Chapter 04

Chapter 04

The First Run

The world snapped into sharp focus as Adams launched himself down the street. Every sound became distinct—each footstep, each gunshot, each scream—stretching out like separate notes in a song only he could hear.

The woman on the ground looked frozen in mid-fall.
The Black Vultures charging toward her moved like they were wading through thick syrup.
Adams’s heart pounded fast… too fast… but his mind was calm.

Just reach her. Don’t overshoot. Slow down—slow down—

He tried to decelerate.

No effect.

He skidded across the street in a blast of wind, stopping inches from crashing into a wall.

“Okay, okay… too fast!” he gasped.

But the woman—she was still in danger.

Adams planted his foot, took a breath, and pushed forward again.

This time, he focused on short bursts, tiny flickers of movement instead of full sprints.

Blink. Blink. Blink.

He flickered across the street in controlled flashes, appearing and disappearing faster than the eye could follow. Each movement felt more natural, like he was finally syncing with the strange rhythm of his new abilities.

He reached the woman just as the Vultures raised their weapons.

Adams scooped her up and darted behind a parked car. A gust of displaced air blasted outward, scattering trash and rattling windows.

The woman gasped as she looked up at him.
“H-how did you—?”

But Adams couldn’t stay.

The Vultures were shouting now, confused, scanning the street.

“What was that?!”
“Did you see something move? Odogwu”
“Check the corners!”

Adams stepped out from behind the car.

His legs shook.
His breath came out in sharp bursts.
He was terrified.

But he couldn’t walk away.

One of the Vultures spotted him. “Hey! You!”

Adams raised his hands. “Guys… let’s not do this.”

The nearest one aimed his shock rifle.

Adams didn’t think—he moved.

WHOOM!

A streak. A blur. A burst of air pressure.

Before the shooter could blink, Adams was standing behind him… holding the disassembled rifle in his hands.

The Vulture stared at his empty grip, stunned.

Adams dropped the weapon pieces to the ground.
“Sorry. Yours?”

The shock rifle clattered uselessly on the pavement.

But the other Vultures recovered quickly.
“Get him!”
“He’s some kind of meta!”
“Shoot!”

Three rifles fired at once.

Blue electric blasts cut through the air—

—and Adams dodged them without even realizing he had moved.

He was everywhere and nowhere, weaving in and out of their line of fire, leaving brief flashes of blue light with each step. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he pivoted. His heartbeat synced with the rhythm of motion.

For a moment, he wasn’t afraid.

He was alive.

He grabbed one attacker, gently spun him around, and tapped his shoulder—sending him tumbling harmlessly to the ground. Another swung a rifle butt at him; Adams ducked, swiped his legs, and pushed him aside like a breeze.

The last Vulture shouted into a radio, “We need backup! The target is—”

WHOOSH!

Adams snatched the radio from his hand and crushed it before the man finished speaking.

The street fell silent.

Dust settled.
The woman he saved peeked from behind the car.
Dr. Bannerman rushed toward him, wide-eyed.

Adams stood in the center of the chaos he had created—papers swirling in the air, debris scattered, Vultures groaning on the ground.

He stared at his hands.

He had done this.
He had stopped them.

But instead of pride…

A wave of fear washed over him.

Dr. Bannerman reached him first.
“Adams… do you understand what this means?”

Adams shook his head. He felt the weight of her words before she even said them.

“You’re not just fast,” she whispered.
“You’re a force of nature.”

But before Adams could answer, a shadow fell across the street.

A deep, metallic voice echoed from above.

“Interesting.”

Everyone looked up.

Floating over the rooftops, surrounded by crackling black energy, was a tall figure in dark armor. His cape billowed like smoke. His eyes glowed red.

Adams felt his skin crawl.

Dr. Bannerman’s voice trembled.
“Oh no… Obrenu…”

The armored figure raised a hand toward Adams.

“So you are the one blessed by the storm,” Obrenu said. “Good. I’ve been waiting.”

Adams swallowed hard.

His first battle was over.
His war had just begun.