Rogue Nation

Blake took a deep breath before speaking. "We're not from here. Taking you to them will only put you in danger."

Krist stared at him for a while, her gaze unwavering. "Does the enemy have something to do with Mr. Adams?"

Blake burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. "Adams? Ha! No, not him," Blake said, trying to stifle his amusement.

Krist frowned. "Then it's the person Adams is working for?"

Blake shook his head. "No, it's not Adams or anyone he's connected to. The person after you is far more powerful than anyone you know. Your dad and I could get rid of Adams with ease. Even Ash wouldn't have a problem dealing with him. Honestly, I'm disappointed it's taken you this long to handle him. Compared to where we're from, this place is just a training ground. Your dad is using it as exactly that—a place for you to learn how to deal with stronger opponents using limited resources.

"He wants you to learn to make the most of what you have, utilize your resources, and build meaningful connections. That's why I can't help you. If I step in, I'll stop you from growing. This is like an exam. Sure, I could help you pass, but you wouldn't really deserve it. You need to figure this out on your own."

Krist looked at him skeptically. "If Adams—someone who seems so influential—is insignificant in your eyes, I wonder how strong you actually are."

Blake chuckled. "It depends on how I decide to deal with him. If I wanted him rotting in jail, all it would take is one phone call. If I wanted him dead, I could kill him from here with a snap of my fingers."

Krist's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "And how strong is this enemy you're talking about?"

"They could wipe out an entire city with a wave of their hand. You understand what that means, right?"

"Hmm… I find that hard to believe. How could someone wipe out an entire city just like that? It sounds fictional to me."

Blake smirked, then picked up a knife from the table and handed it to Krist. "Try to break this."

Krist strained, but no matter how hard he tried, the knife remained intact. Blake extended his hand. "Give it back."

Krist returned the knife reluctantly, watching as Blake closed his hand around it. When he opened his hand, the knife had turned to dust.

"Holyf**k how did you do that? That's not even possible!" Krist exclaimed, both awestruck and terrified.

Blake looked at him calmly. "That's how. So, do you still think you should go looking for them?"

Krist remained silent, struggling to process what he had just seen.

Blake continued. "Even if you tried to find your parents now, the enemy wouldn't be the one to kill you. The wild beasts on the road would finish you off before you even got close. You're not ready, kid, and until you are, you're going nowhere."

Krist took a deep breath. "If they're after my parents because of what they know, why are they after me?"

Blake paused, letting out a sigh before turning to face Krist. "I'm not the one who should be telling you this, but… you're the reason your parents are in hiding."

"Me? How? What did I do?" Krist asked, confused.

"You didn't do anything, but nature did," Blake said, leaning against the doorframe. "Your dad is the strongest person in his family, and your mom is one of the strongest in hers. And they're both the youngest on the list. Their enemies despised them for that but didn't dare challenge them outright, unsure if they could win. When you were born, everything changed."

Krist frowned, piecing it together. "So, when I was born, I became my parents' weakness, and their enemies tried to use me against them. That's why they took me into hiding."

"I wish it were that simple," Blake replied, stepping back into the room and sitting down. "You're putting me in a tough spot here. Your dad's going to be pissed I'm telling you this."

After a brief pause, Blake continued, "Where we're from, there's a magical energy in the atmosphere called essence. We absorb this energy into our bodies through a process called cultivation, which grants us abilities based on our affinity with nature. Normally, no one can manipulate essence until they're at least 13 years old. But your case… your case is different.

"From the moment you were born, you started absorbing natural essence and emanating darkness essence. That's what set everything in motion. The news leaked, drawing enemies—not just those with grudges against your parents but also others who saw you as a threat. Some came to kidnap and use you as a weapon, while others came to kill you outright. Even your parents, as strong as they are, couldn't fight off so many enemies at once. That's why they had to hide."

Krist's eyes widened. "If none of the enemies know about this place, why are you still here protecting me?"

"There was a time someone found this place," Blake said. "We dealt with him, but he's still alive out there somewhere. Even with his core damaged, he's dangerous, and I'm sure he'll come after you and Ash if I leave. Besides, if someone else finds this place, I need to be here to take care of them before they become a threat."

Krist nodded slowly, realization dawning on him. "So, me being able to absorb essence at such a young age… is it a good thing or a bad thing?"

Blake shrugged. "It depends. It's good for you and your allies but bad for your enemies."

"Can you show me something to help me understand what we're talking about?" Krist asked.

"No," Blake said firmly. "You don't need to burden yourself with all of this. Focus on dealing with your problems. I can't help you directly, but here's a clue: you have the resources. There are plenty of loose ends, and someone's been busy cleaning them up. If you move fast enough, you might catch the cleaner and get your answers—"

BAM!

"KRIST! I have a deal for you!"

Before Blake could finish, Ash barged into the room, yelling.

"You're going to spar with me. If I win, you'll delete those photos!" she declared, grabbing Krist by the arm and dragging him out as he protested.

"I haven't even agreed! Why are you dragging me?!"