Tazer stood up slowly, brushing the debris off his shoulders as if the violent collision with the car was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. His crimson eyes gleamed with an unsettling mixture of amusement and respect. He rolled his neck, a series of loud cracks echoing in the silence, and then turned his gaze back to Lucias, who stood unwavering amidst the wreckage.
"Well," Tazer said, his voice carrying an edge of excitement. "I didn't expect this. You've impressed me, kid. It's been a while since anyone managed to knock me off my feet."
Lucias remained silent, his icy-blue aura rippling around him, a stark contrast to the chaotic crimson of Tazer's energy. His calm demeanor only seemed to fuel Tazer's interest.
Tazer smirked, tilting his head. "But let's see if that was just a fluke. The real fight starts now." He crouched slightly, his body tensing like a coiled spring. Without warning, he launched himself forward, closing the gap between them in a blink.
Lucias reacted instantly, raising his arms to block the incoming blow. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the sheer force of it cracking the pavement beneath their feet. Tazer followed up with a flurry of punches, each one aimed with deadly precision, but Lucias parried them with surprising ease, his movements fluid and controlled.
"Not bad," Tazer muttered, his strikes growing faster and more aggressive. "But can you keep up?"
Lucias didn't answer. Instead, he sidestepped a vicious swing and countered with a sharp kick to Tazer's ribs. The hit landed cleanly, sending Tazer skidding backward, but he regained his footing almost instantly, his grin widening.
"Good," Tazer said, flexing his fingers as crimson energy began to swirl around him. "You've got some fight in you. Let's see how far it goes."
Tazer charged again, this time unleashing a burst of crimson shockwaves as he moved. Lucias darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the blasts, and retaliated with a burst of his own blue energy. The two auras collided midair, the resulting explosion lighting up the battlefield in a dazzling display of power.
As the dust settled, the two fighters stood facing each other, neither showing signs of backing down. Lucias's breathing was steady, his focus unwavering, while Tazer's grin remained intact, his excitement growing with every exchange.
"You've gotten stronger," Tazer admitted, his tone almost admiring. "But strength alone won't be enough to beat me."
Lucias narrowed his eyes, his aura flaring brighter. "We'll see."
The two clashed again, their movements a blur as they exchanged blows at breakneck speed. Tazer's attacks were relentless, his crimson energy lashing out like a storm, but Lucias met him blow for blow, his newfound balance of power and control giving him the edge he needed to hold his ground.
At one point, Tazer managed to land a heavy punch to Lucias's gut, sending him staggering backward. But Lucias recovered quickly, using the momentum to spin into a powerful roundhouse kick that caught Tazer across the jaw. The force of the hit sent Tazer stumbling, but his laughter rang out even as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You're full of surprises," Tazer said, his crimson energy crackling around him like wildfire. "But I'm just getting riled up."
Tazer's aura flared violently as he raised both hands, summoning a massive wave of crimson energy. He hurled it at Lucias with a roar, the attack tearing through the ground as it raced toward him. Lucias braced himself, his blue aura condensing into a protective barrier. The wave slammed into the shield, the impact shaking the earth and kicking up a cloud of debris.
When the dust cleared, Lucias was still standing, his shield holding firm. But Tazer was already on the move, appearing behind him in a flash. Lucias spun just in time to block Tazer's strike, their auras clashing once more in a brilliant explosion of light and color.
The fight raged on, neither combatant willing to give an inch. Tazer's attacks were fierce and unrelenting, his experience and raw power pushing Lucias to his limits. But Lucias's determination burned just as brightly, his connection with his Alter fueling him with strength and clarity.
"You've come a long way," Tazer said, his breathing heavy but his grin never faltering. "But you're not defeating me."
Lucias's eyes glowed brighter, his aura pulsing with renewed intensity. "Then I'll just have to end you."
Their energies collided once more, the battlefield trembling under the force of their clash. The fight had become more than just a test of strength—it was a battle of wills, a struggle to see who would outlast the other.
Back at Stargent headquarters, the atmosphere was tense. The Director sat at the command table, his fingers interlaced and his eyes fixed on the live feed from the battlefield. The screen displayed a chaotic scene of red and blue energy clashing violently, the very air around the combatants warping under the sheer intensity of their power. Next to him, Kara stood with a tablet in hand, her brow furrowed in concern.
She tapped on the screen and turned to the Director. "Sir, it's spreading," she said, her voice tight. "Social media is flooded with videos of the sky. People are recording the red and blue lights from miles away. Hashtags are trending, and there are already reports of groups heading toward the location to see what's happening."
The Director's jaw tightened as he absorbed her words. He glanced at another monitor, which displayed a live stream of the skies above the battlefield. The swirling colors of red and blue were unmistakable, painting the heavens in a spectacle that could only be described as otherworldly.
Kara continued, swiping through the tablet to show him more. "It's not just social media. News outlets are starting to pick it up. They're calling it a 'mystery cosmic event.' We have less than an hour before this turns into a full-blown media frenzy. And if people actually show up at the site..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
The Director exhaled sharply, his mind racing. "We can't let civilians get anywhere near that place. The destruction those two can cause... it could level the entire area." He stood up, his voice firm as he issued orders. "Kara, call every available agent in the region. I don't care if they're on leave or off-duty—get them to the site now. I want checkpoints set up at every road leading to that location. No one gets in. Not reporters, not curious onlookers, no one."
Kara nodded, already typing on her tablet to send out the directives. "Understood, sir. I'll also coordinate with local authorities to divert traffic and clear the area."
The Director's eyes flicked back to the screen showing Lucias and Tazer's battle. The sheer power they were unleashing was unlike anything he had ever seen. The sky itself seemed to ripple with their energy.
"Kara," he said after a moment, his voice softer but no less urgent. "Make sure the perimeter is secured. But... if the situation gets out of control, I want evacuation protocols in place for everyone within a ten-mile radius. We can't afford to take any chances."
Kara hesitated, looking up from her tablet. "You're expecting it to escalate that much?"
The Director didn't answer immediately. His eyes were locked on the screen, watching as Lucias narrowly dodged one of Tazer's crimson shockwaves, the resulting explosion obliterating a nearby structure. After a moment, he spoke, his voice heavy with a mixture of hope and dread.
"Lucias has potential, but he's still finding his footing. Tazer, on the other hand... he's something else entirely. If this fight spirals out of control, the collateral damage could be catastrophic."
Kara nodded solemnly, her fingers flying over her tablet as she relayed the orders. The weight of the situation was palpable, but there was no room for hesitation. Every second counted.
As the Director returned to his seat, his gaze fell on the screen showing Lucias. The young man's blue aura was blazing brightly now, his movements more confident and precise. There was a spark of determination in his eyes, a fire that hadn't been there before. The Director allowed himself a faint smile, though it was tinged with concern.
"You've come a long way, Lucias," he murmured to himself. "But this is just the beginning. Everything is riding on you now."
Kara looked up from her tablet, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. "Sir, reports are coming in from agents on the ground. Crowds are already gathering a few miles from the site. We're trying to redirect them, but... some are refusing to leave. They think this is some kind of cosmic phenomenon or a government experiment."
The Director clenched his fists. "Then make them leave. Use whatever force is necessary, but keep it non-lethal. I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of this."
Kara hesitated. "And what about the media? They're already setting up cameras in the surrounding areas. If this footage goes live—"
"Shut it down," the Director interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Jam their signals if you have to. This can't go public. Not yet."
Kara nodded and turned back to her tablet, her fingers flying over the screen as she coordinated the efforts. Meanwhile, the Director leaned forward, his eyes never leaving the monitor showing Lucias and Tazer.
"Hold on, Nathan. Hold on, Lucias," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "We're counting on you."
Lucias's blue aura burned brighter as he sprinted forward, his energy-charged fist crackling with raw power. With a battle cry that echoed across the battlefield, he drove his glowing hand into Tazer's stomach. The impact was devastating. Tazer's body bent inward from the force, his crimson aura flickering as he was sent hurtling backward. He smashed through several walls of a nearby building, the structure collapsing in on itself in a deafening roar of concrete and steel.
Lucias stood his ground, breathing heavily, his fists clenched tightly. The ground beneath him trembled, the shockwaves of their battle still rippling through the air. Dust and debris settled slowly, obscuring the wreckage where Tazer had landed.
For a moment, the battlefield fell eerily silent. The blue aura surrounding Lucias began to dim slightly, his adrenaline subsiding as he cautiously watched the collapsed building. Was it over? Had he finally done it?
Kara and the Director, watching from the Stargent command center, held their breath as they observed the scene. Kara whispered, "Did he... did he win?" Even the agents monitoring the fight seemed to pause, waiting for any sign of movement from the rubble.
But Lucias's instincts screamed otherwise. His grip tightened, and he braced himself. Then, with an earth-shattering roar, the rubble exploded outward in a crimson blaze, sending debris flying in every direction. Tazer emerged, his body enveloped in a swirling maelstrom of red energy. His face was distorted, twisted into a grotesque mask of rage and malevolence. His once-human features were barely recognizable, replaced by something monstrous and primal.
Lucias took a step back, his breath catching in his throat. This wasn't the same Tazer he had been fighting. This was something else entirely—a being consumed by hatred and power.
Tazer's aura flared wildly, crackling with unrestrained energy that burned hotter and brighter than ever before. His movements were erratic, his crimson eyes glowing like twin infernos. He let out a guttural growl, the sound reverberating across the battlefield and shaking the very earth beneath them.
"I'll admit," Tazer snarled, his voice deeper, almost unrecognizable, "that power of yours... it hurts me." He raised his hand, flexing his claw-like fingers as his aura surged even more violently. "But don't think for a second that it's enough to stop me."
Lucias stood his ground, summoning his courage despite the overwhelming presence before him. "You're losing control, Tazer," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "This power of yours... it's tearing you apart."
Tazer tilted his head, his lips curling into a maniacal grin. "Control? You think I care about control?!" His laughter was unhinged, echoing through the battlefield like a symphony of chaos. "I don't need control, Lucias. I need power!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Tazer lunged at Lucias, his movements faster than before. Lucias barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as Tazer's strike obliterated the ground where he had been standing. The shockwave from the impact sent Lucias tumbling backward, his blue aura flickering as he scrambled to his feet.
Tazer straightened, his monstrous form towering over Lucias. His crimson aura swirled around him like a living entity, radiating malice and destruction. He raised his head, his eyes narrowing as he sneered at Lucias.
"Unite? Compromise?" Tazer spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "What a joke for those who can't handle the weight of true power."
Lucias gritted his teeth, his blue aura reigniting as he prepared to fight again. "Power isn't just about destruction, Tazer."
But Tazer wasn't listening. His eyes burned brighter, his twisted grin stretching wider as his aura intensified. "The only power that matters is me!" he roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "Me alone!" His laughter grew louder, more deranged, as the red energy around him expanded, scorching the ground beneath his feet.
"I am the Originals!" Tazer bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield. The sheer force of his declaration sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking nearby buildings and sending debris flying. His aura flared wildly, its crimson light blotting out the stars above as it consumed the battlefield in its oppressive glow.
Lucias stared at him, his fists tightening as he felt the overwhelming weight of Tazer's presence. This was no ordinary opponent. This was a force of nature—a storm of rage and power that could not be reasoned with. But Lucias stood tall, his determination unwavering.
As the chapter closed, the battlefield was lit by the clashing hues of red and blue, the sky above reflecting the chaos below. And in the heart of it all, two warriors prepared for the fight that would determine the fate of everything they held dear.