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DIABOLICAL AREA
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The clock ticked towards 2:00 AM, casting long shadows across Aldrich's office. He and Lisa had just entered, the silence broken only by their footsteps. Suddenly, Aldrich stopped short, his gaze falling on a scattered pile of papers on the floor.
He crouched down, confusion etching lines on his face as he picked them up. These were no ordinary papers; they belonged in the third drawer of his desk. Reaching for the drawer, he yanked it open to reveal a scene of utter chaos. Everything was jumbled and thrown about, a disastrous contrast to how he usually kept things in order."
A dark dread settled in his stomach. He frantically scanned the jumbled mess, searching for a specific document – one marked with a cross. It was gone. In that moment, a horrifying realization slammed into him. He understood what had transpired, what was happening now, and the dire consequences that awaited.
Spinning towards Lisa, his voice filled with urgency, he said, "Lisa! Get to the Diabolical Area, now! Alvin's there. Find him and bring him back alive!" Without hesitation, Lisa bolted from the room, leaving Aldrich alone with his mounting fear.
A TERRIBLE SITE, A HORRIBLE SIGHT
Alvin pushed open the heavy oak doors of Quadrate in Mannheim. An unsettling stillness hung in the air, an unnatural silence that pressed down on him like a shroud. The streets were deserted, devoid of any sign of life. The buildings, a hodgepodge of ramshackle structures, leaned precariously as if on the verge of collapse. The cracked and uneven pavement stretched endlessly, devoid of greenery save for a few skeletal trees stripped bare of their leaves. The entire scene exuded an air of profound lifelessness.
Driven by the urgency of his mission, Alvin pressed on, searching for any sign of a soul who could offer directions. Finally, a lone figure emerged from a shadowy doorway – an old man, his face etched with the lines of a long life. Alvin hurried towards him, relief washing over him.
"Excuse me, sir," Alvin addressed him politely. "Could you point me in the direction of Street 101?"
The old man turned, a strange smile flickering across his face. "Heaven or hell," he mumbled, his voice raspy and tinged with madness.
Alvin frowned, confused by the cryptic response. "I apologize, sir," he stammered, "I didn't quite catch that. I'm simply looking for Street 101."
The old man's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing glint. "Shot or stabbed," he croaked, his words barely above a whisper.
The old man's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing glint. "Shot or stabbed," he croaked, his words barely above a whisper.
Alvin felt a surge of anger, but quickly forced it down. There was no point in arguing with someone clearly deranged. Without another word, the old man shuffled off, leaving Alvin staring after him, his brow furrowed in bewilderment.
Suddenly, a voice startled him from behind.
"Hey there, lost boy . . . looking for Street 101?" it said, smooth and alluring.
Alvin spun around, his breath catching in his throat at the sight that greeted him. A breathtakingly handsome boy stood before him, his features sculpted to perfection like a character ripped straight from a movie. His eyes, the color of the clearest turquoise, shimmered with an almost otherworldy wonder, mirroring the inviting blue of a summer sky. His raven hair, as dark as a moonless night, cascaded down his shoulders in a mess of artfully tousled waves. A mischievous glint danced in his eyes, framed by long, dark lashes that seemed to fan out endlessly. A smirk played on his lips, revealing a hint of sharp canines, and it was a smile that sent shivers down Alvin's spine. It was a smile that felt more sinister than welcoming, like a playful predator toying with its prey.
After a moment of speechless stunned silence, Alvin finally managed to stammer out a question. "Yes, I'm looking for Street 101. And could you also tell me where we are right now?"
"Hold on," the boy said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Street 101 isn't actually a street. It's more like a marker for the town's edge. Just keep walking straight until you hit the end, where you'll find a big fence. But why are you asking about that place anyway? Where are you headed?"
Alvin's face remained unreadable, unwilling to reveal his destination. The boy, a handsome youth with a hint of mischief in his eyes, smirked slightly. "Diabolical Area, isn't it?"
Alvin's jaw nearly dropped from surprise. He kept his composure, though, not wanting to expose Aldrich's secret. He simply brushed off the comment and offered a polite thank you. The boy nodded, a sly smile still playing on his lips.
As Alvin took a step forward, he hesitated. Without turning around completely, he tilted his head slightly and asked, "One more thing... who are you?"
The boy's expression turned serious, his features hardening. "It's better if you don't know," he replied, his voice devoid of humor. "The less you know, the safer you'll be. Let's just say I'm neither friend nor foe."
Leaving the boy behind, Alvin continued his trek towards the town's edge, a sense of unease gnawing at him. Who was this mysterious youth? And how did he knew about Alvin's true destination?
DECEIVE OF VISION
Juvia stood in her mansion's garden when a sudden movement caught her eye. Someone was leaving the house! Curious, she hurried outside to investigate. There, walking briskly away, was Alvin.
"Alvin!" she called out, her voice echoing through the night. "Is that you? When did you get back?"
Alvin stopped briefly, his face unreadable for a fleeting moment. He locked eyes with Juvia, a strange, wide smile spreading across his face before he quickly turned and resumed his hurried pace.
Juvia called out again, her voice laced with concern, but Alvin didn't respond. Determined to get answers, she sprinted after him. As she did, Alvin's pace quickened, breaking into a full run.
He disappeared down a narrow alleyway. Juvia followed, her heart pounding. But as she rounded the corner, her blood ran cold. Instead of Alvin, she saw a figure cloaked in black, its back to her. A knot of fear tightened in her stomach.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the alley, and the figure vanished in a swirl of dust. Juvia stood rooted to the spot, a chilling realization dawning on her. First, it was Al, and now...
Her gaze fell upon a single sheet of paper lying on the ground. Mustering her courage, she picked it up. Unfolding it, she gasped. Written on it in blood was a single word: Illusions.
A wave of dread washed over Juvia. Something was terribly wrong. Clutching the paper, she hurried back towards the mansion, her mind racing with a thousand questions.
THE RESULT TO TENACITY
Alvin reached the massive fence the boy had described. After a moment's deliberation, he decided to scale it. He clambered up the barrier, reaching the top with a grunt of effort before dropping down onto the other side. A sharp yelp escaped his lips as he landed, but he'd successfully crossed the obstacle.
Standing before him loomed an imposing mansion, more akin to a castle. Its gothic architecture oozed an unsettling aura, as if it housed dark secrets. The place appeared abandoned, shrouded in darkness. Alvin debated whether to enter. He'd come too far to turn back now. With a determined stride, he approached the colossal front doors and raised a heavy iron knocker. After a tense wait, silence.
He knocked again, hoping for a response. Denial gnawed at him. Was this place truly deserted? Just as he contemplated his next move, the door creaked open with a groan. Before him stood a young man, his face obscured by a mask, a gun aimed squarely at Alvin's head.
The man's gaze was intense, a hair-trigger tension hanging in the air. He had auburn hair and honey-colored eyes, visible around the mask. After a tense exchange of stares, the young man spoke curtly.
"Name? Destination? Purpose? Reason for being here?"
Alvin, flustered, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Sir, I'm no threat," he stammered. "I just..."
The man interrupted, his voice steely. "Traitor! How did you discover this location?"
Unwilling to reveal his source, Alvin remained silent. After a taut moment, he hesitantly began, "My name... is Mark... and I got the address... of this place from..." He trailed off, his words cut short by a sudden action.
In a flash, Alvin lunged for the gun. The young man reacted swiftly, whipping out another weapon from his left hand and firing. Using his Copper Interfusion ability, Alvin transformed his own gun into a copper-steel dagger, deflecting the bullet at the last second. He somersaulted away, narrowly avoiding another shot.
"Why aren't you shooting? Scared?" Alvin taunted, bewildered by the man's inaction.
The masked man smirked. "Sometimes, people forget that all's not that what is in front. They forget that death, danger and the next moment comes untold."
"Coward! Cowards only attack behind the lion's back" he roared, defiance flaring despite his vulnerable position. But it was futile. Two men now held him captive.
The tall figure of the honey eyed guy approached, a sense of superiority radiating from him. He looked down at Alvin with a sneer. "Victory is the only thing that matters," he declared, punctuating his words with a blow to Alvin's face, sending a spray of blood from his mouth.
The Honey-eyed guy took out his gun, he loaded and directing it at Alvin's forehead he told him that he was about to die.Alvin didn't repented a bit, In fact he had sworn to himself not to regret.He believed that he couldn't die so easily,not so meaninglessly.Anyways the man was about to shoot Alvin that a voice was heard by the people present there,
"Περίμενε! [Stop!]"
The voice caught everyone's attention and recognizing the voice the young man lowered his gun and saw that it was Lisa.
Lisa came near to them slowly with her gun in her hand and said
,"Περίμενε! Είναι αετός μην πυροβολείς . [Wait! It's Aetos. Don't shoot]"
The only People who were able to understand that second language were Lisa and the man.
"Αετός ποιος έστειλε αυτό το αγόρι εδώ; Είστε προδότες. Πώς έφτασε στον τόπο μας; [Aetos who sent this boy here? You people are traitors. How did he reached our place?]"
,"Μπορώ να εξηγήσω. Δεν του είπαμε τίποτα. Είχε δει τη διεύθυνση γραμμένη σε έγγραφα White Fangs. Αφήστε τον να φύγει [I can Explain.We didn't told him anything.He had seen the address written on White fangs documents. Let him go.]"
There was a short silence there and then the man began to laugh.Alvin was astounded to see what was happening.
The man then began in a dangerous tune
,"Αετός...Ξέρεις ότι είσαι μόνος εδώ και έχω έναν πλήρη στρατό τώρα. Ο Κινγκ έπρεπε να το σκεφτεί πριν στείλει μια κυρία ολομόναχη εδώ. Μπορώ να κάνω τα πάντα τώρα με σένα και με αυτό το αγόρι. Αλλά δεν θα το κάνω, εκτός και αν μου το πει. Μπορείς να φύγεις αυτή τη φορά, αλλά να θυμάσαι αν ξαναδούμε αυτό το αγόρι εδώ γύρω, θα σκοτωθεί. [Aetos...You know you're all alone here and I have a full army present right now. Vasilias should have thought that, before sending a lady all alone here. I can do anything right now with you and with this boy.But I won't, unless I'm told to. You can go away this time but remember if we see this boy around here again he'll get killed.]
Lisa agreed to what he said and took Alvin back with her.
JUVIA'S INVESTIGATED
Juvia paced restlessly in Aldrich's office, a knot of worry tightening in her stomach. The thought of Alvin venturing off on his own sent shivers down her spine. What if Aldrich knew where Alvin had gone? What dangers awaited him?
The office door creaked open, and Aldrich entered the room. Juvia's face drained of color as his gaze fell upon her. He gestured towards a chair, and she sat down, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap.
"Where is your brother?" Aldrich's voice was clipped and demanding. "I called the both of you earlier, didn't I?"
"Lieutenant General," Juvia stammered, "I… I don't know where he is."
"Truly?" His voice held a hint of suspicion.
"Yes, sir. Why would I lie?"
"Perhaps to conceal your brother's activities!" Aldrich slammed his hand on the desk, the sudden noise making Juvia flinch. He was clearly aware of something.
"Didn't I warn him to stay out of this?" Rage simmered in his eyes. "I told him this didn't concern him. Why did he disobey me?"
"Lieutenant General," Juvia tried to explain, "I tried to stop him, but..."
"He's in danger now, Juvia! And he's not the only one. One of my associates is at risk as well. You both better pray nothing goes wrong," Aldrich warned, his voice low and serious. "Otherwise, the consequences will be harsh."
Juvia cast her eyes down, a wave of fear and resentment washing over her. What were they getting themselves into?
ENCOUNTER IN THE STREET
They had escaped the clutches of Honey-eyes and his men. Now, on their way back to HQ, Alvin peppered Lisa with questions. "What language were you speaking? How do you know those people? And how did you know I was in trouble?"
Lisa remained silent, her face a mask of mystery. They continued walking until she abruptly stopped, leading them into a dimly lit alleyway.
Turning to Alvin, her voice held a steely resolve. "Alvin," she began, "you're alive for now. But don't expect another rescue."
Alvin's gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"If you want to stay alive," Lisa stated, her voice firm, "never speak of what happened. Never return to that place. Don't even think about it."
With each instruction, she took a step backward to go. Alvin grabbed her wrist. "Why?"
"Why?" he demanded. "The less you know, the safer you are," she replied, echoing a phrase Alvin recalled from the mysterious boy earlier.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIVshQI5ND
His frustration boiled, but with a deep breath, he calmed down. Just then, a chilling cry pierced the night – a child's plea for help.
They followed the sound to find a young boy, maybe a couple of years younger than Alvin, clutching his foot, blood staining the cobblestones. Concerned, Lisa approached him.
"Hey kid, are you alright?" she asked gently. The boy remained silent, his face hidden.
As Lisa reached out, the situation took a horrifying turn. The boy whipped around, plunging a wicked blade into Lisa's arm. A gasp escaped her lips. With a swift kick, she disarmed him and staggered back, clutching her bleeding wound.
Alvin rushed to her side. "Colonel! You okay?" he cried.
Lisa, her face pale, nodded weakly. They watched in disbelief as the boy, now on his feet, chuckled insanely. It was a sound devoid of joy, filled with a dark menace. He brushed his caramel hair aside, revealing scarlet-red eyes that glittered with malice.
"Excellent!" he cackled, a wide, unsettling grin splitting his face. "Now let's see if you can be a worthy sacrifice!"
Confusion and fear warred within Alvin. The deserted street offered no escape. Adrenaline surged through him. He wouldn't let this deranged child hurt Lisa. With a growl, he transformed his gun into an aluminum-bronze dagger and lunged at the boy, determined to protect his companion and uncover the truth behind this sinister encounter.188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Z2gQImTP
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: 188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg32q7KerWX
Can you name the evil character appeared in this chapter in the dark place where Alvin entered?
Answer in the comments to get a follow
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