Chapter 7- Ability Evaluation

In a spacious chamber equipped with various instruments and devices designed for testing and training abilities, a younger Rion who had recently turned 12 was talking with a young man dressed in a black body suit.

"Good day Mr. Rion. I'm Raph and I'll be taking over your ability evaluation today." he said in the most deadpan tone possible.

Rion nodded to the man, his anticipation growing. "Nice to meet you, instructor Raph. I'm eager to learn more about my new ability and how to control it."

Raph looked at him, no emotions showing on his face. "Ok. First, we'll start with some basic tests to understand the nature and scope of your ability."

Pulling out a data pad, he pointed a machine and continued, "First, I want you to punch that plate as hard as you can."

Rion blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening. "Uh, punch the plate? Why?"

Raph's expression remained unchanged, his deadpan delivery unwavering. "Look, we need to first test your basic physical attributes. Strength, speed, endurance—the works. And punching that plate is the best way to start. So, put all your power into it."

Rion hesitated for a moment, then nodded and moved towards the machine. It looked like a wide plate attached to some kind of measuring machine. Forming a fist, he swung it and delivered his best punch. The machine hummed for a few seconds and then displayed a number.

11.23

Looking up, he saw the instructor recording something on his notepad. As for whether this number was high or low compared to others, the instructor did not see it fit to mention.

"Alright, let's assess your speed and endurance," Raph said, guiding him to a treadmill-like device in the corner of the room.

Rion stepped onto the machine, and Raph adjusted the settings. "I want you to start running at a comfortable pace," he instructed, his tone sounding as if he was reciting a grocery list. "I'll gradually increase the speed to test your endurance."

Rion began to run, and the machine whirred to life, slowly increasing the speed. He focused on maintaining a steady pace, feeling his heart rate rise and his breath quicken. As the resistance increased, he felt the strain in his muscles, but he focused on enduring. He kept up the pace, sweat forming on his brow as he pushed himself to his limits.

After what felt like a demanding but manageable run, the man signaled him to stop. "Your endurance appears to be below average. Take a short rest and we'll move on to testing your speed."

Raph then led Rion to a sprinting track within the chamber. "I want you to sprint from here to the other end as fast as you can," he said, pointing to a marked finish line. "This will help us gauge your speed."

Rion positioned himself at the starting line, ready to give it his all. At Raph's signal, he sprinted forward with all his might, his muscles working hard to propel him forward.

He reached the finish line in a blur of motion, and Raph recorded his time. "We have a good baseline for your physical capabilities. Now, let's explore your ability."

Raph moved over to a machine in the corner and lightly tapped a button on it. The room seemed to come alive as soon as the button was pressed. Sensors on the platform and around the room sprang to life, emitting a soft, pulsating light that enveloped Rion.

He gestured for Rion to take a seat in the well lit training room, his expression unchanged in its deadpan demeanor. "Mr. Rion, the time has come to unlock the dormant ability within you," he monotonously said, his voice devoid of any hint of excitement.

Rion settled into the chair, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. As Raph approached, he noticed a vial of vibrant liquid in hand. The liquid shimmered with a golden color, yet Raph's deadpan expression remained unaltered.

"Drink this," Raph instructed, offering the vial to him. "It's a concoction crafted from rare ingredients, designed to catalyze the awakening of your latent powers."

"This concoction will temporarily enhance your perception," Raph added, "allowing you to witness the origin energy in your surroundings and how it interacts with your body. We've found that this firsthand experience greatly aids in understanding one's power."

After a brief second of hesitation, he accepted the vial and brought it to his lips. The liquid tasted surprisingly sweet, with a subtle undertone that hinted at the potent energy within.

For a moment, Rion felt nothing out of the ordinary. Then, a warm sensation began to spread through his body. It was as if a gentle current was flowing through him, awakening something deep within.

The room around him seemed to blur as his vision was filled with a soft, golden light. He felt a strange sensation, like a dormant part of him was slowly coming to life. He could feel a sensation deep within, like the awakening of a body part he had never known existed. It was both exhilarating and surreal.

Minutes passed, and the glow around him gradually subsided. Raph nodded, satisfied with whatever he had observed.

"Alright, your ability has been awakened," he said as he carefully picked up a small, intricate scanning device from a nearby table. It's intricate design was brimming with buttons and lights as it was passed over Rion's body, the device emitting soft, melodious chimes as it moved. He studied the readings intently, his brows furrowing in concentration.

"89 nits... not bad. At least, he's not another dud," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. Rion, still feeling the remnants of that warm, golden energy, couldn't help but wonder what the instructor was referring to by nits or duds.

A short while later, Raph finally spoke, "Your energy response is quite promising. We will need to conduct further tests to better understand your newly awakened ability."

His eyes remained fixed on the readings, but his voice took on a more instructive tone as he continued. "The residual energy from the concoction should have placed you in a meditative state, facilitating a deeper connection with your ability. This will help you gain better control and understanding of it."

Rion nodded, noticing that the room's ambient light seemed to have shifted subtly, glowing with a softer hue that matched the lingering warmth within him.

"Alright," Raph said, "take a comfortable seated position on the floor. Cross your legs and place your hands on your knees. Close your eyes and focus on the energy within you. This meditative pose will help you attune to the varion energy more effectively."

Rion complied, moving to the floor and assuming the instructed position. He closed his eyes and attempted to clear his mind, concentrating on the subtle sensations within his body. The golden light he had seen earlier now seemed to ebb and flow within him, and he could almost feel its pulsating rhythm.

Raph watched silently, ensuring that Rion followed the instructions carefully. "Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Let your thoughts settle like sediment in a pond, allowing the ripples to fade until the surface is calm."

Rion followed Raph's instructions, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. With each breath, he felt himself becoming more grounded, more centered.

"Now," Raph said, his voice soft but firm, "visualize the potent ambient energy entering your body like a gentle stream, filling you with warmth and vitality."

Rion followed Raph's guidance, feeling the subtle currents of energy on his skin and felt a small stream coursing through his body with each breath, yet it remained inert, like a dormant force.

However, on the edge of his consciousness, a stirring began. It was as though something within his core reached out to connect with the energy.

With each breath, his body drew in the surrounding energy, visualizing it as ethereal streams converging toward him. He became a conduit, absorbing the ambient power with an innate understanding. The energy flowed through him like a gentle current, revitalizing every cell in his body.

Raph observed silently, noting the subtle changes in Rion's aura. The training chamber vibrated with a quiet intensity, attesting to the profound fusion taking place.

In his mind's eye, Rion envisioned the energy as radiant tendrils weaving through the air, responding to some mysterious presence in him.

As he focused, he could sense the dormant power within his own body awakening, resonating with the ambient energy. It was as if the energy within him recognized its kindred essence in the environment, forging a harmonious connection.

Although he couldn't see it, he perceived the latent power within his cells awakening, responding to the influx of ambient energy. Pathways that had long been dormant were illuminated by tendrils of vibrant energy weaving through his veins.

The energy coursed through his body, tracing lines around it as it moved. More of the energy continued to get absorbed into his body and made their way throughout all the pathways until they reached his cells. Then, an ultra-thin barrier formed around them, like a protective cocoon. It was as if the energy itself was weaving a shield of light around his cells, fortifying them with a newfound resilience.

With each surge of energy, the barriers grew stronger, enveloping his cells in a shimmering sheath of light. Faint arcs of electricity ran around the barriers.

As the energy continued to course through his body, it meticulously formed barriers around the rest of his cells, layer by layer. If there were an entity that could see this, they would see a mesmerizing sight, like watching a master craftsman at work, shaping and molding the very fabric of his being.

As the energy continued flowing through him, Rion couldn't help but question the origin of this sensation. What secrets lay behind the concoction he had ingested? The sweet taste of the concoction still lingered on his lips, but so did the uncertainty of its long-term effects.

A short while later, all his cells had become charged and they stopped absorbing the ambient energy. Raph noticed this and spoke with a slight anticipation in his tone.

"Very good. Now, focus on channeling the energy through your body. Visualize it moving from your core outward, and try to direct it with your thoughts. Don't force it; let it flow naturally."

That understanding came naturally and instantaneously, like an instinct. Once he grasped the feeling, he could sense the movement of the energy just like he sensed his every other part of his body.

With a sense of purpose, the barrier around his cells awakened, channeling the energy within them. He felt a tingle, a faint electrical sensation coursing through his body as it responded to his command. It was like a cascade of sparkling water, flowing from his core and branching out into his limbs.

Rion opened his eyes and then, with a thought, he guided the energy towards his hands. All of a sudden, his hands shined with a light blue hue as blue electric bolts arced on his skin.

'How beautiful.....' he whispered, awed at the scene unfolding before him.

As Rion marveled at the shimmering energy dancing across his skin, Raph adjusted the settings on the monitoring devices, preparing for the next phase of testing.

"Good, you're starting to tap into your ability. Do you feel any different?"

"No... Not really...."

"It's alright. Let's move on to some more focused tests to determine the nature of your ability."

He then wrote some thing on the notepad and pointed back at the strength testing machine. "I want you to punch that plate again, but this time with your ability active."

With a determined expression, Rion concentrated on the energy coursing through him as he walked back towards the metal plate, willing it to gather in his hands. He felt the power building, a tingling sensation growing more intense as the energy surged within him.

As he focused, the blue aura surrounding his hands intensified, crackling with electricity. With a swift motion, and with his right arm swirling with energy, he unleashed a hard punch towards the metal plate, watching as it struck with precision, sending sparks flying upon impact.

«Clang!»

There was a sense of anticipation in the air, as he held his breath, waiting to witness the new number that would show up. A short while later, the humming stopped and the display on the machine showed a number.

11.24