Page 9
Outside the mist…
Silence was not silence.
But anticipation.
The one with the emblem did not move…
but behind him—
the shadows were moving.
One step…
then another…
until another man emerged from the darkness.
He said in a low voice:
"Is he the target?"
The emblem bearer did not answer immediately.
His eyes remained on Adam… from a distance.
Then he said:
"Yes."
A pause… then he added:
"But he is not as they said."
The other man frowned.
"Stronger?"
He replied calmly:
"More dangerous."
At that moment—
the air trembled.
Not because of power…
but because of presence.
A third figure appeared.
No sound… no trace.
But even the shadows… stepped back slightly.
He said in a cold voice:
"If it is him… then he must not remain alive."
The emblem bearer finally looked at him.
"That is not your decision."
The newcomer smiled…
a smile without warmth.
"It is now."
On the other side…
inside the endless road—
The guards were catching their breath again.
And the carriage… had stopped.
The captain wiped the blood from his sword…
then looked at Adam.
"That was not an ordinary attack."
Adam did not respond.
His eyes… were still in the same place.
Where the pirate had vanished.
He said calmly:
"I know."
The captain stepped closer.
"Then?"
He answered:
"He was testing me."
The captain's expression changed.
"A test?"
Adam nodded.
"He was not trying to kill me."
Then he added:
"If he wanted to… he would have."
The captain was silent for a moment…
then said:
"So that means—"
Adam cut him off:
"That someone is watching."
At that moment—
Doctor Griffin froze.
Not in fear…
but realization.
He slowly raised his head…
and looked toward the mist.
He whispered:
"They are late…"
Adam quickly turned to him.
"Who?"
But before he could answer—
the mist exploded.
Not wind…
but a tear.
And from inside it—
something came out.
Not human…
nor beast.
But… something in between.
Its body was deformed…
as if darkness had been poured into it.
And its eyes—
empty.
One of the guards screamed:
"What in the—?!"
But his voice was cut off.
In an instant—
the thing vanished…
then reappeared in front of him.
With a single strike—
he fell.
His blood did not scatter…
it disappeared.
As if… it was swallowed.
Everyone stepped back.
Even the captain… took a step away.
As for Adam—
he did not move.
He looked at it directly.
And said:
"This is not from the pirates."
Griffin smiled faintly…
but this time—
it was not comforting.
"Of course not."
Then he said:
"This… is a messenger."
Adam narrowed his eyes.
"From who?"
But the answer…
did not come from Griffin.
But—
from the thing itself.
It slowly opened its mouth…
and a voice came out… distorted…
as if more than one voice at once:
"A… dam… No… ol…"
The air froze.
Then—
it moved.
It rushed toward Adam—
at a speed… unseen.
But—
before it reached him—
Ignition.
Dark red flames…
exploded from Adam's body.
They struck it directly.
A scream…
not human.
The thing recoiled…
but did not fall.
It stood…
then—
it began to laugh.
A broken… terrifying sound.
"It has been found…"
It whispered it.
Then raised its head—
"At last…"
And in an instant—
its body exploded.
But—
not into blood.
Into shadows.
They scattered…
in every direction.
Silence returned.
But this time—
it was not the same.
The captain said in a low voice:
"What… was that?"
No one answered.
As for Griffin—
he closed his eyes.
And said calmly:
"It has begun."
Adam looked at him.
"What has?"
He opened his eyes…
and looked directly at him.
And for the first time—
the smile disappeared.
"Your hunt."
Far away…
the emblem bearer smiled.
And said:
"Now… this is getting interesting."
And behind him—
the shadows… were awakening.