Malachi assessed the battlefield, his mind racing. *Why tonight of all nights?* he thought, the weight of the situation settling in.

With a determined snarl, Malachi vanished. A blur of motion, a whisper of displaced air – and then he was there, between two hulking creatures that had launched themselves at the durag-clad man.

Nearby, the man in the blue suit struggled as a creature wrapped its scaly tail around his waist, stretching its claws dangerously close.

"No, no, no, no!" Malachi shouted, his voice filled with urgency. He dashed off, his form a blur as he raced to their aid.

In one swift motion, Malachi sliced through the creature holding back the man in the blue suit, freeing him without breaking stride.

With seamless agility, he continued to race across the battlefield, his blue-aura blade a blur of brilliance that cut through anything in its path.

Nearby, a guy in a white shirt stood frozen, eyes wide and mouth agape, as the whirlwind of power zipped past him.

His short twists, neatly styled on top, contrasted sharply with the clean undercut on the sides, giving him a look of both surprise and bewilderment. "What was that?" he breathed, unable to comprehend the spectacle.

In just thirteen minutes, fifty creatures were vanquished, their remains scattered across the ground.

The scene transformed around him, showcasing Malachi's unmatched skill and speed—a legendary display of his abilities.

When it was all over, Malachi stood before a massive shattered window. His blade, once radiant, flickered and then vanished. As silence settled, ethereal forms began to rise from the fallen, drifting through the cracked walls—souls released, seeking the beyond.

The guy, wearing a durag, watched in disbelief, whispering, "Is this real?" as he crossed himself. The man in the blue suit, usually unflappable, loosened his tie and muttered, "I’ve seen some things, but nothing like this."

Noah, regaining his senses, was frozen in awe. "How... do you explain this?" he wondered aloud, his voice tinged with fear and wonder. The room remained hushed, filled only with the soft rustle of spirits ascending, leaving the group bound in shared awe at the extraordinary sight.

Malachi, still huffing from the battle, raised his gaze to the shimmering forms ascending through the air.

Narrowing his eyes, he tried to pierce the mystery of what he was witnessing. *What on earth are these?* he pondered, his mind grappling with the reality of the souls drifting beyond. The scene unfolded like a dream—otherworldly and profoundly unsettling—casting a shadow over the night's already incredulous events.

As Noah spoke, two guys walked up to him—one wearing a durag, the other in a white shirt.“What's up, yo!” the guy in the durag called as he approached Noah, giving a quick hand clap before pulling Noah in for a one-armed hug.

“I’m Jermaine!” He then stepped back and gestured toward Fabian. “This is my homeboy, Fabian.”

"Great to meet you both," Noah said, shaking their hands. Malachi, who was within earshot, listened in, curious about their introductions.

Impressed by their skills, Noah said, "You guys were doing your thing out there! What powers do you have?".

Jermaine nodded, a confident grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, I’m pretty strong, and my body feels tougher than usual. It’s kinda wild.”

He held out his arm, transforming it into a dense, bone-like structure that resembled woven armor. Beneath this, blood-red fiber tissue showed through, adding a striking contrast. “Check this out,” he said.

I can do this now, and I ain’t mad at it,” he said, flexing with pride.Fabian laughed a bit nervously.

"Yo, I just figured out I can grab light, like actually catch it, soak it up, and then use it somehow. It's crazy, right? I'm still trying to wrap my head around how that's even possible."

The guy in the singed blue suit approached, his distinct features a harmonious blend of African and Chinese descent.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Noah glanced at the guy in the blue suit, recognizing him instantly. "Ronaldo, is that you? Man, you and me used to tear it up in primary school!" he said, pulling him into a one-arm hug.

Ronaldo grinned, asking, "How you been, Noah?"

Noah chuckled, replying, "I've seen better days, bro."

Jermaine, curious, chimed in, "So, Ronaldo, what powers you got?"

Ronaldo flexed his fingers, and an orb of fiery energy crackled to life in his palm, shimmering with intensity before it diffused and vanished, leaving the group in stunned silence.

Ronaldo chuckled, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Man, I'm not entirely sure what it is, but whatever it does, it definitely goes boom."

Jermaine leaned in, a hint of envy mixed with curiosity in his eyes. "Man, I'm the only one here without any cool powers."

Malachi approached the group, his expression betraying a hint of frustration.

"You've been awakened," he stated matter-of-factly. "It's nothing out of the ordinary these days - like half the world is going through this same thing."

He let that sink in before adding, "You've tapped into a deeper level of awareness. Those abilities you're noticing? They're part of this change."

The easygoing way they handled the news surprised him. Malachi still disliked being thrust into the role of mentor, but here he was, once again, guiding them through the unexpected.

Malachi sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I know this is overwhelming. You're not alone—this awakening is happening to many people."

"You've reached a higher state of consciousness, with all its responsibilities," he continued, pausing to run a hand through his hair. "I can't give you all the answers; you'll have to find your own way. But you're not alone in this. We're all navigating this together."

Fabian chimed in, "What causes it?"

Malachi met his gaze, his voice steady. "The near-death experience you just went through. That's often what triggers it."

Jermaine perked up and asked, “Wait, do you mean a spiritual awakening?”

Noah chuckled, “Yup, that’s one way to put it.”

Jermaine’s face lit up. “Man, I’ve been on my spiritual journey for a while now.

I used to be a boxing champ, but after an injury, I lost everything. My brother passed away, and I moved to St. Catherine to find some peace—and God.

Now, all this is happening!”

The guys around him nodded, understanding his struggles. Noah and Fabian offered their sympathy, and Malachi, though itching to leave, realized he had to step up and take some responsibility, even though he wasn’t thrilled about it.

Just then, Ronaldo glanced around and said, "Alright, but let's not ignore the elephant in the room—why did those creatures attack us in the first place?"

Fabian scratched his head. "Maybe they sensed our powers and saw us as a threat?"

Noah shook his head, "Nah, I don't think that's it. I guess they attacked us after our powers manifested. I think they need our powers to charge themselves up somehow."

Everyone turned to look at Malachi, who just raised an eyebrow as if to say, "What you looking at me for ?"

Suddenly, a girl crashed through the ballroom's glass doors, tripping over bodies scattered in her way.

"Somebody help!" she shouted, her voice filled with panic.

She glanced back just in time to see two creatures burst through the doors, shattering them into pieces. She screamed and fell to the floor, terror evident in her eyes.

In an instant, Malachi vanished, leaving behind a swirling trail of disrupted air marking his path.

Wind blew against the group as Noah walked up, grinning from ear to ear. "Yo! Did you see that?" he laughed, his fists playfully covering his mouth in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Malachi had already scooped up the girl. Right then, Ronaldo used his explosive powers to rocket himself forward, blasting away the creatures.

Malachi landed gracefully on the staircase with the girl in tow, glancing up to where Bianca and the others were.

He felt a mix of relief and annoyance that they’d taken off like that.

The girl sat there, crying and trembling, unable to hide her fear. Her hair was braided, and she wore a black dress now smeared with blood, clearly shaken by whatever had happened.

As the air pulsed with the chaotic energy swirling around Alexis, Malachi felt a familiar reluctance tugging at him.

The room crackled with tension, like the calm before a storm about to break. He knew what he had to do—use the lunar powers he'd always tried to keep hidden, powers his family had been known for, but that he'd resisted using to carve his own path.

He glanced over at Alexis, seeing the fear and confusion etched into her features. Her wild, grey eyes betrayed her struggle, a battle to contain the power threatening to tear free

.

Drawing a deep breath, Malachi closed his eyes, feeling the moon's pull—a comforting pulse that matched his heartbeat. Memories of his uncle's relentless training in the lunar technique resurfaced, pushing him to his limits until his body broke.

The months spent in the hospital healing had left him traumatized, and he vowed never to use that power again. Yet now, its call was undeniable.

Malachi raised one arm, reaching into the air to harness the lunar energy, noting to himself, "Haven't done this in years." He lifted his other hand, feeling the energy flow toward him. Blue veins pulsed across his skin, absorbing the vibrant force with each heartbeat.

He focused, the energy coursing through him like a living tide, and extended his palm toward Alexis.

As he concentrated, a silvery-blue cube materialized around her, its walls shimmering with a soft, ethereal glow that transformed the chaos into a moment of serene encapsulation.

"Alright," he called out, his voice cutting through the storm with steady assurance. "Go ahead, let it go."

Her body shimmered with swirling gold energy, anxiety flickering in her eyes as she stammered, "I don't know how."

Malachi, maintaining his calm, suggested with a slight nod, "How about you just scream?"

Her scream erupted, piercing the air as a shockwave exploded; the entire building shuddered under rapid seismic tremors.

Malachi’s hands shaped an invisible box, wrestling to contain the surging energy within the lunar cocoon. His muscles strained, the power a relentless beast pushing against his control.

"Is this ever going to stop?" he muttered, sweat beading on his brow as he fought to grip the wild force threatening their hold.

Then, without warning, the tremors smoothed into stillness. Exhaustion pulled at Malachi as he dropped his hands, spent but relieved, the maelstrom within finally calmed.

Alexis exhaled, a sigh of relief as though awakening from a nightmare.

Her eyes, still wide, met Malachi's, and in that moment, he knew they'd crossed a threshold—he'd used his powers not out of obligation, but out of necessity, and it had made a difference.

"I'm sorry," Alexis whispered, her voice now a soft echo in the peaceful quiet that followed.

Malachi gave a small nod, a smile touching his lips. "It's all good now," he reassured her.

The door swung open as the guys rushed back in, concern etched on their faces.

"Everything okay?" one of them asked, eyes darting between them.

Alexis nodded. "Yeah, it was Malachi. He stopped it."

Noah turned to Malachi, eyebrows raised. "How did you do that?"

Before Malachi could respond, a sudden spike in karmic energy coursed through him, familiar yet unsettling. He sensed Miguel and Deon's energies clashing intensely nearby.

"Hold that thought," Malachi said, just as the side wall exploded inward.

A figure crashed through, with Miguel and Deon in pursuit. Malachi's eyes widened in shock, his face etched with disbelief.

The air throbbed with tension, a silent promise of the storm to come, as the enigmatic figure's presence foreshadowed a larger mystery yet to unfold..

To be continued