The sound of wheels rolling over the hardwood floor followed, and Kyle turned to see his older brother entering the room in a wheelchair.
His brother, Ethan, had the sa striking white hair but much shorter with streaks of gray that made him appear older than he was. His eyes, deep and weary, looked up at Kyle with a mixture of frustration and sadness.
Kyle sighed and stepped down from the window with the mask still clutched in his hand. "You know why I do this, Ethan. They're using supernatural abilities to hurt innocent people. I can't just sit here. I stopped the Oni from bringing the fruit of sin to reality but they're not the only bad supernatural players. There are others."
Ethan's brows furrowed as he maneuvered his wheelchair closer. The faint creak of its wheels filled the tense silence. "And who's going to stop them when you're gone? You think you're invincible, but you're not. You've already taken enough risks. Let soone else handle it... Like the cops."
Kyle's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Soone else? The cops can't handle players from Ender's Light who have gained supernatural abilities. You've seen what they can do, Ethan. They don't stand a chance."
Ethan reached out, grabbing Kyle's wrist with surprising strength. "You're going to end up like , or worse. Do you want to end up in a hospital bed? Or in the ground?"
Kyle's eyes softened briefly upon hearing his brother's words. But then his gaze shifted to Ethan's legs, covered in a blanket, lifeless and unmoving. A flicker of pain crossed his face. "I can't let what happened to you happen to soone else."
Ethan's grip on Kyle's wrist tightened. "What happened to wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. The supernatural player who did this is already paying the price, rember? You put him in the hospital for life. Isn't that enough?"
Kyle shook his head with a look of sadness. "The damage was already done, Ethan. Your legs… they're never coming back." He looked down at the floor as his fists trembled. "No one deserves to suffer like you did. And I'll make sure no one does."
Ethan released his wrist, leaning back in his wheelchair with a heavy sigh. "You've got a hero complex, Kyle. You think you're going to save the world. But the world doesn't want saving, and it doesn't care what happens to you."
Kyle ignored the remark and placed the mask over his face. It fit snugly, and the HUD inside lit up, scanning his surroundings and displaying a map of the city. He adjusted the straps as he stepped back toward the window.
Ethan's voice stopped him again. "Don't forget, you still have soone here who cares about you. If you die out there, all you'll do is add to the suffering... my suffering..."
Kyle hesitated for a mont, gripping the window fra. Without turning around, he replied, "I know. That's why I won't die."
And with that, he leapt out of the open window. The wind whipped past him as he plumted toward the city below. Just thirty feet from reaching the ground, he landed on an invisible platform in mid-air.
The platform was like a bouncy spring that propelled him forward with imnse force, sending him soaring to the rooftop of a nearby skyscraper.
He landed and barely paused before leaping again as if he had done this a hundred tis before.
Ethan rolled to the window, watching his younger brother vanish into the night. His hands gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly as he muttered to himself, "You better co back safe…" His voice wavered with uncertainty, but his eyes betrayed a sliver of hope.
...
...
The following day August stood amidst the towering piles of wreckage in a secluded scrapyard. It had been a long and productive day and he logged out of the ga hours ago.
The scent of tallic rust filled the air as the faint noise of distant machinery echoed around him. He steadied his breathing, flexing his fingers as he prepared to test his abilities further.
His black helt glinted under the harsh sunlight, and the HUD inside displayed his surroundings with precision.
"Alright," he muttered to himself while crouching low. "Let's see how far I can push Dash today."
With a thought, he activated the skill.
[ System Notification: Dash has been activated. ]
The world slowed as the edges of his vision slightly blurred, and he took a step forward. The distance was crossed in a blink. He reappeared thirty feet ahead, next to a massive rusted truck as dust swirled around his boots due to the effect of his speed. A grin spread under his helt.
"Still got it." Although his dash was nerfed compared to in-ga where he could cross over forty feet in an instant, this was still pretty good.
He pivoted and repeated the process.
Each use of Dash drained him a little more. After five consecutive activations, he ca to a stop, bracing himself against a steel beam as sweat pooled on his brow.
His energy was completely sapped, and his breaths ca in short gasps.
"That's my limit," he muttered while straightening after a mont. "Five tis… not bad. But I'll need to improve."
Turning to a cluster of abandoned car fras, he raised his hand and activated Lightning Bolt.
[ System Notification: Lightning Bolt activated. ]
A crackling arc of blue electricity surged forward from his arm, striking the tal and sending sparks flying in every direction as a scrapped car got shoved forward from the hit.
The sll of ozone filled the air as the beam left a scorched mark on the fra. He tested it again, hitting another target. By the third use, he dropped to his knee as his vision began to swim.
"Damn… three bolts and I feel like I've been hit by one myself." He sat on the ground, catching his breath. His exhaustion didn't diminish the excitent thrumming in his chest. The abilities were real, and the power was exhilarating.
---
Later in the afternoon, after recovering from his exertions, August sat at his desk, juggling calls and reviewing designs Lena had sent over for AM Coven.
His phone buzzed constantly with updates, questions, and confirmations. He approved color sches, discussed display layouts, and even coordinated a team to start setting up a lounge area for players. By the ti he hung up the last call, the sky outside had begun to darken. Your journey continues with empire
"Ti to suit up," he voiced before standing and walking toward his closet.
He pulled on a finely tailored business outfit which was black with a long jacket that added an air of authority. The shoes were polished to perfection, and his gloves completed the look. He grabbed his helt and slid it over his head causing the HUD to co to life instantly.
"Showti," his voice modulated into a deeper pitch by the helt's settings.
Stepping outside, August activated Dash twice, each ti covering large distances in a flash before coming to a halt in a quiet alley. He deactivated the skill and hailed a ride. As the car pulled up, the driver gave a curious glance at the helt but didn't ask questions.
By the ti August arrived at Faith Specialist Hospital, the evening was settling in.
The hospital building was over twenty stories, all white and pristine. Its glass exterior reflected the dimming sunlight. Inside as August stood before it.
Within his helt, the HUD activated its recording mode, showing a clear digitalized feed of his surroundings. Without a word, he pushed through the sliding doors, entering the pristine white halls of the hospital.
His presence imdiately caused heads to turn. A tall figure clad in a tailored coat with his face completely obscured by an intimidating mask was bound to attract attention. The sterile air humd with quiet whispers.
A nurse at the front desk called out. "Excuse , sir! Can I help you?"
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