The peaceful evening shattered like a dropped plate. Screams filled the air as people ran in every direction, their faces twisted with fear. Inside the cozy Pizza Zap restaurant, Angelo could smell tomato sauce and fresh-baked bread mixing with something else – the sharp, burning scent of destruction drifting through the windows.

  A young waitress rushed over to their table, her white apron splattered red with sauce. Her eyes darted between Angelo, Bill, and the chaos visible through the window. She barely seemed to notice how strange it was that there appeared to be multiple versions of Angelo sitting there.

  "Please, you need to get to safety!" The words tumbled out of her mouth as she wrung her hands. "Everyone's heading to the kitchen. It's safer there!"

  Angelo felt his muscles tense as he shifted from relaxed to alert in an instant, like a cat spotting danger. He turned to Bill, trying to keep his voice steady despite the worry churning in his gut. "Head to the kitchen with the others. I'll check what's happening out there."

  Bill's face changed completely. Gone was the eager rookie – in his place stood someone determined to prove himself. He squared his shoulders and met Angelo's eyes without flinching. "Sorry sir, but I can't do that." His voice came out firm and clear. "I didn't join the police to hide while people need help. I'm coming with you, no matter what."

  Angelo felt a smile tug at his lips even as concern tightened his chest. The kid had guts – maybe too many. "Brave talk, rookie," he said, his voice softening. "But bravery without thinking is just asking for trouble. If you're coming, you stay behind me, do exactly what I say, and don't even breathe without permission. Got it?"

  "Crystal clear, boss." Bill gave a sharp nod, practically vibrating with nervous energy.

  They burst through the restaurant's front door into the cooling evening air. The smell hit them first – that sharp, electric scent of destruction that made their noses wrinkle. The town square had transformed into something out of a nightmare. Three glowing figures tore through everything like angry gods. Shops crumbled like sandcastles. Market stalls splintered into toothpicks. Worst of all were the people lying motionless among the wreckage.

  Angelo felt energy surge through him as his orange aura blazed to life, wrapping around him like a protective flame. Next to him, Bill had frozen in place. His face had gone pale as chalk as he took in the devastation.

  Blue appeared beside them in a swirl of azure smoke, looking as calm as ever despite the chaos. He placed a gentle hand on Bill's trembling shoulder. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said softly, "but we need you focused. Turn on your aura – you'll need that protection if things get ugly."

  Bill nodded stiffly, like a puppet on strings. A soft brown light flickered to life around him, making his eyes glow the same warm color.

  "Look at this, you Luminian scum!" The shout boomed across the square, dripping with hate. One of the attacking Aurons stood amid the wreckage, his face twisted into an ugly sneer. "This is just a taste of what's coming! Soon Luminia will fall, and Infernia will take back everything!"

  His cruel laughter echoed off the broken buildings. With a gesture, he sent a bolt of lightning crashing into a nearby shop. The explosion made the ground shake, sending chunks of brick and wood flying everywhere.

  Angelo pulled Bill behind an overturned fruit cart, the smell of singed apples mixing with smoke and dust. His eyes glowed orange as he studied their attackers, using his special vision to read their energy levels. What he saw made his stomach drop.

  "These aren't regular criminals," he muttered, jaw clenching tight. "They're Infernian terrorists – and they're a lot stronger than the usual thugs."

  Suddenly five police Aurons appeared, their colorful auras lighting up the darkening square like a light show. "Stop right there!" one shouted, voice ringing with authority. "You're surrounded! Give up now!"

  The terrorists just laughed, moving together like wolves getting ready to attack. Their eyes gleamed with cruel excitement as they sized up their opponents.

  Red materialized next to Angelo in a swirl of crimson smoke, looking angrier than Angelo had ever seen him. Gone was his usual joking attitude. "We can't just sit here doing nothing!" he snarled, hands clenching into fists. "Let's show these Infernian bastards what happens when they attack our city!"

  Angelo bit his lip hard enough to hurt, clearly torn. "Damn it Red, you know we can't," he said, the words coming out pained. "We're still suspended, remember?"

  Bill's eyes went wide as dinner plates. "Wait, what?" He looked between Angelo and Red in shock. "You're suspended? Since when? Why are we even out here then?"

  Red spun to face Angelo, practically shaking with rage. "Are you kidding me right now?" His voice rose with each word. "Look around! The city's burning! People are dying! And you're worried about being suspended? What happened to the Angel of Death who fought for justice?"

  Angelo looked desperately at Blue, who shook his head slowly. "I can't make this choice for you," Blue said, his voice gentle. "If you fight, I'll be right there with you. If you wait, I'll understand. Maybe the other officers can handle this. Whatever you decide, we're on your side."

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  Before Angelo could respond, the battle exploded into chaos. The lightning terrorist unleashed crackling bolts that forced the police Aurons to dodge and weave like acrobats. When some tried jumping to safety, the wind terrorist knocked them from the air like flies, sending them crashing down hard.

  The third terrorist – muscles bulging like he'd been inflated with air – charged at the fallen officers like an angry bull. One managed to roll away just in time. Another wasn't so lucky. The punch caught him square in the chest, sending him flying into a shop wall hard enough to crack the bricks. He crumpled to the ground and didn't move.

  Angelo studied the huge terrorist's movements, the way raw power seemed to roll off him in waves. "Force Auron," he muttered, a memory tugging at the back of his mind. "Reminds me of someone..."

  Blue's normally calm voice carried an edge of worry. "This is bad. That kind of power – it's like bringing a knife to a gunfight."

  But Red's eyes lit up like a kid seeing fireworks, practically bouncing with excitement. "Who cares if they're stronger? We're smarter! Come on Angelo, you always find a way. Put that brain of yours to work!"

  Angelo's hands tightened into fists as he watched, clearly struggling with what to do. The suspension didn't matter anymore – not with lives on the line. But rushing in without a plan could get them all killed. As screams and explosions filled the air, he knew he had to decide fast.

  Angelo chewed his lip, weighing their options. Finally, he gave a sharp nod. "Okay, we're doing this." He turned to Bill, who looked like he was trying very hard to be brave. "Bill! What kind of power do you have? Hey – Bill! Stay with me, rookie!"

  Bill jumped like someone had shocked him. "S-sorry sir! I use wind, like her." He pointed at the female terrorist, who was currently throwing police officers around like paper airplanes with blasts of air.

  Angelo's mind started clicking pieces together like a puzzle. "Wind could work. Here's your job: stay back, stay safe, but if you see a chance to knock them off balance? Take it. But listen carefully – your number one priority is keeping yourself alive. No playing hero, got it?"

  Blue stepped forward, his usual perfect posture showing tiny cracks of tension. "I might have an idea. It's risky – we'll need to move like clockwork. But it could give us an edge."

  Angelo met Blue's eyes, his face hard as stone. "Tell me. But understand this – these monsters crossed a line. They're not walking away from what they've done."

  Red's grin turned wild and hungry. "Now that's what I'm talking about! Let's make them sorry they ever set foot in our city!"

  Blue pinched the bridge of his nose like a teacher with a headache. "I know you're angry. We all are. But if we kill them, we lose any chance of finding out who sent them. We need information to stop the next attack."

  Angelo's hands clenched into fists, then slowly relaxed. "Fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "They'll live. But they're going to hurt. A lot. What's your plan?"

  "Allow me to outline our strategy," Blue explained, his tone precise as a professor at a lecture.

  "First, Red and I shall engage the Force Auron, as he represents the most significant threat. Red will employ his... unique talents to provoke and lead this opponent away from his allies. Once sufficient distance is achieved, Red will return to his smoke form and rejoin you, Angelo, while I maintain the Force Auron's attention through careful evasive maneuvers. During this phase, you and the remaining officers can focus your efforts on subduing the other two opponents. Upon their neutralization, we can combine our forces to overcome the Force Auron with superior numbers."

  A wrinkle appeared between Angelo's eyebrows. "You sure you can handle that mountain of muscle alone?"

  "Physical confrontation would be inadvisable given the disparity in our capabilities," Blue explained, his small smile carrying quiet confidence. "Instead, I shall employ strategic mobility to maintain his attention. My objective is merely to occupy his time until you can conclude your engagements with his associates."

  Angelo thought for a moment, then nodded. "It's dangerous, but it could work. How do you plan to get his attention?"

  "Acquiring his attention will be the simplest aspect of our strategy," Blue remarked, a hint of amusement touching his usually serious expression. "Red possesses an extraordinary talent for provoking even the most composed individuals into a state of complete madness. One might say it's his most refined skill."

  "Hey!" Red started to protest, then shrugged. "Actually yeah, that's totally fair. I'll make Muscles so mad he won't know which way is up!"

  Around them, the remaining police officers pulled themselves into a rough defensive line. Angelo took a deep breath, letting his power surge through him. Orange light wrapped around his body like a second skin made of fire. He launched himself forward with enough force to crack the ground beneath his feet, landing in front of the battered officers like a shield.

  The big terrorist looked Angelo up and down, muscles rippling like snakes under his skin. "Well, what do we have here?" he sneered. "A tiny hero come to die with his friends?"

  The woman terrorist's eyes slid over Angelo like oil. "Such a pretty face," she purred, her sweet voice making his skin crawl. "Shame we'll have to mess it up. Well, not that much of a shame."

  One of the police officers let out a shaky breath of relief. "Never thought I'd say this, but... thank god you're here, Angelo. We were about to become target practice."

  Without taking his eyes off the terrorists, Angelo replied, "Good to see you're still kicking, Jack. Let's keep it that way." His voice dropped low and dangerous as he addressed the terrorists: "Listen up, because you only get one chance. You are staring at the face of death. Surrender, turn yourselves in and make up for your crimes, or..." His smile held no warmth at all. "Well, let's just say I'm hoping you pick option two."

  The terrorists burst out laughing like he'd told the funniest joke ever. "This is great!" the lightning terrorist wheezed, pretending to wipe away tears. "Shorty thinks he can play in the big leagues!"

  The woman's grin turned hungry. "He is kind of cute," she giggled, never breaking eye contact. "I love breaking the cute ones."

  The force Auron's huge body shook with laughter that made the ground tremble. "Adorable! The little shrimp thinks he's a real hero. This'll be over quick."

  Suddenly Bill's voice rang out from behind his hiding spot, anger overtaking his fear: "You idiots have no idea who you're dealing with! That's the Angel of Death! You're not just in trouble – you're already dead!"

  Realizing what he'd done, Bill slapped both hands over his mouth and ducked down, cursing under his breath. Angelo closed his eyes for a second, frustrated that their cover was blown.

  The lightning terrorist laughed so hard he could barely breathe. "This keeps getting better!" he gasped. "The Angel of Death has his own little fan club! How cute!"

  Angelo's eyes snapped open, burning with such intensity they could have melted metal. His voice came out cold as winter midnight: "You've made your choice," he said, each word sharp as a knife. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Time for judgment."