The cool night air felt refreshing as Ellis and Carmila left the opulent club, the memory of its pulsating energy still lingering in his mind.

  Carmila moved with a new intensity, her pace brisker and her movements more fluid, almost as if the city's energy had seeped into her veins. Ellis struggled to keep up, casting curious glances at the briefcase she clutched tightly.

  "Where are we headed now?" Ellis asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and unease.

  "Just you wait," Carmila replied, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic lightness. There was something different about her, a subtle shift that Ellis couldn't quite place. Her eyes seemed brighter, and her steps more confident, almost erratic.

  They wound their way through the affluent core of the city, past towering skyscrapers and glimmering facades that masked the power struggles and secrets within. The streets grew quieter as they ventured deeper, the sounds of the bustling nightlife fading into a distant hum.

  Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. Ellis felt a jolt of apprehension as the man stepped into the light, his presence unmistakably commanding. He was gaudy in every sense of the word, with flaming hair that seemed to dance with an inner fire and flowing white robes that billowed around him.

  "Carmila, it's been too long," the man said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Still associating with the riffraff, I see."

  "Valen," Carmila replied, her voice steady but her eyes narrowing. "What do you want?"

  Valen's gaze shifted to Ellis, his eyes narrowing with disdain. "Who's the new pet? God, your always a dependent cur." he sneered. "And what's in the case?"

  Ellis felt a surge of anger at the man's words, his heart pounding in his chest. There was something about Valen's arrogance that grated on him, a sense of superiority that made his blood boil. Without thinking, he stepped forward, his hand rising instinctively.

  A strange sensation coursed through him, a pulsing energy that seemed to resonate with his heartbeat. His vision blurred, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow down. He saw Valen's smug expression twist into one of surprise as a mass of orange energy erupted from Ellis's hand, not quite solid, not quite gas.

  The energy struck Valen with a force that sent him crashing into a parked car across the street, the impact leaving a dent in the metal. Ellis stood there, his hand still outstretched, breathing heavily as the last remnants of the energy dissipated into the night.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Carmila's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and something else—pride?—flickering in her gaze. "We need to split up," she said urgently, her voice snapping Ellis out of his trance. "Meet me back at the Phoenix's Nest."

  Ellis nodded, still reeling from what had just happened. Without another word, they parted ways, each disappearing into the labyrinth of the city. Ellis's mind raced as he navigated the streets, the adrenaline from the encounter slowly giving way to a growing sense of dread.

  When he finally reached the familiar haven of the Phoenix's Nest, he doubled over, his body wracked with tremors. He retched, but nothing came out, his stomach churning with a nauseating mix of fear and exhaustion. He felt cold, a deep, bone-chilling cold that seemed to seep into his very core.

  As he struggled to steady his breathing, he couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had changed. The power that had surged through him was unlike anything he had ever felt, a raw, untamed force that had erupted without warning. He had sensed its presence before, a flicker at the edges of his consciousness, but never like this.

  Ellis sank to the ground, his mind a whirlwind of questions and uncertainties. What was this power? Where had it come from? And what did it mean for him?

  He knew one thing for certain: the path ahead was more perilous than he had ever imagined. The Olympus Summit, the mysterious briefcase, and now his own burgeoning abilities—all were pieces of a puzzle he had yet to understand.

  As he sat there, trying to make sense of the night's events, he felt a glimmer of determination ignite within him. He would find the answers he sought, no matter the cost. The flames of destiny were burning brighter than ever, and Ellis was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

  ---

  Ellis’s resolve hardened as he gathered his strength, standing slowly. The Phoenix's Nest was a sanctuary, a place where those on the run could catch their breath, but he knew it wouldn't remain safe for long if Valen and his kind were involved. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

  The Phoenix's Nest was alive with a muted energy, people huddled in corners, discussing in hushed tones the latest whispers of rebellion and power shifts. Ellis made his way to a secluded booth, where a weathered man with a myriad of scars and a single, sharp eye awaited him.

  "Doc," Ellis greeted, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I need your help."

  Doc, a former medic with a dubious past, nodded, his expression serious. "I heard you had a run-in with Valen. That kind of noise attracts attention, Ellis."

  Ellis clenched his fists, the memory of the orange energy still vivid. "Something happened to me, Doc. “how would I know if I awakened my vita asset” Can you... can you check me out?"

  Doc's eye narrowed, and he motioned for Ellis to sit. "Let's see what we're dealing with."

  As Doc began his examination, Carmila slipped into the booth, her expression unreadable. She placed the briefcase on the table, its presence an unspoken question between them.

  "What do you thing your doing bringing that here" Doc asked, unable to keep the curiosity at bay.

  Carmila sighed, her gaze flickering to the case. "Whatever the hell I want, Doc!" she said with anger. “So, have you told Ellis about the briefcase yet” Doc said with a wurly expression. “Why, should I” she said with a vulgaris tone. “He’s your friend damn it!, also he’s got something seriously wrong here”

  Ellis's mind raced. The sleek, black briefcase, long shrouded in mystery, What could be so bad to keep from me?” Eliis said to himself.

  Doc's voice broke through his thoughts. "There's something inside you, Ellis. A dormant energy, raw and untapped. The encounter with Valen seems to have awakened it, but you need to learn to control it."

  Ellis looked at his hands forgetting about the case, the memory of the energy still fresh. "How do I control it?"

  Carmila leaned forward, her eyes intense. “The Summit is in three days.” And you, Ellis, can learn to control it yourself. Now come on.” She said in hurry but also a little uneasy for Ellis to understand.

  But Ellis didn’t think much of it and headed off, The journey ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but he knew he had to face it. For the city, for the truth, and for the power that now coursed through his veins.

  The countdown to the Olympus Summit had begun.