Halley stormed into her office, slamming the door behind her. Frustration boiled in her veins as the words of the general echoed in her mind. "A waste of resources?" The audacity. The ignorance.
Her rage was so consuming that she almost didn't notice Echo sitting casually on her desk, munching on her treats.
"Jeez, Halley, you've got 'pure rage' written all over your face. What did they do this time?" Echo asked, licking chocolate off his fingers.
But Halley didn't answer. Her breath was heavy, her vision hazy. Something inside her felt...off.
Then Echo let out a sharp scream.
Before either of them could process what was happening, he was suddenly pinned against the wall, his body completely immobilized. His eyes widened in shock as his limbs refused to move.
Halley's own breath hitched. She hadn't touched him. She hadn't said anything. But somehow—she had done this.
Her heart pounded as she realized the truth. She had just used her powers. On Echo.
"No, no, no... I didn't mean to!" she gasped, tears welling in her eyes.
Echo's body trembled, his breathing ragged. The force holding him against the wall wavered for a moment—then snapped. He collapsed onto the floor, groaning in pain.
Halley dropped to her knees beside him, guilt twisting inside her. "Echo, I—I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"
Before she could finish, he moved.
In one swift motion, Echo pulled a small, green tranquilizing bullet from his pocket. His hand trembled, but his expression was unreadable.
"Sorry, Halley," he muttered. "But I can't take chances."
Before she could react, he pulled the trigger.
The dart pierced her shoulder.
A sharp sting spread through her body, and the world began to spin. Her vision blurred as her body went numb. Her own friend had shot her.
Halley collapsed.
A second later, Echo groaned, his own body slumping over as the pain from the impact finally caught up with him.
Both of them lay motionless on the cold office floor—one unconscious from the tranquilizer, the other from the brutal hit against the wall.
MEANWHILE AT THE SANCTUM
Kai and Rin shared a laugh, their voices echoing through the wide hallways of the Sanctum. Father Ben had said they were like superheroes in this world—a ridiculous thought. Hazards had always been seen as monsters, threats to society, the shadows lurking in humanity's bright future. Yet, here they were, entertaining the idea that they could be something more.
Father Ben, however, remained composed, his gaze steady and filled with a wisdom neither of them could quite understand.
"I believe," he said, his voice calm yet resolute, "that if we do this—if we show them what we truly are—perhaps one day, they will accept us."
The words settled between them, heavy with meaning. For a moment, neither Kai nor Rin had a joke to offer. Could that really be possible?
A sudden beeping sound cut through the air.
Anya glanced down at her wristwatch, her brows furrowing. "Hazard energy detected," she muttered. Her eyes flicked up. "Near that sushi restaurant."
Without hesitation, she tapped a button on her watch. In an instant, her casual clothes shimmered away, morphing into a sleek, form-fitting combat suit. It hugged her frame perfectly, designed for both agility and protection.
Father Ben watched her with quiet approval, then turned his attention back to Kai and Rin. "You two should go with her."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Uh, and what exactly are we supposed to do?"
Father Ben smiled knowingly. "Show him the Sanctum. Show him that he is not alone. Show him that we can help."
The words carried weight, but neither Kai nor Rin fully understood their meaning. Not yet.
Still, they exchanged a glance before Anya tossed them two wristbands.
Kai caught his with ease, while Rin fumbled hers before finally securing it on her wrist. "What's this supposed to—"
Before she could finish, Anya tapped her own wristband. A pulse of light rippled outward, activating theirs as well.
Their clothes shifted.
Kai's baggy hoodie and jeans were replaced by a sleek, dark battle suit—lightweight yet durable. Rin's attire morphed into something equally streamlined, fitted for movement but still comfortable.
They both stared at themselves in awe.
Anya smirked. "Let's get going."
Then, as if remembering something important, she added with a playful glint in her eye: "Maybe we can grab some sushi after." Then a portal opened up leading outside the sanctum
Sushio Masa
Takuya sat at the dimly lit corner booth, his fingers tapping absently against the table. His sharp black suit contrasted with the warm, golden glow of the restaurant's lanterns. The smell of fresh sushi lingered in the air, but his appetite had long since faded.
He checked his phone. Three hours late.
He swallowed hard and typed another message. "Halley, are you okay? You're really late." Sent. No reply.
He sighed, rubbing his temples. The bustle of the restaurant around him faded into background noise as his thoughts spiraled.
Maybe she doesn't love me.
A lump formed in his throat, and before he realized it, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, hoping no one had noticed.
Maybe I should give up.
He clenched his fists on the table, recalling Echo's words: "You're obsessed with her, man. It's not healthy."
Takuya gritted his teeth. No. No, I'm not obsessed.
He stood up, shoving his phone into his pocket, the chair scraping against the floor.
Maybe she does love me. Maybe the meeting was just running long.
Or maybe... he exhaled sharply, shaking his head. He didn't want to think about it anymore.
With heavy steps, he walked out of Sushio Masa, his heart caught between hope and heartbreak.
A few buildings from the restaurant in a random apartment
Mark had been struggling with the gas leak for the past few minutes, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the cylinder valve. His heart pounded—if the fumes spread any further, his entire home could turn into a death trap.
Then, without thinking, he raised his hand.
The gas stopped moving.
His eyes widened. He hadn't touched anything, but the swirling fumes froze in place, like an invisible force had gripped them. His breathing grew erratic.
What... what is this?
Slowly, cautiously, he moved his fingers—and the gas followed his command. It slithered back toward the leaking cylinder, compacting itself into a tight sphere, as if obeying his will.
Mark staggered backward.
No. No, no, no.
Hazards. He had heard of them. Watched them be hunted down. He wasn't one of them—he couldn't be. If his wife found out... if the AHA found out...
His body trembled, but before he could process what was happening, a knock came at the door.
A muffled voice followed. "Sir, are you okay in there?"
Mark didn't move. His breath hitched. Did someone see? Did they already know?
Another knock.
"Maybe he's unconscious," a different voice said.
Mark stepped forward, his trembling hand reaching for the door—
BOOM.
The house erupted.
The flames devoured everything in an instant, the force of the blast ripping through walls, shattering windows. But Mark... he lived.
The explosion had stopped around him, frozen in midair before collapsing away from his body.
He gasped, staring at his hands. He had controlled it. He had stopped the explosion.
Then his eyes flickered to the side.
His wife. His children.
Their bodies lay motionless under the debris, untouched by whatever power had protected him.
A piercing silence followed.
Then he saw them.
Three figures, standing at his ruined entrance. Armored suits. High-tech visors. One of them... holding fire in his hands.
The grief inside Mark twisted into something darker.
His sorrow turned to rage.
"You..." His voice cracked, raw and broken. His fists clenched as the gas thickened around them. "You did this!"
The air trembled as the gas in the room answered his rage.
Mark hovered midair, tears streaming down his face, his grief twisting into raw, uncontrolled power. The wind howled around him, gathering into a violent cyclone, his sorrow fueling its fury.
Then—Kai gasped, clutching his throat.
His lungs burned. His vision blurred.
The air—it was gone.
He dropped to his knees, clawing at his neck, struggling to breathe, but nothing filled his lungs.
"Kai—?!" Anya turned, then her own breath vanished. Her chest tightened. No air. No oxygen. Nothing.
Mark's eyes flickered toward her, his power tightening its grip.
Rin stood frozen, watching her teammates choke on nothing, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Then—a sickening sound.
SHLK.
Blood splattered across the pavement.
Kai and Anya gasped for air, collapsing as oxygen flooded back into their lungs. But neither of them were bleeding.
It was Mark.
He stumbled back, his mouth opening in a silent gasp, before violently coughing up blood. A sleek, black sword protruded from his chest, the energy pulsating through the blade like a live current.
Behind him, Takuya stood coldly, his hand firm on the hilt.
"Tch. What a mess."
Mark collapsed, his body convulsing as blood pooled beneath him.
Takuya barely paid attention—his focus shifted immediately to the three survivors. His sharp eyes scanned their suits, the tech woven into their fabric, the way the fire had barely touched them.
Then—his gaze locked onto Rin.
Recognition hit like a freight train.
The girl who escaped.
His grip tightened. The sword ripped itself from Mark's body, flying back to his hand as if it were Mjolnir itself. He flipped open his phone, dialing a number.
"Target located. Sending coordinates."
With that, he hung up without a second thought.
Anya's fingers curled into a fist. "Just what we needed... an Anti-Hazard soldier." Her voice dripped with venom.
Kai steadied himself, rage smoldering in his eyes. "We can take him."
Anya didn't take her gaze off Takuya. "Notice how he didn't call for backup?"
She was right. Takuya didn't look worried. If anything, he looked bored.
Anya extended her hand, channeling her wrist band to open a portal—
FWIP!
A flash of silver.
A scream.
Blood splattered.
Anya staggered back, her eyes wide in shock.
Her arm—gone.
A clean, precise cut. Blood poured from the fresh wound, soaking her suit as she let out a gut-wrenching cry.
Takuya twirled his blood-stained blade in his fingers. "You're not going anywhere."
Kai reacted instantly.
With a flick of his wrist, flames erupted between them, forming a towering barrier of fire. The heat pulsed through the air, warping the space around them. But Anya—she kept screaming.
Her severed arm bled uncontrollably, staining the ground a deep crimson.
Rin stood frozen, her eyes wide in shock, her breath caught in her throat.
"Use your wristband! Contact Father Ben!" Anya screamed through the pain.
Rin's hands trembled as she fumbled with the wristband, uncertain what to press. Then—a glowing "HELP" button appeared.
She slammed it.
A second later, the air rippled. A portal tore open, revealing Father Ben on the other side.
Takuya narrowed his eyes. His flameshielded silhouette stood firm against the heat, unreadable.
Then—he tapped his chest.
His armor shifted.
Like a machine awakening, sleek metallic plating spread across his body, forming a futuristic, deadly exosuit. A visor snapped down over his face, red lights flashing across it.
He walked forward.
Through the fire.
The flames curled around his armor but did nothing.
By the time he emerged, the portal was closing.
Too late.
He stopped in front of the shimmering gateway, staring at them as the image flickered.
Then—his visor retracted.
His piercing gaze locked onto Rin's.
She felt her stomach drop.
His expression was calm. Too calm. And when he spoke, his voice was steady. Cold. Promising.
"This might not be the right time or place..."
"...But I promise you..."
"...I will kill you."
His eyes darkened, his face unreadable—except for the unshakable certainty in his words.
"Even if it takes me a million years..."
"...Or a million lifetimes..."
"...I will find you..."
"...I will kill you..."
"...Again. And again. And again."
The portal snapped shut.
Rin staggered back, her breath shallow. Her entire body shook.
But there was no time to process it.
Anya lay on the bed, blood pooling beneath her, her face pale.
Father Ben's hands glowed, desperately working to stop the bleeding.
Rin stood there, heart racing, her mind spiraling.
What the hell just happened?
Back at the Anti-Hazard HQ
Echo's eyes fluttered open. His head throbbed. His body felt heavy.
He realized he was on a bed.
So was Halley.
His gaze drifted across the room—and landed on Takuya.
Takuya was staring at him.
With rage.
Before Echo could react, a hand wrapped around his throat.
Takuya grabbed him by the collar, lifting him slightly off the bed. His grip was tight—but not tight enough to kill.
"What did I tell you about carrying that damn gun around?!" Takuya snarled, his voice low and furious.
Echo gasped, trying to pry his hands off. "Chill, bro—it's not what you think—just come closer."
Takuya hesitated but leaned in.
"Halley is a Hazard."
Echo whispered it.
But the words hit Takuya like a sledgehammer.
Takuya froze.
His grip loosened slightly. His expression shifted.
"She had an outburst... she lost control." Echo added, rubbing his throat.
Takuya took a step back, his breath unsteady. "She told me today..." he muttered. "I honestly don't know what to do."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—Echo burst out laughing.
"PFFT—HAHAHAHA!"
Takuya's head snapped toward him, confused and annoyed.
"The hell are you laughing at?"
Echo wiped a tear from his eye. "Baka! You just noticed today?" He shook his head. "We've lived with her for years. I've known since we moved in."
Takuya's eye twitched.
"AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING?!" He threw his hands in the air. "You're seriously the weirdest guy I know."
Echo smirked. "Damn right."
Takuya let out a frustrated sigh and collapsed onto the chair beside Halley's bed. His sharp suit crinkled as he leaned forward.
Echo's eyebrows lifted.
"Wait a sec..." He grinned, eyes gleaming. "You wore a suit. You had a date or something?"
Takuya groaned, rubbing his face. "Me and Halley were supposed to go out. But then this happened."
His voice softened slightly. "I'm just glad no one else in the AHA knows..."
For a brief moment, both of them just sat in silence, staring at Halley.
Then—Echo suddenly jolted upright.
"WAIT A DAMN MINUTE—"
Takuya looked up, startled. "What now?"
Echo's eyes darted around the room in panic.
"WHERE'S MY BABY?!"
Takuya blinked. "Huh?"
"MY GUN!" Echo wailed dramatically, gripping his head. "WHERE IS SHE?! WHO TOOK HER?!"
Takuya sighed, already regretting all his life choices.
To be continued.................