Altered Cosmos

Chapter 11; The First Spark

Some moments later, Levi does some stretches on the platform before turning to MJ who had removed her shirt, leaving only her vest. Levi gets a good look of her female features but she wasn’t in any way as muscular like her dad.

Peter watches from the bench with a smile on his face. “Alright. Standard rules…First one to hit the ground loses. Go!” 

Levi enters his combat pose and watches as MJ slowly approaches, her eyes beginning to glow and her body releasing lemon yellow energy in contrast with her father’s honey yellow colour. 

She then charges forward, throwing punches and kicks similar to Peter’s fighting style but hers was enhanced by her agility. Peter watches in earnest as they continue to exchange blows but it was obvious that Levi’s fighting style was difficult for her to counter.

Levi grunts as he ducks under her fist and shifts his foot into her ankle, causing her to momentarily slip while Levi aims a fist at her gut…

But once Levi’s fist gets too close, he hesitates and MJ quickly recovers and jumps back. Peter groans in frustration as he shoots up from the bench, causing both of them to stop to look at him. 

“Come on, Levi. How are you supposed to help each other train if you’re holding back?” MJ flashes a half-angry glare at an embarrassed Levi. “You wouldn’t have hesitated with that chance if it was me.”

MJ folds her arms and glares at Levi. “Are you seriously pulling your punches with me?”

Levi feeling ganged up on and pressured stepped back from her a little. “Yeah… it’s just that I…” MJ and Peter both wait as Levi looks between them before finishing his sentence. “I don’t like hitting girls.”

When he said that, MJ’s fingers twitch and Peter lets out a little laugh which catches Levi’s attention before speaking. “You shouldn’t have said that.” 

Levi gives Peter a confused look before sensing a powerful surge of energy charging at him. He quickly blocks as MJ’s fist collides with him.

But the force of the punch breaks through his guard and rams into his face, sending his body hurling backwards until he collides into the wall on the other side of the room, leaving a large indentation there as he crumples to the ground.

Peter lets out a loud laugh that makes his stomach ache as MJ slowly walks over to Levi. “Didn’t you hear the part that she’s ‘my’ daughter?”

Levi spits out some saliva and looks up to see MJ standing in front of him with hands on her hips. “I see that now. Sorry for going easy on you.”

MJ chuckles as she stretches out a hand to help him up. “It’s okay. So…” She pumps her fists together with a wide grin on her face. “Wanna go again?”

Levi chuckles as he quickly limps away. “I think I’ve had enough super strength beat-downs today. I’m going to get something to eat and an ice pack for my back.”

MJ shrugs as she walks over to the weight section. “Suit yourself.”

Levi picks up his shirt and sneakers from the bench before walking towards the door just as he hears a grunt and sees MJ easily lifting an extremely heavy-looking barbell even though she looked like she could barely lift a couch.

<Photron energy’s crazy.> He thought with a headshake as he walks out of the gym to his room to take a quick shower before looking for something to eat.

A few days later… It’s an evening and Peter watches as Levi and MJ trade blows. MJ still finds it difficult to get around Levi’s fighting technique but Levi also finds it difficult to actually knock her down.

Levi ducks as MJ launches another punch and attempts to sweep her leg, but her legs were ridiculously hard and his foot stops completely with him feeling the little pain.

“Damn.” He grumbled before flipping backwards as MJ smashes her fist into the ground he was standing on, completely shattering the spot into rubble.

As Levi springs from the floor with his arms and lands on his feet, Peter stood up with loud clap.

“Alright, kids. I think that’s enough for today.”

“Come on, dad. Just one more.” MJ groaned with a pleading smile that makes Peter chuckle.

“You good for another round, Levi?” Levi and MJ shared a quick look before he turns back to Peter and nods with a smile on his face. Peter looked between them and raised his hands in defeat.

“Fine. Go crazy…but I’m hitting the hay.” He said as he turned towards the door and sends a wave over his shoulder before stepping out of the room.

Levi smirks as he bounces on his feet. “You ready for me to take you down?”

MJ lets out a cocky laugh and grins at him with both hands on her hips. “In case you forgot, you’ve never been able to knock me off my feet.”

“It’s not my fault your body feels like it’s made of steel.” Levi sighed and MJ laughs as she gives his shoulder a little push before taking her stance. “I’ll get you this time.” He said as he took his fighting stance.

She raises a brow and throws him a smirk. “Good luck with that.” She then lunges for him, continuing their usual combat training with kicks, punches and grapples thrown in different directions.

After another hour, Levi was drinking a bottle of water on the exercise bike while listening to her stories of Peter as she causally tosses a heavy weight between her hands like it was a tennis ball.

“…so my dad jumped first to show me it wasn’t scary.”

Levi lowers his bottle from his lips with a smile on his face. “Your dad dropped 3 storeys down to the floor and walked away unscathed, just to teach you?” MJ shrugs with a laugh and Levi shakes his head with a dreamy smile. “I wish I can do that.”

“You?” She said as she grasps the weight in one hand and points it at Levi. “I wish I could use lightning and zap people till they all drop.”

Levi inches back a little intimidated. “That’s…intense.”

“Please.” MJ waves a dismissive hand at him and laughs. “So…” She stops in front of him with an excited smile. “Come on, show me some lightning tricks. I’ve always wanted to know if I can withstand lightning attacks.”

“I wish I could but…” He drops the bottle in the bottle compartment of the exercise bike and turns to her with a disappointed look. “I’ve been trying for weeks but I don’t even know how to make a spark.”

He focuses some blue energy in his hands and strains his mind and eye, trying to form a single spark but nothing comes out as he lets out a tired exhale of air. “I tried reading about it but I didn’t get anything about how to ‘make’ lightning.”

“Too bad.” MJ sighed as she turns back with a disappointment in her tone as she goes over to return the weight still in her hand.

Levi stares at her as she carefully places the weight back where it belongs, his mind completely deep in thought when an idea popped in his head.

“Hey, MJ.” She turns to him with an attentive look on her face. “Your dad mentioned how you guys use your energy to change your cells and stuff to become physically stronger than normal, right?”

She walks over to him with more curious expression. “Yeah. So?” 

“How are you able to control your energy to do that? I’ve learnt how to control how much my power flows out and can redirect to different parts of my body but I have no clue and how to make it actually do something other than strengthen my body.”

“Yeah, I know right. It took me months just to figure that out.” MJ sighed with a head shake.

“So what’s your secret?”

MJ gestures Levi to follow him to the platform where she suddenly sat on the ground in a criss-cross position. She looks at Levi who just stares at her in confusion. “What are you waiting for?”

Levi awkwardly sits in front of her in the same position before she clears her throat and explains. “Well, my young disciple…”

“Disciple?”

“Shh. The master is speaking…” She said with a raised brow and Levi raises his arms in defeat. “After months of trials and errors, and I mean a lot… I found a way to focus my energy to do what I want by acting on the source.”

“Our core?”

MJ smiles with a respectful nod. “Well done, student. You get ten points.” Levi rolls his eyes and listens as she goes on. “Now, you have to focus on your energy, not just control it. Close your eyes.” She said as she closes her eyes and Levi follows her example, closing his eyes.

“Now take a deep breath…” They both took a deep breath, letting a calm environment form around them. “Now feel your energy. Not control. Just feel it, listen to it.”

Levi focuses on his energy, he feels the power flowing soothingly through his matrix…he feels it going to his hands, legs, torso… “Now, trace all that energy back to your core.”

Levi does as she told, finding his core located in his heart. He takes another calming breath as he feels the powerful energy being continuously released from it. “Now, repeat after me. I am a calming stream.”

Levi scoffs at first but her loud throat clearing makes him reluctantly comply. “I…am a calming stream.”

“The cool water flowing through me…”

“The cool water flowing through me.” He echoed, still feeling weird.

Levi’s eyes were closed so he couldn’t see MJ’s wide grin. “MJ is cute and awesome.”

“MJ is cute…wait what?” He opens his eyes and glares at MJ who was trying and failing to conceal her laughter. “Really?”

She puts on a fake flushed face and fans herself with her hand. “Aw…I think you’re cute, too.”

“Come on. Are those other sayings’ even real?”

“No. Just made it up to sound wise and sophisticated.” Levi smacks his hand to his forehead in frustration while MJ laughs hard with a hand over her gut before forcing herself to stop once Levi tries to stand.

“Okay. Okay. I’ll stop joking.” Levi glares at her pleading face before letting out a sigh and sitting back down. “Alright. Just go back to feeling your core.” 

Levi takes a calming breath as he closes his eyes and focused on his energy until he feels his core again.

“Now, concentrate on its energy and picture exactly what you want it to do. For me, it was strengthening my body but for you, imagine it transforming into electricity.”

Levi’s brows furrow as he concentrates on his core, commanding the energy to transform into electricity…imagining the sparks created from it. He was so in deep thought that he didn’t even hear MJ’s next phrase.

“Now, just let you’re the energy itself take over.” She said as her yellow energy calmly seeps out of her body and she opens her eyes with a wide grin. “And ta-da!”

Her energy level resides and she stands up, while dusting off her skirt.

“That’s basically it. It was easier for me because my power’s not that complicated but for a lightning tron like you, it may…” She stops when she realises that Levi was still in his sitting position with still closed eyes.

She then notices the strong aura of energy being released from his body and reaches out to touch him. “Levi?”

Meanwhile, all Levi could think about was… <Come on, core. Give me something.> His energy suddenly surges and MJ senses it and leaps back just as Levi’s body suddenly started releasing powerful deep sky-blue electricity.

He opens his eyes and jumps up in shock, staring at the electrical current crackling around every inch of his body. “This is so dope.” He mumbled as he waved his hand slowly, the electric currents cracking with the air.

“Wicked.” Levi turns to MJ who was beaming with excitement. “I’m an awesome teacher!” She shouted out in joy and Levi grins, glancing at the electricity as it fizzles away on command.

“By the way, next time, give a girl a heads up ‘before’ you try to electrocute her.”

Levi rubs the back of his head in embarrassment. “Sorry. Still need practice.” He grinned at his fingers which produced a little spark. “Thanks, MJ. You’re a life-saver.”

MJ gives a proud smug and whips her hair a little. “I know.” Levi rolls his eyes and MJ glanced at the time on her band. “It’s getting late. We should head back.”

“You go. I want to work on my ability a little.” MJ shrugs and struts out of the room while Levi sits back down on the ground with closed eyes as he tried to create the lightning again.

It took him almost 5 minutes before he was able to recreate the blue lightning but after a few seconds, he loses control and the electric current fizzles away. He sighs with his head hung.

<Looks like I have to do some more practice.> He thought as he continued trying and trying and trying until the wave of exhaustion hits him and finally heads back to his room……

More weeks pass by with Levi and MJ both being trained by Peter both in formal combat and in tron knowledge.

Levi also began to get the hang of his lightning ability, showing some powers like his ability to now fire lightning bolts and release a powerful wave of electricity from his body…but he also worked in secret, developing a new ability which trons usually called ‘Gears’. 

It is now three days before MJ and Levi take the entrance exam. Levi shifts his footing, staring between Peter and MJ combat-ready close to him.

Levi then charges forward, throwing a kick at Peter who easily jumps back but he then weaves past MJ’s punch and began fighting her.

As they fought, Levi felt an incoming attack and rolls to the side just as Peter whizzes past him and rams into MJ, who manages to block, allowing the momentum to send her sliding across the concrete.

Peter grins at Levi who readies himself again, his energy completely calm and focused. “Nice reflexes.” He gives MJ a smile as well. “You too, baby girl. I thought I had you.”

“I’m not going down that easily!” She shouted out as she charges forward and jumps into the air before hurling her foot back down on Peter who blocks but the impact completely shatters the concrete beneath him. 

In that moment, Levi lunges forward with an elbow attack but Peter reacts by grabbing MJ’s ankle and swinging her into Levi.

They fly back some distance before both flipping to their feet and skidding across the ground just as they separated as Peter drops his floor down in the space between them, covering him in smoke and dust as they land.

“Got you now!” MJ shouted out as she lunges forward before skidding to a stop and guarding as some rocks flew into her from the smoke.

Then a figure speeds out of the smoke aiming a punch at Levi who dives forward to evade it as he rolls into a crouching position.

<Oh damn.> Levi thought as he sensed both Peter and MJ lunge at him from both sides.

He grins as he throws his hands up, his energy flaring up which MJ and Peter both realised and quickly backed away…just as Levi threw his hands back down, releasing a bright stream of electricity around him. 

As soon as MJ lands some distance away, Levi dives in with a kick to her gut which she manages to withstand only sliding back some metres.

<Still can’t knock her off.> He thought as he drops to his feet and senses Peter already throwing a punch at him.

He grins as he ducks down, grabs Peter’s passing fist and shifts his left foot back with enough force to knock off Peter’s stabilizing leg.

Using Peter’s momentum, Levi pulls and hurls Peter over his shoulder towards MJ who was already charging from the front. <I’ll just fight iron with iron.> Levi thought.

Peter then chuckles as he suddenly twists mid-air, grabbing Levi’s arm and kicking MJ back some distance. 

As he flips to his feet, he grunts as he flings Levi towards MJ who manages to catch him in her arms…just as Peter appears beside her and quickly sweeps her legs causing her to topple over with Levi on top of her.

“That’s not how I planned this.” Levi grunted as he rolled off MJ who also groans in pain while Peter laughs at them.

“Nice try, kids. But like I’ve been saying…it’ll take you guys years before you can beat me.” He said while dusting off his hands while Levi and MJ picked themselves up. “But I have to say. You’ve both come a long way.” He began to fake some fatherly tears and MJ rolls her eyes.

“Really, dad?” She asked with a hand on her hip and Peter nods as he wraps her in a crushing hug.

“Well this looks like a family moment. I’ll ju-”

“Oh no, you don’t.” Peter said as he grabs Levi’s shoulder and drags him into the hug, one arm swung over both of them. “You’re practically like a son to me. I’m proud…of the both of you.”

He distances himself from them a little just enough to stare directly into their faces. “You’re gonna kill that exam.”

“That’s for sure.” MJ chuckled and Levi nods as Peter gives their shoulders a stern shake before releasing them. MJ smiles excitedly when she turns to Levi. “It looks your lightning gears are getting better. I almost got caught in it.”

Levi nods with a stare at his hand which created tiny crackles of electricity. “It’s getting a lot easier than before…” A wide grin suddenly plants on his face as he turns to them. “I’ve actually been working on a new gear in secret.”

MJ and Peter both responded with excited expressions. “Show us.”

Levi nods with a laugh and gestures MJ to prepare to attack him with Peter stepping aside. Levi places his hands in his pockets and closes his eyes as his energy began to release from his body.

They both watched attentively as Levi’s energy then converts into electricity which spreads out around him before being dragged back to his body, coating his body in a layer of blue energy and electricity shooting out from his entire body.

He opens his eyes which glowed and sparked with electricity and some of his hair stood at their ends, becoming sharp and pointy.

“Okay, go ahead.” He said as he began to slowly approach her.

She watches for a moment, trying to analyse what he was going to do but Levi just keeps leisurely walking towards her with both hands in his pockets.

She shouted out as she charges forward with enough force to crack the concrete and she throws a punch at Levi who still seemed unreactive but as her fist makes contact…it passes right through his face and they both realised that it was an afterimage. 

She quickly recovers and sees Levi standing at her side. She attacks again and again, throwing punches but Levi lazily dodges each of them with hands still in his pockets as his figure moves with a blur even for their high-processing eyes.

“Hold still.” MJ said as she swings her foot into him but it passes right through another afterimage as Levi moves with a blur to her back and she suddenly felt a strong hit to her neck as Levi karate chops her.

But she barely flinches as she swings an arm back but Levi had already vanished. “Where are you?” She asked as she quickly scan her environment when he spoke.

“Right here.” Peter flinches and quickly turns to Levi who was now standing beside him.

Even though Levi didn’t see it, Peter gave a both scared and responsive glance because he didn’t even sense Levi beside him until after he spoke. 

MJ grins as she runs up to him while Levi’s energy level drops with the lightning fading off and his hair returning to normal. “What was that?”

“A new gear I’ve been secretly working on.” He said as he created a small spark between his fingers. “I created it based on both of your abilities. I used the electricity I created and fused it with my own body cells which makes me moves faster than normal.”

Peter raised a shocked brow and MJ’s jaw drops in shock. “With speed that insane, you’re basically invincible.” MJ mumbled.

Levi laughs as he rubs his neck a little embarrassed. “It’s not invincible. I still can’t get past its weakness.”

“Weakness?” Peter asked and Levi turns to him with a nod.

“I can only use that gear for a limited amount of time before my body is unable to handle the electricity and the gear destabilizes.” He places both hands in his pockets and sighs.

“At my slowest speed, I can only go as far as 5 minutes. And the faster I try to go, the smaller the time limit becomes. At top speed, I can barely last a minute.”

Peter laughs as he swings an arm over Levi. “Still. That speed can help change the tide of battle. Nice job.”

“What do you call it?” MJ asked and Levi chuckled a little before responding.

“I was thinking of calling it, Static shell.” He said with a smile and Peter nods at him.

“I like it. It has a nice ring to it.” MJ said just as Peter plants comforting hand on Levi’s shoulder.

“You’ve come a long way, kid.” Levi smiles as Peter gives his shoulder a little shake before turning to MJ. “That’s enough training for today. Let’s get some dinner.”

Levi and MJ share a smile before following Peter out of the gym. As they walk across the grounds, Peter glances back at MJ and Levi chatting happily but he gives Levi a quick concerned stare before looking away to avoid attention.