09- LESSON
Kamal.
The name sits heavy in my mind. The man who gave me my first real taste of the underground world just tried to have me killed.
I should've expected it.
People like him don't trust new blood—especially new blood that moves too fast, that knows too much. I was an asset, but now? Now, I'm a threat.
And Kamal just made the biggest mistake of his life.
---
The Rules of the Game
I sit in my Lagos fortress, my mind running through the situation. Kamal isn't just some thug—he has reach. Contacts. Men willing to kill for him.
I could disappear, go off the grid, but that would be weakness. And weakness invites more predators.
I could strike back, wipe him off the board, but that would send the wrong message. If I start a war now, I'll burn too many bridges before I've even crossed them.
No. This needs to be handled differently.
I need to send a message—loud, clear, and undeniable.
And I know exactly how.
---
Setting the Trap
The next day, I make the call.
Maya picks up on the first ring. "I heard you had visitors last night."
"So you knew?" I ask, keeping my tone neutral.
A soft chuckle. "I make it my business to know. Kamal is testing you. He wants to see if you'll fold or fight."
"He's about to get his answer."
Maya hums in approval. "And how do you plan to handle it?"
"I need him vulnerable," I say. "A situation where he can't control the outcome. Can you arrange a meeting?"
There's a pause, then: "The Vault. Tomorrow night. I'll get him there."
I nod. "Good. And Maya?"
"Yes?"
"Make sure he doesn't see it coming."
---
A Power Play in The Vault
The next night, I step into The Vault with a different kind of presence. The first time I was here, I was an observer—taking notes, learning the game.
Now? Now, I am the game.
Maya is already there, lounging in a VIP booth. Beside her sits Kamal, relaxed, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He smiles as I approach, but his eyes? His eyes are calculating.
"Ah, the young genius," Kamal greets, gesturing to the seat across from him. "I was just talking about you."
"I'm flattered," I say, sitting. My posture is casual, but my mind is razor-sharp.
Maya watches, intrigued, but she doesn't interfere. This is my move to make.
Kamal leans forward. "You're making waves, my friend. Big ones. But waves can be dangerous. They tend to crash."
I smirk. "Funny. That's exactly what I was thinking about you."
His smile doesn't falter, but I see the slight shift in his posture. He's reassessing me.
Good.
I pull out my phone, tap a few buttons, and slide it across the table.
He glances down, frowning. Then his expression shifts.
Panic.
On the screen is a live feed—his private warehouse, the one he keeps hidden from even his closest associates.
Or so he thought.
Men in black masks are inside, moving through the facility, confiscating crates, taking inventory.
Kamal looks up, his grip tightening around his glass. "What the hell is this?"
I lean back. "That? That's leverage."
His jaw clenches. "You—"
"Careful," I interrupt, my voice low but firm. "Think before you speak."
The silence stretches.
Then, Kamal does something surprising.
He laughs.
A slow, measured chuckle. "I underestimated you," he admits. "That won't happen again."
I meet his gaze, unflinching. "No. It won't."
He exhales, setting his glass down. "What do you want?"
That's the moment I know I've won.
"I want you to remember this feeling," I say. "The uncertainty. The loss of control. The realization that someone else holds the cards."
His lips press into a thin line, but he says nothing.
"From now on, we're not rivals," I continue. "We're not enemies. We're not even allies. You work around me, not against me."
Kamal nods slowly. He understands.
I stand, pocketing my phone. "Pleasure doing business."
And just like that, I walk away—leaving Kamal to swallow the lesson I just taught him.
---
Mastering the Unseen
The victory against Kamal is satisfying, but it only proves one thing—I need to get stronger.
That night, I push myself harder than ever.
Pocket Space drills at double the speed. Summoning objects while moving, dodging, thinking three steps ahead.
Gravity manipulation—reducing my weight, increasing my opponents'. Practicing movement, agility, force.
Telekinesis—pushing my limit. Ten objects at once. Then twenty. Then fifty.
By dawn, my body aches, but my control has sharpened.
I am no longer just a man with abilities.
I am becoming something more.
---
The Warning
Just as I'm about to rest, Ava pings an alert.
> Incoming Message – Unknown Number
I sigh, opening the text.
Unknown Number: You're playing with fire.
A chill runs down my spine.
I reply.
Me: Then I hope you brought water.
A moment later, another message comes in.
Unknown Number: Your fortresses won't protect you forever.
This time, I don't respond.
Because deep down, I know—this is only the beginning.
And whatever is coming?
I need to be ready.
---