"Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!"
The sharp staccato of bullets echoed all around them, peppering the sides of the Ford Ranger that Alex was driving like it was made of cardboard. The vehicle swerved sharply to the right, then again to the left as Alex expertly maneuvered through the winding mountain road.
"Why the bloody hell are they shooting at us?! Don't they know we're civilians?" Callum shouted, ducking instinctively as another volley of rounds scraped the steel exterior. Bullets passed too close for comfort, some smashing into the tailgate, others narrowly missing the tires.
Trisha glanced at him with a small, sarcastic smile, almost pitying. "I think they know exactly who we are," she said coolly.
Alex glanced at her from behind the wheel. "You think they're after you? Did your father make enemies with this rebel group?"
Trisha paused, thinking. "My father has many enemies, but I don't know of any quarrel with these extremists. I think they're after our imported friend here," she said, nodding toward Callum in the backseat. "Probably thinking ransom money."
Callum's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?! They're chasing me again? Maybe it's about time I give them what they deserve." He reached for his bow strapped to the floor, fury building in his chest.
Alex spotted the movement in the mirror and snapped, "Wait! I have an idea. How many are there? Can you see them clearly?"
Callum leaned over and looked through the rear window, his enhanced vision and high perception kicking in. "Just one truck," he reported. "Seven armed men. They're the same ones who've been tailing us for five minutes. Do they really think we're going to keep running?"
Alex smirked. "Relax, cowboy. We can't expose our abilities publicly, but my friend can play with them."
With that, he slammed his foot on the accelerator, launching the Ranger like a rocket down the mountain trail. As they gained more distance, Alex opened the window slightly and murmured a chant under his breath.
"Kael, come forth."
A pulse of light flashed from the roadside up ahead. From the brush emerged Kael—a massive dire wolf with silver fur, glowing eyes, and muscle-packed legs the size of tree trunks. He was as tall as a horse, yet graceful, his form shimmering with ethereal energy. He turned his head to look at his master and then took off at full speed, intercepting the incoming rebel truck.
The rebels were mid-chase, adrenaline high, when they saw the beast appear in the center of the road.
"W-what the hell is that?!" one of them screamed.
They opened fire.
Kael was too fast.
Every bullet missed.
In less than five seconds, Kael closed the distance and launched himself like a cannonball into the truck's grill. The impact was devastating. The vehicle tipped violently and veered off the side of the road, crashing into the underbrush and flipping onto its side.
Bodies flew from the bed of the truck, some smashing into tree trunks, others landing on sharp rocks. Three were already dead on impact. The others groaned, trying to move.
Kael didn't stop.
One rebel, still dazed, raised his rifle—but Kael vanished in a blink and reappeared at his side. One swipe of his claw tore the man open from shoulder to hip, sending blood flying across the mossy dirt.
Two more scrambled to run.
Kael opened his jaws and released a glowing orb. A second later—fwip-fwip! —Ice bullets shot out like machine gun fire. The first bullet froze the nearest rebel solid, turning him into a statue of ice. The next few bullets shattered him into frozen chunks.
The last rebel was running when a series of ice bullets pierced his back. He froze mid-stride, arms out, before another blast turned him to shattered glass.
It was over in less than a minute.
Kael turned his head, panting slightly, before running back down the road. One kilometer away, the Ford Ranger was now parked in the shadow of a cliff.
Alex stepped out just in time to see his wolf companion trot up proudly, its fur glimmering under the sun. Alex knelt down and rubbed Kael's snout affectionately.
"Good boy," he whispered. "Great job, Kael."
The dire wolf closed its eyes in contentment before dissolving into particles of light. Alex unsummoned him to avoid anyone nearby spotting the creature.
Trisha had stepped out too, her arms crossed, a look of annoyance on her face.
"You could've summoned him when we fought the dragon," she said, irritated. "He might've helped distract it. Give us an opening."
Alex looked almost offended. "You're heartless. You want me to sacrifice my best friend for an opening?"
Trisha raised a brow. "Kael is immortal. Even if he dies, you can summon him back. Sure, he'll lose some abilities, but he'll survive."
Alex gave her the same look a betrayed puppy might. "You're heartless."
"Pragmatic," she said, smirking.
Then, without warning, he climbed back into the driver's seat and slowly pulled forward.
"Hey!" Trisha shouted, running to the car. "You dare leave me here?! You're the one without a heart!" She hopped into the passenger side and shoved his shoulder, half playfully, half annoyed.
From the backseat, Callum reclined lazily, watching the two with amusement.
"You two need a podcast: 'Adventures with Bickering Weirdos.'"
Alex rolled his eyes. "You wanted to shoot them too, huh?"
"You should've let me shoot one arrow, just one. I have a score to settle with those guys."
Alex gave him a quick look in the rearview mirror.
"We can't risk exposure," Alex said. "What if they were livestreaming? We'd end up on TikTok under 'Weirdos with Powers.'"
Trisha gave him a side-eye. "But summoning your oversized dog is okay?"
Alex shrugged. "Who's going to trace it back to us? For all they know, a wild wolf ambushed them. No evidence. No trail."
Callum grinned. "Okay, genius. What about the bullets riddling our vehicle? How will you explain that?"
Alex shrugged again. "Explain to whom? I own this vehicle. That's why I bought it before we came up here, even when you two insisted on renting to save money. If this was rented, I'd be paying damages and answering to some nosy detective. Since it's mine, I'll just hand it over to the coconut vendor in the city. His family will thank me and pray for my safety."
Trisha leaned back in her seat with a sigh. "Alright, Richie Rich. You win. You're the boss. Just drive in peace. We've still got two hours before we hit town."
She pulled her hoodie over her face. "I'll just sleep here and also pray for your soul."
As the Ranger sped down the mountain road again, the forest fell silent. Or so they thought.
*********
High above them, two birds perched on a moss-covered branch. As the truck disappeared around a bend, the birds took flight—swooping up into the sky, then diving down to a rocky cliff edge hidden by vines.
The moment their talons touched the ground, the birds shimmered and shifted.
In their place stood two humans: a striking blond woman in a tight black suit and a tall man with obsidian skin and eyes that shimmered with silver.
Mia scowled.
"Why are we even following these three?" she asked, brushing a leaf from her shoulder. "There are over 2,800 awakened left, and we're stuck watching this circus act."
Rufus, calm as ever, adjusted the collar of his long coat. "Because Master Coal said so."
"But it's a waste of time. I should be in my lab," Mia said. "We're building a dimensional rift chamber—a dungeon that can train these new Awakened in controlled environments. That is important work."
Rufus tilted his head. "You're calling them weak. But remember Vienna? Thirty years ago? The girl who nearly drowned in a canal while running from a train station cop?"
Mia's eyes narrowed. "That's not fair. I was a child. They're adults playing superhero."
He stared at her, voice steady. "Yes. You were a child. Weak. Vulnerable. Then the Guardians gave you power and trained you, and now look at you—one of our best."
She didn't reply.
Rufus continued, "These three? They're not wasting time. They're getting stronger, smarter, and faster. Preparing. But you can't see that because you're too busy comparing them to yourself."
Mia looked down, then softened. "I'm sorry. You're right. I just don't see the point in both of us being here. I could've sent a drone."
"Master sent me to watch you," Rufus said flatly. "He knows how impatient you are. This isn't a test for them. It's a test for you."
She groaned. "Fine. We've got their combat data, DNA samples, and skill usage logs, and we filmed their battle. So… can we go now?"
Rufus didn't answer immediately. He looked at the trees swaying in the wind. The green of Earth was something rare in their home city—where the sky was metal and the ground was gray.
"You really don't like this world, do you?" he asked quietly.
"No," she replied. "I hate it. It reminds me of everything I came from, everything I'd rather forget."
He nodded slowly. Then raised his hand and summoned a shimmering circular portal in midair.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go home."
Together, they stepped through the rift—back to the hidden city beyond the Dome, beyond the sky.
The gate closed behind them.