As Ethan felt Frank's hand pierce his chest, confusion and fear surged through him. His vision blurred, the pain sharp and immediate, like a blade of ice driven into his heart. His body weakened with each passing second, the strength draining from his limbs as if the very life were being siphoned away. He turned his head, his neck stiff with agony, and locked eyes with Frank, who stood behind him, a twisted smile curling his lips. In that moment, Ethan understood—Frank had been waiting for this, the perfect chance to strike when his guard was down.
Ryan, hidden in the shadows, felt a storm of confusion and rage boil within him. Why did Frank do that? His plan had been to kill Ethan himself, to present the Hellhound's corpse to Lady Freya and secure his position. But now, Frank's betrayal threw everything into chaos. Fury clouded his thoughts as he rushed toward them, his voice a low growl. "Why did you do that, Frank?"
Frank's laughter was cold, a sound that echoed through the warehouse like a blade scraping against stone. "Because I wanted to present him to Lady Freya and rise through the ranks. I'm tired of answering to you, Ryan."
The words hit Ryan like a slap, his anger flaring hotter. He clenched his fists, ready to tear Frank apart, but before he could act, something shifted. Ethan, who should have collapsed, remained standing. His body didn't crumple; instead, it seemed to grow stronger, his eyes snapping open, now blazing with a fierce orange-red glow. The air around him crackled with heat, and Frank's arm, still embedded in Ethan's chest, began to sizzle and blacken. In an instant, it disintegrated into ash, the flames licking up Ethan's wound as it sealed shut, the skin knitting together as if the injury had never existed.
Ryan and Frank froze, their argument forgotten, their eyes wide with shock. They had seen Ethan teeter on the edge of death when Alex's fingers pierced his neck, yet now, with his heart skewered, he stood whole. He should be dead, Ryan thought, his mind racing. What is this? Frank, clutching the stump of his arm, swallowed a scream, his face pale with pain and disbelief.
Ethan's transformation was complete in a heartbeat, his body radiating a primal energy that hummed in the air. His eyes, now twin orbs of fire, locked onto Frank, and a shiver of dread crawled down Ryan's spine. This wasn't the Ethan they knew—this was something else, something ancient and merciless.
Ryan's instincts screamed at him to flee, to escape before this new Ethan turned his wrath on him. He pivoted, ready to bolt, but a hand clamped onto his shoulder with a grip like iron. He spun, only to meet a knee driving into his stomach. The impact folded him in half, his breath leaving him in a ragged gasp. Pain exploded through his gut, his insides churning as if they'd been rearranged. Before he could recover, a foot stomped down on his right calf, and the limb disintegrated into ash with a sickening crackle. Agony flooded his senses, his regeneration sluggish, the flames' curse slowing his healing.
Ethan turned his gaze to Frank, who was still grappling with the loss of his arm, his face a mask of agony. Frank's eyes met Ethan's, and what he saw there wasn't the boy he'd known—it was chaos, madness, he felt like he would go insane if he continued to look. Panic seized him, and he tried to flee, but Ethan was faster. In a blur, Ethan's foot lashed out, striking the back of Frank's knees. Frank crumpled, hitting the ground hard. He scrambled to rise, but Ethan's boot slammed into his back, pinning him down with crushing weight.
Frank knew this fight would be brutal, especially with his arm still regenerating, but he had no choice—he had to survive. Gritting his teeth, he twisted, trying to throw Ethan off, but the he was relentless. Ethan grabbed Frank's hair, yanking him upright, and delivered a punch to his face. Frank's vision swam as he flew backward, crashing into a pile of debris. He clawed his way up, locking his gaze on Ethan, ignoring the throbbing pain in his jaw. He had to stay focused, had to be ready for the next attack.
But Ethan was already upon him, his speed a blur even to Frank's eyes. Before Frank could raise a defense, Ethan's hand closed around his throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. Flames ignited around Ethan's grip, the heat scorching Frank's skin. He thrashed violently, his mind screaming in terror—he'd seen what those flames could do, had watched Tyler burn to nothing. Desperation fueled his struggles, but Ethan's hold was unbreakable. The fire spread, crawling over Frank's body like a living thing, consumed him . His screams tore through the forest, raw and guttural, until the flames silenced him forever, leaving only ash in their wake.
Ryan, slumped against a tree, had listened to Frank's agonized cries with a growing sense of dread. His leg was nearly healed, but fear rooted him in place. He regretted ever targeting Ethan, regretted underestimating the his power. When the screams stopped, he knew Frank was gone. Ethan emerged from the shadows, his fiery eyes locking onto Ryan, and a chill seeped into Ryan's bones. He pushed himself up, his leg still tender, and faced Ethan, knowing escape was no longer an option.
Ethan's voice was a low, menacing growl, unlike anything Ryan had heard from him before. "Weaklings. Because of you, my plans are ruined. You'll pay for that."
Ryan's confusion deepened. Plans? What plans? He studied Ethan's face, the madness swirling in his gaze, and a terrifying thought surfaced: This isn't Ethan. The cruelty, the detachment—it was as if something else wore his skin. "What plans?" Ryan asked, stalling for time as his leg knitted back together.
Ethan's lips curled into a cruel smile. "The dead have no business knowing the living's affairs." In a flash, he was upon Ryan, his fist slamming into Ryan's stomach with the force of a battering ram. Ryan doubled over, only for an uppercut to snap his head back, followed by a b sweep that shattered his right ribcage. He collapsed, the world spinning, pain radiating through every inch of his body.
As the fight raged, deep in the forest, another presence lingered, cloaked in shadow. It watched the chaos unfold, its gaze steady and unreadable.