The wiring was still live. Current surged through his left hand and into his entire body. He convulsed as the energy coursed its way towards his right hand.

The increase in power was dramatic. His right hand crackled with electricity and magnetic waves distorted the air around him.

He internally rejoiced, but a strong jolt shook him to his core.

“ARRRRGGGGGHHHH” Orion could barely hold it in. He felt himself being ripped apart from the inside.

He tried to control the Ether and the electricity but both ran amok in his body at the same time.

He could not contain the forces in his body any longer. He felt an intense pressure to release all the Ether before he exploded from the turmoil within.

“If I release the Ether now before the skill is charged, it would just scatter everywhere. I must combine the two energies before the Shadows arrive!”

Just as he desperately tried to meld the energies together, a glow on his chest caught his attention.

His pendant was glowing. It was a gift from Professor Kelvin. It was reacting to the Ether dissonance.

“It’s absorbing both Ether and electricity! Why is it doing that?” Orion questioned frantically.

He was now racing against time. Either his body explodes from the overload or the Shadows devour him. This could be the key, he thought.

Suddenly, Orion found himself inside a grey stone room. In the middle of the chamber lay a giant stone tablet. The words on it glowed with different colours in a mesmerising pattern. It was beautiful, majestic and exuded an aura of power.

Words began to form in his head.

“What is your destiny?” an unknown voice asked.

“What do you mean?” thought the bewildered Orion, trying to figure out why was he was here, and where here was.

“Do you choose a life of sacrifice and suffering to protect those dear to you? Or do you choose a life of freedom and leave others to their fate?” the words resounded in his mind.

The tablet began flashing images of himself in a cascade of scenes depicting many different events. Some of them he had no recollection of.

“If I could choose. I would protect my family and friends, even if it costs my life.” Orion replied with determination.

The tablet shone brightly and rainbow flashes filled the room.

“Destinies System Activated.”

Orion awoke and saw a bright light before him. Countless arcs of electricity circled him, it was spectacular, and possibly the most power he had ever felt. The air crackled around him as flashes lit the entire area.

Suddenly, Orion realised Peach standing beside him. Her eyes closed and her hands transferring healing Ether onto him.

“Why are you still here?! I told you to run!” He barked at her.

“I won’t let you do this alone! And if I’m not here, you would be dead the moment you try such a dangerous skill!” Peach argued, trying to force more Ether into the torrent of healing energy.

He could feel his nervous system calming from her efforts. She was right.

“I’m sorry you had to accompany me through this.” he said to her.

Peach smiled and continued to mend his body. Her healing decreased the strain and damage on his body as he kept charging the skill.

The thumping sounds came nearer and nearer. The two Shadow beasts soon came into view. They looked at Orion and Peach with unbridled bloodlust and roared.

Orion aimed his right hand towards the Shadows. He used his left hand to pull an arc of electrical energy towards his right arm. The lightning bolt crackled as it took form.

“Levin!” shouted Orion.

“Bzzzzzzzzz!”

A blinding light shot from his hand with a boom. The bolt struck the Shadows in an instant, ripping and disintegrating the road, cars and everything in its path.