Ray had barely stepped out of the academy gates when he felt it—a cold, calculated gaze following him. It wasn't the clumsy stare of a school bully; this was the gaze of a hunter.
"Stop right there, Subject 402," a voice commanded, echoing with a metallic distortion.
From the shadows of the high-rise steel buildings, three figures emerged. They were wearing sleek, matte-black armor with glowing red visors. These weren't students. These were the 'Steel Sentinels', the low-level enforcers of Science City.
"Your biometric signature showed an unauthorized surge in the classroom," the lead Sentinel said, raising a tranquilizer rifle powered by high-frequency sonic waves. "You are coming with us for 're-calibration'."
Ray stood his ground, his hands deep in his pockets. Re-calibration? More like dissection, he thought. He checked his internal mana—it was still dangerously low, but his earlier interaction with the classroom terminal had given him a new idea.
"I don't think I'm in the mood for an appointment today," Ray said, his voice eerily calm.
The Sentinel didn't wait. He fired. A concentrated blast of sonic energy ripped through the air, aimed directly at Ray's chest.
Ray didn't dodge. Instead, he snapped his fingers.
Crack!
A tiny spark of violet magic hit a nearby power-conduit buried under the sidewalk. In an instant, Ray diverted the city's own electricity into the ground beneath him, creating a temporary 'Electromagnetic Shield'. The sonic blast hit the shield and dispersed into harmless vibrations.
"Impossible!" the Sentinel barked. "He's manipulating the grid without a neural-jack!"
"My magic doesn't need your permission to exist," Ray retorted.
Before they could fire again, Ray lunged forward. He wasn't just fast; he was moving with the grace of a warrior who had fought thousands of battles. He slammed his palm into the lead Sentinel's chest-plate. Instead of a punch, he released a 'Mana-Pulse' directly into the suit's internal circuitry.
The armor hissed, the red visor flickered to black, and the Sentinel collapsed like a deactivated robot. The other two froze in shock. They were trained to fight rebels with guns, not a boy who could kill their technology with a touch.
"Run," Ray whispered, his eyes glowing with an intense, violet fire. "Before I decide to drain the life out of your suits too."
The remaining Sentinels grabbed their fallen comrade and retreated into the shadows. Ray leaned against the wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He had won, but he knew this was just the beginning.
High above, a surveillance drone hovered, its lens zooming in on Ray's face. In a hidden office, a man with a scarred face watched the screen.
"So, the Forbidden Mage has finally returned," the man whispered, a cruel smile forming. "Prepare the 'Void-Hunters'. I want him alive... for now."