Aric turned to her, his expression suddenly serious. He put a finger to her lips, silencing her gently. "Count to ten," he whispered. "They'll be gone by then."

Confusion etched on her face, Maki hesitated for a moment, then began to count loudly.

“Ten.”

Aric took a deep breath, feeling the power surge through him like a raging inferno. The air around him crackled with dark energy as black flames engulfed his body, casting an eerie glow in the stormy night. His eyes blazed with determination as he drew the black blade from his back with swift precision.

With a primal yell, Aric disappeared from where he stood, reappearing beside the leader of the bullies in a blur of movement. Before anyone could react, he unleashed a powerful punch that connected with the leader's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch. The leader staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose in shock and pain.

“Nine.”

With a decisive clench of his fists, Aric sheathed his sword and retrieved a small bag slung across his shoulder. In a swift motion, he tossed six metallic chips into the air, each emblazoned with a unique symbol. As they spun and hovered, Aric pressed the buttons on each with rapid precision.

“Eight.”

In an instant, the chips expanded and transformed into gleaming daggers, infused with his dark energy that crackled ominously in the damp air. Despite the draining of his magical reserves, the blades hummed with latent power, seeming to ignite the very atmosphere around them.

Gripping three daggers in each hand, Aric surged forward with astonishing speed, his movements a blur of calculated aggression. With the hilts of the daggers, he delivered swift, incapacitating blows to several assailants who had just regained their bearings. The impact sent them reeling, disoriented and off balance.

As the remaining adversaries rallied to counterattack, Aric maintained his unwavering focus. He parried their strikes with his dual-wielded daggers, the dark energy pulsing with each fluid movement. His agility and skill kept him one step ahead, anticipating their maneuvers and turning their own aggression against them.

“Seven.”

The clash of metal against metal echoed in the night, punctuated by the occasional burst of crackling energy as Aric unleashed bursts of dark power from his daggers. Despite the odds, he held his ground with a steadfast resolve, his eyes gleaming with determination.

“Six.”

The clash of metal against metal resounded through the night, punctuated by bursts of crackling energy as Aric unleashed dark power from his daggers. Despite the odds, he held his ground with unwavering resolve, his eyes gleaming with determination.

With a swift motion, Aric threw two daggers, striking down two assailants before the blades returned to his palm. Sensing the opportunity, he focused his mind and hurled all six daggers simultaneously, striking six opponents in rapid succession. Some of them recoiled in fear at his display of power.

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“Five.”

Feeling mentally fatigued from the exertion, Aric stood amidst the fallen adversaries, their threat now neutralized. He approached the leader of the group, who lay on the ground, and grabbed him, pressing a dagger against his throat. The leader squirmed in his grip, his face contorted with fear and pain.

Aric's voice was low and steady as he addressed the leader, his eyes cold with resolve. "I am with Mendaciti," he told him, his tone quiet and powerful. The leader nodded frantically, his fear palpable. “And if I hear any single word of this instance, from you or your followers, I will kill all of you. No mercy.”

“Four.”

With a final nod, the leader acknowledged Aric's threat, his eyes wide with fear. Aric's gaze remained unwavering as he grasped the leader's collar, his grip tightening. In one swift motion, Aric propelled the leader backward, sending him crashing to the ground.

The rest of the attackers, now subdued and cowed by Aric's display of power, retreated hastily into the shadows. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they disappeared into the night, leaving behind only the sound of rain and the tension dissipating in the air.

“T…T..Three…”

Aric stood for a moment, breathing heavily as the adrenaline began to ebb. He glanced around, ensuring that the threat had truly passed, before turning back to Maki. She stood nearby, her expression a mixture of concern and awe.

"You okay?" Aric asked, his voice softer now, devoid of the earlier intensity.

Maki nodded slowly, still processing the events that had unfolded. "I think so," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "What was that... with the daggers and the energy?"

Aric smiled faintly and reached down to his right wrist, where a bracelet appeared in the dim light."You know what this is," he said. “I know you have one too.” However, he was just bluffing. If he had truly activated it, it would have glowed a slight purple.

Maki's eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and apprehension crossing her features. "How... how did you know about mine as well?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.

Aric ignored the question and met her gaze with a serious expression, his tone measured. "If you talk about what happened tonight... I don't know what might happen," he said quietly, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them.

Maki's breath caught at his implication, realizing the gravity of the situation. She nodded slowly.

Feeling the fatigue settling in his bones, Aric swayed slightly on his feet. Without hesitation, Maki stepped closer and grasped his arm, steadying him. Aric glanced down at her. "Thank you," he murmured sincerely, his voice tinged with a vulnerability that he rarely showed.

He hesitated, wanting to say more, but the words caught in his throat. A blush crept up his cheeks as he turned away slightly, overcome by a rush of emotions that he struggled to articulate.

Before entering the familiar warmth of home, Aric paused, his heart pounding with a question that had been lingering in his mind.

"Do you... do you mean what you said earlier?" Aric's voice was tentative, hesitant.

Maki looked at him with a mix of surprise, seemingly not understanding what he was asking. "What did I say?" she replied.

Aric froze for a moment, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He wanted to say something, but uncertainty held him back.

“Nevermind.”

With a visible effort, he shook off his hesitation and reached for the door, pushing it open to invite her inside.

They both stepped into the house, the warmth enveloping them. Maki, without missing a beat, immediately settled onto his bed, pulling out her study materials. She seemed determined to make the most of the remaining time before her exams. Aric watched her with a small smile, appreciating her dedication and resilience.

Thoughts swirled in his mind. Her care and concern meant more to him than he could easily express. He remembered the promise he had made to himself—to never rely on her again in a way that put her in danger. The weapons he had used tonight were a testament to his efforts to protect her and himself, to stand on his own in the face of threats.