(Chapter - 41)

  [Helplessness]

  Tori is shocked to hear Mehaki call that name.

  Tori : *She's calling Obhoy… Onol!? That means it was Obhoy who had been following her that day!?*

  Mehaki is stunned to see the person standing before her, shock and fear slowly rising within her. Obhoy's eyes are filled with shock and a strange helplessness.

  Obhoy : Mehaki ma'am… It really is you.

  Mehaki : *How is this possible!?*

  Obhoy : You… You're the blessed girl? My targeted enemy? But how could I harm you now?

  He takes a step forward, his eyes sorrowful and pitiful, but halts midway, hearing the yell of Mehaki.

  Mehaki : Don't come near me!

  Obhoy : I thought I'd kill the blessed girl after taking the powers… But if it’s you… How can I?

  Tori stares at them as he gets up, confused but still keeping his guard up. Asroy gets up as well, still with no emotion on his face. Traces of resentment slowly begin to appear in Mehaki's eyes.

  Mehaki : You're Onol Newaz, aren’t you?

  Obhoy : I am. And you're Anami… The one I’ve been searching for... But killing you? How can I kill someone I gave my heart to?

  Tori : *What the heck!?*

  Mehaki clenches her hands and winces in disgust. Tori furrows his brows, irritation rising in his eyes.

  Obhoy : You're the first one I've ever felt this way for… How can I even harm—

  Tori : Cut it out! How dare you talk to her like that?

  Obhoy : I like you, Mehaki ma'am.

  Tori : *This punk!*

  Mehaki : …I shouldn’t have saved you. *He is one behind Asroy's misery, and possibly Tori’s too. He’s the one after me, my powers. A manipulative, wicked guy who enjoys harming others…*

  Obhoy : Mehaki ma'am…

  Mehaki : You were my enemy from the start, and you will always be my enemy, Onol.

  Asroy : His name is Obhoy Onol Newaz!

  Asroy shouts like a soldier defending his master, letting Mehaki know who exactly Obhoy is. His eyes glow.

  Mehaki : If I had known who you were that day, I wouldn't have saved you ever! I really regret my choices from that day.

  Obhoy flinches, taken aback as Mehaki's words pierce through him. His eyes flicker in shock. He opens his mouth to speak but closes it again.

  Mehaki : You're just an evil guy with wicked intentions! You only do harm to innocent people, deceive them and enjoy watching people suffer. You… You'll always be the enemy of us all!

  Obhoy's black hair casts a shadow over his eyes, his expression darkens as he slowly tilts his head forward. He lets out a cold snicker.

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  Obhoy : Ha… Stubborn as ever… You really still want me to be your enemy? Fine… Then I WILL be your enemy.

  His black eyes instantly glow red, fiercely glaring at Mehaki, making her shiver and tense. It rings a bell for Tori — the boy from his childhood, who also had red eyes and fire powers. Before he can process anything else, Obhoy transforms into the fire figure again. Mehaki’s breath halts. Panic rises in Tori.

  Tori : Mehaki!

  Obhoy summons iron chains around himself. With his powers, he wraps them tightly around Mehaki and lifts her into the air.

  Mehaki : *What is this?!* Ah! *It's so tight! It hurts!*

  Obhoy : Do you really think you can stand against me?

  Tori : Let her go!

  Tori surges water at Obhoy but he dodges it. His red eyes move over to Tori, whose eyes are glowing blue. Obhoy carefully observes him from head to toe and scoffs.

  Obhoy : Blue hair, blue eyes, and water powers… You're still alive, I see.

  Tori : !?

  Obhoy : I didn’t think you'd survive… When you got kidnapped while fleeing to another city, after destroying the dam.

  Mehaki : *Wait… The dam? Does this mean—*

  Tori's body stiffens in shock, his glowing eyes slowly filling with fury and hatred.

  Tori : …You!!! *He was the boy back then! The root of all my suffering!*

  Obhoy : Oh, finally remembered me, ‘Friend’?

  Tori : YOU DEVIL!

  He strikes him using his water powers. Obhoy dodges again but Tori doesn’t stop, he keeps attacking him furiously. Obhoy uses his fire powers to evaporate the water thrown at him. Sparks of steam fill the air. Then Obhoy strikes Tori with fire, and he kills the fire with a burst of water. Their clash repeats again and again. Mehaki tries to get herself out of the chains but it only hurts her. Asroy stands motionless like stone, watching all this but helping neither his brother nor Tori and Mehaki.

  Tori : Are you still gonna just stand there like that, Asroy? *How will his hypnosis even break?*

  Obhoy : Haha. Yes he will.

  Asroy : …

  Mehaki : Asroy! Please get back to your senses!

  Tori : *What should I do? Would reminding him of his past help?* Hey, remember the times when you were called by your family nickname, Shantomoy?

  Asroy : !

  Mehaki : *Asroy had a family nickname?*

  Tori : Do you remember how your family cared for you and how happy you were back then? Do you!?

  Asroy squints his eyes, which still glow faintly orange.

  Obhoy : Oh, this is no time for reminiscing.

  He throws fire at Tori. Tori kills them with water again, forms darts out of water and shoots them at him. Obhoy evaporates some and dodges the rest. Tori glares at him with hatred, his blue eyes glowing.

  Obhoy : My my, when did you become so fierce? You used to be a naive, kindhearted, innocent boy back then. Not even knowing how to fight.

  Tori : Shut up! You ruined my life! You're the reason I was detached from my family and almost got killed!

  Obhoy : Hmm? Really? Did your family even love you?

  Tori : Just shut your nonsense mouth! Not a single word about my family! Or I will destroy you, Obhoy!

  Tori shoots more water towards Obhoy but he carefully moves away from it, not letting even a droplet touch him. He smirks.

  Obhoy : Haha. I'm not kidding. If you think your family loves you, then answer this… Why hasn’t your family tried to look for you even once all these past 12 years?

  The words strike Tori like lightning, freezing him in place. His eyes widen as he tries to put things together, and begins to rethink everything. It’s true that his family never looked for him. Then is whatever Obhoy said true? Tori's mind starts to get blurry. Mehaki senses something is wrong and feels concerned.

  Mehaki : *What kind of a—*

  As Tori gets distracted by the burden of thoughts, Obhoy seizes the chance and hits him on the head with the iron chains.

  Tori : Agh!

  Mehaki : Tori!

  It hits him so hard that his vision begins to blur and he slowly loses his balance. With the bloodstain from the cut on his forehead, he glances at Mehaki before his vision fades and he falls down on the ground.

  Mehaki : No! Tori! *Obhoy tricked him into letting his guard down!*

  Obhoy : Hahaha! A simple question is all it took. Finishing him would be easier now.

  Mehaki : Why are you doing this!? You separated Asroy and Tori from their families. Caused them misery. And now you want to take their lives?!

  Obhoy : Ha… All people with powers that are opposite of mine are my enemies. And now… You too.

  Mehaki : You're a heartless monster, Obhoy!

  Obhoy : Heartless? Heh… I guess I am. Now I'll finish that water-powered boy first.

  His flaming red eyes look directly at Mehaki, as if mocking her helplessness.

  Mehaki : No… No no no! Asroy! Help us! Listen to me. You're not our enemy! You're our friend, Asroy!

  Obhoy : Mehaki ma'am, he'll only listen to me now. You know. Why waste that sweet voice of yours like that?

  Mehaki : Asroy! Please! Come back to yourself…

  Her eyes become tearful, shaking with fear and desperation. Her voice trembles. Asroy does nothing except looking at them.

  Mehaki : You're not evil like Obhoy! Why are you listening to him!? Save your friends!

  Obhoy : There’s no way left, dear. See them for the last time, because you won't see them again after this.

  He snickers wickedly. His eyes move to Tori lying unconscious, and he creates a fireball in his hand. Mehaki's eyes grow wide.

  Mehaki : Asroy… Asroy!!! Hah… *Tori said something about his family nickname…* Shantomoy!

  Obhoy : Again…?

  Mehaki : Shantomoy! Don't listen to the monster who broke you, took away your happiness and threw you out of your family! Shantomoy! You're someone with a kind heart, Shantomoy! Remember what he did to you!... Shantomoy!

  Asroy : !

  Asroy shivers hearing the name. He feels a sting in his head as his memory slowly triggers. He shuts his eyes in pain. But Obhoy doesn’t even glance at him.

  Asroy : Ugh!

  Obhoy : Looks like I have to shut you up first.

  Mehaki : *Huh?*

  Obhoy : How about I let you feel the burn on your pretty skin? I'll spare your face of course, since I like it.

  Mehaki : !!!

  Obhoy touches the chain holding up Mehaki and fire slowly spreads on it, moving closer to her.

  Mehaki : S-Shantomoy!

  She squeezes her eyes shut, her heart pounding wildly. She shouts desperately with the last bit of hope.

  Mehaki : ASROY!!!

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