Johnson gritted his teeth, determination flaring in his eyes. He saw the glowing aura of the explosives on the ground and weaved past them at impossible speed.
"User is now able to access thirty-five percent of his full power without trouble, traveling at Mach fifteen without aftereffects," Jake announced. "User can now sense attacks. Aura sense upgraded to level ten."
"I must go faster," Johnson growled. "Faster than anything. Stronger than anyone. I have to protect my friends!"
His eyes blazed with raw resolve. Lightning erupted around his body, engulfing his suit in flames as he dodged Joyce's relentless blasts.
"Damn you, Joyce!" Johnson shouted through the firestorm. The flames blinded his vision, yet he never stopped running.
Joyce's voice rang out with mockery. "The air isn't the only thing I prepared for you. Let's see how you adapt to a direct counter to your speed."
She touched the ground and instantly transformed the path ahead into a frozen wasteland. The air grew thin and unbearably cold, the arena stretching farther with each second.
Johnson didn't falter. He absorbed the flames back into his suit, bracing himself as he charged across the frozen bridge. "Jake, use the flames to keep me warm!" he ordered, cracking his knuckles.
"Yes, master." Jake's voice responded with mechanical calm. "Releasing absorbed energy now." The heat radiated through Johnson's body, shielding him from the deadly cold.
But Joyce anticipated the move. "I knew you'd try that." With a snap, she conjured ice spears and hurled them at him. The temperature plummeted to levels no human should endure.
Johnson kept running. He dodged, slid, and leapt through the icy barrage. But soon the heat ran out, his body succumbing to the unbearable cold. His blood pressure dropped, his skin pale from frost.
"User is surpassing thirty-five percent. Now reaching forty percent," Jake warned. "Johnson, stop. You'll destroy yourself."
"Isn't that great?" Johnson muttered, his breath ragged. "Won't the universe be grateful without me? It's not like I matter anyway. I can't stop running, Jake. I just can't."
Jake's voice softened, confused. "What pushes you this hard? Why can't you give up? You're running in an arena colder than the Arctic. Are you sure you don't want to stop?"
"No," Johnson said firmly. His eyes glowed brighter. "I can't stop running. I must go faster, because even if everything else gives up on life, I won't. I have to be there for everyone. Not just my sister. Not just my friends. Even for my enemies. I'll save them too. I don't care what obstacle stands in my way."
As he spoke, his lightning shifted colors _ red to yellow, then gold, blazing like a divine fire. His body froze with every step, yet he pushed forward.
"This boy is going to kill himself," Joyce whispered, her confidence shaken.
Johnson roared, his voice tearing through the storm. "I don't give a fuck about obstacles! I never stop running! I am the lightning that never stops running! I am Quicklightning!"
His hair grew longer, lightning intensifying as he absorbed the freezing energy and bent it to his will.
"Impossible," Joyce gasped in disbelief. "Ice is supposed to be his weakness. He's not resisting it...he's absorbing it."
But Johnson's body finally collapsed from exhaustion. He crashed to the ground, his power drained.
"User has exhausted his physical body," Jake stated coldly. "User has reached fifty percent capacity and is now unconscious."
Joyce teleported instantly, catching him before he hit the ground. She cradled him in her arms, teleporting them both to a building she had constructed earlier. She laid him gently on her lap, her worry plain. "Are you okay, Johnny?" she whispered, shaking him lightly.
Hours later, the cold evening breeze drifted through the window of a modest brick house. The walls were painted blue and white, the lights neatly arranged. Johnson stirred, his head resting on something soft. His fingers brushed against the surface absentmindedly, squeezing lightly.
He blinked his eyes open and looked up. His hands had landed on Joyce's chest, and he found himself staring at her flushed, embarrassed face.
Joyce's cheeks burned red as she darted her eyes away.
Johnson, however, only smirked and gave her a playful squeeze.