Samantha couldn’t understand what was going on. Just an hour ago, she was in school, and now she was standing in front of the most powerful Esper she had ever seen. Was this normal in other areas of Havana?
It was almost common knowledge that ninety percent of the population possessed some sort of Esper power. The most common of these was telekinesis. You were special if you had a unique power, and companies and guilds would actively seek you out for recruitment.
“Not only does this guy have a power I’ve never seen before, but his ability is also off the charts!” Samantha’s mind raced.
There was a grading scale for Esper powers, ranging from F to S, with most people in The Commons possessing F-grade abilities. These powers were usually minor and limited in scope. For instance, someone with F-grade telekinesis might only lift small objects like pencils or books.
But the man before her, with his control over shadows that could bind multiple powerful Espers, was operating on a completely different level. Was he an A-grade? Or even an S-grade, the rarest and most feared category? S-grade Espers were almost mythical, their abilities so potent and versatile that they could single-handedly change the course of battles and influence the fate of cities. Only the greatest hunters in history who helped build Havana had been S-class.
Samantha’s thoughts whirled as she tried to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the power she was witnessing. In The Commons, encountering someone with a D-grade power was impressive. But this man he was beyond anything she had ever imagined. His presence was oppressive, a palpable weight that made it hard to breathe.
She recalled the rumors she had heard about high-grade Espers. Elite guilds or governmental positions often recruited them, using their powers to maintain order or wage wars. Their lives were a stark contrast to the struggle and hardship faced by those with lesser abilities.
“Is this what the upper echelons of Havana are like?” Samantha wondered. “If someone like him exists, what else is out there?”
A dry laugh cut her thoughts short. “Damn, the old lady was right, huh? She led me right to him,” the man smiled bitterly.
“Well, found you now. You’re coming with me,” the man said emotionlessly. Shadows began enveloping the man, and suddenly he reappeared right in front of Sabir.
Max and Samantha stood paralyzed with fear, their bodies refusing to move. The man’s mere presence was enough to immobilize them, rendering any use of his powers unnecessary.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Samantha’s gaze met Sabir’s gold irises. His expression writhed with shock, yet a fierce fire of determination blazed. For someone like Sabir, who was just barely getting by in The Limbo, encountering such raw power must have felt like a once-in-a-lifetime moment too.
Samantha had always felt drawn to Sabir, always interested in his mysterious nature and the quiet strength he possessed. But what had always made her admire him so much was his camaraderie. The day she saw him fight for Max’s sake, Samantha knew that despite all of his hardships, Sabir would never hesitate to stand up for his friends. That unyielding loyalty and bravery had etched a deep respect for him in her heart.
She could see the resolve hardening in his gaze. Despite knowing so little about him, his life shrouded in mystery, his emotions rarely displayed, she could sense a silent promise in that look.
For a moment, Sabir’s eyes softened, and he gave her a firm, reassuring smile. It was as if he was trying to tell her that everything would be okay, even in the face of overwhelming danger.
The darkness swirled around Sabir and the stranger, thickening and deepening until they became completely engulfed within it. It was as if the darkness sought them out, looking to cocoon them in a protective layer of nothingness. At first, the two men seemed opaque. But as the shadows consumed and flattened them out along the horizontal plane of the floor, they seemed to fade away.
Samantha’s heart pounded in her chest, her eyes wide with panic. “SABIR!” she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. The echo of her cry hung in the air, but there was no response. She reached out instinctively, as if she could pull him back from the encroaching darkness.
Her hand could only grasp empty air.
On her knees, Samantha wept uncontrollably. Max walked over and gently put his arms around her, trying to console her in the only way he knew how.
“Who was that guy, and what did he want with Sabir?” Samantha asked, wiping her tears.
Max sighed, shaking his head. “I’m guessing you didn’t know who that was, huh? Truthfully, I don’t know his name either. Hell, I bet even the people in the government he works for don’t know. He’s an enforcer, the guy the government sends when people fall out of line. And he’s the most famous of them all. They call him The Government’s Hound, or just The Hound. He’s fought with the Triads on numerous occasions, and people even say the Triads fear him.”
Max looked at Samantha, trying to instill some hope. “It’s safe to say if he wanted to kill Sabir, he would have already done so. He needs something from him, that’s obvious. But who knows what he’ll do to him once he gets what he needs.”
“We need to head to my place, Sam,” Max continued, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his eyes.
“Seriously? We should go try to find him,” Samantha protested, her desperation evident.
Max shook his head firmly. “We can’t just rush out there without a plan. If we’re going to help Sabir, we need to think this through. The Hound is dangerous, and we don’t stand a chance against him as we are.”
Samantha took a deep breath, her tears drying as determination took over. She nodded reluctantly. “Okay, let’s go to your place and figure this out. We have to help him.”
Max placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll come up with a way to get Sabir back ourselves.”