Project Superior: A Hero’s Awakening

In the beginning, there was a book—its pages blank, untouched, waiting. Then a hand, steady and purposeful, gripped a pen. With each stroke, the hand brought something into being. From the emptiness of the void emerged a universe, its wonders born of boundless imagination.

The hand paused, sensing the vastness of its creation. Within this unfolding cosmos, it longed for the story to play out, for the written word to take life.

The book, once empty, now brimmed with tales of endless cosmology. Worlds upon worlds unfurled, layered across timelines, realms, dimensions, and even multiverses. From there, they cascaded further into hyperverses and other unimaginable systems of order and chaos. Life teemed across these creations, each form unique, shaped by the hand that authored them.

One such world, Planet Eqirene, flourished with elves—beings of profound wisdom and unfathomable knowledge. Their serene realms echoed with the whispers of ancient lore.

Another, Planet Van Helsing, was shrouded in mystery, home to the cunning and enigmatic vampires, whose allure masked their predatory nature.

Dragonite, a land of fury and fire, housed the ferocious dragons. These mighty creatures stood as forces of sheer destruction, a testament to the chaos within creation.

And then there was Earth, the cradle of humanity. Its inhabitants were fragile yet remarkable, their ingenuity rivaling even the greatest of myths.

Across these worlds, rare individuals were born wielding powers that defied mortal comprehension. These chosen few, called the "Gifted," became living legends, venerated by those without such abilities. Their feats inspired awe, envy, and reverence alike.

But where power thrived, so too did hubris. Over time, the Gifted grew arrogant, drunk on their superiority. Their gifts, meant to elevate, became symbols of pride and division. And with that pride came the seeds of conflict—a shadow creeping across the beauty of creation.

The arrival of the Varmints marked an age of despair. These incarnations of destruction sought nothing less than the annihilation of all creation. Yet, even in the face of such darkness, a glimmer of hope remained—individuals known as the Gifted, blessed with extraordinary abilities.

While some Gifted rose to defend their world, others succumbed to pride and evil, using their powers for selfish gain. The Varmints thrived in this division, wreaking havoc as the races of the world, consumed by mutual animosity, refused to unite. Wars raged between nations, each vying for supremacy, even as destruction loomed.

Amidst the chaos, humanity turned its gaze inward, seeking to wield the Gifted as weapons of control and dominance. Governments, blinded by ambition, orchestrated a secret initiative: Project Superior.

The program was as horrifying as it was ambitious. Infants were abducted from their parents and subjected to a volatile serum known as Superium. The serum promised to unlock unparalleled power—but at a terrible cost. For years, the project was marred by failure as child after child perished, their small bodies unable to withstand the serum's deadly effects.

Out of hundreds, fewer than eight survived. Among them was a boy named Xavier Laurent, taken from his family on a cold December night in Annecy, France, 1800.

The screams of a distraught mother echoed in the snow-laden streets as armed soldiers tore her newborn from her arms.

"Xavier! Xavier! Give me back my son, you cowards!" she cried, her voice raw with anguish.

Her husband fought desperately to reach their child, but the soldiers held him back. When her pleas fell on deaf ears, one of the soldiers raised his gun, aiming to silence her. The father lunged, shielding his wife with his body as the shot rang out.

Blood stained the snow as both parents fell. The mother, clutching her husband's lifeless body, whispered her final words through trembling lips: "Xavier, my son... I love you..."

The baby's cries were drowned out as he was carried away into the night.

Xavier Laurent's fate was sealed the moment he was taken to a secret facility—a labyrinth of cold steel and shadowed hallways. Here, scientists pursued the grim task of testing the volatile Superium serum on infants. Few survived, and none were expected to.

When Xavier arrived, his cries echoed in the sterile halls. Yet, amidst the routine of experiments, one startling revelation changed everything: Xavier was a Gifted child. His unique abilities were a rarity—a one-in-a-billion discovery.

The scientists were ecstatic, their cold calculations giving way to twisted triumph. They wasted no time injecting Xavier with the Superium serum. The odds were stacked against him, yet the boy survived, his small body enduring what had killed so many others.

Among the researchers was Rebecca, a scientist whose conscience had long been buried beneath duty—until now. Watching Xavier endure the experiments and learning of the brutal murder of his parents stirred something within her. She could no longer abide by the cruelty that surrounded her.

Rebecca hatched a daring plan to save Xavier, a plan to free him from the clutches of arrogant, corrupt politicians—and from him.

She worked quickly, crafting a small, ventilated enclosure to keep the baby safe. That night, as crates of supplies were prepared for shipment, Rebecca waited for the right moment.

Under the guise of routine work, she placed Xavier in a sturdy basket within a shipping crate bound for the Kingdom of America. The facility's guards and her fellow scientists remained unaware of her actions—at first.

With the ship set to sail, Rebecca whispered her parting words to the infant. Her hand lingered gently on his face as she murmured, "Be safe, Xavier. I wish for you a life filled with love and joy."

As the vessel disappeared over the horizon, Rebecca's actions were discovered. Soldiers surrounded her, their weapons raised, and one of her colleagues stepped forward, seething with rage.

"Where is the child, Rebecca?" the scientist demanded.

Rebecca's lips curved into a defiant smile. "He's beyond your reach now."

Furious, the scientist grabbed a soldier's flintlock and fired. The shot hit Rebecca square in the chest, and she collapsed to the ground, blood staining her lab coat.

As life ebbed away, Rebecca smiled faintly through the searing pain, her vision blurring as darkness crept in. Her thoughts clung to the tiny life she had fought to set free. It's worth it, she thought, her heart steady even as her body faltered. He'll have a chance… a chance to live a wonderful life.

With that final hope etched in her mind, Rebecca's eyes fluttered closed, her smile lingering—a quiet triumph amidst the tragedy.

The ship arrived in America a week later, its cargo unloaded at a bustling dock. Among the crates, the faint cries of an infant went unnoticed—until they reached the ears of Violet Ashford, a bright-eyed three-year-old with silver hair.

"Papa," she tugged at her father's sleeve, "I hear a baby crying."

Her father, Jonathan Ashford—a tall, broad-shouldered man with semi-long blond hair and crimson eyes—paused, confused. "A baby? Here?"

Beside them, his eldest son, Aleksander, nodded. At ten years old, Aleksander's sharp features and piercing wine-red eyes gave him a maturity beyond his years. "She's right, Father. I can see him," he said, pointing to a crate being unloaded from the ship.

Jonathan trusted his children's instincts. They were Gifted, after all, and their abilities rarely failed them. Jonathan approached the crate and pried it open. Inside, he found a baby boy with soft brown-black hair and olive skin, his tiny face streaked with tears.

Inside, nestled in a small basket, was a baby with soft brown-black hair and a warm olive complexion. His tear-streaked face trembled with hunger and fear.

Jonathan gently lifted the infant into his arms, his heart aching for the child's plight. "Aleksander," he said, his voice steady, "find the nearest phone booth. Call for help."

As Aleksander sprinted away, Jonathan cradled the baby close. "You're safe now," he whispered, his voice filled with quiet resolve.

Unbeknownst to Jonathan, the baby in his arms was destined to change the fate of the world.