Chapter 52: Narrow Escape

As Reese vanished into the safety of the Amethyst Orb, narrowly avoided the surge of dark energy that erupted from Harrow and Bagwis, blasting a gaping hole through the wall with a thunderous explosion. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring their vision momentarily before settling into a haze around them.

Harrow let out a satisfied sigh, his chest swelling with pride as he surveyed the aftermath of their attack. "Finally, that meddling human is dealt with," he declared, his voice oozing with arrogance. "No one can stand against the might of the League of Shadows."

Bagwis nodded in agreement, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Indeed," he replied, his tone filled with smug satisfaction. "Our power knows no bounds. We have proven ourselves worthy of our positions as lieutenants."

With a sense of self-assurance, the two creatures turned their backs away from the scene, eager to return to their hideout and claim their reward from their commanders.

As Harrow and Bagwis basked in their perceived victory, reveling in the aftermath of their powerful attack, a sudden sense of unease washed over Harrow. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss—a lingering doubt gnawing at the edges of his consciousness.

Before he could voice his concerns, however, Reese materialized out of thin air, his presence striking like a bolt of lightning. Without hesitation, Reese launched a devastating assault, his remaining Arnis stick aimed with deadly precision at Bagwis's head. With a sickening crunch, Bagwis's skull exploded like a melon under the force of Reese's blow, his demise instantaneous and gruesome.

Harrow's eyes widened in shock and horror as he witnessed the demise of his comrade, his mind struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events. "Bagwis!" he cried out in disbelief, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and anger.

But before he could fully process what had happened, Reese turned his attention to Harrow, his movements swift and merciless. Harrow barely had time to react, his instincts kicking into overdrive as he narrowly avoided Reese's surprise attack. With a surge of adrenaline, Harrow scrambled to put some distance between himself and his formidable adversary, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.

With Harrow's panicked retreat leaving Reese momentarily alone, Reese wasted no time in enacting his plan. Kneeling beside Bagwis's lifeless body, Reese carefully drew a small amount of blood from the fallen creature and brushed it across the surface of the Amethyst Orb.

As the blood made contact with the orb, a faint glow emanated from its surface, signaling the absorption of Bagwis's essence into the Amethyst Orb. Reese gently lifted Bagwis's body and transferred it inside the orb, the artifact pulsating with dark energy as it accepted it.

A sense of satisfaction washed over Reese as he stood back, his gaze fixed on the orb now containing the remains of his fallen adversary. Then Reese revealed a triumphant smile as he faced Harrow once again.

Harrow's expression twisted in horror as he beheld the scene before him, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of Bagwis's body vanish in front of him. "How..how are you still alive?!" Harrow exclaimed, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and rage.

But Reese remained unfazed by Harrow's outcry, his gaze steady and unwavering as he faced down his remaining adversary. "You don't have to know," Reese replied calmly, his tone laced with a hint of triumph. "And now, it's your turn." 

Harrow was scared; he knew he was no match for Reese in his current state; he was exhausted after the final attack; and to make matters worse, he was alone. His only chance of survival lay in regrouping with the other members of the League of Shadows. Gritting his teeth, he focused all his remaining energy, channeling it into a powerful transformation. 

Harrow's sudden transformation into a winged creature caught Reese off guard. He watched with fascination as Harrow spread his wings and darted towards and out of the hole. Reese's mind raced, processing the unfolding events with lightning speed. He knew he couldn't let Harrow escape, not after everything he had done.

With a burst of speed, Reese closed the gap between them, his eyes locked on Harrow's fleeing figure. As he approached the edge of the hole, Reese knew he had to act fast. With a daring leap, he launched himself forward. With uncanny precision, Reese landed on Harrow's back, his grip firm as he clung to the winged creature. "You're not getting away that easily, Harrow," Reese declared, his voice resolute despite the chaos swirling around them.

Harrow's reaction was immediate, a mixture of shock and fury flashing across his features. "How..how is that possible?!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion. Reese could sense the panic in Harrow's words, a realization dawning that his escape plan had been thwarted by the human he had underestimated before. 

In the tense moments that followed, Reese urged Harrow to surrender, his voice firm yet tinged with a hint of desperation. "Harrow, surrender, and I will let you live," Reese implored, his eyes locking with Harrow's defiant gaze. "Tell me everything you know about the League of Shadows."

Harrow's response was immediate, his loyalty to the League unyielding even in the face of imminent defeat. "I will never betray the League," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You may have caught me, human, but you will never break me; I would rather die."

With a heavy heart, Reese knew that his attempts at negotiation had failed. "So be it!" There was only one course of action left. With a determined nod, Reese unleashed a relentless barrage of blows upon Harrow.

And then, with one final, decisive strike, Harrow's resistance crumbled beneath the relentless force of Reese's attack. With a guttural cry, Harrow fell, his body succumbing to the overwhelming power of Reese's onslaught.

Maintaining his balance on Harrow's back was a struggle. Each movement sent jolts of pain through Reese's already battered body, but he held on, determined not to let go of Harrow.

As they neared the ground, Reese realized the impact would be catastrophic if he didn't act quickly. Summoning every ounce of his strength, Reese propelled himself off Harrow's back just before they hit the ground, aiming to lessen the force of his own fall. He landed on Kasadya sa Sugbo SRP Carnival Fair hard, the impact jarring his bones and sending waves of agony through his body. 

Reese struggled to get up, pain radiating through every part of his body. He could hear the sirens of fast-approaching police cars growing louder. Ignoring the searing pain, Reese forced himself to act. He staggered to his feet and quickly reached for Harrow's lifeless body. His hands trembling, he extracted a small amount of blood and brushed it onto the surface of the Amethyst Orb. The orb absorbed the essence of Harrow's being, glowing faintly in the dim light.

With Harrow's body safely stored away, Reese turned to flee. The sirens grew louder, urgently pushing him to move faster. He could feel every bruise and cut on his body protesting with each step, but he couldn't afford to be caught.

Reese set off towards his rented home. The cool night air whipped past him as he moved with purpose through the deserted streets, the events of the evening replaying in his mind. Despite the pain and exhaustion, he felt a grim sense of accomplishment. He had survived another encounter with the League of Shadows and lived to fight another day.