Kai took a deep breath, pushing aside the doubts gnawing at the edges of his mind. He had to think clearly, to focus on what he could control. The cryptic words of the hooded figure echoed in his mind: *"You're here because someone wanted you out of the way. Someone who fears what you might become."*
What did that mean? Who was afraid of him? Why was he being held in this dark, damp prison with no explanation? He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration. He needed answers. But more than that, he needed to get out of here.
A plan started to form in his mind. If he could access his abilities, maybe he could break the bars or weaken the stone walls. He had done it before—summoned his energy in moments of desperation, his Spirit Energy coursing through him like a tidal wave. The **Zenith Reflex** had been a leap forward, a new plateau of power he hadn't known he was capable of reaching. But could he call on it now?
Kai closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing. He focused on the energy within him, the core of power he had felt countless times during training and battle. He pictured it in his mind's eye—a bright, glowing orb at the center of his being, ready to be unleashed.
*Spirit Energy: Focus Blast!*
He whispered the incantation, feeling a slight tremor in his hands as he tried to channel his energy. He concentrated harder, visualizing the blast forming in his palm, a swirling ball of blue light, growing brighter, stronger…
But nothing happened. His hands remained empty, the cold air pressing against his skin.
"Come on…" he muttered, gritting his teeth. He dug deeper, pushing himself further into the familiar sensation of summoning his power. He could feel the energy there, buried beneath layers of exhaustion and confusion. He reached for it again, his heartbeat quickening as he focused with all his might.
*Spirit Energy: Focus Blast!*
He felt a flicker, a tiny spark of light igniting within him, but it quickly fizzled out like a match in the rain. A sharp pain shot through his head, making him stagger back.
"What…?" he gasped, clutching his temples. His breathing grew ragged, panic clawing at the edges of his consciousness. He tried again, summoning his energy with renewed urgency, but his body refused to obey. His powers remained dormant, locked away behind an invisible barrier.
"What's going on?" he whispered, frustration boiling over. "Why can't I…?"
A low, mocking laugh came from the shadows at the far end of the corridor. The same guard with the scar emerged from the darkness, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Having trouble, are we?"
Kai glared at him, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "What did you do to me?" he demanded. "Why can't I use my powers?"
The guard chuckled, leaning casually against the wall. "You think you're the first one to come in here with special abilities? You think they haven't planned for someone like you?"
Kai's heart sank as the guard's words began to sink in. "Planned…? What do you mean?"
The guard grinned wider. "This place was designed to neutralize abilities like yours, to keep people like you in check. You could try all day and all night, boy, but you won't be getting a single spark out of those hands of yours."
Kai's mind raced. "But how? What's stopping me?"
The guard shrugged nonchalantly. "Think of it as a little… enhancement to the walls. Something that messes with your energy channels, makes it hard for you to focus, to call on your powers. You're not the first one to try breaking out, and you won't be the last."
Kai felt a wave of helplessness wash over him, quickly replaced by anger. "You can't just keep me here! I don't even know why I'm being held!"
The guard rolled his eyes, as if he had heard this argument a hundred times before. "You think they care about that? You're here because someone wants you here. It's as simple as that."
Kai's mind whirled. He had to find a way around this, a way to access his power. He took a step back, trying to think logically. "If I can't use my powers," he muttered to himself, "then maybe… maybe there's another way."
He glanced around the cell, searching for anything he could use—a weak spot in the wall, a loose bar, anything that might help. But everything seemed solid, unyielding. He pressed his palm against the stone, feeling the cold surface beneath his touch. It was as if the very walls were draining him of energy, sucking the strength from his limbs.
Kai turned back to the guard, trying a different approach. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone calmer but still edged with urgency. "Why are you doing this? You don't seem like someone who's just following orders."
The guard smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, I'm just here to do my job, boy. But I've seen enough of your kind to know you all think you're special. You think you're different, above the rest of us."
"I never said that," Kai shot back, his voice firm. "I just want to know why I'm being treated like a criminal when I haven't done anything wrong."
The guard shrugged again. "That's not for me to decide. But from what I hear, you've got some people mighty worried about what you're capable of. And trust me, you don't want those people against you."
Kai felt a surge of frustration, his hands balling into fists once more. "And you're fine just doing their dirty work? Holding people for no reason?"
The guard's expression darkened. "You don't know a damn thing about me, kid. You think you're the only one who's ever been trapped in a place like this? At least I got out, and I'm making the best of it."
Kai hesitated, sensing a hint of something in the guard's tone—a bitterness, a resentment that seemed almost personal. "You were a prisoner here?" he asked cautiously.
The guard's face hardened. "A long time ago. But I learned my lesson. And now, I'm on the other side of the bars."
Kai studied the guard's face, trying to read between the lines. "Maybe… maybe you could help me get out. You know what it's like to be stuck in here. You know it's not right."
The guard snorted, but there was less conviction in his laughter this time. "And why would I do that? You think a few kind words will change anything? You think you're different from the others who tried?"
Kai shook his head. "No, I think… I think maybe you remember what it felt like to be trapped. And maybe you don't have to keep playing their game."
The guard's eyes flickered for a moment, something like doubt crossing his face, but then he straightened and shook his head. "Nice try, kid. But you're stuck here, same as I was. Get used to it."
With that, the guard turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hall. Kai watched him go, a mixture of hope and frustration roiling within him. He had tried to reach out, to find some common ground, but it hadn't been enough. Not yet, anyway.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes again. He couldn't use his powers, not with whatever dampening field they had in place. But that didn't mean he was powerless. He had his mind, his skills, his determination. And he would find a way out of this, one way or another.
"Alright," he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper. "If I can't use my powers… then I'll just have to find another way."
He paced the cell again, his mind racing with possibilities. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.