The year is 2100. After a series of nuclear attacks, the world as we knew it changed forever. The atmosphere, the landscape—everything transformed. The first “variant” human appeared—a man who could breathe fire after inhaling what scientists dubbed “change particles.” Now, fifty years later, superpowered beings roam the world, shaping it with their abilities. Heroes, villains—it’s all part of daily life now.

I suppose I should tell you a little about myself before we get into the crazy stuff. My name’s Max Tanner. I’m about six feet tall, not exactly jacked but not scrawny either—just your typical lanky guy. Think of me as someone who blends into the background, like a piece of furniture no one notices unless it’s missing. I’ve got brown hair that perpetually looks like I’ve just rolled out of bed (which, to be fair, is often true), and I’ve been a die-hard Arsenal fan ever since I could walk.

Today’s a big day for me—my first day at Neo-York University. Most people would be buzzing with excitement, but honestly? I’m nervous. Not because of the classes or meeting new people, but because in a world full of supers, I’m just… average. No powers, no change particles, and no cool abilities to manipulate the elements or shoot lasers from my eyes. Just plain Max.

David, my best friend, likes to remind me of that fact constantly. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and while I consider myself pretty ordinary, David’s on a whole other level of weird. He’s obsessed with powers—the kind of guy who’ll stay up all night reading conspiracy forums about new variants popping up in remote corners of the world. He’s convinced we’ll both wake up one day with powers, but so far? Nada.

“Yo, Max!” David’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts as I hear the familiar sputter of his 2050 Corolla pulling into my driveway. It’s a miracle the thing still runs. “You ready to take on the world of higher education?” He leans out the window, his ever-present smirk plastered on his face.

I grab my backpack and head out the door. “More like ready to take on a lifetime of debt,” I mutter, tossing my bag into the backseat and sliding in. David’s hair is as messy as mine, but it somehow suits him better—probably because he has that cocky confidence to pull it off.

“Relax, man. University’s gonna be lit. Plus, think about all the cool supers you’ll meet.” He grins. “Maybe one of them will trigger your change particles.”

“Yeah, because sitting in lectures about quantum physics will totally awaken my latent powers,” I reply, rolling my eyes. “Face it, David. If I haven’t developed powers by now, it’s not happening.”

David snickers. “Hey, you never know. Maybe you’ll get lucky.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

We drive through the bustling streets of Neo-York. Skyscrapers tower over us, some gleaming with futuristic tech, while others are in various states of repair from past battles between heroes and villains. The skyline is a constant reminder of the world we live in—where the extraordinary is the new ordinary. People in capes and masks flying overhead, billboards advertising the latest super-powered hero reality show. Just another day.

As we park near campus, David turns to me. “Alright, what’s the plan? We scope out the cafeteria first or see if we can catch sight of the new hero patrolling campus? I hear she can control gravity.”

“Maybe we should, I don’t know, actually go to class?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Max, my dude, priorities! We’ve got four years to worry about classes. Supers like us—well, like them—don’t wait around.”

I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “Let’s at least pretend we’re here for the education, yeah?”

David sighs dramatically but follows me toward the main campus building. As we walk, we pass a group of students huddled around a guy who’s clearly showing off his abilities—electricity crackling between his fingertips. A guard quickly came by and admonished the young adults for blatantly showing their powers.

“See what I mean?” David nudges me. “How cool would that be? Just a little spark, something, anything. Come on, man, don’t tell me you don’t think about it.”

“I think about graduating, getting a job, and not living in your basement,” I joke. “But yeah, it’d be nice to not be completely powerless.”

As we head into the lecture hall, I spot a familiar face—Josh. We went to high school together, and he’s one of those guys who just has everything going for him. Tall, athletic, and now that I think about it, probably a future hero. He catches sight of me and waves.

“Max, David, what’s up!” Josh calls, striding over with his usual swagger. “Ready for the best years of your life?”

David smirks. “You mean the most broke years of our lives? Yeah, we’re ready.”

Josh laughs, slapping David on the back. “Gotta love that enthusiasm. You meet our new professors yet? I hear one of them can phase through walls. How sick is that?”

I shrug, feeling the usual twinge of envy. “That’s cool, I guess. I’m just hoping to pass Quantum Mechanics.”

Josh flexes, grinning. “You’ll be fine. I’m more worried about getting through the semester without some villain leveling the building.”

The conversation moves on to more mundane topics—schedules, dorms, and the possibility of Josh joining the university’s super sports team. David and Josh banter back and forth, but my mind drifts. Maybe David’s right. Maybe I’ve been too quick to accept my powerlessness. But what if I’m not destined for anything more?

That night, I decided to walk to clear my head. The city streets are quiet, for once. No heroes battling villains, no crackling powers lighting up the skyline. Just the hum of neon lights and the distant sound of traffic.

As I turn down a narrow alleyway, something catches my eye. Half-buried in the cracked pavement is a glowing, crystalline shard. Curiosity piqued, I kneel to inspect it. The air around it feels charged, like static before a storm. I hesitate for a second, then reach out.

The moment my fingers touch the shard, a surge of energy shoots through me. My vision blurs, and a sharp pain tears through my chest. I collapse, gasping, as the shard dissolves into my skin. The world goes dark.

I wake up in my dorm room, drenched in sweat. My head is pounding, and my body feels… different. Energized. It’s as if I’m buzzing with power, though I can’t explain it.

David’s sitting next to my bed, staring at me with wide eyes. “Dude. What the hell happened? You’ve been out for hours.”

“I… I found this shard,” I mutter, trying to piece together what happened. “It was glowing, and when I touched it, I blacked out.”

David’s eyes narrow in suspicion. “You think it was one of those change particles?”

“Maybe.” I hold up my hands, noticing a faint glow emanating from them. “But I feel… different.”

David leans closer, eyes gleaming with excitement. “Max, man, do you know what this means?”

“I think I just found my powers.”

Max’s life was about to get a lot more complicated.