university with Seline, both excited to find the person chosen by the Power Stone.
Ryan kept bringing the stone close to every muscular person passing by, especially the ones with big arms, but the stone stayed completely silent.
Ryan sighed in frustration:
"We've tried almost every strong guy in the university… and none of them reacted."
Seline replied calmly:
"I told you before… the stone doesn't choose physical strength. It chooses the trait that matches it.
It doesn't speak directly; it gives signs. That's how it always works."
Ryan shook his head:
"Why does it speak in riddles? Why doesn't it just tell me who the Power Stone holder is?"
Seline smiled:
"That's not our decision… we simply follow the rules."
At that moment, Jamal — Ryan's dormmate — was watching from a distance.
He saw Ryan talking to the air, moving his hand as if someone stood next to him, and Jamal stared with worry:
"This guy… he's getting weirder every day."
It was almost sunset when the three approached the residence entrance, where a group of motorcyclists stood blocking the main path.
Jamal stopped, his voice trembling slightly:
"Ryan… maybe we should take another way."
Ryan forced a confident smile:
"Don't worry, Jamal. Nothing will happen… let's just walk normally."
But as soon as they passed by, one of the bikers asked in a harsh tone:
"You. Are you one of the stone holders?"
Ryan froze.
He said nothing, but his hesitation and fearful look were enough.
Suddenly two of them grabbed Jamal, who started shaking in fear, while the others caught Ryan.
They pushed him around, yelling:
"Give us the stone! Where is it? Come on!"
Ryan was determined not to hand it over.
One of them reached for Ryan's necklace, trying to pull out the stone hidden inside.
Ryan panicked and bit the man's hand in a desperate attempt to defend himself.
The man grew enraged and lifted a bat to hit him.
But before the bat touched Ryan…
Jamal screamed:
"RYAN!!!"
And shoved the man holding him with all the strength he had, helping Ryan break free.
He said, trembling from head to toe:
"Run! Go now!"
Ryan stared at Jamal's shaking leg in disbelief:
"How will you fight them when you're literally trembling? Go! Run!"
But Jamal shouted:
"Don't worry about me… I'll be fine… just run!"
Ryan hesitated, then began running, tears filling his eyes.
But at that exact moment… the Power Stone glowed with a strong blue light.
The farther Ryan ran… the weaker the glow became.
He remembered the stone's words:
"Strength is not bravery… strength is overcoming fear."
Ryan stopped.
He looked at Jamal being threatened and said loudly:
"It has to be him… he's the real holder of the Power Stone!"
He grabbed the stone and threw it toward Jamal.
"Jamal! Catch it!!!"
Jamal was crawling on the ground, trying to reach out despite his terror.
The stone slid toward his hand…
He grabbed it with difficulty—
Right as one biker stomped on his hand, trying to stop him, the stone pressed into Jamal's palm and merged with him completely.
A brilliant blue light burst out—
And Jamal collapsed from fear and exhaustion.
The bikers turned to chase Ryan.
Ryan panicked:
"Did I… make a mistake? Should I not have thrown it?"
Before they could reach Ryan…
The ground shook behind them.
---
The transformation
Jamal stood up.
But he was no longer Jamal.
He was over two meters tall, with a massive body and heavy, powerful eyes.
One man tried to attack him, but Jamal grabbed his head — without real harm — and pushed him away like a light ball.
Another hit him with a wooden bat, but it snapped instantly without hurting Jamal.
Jamal stared at him sharply and pushed him back, sending him rolling across the ground.
Their leader ordered everyone to surround him, but Jamal slammed his fists into the ground, causing a light shockwave that knocked them off their bikes.
Then he began breaking their motorcycles with almost a single touch each — without violent details — until the entire group panicked and fled.
Afterward, Jamal looked at Ryan and said with a tired smile:
"See? I told you… I'd be fine."
He let out a short laugh… then collapsed
From exhaustion
Ryan looked at his unconscious friend, helpless and unsure what to do.
Seline rushed to him, saying:
"What are you waiting for? Help him!"
Ryan finally processed what happened and tried to lift Jamal—
But Jamal's new body was far too heavy.
Ryan ended up stuck under his arm, yelling:
"Guys! Someone help! I'm trapped!!"