Lexington Square was pure chaos.

  The thick purple fog rolled in silently at first, slithering between buildings like a living thing,t hen, in seconds, it swallowed the entire square. The people didn’t panic at first, then came the screaming.

  Jace landed on a rooftop, staring down in horror. A stampede of people fought to escape, trampling over bodies, shoving past anyone in their way. Some collapsed, gasping for air, their bodies convulsing, others clawed at their throats, their faces twisted in terror. The fog was turning fear into madness.

  At the center of it all, standing tall on the steps of the courthouse, was The Major. Jace knew that smug face, the telekinetic bastard from Pantheon Labs attack

  He was smiling as he watched his gas consume the city. Jace dropped, the pavement shook beneath his landing. His enhanced lungs burned, but he powered through, people were dying. He sprinted into the thickest part of the chaos, picking up fallen civilians, shielding them with his own body. He guided a coughing elderly and a little lost girl toward the street, his voice sharp—"Keep moving! Cover your mouths!"

  But the crowd was still in a frenzy and The Major? He was just watching. "They’ll tear each other apart," he mused. Jace clenched his fists.

  "STOP! Jace’s voice tore through the chaos, sharp and undeniable. The crowd froze some still gasped for breath, but the fear in their eyes flickered uncertainty creeping in. Jace’s chest heaved as he stepped onto the courthouse steps, planting himself between the people and The Major, his body ached, but his voice held steady.

  "Stop allowing yourselves give in to the fear I know you all are scared, I am too but, you don’t have to let the fear take control". His voice cracked, raw with desperation. "Look around you! These aren’t your enemies..they’re your townspeople, your neighbors, your friends, your family not some ugly demon or monster. Don’t let fear turn you against each other, stand together, help each other that’s the only way we make it through."

  The words hit like a wave, rippling through the crowd. A man caught his breath and reached down, pulling a stranger to his feet. A woman wrapped her arms around a trembling child, whispering, “You’re safe.” Someone else stepped between two men ready to fight, shaking his head.

  The panic didn’t vanish, but something else took hold, something stronger. Hope.

  Jace turned back to The Major. The villain’s smirk faltered "tch. You always were annoying." The gas thickened around him. The Major lifted his hand, directing a wave of toxin straight toward Jace.

  Jace didn’t hesitate. He clapped his hands together a shockwave erupted outward. The sheer force ripped through the gas, sending it hurtling back toward The Major whose face shield had just been destroyed by the shockwave

  His eyes widened.

  "Nooo" The toxin engulfed him. He choked, stumbling back, clawing at his face as his own poison worked against him. Jace turned back to the civilians. The ones still affected needed help.

  His eyes snapped to a fire hydrant. With a sharp kick, the cap exploded off a gush of water erupted from the hydrant, and Jace grabbed the stream, directing it across the street. The water washed away the toxins, clearing the air, bringing people back from the brink.

  The news cameras captured everything. People didn’t just look at him they felt him. He hadn’t just saved them he had ignited something inside them.

  The whispers began; "Who is he?", "Is he really just some guy in a mask?"

  Then, for the first time omeone said it.

  "Valiant Valiant Valiant !" The name spread, growing louder, stronger. A spark catching fire and in that moment, Jace understood he wasn’t just fighting to save lives. He was giving people something they had lost.

  Hope.

  "This is a catastrophic situation!"

  Jace was already moving. He barely had time to recover from Lexington Square before the next disaster struck, Lexington bridge one; of the longest bridges in the city was breaking apart.

  The support cables had been severed. The bridge was collapsing. Jace landed hard on the pavement, his breath ragged as he took in the disaster.

  The massive steel suspension cables had already snapped on one side, and the remaining ones groaned under the weight. The middle section was sagging people were screaming, running, cars honking in blind panic.

  Then Jace heard the worst part. "If the bridge collapses into the water, it could cause a tsunami and parts the city could be wiped out". Jace’s chest tightened, not on his watch. His eyes locked onto the final support cables. It was fraying, seconds from snapping.

  If it broke, the entire structure would go down.

  Jace moved. A sonic boom cracked the air as he launched himself toward the failing cable. His fingers snapped around the steel just as it gave way.

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  The weight slammed into him, his muscles screamed. His feet dug into the concrete, carving deep trenches but he held on.

  Every fiber of his being burned. His arms felt like they were tearing apart. The weight of the bridge was too much his strength had a limit. He felt it for the first time, he felt his breaking point.

  "He can’t hold it!" a news reporter shouted.

  Jace’s vision blurred. The weight was pulling him down. But then..he heard them, the people "Keep going!", "You got this!", "VALIANT!" something snapped inside him. Not his bones, not his muscles, his limits.

  With a roar that shook the sky, Jace pulled.

  Every fiber of his being burned as he forced the bridge back into place. His body was on fire, every nerve screaming in agony.

  But he held long enough for the emergency workers to secure the supports, long enough for the people to get to safety.

  Then! His body gave out and he plummeted.The ocean rushed up to meet him.

  Darkness; A cold, suffocating void, then... light

  Jace coughed violently, his body convulsing as more water spewed from his lungs. His vision swam, but the face hovering above him gradually came into focus; Dr. Meyer. Her normally composed face was filled with uncharacteristic relief and urgency.

  "You stopped breathing," she murmured, still pressing against his chest, as if making sure he was really alive.

  Jace blinked, his mind still foggy from the near-drowning. His throat burned as he rasped, "How...?"

  Dr. Meyer exhaled, glancing toward a hovering drone nearby, its metallic surface splattered with saltwater.

  "The drone," she explained. "I piloted it for your retrieval. When you fell, I had it track your trajectory and pull you out before the current took you too deep."

  Jace groaned, forcing himself up despite the screaming pain in his limbs. He eyed the drone, then her. "You were watching me?"

  She hesitated, then nodded. "I was monitoring the news feeds. When I saw what was happening, I thought you will need help. And I was right."

  Jace let out a breath half gratitude, half frustration. His body ached, but he wasn’t done.

  He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the way his head spun. Dr. Meyer reached out, concerned.

  "You need to rest"

  "No." Jace’s voice was raw. His fury kept him upright. His mind replayed the last thing he saw before falling

  His fists clenched.

  "I have unfinished business." Before she could stop him he was gone. This time, he wasn’t running to save, he was running to end this.

  Jace raced across the city, his body running on fumes, his mind drowning in rage. His muscles ached from the relentless trials, his lungs burned with every breath, but nothing—nothing—compared to the fury boiling inside him.

  The Maker had orchestrated this entire nightmare. The chaos, the destruction, the suffering—all to push him to his limits. And now, after everything, he was finally going to make him pay.

  As he neared the warehouse district, he landed on a rooftop across from his target, preparing to crash through the front like a battering ram. But then...

  He saw them. His breath hitched. His entire body went rigid.

  Lucian. Standing right there, face-to-face with The Maker. Then, they shook hands.

  Jace’s mind snapped.

  His entire world blurred as pure, unfiltered rage flooded his system. The leader of the CDE—the man who had tortured him, threatened his loved ones, treated him like nothing but a weapon—was cutting a deal with the very monster they were supposed to be hunting.

  Lucian turned slightly, speaking to The Maker in a low voice, but Jace didn’t hear it. Didn’t care. His vision tunneled, his breath came in sharp, ragged gasps.

  Then, in an instant, Lucian vanished teleporting away.

  Jace’s hands clenched so hard that his nails dug into his palms, nearly drawing blood.

  Then, with a roar of fury, he launched himself forward. Jace slammed through the warehouse wall like a missile, concrete exploded metal twisted sparks rained down like falling stars.

  He landed hard, the force of impact sending a shockwave through the ground, cracking the floor beneath him. He barely felt it. His rage was too white-hot, too consuming.

  The Maker stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, looking almost unfazed. The dust settled around him, the glow of industrial lights casting eerie shadows on his scarred face.

  “Damn,” The Maker said, raising an eyebrow. “You are alive ? You are one freak of nature even for an enhanced.”

  Jace didn’t respond. Didn’t hesitate.

  With a burst of speed, he ripped forward and punched The Maker in the gut. The force launched The Maker off his feet, sending him careening across the warehouse like a ragdoll. He slammed into a stack of rusted metal crates, the impact sending a deafening crash through the space.

  Jace stalked forward, his chest rising and falling like a storm ready to break.

  The Maker coughed, rolling onto his hands and knees, wincing. “Okay… that one hurt.”

  Jace was already on him.

  He grabbed The Maker by the collar and flung him across the room like he was made of paper. The Maker smashed through an old worktable, skidding across the floor.

  “You think this is funny?” Jace’s voice was thick with venom. “You set this whole city on fire, threw people into chaos, made me run myself into the ground and for what?! A test?! A game?!”

  The Maker groaned, wiping blood from his lip. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You handled yourself well, didn’t you?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Come on, wasn't it not fun”

  Jace punched him again. A sickening crunch.

  The Maker’s head snapped to the side as he tumbled onto his back, blood dripping from his nose.

  Jace loomed over him, his fists trembling.

  The Maker laughed weakly, his voice tinged with amusement despite the pain. “You’re stronger than I thought.” He winced, pushing himself up slightly. “But you should know by now rage makes you sloppy.”

  Jace didn’t care. He grabbed The Maker by the front of his jacket, hoisting him up effortlessly. “Tell me what that damn bastard was doing here.” His voice was low, dangerous.

  The Maker grinned through bloody teeth. “Oh, you didn’t know?” He let out a rough chuckle. “He was tired of the cat-and-mouse game, decided to cut a deal with me.” His grin widened. “Funding and protection in exchange for exclusive powerful enhanced people and tech.”

  Jace’s breathing stopped. For a second, it was like the entire warehouse tilted on its axis.

  Then, rage, pure, unrelenting rage.

  Before The Maker could say another word, Jace roared and hurled him across the room. The Maker’s body smashed through metal beams, sparks raining down as he hit the floor. Jace jumped after him then start punching him continuously each with a force meant to kill. With one of his arm grabbing onto Jace "Please don't kill me " he begged forcing words out of his almost bludgeoned head

  Jace stopped punching , his fingers curling into fists so tight they ached.

  Lucian!. He had never intended to capture The Maker. Never planned on justice, the CDE wasn’t hunting a criminal they were making an investment.

  Jace’s entire body burned with fury. He turned away from The Maker, his path clear.

  Lucian had to pay. With a deep breath, Jace set his sights on the electrical power plant.

  It was time to disable the implant in his of his spine and then? He was going straight through the CDE’s walls.