Blue Thunder

Rudi's stomach churned violently. Stumbling, he barely made it to the bathroom. His legs moved awkwardly, like a newborn calf struggling to coordinate its limbs. It had been far too long since he'd used his left leg, and his body was still adjusting to its sudden return.

He shoved the bathroom door open and dropped to his knees before the toilet. Without time to think, his body acted on instinct, forcing everything in his stomach up and out. Acidic bile pooled at the bottom of the porcelain bowl, leaving a bitter sting in his throat and a sharp, pungent odor that filled the air.

His chest heaved, lungs gasping desperately for oxygen as he struggled to steady his breathing. He leaned against the sink, turning the faucet on full blast. Cold water cascaded over his trembling hands, but the icy sensation wasn't enough to extinguish the storm raging in his mind.

Gripping the hem of his shirt, Rudi pulled it over his head, the action now effortless thanks to his restored arms.

He turned to the mirror. And froze.

For the first time in years, he saw his reflection staring back—whole, unbroken.

The scars that had once marred his skin, reminders of the tragedy that had defined his past, were gone. Burn marks, stitches, disfigurations—all of it erased as if the accident had never happened. His body was perfect.

Amadeus's words replayed in his mind: The power you gain from an ability card is random. Born from your deepest pain, your darkest trauma.

Something clicked. A realization began to take shape.

"Could it be...?"

Rudi reached for the razor lying on the edge of the sink. His hand shook slightly as he pressed the cold, sharp blade against his left palm. Without hesitation, he dragged the blade across, creating a deep, searing gash.

Pain flared, sharp and fiery, as dark crimson blood welled up, trickling down his wrist. He waited, eyes glued to the wound.

Seconds passed, and then it happened.

Right before his eyes, the torn flesh began to knit itself back together. The blood flow slowed, then stopped entirely. Within moments, the skin was flawless again, as though the injury had never existed.

"This..." His voice came out as a hoarse whisper.

"This is impossible."

His heart thundered in his chest, but it wasn't fear coursing through him. It was exhilaration.

What kind of power had he been granted?

He stared at his reflection again, this time with a mix of awe and trepidation. He wasn't the same person anymore. No, he was something else entirely.

Memories of the recordings Amadeus had shown him flooded back: brutal battles, blood-soaked arenas, and piles of bodies. The faces of fallen players flashed in his mind like haunting specters.

He could almost smell the metallic tang of blood, even though he'd only seen it on a screen.

And soon, he'd be in the middle of all of it.

He clenched his fists, the sensation of strength in his restored body both foreign and intoxicating.

Whatever lay ahead, there was no turning back now.

Rudi swallowed hard as his stomach roared like a beast waking from a long slumber. He clutched his abdomen, realizing the hunger was unlike anything he'd felt before.

"Damn it, what now?" he muttered.

The gnawing sensation twisted inside him mercilessly, demanding to be sated. Desperation drove him to the kitchen, his steps hurried and clumsy. He yanked open the fridge door with a loud clang and grabbed anything in sight—raw eggs, frozen meat, a box of cereal. Without a second thought, he devoured everything, not bothering to cook.

Each bite seemed to quell his hunger little by little, but it wasn't enough. His body craved more—more sugar, more protein, more fuel. By the time he was done, the fridge was completely empty, its contents meant to last a week now gone.

Rudi slumped to the floor, leaning against the kitchen wall as his breathing slowed. His hunger had subsided, but his mind raced.

He inhaled deeply, his head pounding as a realization struck like lightning in a storm.

"Regeneration…" he whispered.

He stared at his right hand, marveling at its newfound strength and flawlessness.

"This power... it needs energy. A lot of energy. It's not just healing—it's rebuilding, reconstructing every cell at insane speeds."

Another thought clawed its way into his mind. If his regeneration consumed this much energy from food, what would happen if he ran out of sustenance?

Taking a deep breath, Rudi muttered to himself, "Without enough protein and sugar, I might not be able to use this ability at all."

A voice suddenly broke the silence, sending a chill down his spine.

"Well, it seems you've figured out the basics of your power."

Rudi froze. His eyes darted around the room, searching for the source of the familiar voice. And there, perched at the edge of his bed, sat Amadeus.

The man leaned forward, fingers interlocked in front of his face, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"You look better than the last time I saw you," he said, his tone as cold as the rain drenching Galam City. His eyes scanned Rudi from head to toe, lingering on the smudges of food still around his mouth.

"On second thought," Amadeus added with a chuckle, "you look just as messy."

Rudi's expression shifted to panic. "How did you get in here?"

His voice trembled, but he tried to mask his unease.

Amadeus shrugged nonchalantly, as though the question wasn't worth answering. His smirk widened, predatory and sharp.

"For a being of the heavens like me, that's a trivial matter."

He stood with an air of elegance, adjusting the collar of his black coat before striding to the table and picking up the remote. With a flick of his wrist, he turned on the TV.

"I'm not bound by your world's concepts of space and time," he said, his words heavy with hidden meaning.

The screen flickered to life, showing the latest news from Galam City. The image of a dark, stormy sky lit up with wild lightning bolts filled the screen. The newscaster's voice trembled as she reported the breaking news.

"A freak lightning storm has claimed the lives of two police officers transporting the corporate embezzlement convict, Dedit Arman. The police vehicle reportedly exploded after being struck by lightning."

Rudi's eyes widened, glued to the TV. Images of the two deceased officers appeared, followed by a mugshot of Dedit Arman.

"The bodies of officers Dono and Wawan have been recovered and identified. However, the convict's body has not been found. Residents of Galam City are advised to stay indoors until the storm passes."

Amadeus let out a low chuckle, almost as if talking to a reflection in the mirror.

"Well, well... what a delightful storm," he murmured, his grin growing wider, as though savoring the chaos.

The rainy season in Galam City was no surprise, but a storm like this? It was unheard of, unless Amadeus had a hand in it.

Rudi stood silent, his thoughts drifting to the unsettling feeling gnawing at him. His eyes bore into Amadeus, suspicion flickering behind his gaze, barely concealing the anger bubbling beneath the surface.

Amadeus, with his unpredictable behavior, was a constant source of unease.

Rudi clenched his fists, forcing himself to remain composed. "You said I'd only see you right before the battle royale started. Why are you here now?"

"That's exactly why I'm here," Amadeus replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "The battle royale is about to begin."

"About to begin?" Rudi's heart raced, his pulse quickening. His eyes widened as panic crept into his voice. "When? Where?"

Amadeus held his gaze, his enigmatic expression impossible to read. A faint smile curled his lips, a smile laced with secrets and silent threats.

"Now," he said. "Here."

The words hit Rudi like a blade, swift and merciless, plunging straight into his chest.

Confusion painted Rudi's face as tension gripped him. It was as if a thick fog of uncertainty clouded his mind.

"What do you mean?" he stammered, his voice trembling.

Amadeus chuckled softly. He took a step back, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Watch your head," he said with a smirk, just as his body began to lift off the ground.

With a graceful motion, Amadeus vanished, dissolving into the air like a shadow swallowed by blinding light. A blue flash marked his exit.

Rudi froze, rooted to the spot. His mind struggled to piece together what had just happened.

And then, it hit him, too late.

"Damn it..." he whispered.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar erupted as lightning struck, splitting the air with a deafening crack. Blue arcs of electricity streaked across the sky, wild and untamed, moving with the speed of light. The tendrils of energy snaked through the heavens like overgrown roots, destroying everything in their path.

And Rudi was directly in its path.