Kael stood frozen, the blue flames of his sword flickering over the dead Rock-Bear. Five humans stared at him – their eyes wide with terror.
The man in shiny armor pointed his sword. "Monster" he shouted. "It killed the Rock-Bear alone!"
The woman in flowing robes held crackling red fire in her palms, her voice shaking. "That blue fire... What kind of beast is this?
Kael's heart pounded. *They think I'm a monster?
He let the Blue Flame Sword vanish. "I'm not a monster!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the cave. "I'm human!"
The armored man, Erik, laughed harshly. "A talking monster? That's even rarer! The King's mages will pay a fortune for you!"
He lunged, sword swinging!
Memory Flash
Kael stood before Sarah, the girl he liked. His hands trembled.
"I... I love you," he stammered.
Sarah sighed. "Sorry, Kael. I'm with Brad."
Suddenly, Brad burst in, face twisted with rage.*
"You asked out MY girl?" Brad slammed Kael into the sinks. "You're nothing!" Brad's fists rained down. Blood filled Kael's mouth. He didn't cry. He just... shut down.
Back to Now
Erik's sword was inches from Kael's chest.
*NO MORE.*
Kael's hand shot out – **not to dodge, but to GRAB the blade!**
SNAP!
The steel sword shattered like glass in Kael's grip! Erik stumbled back, staring at his broken weapon in disbelief.
"You think I'm the monster?" Kael's voice was low, trembling with rage. "You don't know what it's like to be crushed every day!"
The fire-mage hurled her red flame! Kael moved like a blur (FAST:7), dodging easily. Two hunters with spears charged. Kael sidestepped, tripping one, disarming the other with a flick of his wrist.
"ENOUGH!" Kael roared.
He focused all his pain – the bullying, the betrayal, his parents' hate, *being called a monster again* – and pushed out with his mind.
[New Power: MIND GRIP!] Anis announced.
An invisible force slammed all five hunters to the ground! They struggled, pinned like bugs.
Kael walked slowly toward Erik, who stared up, terrified. Kael's bright eyes burned with fury. "**You've got a big mouth, huh?**" he whispered, cold as stone.
He raised his hand. Erik flinched, expecting death...
But Kael just released the MIND GRIP. The hunters gasped, scrambling back.
The hunters didn't hesitate. They ran, stumbling over rocks, their terrified whispers echoing:
"-broke Erik's sword like twigs!"
"-blue fire... and that *force*..."
"-not human... can't be..."
Kael watched them vanish into the tunnel. The cave was silent again, except for the drip of water and the crackle of fading blue embers near the dead bear.
*They saw a monster,* he thought. *Just like everyone always did.*
Anis's voice was quiet in his mind:
**[You made an impression, Host.]**
Kael looked down at his hands – hands that could shatter steel, summon fire, and crush minds. Hands that had also held a bloody kitchen knife...
*This world is just as cruel as the last one,* he sighed, turning back toward the cave's deeper darkness. *Just... louder.*
(Chapter 6 Fin)