Chapter 3: No More Running


    Damian had returned to Earth. But this time, he wasn’t the weak boy who took hits without fighting back. He was something else… something entirely different.


    He stood in the middle of the forest, where no eyes watched him except for the silent trees and the whispering wind. He closed his eyes and felt everything—every falling leaf, every ant crawling on the soil, every whisper of the breeze. Even the beat of his own heart echoed in his ears. It was as if the entire universe was screaming for his attention.


    Then, he opened his eyes and tested his abilities—seeing even the finest details from miles away, sensing the energy around him, and even bending time itself to his will. But there was one thing he still couldn’t fully control—his aura. That immense power felt like trying to grasp an entire galaxy in the palm of his hand.


    After hours of testing, he noticed the sunrise breaking through the horizon. He headed home quietly, slipping inside as his mother and little brother, Romeo, slept peacefully. Entering his room, he lay on his bed, feeling a rush of excitement unlike anything he had ever felt before. He closed his eyes, knowing that by the time he woke up for school… everything would change.


    ---


    A few hours later, Damian woke up bursting with energy. It was as if his mind had awakened before his body. He got up swiftly, got ready in no time, and stepped into the living room. His mother gave him a puzzled look.


    “What’s up with you? You seem… happy today.”


    He smiled. “I just… feel like my life is getting better.”


    Simple words, but they eased his mother’s heart. She nodded with a soft smile. He sat with Romeo for a while, talking and laughing—something he hadn’t done in a long time. For the first time in forever, he felt the warmth of home again. But soon, it was time to leave.


    On his way to school, the world seemed unchanged—people arguing, noise filling the streets, the same old routine. But he simply smiled to himself and muttered, “Not for long.”


    When he arrived, he saw Jason standing at the entrance. But this time, the arrogance was gone from his face. Instead, there was hesitation… and guilt.


    Jason hesitated before speaking. “I… I’m sorry. For everything. I don’t know how you did that to me, but I admit it—I was a jerk.”


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Damian stared at him coldly. A few days ago, this might have stirred a reaction. But now? He simply said, “Let’s not talk about it.”


    Jason nodded and walked beside him into the classroom. And that’s when Damian noticed something else—everyone’s eyes were different. The students who once ignored or mocked him were now looking at him with respect… even admiration. But he didn’t care much. He just sat down and waited for the lesson to begin.


    But instead of the science teacher, someone else walked in—Victor, the math teacher. The students exchanged confused glances as Victor spoke. “Your science teacher is absent today, so I’ll be filling in.”


    Victor was tall, with neatly combed black hair and sharp eyes that scanned the room like he was analyzing every student. The lesson started as usual, but something felt off… Damian noticed that Victor kept glancing at him, and it wasn’t just a normal look.


    Why is he watching me like that?


    Minutes later, Victor suddenly stopped the lesson and smirked. “Damian, come to the front. I want you to do some push-ups.”


    Everyone stared in confusion. One student spoke up, “But… this is a science class?”


    Victor chuckled. “It’s just a quick physical exercise. Don’t worry.”


    Damian felt a strange unease. He wasn’t sure what would happen—he had never tried push-ups before. But there was no avoiding it. He stepped forward, got into position, and began.


    One… two… ten… fifty… a hundred…


    The students started holding their breath, expecting him to stop. But he didn’t.


    Two hundred… five hundred… seven hundred… a thousand.


    When he finally stopped, the room was dead silent. Every single student was frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed. A thousand push-ups in seconds. Even Damian himself hadn’t expected that—his body had moved on its own, like an unstoppable force.


    Victor stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re different, Damian… aren’t you?”


    Damian’s eyes darkened. He realized now—this man had been watching him from the start.


    He muttered sharply, “Get out of my face, you idiot.” Then, without another word, he stormed out of the classroom, leaving behind nothing but unanswered questions.


    ---


    He didn’t return to school the next day. Or the day after that.


    He locked himself in his room, thinking. What was he supposed to do now? People were starting to notice. This was getting out of control.


    But he had no idea… the worst was yet to come.


    That night, as he sat in his room, his phone buzzed with a news alert:


    "A superhuman fighter spotted in the woods—unbelievable speed and strength!"


    He clicked the video. The footage was blurry, unclear. But he knew… it was him.


    “It’s fine… No one can recognize me from this quality.”


    But over the next few days, the videos kept spreading. Then, finally, clear footage surfaced—showing him using his powers in the forest. And soon… the whole world saw it.


    The next morning, as he sat at home, Romeo suddenly shouted in excitement:


    “Damian! Look! You’re on TV!”


    His breath caught in his throat. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the television. And there he was.


    A clear image of him. Reporters talking. Crowds reacting. The entire world was now speaking his name.


    Without thinking, he grabbed the remote and smashed the TV with his fist.


    His mother’s voice called out from the other room. “What was that?!”


    He took a quick breath and replied, “Romeo broke it… He was messing with it.” Then, before she could ask anything else, he bolted out of the house.


    The moment he stepped outside, he felt it. People were whispering. Pointing.


    “It’s him! He’s the guy from the news!”


    Panic surged through him. He wasn’t ready for this. As the crowd began to approach, he had no choice—he launched himself into the sky, soaring higher and higher until he was above the clouds.


    He took a deep breath, gazing down at the city below. Everything had changed. He couldn’t hide anymore.


    Lost in thought, he floated among the clouds. But there was only one path left. He lifted his head, his eyes burning with resolve.


    “No more running… It’s time to show them the truth.”


    —(End of Chapter)