Nova was awakened by a nudge to his foot. His eyelids fluttered, but the attempt to fully open them was met with a sharp throb at the back of his head.
A low groan escaped his lips as pain rippled through his skull, each pulse syncing with the high-pitched ringing in his ears. It felt like something was buzzing in his head.
He grits his teeth and clenched his fists, trying to suppress the ache and gather his thoughts. But that's when he noticed the tight rope digging into his wrists, pulling his shoulders back uncomfortably. His hands were tied behind him.
"Wake up."
He heard a voice he didn't recognize. Groggily, he lifted his head to see who it was.
A man in a black suit stood in front of him. The light behind the man's head was blinding, casting his face in the shadow, making it impossible to see his features.
"Wake up." The man nudged him again with his shoe, then gave a small nod when he noticed Nova staring up, fully conscious. "Good."
"Who are you?" Nova asked, gritting his teeth in frustration. This day had been nothing but chaos. So much had happened, it felt like he'd aged years in the span of hours.
"You don't need to know," the man replied calmly, then turned and walked over to a wooden crate off to the side. He sat down beside another man, also dressed in a suit, who had been silently watching.
"The boss will be here in a few minutes. So, stay quiet."
Nova turned to them, his vision finally steady enough to see clearly. The two men were sitting casually. They wore matching black suits, almost identical. Their haircuts were the same too, an outdated bowl cut that made them look even more ridiculous.
Their faces… were something else. It was oddly shaped, and it was unsettling to look at. It made Nova squint for a second before he realized that they have the same facial features. Probably twins, or brothers at the very least.
"Who are you ugly fuckers?" Nova asked, tilting his head with genuine curiosity.
"Stay quiet," they replied in perfect unison.
Even their tone matched, but the voices were different. The one on the right had a deeper, more commanding tone, while the other had a softer, almost gentle tone beneath his words.
Nova didn't care and asked again, "Who's that boss of yours, huh?" he spoke while subtly glancing around his surroundings.
Broken glass scattered around. Rusted pipes lined the cracked walls, and broken-down machines appear like metal skeletons across the run-down hall. A few dim lights gleam through the shattered windows.
His arms were tied behind his back, bound tightly to a cold metal pole. He shifted slightly, trying to get a better view, but nothing new revealed itself. Just more decay. The place looked like an abandoned factory.
He let out a sigh. "…I'm in this kind of damn place again."
"Stay quiet!" the two men snapped in unison.
Nova turned to the twins, their synchronized voices still echoing in his head. He knew talking wouldn't get him anywhere. So instead, he focused his eyes for a moment and activated his ability.
Seconds passed but he got nothing.
At first, he was confused but then the realization hit him.
"…I'm fucked," he muttered with a tired sigh. "They're mana users."
Lowering his head, Nova tried to think of a way out of the situation. His mind raced through every possible scenario.
Breaking out by force was off the table. He had no idea how strong these guys were. And considering he'd only recently learned that mana even existed, while having none himself, the odds weren't in his favor.
Negotiation wasn't looking good either. Judging by their stiff posture and controlled demeanor, they weren't amateurs. Nova figured they were either former military or professional hitmen.
The only option left was to call for help.
Calling someone meant using a phone. He shifted slightly, using his legs to feel around, hoping his phone was still in his pocket. Adjusting his position as carefully as he could, when—
Crrreeeeeaaaak... Ka-thud.
"This is the place you picked? You imbeciles!"
The door slammed open, and a sharp, irritated voice echoed through the hall. Nova looked up, pulled from his train of thought by the sound of footsteps and disdain.
"This place is filthy. The people here are also disgusting," the young man continued, his tone full of contempt as he walked closer with every word.
The twins immediately stood up, straightening like soldiers at attention the moment he repeated his complaint.
"I shouldn't have come here," the young man muttered, now standing directly in front of them.
Nova blinked, staring at the newcomer.
"Dennario?"
…..
Adrian didn't respond. He simply walked forward, step by step, until he stood in front of Nova.
His eyes moved over him, taking in the whole picture. Nova was tied to a metal pole, his clothes were filthy. He looked worn out, like he'd been through hell before even ending up here.
It was a far cry from the last time they saw each other back at the race.
A sadistic smile slowly formed on Adrian's lips. He could still see a faint glimmer of hope in Nova's eyes. As if someone might come bursting through the doors to rescue him, or that somehow, a way out would reveal itself.
But Adrian knew better. Nothing tonight would happen outside of his plan. He had made sure of that.
He crouched down to meet Nova at eye level, his smile widening until his teeth showed. Leaning in closer, he locked eyes with him, the malice in his expression impossible to miss.
"Nobody threatens me," Adrian said, his voice low and firm. He pressed a finger against Nova's forehead. "Especially someone like you… a good-for-nothing bastard. Who probably has a whore for a mother and a criminal for a father."
"What a sad little boy you are," he said, letting out a short, mocking laugh. "You really think you're the only one who can dig up some dirt? I know for a fact your parents didn't even want you in the first place."
Nova didn't answer. His stare said it all, rage burning in his eyes, the bottled-up frustration beginning to slip free.
"What? Nothing to say?" Adrian mocked, rising to his feet and brushing off his pristine white coat. "I remember you were pretty noisy last time, weren't you?"
"Did they cut your tongue or something?"
Hearing Adrian's words, the twins suddenly appeared at his side, speaking in unison.
"We didn't, young master."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you cut it?"
"Apologies young master." The twins bowed their heads in apology, then took action immediately. They crouched down, and one of them grabbed Nova's face.
When Nova tried to struggle, they used mana to tighten their grip. His cheeks were squished nearly to the point of pain as they forced his mouth open.
With no other choice and unable to break free, Nova shouted with everything he had.
"FUCK OFF!!!"
Adrian, who had been enjoying the show, flinched and took a step back. Nova's desperate shout of rage made him swallow hard.
But the twins didn't even flinch.
At the exact moment Nova yelled, they pulled out his tongue, ready to cut. A sharp knife hovered over the tip, drawing a thin line of blood.
The blade slowly sliced across Nova's tongue. He screamed at the top of his lungs, thrashing his body from side to side, struggling with all his strength but there was nothing he could do.
The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, its sharp scent making his stomach churn. A tear slowly traced down his cheek. Hope was slipping away, and with it, his will to fight.
Every second dragged on like an eternity. The gruesome scene was enough to make any grown man want to vomit.
"Shit! Okay… okay, STOP!"
The twins froze mid-action at Adrian's command. They glanced toward him, silently asking what to do next, but he only responded with a dismissive wave of his hand.
The twins stepped back, falling silently behind their master, eyes sharp and alert.
Adrian, sickened to his core by the gruesome scene, glanced down at Nova.
Nova was slumped on the ground, blood still pooling at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were tightly shut, and his face bore the expression of pure terror—like all his fight had finally drained away.
"This is what happens to people who make enemies out of me," Adrian muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Yet behind it, his eyes betrayed a mix of revulsion with a hint of uncertainty.
"Look, I pity you. That's why I stopped them."
He crouched closer, lowering his voice. "Now, I want you to tell me—how did you find out? Or do you have proof somewhere?"
A sigh escaped him when he didn't hear an answer. "Don't tell me he passed out."
"You didn't cut his tongue all the way through, right?" Adrian asked.
"No, young master. Just the tip," one of the twins replied.
"Hold him up, then."
The twins moved quickly, hoisting Nova's limp body to a seated position.
Seeing Nova still barely conscious, Adrian's patience snapped.
SMACK!
Cough, cough.
Nova coughed harshly, blood splattering with each rasp.
"You're finally awake," Adrian said, slapping him again. "Looked like you were dead."
He leaned in closer. "Now, tell me—how did you learn my secrets? And do you have any other evidence?"
Adrian repeated the question, clearly expecting full cooperation. After all, he had just saved Nova's life, even if it was in a brutal way.
"What do you want to know?" Nova said in a grating voice, tasting blood in his mouth. His tongue felt heavy and sore, making each word a struggle.
Adrian lowered his voice, leaning close to whisper in Nova's ear. He hesitated to say it aloud—he knew the twins' loyalty was to his father, not him.
"My aunt. Who told you? And if there's any hidden evidence, where is it?"
"So that's it," Nova muttered after a few seconds. He lifted his head and locked eyes with Adrian. "You raped your aunt, and now you're too embarrassed to even say it out loud."
PTUI!
"Pathetic."
Adrian wiped his face, noticing the blood on his fingers. Realization dawned on him, Nova had spat on him. His calm expression twisted slowly into pure rage.
"You fucking lowlife!"
He sprang to his feet and—
THWACK! THWACK
—slapped Nova hard across the face.
He couldn't believe it. He'd been lenient all this time—asking questions calmly, showing mercy, even pitying someone who dared to threaten him.
"My father told me to hide my true self," Adrian said, grinding his words out as he kicked Nova's bloodied face. His expression twisted from dread into a savage smile. "To the world, I have to be a Dennario. But you… you're not the world. So, no more Mr. Nice Guy.