[Divine Resonance Not Detected]
The warning flashed before Chen Lan's eyes as the awakening serum coursed through his veins. His temples throbbed. While other metahumans in the NYC Underground Awakening Chamber basked in azure genetic resonance, his console blared crimson alerts.
As a dimension - hopping refugee from a parallel Earth, Chen Lan knew his odds were slim. But the allure of superhuman powers in this world, with its skyscrapers scraping the clouds and flying vehicles zipping through the air, was too great to resist. The United Nations' Universal Awakening Initiative promised a new dawn for humanity, a chance to transcend mundane limitations.
"Damn it," Chen Lan muttered under his breath. He'd endured the long - haul space - time rift travel, the bureaucratic red tape of registering as an otherworlder, all for this moment. And now, it seemed like he was a dud.
The chamber technician, a middle - aged woman with a severe bun and a lab coat stained with strange substances, approached him with a clipboard. "Mr. Lan, I'm sorry. Your genetic profile doesn't seem to be compatible with the awakening process. You can collect your belongings from the locker area."
Chen Lan's shoulders slumped. He'd pinned his hopes on this. In his home world, he was just a struggling artist, barely making ends meet. Here, he'd dreamed of becoming a hero, of using powers to protect and maybe, just maybe, find a place to belong.
He shuffled towards the locker, the sound of excited chatter from the newly - awakened metahumans stinging his ears. As he reached for his duffel bag, a strange sensation overcame him. It was as if a faint, distant hum was resonating within his very being, a vibration that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.
Suddenly, the lights in the locker room flickered. A strange symbol, one he'd never seen before, materialized on the surface of his locker in a shimmering, golden light. Chen Lan stared at it in disbelief. The technician, who had been walking away, turned back at the commotion.
"What on earth...?" she exclaimed.
Before anyone could react, the symbol flared brightly, and a surge of energy pulsed through Chen Lan. He felt a newfound strength coursing through his muscles, a clarity of mind that he'd never experienced before. And in his mind's eye, he saw visions of ancient, forgotten worlds, of powerful beings with god - like abilities.
The technician fumbled for her communicator. "Security! We have an anomaly in the locker area. Subject Lan is showing unexpected energy readings."
But Chen Lan was already lost in the new sensations flooding his body. He knew that his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined. And as the security guards rushed towards him, he couldn't help but wonder what this strange new power meant for his future in this world of metahumans and mysteries.