Chapter 1: BlackOut

(Author note: the story starts in Chapter 2, but if you want to know the background and important information, I recommend reading Chapter 1)

Huff* Huff* Huff*

Ethaan, Dinner's ready!

"Alright Mom, just one second", 998…999, aaand 1000". Huff*, "That was a good warmup".

Ethan, a 24y old young man, standing at 5'11, a dark hair with yellow and green shades said, grabbing a towel from a nearby chair,he used it to clean himself.

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Growing up, Ethan had an abnormal strength and recovery for his age, that pretty much exceeded his peers by a huge margin, he was rarely seen by a doctor.

Grabbing a fresh white T-shirt and sweat pants, he got out of his simply decorated room, descending the stairs he heard his mom calling him again. "For the love of god Mom, you don't have to yell that much".

"I already told you earlier that I am going to serve dinner soon", in the kitchen, his mom, a beautiful middle-aged woman with brown hair and emerald eyes said, she stood at a height of 5'9". "well come here and help me carry these plates".

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"Waah…. that looks really delicious Mom, you're the best," he said with saliva at the edge of his mouth. putting them on the table in the living room, he said, "Thanks, honey, but more work less talk," she said while turning on the TV across the table, she sat beside him on the chair.

Crunch* Crunch*, "Mmmm, it's sooo tasty..", seeing him indulge in the plates, Lena grinned with a soft smile on her face, turning her eyes back to the TV, the news channel started announcing some important news gaining both her's and Ethan's attention.

A male reporter (John) said, "Good evening, and welcome back UNA citizens to Central News. Tonight, we have some troubling news to report, as it seems that there is a power outage hitting multiple nations across the world."

(UNA stands for United Nations of America)

"Yes, John. The outages began earlier this afternoon, plunging cities into darkness with seemingly no warning." A female reporter announced, "Officials are still scrambling to understand the cause."

"We're joined live now by Dr. Amelia Sharma, an expert in power grid infrastructure. Dr. Sharma, can you shed some light on what might be causing these blackouts?"

"Thank you, Sarah. The situation is certainly concerning. The outages appear to be simultaneous which is weird if you ask me, affecting multiple areas with different power grid configurations. This suggests a cause beyond a localized equipment failure."

"So, are you saying this could be a coordinated attack?", John asked.

"Hey Mom, you gotta eat before it gets cold", Ethan's voice sounded. "Just let me hear the news, god damn it Ethan", she replied, "Oh well, Whatever" as he continued eating.

Dr. Sharma sounded with a hesitating voice, "It's too early to say for sure. However, the coordinated nature of the outages is a cause for concern. Authorities are investigating all possibilities, including cyberattacks and even potential natural phenomena."

John nodded, " We understand this is a developing story, Dr. Sharma. We'll be sure to keep our viewers updated as we learn more. In the meantime, many cities have activated emergency protocols. Please stay informed and follow the instructions of local authorities. Sarah, back to you."

"Thank you, John. We'll continue to monitor the situation and bring you the latest information as it becomes available. This is Sarah Jones, reporting for Central News."

Ethan said while washing his hands," You need anything Mom? I am going for a night jog".

"No Honey, and be careful while out there, I don't want my sweet little angel to get hurt", his mom said with a concerned tone. "Little?, Look at my muscles", flexing his ripped biceps, he replied ,"don't worry Mom", moving to the front door, he picked up his jacket from the coat rack, and knelt to wear his sports shoes.

"You'll always be little in my eyes sweetheart, now come here and give your mom a hug", she said opening her arms for a welcoming hug.

Now standing, Ethan greeted his mother's hug and wrapped his muscular arms around her in a gentle embrace. "I'll be back soon, Mom," he reassured her, as he held her close for a moment.

"I know, I know," she said softly, patting him on the back. "Just remember that your well-being is my top priority."

With a final squeeze, Ethan released his mother from the hug and stepped back. "I'll be careful, I promise," he said, offering her a warm smile. He adjusted his sports shoes one last time before reaching for the doorknob.

"Have a good run, honey," his mom called out as Ethan opened the door, letting in a rush of breezing night air.

"Thanks, Mom," he replied, turning to give her one last wave before stepping out into the now-empty street.

What Ethan didn't know, is that this might be the last time he will be seeing his mother…

He started down the familiar sidewalk, his footsteps echoing off the houses lining the road. It was a peaceful, almost serene atmosphere—the perfect setting for a late-night run.

Reaching his pockets, he pulled out his headphones. carefully placing them in his ears and connecting them to a device on his wrist, Ethan then hit play on his favorite running playlist. The energetic beats began to fill his ears, drowning out the silence of the empty street.

The streetlights cast a warm glow on the pavement, illuminating his path as he made his way through the quiet neighborhood. The cool night air brushed against his face, refreshing him as he picked up his pace.

Memories flooded Ethan's mind as he ran down the familiar streets of his childhood. He could almost hear the echoes of laughter from the days when he and his friends would race down these very sidewalks, carefree and full of life. The houses he passed held countless stories and experiences that had shaped him into the person he is today.

The only regret he has is that he never met his father, as his mother mentioned that he left before he was born, he only left a pair of black gloves that have some inscriptions on them, weird if you ask me. but anyway, he always wears them, as it is the only thing that he can remember him by.

Because of his special physique, growing up, his mother signed him up for many martial arts clubs to learn how to control his strength and emotions. Ethan's training had not only improved his physical strength but also taught him valuable lessons in discipline, patience, and humility.

As he continued his run, he neared the central park of his neighborhood, it was a vast green expense surrounded by tall iron fences, tall trees filled the place, and wooden benches scattered around, in the center of the park stood a tall power grid, A soft humming sound can be heard emanating from it.

"Hmm, maybe I'll rest here for a bit, been a while since the last time i visited".

Entering the park, he sat down on a bench near the grid. "Ahhh, so refreshing here." With a few taps on his wrist-mounted device, A holographic image popped up in front of his face, connecting to the Park free Wi-Fi, he started surfing the internet.

The year 2025 has brought about incredible advancements in technology, from AI-powered robots to augmented reality devices that made everyday tasks a breeze.

Sizzle*

His attention was suddenly drawn to a strange noise emanating from the power grid nearby. It was a low-pitched humming, but distinct enough to catch his ear.

Sizzle* Sizzle*

"That's weird…", looking at the grid he said.

Then without a warning, the hum that had been emanating from the power grid was abruptly cut off, and immediately after that, the grid completely blacked out.

"What the..." Ethan muttered, his gaze locked on the grid.

A sudden spark illuminated the darkness, crackling along one of the grid's support beams. Another spark followed, then another, each one sending a brief flash of light into the shadowy park.

Bzzzzz*

Gulp* , "Is this zeus pulling a prank on me or something?! , Ethan said wirh a nervous voice, his heart raced as the sparks grew more frequent.

He could feel a charge in the air, an electric tension that seemed to build with each passing second.

"I am leaving, whoever doing this, you can have fun, yeah that's right…".

But before he could get away, a massive white beam erupted, engulfing him as a whole. He managed to utter one final, bewildered phrase before his body dissolved into pure energy:

"What... is... happening... to... me...?"