The room fell silent as Ethan's mother, presumed dead, emerged from the smoke, her presence casting an eerie shadow over the chamber. Marcus, stunned by her sudden appearance, struggled to regain his composure.
Marcus' voice quivered with a mix of fear and defiance. "You... How is this possible? I watched you die!"
Ethan's mother's eyes bore into Marcus, her voice laced with a cold determination. "You underestimated the power of a mother's love, Marcus. You thought you could extinguish me, but I have returned to protect my son."
Ethan, his genius shining brighter than ever, stood beside his mother, his normally introverted demeanor replaced by an air of quiet confidence. He glanced at his friends, Maya and the gang, who stood in awe of the unexpected turn of events.
Marcus, his arrogance morphing into desperation, attempted to regain control of the situation. "This changes nothing! I still hold the power. And you, Ethan, you are nothing but a pawn in my grand design."
Ethan's voice resonated with an icy resolve. "I may have been a pawn, Marcus, but I am no longer your puppet. I see through your lies and manipulations. The time for your reign of darkness is over."
With those words, Ethan's genius came into full bloom, his mind calculating every move, every possibility. He saw the weakness in Marcus' grand design, a flaw that would be his downfall.
As Marcus prepared to strike, confident in his power, Ethan unleashed his genius. He maneuvered with calculated precision, anticipating Marcus' every move and countering it with remarkable speed and accuracy.
The room became a battleground of minds and bodies, as Ethan's genius clashed against Marcus' brute force. Shadows danced along the walls, mimicking the intensity of the confrontation.
As the battle raged on, Ethan's friends, Maya and the gang, fought alongside him, their determination matching his own. The air crackled with tension, each move bringing them closer to victory or defeat.
But just when it seemed that Ethan had gained the upper hand, a shocking revelation shattered the silence. Marcus, with a twisted smile, revealed a secret he had kept hidden all along.
"You think you know everything, Ethan? You think you're the only one with secrets?" Marcus' voice dripped with malice. "But let me enlighten you. You were never meant to be a genius. Your abilities are not a product of nature but of... artificial manipulation."
Ethan's eyes widened with disbelief, his mind reeling from the revelation. The ground beneath him felt unsteady, as if the foundation of his very identity was crumbling.
Before he could fully comprehend the implications of Marcus' words, a blinding flash of light engulfed the room. The chapter came to a jarring halt, leaving Ethan and the readers suspended in a moment of darkness and uncertainty.
What did Marcus mean by artificial manipulation? What secrets lay hidden within Ethan's past? And how would this revelation reshape his journey, his alliances, and his sense of self?
To be continued...