Rival

Smiling at the lovable face of Rave, I felt my soul tremble in pleasure. The man looked so rugged and muscular with a menacing appearance, but he had this childlike innocence that made me want to smite it. I wanted to destroy that little light within his soul before feasting upon it.

"You better, Arsene; you will be responsible for protecting my dear wifey." he roared, slapping my shoulder. Suddenly a loud cracking felt bones were about to break as I backed away in horror.

Rave was only at the peak stage of Life Gate, but his power was far higher than those fools I killed. Not taking my damaged shoulder to heart, I responded with brotherly love, "Of course, I promise your wife will be perfectly unharmed. By the Will of Odin, you have my word."

"That will be all," Said the Captain in a chilling tone. Sending her a side glance, my lips turned upwards with a hint of amusement observing the annoyed expression of Vis. Giving a slight nod, we left. However, as I stepped out, a map of various landscapes around the city filled my mind as I drew closer.

It was like the whisper of your lover echoing like wedding bells against your ear. Remembering the bloody parts of my victims, their screams, their taste, I grinned inwardly at my handy work. Should I make a happy face just for shits and giggles? I'm sure everyone will be bewildered.

"See anything you like, young man?" An intriguing voice asked with a hint of darkness as he drew close behind my back.

Turning my attention, I saw a man around his thirties eyeing me with his hawk-like eyes. A gleam of suspicion was clear as day as he analyzed my every action as if looking for something. His golden hair was neatly tied in a bun as his azure blue eyes didn't skip a beat. With an arch of his brow, he touched his neatly trimmed beard as a few seconds passed before he made a downcasted expression. "Who are you," He coldly asked, losing his earlier interest.

"Batman," I said in a dark voice that didn't match my persona.

Sneering, his azure eyes began to radiate a powerful intent. A deep scowl masked his face as he scuffed in contempt. "You do not show any indicators a normal man should. It's like almost everything about you is a lie. Your perspiration, heartbeat, hormones, intent, breath, all of it screams something is off. Care to tell me what it is?"

Gasping inwardly at his observation, I held my mask firm as I was about to shake my head, only to be cut short when I felt my soul beginning to pulse. With a demonic light filling my eyes, I stared deep into the man's eyes. "Care to tell me what you just did?" I whispered in a hollow tone.

The air quickly began to thin as I drew Dragonsbane from my back. Like a beast had been awakened, my mind suddenly flipped a switch as all my emotions vanished. All that was left as a meticulous devil that would not hesitate to slaughter everyone within this building.

Sweat quickly covered the man's brow as he, along with I, could feel it. The pale rider had decent as I released smiled that didn't meet my eyes. "Mortal, care to attack me again? I don't mind ripping your lungs from your throat; I find it will be quite an interesting experience."

Taking a step back, I sneer, taking a step closer, "I will ask once more, what did you just do to my soul? There is a light that wasn't there." I barked, raising my left palm as a small, disgusting light appeared.

"No response? Then die," I murmured as Dragonsbane shot through the sound barrier similar to a bolt of lightning. A massive shockwave shook the entire room, causing papers to fly everywhere; however, to my surprise, Rave appeared, blocking my strike with his greatsword. Nevertheless, the force from my strike was so powerful he shot into the wall as blood ran from his palm. A soft grown escaped his lips as I frowned, returning to normal.

"Rave, you had better explain this; why did this man attack me." I angrily spat. While I had destroyed what he did, it still bothered me. I had zero defense against something like that. The darkness is usually defending against anything that could harm me, but it seems it doesn't destroy things that I have no understanding of.

Eying me with a frown, Rave glanced at the strange man sighing in relief, "Sorry, Arsene, but he is one of our best detectives; he just lacks in proper etiquette. His EQ is quite small, so he takes advantage of his special abilities sometimes. Most people cant sense it, so he has been arrogant as of late, but...Today proved to be quite an eye-opener, don't you agree, Andor.

Sneering, Andor eyed me in a sinister light waving his palm towards rave as if to silence him, "Why would you let this psychopath enter the Versarack? He is a killer."

"Huh?" Rave, along with Lisa, exclaimed as I burst into laughter.

"Well, no shit. Everyone in this damn city is a killer. On my first day in Hallr, someone thought me to be a thrall. The entire southern district is a mass of crime and death, yet you come at me with this shit. Fuck off. Just coming to his damn building, I saw hundreds of murders and people having their organs removed. I kill from the roots to keep myself alive, but what about you. You do not seem like the type to kill for pleasure but rather for research. The way you analyzed me like a book, the glimmer of killing intent beneath your gaze, do you really expect me not to see you for what you truly are. I bet your kill count is far higher than mine...in fact, I would go as far and say it is higher than everyone in this damn building combine. "

"Rave, what is Arsene talking about?" Lisa suddenly intervened, causing rave and Andor to turn pale as a ghost. With a laugh of disdain, I continued,

"So I was right, hahaha, look at you cannot even keep your mask up. Pathetic"

Pushing Rave aside, Andor stepped out, glaring me down, "Do not change the subject; when did you come into this city?"

Opening my mouth wide, I laughed, "Please, whether it was a week before or after, you will still blame me. And I can play these games, but you seem to have more to lose. So let's not play the blame game, or we can actually try to find The Butcher of the Nines."

"I already found him. I think it's you, Arsene." Andor said in a chilling tone, "and I will do everything in my power to prove it."

Shrugging my shoulders, I snickered, "Go ahead! In fact, I will help you tonight. I am going to slaughter a few hundred people. All men connected to the idiot who had an assassin attack me today. "

Horror was written over Lisa's face as she shook her head, "Arsene, you cant do..."

"He tried to kill me, so he dies along with anyone who dares to kill me." I voiced, turning to leave, "I will report tomorrow morning for work...And Andor, should you dare attack me again, I will kill you. Rave cannot always be there to defend a low-grade Life Gate. I will hang your body for the dogs to feast on. Do not push my limits. You have been warned, little mortal.

Stepping out of the building at a slow pace, I smiled. Aside from when Andor attacked me, everything was quite exhilarating. Man, I should have acted like this from youth...Damn you, grey. Why did you not let me do what I wanted? Well, I am only fifteen...I should have a party for when I turn sixteen in a few months. June is approaching, or as these people call it, the Month of Ash.

But what was that light that tried to invade my soul? Growing a little more cautious, I faded into the shadows of the crowd. I needed to gather info regarding this Drulan that hired people to kill me.