The battle was over.
The sand was still red, swirling around the wasteland as if refusing to settle. Rayen stood in the middle of the battlefield, his fists trembling, breath heavy. Umair's body lay still—gone, silent. The vengeance he sought was complete.
But at what cost?
Rayen dropped to his knees, his shadow flickering weakly in the golden light. His gaze drifted to the spot where Raj had fallen. The red sand had swallowed every trace, leaving nothing behind but emptiness.
He whispered, "Raj… we did it. But you're not here to see it."
He sat there for what felt like hours. The hot wind blew across the desert, carrying his memories—
A younger Raj, nervous and cornered by bullies.
Rayen stepping in, throwing himself into the fight without thinking.
Two broken souls standing side by side, awkward but smiling.
That was the day they understood each other—two outcasts who found strength in their weakness.
Rayen's hands curled into fists. "You idiot… you promised we'd see the world together."
Suddenly, the wind changed.
A deep, heavy gust swept across the wasteland, scattering the red sand. Footsteps followed—slow, deliberate, echoing through the silence.
Rayen turned his head.
A man walked out of the golden haze—tall, six feet at least, draped in a black jacket that fluttered in the wind. His hair shimmered faintly with Solar light, his expression calm but dangerous. A chiseled face, eyes sharp as blades.
He stopped a few feet away, studying the carnage. "So… you killed him."
Rayen's voice was hoarse. "Who the hell are you?"
The man smirked faintly. "I watched the whole damn show. You've got potential, kid. You defeated Umair—one of my creations."
Rayen's eyes widened. "Creations?"
The man nodded slowly. "I am Prince. The creator of the Three Titans of Solar—the most powerful Unstables this world has ever seen. And you just killed one of them."
Rayen clenched his fists, glaring. "So what now? You're here to kill me?"
Prince chuckled darkly. "Kill you? No. I'm here to offer you something better." He stepped closer, his presence radiating dominance. "Join me. Replace Umair. Become one of the Three Titans. With my guidance, you could surpass them all."
Rayen's jaw tightened. "I'll never become like him!"
Before he could react, a surge of strange energy hit him—his vision blurred, his body collapsing into the sand.
The last thing he heard before blacking out was Prince's calm, cold voice:
"Don't worry, Rayen. I'll rebuild you. You'll understand soon enough."
---
Rayen woke up hours—maybe days—later. The air smelled metallic. The room around him glowed with white lights and floating Solar tubes filled with energy. He tried to move, but his body felt heavier… different.
Prince stood beside a glowing console, typing rapidly. "Welcome, Rayen. You're inside my lab now," he said, voice calm and confident.
Rayen's heart raced. "What… what did you do to me?"
Prince turned, smirking faintly. "I told you. I create Titans. You killed one of them… now it's time for me to make you the next."
Rayen's eyes widened in horror as the machines around him flared with golden light.
And then—darkness.
To be continued in Chapter 5.