For the first time, Kael embraced the golden energy willingly.
Hair rising, eyes burning, fists glowing with crackling solar ki—he plowed through the Hive warriors like a thunderstorm given flesh. Even Conner watched in awe.
But then it started going too far.
Kael wasn't stopping. He crushed one drone's head. Then another. Then another. He couldn't hear Miss Martian's telepathic calls. Couldn't stop his fists.
Until Artemis shot an arrow directly into his shoulder.
The pain snapped him back.
He fell to his knees.
"I was gone," he whispered. "I was someone else."