《Origin of Chaos (Rise of Anarchy Book 1)》


 Cultivation Chart

    Cultivation Chart


    Each layer/level the distance to reach the next becomes exponentially harder.


    Basic (1-3 Layers) Qi begins to build, can only use it to strengthen by moving it around the body


    Shaping (1-3 Layers) Qi element is manifested


    Legion (1-3 Layers) Begin to specialize


    Solidify (1-3 Layers) Solidify Qi base and specialized technique


    Discharge (1-3 Layers) Qi begins to break the coreFind this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Realm of Immortal Cultivation (whole new realm) Qi expands breaking core, the body itself becomes infused.


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    Basic types of Qi (Everything in parenthesis are subcategories):


    Air (Wind/Speed/Mind) Water (Ice/Steam/Fog), Earth (Nature/Gravity), Fire (Lightning/Lava/Heat), Light (Healing/Enhancing), Darkness (Illusions/Stealth), Demonic(Bodily Strength/Hellfire), Heavenly (Pure).


    Strange Types of Qi (Extremely Rare):


    Chaos, Creation, Aether


    <hr>


    Specializations: Specialize how Qi is used (example: ranged, close, build things etc.)


    <hr>


    Array Patterns: Uses the soul to enter the Aether drawing patterns. These patterns control the naturally occurring Qi but take time to gather energy from the environment. It is slow and inefficient and depends entirely on knowledge of patterns and strength of soul.

 Prologue

    Lightning.


    Light descends in torrents, till everything appears a continuous white. Men cry out, but none can hear their calls over the sound of the sky cracking. Azamaoth stands tall, high above looking down from his mountain perch onto a field of burnt husks. He has the eyes of an eagle. I have only seen him once but know beyond a doubt he has terrible power. He turns me away at the very mention of Agrion¡¯s name.


    Earth.


    The ground quakes and rolls like a quilt with the dust being beaten out of it. Jormund alone stands unfazed as a city is reduced to rubble and then swallowed into the ground at his bidding. He controls Earth and can move it with the steadfastness of his spirit. I have crossed leagues and planets only to be turned away. He will not stand before the threat I face.


    Wind.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Storm clouds thicken in the sky, quickly turning a sunny afternoon to dark as night. The gale picks up and never stops building. It howls and whines as it tears apart the standards of an army. Their contingent of Earth elementalists erect thick walls of rock, but the barriers are torn from the ground like a child knocking over a sandcastle in a tantrum. Ryu hovers in the sky arms outstretched as he observes his handiwork. He is the fastest to turn me away. I can see fear in his eyes.


    I have pled before the strongest I know in each element:Water, wind, fire, earth, aether, lightning, light, dark, ice, and many more. Every single one turns me away.


    These are living legends, each as powerful as the sun. They are selfish beings, grown cold in their seclusion, long since given up on any heroics. They do not see how they will fall, how their solitude will become their enslavement.


    When I am found by rebels who share my cause, we have little hope. It is here, in the company of those who became my friends, that I search for a way to return to my home plane of Earth. Only there may I find the power needed to change my destiny.


    I have no choice. I cannot rely on anyone or anything other than myself. I will claim powers the world has never seen, becoming a force unto myself. I will crush my foes into dust under my heel.

 Chapter One

    The mountain pass was covered in rolling snow drifts. Imposing cliff walls hung over them on both sides, leaving only a sliver of grey sky visible. Large spikes of rock curved out far above, the wind whistling as it blew up flurries of white. It gave Nyx the feeling that he was looking out from inside the jaws of some gargantuan beast. Dragons Maw was an apt name for the pass.


    It was eerily quiet; the only sound that of their boots as they crunched through the blanket of white. Three sets of footprints marked the trail behind them.


    In these parts, even in the summer, the cold never waned. Icicles hung far above, easily as thick as Odolf was tall. Nyx was not small by any means, but walking next to the man he might as well be a dwarf.


    Odolf was slight for a half-giant, but still twice the stature of an average man. A thick red beard and scraggly head of hair obscured his face. A white dusting of snow was caught in the tangled mass and down along his thick brown hide clothing. In the two centuries Nyx had known him, he still hadn¡¯t caught more than a glimpse of what lay beneath the dreads. He had long since given up trying to convince the man to get a proper haircut and beard trimming.


    Ivan stood at Nyx''s other side, only slightly taller than him, sporting a shaved head. His appearance was just what Nyx thought an outlaw should resemble, scarred and menacing. His eyes were narrowed looking ahead, as if expecting some threat to jump from hiding and ambush them at any moment.


    Irene floated above the snow behind them, a perk of cultivating the air element. She was clad in a thick ermine-lined coat. Her auburn hair blew in the breeze that gusted through the mountain pass, exposing the elegant curve of her neck and severe but beautiful features. Countless men had been left heartbroken by the woman.


    The four had been a unit for a very long time, the others had found him after he had been betrayed, at his lowest. They had accepted him into their group, bringing him to safety while he recovered. It was their individual tragedies that brought them all together, but it was the countless battles, that had turned them into fast friends. They fought against the ¡®order,'' preached by Agrion¡¯s disciples.


    In the past two centuries, Agrion¡¯s mandate had spread like wildfire, his influence far-reaching as countries fell to his armies. Nyx¡¯s own republic of Acadian had willingly submitted to the Godking. He was referred to as ¡®his holiness,'' ¡®the bringer of peace and order.'' What was not readily understood, was that his peace came at a price. Most people were happily oblivious, willing to surrender for temporary comfort. It was easy to sit back and be guided by forces greater than yourself, but in Nyx''s experience, what defined a person was their willingness to stand, even when all alone.


    He knew the truth, Agrion was a celestial, corrupted by his element.


    Nyx stopped in his tracks nose upturned, the other three halted. ¡°Nobody should know we are here, how have they found us so quickly?¡±


    He sensed the movement of at least twenty enforcers trailing them.


    ¡°Agrion wouldn¡¯t come for us himself, would he?¡± Asked Irene.


    Nyx shook his head. "No, we are just gnats to him; but by the looks of it, they aren''t taking a risk. Sending so many just for us? Somehow, they must have gotten wind of what we are planning, I knew something was strange when nobody showed up."


    ¡°Go on Nyx, we are counting on you¡­ but if you fail, there is always Keagan,¡± said Ivan, eyes glinting as he forced a smile revealing crooked teeth.


    Nyx frowned at the reminder of his rival. Keagan''s element was darkness, and he had a personality to match. They might be on the same ¡®side,'' both being outlaws and all, but they had different methods for getting what they wanted.


    ¡°Are you sure there isn¡¯t a better way?¡± asked Irene, she was shifting uncomfortably where she hovered in the air.


    Odolf¡¯s deep voice rumbled. ¡°We¡¯ve had this conversation; the best course is the one we tread.¡± He didn¡¯t speak often, but when he did - the others listened.


    Irene glared at the half-giant but stopped protesting.


    The scar on Ivan¡¯s bald head puckered when he scrunched his eyebrows. He was menacing with his tribal tattoos, rippling muscles, scars and the twin swords strapped to his back. But Nyx knew no honest person needed to fear the man. While ferocious when required, he did not enjoy causing pain.


    They had expected other rebel cells to come and assist them, but none had shown. Their options had now dwindled with the arrival of the forces behind them. Without the numbers needed, escape was near impossible.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think now might be a good time to see the light of the order. What you think? ¡¯May you follow the balance, and let it guide you,¡¯¡± said Ivan in a high-pitched voice, mocking the priests who traveled with contingents of soldiers, wearing white and gold robes.


    Nyx smiled sadly at the attempted joke while he regarded his friends, it might be the last time he saw them. He could see the hope in their eyes, they had faith in him and his plan. Hard decisions and sacrifices were necessary, he understood that, but he didn¡¯t have to like it. There was no point in voicing the feelings, Ivan would just ridicule him for it.


    ¡°Now get on, if you make it, we are counting on you.¡±


    Nyx looked to Irene, the closest thing to a lover he had had since the death of his wife. She lifted her head giving him a distinctive look, lips slightly parted, eyes roamed his face. There was sadness in her bearing, an understanding that Nyx would never care for her in the way she wanted.


    ¡°You going to kiss him already? We don¡¯t exactly have the luxury of time. Maybe you could give me a smooch while you are at it,¡± said Ivan, his lips puckered, wrinkles creased on his ugly bald head.


    Irene crossed her arms glaring at him.


    Odolf stood to the side stoic as ever. "Our hopes go with you," Nyx swore he could feel his bones rattle when the giant spoke.


    ¡°No pressure.¡± Ivan cracked another fake grin, Nyx could tell he was just trying to alleviate some of the tension. ¡°I would go in your place, but not sure I could find the way¡­ you know¡­ never having been to this ¡®Earth¡¯ before.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long shot,¡± Irene shrugged, ¡°but it¡¯s the best one we¡¯ve got. We will try to hold them off and give you your chance.¡±


    Ivan gave Nyx a gentle push, forcing him further into the pass ahead of the others.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back, once I have the strength,¡± said Nyx over his shoulder.


    The three nodded then turned away from him. From his back, Odolf pulled the massive battle-ax he had named Lothar. A wickedly curved weapon that had tasted its share of blood, imbued with the power of Earth.


    The infamous Windrunner daggers appeared in Irene¡¯s hands, glowing white.


    Ivan drew his twin swords, blue currents of electricity conducted down the length of the blades and along his arms.


    Snow began to whirl into the air kicked up by Irene¡¯s power. Nyx caught a last glimpse of the trio¡¯s determined faces before they were obscured in the wash of white. A sadness and sense of loss filled him, today he would not be standing with his friends against the enemy. He wanted to stay, leaving felt like giving up. Clenching his fists, he locked the image of his comrade''s faces in his mind, then bounded off through the snow, into the pass.


    The wind whistled by his ears, it had only been a short time, but he had traveled far. He heard Odolf¡¯s roar echo through the pass, the mountains themselves began to shake. Nyx¡¯s lips turned up in a sad smile, the enforcers were in for more of a fight than they had bargained on.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    A shadow blocked out the little light and Nyx leaped forward, narrowly avoiding a falling icicle the size of a house, then bounded over the piles of snow that had been rattled loose from above. He didn''t stop running even with the sounds of the battle taking place far behind him.


    ¡°Give them hell,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    <hr>


    For another time, Nyx fought off the feeling that he had abandoned his friends, forcing himself to continue. After half an hour of running, the pass opened into a steep decline, but he didn''t slow. Spread out far below him was an enormous valley, tucked away between the mountain peaks. With a leap he cleared the slope into the open air, skipping the winding trail that led to its base. He plummeted, building speed as gravity took effect. Nyx could see heads sitting on spikes dotting the winding trail bellow, a warning not to trespass. At the last moment Nyx braced for impact landing feet first feeling his legs bulge under pressure, snow billowed out, spraying in all directions.


    Nyx leaped from the crater then brushed away the snow that had gotten stuck in the folds of his clothing, he could make out a temple in the distance. It was built on a hill, the mountains on the far side of the gully rose up, their details indistinct from a distance. The temple had a massive archway carved from obsidian, the spiraling symbol for Aether was inlaid above an enormous pair of dark wood doors.


    Nyx observed a figure standing at the base of the winding stone steps that led up to the temple. He loped forward feet digging trenches with each bound, closing the distance. He stopped, boots sinking into a snowdrift as he lowered into a fighting stance. Facing him, the elder, guardian of the shrine regarded him impassively. The guardian''s perfect posture drew attention to his blue aura crackling with power.


    Stray hairs from the Elders'' white beard were blown by an errant gust, causing him to squint to keep them from his eyes. A wrinkled hand brushed the hairs from beady eyes. A snow dusting slowly melted as it landed on Nyx''s face - he ignored it.


    The reflection of light drew his gaze back to the hill behind the guardian, the temple, his goal. It was a wonder that light could be reflected off its drab appearance. After years of searching, he was finally here. The idea of returning to a place lost in his past was a surreal feeling; but at the same time, it was exciting. With a glance, Nyx noted thick swirls of natural, icy Chi, mixing with the snow.


    The elder''s voice boomed across the expanse between them, "I knew you would come, don''t let the cold bother you. You are now in my domain, and as guardian, I will do as I see fit." He tilted his head. "I believe your head would look good posted on one of my spikes."


    The lines of Nyx''s face deepened as he frowned, his jaw flexed. The idea of killing the man made his stomach churn, but this would not be the first or last time he ended a life. The elder was just a pawn, but in allowing himself to be used, he became complicit. He wouldn''t let himself to hesitate.


    He sprinted forward, eyes locked on his adversary. The man was definitely stronger than him, with years spent defending the temple and at least a century devoted to cultivating.


    The elder smiled, not a friendly look that seemed to spread slowly as he raised a hand. Light blue wisps rose from his fingers rapidly growing into a whirlwind of ice. Nyx kept careful watch, readying to defend himself from the inevitable attack. Nyx had almost closed the distance when something thundered into him from his blind spot knocking him off course. The whirlwind of ice was only a distraction. He tasted a metallic tang in his mouth as his body windmilled through the air; he was no longer in control of his momentum. Just as Nyx crashed into the snow, he glimpsed a massive fist made entirely of ice floating in the sky. Its fingers clenched and unclenched in time with the elders.


    Lying in the snow, Nyx could feel shattered bones and ruptured organs beginning to scream out. He coughed, and a mouthful of blood spilled over his lip. The attack had been one only a master could pull off. It had to be timed to perfection. Nyx¡¯s senses were honed and could pick out disturbances near or close meaning the Elder had astonishing control of his Chi, able to manipulate it without him noticing while distracting him at the same time.


    As the seconds passed, the pain started to become muted, and a comfortable numbness began to move from the ends of his hands and feet toward his torso. He had one option left, something that guaranteed his death. Nyx delved inside himself, gazing upon his core. It glowed red, like a molten piece of metal in the shape of a ball. He had spent centuries cultivating for strength, but now he would be throwing it all away for a temporary boost. If he broke his core, the energy would repair his body before slowly tearing him apart. Once the energy was scattered he would die. But what did he have to lose? He was as good as dead anyway. With an iron will, Nyx tore at his core. Cracks began to form, spider webbing outward from a single point. He continued to beat at it with increased urgency as he sensed the Elder moving in his direction. With an explosion of heat, the container of Nyx¡¯s strength splintered.


    The energy traveled through him in a wave. His muscles repaired and enlarged, flames engulfed his body, and eyes burned as he rose to his feet. The snow in a massive radius around him instantly evaporated, and steam billowed into the air. With an earsplitting crunch, the ground exploded sending up tufts of dirt as his muscles bunched and he launched toward his adversary.


    Surprise etched into the elders'' face, wrinkles bringing out his age. Nyx blasted towards him almost faster than the guardians'' enhanced eyes could follow. He sensed the Elder draw at the sea of icy Chi in his core. A thick barrier of ice began to form in front of him, streaming from his fingertips.


    Nyx¡¯s lips drew up slightly at the corners, he pulled more energy into his outstretched hand as he catapulted through the air, it blazed to life, a swirling inferno of blue fire. Using the heat of his element, Nyx punched through the would-be shield like a dart through paper.


    The elder stumbled backward, mouth open in disbelief. True terror filled the guardian''s eyes, the Chi he had begun to draw faded away. Nyx considered summoning his divine armament but discarded it, the drain would be too high. Another thing he would be giving up.


    The elder had no time to react, Nyx opened his enlarged hand and gripped his head. White hairs stuck out at odd angles but quickly turned to ash. With a splat, he crushed the man¡¯s skull. Blood and brain matter sizzled as the heat from his body burned it away. Charred remains and chunks of gore littered the now snow-less ground. Blood from the depths of the corpse oozed to the surface causing it to become an ugly purple and black mess.


    Nyx made his way towards the temple, already feeling himself weakening from the energy he had exerted. He could only hope what he had left was enough. His footsteps were soft as he jogged up stone steps leading to the temple. After all his searching he had finally found the means to return to Earth. The snow had fallen quickly already beginning to hide the traces of the brief battle. He picked up his pace, running up the stairs three at a time.


    As he neared the entrance, Nyx decided it was much more impressive than he had first thought. The archway towered far above him as he strode closer, making him feel small and insignificant. The stone exterior of the building had been worn smooth with time, a remnant from a lost age, hidden away from seeking eyes. Bracing his feet on a crack, Nyx grabbed the rusted metal handles and pulled, the doors creaked, their enormous hinges screeching until they stood open.


    Nyx ran a finger along one of the doors, they were made from wood he did not recognize. The wind immediately began to buffet through opening blowing Nyx''s cloak around his shoulders. The musty smell that came with long neglect filled his nose. Grey light from the overcast sky streamed into the space highlighting particles of dust in the air. It reached inside the temple, just far enough to highlight a sculpture sitting in the middle of the otherwise unadorned space.


    Nyx walked over to the statue, it depicted a woman in a flowing dress with her hands outstretched in front of her. In her hands rested the artifact. It was a sphere so black it seemed to suck the light into it, leaving the area nearby in shadow. It resembled a soulstone but was much purer. It was the purest form of Aether that could be found in the material world. This was what Nyx had been searching for, a relic that poked holes between dimensions.


    Reaching out Nyx closed his eyes as his fingers touched the stone. He knew he was touching something, but it felt like his hand passed into a void. He directed his Chi into it, to unlock its power. The object began to siphon the remaining energy from his body in droves. His instincts told him to pull away, but he forced himself to keep contact. Nyx could feel the air itself begin to bulge, cracks forming. His teeth ground together, this was insufficient. He began to map out an intricate array pattern using his soul in the Aether, the pattern only visible in his mind''s eye glowed goldenly.


    More cracks began to form till the pathway opened, leading to Earth.


    Time worked differently on the lower and higher planes, while centuries had passed for him in the higher realm, only hours had taken place on Earth. Visible only to his soul, the passage was a wormhole that bored through the Aether, the space between material planes. Dark matter.


    He had to leave his power behind, his vessel on Earth was not ready to contain it. He could not bring his body from the higher dimensions. A tear ran down the length of Nyx''s chin as he thought of the things he was leaving behind, he could only hope his friends had somehow managed to escape. With a deep breath, he centered himself, ready to commit fully. He ran his Chi through his body in a seemingly chaotic fashion; it would detonate in the higher dimension taking with it the crystal, the means for others to follow.


    On Earth he would be starting fresh, feeding off energy from both higher and lower realms, tempering his body and spirit.


    Although it would be challenging to cultivate the Chi from higher dimensions due to its scarcity on Earth, the demonic Chi was readily available. This merging of upper and lower energy was something rarely found in the multiverse. Had he not grown up on Earth and seen the demons with his own eyes, he would be completely unaware of this potential. His anger burned, demons did not belong in his home dimension. They sustained themselves by feeding off others life energy.


    His spirit entered the vortex, his door home. Lights spun as his consciousness traveled through the wormhole, he could feel the energy on all sides shielding him from the black nothingness that was the Aether. Directing the power, he felt himself drawing closer, a sea of lights spread out in front of him, but it was the patch of darkness that felt familiar. He let himself be drawn onward, toward that familiar feeling.

 Chapter Two

    The impurities grated at him, the feeling of a thousand grains of sand running through his insides. He could feel weakness throughout this body. Nyx had forgotten what it was like to be mortal, to detect time ticking away as his cells, in a constant state of flux, died and were born.


    Although imperceptible to those without his keen sense, he could feel everything within. The beating of a heart not used to physical exertion in his chest. The slight murmur as he inhaled, pulling oxygen into his lungs. The vibration of the energy contained in his vessel was out of alignment.


    Keeping his eyes closed, he began to draw it into a state of synergy. Hours passed, but with the resolved energy he felt better. The grinding of time still churned, but the minute levels of energy in his body flowed smooth.


    Nyx opened his eyes, rays of morning light peeked through warped window blinds, pieces bent at odd angles with some of the blinders missing altogether. The sun cast shadows around the room in a striped pattern highlighting a pile of clothes on the ground, along with a well-worn rickety desk. He was seventeen again, the age he had been when his soul left Earth.


    Memories he had long buried began to flood back to him brought on by the smell of mildew and the room he had once called his own. His lips turned down into a frown. It was early, and his foster parents were sound asleep in the adjacent master bedroom. Nyx pulled on the drawstring, opening the blinds. The sun was peeking through sparse trees in the gully behind the apartment.


    At the bathroom, down the hall, Nyx grabbed a pair of clippers from where they sat by the sink. Plugging them in, he attached a five-guard. The clippers buzzed in his hand when he flipped on the power. He made sure to cut every part of his hair evenly.


    After finishing he ran his fingers through, brushing away straggling hairs which floated down to join what was already in the sink. He had always kept his thick black hair shaggy back on Earth, but he couldn''t remember why it had appealed to him, long hair was a nuisance. He was happy to have it in his eyes no longer.


    Nyx looked at his appearance in the dirty mirror. He had a strong face, smooth well-proportioned features. His eyes were startlingly blue, the feature he had been most proud to inherit from his father. If he wasn''t so damn skinny, he might actually look intimidating with the strength of his stare. Looking at his body, he had forgotten how thin and out of shape he had been on Earth. Standing around six feet, he had a large frame to fill.


    Five-hundred years, that was how long it had been since he had last inhabited this body. Nyx nose crinkled at remembering how he had been a shut-in, feeling more comfortable alone. He had been filled with fear and depression. It had been the driving force that triggered him to find that gap in reality.


    In the higher realm, Nyx had learned the levels of cultivation. There was a total of six including Basic, Shaping, Legion, Solidify, and finally Discharge, before entering the realm of Immortal cultivation. Each level had three layers. On entering the stage of Immortal Cultivation, the Chi would expand breaking the core, the body itself becoming infused with the essence, no longer needing to contain it within.


    The apartment was quiet, Nyx quickly dressed in an ill-fitting tee shirt and athletic shorts he remembered having picked out of a Goodwill. Quietly he made his way down the hallway so as not to wake his foster parents. He avoided the dirty grey patches that dotted the tan carpet. At the kitchen, Nyx grabbed a spoon from an empty bowl with flakes of dried cereal plastered to the sides. He scooped a glob of peanut butter from a jar in the cabinet and washed it down with a glass of water.


    He spotted an envelope sitting on the counter; it was a check the state had sent his foster parents. Bits of torn paper indicated where the letter had been opened, the money probably spent as well.


    Nyx slipped on his raggedy sneakers then went out the front door. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, he determined it was going to be a hot, muggy day. The sun was starting to peek over the horizon, but its heat was unmistakable. It was funny how his memories from the higher plane had already begun to fade. Like it had all been a long, vivid dream. The natural Chi, even though very sparse compared to the higher realm, was relieving to see. It cemented his memories from as real.


    He looked over at the car parked at the end of the driveway, it was an old beater belonging to his foster parents. He remembered it was incredibly reliable, the kind of car people would buy to ship back to their families in developing countries.


    At the apartment next to his, Nyx noticed two guys a year or two older than him struggling to lift an awkwardly sized couch. He could recognize them but had never interacted in the past. One was only slightly taller than him, with medium length brown curly hair and a round face and broad nose. The other was even taller but with a lanky build; he had the same color hair as his friend but kept a short haircut with a military fade. His features were sharp and reminded Nyx of a hawk.


    He felt their eyes following him as he started his run. He wanted to get this body into shape as soon as possible. His feet plodded out a quick tempo, but he was quickly winded and had to slow back down. Nyx spat out a clump of phlegm that had loosened in his throat. His footsteps echoed on the cracked grey sidewalk.


    He lived in a seedy neighborhood. The windows he ran by were boarded, with many of the walls covered in graffiti, a large red X was painted on a broken door hanging in its frame. It was early, so there were not many vehicles on the road, but now and then a car would pass by, never anything new or fancy. He made his way, jogging past rundown buildings on all sides. An elderly man sitting on his porch yelled something down at Nyx, but he could not understand the slurred speech.


    Soon he had built up a lather of sweat from the exertion. A block further he remembered there was a seven eleven. He slowed his pace and loped up to the glass door pulling it open. A bell tinkled on a chain announcing his arrival. The clerk was an Indian man wearing a blue collared shirt with the franchises logo. He regarded Nyx with suspicion before assessing him to be harmless and turned back to what he had been doing behind the counter.


    The clerk looked up when Nyx placed a bottle of water onto the counter. He swiped his debit card and asked the clerk to throw away the receipt. He walked toward the exit, and the water helped to rejuvenate him. Hand placed on the glass door he was about to leave when he heard a shout for help.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Two men had an elderly woman backed up against her old ford truck. They were split to both sides blocking her escape. One saw him at the glass door his eyes narrowing dangerously. There was a glint in them that Nyx had seen before. A look predators had when they began to stalk their prey. It was all he needed to see to know the duo would come for him next.


    He glanced back at the store clerk and saw he was once again distracted. Nyx swiped a pen from a stand. His jaw muscles tightened as he contemplated his options, he had hoped for an uneventful first few days back on Earth. The doorbells jingled as he made up his mind and stepped outside, pen concealed at the back of his arm. He had to squint for a moment while his eyes adjusted to the sunlight.


    His vision returning, one of the assailants with his stubby nose flaring, observed him. The man hit his partner on the shoulder, then motioned to Nyx. The long white scar running across his forearm glared in the sunlight. His partner turned his head seeing that someone new was at the scene. From the narrowed eyes and precise movements of the duo, Nyx knew they thought he was as an easy mark. The scar on the man''s arm indicated he had seen a knife fight or two.


    Nyx discretely surveyed the parking lot; a video camera''s lens reflected the morning suns light just below the roof of the seven eleven. Nyx slouched and started to walk with an awkward gait. Moving towards the two assailants brought Nyx closer to the corner of the establishment. He took out his wallet pretending to be checking for money and stepped into the gloom around the building''s edge. Footsteps followed him and he grimaced, he had been right. They took the bait.


    Nyx turned to face the two hoodlums, shadows darkened their features as they walked into the shade.


    "Why don¡¯t we get this over with quickly," said Nyx, thoughts still on his workout.


    "Just hand over your wallet like a good lad," said the bigger of the two, he had a broad piggish nose and an uneven haircut that looked like he had given himself. Nyx gathered he was the leader, his smaller accomplice stood to the side, eyes shifting around nervously before latching onto Nyx. Nyx straightened his back, shoulders relaxed, scowling with he hoped was a mean look.


    The one Nyx dubbed Pig Nose sneered when he saw it would not be a simple matter to get him to comply. He pulled a knife from his pocket. It flipped open, long with a nasty serrated blade.


    "Ain''t nobody gotta get hurt."


    Nyx circled away from the building''s wall to give himself space to maneuver. He lowered his center of gravity, hands coming up revealing the pen. Pig nose¡¯s eye glinted as he saw the would-be weapon, his face contorted into a grin revealing yellow crooked teeth.


    "You think you¡¯re tough kid?"


    What was it with these thugs'' constant chatter? Nyx moved, feinting in with his offhand, he had positioned the two so pig nose was blocking his accomplice. The leader took the bait stabbing with his knife, ignoring Nyx''s arm, aiming for the side of his neck.


    Nyx swayed to the side while stepping in around the knife thrust. Pig nose wobbled off balance, and the pen moved like a viper strike as Nyx drove it into the inside of the man''s knife hand. The switchblade clattered onto the ground, Pig Nose screamed in pain. Nyx pulled him further off balance with his off hand while retracting the pen; the big man stumbled forward.


    With a sharp upward motion, Nyx uncoiled burying the pen into Pig Nose¡¯s soft throat. Wide-eyed, he slid to the ground choking, face turning purple. His hands clawed at his throat, finally dislodging the pen. Dark red blood began pumping out in-between his thick fingers as he struggled to stop it.


    Stepping over the thrashing body, Nyx made eye contact with the second hoodlum. With a slight tremble, the smaller man looked back at Nyx, his breathing had quickened, eyes darting. The thug still had his knife while Nyx was weaponless. Like a cornered animal he moved with the speed of fear, blade thrusting out.


    Nyx didn''t move, but at the last moment, he palmed the thugs'' wrist, diverting the knife. While shifting to the outside, his hand tightened like a vice. He made a figure four using his other arm, then twisted with downward pressure. A series of pops and crackles came from the man''s joints as they started to give out. On his knees, he began to whimper.


    "P-p-please, i-it was his i-idea."


    The joint of the thugs'' wrist and elbow broke with a loud snap. The man howled in pain, Nyx''s eyes stared into his, he could see the despair in them.


    He felt no pity or remorse, but his adrenaline pumped. Using the back of his hand Nyx pressed the knife down, and abruptly dropped his weight on it overcoming the feeble resistance. The blade sunk up to the hilt into the thugs'' eye. The body twitched for a second, then flopped to the side stilling for good. A pool of blood gushed out creating a red puddle around the corpse.


    Pig Nose was still thrashing around focused only on trying to get a breath. The gleam of a knife caught his eye, his knife. Slice. Darkness.


    Nyx ripped off a piece of the brute''s shirt and wiped down the knives handles. He grabbed the pen from the ground using the fabric and walked away from the alley and seven eleven distancing himself from the gory scene. After abouthalf a mile he doubled back from a different direction the camera would not pick up. Thankfully the street was empty. Seeing a storm drain, he leaned over he dropped the evidence inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s you, from before!¡± An old lady narrowed her eyes at him, craning her neck to get a better look at his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you are talking about.¡± He knew what she was talking about. It was the old woman he had lured the ruffians away from.


    Not convinced, she hobbled closer. ¡°It was a young man just like you, I swear it! On my husband¡¯s grave.¡±


    "Whoever you think I am, you are mistaken. Now I have somewhere to be," Nyx said quickening his stride.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He heard the whisper as he passed by. She began to hobble back to her truck.


    Two blocks from the apartment, he had taken quite the detour. Checking for cars he crossed the street, after following the road and taking the next left he was back where he started; the rundown apartments he used to call home. Nyx went onto the patch of withered brown grass behind the paint flaking walls of the building. It was more like a patch of packed dirt than a back yard. He decided it would suffice and worked his way through a complex set of exercises designed for combat he had perfected in the higher realm. He attempted handstand pushups but was too weak falling back to the ground.


    As he went through the basic combat forms, he could feel the lactic acid building up in his stomach making him lightheaded and slightly queasy. He was able to execute many maneuvers, but the more complex flips and motions would have to wait until his body strengthened.


    With the level of control he maintained, Nyx was able to stress every muscle to the maximum causing micro tears that would guarantee impressive results. It had been a long time since he had felt fatigue, the workout had boosted his spirit. Sweat soaked his clothing, but he still used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the water from his eyes and brow, staining it and even darker grey.


    He calculated when he would begin cultivating. Although he could start now, the problem was the risk. If he tried to cultivate the demonic Chi immediately, he could be in danger of permanently damaging his body rather than strengthening it. Even a low ranking demon like a harpy or succubus which hadn''t had much time to feed would be tricky for him to overcome.

 Chapter Three

    The old door creaked as Nyx slipped back into the apartment, the air conditioner unit in the house window was humming away, attempting with futile effort to drive off the clinging heat. Judy Strauss, his foster mother, was in the kitchen slathering toast with chocolate paste. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him step inside. Nyx let out a breath, insides knotting a little on seeing a face he had hoped to avoid. So much for his plan on being gone before they woke up.


    Nyx didn''t try to hide his disgust as he took in the sight of the overweight woman, she attempted to wipe knotted brown hair from her eyes ¨C Finally, she gave up and stood glaring at him with hands on hips. She forced a sappy smile, nowhere near to reaching her eyes. The fat of her cheeks jiggled giving her the appearance of having been molded by putty.


    Her shrill voice made him wince, his hands jerked as Nyx fought the urge to cover his ears. ¡°I know you have some money saved, we need it, honey. We are short on rent this month.¡±


    Nyx looked at the counter beside her. An iPhone rested there. His iPhone. He remembered having saved after working for a summer to buy it. She had taken it, claiming he owed it to them in recompense for ¡®caring for him.'' Without a word he turned his back to her making for his room, he had to pack.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare ignore me!¡± screeched Judy, no longer pretending to be the loving mother.


    Nyx put up the middle finger without turning around or slowing. He had saved over a thousand dollars from working part-time. It was all in a private savings account his adoptive parents could not access.


    He heard shuffling back in the living room, a gruff, angry voice growling.


    ¡°Something is different about him¡­¡± said Judy to Greg, his foster father. She must have picked up on his bearing. He no longer slouched and there was confidence in his movements that he had lacked before leaving Earth.


    Nyx sighed, he had wanted to avoid this. It might turn ugly rapidly. He wished it was possible to have returned to Earth while his birth parents had both been alive, but traveling back in time wasn¡¯t feasible.


    At least he was no longer the same boy who had been too timid to stand up to Greg. Nyx narrowed his eyes, he knew what was about to happen, and prepared himself mentally to face it. His body language changed, what before might have been relaxed fluidity became coiled fury, a viper ready to strike. As insignificant as his physique was, the danger he emanated seemed to defy logic.


    "Get Back Here Nyx!" His foster father roared. There was a scratchiness to his voice revealing he had been drinking the night before. Nyx had scars on his body from times in the past the drinking had escalated into beatings.


    Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Nyx prepared for the confrontation. He was ancient by Earth standards, this should be a breeze, but old memories stirred a deep anger close to making him lose his cool. Nyx turned around and walked back.


    Greg was in the living room, face red as a tomato. He was a big beefy, if out of shape man, gut hanging out from his sleeveless shirt, body heaving with his ire. Judy stood in the kitchen an evil glint in her eye as she waited to see what would happen.


    Spittle few out of Greg¡¯s mouth. ¡°When Judy asks for something, you do it!¡±


    Nyx knew what was going through his foster father¡¯s mind; he had run into many people of a similar nature. People like Greg enjoyed stomping on people they saw as weak. Even though ¡®angry¡¯ his eyes searched Nyx waiting for a reaction, something he would say or do that could be used to hurt him. Both mentally and physically. Before leaving Earth, Nyx would have cowered with his head down, apologizing to appease him and avoid the conflict and possible beating. But now he knew better, that was a mistake, never show weakness to these types.


    Nyx¡¯s voice came out calm and smooth like honey. ¡°Say that one more time. Both you and your fat cow of a wife are nothing but leeches. The world would be better without garbage like you.¡±


    A switch visibly flipped in Greg''s head. He would never have expected Nyx to respond in kind. If Greg were paying attention, he would notice the lethality in Nyx movement, his posture - but he was too far gone, his face turned almost purple, lost in the rage, teeth bared, fist clenching.


    "You Litt.."


    With a long stride, he swiped, opening his fist, aiming for Nyx¡¯s ear. Nyx slipped to the side at the last second, grabbing Greg''s palm as it swung past. Perfectly balanced he spun turning his stepdad''s hand out, his elbow crunched into Greg¡¯s nose while he lowered his center of gravity leg whipping at the back of Greg''s knees.


    The effect was instantaneous, Greg was airborne before crashing into the floor.


    Delivering an incapacitating shot to the solar plexus Greg''s hands moved down to defend, his breath now coming in wheezes. Nyx then kicked him in his unguarded temple, and his body stilled.


    This would have to do, as much as he despised these two, they were inconsequential. The best he could do for now was to render his tormentor unconscious and leave in the meantime. Even though he should feel nothing for putting someone so insignificant in their place, Nyx had to admit that it felt good, a regret finally put to rest. A dark part of himself begged to end their lives. It wanted him to someday, come back and collect in full. It was a voice he had locked away, one that scared him.


    Judy was frozen in shock mouth wide open. Coming to her senses she ran over sitting down beside her husband pulling his head into her lap, and tears began to run down her face.


    "Gg-get out o-or..." she said, forcing the words out through her sobbing.


    ¡°Or what? You fat piece of shit.¡±


    Her mouth clamped shut, but her sniffles were still audible. She buried her face in her husband''s shirt.


    Nyx went to the kitchen and grabbed the cell phone, as far as he was concerned it belonged to him. Fortunately, Judy did not put a password on it. He also went into the living room and took the laptop and charger from the ratty beige couch that Greg frequented, his indent permanently melded into the cushion.


    The Strauss''s relied too heavily on their monthly foster care check to report him missing. They could not maintain their lazy lifestyle without it. From the closet in the hallway, he grabbed a large duffel bag and packed his clothes, the laptop, and few other belongings. He snorted as he walked past the disgusting couple and out into the sweltering heat. The door slammed shut behind him in a final goodbye.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Eyes adjusting to the light, Nyx slung the duffel bag across his back. He remembered there was a motel a few miles away and made in that direction. Just as he passed from the dilapidated parking lot, onto the main street, he sensed movement behind him. Nyx turned swiftly, lowering, ready to defend himself.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± It was his lanky neighbor with the sharp features. His eyebrows were drawn together as he put up his hands showing he meant no harm, a lit cigarette was between two of his fingers. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but hear¡­ everything alright?¡±


    Nyx sighed, letting the tension out of his posture.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± He kept his tone carefully neutral.


    "For real, I know all about bad family situations. I can give you a lift at least," he paused, then offered his hand to Nyx, "Dan, by the way, I live across from you with my brother Gabe."


    Nyx accepted the handshake. ¡°Alright, just to the nearest motel.¡±


    ¡°Wait here,¡± he said, then ran back toward his apartment with loping strides. He had coordination that surprised Nyx, considering his awkward build. As Dan rounded the corner, he noticed something he shouldn¡¯t have missed before. Dan had a slight glow. Nyx could see and feel the unrefined Chi that swirled in his neighbors'' core. Curiosity sparked, but he decided to keep the knowledge private till he learned more.


    Nyx waited, his mind drawn back to the incident with the thugs. He didn¡¯t feel pity or remorse for their deaths; they had brought it on themselves through their actions. What did bother him was the deeply buried excitement the fight had roused inside him. After his wife¡¯s murder in the higher realms, he had given into a primal urge and massacred a gathering of people. He had felt a euphoria, a strength in actions that still haunted his dreams.


    A horn honked on the road drawing Nyx''s attention. Gabe sat in the driver seat of a silver Honda Civic sedan, his lean arm muscles exposed by the way his green tee-shirts sleeves ruffles up as he gripped the steering wheel. Dan was next to him on the passenger side leaning forward waving to grab Nyx''s attention. He was wearing a pair of black sunglasses still puffing at the cigarette.


    Nyx tossed the duffel bag in the cars back seat before sliding in himself.


    Gabe looked back, pushing the tousled curls of brown hair from his eyes. "Where too?"


    ¡°Just to the nearest Motel. Thanks.¡± Nyx hated to be in another person¡¯s debt.


    Gabe winked back at Nyx, ¡°Food, you can¡¯t have food in that bag. Let¡¯s make a stop on the way.¡±


    ¡°He just wants to go get a motel room,¡± said Dan, his face set in a scowl as he looked at his brother.


    Gabe raised his eyebrow, and Nyx watched the brothers communicate with just a look. He noted that both brothers had the same brown eyes, but their facial features were almost complete opposites; Gabe''s were soft in comparison to Dan''s sharper looks.


    ¡°Whatever, food it is,¡± Dan looked back at Nyx, ¡°you good with that?¡± then he grumbled under his breath. ¡°Hope Joshua doesn¡¯t mind.¡±


    Nyx tried to decline but Gabe wouldn''t listen, "seriously, we don''t come from a much different situation than yourself. We know how messed up the foster care system is. Don''t mind Dan here, he doesn''t much care for people in General, well unless they are girls," He cracked a slightly lopsided grin.


    Dan glared at his brother, crossing his arms but didn¡¯t try to dispute the matter. ¡°People tend to let you down. It¡¯s better to rely on yourself.¡±


    Nyx took in Dan¡¯s designer shades and shirt along with a gold chain hanging around his neck, ¡°for someone who doesn¡¯t like people, you seem to keep up appearances.¡±


    ¡°I do it for the babes,¡± Dan turned back and looked down at Nyx¡¯s oversized shorts and shirt, ¡°Maybe you ought to care about it just a little more.¡±


    Gabe tilted the rearview mirror down so he could see what Dan was talking about, "the mall it is!" he said slapping the steering wheel lightly, then corrected the mirror.


    The engine rumbled as the car pulled back out onto the road. They headed in the direction that Nyx had gone for a run that morning. The street was packed with considerably more vehicles. The sounds of sirens grew louder as they drove, heads in the cars around them craned to see what was happening. Nyx had an inkling of what the cause might be. The car rounded a bend and he saw four police cruisers parked in the Seven Eleven parking lot.


    Traffic was moving slowly as people tried to catch a glimpse of what was happening. When the car pulled up closer, Nyx noted the cordoned-off section towards the back of the building. A group of police stood near the crime scene, two of them talking into the radios strapped to their chest. Nyx made note of another officer talking to the Indian store clerk. The man seemed more annoyed than anything by the disturbance.


    Nyx rolled down his window, listening, but could only catch a few words spoken: "...need the security tapes."


    Nyx''s eyes narrowed, once the officers saw the tape, even if there weren''t incriminating evidence, they would mark him as a person of interest.


    Dan sat fiddling with his phone but looked up to see what was going on, "wonder what happened, will probably be on the news later. Seems big." He looked back at Nyx. "Hey weren''t you running this way earlier? Did you see anything?"


    Nyx shook his head, ¡°nothing worth mentioning.¡±


    Even for a Saturday, the mall parking lot was packed. They were lucky to snag a spot in the middle when another car pulled away. A thumping came from the other vehicles open windows, making Nyx wonder how it could be considered music.


    As the brothers led him through the mall, Nyx lost himself in the sounds and smells of Earth. The air felt thick, the smells somehow less fragrant and more pungent, but it was made up for by the bustle of people and the general unorganized, chaotic manner of everything. He found it soothing after the stagnant perfection he was so used to in the higher realm. Nyx remembered distinctly hating crowds before leaving Earth. Something about being surrounded by people had left him antsy, but now he found he quite enjoyed losing himself in the throng.


    As they walked through the mall, a baby cried in the play area; it had tripped on the lip of a platform. The toddler''s parents rushed over, checking to make sure it was okay. At the other side, a couple ambled through the swarm of people with bags in hand, more focused on each other than the storefronts they passed. A group of teenagers walked past them in the opposite direction all fighting for attention, talking over each other. Dan and Gabe seemed oblivious to the multitude of conversations taking place all around as they ushered Nyx to the food court, treating him to a meal from panda express.


    Nyx took his time eating. The food was sweet, sweet in an artificial way. The food lacked the nutrition from the higher realm but worked to satisfy his hunger. When they were done, Dan led them through the various shops. His usual frown was gone as he became excited at the prospect of updating Nyx''s wardrobe. Whenever an attractive girl would pass, Dan''s eyes followed, although he never made any attempts to talk. When asked about it, he claimed, in the right mood, he could pull any girl he wanted. From Gabe''s raised eyebrows, Nyx was skeptical of the claim but nodded along anyways.


    At a Gucci store, a belt alone was priced at four-hundred fifty dollars. Nyx was astonished, the quality of the merchandise did not seem high. From then on, when they entered the fancier shops, he declined to purchase anything.


    In the end, much to Dan''s chagrin, Nyx picked out a couple of dark colored hoodies made from thick fabric and some joggers that he found were quite comfortable and unrestrictive. Dan wanted him to get something more fashionable. Nyx decided it was a good idea to purchase athletic gear and a couple attractive dress shirts and pants, just in case. Dan was more than happy to pick them out for him.


    Nyx walked into a new balance shop led by Dan, Gabe trailed behind, not as interested in the shopping as his brother. He picked out a pair of black lightweight flat soled shoes, turning away the clunky looking things Dan tried to push on him.


    With shopping bags in hand, Nyx walked shoulder to shoulder with the brothers to the store''s exit. Five loud boys gathered at the entrance, all around Nyx''s age. They pointed at a girl and loudly made lewd noises as she hurried away. As Nyx neared, they stared at him laughing. Something about them was familiar, but he couldn''t quite place it. As Nyx tried to edge around the group, their snickers quieted, but he could see a mean glint in their eyes.


    ¡°Do I know you from somewhere?¡± asked Nyx when they didn¡¯t make way for him.


    "Ah look at that, he is short of memory as well, I forgot it''s not polite to pick on the mentally handicapped," said a blond-haired boy. Nyx supposed most girls would find him attractive with his delicate features. He looked to his friends who chuckled at his joke and fanned out in a semicircle. Nyx noticed Dan and Gabe circle back to his side when he didn¡¯t follow. He was secretly grateful for the support.

 Chapter Four

    The guy''s voice clicked into place. It was Charles Malone, spoiled son to a wealthy father. He had a mean streak and had tormented Nyx at his school back on Earth, why the guy had it out for him, he couldn''t remember. Nyx figured he must have recently graduated from high school was out with his pack of friends. Nyx Rolled his eyes and ignored them as he tried to walk past.


    ¡°Whoa, hold up,¡± said Andrew one of Charles ¡®friends¡¯ putting his arm on Nyx¡¯s shoulder stopping him, He looked just as Nyx remembered him; too tall for his age, built like a high school linebacker, with a square jaw and face. ¡°We just want to catch up, any plans for the summer? Found some people to take pity on you I see.¡±


    Nyx grabbed Andrews pinky, peeling away the hand, he slowly increased the pressure on the joint forcing him to his knees, ¡°Andrew, if I remember correctly, didn¡¯t Jennifer say the only reason she agreed to date you was that she pitied your low IQ?¡± He paused ¨C some of the shoppers were eyeing the conflict, probably hoping to see a fight. He didn¡¯t want that kind of attention and reluctantly let go of his ¡®classmate¡¯ who was grimacing in pain. ¡°Now if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Soon as Andrew was free, he backed up shaking out his hand, glaring. A twitch and tightening of muscles indicated he was about to throw a punch. Nyx snapped his fingers distracting him, then pointing around at the onlookers. ¡°Now isn¡¯t a good time, if you insist on attacking me, why don¡¯t we meet up at a time and place of your choosing?¡±


    Charles pulled Andrew back giving him a slight shake of the head. ¡°Not now,¡± he muttered under his breath. Andrew didn¡¯t seem happy but complied with his friend¡¯s suggestion.


    Nyx smiled sweetly in the face of the hateful glare. ¡°Good dog.¡±


    Before Andrew could react, Charles spoke over him. ¡°I have an internship on Wallstreet in New York and am flying out in the next couple days,¡± he lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret. ¡°They are paying me five thousand a month, more than you have seen in your whole life.¡±


    Nyx smirked, now that they couldn¡¯t act out physically, they were trying shamming him. Dan seemed to have reached the end of his patients and stepped forward patting a clenched knuckle. ¡°How about you get out of our way before I smash your heads into the tiles.¡±


    Charles¡¯s eyes went wide in mock fear as he raised his hands. ¡°My dad will bury you if you so much as touch me.¡±


    ¡°A bully and a coward, typical,¡± Dan growled.


    Nyx lightly placed his hand on Dan''s shoulder pulling him back; this was not the time to use violence. Dan resisted for a moment glowing with his lips turned down in a scowl. After a tension-filled moment he finally relented, though Nyx could tell if things progressed further, he would act.


    Nyx stared Charles right in the eyes. "You might be wealthy, and pride yourself on the ¡®accomplishments,'' but somewhere down the line you will feel an empty pit and realize something is missing in your life. You will try to fill that hole with fancy clothes and cars, but nothing will ever do it. In the end, you will devote yourself to making money and die a grumpy, dissatisfied man, mad at the world. Your life will have been wasted. You will never witness the true wonders of the universe. In that, I pity you," Nyx''s tone grew dark, subtly leaning forward as he stared down the young man in front of him, "Now move out of our way," His eyes blazed a warning.


    Their gazes were locked, probing each other for weakness. Charles was the first to break eye contact looking away. He muttered ¡°looser¡± under his breath, then ushered his friends away after him. They looked confused but listened following after calling Nyx a few names.


    Charles chanced a last look over his shoulder eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Nyx knew they remembered him as a shy kid who rarely spoke. It had made him an easy target. Things were different now; he had a presence that could not be ignored.


    As they packed Nyx''s new clothing into the car, Gabe raised his eyebrows. "You are different than I thought. Been living next to you for a while, I assumed you were more the quiet and awkward type, no offense."


    Nyx shrugged, "at one time you could say that, no offense taken."


    The car doors shut, and they were on the road headed to a motel nearby. Nyx felt guilty at having the brothers buying him things, he had an idea of a way to possibly make a decent amount of money and pay them back for their kindness.


    ¡°I really can¡¯t express my thanks, I for one don¡¯t forget my friends.¡±


    Dan opened his mouth to respond, but Gabe cut him off, "Don''t worry about it, we get... I guess you could call it an allowance, it goes away at the end of the month anyway if we don''t spend it."


    ¡°I would still like to pay you back,¡± said Nyx as the car pulled into a motel six parking lot.


    Gabe shrugged, ¡°if you insist.¡±


    Dan raised his eyebrows at his brother, Gabe¡¯s head nodded ever so slightly before they turned back to him, he had just pulled his things from the car trunk.


    "We are planning to go downtown tonight, we have the hookup at this club if you want to join,¡± said Dan.


    Nyx¡¯s eyes narrowed. Clubbing would be the perfect place to pick up the trace of demons. He would need to find and stalk a weak one to feed off. It was a necessary first step in his path of cultivation.


    ¡°Count me in.¡±


    ¡°Cool, hope you don¡¯t mind if we come by later, then we can all drive together,¡± called Gabe out the car window as they drove away.


    The air in the motel lobby was refreshing after the heat outside. A short brown-haired lady checked him in, something about her reminded him of a mouse. Bringing his luggage into room 210, he put away his perishables into the mini fridge and then took out the laptop that had belonged to his foster father.


    It was a drab hotel room, windows facing the parking lot. He could smell cigarette smoke that an air freshener could not entirely cover up. The air conditioner unit chugged away in the window, and ratty grey curtains hung down in front. Nyx sat at a beat-up desk on the uncomfortable chair offered by the lodging and flipped up his laptop screen.


    Nyx decided to put his money-making plan to use. His foster father had been addicted to online gambling and used a VPN to access global tournaments. Pools ran with thousands of dollars in prizes. His instincts honed, and he hoped it would be enough to place high in a tourney.


    After connecting to the motel internet, he loaded up Poker Stars. There was zero balance. He updated the account on file to his private bank account, and after playing a few one-dollar hands to warm up, he checked for a tournament entering one with a two hundred dollar buy in. It had just started, but the option to join was still available. A few thousand people were vying for a first-place prize pool of close to fifty-thousand.


    Nyx cracked his knuckles and joined the game. He hoped his instincts would help him, or he might have just as good as given away his money.


    Nyx played it safe and over the next hour and the number of players in the game dropped. Ding, a notification informed Nyx he was in the money. An icon with ¡®Two-hundred thirty dollars¡¯ indicated his winnings even if eliminated now.


    The current hand ended, and the chips slid to a player on the top corner of Nyx¡¯s table. This player was aggressive with the username cheeze29 and cartoon mouse avatar. Two cards flipped out to the players. Ace, six, offsuit, a decent hand. A noise came through the speakers as players placed their blinds or folded. The timer in the bottom of Nyx screen started to tick down indicating it was his turn. The call button highlighted as he clicked it.


    Three cards flipped on the virtual felt in the middle of the table. King, five and three, Nyx had nothing. Check, check, all in! Cheeze29 attempted to bully the table again with his chip lead. The others at the table folded, the timer started to tick down for Nyx again.


    His instinct told him Cheeze was bluffing. Instinct was a funny thing, quickly drowned out by the noise of the mind. He trusted his instinct, and his high Ace gave him some added comfort. He called what he hoped was a bluff and both players'' cards went heads up, Cheeze29 had Queen Jack offsuit. The river flopped a Queen.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Nyx cursed, shaking his head, at least he would make his money back.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The last card flopped, Ace. Nyx let out a deep breath closing his eyes as he calmed his pumping heart. The chips moved to his pile making him chip leader. The button in the top corner now indicated he was placed fifty-six out of around nine-hundred remaining players.


    His peripheral vision caught movement outside the curtain. Hitting the ''sit out next hand'' button Nyx got up. Stretching his arms, out and back, brought attention to his sore muscles. Idling over to the curtain, he pulled it aside. It was Dan and Gabe, they had just parked their car and were looking around lost.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you both to show up so early,¡± said Nyx as he pulled open the door to his room.


    Dan shrugged arms hang at his side, "we took care of what we needed to quicker than we thought, came to see what you were up to." He attempted a smile, which somehow didn''t quite suit Dan''s face, "we brought the ingredients for a BLT," he said holding up a bag.


    ¡°Come in, I just started a poker game, so I won¡¯t be going anywhere for a while.¡±


    <hr>


    Three people remained in the poker tournament. Nyx bit the last morsel of his final sandwich, it was dry without any mayo.


    ¡°Fold,¡± said Gabe.


    He was watching over Nyx¡¯s shoulder eyes focused on the computer screen. Dan was leaned back against the wall on the hotel bed, a pillow behind his back, hand up cushioning his head while he smoked a cigarette. The brothers had changed into fancier clothing in preparation for the night out, although Dan wore his gold chain around his neck.


    ¡°Just go all in, get this over with. We gotta get going, so I can find me a honey tonight."


    ¡°Pss, keep dreaming.¡± Gabe let out a laugh, ¡°nobody wants any of that!¡±


    ¡°Get more than you!¡± Dan scrunched up his nose, ¡°how much longer is this going to take.¡±


    ¡°Soon,¡± said Gabe still focused on the game.


    Nyx folded, he had a weak off suit seven, two.


    Sirens got progressively louder, ¡°you play for a bit.¡± Nyx got up to look out the curtain. Three cop cars with lights blazing pulled into the motel six parking lot. It was getting dark, red and blue lights lit up the area casting shadows.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gabe''s eyes never left the screen.


    ¡°Some cop cars just pulled in,¡± said Nyx, expression turning serious.


    ¡°Not here for you, are they?¡± Dan said from the bed, a lilt in his tone.


    Nyx turned from the window frowning at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, lighten up.¡±


    ¡°Dammit,¡± said Gabe, looking over to Nyx, ¡°sorry.¡±


    Nyx went back and examined the screen, a flashing box had replaced the poker table, ¡®you placed second -- twenty-thousand dollars have been added to your PokerStars account.¡¯


    ¡°Thought you were going to win it for me.¡±


    ¡°Well look at that,¡± said Gabe pointing to the winnings, ¡°should easily be able to pay us back now at least.¡±


    Nyx shook his head. It would take a day or two for the winnings to transfer to his account.


    ¡°Ok let¡¯s get out of here! Finally!¡± Dan jumped up from the bed.


    "Hold up, let me change," said Nyx unzipping his suitcase. Soon he stood wearing a new black button-up shirt and jeans; he had to admit Dan had picked out some quality clothing for him.


    "Hey Nyx, just an idea, me and Dan talked to a friend of ours, he has a place closer to the city. When we asked him if you might be able to stay there for a while, he agreed," Nyx was in the process of shaking his head when Gabe continued, "don''t worry, you don''t have to decide now, but grab your things just in case."


    "Wait one second," said Nyx, then packed up his laptop and new clothes, "would one of you mind taking this out to the car for me? I''ll join you in a second."


    Gabe agreed and hauled his luggage out the door. Nyx waited a few minutes for the cops to enter the motel office before making a break for the vehicle on light feet. Maybe they had found him by tracking his debit card, or it was just a coincidence, but he didn''t want to take the chance. Even if they were there for him, the cops could only question him without more evidence.


    Music blared as Dan plugged the Aux cord into his phone, generic hip-hop. The car rolled out of the motel''s entrance; about five minutes later they merged onto the highway. Gabe weaved around the few other vehicles on the road making good time. Warm night air breezed through the windows. Once in the city, Gabe smoothly parallel parked and gave a satisfied grunt. He took the key from the ignition stilling the music.


    Dan, who had been their DJ, narrowed his eyes at Gabe, "hey, that was the best part!"


    Gabe ignored him and looked back at Nyx. "Don¡¯t forget yours," a small bottle of liquor was swaying slightly from his fingers. He tucked it into his navy sports coat.


    "I didn¡¯t bring any, its fine, not planning on drinking much anyways," Memories of a drunk Greg tainted his desire to become inebriated.


    Gabe shrugged opening the car door and stepped onto the sidewalk. The sign by the car read, ''paid parking 6am-6pm'', they wouldn''t have to pay. They walked in and out of the light of various street lamps as Nyx followed the other two. It was easy to see, even without the lamps, the stars and moon were bright. Nyx inspected the brothers for signs of Chi, but so far there wasn¡¯t any indication. He remembered the distinct glow he had seen from Dan''s core before.


    At the door to a large grey building, was the club entrance, a long line waited to enter. Gabe went up to the bouncer raising his fist, and the big man reciprocated the movement, fist dwarfing Gabe''s as they bumped each other. The bouncer then nodded his big head at Nyx and Dan, his fade and gelled hair bobbing. The red rope blocking their way was pulled back, and they were ushered inside.


    Loud thumping music greeted them, strobes shifted and moved casting colored lights around to dance floor. A bar, off to the side, catered to a large group of people all bunched together holding out cards or cash to get the bartenders attention.


    Dan rubbed his hands together eyes roving over the scantily clad women all around, "time to get me a honey," he said as he made his way onto the dance floor quickly swallowed in the sea of bodies.


    "It ever work out for him?" Nyx shouted near Gabe''s ear over the thrum of the music.


    Gabe laughed, the sound muted by the other noises in the space. "He tries, not scared of rejection that¡¯s for sure."


    "I''m gonna get a drink, you want anything?" asked Nyx, he had started to move towards the bar but paused to wait for an answer. He hoped, they wouldn¡¯t bother carding him.


    Gabe patted the bottle inside his jacket, "maybe later, I''m Gucci."


    Nyx shrugged, then squeezed into the throng by the bar. With his lack of mass, he managed to squeeze into a spot at the counter ignoring the pungent scent given off by the other patrons. There were two kinds he noticed; some were drenched in perfume or cologne, while others hadn''t bothered their stench having people leaning away in disgust. Looking at the multitude of hands holding payment towards the bartender, Nyx followed suit waving his cash to get the busty woman''s attention.


    "Jack and coke please, keep the change."


    She nodded and swiped the money. None too subtly she gave him a look over, as she grabbed a big bottle with a metal nozzle. She poured a healthy serving of Jack Daniels followed by bubbling coke.


    Nyx could sense it before he saw it. Twisting his head from the bar a mass of red Demon Chi caught his eye, it swirled around an attractive brunette wearing a backless dress. She was standing at the edge of the dance floor, many men were also eying her.


    The bartender noticed the look, reaching forward she brought back Nyx¡¯s attention, He accepted the offered drink. She waited a second too long letting go. Nyx pushed and squeezed his way out of the crowd, but the Demonic girl was nowhere he could see or sense.


    The wave of an arm caught his attention, Gabe stood above leaning against a rail in the VIP section. Once he knew Nyx saw, he motioned for him to come up. The lounge in the VIP section split into different booths. Gabe shared his with a middle-aged gentleman, who stood from a comfy black leather sofa and extended his arm, Nyx shook the offered hand noting the rough texture of calluses.


    "Hello Nyx, I am Joshua. Gabe here has told me quite a bit about you," he said, running a hand through his silvery hair. The man had a deep, resonant voice, one that would sound right at home on the radio.


    Nyx gave him a quizzical look, "I''m not sure there is much to tell."


    "Ahh, I am not so sure that''s true." The grey patches in Joshua¡¯s stubble moved up with his smile. He had a strong square jaw and strength in his bearing. He did not appear as old as his greying hair suggested. Nyx¡¯s wasn¡¯t so sure he liked the glint he saw in Joshua¡¯s eyes.


    Gabe quickly chimed in, "Joshua is quite the poker player, when I told him about your winnings earlier, he had to meet you." The smile on his face was nervous yet somehow confident, "I hope you don¡¯t mind I told him, he is also the one who offered to let you stay at his place if you decide you would like to."


    "It¡¯s fine," Nyx grinned showing his teeth, he sensed things were not as simple as they seemed. ¡°The poker was luck really, I happened to make some fortunate bets."


    Gabe and Joshua subtly made eye contact, "Of course, beginner''s luck they call it. Cheers," Joshua held out his clear glass cup, dark liquor with some ice swished around inside. Nyx raised his clinking the cups together, then downed a large helping, it burned its way down his throat. His head involuntarily shook, it had been a long time since he could feel anything from such a weak drink.


    "A lightweight ehh, not to worry we will get you right up to speed!" Joshua had a deep hearty laugh, Nyx couldn¡¯t help but smile along. Maybe his first impression had been wrong, Joshua seemed like a likable guy.


    Nyx sank into a leather love seat sitting opposite Joshua and Gabe, a glass table sat between them with a bottle of liquor sitting in a silver bowl with ice. Nyx observed the area around, a girl in the booth over flirted with a stranger, three friends escorted their drunk companion who could barely stand. Men, too old to be out partying, paced at the fringes of the dance floor awkwardly bobbing around. He didn¡¯t see any sign of the girl with demon Chi.


    "So, tell me how is living next to the two brothers''?"


    "Ah¡­" The mass of swirling red was back, seeming to suck in the light. To Nyx, the area around the girl appeared as though in shadow, he had to say the girl was drop-dead gorgeous, a Succubus. "...Good." he noticed Joshua''s eyes picking out the woman as well.


    Gabe chuckled, "see something you like?" seconds later his eyes opened wide, ¡°looks like Dan beat you to it!"


    Nyx took a closer look at Dan who was being pulled along by the beautiful woman. Dull next to the demonic red beside him, his core was glowing with russet brown Chi as well. The red power lapped at him, the way a child would lick at something sweet; Nyx could feel its desire to feed. Drinking had relieved Dan of his control, but he seemed perfectly happy with a silly smile plastered on his face.

 Chapter Five

    Dan wobbled on his feet, a firm hand helped him make his way across the floor. Ah, this girl was an angel! Not only had they danced she had bought him drinks, she even took him up on his offer to find a quiet place.


    "My apartment is actually just three blocks away." The look she gave could make any man jealous.


    "Lead da way," said Dan, giggling. Internally he reprimanded himself, cringing at his awkwardness but couldn''t stop himself from laughing. Blood pumped through his cheeks. They must be bright red. Everything in front of him seemed to sway, as though he was on the deck of a ship on turbulent seas rather than a club.


    <hr>


    Nyx let out a deep sigh. He couldn''t watch without acting, not with a demon involved. "Excuse me one moment, gotta release the sea dragon," he said without looking at Joshua or Gabe whose expressions turned quizzical. He got up, not waiting for a response, leaving the VIP area. It was indeed turning out to be an eventful first day back on Earth.


    Nyx placed his drink on a high table as he walked past, it landed with a dull thunk. He made his way through stumbling men and women, at the corner he turned towards the restrooms. The line of sight broken, he verified no eyes were on him. Quickly he slipped out the back door.


    <hr>


    Dan stumbled, the stairs at the club entrance too much for his drunk feet. The girl next to him didn¡¯t let him fall - Man was she strong.


    "Lead the way princess!" Dan said, ignoring a subtle feeling that told him to split, he played out how things would go once he was back at her place. He would have to be smooth, and couldn''t show his inexperience. Dan hadn''t even learned her name but figured it was too late to ask now. He hoped calling her princess wasn''t too much.


    She smiled back, but her eyes were cold her lips pulled up at the corners. There was a hungry look to her that promised a night of wonders. He could tell this girl wasn''t shy and might want to try out new things. He shivered, the idea made him nervous. He reached into his pocket for his cigarettes.


    Clouds had darkened the night sky making the dim street lamps appear bright and the shadows they cast, off parked cars and buildings, pools black. Dan squinted, a vehicle drove by, headlights illuminating the darkness momentarily.


    "You sure you live around here?¡± The walk and night air had done wonders to clear his head.


    "What''s not to like here." The girl gestured around the alley.


    Broken windows and glass littered the ground. A dumpster stood open, the end of a too big broken desk stuck out. The girl let go of him, backing up, coming between him and the exit to the alley.


    Her eyes changed, black smoke began to swirl from her body into the night, making her figure indistinct. Her eyes burned like coals, Dan¡¯s mouth fell open. Waves of dark energy became visible emanating from her, they intensified as strands of the power reached across the alley coiling around his body. He could feel it tugging at the energy in his core with an insatiable appetite. Dirt on the alley floor swirled into the air, drawn up by the current of power.


    Veins stood out all over Dan''s body as he strained against the bonds, but he couldn''t move an inch. Slowly he was forced to his knees. Pure terror intruded on his mind. He couldn''t think. He felt that if his heart beat any faster, it would burst. The whites of his eyes were visible, and his pupils dilated.


    A demonic eco came in place of the girl''s voice, "this skin does wonders, I can feed and never fear discovery," the sound seemed to emanate from all around.


    The signs had all been there, and he had let himself be lured into the trap. The energy around encircled his arms, legs, and torso, leaving him immobile. Mustering all his willpower, he tried to stand, tried to escape the fog of panic filling his mind, but barely moved three inches. He attempted to draw on the Chi in his core, but every time he tried to call it, it slipped back, water through splayed fingers. He could not maintain his focus.


    "It is useless," the waves of red power intensified as if in explanation, constricting him further, veins began to pop up around the tightening cords of energy. The eco in the voice deepened, "I never expected to run into such a feast. I will drain you quickly." Fangs became visible as a grin split the thing''s mouth, and more of the black smoke spilled out.


    "Rot in hell demon bitch!" his voice cracked, it was all the resistance he could muster.


    She smiled wider blurring as she moved. The burning eyes were right in front of Dan, they seemed to grow, and he could see the fires of hell reflected in the glowing inferno. As it drew his consciousness in, he felt himself being torn apart, surrounded by hellfire burning his skin to a husk, lapping at him almost gleefully as he cried out. Hooks dug into flesh holding him in place. The agony! He didn''t want to keep living. Death would free him.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    He realized he was going to die. He could feel his soul begin to tear, fracture from the stress it was under. A part of him knew it was all in his mind, but he could not free himself. A shadow moved, visible in Dan¡¯s peripherals.


    Something long, masked by night whipped forward, he heard an impact. The demon stumbled and fell back. The waves of demonic Chi holding him broke apart. He could move! The demoness'' eyes were wide but quickly narrowed in anger. It rose back to its feet brushing off fragments of glass, unblemished.


    Dan¡¯s stared, his brain filled with fog clouding his judgment. Nyx stood facing the demoness in front of him, fearless. He was a boulder in a storm. Streams of demonic Chi emanated all around but did not reach him.


    He noticed his mind had been freed from the demons hold, looking down at his body, no hooks were tearing him apart, no fires burning his skin. He still couldn''t shake the terror. It clung to him, barbs stuck into his mind.


    "Nyx, what''s going on?"


    "Run." There was no fear in his voice, just pure calm, but the urgency was unmistakable.


    Darkness and despair emanated from the demoness. He couldn''t help himself. He ran, legs pumping, turning towards the club once he exited the alley. Safety. Street lights blurred overhead as the fear drove him onward.


    <hr>


    Wave after wave of demonic energy hammered at Nyx. He focused with his spirit, on the array pattern glowing in the Aether. The simple pattern wove the sparse natural Chi in the alley around him, a shield. It was all he could muster. If pushed too far, the damage to his soul would be irreversible. He was fortunate the demon was weak, or the pattern would be useless.


    He had not begun cultivating on Earth, so this vessel was a fresh slate. A storm raged around him, but he faced it. His kick before had merely allowed Dan to escape. The Succubus tilted her head regarding him as she wiped a stray piece of glass from her arm.


    She moved fast, much faster than Nyx could keep up. Black smoke rose as her hands morphed into claws. Prepared for the attack, he was still taken off guard but dodged sideways, not fast enough. The claws raked towards his arm. Pain seared as long furrows were dug, immediately filling with rivulets of blood that dripped down his arm and from the tips of his fingers. If he hadn''t moved, it would have been much worse. Nyx tightened muscles near the deep gashes slowing the bleeding.


    The demonic voice whispered full of venom and malice, "I will drain you slowly, you stole a meal from me."


    She rushed him again. Blood left a red mist in the air as a claw tore a gash in his side. The demon grinned, she was toying with him. With his focus split between maintaining the array pattern with his spirit, and avoiding attacks, he was at his limit. He had overestimated himself. This mortal body was new to him, he believed he could save Dan and escape. Those hopes were being drained, literally.


    In immense pain, he would never show it. Slashes bled across his body, the demoness¡¯s tongue slipped out, lapping up blood from a talon. He would bleed out at this rate, all he had done so far was survive. His body physically couldn¡¯t keep up. It took considerable effort for Nyx to bring down and control his breathing and heart rate. So it had come to this.


    <hr>


    Oh, she was enjoying it. The human in front of her, covered in gashes dripping blood, showed no fear or quit. He was tiring, she inhaled, tasting the metallic tang of blood on the air. This would not be easy, but oh the ecstasy when he broke. In the end, when he finally begged for mercy, she would devour him. She craved to feel his terror as she took what was hers.


    She launched at him, not holding back this time, and bore him to the ground pinning his limbs. She tried to draw his soul from his body, to break it apart. There was a strength to this one stopping her from drawing out his soul. It resisted with more vigor than should be possible for a human. She needed to weaken his body further; that was the answer.


    <hr>


    Sitting under the demon, Nyx knew it was about to end before it started. His body wanted him to give up, drained of strength, but he still struggled. Death did not scare him, what was worse, was the feeling of failing his friends. They had given him the chance to come to Earth. His conscience had stopped him from abandoning Dan, and he decided he did not regret the decision.


    Nyx had one more trick, one attempt to turn the situation around. He began to draw on Chi for the first time on Earth. Demonic Chi swirled into his body. A whirlpool created by a technique he had specially devised to siphon demonic energy. It might destroy his vessel, but he had nothing to lose. Searing pain coursed through his body, he smiled welcoming it.


    <hr>


    The demon looked down at the boy. So close. He would break now. She dragged a claw down his chest, easily parting flesh, leaving a deep furrow. She waited for the pain to register on the humans face, licking her lips with anticipation. He smiled, and she recoiled.


    She felt it; her energy was being drawn into this weakling, how? Footsteps approached, and shadows turned into people at the alley''s entrance. She reached with a claw ready to slit his throat and end him, but she paused, remembering the smile. The memory of his defiance fed her malice, and her lips peeled back from her fangs, her fury knew no bounds. Demonic Chi exploded in all directions as she released a high pitched shriek. I''ll be back for you yet. You will break!


    She seethed with anger. Quick, her legs powered her onto the dumpster. With inhuman strength, she leaped clearing the barricade and was gone.


    <hr>


    Nyx felt the release of the pressure on top of him. His vision started to black out from loss of blood. Demonic Chi swirled through his meridians. Expanding, reshaping. Pain. Barely hanging on to consciousness he forced the Chi through its cycle and into his core. Agony was everything that existed for him, the Chi tore apart his insides, altering them. Stronger.


    Unnatural rage filled his mind. He wanted to destroy. Everything.


    Ah, the reason nobody cultivates this Chi, But he would not lose to it, his soul was stronger than that of the mortals on Earth. His mind registered the blurry shapes of people moving above him, and then everything went dark.

 Chapter Six

    Consciousness returned, but Nyx kept his eyes closed, taking a moment to get his scattered thoughts together. He thought back, then remembered the demon and for a moment considered the notion he had died. But no, the last thing he remembered was the shadows of people and the demon fleeing. Nyx heard voices and remained still listening.


    "To hold out against a demon, even a weak one, with no Element..." The deep, resonant voice trailed off. It belonged to Joshua, ¡°¡­you said he saved you?"


    "Yeah, I was trapped, couldn¡¯t move. The demon, she¡­ it was tearing me apart, I could feel it." Dan paused, and Nyx, even with his eyes closed, imagined he could hear the shiver. "Then out of nowhere, Nyx shows up. Stands there facing the demon and gave me a chance to escape. I ran and got you all, didn''t know it was possible to be that scared." There was shame in his voice.


    Nyx couldn¡¯t be sure how long he had been unconscious. The soft fiber of bandages pressed lightly against his skin coverering him. He delved inside himself; the experience was as though his mind became submerged in luke-warm water, a comfortable snugness to the feeling. Nyx checked his core and was pleased to note it was filled with demonic Chi, pulsing with Smokey black energy. He began to feel angry. No! He was in control now. Nyx relaxed his mind returning to his senses and could perceive the Chi of three people in the room. One blazed like a sun next to the other two. Dan, Gabe, and the third must be Joshua.


    It was apparent Dan and Gabe along with Joshua were more than they had pretended to be. This all begged a deeper question, what did they want with him? It had struck him as odd how Dan and Gabe had accepted him into their confidence, treating him as a long-time friend. Nyx decided there was no point pretending to be unconscious.


    He squinted, eyes adjusting to the lights. Gauze and bandages covered, well, all of him. Two rows of ten twin size beds ran down the length of the room, a tray of food sat on a stand beside the cot on which he rested. The scratched surfaces of metal tables on wheels sat around the room¡¯s center reflecting the white fluorescent lights above. The medical equipment arranged on the tables would be easy to move around. Gabe, Dan, and Joshua stood a short distance away, the only others in the room.


    The gashes from the fight no longer throbbed. Investigating the changes in his body, Nyx noted his muscles were denser, organs improved, eyes clearer. His hearing was even better. He was stunned, after cultivating the demonic Chi, he was close to breaking through the first stage of the Basic level of cultivation. The significant difference was in his physique. It had transformed, the power of demons. Demon Chi chiefly developed their bodies. High-frequency Chi could never cause these changes so fast.


    Nyx looked around the room but could not see anything to demystify his location. Gabe looked his way, and their eyes met, Gabe¡¯s widening in surprise, he opened his mouth then closed it seeming lost for words before trying again. "You passed out before we arrived. We got to you right in time, before that demon was able to finish you off. Good thing Joshua was with us, or we couldn''t have done anything."


    "I should have stayed to help you." Dan''s voice had an edge. Defensive. "But then we would both be dead, right? I made the right decision, saved your ass too. We are even."


    "Hold on," Nyx tried to sit up.


    "No, you don¡¯t!" Joshua pushed him back down. "Stay still, the injuries you sustained was substantial."


    Nyx let out his breath in a sigh. They didn¡¯t know that his body had healed, although the scars would remain until he reached a higher cultivation. The silvery lines were a memento of his weakness and poor judgment. He was having a hard time repressing his anger, the unnatural energy inside him fed on a rage he kept carefully locked away inside.


    "Where the hell are we? What''s going on?" Nyx growled.


    Joshua looked down at him with concern. "This place is underground St. Louis, you have been out for two days. This is an academy of sorts, an order who combat the demon threat." Nyx¡¯s jaw flexed, and he opened his mouth to respond, but Joshua put up his hand. "Before you say anything, listen. Here we teach how to fight, how to cultivate inner strength to one day face the threat. Each one of us is limited by time, but I believe dedicating your life to something meaningful is what gives it purpose."


    Nyx narrowed his eyes again wondering how any of this related to him, or more precisely his former self.


    Joshua took it to mean he was skeptical. "I know this must seem bizarre, but you will see. We have been watching you for a long time, deciding if you have the potential to perceive and draw on the energies that make up the universe. I believe you do, and I would like to invite you to join us and learn. These energies have been known by many names, but we refer to them as Chi."


    Nyx''s eyes moved between Dan and Gabe. "Is Joshua the friend you mentioned that had a place for me to stay?"


    Joshua nodded responding for the brothers. "It was my idea, for the past few months, I have had them watch you for signs. There is no pressure to decide what you want to do, for now, take your time. You have seen the threat we face. Once you make up your mind, you will face the council, of which I am only one member, for admittance." He gave Nyx a sympathetic look before turning away, and long strides took him from the room. There was a grace to his movement, an assuredness.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Guess you told him more about me than just poker," said Nyx, eyes conveying his disgust. He could feel the demon Chi playing on his emotions but couldn¡¯t stop it.


    "Orders, we were placed near you to monitor and report changes. We had only good intentions, what could I have done? Refused?" Gabe shook his head, looking away unable to meet Nyx¡¯s gaze.


    Nyx knew he was being unfair, but he was still frustrated at how things had developed. The malevolent energy wasn¡¯t helping either. He let his head fall back into his pillow, and his eyes closed momentarily.


    Dan clenched his fists his teeth grinding. "Quit acting all high a mighty. We did come back for you didn¡¯t we?"


    Gabe¡¯s hand closed on his brother''s arm. "Let''s go, give him time to process it all." He pulled Dan from the room shutting the door.


    Nyx sensed their Chi move down the hall. Good, they were gone. He sat up, crossing his legs and closed his eyes in meditation. He probed the Demonic Chi in his core, delving into his sea of consciousness and was greeted by darkness. Not the darkness of a soft sleep, no this was the suffocating darkness that drove strong men to the bottle, the kind that haunted nightmares. As Nyx moved further into the black, it fell back revealing a man was on his knees, held up by his hair. Nyx was hiding. A horror, a memory came to life.


    "P-p-please no..." the man stuttered, spitting out globs of blood. His mouth was a patchwork of missing teeth.


    A demon, hulk of a thing, stood above bursting with muscles, its form was indistinct as smoke swirled around it. Its leathery skin sucked at the dim light while smoke billowed out from the demon. Entirely transformed it would grow wings and horns, although it could take on any shape. The house could barely contain its mass. Burning eyes lacking even a shred of humanity stared down at Nyx''s birth father. He re-lived the emotions from his past, cloying helplessness comparable to being trapped deep underground in a small crevice. No amount of wriggling could bring freedom, and even as he clawed all around, there was a certainty of being lost to the world. Fear churned his insidesmaking death seemed a tame alternative.


    Nyx''s mother''s body lay on the ground near where his father kneeled. It was a grotesque sight, and he shivered unable to pick out any recognizable features from her face; the skin was peeled away revealing red strands of muscle and empty eye sockets. The body was separated into pieces, legs bent at unnatural angles. In places the opaque white of her bones was visible. His dad''s core glowed, how had he missed that before?


    The demon placed a claw the size of a large knife onto his father''s stomach. Blood ran out of the myriad of deep cuts the monstrosity had inflicted. His father¡¯s toes were missing along with half his fingers. Worst of all his eyelids were gone, leaving him unable to look away from the demon and sight of his wife. Finally, the last moment of his father''s despair, his soul broke. Nyx could see the fight leave his father''s eyes as they went dull. The demon drove his claw into Cruz¡¯s core. Ropes of demonic energy tore the wound wide, red-gold energy was siphoned, illuminating the monstrosity''s bared fangs in a display of savage ecstasy.


    Nyx started to turn his head away but stopped, forcing himself to watch, to remember. This was why he wouldn''t leave a person for a demon if the risk were reasonable. A demon did not just kill; it destroyed the soul. No afterlife, nothing, gone forever. The part of Nyx¡¯s mind that knew this to be a phantom memory raged, recalling how this event had marred his early years. Fear, never being comfortable in groups. He had preferred his own company. He had needed an exit, and he found one. There were no demons in the higher realms. This fear was the first strike of the hammer from which he was forged.


    The darkness began to close in once more, but Nyx was finished with the demon Chi''s games. He smiled, beyond such weak tricks. With a flick of his fingers, the darkness vanished. A demon stood before him in his mind sea. The manifestation of the Chi he had absorbed. Nyx''s soul was a Goliath, glowing with pure white light. Before him, the demon was but a weak shadow. His soul''s real strength was unable to be manifested outside his mind as he needed to strengthen his cultivation first, but while in his sea of consciousness the demon was an insect. Earlier he had let the memory the dark Chi conjured play out, it was a helpful reminder. He had underestimated the Succubus from the alley, letting his emotions get the better of him, it wouldn''t happen again.


    ¡°Now I see, it would have taken far more power then I possess to break you,¡± the demonic voice was muted, sounding weak next to his blinding presence. This demon was the essence of the one he had fought.


    Nyx shrugged stepping forward, and the beasts fiery eyes widened in fright as It scurried away from him. This was his domain, he was all-powerful here. ¡°Where are you going.¡± The words echoed, and his spirit materialized blocking the demon, power emanating out with blinding rays of light.


    The demon cowered. Nyx smiled, his grin maniacal. They would all pay. His ethereal finger lowered, and a ball of light condensed, his arm tingled with the power rushing through it. On contact, the demon shrieked in agony. Light traveled through the demon''s shadow, it disintegrated wherever touched, flaking away.


    Nyx let out a deep breath. The demon Chi was now his to control. Another person would have had their soul devoured, the demon scourge spreading. He had feared that the demonic energy would shred his weak body and was surprised how well he had taken to it, almost as if thirsting for it.


    Nyx pulled back the blanket. Once on his feet he began peeling off bandages, the ends clung to his skin before falling away, and he threw them in a bin near his bed. He moved to a mirror observing the changes. He was in his boxer briefs, and thin white scars covered his body, another memento. Light stubble adorned his face. He flexed muscles he had not had two days prior watching as they corded, lean and much denser than was visible. It was a remarkable improvement, but he had a long way to go.


    Nyx dashed, touching both of the room''s walls. He changed direction on a dime diving over one of the movable metal tables, finishing with a roll and back to his feet. The impurities remained, but he felt better although still slower than the demon, he needed Heavenly Chi.


    Nyx called the demonic Chi to his hands, black smoke rose, and they started to transform, one single claw formed on a finger. He let out a burst of demonic energy, it was a weak display.


    Smooth steps brought him to the tray of food - he was ravenous. He dunked a biscuit into a bowl of soup eating it in two bites. With intermittent gulps of water, he finished off the rest.

 Chapter Seven

    Even with her head covered, Adrian could feel the scorching heat of the desert. The windowless Jeeps large inflated tires, allowed it to traverse the dunes. For the most part, it was a pleasant, if hot, ride, but now and then the vehicle jolted as the engine revved and sand was kicked loose. She had received a call the previous day from her boss demanding she takes the first flight to Egypt. Something was happening with the pyramids. What? She didn¡¯t know, but it must have been important, or they wouldn¡¯t have rushed her out on such short notice.


    Putting up her hand to help block the glare reflecting off the sand, she could make out the shape of the pyramids of Giza. She had seen them before, but her curiosity still peaked at the majestic sight. A small group in the archeological field believed the gods themselves had built them.


    ¡°Almost there miss,¡± said her driver, pointing to a small camp of tents that had been erected near the Sphinx.


    The Jeep skidded to a stop once it reached the first tent where a man stood waiting. He wore a wide brim hat that threw shadows across a tanned and weathered face that sported a brown goatee speckled grey.


    Adrian jumped down and grabbed her gear from the back seat. The man waited patiently as she grabbed her things and hurried over to him. ¡°What¡¯s going on Dr. Stein, nobody has told me anything!¡±


    The brows on the professor''s weathered face creased as he pointed to a medium sized tent standing in the middle of the cluster. ¡°You will be staying there. Drop your bag off, then follow me. I''ll explain as we walk."


    The sweltering breeze ruffled the tent flaps around her as she tucked her belongings into a corner of her lodgings. She used the back of her hand, wiping away beads of sweat, then grabbed a drink of turbid water from the canister hanging from a strap on her shoulder.


    Rejoining Dr. Stein, she tried her best to hide her exhaustion as he looked her over. He took notice of the bags under her eyes then ignored it all in a single look. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, becoming visibly frustrated. Adrian remained quiet feeling a bead of sweat swell on her brow and roll down to her chin before he started speaking. "Two days ago, our instruments started going haywire. We scrambled to see what the problem was, but could not find any answers. Then, just yesterday, they blacked out completely, becoming unresponsive.¡±


    Adrian pursed her lips as her employer motioned for her to follow him, forcing her to hurry after. ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t rush me out here without notice just because some instruments went bad.¡±


    Their boots crunched through the sand, and after a short time, Adrian had to stop, hands resting on her knees as she panted. Dr. Stein didn¡¯t seem affected and walked at a quick pace ignoring her struggles waving her onward. ¡°This way, to the Sphinx.¡± She forced herself to follow. ¡°Now you wouldn¡¯t have heard about what I am going to show you. You are not to repeat anything you see or hear.¡±


    Adrian gulped, when had her throat gotten so dry? "Yes, you know me better than to have to ask." The only reason they would show it to her now would be because of her vast knowledge of Egyptian hieroglyphs.


    Dr. Stein nodded, ¡°Good, anyways I believe it is probably best for you to see for yourself.¡±


    They walked in silence, whatever was going on it must be severe. She had always been annoyed by her bosses¡¯ constant small talk, but today he had dispensed with it and was walking beside her in uncharacteristic silence. The sound of their boots slapping the stone at the entryway to the Sphinx was jarring after minutes of the soft grinding sound of their shoes in the sand.


    "This is one of the best-kept secrets," said Dr. Stein, leading her down stone steps at the side of the room.


    Adrian followed him, once again she couldn''t help but marvel at the age and perfection which these structures had been build. The glyphs on the walls drew her wonder, and she wished she could have been alive to see how all this had been created.


    A soft glow bathed the walls as they descended, the air growing considerably cooler. ¡°Why are you using torches to light the space instead of bulbs?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No electronics are working around here, you will see soon enough.¡±


    Their steps echoed as they continued. Finally, they reached the reclamation room, the lowest level beneath the Sphinx. It was empty.


    Adrian was about to say something, but Jason was already across the room. He stepped carefully with a foot pressing a stone while his hands felt along the wall. With a grunt of satisfaction, his fingers strained as he pushed forward and all three stones ground as they sunk into the surfaces.


    Adrian leaned against the wall for balance as the room began vibrating, and with the sound of grinding rocks, a passage opened. There was something to be said about secret places, at the sight of the door open it was as if the exhaustion that had been plaguing her disappeared.


    ¡°Quit standing there with your mouth open, hurry up,¡± said Dr. Stein as he grabbed a torch from a bracket on the wall and stepped forward into the darkness.


    Adrian pulled back her attention and followed. It took ten minutes before they reached another chamber, more extensive than the last, in fact, she thought this chamber could comfortably fit her two-story house inside it. Glyphs covered the walls, brought to visibility by the flickering torchlight. She was surprised when she realized that many of the symbols were new to her. Slowly she turned soaking in the sight till she completed a circle, then noticed a statue standing in the room¡¯s center. It had a pharos headdress in the style of a king cobra and beak of a bird, a depiction of the Egyptian god Ra. In the figures outstretched arms rested a sphere, so dark it seemed to suck in the light flickering around it.


    Dr. Stein snapped his fingers pulling Adrian¡¯s eyes to him. ¡°The reason I called you here is to translate those glyphs on the walls. We have a feeling they are the key to understanding what is happening.¡±


    Adrian found her eyes riveted to the stone. ¡°What is that?¡± she asked, voice filled with awe.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know, all I can tell you is similar stones have been identified across the globe at the sites of ancient ruins and pyramids.¡± He looked at his watch, ¡°Get yourself situated, then begin translating. In the largest tent at the back of our site is paper books and hopefully everything you will need. I will have someone bring you food while you are working. Time is of the essence.¡±


    <hr>


    The door to the medical room opened, barely making noise on its well-oiled hinges.


    "Thought I would come back to check on you,¡± said Gabe, his eyes widened when he took in the changes to Nyx¡¯s body and the white scars, ¡°seems you are doing just fine though, how are they healed?"


    Nyx shrugged, he didn¡¯t feel like elaborating.


    Seeing he wasn''t going to get an answer Gabe continued, "I wanted to apologize for Dan''s behavior, he is rash, and I''m sure, still dealing with the near-death experience."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Dan''s anger didn¡¯t trouble him, it was akin to a barking dog, and he sensed it was a show to hide insecurities; masking his fear with anger. Nyx changed the subject, "what does this place have to offer?"


    Gabe looked off to the side, a little sad, misinterpreting the abrupt change. Nyx could tell Gabe felt responsible for Dan''s outbursts; he was a genuine guy who wore his emotions on his sleeve. "What you didn¡¯t learn before is that we are part of a larger network. Most major cities have similar facilities. If you decide to join you would be privy to secrets, as well as resources to aid in your training."


    Nyx felt his interest peaked. "Can I see these resources?"


    He wouldn''t rely on this organization, it was on him to shape his own future. When it was time to move on they would not be able to stop him. He had his own goals.


    Gabe smiled, though Nyx felt there was something reserved in his expression. "Follow me, I''ll give you a tour. Your clothes and belongings are in your duffel bag under the bed."


    Nyx slipped on a comfy pair of joggers and tee-shirt along with his shoes. When he pushed open the medical room¡¯s door, light spilled out into the corridor illuminating a spacious hallway that appeared to have been built from stone and mortar. The door closed behind them with a click and their footsteps gradually fell in sync, the patter of their feet echoing off polished cobblestones in the wide corridor.


    Gabe gestured ahead. "This is one of the main hallways of the complex, most major areas branch off of here."


    Nyx dipped his head in acknowledgment. The dim yellow lighting, set back in the ceiling, was soothing after the sharp white fluorescent light in the medical room. The edges of the cobblestones were highlighted, shadows filling the depressions. It was almost as if they walked down a castle corridor as dark shapes danced in continuous movement as they passed under the lights.


    "Turn right up here, were almost there," said Gabe pointing at the entrance to a side tunnel. A girl wearing what looked to be a grey uniform with black stripes exited the hall. She looked Gabe up and down while somehow keeping her nose in the air, then huffed under her breath. Gabe muttered under his breath, ¡°good to see you too Stacy.¡±


    Nyx met the girls light brown eyes for a moment before she walked away from them down the hall. ¡°I take it you know her from somewhere.¡±


    ¡°You could say that. Around here everyone is split into teams that train together. Stacy is from another team, I asked her on a date¡­ and things¡­ went south you could say,¡± said Gabe, with a sheepish grin scratching his head. Gabe led Nyx onto the narrower passageway and almost immediately he felt a breeze wafting down the tunnel, tickling his skin. He focused ahead and was able to sense an abundance of air Chi.


    Gabe reached out with his hands brushing both walls of the tunnel. "Good thing it''s late, during the day these side passages can get tight."


    The tunnel opened into an empty room that Nyx felt could easily host fifty people. There were a series of holes in the stone walls through which gusted strong winds. The currents of air swirled, flowing with a concentration of the air element. A young man in grey uniform was kneeling on a pillow, eyes closed, straight hair blowing erratically behind him. He had a pin with the stylized white triangle on it, marking his element of air. Many more cushions were stacked beside the entrance. The boy''s dark brown eyes swept over them, pausing curiously on Nyx though he made no move to get up or talk to them.


    All around spiraled air Chi, glowing a light blue. This was the densest amount Nyx had seen so far on Earth. The intensity of the wind forced him to use his hands to keep his shirt down. Gabe waved for him to follow, and they backtracked out of the side passage. While walking through the maze of tunnels they encountered several other people Nyx assumed were students, too young to have been training for more than a handful of years. They arrived at another identically shaped room, but this one contained the fire element glowing red.


    It was familiar to him, fire had been his manifested element in the higher realm. Braziers stood around the edges of the room with flames flickering upward, lapping at the air, Nyx could feel the heat emanating in waves. On the metal of the braziers were carved tetrahedrons with intricate overlapping lines, the symbol of fire. At the room''s center was a pit with a bonfire crackling lively. The opening in the ceiling sucked smoke from the room, leaving behind the fresh aroma of a campfire tickling his nostrils. It was a pleasant smell that relaxed him in a way few things could.


    The room for water Chi had its walls covered in sheets of falling water splashing lively into a pool that circled the room¡¯s exterior. There were many students here, mostly women all with eyes closed. He could see how they drew the Chi from their surroundings into their pores then cycled it into their cores. He frowned, they did not refine the Chi as should be done, but he was not their instructor, so he ignored it.


    In the room containing the Earth element, they were greeted with the smell of fresh soil. This chamber was slightly larger than the others had been. Myriads of plants, trees, and flowers grew around a packed dirt path. Nyx breathed in the fragrant smells deeply, and tilted his head back, eyes drinking in the warm light shining high above through gaps in the ceiling.


    Gabe was watching him closely, then closed his own eyes and breath in the room¡¯s fragrant smells, ¡°this is my room, both Dan and I are learning to cultivate the Earth element.¡± He poked the pin on his chest; it depicted a brown square, the symbol for earth.


    Nyx raised an eyebrow. "What about the demonic? Is there a room for that?"


    Gabe regarded him for a long time, then shook his head slowly, "I wouldn¡¯t mention that idea around here, Demon Chi is forbidden."


    Nyx nodded not wanting to press the subject. At least the facility was located beneath a city. He didn¡¯t think finding demons would be troublesome.


    Gabe seemed reluctant to leave the cultivation room, and Nyx could see tension appear on his shoulders when they were back in the tunnels. As they walked around a few students waved to Gabe, but when they saw Nyx, they refrained from coming over. The two of them stopped in front of a large door made entirely of brushed steel. There was a slot at the side that looked like a keycard reader.


    "I''m not sure what''s inside this room, it is always locked as far as I can tell," said Gabe, his knuckle rapped on the door. A dull echo sounded off the thick metal.


    Nyx closed his eyes and reached out with his spirit. He could feel a barrier blocking him from sensing beyond the door. He hardened his will, searching for a gap. It felt like trying to force to magnets of the same polarity together. He still had his eyes closed when Gabe tapped him on the shoulder, and an angry voice shouted something. He ignored it, pushing his physical senses to the back of his mind as he focused in on a weak point. With a concentrated effort, he managed to punch through.


    Nyx''s eyes lit up. This was it! He could sense heavenly Chi on the other side just out of reach. It was very slight, but for the density he expected on Earth, it was impressive. He wondered why it would coalesce underground; usually, heavenly Qi only originated in places of pure tranquility.


    Nyx opened his eyes smiling and began processing the world through his physical senses again. A man in uniform was shouting at Gabe, the veins on his neck bulging out. The man was in his mid-twenties and had his chestnut colored hair tied up artfully in a man bun, though a few strands were currently swinging loose. He jabbed a finger angrily at Nyx. ¡°And who is this kid you are dragging around with you?¡±


    Gabe stood meekly, hands in his pockets as he looked at the floor. He snuck a hopeful glance at a girl in her late teens standing awkwardly behind the man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Benjamin, he is new and I was just showing him around.¡±


    Nyx¡¯s smile slowly disappeared, he walked over to the girl who shifted nervously brushing back a lock of blond hair and extended his hand. ¡°Hello, I am Nyx. As my friend Gabe said, I am new around here.¡± He winked suggestively.


    Almost like clockwork Benjamin lost interest in Gabe and turned, stepping between Nyx and the girl. ¡°She isn¡¯t interested buddy,¡± he growled, crossing his arms.


    Nyx shrugged acting nonchalant then squinted up at the guy. ¡°Hmm, she seems a little young for someone your age. What did you have to threaten her with so she would spend time with you?¡± he peeked around the student at the girl''s red face, ¡°If you want to be with someone your age just say the word.¡±


    Benjamin sputtered, ¡°I will say this once. This area is restricted, especially for someone fresh off the streets.¡± He shoved Nyx who stumbled back, away from the metal door. The girl gave Nyx a tentative smile as he waved one last time then turned walking away.


    He heard footsteps coming up behind him. ¡°What was that about,¡± said Gabe, ¡°you don¡¯t want to antagonize people, especially not on your first day here.¡±


    ¡°He asked for it. I just wanted to get away from there.¡±


    Gabe groaned, ¡°Benjamin is a top cadet, he can make your life difficult here.¡± he lowered his voice. ¡°and that was his little sister back there.¡±


    Nyx shrugged and tried to change the subject. ¡°That room¡­¡±


    Gabe interrupted him. "I know that look. Don''t bother. I asked Joshua about it, but he wouldn''t tell me a thing."

 Chapter Eight

    Back at the central passage, Gabe took up his role as guide again, leading Nyx further away from the infirmary. After the incident he seemed more reserved than usual, only speaking when he pointed out the various tunnels and where they led. After a few minutes of walking the path opened into a cavern the size of two football fields.


    On the left half were obstacle courses mimicking environments from cityscapes, along with ones standard to the military with barriers and crawlspaces. On the right side combat equipment and weapons filled racks with staffs, swords, halberds, maces, axes, and chain linked weapons of various kinds. Nyx had always been partial to the sword.


    Arranged in front of the weapon racks, further from the walls, were combat circles. Similarly to the obstacle courses, they emulated different environments with loose woodchips, tile, marble, sand or even ice. Larger circles contained miniature forests, small buildings, rocks or other objects to work around.


    Two students practiced inside a ring of polished tile flooring grunting as they strained against each other, their arms locked as they attemptedto outwrestle each other. They did not wear the grey uniforms he had seen earlier but had on tight fitting athletic gear. Beside a circle that imitated a jungle with trees and thick undergrowth, other cadets mirrored an instructors movements with jerky renditions. Nyx thought the plants must be imitations due to the waxy way the light reflected off their surfaces.


    Gabe gave Nyx some time to observe before tapping him and waving him to follow down a path through the cavern''s center.


    "Most of our time is spent in this central area, other than when we practice with our elements and cultivate. Over there, across the way is where we get our meals," said Gabe, pointing at a section with tables on the far end of the space.


    Nyx nodded taking in the sight of an enormous buffet covered in baskets of steaming food. Tables filled the area near the meal with clusters of people scattered around eating. A cadet wearing the grey uniform and an orange band on his arm replaced an empty basket with one filled with broccoli. Nyx had expected adversity would harden the students, but there was a levity to the place that belied the danger.


    ¡°On top of learning to cultivate Chi, we learn to fight. Every four years there is a tournament to gauge our levels before we are moved to a new location for training under new instruction. You are a bit of an anomaly, the rest of us all joined four years ago. The order, except for rare occasions, doesn¡¯t take new students in the middle of the four-year periods. Joshua made an exception for you.¡±


    Nyx stopped walking and looked Gabe in the eyes, "you have to promise me you won''t tell anyone about my healing, I am new here and don¡¯t want to stick out," Nyx decided it was time to leverage some guilt. He thought he could trust Gabe¡¯s word.


    Gabe threw his hands up. "Oh, so you are trying to stay low key. Couldn¡¯t have guessed that by how you acted with Benjamin.¡± Nyx glared, and Gabe smiled easily waving away his concern. ¡°Alright, I will talk to Dan as well. I can''t promise anything about him though."


    Nyx nodded, "thank you,"he said, walking forward again. ¡°Where do the students go after the four years?"


    Gabe shrugged, ¡°A different city, Joshua said it depends on the person.¡±


    After crossing the field, they walked around the circular dining tables. Many cadet''s eyes followed them as they passed the buffet into another passageway. Smaller tunnels branched off from theirs as they walked through.


    Gabe pointed down a medium sized passageway. "That one leads to the dorms." he scratched his neck, "I guess that''s what you would call them. Maybe more like mini apartments. If you decide to stay, Joshua said you would share a complex with Dan and me and the three others who also live with us. If you do stay, we could use you joining our team. Right now we are down a member, and with the tournament coming up we need all the help we can get."


    Nyx nodded but didn¡¯t say anything, doing his best tocommit the passage to memory. It looked almost identical to many of the others with rough stone blocks neatly fitted together making up the walls,with polished cobblestone flooring below. A brass plate with a picture of a bed etched into it was the only defining marker. He had been committing these markers to memory. After a couple of minutes, they took a side passage before stopping outside a dark stained oak door. Gabe lifted a brass knocker shaped like a raven before releasing it. A hollow sound rang out as it impacted the hard surface.


    "Come in!" Joshua''s loud voice came muffled from inside the room.


    The brass hinges on the oak door creaked as it opened, and they stepped inside. Joshua stood wearing a grey uniform with the symbol of a black raven embroidered onto the cuffs, no longer wearing the plain suit he had worn in the club.


    "How do you like the facilities?"


    Nyx looked around the room. A stack of papers stood on an ornate desk. A bookshelf housed neat rows of what appeared to be records. There was a small sofa in the corner with a glass coffee table in front. The place was military neat.


    "They seem great. I can¡¯t imagine the cost of building them." By Earth standards he was sure they were indeed the best money could buy.


    Joshua smiled, but his expression quickly became a frown as he moved to his desk and leafed through a stack of papers picking one out. "Gabe could you leave us please."


    Gabe looked questioningly at Nyx but nodded, stepping back from the room. "I''ll wait outside." He pulled the door shut.


    Joshua cleared his throat before addressing Nyx. ¡°I need to inform you of one more thing, I am hoping it will help you decide to stay here.¡± His grey speckled eyebrows scrunched together. ¡°Your father, I mean your real father, was integral to this academy. More importantly, he was my good friend. Although you wouldn¡¯t know this as it is top secret, he was a ranking member of our order.¡±


    He handed Nyx the piece of paper. Cruz Truitt was spelled in ornate letters across the top with his father''s picture taking up a third of the sheet. His Dad had light brown hair with the same intense blue eyes as Nyx. He was wearing the same grey uniform that Joshua had on now. It had been a very long time since he had seen a picture of his Dad. Nyx felt a longing tinged with bitterness at knowing he would never see that face in person again.


    "You have his eyes," said Joshua, then paused and looked away from him. "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but he didn''t die in a fire, a demon killed your parents. After their deaths, I watched you. I wanted to bring you in, but there were rules..." His voice trailed off, and Nyx thought he saw tears forming in Joshua''s eyes.


    Nyx¡¯s voice was a whisper, as he confronted old memories made fresh by his recent encounter with the Demon Chi. ¡°I know, I saw it all.¡±


    Joshua¡¯s eyes widened marginally. ¡°You mean to say you have witnessed the demon?¡±


    Nyx gave one quick nod.


    ¡°At such a young age you witnessed Aggoth, and still lived without your mind shattered? Most untrained men would have lost their sanity,¡± his voice lowered becoming an internal dialogue, ¡°that demon in the alley would be child¡¯s play...¡± he looked back up now addressing Nyx again, ¡°I just wanted to say you have a family here, even though you don¡¯t know it."


    Nyx¡¯s narrowed his eyes, becoming serious. Although he wanted to believe Joshua was an ally, actions spoke louder than words. Thoughts of his parent¡¯s deaths, no matter how long ago it had taken place, still brought a rage bubbling to the surface. He pushed it back down, easy to do now that the demon Chi was under his control. "I have some requests."


    Joshua ran a hand through his hair, straitening an errant strand, then moved to the desk reorganizing the papers, "Alright I''m listening, I will help if I can."


    "If I am going to stay, and if you were a friend to my father, I need unrestricted access to the city above as well as to the locked room housing heavenly Chi."


    Joshua''s mouth dropped open, but he quickly closed it. He moved over to the couch, and with a sigh sat down. Nyx remained where he was standing.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°How do you know about that room and speculate as to what is inside? Heavenly Chi is reserved for instructors and promising cadets, given only to those that earn the privilege.¡±


    Nyx just continued to stare without responding. He found that silence often worked better than any method of questioning as they naturally wanted to fill that awkward moment divulging more than intended.


    They both waited for a minute before Joshua finally spoke, "I don''t know what you are aware of, so I will fill you in. All the different kinds of Chi exist on a spectrum of frequency. Demonic Chi, as I am sure you could guess, is at the lowest, nobody in their right mind would attempt to cultivate it. When demonic energy takes over a vessel, it destroys the soul, corrupting the energy of the core. Heavenly Chi is of the highest frequency, it is pure and sharing. Unlike demonic, it can be mixed with other elements without corruption. We use it here specifically to help break through the levels of our cultivation, to help refine the Chi. While demonic energy would destroy the person who tried to cultivate it, heavenly Chi can greatly refine an Elementalist''s cultivation base."


    Nyx remained standing, "Elementalist?" He was not familiar with the term.


    "I assumed you would know since you seem to be full of secrets."


    "My father never taught me that much," said Nyx, it was a white lie but would dissuade questions.


    "He shouldn¡¯t have done that," Joshua''s frown lines grew pronounced.


    "What does it matter, he''s dead."


    Joshua strengthened a pant leg not meeting Nyx¡¯s stare. "I apologize," he sighed, "I''ll see what I can do to get you access, no promises though. Anyways, an Elementalist is another term for Cultivator, someone who refines their element, taking the energy into their core. A person who cultivates only one aspect is much stronger than someone who mixes energies. A person who blends Chi, unless corrected early on will never manifest an element. What makes heavenly Chi so valuable is that it can be mixed without detriment to your primary element. It is much more complicated than that, but I am sure your instructors will go more in depth.


    Joshua paused for effect eyes holding Nyx¡¯s as though trying to get across an important message. "Some people who either learned to cultivate on their own or do not have proper training might draw on multiple types of Chi. The more types of Chi, the weaker the Elementalist becomes. These people are referred to as mutts." He raised an eyebrow. "What are you?"


    "I''m a mutt," Nyx didn''t hesitate, it would be a reasonable explanation to avoid questions. He had learned to keep his secrets close, the fewer people who knew, the better.


    Joshua shook his head sadly and reached into his desk drawer pulling out a small object. "Your father did you a disservice."


    Nyx shrugged keeping his face neutral.


    ¡°Here, this is for you.¡±


    Nyx accepted the pin and turned it around in his fingers. It depicted a mash of muted colors and shapes that he guessed would mark him as a Mutt. He pinned it to his chest, it could be a useful tool to avoid questions.


    Nyx checked the shroud he had placed around his core and was pleased to see it was still in place. Thanks to his highly developed soul others, unless incredibly talented, would not be able to peek at the demonic energy in his core.


    Heavenly Chi, when merged with elemental Chi, would help to purify and strengthen that specific energy type. But when Demonic and heavenly were forced to join, they should create something new. Nyx wasn''t aware of it ever being done and could only guess at the outcome. His reasoned it would create something elastic that could morph, becoming the type of Chi he desired. He needed the power and had no choice but it try merging them.


    "We should be all set then. I will let you know when I have an answer to your requests. As for leaving the facility, usually it is a no-go, but I can make an exception. Getting access to use the heavenly room is more difficult." Joshua handed him a plastic card with a raven embossed on the front. ¡°Here is your key card, it will give you access to the surface along with your room door."


    Nyx paused with his hand on the doorknob. ¡°Gabe offered me to join his team. Apparently, they have an open spot.¡±


    Joshua laughed, not the kindhearted, full-bellied laugh Nyx had expected from him, but a cold-hearted chuckle. ¡°Why do you think I chose those brothers to be away from training to monitor you? No. they are a lost cause, useless. After you meet with the council tomorrow morning, we will find you a team on which you can thrive. I owe your father that much at least.¡±


    Nyx hid his frown till he had shut the office door behind him. He agreed that being grouped with the best cadets would help him excel, but he couldn¡¯t deny he felt solidarity to the brothers. They had been welcoming to him, and even Dan had a raw honesty that he appreciated.


    Gabe, who was leaning on the wall outside jumped when the door opened, then shook his head laughing at his reaction, "done already? What did you decide?" he looked hopefully at the keycard.


    Nyx shrugged, "will see soon I guess."


    Gabe didn¡¯t seem dejected, "let''s go get your stuff and set you up in the living quarters. I''m sure you will like it here."


    <hr>


    "What''s that shouting?" Asked Nyx.


    Loud voices were coming from the room in front of them, they had grabbed Nyx''s things and were now in the dormitory section of the academy. Nyx tested his access card swiping it across the card sensor by the door. With a click, it unlocked. Gabe held it open for him, making space so he could bring his luggage inside.


    A blond-haired young man turned towards Nyx face set in a scowl. He was attempting to grow a goatee that Nyx thought made him look like a goat. He had one of those arrogant faces that Nyx took an instant disliking too.


    "Oh, so you''re the one who almost died ''facing down a demon.'' A pretty stupid thing to do if you ask me."


    Somehow, he was involved with their argument.


    Dan looked the blond lad up and down, fuming. ¡°Sure Matt, I¡¯d like to see you so much as look at a demon,¡± He spat to the side, ¡°I bet you¡¯d piss your pants.¡±


    Matt scoffed attention turning back to Dan, ¡°And die? Like your parents? At least my parents are still alive,¡± the glint in his eyes betrayed his intentions, he wanted to cut deep.


    A girl sat on the living areas couch, beet red from embarrassment. She was a slight with brown hair, "what the hell is wrong with you Matt!" She yelled.


    Dan balled his fists and strode toward the blond boy, Chi strengthening his arm. Nyx could tell he was still in the Basic stage of cultivation so could not manifest an element and could only use his unrefined Chi to strengthen himself by cycling it through his body. Once he broke through to the Shaping stage, he would begin to manifest his earth element. Everyone manifested their element differently.


    Matt was faster than Dan, his movements more refined as he ducked under the swing.


    Nyx sighed, someone was going to get hurt, and he didn¡¯t want to deal with that trouble. Nyx shoved Dan backward, out of the way of an uppercut then swiveled, aligning his hips parallel to Matts frame. Before Matt could strengthen himself, Nyx gripped a handful of his uniform jacket and tucked his head, jerking forward while dropping to his knees. Matt''s body flung through the air and slammed onto the floor in front, the breath whooshing from his lungs. Nyx marveled at the strengthening the Demon Chi had wrought, he had not intended to throw him so forcefully.


    Nyx patted Matt on the chest as he struggled to breathe, "you done?"


    Once catching his breath, Matt sat up and looked at Nyx for a long while eyes narrowed, he inhaled deeply, "guess I deserved that," he said then looked over at Dan, "I didn¡¯t mean it."


    Dan glowered back, with his arms crossed. Other than Nyx he was the only one not wearing a uniform. "It''s your turn to do the dishes," his eyes narrowed at Nyx, ¡°I didn¡¯t need your help.¡±


    Gabe was frowning where he stood to the side, "well that¡¯s one way to meet your new roommates. That¡¯s Matt, and Marisa is on the couch. Don¡¯t worry this is actually pretty common. I swear they are always fighting about something."


    Nyx had a new understanding of Gabe and Dan, their parents, like his, had died at the hands of demons. A fight about doing the dishes, Nyx shook his head at the stupidity of it.


    Matt placed a hand on the ground for balance getting to his feet. He looked Nyx up and down, "you''re stronger than you look, some point you will have to teach me that throw," He paused, then making a decision he stuck out his hand. "Matt, nice to meet you. Might have heard a thing or two about you before." He winked over at Dan.


    Dan remained stoic, his hawk-like features pinched as the muscles in his cheek flexed. Nyx found he sympathized with Dan. If someone had said those words to him back before he left Earth, he would have tried his damnedest to beat them to a pulp.


    Nyx took the extended hand wearily. He didn''t know Matt well, he might hold a grudge against him for the throw. Shaking hands, Matt then reached across trying to place his arm around Nyx''s shoulders. Nyx slipped underneath; they weren''t that chummy. Matt''s arm hung in the air for a second before he let it drop back to his side. Slightly dejected he moved to the kitchen pulling open the washer - dished clinked.


    Marisa reached her hand out leaning forward on the sofa, "Nice to meet you, Nyx."


    Nyx shook her hand noting how small it felt in his.


    "Alright enough of that, don¡¯t get too comfortable with my girlfriend," Matt called from the small kitchen, "you still have to meet Garry."


    Gabe led him to a hallway with six doors built into wooden walls. The apartments reminded Nyx of a well-furnished bunker. Gabe knocked once then pushed open the second door to the left not waiting for a reply. In a chair facing a computer sat a boy with wavy red hair, he wore glasses that were too wide for his skinny freckled face. He turned towards them starring but remained silent.


    "Nyx this is Garry, Garry Nyx," said Gabe, introducing them.


    Nyx reached out his hand, Garry blinked. "Oh, I''m Garry." He stood up too fast banging his knee on the lip of his desk he winced. "You were just told that..." Finally, he took Nyx''s hand and shook, quickly letting go.


    "Nice to meet you," said Nyx into the awkward silence.


    "Ok!" Gabe clapped his hands leading Nyx back into the hall, ¡°let''s get you moved into your room now that you met the team."


    His room was at the end of the hall, the inside was small with a simple bed, nightstand, and dresser all made from sturdy pain wood. A door opened to a bathroom on the left. He unzipped his suitcase putting away his clothes. Nyx couldn''t help but feel an odd kinship with Dan and Gabe now that he knew they shared a pain familiar to him, one caused by demons. If they were anything like him, they would share his wrath as well.

 Chapter Nine

    Five figured with hoods drawn close, leaving their faces in shadow, stopped at the edge of a drop-off. Their cloaks flapped in the frigid wind speckled with white, gazes drawn toward the enormous crater in front of them. The air was thick with swirling energy mixing in with the dancing snowflakes fluttering in the wind. A seemingly middle-aged man pulled back his cowl revealing grey hair, he stooped down grabbing a chunk of burnt flesh ¨C it had long since frozen solid. He dropped it back into the snow and walked forward with the smooth steps of a dancer to peer over the lip of the depression. Pieces of jagged rock, capped with snow, dotted the slope. An ancient temple had once stood there but had been torn apart by an explosion.


    The figures swept forward with unnatural grace. Their eyes widened at the destruction and hesitantly watched their leader beside them. His teeth were bared, black eyes pits filled with rage. The crystal had been utterly destroyed. Two bodies lay still where they had been placed in the snow nearby. Black metal shackles covered in runes blocked them from accessing their Chi.


    "Does he know?" asked the woman standing at his left shoulder as she pulled back her hood. She had long blond hair, currently tied in a bun. Her face was young, but her eyes held wisdom that only came with having lived many lifetimes.


    "Impossible," he muttered, voice low and dangerous. "We must find another."


    He stooped down, a silver ring in the shape of a raven glinted on his index finger as he pinched a shard of black crystal from the snow. Even such a small sliver seemed to suck at the light; it was all that remained of the artifact. His rage deepened, and a shadow moved across the sun. He couldn¡¯t afford for this to go wrong, too much planning had gone into it.


    <hr>


    Nyx yawned deeply as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. Gabe, who had graciously woken him up for his early meeting with the council, led him through a series of tunnels that he noted were near Joshua¡¯s office. Soon they came to a stop and Gabe rapped his knuckle on a pair of arched wooden doors, easily twice his height ¨C the noise echoed hollowly with the sound of aged oak.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± he said, giving Nyx a supportive pat on the back before covering his own mouth to yawn. ¡°Meet you at the mess for breakfast.¡±


    Nyx waited for a short while and was about to knock again when the doors creaked open though nobody was on the other side. He could sense bands of air Chi manipulated by someone in the room. So they wanted to impress him, he hid a smile ¨C unfortunately it wouldn¡¯t work on him.


    ¡°Welcome, Nyx. Please come forward,¡± called Joshua from the room, with the tenor of a natural speaker.


    Nyx walked into the dimly lit space, stopping on a spiraling circle of tile where a light above shone more brightly. Five tables rose in front of him on a tiered strip of floor, behind which five people stared down at him. He felt that the austerity of the room and stern looks were meant to unnerve him ¨C this time he let himself smile.


    ¡°Cocky brat. Just like his father,¡± coughed a bear of a man into his hand. He had neatly trimmed blond hair and looked to be in his forties, though guessing a cultivator¡¯s age was a tricky task. Nyx took an instant dislike to him and returned a stare that would make most people feel as small and insignificant as an insect.


    ¡°We talked about this. Civility Gregor,¡± admonished Joshua, raising an eyebrow at the blond man who grunted in response. Joshua looked down at Nyx once again from his table in the center of the five. ¡°Well, you have met our Master of arms Gregor, don¡¯t take his remarks personally, he is somewhat known for his temper. Ever a source of motivation for the cadets.¡±


    Joshua then introduced Nyx to the other council members. There was Trudy, the Master of Tomes, a senior woman with white hair who smiled politely down with watery eyes. She was in charge of the archives taught array patterns. Flint, the Master of Air, was a wisp of a man with a patchy steel grey beard and thinning hair. He winked when Joshua introduced him. The last introduced was Tims, Master of Water, and youngest member of the council. He had the build of an athlete, tanned skin with curly toffee-colored hair. He seemed decidedly uncomfortable, watching the other council members, especially Gregor, for cues as to how he should act. Nyx almost wanted to laugh when the man attempted to adopt Gregor''s glare.


    Each of the council members specialized in a different element: Tims water, Joshua fire, Gregor earth, and Flint air. He wasn¡¯t sure what Trudy¡¯s element was, but he was informed she was in charge of Array patterns.


    ¡°This is a fairly straightforward matter,¡± said Joshua, ¡°As chancellor, I have made the executive decision to have you adopted into the Order early. It was impossible to induct you as a current student, but I was able to find a loophole in the commons. It is not unprecedented that a Cadet be accepted shortly before their four-year cycle would begin.¡±


    Joshua gazed down at Nyx, stroking his chin. ¡°I have given it some thought. If you join the team I choose, it will be a simple matter for you to gain access to heavenly Chi.¡±


    At mention of the Chi, Gregor immediately began whispering in an angry tone to Tims beside him. The way they glanced at Nyx told him they were not happy with his knowledge of the subject. Gregor cleared his throat looking at Joshua. ¡°What are you doing chancellor? He is just a pup, most definitely isn¡¯t worthy of the heavenly Chi, let alone joining my son''s team. I object. As a mutt, let alone late joining so late in the cycle, he belongs with the talentless.¡±


    Nyx almost wanted to accept Joshua¡¯s offer just to wipe the smug look off that man¡¯s face. He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t. I owe the brothers and will not abandon them.¡±


    Loyalty is an admirable trait,¡± said Joshua, his eyes glassing over in memory for a moment before clearing. ¡°But it can only get you so far.¡±


    ¡°No, in this I think you are wrong. I have made my decision and plan on joining Dan and Gabe¡¯s team.¡±


    Joshua nodded and seemed to have aged, his voice was cold. ¡°You have just made getting access to heavenly Chi much more difficult. Since you are on Dan and Gabe¡¯s team, I expect you to join them for class with Master Trudy.¡± He waved his hand indicating the senior woman with curly white hair. ¡°You are dismissed.¡±


    The atmosphere became oppressive with a sense of foreboding. Even Flint was glaring down at him, somehow seeming sad. As he left the room, only the Arms Master was grinning darkly. Nyx felt an urge to smack the smile from his face, but settled for lightly slamming the arched doors behind him.


    <hr>


    Nyx''s stomach grumbled, still digesting his breakfast. The aftertaste of runny eggs and hash browns from the buffet had him licking the inside of his teeth to clean them. After grabbing a quick breakfast, he had rushed to his first ¡®class¡¯ in which he had been sitting at the back quietly while the other cadets took notes. The elderly woman from the council was the instructor. The room was all white, but unlike the harsh fluorescent light in the medical office, this room contained a calming Zen-like feel.


    Trudy¡¯s wrinkled hand pointed to a pattern she had drawn on a whiteboard that the cadets in the class had been working to memorize. It was a simple pattern that the students should be able to visualize on a three-dimensional plane.


    Trudy bustled to the various tables taking glances at the students¡¯ progress. She nodded to herself and returned to the front. "Array patterns are different than cultivating. It takes an agile mind to hold the pattern in the Aether. Formation arrays manipulate the natural Chi in an environment but are dependent on the kinds available."


    Dan, sitting to Nyx¡¯s left, was doodling with a pencil on his pad of paper. He had only taken notes for about five minutes before giving up and losing interest. Trudy paused in her lecturing and hobbled forward bopping Dan on his head. Dan jumped in his seat then rubbed his head, drawing a few giggles. He glared at the council woman¡¯s back making faces but continued his doodling.


    ¡°As I was saying, I want you to focus on nothing, no attachment." She looked around for emphasis. "Separate your consciousness, your soul, from your body. To create an array pattern, your soul must enter the Aether. Focus on the pattern you have memorized. Good. Now map it out, feed it with your soul¡¯s strength.¡±


    Nyx had managed to find that nothingness, to separate his soul long ago when he left Earth the first time. In the higher realms, he had taken it a step further. Only true masters could keep a link to their bodies while mapping patterns in the Aether.


    Chi began to move inside the room, shaping into balls of energy. A weak pattern. Garry was much better at this than the others, a natural. The others struggled to hold the formation and keep the natural Chi together.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    The teacher''s eyes narrowed as she looked at Nyx, he had been asked to sit out and observe, "Never attempt this without instruction, one mistake with the array, and it could have dire consequences, your soul could fracture. As your core strengthens, you will learn to create complex arrays. The more complex, the longer it takes to draw the necessary Chi."


    Perspiration covered the faces in the room and one by one they released their arrays. Nyx sat observing; he did not need to practice.


    "That¡¯s all for today.¡±


    The class filled with the sound of chatter and ruffling paper as students stashed their belongings in bags and headed from the classroom. Dan who had slipped into the class late, hair a mess, now lit a cigarette and popped his feet on a desk clearly in no hurry. Nyx followed Gabe and Garry through the tunnels making for the central cavern and their next lesson.


    When Nyx stepped out from under the tunnel, it took a moment to get oriented. The air was hot and muggy, filled with the sound of wooden weapons thumping together. On the right side of the central cavern young men and a scattering of women in uniform trained under instruction. The musky smell of sweat permeated the air even though vents kept it cycling out. Dan and Nyx were among the few students out of uniform. Joshua had sent him a few pairs of the grey clothing the previous night, but he opted against wearing them. Cadets eyed him, probably wondering who the new kid was, but once they saw the pin identifying him as a mutt, they seemed to lose interest. He scratched his chest where it rubbed uncomfortably clipped to his shirt.


    It was only a short while later that Dan walked into the cavern and had a whispered conversation with Gabe. Grinning as he strode over to Nyx and gave him a hearty slap on the back. ¡°Welcome to the team. I bet Gabe you were going to ditch us, guess I owe him twenty dollars now no thanks to you.¡±


    Nyx smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my goal to disappoint. So who is our team leader?¡±


    ¡°That would be me,¡± said Gabe puffing out his chest in a show of mock importance.


    Matt had his arm around Marisa as he joined them. He used his free hand to push back a lock of blond hair and rolled his eyes at Gabe¡¯s impression. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, you¡¯re only lead thanks to my laziness.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s him who has a problem with cockiness,¡± said Marisa pushing of his arm and playfully punching him in the chest.


    Nyx looked around at the groups of students spread through the vast space. He noticed they were organized in units of six practicing forms as instructors marked by bands of green, walked around helping here and there. The rest waited by an angry looking Gregor.


    In Nyx¡¯s experience, there was a balance between learning correct technique and combat experience. Combat was by far the most valuable. Nyx had learned techniques and how to implement them in real situations, against diverse body types and strengths.


    Nyx felt a sense of foreboding as he watched Benjamin, his hair tied back with a cord, and a tall man with short tawny blond hair walk towards him. They were laughing and seemed to be in a good mood. Nyx stiffened when Benjamin grabbed him by the shoulders in the manner of greeting an old friend. ¡°Nyx! Good to see you again.¡±


    Nyx frowned in confusion pushing himself free of the embrace. The hands tightened enough to leave a bruise before he was free, but Benjamin showed no sign, expression remaining pleasant.


    The blond man gazed around at the different members of Nyx¡¯s team before seeing Matt. ¡°Matt!¡± he said, and Nyx almost believed they must be old friends. ¡°Come talk with us for a moment! I have some information that might interest you.¡±


    Matt Shrugged acting nonchalant as he followed them a short distance away. As much as he tried to hide it, the added pep to Matt¡¯s steps and his unusually straight posture gave away how he felt from their attention.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± asked Nyx.


    Gabe was frowning. He had been with Nyx the last time they met Benjamin. ¡°The blond one is Dean, the Master of Arms boy. You know Benjamin.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s he know Benjamin?¡± asked Dan.


    Nyx continued to watch Matt while Gabe told his brother what had happened. At first, Matt seemed jovial, a smile plastered on his face, but as their conversation continued he smiled less and less and soon was gritting his teeth in anger. Benjamin looked Nyx¡¯s way and winked then walked off with Dean back to where Gregor was waiting. Matt practically stomped his way back to their group.


    ¡°What did they want?¡± asked Gabe.


    Matt ignored him going right up to Nyx and shoving him in the chest. The only reason Nyx managed to keep his feet was from years of training as he rolled with the push and lowered into a fighting stance, ¡°What the hell was that for?¡±


    ¡°Think you are better than us do you, been telling everyone that our team is garbage? Lying and telling everyone you got accepted into the top team? Without that lucky toss, you would have been the one on your back yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Stop, obviously they were lying to you,¡± said Gabe, but Matt didn¡¯t pay him any mind.


    Nyx was tempted to try reasoning with him, but if there was one thing he hated, it was blaming luck for a failure. Nyx narrowed his eyes. ¡°Luck? Luck never comes into it. Every action leads toward an outcome. ''Luck'' was created by those who run from challenges. What are you?¡±


    Matt suddenly went eerily calm and walked over to a thick wooden rack and grabbed a practice sword. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you believe that when you are bruised and bloody.¡±


    On seeing the conflict, three groups of six paused their training and turned to watch. There was a glint in Matt''s eyes now that a small crowd had gathered. Dan folded his arms stepping back along with the Gabe, Garry, and Marisa.


    Nyx shrugged, grabbing a practice sword of his own. He spun the weapon in his hand ¨C it was a poorly balanced thing. The handle was rough with splinters and nicks dotting the would-be blade. Nyx let all the tension out of his muscles.


    His keen hearing picked up someone whisper, their voice filled with disgust, ¡°Look, the new guy is a Mutt.¡±


    ¡°Why would they accept a Mutt so late?¡±


    Opinions were like reeds; they swayed with the changing of the wind. Nyx was centered but didn''t bring his sword to bear, holding it down by his side. Matt circled him and began probing with strikes, searching for weakness. Nyx swayed with the incoming attacks avoiding them easily. Matt, getting frustrated increased the tempo. Nyx was a shadow; no swing was even close, his movement was unpredictable, footwork masterful. Years of practice and constant battles had honed his abilities.


    Matt might have some talent, but it was rough and un-honed. There were telegraphs to his movement. Gregor stood nearby with Dean and Benjamin, his thick arms crossed, bulging with muscle. He had been instructing but stopped to watch seeing the students he was mentoring distracted. Blinded by ego Matt could not sense the gap between them. The people around began to murmur, growing bored with the lack of action.


    Giving no indication of intent, Nyx slipped a thrust. He snapped out his sword aiming for the base of Matt''s ''blade.'' With a crack of wood on wood, the sword flew from Matt''s hand, landing with a thud on the ground.


    Matt¡¯s eyes glinted dangerously, blond hair matted with sweat as he cursed his luck under his breath.


    Nyx shook his head, Matt was too proud, believing he couldn¡¯t lose for any other reason. Nyx hated when people refused to face reality. He knew it was petty, but he wanted to force Matt to face his flaws.


    "When this is over you will accept that I am right. There is no ¡®luck.''"


    Matt didn¡¯t respond as he retrieved his sword, frown deepening.


    Nyx watched the Chi spread through Matt¡¯s body as he enforced himself, increasing his speed and strength drastically. Matt came in full force, his sword stirring the air as he relentlessly pursued Nyx around the circle. Nyx stayed relaxed, tensing up would slow him, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up without using Chi of his own.


    After a short time, Matt¡¯s movements became erratic; his eyes narrowed with visible frustration. Nyx waited, deflecting the strikes he wasn''t fast enough to dodge. Matt overextended with a thrust and Nyx slipped past the sword, hooking Matt''s foot with his own, pulling him off balance. Matt wobbled then did a quick juggling with his feet to find his center of gravity again.


    "That is enough!" Joshua''s voice boomed interrupting the fight.


    Nyx stopped moving and used his sword to tap Matt''s kidney, just as he found his balance. He Leaned forward whispering in Matt¡¯s ear, "you make your own luck," then stepped away, ready to re-engage if Matt continued his assault. Before Matt could do anything more, Joshua had covered the distance coming between them. The onlookers slowly began chattering again, turning back to their practice now that the excitement was over. He noticed two people give him a nod of new respect. He ignored all of it.¡±


    The rest of the practice Joshua watched his group. Nyx made a concerted effort to keep his skill hidden, not wanting to cause any more ripples. Everyone trained in relative silence, but Nyx was glad when he had a quiet conversation with Gabe and Dan and was able to explain it was all lies. If Gabe hadn''t been there during his first encounter with Benjamin, Nyx didn''t think they would have believed him.


    <hr>


    Nyx wolfed down his dinner, he had heaped tons of sweet potato, steamed broccoli, and chicken thighs onto his plate from the buffet. Matt was sitting across from him with Marisa who was trying to make small talk. Matt didn¡¯t seem interested and just focused on his meal, giving Nyx the evil eye whenever their gazes crossed. Nyx had tried to apologize and mend the rift between them, but Matt had just grunted notcomittally. Dan assured him it would pass, saying he had ample experience on this matter.


    They had showered and cleaned up, Nyx and Dan again the only ones still out of uniform. He had no plans to become beholden to an organization after what he had seen in the higher realm. Around them Nyx listened to the conversations of the cadets eating at the various tables spread through the dining space; the main topic of discussion seemed to be focused around the upcoming tournament.


    ¡°So, what is the purpose of this tournament that everyone is talking about?¡± asked Nyx interrupting the conversations at the table.


    Gabe waited for a moment but when nobody else tried to explain he took it on himself. ¡°It¡¯s a big deal, happens once every four years. The competing teams are promoted from this facility to begin their training at a higher level. The event in this cavern, an array pattern that collects natural Chi over the four-year intermission creates the environment in which we will all compete.¡±


    Nyx knew it would take many years to create a potent array on earth with the scarce Chi available. It would take a powerful cultivator or object to create the kind of array Gabe spoke.


    ¡°So where will the participants go after?¡±


    Dan was halfheartedly picking at the food spread across his plate his gold chain locket swaying around his neck. ¡°Think they would tell us? All they say is we will be moved to other cities for further training. The winners get special forms of condensed energy too boost their cultivation, and a select few stay behind becoming instructors for the next Cycle.¡±


    Nyx nodded and went back to listening to the buzz of surrounding conversations.

 Chapter Ten

    The following day started early, before the sun rose, not that anyone could tell underground. Joshuaran Nyx through obstacle courses, clocking his time and marking down scores on a sheet of paper. He seemed to take delight in testing him with weaponry and seemed pleased, praising Nyx¡¯s father on teaching him well. Nyx pretended to be thrilled by the praise, but further limited himself. He didn''t want any extra scrutiny. He was disappointed that Joshua made no mention of the heavenly Chi room, and when asked quickly changed the subject.


    On the second day, Nyx continued to go through the training that the academy vaunted. Array patterns in the morning, then combat practice with Gregor and his instructors who remained keen on ignoring Nyx and his team. Matt seemed less standoffish during the training but still refused to speak.


    Nyx gave pointers here and there when he didn¡¯t think it would bruise an ego. He didn¡¯t see Dean and Benjamin at the practice and learned they were on a different schedule reserved for ranking teams. That eveninghe pretended to cultivate and learn to cycle his Chi.


    He had some time to kill before his the evening sparring and decided he would ask Joshua about the Chi again. The man had become a ghost.


    Nyx banged on the office door for the fifth time, the brass knocker ringing out with a dull thud in the silence of the hallway.


    ¡°Hello Nyx, still looking for Joshua?¡± came a deep silky soft voice from behind him.


    Nyx was too startled to react. It had been a long time since anyone had snuck up on him. He turned to see it was the old man Flint, master of Air. He was scarecrow thin, his hair and beard appearing even more sparse under the yellow lighting in the passage. His silvery hair stuck up at all angles, and he wore a uniform at least one size too big for him, though he didn¡¯t seem the least bit bothered.


    Nyx Composed himself, running his fingers through his hair playing the innocent student. ¡°Yes, I need his help with something. You don¡¯t know where he is by any chance do you?¡±


    Flint squinted up at Nyx with milky eyes. ¡°Do you play Go by any chance? I need an opponent.¡±


    Nyx didn¡¯t miss the fact that his question had been ignored. He racked his brain but couldn¡¯t remember a game on Earth by that name. ¡°Do you mean monopoly?¡±


    ¡°No, my boy,¡± said Flint with a chuckle, ¡°come with me I will teach you, maybe one day you will become a challenge. Give an old man some entertainment for a while. What do you say?¡±


    Contrary to Flint''s haggard appearance, he kept his office tidy. He had a well made if plain desk, and in the sitting area were two plush armchairs faced a table with a game board built into it.


    Flint took a seat rubbing his hands together in excitement with the vigor of someone half his age. ¡°This is Go.¡± He said indicating the board and piles of small black and white oblate spheroid game pieces that rested in depressions on either side. ¡°Those game pieces are called stones. Go is the oldest game this world still plays for a reason. It is simple but, in many ways, more challenging to master than chess.¡±


    Nyx realized he knew the game, but never played himself. He said as much to Flint who readily filled him in on the rules. True to his word, the game was simple, but after losing handily, Nyx learned its simplicity belied a much more sophisticated stratagem. Nyx found he enjoyed the game and agreed to play a second.


    ¡°Master Flint, could you tell me where Joshua is?¡± asked Nyx breaking a moment of contemplative silence.


    Flint didn¡¯t look up from the board as he placed a black piece. ¡°Desperate for the heavenly Chi I see. Wonder what use a Mutt has for Chi of that nature?¡±


    Nyx watched the board looking for the trap he knew Flint was setting. ¡°It is a personal matter. I hope you understand.¡±


    Flint looked at Nyx tilting his head and waved a hand over the game board. ¡°Imagine you have placed a stone that is destined to become a sacrifice in the greater scheme of the game. Would you waste unnecessary resources to protect it?¡±


    Nyx shrugged. ¡°That depends on if it will further pull my opponent into the trap.¡±


    ¡°Assume it will not, what would you do with that piece?¡±


    Nyx scratched his head. ¡°I guess I would cut it loose¡­ Wait, are you saying I have been cut loose?¡±


    ¡°No of course not,¡± said Flint, after pausing just a little too long. ¡°Are you a mindless piece on a Go board, moved at another¡¯s whim?¡± he sighed wistfully. ¡°Life, now that is the ultimate game. Every piece being moved and moving of its own accord. The true masters can see these pieces and move them, almost as if they were actually sitting lifeless on a board.¡±


    Nyx narrowed his eyes. ¡°So, whose game are you playing?¡±


    ¡°Now, that is the right question, but you should also know, no real player ever reveals his hand; in the end, we are all players in the greatest game, the game of life, whether we like it or not.¡± He placed a piece on the board between them and reached out his bony hand to shake Nyx¡¯s. ¡°You played well for your first time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± He still had several white pieces left on the board.


    Flint didn¡¯t argue and placed two of his black stones conclusively showing how Nyx had forfeited position, allowing his pieces to be surrounded with his last move. He ushered Nyx from the room.


    ¡°Please feel free to come by and play again sometime,¡± said Flint, his neck peeking out of the crack in his partially closed door like some strange turtle. Nyx was about to thank him, but he had already retracted his head and shut the door. Now alone in the discomforting quiet of the tunnels, Nyx wandered through the passages and couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much of Flint''s eccentricity was an act. If Joshua really intended to deny him access to the Chi he had to find another way in.


    Nyx realized he must have been walking for a long time when he saw the stone pillars in the shape of a man and woman reading open books up ahead. The carvings created the entryway to the Tomes. Inside was a vast space filled with books on cultivating, array patterns, and cycling techniques. He checked the time and realized he was late for evening sword practice. He groaned then jogged off not wanting to give Gregor an excuse to criticize him.


    <hr>


    When Nyx arrived for the practice, the first thing he noticed was Joshua talking with Gregor as they observed the training cadets. Nyx was about to go over to him when he decided it wouldn¡¯t be a good idea to do it with Gregor around.


    The instructors had them sparring that day. Nyx paired off against Matt first. They had a tentative match, Nyx wasn¡¯t sure how Matt would react if he lost so limited himself more than usual. Matt seemed to sense this and would try to lull Nyx into complacency, then catch him off guard with a mighty blow. It kept him on his toes, not giving him a chance to let his mind wander as he did with the others.


    When he was up against Dan, they went at it with a vengeance. Well Dan did, it was one of the few places that he thrived. In classes with cultivating or array patterns Dan seemed to tune out, but when training, especially sparring, he would fight with his all.


    Nyx grinned as they exchanged a series of blows and allowed a glancing thrust to graze him. Dan¡¯s face contorted as he concentrated on passing Nyx¡¯s guard. Every now and again Nyx allowed him small victories. A bruise on his thigh and shoulder were mostly healed from their last bout.


    Nyx ducked, and Dan¡¯s practice sword connected with the wood of a tree above his head, shaking free a flurry of fake leaves. Out of danger, Nyx spun low, foot connecting with the soft flesh of Dan¡¯s stomach. The breath whooshed from his lungs as he fell backward, but the fight did not leave his eyes.


    ¡°Stop, one of you will get injured if you continue sparring at that pace,¡± said the instructor watching them with his crossed arms. The man was young with a full head of auburn hair and lean physique, Nyx thought he couldn¡¯t be older than Twenty-six.


    Nyx rose and dusted off his legs without comment, eyeing the mark in the tree where Dan¡¯s sword had connected. It was one of the larger environments, mimicking a forest filled with well-made imitations of deciduous trees. His mind was still stuck on what Flint had implied; he must have been telling him the truth. He refused to wait any longer for the inevitable denial of his access to heavenly Chi. He ignored the instructor who was yelling at him to get back into the circle and walked over to Joshua. His patience was at an end.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Nyx tone was cold. ¡°I can see it in your eyes. You won¡¯t give me the access I asked for.¡± It seemed so clear to him now, the guilt was written on Joshua¡¯s face, in the way he wouldn¡¯t meet his gaze.


    Nyx nodded slowly and pointed at Garry who awkwardly stood at the side fidgeting his mop of red hair in his eyes. ¡°Garry, would you come with me please.¡±


    Garry reacted to the clear command in Nyx''s voice. "Yes, sir!"


    It was time to take his own advice. Time to make his own luck. With shoulders back head high, Nyx walked from the training area towards the dorms followed by Garry. He could feel many eyes monitor their progress.


    Joshua yelled after him. "You would abandon your team after speaking so much of loyalty? I expected more. The tournament is in one month, I expect you to be here and complete.¡± He turned to the others who stood around after witnessing the scene. ¡°Everyone get back to work!" Movement answered the words. A few remained to stare after Nyx and Garry. The occasional clank of wood on wood became audible.


    Nyx shut the door to his dorm living area behind him. Everyone else was still at practice. "I need you to do something for me. I noticed you have some interesting programs on your computer. Personally, I have limited computer experience, so I need you to hack this facility.¡±


    Garry''s eyes widened, making him look like a skinny owl. For the first time, he looked Nyx in the eye. "Why would I do that for you?"


    "Because I need access to the locked cultivation room. I need it now. I am willing to pay you ten grand, make it worth your while." Nyx''s manner turned dangerous. "If you don¡¯t, you will not be leaving this room."


    Garry''s eyes widened as Nyx let some of the demonic Chi spread. An ominous aura radiated out. There was a warning in Nyx¡¯s posture.


    Seeing Garry frozen, Nyx continued, "don¡¯t worry I would never harm my ''friends''. Are we friends?"


    Garry''s adam''s apple rose and fell as he gulped. "Mhm, friends. I ah¡­ want the money in bitcoin."


    Nyx relaxed his expression and nodded. "I''ll let you deal with transferring the money over to bitcoin then send it to yourself."


    Garry''s whole persona changed as he logged on his computer, he was in his element now. Nyx was just able to follow along as he activated his computers encryption and ran the remote access Trojan he had logged into the facilities main computer frame. Garry''s fingers flew over the keyboard, and boxes opened and closed on his monitors. No wonder he was so efficient with array patterns. Nyx was impressed.


    "Access granted, though it will still appear as if you are restricted."


    Nyx nodded handing Garry debit card. "Go ahead and get yourself the bitcoin. Be careful though. I think someone is tracking my purchases on there."


    Garry grabbed the card turning back to the screens. "Information is easy to access with the right know how. I have one more request though. I want to go with you to the room and see what''s so special about it for myself."


    Nyx relaxed at hearing the request expecting much worse. "I don¡¯t see a problem with that. I assume it goes without saying that we never mention this to anyone. Ever."


    Garry''s face blanched before returning to normal, he scratched his hair nervously. "Well... Uh, I''m just as liable as you... maybe more so." He looked sheepishly up at Nyx and pulled a deck of playing cards from a box that was sitting on his desk. ¡°Want to see a magic trick? The others won¡¯t let me test my card tricks on them anymore.¡±


    Nyx shrugged, "go for it, we have some time to kill anyway."


    Garry had a silly smile plastered on his face as he began to shuffle the deck of cards, ¡°Cool! This is my lucky deck. I take it with me everywhere. Now pick a card.¡±


    Nyx scratched his head and pulled out a Queen of hearts.


    ¡°Now memorize it and place it anywhere in the deck.¡±


    Nyx did as asked, and for a while, he pretended to be astonished every time Garry guessed his card right. The childlike glee on his face made Nyx smile himself.


    <hr>


    It was time. The apartment was dark, and Nyx¡¯s roommate¡¯s steady breathing indicated they were fast asleep. Earlier on arriving back from the days practice Garry and Dan had tried to question Nyx about what had happened, but he just waved it off. Garry had stayed in his room and left his headset on, ignoring the questions.


    Nyx stood up from the couch and stretched pushing back his arms. He had taken a nap in preparation for tonight. At Garry''s door, he gave it a gentle tap then slipped inside. Garry was still focused on the computer screens as Nyx snuck up behind him putting his hand on Garry''s shoulder and covered his mouth. Garry turned his head, wide-eyed, as Nyx''s hand muffled a shout.


    Putting a finger to his lips, Nyx nodded his head towards the door, "Its time," he whispered.


    Garry took off his headphones and got up, in the process bumping his leg on the desk. Nyx winced, and Garry mouthed ''sorry.''


    Once outside Nyx¡¯s footsteps were dead silent on the cobblestones, but next to him, footfalls echoed. He swore Garry would wake the whole place.


    Quietly Nyx asked, ¡°Are you even trying?"


    "I''m doing my best."


    Nyx cast his senses out, tuned for any movement or disturbance in the environment. Nothing. Fortunately, nobody was out. Nyx led Garry through the central cavern hugging the shadows created by the various combat environments and obstacle courses. The deeper tunnels leading to the cultivation rooms were silent. They made it into the darkness of the narrow hall outside the locked room without incident.


    "I''m going in. You, my friend, are going to get your quick peek then be the lookout. If anyone comes, play dumb and delay. I will be in for some time."


    "Alright, I can do that."


    Nyx swiped his key card. He held his breath. There was a soft ''Click,'' and a green light flashed on the card reader. He pulled the door open briefly holding it for Garry. The heavenly Chi in the air glowed like a faint white mist. It was not thick, but it would be more than enough to match his demonic Chi.


    Soft blue light lit the room from above illuminating a pedestal in its middle. Delicate bands of gold leaf twined around it, swirling up in an ever-tightening spiral. On top of the ornate stand rested a pitch black stone the size of a car tire.


    That explained the Heavenly Chi. A soul stone was one of the few materials that contained elements of Aether. It was a critical component that could be refined into spacial devices and used to craft divine artifacts. It could also hold the soul of a cultivator and create a permanent formation array.


    A glistening black plaque inlaid with a gold script read, ''In memory of Hugh de Payens who gave his soul for our future.''


    A formation inside the soulstone was drawing the heavenly Chi. Now he understood why this room was under lock and key. Even in the higher realms, these permanent arrays were rare. Nyx shook his head bewildered, the stone alone was worth a fortune.


    "It¡¯s time, leave me be and don¡¯t interrupt no matter what," said Nyx, attention focused on the Heavenly Chi. Garry didn¡¯t protest and left the room letting the door swing shut with a click.


    Sitting cross-legged in front of the pedestal, Nyx closed his eyes and began to cultivate drawing in the Heavenly Chi, cycling it through his meridians in an intricate pattern. It would run through key meridians a total of seven times before he would finally draw it into his core.


    As it traveled, he could feel his body purifying. When he had cultivated the demon Chi, it has strengthened him through pain. This Chi felt like the most fantastic massage. It pulled out impurities like a masseuse would loosen a sore muscle.


    A disgusting smell accosted his nose as the impurities exited his pores. The black sticky goo clung to his skin and smelled like death. He ignored it and continued.


    <hr>


    An hour later Nyx had cultivated most of the Heavenly Chi inside the room. He was tempted to empty it entirely but didn''t want his presence here to be so obvious. A much more considerable amount of demonic Chi circled the Heavenly in his core like a lopsided yin and yang. The opposites repulsed each other like two ends of a magnet.


    Nyx took a deep breath, and using the immense pressure of his soul, he took hold of an equal amount of demonic to match the heavenly and began to force them together. He gritted his teeth, agony coursed through all his nerves but he couldn''t stop now. He molded the two, repeatedly folding them together. He was not sure how long it took, but when he finished, his core glowed white like molten metal.


    It was done, he relaxed and took a deep breath. A state of calm returned to his mind. For now, the pain was manageable. Annoying, but manageable.


    Then he felt a dull ache start building near his diaphragm. It spread across Nyx''s entire body filling him with sudden weakness. Sweat covered every inch of his skin and hands trembling out of control. A bolt of energy coursed through him, coming from his core. He cried out in pain, falling back on the ground body jerking as he lost control of his limbs. It was only a jolt, but the agony was as painful as any experience he could remember. His nerve endings all tingled, and his breathing became heavy and labored.


    This was not what he had expected. The demonic and Heavenly Chi had been merged. The result. This was not elastic, no, this was Chaos. The two combined in his core to create a storm. A cold and hot front colliding. The resulting Chi wreathed with black and white lightning, streaks crackling through it. The larger mass of remaining Demonic Chi seemed to cower away from the crackling energy.


    Standing, he prepared himself mentally. He pulled the new Chi from his core, forcing himself to the limit. Faint flickers of black and white lightning coursed through him and his eyes flashed intermittently black and white. He moved, and his body blurred, then collapsed in a heap as pain coursed through him.


    He sensed something from the chaos. It was unbridled energy that did not want to be controlled. He could tell it had only responded of its own accord, rather than anything he had done. The shock had been a demonstration and warning. This power, he was in awe. He came in with expectations, but now he was shaken. If he could learn to control the Chaos.


    After being zapped by the storm of Chi in his core, it seemed to settle down some. Grime stuck to him all over, the way he imagined it would feel to go withoutshowering for a month. Disgusting. If anyone ran into him, they would think he had gone for a swim in a sewer. Breathing deeply, Nyx sat with his arms wrapped around his legs in silence as he waited for his heartbeat to normalize.


    Once satisfied, he did a backward summersault and landed on his feet.


    Nyx exited the Heavenly Chi room and slowly closed the door behind him. It didn¡¯t make a noise besides the slight click when the automatic lock fell into place.


    Garry turned around plugging his nose, he had been playing with a deck of cards but shoved them into his pocket. He whispered, "What is that god awful smell?"


    Nyx raised his arms in a demonstration. "Let''s get back I need a shower, any trouble?"


    Still plugging his nose Garry shook his head, "Nah, nothing," his eyes shifted around as he peeked around the corner.

 Chapter Eleven

    Nyx watched the last of the grime swirl in a mess of murky water down the drain of the shower. He dried off then sat with his legs crossed in the corner of his stark room. From the cross-legged position, he placed his hands on the floor, lifting his lower body up into the air, ending in a handstand. He went through a series of exercises he had devised to test his new strength. His muscles corded as he strained in ever more challenging poses, he noticed they were not larger, but denser. Gracefully he flipped to back to his feet and flexed his fingers, feeling increased strength behind them.


    The Chaotic element in his core swirled like a turbulent sea next to the remaining demonic. He tried to draw on the chaos, pulling at the writhing mass of energy. It reared as if to bite him. Nyx backed off, settling just to observe for the time being. The storm budged, exploding like a grenade in his core. Pulsing tendrils of energy burst through his body. His breath left him in a rush, body thrashing uncontrollably. He lay still once the pain retreated back into his core letting his heartbeat normalize. He knew he had to be patient, only time would help him gain an understanding of his element.


    Earlier when he had utilized the Chaotic Chi, it was as if all his senses had been amplified. His reactions had increased beyond imaginable, the Chi moving through him had allowed his muscles to expand and contract at high speeds. The processing power of his mind increased, and with the Chi, he would be able to make split-second decisions as if with all the time in the world. The problem was the pain and lack of control.


    He could hear the others moving around the living area, and only then realized it was already 6 am. He hadn¡¯t slept a wink. Nyx got up, and threw his pillow onto his mattress, frustrated at the little progress he had made. He opened his door joining the others in their living room. The whole team was up except for Garry, who Nyx assumed was still sleeping off the late night.


    Matt looked up as Nyx stepped into the kitchen. ¡°Well look who decided to grace us with his presence.¡± He pointed at Dan and Gabe. ¡°They insisted we wait for you or I would have left long ago.¡±


    Dan smirked. ¡°Its funny Nyx, since you arrived, Matt and I haven¡¯t been fighting,¡±


    Nyx ignored them, filling a glass with water. ¡°I won¡¯t be joining you all today. I have things to take care of above ground. Gabe would you be ok with me borrowing your car for the day?¡±


    Matt stood from the couch where he had been sitting. "Guess I waited for nothing. C''mon babe." He took Marisa¡¯s hand, helping her up. She gave Nyx a dirty look before following Matt out the door. Apparently, she also held him a grudge. Shaking his head, he decided that Matt was not worth his time, some people just didn¡¯t learn.


    Gabe rubbed his palms together under the table nervously. ¡°What are you planning to do then? Joshua is going to be pissed, let alone Gregor.¡±


    ¡°I am getting ready to hunt demons. I need to prepare some things,¡± said Nyx so casualty that Dan and Gabe nodded along, only moments later realizing what he meant.


    Dan looked up at him from the couch. There was deep burning anger in his narrowed eyes. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡±


    Nyx raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t because you feel you need to prove something.¡±


    Garry walked into the room, one hand holding his glasses as he scratched at the corner of his bloodshot eyes. He tried to detangle his thick red hair, utterly oblivious to the high tension in the room. ¡°Morning,¡± He mumbled, quietly sitting in his usual spot at the corner of the couch.


    Dan lit a cigarette and took a long pull, ignoring Garry as he eyed Nyx. ¡°Demons murdered my parents, and my first encounter with one left me good as dead. I need to do this for myself."


    Nyx met Dan¡¯s challenging glare and nodded, with the trouble his new element was giving him having backup wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ¡°Two conditions. One, you follow my lead and directions. Two, you will need to learn a new cultivation technique that won¡¯t limit your growth.¡±


    Gabe considered Nyx and his brother as he scratched his neck. "We have a tournament coming up soon. We don''t have time to go hunt demons, and I''m not sure what you can teach about cultivation¡­"


    Nyx nodded his understanding. ¡°Trust me. If we are successful hunting demons, this tournament will be child¡¯s play. As for the new techniques, we will find you some from Tomes.¡±


    Dan blew a puff of smoke across the room at his brother. ¡°I¡¯m going with him, I¡¯m not going to sit around here if I can kill some of those monsters. Think of mom and Dad.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think they would have wanted us to risk our lives,¡± said Gabe, fanning away the smoke.


    Dan crossed his arms, expression fixed with determination.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll hear you out.¡±


    ¡°If you all go I¡¯m not staying behind,¡± said Garry in an undertone.


    Nyx had forgotten he was there with how quiet he was. He tried not to show his surprise, he had thought it was a foregone conclusion Garry wouldn¡¯t be interested.


    ¡°Then you will both also need to learn a new cultivation technique.¡± He had an idea, ¡°and Garry, I have an idea for an array pattern to protect the brothers.¡± He had just the one in mind, the one he had used against the succubus. It was a simple one that he had no doubt Garry would learn within the week.


    Gabe grudgingly gave his assent along with the other two.


    ¡°I''m sure I don¡¯t need to say this, but don¡¯t tell anyone we will be hunting demons.¡±


    "Wasn¡¯t ever planning on it," said Dan, his eyes glowing with suppressed excitement. The look made Nyx wonder if Dan¡¯s encounter with the succubus was the reason he fought so ferociously during sparring sessions.


    "Dan, I know you want revenge, but I need you to keep your head straight, especially if you want to face a demon, don''t let emotions affect your judgment."


    Dan¡¯s eyebrows turned down as his excitement turned to glowing anger. ¡°What do you know about it, just mind your own damn business.¡±


    The door containing Nyx¡¯s inner darkness cracked open, the chaos inside his core swirled faster. It was a strange feeling, almost like a separate entity affecting him subconsciously. He could tell it wanted a fight. Using minimal effort, Nyx managed to close the door, shutting back the darkness. That darkness was always with him, carefully locked away, and the chaos seemed to want it free.


    He opened his eyes now that the chaos settled. ¡°My parents were also killed by a demon when I was little. I was hiding. I think I know a thing or two.¡±


    Dan didn''t back down although his anger had lessened. "Bullshit,¡± he said then looked to his brother, "is it true?"


    Gabe shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    "You don''t have to take my word for it, if you ''need'' proof, ask Joshua when you see him."


    ¡°You guys are going to be late,¡± said Garry. He got up grabbing his bag and slipped out the apartment door.


    ¡°Shit, he is right,¡± said Gabe, checking his watch. The brothers rushed to grab their things, swinging their backpack straps around shoulders, and were out the door. Gabe called from in the passage informing Nyx that his car keys were in the kitchen.


    Nyx swiped Gabe''s the keys from a basket on the countertop, and soon he was also out the door. He followed the tunnels, finding himself lost multiple times. He seemed to have gained some notoriety after the incident with Joshua as several cadets eyed him whispering to each other when he walked by. When he asked one of the gawking cadets for directions, they told him the exit was in the edge of the central cavern across from the combat circles. As soon as he was further down the hall, they began muttering to each other yet again.


    At the central cavern, Nyx tried to make himself small, drawing as little attention as possible. A part of him wished he had worn a hoody, even though he knew it would be hot outside. He passed cadets intent on their practice without incident. Just as he was about to enter the slopped exit tunnel, he noticed a girl, about his age, with hair the color of dry wheat watching him. She was standing on the edge of one of the obstacle courses near two young men who were kneeling over a boy on the ground. He thought she seemed familiar, but it wasn¡¯t till he swiped his key card at the top of the passage that he remembered her shy dimpled smile from his first encounter with Benjamin.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Nyx pushed open the thick metal door and stepped into the sunlight. He closed his eyes, letting his skin drink in the summer heat. When he finally looked around, he decided the brick building he had stepped out of was unremarkable, dwarfed by several high rises, their polished windows glinting in the morning sun.


    Nyx passed a man and woman holding hand on the sidewalk and felt relieved when they seemed more interested in each other than him. The order was beginning to play games with his mind. He waited for a bus to rumble past, then crossed the street entering a parking garage on the other side. Gabe¡¯s Honda ended up being on the second floor next to a black sedan.


    A half-hour later Nyx parked in front of a long single-story cinderblock building. He locked the car behind him and walked along a small strip of sidewalk that circled the freezer facilities whitewashed wall. The double paned glass door beeped when he pushed it open. The building¡¯s Interior was plain with walls the same shade of white as the exterior. A middle-aged woman eyed him from where she sat behind a long counter. It looked as if she had had quite a bit of work done on her face.


    She smiled at him, her expression barely changing. "What can I do for you today?"


    Nyx repressed a shiver. She reminded him of an unpleasant fae creature. In the higher realm, he had once visited the far eastern desert where he had a run in with the Erza, creatures shaped like men but scaled with forked tongues. "I need to rent a freezer room.¡±


    A couple of lines crinkled at the corner of her eyes, maybe she was trying to appear thoughtful?


    "What do you need it for? So that I can determine the best one for your usage."


    "Hunting, I need a place to store the meat." It technically wasn¡¯t a lie.


    She nodded and turned to the wall behind her where many keys hung from hooks. She looked through them finding the one she wanted. "This is to unit twenty-nine all the way to the back, take a look and let me know if it will work." She gave another one of those Botox smiles.


    The air grew cool as Nyx passed by metal doors set into the walls. The floor was concrete, and a white tile ceiling with long fluorescent light bulbs stretched down the hallway. At the back, he found his unit and fit the key into the lock turning the L shaped handle. Along the inside of the walk-in freezer were lines of white frost. The space would work perfectly. It was just big enough for him to move around, with shelves off to one side leaving the rest of the area open.


    "Do you need anything else, do you?" asked the woman once he had checked out, with a decidedly unpleasant look.


    "No thanks," said Nyx, the alarm buzzing as he opened the door and stepped back into the heat.


    Nyx slid back into Gabe¡¯s car and turned on the air conditioning. Looking to make sure there were no other cars, he merged back onto the road.


    <hr>


    A bell jingled as Nyx pushed open the heavy wood door to ¡®John''s Tactical Supplies.'' A tattooed man with a big, well-groomed beard stood at a central table. Guns, knives and other weapons glinted under the glass cases in front of him. Rows of camouflage fatigues, as well as sturdy bags, flasks, gloves and various other tactical gear, sat on shelves. In the display windows, Kevlar body armor and riot gear dressed a set of manikins.


    Nyx was not looking for guns. They would be useless against a demon. He needed blades that the others could strengthen with their Chi. Briefly, he had considered trying to find weapons they could use at the order, but all the serviceable ones were locked away. The thought of approaching Arms Master Gregor dissuaded him of the notion.


    Nyx walked around the shop, carefully inspecting the items on display. He stopped at a rack rubbing the fabric of a dark green backpack between his fingers. It was well designed with two large pockets, made from thick waterproof fabric that should be able to hold the weapons he purchased. With the bag in hand, he continued to look through the display cases.


    The gruff voice of the tattooed man interrupted his search. "Either you have been in quite the accident or one gnarly fight." He pointed to the white scars the demon''s claws had left on Nyx''s arm. The scars had shrunk since reaching the second level of Basic, but wouldn''t disappear entirely until he entered the Shaping stage of his cultivation.


    "Oh these," Nyx lifted his arm, his fingers trailed down the white bumps. "Yes, it was quite a brutal fight, speaking of which, I am looking for your best blades. Have anything better than these?" Nyx nodded to what was on display.


    The tattooed man narrowed his eyes not entirely sure if Nyx was joking about the scars. "Come with me. I keep the higher end stuff in the back."


    The man fumbled with a set of keys, then finding the right one opened a side door. Inside the room were more shelves and some long metal drawers built into a wall.


    He pulled open a drawer at chest height revealing rows of different sized blades resting on mossy green felt. "These are all hand forged Damascus steel. The maker is a well know craftsman and used eight kinds of metal in their creation."


    Nyx ran a finger along one, then with tested its balance, then absentmindedly went through a series of maneuvers feeling it slice through the air with a whirring sound.


    The man next to him scratched his chin raising an eyebrow, ¡°Maybe you weren¡¯t joking.¡±


    Nyx was impressed by the quality of the weapons, at least for what he expected on Earth. These would be able to handle small amounts of Chi run through them.


    Nyx felt coiling in his gut. It took him a moment to realize it was the storm swelling in his core. Just as he dropped the blade back into the drawer, pain exploded from his center. He wasn¡¯t sure how long it lasted but it felt like forever. When the energy flowing through him subsided, he realized he was laying on the ground curled into a ball.


    The shop owner was kneeling over him; concern etched into his face. ¡°Are you okay son? Need me to call an ambulance?¡±


    Nyx pushed himself up, wobbly getting standing back on his feet. This episode just proved to him he needed backup. ¡°No, it¡¯s passed. Thanks for your concern.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    Nyx nodded, pointing to a set of three of the blades he had tested. "How much for those?"


    The man ran his thick fingers through his beard eyeing Nyx like he expected him to pass out at any moment. "Those are some fine works. All are a meter long, full tang. They haven''t been treated, but you can still see the markings where the steel was folded." He indicated the patterns in the metal of the blades. "Least I can take for them is a thousand-five hundred a piece."


    Nyx didn¡¯t bat an eye, though soon he would be broke again. "Tell you what, since I am buying all three I am willing to spend four-thousand for the lot."


    Nyx could tell the man hadn¡¯t expected him to purchase anything as he was already closing the drawer.


    He turned to Nyx and stuck out his hand, "John by the way."


    Nyx accepted the firm handshake.


    "Alright, four-thousand it is. Go wait by the counter, ill box these up and bring em up front."


    The bell rang again as Nyx left the shop, it had cooled off outside. The setting sun cast a red and orange glow across clouds that were moving his way. The backpack straps hugged his shoulders, and he could feel the extra weight from the swords in the bag.


    <hr>


    Cadet''s bustled around Nyx as he angled his way up to the buffet, into an open spot next to Gabe who was helping himself to some mashed potatoes. "Where are Matt and Marisa?" asked Nyx, using a pair of tongs to grab a juicy looking steak, piling it onto his tray.


    ¡°Matt left to spend the night with his girlfriend,¡± answered Gabe, giving him a knowing look.


    Nyx figured he was probably avoiding him, but it was for the best. ¡°Let¡¯s eat back in the apartment today. I have something to show you both in private," he said looking around suggestively at the bustle of people.


    Once they were back in the room, they dug into their meals in comfortable silence.


    Dan looked up from his plate. ¡°I asked Joshua about your dad, he confirmed it. He also asked where you were. Wasn¡¯t happy when we told him you were out for the day. In fact, Gregor decided it was the team¡¯s fault and had us running the obstacles till Garry threw up."


    Nyx tried to say sorry, but it came out a jumbled mess, his mouth stuffed.


    Dan grunted, ¡°Guess I can¡¯t blame you for wanting to hunt the demons, but if we have to rerun those obstacles because of you.¡± He slid a finger across his throat.


    Gabe scratched his chin, pulling out a chair and taking a seat at the small table. ¡°About the new cultivation techniques, we tried looking ourselves earlier but couldn¡¯t find any good ones. Maybe they are being kept in the restricted section.¡±


    Nyx raised his eyebrow, smiling conspiratorially as he picked the dark green backpack off the ground and unzipped it. "We might have to give them a look. Anyways have another surprise for you." He pulled out the three boxes that held the blades and pushed two across the table towards Dan and Gabe, keeping one for himself.


    Garry looked on with mild interest from the couch, shuffling his deck of cards absentmindedly.


    Dan''s eyes lit up when he pulled the lid off the box. "No way." He picked up the sword reverently, turning it around and examining it from different angles. The light caught the whirling pattern along the blades. Its handle was made from redwood with a glossy finish.


    Nyx looked at Dan and Gabe, "How are both of you at weapon enhancements?¡±


    Gabe looked down in embarrassment, pushing curls of his dirty brown hair from his eyes. ¡°Well, they haven¡¯t taught us how. Only the ranking teams learn the high-level techniques.¡±


    Nyx scoffed. ¡°High level?¡± when he saw Dan bristling, he revised the statement. ¡°I don¡¯t mean it as an insult, but I learned to do it when I was much younger. I can teach you both in under a week to become adequate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± said Dan.


    ¡°Alright, I need you to treat the sword as an extension of your body. Cycle your Chi through the sword in the pattern that lends strength to your limbs.¡±


    Dan tested the sword''s point of balance. It only wobbled slightly on his fingers. He Pulled Chi from his core, cycling it along his arm and then into the blade. Nyx''s eyes followed the energy, more with his mind than his eyes. He could feel the bonds in the metal tightening under the energies influence.


    Dissimilar materials needed slightly different rotations of energy, and the cycling Chi had to be tweaked for the difference. In metal, even a somewhat differing carbon count changed the needed technique. Dan''s Chi moved erratically, though, more than likely on accident, occasionally he managed the correct patterns. Nyx spent the next hour instructing the brothers, Gabe having more natural talent than his brother when it came to cycling. Dan cursed as he lost focus and his blade returned to normal.


    "You have the general idea. Remember, before you strike a demon you must strengthen the edge, or you might as well use a stick. We have one week to be prepared.¡± Nyx looked over to Garry. "Time to go over that array pattern."

 Dunes of Atruvius

    I was burnt out on writing today, so instead of a chapter here is a picture I drew depicting a scene from the higher realms


    This is the Dunes of Atruvius, the desert where the Erza lizardmen live. It is the only place a rare fungus grows that is highly sought after. As with most unpopulated places in the higher realms, it is both beautiful and incredibly dangerous. The fungus glows a light blue, but be warned; It is not the only thing that glows in the depths.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The mushroom is called the Kushk, a name adapted from the Erza tongue and is used to help break into the immortal realm at the final hurdle. It is deadly toxic and as likely to kill as help an elementalist break though. It is also its toxicity that helps break into the next stage, causing many to take the risk. In order to get it, you must descend into the catacombs under the desert and survive being hunted.

 Chapter Twelve

    Nyx slammed shut his fifth book. What had begun as a promising start had turned into an accounting of obscure herbs and their uses. The only thing in the text that was even mildly interesting was the mention of a White Lotus flower, found only in the Tibetan mountains. It was said to absorb ridiculous amounts of heavenly Chi. ¡°Good thing I¡¯m in Tibet,¡± he muttered sarcastically under his breath.


    ¡°What was that?¡± asked Dan, in the act of balancing his chair on its two hind legs, his own book left forgotten in front of him on the stout wooden table. Around them, other cadets were bent over their own tables spread through the space between towering bookshelves. The dark wood shelves rose all the way to the ceiling, a full thirty feet, stuffed with books and manuscripts of every shape and size imaginable.


    The Tomes had a heavy feeling, like they were buried inside some ancient catacomb. Nyx supposed that was exactly where they were. He breathed deeply, filling his nose with the smell of stale air and old books. ¡°Nothing, just talking to myself. Aren¡¯t you going to keep searching?¡±


    Dan grinned and reached beside him, gripping his brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thing is, both Gabe and I are Earth Elementalists, so technically by reading, I¡¯m just wasting effort. Once Gabe finds his new cultivation method I can just copy him.¡±


    Gabe was bent over the table studiously sifting through the pages of a thick book with a dark leather binding. He shrugged off his brother¡¯s arm, and Dan almost lost his balance, chair thumped back to rest on all four feet. Nyx winced. ¡°Keep it down would ya. We don¡¯t want to get kicked out.¡±


    Dan made faces at Nyx but didn¡¯t say anything else, soon focused on picking something from beneath his nails.


    Nyx lamented the fact that none of his teammates had the element fire. If they did, he would have easily been able to give them access to techniques of his devising, ones not seen on Earth. He felt a tapping on his shoulder and turned to find Garry standing there holding a thick book gilded with fine lines of silver spiraling along its spine. He didn¡¯t say anything just continuing to regard Nyx with a look of triumph, his bright red eyebrows high on his forehead.


    ¡°Yes?¡± asked Nyx, ¡°did you find something?¡±


    Garry nodded vigorously without meeting Nyx¡¯s eyes, talking in a whisper. ¡°Found this stashed behind several thick volumes, someone must have hidden it away.¡±


    Dan crossed his arms, ¡°go on, show us the technique already.¡±


    Gabe flushed and laid the book between the four of them, flopping it open to a page with the word ¡®caeli¡¯ spelled in ornate silver lettering. Under the title was a detailed picture of the human body with a spider web of directional lines crisscrossing through it.


    ¡°Air, caeli isLatin for air,¡± said Garry, forgetting to whisper in his excitement.


    Nyx nodded, engrossed in following the meridian lines that were mapped out on the books page. The technique would be a significant improvement for Garry. It would open new pathways and widen the ones he had already created through his meridians. After learning and practicing this cultivation technique, Garry would be able to utilize his Chi both more efficiently and effectively when applying cycling techniques.


    ¡°Is there anything in here for Earth?¡± asked Gabe, hopefully.


    Garry shook his head remembering to keep his voice down this time. ¡°Just that one technique for air. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Could you show me where you found this?¡± asked Nyx hoping there might be others.


    "Sure," said Garry, leading them to a quiet section of the Tomes. They spend several hours checking every nook and cranny, but the book Garry found appeared to be one of a kind. Nyx called it a night with a sigh, having to remind himself it was a partial victory.


    <hr>


    The following day Nyx returned to the tomes with the others when they had free time, but again they found nothing. They were all starting to grow irritable; Dan had begun to show up late or not at all in the hunt for books.


    It happened twice. Fortunately, nobody else was around. Once, while deep in the Tomes, as Nyx searched in a dark alcove for the techniques they needed. He had just pulled an old ratty looking manuscript down from a high shelf when he felt the storm brew and soon was gasping for air from the ground. He waited, sitting on the floor in the aftermath to recover.


    The second time it occurred was at night in his room while he was probing at the chaos, trying to understand it. The others came running when they heard his scream. He told them it was only a night terror. Dan grumbled and threatening him to, "keep it down next time," in a groggy voice before going back to bed.


    By the time Nyx walked into evening sparring practice he was biting his nails in frustration. They had now spent two fruitless days of searching the Tomes, and he was about as close to solving his issue with the Chaos as they were finding the right book. Only Garry had managed to find a cultivation technique that was adequate. Gabe still searched, doing the work for Dan who was regularly ¡®distracted¡¯.


    Maybe they needed to go deeper in the Tomes. The books they needed might be hidden away in the dark recesses of the restricted sections. He had assumed it would be a simple matter finding the techniques they needed, but that didn¡¯t seem the case.


    Nyx walked onto the green turf in the central cavern, weaving his way through other cadets to a small open space. He lowered into his daily stretches, prepared for another tedious set of bouts. As usual, he planned to hold back just enough to make it appear competitive.


    ¡°What¡¯s Benjamin doing here?¡± asked Gabe sidestepping a group of cadets to join Nyx. He pointed off to a far section of the combat circles.


    Nyx had to crane his neck to see past the group of trainees blocking his line of sight. Sure enough, Benjamin, tall with his long auburn hair tied back behind his head in a man bun, was talking with Gregor.


    ¡°Nothing good I¡¯m sure,¡± said Nyx as he watched them slowly walking over in their direction.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, you people are ghosts recently,¡± asked Matt as he joined them with Marisa. Garry followed behind them with his head on a swivel, seeming intrigued by the other teams all around.


    ¡°Been in the Tomes, researching for a class,¡± said Gabe with a strait face and convincingly enough that Nyx had to reassess his opinion of him.


    Dan joined them, a pep in his step. He always seemed to come alive when it was time to spar. He immediately joined them stretching, and playfully punching his brother on the arm. ¡°I can feel it. You won¡¯t so much as scratch me today. Get ready to take a beating.¡±


    Nyx missed Gabe¡¯s response as the cadets in front of them suddenly separated with grumbles of annoyance, making space. Gregor and Benjamin walked through, up to Nyx¡¯s team. Everyone remained silent as they waited to hear what was happening.


    Gregor cleared his voice, and when he spoke, it was louder than necessary, a show for the other trainees. ¡°Did something to piss off Joshua have you? Hasn¡¯t been hovering over you like a hen for a while now. But don¡¯t worry he asked me to take special care of you.¡± He looked down his nose at Nyxs team gathered around him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but notice that your teammates give you little real practice. Joshua tasked me with making sure you are progressing, and that is what I will do. Benjamin here is on my son¡¯s team, the team Joshua so graciously offered you to join,¡± he said in a tone indicating what he thought of that arrangement. ¡°I brought him here today to help you out.¡±


    Dan jumped to his feet, his anger blazing, fists clenched. ¡°Benjamin will have to come through me first before getting a shot at any of my friends.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine Dan, let me give him a match," said Nyx.


    As Nyx focused on his opponent, the students circling them seemed to bleed into the recess of his mind.


    They began with a flurry of exchanges as Benjamin attacked, confident in his abilities. He was fast and tenacious with good fighting sense. Nyx had to admit grudging respect and understood how he could be considered one of the best.


    Nyx flicked his blade down knocking away a bold attack, and riposted with a lightning-fast strike that connected solidly against Benjamin¡¯s side. Sure to raise a welt. Benjamin¡¯s eyes widened marginally, and when they narrowed back into focus, his stance and style became cautious as he tested Nyx¡¯s defense.


    It only took Nyx a minute to get Benjamin¡¯s timing down. He was fast with sure strikes, but he tended to favor his left side and leave a momentary opening when he attacked high. He watched his opponent coil for another high slash.


    Nyx waited, ready to sidestep. It was a thing of timing. If he waited too long, he would have no option but to take the hit, doing his best to roll with it. If he reacted too early, Benjamin would have time to anticipate his counterstroke. Just as Nyx shifted on the balls of his feet, pain lanced up from his core, pulsing through his body. He was left immobile, teeth clenched, as his muscles spasmed. He couldn¡¯t move or cry out as the blunted edge of the hardwood sword closed on his head. He thought he heard a dull thud as the world went black.


    <hr>


    When Nyx came awake, he was greeted by a pounding headache and sharp white light. He squinted, instinctively raising his hand to shield his eyes and give them time to adjust. It took him a second to orient himself, and realize he was back in the medical room, on the same white linen as the last time. The first thought that came into his head was that he had been knocked unconscious by a blow he should have easily evaded.


    The scraping of metal over trays and rushed conversations were taking place all around. Cadets along with two teachers, all in a white version of the grey uniforms, circled a man lying on a medical table. Last time he had been here it had been only him. To see that so many others had been near while he was unconscious left him feeling uncomfortable.


    Nyx jerked his head back as a wet cloth dabbed his temple.


    ¡°Stay still, its leaking fluids again. I¡¯m Vanessa by the way,¡± said a flaxen-haired girl from beside him, sitting on the edge of his bed. The dimples in her cheek showed when she smiled reassuringly at him, a small bowl of water and cloth in her hands.


    Nyx delicately probed the side of his head and could feel a nice sized welt had formed, just above his ear. He looked at his hand. It was moist with clear fluid. He took a closer look at the girl tending to him, realizing it was Benjamin¡¯s sister. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said now that he knew she was administering to him. ¡°So, what are people saying about what happened?¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Vanessa dipped the cloth in the bowl of warm water. She regarded him for a moment, as she dabbed at his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of. Benjamin is one of the best cadets here when it comes to fighting.¡± She scowled, ¡°but he could have gone easier on you.¡±


    Although he felt a pang of hurt to his pride, Nyx was relieved that nobody seemed to have realized the reality of what had happened.


    ¡°What about you? What are you doing in the infirmity instead of at classes?¡±


    She laughed, a sound like crystals clinking. ¡°What? You think everyone in this place specializes in breaking things? No, some cadets learn alchemy to prepare pills and other delicacies. Some are dedicated to researching and monitoring the Tomes for the masters, while others dedicate themselves to the forging of weapons, though they keep that under tight wraps. Then there are cadets like me who specialize in learning to fix meat heads, like you, who foolishly decided to pick fights or get hurt training. What were you thinking going against my brother? He hates you and, you should have guessed, is quite adept when it comes to brutalizing others.¡±


    Nyx ignored the question, nodding toward the man who seemed to be in the middle of some surgery. ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    Vanessa grimaced. ¡°He isn¡¯t a student. Graduates sometimes stop by here from time to time. He was injured by a demon and is lucky to have been found, though I doubt he will ever be the same again.¡±


    Nyx watched as one of the medical staff took a device that looked like a miniature blowtorch to the man¡¯s skin. He didn¡¯t so much as twitch, even though Nyx could smell burning skin.


    ¡°Cauterizing the wound. Usually, they would stitch it, but his is a rather extreme circumstance, and the glue isn¡¯t holding.¡±


    Nyx nodded as they both watched the procedure. ¡°How long was I out?¡±


    ¡°Just the one day, less than I thought considering the head trauma.¡±


    A day wasted. Nyx pushed back the thin sheet covering him and jumped up from the cot. He was still wearing his clothes from the sparring match and looked at Vanessa raising an eyebrow.


    She blushed. ¡°Don¡¯t even think that. I would never peek. Here, take this with you at least.¡±


    Nyx accepted the cloth she was holding out to him and thanked her before leaving and heading back to his dorm.


    When he got back, he found Dan, Gabe, and Garry waiting around thier form living area. Dan was the first up, and in a show of rare emotion, gave Nyx a bear hug as if trying to crush his ribs. ¡°What took you so long? I was starting to think there might be some permanent damage to that ugly mug of yours.¡±


    ¡°Turns out this mug of mine had quite a thick skull. No permanent damage, just a rattled brain.¡±


    Nyx finally freed himself and Gabe gave him a more reserved ¡®bro hug'', clasping hands and patting each other on the back. Even Garry came up to him, seeming unsure how to go about hugging, so Nyx took the initiative rather than have him wait around awkwardly any longer.


    Gabe smiled broadly. ¡°You should have seen it. Dan went ballistic after Benjamin knocked you out. He rushed forward, and I swear he would have killed someone if members of the watching teams hadn¡¯t jumped on him, pinning him down.¡±


    Dan was shifting awkwardly, clearly not sure what to think of the praise. ¡°It¡¯s not like I did anything other than get us kicked out of practice for the rest of the day. Told me to get my head straight before I came back.¡±


    Nyx smiled a tight smile. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe who was the one to look after me while I was injured.¡± He paused, ¡°Benjamin¡¯s sister Vanessa.¡±


    This time Dan frowned. ¡°You¡¯re playing with fire getting close to that one. Even I am not so stupid, you already have seen what her brother is willing to do to you just out of annoyance. Now imagine if he thought you were after his little sister.¡±


    Nyx sighed. ¡°I am not perusing her, in fact, I have zero interest. I just thought it was a funny sort of justice is all.¡±


    Dan nodded knowingly. ¡°Of course, zero interest. Anyways, look at this.¡± He picked up a thick but plain looking book from the kitchen table and shoved it into Nyx¡¯s face.


    ¡°You took it from the Tomes? If Trudy finds out¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± responded Dan still thrusting the open book at Nyx.


    Nyx took a moment to read through the open pages. At the bottom of the second one, there was a detailed picture very much resembling the one Garry had found three days before. There were differences that Nyx saw, probably having to do with this technique involving Earth Chi rather than Air. ¡°This is good, very good. Where did you say you found it?¡±


    Dan puffed out his chest, ¡°I didn¡¯t, and weren¡¯t you just badgering me yesterday about not pulling my weight?¡±


    ¡°So, the restricted section then. Did anyone see you go in there?¡±


    Dan sheepishly scratched the back of his head, looking somewhere off to the side, ¡°no, I was careful. What about it, we were going to have to go there eventually anyway. There aren¡¯t any good techniques in the open sections.¡±


    Nyx allowed himself a smug smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to reprimand you. Before I got ¡®injured¡¯ I was going to suggest we do the same thing. Good work.¡±


    <hr>


    Nyx was able to take one more day away from classes while he recovered. During the day he spent almost all his time focused in meditation. He watched, and occasionally probed at the oscillating chaos in his core, but when the others returned for the night, he continued to teach them to utilize their Chi to strengthen their swords. Then he would wait for them to sleep, and slip away and cultivate heavenly Chi.


    Once Nyx joined classes again he only had one more incident with the chaos that he deemed a tentative success. It was during a cultivation lecture in which he was largely a pariah due to his Mutt status. He had been surrounded by other cadets when he felt the influx of energy about to wreak havoc inside him. He focused inward and managed at the last instant to direct the energy into his hands, releasing it into the underside of his desk.


    At the end of the period when he inspected the table, there was two handprints buried three inches deep into the bottom of the metal surface.


    After the incident with the Chaos, he spent the following evening trying to advise where he could to help his team understand their new cultivation techniques. It turned out to be a daunting task, and they only had one day to spare before they would go hunting demons. Fortunately, the effects of the cultivation techniques would take some time to show and didn¡¯t have much of an impact on the coming trip.


    ¡°Dan, stop trying to force it, you need to be its guide, gently, help it travel through your meridians in the pattern we practiced. Watch how your brother is doing it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡±


    Nyx sighed, ¡°It¡¯s been three days, maybe you should have chosen fire as your element.¡±


    Dan growled at him, face straining as he tried to concentrate. ¡°Shut it.¡±


    An uncoiling in his core was the only warning Nyx got before a surge of energy coursed through him. His body jerked uncontrollably, the power lighting his nerve endings on fire.


    Gabe came into focus above him, wiping a brown curl from his eyes, face pinched with concern. "You alright? I think it''s happening more often now."


    Nyx pulled himself back up in his chair. He had had no warning to prepare this time. The episode had only lasted for a second, but it felt much longer. He waved off the concern while wiping sweat from his brow. The first time it had transpired around them, he had told the seizures were from a childhood illness.


    Nyx looked at returned Dan and Gabe¡¯s concerned looks. Only Garry hadn¡¯t been distracted by his outburst, sitting still, soul in the Aether as he formed thick shields of natural Chi around the brothers. He had learned to utilize the array pattern at an astonishing pace.


    Nyx frown deepened. While facing a demon, all it would take was one shock through his system, and he would be dead. For some reason, he still couldn''t direct the flow of his Chi. When he had first learned fire, it had been much easier.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± he said walking to his room, he had an idea sparked by the advice he had given Dan.


    Nyx had been attempting to control his Chi the same way he had controlled fire in the higher plane. Fire was whimsical and would spread wildly if not directed under an iron fist. It acted like a curious butterfly that blew with the wind. His method for controlling fire did not work with the Chaos, so far attempting to impose his will had caused it to rebel against him.


    He sat cross-legged in his room and delved into his core, he tried a different approach, treating the Chi like a wild stallion. Gently he coaxed the mass of flickering power, he didn''t seek to control it but rather become its guide. The energy began to whirl much more peacefully. He wasn''t sure how long he sat focused inward, but even when his opened eyes, at best, he now had a tentative relationship with his Chi. If he was lucky, he might be able to stop the buildups before he was zapped.


    With the truce, he felt fingers of chaos claw at the door leading to his violent past. the chaos broiled eagerly when The barier cracked open leaking black smoke. He slammed the door shut, stopping the images of death and torture. A fear crawled its way up from the pit of his stomach, burning inside him like a lingering coal. The deepest part of his being refused to let his dark side free, no matter what.


    Nyx waited in his room for the others to fall asleep. He was satisfied that Dan, Gabe, and Garry were ready to face a demon. Dan still struggled with his cultivation technique but had taken up enforcing his blade with ease. The others were similarly competent though Nyx was most impressed with Garry and his ability with the array pattern.


    Grabbing a pair of shorts and tee-shirt he made his way to the door when he sensed the others steady heartbeats, indicating they were asleep. The lights were dim as he slipped through the order¡¯s halls, shadows moving along the wall with his passage. The darkened lights in the central training cavern were far from reaching the ground, leaving the place in semidarkness.


    The patter of footfalls gave Nyx warning, he hid in the shadow of a weapons rack and waited as the steady thumping of shoes on cobblestone grew faint down another passage. Careful not to make a noise, he left the shadow and continued through the near dark.


    It had almost been a week, and most nights after he finished training with his roommates, he left to cultivate heavenly Chi. He was now at the edge of reaching the second level of Basic cultivation. After the third level, he would enter the Shaping stage, at which Elementalists could manifest their energy outside their bodies.


    The reader clicked when Nyx swiped his badge in front. Inside the room, the heavenly Chi had recuperated from when he had last used it. Faint white mist circled, glowing with soft light and began to pool around him. Stripping down, Nyx sat cross-legged in front of the pedestal that held the soul stone. With eyes closed, he began to cultivate, drawing in the heavenly Chi, running it through his meridians.


    Time passed as Nyx focused all his attention on cultivating. Three forms of Chi circled his core. The heavenly Chi built up over a period of days was finally enough to match the demonic already there. Preparing mentally for the pain, he began to mold the demonic and heavenly together. Teeth gritted he continued merging the two, till only the chaos remained. The volume of chaotic Chi swelled and began to swirl as one mass, pressing with overwhelming force at the edges of his core.


    A crack reverberated in the silence as Nyx''s core expanded, lines of power shot out and traveled through his body. All his muscles and organs strained, pushed to their limit, and then torn apart. Slowly he felt his energy move through his body, knitting back together torn muscle fibers, ligaments and organs till the pain was only a lingering memory.


    There was no longer any heavenly or demonic Chi in his core, only a mass of crackling Chaos. Breathing heavily, he waited for his heartbeat to calm down, feeling the stickiness of grime and sweat that clung to him. He had reached the second level of basic. Nyx felt his heart beating powerfully, and he could feel the strength in his hands doubled as he clenched them. He flexed, and corded muscles stood out across his body. His natural ability, unaided by Chi, was now duplicated.


    Picking his clothes up off the floor, Nyx slipped on his pants and left the room, the door closing behind him. Although he was filthy, he felt outstanding. As he walked through the central cavern beside a weapons rack, Nyx brushed his hand over rows of practice swords, the feel of the rough wood beckoned him.


    He came to a stop, hand resting on the hilt of a hand and a half sword. Though made from layered bamboo, it was a similar design to the one he favored in the higher realm; a double-edged blade, tapered to an elegant point. He reverently pulled it from the rack, then slipped off his shirt tossing it onto the ground. A patchwork of silvery scars undulated across his fair skin, fainter now than they had been before his breakthrough. For the first time since coming to earth, Nyx let himself Loose.


    The wooden sword came alive in his hands, spinning with grace speed and power. The sound of the blade whipping through the air further relaxed his mind as his body twisted, flipped, turned at impossible angles with maddening accuracy and speed. At one point he grabbed a second sword off a rack, and it joined the first, becoming a cyclone tearing through the air. Soon a sheen of sweat covered his bare chest lightly reflecting the dim lights far above.


    For a time, all Nyx was aware of was the feeling of his body moving, every muscle as is contracted and extended with relaxed power. He flowed through the various combat circles and environments, a wraith alone in the dark. A tear rolled down his cheek as he let himself dwell on his friends he had left to an uncertain fate in the higher realms.


    When he came to a stop, his breath heavy with his heaving chest, the world came crashing back in around him. It had been a brief respite from his problems. His senses once again expanded out, and he was alarmed to notice someone standing in the dark watching him intently. He didn¡¯t let his surprise show as he made for the person, silently kicking himself for allowing his hold on the world to falter.

 Chapter Thirteen

    Nyx walked towards his silent watcher. He didn¡¯t have to wait long as Vanessa stepped from the shadows. He couldn¡¯t help but notice her shape outlined in the nightgown she was wearing, curved in all the right areas.


    She raised a long elegant eyebrow at him. ¡°Are you stalking me or something? I seem to always see you in the most random of places.¡±


    Nyx smiled wryly. ¡°If anything, it must be the other way around. I would gamble that you set your brother on me so that I would end up in your care, and now it¡¯s not me in the shadows doing the stalking.¡±


    She scoffed raising a hand to her chest in mock hurt. ¡°You should know better than that. I am just a weak girl, no threat to anyone. The more appropriate terminology would be admiring.¡± She made a face. ¡°Stalking has such a negative connotation.¡± She paused, as though lost in thought. ¡°It looked like you were dancing. It was beautiful. Something about it was powerful and at times you moved so fast you looked like a blurr. I didn¡¯t want you to stop, so I hid.¡±


    Nyx nodded thinking back to another lifetime. ¡°Just like with art and music, there is a beauty to the rhythm of death. A painting can only be truly magnificent when there is enough contrast, but not too much to overwhelm the eye. Combat also has a balance between speed, timing, movement, and stillness. Only when they are working in harmony is the exquisiteness of it seen.¡±


    Her laugh chimed playfully. ¡°Big words for a chump who I just had to help patch back together after being embarrassed.¡±


    Nyx shrugged and suddenly remembered he was shirtless as her eyes roved over his chest and arms.


    ¡°Those scars. I almost didn¡¯t notice them they are so faint.¡± She reached out with a hand to touch one.


    Nyx backed away, distancing himself. He was acutely aware of the grime his sweat hadn¡¯t managed to wash away. ¡°Listen, I think you are stunning and can easily have your pick of guys, but not me. We can be friends, but nothing more.¡±


    She smiled at him, her pupils large in the dark, making her appear otherworldly in the loose nightgown. ¡°If it¡¯s my brother you are worried about, he doesn¡¯t have to know. I can cover my tracks.¡±


    Nyx shook his head. ¡°No it¡¯s not that, don¡¯t take it personally. It just is not the right time or place, and you are very young.¡±


    Her laugh rang slightly harsh, no longer the sound of jingling bells or crystal. ¡°Young? You can¡¯t be more than a year older than me.¡±


    ¡°But you are young, and still have much to learn. I don¡¯t have time to become your teacher.¡±


    Vanessa¡¯s face transformed from one full of openness to a cold front. She turned, walking away from him. After a short distance, she looked back over her shoulder. The hurt was evident on her face. ¡°You should know I do not give up easily¡­ Oh, and you smell.¡±


    Nyx sniffed, and the fact he could smell his own stink was not a good sign.


    Still thinking about the bizarre encounter, Nyx was careful not to make a noise as he slipped into his room. He threw his clothes unceremoniously in a pile in the bathrooms corner, and hopped into the shower, feeling the soothing water clean the rest of the muck and sweat from his body. All his roommates were still asleep, unmoving in their rooms, and once he flopped into bed, he was ready to join them.


    <hr>


    In the morning, Nyx felt fresh and well rested, even after the unnerving interaction with Vanessa the night before. It took him a while to realize the reason was the tentative truce with the chaos. Now that he had managed to understand it on a surface level, the stress he hadn¡¯t even noticed before, now became apparent in its absence. He hadn¡¯t woken that night once, and no longer was filled with worries about when the next episode might happen.


    ¡°So we are hunting tonight?¡± asked Dan with something close to excitement as they walked to the Mess for an early breakfast.


    Nyx nodded. ¡°I think we are ready.¡±


    As they eat their meal, the others joined them noisily placing their trays on the table. So far there were only a few other teams already eating. Dan tried to start a few conversations, but Gabe and Garry were subdued saying few words, not that it was unusual for Garry. They went through their classes without incident though by the time night came around even Dan lapsed into moments of introspection, fighting some inner struggle.


    Nyx grabbed Gabe¡¯s car keys from the kitchen table and tossed them to him. "You drive, we need to make one stop on the way to pick up the U-Haul," said Nyx, walking briskly beside the brothers and Garry.


    "What do we need a moving truck for anyways?" he asked.


    "To dispose of the demon''s corpse when we are finished."


    A short time later Nyx swiped his badge at the entrance to the surface. The sensor''s light changed to green, and a quiet ''click'' indicated the lock deactivated. They filed out, and Nyx let the door swing shut after, lock clicking back into place.


    At the parking garage Gabe entered the Honda¡¯s driver seat, Dan next to him on the passenger side. Nyx was in the back with Garry. None of them talked or played music allowing for focus; the nerves were almost palpable. Gabe focused on driving, not even yelling at Dan when he forgot to blow his cigarette smoke out the window. Beside Nyx, Garry shuffled his deck of cards making a constant thrumming sound.


    When the car pulled into the gas station, Nyx got out and breathed in the fresh night air. Clouds had moved in covering the stars, and a soft breeze ruffled his dark blue collared shirt. The cargo van he had rented two days prior, had U-Haul written across the side in black lettering, underlined by a thick orange stripe.


    The van''s engine started with a putter, and Nyx pulled out, taking a left back onto the road. He checked the rearview mirror to confirm the others were following him.


    Once he reached downtown St. Louis, Nyx pulled the van into an alleyway and parked away from any street lamps. He grabbed his backpack, their weapons enclosed inside, and joined to the others as they pulled into a spot nearby.


    "Let''s find a bar and keep a low profile," said Nyx.


    The others agreed without much comment. Dan grinned, though the tension remained in his bearing. "This should be easy, all the ladies love me, assuming the demon is a chick."


    They walked towards Main Street, the area with all the bars. Nyx pointed into a dead-end side alley as they passed by. The walls rose up on three sides, and only with his enhanced eyes could he see into the shadows.


    "That is the spot we will meet back at once we find the demon. Dan, it¡¯s up to you to lure it into there,¡± said Nyx, pointing into the dark.


    They reached Main Street, a wide road with many shops and Bars lining both sidewalks. Many different colored signed glowed in the night. Some advertised liquor while others tried to draw attention to their establishments by outdoing the others. Groups of people walked to the different venues or food stands, laughing and stumbling in the way only drunks could. Occasionally, a car blasting its music would drive by.


    Nyx saw a dive bar he identified as ''the Hideaway,'' by the neon flashing sign, posted on the wall above the door. He led the others inside past the loose wood panels that made up its exterior. There was no bouncer at the door, and Nyx made a quick survey of the space, noting worn tables and chairs spread through the place, with booths across from the bar. There was a noticeable lack of patrons. He placed his backpack on the ground and slid into a booth at the back.


    <hr>


    "One just walked in," said Nyx nodding at an attractive blond in a tee shirt and jeans. "You¡¯re up," he gave Dan a hearty slap on the back.


    "Uhh, you sure I''m the best one for this?" Dan''s eyes stayed on the drink in front of him, as he rolled a glowing cigarette between his fingers.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who claimed to be able to get any girl I want,¡± said Nyx.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not a girl!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You seemed so gung-ho before.¡±


    Beads of perspiration were pooling on Dan¡¯s forehead. ¡°I thought you were kidding about me being the bait.¡±


    ¡°I would never joke about that¡­ as I recall you made excellent bait during our last encounter with the succubus." Nyx smiled. "Plus, this time, you have a weapon and Garry to shield you, so you don''t become useless." He laughed, emphasizing the word ¡®useless.''


    Dan¡¯s face flushed, cheeks turning red as he glared at Nyx. ¡°Don¡¯t forget it was me who saved your ass last time as well. Fine. I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Nyx nodded, "good, I''ll bet ''she'' comes right over when you expose your Chi."


    Gabe''s usually confident voice was quiet with a barely noticeable tremor to it. "Why are these demons always attractive girls?"


    Nyx tilted his head slightly, "What better way for a demon, new on earth, to gain strength than to lure men off to feed. Alright, see you at the alley," he said tipping his head to Dan.


    <hr>


    Dan revealed his core, and the demon''s eyes immediately snapped to him. Nyx was right, always seemed to be right. He hated the idea of being coached by someone younger than he was, but the results spoke for themselves.


    The demon began to make her way over. Long blond hair flowed down delicate shoulders as she seductively twirled a few strands between her fingers. Why did she have to be a demon? He made eye contact and had to remind himself it wasn¡¯t human, hadn¡¯t been for a while now.


    He gulped, he just had to get her to the alley. Easy. As she neared his heartbeat sped up, he gripped the locket hanging from the gold chain around his neck. It was his mums, the last thing he owned that had belonged to his parents. He was doing this for them, somehow that idea helped give him strength and his heartbeat settled down.


    ¡°Hello, mind if I grab a seat?¡± The demon gave him a smile that would melt most men''s hearts. Dan''s felt his anger bubbling, keeping him focused on the task. It was demons that had killed his parents.


    <hr>


    At the alley, Nyx opened the backpack. He handed Gabe his sword and took one for himself then hid behind a stack of soggy cardboard boxes at the alley''s entrance.


    ¡°It¡¯s up to Dan now,¡± said Nyx.


    Gabe squatted down next to him, hands quivering ever so slightly. Garry was silent, but other than Nyx, seemed to be dealing with his nerves the best. His lucky deck of cards never left his hands as he continuously shuffled them, his eyes trained on a gap in the boxes.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Nyx sensed Dan¡¯s Chi along with stronger demonic energy moving towards the alley.


    ¡°Just over here,¡± said Dan, his voice contained a squeakiness Nyx hadn¡¯t heard from him before.


    Nyx watched shadows envelope the demon as it followed Dan into the alley, then stepped out from hiding. Light from a street lamp flashed as he tossed a sword. Dan reached up, catching it, almost like it had been practiced. Together Nyx along with the brothers blocked off the exit. Garry stayed behind, already working to create the array pattern.


    The chaos inside Nyx core began to churn, as though responding to the impending violence. In alarm, he split off a piece of his mind to hold shut the door of darkness. It rattled against him, but he kept it closed. His bloodlust rose, and he felt an excitement that was not entirely unique to himself.


    The girl dropped to her knees, eyes showing white, "Please, whatever you are planning, let me go."


    Dan looked to Nyx for direction, ¡°Are you sure she¡¯s a demon?¡±


    Nyx nodded, ¡°stay alert.¡±


    Realizing it could not trick them the demon rose to its feet and sneered, ¡°To think such weak humans would try to corner me. The way is open. We will keep coming.¡±


    Black smoke began to pool out of its body. Its legs changed, becoming long with coarse black hairs, resembling those of a spider, more of the protrusions grew. Its skin darkened, and small horns sprouted from its head. A harpy. Its eyes began to burn like embers, and hands morphed into long talons with dark red feathers covering her arms. The attractive blond was no more.


    Nyx saw the terror fill Dan and Gabe¡¯s eye, as their bodies began to shake. ¡°Focus! Don¡¯t let fear rule you.¡±


    The demon tilted back its head let out a high-pitched shriek. Waves of demonic Chi blasted outwards. The trash in the alley blew up from the ground as though caught in a gale.


    Garry brought the formation array to bear, and shields of natural encompassed Gabe and Dan. The demon''s energy swirled around them as though river water over rocks. Nyx had no use for a barrier, he soaked in the demonic power and cultivated, feeling it burn its way through his body.


    Nyx yelled at the duo, ¡°Get it together you two! Now!¡±


    To his surprise, only Garry was handling his fear well. The brothers shook their heads to clear them; their hands trembled, knuckles white on the hilts of their swords. Their eyes had gone wide, but they were focused.


    "Make sure you both have room to maneuver, one attack high the other low. Don''t lose focus!" Nyx continued to watch for a hint of the demon''s intentions. He hung back to cover the other two, he was fast enough to keep up with the harpy, but if his Chi acted up, it would be dangerous. After all, he only had a narrow understanding of the element.


    A slight tightening of muscles was all the warning they got. The demon moved like a cross between the scuttle of a spider, and a cats prowl. Dan stepped back, but not fast enough. A talon tore a gash into his bicep. Nyx watched him resist the urge to drop his weapon, as the wound began to bleed profusely.


    Gabe didn''t hesitate. He attacked high, teeth gritted, forgetting his fear momentarily. "Stay away from my brother," he growled, stabbing forward. It was a clean thrust, good form. A shallow cut was opened across the demon''s cheek as it jumped back further into the alley. An animal cornered.


    A Gabe moved to follow, he stepped on a piece of trash. The demon''s eyes blazed bright as Gabe hesitated, feeling the unsure footing. Caught in transition, a razor-sharp claw swung towards his exposed throat. He raised his sword, muscles straining, but Nyx knew he was too slow.


    He only had one choice. He coaxed a spark of chaotic Chi to cycle through his meridians in a pattern he was familiar with, one that increased speed. To his surprise, it responded eagerly. His eyes flashed white, and he moved, a phantom, almost faster than the eye could follow. His sword rung out as it blocked the demon''s talons, just inches from Gabe''s face.


    All Nyx''s nerve endings were on fire, and only willpower kept him on his feet. A maniacal grin spread across his face. He hadn''t wanted to use the Chi until he had more practice with it, but now that he had... it felt¡­ euphoric. He forced the chaos back into his core before his bloodlust escaped its chains. Sweat ran down his forehead and darkened his shirt; he shook his head to clear it of the destruction he had wanted to cause.


    The demon disengaged, jumping back, it refocused on Dan. Fangs bared, it closed the distance, scuttling forward. Dan stepped to the side, he struck with his sword, and a dull clang rang out. A gash opened on the demon''s arm dripping black blood. Enraged the demon''s other claw swiped, the talons tore through Dan''s shirt, grazing the skin of his stomach.


    Nyx backed up, breathing heavily.


    Gabe saw his opportunity, and Chi strengthened his arm and sword. He moved toward the distracted demon, slicing low, the sword flashed slowing slightly on contact. One of the demon''s protruding limbs severed at the joint. It howled out in anger ¡®how could such weaklings cause me pain?! He told us the ones that glowed were for us to feed!¡¯


    The howl filled the air with the promise of suffering. Ropes of red power blasted toward everyone in the alley. Dan and Gabe stepped back, their legs trembled, they turned to run but found they were bound in place.


    A cord of demon Chi passed the three at the front, snaking between them, it wrapped around Garry. His spirit was ripped from the Aether rendering his formation array inert. His mouth stood agape now seeing the scene with his own eyes.


    Nyx stepped forward, coming between the demon and the others, its movements had become jerky with the severed leg. Cords of demonic energy wrapped Nyx, but had no effect, as he absorbed them. The demon''s fiery eyes grew wide.


    The demonic voice echoed, ¡°This is not possible! What are you?¡±


    His body felt like it was being torn to shreds by the demonic energy ranging through his meridians. He could feel the muscles, organs, skin, and bones being reformed yet again by the Chi. The power of the demons was undeniable.


    Nyx walked through the storm that assailed him and smiled. ¡°When you next see Aggoth, tell your General that I am coming for him.¡±


    With that he loosened his muscles and flowed forward, slipping past the barrage of flailing talons. Its claws caught only air. Nyx tried to summon the chaos, but it didn''t respond. He felt the storm building in his core. Nyx spun low, building momentum. A lunging claw cut the air above, and his heel hammered into the leg that was closest to him. The Harpy tripped, overextending as it tried to catch its balance. Nyx completed the spin straightening up; his sword rammed under the demons chin all the way through the top of its skull. With a flick, he flung the body off his blade as gore continued to drip from the weapon''s tip.


    The chaos began to writhe in Nyx¡¯s core. He braced for the pain, then remembered what he had learned. Forcing himself to relax, he gently urged it back to his core. For a moment he though it would reject his bidding as it buldged ominously, but then It retracted. He let out a relieved sigh, it had worked.


    The others were all freed from the demon¡¯s influence as the tendrils of demonic power dissipated into the air. Nyx took a deep breath then got up, ignoring his companions he focused on the corpse. With precision, he blocked all the pores on the demon¡¯s body burning them shut. He needed to prevent the demonic Chi from leaking out, or the corpse would be wasted.


    Nyx turned to the others, they stared at him, still shaking from the experience with the demon. "Help me get this in the van." He jerked a stiff leg. Nobody moved, "Now." Finally, they reacted helping him to lift the body.


    At the van, Nyx opened the back and grabbed several trash bags. They made quick work bundling the corpse up then sealed it with duct tape.


    The vans back door slammed shut with the mummified demon inside. Nyx hopped into the driver seat and started the engine. He rolled down the windows turning towards the other three. They still seemed to be in a state of shock as none of them spoke.


    ¡°I am going to dispose of the demon, ill meet you all back at the order.¡±


    With that Nyx rolled up the window, the others would have to find their own way of dealing with their shock.

 Chapter Fourteen

    The freezer facilities were empty when Nyx opened the front door using of the key Botox lady had given him. Nyx dragged the trash bag covered cadaver through the facilities halls, lifting it when the bag got caught on a tile corner. Finally, he placed it on a shelf at the side of his unit, brushing away lines of frost. He ran a hand along the sealed bad, double checking to make sure no demon Chi was leaking. With a satisfied nod, he closed and locked the door of the freezer, and returned to the van.


    There would be enough Chi for a while before needing another demon. In Nyx¡¯s core, there was a maelstrom taking pace as his chaotic Chi attacked the demonic presence beside it. Once he was back, before sleeping, he would need to deal with the demon¡¯s essence and malevolence.


    After dropping off the rental van, Nyx jogged back to the complex glad it wasn¡¯t far away. The full moon had come out from behind the cloud cover, lighting his way with a soft ambiance. Though he passed the orange glow of an occasional light, the business district of the city was asleep.


    The card reader clicked green at the metal door built into the rustic brick wall. The entrance to the orders complex. He wound his way through the tunnels without seeing anyone and slipped into his apartment unit. Gabe, Garry, and Dan were sitting on the living room couch, they had been talking but stopped when Nyx walked in. They all had a haunted look in their eyes.


    Gabe broke the silence. ¡°How did you do it? I¡¯ve seen people move fast before, but not that fast. I knew I was going to die, then somehow you got there in time.¡±


    Dan nodded. There was a fresh bandage on his arm and stomach that covered the gashes the demon had torn into him. ¡°Not to mention how you waded through the demon''s energy, then almost seemed to flow past its attacks, killing it in a single stroke.¡± He smoked a cigarette, but his usual fire was gone, eyes almost pleading. ¡°I don¡¯t ever want to feel like that again.¡±


    Nyx looked at Garry who nodded to him but stayed silent.


    He nodded slowly. He had started to view these three as friends, but a selfish part of his mind saw what they might become. "I can¡¯t tell you anything, but I can teach you to use those swords properly. You were sloppy tonight."


    Dan made to comment, but Nyx held up a hand stopping him. ¡°No, now go to sleep. No more questions, I am tired.¡±


    Rather than break them, it seemed the demon had only increased the teams drive to improve. Nyx closed his bedroom door and threw yet another set of soiled clothes into the trash, this was becoming a trend. He stepped into the tub and assumed a cross-legged position. The demonic energy he had cultivated during the fight, was being bombarded by the Chaos, driven into a corner of his core.


    Nyx¡¯s mind relaxed as he delved into his sea of consciousness. The natural glow of his soul was in shadow. A memory started to coalesce, forced on him by a malevolent presence. He was curious what the demonic energy would try to show him this time.


    He stood in an ornate manse with plush carpets covering the ground. Every piece of furniture and ornament was flush with wealth. Decadent couches sat on both sides of the entryway with a high arched doorway just behind him. He looked back at the imperial staircase descending into gardens bellow, filled with Rows of spirit trees all dangling with white bulbs and round fruit. Above him, a crystal chandelier reflected light sparkling in all directions. To Nyx''s left, a second flight of stairs spiraled up to the villas'' second floor.


    A woman, radiating natural beauty seemed to glide down the steps as she walked to meet him, hand resting lightly on the railing. She had silky brown hair and delicate features with soft, kind, blue eyes shining with intelligence. Nyx swelled with a sense of wonder, she was perfect. He knew without a doubt she was the counterpart to his soul, she completed him.


    On seeing Nyx, Ella¡¯s beauty only increased as a smile lit her face. Her voice, sweet like honey, raised in excitement. ¡°You came to see me! My father will not be happy.¡±


    Nyx smiled at this fond memory from the higher planes. His first love and wife, why would the demon show him this?


    The memory faded and another one formed. Nyx was on the ground with the same woman trembling in his arms. He had forgotten how light and delicate she felt. A different set of emotions filled him. He tried to stop the tears running down his cheeks as anguish warred at his heart. Blood pooled around him; Her blood. Ella''s usually rosy cheeks had grown pale as the warmth faded from her limbs. He re-lived the rage, the pain. How could they do this to her! She was an innocent bystander.


    Nyx wiped away his tears, but it was a useless effort as more pooled in his eyes running down his face.


    Ella¡¯s fingers brushed Nyx''s cheek as she smiled in a last brave moment. It was a secret smile, one he cherished. ¡°I love you, remember...¡± As her speech trailed off, her baby blue eyes lost focus becoming glassy and empty. The shivering in her body stilled, and she became limp in his arms. He could almost see her soul depart, forever stolen from him.


    Hatred filled him as he looked up at the conniving faces all around. The officers from the Acadian army now surrounded him with grim expressions. Behind them, a smug look on his face, stood Fremont, dressed ostentatiously in his red silk dress coat and pants.


    Nyx gritted his teeth as he snarled. ¡°I fought a war for you. The entire time you were planning to hand it all over, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    The diplomats face flushed as he looked down his long nose at him. ¡°Curb your tongue. We had to look for an alternative. Agrion¡¯s price was the death of anyone with strong ties to the republic. I am truly sorry it had to end like this...¡±


    The room seemed to sway in front of Nyx as uncontrollable wrath coursed through him. "What was the price, tell me what Ella''s life and the republic are worth to you."


    Nyx¡¯s body seemed to act on his own as his vision went red. He cycled the energy from his core and flames engulfed him. He knew he would die here, but he no longer cared. As though far distant, he heard the Chancellor yelling for his guards to kill him.


    Before the elite members of the republic''s military could draw their weapons, Nyx was among them. He felt a throat in his fist being crushed, heard a scream as torrents of flame burned a man alive. At some point, a blade stabbed him in the side, but he felt nothing. The panic ensuing all around him seemed muted, all he saw was flashes of people dying.


    The first to die at his hands were the members of the military, but he didn''t stop there. The guests and servants were next. Deep inside he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he was lost in a turbulent sea of his darkness. Nobody could reason with him¡­ and they died. When it was over, he searched through the carnage before laying down beside a crumbling wall. The one person he wanted dead most, Fremont, wasn''t among the bodies. He screamed at the world, cursing his luck. ¡®Luck,¡¯ He mused, ¡®what a stupid thing to blame.¡¯


    Tears ran down Nyx¡¯s face where he sat in the bathtub. The memories he had buried deep, felt fresh. The demon had achieved its goal of causing Nyx sorrow, but instead of working to break him, it hardened his resolve.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    With a thought, he banished the memory, and his soul, now unhindered, spread with blinding white light. He didn''t give the demon''s specter a chance to move or speak. A ray of light shot from his outstretched hand and the demon''s essence was torn to shreds, evaporating into the air.


    The chaotic Chi in Nyx¡¯s core calmed, no longer attempting to destroy the demonic now that it was under his control; they circled each other in peace. There was an excess heavenly and demonic Chi in his core.


    Taking a moment to wipe his face, Nyx turned on the shower cleaning off the gunk from the day. Soap and water dispelled the rancid odor, carrying it away in the spray of water. He remained standing under the shower even once clean, fresh memories caused by the demon running through his mind.


    Nyx would locate the demon who killed his father on Earth, and when he was ready, the abomination would die. After that, he would pursue the others he owed a debt.


    ¡°Please be alive,¡± he muttered under his breath. If his friends in the higher realm had died, in exchange for his return to earth¡­ was it worth it? He had to believe it was.


    <hr>


    As Nyx woke the next morning, he breathed in the smell of the dorms. There was a distinct musky fragrance that the apartment space had, not to mention the lack of natural light. He reached out with his senses, listening for his team''s heartbeats. They were all pumping out a steady rhythm that told him they were sleeping. All except for Dan.


    Nyx strode into the soft yellow light of the living area. Dan sat on the couch, his eyes bloodshot with dark bags underneath. ¡°Did you sleep at all last night?¡± asked Nyx.


    Dan looked up with haunted eyes and shrugged. "I promised myself that if I saw a demon again, I wouldn''t cower in fear."


    ¡°Hey, look at me. It¡¯s not your fault; a demon¡¯s presence isn¡¯t something easily confronted, especially at your level. Their very being is derived from the ability to break human souls. The only way to overcome the primal fear is through exposure and training.¡±


    Dan grunted, he was fingering a locket that hung from the gold chain at his neck, ¡°After my parents died, I promised myself I would be strong, guess I just couldn¡¯t live up to it.¡±


    Nyx voice turned firm. ¡°self-pity won¡¯t do anything to solve your problems, trust me, I know. Now is the time to take responsibility and use the lessons to improve.¡±


    For once Dan didn¡¯t explode into anger but seemed to be contemplating Nyx¡¯s words.


    ¡°I am heading out for the day and will be back tonight.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, alright I¡¯ll tell Joshua,¡± said Dan, staring blankly at the far wall. It was slightly worrying to Nyx that he didn''t even mention the extra work Gregor had the team do the last time he skipped.


    Outside there were a number of other students in grey uniform in the hall. The early birds. Some smirked as Nyx walked passed, either seeing the badge identifying him as a mutt, or having heard about how he had been knocked unconscious.


    Nyx ignored them keeping his eyes forward. Once in the central cavern, he grabbed a quick meal from the buffet, finishing it hastily. Nobody said anything to him as he strolled into the upward sloping passage. A walk, and time to contemplate always helped Nyx organize his thoughts. His mind was still a jumble after experiencing the memory from the night before. At the top, Nyx pushed his way past the thick door and out of the complex. Several high-rises lined a wide sidewalk made of slabs of concrete. Windows not in the shade, reflected pale morning light. Men and women in suits carried their bags and briefcases, sipping morning coffee.


    None of them gave Nyx as much as a second glace, focused on their destinations with sleepy eyes. Nyx wandered aimlessly lost in his thoughts. It had been a long time since he had dwelled on the memories of the night before. They haunted him, made him feel vulnerable. Old wounds torn wide. The chaos churned and he almost thought it was trying to comfort him. but it was a silly thought.


    Nyx found a bench and sat beside a bubbling water fountain, the gentle gurgle of the water helped him let go of his tension. A red glow pulled him from his thoughts, indicating the approach of a demon. The person in question was elderly with styled grey hair receding at the temple, wearing a fitted blue suit. His face was stern, and he appeared as a successful businessman.


    Judging by the demon¡¯s demeanor, Nyx guessed it must be in a high-ranking position. He followed it, till it disappeared through the revolving door of a legal company.


    Activity picked up as the morning wore on as an ever-increasing number of people made their way to the different buildings. Hidden in the crowd, Nyx identified several other demons, many appearing to be quite affluent. Most of them entered the rectangular municipal building of the public sector.


    Of the demons he had seen that morning, most possessed a considerably stronger aura than the two he had faced so far. He thought they must belong to the marching hoard. Tracking all these demons on his own would be impossible. He needed informants that could gather information. With the ¡®honest¡¯ sectors all teeming with demons, he decided he needed to look to the seedier criminal elements.


    A middle-aged man sidled over and took a seat next to Nyx. He was ordinary, neither demon nor Elementalist. With a flick, he straightened his newspaper and crossed his legs creating creases in his brown slacks.


    After sitting in silence for a short time, the man looked over at Nyx, folding away his newspaper. ¡°Here for a summer internship?¡± he asked in a gruff, but friendly voice. He had quaffed brown hair, and his suit didn¡¯t quite fit him.


    Nyx nodded without looking over, but the man didn¡¯t take the hint.


    ¡°What are you seventeen, eighteen?¡±


    Nyx ignored the question. ¡°Mind if I take a look at that paper?¡± he asked. This guy was studying him too intently for his liking.


    The man shrugged. ¡°Sure, same stuff as usual.¡±


    With a grunt, he pushed himself up from the bench and took out his phone. As he walked away, he looked back with a last curious glance at Nyx over his shoulder.


    Nyx flipped the paper back to the front page. It was a story on global warming. Data on the changing of climate and storms over the past years was listed in detail. It appeared there had been unprecedented weather development over the past week. The paper indeed depicted quite a scene with wars, environmental trouble, and an unstable economy.


    The man hadn''t returned for his paper, so Nyx left it rolled up on the bench beside him. The day had begun to heat up with the occasional cloud darkening the sun. The streets surrounding Nyx were busy with vehicles waiting in traffic. Taxis found spots to park along the side of the road, waiting for potential customers.


    Nyx could sense traces of various kinds of Chi in the warm breeze. He closed his eyes enjoying the moment of peace, and his enhanced hearing picked up the faint sound of sirens, but he paid it no mind; what would a city be without the sound of sirens?


    The sound continued to grow until a police cruiser pulled right up onto the sidewalk. Out came two officers, they straightened their uniforms before walking up to Nyx.


    ¡°Sir, could you please come with us.¡± The officer flashed his badge, identifying him as James. His voice was commanding but not aggressive. He had dirty blond hair that had been buzzed short tapering on the sides. His partner stood back, hand resting near his gun. Nyx noted the unbuttoned strap on his holster.


    ¡°Can I ask what this is about?¡± asked Nyx, though he had a good idea.


    ¡°It is confidential, we will inform you at the precinct. Don¡¯t worry, no charges have been filed, just a routine questioning.¡±


    The other officer regarded Nyx, his face stern and without stubble, shaved head glistening in the sunlight. "Don''t make this more complicated than it needs to be son, if we have to go get a warrant, then we won''t be in such a good mood."


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come,¡± said Nyx with a shrug.


    James raised an eyebrow at his partner before giving Nyx a reassuring smile. "Come, grab a seat in the back, we have been looking for you, contacted your parents, but they didn''t have any idea where you were."


    Nyx kept his voice calm. ¡°I haven¡¯t been living with my foster family recently.¡±


    As he shut the police cruisers door as people on the sidewalk slowed, or stopped, to stare at him being taken in by the police. Steel mesh separated Nyx from the two officers in the front seats. He could see James eyeing him through the rearview mirror as the cruiser shifted into drive and merged back onto the road.


    ¡°I must say, your folks seemed mighty worried about you,¡± said James.


    Nyx watched people on the sidewalks or in other cars with detached interest as they passed by. ¡°I highly doubt they are worried.¡±


    ¡°There was this nasty crime a bit over a week ago. Funny thing is, we saw you on the tape at the time it would have happened,¡± said James partner, he was either perpetually irritable or playing the bad cop.


    Nyx remained silent, meeting the officers look with a glare of his own.

 Chapter Fifteen

    The officers spent the remainder of the ride in silence, not so much as looking back at him. Buildings passed and gradually grew smaller till they were no longer in the city. Nyx allowed himself to relax, feeling secure in the knowledge there was only circumstantial evidence against him at best.


    The cruiser pulled into the station, parking beside several other cop cars. The precinct was built from painted white cinderblocks. An American flag waved out front, highlighted against a sky quickly growing dark and overcast. A pair of concrete stairs with metal rails led to the door, rusting where they were fitted together.The place felt stale, in the way of an airport or office building. A place of work but little life.


    The reception area had uncomfortable looking wooden chairs lining a side wall, with a desk facing the door. The agent at the counter looked up, a bushy brown beard peeking over the papers in his hands. He nodded at seeing the two other officers. ¡°Found him did ya?¡± he asked with a southern drawl. Nyx decided he didn''t like the way this man eyed him.


    ¡°Got a tip,¡± James motioned for Nyx to follow. ¡°This way.¡± They passed several offices with stacks of paperwork resting beside outdated computers.


    At the end of the hall, a plaque read ¡¯Captain Jarvis. The door was open, a middle-aged man with spikey greying hair and a neat goateesat in his high-backed chair. He was focused on paperwork and didn¡¯t notice Nyx¡¯s eyes on him.


    There was a massive amount of demonic energy swirling around the chief -- an ominous red. Neither of the officers with Nyx showed any indication of perceiving the thick power. Nyx calculated his odds and frowned, even if this demon had little combat knowledge, he wouldn¡¯t Stand a chance. His gut clenched, and the chaos churned. Nyx forced down his rising heart rate before the chaos acted up and got him killed.


    The hall opened into a room filled with the clack of keyboard keys and raised voices. Officers of lower rank sat at desks answering phones, while others had their eyes glued to computer screens. The hall to the left took them past several cuffed individuals sitting on a bench with officers keeping a close watch. The men were a tough sort, many with tattoos crawling all the way up their necks. They glared at him, one or two making rude gestures.


    The door to the interrogation room shut with a sense of finality. It was a simple room with two large rectangular black windows. Nyx couldn¡¯t see through them but knew others watched him from behindthe dark surfaces. He took a seat at the metal table in the room¡¯s center, back to the wall. James chose the one opposite, straitening his uniform before taking sitting. The mean looking officer with the shaved head remained standing just inside the room shutting the door behind them.


    ¡°Would you like something to drink? We have coffee and water, not many options I know,¡± said James smiling in the way of a kind uncle. It did nothing to alleviate the pressure between them. Nyx felt his nerves rise, the presence of the demon changed things.


    Nyx shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, what is this all about?¡±


    The smile disappeared, ¡°well Nyx,¡± he paused and Nyxfelt a crawlingsensation as the officerinspected him. ¡°We have you on tape at about the same time two brutal murders were committed.¡±


    James pulled a paper from the folder sitting on the table and pushed it across to Nyx. It was a picture depicting two bodies, one with a knife in the eye, and the other with its throat slit. One of the bodies was skinny while the other was a big man. The piggish nose he couldn¡¯t forget.


    Nyx pushed the picture away and shook his head. ¡°Never seen them before.¡±


    James softened his voice. ¡°I am not accusing you. This was clearly the work of a professional." He looked Nyx up and down. "We checked your background, and you do not seem to fit the profile. What I am asking is if you remember seeing anyone or anything while you were at that seven-eleven."


    Again, Nyx shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t say I do.¡±


    James pleasant expression turned down into a scowl. His partner¡¯s deeper voice rumbled from by the door. ¡°I reckon you are guilty. According to your foster father¡¯s testimony, you have a habit of violence.¡±


    Nyx felt a twinge of uncertainty as something probed at his core, the feeling akin to a spider crawling across his skin. He checked his veil, relievedwhen it was still in place, hiding his core. Another probing touch pushed against it, now more like a shark nudging its prey. Nyxreached out with his senses, searching the area around him. Through the black double-sided glass window, he saw a sea of angry red. The demon Chief, a specter of dark red smoke to his mind''s eye, was prodding at him.


    Nyx reinforced his veil, adding new structure with his soul. He kept his breathing natural knowing they couldn¡¯t keep him here without evidence. ¡°I have no information on this incident. I assume I am not under arrest? Am I free to go?¡±


    James turned in his chair, looking back at his partner, who handed him another sheet of paper. He slapped it in front of Nyx. ¡°This is a witness testimony placing you in direct confrontation with these dead men.¡±


    Worryknotted up Nyx''s insides, who could have seen him? Then he remembered the elderly lady. Of course,they would bring her in once they saw her on the tape. He shoved the testimony back across the table. This was bad. The demon was strong enough it might be able to pierce his veil if he stayed much longer. He shouldn''t have to come in, but he wanted information he could find here.


    James took out a pair of cuffs and Nyx remained silent as he was read his rights. The heavy metal clasped around his wrists. With gentle strength, James kept a firm hand on his back leading him from the room. He contemplated fighting free, but it might force the demon to reveal itself.


    ¡°Unfortunately, you can¡¯t see a judge until tomorrow to get your bail set. You are going to have to spend the night in one of our cells.¡±


    Back in the hall, men in cuffs eyed him from the bench. Nyxmaintained eye contact with the largest and ugliest man, sauntering over. He ignoring James'' calls for him to follow and kicked the man''s leg hard enough to bruise,just below a rip inhis wornout jeans.


    ¡°What are you looking at? You ugly bald Q ball,¡± sneered Nyx, then sealed the insult with a glob of saliva.


    The man responded by shoving him away peeling his lip back with a snarl. ¡°I¡¯ll find you later kid, looks like we will be sharing a jail cell.¡±


    Nyx slapped him in the face. Hard. A handprint welled up, and Nyx almost wanted to back away from the anger he saw, but instead, he smiled derisively. For good measure, before the officers could intervene, he backhanded two of the other men in cuffs as well -- two-handed. People tended to be braver in groups. The felon stood, towering over Nyx, a bull of a man. A Black tattoo of an eagle climbed into what remained of his hairline.


    The officer nearest ordered him to sit back down. The man ignored him, muscles bulging as he forced his cuffs apart. Seeing the man next to them stand they two others Nyx had hit joined him. There was a quiet moment of indrawn breath, then the chain snapped.


    Nyx had never seen an ordinary man use only brute strength to break a pair of cuffs. He could remove his own with ease, but this man''s feat fascinated him. He stared into dark eyes -- dark orbs of black surrounded by a small ring of brown iris. He must have been on drugs, maybe PCP would explain the strength.


    Nyx smirked at him, riling him further. A meaty fist connected with an officer that got too close, opening space for him toswipe a hand at Nyx. Ducking under the thick arm,Nyx stepped forward at an angle, closer to a hallway he hoped had an exit. Five officers including James, piled into the bullish man forcing him back. With a cry of rage, he threw them off, eyes locking onto the officer nearest him.


    The door beside the interrogation room opened and Nyx felt all his instincts telling him to run. The police chief stepped out, swirling with latent power. Nyx was certain the demon could crush him like a grape. He forced himself to remain calm, predators could smell fear.


    The beast stood in the doorway, licking its lips, gaze filled with inhuman fascination. It smiled as a baton thudded against flesh, and the drugged man bellowed, tossing the offending officer. Nyx stepped to the side, and the officer collapsed against the wall in a heap.


    Slowly, Nyx knelt grabbing the keys from the unconscious man¡¯s belt loop. He waited. The brute was causing mayhem with the two others helps. Officers yelled curses and pulled out tasers. They had less than the desired effect as the man shrugged off the wires. Nyx slipped down the hall and around a corner expecting someone to yell after him, but nobody did.


    It was a dead end, no exit there. He cursed silently, trying the handle to the nearest door. It was locked. He went through the keys he had stolen, getting it right on the second try and slipped inside. After his eyes adjusted, he realized he was in a filing room. Grey metal drawers sat in rows. He heard the patter of feet running by outside, then there was a loud cracking noise, and the scuffle with the convict quieted. They would notice he was missing now.


    Nyx frowned down at the cuffs on his wrists. His fingers flexed as he gripped the metal. He was surprised how easily they peeled off, pieces grinding against each other until the bands snapped free. He waited without so much as twitching to see if anyone had heard, then dropped the warped pieces of metal into a filing drawer. Outside there was more commotion, voicesraised. He could feel the Demon nearby in the building, could almost sense it sniffing the air. Someone tested the handle from outside, and it rattled softly. Shit, he thought having forgotten to lock it. Stupid.


    Nyx leaned back against the wall by the door, making himself small. It opened and a curly-headed officer peeked inside, eyesgoing wide when he saw Nyx. Nyx watched his adam''s apple bob as he sucked in a breath and his hand shot out like a cobra strike, gripping him by the throat. He felt the man''sneck crumble like an empty water bottle as he crushed his trachea. The man gurgled hands clawing at his neck. Nyx pulled him into room whispering an empty apology, feeling his gut twist. What choice did he have? He couldn¡¯t very well let the man expose him. He shut the door, locking it this time. The man''s face was turning purple, Nyx leaned down and snapped his head back, ending his struggle.


    Nyx turned down the volume on the dead officer¡¯s radio, waiting, listening. Two others tried the door but moved on when they found it locked. Only a few slivers of light found their way into the room, but it was enough for him to see. He waited a bit longer then began growing impatient, starting to pace. Quietly he pulled open the closest of the metal drawers and fingered through the files inside.


    He made quick work opening and scanning through the various tabs labeling the different sections. He was halfway down the wall, going through the G''s, when he pulled out a dark blue folder. He smiledat its contents, an upcoming sting operation on a local mafia family. He could use this; the file even listed the undercover feds who were in play.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    As Nyx continued waiting, he felt a cloying sense of death in the air, subtle enough he had missed it before. There must be more just one demon in the place. He waited for the sense to fade and the sounds outside to cease, then left the room. He moved silently through the empty halls, backtracking through the station to the front.


    He was almost at the exit without seeing another soul, when two officers walked in the door shouting as Nyx rushed them. The taller, slimmer one, with dark burgundy hair, reached for his gun. He was much too slow. Nyx scythed through them, and with two well-placed shots left them in unconscious heaps on the floor as he barreled outside. He felt the Chaos swirl slowly, as though in disappointment when he left them alive.


    Nyx sprinted, diving into a bush rolling back to his feet, out of sight. He raced along the roadside feeling the wind rushing through his hair and buffeting his clothes. He heard a cop car long before it was visible and hid behind a tree waiting for it to pass, then continued up the road. Just a little further up the way, he made for the credit union situated across the street. It was a well-kept if quint establishment, the kind often seen in small communities.


    With the file still tucked under his arm, Nyx pulled open the banks front door. He could only use cold hard cash from now on. The teller at the booth was a chunky woman with mousy brown hair. She appeared bored as she twiddled with a strand gazing into space. Other than the two of them the bank was deserted.


    Nyx got her attention as he walked up to the counter. "I am looking to withdraw some funds." He said, forcing a pleasant smile onto his face.


    The teller perked up from her boredom. ¡°Depending on the amount, I will need to see two forms of Id.¡±


    Nyx nodded and pulled out his wallet. ¡°I only have a driver¡¯s license and my bank card on me.¡± he gave her a hopeful look. ¡°Can we make that work? It would be a real hassle to have to go all the way back for another form of ID.¡± He gave another smile he hoped was charming.


    The teller started twirling her hair again. ¡°I¡¯m Jessica... I guess that will work.¡±


    Nyx followed the sidewalk jogging in the direction of the used car dealership he had seen earlier. He clutched a bag containing the rest of his money, amounting to six-thousand-five-hundred dollars. The breeze had stiffened, blowing in more clouds that darkened the sky. Nyx felt a light drizzle tickling the back of his hands and face. In the distance thunder rumbled, a storm was brewing.


    Nyx ears picked up the sound of a police car, he quickly hid in the undergrowth by the road, waiting for it to pass him. More cop cars left the station, but Nyx¡¯s senses picked up on them before they came into view.


    Up ahead were rows of colored flags waving in front of a red building. A sign with sizeable red letting read, ¡®Bob''s Used Vehicles¡¯. At the back of the lot, Nyx began inspecting the various cars keeping a careful eye on the road. They had the price and information painted on the windshield in white lettering.


    Nyx eyes lit up when he saw a used black mustang, priced at six-thousand. It had deeply tinted windows that would suit him perfectly.


    A salesman with a neatly trimmed beard and shiny slicked back hair came out on seeing Nyx inspecting the car. ¡°I see you have good taste! That is the 2006 ford mustang GT, fully loaded with a v8 engine. We replaced the brake pads and gave it an all-around tune-up.¡± He pointed to the car''s wheels, ¡°Tires are fairly new, should still have another good forty-thousand miles on them.¡±


    Nyx was skeptical. The price seemed low even for a 2006 used model. ¡°How much?¡±


    The salesman pointed to the listed amount. ¡°Six-thousand is as low as we can go, and that is only possible because we are overstocked and need to clear out inventory.¡±


    Nyx nodded, ¡°I''ll take it, I am paying in cash, but I need the title of ownership left blank.¡±


    The salesman paused, but when Nyx tipped his bag showing the bills inside he quickly plastered on another smile. ¡°Certainly, it won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    <hr>


    Half an hour later Nyx placed the paperwork for the Mustang on the passenger seat along with the file from the police station and remaining cash. He now had less than five hundred dollars to his name. The rain outside was pouring down, leaving splotches on the folder he had snagged from the station. The paint had been cleared off the windshield and the cars black exterior glistened with the water droplets pooling on the surface.


    The car¡¯s interior had the smell of faded leather, a wintergreen air freshener hung from the rearview mirror. Nyx turned the key in the ignition, and a satisfying rumble greeted him.


    A police cruiser passed on the road in front of him. It had grown dark outside, and with the extra protection of the tinted windows, Nyx didn''t think he could be identified. The car''s engine revved as he pulled out onto the road following in the same direction the cop car had gone. Shortly Nyx parked beside Gabe''s Honda in the parking garage. Sheets of rain pelted the pavement as he ran out from cover. His clung to him, wet with rainwater by the time he entered the surface tunnel. He pulled the file and remaining cash from under his shirt. They had protected for the most part.


    ¡°Uhm what¡¯s this about?¡± asked Garry when Nyx placed the paperwork for his new car by the keyboard, beside a fanned-out deck of cards.


    ¡°Can you do me a favor? I need the title of this car placed it under an alias. I am kind of in a spot of trouble.¡±


    Garry''s eyebrows drew close as he ran his hand through his hair. There was an excitement bubbling below the surface. "This isn''t going to be easy." He looked up at Nyx, seeming to consider something. He looked like he was about to say something else but couldn¡¯t get the words out.


    Nyx waited, but when nothing was forthcoming, he patted Garry on the back. ¡°Thank you. How are you feeling after the facing a demon for the first time? Dan was quite messed up afterward.¡±


    Garry¡¯s eyes glazed in memory, he shivered. ¡°I made a mistake. Didn¡¯t create an array around myself, I was also too weak to shield three people, I need more practice¡­ The fear¡­¡± he paused as though considering how to phrase his next thought. ¡°I tend to always be in my head thinking... about¡­ stuff. The fear wasn¡¯t logical. It didn¡¯t make sense.¡± He couldn¡¯t meet Nyx¡¯s eyes when he next spoke. ¡°Joshua wants to see you in his office.¡±


    Nyx nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, thanks.¡±


    Joshua was seated behind his desk, Nyx could sense a slow-burning frustration in him. Neither of them spoke for a while, just watching each other. When Joshua finally spoke his baritone held a particular flavor of regret. "Would you like to know what finally got your father killed? It was his arrogance in thinking he knew best. You can challenge the rules but in the end, all you are doing it endangering everyone. I fear you are running a similar course, and it is my duty to direct you onto a steadfast path. I am revoking your access to the surface."


    Inside Nyx was seething. Who was Joshua to give him commands? How many lifetimes had he lived? He had not seen a fraction of what Nyx had lived through. Nyx kept all these feeling to himself only nodding, his voice still steady. "Technically, I am still not a student correct? Considering the loophole you used to get me early admission."


    "Where are you going with this?"


    "Well since I''m early, how about you let me continue to have access to the surface. In return, I will promise to compete in your little tournament."


    Joshua scratched his smooth-shaven chin as he regarded Nyx, some light appeared deep in his eyes with a cold calculation of probabilities. "Alright, but you are still going to have to answer to Gregor and your other instructors for skipping though."


    Nyx Returned to the living area and motioned for Dan and Gabe to follow him. They gave each other a look before shrugging and getting up to trail him from the apartment complex. He was sure they could sense the embers of frustration still gnawing at him, darkening his mood. Matt stayed behind, but something about the way he watched them leave made Nyx think he would ask if he could join. He didn¡¯t.


    Once in the central training area, Nyx had them both grab a pair of practice swords. It was late with few other cadets around the cavern. Only the dedicated remained to prepare for the tournament. He recognized many of them as cadets who had laughed when he passed them in the halls. They watched Nyx¡¯s team passing by, nudging each other and whispering low. Nyx claimed a patch of turf between two large combat circles.


    ¡°Grab a practice weapon. I want to see you both move with them.¡±


    The brothers demonstrated their footwork cuts and parries and went through several forums taught by the order. He decided they were incompetent, noting many mistakes in the way they moved, leaving far too many openings. He had seen them practice during the classes before, but now he focused on the intricacies of their movements. He had them make adjustments to accommodate their different builds and natural tendencies until he was satisfied.


    ¡°Now we will practice through combat. Every night we will come here to spar, during the day it is up to you both to practice, correcting weaknesses exposed during the sessions.¡±


    Oddly enough it was Gabe who spoke up. Nyx thought Dan would be the one to question him. "What about your episodes? What can you teach us anyway?"


    ¡°I think the seizures have stopped for the most part.¡± He ignored the second question.


    Gabe shrugged. Dan¡¯s eyes were still red from a sleepless night, but not as bad as that morning, he didn¡¯t say anything but seemed ready to go.


    Nyx continued, ¡°Let¡¯s start this with the two of you against me, then end the session with one on one bouts.¡±


    Gabe¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s fair.¡±


    ¡°You can decide that soon enough.¡±


    The brothers moved in cautiously swords raised. Gabe was stiff as he stepped, and Nyx took advantage stepping forward and attacking with a high cut. Gabe hesitated, failing to raise his sword in defense. Nyx''s slowed his strike at the last moment, to stop against Gabe¡¯s neck, in the same manner, the demon''s claws had done in the alley.


    ¡°Stop thinking so hard; you did the same thing against the Harpy, relax and let yourself flow.¡±


    Nyx sensed Dan coming from behind, trying to use the opportunity to drive his sword at his exposed back.


    Nyx flicked his weapon in a crescent motion behind himself, deflecting the half-assed strike. "You too, don''t hesitate. I want you both to fight like I''m a demon."


    Nyx whirled around the brothers like a bird of prey. He let them get close to hitting him, but never quite. He shouted advice while deflecting blows and leaving openings to ingrain in them which attacks to seek. He did his best to replicate their abilities and fight at their level, to give them the chance of experimenting and developing their styles.


    ¡°When you watch your opponent don''t focus on his chest, eyes, arms or legs,¡± said Nyx when he noticed Dan¡¯s eyes locked onto his. He looked down and attacked high landing a bruising strike. ¡°Misdirection.¡± He explained, ¡°Let your vision take in the entire threat. Relax into it.¡±


    As the sparring progressed, Nyx began to feel an excitement, a euphoria that begged him to push the pace. It wanted him to injure, to raise panic. It took him a while to realize it was the Chaos. He rejected the temptations. They were just a fog in his mind, easily banished. It reminded him of the way fear invades the mind subtly confusing clear thinking. It is pervasive and hard to shake but just a figment of the mind.


    Gabe attacked Nyx with a barrage of strikes failing to notice the openings he was leaving.


    ¡°Tighten up your guard,¡± said Nyx, ¡°wide attacks and defense leave holes easy to exploit.¡± Gabe didn¡¯t seem to understand, so Nyx paused to demonstrate. He made sure Gabe had the motions down before they continued. ¡°Remember, always return to your centerline after any movement. Only once you learn all the rules can you begin to break them.¡±


    The brother¡¯s faces were focused as they continued trying to pressure Nyx. Slowly he could see them adjusting to his style of instruction. Let the order teach them through repetition.


    Sweat glistened on Gabe and Dan when they called it quits. Nyx might as well have gone for a light jog as only a thin sheen of perspiration highlighted his muscles and brow.


    Dan was still gloomy, but Nyx had seen a small smile or two during the training. ¡°I think at least once or twice I almost had you,¡± he said, lips drawn into a thin line.


    Nyx nodded his head, ¡°sure you did.¡±


    In truth, they hadn¡¯t come close, only when he had let them on purpose. But maybe, just maybe, eventually he could mold them into generals. Leaders of men and pillars of strength for the battles to come.


    Gabe regarded Nyx sadly. ¡°It is too bad you are a mutt, or with skills like yours...¡± He wiped away beads of sweat from his temple using the back of his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late for me to worry about that now.¡±


    Although feeling the Chaos messing with his thoughts was disconcerting, Nyx was pleased. Ever since he had started to work in tandem with the chaos, rather than force it, he hadn¡¯t been shocked.


    While they headed back across the field, Nyx heard voices follow them, just loud enough to hear.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost cute. They think they have a chance.¡± Whispered a young man holding a staff for his weapon to the muscular girl beside him. He had scruff on his face that grew in patchy clumps. He recognized them as from the tenth ranked team.


    Nyx ignored them, while Gabe whispered urgently, trying to stop Dan from going over and confronting him.


    ¡°Save it for the tourney. They would crush you right now,¡± said Nyx gripping Dans shoulder. He had to reach up to do it. Dan might be lean to the point of being skinny, but he was also tall. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will get you beaten into shape.¡±

 Chapter Sixteen (first half)

    Nyx gritted his teeth hands tight on the rope as he hauled himself upward. Small pieces of fiber dug at his palms. Gregor watched from the side with thick arms crossed, the fabric of his uniform drawn tight seeming too small for him. Nyx pushed himself harder; he wouldn¡¯t give Gregor the satisfaction of seeing him falter. Nyx scaled the walls like a spider, then dropped thirty feet onto the ground tucking into a roll, a small rock dug into his shoulder blade. Back on his feet, he sprinted to the second robe pulling himself up, hand over hand, then jumped the ten-foot gap between the ledges above. When he completed the circuit, he was told to repeat. Gregor kept his arms crossed a smug half smile on his face.


    Nyx stopped keeping track of the time refusing to slow his pace for even a moment. He was almost surprised when Gregor called the end of the period, the smile gone from his face. Nyx smirked up at the bear of a man knowingly. He scratched his chin knocking loose drops of sweat.


    ¡°It will be worse if you skip again,¡± said Gregor narrowing his eyes when Nyx shrugged, ¡°what are you doing just standing there, get going.¡±


    Nyx turned and walked away without a word, in six days he would be missing classes again. He had to be ready to put the file he had swiped from the precinct into use, before the sting operation.


    <hr>


    Nyx was finishing his lunch when he felt the light touch of a hand resting on his shoulder. He looked up, noting the elegant curve of splayed fingers. They appeared dexterous, like a pianist. Vanessa smiled down at him dressed in her white uniform eyes gleaming with mischief. Nyx grimaced back. He wanted to bury his head in his arms and get away as fast as possible.


    ¡°Hello, do you mind if I sit with you all?¡± nobody answered the only sound that of conversations from nearby tables. She looked around at them, ¡°I¡¯m not on a team, I¡¯m in the medical unit. I promise I¡¯m not a spy, I just want to spend time with my good friend Nyx.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m leaving you can have my seat if you like,¡± offered Gabe remembering his usual pleasant smile. While clearing away his food, he winked at Nyx.


    Vanessa thanked Gabe and slid onto the offered chair, all grace. Nyx was focused on his food, digging through a piece of overcooked steak. He felt something moist brush his cheek. Nyx jerked his head away realizing Vanessa had kissed him though her eyes were focused away from their table. ¡°I had a great time last night.¡±


    Nyx ground his teeth while Dan and Garry looked on with confusion. Nyx was about to tell Vanessa yet again they could only be friends when he saw Benjamin staring straight at him. The cadet was holding a tray of food, three of his teammates talking boisterously around him. There was a promise of violence in his eyes as he set his tray onto his table and took a seat.


    Without saying a word, Nyx shoved back his seat and strode from the central cavern into the passages back to the apartment. He thought he had seen Vanessa angry before, but when he left the table, he swore he saw lightning in her eyes. Great, now he had two angry sibling¡¯s to deal with.


    A short time later Dan joined Nyx in the apartment shaking his head down at him. ¡°I warned you to stay away from that one.¡±


    Nyx rolled his eyes. ¡°I told her we could only be friends. What else should I have done?¡±


    Dan groaned, ¡°idiot! Now you made yourself a challenge. If I were you, I would have pretended to be obsessed. Nothing pushes away a girl faster than a desperate guy.¡±


    Nyx shrugged pushing the issue of Vanessa from his mind. It was a minor inconvenience compared to the things he still needed to accomplish.


    <hr>


    Over the following days, Nyx began to train with a focus that confused the others. He would catch them looking at each other in concern some days. Soon, dark circles formed under his eyes, and he could feel them tugging at his face. He attended all his classes, trained with the brothers in the evenings, then, once everyone was asleep, he would sneak out to the heavenly Chi room and cultivate. After finishing with the heavenly Chi, he pushed himself further sprinting to the freezer facility and then cultivating demonic energy.


    His eyelids began to feel like lead, and during the day he found himself dozing in classes. In the morning class, Trudy had taken to smacking him on the head none too kindly waking him, on more than one occasion.


    <hr>


    The sparring sessions with Nyx in the evenings had started to draw a small crowd. Gabe wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about having an audience, but he continued to give his best effort. If he was ever going to protect anyone he needed the improvement. He was nervous that the other teams were monitoring them for when they would eventually face off in the tournament.


    Dan''s face was scrunched in focus as he and Nyx exchanged a series of blows before disengaging. Dan tried to hide it, but Gabe could tell he had been down ever since facing the demon. He had tried to talk to him but had just been told to ¡®knock it off.'' These sparring sessions seemed to be the only thing helping, steadily returning him to his usual self.


    A young boy was among the other ten or so cadets watching. He looked on with wide eyes, an eagerness that was different than the others crossed arms and grim. He seemed too shy to say anything, but Gabe could tell he was yearning to join.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Hold up a second,¡± said Gabe halting Nyx who was circling them, he nodded over at the boy who couldn¡¯t be older than fourteen, ¡°think it would be a problem if he joined? I mean we can coach him a little on the side. I¡¯ll help him personally, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Nyx scratched his Chin, eyes ringed with dark circles. He shrugged lowering his weapon, ¡°sure, we can take a break for a bit.¡±


    So often Gabe forgot that Nyx himself was just a kid, only seventeen. It was easy to forget when interacting with him, there was an assuredness to him, and when he spoke, his words seemed to belong to someone much older. Gabe had noticed changes in Nyx over that past week. He looked harder, somehow, more prone to anger. He chalked it up to lack of sleep; they had to do something about it. Nyx had dark rings around his eyes and seemed to be functioning only through force of will. Nyx tried to hide it, but Gabe had noticed him missing most nights, though he could never figure out where he went.


    Gabe walked over an knelt in front of the boy. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Kip¡­¡± he answered, wiping a curl of almond colored hair from his eyes looking anywhere but at him.


    ¡°Kip, grab one of those practice weapons from the rack over there, go through your forms while we spar, after I¡¯ll give you pointers.¡±


    Kip nodded, face lighting up, his kinked hair bobbing as he ran to a rack.


    ¡°Ready to continue?¡± asked Nyx, tapping the inside of his foot with his practice sword.


    Gabe nodded and stepped back into the sand. He circled carefully placing his feet so as not to trip himself up. It was one of the first things he learned; how to move. Dan mirrored his movements on the opposite side, trying to get around Nyx and attack from his blind spot. The cold sand felt soothing on his bare feet. They always switched environments, sparring in the various combat circles around the central area.


    Swords clunked together as Dan took the initiative, Nyx quickly disengaged then lunged at his brother¡¯s unprotected side. Gabe closed on Nyx''s exposed back, but somehow Nyx sensed him and turned his attack into a dive, rolling back to his feet, sand falling from his clothing.


    Gabe attacked low with a series of cuts as Dan struck high, they had begun to develop a sense for each other. Nyx¡¯s sword only moved in short bursts, but somehow managed to deflect everything aimed at him.


    This time Gabe struck high at Nyx''s shoulder expecting him to parry. Instead, Nyx dodged, his riposte coming low. Gabe tried to step back but the sand slowed his movement, and he was leaning too far forward. There was a soft thud, and pain blossomed just below his knee joint. He fell to the ground with a series of curses, grimacing as he felt his shin for a break; there was no permanent damage, but it would bruise nicely. He heard a series of thuds and then his brother yielded. Without him to back Dan up, he had expected as much.


    The throbbing became bearable, and Gabe looked up. Nyx was above looking down at him, the blue rings of his iris were barely visible as his pupils had expanded. He had a grin on his face, not a happy one, his promised something sinister. Gabe''s intuition screamed at him to run, to get as far away as possible.


    ¡°Nyx are you alright?¡± he asked, careful not to make any sudden moves.


    Nyx¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly seeming bewildered for a moment, then his expression returned to his usual stoicism.


    ¡°Again,¡± said Dan, the fire wasn¡¯t gone from him.


    Nyx shook his head, ¡°that¡¯s all for tonight, if you and Gabe want to continue then you should do so, I have other things to deal with.¡±


    Dan looked at Gabe raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay longer, but only if you let Kip join.¡±


    Nyx had already replaced his sword and disappeared into the tunnel leading toward the dorms.


    <hr>


    Nyx shook out his arm for the fourth time while walking back to the apartment after sparring with the brothers. He had gotten sloppy, and Dan landed a clean strike tearing a ligament in his shoulder. It was the exhaustion, but he couldn¡¯t stop now, not when he needed to get stronger. He had promises to keep. Through the suffocating haze of dreariness, Nyx felt satisfaction as his body and cultivation strengthened.


    In bed, Nyx waited till he was sure the others were sleeping then slipped from his room. On light feet, he whispered across the floor reaching for the door handle. Light flashed on blinding him. He instinctively dropped into a fighting crouch covering his eyes trying to preserve some of his vision. He waited, eyes scanning the room landing on Garry Gabe and Dan standing their arms crossed staring at him. Garry was the first to look away shifting nervously, but Dan and Gabe¡¯s eyes bored into him. Nobody spoke, and Nyx, feeling silly, rose from his crouch. It was the fatigue, he should have known they were there long before he left his room.


    Gabe frowned, ¡°Nyx, we are worried about you. This lack of sleep and crazy schedule it enough to kill anyone. You are hurting yourself and the team.¡±


    Nyx shook his head, feeling his anger rise. ¡°I have to do this, none of you understand.¡±


    Dan clenched his fists, ¡°Understand? It¡¯s clear you are hurting yourself, you can barely focus while in class and during sparring you are getting sloppy. We are staying here till you get a full night¡¯s sleep.¡±


    Nyx sighed, it was hard to stay angry when sleep was ever pressing on his mind. ¡°Two nights ago I ran into someone else who said the same thing, guess who?¡± nobody responded, but Gabe looked down. Nyx rounded on them, ¡°what were you thinking? You guys even told Vanessa that I leave at night! It was you who told me to stay away from her in the first place.¡±


    Dan yelled right back at him, ¡°If you weren¡¯t so damn stubborn and listened to us in the first place I wouldn¡¯t have had too. I thought she might have a better chance of getting you to listen to reason than any of us.¡±


    Nyx was starting to get heated again but stopped himself from responding when he heard a door down the hall open. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes Matt sauntered into the room, ¡°What the heck is going on out here, would you keep it down. Some of us are trying to sleep.¡± He glared at Nyx obviously thinking the whole thing was his fault.


    Garry finally spoke up ignoring Matt, looking at Nyx. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bed. I¡¯m going to make sure you get some sleep.¡±


    Nyx thought about forcing the issue, he could take them if he had to, but Matt was someone he didn¡¯t want to know about his abilities. Closing his eyes, Nyx forced down the beckoning of the Chaos. ¡°Fine,¡± he said only hoping he would still be ready by the weekend even taking a night off training. Back in his room, he could hear Matt having a whispered conversation with the others, but after four days of no sleep he was having trouble focusing on their words and was soon swallowed by darkness.

 Chapter Sixteen (Part 2)

    When Nyx woke up the next morning, it took him a while to realize just how badly he had needed that night¡¯s sleep. His mind was clear, and he no longer had to fight to keep his eyes open. He hated to admit it, but his friends had been right, he had been pushing himself too far.


    In the living room, it looked like Garry had tried to stay up all night, true to his word, but had fallen asleep and was now snoring, a small stain of drool on the couch by his open mouth.


    Nyx noticed Matt sitting at the kitchen table looking around at the other team members, something about the way he looked at them appeared melancholy.


    Nyx was surprised when Matt sighed and came over to him and reached out his hand. ¡°Nyx, I think I owe you an apology. If there is one thing I am good at it is holding a grudge.¡± He smiled nervously and Nyx could tell how much of a struggle eating his pride had been.


    Nyx considered the hand, realizing he would have an enemy for life if he rejected him now. He plastered on a smile accepting the shake, ¡°fresh start?¡±


    That night Matt and Marisa joined them for their practice session. It was immediately clear how close Nyx Gabe Dan and Garry had grown.


    At first everyone was standoffish, not quite sure how to act, but as they trained, small smiles began to show. Matt joked around with Nyx and Gabe occasionally poking fun at Dan whose temper flared.


    They had a small scuffle, and this time Dan came out the victor. Nyx was surprised when Matt laughed it off congratulating Dan and telling him how much he has improved in the two weeks.


    Marisa was a lively, bubbly girl. She made faces when Nyx tried to be serious and show her why she couldn''t cross her feet while circling.She was the only one that seemed to be able to pull Garry into conversations and was quick to laughter and smiles. A much different impression than he had gotten up to this point. She reminded him of a flitting hummingbird, always moving, always happy. He decided he liked her, and that Matt might not be a bad guy after all if a little hardheaded and stubborn.


    Despite them all working as one team for the first time, there was still a rift between them. Since facing the Demon, Nyx, Garry and the brothers had bonded. Nothing could quite bring people together like collectively staring death in the face and living despite it. But still, Nyx saw that with time even Matt and Marisa could integrate becoming a strong team.


    <hr>


    After practice, they had turned into a dimly lit passage, feet echoing off the stone floor when Nyx heard a scuffle of cloth brushing stone behind him. He didn¡¯t sense anything but when he turned around, the old man Flint was standing there, head tilted as he regarded him with wide eyes. Nyx hid his surprise at being taken unawares by the rangy man again.


    ¡°Hello Flint,¡± said Nyx as his friends glanced between him and the Master quizzically.


    Flint blinked slowly, regarding Nyx almost as if he had forgotten where he was. After a moment he finally broke the silence, ¡°Ah, Nyx my boy. I''m glad I found you, would you be interested in a game of Go this fine evening? I lack a worthy opponent, and playing against myself is only fun for so long.¡±


    Nyx shrugged apologetically following Flint who skipped down the corridor as they wound their way into the old man''s office. The Go table was already set up, and soon the colored stones clinked as they began their game. Nyx was handily beaten twice but was satisfied being able to hold of the old man for longer each round.


    Nyx flipped a white stone between his fingers as he contemplated his position. There were only three viable options as far as he could see, but he was learning that each option was likely a trap.


    Flint interrupted his concentration, ¡°Have you ever wondered why the demon came after your father? Why would a demon, the general of all others on earth, come for your father in particular?¡±


    Nyx raised an eyebrow at the question "Tell me," his interest and deep burning anger rose at memories from that day.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my place to tell,¡± said Flint then paused, still squatting like some strange frog on the edge of his seat. ¡°Perhaps you should ask Gregor.¡±


    Nyx laughed derisively. ¡°That man hates my very existence.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is a conundrum isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Nyx knew better than to press the old man. He spoke in riddles never revealing more than he wanted, but decided to confront Gregor on the question. Nyx¡¯s stone clacked against the game board as he placed it. Flint nodded almost as if the move was expected. Nyx had the feeling he had walked into one of Flints traps.


    They played in silence for a while in silence, Nyx wasn¡¯t sure why he decided to open up with old man Flint. Maybe it was the feeling of relaxation that had come from concentrating on the game. ¡°Do you have this darkness inside of you?¡± He asked. ¡°When something frustrates you, is there is an urge to hurt, to destroy?¡±


    Flint didn¡¯t respond for a while then placed his black stone cutting off a group of Nyx''s white pieces, then nodded, ¡°some wise men have contemplated the dark side of the human mind. Certain Elementalists have even gone so far as to say that the demons themselves were once just men who gave into their darkness.¡±


    Nyx shook his head, it wasn''t possible, or there would also be demons in the higher realms. ¡°That makes no sense. Demons are nothing close to human.¡±


    Flint shrugged his bony shoulders. ¡°Maybe not, some also say the only way to come to terms with the darkness is by letting it free. That only then can an individual gain true understanding and power over it. One such man hypothesized that shutting it away lets it fester and grow in strength.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Nyx nodded slowly, lost in thought, ¡°there is a darkness inside of me, I think it was always there, but I never really noticed it till after I did something, something I regret. After the incident, it¡¯s like it strengthened and I have to hold it back.¡±


    There was a light in Flint''s eyes, and he straightened where he squatted. ¡°Let me explain it something like this. Have you ever known someone who is kind to the point they seem to have no opinions of their own, almost scared to speak their mind in fear of being rejected?¡±


    ¡°One or two.¡±


    Flint nodded, ¡°well, many of these people, as well as their friends and family, claim them to be good people. That¡¯s a lie. They are not good people. These people are weak, held back by their fears. True power and goodness comes with the ability and knowledge that you can act. A good person is someone who consciously holds back even when they have the ability to cause great destruction. Not out of fear, but because they understand their darkness and what it¡¯s capable of.¡±


    Nyx shook his head, ¡°I think some beasts are too dangerous to let free.¡±


    Flint placed a piece on the board, ¡°I don¡¯t claim to have all the answers, just some small insights, but as the saying goes ¡®a light is always brighter contrasted against the dark¡¯.¡±


    They lapsed into silence, Nyx considered his darkness and the effect the chaos was having on it. Flint couldn¡¯t know about the chaos. It was not possible for him to do as the old man suggested and let the darkness free. Not in his situation.


    ¡°Are you a gambling man Nyx?¡±


    Nyx shook his mind free of his thoughts. ¡°I prefer to be in control of my actions. I am not partial to the idea of leaving things to chance.¡±


    ¡°That is an interesting view, but what do you think when I say, just as everyone is a player in the ultimate game, everyone is also a gambler?¡±


    ¡°I would say that gambling implies leaving yourself bound by ¡®luck.¡¯¡± He said spitting the word.


    Flint nodded, ¡°but don¡¯t you see, whenever you make a decision, aren¡¯t you gambling that it will have the desired outcome?¡±


    Nyx spoke slowly, organizing his thoughts. ¡°No, maybe luck only exists for those who have no concept of the greater games being played. When they make a decision, it is like tossing a dandelion seed into the wind. But when a true player makes a choice, it is calculated, directly assisting them to achieve their desired outcome.¡±


    Flint nodded, ¡°and what if that knowledgeable player bets wrong?¡±


    ¡°Well, then it still isn¡¯t ¡®luck¡¯ that made him lose. It¡¯s just a miscalculation that he will learn from and fix for future plays.¡±


    Flint placed his stone and Nyx realized he had lost yet again, Flint got up and ushered him out of his office. ¡°Well since you are not fond of luck, I would advise you to be gone on the night you see red.¡±


    "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Asked Nyx, looking down on the whisp of a man gaze growing hard.


    Flint smiled disarmingly not looking in the least bit concerned. ¡°Relax my boy, it is just a friendly tip. I¡¯m sure you will understand in time.¡± then he shut the door not waiting for a response.


    <hr>


    The whitewashed walls of the freezer building glowed with security lights illuminating its front. The downpour had intensified, Nyx windshield wipers worked at the highest setting to keep visibility. He parked in front of the building. The rumbling of the Mustang''s engine stilled as Nyx removed the key from the ignition.


    The rain outside the car soaked him through rapidly as he unlocked and entered the building. Sensors illuminated fluorescent bulbs overhead as he walked down the white hall. Nobody else was stupid enough to come to check their frozen goods at night in the middle of a storm. His was the only car parked out front.Reaching his unit, he entered shutting the door turning to face the trash bag covered corpse.


    Probing the body, Nyx was pleased to note that there had been limited leakage of the demons Chi. He smiled, even with the intervention and taking a night off, he had managed it. This would be sufficient once combined with heavenly Chi to push him through to the next level of Basic.


    Taking off his sopping clothing, Nyx sat in his boxer briefs facing the mummified corpse. Carefully he pricked the blocked pores on the cadaver. The demon Chi flowed out pooling on the ground in a thick glowing mass of red. The entire area was dyed an eerie shade of swirling maroon.


    Nyx began to draw in the Chi, running it through his system. His breathing intensified teeth clenched bearing the pain. Pops and crackling came from his body as the Chi refined it before entering his core.


    Time passed, the pool of red shrinking till it was all absorbed, running through Nyx''s meridians. In his core the Chaotic Chi, as though sensing the malevolence next to it, began a relentless assault sending occasional shocks through Nyx''s system. Without having to use his soul, Nyx could detect the strength of the demon''s presence diminishing under the onslaught.


    The demonic Chi he had access to was much more plentiful. He had cultivated enough for a breakthrough but still needed more heavenly.


    Entering his mind sea, Nyx faced what remained of the malevolence. It was only a shadow of the presence he had encountered the past couple times. An image started to form, but he was sitting half naked, wet, in a freezer. He wasn''t in the mood to see what horrors the demon wanted him to re-live. With a thought, the weakened specter before him burst apart in a blinding flash of white light.


    The chaotic Chi in Nyx''s core calmed once the demonic energy fell under his control. He found that as the chaotic Chi in his core swelled, so did his drive to destroy. He sat in silence calming his breathing and wresting the drive under control.


    <hr>


    Seated in front of the soulstone, Nyx began to draw in the white mist of the heavenly Chi. It was relaxing, he couldn''t help but release a sigh of comfort as it massaged its way through his system. A robe was lying on the ground nearby. He didn''t want to destroy more of his clothes. Time began to bleed together, it seemed to flow differently when in the meditative state that was necessary for cultivation. He directed all the energy to run through his body correctly before entering his core.


    This time as it pooled in his core, Nyx experienced something new; it was almost as though the chaos inside was developing an awareness. As the heavenly Chi entered his core, the chaos siphoned off equal parts of demon Chi and spun them together in a whirl of energy.


    The newly created chaotic Chi crackled, before joining with the mass of already existing black and white lightning. Nyx would no longer have to mold the heavenly and demonic Chi himself; the chaos had taken over that responsibility. It appeared it could not wait patiently for him to bolster its ranks. He was sure that soon he wouldn¡¯t need to destroy the malevolence after cultivating demonic Chi either.


    He could feel his cultivation on the verge of expanding, pushing on an invisible barrier until finally, it swelled in a burst. A Boom reverberated as his core pushed past that barrier, breaking through to the third level of Basic. With its expansion, the space inside had more than doubled. He had now reached the third level of basic.


    Nyx breathed hard, hands clenched keeping his eyes closed. Cords of muscle writhed like snakes as their density increased and his whole body ached even his bones, tendons and organs. In moments it was all complete. He had done it and was now ready.

 Chapter Seventeen

    The sun had just begun to peek through the clouds, and strong winds buffeted the car. As he drove, the thick overcast sky began to clear, allowing the sun to peek through.


    The Mafia family he was going to see controlled several construction companies and a hotel chain in Missouri and some smaller interests. The file mentioned that the casino was the mob¡¯s headquarters, and they had a meeting there this morning.


    Gangs had risen in the inner cities while the mobs stayed quiet. The Giordano family had roots across the county, with extensive ties to New York that would come in handy. Nyx had briefly considered co-opting the various street gangs but found they were not organized in a way that would be useful.


    Nyx pulled into the large parking lot in front of an enormous ship built into the pier. It had the look of a fancy cruise liner, more likely to be seen in the Caribbean. A flashing neon sign reading ¡®Riverboat Casino,'' stood at the front of a ramp that led to the vessel. The parking lot had few cars parked in the early hours, according to the file the mobsters would now be in a meeting.


    The chaos was churning in Nyx core, sending shocks through his system, almost as though it could sense impending violence. Nyx took a moment sitting in his car to wrest it back under control.


    <hr>


    Two groups of men sat around tables in the riverboat''s back room, This mahogany tables spread through the room though only two had men sitting around them. Through open windows, the frothy brown water of the river was visible surging past swelled by the recent storm.


    Vincenzo had his most trusted men sat at the table. He had purposely positioned them close to the door in case anything went wrong. He adjusted the cuff of his fitted Italian suit, making sure to move his hand so that the light coming through the windows would glint off his gold rings and watch.


    He cast a cautious look at the men across the circular table. They were his associates from Ndrangheta, the Latin American cartel. He felt contempt looking at their sloppy, tattooed appearances. He wouldn¡¯t have agreed to work with them if the money wasn¡¯t so good.


    ¡°Hey Vince, if they pull through on their end, how much are we talking here?¡± whispered Cosimo, pointing discretely at the men seated around the other table.


    Vincenzo eyed the young man. He had robust Italian features and slicked black hair. He imitated his dress with a suit of his own, albeit one of lower quality. He was the new kid, but Vincenzo felt he had promise, and had given him a seat at the table.


    Vincenzo took the cigar from his mouth letting out a puff of smoke, his voice was deep and rough. ¡°Look Cosimo, we are talking in the hundreds of millions, now don¡¯t go get a big head, you have yet to prove yourself.¡±


    He took another puff of his cigar; a cool breeze blew in through the windows. They had all worked tirelessly to create a working relationship. The cartel wanted to expand its operation into America and had come to the mob for assistance. The plan was to smuggle the dope into Italy and from there distribute it across America.


    Everyone perked up when A tall, thick-necked member of his security team entered the room and bowed his head respectfully, "Sorry to interrupt, I have a young man out here who wants to talk to you, tried to turn him away, wouldn''t leave. Figured I''d see how you want this handled."


    Vince thought for a moment, he could always use more runners. With the new deal, he would need to move the dope when it arrived. ¡°Let him in, I want to see what this Cafone wants.¡± He picked up a cigar cutter from the table and snipped the burnt portion into the ashtray.


    The security guard left returning with another guard and a kid who couldn''t be more than seventeen or eighteen. He had short black hair, sharp features, and startlingly deep blue eyes, but what stood out the most was his poise. The boy resonated with confidence. The other mobsters shifted in their seats as the boy''s gaze moved across them.


    <hr>


    Nyx was led into the Boats back room by security, surprised to be given an audience. He had planned on having to force entry, but after patting him down to check for weapons, he had been?told to follow them inside.


    The security guard told Nyx to wait then edged his way past a pair of thick metal doors before returning and waving Nyx inside. Nyx''s eyes flicked around the room taking in everything from curtains flapping in the large windows to the tense atmosphere created by the men around the tables. The stolen file had alleged that there were agents placed undercover within the mafia. It was immediately apparent to Nyx who they were from the glow of demonic energy emanating from two of the people sitting at the large circular table. He reached into the Aether and began to draw power for an array pattern.


    Nyx''s eyes came to rest on the oldest and most lavishly dressed man. He was big and beefy with a horseshoe hairline and eyes that held an obvious intelligence. He was seated on the side of the table closest to him, silently appraising. Nyx recognized him from the pictures, he was the mafia branch don, Vincenzo.


    Nyx tried to keep his voice friendly, ¡°You''ve been made, there are some rats in your midst. The feds are planning a sting operation on your latest enterprise. I am here to tell you I will solve your little rat problem, but I need a few things in return.¡±


    Nyx smiled at the dumbfounded expressions he received, a few with mouths agape. He tapped his foot in the silence.


    The man sitting next to Vincenzo¡¯s left spat onto the floor, ¡°Pucchiacha, do you take us for fools? Do you know who you are speaking to?"


    Nyx walked forward and dropped the file he had stolen into the center of the table. ¡°Take a look for yourselves.¡±


    All around the table men''s hands went for their pistols, but nobody drew as Nyx stepped back showing his hands. He grimaced as the chaos struggled to be let free. Stopping once he was back by the door he nodded, indicating for Vincenzo to look in the file. "It is worse than you think, the agents they placed undercover are not ordinary. They are demons."


    The room went from silence and murmurs to erupting in laughter.


    <hr>


    Vincenzo wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. This boy was either a complete nutcase or a comedian. The file in the center of the table drew his attention, and his interest peaked on seeing the federal stamp inlaid on its cover.


    Cosimo sitting near Vincenzo was not smiling, his chair scraped the ground as he pushed it back and stood up, pulling out his gun.


    ¡°Cosimo wait!¡± commanded Vincenzo, there was a note of warning in his deep voice.


    The young man paid him no consideration, his eyes almost seeming to glow as they filled with evil glee. He gave off an aura of pure malice, Vincenzo couldn''t help but shudder. Cosimo¡¯s finger tightened on the revolver''s trigger, a smile growing. Six shots fired off in quick succession.


    Vincenzo was livid, now he had to deal with cleaning up a dead body, and hadn''t gotten about information on the folder sitting on the table. The sound of crackling and a flicker of light drew the don''s attention, his eyes widened. The boy''s body became engulfed in arcs of black and white lightning, static filled the air making his hair stand on end. The electricity condensed into the boy''s arms as they blurred, he could only see the afterimage the strange flickering left behind.


    Cosimo¡¯s finger kept pulling the trigger, but he had already emptied his weapon''s clip.


    The kid opened his hand, and six bullets dropped out pinging as they bounced along the floor. The arcs of lightning retreated, almost as though sucked back into the boy, Vince flinched at the powerful aura pulsing out from him.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The lad''s voice seemed to crackle as he spoke, ¡°you had better revert to your true form if you want to stand a chance. The chaos calls for a fight.¡± He looked from Cosimo to another man who rose to his feet on the far end of the table.


    Vincenzo sputtered, ¡°what is th..¡±


    ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± hissed Cosimo, the voice didn''t belong to him, it was deep and even. Though the words had seemed a whisper, they echoed throughout the room.


    The two men''s eyes began to burn, strands of dark red emanated out. Black smoke curled up around them, seeming to suck at the light, their bodies¡¯ enlarged cords of muscle tearing their clothes to shreds. Their skin turned dark and leathery, horns sprouted from temples, talons from hands and feet.


    <hr>


    Nyx watched the demons transform and a sense of glee swelled inside him. He knew it belonged to the chaos. This time, at least, the chaos seemed ready to assist him. Often nothing would happen when he had practiced drawing on it in private. The mobsters were locked in place by their fear, not daring to move a muscle, abject terror in their expressions. Streams of demonic energy swirled around them infiltrating their thoughts.


    The two demons finished transforming as wings sprouted from their shoulder blades. They had indeed decided to take him seriously.


    In using the Chi to enable him to catch the bullets, Nyx realized he had to use it sparingly or risk running out. Since his breakthrough the pain of utilizing the chaos had lessened, it hadn¡¯t left him twitching on the ground, although his nerves still felt like they were on fire.


    The demon the mob boss had called Cosimo, regarded the mobsters around him and licked his lips. Then as if in no rush it turned to Nyx, eyes burning it unclenched its fists, talons the size of daggers extending as it walked forward.


    The demon casually closed the distance, enormous muscles rolling and bunching as it moved. A grin split Nyx¡¯s face, he wasn''t sure it was entirely his, excitement bubbled inside. The chaos begged for release, but he fought to keep it under wraps.


    Nyx figure distorted as he leaped, in a moment he covered the distance to the demon. Before his fist made contact, lightning flickered on his arm, he used it for an extra burst of speed. His fist exploded forward impacting the demon¡¯s chest with a resounding crunch.


    The demon was blown backward knocking over empty tables, the talons of its feet leaving furrows in the floor. An indent was crushed into the demon''s chest but did not seem to bother it. Lightning flickered across its body, quickly fading. With a roar, the beast released its Chi and waves of red radiated out. As though caught in a gale all the tables and chairs were driven to the fringes of the room taking the mobsters with them, wrapped in tendrils of the power.


    Nyx smile grew larger as he drew in the Chi the demons directed at him. Using his spirit, he could feel the natural Chi in the water outside the open windows. He reached into the Aether activating the glowing array pattern he had prepared. Water from outside streamed in through the openings settling two inches deep onto the floor.


    The demons rushed at him, their steps shook the floor, eyes portals promising endless suffering. This was not like sparing Dan and Gabe; these two demons were on an entirely different level.


    Nyx ducked under one of the demons slashing claws while utilizing his array he pulled water to form a barrier on his arm to block the second demons slash. The force of the impact slid him backward. These two were fast.


    The demons continued pressing the assault, Nyx flowed with them dodging in between the two monsters. When he blocked, water flowed to the point of contact surface tension strengthening before dropping back to the ground with a splash. Whenever an opening presented itself, arcs of lighting appeared on his limbs powering his strikes.


    Demonic Chi was so thick in the air, it was almost black. Keeping his balance and center of gravity while executing evasive maneuvers, he looked for chances to counter. A misstep would be fatal.


    <hr>


    Vincenzo felt he must be dreaming. It was a nightmare so terrifying he could not cry out or move. He could only sit still and hope he would be ignored. He tried to force himself to wake up, but nothing happened.


    Two of his trusted associates had morphed before his eyes becoming creatures of hell. He had laughed at the kid for suggesting such a thing, but the proof was in front of him. He felt the lingering wetness from where he had pissed himself; he liked to believe he was a tough son of a bitch, but this was like nothing he had ever experienced. His body trembled uncontrollably.


    Vincenzo¡¯s eyes could hardly follow the movements of the three ¡®things¡¯ in the middle of the room. The demons towered over the boy and looked like they would crush him at any second, but the kid as fast. Water formed on his arms and legs splashing out as he blocked attacks, before splashing back down.


    Although he could not follow the movements, occasionally the boy¡¯s limbs would streak with lightning eyes glowing. A demon would recoil, before jumping back into the fray.


    <hr>


    Nyx could tell his attacks were beginning to have effect. He cycled Chi into his leg and lightning arcing down along it, his speed increased, and he delivered a vicious kick to the outside of a demon¡¯s knee. He had struck the same spot now multiple times.


    The demons leg caved in, a long shard of bone poked through the leathery skin, black ichor dripped from the wound. The demon shrieked falling to the ground, it struggled to get back to its one good leg.


    Nyx used his remaining Chi, drawing it from his core, he gritted his teeth as he bore the pain. Nyx''s leg muscles contracted and with a jult of chatic energy he jumped backward, his body seeming to vanish as he flipped over the demon that lunged at him from behind. He landed on the second demon¡¯s shoulders. Before it could react, he twisted its head a crack reverberating around the room; the enormous horned head was turned a full one-hundred-eighty degree. The demon¡¯s body collapsed to the ground.


    Nyx jumped off landing gracefully in front of it. The last demon had hobbled to its feet, balanced on its right leg, its body peppered with injuries leaking black fluid.


    A smirk formed on Nyx lips. ¡°The mob belongs to me now.¡±


    The demon only bared its fangs in response.


    Nyx had expended all his Chi, and his array pattern had long since run out of energy, but looking at the last demon, he only needed his physical strength to toy with it. The monstrosity moved forward a step, into Nyx range, he spun delivering a kick. Upper body lowered as his leg swung high, heel driving into the demon''s chest where the floating rib would be if it was human. Nyx could feel something crumple.


    The demon collapsed back to the ground, black blood bubbling from its mouth as it tried to draw in air, breath coming in ragged gasps. It struggled to sit back up.


    Nyx kicked it in the head as it tried to rise, ¡°you think demons can prey on humans? That we are just cattle? You should have stayed in the lower realms.¡± Nyx ended the statement with a downward stomp crushing the demon''s neck.


    Black blood leaked from the demon¡¯s bodies into the water on the room''s floor. The Mafia members trembled at the sides of the room, too terrified to make noise or move. Slowly they came to their senses, minds clearing from the demon''s influence.


    With the fight concluded, Nyx could feel exhaustion in every part of his body. Many cuts dripped with little rivulets of blood from when he had blocked attacks, a nasty gash ran down his side that he was fortunate was only a flesh wound. He moved to the corpses and sealed in the rest of the demons¡¯ Chi.


    Nyx turned back to the mobsters.


    Several tendrils of demonic power still held mobsters in the air, pressed against the back wall. With the demon¡¯s death, the pulsing red dissipated dropping the mafia members with splashes into the water. Focus slowly returned to their eyes, the fear no longer clouding their minds.


    Nyx walked over to the room¡¯s corner, the mobsters nearest rose onto trembling feet and backed away. was submerged in the water. Nyx grabbed the sting operation file from where it sat submerged in the water and gently gave it a shake. He peeled it open, satisfied to see the pages had stayed together. The paper, while soaked, was high quality and did not tear, the print was still legible.


    Nyx closed the file again and walked over to Vincenzo who was still sitting in the water with the look of a man whose entire existence had been turned on its head. Nyx righted a table that had been on its side and pulled two chairs beside it.


    Nyx extended his hand towards Vincenzo who stared at it a moment before accepting it. Nyx pulled the Don back to his feet gesturing for him to take a seat in one of the two chairs. The mob boss collapsed into one and Nyx took the other.


    ¡°I know what you saw today will change everything for you.¡± Nyx placed the file on the table beside them, ¡°I want you to look over this file, you will know what needs to be done. The world is changing, but lucky for you, you have me.¡±


    As Vincenzo regarded Nyx, he could see that glint of intelligence again, "What are you? What is going on?"


    Nyx smiled, ¡°who and what I am doesn¡¯t matter, but what I need from you is a partnership. I will help guide the mafia through the coming changes, and in return, I require you to assist me.¡±


    Vincenzo¡¯s eyes narrowed in wariness, ¡°This is not a simple matter. I am only in charge of a small branch of the family, the leading branch is in New York. I will have to communicate with them.¡±


    Nyx nodded, ¡°I am not a tyrant, you will see it is in your best interest to work with me. Take a good look at that file and make necessary arrangements and countermeasures. I will be back soon.¡± Nyx paused surveying the room, his eyes landed on the demon¡¯s corpses. ¡°One more thing, as a token of our friendship, could you deliver the two demon¡¯s bodies intact to this address?¡± Nyx grabbed a pen from the water and jotted his storage unit location and number down.


    The don nodded, ¡°consider it done, we are no stranger to dealing with stiffs.¡±


    ¡°Excellent! I will be in contact.¡± With that Nyx left the casino feeling eyes following him.


    The flashing lights and sounds coming from the different gambling machines in the lobby hurt his head. He was exhausted, skull-pounding after pushing himself so far. He had to conceal his condition until he was away. There was no way you could survive if they decided to open fire on him now. Nyx''s core swirled with demonic Chi he had cultivated during the fight; his Chaotic Chi had begun to trickle back.