Aiden and Ethan faced the group of warriors, their muscles tense, ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. The leader regarded them with a mix of disdain and amusement, like a cat toying with its prey.
But Ethan wasn't the type to be intimidated. With a provocative smile, he took a step forward, hands casually shoved in his pockets.
"Recruits for your army?" he laughed. "Sorry guys, but we're not really the type to follow orders. Especially from guys who look like Mad Max rejects."
The leader narrowed his eyes, his gaze hardening. "You'd do well to watch your mouth, boy. You have no idea who you're dealing with."
With a gesture, he signaled one of his men. The warrior stepped forward, extending his hand. Suddenly, a ball of fire burst from his palm, floating in the air like an incandescent threat.
Aiden and Ethan exchanged an alarmed look. They were dealing with evolved ones, like them. But these guys seemed much more dangerous than the weak monsters they'd faced so far.
The leader gave an evil smile, savoring their reaction.
"As you can see, we have some... convincing arguments. So, are you going to nicely follow us, or will we have to do this the hard way?"
Ethan opened his mouth, no doubt to throw out another provocative jab, but Aiden elbowed him in the ribs, urging him to be silent. They weren't in a position of strength, and it was better not to aggravate their case.
But the leader didn't seem in the mood to negotiate. With a gesture, he ordered two of his men to attack. The warriors rushed at Aiden and Ethan, their powers crackling around them like a menacing aura.
The first warrior, a colossus with arms as thick as his own thigh, extended his hands toward Aiden. A fireball burst forth, hurtling toward the young man like a wave of infernal heat.
Aiden dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. As he rolled on the ground, a brief flashback hit him—a memory of his university gymnastics teacher teaching him to be agile, to "move like the wind," because "strength isn't just muscle; it's the ability to use it correctly" He never imagined that this lesson, during a boring class, would save his life.
For his part, Ethan faced a woman with skin as pale as snow, whose eyes shone with an icy glare. She raised her arms, and three sharp ice spikes materialized in the air, shooting toward the gravity manipulator.
Ethan reacted instinctively, creating a gravity field. The frozen projectiles were stopped and shattered against the gravity field, similar to a shield.
"Well, well, she's got quite a temper, the Snow Queen!" Ethan quipped with a smirk.
But his opponent had little taste for humor. She continued to launch ice spikes, one after another.
Meanwhile, Aiden dodged his opponent's fiery assaults as best he could. He attempted a counterattack, using his superhuman speed to get closer to the colossus. But the latter was an experienced fighter. With a fluid movement, he sent two fireballs, forcing Aiden to retreat. Even if Aiden had the advantage with his physical characteristics, the experience of the colossus facing him managed to compensate, anticipating all of Aiden's attempted actions. His speed was useless.
The young man winced, feeling fatigue beginning to overtake him. They couldn't hold out like this forever.
"Ethan!" he shouted to his friend. "We need to find a solution, and fast!"
Ethan, who had just barely avoided an ice lance the size of a javelin, nodded. His face, usually so jovial, was tight with concentration. For once, he was taking this situation very seriously.
At that moment, Aiden took a violent blow to the jaw, making him stagger backward. He spat a stream of blood, his vision blurry. A few meters away, Ethan was cornered by his opponent, struggling to counter her icy assaults, fatigue overwhelming him.
"Shit, I shouldn't have used so much power earlier."
They exchanged a desperate look. They couldn't hold out much longer like this. But just as they thought their final hour had arrived, a cry suddenly rang out:
"Leave them alone, you b*stards!"
A group of armed figures emerged from the surrounding ruins, quickly taking up positions beside Aiden and Ethan.
The group leader cursed and ordered a retreat. Within seconds, they had disappeared, melting into the shadows of the ruined buildings.
Aiden and Ethan, panting and battered, stared at their unexpected saviors. It was a motley group, made up of men and women of all ages. They looked exhausted and underfed, but a fierce light shone in their eyes.
One of them, a weather-beaten man in his fifties, approached Aiden and held out his hand.
"You were lucky we were in the area," he said in a gruff voice. "Those guys, they're bad news. They look for isolated groups to rob, brutalize, and even worse..."
Aiden shook the man's hand, still in shock. "Thanks for your help. Without you, we were done for."
The man nodded. "Don't mention it. Between evolved ones, we have to stick together. Come on, we'll take you to our hideout. You'll be safe there while you recover."
They walked for some time, a silence hanging over the group. Aiden and Ethan, tired, didn't have the strength to speak and concentrated solely on moving forward. The other members of the group, perhaps for support, or not to give too much away, walked in absolute silence.
The streets were deserted, the buildings in ruins, no sign of life around. The sight, even after a few days, was as frightening as ever.
After a journey that seemed endless, they spotted in the distance what looked like a structure, still standing, with a few people inside.
As they arrived at the hideout, they were impressed by the organization, the number of people, and the structure.
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Aiden and Ethan had just been rescued by a mysterious group. Could they trust them? Would they finally find a moment of rest?