Back in Serras, the man who was holding Pathos's arm was sent spiraling toward a run-down shack. The poor foundation of that shack quickly collapsed once the thief crashed inside. Pathos's gaze was fixated on the thief as he witnessed the entire scene. Before Pathos could even turn around, Ruem vanished and rushed toward another thief whose weapon was already drawn.
Pathos's eyes shook once he caught a glimpse of the Prometeo's capabilities.
«Pathos» Is this… what such power is capable of?
Around him, Ruem attacked thief after thief. Their futile attempts to defend themselves failed miserably, as each of their strikes was either easily dodged or redirected through a wormhole. Pathos shifted his gaze toward Ruem, unsure what to do. The men standing against Ruem were clearly outclassed, yet they refused to back down.
Before Pathos could intervene, the sound of footsteps grew closer as one of the thieves approached him, knife in hand. The thief thrust his blade toward Pathos's stomach. As the blade drew closer, Pathos quickly reacted, dodging the attack as the thief stumbled forward. Moments later the thief turned around and approached Pathos once more. Pathos, sweating, asked:
«Pathos» Can't we talk this out!?
The thief completely ignored his question and slashed toward Pathos's chest. Pathos dodged again, and the two continued their exchange—slashes from the thief, dodges from Pathos—each attack swung with the intent to kill. Then Pathos noticed how his body felt lighter than usual. His movements were faster, his reaction time sharper. The Prometeo was starting to strengthen him in ways he never expected.
«Thief» Hold still!
«Pathos» I'm just a kid! Why are you trying to kill me!?
As their exchange dragged on endlessly, Pathos decided to act. After dodging yet another attack, he countered. His fist connected with the man's cheek, sending him straight to the ground. Pathos's hand began to shake with fear, but he quickly clenched it, trying to calm himself.
The thief, now flat on the ground, grunted in pain as he started coughing up blood. Pathos's gaze shifted toward him, prepared to defend himself again. The thief tried to lift himself but fell, his face smashing against the sand.
«Pathos (Thinking)» Did I overdo it? Wow… I'm really that powerful!
Pathos's face relaxed once he saw the state the thief was in. He expected him to get up and fight back, but the punch had clearly taken its toll.
«Pathos (Thinking)» Though…
Pathos turned toward the battling Ruem. He watched as a thief threw a chair at Ruem—only for it to travel through a wormhole and reappear above the attacker, crashing onto his skull. A loud crack from both the chair and the man's head filled the battlefield. The chair shattered as wood collided with bone, and moments later blood started spraying out, painting the dry sand red. The man fell unconscious as the sand swirled around him.
Another thief tried slashing at Ruem, his blade swinging from above. Ruem deflected it, pushing the man's hand away with his wrist and punching with the other. His fist connected with the thief's jaw, jolting the man's head back. Ruem followed with a punch to the gut from the same hand he used to deflect. The blade dropped to the ground, clanking as it bounced. The thief collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach as blood poured from his mouth.
More and more men continued to attack, yet none of them could even touch Ruem. Pathos noticed the clear difference in strength despite being outnumbered. He looked again at the man lying in front of him and wondered whether this battle was worth fighting.
«Pathos (Thinking)» This power feels too overwhelming. I feel like I can do just about anything right now… Then why does it feel so… tempting? I didn't want to punch him that hard, yet it felt liberating.
Pathos looked again at Ruem. Ruem fought as if he'd been born with his powers—using them effortlessly, fully familiar with the Prometeo's capabilities. Perhaps Pathos was exaggerating, or perhaps he was right. But one thing was certain: Ruem had no trouble killing someone with that strength.
In a moment of distraction, another thief snatched the dagger from the defeated man and tried to stab Pathos.
«Thief» Rich fuck!
Pathos turned around to see the thief thrusting the dagger toward his eye. Thanks to his newfound strength, he grabbed the man's arm, blocking the attack—but the thief didn't falter. He pushed the dagger's hilt with his other hand, forcing Pathos back against a wall, their hands locked in a struggle for control.
«Thief» Your lives are easier than ours. You get to eat whatever you want, live however you want. We on the other hand have to eat whatever's left and live under broken roofs. But that won't be an issue much longer.
The thief yanked Pathos away from the wall, tripping him and sending him crashing into the hot sand. The thief lunged on top of him, blade lifted high.
«Thief» Don't make this longer than it has to be.
«Pathos» You thinking killing an innocent life while suffice for your hunger?
The thief slammed the blade downward. Pathos realized what was happening—and grabbed for his hands, desperate. He managed to stop the attack, but the dagger sliced deep into his palm and fingers.
«Pathos» GAHHH!
«Thief» Oh yes.
The blade tore through his skin. Pain burned through his hand, yet Pathos continued fighting. Every movement of the blade worsened the wound, but he had no intention of dying. He pushed back while the thief leaned his entire weight into the attack.
«Pathos» I'm not going to die!
The dagger began slipping from Pathos's grasp as the blade cut deeper and deeper, his blood dripping onto his nose.
«Pathos» Ugh!
«Thief» Where's all that strength now, huh? You might be powerful—but a blade is still a blade. I don't care who I kill, survival of the fittest. Didn't your parents teach you that?
«Pathos» Dont—Dont you dare talk about my family.
«Thief» Did I strike a nerve? I'm almost pitying you!
Pathos's hand trembled. The thief was right… but Pathos didn't want to die. Not yet. He still had someone to save—his journey wouldn't end at the hands of a thief. But his resolve faltered as the blade inched closer to his face. Sweat rolled down his forehead as doubt consumed him. In a desperate attempt, he used every last bit of his strength to push back.
At that moment, the air around Pathos began to crackle with thunder. He could no longer hear the battle—only the electricity resonating through his body. The crackling grew louder, forcing the thief to cover an ear against the thunderous roar. Pathos's eyes began to emanate electricity, alarming the thief even more. Pathos snapped the blade in pieces. The same hands that had broken metal seized the thief by the head.
«Pathos» I WON'T DIE! NOT UNTIL I SAVE MY FAMILY!
The sky darkened, drawing Ruem's attention. Above Pathos, the clouds spiraled around the entire district. They spun wildly, responding to the child's cries.
«Ruem» What the—?
As Ruem stared upward, the clouds crackled with booming thunder, each burst stronger than the last. Ruem looked down at Pathos's struggle.
«Thief» Let go of me!
But Pathos refused to release him. The thief struggled desperately until both his hair and Pathos's silver hair began to stand on end. Ruem sprinted forward, kicking the thief aside.
«Ruem» Pathos! What are you doing!
«Pathos» R-Ruem!?
«Ruem» Stop whatever you're doing!
«Pathos» I can't! I—I don't know how!
Ruem glanced at Pathos, then back at the falling sky. The thieves around them trembled in terror—some collapsed, others ran for their lives. Ruem raised his hand as the storm threatened to obliterate a quarter of the city. The wind started to pick up, becoming stronger each second that passed until a massive shadow then fell over both him and Pathos. When Pathos finally looked up, everything became clear.
Above them, Ruem was manifesting a massive wormhole, prepared to absorb the incoming storm. The situation was dire—the sky could strike at any moment, and Ruem's wormhole still wasn't complete. The wind began blowing off furniture and pieces of someone's house spiraling them in the sky Pathos tried to suppress the power, but he didn't know how. Electricity surged violently from his body while Ruem grew weaker as the wormhole expanded.
«Ruem (Thinking)» I'm running out… If I keep this up, we'll both be struck.
«Ruem»…Fuck it!
Pathos shouted. His voice cracked, drowned by the wind.
«Pathos» HOW DO I STOP THIS!?
Before Pathos could say anything else, Ruem's wormhole dissipated. Pathos looked at Ruem—panting, drenched in sweat. Ruem turned, grabbed Pathos by the collar of his cloak, and dragged him through a wormhole he'd manifested at the last second, saving both of their lives. Pathos looked back at the run-down city of Serras as the wormhole closed behind them, not allowing him to see the destruction he would have caused.
Both of them landed on the ground with a loud thud. The clanking of metal and the dripping droplets of Pathos's blood quickly followed. Both of them stood in silence waiting for the storm to finally make its roar. But it didn't? The numerous thunders calling upon the fall of the sky. Wasn't head
«Pathos and Ruem» It Stopped?
Moments later, the sound of glass shattering filled the air. The bolt itself didn't seem to have hit the city itself yet something was struck. Pathos looked around.
The place was dark, with only the dim daylight faintly brightening its end. It didn't seem like a house—more like a refuge for those who couldn't even afford one. The place reeked of rotting trash, but to Pathos it wasn't just a smell—it was suffocation. Each breath dragged the city's filth deeper into his lungs, reminding him of how trapped he was. Ruem, however, didn't seem to mind. Instead, he quickly turned his attention to Pathos. His face mixed worry with confusion. His worries turned to one thing: Pathos's control over his powers.
«Ruem» Kid! I thought we would have died!
Hearing Ruem's loud yet calm voice made Pathos jump a little, bringing his mind back to reality. Aside from the smell, he now noticed something else—his hand, pierced with pieces of metal. As Pathos looked down, he saw the shards stabbed into his hand, blood dripping everywhere. Despite the injuries, he didn't feel it as much as he should. He only grunted, teeth clenched, as he tried to stand through the pain—but he couldn't. Ruem quickly stood, then knelt down in front of him, speaking in an agitated tone at first.
«Ruem» What's the matter, kid? Are you just a storm caller? You almost evaporated that place into oblivion!
But his tone shifted once he saw Pathos's hand. He hadn't noticed it before, too focused on the boy's immense power release. Pathos couldn't even answer. He wasn't quite sure himself anymore. Ruem calmly grabbed Pathos's hand, holding it gently before speaking.
«Ruem» You've got a lot of strength for just a kid, you know. Perhaps that Prometeo of yours is stronger than I anticipated. Listen carefully.
Pathos turned to look at Ruem, who smiled warmly, trying to calm him down. Without warning Ruem's hand lingered on Pathos's head for a moment longer than necessary. His eyes softened, then he forced a smile.
«Ruem» When you own a Prometeo, you can't let your emotions get the best of you. Despite being a separate living thing, it's still connected to your very soul.
As Ruem spoke, the Prometeo throbbed in Pathos's chest. It didn't just respond to his emotions—it amplified them, like a drumbeat growing louder with every pulse. Sadness made it ache. Anger made it sear. For a moment, he wondered if it was his heart beating—or something else trying to replace it.
«Ruem» When you feel sad, it resonates.
The Prometeo grew slightly.
«Ruem» When you feel happy, it resonates.
It grew more with each word.
«Ruem» And when you feel anger—it resonates.
The Prometeo flared exponentially, so bright it illuminated Pathos's very soul, wrapping it in flames as if trying to protect it.
«Ruem» Every emotion, if left unchecked, it could cause your Prometeo to completely overwhelm you. To protect your soul from breaking, it will release every bit of power it has… until nothing is left.
The Prometeo weakened, releasing all its energy until it shrank into a small flame within Pathos's heart, then vanished, the heartbeat stopping with it. Ruem lowered his gaze, lost in his own memories of his past, before smiling again to reassure Pathos. His eyes, however, seemed about to cry.
«Pathos» I almost killed us both…I don't know how to control it. I felt as if my body was throbbing with power, and when I decided to listen to it. I didn't know… I never knew I was capable of such power.
«Ruem» But fortunately for us, you came to your senses.
He pointed at Pathos's hand while bringing his other to Pathos's arm holding it still. his arm slick with red before Pathos could mention anything. Without warning….Ruem pulled out one of the metal shards. Pathos grunted, the pain tolerable but sharp. His arm instinctively tried moving away but Ruem hold it still using every strength he as to do so.
«Ruem» You don't seem too bothered, huh?
«Pathos (Thinking)» OW!? What the hell!?
In reality, Pathos was screaming inside, his teeth clenched as the pain became worse. Sweat rolled down his face. Ruem yanked out another shard without warning. This time, Pathos's other hand smacked the concrete as he tried to hold back his cries.
«Ruem» You can scream, you know. It's not like we need to be quiet or anything.
Pathos shook his head quickly, refusing to meet Ruem's eyes. His face was pale, but he kept forcing the words out.
«Pathos» Just keep it going!
Ruem smirked faintly, almost amused by the boy's stubbornness. He didn't comment further, but the silence said enough: he respected Pathos's grit, even if he found it a little foolish.
«Ruem» Alright, Mr. tough guy.
Ruem pulled out yet another shard. Pathos screamed silently, confining the sound within his own mouth. After several agonizing minutes, his hand was finally free of all the shards. Ruem tore a strip of tissue and wrapped it tightly around Pathos's hand.
«Ruem» There. It should be over now.
Pathos slowly pulled his hand back, checking the tissues already soaking through. He tried clenching his fist, but strangely, it felt normal. No pain. No more blood gushing out.
«Ruem» Don't force it too much. I managed to close your wounds for now, but it'll take time to heal.
«Pathos» Closed? You know a tissue doesn't exactly stop a bleeding right?
«Ruem» Oh, right! I forgot to tell you. You know how some people close open wounds with fire or hot iron? Thanks to the properties of the Prometeo, we can replicate that. Channel a bit of Prometeo into the fingers and—bam—like cauterizing with fire, only cleaner. We're not healing the hand, just sealing it shut. So it'll still take time to heal—nothing to worry about.
«Pathos» AND YOU WERE BURNING MY WOUNDS SHUT THIS ENTIRE TIME!
«Ruem» That might have been a reason why it was a lot more painful, my bad.
Pathos calmed down. His mind, once consumed by chaos, felt clearer.
«Ruem» By the way you knocked that guy clean,
Pathos jumped in surprise once he got to know that Ruem was keeping an eye on him this entire time.
«Pathos» You saw it?
«Ruem» Yeah of course I did. I was keeping an eye on you at first but once that dude was laid out I didn't even bother checking again.
«Pathos» About that. How did it feel when you punched them?
«Ruem» Ah? Why do you ask?
Pathos's tone shifted becoming serious.
«Pathos» Was it necessary for us to fight them? We could have easily escaped together with your wormholes, yet we didn't. Why didn't you do that immediately?
Ruem took a deep breath taking the question in as if he knew he would be asked this question, he spoke his tone natural and calm as if the answer was clear.
«Ruem» What question is that I was protecting you that's why.
«Pathos» Protecting me?
«Ruem» Yeah what else would be the reason?
«Pathos» It didn't seem like it to me. It looked more like you wanted to kill them on the spot
A bit embarrassed Ruem spoke his tone shifted from calm to a troubled
«Ruem» Well I did get carried on a bit. Also sorry for bringing you there in the first place, I didn't think they were going to try and hurt you too.
«Pathos» Are they going to be fine?
«Ruem» Yeeeees?
Pathos spoke in annoyance
«Pathos» You don't know do you.
While Ruem answered in defeat.
«Ruem» No I don't
Ruem quickly got up, pushing on his knees to do so, before looking around to understand where they might be. Pathos stared at him, trying to think if they might be watched—scratching his head, rubbing his bearded chin—before finally realizing something and exclaiming "OHH-!". Pathos tilted his head to the side, trying to understand what Ruem was thinking about.
«Pathos» OHH-?
Ruem quickly turned around with a loud smile on his face, proud of himself for remembering such a small thing.
«Ruem» Come on, let's go. I know where we are.
«Pathos (thinking)» He's proud of himself for something like this?
Pathos immediately pushed himself upwards, but as he did so his butt started hurting from the earlier fall. He quickly began rubbing it to ease the pain. Ruem, who was looking at the end of the narrow road, glanced back and saw him rubbing his butt. Without wasting a second, Ruem raised his index finger, which faintly began glowing.
«Ruem» Are there some wounds that need to be closed?
In a panic, Pathos jumped backwards, immediately sweating after hearing his question. Putting both of his hands in front of him, he said—
«Pathos» I—I'm alright, don't you worry!
«Ruem» Mhm?
Pathos tried to put up a fake smile to hide his pain, but Ruem caught on, and his finger began glowing even brighter until the air above it started to swirl, making it seem like the air itself moved under his command.
«Pathos» Don't you dare.
Ruem's face twisted into a happy smile, trying to hide the malicious intent in his mind. On the other side, Pathos became more and more agitated at the thought that Ruem might need to look at his bare cheeks to heal him, despite there being nothing to close since the impact left no cuts.
«Ruem» :)
Ruem slowly approached. Pathos took a step back.
«Pathos» Ruem!
A wicked grin formed on Ruem's face. His eyes closed as he approached Pathos—until both of them heard a man screaming. Their attention quickly turned toward the entrance of the road.
«???» Get back here, thief!
The scream filled the road, giving the sensation that the path itself was a closed room in the middle of nowhere. Their voices echoed until Pathos spotted two people: a lady holding money and clothes she apparently didn't own, and behind her, a black man with very small glasses, raising his hand as he shouted at her. Pathos quickly stood, realizing what was happening and preparing to intercept her.
«The man with small glasses» Stop her!
The thief spotted them blocking the road. Without hesitation, she bounded from wall to wall, climbing like an animal to slip past their reach. Pathos stood in awe, while Ruem simply followed her movements without acting. Pathos tried to give chase, but Ruem grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. Pathos looked at him, only for Ruem to wag his index finger as if saying no.
«Ruem» Tsk! Tsk!
«Pathos» She's getting away—do something!
«Ruem» You do it. But don't go running after her. Focus on using your Prometeo.
«Pathos» I can't! You know I can't—you've seen how poor my control is.
«Ruem» I know. But this time, focus on how you want to catch that thief. Remember, you're not trying to kill her—just catch her, okay? No storms this time, alright?
Ruem released Pathos, giving him a chance. Pathos looked ahead at the thief leaping from wall to wall. He tried to use Ruem's advice, shouting Bom and Pim, but only made himself look like a fool. Ruem, who had only made him believe those words would help, burst out laughing, shaming poor Pathos.
«Ruem» I think we both know that's not gonna work
«Pathos» Shut up!
Annoyed, Pathos decided to scrap Ruem's tips and follow his own gut.
«Pathos (thinking)» I'll try to remember how I felt that night—how my body called upon this very power. I'll use my pain—
His mind traveled through memories of his father, killed by the hands of those meant to protect men. The sound of screams, the sight of blood… his mother, kidnapped for reasons unknown. Rage bubbled up, burning through him, mingled with betrayal so sharp it felt like a blade against his chest. He remembered the day he slaughtered an entire army without breaking a sweat.
«Pathos» AS A WEAPON!
Pathos's Prometeo pulsed, and this time the beat carried something new—electricity. Sparks leapt across his skin. His hair stood on end. The air itself crackled, trembling with the power he had finally awakened. The air crackled. Electricity condensed around his legs, making the ground hum. In an instant, he reached the thief. She could not keep up with his speed, nor could her victim. For a moment, she saw Pathos as a monster made of lightning, his four eyes piercing her soul. Seconds later, he yanked everything from her arms and threw it to Ruem, who opened a wormhole to deliver it back to the black man.
«Pathos (thinking)» I… I actually did it. I controlled it!
Pathos turned to Ruem, desperate for his reaction. At first, Ruem crossed his arms, pretending to stay cool. But the moment sank in. His smirk cracked into a wild grin. He threw his arms up and bounced on his feet, shouting like a madman.
«Ruem» YEAH! LET'S GO, PATHOS! YOU GOT IT!!!
The black man, after catching his belongings, looked at them in shock, his jaw froze at the display of power. His gratitude turned to surprise when he saw Ruem jumping with joy.
«Pathos» I got it. I got his stuff back.
But Pathos's joy distracted him—he was still suspended midair from wall to wall, the thief alongside him. As they began to fall, Ruem conjured a wormhole to catch them. Pathos panicked.
«Ruem» Ah—shit!
«Pathos» We are faaaaalling!
But Pathos focused again. The electricity returned, this time natural, fluid. The sensation, the emotion—it all came back full circle. The prometeo shone bright inside his body
PATHOS HAS NOW AWAKENED HIS PROMETEO
He caught the lady midair, bridal-style. Twisting his body, he launched toward the nearest wall—then bounded from wall to wall, carrying her safely down. His shoes screeched on the concrete as he slid to a stop between Ruem and the black man. Shock silenced them all for a moment. Then the lady in Pathos's arms screamed…
«Lady thief» AHHHHH! Let me go! Let me go, you monster!
She escaped his grasp, but before she could run, the black man punched her square in the face. She hit the ground with blood gushing from her nose. Ruem and Pathos froze, their jaws dropping in unison. One word echoed in both their heads—DAYUM, as they stood there in awe.
«The man with small glasses» You ain't going nowhere now, bitch!
He raised his foot to stomp her chest, but Ruem appeared behind him through a wormhole, locking his arms to stop him.
«Ruem» Alright, that's enough from you.
The man froze, recognizing the voice. His face twisted in anger as he realized who it was.
«The man with small glasses» YOU'RE THE GUY WHO STOLE FROM ME MONTHS AGO!
Pathos saw Ruem freeze, his grin vanish, his hands fly up defensively as if expecting a blow. He'd never seen Ruem look so cornered.
«Ruem» You!? Wha—eh—ehm—what a surprise…
Pathos listened to their words, connecting the dots. Ruem told him how he had stolen from a man named Jhoel—the same man Pathos was looking for, the same man who was entrusted by Pathos's father. Without wasting a second, he asked softly—
«Pathos» You… you're Jhoel, aren't you?