Chapter 6: Victor's Demand

When they reached the source of the scream, a dense circle of onlookers had gathered in the middle of the road. Without hesitation, Ethan and Adrian pushed through the crowd, shoving aside everyone in their desperate attempt to reach the center.

Elise stood there, trembling. Her hands were coated in a thin layer of ice, the remnants of her power lashing out uncontrollably in her fear. Small patches of frost remained in the ground and the corner of her sleeves. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her breath came in sharp, uneven gasps.

Ethan didn't stop to think. He threw himself forward, pulling Elise away from the threat, his body forming a shield before he even turned to face the one who had put her in harm's way.

"You alright?" His voice was softer than usual, laced with concern.

Elise swallowed hard, her throat dry. She nodded weakly, her eyes cast downward to avoid his gaze, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her. "Yeah." She tried to sound strong, but it faltered, slipping into something fragile. Her small hands clung to his sleeve, her fingers trembling.

Ethan gently pulled her closer, steadying her with one arm, wrapping her in the protection of his presence. Adrian moved in beside them, his strong hand coming to rest on Elise’s shoulder, offering silent support as they both stood like a shield around her.

Once Elise was secure, and only then, did Ethan turn his attention to the one who had caused her distress. The person who had dared to make her tremble like this, to pull her to the world of terror.

A familiar figure stood in front of them, a smug smile on his face. His purple robe looked too tight, straining around his bulky frame, while gold chains hung heavily from his thick neck, making a soft clinking sound as he shifted. His large fingers twitched, showing the kind of arrogance that came from years of getting whatever he wanted without question.

Behind him stood his usual entourage—two lackeys, both grinning like jackals, a bored-looking bodyguard, and a hulking black-furred dog with intelligent, menacing eyes.

It was Victor the moneylender. A leech who thrived on the misfortune of others, his fat fingers wrapped around the city’s debts—and by extension, its people.

Ethan’s gaze sharpened. "Just what do you think you’re doing, Victor?" His voice was calm, controlled. But the edge beneath it was unmistakable.

Victor’s thick lips stretched into a grin, the kind that made Ethan’s (everybody's for that fact) stomach turn. "Well, if it ain’t the world-renowned child prodigy! How’s life treating you, Ethan? Still struggling to breathe under all that debt?"

"Don’t change the subject." Ethan’s tone darkened. "What the hell were you doing ?"

Victor’s two lackeys, eager for conflict, took a step forward, one puffing out his chest in a display of bravado. "Watch your mouth, boy," he growled, flexing his hands forward ."You talk like that to the boss, and you’ll regret it."

Victor raised a plump hand, waving his underling off with an exaggerated chuckle. "Now, now, let’s not be so hasty. We’re all friends here, aren’t we? No need to get all worked up." Then his expression shifted, his voice filled with false innocence. "Besides, are you not seeing this? Your sister was the one who used her ability to attack us."

Ethan’s jaw clenched unconsciously. "There’s no reason for her to attack you—unless you gave her one." His voice turned cold, sharp as a blade. "Speak."

Victor held up his hands in mock surrender, the amusement never leaving his face. "Alright, alright. I’ll admit, I made the first move." He gave a sheepish chuckle, shooting his lackeys a glance. "I saw her shopping alone, and, well… it just ached my heart to see a beautiful young lady by herself. So, I volunteered to keep her company."

The two lackeys burst into laughter at Victor’s words, their amusement crude and unrefined. Their mocking laughter drowned the air with its sickening sound.

But for Ethan, the amusement in their voices only served to sharpen the edge of his fury. His stance never wavered, his eyes never leaving Victor. This man’s vile actions, his reckless disregard for others’ suffering—it was something Ethan could no longer tolerate.

Victor’s grin stretched wider, almost in satisfaction. "She was just so... vulnerable. You know how it is, don’t you, Ethan?" He took a step forward. "Some opportunities just present themselves. I would be a fool not to take it."

Adrian fumed, his whole body riling up with fury. He took a step forward, his words like a threat hanging in the air. "You bastard—"

Before Adrian could move any further, Ethan’s arm shot out, stopping him with a firm yet controlled push. His eyes met Adrian’s for a moment, hard and unblinking. It was like he didn’t have to say anything – the message was clear:

Stay with Elise. Don’t leave her alone.

Adrian paused, his anger still simmering, but he got it. He balled his fists, took a step back, and shot a hateful look at Victor that said everything.

Ethan turned his attention back to Victor, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The fury inside him was no longer hidden—his knuckles were white, his jaw tight, but still, he held himself back as if it was the calm before the storm.

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Victor, on the other hand, only seemed to find more amusement in it. He laughed, clearly entertained by the exchange. "That’s right! Keep your dog on a leash, Ethan. You wouldn’t want him making things worse for you."

Adrian’s eyes blazed with barely restrained rage. "Are you threatening us, you fat pig?" he spat.

The laughter stopped. In an instant, the air around them shifted, "What did you just say, you lousy brat?" His voice was a low growl.

Ethan stepped forward, placing himself firmly between Victor and his friends. "Don’t forget, Victor." His voice was even, but the weight behind his words was suffocating. "You’re just a lackey for ‘them'. Nothing more. So keep yourself under control. Don't play with fire you can't control."

Victor chuckled lowly, shaking his head. "Still the same, huh? Always protecting those behind you." He took a step forward. "Even when your parents left this world, even when everyone turned against you. Even when you had no one, you still protected these two, kept them form harm. No matter how scared or tired you yourself were, you did not let them get a single scratch."

His laughter returned, but this time, Ethan didn’t let him enjoy it.

"What’s so funny?" Ethan asked, his voice flat, his expression devoid of any emotion. His gaze was ice cold, but there was something deeper—something more dangerous lurking beneath the surface.

"You," Victor answered, grinning. "You still think you’re living in City C. You still think the Blaze family exists."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed, his hands tightening into fists. Each word stung, but he refused to let Victor see it.

"This isn’t your territory anymore, Ethan." Victor’s voice was almost sweet. "This is City Q. You may have been something once, but here? You’re nothing." His grin widened. "As you said, I’m just a lackey of ‘them.’ But even so, I’m in a much better position than you."

Victor sighed dramatically, almost cinematically. "Your parents… they were fools. That’s why they fell. Everyone knew they were innocent. Everyone. But not a single person spoke up. Do you know why?" He made a dramatic pause. "Because they knew honesty is a virtue that only the living can afford to have."

Ethan’s fists clenched at his sides.

Victor’s voice rang out, smooth but heavy with unworthy authority as he stepped closer to Ethan. "I’ll say this much though, kid. You’re something else. You’ve carried this weight since you were a little brat, and even now, after all these years, you keep going. You don’t lose hope. You push forward, no matter what." He paused, his eyes sharp, almost calculating. "Thought I don't really like you, I still find that admirable."

Victor raised his arms, stretching them wide, his presence commanding. "So, I’ll offer you something. A choice. Liberty. Freedom," His words carrying the weight of promise and threat.

Ethan’s face remained calm, but there was a flicker in his eyes, something that betrayed the storm raging inside. "What option?" he asked, his voice even.

There was a moment of silence. Victor’s lips twisted into a sly, almost sinister grin as his gaze shifted toward Elise. "Send the girl to me," he said, the words coming out of his mouth like poison.

Elise froze, her whole body stiffening. Her heart pounded, panic squeezing at her chest. Her face went pale, and the fear in her eyes was impossible to miss. Adrian, standing next to her, sucked in a sharp breath, his body going tense. He had to fight the urge to charge at Victor.

Victor continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "Just a few months, that’s all. You send her to me, and I’ll clear your debts. No tricks. No interest. I’ll wipe it all clean. Consider it… an investment." He smiled wider, his gaze never leaving Elise, as if savoring her discomfort. "And don’t worry about ‘them.’ I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to forgive you once you make this decision."

Ethan’s stomach churned, the words sinking deep into him like cold steel. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze around them. He stared at Victor, his mind racing with disgust.

Victor, sensing the growing tension, pressed on. "Let’s be honest here," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "These two—" He pointed toward Elise and Adrian. "They’re just a burden to you. I'm sure they know it too. Just imagine how far you could’ve gone by now, without them holding you back."

The lackeys around Victor smirked, nodding along, eager to see Ethan bend. The bodyguard remained unmoved, his cold expression unchanged.

But Ethan didn’t budge. He stood tall, his eyes never leaving Victor’s face. Elise’s grip tightened around Adrian’s hand, and he could feel her trembling beside him. She wasn’t crying, but her whole body shook. She knew that Ethan would never make such a choice, but just hearing those words from Victor twisted something inside her.

Victor’s smirk deepened as he leaned forward, almost savoring the moment. "So, what’s it going to be, Ethan? What do you think?"

Ethan didn’t hesitate. His voice was steady, but it carried a hint of anger. "Piss off."

Victor's smile twisted into something dark and condescending as he exhaled a long, theatrical sigh. "So, that’s your answer, huh?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock disappointment. "Shame. I really liked you, Ethan. You know, not personally but your whole existence gave me more power. The ‘higher-ups’ wanted me to keep you in check, and I’ve been enjoying it." His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, but it was a look of malice. "But looks like it just might end today."

With a snap of his fingers, Victor’s lackeys instantly released the collar around the dog’s neck. "Fetch," he commanded, pointing directly at Ethan. The single word was like a death sentence.

The crowd gasped in unison, some stepping back, others bolting far away, already remembering what happen the last time Victor's pet was unleashed. The atmosphere, thick with anticipation, crackled with unease. They braced themselves for the inevitable chaos, the bloodshed that seemed all too certain.

But the bloodshed never materialized.

The dog stood frozen in place, unmoving.

Victor’s laughter faltered, a strange, uncomfortable silence following. His lackeys exchanged confused glances, unsure of what they were witnessing. The onlookers, previously filled with a mix of fear and excitement, now murmured in disbelief. Even the bored guard, who had been standing on the sidelines, suddenly found his interest piqued.

Victor’s face darkened. "What are you waiting for?" he barked, his voice rising in frustration. "Get him!"

But the dog didn’t budge. It remained still, eyes locked on Ethan.

Victor growled, embarrassed. His patience wearing thin. "Tch. Guess it’s gotten too comfortable. I’ll handle it later." He motioned to his lackeys with a sharp gesture. "No.1, No.2—handle it."

One of the lackeys grinned, "Don’t worry, boss! We got this." He cracked his knuckles, preparing to use his abilities to subdue Ethan. His companion, equally confident, readied himself for action.

But they didn’t understand.

It wasn’t that the dog didn't want to move.

It couldn’t.

Animals have instincts sharper than any human could ever possess. Perhaps, that's why the dog in that moment wasn’t seeing a helpless boy. It wasn’t facing the vulnerable target it had been trained to hunt.

No.

What it saw before it was a predator—a warrior, shaped by years of battle and survival, whose very presence commanded respect.

Ethan’s glare was all it took. The beast, with all its training and ferocity, recognized what stood before it. He was not a prey but a threat, a creature far beyond its reach.