Azurith left the hospital as the evening sun painted the sky in shades of warm orange and crimson. The glow bathed the city streets in a soft, nostalgic light, and as he walked, his mind wandered.

  First, Zash—who was he? Why was he there when Azurith was hospitalized? The questions nagged at him, their answers eluding his grasp. Then came Marianne, her presence still fresh in his thoughts. The mere memory of her made his face warm, a flustered smile creeping across his lips.

  Next, his thoughts turned to his newfound power. He couldn’t help but marvel at how it placed him on equal footing with the others around him—something he had desired for so long.

  The urge to experiment was irresistible. With a mere thought, a glowing, nuclear-blue cube materialized before him. The sudden appearance caught him off guard, and before he could react, his momentum carried him face-first into it.

  “Ow!” Azurith stumbled back, rubbing his nose. He glanced around nervously, hoping no one had witnessed his clumsy moment. With another thought, the cube vanished as swiftly as it had appeared. " Oh, that's fast" he blinked in surprise. How convenient… but is this all I can do? Hmm that's kinda… niche. "

  Shrugging off the thought for now, he resumed his walk home. The familiar sight of his house brought a sense of relief, though he paused when he noticed the front door slightly ajar. His pulse quickened, and he approached cautiously.

  Stepping inside, his senses were immediately greeted by the rich aroma of freshly cooked food wafting from the kitchen. He followed the smell to the dining area, where a table laden with a feast awaited. His mother and father were bustling around, finishing the preparations.

  The moment his mother spotted him, she dropped everything and rushed to him, throwing her arms around him tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “I was so worried about you! You don’t know how much we prayed for your recovery!”

  His father followed, placing a reassuring hand on Azurith’s shoulder. “We’re glad you’re back, son. Welcome home.”

  For the first time in years, Azurith sat down to a proper family meal. The warmth of their company, the laughter, and the delicious food filled a void in his heart he didn’t realize had grown so large.

  As the meal wound down, curiosity got the better of him. “How did you guys manage to prepare so much food? It’s amazing!”

  His parents exchanged a knowing glance before his father replied, “We had some help. A man in a black suit dropped by earlier. He said he’d be waiting for you upstairs.”

  Azurith’s heart skipped a beat. Concern crept into his expression, but he quickly masked it with a smile " Oh… How convenient… " . He exchanged farewells with his parents, grateful for the rare joy of their company, and made his way upstairs.

  His room door was slightly ajar, the faint sound of a can popping open reaching his ears. Steeling himself, he pushed the door open to find Zash lounging casually in his gaming chair, sipping from an energy drink.

  The Zash turned and smirked. “Did you eat well?”

  Zash leaned back in the chair with an easy grin. "Hey, champ."

  Azurith's eye twitched at the nickname, but he let it slide. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

  “How was the food? I dropped by earlier and helped your parents out,” Zash continued, twirling the empty can in his hand. “Your mom and dad? Great folks. It’s been a while since I’ve met people that nice.”

  Azurith stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “Alright, enough. Why are you here?”

  Zash ignored the question, spinning the chair back to face the computer. “Geez, man… I get that you’re at that age, but damn, try closing the tabs, will ya?”

  Azurith froze. His face turned crimson. “W-What?! I didn’t—”

  “Oh, relax, I’m not judging.” Zash smirked, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve got good taste, though. Cat girls and bunny girls? Classic. Having a mild kink like that isn't a problem. ”

  Azurith groaned, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. “I… It’s not like that…” He moved to sit on the edge of the bed beside Zash, still flustered.

  Zash sipped his energy drink, his tone casual as ever. “So, champ, let’s see it.”

  “See what?” Azurith asked cautiously.

  “Your power,” Zash said, nodding towards him.

  Azurith hesitated before holding out a hand. With a thought, the nuclear-blue cube materialized before him.

  Zash leaned forward, poking the cube with his fingertip. He pulled his hand back almost immediately, his brow furrowed. “Huh. That’s… odd.”

  “What is?” Azurith asked, looking from the cube to Zash.

  “This thing’s supposed to be made of energy, right? But I don’t feel any elemental charge coming off it. None of the usual stuff you'd expect. It’s… blank.” Zash’s tone was contemplative, his eyes fixed on the cube. “Weird. Really weird.”

  Azurith frowned. “Is that bad?”

  “Nah, not bad. Just different, for all I know is that it might be just really special… ” Zash said, standing and stretching lazily. He turned back to Azurith with a curious look. “Can you do anything else with it?”

  “I… I don’t know. I haven’t really tried,” Azurith admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Well, we’ll work on that,” Zash said, clapping a hand on Azurith’s shoulder. His voice softened slightly, carrying a sincerity that caught Azurith off guard. “Listen, kid. With a power like this, you could be a protector. Save lives, help people. You could be a hero. This may seems overwhelming but you have been gifted and I encourage you to use it for good. ”

  Azurith blinked, momentarily speechless. “A… hero?”

  “Yeah,” Zash nodded, his grin returning. “Even if your power’s not as flashy or flexible as the others, you’ve got potential. I’ll help you figure it out. I’ll be your mentor, champ. We’ll make it work.”

  Azurith felt a strange mix of emotions at Zash’s words—surprise, unease, and an odd spark of willingness. He managed a small nod. “Okay… I guess.”

  Zash smirked and turned toward the door. “Good talk. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early. Oh, and one last thing—”

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  Azurith raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

  “Do you like pancakes?” Zash asked, already halfway out the door.

  “Uh… yeah, I do,” Azurith replied, puzzled.

  “Good. You’re gonna need the carbs.” With that, Zash closed the door behind him, leaving Azurith alone with his thoughts and the faint smell of energy drink lingering in the air.

  Zash lingered for a moment, his back pressed against the door to Azurith’s room. The speech he had just delivered about becoming the ultimate protector for the people echoed in his mind, but as he closed his eyes for just a beat, something shifted within him. A faint sadness, a longing, swept over him, and his face softened. His thoughts drifted briefly to the past—promises made, battles fought. His hand clenched around the doorframe, as if bracing against a familiar weight, the weight of responsibilities, regrets, and hopes.

  With a heavy sigh, he pushed off the door and made his way down the stairs.

  Suddenly, his communicator buzzed in his pocket.

  He pulled it out and answered briskly. “Hello?”

  On the other end, a rush of static followed by a young woman’s voice, breathless, came through. “Zash? Is that you? The Elemental Sage Zash?”

  “Yes, it’s me,” Zash replied, his tone already sharp as his mind shifted into focus. “What’s going on?”

  There was a brief pause before the woman’s voice cut through the air again, more urgent now. “We need you at the construction site—north of the empire, near the city expansion zone. They were digging when they uncovered… something. Aetherleech tunnels, and they’re… they’re on a rampage. They’ve already started attacking, and since you are quite close, we need you there now!”

  Zash’s expression immediately hardened, his grip tightening around the communicator as he walked toward the door. “I'll be on my way.”

  Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and rushed outside into the cool night air. His sharp eyes narrowed as he surveyed the area for a moment before pushing forward with haste and his body effortlessly flew up into the air.

  ---

  The construction site is a stark contrast between the half-finished buildings and the desolate, barren land beyond. Workers ran in all directions, frantic and disoriented. The once bustling site was now chaotic, with the air filled with the sounds of shrill screams and hurried footsteps.

  Aetherleech. The creatures had emerged, their monstrous, skeletal bodies gliding across the ground with unnerving speed. Their sharp, bony appendages and glowing, suction tubes pulsed as they closed in on the workers.

  One of the workers screamed as an Aetherleech lunged at him, its elongated, jagged appendage plunging through his second heart, draining his energy in a single, swift motion. The man’s body convulsed violently before falling lifeless to the ground. The Aetherleech swelled as it absorbed the energy, its form growing grotesquely fuller as the life force was siphoned away.

  A few workers tried to fight back, unleashing their elemental abilities, but their powers were weak, barely more than sparks against the onslaught of Aetherleech.

  Suddenly, the scene shifted—three S.E.F agents appeared, their elemental powers crackling through the air with lethal precision.

  Sera, the Water Agent, was the first to act. She raised her hands, and a massive wave of water surged from the ground, crashing into the Aetherleech with a deafening roar. The creatures screeched, flung off-course by the sudden flood of liquid force.

  “We need to hold them off!” Sera’s voice rang out, commanding and determined.

  Kian, the Wind Agent, swung his arms sharply, creating fierce gusts of wind that sliced through the air like blades. The Aetherleech struggled against the force, but Kian’s control was flawless, sending them tumbling back.

  “Keep pushing them back! We can’t let them reach the workers!” Kian’s words were strained, but his resolve was unwavering.

  Elira, the Electricity Agent, raised her arms, her body crackling with arcs of blue lightning. She let loose a surge of energy, sending bolts of electricity shooting toward the Aetherleech, their bodies convulsing violently under the strikes.

  “Don’t let them get too close!” Elira shouted, her voice laced with urgency. “We’re running low on power!”

  The agents fought with all their might, their powers in perfect harmony as they defended the workers and pushed the Aetherleech back. But the creatures were relentless, their dark forms pressing forward.

  Just as Elira readied herself to strike again, a loud crack rang through the air. One of the Aetherleech lunged at her from behind, but a bullet whizzed past her, striking the suction tube of the creature and causing it to screech in agony. The creature recoiled, and the Aetherleech fell to the ground.

  Rael, a Geared Agent, appeared from the shadows, rifle in hand. His movements were swift and decisive, each shot landing true. He eliminated the Aetherleech one by one, cutting through their ranks with brutal efficiency.

  “Clear the area!” Rael barked, his voice cold and commanding. He moved forward, relentless in his mission. The Aetherleech fell before him like wheat before a scythe.

  Sera looked at him, her breath coming in sharp pants. “Rael’s here. We’ve got a fighting chance now.”

  As the last of the Aetherleech were dispatched, the agents stood for a moment, their bodies sagging with exhaustion. The flickering glow of their elemental energy began to fade, leaving them drained, their power spent.

  “We need to check the perimeter,” Sera said, voice still strained. “There could be more.”

  But as she spoke, a chilling screech echoed from the depths of the tunnel. The ground shook, and from the darkness, more Aetherleech emerged—more of them, and something else…

  A massive form, much larger than the rest, appeared from the shadows. Its body was thicker, its suction tubes longer, pulsing with an unnatural glow. This one was different. This one was the Alpha. It towered over its pack, its very presence commanding.

  The three agents paused, their faces etched with exhaustion. Kian, his chest heaving, let out a breath. “This is bad.”

  But the Alpha was already charging, its eyes locked on the agents.

  Elira’s hand crackled with energy, her stance defensive. “We can’t hold back anymore. It’s all or nothing!”

  The agents braced themselves, their bodies once again glowing with their elemental power. They could feel the weight of their exhaustion, but they knew they had no choice.

  And just as the first wave of Aetherleech surged forward, Zash appeared at the edge of the battlefield, his figure cutting through the smoke like a beacon.

  “I will take it from here Kiddos.” Zash’s voice, calm but fierce, carried across the field.

  The battle was far from over, but with Zash’s arrival, there was a flicker of hope amidst the chaos.

  ---

  Zash’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the mass of Aetherleech before him. His expression hardened, the playful edge of his earlier demeanor completely erased. The once-chaotic battlefield fell silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. The agents who had been fighting beside him exchanged glances, one of them whispering under his breath.

  “That’s the Elemental Sage, isn’t it?” Kian muttered, voice trembling slightly despite his professional composure. "The wind… it’s like it’s… drawn to him."

  Sera, who had been catching her breath, looked reassured. “Then this will be over quickly.”

  Zash’s body suddenly flared with a vivid green glow. The wind around him grew erratic, swirling faster and faster, as if responding to his every movement. The Aetherleech froze for a heartbeat, sensing the power radiating from him. Then, with a blood-curdling screech, they surged forward, their bodies moving like a dark tide crashing toward the shore.

  Zash closed his eyes briefly, exhaling slowly as if preparing for the inevitable. The wind around him howled, and he charged into the fray, moving faster than the eye could follow. He weaved effortlessly through the oncoming Aetherleech, each of his movements precise, calculated, and devastating.

  With each step, his body enchanted by the wind’s energy, Zash became a blur—a phantom in motion. His punches were like the force of a storm, each strike breaking the sound barrier, sending Aetherleech hurtling backward in violent arcs. His legs, too, were empowered by the wind, his kicks shattering the air with a thunderous crack that echoed across the battlefield. He was a whirl of destruction, his mastery of the enchantment technique making his body almost untouchable.

  One by one, the Aetherleech fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground with sickening thuds, torn apart by Zash's raw power. He moved like a hurricane, his every strike a precision-guided missile. Even as the wave of Aetherleech tried to close in on him, their attempts were futile, as his punches and kicks obliterated them before they could even get close. His power was undeniable.

  “Is this… really happening?”Elira whispered, her voice filled with awe as she watched the destruction unfold. “This is beyond anything we could ever do…”

  The remaining Aetherleech, sensing the shift in the tide, hesitated. Their pack instinct kicked in, and they began to gather around their Alpha, a massive figure emerging from the depths of the tunnel.

  Zash, standing in the center of a battlefield littered with fallen Aetherleech, glanced up, his eyes locking onto the Alpha. The moment of silence stretched, and Zash’s stance shifted, more relaxed than before, as if he had already won the battle.

  Then the Alpha’s body began to convulse, and multiple thick, serpentine tubes shot out from its form, each one reaching toward the fallen Aetherleech bodies. A terrifying sucking noise filled the air as the Alpha siphoned the energy from its pack, revitalizing itself in the process.

  The Alpha let out a deafening screech, and Zash's eyes widened in confusion. The creature’s mouth began to glow with an eerie light as it formed a massive orb of energy in front of it. Without warning, the orb shot out in a powerful beam, cutting through the air with a sound like tearing fabric. Zash’s instincts flared—he watched as the beam sliced through the scaffolding above, effortlessly severing it in half.

  The scaffolding, now falling toward the workers and the exhausted agents, was a fatal threat. Zash’s mind snapped into action. His body surged forward, faster than anyone could comprehend. His hands gripped the metal structure with an almost supernatural strength, and with a massive burst of wind energy, he halted its descent, pushing it back into the air.

  His hands trembled with the effort, the green wind energy crackling around his body, but he held the scaffolding in place. His eyes, filled with unshakable resolve, locked onto the Alpha, which was already gathering another beam of energy, its form crackling with power. Zash knew what was coming next.

  "Enough!" Zash roared.

  He raised one hand toward the Alpha, the air around him compressing rapidly as he drew in on his power. In an instant, the wind surged at a speed of 6000 mph. The ground beneath him cracked as the air tore apart with an explosive force. The Alpha, still charging its beam, didn’t stand a chance.

  The moment Zash released the pressure, the air around him shattered with a deafening boom, and the Alpha’s body was sent hurtling backward into the stone wall with such force that it splintered upon impact. Its massive form was crushed almost instantly, reduced to a bloody mess, its energy source extinguished in a flash.

  The remaining Aetherleech hesitated, fear now creeping into their savage eyes. Slowly, they began to scatter back into the dark tunnel, vanishing into the depths from which they came. Zash stood, chest heaving from exertion, his body glowing brightly with the aftermath of his power.

  With a final exhale, the green energy around him flickered and faded. He lowered the scaffolding onto the ground gently, ensuring the workers below were safe. The S.E.F agents, still in awe, looked on, their faces pale and wide-eyed.

  The workers, who had been paralyzed by fear moments before, erupted into cheers, their voices ringing with relief. Zash’s actions had saved them all, and they knew it. But for Zash, the battle was just another moment in his endless quest for control.

  Kian, his voice still shaky from witnessing the display of raw power, turned to his comrades. “That was… that was the Elemental Sage… We’re not even worthy to be in his presence.” he said dramatically.

  Zash, hearing their words, only gave them a curt nod, his expression unreadable. The cheers of the workers slowly faded as the reality of the battle set in, and the three agents exchanged looks, still processing what they had just witnessed.

  “Let’s get back to base,” Sera murmured, her hand trembling as she wiped sweat from her brow. “I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like that again.”

  As Zash turned to leave, he glanced briefly at the tunnel from which the Aetherleech had emerged. Despite the victory, he felt a flicker of unease deep in his chest. There was something more to this attack, something he hadn’t yet uncovered. And he would find out soon enough.

  The battle had ended. But the war was just beginning.

  ---