Adam : From a man to a God

In Team B, Alex, Dan, and Gregory had their sights set on Adam ever since he arrived. Their interest was far from friendly; it crackled like the tension before a storm, a palpable energy that promised conflict.

*Minutes earlier*

Akira’s team dashed into the woods, feet pounding against the earth as adrenaline surged through them. The trees loomed large, their branches swaying gently overhead, casting shifting shadows that flickered in the dappled sunlight.

Halting abruptly, Akira sensed a presence nearby, the instinctual warning flaring to life within her. A shiver ran down her spine, a primal instinct kicking in.

“Why did we stop?” Eddie inquired, glancing back at her with confusion etched on his face.

“I sense someone close by,” Akira replied, her voice steady yet edged with urgency.

“You can sense people?” Adam asked, surprise evident as he fell into step beside her.

“Yeah,” Eddie explained, casting Adam a sidelong glance that hinted at disdain. “She can detect power holders better than anyone in the class. We only sense them when their powers are active. Did you not know that?”

“No, I didn’t,” Adam admitted, an uncomfortable knot forming in his stomach.

“Figures. You’re an outsider after all,” Eddie remarked, a smirk playing on his lips, but the moment of levity vanished like smoke in the air as Akira’s focused expression pierced through the tension.

“Shut up. They’re coming this way. Remember the plan,” Akira directed, her voice firm but her eyes darting around the forest, scanning for any movement.

Akira and Eddie veered sideways into the forest, camouflage in motion, as Adam felt the cold grip of determination wrap around him. Alone but undeterred, he continued deeper into the woods, drawing on the resolve that had brought him this far.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, prickling against his skin. The rustle of leaves signaled their approach. Before he could brace himself, Dan and Gregory emerged like shadows from the underbrush, their expressions set in grim determination.

"Well, well, look who we have here. A lone fool wandering," Dan taunted, a mocking grin stretching across his face.

"Be cautious; he may not be alone. Others could be hiding, masking their presence," Gregory warned, the tension mounting as they squared off against Adam.

Adam mulled over Akira's instructions, feeling a swell of uncertainty churn in his gut. Reluctantly, he acknowledged the wisdom in the plan that had been laid out for him—they were stronger together. But he couldn’t show weakness now.

“Others? What are you talking about? I'm here to take all of you losers on. You call me an outsider? I’ll show you what this outsider is capable of!” Adam declared, his voice steady but laced with determination, his eyes sparking to life as they faintly glowed red.

Dan’s eyes widened with intrigue and unease. “His eyes are glowing red? I thought only the Uniques’ eyes did that,” he muttered, exchanging a glance with Gregory, who seemed equally wary.

A moment of uncertainty washed over Adam as he felt the concern for Alex gnaw at his mind. *Where is Alex? This plan won't work without him.* The thought flickered like a candle in a storm as he prepared for the inevitable confrontation.

In an impulsive burst of defiance, Adam clutched a small stone beneath his foot. Without hesitation, he hurled it at Dan, the projectile flying through the air with a surprising speed. Dan instinctively dodged, but the stone nicked his cheek, a thin line of crimson tracing down his skin.

“Why, you bas—” Dan began, fury igniting in his eyes, but Adam didn’t wait for him to finish. He bolted, adrenaline surging as he fled deeper into the woods. “Hey, come back, you idiot!” Gregory shouted, frustration laced in his voice as he ran after them, the footsteps echoing like thunder in the tense atmosphere.

Recalling Akira's strategy, Adam felt a spark of confidence ignite within him as he remembered her words from earlier: “We’ll choose a spot; you just have to run past it. We will ambush them by surprise. Our goal is to inflict enough damage.”

“So, I’m the bait?” Adam queried, the gravity of the situation beginning to weigh on him.

“Seems like it,” Eddie admitted with a hint of resignation in his tone. “But don’t let them catch you. If they do, the plan fails, and you’ll be in a world of trouble if you’re lucky.”

As adrenaline coursed through him, Adam gritted his teeth, increasing his speed. He spotted the designated spot where they planned to ambush, a narrow clearing among the trees where their paths would intersect. “These guys ain’t even that quick. Could’ve ditched ‘em if I felt like it,” he quipped, a hint of swagger creeping back into his demeanor, eager to defy the odds.

But in an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Surprise spiked, and his blood ran cold as he caught sight of Eddie sprawled on the ground, visibly shaken, while Alex grappled with Akira’s throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. The look in Alex's eyes was one of fierce determination, but there was something else beneath—the shadow of desperation. "Hey, let her go. How's Eddie down? Should've heard a bang if you clocked him," Adam questioned, perplexed at the chaotic scene before him.

“Ah, the guy I’ve been after. You’re lucky today,” taunted Alex, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he released Akira. In one swift motion, he drove a brutal blow to her midsection, sending her sprawling to the ground. Akira gasped, clutching her stomach as pain surged through her, and in that moment, her wristband erupted in a burst of energy.

Adam’s heart raced, panic surging through him as he watched Akira fall. He felt anger boiling beneath the surface, but uncertainty clouded his thoughts. “How did I get tangled up in this mess?” he mused, reflecting on the chaos that had unfolded over the past month, dodging assassins and learning about a world far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

“Can’t catch a break, can I?” Adam lamented quietly, frustration and helplessness clawing at him.

“Remember what you said about the power of an outsider? We’re about to school you,” jeered Dan, his tone dripping with arrogance.

With determination rising in him, Adam’s eyes began to faintly glow red in response to the adrenaline surging through his veins. As he glanced at Dan, he noticed the puzzled expression on his face, eyes narrowing at the unusual color.

“Those eyes again,” Dan observed with a hint of alarm. “Why red this time? Shouldn't they be orange? Something's not adding up.Isn’t he meant to be a superior power bearer?” pondered Dan aloud, a mix of intrigue and skepticism coloring his voice as he watched the unfolding chaos.

In the blink of an eye, Gregory sprinted towards Adam, closing the distance with staggering speed—200 km/h, a blur of motion that left Adam with little time to react.

“Ngh, he’s faster now,” grunted Adam, narrowly evading Gregory’s fierce fist as it whistled past him. In a fluid motion, he turned the tables, seizing Gregory’s arm and propelling him face-first into the ground. The impact reverberated through the air, and Gregory’s wristband erupted in a burst of energy as Adam stood tall, eyes aglow with power and confidence, a gentle breeze stirring his jacket behind him.

“What're you staring at? You think I’m scared of you!?” taunted Dan, surging forward with explosive speed as he hurtled towards Adam at 210 km/h.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Adam deftly sidestepped Dan’s onslaught, each movement precise as he effortlessly dodged the blows come raining down.

“His punches are sluggish compared to Daniel’s,” Adam noted inwardly, mentally assessing his opponents while striving to maintain control over the rising chaos.

Suddenly, without warning, a powerful kick struck Adam’s head from behind, the force sending him tumbling to the ground. The impact stunned him momentarily, the world spinning around him as confusion and adrenaline collided in a whirlwind of pain.His wristband detonated in a blaze of light, the explosion illuminating the forest and casting eerie shadows that flickered across the ground.

“This ain’t over. It’s real now,” warned Alex gravely, a darkness lingering in his tone as he prepared for what was to come.

Gazing skyward, a chuckle escaped Adam’s lips, unexpectedly bubbling forth, a release of tension that he hadn’t realized he was holding. The laughter felt wild and liberating, echoing through the chaos of the moment.

“What’s so funny?” questioned Dan, his confusion morphing into anger, narrowing his eyes at Adam’s demeanor.

“Have you lost your sanity, misfit?” Alex sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he stepped forward, ready to confront whatever bravado Adam was conjuring.

But Adam stood tall, defiant, rising without the use of his hands, as if lifted by an unseen force. For a fleeting moment, he felt untouchable, able to channel the energy swirling within him.

“We were playing a game. Now that I’ve lost, there’s no use holding back,” Adam declared, resolute and unwavering, the intensity of his gaze locking onto his foes.

“That's it, show what you're made of,” Alex goaded, a twist of anticipation growing in the air between them.

As adrenaline surged through him, Adam felt the weight of the world resting on his shoulders, yet the overpowering desire to unleash everything he had overshadowed his fears. “That kick almost knocked me unconscious. I can tell he’s stronger than Daniel,” Adam thought to himself, the realization fueling his determination.Akira stirred and slowly sat up, her eyes widening as she took in the tense situation around her. The air was thick with anticipation, crackling like static, each heartbeat resonating with a sense of urgency.

Adam, momentarily lost in his thoughts, reminisced about his time at the mansion—a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding now. Feeling a sense of boredom creep in, he mused, “Did... did I miss this?”

But before he could dwell on the past, a surge of danger snapped him back to the present. Without warning, Alex conjured a fireball in his right hand, the swirling flames casting an eerie glow across his determined features.

“Hey, dude, isn’t this—” Dan began, his voice cutting off as Alex’s intentions became clear. With a swift motion, Alex launched the fireball at Adam, the force of it roaring through the air, igniting everything in its path.

The energy crackled like thunder as the fireball collided with Adam, the explosive impact sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees shook and debris flew, the blast creating a fiery spectacle against the backdrop of the dim woods.

“Alex!!” Akira cried out in alarm, her voice piercing through the chaos as

she scrambled to her feet.

“Activate!” Adam commanded, summoning the power that surged within him.