Kate, Enokei, and Amy were walking down the street, laughing and chatting.The sun was setting, casting a golden hue across the city as they made their way home.
Enokei was mid-story, talking animatedly about her latest adventures, while Amy chimed in with her quick-witted remarks.Kate smiled softly, feeling comfortable in their company, but her mind wandered.
She had been thinking about him.
Ray.
The boy who had saved her earlier.
Kate paused for a moment as they reached the corner of their street."Well, see you guys later," she said with a small wave, her voice distracted.
"Catch you later, Kate!" Enokei called back, already absorbed in another conversation with Amy.
Now alone, Kate walked at a steady pace, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets as she replayed the scene in her mind.Ray had been so composed when he stepped in to stop the guy from attacking her.But there was something about him—something she couldn't quite place.
Her heart raced just thinking about him. He had that look, that raw energy like he wasn't afraid of anything.
But then there was the aura.
It wasn't just a feeling—it was a vision. Kate could see auras, a gift she had learned to live with. And when she looked at Ray, his aura stood out more than anyone else's.
It wasn't just dark—it was almost jet black, radiating off him and pushing the light away. It wasn't just the power he held, either. There was something... unstable about it. Something dangerous. She had felt it when he stood close to her, like a shadow ready to consume.
"Get a grip, Kate," she muttered to herself. He saved you. You owe him. He's a hero...
But she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. There was more to him than met the eye.
At the gym, Ray was adjusting some weights, sweating after a long workday.The place was quiet, the faint sounds of pads hitting bags and the shuffle of feet against the mat echoing in the distance.
It was the perfect kind of shift: calm, predictable, uneventful. Ray didn't mind it. He liked it that way, especially after everything that had happened recently.
Leaning back against the counter, Ray wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze lingering on a picture on the wall.
"Thanks to Luke, I even got this gig," Ray muttered, thinking back to how his guardian had practically forced him into the position. Luke wasn't just a mentor—he had been Ray's protector for as long as he could remember. He'd stepped in after Ray's parents disappeared, keeping him from falling into the wrong crowd and pushing him toward a better path.
Suddenly, the stillness was broken.
A loud voice rang out across the gym.
"Hey! Ray! I wanna challenge you!"
Ray turned to see a cocky rookie standing near the ring, arms folded across his chest. He looked eager, his eyes wide with the adrenaline of a challenge.
He was big—husky and broad, all muscle packed into a dense frame. Short, brick-red hair clung to his scalp, spiked slightly as if even his follicles were trying to look mean. His shoulders looked carved out of concrete, and his movements were sharp, efficient—like someone trained to fight, not just built for it.
There was something off about the way he carried himself. He wasn't just confident—he carried himself like a prince.Not a king—he didn't have the weight or wisdom for that. But he walked like the world was a stage and he was its chosen heir. A prince with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
Ray's gaze caught on a strange, dark symbol etched onto the rookie's tight T-shirt, just below the collarbone. It looked hand-drawn—twisting, almost tribal, but not quite. Familiar in the way dreams feel familiar. He squinted, trying to place it, but the lines seemed to shift every time he focused.
Ray sighed, feeling the weight of the situation.
"I can't fight on the clock," he said, shaking his head.
But then, he felt a firm, familiar hand land on his shoulder.
"Break a leg," Luke's smooth, confident voice came from behind him.
Luke stood behind Ray, dressed in worn army pants and a snug gray T-shirt that barely contained his broad frame. His dark green hair, rough and unkempt, only added to his rugged demeanor.
Ray froze for a moment, eyes widening.Luke was supposed to be out of state on business. He didn't expect to see him here.
"Well, I guess it's not my call, is it?" Ray muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes at the rookie. He wasn't thrilled about fighting, but Luke had a way of making things... interesting.
The rookie smirked, brimming with cocky confidence."I just wanna see what you've got. You're that Ray, right? The up-and-comer?"
Ray studied his opponent, weighing his options. But he knew how these things went. It was a test. And if he backed down, it'd be bad for his reputation.
"Fine," Ray said, rolling his shoulders back. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
The match began, and at first, it seemed like Ray and the rookie—Vince—were evenly matched. Vince was quick on his feet, his punches sharp. But Ray was more controlled, his movements precise.
"This is gonna be a good fight," Ray thought as he dodged a wild punch and landed a couple of solid jabs.
But then, out of nowhere, something changed.
Vince's bracelet started beeping—a small, irritating sound that filled the air. Then, as if it had triggered something deep inside him, Vince surged forward with an almost inhuman intensity.
Ray's eyes widened.
"What the hell?" he thought, his heart pounding.
Vince's attacks became relentless, each punch faster than the last. Ray was knocked off balance, his body slamming against the ropes. Each hit felt like it came from a freight train.
Luke stood there, arms crossed, watching silently.
Coworkers began to move toward the ring, but Luke held up a hand, stopping them.
"This is his fight," Luke said, his voice calm but steely.
Vince's Keeper smirked at Luke's reaction. The man who had arrived with Vince was known only as R. He wore a jet-black suit that looked tailored in hell itself — the kind that whispered wealth and power most couldn't dream of affording. His demeanor was ice-cold, unnervingly calm, like someone who'd seen too much and cared too little. His face was a mask — unreadable, untouched by emotion — save for the ever-present grin that stretched just a little too wide. His long blond hair flowed like silk, but his eyes... they never opened. And somehow, that made him even harder to look away from.
Ray barely kept his feet under him as the onslaught continued. Blood dripped from his lip as his body absorbed blow after blow.
Flat on the mat, struggling to rise, Ray wiped the blood from his mouth with a grin.
"All I wanted was a peaceful day," he thought, staring at the ceiling. "Just one day where I don't get beaten half to death."
He exhaled, his grin widening."Looks like today's not that day."
Between rounds, Luke pulled Ray to the corner and dumped a bottle of water over his head.The cold shock made Ray jolt, blinking the sweat and blood from his eyes.
"You're thinking too much,"Luke said evenly."Stay loose. Let him come to you, then—"
"Shut up, old man,"Ray cut him off, slicking his hair back with his bruised hands.He smirked, rolling his shoulders as he stepped forward.
Luke sighed, arms crossing again."Cocky little punk."
The bell rang for round two.
Vince charged forward, fists swinging like hammers.But Ray wasn't intimidated. He had seen these moves before. Vince's style was reckless, leaving him wide open.
Ray dodged, sidestepping with a fluid motion, and swept Vince's legs out from under him.Before Vince could recover, Ray landed a brutal right hook.
The punch snapped Vince's head to the side.But he shook it off, gritting his teeth, pressing forward with renewed aggression.
Ray stayed calm. He was waiting. Patience was key.
Finally, the opening came.
Vince swung wide with a left hook, leaving his body exposed.Ray didn't go for the face. Instead, he drove his fist into Vince's side—a crushing liver shot.
Vince staggered back, pain flashing across his face.But he wasn't down yet.
Ray narrowed his eyes. He needed to finish this.
With a sudden burst of energy, he leaped, spinning mid-motion. His foot collided with Vince's head in a devastating kick.
The impact was brutal.
Vince crumpled to the mat, unconscious.
Ray landed hard, staggering before collapsing.His body was drained, his muscles screaming. But it was over.
Then, he heard it.
The beeping.
Vince's bracelet flickered red.
Vince smirked, his voice dripping with venom.
Slowly, Vince stirred. His eyes snapped open, burning with the same cold fury as before.There was no sign of defeat in them, no remorse, no hesitation. Just pure, unfiltered rage.Vince pushed himself up from the mat, his body still trembling from the impact, but his spirit unyielding.
Ray barely had the strength to sit up, his body betraying him.But he didn't have a choice—Vince was rising again, more dangerous than ever.Vince's lips curled into a sinister smile, and his voice was low, dripping with venom.
"You think you've won, don't you?"Vince spat, his voice cold and cruel."You think one hit is enough to stop me? I will destroy you, just like I've destroyed everyone else who thought they could beat me. No one will stand in my way. Not you. Not anyone."
Vince's gift allows his power and speed to grow exponentially depending on how angry he is,a fitting gift for someone like him.
Vince doesn't fight for any but his selfish desires.People are tools to be used, and pain and suffering are his game.
With a sudden burst of energy, Vince lunged forward, his hands crackling with a malevolent force.Ray braced himself, but before Vince could land another blow, there was a sudden movement at his side.Luke stepped in, calm and controlled as ever, grabbing Vince's arm before he could make another move.
"You've had enough,"Luke said, his voice cold but steady.
Without hesitation, Luke delivered a punch to Vince's stomach, a sharp, quick blow that landed with a sickening thud.Vince's eyes widened as the air was knocked out of him, and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious, before he hit the mat.
Vince's anger and pain were palpable.His uncontrolled power, amplified by the government's experimental program—and that very bracelet—made him unpredictable and dangerous.The beeping wasn't just a warning; it was a surge, a test of pushing his limits.
To him, Ray is nothing more than another obstacle to overcome.There is no remorse, no reflection—just a burning, endless rage. A man who will stop at nothing to reshape the world to suit his needs, leaving chaos in his wake.
Luke stood over Vince's motionless body, his gaze sweeping the now-silent gym.The air was thick with tension, the weight of the moment pressing down on everyone.
The stillness shattered as Vince's Keeper, R, stepped into the ring, a smirk curling at their lips."Calling it early, huh?"they mocked, their voice dripping with condescension.
Luke's expression hardened."Keep your commentary to yourself."
R shrugged nonchalantly."I was just enjoying the show."
Luke had heard enough.His expression hardened, his icy glare locking onto R.R's eyes opened for the first time, revealing an intense glare.For a moment, neither moved, the unspoken challenge hanging between them.Then, with a scoff, R broke eye contact and crouched down, grabbing Vince by the arm.With a grunt, they hauled him up, slinging one of his arms over their shoulder.
"Come on,"R muttered, dragging Vince toward the ropes.They spared Luke one last glance before stepping out of the ring and disappearing into the crowd that had formed.
With them gone, Luke finally turned to Ray, who was still sprawled on the mat, his breaths slow and heavy.He knelt beside him."You okay?"
Ray wiped the blood from his mouth and flashed a tired grin."Yeah... I'm fine,"he muttered, voice tinged with exhaustion.He chuckled despite the pain."But I don't think I'll be getting up anytime soon."
Luke let out a quiet, knowing laugh."You never make things easy, do you?"
Ray smirked, his eyes fluttering closed."That's the way I like it."