— Well, now that you've at least been warned, take care of yourself.
He turned his back, heading off, but still waved his hand.
— We'll see each other soon… Louie Kaede.
And so, the night continued through the nearly deserted streets of Porto Alegre.
Louie's footsteps echoed softly on the wet pavement as he tried to process everything that had just happened.
The streetlights flickered, as if hesitating to illuminate the paths ahead.
Nothing seemed to make sense… but one thing was certain:
Whatever was happening, Louie had some connection to it all.
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— "Who was that guy just now…? What does he really want from me? Can I even trust what he said?"
Louie's mind wouldn't stop.
It was like a storm of questions, leaving him no peace.
But more than anything else…
There was a strange feeling he couldn't shake.
The night felt darker, heavier…
And yet, it seemed like someone was there.
That strange sensation of being… watched.
Louie looked around, eyes scanning every corner of the deserted street.
The cold wind hit his face, making his black hair stand on end, the white streaks swaying in the breeze.
And deep inside his chest…
The unease and doubt only grew.
— "Aaah… I'm losing it, this is insane."
Damn… it's way too late. Better get home soon. — Louie muttered, glancing briefly at the dark sky.
His voice echoed down the empty street.
But then—a different sound filled the air.
A car. Far away at first, then quickly approaching.
Louie turned to look.
The headlights hit his face, blinding him for a moment.
— Crazy! Even with little traffic, moving at this speed… — he muttered, shielding his eyes with his arm.
But something was wrong…
The car wasn't just passing by—it was coming straight at him.
Too fast. Too precise…
His stomach turned instantly.
Without thinking, he stepped back—and then ran.
His body moved on instinct, almost on autopilot.
As if deep down he knew… standing there was not an option.
But it wasn't fast enough.
The car screeched to a halt right in front of him—the tires cutting through the silence of the street.
The doors opened almost simultaneously, and four men stepped out.
All wearing dark cloaks.
The way they looked at Louie was strange. Cold. As if they already knew exactly what to do with him.
He felt it immediately—something was wrong.
And these men were not here for a friendly chat.
— There! Grab him! — shouted one of the men, pointing straight at Louie. — Quick! Don't let him get away!
Louie's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He didn't hesitate—he spun on his heel and sprinted down the street.
Fear had taken over his entire body.
His face showed it all—terror, confusion, pure desperation.
But in the middle of all this chaos, something else stirred within Louie.
Something strange…
Energy bubbling, growing… as if wanting to escape. But he had no idea how to control it.
The footsteps behind him came fast.
Hard. Precise.
As if these men had spent their entire lives training to chase someone down.
Louie felt it—if he didn't do something, he would be caught.
And it wasn't a matter of "sooner or later"…
It was now. Much sooner than he wanted.
Desperation gripped his chest. He didn't think—he just reacted.
He thrust his hands forward, as if pushing against the air.
Heat surged through his arms, and suddenly—
ZZRRRRAAAAAAAACK!!
A blue lightning bolt shot from his fingers, lighting up the street like a camera flash.
The explosion of energy struck the nearest man directly, sending him flying backward, crashing hard against the ground.
Louie froze for a second, panting, eyes wide—unable to believe what he had just done.
But the surprise didn't last long.
The man got up.
Quickly.
No grunt of pain, no stumble.
He brushed the dust off his clothes as if nothing had happened.
And he stared at Louie… with a crooked smile at the corner of his mouth.
— Tch… — the man cracked his neck, taking a step forward. — Why not just surrender already?
★ Lightning (Figurative Element)
› Louie's "Lightning" ability allows him to release electrical energy from his body. It is a form of manipulating figurative elements, representing non-physical energies like electricity, magnetism, and radiation. At its basic level, the power unleashes high-voltage electricity, but since Louie is still learning, the control over its intensity and direction is imprecise, making it unpredictable and potentially dangerous to both the user and the surroundings. ‹
Louie was still trying to recover from the shock when the second man charged.
He was large—broad-shouldered, dark intense gaze under his hood, skin so pale it almost glowed in the dim streetlight. And he came straight at Louie, without hesitation, with the precision of someone who knew exactly what he was doing.
But Louie didn't expect…
What happened next.
The man's skin began to glow with a strong, vibrant emerald hue.
His muscles bulged unnaturally, as if something inside him had been unleashed all at once.
A dense, aggressive energy seemed to radiate from his body.
Louie stepped back, swallowing hard.
— What the hell is this…
The man delivered a single punch straight to Louie's chest.
The force sent him flying backward, slamming into a wall.
Louie spat blood instantly.
His body screamed in pain, but he knew he couldn't stay still—he had to keep moving.
★ Physical Fortitude (Physical)
› "Physical Fortitude" grants extreme strength enhancement. The user can amplify their muscles to superhuman levels, enabling feats like destroying structures, lifting heavy objects, and crushing enemies with ease. However, the ability requires control, as excessive use can harm the user's own body. ‹
Louie struggled to stay on his feet, vision blurred, pain pulsating throughout his body.
But he knew—he couldn't freeze there. Not now.
The man charged again. A giant, with unbelievable strength, ready to take him out.
Louie took a deep breath.
He didn't know how to control the power inside him.
He didn't even know what it truly was.
But something deep within, beyond his reach, pushed him forward.
An impulse. A pure, instinctive reaction.
It wasn't courage.
It was survival.
And deep down… it was also the fear of losing the chance to understand who he was becoming.
Louie closed his eyes for a moment.
He tried to ignore the pain, the fear, the heavy steps coming toward him.
He focused.
Feeling something coursing inside—hot, vibrating, almost like a mix of electricity and fire.
It was as if everything inside him… was agitated.
The molecules, the body, the mind—everything in motion, everything bubbling.
On instinct, more than logic, he let the energy out.
And when the man charged—
VUUUUUM!
A strong wave spread around Louie.
As if the very air twisted into an invisible field.
A barrier formed, glowing faintly blue, sending the giant flying backward into a large building, completely destroying its wall.
Louie opened his eyes, gasping.
Sparks danced around him, as if alive.
His left eye glowed—like staring directly into a raging storm ready to collapse.
The right… red, intense, like burning embers.
For a moment, it flashed blue, cutting through like lightning through hell.
There he stood.
Breathing heavily, chest rising and falling.
The protective shield began to fade…
But for the first time in a long while, Louie didn't feel completely lost.
Something was there.
Inside him.
And now, he finally accepted it.
★ Ions (Atomic Element)
› "Ions" allows Louie to manipulate the atomic structure around him. He can alter chemical composition and interactions between atoms and molecules, creating magnetic repulsion or even changing matter. Although extremely potent, it is highly complex to control, often causing unpredictable reactions. Louie's demonstration was a desperate survival response, and even though it was weak, it was driven by his desire to protect the life he was building. ‹
The impact of the brute was so strong that even the other hooded men paused for a moment.
They stared at Louie, unsure whether to continue or flee.
But the moment of surprise didn't last.
Their leader—a man with short hair, almost glowing green eyes, wearing a flashy suit that looked stage-ready—stepped forward.
He gestured with his hand, exaggerated, like a conductor mid-opera.
— Be elegant and move… now.
That was enough for the others to move again, preparing for the next attack.
But before any of them could take the first step…
Someone appeared.
Out of nowhere. Silent, unannounced—
with a presence so heavy everyone froze.
The air grew dense, almost suffocating, as if something invisible had pressed down on everyone's chest.
A middle-aged man walked calmly through the wreckage.
Whistling softly, slow and strange—
fiu… fiu-fiufiu… fiu…
A sound echoing in the back of the mind, like a warning.
His gray hair gleamed under the pale moonlight.
Eyes sharp, attentive.
Expression serious, but no fear. Only calm. The calm of someone who has faced far worse than this night could offer.
And to the continuous whistling.
He watched silently.
Then, extended his hand toward Louie.
VUUUM.
Energy took shape.
Purple. Intense. Almost alive.
A psychic field surrounded Louie—a pulsating barrier, like an invisible wall.
The hooded men recoiled at its mere activation.
★ Mental Defense (Psychic)
› "Mental Defense" allows the user to create a psychic barrier that protects against both physical and mental attacks. It can block strikes and even prevent information from being read or manipulated. Its intensity depends on focus and concentration, limited by the user's mental energy. ‹
Louie looked around, stunned.
Not understanding where it came from, he turned to the man beside him and quickly said:
— You… you're the same guy from before! That stranger from a few minutes ago!
The gray-haired man gave a calm, almost indifferent glance.
Veins on his forehead bulged slightly, as if holding something back.
— Stranger…? — …Tch. Never mind — he muttered, exhaling tiredly.
Then, he stared at Louie firmly.
— You need to come with me. Now. — There's no time.
Louie was still full of doubt, body tense, mind racing—but at that moment, one thing was clear:
He had no choice.
Without overthinking, he nodded.
And then ran after the man, slipping into a narrow alleyway with him.
They moved through deserted streets, shadows dominating the ground.
The sound of footsteps behind them—and engines in the distance, growing louder—made it clear:
If they delayed even a little… there would be no turning back.
The white-haired man stopped in front of a metal door, partially hidden under an old building, almost forgotten in the city.
With a firm hand, he turned the rusty handle—the door creaked open, revealing a dark tunnel ahead.
— Get in. Quickly. — he said, keeping his eyes on the path they came from. — For now, it's the only safe way.
Louie swallowed hard. Heart pounding, breath caught in his chest.
But he stepped inside.
The tunnel was narrow, suffocating. Seemingly endless.
Each step echoed, and everything smelled of damp and rust.
They had been walking for minutes… or hours—Louie had lost track.
Time itself seemed swallowed by tension, exhaustion, and the endless tunnel stretching ahead.
But he knew—outside, behind them, were the men who had tried to catch him.
Standing still… was not an option.
And then, just as the tension was building again—he saw it.
His eyes widened.
At the end of the tunnel, darkness gave way to a faint blue light… and then, as if the ground had vanished beneath his feet, he found himself facing something he could never have imagined:
A city.
Enormous.
Down here, underground.
Hidden from the world, from people… from everything.
Lights, massive structures, skywalks crossing above, floating vehicles, glowing panels—it was like another planet.
Louie stepped forward, mouth agape.
Even without understanding anything, one thing he felt deep down:
Here… something big was about to begin.
Maybe dangerous. Maybe incredible.
But impossible to avoid.