Fenrys vs Mysterious Man

[Fenrir's PoV] 

Tap. Tap. Tap. 

I kept running across rooftops made of bricks, leaping between the box-shaped houses while carrying Linnie in bridal carry. My long hair fluttered behind me, cutting through the wind with my speed. 

"Umm… is it okay to leave Yata back there?" Linnie asked with a worried expression. "I know he's strong, but the person he's up against might be the commander of the royal guard. Are you sure it's fine?" 

"Huh," I curled my lips into a smirk. "Don't you trust him? He's much stronger than an average Jotun." 

"Well, if you say so." 

Even though she said that, I could feel her small hands gripping my shoulders tightly. The worry etched in her soul seemed to pass onto me. I understood her concern because I had felt the same before. However, after realizing the extent of Yata's power, I had learned to worry less.

"As long as his opponent is just an ordinary Jotun, there's nothing to worry. Besides, he's incredibly good at escaping. And he's skilled at assessing his enemy's abilities. So really, there's no need to fret." 

Linnie furrowed her brows. "You sound like you're trying to convince yourself, Fenrys. Are you worried about him too?" 

Her words made me flinch. "Really?" 

"Yeah, that's how it sounds to me." 

I pursed my lips and turned my gaze upward. Her words seemed to awaken a part of me, feelings I hadn't even realized were there. "Maybe you're right…" 

Thud.

While we were still on the run, a sudden surge of overwhelming magical power brought my steps to a halt. I turned back to locate the source of the energy. 

"Grrr." 

I let out a low growl, my ears standing alert as I realized the magical force came from where Yata was fighting—the central park of Hojberg. 

"What's wrong, Fenrys?" Linnie tilted her head, confused by my reaction. 

I turned to her, lowering my voice. "It seems we need to go back and help Yata, Linnie." 

"Alright. I understand. Please let me help too." 

Her expression shifted from puzzled to resolute, understanding the gravity of the situation. 

A wide smile spread across my face at her determined request. This girl had grown into someone brave and not as whiny as when I first met her.. 

"Alright then, get ready!" I exclaimed with excitement. 

I turned around, preparing to dash back to Yata's location. But just as I was about to spring forward, a voice from behind stopped me. 

"You don't need to go through all that trouble." 

"Ah!" I gasped, spinning around immediately. 

My eyes narrowed at the sight of a man with sky-blue hair standing before me. His eyes matched the hue of his hair, calm yet strangely captivating. But there was something about his gaze that reminded me of someone I deeply despised. 

"Grrr, who are you?!" 

The man took a step back at my growl, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Whoa, you're fiercer than your friend." 

"My friend?" I blinked, piecing it together. Once I realized who he was referring to, anger surged through me. "Where is Yata? What have you done to him, you ugly creep?!" 

"Yata?" The man's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "So that's his name." 

"Stop toying with me!" I snarled, my patience wearing thin. "Tell me where he is right now!" 

"Fenrys, be careful. He's dangerous," Linnie spoke up, her face serious. 

"You know him, Linnie?" 

She didn't answer, but her small nod was enough to confirm it. Her gaze remained fixed on the man, laced with unease. 

The man turned his attention to Linnie. "Why do you look so scared? Come now, my daughter. Let me hold you too." 

"Daughter?" I tilted my head, confused by his words. "What do you mean, you perverted scumbag?" 

Linnie averted her gaze, curling deeper into my arms. Her trembling hands clung tightly to my clothes, and I could feel the fear emanating from her. 

"Wait… didn't Linnie tell you anything about me?" 

"What?" I glared at him. "Aren't you just some sleazy criminal trying to kidnap her?" 

"Whoa, harsh," the man said dramatically. "So that's how you see me, no wonder you're so hostile." 

"Let me explain," he sighed, composing himself. "I am Linnie's biological father. I've come here to reclaim my daughter." 

"I see…" I muttered, looking down at Linnie with a somber expression. "Linnie, I'm going to set you down now." 

"What?!" she cried in disbelief. 

I leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, leave everything to me, okay?" I gave her a reassuring wink. 

Linnie gave a small nod, her lips pressed into a shaky smile. "A-alright." 

Gently, I set her down, all the while preparing the claws hidden beneath my fingers to tear apart the smug face of this so-called father. 

"Looks like you understand now," the man said as his shoulders relaxed. He extended a hand toward Linnie. "Come here, my little daughter." 

The tenderness in his voice disgusted me to no end. Without a second thought, I lunged at him, claws aimed straight for his smug face. 

"Shit!" 

A grin spread across my lips as his panicked expression came into clear view, framed by my claws poised to shred him. But just as my fingertips were about to reach him, his form dissolved into a mist, vanishing into the empty air. 

"Damn it! Where did that ugly bastard go?" 

I whipped my head around, scanning for any trace of him. Neither my eyes, ears, nor even my nose could detect his presence—his ability to erase any trace of himself was maddeningly impressive. 

"Fenrys, above you!" 

I tilted my head back at Linnie's warning and my eyes widened in alarm. A blazing fireball was plummeting straight toward me. I leapt to the side, rolling just in time to avoid being incinerated. 

Boom. 

The fireball exploded on the roof of a nearby house, sending shards of stone flying in all directions and leaving a gaping hole in the structure. 

"Hey! Look what you just did! You wrecked someone's house, you idiot! How are you planning to pay for that, huh?" I shouted at him, glaring at his figure hovering above, supported by a floating magic circle under his feet. 

The man scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "You're really worried about that right now? Relax. I'll fix it later, wolf girl." 

"You better promise to fix every bit of damage caused by this fight!" 

"Fine, I promise," he replied, his tone dripping with indifference. 

"Good. That means I won't have to hold back anymore." A wide, feral grin lit up my face. 

Without hesitation, I drove my fist into the thick stone roof, smashing through it. With my strength, I hoisted a massive chunk of the rubble and hurled it at the irritating man with all my might. 

"Take this!" 

The debris hurtled toward him, but he managed to block it with a barrier of swirling wind magic. 

I leaped high into the air, using the flying debris as cover to conceal my approach. As his barrier deflected the rubble, I was already inches above him, my fist primed for a crushing blow. 

"How did you—?" His eyes widened in shock when he saw me up close, defying the impossible height. 

"Don't underestimate me, you bastard!" I growled, channeling all my strength into my punch. "Take this! Hyaaah!" 

Several layers of magical circles materialized between us. Each punch I threw felt like it was pushing through invisible resistance, sapping my strength with every layer I broke. 

The final barrier was solid, its durability far superior to the others. Though it held firm, my attack managed to crack its surface, an achievement that made my lips curl into a triumphant grin. 

"Impressive barrier, pervy old man!" 

"Are you Thor? You almost broke my barrier with just your fists!" 

"Almost?" My grin grew wider, my eyes gleaming with challenge. "Let me show you what I'm really capable of, ugly!" 

Raising my leg high, I delivered a powerful vertical kick, shattering the barrier completely. The force sent him hurtling down, crashing through the roof of another house. 

Meanwhile, I twisted midair, landing gracefully on my feet. Without missing a beat, I strode toward the rubble where he lay sprawled in a heap. 

"Ugh... cough... cough." The man propped himself up on his hands, spitting blood to the side with a grimace. His lips curled into a smirk as he looked at me. "It's been ages since someone managed to break through my barrier. You're quite something, young lady." 

I said nothing, biting my lower lip hard enough to draw blood. His calm demeanor and casual praise stirred something vile in me, dredging up memories I wished to forget. 

The sight of him—his soft smile, his relaxed manner—brought back the face of someone I hated deeply. 

I didn't hesitate. Charging at him, I aimed a kick straight for his head, intending to tear it clean off his shoulders. 

"Hyaaah!" 

Clang, clang, clang.

Suddenly, hundreds of chains appeared out of nowhere, binding my body and locking me in place. 

"What the hell is this?" I growled, thrashing against the bindings. They held firm, their weight crushing and unyielding. 

"These enchanted chains consume more than half of my magic. They're not so easy to break," the man explained, his smug grin returning. "You're strong, but this should keep you restrained for a few minutes." 

As he strutted toward me, several sharp icicles erupted from the ground, narrowly missing him as he leapt backward just in time. 

I glanced back and saw Linnie crouching with her palms pressed against the frozen ground, directly aligned with where the icy spikes had appeared. Her sharp gaze was fixed on the sleazy man—her father—leaving no doubt in my mind that she was the one who saved me. 

"Father, stop it! She's my friend." Linnie boldly yelled at the man, who was none other than her father. "Please don't hurt her!" 

Her father furrowed his brow. "You're worried about your friend but nearly killed your own father. That wounds my heart, Linnie." 

"Faaather!" 

Linnie's shrill scream was so piercing it tortured my sensitive ears. Her father wasn't spared either, as he clamped his hands over his ears in discomfort. 

"Linnie, stop screaming in my ear!" I snapped, but she ignored my warning entirely. 

"F-fine, Linnie. I get it. I'll stop fooling around. Just don't scream anymore. I'm begging you." 

At last, Linnie ceased her ear-splitting screech. She crossed her arms and glared at her father. 

"Then release my friend right now." 

"Alright, I'll do it," he sighed. 

With a wave of his hand, the chains binding me vanished, setting me free. Linnie immediately ran toward me and wrapped her arms around me in a hug, but I gently pushed her away. 

"Sorry, Linnie. There's something I need to ask your father." 

Turning my attention to her father, I saw him scratching his face awkwardly, wearing an expression that screamed idiocy. 

"Where is Yata?" I demanded, my tone sharp and forceful. "What have you done to him?" 

"The raven?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. 

"Yes," I confirmed, stepping closer and grabbing his collar roughly. "Answer me now!" 

"Calm down, young lady," he said softly, pushing me away with surprising gentleness. "Just a moment, and I'll bring you to your boyfriend." 

"H-he's not my boyfriend!" I barked, flustered. Heat rushed to my face, painting it as red as a ripe tomato. "We're just friends," I added, trying to clarify. 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. It's not my place to meddle in your... peculiar relationship," he said nonchalantly. 

The urge to punch him surged within me, but I held back. Finding Yata was more important. 

Snap.

With a snap of his fingers, a magic circle with a star-shaped design appeared on the ceiling. A moment later, a figure tumbled out and landed on the damaged floor. 

"Whoa," the figure muttered, standing up with a relieved expression. "I thought I'd be stuck in there forever." 

Relief flooded through me as I realized it was Yata. Without thinking, I leaped toward him and pulled him into a tight hug, sending us both tumbling back to the ground. 

"Hey, let me go, Fenrys. This is kind of embarrassing, you know?" 

"Sorry, I got carried away." 

I released him, feeling a bit self-conscious about hugging him in front of everyone. Still, I couldn't hold back the surge of emotion upon seeing that my little bird was safe and sound. 

Linnie's father approached us, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. 

"Uh... I apologize for messing around with you two. As an adult, I shouldn't have acted so childishly." 

His tone seemed genuine, but I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicion lacing my gaze. "What did you do to make Linnie run away from you?" 

"Ah, that's a long story. How about I explain over a meal? My treat." 

"A meal?" The word slipped from my lips in an excited shout. 

I quickly cleared my throat, furrowing my brow to mask my enthusiasm. "Ugh... I mean, sure." 

"Then it's settled," Linnie's father declared. "I'll explain everything you want to know while we eat." 

"Yes," I muttered under my breath, clenching both fists in delight. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Yata smirking, his sharp grin brimming with confidence. He was undoubtedly scheming something in that clever mind of his. Whatever it was, it was beyond me—I was too simple-minded to follow his intricate thoughts.