Chapter 4
I asked Vivian," What was that magic she used to block the monster attack?"
"Telekinesis", she replied.
You already awakened your ability?"" I asked.
"Yes," she said. "And what am I going to do from now on?"
I gazed out at the cloudy sky and the devastated landscape. "I don't know much about what happened, but I'm heading to the safe zone to see what the government is doing. Civilization is destroyed, but humanity isn't. Humanity never ceases to adapt."
The guy with Vivian, said, "Hey, you sound like a military personnel, don't you think we need to know your name?"
Vivian giggled and nodded in agreement. "He's right."
"Astra," I said. I'm Astra. What's yours?"
"Johan," he replied. Are you into the military before the apocalypse," Johan asked."
"No," I replied.
We exchanged pleasantries and decided to clear out some collapsed buildings to camp for a while. As we rested, we discussed our next moves and realized we were all headed to the same destination: the safe zone.
As we sat down to enjoy the meal Vivian had prepared from our hunt, Johan turned to me with curiosity. "Astra,what's your ability? You're really strong."
Vivian's expression turned stern. "Johan, don't you think it's rude to ask someone about their ability?"
Johan looked taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise.
Vivian continued, "We all are heading for the safe so we need to work together. But still…"
I interrupted Vivian smiling. "It's okay. He's right. We need to work together as a team to get there safely, utilizing our abilities."
Johan's eyes lit up with interest. "So, what's your ability, Astra?"
"Adaptation," I replied, pausing for a moment. "That's my ability."
Both Vivian and Johan leaned in, curious. "How does it work?" They asked in unison.
I chuckled, enjoying the suspense. "You're gonna find out tomorrow," I concluded leaving them wondering.
As the night drew to a close, we extinguished the fire and settled in for some rest. The darkness enveloped us, punctuated only by the occasional distant howl.
Morning conversation
Vivian yawned, stretching her arms. "It's morning already." She gazed out at the clear sky, feeling the gentle breeze.
"Morning,Johan," Vivian said, turning to her companion.
"Morning, Vivian," Johan replied. " were u comfortable overnight?"
Vivian shook her head. "Not really. Have you seen Astra this morning?"
"He's up on the building,"Johan said, nodding towards Astra's location.
Vivian walked over to joking Astra. "Good morning, Astra."
I turned to her, smiling. "Good morning, Vivian."
As we stood together talking, Vivian asked, "What's the plan for the day?"
"Just some exercise," I replied, smiling.
Vivian noticed that I seemed more energetic than usual. "What's gotten into you?" She asked, eyeing me curiously.
"I think it's the anticipation of testing my ability on a fellow awakener," I replied, grinning.
Johan joined us, looking particularly prepared for the spar. "This gonna be fun,"he said, hesitating slightly.
I jumped down, looking eager. "Don't worry, I've got this," I said, focusing on my ability.
Vivian looked confused, shouting," Fight!" She seemed to contradict her own stance, but I chuckled. "You're not in support of the spar, but you used the word 'fight', "I teased.
Johan charged at me with great speed and calculated movement. I knew I wasn't fighting a beast, but a fellow awakener.
I moved back to dodge his attack, but he pursued me relentlessly. "Astra, you don't even know what my ability is,"Johan said, looking more intimidating.
"No, I guess it could be none other than super strength, I replied.
"You could have been right if we met earlier than expected. But it's a no. Then I was wrong," I said, slightly off.
"You have to figure that out during this exchange on your own," He added, as he continued to press the attack.
As we sparred, I noticed Johan's speed increasing along with his strength, almost doubling in intensity.
Johan continued to press the attack, I focused on analyzing his movements. His speed was impressive, and I noticed that he seemed to be accelerating with each strike.
"You're fast,"I said, dodging another attack. "But it's not just your speed that impressive. You're….anticipating my movements."
Johan smiled, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "You're getting close," he said.
I nodded my mind racing. "I put all the pieces simultaneously in my brain to come up with a possible solution for what his ability could be.
"I think I now know what your ability is," I said, taking a step back.
"Oh?" Johan said raising an eyebrow. "What do you think it is?"
"I think your ability is…Velocity control, No….I will say it's speed-strength. I said, my eyes locked on Johan's.
Johan's expression changed, a hint of surprise followed by a nod. "You're right," he said. " I can control my speed and strength.
"Your speed-strength allows you to generate quick bursts of power, increasing acceleration time and overall power output," I said. "I'm surprised you know that."
"I used to be an athlete in my school," Johan replied with a smile. "It helps me understand the mechanics behind my ability."
With Johan's ability revealed, our sparring match became even more intense. We exchanged blows, our movements lightning-fast.
"You're a formidable opponent," Johan said, impressed by my skills.
"Likewise," I replied, dodging another rapid strike. "Your skills and application of your ability are incredible."
We paused to catch our breath, and Vivian approached us with water to drink. "This is fascinating," she said. "But how can we use our abilities strategically?"
Johan and I exchanged a look. "We can use our abilities to complement each other," I said. "My adaptation ability can help me anticipate and react to threats, while Johan's speed-strength can give us a powerful advantage in combat."
Johan nodded in agreement. "And we can use our abilities to outmaneuver enemies or escape from danger."
As we discussed our strategy, I realized that our abilities could be a powerful combination. "Let's practice working together," I said. "We can simulate different scenarios and develop a plan for various situations."
Johan grinned. "Sounds like a plan."