Episode 6 –  Flick of Fate

A second after Jonathan activated his First Wall, Arkham smirked.

“Jonathan’s always been such a scared brat,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair.

He glanced sideways. “Marsa—finish your lollipop and give me the stick.”

Marsa pouted.

“But I wanted to enjoy this one…” she said softly.

Arkham raised a brow. She sighed, bit the candy clean off, and handed him the stick.

Arkham rolled it between his fingers, closing his left eye as if lining up a shot only he could see.

“Bingo.”

Flick.

The stick whistled through the night at impossible speed.

Back in the fight.

Jonathan screamed, clutching his ruined eye, blood spilling through his fingers. His agony twisted into rage, frost hissing at his feet.

Ja chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. The apartment lights flickered—on, off, on, off—until only his glowing yellow eyes cut through the dark.

When the bulbs flared again, blood streaked his face. His lips curled into a smile, pure adrenaline and joy.

Diag’s fury boiled over.

“You want to smile, brat?! Then smile while I blow the skin off your bones!”

Her hands rose—

SLAM!

Ja’s palm clamped onto her face, slamming her into the ground. Dust erupted as she screamed against his grip.

He turned sharply toward Jonathan.

The ice wielder staggered, one eye blinded, blood dripping down his face. Frost gathered in his trembling hand.

CRACK!

Ja smacked Jonathan’s arm upward, slamming it into the ceiling. Shards of ice burst out above, spikes raining down uselessly.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The hallway shook. Heavy footsteps thundered closer.

Mordo barreled forward, a roar tearing from his throat.

“I’m tired of you, child!”

His massive frame charged, fists ready to crush.

But Ja only smiled wider.

“First Wall…”

A sharp hum split the air.

BZZZT!

Blue energy surged violently across the right side of his face, lightning-like cracks splitting through his skin.

“…Output.”