Chapter 1: Breaking Sound.
Rhan Shyn streaked through the city streets, his super speed turning him into a flash of blue light against the darkened skyline. Skyscrapers blurred past as he dashed toward a high-rise, teetering dangerously. Atomic energy surged within him, forming a pulsating blue-green aura that danced around him like ghostly fire. Powerful, unstoppable, that's how I feel.
The building's support beams groaned under its own weight, and Rhan gritted his teeth, concentrating all his energy on stabilizing the structure. "Damn, this is tougher than I thought," he muttered, his hands glowing as they hummed with atomic resonance. The steady hum sounded like a distant church bell, echoing through his bones as he pressed against the foundation, sweat tracing rivulets down his face. Just one slip-up, one lapse in focus, and my own energy could bring this entire place crashing down.
Slowly, the building steadied, and cheers erupted from the crowd below. Rhan scanned the scene, noting the injured civilians scattered on the ground. Emergency responders had already arrived, but then came the unmistakable flash of black as V8 recruiters' sleek vehicles muscled their way through the chaos, indifferent to the bodies they nearly trampled.
"Hey, watch it!" he shouted as one of the recruiters nearly sideswiped an injured woman. The recruiter barely looked back, a sneer twisting his mouth. Rhan's stomach churned. So this is how these V8 bastards operate?
Finally, the recruiters, dressed in pristine high-tech suits, reached him. One, a stern-looking woman with eyes like razors, stepped forward.
"Rhan Shyn, I presume? I'm Agent Lee," she said, ignoring the wounded lying around them. "We've been following your work and think you'd make a fine addition to V8." Her tone was clipped, as though she were discussing a business transaction.
Rhan's gaze drifted to the injured civilians, his chest tightening. "Thanks, I guess, but... are you seriously just gonna ignore the people in need here?"
Agent Lee's eyes softened slightly, putting on a tone of voice you would use to speak to a baby. "We're here to recruit you, not to handle the dirty work. Our resources are focused on finding new, promising talent. The emergency services are handling that." She said looking behind her with an almost prejudiced look on her face.
I clenched my fists, feeling my energy pulse. In a blur, I darted across the scene, gathering injured civilians and depositing them near the medic trucks before appearing back in front of the recruiters. "All right, now we can talk."
They exchanged a look but nodded, leading him to their car. Rhan asked for the address, offering to meet them faster, but they refused.
…
…
V8 headquarters was a marvel, an imposing fusion of sleek, futuristic lines and technology that seemed to defy time. Rhan trailed the recruiters through its bustling corridors, wide-eyed and uncertain. The place was alive with the hum of power and prestige.
"Welcome to V8," Agent Lee announced as they entered a vast training arena. "This is where you'll start your training and meet your new team."
Rhan's gaze fixed on the towering figure waiting for him. Titan, the face of V8's elite core, stood like a monolith, his metallic silver suit shimmering under the lights. A dark gray cape trailed behind him as he floated toward Rhan with a look of detached interest.
"Rhan Shyn," Titan said, his deep voice echoing through the room. "I'm Titan. I'll be watching your training. It's good to finally meet new talent. Entertain me."
"Nice to meet you, Titan," I replied sarcastically, trying to keep my voice steady despite the honestly scary man before me.
Agent Lee gestured to the rest of the team.
"This is Alex," she said, motioning to a tall woman with a sharp, assessing stare. Known for her telekinesis, Alex radiated a focused intensity.
Beside her stood Mia, who wore a serene expression that concealed the power to generate force fields. She nodded politely, her eyes flickering with curiosity.
Jaxon, a laid-back figure with pyrokinesis, grinned as he introduced himself. "Hey, Rhan! I'll be the one lighting up the room." He winked.
Cringe, Rhan thought, stifling a sigh.
…
The training began, rigorous and relentless. Thorne Blackwood, better known as Giaus and now Rhan's mentor, observed him closely, his dark eyes watching Rhan's every move.
"Focus, Rhan," Thorne instructed, his voice cutting through the noise. "Your speed's impressive, but if you don't manage your energy better, you're just a liability."
Rhan wiped the sweat from his brow, struggling to contain his energy. "I'm trying, okay? Balancing everything is harder than it looks."
Thorne gave a curt nod. "It takes patience and practice, boy. You're no exception."
Tensions simmered among the team as the day wore on. Alex, her telekinesis honed to razor-sharp precision, was clearly frustrated. "We need to be more efficient!" she snapped, hurling an object with controlled fury. "We don't have time for careless mistakes."
Mia, standing nearby, folded her arms. "We're all trying our best. It's not just about speed." Her gaze slid toward Rhan, something like envy flickering in her eyes.
Sensing the mounting tension, Jaxon jumped in. "Let's not turn this into a fight. We're here to learn, not to tear each other apart."
But the underlying friction was undeniable, each team member's frustrations simmering just beneath the surface.
…
After the day's training, I headed back home, my mind full with the events of what happened. I'm just happy to share the news with my family, but the weight of the day's annoyances lingered.
As Rhan entered his home, his father, a burly man with a warm smile, greeted him with a hug. His little brother, Token, ran up excitedly, his eyes wide with admiration.
"Rhan! Did you get in? Is it true?" Token asked, bouncing on his toes.
Rhan nodded, trying to muster a smile. "Yeah, I'm officially part of V8's program now."
His father beamed with pride. "That's amazing news, Rhan! We always knew you had the potential to be great."
Rhan's mother, a slender woman with a concerned expression, looked at him with a mix of pride and worry. "I'm happy for you, Rhan, but... it's a big responsibility. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Rhan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her concern. "I am, Mom. I know it's a lot, but I've got to take this chance. I need to be something, someone."
His father placed a reassuring hand on Rhan's shoulder. "We're proud of you, no matter what. Just remember to stay safe and stay true to yourself."
Token nodded vigorously. "Yeah, and you'll be the coolest hero!"
Rhan laughed, feeling a feeling of warmth and peacefulness. "Thanks, guys. I promise I'll do my best."
…
That night, Rhan's phone buzzed with an alert. A mission. His heart tightened. There would be no rest, no reprieve.
At the briefing, Thorne laid out the mission with a steely calm. "Bank robbers. A standard takedown. Prove to me you can work as a team."
They arrived at the bank, and chaos erupted. Alex wielded her telekinesis with brutal efficiency, disarming the robbers while Mia's force fields blocked stray bullets. But Jaxon struggled, his flames consuming more than he controlled.
"Watch the collateral, Jaxon!" Alex snapped as a car burst into flames nearby.
"Sorry," Jaxon muttered, trying to rein in his powers, his eyes shadowed with frustration.
Rhan moved with inhuman speed, but in his haste, a pulse of radiation arced out, striking a civilian who fell to the ground, dazed and burned. A sick horror filled him. What have I done?
"Rhan, you have to control it!" Mia shouted, her force field barely shielding another group of civilians.
His face burned with shame. "I... I'm sorry."
The robbers were subdued, but as they surveyed the damage, the strain was clear. In the debriefing, Alex's anger flared. "We were reckless. Sloppy. Some of us are holding back the team."
Mia's expression hardened. "Maybe instead of placing blame, we should focus on improving ourselves."
Jaxon's forced smile faltered. "We've all got work to do. Let's not tear each other apart before we even start."
The resentment was thick, and Rhan could feel the fractures widening.
...
...
As the day drew to a close, I found myself alone in a quiet corner of the training area. The earlier chaos replayed in my mind, leaving me with mixed emotions.
"I thought joining V8 would be straightforward, fun. But this... this is a lot more complicated. I need to find a way to make this shit work. Fast."
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