Too quiet.
Kai noticed it first. As he and Axel moved across the rooftops, there was a strange tension in the air—like something was waiting.
"Do you feel that?" Axel asked, landing beside him.
Kai nodded slowly. "Yeah… something's off."
Before they could say anything else, a sudden crash echoed from below.
An alley.
Without hesitation, they jumped down.
What they saw made them freeze for a split second.
A woman stood in the middle of the alley, calm… too calm. Around her were two unconscious bodies. In her hand was a small metallic device, glowing faintly, and in the other—a vial filled with a strange, swirling liquid.
A Dragon member.
Kai's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "You see that?"
Axel nodded. "Yeah… that's not normal."
The woman smiled slightly. "So, the little heroes finally showed up."
Kai stepped forward. "Drop it. Now."
Instead, she lifted the vial.
And drank it.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—
Her body tensed.
A pulse of energy burst outward, sending a shockwave through the alley. The ground cracked slightly beneath her feet.
Axel staggered back. "What was that?!"
"Ability drugs," Kai muttered. "She just boosted herself."
The woman tilted her head, eyes glowing faintly. "Let's see how strong you really are."
She pressed a button on the device.
A sharp pulse shot out.
Kai felt it instantly.
Something… vanished.
His strength.
His speed.
Everything.
"What—" he stumbled slightly.
Axel looked at his hands in shock. "I can't—my powers—"
The woman smirked. "Disabled. Fifty minutes. You're just normal boys now."
Panic hit—but only for a second.
"Doesn't matter," Kai said, forcing himself forward. "We can still fight."
They charged.
At first, they held their own. Kai dodged and struck carefully, Axel backing him up with quick movements.
But it wasn't enough.
Not against her.
She was faster now. Stronger.
Every hit from her felt heavier than it should.
Axel tried to land a punch—
She caught his arm mid-air.
"Too slow."
She slammed him into the wall.
Hard.
"Axel!" Kai shouted.
Kai rushed in, throwing everything he had—but she turned and struck him across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Pain shot through his body.
He tried to stand.
Failed.
Across the alley, Axel struggled to get up, his breathing uneven. "Kai… we need to—"
Before he could finish, she appeared in front of him.
And hit him again.
This time, Axel didn't get up.
"AXEL!" Kai forced himself up, ignoring the pain, and ran toward them.
But she was ready.
One swift move—
And Kai hit the ground again.
Everything spun.
His vision blurred.
He tried to move… but his body wouldn't listen.
The woman stood over them, completely unfazed.
"Pathetic," she said coldly. "You rely too much on power."
Kai's hand clenched weakly against the ground.
He couldn't lose.
Not like this.
Not again.
But his body was failing him.
Axel lay a few feet away, barely moving.
Half-conscious.
"Stay… down…" Axel whispered weakly.
The woman turned, preparing to leave.
"Enjoy the next fifty minutes," she said. "If you're still alive by then."
Her footsteps faded.
Silence returned.
Kai forced his head to turn toward Axel.
"…Axel…" he said, barely above a whisper.
No response.
Just slow, weak breathing.
Kai's vision darkened.
For the first time since they became "heroes"…
They weren't just losing.
They were completely powerless.