Chapter 68 - Hollow (1/2)

”Oh dear, I've been called many names but 'animal' is new. I quite like the 'monster' and 'savage' names these children called me as I tore their friends apart in front of them…” Giddy and ecstatic, the man bent over, his hands shaking from the bliss of the memory.

”You will never be forgiven.”

”Who says I'm looking for forgiveness? I'm a thrill seeker, a tempter of morals. One who has reached an elevated plane!”

Haven stared at the man with disgust. How can someone be so twisted and cruel while believing that slaughtering innocent children as a form of art? Reaching to her wrist, Haven issued her orders to the teachers on standby outside.

”I've made contact. Alert all staff in the surrounding area to gather at the first year's dorms.”

”Calling for back up? Are you that scared?” The man's mocking tone didn't faze Haven.

”Just calling people to clean up your corpse after I'm done.”

Haven lunged at the man, her fist like a bullet. He dodged her punch easily while swinging his leg around to Haven's head. The kick was blocked by a strong invisible force. The man's eyes gleamed with joy at Haven's slyphir surrounding her.

”Ah, how beautiful. Maybe this time I can test my powers a bit?”

Countering with his own punch, the man coated his hand in dense layers of slyphir. Haven tried to avoid his hand but the head of one of the children managed to roll off from the pyramid due to the vibrating shockwaves of their fight. It rolled and stopped at her leg, the mouth of the child pulled into a sick smile. Haven shuddered and felt the man's grip around her arm.

”You-”

The man twisted Haven's arm and used his legs to knock Haven to the floor.

”An old woman like you won't be a match for me.”

Haven clenched her arm, and the slyphir surrounding her became denser, it's color turning a deep green, the color of a dense forest.

”Green? Well, color me surprised!” Tilting his head back, the man laughed at his own terrible joke. ”But 'green' won't be enough to beat me.” From the man a milky purple mist surrounded him. Haven saw the light purple hue and couldn't hold herself back from laughing either.

”Ha, to have a purple color yet still so underdeveloped, are you sure it isn't a false blue?”

The man's face twitched. He increased his grip on Haven's arm but it wouldn't move.

”You, what are you doing?”

”Just a little warm up…” Haven easily freed her arm from the man's grip and pushed a palm out towards his chest. The man used both arms to block it but the small gap created was enough for Haven to leap away.

”So, it was just a bluff?”

Haven shook her head slightly, cracking her knuckles and stretching her arms.

”It's been awhile so I forgot to stretch. By the way, I never caught your name?”

The man sneered.

”Listen closely and listen well. I am A-”

”Just kidding, no one cares.”

Haven leapt at the man again, her whole body covered in dense green slyphir. The man parried with his own milky purple slyphir, the blows shaking the halls.

Slowly, Haven began to push the man back. Her combat experience and slyphir control vastly exceeded that of the killer's. Where he prepared a feint, Haven was already attacking his weak spot. When he tried to collect his slyphir, Haven would expand enough of her own to disrupt his. Soon the man began to feel his slyphir running low, his body unable to keep up with Haven's techniques.

”Getting tired are you? You can't even beat an old lady like me, maybe that's why you prey on weak children.”

Haven flicked her head to dodge a punch. She wrapped her arm around his and curled her body downwards, pulling the man down suddenly. As she kicked him away Haven noticed the purple hue fading from the man's body.