Everyday more people woke up, wielding strange otherworldly powers. Some looking for chaos and control, others for peace and prosperity.
The first to awaken was a man by the name of Dean, he effortlessly broke out of prison and began wreaking havoc. The man left plenty of bodies in his wake, and soon took control of half the state.
The military mobilized on his position on more than one occasion, but to no avail. He easily wiped out all of those who tried to stop him. He gained a lot of followers in his conquest, even a few awoken joined his rampage.
Soon the first awoken came to challenge his reign, in his own city.
At noon, a lone stranger appeared in the lawless city. He walked with no fear, as the violence and criminals roamed the streets around him. A few people tried to confront him and start trouble, but he simply walked past them, not paying them any attention.
Soon word of his appearance and behavior reached Dean. The man was soon surrounded on all sides by the people, they all brandished their weapons and abilities.
Soon Dean appeared, standing on a car above the crowd:
"Well well, what do we have here? You do know where you are right? This is my city, hell, I own the whole state. Soon I'll be expanding further than that.
So let me ask you boy. Are you here to pledge your life to me, if so why aren't you on your knees yet?"
Rushing out from the crowd, one of the men swung a metal pipe hitting him in the back of his head causing him to stumble.
The man looked up as blood rolled down his brow:
"I have a question? Dean, right?"
"Speak boy, you're starting to bore me already."
"What's your rank?"
"My what?... Oh you mean, you want to know how strong I am. Everyone in this city kneels and grovels at my feet, do you know why that is. Because none has the strength to kill me.
But since that doesn't seem to be enough evidence for you, I'll tell you before you die. My ability, is ranked legendary."
The man smiled:
"I'm only going to say this once, so everyone pay attention. Turn yourselves in, and surrender this city and all surrounding areas, or else you will be punished for your actions."
They all looked at one another then burst into laughter:
"You amuse me, I might keep you alive after all. As a pet."
The man smiled:
"I was hoping you'd say that, now I can see the real difference in the strength of ranks."
The man took a step forward and vanished, a burst of energy shot out from him, paralyzing everyone around him. The only one still capable of moving was Dean, his resistance was higher, but also because his body was constantly being augmented by his water ability.
By the time he realized what was happening, the man was already face to face with him. The man grabbed him by the face and continued moving forward, crashing into the building behind them.
The curses of Dean were muffled, as he grasped the man by his wrists. But he smiled under his grip. The building around them began to shake, one by one every pipe in the building began to burst. Soon a tornado of water surrounded the building, flowing all the way into the clouds above.
"You have really good control, seems whomever taught you knew what they were doing."
"Oh you have no idea."
The voice was muffled, but somehow the man could hear him clearly. The grip of Dean grew weak and his arms went limp, yet his cold eyes remained focused on him.
A shiver was sent down his spine as he looked into them, he knew something was wrong the instant he let go. And he was right to think so.
He felt his grip loosen, as the body of Dean began to melt between his fingertips. A hand gripped the back of his head slamming it into the wall. Blood covered the wall as he slowly slid down to his knees.
"Gotta say kid, you're pretty strong for a new comer. But I guess no one told you, I was the first to awaken.
I was already so strong when I awoke, but I've only grown since. I mean what kinda of twisted god would allow a murderer to grow stronger from killing others."
The man slowly turned to face him, noticing his healing factor kicking in, Dean kicked his head into the wall once more.
"You didn't know, did you? Killing other awakened makes us stronger. It's like they want us to get rid of one another.... it's so.... Beautiful.
Naturally I stand at the peak of all awakened, killing others was so easy, so.... Fun. You can't begin to imagine how much I enjoyed it, hearing their screams as I took them in their own homes."
Smiling he kicked him once more, one in his chest, and the other breaking his leg. He gritted his teeth, which amused him.
"Then it happened, I was blessed by the gods once more. I held the lifeless body of that pathetic awoken child, I was called back to their world. I underwent their little trial, and was re-awakened.
That little trick just now, is only the beginning. This one is my favorite."
The man's eyes grew wide as he grasped at his throat.
"My water form, took a while to perfect. But this one, was oh so much sweeter."
The man's skin felt like it was beginning to boil, and his lungs began to fill up with water. Dean took over all of the water in his body, with ease. He was slowly forcing it against him, it was only a matter of seconds before the man would be cooked from the inside.
The eyes of the man began to secrete tears of blood, yet the man slowly formed a smile on his face.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing really, I just couldn't help but smile. If I had doubts before, you've crushed them."
"Oh, finally realized you should've taken my offer? Pet."
"Not... at all."
The mans' body became limp as his eyes became lifeless. Dean laughed as he awaited his power to grow stronger, but instead his body fell lifeless as his head rolled to the floor.
As the tornado of water began to fade away, life returned to the mans eyes. As he slowly rose to his feet, he could feel his power grow.
"Team Alpha, do you copy?"
"Copy Reaper, what's your status."
"The head of the serpent has been severed, clean up the rest. It's time to take back what belongs to us."
"Copy that, moving out."
Soon a young man came through the whole in the wall to greet the man, he wore an all black military grade combat suit, and held a small sword on his hip.
"Wow, when you said the head was severed you really meant it, huh. Reaper, indeed."
The man looked behind him at the body then back to him.
"Well, you're pretty hurt. You want me to heal you. Won't take but a second."
"Yeah, thanks."
The young man walked up to him and placed his hand on his chest, instantly aura began to surge throughout his body, and began healing his wounds.
"So what he said about re-awakening, you think he was telling the truth? Is that possible?"
As the young man asked this, the man stumbled forward.
"I think... we're about to find out."
His eyes grew heavy as his body began to fall limp, into the mans arms.
"Laura, do you copy?"
"Copy, what's up?"
"It's the captain, somethings going on. I need you to take him back to base."
"On my way."
In less than a second a woman appeared from the shadows, she wore the same uniform and wielded no weapons. She walked over to him and took him from his hands.
"You coming, Shawn?"
"Nah, I'm gonna hang back. Might be a few good civilians here who might need healing. I'll catch up later."
"Suit yourself."
Just a soon as she came, she was gone. Shawn made his way back outside, and watched as the other criminals were all rounded up.
"This is getting fun, already."
--
In a world previously inaccessible to the human race:
"Welcome, Arthur Jade. Are you ready to begin your next trial...."