Chapter 20: Awakening
David's senses heightened as a surge of energy coursed through him. He saw every detail with crystal clarity, the dust particles floating in the alien atmosphere, the shimmering heat radiating off the alien soldiers, the glint of their metal weapons. Everything slowed, giving him precious moments to think.
Suddenly, he felt a shift, a new awareness spreading through him. He could feel the electromagnetic waves dancing around him, the subtle pulses of energy flowing through the alien spaceships overhead and the metallic minerals beneath his feet. He reached out, not with his hand but with his mind, and felt the pull and push of metals, an irresistible force that he could control. His mind was alive with new sensations, alive with new possibilities.
His body crackled with electricity, energy dancing in arcs across his skin. The power within him sparked and surged, responding to his will. He felt the beat of radio waves, the soft whispers of communication flowing through the air. With a thought, he found he could tap into alien frequencies, sifting through unfamiliar topics and encrypted signals.
The sensation was intoxicating, the raw power at his fingertips nearly overwhelming. He could generate electricity, control it, shape it to his will. The alien technology around him responded to his call, lighting up as they received power or falling silent as they were drained. His body was a living generator, a storm of electricity waiting to be unleashed.
And unleash it, he did.
With a mighty shout, he released the pent-up power, sending a wave of electricity arcing out from his body. The air crackled and sparked, the ground beneath him charred and blackened. The metal weapons the aliens wielded were ripped from their hands, drawn into the air by his magnetic command.
The battlefield erupted in chaos, alien soldiers thrown back by the sheer force of the blast. They twitched and spasmed, their bodies unable to withstand the onslaught of electricity. It was a terrifying sight, one that made David realize just how dangerous his new powers could be.
And yet, through it all, Billy watched from the sidelines, his face a picture of stunned amazement. His lips moved, barely audible over the din, but David heard him clearly. "What the hell... did he awaken another super power?"
A jagged piece of debris, shredded from a nearby alien ship, shot through the air, spinning wildly as it hurtled towards Billy. With a calmness that seemed out of place in the chaos, Billy didn't even flinch as the debris slammed into the ground, mere inches away from him.
David's strength finally gave out and he collapsed onto the scorched earth. He felt drained, the intensity of his power awakening leaving him exhausted and weak.
Billy was by his side in an instant. "We're getting out of here," he said, his voice firm. He held up his watch, and a portal sprung to life. "And you're going to explain to me what's going on with your powers. You said you could only copy, but that looked like an awakening."
And with that, Billy pulled David through the portal. As soon as they stepped through, they were back in Billy's living room, leaving the chaos of the alien battlefield behind them.
David woke up with a jolt, the chaotic memories of the alien battlefield flooding back to him. He saw Billy lounging on a chair across the room, his eyes focused on David.
Billy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You've been surprising me all day, David. First, your power... and then what you did on that battlefield..."
David sat up, rubbing his temples. "What do you mean?"
Billy sighed, rubbing his temples as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Okay, David, here's the deal," he began. "Omega 6 categorizes people with superpowers into different threat levels. There are the usual suspects, you know, the ones with physically offensive powers like your family, the Jupiters, as well as the Silvers, the Novas, the Imperials, and those Arcanian Royalty that allied with Omega 6 a couple hundred years back."
His eyes darkened a bit as he continued. "Then we have the psychics, those who can read minds. Most of them are probably working for Omega 6. But there's a category of people that Omega 6 truly fears. Those with powers that... disrupt the balance of things."
He paused for a moment, a distant look in his eyes. "There was once a boy who could bring his imagination into reality. Such a power, while it may sound like a blessing, became a curse. Omega 6 thought about the future ramifications, the chaos such a power could bring if left unchecked. So, they decided to kill him, for the so-called 'greater good'."
David could feel a chill creeping up his spine as he listened to Billy's words. As an author, he had a clear understanding of how ruthless Omega 6 could be, but hearing it first-hand from Billy made it all the more real.
"The threats at that level," Billy continued, "are classified as 'Balance Breakers'. Powers that can tip the scales to an extent that terrifies Omega 6. And I believe, David, with the power you just displayed... you might just be on the verge of joining that category."
David replied, a hint of frustration in his voice, "This all happened because I copied your Plausibility power in the first place. It amplified the chances of awakening a power... and now look where it got me. On the brink of becoming a 'Balance Breaker'."
Billy chuckled lightly, "You said it yourself, how dangerous my ability was. So, I suggest you 'un-copy' it quickly. I don't want you accidentally awakening another power and end up destroying the world." He ended his sentence with a jovial wink, as if to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
With a few blinks of his eyes, David pulled up his own status menu. He navigated quickly to his 'Superpower' section, and found 'Plausibility (Unique)' listed there. Without any hesitation, he clicked on the option 'Discard.' Instantly, he could feel the foreign energy leaving his body, the sensation like a swift, cool breeze passing through him
Status Window
--------------------------------
Name: David Jupiter
Title: Jupiter Heir
Level: 13
Strength: Superhuman (31)
Agility: Superhuman (23)
Intellect: High Human (10)
Super Powers:
- Author Authority (Ex.lv2)
- Electromagnetism (Awakened)
Mantling:
- Inspired by Billy Ray "Trainwreck" [Danger Sense] (Common)
- Inspired by Billy Ray "Trainwreck" [Plausibility] (Discarding...)
Character Mantle Slots: 1
--------------------------------
"Plausibility (Unique): Discarding..."
Upon discarding, the text faded away leaving an empty slot. His 'Plausibility' superpower had been removed successfully.
David realized the scope of his new power, but he also understood his position in the larger scheme of things. The world was full of superpowered beings, gods who could manipulate matter and destroy realities. Though his newly awakened power of Electromagnetism was impressive, he knew it was insignificant compared to what some others could do.
Keeping a low profile was important right now, especially in relation to Omega 6. As far as they were concerned, his only awakened power was still Jupiter's Lightning. The revelation of his new power could wait, at least for now.