Lumia didn't look away from the skyline. "I could," she said. "But he needs this. It's part of who he is."
Max nodded slowly. "Yeah… I get that. Still, you're really letting him do all the work tonight?"
She gave him a small smirk. "He enjoys it. Besides, it keeps him grounded. He's not just Spider-Man — he's Peter. Helping people is what keeps him human."
Max sighed and leaned back on the ledge. "You sound like Aunt May."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Lumia said, glancing at him.
"It is," Max replied with a grin. He looked back toward the city, where distant blue and red lights flashed across the streets. "You think he'll ever stop?"
Lumia shook her head. "No. But maybe he'll learn to rest in between."
Max chuckled. "Yeah… maybe."
A short silence passed between them. The sounds of the city filled the space — cars, wind, faint music from a nearby bar.
After a moment, Max turned to her again. "You've changed a lot, you know that?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Good or bad?"
"Good," he said. "You seem… calmer. Like you finally found where you belong too."
Lumia smiled. "Maybe I did." She glanced at him. "And you? Still running from trouble or finally staying put?"
Max laughed quietly. "Hey, trouble usually finds me. But… yeah. Maybe I'll stick around this time."
"Good," Lumia said. "The city could use you."
He grinned. "You mean us."
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Us."
Down below, a faint cheer echoed as Peter swung past the bank, the robbers already webbed up and police lights flashing around him. He gave one last swing through the air, a familiar silhouette against the moon before disappearing into the distance.
Lumia watched him go, her voice soft. "He's still the same."
Max crossed his arms. "And somehow, that's what keeps the city standing."
Lumia smiled. "Yeah. It really is."
They turned and began walking toward the rooftop exit, the hum of New York steady around them — alive, messy, and full of hope.
Tonight was just another night in the city.
Max looked at her with a calm grin. "Alright then, Lumia. Show me how much you've grown."
Lumia smirked, stretching her shoulders. "I've trained hard, Max. I'm not holding back this time."
"Good," he said, his voice steady. "But no powers. No magic. Just skill — body to body."
"Fine by me."
The air around them shimmered as they both stepped through a thin veil of light. In an instant, the rooftop and city vanished, replaced by a wide, quiet field under a twilight sky — the training dimension they used to spar in as kids. The ground was smooth, endless, untouched.
They faced each other across a few meters of open space. Wind brushed between them, carrying the faint echo of their shared heartbeat.
"Ready?" Max asked, settling into stance.
Lumia's eyes glinted. "Always."
Then they moved.
The sound of their collision cracked through the air — not from magic, but from speed and precision. Lumia struck first, fast and sharp, her fist cutting toward Max's ribs. He blocked easily, pivoting and countering with a low kick that sent dust scattering. She twisted aside, spinning into a high strike that brushed his shoulder.
Max smiled. "Better. Faster than before."
"Keep watching," she said, and pressed forward.
Their fight became a blur — motion against motion, pure instinct guiding each step. Every strike landed with enough force to send shockwaves through the air, but both held back just enough to keep control. No anger, no rage — only challenge, rhythm, and the unspoken bond of family.
Max swept her leg, she leapt over it, twisting midair to land a clean hit on his chest. He slid back a few feet, laughing. "Now that's new."
Lumia grinned, panting lightly. "Told you I've been practicing."
"Alright then," Max said, settling again. "Round two."
They launched at each other again, faster, stronger — not as enemies, but as equals testing each other's limits. The ground rippled beneath their feet, distant stars flickering brighter with every clash.
For a moment, they both stopped, standing face to face — smiling, breathing hard.
"You've grown," Max said quietly.
"So have you," Lumia replied.
Then they both laughed, the sound echoing softly across the empty dimension.
The air stilled between them, both of them breathing hard, dust swirling at their feet.
Then Max straightened, brushing his sleeve. "Alright," he said with a faint grin. "No powers, huh? Maybe we've tested that enough."
Lumia tilted her head, her smile teasing. "Thinking of cheating already?"
"Not cheating," Max replied, his eyes starting to glow faintly. "Just showing you how far I've come."
A faint hum filled the field as light gathered around him — not harsh, but steady, regal. Golden energy rose from his skin like a soft flame, wrapping him in shimmering lines that pulsed with controlled power. His stance didn't change, but the ground beneath him shimmered as if recognizing the presence of something ancient.
"The Golden Monarch," Lumia murmured, watching as the aura flared brighter. "You're really using it?"
"Only a fraction," Max said, smiling calmly. "You've trained hard, little sister. Let's see how much you can handle."
Lumia's green aura stirred in answer — soft at first, then alive and vibrant, rippling with vitality. The wind picked up, swirling between them as her energy formed patterns in the air, like leaves caught in a storm.
"I've changed too, Max," she said. "Don't hold back."
He nodded once — and vanished.
Their collision sent a golden flash bursting across the twilight plain, followed by a deep green surge that tore through the dust. Max's strike came first, swift and controlled, but Lumia met it head-on, her movements fluid, alive, and grounded in the rhythm of nature itself.
When their fists connected, the shockwave spread across the horizon, bending the light itself.
Max slid back a few steps, his golden aura flickering. "Not bad," he said, grinning. "You're not just keeping up — you're reading me now."
Lumia smirked. "I learned from the best."
"Flattery won't save you."
He dashed forward again — golden trails cutting through the air — and Lumia countered, her movements weaving around his like flowing water meeting sunlight. Each impact carved ripples in the dimension's surface, creating shimmering distortions that glowed with green and gold.
Finally, they broke apart again, standing on opposite ends of a fractured field glowing with residual light.
Lumia wiped a bit of dust from her cheek, smiling despite the sweat. "You still hit too hard."
Max laughed, rolling his shoulders. "And you still never stay down."
"Guess we're both stubborn."
"Guess so."
For a moment, they just stood there — golden light fading from Max's form, green mist softening around Lumia — and the vast field grew quiet again.
"Next time," Lumia said, crossing her arms, "we go all out."
Max chuckled. "Deal. But not here. I'd rather not break another dimension."
Lumia laughed, shaking her head. "You always say that."
He smiled at her — proud, warm, brotherly. "You've really grown, Lumia."
"And you've gotten predictable," she teased back.
***
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