All Chapters of THE MAN WHO RETURNED AS THORN: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
86 chapters
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The first rays of dawn barely pierced through the thick curtains of the safehouse. Evan sat on the edge of the bed, fists clenched, energy still simmering beneath his skin. His thoughts were a storm of fear, anticipation, and determination.Travis entered quietly, carrying a small satchel. “It’s time,” he said softly, placing the bag on the table. “The first trial begins in less than an hour. You need to be ready.”Evan shot up, eyes blazing. “Ready? I’ve been ready! I’ve been waiting for this! I’ll face whatever they throw at me—Vivianne, the shadows, whatever!”Travis shook his head. “Determination is one thing. Readiness is another. You need control, Evan. The trial isn’t just about strength or fire—it’s about precision, observation, and decision. One wrong move tomorrow, and everything changes.”Evan’s fists flared slightly. “Precision? Observation? Enough, Travis! I’ll survive it! I’ll protect her! No matter what!”Travis exhaled slowly. “Good. That fire… it’s your strongest asse
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“Have you slept?” Travis asked, his voice steady but carrying an edge of concern.Evan shook his head. “No. I… I couldn’t. Every time I close my eyes, I see her. Shadows, whispers… her face, but… not her. I don’t know what I’ll do when I see her.”Travis stopped pacing and fixed him with a hard stare. “Then focus on this: what you feel now—fear, anger, confusion—that’s exactly what Mirevault wants. They feed on it. They make your emotions weapons against you. Remember, Evan, clarity is your defense.”Evan clenched his fists tighter. “Clarity… right. But what if I fail? What if she—” He cut himself off, staring into the floor as if the words themselves could summon the horrors from last night.“You won’t fail,” Travis said sharply. “Because you understand more than they think. You understand her. Even if she is… different. That bond… that’s what will anchor you. But…” His voice softened. “…you must be ready for betrayal in forms you never imagined.”Evan’s eyes flared. “Betrayal? She…
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The room was dimly lit, shadows curling across the floor like living tendrils. Evan’s chest heaved, energy still crackling faintly around him. The trial arena was silent, except for the faint hum of the ambient light and the distant echoes of unseen watchers.Evan stepped forward cautiously, every sense on high alert. “Vivianne…?” His voice trembled slightly, though determination burned behind his words.A figure emerged from the shadows. She looked like Vivianne, but her eyes were colder, sharper, almost predatory. Her expression was unreadable, and her stance was wary, yet poised.“Evan,” she said softly, yet there was a hardness behind her tone that made his stomach twist. “You came.”Evan’s fists ignited with energy. “Of course I came! I promised—no matter what—they won’t take you from me! I’ll survive this! I’ll protect you!”The Vivianne before him tilted her head, observing him carefully. “Protect me?” she asked, voice low and calm. “Do you even understand what’s happening, Eva
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The room trembled slightly, shadows stretching and twisting as if alive. Evan’s fists blazed with energy, the aura around him vibrating with tension. Vivianne stepped closer, every movement precise, her gaze locked onto his.“Evan…” she whispered, voice soft yet sharp. “This is it. The trial begins now. Are you prepared to face the consequences of your choices?”Evan’s jaw tightened, sparks flaring along his arms. “I… I’m ready! Whatever this trial demands, I’ll survive it! And I’ll protect you, no matter what!”Vivianne tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing. “Even if protecting me means striking me? Even if the only way to save me is to go against me?”Evan froze, heart pounding. “I… I don’t know yet… But I’ll find a way! I’ll survive it! And I won’t let anyone… anyone control us!”The shadows around them rippled, forming indistinct shapes of memories, distorted faces of friends, enemies, and twisted reflections of Vivianne herself. “Evan,” she said calmly, voice cutting through t
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The air in the safehouse shifted. Evan’s energy simmered like a contained storm, his fists glowing faintly, sparks dancing across the floor. Travis stood back, eyes scanning the shadows. Outside, the wind howled against the reinforced walls, but inside, there was only silence—an anticipation so thick it pressed on Evan’s chest.Then, a sharp, metallic click echoed from the far wall. The shadows twisted, stretching like smoke, and a figure stepped into the dim light.Vivianne.But she was… different. Her posture was rigid, movements precise. Her eyes—cold, calculating—fixed on Evan with an intensity that made his chest tighten.“Evan Caelum,” she said, voice low, almost musical but without warmth. “You’ve come. I wondered… would you be ready?”Evan’s fists flared instinctively. “Vivianne… is that really you? Or… or what they’ve made you into?”She tilted her head, a small, almost cruel smile tugging at her lips. “Does it matter? The Vivianne you knew… is gone. This is who I am now. And
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The trial arena was not what Evan expected. The walls seemed to pulse with an unnatural rhythm, shadows crawling across the floor like black water. But Vivianne… she wasn’t alone.“Evan,” she said, voice calm but strained, “you’re late.”Evan’s eyes narrowed. “Late? What… what’s going on? I thought this was the first trial—just me and you.”A chilling laugh echoed from the darkness. “Oh no, Mr. Caelum,” a new voice said—smooth, cold, and unfamiliar. “You’re far too naïve to think it would be that simple.”From the shadows, a tall figure emerged, clad in dark armor that shimmered unnaturally. His face was hidden, but the presence was undeniable. “Who… who are you?” Evan demanded, fists glowing.“I am Aric,” the man said, voice low and lethal. “I oversee the trials for the Mirevault bloodline. And you… you’ve been acting like a child, Evan. Believing fire alone will protect the world around you.”Vivianne’s expression was unreadable. “Evan… don’t let him get to you. But… he’s telling th
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Vivianne’s gaze was fixed on him, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Evan… listen. The trial has already begun. Someone here… someone you trust… is about to betray you.”Evan’s chest tightened. “I… I won’t let it happen! Whoever betrays me, I’ll survive it! I’ll protect you! I won’t fail!”A sudden shift in the shadows caught his attention. Travis stepped out from the darkness, his expression unreadable. “Evan… I didn’t want you to see this yet. But the time has come. Someone you trust… will test you. And it’s my job to ensure you survive.”Evan’s fists flared brighter. “Travis… what are you saying? Who’s betraying me? Who…!”Travis’s voice was calm but firm. “I can’t tell you directly. The trial demands you realize it yourself. And if I interfere… it could jeopardize everything.”Vivianne stepped closer, her eyes intense. “Evan… remember what I said. Observe. Decide. Don’t react blindly. Whoever it is… they’re testing you. And the wrong move… it’ll cost you.”Evan’s heart pounded, s
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Evan’s chest heaved. “I… I don’t know who to trust! Every figure… every shadow… could be real—or fake! How am I supposed to survive this?”A cold laugh echoed from the darkness. “Ah, finally… the confusion sets in. That’s exactly what the trial demands. Chaos, doubt… hesitation.”From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. It wasn’t a projection this time. It was real—Jimmy, moving with deliberate, deliberate steps. His smile was calm, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in his eyes.“Jimmy… it’s you,” Evan said, fists blazing. “What are you doing? This isn’t a game!”Jimmy tilted his head, shadows crawling up his arms. “Oh, but it is a game, Evan. The trial doesn’t lie. It tests more than strength—it tests trust. And right now… you have to decide if you trust me or not.”Vivianne’s voice was tense, almost a whisper in Evan’s ear. “Evan… don’t move too fast. Watch his eyes… his stance… the betrayal is in the details.”Evan’s fists sparked uncontrollably. “I… I won’t fail! I’ll pro
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The streets outside the Mirevault estate were eerily quiet, mist curling along the asphalt like living smoke. Evan’s mind was still reeling from the trials, but he had no time to process.“Evan… stop,” Travis said suddenly, pulling the wheel hard to avoid a shadowy figure darting across the road. “Something’s out there. And it’s not just shadows this time.”Evan’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Another trial?”Travis shook his head. “No… it’s real this time. Someone—or something—wants you alive, but not for the same reason as before. They’re hunting you.”Before Evan could respond, a figure leapt from the mist, landing in front of the car. The headlights illuminated a young woman, her clothing torn, and her eyes wide with desperation.“Help me… please!” she gasped.Evan jumped out instinctively. “Who are you? What’s happening?!”Travis grabbed his arm. “Wait! It could be a trap! Remember what Vivianne said—trust no one until you know.”The woman’s gaze darted between Evan and Travi
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The subway entrance was dark, the fog curling around it like fingers trying to pull them back. Evan’s chest heaved, sparks still flickering from his fists. The woman—who had yet to give her name—pulled him toward the entrance.“Hurry! They’re closing in!” she hissed.Evan glanced back. Three masked figures were emerging from the mist, moving with unnatural speed. “Wait—how do we know we’re not walking into another trap?”Travis, standing slightly behind, stepped forward. “Because Evan… this isn’t about traps anymore. This is survival. And the splinter faction doesn’t care about rules—they want the bloodline destroyed. Every step from here counts.”Evan’s fists sparked violently. “Every step… counts? Then why aren’t we just attacking them head-on? I can handle it!”The woman grabbed his arm, urgency in her eyes. “If you attack full force, they’ll know you’re here. And one of them is a mimic—he can copy your energy and your patterns. Strike wrong, and the real enemy wins.”Evan froze. “