Beneath the golden light of dawn, a tall, muscular figure walked alone. His broad shoulders shifted with quiet strength, each step heavy with purpose. A black hoodie draped over his head, hiding a calm but unshakable face.
A deep voice broke the silence.
"Lucy, status."
From the sleek watch on his wrist, Lucy responded: "You've become far stronger, Varun. This body… it's far beyond human."
He tightened his glove. "Not strong enough. Not until I defeat Aevor. Compared to him… I'm still nothing."
Varun made his way to the market, blending in with the morning crowd. He worked as a part time miner. Using his strength, he completed tasks meant for ten men—yet never let anyone notice. He was fast, precise, quiet. Always finishing early. Always walking away before questions could be asked.
He bought what he needed for the week—tools, protein-rich food, scrap metal for upgrades—and began walking home.
But peace didn't last long.
With a scream of twisted metal, a truck came flying through the sky, tumbling toward a mother and her son crossing the street.
Without hesitation, Varun vanished from sight.
One second later, the truck shattered midair—turned to dust by a single kick. No one saw him. Not even a blur.
But Varun's enhanced vision caught what others couldn't.
Eight kilometers away, standing atop a building, was a massive figure. Arms folded. Eyes locked onto Varun.
"That's not random," Lucy said sharply. "He's been sent by Aevor."
Varun's jaw tightened. "Then I must stop him before he hurts someone."
But Lucy stopped him. "You can't reveal your identity. If you're going to fight… you'll need to hide your face."
Varun looked around. On a nearby store rack, a black cloth mask fluttered in the wind. He grabbed it and tied it around his face.
The enemy struck again.
Cars and trucks hurled like toys into the city.
But Varun was faster.
He caught each one before they could land, placing them gently down or vaporizing them midair.
Then, he moved—grabbing the enemy and speeding away, far beyond city limits, where only crumbled buildings stood in ruin.
The attacker was massive—nearly seven feet tall, body like a tank. Varun tried to hold him, but with one punch, the man broke free.
"Who are you?" Varun demanded.
The man replied in Aevor's language, and Varun understood every word.
"I am Kaurex. Aevor sent me. I've come to take you to him."
The name Aevor ignited something inside Varun. He leapt at Kaurex, ready to destroy him.
But a wall of water rose from nowhere, crashing between them.
Kaurex stepped forward. "I control water. And if you refuse, I'll drown you in it."
With a roar, Kaurex formed a gigantic hammer out of water and slammed it into Varun.
Varun tried to counter, but every time he struck, his fists passed through water. Kaurex was untouchable. Water constantly protected him, swirling like armor, shielding him from every blow.
Attacks kept coming. Crushing waves. Drills of pressurized water. All Varun could do was dodge.
"Lucy," he shouted, "I need a way to hit him!"
"Water resists force," Lucy replied. "Maybe fire could help—"
"There's no fire here!" Varun replied.
"Then cold. Lower the temperature. Freeze the water." Lucy said
Varun understood.
He began to run in circles, faster and faster. The air cooled with each lap. Winds screamed around them.
Kaurex's water began to freeze.
His movements slowed. Water turned to ice.
But Kaurex adapted—turning that ice into spikes.
Hundreds of razor-sharp shards shot toward Varun.
They struck his body with deadly precision—vital points, joints, nerves. He collapsed to his knees, bleeding heavily.
Lucy's voice cracked through static. "Varun, you must—"
CRACK!
A final spike pierced Lucy's watch, shattering her voice into silence.
Varun gasped, vision fading. "I'm not even strong enough to beat one of Aevor's men…"
Darkness closed in.
Then—
FWOOOSH.
A wave of flame burst across the battlefield, melting every spike, scorching the ground, and blasting Kaurex back.
Varun, barely conscious, looked toward the heat source. A silhouette stood in the firelight.
A boy—20 years old. Orange hair. Eyes glowing red. Fire dancing on his fists. A black cape billowing behind him.
Kaurex stared. "Who are you?"
The boy answered, voice low and lethal:
"The last name you'll remember."
"Ignis."
Kaurex's confidence cracked.
He attacked with full power, unleashing tidal waves.
But Ignis evaporated everything with a mere glance. And in a single fiery strike… turned Kaurex to ashes.
Morning.
Varun woke slowly. His wounds were healed. He lay in a dusty old house, sunlight filtering through the cracked window.
In front of it stood the boy from the night before.
The one who saved him.
Varun tried to sit up. "You… are you the one who… Kaurex… what happened… who are you? How—"
The boy raised a hand. "Enough. You answer first."
He turned.
His red eyes locked with Varun's.
"Where did you get your powers?"
Varun paused… then told him everything — from awakening his speed to facing Aevor, to building Lucy and surviving Cazren and Kaurex.
The boy listened in silence.
Then nodded.
Varun asked, "How my wounds healed this fast?"
Ignis replied, "I healed you. My flame have healing powers."
"How did you get your powers?" Varun asked.
The boy looked toward the sunrise.
"I'll tell you when the time is right. For now… just know this—"
"I'm your ally. And I'm here to help you take Aevor down."