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A month had passed, and in that time, Kai Vel had begun to understand what it meant to be human again, if only in fragments. Life among them—walking through the bustling city streets, listening to their laughter, and feeling the pulse of their chaotic, flawed world—was both distant and close. He lived like a shadow, blending into their everyday lives, yet never truly a part of it.
There were moments when he almost felt like one of them. Sitting in a small café, sipping coffee he couldn't truly taste but knew he should, watching the people walk by. They were so fragile, so unaware of how their lives could be swept away in an instant. Yet, they were resilient, stubbornly clinging to life and finding joy in the smallest of things.
His mission—to protect them—had always loomed over him like a heavy cloud. The voice inside his mind, ever-present and commanding, reminded him of his purpose. To safeguard this planet until the last of his people were ready. Until the forces on the other side of the Rift, the last remnants of his kind, would burst forth to claim this world for themselves.
But in the quiet moments, Kai often questioned why. Why protect these people, only to conquer them later? Why should he care for a world that would soon be under the iron grip of his people's rule?
Each day, the question grew heavier, gnawing at his mind.
He was standing by the water's edge, the waves crashing softly against the rocks as the sun set behind the skyline, when the voice pierced his thoughts once more. It was urgent, commanding.
"The Rift is opening. A subspecies of the inferiors. Orcs. They will flood the streets of New York. You must act."
Kai's expression hardened. He had known this day would come, but now that it was here, the weight of it pressed down on him. Reluctantly, he turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the city of New York lay in the distance.
He felt the familiar sensation of his armor wrapping around him, the sleek, black material forming from the nanites in his ring. It crawled over his skin, becoming one with him, as the cloak billowed out behind him, fluttering in the sea breeze.
With a deep breath, Kai crouched and then, in a burst of unimaginable speed, shot into the air. The sonic boom that followed shattered the silence, the water below rippling violently in its wake as he rocketed toward the sky. The ground beneath him became a blur as he soared higher, the wind whipping past his face. Within moments, the sprawling city of New York came into view, its towering buildings and endless streets filled with chaos.
As he descended upon the city, Kai saw the battle already unfolding. The Rift had torn open above the skyline, a gaping wound in reality, and from it poured hordes of Orcs—hulking, brutish creatures, fully armed and armored, their skin mottled with scars and warpaint. They crashed through the streets, their guttural roars shaking the very ground as they swung massive, crude weapons.
The human defenders—the heroes of this world—were already engaged in battle. Kai recognized some of them. Wonder Woman, her lasso crackling with golden energy as she spun it in a wide arc, disarming three Orcs at once. Green Lantern, his emerald constructs forming barriers and hammers, desperately trying to hold the line. Max Mercury zipped in and out of the fray, his speed a blur as he took down enemies before they could react.
Despite their efforts, the Orcs were overwhelming. These were not the mindless brutes from fantasy stories—they were disciplined, organized, and armed to the teeth with dark, twisted steel. Their war cries echoed off the buildings as they fought with savage precision, forcing the heroes back step by step.
Kai landed with a thunderous crash, the street cracking beneath his feet as he surveyed the carnage. He could feel the tension in the air, the desperation of the heroes as they struggled to contain the flood of invaders.
Without a word, Kai leaped into the fray.
His first strike was like a tidal wave, a devastating blow that sent a group of Orcs flying through the air. He moved with blinding speed, his fists and feet striking with surgical precision. Each hit was calculated, lethal, as he shattered bones and crumpled armor with ease.
An Orc, larger than the rest, charged at him with a war hammer the size of a car door. Kai ducked under the swing and, with a swift upward strike, crushed the Orc's jaw with his gauntleted fist. The creature crumpled to the ground, twitching.
Another group of Orcs attempted to flank him, their axes raised high, but with a burst of heat vision, Kai incinerated them where they stood. The beams seared through their armor and flesh, leaving only smoking ruins in his wake.
All the while, his mind raced—parallel thinking, a Valorian trait, allowing him to strategize multiple outcomes simultaneously. He saw every angle, every attack, every possible reaction from his enemies. It was like playing a game of chess where every piece moved in slow motion, while he acted with perfect speed and efficiency.
His body moved almost mechanically, each motion precise and deliberate. One after another, the Orcs fell beneath his onslaught.
As the battle raged on, the Rift above the city pulsed with dark energy, and more Orcs poured through, their numbers seemingly endless. Kai's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. The heroes were doing their best, but they were struggling to keep up.
He sighed, the weight of his purpose crashing back down on him. This world was fragile, just as Superman had said. It could so easily be broken. Yet here he was, fighting to protect it, to delay the inevitable.
With a burst of speed, Kai flew toward the Rift, his fist glowing with energy. He had to close it before more of the inferiors poured through.
He was no hero, but for now, he would be what they needed.