The trees whispered.
It wasn't the usual rustle of wind brushing past leaves—no. This was something deeper. Like the forest was breathing, like it knew they were there.
The AMP Squad stood still, right at the heart of the ancient forest, where the road had vanished behind them and only mystery stretched ahead. Zora's speaker bag, which had been playing soft tunes all trip, glitched and went completely silent. Static fizzled into the air.
"Did it just die?" Ace asked, tapping the speaker like it owed him an explanation.
"Something's wrong," Asher said, his fingers twitching near the edge of his backpack. "My tablet lost connection... but there's no signal jam. It's like... tech just vanished."
Suddenly, the ground pulsed beneath their feet—like a heartbeat.
Sylvia turned in a slow circle, eyes wide. "Okay, that's new."
Then, it hit them.
A blinding flash of golden light exploded through the clearing, surging out from an enormous tree—twisted, ancient, with glowing roots that pulsed like veins. Each of them was lifted off the ground, held midair by some unseen force. It wasn't painful—but it was intense. The light poured into them, wrapping around their chests, flowing into their hands, their hearts.
And then, just as suddenly, it ended.
They dropped to the forest floor with a thud. Silence fell.
Everyone gasped, wide-eyed and shaking.
"What the hell was that?" Athena breathed, clutching her head.
Zora blinked. The world looked brighter. Sharper. She could hear the humming of energy in the air. "I don't know," she whispered, "but I feel... different."
That night, back at the campfire, things only got weirder.
Zora started humming softly—and the flames shifted. Literally. They moved in sync with her voice, rising and falling like her very breath was conducting them.
Blair dropped her mug in shock. "Zora... that's not normal."
"I-I didn't do anything!" she said quickly, hands raised.
"Yes, you did," Sylvia said, leaning forward. "Do it again."
Zora sang a few soft notes. The fire danced.
Ace's jaw dropped. "Dude... that's sick."
But it didn't stop there.
Zora
Her voice held elemental energy now—sound itself was her power. With her singing or humming, she could manipulate vibrations and frequencies, even affect objects and elements. Her music could calm, destroy, or heal. She was a Soundweaver.
Blair
Later that night, Blair touched a withered flower—and it bloomed instantly under her fingers. Shocked, she tried again on a nearby vine, and it slithered up a tree like it had been reborn. Her power was tied to nature and life. Blair could control plants and even accelerate healing—she was a Verdant Whisperer.
Sylvia
When Sylvia got upset over a missing sketchbook, the shadows around her moved. They flickered unnaturally, bending to her emotions. With practice, she discovered she could shape shadows, become invisible, or travel through darkness itself. She'd become a Shadowcaller—mysterious and powerful.
Athena
Athena, ever drawn to antiques and history, found herself absorbing visions from old objects. One touch of an ancient tree trunk, and she saw glimpses of the past—warriors marching, strange creatures roaring. She had gained Psychometry—the ability to read memories from objects, making her a Memoryseer.
Enzo
Enzo's curiosity led him to a cave where ancient glyphs lit up under his presence. He could read them instantly—symbols no one else could. Not only that, he could now locate hidden passageways and relics by instinct. Enzo had become a Pathfinder, gifted with supernatural intuition and knowledge of lost civilizations.
Asher
Asher tried rebooting his tech—and it roared to life, but better. His devices connected to things they shouldn't, like trees, stones, even the air. He could control energy and manipulate tech with his mind. Asher had evolved into a Techmancer.
Axel
When a wild animal charged at them during the night, Axel stepped forward instinctively—and the animal stopped. Like it understood him. Axel had bonded with nature on a primal level, able to sense danger and communicate with animals. He'd awakened as a Guardian Beastmaster.
Ace
Ace's paintings came alive. Literally. When he doodled a bird in his sketchbook, it flapped its wings and soared out of the page. He could bring his art to life—creatures, objects, even weapons if needed. He was now an Artisan Conjurer.
They sat in stunned silence, each of them processing the impossible.
"Guys," Blair whispered, "I think... this forest chose us."
"No," Asher said slowly, "I think the city did."
And somewhere, far deeper in the trees, something ancient stirred—watching. Waiting.
The Hidden City of Keitha had accepted the AMP Squad.
But it would not let them go unchanged.