Chapter 15: Special Circumstances

1 month later

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Godfrey floats in the middle of the courtyard with his eyes closed. His body is drenched in sweat and his muscles tense with an overwhelming physical might. His brow furrows as he exerts his will upon his own body and a stick hits the top of his head.

"Again you force your will upon lightning. Though it comes easy to you, it is the complete opposite method of control for my electric barrier."

Godfrey opens his eyes and sees his teacher with a smirk on his face. The scene is silent until Godfrey feels a subtle force pushing against him emanating from his teacher.

"You are proud, Godfrey. Of that, I am clear. Lightning itself seems to favour you and easily strikes when you beckon."

Long Aotian's body then increases in repulsive force, but he doesn't seem to strain as Godfrey did. It was as natural as breathing.

"However, you must understand that lightning is chaos personified. One cannot hope to completely tame it, and so you must create channels upon which it can flow."

The electric barrier becomes clear on Long Aotian's body and lightning organizes itself in near hexagonal formations.

"Let the energy course through you. Provide a shape for it to adopt. Gently coax it into becoming that shape."

His lightning barrier suddenly flares aggressively as lightning wreaks havoc on the barrier's structure.

"Forcing your will upon it has advantages, one of them is the increased potency of your attack. Unfortunately, it also renders the lightning immutable and chaotic. Let it flow through you, become the lightning."

Long Aotian laughs as he sadly looks to his hands.

"I am unable to truly be lightning. I can feel my limitations, but you do not seem to have that limit. You feel as if you are lightning personified."

Long Aotian gestures for Godfrey to continue and so he does.

He changes his approach. Godfrey's body visibly relaxes yet isn't loose. He commands the lightning but doesn't force it. He provides a shape and it eagerly follows. It wishes to serve him, so he lets it.

A constant hum fills the courtyard and then it fades. Godfrey opens his eyes and a large smile appears on his face. Long Aotian nods as his spear suddenly pierces towards the back of Godfrey's head.

The spear's speed is slowed by an unseen electromagnetic force and bounces off. It then curves in the air and lands in Long Aotian's hand. He then slams the butt end on the ground and exclaims in joy.

"HAHAHA incredible! It only took you a month when it took me 10 years. All you had to do was change how you saw the concept of lightning. I had to be electrocuted again and again!"

Long Aotian pushes a finger towards Godfrey and is violently repelled. Long Aotian has a look of disbelief on his face.

"Astounding. It almost feels like an actual attack. You still command the lightning but no longer force it. You have taken a step in becoming it. You are firmly in the top 10 of your alliance Godfrey."

Godfrey stops floating and looks at Long Aotian with gratitude.

"Thank you for teaching me seriously. Truth be told, I do not think I would ever have gained this passive ability. I am too prideful and simply could not see it being useful. I see differently now."

A quick scan with his Divine Sense has Godfrey giddy in excitement, yet he outwardly remains calm.

'42.5%. I feel power welling up inside. My strength has taken a leap forward.'

Long Aotian pats Godfrey's shoulders and laughs.

"Hahaha, think nothing of it. This will benefit my son greatly, and I haven't had students in a while. I must take my leave now Godfrey. Be safe and good luck."

Long Aotian bursts into the air and into the distance. Godfrey looks at his hands and clenches them lightly. A shockwave then spreads through the courtyard and leaves Godfrey with a feeling of pride.

'This power came easy as a god. The power gained through effort, however, feels more gratifying than when it is given.'

"Godfrey!! Lunch time my dear!"

Godfrey is brought out of his thoughts and his stomach rumbles as it craves sustenance. He hurriedly goes to freshen up and joins his parents.

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The next morning. 5 a.m.

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Godfrey is leisurely flying towards his school when his senses pick up an engine failure. He sharply looks into the sky and sees a plane with smoke and fire coming out of both engines.

Without hesitation, Godfrey propels himself upwards while creating multiple sonic booms. He rapidly gains height and realises how big the plane is.

'I can no doubt lift it, but can the material withstand me?'

Godfrey scans the inside of the plane and sees a supervillain holding a little girl by her head and laughing. He notes that there are holes at the side of the plane leading directly to the engines.

'A beam type ability. Troublesome in an enclosed space. Focus Godfrey.'

Godfrey then bursts through one of the premade holes and his perception heightens. The villain appears to slow down and so do the rest of the passengers. Godfrey, within moments, arrives at the villain's side. He forms a lightning blade in his hand and simply swipes downwards.

Time moves once again and the villain's hand is torn off.

""AAAAAAYYIIIEEEE MY HAND!!!"

Godfrey catches the little girl and delivers a brutal headbutt at the villain's nose. The sound echoes throughout the plane and wakes everyone up from their stupor.

The villain crumples and the crowds cheer.

"YEEEAAAHHHH a hero is here!!"

"He was so fast! What's his name The Fl--"

"He's huge, what the hell!"

"Oh my goodness it's Godfrey!!"

Godfrey sets the little girl down and moves to ask her of her wellbeing, but then the plane suddenly lurches and the hull groans. Godfrey rushes to the outside and can clearly see the city now. In fact, the academy isn't too far away.

'The pilot must have steered towards it for its large open area to land in.'

Without a second thought, Godfrey flies out and moves to the underside of the plane. He supports its weight on his shoulders and pushes upwards. The fuselage slowly collapses and Godfrey panics.

"Damn it all! We're descending too fast!"

He rushes to the front of the plane and tries to slow it down, but again the nose tip simply crumples the more he exerts strength.

"Blasted physics!! Damn it!"

Godfrey's perception heightens and this gives him a few more seconds to think.

'I need something that can support the weight of the plane all at once, but what?'

Godfrey's panic agitates his lightning barrier and an epiphany hits him square in the jaw. He pushes once more, but this time, he spreads his barrier over the front of the plane.

*GROOAAAAANNN-CRREEEAAAKKK*

The nose tip is slowly crushed yet the plane visibly slows. Godfrey pumps even more power into his barrier and the plane slows further. He angles it all this while, to ensure a better landing.

Slowly he exerts more force and the plane loses speed. The school grounds are close now. Early arriving students use all manner of abilities to get away, but one stands her ground.

"SYLPHAERA GET OUT OF THERE!!!"

Godfrey screams at her but she likely cannot hear him.

'No. NO!! I'm still coming in too fast!'

Desperately, Godfrey pushes against the nose tip and it collapses further. Godfrey closes his eyes and thinks.

'Any more strength, and the plane will fold in on itself! My barrier isn't advanced enough to affect the whole plane at once! WHAT DO I DO?!'

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"GODFREY!!! DON'T GIVE UP!!!"

His eyes snap open and he locks them with Sylphaera's. He sees there, in her soul, a burning determination. He senses an overwhelming power surging in her body. Godfrey smiles and keeps pushing against the nose tip.

'Thats right. I'm not alone.'

Sylphaera glows with an ethereal blue and it grows stronger with every passing second. The plane descends at a slower speed but it is still too fast. Sylphaera looks at Godfrey's back apologetically.

'This is gonna hurt Godfrey.'

In a mighty display of power, Sylphaera creates dozens of extremely thick Godfrey sized ice walls along the planes landing path.

Sylphaera collapses on her knees and heaves for air. She looks up and sees Godfrey about to impact the walls.

'Please be ok.'

Godfrey notices the walls and braces for impact. He looks to the pilot and shouts for him to tell the passengers to protect themselves. And not a minute later, impact.

The plane plows through the ice walls with Godfrey at the front. He digs his legs into the earth and pushes. His brain is rattled and he loses count of how many walls he breaks through. Yet still, he pushes.

'Stop damn you!'

After what seemed like eternity, the plane finally stops just at the front entrance of the main building. Godfrey takes a knee and recovers from the numerous blows he just took.

"Godfrey!!"

Sylphaera runs to Godfrey while apologizing the whole time.

"I am sorry. I didn't know how else to slow the pla-"

Godfrey cuts her off by giving her a big hug.

"Thank you Sylphaera. You are a true hero."

She laughs as she replies.

"So are you, you spruce."

The moment is interrupted by a portal forming in front of them. Mr. Jefferson steps out still in his pajamas and is shocked at the sight of the plane.

"What in the name of the lord happened here?"

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1 hour later.

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"Your life is a hectic one Mr. Gallahad, though all hero lives are. That was a truly incredible save that no one has made before. Sadly enough, plane crashes are too specialised of an incident. A telekinetic might be able to, but that's on the basis that there's one nearby. Well done."

Mr. Jefferson then opens his arm and declares.

"What is it you wish for? Anything that is in my power to grant, will be yours."

Godfrey only takes a second to think and immediately states what he wants.

"Allow Sylphaera to go to the Mars base with me. She is a talent worth nurturing. I could not have stopped that plane without her and she would gain much there according to what I have heard."

Mr. Jefferson scratches his beard and Sylphaera looks away slightly.

"Well, Sylphaera has unique circumstances Godfrey. This reward is not available to her. Try and think of yourself young man."

Godfrey confusedly looks at Sylphaera and she assures him.

"It's alright Godfrey, I have family circumstances that prevent me from accepting that reward."

Godfrey nods and thinks once more, but he can't think of anything at the moment.

"May I hold on to this reward for now?"

Mr. Jefferson smiles and stands.

"Of course. Is there anything else that both of you need me for?"

Godfrey nods and seriously looks at Mr. Jefferson.

"I wish to go to Mars."

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END