Jon slipped into a nearly concealed corner of the alley and opened the enchanted suitcase before climbing inside.
In the realm within the suitcase, Jon retrieved Compound V and gazed at it intently, his expression tinged with hesitation.
"Hmm... Drinking Compound V should awaken superpowers, but there's also a real risk of transforming into something grotesque," Jon murmured as he examined the small blue bottle in his hand and sighed deeply.
After pondering for a few moments, he waved his hand over the bottle, casting a flame spell upon it.
With this precaution, Jon felt less concerned about potential complications. By marking the potion beforehand, he could use hellfire to eradicate any adverse effects from his system should any arise after ingestion.
Following a brief period of consideration, Jon uncorked the bottle of Compound V and downed it in one swift motion.
Right after swallowing the potion, Jon didn't notice any immediate changes. Just as he was wondering why, he suddenly felt an overwhelming heaviness surge through his body, causing him to drop to the ground involuntarily.
Jon realized this might be the beginning of his superpower emerging and that he would need time to adjust. Once he acclimated, he believed he would gain control over his newfound abilities.
Initially, Jon attempted to prop himself up using his hands, but his body felt too heavy to maintain his posture. After struggling for half an hour, he could no longer bear the strain, and his arms collapsed, sending him plummeting to the ground.
As his head struck the ground, there was a thunderous crash, and the earth beneath him caved in, forming a vast crater. In that moment, Jon felt his consciousness slipping away, and he blacked out.
***
After an indeterminate period, Jon's eyes fluttered open. He realized the oppressive weight that had pinned him down was gone, and he slowly stood up.
Looking around, he was taken aback by the scene. The suitcase world, his crafted sanctuary, appeared as though a tornado had swept through it. The quaint wooden house he had built lay in ruins, and the ground was marred by significant cracks. Puzzled and concerned, Jon couldn't help but question the events that occurred during his unconsciousness.
"Alessa, what happened here?" Jon called out.
From the shadows, Alessa's voice, cool and detached, filled the air, "After you passed out, your body began to emit some sort of gravitational waves, wreaking all this havoc."
Her explanation was brief, but it illuminated everything for Jon. It was undoubtedly linked to the superpower he had just unlocked.
"Why didn't you wake me up sooner?" Jon sighed, a bit frustrated.
"It's your problem, not mine," Alessa responded icily.
Choosing not to dwell on her response, Jon turned his thoughts to his new ability.
If his suspicions were correct, his power was related to gravity. Alessa had mentioned his body emitting gravitational waves during his blackout. That must be his superpower.
Taking a deep breath, Jon closed his eyes and extended his hands towards the remnants of the wooden house. He focused intently.
"Ha~!"
With a mere thought, a visible energy wave surged from Jon's palms. There was a loud crash as what was left of the wooden house's structure gave way completely.
"Just as I thought!" Jon breathed out, a broad smile of satisfaction spreading across his face, pleased with the capabilities of his new superpower.
Jon's newfound power to emit gravity waves was akin to Admiral Fujitora's from "One Piece." He realized that if harnessed correctly, the destructive capabilities of his power could potentially rival even those of Homelander.
After practicing for a while, Jon gained better control and familiarity with his ability. He then wielded the Elder Wand, putting considerable effort into restoring his surroundings to their original state.
With the environment set right, Jon pondered his next move. "Well... I need to test my superpower in real combat. But who would be the right candidate?" he mused.
A moment of inspiration struck him, and he snapped his fingers. "I've got it!"
...
The Church of the Collective, despite its waning influence, retained significant connections and resources. Ostensibly a charitable organization, it purported to assist disillusioned superheroes in regaining their self-esteem, rebuilding their lives, and navigating past hardships.
After being ousted from the Seven, both Deep and A-Train had found refuge within this group. The church helped these superheroes reinvent themselves, gradually improving and leveraging their connections to facilitate their return to the Seven.
However, the altruistic facade of the Church of the Collective concealed its true nature. In essence, it operated more like a cult. When Deep joined, he was administered a psychiatric drug. Can a truly benevolent organization employ drugs to guide people toward goodness? Moreover, it became clear through Deep's experiences that the church's methods involved a level of brainwashing.
But today, this already declining cult was about to face a new crisis.
A man with a pale, solid build was slowly approaching the church's headquarters, a cold smile playing on his lips. As he neared the building, his odd behavior caught the eye of a passerby. A guard approached him, curiosity evident in his voice. "Hey man, what are you doing here?"
"You will see," the man replied calmly, his hands poised and ready, hinting at the unleashing of his powerful new ability.
As Jon unleashed the force of his gravity waves, the structure of the church's building couldn't withstand the immense pressure and crumbled into debris. The potency of the wave was undeniable, confirming the immense power Jon now wielded.
Indeed, Jon had cleverly disguised himself using Polyjuice Potion, borrowing the appearance of a thug he had encountered and defeated on his journey here. Considering his ambitions to join the Seven, maintaining anonymity during such drastic actions was crucial. His real identity needed to remain hidden from public view.
The guard who had just interacted with Jon was shocked beyond belief as the building fell before his eyes. "Oh my God, what happened?!" he exclaimed in panic.
"What's going on?! An earthquake?!" another bystander yelled, confused and frightened by the sudden destruction.
"Heavens, Homelander, please save us!" cries rang out from the crowd, their voices filled with terror as they scrambled in all directions. The chaotic scene spread quickly along the street, with the reality of danger sinking deep into the hearts of the bystanders.
Among the chaos, only a few people noticed the pale man who was still standing calmly, his hands extended towards the now-destroyed building. They realized that he was not just an ordinary man caught up in the situation but the instigator of the destruction.
The guard who had spoken to Jon earlier stared at him, his fear palpable. "How?! A supervillain?!" he gasped, backing away as he tried to process the sudden turn of events.
Amidst the shouts for help, cries for Homelander and Stormfront to save them filled the air, illustrating the public's desperation for heroes in times of crisis.
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