The three men moved through the dimly lit street, their steps echoing softly against the pavement. The one in the middle carried the black suitcase close to his chest, his grip firm. They kept their heads low, scanning the deserted street for any sign of trouble.
From the shadows ahead, a figure emerged—a tall man cloaked in a black suit, the faint shimmer of a half-silver mask catching the dim glow of the streetlights. He stood motionless, his hands in his pockets, exuding an air of calm authority.
The men stopped abruptly, tension crackling between them. The one on the right stepped forward, his hand hovering near his belt where a concealed weapon rested. "What's your business here, pal? This street's closed for strangers."
Lucian tilted his head slightly, his voice smooth and cold as he replied, "I believe you have something that doesn't belong to you. I'm here to take it back."
The man holding the suitcase laughed harshly. "You think you can just show up and make demands? Do you know who we are? You're playing with fire, mask boy."
The one on the left sneered, pulling a pistol from his jacket. "We don't have time for this. You leave us no choice."
He fired a shot, the sound of the gunfire echoing sharply. But the bullet froze mid-air, mere inches from Lucian's chest, suspended as though caught in an invisible web. Lucian's eyes gleamed with an eerie blue light as he raised his hand slightly, the bullet clattering harmlessly to the ground.
"Alright," the man with the pistol muttered, his voice laced with unease. "A mutant, huh?"
The one on the right extended his hand, conjuring a crackling orb of fire that illuminated the street in an orange glow. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it toward Lucian, the flames roaring through the air.
Lucian's hand moved with precision, his telekinesis forming an unseen barrier. The fireball veered off course, dissipating harmlessly into the night. He smirked faintly beneath his mask. The training with Lyra is finally paying off.
The men exchanged nervous glances before readying themselves. Lucian's telekinesis had recently advanced to D-Class, surpassing all his other stats. The power flowed through him like a second nature, controlled yet devastating.
As the tension reached its peak, Lucian spoke again, his voice a low, commanding murmur. "You should've walked away."
The three men lunged, and the street exploded into chaos.
The dim street became an arena of tension as Selene's voice echoed in Lucian's hidden earpiece. Her words were calm, laced with a teasing edge. "Three D-class mutants. Today's test is simple, Lucian. Defeat them. Show me you've been paying attention to your lessons."
Lucian cracked his neck, his silver mask glinting ominously in the moonlight. The three men spread out in a triangle formation, their confidence radiating from their postures.
The one on the left, his hands already ablaze, grinned menacingly. "You should've stayed out of this, kid. Now you'll burn."
Lucian's sharp blue eyes glowed faintly beneath the mask as he replied coldly, "Talk is cheap. Show me what you've got."
The fire-wielder was the first to strike, his hands igniting in flames. He hurled a series of blazing orbs, their heat warping the air around them. Lucian sidestepped the first volley with effortless grace, the flames bursting harmlessly against the ground. When a larger fireball surged toward him, Lucian raised his hand. The fire stopped mid-air, caught in the grip of his telekinesis, before being flung back at the attacker. The man stumbled, narrowly dodging the redirected flames, fear flickering in his eyes.
Before Lucian could press the advantage, the brute charged, his massive frame barreling forward like a wrecking ball. Each step sent tremors through the ground, his fists smashing anything in his path. Lucian waited until the last second, then leapt into the air, soaring several meters above the man's swing. The brute's punch connected with a streetlight instead, shattering it into twisted metal.
From mid-air, Lucian extended his hand, ripping another streetlight from its base and hurling it at the brute with devastating force. The metal pole struck him in the chest, sending him crashing into a parked car. The vehicle crumpled under his weight, the brute groaning as he tried to push himself up.
"You're strong," Lucian said as he landed, his voice calm yet cutting. "But strength means nothing if you can't control it."
The leader moved next, his speed almost imperceptible as he dashed forward. His pistol gleamed, its magazine filled with magical bullets designed to pierce even the strongest defenses. He fired in quick succession, the glowing rounds whizzing toward Lucian like streaks of light. Lucian raised a hand, his telekinetic shield shimmering as it absorbed the barrage. The bullets clinked to the ground, harmless, but the leader used the distraction to close the gap.
Lucian barely sidestepped as the leader's fist swung toward him, the air itself rippling with the force. The man's speed was uncanny, his movements a blur as he pressed the attack. Lucian blocked each strike with telekinetic precision, his shield deflecting the blows while his feet danced out of harm's way.
Meanwhile, the fire-wielder recovered, summoning a massive wave of flames that roared toward Lucian. The brute, shaking off the impact, charged again from the opposite side. Lucian was caught between the two, their combined attacks threatening to overwhelm him.
But he was ready.
With a flick of his wrist, Lucian yanked a section of the pavement from the ground, creating a barrier that absorbed the flames. As the brute closed in, Lucian spun, hurling the slab of concrete at him like a missile. It struck with a resounding thud, sending the man sprawling. Simultaneously, Lucian reached out telekinetically, grabbing the fire-wielder by the wrist and slamming him into the ground. The flames sputtered out as the man groaned in pain, unable to rise.
Only the leader remained, his pistol empty but his resolve unbroken. He stood tall, his gaze locked on Lucian, and reached into his coat. From within, he pulled a small vial filled with a swirling, luminescent liquid.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as the leader uncorked the potion, the eerie glow reflecting in his steely gaze. The man smirked, his confidence returning as he raised the vial to his lips.
"This isn't over," he growled, before downing the potion in one swift motion.
The air around the leader began to shift, an unnatural energy radiating from his body. Lucian stood his ground, his glowing eyes locked on his opponent, ready for whatever came next.