2 Show down

Aaron's body was covered with a faint grey aura although it feels like nothing is going on. He can also feel watery like substances.

The wound on his left arm was healing at a fast pace but not enough to call regeneration. His senses were also getting sharper and his body adjusted to the heat emitted from the Tiger.

" What is going on?" Aaron asked confused by the sudden change in his body. His unknown sense picked up something, looking at the tree beside him. ' Energy? ' He thought.

Like a flash, the man appeared, putting his hand on the chin. " Where is Thorn? I bet I won the race." He said with a slow laugh hiding behind his hand. His laugh was annoying.

The man had true-red hair, red as flame. His eyes were dark and distant, and he moved with the subtle certainty that comes from knowing many things.

Aaron stared at the red-haired man. The man noticed Aarron staring at him. The tiger flame erupted in Aaron's direction. As all of his attention was on the man, Aaron didn't have any time to evade the attack. No, he didn't care about the tiger. Soon the flame consumed him.

[ Cross.]

His eyes widened, surprised by the fact that he was still alive. An invisible barrier protected Aaron from the flame.

" Who are you? Judging from your energy, seem like you are just awakened. That's a problem, those old men do not like an outsider." The man said.

Before Aaron could reply, he fell into the shadow, his own shadow. He appeared on the tree away from the tiger because he can still see the whole thing happening.

The tree was not too high but once he fall, with his condition he will be dead in a second. A hand patted his shoulder, " Easy kid."

Aaron looked up, and all he saw is spikey black hair and a few ear piercing. He looked like a thug. Thief. That is what Aaron thought.

" I will come back and drop you off so stay here."

Aaron nodded. The surrounding shadow attached the man's body and slowly pull him into the shadow. ' So that is how I teleport up here. ' Aaron observed.

Bang!

His gaze landed on the fight happening between Tiger and the red-haired man. The flame didn't do any damage to the red-haired man as he walked into a ball of flame. He smirked full of arrogance.

He punched the tiger.

Soon numerous shadows pulled the tiger's legs immobilising them. The red-haired man laughed. " What are you doing? Thorn. I can do it myself." He yelled at the sky.

" I know but we have no time to waste." Thorn, the spike-haired man appeared from the shadow behind Leo.

" Guess, you are right. Did you move him away?" Leo asked.

" Yes. Forget about him. Let's kill that cat. I will arrange the formation. You just have to punch hard."

Leo smiled and gave a slow nod. " Usual?"

Suddenly the atmosphere went dark as if the space around them was swallowed by darkness. Thorn clapped both of his hands, and a strange symbol appeared from his back.

[ Shadow manipulation]

As he said those words, all the shadows around them centred toward him. He bent down and grabbed something from the shadow. A sword shape weapon made out of the shadow.

Thorn rushed toward the tiger. The tiger broke free from the shadow using its flame on its legs but it is useless since Thorn had already cut down one of its limbs.

Confused. And the feeling of pain and despair unexpectedly occurred in its heart. The tiger ran away but it was futile.

The shadow entered from the cut-off limbs and made its way into the body. As if it was trying to control the whole body from the inside.

" Now. Leo. Absorb the damn cat." Thorn shouted. As the symbol behind him dissolved into his shadow.

The previous darkness around them slowly loses its power and light regains. Leo's position was finally revealed, he was crouching while holding his right hand tightly.

He murmured some words.

[ path of greed.]

His fist glow red colour, and he disappeared from the tiger's view. Reappeared again on its head and punched down.

There was no impact just a hollow, echoing quiet. The tiger was angered and howled at Leo.

[ Eat.]

The fist abruptly entered the head and sucked. The aura around Leo also gets denser. After a few seconds, only Leo, Thorn and the skin of Tiger were left on the battlefield.

" Seem like the cat got a lot of energy." Thorn adjusted his shirt and said. Leo made a ball of energy and throw it into the sky. " Deal. " He said

Leo nodded, " Yeah, it was nasty. Not like yours.", he paused for effect, " Of course, I am talking about energy."

Thorn sighed. " Let's meet with that boy."

" Okay."

Thron makes another hand sign this time it is different from the previous one. A dark hole appeared in front of them and Aaron emerged, puzzled by the sudden summon. Aaron flinched at the sight of these two men. He saw the whole fight from the tree so he knew how they easily killed the flame tiger.

Leo gave a helping hand, and Aaron stood up with blood on his clothes. His hand was not healed yet still broken.

" So what should we do with him," Leo asked Thorn.

Thron was silent for a moment. ' Old men won't like outsiders. And if we bring him into our base, he will get killed. No, wait. We could use him as a trump card. Although he doesn't strong enough to protect himself, he can fight with the top tier in a few days if he is smart and lucky. '

He bites his nail, considering whether it is a good or bad idea to train him. ' I don't know what technique he has awakened with. Should I gamble? The current situation is not good. I will observe the situation and make a judgment. '

Thorn sighed. " Tell me your name, boy."

" Aaron."

" Great, I am sure you are surprised by our display. But we don't have any time to explain. So we will contact you later and don't tell anyone about this. We will take care of this mess."

Leo patted Thorn's shoulder while wearing a proud expression. " You heard that Aaron."

" I will teleport you to the hospital. Bye." Thorn makes another sign.

" Wait.." before he could say any word, Aaron fall into the shadow.

" So why didn't you bring him to the heads," Leo asked with a playful tone.

" I will but it is not the right time yet."

" I hope you don't betray the heads. They are a massive pain to deal with. Even if we are the strongest in this little city, we can't hold a candle to the people outside."

The wind brushed the silence down the brunches. Thorn looked up at the sky, another change in weather. He slowly said, " I know. That is why I am trying my best so we have a chance."

" What chance?"

" A chance to enter death forest."

Leo was surprised. " Don't tell me." Thorn smiled.

" We will take the key and give it to the demon cult."

Leo nodded. " but we need another person to participate in the search. If I guess it right, we will use Aaron right?"

" Bingo! Then I will be able to fix my energy output. Now let's leave and report to the heads."

Both disappeared from the scene. As Thorn used his ability.

***

Emergency! Emergency!

" We got a patient. Lost a lot of blood. Call the doctor."

After a few hours passed, Aaron regained consciousness. He was laying on the bed, the air is filled with medicine.

Thirsty.

The room was dark not pitch black because he can still see silhouettes. He thought about calling for help but decided not to. He needed some time to process the crazy shit happened to him.

" Man, that is a wild date." He chuckled with a dry voice. " I have not experienced such a day since years ago. "