Adam : From a man to a God

Adam lay on the king-sized bed, a long-awaited comfort he had sorely missed. As he stared at the ceiling, memories of his unconsciousness flooded his mind—the moment he shattered the barrier and the ensuing devastation that followed in the pocket dimension. He remembered waking up in a dark void, where he encountered Ragna once more.

******

Suddenly, Adam's eyes jerked open, and he rose slowly, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. “I’m back here again… What was I thinking?” he thought, his mind still reeling from the fight with Eddie. Just as he began to gather his thoughts, an unsettling sensation washed over him—he felt a presence, watching. It was both disturbing and disconcertingly familiar.

Turning toward the source of the unease, Adam’s gaze fell upon a cube-shaped glass prison, its surface marred by an unsettling web of cracks. He noticed, with rising dread, that the fractures had worsened since he last saw it.Adam watched as a figure approached the glass from inside the cube. “Welcome back! How was the match?” Ragna greeted him with a mischievous grin.

“That energy… that was you, wasn’t it?” Adam’s expression darkened, anger flickering in his eyes.

“What can I say? Your fight was downright boring. I had to spice things up a bit to make it entertaining,” Ragna replied, his tone light and teasing.

“Entertaining? I almost killed my friend!” Adam stepped closer to the glass, frustration boiling within him.

Ragna leaned against the transparent barrier, a wide smile stretching across his face. “Yes, and you thrived on it, didn’t you?” he teased, his hand resting against the glass, eyes locked onto Adam’s. In that moment, Adam's eyes widened as a flood of memories surged through him—the thrill, the rush when the energy coursed through his body. He couldn't deny it; a part of him had reveled in it.

“You were eager for a fight, weren’t you?” Ragna's voice rose with enthusiasm. “Did you feel it? Did you experience the thrill of battle? That rush of hitting someone and getting hit back, the electrifying sensation in your knuckles as you communicated with your fists?!” His eyes sparkled with excitement as he reveled in the chaos of combat.

“I felt nothing,” Adam lied, desperately trying to convince himself.

Ragna chuckled darkly. “Then you probably just don’t remember. After all, you were in so much pain when I poured a little of my power into you. You were crying out in agony; it was honestly pathetic,” he waved a dismissive hand, reveling in Adam's discomfort.

“Monster!” Adam spat, his fists clenching tightly at his sides. In a sudden burst of anger, he struck the glass barrier, the sound of his punch echoing like thunder, reverberating through the silence.

“If you choose to set me free, that’s entirely up to you. But remember this: I will kill everyone you’ve ever cared about.” Ragna's tone turned chillingly casual, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth.Adam's eyes widened at Ragna's chilling words as he pulled his hands away from the glass wall, a mix of anger and disbelief churning within him. “Why so surprised? It's inevitable, after all. Haven't you ever wondered how those cracks appeared?” Ragna smirked, his voice dripping with mockery.

Adam stared at him, fury etched on his face. “What do you mean?”

“Every time you feel something—every moment of those dark emotions—a new crack forms, weakening this little cursed prison,” Ragna explained, his tone almost playful.

“What?” Adam barked, caught off guard by the revelation.

“Dense as ever, I see,” Ragna replied, a laugh escaping him. He ran his finger along a jagged crack in the glass. “This one appeared when Tilda almost killed you. It cracked three times, honestly. And this one…” he said, moving his finger to another fracture. “it appeared when you fought your comrade. These emotions make you weak,” he continued, his tone growing serious, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face. “Every emotional surge only deepens those cracks in the barrier. And even if I tell you this, there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re simply human, and your foolish emotions are what define you.”

Adam felt Ragna’s words constrict around his throat, leaving him momentarily speechless. Deep down, he knew Ragna was right; he wished he could prove him wrong, but the truth loomed too large to ignore.

“You want to hear the best part about my situation, Adam?” Ragna leaned closer, his voice a low, menacing whisper. “I could take control of your body at any moment—even if just for two minutes. So, if you’re contemplating sharing this with your friends, just remember what that would mean for them.”

“What? I would never let you hurt them!” Adam shot back, determination flaring in his voice.

“Oh, I could have ended your little friend Tilda anytime I wanted,” Ragna replied casually, a smirk playing across his lips. “But honestly, she was too boring to bother with. Besides, most of my power was restricted. Know this, though: even with what I have now, it’s more than enough to kill everyone you care about.”

“You said if I don’t tell them, then you won’t kill them, right?” Adam pressed, his heart pounding in his chest. “So what is it that you want?”

Ragna leaned back, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. “Oh, don’t worry. I have my own plans...”

Suddenly, Adam’s vision blurred, then sharpened, and he found himself staring at Tilda.

*****

He shifted to the side, recalling the heartfelt words she had shared with him. It felt like moments ago when they were in the backyard, sunlight streaming down as they talked. He knew she must have faced her own battles, but he had no idea just how deeply she had suffered. Her pain was a haunting echo of his own, yet it carried a different weight—a unique struggle that he could only begin to understand. He recalled the moment after he hugged her, trying to convey his pity and understanding. He had hoped to ease her pain, to show her that she wasn’t alone anymore. Tilda had looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a golden hue and a hint of vulnerability.

A soft smile crept onto Tilda’s face, a fragile blossom amid the storm of emotions swirling around them. Gently, she drew away from Adam’s embrace, her fingers lingering for a heartbeat before breaking the connection. She wiped the traces of tears from her cheeks, a delicate motion that spoke of the vulnerability she felt as he began to walk away.

Turning back to face him, Tilda’s legs bent gracefully, as if she were settling onto an invisible chair. In an instant, a radiant golden glow burst forth behind her, shimmering like sunlight filtering through leaves, coalescing into a breathtaking, ornate bench that gleamed with an ethereal beauty. Tilda sat upon it as if it were crafted just for her, a throne of warmth and light.

Adam stared in amazement, noting how effortlessly she commanded her power now, the struggle she once faced with it seemingly vanished. He walked to the bench and took a seat beside her, the surface cool yet reassuring against his skin—a paradox of hardness and comfort that anchored him in the moment.

“You know, I haven’t really thanked you for what you’ve done for me,” Tilda said, her voice a soft melody tinged with emotion. Her eyes glistened as she continued, “If it wasn’t for you that day, I could have… I could have been sold.”

Adam's mind raced, the weight of her gratitude settling heavily in his heart. “It wasn’t me; it was Killer Adam back then,” he thought, grappling with the darker part of himself that had forced him to act.

“You’ve helped me with my powers, “I can’t—” Tilda’s voice quivered, a fresh wave of tears shimmering in her eyes. “I can’t feel her anymore. I’ve always wanted to get rid of her, but I didn’t know how. I could still sense her presence, even after you rescued me. But after the incident, I finally managed to banish her,” she said, her words laced with both relief and lingering sorrow. With a soft, heartfelt smile, she added, “Adam, thank you for everything.”

********

Adam shifted uncomfortably, a churning mix of emotions swirling within him. “That wasn’t me, either,” he thought, the weight of guilt pressing on his chest. “That was Ragna, and he almost killed her that time.” Memories flashed through his mind—moments when he had fought to suppress him . “I couldn’t even allow myself to get emotional back then”, he reflected, confronting the pain he had buried deep. “If I did, I would have only increased the chances of Ragna surfacing.“

The thought gnawed at him; his sense of responsibility was a heavy burden. He knew that revealing the truth about his inner turmoil could put others at risk—something he could never allow. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the world began to blur. He felt himself slipping into a deep slumber, a realm where his worries could briefly fade.

*morning*

When morning light filtered through the window, casting soft golden rays across the room, Adam stirred from his sleep. Blinking against the brightness, he sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the cool floor grounding him in reality. He took a moment to collect himself, the remnants of his dreams lingering in the corners of his mind.

He shuffled across the room, each step echoing his reluctance to face the day ahead. As he walked into the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and winced. Disheveled hair stuck out in all directions, and fatigue clung to his features like a heavy fog. ”I didn’t even bathe yesterday“ he mused, recalling how he had simply stripped off his shirt and collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained.

He let out a deep sigh, the weight of his responsibilities settling back onto his shoulders. “Another day at the academy,” he muttered to himself, the words feeling like both an obligation and a burden as he squeezed a dollop of toothpaste onto his toothbrush.

The cool splashes of water filled the silence as he brushed his teeth, his thoughts wandering. What awaited him today?

After rinsing his mouth, he stepped into the shower, allowing the warm water to cascade over him. It washed away the remnants of the night, if only for a moment, rejuvenating his spirit. He emerged refreshed, donning a clean set of clothes that felt like a new armor against the day’s uncertainties.

With his backpack slung over one shoulder, he stepped outside, the fresh air invigorating him. “I really miss the sound of birds in the morning,” Adam pondered, a tinge of melancholy in his heart. “Too bad there isn't a single bird in this world. Some animals you might find at the zoo, but this place really is just for absorption.” The thought hung in the air, a reminder of the vibrancy lost to the harsh realities surrounding him.

“ Well, it's time to run. Too bad I can’t fly yet,”he mused, a flicker of hope igniting at the thought. “But what if…?” With that spark of inspiration, he took off, sprinting through the familiar terrain, feeling the wind whip past him.

In a burst of exhilaration, he leaped into the air, soaring a breathtaking 500 meters upward. “Whoa!” he exclaimed, awe and surprise mingling in his voice as the world below unfurled in a stunning panorama. The sprawling grounds of the academy came into view, bathed in the soft morning light.

But his exhilaration quickly morphed into panic as he sensed himself falling. “Damn it, this was a stupid idea!” he shouted mid-plummet, fear gripping him like a vice. Just as the ground rushed up to meet him, he concentrated intensely, channeling energy into his legs. An explosive blast erupted from them, propelling him forward with a surge of speed.

Looking down, he watched as the forest whipped past, the treetops becoming a blur beneath him. “It worked!” he marveled, a grin breaking through the panic. But then gravity reasserted itself, and he felt the tug of the earth drawing him back down. He released another powerful thrust, sending him hurtling upwards and forwards once more.“This feels really uncomfortable; I keep losing my balance,” Adam admitted, the uncertainty gnawing at him as he struggled to maintain his stability in the air. A mix of excitement and anxiety coursed through him, each heartbeat quickening.

He let himself descend, surrendering to gravity, and soon glimpsed the sprawling cityscape below. **I made it!** The thought propelled him forward, but just as quickly as the exhilaration surged, he braced himself for impact.

He landed on the sidewalk with a thunderous **thud**, the force reverberating through the ground and leaving a spiderweb of cracks radiating outwards. Adam stood there for a moment, slightly dazed, his heart racing from the unexpected landing.

“Wow, that didn’t even hurt,” he said, a mix of disbelief and thrill coursing through him. He glanced down at his shoes, the scuffed leather miraculously unscathed. The sensation of the ground beneath him felt solid and reassuring, grounding him amidst the dizzying heights he had just navigated.

“Hey, you!” called a girl with short blonde hair, her tone sharp and laden with annoyance. Her piercing gaze bore into him, making Adam feel as though he were under a spotlight. “What do you think you're doing?”

She stood there, arms crossed, the hint of impatience in her posture. The sun glinted off her hair, illuminating her determined expression, but it was her intense stare that held him captive, a mixture of disbelief and challenge in her bright eyes.