The flickering neon sign of "Crimson Guard HQ" buzzed above Ethan as he approached the familiar, if slightly depressing, building. Another low-level Rift run. Another day of feigning mediocrity. He adjusted the worn strap of his equally worn-out gear bag, the Resonance System humming faintly beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power he had to keep hidden.

He’d spent the last few days cautiously experimenting with the System, absorbing the essence of stray, corrupted rodents and insects he’d found in the city’s underbelly. Each tiny absorption brought a miniscule increase, a barely perceptible shift in his strength and agility. But even those fractions of improvements were enough to make the old Ethan, the one who struggled to lift a decent sized barbell, a distant memory.

Inside the HQ, the usual chaos reigned. Ascendants, a motley crew of individuals boasting everything from pyrokinesis to minor telekinesis, milled about, swapping stories, boasting about past victories, and grumbling about pay. He spotted Maya near the briefing board, her crimson hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, her sharp eyes scanning a report. He offered a tentative wave.

"Echo," she greeted, her voice neutral. She'd been… different since the Abyss. Quieter, more observant. He wondered if she suspected anything. "Ready for another stroll in the park?"

He forced a weak smile. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Captain Thorne, a hulking figure with a grizzled beard and a permanently suspicious glare, cleared his throat. "Alright, listen up, Guard. Rift 32-B just flared up again. Standard cleanup operation. Bunch of Gremlins and maybe a Hobgoblin or two. Echo, you're on point with Maya. Keep it clean, keep it quick, and let's get home before dinner."

Rift 32-B was located in the abandoned subway tunnels beneath the city, a place that smelled perpetually of damp concrete and despair. The journey down was uneventful, punctuated by the rhythmic clang of their boots on the metal stairs. Ethan carefully matched his pace to Maya, deliberately making his steps heavier than necessary, maintaining the illusion of his usual clumsy self.

Inside the Rift, the air grew thick with an acrid scent, and the temperature dropped noticeably. Gremlins, small, grotesque creatures with razor-sharp claws and a penchant for causing mayhem, swarmed in the tunnels. They were easily dispatched, even for a 'weak' Ascendant like Echo. He feigned a struggle, letting Maya take the lead, peppering the creatures with her expertly aimed arrows. Each shot was precise, deadly.

As they progressed deeper into the Rift, however, the frequency of the Gremlins increased, and they began to encounter larger, more aggressive specimens. The narrow tunnels amplified the chaos, making it difficult to maneuver. Ethan played his part, dodging attacks, occasionally landing a weak blow, letting the Gremlins swarm Maya.

Suddenly, a guttural roar echoed through the tunnels. A Hobgoblin, easily twice the size of a Gremlin, lumbered into view, wielding a crude club studded with rusty nails. Its eyes burned with malevolent intelligence. It roared again, swinging its club in a wide arc, sending dust and debris flying.

Maya cursed under her breath. "Shit. That's a Brute."

The Hobgoblin Brute charged, targeting Maya. She nimbly dodged the first swing, firing off a volley of arrows. Most bounced harmlessly off its thick hide, but a few found their mark, piercing its eyes and drawing a shriek of pain. The Brute roared in fury, its club aimed directly at Maya. She prepared to dodge again, but a loose rock underfoot caused her to stumble. The club whistled through the air, an unavoidable death sentence.

Ethan’s mind went blank. The pretense, the caution, the fear of exposure – it all vanished. He couldn’t let Maya get hurt. He moved without conscious thought, his body surging with a power he had barely begun to comprehend. He was faster, stronger, than he had ever been in his life.

He intercepted the club, catching it in his bare hands. The force of the impact reverberated through his body, but he held firm. The Brute’s eyes widened in surprise. It tried to wrench the club free, but Ethan’s grip was unshakeable.

He looked at Maya, his eyes radiating an intensity she had never seen before. “Get back!” he yelled, his voice a raw, unfamiliar growl.

Then, he unleashed a fraction of his power. He channeled the essence he had absorbed, focusing it into his grip. The club began to splinter, the wood groaning under the immense pressure. With a final, explosive burst of force, he shattered the club into a thousand pieces.

The Brute roared in disbelief, recoiling in shock. Ethan didn't give it a chance to recover. He lunged forward, his fist connecting with the Brute's jaw. The impact was like hitting a brick wall… a brick wall that shattered. The Brute flew backwards, crashing into the tunnel wall with a sickening crunch. It slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The tunnel fell silent. The remaining Gremlins, sensing the shift in power, scattered into the shadows. Maya stared at Ethan, her mouth agape, her bow forgotten in her hand.

Ethan stood there, panting slightly, the Resonance System humming in his ears. He looked down at his hands, disbelief warring with a growing sense of elation. He had done it. He had unleashed a portion of his power, and it felt… incredible.

He turned back to Maya, forcing a shaky smile. "You okay?"

Maya blinked, snapping out of her stupor. "What… what was that, Echo? That wasn't… you."

He swallowed, trying to regain his composure. "I… I don't know. Adrenaline, I guess. I just reacted."

She shook her head slowly, her eyes narrowed, studying him intently. "No. That was more than adrenaline. That was… power. Real power."

He knew he couldn't lie to her. Not anymore. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, you're right. There's something I haven't told you."

Before he could explain, a shout echoed through the tunnel. "What the hell happened here?" Captain Thorne stormed into view, followed by the rest of the Crimson Guard. Their faces were a mixture of shock and confusion.

Thorne stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Hobgoblin Brute. He then turned to Ethan, his eyes hardening. "Echo? What did you do?"

Ethan hesitated, unsure of what to say. He glanced at Maya, a silent plea for help in his eyes.

Maya stepped forward, placing a hand on Ethan's arm. "He saved my life, Captain. The Brute was about to kill me. He reacted instinctively."

Thorne wasn't buying it. "Instinctively? Echo? The same Echo who can barely lift a teacup? Don't insult my intelligence, Maya. Something's going on here."

The other members of the Crimson Guard began to whisper amongst themselves. Ethan could feel their eyes on him, a mixture of disbelief, envy, and suspicion.

He knew he couldn't hide it any longer. The secret was out. The change had been too drastic, too obvious. He had shown his hand, and now he had to face the consequences.

He straightened his shoulders, meeting Thorne's gaze. "It's true, Captain. I'm not the same as I was before." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I have… changed."

Thorne took a step closer, his voice low and menacing. "Changed how, Echo? Changed in a way that you haven't shared with your superiors? Changed in a way that might compromise the safety of the Guard?"

"No, Captain," Ethan said, his voice firm. "I would never do anything to harm the Guard. But I can't explain it right now. Not here."

Thorne's face was a mask of fury. "You will explain it right now, Echo. Or I'll have you restrained and brought back to HQ for interrogation."

The tension in the tunnel was palpable. The other members of the Crimson Guard watched with bated breath, unsure of what to expect. Ethan knew he was on the verge of crossing a line, of becoming an outcast. But he also knew he couldn't back down. He had to protect the Resonance System, protect his newfound power, and protect Maya.

"I can't, Captain," he said, his voice unwavering. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Thorne's hand moved towards his weapon. "Then I guess we'll have to do this the hard way."

The Crimson Guard tensed, ready to intervene. Maya tightened her grip on her bow, her eyes narrowed, ready to defend Ethan. The low-level Rift run had just turned into something far more dangerous. The fear of exposure he had been running from had just become his reality.