Somewhere in an unknown location, in an unknown building, a door cracks open.
A slim figure steps into the darkened room.
"Looks like you have been having som fun"
A pair of eyes glimmer in the dark.
"Since all of you want to play this 'god' role, someone has to do all the work."
He takes a seat.
"And what do you mean by that?"
Another pair of eyes shifts their gaze to the figure.
"You know what I mean by that. All our names are well known, but you three still play this dark, mysterious figure role. We are already on top—why? You scared?"
"We are the ones handling this situation in the right way. It's you, Oken, who is frolicking with the common masses, and it's annoying."
A smile slowly tears across his face.
"Wow… %$£&, I'm just playing my part, as you all should."
"Our roles do not require us to mingle with the common people, Oken."
"@#%&%, you used to be so joyful back in the day. Power really does wrinkle the folds."
Oken's smile wrangles itself in as a huge shadow appears on the table.
Its hot breath blows his hair back.
Fangs drip saliva onto his suit.
He leans into it, fixes his tie, and smiles again.
"That's a new table, @#%&%. Get your beast off it."
"You two, stop playing around."
A figure pours a drink and sits at the table—well, what was left of it.
The drink goes down in one gulp.
"Oken, why did you not check with us first before launching your little tournament?"
He wipes the drool off his suit.
"Well, I didn't want to get in the way of busy individuals such as yourselves, isn't that right, @#%&%?"
"You little rat."
A laugh erupts in the room.
Oken stands up and brushes his suit clean.
He starts to walk slowly around the broken table.
"The truth is, you three have gotten soft. All you do is sit on your thrones and do nothing. Your puppets are slow and useless. You have forgotten the thrill of getting it done yourself."
He picks up the glass from the table.
"What's power without a use? A burden—that's what it is. How do you even know you still have control? People still listening to you? No one trying to fight you? Getting what you want? All those things apply to a commoner."
He takes a sip.
"The only way to see if you have power is to see how much the world will let you get away with."
The glass shatters against the wall.
"Are you mocking u—"
They feel a cold aura behind them.
They look at Oken.
The smile has returned—and it brought a friend.
A huge shadow stands behind Oken.
Crimson eyes that can see your darkest desires.
It moves like oil around the room and vanishes.
"I'm just telling you to check if you are still the top predator once in a while."
He exits the room.
"He is getting too cocky."
"You're right, but he does have a point. We need to stretch our legs occasionally."
"Are you saying that there could be someone who could challenge us?"
"I'm not saying that. I'm saying we need to go to the watering hole and see if all the other animals still run away."
The room goes silent.
The three disappear back into the darkness.
---
A video of the tornado incident plays on a monitor.
"Stop."
The footage freezes.
"Zoom in."
"Zoom in a bit more."
"There—there he is."
*Cough… cough.*
"Aghh… so he is special. And those wings—an angel. Impressive. I think he still has so much more to show. Where is he now, Doctor?"
"He is in the hospital, but he should be getting out today."
She double-checks her tablet.
"Good. Let's let him rest a bit. We will test him again once he is ready."
He grabs his cane and stands.
"Doctor, how is our other sprout doing?"
"He is advancing well. The academy is about to launch an event, and all the students are allowed to enter. This will be a good opportunity to test out some of his abilities."
"Good. Go—"
*Cough… cough… cough.*
"Should I get—"
"No. Just leave me. A little rest is all I need."
"As you wish."
The door closes.
The old man makes his way to a bed.
He checks his hand—blood.
"Not yet, death. Not when I'm this close."
He opens a cabinet full of medication.
---
"Okay, I'm going to need you to sign here, here, and here."
"Okay."
The receptionist guides Ulim through the release forms.
"That will be all."
She staples the paperwork together.
Ulim finally steps into the sunlight after three long days.
It is warm and welcoming.
It hugs all the aching parts of his body just right.
He begins making his way home.
The streets feel new but familiar, as if the city has put on a fresh coat of paint.
He unlocks his door.
The apartment is clean—cleaner than when he left it.
The fridge is filled to the brim with prepared food.
He tosses the medication bag onto the bed and heads for a long, hot shower.
---
"Since that announcement yesterday, everyone has been preparing. The training simulations are all in use, and lines have formed at others. Everyone is doing everything they can—making costumes, battle cries, and even team names."
He finishes tying his shoe.
"I wanted to visit Ulim yesterday, but… he will understand."
"Delis, are you coming or what?"
Mark leans against the doorway.
He looks more like his father than before—same haircut, same physique.
The only difference is attitude.