Chapter 11: *Shocking*
Nix, in the junkyard, lifted a large boulder effortlessly, his muscles tense. He still had to adjust to his recently acquired strength, every action serving as a constant reminder of the newfound power flowing within him. The intense confrontation with the *Level 3 Vortex Fangbear* had tested his abilities to the fullest, and without the assistance of *Level 3 Enforcer* Jake Gibson responding to his distress signal, he wouldn't have made it through.
The rock moved in his hand, so he instinctively squeezed tighter, nearly breaking it before stopping himself. At the other end of the yard, Roni sat peacefully, observing him from afar. Nix had made sure she stayed in the bunker with her grandparents and Granny Laurie during the fight, protecting them as he confronted the terrifying danger directly. At this moment, however, something else was troubling him.
The *Hunter's Watch* had just gotten an emergency signal from Prabh. The house where she lived, located by the western street in town, was at a perilous proximity to the increasing conflict between the creatures and the city's protection systems. Despite being known as a safe city, the invasion had slowly spread to residential neighborhoods, putting Prabh and her family in danger. Only two Evolvers were present, Prabh and her father, however Prabh had not revealed any abilities yet.
Nix gazed at the message, feeling a tightening knot in his chest. He desired to hurry to help her, but he was still haunted by the memory of the attack on Mount Trashmore last night. The creatures had arrived for them, and it was uncertain when they would return. He was unable to leave his family at this moment.
"I cannot abandon them..." he whispered, his hold on the boulder growing tighter once more.
Roni looked over, detecting his inner conflict. She remained quiet, aware that Nix was torn between safeguarding his family and supporting his friends. However, Nix was unaware that Roni had already made a decision earlier that morning.
Placing the boulder carefully on the ground, Nix brainstormed various ways to keep everyone safe simultaneously. Feeling pain in his heart, he was aware of Prabh's danger, yet he couldn't overcome the anxiety of putting his family at risk. He had dedicated his morning to placing traps and practicing, but he was consumed by doubt. Did it suffice?
The noise of oncoming cars jolted him out of his thoughts. He looked over and saw a line of police vehicles arriving at the junkyard. Their engines came to a halt while the officers got out, surprising Nix.
“What the…?”
Roni rose beside him, calm but alert. One of the higher-ranking officers nodded toward Nix before addressing Roni directly.
“We’re here to escort you, your grandparents, and Granny Laurie to the police station for safety,” the officer said. “The situation in the city is worsening, and we’ve been ordered to take you to a more secure location.”
Nix blinked in confusion. “Wait, who sent for you?”
Roni met his eyes, her expression soft with understanding. “I did.”
Nix’s brow furrowed. “You what?”
Roni stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. “I requested an escort. Your family, my grandparents, we’re too isolated up here, Nix. After last night, I realized we’re better off at the police station where there’s more protection. That way, you don’t have to worry about us while you’re out there.”
Nix’s heart raced as he absorbed her words. “You did this?”
She nodded.
“I talked to everyone earlier, and we all agreed. You can’t be everywhere at once, Nix. We’ll be safer at the station, and you can now help your friends and the city. I didn’t tell you sooner because I didn’t want to add more pressure, but… now that help’s here, you can go.”
Nix was speechless for a moment, a wave of relief washing over him. He’d been so consumed with the weight of his responsibilities, he hadn’t even considered this solution. Roni had thought ahead, finding a way to take the burden off him.
“Roni, I…” His voice faltered, gratitude filling his chest.
She smiled, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Go, Nix. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
Nix looked from her to the officers, who were already preparing to escort their families. She was right. With them safe, he could finally help his friends.
Taking a deep breath, the tension in his chest eased. He turned back to Roni, offering a nod of appreciation. “Thank you.”
Roni smiled softly before turning to help her grandparents get ready for the convoy. Nix stood for a moment, watching her, his mind clearer than it had been all morning. He wasn’t alone in this fight, and he didn’t have to carry it all by himself.
As the convoy prepared to leave, Nix’s attention shifted to his *Hunter’s Watch*. He pulled up the map of the city, zooming in on the west road where Prabh’s home was. With his family safe, he now knew where he needed to go.
But before he left, Nix turned toward the corner of the junkyard, where his old weapon, ”Morning Wood”, lay discarded. The once-trusty bat had served him well, but after the battle with the *Vortex Fangbear*, it was bent beyond repair. It was time for an upgrade.
Sifting through the scrap, Nix found the strongest metal he could, an imposing black pipe buried under heaps of debris. He worked quickly, fashioning it into a new bat, longer and sturdier than before. Jagged spikes lined the head of the weapon, making it even more lethal. And for a touch of humor, he attached a red googly eye to the top. The optical illusion made it appear as though the eye was staring back at whoever looked at it, no matter the angle.
Nix swung the new *”Morning Wood”* experimentally, a grin tugging at his lips. It was heavier, deadlier, and perfect for what was to come. He then put on his new armor similar to his previous one’s.
As Roni’s convoy started up, Nix rested the bat on his shoulder. Roni glanced over, a smirk forming as she noticed the googly eye.
“What’s that?” she asked with an amused raise of her brow.
“The new and improved *Morning Wood*,” Nix replied with a smirk of his own.
Roni laughed softly, shaking her head. “Of course you’d name it that.”
“Hey, it works,” he shrugged, playfully.
With his family safe, his new weapon ready, and his mind set, Nix climbed onto *Scootie*. His friends needed him, and this time, he was ready. Without another word, he sped toward the city, ready for whatever awaited him on the west road.
Reaching the train station, Nix quickly got on the train headed towards the west road of the city. Getting off the train he quickly checked his Hunter’s Watch to find Prabh’s location, after turning on his GPS guide, he got back on “Scootie “ and followed the directions indicated by the GPS.
As Nix sped off toward Prabh’s house on *Scootie*, the adrenaline from the fight still coursed through his veins. His mind wandered to the battle he had just finished, and he couldn’t help but reflect on the changes he had noticed in his body over the last few days since leveling up to Level 2.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
During his previous encounters with the mutated beasts, Nix hadn’t paid much attention to the specifics. But now, it was clear, his physical strength had skyrocketed. Before his evolution, he had the capacity to lift up to 200 kg with considerable effort. Now, that limit had been pushed to 300 kg with relative ease. The realization made him grin slightly. His body felt lighter, his muscles stronger, and everything seemed more controlled.
On top of that, his movement speed had increased as well. Where he had once struggled to push past 20 km/h, now he could move at speeds up to 25 km/h. It wasn’t a dramatic jump, but it was significant in battle. That extra burst of speed had been the key to dodging the swift attacks of the *Evolved Steelhide Wolf* earlier.
Then there was his skin durability, another upgrade he had almost overlooked. Before leveling up, his skin was tough, comparable to *iron*, making him resistant to normal physical attacks. But now, it had improved to *steel-class durability*, allowing him to take hits that would have left most people in critical condition without so much as a scratch. The wolf’s claws had barely made a dent during their fight, something that would’ve been a serious issue in his earlier state.
But the most intriguing development was with his *Phantom Hands*. Previously, these transparent extensions of his hair could lift objects weighing *double* his current physical strength. With his strength now at 300 kg, his *Phantom Hands* could handle a 600 kg load without breaking a sweat. However, the real game-changer wasn’t just the raw power, it was the speed. Where his *Phantom Hands* had once moved at a decent pace, now they moved almost as fast as a bullet. The precision and swiftness of these invisible extensions had allowed him to easily overpower the wolves, especially when they were too fast for him to react physically.
He had tested his abilities several times in the past few days, but it was only now, in the heat of battle, that he fully realized just how much more dangerous he had become. His *Phantom Hands* now felt like an unstoppable force, able to strike with pinpoint accuracy, faster than the average eye could track.
As the wind whipped past him on *Scootie*, Nix clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through him. Leveling up hadn’t just given him more strength, it had refined everything about him. His speed, his endurance, his durability, and his unique abilities had all improved exponentially.
With these new realizations, a sense of confidence washed over him. Facing that *Evolved Steelhide Wolf* had been a challenge, but even though he struggled, he had prevailed. And now, knowing how much he had improved, he felt ready for even greater challenges.
Still, the encounter with the Evolved Monster Beast had been a sobering reminder. The *Evolved Beasts* were far more cunning and dangerous than the *Mutated Monsters*, and the higher their level, the greater the threat they posed. He could handle *Level 2 Mutated Monsters*, but an *Evolved Level 2 Monster* would be challenging but not impossible.
Nix revved *Scootie* harder, feeling the need to hurry. Whatever awaited him at Prabh’s house, he wanted to be prepared.
Nix sprinted through the city streets, dodging rubble and debris as he made his way toward Prabh’s home. His *Radar Sense* picked up every vibration in his surroundings, every monster that had strayed near her neighborhood, every footstep, every shifting leaf. The city was under siege, and the monsters that had invaded were getting stronger.
As Nix neared Prabh’s residence, he focused his Radar Sense, and a 3D model of the area formed in his mind. He could see Mr. Puteri, Prabh’s father, battling a swarm of *Mutated Monsters* that had breached the perimeter. Prabh was taking cover near the house, assisting her dad by throwing rocks and trying to help as best as she could.
But the situation was dire. The monsters were relentless, their feral nature making them unpredictable and vicious. Mr. Puteri, despite his skill as a Level 3 Evolver, was struggling to keep them from overrunning their home.
Suddenly, Nix felt a vibration that made his heart skip a beat. Something small and fast was moving, *Ollie*, Prabh’s pet wombat, had gotten out of the house. The creature waddled forward with surprising speed, charging toward the battlefield as if it intended to protect its home.
Prabh gasped, her face pale with fear. “Ollie, no!” she cried, but the wombat, in its innocent bravery, didn’t stop. Worse, Nix detected a stronger vibration, a *Level 2 Evolved Beast* emerging from the shadows, its sights set on Ollie.
The beast was massive, a *Six-Legged Bloodhound* with crimson scales and glowing red eyes, its maw dripping with toxic saliva. It lunged forward, its jaws open wide, aiming straight for Ollie.
Prabh screamed in terror, her voice cracking with desperation. “Nix, help! Please save Ollie!”
Nix dashed forward, but the Bloodhound was already too close. Worse yet, Ollie, oblivious to the danger, kept charging toward the monster, thinking it could somehow protect its home. Nix pushed his legs harder, his *Phantom Hands* extending from his hair like giant transparent hands, but the distance between him and the wombat was too great.
Prabh stood frozen in fear, her heart pounding as she watched the nightmare unfold. But then, something unexpected happened. Her body moved on instinct. Her hand shot up, pointing at the Bloodhound just as it was about to devour Ollie. A surge of energy coursed through her, and suddenly, her body was enveloped in sparks of electricity.
In a blur of movement, Prabh shot forward, her speed boosted by the electrical charge. In a split second, she appeared next to the monster, her hand slamming against its scaly skin. Without thinking, she released a powerful surge of electricity directly into the Bloodhound’s body.
image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034344015_6f048490bd_m.jpg]
The monster howled In pain, its muscles seizing up as the electricity coursed through it, stunning it in place. The sudden shock gave Nix just enough time to close the distance. His Phantom Hands latched onto the Bloodhound’s legs, and with a burst of strength, he pulled it away from Ollie, throwing the beast backward.
But as the monster recoiled, one of its claws slashed at Ollie. The wombat yelped and collapsed, convulsing on the ground. Prabh, not realizing she had just awakened her abilities, was too focused on her beloved pet to notice. She ran to Ollie’s side, Tears flowed down her face as she dashed to Ollie's side and lifted him up in her arms.
“Ollie, no! Please, be okay!” Prabh cried, her voice trembling with grief.
Nix stood guard, his heart sinking at the sight of Prabh’s despair. He wanted to comfort her, but the danger wasn’t over. The Bloodhound was still alive, shaking off the stun and preparing for another attack. Nix knew he had to act quickly.
As the Bloodhound charged once more, Nix’s hair extended outward, transforming into a *Spear* that shot toward the monster like deadly projectiles. They pierced the creature’s hide, pinning it to the ground, but the Bloodhound snarled and thrashed, its strength still formidable.
Nix narrowed his eyes, knowing he had to end this quickly. He transformed his hair into *Strings*, shooting them toward the Bloodhound’s legs and latching onto them. With a grunt of effort, he yanked the monster toward him, closing the gap in a heartbeat.
Nix mumbled, "Let's find out if you enjoy this," as his hair changed into *Straws*. He immersed them in the Bloodhound's body, consuming its essential blood to restore his energy. The creature let out a loud cry of pain, its actions becoming less strong as Nix sapped away its vitality.
However, Prabh had not finished yet. She was so enraged that she was at the point of boiling over, with her only focus being on getting back at Ollie. She gazed intensely at the Bloodhound, then with a rush of adrenaline, she rose to her feet and her hands crackled with electricity.
“*You hurt Ollie*!” she screamed, her voice filled with rage.
Without thinking, she charged at the Bloodhound, her body moving faster than she ever thought possible. In one swift motion, she slammed her fist into the monster’s side, releasing a massive surge of electricity directly into its body.
The Bloodhound let out a final, pained howl before its body collapsed, charred and smoking from the intense electric damage. Prabh stood over it, panting heavily, her energy completely drained. She stumbled, nearly collapsing from the effort, but Nix caught her just in time.
“You… you did it,” Nix said, his voice filled with both awe and concern.
Prabh blinked, still dazed from the intensity of the moment. “I… I didn’t even realize…”
“You’ve awakened,” Nix said softly, helping her steady herself. “But you’re exhausted. You used up too much energy.”
Prabh looked down at Ollie, who was still convulsing in her arms, and tears welled up in her eyes again. “I just wanted to save him…”
Nix placed a hand on her shoulder. “He’s not dead. He’s just in shock. Your electricity must’ve stunned him too.”
Prabh’s eyes widened with hope. “He’s… he’s alive?”
Nix nodded. “He’ll be okay. We just need to take care of him.”
Relief flooded Prabh’s face, but she was too weak to stand any longer. She slumped against Nix, her body trembling from exhaustion. Nix quickly transformed his hair into a *Patch*, stitching up a wound on her arm with a thin, transparent thread.
“I’ll protect you both,” Nix promised, turning his gaze toward the forest where more monsters lurked.
The battle wasn’t over yet, but Prabh’s sudden burst of emotion had triggered her awakening, which makes Nix realize that extreme condition can help them evolve or awaken.