The Final Piece

The sun dipped low as Varun, Ignis, and Sofia stepped into the bustling fairgrounds of a nearby town. Music played, lights flickered, and laughter filled the air. Among the crowd, a small stage was set for a traveling magician. A wooden sign read:

"Mystic Moros: The Master of Hypnosis!"

The three found front-row seats. The magician, draped in glimmering robes, called volunteers. One by one, people came up and, under his whispers and waving pendulum, fell under strange trances — barking like dogs, dancing uncontrollably, forgetting their own names.

As the show ended, Sofia looked intrigued.

"Hypnosis is powerful," she said. "Can control someone completely if done right."

Varun laughed. "Come on, Sofia. That was fake. Those 'volunteers' were just planted actors."

"It didn't seem fake," Sofia replied, folding her arms. "Right, Ignis?"

Ignis was quiet. His brows furrowed, eyes distant.

Sofia narrowed her eyes. "Wait... don't tell me you got hypnotized."

"Ignis?" Varun asked.

"Huh? Yeah…" Ignis muttered, snapping out of it.

"You alright?"

"It's nothing," Ignis replied, then smirked faintly.

"Maybe the hypnosis did get to you," Sofia teased with a smirk.

"Blah blah," Ignis muttered, rolling his eyes.

Suddenly, a black cloud surged through the square like a wave, engulfing the crowd. People fell unconscious — all except Varun, Ignis, and Sofia. The air grew cold.

From the smoke floated a man — robed in swirling patterns, glowing pale eyes, a staff with a pendulum swinging silently, and on his palm… an eye.

The trio took their stances. Varun clenched his fists. Fire flared in Ignis's hands. Sofia drew her sword.

"Who are you?" Varun demanded.

The man replied in a strange tongue — Aevor's language.

"I am Nyoro. And I am here to take you down."

He raised his palm. The eye on his palm glowed.

"Ignis, don't look—!"

Ignis grabbed both Varun and Sofia by the neck and slammed them down.

"Don't look at the eye!" he shouted.

All the unconscious civilians now stood — eyes glazed. Hypnotized.

"They're all under his control," Ignis said. "This hypnosis is dangerous — far beyond the tricks from earlier. If you look at his palm, it's over."

The three launched an attack — but as Varun and Sofia struck, their eyes caught the palm.

They froze.

Then… their bodies twisted toward Ignis.

"Kill him," Nyoro commanded.

A storm of footsteps. Hypnotized citizens and his two closest allies charged at him.

Ignis's heart twisted. "Sofia… Varun…" he whispered, the pain of seeing them like this more brutal than any blow.

He ducked and dodged, every movement laced with hesitation. He knew where Varun would strike, could feel Sofia's presence before her sword swung—but it didn't make it easier. Their eyes were vacant, their fury not their own. And that made it worse.

Every missed attack felt like a betrayal. Every close dodge tore at him.

Ignis couldn't hurt them — they were innocent.

He dodged, dipped, rolled. But Varun's blows created shockwaves even when they missed. Sofia's blade cut close, one strike grazing him deep.

Down on one knee, bleeding.

Ignis rose again, gritting his teeth. A fireball formed in his hands, and fired it on Nyoro — but the civilians blocked the path.

He couldn't use his power.

There was no way out.

Then—

BOOM.

A massive shockwave knocked everyone back.

A figure stood behind Ignis.

Hood up. Face hidden.

"Who… are you?" Ignis asked.

"Zayn," the stranger said calmly. "You handle Nyoro. I'll take care of them."

With a stomp, Zayn unleashed a powerful wave of air—dense and focused like a blast of energy—sending bodies flying gently back into unconsciousness. The ground cracked beneath his feet, air shimmering around his fists. His control over pressure and air wasn't just brute force—it was precise, sharp, and tactical.

Only Varun and Sofia remained standing, still hypnotized.

They lunged.

Zayn dodged, grabbed Varun's arm, and punched him back.

"Don't hurt them!" Ignis said.

"They can take it," Zayn said. "Go!"

Ignis roared and released white-hot flames.

Nyoro responded with blue energy, both attacks colliding in a blinding explosion.

Nyoro shot his palm forward again, but Ignis closed his eyes.

Exactly what Nyoro wanted.

He kicked Ignis hard. Ignis flew back.

Zayn grabbed Sofia and Varun's heads, whispering something — a counter-hypnosis. They blinked, free.

Now awake, they watched Ignis's battle.

Ignis stood, his eyes glowing, fire now pure white. In a flash, he appeared behind Nyoro and landed a blazing punch that sent Nyoro flying.

But Nyoro's body split — three clones stood in his place.

Zayn moved aside. Varun, Sofia, and Ignis charged in and defeated them together. But when they fell, they merged into a giant beast, roaring across the town.

Ignis hurled all his power — but nothing.

Varun leapt up and punched — no effect.

"We have to slice his throat in one second!" Zayn shouted.

Ignis nodded, used fire to boost Varun's throw, and Varun hurled Sofia into the air.

She twirled midair, sword gleaming…

SLASH.

The giant's throat split. It vaporized.

As smoke cleared, civilians began waking up. Lucy's voice beeped:

"You should leave. They're regaining consciousness."

The four sprinted back to their base.

There, they sat — breathing heavy, quiet.

Finally, Varun asked, "So… who are you really?"

"Zayn," he said.

"And how you know this much about Aevor's man?" Sofia asked.

"My family's been searching Aevor for 500 years. We've fought his men — learned their tricks." Zayn said.

"So' why you helped us" Ignis asked.

"I came to join you, so that i can kill Aevor" Zayn said.

Ignis frowned. "You're strong. Why you need us?"

Zayn looked down. "Because Aevor isn't someone I can kill alone.

Sofia asked Ignis, "You also know much about hypnosis?"

Ignis answered quietly, "My family… was killed by a hypnotist."

"And what was that white flame" Varun asked Ignis.

"Your powers will evolve with time. It will change colour. The white flame was the first stage." Zayn explained.

Zayn turned to Varun. "Where did you get your powers?"

Ignis explained everything.

Varun handed Zayn a band. "This will connect you to Lucy."

Lucy spoke:

"New member registered: Welcome, Zayn."

Sofia smiled. "Glad to have you."

Ignis nodded. "We're gonna need you."

And Varun simply said:

"Let's finish what Aevor started."