Clash in the Streets

Chapter: A Bumpy Ride Back To Reality

The bus rattled along the highway, the rhythmic hum of the engine a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of thoughts racing through James's mind. He leaned back in his seat, staring out the window as the New York skyline emerged on the horizon, its towering buildings standing tall against the setting sun. But despite the familiar sight, everything felt different—heavier.

Beside him, Rebecca fidgeted with her phone, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I still can't believe you went back to that cave," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

James turned to her, the memory of his encounter with the female monk still vivid. "I know. It felt like I was stuck in some kind of cosmic video game. The orb was glowing, and she said I was 'chosen' for something."

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Chosen for what? To be a lightning rod for crazy shadow creatures?"

"Apparently," he replied, chuckling lightly. "I also learned about this guy, Elias Kain. The monk warned me about him. Said he was bad news."

Rebecca's eyes widened. "Wait, that name sounds familiar. The cop who questioned me—he mentioned someone named Kain too. Said he's linked to some shady stuff in the city."

"Guess we're both in over our heads," James said, a twinge of unease settling in his stomach.

"At least you got some clarity on the situation," Rebecca added, trying to keep the mood light.

They exchanged glances, the unspoken worry lingering between them. This was bigger than either of them had anticipated, and they were in it together.

"So, that monk... Her name is Elaria?" Rebecca broke the silence, remembering her own encounter with the mysterious figure. "The Guardian of the Sanctuary. No wonder she was so cryptic."

James couldn't help but chuckle at that. Even though he was feeling a bit low and worried about the mess they were in, Rebecca's humor offered a welcome distraction. Knowing that things like this existed right under their noses was a wake-up call for both of them.

"Just think," Rebecca said, her smile a mix of reassurance and mischief. "One minute, we're just two regular people in New York, and now we're entangled in some mystical conspiracy. Next, you'll be wearing a cape and fighting off monsters, while I sit back in my chair writing articles about you!"

James laughed. "I'm not sure about that. I transform, remember?"

"Or a turtleneck. Very fashionable," she teased, playfully ignoring him.

Their banter lightened the mood, and for a moment, it felt as if everything would be okay. But as the bus rolled along, the weight of their situation returned, creeping back in.

Suddenly, the bus driver slammed on the brakes, the screeching sound piercing through the light-hearted atmosphere. James and Rebecca lurched forward, their bodies propelled against the seats in front of them.

"Whoa! What the—" James shouted, his heart racing.

The bus careened to the right and crashed violently into a lamppost with a loud CRUNCH. Metal crumpled, glass shattered, and chaos erupted inside the bus as passengers groaned and struggled to regain their bearings.

"Is everyone okay?" the driver shouted, his voice laced with panic.

"No thanks to you, fucktard!"

James blinked, dazed but unharmed. He glanced at Rebecca, who was rubbing her shoulder with a pained expression. "You okay?" he asked, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Yeah, just a little sore. Not my ideal way to end a day of mystical adventures," she replied, managing a weak smile.

As the passengers began to exit the bus, James and Rebecca followed suit, stepping onto the sidewalk and surveying the damage. Groggy people stumbled out, some clutching their heads, while others shook off the shock of the abrupt stop.

James's relief was fleeting as he scanned the wreckage. The air was filled with the sounds of groaning passengers and broken glass. But then he saw him—A man with dark hair and piercing eyes, now looming over them with a malevolent grin.

"Yes?" James muttered, confused by the sudden proximity of this man. Rebecca felt a chill run through her; the man didn't appear friendly. "Is something wrong?"

"I've been looking forward to this moment, Shazam," Kain said, his voice smooth and taunting as he lifted James off the ground by his throat.

Rebecca's eyes widened, her breath hitching in her throat as she connected the dots. Without thinking, she lunged at Kain, trying to pull his arm away from James, but he merely flicked her aside, sending her sprawling across the ground, unconscious.

"NO!" James roared, rage igniting within him like wildfire.

"Such weakness," Kain mocked, tightening his grip. "You think you can play hero? You're nothing without your powers. And they will soon be mine!"

The grip around James' throat tightened, but the fury in his heart dwarfed that pain. He felt a surge of power, a crackle of energy igniting in his core. "Shazam!" he shouted, and in an instant, lightning struck him from above.

Kain was flung back toward the bus, crashing into it and pushing the vehicle back several feet. James stood, transformed into the powerful form of Shazam, radiating strength and defiance.

Elias grinned, dusting himself off as if the attack had been nothing more than an inconvenience.

"So, you can fight," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Before he could finish his sentence, Shazam closed the distance, delivering a punch that connected with Kain's jaw, sending him flying into the sky like a rocket.

With a determined roar, Shazam launched after him, soaring into the air. They clashed high above the city, the two figures silhouetted against the sun, a battle of might and magic playing out in the skies over New York.

---

Clash in the Streets

The moment James—Shazam—took to the sky, it was like a storm ripped through New York. The air boomed as lightning crackled behind him, and his fists clenched so hard sparks ran down his arms. His heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the pressure building inside him—like a balloon on the verge of popping.

And it all came down to one thing: Elias Kain hurt Rebecca.

He didn't think. He didn't hesitate. He just attacked.

With a thunderous roar, James rocketed toward Kain. His punch connected with Kain's jaw—BAM!—and the sorcerer shot backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the side of a coffee shop. Bricks exploded everywhere, windows shattered, and people on the street screamed and ran for cover.

James didn't stop. He chased Kain through the wreckage, grabbed the villain by the collar, and hurled him across the street. Kain's body smashed through a parked car, flipping it over with a loud metallic screech.

A crowd was gathering now, because of course they were. Phones out, people recording, murmurs spreading like wildfire:

"Holy crap, who's the guy in red? A robot made by Stark?"

"Nah, he looks human!"

"Yo, is that magic? That's magic, right?!"

---

Rage Unleashed

Kain staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth, his face twisted into something between amusement and annoyance. "Not bad," he said, cracking his neck like a fighter warming up. "Didn't think you had it in you, tech guy."

James loomed over him, fists glowing with lightning. "I don't know why you're coming after me like some crazy ex, but this time? You really screwed up."

Without missing a beat, James grabbed Kain again, lifted him into the air, and slammed him into the pavement so hard the street split beneath them.

KRAKOOM!

Cars skidded to a halt, horns blaring. Pedestrians scrambled for cover, ducking behind whatever they could find—cars, benches, dumpsters. It was chaos. The sound of police sirens filled the air, but the officers knew better than to rush in. They formed a perimeter instead, watching in disbelief as two superhumans tore the streets apart.

One officer muttered, "We got two superpowered lunatics wrecking the city, and we're supposed to just… stand here?"

His partner shook his head. "What do you wanna do? Ask them politely to stop?"

James's entire focus was locked on Kain. Another punch landed—this one straight to the gut—sending Kain sliding across the asphalt.

For a second, James thought he had him on the ropes. Thought maybe this fight wouldn't be as hard as it looked. He was wrong.

---

Luke Cage's POV

Luke had just stepped out of a corner store, a six-pack of beer in one hand and a bag of chips in the other, when the ground shook beneath his feet. At first, he thought it was construction or maybe the subway rumbling beneath the streets. But when the air erupted with the sound of a building's facade crumbling and debris flying across the street, Luke knew something was off.

He looked up—and immediately regretted it.

Two figures were locked in a brawl in mid-air, throwing punches that sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. Every time one of them landed a hit, cars skidded from the impact, and glass shattered from windows. One dude was crackling with lightning, muscles bulging like some jacked-up Olympian, and the other? Dark energy swirled around him, like shadows were crawling over his skin, twisting and shaping into sharp tendrils.

"Ah, crap," Luke muttered, setting his bag down carefully on the sidewalk. He folded his arms, trying to make sense of what the hell he was watching. "Who's the good guy here? I hope there is one."

He squinted, trying to spot something—anything—that would tell him what side he was supposed to root for. The guy with the lightning had that over-the-top hero vibe, but the way he was swinging fists and slamming the other dude through buildings? That wasn't exactly textbook superhero restraint.

The other one—dressed like he'd just crawled out of a nightmare—was throwing magic left and right, laughing like he was having the time of his life. Luke's instincts told him that guy was bad news. Real bad. The problem? The way things were going, he wasn't sure if the lightning guy was gonna last long enough to be a hero.

The street was chaos—people running, screaming, some just standing frozen with their phones out, recording the madness. A fire hydrant had burst, water spraying everywhere, and cars were abandoned in the middle of the street like some post-apocalyptic movie scene.

Luke clenched his jaw. He knew he was strong. Strong enough to throw guys through walls, take bullets like they were nothing, and handle whatever came his way. But this? This was a whole different level of crazy. Flying. Freaking. Magic.

Even he doubted he'd stand a chance in a fight like that.

Just as another blast of energy shook the street, sending a wave of debris flying toward a crowd of people, Luke's instincts kicked in. "Aw, hell."

He jumped into action, shielding a group of bystanders with his body, the rubble bouncing off him like it was nothing. "Y'all need to move. Now!" he barked, waving them down the block.

As the people scattered, Luke looked back up at the sky, where the two fighters were trading blows. For a split second, it looked like the lightning guy—whoever the hell he was—had the upper hand. But that was short-lived.

Luke exhaled, shaking his head. "Man... this city's never boring." He knew one thing for sure—whatever this fight was about, it wasn't gonna end quietly.

He just hoped it ended with the right guy on his feet.

---

Kain's Counterattack

Just as James lunged for another blow, Kain smirked.

With a flick of his wrist, Kain opened a glowing portal directly in front of James. Before he could stop himself, James was sucked through it—and reappeared thirty feet in the air.

"Oh, come on!" James yelped, flailing like a kid on a rollercoaster drop. Gravity kicked in, and he plummeted, slamming into the hood of an SUV. Metal groaned beneath him as the vehicle crumpled like a soda can.

The crowd gasped, half of them still holding up their phones to film. Someone shouted, "Yo, somebody help him!" but no one actually moved.

James pushed himself off the wreckage with a groan. "Okay… Ow. That hurt." He wasn't invincible—at least not in the way he thought he'd be. The impact still stung.

Before he could gather himself, Kain stepped through another portal, right behind him.

"See, that's the problem with you, Champion," Kain said, his voice annoyingly calm. "You have all this power, but no idea what to do with it."

WHAM!

Kain's fist, glowing with mystic energy, smashed into James's ribs. James staggered, clutching his side. Before he could recover, Kain sent a burst of glowing orange energy at him—a concussive blast that hit like a freight train.

James tumbled through the street, rolling across broken glass and chunks of debris. He groaned, struggling to stand. This wasn't like the movies.

His body felt heavy. His muscles screamed in protest. And Kain? Kain looked like he was just getting started.

---

[ Marcus's Apartment ]

Marcus sat frozen on the couch, controller still in hand, his game long forgotten as the TV screen displayed the impossible.

"... No way," he whispered, leaning forward, his heart hammering in disbelief. The news anchor's voice was a blur in the background as shaky live footage captured the chaos unfolding downtown.

Right there, in high definition and zero room for misinterpretation, was James. Not just James—Shazam. In his full, red-suited, lightning-bolt-wearing, freakishly powerful form. And Marcus couldn't believe what he was seeing.

James—his James—was flying. He punched some creepy dude through a car, and then got slammed into a bus.

Marcus stared, slack-jawed, as James tried to get back up. Kain sucker-punched him into the ground.

"Bro... James is getting his butt-kicked."

He fumbled for his phone, fingers shaking, and dialed James's number. Straight to voicemail.

"Oh my God," Marcus muttered, running a hand down his face. "This is real—this is actually happening."

He felt his stomach churn as another punch sent James skidding across the pavement, the crowd gasping in the background of the broadcast. Marcus felt useless sitting there. What was he supposed to do? Run out there and help? He couldn't punch a wizard!

All he could do was sit here, helpless, as his best friend got tossed around like an action figure on live TV.

---

Trash-Talking and Cheap Shots

"You really thought you could beat me, huh?" Kain's grin was wolfish, and he paced like a cat playing with a mouse. "I mean, it's adorable. This big, angry tech store employee with his fancy god powers, throwing punches like that's all it takes."

James wiped blood from his lip and glared. "Yeah, well, I'm still on the learning curve here."

He threw a bolt of lightning at Kain—BOOM!—but Kain twisted his hands in a graceful arc, summoning a shimmering shield of energy that absorbed the blast.

"Nice try," Kain said with a chuckle. "But seriously, you should've stayed home."

With another flick of his hand, Kain conjured a portal beneath James's feet. WHOOSH!

James barely had time to curse before he was falling again—this time straight down onto the roof of a bus. The metal crunched beneath him, the windows shattering on impact.

James groaned, rolling onto his back. "This is not going well..."

---

Rebecca blinked, slowly stirring awake, her head throbbing from the impact of Kain's earlier attack. Everything felt heavy—her limbs, her thoughts, even the air.

As her eyes adjusted to the chaos around her, she noticed the wreckage. Broken glass, overturned cars, and the distant wail of sirens. Her pulse quickened. What the hell happened?

She shifted slightly, groaning as the pain in her ribs protested. Then her gaze lifted— and she froze.

There, in the sky, was James.

Flying.

"What the actual—" Rebecca's mouth dropped open as she watched her boyfriend—no, scratch that, her superhero boyfriend—blast through the air, throwing punches at a man covered in swirling magic.

It didn't take her long to figure out what was happening. He was fighting Kain. And James, for all his new muscles and Godly lightning bolts, was getting his ass handed to him.

Rebecca winced as Kain flung James through a car, smashing it to pieces. The sheer impact made her heart drop.

"My boyfriend's getting wrecked..." she whispered, disbelief creeping into her voice.

She tried to stand, but everything spun. She managed to lean against a nearby lamppost, forcing herself to focus. James was back on his feet now, squaring up with Kain again. There was something almost surreal about seeing him fight like this—as Shazam.

"C'mon James..." She whispered, willing him to stay up, to win. Please don't get yourself killed.

---

Coulson adjusted his suit jacket, narrowing his eyes as he stood near the police barricade. A chaotic mystical brawl wasn't exactly what he thought he would be walking into today.

He squinted at the figures battling above the ruined street. One of them was Elias Kain. Kain—a suspect in SHIELD's investigation into the disappearances around New York and a former member. He'd been elusive for weeks, avoiding every lead Coulson's team managed to chase down.

And the other one?

The other one was...new.

Coulson's brow furrowed as he observed the young man in the red suit—Zeus, maybe? If the lightening bolt on his chest meant anything. Every few seconds, the man launched devastating attacks, only to get slammed back down by Kain's more calculated, magic-based counterstrikes.

Coulson took a deep breath, rubbing his temples. "I'm not paid enough for this," he muttered under his breath.

He tapped his earpiece. "This is Coulson. I am on scene. And, uh..." He hesitated, watching as Kain conjured another portal and launched the kid through it like a ragdoll. The kid landed hard—again—and stumbled to his feet. But somehow, he wasn't giving up.

"I'm looking at two superpowered individuals," Coulson continued, keeping his tone neutral, though his mind was racing. "One of them is definitely Elias Kain. The other one... I don't know yet, but he's getting his teeth kicked in."

The SHIELD agent beside him shifted nervously. "Backup?"

"Backup won't matter," Coulson replied dryly, watching Kain slam the guy into a bus. "We could call in a strike team, but they would just get in the way."

Coulson had seen a lot in his career—Green Men on Gama-Steroids, super-soldiers, and Stark in a flying suit. But this? This was something else.

"Let's hope the guy figures out what the hell he's doing," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Because if he didn't? This was going to get a lot worse.

---

In Over His Head

James rolled off the bus, landing awkwardly on the street. His whole body ached. Every punch hurt. Every hit stung. For all the strength and speed the gods gave him, it was becoming painfully clear that it wasn't enough. Not without knowing what the hell he was doing.

He was losing.

And worst of all? Kain knew it.

"Scared yet?" Kain taunted, his voice like a blade dragging across stone. He casually stepped through another portal, appearing right in front of James. Before James could react, Kain unleashed a series of precise strikes, each blow glowing with magic.

WHAM! CRACK! BOOM!

The hits came fast and hard. James tried to block, but it didn't matter—Kain fought with precision, like he'd done this a thousand times. James was just a kid swinging wild.

Another punch landed square in James's jaw, and this time he hit the pavement hard, gasping for breath.

"You don't get it, do you?" Kain said, crouching down beside him. "This power isn't a gift—it's a curse. And the gods? They chose you? A kid with no clue how to handle it?" He scoffed. "Pathetic."

---

A Sudden Exit

James wiped blood from his lip and felt a rush of anger, but his strength was fading. He could feel Kain's overwhelming power pressing down on him like a vice. Maybe he was right. Maybe he really didn't know what he was doing.

Just as Kain raised his hand for the finishing blow, a golden portal opened behind James.

"What the—" Kain barely had time to react before Elaria stepped through, grabbing James by the arm.

"Time to bail, Champ," she whispered.

Before James could argue, Elaria pulled him through the portal, and in a blink, they were gone.

Kain stood alone in the wreckage, his fists clenched. His jaw tightened as the glowing remnants of the portal faded away.

"This isn't over," he muttered, his eyes burning with hatred.

----

Chapter ends...