A few moments later, three of Vision's clones burst from the ground. Each of them looked furious.
"Why didn't you go after us?" they demanded in unison.
Fenix slowly opened his eyes, a smirk forming.
"Why would I?"
At that same moment, he rose to his feet. His hands began glowing a bright red—
Then beams of heat shot up from beneath the clones.
All three exploded instantly, dissolving into mist.
Fenix took a few slow steps forward,
"So that's where you're hiding," he muttered, then he plunged his hand into the concrete as if it were liquid.
A second later, he plucked Vision out from beneath the arena floor.
Vision's limp body was covered in burns, his clothes in tatters.
"Don't worry… he's alive," Fenix said casually, tossing him aside like a discarded rag.
Silence gripped the arena. Then—
"...The winner is Fenix!" the announcer shouted. "Even I don't know how he did that!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Fenix stepped off the field and approached Aura, smiling.
"How…?" Aura began, stunned—
Fenix cut her off with a sudden, passionate kiss. He pulled her close by the waist.
"He wanted me to chase his clones so he could gain some distance from the blast and detonate them underground," Fenix murmured. "I waited instead... I'm sorry I shouldn't have let the match drag on…"
He leaned closer, adding,
"I was starting to miss you."
Aura blushed and pushed his face away.
"Okay! My heart can't take much more of this," she said coolly.
Fenix gently pulled her hands back down, smiling warmly.
"I love seeing you so flustered, Aura."
Her blush deepened.
"…You really make me nervous sometimes," she muttered.
Fenix laughed softly.
He rested his forehead against hers, then he kissed her again...
once... twice... the kisses trailing lower toward her neck.
"Alright, that's enough. You're making me sick!"
Mirror shouted, stepping in and pulling them apart.
Fenix pouted. Even Aura looked faintly disappointed.
"Anyway, Aura, your match is next," she noted.
"Oh—right…" Aura replied, then she glanced toward the arena as the paramedics carried Vision away, "I hope Vision isn't too badly injured," she muttered.
"I'm sure he's fine," Fenix replied, a faintly menacing smile gracing his lips as he watched the same scene.
"Due to the amount of cleanup required from the last match, there will be a short intermission. We apologize for the delay," the announcer said.
Fenix brightened immediately, grabbed Aura's hand, and started dragging her away.
"Where are we going?!" Aura asked, stumbling slightly behind him.
"Let's go get something to eat while we wait!"
She smiled despite herself, tightening her grip on his hand as she caught up beside him.
"Alright… that sounds good."
The two visited the food stalls, buying pizza, water, and funnel cakes.
After the arena was repaired, they returned to await the next match.
"I'm sure everyone here can barely contain their anticipation!" the announcer began. "The next two contestants are two promising Maledictus students! First is—"
A deafening crash cut him off.
Something slammed into the center of the arena.
Dust exploded into the air, forcing the crowd to shield their faces.
Aura squinted through the haze, straining to see.
As the dust settled, a strange aircraft sat embedded in the battlefield.
A tall man stepped out... he had a strong presence and looked worn, like someone who had survived countless wars.
"Students of Maledictus," he said, his voice carrying across the arena. "My name is Pierce… and I've come to liberate you."
Panic erupted in the stadium.
The audience sprang from their seats and rushed toward the exit.
Aura turned to run, too, but Fenix caught her wrist.
She froze and looked up at him, confused.
Something metallic snapped around her wrist in his grip.
She instantly felt her power weaken—like it was being drained away.
"What are you—" she started.
He cut her off with a tender kiss.
Aura's thoughts scattered, and her heart quickened.
Even in this chaos, her body didn't react the way it should have. The only thing she could feel was affection when his lips were pressed against hers, so... she put up no resistance. All she gave was warmth, softness… and compliance.
As she was swept away in those feelings, something small and hard slipped into her mouth from his.
Her eyes widened. That's when she began to panic, but it was too late, because the instinct to breathe and to swallow... had already betrayed her.
She choked whatever it was down.
The world around her became blurry, and her limbs went heavy.
The last thing she felt was Fenix's arms tightening around her and hugging her close as everything went dark.
The audience was still scrambling toward the exits, but the doors were barricaded by armed soldiers.
Some resisted, yet most were subdued quickly, and then strange devices that suppressed their abilities were forced onto their wrists.
After that, the attackers herded the students and staff toward the shuttles hovering above the academy.
But not all... Veil, Caster, and Mirror were among the few who stood their ground.
Mirror was at the center, maintaining an invisible barrier around the three. It repelled the approaching soldiers.
As he readied to attack, Veil's eyes glowed bright magenta.
"Stay back!" he commanded.
Every soldier within earshot froze.
Caster focused, boosting Mirror's stamina so she could maintain the shield she had created.
It held, keeping them safe...
Then more soldiers arrived.
The enemies pressed buttons on the side of their helmets before advancing closer.
After connecting with her barrier, they began using the butts of their weapons to hammer against it; it flickered unstably.
"Stop!" Veil commanded.
But nothing happened.
"Leave!" he yelled, invoking his ability again.
Still nothing.
That was the moment when he realized their helmets had deafened them to his voice.
Unfortunately, his power—Ultimate Submission—only worked on those who could hear him.
The academy had also used drugs to weaken Veil's ability, so this was his limit. He clenched his jaw and felt powerless as the soldiers closed in.
Mirror's shield began failing.
They were outnumbered, unarmed, and at a clear, severe disadvantage.
The instant her barrier shattered, Caster finally made his move, muttering,
"Speed, 500%."
He blurred forward, tearing through the soldiers—snatching their weapons, breaking them, and then swiftly dropping enemies one by one.
He moved again...
And again... zooming through the horde of invaders, knocking out dozens of them before anyone could blink...
Then—
A bolt of electricity tore across the field.
It struck him mid-motion, his muscles contracted, he convulsed wildly, then Caster's eyes rolled back, as he collapsed to the ground.
"Caster!" Mirror screamed, reaching toward him.
A second later...
She and Veil were also struck, and then they dropped as well.
Pierce lowered his hand, the electricity fading from his fingertips.
"…Such a shame," he murmured, staring down at them. "I never wanted to harm my own people."
A tear formed in his eye, but he wiped it away and gave a quiet command,
"Put them on the ship with the others."
The soldiers nodded and obeyed.
While this was happening, Fenix carried Aura's sleeping body onto the ship, passing Pierce without hesitation.
"It's nice to see you again, son," Pierce said, his voice warm as he ruffled Fenix's hair, his expression full of affection.
Fenix recoiled from the touch, then he gave a weak smile. "Yeah… I missed you, too."
He looked down at Aura, and his chest tightened with worry. How will she react when she wakes up? Will she ever forgive me for this?
"Don't worry… they'll all understand why we had to do this soon," Pierce reassured him.
It eased Fenix's concern. Only slightly.
All the others from the academy were locked up in the lower deck of the aircraft.
Aura was the only one placed in a soft bed in an unfamiliar room.
Fenix stood in the farthest corner, his eyes filled with sadness... as if he were expecting to get scolded.
"Where am I?" Aura asked.
She held her head. The memories of the previous day were fragmented and hazy, and she was unable to separate dream from reality.
"This is my room… on my dad's personal air shuttle," Fenix explained.
She stared at him silently, so he continued.
"I… my mission was to infiltrate the school and—" He paused, then exhaled before continuing, "No… I should start from the beginning, so it's not confusing."
Fenix took a deep breath.
"An ALPHA Maledictus General adopted me. His name is Pierce Torch. He was the only one powerful enough to control me—and... also the only person who wanted to raise me. He taught me how to fight… how to control my powers… everything."
He hesitated for a moment, then continued,
"He also… disagrees with how our people are treated across the world. So, for years, he's been planning to liberate the cursed. Moving people like us to a hidden island where we can be free. Your school was next on the list. I was the right age to enroll, so… I agreed to help him."
His words were too much for her to process right away.
Aura repeated them over and over in her mind.
Several long, uncomfortable minutes passed before she finally spoke.
"Where are you taking us…? To that island?"
The question eased Fenix slightly, and he stepped closer.
"Yeah… it'll take about two days to get there." He explained carefully. "I've been using my powers to expand the island—it's about the size of a small country now." Aura gripped the comforter tightly, keeping her eyes downcast.
"You won't have to worry about becoming a slave to the government… or being trapped in a prison disguised as a school anymore," he said. Then he stepped closer again, reaching his hand toward her.
This time—
Aura recoiled away from him and started crying.
"But… I was only attending for my family!" she screamed. "If I'm not at the school, what will happen to them?! My parents don't have powers... if I leave school, their lives are forfeit...is it okay to just let them die?!"
Her eyes froze him in place.
He hadn't considered that, unlike him, she loved her birth parents.
"I'm sorry… I didn't think of that, but—"
"Get out!" she screamed. "I hate you! You ruined everything! If my parents are killed, I will never forgive you!"
He opened his mouth to speak.
"Get out! Leave!" she cut him off, shouting the same things, over and over.
Each syllable cut into him deeply.
It was clear on his face that her words crushed him, but Aura couldn't bring herself to care—she didn't have that luxury, not now, not after what he'd done.
She had already resolved to sacrifice herself, and he ruined that.
What was the point of all those late nights studying? All the intense training she endured? If not, so that her parents could be freed from prison and live with Mirror in some semblance of peace.
Fenix turned and left the room.
Aura broke down in tears, screaming into Fenix's pillow.
Hours passed...
Eventually, she forced herself out of bed.
A basket of fruit sat on top of the dresser, but she had no appetite.
Then she noticed there was a private bathroom.
She stepped inside, turned on the shower, and stared down at the bracelet that was suppressing her powers.
She tugged at it, trying to squeeze her hand out, then she slammed her wrist against the wall.
This resulted in nothing; there wasn't even a scratch in the metal coating.
After all this, Aura felt defeated.
Her shoulders sagged as she sank to the floor of the shower, letting the water run over her. She sat there until the water turned cold.
And... she continued to weep.