Dominos: Zero Point Awakening

Chapter 30: Class-X Awakens

As Narrated by the Event Keeper

It was around 6 AM when General Flick’s helicopter touched down at FortGuard, fresh from HQ. He stepped out, urgency driving his every move, and made a beeline for his office. Hidden there were five extra injections—secrets known only to him and Number One. He needed one now, a safeguard against the chaos he sensed brewing.

Bursting through the door, he stopped dead. There, lounging in his chair with casual arrogance, sat Marcus Stone—the one man he despised above all others.

“Marcus!” Flick’s voice cracked with fury, his nightmare unfolding. “What is this? What are you doing in my office?”

“Look who’s here!” Stone replied, his tone laced with mockery. “General Flick, didn’t you get the memo? This isn’t your office anymore.”

“These are my men!” Flick shot back, his fists tightening.

“Your men?” Stone stood, closing the distance between them. “They’re soldiers of the Planetary Defense Force, and I’m in charge now.” His voice dropped to a taunting whisper. “Go home and rest. Let the big dogs handle the biting.”

Rage surged through Flick, threatening to erupt into something ugly.

“What?” Stone pressed, smirking. “You want to fight me? Go ahead—let’s see if you’ve still got it.”

But then Flick paused, the weight of reality crashing down. The planet teetered on the brink of collapse; this was no time for petty showdowns. “Come on!” Stone goaded. “Show me what you’ve got!”

“I’m not here to fight,” Flick said, forcing calm into his voice. “The planet’s in danger. I hope you take this seriously and do your job right. I’ll grab my things and go.”

Stone’s eyes narrowed. “There are spies on this base. From now on, no one outside my authority stays. Leave immediately—for your own sake. I’ll send your belongings after I’ve inspected them.”

“This isn’t a game, Marcus,” Flick warned. “Don’t screw it up.”

“You’re excused, General,” Stone replied coldly. With a sharp gesture, he summoned a group of soldiers. “Escort General Flick home. Keep an eye on him.”

Flick glared but complied, his mind run out of contingencies.

Hours later, Marcus Stone stood before the assembled Planetary Defense Cops in the main hall, asserting his new command.

“As per HQ’s orders,” he declared, “we’re selecting twenty Neogens to eliminate the enemy rampaging through Central Asia.” He tapped Commander John Grey and his ten seasoned soldiers for their expertise. For the other ten, he turned to a power level system.

The energy gauge machine—Number One’s ingenious creation—hummed to life. It measured the awakened power of ELB in each soldier by analyzing the energy they absorbed and the faint radiation they emitted. One by one, the defense cops stepped through, their fates sealed by numbers. The Special Class-X Squadron, still reeling from their near-death mission on Raspberry Island, was excluded—no measurements for them.

Of the remaining seventy-four, excluding Grey’s team, power levels ranged from 20 to 55. A baseline of one matched a strong, normal human; these soldiers were far beyond that. The top ten scorers joined the mission. As they awaited the green light, the chosen twenty trained and studied, preparing to face an enemy shrouded in mystery.

The next day, something extraordinary stirred within the Special Class-X Squadron. Dmitry Petrove, a towering figure among them, woke to find himself floating mid-air. His startled scream jolted the barracks awake.

“What’s happening to me?” Dmitry cried, eyes wide with disbelief.

Captain Agatha burst in just as he crashed back down. Before she could speak, Cipher’s voice cut through the chaos. “The special abilities are awakening!” he said, awe coloring his words.

A sudden surge rippled through them all, like a resonance igniting their cores. The foggy haze that had dulled their senses lifted, revealing unique energy flow abilities within each member. Yet, none grasped how to wield them fully. After battles with Space Divider and Coastal Man, this new reality wasn’t entirely shocking—but it was uncharted.

“Let’s keep this quiet,” Agatha ordered abruptly.

“Why?” Cipher challenged, his mind racing for strategic advantage. “If every Neogen awakens, we could stop the Vodocks from conquering us.”

“Too much is unknown,” she countered. “How did the serum reach that island? Why did general Flick suddenly sresign? We need answers before we expose ourselves.”

Her logic resonated, especially with Cipher, who feared the serum might unleash more than just powers—but also bloodlust and madness. He already suspected the identity of the killer on the loose. They agreed to guard their secret.

That’s when they noticed Zack was gone. A search of the base turned up nothing—no trace, no clue. He hadn’t just left; he’d vanished. Cipher, sleepless all night, swore no one had seen or heard him go. As they awaited his return, they trained cautiously, mastering their powers to avoid mishaps.

Hours later, as control over their abilities grew, Diego broke the silence. “I need to say something,” he announced, voice heavy. “I’m quitting the defense cops.”

“What do you mean?” Agatha asked, stunned. “Why?”

“I’m not like you,” he said, eyes averted. “You’ve all awakened your powers. Nothing has happened to me—I feel no change.”

“It’s been one day,” she replied, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Give it time. Even without powers, you’re strong enough to fight. We need every soldier for this war. As a team, we cover each other’s weaknesses.”

Diego shook his head. “Ten years ago, I won the Nobel Prize. I spent my youth chasing equations, craving recognition. I thought it’d fill me—being etched in history as a top mathematician.” His gaze dropped. “But the fame, the money, the fleeting joy—it never matched the sacrifices. I lost too much hunched over desks, scribbling in ink and chalk. I came here to fight for others, to find purpose.”

“You can still save people,” Cipher urged.

“I can’t,” Diego whispered. “Since the island, I haven’t slept. That monster haunts me. My body screams to run.” His trembling hands betrayed him. “I’m sorry—I’m a coward.”

They pleaded, but his resolve was iron. With heavy hearts, they watched him leave, though he’d soon learn some battles can’t be escaped.

After Diego’s departure, Cipher gathered the team. “I think it’s Wardark,” he said, voice low and urgent. “He copied Victor’s ability, then vanished, vowing to ‘carry out everyone’s sentence’ himself. He’s the one destroying the cities.”

Agatha’s eyes hardened, memories of the island flaring. “We’re going to stop him,” she declared, resolve unshakable.

Less than forty-eight hours had passed since facing Hira 125, but rest wasn’t an option. Once again, it was time to fight.