The training PODs hummed softly as Dave watched his parents disappear into their individual chambers. The look of determination on their faces was unmistakable. They had tasted power, and now, like him, they craved more. With each day, their strength grew, and the bonds within his family became even stronger.
But just as he was about to return to his own tasks, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw his friend Alex's name flashing.
"Alex? What's up, man?" Dave answered, leaning back against the wall with a smile.
"Dave, buddy! What's up? Long time no see," Alex's enthusiastic voice echoed through the phone. "Listen, I'm throwing a party at my place tonight. I'd love for you to come. It's been ages since we hung out, and I know you've been busy with… well, whatever it is you've been doing."
Dave chuckled softly. "Yeah, I've been occupied, but I could use a night off. Sounds like a plan."
"Great! Oh, and bring a swimsuit. I got a new pool installed. I want you to see it," Alex added, his excitement palpable.
"Swimsuit, got it. I'll be there," Dave confirmed.
"One more thing," Alex's tone turned slightly hesitant. "I, uh, thought I should mention… your ex, Jenna, will be there too. She's coming with her new boyfriend. Hope that's not an issue?"
For a moment, Dave felt a pang of old memories, but then a slow smile spread across his lips. Things were different now. He was different now. He no longer felt the need to impress or prove himself to anyone—least of all Jenna. The thought of seeing her again didn't faze him in the slightest.
"Don't worry about it, Alex," Dave replied smoothly. "I'll see you there."
As the evening approached, Dave stood before his gleaming supercar, the low hum of its engine a reminder of just how far he'd come. He slid into the driver's seat, the soft leather conforming to his body as he gripped the steering wheel. With a flick of his wrist, the car roared to life, and he sped down the road, the world blurring past him in a rush of lights and colors.
When he arrived at Alex's lavish home, he parked his car with a confident smirk. The sight of Alex's message flashed in his mind—Jenna and her new boyfriend would be there. As he stepped out, he took a moment to admire the sprawling mansion before him. Music and laughter poured out from the house, the scent of food and drinks wafting through the air. It was a stark contrast to the rough, chaotic life he'd been living recently.
Dave walked up the steps and pushed open the door, stepping into a world of familiar faces and some new ones. The living room was filled with friends and acquaintances from his past. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as people mingled, danced, and enjoyed themselves. A few heads turned as he entered, but one particular gaze locked onto him—Jenna's.
She stood near the pool, her eyes widening slightly as she took in his appearance. Dressed in a fitted shirt and casual trousers, Dave exuded an effortless confidence that hadn't been there before. Her surprise was quickly masked with a smirk, and she nudged the tall man standing beside her—her new boyfriend.
"Look who decided to show up," Jenna said loudly, drawing the attention of several partygoers. "Dave, the 'I'm-too-busy-to-come-to-parties' guy!"
Dave merely smiled, his gaze sweeping over her and her new boyfriend without a hint of hostility. "Jenna, it's been a while. I didn't think you'd still care about what I do."
"Oh, don't flatter yourself," Jenna retorted, tossing her hair back. "Just surprised to see you out of your little hole. Are you still working that dead-end job, or did they finally give you a raise big enough to buy a decent car?"
Her boyfriend snickered beside her, throwing Dave a condescending glance. "Yeah, Jenna's told me all about your 'big dreams.' Pretty sad, man. But hey, at least you showed up. That's something."
A few people around them chuckled, but Dave's smile never wavered. He casually slipped his hands into his pockets, unperturbed by their mocking. "Well, things have changed a bit since then."
"Oh, really?" Jenna scoffed, crossing her arms. "What's changed, Dave? Did you finally save up enough to buy a new pair of shoes?"
More laughter echoed around them, but Dave's calm demeanor didn't falter. He took a step forward, his gaze locked on Jenna's, and for a moment, the room seemed to still.
"Why don't we just say," Dave's voice was low but carried a weight that silenced the mocking snickers, "that I've found a way to get everything I ever wanted. And I'm doing just fine."
Jenna opened her mouth to retort, but something in Dave's expression made her pause. Her boyfriend, not sensing the shift in the atmosphere, stepped forward aggressively.
"You think you can come here and act all high and mighty?" he growled, raising his fist. "Let me show you what happens when you mess with—"
Before anyone could blink, Dave teleported behind him in a flash. With just a flick of his finger, he stopped the punch mid-swing, causing Jenna's boyfriend's entire arm to seize up. Gasps erupted around them as Dave effortlessly twisted the man's arm behind his back, sending him crashing to his knees with a yelp of pain.
"Careful," Dave murmured, his voice calm but laced with a deadly edge. "You might hurt yourself."
With a swift motion, Dave released him and stepped back, watching as Jenna's boyfriend stumbled to his feet, his face contorted in shock and embarrassment. Jenna, too, looked stunned, her confident smirk replaced with a look of disbelief.
"W-What the hell?" her boyfriend stammered, clutching his twisted arm.
Dave didn't respond. Instead, he glanced around the room, meeting the wide eyes of the partygoers who had witnessed the entire exchange.
"I'm not the same guy you remember," Dave said quietly, his gaze settling on Jenna. "So you might want to think twice before trying to put me down again."
Jenna's face flushed with a mixture of anger and humiliation. "You think you're so great now? Just because you got a little bit of strength, you—"
"Jenna," Dave interrupted softly, his voice steady and firm. "I didn't come here to start trouble. But if you're looking for it, you won't like what you find."
Silence fell over the room as everyone watched, holding their breath. Then, slowly, the tension broke as murmurs and whispers filled the space.
"Holy crap, did you see that?"
"What did Dave do?"
"Who is this guy?"
As the onlookers buzzed with confusion and intrigue, Jenna's boyfriend stood shakily, glaring at Dave. But the fire in his eyes had dimmed considerably. With a final sneer, he turned away, muttering something under his breath as he led Jenna away from the confrontation.
Dave watched them go, a small smile playing on his lips. It wasn't satisfaction he felt, but a sense of closure. The person they had tried to belittle was gone, replaced by someone far beyond their comprehension.
The party gradually returned to its previous liveliness, but Dave remained an enigma in the eyes of many. He spent the rest of the evening mingling with friends, catching up with old acquaintances, and enjoying the night as if nothing had happened.
When the party finally began to wind down, Dave said his goodbyes and left, a sense of fulfillment settling over him. He had faced his past and walked away unscathed. There was no bitterness, no anger—only the understanding that he had risen above it all.
As he slid back into his car and started the engine, he glanced at his phone and saw a message from Alex.
Alex: "Dude, that was crazy! I've never seen anyone shut Jenna up like that. You were amazing!"
Dave chuckled softly, typing a quick reply before putting the phone down and driving away into the night. The past was behind him. And the future, full of infinite possibilities, stretched out before him.
With a satisfied smile, Dave headed back home, ready to continue his journey, no matter where it led.