Later that night, Jake stood alone on a crumbled balcony of the temple overlooking a shattered garden, the stars glimmering above like the secrets of the Mythatrix waiting to be unlocked.
The device on his wrist pulsed softly, beckoning.
"Jake," Elyzion's voice echoed within his thoughts, "you must bond with your first Mythos Signature. Say the name. Let your will shape the storm."
Jake hesitated, then breathed deeply. "Thunderbird."
The interface glowed—lightning coursed through the glyphs—and with a metallic hum, the Mythatrix activated.
"Transformation Initiated: Thunderbird."
Energy surged into his body. Jake convulsed, then roared as stormclouds swirled above. Wings of electric-blue feathers erupted from his back. His skin shimmered with storm-wrought energy. Eyes turned silver, crackling with static.
A jolt of raw power surged down his spine.
He wasn't human anymore—not fully.
Jake hovered above the ground, then launched into the air with explosive speed. The wind howled. Bolts of lightning trailed behind his wings. He soared across the sky, every beat of his wings leaving streaks of electricity.
"THIS. IS. INSANE!" he shouted, laughter mixed with awe.
He tested his new abilities—Thunder Dash, Lightning Spear, even summoning a storm that obeyed his thoughts. The Mythatrix gave him more than just wings—it gave him dominance over the skies.
But as the ten-minute mark approached, a warning tone sounded.
"Reversion in 10 seconds. Prepare for cooldown."
Jake quickly returned, landing clumsily on the temple's edge before collapsing to one knee as the transformation faded. The wings vanished, replaced by a faint electric aura and smoking boots.
Isabella ran over. "You okay?!"
Jake grinned weakly. "I turned into a freaking Thunderbird. So yeah... I'm doing great."
She offered a hand and helped him up. "We need to train with that thing. And figure out what you are now."
Jake looked to the stars, the Mythatrix pulsing like a heartbeat.
"I think we're just getting started."