Chapter 18: A Escalation
The attempted psychic assault and the physical attack by Kieran's minion confirmed Dante's fears: the conflict had escalated from a hunt to a full-blown war. Kieran was no longer simply observing; he was actively engaging, testing Dante's defenses, probing his weaknesses. This meant Dante had to accelerate his own game, moving from defense to proactive disruption.
Professor Finch, upon hearing the details of the skirmish, recognized the gravity of the situation. "He will not send one minion next time, Dante," Finch warned, his voice grim. "He will send more. And their attacks will be stronger, more focused. He seeks to eliminate any anomaly, any threat to his design."
Finch's training now focused on more complex applications of dark magic, but always with a specific purpose: to counter Kieran. Dante learned to create localized energy fields that could disrupt communication between Kieran and his minions, briefly severing their direct connection to the source of their power. He practiced channeling disruptive energy through physical touch, enabling him to incapacitate cultists more efficiently without resorting to lethal force. Finch emphasized precision, control, and efficiency. Every movement, every surge of energy, had to be purposeful.
The nature of the disappearances in Oakhaven began to subtly change. While still lacking conventional evidence, Dante noticed that the manner of the 'taking' was becoming more forceful, less subtle. The energy residue at the scenes was more chaotic, more violent, suggesting a greater haste or urgency on Kieran's part. It was as if Kieran was growing impatient, his carefully orchestrated harvest facing an unexpected obstacle in Dante.
Dante also began to actively seek out Kieran's minions on the surface. He used his enhanced senses to patrol the "hot spots" he had identified, specifically targeting areas where the dark energy felt concentrated, or where he detected the faint, chilling aura of the cultists. He understood that these minions were not just passive agents; they were nodes in Kieran's network, channels for his power. Disrupting them would weaken Kieran's overall influence on the city.
His first proactive encounter occurred in a derelict parking garage known for its shadows and isolation. Dante felt the familiar coldness, the metallic scent, and the distinct presence of two cultists. He moved silently through the concrete labyrinth, his steps echoing faintly. He found them standing near a forgotten corner, their hooded forms silhouetted against a distant streetlamp, seemingly performing a subtle energy ritual, drawing power from the very despair of the city.
He lunged, surprising them. One cultist instinctively reacted, unleashing a burst of raw, dark energy directly at him. Dante, now adept at sensing and reacting, deflected it with a precise counter-pulse of disruptive energy, causing the cultist's attack to dissipate harmlessly. Before the second cultist could react, Dante moved, a blur of motion. He touched the first cultist's arm, channeling a surge of focused dark energy. The cultist cried out, a guttural sound, and fell to the ground, unconscious, their energy signature temporarily suppressed.
The second cultist, more prepared, unleashed a more powerful attack, conjuring a swirling ball of dark energy that crackled with malevolent intent. Dante had seen this before in Finch's ancient texts – a basic offensive spell. He didn't try to deflect it directly. Instead, he created a localized energetic void around the cultist, a small pocket where the dark magic would falter. The swirling ball of energy sputtered, lost cohesion, and collapsed into nothingness. The cultist stared at him, bewildered, their power suddenly gone. Dante seized the moment, incapacitating the second cultist with another precise touch.
He left them unconscious, their forms slumped against the cold concrete. He didn't harm them beyond temporary incapacitation. His goal wasn't destruction, but disruption. He had intercepted a direct act, and he had shown Kieran that his minions were vulnerable.
As he walked away, he felt Kieran's distant fury, a cold, silent rage emanating from the depths of the city. The telepathic whisper returned, sharper this time, laced with genuine anger: "You interfere. This will not be tolerated. Your end is assured."
Dante responded not with words, but with a silent, iron-willed resolve. He directed his own focused intent back at the distant presence, a defiant challenge. Come and get me, then.
The encounters became more frequent. Dante actively hunted the cultists, disrupting their smaller rituals, incapacitating them, and dismantling their subtle attempts to siphon energy from Oakhaven. Each time, he felt Kieran's anger intensify, his mental probes becoming more aggressive, more forceful. The game of cat and mouse was over. It was now a direct, escalating conflict, fought in the shadows, with the very soul of Oakhaven as the prize. Dante knew that his actions were pushing Kieran to reveal more of his power, to commit more resources. It was a dangerous gamble, but a necessary one. He was forcing Kieran's hand, and the inevitable, final confrontation was drawing closer with every passing skirmish.