The alley near the university fell silent for a moment, tension thick as a storm about to break. The two thugs, still grinning a moment before, now watched Ray with faces twisted in confusion and rising fear.
Ray took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He felt a pulse inside himself—a presence, cold and endless, like a black ocean hiding lightning beneath its surface. The essence of void. With a single thought, he summoned something from that depth.
Tiny sparks flickered at his fingertips—blue at first, then blazing white. The air around him shifted and crackled. A faint electric humming filled the alley as a thin line of lightning darted from his palm and danced across his knuckles. The humidity spiked, and the temperature dropped.
B's voice echoed in his mind, smug and excited. Now you're doing it right. Show them what "void" means… even if you're still calling me a flashlight…
Ray stretched his right hand forward, his eyes narrowing into a steely gaze. His dark hair moved gently in an unseen wind, his uniform rippled, and a faint, swirling purple aura began to glow around his entire body. Overhead, the sky that had been clear moments ago twisted into dark clouds, rolling and churning until they blotted out the morning sun. A jagged bolt flashed in the sky in harmony with the energy surging through him.
The thugs froze, glancing at each other in panic. "What… that's not possible!" one managed to gasp, stumbling back a step, "He's never had a Raspel before—how is he…?"
Ray didn't give them time to finish. The lightning in his hand thickened, growing heavier, then with a quick motion he threw his arm down, sending the thunderbolt screeching through the air.
It struck the ground near the thugs in a spray of sparks and booming thunder. They were thrown back against the wall, collapsing in a heap—smoke curling from their singed uniforms. The wall itself was scorched black, the ground at their feet cracked from the force.
A hush fell again—just the sharp, electric scent of ozone and the low rumble of thunder above.
Ray stood in the center of it all, his body outlined by purple and blue light, electricity still arcing quietly around him, eyes nearly glowing with a cold, emotionless focus. Even the air around him seemed charged, and Sofia, behind him, could feel it on her skin like a thousand tiny needles.
She was stunned. Her mouth hung slightly open, eyes wide in disbelief. "How… how is Ray doing this?" she thought. "He only awakened his Raspel yesterday, and he was always level one. Even veteran lightning users aren't this strong…"
Ray's breathing slowed as his aura faded, the unnatural clouds above slowly dissipating. He walked forward, his footsteps echoing on the cracked ground, until he reached the heap of groaning, half-conscious thugs. His face was calm now, the fierce energy replaced by a look of quiet warning.
He placed his foot firmly on the chest of the first thug, bending down so they met eye to eye. Even with a gentle voice, the threat was clear.
"Tell your so-called boss," Ray said, his gaze steel, "if he wants a fight, he can come to me himself. Don't send idiots to do his dirty work. Next time, I won't be so forgiving." His voice lowered to a whisper, cold as winter. "And if anything like this ever happens again…I'll kill him. That's a promise."
The thug stared up at him, fear and confusion mingling in his eyes. He nodded, barely able to move.
Behind them, Sofia hurried over, still shaken but relieved Ray had stopped. "Ray… it's okay. You don't need to go that far," she said gently. She reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder, the concern clear in her voice.
Ray nodded, letting his aura finally drop, the last stray sparks fading into the morning air. But for a moment, everyone who saw him knew—they weren't facing the Ray they once knew. Something new, something immense, had awakened.
And far above, the sky still trembled, as if the storm wasn't over yet.
ON TOP OF A SKYSCRAPER
High above the city of Duptin, the rooftop of a luxury skyscraper lay open to the sky. Early sunlight shimmered over a long blue swimming pool, the water perfectly still except for gentle ripples where a lone swimmer cut through. The city stretched around the building in every direction, a patchwork of gleaming glass and morning haze.
A few meters from the pool, a broad sofa stood facing the skyline. Reclining in it, a man in his twenties lounged with easy confidence, the kind that came from privilege and power. He wore a white shirt, open at the neck, a subtle tattoo curling up his collarbone.
He sipped from a cold glass and seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, he straightened, gaze sharpening. "Did you feel that?" he called without turning his head.
The quiet slap of water answered him as the swimmer finished his final lap and climbed out, water streaming down his athletic body as he reached for a towel. The swimmer was young—maybe a little older than Ray—his presence calm, but there was something dangerous in the way he moved.
"Yes," the swimmer replied, toweling off. His voice was smooth, with an undercurrent of curiosity. "Who is that? Someone used lightning—not just a spark, but real power. Veteran level, at least." He dried his face, eyes focused as if trying to sense more. "I've never felt energy spike like that around the university district. It's new—and strong."
The man on the sofa set his drink aside and pulled out a slim, silver phone. "We'll know soon," he said. As if on cue, the phone began to ring. He answered, voice calm: "Yes... Speak... Hm... What?..." His expression changed, interest sharpening. "Are you sure?... Fine."
He ended the call, putting the phone down with more purpose than before. "That was our inside man at the academy," he said, locking eyes with his friend. "That surge? It wasn't a veteran. It was a new student. Nineteen years old. First day at the academy." The man paused, letting the words linger, "Name's Ray. He was spotted walking in with your sister."
The swimmer went still, towel forgotten. "Sofia?" he asked, voice suddenly colder. "So she was with him. I didn't realize Ray had awakened. Lightning attribute, huh? Well... I guess the academy finally found its lucky stone."
The man on the sofa cracked a faint, measured smile. "Are you worried? He's a kid—barely started. His records say he awakened just yesterday. Maybe he got lucky, or maybe someone is hiding something." He leaned back, gaze turning thoughtful. "But power doesn't lie. Even if he's inexperienced, that kind of elemental force isn't normal. Could be a problem down the line."
The swimmer turned to face the city, his expression unreadable as he dried his pale blond hair. "My sister attracts trouble. But she's tough. As for Ray, if he thinks a new power makes him special, let's see how long he lasts." He almost smiled. "Or maybe he'll be fun to watch."
The man on the sofa watched the clouds gathering in the far distance, lingering after Ray's electrical display. "Be careful," he said softly, more to himself than his companion, "sometimes the biggest threats are the ones nobody expects—until it's far too late."
He stood, tossing his glass into a bin. "Keep an eye on him at the academy. Could be a wasted effort... or could be the start of something big." The two men shared a silent look—half challenge, half understanding—before the morning breeze swept across the rooftop, rustling the city awake.
Below, the storm clouds left behind by Ray's awakening whispered of trouble yet to come.