Kaelen ran through the narrow tunnel, his breath ragged, every muscle in his body burning from the relentless combat. Behind him, he could still hear the monstrous growls of the summoned beast clashing with the stranger's energy-laced attacks, the echoes reverberating through the cavernous passages. Every instinct screamed at him to keep moving, to put as much distance between himself and the chaos as possible. Whatever the cost, he couldn't afford to stay and finish this battle—survival was paramount.
As he emerged from the cave, Kaelen's gaze locked onto the airstrip in the distance. The abandoned plane sat at the edge of the strip, framed by the eerie glow of the setting sun. His mind raced, replaying the seller's movements in his head: the start-up process, the switches, the timing of each control. He had watched carefully, observed every flick of the man's hand, every subtle adjustment as they flew over the ocean. Now, it would all come down to his ability to replicate that sequence.
Kaelen broke into a sprint, his body protesting under the strain, but his will driving him forward. The jungle seemed to blur around him as he pushed past the dense foliage, his heart pounding. He could still feel the weight of the Cosmic Krystal shard in his pocket, the pulsing energy radiating against his thigh—a reminder of the power he now carried, and the price he was willing to pay for it.
But as he neared the plane, a chilling realization hit him: he wasn't alone.
From the shadows of the jungle, three figures stepped out, each wearing dark tactical gear, their eyes trained on him with an unsettling intensity. Kaelen's gaze flicked to the side, noticing the faint glow of cosmic energy radiating from two of the men, a sure sign that they were superhumans.
"Kaelen," one of them called out, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You really thought you could waltz in here, take what isn't yours, and leave unscathed?"
Kaelen slowed his pace, his mind rapidly calculating his options. The plane was only a few yards away, but these men stood between him and his escape. Running would only delay the inevitable confrontation.
He clenched his fists, his body still sore but his spirit unbroken. "I didn't ask for company," he retorted, his voice cold and edged with defiance. "But if you're here, you might as well die."
The leader smirked, gesturing to the other two men. "Bold words for a dead man."
They moved in unison, closing the distance with precision. Kaelen's body fell into a combat stance, his mind slipping into the zone he knew too well. These men were trained, no doubt about it, but they didn't know him—not the real him.
The first attacker lunged, throwing a punch laced with raw energy that crackled through the air. Kaelen sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the man's arm mid-swing and twisting it violently. There was a sickening crunch as the bone snapped, the man's scream echoing through the jungle. Kaelen spun, delivering a ruthless elbow to the back of his skull, sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious.
The second man rushed in from Kaelen's blind side, his hand glowing with a faint green light that hinted at a corrosive ability. He swiped, aiming for Kaelen's face, but Kaelen ducked, moving with fluid grace as he countered with a sharp kick to the man's knee, dislocating it in one brutal strike. Without hesitation, Kaelen followed up with a knee to the man's chest, the impact shattering ribs. The man collapsed, writhing in agony, unable to continue the fight.
Only the leader remained, his eyes narrowing as he realized the skill level of his opponent. He extended his hands, a swirling vortex of dark energy forming around his palms, casting ominous shadows across the jungle floor.
Kaelen took a steadying breath, his eyes fixed on his opponent. He'd fought superhumans before—he knew their powers often came with a specific rhythm, a pattern he could disrupt. His time in the facility had drilled countless strategies into him, teaching him how to exploit even the slightest weakness.
The leader released the vortex, a wave of dark energy rushing toward Kaelen like a tidal wave. Kaelen rolled to the side, narrowly evading the deadly attack as the energy blast scorched the earth where he'd just stood. Before the leader could prepare another strike, Kaelen launched himself forward, closing the gap in an instant.
He opened with a jab, slipping under the leader's guard and landing a brutal cross punch to his jaw. The leader staggered, but retaliated with a wild swing of energy. Kaelen ducked under it, delivering a crushing hook to his ribs, then pivoting with a devastating roundhouse kick that sent the leader sprawling backward.
Not giving him a moment to recover, Kaelen advanced, his movements relentless. He unleashed a flurry of punches—a rapid combination aimed at the leader's torso, each strike precise and punishing. The man attempted to block, but Kaelen's speed overwhelmed him. With a final, forceful strike, Kaelen landed an elbow straight to the temple, sending the leader crashing to the ground, unconscious.
Panting, Kaelen wiped the blood from his lip and turned back toward the plane. He sprinted the remaining distance, climbing into the cockpit with practiced ease. His hands moved over the controls, his mind replaying each step of the start-up sequence. With a flick of switches and a turn of knobs, the engine roared to life, the vibrations reverberating through his body.
As he accelerated down the airstrip, Kaelen cast one last glance at the bodies strewn across the jungle. He felt no remorse; this was survival, pure and simple. The world was a hostile place, and he would do whatever it took to carve out his place within it.
The plane lifted off, cutting through the sky as he left the island behind, the mysterious Cosmic Cube and the fragment of the Energy Sphere of Divergence safe at his side.
The Voice finally broke its silence, a low chuckle reverberating through his mind. "Well done, Kaelen. Very well done. But remember—this is only the beginning. There are many more obstacles awaiting us… and far deadlier foes."
Kaelen didn't respond, his focus solely on the path ahead. The city awaited, with its secrets, its dangers, and the unknown power he now held. For the first time in his life, he felt a strange sense of purpose, a drive beyond survival—a need to uncover the mysteries of his mother's legacy and the true potential of the powers he now possessed.
As the plane soared through the sky, Kaelen couldn't shake off the feeling that he was headed toward something far greater than he could yet comprehend. And he was ready—whatever came his way, he would face it head-on, armed with nothing but his skills, his determination, and the strange, powerful artifacts he had claimed.
For now, he flew alone, a deadly shadow in the vast sky, a man on a collision course with destiny.