The black was absolute. Not the soft, velvety black of a moonless night, but a crushing, swallowing black that pressed against his eyelids even though they were open. He felt weightless, adrift and heavy at the same time, Around Jace, faint, shifting patterns of ethereal light pulsed and flickered, like distant nebulae in a forgotten corner of the universe. He had no body, no limbs, just a sense of consciousness floating in the void.

  Then, the voice. It wasn't a sound that traveled through air, but a vibration that resonated within his very being. A thunderous, ancient voice that seemed to emanate from the fabric of the darkness itself."Hear me thou mortal ! the mantle of strength," the voice continued, "has lain dormant for ages, awaiting a worthy successor. Your spirit, young one, is resolute, your heart pure. You are the one." the voice thundered"and I Ischys grant to you the unparalleled power of the God of abysmal might, use this newfound strength for what thine see as just" The words of command and call to responsibility echoed through the empty expanse, shaking the nonexistent ground beneath his nonexistent feet.

  The voice was a physical force, a shockwave that sent ripples through the darkness, distorting the faint patterns of light. He felt a surge of something akin to terror, but it was quickly swallowed by a wave of awe, a sense of being part of something vast and incomprehensible.

  His eyes snapped open. He was back. Back in his room, the familiar pale light of dawn filtering through the blinds.The sheets were tangled around his legs, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the room.

  He sat up, his breath ragged. The dream, if it was a dream, was so vivid, so real. The voice, the crushing darkness, the sense of being untethered – it all lingered in his mind, a phantom echo of a reality he couldn't quite grasp.

  He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to shake off the lingering unease.The words echoed in his mind, a chilling whisper in the quiet dawn. He looked around his familiar room, trying to ground himself in the mundane reality of his life. But the void, the voice, the strange, ethereal space, had left an indelible mark, a question mark etched into the very core of his being.

  This was 2 months ago in which after Jace started exhibiting his monstrous ability,he kept it from everyone including his mother and trained until he could control the strength. The robbery the night before was one of the first real crime he had stopped

  "Jace " his mother called " hurry up and get ready for schoo " . With haste Jace took his vigilante clothes off , which he slept in and took his bath in preparation for another what he considered "mundane" day of activities

  "Goodbye mom" Jace shouted as he left his home for school . He and his mother lived alone in a duplex apartment as Jace lost his father when he was very much younger while Jace left for school his mother also left for place of work as one of the greatest minds in ' Pantheon Technologies ' one of the leading technological companies in the country, arguably in the world

  Ever since he got his powers Jace refused any form transportation to take him to school and went on his own as he saw it as an avenue of testing limits of his powers as he usually ran or leaped with his strength to school

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Culers Senior High : 9 AM

  All the students of Grade 12 are in the class waiting on their next class where Jace spots Tank the class bully harassing the new kid Leo. Jace in his seat thinks to himself wether to stop Tank with his powers:

  "No, Jace, no. Just walk away. It's not your fight. You're supposed to be keeping your powers a secret. Tank's a jerk, everyone knows it, but you can't just… boom, super-punch him into next Tuesday.But… Leo's terrified. Look at him. He's practically shaking. Tank's gonna keep doing this, and no one's gonna stop him. Someone has to."

  "My hands are tingling. Just a little push... just a little tap on Tank’s shoulder, and he’d go flying. No one would get seriously hurt. Maybe. Just a little scare to teach him a lesson. A heroic lesson. Right? wrong!. So wrong" he thought to himself like he had an angel on his shoulder "What if I get to angry and lose control of my powers I could make things worse for everybody....But what about Leo? What about the next kid Tank picks on? Am I just supposed to watch? Am I supposed to pretend I don’t have the power to stop it? He’s laughing now. Tank's laughing, and Leo's face is red, and his eyes are watering. This is wrong. So wrong."

  "Okay, deep breaths, Jace. Talk it out. Words are powerful too, right? Maybe I can… I can reason with him. Yeah, that’s it...but what if he laughs at me? What if he just shoves me too? What if he knows something's different about me now? What if he sees the power in my eyes?"

  " No more excuses. I can’t stand here and do nothing. Leo needs help. And I don't think concerns over my powers come first. No, Leo is in distress and that comes first"

  He stood from his seat and walked towards Tank, his voice tight. "Tank, just leave him alone."

  Tank turned, his eyes narrowing, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "Well, well, look who's playing hero. You gonna stop me, Jace?"He knows something's different. He can sense it. Jace's heart pounded against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the rising tide of anger. He could feel the power surging, wanting to be released."

  "No. Control. It's not worth it. Not for this.Just… just back off, Tank," he repeated, his voice wavering slightly. He knew he sounded weak, pathetic.

  Tank laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Or what? You gonna hit me with your… your good grades?" He shoved Leo again, harder this time, and the boy whimpered.

  The image of Leo's terrified face, the sound of his whimper, snapped something inside Jace. He couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

  But he didn't want to lose control and become a tyrant or worse, government experiment He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto Tank's. The tingling in his hands intensified, a burning sensation that spread through his entire body. He wasn't going to hit him. He wasn't going to use his powers. He was just going to… stand his ground Tank's grin faltered, a flicker of unease crossing his features. He could sense something was different. Jace wasn't the same kid he'd shoved into lockers before. The air crackled with a barely perceptible energy, a silent threat that hung heavy in the hallway.

  "What's wrong, hero?" Tank sneered, but the bravado was thin, a brittle shell over a growing apprehension. Jace didn't answer. He just stood there, his gaze unwavering, the silence stretched, thick and tense, broken only by the faint hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Tank shifted his weight, his eyes darting nervously around the hallway. He knew he was losing this confrontation, but he couldn't back down. Not in front of everyone

  "You think you're so tough now?" Tank growled, his voice strained. He balled his fists, the knuckles white. "You think you can take me?"

  Jace relaxed his face in anticipation of the punch from Tank he feigned being hurt by the pain by holding his face but he still maintained his gaze on Tank

  He took a deep breath, to maintain control. "Just… just leave him alone, Tank," he repeated, his voice stronger this time, infused with a newfound confidence.

  Tank hesitated, his eyes narrowed, his face flushed with anger. He knew he was somehow outmatched, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. He took a step forward, his fist still raised.

  "Fine," he snarled, his voice laced with venom. "But this ain't over." He shoved Jace roughly, then turned and stormed off to his seat, his shoulders hunched, his pride wounded.

  Jace stood there, his chest heaving, his hands still tingling with residual energy. He watched Tank take his seat then turned to Leo "You… you okay?" Jace asked, his voice hoarse.

  Leo nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Yeah… thanks."

  Jace nodded back, then turned and walked away back to his seat , his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He'd stopped Tank, and he hadn't used his powers. He'd found a way to stand his ground without crossing the line. But he knew, deep down, that this was just the beginning. The real challenge was just beginning