Wings & Mages (Version 2)

Chapter 24: Assault of an Old Adversary

Recap:

Dark stood up defensively, outstretching his arms to protect the water mage from behind as he told her to stay where she is and be aware.

"Who's there?!" Dark demanded.

The suspicious person who was previously hiding on the bushes revealed himself, plastering a familiar evil smirk on his face.

With utmost confidence, the bond haired man greeted, "So we finally meet again, Dark Mousy..."

-----------------------------------------------

"Krad?!" Dark was temporarily surprised, but he didn't let it take over him. He knitted his brows and kept his glare on him. "Why are you here?" he demanded.

"What's going on?" came the soft inquire of Juvia, soft enough that only the Phantom Thief could hear.

Dark didn't answer her question, but intensified his defense. He bent a little lower, making sure that his balance was excellent and that his arms were accurately spread out. What came out of his mouth was a silent reply, "He isn't an easy guy."

Along while, Krad never took off the smirk off his face. He started laughing sinister through his teeth the way a villain like himself would do in front of the main character.

"Why are you here?!" Dark repeated, with more hint of anger and seriousness in his voice.

"You meanie," he finally broke a reply, seeming more taunting, lifting his chin up and tilting his head to the side, while keeping his gaze lowered at the phantom thief, "Just as I thought we were becoming one..."

"You broke out of the Black Wings by yourself!" he finished his statement with his head levelled back and his eyes glinted even more, making the dark shade bigger than before.

Dark grimaced, but no reply came from him. "This guy..." he hissed, "I always hated him!"

"Have I gotten into your nerves?" he added, still taunting, "Or simply just words wouldn't be enough?"

"Enough with this nonsense!" Dark finally shouted, "If you won't answer me, I'll force you with my own hands."

"Huh?" Krad raised a brow at him, sniggering.

The phantom thief's eyes couldn't be seen, they were covered with his bangs. Both his fists were clenched to his sides. With the most impressive speed he mustered at the moment, he openly dashed at the white-winged and blew a punch at point-blank to his nose with his right fist. A quick surprise attack the Krad he knew couldn't dodge.

However, although his long-time fiend was taken by surprise at his bold approach and attack, he knew him very much. His other hand was fast enough, almost like he predicted it or read the other's mind, he blocked the attack by grabbing the other's fist close to his face.

The attacker was surprised, but nonetheless, he used his other fist to throw another attack from an angle that would give an immense power to the blow and hide it at the same time. But then, it suffered the same fate. It was blocked by the other hand.

"What the...?" Dark thought. However, his other self was completely unaware of the circumstances as he was taking a nap.

"I see you've gotten cheap," Krad taunted, smirking again, "Have you forgotten how to cast spell, that you are using just physical attacks now...?"

"Just you wait!" Dark hissed, gritting his teeth even more.

"Ha!" he mocked, "I don't wait!"

Krad started squeezing both of the attacker's fists into a pulp. He's gotten absurdly strong that even Dark was surprised. The thief groaned in pain as the other laughed at this entertainment.