Selene runs into the room. It is somewhat dark as half of Azarath’s face melts. Revealing pitch-black eyes and long, dark hair. Selene turned on the light in the room and grabbed Mrs.Goldwyn. She quickly says [I will get his parents to a safe location and rejoin you!] Selene runs out of the room.

  [???: Ah, how did you know?] The man says in an almost mocking tone. Blake just winces as he jumps back.

  [Shifter: The name is Shifter. I was hoping to kill his parents and leave quickly. You just had to get in my way.] Shifter walks closer to Blake. Blake lets out a little chuckle. It turns into a huge laugh.

  [Blake: It is funny. Are you a shapeshifter named Shifter? How corny is that-] Suddenly, Blake is thrown through the side of the house. He shifted his hand to be huge and slapped Blake.

  Blake quickly regains footing and uses his shadows to attack. Shifter just transforms his hand into a light and dispels the shadows. Shifter then gets in close.

  *Shifter: This should be easy. His ability is easily countered!*

  『Cell Manipulation: Creation』

  Blake’s arm turns into a hammer and slams Shifter at the side of the head. Shifter quickly shifts his own arm into a spear and stabs Blake before being sent away. Blake heals it with cell manipulation, and Shiter heals by shifting his blood into the skin.

  *Blake: Interesting. His ability seems to be less of shapeshifting and more of transformation. I’m weaker than usual, Bracken is using too much of my power right now.*

  『Cell Manipulation: Bloodflow』

  Blake increases the blood flow around his body. This makes Blake way faster as he slices Shifter’s arm with a flesh knife. Shifter goes to move when suddenly.

  『Earth Manipulation: Sinkhole』

  Shifter’s legs are suddenly plunged into the floor. Selene appears on the battlefield with her earth manipulation. Shifter starts to shift out of the hole when.

  [Blake: It seems I already won. I cut you with the flesh knife, right?]

  The shifter’s face changes as he looks over at his arm. It starts to bubble up.

  『Cell Manipulation: Singularity』

  Thinking quickly, Shifter cuts off his arm. The previous arm falls on the ground and explodes. He starts to regenerate a new one.

  『Fire Manipulation: Fireball』

  Shifter gets hit directly and is burning. His regeneration slows down as the wounds are cauterized. Shifter quickly places his hand on the ground.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  『Enviromental Transformation』

  Suddenly, the rocks under Selene and Blake turn into spikes, stabbing them both. In the midst of the surprise, Shifter was able to shift into fog and escape. Blake heals Selene and himself and sits down.

  [Blake: What the hell just happened?]

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  While this is happening, Azarath is on the ground trying to stand. Cuts all over his body.

  [Bracken: Not so strong now, Hero!] Bracken laughs to himself. Bracken then sends a tendril, which knocks Azarath on his back. At this point, a crown has gathered, and the fight is being watched. Bracken walks up.

  [Bracken: How does it feel for everyone to see you get packed up? Pathetic, huh?]

  A tear falls down Azaraths face.

  *Azarath: It is over, isn’t it? My career is over. No one will trust or think of me as a hero anymore now that I lost… I guess to the end, I was never a true hero. I never got the chance. No, I never took it.* Azarath starts laughing to himself at how pathetic he is as tears fall down his face. Bracken approaches.

  [Stop!]

  Azarath looks on in surprise. It is a little boy standing between him and the demon walking towards him.

  [Azarath: Hey, kid. Get out of the way! He is going to kill you!] Azarath pleads with the little boy.

  The boy looks back at Azarath. The crowd is frozen in fear.

  [Kid: I can’t. You are our hero! You saved many of us. You inspired me to want to be a hero just like you! As long as you have not given up, I won’t either!] Bracken just smiles as he encroaches further.

  Azarath looks surprised as he realizes something. This kid is probably spitting out words, random babble. However, this babble helps Azarath understand the true essence of a hero.

  *Azarath: I see. I understand what Selene meant now. Being a hero is not about wanting fame or money. It is about wanting to help others.*

  Bracken lunges at the kid. His claws are outstretched and ready to impale the innocent youth.

  Crash

  As the smoke clears, nothing is in front of Bracken. Azarath is at the side with the kid in his arms.

  [Azarath: Hey, kid. Go back to your parents.] Azarath looks over at Bracken [For fans like you. I’m going to show off a little bit.]

  Azarath powers up his legs to their limit.

  『Super Speed』

  *Bracken: He was not using that before?!?*

  Azarath, in an instant, appears before Bracken.

  『Super Strength: Pleiades Pummel』

  A barrage of punches comes at Bracken. They all land with so much force Bracken is nearly knocked out by every single punch. As the barrage ends, Azarath pulls back his fist.

  『Super Strength: Starlight Smash』

  A punch with the strength of stars lands on Bracken’s chest, nearly breaking every bone in Bracken’s body. Bracken lies defeated in the rubble. Azarath turns around in order to move. Blake and Selene run through the crowd. Blake de summons Bracken. Azarath turns to Blake.

  [Blake: Sorry. I thought I told Bracken to hold back more.]

  *Blake: Damn Bracken! He was using way too much of my power! I couldn’t fight properly before!*

  Azarath just laughs.

  [Azarath: Don’t worry about it. I knew you and Bracken were in cahoots from the beginning. You think I didn’t hear you talking to the air. Then the air talking back? My super senses allow for me to detect creatures like that.] Azarath then looks at Selene. [Are my parents ok?] Selene responds with a nod.

  [Azarath: I really don’t know how I could repay you.] Azarath looks at the sky.

  [Blake: How about saving the world with us?] Blake asks again for the final time.

  Azarath looks over and starts laughing.

  [Azarath: After the great fight your buddy gave me. I was going to do that anyway!] Azarath says with glee. Azarath then turns to address the crowd.

  [Azarath: Sorry for how sudden this is. Your hero is moving onto a bigger stage! It is time for me to save the world!] Azarath tells the crowd as it erupts into applause. Azarath turns and starts walking to the carriage with Blake and Selene.