The world around Zayen was still spinning.
The violet energy that had exploded from him was gone now—like it had never existed—but the cratered walls, shattered glass, and unconscious monster told a different story.
He stumbled backward, breathing hard, his hands trembling.
"What... what the hell did I just do?"
Rhea looked up at him, her lips parted in shock. "Zayen… that thing was going to kill me. You—"
She stopped, unsure of what to say next.
Before he could respond, a new wave of panic rippled through the street. The monsters hadn't stopped. Farther down, the sounds of screams, metal groaning, and explosions filled the air.
Zayen blinked and dropped to his knees beside Rhea. "Are you hurt?"
"My leg. It's stuck." She winced, trying to shift under the twisted hoverbike.
Zayen grabbed the edge and strained to lift it, his muscles shaking. No super strength this time—just pure effort and adrenaline.
After a painful shove, the wreck moved just enough for her to crawl out. He caught her, helping her lean against a nearby wall.
"I saw you," she whispered. "You… you glowed. Like lightning."
Zayen's mind was a storm.
What did I unleash? Why now? What even was that?
He had never trained. Never fought. He was just a guy who fixed junk tech and stumbled through each day like it barely mattered.
But that moment—it had felt like something inside him woke up. Something old and hungry.
Before he could make sense of it, a holographic emergency drone zipped by overhead, scanning them. Its robotic voice rang out:
"Civilian with Class-A energy spike detected. Stand down and remain in place. Authorities inbound."
Zayen froze.
"What? What authorities?"
The drone paused mid-air, its red scanner locked on Zayen's chest.
"You are not registered. Unknown energy type. You will be taken in for containment."
"Containment?!" Rhea gasped.
Zayen didn't wait.
He grabbed Rhea's hand and ran—limping through narrow alleys, dodging fallen neon signs and collapsed storefronts. Behind them, the drone's alarm blared, summoning something far worse.
In the distance, another pulse echoed from the sky.
But this one… felt like a whisper.
A whisper meant only for him.
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