That evening…
Dom sat on the porch behind his small house, eyes fixed on a familiar book in his lap, frustration written across his young face.
"Hey, did that blast mess with your ears?" Pops asked as he opened the door to the porch. "Dinner's ready." He stopped when he saw Dom engrossed in his research. "You still haven't figured it out?"
Dom sighed, lying back, staring at the darkening sky while Anthony's riddle replayed in his mind.
"I think he was just bullshitting you," Pops said lightly.
Dom shot him a glare.
Pops smirked. "You'll figure it out. Don't worry." He picked up the book.
Dom let out another sigh. "I hope so."
A quiet silence stretched between them. The wind rustled softly through the trees, locusts chirped in the distance, and Dom's gaze drifted skyward as Pops flipped through the pages.
Eventually, Pops closed the book and noticed the cover. "Wait… isn't this the one you keep sneaking out to read?"
"Yeah," Dom admitted.
Pops placed the book on his lap, eyes narrowing at Dom. "If you stole this, I'll knock the fuc—"
"Chill!" Dom shot up, raising his hands. "The bald guy felt bad because of what happened and gave it to me. I also got some other cool stuff." He pulled a strange toy from his pocket.
Pops examined it suspiciously, then looked up. "You know that bald guy has a name, right?"
Dom raised a brow.
Pops chuckled. "Yeah. I don't know it either." He then accidentally pressed something on the toy. It created a strange noise, and he frowned in confusion.
"I still can't believe you're okay after everything. I'd probably shit myself if I were in your shoes," Pops said, silencing the toy.
"Ew. Gross."
Pops smiled proudly. "You're strong, kid. Don't ever forget that."
Dom grinned, the compliment lifting his spirits.
And then it hit him. A sudden realization. Wordlessly, he snatched the book from Pops' lap and flipped through it with furious speed.
"You figured it out?" Pops asked, curiosity overtaking caution.
"I think so… here!" Dom stopped at a page about the Mage Emperor.
Before Pops could react, Dom dropped the book and lunged onto the bare ground beyond the porch. He sank to his knees, right fist clenched and raised, eyes squeezed shut, brows drawn tight in fierce concentration. A faint blue aura spiraled around his small hand, humming with raw energy.
"What are you doing?" Pops demanded, his voice tight with alarm.
Dom's jaw tightened, teeth gritted, as he funneled every ounce of mana into his fist. The air shimmered and hissed, small sparks dancing around him. His knuckles trembled violently… then—boom!
The concrete beneath him exploded outward with a deafening roar, jagged shards flying in all directions. A deep groan of stressed stone echoed as cracks radiated like lightning through the porch and toward the house, one massive fissure slicing perilously close to the outer wall.
Dust, debris, and a low rolling tremor shook Pops' feet, rattling windows across the street.
Neighbors yelped from behind curtains.
"What's happening?!" one screamed.
"An earthquake?" another cried.
"A bomb!" a child wailed.
Pops stumbled backward, heart pounding, eyes wide at the epicenter of the chaos. "Holy… fuck," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the grinding rumble.
Dom froze for a heartbeat, chest heaving, then slowly raised his fist. The blue aura dissipated into sparks drifting lazily to the ground. His knuckles remained flawless, unscathed, yet the crater beneath him stretched wide and deep, raw evidence of the force he had unleashed.
Shock and disbelief painted his wide blue eyes… and then a grin spread across his face, pure exhilaration mingling with the thrill of discovery. He had done it—he had truly tapped into his strength.
"Physical Enhancement," Dom whispered, voice trembling with excitement. "That's my affinity."
Pops' eyes lit up with understanding. "You're right," he said, glancing at the discarded book. "Ethan Maximus—his only power was unbeatable physical strength. That's why he was the Strongest Soldier." He slapped his forehead. "Why didn't I think of it?"
Dom laughed giddily, then froze in realization. "Thank God I've never gotten that angry before. I might've killed someone."
"Yeah," Pops chuckled, sitting back. "Well… you've cleared the first step."
Dom's grin widened, but curiosity returned once he recalled the riddle. "It's like Tony already knew about my power. How?"
Pops looked at the sketch of Ethan Maximus—armor hiding all identifying features. "No idea," he admitted. "But… not only are you aiming to surpass Ethan, but you've got his affinity. It's like the universe is on your side."
Dom's smile grew. "Really?"
"And now that I know your affinity, I can start a training routine until you're old enough for the academy." Pops ruffled his hair.
Dom's eyes widened. "You… you'll train me?"
"It'll be tricky with school, but we'll make it work," Pops said, rubbing his chin.
"I thought you didn't want me joining the army," Dom muttered.
Pops smirked. "Don't get me wrong. If it were up to me, I'd keep you as far away from fighting as possible. That feeling won't change."
Dom frowned, but Pops pulled out a cigarette, letting the smoke curl into the night.
"Back in the army… the war was over, but it wasn't peaceful." He paused, drawing in smoke. "I became a Captain eight years after the War. The official peace treaty came two years later."
"Why so long?" Dom asked.
"Some people didn't want it to end." Pops exhaled. "We'd been fighting each other for over 500 years. Fear made people obey, but not everyone wanted peace. Some rebel groups tried to stop it with bloodshed."
Dom looked down, struggling to grasp it.
"Ten years," Pops continued, voice low. "That's how long they fought. My last mission was to stop one of those groups from attacking an East-Land diplomat." His fists clenched, body stiffening. "We were forty-five soldiers. I was the only one who came back."
Dom's eyes widened at the raw vulnerability he'd never seen in Pops.
"Watching my men die… brothers-in-arms… it was hard. The nightmares never left, no matter how far I ran." Pops crushed the cigarette with a hiss. "I thought I was going to die with that feeling."
Dom frowned, but noticed Pops' smile returning—sad but proud.
"And then I met you," Pops said, smacking Dom's arm gently. "Raising you… The best decision I ever made. You were the glue that kept me together."
Dom's cheeks flushed. "But… I'm going away."
Pops nodded, expression somber. "You're going to the places I tried to escape. I'm sure even you get why that hurts."
"Yeah," Dom murmured.
"But you're different," Pops said, smirking. "You've already faced a real monster."
Dom flinched, remembering Elon. "I couldn't do anything," he whispered.
"Of course not. There was nothing you could do; you're just a kid," Pops replied. "But… even after seeing that, you still shout that you want to fight. That's something even the bravest soldiers can't always say."
He placed a hand on Dom's head, grinning. "You're strong. Stronger than a lot of people… including me."
Dom smiled, speechless. "Thanks."
"That's why, as a coward who ran from battle, I can't stop you," Pops continued. "The least I can do is give you a good chance."
"Yes!" Dom shouted, fists raised.
"Don't get too excited," Pops warned, expression hardening. "I was a good commanding officer. I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're a kid."
"Fine by me," Dom said, punching his palm.
"That's my boy," Pops chuckled, rubbing his hair. "Now… dinner's probably cold."
Dom stood, picking up the book. Pops pointed toward the cracks on the wall.
"First thing tomorrow morning… You'd better fill those in. I don't want my house looking like a billion-year-old ruin."
Dom groaned, following the cracks back to the epicenter of his fist. With a heavy sigh, he walked inside, ready for the first step of a long journey.