Chapter 28 - The Awakening of Chaos

  The day had begun with a relaxed vibe. The team was still enjoying its last moments on that resting planet. Charlotte and Elizabeth, with their bikinis on, were submerged in a quiet nearby river, laughing and playing with each other. The crystal clear water reflected the sunlight, and both enjoyed the moment without worrying about anything else.

  Scarlett, meanwhile, prepared new potions with local ingredients, seeking to innovate with new combinations. Lightning was dedicated to annoying Valterion, trying to convince him to take off his helmet.

  - Come on, big guy... at least get your face wet. Or is the helmet waterproof? - Flash joked.

  Valterion, as always, remained impassive, standing firm and serious, as if nothing could break his presence.

  "You're a walking rock..." Lightning murmured, resigned.

  Meanwhile, Juan stayed away from the group, sitting under the shade of a tree. Although there was laughter and a good atmosphere, his mind was somewhere else... he was still thinking about Waru's words.

  ?

  Hours before...

  Juan was exploring the forest when he felt a strange vibration in the air, as if something was distorting the environment. Before he could react, a hooded old man appeared in front of him.

  "Who are you?" Juan asked in a firm tone.

  - Waru... the guardian of this forest. - said the old man in a deep voice - And I don't like intruders.

  - Don't worry... we're not looking for problems. We're just resting for a few days.

  - Resting? - Waru said, letting out a dry laugh - We'll see if you have enough power to protect your friends.

  Before Juan could answer, Waru raised his hand and an overwhelming pressure fell on him. I couldn't move.

  "What the hell...?" Juan muttered, feeling his muscles stiff as stone.

  - If you can't with me... least of all with those who really seek to destroy you.

  Fury lit up Juan's gaze.

  BOOM!

  With an explosion of force, Juan broke the paralysis, immediately throwing himself against Waru.

  The old man was incredibly fast, moving like a shadow. Every time Juan tried to reach him, he felt that an invisible force pushed him.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  BAM!

  He was knocked down one, two... three times.

  But Juan didn't give up.

  The fourth attempt was different.

  He feretended to stumble for Waru to lower his guard and, in the blink of an eye, appeared behind the old man and held him by the neck.

  - I got you. - Juan said, breathing agitated.

  Waru laughed.

  - Not bad, boy... not bad.

  With a snap of his fingers, the pressure disappeared.

  "Is all this just a test?" Juan growled.

  - Of course. - Waru replied, laughing while taking off his hood - I'm no more than a tired old man who wants peace... but not all enemies will warn you before attacking you.

  Both sat by the fire and, after a while of talking, began to relax. Waru confessed to him that he had observed Juan since his arrival on the planet and that something in his aura was... disturbing.

  - Disturbing? What are you talking about?

  - Come on, Juan... that thing you're wearing is not just any trench coat. Your power is blocked...

  - What? No... I don't have powers. My strength and speed are the result of training.

  - Don't be stubborn. - Waru insisted - There is something in you... an overwhelming energy that has not been completely released.

  - If you say I have powers, why have I never felt them?

  - Because something in you... or someone... taught you to repress them.

  Juan was silent.

  - Let's do a test.

  ?

  The First Test

  Waru asked him to try to throw a burst of energy towards a tree.

  Juan tried... Nothing.

  - Try again.

  Juan tried again, but only managed to make a small current of wind move.

  - Nothing... - he growled frustrated.

  Waru shook his head.

  - You're not concentrating.

  ?

  The Second Test

  Waru asked him to reach out and imagine that all the power he had felt when joining the Motherboards was inside him.

  Juan tried... This time he almost succeeded. A small violet flash appeared on his fingers... but it went out in seconds.

  - Almost! - Waru said - You're on the right track!

  Juan took a deep breath, exhausted and annoyed with himself.

  - Already... I can't anymore...

  Waru approached and put his hand on his shoulder.

  - Listen to me well, boy. You have been noble, you have been humble... but you also need authority.

  — Authority?

  - Yes... because not everyone will follow you out of kindness. Some only respond to power. You have to be both: fair and strong. Not just a good man... but a ruler.

  Juan took a deep breath... he understood what Waru meant.

  ?

  The Third Test

  Juan closed his eyes.

  In his mind, he remembered his mother... his grandmother... his friends... everything he had fought for.

  His eyes opened, shining in an intense violet tone.

  With a firm voice, he raised his hand and uttered a single word:

  - CHAOS!

  The air was compressed. An infernal roar shook the entire planet. A torrent of purple and golden energy emerged from the ground, covering the sky with an unstoppable whirlwind. Trees were uprooted, the river where Charlotte and Elizabeth were rose like a column of water, and the whole planet trembled as if it were about to split in two.

  Charlotte and Elizabeth, surprised, left the river soaked, watching with horror the power storm that was unleashed.

  Lightning, which was on the bank of the river, staggered by the impact.

  Scarlett could barely hold back her potions.

  Valterion simply closed his eyes and murmured:

  - Impressive...

  Waru, trembling, watched Juan with respect and... with fear.

  - You did it... but remember... - he said in a low voice - If you ever lose control of that... no one will be able to stop you.

  Juan lowered his hand slowly and the chaos disappeared. He looked at his own hands, incredulous.

  "I did it..." he murmured.

  And then he smiled... as if he knew that the real battles were just about to begin.