Chapter 4: Revealed

he crackling energy radiating from the girl's hand grew brighter, the alley illuminated in an eerie, flickering glow. The edges of her figure were sharp and defined, her stance unrelenting. Her lips curled into a snarl, her voice laced with venom.

"You don't get to play dumb," she spat. "I know your kind. Voidborn scum who think they can blend in, hiding behind masks of false innocence."

"Voidborn?!" Ethan shouted, his voice echoing in the narrow alley. He raised his hands defensively, his shield flickering instinctively around him. "I don't even know what that means! You've got the wrong guy!"

She didn't flinch. Instead, she lunged forward, her speed blinding. In the blink of an eye, her glowing hand sliced through the air, striking Ethan's shield with a force that sent him skidding backward. Sparks flew where her energy collided with his barrier, the ground beneath them cracking under the sheer pressure.

"You think I'm just going to let you walk away after what your kind did to my family?" she growled, her energy building into a pulsating orb in her palm.

Ethan braced himself, his heart racing. "Listen to me!" he yelled over the crackling energy. "I don't even know who you are, and I sure as hell don't know what happened to your family! I'm just trying to survive!"

The orb of energy shot toward him, a searing ball of destruction that lit up the entire alleyway. Ethan barely had time to react. His shield snapped into place, absorbing the brunt of the attack, but the impact sent him crashing into a stack of metal crates, the clatter echoing like thunder.

Pain radiated through his back as he scrambled to his feet. "You've got to be kidding me!" he muttered under his breath.

Before he could catch his breath, she was on him again, her movements fluid and relentless. She fought like someone who had trained for years, every strike calculated and precise. Ethan ducked under a sweeping kick and threw up his arm to block another energy-infused punch, the force of which sent vibrations through his entire body.

"I don't want to fight you!" Ethan shouted, deflecting another blow with his shield.

"Too bad," she snarled, her eyes blazing. "You don't get a choice!"

She leapt back, energy swirling around her like a storm. Ethan could feel the air grow heavy, charged with power that seemed to pull at his very core. He knew she was preparing another attack, something bigger, something meant to end this fight.

He raised his shield again, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "What the hell did I get myself into?" he muttered, sweat dripping down his temple.

But just as she prepared to unleash her next strike, something unexpected happened. A faint hum resonated in the air, like a tuning fork vibrating against his very soul. The girl froze, her expression shifting from rage to confusion.

"You're… not Voidborn," she whispered, the energy around her hand flickering.

"No kidding!" Ethan shot back, his voice tinged with frustration.

She stared at him, her body still tense, but her hand lowered slightly. "Then why do you feel like one?" she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"I don't even know what a Voidborn is!" Ethan said, lowering his shield cautiously. "All I know is that I've got this… shard thing stuck in me, and it's turned my life upside down. I've been trying to figure this out, but people like you keep trying to kill me before I get the chance!"

Her expression shifted again, suspicion giving way to reluctant curiosity. The energy in her hand dissipated, though her stance remained guarded. "You're bonded to a shard?"

"Yeah," Ethan replied, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Apparently, that's what's responsible for… well, all this." He gestured vaguely to his glowing shield.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "That explains it," she said, her tone still wary. "The shards amplify who we are. But for Voidborn…" Her voice trailed off, and a shadow passed over her face.

"For Voidborn, what?" Ethan asked, stepping closer cautiously.

She hesitated, her gaze hardening again. "It doesn't matter," she said sharply. "You're not one of them—at least, not yet."

"Not yet?" Ethan repeated, incredulous. "What the hell does that mean?!"

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley. The girl stiffened, her head snapping toward the source of the noise. Ethan turned as well, his shield instinctively flickering back into place.

Three figures emerged from the shadows, their movements unnervingly synchronized. They were dressed in dark, nondescript clothing, their faces obscured by masks. But what caught Ethan's attention was the faint, ominous glow emanating from their bodies.

The girl's expression darkened. "Voidborn," she hissed.

"Wait, those are Voidborn?" Ethan asked, his stomach dropping.

"Yeah," she said, her hand once again crackling with energy. She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Guess this is your chance to prove you're not one of them."

Ethan swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as the Voidborn began to spread out, their movements predatory. "Great," he muttered. "No pressure."

The girl smirked, a flicker of amusement breaking through her seriousness. "You can keep up, right?"

Ethan raised his shield, a determined glint in his eye. "Let's find out."

And with that, the girl launched herself at the Voidborn, energy blazing, while Ethan charged in behind her, his shield ready to meet whatever chaos awaited.