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SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 57• Adapt: v
•••••"Mmm" she smiles. "Showtime," she whispers, a playful glint in her eye.Two figures emerge from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy. Demon Avatars."Hey, possessed cuties," Mia says, her tone light and teasing. "The neighbors are complaining about your disturbance, and how people have been going missing whenever they pass by. So I'm here to kick you out. And by you, I mean your demons"The first Avatar, its body moving by the demon's influence, takes an attack pose. Mia's eyes sparkle with excitement as she assumes a fluid stance, her staff materializing in her grasp."Come on, big fella," she teases, "show me what you're working with."The Avatar charges, its massive fists swinging wildly. Mia dances around the attacks, her movements a blur of elegance and precision. Her staff crackles with Mana energy, leaving trails of glittering light.Mia swings swiftly, sending the Avatar crashing into a nearby shelf. Antiques shatter, and dust explodes into the air. The
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 58• Echoes
••••••Tuesday"Alright, guys. Dig deep!" Saint voice as he watches us struggle to summon our wings. "Keep pushing!""Ah!" Michael exclaims as his knees reach the ground, frustration etched on his face."Damn it!" I exclaim as I mirror his actions.As we catch our breaths, we stare over to Claire who is still standing, focusing on summoning her wings.I look at Michael, he stares back. We give each other a nod and stand up, ready to try again.••••••WednesdaySaint's voice echoes through the training grounds, his patience unwavering. "Remember, it's not just physical strength, but mental focus. Visualize your wings."Michael's eyes are closed, his face scrunched in concentration. I mirror his stance, my own eyes shut tight."Come on, guys," Saint encourages. "You're almost there."Suddenly, a gentle breeze blows from across the green grass. Michael's eyes snap open, and mine follow suit.Our gazes drift toward Claire, who stands serenely, her eyes still closed.A light golden glow en
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 59: Echoes: ii
I nod. "Time to face whatever Leap of Faith entails."••••••Meanwhile, in an incomplete building site. Two cars parked side by side opposite each other's direction, having two men in the driver seats, conversate."The Intel we got last time was nothing but useless. The location we got to where a heaven key is, was a decoy. You sent us on a goose chase. The boss isn't happy" The man in the black Sudan car says."The location is more protected than I expect. Tell my father I'm working on it. He should be patient" The man in the black supra Mk5 utters."The boss doesn't like to hear those kind of things. He wants results" The man in the black supra chuckles. "Okay, maybe I should just kill you, Enoch, and tell him myself"Enoch frowns."Tell him he should be patient. I'm working on it" "What about Tengen's location? We have enough men to corner him""You really think you are ready, huh? He will be at corner stone warehouse by Monday during the evening. I'll inform him about the place
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 60• Echoes: iii
The fire crackles, and the music lingers, a gentle echo that fades into the night, leaving us wrapped in a peaceful silence.••••••*Where am I? This feeling, I've felt it before. It feels like I am reuniting with myself. My soul.**A*"Oh, hey, North" A says as she approaches me.I smile as my eyes adapt to the surrounding bright light."It's been a while" she says as she places her arms around me.*Huh?*"Why are you tense?" She utters. "Hug me back"I pause for a second, trying to process what's happening. Then I wrap my arms around her to embrace her."Hey, A. It has" I voice. "How have you been?"*I miss this face*"I am well," she says as she lets go. "I see you've been training quite well"I smile. "You noticed""Yeah, your Mana, you have more control over it now" she smiles. "You're getting strong, that's good"I chuckle."So, what am I doing here? Did you call me? Or is this just a dream?" I ask as my eyes roam my surrounding. We're standing in the camp site, but just the two
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 61• The Silence That Shaped Him
••••••Abel Johnson's world imploded at the tender age of 13. A catastrophic car crash snuffed out his parents' lives, leaving him with a perpetual reminder of that fateful night: a maddening tinnitus that shrieked in his ears like a banshee.Foster care proved a hollow solace. The cacophony of his new "family" - the cacophony of life itself - threatened to consume him. Abel retreated, seeking refuge in the silence that had become his constant companion.But silence bred desperation. As he navigated the harsh landscape of adolescence, he discovered that the shadows held a siren's call. He honed his skills as a thief, always staying one step ahead of detection.Yet, the silence that had shielded him began to feel suffocating. Abel's soul cried out for more - for purpose, for connection, for redemption.Then at the age of 22, like a whispered promise, it began.A strange, tingling energy coursed through his veins, awakening dormant strengths. Abel's muscles flexed with newfound power, a
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 62• The Silence That Shaped Him: ii
•••••"Hey, North" she calls. "Reduce the volume, it is too loud""Oh, okay, sorry" I say reaching for the remote.Huh? What happened to my voice?I grab the remote and notice my hands, they are smaller than usual.Have my hands always been this small?I reduce the TV's volume and continue to gaze to look at my hands."North, go tell your dad breakfast is ready" mom says, dropping three plates on the dinner table."Dad?" I mutter."Don't worry, legs, I am already here" dad says, walking down the stairs and reaching for his coflin on the shelf next to the stairs."Dad?" I mutter."Dad!" I yell, running towards him and hugging him."Ahh, legs, what happened?" He utters with concern."Dad" I voice as I begin to cry. "I miss you"Mom who was concerned a second ago, begins to smile.Dad begins to chuckle. "Oh legs, don't scare me like that. I miss you too, even though we met just last night. But yeah, I still miss you" he says embracing me in his arms."Why did you leave? You.. you never c
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 63• The Silence That Shaped Him: iii
•••••"Any luck" Claire asks."No. I don't even know what's wrong. I usually go with them in their head, but right now, I can't see anything" Michael replies, staring deep into my eyes."Maybe in those times it was your choice" Claire says, still keeping her distance from us."Huh?" Michael utters, turning towards Claire.Immediately, he shifts his gaze back to me. "Sorry""I mean, whenever you do go inside their heads, it is because you choose to. That's why you can literally do whatever you want in their head" Claire voice, eyes scanning for signs of Saint."Just focus, calm your mind and bring him back" she says calmly.••••••"Okay, are you ready?" I ask as I place dad's violin on my shoulder."Of course, go ahead, legs" dad smiles.Mom chuckles as she sits down on the couch next to dad. "Yeah, baby, we are"*I'm gonna go all out*Then I begin to play.••••••Michael POV••••••*Okay, calm down, and breath.*I focus on North's tranquil face, my gaze delving into his eyes. Claire's
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 64• The Silence That Shaped Him: iv
•••••"I had an important meeting with my team, so I had to rush. But I am back now" He says, then notice the mood coming from us."What happened? Did I miss something" he says, then checks his watch. "It's only 7:59. I was still expecting you guys to be sleeping. You really must want to get strong" he smiles.We don't respond.His face turn serious. "Okay, what happened when I was gone?""I lost control of my powers" Michael speaks up. "And North is a victim of that"My expression softens. He must still think it's his fault."I am not hurt or anything. I was just in my head for awhile" North says, trying to tell both Michael and Saint he was fine."I see. Are you all okay?" Saint asks."Yeah, we're fine" North says as he wraps his arms on Michael shoulders.Michael smiles then give Saint a nod.Saint smiles, then turns towards me."Yeah, we're good" I voice."Great!" He smiles. "Now, who's hungry for instant ramen?" His smile widen."Ugh" Michael, North and I sigh simultaneously."Wh
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75• Sparring Matches
•••••"Hey, guys" Claire greets as Michael meet her at the school entrance gate."Hey, Claire" Michael replies."Hey" I greet, then we begin walking to class."Happy New Month!" Michael smiles."Oh, same" Claire smiles slightly.I smile. "Can you believe it? It's been a month since our journey started."Michael grins."Yeah, it has," He says. "And it's been an eventful journey"Claire glances at the both of us and smiles."You guys are weird"Michael and I exchange looks."What do you mean?" I ask."You are making it sound like it's some kind of big milestone you both just achieved" She replies. "I mean, don't get me wrong, it has been an eventful month for you guys, but the journey is only just beginning"Michael grins. "Yeah"I nod.As we step into class, we see our classmates all standing at the right side of the hall, surrounding a chair."What's going on" Michael mutters.Claire sighs then bites down her chocolate bar."It's Larson!" She utters then goes to take her seat. Immedi
74• Noticable Growth: iv
Immediately, she blends with the shadow, rendering her unnoticeable.••••••I smile.They are improving. That's good. They should. The world out there can be unforgiving."Better! React faster" I shout.North swiftly dodges two speeding balls, his fluid movements a testament to growth.But one ball grazes his shoulder and he winces a little.Yet recovers swiftly.Michael spins left, dodging a ball mere inches from his ear.He catches one with his left hand.Deflects another with the caught ball.A third hits his chest, he stumbles, but quickly regains footing.Claire's reactions are faster.She dodges two.A third almost reach her thigh, but she quickly spin to the right and recovers her footing.My gaze sweeps, assessing. Their growth shines as cannons fire and balls hail.North's head tilt to the left, dodging an incoming ball. He shows progress with his powers as he anticipate the next ball.Michael's hands rise, deflecting two balls. Another ball hurtles toward him. He shifts his
73• Noticable Growth: iii
Meanwhile in an experimental Lab in school.Dim fluorescent lights cast eerie shadows.Dr. Kim scrutinized the Grade 4 Demon's glass enclosure at the right side of the lab.Its translucent dark form shimmer, ethereal skin blending.It eyes burn unnaturally.Wiry limbs faded.An unsettling chill surrounding it.Suddenly, the demon's eyes flash.Its form condensed, shrinking.Dr. Kim blinks.The enclosure seemed empty."What the?" She voice.She cautiously enters the enclosure, checking every corner.Confirming the demon's absence.Satisfied, she turn, exiting the enclosure to sound the alarm.But her instincts screams warning.Something was off. She turns around, checking the cell, he eyes roam her surrounding.She removes her wipe as she feels the change in the surrounding air.But yet, no trace of the Demon.She walks gently towards the alarm, her back to it.Fingers outstretched.But before she reached it, the tiny demon that was laced to her back, expanded.Enveloping her, she resi
72• Noticable Growth: ii
The tennis ball cannons roar to life, firing balls at unpredictable angles.I watch intently as Claire, Michael and North stand firm, blindfolds secure, relying on their other senses.The first balls hurtle toward them, trajectories uncertain.Claire pivots swiftly, dodging with ease, her agility allowing her to evade most balls. She twists left, avoiding a ball by inches, and leaps right, dodging another.Michael struggles to keep up, deflecting some balls with his hands but missing others. One hits his shoulder, and another grazes his ear.North moves quickly, but the balls' speed overwhelms him. He dodges a few, but others hit his chest and arm.I shout, "Adjust! React faster! Trust your instincts!"The cannons fire relentlessly, balls bouncing off walls and floor.Claire's agility proves advantageous, but even she can't dodge every ball. One hits her upper back.Michael stumbles by the ball that reaches behind his knee.North grunts, taking a ball to the stomach.Despite efforts, b
71• Noticable Growth
••••••Professor Patel stands at the forefront of the lecture hall, surveying the room with an air of authority."Today, we delve into Rankings, Classes and Grades" she announces, her voice commanding attention."Before us, we have the Avatar Rankings, a classification system developed to categorize reawakened humans, known as Angel Avatars. The rankings are: Z, SS, S, A, B, C, and D."She gestures to the diagram projected on the screen behind her."The Avatar Rankings signify the level of divine influence within an Angel Avatar, with Z being the highest and D being the lowest.""Conversely, demons are classified using Grades," Professor Patel continues. "Ranging from Special Grade, the most powerful, to Grade 5, the least."The screen behind her updates to show the Demon Grades:Special Grade - Highest tier, extreme threat Grade 1 - High-tier, significant threat Grade 2 - Mid-tier, moderate threat Grade 3 - Lower-tier, minor threat Grade 4 - Low-tier, minimal threat Grade 5
70• Entangled Threads: iii
•••••I nod, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation."Tell me more about these encounters," she asks, her eyes filled with curiosity.I recount the moments with A, from the initial contact to the recent conversations.She listens intently, her expression thoughtful."When did you first notice this connection?" she asks."After Ashlyn's death" I reply, the memory still piercing.Her gaze softens. "I'm sorry again for your loss, North."She pauses, collecting her thoughts."Your ability to communicate with A is remarkable," she says. "But I suspect there is more to it. Something triggered this connection.""I don't really know what it could be. But A mentioned something about past lives" I say.Patel leans forward, her brows narrowed. "Past lives, right? I've been considering various explanations for your Angel communication. One possibility stands out: residual energies from past experiences.""Past experiences?" I repeat, intrigued.She nods. "Unresolved threads, North. Fragments
69• Entangled Threads: ii
•••••To master our abilities."Alright, let's go again!" Saint declares, as he wraps his blindfold around his eyes."Right!" Michael, Claire, and I exclaim in unison, our determination palpable.We give some some distance from him."Begin" Saint utters.We charge into the fray, blindfolds secure, senses heightened.The sound of our footsteps echoes through the room.Saint's giggles resonates, taunting us. He is having fun.I track his movement by sound.A faint rustle of fabric.A soft creak of the floor.A subtle shift in air pressure.I fire blindly.A paintball whizzes past Saint's ear.He spins and returns fire.The paintball explodes against the wall.Michael's gunfire intensifies.Claire's shots ping off the floor.Saint dodges using echolocation to evade our shots.He leaps over a stray paintball an lands softly.He fires a paintball, it grazes Claire's arm.She gasps, adjusts her aim and fires back.Saint's grunt confirms a hit.Michael seizes the opening and release shots ag
68• Entangled Threads
••••••The school bell rings, signaling lunch break.Michael, Claire, and I drop our lunch trays on the table where Phillip and his teammates are seated."Hey, guys" I say."Oh, hey!" Phillip voice with a smile."How have you guys been?" He asks, his brow furrowed.Michael shrugs. "We are still alive."Lora chuckles. "So okay?"I nod. "We almost drown to death, but yeah, okay"Henry's curiosity is piqued." 'Drown to death'? What happened?""The 'leap of faith' exercise was quite the experience" Michael says touching his wrist.Claire chuckles.Phillip leans in. "Tell us"I grin. "Imagine jumping off a cliff next to a waterfall, trusting your instincts to save you."Michael chimes in."Yeah, and all for the purpose of having faith in our abilities."The group falls silent, captivated by our story.Phillip breaks the silence."Saint's methods are certainly... unconventional."Lora nods. "But effective?"I exchange a look with Michael and Claire."Yeah, we were able to summon our wings
67• Leap of Faith: iii
The drive home begins.••••••I enter the house, trying to hide my limp."Hey, mom" I greet."Hi, baby. Welcome back," she says, removing muffins from the oven.Her eyes sparkle as she turns to face me, stopping from rushing up the stairs."So, how was camping?" She asks.I attempt a nonchalant smile."It was great. Saint and the others were awesome."Mom's gaze drops to my ankle."Awesome, huh? And what's with the fancy ankle wrap?"I chuckle, caught."Oh, uh, just a little mishap."Mom's eyebrows rise."Mishap?"She sets the muffin tray down, marching toward me."Let me see."I hesitate, but she's determined.She gently unwraps the bandage, revealing a bruise.Her expression changes from curiosity to concern."North! What happened?"I shrug."Minor slip during a hike. No big deal."Her hands on her hips."Minor slip? Saint was supposed to keep an eye on you, not turn you into a human sling."I laugh."Mom, it's really fine."She sighs. "Get ice on that. Now."As I obey, Mom mutters
