Auron Trinity

The silence in the dimly lit archive room was shattered by the crackle of Angelo's radio. "The situation is getting out of hand! We need more reinforcements!" The dispatcher's voice was tinged with panic. "Another water Auron has emerged on the other side of the city, taking advantage of our forces being focused on the current incident."

Angelo's eyes, still burning with the revelation of his parents' murder, narrowed. His aura flickered to life, casting an ominous orange glow across the rows of filing cabinets and dust-covered shelves. "Let's move," he said, his voice low and determined.

Moments later, Angelo was racing through the rain-soaked streets of Novaria. The city, usually a tapestry of neon lights and bustling nightlife, was eerily quiet save for the distant wail of sirens. As he propelled himself from one rain-slicked rooftop to another, each leap covering impossible distances, Angelo couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the current chaos and the festive atmosphere beginning to take shape around him.

Despite the late hour and the inclement weather, evidence of the upcoming New Light Festival was everywhere. Strings of unlit lanterns crisscrossed the streets, their colorful shapes swaying in the wind. Half-finished stages and pavilions dotted the squares and parks, their unfinished structures a reminder of the celebration to come. The sight of these preparations only served to heighten Angelo's sense of urgency and conflict.

As he neared the reported location, Red and Blue emerged in their smoke forms, their ethereal bodies barely visible against the dark, stormy sky. Without a word, they scattered in opposite directions, searching for any sign of the rogue water Auron.

It was Red who spotted the commotion first. Jets of water shot out from the corner of a building, followed by the panicked screams of fleeing civilians. The water Auron, taking advantage of the chaos elsewhere in the city, was robbing a nearby jewelry shop. The shattered window of the store reflected the flashing lights of a nearby New Light Festival banner, creating an unsettling juxtaposition of celebration and crime.

Red, impulsive as ever, didn't hesitate. He streaked towards the criminal, his smoke form blending with the night.

"Red, wait!" Angelo called out mentally, but it was too late. He and Blue raced to catch up, knowing all too well the trouble Red's rashness could cause.

Red materialized behind the water Auron, his body solidifying just long enough to unleash a devastating energy blast at point-blank range. The criminal was sent flying, crashing face-first into a wall with enough force to crack the bricks and send a shower of festival posters fluttering to the wet pavement.

"Ha! Too easy," Red crowed, his voice echoing in the now-silent street. "How do you like me now hahaha!"

But his victory was short-lived. The water Auron stood, his face contorted with rage. The stolen goods lay scattered around him, glittering in the dim light of the festival decorations.

"You little shit," the criminal snarled, his voice rough with anger. "You have any idea who you're fucking with?"

Red's response was equally crude, the two exchanging a barrage of insults that would make even the most hardened criminal blush.

Suddenly, without warning, the water Auron's eyes gleamed with malicious intent. He raised his hands, and the very rain around Red seemed to come alive. Countless jets of water, no thicker than needles but moving with incredible speed, pierced through Red's body from all directions.

Caught off guard, Red's form exploded like a burst balloon. His essence, now nothing more than crimson smoke, rushed back towards Angelo's body on the rooftop above.

The water Auron's gaze followed the retreating smoke, his eyes locking with Angelo's. Even in the darkness, the criminal could see the figure on the roof, outlined by a flickering orange aura, eyes burning like twin embers in the night. Behind Angelo, a large banner announcing the New Light Festival flapped in the wind, creating an almost surreal backdrop to the confrontation.

Irritation flashed across the water Auron's face. With a gesture, he launched a volley of ice arrows towards Angelo, the frozen projectiles glinting in the light of the festival decorations.

Angelo dodged with inhuman grace, leaping down to the street to face his opponent. They stood there, facing each other in the rain-soaked street, the tension palpable. Puddles reflected the colorful glow of festival lights, creating an oddly beautiful scene for such a grim confrontation.

Using his energy vision, Angelo gauged the internal energy of his opponent. While not entirely reliable – Aurons didn't store the energy they used within their bodies – it gave him a general idea of his opponent's strength. Angelo deemed this Auron as someone he could best in combat.

Straightening to his full height, Angelo fixed the criminal with a menacing stare. "You are now staring at the face of death," he intoned, his voice carrying easily despite the pounding rain. "Change your heart and surrender, or attack and face the consequences."

The water Auron chuckled, a sound devoid of any real mirth. "Well, well, looks like the legends are true. The stuck-up, overly dramatic asshole known as the Angel of Death is real." He broke into mocking laughter. "I honestly thought they were making it up to scare people off."

Internally, Red cursed, unable to emerge due to his body still being on cooldown, gathering energy after being destroyed. Angelo's face twitched with irritation at the mockery.

"I advise you to take me seriously," Angelo warned, his voice cold. "You have two choices: surrender now or strike me."

Blue's calm voice cut through Angelo's thoughts. "Come to think of it, what if they do neither? What if they don't surrender but don't attack us either? Do we attack them then? Will the laws protecting Aurons in the line of duty protect us if he is killed as a result? Hmmm..."

"Blue, this is really not the time," Angelo thought back, his irritation growing.

The water Auron's voice cut through Angelo's internal dialogue. "WELL? What's it gonna be? Come and get me, ANGEL OF DEATH!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the surrounding buildings and festival structures.

Conflicted, Angelo stepped forward. Blue's voice rang in his mind, "Angelo, calm down. If you attack him first, it could be problematic."

Red, still fuming from his earlier defeat, raged internally. "KILL THAT SON OF A BITCH! I WANT REVENGE!"

Angelo continued his approach, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "If you don't attack me, I'll take it as a surrender," he called out, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his mind.

Red's fury exploded in Angelo's head. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU PUSSY! DON'T YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO GIVE THIS BASTARD WHAT HE DESERVES? HE MOCKED US!"

Blue's calm voice cut through Red's tirade. "That's enough, Red. We both know you just feel ashamed you lost to him."

"SHUT. THE FUCK. UP. YOU BLUEBERRY!" Red retorted, his mental voice dripping with venom.

As Angelo closed the distance, he spoke again, "You're under arrest—"

The water Auron's face twisted with rage. "Under arrest? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!" he roared, charging at Angelo with two ice daggers gripped in reverse.

Angelo dodged with fluid grace, leaping forward. His voice, when he spoke, was ominous and final. "In that case, you have chosen death."

Red's bloodthirsty encouragement rang in Angelo's mind. "Give him hell! Avenge me!"

Blue, ever observant, noticed the water Auron's stance. "Careful, Angelo. He's attempting what took down Red. Wait for my signal, then charge forward... Now!"

Angelo surged forward, narrowly avoiding the jet streams that closed in on where he had been standing a moment before. The streams collided with a festival stage behind him, splintering wood and sending decorations flying.

"On my mark, move left just as you get close to him," Blue instructed. Angelo acknowledged silently.

As Angelo neared the water Auron, appearing ready to strike, he suddenly veered left. At the same moment, Blue emerged, moving to the right. The unexpected maneuver confused the water Auron, creating a perfect opening.

Angelo and Blue launched a barrage of energy blasts in a pincer attack. The water Auron, caught off guard, attempted to retaliate against Angelo. But thanks to their shared vision, Angelo saw the attack coming through Blue's eyes and dodged with uncanny precision.

"H-HOW?" the water Auron snarled, disbelief etched on his face.

The combined assault proved too much. The criminal collapsed to the ground, his aura flickering out. As Angelo approached, Blue returned to smoke form and retreated into Angelo's body. The rain continued to fall, mixing with the debris from their battle and the scattered festival preparations.

"S-spare me..." the water Auron groaned, his earlier bravado completely gone.

Angelo's gaze was cold and unforgiving as he looked down at his fallen opponent. "You looked into death's face, and your heart was unwavering. You are beyond redemption," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"W-Wait! I can still—" the water Auron began, but his plea was cut short as an orange beam of energy pierced his heart, silencing him forever.

As the rain continued to fall, washing away the evidence of the battle, Angelo stood motionless. The Angel of Death had claimed another soul, but the revelation from the archives still burned in his mind. This was just the beginning of a much longer, darker journey. Around him, the tattered remains of New Light Festival decorations fluttered in the wind, a stark reminder of the celebration to come and the darkness that lurked beneath Novaria's festive surface.