Firewing paused as she spoke, not sure if her suspicions were accurate. It just seemed too absurd. The spiritual awakening had only just begun—sure, some people awakened stronger abilities than others, but there was no way a single person should have enough power to bargain with the nation itself. Unless, of course, Brandon was completely insane. But he didn't seem crazy. In fact, seeing his almost nonchalant reaction—just mildly surprised, not shocked—she began to wonder if she was right after all.
Did he really think his power could stand up to the full force of modern technology?
What kind of nonsense was that? Even if the military couldn't bring out the heaviest artillery in the city, modern firearms were still nothing to sneeze at. Not to mention, there were still people like Skyler Quinn, Chris Frost, and Charles Longfellow—powerful ability users all stationed in the military.
Firewing struggled to imagine just how terrifying an ability had to be for someone like Brandon to act so calm, so sure of himself. Or maybe… maybe she was just overthinking it, seeing things that weren't there.
But the truth about abilities? The only thing you could count on was uncertainty.
If people like them—far beyond the norm—could awaken, why couldn't someone even more monstrous come along? Humanity just had to accept reality sometimes… but that didn't make it easier to swallow.
"Can you at least tell me what your ability actually is?" she finally asked, voice almost gentle, curiosity winning out over caution. "If you're so confident, it can't hurt, right? I promise, I won't tell anyone."
She poked his shoulder, eyes wide with anticipation.
Brandon just gave her a look. "And I'm supposed to believe that?"
He really couldn't take her seriously—if he told her, she'd just rush off and report to the higher-ups.
But after a beat, he shrugged. "Not that it really matters, anyway."
Firewing's eyes lit up instantly, like a cat expecting a treat. Even if he was lying, she thought, at least she'd have a story to bring back for the analysts to pick apart.
But Brandon didn't seem interested in her reaction. He just stared out the window, speaking with a calm detachment.
"Don't you think the world, after the spiritual awakening, is beautiful?" he mused. "Aside from the creatures that evolved into threats to humanity, the awakening's only brought benefits—to us, to the plants, to the animals, even to the planet itself."
"But we're human," Firewing replied quietly. "Our first concern has to be ourselves."
She didn't know where he was going with this, but she couldn't argue the point. If you set aside the danger of mutated animals, there was no real downside to the awakening at all.
Still, as humans, it was natural to look out for their own. If other creatures gained intelligence and power equal to or greater than humanity, would they hate us? Hurt us? Would they threaten the world we've built?
These were real questions.
"Every living thing on Earth is equal—or so we like to say," Brandon continued, voice steady. "But it's humans who say that. We're the ones who decide what 'equality' means. When we stand at the top, we can afford to feel compassion or guilt for those beneath us. But if the day ever comes that humans aren't at the top anymore, those feelings won't mean anything."
"In the natural world, though, everything is equal—people, plants, animals, everything. Because it's all part of nature."
He turned and met her eyes. "Lightning, fire, storms, rain, light, darkness—all the elements. Rhinos, eagles, tigers, lions, pandas—all kinds of beasts. Even guns, tanks, rockets, and nuclear bombs… They're all part of nature too, aren't they?"
As Brandon spoke, Firewing's eyes widened in disbelief.
What was he getting at? Was he saying his ability was connected to nature? That he could use the forces of nature at will? That was ridiculous—wasn't it?
A power that could draw upon anything in nature? Impossible. It had to be.
But her rational mind wouldn't let go of his words. If his ability truly was tied to the natural world… if he was nature itself…
The scope was unimaginable. Nature included everything—plants, animals, even humanity itself. And now, humanity had awakened all sorts of strange abilities.
If Brandon could tap into the full power of the natural world, including human abilities, then him negotiating with the nation was almost an act of generosity.
Firewing left, completely shaken. She'd arrived confident and playful, eager to teach the "arrogant youth" a lesson about the world's vastness. But by the end, her composure had shattered, and it was she who walked away muttering that it was impossible, that she'd been the frog at the bottom of the well.
And Brandon, the cause of her breakdown? He just wore an innocent look, as if he'd done nothing at all. All he'd done was sigh at the beauty of nature's inclusiveness—anything else was Firewing's own wild imagination.
The night passed in silence.
The next morning, Brandon's doorstep was crowded with men in black suits, each bowing respectfully as soon as he appeared.
Brandon wasn't surprised. Firewing, despite her near-breakdown, had remembered to tell him to pack up for his move to the special villa provided by the Bureau.
But seriously—why the suits? The sunglasses too? Did they think they were his bodyguards?
He couldn't help but crack a wry smile as he handed over his suitcase and followed them to the vehicle waiting outside.
The drive was peaceful—almost eerily so, with not a soul in sight as they entered the secluded villa district.
It made sense, though. This was a government zone, built exclusively for the Bureau's top talents. Only the best got to live here—so of course, it was quiet.
Brandon's new home sat at the very edge of the estate, taking up over 800 square meters, complete with a dedicated gym and training ground.
He gave a soft laugh. The future, it seemed, was just getting started.
End of Chapter
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