A few moments later, three of Vision's clones burst from the ground. All 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, then plunged his hand into the concrete as if it were liquid.
A second later, he pulled Vision out from beneath the arena floor.
Vision's body hung limp—burn marks lined his neck, and he wasn't moving.
"Don't worry… he's alive," Fenix said casually, tossing him aside like a discarded rag.
Silence.
Then—
"...The winner is Fenix!" the announcer shouted. "Even I don't know how he did that!"
The crowd erupted.
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 detonate them underground," Fenix murmured. "So I waited instead. I didn't want the match to drag on…"
He leaned closer.
"I was starting to miss you."
Aura blushed and pushed his face away.
"Your affection is becoming bothersome," she said coolly.
Fenix gently pulled her hands back down, smiling warmly.
"You're really charming when you're shy, Aura."
Her blush deepened.
"…You really make me uncomfortable sometimes," she muttered.
Fenix laughed softly.
He rested his forehead against hers—
Then kissed her again.
And again.
Trailing down toward her neck—
"Alright, that's enough. You're making me sick."
Mirror stepped in, pulling them apart.
Fenix pouted. Even Aura looked faintly disappointed.
"Anyway, Aura, your match is next."
"Oh—right… I hope Vision isn't too badly injured," Aura said, glancing toward the arena as paramedics carried him away.
"I'm sure he's fine," Fenix replied, a faintly menacing smile on his lips.
"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. He 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."
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—his presence heavy, 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.
Aura turned to run—but Fenix caught her wrist.
She froze.
Something metallic pressed against her skin in his grip. The moment it touched her, her power weakened—like it was being quietly drained away.
"What are you—" she started.
He kissed her.
Her thoughts scattered. Her body didn't react the way it should have—no resistance, no push—just warmth, softness… compliance.
Then—
Something small and hard slipped into her mouth from his.
Her eyes widened.
Panic surged—but it was too late.
The instinct to breathe—to swallow—betrayed her.
She choked it down.
Her vision blurred almost instantly.
Her limbs went heavy.
The last thing she felt was Fenix's arms tightening around her as everything went dark.
Around them, the audience surged toward the exits,
Only to find them blocked by armed soldiers.
Civilians without powers were allowed to leave.
Students were not.
Bracelets were forced onto them—devices that suppressed their abilities—before they were herded toward the hovering shuttles Pierce had brought.
Some resisted.
Most were subdued quickly.
But not all.
Veil, Caster, and Mirror stood their ground—Mirror at the center, maintaining an invisible barrier around them.
As soldiers approached, Veil's eyes glowed crimson.
"Stay back!" he commanded.
Every soldier within earshot froze.
Caster focused, boosting Mirror's stamina so she could maintain the shield.
For a moment—
they held.
Then more soldiers arrived.
They pressed buttons on their helmets and advanced.
Using the butts of their weapons, they hammered against Mirror's barrier, chipping away at it.
"Stop!" Veil shouted.
Nothing.
"Leave!" he yelled again.
Still nothing. That's when he realized their helmets must have deafened them to his voice.
His power—Ultimate Submission—only worked if they could hear him.
And now—
They couldn't.
The soldiers closed in.
Mirror's strength began to fail.
They were outnumbered, Unarmed,
At a clear, severe disadvantage.
As the barrier shattered—
Caster made his move, muttering,
"Speed—five hundred percent."
He blurred forward, tearing through the soldiers—snatching their weapons, breaking them, dropping enemies one by one.
He moved again—
And again—
Then—
A bolt of electricity shot across the field.
It struck him mid-motion.
Caster collapsed.
"Caster!" Mirror screamed, reaching toward him.
A second later—
She and Veil 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—
He wiped it away and gave a quiet command.
"Put them on the ship with the others."
The soldiers 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 gave a weak smile."Yeah, Dad… 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—but only slightly.
All the other students and staff were locked 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 waiting to be scolded.
"Where am I?" Aura asked.
She held her head, memories of the previous day fragmented and hazy, unable to separate dream from reality.
"This is my room… on my dad's personal air shuttle," Fenix explained.
She stared at him silently.
He continued.
"I… my mission was to infiltrate the school and—" He stopped, exhaling. "No… I should start from the beginning so it's not confusing."
Fenix took a deep breath.
"An ALPHA Maledictus soldier adopted me. His name is Pierce. He was the only one powerful enough to subdue me—and the only person who wanted me. He taught me how to fight… how to control my powers… everything."
He hesitated.
"He also… disagrees with how our people are treated across the world. So for years, he's been planning to liberate us—moving people like us to a hidden island where we can be free. Your school was next. I was the right age to attend, so… I agreed to help him."
The words were too much.
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. Over time, I've been using my powers to expand the island—it's about the size of a small country now. 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 stepped closer again.
This time—
Aura started crying.
"But… I'm doing this for my family!" she cried. "If I'm not at the school, what will happen to them?! My parents don't have powers—so is it okay to just let them die?!"
She met his eyes.
Fenix froze.
He hadn't considered that.
Unlike him—she loved her parents.
"I'm sorry… I didn't think of that, but—"
"Get out!" she screamed. "I hate you! You ruined everything! If my parents die, I will never forgive you!"
He opened his mouth to speak—
"Get out! Leave!" she shouted again, over and over.
Each word shattered him.
But Aura couldn't bring herself to care—not now, not after what he'd done.
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 still suppressing her powers.
She pulled at it.
Then slammed her wrist against the wall.
Nothing.
Not even a scratch in the metal coating.
Feeling defeated, her shoulders sagged, and she sank to the floor of the shower as the water ran over her and sat there until the water turned ice cold.
And she cried again.