The calamity didn't move.
The calamity stood still, its eyes, focused, staring down on the creature before him. Then, with a sound the ice froze mid-flight-suspended by an invisible force-and shattered into a storm of glittering shards-falling down uselessly. Harmen clenched his fist . his breath came out sharp, misting in the air.
He snapped his fingers.
The shards exploded into vapor swelling into a dense fog that swallowed the battlefield. The calamities eyes vanished behind the growing mist, Harmen continued, like a shadow in motion, swift but silent, darting through the fog. At his command ice lances hurled toward the calamity but yet again the same result. Harmen pulse quickened; he could feel the the creature watching him even through the fog-that crushing presence weighing him.'' One more time '' he muttered vanishing into the fog, then appearing behind it.
Standing on the shadow of the calamity, pressing his palms together, the air stood silent. Then the ground rumbled, once more the sewer veins burst open gushing out, Harmen eyes turned blue as the water spiraled around him once more forming the shape of a serpent-no, a water dragon '' with this summon I send forth…''
From the alleyway half hidden behind the edge of a building Eric watched closely, admiring the heroism of one man, a simple man putting his all the save people, arm wounded but still fighting. Annabelle stayed beside him silent. 'wait… something doesn't feel right.'' He murmured looking closely at the calamity '' A calamity from what I've read on news are powerful beings, that just appeared five months ago.
Possessing powers far beyond understanding, for one calamity it takes five heroes to subdue, but Harmen is all on its own, every attack thrown at still no reaction no movement is just staring at him almost as if…..Oh No… no, no, no-.'' Eric turned his gaze to Harmen quickly in panic, Harmen throwing wave after wave, his attacks striking, clashing but doing absolutely nothing.
'' HARMAN!!''
Harmen paused mid-motion, glancing back. Eric screamed '' RUN!!FOR YOUR LIFE! YOUR ATTACKS ARENT DOING ANYTHING-IT'S -IT'S NOT EVEN-''
But it was too late.
The calamity's eyes ignited. The world around it warped, colors draining, twisting into crimson hues. Harmen's motion died as the air around him thickened. His arm hung mid-motion. His legs refused to move. Every nerve in his body screamed to move, to act, fight-but he couldn't. 'what is this what is happening to me?''. His eyes-franticly scanning the place.
Then he looked down.
His heart dropped, to his eyes it looked like a shadow-a black void cast by the calamity's form. But the longer he stared the more it shifted. The darkness rippled. Shapes emerged within.
Crimson Eyes.
Hundreds. No-thousands
Staring at him, blinking, watching him, emitting a crimson glow, this was no shadow he thought but rather the calamity, a part of him.
The ground cracked as the calamity lifted Harmen with an invisible force-lifting him effortlessly into the air. His body bent, unnaturally, like a puppet pulled by string, slowly but painfully. Eric and Annabelle stared they couldn't help but watch, the sound-bones cracking, joints twisting-echoed through the stillness.
Eric's eye opened wide '' Harmen…no….''
Harmen yelled in pain as his body twisted, but through the pain Harmen turned his head-blood oozing out his ear, underneath his eye, blood streaking down his face. And yet, somehow… he smiled. Displaying one final act he yelled '' ERIC!!!!,NOW IS THE CHANCE RUNN!!!, IT CAN ONLY KILL US ONE AT A-(spine crack) TAAAHHIMEE!!!!!!!!.''
Eric grabbed Annabelle's wrist and sprinted, thanking Harmen-a complete stranger for his act of bravery behind them a scream tore through the air- Harmen's voice, then silence. '' He…..saved us.'' His voice cracked, he looked at his hands-bloodied shaking.
Eric's fear and trembling rotted that moment turning to something deeper- sharper…anguish and hatred. ''As he ran he pondered '' the heroes…hero..hero..hero..hero, where the HELL where they, huh?. The so-called saviors with their flashy costumes and powers and DAMN SMILES ON THE NEWS?''
''Where were they when a civilian was out here fighting for us alone. It takes five of them to bring down one calamity! five! And Harman- he wasn't even a hero! those cowards just be there in their towers? Waiting for backup? File reports? Annabelle reached for his hand but he just jerked it away.
''He died saving us! Him, a random man Who would be better off with his family than six feet under, while our heroes are nowhere to be seen, the famous, the ones with power- Eric stared at the ground, chest heaving, tears cutting through grime on his face .'' He clenched his fists tightly '' Next time…next time I see one of them standing in front of a camera calling themselves heroes.''
As they ran, he stopped to catch his breath, he could still hear it. Still see that twisted image- Harmen's body caught midair defiant to the very end. Suddenly- a faint shape appeared ahead. A silhouette. Human walking toward them. Annabelle grabbed his arm, breathing hard '' do you…see that?''
They waited.
The figure came closer-footsteps, then, a man's voice broke out'' hey you two-are you alright?!'' he asked, Eric squinted. The man ran towards them, waving his arm high. As he neared Annabelle saw him, his details sharpened: a tall muscular man in his mid-thirties, long messy black hair swaying as he approached, sunglasses hiding his eyes, and a bright, almost carefree smile stretching across his face, he wore a white T-shirt beneath an unbuttoned shirt with flower patterns, blue shorts, and casual sneakers. Her gaze caught on the wristband he adorned around his arm- a metal band marked with the number seven.
She recognized that band, grabbing Eric's hand, she shook in relief, her voice still trembling a little, 'Eric, look its him-it's a hero! They came they really came….huh…Eric?'' Looking at Eric her excitement faded quickly frozen in her throat.
Eric stood there still; eyes locked on the so-called hero.
''where were they''
'' ERIC!! NOW IS YOUR CHANCE RUUNN!!''
''TAAAHHIMEE!!!!''
''SO CALLED HEROES, WHERE ARE THEY!!!!!''
Harmens voice grew louder inside, echoing intensely, his scream, clawing Eric's
mind. His hands trembled; jaw clenched. And as the so-called hero walked with that bright smile…. . lowering his glasses slightly the man asked.
HERO:Are you guys ok you look hurt
(Eric's thought): yeah…no shit genius
HERO:Is ok, don't worry. I've brought back up.''
Annabelle: thank you so much sir.
HERO: no problem, you're safe I'm here now, that's what heroes do
Eric's anger rose like a storm, '' you're here '' he thought '' where were you hours ago… Y... you uselESS GOOD FOR NOTHING FAKES!!!.'' With a swift motion of his hand a glowing interface appeared pulsing with yellow light. Eric's eyes widened. ''A system User…'' he thought. The hero sends a live broadcast to his team '' Yo it's me'' he said into the interface. '' Found two civilians here alive but wounded. I think the calamity's source is up ahead sending you coordinates now.''
The screen flickered. And then whoosh! A ship descended from above. In seconds, a squadron of 20 heroes materialized around them, their uniforms gleaming under the crimson sky. They moved, their smiles and heroic motion cutting through dust and ruin. To anyone else, it might've been a scene of hope. But for Eric… it was the complete opposite.
Each step they took toward them twisted his enraged mind, perfect smiles, heroic poses, some activating their powers before the battle ahead, yet. Their arrival was too late. His vision blurred with each step they made; the Hero reached out. ''hey, kid hang in there- ''. But his body gave in he collapsed and just before the darkness took him, he whispered faintly under his breath:'' You guys came late…way too late.''