CHAPTER 28 – POWER COMES AT A PRICE

How could this have happened? Johnny thought as he looked on. Johnny dreamt he was in endless pain. He had found himself back at Banker Blitz Speedway. Except everything was on fire or destroyed. The sky had turned a hazy blur of white light. On the far edge of the track. Johnny saw five humanoid figures leaving the track as they killed any and everyone in there path. The figures were horribly twisted in their appearances. They had glowing white crystals sticking out of their bodies. He then saw the face of one of them. It was Julia…. He just starred in horror.

Soon his dream was interrupted by an ancient raspy voice. It had power flowing in the tone as it spoke. I KNOW YOU WANT POWER JOHNNY. IF YOU CONTINUE TO FOLLOW HER YOU WILL BECOME WHAT YOU JUST SAW. FOLLOW ME AND I CAN SAVE THEM FROM THEIR FATE. The voice said. Johnny was so shaken at the vision he couldn’t tell what to believe in anymore. Johnny just shook his head. The voice then sighed then spoke again. I CAN MAKE YOU THE MOST POWERFUL RACER THERE EVER WAS. I CAN MAKE YOU IMMORTAL. The voice decided to add to its offer. Again, Johnny shook his head speaking to himself. “No this isn’t right. I can’t turn against Jula and the other for my own ambitions.”

The voice let out an angry gruff. Then spoke again with an eerie tone. WELL SINCE YOU HAVE DECLINED MY OFFER. MAYBE YOUR BROTHER JAMIE WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF MY NEW CHOSEN. After hearing this Johnny spoke in an angry tone. “if you even think of harming Jamie.” He was cut off from his speech. As he was blasted with a powerful aura. It soon dissipated with a soothing white light as Johnny heard a familiar voice. All he could hear was distortion. As the vision went black.

Johnny woke up feeling he had been at a Banzai Bangers endurance event. He moaned as he slowly opened his eyes to hear a few people sigh with relief. For some reason he couldn’t open his right eye. He still looked at his body, which was covered in bandages and scars. “What happened?” He mumbled as he had a dry cough, slowly thinking of everything that had happened. He was surprised his right hand was their, flexing all his fingers.

Julia was standing beside him in the throne room. She was assisted by Qin, Margaret, and Albert. Lisa and Cloe were standing in the far corner. Minding their own business.

Julia spoke up as she was trying not to cry.

“You were badly wounded when we found you. Your right hand was missing, with your body severely burned. You also suffered from an infection with rift essence. I was able to save your body from the infection. Unfortunately, it claimed your right eye.”

“I have tried everything in my power to stop the spread. We just thought you were suffering from blood loss. I could tell something was wrong when your healing regeneration wasn't working right. That was until I discovered the bullets we found in your body were laced with rift essence.”

Johnny winced at the news as he tried to touch his right eye. Julia and the others had to restrain him from touching the eye patch over his eye.

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She then sighed and swallowed as she brought up more news.

“Margaret had to replace it with a cybernetic one. I’m sorry we couldn’t save your right eye. Albert was nice enough to help with the transformation. It would have taken much longer if it weren’t for him.” Julia grimaced.

Johnny just looked at her and began to laugh hysterically as he spoke. “Are you kidding, I got more cyborg body partsl.”

Julia just looked at him in confusion. Johnny spoke up again. “Well nowl I can help the alliance with my new eye hopefully.”

Julia stood there for a moment before coming to terms with it as she nodded. As they were finishing their conversation. The group heard footsteps heading their way. The group took up battle formation as they expected a fight. Only to find Orion followed by members of the Radiant Alliance.

When they saw Orion, Julia and the others bowed. Johhny stood there looking around with his new eye. He was so focused looking at everything that he didn’t see them kneeling. Orion just chuckled at the site.

“Ah, yes everyone gets excited about every new cybernetic part they get, don’t they?” He replied as he raised his brow to Johnny. Johnny then noticed and said sorry. Orion just shrugged as he gave news to Julia and her group.

“With the defeat of the chosen in this world the loathing one’s influence has vanished. Although we won. The casualties for the alliance were very high. We lost around fifty members. Most ended up turning into rift eaters in the city battle,” Replied Orion with the grim news.

“On the positive side. We no longer need to worry about the influence here. I am having everyone get ready to go back to HQ for the next assignment. Although I am leaving behind a few advisors to help with restoring stability to the world. The campsite has already been packed up. All he needs to do is get that contraption into the portal.” Orion stated as he pointed at Johnny. He then opened a temporary portal for everyone to go to the main campsite where the prototype was sitting parked. Johnny sighed as they all followed into the portal.

Everyone arrived back at the campsite to find it totally destroyed. Orion explained what had happened when he was going to come back up. “We need to do better about infiltraters,” He sighed.

“I am glad this assignment is finally over. I think you would really like alliance HQ.” Julia said to Johnny with a smile.

The area cleared up within a few hours. Orion had everyone go through the portal. Julia told Orion before she would go through the portal she wanted to talk to Johnny in private. Orion let her talk to him. She had a concerned tone when she spoke to Johnny.

“When someone defeats a chosen one and claims their core. There is a rare chance the loathing one can enter their mind. He tries to manipulate then into joining him. If the individual refuses he normally kills them or finds a way to get their influence. Sometimes he can wipe the memory if the connection is too strong. Unfortunately, we can’t tell if someone has had their mind wiped of the event or never had it.”

She told Johnny then asked him if he recalled anything of the sort. Johnny just shook his head like he was forgetting something.

“Oh well, at least you didn’t have to suffer that temptation. I heard it can be a painful experience.” Julia shook her head relieved.

After their talk Julia followed Johnny into the prototype. Johnny drove the prototype into the portal left behind for them. He looked in the rearview mirror to only see Orion and his advisors he picked to help with the world. They were now on their way to the Radiant Alliance main HQ.