Chapter 166 Back to back trouble?

Chapter 166 Back to back trouble?

Kan, acutely aware of the stranger's persistent pursuit, hastened his steps through the winding alleyways, seeking refuge and a chance to turn the tables.

His instincts led him to a small abandoned room—a potential sanctuary where he could lay in wait for the mysterious follower.

Entering the room with stealth, Kan positioned himself strategically, ready to spring into action when the time was right.

The anticipation hung heavy in the air as he steeled himself for the impending encounter.

In the eerie silence, the minutes seemed to stretch indefinitely. However, the stranger failed to materialize, and Kan's patience wore thin.

"Why is this not here already? I didn't I lose him?" Kan questioned himself. n--o/)V-(e)(L/-b(-1.-n

Determined to unravel the mystery, he decided to venture out and inspect the surroundings.

As he rose, a voice, strange and antiquated, resonated from behind him, sending shivers down Kan's spine.

"Thou shalt not inform me that thou didst conceal thyself here, awaiting my arrival during this entire duration," the voice intoned.

Perplexed, Kan pivoted abruptly, only to be met with the unsettling sight of the stranger sitting a few meters away. The shock rendered him momentarily speechless.

"How the... what... how did you get in here?" Kan managed to articulate, his voice betraying a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"Thou art not as elusive as thou dost believe, Kan. I have remained present throughout the entirety of this span," the stranger declared cryptically, rising from his seated position and advancing toward Kan.

The air crackled with an otherworldly energy as Kan grappled with the unsettling revelation of the stranger's enigmatic abilities.

"Who are you, and why are you following me? Don't tell me you're here to take revenge for what I did to that thief," Kan boldly questioned the stranger.

The man chuckled cryptically and replied, "Thou possessest limited knowledge, Kan."

As the stranger uttered those words, he lifted his head, making piercing eye contact with Kan. To Kan's astonishment, the eyes he met were a mesmerizing blend of countless colors, unlike anything he had ever seen.

The intimidating gaze seemed to sap Kan's strength. His hands grew numb, and an unexplained heaviness pressed upon him.

In the midst of his struggle, Hela's voice emerged, distorted and unsure, [What's... going... on?]

Kan attempted to articulate a response, but a formidable force weighed down on him, rendering him immobile. The stranger, adorned with a radiant and multicolored smile, approached him.

"What... are... you... doing to me?" Kan strained to utter, the effort visibly challenging.

The man's enigmatic smile persisted as he spoke, "Thou hast faced ample challenges today; retire to thy dwelling and find respite, Kid." Drawing closer, he raised a finger adorned with a faint glow.

"He...la, I could use... some help here." In a desperate plea, Kan implored Hela for assistance, but she remained unresponsive for the first time ever.

"I deem thou art in search of this; receive it as thine own." the stranger said.

The stranger touched Kan's neck, and in an instant, everything vanished. He looked around and to his surprise, he knew where he was at.

Kan found himself standing right in front of his house, the stranger nowhere in sight.

As Kan touched his body, confirming the reality of his surroundings, confusion enveloped him. "What just happened?" he questioned aloud, bewildered by the abrupt turn of events.

[What the hell? Baby, what just happened?] Hela inquired, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I don't really know. The stranger touched me, and boom! I'm at home!" Kan exclaimed.

[For how long have I not been responding?] Hela questioned.

"You were like blacked out? How is that even possible?" Kan asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

[I don't know, that's a second time this is happening today] Hela responded.

"Second? When was the first?" Kan probed further.

[When you took a bite of the Downies Malie gave you. That was why I couldn't give you directions when you walked out of her house. I wanted to be sure about my suspicions. I never didn't think it made sense until after what this stranger did] Hela revealed.

Kan contemplated the situation, trying to make sense of the inexplicable occurrences. "I don't think she wanted to get me hurt. Why then would she help me when I was unconscious after fighting Ralph?" he pondered.

[That, I don't know. Try as much as possible to avoid your contact with strangers these days. That's all I can say] Hela advised.

"Do you know the stranger we met?" Kan inquired.

[That's one person I don't really have an idea of who he is and what race he belongs to] Hela replied.

"And what's with the peculiar pattern on his mask?" Kan questioned again.

[Maybe his own gang signature or something like that] Hela speculated.

"Oh! I think so," Kan replied.

[And where did you find Lilith?] Hela asked.

"Lilith? Where's she?" Kan asked, scanning his surroundings in surprise, attempting to locate where Lilith might be.

[She's right where she's supposed to be, on your neck] Hela added.

"My neck?" Kan exclaimed, genuinely surprised as he touched his neck and felt the familiar spot once again.

"How did that happen? I didn't even see her!" Kan explained to Hela, puzzled by the unexpected revelation.

[That's strange!] Hela replied.

"Wait, that's exactly where the man touched me!" Kan revealed with a shocked expression.

[This stranger is stronger than you think. There are people having the ability to subdue beasts that are not bound to anyone. But this man subdued a beast that is already bound to you and made her sleep! That's strange!] Hela explained.

"That explains why she didn't return to me, and I couldn't connect with her. Are you sure it's Lilith that is still in there?" Kan inquired curiously.

[Yeah, it's her, but she's resting] Hela reassured him.

Impatient to reconnect with his loyal companion, Kan walked to a secluded spot and commanded, "Summon her then."

Suddenly, the familiar wisps of smoke emanated from his neck, and Lilith materialized. Kan's face lit up with joy.

"Lilith, I thought I lost you!" he exclaimed, hugging her with genuine relief.

[You're getting late for school, remember] Hela reminded Kan.

"Oh, crap! I can't miss school today as well," Kan realized, letting go of Lilith. In an instant, she transformed back into smoke, disappearing seamlessly into his neck.

As Kan hurried towards his house, the hushed stillness signaled his parents' departure for work. "Nice, they've already left," Kan remarked, his steps quickening as he approached the familiar abode.

Upon reaching, he noticed the front door was locked. Unperturbed, he veered to the back, effortlessly slipping through a window with practiced ease.

With the window clicking shut behind him, Kan found himself standing in the empty corridor of his house.

He had a feeling there was no one at home but he pretended to make his presence known, his voice echoing through the vacant rooms.

"Mother!!" he called out, his words resonating through the house. The names reverberated off the walls, but there was no response. Undeterred, Kan ventured into each room, his voice a beacon of warmth cutting through the silent spaces.

"Mom, are you home?" he called again, checking the rooms one by one. The kitchen stood deserted, its countertops devoid of the usual morning bustle.

Moving through the house, Kan's voice navigated each room, a hopeful inquiry in search of the familiar responses that usually filled the air.

His parents' bedroom, too, bore the mark of vacancy, the disheveled bed indicative of their earlier departure.

"Dad? Mom?" Kan called once more, his voice carrying a tinge of longing. The house, though well-kept and familiar, seemed to echo with a sense of solitude.

[You're just wasting your timee, no one is home] Hela advised Kan.

"You never know with my parents. I have to be sure!" Kan replied Hela.

Kan quickly undressed himself and got himself a shower before getting dressed for school.

Adorned in his school uniform, Kan retraced his steps, leaving through the same window he entered, racing against the clock to avoid tardiness.

Close to the school, a gathering of students near the gate caught his eye. "Crap! These darn thugs on patrol duty for latecomers. It's been a while since they did that, why today of all days?" Kan thought, his memories taking him back to his first encounter with them which led to him meeting Ellie.

Kan was busy devising a plan to weave through the potential penalties that awaited him. With his head bowed, he strategized the fib he'd spin if confronted.

Approaching cautiously, he raised his head, Kan realized the figures weren't prefects as anticipated. Instead, it was the members of the Ebony Kings Gang, led by Ralph, stationed at the school gate.

"Holy crap! Another confrontation might erupt right here," Kan lamented, bracing himself for the tense encounter.

As Kan approached the school gate, he slowed his pace, keenly observing the patches of bandages that adorned Ralph's face.

A smirk played on his lips, and with a tone of satisfaction, Kan muttered, "That serves you right, fucker," reveling in the sight from a safe distance.

His amusement heightened when he caught sight of Jerry, more battered than Ralph, relying on crutches to navigate the space.

"Damn, Lilith is such a great artist, I love her artwork," Kan chuckled to himself, acknowledging the formidable strength of his loyal companion.

Undeterred by the looming confrontation, Kan steeled himself for whatever awaited. "If they want to fight once more, I'm ready. I don't care about their numbers," he declared defiantly, quickening his pace, prepared to face head-on whatever challenges lay in his path.