Chapter 8 – Sparks and Ice

  As the sun rose high over Wool City, Ronan and Dante were already wide awake. They ran through the open plains outside the training center, their legs aching from the intense workout. Sweat dripped down their brows, but they didn’t stop. They were determined to master their Flow.

  With a deep breath, Ronan clenched his fists. A sharp wind blew around him, and suddenly—crack!—ice burst from his knuckles, coating his hands in a cold sheen. Ojjisan watched from a distance and smiled.

  “You finally achieved it,” he said.

  Dearg scoffed. “Tch. Weak ice-boy.”

  Ronan grinned. “What was that? You jealous?”

  Dante, standing beside him, cracked his knuckles. Sparks crackled in the air as thunder formed around his fists. Ban raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh, my boy’s glowing! You’re gonna beat Ronan for sure!”

  Ronan narrowed his eyes. “Not a chance.”

  As they squared off, their energies surged. Lightning danced across Dante’s arms, while Ronan’s hands were wrapped in frozen mist. They charged and punched—BOOM! Thunder and ice collided mid-air in a dazzling explosion. Both stood their ground, panting, eyes locked.

  “Let’s gooooo!” they shouted in unison.

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  Meanwhile, chaos was brewing in another part of Wool City.

  Three figures walked through the market square, snatching purses and robbing vendors. People screamed and ran as the trio stole valuables without hesitation. At the center of it all was a boy with sharp eyes and quick reflexes—Hikaru.

  “Move fast,” Hikaru ordered.

  His teammates, Liam and Owen, followed. Liam spotted a small boy holding a popsicle.

  “Aww, look at the little guy,” Liam chuckled.

  But before he could do anything, Hikaru smacked him on the back of the head. “Don’t mess with kids. Our job’s to steal money, not bully.”

  Then, in a surprising twist, Hikaru snatched the popsicle and took a bite anyway.

  The little boy began to cry. “My ice cream...”

  Owen shook his head. “Bro’s a foodie, I swear.”

  Liam sighed. “More than you think.”

  “Let’s move to the city center,” Hikaru said.

  Back at the market square, Ronan was holding a shopping bag. “We need carrots for dinner.”

  Dante pointed at a nearby stall. “I want chocolate!”

  Ronan chuckled. “You’re a thunder user with a sweet tooth.”

  “I’ll zap you.”

  “Hey! You—!”

  Before they could finish their bickering, a sudden wind whipped past them. Hikaru zipped forward at blinding speed, attempting to snatch Ronan’s bag.

  WHAM!

  Dante caught him mid-air by the collar. “Hey, buddy.”

  Without hesitation, Dante flung Hikaru through a glass building. The windows shattered as the thief tumbled inside.

  Ronan’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Robbers? This is my moment!” He clenched his fists, and ice erupted from the ground.

  Owen gasped. “He’s a Flow user!”

  Liam added, “No—both of them are!”

  Dante summoned thunder again, electricity crackling around him. From the glass rubble, Hikaru emerged with a sharp dagger in hand. With a swift motion, he lunged at Ronan.

  Ronan raised an icy shield, but the dagger slashed through it, shattering it instantly.

  “What?!”

  Dante’s eyes widened. “That dagger’s different—be careful!”

  Hikaru moved like lightning, ducking and weaving through attacks. He jabbed at Dante, landing a solid punch to his face. Blood dripped from Dante’s nose as he stumbled back.

  “Damn,” he muttered. “That really hurt.”

  Ronan tried freezing the ground, but Owen and Liam jumped in, surrounding them both. The city center turned into a battlefield as citizens screamed and scattered.

  The Flow energy around Dante and Ronan began to surge again.

  “I’m not going down to some thieves,” Ronan growled.

  “Let’s show them what real Flow looks like,” Dante replied.

  And with that, the battle in the heart of Wool City began—ice, thunder, blades, and chaos clashing in a fierce storm of power.