Still in the Past - One Week Ago

  Still Inside the Quarantine Area

  Inside the Tallest Building in the Region

  Near One of the Top Floors

  The perspective rushes quickly toward the location of the tallest building still standing after large portions of one of its lower floors collapsed during the earthquake that struck three years ago.

  Inside it, two people can be seen clashing against each other with blows and movements at a surreal speed. It becomes clear that every punch and kick colliding between them sends pulses of air with each impact.

  [Echoing Sound of Shockwave Punches Colliding Against Each Other]

  Both individuals radiate an invisible force similar to the one Kalik seems to emanate from his own body, slightly distorting a few centimeters around their figures.

  After taking a certain distance backward, both of them form confident smiles on their lips, motivated to advance again.

  And in that instant, they move forward at high speed through the various rooms, whose walls are mostly broken down, sometimes even destroying part of the ceiling and floor during their combat and evasions.

  [Echoing Sound of Intensifying Shockwave Punches Colliding]

  Until one of those people is revealed to be Téo himself-ten years old, wearing slightly dirty school attire-Téo, the younger brother of Kalik.

  Meanwhile, the world seems to slow down through the eyes of the other person, who is completely terrified and, at the same time, frustrated for losing to someone as young as Téo.

  [Person - Angry & Slightly Trembling Voice] You may be strong, young boy!! But you're still just a ten-year-old Oculi compared to me!!! -

  Téo easily dodges a punch through the air thrown by the opponent, who believed he had seen an opening in one of Téo's movements.

  But apparently this person sees Téo standing right in front of him, not showing any exhaustion at all-unlike the opponent, already tired after so many minutes of combat using his Oculi abilities at an advanced level.

  [Téo - Deep, Slightly Labored Breathing] In truth, Téo was completely calm, actually showing that he was enjoying the fight-both the physical clash and the Oculi abilities involved. -

  He wanted to see how far that person would go to fight for his own life. On Téo's face, a smile burnt with a mix of intense pleasure and hatred was clearly visible.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow, Echoing Whisper] ...Yes, I am a young boy, but... [Deep, Pleasure-Laced Breath] -

  In a surreal motion, Téo reacts instantly, delivering a single precise punch to the opponent's solar plexus. The moment the blow lands, the person feels every muscle fiber in his body burn.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow, Echoing Whisper] You're mistaken to think you're superior to me. Because up until this exact moment... I was merely playing with you, you great idiot. [Deep, Pleasure-Laced Breath] -

  Simultaneously, the world seems to slow once again, showing the opponent spitting out a large amount of black liquid from his mouth as he begins to lose consciousness.

  [Téo - Deeply Hollow, Echoing Whisper] I was only playing... like a white tiger plays with its sharp claws upon the skin of its prey. [Soft, Pleasure-Filled & Vengeful Laugh] -

  After Téo's words echo, the scene pulls back, still in slow motion, revealing the injured person looking at Téo just centimeters from his own face.

  Téo's white hair sways gently as his presence resembles that of a tiger-not thirsty for blood, but solely for absolute vengeance.

  [Téo - Serene Breathing & Soft, Echoing, Pleasure-Laced Laughter]

  Moments later, when the flow of time returns to normal, the opponent's body is violently hurled backward.

  [Intense, Deafening Shockwave Pulse] -

  The person crashes through several walls, generating multiple gusts of air across the entire floor and out of the building due to the force of his body striking the surfaces at high speed.

  Eventually, he is hurled into a final wall that does not fully break upon receiving his body. Instead, his form becomes embedded into it, cracks spreading around him as pieces fall to the ground.

  The perspective returns to Téo, who calmly observes the destruction ahead. His gaze travels through the broken openings in the walls amidst the rising dust.

  His eyes lock onto the person embedded in the wall, gravely injured, crying black tears. On his face, the expression of shock reveals his inability to process the surreal strength displayed by young Téo.

  [(Person - Terrified, Disbelieving Whisper) I don't know who he is, but... (Trembling, Failing Breath)]

  Though he is an Oculi Nigri like young Kalik, the gravely injured person appears older than both Téo and Kalik-around sixteen years old. Kalik, the older brother of Téo, would be eleven. Téo, ten.

  [(Person - Terrified, Disbelieving Whisper) I have to tell Mr. Miguel about this boy... he's a serious problem... (Trembling, Failing Breath)]

  Before the injured person-hurt more internally than externally-can act, still stuck against the wall, he considers trying to flee Téo again by using his stealth-based Oculi abilities in desperation.

  [(Person - Terrified, Disbelieving Whisper) ...I have to run as fast as possible! (Trembling, Failing Breath)]

  [Téo - Serene Breathing & Soft, Echoing, Pleasure-Laced Laughter]

  This disgusting attempt at movement, in Téo's eyes, instantly makes him clench his fists tightly.

  A deeply sadistic smile forms on his lips, provoked by such insolence displayed in front of him once more.

  The world seemed to slow down for that person as the chilling sensation crawled across their entire body, forcing them to instinctively look forward, fear consuming their face.

  Right before their eyes, they saw nothing less than Téo lunging forward like a bullet. The scene was surreal-Téo floating just a few meters away after generating a faint pulse from the spot where he had been standing moments before.

  That person watched as their world gradually lost all its colors, turning completely black and white.

  Just a few meters ahead, they saw Téo suspended in the decelerated world, shaping the next movement of his assault.

  Reflected in their widened eyes-now shedding black tears-was the image of Téo smiling with an empty lack of mercy, exuding brutal sadism.

  It became clear that Téo's next move, still airborne and floating toward the person, was nothing less than a single strike: one of his legs cutting through the air in their direction.

  [Téo - Echoing, Serene & Lightly Amused Voice] You dared run away from me that night, after doing what you did to "her" right in front of me. [Deep, Vengeful Sigh] -

  Téo's eyes were completely opaque white, with no iris or pupils visible. It was evident he was using the full extent of his Oculi Albi ability against this person, focusing on hurting them as much as possible rather than killing them instantly.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  [Téo - Serene & Lightly Amused Voice] And you really thought I wouldn't search every corner of this city for you, you damned Oculi. [Deep, Vengeful Sigh] -

  Then, within the faint echo that pierced the absolute silence of the slowed world, the person tried to whisper a desperate, terrified "please" to Téo.

  But Téo finally completed his single strike, which revealed itself to be nothing less than a lateral kick to the chest of the crying, terrified person.

  At the moment Téo's foot made contact with their body, the world around the two of them momentarily turned into a full negative of its colors under the force of the impact.

  With that one blow, Téo generated a shockwave that made the very environment ripple.

  [Téo - Serene & Pleasure-Tinged Breathing]

  It became visible that Téo had unleashed a surreal force, shattering the wall behind the person, making them spit out even more of that black liquid as their body broke through the wall and continued being thrown backwards.

  Simultaneously, the person's scream echoed through the environment as time returned completely to its normal flow. Téo, who had been floating moments before, calmly landed on the ground.

  The person, still before Téo's eyes, was sent flying at high speed, cutting through the air and destroying more rooms as their body spun violently.

  The brutal sequence finally ended when their back became lodged into one of the building's pillars, preventing them from being launched out of the structure entirely.

  However, the impact caused the already unstable building-damaged three years earlier by an earthquake-to tremble through its weakened frame.

  In extreme agony, their entire body burning down to its smallest muscle fiber, the person tried to apologize to Téo for what had happened weeks before.

  But they were suddenly seized by an invisible force wrapping around their neck, choking them and lifting them even higher. Their back remained pinned against the badly damaged pillar behind them.

  This invisible force kept their body suspended against the wall, forcing them to look forward despite their injuries, as black liquid oozed from their open wounds, dripping onto the floor in increasingly larger drops.

  [Téo - Echoing, Serene & Hollow Voice] You were so close to successfully kidnapping my best friend, Victoria, right in front of my eyes. [Slow, Deep Breath of Disdain] -

  Téo walked calmly toward them, stepping through the openings in the walls-breaches created moments earlier by the person's own body smashing through them.

  [Téo - Echoing, Serene & Lightly Amused Voice] And I know very well, just by looking at your pathetic face, that you're nothing but an insignificant Oculi agent from the Inanis faction. [Slow, Deep Breath of Disdain] -

  While Téo kept one of his arms lowered, the other was slightly raised, as if simulating the act of squeezing something with a hand that gradually closed.

  [Téo - Echoing, Serene, Slightly Playful Voice] He was merely receiving orders from people who don't even care to remember his name, nor who he is. [Deep, Slow Respect] -

  As Téo's hand seemed to close, an invisible force distorted the space around it, bending the air a few centimeters around that hand - the same force that tightened around the person pinned against the pillar, holding them in agonizing restraint as they begged for mercy.

  [Téo - Echoing, Deep & Heavy Voice] But don't think I will show you any mercy, because... [Deep, Slow Respect] -

  The person trapped there, crying in despair, felt the surreal and growing presence emanating from Téo with each step he took toward them.

  It added weight to the entire environment, pressing against their body with the invisible forces Téo commanded, crushing them against the wall as if it meant nothing to him in that moment.

  [Téo - Deep & Heavy Voice] ...I will take great pleasure in making you regret, bitterly, what you dared to do to Victoria - what you did to one of her arms after you failed. [Deep, Vengeful Sigh] -

  His clothes seemed to sway as though submerged underwater, their soft movement actually a physical response to the release of his Oculi abilities at a higher degree.

  All of this happened the moment Téo finally succeeded in finding the person he had been searching for over several days within the vast city surrounding them.

  [Téo - Deep, Tedious Sigh]

  When Téo was close enough to see, with his own eyes, the person about to be finished off by his next move - a move that would be nothing less than snapping their neck with a single closing of his hand -

  Téo and the person heard a whistle cutting through the air at high speed, heading straight toward the floor they were on, revealing no one less than Kalik bursting into that floor like a bullet.

  [Echoing Sonic Pulse Mixed With Falling Debris]

  Kalik smashed through several walls as he rushed toward Téo, creating a massive cloud of dust throughout the entire floor. Moments later, the dust was even visible from outside the building, calmly drifting outward.

  [Kalik - Deep, Slightly Breathless Breathing]

  But with a simple snap of his fingers as he inhaled deeply, Téo effortlessly dispersed all the dust covering the entire floor, sending it outside the building in mere seconds.

  Revealed before his eyes was his older brother, Kalik, standing right in front of him - his black garments swaying in the breeze that flowed through that part of the building.

  [Kalik - Breathless & Anxious Voice] Téo! Stop! [Breathless & Worried Breathing] -

  Kalik was there to stop Téo at any cost from killing that person - the one being strangled by Téo's Oculi abilities - despite their desperate apologies and the black blood that slowly dripped down the damaged pillar behind them.

  [Kalik - Breathless & Anxious Voice] What are you doing, little brother? [Breathless & Worried Breathing] -

  Kalik stood already in a combat stance, emanating from his own body an invisible force similar to Téo's, though less intense. Even his clothes moved slightly, as if underwater, enveloped by the aura surrounding him.

  [Kalik - Breathless & Anxious Voice] Have you lost your mind, Téo? [Breathless & Worried Breathing] -

  [Echoing Scream of Pain From the Person Being Choked Even Harder by Téo]

  [Téo - Echoing, Serious & Slightly Empty Voice] This has nothing to do with you, Kalik, so... [Deep, Vengeful Sigh] -

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] ...PLEASE, HELP ME! THIS KID WANTS TO KILL ME!! [Broken, Tearful Breathing] -

  As Téo's hand continued to close with increasing force, Kalik could clearly see what his brother intended: Téo truly meant to kill that person, for reasons he still couldn't fully understand.

  [Téo - Echoing, Serious & Slightly Empty Voice] ...Please, do not interfere in my matters, or I'll make you regret it bitterly. [Deep, Vengeful Sigh] -

  [Person - Echoing, Desperate & Regretful Scream] I DON'T WANT TO DIE, I'M SORRY!!! [Broken, Tearful Breathing] -

  Kalik found himself in a complicated situation, because he knew this would cause trouble later if anyone found that person's body in that place or if the death were investigated - even if the body disappeared.

  After all, that amateur Oculi was nothing less than one of the Oculi agents who belonged to the faction that followed the Begeneri Twins.

  It was clear that the person who was begging, crying for Téo's forgiveness, made him feel even more anger and hatred.

  Téo's mind, hearing everything, pulled him back to the happiest and most singular moment he had at the amusement park - both before and after the fireworks show, with Victoria at his side.

  One Week Earlier

  Still Within the City

  Beatitudo Amusement Park

  The end of that beautiful night between Victoria and Téo, their personal discoveries so striking inside the amusement park only minutes earlier.

  All of that would be ruined when the Oculi agent Téo was torturing in the present decided to appear that night in the park's parking lot, after the entire park had already been closed down, once operating hours had ended.

  This single Oculi agent, amateur despite his tactics, without thinking twice decided to change the flow of time, slowing it down for all the human families in the parking lot as they entered their vehicles or made their way toward them while speaking normally.

  At that moment, the agent - appearing there in casual black clothing and passing himself off as a normal person - moved in an attempt to abduct Victoria, thinking his objective would be easy and quick in that place.

  But because he was an amateur, the agent had not noticed that he was not the only Oculi present in that same parking lot.

  A few meters away, Téo was throwing an empty candy bag into a trash can, while Victoria's parents stood close to her, frozen like all the families caught in that altered temporal flow.

  When Téo felt the activation of an Oculi's abilities - which had caused the time flow around the parking lot and the park to decelerate into strange, abrupt microseconds.

  And then sensed the presence of someone vile and repulsive preparing to approach Victoria with their Oculi powers active, it lodged itself in him. Instinctively, Téo leapt without thinking toward the unknown Oculi agent.

  Téo managed to prevent Victoria from being kidnapped, but he was not fast enough to stop one of her arms from being slightly injured by the agent, who had reached to grab her arm in an attempt to carry her away if necessary.

  Before Téo's eyes, the Oculi agent recoiled, frightened by the bloodthirsty presence Téo radiated, which made the whole atmosphere grow heavier.

  The agent instinctively put distance between them, his body going mildly numb at the fear provoked by the dense, murderous presence Téo emanated simply by looking toward Victoria to protect her at all costs.

  Having a contingency plan in case anything went wrong, the Oculi agent decided to activate it without thinking, mere seconds before entering combat with Téo, who was moving to stand in front of Victoria.

  He quickly reached into his pocket and threw several small objects that looked like iron orbs; when they hit the ground they produced a blinding flash that struck Téo.

  Téo was already close enough to take Victoria's hand and positioned himself at her side to shield her.

  At the same time he resolved that, after getting Victoria to safety, he would not only attack that unknown Oculi agent but, if possible, kill him for daring to target Victoria.

  It was visible in Téo's eyes - which had gone completely opaque white, with no irises - that his Oculi abilities were operating at their highest degree, driven by his desire to protect Victoria at any cost and stop the person who had dared to try to seize her in his presence.

  But before he could move fully in front of Victoria and advance on the agent who had lightly wounded his best friend, Victoria, Téo's whitened vision returned to normal; the temporal flow had been normalized.

  Everyone around them resumed talking and walking normally across the parking lot, as though nothing had happened a few microseconds earlier involving Victoria's near-abduction.

  Victoria, who had been aware of what had occurred but unable to react against that terrifying person, immediately - the moment her body was freed when time normalized - instinctively clung to Téo in fear without thinking twice.

  She sought safety in his tight embrace, and Téo hugged her back, feeling within the pressure of her hold both her fear and her search for protection.

  Simultaneously, Téo looked around, trying to detect even the slightest trace of the presence of another unknown Oculi with ill intent in the vicinity.

  But at that exact moment, after everything that had happened, he was the only Oculi present in that area, with only a faint thread of his abilities still active.