Chapter 2: The First Step
Kael's days were filled with drudgery, but his nights had always been his own. While Jerik drank himself unconscious and the other children huddled together in fear, Kael would slip into his room, his sanctuary of cracked walls and stolen moments. Tonight, however, the faint blue glow beneath the loose floorboard drew his attention like a beacon.
The vial of swirling liquid pulsed softly, as though it were alive. Kael sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at it in awe and fear. He had spent the day listening to rumors in the scrapyard, catching fragments of conversations about corporate experiments and lost technology. But none of it had explained what this vial was—or what it could do.
"What are you?" Kael whispered. He reached out, his fingers brushing the cold glass. The liquid shifted, responding to his touch, and a shiver ran down his spine.
The temptation was overwhelming. What if this serum was the key to bio-cultivation? The stories he had read, the dreams he had clung to—they all revolved around serums like this, substances that could awaken latent potential and elevate the human body to superhuman levels.
But there was always a cost. Kael knew that better than most.
The first time Jerik had beaten him, Kael was six years old. He had accidentally dropped a plate while cleaning, and Jerik's fury had erupted like a storm. The blows had been savage, but it was the words that had hurt more.
"Trash like you doesn't deserve to eat," Jerik had spat, kicking the boy as he cried. "You're lucky I even keep you around. No one else would want a worthless orphan like you."
Kael had learned to endure the pain, to swallow his tears and silence his screams. But the scars ran deep, each one a reminder of his powerlessness.
Now, as he stared at the vial, a surge of defiance rose within him. He wasn't powerless anymore. He had something—a spark of hope, a chance to fight back.
"I'll take the risk," he said, his voice trembling but firm. "I can't stay like this."
With shaking hands, Kael uncorked the vial. The liquid's glow intensified, casting eerie shadows on the walls. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, before fear could stop him, he tipped the vial to his lips and drank.
The effect was immediate.
A searing pain erupted in Kael's chest, spreading through his veins like liquid fire. He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his sides as his body convulsed. Every nerve felt like it was being torn apart, every muscle stretched to its breaking point.
"Ahhh!" Kael screamed, his voice echoing in the small room. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he would die.
But then, the pain shifted. The fire in his veins cooled, transforming into a strange, soothing warmth. Kael gasped for air, his body trembling as the glow of the serum faded.
When he finally sat up, something felt… different. His senses were sharper, his mind clearer. The dim light in the room seemed brighter, the faint sounds of the orphanage amplified. He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.
"I feel… stronger," he murmured.
A sudden knock at the door startled him.
"Kael!" Jerik's voice bellowed from the hallway. "What the hell's going on in there?"
Panic surged through Kael. If Jerik found the empty vial, he'd destroy it—or worse, sell Kael to the corporations for their experiments. He quickly shoved the vial back under the floorboard and scrambled to his feet.
The door slammed open, and Jerik's bloodshot eyes scanned the room. "What was all that noise?"
"Nothing," Kael said, keeping his voice steady. "I tripped."
Jerik's gaze fell on Kael's face, his scowl deepening. "You're lying. I can smell it."
Before Kael could react, Jerik lunged, grabbing him by the collar. But this time, something was different. Kael felt a surge of energy, an instinctual response that sent a pulse of strength through his limbs. Without thinking, he shoved Jerik back.
To his shock, the force of the push sent the larger man stumbling into the wall.
Jerik froze, his eyes wide with shock. "What the…?"
Kael didn't wait for him to recover. He darted past Jerik, his heart pounding as he sprinted out of the room and down the hallway.
The city streets were cold and unforgiving, but Kael didn't stop running until he was far from the orphanage. His mind raced, replaying the moment he had pushed Jerik. How had he done that? The man was twice his size, yet Kael had sent him flying with ease.
He ducked into an alley, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The serum—it had to be the serum. Somehow, it had given him strength. But what else had it done?
Kael looked at his hands, flexing his fingers again. They looked the same, but he could feel something different beneath the surface. A latent power, waiting to be unleashed.
"I need to test this," he muttered.
He scanned the alley, his eyes falling on a discarded metal pipe. Picking it up, he gripped it tightly and swung it against the wall. The impact sent a shockwave up his arm, but the pipe bent under the force.
Kael stared at the bent pipe, a mix of awe and fear in his eyes. "What am I?"
That night, Kael didn't return to the orphanage. Instead, he found refuge in the scrapyard, hiding among the piles of junk. The serum had given him strength, but it had also made him a target. If Jerik reported what had happened—or worse, if the corporations learned about the serum—Kael knew his life would be over.
But for the first time, he felt something he hadn't felt in years: hope.
As he sat in the scrapyard, staring at the stars above, Kael made a vow.
"I won't let them break me anymore," he said softly. "I'll get stronger. Strong enough to escape this place. Strong enough to never be afraid again."
Unbeknownst to him, the vial's effects were far from