The air between us thickened with tension, each step drawing me closer to Nebula''s brother. His fists radiated a powerful golden aura, the sheer heat of it distorting the white space around us. I, however, moved with casual ease, my hands loose by my sides, my eyes fixed on him.

    His glare was unwavering, like a predator sizing up its prey. But I wasn''t intimidated—I was curious.

    "Before we start tearing this place apart," I said, breaking the silence as I came to a halt, "tell me, what''s your name?"

    For a moment, he said nothing, his glowing fists clenching tighter. Then, his voice rumbled, deep and sharp. "It''s Heracle."

    "Oh..." I nodded slowly. "Good to know."

    From the corner of the room, Gram let out a low chuckle, the sound laced with mockery. "It doesn''t matter what his name is," he said, crossing his arms and leaning back with a smug grin. "Zero will die here today."

    Nebula, who had been watching calmly, suddenly snapped. "Shut up, Gram!" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger. "Once they are done. I kill you off with my own hands."

    Her eyes pierced. "Don''t think, I don''t know what you are up to."

    Tch*

    Gram clicked his tongue, his expression twisting into one of disdain. He let out a slow sigh*, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Nebula.

    "If it weren''t for your clan and your father''s power, I wouldn''t even waste a glance on a bitch like you," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

    SWOOSH!@@@@

    Heracle didn''t wait. His fist came flying toward me, blazing with raw energy. I stepped forward to meet him, my own black aura crackling faintly as I raised my hand. Our fists collided in a flash of light and sound, the impact reverberating through the space like a thunderclap.

    The fight began.

    Heracle''s red aura burned through them, while my movements were sharp and deliberate, cutting through the chaos.

    "You''re relentless," Heracle admitted, a trace of frustration in his voice as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

    "So are you," I replied, landing a punch that sent him hurtling into another wall.

    He staggered to his feet, his aura flaring brighter than before. "Enough of this!" he roared, raising his fist high. The red energy around him surged, condensing into a single point of devastating power. "Let''s see you handle this!"

    The air grew heavy as he unleashed his finisher, a blinding punch that tore through the space between us. The sheer force of it was overwhelming, and even I felt the pressure bearing down on me.

    But I didn''t panic. I focused, channeling my aura into my hand. As his punch came hurtling toward me, I met it head-on, absorbing the impact with a calculated release of energy.

    "And now....." my whisper faint in the space

    The collision created an explosion of light and sound, but when the dust settled, I was still standing, my hand steady against his.

    Heracle staggered back, his breathing labored. "What... how did you block that?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

    I didn''t answer immediately. Instead, I took a step forward, my eyes fixed on him. He clutched his chest suddenly, a sharp pain contorting his face.

    "What did you do to me?" he demanded, falling to his knees. His red aura flickered and faded as he struggled to catch his breath.

    I smirked, opening my arms wide in front of everyone and over him. "I''m blessed by shadows," I said, my voice low and filled with quiet confidence.

    Heracle''s eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching as the realization began to dawn on him.

    "Blessed by Shadows...?"