The head of the creature reached the ceiling, its maroon skin pulsating with bulging veins, tentacles squirming like snakes.

  Hyonda's face was no longer to be seen, but an intense golden eye revealed itself behind one massive eyelid.

  "This is impossible... is this the world we truly live in?" Suzie whispered, fearing to take her eyes off the creature. Her feet were shaking, itching to take a step.

  Constantly weighing the risk of running and breaking every bone, or waiting, hoping not to be crushed by falling rocks or oversized tentacles.

  With a thought, Hezekiah called the pen to his hand, partially burning his clothes each time.

  When he directly met the eye's gaze, his bones felt like water. His vision began turning, causing him to stumble.

  What... what's going on? Where am I?

  The old man, seeing the opportunity, pushed off the ground and struck Hezekiah's jaw, waking him from his confusion.

  Instead of dropping to the ground, Hezekiah quickly managed to maintain his balance. The old man moved to deliver another blow, but streams of blood fired from his nose like a jet stream.

  A sudden lightheadedness overcame him. Hezekiah smirked and grabbed him by the collar, shooting an elbow toward his chin, knocking the man out cold.

  Hyonda sprung his tentacles toward the distracted target at formidable speed, even crushing the rocks that came into contact.

  Hezekiah, not forgetting the other threat, once again aimed the pen toward the oncoming attack. Before he even released it, the pen manifested into flames again, erasing any tendrils that got too close.

  I can feel it... so this is how I do it.

  Another monstrous screech echoed from the creature, stirring perpetual ringing in everyone's ears. Only four tentacles remained—a sorry sight compared to the dozens it had before. Blue blood squirted from its stumps while its pulsating body was visibly declining.

  "You wretch! This couldn’t possibly be done with a Huska Tool! Just what are you?!" Hyonda's voice was strained, but still stored mountains of hostility.

  "What does it matter? It won’t have anything to do with you very soon."

  And with those words, floods of blood escaped from the creature's eyelids, the familiar pain resurfacing once again. His groans were reminiscent of a starving bear, even though his form defied otherwise.

  So even grazing my cheek was still considered violence.

  "After all, it’s doubtful you have any time left," Hezekiah added while thoughtfully observing the checkered-color flame he possessed.

  He might actually kill this thing. Is this what an Abna is capable of? Suzie stared intently at the two as sweat stuck to her smooth but dusty skin, anticipating she’d have a chance to escape.

  Hyonda, feeling his life draining away, resolved himself for one final attack.

  "If I wasn’t constrained to this cave, then you wouldn’t dare resist me," Hyonda claimed. His eye began spiraling like a saucer, a bright red shade replacing its natural black color.

  Hezekiah slightly bit his lip and met Suzie’s eyes, then stared at the uphill slope of the cave. Suzie, noticing his gaze, her heart sunk, as if knowing what he was planning.

  "Hey... wait! I'm sor—!"

  "Auraghh!" Hyonda’s grunt cut her off while his remaining tentacles squirmed. He knew forcing this attack while his eye was injured could cause irreversible damage, but he’d had enough of the strange figure before him.

  Bombardments of pain amassed through its socket. Dizziness once again enveloped him, his surroundings blurred out of focus. The sputter of blood from his stumps grew more violent after the violation of the rule took effect.

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  Hezekiah saw purple lightning crackle in front of the eye. A current brushed throughout his body, stiffening his hair.

  As he was about to dart the flame toward the bleeding being, Hyonda’s eye began crumbling on itself like a piece of paper.

  The strain bearing on him sent waves of itchiness throughout his eye, but he managed to fire the attack.

  Before Hezekiah could even react, the flame that levitated above his palm consumed the lightning approaching him—absorbing it completely.

  That... that could’ve killed me. If the pen wasn’t in its flame form...

  Realizing how easily he could still die, he decided he shouldn’t wait any longer.

  "My lightning!? It vanished!?" Although Hyonda’s vision was messy, he could still tell his attack failed. Trying to quickly deduce the reason for the phenomenon, the flames of the torches behind him began morphing, catching everyone’s attention.

  The flames’ size reduced significantly—about the size of a thumb. The flames broke apart into tiny orbs, with six thin legs emerging, and a rear resembling a stinger.

  Hezekiah observed the sight in shock as dozens of wasps took shape from the flames. Even Suzie clasped her mouth upon noticing the transformation.

  The flames... they became alive? No, it has to be pure fire manipulation. He’s mocking me. It’s impossible to create life like this. Hyonda assured himself.

  Having no strength to move, He lay sprawled on the ground with his mangled body. Clenching his teeth with his shredded eye, he spoke to Hezekiah.

  "This is how you’ll kill me? And what would you do if my kind finds out?" Hyonda questioned with a hint of daring in his tone.

  Hezekiah’s mind paused. This was a common tactic he was well aware of, and usually, threats like these were easily handled.

  But he wasn’t dealing with ordinary beings. Even if he decided to leave all this behind after escaping the cave—not getting involved with the Unity Council or whatever else may be out there—he knew letting Hyonda live would, without a doubt, cause problems later on.

  Could I create a rule to trap him in this cave forever?

  The flame wasps raced toward Hyonda before Hezekiah could decide what to do. Hyonda wailed as their stingers pierced through his rubber-like flesh. His skin caught on fire as the wasps stung and bit, each strike causing him to spasm.

  Suzie’s eyes darkened at the sight, seeing him slowly being burned to death and tortured by the little insects. His tentacles wiggled weakly as they too were clouded by the flame bugs.

  It’s... it’s finally over? I’m truly going to live?

  A half-smile shadowed her after easing her shoulders. She wiped away her dried tears.

  It wasn’t long before the massive figure was engulfed in flames. Wasps emerged out of the fire one by one as his cries grew weaker.

  Hezekiah crossed his arms and tilted his head, a presence of anxiousness drifting into his expression.

  Should I really be worried? But what if he wasn’t bluffing?

  Sighing, he began making his way out of the cave, not even looking at Suzie. In the midst of his steps, a firm grip locked onto his ankle.

  Looking down, the old man was fully awake with a bruised chin. His lip was bleeding with bite marks. He coughed a few times as he tried to lift himself up.

  "My age may be diminishing its effects, but thanks to Hyonda’s experiments, my physique is not your typical old sack of bones. You will have to do a lot more than that to kill me," he said weakly. His vision was drawn toward the flame wasps, sending trembles through his fingers.

  Without wasting any words on him, Hezekiah used his other foot and crushed the his fingers. He yelped and rolled to his side, clasping his hand as his fingernails cracked and dripped blood.

  "Since you’re so loyal to Hyonda, then let your final moments be like his."

  The wasps were now whizzing toward them, with stingers aimed at the back of the old man.

  As Suzie watched the sight, a chill sat in her chest. The drumming pulse reminded her of her situation.

  "Hezekiah, please! Forgive me—I was out of line before. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you," she pleaded.

  Hezekiah remained staring at the man as he attempted to swat away the wasps, even though it only gave him more burns. He tried to get up, but all of his limbs dislocated as soon as he stood.

  I really am not subjugated to the rules. Not a single wasp is paying attention to me.

  "Hezekiah, I’m sorry!" Suzie shouted while nervously observing the old man struggling.

  Hezekiah shifted his sight toward her, acknowledging her cry. But he wasn’t sure if there was anything he could do for her at this point—even if he wanted to save her.

  Seeing her beg for help after everything she said and did made him frown. Even if he did understand her state of mind, he always found it better to turn his back on people like this.

  Forget it. Anyone would act like this if someone close to them died. I doubt she’s sincere, but it’s not like it’s worth getting her killed over it.

  "Only thing I can tell you is that you better start running. Better to have a few broken bones than to face certain death."

  After hearing his words, Suzie noticed that the remaining torches were changing shape. She clenched her clothes as her legs trembled, watching more flame wasps take form.

  Seeing she was about to protest, Hezekiah cut her off.

  "Get out of here! There’s nothing I can do for you!"

  The wasps drew away from the old man’s body in a zigzag pattern, leaving behind scorched marks and swollen skin. Without skipping a beat, she took off running, nearly tripping over herself.

  The wasps passed Hezekiah, quickly pursuing their next victim.