Blink: Ethereal Fury

The Return

Benji's feet touched down in the heart of Tokyo, his senses immediately overwhelmed by the pulse of the city. It was a far cry from the brutal quiet of Everest, where each breath had carried the weight of isolation. Now, the cacophony of life surrounded him—traffic, laughter, and the murmur of conversations in a language that had once been familiar, but now felt distant. Tokyo hadn't changed, but Benji had. He stood taller, his shoulders broader, his presence commanding. His time away had sculpted him not only into a warrior but something more—a god among men, though the title weighed heavily on his soul.

The Oni building loomed ahead, its imposing structure a beacon of strength and a reminder of the past. Memories of his time with the team flooded back—those shared victories and losses. He could still picture Mira's light-filled hands and Daichi's swirling liquid metal, could still hear their voices echoing in his mind.

They didn't know he was back. They didn't know if he was even alive. Benji clenched his fists, pushing aside the guilt. He had left without a word, after all. He had needed space, to push his limits and refine his powers. Sentry Prime had nearly killed him, and that failure haunted him every day he spent in solitude.

But now? He was ready.

The sliding doors of Oni's headquarters parted as Benji approached. He stepped inside, the familiar cold air of the facility greeting him, along with the immediate tension of eyes turning in his direction. The staff froze, wide-eyed, unsure if what they were seeing was real. The boy they once knew had become unrecognizable—a figure carved from the essence of divinity.

"Is that...?" one whispered.

"Benji..." another said, breathless.

Ignoring the hushed murmurs, Benji strode forward. He knew where he needed to go—straight to the top, where Peacebringer and Kitsune would be. They had led Oni in his absence, kept the world turning while he was gone. He wondered what they'd think, seeing him now.

The elevator ride felt longer than it should have. Each floor ticked by, a countdown to the moment he'd face the team again. Would Mira and Daichi be there too? Would they still be angry at him for leaving, or relieved to see him back?

The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to reveal Oni's top floor, the strategic command center where decisions were made, and where heroes gathered in times of crisis.

And standing at the center of the room, in all their power, were Peacebringer and Kitsune.

Peacebringer, with his shimmering galaxy-like skin, a cosmic entity in human form, turned slowly, his glowing eyes locking onto Benji with an unreadable expression. His presence was overwhelming, as though the universe itself took note of his every move.

Kitsune stood beside him, her fox-like features sharp and intelligent, the ethereal aura of her kitsune spirit shimmering faintly in the air around her. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, calculating and cautious.

"Benji." Peacebringer's voice resonated with a depth that felt like the distant echo of stars colliding. "You've returned."

"I have," Benji replied, stepping forward, his voice steady, though the tension in the room was undeniable. "I've trained. I'm ready."

Kitsune's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotion—relief? Annoyance? It was hard to tell. "Two years," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Two years without a word. You left us, Benji."

He nodded. "I did. But I had to. After Sentry Prime, I wasn't strong enough. Not for you. Not for them. Not for what's coming."

"What's coming?" Peacebringer asked, though his gaze seemed to say that he already knew.

"Nemesis," Benji said, the name heavy on his tongue. The air in the room seemed to grow colder. "I can feel it. He's out there. Somewhere. And he's stronger."

Peacebringer and Kitsune exchanged a glance, and for a moment, Benji wondered if they'd dismiss him, or chastise him for his disappearance.

But then Kitsune's lips twitched into the faintest smile, though her eyes remained sharp. "You've grown," she said simply.

Peacebringer nodded, his cosmic gaze drifting to the city below. "We've been preparing for Nemesis's return," he said. "But we couldn't do it without you."

"I won't leave again," Benji promised. "Not until he's dealt with. Not until this is over."

Kitsune stepped forward, the light glinting off the fox mask that hung at her waist. "You've changed. But so have we, Benji. Don't think you'll shoulder this burden alone."

Benji let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged again. Like maybe, just maybe, he was where he needed to be.

But that nagging sense of foreboding, the shadow of Nemesis, still clung to him. He knew it wasn't over yet—not by a long shot.

"We'll need all the strength we can get," Peacebringer said, his voice like the echo of the cosmos. "If Nemesis truly returns, it will take everything we have to stop him."

Benji nodded, steeling himself for what was to come. "Then let's get to work."