**Chapter 5** The Primal Instinct

As Exalibar stood there, facing Dylan's parents—Ronin and Valery, the world's greatest heroes—he couldn't help but feel a flicker of intimidation. Their presence was commanding, their reputation legendary. Yet, beneath the surface, something far stronger stirred within him. It wasn't fear. It was something darker, more primal. A voice in his mind, faint at first, grew louder, urging him to attack, to kill them where they stood. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened, and his blue eyes flickered with an unnatural red hue.

Turning to Dylan, Exalibar leaned in and whispered, his voice strained, "Bro, not to ruin the mood, but something's wrong."

Dylan frowned, his fiery eyes narrowing. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Exalibar's breathing grew shallow, his body trembling as if fighting an invisible force. "Dude, it would be in your parents' best interest to leave. Now."

Dylan's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "Really? Why?"

Exalibar's voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "I… I don't know. It's like my body is forcing me to attack them. Like a primal instinct. And I don't know how much longer I can fight it."

Dylan hesitated, then turned to his parents. "Uh, Mom, Dad… I think you should go."

Ronin, his icy blue eyes narrowing, crossed his arms. "Now, son, don't be rude. We just got here."

Valery, her speedster reflexes making her movements almost imperceptible, stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward Exalibar. "Are you alright—"

Before she could finish, Exalibar let out a guttural roar that echoed through the entire mall. His body moved faster than thought, lunging at Valery with terrifying speed. But before he could reach her, a blast of ice from Ronin sent him flying across the room, slamming him into a wall.

Ronin's voice was calm but firm. "Young man, I don't know what's happening to you but if I were you I would stand down."

Exalibar staggered to his feet, his eyes glowing brighter, his movements erratic. "I warned you," he growled, his voice distorted, almost inhuman.

In an instant, he rushed Ronin again, but the hero froze the ground beneath Exalibar's feet, causing him to lose his footing. Exalibar retaliated with a blast of heat vision, which Ronin blocked with a shield of ice. The collision created a thick cloud of steam, obscuring Ronin from view. Exalibar used the smokescreen to his advantage, darting behind Ronin and unleashing a flurry of punches. But before he could land a decisive blow, Valery swept in, her speed unmatched, and knocked him aside.

Exalibar snarled, his movements becoming more feral. He knew he was slower than Valery, but he was a fighter, trained from birth. Drawing on the abilities he'd absorbed, he created another smokescreen using evaporated ice, disorienting Valery. She countered by spinning her arms rapidly, creating a vortex that dispersed the steam. But as the air cleared, she found herself staring at an ice sculpture of Exalibar. The real Exalibar was already behind her, sweeping her legs and pinning her to the ground.

"I warned you," he jeered, his voice dripping with malice.

Before he could strike, a searing blast of fire knocked him back. Dylan stood a few feet away, his hands glowing with intense heat. "This ends now!" he shouted. "Incineration Cannon!"

Dylan had been quietly gathering hydrogen and oxygen from the air, channelling it into a concentrated blast of fire. The explosion sent Exalibar flying, his body crashing into a wall. He groaned, dislocating his shoulder in the process, but with a sickening pop, he forced it back into place.

Exalibar's eyes glowed red as he charged up another attack, but before he could unleash it, Ronin appeared behind him. In one swift motion, the hero drew his sword and decapitated Exalibar.

The room fell silent. Dylan and Aisha, who had been watching from a distance with Chloe, screamed in horror. Aisha collapsed to her knees, sobbing. "You killed him!"

Ronin's voice was cold, his expression unreadable. "Better than him killing your brother."

Aisha's voice trembled with anger. "You could have restrained him! Frozen him! Not… not this!"

Chloe, her purple eyes filled with a strange calm, knelt beside Aisha. "Don't cry," she said softly. "He isn't dead. Rule of three, remember? That's death one. He still has two more."

As if on cue, Exalibar's headless body began to rise. His neck glowed faintly as a new head regenerated in seconds. Ronin gripped his sword, ready to strike again, but Aisha stepped in front of him, her green eyes blazing with defiance.

"No!" she shouted. "You're not killing him again!"

Ronin hesitated, then lowered his sword. Instead, he flash-froze Exalibar, encasing him in a block of ice.

Chloe stepped forward, her voice steady. "Now what?"

Aisha wiped her tears, her resolve hardening. "Now we take him back home and figure out what caused this."

Ronin's gaze shifted to Chloe. "And if he attacks you?"

Chloe's eyes glowed faintly. "I'll handle him."

Ronin raised an eyebrow. "Aisha, you trust this girl can take care of him?"

Dylan, his voice tinged with uncertainty, added, "She'll try."

Chloe's tone was firm. "Not try. Do."

Ronin nodded, sheathing his sword. "Very well. My children, it was… eventful seeing you. I need to seek medical attention for your mother and myself. We'll visit once she's well."

Dylan sighed, running a hand through his fiery hair. "And the criminals and damage here?"

Ronin waved a hand dismissively. "My sidekicks will take care of it."

As Ronin and Valery left, Dylan turned to Aisha and Chloe. "Let's get him home."

Back at the facility, they rushed Exalibar to the lab. Aisha, her hands steady despite the chaos, began running tests while Exalibar remained sedated and restrained. Chloe watched silently, her purple eyes filled with concern. After what felt like hours, Aisha finally spoke. "I found it. There was an inhibitor chip embedded in his spine. It was sending those commands, forcing him to attack."

Chloe's fists clenched. "The doctor. He's still controlling him."

Aisha nodded; her expression grim. "I removed the chip, but we'll need to monitor him closely. Also, there is more. He has this….. energy, actually 2 types. 1 is showing signs of it being the origin of his ability to copy other powers. His body manipulates the energy into a form that replicates the abilities of others. The second one however is strange. Its constant and doesn't seem react to anything I do, even with my powers I can't convert it to mass."

Exalibar stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Wh-what happened? Where's Dylan?"

Dylan stepped forward; his fiery eyes filled with relief. "I'm here, bro. You're okay."

Exalibar's voice was hoarse. "Oh no… what did I do? Did I kill them?"

Chloe placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch calming. "You almost did, but they stopped you. It wasn't your fault."

Exalibar's face twisted with guilt. "It was like a voice in my head, telling me to kill them over and over. Then it said some codes, and I blacked out."

Aisha sighed, her green eyes softening. "You were being controlled, Exalibar. But it's over now. The chip is gone."

Dylan smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "See, bro? This is why we don't let our intrusive thoughts win."

Exalibar managed a weak smile, but his eyes were haunted. "I thought I was rid of the doctor. I should've killed him before I left."

Chloe's voice was firm, her purple eyes locking onto his. "Don't worry. We're finally rid of him."

Exalibar leaned back, his grey hair damp with sweat. "I hope so…"

**To Be Continued…**