Ascension: The One Who Takes

The night was silent except for the occasional hum of streetlights and the distant echoes of city life. Kurt trailed behind me, his gaze flickering between curiosity and quiet admiration. He was watching me, studying me, trying to make sense of what I was. That was good.

We found an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, a place forgotten by time. It would serve well for what I needed—testing the three new powers I had taken.

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the weight of my growing arsenal settle into place. Storm Vein still crackled at my fingertips, the electricity a constant hum beneath my skin. Devourer's Touch was a familiar presence, waiting to be used. But the new abilities were still unknowns. That would change now.

I raised my hand, activating the first power. Heat radiated outward as tendrils of fire coiled around my fingers. It wasn't normal fire—it felt alive, reacting to my will as though it were an extension of myself. It burned hotter, moved faster, and never strayed unless I allowed it to. I studied the flickering tendrils for a moment before giving it a name.

"I'll call it Living Ember."

Kurt took a step back, eyes widening slightly. "You can do all of that?"

I ignored him, moving on to the next ability. This one was more subtle. As I focused, the world around me seemed to still. A sensation of immense, condensed force built within my body. I clenched my fist and drove it into a nearby metal beam. The impact sent a deep boom reverberating through the building, the steel folding inward like paper.

I nodded to myself. "Titan's Grip. That fits."

One last ability to test.

I closed my eyes, reaching for the final stolen power. It was weak compared to the others, almost insignificant in comparison. But as I focused, I felt something different—a sense of awareness, a pull toward understanding. When I looked at Kurt, something clicked. I could feel his emotions toward me. The admiration, the trust, the gratitude.

I exhaled slowly, thinking.

"Favor's Insight." A passive ability, but still useful.

I felt the connections forming in my mind. Then, something more.

A thought. A possibility.

I had been testing each power individually, but what if I combined them?

I extended my hand, channeling both Living Ember and Storm Vein at once. Sparks danced along the edges of the fire, crackling with volatile energy. The flames pulsed erratically, unstable yet potent. I clenched my fist, forcing them to merge. The fire shifted, turning white-hot as raw electricity fed into it. I swung my arm outward, sending a bolt of burning lightning into the steel beam. It struck with a violent crack, melting through the warped metal instantly.

It worked.

I grinned.

Not only could I take abilities, but I could evolve them.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Kael returned to the apartment.

He leaned against the wall, still processing the new abilities. Meanwhile, Kurt paced the room, clearly restless.

Kael ignored him. He had more important things to think about. Three new tools, each with potential. And if tonight's experiments had proven anything, it was that they weren't just individual weapons—they could be combined, refined, and pushed beyond their limits.

Kurt, however, had different thoughts.

Kurt's mind raced with another concern—Kael's future. He had seen enough to know that Kael wasn't just another mutant trying to survive. He had a vision, a purpose. And that meant he needed resources.

Without a word, Kurt slipped out of the apartment.

He had a job to do.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Kurt had never met anyone like Kael.

He wasn't just powerful—he was something beyond that.

Kael could have left him in that cage, but he didn't. He didn't even hesitate. And the way he spoke, the way he carried himself—it was like he knew something the rest of the world didn't.

Kurt wanted to help him. He needed to.

But how?

Then it hit him. Money. Power needed resources. If he could get that, Kael wouldn't have to worry about anything.

That night, Kurt went out alone. He had no grand plan, no intricate scheme. He just acted. Slipping through the streets with his teleportation, he found a bank. Getting inside was easy. Avoiding security was even easier. Within minutes, he had a bag full of cash and vanished before anyone even knew he was there.

By the time he returned, he expected Kael to be pleased.

He wasn't.

Kael looked down at the money, then back at him. His expression was unreadable. "You robbed a bank."

Kurt hesitated. "Yeah. I figured—"

"Don't do it again."

The words were sharp, but there was no anger behind them. No frustration. Just an expectation.

Kurt swallowed. "I just wanted to help."

Kael studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "We don't get caught. Ever. You were sloppy."

Kurt felt his stomach sink. He wasn't even mad at the robbery—just that he had done it wrong.

And somehow, that made Kurt respect him even more.

He nodded. "It won't happen again."

Kael said nothing, but Kurt could tell he had already moved on. That was the difference between him and everyone else. He didn't care about money. He didn't care about petty crimes. He was thinking ahead.

And Kurt would follow him anywhere.

Ascension continues.