The hurricane of energy that had engulfed them began to subside, and the world around them gradually formed. Maya, Taz, and Luke gasped, their chests rising and falling together as they acclimated to the raw force rushing through their bodies.

  Lee opened his eyes with a smile as if he saw people who most love resurrected.

  “I see everything has worked out,” Lee said

  Maya moved first, disturbing the silence with her wings extended outward, their golden edges shimmering in the weak light. She flapped them experimentally, causing a blast of air to ripple through the area. With a short hop, she hovered above the ground swiftly.

  "These... they're incredible," she said deeply, gliding a few feet in the air before landing lightly. "I can sense their strength. This is unbelievable."

  Luke, on the other hand, remained sturdy, his cobalt-blue skull mask glinting menacingly as he stretched his arms and rotated his shoulders. The red and blue plates of his armour moved with his motions, and the orange veins of energy pulsed in time with his steady breathing. He squeezed his palms, sensing raw force in his hold.

  "This armour," he said, his voice quiet and meditative. "It feels alive."

  Taz stood out from the others, his yellow skull mask reflecting the flashing light. He glanced at his hands, which flashed with golden light, noticing the popping spark vibrating in the air around him. His trench coat flapped slightly, and his eyes widened.

  "This is insane," Taz said, his astonishment palpable. "I'm not sure how to express it, but... I feel like I can handle anything. Like nothing can stop me.”

  Maya's wings shimmered slightly as she folded them back. "So, we're ready now, correct? For the IPC, for whatever happens next?" Her tone was a mix of confidence and eagerness, with a hint of hesitation lingering around the edges.

  Taz slammed his hands together, causing a brief crackle of electricity to go across the air. "You're correct, we're prepared. Let them try anything; we got this."

  Before the seriousness of his words could set in, Maya's eyes brightened up mischievously. She positioned her hands on her hips and gazed around the gathering. "Okay, wait. Before we go out and start trashing things, we need to address a crucial issue. "What is our group's name?"

  "Maya, we just unlocked powers that can literally change the world, and you're worried about branding?" said Taz dissatisfied.

  Sunset IPC Headquarters

  Darris rested on the edge of a steel table, his skull mask close by. "Justice is a weapon, Amir." It is not an abstract ideal; it is an instrument for enforcing order. That is the difference between us.

  Amir, clad in an immaculate white suit that appeared to contradict the dirt of the surroundings, folded his arms. His sharp features revealed no emotion as he said, "Darris, justice isn't yours to wield like a hammer." It's a balance and a principle. One that you frequently overlook in your search for control."

  Havel Skirts

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The group positioned themselves at the precipice of a rugged cliff, gazing down at the tumultuous ocean, where waves surged forcefully against the rocks below. The wind gusted through their hair and rustled their suits as Lee directed his attention to Luke.

  "You have visited that place, correct?" Lee inquired, his voice rising above the din of the crashing waves. "The IPC Headquarters. You are aware of its location."

  Luke nodded, his emotion obscured by the bright eyes of his mask. "Yeah. I have been there. "A long time ago."

  Maya cocked her head, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Wait, how much do you know about the IPC? That is not precisely public knowledge.

  Luke hesitated, his blue armour reflecting the fading light of the evening sun. "It was... part of my past," he said, his voice full of remorse. "I collaborated with them briefly on a joint task force. I used to believe that their notion of justice was like mine. "But I was wrong."

  Luke took a step ahead, a faint throb coming from his armour as his flames carved out a combustible helicopter pattern with cobalt-blue highlights and flashing veins.

  "I'm assuming this is an ability that comes with me, Lee," Luke remarked, bewildered.

  "I think you call it the Skull Copter"

  The sound of rotor blades slicing through the air became louder as the Skull Copter dropped from the skies. The sleek, armoured chopper shone with the same ghostly glow as Luke's mask, and its rotors left a thin trail of light as they whirled.

  The group watched in astonishment as the Skull Copter landed on the cliffside. Taz let out a low whistle. "Alright, now that's impressive."

  Luke gave her a bland gaze. "Do you want a ride or not?"

  Lee came nearer, his gaze fixed on the vessel. "We do not have time to squander. "Let us move."

  The squad climbed aboard.

  As the Skull Copter hovered above the ocean, the team's commitment strengthened. The waves churned and smashed beneath them, mirroring the blazing orange tones of the setting sun.

  The Skull Copter descended near a rocky protrusion on the shoreline. Luke deftly navigated it to a safe landing site where the object's flames were gone.

  The team alighted, the salty sea air rushing past them. They stood in quiet for a minute, gazing out at the enormous expanse of the ocean they were on.

  Lee took a step forward, his face strong. "This is it." The IPC headquarters is located beyond that horizon."

  Maya spread her wings, the golden edges reflecting the dying light. "So, what is the plan?" Do we just march up to their front door?

  Lee turned to face the gathering, his eyes sparkling with fury. "No. "We make a statement.

  "Follow My Lead," he said, raising his hand in the air.

  One by one, the others mirrored him. Maya's wings shone with scorching fire, Taz's hands pulsated with golden light, and Luke's armour pulsated with strength. They focused their combined might, and the air around them started to tremble with sheer power.

  Flames erupted from their corpses and spiralled into the sky, creating a spectacular show. The flame expanded, turning the dusk sky into a dazzling orange blaze. The water underneath them roared in kind, boiling and churning as the waves slammed fiercely on the coast.

  IPC Headquarters Command Centre

  Amir's typically stern demeanour crumbled as he glanced at the monitors, his brow furrowing. "What in the world is that?" His tone was harsh and sliced through the shrieking alarms.

  Darris squinted his eyes as he continued to lean against the steel table. His mask, which rested by his side, pulsed slightly in reaction to the energy surge.

  "It's not natural... "No single force could generate so much power." He straightened, his voice full of concern and annoyance. "Lee would not be able to do this alone. "Something has changed."

  "We do not have the luxury of guessing. Deploy the guards in all divisions. Prepare your Anti-Skull troops. If he's brought reinforcements, we should prepare for battle." Amir demanded Darris.

  Lee stood in the foreground, his skull mask gleaming slightly as he assessed his troops. "It's not simply about fighting back. "It's about making a point." He turned to face them completely. "They believe they own justice. We're here to demonstrate that they don't.

  IPC Exterior Grounds

  The first wave of IPC soldiers emerged from hidden bunkers dotted around the facility's perimeter. Soldiers wearing sleek, strengthened uniforms and armed with specialised weapons marched in synchronised formations. Automated turrets hummed to life, detecting incoming energy signatures.

  One soldier paused, his voice crackling over the communications. "There are four of them. "All Skull Mask users."

  Darris and Amir stand at the top of the IPC.

  "He says there are four Skull Mask wearers, and if I had to guess, they are Luke, Maya, and Taz. This jackass attempted the same thing I did... "Things will get interesting from here." Darris laughs