Jiwoo walked down the street holding in his arms a chubby cat that seemed to be quite comfortable.
He finally arrived at a veterinary clinic, as Kayden's eyes twinkled with curiosity.
"Hello, doctor," greeted Jiwoo as he entered.
"Jiwoo, what are you doing around here at this hour?" asked the vet.
"I need to buy some cat food and I'd also like you to check this cat I found with blood on his body.... I want to make sure he's not hurt," Jiwoo explained.
'Is he cheating on me? This idiot looks a lot like Ares and at the same time he's different,' Kayden thought silently.
"Ahh, yes, put him here and I'll check him right away," said the doctor pointing to a nearby table.
"Let's see..." continued the vegetarian, as he checked the cat's teeth and body.
Kayden, for his part, felt humiliated to have to go through such a situation.
"I don't see any problem, it doesn't seem to be injured according to what you tell me.... I guess the blood must be someone else's and not his," the doctor concluded.
"Phew, what a relief. I was really worried," sighed Jiwoo.
....
"It's a relief to know you're okay, Mr. Kayden," Jiwoo said as he walked with a fat cat in his arms on a night lit by street lamps.
Kayden looked in a specific direction, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Hey Jiwoo... Have you seen any strange cat-like creatures around the neighborhood?" asked Kayden curiously.
Jiwoo looked at him doubtfully and replied. "A monster cat? What are you talking about, Mr. Kayden?"
Confused, Jiwoo turned to look in the same direction as Kayden and saw how from a dark alleyway a gray cat with black lines slowly began to appear, whose appearance was very different from any other cat he had seen before.
(Image monster cat)
"What is that..., Mr. Kayden, that can't be a cat, it looks more like a tiger," said Jiwoo, fearful at the creature approaching them.
The cat let out a ferocious roar, marking its territory and increasing the tension in the atmosphere.
Jiwoo developed the idea to run away and began to run at high speed, creating a large distance between them and the cat.
Kayden discovered the scene and noticed that Jiwoo's speed, although impressive, was still not fast enough due to the powers he possessed.
Suddenly, the cat approached them at surprising speed and leaped in their direction, launching powerful attacks with its sharp claws.
Just as the attack looked like it would hit Jiwoo, Jiwoo ran through it in surprise as the cat looked in all directions in search of its prey.
Kayden, who had watched in amazement at the cat's speed, was about to impact Jiwoo, but in the blink of an eye he found himself dozens of meters away running away from the creature.
'That speed... what great speed,' Kayden thought in amazement as he watched the cat watch them from a distance.
"I think we can run away with this," Jiwoo said in a relaxed tone.
"Your speed is amazing, Jiwoo," commented Kayden impressed.
Jiwoo slowed down in his tracks and with a cheerful voice looked at Kayden, saying. "Yes...? that's not my top speed, I can still increase it more."
"Still more?" Kayden repeated in disbelief.
"MOVE, BOY!" shouted Kayden, reacting quickly by moving Jiwoo's body, millimeter dodging sharp claws that passed close to them.
Kayden hits Jiwoo on the head and angrily tells him. "Don't get distracted, you're in a life and death confrontation... react and focus on your opponent."
"Yes, sir," Jiwoo replies seriously as he stands in front of Kayden to protect him.
"TCH... Do you think I need your protection?", Kayden asks casually.
Jiwoo looks closely at the monster cat in front of him and notices a scar that looks familiar.
The cat growls and shows its sharp teeth, approaching Jiwoo at high speed.
But Jiwoo manages to dodge its attacks with ease, exhibiting good reflexes and coordination.
Kayden steps back and watches as Jiwoo concentrates on dodging the cat's attacks. 'He has a great talent for evasion, it's not luck. He can detect and anticipate the cat's movements with ease, thanks to his awakened super speed ability. 'Did his senses get enhanced?', Kayden wonders.
Meanwhile, Jiwoo keeps dodging the cat's attacks and analyzing its movements, looking for the right moment to strike.
Finally, he discovers that the top of its head is exposed and decides to take advantage of that opportunity.
The cat increases its speed and attacks more aggressively, but Jiwoo continues to dodge its blows with ease. Finally, he decides to act and, with a quick and precise move, connects a powerful blow to the cat's head, knocking it unconscious.
Jiwoo sits on the street, breathing heavily, while Kayden slowly approaches him and says. "Well done, kid... That was better than I thought."
Jiwoo worries that he did kill the cat, but Kayden reassures him that he only knocked it unconscious.
The cat's body shrinks and returns to its normal appearance.
"It was you... I just knew," Jiwoo says cheerfully as he recognizes the cat.
"But we don't have time to celebrate," Kayden reminds him. "We made too much noise and people will come quickly. We have to move from here."
"Okay, Mr. Kayden," Jiwoo replies as he carefully picks up the unconscious cat in his arms and begins to run alongside his mentor to get away from the scene.
....
[Elsewhere near the neighborhood]
An older man descended from the sky and stood on the tip of an antenna.
He was looking intently at his cell phone with a deformed face and said. "Shit... I don't understand, the last signal was in this sector, why can't I find it, is it broken?".
'I wasn't supposed to use my powers, but I have to activate the sample mark and the only way is to use my powers'.
There are sounds of glass breaking and the phone in the man's hand was crushed by the force of his hand.
'I know I have no choice and it is a very important sample that I have to find, even if I couldn't avoid the trackers in the future'.
The man's eyes turned red and his body released an evil aura black with red as he said loudly. "Where are you, come back to me immediately!".
....
[At Jiwoo's house]
Jiwoo concentrated on carefully bandaging the cat's wounds, while sweating profusely.
"I did my best, I hope it's enough," he said as he wiped his sweat.
Kayden came over and said. "He'll be fine, he's just unconscious and concussed, he shouldn't have any problems."
Kayden looked at the cat carefully, amazed at its transformation. 'How can a cat transform like that? It's not normal... his size and strength increase, no normal cat can do that, it's like he's an awakened one.
He remembered hearing about people experimenting on animals to force awakenings, but he knew that was taboo. 'If it gets out, he'll have all the awakened on his head... it's completely forbidden to force awakenings on humans or animals.'
Suddenly, Kayden sensed an evil aura sweeping through the house and slowly expanding. "What is it? I didn't feel anything until it was close."
The unconscious cat woke up and began to move madly through the house, destroying everything in its path and heading for the open window to escape.
Just as the cat was about to leave, a blurry figure appeared in front of him, showing its sharp claws and launching an attack towards Jiwoo.
Jiwoo screamed in pain and his chest began to bleed.
The cat recoiled and a shadow appeared in the air, connecting a flying kick to his face and knocking him unconscious instantly.
Kayden rushed over to him, worried. "Jiwoo, how are you, relax, it's no big deal."
"Yes, Mr. Kayden," Jiwoo replied with relief in his voice.
"Circulate your force control," Kayden said quickly.
"Force control, what's that?" asked Jiwoo hesitantly.
"Yes, quickly. It will help you recover," Kayden explained well with a funny face to JIwoo and then adding. "Circulate your energy the way your brother taught you."
"Do you have bandages?" asked Kayden.
"Yes, I do, Mr. Kayden," Jiwoo replied, taking a deep breath.
"Good, wait for me here while I go get the bandages. In the meantime, take off your shirt," Kayden hurried up the stairs and headed for the bathroom.
"Yes, Mr. Kayden," Jiwoo nodded.
Suddenly, an angry voice echoed from afar, startling Jiwoo. "Don't stop circulating your force control!" the voice shouted.
Jiwoo continued to rapidly circulate his force control.
....
[Elsewhere, a few minutes later]
"What's wrong?" she wondered with concern.
"Why is it taking so long for the sample to arrive?" he questioned, frowning.
"Could the trackers have caught it?" he suggested warily.
"If that happens, it's a big problem," he nodded resignedly.
"Damn it," she exclaimed angrily. "I used my powers, but I couldn't find the sample. There's a good chance they've discovered my location."
"So much effort put in..." he lamented sadly. "And all for the sample to end up in their hands."
"I can't allow that," he stated with determination. "Even if I have to make a fuss, I have to find that sample any way I can."
"Those trackers..." he mumbled hatefully.
"They'll pay for them sooner or later," he concluded with a defiant look.
....
In the early morning, a fat, orange cat stood in a meditative position and released a small blue aura from his body. He watched his hand, squeezing and releasing hard several times.
'I have to regain even a minimum of my strength quickly,' he thought with determination. 'That aura I felt is that of another awakened one, if I meet others in my current state, I won't be able to protect Jiwoo.'
Kayden looked at Jiwoo, lying on the bed. 'As soon as dawn breaks, I will have to communicate with Ares. It's very dangerous...'.
Suddenly, a cell phone alarm rang.
Jiwoo's eyes blinked and woke up.
He looked at the time on the phone and became alarmed, "What, is it that time already?"
Quickly, Jiwoo packed his things for school and left food for the cats.
Kayden gave him a worried look and chased after him as he was about to leave the house. "Wait, Jiwoo, where are you going?"
Jiwoo answered from outside the house. "I'm going to school, Mr. Kayden!"
Kayden quickly came out behind him and saw him running at high speed.
His face showed obvious anger as he trembled with rage and said. "He's just like Ares. He does what he wants and disappears from the place in the blink of an eye. When he comes back, he'll get his lesson accordingly."
....
1799 Words.
Next Chapter "Learning to Enhance your Awakened Powers"