The Shapeshifter | Deleted Chapters

53

Eric snagged Jack by the leg with his scythe, cutting open a small wound that made his opponent wince, but continue fighting. The two had been at it for a minute or two, the survivors watched with a mix of fear and glee. Whenever Jack would land a clean hit on Eric, they got a feeling of ecstasy. Especially Yui.

She wanted to see this killer broken. Like a thin branch being stepped upon. She wanted to see him hurt - a mess; a mere fraction of the disgusting hell spawn he was.

As Jack brought his blade down against the scythe, he managed to knock Eric down to a knee. His leg was driven into the ground hard and a chuckle came from his throat.

"This is fun and all. But how about we step it up a little?" Eric rose an eyebrow. He suddenly burst into a smog, engulfing Jack and sending him into a coughing fit. When his sight returned, Jack found that Eric was behind him, his scythe gone in place of a dagger that he held to Jack's throat.

"I'm a murderer, I'll admit. But I'm no rapist." He said simply, pushing Jack forward and sparing his life once. Jack rubbed at his neck as he turned to face him, mildly irritated that he had let his guard down that much.

From the tree line came many feet. They were silent as they only arrived to spectate. But that didn't mean the survivors couldn't see them.

Claudette was the first to notice the presence closest to the campfire. Evan MacMillan. The Trapper.

She nudged Nancy, pointing over to the trees. The other girl gasped. "Guys?"

"The evidence is there." Jack said in a monotone. He was rather neutral towards this scenario. He wasn't one to pick sides without the full story, but judging by the current information they had, he was forced into making a move such as fighting.

"Hmph. So be it." Eric's eyes glowed a dim red as that black energy swirled around him. His face darkened and a black horn morphed out from the side of his head, his sclera turning black and his left eye turning fully crimson. "I'll just rip you apart and go about my day."

Danny held up his camera from the forest, taking a few pictures of the fight without a care for the fact his flash was on. They had already been seen, so he didn't really care.

Caleb leant against the side of a tree, watching intently. He hadn't brought the Redeemer with him since he had no interest in joining the battle.

Adiris and Carmina hung together as they watched.

Kazan and Rin stood together. The latter had her eyes on (Y/N) as he stumbled up to his feet. He nearly fell, but David grabbed him and held him up.

"What do we do?" Rin asked, looking up at her ancestor with wide eyes. She wanted to step in. She wanted to help the survivors fend off the foe.

"We do nothing. This isn't our fight." Kazan said simply, crossing his arms. But even he had his doubts. He was unsure if Jack would be successful in defeating Eric. But Rin wasn't sticking around to find out. If Kazan wasn't going to step in, then she'd get someone who would...

Jack's eyes glowed a brighter blue as energy pulsed along his hand. He swept his claws forward, engaging a large blue arc wave that connected with Eric. But the man just disappeared in a cloud of smoke as if he was never there. Jack stared in confusion before a punch connected with his jaw from seemingly thin air.

He caught himself on his feet and skidded back for a second. But as he focused more and more, he could see the dim outline of Eric as he had apparently cloaked himself out of vision. And as he ran up for a second strike, Jack grabbed his wrist, pulling Eric close and pressing his claws at his neck as he appeared properly.