The air in the server room was suffocating. Heat radiated in waves from Malric Kain, the Rank B pyrokinetic standing in the doorway. Flames licked at his hands, casting jagged shadows on the walls and highlighting his sharp features and neatly groomed beard. He stood relaxed, his stance casual, but his dark eyes gleamed with sadistic amusement.
But the real weight in the room wasn't the fire it was the smoldering remains of the technician lying on the floor. His charred body was reduced to ash, the acrid stench of burnt flesh clinging to the air. His death had been instant, his screams brief, yet they echoed in the minds of the survivors like a haunting refrain.
Malek growled, stepping forward, his temper boiling over. "You talk too much."
With a roar, he thrust his hands forward, unleashing a torrent of flames. The inferno surged toward Malric, filling the room with blinding light. Raya and Soren instinctively ducked for cover behind the server racks, the metal casing groaning from the sudden burst of heat.
But Malric didn't flinch.
Instead, he lifted his hand lazily, his fingers curling as if grasping something invisible. The fire froze mid-air, swirling and twisting as though caught in an unseen vortex. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Malric pulled the flames toward him, absorbing them into his body. The light of the fire danced across his face, accentuating the sick pleasure in his expression.
"What's wrong, little flame?" Malric mocked. "Can't handle your own power?"
Malek staggered back, his eyes wide with disbelief. His flames his had been completely neutralized.
"You…" Malek snarled, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and unease. "How "
"Because I can," Malric interrupted, his tone light but cutting. He spread his arms, flames spiraling around him in a deadly halo. "I'm better than you. Stronger. Smarter. And you? You're just another failure."
"Enough" Elianore's voice cut through the tension like a blade."Raya extract complete the extraction of the data"
Malek froze, turning to glance at Elianore.
"Elianore," Raya whispered urgently, "we need to "
But Elianore ignored her, his attention locked on Malric. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and precise, every step radiating authority.
"Why?" Elianore asked, his voice low and taut, the edges of his calm threatening to fray.
Malric turned to him, an eyebrow raised, his grin widening. "Why?" he repeated mockingly, tilting his head. "Because I could."
Elianore's fists clenched.
Malric continued, gesturing lazily toward the ashes. "Because he annoyed me. Because he was weak. Because he begged. Pick your reason, little chief." He smirked darkly. "In the end, it's all the same."
The words were a slap to the face, each syllable laced with malice.
"Elianore," Raya whispered again, her voice almost pleading.
But Elianore had already stepped closer, his pale blue eyes fixed on Malric with an intensity that sent a shiver through the room.
"Malek," Elianore said without turning, his tone flat but commanding. "Stand down."
Malek's fists trembled, flames licking at his fingertips. "Elianore, I "
"I said," Elianore repeated, his voice colder now, "stand. Down."
Malek hesitated, the fight in his posture draining away. With a frustrated growl, he extinguished his flames and stepped back.
Malric chuckled, clearly entertained by the exchange. "That's cute," he said, his grin widening. "But I think your little flame was just about to put on a show. Weren't you?"
Malek said nothing, his glare piercing but restrained.
Elianore took another step forward, his voice calm but taut with anger. "You burned him alive," he said quietly. "He wasn't a threat. He didn't even fight back."
Malric shrugged. "Exactly. And that's why it was so easy. Weaklings don't get to walk away."
The calm in Elianore's expression cracked, just slightly. A muscle twitched in his jaw.
"You don't even regret it," Elianore said, more a statement than a question.
"Regret?" Malric laughed. "I don't waste my time on that.
The next moment, Elianore was a blur, faster than anyone in the room could track. One second he was still, the next his fist was slicing through the air, aimed directly at Malric's jaw.
But Malric was ready.
"Hand-to-hand combat?" Malric said with a sneer as he dodged the blow, leaning back just enough to avoid the strike. "Interesting choice. Didn't peg you for a brawler."
Elianore didn't respond. His movements were seamless, each strike faster than the last as he closed in again. Malric dodged narrowly, his expression shifting from amusement to focus.
"I sense kinetic energy in you," Malric said, circling. "It's… hot. Like that of a pyrokinetic, but…" He tilted his head, narrowly avoiding a sharp elbow strike to the ribs. "…not quite. So why don't you stop dancing around and turn up the heat?"
Elianore's gaze didn't waver.
"Fine," Malric said with a grin, his flames intensifying. "If you won't, I will."
With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, throwing a flaming punch.
The blow connected, slamming into Elianore's ribs. Heat seared his skin, burning through his jacket.
But Elianore didn't flinch.
He absorbed the impact, his pale blue eyes narrowing only slightly. A muscle in his jaw twitched, but his gaze remained locked on Malric.
"You're… still standing?" Malric asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Elianore straightened, brushing the charred fabric off his shoulder. "You talk too much."
Elianore moved again.
This time, Malric couldn't dodge.
Elianore's fist slammed into his chest, launching Malric backward into the wall. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, rattling the server racks and sparking several panels.
Malric staggered to his feet, coughing, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Elianore stood motionless, his presence heavier now, the room charged with tension.
"You've been holding back," Malric accused.
Elianore tilted his head slightly, unbothered.
"Fine," Malric snarled, flames roaring to life around him. "Let's see how far you can push me."
"Flames roared and kinetic energy cracked the air as the room erupted into chaos, a blinding storm of heat and force that threatened to tear everything apart."