Ethan Blazeury had never felt as at ease as he did in the underground training hall of his apartment. The ground trembled subtly beneath him as he successfully channeled the power inside his body. All the hard work he had put in over the past five months was finally paying off. The Dark Essence that accumulated in his body had also grown considerably potent.
"Just as planned." A guy with a green hair said as he patted Ethan's back. The training program had been extensively built for just such a desired outcome. It all happened right after he executed the last steps of the plan.
Another guy with sleek black hair and sharp dark eyes looked up from his tablet, adjusting his glasses with his pale fingers. He was the one who worked behind the scenes and had a massive contribution to the plan, undergoing days of research to come up with the best strategy and the most plausible ramifications. "I know you will definitely be the first. Now we can proceed to the next step."
"It's just natural." He added.
The scarlet glow created by the mysterious force seemed to pulse as if it had a life of its own. Ethan, who stared at the pulsating light, couldn't help but felt a sense of awe and overwhelming anticipation. The power contained within the intensity of its energy would have made ordinary people's hair stand on end.
He just stood there, casually immersed, watching the bizarre pulse in his veins rippled through his arms and body like it was nothing out of the ordinary.
It had taken a long time for the energy just to accumulate in Ethan's body. It's even harder for him to gain control of it. The strange energy's violent and erratic nature had foiled his every attempt again and again for the past 5 months.
His seemingly pointless struggles had only fueled his desire and ambition to further pursue the unruly power that had eluded his grasp. It's just that this strange energy emanates a wild and untamed temperament that made his relentless efforts much more harder.
Fortunately, despite the overwhelming challenge, the strange energy eventually subdued by him. Ethan won the battle of wills, refusing to surrender to his internal struggle.
This power came from the Evil Creature that roamed through this city during the darkest hour of the night. With the exploration and the potential benefits of the energy were remained undiscovered—until 5 months ago, when Ethan's team using the ATG, began their groundbreaking research and unveiled a shocking discovery.
"It's all thanks to you and your research, Owen." Ethan glanced at the guy who was still focused on his tablet.
Still marveling at his remarkable and newfound power, he clenched his fist tightly.
"It's nothing, really. Everyone will catch up eventually. It's just that the government is a bit slow."
Suddenly, an abrupt, discernible sobbing halted Ethan's train of thought as two girls climbed down a set of spiraling stairs from above. One of them nimbly leaped off the old, weathered railing and landed safely on the ground. Still with her sobbing cry echoing in the air, the petite girl ran directly towards him.
"Ethan, you did it!" Her tears welled up in her eyes and her voice trembled a little with an emotion. Overcome with relief, the girl embrace him without hesitation, seemingly oblivious to his startled expression.
"Oh, Daisy?"
"Seriously, how many times have I told you not to run around the building like that!" The other girl quickly followed, her footsteps hurried while approaching them.
"Are you okay, Ethan?" She asked with a hint of concern on her face.
The strange energy around his body swiftly receded, and then he gave her a reassuring smile, trying to ease the tension.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little bit surprised that both of you were rushed here so quickly, that's all."
"Are you sure?" Her brow furrowing with concern as she took a step closer. Her gaze swept over Ethan, searching for any sign of discomfort. The sincerity in her eyes showed her deep care for him. Then, with a relieved sigh, she decided to trust him, believing that he wouldn't lie to his allies.
"Yes, I assure you, Jeanne. There's nothing to worry about. And Daisy, I'm fine—I promise."
Despite his attempts to reassure her, the girl refused to cease and remained unwilling to release her hold. It took a few scoldings from Jeanne before the petite girl finally relented.
Even with his reassurances, Ethan knew the integration of the strange energy into one's body posed a consequential risk. The process of merging with such volatile force was inherently perilous, potentially disrupting the body's internal balance and could also lead into a severe additional side effects.
Still, in the face of the inherent danger, the strange energy had shown its potential to dramatically enhance various aspects of one's abilities. He could see that it could amplify a person's speed, grant explosive bursts of power and significantly bolster physical strength and increase his regenerative capabilities.
His newly gained power that surged within him was strangely intoxicating, but he also understood the burden that now pressed down on him. With constant threats that could arise from overusing this power, Ethan knew he had to tread carefully.
This wasn't a tool to be wielded recklessly. It was a double-edged sword with the potential to elevate him to new heights. In order to utilize it fully, he had to remain disciplined and in control at every moment.
Ethan couldn't afford to lose himself to the draw of unbridled strength. Letting it take over would lead to catastrophic repercussions—not just for himself, but also for those around him.
"Now that everyone has gathered, let's begin our discussion, shall we?" Owen's voice suddenly resounded from the corner of the training ground, and the room fell into a tense silence after his words.
"You can't be serious right?" Daisy's eyes grew wide in a frantic surprise.
"I am." Owen said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. He glanced at Ethan, who was now leaning against the wall with a perplexed look and a heavy sigh.
"But he's just gained control of that power. You can't do this. No, this is madness!"
Daisy's gaze swept over the group, her voice rising slightly. "Are we really going through with this? There's too much at stake!" Her eyes also landed on Ethan with concern, as if waiting for him to step in and halt the decision.
"Ethan!" Daisy's voice resounded again as she looked directly at him, but he only stared at the floor, lost in his thoughts, saying nothing as the significance of the decision loomed over him.
The risk of losing himself lingered like a haunting echo, igniting a flicker of doubt that echoed deep within his heart. The dangers he faced were undeniable, and he knew their concerns weren't something he could easily dismiss—especially if he kept pushing himself like this. No matter how much he tried to reassure his allies, their anxieties ran deeper than words could reach.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you. We've come so far, and..."
Jeanne lightly touched Daisy's shoulder, her eyes filled with concern but also a hardened resolve. "We have to trust Ethan this time," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering worry.
"He has made up his mind, and we need to be here to support him. He managed to do it once, right? I'm sure he can pull it off again."
Daisy's voice shook as she uttered once again, "But, forcing him to push further could—"
"Could be exactly what we need," Owen cut in with an assertive tone. "You're right to worry, but we've all seen what he's capable of. We might not have any other choice."
"But still, this is a perilous task. Can we at least postpone this for a few days?" Daisy implored, her voice tinged with quiet desperation as she sought to sway their resolve.
The typically reserved and reticent green-haired guy, who had remained mute for some time finally interjected into the conversation. He stepped forward with a firm voice. "We don't have time for this, Daisy. We anticipated this before and knew there would be perils."
"Gin, don't tell me you're inclined to offer yourself to be the one who tests the serum?" Daisy remarked.
He nodded with steadfast conviction. "I am. In fact, I've ruminated upon this for a while. While Jeanne possesses far more formidable willpower, that's precisely why I'm the better choice. I exist somewhere in the middle—resilient enough to handle it, yet not so strong as to obfuscate the results."
Though he said that, he was fully aware of the risks involved. Still, he steadied his mind. Regardless, he knew this was something he had to do, no matter the cost. Sacrifice was inevitable if they wanted to move forward, and although perilous, this step was inescapable necessity.
All this time, the ATG device provided by the government had facilitated their research on the enigmatic energy, which was somehow gradually growing stronger with each passing day. Despite its impressive capabilities, the advanced and diminutive device would struggle to ensure their safety during prolonged nighttime ventures into the city. Its protective influence would wane as the strange energy intensified, making it increasingly difficult for the device to counteract its effects.
This was precisely why their stratagem had to succeed this time. If their efforts proved ineffective, they would be compelled to confine themselves to the apartment building until reinforcements arrived. Rather than adopting a passive stance, they resolved to undertake decisive action instead.
"Okay, Ethan may indeed possess the capability. But are you unequivocally certain you can replicate such success? If anyone's taking that audacious risk, it should be me. At least let me try it!" Daisy crossed her arms, her frustration palpable.
"No," Gin said firmly. "We're too close to this. If anything goes awry, we need you to be objective, to stay focused."
With Gin's adamant rejection, everything became a foregone conclusion. Despite the inherent risks, they could not afford to waver in their decision. Daisy might possess strong fortitude and bravery, but in terms of endurance, she was the most vulnerable among them. Nevertheless, there was no time for further discourse; they had to resolve this once and for all.
Owen cleared his throat, shattering the tense silence that enveloped them. "We don't have the luxury of further debate. Ethan, you're the linchpin in making all of this work. Are you ready to demonstrate what this power can truly manifest?"
All eyes in the underground chamber converged upon Ethan. He exhaled deeply, then nodded. "I'll do it. You guys stay back. If anything feels amiss, we halt immediately."
Fusing with the Dark Essence was no trifling endeavor. What Ethan sought to accomplish was to employ the full potency of the energy, manifesting it entirely to elucidate the true breadth of its capabilities. With this insight, they could propel their research forward and devise a serum with more advanced bio-programming to augment the chances of acquiring its power. Ultimately, the outcome depended entirely on Ethan's performance.
Ethan stepped onto a specialized platform that Owen had constructed in the underground chamber. This platform provided a crucial safety measure to avert any potential disaster. With this, there was no turning back. Whether they would succeed or falter hinged entirely on Ethan's hands as he began to channel his power...