Chapter 5: Step By Step
Caden stooped low, taut with tightly bunched body muscles. The newly evolved muscles hummed beneath his skin with scarcely restrained power, as the greatly enhanced perception went into focus over unsteady terrain. He sucked a deep breath and launched himself off the ground, crisps of night air streaming past as his chest filled to capacity.
In that instant, as his foot kicked off the ground, the world blurred around him. He was running so fast, faster than he had ever felt before. The force of his acceleration left cracks in the concrete floor behind him,. The half-finished walls zipped past like fleeting shadows as he bolted through the incomplete building.
Movements of Cadens were not unhindered: the strength with which he made strides concentrated his perception on balance, putting him in the place where he regulated his footfalls, carefully avoiding loose debris and structural holes.
Reaching the first-floor edge, he did not hesitate. A great leap, and he sailed over. For a moment, he felt as though Time strained with laboring arms. Night yawned for him, spangling the tarmac afar below, he twisted in air, he slanted over, and came face-down toward the lot outside the building, ready to meet whatever consequences awaited.
His feet struck the ground with a loud thud down the deserted street; a small crater was dug into the concrete ground where he fell. Yet, he felt no pain; only a slight humming vibration ran across his legs.
Standing up, he dusted his hands off and turned his gaze to the street ahead. "Not bad," he muttered, a grin forming on his face. His speed wasn't just for show; it was a weapon, and a very important escape tool.
Caden decided to push himself even further. He stepped onto the cracked asphalt road leading back to main streets and then broke into a sprint. This time, he focused on getting used to the speed. The world around him stretched like elastic; his perception grasped every movement, a rustling leaf, a distant car headlight.
He ran across small alleys, testing his agility with the tempo, as the body instinctively managed to get through the maze of constantly changing paths. He looked back, and the only traces of his passing were the little wisps of dust he had stirred up.
He didn't stop running until his breathing was normal, his heart pounding with excitement rather than fatigue. He stood there for a moment, waiting for the rush to leave his system. "Now that was exciting," Caden said, grinning foolishly at himself.
The silly grin on Caden's face disappeared as he straightened up, moving his thoughts on to the next test. His strength had also changed drastically, and he wanted to just find out how much. His eyes settled on a large metal dumpster that sat on the edge of the alleyway, half in the shadows - heavy, rusted, and perfect for what Caden had in mind.
He approached the dumpster, looking around sneaky, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet of the night. He squatted beside it, running his fingers over the cold, jagged surface. "This should do," he muttered, reaching for the edges of the container.
With a deep breath, he tightened his hold and pulled. The sound of twisting metal echoed in the alley as the dumpster came off the ground effortlessly. Caden's eyes would widen just a little at how light it felt in his grasp. The veins in his arms bulged, but there was no real strain. He shifted his stance and raised it higher, holding it over his head, no heavier than a gym bag.
He chuckled low. "Guess I won't need to worry about carrying groceries anymore."
Caden took another step forward, still holding the dumpster aloft. Testing his balance, he shifted from side to side. Then, with a sudden burst of force, he tossed the dumpster into the air, leapt up and did a spinning kick, and off the metallic dumpster soared several feet, spinning wildly before crashing down to the pavement with a deafening clang. Dented in the ground, Caden winced at the mess he'd created.
"Perhaps I did it a bit too much," he grumbled under his breath, scratching the back of his head. He glanced quickly around him, hoping nobody had witnessed the display. The last thing he needed was attention, and even more so from the military.
Soon after, his gaze had fallen on a neat pile of bricks leaning against a nearby construction barrier. Caden reached them and picked one up, weighing it in his hands. And in one swift moment, he closed his fists and managed to squeeze. The brick just crumbled into fine powder, slipping through his fingers like sand. A satisfied smirk arced his lips. "I can get used to this feeling."
Caden's footsteps were light, almost soundless, as he made his way home. Allowing himself a moment to bask in the adrenaline pumping in his veins, he beamed from ear to ear, remembering the results of his experiments.
Suddenly, the cold, robotic voice of the system pierced the air.
* "Strength and speed tests completed. Overall efficiency: 87%. Recommendation: Continue controlled testing to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Caden rolled his eyes at the system's monotone assessment. "Yeah, thanks for the tip," he snarked back.
His thoughts turned to his father. The bracelet, the system, the mysterious legacy he'd inherited-it all felt overwhelming, considering he hadn't even known the man for that long. Yet, for the first time, he felt a fragment of understanding. The words his father had told him as a child played in his head: *"The power you'll gain isn't just for yourself, Caden. It's for something greater."*
Caden's fists clenched in his walk, the memory stirring a mix of emotions. "Something more," he whispered. He looked down at his hands, still dusted with the remnants of the crushed brick. Power surged through him, incomplete, like a puzzle missing its final piece.
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. "I am not Spiderman, dad; I don't care about stupid responsibility. If you are in my way, I'll crush the hell out of you either slowly or instantly", he said, and a dangerous and violent glint was apparent in his eyes.
As he turned onto his street, the familiar sight of his neighborhood brought a sense of calm. The distant hum of a passing hover car made him feel at peace.
The system interrupted his musings again.
* "Daily quest reward: 5 points. Stats updated. Current strength: 25. Next evolution requirement: All stats at 50." *
Caden's pace slowed as the idea of evolution made him feel excited.
Standing at the bottom of the stairs of his house, he let out a slow breath. "One step at a time," he said firmly, making up his mind to take on whatever came his way next. He opened the door and went inside.
Lana was waiting for him to come back as was Marcus. *I'm fucked* Caden thought to him self as he looked at his smiling mum. "Welcome home Caden," Marcus said and Caden nodded before replying, "It is nice to be back home," and Lana smiled dangerous at Caden.
"I hope you don't mind telling us what keep you busy outside that you had no time to call us that you were going to be home late" and Caden also smiled back nervously "I was training" and Lana smiled widened as she nodded. "Indeed you where training, you even tore your own clothes while training" she said as she rolled the sleeves of her clothes up
Countless wooden sticks floated upwards showing Lana's ability as a psychic. Moving quickly Caden hugged Marcus legs as he begged him to save him and Marcus sighed before removing Caden's grip from his legs "Even I can't save you now" Marcus quickly went into the room and the next thing that could be heard in the whole house was the sound of wood hitting Caden's skin as he screamed loudly in pain.
Caden's body was sore as he stirred onto the bed, bruised from the beating and recent evolution. His every muscle complained of even slight movement; his brain wasn't at rest, either.
Just when he could have gone back to sleep, the robotic voice of the system cut through the stupor of his brain.
*"Wake up. Daily quest initiated. Objective: Morning stamina training. Reward: 3 points."*
Caden groaned, his eyes fluttering open to the pale rays of morning sunlight streaming through the window. "Can't you let me rest for one day?" he muttered, muffled by the pillow.
*"Your current progress requires consistency. Rest is secondary to improvement,"* the system replied in its usual cold tone.
Caden let out a tired sigh, dragging himself upwards despite the ache that clung to him. His body felt like it had gone through a battlefield, but beneath the ache lay a strange sense of vitality. It felt as though his cells still danced with new life, regenerating and adapting without end.
He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as he stretched his arms. "Fine, you win. What's on the agenda?"
* "Morning stamina training: 5-kilometer run at the highest possible speed. Time limit: 15 minutes. Reminder, failure to do so will result in a penalty."*
Caden raised an eyebrow. "A penalty? You've never given penalties."
* "New feature activated. A failure to meet your daily objectives will result in a deduction of 2 points from your worst stat."*
"You have got to be kidding me," he groused, rising and rolling his shoulders. "Alright, no penalties. Got it."
He quickly changed into his workout clothes, the fabric feeling snug over his slightly more muscular frame. As he stepped out of the house, the cool morning air hit him, refreshing yet biting against his sore skin.
The neighborhood was quiet, with its streets bathed in the soft, golden light of morning. Caden started at a light jog, his legs gradually warming up despite the lingering ache. The first few steps were tough, each one a reminder of his limitations. But as he picked up the pace, his body adjusted, his developed muscles responding with precision.
He ran down empty streets and quiet alleys, gradually increasing his speed. The system's voice would periodically chime in with some information.
*"Distance covered: 1 kilometer. Time elapsed: 2 minutes, 37 seconds."*
"Not bad," he said, gruffly, he upped the ante.
Everything around him was a blur as the wind whipped across his face, his feet all but skimming the ground. Senses so much more heightened now took him with ease along streets and corners with precise evasion.
His breathing was labored yet controlled by the time he finished jogging. He did a stop near the house, both hands resting on his knees while he got his breath back.
Done. Time: 14 minutes, 32 seconds. You earned 3 points. Strength: 25, speed: 24, endurance: 21."
Straightening himself up, a satisfied grin tore its way onto his face despite the fatigue. "Guess I'm getting the hang of this."
Going inside, he went up the stairs to his room, thinking about what he should do next. His evolution was just the starting point, and the system's challenges-though difficult-were necessary for his abilities to emerge.
But he couldn't get out of his mind the fact that time was running out. Everything was closing in on him-the military, secrets about his father's legacy, the looming threat of the unknown.
"One step at a time," he reminded himself, repeating words he had spoken only the night before. For now, survival and moving forward were all that mattered.
Caden came into the house, his body still high with the exhilaration of running. He kicked off his shoes and stretched his arms over his head, his muscles flexing beneath his shirt.
He hummed a song that came to his mind in a low tone. Thankfully, Lana and Marcus were still sleeping. He was too tired for another interrogation.
He entered the kitchen; his growling stomach protested the wait. Opening the refrigerator, he took a huge gulp of orange juice from the carton. The cold liquid refreshed him.
Again, the system chimed on with its insipid tone echoing within his head.
* "Daily quest progress: Strength and stamina tests complete. Overall efficiency at 90%. Today's bonus mission: Dexterity enhancement via precision training. Reward: High level of reflex points.
Caden sighed, smearing the back of his hand across his mouth. "Can't you let me eat in peace?"
*"Rest and nourishment are advisable for peak performance. But too much rest reduces efficiency. A soldier is never to stop working"*
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Caden muttered, setting the carton down. His eyes strayed to the clock on the wall: still early, the sun just starting to rise. He had time before the world demanded anything from him.
He leaned against the counter, the quiet of the house wrapping around him like a cocoon.
He heaved off from the counter, towards his room; steps heavy, laced with resolve. He could feel the weight of the bracelet merged with his wrist as his fingers brushed past his wrist.
Sitting on the bed, the sound of the system tore into his mind again.
* "Daily stats summary: Strength: 27. Speed: 28. Endurance: 21. Dexterity: 25. Perception: Maxed. Overall progress at 38%. Requirements for the next evolution: All stats have to hit 50." *
Caden stared back at the glowing interface projected from his bracelet, his eyes narrowing. "Fifty, huh? Looks like I have my work cut out for me."
He closed the interface with a wave of his hand and leaned back against the headboard.
"One step at a time," he whispered, his eyes drifting to a close. The system fell silent, and for now, the world seemed to pause, giving him the briefest moment of peace.
But deep down, he knew that moment wouldn't last.
A/N: So guys, I'm sure you are getting bored from the MC lack of communication with people, his lack of friends and me only focusing on his personal development and internal monologue, this should be the last chapter for that, the next chapter is where his journey truly begins.