A few weeks had passed since PowerGen's new tech had been unveiled, and across the globe, the remaining governments were preparing for what many called "The Great Restoration." Armed with PowerGen's exosuits, energy shields, and beam weapons, they felt they finally had a fighting chance against the ability users who had been tearing their nations apart.
Governments that still had some semblance of control devised their own unique plans to restore balance and order. They were aware of the urgency; as more rogue ability users rose to power, the grip on their territories was loosening.
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In the U.S., military leaders, still shaken from their previous failures, opted for a calculated, strategic approach. Using PowerGen's new suits and tech, they planned a series of precision strikes against key ability user strongholds. Their focus was on small, targeted operations—using squads of elite soldiers outfitted with PowerGen's tech to neutralize rogue ability users one by one.
The Pentagon had set up a new division called the Shielded Operatives Unit. Colonel Bryce, the commanding officer, briefed his teams. "This isn't just about power anymore. With these suits, we have the tech to outmaneuver ability users. Remember, they're strong, but they're not invincible."
Bryce's words echoed through the control room. On a nearby screen, footage from earlier tests showed soldiers in the exosuits successfully detaining a low-level telekinetic who had been terrorizing a small town in the Midwest.
"We go in quick, neutralize, and get out. No one fights them head-on unless absolutely necessary," Bryce emphasized, knowing that a brute force approach was not always effective against certain abilities.
In Europe, the approach was far less subtle. Countries like France, Germany, and the UK, where military power was still intact, rallied their forces for large-scale confrontations. They didn't believe in small, covert operations. Instead, their leaders wanted to show strength, to demonstrate that even in the face of overwhelming abilities, their governments would not back down.
Massive convoys of military vehicles rolled through city streets, each equipped with PowerGen's beam weapons and energy shields. In Paris, soldiers in newly-designed exosuits patrolled the streets, their presence a clear reminder of the government's intent to retake control.
General Delacroix, in charge of France's operation, stood on the steps of the Élysée Palace, addressing his troops. "We are the defenders of France. Today, we take back our cities. Today, we show that no ability user is above the law."
The plan was simple: storm the strongholds of rogue ability users in broad daylight. Delacroix believed that overwhelming force, combined with PowerGen's superior technology, would send a clear message to those who sought to challenge the government's authority.
In Asia, the situation was different. Governments were fragmented, their resources stretched thin. Instead of relying on military might, they employed guerrilla tactics, sending small, elite teams equipped with PowerGen suits to infiltrate and sabotage ability user operations.
The Japanese government, having suffered greatly from inferno's reign, chose a subtler approach. Their strategy was to weaken rogue ability users from the inside, breaking their support systems before engaging them in direct combat. Their first target was a group of rogue telepaths operating out of Osaka.
"We'll cut off their communication lines, disrupt their psychic networks," explained Commander Ito to his team, outfitted in sleek PowerGen suits. "Once their connections are severed, they'll be vulnerable. That's when we strike."
Using PowerGen's tech as a shield against telepathic attacks, the team moved swiftly and quietly through the streets of Osaka, disrupting the telepaths' control over the city.
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In Africa, where Eze had already declared himself ruler of several regions, the news of PowerGen's suits was met with cautious interest. From his fortress, Eze watched as governments around the world began deploying the new tech. He knew they were coming for him eventually, but he wasn't afraid.
"They think some suits can stop me?" Eze muttered to himself as he sat atop his stone throne, which he had molded from the very earth beneath him. "Let them come. I'll crush their soldiers like ants."
But in the back of his mind, there was a flicker of concern. He'd heard of the suit's performance, how it had been able to withstand energy attacks and neutralize weaker ability users. If the suits were as strong as people said, Eze would have to adapt. And quickly.
For now, he waited, grounding his forces in preparation, watching how the world would react before making his next move.
In a newly formed state carved out of former Malaysia, Arjun had reached a breakthrough. He stood at the pinnacle of mental cultivation, having ascended to Level 5 in mental strength. His mind was sharper, his strength superhuman, and his abilities now surpassed that of any normal human. Alongside him were others, powerful mentalists who had followed the advanced techniques that had been shared with them through Stargazer's Empire.
Together, they had formed a coalition—a league of powerful mentalists who were determined to restore order to the world in their own way.
At a gathering in the heart of their new capital, Arjun addressed his fellow mentalists. "We have reached a point where we can no longer be passive. The world is in chaos, and we have the power to change that. But we must do so wisely. We will not be tyrants, nor will we bow to corrupt governments. We will build something new—a nation of the mind, governed by the principles of strength, wisdom, and unity."
The mentalists, now possessing abilities far beyond what ordinary people could comprehend, began assimilating the existing government structure. Those who opposed them were given a choice: join the new order or be removed from power.
In the weeks that followed, Arjun and his league successfully integrated their mental powers into governance, forming what was essentially a new country governed by superhuman intellect and strength. But despite their goals of peace and order, tensions loomed. Not everyone trusted these new leaders, and whispers of rebellion began circulating in the shadows.
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As the governments rolled out their plans, the results were varied. In the U.S., the strategic strikes worked well at first. Teams in PowerGen suits managed to arrest several rogue ability users, restoring a semblance of order in smaller cities. However, they quickly discovered that the suits weren't foolproof. More powerful ability users, like Phoenix, could still overwhelm the tech with raw strength and elemental force.
In Europe, the large-scale confrontations were mixed. While the suits and beam weapons provided soldiers with protection against lower-level ability users, they still struggled against the more powerful ones. In one particularly brutal battle in Berlin, a pyrokinetic rogue named pyroburst incinerated an entire squad of soldiers, their suits unable to withstand the heat for prolonged periods.
Despite these setbacks, governments continued their efforts, each hoping that they could hold back the tide of chaos just long enough to regain control. PowerGen, seeing the rising demand for its technology, expanded rapidly, opening branches in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Eva had her hands full coordinating the international rollout of the tech, constantly in communication with Alex. "We need to work on improving the shield systems," she reported. "The current design can only handle energy attacks for a limited time. We need more efficient energy dispersal."
"We'll keep iterating," Alex responded. "Focus on the beam weapons for now. I'll start on the next phase of improvements."
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As the governments fought to reclaim order, and PowerGen's tech made waves across the globe, the world seemed to be at a tipping point. Ability users like Eze, Thunderstrike, and La Reina watched from the shadows, each calculating their next move. Meanwhile, Arjun and his league grew stronger, their influence expanding as they absorbed more and more of the old world's power structures.
And all the while, Alex continued to work quietly in the background, perfecting his technology, ready for the next great challenge.
The suits were just the beginning. The real battle was yet to come.