A bustling, neon-lit bar. Music thrums. Kenny strides in with Icabod trailing behind, wide-eyed.
> Kenny:
Keep up, kid. You don't wanna get lost in this bar.
> Tasha (angrily):
Well, well, well... look who finally decided to show up.
> Kenny (nervously):
I can explain, Tasha—
A blur of wind. Tasha flickers forward and kicks Kenny mid-air, launching him straight into the bar wall.
> Kenny (terrified):
Please, Tasha—don't kill me in front of my brother. He's... too emotional for that!
> Tasha (stunned):
Brother? You have a brother?
Just then, Reed walks in.
> Reed (smiling):
Don't kill him, Tasha. I don't want to miss the reunion.
> Tasha (smelling him):
So, he's your brother, huh? Are you coming to join him as a waiter, cleaner... or maybe security personnel?
> Icabod:
What the—hell no! I was thinking he owns the place. You know… the boss.
The whole bar fell silent immediately. All eyes fixed on Icabod.
Then everyone burst out laughing.
> "He thinks his brother owns the bar?!" someone mocked from behind.
"You're so pathetic, kid."
In that very second, Tasha froze the person—without even looking back.
> Tasha (with a death stare):
No one dares say another word again.
The bar door burst open. Abel rushed in, followed by a gangster throwing fireballs at him. They stopped at the entrance, then fled instantly after spotting Tasha.
> Reed (pissed off):
What trouble have you caused this time, Abel? Can you, for one day, avoid trouble? Is that really so difficult?
> Abel (chuckles):
It's not like I can avoid trouble or something. They just walk up to me and—boom.
> Kenny:
Alright, Icabod. This is Reed, our mechanic. He builds just about anything but can't remember what he builds—apart from my bike.
This is Tasha, my boss. She's the coolest among us.
And this is Abel. Gosh, on no account should I ever see you with him.
> Abel (mouth agape):
What the hell! What's that for? It's not like I'm a bad example or something.
> Icabod:
You kinda attract trouble. It's best if I stay away from you.
Abel started crying.
> Tasha (chuckles):
Awwwn, don't make the young man cry. He's no doubt the strongest among us. It'd be best if you learn from him.
> Kenny (frustrated):
Yeah, yeah, you're right—firepower, I get it. He's my brother, so I'll be the one to show him the light.
> Reed (interrupts):
I wish there was light to show others or follow.
> Tasha (jokingly):
You could build a torchlight or something.
They all laughed.
> Abel:
Come to think of it… where's Rika?
No one answered immediately.
They stood there quietly, their body language already saying what words couldn't — something was wrong.
> Kenny (pissed off):
Can someone tell me where Rika is?
A voice broke the silence.
> "Can someone get me a bottle of booze?"
Before anyone could react, that same voice was interrupted — the door creaked open.
A figure walked into the bar, tall and broad-shouldered, a rice hat covering his face.
He was holding the severed head of a customer he'd slain on his way in.
> Icabod:
What the hell—?!
All attention snapped toward the man. His presence alone shook the bar, sending chills crawling up their spines. The customers screamed and scattered.
> Ego (voice deep, calm):
So… you're one of Rika's friends, huh?
tosses a severed finger onto the floor
Then this must look familiar.
> Reed (shocked, furious):
That's Rika's—! You bastard! What did you do to her?!
Without hesitation, Reed charged.
Metal bent and reformed around his arms — Kenny's bike twisted into a gauntlet as he prepared to strike.
But before his fist could land, an invisible force crushed him into the ground — pressure so intense it cracked the floor beneath him.
> Ego:
You should all kneel before me.
But before that… you may call me EGO, one of the Eternal Six.
Every eye widened in disbelief.
> Reed (struggling under the pressure):
What's that supposed to mean? Some kinda fancy name or something?
---
Ego's thoughts:
> This one… what is he?
No one has ever withstood this much pressure before.
I released enough force to crush him instantly—yet he survives… mocking my name.
Such insolence.
> Ego (smirks):
Seems like I'll start with you.
---
> Abel (interjects, calm but furious):
What do you think you're doing?
> Ego:
Killing him, of course.
Without a second wasted, Abel moved. In a flash, he struck — his blow sent Ego crashing through the bar wall, debris scattering like shrapnel.
> Ego (wiping blood from his mouth, stunned):
What strength… even I can't pull off a move like that without amplifying my gravity.
Abel stepped forward through the smoke, his eyes glowing bright red. Flames ignited around his fists. His friends knew that look — no one dared calm him when he was like this.
> Abel (calmly, voice trembling with rage):
Explain to me… what did you do to Rika?
What did you do to my sister?!
> Ego:
Don't get cocky, child.