Page 12
Adam stood in front of the carriage, as the fog around them calmed slightly, as if the road itself was granting him a moment of farewell.
He looked at Doctor Griffin… then at the leader of the journey.
He said calmly:
"I will continue alone now… thank you."
The leader did not respond immediately, but Doctor Griffin stepped forward, his eyes carrying clear concern.
"You will cross the Black Bear Forest alone?"
He paused for a moment, then added:
"This forest… is not an ordinary place. It is full of dangers."
Adam smiled faintly… but it was filled with unshakable confidence.
"Don't worry."
He lifted his head slightly, his eyes shining:
"I have lived my entire life in the Tribal Mountains… wouldn't I be able to cross a forest?"
The doctor remained silent for a few seconds… then let out a small sigh with a slight smile.
"In that… you're right."
He waved his hand.
"Then go on your way."
Adam raised his hand, signaling his farewell, then turned… and began walking toward the depths of the forest.
---
An hour passed.
The trees became taller… larger… denser.
Light barely slipped through the branches, and even the air itself had grown heavier.
Adam stopped beneath a gigantic tree, its trunk wider than three men combined, its branches completely blocking the sky.
At that moment—
"Welcome… Adam Noll."
The voice… came suddenly.
Cold… calm… yet carrying something unsettling.
In a fraction of a second, Adam's sword was already drawn.
He turned sharply—
Then… froze.
A person stood before him.
He looked like him.
The same features… the same stance… but—
Older.
Calmer.
More dangerous.
His hair… golden.
Adam narrowed his eyes, his sword pointed directly at him.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly… as if he had found something amusing.
"I only came… to greet you."
He took a small step forward.
"And I will leave."
Adam tightened his grip on his sword.
"I said… who are you?"
The man remained silent for a moment… then slightly lifted his head.
"They know me… as—"
He paused.
Then said calmly:
"The Manipulator."
Before Adam could move—
The Manipulator raised his hand.
"And now… I will give my greeting."
Silence…
Then a single word left his mouth—
"Rise."
---
In the next moment—
The ground trembled.
The earth beneath Adam's feet cracked—
And—
They emerged.
One… two… ten…
Forty.
Human bodies… but without features.
Their faces completely covered in black flames… burning without sound.
They stood in silence.
Then—
The Manipulator disappeared.
---
Adam did not wait.
"Come!"
Dark red flames burst from his body, as if erupting from within.
His black sword—
"Black Devourer"—
let out a low hum… as if awakening.
The first attacker rushed toward him—
But Adam was faster.
Slash!
One strike—
The body separated from its head.
But—
No blood fell.
Instead—
The body vanished… as if it had never existed.
"Damn…"
He didn't stop.
Second… third… fourth—
His movements were sharp, fast, deadly.
The flames around him moved with him, like a living entity attacking anyone who approached.
But—
They were many.
Five attacked him from behind—
He turned, raised his sword—
Clash!
The force of the impact shook the ground.
Adam slid back one step—
Only one.
His eyes ignited.
"Come on…"
---
From afar—
Someone was watching.
His arm… burned.
His skin partially charred… yet his eyes were calm.
He looked at the battle… then slowly raised his hand.
"Shift."
Beneath his feet—
A shadow appeared.
It swallowed him.
---
In an instant—
He emerged from another shadow… in the middle of the battle.
He lifted his head and looked around.
"Twenty-five against one…"
He slowly drew his sword.
"What a disgrace."
---
In the next moment—
He moved.
But it wasn't normal movement.
He… vanished.
And appeared.
Slash!
A head flew into the air.
Stab!
A body split in half.
The shadows around him moved with him, wrapping around his feet, his sword… even his enemies.
One of them tried to strike him—
But before reaching him—
He vanished.
Then appeared behind him.
"Too slow."
A stab from behind.
---
Adam noticed that immediately.
"Hmm…"
He smiled.
"Finally…"
He dashed forward—
And now… someone stood beside him.
Flames and shadows—
Merged.
---
Together—
The battle became… a massacre.
Adam carved through with direct power, his strikes heavy, each one carrying lethal weight.
While the other—
Was a ghost.
Appearing… disappearing… killing.
One of the enemies leaped toward Adam—
But before reaching him—
He was pulled into his own shadow—
Then a sword emerged from within the shadow itself and pierced his chest.
"Not bad…" Adam said.
"You neither."
The other replied without looking at him.
---
The last five—
Tried to attack together.
Adam raised his sword—
"Game over."
The flames exploded around him—
A sweeping strike—
Boom!
At the same moment—
The shadows devoured the rest.
---
Silence.
They vanished.
All of them.
---
Adam breathed slowly… then lowered his sword slightly.
"Damn… those bastards wore me out."
He looked at the other person.
"Why did they attack you? And what are they, anyway?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know."
He paused.
"A man appeared… said his name was The Manipulator… then brought them out of the ground."
Then he added lightly:
"Honestly… when I saw you come out of the ground… I was about to cut your head off."
He smiled.
"But… thanks."
He paused for a moment, then said:
"By the way—"
He extended his hand.
"I'm Adam. Adam Noll."
---
The other looked at his hand.
Then at his face.
For a few seconds—
He said nothing.
But—
There was a strange feeling.
Something inside him… telling him—
"Don't leave this person."
He sighed lightly.
"Don't worry about it."
He shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Adam."
Then said:
"My name is Bartholomew Kane."
He gave a slight smile.
"But you can call me… Barry."
---
Adam tightened his grip on his hand.
"Looks like I owe you one."
Then added confidently:
"If you accept my friendship… I will repay this debt for sure."
Barry looked at him… then smiled.
"I'd be glad… to be friends with someone strong like you."
---
Deep within the forest—
Far away…
Someone was watching.
A faint smile appeared in the darkness.
"The pieces… have begun to move."
---