Chapter 35
Danny leaned against his window, his breath fogging the glass as he gazed into the cold, moonlit night. The yin energy in the air grew thicker, a silent, almost suffocating presence that pressed against him. Normally, this passive absorption of energy brought him strength and comfort, allowing his body to function without the need for physical sustenance. But tonight, the power felt hollow, a reminder of what he couldn't do—protect Star from her pain.
He clenched his fists, recalling the image of her tears, the sobs that had shaken her small frame as he tried to comfort her. It had been unbearable. In that moment, he realized just how deeply he cared for her—and for all the girls who had come into his life. He'd opened his heart to them, and they to him, creating bonds he didn't fully understand until now.
"I never thought it would hurt this much," Danny muttered, his voice barely audible over the hum of his ghostly aura. He'd heard songs, seen stories, and read comics about the pain of seeing someone you love suffer, but none of it compared to the real thing. The helplessness gnawed at him, anger simmering beneath his skin. He wanted to shield them from everything, to ensure their smiles never faltered, to banish every shadow of sorrow from their lives.
Unable to sit still, Danny took to the skies, patrolling the city in search of distraction. Flying always helped clear his mind. It gave him a sense of purpose, a reminder that he could protect others, even if he couldn't fix everything. He practiced his combat maneuvers, weaving through buildings and honing his skills. For a while, it worked. His mind was focused on movement, energy, and control.
Then he felt it.
A wave of oppressive energy rolled over him like a tidal wave, freezing him mid-air. Danny's breath hitched as his entire body seized up, trembling under the weight of the aura. It was pure evil, suffocating in its intensity, and it emanated from the direction of the hill on the outskirts of the city. His enhanced senses screamed at him to turn back, to flee, but his body refused to obey.
Fear gripped him like never before. It wasn't just fear for himself—it was fear for Star, Jazz, his parents, Sam, Paulina. His mind raced with thoughts of what they would do without him, how they would cope if he didn't return.
"I don't want to die," Danny whispered, his voice shaking. "What's happening to me?"
The response came from the calm, authoritative voice of his mentor, Naruto. 'It's my gift: aura reading. What you're experiencing is the result of your aura losing to your target's. This sensation tells you the truth—that your target could completely suppress you in battle.'
Danny swallowed hard. 'Are you telling me to give up on this enemy?'
'The deed is already done. Let the target leave.' Naruto's tone was steady, but his words carried a weight that Danny couldn't ignore. 'That enemy is one of the evils you'll face when you're at your strongest. Right now, he's far beyond you. He could kill you with a single breath.'