Dorothy's face grew even more serious as she moved to the next report. "The second event took place in Yakutsk, Russia, at approximately 2:02 a.m. local time, 12:02 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. A vast forested area, including all flora and fauna within a one-mile radius, was found frozen solid. Initially, many thought this could be attributed to the region's natural cold; temperatures there often reach -20 degrees Celsius, or -4 degrees Fahrenheit. But scientists were shocked to discover that temperatures within this frozen area had reached -273.5 degrees Celsius, absolute zero."
Dorothy's co-anchor, Jeremy Sanders, chimed in, his voice low and tense. "This temperature is considered physically impossible to achieve, even in controlled laboratory settings. Dr. Dmitry Ivanov, a renowned physicist in Russia, had this to say: 'According to quantum mechanics and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, achieving absolute zero is not feasible because it would require fixing both the position and momentum of every particle, an impossible feat. Yet, here we are, witnessing a one-mile radius frozen at this exact temperature. This defies thermodynamic laws, as reaching absolute zero would theoretically require an infinite amount of energy. We have no explanation as to how this could occur in nature or why it happened in such an isolated area.'"
Dorothy picked up again, her eyes wide with disbelief as she continued. "And that's not all. Our third report takes us to Balikpapan, Indonesia, where residents have been witnessing an unprecedented lightning storm for the past two days. However, at approximately 1:15 a.m. local time on Friday, the storm reached a terrifying peak, focusing its destructive power on Puncak Jaya, a large hill that was practically leveled by an onslaught of violent lightning strikes. Where there was once a towering hill, there is now a 20-foot-deep crater, nearly a quarter-mile wide."
A video clip of the storm flashed on the screen, showing lightning repeatedly striking the hill in rapid succession. Dorothy's voice lowered as she narrated. "Dr. Jeremy Auston, a meteorological scientist, explained that the average lightning strike releases around 1,000 to 5,000 megajoules of energy. But for a hill of this size to be reduced to rubble, we'd need strikes of a much higher intensity, something far stronger than a 'superbolt,' which can reach up to a million megajoules. Yet, locals reported seeing nearly twenty lightning strikes, each carrying an unfathomable amount of energy, enough to rival small-scale nuclear detonations. Scientists are baffled by the concentrated power of these strikes, and they're left questioning what could have generated such force."
My mother glanced at me, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and bewilderment, silently trying to convey just how unfathomable these events were, how they shattered the natural laws and left science grasping for answers. I forced myself to keep a neutral expression, pushing down the uneasy feeling that had started clawing at my insides. Yet, there was no time to process it; the anchors continued, their words relentless, layering mystery upon mystery without even a moment to breathe.
"Our next story brings us to the heart of Manhattan, New York," Jeremy said, his voice filled with urgency. "At approximately 12:45 p.m. today, reports surfaced of a strange phenomenon in Central Park. Witnesses describe a surreal sight, vehicles, rocks, and even heavy stones were seen levitating, suspended in mid-air for a solid five minutes. People within the area experienced a total blackout in their memories, with no recollection of those five minutes. The only evidence of the event comes from cell phone recordings, showing cars, rocks, and people frozen in place. The moment ended as abruptly as it began, leaving New Yorkers in a state of panic. Federal agencies are now investigating what some are calling a 'time freeze' incident."
Finally, Dorothy concluded with a grim final report. "And just moments ago, a chilling incident occurred in London, England, around 9:15 p.m. local time. In an eerie silence, every person, animal, and object in the city appeared to be frozen in time. Birds hung motionless in the sky, and even an airplane passing over the city was locked in place for exactly five minutes. Witnesses outside of London reported this phenomenon and shared footage of the surreal event. British authorities have yet to make any official statement, as investigations are still underway."
The anchors paused, allowing the weight of their words to settle over viewers. "These incidents have left experts speechless," Dorothy finally said. "We are witnessing events that defy science, history, and any understanding of natural laws. To all our viewers, stay vigilant, and rest assured that Channel 9 News will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Good night, and stay safe."
After watching the news, I decided I needed rest, but first, I wanted to play with Jenny. So, I leaned over and asked, "Jenny, do you want to play hide-and-seek with your brother?"
The moment she heard this, her face lit up. She practically leaped off the sofa, tossing her tablet aside, making me chuckle. She bounced with excitement, calling out, "Big Brother wants to play with me? That's great! Did you hear that, Mommy? Big Brother wants to play with me! Isn't that awesome?"
Mom just smiled, amused, and said, "Alright, go play, but don't make too much of a mess, okay?" Jenny and I both nodded enthusiastically, and I covered my eyes to start counting.
"One… two… three…" I heard the sound of Jenny's little feet dashing away as she giggled, searching for the perfect hiding spot. I counted to twenty and then called out, "Ready or not, here I come!"
Our house was large, with two stories, a basement, and an attic, giving her plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in. With my enhanced senses, I already knew exactly where she was, but I pretended not to, hoping it would add to the thrill for her. After "searching" around, I finally found her giggling in Mom's closet.
"Aha! Found you, Jenny!" I said, grinning. She laughed, beaming with pride. "I know, right? It took you almost five whole minutes to find me! I'm good at hiding!"
"Alright, Jenny, your turn to count to twenty," I said, crouching down to her level. "I'll hide this time."
She nodded, laughing, and ran out to count, calling over her shoulder, "You better hide well, Big Brother! I'm the best at finding people!"
I decided to make it challenging, sneaking into the bathroom and hiding in the tub. I covered myself with towels from the hamper, closed the shower curtain, and turned off the lights. But just as I finished hiding, I heard her small but determined footsteps dashing through the hall. In seconds, she burst into the bathroom, flipping on the lights and pulling back the curtain. With a triumphant smile, she tossed all the towels aside, exclaiming, "Hehe! What did I tell you, Brother? You'll have to try harder to hide from me!"
We both laughed, and the game continued for about thirty minutes, followed by her favorite board game, Sorry! Eventually, Mom took Jenny to bed, and I headed to my room, exhausted but happy.
As I lay there, excitement built for our Saturday flight to Leawood, Kansas, to visit Grandma for spring break. It would be more than just a family visit, it would be the week I'd consume the final bloodline, the one that would amplify my strength even further. This body felt limitless, ready to handle the next level.
Yet, a shadow lingered. The apocalypse system would emerge soon, bringing a storm none of us could truly be ready for. It was a twisted game, where humanity would gain power, but the system wasn't built for us to survive. In my mind, I pictured the twelve abyssal demon lords, creatures of unfathomable power, watching from their realms. We were like ants to them, scrabbling for hope, gaining strength, only to be crushed under their amusement.
They were probably reveling in the thought, watching us rise only to fall, no matter how many skills we gained or battles we fought. For them, it was all entertainment. For us, it was survival against forces beyond our comprehension.
As these dark thoughts drifted through my mind, exhaustion finally began to pull me under. My eyelids grew heavy, and despite the lingering anxiety, my body surrendered to the comfort of sleep. The world around me faded, and the looming shadows of the unknown melted into a quiet, dreamless slumber, allowing me a brief escape from the chaos ahead.
I woke up very early, which was unusual for me since I'm typically a heavy sleeper. It usually takes several alarms to rouse me, a habit formed from years of struggle that left me always on edge. But with my new body and powers, I barely needed two or three hours of sleep to feel completely refreshed. During those few hours, Angela would stay alert, ready to wake me if anything went wrong.
I climbed out of bed and went through my morning workout: 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 sit-ups, and 100 pull-ups. Yet even after all that, I felt nothing, no rapid heartbeat, no sweat, just clean, unscented skin. I looked at my reflection, admiring the power packed into my well-defined muscles. They didn't just look good; they held an immense strength that I was still getting used to.
After a quick shower, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My blue eyes had turned a faint green, and my face had somehow sharpened, my jawline more defined, making me look even more striking than I thought possible. I barely recognized myself.
Then I sat at my desk to tackle my homework. It was almost laughably easy, taking less than ten minutes. With that out of the way, I decided to meditate and focus on my powers. As I sank into that deep state, I could feel the pulse of the Earth itself, the resonance of plant life, the subtle shifts of tectonic plates, even the gradual increase in the planet's size and mass. I sensed the merging of another parallel Earth with this one, an event that seemed to reverberate through me.
The spell broke when my alarm clock started ringing. I opened my eyes, feeling grounded and ready for whatever came next.
After several minutes, I heard my sister's little feet padding around as she rushed to get ready, her energy filling the house. I noticed my mother looked a bit more cheerful than usual. Seeing her excitement about visiting my grandmother hit me hard, especially realizing that she chose not to leave us in Kansas with her after our father's passing. She wanted to protect us from the grief that would have lingered there.
Memories flooded back, the last time we stayed with Grandma, the system first appeared, but we ignored it since nothing happened right away. It was a mistake, as days later, the sky cracked open across cities worldwide. Portals emerged, glowing with an eerie red light, and unleashed a deadly miasma that spread through the cities, killing millions and mutating countless others. The mutated were faster and stronger than most humans, and for two weeks, the world was plunged into chaos as these zombie-like creatures attacked. Only the combined military efforts of UN nations could finally contain the outbreak.
During that time, my mother tried tirelessly to reach Grandma, but Kansas fell out of control when portals opened in the state. Air travel was grounded, and we were told to stay put. My powers had started growing stronger, but I needed time to develop. My only focus was keeping my mom and sister safe.
That was in the past. Now, with my strength reaching new heights, I had a plan to use my final bloodline, hoping it would lead to a transformative evolution. I knew the portals would bring devastation, shortages of food and essentials would soon follow. I decided to start filling my storage space with supplies by traveling to affected cities and taking everything we'd need from warehouses and supermarkets. I wouldn't be able to stop the portals from opening, but I could make sure we were prepared.
With a plan in mind, I grabbed my backpack and went downstairs, where my sister was waiting with a huge smile. I ruffled her hair, and she giggled, still thrilled from the games we'd played last night. "Big Brother, are you excited to see Grandma tomorrow? I am!"
Laughing, I said, "Of course! I miss Grandma. Maybe you and I can convince her to move here with us. What do you think?"
Her face lit up, and she nearly shouted, "Do you really mean it, big brother?"
"Absolutely," I replied with a grin.
She jumped up, running to our mom. "Mommy! Big Brother says we can bring Grandma here to live with us. You'll help us, right?"
Mom smiled, glancing at me with a meaningful look before saying, "If my children want their grandma here, then I do too. Let's make it our mission, alright? Us three against Grandma, I don't think she can say no to all of us, right?"
I gave her a thumbs-up. "We're on it! Grandma needs us as much as we need her. Let's do this!"
"Yeah, let's do it!" my sister echoed, raising her arms triumphantly. We all laughed, and Mom shook her head, amused, as she served breakfast.
I enjoyed the warm atmosphere, determined to make sure Grandma would be with us, no matter what it took. Once we finished eating, I waved goodbye to Mom and my sister, heading out for the day. On the way, I asked Angela, "Hey, could you make a realistic hologram of my old face? I don't want to cause a scene at school with this 'too-handsome' look."
A familiar ding sounded, followed by her reply: "Good morning, Michael! Sure, I can create a hologram of your face from yesterday. You'll still look handsome, just not… overwhelming."
I chuckled, surprised to see Angela's playful side emerging. "Thanks, Angela. I don't know what I'd do without you." I thought I saw a tiny blush on her display screen before it disappeared, but I kept moving.
School was more of the same: girls slipping me their numbers with hearts drawn around them, lingering stares, and whispers that followed me all day. As I left, I even noticed some young mothers eyeing me with interest as they picked up their kids. I quickened my pace, escaping with Jake and William.
The next morning, we boarded a Delta Airlines flight to Kansas City International Airport. My mom rented a car, and soon we were pulling into my grandmother's driveway. Her house was large, a three-story building with a rustic charm that felt both welcoming and a bit lonely. Grandma Samantha greeted us warmly. At 61, she looked well, healthy and lively, though I noticed a hint of longing in her eyes. It was clear how much she missed having her daughter and grandkids nearby. Hopefully, that would change soon.
After the welcome hugs and catching up, I headed upstairs to unpack in my own room, while my mom and little sister would share one. Grandma had even set out fresh linens and a few snacks in each room, which was a nice touch. Once I was settled, I told my mom I'd go for a walk, and she cheerfully agreed. The fresh air seemed to bring a renewed lightness to her mood.
I walked for about a mile until I reached a burned house. In my previous life, I'd stumbled upon the bloodline here. Several days before, the Richards family, who had lived in this house, suffered a tragedy when a fire broke out. Only the mother and daughter survived, escaping with minor injuries, but the father died trying to save them, heroically pushing them to safety before a beam collapsed on him. The memory weighed on me as I approached the now-charred remains.
In the past, I'd been a curious kid exploring these ruins when I found something, a faint glimmer under the ashes. Knowing what I was looking for, I used my telekinesis to dig around until I uncovered the small treasure chest hidden beneath the debris. The chest, surprisingly intact and still slightly warm, held a vial with a swirling blue and white liquid that seemed to radiate heat. In the past, I didn't know what it was, but now I understood that the vial itself was likely the source of the fire, containing a powerful, mysterious energy.
I used my powers to make myself invisible to anyone who might pass by, then opened the chest. The vial emitted a scorching blue-white glow, intense enough to make the air around it ripples. I hesitated only briefly before drinking it. The liquid hit my throat like molten lava, and within moments, my body temperature spiked, heat radiating so fiercely that I feared I'd set everything around me ablaze. Not wanting to risk any destruction, I teleported myself to the sun, the only place I knew could handle the heat my body was generating.
As soon as I arrived, the sun's magnetic field wrapped around me, almost like a cocoon. Inside, I felt waves of energy course through me, each one more intense than the last. The energy shifted from red to yellow, then to blue and white. Each shift amplified the heat a hundredfold, then a thousandfold, and I blacked out from the overwhelming pain.
When I finally came to, …