Morning at the Bze household began as usual—with the aroma of exquisite dishes. Melissa, her skirt barely rustling, was checking the table setting. Despite the chaos of st night, she had managed to maintain her customary order—something the demoness took pride in.

  Johnny sat at the corner of the table, his pte with a barely touched steak pushed aside. His thoughts still lingered on the events of the previous night, but his face remained unreadable.

  In the corner of the kitchen, the TV screen showed a news anchor reporting with tension in their voice about the chaos engulfing the city:

  "Due to st night's battle, a state of emergency has been decred. Residents are advised to stay home. Authorities promise to increase patrols to prevent further destruction."

  Danny, sitting across from Johnny, excimed with genuine excitement:

  "Yes! That means no school today!"

  Their father wiped his mouth with a napkin and gave his son a stern look.

  "Some may see this as a day off, but for the police—myself included—we were called in first thing this morning. I’m finishing up and heading out."

  Johnny couldn’t resist commenting, "As if the police can stop monsters."

  His words brought a shadow of irritation to Bart’s face, but before he could respond, Melissa’s sharp voice cut in from behind him:

  "Oh, Captain, care to share your pn for apprehending creatures that tear down buildings with their bare hands?"

  Bart sighed and shrugged.

  "That’s what the Avengers are for. Our job is to maintain order and calm."

  Danny, inspired by the topic of superheroes, jumped up from his chair.

  "I wish I’d get hit with radiation or drenched in chemicals! I’d get superpowers and take down all the vilins!"

  Barbara smirked mockingly.

  "Maybe learn how to fight first, superhero."

  "Superheroes don’t need dumb techniques! It’s all about super strength!" Danny retorted indignantly.

  "And what’s your superpower going to be? Nerd brain? Oh wait, you already have that, and it’s definitely not super," Barbara shot back with a sly squint.

  Melissa, watching the bickering, tilted her head like a noble dy and softly added:

  "Young dy, your tact truly deserves appuse."

  Danny turned to Johnny, pleading:

  "Bro, say something!"

  Johnny, distracted from his thoughts, raised his gaze. Fshbacks of crumbling buildings, fire, and the figure of Juggernaut—untouched by any attacks—fshed before him. He finally spoke, his voice calm:

  "Any self-defense trainer will tell you: if your opponent is three times your size, no techniques will help. Sometimes the best choice is to retreat."

  "Have you ever run from a fight?" Barbara asked, narrowing her eyes in disbelief.

  "Never," Johnny replied confidently, adding almost in a whisper, "But maybe I should have."

  Breakfast ended. Danny and Barb ran to their rooms, discussing which movies to watch now that school was canceled. Naomi saw Bart off at the door, softly kissing his cheek before he left for his shift.

  Left alone with Johnny, Naomi turned to him.

  "Son, is there something you want to tell me?"

  Johnny looked at her coldly, then shifted his gaze to Melissa.

  "It wasn’t me, Master Jonathan," she answered with a smirk. "I warned you Mistress Naomi would figure it out."

  "I don’t need a lecture," Johnny snapped at his mother. "I know I messed up."

  Naomi stepped closer, her voice soft but concerned.

  "Just tell me what happened."

  She gestured for Johnny and Melissa to join her in the living room. Johnny reluctantly sat in an armchair and recounted the battle with Juggernaut.

  When he finished, his voice grew firmer.

  "At the end, he said his power comes from Cyttorak. Who’s that?"

  "An ancient aspect of destruction," Naomi replied. "It’s not sentient, merely a source of energy. But ancient people saw it as a demon. They called it Cyttorak."

  "Sounds a lot like Zarathos," Johnny remarked. "Does the power of destruction pass down through bloodlines like ours?"

  "Definitely not," Naomi shook her head. "I’ve studied all the magical families on this pnet. I wanted to see if there were others like us. There are no other families cursed by bloodline. Cyttorak is trapped in a Crimson Gem and kept in a secret temple. I don’t know what criteria their priests use to choose an avatar for their false god."

  Johnny, looking at Melissa:

  “And what do you know?”

  “No more than Mistress Naomi. I’ve always been more interested in biblical scriptures than pagan myths.”

  “How do you kill Juggernaut?”

  “Timely question, Master Jonathan,” Melissa smirked. “Swinging your fists is pointless. All avatars of aspects, including you, become powerless if cut off from their source of power. From experience, I can tell you it’s a very complex ritual—only the greatest archmages can pull it off.”

  Johnny mentally noted: beware of mages.

  “How many avatars are there?” Johnny clenched his fists.

  “Not counting you and Juggernaut?” Melissa gazed thoughtfully out the window. “It’s been a while since I kept up with Hell’s gossip, so I might be wrong. But I know of at least two more.”

  Johnny muttered grimly:

  “So there are at least three monsters like me roaming the world.”

  “Like you? That remains to be seen,” Melissa smirked. “You, Master Jonathan, are a fledgling who’s had his power for less than a week. The others have lived with their curse for decades and have experience. A powerful mage with an endless source of energy is a terrifying force. If I were the Ghost She-Devil, all the circles of Hell would be mine!”

  “Every maid dreams of her own kingdom, don’t they?” Naomi quipped with a smile.

  “Mom,” Johnny interrupted before the banter could escate, “did you ever wield the golden fme?”

  “The form of release, or as ancient people called it, Zarathos’s Manifestation,” Naomi said instructively. “No, I never had it, but I’ve read about our ancestors…”

  Melissa interrupted sarcastically:

  “Mistress Naomi meant to say that I read her my academic works.”

  “Oh yes, you’re the world’s foremost expert on Ghost Riders. How modest of you,” Naomi rolled her eyes. “Son, the aspect of vengeance is a force of cosmic scale, capable of wiping out entire sor systems. But you can’t even burn down a single isnd, can you? That’s the limitation of human flesh. If you were to sacrifice your humanity and fully give yourself to your aspect, you could unleash much more power.”

  Johnny mentally noted: human flesh is weak.

  “I’ve read that Zarathos’s Manifestation is a very rare event, happening only under the strongest thirst for vengeance,” Naomi said worriedly. “What did Juggernaut say to you?”

  “That we’re alike,” Johnny clenched his fists. “The fire in my skull constantly whispers... things. For example, yesterday at the supermarket, you skipped the line. The wronged people want vengeance. Barb stepped on a dog’s tail a week ago, and the animal seeks retribution. And how many criminals Dad’s put behind bars want revenge? If I punish indiscriminately, I’ll burn the whole world.”

  Naomi gave him a motherly smile:

  “I may not be the best mom, but at least I managed to give you the right moral compass.”

  “Good thing you’re so righteous,” Melissa smirked devilishly. “Otherwise, I’d be in serious trouble.”

  “My kindness isn’t free,” Johnny said, rising and heading toward the stairs. But he stopped and threw over his shoulder: “Last night was painful, but I’ve learned my lesson. I need to get stronger. And you’re going to help me.”

  Melissa smiled but said nothing. Naomi, left alone, looked at her son with an expression of worry she couldn’t hide.

  /////

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