He swallowed hard; trying not to make any sudden movements, he lifted his eyes back to her. "It's my birthday?"

She gave him what seemed to be a genuine smile before nudging the blade a little closer to his crotch.

A shiver shot up his spine, sweat beaded across his forehead and temple as he tried speaking. "Did you orchestrate the attack?"

"No. I didn't," she said but didn't pull back. "What's your little plan here?"

"Excuse me?" He tried to move but realized it was too close, and any sudden movement would rip his pants... and maybe more.

She narrowed her eyes. "You're different from everyone else, and I don't know how to explain it other than a beacon for every bad thing that could happen."

"And that's my fault?" he said without missing a beat.

"Maybe... maybe not." She tilted her head. "But I don't believe in coincidences."

"Hey. I'm not doing—"

Before he could finish, the lights all went out. She shuffled back, raising the blade to defend herself just in case.

Aegon drew a sigh of relief before facing the ceiling.

Cara spoke again through the speakers.

[ Sorry. I think the system is trying to shut me out. Hold tight, I'll get it working in a few minutes. ]

He shook his head subtly. He turned to the direction where Mira should've been although he couldn't see her. "You're not gonna chop off my dick, are you?"

She gave a low chuckle in the dark. "Not sure yet."

[ Alright. I got the emergency power on. ]

She said just as a dull red light lit up the room. It wasn't very clear, but at least it was something.

His eyes immediately scanned the room until he found her. She leaned back beside a wall, still with the ice blade in hand.

Then it hit him—the beeping. The incessant beeps of the EKG were now silent.

He immediately turned to check on Extraordinary. He was still the same. Not moving. Not breathing. Making it impossible to tell if he was still alive.

Then his eye moved beneath its lid. He leaned closer, unsure of what he was seeing in the dim light.

Extraordinary's eyes shot wide open.

Aegon froze.

~KSHH!~

His hand shot out and broke the glass. And before Aegon's mind could register it, Extraordinary's hand was around his throat.

"Shit!" he managed to make out before Extraordinary slowly rose from the broken glass hatch in the chamber, with Aegon involuntarily rising with him.

Mira pressed herself so hard against the wall they were practically one.

"Fuck." With his face reddening to a dangerous amount and all his effort to tear Extraordinary's grip loose failing, he knew he had to channel.

With what might've been his last breath, he drew all the air he could to expand his cheeks.

Just before—

"FWOOSH!"

Fire took air's place when escaping Aegon's lips. Flames shot directly at Extraordinary's face, forcing him to let go of Aegon.

Extraordinary fell to the floor, giving Aegon a momentary chance to catch his breath.

"Hhhhhh—AHHhh!"

He remained askew on the floor as he gasped for air.

He turned to Mira, who was trading glances between him and Extraordinary's body on the floor.

"Aegon." She said slowly as an ice sword gradually materialized within her hands. "How did you do that?"

He managed to pull himself off the ground, hand still on his neck as every breath strained. "Do what?"

With her hand on the hilt of the blade, she pointed it in his direction. "Your affinity is Replication. How'd you use fire?"

"Fuuuck," he cursed internally. During the spur of the moment he'd forgotten that no one else knew he could permanently copy affinities now.

He raised a hand to calm her down. "Relax, Mira. Don't do anything rash."

She inched closer; her grip on the sword tightened. "Talk now, or I'll gut you right here."

The rustle of glass drew them out of their conversation and toward Extraordinary.

He pushed himself off the ground, completely naked. His hulking figure loomed over them as he pulled the tubes from his mouth and nostrils.

His chest huffed and puffed like an engine. His brows furrowed low as his hungry eyes locked onto Aegon's. "Bring me Nightwalker."

The duo swallowed hard. Their eyes simultaneously glanced over at the door.

But before they could move ~BAM~ Extraordinary hauled the hyperbaric chamber so deep into the wall it was now foundation.

They both spared each other one last glance before they let it rip. A tsunami of fire and ice both aimed at Extraordinary.

Thrusting him into the wall, yet they didn't stop. They continued to rain down on him until they had nothing left to give.

They gasped for air—hands on knees, sweat beading foreheads and strained breaths—but at least that would keep him down for now.

Aegon's fire had melted Mira's ice, leaving puddles of water on the floor and a steamy haze that canopied the room.

"Bring."

Extraordinary's voice shot them straight up as they strained to see where he was.

"Me."

His words were slow yet firm, rippling chills through their bodies.

"Nightwalker!"

He screamed as he lunged out of the corner.

Straight to Aegon with a hand to his mid-section that curled him up and flattened his lungs. He fell to his knees, clutching his torso.

Mira moved—hands forward, about to attack—before Extraordinary charged toward her. With a backhand, he sent her crashing into a wall.

Before turning his attention back to Aegon.

The silence lasted only a heartbeat before Extraordinary moved. Like a cannonball, his fist slammed into Aegon's ribs.

The impact reverberated through the empty chamber, a sickening echoing as Aegon was launched sideways, skidding across the floor.

"Ghh—!" He coughed, clutching his side, but Extraordinary was already there.

Faster than his eyes could track, the hulking figure closed the distance, one hand snatching Aegon by the collar and hurling him into the opposite wall.

Plaster dust rained down as Aegon's back hit with bone-jarring force. Extraordinary's voice was a growl—low and venomous.

"Where is Nightwalker?"

"God, we should've stayed upstairs."

Aegon spat blood, forcing his hands to ignite. Flames burst from his palms. He thrust them forward, a blazing wave meant to push the hero back.

The fire roared, but Extraordinary didn't flinch. He barreled through it, skin blistering yet unyielding.

With each step Extraordinary took, Aegon's fire dulled. He couldn't keep up with this.

His hands finally gave out as he watched the monster march toward him, until—

~SHHK!~

An ice spear tore across the room, piercing Extraordinary's heart and pinning him to the wall with horrifying precision.

Aegon scurried to his feet and looked to see Mira, clutching her arm but standing.

He moved toward her for balance. "We need to get the hell out of here now."

"Agreed," she concurred. Right now whatever they were fighting about was less than irrelevant.

Just as they reached the door ~GRR!~ a groan made them whip their heads back to the man pinned to the wall.

"GRRGHH!"

Extraordinary screamed back to life as he drew the spear from his heart and fell to his knees.

They turned to each other. "Run."

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