Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 252: The Thread of Fate

Life is like a blade.

The experiences you'll have will fortify you like hardened steel.

There'll be times when you'll crack and want to give up.

But you'll never break.

The words of your loved ones will force you to endure like a craftsman carefully fixing mistakes in his design.

With time and care, you'll eventually persevere and become a blade stronger than any other.

The air was dense. Michael stopped smiling as soon as he saw blood. After taking damage Michael Saint became a different man. Cold. Distant. Far beyond the point of conversation.

John sensed Michael's mindstate change. It was the first lesson Michael taught him in combat. Know your enemy. The moment you are unable to gauge your enemy the battle is lost.

John read Michael's eyes. They were dark pools of negativity. After coming out of them all John could think about was Michael's killing intent. Michael displayed a state of seriousness that John only ever saw when Irene was mentioned. Wrath. A calm rage consumed the room in a sea of red.

John saw it clearly. He saw his death in various interpretations and from multiple angles. Victory was nowhere in sight.

Michael put his hand on his shoulder and stroked the wound making it disappear like a magician. "I underestimated you. You got a clean hit. It won't happen again."

Michael promised that. He had no intention of ever being cut again. In the past month, Michael took more damage than he did in the last decade. He died once in the combined efforts of Ren and Erica. He bled again in his brief clash against Itsuki. Then now suffered a severe wound against John.

For Michael, it became painfully clear that the people of the current generation were quickly approaching the previous in power. With enough time they'd surpass him and redefine the strongest title.

Michael saw that potential in Ren, John, and anyone who carried founding blood. Just as he feared meta-abilities were converging and growing stronger. At a certain point, the abilities would merge and become uncontrollable. There were plenty of examples of that in the current generation.

Witnessing John's abilities firsthand solidified one idea in Michael's mind.

No matter what happens, regardless if he lives or dies, Project E must happen!

Without showing any signs of indecision Michael dashed at John. He kicked him in the stomach sending John out of the cell and over the railing towards the spandrel.

John's brain didn't have time to process what happened. He just flew. For a few seconds, John faded in and out of consciousness. He contemplated if he could win. His brain answered, no. However, his heart said yes.

John followed his heart. He had no choice but to fight. For John, the battle against Michael was more than overpowering him. John knew deep down he couldn't do that. Michael was the strongest hero in the world. Overcoming him is like scaling a mountain with a single leap. But that wasn't the point. John wanted to prove to Michael that he couldn't break him.

For once Michael wasn't the one in control of his life. John was! There wasn't any attack that Michael could throw in his direction that would put him down. Michael could take his limbs. Break his bones. Disfigure his body but he'd never break his spirit!

John raised his hand. He looked at the cuff around his wrist and took a deep breath.

The cuffs in Purgatory prison were unbreakable. Not because the material was indestructible but because they'd drain the strength of the person wearing it. Reiki users felt weak and were unable to gather their reiki. Then meta-humans felt weak because their genetics were being suppressed.