Marvel: Evolutionary Emperor

The dawn chorus of prehistoric birds drifted through the camp. Kael Reyes rolled up his leaf-mattress, brushing dew from his shoulders. He breathed in deep, tasting the promise of a new day—and, somewhere in the back of his mind, the echo of futures yet unwritten.

_ _ _ _ _ _

He padded over to the fire pit, where a few warriors coaxed embers back to life. Suri was already there, squatting on her heels and patting a lump of ground tuber dough into a flat circle.

She glanced up, smiling brightly. "Kael! Me make breakfast."

Kael grinned. "Looks good, Suri." He sat and peeled off a bit of the soft flatbread, the heat still steaming from the stone slab. He bit into it—simple, earthy, warming.

"Not like spicy berry," he teased.

Suri hugged the dough close, nodding vigorously. "Berry make fire mouth." She mimed flames licking her tongue and then pretended to gasp and gulp from an invisible stream.

Kael laughed—genuine warmth in his chest. "Yeah, no more prehistoric hot sauce, please."

_ _ _ _ _ _

After breakfast, Kael led "drills" in the clearing. He called out footwork patterns and blocking motions; the tribe mirrored him, stumbling at first but improving with each round.

One young hunter lunged too soon and went sprawling. The fighters hooted with laughter across the clearing.

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Again. Focus on your balance, not the beast."

From the edge of camp, Zyanna watched quietly. When the drills wrapped, she joined Kael under the shade of a giant fern.

"You're pushing them hard," she said, folding her arms. "But they need it."

Kael wiped sweat from his brow. "I feel something coming—beyond Deviants. I need them sharper."

Zyanna's gaze softened. "Just don't turn them into soldiers, not people."

He nodded, glancing back as the warriors gathered water, laughed, and traded knives. "They're our family, too. I'm learning."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Later, Kael slipped away to the stream where he'd first tested his limits. He knelt and let cool water run over his fingers. In the surface's ripple, he glimpsed flashes—metal towers, roaring crowds, heroes wielding thunder.

He closed his eyes. It's just instinct… fragments of time I wasn't meant to have. He took a steadying breath. "Knowledge is a gift—and a burden."

No one else in camp would understand. No one else would share his secret edge.

_ _ _

Returning, Kael found Zyanna guiding the children in simple glyph-weaving on wooden toys. A little boy held up his carved boar, where a faint rune flickered like a heartbeat.

Kael crouched beside a shy girl clutching a wolf figurine. She looked up, hopeful. "Kael…draw magic?"

He tapped it gently. The rune flickered once more. "Magic's tricky, but you got spark."

Her face lit up, and Kael felt a warmth—this was why he led them, not just trained them.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As the sun dipped low, a scout burst from the trees, eyes wide. "Master Kael! Something…watching us. Big. Quiet."

Kael sprang up, sword in hand. "All right. Warriors, to your posts. No one leaves perimeter alone."

Zyanna murmured a ward, her robes glowing faintly.

The tribe lined the palisade, torches flaring against encroaching shadows. Kael stood at the forefront, the golden pulse beneath his skin steadying his breath. He swept his gaze across every warrior's determined face and spoke, voice calm yet unwavering:

"Tonight, we face whatever waits in those shadows. Together."

Under the pale moonlight, the Apex Legion held its ground—and Kael Reyes knew they were ready.