The world was dark.
Nate lay motionless, his body broken, the cold seeping into his bones. The pain was distant, like an echo from another life. Somewhere, in the depths of unconsciousness, he floated—lost, weightless, fading.
Then, a voice.
"Nate…"
The sound was neither loud nor soft. It was simply there, pressing against the edges of his mind like a whisper woven into the very fabric of his soul.
"Remember what you've been through. Remember how strong you are."
Images flickered in the abyss.
His mother's face, smiling.
Henry, working tirelessly to protect him.
The first time he heard Antrasite's voice in the mirror.
The moment he realized he could be more than just a victim of fate.
"You can defeat him."
The darkness stirred.
"Focus on your pain. Focus on everything that has ever hurt you. Let that pain be your fuel."
Pain.
The moment he lost control in the alley.
The night he discovered his father's betrayal.
The searing agony of The Hunter's attacks, tearing through him like he was nothing.
"Channel it. Let it define you. Let it be your source of power."
And then—light.
A flicker at first. Then a spark.
Nate's fingers twitched.
The pain rushed back, but instead of drowning in it, he grasped it, pulled it close. Let it pulse through him.
A surge of energy erupted from his chest.
His eyes snapped open.
The Rebirth of The Host
A blinding, electric-blue light radiated from Nate's body. His eyes burned like twin stars, glowing with an intensity unlike anything before. His veins pulsed with raw energy, his entire form crackling with Antrasite's power.
The Hunter, who had been standing over him, took a step back.
"You're awake," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "No matter. I'll put you down again."
Nate slowly rose to his feet. The wounds on his body remained, but he didn't falter. The pain wasn't a burden anymore. It was power.
He lifted his gaze, locking onto The Hunter. And then he moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than even The Hunter.
The air cracked as Nate lunged, his fist colliding with The Hunter's chest. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, rippling through the very air itself. The Hunter was thrown back, slamming into the concrete with enough force to shatter it.
But Nate didn't stop.
He was on him in an instant, delivering blow after blow, each one infused with pure, concentrated energy. The Hunter roared, attempting to counter, but Nate was relentless, his movements precise, his strength overwhelming.
The balance had shifted.
For the first time, The Hunter looked… afraid.
The Capture
The ground trembled as The Hunter staggered to his feet. His form flickered, his once-unstoppable presence dimming under Nate's assault.
"You think this changes anything?" The Hunter spat, summoning fire in his palms. "You cannot kill me, boy. I am eternal!"
"Maybe," Nate said, his voice steadier than it had ever been. "But you're not invincible."
From the shadows, Henry appeared, holding an ancient, glowing object—an ornate, silver lamp inscribed with ancient runes. The air around it shimmered with power.
Nate understood immediately.
"Now, Henry!"
With a burst of speed, Nate struck The Hunter one final time, forcing him to his knees.
Henry activated the lamp.
A vortex of swirling dark energy exploded from its surface, pulling at The Hunter with an unstoppable force. The Hunter's form distorted, his roar of rage echoing through the city as he was dragged into the lamp, piece by piece.
"NO! I AM POWER ITSELF!"
His screams faded as his essence was sealed inside.
Then, silence.
The night air was still. The battle was over.
Nate exhaled, his glowing eyes dimming slightly as the energy settled within him. He turned to Henry, who held the lamp in both hands, his expression unreadable.
"You good?" Henry asked.
Nate smirked. "Yeah… I think I am."
And for the first time in a long while, he truly believed it.