Chapter 12: Let There Be Chaos [PART 1 of 3]
Chaos in Kaloi's City
Kaloi's City was a warzone. Fires raged in the streets, their light flickering against the fractured remains of the once-great metropolis. Smoke coiled like serpents into the blood-orange sky. Citizens scrambled to escape the riots, their screams echoing through the hollowed ruins of shattered buildings. Looters ransacked what little remained, and gangs staked their claim over broken districts.
Amongst the chaos, Sionu Harajin stood like a beacon of defiance, his golden eyes glowing faintly with a crackling aura of electricity. His fists clenched as the weight of guilt settled heavily in his chest. Around him, the energy of destruction still hummed in the air, remnants of the devastating explosion he unwittingly delivered.
"This… is my fault," Sionu muttered under his breath, his voice strained with regret.
Beside him, Blitz Jalid remained silent, her ice-blue eyes scanning the street for threats. Her silver hair gleamed under the flickering light of the fires, her usual calm demeanor replaced with an edge of impatience.
"You can beat yourself up later," she finally said, her voice firm but even. "Right now, we need to survive this mess. Ultimo should be regrouping in the north district by now."
Sionu's jaw tightened as he nodded. "You're right. Let's move before—"
A deafening roar interrupted him, reverberating through the street like a shockwave. From the shadows, a monstrous mutant lumbered into view. Its skin was gray and patchy, with glowing veins coursing down its massive, grotesque form. It snarled, baring jagged teeth, its unnatural gaze fixed solely on Sionu.
Blitz let out a frustrated sigh, summoning shards of crystalline ice into her hands. "Of course. Because things weren't bad enough."
Sionu cracked a faint smirk, electricity sparking along his fingertips. "Let's put this thing down fast."
Lightaze in Chains
Far beneath the chaos of Kaloi's City, Lightaze Harajin found himself in chains. The underground coliseum was a grotesque spectacle—a massive pit of dirt and blood surrounded by roaring spectators. Above, flames from giant braziers illuminated the warped stone walls, casting shadows that danced like mocking ghosts.
In the center of the arena, Lightaze braced himself. His short black hair clung to his sweat-soaked brow, his glowing hands twitching with suppressed energy. Across from him, a hideous, malformed mutant prowled, its metal-plated limbs dragging across the ground.
From her perch above the arena, Scarlett, the gang leader of the district, watched with a smug expression. Her vibrant red hair was pulled back, framing her angular face as she leaned forward with predatory interest.
"You've lasted longer than I expected, Harajin," she called, her voice dripping with condescension. "But how long can you keep it up? Sooner or later, you'll break."
Lightaze didn't reply. His focus remained solely on the beast before him. The crowd's chants grew louder, a cacophony of bloodlust and madness as the mutant charged.
The arena fell silent as Lightaze sidestepped the mutant's charge, his movements fluid and precise. He countered with a blinding flash of light, the glow searing the creature's exposed flesh. It howled in agony but pressed on, slashing wildly with its jagged claws.
Scarlett clapped slowly, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "Not bad. You might actually make this fun."
Lightaze met her gaze, his golden-brown eyes defiant. "You'll regret putting me in this pit. When I find my brothers, this whole place will burn."
Scarlett laughed, her voice echoing through the arena. "Oh, you'll find your brothers, alright. But by then, you'll be mine to command."
Drego's Fury
Drego Harajin walked through the district like a storm incarnate. His presence was overwhelming, his gravity-based powers warping the air around him. Loose debris floated as if weightless, only to crash back down with every determined step he took.
His short hair and muscular frame gave him an imposing figure, but it was his eyes—piercing and calculating—that sent chills down the spines of those who dared cross his path. He wasn't here to play games. He had two goals: to find his brothers and to crush anyone who stood in his way.
A gang of thugs blocked his path, brandishing crude weapons and jeering at the lone man.
"Oi! You lost or something?" one of them sneered.
Drego raised a single hand, and suddenly the gang members dropped to their knees, the gravity around them increasing tenfold. They struggled and groaned, their weapons slipping from their hands.
"Where is Scarlett?" Drego's voice was calm but carried an undeniable edge of menace.
The gang leader stammered, his face pale. "She… she's in the coliseum! But you'll never get to her. She's—"
With a flick of his wrist, Drego silenced the man, the gravitational force pinning him unconscious.
"I don't care what she is," Drego muttered as he stepped over the crumpled bodies. "She's nothing compared to the Harajin."
As he continued his search, Drego's attention was drawn to a glowing TV monitor mounted on a nearby building. The news broadcast displayed Sionu's face, branding him a villain and the cause of Kaloi's destruction.
Drego's fists clenched, and the monitor shattered under the sudden pull of gravity. "Lies," he growled. "My brother isn't a monster. But if they want to see what a monster looks like, I'll give them one."
The Harajin Legacy
Lightaze stood victorious over the mutant, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His glowing hands dimmed as he looked up at Scarlett, her expression unreadable.
"That's enough for today," she said, her voice smooth but commanding. She motioned for her guards, who entered the arena and chained Lightaze once more.
As they dragged him away, Lightaze caught a glimpse of something—or someone. Standing in the shadows of the coliseum was a figure cloaked in green light. Scarlett turned toward the figure, her body language shifting to one of deference.
"Darugon," she said, her tone uncharacteristically reverent. "The preparations are almost complete."
Darugon said something in a low voice that Lightaze couldn't hear before disappearing in a flash of green lightning. Scarlett turned back to Lightaze, her confident smirk returning.
"Don't get any ideas, Harajin," she said. "You're just a pawn in a much larger game."
Lightaze glared at her, his resolve hardening. "I'm no one's pawn."
Scarlett laughed as the guards dragged him away. "We'll see about that."
Paths Converging
Back in Kaloi's City, Sionu, Blitz, and Ultimo fought their way through the streets, their combined powers carving a path through waves of mutants. The air was thick with tension, every step bringing them closer to the heart of the chaos.
Meanwhile, Drego approached the coliseum, his powers primed and ready. The Harajin brothers were on a collision course with destiny, their fates intertwined with the crumbling world around them.
The battle for survival had only just begun.
To Be Continued...