Zabuza and Saanvi sat beside Aarav, calmly explaining to him that Steve wasn't just some strange child—they believed he should be seen not as a grandson or a burden, but as a teammate. A comrade. Aarav hesitated, but eventually nodded, accepting their words. Just then, Steve—true to his chaotic nature—grinned and turned to Saanvi.
"Grandma," he teased, "tell this guy he better stay under my slipper if he wants to survive."
Zabuza burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. Aarav, on the other hand, stared with a glare that could melt iron. But before anyone could respond, a dark presence crept into the room—a figure with a knife appeared behind Steve, aiming straight for him.
In a flash, Steve teleported away and smirked. "Grandpa, you'll have to do better than that!" he shouted back, chuckling as if it were all a joke.
Before they could regain composure, a terrifying rumble echoed from the skies. They rushed to the edge of the fortress and looked out—floating ominously in the air was the same cloud that had formed during the destruction of Earth. Aarav stepped forward.
"Teleport us. Now!" he demanded.
But Steve raised his hand. "Not yet. The time isn't right."
Before anyone could argue, Steve sealed their teleportation abilities and vanished, leaving the others behind.
Aarav's jaw clenched in fury. "He tricked us."
Suddenly, three monstrous figures appeared—Drothul, Scindarel, and Zephyrix. Aarav turned to rally his team, only to find Zabuza and Saanvi had already fled.
He sighed. "Figures."
Facing the three beasts, Aarav said sarcastically, "So what now? A nice chat before the battle?"
To his surprise, the trio nodded. But Aarav's sharp instincts kicked in. He scanned the environment and quickly realized something was wrong. "Scindarel... drop the illusion. I know what this is."
The world around him shimmered and cracked like broken glass until the illusion dissolved. Drothul stepped forward, surprisingly calm.
"We have two tasks here," Drothul began. "Answer one question truthfully, and we'll spare you. We'll only extract your powers and make you our puppet."
"Sounds lovely," Aarav muttered. "Ask away."
Drothul's eyes glowed with eerie light. "We sensed one of our kind... a traitor. Xal'Vakar—the Reality Bender. We believe he's joined your side. Do you know him?"
Aarav's heart sank. Xal'Vakar? A being capable of bending reality? Was such a creature truly in his ranks?
"I think you're mistaken," Aarav replied cautiously. "You must be sensing someone else."
Zephyrix didn't wait. Her eyes sparked with electricity. "You're lying. Let's end him."
She launched a bolt of lightning. Aarav countered with his own power, the impact rocking the earth. Drothul stepped in next, slicing through the air with his claws. "I only need one cut... enough to corrupt your soul."
Suddenly, Scindarel cast another illusion, this time transforming into Saanvi. The fake Saanvi stood frozen—and Zephyrix struck her down.
"No!" Aarav shouted, eyes blazing.
He charged, prepared to kill Zephyrix—but something didn't add up. Scindarel hadn't moved at all. Zephyrix hadn't attacked her, despite having the perfect chance.
Realization struck. Aarav whispered, "It's all fake."
His iconic scythe appeared beside him, and with one swift move, he sliced through the fake Saanvi. Blood sprayed—but the head transformed into a severed hand, revealing the deception.
Drothul growled, his own hand regenerating. But before he could strike back, Steve teleported behind him and—using Aarav's scythe—beheaded the real Drothul.
Scindarel and Zephyrix attempted to flee, but Zabuza and Saanvi reappeared, blocking their path.
"Xal'Vakar is near," Scindarel whispered. "We can feel it."
Before Aarav could question further, Steve placed a hand on his shoulder and teleported the three of them away.
—To Be Continued—