Abraham sat at his desk, staring at lines of code on his screen, his fingers flying over the keyboard. His room was cluttered with notebooks, half-empty coffee cups, and glowing monitors. He had deadlines to meet, but his mind wandered back to the events of the past few weeks. His powers were growing, each new encounter sharpening his skills and understanding. He had even begun experimenting with more advanced techniques, like condensing his psychic blasts into smaller, more focused explosions.
The idea had come to him after the fight with the wraith. Its incorporeal nature had made wide blasts inefficient. If he could concentrate all that energy into a compact form, he reasoned, it would deliver a more devastating impact.
He pushed back from his desk, setting his laptop aside. In his mind, he visualized the energy, recalling the feel of it as it formed in his palm. Holding out his hand, he summoned a small sphere of psychic energy. It glowed faintly, pulsating like a heartbeat. His goal was to compress it further without losing its destructive potential.
"Focus... density over size," he muttered.
The sphere shrank as he poured his intent into it, its glow intensifying. He felt the energy hum with restrained power, like a tightly wound spring. When it was no larger than a marble, he flicked his wrist, hurling it toward a stack of old textbooks on his shelf.
The explosion was instant and precise. The books were blown apart, but the surrounding objects were untouched. The force left a scorch mark on the wall behind them, and a sense of satisfaction bloomed in Abraham's chest.
"Looks like I just made myself a psychic grenade," he said with a grin, brushing debris off his desk.
As the excitement faded, his stomach growled—a familiar reminder of the hunger that had become his constant companion. He sighed, grabbing a protein bar from a nearby drawer. Even as he chewed, he could feel it wasn't enough. Nothing ever was.
His phone buzzed with a notification. It was another programming gig, the payment enough to keep him afloat for another month. He typed a quick confirmation, his mind already planning how he'd spend the night refining his new technique.
If the supernatural world was going to keep throwing challenges his way, he was determined to be ready.
Later that evening, Abraham found himself drawn to the outskirts of town. A dense forest bordered the edge of the city, its shadows deepened by the absence of streetlights. It was the perfect place to experiment with his powers without the risk of prying eyes.
The moon hung high, casting a pale glow that filtered through the canopy. He stepped carefully over roots and fallen branches, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound in the stillness. Reaching a clearing, he dropped his backpack and stretched his arms, ready to begin.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, "time to see what else I can do."
Abraham conjured another sphere of psychic energy in his hand. He focused on compressing it, imagining the density of a black hole in miniature form. The marble-sized grenade shimmered with a brighter intensity than before.
This time, he hurled it against a sturdy boulder. The explosion rocked the clearing, sending shards of stone flying in all directions. The force knocked him back a step, but the damage was precise—the boulder was reduced to rubble, and the surrounding foliage remained untouched.
"Perfect. I could probably use this in a fight," he said, dusting his hands.
Next, he conjured one of his psychic barriers. It shimmered into existence, a semi-transparent wall of energy. He clenched his fist, and the barrier shifted, morphing into a massive hammer.
He swung it experimentally at a nearby tree. The impact was thunderous, the trunk splintering as the tree toppled over with a groan. Abraham grinned, then willed the hammer to shift again. This time, it stretched into a chain. He flung it toward another tree, wrapping it tightly around the trunk before yanking hard. The tree snapped like a twig, collapsing to the ground.
"That's a win," he said, panting slightly. The effort was taxing, but the results were worth it.
Abraham turned to his next idea. He focused on a fallen branch, reaching out with his mind to bend its essence. He visualized it twisting, compressing into something sharp. The branch obeyed, transforming into a jagged spear.
Encouraged, he reached for a larger target: an abandoned car left at the edge of the woods. He extended his hand, and the vehicle groaned in protest as its metal frame contorted. The doors fused together, the roof flattened, and the whole car shrank down to the size of a suitcase.
"Okay, that's freaky," he said, staring at the compacted car. "But also awesome."
As he caught his breath, Abraham felt a chill run down his spine. The forest, once alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, had gone unnervingly silent. He turned slowly, his aura vision activating instinctively.
There it was—a faint glow in the distance, a dark purple aura swirling with streaks of black. The figure emerged from the shadows, tall and gaunt, with limbs that seemed too long for its body. Its hollow eyes locked onto him, and a low, guttural growl escaped its throat.
Another supernatural entity.
Abraham tightened his fists, energy swirling around him. "Alright, big guy. Let's see what you've got."
The entity stepped into the clearing, its form monstrous and grotesque. It had the hulking frame of a predator, with powerful, sinewy limbs that ended in claws capable of rending steel. Its body was covered in a patchwork of matted fur and exposed sinew, glowing faintly with an eerie, sickly green light. The creature's head was a twisted amalgamation of features: jagged horns curled backward from its skull, its snout resembled a wolf's but elongated unnaturally, and its mouth was filled with rows of serrated teeth. Eyes burned like molten gold, their predatory focus fixed solely on Abraham.
It crouched low, saliva dripping from its maw as it growled, a sound that resonated through the forest like rolling thunder.
Abraham took a steadying breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Okay," he said under his breath, summoning a psychic barrier in front of him. "Let's see what you're made of."
The beast lunged, covering the distance between them in a heartbeat. Abraham barely managed to sidestep, his barrier shimmering as it deflected a swipe of the creature's claws. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, nearly toppling him.
"Fast and strong," he muttered, gritting his teeth. He conjured his barrier again, this time shaping it into a massive spiked wall. With a flick of his hand, he sent it flying toward the beast. It struck true, slamming into the creature's side and sending it crashing into a tree.
The beast roared in fury, rising to its feet almost instantly. Its claws glowed with the same green light as its body, and it slashed the air. Crescent-shaped waves of energy shot toward Abraham, slicing through trees as they approached.
Abraham dove to the side, barely avoiding the deadly arcs. He retaliated with a concussive blast, aiming for the creature's head. The grenade-sized sphere of energy exploded on impact, sending the beast staggering backward with a howl of pain.
Not letting up, Abraham reached for a large rock with his power. He compressed its essence into a dense, jagged spike and hurled it with incredible speed, imbued with his kinetic power. The spike pierced the beast's shoulder, eliciting another enraged roar.
"Yeah, how do you like that?" Abraham taunted, adrenaline surging through his veins.
The beast didn't falter. Instead, it grew more feral, its movements wild and unpredictable. It leaped into the air, coming down with both claws aimed for Abraham. He barely managed to react, forming a barrier above him to block the attack. The force shattered his construct, and the shockwave sent him flying into a tree.
Gasping for air, Abraham knew he had to end this quickly. He summoned chains from his barriers, wrapping them around the beast's limbs. It thrashed and roared, pulling against its bindings with terrifying strength. Sweat dripped down Abraham's brow as he struggled to hold the chains steady.
"Not… this time!" he shouted, imbuing the chains with explosive energy. With a snap of his fingers, the chains detonated, engulfing the beast in a blinding explosion.
When the dust settled, the beast lay on the ground, its movements sluggish. Abraham approached cautiously, his hands glowing with psychic energy. He didn't want to take any chances.
The beast growled weakly, its molten eyes locking with his one last time. Abraham reached out, his hand glowing with a strange light as he activated his absorption power. The creature's essence flowed into him like a river of energy, filling him with warmth and power. His hunger subsided, the gnawing emptiness in his stomach replaced by a fleeting sense of satisfaction.
As the beast disintegrated into motes of light, Abraham felt his powers grow sharper. The essence of the creature left him with a minor upgrade: his concussive blasts now carried a faint, lingering shockwave effect, capable of disorienting enemies even after the initial explosion.
Breathing heavily, Abraham looked around the now-silent clearing. "Well," he muttered, "that was one hell of a test run."
Satisfied but weary, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and began the trek back home, the night still heavy with potential danger.
Now back in the comfort of urban civilization. Abraham prowled the city streets under the pale light of a crescent moon, the urban sprawl painted in a palette of muted grays and silvers. His recent experiments with his powers had stoked a cautious optimism. Tonight, he sought new challenges—not mere creatures of darkness, but perhaps more sophisticated anomalies.
The night was tranquil, save for the faint hum of distant traffic and the occasional bark of a stray dog. As Abraham turned into an alley that cut through a quiet residential block, his aura vision flared to life, unbidden. Through the haze of normalcy, a human-shaped presence burned in his sight with a riot of colors—red for anger, green for jealousy, and purple for possessiveness.
"Well, well," a sharp, feminine voice called out, breaking the silence. "Looks like the stray dog has wandered into my yard."
Abraham turned slowly, his expression unreadable. Standing at the other end of the alley was a woman dressed in a patched leather jacket, combat boots, and fingerless gloves. Her wild, jet-black hair framed sharp, hawkish features. Her stance was confrontational, and her eyes burned with a mix of suspicion and challenge.
"Your yard?" Abraham raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure this is just a public alley."
"Don't play dumb with me," she snapped, her voice dripping with venom. "I can feel what you are—like a festering wound in the world. Marked ones like you disrupt the balance. And balance is my job to maintain."
Abraham sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'm just passing through. I don't want any trouble."
"Passing through?" She scoffed, stepping forward. "You're a threat. A walking disaster waiting to happen. I won't let you bring ruin to my territory."
Without further warning, the woman raised her hand, and a surge of energy erupted from her palm. The ground beneath Abraham trembled as thick roots burst forth from the asphalt, twisting and snaking toward him with unnatural speed.
Abraham leaped back, narrowly avoiding being ensnared. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
The roots lunged again, sharper and faster this time. Abraham countered with a psychic barrier, its translucent form appearing like a solid dome of shimmering light. The roots struck it with a resounding crack but failed to penetrate.
"Nice trick," Abraham said, his voice laced with irritation. "But you're not the only one with powers."
With a flick of his wrist, the barrier extended outward, transforming into a set of glowing chains that lashed toward the woman. She snarled, dodging the first two strikes but yelping as a third wrapped around her arm.
Her retaliation was immediate. The roots morphed into thorn-covered whips, tearing through the air toward Abraham. One struck his shoulder, sending a sharp jolt of pain through his body. He gritted his teeth and focused, forming a concussive blast in his palm.
"Let's see how you handle this!" he shouted, hurling the energy forward. The blast detonated mid-air, sending a shockwave that shattered windows and ripped through her tendrils. The woman stumbled, momentarily disoriented.
Abraham didn't waste the opportunity. He reached out with his psychic constructs, shaping them into a massive hammer and swinging it toward her. She countered with a wall of dense, thorn-covered vines that absorbed the blow but left her visibly strained.
"Why are you doing this?" Abraham demanded, his voice steady but firm. "I'm not your enemy!"
She hesitated, her breathing ragged. For a moment, her colors flickered—yellow for caution, blue for doubt. But the red of her anger flared again, overpowering all else.
"You're lying," she hissed. "Everyone like you is dangerous. If I don't stop you now, you'll destroy everything I've worked to protect!"
Abraham sighed deeply. "Guess I've got no choice, then."
This time, he used his gravity manipulation. The air around her grew heavy, forcing her to stagger under the increasing weight. He advanced, his aura glowing faintly with controlled power.
"Listen," he said, his tone low but commanding. "You're stubborn, I get it. But I'm not your enemy. You're wasting your strength fighting someone who doesn't want to hurt you."
Her defiance wavered as her knees buckled under the pressure. Finally, she let out a frustrated scream and released her power, the roots and vines disintegrating into dust.
"You'd better not make me regret this," she growled, glaring at him with smoldering intensity.
Abraham released his hold on her, the weight lifting as he extended a hand. "Truce?"
Reluctantly, she took it. "Don't make me regret this," she repeated, her voice softer but no less wary.
Abraham nodded. "Likewise."
As they parted ways, Abraham couldn't shake the feeling that this wouldn't be their last encounter. But for now, he was content to have avoided further bloodshed.