Three weeks later—
They reached a city that still had lights.
Not bright.
Not safe.
But alive.
Neon signs flickered between ruined buildings.
People wore masks.
Guns were sold next to food.
They called it Graveport.
A neutral zone between gangs, cults, and government territory.
Juvy stared at it from the hill.
"This place feels wrong."
Maxruell said, "Everything feels wrong now."
They entered quietly.
No powers.
No fights.
Just walking.
They rented a room above a butcher shop.
The smell of blood never left.
Juvy trained every morning.
She learned to shape gems instead of throwing them.
To bind souls without ripping them out.
To use fire without burning everything.
Sweat replaced fear.
Control replaced panic.
Maxruell didn't train.
He went out at night.
He came back with blood on his jacket.
Juvy noticed.
"You're hunting gangs."
"They hunt people."
"That doesn't answer me."
He didn't reply.
One night, she followed him.
He walked into Razor Dog territory.
Men laughed when they saw him.
Then shadows swallowed the street.
Screams echoed off brick walls.
When it ended, bodies hung from lampposts.
Juvy covered her mouth.
He turned and saw her.
"You shouldn't be here."
"You shouldn't be doing this!"
"They rape kids, Juvy!"
"So you execute them?!"
He stepped closer.
"Someone has to."
Her voice cracked.
"You sound like Cain."
His eyes darkened.
"Maybe she's right."
She slapped him.
Hard.
He didn't move.
She cried instead.
"I don't want to lose you too."
He looked away.
The next day, the city posted warnings:
THE RED KING IS HERE.
GANGS DISAPPEARING.
DO NOT PROVOKE.
Juvy tore the paper down.
"You're becoming a symbol."
"Good."
"That's how Cain started."
He froze.
For a second… guilt showed.
Then the stone pulsed.
Symbols are stronger than people.
That night, someone knocked.
A boy stood at the door.
Thin.
Scarred.
"They took my sister," he said.
"The Church of Cain."
Juvy's heart dropped.
Maxruell turned slowly.
"Where?"
The boy pointed.
Toward the old cathedral.
Juvy grabbed her staff.
"No. We do this together."
He nodded.
But inside—
The voice whispered.
Tonight, you don't hold back.
And for the first time Maxruell didn't argue.