Safari straddled Jayden.
Bare-knuckled, he hammered down. Each strike cracked the floor, shaking the room.
Jayden's body bore holes from the sheer force, his demonic blood staining the ground. The brutal scene became unbearable to witness.
Angeleva, her face pale, realized the dark aura was draining Safari's life force. His rage was consuming him.
Angeleva (urgently):
"Ian! Olive! Go! Now!"
Still trembling, Olive lifted Ian onto her back. His blood stained her shoulder, but she forced herself forward.
Olive (whispering):
"Hold on, Ian... We'll get out of here."
She stumbled through the shattered doorway, each step filled with dread. But even as they escaped, Olive couldn't ignore the relentless sound of Safari's fists tearing through Jayden.
Angeleva had no choice.
She sprinted towards Safari, summoning her wand. A soft golden light pulsed at its tip.
Angeleva (pleading):
"Safari, stop! It's over!"
But he didn't hear her. His face was twisted in blind fury.
Desperate, Angeleva attempted every technique she knew. She sent fairy pulses to break his focus, even tried a charm to calm him — but nothing worked.
In a final effort, she attempted the absurd.
Angeleva (mocking tone):
"Oh, Safari~ If you stop now, maybe I'll give you a reward~"
She flipped her hair dramatically, striking a provocative pose.
It failed — miserably.
Safari (growling):
"Not. Funny."
With all other options gone, Angeleva did the only thing she could.
She rushed forward, ignoring the looming aura, and threw her arms around Safari.
Angeleva:
"Enough, Safari!"
Safari thrashed violently, trying to shake her off, his dark aura burning Angeleva with unstable energy. But she held on.
Safari (roaring):
"Let go, fairy!"
But she held him tighter. Despite his strength, her embrace refused to break. She poured every ounce of her positive energy into him. The light from her wand faded as the warmth of her spirit surrounded him.
Angeleva (softly):
"It's over... Olive and Ian are safe. You don't have to suffer anymore."
The dark aura around Safari flickered. His breathing grew ragged. Every ounce of rage, guilt, and sorrow poured out of him.
Bit by bit, the shadows vanished. The golden warmth washed over him, cleansing his mind.
Safari stumbled back, his body trembling. He panted heavily, his fists still shaking. Jayden's motionless form lay beneath him, his demonic essence fading.
Angeleva, exhausted from using all her energy, collapsed to the floor. Her breaths were shallow, her body limp.
Safari turned his back to her, his voice low.
Safari:
"Thank you, Angeleva..."
The room fell silent. The dark energy had disappeared.
Everything seemed to have settled. Safari stood exhausted in his de-transformed state, his breathing ragged. Angeleva leaned against the wall, struggling to remain standing as she too de-transformed as a result.
But then—
Jayden's body twitched.
His demonic form began to regenerate at an alarming speed. Within seconds, the gaping wounds sealed, and his grin twisted into something vile.
Jayden (mocking):
"Thank you. You've made me stronger than ever."
Both Safari and Angeleva froze in disbelief.
Safari (panting):
"That's impossible..."
Before he could react, Jayden charged forward, slamming his fist into Safari's chest. The impact sent Safari crashing into the cracked wall, debris crumbling around him. Blood dripped from his mouth as the sharp pain echoed through his body.
Jayden (grinning):
"You had your fun with me. Now let me return the favor!"
Jayden descended upon Safari, pummeling him without restraint. Each strike cracked the floor beneath them, shaking the room. Safari's battered body jerked with each blow, blood splattering in all directions.
Amid the ruthless assault, Jayden spoke.
Jayden (mocking):
"Do you really think you’ve been fighting humans? … No. Every smiling face, every laugh — dead. Just empty husks, puppets for our parent. And our mayor? … He died screaming while we hollowed him out."
Safari's vision blurred, but he forced himself to listen.
He laughed maniacally.
Jayden:
"They're all dead. Every smiling face. Every cheerful laugh. Just bodies controlled by the babies of our leader."
Safari's heart pounded. The weight of the horrific truth crushed him.
Jayden:
"The mayor's body was already tough . He put up quite a fight, you know but he fell into our control. The body I possess was once Inspector Jayden himself. But even a hero like him couldn't resist the virus forever as our parent Mayor was able to overpower him and injected me, his offspring to take care of Jayden."
Angeleva's face twisted in disgust, horror etched across her expression.
Jayden (darkly):
"The virus laid eggs in every corpse it found. We took over their bodies. This festival? Just a facade. The people here are nothing but babies, celebrating a festival."
Unable to bear the sight of Safari's brutalized form, Angeleva pushed herself up despite her exhaustion. Her body ached, but her determination surged.
Angeleva (glaring):
"You monster! You dare lay a hand on Safari — the one who protects his family!"
Jayden smirked.
Jayden:
"Family? Hah! What a pointless concept. I'm just here to have fun. But your precious 'hero' can't give me that anymore."
With a twisted grin, Jayden cracked his knuckles.
Jayden:
"Time to find someone more... entertaining."
As he turned away, Angeleva lunged at him, her wand trembling with weakened energy.
Angeleva (furious):
"I won't let you!"
But with one swift motion, Jayden struck her. She slammed into the floor, the force leaving her unconscious.
Jayden (mocking):
"Pathetic."
Jayden made his way through the ruined building, tracking down Olive and Ian with eerie precision.
Olive gasped, holding the unconscious Ian tightly in her arms. His face was pale, blood dripping from his mouth. Her heart pounded in terror as Jayden's shadow loomed over them.
Olive (whispering):
"No..."
Ian stirred weakly, his battered body barely moving. Despite the pain, he tried to sit up, forcing a strained smile for Olive's sake.
Ian (weakly):
"Olive... there's no way I'm making it out of this."
Tears welled in Olive's eyes.
Olive:
"Don't say that. We'll find a way—"
Ian (interrupting):
"No... I know my body. I'm done for."
He coughed, blood staining his lips. Jayden approached slowly, savoring their fear.
Ian (gently):
"But before I go... Olive, can you do one last thing for me?"
Olive:
"Anything."
Ian's voice trembled, but his eyes never wavered.
Ian:
"Kiss me. Just once. Please."
Olive's breath caught.
Ian (softly):
"If I die, knowing I had my first kiss with you... I won't regret it. And if you survive, at least it won't be stolen by that monster."
The words tore at Olive's heart. She hesitated, trembling, but then slowly nodded.
Olive (whispering):
"Okay... for you."
Tears fell from her eyes as she leaned in. Their lips met in a tender, bittersweet kiss. Ian's trembling hand cupped her face, cherishing the fleeting moment. Despite the pain, he smiled.
Ian:
"Thank you, Olive."
But the moment shattered.
With a grin, Jayden raised his fist and drove it into Ian's side.
Ian coughed up blood.
Yet even as pain wracked his body, Ian held onto Olive, shielding her.
Ian (gasping):
"Thank you... for everything."
Jayden's fists rained down upon him, each blow sending shockwaves through his body. Blood pooled beneath them.
Olive sobbed, clutching Ian tightly. Despite the terrifying brutality, she didn't look away.
Olive (whispering):
"At least... it wasn't a humiliating end."
And the nightmare continued until Ian's body finally gave up.