The Vasquez house was full of the warm morning smell of pancakes and toast.
Rosa was serving juice.
Darla and Freddy were arguing over syrup.
Mary sat close to Arin, their hands brushing secretly.
Gwen and MJ sat across, still competing for his attention.
For a moment, everything felt… normal.
Then—
"BREAKING NEWS!"
The TV volume blasted suddenly.
Billy grabbed the remote, turning it up.
The reporter's voice shook:
"A massive attack has struck downtown Philadelphia! Several buildings have collapsed under unknown energy blasts!"
The screen showed burning streets.
People running.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Children screamed.
Firefighters rushed into chaos.
Policemen shouted for evacuation.
And floating above the destruction—
A blurry figure with glowing energy.
Freddy's eyes widened.
"WHO—?!"
MJ covered her mouth.
Gwen's face went pale.
Mary dropped her fork.
Rosa froze mid-step, a bowl in her hands.
"Oh my God…"
Another explosion flashed on the screen.
BOOM!
People screamed again.
The reporter choked on fear:
"Authorities have no explanation—this is not a terrorist attack—this is something else—!"
Arin stood up abruptly.
His chair nearly toppled.
Mary grabbed his arm.
"Arin—! Where are you going?!"
But he didn't answer.
His heartbeat was loud enough to drown out everything else.
This is because of me.
He knew it instantly.
He's looking for Shazam.
He's looking for ME.
If he didn't act—
People would die.
More than people.
Families.
Children.
Mothers like Rosa.
Girls like Mary, Gwen, MJ.
His friends.
His lips tightened.
He couldn't—wouldn't—hide.
Not anymore even if he not fully prepared , he still has to go .
He turned toward the door.
"I'm going."
Rosa's voice trembled behind him.
"Arin—wait! It's dangerous—!"
Arin paused.
He turned his head slightly, giving her a calm look.
His eyes held something new—
Resolve.
Duty.
The fire of a guardian.
"I'll be fine," he said softly.
Mary stood up, voice breaking.
"Arin—please don't—!"
He looked at her gently.
"I have to.
It's because of me he's attacking the city.
So…" he took a quiet breath,
"…it's my job to stop him."
Gwen stood up too, her voice shaking.
"But you're just—"
"Not anymore," Arin said, eyes narrowed with determination.
He stepped toward the door.
Freddy whispered, trembling with awe:
"…You're going to fight him, aren't you?"
Arin nodded once.
Billy stared in shock.
"But—how—?!"
Arin opened the door.
And without turning back, he said:
"Because I am Shazam."
The room went silent.
Rosa dropped the bowl.
Mary gasped.
Gwen froze mid-breath.
MJ's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before anyone could say anything—
BOOOOM—!!
Another explosion shook the distant skyline.
Arin clenched his fists.
He stepped outside.
The wind hit his face.
He whispered the word that changed everything.
"SHAZAM."
Lightning roared down from the sky—
engulfing him in divine fire.
His clothes transformed into dark crimson and black armor.
Power surged through every vein.
In an instant—
The Shazam stood where Arin once did.
Eyes blazing with the power of gods.
He launched into the sky like a thunderbolt—
Straight toward the destruction.
Straight toward Sivana.
....
"SHAZAM."
—the sky answered him.
A bolt of divine lightning exploded downward with a deafening crack.
KRAAAAKBOOOOM!!
The entire street lit up like the sun.
Standing in the place … was not Arin.
It was a towering figure—
armor of deep red and black,
crackling with golden lightning,
eyes glowing with divine power.
The emblem on his chest pulsed with raw stormlight.
Shazam.
Mary whispered breathlessly:
"…Arin…?"
The hero in the armor turned slightly.
His eyes—still glowing but gentle—glanced back at them.
And in that moment, despite the supernatural power radiating off him…
They saw it.
The calm and the kindness in his eyes.
It was him.
It was Arin.
Mary stumbled forward, hand over her mouth.
"T-That's really… you…"
Her legs almost gave out.
Gwen gripped the wall.
"H-He's… a superhuman… he's—he's…"
MJ swallowed hard.
"That lightning… that wasn't some trick, was it? Arin… is Shazam?"
Freddy was vibrating like a fanboy on caffeine overdose.
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW HE GAVE OFF 'SUPERHERO ENERGY'! I KNEW IT!!
Guys, do you UNDERSTAND?!
SUPERHER JUST CAME OUT OF OUR HOUSE!!"
Billy felt his heart sink and rise at the same time.
"So he actually a super Hero.
There was awe in his voice.
Rosa stepped outside slowly, eyes trembling, hand over her heart.
Her voice cracked softly:
"Arin…
…"
And for a brief moment…
Shazam-Arin looked at her.
And his eyes softened—just enough for Rosa to feel a warmth that only she understood.
Arin Takes Flight
A distant explosion echoed through the city.
BOOOOOM—!
People screamed.
Smoke rose higher.
Sivana's laughter faintly echoed through the broadcast on TV.
Arin turned back toward the sky.
His voice boomed with calm thunder:
"Stay inside.
I'll handle this."
Mary reached out.
"Arin—please be careful—!"
Gwen took a shaky step.
"Come back alive…"
MJ's voice cracked:
"Don't you dare die on us!"
Rosa whispered with trembling lips:
"please Be safe, ..."
Arin gave one last look.
Then lightning surged around his fists.
His cape snapped in the wind.
And—
WHOOSH—!
He shot into the sky like a comet of thunder, the shockwave rattling windows as he disappeared across the horizon.
The family watched with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Their calm, gentle Arin…
The boy who they think was normal.
Was gone.
In his place—
A god of lightning soared to save the city.
And the entire living room whispered the same word:
"Arin…"