Inside Umbra's Ruins ✓ [Umbra's Fate #2]

ꜱɪx: ᴍᴏᴍᴏᴛᴀʀᴏ

The shadow kept expanding.

Faster than the young man expected it spread through the most unthinkable recesses of his soul. The praises he received from the other members only made it worse, the darkness loved the attention, it craved for acceptance and devotion.

"We fooled them all," whispered the voice inside his head.

He was a farce, not a hero, the shadow reminded him. Light abandoned him a long time ago, he managed to trick the scepter somehow and thanks to that he won everyone's unquestionable respect.

Even then, as he walked down the hallway to his private training room he heard the admiration with which they pronounced his name. He chose to cover the voices focusing on the sound of the wind coming through the windows, it became easier for him to ignore what people said about him. Every time a small group of trainees would move aside to let him pass, his firsts clenched.

"It's all your fault!"

A scream pierced the whispers that owned the environment. All the heads turned in its direction, every present tried to find the reason for the commotion.

"It's not my fault that your friend was a pussy!" Another voice joined the discussion.

The entertainment was served. Any chance of a way out of the routine caught the members of the Protectors in its net; many of them crossed the hallway to get to see the fight.

Soon a multitude gathered at the end of the corridor. Momotaro noticed the ferocity with which they moved, they pushed everything that was in their way, even hitting him, the young man who had become their idol.

"Shut the fuck up! Was? Don't you dare to speak about him like he is dead."

"Oh, come on! You know he's already dead. What do you think they're going to do with him? Play chess?"

Momo focused on the words that were being said, he waited for the right moment to intervene and that moment was announced by a deep growl. As soon as he heard what seemed like an enraged beast, the young man dove into action.

The multitude erupted into cheers, what they had been waiting for began, a distraction from the grim life on the streets was being granted to them. Momotaro could hear cries, growls and the sound of punches that came from inside the circle of excited people; the more he listened the more he tried to cut his way through the chaos. Every time he took a step forward someone shoved  him again, elbows and stomps came into contact with his body. With each blow his patience was running out, until it reached his limit.

"Everyone move. Now!" His scream silenced the multitude.

The members around him moved to the side, creating a path. Momotaro looked at them with fury in his eyes, they all lowered their heads as the young man walked into the center of the commotion. The only ones who didn't flinch were the ones who started the fight, their battle was still going on.

Influenced by anger, the two teenagers ignored the presence of their superior. The spirit of a wolf stood behind one of them as a guardian, waiting for the opportunity to attack their opponent who had transformed into a giant, almost touching the ceiling. Both fighters had cuts and bruises on their arms and faces.

"Stop this right now unless you want to spend the next four weeks cleaning up the headquarters," Momotaro warned them.

"I'll stop when he stops saying shit," answered the one protected by the spirit.

"I'm telling the truth, you just can't see the reality," the giant spat back. "Your friend ain't coming back."

The wolf grew and his fur stood up, his posture showed that it was about to pounce on his enemy. Without losing time Momo slipped behind the beast's owner, twisted his arm behind his back, and pinned him against the wall. Without the control of the boy the wolf vanished.