《Valor》


 Who is a hero ?

    *Hero*


    What does that even mean anymore? Everyone throws that word around like it¡¯s easy, like it¡¯s some title anyone can earn by doing one good deed or making one right choice. But is it ? Is being a hero about wearing a cape or getting recognition ?, Is it about fame or glory ? Is it about something deeper, something harder ??


    Jace Carter wasn¡¯t like other teenager. On the surface, he appeared average: shaggy brown hair, a lean, athletic frame, and a typical life of balancing school, work, and the occasional night out with friends. But what no one knew was that he possessed an extraordinary power: superhuman strength. He could lift cars with one hand, crush steel beams like they were twigs. What¡¯s more, his courage was boundless, an unshakable confidence that made him nearly fearless. Struggling with what to do with his new abilities Jace decided to do what most of us would do: don a costume and fight crime


    Jace was patroling on roof tops in his neighborhood when he heard a commotion coming from the local corner store. He paused, his sharp senses picking up the sound of a struggle inside, followed by the unmistakeable scream of agony. His muscles tensed.


    Without hesitation, he jumped down a roof of another building sprinting towards the store, his footsteps silent as he approached. He peered through the window and saw him¡ªa man in a black, metallic suit that glistened under the store¡¯s fluorescent lights. The suit wasn¡¯t just for show; it was fully armored, complete with a visor, mechanical limbs, and weapons embedded in the gauntlets. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary robber.


    The man had the cashier pinned very hard against the wall with one hand, while the other aimed a gun to the trembling store clerk. Jace knew this was the moment he¡¯d been waiting for. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from the rush of knowing that he could finally use his abilities to stop something truly dangerous.


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    Jace pushed the door open, stepping inside with a calm confidence. The bell above the door chimed, and the robber immediately whirled around, his visor locking onto Jace.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Jace said, his voice steady. ¡°Walk away now, and no one gets hurt.¡±


    The man chuckled, his voice distorted through the helmet. ¡°Who do you think you are, kid? I¡¯ve got a suit that can level buildings, and you think you can take me on?¡±


    Jace smiled, cracking his knuckles. ¡°I know I can.¡±


    The robber didn¡¯t hesitate. He raised his arm cocking his gun to shoot. Jace was already moving. In a blur of motion, he crossed the distance between them, swatting the weapon aside just as it fired. The bullet flew past him, shattering the glass door behind them.


    The robber staggered, caught off guard by Jace¡¯s speed. He swung a metal fist at Jace, who caught it easily in his hand. The metal groaned under Jace¡¯s grip as he crushed the mechanical limb, twisting it until the suit sparked and whined.


    The robber let out a furious growl, releasing a hidden blade from his other arm. He lunged, but Jace was ready. With a quick, effortless motion, he dodged the strike and delivered a punch to the man¡¯s chest. The blow sent the robber crashing through the shelves and into the wall with a deafening thud.


    Jace¡¯s strength was terrifying, but he held back just enough to avoid causing any permanent damage. The robber¡¯s suit was durable, but even it couldn¡¯t handle the raw force Jace had unleashed.


    Staggering to his feet, the robber tried one last time to launch a desperate attack, activating the boosters in his suit to rocket toward Jace. But Jace simply sidestepped, grabbing the man mid-flight and slamming him into the ground with a force that left the floor cracked beneath him.


    The fight was over.


    Jace stood over the man, breathing evenly, his eyes calm but resolute. The police sirens wailed in the distance, and Jace knew it was time to leave.


    As he slipped out the back door and into the shadows, Jace couldn¡¯t help but smile to himself. He may not seek the spotlight, but in moments like this, he knew that his strength, his courage¡ªhis responsibility¡ªwould always lead him to the fight for what''s right

 Chapter 2

    The black was absolute. Not the soft, velvety black of a moonless night, but a crushing, swallowing black that pressed against his eyelids even though they were open. He felt weightless, adrift and heavy at the same time, Around Jace, faint, shifting patterns of ethereal light pulsed and flickered, like distant nebulae in a forgotten corner of the universe. He had no body, no limbs, just a sense of consciousness floating in the void.


    Then, the voice. It wasn''t a sound that traveled through air, but a vibration that resonated within his very being. A thunderous, ancient voice that seemed to emanate from the fabric of the darkness itself."Hear me thou mortal ! the mantle of strength," the voice continued, "has lain dormant for ages, awaiting a worthy successor. Your spirit, young one, is resolute, your heart pure. You are the one." the voice thundered"and I Ischys grant to you the unparalleled power of the God of abysmal might, use this newfound strength for what thine see as just" The words of command and call to responsibility echoed through the empty expanse, shaking the nonexistent ground beneath his nonexistent feet.


    The voice was a physical force, a shockwave that sent ripples through the darkness, distorting the faint patterns of light. He felt a surge of something akin to terror, but it was quickly swallowed by a wave of awe, a sense of being part of something vast and incomprehensible.


    His eyes snapped open. He was back. Back in his room, the familiar pale light of dawn filtering through the blinds.The sheets were tangled around his legs, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the room.


    He sat up, his breath ragged. The dream, if it was a dream, was so vivid, so real. The voice, the crushing darkness, the sense of being untethered ¨C it all lingered in his mind, a phantom echo of a reality he couldn''t quite grasp.


    He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to shake off the lingering unease.The words echoed in his mind, a chilling whisper in the quiet dawn. He looked around his familiar room, trying to ground himself in the mundane reality of his life. But the void, the voice, the strange, ethereal space, had left an indelible mark, a question mark etched into the very core of his being.


    This was 2 months ago in which after Jace started exhibiting his monstrous ability,he kept it from everyone including his mother and trained until he could control the strength. The robbery the night before was one of the first real crime he had stopped


    "Jace " his mother called " hurry up and get ready for schoo " . With haste Jace took his vigilante clothes off , which he slept in and took his bath in preparation for another what he considered "mundane" day of activities


    "Goodbye mom" Jace shouted as he left his home for school . He and his mother lived alone in a duplex apartment as Jace lost his father when he was very much younger while Jace left for school his mother also left for place of work as one of the greatest minds in '' Pantheon Technologies '' one of the leading technological companies in the country, arguably in the world


    Ever since he got his powers Jace refused any form transportation to take him to school and went on his own as he saw it as an avenue of testing limits of his powers as he usually ran or leaped with his strength to school


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    Culers Senior High : 9 AM


    All the students of Grade 12 are in the class waiting on their next class where Jace spots Tank the class bully harassing the new kid Leo. Jace in his seat thinks to himself wether to stop Tank with his powers:


    "No, Jace, no. Just walk away. It''s not your fight. You''re supposed to be keeping your powers a secret. Tank''s a jerk, everyone knows it, but you can''t just¡­ boom, super-punch him into next Tuesday.But¡­ Leo''s terrified. Look at him. He''s practically shaking. Tank''s gonna keep doing this, and no one''s gonna stop him. Someone has to."


    "My hands are tingling. Just a little push... just a little tap on Tank¡¯s shoulder, and he¡¯d go flying. No one would get seriously hurt. Maybe. Just a little scare to teach him a lesson. A heroic lesson. Right? wrong!. So wrong" he thought to himself like he had an angel on his shoulder "What if I get to angry and lose control of my powers I could make things worse for everybody....But what about Leo? What about the next kid Tank picks on? Am I just supposed to watch? Am I supposed to pretend I don¡¯t have the power to stop it? He¡¯s laughing now. Tank''s laughing, and Leo''s face is red, and his eyes are watering. This is wrong. So wrong."


    "Okay, deep breaths, Jace. Talk it out. Words are powerful too, right? Maybe I can¡­ I can reason with him. Yeah, that¡¯s it...but what if he laughs at me? What if he just shoves me too? What if he knows something''s different about me now? What if he sees the power in my eyes?"


    " No more excuses. I can¡¯t stand here and do nothing. Leo needs help. And I don''t think concerns over my powers come first. No, Leo is in distress and that comes first"


    He stood from his seat and walked towards Tank, his voice tight. "Tank, just leave him alone."


    Tank turned, his eyes narrowing, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, look who''s playing hero. You gonna stop me, Jace?"He knows something''s different. He can sense it. Jace''s heart pounded against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising tide of anger. He could feel the power surging, wanting to be released."


    "No. Control. It''s not worth it. Not for this.Just¡­ just back off, Tank," he repeated, his voice wavering slightly. He knew he sounded weak, pathetic.


    Tank laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Or what? You gonna hit me with your¡­ your good grades?" He shoved Leo again, harder this time, and the boy whimpered.


    The image of Leo''s terrified face, the sound of his whimper, snapped something inside Jace. He couldn''t stand it anymore. He couldn''t just stand there and do nothing.


    But he didn''t want to lose control and become a tyrant or worse, government experiment He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto Tank''s. The tingling in his hands intensified, a burning sensation that spread through his entire body. He wasn''t going to hit him. He wasn''t going to use his powers. He was just going to¡­ stand his ground Tank''s grin faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his features. He could sense something was different. Jace wasn''t the same kid he''d shoved into lockers before. The air crackled with a barely perceptible energy, a silent threat that hung heavy in the hallway.


    "What''s wrong, hero?" Tank sneered, but the bravado was thin, a brittle shell over a growing apprehension. Jace didn''t answer. He just stood there, his gaze unwavering, the silence stretched, thick and tense, broken only by the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Tank shifted his weight, his eyes darting nervously around the hallway. He knew he was losing this confrontation, but he couldn''t back down. Not in front of everyone


    "You think you''re so tough now?" Tank growled, his voice strained. He balled his fists, the knuckles white. "You think you can take me?"


    Jace relaxed his face in anticipation of the punch from Tank he feigned being hurt by the pain by holding his face but he still maintained his gaze on Tank


    He took a deep breath, to maintain control. "Just¡­ just leave him alone, Tank," he repeated, his voice stronger this time, infused with a newfound confidence.


    Tank hesitated, his eyes narrowed, his face flushed with anger. He knew he was somehow outmatched, but he couldn''t bring himself to admit it. He took a step forward, his fist still raised.


    "Fine," he snarled, his voice laced with venom. "But this ain''t over." He shoved Jace roughly, then turned and stormed off to his seat, his shoulders hunched, his pride wounded.


    Jace stood there, his chest heaving, his hands still tingling with residual energy. He watched Tank take his seat then turned to Leo "You¡­ you okay?" Jace asked, his voice hoarse.


    Leo nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Yeah¡­ thanks."


    Jace nodded back, then turned and walked away back to his seat , his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He''d stopped Tank, and he hadn''t used his powers. He''d found a way to stand his ground without crossing the line. But he knew, deep down, that this was just the beginning. The real challenge was just beginning

 Chapter 3

    3:30 PM Culer City High


    The school bell¡¯s clang still echoed in Jace¡¯s ears,it signalled Closing time.Every student packed their bags and books as they prepared to leave, the hallways became noisy and rowdy.


    Jace moved across the crowd of students to find one student,"Leo!!" Jace called as he sighted Leo "mind if I walk with you ?".Leo nodded in agreement to Jace''s question and the two of them lessly struggled to go out of the school''s door as the crowd had begin to diminish. Leo shuffled beside him as they walked towards the bus stop, backpack bumping against his leg with each hesitant step. He kept glancing at Jace from the corner of his eye, a mix of gratitude and something else¡­ awe? It was a look Jace wasn''t used to. Usually, people just saw him as¡­ Jace. Average height, perpetually messy brown hair, the guy who always sat at the back of class and doodled in his notebooks. Not exactly hero material.


    ¡°Thanks again, Jace,¡± Leo mumbled, finally breaking the silence. His voice was still a little shaky. ¡°Seriously. For¡­ you know.¡±


    Jace shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. ¡°It was nothing, man. Tank¡¯s just¡­ Tank.¡± He tried to sound nonchalant, but a small thrill of pride flickered inside him. He had stood up to Tank. Without even flexing a muscle.


    ¡°Nothing?¡± Leo¡¯s eyes widened behind his thick glasses. ¡°Dude, nobody ever stands up to Tank. He¡¯s like¡­ a brick wall with anger issues.¡±


    A small smile tugged at Jace¡¯s lips. ¡°He¡¯s just a bully, Leo. They only have power if you let them.¡± It sounded like something out of a cheesy action movie, but he meant it. He¡¯d felt a surge of something real when he¡¯d faced Tank down ¨C not just anger, but a¡­ resolve.


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Leo sighed, then quickly added, ¡°No offense! It¡¯s just¡­ you were really brave.¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Jace waved his hand in a dismissal motion, kicking a loose pebble down the road. ¡°Just¡­ tired of seeing him pick on people.¡±


    They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments. A robin chirped loudly from a bare tree branch overhead. The air smelled faintly of exhaust fumes and damp earth.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Leo started again, a little more confidently this time. ¡°Thanks for letting me copy your notes in class. Mr. Harrison is brutal when it comes to dictating notes.¡±


    Jace chuckled. ¡°Yeah, Harrison¡¯s something else. Did you understand that whole thing about the Culer City founders though? I still get them mixed up.¡±


    Leo frowned, adjusting his glasses. ¡°Culer City history¡­ it¡¯s a lot. Everything¡¯s new to me here, you know? We just moved here last month.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Jace said, remembering vaguely that Leo was the new kid. ¡°How¡¯s Culer City treating you so far? Besides the Tank incident, I mean.¡±


    Leo shrugged, then considered. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ bigger than where I used to live. More people. School¡¯s¡­ well, school¡¯s school, right? But¡­ it¡¯s okay. People are¡­ okay.¡± He trailed off, then looked around at the street, lined with houses starting to show their age, but with gardens bravely pushing through early spring. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ different. Kind of¡­ livelier, I guess?¡±


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    Jace nodded, understanding. Culer City was a lot, especially if you weren''t used to it. ¡°Yeah, it can be. But there¡¯s good stuff too. You been downtown yet? The waterfront¡¯s pretty cool.¡±


    ¡°Waterfront?¡± Leo¡¯s eyes lit up a little. ¡°No, not yet. I¡¯ve mostly just been going between home and school.¡±


    ¡°We should check it out sometime,¡± Jace said, surprising himself a little with the invitation. ¡°They have this amazing ice cream place down there. ¡®Chill box'' ¨C you gotta try it.¡±


    Before Leo could answer, a heavier set of footsteps sounded behind them, breaking the fragile ease that had settled between them. Jace tensed, his senses sharpening. Jace¡¯s head snapped around. Tank, Marc, and Diaz were closing in fast. Anger flared in Jace, but he fought it down. Control. Secret. Leo gasped beside him, seeing them too.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Tank¡¯s voice boomed, as they blocked the sidewalk. ¡°Look what we have here,¡± Tank drawled, his gaze flicking between Jace and Leo, lingering on Leo with a predatory gleam. ¡°Little Leo, and his¡­ protector.¡± He spat the last word like a curse.


    ¡°We don¡¯t want any trouble, Tank,¡± Jace said, trying to keep his voice even, firm. He stepped slightly in front of Leo. ¡°Just leave us alone.¡±


    Tank let out a harsh laugh. ¡°Leave you alone? After you embarrassed me in front of the whole school? Nah, Jace. That ain¡¯t how it works.¡± He took a step closer, his breath smelled of stale pizza and something vaguely metallic. ¡°You think you¡¯re tough now, huh? Standing up to me like that?¡±


    Jace held his ground, meeting Tank¡¯s gaze. ¡°I just stood up for what¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡± Tank scoffed , gesturing to Marc and Diaz with a jerk of his head. ¡°Let me show you what¡¯s ¡®right¡¯ in this school, tough guy.¡± Marc lunged, throwing a clumsy punch. Jace ducked. Diaz kicked ¨C Jace hopped back, balance wavering. Diaz cracked his knuckles,and he and Marc pressed their attack, wild punches and kicks. Jace weaved, dodged, deflected Marc¡¯s blow all while trying his best not use any of his strength. Leo stood frozen, terrified.


    Outnumbered, outmatched, Jace knew fighting was a mistake. Protect Leo. Protect his secret. He had to run.


    ¡°Run, Leo!¡± Jace yelled, pulling Leo with him. Before anger took over, before he used his strength, Jace turned and sprinted.Jace ran, yanking Leo with him, bus stop plan abandoned. "Waterfront!" he yelled, glancing back ¨C Tank and his crew were still chasing. "Faster, Leo!"


    "Waterfront? Bus stop!" Leo wheezed, stumbling.


    "Bus is out! Waterfront''s busier!" Jace shouted, pulling him down a side street towards downtown. They pounded the pavement, city sounds rising around them. Tank''s heavy footsteps seemed to fade slightly.


    "Alley!" Jace yelled, diving into a narrow passage between shops, dragging Leo. Boxes and bins cluttered the dim space.


    "Gonna be sick," Leo gasped, bending over.


    Jace stopped, concerned. "Leo! Okay?"


    Leo straightened, pale but grinning weakly. "Out of shape¡­ track practice," he wheezed, then chuckled. "Fleeing bullies¡­ new sport?"


    Jace laughed, surprised. "Fleeing Bully Dash! Olympics!" He pulled Leo onward, a grin spreading across his face despite the chase. "We''re pioneers!"


    Leo laughed too, breathless. "Gold medal¡­ for retreat!"


    "Exactly! And¡­ commentary during escape!" Jace grinned, adrenaline and laughter mixing. They were still running, still scared, but the shared absurdity had shifted something. They were the ''Fleeing Falcons'', escaping together, towards the waterfront¡­ and Chill Box ice cream. Maybe they¡¯d actually make it.


    They burst out of the alley and onto a wider street, blinking in the sudden sunlight. Ahead, Jace could see it ¨C the glint of water, the masts of sailboats bobbing in the harbor. The waterfront! And blessedly, people. Lots of them. Tourists, locals, street vendors, the usual Friday afternoon bustle.


    ¡°We made it!¡± Jace gasped, finally slowing to a jog, then a walk. Leo stumbled beside him, practically collapsing against a lamppost, wheezing like a punctured lung.


    ¡°Made it¡­¡± Leo echoed, sliding down to sit on the base of the lamppost. ¡°Pretty sure¡­ lungs¡­ stayed back¡­ in alley.¡±


    Jace leaned against the lamppost next to him, chest heaving, grinning. ¡°Nah, lungs are here. Just¡­ slightly relocated. Temporary lung vacation.¡±


    He scanned the crowd, no sign of Tank and his goons. ¡°Think we lost them?¡±


    Leo peered back the way they¡¯d come, then sagged with relief. ¡°Please¡­ please let them be¡­ defeated by¡­ alleyway garbage.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Jace chuckled. ¡°Garbage: 1, Bullies: 0. Official score.¡± He pulled out his phone, checked the time. ¡°Ice cream time?¡±


    Leo¡¯s eyes actually widened, despite his exhaustion. ¡°Ice cream? Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Seriously,¡± Jace nodded, pointing across the street. ¡°Chill Box. Best in Culers City. Fleeing Falcon victory celebration. My treat. Consider it¡­ apology for near-death experience.¡±


    Leo managed a weak but genuine smile. ¡°Apology accepted. Lead the way, Captain Falcon. To¡­ sugary freedom!¡±


    They limped across the street, a pair of slightly battered, definitely breathless, but undeniably grinning heroes of their own ridiculous chase. The bright, cheerful lights of Chill Box beckoned, promising sweet, cold relief and the perfect end to a very, very eventful walk home.

 Chapter 4

    The streetlights cast long, cool shadows as Leo and Jace walked the last block to Leo''s house. The sugar rush from the ice cream was starting to fade, replaced by a comfortable quiet. "Thanks for¡­ everything, Jace," Leo said, a small, genuine smile flickering across his lips. "Seriously. I don''t know what I would have done back there."


    Jace shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets, but a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, what are friends for? Besides," he bumped Leo¡¯s shoulder lightly, "ice cream was on your tab next time, wasn¡¯t it?"


    Leo laughed, the sound lighter than it had been all day. "Definitely. Double scoop. Consider it payment for saving my skin." He stopped at his front steps. "See you around, Jace."


    "Later, Leo." Jace watched as Leo disappeared inside, the porch light briefly illuminating his retreating figure before winking out. He turned and started the walk home, the earlier adrenaline completely gone, replaced by a quiet contentment. He replayed moments from their escape in his head ¨C Leo¡¯s wide-eyed disbelief, the startled shouts of Tank¡¯s goons, the surprisingly sweet taste of mint chocolate chip. Yeah, it had been a good, if slightly insane, afternoon.


    His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. A text from ¡®Mom.¡¯


    Hey sweetie, another late crunch at the lab. Don¡¯t wait up! Left you leftovers in the fridge. Big presentation tomorrow, wish me luck! Love you!¡±


    Jace sighed, but it wasn''t a sad sigh. More like an accepting one. He was used to nights alone. ¡°Leftovers it is,¡± he muttered to himself, pocketing his phone. The good mood from the ice cream and Leo lingered, but a different kind of energy started to bubble up now. Restlessness. Opportunity.


    As he reached his own house, he didn''t go inside. Instead, he kept walking towards the garage. He needed a change of clothes.


    Minutes later, the garage door hissed open and Jace emerged, transformed. The jeans and t-shirt were gone, replaced by darker denim and a plain black hoodie. He pulled the hood up, obscuring his features in shadow. The smile from earlier was gone, replaced by a focused, almost grim set to his jaw.


    Tonight, the neighborhood needed a little patrolling. And Jace, even if he couldn''t admit it fully to himself, needed a reason to use the strength that hummed beneath his skin. He stepped out into the cool night air, and started to walk,run and then with the monumentum he started leaping from rooftops to rooftops


    Jace barely took another breath when the night air exploded with sound. Tires screeched loudly, then a hard crash of metal. He quickly looked towards the noise ¨C Elm Street, further down from the alley.


    Using his strength, he jumped forward, going a long distance with each jump, landing hard on the ground. He rushed down Elm Street, covering the distance very fast.


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    Turning the corner, he saw what happened. A double-decker bus, a big heavy bus, was tipping dangerously over the edge of the bridge. It was leaning far out over the side. Next to it, separate from the bus, a black sports car lay upside down on the road, badly smashed. It looked empty. Sparks flew from the wrecked car. People screamed from inside the bus.


    He acted fast. People were in danger on the bus. He jumped towards the bus, not thinking about the drop below. He quickly found a strong point on the bridge railing near the tipping bus and grabbed hold of it tightly with one hand. Then, with his other hand, he reached out and grabbed a sturdy part of the bus frame that was still on the road. Using his super strength, Jace started to pull.


    Muscles straining, he hauled on the heavy bus, pulling it inch by agonizing inch back towards the road. The bus groaned and creaked, fighting against him, but Jace kept pulling, his feet braced against the bridge. Slowly, the bus started to move back, until finally, all its wheels were shuddering on solid ground again.


    He didn''t stop. He could hear scared shouts from inside. He looked at the bus doors and saw one set near the front was stuck, bent and not moving. With a loud grunt, he grabbed the stuck doorframe, braced his feet against the bus, and ripped. The metal tore loudly, and the door came off, leaving a rough opening into the bus.


    "Everyone out! Now!" Jace shouted loudly. He saw shocked faces looking at him, passengers realizing they were safe.


    Then, another loud engine sound, closer now. Jace glanced back towards Elm Street. Another black car, same as the first, was speeding towards the bridge, not caring about the crashed bus or the upside-down car. It swerved around the wrecks and sped up, going straight for¡­ further down the road, Jace saw it. A strong armored truck, plain and dark, was driving away fast.


    Reckless drivers. Chasing something. And putting everyone at risk. That was enough


    This time, he didn¡¯t jump forward. He jumped up. Straight up, using his strength to jump high, over the bridge railing in one jump. He landed hard on top of the black car chasing the armored truck, the metal bending under his weight.


    The driver inside swore and braked hard, the car skidding. Jace didn''t let him get control again. He grabbed the roof of the car with both hands, digging his fingers into the metal, and pulled back. He wanted to slow it, just stop the crazy chase.


    But his strength¡­ it was still too much. Metal screamed and ripped. The roof of the car tore off in his hands like paper, the windows broke outwards. The car jumped violently, stopping suddenly in the road, broken and sparking.


    The driver, surprisingly okay, climbed out of the wreck, his face twisted in anger. He wasn''t dressed like a racer. He wore dark clothes that looked useful, and as he moved, Jace saw shiny metal parts on his arms and legs. Tech?


    The driver growled, attacking Jace fast, throwing a punch at Jace¡¯s head. Jace, still a bit unsteady from breaking the car, just managed to block, the punch hitting his arm. Pain shot up his arm, sharper than he thought it would be. He looked down. The driver''s fist hadn''t just hit him ¨C something on his arm, a metal glove, had flashed blue when it hit.


    Jace stepped back quickly, making space. The driver kept attacking, moving fast, throwing punch after punch and kick after kick. Every hit, even light ones, sent shocks of pain through Jace. He realized ¨C it wasn''t just strength. The tech on the attacker¡¯s arms and legs made his hits much stronger and faster too


    He was defending, taking hits, trying to see how the guy moved, where he was weak. The attacker was fast, but his moves were almost¡­like a robot, easy to guess. And he was already breathing hard. Jace felt his own strength getting ready, his muscles getting used to the fight. He blocked another punch, this time catching the attacker''s arm and holding it tight. He twisted, using his super strength, wanting to stop him from using his arm, to get in control.


    Suddenly, a bright flash of light burst from behind him, with a loud whine. Pain exploded on his back, burning hot pain that made him gasp and his knees go weak. His grip on the attacker loosened, and he stepped forward, confused.


    He saw the first attacker step back, smiling smugly, as another person came from the shadows behind Jace. This one was taller, thinner, and also wore dark clothes like the first, but with something on his arm ¨C a dark grey device that was still quietly humming, with a little smoke coming from the tip.


    The world blurred. Jace wobbled on his feet, his sight going fuzzy. He tried to focus, to fight back, but the pain was too much, spreading from his back, taking away his strength. The last thing he saw before he passed out was the smug face of the first attacker and the cold eyes of the second, dark figures in the streetlight glow. Then, darkness.