Luna's heart raced as she watched. Prism, beside her, fidgeted nervously,.
With a smirk playing on his lips, Fulgur taunted, "You think speed alone will save you, little fly?"
In a blur of motion, Lance darted forward. Fulgur reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, sending arcs of electricity crackling towards Lance.
Lance weaved through the deadly bolts, his movements almost too quick for the eye to follow.
But Fulgur was relentless, his attacks coming in waves of blinding light and searing heat. Lance found himself on the defensive, barely managing to evade each strike.
Suddenly an impact sent a jolt of electricity surging through Lance's arm, momentarily numbing it.
He stumbled back, gritting his teeth against the pain.
Fulgur, emboldened by his initial success, unleashed a torrent of electrical energy, a crackling whip aimed at Lance
Suddenly, Fulgur's expression darkened with frustration as Lance's speed seemed to increase.
Lance surged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
His speed reaching new heights as he launched a relentless counterattack.
Fulgur, taken aback by Lance's sudden resurgence, faltered for a moment, allowing Lance to seize the opportunity. With lightning-fast strikes, Lance unleashed a barrage of blows, each one landing with pinpoint accuracy.
Fulgur staggered under the onslaught, his confidence wavering as Lance's relentless assault pushed him to the brink.
"Is that all you've got?" Lance jeered, "I expected more from someone who thinks they're so electrifying."
As Lance moved closer, his heart raced with anticipation. He watched with satisfaction as Fulgur lay sprawled on the ground, seemingly defeated.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Lance's lips as he reveled in his apparent victory.
But just as Lance began to lower his guard, thinking he had emerged victorious, Fulgur's eyes snapped open with a menacing glint.
Before Lance could react, a surge of electric energy erupted from Fulgur's outstretched hand.
The force of the blast was overwhelming, engulfing Lance in a blinding torrent of electricity. Pain seared through every fiber of his being as he was thrown backward, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
In an instant, the entire town was plunged into darkness as the power grid faltered under the intensity of Fulgur's attack. The streets fell silent, shrouded in an eerie stillness.
Lance lay sprawled on the ground, his body trembling with agony. His earlier confidence had been shattered, replaced by a crushing sense of defeat. As he struggled to regain his bearings, the realization washed over him that he had underestimated Fulgur's power, and now he paid the price.
Luna and Prism watched in horror. They could hardly comprehend the sheer magnitude of the attack unleashed by Fulgur.
"NO!" Luna's voice rang out,
Meanwhile, Fulgur, basking in his victory, strutted over to where Lance lay sprawled on the ground. His face twisted into a sinister grin as he looked down at his defeated opponent.
"Well, well, well," Fulgur taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Did you really think you could defeat me?"
A sinister grin contorted his features, revealing sharp, jagged teeth that gleamed like broken glass in the sudden darkness.
"One down,"
"Two more little lambs." he hissed
He began to walk towards them, his pace slow, almost casual, savoring their fear like a gourmet meal.
Terror choked Luna. Her mind raced, frantically searching for an escape, a strategy, anything.
But Fulgur's slow, deliberate steps seemed to eat away at the very fabric of her resolve
Just as despair threatened to consume her, a voice, high-pitched and trembling but laced with surprising determination, cut through the oppressive silence.
"Leave her alone!" Prism shrieked, his fear morphing into a desperate courage.
Luna whipped her head towards him, her eyes widening .
Prism, his normally playful features contorted in a fierce scowl, pointed a shaky finger at Fulgur.
"You big, mean lightning bug"
Fulgur seemed more amused than threatened. He let out a barking laugh, the sound echoing grotesquely in the darkness. "A scrawny little boy with a big mouth? What are you going to do, kid, throw me a pair of bunny slippers?"
The mocking laughter seemed to spark something within Prism. His eyes, usually filled with a playful mischief, blazed.
He lunged forward, a concentrated bolt of electricity crackling in his hand, aimed squarely at Prism.
Luna's heart lurched. This wasn't a game anymore. Fulgur could seriously hurt Prism.
But before the bolt could connect, The crackling ball of electricity in Fulgur's hand sputtered and morphed, transforming mid-flight into a fluttering cloud of vibrant butterflies. They fluttered around Fulgur's head, their delicate wings brushing against his face, momentarily blinding him with a kaleidoscope of colors
Fulgur stumbled back, swatting at the butterflies with a frustrated roar. His electric aura flickered erratically, his control momentarily disrupted by Prism's whimsical attack. Luna stared.
Then a shimmering portal materialized in the air behind him, and from it poured forth an army of machine guns
"Behold!" Prism bellowed, "My unstoppable army of… uh… nevermind, just shoot him!"
At his command, the machine guns unleashed a torrent of bullets. Hundreds of glowing projectiles fired
Fulgur, despite his exhaustion, reacted with surprising agility.
He threw up his hands, his electric aura flaring back to life. With a series of crackling bursts, he deflected every single bullet
However, the sheer volume of the attack took its toll. Fulgur's movements growing sluggish as fatigue set in.
The playful butterflies, still flitting around his head, seemed to mock his diminishing power.
The scars, watching from the shadows, exchanged bewildered glances, their usual air of confidence replaced by uncertainty.
"What is this ability?" Fulgur muttered.
"You… you little freak," he rasped, his voice thick with exhaustion. "What are you?"
Luna watched with concern.
Prism, his face flushed with exertion, cackled with glee as his fantastical machine gun army continued its relentless assault. Yet, she could sense the strain building within him,
"Prism!" she shouted, "You need to stop! You're going to run out of… "
Prism, momentarily distracted, glanced back at her. "But… but he's not defeated yet!" he whined
While Prism distracted, Fulgur capitalized on this momentary lapse in focus. With a feral snarl, he lunged at Prism, his remaining electric energy crackling around his fist.
Luna's scream tore through the night as she lunged towards Prism, but it was too late. Time seemed to slow down for Luna.
Just as the lightning bolt was about to unleash its fury, a figure materialized between Prism and the deadly projectile.
A figure who shouldn't have been standing. It was Lance, his form a blur, his eyes blazing with an unnatural intensity.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the street, kicking up dust and debris. Luna flinched, shielding her eyes against the blinding flash. When the light faded, she saw Lance, panting, the sizzling remnants of the lightning bolt dissipating harmlessly around him
"Don't worry" Lance rasped, "I'm not done yet."
Before Fulgur could react, Lance blurred into action. He spun around Fulgur at an impossible speed, creating a cyclone that whipped up debris and dust.
Fulgur, already on the brink of collapse, found himself buffeted by the sheer force of the whirlwind.
The tornado intensified, growing in size and fury with each passing second. Fulgur was caught in its heart.
Lance raised his fist high above his head. The tornado roared in response, focusing its energy into his fist. With a battle cry that echoed through the night, Lance brought his fist down in a devastating blow.
With a final, earth-shaking tremor, the tornado dissipated, leaving behind a scene of devastation. Fulgur slumped to the ground, his body smoking, his electric aura completely spent.
Fulgur lay sprawled on the ground, a broken marionette twitching with the remnants of his electric aura. Lance stood panting.
His eyes, however, held a flicker of hesitation as he gazed down at his defeated enemy. Delivering the final blow felt wrong, a cold act of vengeance that sat uneasily with him.
But before he could wrestle with his conscience any further, another dark figure materialized
Jax, from the scars, materialized beside him, flanking Luna and Prism.
For a moment, Lance hesitated, sensing the immense strength radiating from Jax. He knew that with a single motion, Jax could eliminate him without effort. Fear prickled at the edges of Lance's mind, but he stood his ground, ready to face whatever came next.
Jax's voice, a deep rumble that seemed to emanate from the earth itself, echoed through the street. "That's enough."
The raw power radiating from Jax slammed into Lance like a physical blow and pressed down on him like an invisible mountain, draining his newfound energy with alarming speed. His mind screamed warnings.
Jax, however, wasn't interested in a fight. He ignored Lance completely, his focus solely on the fallen Fulgur. With surprising agility for his size, he scooped up Fulgur and slung him over his broad shoulder. A single glance at the bewildered Luna and Prism, then back at Lance, and Jax vanished in a blink of dark energy, leaving behind only the faint scent of ozone and the unsettling silence of their retreat.
Lance crumpled to his knees, the weight of the encounter pressing down on him. The energy that had surged through him moments ago had ebbed away, leaving him drained and confused. What had just happened? Who were these beings, and why had they intervened?
Luna rushed to his side, "Lance, are you alright?"
He shook his head, his voice raspy. "I don't know what just happened. But… they felt different. Stronger than anything I've ever encountered."
As Jax returned with Fulgur in his grasp, the other Scars gathered around.
A low growl rumbled through Blight's throat. "Took you long enough,"
Jax ignored him, gently laying Fulgur down in the center of the group. Fulgur, though battered and bruised, managed a weak groan, his eyes flickering open.
"Finally decided to show up, Jax?" he rasped, "Thought you idiots left me like sheep."
Maelstrom spoke first. "Fulgur, what madness possessed you to face three inner ring members alone?"
"Explain yourself, Did you think yourself invincible?"
Fulgur winced "Don't underestimate me. I almost had them."
Xiphos, his face obscured by his hood, remained stoic
Mirage rolled her eyes, "Oh, really? Because from where I was perched, it looked like you were about to be turned into a human pincushion by that speed demon."
Mirage, couldn't help but quip, "Well, but you certainly gave us a good laugh with your antics."
Blight cut straight to the point. "You're lucky you're still breathing, Fulgur. You could've ended up as a meal for the crows."
Malleus added, "Perhaps next time you'll think twice before rushing headlong into battle without a plan."
Xiphos spoke in a low voice, "They possess unexpected abilities. We need to re-evaluate our strategy."
Meanwhile, Luna, still shaken from the near-death experience, turned towards Prism, her eyes filled with concern.
"Prism," she said gently, "Look around you."
Prism, whose earlier excitement had given way to a sober curiosity, glanced around the deserted street. The darkness was absolute, not a single streetlight casting its glow. The only source of illumination came from the distant twinkle of stars struggling to pierce through the thick layer of city smog.
"Uh oh," Prism mumbled, "He must have messed up the electricity grid when he… uh… went boom."
Luna nodded grimly. "The whole town is probably in blackout mode right now. Hospitals, homes, everything."
Luna smiled faintly "Actually, Prism, there's one person who might be able to fix this."
Prism's eyes widened in realization. He puffed out his chest. "Leave it to me!"
Luna chuckled. "Master of making things light up again?"
Lance said, "Give it a shot."
He closed his eyes, concentrating on the vast network of power lines snaking beneath the city streets, picturing them humming with vibrant energy. He imagined the transformers buzzing, the substations pulsating with life. He wove these images together, stitching reality with his imagination.
A moment of intense concentration, and then… light.
One by one, street lights flickered on, casting a warm glow on the once-deserted street. Luna gasped, turning slowly to see the entire town bathed in an ethereal light. Houses flickered back to life, their windows aglow.
A genuine smile spread across Prism's face