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Yu Chen walked via the acquainted corridors of Tianluo Academy, but the whole lot felt unique. The as soon as intimidating partitions, the remote chatter of students, even the load of his very own footsteps—all regarded to carry a brand new which means. The pendant, the Celestial Nexus, pulsed gently in opposition to his chest, a steady reminder of the exquisite encounter he had just experienced.
but as powerful as he felt, doubt still lingered inside the back of his mind. ought to he in reality be the only selected to protect the multiverse? changed into it even real, or turned into it just another dream, every other cruel trick of his thoughts? those questions gnawed at him, even as he made his way closer to the imperative courtyard, where his tormentors awaited.
"well, well, if it isn't Yu Chen," sneered a voice as he approached the courtyard. It become Li Fang, the leader of the organization that had bullied him for so long as he ought to take into account. "Come returned for every other beating, loser?"
The words struck Yu Chen like a physical blow, but this time, something became distinct. the fear that had always paralyzed him changed into nonetheless there, but it changed into tempered by some thing new—dedication. He did not recoil, didn't cower like he commonly might. instead, he appeared Li Fang inside the eyes, his hand instinctively brushing against the Celestial Nexus.
"no longer nowadays," Yu Chen replied, his voice regular, unexpected even himself.
Li Fang's expression faltered for a break up 2nd earlier than twisting into a sneer. "what is this? The loser's determined some braveness?" He took a breakthrough, cracking his knuckles. "let's have a look at how long that lasts."
the opposite students gathered around, keen to witness any other display of Yu Chen's humiliation. they'd visible this state of affairs play out countless instances earlier than—Yu Chen might face up to for a moment, however then he'd be on the floor, begging for mercy. today could be no exceptional, or so that they notion.
Li Fang lunged at Yu Chen, his fist aimed immediately at his face. Time regarded to sluggish down as Yu Chen's mind raced. Instinctively, he reached for the pendant, feeling its warm temperature surge through his frame. The strength of the Celestial Nexus awakened within him, and in that moment, the entirety modified.
With a fluid movement that surprised all people, inclusive of himself, Yu Chen sidestepped Li Fang's punch. He felt the energy coursing via him, guiding his movements, sprucing his senses. before Li Fang may want to recover, Yu Chen's hand shot out, striking him inside the chest with a force that despatched him stumbling backward.
The courtyard fell silent as Li Fang struggled to trap his breath, clutching his chest wherein Yu Chen had struck him. the other students stared in disbelief. Yu Chen had by no means fought again before, let alone landed successful on a person like Li Fang.
"How… how did you…?" Li Fang gasped, his eyes extensive with surprise and anger.
Yu Chen himself changed into nonetheless processing what had simply happened. The electricity that had flowed thru him—it turned into not like anything he had ever felt before. It turned into as if the Celestial Nexus had woke up part of him that have been dormant for years, a part of him that was able to more than he had ever imagined.
"i'm accomplished being your punching bag," Yu Chen stated, his voice calm but full of an authority that none of the scholars had ever heard from him. "if you need to fight, you'll should earn it."
Li Fang's face twisted in rage. "you believe you studied you may communicate to me like that? you observed one lucky hit adjustments something?" He charged at Yu Chen again, however this time, Yu Chen changed into prepared.
The pendant glowed brightly as Yu Chen tapped into its strength another time. He ought to experience the power pulsing via him, heightening his reflexes, empowering his frame. With practiced ease, he sidestepped Li Fang's assault once more, and with a rapid motion, he delivered his hand down at the lower back of Li Fang's neck, sending him crashing to the floor.
Li Fang lay there, taken aback, as the crowd erupted in whispers. This turned into a aspect of Yu Chen that no person had ever visible earlier than—a aspect that no person idea existed.
Yu Chen stepped lower back, breathing heavily, because the reality of what he had simply finished began to sink in. He had defeated Li Fang, the faculty's most notorious bully, without breaking a sweat. And he had done it now not with worry or hesitation, however with confidence and energy.
however because the adrenaline commenced to wear off, Yu Chen found out some thing else—he had only tapped into a fragment of the power that the Celestial Nexus had given him. there has been a lot greater to analyze, a lot more to find out. And if he turned into going to live as much as the position that were thrust upon him, he had to master it.
earlier than every person ought to react, Yu Chen became and walked away from the courtyard, leaving the greatly surprised college students in the back of. He did not have time to deal with their questions, their stares. He had a mission now, a motive that went far beyond the petty squabbles of Tianluo Academy.
As he walked thru the halls, his mind changed into racing with opportunities. What else may want to the Celestial Nexus do? How far should he push his newfound capabilities? And most importantly, in which should he begin?
His thoughts have been interrupted by way of a familiar voice. "Yu Chen, wait!"
He grew to become to look Mei Ling, one of the few college students who had ever proven him kindness, hurrying toward him. She turned into a petite woman with brilliant eyes and a smooth demeanor, regularly the problem of the equal bullying that Yu Chen had endured. however unlike him, she had in no way shown any signs and symptoms of fighting back.
"Mei Ling," Yu Chen said, amazed. "what's it?"
She glanced round nervously, making sure they were alone earlier than talking. "I noticed what you did lower back there. How… how did you do this?"
Yu Chen hesitated. He wasn't positive how an awful lot he could tell her, or if she would even believe him. The Celestial Nexus, the voice inside the void, the multiverse—all of it sounded so fantastical, so implausible. but Mei Ling's eyes have been packed with genuine interest and issue, and Yu Chen knew he couldn't maintain it from her.
"it's… complex," he sooner or later stated, decreasing his voice. "something came about to me. something that changed the whole thing."
Mei Ling checked out him intently. "What do you mean? What happened?"
Yu Chen took a deep breath, unsure of where to start. "I do not know how to give an explanation for it. i used to be within the garden after… when they beat me up. I concept i used to be dreaming, but then i was some place else—every other location, every other international. And there was this voice, this energy…"
Mei Ling's eyes widened. "any other world? A voice? What are you speaking about?"
"I comprehend it sounds loopy," Yu Chen stated quick, "but it is proper. I don't recognize all of it but, but I recognize this: i've been given a 2nd chance, a risk to come to be some thing extra. And i am no longer going to waste it."
Mei Ling become silent for a second, her expression a aggregate of disbelief and awe. "Yu Chen… I don't know what's occurring to you, but… I believe you."
Yu Chen blinked, amazed by means of her reaction. "You do?"
She nodded. "i have seen the way they have got treated you. i have seen how much you've got suffered. If each person merits a 2nd risk, it's you."
Her words touched something deep within Yu Chen, some thing he hadn't felt in a long term—wish. For see you later, he had been alone, isolated by using his weak spot, his inability to fight returned. but now, for the primary time, he felt like he wasn't by myself anymore.
"thanks, Mei Ling," he stated softly. "that means plenty."
She smiled, although it changed into tinged with fear. "but… what are you going to do now?"
Yu Chen appeared down at the pendant, its glow barely visible under his robes. "i am going to determine out how to use this energy. I don't know where it's going to lead me, but I can't stay here. there may be something accessible—something bigger than all of this. and that i must locate it."
Mei Ling's expression turned severe. "Then i'm coming with you."
Yu Chen's eyes widened. "What? No, Mei Ling, it's too risky. I do not even realize what i am up towards but."
"I do not care," she stated firmly. "you're my friend, Yu Chen. i am now not going to assist you to do that on my own."
He hesitated, torn among wanting to protect her and the understanding that he might need allies on this adventure. Mei Ling wasn't strong—at the least, not in the manner he changed into beginning to become—however she had a power of spirit that Yu Chen had always sought after.
"o.k.," he sooner or later agreed, "however we want to be careful. We can't allow absolutely everyone realize what we're making plans. now not till we're geared up."
Mei Ling nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "we're going to be equipped."
As they walked collectively via the academy grounds, Yu Chen felt a strange feel of peace. He had no idea what the future held, however for the primary time, he became searching ahead to it. With the Celestial Nexus in his hand and Mei Ling by means of his facet, he knew that anything challenges lay in advance, he would face them head-on.
the journey become simply starting, and Yu Chen turned into geared up to include it.
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