Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow across the suite. The survivors gathered in the main hall, each bearing scars from their cave ordeal. The memory of the beast and their fallen comrades hung heavy in the air.
Felix sank into a plush couch, his usual confidence dimmed. Across from him, Anya stared at the ceiling, exhaling deeply.
"I still can't believe we made it out alive," she whispered, fingers nervously tracing the edge of her sleeve.
Dmitry leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What happened after I blacked out? What happened to the beast?"
Koda jumped in eagerly. "The beast ran off. After Felix's attack and the final blow, it got hurt pretty badly." Her eyes darted briefly to Felix and Theon.
The two exchanged confused glances.
"If you two hadn't woken up when the cave started shaking, we'd all be dead," Koda added, hands moving animatedly.
"Thank you all," Felix nodded, shoulders dropping. "For everything back there."
Theon remained silent, lost in thought. Something felt different in his body—strange and unsettling.
After a while, Dmitry and Anya excused themselves.
The moment they left, Felix turned to Koda. "Why did you lie to them?"
"I'll tell you," Koda replied, settling deeper into the couch. "But first, we need to talk about something more important." She turned to Theon, her voice softening. "What happened to you? Tell us the truth. We're your friends."
I can't tell them everything. They won't believe me.
After a heavy silence, Theon sighed. "When the electricity went through me, I felt something... strange. Painful. Then everything went black."
"You collapsed," Felix confirmed, studying Theon with concern.
"But the beast tore your skin open," Koda pressed. "I saw you bleeding. How did you get up? How did you fight with your bare hands? And now there's not even a scratch on you."
Theon shifted uncomfortably before making a decision. "Strange things have been happening to me lately." He hesitated. "I've never told anyone this before."
He looked at both friends. The hunting mission had forged a bond between them. Felix already knew about his military past, and they'd both stood by him throughout their ordeal.
After Theon finished his story, Koda immediately started searching through her NIP. "So it's a space outside normal space that takes no volume?"
"The Mystaric man must have been there thousands of years ago," Felix added.
"More than a few thousand," Theon corrected. "He didn't know any history of this world."
"That's wild," Koda admitted. "No wonder you kept it secret. No one would believe you."
"How did the beast disappear?" Felix asked, brow furrowed.
Theon shook his head. "I honestly have no idea."
"I think I know," Koda said, making both turn to her in surprise.
"You do?" Felix's eyes widened. "But you were down when it happened."
"My suit was stuck with all systems fried, but I could still see everything," Koda explained, her expression serious.
"What did you see?" Theon leaned forward intensely.
"I saw energy erupt from your body like a violent storm unleashed—raw, unstoppable. It tore through Beast, obliterating him completely," Koda said, her eyes locked on Theon.
"Wait, So you're saying the energy that burst from Theon killed the Beast and brought down the cave?" Felix asked incredulously.
"Yes, He saved us," Koda shrugged. "That type of energy burst happens during an Awakening."
Hope flickered in Theon's eyes. "Are you saying I might have awakened? Without a NEXUS Chamber?"
"Self-awakening," Felix whispered. "I saw a report once in my father's office... it says someone had self awakened."
"How would I even know?" Theon asked, looking at his hands.
Felix leaned forward. "Is there something different inside you? Any strange sensations?"
"I thought it was just the medicines," Theon admitted. "But there's something... different. Like a current running beneath my skin."
"That's it!" Felix nodded excitedly. "That's exactly what awakening feels like."
"So what now?" Theon asked eagerly. "If I've awakened, how do I find out what I can do?"
"Normally, the NEXUS Chamber captures your energy signature," Koda explained. "The ECLYSS Protocol uses that data to identify abilities. But with self-awakening..."
"There's no way to know," Theon said flatly. "Great."
"That energy surge was massive," Felix said thoughtfully. "If that was your awakening, you've got serious power."
"That right, Actually," Koda said slowly, "there is something. The ORACLE Scanner."
"What's that?"
"A machine that identifies abilities even without initial awakening data," Koda explained. "But there's a problem."
"Of course there is," Theon sighed.
"Only two exist. One at UTC's military research facility and one at Elysium Prime University. Both heavily guarded."
"UTC's facility is basically a fortress," Felix added. "And Elysium Prime is where the elite train. It not second to fortress"
"So I'll never know what I can do?" Theon slumped back, hope fading.
"You could apply to Elysium Prime," Koda suggested. "Then find a way access Oracle Scanner"
Theon laughed bitterly. "Right. Me at Elysium Prime. The one who failed the combat trial twice."
Elysium Prime was reserved for the extremely talented or wealthy from respectable families.
Koda's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait! The fighting tournament!"
"What tournament?" Theon asked.
"Every year, Elysium Prime hosts a tournament. Top three fighters get scholarships," Koda explained, growing excited.
"Then you definitely have a chance," Felix said confidently.
"You need to be an ability user to join," Koda said, her expression troubled.
"What's the problem?" Felix asked.
"I can't reveal myself as an ability user without knowing my ability," Theon explained, understanding the risks.
"It's too dangerous," Koda agreed. "The government could label you M-class and take you for their research."
The M-class designation was sometimes used as a political tool to eliminate threats.
"Wait, that report on self-awakening... it was marked M-class too," Felix realized.
"We could fake it," Koda said, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Fake an awakening?" Felix's eyebrows shot up. "How? All awakening facilities are connected to government systems."
Koda leaned forward conspiratorially. "I've been studying NEXUS Chamber systems. With the right crystals and me in the control room during a Protocol run, I could create a false signature for Theon."
"No facility would allow outsiders," Theon pointed out.
Koda turned to Felix with a sly smile. "Not even Solari Corp's private facility?"
Felix caught on immediately. "The Solari Corp ECLYSS facility... but I'd need to get back in my father's good graces first."
"So tell him you killed the beast," Koda suggested. "Be the hero he always wanted."
"If we claim that, we'll definitely earn his approval," Felix said, smiling.
"Let's do it," Theon agreed with newfound determination.
None of them would forget how close they came to death. When the energy surge happened and the cave began collapsing, Dmitry had woken first. Despite his injuries, he'd managed to pull Anya to safety. Together, they freed Koda from her damaged suit. Then all three dragged the unconscious Theon and helped the dazed Felix escape moments before the cave completely collapsed. They'd spent the night huddled outside, waiting for the rescue team that arrived at dawn.
But now, they had a second chance. And for Theon, perhaps something more.
After returning to Earth, Theon paid his mother's hospital bills. Two weeks of care had cured her.
As planned, they met at Koda's apartment a few days later.
"We should do the fake awakening before your combat trial," Koda said, settling into her chair.
"Good idea. Felix, can you make an appointment before next week?" Theon asked.
"Already reserved the facility for next Friday," Felix replied. "Koda, how about the crystals?"
"Found them. They're not hard to get. I've created a small device for the energy surge," Koda explained.
"Did you convince them to let Koda into the control panel?" Theon asked.
"Yes. I told them Koda and I are interested in seeing how a NEXUS Chamber and the awakening works, and we want to watch our best friend's awakening," Felix answered.
Friday arrived, and they entered the gleaming Solari Corp ECLYSS facility.
"Sir, please come this way." The receptionist recognized Felix Solari immediately and escorted them directly to the NEXUS Chamber.
A woman in a lab coat approached them.
"Mr. Solari," she greeted with a slight bow. "We're honored by your visit."
"Dr. Patel, these are my friends," Felix replied smoothly. "Theon is the one going through the ECLYSS protocol today, as I informed you."
"The NEXUS Chamber is ready. You wanted to watch the procedure closely, correct?" Dr. Patel confirmed.
"Yes, we'd love to see how it works. I don't think that will be a problem," Felix said with a commanding tone.
"Of course. You can watch the process with me in the control room," Dr. Patel instructed Theon to proceed to the NEXUS Chamber.
Koda wished Theon luck and slipped him a small device. "Keep this hidden," she whispered.
The NEXUS Chamber was a fully enclosed room with black panels covering every surface. In the center stood a vertical capsule-like pod. When Theon entered, the door sealed shut behind him.
In the control room, Dr. Patel explained the procedure while Felix distracted her, giving Koda the opportunity to connect her device to one of the hubs on the control panel.
The process began. The pod emitted a bright light. After thirty minutes, a power surge occurred.
"All done. Your friend is awake now," Dr. Patel announced, studying the energy diagram on her screen. "It seems his energy surge registers at C-Class level."
"That's great news," Felix said, feigning excitement.
They had planned to give Theon a C-class ability registration so no one would suspect his rapid healing.
"Energy analysis indicates an ability related to healing and physical enhancement. The energy signature is quite strong," Dr. Patel added.
When all procedures were complete, Theon emerged, and they left the facility.
"Congratulations! You're now officially a C-class ability user," Felix joked.
"Thanks. Everything went as planned," Theon replied gratefully.
"You're much stronger than C-class—above E-class too, I'm sure. Be careful," Koda warned.
As they had hoped, everything had gone smoothly. A sense of possibility replaced the gloom of the hunting expedition. Despite their losses, they had survived—and for Theon, a new journey was just beginning.
NEXUS Chamber
A specialized containment facility for the ECLYSS Protocol, featuring a fully enclosed room with black panels and a central vertical pod. Designed to safely contain energy eruptions during awakening while capturing the user's energy signature for ability identification and classification. Uses crystal technology to facilitate the emergence of extraordinary powers in a controlled environment.