Without hesitation, he leaped out of bed, his super speed carrying him downstairs in an instant. "Good," he said aloud as he spotted his mother in the living room. "She's still down here. Nothing happened to her."
Adamus quickly grabbed his mom and whisked her upstairs, tucking her into bed with a gentle kiss on the forehead. With a burst of speed, he zoomed through the house, cleaning up every corner until it sparkled.
After making sure everything was in order, he shot up to the roof, where he stared up at the twinkling stars. "Only two in the morning," he muttered, checking the time. "I've got four more hours until school."
Pulling out his phone, Adamus dialed Dylan's number. When Dylan answered, he grumbled, "Why are you calling me so early? I'm trying to sleep."
Adamus sighed, the weight of his nightmare heavy on his shoulders. "I can't sleep, man," he confessed
"I had a horrible nightmare," Adamus began, his voice heavy with emotion. "And plus, the crazy fight that happened yesterday... I saw all those people from yesterday getting hurt, and some of them died. I feel so guilty. I should have been stronger, faster."
Dylan responded, his voice laced with concern, "What was your nightmare about? And plus, bro, it was your first day as a superhero. You can't save everyone."
Adamus sighed, feeling the weight of his own expectations. "I'll just tell you about the nightmare in person," he replied. "But that's not true. I can save everyone. I just need to be faster and stronger."
"Can I please borrow your citizen pass to go to the superhero park to work out?" Adamus asked.
Dylan's response was immediate. "Sure, just run to my house. I'll give it to you."
"Alright, I'm on my way," Adamus replied eagerly. "I should probably check in with Deputy Stone. He might need some help later on today." Adamus dialed Stone's number, but there was no answer, so he left a voicemail. "Hey, Deputy Stone, it's Vajra. Give me a call back when you get this. I'm ready whenever you need me."
Adamus quickly put on his beat-up superhero costume, the same one he wore yesterday. With a burst of speed, he dashed out of his house and sped through the neighborhood at lightspeed, his keen eyes scanning the streets as he ran. As he zoomed from one dome city to another, he couldn't help but notice the litter strewn about.
With a sense of duty, he began to pick up trash along the way, his hands a blur as he snatched up discarded items and tossed them into nearby bins. Despite his speed, he made sure to be thorough, leaving the streets cleaner than he found them.
But Adamus wasn't only chasing garbage.
Along his route, he spotted a man about to leap from a bridge. In a blink, Adamus appeared beside him, gently pulling him back to safety before the man even realized what had happened. A moment later, the hero was off again.
In another district, the crack of gunfire echoed an armed robbery in progress. Adamus dashed in, disarmed the criminals, and tied them neatly with metal pipes bent like ribbons before the police even arrived.
Farther along, he saw a mother screaming at the edge of the street. A little girl sobbed beside her, crying out for her lost dog. Adamus didn't hesitate. In an instant, he broke into FTL-plus speed, vanishing in streaks of light as he searched every street, yard, and alley in the span of heartbeats. Dust swirled in his wake as he cut across entire blocks faster than the eye could follow.
Moments later, he skidded to a stop in front of the girl, kneeling as he gently set the trembling puppy into her arms. Her tears vanished, replaced by pure laughter and relief, while Adamus gave a reassuring smile before taking off again.
By the time he finally slowed down near Dylan's house, Adamus had already saved hundreds of dozen lives, stopped crimes in progress, and reminded citizens that hope still existed.
Dylan opened his window and leaned out, holding out the pass. "Here's my pass!" he called to Adamus, tossing it down to him with precision. Adamus caught it effortlessly, nodding in gratitude. "Thanks, man," he replied, his voice firm with determination. "I'll tell you about my dream later at school. I don't really feel like talking about it right now."
Dylan nodded understandingly. "I understand," he said, his voice filled with empathy.
With a sense of urgency, Adamus got into a running stance, his muscles coiled like springs.
However, before Adamus could run off, Dylan stopped him with a shout. "Hey, be careful!" Dylan warned, his voice tinged with concern. "This might be district C, but remember, the area I live in is designated only for A-rank citizens. If someone sees you and notices your wrist doesn't say A-rank citizen, there could be trouble."
However, before Adamus could run off, Dylan stopped him with a shout.
"Hey, be careful!" Dylan warned, his voice tinged with concern. "This might be District C, but remember, the area I live in is designated only for A-rank citizens. If someone sees you and notices your wrist doesn't say A-rank citizen, there could be trouble."
Adamus shrugged confidently. "I'll be fine," he replied, his voice full of bravado. "Who's gonna catch me?" With that, he flashed Dylan a grin and took off at FTL Plus speed, disappearing into the distance.
Adamus entered the track using Dylan's key card, his determination burning bright. "First things first, let me work on my speed," he said aloud as he approached the familiar track. "This is the same
Adamus stretched his legs at the starting line, his breath steady and focused. "Yesterday, 454 laps in a minute," he muttered. "Not good enough. Today, I'm going faster."
With a sharp inhale, he bolted forward. His very first lap crackled with energy his body surging to four times the speed of light. The world around him warped into streaks of color as he tore across the track.
But when he slowed just enough to glance at his timing, a frown crossed his face. "No. That's still not enough. I need to be faster."
He reset at the line, fists clenched, determination burning in his eyes. Again and again he launched forward, pushing himself harder each time. The track thundered beneath his feet, the air splitting in shockwaves as he looped around endlessly. After each run he staggered, caught his breath, then forced himself back into his stance. His legs screamed, his lungs burned, but his willpower roared louder.
"Faster! Faster!" he shouted with every burst of acceleration.
The laps blurred together, seconds dissolving into streaks of motion until his body moved like pure lightning. Time itself seemed to stretch and collapse around him.
Finally, with one last explosive sprint, Adamus pushed past his limit. He crossed the finish line and dropped to his knees, chest heaving, sweat and fire mingling across his skin.
A triumphant scream tore from his throat. "Yes!" he roared. "6,732 laps in a single minute!"
He collapsed onto the track, smiling through exhaustion. "That's more like it… Now it's time to work on strength."
Adamus stood before the colossal block, its weight an unfathomable 3.3 quintillion tons, his emerald aura flaring like wildfire around him. The green energy crackled and pulsed, wrapping his body in a glowing tempest that seemed to defy the impossible.
"I couldn't lift you yesterday," Adamus growled, his voice a low rumble of determination. "But today… today is different."
Adamus stood before the colossal block, its weight an unfathomable 3.3 quintillion tons. His emerald aura flared like wildfire, green energy snapping and crackling around him in a storm of radiant fire.
"I couldn't lift you yesterday," Adamus growled, his voice low and edged with determination. "But today… today is different."
His green flames surged violently as he bent down, palms pressing against the surface of the massive structure. Muscles tensed, veins carved across his arms and shoulders, and in a single explosive motion he lifted.
The block rose effortlessly. Adamus blinked in shock, realizing his strength had grown beyond his own expectations. He set the massive weight back down, his eyes already narrowing on the other block the one Dylan had pointed out yesterday. The impossible one.
6.6 undecillion tons.
He repeated the number under his breath, feeling the magnitude of it. That was not just weight. It was the kind of mass that defied reason, rivaling stars themselves.
He planted his feet, grounding himself as his emerald aura roared to life. The ground split and quaked beneath him. His body trembled as veins bulged across his neck, arms, and temples, his face flushing red from the strain. Sweat rolled down his brow, glowing in the reflection of his energy.
With a guttural roar, Adamus heaved. At first, nothing. Then an earth-shattering tremor. The giant block quivered. Inch by inch, it began to rise, the crushing weight tearing at every fiber of his being. His body shook violently, his teeth grinding, but his will refused to break.
"RAAAHHH!"
With a final, monstrous roar, he lifted it completely, raising the block above his head as his emerald aura surged into a blinding storm, brighter than ever before.
Then, with a deafening crash, he let the block slam back down, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the earth like an earthquake.
Adamus staggered back, gasping for air, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. His fists clenched tight, his eyes burning with fire.
"Let's go!" he roared to the heavens, emerald flames whipping around him like banners of victory. Adrenaline thundered through his veins, his heart ablaze with triumph.
Adamus's triumphant scream is cut short by the sound of clapping, his head turning quickly to locate the source. "What is that?" he mutters to himself, scanning the area. The clapping seems to have a voice, and Adamus listens intently.
"Hey, kid, I'm up here," a voice called out.
Adamus looked up, his eyes widening in astonishment. Hovering above him was a young man with massive dragon wings, their scales glinting like steel embers in the light. His eyes burned a fierce crimson, and his fiery red hair blazed wildly in the air.
But what struck Adamus most was his armor. The figure wore a sleek black-and-red suit, its surface flowing like liquid metal, alive with shifting ripples of light. Wicked spikes jutted from the shoulder pads, gleaming menacingly as the fabric flexed with every movement.
Across his forehead, a headband clasped tightly around his fiery mane, but it wasn't just decoration it gave shape to two sharp, curved horns that crowned his head, making him resemble a dragon in both form and spirit. His elf-like ears twitched as he studied Adamus, curiosity mixing with predatory focus.
The entire figure radiated both elegance and danger a warrior clad in living armor, half-dragon, half-man, suspended in the air as though the sky itself belonged to him.
As the winged figure descends toward Adamus, he continues to clap slowly, a smirk playing on his lips. "That was pretty impressive," he says, his voice smooth and confident. "What superhero team are you a part of?"
Adamus's brows furrow in confusion. "I'm not part of a superhero team. I'm sort of new to this," he replies, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
The stranger's smile widens as he extends his hands towards Adamus. "Well, welcome to the club, newbie," he says with a chuckle. "My name is RJ, but my superhero name is Draco."
Adamus's eyes widen in surprise. "Nice to meet you, Draco," he says, reaching out to shake the stranger's hand.
But before their hands could meet, Adamus caught sight of two other figures drifting in the night sky.
The first was an imposing white male who looked barely twenty years old yet towered above any ordinary man. His body stretched to an overwhelming twelve feet tall, a giant. His broad frame was wrapped in a regal red and blue superhero costume, but it wasn't the fabric alone that gave him his presence. At the ends of his massive sleeves, white bear fur curled and swayed in the wind, like a mantle of dominance carved from kings of the wild.
Across his chest gleamed a striking emblem: a red-and-black sun with a bright yellow core burning at its center, a symbol that seemed both divine and destructive. The logo radiated with a brilliance that made the night itself recoil, as if the sun had been challenged by a rival light.
The second figure flew beside the giant. She had white hair that shimmered under the sun, and her piercing blue eyes swept over the scene with calm precision. A white dress reinforced with armor hugged her frame, while a red cape trailed behind her like a banner.
At her hips rested twin holstered guns, gleaming in the light. On either side of her head, sleek high-tech ear pieces shaped like wings gave her a futuristic, angelic edge. She stood tall in white high heels, her hands poised with subtle menace, her blue nails glinting as she tightened her grip.
As she approached, the woman's voice carried a lilt an accent raw and unpolished, the kind that spoke of hard soil, dust, and survival. She called out with a teasing edge, "You're not gonna introduce us to your new friend, Draco?"
Draco chuckled, flashing a grin. "I actually don't know his name. I just met him." With a casual gesture, he pointed to his comrade. "This is Thunderstrike."
Adamus extended his hand politely. "My name is Vajra."
The woman's piercing blue eyes softened, and she gave a warm, almost mischievous smile. "In my realm, we don't give handshakes." Her tone carried both pride and memory, as though she spoke of a place etched in legend. "But I can give you a hug."
She stepped forward, arms outstretched.
Adamus leaned in, caught between caution and kindness but before their embrace could meet, a blur of motion tore across the sky.
Svyatogor surged forward, his massive frame cutting the air like a meteor. In an instant, he slammed into Adamus with unstoppable force.
The collision ripped the sky apart. A cataclysmic explosion, blinding as a sun tearing itself open, burst outward, shaking the very fabric of the morning. The shockwave annihilated everything nearby, hurling debris and fire in every direction. When the light finally dimmed, the land below bore the wound: a colossal crater, so vast it seemed as if the world itself had been punched hollow.
The ground still trembled as dust clouds rose, and Adamus's body lay buried in the heart of the devastation.
Emerging from the settling dust, the figure reveals a rugged face, etched with determination and framed by a Russian accent that rumbles like distant thunder. "This part of town is for A-rank citizens and upper. What are you doing here? I hate when people break the rules," the Russian growls, his grip tightening around Adamus' neck.
Gasping for breath, Adamus feels the crushing strength of his assailant. Thoughts race through his mind, his heart pounding with uncertainty. "How strong is this guy? I didn't even see him move. And now I'm in a giant crater that he made from slamming me," Adamus thinks, struggling to find a way out of the vice-like grip.
In a moment of desperation, Adamus felt a surge of energy coursing through him, "I think that hit got me a lot of energy," he realized, his voice tinged with a newfound strength. "I think... I can push him off."
Suddenly, Draco Hand appeared, his presence commanding as he seized Svyatogor's arm in a firm grip. "Svyatogor, why are you attacking our new friend?" Draco demanded, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Svyatogor responded with authority, his gaze unwavering. "Boss, he's breaking the rules," he stated firmly.
"Svyatogor, look at his wrist," he says, pointing to Adamus's wrist. "He's a C-ranked citizen. He's not supposed to be here, and he's not even registered as a superhero. If he was, he would be an S-ranked citizen. And you know, you're not allowed to use your superpowers unless it's an emergency."
Draco responds with annoyance. "Look at him. He's young. He barely looks seventeen. You can't become a superhero until you're eighteen," he explains, shaking his head. "I didn't get my license until I was twenty."
But before Svyatogor could react further, the atmosphere shifted. All eyes turned to Adamus as his entire body began to glow with a radiant green light, energy swirling around him like a tempest. The air crackled with anticipation as Adamus prepared to unleash his power.
With a mighty roar, Adamus unleashed a full counter, a blast of energy erupting from his chest with incredible force. The energy surged forward like a tidal wave, striking Svyatogor and sending him hurtling through the air with a thunderous crash.
The impact was deafening, the ground shaking beneath their feet as Svyatogor crashed into a nearby building, his body leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Dust and debris filled the air, but through the haze, his massive figure rose again. His nose bled freely, crimson streaks across his face, and with the back of his hand he wiped it away. His eyes burned with rage and humiliation.
"Let's play then, kid!" he roared, his voice rattling windows as he launched himself forward again. His fury made the sky itself tremble.
Hovering in the air, Svyatogor sneered, his booming voice dripping with arrogance.
"You lowlife, low-level citizen… You're only a C-rank! And with powers just as pathetic—C-rank trash! Me? I'm an S-rank citizen with a B-rank superpower. I could destroy you with a single blow!"
He spread his colossal arms wide, and blazing energy began to gather between his palms. It swelled and roared, growing into a massive ball of light, fiery and blinding like a miniature sun. The heat distorted the air, warping the horizon as the orb reached the size of a building.
"You must not know who I am," Svyatogor thundered. "I am from the Sun Realm itself. I will show you the true power of my heritage!"
But before the blazing sphere could descend, another figure suddenly flashed into the fray. Draco's presence was commanding, his aura splitting the storm of energy with ease. With a single motion, he flew in front of Svyatogor, blocking his path with a wall of sheer authority.
"STOP!" Draco's voice boomed like divine thunder, its force shaking both combatants into stillness. His gaze was sharp, filled with an authority neither could defy. He extended his hand outward, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"You two… enough! Go back. Back to training," Draco commanded. His voice left no room for argument.
The searing orb in Svyatogor's hand sputtered, flickering against Draco's will. For a moment, even the Sun Realm giant hesitated.
The words hung in the air like a decree, the weight of Draco's command forcing Svyatogor to pause in his tracks. Reluctantly, he backed down, his gaze locked with Adamus's before turning away. With a sense of resignation, he retreated, disappearing into the distance.
Adamus stood there, his body still glowing with energy, his chest rising and falling with exertion. The moment passed, and the tension in the air dissipated, leaving only the echo of their clash lingering in the air. With a sigh, Adamus let the energy fade, the glow around him dimming until he stood once again as he was before.
Draco flew down to Adamus, his presence commanding yet somehow reassuring. "How old are you?" he asked, his voice steady.
Adamus took a moment to catch his breath before replying, "Seventeen, about to turn eighteen."
Draco grinned, his expression a mixture of amusement and approval. "Ah, a young one," he remarked, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. He glanced over at Thunderstrike and chuckled. "Svyatogor, always a hothead. Throws punches first, asks questions last."
Thunderstrike, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation, brushed herself off. "I'm about to go back to training. You coming, Draco?" she asked, her tone tinged with a touch of exasperation.
Draco nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Of course," he replied, his voice laced with camaraderie. "Can't let you have all the fun without me, now can I?" Thunderstrike nodded to Adamus. "It was nice to meet you," she said with a genuine smile, her eyes reflecting a sense of respect.
Adamus returned the smile, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Thunderstrike despite the brief encounter. "Likewise," he replied, his voice filled with gratitude.
With a powerful surge of lighting energy, Thunderstrike took to the sky, her figure disappearing into the distance.
Draco's gaze locked onto Adamus, his eyes sharp with conviction. His voice softened, but it carried the weight of authority.
"You should do it, kid. It was the best decision I ever made. I used to be an F-rank citizen, nothing but the lowest of the low. Now? I live in luxury and so does my family. We have everything we ever dreamed of, because I chose the organization."
He glanced at Adamus's wrist, noting the rank marker with a smirk.
"I see it. You're a C-rank. Not bad not bad at all. But if you stay here, that's all you'll ever be. Just another face in the crowd, scraping by with the peasants."
He leaned in slightly, his tone dripping with temptation.
"But if you join the Hero Organization… you'll rise higher than you ever imagined. You can live like a king. You'll have respect, power, and the kind of life others can only beg for. Don't waste your potential being stuck down here. You deserve more and we can give it to you."
Adamus listened, his thoughts racing as he weighed Draco's words. "I could get registered as a hero and give my mom a better life," he mused silently, feeling a flicker of hope stir within him. "Maybe Dylan was right."
But as Draco's words sank in, Adamus's resolve hardened. "No," he thought fiercely, his mind racing with a newfound clarity. "Dylan's wrong. This system's messed up, and I won't play their games. He's talking about my district and my people like we're animals ready to be enslaved."
With a determined glint in his eyes, Adamus met Draco's gaze once more. "I appreciate the advice, Draco," he said firmly, his voice resonating with strength and intelligence. "But I won't sacrifice my principles for a higher rank. I'll find another way to make a difference, one that doesn't involve becoming part of a flawed system."
Draco's nodded in agreement, his expression hardening with determination. "I don't like these blue-blooded bureaucrats who tell us what to do," he declared, his voice ringing with frustration. "They don't even have superpowers. We're so much better than them. But we're forced to obey them. If I could have it my way, we superheroes would be in charge."
He continued, his tone growing ominous. "Kid, don't go against Hero Society," he warned, his voice carrying a weight of authority. "Hero Society is controlled completely by the king of the Galaktikós."
"The Galaktikós," Draco spat the name with disdain, his eyes ablaze with defiance. "Our great leaders, who believe their system is perfect. They are the brains of the operation, orchestrating the control. And we, the heroes, are mere enforcers of their blue-blooded commands."
Draco chuckled darkly, his laughter resonating with malice. "Our job? To put the humans in their place," he declared, his words sharp as a blade. "This world has a pecking order, and humans without powers are at the bottom. And people with useless powers too."
"That's why right now we're headed to District F," Draco announced, his voice rising with anticipation. "Apparently, there's a revolution brewing. A man named Jason, or was it Ravana, is stirring up war." He paused, his eyes glinting with determination. "We stopped in this district to train for a little bit before we go there. It's a long trip, about 15.5 billion light-years from District C to District F."
Adamus nodded to himself, a sense of urgency driving him forward. "That couldn't be the same guy from my dream," he thought, his mind racing. "But it doesn't matter. I've got to leave. It's almost time for school."
"I gotta go, Draco," Adamus said aloud, his voice resolute. Draco nodded "Think about what I said."
Draco, his expression serious. "Take care, man," he replied, his tone filled with genuine concern. "And be careful out there."
With a final nod of acknowledgment, Adamus bolted into action, his body enveloped in a shimmering aura as he accelerated to lightspeed. The world around him blurred into streaks of color as he raced through the citys, the wind whipping past his ears.
He streaked to Dome City to dome city, his movements precise and controlled as he weaved through the bustling streets. The hum of energy surged through him, fueling his determination as he raced towards his destination.