The Mage Paradox [BOOK THREE]

Chapter 8: Once upon a Venom

"Are you sure this will work?" Harith whispered tentatively.

"Trust me, he always comes here." Hester hissed back.

The leonin and the frosty guy are hidden in two electronic garbage cans which were worn out and empty of trash But that doesn't mean the odor is gone.

"You think we can take that lunatic down?" Harith asked feebly. "Anyways, why do we have to hide in these trash cans and not boxes like them?" he pointed at Lylia and Nana, both inside a cardboard box, peeping through the holes.

Hester snorted. "Yeah right, Dyrroth and the Saber Exploder are hiding in something way worst."

It was Harith's turn to snort. "And what could be worst than hiding in a bottom of a trash can that smells?"

Hester smirked and pointed at a public toilet. Harith chortled.

"Seriously, Harley is very powerful, and this guy might be even more powerful than him," said Harith. "I don't even know if Harley is alive right now."

Hester tutted audibly. "Of course he is, if you say that again, I'll make sure you stay in that trash can permanently."

A sound of footsteps echoed in the city, interrupting Harith's next insult to Hester. They saw a shadow walking in the middle of the road. When it reached their line of sight, they saw the Venom Octopus walking down the road, the robotic octopus on his head, and the purple staff with a green eye on his right hand.

Just the sight of him sent chills down their spines. Harith turned to Hester and mouthed, "Attack?"

Hester shook his head. "Let me," he mouthed back.

⌛ 

Dyrroth and Cyclops were inside a public toilet, and it was lacking the smell of stench. The demon stood with his head peeked out of the boy's toilet while Cyclops peeked out of the girl's toilet

"Are you kidding me," Dyrroth muttered with a grimace. "What in Abyss's land are you doing in there?

"It's just the girls' toilet, also it's quite beautiful in here."

Dyrroth chortled in amusement.

"It's just the girls' toilet, what's wrong with me being inside a girls' toilet?" Cyclops added.

"You're not a girl, and it could be a whole lot worst if we weren't on a rescue mission and when the restroom is full of people."

Before they knew it, both of them heard Hester's voice echo loudly.

"That's the cue, let's go," 

Cyclops and Dyrroth rushed out of the restrooms.

⌛ 

Octo was doing his daily patrol, again. He just hoped that at this patrol, he'll be able to stab at least someone. His other self's frightened face was embedded in his eyes temporarily. He shook his head and told himself to focus on what's in front of him.

He saw a whirl of mist at the corner of his eye as it came from one of the broken mechanical bins and the wind whirled in front of him to become Hester.

"You," Octo scowled.

"Hello, Harley, nice to see you again," Hester said curtly.

"Don't call me that."

"Whatever. Anyways, do you want a surprise?"

Octo cast Hester a suspicious look. "What is it?"

Hester took a deep breath and let out a deafening scream, "NOW!"