In A New League Of Power

Chapter 2

The days following my discharge from the hospital were a whirlwind of discovery. I had a new lease on life, quite literally, and the powers that came with it were beyond anything I could have imagined. I needed to understand my limits, so I began testing my abilities in secret, away from prying eyes.

I started with my strength. There was an old construction site on the outskirts of Metropolis, abandoned and forgotten. It became my training ground. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, I stood in front of a row of massive cement trucks. They loomed over me, each one weighing several tons.

"Alright, Cornelius. Let's see what you can do," I muttered to myself, rolling my shoulders and taking a deep breath.

With a surge of power, I wrapped my arms around the first truck. The metal groaned and protested under the strain, but it yielded to my strength. Slowly, steadily, I lifted the truck off the ground, raising it above my head with ease. It felt light, almost like lifting a toy.

"Holy...," I breathed out, marveling at my own strength. I set the truck down gently, then moved on to the next one. Each lift felt easier than the last, my confidence growing with every successful attempt.

"Not bad," I said, grinning to myself. "Not bad at all."

Next, I needed to test my speed. The Metropolis countryside provided the perfect stretch of open land. One night, under the cover of darkness, I stood at the edge of a vast field, the city lights twinkling in the distance.

"Let's see how fast I can go," I whispered, crouching into a starting position.

With a burst of energy, I took off, the world around me blurring into streaks of light. The wind roared in my ears as I accelerated, my feet barely touching the ground. I pushed harder, faster, until I felt like I was moving as swiftly as a bolt of lightning. In seconds, I covered miles, the landscape zipping past in a flash.

I skidded to a halt, panting slightly but exhilarated. "Sub-light speeds," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. "This is insane."

Flying was next on my list. I had already discovered my ability to float, but I needed to test my true flight capabilities. One clear night, I stood on the rooftop of my apartment building, looking out over the city. I took a deep breath, focused my energy, and launched myself into the sky.

The sensation was incredible. The ground fell away beneath me as I soared higher and higher, the city shrinking into a patchwork of lights below. I flew faster, weaving between skyscrapers, banking and turning with ease. It was as if I was born to fly.

I hovered above Metropolis, looking down at the city I had come to call home. "This is amazing," I said to myself, feeling a rush of exhilaration.

But with great power came great challenges. I had to know my vulnerabilities, too. I found an old junkyard on the outskirts of the city, filled with discarded debris and rusted vehicles. I stood in the center, bracing myself for what was to come.

"Let's see how invulnerable I really am," I said, steeling myself.

I found an old revolver and aimed it at my hand, my heart pounding in my chest. With a deep breath, I pulled the trigger. The bullet struck my skin and flattened, falling to the ground harmlessly. I didn't even feel a scratch.

"Bullets, check," I muttered, relief washing over me.

Next, I tried something more intense. I set up a small explosion using some leftover fireworks, standing a few feet away. When the explosion rocked the junkyard, I felt the force hit me like a sledgehammer, but I remained standing. The blast had left me slightly dazed, but unharmed.

"Explosions... they pack a punch," I noted, rubbing my head. "But I can take it."

Finally, I needed to test my ability to survive in extreme conditions. I made my way to the city's harbor, where I rented a small boat and headed out to sea. Once I was far enough from shore, I took a deep breath and dove into the water.

The cold shock of the ocean enveloped me, but I felt no need to surface for air. I swam deeper and deeper, marveling at the underwater world around me. Minutes turned into hours, but I felt no discomfort, no urgency to breathe. It was as if my body had adapted to the lack of oxygen.

After what felt like an eternity, I resurfaced, gasping with exhilaration. "I can hold my breath for days," I whispered to myself, awestruck. "Even underwater."

To test the limits of my invulnerability in space, I needed a more drastic measure. I had heard about a remote launch facility outside Metropolis, where they occasionally tested experimental rockets. One night, I snuck into the facility, finding an unguarded rocket prepared for a test flight.

"This is crazy," I muttered, climbing into the rocket. "But I have to know."

As the countdown commenced, I braced myself. The rocket roared to life, shooting into the sky with a burst of flames. The force pressed me into the seat, but I held on, my heart pounding with excitement and fear.

As the rocket broke through the atmosphere, I felt the weightlessness of space take over. I unbuckled myself and floated out of the cockpit, staring in awe at the vast expanse of stars around me. The vacuum of space should have been deadly, but I felt fine, my body adapting to the lack of air and pressure.

"This is incredible," I said, my voice echoing in the silent void.

I floated there for what felt like hours, marveling at the beauty of space. Eventually, I made my way back into the rocket and initiated the reentry sequence. The descent was rough, the rocket shaking violently as it reentered the atmosphere. But I held on, unscathed.

When I finally touched down, I emerged from the rocket, a grin spreading across my face. "I can survive in space," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "I'm practically unstoppable."

Back in Metropolis, I felt a newfound sense of confidence. I had tested my limits, and while I wasn't invincible, I was powerful enough to make a difference. As I walked through the city streets, I felt a sense of purpose welling up inside me.

Katherine and Alicia were waiting for me at our usual spot, a small café near the school. They looked up as I approached, curiosity in their eyes.

"Well? How did it go?" Katherine asked, leaning forward eagerly.

I sat down, a smile tugging at my lips. "You wouldn't believe it. I can lift cement trucks, fly and run at lightning speeds, withstand bullets, survive explosions, and hold my breath underwater and in space for days."

Alicia's eyes widened. "That's incredible, Cornelius. You're like a real-life superhero."

I nodded, feeling a surge of pride. "Yeah. I guess I am."

Katherine grinned. "So, what's next for Boundless?"

I took a deep breath, my mind racing with possibilities. "Next, I start using these powers to help people. To protect the city. To make a difference."

Alicia nodded in agreement. "We're with you, Cornelius. Whatever you need."

As we sat there, planning our next steps, I felt a sense of determination like never before.