The city burned under the midday sun, and Axel walked aimlessly through the streets of New Austral, his hands trembling and his heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Every so often, he turned his head, alert for any sign of danger.

  “Come on… someone’s gotta need help,” he muttered, swallowing hard.

  But after ten, twenty, thirty minutes, he found nothing. No accidents, no screams, not even a lost wallet. Just the city going about its day like usual.

  He turned a corner and walked up a wide street. Ahead, the concrete pillars of the elevated highway rose like giant titans among the buildings. It was one of those old but still useful structures, cutting through the sky like a suspended river of asphalt.

  That’s when he saw her.

  A little girl, walking alone about fifty meters ahead. She looked six or seven years old, carrying a tiny backpack and glancing around with growing anxiety.

  Axel frowned and picked up his pace. But he didn’t make it more than five steps before something fell from the sky.

  BOOM!

  The impact shook the pavement. A large, muscular figure landed in front of the girl, kicking up a cloud of dust. He wore black joggers and no shirt. His silhouette could’ve belonged to a hero… but something about his presence felt wrong.

  Axel ducked behind one of the highway pillars, watching from the shadows.

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  “A hero?” he whispered.

  He couldn’t hear what they were saying. The man crouched to speak to the girl, who took a step back. Axel felt a bit of relief… until the guy smiled.

  That smile. It wasn’t kind. It was crooked, cold—one of those smiles that chills your blood.

  Axel felt a jab in his chest. Something inside him, instinctive and urgent, sparked like a firecracker.

  And before he could think, he ran.

  He didn’t know how, but in a flash, he was standing between the girl and the man. He had crossed the distance as if the world had slowed down for him—and at the same time, he felt like he had drained all his energy in one go, like he had just sprinted ten kilometers without stopping.

  The man looked surprised.

  “And who the hell are you supposed to be?” he said with scorn.

  Axel didn’t move.

  “I’ve got nothing to say to you, scumbag,” he replied firmly. He was completely exhausted, and he felt like he might collapse any second, but something inside him screamed that he had to stay standing, that giving in to exhaustion wasn’t an option.

  The man looked him over, then let out a short, dry laugh.

  “Playing hero, are you? What an idiot. You’re a pathetic little worm, and you still think you’re hot shit? Go home before someone puts you in a hospital, kid. I’m not in the mood to play.”

  Axel clenched his fists, unmoving.

  “Try me if you want… but you’re not moving me a damn inch, you crazy son of a bitch.”

  The silence thickened. Wind blew between the buildings and under the highway, dragging papers and dust. The man frowned, rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers, and closed his eyes for a moment.

  When he opened them, the smile was gone.

  “You asked for it, you little piece of shit… ruining my goddamn fun.”

  He raised his hand.

  And the world tensed.