From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156: The Great Power

The giant metal bleacher was still held high above Hugo’s head.

Veins were bulging from his forearms, his biceps, his neck, thick and rope-like, pulsing under his skin like vines fighting to break free. And Dipter? He could only stare in disbelief.

No amount of training, no matter how many years, how much strength, how much pain, could get him that level of power.

It wasn’t just physical.

It was inhuman.

All around the yard, inmates had stopped breathing. The boys near the basketball court, the ones who had laughed and joked just minutes ago, now stood frozen. Wide-eyed. Silent. There was fear on every single face.

They weren’t just wondering what Hugo could do now.

They were wondering what he was about to do next.

Suddenly, a loudspeaker crackled to life behind them.

“Hugo! Place the stand down, now!”

The announcement echoed across the yard. The guards’ voices sounded strained, like they were trying to sound calm but were barely holding it together.

“They’ve learned their lesson! They won’t come near you again. Don’t make this harder for yourself. There’s no reason for your time here to be extended.”

Dipter turned to look toward the guard station, and what he saw chilled him.

Most of the guards were locked inside the building.

Not preparing to come out. Not standing ready to intervene.

Hiding.

They weren’t even trying to stop Hugo with force. Their only weapon now was negotiation. And judging by the looks on their faces, the few who were outside, they had no backup plan if that didn’t work.

They were screwed.

“Hugo,” the voice came again, a little more desperate this time, “you’ve done so well to make it this far without incident. We know you weren’t the aggressor. We’re prepared to let this go. Just put the stand down!”

Everyone watched.

Hugo stood there for a moment, breathing heavily. In and out. Chest rising and falling in deep, steady waves.

Then he shifted.

Slowly, he turned his body to the side.

The massive bleacher platform tilted with him, still balanced above his head. And then, in one fluid motion, he hurled it.

The structure slammed into the yard with a deafening crash, steel scraping across the concrete as it skidded to a stop. Dust rose into the air. Metal creaked. But no one was hurt.

The ground shook. But the threat had passed.

The negotiation had worked.

Hugo stood in silence for a second longer, his shoulders still rising and falling. Then, without a word, he turned and walked calmly toward the portion of the bleachers he hadn’t torn apart.

He climbed back up, reached the very top step, sat down, and rested his elbows on his knees.

Same position. Same silence. As if nothing had ever happened.

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What Hugo had just done burned itself into everyone’s memory. Etched in their minds like a scar.

“The rumors were true,” someone whispered.

“No kidding. No wonder no one messes with him. That strength… is that even human?”

“Yeah, man. It was like watching a real-life superhero.”

“But that’s what doesn’t make sense. Why would someone like that be locked up in juvie? With the rest of us?”

“For real. Shouldn’t he be in the news or something? Or like… kept in some secret government facility with other superpowered freaks?”

“That wasn’t superpowers,” another kid chimed in. “I bet my dad could do that if he got pissed enough.”

“Does your dad turn green too? ‘Cause if so, I’ll believe it.”

Laughter cracked through the tension like a crack in glass.

But Dipter didn’t join in.

He couldn’t.

His hand was shaking.

And when he brought it up to his face, he realized something strange, his lips were pulled into a smile.

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