The sky had been calm just moments ago, the sun shining brightly over the vast meadow, but now it was cloaked in darkness.

Thick black clouds churned and spread across the heavens, casting an ominous shadow over the land below.

The air was charged, crackling with an energy that felt almost alive.

And at the center of it all stood Adam.

From his outstretched hand, a blinding white light erupted, a brilliant streak of lightning surging upward with a deafening roar.

The raw power was overwhelming, and the sound reverberated through the air like the earth itself was groaning in protest.

The lightning bolt tore into the sky, shattering the calm and igniting the clouds.

Jagged streaks of electricity danced wildly through the darkness, illuminating the stormy expanse with bursts of intense light.

The once tranquil meadow was now transformed into a spectacle of nature's fury.

Adam stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock as he watched the chaos unfold above him.

His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline surging through his veins as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

The magnitude of the lightning was far beyond anything he had imagined.

"What… what is this power?" Adam whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the crackling of the storm.

He glanced down at his hand, the same hand that had unleashed the unimaginable force.

His fingers trembled slightly, a faint tingling sensation still lingering in them.

Adam feels that seeing this power, he can do anything in this world, he is the king of this whole world, if he can perform so much destructive magic by just saying one thing.

But before he could make sense of it, his body betrayed him.

Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion swept over Adam, stealing the strength from his legs.

His vision blurred, and his limbs felt like lead. He barely had time to register what was happening before his knees buckled, and he collapsed backward on to the soft grass.

He landed with a dull thud, just a few feet away from the massive tree that had been his anchor earlier.

The impact forced the air from his lungs, and he gasped, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

"What… what's happening to me?" Adam thought, panic rising in his mind. He tried to move, to lift his arms, but they refused to obey him.

It was as though his body had been completely drained of energy, leaving him paralyzed.

"What's going on?" he muttered aloud, his voice shaking. "Why won't my body listen to me?"

This has never happened to Adam before. He is very confused. He feels as if he has done too much workout and now all his muscles have become stiff and none of his body parts are supporting him.

A deep sense of fear settled over Adam as he lay there, helpless.

He stared at his hands, willing them to move, but they remained limp at his sides.

It was as though his own body had turned against him, ignoring every command he tried to give.

His thoughts spiraled as he lay there, staring up at the swirling clouds above.

The lightning still arced through the storm, faint flashes of light dancing in the shadows.

He couldn't take his eyes off the scene—it was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"This can't be normal," Adam thought, his mind racing. "I only cast one spell… could that have drained me completely?"

Adam is extremely shocked to think that he has done just one spell on him, this spell has drained all his energy and has left him in this state.

The idea struck him like another bolt of lightning. He blinked rapidly as realization dawned, his thoughts piecing together the events.

"Could it be… that my mana is completely depleted?" he muttered. The possibility seemed both logical and devastating.

Adam's lips curled into a wry smile as a bitter laugh escaped him. "So, my mana reserve is that small? That's… ridiculous."

Adam knows that his age is still young but he does not know the standards of this world yet, so he cannot say anything right now that he has an average mana reserve.

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The thought frustrated him, but as he looked back up at the sky, a flicker of pride warmed his chest.

The storm he had created still loomed overhead, the lightning weaving through the clouds and casting eerie shadows over the meadow.

It was proof of the power he had unleashed, however brief it had been.

Despite his helpless state, a faint smile spread across Adam's face. "At least I know one thing now… I do have a cheat code. My voice—it's the key."

The realization filled him with a renewed sense of hope, but it was a hollow victory. His body remained motionless, and the exhaustion was unrelenting.

His gaze shifted from the storm to the ground around him, his mind clouded with uncertainty.

"How long am I going to be stuck like this?" Adam wondered, his smile fading. The vulnerability of his situation was sinking in.

The meadow was vast and open, but that also meant he was exposed.

"What if something finds me here?" he thought, a shiver running through him. The idea of a wild animal or some other creature stumbling upon him in this defenseless state was terrifying.

The tension gnawed at him as he lay there, unable to move, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. But then, cutting through the silence of the meadow, came a sound.

It was faint at first, barely audible over the distant rumble of the storm, but Adam's ears caught it. It was a voice—a girl's voice, soft and distant, but unmistakable.

Adam's heart skipped a beat as his mind clung to the sound. Was it real, or was his exhaustion playing tricks on him? He strained to focus, his body still unresponsive, but his thoughts now fixated on that faint voice in the distance.

And with that, the scene came to an end, leaving Adam staring at the sky, waiting for whatever—or whoever—was coming his way.

The world around Adam was quiet, save for the occasional whisper of the wind brushing through the grass.

His body remained paralyzed, his limbs lifeless against the soft earth.

The sky above was still cloaked in stormy clouds, their edges glowing faintly with residual lightning.

Despite the eerie stillness, Adam's mind raced with thoughts of the bizarre turn his life had taken.

And then, breaking through the silence, he heard it—a voice.

It was faint at first, distant and unclear. But as it grew closer, the sound became distinct. It was a girl's voice, light and full of urgency.

Adam's heart leaped, and he instinctively tried to turn his head toward the sound.

To his surprise, his neck obeyed, albeit sluggishly. For the first time since his body had given out, he could move—if only slightly.

He shifted his head to the left, his eyes scanning the meadow.

There, in the distance, a figure was running toward him. As she drew closer, Adam could make out the details.

She was a young girl with shoulder-length blond hair that fluttered behind her as she ran. Her clothes were simple, the kind commonly worn by villagers.

Her pale skin glowed faintly under the muted light of the stormy sky, and her green eyes were wide with concern as they locked onto Adam.

She was calling his name.

"Adam!" she cried, her voice sharp and filled with worry.

Adam's breath hitched at the sound, and his brow furrowed in confusion. She knows my name?

Before he could dwell on the thought, his mind was flooded with memories—not his own, but those of the body he now inhabited.

Images and feelings surfaced unbidden, painting a vivid picture of the girl who was now approaching him.

Her name was Sophia.

She was the same age as Adam—fifteen—and had been his childhood friend for as long as he could remember.

Her father was the village chief, a respected leader and skilled hunter.

Her mother was one of the most talented medics in the village, known for her ability to heal even the gravest injuries.

The memories continued to play out in Adam's mind like a slideshow. He saw moments of their shared childhood—laughing, playing, and growing up together.

Their bond had been unshakable, forged through years of friendship. Their families were close as well, with Sophia's father and Adam's father being childhood friends.

Sophia even had an older brother, George, who is a friend of Adam's elder brother.

As the memories settled, Adam whispered her name, almost as though testing its weight on his tongue.

"Sophia…"

The sound of her name felt strange yet familiar, a blending of his old self and the life he had now inherited.

Sophia reached him, her breath coming in quick gasps from running. Her green eyes scanned him anxiously as he lay on the grass, motionless.

She frowned, a mix of worry and exasperation crossing her face.

"Adam," she began, her tone sharp yet concerned, "what happened? There was this huge noise from this side to the village, like thunder. Did you see anything? Did a wild animal attack you?"

Her words tumbled out in a rush as she knelt beside him, looking him over for injuries.

She circled him, her hands hovering as though she expected to find some hidden wound.

"If a wild animal attacked me I wouldn't lie down. Is this girl stupid?" thought Adam.

Adam sighed inwardly, watching her move with such care. She looked almost comical, flitting around him like a worried bird.

He couldn't help but notice the way her presence felt both new and strangely comforting.

"I'm meeting her for the first time… but it feels like I've known her forever," Adam thought.

He chuckled softly, breaking the silence. "No, Sophia. I didn't hear anything. I was sleeping here peacefully—at least until you decided to ruin my nap."

Adam decides that he will not tell Sophia anything about his paralyzed state and will only have a normal conversation with her, so that she does not get stressed and Sophia will never tell this to her parents.

Sophia stopped in her tracks, her frown deepening as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Adam, you're impossible," she huffed, sitting down at the edge of the grass beside him. "You know Uncle—your father—is going to be furious when he finds out you've been lazing around here again."

Adam smirked, turning his head to glance at her. "How will he find out? It's not like you're going to tell him, right?"

Sophia puffed her cheeks in mock indignation, her green eyes narrowing. "Do you think I need to? Everyone knows you come here to sleep most of the time. Your siblings and our friends know exactly where to find you."

Adam let out a resigned sigh, turning his gaze upward to the stormy sky. The clouds above had darkened further, the faint crackle of lightning still present.

Sophia's voice softened slightly as she broke the silence. "Adam… my father's going hunting tonight."

Adam blinked, surprised by the shift in her tone. He turned his head toward her again, his curiosity piqued. "Hunting?"

Sophia nodded, her expression growing more serious. "Yes. My mother's going with him too—to help in case anyone gets hurt." She hesitated, biting her lip before continuing. "They've asked me and George to stay at your house tonight."

Adam's eyes widened, the surprise evident on his face. "You're staying at my house?"

Sophia nodded again, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Yes. They said it would be safer… since we'll be alone."

Adam stared at her for a moment, his mind reeling from the sudden news. A mixture of emotions flickered across his face—surprise, curiosity, and a hint of awkwardness.

The storm above rumbled faintly, as if punctuating the conversation. Sophia looked away, her green eyes fixed on the horizon, while Adam lay there, processing her words.

And with that, the chapter came to an end, leaving Adam with more questions than answers as the storm loomed overhead.

---

End of Chapter Three