Chapter 3 – I Have Super Strength and Zero Motivation

Kael’s apartment was his sanctuary.

Wrinkled sheets. Unwashed mugs. The smell of cheap incense and despair. Everything in its place.

Except for the genie.

He floated in the middle of the room like a giant mobile over a baby’s crib, asking questions and generating unnecessary gusts of wind.

"So, what do we do now? Start your spiritual training? Want to meditate on a volcano? Run barefoot through the fields of eternal fire?"

Kael collapsed onto his couch like he weighed three lifetimes.

"What I want," he said with half-closed eyes, "is silence, coffee, and for you to crawl into a lamp for... let’s say... all eternity."

"But destiny never rests!"

"I do."

The genie clicked his tongue.

"You’re a tough one. Even the chosen ones of the apocalypse usually get a little excited."

"What if I skip the apocalypse? I’m thinking of faking my death. Can you forge certificates?"

But there was no time for more sarcasm.

BOOOOOOOM

The explosion shook the windows like a magical storm had sneezed on the street. The glass rattled. The ceiling lamp swung dangerously.

Kael didn’t move.

"Not my problem," he said without opening his eyes.

"Kael..." whispered the genie, floating toward the window. "I think you should see this."

"Does it involve paperwork?"

"No. People dying."

Kael groaned, dragged himself off the couch, and walked to the window.

Outside, chaos reigned.

People screaming and running. Magic-powered cars flying sideways. And in the middle of it all… a figure.

Tall. Black armor with glowing red runes. A cape clearly made from beast hide. And in his hand… the head of a cop, helmet still on.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Kael shouted, stumbling back.

The figure tossed the head like a ball, smashing it against a pole.

Then he looked up.

His eyes glowed with a violet light.

"YOU!" he roared, pointing straight at Kael’s window. "Bearer of the genie! I want that power!"

Kael blinked.

"Why do villains always scream my address? Where are the government snipers when you need them?"

The villain raised one hand. A chunk of pavement rose, floated… and launched straight at the building.

A giant rock. The size of a magic caravan. Flying at a very unfriendly speed.

"NO NO NO NO—!" Kael yelled, throwing his arms over his head as the impact drew near.

CRAAAAASH!

The rock smashed through the wall like it was paper. It hit Kael square in the chest.

Silence.

Dust. Rubble. Magical bricks floating through the air. A pigeon fled in terror.

"...Am I dead?" Kael mumbled from inside the dust cloud.

The air cleared.

And there was Kael. Still standing.

The rock lay shattered around him, as if it had crashed into a statue made of steel.

Kael looked at his hands. His body.

Not a scratch.

"...I didn’t feel a thing."

The genie floated down with a proud little grin.

"Oh! Almost forgot! Tiny detail: you have super strength. Mountain-crushing level. Congratulations."

Kael stared at him blankly.

A mix of “what the hell?” and “I want to go back to bed.”

"Day three as a cursed vessel: survived an assassination attempt by giant magic rock... and now I have super strength.

This was not in my job contract."

From the street, the villain roared:

"COME DOWN AND FIGHT LIKE A HE—"

Kael slammed the window shut.

"I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. And then maybe... maybe throw up a little."