Adam : From a man to a God

“Hey, you!” the girl exclaimed, her tone filled with authority and annoyance as she stepped closer, arms crossed tightly across her chest. “What do you think you’re doing, landing in the city like that?”

Adam glanced around, suddenly aware of the curious gazes of passersby, the bustling city life halting for a moment to stare at the spectacle of his arrival. “I was just—”

“Just what?” she interrupted, her brows furrowing. “You can’t just test out your powers here, especially not like that! It’s forbidden by the Founders to recklessly use abilities in the city. You could get yourself in serious trouble!”

“Recklessly?” The word stung. Adam tried to defend himself, a mix of embarrassment and frustration bubbling inside him. “I was just testing if I could fly,” he said, the defensiveness creeping into his voice. “I thought—”

“If you didn’t know how to do it, you shouldn’t have tried at all!” she shot back, her voice firm but tinged with an undertone of concern. “You could’ve hurt yourself or someone else. You don’t understand the risks involved.”

For a moment, they stood in a tense silence, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them. Adam felt the heat of his own folly wash over him, and he glanced down, unsure of what to say next.

“You’re right,” he eventually admitted, the admission feeling heavy on his tongue. “I didn’t think it through.”

She uncrossed her arms.

With a slight nod, she seemed to relax a little. “Good. Just… try not to make a habit of it, okay?”

“Sure,” he replied, feeling a strange mix of admiration and irritation. “I—uh—need to get to the academy,” Adam said, the urgency returning to him. “I guess I learned my lesson. That was embarrassing” he thought.

After walking for a while, Adam approached the academy building, a towering structure alive with a palpable energy that hummed around him. He made his way straight to the elevator.

As the doors slid closed, he found himself surrounded by a mix of students—some appeared to be just a few years older than him, while others looked to be in their thirties, well into adulthood.

The elevator stopped intermittently, and a few students exited on lower floors. As he reached the 22nd floor, Adam stepped out, leaving two students inside, their conversation trailing off behind him. As he walked down the long hallway, the faint chatter of students buzzed in his ears.

Pushing open the door to his classroom, he was immediately greeted by the sight of students chatting and mingling, absorbed in their conversations and completely at ease. He let out a slow sigh, a wave of apprehension washing over him. “I was a bit nervous there. I thought they would all stare at me or start talking about me again, “he thought.

Adam walked to his usual seat near Akira. As he settled in, she turned to him with an unexpected smile. “Good morning,” she greeted, her voice bright and cheerful, catching him off guard.

“Good morning,” Akira said, her voice bright, catching Adam off guard. He hadn’t expected her to greet him first. “Good morning,” he replied, returning her smile.

As he surveyed the classroom, he realized that Eddie was absent, a small twist of concern knotting in his stomach. “Is Eddie not here yet?” he asked, glancing over at Akira, who was focused intently on her phone.

“I—I don’t know,” she replied, her attention still absorbed by the screen as her fingers scrolled rapidly.

Adam shrugged it off, reaching into his bag to pull out a book. Just as he was about to flip it open, a voice interrupted him from the front of the classroom.

“Did you register?” It was Jaiden, standing confidently with a smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Yeah?” Adam replied, lifting his gaze to meet Jaiden’s playful expression.

“Heh! Dumbass…” Jaiden mocked, his smile widening mischievously.

“What’d you call me?” Adam asked, frowning, a mix of irritation and surprise flashing through him.

Jaiden chuckled, clearly enjoying their banter. “Everyone who registered for the tournament as a first-year is a dumbass in my opinion. First years never win tournaments; it’s always the unique power holders,” he declared, a lighthearted challenge in his tone.

Akira’s expression darkened, annoyance flickering across her face. “I also registered for the tournament. Are you calling me, a dumbass?” she shot back, her gaze piercing into Jaiden.

“Wha—I didn’t—” Jaiden stammered, caught off guard by her intensity, panic flickering across his expression.

“Whatever,” he muttered, turning on his heel and heading back to his seat, the playful mood evaporating.

Adam glanced at Akira, a small smile creeping onto his face as he watched her stand her ground. He appreciated her fierceness, a quality that made her stand out in the crowd.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Eddie stepped through, aimmediately catching Adam’s attention. Eddie glanced around the room before his eyes landed on a paper pinned to the wall beside the door. Curiosity piqued, he strolled over to read it.

Just then, Alex entered, his usual scowl etched deeply on his face. He shot a disgusted look at Adam before sauntering toward his seat, clearly annoyed by his presence. “This guy…” Adam thought, a flicker of resentment creeping up inside him. “Why did he always have to act like that?”

“Whoa, dude, we’re at the top!” Eddie exclaimed, his voice carrying excitement as he stared at the posted results of their last session with Instructor Gabriel.

“The top? Oh, I totally forgot about that!” Adam replied, his memory jolted as he recalled Instructor Gabriel's earlier announcement about displaying their performance rankings. Adam stood up, curiosity bubbling within him as he made his way toward Eddie, who was now staring intently at the paper.

“Let me see,” Adam said, leaning in closer to the paper. The results were listed in bold print, groups ranked and categorized.

“Right, we have the highest number,” Adam confirmed, glancing at the display beside Team A. “I forgot what our number was.”

“It’s 5085,” Eddie reminded him, his focus shifting to the roster. Adam’s eyes traveled to the other teams—their rivals. He noted how Alex’s group was ranked second, with Tyler’s group sitting just behind them in third place.

Just then, Mrs. Anna, their teacher, stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifting as students quickly found their seats. A palpable quiet fell over the classroom, and the students turned their attention to her, eager to absorb whatever knowledge she had to offer.

As the lecture began, Adam listened intently, but something kept nagging at his mind. If they were going to be absorbed, why were they even learning this material? It just seemed unnecessary. They could just attend Instructor Gabriel's class to maximize their powers and get absorbed.

“It’s pretty useless to know all this stuff just to die in the end, isn’t it?” he sighed, his thoughts weighing heavily on him.

He glanced over at Eddie, who was diligently taking notes. “I guess I’ll go with it,” Adam decided, forcing his focus back to Mrs. Anna. Despite the troubling thoughts swirling in his mind.

The time passed as Adam attended the rest of the classes, and soon the moment arrived for the final class of the day: Instructor Gabriel's. Anticipation buzzed in the air as the students filed into the pocket dimension that served as the training grounds.

As they stepped through, the scene was striking. The ground was covered in soft, short green grass, and a gentle breeze floated through the air, brushing against their skin like a comforting hand. Scattered around were trees, their vibrant leaves rustling softly, adding to the serene environment.

Adam’s gaze landed on Instructor Gabriel, who was casually resting against one of the trees, engrossed in reading a pamphlet. His relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with the intensity of the training that usually took place in this space.

“Alright, settle in,” Instructor Gabriel called out, his gaze sweeping across the assembled students. A hint of mischief danced in his eyes as he addressed them. “As you all know, today we’re going to be doing some strength training. I believe I told you all to ready yourselves in the last session, so I don’t expect any disappointment.” He grinned, the anticipation palpable in the air.

“What kinda strength training are we doing?” Adam asked, his curiosity piqued.

Instructor Gabriel glanced down at the pamphlet he held in his hands. “Wait… Ah, I forgot I actually changed plans for today. You’re still going to have to improve your agility.” He said, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Didn’t we improve it last time?” Tim asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. The students exchanged glances, remembering their previous agility training.

“No, you just showed him how fast you can run,” Akira clarified.

“Correct,” Gabriel confirmed, his voice regaining its authoritative tone. “Now it’s time for you to improve your speed.” He turned and disappeared behind a nearby tree, his movements swift and silent. A moment later, he reappeared, dragging a large burlap sack that looked heavy and full of something. The contents were obscured, but the sheer size and weight of the sack hinted at the challenge that lay ahead.

Instructor Gabriel approached the group and, with a flourish, dropped the burlap sack onto the ground in front of them. The impact caused a shower of metallic clicks and clanks, revealing the contents within. “Take a look inside,” he instructed, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Eddie stepped forward and crouched down, carefully opening the sack. Inside, a mountain of black, metal bracelets—shackles, really—filled the bag. He couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. It seemed like every training session involved these bracelets in some way. The irony wasn't lost on him.

“Pass them to the others,” Instructor Gabriel instructed, his gaze sweeping across the students.

Eddie reached into the sack, lifting one of the bracelets. It was surprisingly heavy, far heavier than it looked. The weight brought back memories of a similar test he’d had to endure to qualify for the dorm tournaments. He lifted two bracelets, the weight testing his strength, and handed them to Adam, who accepted them without a word, his expression unchanging as he fastened them around his wrists.

“You’re supposed to put some on your legs as well,” Gabriel added, a slight smile playing on his lips as he watched the students’ reactions. The weight of the shackles was clearly meant to be a significant challenge. The students were about to discover just how much of a challenge.

"This might take a while, so everyone just come and get them. We don't have time to waste," Instructor Gabriel said.

The students collected the shackle bracelets and fastened them on; some complained about the weight, while others remained silent. "Have you all put them on? Good. There's a speed-measuring device embedded in these shackles. We're going to run as a class—no groups this time," Gabriel announced, an iPad materializing in his hand. "I'll be leading the group. If anyone's speed drops below 200 during the run, they'll face the consequences. This device will track your speed, and if it falls below that threshold, it will pinpoint the bracelet with the slowest runner. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," the class responded in unison, except for Adam, Alex, Tyler, and Akira.

"Okay, let's go!" Instructor Gabriel shouted, sprinting forward. The class scrambled to keep up, trailing behind him.

"This feels familiar," Eddie commented, running alongside Adam, "like that morning routine at boot camp."

“This feels like we're jogging, ”Adam thought, “not running. Like, we're moving as fast as cars, but knowing how fast I can actually run when I'm all out...this feels like a jog.” The weight of the shackles was significant, but his enhanced speed made the pace feel surprisingly manageable.

After running for some time, ragged gasps and slowing paces became increasingly common among the students. Jenny, her face slick with sweat, abruptly stopped, her breathing heavy. The group continued running, leaving her far behind. As she struggled to catch her breath, she saw Instructor Gabriel turn back towards her.

"We've been running for a while now... I don't think—I don't think I can run anymore," she gasped, her voice strained.

Instructor Gabriel sighed, a look of weariness crossing his face. An iPad materialized in his hand, displaying a list of names and their corresponding speeds. Alex's name topped the list. Jenny watched as Gabriel touched the screen, and a sharp, metallic *clunk* echoed from her bracelets.

"What did you—" Jenny started, panic rising in her voice as she tried to wrench the bracelets from her wrists.

"I locked them. This is the punishment you receive for failing the class," Gabriel said, his tone unwavering.

"What? Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to sleep with these things?" she protested, struggling against the now-immobile shackles.

"I don't really care about that," Gabriel said dismissively. "But look at it this way: when they come off in two days, your body will feel lighter, you'll be way faster than before. You won't be the slowest in class anymore."

Jenny continued to protest, but Gabriel ignored her complaints. A beep from his iPad caught his attention; he glanced down at the screen. Another student had fallen below the speed threshold.

"Looks like you're not the only one," he said, turning and striding off to address the next student in need of "correction." Jenny was left alone, struggling with the heavy bracelets and the implications of her failure.

Meanwhile Adam and Eddie started to notice some students falling behind. The relentless pace of the run began to take its toll. Gasping breaths punctuated the rhythmic thud of feet against the ground. One by one, students started to fall behind, their speeds dipping below the critical threshold. The metallic clunk of the locking shackles echoed through the air, each sound a stark reminder of the consequences of failure. Sweat beaded on foreheads, stinging eyes, and blurring vision. The initial enthusiasm had long since evaporated, replaced by a grim determination to simply endure.

Alex, however, maintained a surprisingly steady pace, his face a mask of grim concentration. He glanced back, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes as he witnessed the struggles of his classmates. He saw Adam, however, maintaining a consistent speed, a slight distance ahead. The competitive fire in Alex's belly flared. He wouldn't let Adam surpass him.

As Alex pushed himself harder, he noticed Adam subtly increasing his speed, closing the distance between them. The rivalry between them was palpable, a silent battle waged within the confines of the grueling run. Alex, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and resentment, decided to make his move.

With a sudden burst of speed, Alex veered sharply, aiming to trip Adam. Adam, anticipating the move, sidestepped with practiced ease, but Alex's momentum carried him forward, his shoulder colliding with Adam's chest. The impact sent a jolt through Adam, but he managed to stay on his feet.

"You think that's all it takes?" Adam retorted, his voice tight with controlled fury. He retaliated with a swift jab to Alex's ribs, the force of the blow sending a sharp gasp from Alex's lips. Alex countered with a wild haymaker, his fist whistling through the air, but Adam ducked, the blow grazing his ear.

The fight was on. It wasn't a graceful dance; it was a brutal exchange of blows. Alex, fueled by rage, unleashed a flurry of punches, each strike crackling with barely controlled fire. Adam, though faster and stronger, was not invincible. Alex's punches landed, stinging blows that left Adam wincing. Adam's counterpunches were more powerful, each one carrying significant force, but Alex's agility allowed him to evade some of the worst of them.

A vicious uppercut from Alex sent Adam stumbling, but he recovered quickly, his eyes narrowed in focus. He returned with a powerful right hook that connected squarely with Alex's jaw, sending him staggering. Alex retaliated with a desperate kick, but Adam sidestepped, the kick missing its mark by inches. Adam seized the opportunity, landing a series of rapid punches to Alex's torso, each blow a hammer blow against Alex's defenses.

Just as Adam was about to deliver a final, decisive blow, Instructor Gabriel appeared, his face grim. "Enough!" he roared, his voice cutting through the sounds of the struggle. He surveyed the scene, his gaze settling on Adam and Alex. "This is the third time this has happened. The first training session, you two were at each other's throats. The second, the same thing. And now, here we are again." He shook his head, his disappointment evident. "This time, you're both getting punished."

He approached the students who had fallen below the threshold, swiftly removing their shackles. A collective sigh of relief went through the group. Then, he turned back to Adam and Alex, a cold glint in his eyes. With a few precise movements on his iPad, he locked their bracelets. Tyler, a rival of both Adam and Alex, couldn't help but grin at their predicament. Akira remained silent, her expression unreadable. The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional pained grunt from those still struggling with their locked shackles. The weight of their actions, and the consequences, settled heavily upon Adam and Alex.

Instructor Gabriel continued, his voice devoid of sympathy, "Those shackles will remain on for two weeks."

Alex immediately protested, "But that's not fair! The tournament starts at the beginning of next week. We can't fight with these things on!"

Gabriel simply shrugged. "I don't care. Consider it additional training."

Adam, watching the exchange, felt a wave of weary resignation wash over him. “This is all because of Alex,” he thought, a dull ache settling in his chest. He didn't feel blazing anger, just a deep sense of regret. He shouldn't have fought. He should have just focused on the run. The weight of the shackles felt heavier now, not just from the metal, but from the burden of his own poor judgment.

Gabriel sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of his responsibilities. "This is the end of the session. You are dismissed."

Adam and Eddie walked in silence toward the academy exit, the setting sun casting long shadows as they went.

"You have it rough, dude," Eddie finally said, breaking the silence. "Training and fighting the tournament with those things on…"

"Yeah," Adam replied, his voice flat. "I'll have to train with them on at Tilda's place. And fight in the tournament." He paused, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "I didn't really want to *win* anything in that tournament. I just signed up to fight Alex. Now I'm really regretting it."

"Hey, look on the bright side," Eddie said, trying to lighten the mood. "You might get stronger from all of this."

The unspoken weight of their situation hung heavy in the air as they continued their walk, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a stark contrast to the grim reality of their predicament.