The rhythm of battle had seeped into my blood.

  I didn't think anymore, just moved like a wound-up machine, every motion honed to automation.

  Block, strike, dodge, control. Felt the metal respond, sliding under my skin, becoming an extension of my arm.

  "Elliot, two o'clock!"

  I spun sharply: a disgusting clump of pulsating tissue flew straight at me. Hard to even call it a monster. Most likely, it hadn't even managed to form into a proper demon.

  My heart beat faster, time seemed to slow, and inside spread that familiar warmth of metal. I imagined a ball rolling off my hand like down a slope, and I directed it right at this "thing's" head. A real piece of metal mirrored my actions: transforming into spinning rings, it smeared the monster to pieces.

  "Wrap it up faster and get ready for the next wave."

  Another damn training session. No mistakes, no weakness. Perfect little soldiers for dirty work. Except...

  When I walked past the walls, they contracted by a millimeter. Or did I imagine it?

  Selena approached with concern.

  "You okay, Ellie?"

  "Ah... Selena. Yeah, everything's fine, just for a second it seemed... never mind."

  "Then, team! Let's continue."

  We'd been here for two days already. Sixth otherworlder complex. They'd been preparing us to fight demons for two years now. The task was simple: clear every branch of the complex and find the central seed. We had to bring it outside and give it to the otherworlders.

  The complexes were huge spirals that, like tree roots, went deep into the earth. Each new place looked less and less like otherworlder constructions. Metal structures were replaced by dirt, then slime or stone.

  Steel bit into the creatures' flesh deeper than necessary. I felt it pass through muscles, bones, tendons. And I liked it.

  The creature wasn't moving anymore, but that didn't matter. I wanted it to disappear, dissolve into air, turn into chunks of useless meat.

  I wasn't hitting for victory anymore. I needed this feeling, when metal tears their damned bodies, this resistance of flesh under pressure, this crunch of breaking bones.

  "Elliot, enough!"

  Selena's voice drowned in the rush of blood in my ears.

  I tore the last ligament, leaving a mess of bones and tissue. My hands were shaking, but not from fatigue. From adrenaline. My chest heaved, heart pounding wildly, and inside—a voice: "This isn't enough. More!"

  I stepped forward to the next carcass, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. Aura.

  "I know what you're feeling."

  Her voice was soft, enveloping, like silk. She knew exactly how to get under my skin.

  I gritted my teeth. Breath coming hard.

  "This is your power, Elliot. Don't run from it. Use it."

  I looked up. She wasn't judging. Understanding filled her eyes.

  "You're not a beast. You're a warrior."

  She ran her finger along my arm, where blood still remained.

  "But only if you're ready."

  I stayed silent. Couldn't answer. Too quiet around us. But inside me—deafening thunder, like someone beating a huge drum. I knew she was lying with every word, every glance. But damn it, I wanted to believe so badly.

  While Aura traced cool fingers over my wounds, closing them one by one, the team finished off the remaining small fry. The vile creatures died with disgusting squelching sounds. But in the distance, we could already hear the heavy footsteps of a giant.

  We were still the same Elite Class. Selena as commander, Cassandra, Raynor, me and Darius. Aura had joined us too, replacing Luten as healer. She wasn't as versatile, but healed fast and well.

  When I came to my senses, Selena was already giving orders.

  "Get ready for the giant. We need to determine its type as quickly as possible and prepare an attack. Raynor, prepare a shield for us in case the monster attacks immediately. Darius, Cassandra, build up your strength, we'll try to repeat the last trick and knock it to the ground right away."

  Selena looked at me. Hard to tell what exactly she thought of me. Seemed like she wasn't even looking at me. Maybe she sees Luten in me? Definitely.

  "Elliot, pull yourself together. Can you drive one of the plates into its head?"

  She was talking about the metal blanks I'd started carrying with me. They were made of heavy alloy, which helped me easily cut through even thick monster skin.

  "Yeah, that's what I wanted to do anyway."

  The thundering footsteps made the air shudder.

  The giant tumbled out of the tunnel. Not just a shadow, but a huge mass of flesh with pulsating, dimly glowing veins throughout its body, like someone had stuffed old neon lights under the skin. It didn't just move, it searched. Its head jerked, as if inhaling scents, scanning the space.

  Somewhere deep inside its skull, alien thoughts churned.

  "To positions!"

  Selena gave the first command. Raynor raised his hands. Space before us distorted. Not a shield, but a blurred temporal barrier, making the enemy see us with a delay.

  "Darius, Cassandra—prepare to strike!"

  Cassandra called out.

  "In position!"

  Her eyes flashed with mirror ripples, and in the next instant, the giant's own copies appeared before it.

  It jerked. The giant couldn't distinguish reflection from reality. Its gaze darted between projections distorting its own movements. It started raising its arm, but at that moment Darius shot forward.

  His skin covered with living cracks, transforming into layers of blood and armor.

  Darius yelled as he prepared to charge.

  "Hold me!"

  The metal in my hands vibrated.

  I wove Darius into chains, linking his movement with my power, and hurled him straight at the giant. He slammed into the monster's chest, his body seeping into the flesh, leaving a deep gash behind.

  But the giant didn't even stagger.

  Raynor shouted in alarm.

  "It's adapting!"

  The giant arched backward. In that moment I felt its gaze. No. Its voice in my head: "You're the one who should have fallen!"

  Psychological attack. The world didn't just warp. It broke. Air became viscous, sounds dissolved, like someone had drowned me in tar. I felt someone's presence behind me but couldn't turn.

  "You were always second."

  I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. Steel roared within me.

  "Shut up."

  I hurled the plate. But the giant dodged. I called out desperately.

  "Selena, finish it!"

  She vanished.

  A moment—and air flared with a flow rupture. Something struck the monster's chest, making it lose balance.

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  "Elliot!"

  I heard the command before she said it.

  I'd already accelerated the plate, already felt its weight, already directed it straight into the giant's skull... Direct hit. The giant collapsed. I barely managed to breathe.

  "Confirm elimination."

  Silence. Cassandra approached.

  "That was too easy."

  And at that moment I realized I hadn't finished it off. Huge eyes suddenly opened and stared straight at me. They were far away, but it felt like I was being pulled inside.

  Sound disappeared. Space trembled, but I couldn't feel the floor beneath my feet. Everything turned gray, a blurred void where there was neither time nor breath.

  And amid this chaos, he stood before me.

  Luten. My brother.

  The same as on that cursed day when he disappeared. Normal. Calm. Hands in pockets and a gaze that always saw further than mine.

  "You're dead."

  He smiled.

  "And you don't care?"

  I clenched my fists.

  "A year, Luten! I searched for you for a year!"

  "And what did you find?"

  I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say. I'd found nothing.

  "Alice disappeared."

  Luten's voice grew quieter but cut deeper than metal.

  "You couldn't save her. You didn't save Tarian."

  I blinked. No. He's not saying this. I am.

  "You're too weak. You protected no one. You're left alone."

  I pressed my temples, but the voice wouldn't leave.

  "You're only needed because they can control you."

  Aura flashed before my eyes. Her voice. Her hand on my shoulder.

  "Luten is waiting for you. When you become stronger."

  Lies. I felt it in every cell. But I still believed. I wanted to believe.

  The void shuddered.

  "You don't need Aura."

  The voice became deeper. Heavier.

  "You don't need anyone."

  I raised my head.

  "Shut up."

  The giant twitched.

  I felt it from inside. My steel was already in its body. It spread through its bones, wrapped around the spine, filled every crack, absorbing its rotting essence.

  The giant froze, its eyes widened. It understood. But it was too late.

  I spread my palm open. The metal inside it exploded. Its bones split apart, flesh tore from within, splashing black mass on the walls that evaporated in the air.

  Breathing heavily, I stood over the remains. I still felt the remnants of metal in it. My fingers clenched on their own. I didn't want to stop this feeling. And couldn't.

  For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel relief. I felt power. And no longer wanted to restrain it.

  By evening we'd finished the sweep. On the way back everyone usually slept, since the journey home was long due to the distances. We rode in huge armored trucks belonging to the otherworlders. Inside—comfortable seats, soft light, steady engine hum. Guards watched the road, so we could relax.

  Cassandra sat with a tablet, analyzing mission data. Raynor leaned back in his chair, eyes closed as if sleeping—though we all knew he was just retreating into his thoughts. Selena looked out the window, her fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest.

  I was dozing when someone started shaking me.

  "Hey, Elliot, psst."

  I opened my eyes irritably. Before me—Darius's grinning face.

  "What?!"

  "Why so tense? I just wanted to ask."

  "Ask."

  "What was that in the complex?"

  I frowned.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Well, you... were acting kinda strange from the start. Aggressive. Like you wanted to slaughter everyone there, not just clear it out."

  I snorted and turned away.

  "Just doing my job."

  "Come on. We've been fighting shoulder to shoulder for two years. You think I don't see when something's wrong with you?"

  I sighed. Darius wouldn't let up.

  "Even Cassandra noticed. And you know, if she says something went wrong—something really went wrong."

  "Cassandra's always analyzing something. Maybe she's just bored."

  "And you're saying I'm nitpicking?"

  I turned to the wall, feeling dull irritation rising inside.

  "Shut up and sleep, Darius."

  "Oh-oh, so serious."

  "I'll pin you to the seat with metal right now."

  "Ooh, threats coming out."

  He laughed and elbowed me in the ribs.

  "Alright, buddy, relax. Don't want to talk—don't talk."

  He leaned back, closing his eyes.

  "But don't think we're all stupid and don't see you changing."

  I didn't answer.

  Selena's gaze slid over me. I still couldn't understand what she was thinking.

  I couldn't sleep. Usually by this time I'd be asleep too. But not today. I got up and went to the back of the truck.

  She was already waiting for me there. Aura sat, as always carelessly, one leg thrown over the other, playing with a strand of her hair. Her gaze lazily slid over me, but it seemed to me she already knew everything.

  "Can't sleep?"

  I plopped down beside her, throwing my head back.

  "No."

  She smiled slowly, the dim cabin light casting soft shadows on her face.

  "I know."

  I closed my eyes, but still felt her gaze.

  "You were thinking about it, right? About what you felt there?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  "About you. About what's happening inside you."

  I stayed silent.

  "You didn't just kill it."

  I took a deep breath.

  "You didn't give it a chance."

  She leaned closer, her voice becoming almost a whisper.

  "And it felt damn good, didn't it?"

  I opened my eyes sharply, but she didn't look away.

  "You're talking nonsense."

  "Am I? And who was throwing extra sheets inside the giant today, like they were afraid it was still breathing? Who tore apart that creature earlier? Not me, Elliot."

  I didn't know what to answer.

  "You feel it, right? I saw how your hands shook, but not from fear. Adrenaline? No. It was something else, wasn't it? Something more... pure."

  Her voice became even softer, more dangerous.

  "It's still inside you."

  I froze. She placed her palm on my wrist, barely touching, the warmth of her fingers seeming to sink under the skin.

  "You don't need to fight it."

  I exhaled slowly but couldn't pull away.

  "Luten would understand you. He always knew what you're really like."

  The world froze.

  I felt everything inside me tighten, turn inside out.

  "He'd be proud of you, Elliot. Because you're stronger than ever."

  I couldn't say she was lying. Her fingers squeezed a bit tighter, and I didn't pull my hand away.

  Because part of me wanted to believe.

  The next morning I stood in the shower. Thinking under the hot water about what happened yesterday. These feelings had always lurked in me, but I'd never given them importance. Always suppressed everything, thinking they were trifles and fleeting emotions.

  Buried in my thoughts, I heard rustling outside the room.

  "You..."

  I realized what was happening and, quickly wrapping a towel around myself, flew out of the bathroom. My fears came true: that ginger bastard was rummaging through my stuff looking for my sweets.

  "Oh, Elliot..."

  He froze with candy in hand, eyes widening.

  "How do I explain this... You should get dressed or something. Because, you know, the situation's kinda... awkward."

  "Not a chance!"

  My fury knew no bounds, all the anger I'd been storing up every morning burst out. Multiple metal pieces flew at him from the corridor. I didn't pay attention to what exactly flew there, because right in flight all this mass turned into shackles.

  "You bastard, stop dodging! Leave my stuff alone, Darius, right now!"

  I'd already missed three times. His agility amazed me. He moved so gracefully, and in such a small space felt better than in battle with monsters.

  "Buddy, let's discuss everything peaceful—"

  Got him!

  The hand holding my stash was pinned to the wall with such a crash that plaster rained from the ceiling. The box fell and scattered its contents. But I didn't care, I wanted blood.

  With the next attack I wanted to shackle all his limbs, but he activated his power and tore off the shackles. With quick steps he was at the door and about to leave, but from the other side came:

  "If you don't stop this circus, I'll turn you against yourselves!"

  Cassandra heard us. This wasn't good. Last time she created our mirror clones that restrained and beat up both me and Darius.

  "Okay, okay! We surrender!"

  Darius turned to me and whispered:

  "The boss is mad..."

  I think there's something between them, but I don't think it'll go anywhere. Cassandra's from nobility and she's very conservative in her views. Though Darius is from a family of wealthy blacksmiths, he's not her equal.

  Everything changed this year. I still believe Luten's alive, though meetings with otherworlder ambassadors yielded no results. When I decided to infiltrate their base, Alice, barely awakening from her coma, stopped me. She posted guards, forbade interference, and disappeared, promising to find my brother herself.

  Aura sat nearby, her elbow almost touching mine. She nudged me in the ribs, pulling me from my thoughts.

  "Elliot, keep daydreaming and you'll miss out on pancakes."

  I blinked and looked at the table. Pile of plates, tea, sweets—normal morning. Darius had already snagged his portion and now looked at me with a smirk.

  Across sat Cassandra, lost in thought over something on her tablet. As always.

  Raynor lazily moved his spoon around his plate, more lost in thought about something than actually planning to eat.

  Selena sat at the head of the table, watching us.

  Recently the academy director decided to retire. Rumors say he was called to service, but none of the teachers confirmed it. His deputy was put in his place. A young man without any past.

  Nobody knew where he came from or his service record. Some said he was somehow connected to the otherworlders, and thanks to him we had so many training complexes.

  Many changes happened at the academy. Now our Elite Class, like other similar ones, were restructured from regular classes into something resembling teams. In our case, Selena was team commander by status. Cassandra and Raynor—her advisors, Aura—healer, and Darius and I served as vanguard.

  The day of training and classes ended, evening came. The air was warm, but I felt cold.

  I couldn't fall asleep. Sleep wouldn't come. I stared at the ceiling, listening to my comrades' breathing, until anxiety pushed me out of bed. The academy corridors met me with echoing emptiness—at night this place seemed to come alive for someone else, not us. My feet led me to the roof on their own. Someone was already sitting there.

  Aura sat on the edge, legs dangling down. Her silhouette was outlined by the dim light of lanterns.

  "I knew you'd come."

  I didn't answer but came closer. Leaned against the parapet. Small academy paths and buildings were lit by soft light, against which teachers or guards sometimes passed.

  "Today. What do you feel?"

  I wanted to say "nothing." But that would be a lie.