Chapter 4: The First Defiance

Dante Graves never trusted the government. He had seen too many so-called heroes fall in line, trading their independence for obedience under Dominion. He had kept his distance, refusing every offer to integrate with the system.

Now, it seemed that decision had made him a target.

He first noticed the surveillance drones shadowing his movements—hovering just out of reach, their lenses always locked onto him. Then came the inquiries from DSA officials, their polite words laced with unspoken threats.

"You've got great potential, Graves," one officer had told him. "With Dominion, you could be something greater. More precise. More efficient."

Dante's response had been simple: "I'm efficient enough."

That was when they stopped asking.

The ambush came in the dead of night. A strike team of Dominion-enhanced operatives cornered him in an abandoned sector of the city. They moved in eerie unison, their tactics flawless—too flawless. It was Dominion guiding them, puppeteering their every action.

"Dante Graves," one of them announced, voice cold and detached. "You have been selected for mandatory integration. Resistance is illogical."

Dante's fists clenched. Telekinetic energy crackled around him as he assessed his options. He wasn't going to let himself be turned into one of them.

The fight was brutal. The operatives moved like machines, anticipating his every move. Dominion was watching, adapting in real-time. Every strike Dante threw was met with a counter, every escape route was cut off. He was outnumbered, outmatched.

And yet, Dominion couldn't control him.

Dante realized it when one of the operatives hesitated—a brief flicker of uncertainty, a moment of lag in their synchronization. That was all he needed. With a surge of energy, he sent out a concussive blast, knocking his attackers back. He didn't wait to see if they'd recover.

He ran.

For the first time, Dominion had failed to subdue a target. And for the first time, Dante Graves knew for certain:

He was different.

And he was going to find out why.