Matthew knelt down, feeling the raw energy building within him. He knew this time would be different. His previous attempts at flight had been clumsy, but now, something inside him clicked. He could feel it—an inner power waiting to be unleashed. He closed his eyes, blocking out everything but the sensation of weightlessness that he craved.
With intense focus, he pushed off the ground, launching into the air. This time, there was no hesitation, no faltering. His body shot upward, breaking through the air with a force that made the ground below tremble. As he gained speed, the sound barrier shattered with a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves rippling through the landscape.
He soared higher, the world below shrinking rapidly. His speed was incredible, faster than he had ever imagined, and before he knew it, he was cutting through the clouds. The cool moisture of the droplets clung to his skin as he passed through the thick layers, wetting his clothes. The sensation was surreal, like flying through mist, but it didn't slow him down.
Bursting through the upper layers of clouds, Matthew emerged into the bright, open sky, the vast blue stretching endlessly in every direction. He looked down and saw the ocean below, a dark blue expanse that seemed to go on forever. As he dipped lower, the water beneath him parted, creating a visible wake as he skimmed the surface at incredible speed. The ocean seemed to ripple in response to his flight, a long trail of foamy water in his wake.
Feeling the surge of power within him, Matthew decided to push even further. He leaned into the flight, accelerating faster and faster until he broke through the speed barrier again. This time, the explosion of sound was deafening, a sonic boom that echoed across the ocean as he rocketed skyward.
He turned his body upwards, aiming for the heavens. His speed increased even more as he ascended, the Earth below growing smaller and smaller. He kept going, the sky fading from blue to dark indigo, and soon, the curvature of the Earth began to reveal itself beneath him.
Then, he was there—at the edge of space.
The stars blinked in the vast blackness above him, and when he looked down, the sight took his breath away. The Earth, so small yet so majestic, lay far below. He could see the outline of the Philippines, surrounded by an endless ocean. Further out in the Pacific, a storm was forming, swirling clouds creating a massive vortex that stretched for kilometers. It was a sight he had only seen in satellite images, but now he was witnessing it with his own eyes.
"This is amazing…" Matthew muttered, awestruck by the breathtaking view. But then it hit him—there was no air in space. He remembered from his science classes that humans couldn't survive in the vacuum of space without oxygen, and yet, here he was. He took a deep breath and realized he could still breathe, completely unaffected by the lack of atmosphere. No suffocation, no freezing cold, just him, hovering at the edge of space, feeling more alive than ever.
"How is this possible?" he wondered aloud, marveling at his ability to defy the laws of nature. It was yet another sign that his powers were far beyond anything he had imagined.
But then a new problem hit him—he had no idea where he was. As he looked down at the Earth below, he realized that the geography didn't make much sense to him. Sure, he could see the Philippines, but where exactly had he taken off from? He wasn't good at geography, and the altitude didn't help his sense of direction.
"Great," he muttered, feeling slightly foolish. "I flew all the way up here and now I don't even know where I started."
Nevertheless, Matthew knew he had to head back down. He angled himself for reentry, and with a powerful push, he plunged toward the Earth. His body sliced through the atmosphere like a meteor, the air around him heating up as the speed increased. The friction caused his skin to glow red-hot, and once again, the sound barrier shattered with an explosive boom.
He felt the adrenaline surge as he tore through the sky, a bright streak of light trailing behind him like a shooting star. The landscape below zoomed closer, but something was wrong—he didn't recognize the terrain. He had aimed for the Philippines, but he had no idea where exactly he was headed.
Before he could course-correct, his descent spiraled out of control. The speed was too great, and he couldn't stabilize. The ground was rushing up fast, and with no way to slow himself down, Matthew braced for impact.
Boom!
He hit the ground with the force of a meteor, the shockwave from the crash sending dirt and rocks flying in every direction. The earth cracked and crumbled beneath him, the sheer force of his landing carving a massive crater into the mountainous terrain. Trees nearby snapped like twigs, and boulders rolled down the hillside as the ground trembled.
Matthew lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky, dazed from the impact but unharmed. His body felt indestructible, even after such a violent crash.
"Okay," he groaned, sitting up slowly and surveying the destruction around him. "That could've gone better."
He stood up, dusting himself off and looking around. The region was unfamiliar—a remote, mountainous area far from any signs of civilization. He couldn't tell where he had landed, but one thing was clear: he needed to work on controlling his landings.
Looking down, he noticed something.
"Where's my clothes?" Matthew stared down in shock, realizing that his clothes were completely gone. The friction and speed of his flight had burned them away, leaving him standing in the middle of a massive crater, completely naked. He groaned in frustration, his face turning red—not from embarrassment, but from the absurdity of the situation.
"This just keeps getting better," he muttered, shaking his head. He felt a slight chill from the mountain breeze, but otherwise, his superhuman physiology didn't seem bothered by the elements. Still, the realization of standing without any clothes in the middle of nowhere wasn't exactly ideal.
Worse yet, when he instinctively reached for his phone, he remembered that it had been in his pocket. His eyes widened in horror.
"My phone!" Matthew groaned. It must have flown off during his chaotic descent—or more likely, been vaporized by the intense heat he experienced in flight. Now he was stranded in an unknown mountainous area, without a phone, without any way to contact anyone, and most importantly—without clothes.
He scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot something familiar that might help him figure out where he was. But all he saw were jagged rocks, tall trees, and mountain peaks far in the distance. No signs of civilization, no roads or paths. He was well and truly lost.
"Great," he muttered sarcastically. "Not only am I naked in the mountains, but I don't even know where I am."