Marvel:Warrior

It had been a week and a half since Leon Bradley escaped from the lab, a week and a half of solitude in the desolate outskirts of Nagasaki. The city was a shell of its former self, a haunting reminder of the atomic bomb's catastrophic impact. Buildings lay in ruins, their structures twisted and crumbled, while ash blanketed the ground, suffocating any remnants of life.

In the shadow of this devastation, Leon found refuge in an abandoned cabin, its dilapidated walls barely standing against the elements. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the city, providing him a semblance of safety. With only the whispers of the wind and the occasional rustle of leaves for company, the weight of isolation pressed heavily on him.

His only companion was Lisa, a presence who had become his anchor in this new reality. "Leon," she would often say, her voice warm yet tinged with mystery, "I don't remember anything about who I am, but I know I'm here to look out for you."

To him, Lisa appeared as a normal person—her dark hair framed her face, and her expressive eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. They would spend hours talking, her presence soothing the ache of loneliness, yet there was an unbridgeable gap between them. She could sense the world around her but remained tethered to him, unable to interact with it directly. It was both comforting and unsettling.

Each morning, as the sun broke through the clouds, Leon would rise to the sound of Lisa's cheerful voice. "Time to make the most of another day, Leon!" she would exclaim, urging him to shake off the remnants of sleep.

Dressed in tattered clothing he had scavenged from nearby ruins, Leon ventured outside, determined to gather food and supplies. He navigated the remnants of a world that had been, moving cautiously through the ghostly streets. With each step, he felt the weight of a past he could barely comprehend.

"Be careful, Leon," Lisa warned, her expression shifting to one of concern. "Stay alert; you can't afford to let your guard down."

He nodded, his senses heightened. The eerie silence was broken only by the distant cries of wildlife. As he rummaged through the rubble of a nearby house, Leon found a few cans of food and some wild fruits, small victories that kept his spirits afloat. The struggle for survival was daunting, but with Lisa's encouragement, he pressed on.

"I can't believe you found so much!" Lisa exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "You're doing so well, Leon. Just remember what we talked about—you're strong."

Yet beneath the surface, Leon felt an unease growing. He had become aware of the powers awakening within him—super strength, incredible speed, and a durability that allowed him to withstand hardships without faltering. Healing came naturally, mending wounds that he barely registered. Still, he couldn't fully grasp the extent of his abilities, only knowing that he was different from who he once was.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange hue over the desolate landscape, Leon built a small fire outside the cabin, the flames flickering in the twilight. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he gazed into the dancing flames, the warmth bringing him a fleeting sense of comfort. But the solitude weighed heavily on his heart, and the world felt unbearably quiet.

"What if I'm not strong enough to survive out here?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You are strong, Leon," Lisa replied firmly. "You've already escaped the lab. Remember that! You can face anything that comes your way."

But as he prepared to retreat into the cabin, a sound shattered the stillness—a deep, guttural growl that reverberated through the air, sending chills down his spine.

"What was that?" he murmured, a sense of dread creeping into his thoughts.

"Stay calm, Leon. It might just be an animal," Lisa suggested, though her voice held a trace of worry.

Then came the unmistakable sound of something crashing through the underbrush—heavy and feral. The growl intensified, a primal sound that made his heart race. Instinctively, he grabbed a broken branch from the ground, wielding it like a makeshift weapon as he stepped outside.

The night air felt charged, electric with tension, and shadows danced menacingly around him. Just then, the creature emerged from the darkness—a massive beast, its muscles rippling beneath a matted coat. Its eyes glowed with a savage ferocity, locking onto him as the air thickened with impending danger.

"Leon, you need to move!" Lisa urged, her voice rising in urgency.

As the creature lunged forward, a primal instinct surged within him, igniting the dormant powers he had barely begun to understand. The ground trembled beneath him as he felt an overwhelming force awaken, a connection to something greater. Leon squared his shoulders, adrenaline surging through his veins as he prepared to confront the beast that threatened his fragile existence.

In that moment, he understood that his fight for survival was just beginning, and he was not going to back down.