop his whole body until his skin turned deep black.

*Doom*

And with that, the battle between Raul and Torka began, they crashed into each other, and the shockwave from their collision was so strong that trees were being ripped from the earth and thrown about like twigs. Adam, doing his best to stay on his feet, concentrated all of his mana into his legs and covered his face with his arms to protect himself from the wave of power.

The two warriors were a blur to Adam, who struggled to keep up with their speed. All he could see was the shockwaves and the sounds of the two of them clashing.

*Doom*

*Doom*

*Doom*

After a few more rounds, Torka the ogre suddenly crashed to the ground, leaving a massive crater in his wake. But Torka was not down for the count, slowly getting back on his feet, he began to regenerate from the small wounds that Raul had inflicted upon him.

Raul reappeared in front of Adam, tall and imposing. "Judging by his power, he's only a late-stage fifth class," Raul thought, unimpressed by the orc's display of power.

Torka started to raise both of his hands towards Raul, his palms gathering a huge fireball. He let out a deafening roar before the fireball shot toward Raul. The ground shattered and burned from the passing fireball.

"hum" Unimpressed Raul concentrated his mana into his hand and formed a mana blade that looked like the "Lilian Blade."

*slash*

Raul sliced through the fireball, easily cutting it in half, and the remains of the fireball crashed into the forest, past Raul and Adam. A huge boom echoed through the area, and Adam turned back, his face pale at the destruction behind him. The impact shattered and burned the ground almost half a kilometer away.

Torka looked afraid, seeing Raoul effortlessly cut through his fireball.

"Alright, let's wrap this up"

Raoul said in a cold and swift tone before rushing at lightning speed in front of Torka.

"Fifth Gate, first chapter: Oblivion Fist"

he muttered to himself before launching a devastating punch at Torka's stomach.

**ZOOOMMMM**

The impact was so strong that it destroyed everything for a kilometer around. Torka was no match for Raoul's direct punch and was incinerated on the spot.

The ground shook and the sky turned dark as the aftermath of the battle settled. 'The Fifth Gate, incredible' Adam looked on in shock and awe at the immense power that Raoul had just displayed.

Raoul stood victorious, but with a hint of concern on his face. He couldn't understand how a high-grade monster like Torka appeared in this remote part of the forest. Despite his victory, he couldn't shake off the unease in his heart.

~Meanwhile, about three to four kilometers away.

Two dark silhouettes watched the entire encounter with distaste. They were Lukia and Petra.

"This human is quite strong," Petra remarked, his voice low and menacing.

Lukia simply sneered in response, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Don't worry, even he won't be able to stop what I have planned."

Petra let out a small smirk, before disappearing as if he had never been there. Lukia, however, lingered a while longer, his gaze fixated on Adam who stood in the distance.

"I can't wait to see the suffering and despair that you'll experience," Lukia muttered, his tone dripping with malice.

The two of them had been observing Raoul and Adam for quite some time now, and they had finally come to the conclusion that the time to act was near. They had a plan, one that involved destroying Adam and anyone associated with him.

As the two of them disappeared into the shadows, the mystery surrounding them only deepened. It was clear that Raoul and Adam were in for a difficult journey, with the arrival of these two powerful figures lurking in the shadows. The stage was set, and Adam's descent to hell was about to begin.