POTENTIAL: THIRTY-SEVEN

**ALEX POV**

"If that's its core, then you should destroy it," suggested Dr. Erick.

"No, it's not possible."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a long story, Doctor, and we don't have time for explanations," I replied, glancing again at the tentacles blocking our path. They needed to get out of there. "I'll make you a path."

Using the guns from Quinnie's office, I created a dozen glowing swords floating behind me. I gestured towards the tentacles, and the blades pierced through every four tentacles, pinning them to the wall.

"Let's go," I ordered, and the three of them quickly followed. As we approached the tentacles, I could feel the fear and anxiety from the others. Well, I couldn't blame them; it was their first time encountering such a monster.

We reached the hallway door, and before it could close, I flicked my hand, creating a hole in the tentacle, providing us with an escape route.

We hurriedly passed through before the door could seal shut. We successfully made it to the other side, but suddenly, something grabbed my foot and lifted me into the air. I motioned my hand, swiftly cutting the tentacle that held me. I landed on my feet, only to be attacked by a few more tentacles.

I severed them one by one, but as soon as I cut one, another replaced it. A scream echoed throughout the entire facility, catching my attention. I looked at the three struggling with one of the tentacles. It held the paralyzed doctor's leg while the other two desperately tried to free him.

"In front of you!" shouted Dr. Erick as three tentacles dashed toward me. I stopped them inches from me with my telekinesis. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I would have been pierced. While my left hand was busy holding the tentacles, I swiftly used my right to cut the tentacle holding the doctor. After severing it, they helped him stand up.

"Get out of here!" I shouted at them. I turned my gaze, searching for the glass tube, but I couldn't find it. Fear and anxiety overwhelmed me as I considered the possible consequences if the monster reclaimed its core.

"There! Upstairs!" the nurse shouted, pointing to something.

I followed her gesture and saw the glass tube being lifted by the tentacles. I released a deadly shockwave, sending the tentacles flying. I sent two blades at the tentacles holding the core, cutting them and causing the tube to fall. I was about to stop its descent, but more tentacles arrived. I dodged them all and refocused on getting the core.

I held the core again, but it was quickly released as the tentacles I cut were replaced by a new group attacking me. "You really don't know how to stop, do you?" I mumbled as I continued cutting tentacles trying to take the tube. I managed to cut them, but a new group immediately attacked. "You never learn, do you?"

Quickly, I enveloped myself in a force field to avoid their attacks. Gasping for breath, I clutched the tube as if I had just run several kilometers. The ground shook again, even stronger than before. The floor where the tentacles emerged started to crack as if something beneath wanted to break free. In no time, the actual body of the monster emerged from the crack.

Chunks of earth were sent flying as a powerful force erupted. A part of the roof was punctured by a piece of debris, and others were crushed or bent. The machines were destroyed in the process.

I stared again at the monster with a dozen eyes fixed on me. I could sense its anger and hatred. It screeched loudly, expressing its fury, while I just looked back at it. "Did I upset you?" I taunted.

******

**MAICA POV**

"Who are these guys?" Mama asked while driving the mini-bus. It was the only vehicle I requested from her due to our group size; we wouldn't fit in a regular car.

"They're Alex's friends," I replied briefly.

"You look so tense, Tita," Trisha remarked.

"How can I not be tense after stealing this bus?"

"You stole this bus?" I asked, surprised.

"What do you think? Yes, I stole this bus because we needed it!"

"You could've just borrowed it!"

"Seriously, Maica! I don't have time to borrow after you made me rush me!"

"Sorry."

"If anyone complains about this, sorry, dear, but it's your responsibility."

"I know." I looked at Trisha, who seemed concerned for both Mama and me. "Don't worry, Trisha, Mama and I joke like this all the time."

"Get used to it, hija," Mom said with a smile, and Trisha smiled back at her. We were now inside the city, on our way to the hospital to get Sky treated.

"Are those...?" Trisha started, looking ahead. I leaned a bit to see what she was pointing at. A battalion of police cars was heading in the opposite direction, accompanied by helicopters and broadcasting vehicles from various news channels.

"They seem to be heading to the factory," Carlo guessed, sitting next to us.

If they found out about Alex's abilities, he would undoubtedly become the subject of fear among people. "If they found out about Alex's abilities, I'm sure people would be terrified of him," commented Dr. Erick, the doctor whom Alex had saved despite their actions against Quinnie. I suddenly felt anxious about Dr. Erick's statement. If that were to happen, Alex would lose any chance of leading a normal life. He'd spend his days hiding from people, lonely once again.

"Let's worry about Alex later. Let's focus on Sky. He's losing too much blood," Carlo reminded us. Sky had been bleeding despite our attempts to stop it. He was our priority now.

In no time, we reached the hospital. Trisha quickly went to ask for help from the nurses inside. When she returned, she was accompanied by two men carrying a portable stretcher. They entered the bus and immediately went to Sky.

They carefully transferred him to the stretcher and quickly took him out of the bus. The nurse was about to go with them, but Dr. Erick stopped her.

"We still have unfinished business," he reminded her. "Take us to the police before we think about escaping." It was unexpected that they seemed scared by what happened, realizing their mistake.

"Carlo? Can you handle this?" I asked him.

He nodded. "I'll take care of them." I simply nodded back. Mama and I quickly exited the bus and headed to the emergency room. When we arrived, we found Trisha with Sky, who was unconscious. Nurses and a doctor were checking his temperature and vital signs. While one nurse examined Sky, another was inserting an intravenous infusion set into his hand for the dextrose.

"Are you the guardian?" the doctor asked.

"It's me," Mama replied and approached the doctor.

"The wound is not that deep, but it's somewhat long. We need to close it to stop the bleeding. Also, he needs a blood transfusion due to the amount of blood he lost."

"Okay, Doc. Do whatever is best for him," Mama agreed. I was really glad Mama was so kind. But I was worried. With all these procedures, we were sure to run short on funds. Nevertheless, we would find a way.

******

We were inside a hospital room where Sky was confined. Sky's wound has been successfully stitched up. He was currently undergoing a blood transfusion while we sat, engrossed in watching the news on TV, reporting the chaos happening at Unova Food Corp.

So far, there has been no news about Alex, but reporters speculated that there was some kind of monster inside the factory. Due to the intense battle between Alex and the monster, the reporter's voice was nearly drowned out by the microphone.

The police attempted to enter the factory, but they quickly retreated while shouting about a monster inside the size of a house.

"He needs our help," uttered a lifeless voice. We immediately looked at Sky, whose eyes were wide open. We approached him while he continued staring at the TV in front of him. "The only way to defeat that thing is to burn it."

Burn it? But given its size, I'm sure it's impossible to burn it completely.

"Trisha, Maica. Do me a favor," the young man requested.

"What is it, Sky?" I asked.

We exchanged glances with Trisha, seemingly hesitant about Sky's request.

Of course, we will help him, but how?

"Don't worry, Sky. We will," Trisha responded, gesturing for me to leave. I was curious about his plan.

When we left the room, I quickly approached him. "Do you have a plan?"

"Not yet."

"What! Then, how are we going to help him?"

"I don't know. I'm still thinking."

I also started thinking about how we would confront that monster. The only thing that came to mind was using a fuel tanker and LPG tanks.

But where are we going to get those?

"Fuel tanker and LPG are enough, right?" Trisha asked, surprising me. Are we thinking the same thing?

"Sort of, but where are we going to get those?"

"I know someone." We quickly reached the hospital exit, but the problem was we didn't have any transportation. A bus caught our attention. The door slowly opened, revealing Carlo's face.

"Carlo? What are you doing here?"

"I felt like you guys might need help, so I dropped by."

I noticed that the bus was vacant. Dr. Erick and the others were no longer there. "Where are they?"

"I dropped them off at my mom's house. So, are we just going to chat here?" he said, prompting us to enter the bus and take a seat. Carlo wasted no time stepping on the gas.

"Maic, do you have a phone?"

"Here."

"Can I borrow it?"

I nodded. I handed him the phone, which he quickly took. She typed something on it and then placed it against her ear.

"Hello, uncle?... This is Trisha... Everything's fine... By the way, I would like to ask for a favor. Can we borrow a fuel tank and a truck of LPGs?... We need them for something... Don't worry; I'll pay for it. Really! Thank you so much, uncle! We're on our way." Trisha ended the call and returned the phone to me with a smiling face.

"Carlo, do you know St. Elaiza Company?"

"You mean the supplier of gasoline and LPG?" confirmed Carlo still his eyes fixed on the road.

"Yes."

"Yes, I know."

"That's where we're heading.