Chapter 33: Calm before the Storm!
The night air in National City felt unusually still as Kayn watched Kara walk up the steps to her house. She hesitated slightly at the door, looking back at him with that shy, radiant smile before finally slipping inside.
He remained by the car for a moment longer, his keen senses tuned in, he could sense Alex and Eliza still trying to sneakily stare at him, but he didn't acknowledge them, not wanting to seem awkward for outing them.
Kayn turned back toward the street, his expression momentarily darkening as he considered the events that had unfolded earlier.
The aliens, the explosion, the loss of life, the destruction they caused. He had already marked National City as his territory as Harbinger, yet these brute aliens dared to so brazenly act.
He wondered how Batman had the will to not kill villains like the Joker after their endless murderous deeds, since Kayn definitely knew he'd kill Joker, no hesitation.
Kayn entered the vehicle, and the sleek Jaguar pulled away from Kara's house, with Kayn in the back-seat, his mind already racing, piecing together the details of the evening.
"National City isn't safe," he muttered under his breath, a flare of anger flashing in his eyes. Dozens of potential suspects ran through his mind, CADMUS, The Light, Fort-Rozz prisoners, or another potentially mysterious enemy.
Soon, the car pulled up at AEGIS headquarters, with Kayn stepping out into the cool air. As he entered the building, Francis greeted him, his smooth voice breaking the silence, "Welcome back, Kayn."
"Status report," he said curtly, walking briskly through the sleek hallways.
"Surveillance initiative has been activated for all of our AEGIS agents here in National City. Everyone will be working full time to figure out the source of these attacks. However, the telepathic channel was quickly cut, and we can't trace the technology yet, it's very advanced alien tech, we need more time still." Francis spoke briskly, recognizing Kayn's serious tone.
"That's fine, they'll slip up and I'll catch them eventually. Speed up the prison construction, it should be almost finished. I need it done by end of next week latest." Kayn spoke and Francis nodded.
Kayn made his way to the command room, a large, high-tech space filled with holographic displays and screens showing real-time data feeds from around the world. The dim lighting created a stark contrast to the vivid holograms floating in the air, casting eerie blue and green glows across the room.
Whoever was behind this was going to pay, Kayn promised in his mind.
---
The training room in AEGIS headquarters was filled with a subtle hum of energy, the kind that buzzed just beneath the surface, barely perceptible to anyone not finely attuned to it.
The walls gleamed with reinforced magic-steel, infused with magical runes and technological enhancements that could withstand the most extreme forms of training. Soft, ambient lighting cast shadows across the space, creating an atmosphere of intensity and focus.
In the center of the room, Kayn stood bare-chested, his skin glistening with sweat. His muscles tensed and rippled as he strained under the weight of the supernatural magic-enhanced weights that wrapped around his arms and legs.
Each weight was an artifact in itself, imbued with ancient spells to increase in density with every second, testing both physical strength and mana control. His chest rose and fell in deep, controlled breaths, each exhale echoing through the chamber.
Kayn's body was a masterpiece of strength and power, but it wasn't just physical prowess he was testing today. The heavy weights tested his mana control in ways that few others could handle.
His mana was coursing through his veins, surging like a tidal wave as he held the energy back, controlling it with sheer willpower while managing the crushing force of the magic-imbued weights.
Simultaneously, a trio of magic-infused, technological combat droids quickly advanced towards Kayn, each of them was a towering figure of technology and arcane power.
Their sleek frames crackled with mana, designed to adapt and counter any fighting style they encountered.
The first droid lunged, its enchanted fist glowing with a charged blast, aiming for Kayn's head. Kayn ducked low, his movements blurring as he shifted into the droid's blind spot.
His fist shot out, connecting with the droid's torso in a controlled burst of mana-infused power. The blow sent a rippling shockwave through the robot, but it barely staggered as it pivoted, swinging a blade-like arm at him.
Kayn sidestepped with expert precision, his bare feet barely skimming the ground as he twisted his body into a spinning back kick. The impact echoed in the chamber as the droid's chest plate crumpled, but it quickly recalibrated, adapting to his fighting style.
A second droid rushed in, launching a flurry of blindingly fast punches, each one enhanced with deadly precision. Kayn blocked, parried, and countered in a seamless flow of strikes.
His hands moved like lightning, deflecting each hit with pinpoint accuracy. Every move he made was a masterclass in close-quarters combat, his technique refined to perfection.
Even with the oppressive weight pulling on his limbs, Kayn fought as if the magic-infused weights were nothing more than a distant memory.
The air around Kayn shimmered with raw, primal mana as he pushed himself constantly beyond his limits, over and over as his arms trembled from the sheer effort of fighting with these weights.
Meanwhile, Violet watched from a distance, her violet eyes sharp with focus as she observed his form, her hands resting on her hips. Kayn had been undergoing this brutal training for the last 3 hours after speaking with Francis.
Now back to the fight, the third droid tried to flank Kayn, its fists charged with an arcane burst. Kayn sensed the mana spike just in time.
His aura flared, and with a rapid twist of his body, he launched a spinning elbow into the droid's head. The metal skull dented under the force, sparks flying as the arcane energy flickered.
But the droids didn't stop. They recalibrated, learning with each exchange. Kayn welcomed it, he needed the challenge. To grow constantly stronger and stronger, so he can crush anyone in his path.
Kayn's breath quickened as the battle became more intense, his mana control tested as he released short, sharp bursts to amplify his strikes while conserving energy.
With a rapid shift in stance, Kayn unleashed a devastating combination: a knee to the midsection of one droid, an elbow to the face of another, followed by a roundhouse kick that sent the third flying into the reinforced wall.
His movements were a blur, a deadly symphony of power, precision, and mastery. As the last droid crumpled to the ground in a sparking heap, Kayn stood amidst the wreckage, panting heavily but victorious.
His muscles burned, and the mana weights still coiled around his body felt heavier than ever, but he didn't waver.
Violet stepped closer, her footsteps soft against the reinforced floor, her eyes never leaving Kayn's form. She knew he was pushing himself harder than ever, each session becoming more intense, more grueling as he sought to surpass his own limits.
The room grew denser with magical energy, Kayn's aura brightening, and for a moment, the magic weights around his body became even heavier as the mana coursed through him. His legs wobbled slightly, but he remained upright, determined to maintain control.
Violet narrowed her eyes, her hands twitching slightly, ready to intervene if he went too far.
Kayn's voice was low but steady, "I'm fine... I've got this."
With every passing second, his muscles screamed in protest, the magic-infused load dragging him down, but Kayn refused to falter. His aura flickered slightly as he began to control the flow of mana more fluidly, his breaths coming out in rhythmic gasps as he managed to hold the weight steady.
Violet continued to watch him closely. She could see the strain in his posture, the way his aura wavered just slightly at the edges. Kayn was always pushing himself further, always trying to exceed what was expected, but she knew the toll it took on him.
Finally, with a sharp exhale, Kayn released the weights, finally finishing his training. He stood there for a moment, bent over as he caught his breath, his skin glistening with sweat.
Kayn eventually lay down on the floor, breathing heavily as he calmed down.
"Even extra training today, you're really pushing yourself huh?" Violet spoke, her expression softening as she tossed him a towel and a massive jug of water for him to cool off.
"Can never get too strong. I also don't know who the enemies are. Unknowns breed uncertainty. The only way to be certain is with absolute power to crush all enemies." Kayn spoke, taking a large chug of the water as he wiped off his sweat.
"True, but don't forget we're all here, ready and always available to help." Violet said before leaving the room, going to prepare for her own training session.
---
Later that Night!
Kayn was at home, watching the late night news that discussed the attack earlier today and the aftereffects of it. As he was watching it, his phone began to ring.
He picked it up, surprised to see it was a call from Kara, which he picked up.
"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for today. It was very special and I loved it." Kara spoke, blushing as she spoke into the phone.
Kayn's lips curled into a small smile as he replied, "Anytime Kara. You deserve it. See you Monday."
The call finished and he rested the phone back on the desk, his thoughts returning to the potential enemies behind the attacks on National City.
No matter who—or what—came for National City, Harbinger was ready to meet them head-on, and there would be no mercy.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone