CHAPTER 150: CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Jayden woke up feeling good... no, great. The past four days had been life-changing for him.

Since his fight with the Chthonix, he hadn’t just survived, he had conquered. He’d absorbed the beast’s energy, integrated its genes, and evolved it to Rank C using the crystals Penelope had given him some weeks back.

But what made him smirk as he entered the shower that morning was something even more satisfying... he had mastered two of the Chthonix’s Abilities. Not one. But Two!

And to make things more exciting... today was the day of the intraschool tournament. His very first challenge and a perfect way to display his strength.

"Today’s gonna be fun." he thought with a grin, steam rising around him like a victorious mist.

After his shower, he slipped into his school’s official tracksuit... adorned with the silver sigil of Eleanora High, and headed downstairs. In the dining room, Tasha and Jessica were already halfway through a mountain of pancakes, their identical tracksuits hugging their curvy figures.

"Morning, Jayden!" Jessica chirped around a mouthful, her dark curls bouncing.

"Finally up," Tasha teased. "We thought you wanted to ditch the tournament and sleep the whole day."

Jayden grinned as he took a seat. "And miss a chance to punch someone in the face? No way." he chuckled, causing the girls to laugh as well.

Harleen stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. When she spotted Jayden, she smiled softly and placed a plate in front of him.

"Eat up, you’re going to need all the energy you can get," she said, her voice gentle but serious.

"Thanks," Jayden said, already grabbing a fork.

But as she looked at him, her eyes, kind as always, held something else; a mix of relief and concern.

Jayden caught it immediately. "Hey. Something wrong?"

Harleen hesitated, then sighed. "I’m just... worried. You still don’t know your Ability, and the tournament today... it can get intense. I just don’t want you getting hurt."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "You’re seriously worried about Jayden? The same boy who split a titanium armour in half?"

"Yeah," Tasha said with pride. "Even our teacher was surprised that day. Hell, I’m still surprised till today."

Harleen’s eyes widened. "Wait—what? He broke titanium?"

Jayden just shrugged with a modest smile. "It’s not a big deal." he rubbed the back of his neck. "Besides, I think that armour was already defective."

Harleen chuckled and shook her head. "Wow. I still can’t believe it. Maybe Strength is your ability afterall."

Jayden smiled back. "Yeah. Maybe."

Just then, Jacob strolled into the dining room, adjusting the collar of his leather jacket. "Morning, everyone," he greeted with a warm smile.

He leaned down and kissed Harleen softly on the lips, causing both Tasha and Jessica to groan simultaneously.

"Ugh, do you have to do that in front of us?" Jessica feigned disgust.

Harleen grinned as she pulled away. "It’s not my fault you don’t have boyfriends yet."

Instantly, both girls turned their wide eyes on Jayden. He felt the heat rise in his cheeks and quickly looked down at his breakfast. Tasha and Jessica quickly did the same, and an awkward silence fell over the table.

Jacob and Harleen noticed the shift but said nothing, they just exchanged a knowing smile as they sipped their coffee.

After breakfast, the group gathered outside. Jacob’s sleek hovercar gleamed in the morning light, ready to transport them to the arena.

Harleen stayed behind on the sidewalk, waving with a proud, motherly smile.

"You sure you don’t wanna come watch us fight?" Jessica urged with a persuasive grumble.

"Yeah," added Tasha. "Moms are allowed too, y’know!"

Harleen chuckled and shook her head. "I’ve got an important meeting today. But I’ll be waiting at home with a victory dinner.. so don’t disappoint me."

She kissed both girls on the forehead, whispering good luck.

Then she turned to Jayden and pulled him into a gentle hug. "You’re not left out, sweetheart."

She kissed his forehead, her voice quiet. "Be safe, okay?"

Jayden nodded. "I will."

They climbed into Jacob’s car, and with a soft hum, it lifted into the air and zoomed off toward their school. Harleen stood on the sidewalk, waving until they vanished into the city skyline.

The hovercar glided smoothly down from the sky, landing gently near the sprawling grounds of Eleanora High. Jayden, Tasha, Jessica, and Jacob stepped out onto the paved courtyard, their breaths visible in the cool morning air.

All around them, students from their grade filtered in, wearing their school’s red-and-white tracksuits with pride. The bright crimson stripes contrasted sharply against the clean white fabric, the school emblem emblazoned over their hearts. Groups of friends laughed nervously, stretching or pacing, while parents hovered nearby.. some offering last-minute advice, others quietly watching with hopeful eyes.

Jayden scanned the scene: a mother tugging at her son’s collar, telling him to: "Show them what you’re made of,"

A father kneeling beside his daughter, whispering: "Give it your all, no matter what."

Winning wasn’t just about pride or bragging rights. It was a stepping stone... a golden ticket. For many, success here meant a greater chance of getting accepted into a prestigious university off-world, a chance to study on other planets, to break free from the constraints of home. Every parent here dreamed of that future for their children.

Jacob gave a reassuring nod as they moved forward, his protective presence comforting the girls and Jayden alike.

Suddenly, from the crowd, two familiar figures emerged: Penelope and Cassandra.

Penelope’s eyes glinted with a mix of warmth and something unreadable as she greeted the group. Cassandra, however, wore a sharp smile tinged with icy competition.

She and Tasha immediately locked eyes, and the temperature dropped a few degrees.

"Tasha," Cassandra said indifferently. Tasha responded with an equally icy glare.

"Good luck," Cassandra said, voice dripping with polite insincerity.

"You too," Tasha replied, her tone cool but steady.

Meanwhile, Penelope turned to Jayden, her gaze knowing. "Good luck today," she said with a smile.

Jayden smiled. "Thank you."

Then, leaning in just close enough so only he could hear, she whispered, "Go easy on the other kids, will you?"

Jayden chuckled softly and nodded. "Of course."

The group shared brief smiles before they headed toward the senior building, their footsteps echoing on the polished floors.

Inside, the large combat hall had been transformed into a makeshift coliseum. A massive circular arena dominated the center, surrounded by tiered seating. The buzz of excited voices filled the space, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.

The pavilion was carefully arranged: parents were seated on the left side, forming a semi-circle of supportive faces, while students occupied the right side, buzzing with nervous energy and competitive tension.

Jacob, Penelope, and the other parents exchanged quiet words as they took their seats, waving goodbye to their children.

"We’ll be cheering for you from the sidelines," Jacob called out.

Penelope smiled and gave a small wave. "Show them what you’re made of."

Jayden, Tasha, and Jessica exchanged determined glances, then turned to face the arena. The tournament was about to begin.