Chương 4: Chapter 4 - Turbulent Awakening

Best read with It's Going Down Now playing in the background.

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"IT'S GOING DOWN NOW!"

A piercing scream cut through the air, jolting Hero from his slumber.

His eyes snapped open, his vision blurry and his body tense. The roar of turbulence pounded against the aircraft like a relentless beast. People around him were in a full-blown panic, some clutching their armrests while others desperately prayed or shouted.

The plane was in complete chaos.

'Who the hell yells that on a plane?' Hero thought as he tried to orient himself.

The overhead compartments rattled, the lights flickered, and flight attendants were struggling to maintain order. This wasn't just a little turbulence; this felt like the plane was fighting for its life in the sky.

'What the hell's going on?' He thought as he instinctively gripped the armrests of his seat, feeling the relentless turbulence rocking the plane. The entire cabin shook like it was being flung through a storm.

Around him, the passengers were losing it—crying, screaming, and praying. One woman clutched her baby while another tried to calm her hysterical husband. Flight attendants rushed up and down the aisles, trying to reassure passengers, but their strained voices revealed they were just as terrified.

"W-What's happening?!" Morgana was right beside him, eyes wide with fear.

"I thought we were cruising smoothly!" His meows had risen several octaves, nearly drowned out by the screaming passengers.

Wham!

Another jolt rocked the plane, sending luggage tumbling from the overhead compartments. Hero's senses kicked in, immediately assessing the situation.

"Damn it! Not now…" Morgana had his fur on end, his wide eyes darting around the plane as the turbulence worsened.

The turbulence was bad—really bad.

"Brace yourselves!" One of the flight attendants shouted, her voice barely audible over the terrified murmurs of the passengers.

A strange sensation welled up inside Hero. His muscles tightened, his skin tingled, and his entire being felt like it was about to explode.

He glanced to his side and saw Morgana, wide-eyed and gripping the edge of the seat with his little feline paws.

"We're not exactly in the Metaverse anymore." Morgana muttered, his tail puffed out in alarm.

And then, it happened.

FWOOOOOSH!

Suddenly, a massive shockwave blasted out from Hero, vibrating through the cabin. A powerful force, invisible yet unmistakable, surged from him, expanding outward like a ripple.

Overhead bins popped open, spilling bags onto the floor with dull thuds. People were screaming, some clutching each other, others gripping the armrests like they were their last lifelines. The plane dipped and rattled as if it were being thrown around by invisible hands.

"We're gonna die!" Someone shrieked, their voice barely audible over the sound of the engines roaring and the frantic beeping of alarms.

It happened so fast, so unexpectedly, that no one even noticed it came from Hero. The passengers were too busy clutching their armrests in fear to realize the subtle shift in the air—too busy trying to survive. But he felt it.

Whoooosh. The plane rocked again, even harder this time.

He felt an explosive surge within himself, a sudden rush of power so intense it nearly knocked the breath out of him.

He blinked, his mind racing. 'What the hell was that?'

Hero felt it instantly. His muscles tensed, his reflexes sharpened.

Hero's mind raced as he realized something was different—something huge. His body felt... stronger.

Strength, speed, endurance, flexibility—all of it had skyrocketed in an instant.

His heart pounded faster, but it wasn't from fear, it was from the overwhelming surge of energy coursing through him.

He wasn't just awake—he was alive in a way he had never been before.

He felt more in tune with his body than ever before, as if he'd been supercharged. Not just physically—mentally too. His thoughts were sharper, faster.

And then he felt something else—something deep, a connection he hadn't felt in ages.

Arsène... Satanael... Raoul...

Their presence hit him like a wave, pulsing through his core. His Personas. They were an extension of his soul, their power now coursing through him.

And then it hit him.

'So this was the gift.'

The cryptic promise from Igor in the Velvet Room. His body had just undergone an extraordinary transformation. The first gift had arrived.

Morgana's eyes widened as he stared at Hero. "You... something changed about you."

But the surge of power only made things worse—the plane jerked violently as the turbulence intensified, shaking the aircraft so hard it felt like it would split in two.

"Morgana!" Hero turned instinctively to his side, spotting his ever-energetic feline companion already on high alert, his wide eyes darting around the cabin.

"I know, I know!" Morgana yelled over the cacophony of sounds, his fur puffed out in panic. "But this isn't like anything we've seen! What do we do?"

As if on cue, the turbulence worsened. The plane shuddered violently, sending people screaming into even deeper panic. Morgana tumbled from his seat, scrambling to regain his balance.

"Whoa! What the—?! This isn't normal turbulence!" Morgana yowled, trying to cling onto Hero's leg.

Another tremor. Rattle, rattle!

The cabin was shaking so hard that the flight attendants struggled to stay on their feet. Hero's instincts kicked in as he noticed one of the attendants, losing her balance.

He unbuckled his seatbelt in a swift motion. 'Alright, time to step up.'

No time to waste.

Thud, thud, thud.

Hero shot out of his seat, catching a heavy luggage that fell from an overhead compartment before it could hit anyone. With his new strength, the movement felt fluid, almost effortless. The passengers gasped in awe, not registering how effortlessly he'd done it.

He rushed toward one of the attendants—Maya, the one he recognized from the earlier flight—and caught her by the arm just as the plane lurched again. She was about to fall. His hand shot out, catching her mid-stumble.

"Hold on!" Hero called out. He grabbed her by the arm just as she slipped, pulling her close and steadying her.

Time seemed to slow as he caught her, their eyes meeting in the midst of chaos. Her breath hitched, eyes wide in shock and gratitude.

"My hero..." She whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the plane.

Hero flashed her a quick smile, his grip steady as he helped her regain her balance. "Just doing my part."

He could feel his Third Eye activating instinctively, the world around him slowing down from his perspective. The world around him turned into a blur of blue, giving him just enough space to react.

Everything became clearer, sharper, more manageable. He saw the trajectory of falling suitcases, and the terrified passengers cowering beneath them. The shaking, the falling luggage, the panic—it was all happening in slow motion.

He darted around the cabin, catching overhead bags before they could hit passengers, guiding people back to their seats, steadying those who were about to fall. Each move was precise, calculated. The power within him was undeniable. He was faster, stronger, more agile.

This power—it was beyond anything he had ever experienced.

Whip!

A suitcase hurtled through the air, aimed right for a young woman's head. Hero snatched it mid-flight, tossing it aside with ease. "Gotcha."

From across the cabin, Morgana did his part, scampering up and down the aisles, knocking objects away and even nudging people back into their seats.

"Stay calm! Just a little shake-up!" He shouted, though most heard only panicked meows.

Hero snorted. "Just a little?"

But he understood the necessity of calming the crowd. He'd seen first-hand what panic could do to people. It was a recipe for disaster.

"Stay calm and Breathe! We've got this!" Hero shouted, his voice steady and commanding.

The plane lurched again. Luggage compartments burst open, and bags began tumbling from the overhead bins. Hero shot forward, dodging debris as he caught a suitcase mid-air, tossing it safely aside before it could injure anyone. A mother screamed as a backpack flew toward her child—he caught it, barely a second to spare.

"You're amazing!" Someone gasped as he righted their overturned belongings, moving with the speed and precision of someone in complete control.

As the turbulence worsened, Hero reached for a mother clutching her child, tears streaming down her face. "We're gonna land safely, I promise."

She looked at him, her fear melting ever so slightly. "Thank you…" She whispered, clutching her child tighter.

The child clutched her teddy bear, eyes wide in terror as Hero knelt beside her. "Hey, it's okay." He said softly, gently pushing her seatbelt back in place. "I've been through worse, trust me."

With renewed vigor, he dashed down the aisle, helping passengers, securing overhead bins, and catching loose items. His new abilities were in full swing, the enhancements to his speed and strength making every action feel precise and fluid. Each move felt natural, like he was born for this.

Another hard jolt, this one sharper than the last. The plane dipped violently, and Hero instinctively grabbed the back of a seat to steady himself. More luggage spilled out, but he was already moving, catching bags mid-air with ease.

"The baby!" A passenger screamed, pointing at a baby's stroller that had come loose, rolling toward the edge of the aisle.

Hero reacted in a blur, sprinting forward and grabbing the stroller just before it tipped over. He handed it back to the frantic mother with a reassuring nod.

"Thank you, thank you!" She sobbed as Hero handed the baby back, nodding with a reassuring smile.

But the turbulence wasn't done with them yet. The plane dipped and shook violently, as though it were caught in the grip of some terrible force. Hero could feel time slipping away—the situation was escalating.

Hero felt the minutes ticking away like a time bomb. He needed to do more. But what? How could he—

Another massive jolt. BOOM! The lights flickered, dimming for a moment before returning with an eerie glow.

And then—silence.

The world slowed to a crawl.

Hero's vision turned blue, the familiar tint of the Velvet Room enveloping the world around him.

Everything was frozen.

The passengers, the flight attendants, even the turbulence seemed to pause.

'What the...?'

Hero's heart thudded in his chest as the familiar sensation washed over him. His breath caught.

This was it.

This moment, just like before.

A voice echoed in the stillness.

A voice, familiar and resonant, like an old friend returning after years apart.

"I am thou... Thou art I..."

Hero's eyes widened. He knew that voice. It was the voice that had guided him from the very beginning, the voice that had awakened him to his destiny as the Trickster.

"Arsène…" Hero whispered.

His first Persona, the one that had awakened in him during his earliest trials. The rush of nostalgia hit him hard, memories of his first rebellion, his first awakening to his true power. And now, it was happening again.

"Ah, Trickster... it's been a while."

From the frozen time, a shadow emerged, dark and regal. His Persona, his true self, stood before him. Arsène's fiery eyes gleamed with pride, his voice smooth and resonant as ever.

"Hero, you have walked a long path. But now, a new power awakens within you. The bond we share, forged in the fires of rebellion, grows ever stronger."

The air around them pulsed as Arsène continued. "In this new world, in the reality beyond your wildest dreams, you shall wield me once more. Let this be the vow we renew."

Hero felt a surge of energy like never before. It was as if every ounce of his being was linked to Arsène, and the power flowed freely between them, intertwining, unstoppable.

"I am thou, thou art I..." Arsène continued. "Thou who art destined to walk the path of rebellion! Call upon my name, and let us forge a new destiny, Trickster! Not just in the veiled shadows of cognition, but in the searing light of reality! Prove to the world the might of those who defy fate itself."

It was like reliving that first moment of power, the first time he had awakened his Persona. But this was different—stronger, more profound.

"Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!"

As time resumed, Hero's mind raced. He was no longer limited to the cognitive world—he could summon his Personas here, in reality. Though invisible to most, those with low spiritual capacity wouldn't be able to see them.

But Hero? He had control.

Time snapped back into place. The plane rocked violently once more, and the chaos resumed.

Hero opened his eyes, determination burning within him. He felt the weight of Arsène at his side, ready to be called at a moment's notice.

He sprang into action again, more precise and more powerful than before, moving with newfound strength and speed. The passengers were still panicking, but Hero's confidence was unshakable. He helped the attendants secure the luggage, guided the passengers back to their seats, and made sure no one was hurt.

"The time has come." Arsène declared, his voice reverberating through Hero's mind.

The turbulence worsened, the plane groaning under the pressure, but Hero was calm. He knew what to do.

"Let's finish this." Hero muttered under his breath, his voice steady.

With newfound clarity, he raised his hand, and in an instant, Arsène appeared. His tall, imposing figure stood beside him, black wings unfurled, red and black cape billowing behind him. He was invisible to the other passengers, but Hero could feel the immense power radiating from his Persona.

Arsène, a gentleman thief with a sharp grin and top hat, was a manifestation of rebellion—a part of Hero's soul.

The plane lurched again, but this time Hero was ready.

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Apologies for not uploading for weeks now. I broke my internal rule of 2 chapters per week.

Life happened...

And writing chapters do take time. Especially ones that take multiple iterations...

1st iteration was straight up 9/11.

A little rant.

It absolutely sucks that Webnovel doesn't have pasting with formatting. I need to apply the formatting again one by one!