Chapter two
Kai and Vinato stepped out of the black car, the afternoon wind tugging at their coats as Viko hurried to take their bags.
Vinato straightened his sleeve, giving Nikashi a nod.
Nikashi: "Have a good trip, sir."
His tone was sharp, disciplined — the kind that carried years of military habit.
Vinato: "Thanks. Take care, okay? If anything gets out of hand, give us a call."
Nikashi's watch buzzed softly. A call. He froze, thumb hovering over the button.
I can't take calls right now. It's disrespectful. Thank goodness he didn't notice, he thought.
Vinato (smirking): "Relax, Nikashi. It's just a two-month trip."
Nikashi: "Yes, sir."
As the car pulled away, Nikashi stood at attention — the cold wind brushing against his face.
He exhaled slowly. The silence felt heavier than usual.
Scene Shift — Hospital WardThe soft hum of medical machines filled the room.
Ema lay on the bed, pale but awake, typing on her laptop. Shan sat beside her, peeling an orange in silence.
Shan: "What are you doing?"
Ema: "Writing a description…"
Shan reached over and gently took the laptop.
Ema: "Hey— what the— give that back!"
She tried to reach for it, but pain flared through her arm.
Shan: "Don't you see your condition? You need to rest."
Ema (weak smile): "It's okay, I can manage."
Shan: "Manage? You almost died last night, Ema. You called me screaming — you could barely breathe."
Ema's expression fell. Her voice softened.
Ema: "Thanks, Shan… for bringing me here. I thought I was gonna—"
A flashback flickered in her mind — the dark construction site, flames, the Mexican family, screams.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Ema (whispering): "It just feels wrong, you know? The Mexican fam—"
Shan gently placed an orange slice in her mouth, cutting her words short.
Shan: "We can't focus on the past now. Rest up."
He turned toward the small mirror near the sink — and froze.
His reflection stared back at him… but it wasn't the man he was now.
It was his younger self — blood smeared across his face, a knife in his trembling hand that looked exactly like his katana.
Shan (thought): We can't turn back time. We can only move forward.
He closed the door quietly behind him.
In the hallway, Nikashi appeared, holding a small bag. His face was tense.
Nikashi: "Where is she?"
Shan: (pointing with his eyes toward the room) "Inside."
Nikashi moved to open the door — but Shan's hand shot out like lightning, slicing across his wrist with his blade's hilt.
Blood dripped onto the tile.
Nikashi (shouting): "What the hell— Shan!"
Shan "who take me as,some kind of a fool ".
Who are u ? Said Shan
Shan's blade glimmered faintly under the fluorescent light as he locked eyes with the man before him.
The air thickened — even the sound of the heart monitor in the nearby room felt distant.
Shan's stare hardened into something cold… lifeless.
A death stare.
The nurse at the desk froze mid-step, sensing the tension. Her eyes darted between the two men, then to the blood dripping from the stranger's hand.
"Doctor!" she screamed. "Get security — now!"
Down the hall, phones rang. Officers were being alerted.
But Shan didn't move.
His voice dropped low — calm, dangerous.
Shan: "I'll ask you again… who are you?"
The man before him — the one who looked exactly like Nikashi — hesitated.
For a split second, his disguise flickered; the faint shimmer of mimic tech rippled across his cheek.
Then — panic.
He bolted toward the stairwell, knocking over a tray of surgical tools as he ran.
The metallic clatter echoed through the corridor.
Shan (gritting his teeth): "Damn it…"
He sprinted after him, the cold hospital air slicing through the tension.
Alarms blared in the background as the real Nikashi, miles away in his car, received the emergency alert on his watch.
He glanced down — eyes narrowing.
Nikashi (under his breath)
Shan burst into the stairwell, footsteps echoing off the concrete walls.
A single gunshot rang out—
BANG!
He reacted on instinct, diving behind the corner as the bullet sparked off the railing.
"Coward," he muttered, steadying his breath.
From the shadows above, the intruder keeps on shooting . Shan waited—, electricity crackling through his glove.
He slammed his hand against the metal railing.
CRACK!
Electric current surged through the staircase, and the imposter screamed as his body convulsed mid-step.
In a blur—Shan was already in motion.
He dashed up the stairs, striking with a lightning-fast kick that sent the intruder crashing down several flights.
The man hit the wall hard—his disguise broke , revealing a distorted version of Nikashi's face.
Shan descended cautiously.
But before he could reach him—
"Shan! Get back!"
The real Nikashi appeared at the bottom of the stairwell, yanking Shan backward.
An instant later—
BOOM!
The fake detonated, sending concrete dust and debris everywhere.
The explosion threw them both to the floor. Shan coughed, covering his face as the smoke cleared.
Nikashi stood, bruised but alert, and sprinted toward Ema's room.
He slammed the door open—
empty.
The bed was in disarray, the heart monitor still beeping softly.
No Ema.
Only a single flash drive sat on the sheets, faintly glowing blue.
Nikashi's fists clenched.
"Who the hell did this!."
Shan stood up and picked up the damaged laptop — the screen flickered weakly, sparks jumping from its side.
Nikashi's voice echoed through the comms:
"All units, scan the perimeter! We're looking for a young adult female with brown skin and braids!"
Shan jumped onto his hoverboard. Wildy was already on it, growling, ready to move. Together, they shot out through the massive hole left by the explosion — debris and smoke swirling around them as sirens wailed in the distance.
Outside, sci-fi trucks and armored cars were already arriving, their engines humming with blue light.
Nikashi turned to the medics. "Move the patient out of the building — now!"
He climbed to the rooftop, his coat flaring in the wind as a helicopter's blades spun above him.
"Good afternoon, General," one of his comrades saluted.
Nikashi stepped aboard, his eyes cold.
"Lets ema back" he said with a stern voice
Vinato leaned back, his eyes calm but sharp.
"I've noticed how close you've gotten with that boy "Nikashi"."
Kai nearly dropped his drink. "You see," he began with a small laugh, "Nikashi is a highly talented person and he's got the will of leader."
The scene shifted — outside, Nikashi was seen directing soldiers, signaling them to protect the civilians. His calm smile contrasted the chaos around him.
Vinato tore open a small packet and poured its contents into his cup.
"What about Shan?" kai asked.
Vinato exhaled, as he mixs the drink .
"It's been hard for him to adjust," he said, "but since he has a strong core energy , he can take care of himself."
. Kai continued, his tone becoming more thoughtful.
"A thousand years ago, after the Third Evolution" with a light pause as he starred on his hand " humans stopped running on blood. What flows in us now is something else — something stronger. It allows us to control matter, elements… even concepts themselves. Core energy so facinating."
He took a slow sip.
Vinato's eyes glowed faintly.
"Nikashi: fifty-nine percent core out of a hundred. Shan: sixty-seven. Both are exceptional. But where Nikashi divided his power among multiple elements, Shan poured all of his into one — lightning."
Kai gave a low whistle. "Those two geniuses… they're in a league of their own."
Vinato smiled faintly as Kai raised his glass.
"If they ever join forces," Kai said, "the realm of the Amariods will stand as the strongest."
The wind roared past as Shan soared through the air, scanning the city below for anything suspicious.
Wildy barked sharply, pointing with his snout.
"What is it, boy?"
Shan's eyes narrowed — a black van speeding through the neon-lit streets.
"Oh, hell nah."
He leaned forward, activating his hoverboard's boosters. The chase was on.
The van suddenly lifted off the ground, flying at top speed through the city skyline. Shan followed, weaving between skyscrapers.
"Wildy, hold tight!" he shouted, bending low as they shot past a holo-billboard.
Civilians below stopped to take pictures as Shan streaked past in a blur of lightning.
Then — gunfire. Bullets rained through the air as one blast hit the street below, sending people running for cover.
"What the—?!"
Shan's eyes caught a flash — a psychotic-looking girl leaning out the van's side, laughing maniacally as she fired.
"Yeah… that girl needs serious therapy," he muttered.
He charged lightning through his board, spun, and kicked — the impact sent the gun flying from her hands. She ducked back in, furious.
Inside, the driver glanced over his shoulder just in time for Wildy to leap through the window and chomp his arm.
"Get off, you little mutt!" the driver screamed, trying to keep control.
The girl pulled out a knife, grinning.
"Hi, Shan. It's been a long time — I've wanted to see you again."
"I have no idea who you are," Shan snapped, dodging as she slashed.
He swung back with a left hook — she blocked it and countered, cutting his cheek.
"Did you just hit a lady?" she teased. "Bad boy."
Shan grinned through the pain.
"And I'll do it again."
He kicked her in the stomach, sending her stumbling.
Meanwhile, the van jerked violently as Wildy kept biting the driver.
"I think I'm gonna get rabies!" the driver yelled, gripping the door as the vehicle swerved.
They all lost balance — the girl smirked, seeing her chance.
As she jumped out the door, Shan grabbed her leg.
"Where do you think you're going?"
She kicked his face free, laughing.
"See ya, Pokie!" she called, blowing him a kiss as she dropped away.
Shan turned — a woman lay in the backseat, bound. He tore the nylon bag off her head, hoping it was Ema.
It wasn't.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
The girl pointed weakly at a small device blinking beside her — a bomb.
"Hmmm…" Shan said flatly, watching the timer tick down from six.
He scooped her up, grabbed Wildy, and knocked the driver out cold.
"Go to sleep, buddy."
He leapt from the van just as it exploded behind them — a wave of fire lighting up the night sky.
They were falling fast.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Shan screamed, clutching Wildy and the girl.
Then — a burst of wind.
Nikashi appeared below, one hand raised, manipulating the air to catch their fall.
Shan was still yelling as they landed safely.
Wildy groaned and kicked him in the face.
Nikashi didn't even flinch.
"Did u get her "
As Shan looks down in disappointment
Shan sat on the medical bed as his arm was being bandaged. Nikashi tossed him an apple, the sound echoing through the quiet room. He sat down, covering his eye with one hand, his face heavy with stress and exhaustion.
"Why now… of all times?" he muttered under his breath.
He took a deep breath and looked up at Shan. "I'm going to watch over the cleanup site. You—" Nikashi handed him a flash drive. "Don't do it for me. Do it for Ema." His tone was firm but weary.
As he walked away with the other members, Shan sighed and patted Wildy on the head. "Come on, buddy. Let's get to work."
At the site, Nikashi washed the dust and grime off his hands. His phone rang — it was Mia.
"Hey," she said softly, her voice carrying concern. "I heard about the incident."
Nikashi looked toward the smoke rising in the distance. "Yeah… it was only a few minutes after he left and— disaster." He rubbed his forehead, his voice strained.
"Hey, hey. Don't beat yourself up," Mia replied gently. "It's going to be okay."
He tried to smile through the weight in his chest. "You know what? I'm coming over," she said, grabbing her coat and keys.
"Love you," Nikashi whispered before ending the call.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room, the psychopathic girl from earlier stepped out of an elevator, humming to herself as she dropped onto a couch.
A man's voice echoed from the shadows. "Well… that was a mission accomplished."
He dropped Ema onto a chair, tying her arms tightly. The girl smirked, slapping Ema across the face. "Wake up, sleepyhead."
Ema's eyes fluttered open. "What the hell… who are you people? Where am I?"
Footsteps echoed from the stairs. A man descended slowly, his tone calm but cold.
"Why does that matter, huh, Ema?"
Her eyes widened. "Who are you?" she demanded.
He stepped into the light with a sinister smile. "Forgotten my face so easily, dear sister?"
"Zoka…" Her voice trembled. "I thought you were—"
"Dead?" he interrupted with a laugh. "Oh, no, no, no. I was reborn. I was reformed. I was redeemed by the glorious god. And now," he pointed toward her, "I will bring revenge upon that little mutt named Shan ,who blasphemed his preachings." His voice grew harsher. "Starting with you… by luring that traitor in."
Ema's expression hardened. "You're speaking nonsense, Zoka. You can never win."
He tilted his head, almost pitying. "You've really been brainwashed. But don't worry… I'm here to save you."
The psychopathic girl glanced at him. "Zoka, you know we still don't have the antidote, right?"
"Yeah," he sighed. "Also, where's Miguel?"
"Oh, Miguel?" the girl replied casually. "He's a goner. Got captured this morning."
Zoka clicked his tongue. "Oh well… can't be hoping for his return then."
Right in the prison cell .
There, the driver — Miguel — lay lifeless on the cold floor, his eyes still open.
End of Chapter 2.