The night air was heavy, thick with tension.
Kai sat in Leo's lab, leaning against the wall, his body still sore from the last encounter. Axel was finally awake, though pale and weak, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to stretch his arms.
"You're really stubborn, you know that?" Leo said, adjusting a few devices on the table. "You could have died carrying him. Both of you."
Kai clenched his fists, the red glow in his eyes faint but flickering. "I couldn't leave him behind. Not Axel. Not anyone."
Axel gave a weak chuckle. "Thanks, man… I owe you one." His voice was hoarse, but there was a spark of his usual energy returning.
Kai shook his head. "No time for thanks. We need a plan. That Dragon member… she'll be back. And next time, I don't want to be caught like that."
Leo nodded, leaning over the table. "I've been studying the device she used. It emits a pulse that suppresses powers in a radius. If we can figure out how it works, we can either shield ourselves or find a way to counteract it. But it's complex… and dangerous."
Kai rose to his feet, the pain making him wince, but determination pushed him forward. "Then we train. Harder. We get stronger. We don't wait for her to strike again—we take the fight to her first."
Axel finally stood, stretching slowly. "I can't wait to get back out there. That thing she used… it was terrifying. But we'll beat it. We'll beat her."
Outside, the city lights flickered, casting long shadows across the streets. The Dragon's reach was growing, and they knew it. But for the first time, Kai felt something he hadn't felt in days: control. Not full power, but enough to fight strategically. Enough to survive.
Leo handed Kai a small device, one that would monitor power fluctuations. "This will help you gauge your abilities without overexerting yourself. Don't push too far—your body's still recovering."
Kai nodded, slipping it onto his wrist. "Understood. No more mistakes. Next time… we'll be ready."
The three of them stood together, looking out over the city. The silence was heavy, but it carried a sense of purpose. The Dragon had made its move. Now it was their turn.
Kai clenched his fists, a faint red glow in his eyes pulsing steadily. "We won't run. We won't hide. And we won't lose."
Axel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's show them what we're made of."
The city below seemed unaware of the storm brewing above, but soon… it would know.
The battle wasn't over.
It was just beginning.