Jin moved through the city like a phantom, his coat trailing behind him as he flew above the crumbling rooftops. Fires blazed and smoke billowed into the sky, painting the horizon in shades of chaos. His sharp eyes scanned the destruction below, catching sight of the Gold Brother battling Renik and Saria in the distance. His breath hitched momentarily as he noticed the state of the Gold Brother—wounds covering his body, his once-imposing figure battered and barely holding together.
"Shit," Jin muttered under his breath, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and urgency. With a burst of speed, he blurred through the air, his body becoming a streak of motion. Below, the scene was grim.
Renik surged forward with terrifying speed, his fist crackling with energy as he aimed a devastating blow toward the Gold Brother. The Sentinel, weakened and disoriented, struggled to stand, his legs trembling beneath him. The fatal strike was imminent.
But before Renik's fist could connect, a gust of wind swept through the battlefield, and Jin appeared in a flash, standing firmly between Renik and the Gold Brother. His blade, long and slender, gleamed faintly in the light as he smoothly slid it back into its scabbard. The motion was so fast, so fluid, that it took a moment for anyone to realize what had happened.
Renik's face contorted in pain, his scream cutting through the chaos as he looked down at his hand. Blood dripped onto the ground as he realized his fingers had been cleanly severed, dangling uselessly. Staggering back, he clutched his injured hand, glaring at Jin with a mix of fury and disbelief.
Jin didn't spare him a glance, his cold, emotionless gaze fixed on the Gold Brother.
"Stay down,"
he said, his voice low and commanding. The Gold Brother, barely able to nod, collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged but steady.
Saria, enraged by Renik's injury, leapt into action. Her lithe figure cut through the air as she delivered a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Jin's head. The force of her attack could shatter bones, but Jin didn't flinch. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and without moving his hands, he invoked The Voice.
"Be Gone" Jin said, his tone calm yet laced with authority.
The power of The rippled through the air, a gravitational force so intense it distorted the very fabric of reality around them. The impact hit Saria like a tidal wave, her body suspended for a brief moment before the sheer force sent her hurtling backward. She crashed through a wall, the bricks shattering like glass, only to smash through another wall, and then another. The sequence continued until her broken body finally came to a stop amidst a pile of rubble. Dust and debris clouded the air, and silence hung heavy over the battlefield.
Jin stood unmoving, his stance relaxed but exuding dominance. He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the Gold Brother. The Sentinel's battered form told the story of a warrior who had given everything and still fallen short.
"You're a mess,"
Jin muttered, his tone softening just enough to convey a sliver of concern. Kneeling beside the Gold Brother, Jin placed a hand on his head.
"You did well. Rest now."
Muttering to himself, Jin continued, "I'm going to try this… though it's not perfected yet."
Closing his eyes, Jin concentrated. His hand glowed faintly with an ethereal light as he channeled his energy. Healing wasn't his specialty, but he had learned enough to attempt this. The energy flowed into the Gold Brother's body, weaving through his broken bones, torn muscles, and ruptured veins. Jin's voice dropped to a whisper, almost as if he were speaking directly to the Gold Brother's essence.
"Hold on. Your body will listen."
The Gold Brother's wounds began to close, the bruises fading as his breathing steadied. His body relaxed under Jin's touch, and for the first time in hours, peace washed over his face.
Jin stood, his hand falling to his side as he exhaled slowly. His eyes flicked toward Renik, who was still clutching his injured hand, trembling with rage and fear. Jin's gaze then shifted to the distant rubble where Saria had disappeared.
Without another word, Jin turned and walked forward, his figure cutting through the smoke like a phantom. The civilians who had been watching from afar, too terrified to move, now whispered among themselves. One elderly man, his eyes wide with awe, spoke up, his voice shaking.
"What kind of man is that? He didn't even raise his voice, didn't need to move much… and yet, he ended it all."
The children beside him stared at Jin's retreating figure, their faces filled with both fear and admiration.