CHAPTER 6 — "The Weight of Power"
The next morning dawned gray and heavy, the sky covered in a thick blanket of clouds that pressed down on Harrow City like an unseen weight.
The abandoned industrial district was quiet except for the distant creak of metal, the moan of wind slipping through twisted beams, and the faint drip of water somewhere deep in the structure.
Kael stood in the center of the ruined factory floor, breathing steadily as he stared at his new arm.
The antimatter-forged limb shimmered faintly even in the dim light, its surface a smooth onyx-black, as if carved from the void itself.
The intricate runes pulsed slowly along his fingers and forearm—nested symbols that resembled constellations trapped inside obsidian.
He flexed his fingers.
The runes brightened.
This feels… real, he thought. Like it's always been a part of me.
He raised his arm, turning it slowly. There was no pain. No stiffness. It responded to instinct as if it anticipated his intentions a moment before he even acted.
But beneath the awe was a low, simmering fear.
Not the kind he'd admit to Aiden. Never that.
It was the kind of fear that whispered of limits unknown—of power too large to measure and consequences too far to see.
Kael inhaled deeply and braced himself.
"Alright," he muttered.
"Let's figure out what you can do."
TEST ONE: PRECISION
Kael approached a stack of old metal crates. They were rusted, hollowed, and barely holding together, but they were solid enough for a test.
"Let's try something small."
He lifted his right hand and tapped the edge of the nearest crate.
PING—
The metal dented—not much, but enough to bend the entire corner of the box inward like soft clay.
Kael blinked.
"…That was a tap."
He tried again, a bit more gently.
CRUNCH.
The crate folded in half.
Kael exhaled through his nose, a mixture of awe and annoyance.
"Okay. So we're strong. Got it."
TEST TWO: FORCE CONTROL
He lifted both arms, aiming toward a wall reinforced with metal beams. The wall still stood firm, one of the few in the building that hadn't collapsed.
He threw a punch.
BWOOOM—!!
The shockwave blasted outward, shattering three walls at once. Dust filled the air, thick and choking, while Kael staggered back, covering his face.
When the dust settled, the entire section of the structure had collapsed, leaving a gaping hole where concrete once stood.
Kael stared.
"…That was supposed to be a light punch."
He couldn't decide if he should laugh or swear.
He chose both.
"Holy—hah—f***—! This is insane!"
For a moment, he felt the same high he felt when the arm first formed—the thrill of raw power coursing through him like coursing fire.
But then the adrenaline faded, replaced by a gnawing truth:
If I can't control this… I could tear someone in half without meaning to.
The realization made his breath catch.
He turned away from the rubble, rolling his shoulders.
"Fine. Precision's out the window for now. Let's try movement."
TEST THREE: SPEED & REFLEX
Kael crouched down slightly, preparing to sprint across the length of the ruined hall. His regular legs tensed, but his new arm pulsed lightly, syncing with his rhythm.
He dashed forward.
WHOOSH—!!
He didn't run—he launched.
Kael collided with a metal support beam so hard that the entire structure shuddered. The impact echoed like thunder, sending dust and debris cascading down in waves.
CLANG—!!
Kael groaned, pulling himself out of the dent he had created in the beam.
"Okay… okay. I need balance. One overpowered arm throws everything off."
He stumbled back, shaking off the hit. The arm hadn't been damaged at all—not even scratched—but his shoulder throbbed from the recoil.
He leaned against the beam and exhaled.
"This is going to take time."
THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL
Over the next few hours, Kael repeated the same cycle:
Try something simple → break something
Try something careful → break something
Try something slow → break something, but slower
He ripped three doors off their hinges just by trying to open them.
He shattered a concrete pillar by leaning against it too hard.
He crushed a metal tool without even realizing he was holding it too tightly.
At one point, he tried to tighten a valve on a machine—
SNAP—!!
The entire pipe exploded off the wall, spraying rust and debris everywhere.
Kael stared at the broken valve in his hand.
"…I swear that wasn't my fault."
He dropped the remains, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
The arm pulsed faintly.
Almost as if it was amused.
Kael glared at it.
"Don't laugh at me."
The runes pulsed brighter.
Kael let out a long sigh.
"Alright… maybe I deserved that."
THOUGHTS IN THE QUIET
During a rare break, Kael sat on a fallen concrete block, staring at his new limb under the fading light.
His mind drifted.
Aiden is going to freak out when he sees this.
He leaned back, listening to the distant rumble of thunder.
Aiden with his light, his sunshine energy… me with antimatter. It's like the universe played a cosmic joke.
The thought almost made him smile.
Almost.
He tries so hard to make everything good. To be a hero. To follow rules and save people.
Kael lifted his new arm, watching the runes glow softly.
But the world isn't good. It never was. And powers don't change that.
He clenched his fist.
Power only exposes what's underneath.
He wasn't sure if he was comforted or frightened by that realization.
AIDEN'S RETURN
It was nearly sunset when Kael heard footsteps approaching from the entrance of the building.
He instinctively dropped into a defensive stance, antimatter rising around him—before a familiar voice called out:
"Kael? It's me!"
Kael relaxed instantly.
Aiden appeared in the doorway, wearing casual clothes, but his expression was tired—dark circles under his eyes, but a spark of excitement alive in his gaze.
Kael smirked. "Did the golden prince finish his errands?"
Aiden rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I had to deal with my dad, the board, then convince three labs to operate under private clearance. You have no idea how exhausting that is."
Kael shrugged. "You rich people complain too much."
Aiden looked at him—and then the antimatter arm—and went silent.
"…Kael."
Kael raised the arm casually. "Like it?"
Aiden swallowed hard. "What did you do?"
Kael grinned. "Evolved."
Aiden stepped closer, concern heavy in his eyes.
"Kael, this could be dangerous—"
"Everything about these powers is dangerous,"
Kael cut in. "But I'm learning. And I'm getting control."
Aiden didn't fully believe him, but he nodded anyway.
"I need you to come with me," Aiden said quietly.
"I finished the operations center. It's time we start preparing… for whatever's coming."
Kael's grin widened. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Together, they walked out of the ruin, leaving the shattered beams and crumbling walls behind.
Behind them, the faint glow of Kael's runed arm reflected off the debris—like a warning, or a prophecy of what was yet to come.