A deafening explosion rocked the neighborhood.
Kael rushed to the window, heart pounding.
His house... was gone.
Only smoke and rubble remained.
"No. No… Fuck! My house! It was all I had! Goddammit!"
He ran toward the front door, ready to leave Sara's home, but she grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Wait, Kael! It's dangerous. We don't know what happened. What if it's the people looking for you? Please, don't go!"
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
Kael turned to face her.
"I appreciate your concern, really… but I need to find out what caused that explosion. I can't let anything worse happen. Please—stay here. Don't leave the house."
His voice was calm but resolute.
Sara pulled him into a tight embrace, trembling.
"I don't want anything to happen to you. Please… stay."
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "If someone's after me, I have to stop them. They could hurt others… or even you. Please understand—I care about you so much. But I have to go. I'll be back. I promise."
Sara slowly released him, her gaze locked on his.
"Be careful… and please don't die."
"I swear. You're the best friend I've ever had. I'll see you soon."
Without another word, Kael stepped outside.
He lifted his eyes toward the sky—and saw it.
A massive drone hovered near the ruins of his house. It was nearly the size of a car, matte black and menacing.
"What the hell…? That thing destroyed my house? Then I'll destroy it."
But he paused.
"No powers… they'd see me. Damn it. What do I do?"
A beat of silence.
"I'll use my speed. My strength. That should be enough."
In a blink, Kael launched himself forward. His fist slammed into the drone with tremendous force.
It shattered mid-air, metal and sparks raining down in pieces.
He landed softly. No injuries.
No one had seen him move—he'd been too fast.
He approached the broken wreckage.
"It was a drone… Had to be that bastard Ismael. I'll find him, no matter where he is. I won't tell Sara. He's probably hiding in that mansion of his."
Kael turned and began walking toward the city.
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
Governor's Office
Ismael sat frozen, eyes locked on the screen.
What the hell just happened?
The governor stood from his chair, face twisted in anger.
"Tell me, Ismael—who the fuck is that guy?"
Ismael remained silent, jaw clenched.
"Damn it, Ismael! I've been patient with you. But if you don't give me answers, your empire is finished."
Finally, Ismael looked up.
"I don't know. All I found out is that he's a poor guy from the lowest tier. That's all I've got."
"A poor guy destroyed my drone?"
The governor's voice shook with rage.
"That drone cost me millions! It had sensors everywhere… Shit!"
He sank back into his chair.
"That man isn't normal. Leave this to me. I'll kill him—with my tech."
"But, Governor… he's mine."
"I said I'll kill him. Now get the hell out of my office—and start raising money. You owe me for the drone. Get out!"
Ismael stormed out and climbed into the waiting SUV.
"That bastard… ruined my peace. I'll gather weapons, men… and I'll burn his entire village to the ground."
His eyes gleamed with fury. A twisted grin spread across his face.
He sped off toward his mansion.
⋆⭒✧༺༻✧⭒⋆
On the Road to San Boreal
Kael was almost there.
"Just a little more… Damn, I'm tired of walking."
He looked up, eyes clouded with anger.
"Sara says vengeance is dangerous… but if he keeps coming after me, she could get hurt too. I won't let that happen. I'll kill him."
Minutes passed. Then, the mansion came into view.
His fists clenched.
He pulled a sword from his bag.
"I'll use almost all my energy on this blow. I'll turn his mansion into rubble. Die, you bastard."
He bent his knees, gripped the sword with both hands, and unleashed a slash into the air.
The strike created a shockwave—an invisible hurricane.
The front gate was obliterated. Windows across the mansion shattered.
The earth trembled under the force.
Alarms wailed.
Kael stepped through the broken entrance, sword in hand.
Five guards lay dead, crushed by the force of the wind.
He stopped in front of the main door.
"ISMAEL!" he roared.
"You destroyed my life. Now… I'll end yours!"