The Return of the Grim Reaper

Erick and John arrived at the location where the passage was prohibited, but they didn't expect to find soldiers from the army guarding the entire area, as in reality, there was no one else trying to pass besides them. Erick attempted to pass by them, but quickly regretted it when he saw one of the soldiers wielding a magical distortion weapon, meaning that even if they tried to fight, that weapon would complicate matters. So, Erick returned to John.

"We need to try entering from another side; that soldier has a magical distortion weapon," Erick said to John, glancing at the soldiers, but then noticing someone approaching them.

"Erick, call me crazy, but isn't that Jack?" John said, observing the boy who approached the soldiers and effortlessly put them to sleep, besides breaking the magical distortion weapon, surprising both boys who seized the opportunity and followed him.

They followed Jack deeper into the area, wondering how he knew where to go since they could only see darkness due to the lack of light. After ten minutes of following him, they reached a part where there were only destroyed things and debris from the accident caused by the scientists. Just when they thought there was nothing more interesting, they sensed six powerful presences.

"Quick, let's hide," Erick said in a low voice so only John could hear, and they concealed themselves, masking their powers to avoid detection.

"Those people aren't from any specific country. Who are they?" John wondered silently as he watched the six individuals approach Jack, who knelt before them, showing mercy.

"It's been a while, Jack. Tell us, have you been able to do what we asked?" a young man, roughly twenty years old, inquired. What was truly surprising and somewhat terrifying was that his presence was much more potent than the other five, who remained silent as he spoke.

"Yes, but I encountered a small complication that will delay me a bit longer," Jack replied calmly, avoiding eye contact, which surprised Erick and John, who continued to eavesdrop unnoticed.

"What complication?" the young man asked, sitting on the ground and staring fixedly at Jack, making him nervous.

"The spy known as THE REAPER returned, and she's with him," Jack answered, passing some photos to the young man, who smiled. Then he stood and walked toward Jack, who grew nervous when he felt the young man's hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry; someone else will take care of him. For now, focus on your job," the young man said with a smile, turning to look at one of the people who approached and also knelt to listen.

"I want him dead," the young man said in a dark tone, causing the person to nod before disappearing from the place in seconds.

Erick and John began to rise to leave, but Erick accidentally dislodged a piece of rubble, which fell to the ground next to the young man, who quickly turned to look in their direction, smiling.

"ERICK, RUN!" John shouted after pounding the ground, creating a cloud of dust to escape, but one of the individuals vanished from the place and appeared in front of them.

"Earth affinity: Collapse!" John exclaimed, striking the ground, creating both smoke and a collapse that reached down to where Jack and the others were.

Erick and John quickly ran toward the exit, but the same person reappeared in front of them, causing them to stop instantly when they noticed that person firing a fireball without an incantation, surprising them both.

"Water affinity: Water projectile!" Erick said, raising his hand, from which a water projectile emerged, colliding with the fireball, disintegrating it completely. Then John kicked the person, sending them flying into a wall.

After everything that happened inside, both boys ran away from the place. They may not have found what they were looking for, but they discovered something they never imagined.

"Phew, that was close," John said, leaning against a wall to catch his breath.

"Yeah, although I suspect Jack will try to do something to silence us," Erick said, looking back at the direction they came from, seeing the army arriving.

"Does it matter? I doubt he'll try knowing what we're capable of," John said, getting up and patting Erick on the back, who calmed down.

"We have to tell Raizor about this. Something tells me those people are the ones who attacked the bases in northern Germany and China," Erick said, turning around to walk away, followed by John. They both walked back home to inform Raizor about what happened and their suspicion that Jack would try to capture Lena.