Max had spent the last few days reflecting on the new abilities he had gained. The sensation of energy flowing through his body was exhilarating, but it was also unsettling. He never expected such dangerous power to emerge, but the power was real, and with every passing moment, it grew stronger.
For hours, he worked in his room, trying to control his abilities. He touched different objects—books, metals, even furniture—and watched as they began to melt under his touch. This wasn't just some acid; he was altering the very structure of the materials. His heart raced as his mind tried to comprehend this strange new world filled with superpowers. Could he really control this?
But Max was determined. He didn't want to repeat the mistakes of his past—those mistakes had cost him relationships, time, and opportunities. He would be the greatest superhero ever, and nothing—not even his own destructive power—would stand in his way. He would master his abilities.
One morning, for the first time, he fully realized the extent of his powers. Max stood in front of the large mirror in his room, his hand outstretched toward a metal sword on his shelf. He focused on channeling the energy within him. At first, nothing happened, and he felt a bit disheartened. But then, as if by some sign, the sword began to melt. Slowly, the blade started to warp and bend, as though it were made of molten wax.
"Wow..." Max whispered in awe.
As he watched, the sword completely melted, turning into a pool of liquid metal. He felt his hands tremble as the heat emanating from the energy he controlled coursed through his body. He had only scratched the surface of his true power, and he knew there was more to come.
"I need to learn how to control this... or it will control me," Max muttered, taking a deep breath. He wouldn't make the same mistakes again. This time, control would be his.
Max realized that the moment to test his powers wasn't far off. One afternoon, while walking through a local park, he began to hear sounds of destruction in the distance—loud explosions, screams, and the sound of metal tearing. The air thickened with the chaos, and Max's instincts kicked in.
He quickly left the spot where he had been training and sprinted toward the sounds. Turning a corner, he saw what was happening: a masked group of figures was attacking a nearby bank. They wore clown masks, and each one was carrying advanced weapons that tore through the building as if it were paper. Max narrowed his eyes.
"Villains… I've seen this anime before. They'll rob the bank, betray each other, and then one of them will turn out to be the traitor and kill them all before hopping on a stolen bus and escaping," he muttered, his voice cold. This thought didn't shock him as much as it should have. He had studied superheroes and villains in comics for years, and now, here he was, living his own version of it.
He couldn't help but smile. "Looks like it's happening just like the movies. I already know what's going to happen. After this, The Dark Pretender and the robber Poker will fight, and Poker will kill The Dark Pretender's love, but if I stop this now, I'll get into Imperium Hero Academy and save people."
Max watched as the villains continued their assault while climbing to the roof. He knew what needed to be done. This much destruction couldn't be allowed. He had to stop it while he was here.
Without saying anything further, Max dashed forward, plans racing through his mind. He would need to use his new powers, but he couldn't afford to lose control. Everything had to be perfectly timed.
The roof was in chaos as the villains moved toward the center of the building. They were all wearing thick black armor, but it was hard to recognize their leader—he stood at the center, watching the destruction around him with an arrogant aura.
"Wow, wow," grinned the leader, Poker. "Looks like we have a guest."
Max stood at the edge of the roof, a confident smile on his face. His fingers twitched as he began calling upon the energy within him.
"You guys are so predictable," Max said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I already know what's going to happen."
Poker was momentarily confused, but before anyone could react, Max moved with incredible speed, stepping forward in a blur. His fists were charged with energy as he slammed them into the nearest villain, sending him flying into the wall with a massive explosion. The resulting energy blast was so powerful that the entire building shook.
"This is definitely not just some acid," Max muttered.
"Impossible!" one of the villains shouted, seeing Max's power for the first time.
Max laughed, hearing his voice echo through the debris. "You're too slow. It's like you're in slow motion."
The remaining villains drew their weapons, but Max wasn't worried. He wasn't fighting out of anger—he was fighting because it was necessary. This wasn't just about proving himself—it was about saving people and testing himself. His fists slammed into the air again, and the energy he released disintegrated the villains' weapons on contact. Finally, with a powerful blow, he knocked the leader down, the energy rippling through the air and leaving nothing but a burned crater in his wake.
The villains were incapacitated, their weapons useless, and their plans ruined. Max took a deep breath as the energy began to dissipate.
When the dust settled, he looked at his hands, noticing that his fingers were faintly glowing with a green energy. He had done it. He had controlled it—almost. But it was a good start.
As he moved away from the wreckage, he noticed something strange—a figure standing by the entrance of the building in the distance. She wore a black outfit, her long gray hair neatly tied up. Max felt an uneasy sensation as he looked at her.
Before he could approach, the girl noticed him and froze. Her eyes widened for a moment.
"Be careful—" she began to say, but she was cut off by a sinister laugh from behind her.
One of the villains was still standing. Despite the destruction, he was about to attack the girl. Max didn't hesitate. He extended his hand and, with an energy blast, sent the villain flying to the ground. The girl turned in shock and saw Max, her eyes sparkling with a hint of admiration.
"You're safe now," Max said, his voice remarkably calm despite just having wiped out a group of villains. "I don't know what you're doing here, but it's over now."
The girl blinked in surprise and took a step back, studying Max carefully. "That was incredible... Who are you?"
Max paused for a moment. "Me? I'm just a guy who wants to be a hero. My name's Max."
The girl smiled, and Max noticed a look of admiration in her eyes. "You're something else... By the way, I'm Lucy. Looks like you just saved me."
Max gave her a friendly smile. "No problem. I'm just doing what I have to do."
As Max was about to leave, Lucy called out to him. "Hey, someone like you is exactly what I need. I think we could make a really good team."
Max paused for a moment, considering her offer. He didn't know why, but he felt something stir inside him. Maybe it was time to start trusting others again.
With a small smile, Max nodded at her. "Sure. We might cause some damage together."
And with that, Max continued on his way. His journey to becoming the greatest hero had just begun, and his journey with Lucy wouldn't end here.