I flexed my fists, feeling the raw power surging through me like a current ready to explode. The sensation was overwhelming, thrilling, as if my body had become a live wire. But amidst the rush, one thought was clear: Aria, Sarah, Asia—where were they?
Suddenly—BAM!—before I could blink, Subha's hand gripped mine, her fingers tight with urgency, pulling me with force.
"Sweetie, no time to think! We've got business to attend to!"
Before I could even react, we were airborne—VROOOOOM—her Super Ferrari tearing through the sky at breakneck speed, the engine's roar drowning out everything else. The world below was a blur as I tried to make sense of what was happening.
"M-Mommy, what is this madness?!" I shouted, the words barely escaping my lips amidst the sheer speed and chaos.
She glanced at me with a gleaming smile, her eyes sharp like a hawk's. "You think that power was something? Hah! You're just scratching the surface, darling. Hold tight! You haven't seen anything yet."
With a deafening BOOM, the car slammed onto the ground, skidding to a stop in front of a massive, metallic structure, its towering presence casting an intimidating shadow. The air crackled with tension as we stepped inside. Every sound seemed magnified—THUD, THUD, THUD—our footsteps echoed through the corridor, the silence only broken by the hum of the machinery surrounding us.
Then, I saw her.
My heart skipped a beat—there she stood, calm, composed, Sarah, the woman who was like a sister to me. But something was wrong. She stood in her pristine white coat, her eyes cold, detached… like a stranger. THUD, THUD, THUD—the sound of her boots was rhythmic, deliberate, as she walked toward us.
"Sarah?!" I shouted, my voice cracking, floating in disbelief. How could this be happening?
Subha wasted no time, her voice ringing out loud and clear. "Doctor Sarah! You've got to help me! My son… Eric—something crazy has happened! Yesterday, he was just twelve! But today—BAM!—he's grown up into this!"
Sarah's expression didn't change. Her gaze slid over to me, her brow furrowed, her pen moving as she scribbled on her clipboard, the sound grating like nails on a chalkboard. "So… you're telling me he just… grew?" Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like she was sizing me up, trying to understand something deeper.
"Yes!" Subha was practically bouncing. "In the middle of a fight with monsters, he just transformed—BOOM! I don't even know what to make of it!" She turned to me, her eyes wide. "Right, Eric?"
I stood there, my mind spinning, still reeling from the fact that Sarah didn't seem to recognize me. It was like… she wasn't the Sarah I knew. Everything was wrong.
Sarah's eyes narrowed as she studied me, stepping closer, her voice dangerously calm. "You're telling me you just… grew up?" Her tone was sharp now, challenging. "You better not be playing games, kid. I don't have time for nonsense."
My heart raced. "Sarah… you don't remember me, do you?"
Her expression flickered with confusion. "Remember you? Why would I?"
THUD. It felt like a punch to the gut. She didn't remember a thing. Everything we'd been through, all of it—gone.
Subha could sense the tension and quickly changed the subject, forcing a smile. "Uh, maybe we should, you know, check him out? Just to make sure everything's… normal? This doesn't happen every day, right?"
Sarah nodded, eyes still fixed on me. "Yeah… let's run some tests." She gestured to a nurse. CLACK, CLACK—the nurse's heels clicked sharply on the floor as she approached with a fresh set of clothes. My old ones were torn to shreds from the sudden transformation.
As I pulled on the new outfit, I could feel Sarah's eyes boring into me. Her voice cut through the silence like a knife. "Monsters? Transformation? You better not be pulling my leg, kid. I don't tolerate lies."
Subha shot me a concerned glance. "Eric… what's this about another world?"
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding like thunder. Every word I spoke felt heavier than the last. The monsters. The fight. The transformation. It all spilled out of me in a rush, but as I continued, I could see the disbelief growing in their eyes.
THUNK. Subha and Sarah just stood there, mouths slightly open, as if trying to process what I had said. The silence was suffocating.
"Are you… serious?" Sarah muttered, rubbing her temple like she was trying to ward off a headache. "I've seen some weird things in my time, but this? This is beyond crazy."
Subha's eyes blinked rapidly, like she was trying to snap out of a dream. "Wait… you're telling me you're from another world?"
I clenched my fists, fighting to keep calm. "Yeah… and something's really wrong here. Sarah, you don't remember me. And you—" I turned to Subha, my voice trembling. "You're calling yourself my… mom? This—this doesn't make any sense! None of this is normal!"
Subha's expression twisted with confusion as she scratched her head. "Well… let's be real. Nothing's been normal lately. Monsters, bizarre stuff happening everywhere…" she trailed off, the weight of her words hanging in the air.
Sarah's sharp gaze sliced through the tension as she pointed toward one of the nearby hospital rooms. "Look, we can argue about this all day, but we need answers. Let's get you checked out. Whatever happened in that fight, we're going to figure it out."
As I stared at my reflection in the sterile glass—this new body, this strange muscular form—it felt surreal. I looked like I'd been training for years. My fingers twitched, still not used to this immense power.
[System Alert!] A piercing voice boomed in my mind, freezing me where I stood. "Do not speak of your transformation! This is a secret you must keep! If you tell anyone, you will face serious consequences!"
My pulse spiked. Consequences? "Why can't I tell her?" I thought frantically, trying to steady my breathing.
The system's voice echoed with chilling certainty. "If you do not obey, you will die."
"Die?! No! I won't say a word! I promise!" I whispered fiercely, my whole body shaking with fear.
Sarah's eyes bore into me, her expression filled with confusion. "What's wrong with you? You're acting strange—stranger than usual." There was a hint of worry in her voice now, her professional composure slipping.
Just then, she reached out and touched my arm.
KRAKOW! A burst of energy erupted from my body, the flash of light so bright it blinded everyone in the room. The force was unstoppable, sending Sarah flying backward, smashing into the wall with a deafening crash.
"Sarah!" I screamed, rushing toward her. My heart felt like it was about to explode in my chest.
Her body lay motionless, her eyes barely fluttering. The system's cold voice rang out again. "Do not let anyone discover your secrets. Speak again, and I will punish you."
Panic surged through me, like chains tightening around my throat. I could barely breathe. What was this curse? Why was I trapped in this nightmare? I felt like a puppet, controlled by invisible strings, bound to rules I didn't understand.
Before I could think, a doctor rushed in, their footsteps loud and frantic. Subha's face had turned pale, her hands trembling.
"It's an accident! We need to get Eric out of here!" Subha cried, grabbing my hand like a lifeline.
In a blur, we were speeding through the streets in her sleek, high-tech Ferrari. The world outside was a blur of colors and lights, but my mind was spinning even faster.
"What's happening to me?!" I thought, trying to make sense of the chaos around me. Everything felt like a cruel joke, like I was trapped in a twisted movie with no escape.
Suddenly, BEEP! BEEP! Subha's phone blared, breaking the tense silence. She glanced at the screen, her face turning grim.
"It's from the school… I have to explain what happened in the classroom."
"The school?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. "And what's a phone? How do people send messages like that?" The words felt foreign in my mouth, as if I had forgotten basic knowledge of this world.
Subha's grip tightened on the steering wheel, her expression hardening. "Listen, sweetie, I have to take care of this." Her tone left no room for argument. "Stay here and wait for me."
Before I could respond, she vanished, leaving me alone in the cold, dim room. My thoughts swirled like a raging storm, questions piling up faster than I could answer them.
The next morning, I awoke still dressed in the same clothes. My body ached from the tension, my mind exhausted from trying to process everything. What now? I wondered, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling.
When Subha returned, she tossed a fresh set of clothes at me with a bright smile. "Here! You need a new look to match your new self, don't you?"
I nodded absently, still struggling to grasp the gravity of the situation.
After dressing, Subha led me through the bustling streets toward a large, looming building. The principal's office. It felt like walking into a den of lions. "Her name is Lisa Lisa," Subha whispered. "She built this private school herself. It's crucial we handle this carefully."
Inside, Lisa Lisa eyed me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Her voice was soft, but sharp as a dagger. "What happened to your boy, Subha? He looks like a college student!" Her eyes darted between us, searching for answers.
I could feel the weight of her gaze, like she was trying to pierce through the surface and read my soul.
"And that fight yesterday? It was thrilling." There was a strange excitement in her voice, a hunger for something more.
Subha's face tightened, her usual playful demeanor gone. "I know what the problem is... but what's the solution?"
Lisa Lisa leaned in, her presence overpowering. "Subha," she began, her tone deliberate, "Eric needs to be admitted to Rajshahi Hunter College. It's the best choice for someone like him."
My stomach churned. Rajshahi? What kind of place was that? The name sent a shiver down my spine.
"What makes it so special?" I asked, my voice betraying the storm of emotions inside.
Lisa Lisa stood at the edge of the room, her silhouette bathed in light, casting long shadows across the floor. She moved with a calculated elegance, every step deliberate, every gesture sharp. The room itself seemed to bow to her presence. Her voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Rajshahi is not just a city," she began, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air, "it's a kingdom of excellence, a place where only the strong rise. A city built on blood, sweat, and the discipline of its warriors." She shifted her gaze, her eyes sharp like a hawk locking onto its prey. Her arm extended outward, her hand slicing through the air. "You think you understand power? Rajshahi will show you the true meaning of strength."
I felt a strange thrill ripple through me. Her words weren't just an explanation—they were a declaration of war. This place would be my battleground, and the stakes were higher than anything I'd imagined.
Lisa Lisa's stance shifted, her fingers snapping in an almost theatrical flourish. "Seven years ago, the heavens split open. A meteorite crashed into the earth with the force of an angry god, shaking the very foundation of the world."
She tilted her head back, striking a regal pose, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper that carried an undercurrent of danger. "For a moment, humanity trembled. People fell to their knees, begging for mercy. But instead of destruction, something far worse emerged—a portal to another dimension. A gateway to hellish creatures beyond our wildest nightmares."
I clenched my fists, feeling the gravity of her words pull at me. The idea of monsters tearing through dimensions felt surreal, yet the way she spoke made it real—terrifyingly real.
Lisa Lisa's eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward, pointing directly at me. "Monsters… yes, Eric, monsters. Things that live to hunt, to kill. And now they roam our world."
A chill crawled down my spine. This wasn't just a story. This was the reality I was about to step into.
Lisa Lisa's voice dropped even lower, her expression hardening like steel. "Rajshahi is where you will either rise… or fall. The Hunters who trained here faced those beasts. They are the reason we still breathe. And now, it's your turn. This isn't just a choice, Eric. This is your fate."
I stood there, the weight of her words sinking in. This was more than just passing some exam. This was about survival, about becoming someone more powerful than I had ever dreamed.
The city of Rajshahi stretched before me like a tapestry of power, every building glimmering in the sun, as though the very air here hummed with untold secrets. The sleek Ferrari hummed beneath us, a blur through the city streets, and I couldn't help but feel the intensity in the atmosphere—like the city itself was challenging me.
Subha leaned in, her voice teasing but layered with excitement. "Ready for this, sweetheart?" she asked, her lips curling into a smile as if she already knew I was about to dive headfirst into something larger than life.
I smirked back, my hand casually resting on the door. "This isn't just about passing an exam," I replied, my eyes narrowing as I gazed ahead. "This is about proving who I really am."
The car screeched to a halt before the towering Hunter College, its massive doors looming like the gates of an ancient fortress. As we stepped out, the ground seemed to tremble beneath my feet, the energy in the air almost palpable. This was it.
Inside the Admissions Hall, the atmosphere was suffocating with tension. Students clustered in groups, their eyes darting around like predators sizing up their prey. The buzz of nervous whispers filled the air, but I walked with a purpose, standing taller, moving with the ease of someone ready to take on the world.
Suddenly, I felt their gazes shift toward me—mocking, doubting.
"Hey, pretty boy," a voice called out from the crowd, dripping with arrogance, "you sure this is your scene?"
The room burst into laughter, their sneers like daggers. But I didn't waver. I turned toward them, striking a confident pose—one arm raised in defiance, my body twisted just slightly, my gaze burning with challenge.
I smirked, letting the tension build before I spoke, my voice steady, each word like a well-placed blow. "You think looks matter in a place like this?" I paused for effect, narrowing my eyes. "Let's see who's still standing when the dust settles."
The room went silent. Challenge accepted.
The first test was an obstacle course—brutal, designed to break the weak. As I stood at the starting line, I could feel my muscles tense, my senses sharpening. The countdown began.
"Three! Two! One!"
I launched myself forward, my body becoming a blur as I dodged the first set of swinging pendulums. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I navigated the narrow passages, leaping over traps with the precision of a seasoned warrior. The world around me seemed to slow, each movement deliberate, controlled.
The crowd gasped as I vaulted over the final obstacle, my body twisting mid-air into a perfect pose, landing with a graceful flourish.
"Not bad for a pretty boy, huh?" I shouted, my voice carrying across the arena as I struck a pose, arms spread wide, a defiant grin plastered on my face.
The second test: combat. My opponent towered over me, his muscles rippling as he cracked his knuckles. He was a tank—built to destroy. But I wasn't intimidated. I stood my ground, my body shifting into a fighting stance, legs spread wide, my hand outstretched, beckoning him to come at me.
"You're out of your league, pretty boy," he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.
I didn't even blink. "We'll see about that."
He charged at me, a freight train of muscle and rage. But I was faster. I ducked beneath his punch, spinning around him in a blur of motion, delivering a swift kick to his gut that sent him stumbling backward. The crowd gasped, their disbelief feeding my confidence.
Before he could recover, I was on him again, a flurry of strikes landing one after the other, each one precise, each one deadly.
"Too slow!" I shouted, my voice booming across the arena as I delivered the final blow—a spinning kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement feeding my adrenaline. I was unstoppable.
The final test loomed before me, a trial of sheer strength. A heavy bag, too massive for most to lift, stood silently—its presence a challenge in itself. The air crackled with tension, every student watching with bated breath. Could I lift it? I felt the stares of those who had already doubted me.
As I approached, I could hear the whispers behind me, snide remarks barely audible but sharp like daggers. "He's too weak... he'll never make it."
But I wasn't about to let their words weigh me down. No. This was the moment to show them all.
I squared my shoulders, eyes focused on the bag. As my fingers wrapped around the rough fabric, I could feel something stir deep inside me—a power that pulsed just below the surface, eager to break free. Anium, the power no one knew about, the power from another world.
"Let's show them what I'm really made of," I muttered under my breath, feeling that familiar surge of strength.
With a mighty roar, I hoisted the bag over my head effortlessly, the weight that had crushed others before me now felt as light as air. Gasps filled the room, disbelief evident on their faces. They didn't see this coming.
"What—what is this?!" one student cried, his voice breaking in shock.
Another echoed, "How is that even possible?"
But just as I was about to bask in their awe, a sudden flash of light erupted from the bag, a brilliant pulse that knocked everyone off their feet. A shockwave?!
I planted my feet firmly on the ground, the energy from the explosion swirling around me like a storm. What just happened?
As the dust settled, the arena descended into chaos. Students scrambled to their feet, some shouting in confusion, others in terror. But through the noise, a voice whispered in the back of my mind, cold and menacing.
"You must keep your secrets hidden. Reveal them, and there will be consequences."
I froze. The Anium... it was warning me.
Before I could react, Subha rushed to my side, her eyes wide with panic. "Eric! What's going on? That light—what was that?!"
I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of the moment bearing down on me. "I don't know, but I can't let anyone find out about this."
Just then, the doors to the arena swung open with a resounding boom. Lisa Lisa stepped through, her gaze sharper than a blade, surveying the chaos with a calm, almost unnerving demeanor.
"This is unlike anything I've seen before," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the frantic shouts of the other students. Her eyes locked onto me, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.
I met her gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. Does she know? Could she sense the Anium within me?
Before I could speak, she raised a hand, silencing the room with a single gesture. "You have until tomorrow," she declared, her voice cutting through the noise like a knife. "Sort this out. Otherwise..." She paused, her eyes narrowing as if weighing her next words. "The consequences will be severe."
"Severe? Like what?" I demanded, feeling the cold hand of dread claw at my insides.
She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that sent chills down your spine. "Let's just say... you don't want to find out."
The weight of her words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. As she turned to leave, the reality of the situation hit me like a punch to the gut. I can't say the truth about my powers.
I glanced around at the other students, their eyes now filled with a mix of awe and fear. Subha placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm. "Eric," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil around us, "we can handle this. Together."
I nodded, determination blazing in my chest. This wasn't over. Far from it.
As I stood there, staring out at the chaos unfolding before me, I made a silent promise to myself.
"Tomorrow," I whispered, clenching my fists as the energy surged through me. "Tomorrow, the world will know who I truly am."
I smirked to myself and thought, "Hey, System… I've got a question. Do you have any skill to make Lisa Lisa fall for me?"
System voice responded swiftly, cold and efficient. "Yes. There is such a skill. But you won't notice the changes. Lisa Lisa is a mature woman; her reactions will be subtle. Don't expect anything obvious."