Chapter 12: Heroism

Joshua woke up just before dawn, his mind caught in a strange haze between dream and reality.

For a brief moment, he didn't know where he was. The feeling of soft blankets, the faint hum of a city waking up—these were things he hadn't experienced for what felt like weeks.

But then the memories came rushing back.

Kel'thali'a. The village. Maydee. The ritual. The markings. The pain.

His body felt light, his limbs full of an unfamiliar energy. He sat up slowly, rubbing his face as his thoughts settled. The game… or was it a game? The lines had followed him into reality.

This wasn't normal.

He needed answers.

But first, he needed to test himself.

Joshua took a quick shower, letting the warm water soothe his muscles. He hadn't worked out properly in years, not since college, and yet…

His body didn't feel weak.

If anything, it felt stronger.

After getting dressed in athletic wear, he made his way to a nearby gym. Modern technology had advanced to the point where a single scan could provide an in-depth analysis of a person's fitness level—muscle mass, endurance, strength-to-weight ratio, and more.

He needed a baseline.

He arrived at the facility and paid the entrance fee before heading straight to the Full-Body Performance Scanner. The machine stood like a sleek pod, its doors open, inviting him in.

A gym attendant, a middle-aged man with a muscular frame, glanced at him. "First time using it?"

Joshua nodded. "Yeah, just want to see where I stand."

"Step inside, feet shoulder-width apart. Breathe normally. The scan will take five minutes."

Joshua removed his shirt and shoes, stepping into the pod in just his boxers. The doors sealed shut, and a soft hum filled the chamber.

Analyzing…

A blue light swept over his body, scanning every fiber of his being. Joshua stood still, his heart pounding slightly.

Then—

Beep!

The doors slid open. Joshua stepped out, and a holographic screen projected his results.

Performance Scan Results:

Muscle Density: 45% above the average male in his age group

Lean Muscle Mass: 72.4 kg (Normal range: 55-65 kg)

Strength-to-Weight Ratio: 2.3x body weight (Highly athletic)

Fast-Twitch Muscle Activation: 78% (Elite athlete level)

Slow-Twitch Endurance Efficiency: 89% (Marathon runner level)

Agility Index: 9.2/10 (Exceptional)

Reflex Speed: 0.08 seconds (Military-grade reaction time)

VO2 Max (Oxygen Utilization): 65 ml/kg/min (Elite endurance athlete)

Overall Physical Rank: Category S (Superhuman)

Joshua's eyes widened.

This… this isn't normal.

He was never a top athlete. Hell, he used to get winded after running just a kilometer. And now? These numbers belonged to professional fighters, sprinters, and elite military operatives.

The gym attendant whistled. "Damn, man. You train professionally?"

Joshua snapped out of his shock. "Uh… yeah. Something like that."

The man chuckled. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up. Those stats are insane."

Joshua nodded absently and grabbed his shirt. He had to confirm these numbers himself.

He moved to the bench press station, stacking 120 kg (265 lbs)—a weight he wouldn't have dared attempt before.

He lowered himself onto the bench, adjusted his grip, and pushed.

The weight moved easily.

Frowning, he added another 40 kg, bringing it to 160 kg (353 lbs)—an amount professional powerlifters struggled with.

Deep breath.

Lower. Push.

Again, it felt light.

A few gym-goers nearby glanced his way, murmuring.

Joshua swallowed. He could keep going, but that would draw too much attention. Instead, he moved on.

He tested his pull-ups—hitting an effortless 50 reps before stopping.

Then his sprint speed—clocking in at 9.6 seconds for 100 meters, just shy of Olympic records.

His reflex test showed he could snatch falling objects before they hit the ground.

And stamina? He ran 5 kilometers at full speed without breaking a sweat.

By the time he finished, whispers filled the gym.

"Dude, who is that guy?"

"Is he a pro athlete?"

"No way, I'd recognize him."

Joshua gritted his teeth. He had drawn too much attention.

Hurrying to the locker room, he grabbed his things and rushed out.

The cold morning air hit his skin as he walked briskly down the sidewalk, trying to clear his head.

This was bad. He was already standing out. If he wasn't careful, people would start asking questions.

He needed to lay low.

But just as he turned a corner—

SCREEEEECH!

A deafening car horn blared through the street.

Joshua snapped his head up.

A small child—no older than six—stood in the middle of the road, frozen in fear.

And a speeding truck was barreling straight toward her.

Time slowed.

People screamed.

Joshua moved.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up. He sprinted, pushing his muscles beyond their limits.

"I won't make it—"

Desperation surged through him. He threw out his hand, reaching, praying, begging—

And then—

BOOM!

A powerful force erupted from his outstretched palm.

A shimmering dome of energy materialized around the child, translucent and glowing faintly.

The truck slammed into the barrier with an ear-shattering crash. Metal crumpled. Glass shattered. The vehicle flipped, skidding to a stop a few meters away.

Dust and debris filled the air.

And the child?

She was completely unharmed inside the glowing dome.

Joshua staggered back, his breath ragged. His hands trembled. The faint silver lines on his skin glowed before slowly fading.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Then—

"AN AWAKENED!"

A random passerby pointed at him, voice shrill with excitement.

"HE'S AN AWAKENED! HE SAVED THAT CHILD WITH HIS POWERS!"

More voices joined in.

"An awakened?! Where?!"

"He used magic—actual magic!"

"Oh my God, this is insane!"

Joshua's blood turned to ice.

Shit. Shit. SHIT!

He bolted.

Ran.

His legs carried him at inhuman speed, weaving through alleyways, dodging pedestrians. He sprinted across streets, cut through back alleys, doubled back—

Only when he was sure no one was following did he finally stop.

His chest heaved. His lungs burned. Sweat dripped down his brow.

He clutched his hands, staring at them. The glow had completely vanished.

But the power—

The impossible power—remained.

"How the fuck did I do that?"

No answer came.

Only silence.

Joshua leaned against the wall, heart pounding.

He had saved a life.

But in doing so—

He had just exposed himself to the world.