SuperSoldier (SI-OC/MCU) ENG

36: Encounter

36: Encounter

Breathing felt different, existing felt different. Every part of him had undergone a qualitative change that he could barely comprehend. And yet, at the same time, he still felt like himself—he was still him, and for John, that was the only thing that mattered.

Slowly, his body, which had been lifted into the air, began to descend, landing softly on the ground. It was natural, instinctive, as if he had always been able to do it.

"Are... are you okay?" Raven asked. She had started approaching him, her curiosity and astonishment evident. Meanwhile, Howard was lying slumped against the wall, his eyes closed—he seemed to have lost consciousness.

"I feel fine. Different, but... at the same time, not." He didn't want to sound cryptic, but he couldn't help it. Trying to describe his emotions and mental state at that moment was difficult—he simply didn't think there were enough words for it.

Raven stepped closer, her hand slowly lifting toward him. John allowed it, watching as the tips of her fingers grazed the ethereal energy that surrounded him like flames.

There was a moment of tension, but when Raven didn't feel pain or danger, she closed the distance entirely, letting her hand move deeper into that "fire" until it touched John's body.

"It's warm... but not too much, like lukewarm water, if that makes any sense."

No, it didn't, and both of them knew it. But did it really matter? For John, his plan had succeeded—even if he barely understood what had happened to him.

The power now coursing through his body made him feel invincible.

Of course, that might have been an exaggeration. After all, the euphoria of having achieved it and the dopamine that flooded his brain were still fresh, making his thoughts overly optimistic.

His self-confidence and belief in his ability to successfully carry out his ideals were at their peak, and he didn't think anything would change that anytime soon.

"Ugh...? What happened?" Howard's voice broke the moment, causing both of them to turn in his direction. The man began to sit up slowly, holding his head with one hand and using the wall for support with the other.

It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but they had both forgotten about him.

Before they could answer, the man found his own answer. With his vision now clear, his eyes fixed on John—or rather, on the energy dancing around his body, illuminating the space with its glow.

"D-Did it really work?" Howard asked, his voice trembling slightly, as if he could hardly believe it despite seeing it with his own eyes.

John found it a bit amusing to see him like that.

However, the slight smile that was beginning to form at the corners of his lips faded when he saw him advancing toward him with quick steps and a gleam of fascination and ecstasy in his eyes.

'What's this guy thinking?' He suddenly remembered that he was now completely naked, and for some reason, a shiver began to run through his body.

It was one thing to let a cute girl like Raven come close and touch him a little, but to let an ugly guy like Howard do it? That was something completely different!

Determined to avoid this, and before Howard could completely close the distance between them, John raised his palm toward him in a clear gesture to stop.

Unexpectedly, this action caused the new energy within him to react on its own, and in an instant, a green glow surrounded Howard's body. Abruptly, his steps stopped, and before he could do anything, the scientist found himself floating in the air as if gravity had suddenly ceased to work for him.