GRAVITY'S EMBRACE

CHAPTER 6 TEST

Toby was in awe as he navigated the teeming underground space filled with Awakened individuals. Each person displayed unique and incredible abilities that defied imagination. Some soared gracefully through the air, while others demonstrated powers that seemed to break all conventional rules. It was like watching a scene from a surreal movie, and Toby couldn't help but be captivated by the astounding diversity of talents and powers on display.

Following Blaze through this mesmerizing display of abilities, Toby was struck by the realization that being Awakened was more than he had ever imagined. It wasn't just about unlocking a power; it was a ticket to a world of endless possibilities.

As they continued walking, Toby noticed the curious and, at times, envious looks from the other Awakened individuals. Blaze seemed to be well-known and respected among them. Toby couldn't help but wonder what stories and legends were associated with her.

Suddenly, a voice crackled with electricity called out to Blaze, cutting through the background hum of the crowd. It was a man leaning on a counter, surrounded by a group of followers, all dressed in biker suits. With an air of self-confidence, "if it isn't our own lady flamethrower Blaze never thought you had the guts to show your burnt face here even after knowing there's a bounty on your head!"

Blaze turned to face him, her expression as cold as ice. She responded with a touch of sarcasm, showing no fear. "And who should I be afraid of? You?" She retorted. "Please, don't embarrass yourself."

The tension in the area thickened, and the man named Bolt pressed further, a menacing smile on his face. "Oh you should baby girl cause I'd love to see what's underneath all that fire when I'm through with you," he mused.

Blaze's icy facade didn't waver as she replied, "I hope you have enough voltage for a shock because you're going to need it for CPR."

The confrontation sent ripples through the crowd, and Toby couldn't help but feel the underlying rivalry between Blaze and Bolt. It was more than a simple bounty. Something personal seemed to fuel the animosity between them.

As Toby processed the encounter, he observed the intriguing dynamics of the Awakened society. The tension between individuals with extraordinary abilities was palpable, and he felt like a novice navigating a complex web of alliances and rivalries.

Bolt couldn't resist a parting shot. He approached Toby and gave him a soft, mocking slap on the cheek. "Hey, pretty boy, you're playing with fire. Don't get burnt," he warned with a smirk before strolling away with his entourage.

Toby, his cheek still tingling from the unexpected encounter, turned to Blaze, curiosity brimming in his eyes. "Who is this Bolt?" He asked, looking for answers in the midst of the chaos.

Blaze continued walking with a sly smile. "His real name is Michael, and he's a bounty hunter. But there's more to our history than I've let on."

Blaze led Toby to a massive building bustling with people entering the registration center. However, just before they reached the entrance, she asked for his smartphone. Toby complied, and Blaze swiftly added her contact information. Her demeanor turned chilling as she delivered a stern warning.

"Remember, don't ever think of running away or betraying me," Blaze cautioned. "I've lost a lot, and I've already invested in you."

Toby's initial response was a nervous laugh. "I remember being made from sperm and egg," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Blaze wasn't amused. Her expression grew more serious as she made herself clear. "I'm not joking, Toby. If you betray me, I'll kill you."

Toby's laughter faded, and for the first time, his face assumed a somber expression. "The moment I was injected, I was supposed to die, Blaze. I only survived by chance," he explained. "You thought I wanted this?"

He then adopted a relaxed posture, putting his arms behind his head sighing loudly. "Ah, Blaze, don't let me surpass you, because I'll kill you myself."

With those words, he laughed and walked toward the registration center, his hands still casually resting behind his head. Blaze felt a chill in the air as she watched him. She understood that Toby's words were more than a jest; they were a warning. She was treading on thin ice with this new Awakened, and she couldn't afford to underestimate him.

Toby approached the bustling registration desk with a polite demeanor, "Hello ma'am" he greeted politely, Unfortunately the young lady behind it didn't seem too pleased with his use of "ma'am." Her expression contorted with slight annoyance as she clearly preferred a less formal address.

Putting on a friendly smile, Toby introduced himself, "I'm Toby Alvin." I'm here to register as a new-awakened "Power?" The lady asks blandly, He hesitated for a moment before revealing his power, "Gravity."

The lady stares at him with a placid face "are you joking with me?"

Toby laughed awkwardly no ma'am, I'm serious My powers are related to gravity."

The lady's patience wore thin, and she finally snapped, threatening Toby, "Call me 'ma'am' one more time, and I will rip your tongue out of your mouth."

Toby quickly recognized the simmering anger and attempted to amend his address. "I won't call you 'ma'am' again, ma'am sorry I mean miss". Toby said, smiling like an i***t

The lady rage had already reached boiling point. She took a deep breath smiled and gave Toby a key card, granting access to the registration center. She grudgingly directed him, "Go to the training center to the left to test your gene power. The supervisor is waiting there."

Toby noticed her smile was backed with an overwhelming killing intent. He accepted the key card and ventured towards the testing room. As he made his way, he muttered under his breath, "Damn ladies, only God knows what's going through their heads." His nervousness grew as he entered the room filled with advanced machinery and a group of other young Awakened, awaiting their own tests.

Toby approached the testing area where he encountered a colossal man, standing around 9 feet tall and looking as if he could put Walbert Waldow, the tallest man of 2023, to shame. His bulging biceps and rippling muscles exuded an aura of intimidation, and his size was truly daunting.

To Toby's surprise, when the enormous man spoke, it was in a surprisingly tiny voice. He extended his key card, showing his compliance to the testing process. The moment the man softly uttered, "Okay, go to your seat, you will be called,"

Saying In like a (Mickey mouse voice).Toby nearly choked on his own spit, trying hard not to burst into laughter at the stark contrast between the man's intimidating appearance and his diminutive voice.

With great effort, Toby maintained a straight face and navigated to an empty seat, where he patiently awaited his turn for the gene testing. Glancing around the room, he noticed that other candidates were facing similar predicaments, struggling to keep their composure. In fact, one individual had already turned pink and appeared on the verge of laughter-induced combustion.

After hours of enduring the comedic voice and suppressing his laughter, it was finally Toby's turn. The burly man announced in his Mickey Mouse-like voice, "Alvin Toby, it's your turn now." At this, one guy made a hasty exit from the room.

Toby, trying to maintain his composure, bit his lips so hard they began to bleed and quickly made his way to the testing machine. A dwarf with a swarm of robotic gadgets whirling around him instructed Toby to punch a machine with a red circle in the middle. Toby approached the machine, momentarily forgetting about the man with the amusing voice, and decided not to go all out. He used only 30 percent amplification of gravity on his arms and threw a punch. His hand blurred forward, and with a resounding "BAM!" He struck the machine. The numbers on the display rolled until they stopped at 2654.

The dwarf seemed unimpressed, indicating that Toby's strength was nothing exceptional. He instructed Toby to move to another machine for a speed test. This machine was farther away, and Toby could see blood on the floor, suggesting that people had gotten injured during the tests. Toby had no desire to find out how this one worked.

The speed test machine resembled a shooting range. This time, Toby was the target, and the far end of the range looked like a mesh with numerous holes. Suddenly, something resembling a dart fired out from one of the holes, hurtling directly toward Toby. He managed to Dodge it with ease. Toby couldn't help but frown; the dart had been quite slow, and even a regular human could have avoided it. How did people get injured here?

Another dart fired from a different hole, and Toby swiftly evaded it as well. The number of darts increased, and Toby had to start running to avoid getting hit. As the speed picked up, he found himself dealing with multiple darts simultaneously, one of which grazed his cheek, causing an injury. Which made Toby panicked then something passed his eyes

.. His blood like a self-defense mechanism Toby's heart rate slowed down, and he felt as if he could perceive the gravitational pull around him, akin to many tightly packed, thin, expandable rubber bands.

Instinctively, he manipulated the gravitational force, reducing it to something akin to the moon's gravity, and suddenly, all the darts headed toward him slowed down. This allowed Toby to easily Dodge them, The dwarf conducting the test was puzzled by what he felt, but he couldn't quite grasp what was different about Toby. After hours of dodging the darts in the speed test, Toby emerged from the testing machine with a score of 9999, the highest the dwarf had ever seen. He was astounded, wondering if Toby's gene ability was somehow related to his reflexes. Combining this score with his strength evaluation, Toby was rated as an F6, slightly above average. Toby knew he could have done better, but he was content with this score, having kept his trump card hidden.

The dwarf then guided Toby to a chamber with a lone elevator that went up and down. Surrounded by robots, the dwarf extended an iron badge, instructing Toby to drip his blood onto it. Toby tried to scratch his cheek but found that his injury had already healed. He requested help from the dwarf, who was preoccupied with a holographic image on his wrist. And didn't spare him a glance, one of the robots floating around the dwarf suddenly approached Toby.

In a fraction of a second, the robot sped past Toby's hands, and he felt nothing. Moments later, he noticed his wrist bleeding. Toby frowned, realizing that the dwarf possessed the power to eliminate him in an instant. He placed the badge under his wrist, and upon contact with his blood, the badge glowed red. It levitated around Toby and glided to his chest. Needles extended from the badge, piercing his chest. Toby was both astonished and intrigued as he touched the badge, feeling it like an extension of his skin. A holographic image emerged from his chest, displaying his name, gene power (Gravity), and an overall power rating of F.

Toby was relieved to discover that the badge's assessment was based on input rather than a true judgment of his gene.his gene. The dwarf, who had remained silent throughout, eventually spoke. He instructed Toby to enter the elevator, and as they descended, Toby learned that the other candidates didn't meet the requirements for registration. He let out a sweat when he saw that he almost screwed himself over. He didn't even know they had requirements. When they reached a lower level, Toby was taken aback as he saw a massive, futuristic plane that resembled something from a sci-fi movie.

The dwarf led Toby underneath the gigantic aircraft, and a beam of light whisked them up into an expansive, high-tech space. There, Toby observed other youths like him who had come to register, all looking around with curiosity. The dwarf directed him to his room, and the door locked automatically. It was evident they didn't want anyone wandering about. Toby entered his room, which was minimalist with just a bed and a bathroom, neither too large nor too small, but just the right size. He sat down on the bed, a flood of emotions washing over him—nervousness, excitement, and a hint of mischief.

With a light smile, he muttered to himself, "Blaze, get ready, because I'll be back."