Destruction

The rain fell in heavy sheets over Ashford, each drop a reminder of the life Lucian had just lost. He stood amidst the ruins of his childhood home, the flames flickering behind him like the final echoes of a nightmare. But in the depths of his grief, something else stirred—an insatiable hunger for power and control.

As Lucian moved through the remnants of charred wood and smoldering memories, he could feel the energy within him pulsing, alive and eager. It was a sensation he had never experienced before, a raw force that promised to reshape not only his destiny but the world itself.

He wiped the tears from his face, determination replacing despair. He had no time for sorrow. The men who had taken everything from him were gone, but their kind would always exist. He would ensure that no one else suffered the same fate as his parents unless it was done by his own two hands.

With each step away from the wreckage, visions of what could be filled his mind. He imagined a world where he could eradicate those who preyed upon the weak, where his strength would be the shield for the innocent.

But power came with its own burdens. Lucian had seen the darkness in humanity, and now he understood it intimately. His heart raced with the thought of wielding the kind of authority that could reshape reality itself. He could be a savior—or a tyrant. Upon pondering for a short moment, he figured, why not both?

His thoughts turned to the town, to the people who had always looked away when he was bullied, who had turned a blind eye to the suffering around them. They had all failed him. Now, it was time for them to witness his transformation. Now, it was his turn to fail them.

As he approached the center of Ashford, the streets felt eerily empty. Not too surprising considering that it was late. The rain washed everything clean, but the air was thick with tension. He could sense the tension that had begun to seep into the very fabric of the town. They would feel his presence soon enough.

Lucian paused, standing at the intersection where the lamplights flickered in the rain. He closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself to tap into the power that had awakened. It surged, a torrent of energy that coursed through his veins, filling him with a sense of invincibility.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed in the distance—thunder, or perhaps the sound of something more ominous. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and for a moment, he felt as if the world itself was responding to him.

He opened his eyes, and they glowed with an otherworldly light. "Let them come," he whispered, a cold smile spreading across his lips. "Let them see what I can do."

As he took the first steps into the heart of Ashford, the rain began to slow, the clouds parting slightly to reveal a sliver of moonlight. It illuminated his path—his path to power, to vengeance, and to a new order.

Tonight, he would show them the true meaning of fear. Tonight, Ashford would learn of his existence. No longer was he a boy. He wanted to be a legend. Looking into the sky he found again the moon. With it's silver luminescence glowing around him he had his name. He would be known as Eclipse. He would be known as a force that would change everything. A force that would suddenly and abruptly plunge the world into darkness. There would be no light unless he allowed it.

And it would start here.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over Ashford as Lucian flew into and landed at the center of the town square. The streets were deserted, the silence thick with tension and anticipation. He could feel it in the air—the weight of a world on the brink of change. Tonight, he would make his mark.

With a deep breath, Lucian focused on the power coursing through him, the energy that had ignited within him during the flames of his past. It surged, a tidal wave of strength that begged to be unleashed. He lifted his arms, palms open, feeling the wind swirl around him, charged with a growing intensity.

"Let them witness what I have become," he murmured, his voice steady and cold.

A flicker of light ignited in his hands, a spark that quickly grew into a blazing orb of energy. The ground beneath him trembled, and the nearby lampposts flickered as if the very fabric of reality was responding to his command. He could sense the vibrations of the town, the heartbeat of Ashford, and he reveled in it.

With a swift motion, he hurled the orb toward the nearest building. It struck with a deafening explosion, engulfing the structure in a fiery inferno. Flames erupted, consuming wood and brick, sending debris flying into the air. Lucian watched, a chilling smile creeping across his face as the fire illuminated his features.

The sound of shattered glass and crumbling walls echoed through the night, a symphony of destruction. He felt alive, invigorated by the chaos he was unleashing. The power within him swelled, urging him to continue.

"Look at what you've created!" he shouted into the night. "Keep looking! Awe at me and wonder at your new god! This is just the beginning!"

As the flames spread, he turned his gaze to the other buildings, each one a target for his wrath. With a flick of his wrist, he sent waves of energy coursing through the streets, igniting everything in their path. The once-familiar landscape of his childhood home transformed into a hellish blaze. 

His eyes lit up with a profound crimson and lasers proceeded to cut buildings in half. A homeless man popped out of his tent in a hurry as he wasn't sure what the cause of the commotion was. He didn't wonder for long however as Lucian...As Eclipse proceeded to cut him in half with his laser vision.

Panic began to ripple through the town as sirens wailed in the distance. What wasn't destroyed in the initial volley of terror started to come alive. After all, nobody could sleep through all the noise he had just made. Lucian could hear the shouts and cries of the few brave enough to venture outside, but their fear only fueled his determination. They had ignored him for too long; now they would pay the price for their indifference. Each person that dared to step out, drive past or otherwise not simply accept the destruction was promptly cut in half.

"Where are you hiding?" he called, his voice echoing through the night. "Come face me, and see the true power of your nightmares!"

He felt their fear wash over him, a tidal wave of energy that only amplified his own. The townspeople began to emerge from their homes, eyes wide with terror as they witnessed the destruction. Lucian reveled in their horror, feeling like a king surveying his kingdom.

"Look upon the ashes of your complacency!" he yelled, raising his arms once more. Beams erupted from his eyes, a shower of fire that rained down upon the streets. Buildings crumbled, and the ground shook beneath their feet as chaos reigned.

He watched as the townspeople fled feeling that some would need to spread word of his arrival, screaming and scrambling to escape the inferno he had unleashed. Their faces twisted in fear only fueled his resolve. "Tell them! Tell them that Eclipse has come. Tell them that I am here to blot out your sun, to take everything from you. I will be the only evil in this world."

Each terrified expression was a reminder of the pain he had endured, the rejection he had faced. They had turned away when he needed them most; now it was their turn to suffer.

With a final surge of power, Lucian dove to the ground and slammed his foot into the pavement unleashing a wave of energy that rippled through the ground, erupting in a series of explosions that rocked the town. The air filled with smoke and ash, and the once-thriving Ashford was reduced to a smoldering ruin.

As the last echoes of destruction and screams faded into the night, Lucian stood amidst the chaos, breathing heavily, exhilaration coursing through him. He surveyed the scene—the remnants of his childhood, now a canvas of devastation.

"This is just the beginning," he whispered, a promise to himself and to the world. "Ashford will be the first of many stepping stones. I will cleanse this earth of its filth."

With that, he turned away from the flames, feeling the power within him settle into a steady pulse. The darkness had embraced him, and he was ready to embrace it in return.

"Now. With that out of the way, I think it's time I get a respectable outfit. After all, what good is a super villain without an amazing outfit?"

Eclipse flew into the air, and darted in the direction of the closest city, leaving behind the flames, the ash, the crying and the screaming as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Surely they can put a rush order in for me." Lucian said as he smiled darkly.