GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The city of Ferrovale was in chaos. Skyscrapers groaned under the weight of destruction, their windows shattered and streets below littered with rubble. In the center of the turmoil stood a hulking figure, his body covered in jagged, emerald-green scales that gleamed in the sunlight. His fists were the size of car engines, and each stomp sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.

He was the Beast—a man cursed with uncontrollable transformations triggered by his unbridled emotions. Towering at over ten feet tall, he looked every bit the monster people feared. But beneath the rage-filled eyes, the man within—Luther Cain—was pleading for an end to the destruction he couldn't control.

A hundred yards away, another figure stood atop a flipped truck. His outfit was a patchwork of red and black leather, his mask covering all but the perpetual grin in his voice. Dual blades rested on his back, and a long-barreled pistol spun effortlessly in his gloved hand.

"Beast, buddy, you need a hobby!" the man called out. "Have you tried yoga? Or, I dunno, crochet? It's super calming, or so I've heard."

The Beast turned his glowing green eyes toward the voice, nostrils flaring. "Leave... me... alone!" he growled, his deep voice shaking the air.

"Sorry, can't do that!" the masked man replied, hopping down from the truck with a flourish. "Name's Jax Harlequin, but you can call me Jester. And I'm here to... uh..." He paused, tapping his chin theatrically. "Well, I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. Chaos? Destiny? Cheap thrills? Let's go with all of the above!"

The Beast roared, swinging a massive fist toward Jester, who somersaulted out of the way with agility that seemed almost supernatural. He landed in a crouch, one hand on the ground, the other pulling a blade from his back.

"Okay, big guy, let's try something different," Jester said, holding his blade up defensively. "I talk, you smash. Classic buddy dynamic. What do you say?"

The Beast didn't answer, instead charging forward with the force of a freight train. Jester barely had time to dodge, the ground cracking beneath the impact of the Beast's blow.

"Yikes! Someone skipped leg day!" Jester quipped, vaulting over the Beast and landing on his shoulders. He knocked on the thick, scaled head as if testing a door. "Hello? Anybody home? Blink twice if you're trapped in there!"

The Beast swung wildly, throwing Jester off with ease. The masked man rolled across the pavement but sprang to his feet, unharmed and grinning.

"Wow, you are just full of surprises!" Jester said, brushing off the dust. "But guess what? So am I."

He pulled a grenade from his belt, lobbing it at the Beast with a cheeky wink. The explosion sent smoke and debris flying, but as the dust settled, the hulking figure emerged unscathed, his green scales shimmering.

"Right," Jester muttered, tapping his head with a finger. "Note to self: grenades are more decorative than effective."

The Beast roared again, but this time, the sound was tinged with pain. He dropped to one knee, clutching his head. Jester hesitated, lowering his blades slightly.

"Hey, are you... okay?" he asked, his tone unusually serious. "I mean, not like 'you just destroyed half a city' okay, but... y'know."

The Beast didn't answer, his breathing ragged. For a brief moment, his massive form seemed to flicker, and Jester caught a glimpse of a human face—tired, terrified, and desperate.

"Help... me..." the Beast whispered, his voice barely audible.

Jester froze. The sarcasm and bravado drained from him as he stared at the trembling giant. For all his antics, he had a code—one that didn't include kicking someone when they were down.

"Alright, big guy," he said softly, sheathing his blades. "Let's figure this out together."

Before he could move closer, a deafening roar erupted from above. A sleek, black aircraft descended from the sky, its spotlights pinning the Beast in place. From the open hatch, a voice boomed through a megaphone.

"Luther Cain, surrender now, or we will use lethal force!"

Jester squinted at the aircraft, then looked back at the Beast. "Friends of yours?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

The Beast snarled, his rage reigniting. His body grew even larger, his green scales glowing ominously. Jester sighed, drawing his blades again.

"Figures," he muttered. "Guess it's just one of those days."

---

To be continued...