Echoes of Deception

As Gaston lunged towards Adam, his blood-red soul emanating a sinister aura, Adam's mind raced for a solution.

He dodged with lightning-quick reflexes, narrowly missing Gaston's deadly nails.

"In your dreams, bastard! Now that you are a ghost, I can hit you!"

With a bolstering cry, he swung his Beastbane dagger in retaliation.

Sadly, Gaston's expertise in combat wasn't just for show.

He blocked Adam's arm by taking a short step forward and raising his left forearm on its trajectory. Then, he swung his right fist at Adam's stomach, knocking the air out of his frame and making him fly backwards like a cannonball.

CRACK

"Big bro!"

Julius's body trembled, the loud rattling of chains accompanying each tremor. An emotion rapidly overwhelmed his sadness. Terror. The terror of witnessing his most trusted friend flung back like a rag doll.

"Argh!"