"Knock Knock~"
The sound echoed against frostbitten stone, sharp and deliberate.
Anthony stood at the edge of the watchtower hall, tension crawling up his spine. Riley stood beside him, her staff glowing faintly. Neither of them spoke. The last time Anthony heard that rhythm, he was kneeling in a crater.
The door opened by itself. Not a push. Not a gust. Just… opened.
Standing at the threshold: Demetri.
He looked bored. Pale skin, snowy white hair rustling gently, like he'd wandered out of a quiet dream into a warzone. A lazy smile pulled at the corner of his lips.
"Hi," he said, voice oddly casual. "Thought I'd drop by."
Anthony didn't answer. He just walked forward—slowly, spear in hand.
"Your late." Anthony muttered.
Demetri's eyes lit up.
"Traffic"
He vanished. Not teleportation—just speed. Too fast.
Anthony's barrier snapped up just in time to block a blow that cracked the floor beneath his boots. Then a backhand sent him skidding across the courtyard.
Demetri appeared above him mid-slide and landed with a gentle bounce.
"Disappointed already," he said, crouching. "I came all this way."
Anthony launched a spear jab upward—Demetri parried it with two fingers and twirled in place, chuckling.
"I'm still warming up."
---
The Duel Begins
The courtyard transformed. Barrier shards filled the air like glass rain. Lightning crackled from Anthony's limbs. Not from fury—but desperation. He moved with precision. Each step calculated. He didn't scream. He didn't roar.
He thought.
But Demetri was faster.
And stronger.
And reckless.
He dodged every attempt with a dancer's flair, occasionally tapping Anthony on the shoulder or hip just to humiliate him. "Wrong angle," he'd say. Or "Too slow." Or "That almost tickled."
The guards backed away, knowing this wasn't a fight they could comprehend.
Anthony switched tactics. He began using environment—pillars, broken terrain, barrier-crafted traps. He created a wall mid-charge to force Demetri's angle. He barely grazed Demetri's jaw.
Blood.
Demetri stopped.
Touched his chin.
Smiled.
"You're improving."
Then he struck.
---
It was one movement. Almost casual.
Demetri ducked under a spear thrust, grabbed Anthony's left arm with one hand—and pulled.
A crack. A rip. A scream swallowed in the wind.
The arm tore free at the shoulder, blood spraying onto stone. Anthony staggered, the pain crashing over him like a Storm. Then demetri slapped him with his own bleeding arm
He didn't drop.
Anthony enraged screamed "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? YOU HIT ME WITH THE ARM YOU STOLE FROM ME"
Demetri laughed. Amused: "who else was I supposed to use it on?"
He laughed
Then added "honestly I LIKE the sound of ANOTHER!"
He pressed a shaking hand to the wound, forced his remaining magic into a barrier. The construct formed—a jagged, semi-solid arm of translucent energy. Unstable. But enough.
His face was pale, but calm.
Focused.
Demetri blinked, watching him.
"You're not panicking?" he asked. "Most people panic."
"give me back my arm.. Bitch"
"oo then come get it!"
Demetri replied
Anthony didn't respond. His eyes flicked to Riley.
---
Riley Interferes
She had been edging forward, afraid. But when she saw the blood, the limp limb, she moved.
"STOP!" she cried.
She cast a barrier—more reflex than strategy.
Demetri turned lazily.
"Bad idea."
He backhanded her—not with force, but with intent.
Her forearm shattered with a single crack. Bone and gore flew. Her body tumbled like a ragdoll into the snow. Her scream echoed across the cliffs.
Anthony froze.
Not out of rage. Not vengeance.
But overwhelm.
He was failing.
Again.
His body moved on instinct. He flared his power—flooding the battlefield with line-based energy. Fire mixed with lightning. His constructed arm fused tighter, sharper. He charged not with anger, but with everything he had left.
Every tactic.
Every movement learned through pain.
He struck Demetri across the chest—a direct hit.
Demetri skidded back.
But only smiled.
"Beautiful."
---
Anthony collapsed moments later—breathing shallow, body broken, power spent. His barrier arm flickered. The courtyard hissed with steam and magic decay.
Demetri strolled over to Riley, now clutching her ruined arm, eyes glassy with pain.
"You two… You're fun," he said softly. "But you're both broken. That's boring."
He raised a hand—and paused.
Silence. A choice.
Then he sighed and opened a rift.
"I had fun here."
He scooped Riley up with shocking gentleness. Lifted Anthony like a brother. And with no ceremony, he vanished through the portal.
---
They reappeared in front of a warped tree with violet leaves. A calm wind brushed against them. A figure stepped out from the roots.
Utan.
Demetri dropped the two broken bodies at her feet.
"Fix them. Or eat them. I don't care."
He turned back once.
"Tell him next time: think smarter. Desperation is useful. But it burns out fast."
He vanished.
The tree creaked open.
Healing awaited.
But so did change
To be continued in: Volume 4. iNFAMY