John stood over Anya, his eyes cold, devoid of the concern that might have once lingered there. Her sudden, desperate hunger was a direct consequence of his power, her body now screaming for the energy his manipulation had forced it to expend. He debated, for a chilling moment, whether to push himself mentally to make her body collapse from the sheer, induced starvation, or simply to kill her then and there. Either choice would erase the immediate risk.
But then, the chilling clarity of his own abnormal calm state settled over him. He realized the immense risk he'd already taken by trying out his ability so openly. He could have done it secretly, yes, but that carried its own dangers like drawing the league's attention.
An example was Anya in front of him, if he did so secretly to one unprepared student and no food in sight, would the student die of hunger or fall into a state of coma from starvation.
The student's sudden state will certainly draw the league's attention. But his way while reckless was more manageable.
He could already recognize the next pattern that would unfold. Other trainees, eager and ambitious, would inevitably approach Anya, asking how her session went. They would see her success or at least, her intense reaction and clamor for their own turn. The more they wanted to try it, the more risk John would find himself in.
He needed a more concrete, plausible follow-up to attribute Anya's sudden change, something that wouldn't point directly to him having super power. The question that would inevitably arise was: why was he the only one who could induce such an effect on others?
John's cold gaze remained fixed on Anya, still slumped and consumed by the inexplicable hunger. He needed a solution, and he needed it fast. The idea of what his power could do on others, something beyond what Sensei taught, would expose him instantly. He couldn't risk the League dissecting his unique ability, not yet.
Suddenly, an idea clicked into place, born from his understanding of adrenal manipulation and the League's own pragmatic, often brutal, methods.
He considered the two states he could induce: profound calm and heightened excitement. The calm, he now realized, was too subtle for his immediate needs with Anya and the other trainees.
But the heightened excitement, the raw adrenaline... that was a different matter. Since he already confirmed his powers works on others, boosting their adrenaline should also be possible.
Adrenaline isn't always a good thing depending on it's timing and how it was applied. After a calm session with a trainee and they were in a state of hunger, he would first subtly induce a heightened adrenaline state within himself, focusing the excess into his gaze, his posture, his very presence. This would amplify his natural state, making him seem inherently more threatening, more dangerous, compelling their primal instincts to listen.
Then, he would use his power to trigger their fight-or-flight response, by subtly nudging their adrenal systems, pushing their bodies to start producing adrenaline, initiating that primal state.
Because Anya was already in a state of energy depletion from his earlier influence, this induced fear/adrenaline response in her would be far more intense, more draining, and thus, more memorable and persuasive.
He happened to have a subject to try this on, He stood, his gaze hardening. "Anya," John's voice was sharp, cutting through her daze. "Listen to me."
The command snapped Anya out of her daze. She looked up, her eyes wide, but before she could speak, John subtly engaged his internal "switch," flooding himself with the heightened adrenaline state. His pupils dilated, his muscles tensed almost imperceptibly, and his posture shifted, radiating an intense, controlled menace.
Simultaneously, he reached out with his power to gently nudge her own adrenal system. He amplified the minute stress signals her body was already producing, pushing them into overdrive. Her eyes widened further, her breathing quickened, and state he wanted her in was induced, a fight-or-flight response, surged through her. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and a cold sweat broke out on her skin. Due to her already depleted state from the earlier calm induction, this rush of fear was even more potent, more overwhelming. She swayed, caught between an urge to flee and an instinct to snap at John.
Due to her weak state, she could not snap and her only response was "flight" John watched her nod weakly, still fixated on the gnawing hunger. "You will tell the others," John continued, his voice gaining a new, authoritative edge, "that the stillness you achieved was so profound, it drained you." a confirmation to his words on the hall.
He knelt beside her, lowering his voice further. "And that will be all you tell them. If they are eager to know more, they should try it out themselves and if they're willing to pay that price, and follow my guidance, I can help them find it. Just as I did in the hall, and as Sensei guided me to."
He stood, his gaze hardening. "Now, go. Get the food you secured from the canteen. And tomorrow, we talk about your 'breakthrough' with the others."
Anya, still trembling from the adrenaline and the gnawing hunger, managed to push herself up. Her eyes were wide with a new, urgent understanding. The promise of food and the implied secret to power was enough to motivate her, but even more compelling was John's current, amplified presence. His silent dominance had cut through her panic, leaving her with no choice but to agree.
When Anya stumbled out of the room, John immediately collapsed onto the ground, heaving. His body was slick with sweat, every muscle screaming from the exertion, but his eyes held a sharp, triumphant glow. He was liking his new power more and more.
He understood its cost and its potential. Inducing adrenaline in someone else was a double-edged sword: that extreme fight-or-flight state was incredibly dangerous and should only be used on weakened or already susceptible opponents. It would bite back hard if someone, instead of succumbing to primal fear, managed to override their instinct and chose to fight against the induced surge. He would need to be very careful.
John took a few moments to gather himself, the lingering mental fatigue a heavy cloak. When he finally stepped out of the secluded room, he kept his expression carefully neutral, maintaining a facade of weary normalcy until he made it back to the relative safety of his own quarters.
He collapsed weakly onto his bed, the last coherent thought echoing in his mind: Did that room have cameras?
"I can't control anything that happens beyond this point," John murmured to himself, the words a weary resignation, before sleep finally claimed him.
The next day came by fast, too fast for John, who still craved more sleep. It was only his ingrained adherence to patterns and years of League training that forced him to push himself up. He moved mechanically, his body responding to the familiar call for breakfast in the canteen.
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