CHAPTER 3:THE AWAKENING OF POWERS

Chapter 3: The Awakening of Power

The battlefield was silent.

The alien's monstrous body lay motionless, its twisted form still smoldering from the impact of Toma's fiery fist. For a moment, nobody moved. The dust settled, and the only sound was the faint crackling of flames licking the air.

Then, without warning, a fireball erupted from Toma's palm.

It streaked across the battlefield, setting a horde of approaching zombies ablaze. In mere seconds, the entire swarm was engulfed in flames, their agonized shrieks piercing the evening sky.

The others groaned as they slowly regained consciousness, blinking at the surreal sight before them.

"W-What the hell…?" Hikaru muttered, rubbing his head as he got up.

Toma turned to face them, his hands still radiating heat. "I… I don't know how, but I killed that alien. And now… I can do this."

To prove his point, he raised his arm and launched another fireball at a lone zombie staggering nearby. The moment the flames struck, the undead creature burst into ashes.

Everyone froze in shock.

"Wait… that means…" Hiroshi clenched his fists, stepping forward. "What if we all—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he punched the ground with full force.

A deep tremor shook the earth beneath them. Suddenly, jagged crystalline rock formations erupted from the soil, sharp as blades, standing tall like spires of solid earth. Hiroshi stared at his own hands in disbelief.

A realization dawned upon them.

They all had powers now.

Their bodies had changed. The alien's energy had merged with their very existence, gifting them supernatural abilities beyond human comprehension. One by one, they tested their newfound strength:

Toma summoned flames that danced in his palms. (Fire Manipulation)

Hiroshi commanded the very earth beneath them. (Earth Manipulation)

Kaito raised his hands, and the wind obeyed his every whim. (Wind Manipulation)

Takeshi held out his fingers, and a surge of water flowed from his palm. (Water Manipulation)

Kuroshin stepped into a shadow, and his body merged with the darkness. (Darkness Manipulation)

Aoi let out a sharp breath, and the air around him vibrated, distorting sound itself. (Sound Manipulation)

Asahi touched the remnants of a broken locker, and the metal bent to his will. (Metal Manipulation)

Tatsuya stared at his own wounds, watching his blood solidify into sharp, crimson spikes. (Blood Manipulation)

Ryo exhaled, and frost spread from his fingertips, freezing the ground beneath him. (Ice Manipulation)

Daiki snapped his fingers, and crackling lightning sparked between them. (Lightning Manipulation)

And finally… Hikaru, standing at the center of them all, felt something entirely different. His power wasn't bound to a single element—it was something greater.

Ether. The energy of existence itself.

A quiet excitement washed over them. They weren't just survivors anymore. They were chosen.

"We don't have to be afraid anymore," Kaito said, a grin spreading across his face.

For the first time since the apocalypse began, they had hope.

But then…

Takeshi suddenly broke into a sprint.

"Where the hell is he going?" Ryo called out.

It took a moment before they realized. Their families.

A cold wave of dread crashed over them. In the chaos, in the fight for survival, they had completely forgotten about their families.

Without another word, they all ran.

A Painful Truth

The streets were silent. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the desolate city. The familiar homes that once radiated warmth now stood as lifeless ruins, echoes of the past.

One by one, they arrived at their homes—only to find a nightmare waiting for them.

Their families… had already turned into zombies.

The truth shattered them like glass.

Through their sobs and screams, another horror dawned upon them. Not everyone had been turned. Some humans had been spared.

"Why…?" Kuroshin choked out, his fists trembling. "Why are there still humans left?"

It was then that the truth was revealed—the aliens only "chipped" humans they deemed worthy.

Everyone else… was left to die.

Tears filled their eyes as they stared at what remained of the people they loved.

Hikaru, however, stood still.

His family was long gone. They had abandoned him. Twice.

His real parents had left him as a child. The family that adopted him had done the same. The only person who had ever truly cared for him was his grandmother—a woman who worked tirelessly just to keep him in school, despite struggling financially.

And now…

Hikaru stepped into the ruins of his home. The air smelled of decay, of memories long lost. In the dim light of the setting sun, he found her.

His grandmother.

Her frail body trembled, her skin pale and cold. Her eyes were no longer human.

She had turned.

Hikaru stood there, frozen, as an unbearable weight pressed against his chest. His grandmother had never abandoned him. She was the only one who had stayed.

And now… she was gone too.

Tears welled in his eyes, but no sound escaped his lips. He wasn't even sure what he was supposed to feel.

Behind him, the others stood in silent mourning.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red—a tragic contrast to the grief that filled the air.

Slowly, they all gathered back at the school.

It was no longer just about survival.

It was no longer just about themselves.

"We've been chosen." Hikaru's voice was quiet but firm.

The others turned to him, listening.

"We have to save whoever is left."

The words lingered in the air like a vow.

They had lost everything.

But that only meant they had nothing left to fear.

Their purpose was clear now.

They would save the rest of humanity—no matter the cost.