Azurith and Kairos locked eyes, both of them fully aware that a clash was imminent. The air between them crackled with energy, each of them sizing up the other, neither willing to back down.

In that moment of silence, Kairos took a step forward, his fists clenched, ready to unleash his fury. But just as he moved, a faint voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Keira, speaking to him through a communication device in his ear.

"Kairos," Keira's voice was firm but urgent. "This isn’t the time. You’re going up against someone who’s just awakened. Their adrenaline is at its peak, and their power will be off the charts. You’re not fighting a normal opponent here."

Kairos paused for a split second, his anger simmering beneath the surface. His eyes never left Azurith’s. "I'm fully aware of the state he is in but I don’t care. He’s just some kid. I’ll crush with him. I will show that little bastard that he shouldn't have messed with me. " His voice was filled with disdain.

Keira’s tone hardened. "Kairos, I understand your anger and where it might be coming but I’m serious. Something’s off about him. I can’t sense any elemental energy from him at all. You know what that means. He’s not like the others. It's not ideal to take a blind approach. "

Kairos finally took a long look at Azurith again. His gaze sharpened as he noticed the strange glow emanating from Azurith’s body. The nuclear blue light flickered across his skin, subtle but undeniable, like the glow of a light stick pulsing through his veins yet could not sense any elemental energy running through his body.

"I see it too," Kairos muttered, his fists tightening in frustration. "But that only makes me want to crush him more. I will break him down even at his peak. He will pay for making me remember about my past. " Keira’s voice was insistent. "Kairos, we need to evacuate. This isn’t a fight we should be picking. We don’t know what he’s capable of and besides, they didn't specifically tell us that we needed to take hostages nor we needed to succeed the mission by all means. "

For a brief moment, it seemed as if Kairos might reconsider. But then Azurith inhaled deeply, his chest expanding. In one smooth motion, his hands rose, his index and thumb coming together to form a cube shape. His pupils glowed with that same nuclear blue light as he slowly opened his eyes, a strange energy radiating from him.

The ground around them shifted. Five translucent cubes, each glowing with nuclear blue energy, appeared in a perfect formation, blocking off the entire school grounds—West, East, South, North, and above. Each one was solid, yet somehow translucent, shimmering like a force field around them, pulsing with power.

Keira’s breath caught in her throat. From her vantage point on the balcony, she could see everything. The scene before her was unlike anything she had ever encountered. The sheer size and presence of the cubes, each one towering and hovering above the ground, left her with an unsettling feeling. There was no way to escape.

Kairos, however, felt a surge of frustration and mockery welling up inside him. His eyes narrowed, the anger in him growing more intense. "So, this is how it’s going to be?" he snarled, sneering at Azurith. "You think you are in control huh? Locking yourself with me here will be your worst mistake! "

Azurith didn’t flinch. His posture was composed and focused, his expression serious and unwavering. The glow from his body intensified, but not to the point of blinding light. It was controlled, deliberate. His pupils, now completely blue, matched the intensity of the cubes.

He didn’t say a word. He simply stood there, as if daring Kairos to make the first move. The tension in the air thickened, crackling with the anticipation of the fight that was about to unfold.

As the tension thickened, Kairos clenched his fists, fury building with each heartbeat. "You think glowing like a beacon will scare me?" he growled, slamming his hand into the activation core on his chest. His body armor suit hummed to life, intricate lines glowing an intense red, pulsing like veins carrying molten energy. His helmet formed seamlessly over his head, enclosing him in an armor of raw elemental power.

Kairos’s hands ignited, roaring flames swirling violently, licking the air with a promise of destruction. "Let’s see how tough you are, glowstick," he spat, launching himself at Azurith with blinding speed.

Azurith, unbothered and composed, raised his hands, forming a cube mid-air in front of him. As Kairos’s flame-coated fists hurtled toward him, the cube materialized instantly, absorbing the brunt of the impact with an ethereal shimmer. The collision sent shockwaves through the air, but Azurith remained unfazed.

Kairos staggered back, momentarily stunned. “What the—?” he muttered.

Azurith leapt back onto another cube that formed beneath his feet, propelling himself effortlessly into the air. With gravity seemingly defied, he spun his body midair to face Kairos and conjured another cube above him, which he stuck to, standing upside down as though the laws of physics no longer applied.

Kairos’s confusion quickly turned to frustration. “Stop toying with me!” he roared, channeling more energy into his right fist. Flames flared even brighter as he prepared for another assault.

Azurith, observing from above, adjusted his stance. He placed his foot firmly on the cube and gave it a subtle push, launching himself at supersonic speed. The air cracked with the sound of a barrier breaking as Azurith’s acceleration sent him hurtling toward Kairos like a comet.

Their fists collided in a deafening explosion of energy. The nuclear-blue glow of Azurith’s power clashed violently against the fiery red of Kairos’s flames. The resulting blast threw Kairos backward, his body tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll.

As Kairos rose to his feet, coughing and battered, he saw Azurith rushing through the smoke with inhuman speed, his form a glowing blur. “Damn it!” Kairos growled, bracing himself. He raised his arms defensively, but it was futile.

Azurith descended upon him mercilessly, each strike landing with bone-shattering force. Kairos could feel the armor on his arms beginning to crack and chip away under the relentless barrage. “You’re strong,” he muttered between gritted teeth, “but I’m not done yet!”

With a roar of anger, Kairos released a surge of flame energy from his body and swung down with a fiery elbow strike. Time seemed to slow down for Azurith. His enhanced mind calculated every motion, every angle, and he sidestepped the attack effortlessly. Before Kairos could recover, Azurith spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to his helmet, shattering it into pieces and sending Kairos sprawling to the ground.

Kairos gasped for air, his body riddled with pain. His armor was in tatters, and his limbs trembled under the weight of exhaustion and defeat. Azurith, glowing with his nuclear-blue light, approached him with slow, deliberate steps, his expression unreadable yet menacing.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“No… I won’t lose to someone like you!” Kairos roared, summoning his elemental energy to forge a massive red war hammer. Fueled by desperation, he charged Azurith and brought the hammer down with all his remaining strength.

Azurith didn’t flinch. He caught the hammer effortlessly with one hand, his nuclear-blue energy seeping into the weapon. "What—?", The war hammer began to destabilize, cracks forming along its surface as Azurith’s energy overpowered it. “Huh. Pathetic,” Azurith said coldly. The hammer exploded in a violent burst of red and blue energy, sending Kairos flying once more.

Kairos lay on the ground, completely defeated, his body broken and his spirit shattered. He could only watch as Azurith advanced on him again, his glowing form almost otherworldly.

Before Azurith could deliver the final blow, a massive serpent made of pure water crashed into him, wrapping around his body and pulling him away from Kairos. The serpent’s movements were fluid yet forceful, attempting to bind Azurith in place.

“Kairos!” Keira’s voice called out as she rushed to his side, her face pale with fear and worry. She knelt down, inspecting his injuries. “You idiot! I told you to retreat!”

The water serpent continued to constrict Azurith, but cracks began to form in its surface as his power destabilized it. Azurith’s glowing form shifted, the blue light flickering with veins of black and red energy. The serpent burst apart, scattering droplets of water everywhere.

Azurith stood still for a moment, his body trembling. The black and red energy surged around him, threatening to consume him entirely. His nuclear-blue glow dimmed as he clutched his head, struggling against the foreign presence.

“Something’s wrong with him,” Keira said, panic in her voice. She created several massive spears of water and hurled them at Azurith. The spears streaked through the air, their tips aimed to incapacitate, but Azurith raised a cube to block them effortlessly.

As Azurith fought against the invading energy, a distorted voice echoed in his mind, urging him to give in. The black and red energy began to consume him further, spreading like a shadow.

“Damn it!” Keira muttered, pulling Kairos to his feet. “We’re getting out of here!” She activated their emergency teleportation device, and the two began to vanish just as Azurith’s nuclear-blue light flared back to life.

Azurith let out a guttural cry as his own energy overpowered the invasive presence. The black and red energy was consumed by the nuclear blue, which grew so bright it was nearly blinding. The glow subsided, leaving Azurith standing still, his body swaying.

Finally, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

From a distant balcony, the entire school and Caelum watched the entire scene unfold. He leaned against the railing, his expression a mix of awe and bewilderment. “What… What even is he?” he murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from Azurith’s fallen form.

----------------------------------------

Azurith groggily opened his eyes, blinking several times as his vision adjusted to the dim, sterile light of the hospital room. The faint sound of footsteps echoing from the hallway and the rhythmic ticking of a clock were the only noises breaking the silence. He turned his head, noticing a small basket of apples placed on the bedside table. A few were cut into intricate rabbit shapes, a simple yet thoughtful gesture.

Letting out a deep sigh, Azurith turned his gaze to the ceiling. The events that had transpired—the battles, the chaos—flooded back into his mind, hitting him like a wave. "So… it was all real, I awakened my power at critical moment… " he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

Glancing at the wall clock, he saw it was just past 2 PM. He sat up slowly, wincing slightly from the lingering soreness in his body, and reached for the plate of apple slices. Taking one, he popped it into his mouth, savoring the refreshing sweetness. "Not bad, thank to anyone who left them here for me. " he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Just as he was about to reach for another slice, a voice interrupted the quiet. "Finally awake, huh, champ? You’ve been out cold for a whole day."

Startled, Azurith turned his head to see a man sitting casually on a chair in the corner, scrolling through his phone. The man was dressed in a sleek black suit, without a tie. His serious expression was softened by a certain warmth, making him feel oddly trustworthy. His jet-black hair, edged with vibrant green highlights, and his piercing bright green eyes immediately caught Azurith’s attention.

"Who are you?" Azurith asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

The man slipped his phone into his pocket and stood, taking a step closer to the bed. "The name’s Zash. No surname needed, champ," he replied with a smirk.

Azurith raised an eyebrow. "Champ? Do you always call people that?"

Zash chuckled, brushing off the comment. "Only when it suits the moment, you do know that you were quite a champ for defending the whole school by yourself—you know. Well, the witnesses did say that you took quite the beating before you awaken your powers… Which usually happens in this world but rarely. " he said nonchalantly before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small candy. He held it out to Azurith—a green apple-flavored one. "Here, thought you could use something sour yet still sweet. "

Azurith caught the candy and glanced at it. "Thanks… I guess," he muttered before eyeing Zash suspiciously. "Who are you, really? And why are you here?"

Zash shrugged, avoiding the question with a casual wave of his hand. "Oh, I’m just a guy who wanted to meet the hero who saved a bunch of people, including some of his fellow students. I'm here to praise a hero. Hooray…" Zash said deliberately.

Azurith frowned but decided not to press further for now. They began to chat, their conversation surprisingly lighthearted. Zash’s easygoing demeanor made it hard for Azurith to stay guarded.

"So, not many visitors, huh? Seems unfair, considering what you did," Zash remarked after a pause.

Azurith leaned back against the pillows, his expression indifferent. "It is what it is," he replied, his tone resigned.

Zash frowned slightly at the response but didn’t comment. Instead, he tapped his chin thoughtfully before speaking again. "Actually, I did see someone leaving on my way in. Kid with bandages on his right arm. Looked like he was here to check on you."

Azurith’s eyes lit up. "That must’ve been Caelum," he said with a small smile.

Zash gave a nod and reached out, tapping Azurith on the shoulder lightly. "Well, champ, I gotta head out. Take it easy, yeah? Who knows, we might meet again. " He gave a casual wave as he walked toward the door.

Azurith watched him leave, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Huh, that guy’s something else," he murmured. "Chill, approachable… pretty charismatic, too."

Left alone once more, Azurith leaned back and stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling as the quiet once again enveloped the room.

Azurith stirred awake the following morning, his body still aching from the aftermath of the battle. Yet, something felt different—his left arm was numb, completely immobile. He turned his head to check, only to find a blonde girl sound asleep on it.

She was breathtaking in her stillness. Her hair, elegantly styled, shone like spun gold under the morning light, and her attire—a modern yet Victorian-inspired short dress—accentuated her ethereal beauty. For a moment, Azurith completely forgot about his numb arm, caught in the tranquility of the scene before him.

A sudden urge rose within him, compelling him to touch her silky blonde hair. His hand hovered close, but at the last second, he pulled back and instead gently poked her forehead. "Hey… wake up," he whispered.

The girl stirred, letting out a soft yawn before her eyes fluttered open. She blinked sleepily at him before registering her position. Startled, she quickly pulled her hands away from his arm and sat upright.

"Ah—uh, good morning!" she said, flustered, reaching for a small bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. Holding them out to Azurith, she added, "I brought these for you. I hope you get well soon."

Azurith took the flowers, momentarily entranced. The sight of her, paired with the sweet gesture, made him feel as though he were in a trance. Her diamond-like blue eyes sparkled in the light, drawing him in deeper. For a brief moment, he was lost in her gaze, the world around him fading away.

He shook his head, snapping himself out of it. "Uh, thanks," he said, holding the bouquet awkwardly. He glanced at her again and asked, "Wait, were you… here since last night?"

The girl nodded with a small smile. "Yes. You seemed so peaceful, I didn’t want to leave."

Azurith’s face flushed slightly at the thought. She sat up straighter, her movements poised and graceful, and introduced herself with a polite bow. "My name is Marianne. It’s a pleasure to meet you properly."

"Azurith," he replied, still slightly dazed.

Marianne’s lips curved into a gentle smile. "Azurith… what a unique name. It suits you," she remarked, her tone warm and sincere. "We’re actually in the same school, though we’ve never spoken. I wanted to thank you for what you did. Saving all those people—it was truly admirable."

Her words made Azurith feel both flattered and awkward. "Uh, well… I just did what I had to do, ahaha… " he muttered, trying to downplay his actions. But Marianne wasn’t having any of it.

"I think it was more than that," she said, her voice laced with admiration. "The way you fought… it was remarkable. You have such skill and bravery."

Her praise felt overwhelming, and Azurith found himself distracted again by her radiant beauty. Every word she spoke seemed to carry an extra weight, buttering him up with both sincerity and charm.

As their conversation continued, Marianne leaned forward slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "I hope we can meet again at school… maybe even become friends. Or," she added with a playful smirk, "maybe more."

Before Azurith could respond, Marianne rose gracefully from her seat. "I’ll leave you to rest now," she said with a soft wave, her voice melodic. "Take care, Azurith."

She exited the room with an air of elegance, leaving Azurith staring after her, dumbfounded.

He leaned back against the bed, his mind racing. "She was… something else," he muttered to himself. For the first time in a long while, a glimmer of excitement stirred within him. His view of life, once tinged with cynicism, seemed to shift ever so slightly. "Maybe things aren’t so bad after all…"

It wasn’t until his thoughts calmed that he noticed the flowers she had given him. Their petals looked unusually fresh—almost unnaturally so, considering they had supposedly been with her since the night before. He frowned slightly but quickly dismissed the thought, too preoccupied with memories of Marianne to dwell on it.