Chapter 3-Battle

Lila's pov

“Always something, isn’t it?” I interrupted, bitterness spilling from my lips. “You promised me you’d be here on time. Do you even remember what today is? Or do you just keep blowing it off like it’s some useless task on your never-ending to-do list?”

His expression softened, guilt washing over him. “I know it’s our anniversary. I was trying to make it back, but—”

“Alex, stop. I don’t want to hear your excuses! I’m tired of always feeling like the bad guy here. What does my life matter when you can save millions of people? You put smiles on the faces of people all over the world, and I’m just… I’m tired of feeling like the selfish one. Every time I want your arms around me, I feel like I’m holding you back from something much greater.”

He took a step closer, his eyes pleading. “Lila, that’s not true. You mean everything to me.”

“Then why don’t you act like it?” I shot back, my heart racing. “Why do I have to beg for your time? I shouldn’t have to fight for you to prioritize me. It shouldn’t feel like I’m competing with the world for your attention.”

“I never wanted you to feel that way!” he exclaimed, frustration etched on his face. “I’m trying to do what’s right, but I need you to understand—”

“I understand more than you think,” I said, my voice shaking. “I understand that I’m have spent every day alone, waiting for a husband who cares more about the world than about me. I love you, but I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be your partner.”

"Lila, I’m still here, aren’t I?” he pleaded, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

“Barely!” I shot back, the weight of my disappointment crashing down on me. “I’m tired of being the one who waits, the one who understands. I’m sick of being second to whatever crisis you’ve decided is more important than our marriage. What do I have to do to make you see that I’m worth your time?”

Before Alex could respond,a loud crash came from inside the restaurant. Chairs scraped against the floor and people screamed, scrambling towards the exit in fear.

Suddenly, the doors burst open, and a figure came out from the entrance. It was Alex's arch nemesis —Blackthorn— with his dark presence.

“Alex,” I whispered, fear gripping my voice. “It’s blackthorn”

“I see him,” he replied, his tone steady but his eyes fierce. “Stay behind me, Lila.”

As the customers ran away, Blackthorn s dark laughter echoed through the night. “Hyperion. Always the hero, always so predictable,” he taunted, stepping forward with confidence. Shadows writhed around him, creating into tendrils that flickered in the light. “You should have stayed out of my way.”

“Enough games” Alex growled, his voice low and threatening. “Let the people go. This isn’t your fight.”

“On the contrary,” Blackthorn smirked. “It’s always been my fight. And tonight, I’m taking something that is important to you”

Before Alex could react, Black thorn thrust his hand forward, and shadows surged towards us like a living wave. “Get down!” he shouted, pushing me aside as he absorbed the force of the shadows crashing against him.

The tendrils wrapped around Alex, attempting to restrain him, but he flexed his muscles, drawing on the sunlight within him. With a mighty roar, he broke free, the shadows disintegrating into wisps of smoke. “You’ll have to do better than that!”

He charged forward, moving faster than I could blink. In an instant, he was upon Blackthorn throwing a powerful punch. The impact echoed through the air, sending Blackthorn staggering back. But he quickly recovered, enveloping himself in darkness.

With a flick of his wrist, the shadows twisted around him, forming a solid barrier. Alex’s fist collided with the darkness, creating a shockwave that sent ripples through the air, but Black thorn remained unyielding. “You’ll have to do more than swing at shadows, Hyperion,” he sneered, his voice echoing ominously.

“Watch me,” Alex replied, determination shining in his eyes. He charged again, this time unleashing a Solar Blast that erupted from his palm like a brilliant star. The beam cut through the darkness, lighting up the parking lot as it collided with Blackthorn’s barrier.

The explosion sent shockwaves through the ground, the force of the blast temporarily cutting off the shadows. I could see the struggle reflected in Blackthorn eyes as he strained to hold his ground against the blast of solar energy.

“Get away from here!” Alex shouted, glancing back at me as the energy burst around us. “Lila, I need you to go!”

“No!” I yelled, my heart racing as I felt the urge to help. I concentrated, drawing on my own powers. “I can help! I won’t leave you!”

I reached out with my hands, creating an barrier around us. It stopped the debris from the explosion, providing us both with a moment of protection. I could feel the drain on my energy as I channeled it, but I couldn’t let him fight alone.

“Lila!” Alex shouted, frustration and worry flashing in his eyes. “This is dangerous!”

“I can’t just stand here!” I replied, my voice trembling. “I can help!”

With a surge of energy, I focused on channeling my inner energy into a concentrated beam. The radiant light shot towards black thorn who barely managed to dodge to the side, the blast searing through the shadows and scorching the ground where he stood.

“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better!”Blackthorn taunted, using the shadows to envelop himself in darkness, becoming almost invisible. He lunged from the side, sending a wave of tendrils straight at me.

I barely had time to react. The shadows reached for me, and I instinctively raised my hands, creating another barrier to shield myself. The force of the attack fell on my barrier, and I felt the energy drain further. “Hyperion!” I shouted, panic seeping into my voice as I fought against the encroaching darkness.

“Lila, hold on!” he shouted, but I could see him struggling against Blackthorn’s relentless assault. The two were locked in combat, their powers colliding in a whirlwind of light and shadow.

Blackthorn retaliated with a wave of shadows, aiming for Alex’s legs. The tendrils coiled around him, attempting to bring him down. But Alex, with sheer strength, tore through them, sending shards of darkness scattering like dust. “I won’t let you take her!” he roared, his voice echoing with determination.

Blackthorn’s eyes narrowed, his expression twisting into one of rage. “You think you can protect her? I’ll show you just how powerless you are!” With a swift motion, he unleashed a psychic attack, his Nightmare Projection wrapping around Alex’s mind, exploiting his deepest fears.

I could see the moment it hit—Alex staggered, his resolve faltering for just an instant. “No!” I cried, my heart racing as I pushed through the fatigue and reached out to him. “Alex, focus on me! You’re stronger than this!”

The connection between us sparked, and I felt a surge of energy flow between us. In that moment, I channelled my energy into him, helping him fight back against the shadows invading his mind.

He blinked, the darkness receding from his eyes as he refocused on the battle. “Thanks, Lila. I’ve got this.” His voice steadied, and he lunged at Blackthorn once more, determined to end the confrontation.

With renewed vigor, Alex unleashed a series of powerful blows, each one infused with the sun’s energy. Blackthorn staggered under the assault, but the shadows rallied around him, absorbing the force of the punches, each impact sending tremors through the ground.

“I won’t let you take her!” Alex shouted again, launching into the air, gathering solar energy for one final, devastating attack. He aimed directly at Blackthorn, who had regrouped, ready to unleash another wave of darkness.

In that moment, I could see the desperation in Black thorn’s eyes as he realized what was coming. “No! You won’t win this time, Hyperion!” he screamed, but it was too late.

With a roar, Alex unleashed a Solar Blast that lit up the night sky, illuminating everything in a brilliant light. The beam tore through the shadows, illuminating the chaos of the parking lot as it struck Black thorn directly.

The force of the explosion sent him crashing into the pavement, the shadows dissipating around him as he struggled to recover. But just as it seemed we were gaining the upper hand, a ripple of darkness erupted around us, pulling me in like a whirlpool.

“Lila!” Alex shouted, his voice filled with desperation as he reached out for me. I could feel the pull of Black thorn’s dark energy wrapping around me, dragging me closer to him.

I fought against it, channeling my own energy to create another barrier, but the shadows were too strong. “Alex! Help!” I cried out, fear gripping my heart as I struggled against the dark tendrils that ensnared me.

Blackthorn, now on his feet, looked at me with a twisted smile. “You’re coming with me, doctor,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Hyperion won’t be able to save you.”

With a sudden surge of power, he yanked me toward him, and before I could react, he enveloped me in shadows, pulling me away from Alex. I felt the energy drain from me as the darkness constricted around my body.

“Lila!” Alex roared, his voice filled with anguish as he lunged forward, but the shadows snapped around him, creating a barrier that prevented him from reaching me.

In that moment, everything seemed to slow. I locked eyes with Alex, his expression a mix of determination and despair. “I love you!” I screamed, trying to break through the suffocating darkness.

But before he could respond, Black thorn plunged into the depths of the shadows, dragging me with him. The world around me twisted and blurred, darkness consuming everything until I could no longer see Alex.

And then, everything went black.