Stranger's pov

The question hung in the air, but I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I let the tension in the cave settle, my mind working through the weight of his presence. His voice had been calm, steady, but there was something in it—something that told me he wasn’t afraid. I stepped forward, my movements smooth, deliberate, sizing him up just as carefully as he was doing with me. The dark energy swirling around me pulsed, feeding off the intensity of the moment.

“You don’t belong here,” I finally said, my voice controlled, but I made sure to let the warning seep through. I had every right to send him back the way he came. “Turn back now.”

His eyes narrowed, unfazed by the darkness radiating from me. There was a hunger in his gaze, something familiar that tugged at the edges of my own instincts. He wasn’t backing down. “I think we both know that’s not happening.”

I felt a smirk tug at the corner of my lips. He was stubborn, determined, and his energy—it felt wild, untamed but powerful. “Then you’ve made your choice.”

I didn’t give him a chance to react. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance, throwing a punch aimed right at his head. He dodged it, quick, but I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. I wasn’t just fast—there was force behind every movement I made, raw and precise. His instincts were sharp, but he hadn’t anticipated this.

But neither had I.

He countered, his fist slamming into my chest. The impact knocked me off balance, sending me crashing into the cave wall. The shock of it vibrated through my body, but before he could press the advantage, I twisted out of his reach, moving with the shadows as if they were part of me. He wasn’t like the others I’d faced—there was something about him that kept me on edge, kept me calculating every move.

The fight was quick, intense, our fists colliding with brutal force. Every strike, every counter, I could feel the energy between us build, like a storm waiting to break. But I could sense it too—he wasn’t just fighting with brute strength. His movements were precise, calculated, just like mine. He was probing my defenses, testing my limits.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here,” I spat, irritation creeping into my voice. This wasn’t some random challenger—I had underestimated him.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you,” he shot back, cracking his knuckles.

For a moment, I felt a surge of irritation, but I buried it. He was skilled, but he was getting under my skin, making me want to push harder, faster.

I lunged at him, launching a series of rapid strikes, but he was quicker. He blocked, parried, and hit back with a force that rattled my bones. Every time our fists met, the energy between us surged—his aura pushing against mine. He was powerful, more than I expected, and it was starting to show. But I wouldn’t back down. Not yet.

I could see it in his eyes—the hunger, the focus. It was like looking into a mirror. This guy had been through something, maybe more than I realized. But I didn’t care. He was in my territory now.

We clashed again, and this time, his punch landed square on my jaw, sending me skidding across the cave floor. I groaned, wiping the blood from my mouth, but instead of frustration, I felt a thrill. This guy was strong—maybe even stronger than me in some ways—but strength wasn’t everything.

“You’re stronger than I expected,” I admitted, pushing myself to my feet, dark energy coiling around me. The amusement in my voice was genuine. “But strength isn’t everything.”

Before he could respond, I melted into the shadows, slipping out of sight. I could feel him searching for me, his energy spiking, but he wasn’t going to find me that easily. I moved through the darkness, letting it guide me. This was my element—my power. I could feel him, sense his movements, but he couldn’t see me.

I reappeared behind him, my fist aimed at the back of his head, but he dodged, fast—too fast. He spun around, but I was already gone, slipping back into the shadows.

“Annoying,” I heard him mutter under his breath.

A smirk curled on my lips. “You’re not the only one with tricks.”

But as I prepared to strike again, I felt a shift in his energy. Something dark, something powerful. He disappeared—just like that—into the shadows, merging with the darkness around him. For the first time, I realized he wasn’t just another fighter. He had his own tricks.

When he reappeared, we were evenly matched. Our fists collided again and again, both of us moving through the shadows like predators hunting each other. Every punch sent shockwaves through the cave, and with each strike, the tension grew. I could feel my frustration building, but I couldn’t show it. I wouldn’t.

Then, in an instant, he surged forward, grabbing me by the collar and slamming me into the wall. Pain shot through my body, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in.

I twisted out of his grip, delivering a sharp elbow to his ribs. He stumbled back, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He was wearing down—just like I was. We were both breathing hard, both on the edge, but neither of us was willing to quit.

“Not bad,” he said, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth, his eyes gleaming with something like respect. “You’ve got some moves.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, though it hurt to do so. “You’re not half bad yourself. But I’m done playing.”

I lunged forward, my fists flying faster than before, but he was ready. He slipped into the shadows again, disappearing right before my eyes. I swung, but my punch hit nothing but air. Damn it.

Before I could react, he reappeared behind me, driving his fist into my back. Pain exploded through me, and I stumbled forward, gasping in pain. But I wasn’t done. I spun, swinging a backhanded strike that caught him across the jaw. We were both battered, both exhausted, but neither of us was giving up.

He grinned at me, despite the blood trickling from his lip. “You’re tough, I’ll give you that.”

I wiped more blood from my mouth, my dark aura still flickering around me. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I admitted, my voice strained. But as I looked at him, something clicked. He wasn’t like the others. He wasn’t… one of them.

“You’re not… one of them, are you?” I asked, my voice quieter now, my gaze sharp.

He raised an eyebrow. “Depends on who ‘them’ is. But I think we both know we’re not enemies here.”

I hesitated, the weight of his words settling over me. He was right. We weren’t enemies—at least not now. I could feel the hostility between us fading, giving way to something else.

The man took a breath, lowering his fists but keeping his eyes on me. “Seth,” he said, offering a name as if it were a truce. “Looks like we got off on the wrong foot.”

I studied him for a moment longer, not expecting him to give his name. Slowly, I extended my hand, finally offering something in return. “Leo,” I replied, meeting his gaze with a nod of respect.

Our handshake was brief but solid, a silent acknowledgment of mutual respect. The tension was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but the air had shifted. We weren’t enemies—not anymore—but there was still a long way to go before trust could be fully earned.

I stood in the quiet cave, my body still buzzing from the intensity of the fight, but my face gave none of it away. I was good at that—masking the pain, the weariness. Years of being hunted had taught me how to keep my emotions in check, to appear calm even when everything inside was screaming. My eyes flicked over to him—Seth—who seemed none the worse for wear, despite the brutal clash we’d just had.

As Seth introduced himself, his voice steady, I shook his hand, though my mind was still racing with the memory of the fight—the raw power behind every one of his movements. He was faster than most, stronger than nearly anyone I’d ever fought, and there had been a moment, just a flicker of it, when I doubted if I could keep up. It wasn’t a feeling I liked.

Seth… The name echoed in my thoughts as we shook hands, his grip firm but not crushing. As we stood there, something strange caught my eye—Seth’s wounds, the cuts and bruises from our fight, were healing. Fast. Too fast. The skin knitted back together before my eyes, leaving nothing but smooth, unmarked flesh. What the… I watched the last cut on his arm vanish completely, leaving him looking as if the fight had never happened.

I was stunned, but I kept my expression flat, controlled. I wasn’t about to let him know just how impressed—or envious—I was. Outwardly, I was calm, almost emotionless, but inside, it was a different story. That kind of healing… I could’ve used that a hundred times over.

The memory of the fight flashed in my mind again. I had underestimated him at first—just another guy with too much confidence walking into the wrong place. But he had matched me blow for blow. No, that wasn’t right. He overpowered me, I thought, though the words left a bitter taste. His strength was overwhelming, each punch landing with bone-rattling force. It wasn’t just power, either. He could take hits, shrugging off my best shots like they were nothing.

The part that really stung? When he had me pinned against the wall. I tried to twist free, using all the tricks I had, but Seth had me locked in tight. In that moment, staring into his eyes, I felt the edge of something sharp—something dangerous lurking behind that calm exterior. He hadn’t just been fighting; he’d been hunting. It was there in his eyes, in the way his muscles tensed with a primal hunger.

I had to disengage. I remembered pushing off the wall, slipping into the shadows with the last of my speed to get out of his hold. It had been close—too close for comfort. And that dark energy Seth radiated? It was unsettling, like staring into the abyss. I knew power when I saw it, and whatever Seth was, he wasn’t just a hunter or a warrior. There was something darker, something deeper, lurking beneath the surface.

But I hadn’t let that show. Even now, as we stood shaking hands, I kept my outward appearance cool, measured. Let him think what he wanted. I wasn’t going to be outdone, not here, not by anyone.

My ribs ached, and the bruises from his punches throbbed under my skin. I could feel the strain in my muscles, the tightness in my chest. He was healing like it was nothing, but me… well, I had my own tricks. Without making a big show of it, I reached into my jacket and pulled out a small vial—a pale green liquid swirling inside. A healing potion, one of the few I had left. It wasn’t easy to make, and the ingredients were hard to come by, but I wasn’t about to look weak now.

I uncorked the vial and downed it in one quick motion, feeling the warm sensation spread through my chest as the potion started to work its magic. It wasn’t as fast or flashy as whatever Seth had going on, but it was effective. The pain in my ribs dulled, the cuts on my arms closed up, and the bruises faded to a faint discoloration. I didn’t show it, but I could feel a flicker of relief.

Still, part of me couldn’t help but wish for more. That healing ability… If I’d had that, my life would’ve been different. No more potions, no more hiding and licking my wounds after every fight. I thought of the countless nights I’d spent as a kid, bandaging myself up in the dark, afraid the next creature would find me before I healed. I could’ve used that power a thousand times over.

But those thoughts were pointless now. I had what I had, and I’d made it this far without any supernatural healing ability. It didn’t matter.

Seth raised an eyebrow, watching me drink the potion but saying nothing. I wasn’t about to offer an explanation, though. I simply nodded once, acknowledging the silent understanding between us. We were both fighters, and we both knew what it took to survive.

“Not bad,” I finally said, my voice flat, giving away none of the thoughts swirling in my head. “Decent fight....You hit like a truck.”

Seth chuckled, his eyes still sharp, still calculating. “You’re not so bad yourself. Fast as hell I'd bet you'd give Gonzalez a run for his money.”

"Gonzalez?" I asked

"Yeah, Surname Speedy." He responded with a laugh

My lips twitched into the smallest of smirks. “Appreciate being compared to one of the greats, especially considering speed’s all I’ve got when I’m up against guys like you.”

There was a pause, a moment of silence as we both stood there, sizing each other up. I could still feel the hum of power in the air between us, both of us radiating our own strange energy. We weren’t enemies, but that didn’t make him any less dangerous. In fact, it made him more interesting.

As Seth turned away slightly, checking his surroundings, I allowed myself a moment to reflect. I’ve been hunted all my life, I thought, my mind drifting back to my childhood. The creatures, the shadows, the relentless pursuit of the darkness drawn to my Yin Physique. If I’d had that healing power back then, maybe things would’ve been different. Maybe I wouldn’t have spent half my life running. But the past was the past.

I glanced at him, watching the way his body moved—strong, efficient, like a predator always on the prowl. This guy’s got something more going on. He’s not just some random hunter. I wasn’t sure what Seth was after, but I had a feeling we were on a similar path.