Eshe's eyes fluttered open slowly, the world around her coming into focus. She felt a deep weariness in her bones, but the soft glow of her room was a welcome sight after the chaos she had endured. As her vision cleared, she noticed a familiar figure standing by the door, his imposing form unmistakable even in the dim light. It was Dmitri, standing guard, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes alert.
As she stirred, Dmitri's gaze shifted toward her. "You're awake."
Eshe blinked a few times, her head still foggy. "What happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse from the long slumber.
Dmitri pushed himself off the wall and approached the side of her bed, his expression stern but tinged with relief. "You've been out for a week and a half," he said, his voice low but calm. "After the explosion in the sixth ring, we found you at the epicenter, alive but unconscious. You're lucky to be alive, Eshe."
Eshe frowned, her mind struggling to piece together the events leading up to the explosion. The last thing she remembered was the procedure—the overwhelming energy surging through her, the blinding light, and then… nothing.
"And the evolution?" she asked, her voice growing stronger. "Was it successful?"
Dmitri nodded, though there was a heaviness to his tone. "Yes, the evolution worked. But the blast caused massive damage. The blast destroyed a portion of the sixth district that measures 10 miles in diameter."
Eshe's glowing eyes widened in shock. "Ten miles? That much destruction…"
"Your power grew beyond anything we expected," Dmitri said, his tone measured. "But we don't know the full extent of it yet. We're still assessing the situation."
As the weight of Dmitri's words sank in, Eshe felt a surge of emotion rising within her. The destruction, the loss—it was too much. Her hands trembled as she pushed herself up from the bed, her heart racing. Before Dmitri could react, Eshe vanished, her form flickering out of sight in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared at the center of the blast site, the crater where the procedure had gone so terribly wrong. The desolation stretched out before her—buildings reduced to rubble, streets torn apart, the very ground scarred by the force of the explosion. The air was still thick with the lingering aftermath, a haunting reminder of the power that had surged from her.
Her emotions bubbled over, and for a moment, she felt helpless. But then, something stirred in the back of her mind, a soft, insistent whisper. It was a strange sensation, like a forgotten memory resurfacing. She could feel it—an undeniable sense of control over the devastation. Her power had done this, and now, deep within her, she felt the growing certainty that it could undo it as well.
Her body reacted on its own, responding to the pulse of power rising from within. Her hands, trembling a moment ago, now drifted up from her sides, her fingers glowing with a soft, ethereal light. Slowly, her feet lifted off the ground, her body floating into the air as a surge of energy coursed through her. The sensation was intoxicating, her power growing stronger with each passing second.
The world around her began to shift, the destruction seemingly reversing itself. Crumbled buildings reassembled, stones and debris lifting off the ground and snapping back into place as if time itself was being rewritten. The streets, once torn apart, smoothed over, the scars of the blast disappearing before her eyes.
Eshe's eyes glowed with a mix of light and darkness, her energy pouring out of her like a wave. The entire scene transformed, as if the explosion had never happened. Slowly, gently, her body drifted back to the ground, her feet touching the now-restored earth. She stood there, her heart still pounding, her breath shallow, as she surveyed what she had just done.
As she turned, she saw Dmitri standing a few paces behind her, his face a mixture of shock and awe. His normally composed expression was completely undone by the display of power he had just witnessed.
"You…" Dmitri's voice was barely a whisper, his eyes wide. "You reversed all of it. Like… it never happened."
Eshe's glowing eyes met Dmitri's, her voice calm but filled with a newfound certainty. "We can all evolve now," she said, her words carrying a quiet power. "All of us. With this new strength, we can face Tel-Nu together. I can ensure that what happened during my evolution doesn't happen again."
Dmitri's brow furrowed, his usual confidence wavering as concern crept into his voice. "Eshe, you don't know for sure if—"
"I do know," Eshe interrupted, her tone firm but not harsh. "I'm not entirely sure how, but it's like I have the entire knowledge of the sixth ring flowing through my mind. I understand the process now—how to control it, how to make it safe. I can guide the others through the evolution without the risks I faced."
Dmitri stared at her, still processing what he had just witnessed and now what she was saying. It wasn't just the power she had displayed—it was the confidence, the clarity. Eshe wasn't the same as she had been before the procedure. Something fundamental had changed within her.
"You want to evolve everyone else now?" Dmitri asked, his voice betraying his unease. "Are you sure you're ready for that? You've barely had time to recover yourself."
Eshe gave a slow nod, her eyes unwavering. "There's no time to waste. Tel-Nu is getting stronger, and we need to be ready. I know how to control this, Dmitri. I can make sure the others don't suffer what I did. The procedure will be smoother, safer."
Dmitri crossed his arms, his mind racing. He knew they needed the power to face Tel-Nu, but he couldn't shake the lingering doubts. Eshe, however, was resolute.
"We need to move on to the next stages," Eshe said, her voice filled with urgency. "If we delay, we might not have another chance to stop him. Trust me, Dmitri—I can do this."
Eshe, her newfound power now fully in her control, raised her hand slightly, her focus intensifying. In an instant, a soft pulse of energy radiated from her, and within moments, the operators who had been working on her evolution appeared before her and Dmitri, teleported from wherever they had been.
The operators stumbled slightly as they arrived, their eyes wide with shock at the sudden displacement. It took them a moment to regain their bearings, but the second they saw Eshe standing before them, alive and well, their shock turned to overwhelming relief.
"Eshe!" one of the operators cried out, tears welling up in their eyes. "We thought… we didn't think you'd make it. After the explosion… and hearing you were unconscious for so long…"
Several of them broke into tears, the weight of the situation catching up with them. The fear and tension they had been carrying since the procedure began to melt away now that they saw Eshe standing strong and fully in control.
Eshe, her expression softening, took a moment to address them. "I'm sorry for teleporting you here so suddenly," she said, her voice gentle yet filled with urgency. "But we're running out of time. Tel-Nu grows stronger by the day, and we need to evolve the rest of the Core Seven quickly."
The operators wiped their eyes, nodding in understanding. Though still overwhelmed, they recognized the gravity of what Eshe was saying. If the Core Seven were to stand any chance against Tel-Nu, they had to be prepared—and Eshe was ready to lead them through the process.
In a blink, Eshe, Dmitri, and the operators were teleported directly into the new operating room. The familiar hum of machinery filled the air as the operators quickly moved into action, setting up the equipment and preparing Dmitri for the procedure. The space had been rebuilt with the most advanced technology Corintopia had, and yet, there was still an air of tension as they all knew the risks involved.
Dmitri, without hesitation, removed his shirt and lay down on the table, his muscles still taut from his relentless training. His body bore the marks of countless battles, and now he was preparing for a transformation that could push him beyond human limitations. The operators worked swiftly around him, attaching monitors, calibrating machines, and setting up the specialized tools needed for the evolution process.
As the final preparations were made, Eshe stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly. She raised her hands, and with a soft pulse of her power, a shimmering shield enveloped the room, isolating them from any outside disturbances. The energy in the room felt different now—calmer, more controlled. Unlike her own chaotic evolution, Eshe was in full command this time.
The machines hummed louder as they began the process of preparing Dmitri's body for the procedure. But this time, Eshe wasn't merely a bystander. She reached out with her power, enhancing the machines, guiding the flow of energy as they worked to modify Dmitri's physical form. The serums and implants were prepared, but it was Eshe's influence that made everything move with precision. She could feel the pulse of power within Dmitri, ready to be unlocked.
Dmitri's face remained stoic, his body tense but resolute. He trusted Eshe, and he trusted the process. There was no turning back now.
As the procedure continued, the operators remained vigilant, their eyes glued to the monitors. The readings were spiking aggressively, similar to what had happened during Eshe's evolution, but this time, there was no panic. Eshe's influence over the process was clear. Though the power within Dmitri fluctuated wildly, there was no sign of instability, no dangerous surges that could spiral out of control.
The operators exchanged glances, their initial concern giving way to cautious optimism. They watched as the data continued to pour in, each spike in power slowly leveling out until, finally, everything stabilized. The hum of the machinery quieted, and the tension in the room began to ease.
Dmitri, still lying on the operating table, took a slow, deep breath. He could feel it—the raw power coursing through every fiber of his being, surging like a force of nature waiting to be unleashed. His muscles, already honed from years of relentless training, now felt enhanced, stronger than ever before. Slowly, he sat up, flexing his fists, feeling the immense energy pulsing within him.
The operators watched in awe as Dmitri stood, his movements precise and controlled, the very air around him seeming to vibrate with the power he now held. He rolled his shoulders, testing the newfound strength that radiated from his core. Everything felt sharper, clearer—his senses heightened, his perception of the world around him transformed.
"It worked," Dmitri said, his voice steady, but there was an unmistakable edge of awe in his tone. "I can feel it. I can sense everything around me, like the world itself is alive."
Eshe, standing nearby, nodded with a knowing smile. "The evolution was a success, Dmitri. Your power is only just beginning to surface. You'll need time to adjust, but now you're ready for what's coming."
Dmitri clenched his fists again, the energy pulsing through him like a living force. He was ready—ready to face Tel-Nu, and ready to lead the Core Seven into the battle that lay ahead.
As Dmitri flexed his newfound strength, Eshe raised her hands once more, a soft pulse of energy radiating from her. In an instant, the remaining five members of the Core Seven appeared in the room, summoned by Eshe's power. The sudden displacement caught them off guard, but as their eyes adjusted to the surroundings, they froze in place, their gazes locking onto Eshe and Dmitri.
The change was undeniable. Both Eshe and Dmitri stood before them, their presence radiating power. It wasn't just their physical forms that had transformed—the very air around them seemed to hum with energy, the atmosphere charged with the sheer force of their evolution.
Delson Snow Sr., the leader of the Core Seven, stepped forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in the sight. There was no mistaking what had happened—Eshe had succeeded where many had doubted. And Dmitri, now standing beside her, was living proof of that success.
"It seems you've had a breakthrough, Eshe," Delson Sr. said, his voice calm but filled with a mix of surprise and approval. His gaze shifted to Dmitri, noting the same god-like power now emanating from him. "And I'm guessing, since Dmitri's evolved as well, it's time for the rest of us to follow suit?"
Eshe nodded, her glowing eyes meeting Delson's. "Yes. The procedure is stable now. With Dmitri and me leading the process, we can evolve all of you. We don't have time to waste—Tel-Nu is growing stronger, and we need to be ready."
Delson Sr. glanced at the other members of the Core Seven, who stood in silent awe. There was no hesitation in his expression—only resolve. "Then let's not waste any more time. We're ready."