Little by little, it all came rushing back, although it didn’t seem to be the same place I was a few seconds ago. The air-the air was warmer, the power was out and the only sources of light were the moon, the stars and a series of fires that stretched as far as the eye could see.

I was surrounded by ruins. And I wasn’t in Heraklion. I could see the remains of giant skyscrapers in the distance, the roads were too wide, and the few intact and readable signs I could see were in English only.

I looked around, also taking notice of dozens of bodies scattered across the all but destroyed city. I also looked down at my exposed hand, but neither was on purpose, almost like my body was on autopilot and I was along for the ride–wherever that led.

I looked around, also taking notice of dozens of bodies scattered across the all but destroyed city. I also looked down at my exposed hand, but neither was on purpose, almost like my body was on autopilot and I was along for the ride–wherever that led.

Dammit. What had I managed to get myself into? I tried to move on my own command, to go out and find any survivors, to find anyone that could help me figure out what was going on.

“I tried to fix their mistakes, save their world, and they moved heaven and hell to stop me. And now they send a single man. They send…you,” said a voice from behind me.

I didn’t know who it was, but his tone and inflection, everything about it angered me to my very core. It was patronising, arrogant, a bit disappointed even. Every word sounded like someone so assured of their domination and power that the thought of stress or anxiety was beneath them.

And my body seemed to agree if the clenching of my fists and grinding of my teeth were anything to go by. I turned around–once again involuntarily–and I saw him. Clad in a black spandex suit with a big silver P on his chest and matching boots and belt was looking down on me.

Or I assumed he was at least. His face, clean shaven, square jaw, similar to Alpha Surge in a weird way, was pointing down at me, but his eyes were glowing with a fiery blue colour, so much so that it actually looked a little painful.

“Paragon!” I shouted with a voice that wasn’t my own–it was deeper, lower, and had within it anger and hate I had never felt, at least not towards another human being. “Your lackeys have either seen sense and betrayed you, or fallen. Now’s your turn. Your time is up.”

The man, Paragon was his name apparently, was a villain. Or at least I would hope so. He definitely sounded like one, but then again, I, whoever I was, didn’t sound like the epitome of heroism either. There was a sadistic joy buzzing throughout my whole body, so much so that I could feel every hair of my body stand in attention from it.

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“Alex!?”

A female voice? Was that..Birgit? How did she-

“Get up you moron! If all you can do is destroy people, at least don’t faint after doing it!”

Maria? I couldn’t really make out the voice, but everything definitely did sound like something she would say…especially to me. Wait-Paragon was no longer there.

And the air started getting colder. Like winter was on the horizon, like Birgit was near me, and her power in full swing. My eyes felt heavy, my body was slightly numb and the ringing overtook my senses once more.

I looked down and noticed that my body was my own again, down to the one missing glove and I could move on my own again.

A warming sensation went through my whole body and I took in a deep breath, finding myself able to once more. I closed my eyes momentarily. The ringing subsided, replaced with various shouting, all of it in Greek.

“What? What’s going on?” I said groggily as I looked into the visor covered eyes of Energiakos. He was touching my left arm and a blue glow was coming off the area, and the veins on that arm were glowing as well.

My head was on top of Birgit’s lap–a fact that maybe would have embarrassed me at any other time–and I could feel her cold hands on my shoulder, their grip slightly relaxing after a few moments of my being awake.

Maria was looking at me as well with an expression I couldn’t read properly and she was also clutching the glove I’d taken off with both of her hands, while Therapeftria was also staring at me for some reason, evident confusion in her face. Aiolos and Atroti were standing in front of us, looking at the small ice mount that Birgit had made.

“Nice to meet you,” said Energiakos awkwardly after a few moments of silence. “I’m not really good with this part. But I have to say that you have a really intense power.”

My power? I looked down at myself, horrified that I might have actually touched any exposed skin, relieved when I didn’t see anything.

Wait.

I looked around, but there wasn’t anything to indicate that I had hurt anyone either–well except from the man that had attacked us.

“What-What do you mean?” I asked, struggling to speak, like I was just waking up from a long nap. But still…I needed to know. Who had I hurt with my powers this time and what exactly had happened?

“It took a surprising amount of power to heal you,” said Therapeftria in a tone of barely restrained wonder. “Something like this has a three point fifteen chance of happening. I’ve only heard of this happening to top heroes who overexerted their powers, or ones with respiratory issues.

“What happened to you was a complication between your power and Asthma. To be blunt, your organism all but shut down and you practically died for a few moments. I was barely able to save you.”

Died? Died?! I couldn’t have died. I was…I was only nineteen years old.

I wasn’t even close to being a Hero yet. For the first time in five years I was on the track to achieving my dream and I-I almost- Iraklis! I hadn’t even made up with him yet. How could I die without-My parents! I couldn’t leave them alone! I couldn’t make them lose their only son- And even Birgit, the first friend I had made since I was twelve years old. I couldn’t-I couldn’t-I couldn’t breathe.

I needed to focus. To calm myself. I didn't need another asthma attack at that moment. I closed my eyes and focused on steadying my breathing.

I was still there.

I was alive.

I was alive.