The morning after Kael's encounter with Razorback, Queens felt strangely normal again. Students streamed down the sidewalks toward Midtown High, cars honked in the distance, and the air carried the usual mixture of exhaust, bakery scents, and chatter.
But Kael felt different.
Not dramatically, not visibly.
But inside his chest, his awareness buzzed with a quiet, sharpened rhythm.
Pattern Recognition smoothed the edges of movement around him.
Street Blade Basics flowed through his muscles with quiet certainty.
Two trades.
Two small steps.
But the difference was real.
He kept to himself as always. He didn't want attention—attention was danger in a world that watched everything. So he moved with care, keeping his posture casual and his eyes softened. People overlooked him naturally, and he encouraged that with every choice.
History class rolled by slowly. Science was easier to follow now—his improved perception made formulas feel almost intuitive. At lunch, he chose a quiet table in the back corner of the cafeteria. The hum of voices formed a low background buzz.
That's when a sharp heat pricked at the edge of Kael's senses.
A pulsing, concentrated burning.
Not literal flames.
Energy.
Something in the cafeteria was… glowing.
Kael tensed before forcing himself to relax. He scanned the room carefully—not obviously, but with the casual quiet of someone letting their eyes wander.
Then he saw him.
A boy sitting alone near the vending machines. Olive skin. Black hair cropped short. Nervous posture. His fingers tapped rapidly against the table, barely touching the surface before pulling back again.
The heat came from him.
Kael's perception narrowed. The boy's aura flickered—an unstable spark of orange-gold buried under layers of strain. Not a full energy user. Not even awakened. But on the edge.
A metahuman spark.
Small. Weak. But real.
Kael swallowed. This was the kind of situation he'd been waiting for.
A potential energy trade.
But he needed to be careful.
Approach too aggressively, and the boy might panic. Approach too casually, and the opportunity might vanish.
Kael chose something in between.
He stood and walked toward the vending machines as if he just wanted a snack. He stopped next to the boy and leaned forward to examine the drinks.
The boy flinched at the closeness but didn't move away.
Kael inserted a dollar and said casually, "Machine's been eating money today. Hope it doesn't take mine too."
The boy blinked. "Huh? Oh—yeah. Mine worked."
Kael nodded and pressed his choice. The can clattered down.
He turned slightly toward the boy. "You okay? You look… stressed."
The boy hesitated. His fingers twitched.
"Just… bad morning."
Kael didn't push. "Yeah. Happens."
He walked away.
But the moment he passed the exit, the system flickered.
Trade Potential Detected
Target: Unstable Metahuman Spark
Value Type: Emotional Relief, Support Opportunity
It wasn't enough. He needed more interaction. Something real to trigger a trade.
The opportunity returned sooner than expected.
On the walk home, Kael found the same boy leaning against a brick wall near an alleyway—face pale, breath shaking, eyes wide with panic.
Kael scanned the area.
No thugs.
No villains.
No danger.
Just the kid.
The air around him shimmered faintly with heat. Barely visible unless you knew what to watch for. His shirt clung to sweat. His hands trembled.
He was overheating—not physically, but internally. His dormant metahuman spark was trying to activate, and his fear was suffocating it.
Kael approached carefully.
"Hey," he said quietly. "You're from school, right? You okay?"
The boy didn't answer. He backed up a step, hands pressed to his temples.
"Go away," he whispered. "I—I don't want to hurt anyone."
Kael paused.
Not dangerous yet.
But getting there.
"What's your name?" Kael asked softly.
"Leo," he muttered. "Please, just—don't come near me."
Kael stayed exactly where he was and spoke calmly. "You're not losing control. You're just scared."
"That's easy for you to say," Leo snapped, voice cracking. "Things… they get hot. My skin burns. I think I'm gonna explode."
Metahuman anxiety surge.
Pre-awakening flare.
Kael had studied enough cases to recognize the signs.
"You're not going to explode," Kael said. "You just need to breathe."
Leo shook his head violently. "Breathing isn't doing anything!"
Kael's voice dropped into a steady, controlled tone—one he had practiced for moments like this.
"Leonardo."
Leo froze at the sound of his full name.
"You're not burning up," Kael said. "You're letting fear control your spark."
Leo's eyes widened slightly. "My… spark?"
Kael nodded once. "Sit."
Leo hesitated, then slid down the wall, breathing hard.
Kael didn't touch him. Touch might make the spark flare. He simply crouched across from him.
"Focus on something cold," Kael instructed. "A freezer. Snow. Ice water."
Leo closed his eyes, sweating. "It's not working."
"Then focus on your feet," Kael said. "Feel the ground. Feel the weight of your body. Listen to my voice."
Kael guided him through grounding techniques—simple, effective. His voice was steady. Calm. Firm. Leo's breathing slowed. The heat around him dimmed. His shoulders relaxed inch by inch.
The system pulsed softly.
Trade Ready
Value: Emotional Stabilization, Metahuman Guidance
Potential Reward: Foundational Energy Skill
Kael's heart beat faster.
This was it.
The trade window opened.
Offering: Emotional grounding, spark stabilization
Receiving Options:
– Energy Regulation (Basic)
– Heat Tolerance (Minor)
– Internal Flow Awareness (Weak)
– Spark Resonance (Very Weak)
Kael didn't hesitate.
Energy Regulation (Basic).
Trade Complete
Skill Gained: Energy Regulation (Basic)
EXP +30
Kael's chest tightened for a brief moment. A warm sensation flowed through him—not heat, but clarity. His body suddenly understood how to guide microscopic energies through pathways he had never been aware of. His breathing deepened. His heart steadied. A faint rhythm formed beneath his skin.
Leo exhaled shakily. His body relaxed completely.
"It… stopped," he whispered. "I feel—normal."
Kael nodded. "You were close to unlocking something. Fear made it unstable."
Leo stared at him in awe. "How did you… know what to do?"
Kael shrugged slightly. "People panic. I've seen it before."
Leo swallowed. "Thank you."
Kael stood. "Walk home slowly. Drink water. Rest. You should be okay."
Leo nodded again, still shaken but calmer.
Kael walked away, turning the corner before letting out a long breath.
The new skill pulsed gently inside him.
Energy Regulation (Basic):
Understanding of internal energy pathways
Ability to guide energy calmly
Reduced risk of internal overload
Minor increase in stamina efficiency
He tested the skill with a slow inhale.
A faint thread of warmth moved through his chest, steady and controlled.
Perfect.
This was the foundation he needed to handle every future energy system—chakra, ki, nen, mana, anything. His body was adapting.
But this also meant something else.
Leo had awakened early signs of a metahuman spark. Someone would eventually notice. Xavier's school? S.T.A.R. Labs? Someone else?
Kael hoped the boy remained unnoticed long enough to find safety.
He also hoped no one connected him to the incident.
He returned home, mind spinning but calm.
Two trades so far had shaped his senses and combat skill.
This third trade shaped his energy.
Three pillars forming a foundation.
But he wasn't done.
Not even close.
That night, Kael sat on his bed with the lights off, feeling the hum of his new energy skill. He focused lightly, breathing in and out.
Electric tingles drifted beneath his ribs. His limbs felt warmer, more responsive. His mind clearer.
He opened the system interface.
The Omniversal Trader panel glowed gently.
Kael Arista – Level 1 (40/100 EXP → now 70/100)
Primary Skills: Pattern Recognition, Street Blade Basics, Energy Regulation
Hidden Status: Stable, Concealed
No warnings. No alerts.
Good.
Kael lay back and exhaled.
Tomorrow would bring more challenges.
But tonight, for the first time, he felt like he was stepping onto the path he was meant to walk.
A path between worlds.
Between energies.
Between lives.
One trade at a time.
---
KAEL STATUS – END OF CHAPTER 4
Level: 1
EXP: 70 / 100
Physical Stats
Strength: 5
Speed: 6
Endurance: 5
Agility: 6
Durability: 5
Stamina: 7
Regeneration: 1
Mental Stats
Intelligence: 25
Memory: 30
Perception: 15
Willpower: 20
Instinct: 12
Multiversal Awareness: 5
Energy Stats
Energy Capacity: 10
Energy Recovery: 3
Energy Compatibility: High
Energy Control: Basic
New Skills
– Energy Regulation (Basic)
(Allows calm control of internal energy, prevents overload, improves stamina efficiency)