Lucifer stood calmly, bleeding from Ice's dagger wound. The heroes kept their eyes locked on him none dared blink.Lucifer spoke:"Thomas… why do you fight?" Everyone froze confused.Thomas answered:"To save good people from you."Lucifer smiled."But who am I? I taught humanity how to wield fire… how to forge weapons… how to create medicine…how to give purpose to the purposeless. If anything, Thomas…I am the savior of humanity. Not you."Thomas's eyes widened shaken by Lucifer's words."How can anything good come from the likes of you?"Lucifer stepped closer, voice calm, fatherly."Without me, Thomas… you would be nothing.What were you in the old world? A failure. A nobody. Can't you see?I am you… and you are me."Thomas's mind spiraled.He remembered losing jobs struggling financiallyb eing called strange being laughed at being compared to Edwin people saying "How is he your brother?"girls using his kindness friends betraying him being bullied being humiliated being alone Lucifer whispered "I understand your pain.I too was the unfavored son."Thomas's breathing grew heavy. His thoughts darkened.Lucifer's voice slithered deeper:"Isn't that what these heroes are doing now?Using you as a weapon? Not a person?" Thomas's heart cracked. Do they only want me for my power?Why didn't they want me before? Why only now?
Blaze charged in, screaming:"SHUT UP!!!"He swung his blade Lucifer blocked with his obsidian arm.Blaze roared:"You took one of my soldiers already I'll be damned if you take another!" Every swing chipped Lucifer's obsidian blade.Lucifer smirked."Isn't that what you heroes are doing with Thomas?Using him?"Thomas's mind spiraled deeper.Steve slid behind Lucifer firing air shots."I won't let you take Thomas!"Lucifer cartwheeled away.Ice shoulder‑checked Lucifer.Water drop‑kicked him. Fire rained down from above.Lucifer fought them all dual obsidian blades flashing.Luke looked at Thomas — saw him drowning in his own thoughts."Thomas…" Thomas's mind filled with every trauma the four boys who jumped him being robbed, drinks poured on him, food thrown at him, crying alone in a corner all night feeling worthless feeling invisible feeling unloved feeling like a mistake He whispered "I failed at everything…Everyone laughed… Everyone used me… No one ever cared…"Then A voice.Calm.Steady. Ancient."Thomas… breathe."The samurai.Thomas closed his eyes.The samurai spoke:"I saw everything. Every humiliation. Every tear.Every night you cried alone. You thought you were alone… But I was there."Thomas whispered "You remember…?"The samurai said "Yes.I remember when those boys beat you, robbed you, humiliated you in front of the whole school. You hid in a corner all night.I watched you. I didn't know what you would become… But I knew you felt alone."Thomas trembled.The samurai continued:"But Thomas…
You were NEVER alone. When you cried I felt your sadness. When you laughed I felt your joy. And now… You have friends.Real ones. People who care about you."Thomas opened his eyes.He saw Fire bleeding Water limping Blaze swinging through pain Ice refusing to fall Luke standing beside him, guarding him Light trying to rise Steve firing through exhaustion Albert clutching ruined hands All of them fighting without himThomas whispered "Why isn't Luke fighting?"The samurai answered "Because he's protecting you."Thomas's eyes softened.The samurai said "Blaze gave his life for you.Ace did too. They believed in you. Just like I do."Thomas clenched his fist."If your younger self could see you now…"The samurai finished "He would see a hero. Not a sad kid.Not a failure. A hero."Thomas's aura ignited gold and fire bursting outward.He screamed:"I WILL MAKE MY YOUNGER SELF PROUD!!!"