08- MASTERY
The deal with Maya is sealed, but my mind is elsewhere. My money is growing, my power is expanding, but I'm not fooling myself—I'm still vulnerable.
Wealth can be stolen. Fortresses can be breached.
But true power? That's untouchable.
And I have it.
I just don't know how to use it yet.
--
Inside my Lagos fortress, the reinforced walls hum with a quiet sense of security. The underground storage is functional, the surveillance system active. But none of that matters if I'm weak.
I sit cross-legged in the empty space, my eyes closed.
"Ava," I murmur, "I need a training regimen."
> Analyzing unlocked abilities…
Pocket Space – Stable. Capable of storing and retrieving non-living matter instantly. No weight restrictions detected.
Gravity Control – Partially unstable. Small fluctuations detected in surrounding gravitational field. Requires fine-tuning.
Telekinesis – Raw but functional. Current strength limit: 50kg. Precision: Low. Energy drain: Moderate.
Recommended Training:
Pocket Space Mastery – Reflex-based retrieval and storage drills.
Gravity Stabilization – Controlled force application and levitation exercises.
Telekinesis Precision – Small object manipulation before progressing to larger masses.
I exhale. This will take time.
But time is a luxury I can't afford to waste.
---
The first thing I train is Pocket Space. It's my safest, most useful ability.
I start with simple tasks—pulling out a pen, tossing it in, pulling it back out. The sensation is strange, like slipping my hand into a void that isn't there.
After hours of practice, I start getting faster. A knife—out, in, out. A gun—loaded, stored, retrieved in a split second.
Then I push myself further. I store objects while moving, practicing seamless retrieval mid-action. If I can do this in a fight, I'd have an advantage no one could predict.
Next, I test the limits. I store crates, furniture, even a whole refrigerator. There's no weight limit. That means, in theory, I could store anything—even a car.
By the end of the day, I can summon anything instantly.
This? This is power.
---
Gravity is harder. It doesn't work like a switch—it's a force, constantly pressing down, shifting, pulling.
My first test is simple: reduce my weight.
I focus, directing my will at myself. The floor feels lighter beneath me. I push harder—suddenly, I'm floating.
Not flying. Floating.
I panic and the force collapses, slamming me into the ground. Hard.
Damn.
The next day, I start over.
This time, I take a different approach—small adjustments, not drastic ones. I lighten my steps, test my balance. By midday, I'm able to run faster, jump higher, and land softer.
By the third day, I can scale walls with controlled bursts of gravity shifts. It's not effortless, but it's progress.
By the end of the week?
I take my first step into the air.
Flying is still out of reach, but for now? I can jump like a god.
---
This one is the trickiest. Telekinesis isn't just about lifting objects—it's about feeling them.
I start with pebbles. At first, they shake but don't lift. Then they wobble, float, spin.
By the second week, I can lift a chair. By the third, I can crush one with a thought.
I learn how to grip multiple things at once—six different objects floating around me, shifting in formation.
By the fourth?
I can stop a knife in midair.
Now, I'm dangerous.
---
While I train, my second fortress—the one outside Lagos—nears completion. Unlike my city hideout, this one is different. It's secluded, isolated, and built for war.
I oversee the final touches:
Underground bunker expansion – Hidden tunnels, escape routes, reinforced steel plating.
High-tech security grid – Motion sensors, automatic defenses, emergency lockdown systems.
Armory installation – Stocked with weapons, explosives, and my own private cache.
This isn't just a home.
This is a kingdom.
I do the same for my Lagos fortress, ensuring both locations are impenetrable.
Ava helps me track material deliveries, contractor movements, and supply chains. Everything moves according to schedule.
By the time I'm done, I own two of the most secure locations in Lagos.
But security alone isn't enough.
Not when the shadows are watching.
---
The Shadows Stir
One night, as I finish my training session, my phone vibrates.
A message.
Unknown Number: They're watching you.
I frown. "Ava, scan the number."
> Tracing… Source Obscured. Message Sent from an Encrypted Line.
I check my security feeds. Everything seems normal.
But something feels off.
Then, another message.
Unknown Number: You're making too much noise.
My heart pounds. Someone out there knows what I'm doing.
And they're letting me know.
I stand, rolling my shoulders.
Someone thinks they can hunt me.
They have no idea what I've become.
---
The First Attack
The warning isn't empty.
The very next night, as I review the latest construction updates, Ava pings an alert.
> Intrusion Detected. Lagos Fortress. Perimeter Breach.
I freeze. Then I pull up the security feed.
Three men. Armed. Moving fast.
I don't panic. I don't call for help.
I step outside.
They spot me immediately. One raises a gun—
I twist gravity.
His feet slam into the ground, his body crumpling under the sudden weight. The others hesitate—too late.
With a flick of my fingers, I send one flying, his body smashing against a steel door.
The last man turns to run.
I don't let him.
Telekinesis grabs his leg, yanking him back. He hits the ground, gasping, struggling.
I walk over, crouching beside him.
"You made a mistake," I say quietly.
He shakes, staring at me with wide, terrified eyes.
"Who sent you?" I ask.
He doesn't answer.
I sigh, increasing the gravity around his arm—just enough to feel the bones strain.
"I'll ask again."
He cracks.
"Kamal."
I feel my stomach tighten.
I let go, standing. The man scrambles to his feet and runs for his life.
I let him.
Because now, I have a new problem.
Kamal tried to test me.
And I'm about to show him what happens when you bet against the future.
---