“Then try me.” Glenn said as he leapt and bounded down from the second floor.

  The man in the trench coat set his cup down with a clack, folded away his leg, and rose with languid arrogance, twisting his neck as if to show off.

  “I’ve never truly unleashed this power since I first acquired it. It seems you, boy, are fortunate enough to sample it.”

  In an instant his eyes narrowed; with a sudden stomp he surged forward and was upon Glenn in a flash.

  For a heartbeat the trench-coated man noticed Glenn’s coal-dark pupils locked unblinking upon his own, the other’s face betraying no change.

  He smirked inwardly — so he hadn’t registered it yet...

  Before he could finish the thought, a palm slammed into his face; the impact felt as if against a springing wall, and the forward momentum began to shove him backward, starting from the head.

  When the man in the trench coat regained his wits, he could scarcely believe his eyes: the youth before him held his face aloft with a single hand.

  That hand gripped like an iron clamp; despite frantic struggles, the man could not free himself.

  Glenn carried the taller man by the face and, glancing back at the stupefied Mrs. Ryan, said, “Madam, I’d rather not soil your house. I’ll deal with him outside.”

  Before she could answer, Glenn hauled the trapped man through the doorway.

  Humiliated beyond measure, the trench-coated man erupted in a dark violet mist the instant they stepped outdoors; his power swelled.

  Sensing that his grip no longer held, Glenn simply flung the man aside.

  He scanned the surroundings casually.

  Mrs. Ryan’s home sat in a pleasant little neighborhood; there were many households here, but at that moment every door and window was shut tight — no one wandered the lanes. Clearly the neighbors had heard the commotion and retreated indoors.

  “I admit I underestimated you.” The man rubbed his cheek, eyes now burning with murderous intent. “Now I’ll get serious.”

  His coat began to billow with thick smoke. Fangs greedily uncoiled from his mouth; muscles bulged, stretching the fabric into swollen ridges.

  “A transformation… how original,” Glenn clapped dryly. “Couldn’t you have been a bit more creative?”

  The transformed man had grown a full size larger; his coat strained with countless seams torn, yet held. He roared, “You know nothing! This is the supreme power bestowed by the great Glas! You, ignorant mortal, cannot fathom it!”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “All right, all right, we get it. So who exactly is this Glas fellow? Pretty impressive, is he?” Glenn drawled.

  “Glas is the exalted one who will lift us to heights unrivaled! How dare you speak his name so disrespectfully — you tempt death!” The man’s zeal erupted into a thunderous war-cry as he lunged toward Glenn like an avalanche.

  But Glenn remained composed. He bent his body low to evade the attacking hand, shifted his weight aside, twisted his torso, and delivered a sidekick.

  His movements were machine-precise, every motion measured and timely.

  The rush of air carried the kick; the trench-coated man spat a mouthful of sour saliva and was hurled backward.

  This kick carried the force Glenn intended.

  “Your attacks are too predictable — not much better than street thugs,” Glenn mocked, returning the earlier sneer.

  “Oh my!” Mrs. Ryan’s exclamation rose behind him.

  Glenn turned with a smile. “See? I told you, madam, I can fight.”

  Mrs. Ryan looked at the sprawled man clutching his belly in pain and shook her head. “No — this isn’t a matter of mere bravado. Don’t take me for a fool, child.”

  Glenn scratched his head sheepishly.

  The fallen man felt the searing pain in his abdomen ebb gradually and staggered to his feet, breathing hard and glaring at Glenn with crazed eyes. “How did you… With your strength, how could you possibly—!”

  Glenn shrugged and addressed Mrs. Ryan, “Madam, things may turn bloody. You’d best step back — don’t forget you’re with child.”

  She had been about to insist she could watch, but those last words gave her pause. Unsure how such sights might affect her pregnancy, she chose caution and slipped back indoors, urging Glenn to be careful.

  “You’d be wise to mind your own business and walk away now. Leave, and I won’t tell my boss. If he sets his sights on you, you’re finished.” The trench-coated man backed Glenn with a hostage threat.

  Noting a flicker of killing intent in Glenn’s eyes, he realized he was not the match he’d assumed. Still, he tried to bully his way out.

  Glenn merely sneered. “Really? Weren’t you just threatening to tear out my heart? Coward now? Save it — you can’t escape.”

  The man took a furtive step back until his back met the houses. Then, with a sudden motion, he smashed through the wall and hauled a gaunt man out as a hostage.

  “Heh. If you don’t want this innocent to die, let me go.” He laughed darkly, then clamped a hand around the gaunt man’s throat. The captive choked and pleaded, “Save… save me…”

  Glenn frowned. Two seconds later he shrugged and said, “Fine. You win. You can go.”

  The trench-coated man, stunned at the easy victory, hesitated.

  “Wise choice,” Glenn added with quick, conciliatory words.

  Inwardly the man gnashed his teeth: once away, I’ll kill this wretch — he really thinks I’ll free him? What a foolish, green boy... But as he retreated, clutching his hostage, and turned to flee —

  Glenn’s voice slid like a blade a few centimeters behind his ear. “I lied.”

  The breath of it warmed the hairs on the man’s neck. A cold dread washed over him.

  He tried to look at his hostage, but a silver flash sliced through the air; both of his hands were severed at the wrists, blood fountaining to the ground.

  The gaunt man collapsed to one side, terrified, wetting his trousers.

  The trench-coated man shrieked and howled, staring at his bleeding stumps.

  “Go on — get back inside.” Glenn called to the gaunt man.

  The prisoner scrambled home in a frenzy.

  Glenn crouched before the writhing man-in-coat and said, “I’d thought of following you to your lair, but that seemed troublesome. It’ll be easier to interrogate you here. Tell me: where is your base? Who is there? Your boss is called Glas, isn’t he? What is his strength? And what of the children you took — what has become of them?”

  The man glared with bitter fury, teeth clenched against excruciating pain. “I will not betray the great Glas! You’ll learn nothing from me!”

  “You will,” Glenn replied with absolute certainty. “Believe me, your resolve will not endure as well as you think.”