Chapter 6: The Wrath of Freedom

"Jeez, it's like I'm being hit by a wrecking ball. Punching him feels like punching a steel wall. Ugh, focus!"

Jalen quickly recovered, pushing through the searing pain. He summoned a sword and leaped into the air, swinging downward, aiming for the King's head. But to his shock, the sword shattered on impact. Before he could react, a brutal blow to his stomach knocked the wind out of him, forcing him to drop the weapon.

Reeling in pain, Jalen gritted his teeth. He wouldn't let up. With an almost mechanical resolve, he grabbed the King by the head, shifting his weight, and slammed his forehead into the King's nose. The crunch echoed like someone stomping on a plastic cup. As they descended, Jalen coated his fist in red energy again. He landed five consecutive punches, each amplified by Double Impact, delivering a brutal total of fifteen hits.

Both fighters collapsed to the ground. Jalen's stomach was purple with bruising, while the King's nose was a mess of broken bone and blood. The King snarled, his ferocity growing.

"Grrrr… YOU'RE A DEAD MAN WALKING, BOY!"

"Haha, looks like that so-called impenetrable body of yours is finally feeling my hits."

The ground trembled beneath them as the King lunged forward, his movement like a lion pouncing on its prey. But Jalen didn't flinch. In fact, he felt a surge of exhilaration, an intensity that was almost foreign to him. The pain, the fight, it all felt… alive. Surreal, and yet thrilling.

Jumping backward, he summoned a revolver and a cowboy hat, the familiar weight of it grounding him as he locked his eyes on the advancing King.

"It's High Noon…"

BANG!

"AGHHHHHH!"

The King dropped to the ground, clutching his face.

"Aw, I missed my mark. You're tougher to kill than I thought. Guns were more Lucio's thing anyway."

The King growled, rising and lumbering toward him. Jalen couldn't help but grin, pointing to where the King's right eye used to be.

"Hehehe, that's a nice hole you've got there. If you don't mind, let's have a quick chat."

Jalen dropped to the ground, kicked the King flat on his back, and floated above him.

"Now, if you don't mind… Can you please tell me your name?"

"Swine like you are unworthy of such a privilege… YOU SHALL NEVER—"

Jalen swiftly punched the King in the groin, then looked back nonchalantly.

"Double Impact…"

"AGHH, YOU FILTHY MONKEY! SUCH INTOLERANCE AND DISRESPECT!"

"WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP, YOU OLD BAG OF BONES? You've got nothing left to offer. Honestly, I thought we were just getting started. Maybe trash-talking's your only redeeming quality."

Jalen's tone was sharp, but inside… there was a flicker of doubt. Was he really any better than Drow? Did he care that he'd just brutally humiliated this man? It felt good, sure—but in the back of his mind, a nagging voice wondered if it was enough. Was this freedom truly worth the bloodshed? He pushed the thought aside.

Sighing, Jalen grabbed the King by the neck and began to float higher, scanning the area for survivors. His gaze darted across the ruined city as he thought about Lucio.

'Where is he? Did he already escape with the slaves?'

"Jalen! What are you doing!? Is that King Drow!?"

Jalen turned, his grin fading into a frown as he tightened his grip on Drow's neck, locking eyes with him.

"Your name is Drow... You couldn't just tell me that? Talk about too much pride. You really suck. Anyway, Lucio, where's everyone?"

"Everyone has escaped through that giant hole you made yesterday. We're the only ones left inside."

"Cool. You head out with them, and I'll catch up in a second. I'm going to finish him, but first, I want the people to see him."

Jalen soared out of the dome, greeted by gasps and horrified stares from the former slaves of Stabilous. Drow hung limp in the air, beaten and humiliated, his once-proud posture reduced to that of a broken man.

"Hear me, all of you!" Jalen called out, his voice reverberating through the city. "As of this day, you are slaves no longer! Your debts are paid, and you are free! Never forget the man who set you free and delivered you from bondage!"

The former slaves stood frozen, disbelief written across their faces. Freedom? A chance to rebuild, to dream of a future beyond servitude? It was too much to comprehend. Slowly, tears began to stream down their faces.

"Thank you!" they cried, their voices choked with emotion. "You've saved us! You've freed us and given us another chance at life! You are our hero!"

"Lucio's your hero," Jalen corrected with a forced smirk. "None of this would've happened without him. I just wanted to fight. Honestly, I didn't care about any of you. I got here yesterday. But most importantly, anyone who thinks they can corrupt or control these people again—let this serve as your warning."

Jalen extended his hand, blue energy swirling around it. The energy turned black as he pointed toward the city, releasing a massive beam that decimated Stabilous, turning it to ash.

Turning back to the citizens, Jalen tossed the King into the air.

"And as for Drow…"

The King's descent was interrupted by Jalen's fist, crashing through the hole where his right eye had been. The same black energy began to fill Drow's body.

"That steely skin of yours… Let's see if it's the same for your organs."

"Jalen, stop! That's enough!" Lucio shouted, his voice trembling with urgency. "You've made your point already! He can't even fight back. Killing doesn't serve anyone!"

But Jalen wasn't listening. His mind was clouded with the need for finality, for closure.

"Sorry, Lucio. I don't take orders from you. Leaving him alive would just keep the cycle going. What if he rebuilds? What if he comes after us again? No. Drow's going to die, and I'm making sure of it."

Lucio's desperate cries fell on deaf ears as Jalen filled the King with his energy. The King's body exploded, blood raining down in misty droplets. The silence that followed was deafening.

The former slaves stared in stunned silence, some filled with relief, others with fear. They were free, but at what cost? Could they trust someone with so much power? Was this the hero they wanted?

Jalen's twisted smile lingered, but then his expression changed. A sudden weight crushed his chest, and everything grew dense. His body felt as though it was being pulled down by an unseen force.

"There… all done… wh-what's going on? Why does everything feel so heavy?"

His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps. His limbs went numb, and his vision blurred. The world around him faded into indistinct shapes and muted colors. He barely noticed the sensation of weightlessness before the ground rushed up to meet him.

CRASH!

The impact sent a cloud of dust into the air. Jalen lay at the center of the crater, broken and bloodied. His energy had drained away, leaving only stillness. Silence. And then—Lucio's frantic voice.

"We need a medic! What do you mean there isn't one? He needs attention NOW! Jalen! Stay with me! Just don't go to sleep! Can you hear me? Jalen!"

Jalen's eyelids felt heavy. The voice faded, and his body seemed to slip into darkness.

'Calm down, Lucio. I just want to nap. But you probably can't hear me right now… haha.'

When Jalen opened his eyes again, he stood before a massive tree, its ancient roots stretching deep into the earth. Beneath it sat an old man, his posture relaxed, but his gaze intense.

"Well, don't just stand there, Jalen. Come here and have a word with me. You're wondering where you are, right?"

Jalen blinked, confused. The voice felt familiar, yet distant. The old man's presence was oddly welcoming, as though he had always been a part of Jalen's life.

"Who exactly are you?"