Alex followed the vision of his Evil Eyes as they drifted across the city. Street by street, rooftop by rooftop, shadow to shadow—they searched.
One of the eyes paused.
"Got something," Alex muttered, lowering his head slightly as the image sharpened.
Through the eye's vision, he saw a rooftop near the old warehouse district. And on it… stood a figure in his old mask imitation—red and black, same design, same stance.
Even the way the guy cracked his neck looked familiar.
"Huh. Bold," Alex said.
The masked figure jumped off the roof, landed silently, and started walking toward a group of thugs unloading weapons from a truck.
Alex watched.
The fake raised his hand.
Darkness gathered.
Not demonic darkness.Not real Authority.
Just… a cheap imitation. A shadow trick. Sloppy.
Alex eyes widend, "wait! How he have this power" Alex mumbled as it was Darkness manipulation of second level that is between lesser and greater manipulation.
The thugs saw him and panicked. They aimed guns.
The masked fake blurred forward—fast, but not Alex fast. He knocked two men down, kicked another into the wall, and grabbed the last one by the collar.
Trying to look cool.
Trying to look dangerous.
Trying too hard.
Alex rubbed his forehead."Oh man… this wannabe is embarrassing."
Then the fake spoke.
"Tell your boss… the Demon of the Red Mask is back."
Alex froze.
"…Demon of the—? That wasn't even my name," he said flatly. "Who the hell came up with that?"
The fake turned away dramatically, cloak flipping like he practiced the move in a mirror.
Alex facepalmed.
"That settles it. I'm ending this."
He stood up straight. Shadows rose behind him like silent flames.
"Direct link," he commanded.
One of the Evil Eyes floated down to him.He grabbed it.It merged into his chest.
Alex's eyes turned dark purple for a moment.
"Location locked."
He stretched his wings.
"Alright, faker," he said with a grin."Time to meet the original."
And in the next second—
He vanished into the shadows.
Alex stepped out of the shadow right behind the masked fake.
No sound. No warning. Just appeared.
The fake froze mid-step. His shoulders stiffened like someone had pressed a gun to his back.
Alex spoke calmly.
"Yo."
The fake jumped forward, spinning around with a small blast of darkness—more smoke than power.
Alex didn't even blink.
The masked fake landed a few feet away, crouched, ready to fight. He tilted his head.
"…You're fast."
Alex shrugged. "You're slow."
The fake straightened his back. The red-black cloak settled around him. He tried hard to look intimidating.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
Alex pointed at him. "Buddy, that's my question."
The fake hesitated.
Alex watched him closely.
That small burst of darkness earlier… the signature was weak, but familiar.
Too familiar.
He narrowed his eyes.
"How do you have that power?" Alex asked quietly.
The fake didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand again—dark energy swirling around his palm.
Not demonic.
Not stolen from Alex.
But copied. Artificial.
Alex's eyes narrowed even more.
"You're using my old style," Alex said. "And my old look."
The fake took one step back.
Then another.
"I'm not here to fight you," the fake said. His voice was distorted, but Alex could tell—young, nervous, trying to sound confident.
"Good," Alex replied. "Because you won't last a second."
The fake tensed.
Alex folded his arms. "Now talk. Who are you? And where did you get that darkness manipulation?"
The fake stood still for a moment.
Then, slowly… he lifted his hands to his mask.
Alex's wings twitched, ready to move if needed.
The fake pulled the mask off—
And underneath was a teenage boy.
Maybe sixteen.
Short dark hair.
Sharp eyes filled with fear and stubbornness.
Alex's expression dropped from annoyed to confused.
"…A kid?"
The boy swallowed hard.
"I didn't steal anything," he said quickly. "I was born with this power."
Alex blinked.
"Born with darkness manipulation?"
The kid nodded once.
Alex stared at him.
He took one step closer, shadows tightening around his feet.
"…You're lying," Alex said quietly.
The kid—Adrian—flinched so hard he almost fell backward. His eyes widened and he started shaking.
"N–No! I'm not lying! I swear!" he cried, hands raised defensively. "I—I wasn't born with this power! I just said that because I was scared!"
Alex's expression hardened.
"Then start talking," he said. "Now."
Adrian swallowed and nodded rapidly, words spilling out in a messy rush.
"O-okay! I… I was watching you!" he blurted out.
Alex blinked. "You what?"
"I watched you fight those guys years ago! You came out of nowhere, wearing that red mask—and you were slaughtering the gang that killed my father!" Adrian's voice cracked, but he kept talking. "I followed you. I wanted to know how you were that strong… I wanted to see the man who avenged my dad."
Alex's expression shifted—still stern, but quieter now.
Adrian continued, voice trembling:
"I wanted you to train me… b-but I realized right away you didn't want anyone near you. So I followed the trail where you were fighting those gangs."
Alex raised a brow. "You followed me? Back then?"
"Y-Yeah," Adrian said. "You didn't notice me because I stayed far. But… one day, at one of the warehouse ruins… there was this… this sharp piece of red crystal."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"…Blood crystal."
Adrian nodded quickly.
"I didn't know what it was! I just picked it up because it looked cool… then I accidentally cut my hand on it. It stabbed me deep and—and the crystal dissolved into me." He placed a hand on his chest shakily. "And then this darkness… this power… started appearing."
Alex stared at him. Hard.
Adrian took a shaky breath.
"At first I thought it was a curse. But when I realized it looked like your power… I thought… maybe I could use it. Maybe I could be like you. Maybe I could continue what you started."
Alex looked at the kid—really looked at him.
A child.
Traumatized.
Alone.
Trying so hard to copy a monster he had once admired.
Alex sighed through his nose.
"…So you got your powers from my blood crystal."
It wasn't a question.
Adrian nodded weakly.
Alex muttered something under his breath.
"Great. Fantastic. Wonderful. Accidental mini-me."
He rubbed his face.
"Kid, do you have any idea how dangerous that crystal was?"
Adrian shook his head quickly.
Alex exhaled.
"…Alright. Enough."
He lowered his hand and pointed at the ground.
A circle of darkness expanded around him—calm, not hostile.
"You're coming with me."
Adrian flinched. "A-Am I under arrest?"
"No," Alex said bluntly. "You're a kid with unstable demonic energy and no training. If you keep using that power, you'll kill yourself."
Adrian froze.
Alex stepped closer, towering over him slightly.
"Congratulations, Adrian Black," Alex said dryly. "You found me."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"…Now I'm going to fix your mess before you blow up half the city."
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