Chapter 10: The Eye of the Storm
The night was thick with tension as Aaron stood at the edge of the forest, watching the figures move through the trees like phantoms. His senses were heightened, every muscle in his massive frame coiled and ready. The storm he had summoned rumbled overhead, casting sporadic flashes of lightning that illuminated the dense woods, revealing brief glimpses of the approaching force.
Aaron could feel the power surging through him, the storm within responding to the threat. But something about this felt different. It wasn't just another test, or another group sent to capture or kill him. There was a precision to their movements, a ruthlessness in the way they approached, as if they had studied him, prepared for every possible outcome. These were professionals. They weren't here to test him—they were here to end him.
The thought sent a chill down his spine, but Aaron pushed it aside. He had been training for this. Tempest's voice echoed in his mind, reminding him to stay calm, to embrace the power instead of letting it overwhelm him. He was no longer the boy who had escaped All For One's lab. He was stronger now. He was in control.
Aaron's eyes narrowed as he saw one of the figures raise a hand, signaling to the others. They spread out, forming a tight circle around his location. He could hear the faint hum of equipment—high-tech, probably designed specifically to neutralize someone like him.
Good luck with that, he thought grimly.
He took a step forward, his massive frame moving with surprising silence for a man his size. As he walked, the air around him began to shift, the wind picking up in intensity. The trees swayed, their branches creaking under the pressure. Lightning crackled overhead, and the first drops of rain began to fall, dotting the ground like a warning.
"Come out!" Aaron's voice boomed through the night, carrying with it the weight of the storm. "I know you're there. Face me."
For a moment, there was no response. The only sound was the wind howling through the trees, the storm building in intensity. Then, without warning, the forest exploded into motion.
The attackers rushed forward, their movements a blur of speed and precision. They were fast—faster than any normal human—but Aaron was faster. His muscles tensed, and in an instant, he was moving, weaving through the trees with impossible agility for a man of his size. He could feel the storm inside him roaring to life, electricity crackling through his veins.
The first attacker lunged at him, a blade glinting in the faint light. Aaron sidestepped with ease, grabbing the man by the wrist and twisting with a force that sent him flying into the nearest tree. There was a sickening crack as the man hit the trunk and collapsed, unconscious.
Before Aaron could react, two more attackers were on him. They moved in sync, flanking him from both sides, their weapons humming with energy. Aaron ducked as a blade swung for his head, the wind around him swirling in response. He planted his foot and spun, delivering a crushing blow to the second attacker's chest. The force of the punch sent the man flying backward, slamming into the ground with a thud.
The first attacker was faster, managing to slice at Aaron's side, but the blade barely grazed him. His skin, hardened by years of training and his unnatural durability, barely registered the wound. He growled, his eyes glowing with a dangerous light as he grabbed the attacker by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"You should have stayed hidden," Aaron muttered before tossing the man aside like a ragdoll.
The storm was in full force now. The wind howled, bending trees and sending debris flying through the air. Lightning cracked across the sky, and the rain came down in torrents. Aaron stood in the center of it all, his eyes glowing with raw power as he faced the remaining attackers. They hesitated for a moment, clearly reevaluating their strategy. But Aaron could see it in their eyes—they were afraid.
Good.
"Is this all you've got?" Aaron called out over the roar of the storm. "I expected more."
As if in response, the ground beneath him shook. Aaron's eyes widened as he felt a rumbling in the earth, and before he could react, the ground erupted. A massive figure burst from the earth, towering over Aaron. It was armored from head to toe, its massive frame almost as large as Aaron's. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its hands crackled with energy.
Aaron took a step back, his heart racing. This wasn't just some ordinary soldier. This was something else entirely. Something built for one purpose: to take him down.
The figure roared, and in an instant, it was charging at him. Aaron barely had time to brace himself before the figure slammed into him with the force of a freight train, sending him flying backward. He crashed into a tree, the impact shaking the ground around him. Pain shot through his body, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand.
The armored figure was on him again in a flash, moving with unnatural speed for something its size. It swung a massive fist at Aaron, but he ducked just in time, the blow smashing into the tree behind him and shattering it into splinters.
Aaron rolled to his feet, his eyes glowing with fury. The storm inside him roared to life, the wind swirling around him in a vortex of power. He raised his hand, and lightning cracked from the sky, striking the armored figure square in the chest. The figure stumbled, its armor smoking, but it didn't fall.
"Is that all you've got?" a voice boomed from the figure, distorted by the armor's speakers. "You'll need more than that to take me down."
Aaron clenched his fists, his muscles tensing as the storm inside him surged. He could feel the power coursing through his veins, begging to be unleashed. He had been holding back, afraid of what might happen if he let the full force of his abilities out. But now, with this thing standing in front of him, he knew he didn't have a choice.
"No more holding back," Aaron growled, his voice low and dangerous.
He raised both hands, and the storm answered. The wind roared, and the sky lit up with a barrage of lightning. It wasn't just one bolt this time—it was dozens, each one striking the armored figure with the force of a bomb. The figure staggered, its armor cracking under the relentless assault. But it didn't fall.
Aaron's eyes blazed with fury as he took a step forward, his body crackling with energy. The ground shook beneath him as the storm grew in intensity, the wind howling like a living thing. He could feel the power inside him building, growing, until it was almost too much to contain.
"Enough!" Aaron shouted, his voice echoing through the storm.
With a roar, he unleashed the full force of his power. The wind exploded outward in a shockwave, sending the armored figure flying through the air. Lightning struck the ground around Aaron, the earth splitting open as the sheer force of the storm tore through the landscape. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the air crackled with energy.
When the dust finally settled, Aaron stood alone in the center of the destruction, his chest heaving with exertion. The armored figure lay crumpled on the ground, its armor shattered and smoking. Aaron approached it cautiously, his eyes glowing with the remnants of the storm's power.
As he reached the figure, he saw a faint flicker of movement. The helmeted head tilted slightly, and the voice—weak now, distorted—spoke again.
"You… you think this is over?" the voice rasped. "This is only the beginning."
Aaron's eyes narrowed. "Who sent you?"
The figure coughed, a harsh, metallic sound. "You'll find out soon enough. The storm is coming, Aaron Storm… and it's going to consume everything."
Before Aaron could respond, the figure's body convulsed, and then went still. A moment later, the light in its eyes flickered out, leaving only silence in its wake.
Aaron stood over the fallen figure for a long moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew the figure was right. This wasn't over. Whatever force had sent these attackers, whatever power they were after, it was far from done with him.
The storm inside him had only just begun to awaken. And now, there was no turning back.
As the first light of dawn broke through the clouds, Aaron turned away from the wreckage and started back up the mountain. He needed to find Tempest. They had to prepare.
The real fight was only just beginning.