Chapter 4

The night air was cool and crisp as I stood in the doorway of the abandoned house, gazing out at the darkened forest that had been my refuge. The events of the previous night played over and over in my mindâ€"the fear in the woman's eyes, the bullets ricocheting off my wings, the desperate escape into the sky. The world saw me as a monster, and I would show them what a monster truly looked like.

I took a deep breath, feeling the energy of my powers coursing through my veins, ready to be unleashed. My wings, with their dark red scales, flexed behind me, a testament to the strength I wielded. It was time to leave this sanctuary and embrace my destiny. I stepped out into the night, the door creaking shut behind me, and began my journey towards the nearby town where I would exact my revenge.

As I walked through the forest, the shadows seemed to whisper to me, urging me on. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie patterns on the ground. Each step I took brought me closer to the town, and with it, a growing sense of anticipation. I was Inferno, a force of nature, and tonight, I would show the world the true extent of my power.

The town was quiet when I arrived, the streets deserted under the pale glow of streetlights. The soft hum of electricity and the distant sounds of nightlife were the only indications that people were still around. I walked through the streets with purpose, my eyes scanning for any sign of movement. It wasn't long before I spotted my first targetâ€"a group of men loitering outside a bar, their laughter and crude jokes cutting through the silence of the night.

I approached them slowly, my wings tucked tightly against my back. One of the men noticed me and nudged his friends, their laughter fading as they turned to face me. "Hey, buddy, you lost or something?" one of them called out, his voice filled with bravado.

I stopped a few feet away from them, my eyes narrowing. "I'm exactly where I need to be," I replied, my voice cold and steady. Without warning, I raised my hand, summoning a ball of fire that crackled with intense heat. The men's eyes widened in shock and fear as the firelight danced across their faces.

"What the hell?" one of them exclaimed, stumbling backward. "You some kind of freak?"

A sinister smile spread across my lips. "You have no idea." With a flick of my wrist, I sent the fireball hurtling toward them. It exploded on impact, engulfing the men in flames. Their screams filled the night air, a symphony of agony and terror that fueled my resolve. The fire spread quickly, consuming the bar and everything around it.

I moved through the town like a specter, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake. Buildings erupted in flames, their wooden structures collapsing under the intense heat. People ran in all directions, their cries for help echoing through the chaos. I showed no mercy, my anger and frustration driving me to wreak havoc on anyone who crossed my path.

As I set fire to a small grocery store, I caught sight of a police officer approaching, his gun drawn. "Freeze!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear. "Put your hands up!"

I turned to face him, my wings unfurling to their full span, the scales glinting in the firelight. "You think you can stop me?" I taunted, my voice dripping with contempt. With a swift motion, I unleashed a torrent of flames, incinerating the officer before he could even pull the trigger.

The night was alive with fire and chaos, my powers unleashed in a fury of destruction. I reveled in the carnage, each act of violence feeding the inferno within me. The town was ablaze, a testament to my strength and the fear I could instill. I was unstoppable, a force of nature that no one could contain.

But as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, my rampage was interrupted by a sudden, powerful force. I had just turned to set fire to a hardware store when I felt a rush of air behind me. Instinctively, I spun around, my wings raised in defense, but I was too late. A fist, moving with incredible speed and strength, was hurtling toward my jaw.

---

The previous night's battle with the police had left me seething. I'd sought to protect, to help, but their fear and bullets had driven me to the edge. Now, I would show them what it meant to face Inferno.

I began my night of vengeance at the town's heart, targeting those who thought they could prey on the weak. My first targets were a group of men loitering outside a bar. Their laughter and crude jokes echoed in the still night air, drawing me towards them like a moth to a flame.

As I approached, one of the men noticed me. He nudged his friends, their laughter dying as they turned to face me. "Hey, buddy, you lost or something?" one of them called out, his voice dripping with bravado.

I stopped a few feet away, my eyes narrowing. "I'm exactly where I need to be," I replied, my voice cold and steady. Without warning, I raised my hand, summoning a ball of fire that crackled with intense heat. The men's eyes widened in shock and fear as the firelight danced across their faces.

"What the hell?" one of them exclaimed, stumbling backward. "You some kind of freak?"

A sinister smile spread across my lips. "You have no idea." With a flick of my wrist, I sent the fireball hurtling toward them. It exploded on impact, engulfing the men in flames. Their screams filled the night air, a symphony of agony and terror that fueled my resolve. The fire spread quickly, consuming the bar and everything around it.

I moved through the town like a specter, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake. Buildings erupted in flames, their wooden structures collapsing under the intense heat. People ran in all directions, their cries for help echoing through the chaos. I showed no mercy, my anger and frustration driving me to wreak havoc on anyone who crossed my path.

As I set fire to a small grocery store, I caught sight of a police officer approaching, his gun drawn. "Freeze!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear. "Put your hands up!"

I turned to face him, my wings unfurling to their full span, the scales glinting in the firelight. "You think you can stop me?" I taunted, my voice dripping with contempt. With a swift motion, I unleashed a torrent of flames, incinerating the officer before he could even pull the trigger.

The night was alive with fire and chaos, my powers unleashed in a fury of destruction. I reveled in the carnage, each act of violence feeding the inferno within me. The town was ablaze, a testament to my strength and the fear I could instill. I was unstoppable, a force of nature that no one could contain.

But as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, my rampage was interrupted by a sudden, powerful force. I had just turned to set fire to a hardware store when I felt a rush of air behind me. Instinctively, I spun around, my wings raised in defense, but I was too late. A fist, moving with incredible speed and strength, was hurtling toward my jaw.