The red–eyed soldiers didn't charge immediately.
They waited.
Silent. Perfectly still. Like predators enjoying the moment before the kill.
Aadi's heartbeat thundered in his ears — not from fear, but from something older and instinctive, like his blood recognized these enemies before his mind did.
Rune leaned in without taking his eyes off the enemy."Thirty… possibly more. These bastards aren't here to negotiate."
Riva swallowed hard."They're not standing in formation. They're surrounding us… cutting off every escape route."
That was when Aadi noticed something else.
They weren't looking at the group.
They were only looking at him.
The moment that realization hit, one of the soldiers spoke — voice distorted under a mask.
"execute the sun-bearer. Leave the others."
Aria stiffened.Riva whispered, horrified,"They're going to kill us only if we protect him."
Rune spat on the ground."Then they'll be dead in two minutes."
Aadi stepped forward — shocking everyone.
"No."
He raised his hand to stop his friends.
"They're here for me. I'm the one who has to deal with this. Not you."
Rune grabbed Aadi's collar."Don't fucking do that again! You're not throwing yourself away — not now, not ever."
His voice shook — not from anger, but fear of losing him.
Riva's eyes teared."You don't get to die just because it makes you feel less guilty about your past."
Aria was trembling — her voice barely audible."I spent years preparing for this moment. I won't watch you die. Not again."
Aadi wasn't used to this.
People standing for him.Choosing him.
He had always survived alone — and learned to rely on no one. But right now, he wasn't that abandoned child anymore.
He wasn't alone.
He lowered his hand, swallowing emotion and fire together.
"Then fine," he whispered."We do it together."
The Battle Begins
The first soldier rushed — movement too fast for a normal man.
Rune intercepted like a wall of steel, sword flashing, stopping the attack inches from Aadi's throat. A second attacker leaped in — Riva blasted him back with a burst of raw mana.
The room exploded into chaos.
Rune fought like a storm — brutal and unyielding.Riva moved like lightning — spells fired with precision.Aria danced around enemies — defending, distracting, attacking in calculated strikes.
Aadi didn't fight at first.
He watched.
His breath deepened.His pulse synchronized with something invisible — something ancient.
Rune shouted through the noise:"Aadi! Now would be a great fucking time to do something!"
A soldier slipped past them — blade aimed right for Aadi's chest.
And that was when it happened.
Not rage. Not panic.
Control.
Aadi lifted his hand — and the air itself froze. The soldier stopped mid–motion, suspended, unable to move, eyes wide with terror.
Rune stared.Riva gasped.Aria's lips parted in awe.
Aadi's voice was quiet — too quiet.
"You followed me across worlds… hunted me since birth… and you didn't expect me to fight back?"
He clenched his fist.
There was a flash — and the soldier collapsed unconscious, magic burned out of him.
The others hesitated.
For the first time…
they were afraid.
The Blow That Changed Everything
Fear turned to frenzy.
The troops attacked in a wave — desperate to finish the mission. All four fought back with everything they had… and for a moment, the battle seemed winnable.
Then Riva screamed.
A blade struck her side — not deep enough to kill instantly, but deep enough to collapse her to the floor.
Rune roared her name.Aria's eyes widened in horror.
Aadi didn't think.
He didn't breathe.
His power erupted.
Light exploded from his body — not burning, not wild — controlled. Every soldier was pushed back as if the force of the sun itself had flared.
The hunters hit the stone walls, unconscious before they even slid to the floor.
Silence returned.
Aadi dropped to his knees beside Riva, hands shaking."Riva— stay awake, stay with me—"
She grabbed his wrist, smiling weakly through the pain.
"You idiot… you finally used your power when it mattered…"
He almost broke.Not from fear — from the realization:
He nearly lost someone again.
Rune lifted Riva gently, eyes glassy with panic."We need a healer. Now."
Aria pressed pressure on the wound, voice sharp and commanding.
"There's a church on the hill — holy wards, healing clergy, protection spells. If anyone can save her, they can."
Aadi nodded, standing — fire burning behind his eyes.
"We leave now."
But before they moved, Aria touched his shoulder.
"Aadi… you have to understand. That was just the scout unit."
Rune froze.Aadi's fists clenched.Riva, despite the pain, whispered:
"The prophecy hunters… bigger forces are coming?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"This was only the beginning."
Aadi didn't waver.
He carried Riva himself, refusing to let her fall again — not now, not ever.
As they headed toward the church, he whispered to no one, to everyone, and to the world:
"You wanted a war when I was a child."
His voice hardened.
"You're getting one now that I'm grown."