6:00 p.m.
We gather around the dining table, ready to eat. Just as we're about to dig in, John raises a hand. "Let's pray," he says. We bow our heads, and he begins, his voice steady.
"Heavenly Father, thank You for this meal and for keeping us safe today. Bless this food and guide us in everything we do. Amen."
"Amen," we echo, and soon the clatter of cutlery fills the room as we enjoy our meal.
After dinner, we return to the training room, our muscles tense with anticipation. Lin Ongro sits at the front, her sharp gaze cutting through us.
"Joseph, step forward," she orders. "You'll fight Leonard again. This time, I expect you to win."
Joseph hesitates. "I'm not great with martial arts. I usually rely on my powers."
"And those powers are?" Drax asks, leaning forward.
"Speed. And green lightning," Joseph replies, almost reluctantly.
Lin's voice is firm. "No powers. Just fists and legs. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Begin!"
In the spacious training room, Joseph and Leonard lock eyes. Leonard charges first, throwing a flurry of punches, but Joseph sidesteps smoothly, countering with a quick jab to Leonard's ribs.
Leonard grits his teeth, stepping back to regroup. He feints left, then goes for a sweeping kick, but Joseph anticipates the move, spinning out of range and retaliating with a leg sweep of his own. Leonard crashes to the ground but rolls to his feet quickly, refusing to stay down.
"You're faster this time," Leonard grunts, circling Joseph.
"And you're tougher," Joseph replies, his eyes narrowing.
Leonard shifts his strategy, mixing high kicks with quick jabs. One of his hooks catches Joseph's shoulder, making him stumble. Leonard doesn't waste the chance and presses forward, landing another strike.
Joseph steadies himself, then darts in with a series of precise blows that force Leonard back. With one final spin, Joseph delivers a powerful roundhouse kick that connects solidly with Leonard's chest. Leonard hits the mat, winded and defeated.
The room falls silent, save for their heavy breathing.
Leonard, still on the ground, chuckles. "You've definitely improved."
Joseph offers his hand, pulling Leonard up. "You've got grit, Leonard. Respect."
Lin claps her hands once, drawing our attention. "Bravo, Joseph. Leonard, you've improved too, but you still need more training. Watch and learn."
Leonard nods. "Understood, ma'am."
Lin turns to the group. "John, step forward. You'll face Joseph next."
John grins at Joseph, his confidence evident. "I hope you're ready, Joseph. I'm not going easy on you."
Joseph smirks. "Good. Neither am I."
In the expansive training room, John and Joseph stand face to face, their stances exuding determination.
Joseph strikes first, his jab moving like a blur. But before it connects, John's body begins to ripple with an otherworldly energy. In an instant, his form shifts—muscles bulge, claws extend, and his eyes gleam with a predatory glow. His Lycon wolf powers take over, transforming him into a hybrid of man and beast.
Joseph hesitates for a split second, stunned by the ferocity of the transformation. John lunges, his speed and strength far beyond anything Joseph expected. A clawed swipe connects with Joseph's arm, sending him skidding backward.
"Come on, Joseph," John growls, his voice deep and guttural. "You've got more than this, right?"
Joseph recovers, launching a flurry of punches and kicks. But John's heightened senses anticipate every move, and he counters with brutal efficiency. A powerful blow from John sends Joseph tumbling across the room.
Pinned against the wall, Joseph struggles to catch his breath. John approaches, his movements controlled but radiating dominance. One final strike ends the match.
"Enough!" Lin Ongro's voice cuts through the tension. "John, stand down."
John retracts his claws, his body reverting to its human form. He offers Joseph a hand.
"You fought well," John says.
Joseph accepts the gesture, his face a mix of frustration and respect. "You've mastered those powers. I've got work to do."
---
Later that evening, the team gathers in the lounge, the adrenaline of the day slowly fading.
"Goodnight, everyone," Lin Ongro announces. "Training is over for today." She and her cousins retreat to their quarters.
"Goodnight?" Leonard slouches into a chair. "It's way too early to sleep."
Jessica smirks, sitting across from him. "Early to bed, early to rise—"
"Yeah, yeah. Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Heard that one before." Leonard chuckles. "My mom used to say that while dragging me away from late-night movies. She never won, though. I'd stay up until four in the morning watching sci-fi."
Jessica raises an eyebrow. "Sci-fi, huh? Figures."
Joseph leans in. "You're a scientist, aren't you?"
"I was." Leonard's tone shifts, his gaze darkening.
"What happened?"
Leonard shrugs, his voice clipped. "Don't wanna talk about it."
Joseph frowns. "Come on. We're a team. We can't fight side by side if we don't know each other."
Morinjo leans forward. "Joseph's right. We've all had good days, bad days, and everything in between. Sharing those stories might help us trust each other more."
Jessica turns to Morinjo. "Alright, then. Why don't you start?"
Morinjo nods, his voice steady. "I'm from Uganda, but I grew up in Louisiana. My dad was a king back home, and my mom was a successful politician. Life was good—until the night I met Liam and Xender. That's when I saw the Bloody Scars for the first time."
"The aliens?" Jessica asks, her eyes wide.
Morinjo nods. "They came for me. I still don't know why. They destroyed my car and almost killed me, but Liam and Xender saved my life. That night, we became friends. Later, Lin Ongro and her cousins introduced me to Path Finder. I didn't believe in its power at first—until I needed it to save my girlfriend, Lauren, from the Bloody Scars. That's when everything changed."
He pauses, his voice heavy with emotion. "Path Finder chose me because of my fate. That night, we became one—symbiote and host—and together, we fought back. We saved Lauren, and I realized what I was truly capable of."
Jessica leans back, impressed. "Wow. So, the gods chose you?"
Morinjo smiles faintly. "They did. But it wasn't easy. Now, who's next?"
Erebus's Kingdom, Gavaria (His Palace)
BIRSHA
The vast, shadowed halls of Erebus's palace hum with an oppressive energy. Jagged obsidian columns rise toward a ceiling lost in darkness, while crimson flames flicker along the edges of the room, casting long, eerie shadows. Erebus and Malacoda sit on their towering thrones, engaged in hushed conversation. Their voices, though quiet, carry the weight of dominion. The three of us—Aynat, Allatou, and I—approach, our footsteps echoing ominously.
"Your royal highnesses," I begin, dropping to one knee alongside my companions. My voice trembles slightly—not from fear, but from the gravity of the news. "Forgive the intrusion, but we bring urgent news that demands your immediate attention."
Malacoda's eyes, sharp and golden like molten metal, pierce through the dim light. With a wave of his hand, he beckons us to rise.
"Speak," he commands, his tone cold and unyielding.
"Lin Ongro, Drax, and Marger have successfully rallied Earth's fighters," I report, keeping my voice steady. "Even Path Finder has joined their cause. As we speak, they prepare to resist us. Their intent is clear—they aim to thwart our rule."
"And so they shall die," Allatou interjects sharply, his voice laced with venom. "We cannot afford to wait. Let us strike them down before their plans take root."
Malacoda raises a hand, silencing him. His expression remains impassive, almost bored.
"Patience, Allatou," he says, his tone clipped but commanding. "The homosapiens still have seven days to surrender. Their time will come, and when it does, we will strike with force—unrelenting and absolute."
"Your highness," I venture cautiously, "perhaps a reminder would serve our purpose. Let them know their time is running out and that resistance will only bring ruin."
"An intriguing idea," Erebus muses, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Why not send a message of blood and fear? One of their fighters should serve as an example—a warning of what awaits."
Malacoda leans back in his throne, considering the suggestion. His lips curl into a faint, sinister smile.
"Very well. Aynat!" His voice booms, echoing through the chamber.
Aynat steps forward, her crimson robes billowing as she kneels before him.
"Yes, your royal highness," she responds, her tone unwavering.
"Descend to Earth," Malacoda commands, his voice like ice. "Hunt down one of their fighters and execute them without hesitation. If you find more, kill them all. Let the humans see the futility of their defiance."
Aynat rises, her eyes alight with dark determination.
"It shall be done, my lord."
As she turns to leave, the atmosphere in the room thickens, the oppressive energy growing heavier. Erebus reclines in his throne, a twisted grin spreading across his face.
"The tides are shifting," he murmurs. "Soon, Earth will kneel, and their so-called fighters will crumble like dust."
The three of us bow deeply before retreating, the weight of Malacoda's decree echoing in our minds.