The greenhouse sanctuary was quiet at dawn. Sunlight filtered softly through the ceiling window, highlighting the shimmering leaves of magical and mundane plants alike. A fox curled at Eli's feet, while Lila was already awake, sketching the faint outlines of glowing flora. The twins were sparring quietly, keeping their telekinetic powers low to avoid accidental damage.
Hunter Zolomone moved through the room with measured steps, his hoodie pulled slightly forward to shade his face. He exhaled softly, noting subtle shifts in the room's energy. Eli had grown more confident in controlling minor abilities. Lila's energy was still slightly chaotic but manageable. And the new arrivals, Arin and Kaia, were settling in slowly, learning to suppress uncontrolled flares of fire and kinetic bursts.
Everything seemed… calm. Too calm.
Hunter's senses tingled faintly.
Not from danger nearby—at least, not immediately.
It was the city beyond the invisible barriers. Something was approaching. Heavy footsteps, masked behind mundane movement, yet detectable through subtle vibrations in the ground and fluctuations in ambient energy.
Hunter tilted his head. He wasn't paranoid; he was prepared.
The front gates shimmered briefly. A presence pushed against the invisible boundary.
A voice called out, calm but forceful.
"Hunter Zolomone," it said. "We've been sent to observe… and if necessary, retrieve you."
Hunter's eyes narrowed. He stepped toward the barrier. The magical shield reacted instinctively, strengthening itself. Not enough to harm an intruder, but enough to alert him.
From the street outside, three figures became visible: tall, imposing, each exuding power. Two women and a man, all in sleek black uniforms with insignias he did not recognize. They moved with purpose.
Hunter exhaled slowly.
"Looks like visitors," he murmured to himself.
Inside, the children sensed the shift immediately. Eli's ears twitched. Lila froze mid-sketch. Arin's fingers sparked fire unconsciously, and Kaia's kinetic aura flared slightly.
Hunter knelt, meeting each of their eyes calmly.
"Stay inside," he instructed quietly. "Do not attempt to engage."
"But—" Eli began.
"Trust me." Hunter's voice carried a weight that brooked no argument. The children understood. They nodded slowly, retreating toward the center of the greenhouse.
Hunter adjusted his hoodie and walked to the front gates, every step precise. Outside, the three figures stopped a few meters away, their eyes scanning the area.
"You are Hunter Zolomone?" one of the women asked, her tone neutral but commanding.
"Yes," he replied calmly.
"Understood," she said to her companions. "We were not expecting… children."
Hunter's gaze swept the street briefly. "They are under my protection. That is non-negotiable."
A faint flicker of surprise passed across her face, but she said nothing.
"Observation only," the man said. "We are tasked with… assessing your containment of anomalies."
Hunter tilted his head. "…And if I refuse?"
The woman's lips curved slightly. "Then we escalate."
Hunter exhaled softly. "…I see."
He stepped back slowly. The barrier shimmered faintly. The system chimed in his mind.
[Potential Threat Detected: Observation Team – Elite]
Objective: Avoid Engagement / Neutralize If Necessary
Reward: 3,000 Points
Hunter didn't need the points. The notification was simply informational.
He raised one hand casually. The barrier rippled, projecting a faint golden aura outward.
The team stiffened. "Containment field…?" the man asked.
"Yes," Hunter replied. "Do not cross it unless you want to be repelled."
They hesitated. The golden aura expanded, shimmering with invisible force, making the street outside appear distorted.
"Enough talk," one woman finally said. Energy built subtly around her hands. A faint hum vibrated through the street.
Hunter's golden scars beneath his hoodie glimmered. Calm. Precise. Controlled.
"Fine," he murmured.
The first attack came as a wave of concentrated energy, projected from the woman's hands. The pavement beneath him cracked slightly under the force.
Hunter didn't move. Not physically. Not yet.
The system flared faintly: [Enhanced Reflexes Active]
The energy pulse collided with an invisible barrier that seemed to absorb it entirely. Sparks danced, metal from the street buckled slightly, but nothing crossed the threshold.
The second woman launched a kinetic blast, bending the steel of a nearby streetlight into a projectile. Hunter's hand flicked slightly, and the object disintegrated midair, falling harmlessly to the ground in pieces.
The man approached with a subtle pulse of energy in his hands, clearly intending to overwhelm Hunter.
Hunter tilted his head. "…You really want to do this?"
"Yes," the man replied. "We were told to contain anomalies. You are one."
Hunter exhaled, lightly flexing. The scars on his back glimmered faintly. The golden aura pulsed outward subtly, invisible to ordinary humans but detectable by the team.
Every step they took became heavier. Their energy began to lag slightly as if the environment itself was subtly resisting their power.
"…What…" the woman began, eyes widening.
Hunter tilted his head, voice calm. "I will not harm you unless you force me. Leave, and you will not be hurt."
The leader glanced at her team. Hesitation. Doubt. They were trained, elite—but they had never faced someone who could neutralize their attacks without even touching them.
Hunter exhaled slowly. "…Decide quickly."
For a moment, silence stretched over the street. The children watched from inside the manor, sensing every fluctuation in the air. Eli's eyes were wide. Lila's hands twitched slightly. Arin's fire dimmed, sensing Hunter's calm authority. Kaia's kinetic energy softened.
Finally, the man nodded. "…Understood. Observation only. We will report back."
Without another word, they retreated, leaving the street in silence once more.
Hunter lowered his hand, golden aura fading. The barrier shimmered briefly before returning to normal invisibility.
He exhaled softly. "That could have been worse."
Back inside, Spider-Woman appeared again at the gates, mask off. "…You handled them without even breaking a sweat."
Hunter adjusted his hoodie. "…I could have neutralized them completely if necessary. But I did not."
Her eyes softened slightly. "…You're always so calm. Even with new threats."
"Yes." He glanced toward the children. "…Calm is necessary if you want to keep them safe."
Spider-Woman's gaze lingered on him. "…You're impossible, you know that?"
Hunter gave the faintest shrug. "…I've been told."
The greenhouse returned to its peaceful hum. Birds chirped softly. The small pond rippled gently. Lila returned to her sketching, Arin and Kaia were cautiously exploring corners of the room, learning to control minor bursts under Hunter's quiet guidance.
Eli crawled into Hunter's lap, looking up at him. "You're really strong," he whispered.
Hunter smiled faintly, brushing the boy's hair back. "…Strength isn't everything. Control is."
For the first time that day, he allowed himself a small moment of peace.
But he knew… this was only the beginning.
The world had noticed him. Others would come. More children. More threats. More curiosity from powers far beyond Earth.
And Hunter Zolomone would handle each one… in his own way.