Jonathan’s breath hitched as the thug’s grip tightened on his collar, slamming him against the rough brick wall. The city’s noise faded into the muted drip of water and shuffling footsteps in the dim alley. The leader of the group smirked, his predatory confidence amplified by the low gleam of the gun in his hand.

“Still feeling clever?” the thug sneered.

Jonathan’s heart raced, but a strange calm overtook him—a sensation he hadn’t felt since the storm within him had gone silent. A sharp tingling spread through his hands, and a hum of energy began to rise. Panic flared for a moment, but then exhilaration took hold. The Aetherstorm wasn’t gone; it had been waiting, biding its time.

Auriel’s words echoed in his mind: “Do not fight Aetheris—become its partner. Let it flow through you.”

Jonathan inhaled deeply, letting the energy guide him. Arcs of plasma, blue-white and alive with raw power, sparked to life across his fingertips. The eerie glow lit the narrow alley, casting twisted shadows as the air pulsed with an electric charge.

The thug stumbled back, his bravado crumbling. “What the hell is that?” he muttered, his voice trembling.

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Jonathan met his wide-eyed stare, his voice steady and deliberate. “Walk away. This is your last chance.”

The leader hesitated, his hand trembling on the gun. He raised it in a desperate act of defiance, pulling the trigger—but the bullet froze mid-air, suspended in a fiery burst of sparks. The plasma around Jonathan’s hand flared brighter, illuminating his calm, unshaken expression.

“Run,” Jonathan said, his voice cutting through the stunned silence like a blade.

The men didn’t need to be told twice. Scrambling and stumbling, they fled the alley, their panicked footsteps echoing into the distance. Jonathan exhaled, the plasma flickering out like a dying ember, leaving his hands tingling with residual energy. He bent down to retrieve his wallet, brushing it off as his mind raced to process what had just happened.

Above him, the clouds shimmered faintly, a ripple of shadow unfurling before vanishing into the night sky. Jonathan clenched his fists, feeling the Aetherstorm thrumming quietly beneath his skin.

It’s not gone, he thought. It’s a part of me now.

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This is a teaser of Chapter 5 from Voltaris: The Awakening. To read the full chapter and follow Jonathan’s evolving journey, visit my Patreon at www.patreon.com/thevoltarissaga. Thank you for supporting this epic adventure!