Chapter 15 : Episode 14 – The Originals IV

Tazer stood up slowly, brushing the debris off his shoulders. His crimson eyes gleamed with an unsettling mixture of amusement and respect. He rolled his neck, a series of loud cracks in the silence, and then turned his gaze back to Lucias, who stood unwavering.

"Well," Tazer said, his voice carrying an edge of excitement. "I didn't expect this surprise. It seems that you achieve the new level. But you nothing compare to me."

Lucias remained silent. His calm demeanor only seemed to fuel Tazer's interest.

Tazer smirked, tilting his head. "I show you now the power of consuming your host. The real fight starts now." He crouched slightly. Without warning, he launched himself forward, closing the gap between them in a blink.

Lucias reacted instantly, raise his arms to block the incoming blow. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the sheer force of it cracking the pavement beneath their feet. Tazer followed up with a barrage of punches, but Lucias parried them with surprising ease.

"A bit confident don't ya" Tazer muttered, his strikes growing faster and more aggressive. " I wipe that face of yours."

Lucias remained silent. Instead, he dodged a brutal swing and responded with a quick kick to Tazer's side. The blow struck perfectly, causing Tazer to slide backward, but he quickly found his balance again, his smile growing wider.

Flexing his fingers as energy began to swirl around him. " Better not dissapoint me."

Tazer charged again, this time unleashing a burst of shockwaves as he moved. Lucias avoid to the side, narrowly avoiding the blast.

As the dust cleared, the two combatants stood opposite one another, neither exhibiting any indication of yielding. Lucias breathed steadily, his concentration steadfast, while Tazer's smile persisted enthusiasm increasing with each interaction.

"You've gotten stronger," Tazer admitted, his tone almost admiring. " But that form of yours has it's limit."

Lucias narrowed his eyes. "We'll see."

The two clashed again as they exchanged blows at breakneck speed. Tazer's attacks were relentless, but Lucias met him blow for blow, his newfound balance of power and control giving him the edge he needed to hold his ground.

At one point, Tazer managed to land a heavy punch to Lucias's gut, sending him staggering backward. But Lucias recovered quickly, using the momentum to spin into a powerful uppercut that caught Tazer across the jaw. The force of the hit sent Tazer stumbling, but his laughter rang out even as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

"HAHAHAHA" Tazer laugh. "I'm just getting riled up."

Tazer raised both hands, summoning a massive wave of crimson energy. He hurled it at Lucias with a roar, the attack tearing through the ground as it raced toward him. Lucias braced himself, the impact shaking the earth and kicking up a cloud of debris.

When the dust cleared, Lucias was still standing. But Tazer was already on the move, appearing behind him in a flash. Lucias spun just in time to block Tazer's strike.

The fight raged on. Tazer's attacks were fierce and unrelenting Lucias to his limits. But Lucias's determination burned just as brightly. 

" It's futile" Tazer said, his breathing heavy but his grin never faltering. " You're not defeating me."

Lucias's eyes glow. " I will."

Returning to Stargent's headquarters, the mood was fraught. The Director sat at the control table, his hands clasped together and his gaze focused on the live transmission from the battlefield. Beside him, Kara held a tablet, her forehead creased with worry.

She tapped on the screen and turned to the Director. "Sir, it's spreading," she said, her voice tight. "Social media is flooded videos of the destruction noise from the place. People are recording the red lights from miles away. Hashtags are trending, and there are already reports of groups heading toward the location to see what's happening."

The Director's jaw tightened as he absorbed her words. He glanced at another monitor, which displayed a live stream of the battlefield. 

Kara continued, swiping through the tablet to show him more. "It's not just social media. News outlets are starting to pick it up. They're calling it a ' Strange light occur .' We have less than an hour before this turns into a full-blown media frenzy. And if people actually show up at the site..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

The Director exhaled sharply, his mind racing. "We can't let civilians get anywhere near that place. The destruction those two can cause... it could harm the entire area." He stood up, his voice firm as he issued orders. "Kara, call every available agent in the region. Get them to the site now. I want checkpoints set up at every road leading to that location. No one gets in. Not reporters, not curious onlookers, no one."

Kara nodded, already typing on her tablet to send out the directives. "Understood, sir. I'll also coordinate with local authorities to divert traffic and clear the area."

The Director's eyes flicked back to the screen showing Lucias and Tazer's battle. 

"Kara," he said after a moment, his voice softer but no less urgent. "Make sure the perimeter is secured. But... if the situation gets out of control, I want evacuation protocols in place for everyone within a ten-mile radius. We can't afford to take any chances."

Kara hesitated, looking up from her tablet. "You're expecting it to escalate that much?"

The Director didn't answer immediately. His eyes were locked on the screen, watching as Lucias narrowly dodged one of Tazer's crimson shockwaves, the resulting explosion obliterating a nearby structure. After a moment, he spoke, his voice heavy with a mixture of hope and dread.

"Lucias shows promise, yet he is still establishing his balance." Tazer, in contrast... he's a completely different matter. If this battle gets out of hand, the collateral damage might be disastrous.

Kara nodded solemnly as she relayed the orders. The weight of the situation was palpable, but there was no room for hesitation. Every second counted.

As the Director returned to his seat, his gaze fell on the screen showing Lucias. There was a spark of determination in his eyes, a fire that he had witness before. The Director allowed himself a faint smile, though it was tinged with concern.

" You're the hope now, Lucias," he murmured to himself. "But this is just the beginning. Everything is counting on you now."

Kara looked up from her tablet, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. "Sir, reports are coming in from agents on the ground. Crowds are already gathering a few miles from the site. We're trying to redirect them, but... some are refusing to leave. They think this is some kind of phenomenon or a government experiment."

The Director clenched his fists. "Then make them leave. Use whatever force is necessary, but keep it non-lethal.

Kara hesitated. "And what about the media? They're already setting up cameras in the surrounding areas. If this footage goes live—"

"Shut it down," the Director interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Jam their signals if you have to. This can't go public."

Kara nodded and turned back to her tablet, her fingers flying over the screen as she coordinated the efforts. Meanwhile, the Director leaned forward, his eyes never leaving the monitor showing Lucias and Tazer.

"Hold on, Nathan. Hold on, Lucias," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Lucias sprinted forward, his energy-charged fist crackling . With a battle cry that echoed across the battlefield, he drove his glowing hand into Tazer's stomach. The impact was devastating. Tazer's body bent inward from the force as he was sent hurtling backward. He smashed through several walls of a nearby building.

Lucias stood his ground, breathing heavily, his fists clenched tightly. Dust and debris settled slowly, obscuring the wreckage where Tazer had landed.

For a moment, the battlefield fell eerily silent. His adrenaline subsiding as he cautiously watched the collapsed building. Was it over? Had he finally done it?

Kara and the Director, watching from the Stargent command center, held their breath as they observed the scene. Kara whispered, "Did he... did he win?" Even the agents monitoring the fight seemed to pause, waiting for any sign of movement from the rubble.

But Lucias's instincts screamed otherwise. Then, with an earth-shattering roar, the rubble exploded outward in a crimson blaze, sending debris flying in every direction. Tazer emerged, his body enveloped in red energy. His face was distorted, twisted into a grotesque mask of rage and malevolence. His once-human features were barely recognizable, replaced by something monstrous and primal.

Lucias took a step back, his breath catching in his throat. This wasn't the same Tazer he had been fighting. This was something else entirely—a being consumed by hatred and power.

Tazer's aura flared crackling with unrestrained energy. His movements were erratic, his crimson eyes glowing like twin infernos. He let out a guttural growl, the sound reverberating across the battlefield and shaking the very earth beneath them.

"I'll admit," Tazer snarled, his voice deeper, almost unrecognizable, "that power of yours... is commendable." He raised his hand, flexing his claw-like fingers as his aura surged. "But don't think for a second that it's enough to stop me."

Lucias stood his ground, summoning his courage despite the overwhelming presence before him. 

Tazer tilted his head, his lips curling into a maniacal grin. His laughter was unhinged, echoing through the battlefield like a symphony of chaos. " Thank you Lucias . For bringing me to my next level."

With a sudden burst of speed, Tazer lunged at Lucias, his movements faster than before. Lucias barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as Tazer's strike obliterated the ground where he had been standing. The shockwave from the impact sent Lucias tumbling backward.

Tazer straightened, his monstrous form towering over Lucias. He raised his head, his eyes narrowing as he sneered at Lucias.

"Unite? Compromise?" Tazer spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "What a joke for those who can't handle the weight of true power."

Lucias gritted his teeth.

Tazer eyes burned bright, his twisted grin stretching wider. "The only power that matters is me!" he roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "Me alone!" His laughter grew louder, more deranged, as the red energy around him expanded, scorching the ground beneath his feet.

"I am the Originals!" Tazer bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield. His aura flared, its crimson light blotting as it consumed the battlefield.

Lucias stared at him, his fists tightening as he felt the overwhelming weight of Tazer's presence. This was no ordinary opponent. But Lucias stood tall, his determination unwavering.