Chapter 17: [BONUS] I'm actually a magician!
London in 1918 still carried a gothic, medieval aesthetic. The gray hues, narrow alleyways, and the worn cobblestone streets seemed ready for werewolves or vampires to emerge from the shadows.
Logan and Victor staggered forward, supporting each other as they moved through the dim, narrow passageway.
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The so-called *dark and windy night, perfect for murder.*
After a few steps, they came to an abrupt stop. Logan turned sharply, his voice calm but commanding: "Friend, you've been following us for quite a while now. Why don't you come out and meet us properly?"
A chuckle echoed through the alley, and a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
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"You're more interesting than I initially thought," the man said casually as he stepped into the pale moonlight.
"Logan, born in 1832 in Canada. You were the privileged son of a wealthy family before war and tragedy changed you. American Civil War veteran, and now... this war. Victor Creed, Logan's half-brother."
The speaker paused as if considering something before smirking. "I'm right, aren't I?"
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Logan's eyes narrowed, his brows creasing into a deep frown. The stranger's words made his skin crawl. How did this man know so much about them? And what was this "World War I" he'd mentioned?
Victor, less inclined toward subtlety, growled lowly: "You again, *bird man*... Who the hell are you?"
"Calm down, Victor," Logan muttered, holding a hand out to steady his brother. Then he turned back to the newcomer. "Who are you? And what do you want?"
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The man smiled. "Who I am isn't important right now. What matters is the opportunity I'm offering you. Something *big.* Something you'll look back on as the greatest achievement of your life."
Victor, predictably, wasn't interested in vague speeches. "How about I shove my claws down your throat instead?!"
With a primal roar, he lunged forward, his claws gleaming in the moonlight.
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"Victor!" Logan instinctively reacted, but it was too late to stop him.
The stranger remained unfazed. His smile widened as a pair of massive, black wings suddenly erupted from his back. He hovered effortlessly into the air, as if gravity held no dominion over him.
Logan and Victor froze, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
"What in the...?" Logan whispered.
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Before either of them could process what was happening, the winged man dove at them like a hawk hunting prey. He struck with devastating force, his black wings battering them one after another.
Victor snarled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he staggered back to his feet. "What the hell is this *thing*?"
Logan wasn't far behind. His claws extended instinctively, and he moved in for the attack. *"Stay focused!"*
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The two brothers lunged simultaneously.
Victor's tiger-like claws slashed toward the wings, while Logan's bone claws struck at the stranger's back.
Their attacks met resistance—unnatural resistance.
The wings, seemingly soft and organic, were completely unharmed. Neither Victor's claws nor Logan's could tear through them.
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"Is that all you've got?" the winged man taunted. He shook his head, disappointment clear in his tone. "I expected more from you."
Logan stared in disbelief. "What *are* you...?"
"You'll find out soon enough," the man replied, his black wings folding ominously behind him. "But first, let me show you why you don't stand a chance."
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He moved faster than they could see, his wings flaring out as he caught Victor by the throat. Victor howled, thrashing wildly, but the grip was unrelenting.
Logan took his chance, driving his claws toward the man's exposed back.
For a moment, it seemed like the strike would land.
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Then, the man's body *dissolved.*
Where his neck and torso should've been, there was nothing but swirling black mist. Logan's claws passed through harmlessly, as if he were attacking smoke.
"What... the hell...?" Logan gasped, stumbling backward.
The misty form chuckled darkly, reforming into the man's solid figure once more. "Forgot to mention—I'm not a fighter. I'm a magician."
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Victor cursed under his breath, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Magician, my ass... You're some kind of freak."
"You'll have to do better than name-calling," the man said with a smirk.
With a flap of his wings, he launched himself into the air again—this time dragging Logan and Victor along with him, his grip around their necks unbreakable.
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The brothers struggled furiously, but it was no use.
Higher and higher they climbed, the cold wind whipping against their faces. Victor looked at Logan, panic clear in his eyes.
*"He's gonna drop us!"* Victor shouted.
Logan's face hardened. "Then fight back! *Now!*"
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The brothers lashed out together, claws slicing through the air.
But their target was already prepared. The man's body turned to mist once more, leaving their attacks useless.
From above, his voice echoed ominously: "Nice try."
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And then he let go.
The two brothers plummeted toward the ground, shouting as the world blurred past them.
The impact came hard and fast, the earth shaking beneath them as they crashed into the alley floor. Dust and debris exploded outward, leaving craters where they landed.
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Victor groaned, blood dribbling down his chin as he tried to stand. Logan was barely better off, his breaths ragged.
Above them, the winged figure hovered serenely, unharmed and unfazed.
"You put up a decent fight," he said casually. "But you're still not ready for what I have in store."
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Logan managed to look up, his eyes blazing with determination. "What... do you *want*...?"
The man smiled cryptically. "You'll find out soon enough."
And with that, he soared back into the night sky, his dark wings disappearing into the shadows.
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Victor spat blood onto the ground, cursing under his breath. "Damn it... Who *was* that guy?"
Logan didn't answer immediately. He stared at the sky, still reeling from the encounter.
"I don't know," he said finally, "but we'll see him again."
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And they both knew that next time, they'd be ready.
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Well, the goal was completed a bit late but since it's still morning and you guys completed it, here's the bonus chapters.
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