- 15 minutes before the tsunami -

  Sol gestured toward the weathered building with its peeling paint and crooked sign hanging by a single chain. "Here we are—home sweet temporary home." He flashed his trademark grin, silver-white hair catching the weak sunlight. "Not exactly luxury accommodations, but the beds don't have bedbugs. Though fair warning—the prices in this town will make your wallet cry."

  Lavvy clutched his expensive coat closer, his eyes gleaming with calculated interest as he took in the shabby inn. "My deepest gratitude!" He pressed his hands together in an exaggerated show of appreciation that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Truly, I am in your debt!"

  Sol glanced down the street, shifting his weight impatiently. His fingers drummed against his thigh as he scanned the thinning crowd. "Right, you're all set. I should probably track down Neiva before she gets herself into trouble." He turned to leave, boots scuffing against the worn cobblestones.

  "Wait, please!" Lavvy's voice carried a note of desperation that made Sol's shoulders tense.

  Sol turned, his easy smile slipping just a fraction. "Something else?"

  Lavvy stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Sol—may I call you Sol? You see, on my journey to this charming town, I stumbled upon another fascinating geological formation!"

  "That's... great." Sol gave a halfhearted thumbs up, already edging backward.

  "Truly remarkable!" Lavvy continued, either missing or ignoring Sol's disinterest. His hands moved in excited gestures as he spoke. "I'm absolutely dying to explore it further!"

  "Sounds like a plan." Sol nodded vaguely, glancing over his shoulder. "Good luck with that."

  "Perhaps I'm not making myself clear." Lavvy's expression shifted to something more calculated. "The area appears rather treacherous for someone lacking... special abilities." His gaze traveled meaningfully over Sol. "You're an Auron, aren't you? I can sense these things."

  Sol's stance shifted subtly, his casual demeanor giving way to something more guarded. "Got a good eye there. What gave it away?"

  "Intuition!" Lavvy's face lit up with triumph. "Would you consider accompanying me? Although..." His voice dropped as he muttered to himself, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "No, no... one Auron might not suffice for such dangerous terrain." He looked up suddenly. "You wouldn't happen to know any other Aurons who might join our little expedition?"

  Sol crossed his arms, his signature confidence cooling. "Look, Lavvy—I think there's been a misunderstanding. Geology isn't exactly my passion."

  "What?" Lavvy's face fell dramatically, like a child denied candy. "But I thought—then why did you express interest in the mines?"

  Sol ran a hand through his silver-white hair, choosing his words carefully. "It's... complicated. Let's just say I'm more interested in what happened at that mine than what it's made of."

  "I see." Disappointment settled over Lavvy's features before he brightened again. "Nevertheless, I would still appreciate joining you when you visit. Two sets of eyes are always better than one, wouldn't you agree?"

  Across town in a dimly lit hideout, tension crackled through the air like static electricity. The Cliffhangers' second-in-command sat alone at a worn table, her fingers drumming impatiently against a metal coffee cup.

  "I—I apologize, Ms. Veronica." A Cliffhanger grunt stood before her, sweat beading on his forehead despite the winter chill. His voice trembled as he delivered his report. "We've searched everywhere, but your... fog monster... it's just gone."

  "Hmph." Veronica set down her coffee cup with enough force to make the table creak. Her dark eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "Is basic competence really too much to ask?" Her voice carried the calm of a predator before it strikes. "Get out of my sight before I decide to make an example of you."

  The grunt scurried away like a mouse escaping a hawk's shadow. Veronica watched him go, shoulders tight with frustration.

  "Someone's in a prickly mood today," rumbled a deep voice from behind her.

  Veronica's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't turn around. "And it just keeps getting worse," she muttered, studying her reflection in the coffee's dark surface.

  "That's no way to address your boss!" chirped a high-pitched voice that made Veronica's teeth clench.

  "Yeah! Show some respect, you big meanie!" Another feminine voice chimed in with mock outrage.

  "Now, now, ladies." The deep voice carried amused indulgence. "Play nice with our little thunderstorm."

  Veronica stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she turned to face the newcomers. Before her stood a mountain of a man—Hugo "The Hanger" Reid. His chocolate-colored skin gleamed in the dim light, black hair braided into long locks, some already turning gray like his neatly trimmed beard. The rope scar around his neck stood out prominently against his dark skin. Despite the winter chill, he wore only a gaudy tourist t-shirt from Maridian, his massive arms wrapped around two beautiful women who clung to him like decorative accessories, one on each side.

  "Tell your bitches to zip it before I introduce them to a wall," Veronica snarled, her eyes flashing yellow with anger.

  "Did you hear what she called us?" One of the women gasped in exaggerated offense.

  "Make her apologize!" demanded the other, pressing closer to Hugo's side.

  Veronica rolled her eyes. "Please. You think you're special? You're just two out of many in his collection."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Hugo's laugh filled the room like thunder. "You're the only one who stays out of my reach, Vika. Always playing hard to get."

  "Stop calling me that," Veronica snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. "And for fuck's sake, put on some actual clothes. It's the middle of winter!"

  Hugo flexed his considerable muscles, his grin widening. "Men like me run hot, sweetheart. Always burning."

  Veronica's expression remained unimpressed, yellow eyes cold as she stared him down.

  "So," Hugo released his grip on the ladies to lean against the doorframe, which creaked under his weight. "Word is someone's causing trouble in my town. Got my attention."

  "Someone or something," Veronica corrected, her frustration evident as she paced the small room. "Strangest damn thing I've ever seen, and I've seen plenty."

  "So I hear." Hugo's grin never faltered. "One of my boys said you were hunting a 'fog monster'? Care to explain that little fairy tale?"

  Veronica ran a hand through her hair, aggravation radiating from her like heat. "I spotted it tailing some of our people. At first, I figured it was just some Auron's trick—something new. But it didn't add up."

  "How so?" Hugo's interest seemed genuine as he leaned forward, the girls momentarily forgotten.

  "I'm an energy Auron," Veronica explained, gesturing with her hands for emphasis. "Takes one to know one. That thing was definitely energy-based, but it moved like it could see—it was following our people around."

  "Come on, Vika." Hugo's disbelief was evident in his voice. "You're saying someone figured out how to make energy particles see?"

  "It was the only explanation that made sense!" Veronica's voice rose with frustration. "No one was in sight controlling it. No clear line of vision."

  "Alright, alright." Hugo held up his massive hands in a placating gesture. "But that's not what's really bugging you, is it?"

  "No!" Veronica slammed her palm against the table. "When I captured it, any normal Auron would've just deactivated their power—let it dissipate. But that never happened. It was like..." Her voice dropped, uncertainty creeping in. "Like the energy itself was somehow alive."

  "Maybe it was just permanent energy," Hugo suggested, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Once created, it wouldn't disappear."

  "Still makes no sense," Veronica countered, pacing tighter circles. "If they could create permanent energy, they could have detonated it once I captured it—made me look like a fool. Instead, someone else came to rescue it. And you know what really burns me?" She stopped pacing, yellow eyes flashing. "The timing."

  "Oh?" Hugo's interest visibly deepened.

  "These strangers waltz into our territory, and suddenly we've got unidentified energy clouds spying on us?" Veronica's voice dripped with suspicion. "I don't believe in coincidences."

  Hugo's trademark smile took on a dangerous edge. "Neither do I, Vika. Neither do I."

  The hideout door burst open, slamming against the wall as a panicked Cliffhanger stumbled in. His face was pale as paper, eyes wide with terror.

  "TSUNAMI, BOSS!" he shouted, the words tumbling out before he could think better of it.

  Hugo's smile didn't falter for even a heartbeat. If anything, it widened like a predator spotting prey. "Oh?" He straightened to his full height, towering over everyone in the room. "This should be quite the show." He turned to the women clinging to his massive arms, voice cheerful as if discussing a picnic. "Let's head outside, ladies. Bring some snacks—this is going to be entertaining."

  One of the women looked up at him, her confidence cracking. "But... can you actually stop a tsunami?" Fear crept into her voice like a winter chill.

  Hugo's laugh boomed through the room. "Oh, sweet thing, it won't be me stopping it." He strode toward the door, the wooden floor creaking under his weight. "But someone will. They always do."

  Across town at the inn, chaos erupted as reality sank in.

  "TSUNAMI! RUN!!!" The shouts spread like wildfire, people shoving past each other in blind panic, scrambling away from the beach.

  Sol rushed to the window, his heart plummeting as he spotted the massive wall of water in the distance. It looked like the ocean itself had risen up, ready to swallow the town whole.

  "We need to get to higher ground!" he shouted, already moving toward the door.

  Lavvy grabbed his sleeve, suddenly pale. "T-take me with you!" His earlier confidence had evaporated like morning dew.

  Sol's aura burst to life around him, silver light spilling across the room. He gave a quick nod and hoisted Lavvy onto his back without breaking stride.

  "Wait, shit!" Sol stopped so suddenly that Lavvy nearly toppled forward. "Neiva! She went the other way—right toward the cliff!"

  "Forget her!" Lavvy clutched Sol's shoulders, fingers digging in. "She's already gone! We need to save ourselves!"

  Sol's mind raced, eyes darting between escape and the direction Neiva had disappeared. "Angelo! He'll fly to her, right? He has to!" The desperation in his voice was impossible to miss.

  "Yes, yes, surely he will," Lavvy urged, voice climbing higher. "Please, I'm begging you—let's go!"

  Sol hesitated one heartbeat longer before turning toward safety. He'd taken only three strides when Lavvy's gasp made him glance back.

  "Sweet mother of—" Lavvy's words died in his throat.

  Sol froze mid-step, the tsunami momentarily forgotten. Where the calm ocean had been moments before, something impossible was happening. The water itself seemed to split apart, and from the churning depths, a massive wall of stone was rising—like watching a mountain being born in seconds.

  Sol set Lavvy down without thinking, both of them staring open-mouthed at the miracle unfolding.

  "This—this—" Lavvy stammered, finally finding his voice. "Only a Master rank could—no, not even them. This is Enlightened level! No one else could manage something this enormous this quickly!"

  "It's unreal," Sol breathed, eyes locked on the rising barrier. "Who could possibly—" The answer hit him like a physical blow, a memory surfacing with perfect clarity.

  "It was wonderful to meet you all – Neiva, Solomon, Angelo. Our encounter has been... enlightening."

  "Rorck," Sol whispered, the pieces falling into place. "He's an Enlightened. That's how he knew... and the earthquake—now it makes sense!"

  "What are you babbling about?" Lavvy snapped, torn between awe and impatience.

  "The earthquake earlier!" Sol's words tumbled out, fast and excited. "It wasn't unusually short—it was stopped! By the same person doing this!" He pointed toward the enormous wall still climbing skyward. "Rorck must be Enlightened—it's the only explanation!"

  "An Enlightened, here in this backwater?" Lavvy waved dismissively. "Ridiculous."

  "Think about it," Sol insisted, words flowing faster as his detective mind pieced everything together. "They're bound by the Non-Intervention Law, right? They can't help the townspeople against the Cliffhangers—that would be interfering in human affairs. But natural disasters?" His eyes lit up. "That's fair game! They can stop those!"

  "This... complicates matters," Lavvy muttered, almost to himself.

  "What was that?" Sol turned, catching the edge of his words.

  "Nothing at all," Lavvy said quickly, his expression smoothing over. "Just... overwhelmed."

  "We've got to get over there!" Sol was already moving, his feet carrying him toward the cliff where the wall now stood complete, water crashing against it like thunder. He glanced back to see Lavvy hadn't moved an inch. "Coming?"

  "You go ahead." Lavvy pressed a hand to his forehead, shoulders slumping. "All this excitement has me feeling unwell. I think I'll head back to the inn..."

  "Suit yourself," Sol called, already running at full tilt, his silver aura leaving a trail of light behind him like a comet's tail.

  Down on the beach, Rorck landed from his impossible leap, the impact sending sand flying in all directions. The golden light around him faded like a sunset as he absorbed the shock of landing. Before the dust could settle, a massive shadow emerged into Rorck's personal space.

  "Well, well, well." A deep voice rumbled across the sand, familiar and dangerous. "Allow me to thank you personally on behalf of Thunderclap Port and the Cliffhangers." Hugo Reid stepped into view, arms spread wide as if welcoming an old friend.

  Rorck turned slowly, his face calm despite the mountains of earth he'd just raised from the ocean floor. His voice carried neither fear nor surprise.

  "What do I owe for such a pleasure, Hugo?"