The chaos within Angelo had awoken—and it whispered. It sowed quiet seeds of doubt, twisting thoughts in his mind like thorned vines. He tried to ignore the voice, but the unease showed in his eyes, in the way he held himself. Unaware that a faint crack had formed on the mark that sealed him, he pressed on, struggling to contain whatever stirred inside.
Noticing the shift in his demeanor, Lieutenant Hale raised an eyebrow.
"Hey… you alright?"
Angelo hesitated, then forced a faint smile.
"Yeah. Just thinking, that's all."
She didn't look convinced.
"Thinking about what?"
"Watchers," he said. "No one's really told me what they look like."
Hale scoffed. "They didn't? Figures. Guess they're still not your biggest fans."
Angelo gave a small shrug. "Doesn't matter. Can you tell me?"
She nodded and leaned against a nearby bench, her voice steady as she began recounting her last mission—how her team had been ambushed, the way the Watchers moved, the horror of watching them feed on souls. Her tone never wavered, but her eyes gave away the trauma.
When she finished, Angelo lowered his head. "I'm sorry."
Hale frowned. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't kill them—those things did. Fucking Watchers. Bullets barely slow them down, and the ones that do land? They heal right through it."
Angelo went quiet, his mind turning over what she said. Then he spoke.
"So… bullets do damage. Just not enough, and not fast enough."
"That's the gist of it," Hale said, crossing her arms.
"What if we dealt a huge amount of damage in one blow?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Even if that worked, they're faster than most soldiers. Thomas was the only one who ever outran one."
"Then we think a step ahead," Angelo replied. He raised his right hand, and a moment later, four massive stone walls—five meters tall—erupted from the ground, forming a cage.
The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Training halted. Nearby soldiers froze mid-drill, some scrambling back with startled shouts, others staring with wide eyes. One dropped his weapon in shock as dust and stone burst upward.
He snapped his fingers. Two of the walls slammed together with crushing force. The impact echoed across the field like thunder.
A few soldiers ducked instinctively. Another cursed under his breath.
"Jesus Christ…"
Hale blinked in shock. "Okay… but what if they're still alive in there?"
Angelo smirked. "Then we do this."
He snapped his fingers again. Flames roared to life inside the stone trap, the heat distorting the air and casting flickering shadows.
The temperature spiked instantly. Soldiers nearby shielded their faces, murmurs spreading like wildfire.
"Did he just light that thing up from the inside?"
"What is he…?"
"Remind me not to piss him off."
Hale took a step back, her voice low. "Damn. This… this could actually work."
Angelo looked down at his hands, then back at her.
"It's all thanks to your training. I'm more precise now. More in control."
She gave a rare smile. "You're improving fast. But you said you needed to learn more?"
He nodded. "I never finished school. I barely know anything beyond the basics. But I have a feeling… if I gain more knowledge, I can use my powers more effectively. More strategically."
Hale studied him for a long moment, then gave a small nod.
"Alright. I'll see what I can do about that."
And for the first time in a while, Angelo felt a sense of direction—though deep inside, the chaos laughed quietly… waiting.