Chapter 10: The Anchor Taken

Dust drifted through the broken warehouse, lit only by the faint flicker of Amara’s talisman. Kian lay on one knee, breathing sharply, trying to force his body to rise. Every muscle screamed. His Prime State had collapsed so suddenly that even his heartbeat felt unstable.

Amara stood in front of him, her arms spread like a shield, legs trembling.

“Stay back,” she warned the crimson-eyed villain, though her voice quivered. “You’re not taking anyone.”

The villain’s steps were slow, deliberate, echoing ominously across the destroyed floor.

“You misunderstand,” he said, deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.

“You are not a target…

You are a necessity.”

Amara tightened her grip on her talisman, its faint glow barely enough to hide her fear.

“What do you mean… necessity?”

The crimson-eyed villain stopped just a few feet away.

“You stabilize his awakening. Without you…”

He gestured to Kian’s shaking form.

“He collapses. With you… he ascends.”

He tilted his head.

“So we’ll be taking you.”

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Kian’s Desperation

Kian forced himself upright, muscles burning as if on fire.

“Don’t… touch her.”

He took one weak step and immediately collapsed again, coughing. His aura sputtered—flickering embers of a once-massive flame.

“Kian, stop,” Amara said, panic in her voice. “You’re hurting yourself—”

“I don’t care!” he shouted, voice cracking. “I won’t let them have you!”

The first villain, still recovering and leaning against rubble, laughed weakly.

“Looks like the boy finally realizes his weakness.”

The crimson-eyed villain’s eyes glowed faintly.

“No. This is not weakness.”

He turned slightly.

“This is attachment. And attachment is a power we can use.”

Kian’s heart froze.

Use? For what?

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Amara’s Last Stand

Amara stepped forward, her glow intensifying despite her exhaustion.

“You’re not using me. You’re not taking me. You’re not touching him.”

The villain raised a hand—

and shadows wrapped around Amara’s feet, binding her.

She gasped, trying to break free, but the shadows tightened like steel chains.

“Amara!” Kian yelled, crawling forward.

The villain moved toward her—and stopped just inches away.

Amara stared up at him, refusing to show fear.

“If you take me,” she said quietly, “he will come for me.”

The villain smiled—not with joy, but with anticipation.

“I am counting on it.”

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Kian’s Rage Awakens Again — But Fails

Kian pushed himself to his feet with a roar, energy flaring violently around him as he attempted to re-enter Prime State.

“No—Kian, don’t!” Amara shouted.

But he didn’t hear her.

He screamed, forcing every ounce of energy upward. Light pulsed around him—but instead of rising into a new form, he staggered, blood dripping from his nose.

His body simply couldn’t take it.

The crimson-eyed villain watched calmly.

“His body is rejecting the state. Fascinating. He really does need you.”

Kian collapsed to the floor, unable to stand, reaching out toward Amara.

“Please…” his voice broke, “don’t take her… I’ll do anything… just don’t take her…”

The villain crouched slightly, studying Kian like a specimen.

“You will be far more interesting once she is gone.”

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The Abduction

The shadows suddenly surged upward, coiling around Amara’s arms and waist.

“KIAN!” she screamed.

He crawled forward, dragging himself through broken glass and rubble.

“AMARA—DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU!”

She fought, light bursting from her hands, but the crimson-eyed villain waved his hand—

—and her light vanished instantly.

Amara’s eyes widened.

“I can’t… I can’t activate my power!”

The villain placed a hand over her shoulder.

A pulse of darkness swallowed her whole.

“KIAN!!!”

Her scream echoed—

Then she vanished.

Gone.

Taken.

The shadows collapsed to the ground where she once stood, leaving only silence.

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Kian Breaks

Kian froze, staring at the empty space.

Then something inside him shattered.

His breath hitched.

His pupils shrank.

His aura dropped to nothing.

“No…”

He whispered it at first.

Then louder.

“NO… NO!!!”

He punched the floor, cracking it.

“BRING HER BACK!!!”

His voice echoed hollowly against the destroyed walls.

But she was gone.

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The Villains’ Departure

The first villain stood beside the crimson-eyed one, regaining his composure.

“What now?” he asked.

The crimson-eyed villain glanced once more at Kian, who lay collapsed on the floor, trembling.

“Now?” he replied.

“Now we prepare him.”

“Prepare him? For what?”

“For his true awakening.

The boy’s rage will lead him to us. He will chase her.

He will break himself trying to save her.”

His eyes glowed brighter.

“And when he finally arrives…

We will mold him into what we need.”

In the next instant, both villains vanished into darkness, leaving Kian alone.

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