Chapter 25 “The One Who Woke”

The silence in the room was broken only by the steady beeping of Angelo's heart rate monitor. Everything had been normal—until his heart rate suddenly began to drop. Alarms blared, and personnel rushed to his side, only to freeze as the marks on his back began pulsing faster and brighter than ever before.

Then, without warning, a shockwave exploded from his body, slamming into the walls and causing the lights to flicker wildly. The force of the blast sent a shockwave of air spiraling outward, knocking over equipment, shattering glass, and throwing nearby scientists and guards against the farthest walls. Metal piping groaned under the pressure, and a section of the ceiling buckled, sending down a cascade of debris that rattled the room.

The shockwave seemed to bend the very air itself, warping the light around it, and the temperature dropped instantly—sheets of frost forming on the edges of desks and monitors. Papers flew in every direction, swirling like leaves caught in a storm. The sound was deafening—a rush of wind like the roar of an oncoming storm, followed by the sharp crack of glass and the shrill scream of alarms.

Angelo's eyes snapped open.

He sat up slowly, his eyes carrying a cold, piercing glare that felt anything but human. The air around him turned frigid. Across the world, sensitive instruments reacted to an unknown disturbance. But for those in the room, the fear was immediate and visceral.

This wasn't Angelo. The white being had taken control.

As he rose from the bed, the change in his body became clear—he was taller now, with dense, defined muscles rippling beneath his skin. His very presence radiated authority and unshakable power.

Shaking, the soldiers aimed their weapons at him. "Stop! Don't come any closer, or we'll be forced to shoot!" one of them shouted, his voice quivering with fear.

The being inside Angelo's body spoke, two voices layered over one another—one deep and calm, the other ancient and resonant. "Do not be alarmed, humans. I'm not here to kill you. I came to negotiate. All I want… is the safety of this boy and his family."

From behind, a Major barked, "Open fire!"

A volley of bullets tore through the air, slamming into Angelo's body—but he stood motionless. The bullets struck his skin and bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground.

He looked down at them, then back at the soldiers. "I had no reason to fight you," he said quietly. "But now… you've given me one. Are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions?"

With a single step forward, frost spread from beneath his feet, racing across the floor and encasing every soldier in a sheath of ice, freezing them in place from the neck down.

He stood in front of the paralyzed Major. "Do you see the difference in our power? Hear me clearly—if you ever lay a finger on this boy or his family again… it will be your last and final mistake."

At that moment, another unit stormed into the room, weapons drawn. But they stopped when they saw the others trapped in glacial prisons.

"Hold your fire!" the Major shouted. "Do not engage!"

Angelo turned toward him again. "Good. Now… release the family."

The Major hesitated, then gave the order. "Bring them here. Now!"

Moments later, James, Olivia, Emma, Alex, and Sophia were brought into the room. They froze at the sight of the frozen guards and the towering, transformed Angelo standing calmly in the center of it all.

One of the older officers whispered, "What kind of monster are you?"

Angelo met his eyes. "I'm not a monster," he said. "I'm something far more dangerous."

Tension hung heavy in the air. Then, Angelo raised his hand, and with a subtle flick, the ice disappeared. The soldiers collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The room was silent.

Without another word, Angelo walked back to the bed and lay down. His eyes closed, his expression softening as he returned to unconsciousness. The marks on his back pulsed one final time—then went still.

The seal was complete.