Louis turned to see her stepping out of the shadows, her figure illuminated by the faint glow of the relic’s energy coursing through her veins. Her movements were fluid, almost inhuman.“Vivian,” he said evenly.“We don’t have to do this. Whatever the relic did to you—”“It gave me clarity,” she interrupted, her voice rising.“For the first time, I see the world for what it is. Weak, chaotic, broken. And I’m going to fix it.”Louis stepped forward cautiously.“By tearing it apart?”“No,” she said, her eyes narrowing.“By rebuilding it in my image. I am the future of this city, Louis. You’re just a relic of its past.”With a flick of her wrist, Vivian sent a burst of energy hurtling toward Louis.He dove to the side, the blast narrowly missing him and leaving a scorched mark on the floor.“You see?” she said, her voice filled with dark glee.“This is what true power looks like. And you? You’re powerless against it.”Louis stood, his voice calm despite the tension.“Power doesn’t make y

The first blackout hit during rush hour. Apple City’s skyline, usually shimmering with lights, went dark, plunging entire districts into chaos.Traffic snarled as signals failed, and emergency sirens wailed through the streets.In the distance, a faint, eerie glow emanated from an underground source.Louis stood in the AAA Group’s operations center, surrounded by his core team.The tension was palpable.“Report,” Louis ordered, his voice sharp.Juliet, seated at a console, scanned the live updates.“Blackouts in three sectors. Power grid’s overloaded. We’re looking at structural damage in at least two skyscrapers.”“It’s the relic,” Terminator X said grimly.“Vivian’s pushing it too hard. The energy output is destabilizing everything.”Louis clenched his fists.“She’s tearing the city apart just to get to us.”Pearl entered, her phone in hand.“I’ve got contacts in the elite circles who are willing to help, but they need proof that Vivian’s behind this. Right now, she’s spinning it as

The force field hummed with a menacing energy as Louis and Vivian circled each other in the central chamber of the lab.The relic pulsed between them, its light flickering erratically as if sensing the tension.“You should have joined me, Louis,” Vivian said, her voice low but edged with venom.“We could have been unstoppable.”Louis shook his head, his stance steady.“Unstoppable? You’re destroying everything you touch, Vivian. That’s not strength—it’s recklessness.”Vivian’s eyes flared with energy, her body glowing brighter.“And you’re a fool for clinging to outdated ideals. Let’s see how far those ideals get you.”With a sharp motion, she unleashed a blast of energy, the force crackling through the air.Louis dove behind a piece of equipment, the heat of the attack scorching the ground where he had stood.“You can’t hide forever!” Vivian shouted, launching another wave of power that shattered a row of consoles.Louis emerged from cover, his voice calm despite the chaos.“I’m not

The sound of hammering echoed through the AAA Group’s headquarters as workers repaired the damage from Vivian’s sabotage.The city, still reeling from the chaos, was beginning to rebuild. Louis stood by a large window, watching cranes move across the skyline.The city was recovering, but the scars of the battle remained.“Things are stabilizing,” Pearl said, entering the room with a tablet in hand.“Investors are returning, and the media’s finally painting you as the hero you are.”Louis sighed, his expression thoughtful.“It doesn’t feel like a victory, Pearl. Not with whispers of a new player already in motion.”Pearl raised an eyebrow.“The Broker?”He nodded.“Whoever they are, they’re making moves. Rumors of deals, alliances, threats—it’s too coordinated to ignore.”In a dimly lit café, Juliet sat across from a nervous informant, her voice low but firm.“You said The Broker has ties to The Eternals. I need names, connections—anything that gives me a lead.”The informant shifted u

The city streets were a blur of chaos and neon lights as the attackers closed in.Louis ducked behind an overturned car, his breath coming in sharp gasps.The sounds of gunfire and shouts echoed around him.Terminator X crouched nearby, his movements calm and deliberate as he reloaded his weapon.“They’re coordinated,” Terminator X muttered, scanning the area.“This isn’t a random hit. The Broker planned this.”Louis nodded, gripping a crowbar he’d picked up during the fight.“Then let’s make sure he knows we’re not easy targets.”Two operatives approached from the left, their movements swift and precise.Louis waited until they were close, then swung the crowbar with all his strength, knocking one to the ground.The second raised their weapon, but a single, well-placed shot from Terminator X took them out.“Stay sharp,” Terminator X said.“They’re trying to box us in.”“Juliet!” Louis shouted, glancing toward the alley where she had taken cover.“Are you clear?”Juliet’s voice came t