Chereads / Gravitational Shadow / Chapter 10 - The Final Choice

Chapter 10 - The Final Choice

Jack's heart pounded in his chest as the words of the man echoed in his mind. The weight of what he had just learned began to settle on him. Hesta wasn't just a powerful organization—it was something far worse. It was a system. An entity that had been manipulating events for decades, shaping the future for its own twisted vision. His parents had been a part of it once, but they had defied the system. And now, Jack was a part of it too.As the man struggled on the ground, Jack didn't let up. He needed answers, and he wouldn't stop until he had them."You said I was the final piece. What do you mean by that?" Jack demanded, his voice firm and unwavering.The man coughed, spitting blood, but there was still defiance in his eyes. "You really don't understand, do you?" he said with a sneer. "Hesta is more than just an organization. It's a network, a network that controls everything. Politics, economics, the very flow of society. And the technology we've been developing here? It's the key to locking it all down, Jack. The key to ultimate control."Jack's mind was spinning. "And you think I'll help you achieve that? You've already killed my parents. You think I'll join you after everything you've done?"The man let out a hollow laugh, his voice dark and cynical. "You already have, Jack. You just don't realize it yet. You're the one who came to this place. You're the one who's already learned how to control gravity. You've tasted the power, and soon, it will consume you. You'll see that you have no choice."Jack shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "I don't need your power. I don't need anything from you."The man's smile faded. "Then you'll die here, just like your parents did."With a sudden motion, the man activated a device on his wrist, and the entire room shuddered. The core's hum grew louder, and the gravitational pull increased dramatically. Jack staggered, trying to steady himself, but the force of the gravity was overwhelming. He could feel his body being pulled toward the core, the intense pressure pushing against his chest."You won't survive this," the man spat. "Hesta will control everything, and you'll be nothing more than a pawn in the game."But Jack wasn't ready to give up. Not now, not after everything he had been through. With all his strength, he reached out and focused on the gravitational field around him. He didn't have time to think. He had to act.In one swift motion, Jack forced his will against the gravity, using every ounce of his power to push back. The force was like a tidal wave, pushing him forward, toward the core, but Jack fought it. He pushed with everything he had, redirecting the energy and using it to his advantage.The man's eyes widened as he saw Jack breaking free from the gravitational pull. "Impossible," he muttered under his breath.But Jack didn't stop. With one final surge of energy, he broke free completely, and he flew toward the core, his body soaring through the air as if gravity no longer had control over him. In that moment, he realized something. He wasn't just fighting for his life anymore. He was fighting for the future—for the future of the world.He reached the core, and with a powerful burst of energy, he used all his remaining strength to disable the device that powered it. The core sparked and crackled, and the energy that had been sustaining it began to dissipate.The gravitational pull in the room vanished.For a moment, everything was still.Jack stood, panting, watching as the core sputtered out, the light dimming. He had done it. He had stopped it.But the man wasn't finished yet. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes full of rage. "You think you've won, Jack? You think you've stopped Hesta?"Jack turned to face him, his gaze steady and resolute. "I didn't just stop Hesta," he said, his voice cold and unwavering. "I stopped everything you've been building. This ends here. Now."The man lunged at Jack, but it was too late. Jack had already learned the true nature of the power at his disposal. With a flick of his wrist, he manipulated the gravity around the man, sending him hurtling into the air. The man screamed as he floated, powerless against the forces Jack had just unlocked.With one final, controlled motion, Jack sent the man crashing into the wall, knocking him unconscious.Silence fell over the room.Jack stood there, chest heaving, as the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. He had stopped the core. He had stopped Hesta, for now. But he knew this was only the beginning. There were still others out there, still others who believed in Hesta's vision. And Jack couldn't let them win.He turned to leave the factory, but as he stepped into the night air, a thought crossed his mind. His parents had been right. The fight wasn't over. But he wasn't afraid anymore. He had the power to stop them. And he would.