After the plan to make money was settled, the atmosphere inside the laboratory returned to a sensual silence once more. The aura of lust still hung in the air, mingling with the cold, metallic scent and faint ozone. Owen glanced at a digital clock on one of the control panels. Its red light indicated the time was 10:47 PM.
"It's getting really late…" he mumbled to himself, before turning to speak to Iris. "I should probably head back now, my love. Otherwise, I'll definitely miss the last bus."
He slowly pushed his still-naked, powerful body to a standing position. Every muscle in his body trembled slightly with fatigue but was also filled with a new, circulating energy. But then he froze as he looked down at his own condition… He was still naked, and the tattered remains of his clothes, ripped to shreds by Iris's claws, lay in a pathetic pile on the floor.
"Uh… Iris," Owen turned back to her with a troubled expression. "About my clothes… do you have any I could borrow?"
Hearing the demand for accountability from the one who caused it, Iris, who was lounging on the bed, just giggled, feeling no guilt whatsoever.
"Oh my~ I completely forgot about that," she said in a playful tone, before her eyes changed slightly, a cunning glint in them. "A troublesome matter like this… better let Rosy handle it~"
As she finished speaking, her body froze for a moment. Owen noticed the subtle changes… the arrogant, powerful gaze slowly faded, replaced by the gentle, bright, and cheerful eyes of Rosy, who had taken control of the body again. Owen couldn't help but twitch an eyebrow at the irresponsibility of the great queen, who had shamelessly fled from the problem.
Rosy blinked, taking in the situation, before letting out a long sigh and apologizing on Iris's behalf. "Ugh~ She did it again! Sorry about that lunatic, Owen~ She always does whatever she wants. The debt with the mafia is her doing too!" Rosy could only scold Iris, who was sitting cross-legged in her consciousness with the nonchalant face of a queen.
"I'll go find some clothes that might fit you. Wait right here!" And with that, Rosy quickly grabbed a black t-shirt and a spare pair of shorts she found in the lab, put them on sloppily, and then ran stomping up the stairs, leaving Owen standing with Talia, who was still quietly cleaning the equipment, not daring to disturb her master's moment.
Alicia, who was sitting in the living room reading her favorite romance novel, jumped slightly when she saw her daughter running up from the basement in a panic. "What is it, dear? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Mom! Do we have any men's clothes left in the house!?" Rosy asked urgently.
The question made Alicia narrow her eyes suspiciously at her daughter. She put down her book before a cunning smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "Oh my! A truly energetic teenager, aren't you? Did you go so far as to tear each other's clothes off~?" She raised a hand to cover her mouth and giggled. "I never knew my daughter was into that kind of rough stuff."
"Th-that's not it, Mom!" Rosy frantically denied, her face flushing crimson to her ears. "It… it was an accident! Just hurry up and find them for me!"
Alicia laughed with satisfaction before getting up and walking to the upstairs closet. "Alright, alright~ If you say so~ I'll go see if I can find that man's old clothes for you."
Not long after, Rosy returned with an old grey t-shirt and a pair of loose-fitting jeans for Owen. Although they didn't fit him well and made him look even bigger, it was better than having to go home naked.
After getting dressed, Owen expressed his thanks in a soft, sensual voice. "Thank you for everything you've all done for me, Rosy… Iris~" He knew Iris was still listening.
He slowly leaned his face towards her. Rosy closed her eyes slowly, feeling his warm breath on her lips, before they shared a deep kiss. It was a kiss full of gratitude, concern, and a profound desire…
Owen could feel Rosy's sweetness and sincerity, but at the same time, he could feel the heat and the aggressive, nipping pressure from the violating tongue, which was the hidden work of Iris. It was a confirmation of the complicated but inseparable relationship between the three of them…
After the sweet farewell kiss, Owen excused himself to head home, leaving Rosy (and Iris) standing at the door, watching his broad back slowly disappear into the darkness with a smile…
…..
The next morning, Owen walked to Jessica's coffee shop to pick up his SUV as they had arranged. The morning atmosphere of Titan City was bustling yet peaceful. The rich, familiar aroma of roasted coffee beans hit his nose before he even reached the front of the shop. It was a scent that made him feel relaxed and strangely at home.
Ring~
The clear bell tied to the door chimed as he pushed it open. Jessica, in a form-fitting white shirt and a black apron that accentuated her curves, was busy wiping the stainless-steel counter until it shined. She looked up at the sound… and immediately froze.
The cloth in her hand fell to the floor without her realizing it. Her beautiful eyes widened in utter shock. She looked Owen up and down… the body that just yesterday was covered in bandages and bruises was now completely healed, without a single scratch, as if yesterday's bloody events were just a nightmare. His body now looked strong, perfect, and radiated a faint aura of power that she could feel.
"Owen…?" she uttered his name in a soft whisper, as if she couldn't believe her own eyes. "H-how is this possible? Your wounds… they were so severe yesterday!"
She quickly walked around the counter towards him. Her slightly trembling hand reached out uncertainly to touch his left shoulder… the area that had been pierced through by a knife, was now smooth and filled with taut, hot muscle.
Owen gave a faint smile. He didn't want to reveal the secret of Iris's lab to her just yet. It was a secret that was too big and too dangerous. So he decided to tell her only half the truth.
"Haha, pretty amazing, right? I'm still in shock myself," he said with a laugh, then began to think of the most believable explanation.
"After I got home and went to sleep last night… my body suddenly felt as hot as fire… then when I woke up… it was like this. All the wounds and pain just vanished!"
He paused for a moment, looking deep into her confused eyes, then immediately started to boast to seem less suspicious. "After I looked it up online, I found that a lot of people are like this. It's an 'awakening,' Jessica… I think I've become an Awakened now~"
Those words made Jessica hold her breath for a moment. The shock on her face slowly transformed into amazement… joy… and the deepest admiration. Her eyes sparkled like a child seeing their favorite hero appear right before them.
"You… you became an Awakened!?" she repeated with excitement, before throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "Oh my god! Owen! I'm so happy for you! This is amazing!"
Owen chuckled softly. He hugged her back gently, feeling her soft body and full breasts crushed against his chest. The faint, sweet scent from her body made his heart beat faster.
After hugging for a moment, she pulled back slightly but didn't let go of his arm. "So… so what's your power? It must be a very strong healing-type power, right?" she asked enthusiastically.
Owen shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure myself yet," he answered truthfully, which wasn't a lie, as he still didn't know what his own true power was. "I can feel the mana flowing inside me… but the type and ability of my power are still unclear. I'll probably have to find an expert to test it and understand it better."
His answer didn't disappoint Jessica in the slightest. On the contrary… she looked at him with even more fascination than before. The man in front of her was no longer just a hero in a normal person's guise who protected her. He was a real Awakened… a man who was stronger and more special than anyone else, to whom she had completely given her body and heart…
She stood on her tiptoes slightly… her arms moving up to wrap around his neck, pulling his face down to hers… and pressed a soft, deep kiss on his lips. It was a kiss full of joy, pride, and the most passionate desire she could give… Her tongue bravely slipped in, tangling with his passionately, a congratulatory gesture that filled the morning coffee shop with a faint aura of lust…
Jessica's kiss was both hot and demanding. She pressed her soft body against Owen's, not hiding her desire. Her full breasts rubbed against his chest until he could feel her hardened nipples through the fabric.
"Let's go to the back… my love… I want to 'celebrate' your awakening…" she whispered huskily in his ear. Her warm breath, tinged with coffee and her sweet body scent, made the blood in Owen's veins run hot. Her face was flushed, her eyes moist with unconcealed lust.
Owen swallowed hard. He wanted to pin her to the counter and fuck her senseless right there, but more important business was waiting for him. He gently cupped her face, using his thumb to softly caress her lips, which were swollen from their kiss.
"I want to do that too, Jessica… so badly…" he said in a hoarse voice. "But right now, I have something urgent I really have to do."
He saw the clear disappointment in her eyes, so he quickly tried to console her. "But I promise… after I finish my business… I'll come to your place tonight, and we'll 'celebrate' all night long… okay?"
The promise worked wonders. Jessica smiled with satisfaction. She handed him the SUV key. "Okay… but don't you dare stand me up."
After getting the key back, Owen immediately drove his SUV out of the city. He knew that having power and being able to "control" it were two different things. He needed guidance from the strongest, most experienced Awakened he knew to understand his own limits and true abilities… and that person was Nova.
When the white SUV pulled into the parking lot of the mountain gym, a familiar atmosphere welcomed him. The sound of heavy objects clashing and heavy grunts came from within. Nova was training alone as usual. Her tall, powerful body, clad in a sports bra and tight pants, was unleashing a barrage of punches on a sandbag the size of a water tank, which weighed several tons, making it swing back and forth with ease. When she saw Owen walk in, she stopped punching and smiled at him, greeting him in a good mood.
"What's up, my student? You're here earlier than usual."
Owen didn't waste any time. He explained everything that had happened to her (the same version he told Jessica), that he had been gravely injured and had woken up with his power awakened.
Hearing that, Nova didn't seem very surprised. She shrugged and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her neck before speaking in a flat tone.
"That's not too surprising… Although awakening is a matter of fate or bloodline, in my experience, 'intent' also has an effect on it."
She paused and looked at Owen. "People with a 'determination,' 'desire,' or 'motivation' so intense it's almost insane often have a high chance of awakening in a high-pressure situation. And with that crazy determination I saw in you from day one… I already figured you had potential."
A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips. She walked over and slapped his shoulder so hard it made a loud THWACK!
"Welcome to the world of the Awakened, my student," she said, before her expression turned serious. "But remember, awakening is just the first step. Like a newborn baby with a shotgun in its hands. If you don't know how to use it, you'll just end up shooting yourself… Controlling and understanding your own abilities is what's important… Come here. I'll teach you the basics of mana control."
Nova led Owen to the outdoor training area behind the gym, which was surrounded by a quiet, natural forest and a cool breeze. She jumped up to sit on a large log and patted the space next to her, gesturing for him to sit down.
"Alright… an Awakened's first lesson," Nova said as Owen sat down beside her. "The mana in your body right now is like a wild, untamed horse. It's powerful, but it's also ready to throw you off at any moment. The first thing you need to do is not try to ride it, but to get to know it."
She spoke to him slowly. "Close your eyes, Owen… and try to 'feel' the mana in your body."
"Feel?" Owen repeated, not quite understanding.
"Yes… feel," Nova nodded. "Forget about your muscles. Forget about seeing or hearing for a moment. Try to use your sixth sense. Take a deep breath… and try to feel the energy flowing inside you… What is it like? Hot? Cold? Or does it feel like a light static electricity?"
Owen obeyed. He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling inside his body, just like when he had unconsciously used his Sire ability. But this time, he was more focused. He felt it slowly… a warm current flowing from the "power core" in his heart, spreading through every vein. It was a powerful feeling that made him feel… more alive than ever before.
"I… I can feel it," he said with a little excitement.
"Good," Nova continued. "That is the source of an Awakened's power, called 'mana'… Now, try to control your mana. Its center is your heart, and its destination is the different parts of your body, like your arms, legs, chest, and stomach. You will clearly feel that when the mana flows to a certain part, that part will become temporarily stronger and more durable… This is called 'reinforcement,' and it's the basis of mana control."
She paused to let him digest the information, then began to demonstrate. Her expression changed from that of a teacher to a powerful warrior.
"And when you've trained it until you're proficient… until you can reinforce your entire body in a split second, without any time or effort, you'll be able to do this…"
After she finished speaking, Nova jumped off the log onto a large granite rock over 5 meters high, softly and silently, as if her body were weightless.
She stood with her legs slightly apart, took a deep breath, and drew back her right fist. Instantly! The beautiful muscles of her right arm tensed, and a faint, emerald-green aura began to emanate from it. The aura flickered like a cold flame, slightly distorting the air around her arm. And in the next second, she threw a punch at the rock before her, slowly… slow enough for Owen to see every movement clearly, as if she wasn't using any force at all.
And when her small fist made contact with the large rock…
CRACK!! BOOM!!
An explosion as loud as a thunderclap roared out. An invisible shockwave spread out, so strong that Owen could feel the wind hitting his face!
The massive rock that had stood there a moment ago… suddenly vanished in an instant. It was crushed into nothing but small and large fragments that flew in all directions, leaving only a cloud of dust.
Owen could only gape, his mind going completely blank for a moment in disbelief at what he had just seen… That terrifying destructive power… from a single, simple-looking punch from her…
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