The relative peace within Veridia's fortified walls was a constant, fragile truce with the chaos that reigned beyond. Mutated beasts, driven by instinct and warped by cosmic energy, constantly tested the city's defenses. While routine incursions were handled by lower-ranked Awakeners, sometimes, a greater threat emerged, demanding the attention of the city's most powerful protectors.
One such incident occurred when a pack of Razorwings, mutated avian predators with razor-sharp feathers capable of slicing through steel, descended upon the outer sectors of Veridia in unprecedented numbers. Their screeching cries echoed through the city, and panic rippled through the non-Awakened populace. The call for high-ranking Awakeners went out, and the Navaro family answered without hesitation.
For Kaelen, still relatively new to the direct application of his powers outside the controlled environment of the Space-Time Mirror, this was his first true trial by fire. He stood alongside his grandfather and parents on the city's defensive walls, the sight of the swarming Razorwings a terrifying spectacle. Their numbers blotted out the sky, their razor-sharp feathers glinting menacingly in the dim light.
Chaos Navaro, his gaze unwavering, surveyed the approaching horde. "Stay close, Kaelen," he rumbled, his voice a reassuring anchor amidst the rising fear. "Observe, learn, and when the time comes, act decisively."
Victor was already a blur of motion, crimson lightning erupting from his hands, tearing through the ranks of the Razorwings with devastating accuracy. Each bolt incinerated multiple creatures, leaving trails of smoking ash in the air. Anya, with a focused concentration, manipulated the very space around the attacking flock, creating sudden spatial distortions that sent the Razorwings crashing into each other, their momentum turned against them.
Kaelen felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with a knot of apprehension. This was real, the stakes were life and death, and the controlled chaos of the training grounds was a far cry from the sheer, overwhelming aggression of the mutated beasts.
"Now, Kaelen!" Victor's voice cut through the din. "They're breaking through the first line of defense. Engage!"
Taking a deep breath, Kaelen focused his will, channeling the power of the Heaven-Crushing Titan Body. He felt his muscles harden, his bones become denser, and a surge of raw strength coursed through him. He leaped from the wall, landing with a ground-shaking impact amidst a cluster of Razorwings.
His first strike was instinctive, a powerful punch fueled by his enhanced strength. The impact pulped the mutated creature, sending a shower of blood and feathers into the air. He moved with surprising agility, his training within the high-gravity environment of the Mirror paying off. Each strike was brutal and efficient, honed by his grandfather's relentless drills.
However, the sheer number of the Razorwings was overwhelming. Their razor-sharp feathers rained down on him, forcing him to rely on the developing resilience of his Titan Body to shrug off the attacks. He realized that brute force alone wouldn't be enough.
Remembering his father's lessons, he focused his intent, drawing forth the Crimson Judgment. Tentative sparks of crimson lightning flickered around his hands. He concentrated, visualizing the energy, channeling his inner resolve. With a roar, he unleashed a focused arc of crimson lightning, tearing through a line of Razorwings, leaving behind a trail of ionized air and charred remains.
He was still far from his father's mastery, his control less precise, his output less devastating, but the raw power was there, a tangible force that commanded attention. He moved through the swarm, a whirlwind of enhanced physicality and nascent crimson energy, fighting alongside his parents and grandfather, a family of titans standing against the encroaching darkness.
The battle was fierce and chaotic, but the sheer power of the Navaro family turned the tide. Chaos Navaro moved like a force of nature, each strike of his fists creating shockwaves that shattered the Razorwings. His Crimson Judgment erupted in colossal bursts, incinerating entire sections of the flock.
Witnessing their power firsthand, the sheer scale of their abilities in a real-world scenario, solidified Kaelen's understanding of the legacy he carried and the heights he needed to reach. This first trial by fire was a brutal but invaluable lesson, a stark reminder of the dangers of their world and the immense power required to protect it. He had tasted real combat, and the experience, though terrifying, had ignited an even fiercer determination within him. He would not just inherit their power; he would earn his place among them.
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