The nearest gateway split open with a violent shimmer of blue light, and out stepped Bastion, the giant. His radiant golden hair stuck out of his head like a mane, glowing faintly even beneath the sterile lights of the underground facility. Every step he took radiated heat, his body wreathed in a golden aura that crackled against the metal floors.
He cursed under his breath upon coming out - he hated gateways and avoided using them as much as possible. They made him feel like shit, as did most modes of transportation. He preferred getting around on foot.
But that was the only way into this headquarters.
He was already exhausted from tearing through the Veil, already burning himself out rushing across its purple-sky wastelands, and now the gnawing dread for his younger brother twisted into barely restrained rage.
The blue key's glow faded as he placed it back in his pocket. His heavy boots slammed against the polished floor.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With each step, his aura surged brighter, muscles tightening as if his entire being was fueled by raw fury.
"Where's my brother?!" his voice roared through the facility like thunder.
Operatives in crisp uniforms scattered. The ones nearest dove behind desks and barricades, clutching their earpieces and shouting for reinforcements. The walls themselves groaned as the giant didn't bother with doorways; he simply smashed through them, golden energy shattering reinforced steel like drywall.
"Captain Silver Hair!" he bellowed, his voice echoing like a battle horn. "Come out and face me!"
His fists clenched, golden light spilling between his knuckles like molten fire. Another wall exploded under his shoulder charge, alarms blaring in his wake.
"That uptight loser better have an explanation," he growled, his blue eyes glowing with killing intent. "Or I'll run this whole place into the ground!"
Panic rippled through the headquarters. Everyone scrambled to take cover, shouting pleas at him.
"Please, calm down!"
"This is headquarters, you can't just-!"
"Use the damn doors!"
None of them dared get close. His aura lashed out like a storm, every movement threatening to crush the air itself.
One brave soul finally bolted through the chaos, sprinting down a corridor to report directly to their captain. When he finally got across what was important, the Silver Blade snapped to action.
That was the moment the tension snapped like a drawn bowstring.
The golden giant's bellow shook the chamber again. "Kalen! Get your ass out here before I tear this whole damn base apart!"
The facility's reinforced walls quaked under the pressure of two forces about to collide.
And it wasn't long before the real chaos began.
-
The air split with a shrill hum as Kalen, the Silver Blade, strode into the chamber. His silver hair caught the light, gleaming like polished steel, and his boots screeched against the floor as he skidded to a stop.
And there he was.
Bastion. The golden giant. His frame was so massive it looked as though his vest might rip apart with the faintest twitch of muscle. Golden light bled off his body like steam, his piercing blue eyes burning holes into the room. His very presence was suffocating, like a storm crammed into a man's skin.
Kalen tilted his head ever so slightly, lips curling in a smug half-smile. His voice came out smooth, taunting, but calm as a blade's edge. "If it isn't the big oaf, Bastion. Tell me - what do you think you're doing in my headquarters?"
Bastion didn't waste time. His voice thundered, low and rumbling with fury. "Where's my brother, Kalen?"
"Your brother?" Kalen's silver eyes narrowed as he studied him more carefully. And then it clicked. The facial features. The constant jokes. The resemblance became apparent. Orion was his little brother.
'That's what he was trying to report about what they found on the kid on the database,' Kalen gathered, quickly connecting the dots. 'This is quite the development.'
"Well, that explains it," he then murmured aloud, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. "I can see the similarity now. But you're still both very different. Your brother's a reckless twig who runs his mouth too much, while you…" His eyes flicked over the giant's towering build, "…you're a gorilla who runs his mouth too much."
He seemed to enjoy taunting the giant of a man, but the smug amusement quickly drained from his voice, leaving only ice. "He's in my custody until I determine his connection to the Warlock and the demon wave."
The words struck like steel to the gut.
Bastion's aura flared, golden light spilling like wildfire across the chamber. "Your custody?!"
He had felt relieved momentarily that his brother was somewhere in the headquarters and should be safe, but for him to be in custody. How could that be?
'As far as I know, he was unmarked. So how can he be connected to the Warlock or a demon wave?!'
This wasn't the Bastion that Kalen was used to interacting with - the one who was always late, laughed too loudly, made bad jokes, and never seemed to take things seriously. That carefree side was almost annoyingly similar to Orion's endless chatter. But this… this was something else entirely.
The golden giant stepped forward, towering over Kalen, muscles bunching beneath radiant light. Kalen's hand slid casually to the hilt of his blade, the silver edge humming at his touch. The contrast was stark - Bastion, the overwhelming force of raw power, and Kalen, a razor honed to perfection.
Their gazes locked, blue fire against silver steel.
"Get out of my way now, Kalen. I'm going to see my brother."
Kalen didn't flinch. His voice was calm, measured, cutting with authority. "You're not going anywhere without my approval. And it's Captain to you, Lieutenant. Don't forget your place."
The taunt was deliberate, and it worked on the man who was already struggling to keep it together.
Bastion's teeth clenched, golden aura burning brighter as he snarled, "Then show me how you plan on stopping me… Captain."
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then their power surged.
Golden radiance roared from Bastion, his very presence cracking the floor beneath his boots. Silver light burst from Kalen, precise and cold, his aura slicing through the air like a thousand invisible blades.
Two forces crashed together invisibly - light against light, raw force against refined control - pushing against each other without a single blow yet thrown.
The entire headquarters shook under the weight of two titans about to collide.
And then, without warning, they moved - two storms exploding into motion...