The Boy From Nowhere

[Flashback – A Few Months Ago]

Across the fabric of a distant galaxy, a fire tore through space — burning with unnatural speed and silence.

A meteor, cloaked in blue heat and cosmic energy, roared through a veil of stars and clouds… before slamming into the forests of Earth like a god's fist.

The impact crater steamed. Trees had been shattered like twigs. No sirens came. No satellites picked it up. The wreckage was silent.

Until a boy crawled from the smoke.

He stumbled out, barefoot and breathing hard — his body faintly glowing, his veins illuminated like lightning caught beneath skin. His eyes burned bright for a moment… then flickered to normal.

He looked at his hand — it trembled, morphing slightly, shifting out of human form before he clenched his fist and suppressed it.

Voiceover (Zeno):

“The moment I left Nemesis… I knew I could never go back. Not as their weapon.”

His body gave out. The glow dimmed. He collapsed on the forest floor as a family of campers in the distance rushed toward him, calling for help.

The screen faded to black.

[Present Day – Morning, Earth City]

Zeno Carter jolted awake, chest rising sharply with the breath of a memory he couldn't fully shake. The room was small, clean, and barely lit by soft morning sun. Digital blinds hummed open.

He sat up slowly. Across the room, a flickering mirror reflected something he couldn’t explain — a split-second image of his alien self staring back at him. Blue skin, sharp markings, glowing white eyes.

Then it was gone. He blinked. Just his regular face again.

Keep it together, he told himself. You're not him anymore.

From the corner, the TV rambled on in that bright, uncaring tone:

“Another Drainer swarm neutralized by Project Earth yesterday. All thanks to our elite heroes and the rising generation. The Academy opens its gates this morning for a fresh wave of cadets!”

Zeno slung his custom bag over his shoulder. The moment he stepped outside, the city of Earth came alive.

Sky cars zipped overhead in orderly traffic lanes. Floating holo-screens advertised the Academy, showing shots of instructors, elemental battles, and cheering crowds. Power-wielding citizens walked side by side with civilians — some flying, some cloaked, some flickering with strange light.

But Zeno didn’t glow. Not today.

[Arrival at Project Earth Academy]

The gates were massive — silver and blue steel wrapped around a radiant energy symbol. It spun slowly above the entrance, the logo of Project Earth.

Students funneled through, some wide-eyed, others already cocky. Zeno kept his head low.

But he noticed a few faces — ones that seemed destined to cross paths again.

Calen Rhodes leaned against a pillar, smirking, sparks jumping between his fingertips like impatient lightning.

Lana Cross rolled her eyes at him, her hair flickering with embers.

Mira Lane stood alone, silent and sharp-eyed — water rippling calmly in her palm.

Darian Holt, bulky and stone-faced, helped a younger kid with his bag before walking inside without a word.

None of them truly noticed Zeno… except for Mira. Her gaze lingered just a second too long.

Why do I feel like I know him? she thought, her fingers curling around the edge of her uniform.

[First Trial – Simulated Monster Emergency]

The dome was massive — a glowing arena that transformed into a war zone within seconds. Screams echoed through a false city as Golems and Crawlers emerged from broken streets and shattered buildings.

Overhead, a cold voice spoke:

“This is your first test. Save civilians. Survive. Don’t show off — show instincts.”

Zeno stood still at first, watching the chaos unfold. Others sprang into action, launching fireballs, summoning walls, sprinting toward civilians.

But Zeno?

He hesitated.

A vision flashed in his mind — torn monsters, melting under the raw force of his true power. A planet painted in blood. His power wasn’t just for combat. It was annihilation.

You can't become that again, he told himself.

So he stuck to wind.

A soft lift here, a burst there. He gently pulled a child from beneath a bus, used wind pressure to push falling debris away from others. When a Golem charged him, he used smart redirection — no flashy takedown, just survival and protection.

Enough to be noticed. But not enough to expose himself.

[Ending Scene – Rooftop at Sunset]

Trial complete. Students celebrated. Some argued. Others tried to brag.

Zeno sat alone on a high rooftop, overlooking the city that had taken him in. The sky was painted gold and violet, his silhouette dark against the setting sun.

Then came a voice.

“Hey,” someone called, climbing up beside him. “You’re kinda weird, you know that? But not bad.”

Zeno turned to see Calen smirking with that same spark in his eye.

“I’m Calen.”

Zeno smirked faintly. “Zeno. Just a normal guy.”

[Cut to Space – Planet Nemesis]

Far away, in the cold void of space, a monstrous throne room pulsed with energy.

Nexar Nemis stood over a glowing war table, his cloak fluttering despite no wind. A soldier knelt at his feet, armor cracked from interstellar travel.

“He has arrived,” the soldier said. “Just as predicted.”

Nexar turned — his right hand warped and unstable, energy pulsing through it like liquid void.

“Then it’s time Earth remembers who they let in…”

His smile, twisted and cold, stretched beneath his hood.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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