The city was alive with its usual chaos—horns blaring, sirens wailing, and the endless murmur of its millions. But amidst the familiar noise, something felt… off.
Ethan Cross tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he navigated through the deserted backstreets. The storm brewing overhead wasn't just meteorological—it felt alive, almost aware. A sharp gust slammed the car door, rattling it like a warning.
Ethan glanced up. For a split second, the wind around him seemed to twist unnaturally, circling his head in tiny vortices. He shook his head. "I must be losing it," he muttered.
Meanwhile, somewhere high above the city, Lydia Kane crouched on the roof of a burning warehouse. Flames licked the walls, yet no one screamed. Lydia's hands trembled—not from fear, but from a heat that resonated deep inside her, as if her very blood burned in response to the fire around her.
"This… isn't just a fire," she whispered, sensing the energy, "someone—or something—is feeding it."
Down the street, Marcus Vale adjusted his glasses and fiddled with a peculiar device. Tiny holograms danced above the console, highlighting heat signatures, electronic anomalies, and… something else. Something he couldn't explain yet.
"Selene," Marcus said into the communicator, "do you see this?"
A shadow detached itself from the alley opposite, silent and fluid. Selene Black emerged, barely a whisper, her eyes scanning the streets. "I see it. And it's watching us."
Before anyone could react, a sudden explosion rocked the street corner. Cars flipped, glass shattered, and for the first time, Ethan felt the air bend around him. He stumbled—not from the blast, but from a force he didn't understand.
"Whoa… what the hell is happening?" Kai Rivers yelled from behind a dumpster, energy sparks dancing along his fingers. His voice trembled, but there was excitement in it too—the thrill of a power awakening.
Ethan looked around at the others. For the first time, he saw it—the subtle, almost imperceptible hints of something extraordinary in them. Something that could no longer be ignored.
And then the whisper came. Not from anyone, not from anything. Just a voice, carried by the wind:
"The world is changing. Are you ready?"
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