Kayn moved through the environment with a calm yet deliberate pace, his mind already two steps ahead of the Conclave's tactics.
The various students tried their best to remain calm, or else they'd be killed, on their knees or under their desks, barely looking outwards at the members of the Conclave as they held their breaths.
Smoke and chaos filled the surrounding area, but Kayn remained focus, keeping one arm wrapped around Kara, who clung to him tightly. Kayn didn't know if she knew, but the force she was holding him with was enough to crush any regular human.
Still, he didn't confront her, just feeling Kara's heart racing against his chest, the head radiating from her skin that showed a mixture of fear and adrenaline.
She wasn't just nervous because of the explosion. No, it was deeper than that. Kara was just terrified of the feeling of powerlessness, the same powerlessness she felt when Krypton exploded, and now it was back.
~BOOM~
The sound and echoes of another explosion rocked the building, and Kayn tightened his grip on her. "Don't worry, I've got you," he said softly, his deep voice cutting through the noise around them, "Stay close."
Kara looked up at him, her blue eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and trust. For a moment, he thought she might question why he was so calm and composed with everything happening, but she didn't.
Instead, she just nodded, her hand gripping his sleeve tightly as they continued down the hall.
Ahead, the four members of the Conclave had spread out. Dracon stood near the shattered windows in the courtyard, a hulking presence whose crimson eyes glowed with a sadistic hunger for battle.
The other Conclave members were patrolling the area, picking out various students and teachers and bringing them to the forefront, having them locked up in a specific area as prime hostages.
This was clearly an attempt to draw out Harbinger, and use the hostages to take him under control. However, Kayn was easily using his Celestial Energy to hide himself, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they began killing some of the hostages.
Kayn's eyes narrowed, 'I have to take them out before they start hurting anyone.' he thought to himself, pressing Kara lightly against the wall, his voice low and controlled, "Wait here. Don't move."
Kara stared at him, her lips parting and her eyes widening as if she was about to argue, but something in his expression stopped her. There was a quiet intensity in Kayn's gaze that made her feel more safe and secure.
"Just trust me," Kayn said again, his voice smooth but firm, as though the chaos didn't faze him at all.
Kara hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly, biting her lip. "Okay," she whispered, stepping back as she kept her eyes locked on him.
Kayn gave her a brief, reassuring smile before turning and making his way toward the center of the courtyard. He kept his head down, making sure to blend in with the other students who were scrambling for cover, hiding with terrified expressions.
He could feel the eyes of the Conclave watching the crowds, even brushing over his figure as they continued searching for any sign of Harbinger. Kayn knew this was his moment. Strike now before they realize who you are.
He cast a quick glance back at Kara, who was watching him intently from her spot behind the pillar.
Then, without hesitation, Kayn closed his eyes and reached out with his mind, sending a burst of telepathic energy toward the Conclave members. It was subtle, just enough to bend their perception, make them ignore him, make him seem insignificant.
Stay invisible. Let them underestimate you!
As he moved closer to the courtyard, he caught sight of Dracon barking orders to Vira and Marovik. They were still rounding up more students and teachers, clearly trying to create a panic that would lure Harbinger out.
"Keep moving!" Dracon snarled, his voice booming across the courtyard as he grabbed a student by the arm and threw him toward the others.
"This is a school full of weaklings. Where's Harbinger now?!" His laughter echoed off the walls, filled with arrogance.
Kayn's jaw clenched as he listened to it, and in a swift movement, he telepathically reached out to the nearby students, sending a wave of calm through their minds. It wasn't much, but it was enough to stop the panic.
Then, in one smooth motion, Kayn flicked his wrist, sending a thin, nearly invisible wave of energy toward Dracon. The massive creature staggered, clearly surprised by the sudden hit, but he didn't fall.
"What the—?!" Dracon roared, his fiery eyes scanning the courtyard, "Show yourself, coward!"
"What is it?" Vira asked as she saw Dracon roaring out in anger.
"There's a rat here, that bastard is attacking me." Dracon said, trying to calm down when he suddenly felt another telekinetic attack hitting him, weakening his defenses once more.
"SHOW YOURSELF!" Dracon growled out in anger, looking around venomously, but not finding anyone.
Meanwhile, Kara remained hidden behind the pillar, her heart pounding as she watched Kayn from afar.
Something wasn't adding up. The way he moved, the way he stayed so calm, even in the face of danger, it didn't feel normal. There was a confidence in him that reminded her of someone, someone she had seen in action before.
'No, it couldn't be…' Kara's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She had seen Harbinger in action before, and the waves of telekinetic energy emitted from Kayn with his silent attacks was just like Harbinger.
It was only due to Kara's immense concentration that she was able to notice this, alongside a bit of inference. Her breath caught in her throat as she pieced it together.
'Kayn is Harbinger.'
Before she could fully process that revelation, Kayn suddenly appeared at her side again, moving swiftly and silently. His face was calm, though there was a glint of amusement in his dark eyes as he saw the look of realization on Kara's face.
"Kayn…" Kara began, her voice barely above a whisper, "Are you…?"
He gave her a small, knowing smile, leaning in slightly so only she could hear him. "Yeah, I'm Harbinger," he whispered, his voice low and teasing, "But let's keep that between us, okay?"
Kara blinked, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Kayn, the calm, mysterious guy from her class, was the same hero who had been making waves across National City.
"You've been hiding this the whole time?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she glanced between him and the chaos unfolding in the courtyard.
Kayn chuckled softly, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine, "Everyone has their own secrets." he replied casually, looking at her a bit curiously.
Before Kara could respond, another explosion shook the courtyard, and Dracon's voice roared through the air. "Where are you, Harbinger?!"
Kayn glanced toward the courtyard, his expression turning serious again. "Looks like it's time for the real show," he said, giving Kara a quick wink, "Stay hidden. I'll take care of them."
Kayn's eyes darkened silently, and a subtle shift in the air marked the unleashing of his Celestial power. The sky above the courtyard began to ripple, before shattering like glass.
A deep swirling vortex formed, a black hole that pulsed with raw energy. The gravitation pull was immense, able of destroying continents, yet its power was perfectly controlled, only drawing in the members of the Conclave.
Dracon's fiery gaze shot toward the sky, his lips curling into a snarl, looking around for a potential origin as he was pulled off of the ground, "What is this?!"
"No!" Vira screamed, her body lifting off the ground as she fought in vain against the pull of the black hole. Marovik grunted, trying to plant his feet firmly, but the gravitational force yanked him off balance.
Dracon's claws dug into the earth, flames igniting around him as he tried to resist, but even he couldn't withstand the overwhelming power. "You...!"
Within moments, all four members of the Conclave were pulled into the black hole, their figures disappearing into the swirling darkness. The courtyard which was once filled with chaos and smoke, now fell eerily silent.
Kara's heart pounded in her chest as she saw what happened. She could still feel the lingering energy of the black hole, terrifying, tyrannical, yet it was controlled.
As the last traces of the Conclave members vanished into the black hole, the vortex itself began to shrink, collapsing in on itself until it was nothing more than a tiny point of light. And then, with a soft pop, it disappeared entirely.
But the battle wasn't over.
The scene shifted.
Dracon, Vira, Marovik, and Zeek found themselves floating in a dimension that shimmered with cosmic energy. Starry skies, stars and galaxies swirling in the endless expanse. Planets, nebulae, and constellations stretched out infinitely in all directions, and the air cackled with celestial energy.
At the center of it all, Kayn stood waiting for them, his dark eyes gleaming with quiet intensity as he was in his Harbinger persona. The vast, celestial realm seemed to bend and respond to his will, the stars flickering in rhythm with his breath.
"Welcome to my domain," Kayn's voice echoed through the star-filled void, calm yet powerful, "You wanted to face Harbinger? Now you have your chance."
The Conclave members stared at him, their shock giving way to anger as they realized where they were. Dracon's fists clenched, his fiery eyes burning with hatred.
"Let's finish this."
And with that, the battle began