2 days later
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"You what?"
Ambrose sits up from the hospital bed and exclaims. Calanthe helps him adjust into a more comfortable position.
Godfrey calmly answers his father.
"I told the nation that we would show them what true heroes are, and that the other 'heroes' have been spitting on the word."
Ambrose is silent for and finally speaks after a few minutes.
"Did you at least look cool while doing so?"
Godfrey smirks as he looks to his father.
"I would like to think so. Yes."
Ambrose's laughter booms through the room as he pats Godfrey's shoulders.
"Hahahaha all is well then."
Ambrose looks into his son's eyes and worriedly asks.
"You are aware that we'll have to push your training even further?"
Godfrey lightly smiles.
"I am ready."
Ambrose nods then suddenly hugs his son with tears in his eyes.
"I am proud of you my boy. Thank you for saving your old man."
Calanthe joins the hug and the family stay this way for a while. Calanthe pulls away and speaks in an annoyed tone.
"Dave's investigation revealed startling results."
Ambrose adopts a serious look and nods for Calanthe to continue.
"All heroes and teams around a 5000 meter radius were on missions at the exact time we were attacked."
Calanthe clenches her jaw as anger washes over her features.
"It is highly unlikely that all of them are traitors. This was a coordinated strike. It seems that the organization we face is powerful, and has enough manpower to occupy 30 hero teams."
Ambrose and Godfrey take in the information and ponder on the future steps they have to take. They are then taken out of their thoughts by a knock on the hospital door.
"Come in."
Godfrey says as he walks towards the door.
The door opens and reveals a slim man of average height. His eyes slightly glow in a greenish hue and a feeling of peace permeates the room.
Godfrey thinks to himself as the slim man closes the door.
'Powerful, but not in a conventional way. It feels as though Death deems it unnecessary to bother reaping lives in his presence.'
Ambrose speaks out with a voice full of gratitude.
"Desmond! Thank you once more for healing me of the worst of my injuries."
Desmond smiles and waves off Ambrose's comment.
"There is no need for thanks amongst brothers Ambrose. Mother would end me had I refused, god rest her soul."
Ambrose smiles as the both of them share a hug.
"Still. Thank you big brother."
Desmond laughs and places a hand on Ambrose's shoulder.
"You're very welcome little brother."
Godfrey is shocked at the revelation, and at the glaring difference in appearance. Desmond then turns to Godfrey and ruffles his hair.
"Hello nephew. I hope you are well."
Godfrey nods and puts a hand to his chest.
"I am, uncle. Thank you, for saving my father."
Desmond nods and his face has curiousity plastered on it.
"I tried to heal you as well, but you were already on the way to a full recovery."
He rubs his beard in fascination as he continues.
"Your natural regenerative capabilities are remarkable. Your body even adapted to the damage, resulting in higher bone and muscle density."
Desmond moves to say more but is interrupted by Ambrose.
"Desmond, have you agreed to what we talked about?"
Desmond nods and makes a few hand gestures. A magic barrier then envelops the room.
"Yes. The 2 year training plan from hell. I was reluctant to accept, until I saw the video of your son."
Desmond turns to Godfrey and squeezes his shoulder.
"It would be an honour to be the personal doctor of the world's strongest 10 year old. HAHAHAHAHA."
Desmond's laughter booms within the room as he places his hands on his hips. Godfrey wryly smiles as he thinks to himself.
'Ah. There's the resemblance.'
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Elsewhere
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"They failed."
A robed individual kneels in front of a large office table. In the dark, there is a figure simply staring at the kneeling subordinate. Then a voice of pure malice breaks the silence.
"So they have."
The kneeling individual lowers his head further and pleads.
"Allow us one more chance, Lord."
The shadowy figure laughs.
"Haha we had to use up all our favours with the government for this attack. No."
The 'Lord' raises a hand and grips the air. The kneeling individual is suddenly pulled upwards and gasps for air. The Lord speaks with a murderous aura.
"You assured me that this poison was strong enough. Was that a lie?"
The now choking subordinate hurriedly replies.
"No...it... didn't...have time...the boy."
The Lord releases his hold and the subordinate drops to the ground greedily breathing in air. The Lord sits down and ponders out loud.
"Yes. The boy. He is powerful. He could be an asset if we turn him to our side."
The subordinate voices out his confusion.
"How will we do that Lord? The Gallahad's will no doubt increase their defense measures."
The Lord laughs and relaxes onto his chair.
"That's simple."
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2 years later
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Golden eyes snap awake as sunlight peeks through the window. A large individual stands and moves to the washroom.
He looks at a mirror and what stares back is an incredibly muscular 'man' standing at 1.95 meters tall, short black hair, a proud nose, and a jawline that could cut diamond.
He thinks mirthfully to himself.
'Training plan from hell indeed.'
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FLASHBACK
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Desmond stands in a training room as Godfrey sits in front of him.
"Godfrey this training plan that Ambrose and I have come up with is truly brutal. As a doctor, I'd like to ask one more time if you are willing."
Godfrey looks to Desmond with a steely resolve.
"I am."
Desmond nods and continues.
"Good. The main focus will be on your physical body. You seem to have an instinctual grasp of your lightning abilities, so we shall let them develop naturally."
A magical wave then scans Godfrey's body and projects his musculature outwards. Desmond regards it for a second and speaks.
"Your body, however, cannot handle the strain of your abilities. Therefore, we shall use your natural regenerative and adaptive capabilities to push you to the limit and facilitate growth."
Godfrey, however, is stuck on the magical projection.
'This is convenient, but I must increase my magic resistance. The ease in which I was scanned concerns me. I never had this issue as a god.'
Desmond, unaware of Godfrey's distraction, continues his explanation.
"We shall head to different geographical extremities to push your body to adapt. This will be a test of willpower more than anything else. Are you ready?"
Godfrey stands and hardens his will.
"Let us begin."
The peak of Mt. Tekerest
Godfrey meditates as his body repeats a cycle of freezing and regeneration. His lungs steadily increase in its capability to store oxygen due to the thin air.
Under an artificial mountain
Godfrey strains as he struggles to hold the mountain, that Ambrose placed on top of him, steady. His muscles burn and his bones fracture. Yet he endures.
The depths of the Zaliana Trench
Godfrey's body resists the crushing pressure of water. His muscles and bones tear, break, and heal. His body adapts and becomes more efficient in using oxygen.
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END FLASHBACK
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Godfrey flexes and nods to himself.
'The physical trauma was worth it. I can feel the power just beneath my skin.'
He uses his Divine Sense and scans his body.
'25% of my cells are pure lightning energy. Incredible.'
His thoughts are cut off as an alarm rings out with a notification.
-FINAL LOCATION-
Godfrey quickly gets dressed and goes to the living room.
He arrives at the living room and sees his parents as well as his uncle. They radiate an intense feeling of worry. Godfrey decides to speak first.
"What is the matter?"
Calanthe's eyes snap towards him and tears threaten to spill out as she shakily speaks.
"Is this really necessary??? This is too dangerous."
Ambrose crosses his arms as he echoes the same concerns, though he helped to plan it.
"Surely there is another more controlled method."
Desmond waves away their concerns.
"It's just a volcano. Your son can handle this."
Godfrey chuckles in his mind at Desmond's declaration.
'You say that but you radiate worry no less than my parents.'
Desmond furrows his brow and seriously asks.
"Are you ready Godfrey?"
Godfrey chuckles and replies.
"Haha. No, but I shall do it regardless."
Calanthe's tears flow as she holds his hands.
"Why do you have to go so far child?"
Godfrey thinks back to the people he has wronged. The lives he so callously took. The sight of his parents beaten and bloodied.
'No more. I will not allow that to happen again.'
Godfrey squeezes his mother's hand and earnestly replies.
"I wish to be a hero. That means doing what others cannot. That means using my power for the people."
'HA "FOR THE PEOPLE". YOU'RE JUST FEELING GUILTY. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A CRUEL AND VINDICTIVE FOOL.'
Calanthe nods and prepares their private plane with Ambrose. Desmond moves to pack his measuring devices to keep track of Godfrey's progress. Godfrey is then left to wait and confront his thoughts.
'Maybe I am feeling guilty. However, is that not the first step towards atonement?'
'...JUST YOU WAIT. WHEN A SITUATION IS NO LONGER UNDER CONTROL, THE REAL YOU WILL COME KNOCKING. THE GODKING WILL METE OUT JUDGEMENT AND DISPENSE BLOODSHED AS HE ALWAYS HAS.'
'Haha. I will prove that wrong. Only those truly deserving will face my true wrath.'
'...WHO ARE YOU TO MAKE THOSE JUDGEMENTS?'
'I am just a human who does the best he can. As a human, my family will always come first. If harm were to befall them, then would it not be human of me to bestow my wrath upon my enemies?'
Silence the dominates his mind. Yet Godfrey knows his thoughts are not so easily defeated.
Godfrey is brought back to reality as Ambrose places a hand on his shoulder. Ambrose then squeezes and reluctantly speaks.
"It is time, my boy."
Godfrey stands and clenches his fist.
"To the volcano then."
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END