《beyond existence》 The spark of desire 1. Another Day in Hell I woke up to the annoying sound of the alarm, as if life itself refused to let me sleep a little longer. I reached out to silence it, then stayed staring at the ceiling for a few moments. "Another day of suffering." I sluggishly got out of bed and looked at myself in the mirror... the same tired face, the same eyes that lost their sparkle long ago. I was like a shadow moving aimlessly, as if I were just an empty being wandering in a world that didn¡¯t care about my existence. I opened the closet and pulled out my school clothes, putting them on indifferently, then headed to the kitchen where my mom was preparing breakfast. "Damian, do you want something to eat before you go?" I shook my head in refusal. I wasn¡¯t hungry. In fact, I hadn¡¯t felt anything for a long time, just an inner emptiness that grew with each passing day, as if I were sinking into a bottomless abyss. I left the house, the same scenes I saw every day, people cursing at each other, anger, and shouting everywhere. They didn¡¯t live in the "bliss of ignorance," but in its hell! On my way to school, I thought about all the scenarios that might unfold today. Would the bullies leave me alone? Of course not. Would the teachers pretend they didn¡¯t see what was happening, as they always do? Definitely. When I neared the school gate, I saw them waiting for me, as usual. "Ha! Look who¡¯s here! The school''s trash!" It was Jason, the person who hated me the most in this place. He never missed an opportunity to humiliate me in front of everyone. Beside him sat Ethan and Marcus, his loyal followers, laughing with him as if they were enjoying torturing me. I tried to ignore them and walked faster, but suddenly Jason stuck his foot out... I tripped and fell to the ground. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The moment my body hit the ground, I didn¡¯t just feel pain; I felt something else... a flash, a flashback, but not from the past... from the future. I saw myself... floating in space, but not the space we know... it was vast, infinite, stretching without limits... everything was still, no gravity, no air, no sound... just me, alone, in the void. Then... the scene ended abruptly, and I was back in the present, back to the pain, to the laughter surrounding me. Their laughter rose, and everyone around me either looked and laughed or pretended not to see what had happened. I felt embarrassed, but I said nothing. "Oh, sorry, didn¡¯t see you there!" Jason said sarcastically, then extended his hand as if helping me. But I wasn¡¯t stupid. I ignored him, got up quickly, and walked away. "Hahaha, this kid needs to learn how to fight back!" I heard his words, but they didn¡¯t affect me. I had gotten used to this a long time ago. I entered the classroom and sat in my usual spot in the back. I had no friends; no one cared about me. I was just an invisible person, even to those who sat next to me. The teacher started the lesson, but I wasn¡¯t paying attention. I was thinking¡­ Why me? Why do I live this way? Why am I not strong enough to stop them? Why am I the one who has to go through this among all people? But the worst had not happened yet. --- 2. The Greatest Humiliation At break, I was sitting alone in the back yard, trying to finish my sandwich quickly so no one would notice me. But luck was not on my side today. "Damian! Come here!" It was Jason again, this time with a bigger group. I looked around; there were no teachers, and no one seemed interested in intervening. I had no choice. If I ignored him, he would come to me himself, and it would be worse. I slowly got up and walked toward them. "Why are you always alone? You look like an idiot, are you afraid of people?" I didn¡¯t answer. "What!? Not going to respond!?" I remained silent. I knew any word would make things worse. "Alright, let me show you!" Suddenly, he grabbed my bag, opened it, and threw everything out onto the ground. Books, notebooks, even my only pen. Everyone started laughing, and I just stood there, feeling powerless. Why does no one feel sorry for me? I know the world has lost its humanity, but not to this extent... One of them kicked my notebook away, then Jason said: "Come on, show me how the trash picks up his stuff!" The moment I bent down to pick up my things, someone hit me on the back of my head hard. And the flashback exploded again. This time... there was screaming. Not my scream, not Jason¡¯s scream¡­ it was someone else¡¯s, screaming into the void... with an unimaginable pain, as if their whole being was being torn apart¡­ Then the scene ended, and the pain returned to my head, the laughter around me, the mockery. "Oh my god, this kid can¡¯t even stand up without falling! Hahaha!" I was trembling. The reason wasn¡¯t the beating or the humiliation... but what I saw. I picked up my books amidst the laughter. I could scream, I could cry, I could do something¡­ but I didn¡¯t. In the end, they left, still laughing, leaving me there, alone as always. That day, I went home more broken than ever¡­ and that scene kept running through my mind more than anything else... as if it was a glimpse into the future... When I entered my room, I threw my bag on the floor and threw myself onto the bed. "If only I were stronger... If only I had something that would make them fear me... I could change the world..." But wishes don¡¯t come true, do they? --- 3. Awakening: The New Beginning I didn¡¯t realize when I dozed off, but when I woke up... I felt something had changed. This wasn¡¯t just an ordinary change, it wasn¡¯t something that happens every day... it was as if I had woken up for the first time in my life! My eyes were different, my breathing was deeper, my body... it felt something I had never experienced before... this is the beginning of something entirely new... Awakening of Power Chapter 2 ¨C Awakening the Power Damian woke up the next morning with a strange sensation. Time felt¡­ unstable. It would speed up for a moment, then slow down as if reality itself was shifting. He raised his hand in front of his face, watching his fingers move unnaturally slow before snapping back to normal, as if nothing had happened. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he tried to shake the feeling off. "Was that just my imagination?" he wondered. But deep down, he knew¡ªit was real. Pushing the thoughts aside, he got ready for school. He convinced himself it was just a trick of the mind, nothing more. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t ignore the strange energy pulsing within him¡­ as if something inside him had awakened. The Moment That Changed Everything During lunch break, the inevitable happened. As always, Jason, the school bully, strutted into the courtyard with his two lackeys trailing behind. With a smirk, he walked straight up to Damian, his voice laced with mockery. "So, how''s the school¡¯s trash doing today?" He raised his fist, ready to strike¡ªjust like every other time. But this time¡­ Time didn¡¯t just slow down. It shattered. Damian saw everything in a way he never had before. He could see the veins in Jason¡¯s hand, pulsing as if frozen in time. He could see through the walls, catching glimpses of students on the other side. He could even see the air itself, every particle moving in slow, mesmerizing patterns. And in that moment, a new feeling washed over him¡ªabsolute clarity. He didn¡¯t think. He just moved. With effortless precision, he dodged Jason¡¯s punch, his body reacting instinctively. Then, without even trying, he delivered a light push¡ªbarely a tap. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. But it was enough. Jason was sent flying across the courtyard, crashing onto the ground with a force that left the entire school in stunned silence. For the first time, the bully was the one scrambling to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief. Without a word, he turned and ran, his lackeys following close behind. Whispers spread like wildfire. Some students watched with awe, others with fear. But in the distance, someone else was watching. A teacher stood at the edge of the courtyard, his eyes locked onto Damian¡ªnot with shock, but with recognition. As if he had seen something like this before. --- Testing the Limits By the time school ended, Damian¡¯s mind was racing. Something inside him had changed¡ªthere was no denying it. But he didn¡¯t feel relief. "Is this real?" he questioned. "Or¡­ am I just dreaming my perfect life?" He stopped walking, staring at his hands. A faint pulse ran through his fingertips, like an energy waiting to be unleashed. He needed to know for sure. That night, in his room, he stood in front of his mirror. "Can I control this?" Taking a deep breath, he reached toward a nearby chair, focusing all his thoughts on moving it. Nothing. His heart sank for a moment. Maybe he had imagined it after all. But no. This was real. His gaze hardened. He focused again. This time, he felt something stir. The chair shot across the room, crashing into the wall. He staggered back, pulse racing. "I did it¡­" he whispered. Looking at his reflection, a thought struck him. "Can I control my speed?" Before he could even process the thought, his body moved¡ªone second he was by the mirror, the next, he was at the door. He spun around, breathing heavily, but his eyes burned with excitement. And for the first time, he was certain. He was no longer the same. --- A Decision Under the Stars A strange sense of purpose began to take root inside him. And suddenly, a memory resurfaced¡ªthe moment he wished for power. A quiet laugh escaped his lips. "I got it¡­" But he wasn¡¯t convinced just yet. "I need to test this more." As night fell, he quietly slipped out of his room. But just as he reached the front door, a voice called out behind him. "Where are you going?" He turned, finding his mother, Maria, watching him with concern. A wave of hesitation hit him. He had no answer. But before he could even try¡ª Time froze. Everything around him came to a halt. His mother. The ticking clock. Even the wind outside. He stood there, staring at her, the only person who had ever truly cared about him. Then, without another word, he stepped outside. Under the vast night sky, he gazed at the stars. "What¡¯s really out there?" And then, with a single thought, he launched himself upward¡ªsoaring beyond the clouds, past the limits of human reach, into the infinite expanse of space. At first, he lost control, panic surging through him as he shot through the void at impossible speed. But then¡ªhe stopped. Floating in the silence of space, he looked around. He saw planets drifting in the distance, nebulae stretching across the cosmos like painted brushstrokes of light. And for the first time, he whispered to himself: "I am the only one who has seen the truth¡­ while the rest of humanity remains blind." And in that moment, a thought took root¡ªone that would change everything. "I won¡¯t just stand by and watch. I will reshape this world with my own hands." With a newfound resolve, he turned back toward Earth, ready to claim his destiny. But¡­ As Damian descended, he failed to realize¡­ he was not the only one who had seen the truth. Something else had been watching. Waiting. And in the endless darkness of space, unseen eyes flickered open¡ªglowing with quiet amusement. ¡ª(End of Chapter). No more running 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¡ªevery 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¡ªseeing 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¡ªhis 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¡ªsomething 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¡ªpeople 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¡ªI 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¡ªeveryone¡¯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¡ªVictor, 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¡ªhe 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¡ªhis 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¡ªthis 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¡ªunbelievable 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¡ªshowing 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¡ªhe 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.¡± ¡ª(End of Chapter)