2025-03-17 13:56:08Chapter 4: Broken Bonds
"Hold on… maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here." Max sat on the edge of the tub, fingers pressed against his chin in deep thought. His brows furrowed as a wave of uncertainty washed over him. "What if this is all in my head?" he murmured, eyes scanning the empty space before him as if expecting it to answer. The strange phenomenon he had experienced since waking up felt too surreal. The glowing words, the bizarre notifications, the absurd notion that he had somehow acquired abilities beyond his comprehension—it all felt like a twisted dream his mind had conjured. "How can I confirm that any of this is real?" He bit his lip, his gaze flickering toward the semi-transparent interface hovering before him. "Can I actually use these skills? Wouldn't that be the ultimate proof?" Just as he was about to voice his doubts again, another notification blinked into existence. [To use an unlocked ability, simply call out its name in your mind while adding 'Activate' before or after.] Max's eyes narrowed. He reread the message twice, his mind racing with possibilities. If this system was real… He took a deep breath and glanced at the list before him. [Skills and Abilities] » Velocity Surge - Level 1 » Rapid Recovery - Level 1 » Adaptive Shift - Level 1 » Toxin Resistance - Level 1 » Reconstruct - Level 1 » Xeon Absorption - Level 1 He examined each skill methodically to decide which one he should try first. Velocity Surge appeared to be a skill that would be simple to experiment with. The skills Reconstruct and Xeon Absorption remained difficult to understand. I need to verify if this is actually genuine. Max rose from his seat to walk toward the exit while performing a brief stretch. The dimly lit space contained only a tub where he had been resting and a small storage unit located in the corner. The entire space maintained a chilly atmosphere which matched the usual feeling of the place. He released a short breath before saying, "Close interface." The glowing words disappeared right after they appeared. He nodded to himself. "Outside. I’ll test it outside." The familiar voices of two individuals became audible to him when he walked through the tight hallway toward the living area. The woman's gentle voice reminded Cedric, "Remember what I told you, sweetheart." The XAO inspectors will visit your school today. This is your chance." The younger voice responded with confidence, "Of course, Mother." Anyone with half a brain would recognize my strength. I stand as the top student in my class because I am the strongest. A quiet chuckle followed. "That’s my boy." Max's steps slowed. He clenched his jaw. Cedric was the family's golden child who bore all their hopes because his parents had repeated this conversation many times before. The voices of the two people emerged from the living room entrance. Max surveyed the room upon entering which featured blue-tinted walls and deep green furniture while a holo-display showed three people standing together. The middle-aged man had sharp features and blond hair which he kept neatly styled. The woman displayed composure through her expression while her chestnut hair reached down to her waist. The young boy with dark perfectly curled hair stood tall between his parents. A family portrait. Max’s fingers curled into fists. Standing near the door, dressed in a neatly pressed academy uniform, was Cedric. Beside him, their mother was adjusting his collar with a smile. They turned slightly, catching sight of Max as he stepped forward. No acknowledgment. No greeting. Just an empty glance before they turned away, as if he didn't exist. Max swallowed down the lump in his throat. "...Are you not going to drop me off too?" For the first time, his mother paused. Slowly, she turned back to face him. Her expression twisted into something sharp—disdain, disappointment, and something colder beneath the surface. "How many times must I tell you?" she hissed. "Stop calling me that. I am not your mother." Max's breath hitched, but he stayed silent. "I have only one son," she continued, placing a hand on Cedric’s shoulder. "And he is right here." Cedric smirked, his posture oozing with self-importance. "Honestly, you should be grateful," he said, voice laced with mockery. "Mother and Father still allow you to live here—even though you’re a complete waste of space." Max’s nails dug into his palms. His mother’s gaze darkened further. "Sometimes I wonder how Liam and I could have created something as useless as you." A sharp pain pressed against his chest, but Max merely lowered his head. It wasn't the first time. It wouldn’t be the last. And yet, no matter how many times he heard these words, they still hurt. Family. It was supposed to mean something. But for him… it was a title with no meaning. "Come on, Mom," Cedric scoffed, grabbing her hand. "Trash like him should be walking to school, anyway." Without another glance, they turned and stepped outside. SLAM. The door shut, leaving Max standing alone. His fingers loosened as he let out a bitter chuckle. "What was I expecting? Some kind of miracle?" A cold laugh escaped his lips as he pushed away the sharp ache in his chest. No. He had learned a long time ago that no matter how much he wished for it, things would never change. But that was before. Before the Xeon System. Before this new power. He inhaled deeply and shook off the suffocating weight of the past. "Right. The inspectors from XAO are coming today." His expression shifted. "I need to get to school." With that thought driving him forward, he stepped out of the house, his previous worries about testing his abilities pushed aside for now. As he sprinted down the streets, sweat gathered on his brow. This was District 34 of BB City, one of the largest and most technologically advanced zones in the world. Buildings shaped like metallic hexagons lined the roads, their surfaces glowing with digital advertisements. Some even shifted shape or retracted underground at their owners’ command. Flying vehicles zipped above, gliding smoothly through designated air lanes, while pedestrians navigated the busy walkways below. Max's pace quickened as he spotted a glowing blue ring ahead—a teleportation circle designed for fast travel across the city. People stepped into the shimmering light one after another, vanishing in a blink. "Two more of these, and I’ll reach school," he muttered. Steeling himself, he strode forward, joining the small crowd entering the circle. As soon as he stepped inside, a businessman in a sleek black suit wrinkled his nose and took a step away from him, choosing instead to stand beside a well-dressed woman. Max blinked, confused—until the realization hit him. A very unpleasant realization. "...Oh crap." His face twisted in horror. "I didn’t take a shower today!" His panicked whisper was unfortunately a little too loud. Several people within the teleportation circle turned, staring at him with barely concealed disgust. Max sighed. This day was not going as smoothly as he had hoped.
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