The world was screaming.
Lucius's boots pounded against asphalt as he sprinted through stopped traffic, Hannah's weight balanced in his arms. Behind them, the sound of crushing metal and shattering glass mixed with civilian panic. Car alarms wailed. People ran in every direction, some filming with phones, others just trying to survive.
The thing chasing them roared again.
It stood nearly eight feet tall now, a grotesque fusion of boar and living magma. Its body rippled with molten rock, cracks running through cooled obsidian hide revealing the burning orange beneath. Steam rose from its mass in wavering heat distortions. Each step it took melted the asphalt, leaving glowing footprints that smoked in the late afternoon air.
Lucius adjusted his grip as he vaulted over a stopped car's hood.
'Week three of this job.'
The Magma Hog smashed through a sedan, sending the vehicle tumbling sideways into a storefront. Glass exploded. The building's fire suppression system activated, adding water spray to the chaos.
'Second damn attack this week alone.'
Hannah's arms were wrapped around his neck, her body tense but controlled. She wasn't screaming. Wasn't panicking. Just holding on, breathing steadily despite the situation.
'And I thought my luck was terrible,' Lucius continued internally, scanning ahead for an exit route. 'Hers is somehow worse.'
The communications device in his ear crackled. Charlotte's voice came through, professional and clipped despite the circumstances.
"King, I'm three blocks north, circling around. ETA ninety seconds."
"Copy," Lucius replied, his breathing barely elevated despite the sprint. "West on Merchant Street, heading toward the plaza."
"Understood. Don't get dead before I get there."
"Wasn't planning on it."
Behind them, the Magma Hog bellowed again and charged. Its massive bulk moved with disturbing speed for something that size, molten claws digging into pavement, throwing up chunks of melted asphalt.
Lucius cut right between two stopped vehicles, using the narrow gap to force the creature to adjust its path. It worked—for about two seconds. Then the Hog simply smashed through both cars, sending them spinning like toys.
A woman with a phone was standing too close, filming everything. Amateur mistake. Adrenaline made people stupid.
"MOVE!" Lucius shouted at her.
She startled, finally realized her danger, and scrambled away. Smart.
The plaza was ahead. Open space. No cover but more room to maneuver. Better than the congested street where one wrong move could get civilians crushed.
Hannah's voice was quiet against his ear. "You can put me down. I can run."
"Not faster than that thing."
"I could—"
"No." His tone left no room for argument. "Stay still. Charlotte's almost here."
She went quiet but he felt the tension in her frame. Frustration. The powerlessness of being carried like cargo while something tried to kill her.
He knew that feeling. Hated it himself. But right now, his job was keeping her alive, not preserving her dignity.
They hit the plaza at full speed. Lucius cut left immediately, heading for the fountain at the center. Water. Always useful.
The Magma Hog followed, leaving a trail of scorched stone and melted decorative metalwork. People scattered from its path, some still filming, most just running for their lives.
Lucius's earpiece crackled again. Different voice this time. Rougher. Enthusiastic.
"Yo, King! Charlotte called me. What's the situation?"
Miguel.
"Big bastard made of living magma chasing us through the commercial district," Lucius replied, still running. "Get your ass over here."
"FINALLY!" Miguel's voice carried genuine excitement. "I've been bored all week! Where exactly?"
"Merchant Plaza. Can't miss it. Just follow the screaming."
"On my way!"
The connection cut. Lucius adjusted course again, leading the Hog away from the densest civilian clusters. The creature was single-minded in its pursuit. Good. Predictable.
'Someone planned this,' he thought, mind working through tactical analysis even while moving. 'Dropped in during traffic. Knew our route. Timed it for maximum chaos.'
Hannah had finished work for the day. They'd been heading back to her penthouse. Standard schedule. Nothing unusual about the route or timing.
Except someone had known exactly when and where to strike.
'Information leak. Has to be.'
The Magma Hog was closing distance. The heat coming off it was intense now, washing over them in waves. Sweat ran down Lucius's back. Hannah's professional clothes were probably ruined.
He spotted Charlotte's vehicle approaching from the north entrance—black armored SUV, reinforced frame, bulletproof glass. She drove with aggressive precision, cutting through the plaza's pedestrian area without hesitation.
The vehicle screeched to a stop twenty meters ahead. Rear door already open.
Lucius covered the distance in seconds, practically throwing Hannah into the back seat. She caught herself with practiced ease, sliding across to make room.
Charlotte's voice came from the driver's seat. "Go, go, GO!"
But Lucius was already stepping back, slamming the door shut.
"King, what are you—"
"Drive. Get her to the safe house. I'll handle this."
"Alone? That thing's—"
"Miguel's incoming. We've got it." He slapped the roof twice. "GO!"
Charlotte hesitated for maybe half a second. Then the engine roared and the SUV peeled out, accelerating toward the north exit with professional speed.
Lucius turned back to face the Magma Hog.
The creature had stopped its charge, standing thirty meters away in the center of the plaza. Steam rose from its body in thick clouds. Its eyes—if they could be called eyes—glowed with internal fire. The ground beneath it had turned to slag.
People were still filming from windows, from behind cars, from what they thought were safe distances.
'Great. This is going on social media.'
The Hog lowered its head, preparing to charge again. Now that its actual target was gone, Lucius had become the secondary objective.
Fine by him.
He cracked his neck once, rolled his shoulders. His ribs from the tournament were mostly healed—Rose's marbles had handled the worst of it. His hands were functional. The burns across his torso had faded to pink scars.
Combat ready. More or less.
The Magma Hog charged.
Lucius moved.
Not away—sideways and forward, angling to the left while the creature committed to its straight-line attack. Its bulk meant turning required space and time. Basic physics.
It tried to adjust mid-charge, claws gouging the stone, but momentum carried it past. Lucius was already moving again, keeping mobile, forcing it to work.
'Big, strong, hot,' he catalogued mentally. 'But not smart. Just aggression and durability.'
The Hog spun around, faster than its size suggested, and swiped with one massive claw. Lucius ducked under it, feeling the heat wash over him, smelling burning fabric from his shirt's shoulder.
Too close.
He created distance with three quick steps back, eyes scanning the plaza. The fountain. Decorative stone benches. A few abandoned vendor carts. Not much to work with.
The Hog charged again, learning from the last attempt, keeping its approach wider to cut off escape angles.
Lucius grabbed one of the stone benches—solid marble, probably weighed two hundred pounds—and simply threw it.
The bench hit the Hog mid-charge. Stone shattered against living magma, fragments scattering, but the impact disrupted the creature's momentum enough for Lucius to reposition.
The Hog roared in frustration more than pain.
"YO!"
Miguel's voice carried across the plaza, full of enthusiasm. The man himself appeared from the east entrance, still in his black bodyguard suit, dragon tattoo visible on his neck where his collar sat open. He was grinning like this was the best thing that had happened all week.
Which, knowing Miguel, it probably was.
"Miguel!" Lucius called out. "Flank right! Don't let it focus on one of us!"
"Got it!" Miguel moved with surprising speed for his bulk, circling around to force the Hog to track multiple targets.
The creature's head swiveled between them, confused by the divided attention.
"What's the plan?" Miguel asked, his hands already starting to glow with that distinctive red-hot light.
"Hit it hard. Keep moving. I've got an idea but need to position it first."
"What kind of idea?"
"The wet kind."
Miguel laughed, loud and genuine. "I like it! Let's go!"
They moved in synchronized chaos—not planned, just instinctive combat coordination. Miguel grabbed a chunk of broken bench, his hands making contact with the stone. The glow intensified. He threw it overhead in a perfect arc.
The chunk hit the Magma Hog's back and exploded with surprising force, stone and fire mixing in a concussive blast. The creature staggered forward.
Right toward Lucius.
Who'd picked up an abandoned vendor cart—metal frame, wooden panels—and was already throwing it like a massive projectile.
The cart hit the Hog's legs. Miguel's next explosive throw hit it a second later, detonating the cart mid-impact. Wood splinters became shrapnel. Metal twisted.
The pattern continued. Lucius finding objects, throwing them to create openings. Miguel touching debris, making it explosive, timing his throws to maximize damage.
One-two. One-two. Systematic destruction.
The Magma Hog was tough, regenerating smaller impacts almost immediately, but the combination attacks were adding up. Cracks appeared in its obsidian hide. The internal glow flickered.
But it was still standing. Still dangerous. Still very much on fire.
Lucius had been maneuvering them across the plaza during the fight, slowly but deliberately. The Hog probably didn't even realize it was being herded.
Now they were positioned perfectly. The creature had its back to the fountain. Lucius stood between it and the fire hydrant on the plaza's south edge.
Close enough.
"Miguel! Drive it toward me! Big push!"
"You got it!" Miguel picked up the largest piece of debris he could find—part of a decorative pillar, probably weighed a hundred pounds. His hands glowed brilliant red as they made contact. He threw it with all his considerable strength.
The explosive impact caught the Hog center mass, staggering it backward toward Lucius.
Lucius was already moving. Sprint toward the hydrant, three quick steps, plant his right leg, pivot, and KICK.
His boot connected with the hydrant's body just below the cap. The force sheared the metal threading. The cap exploded off under pressure.
Water erupted.
Not a gentle spray. A pressurized column of water shooting fifteen feet into the air before arcing outward under gravity. Thousands of gallons per minute. The plaza's main line.
Lucius grabbed the broken hydrant's neck, angled it toward the Magma Hog.
The creature was already charging again, probably planning to crush him while he was committed to the position.
The water hit it head-on.
Steam exploded outward in a massive cloud, obscuring everything. The sound was incredible—hissing, roaring, the violent reaction of extreme heat meeting extreme cold.
The Magma Hog's bellow changed pitch. Pain. Actual pain.
Through the steam, Lucius could see its form changing. The molten orange glow fading to dull red. The cracks in its obsidian hide spreading, deepening. The magma wasn't cooling all the way to solid rock—that would take too long—but it was cooling enough.
Enough to matter.
The creature stumbled forward, its movements losing coordination. The transformation was breaking down, the human form trying to reassert itself but caught between states.
Lucius released the hydrant, letting it continue spraying into the air. Water flooded across the plaza, mixing with melted stone, creating a steaming mess.
He walked forward through the spray.
The Magma Hog swung at him, clumsy now, desperate. Lucius ducked under it easily. The heat was still dangerous but manageable. The creature's strength was failing as its transformation destabilized.
Lucius's first punch caught it in what passed for a solar plexus. The impact sent cracks spider-webbing across cooled magma hide. His second hit the same spot, penetrating deeper. The third broke through entirely.
The creature tried to grab him. Lucius caught the arm, twisted, used the momentum to throw it over his hip in a basic judo toss. The Hog hit the wet stone with a crash that echoed across the plaza.
It tried to get up. Lucius kicked it back down. Not flashy. Not dramatic. Just efficient application of force to keep an enemy from recovering.
The transformation was failing completely now. The magma retreated, absorbed back into flesh, the obsidian crumbling away. Beneath it all was just a man—mid-thirties, muscular but not enhanced, unconscious now from shock and exhaustion.
Lucius stood over him, breathing steady, checking the perimeter. Miguel approached from the side, his hands no longer glowing, expression somewhere between impressed and disappointed.
"That was good!" Miguel said, gesturing at the unconscious attacker. "Really good! But I wanted to fight him more!"
"He's done. Mission accomplished."
"Yeah, but..." Miguel looked at the destruction around them. "It was just getting fun!"
Sirens approached from multiple directions. NCC response units, probably. Local law enforcement. Emergency services.
People were emerging from their hiding spots, phones still out, still filming. The plaza looked like a disaster zone—melted stone, scorched metal, water everywhere, debris scattered in all directions.
And two men in bodyguard suits standing over an unconscious NovaBreed attacker.
This was definitely going on social media.
"You good?" Miguel asked, looking Lucius over for injuries.
"Fine. You?"
"Perfect! Not even a scratch!" Miguel grinned. "We should team up more often. That combo we did? Beautiful!"
Lucius nodded slightly. The man was loud, enthusiastic to the point of exhaustion, and had all the subtlety of a grenade.
But he was good in a fight. Reliable. Had the right instincts for protecting civilians—Lucius had noticed him checking escape routes, making sure people were clear before throwing explosives.
The kind of person worth having at your back.
The first NCC vehicle arrived—heavy armored transport with reinforced containment cells. Guards emerged in full tactical gear, weapons ready, approaching the unconscious attacker with professional caution.
One guard carried a specialized collar device—thick metal with visible injection ports. He knelt beside the unconscious man, fitting the collar around his neck with practiced efficiency. There was a soft hiss as it activated, micro-needles deploying to deliver measured doses of a specific concoction into the bloodstream.
The effect was almost immediate. The faint heat still radiating from the man's skin faded completely. His breathing steadied, deepened. The tension in his unconscious muscles relaxed.
One of the few reliable methods for suppressing NovaBreed abilities. Kept them docile, manageable. The collar would maintain low-level injection until proper containment could be established.
An officer approached Lucius and Miguel, tablet already out. "You two are with the Gipson detail?"
"That's right," Lucius confirmed. "Hannah Gipson was the target. This one attacked during transport."
The officer's expression shifted slightly. Gipson name carried weight. "She's secure now?"
"Yes. Protective detail has her at a safe location."
"Good. We'll need statements from both of you. Shouldn't take long." The officer gestured to the unconscious attacker. "This is the second hit this week on Gipson assets. Someone's coordinating these attacks."
"We've noticed," Miguel said, his earlier enthusiasm dampened slightly by the implication.
Two more NCC guards approached the attacker, scanning him with some kind of handheld device. After a moment, they nodded to each other and began the secondary containment process—restraints first, then a specialized stretcher designed to handle NovaBreed prisoners.
The officer continued taking basic information. Names. Affiliated organization. Location of attack. Approximate timeline. Standard procedure.
Around them, other emergency personnel worked on securing the area. Fire department dealing with residual heat sources. Engineers examining the damaged hydrant, now shut off from the main line. Police establishing perimeter barriers.
And civilians. Still filming. Still posting.
Lucius could already see people clustered in groups, phones out, talking excitedly. Some were reviewing footage they'd captured. Others were uploading in real-time, captions already forming.
He caught fragments of conversation as NCC personnel worked.
"—bodyguards took that thing down, incredible—"
"—Gipson security team, I think—"
A group of young women stood near one of the barriers, phones out, clearly reviewing footage.
"Did you see the tall one? With the dark hair?"
"The one who broke the hydrant ? God, he's gorgeous—"
"Right? I got a good shot of his face. Uploading now."
"Bodyguard hotness is a real thing, I swear—"
Their voices faded as Lucius and Miguel moved away.
The NCC officer finished his preliminary questions. "Alright, that covers the immediate situation. Full debrief will happen later. You're clear to leave the scene once your supervisor confirms pickup."
Miguel activated his earpiece. "Charlotte, you there?"
"Here. Hannah's secure. Safe house confirmed. What's your status?"
"All good. Perp down, NCC has him. We need pickup."
"I'll be there in five minutes. North entrance again."
"Copy that."
The connection cut. Miguel looked at Lucius, still energized despite the fight being over. "Man, you really know how to handle yourself. That hydrant move? Brilliant! Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
Lucius shrugged slightly. "Here and there. You're not bad yourself."
"Thanks! I trained with Jiang for years. She's tough but she's good." Miguel paused. "Hey, you finished her certification course in like a week, right? That's insane. Most people take three weeks minimum."
"She's a good teacher. Made it efficient."
"Still, man. That's impressive." Miguel grinned again. "We should spar sometime! Properly, I mean. Not just team stuff."
"Maybe."
"I'll take that as a yes!" Miguel laughed, completely missing the noncommittal nature of the response. Or choosing to ignore it.
They walked toward the north entrance, boots splashing through the water still covering parts of the plaza. Behind them, the NCC team loaded the unconscious attacker into their containment vehicle. The crowd had grown larger, more phones out, people talking excitedly about what they'd witnessed.
Lucius caught fragments of conversation as they passed.
"—saw the whole thing, it was insane—"
"—who are those guys? They're not heroes—"
"—bodyguards, I think. The woman was Hannah Gipson—"
"—definitely posted it, already got fifty thousand views—"
Charlotte's SUV pulled up to the north entrance right on schedule. The rear door opened.
Miguel climbed in first, still talking enthusiastically about the fight. Lucius followed, pulling the door shut behind him.
Charlotte looked at them both in the rearview mirror. "You two look like hell."
"We look great!" Miguel countered. "You should see the other guy!"
"I saw the live feeds. Half of New Kong saw the live feeds." She pulled away from the plaza, merging into traffic with professional smoothness. "Hannah's asking if you're both alright."
"We're fine," Lucius said. "Status on the route to safe house?"
"Clear. No tails. We're taking the long way to be sure, but everything's clean."
The SUV headed west, away from the commercial district. Late afternoon sun caught the buildings at angles, creating long shadows across the streets. Traffic was heavier now—rush hour beginning, people heading home, normal city rhythms continuing despite the chaos a few blocks away.
Miguel was checking his phone, scrolling through what was probably social media coverage. "Oh man, we're already trending. 'Gipson Bodyguards Stop Magma Attack.' The videos are everywhere."
"Let them talk," Charlotte said. "Better they focus on the action than ask too many questions."
"What truth? We just did our jobs."
"Exactly." She turned onto a side street, checking mirrors constantly. "Keep it that way."
They drove in silence for a few minutes. Miguel eventually put his phone away, staring out the window. Lucius remained still, mind working through the implications.
Second attack this week. Both targeted specifically at Hannah. Both well-coordinated. Both using NovaBreeds with destructive capabilities designed to maximize chaos.
Someone wanted her dead. Or wanted her distracted. Or wanted to send a message.
he thought. 'Someone on the inside providing intel. Routes, schedules, timing.'
The question was who.
And why now.
The hotel came into view twenty minutes later—high-rise building in the financial district, expensive and discreet. The kind of place that catered to wealthy clients who valued privacy and security over flash.
Charlotte pulled into the underground parking garage, ID badge already out. The security guard waved them through after a brief check. They descended three levels to a private section reserved for VIP parking.
Hannah's regular vehicle was already there, along with two other bodyguard units. Kira stood near the elevator entrance, perfectly composed in his immaculate suit, hands in pockets. Liam's massive frame was positioned nearby, his gentle expression contrasting with his size.
Charlotte parked. They got out.
Kira's single visible eye assessed them both with cold efficiency. "Status?"
"Threat neutralized," Lucius reported. "NCC has custody. No civilian casualties confirmed."
"Good." Kira's tone carried no warmth, just professional acknowledgment. "Hannah is in the suite. Ninth floor. She wants to debrief personally."
"Understood."
They moved toward the elevator. Liam stepped aside to let them pass, his expression gentle despite his size. "Glad you're both okay."
"We're great!" Miguel said, patting the bigger man's shoulder. "You should've seen it, Liam! Lucius did this thing with a fire hydrant—"
"Later," Kira interrupted. "Debrief first. War stories after."
Miguel's enthusiasm dampened slightly, but he nodded.
The elevator ride was quiet. Smooth machinery, subtle music, the kind of mundane normalcy that felt surreal after fighting a living magma creature in a public plaza.
Ninth floor. The doors opened to a private hallway with exactly one door. Security camera in the corner. Reinforced frame visible around the entrance.
Charlotte knocked twice, waited. The door opened.
Hannah stood there, changed into comfortable clothes now—dark slacks, a soft sweater, her hair down from its professional style. Her glasses were slightly askew. She looked tired but composed.
Her eyes went to Lucius first, then Miguel. Checking for injuries. Finding none serious enough to matter.
"Come in," she said quietly.
The suite was large. Living area with expensive furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the city, separate bedroom visible through an open door. Charlotte moved to check the perimeter out of habit.
Hannah gestured to the couch. "Sit. Please. Both of you."
They sat. Miguel immediately, Lucius after a moment's assessment of the room.
Hannah remained standing, arms crossed loosely. "I saw the feeds. The plaza fight. You both performed well."
"Just doing our jobs," Miguel said.
"Still. Thank you." She looked at Lucius directly. "That makes twice you've extracted me from a targeted attack. I'm starting to feel like a liability."
"You're not a liability," Lucius said. "Someone is targeting you. That's the actual problem."
"Very true." She moved to the window, looking out at the city. "The question is who. And why now."
Charlotte spoke from near the door. "The timing's too coordinated. Both attacks this week knew our routes, our schedules. That's an information leak."
"I know." Hannah's voice was quiet. "I've been thinking about it too."
The room went silent for a moment. Implications hanging heavy.
Hannah turned back from the window. "Get cleaned up. Both of you. There's another bathroom down the hall. We'll reconvene in an hour for full team debrief."
"Understood," Lucius said, standing.
Miguel followed suit, nodding respectfully.
They left the suite. Charlotte stayed with Hannah, already discussing security protocols for tomorrow.
The elevator took them back down to the parking level. Miguel was quiet now, the earlier enthusiasm faded into thoughtful concern.
---
TO BE CONTINUED