his body surged with energy. Blood pounded through his veins like thunder. His eyes locked forward—burning, unblinking.
A heavy silence.
Then—
"Knock him dead!"
The captain of the guards broke the stillness with a savage cry.
The guards snapped to life, jolted by fear, and charged at Alex, weapons raised.
But Alex didn't retreat. He leapt into them—not like a man, but a storm made flesh.
This wasn't just combat.
This was personal.
A one-man massacre.
And in his head, a single chant echoed like war drums:
"Fight. Fight… until I'm the last one standing."
His speed twisted into something unnatural.
Lightning crackled through his body, electrifying every motion.
He struck with merciless force—punching anything and everything near him, no hesitation, no mercy.
His wounds tore wider.
Pain didn't matter. He was in a full-on berserk state.
Bullets flew.
But the golden flames and divine aura around him flickered—shielding him, burning with fury.
He tore through the guards like a beast unchained.
Bodies collapsed around him, but he wasn't done.
With a guttural roar, Alex slammed his fist into the ground.
CRACK!
A shockwave of lightning exploded outward, hurling the remaining enemies like leaves in a storm.
As they were slammed into the pillars and walls with force, they were staring. Alex walked to Ben and Athina. He held them and poured the elixir into their mouths. Later, he walked to Gwen, poured the elixir and checked her wounds. He turned back at the guards; they were holding their breath and frozen. "Worthless! Absolutely worthless!" he said with irritation. He sat on the throne, and the clouds and lightning raged uncontrollably. At that moment, the door opened slowly, and four men stood walking towards Alex. It was Xander, Eathen, John, and Sam, looking at Alex with marvel.
"It was…!" Sam asked. "Zeus' Raze Imitation! The same Zeus' lightning, kingly authority!" Xander said.
Alex stared at them and said, "Does it worth it, Father! Why did you create this brutal test! Why in the hell does it really worth it!"
"Haha, Alex! You really don't know what it truly means to be Trinity!" Sam said.
"Being the Trinity doesn't mean living a normal life! Eating fancy food! Roaming around all the beautiful places!" Xander said.
Alex looked at Xander with anger. "What! Are you going to throw us into hell like this… every day!"
Sam chuckled and walked to Athina; he started healing her.
"Yes, one," Xander said, walking to Ben; he started healing him. As Alex was seeing Ben and Athina's wounds disappear from their bodies, Alex asked, "Father, why is this really needed! What are we destroying or protecting!"
"Alex! You are confused! You are a leader, the captain of this galaxy's Trinity! Think before you talk!"
"Answer me! Why is everyone silent!" Alex shouted. Sam laughed and said, "Alex! For decades you've lived under Heaven's protection! All you know is smiles and knowledge, but it's worthless!"
"I know a lot of knowledge about the history of the universe!" he shouted.
"Alex! All you know is history and stories, but not the truth!"
Xander walked towards Alex. "Not all history is truth and real, just like the world, which is built on a balance of light and darkness! We, the brave lights, are beings of immense power, greater than gods! We maintain the balance between the dark side and the bright side."
Xander ruffled Alex's hair and said, "Alex… we have to protect this universe! The people who smile and have hope in life! For that, we have to destroy threats! Not everyone in the universe—that's our duty! It's our fate!"
Alex looked at Xander. "But Father, why this massacre!"
Xander looked into Alex's eyes, and he started healing the wound on his face. "Alex, if this massacre troubles you, then what about the wars your uncle, your mother, and I fought? Alex, the path we walk, blood was inevitable!"
"Isn't it wrong to kill and hurt someone!" Alex insisted.
Sam walked to Alex. "Alex, a purpose, kid! When you fight for protecting thousands of people, it's protecting, and it's called virtue or good!"
Sam started healing Alex's chest. "But Uncle Sam! Does it really mean that killing is a sin in the Bible!"
"David also killed Goliath! Was that a sin?" Xander asked. "No, but here!" Sam looked at Alex and said, "David followed Zeus' order because Zeus ordered him to defeat the giant Goliath for protecting Israel!"
Alex nodded and said, "So what I did here is not a sin!"
Xander laughed and said, "Ask your heart! You know what's right or wrong!"
Sam stared at Xander. "Did you find it?"
Xander nodded and said, "Don't wear a worried face, idiot! Focus on it!"
John and Eathen carried Ben, Gwen, and Athina in their arms. John asked, "Xander! Why are you hesitating!"
Xander stopped healing and said, "Alex! We need to talk! This matter is serious!"
Alex sat there, dazed, confusion swirling in his eyes.
"Alex," Xander said gently, crouching beside him. "No matter what happens… don't get hurt. Learn to fight without getting injured. Only take the hit if it's truly necessary."
John raised an eyebrow.
"But why can't we just heal him?"
Sam stood up, crossing his arms.
"Because he's one of a kind. His body heals itself naturally—but even we can't fully heal him. Not completely."
Ben and Gwen stared at Alex, shock painted across their faces.
"Wait… you can't heal him? Why not?" Gwen asked, eyes wide.
Sam replied, his voice quiet.
"Because he's not like us. We're not the ones meant to heal him. She is… and she's not here."
John turned to Gwen.
"That's enough, Gwen."
Xander gently lifted Alex onto his back and walked out of the chamber, carrying him to the nearest med-station.
Later, at the hospital...
After the doctors examined Alex, Xander and Sam sat beside him, tension thick in the air. The doctor reviewed the report, her expression darkening. She slammed the clipboard onto the bench.
Xander tried to speak, but she cut him off sharply.
"I'm talking to Alex, Xander. Don't make me repeat myself."
Both men went silent.
The doctor turned to Alex, her expression softening.
"Tell me everything. What happened out there?"
Alex recounted the entire fight—every blow, every surge of power. She listened quietly, nodding now and then.
Then, as he finished, Alex blinked and asked,
"Who are you? I'm Alexander Foster Cane."
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"So, you carry your mother's surname."
Alex leaned in slightly.
"You knew my mother?"
She nodded slowly.
"She was my mentor. Kind… and hopelessly clumsy. Just like you."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Why were you so angry with my father and Uncle Sam?"
She walked over to a shelf and grabbed a vial of elixir, holding it up.
"Because they should've known better."
She turned back to Alex, her tone suddenly serious.
"Alex, listen to me. I want you to remember this."
She sat beside him.
"You know how a baby grows strong, like a soldier?"
Alex nodded, eyes focused.
"First, the baby learns to crawl. Then walk. Then run. Then he trains—and eventually, he becomes strong. Your condition is like that of a newborn. Right now, your growth is slow compared to your teammates. But that's not a flaw. It's a phase."
"You need to start training like a regular athlete—build your foundation."
Alex blinked.
"Wait… do I have some kind of illness?"
She pinched his cheek playfully.
"No, Alex. You're perfectly fine. But listen—no more using the Battle Spirit Technique. You've got a fractured rib. You need two weeks of bed rest. After that, we'll start light training. I'll check in on you regularly."
Then she turned to Sam and Xander with an intense glare.
"I don't care who you are. If my master were here, she would've skinned you both alive. Look after him properly. His leg has a light fracture. He shouldn't even be standing!"
Xander and Sam exchanged a look—shame, guilt, and worry all in one glance.