Impossible...
~ Omniscient Pov, A few hours later ~
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"How... How is this even possible? Does he have endless stamina or something?" the first guard muttered, his voice practically laced with disbelief.
It had been over three hours since Michael had stepped into the gravity chamber. What had started as a casual test of his limits had turned into something far more extraordinary.
And he wasn't even at 50-fold anymore.
The second guard leaned against the control panel, his expression a mixture of awe and unease. "It's not just his stamina," he said, his eyes fixed on the screen displaying the current gravity setting. "He's already pushing 75-fold, and it doesn't even look like he's struggling anymore. This... this doesn't make any sense."
Inside the chamber, Michael moved with wild yet fluid precision, his movements sharp and fierce, he quickly executed a series of strikes and defensive maneuvers. Each step he took was more measured than the last, every strike a calculated display of raw strength. The increased gravity barely seemed to register as he transitioned near seamlessly between his techniques, his form looked close to perfect despite what should be overwhelming pressure.
The guards exchanged another glance, their unease growing with each passing moment.
"Even the prince had to build up to 80-fold over weeks," the first guard said, his voice low. "This guy just walked in and started throwing punches like it was nothing."
"A-A-nd he's not slowing down?" the second guard added, shaking his head. "It's like he's adapting to the gravity faster than we can understand..."
Inside the chamber, Michael came to a complete halt, his chest rising and falling steadily as he glanced toward the observation window. His orange eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a shiver down the guards' spines.
Then, to their astonishment, he raised a hand and gestured toward the control panel.
"He wants us to raise it again." the first guard said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The second guard hesitated, his hand hovering over the controls. "Are you sure that's a good idea? This is already pushing what the chamber can handle. If it overloads—"
"He's asking for it?" the first guard interrupted, his tone resigned. "And it doesn't look like he's going to take no for an answer..."
With a reluctant sigh, the second guard adjusted the settings, increasing the gravity to 100-fold. The hum of the chamber deepened, and the floor seemed to vibrate faintly under the strain.
Michael didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked, his movements more controlled than ever.
The guards watched in stunned silence as he continued his routine, each strike now generating a faint shockwave that practically rippled through the room.
"This, man..." the first guard muttered, shaking his head. "He's not just strong—he's something else entirely."
The second guard didn't even respond, his gaze was entirely locked on the figure inside the chamber. In the back of his mind, one thought echoed louder than the rest:
What the hell have we let into this castle?
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"Why are the guards taking so long? They should have been here hours ago," Talmos muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.
He sat on his throne, his sharp eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the massive doors of the chamber. He had expected Michael to be escorted to him promptly, not left to wander the castle unchecked. While he understood the allure of giving their strange guest a chance to acclimate, this delay was testing his patience.
"Perhaps they underestimated his curiosity," Vegeta offered, leaning casually against a nearby pillar. His tone carried just enough amusement to needle his father. "Or maybe he's proving to be more trouble than they expected."
Talmos' gaze shifted to his son, his expression stern. "Trouble or not, they should have reported back by now. A guest with power like his needs to be handled carefully. And if they've failed to do so..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the weight of his words hung heavily in the air.
Vegeta shrugged, though the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're worried, aren't you? That this... anomaly might be more than you bargained for."
"Worry is for the unprepared, son." Talmos snapped, his tone colder now. "I am concerned only with understanding what he represents—and ensuring it doesn't threaten our people."
Before Vegeta could respond, the doors to the chamber creaked open, and the two guards entered hastily. They looked tense, their expressions betraying a mix of awe, and equal unease...
"Your Majesty." the first guard began, bowing deeply.
"You're late." Talmos said, his voice cutting through the room like a sharp blade. "Explain yourselves, now."
The second guard stepped forward, his gaze flicking nervously toward Vegeta before settling on the king. "F-Forgive us, Your Majesty, but there was... an unexpected development."
"Go on..." Talmos said leaning back, his tone dangerously calm.
The first guard hesitated before speaking. "We brought Michael to the training grounds, as instructed, and he requested to test the artificial gravity chambers. We allowed him to do so, thinking it would be a brief demonstration, but..." He trailed off, clearly unsure how to continue this discussion.
"But what?" Talmos demanded, his patience fraying further.
"He's still in there," the second guard said quickly, his words spilling out in a rush. "It's been over three hours. He started at fifty-fold gravity and kept increasing the intensity. As of now, he's at one hundred-fold—and he's not showing any signs of stopping."
Vegeta's eyebrows shot up, and he straightened from his relaxed position. "One hundred? That's impossible. Even I—" He cut himself off, his expression hardening. "Are you telling me he's just... handling it?"
The two guards nodded in unison. "More than handling it," the first one said. "He's actually adapting to it. His stamina, his growth—it's like nothing I've ever seen before."
Talmos leaned back in his throne, his expression unreadable as he processed the information. For a long moment, the room was silent, the weight of the guards' words settling over them.
Finally, the king spoke, his voice low and measured. "Bring him to me. Now."
The guards hesitated. "Your Majesty, he's still—"
"Now!" Talmos repeated, his tone brooking no argument.
The guards bowed quickly and left the chamber, leaving Talmos and Vegeta alone once more.
Vegeta crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed in thought, "You were right, Father. He's not just strong—he's incredibly dangerous. And if he's already capable of this much..." Although Vegeta had said this calmly, there was something in him that didn't like the current situation, not one bit...
Talmos nodded slowly, his expression somewhat grim...
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The doors to the throne room creaked open once more, the heavy sound echoing through the vast chamber. Talmos sat tall on his throne, his piercing gaze fixed on the entrance, while Vegeta stood to the side, arms still crossed, his expression sharp.
"Your Majesty," the first guard said as he stepped inside, bowing deeply. Behind him, Michael followed, his stride calm and confident despite the weight of the situation.
"Michael," Talmos said, his voice steady, though laced with authority. "I trust your time in the gravity chamber was... enlightening."
Michael stopped a few paces from the throne, his faintly glowing eyes meeting the king's without a hint of hesitation. "You could say that," he replied casually. "Your facilities are impressive. A hundred times gravity is no joke."
The guards exchanged nervous glances, but Talmos didn't flinch. "It's not often that someone uses those chambers for more than an hour at that level, let alone at the level you achieved. You've caught the attention of my men—me and my son."
Vegeta stepped forward slightly, his gaze scrutinizing Michael from head to toe. "You don't look worn out," he said, his tone almost accusatory in nature... "Even at a 100-fold gravity, you're standing here like it's nothing. What are you hiding?"
Michael tilted his head, "I'm not hiding anything. Maybe I'm just a bit different than most of the Saiyans here."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening at the remark, but Talmos raised a hand, stopping his son from responding...
"I won't waste time with pleasantries," the king said, his tone growing colder. "Your performance today has raised more questions than answers. You claim to have no memory of your past, yet your power rivals that of our most powerful... Tell me, Michael—who are you really?"
Michael's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. He crossed his arms, letting a moment of silence stretch between them before speaking.
"I already told you..." he said evenly. "I don't know. I woke up in that cave with no idea how I got there or what happened to me. The power I have now? I'm still figuring it out myself."
Talmos studied him carefully, his sharp eyes searching for any sign of deception. "Convenient," he said after a moment. "And yet, your control over that power is far too refined for someone who claims to be 'figuring it out.'"
Michael shrugged, his expression still calm. "Maybe I'm a fast learner." That explanation isn't and wasn't unreasonable.
The tension in the room was dead still, the guards shifting uneasily as they watched the exchange...
"You may fool others with that excuse," Talmos said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone, "but not me. I've seen warriors like you before—powerful, enigmatic, and unpredictable. And they're always more dangerous than they seem."
Michael met his gaze, unflinching. "Forgive King Talmos... Dangerous doesn't mean hostile." he said calmly. "If I wanted to cause trouble, I'd have done it already. But I didn't. I'm here because I want to understand this place—and maybe myself in the process."
The king leaned back slightly, his expression completely unreadable... "And why should I believe you?"
"Because." Michael said, his voice steady but firm, "if I was your enemy, you wouldn't have had the chance to ask me that question." Michael had already decided that he wouldn't conform too much to the king. Bowing and sucking up would only undermine himself...
The room fell silent, with the weight of his words hanging in the air... Vegeta on the other hand, turned to look at Alex as if he was an absolute madman... 'Does this fool truly have no fear? He just threatened father...'
Talmos regarded him for a long moment before speaking again. "Perhaps... But trust isn't given freely here, Michael. If you wish to remain here, you'll need to prove your intentions."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you want me to do that?"
The king's lips curled into a faint smile, though it carried no warmth. "Simple. By fighting for us. If you are truly as powerful as you claim, then you won't mind demonstrating your strength in battle. Prove your loyalty through action, not words."
Michael smirked unknowingly, the challenge igniting something deep in him. "If that's what it takes, then fine. Just tell me where to start."
The king smiled himself, "Good... You start by fighting me tomorrow."
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END