Chapter 2: The Pulse of the Metropolis and the First Echoes
After the sudden and sharp confrontation in the alley, Kael quickly walked away under the astonishment and gratitude of the woman he had saved. He had politely declined the woman's offer of help; for now, his greatest need was to be alone, to digest this incomprehensible reality, and to understand more deeply the nature of these strange, almost divine abilities at his disposal. As he mingled with the crowds of this vast concrete jungle called New York, he moved like a shadow lost among the skyscrapers. His mind replayed every frame of the previous event over and over again, while at the same time trying to understand the rhythm of this new world that surrounded him.
First, he had to understand the basic dynamics of this world. He picked up a few crumpled but readable newspapers he had found at an abandoned newsstand and a tourist map, and retreated to a quieter corner of the city, an old bench overlooking the Hudson River. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The newspaper headlines were full of stories of the invasion of an extraterrestrial race called the Chitauri, which had apparently happened a few months earlier and was called the "Battle of New York", and the city being saved by a group of superhumans known as the "Avengers". Stark Tower was the headquarters of a genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist named Tony Stark (as well as the armored hero known as Iron Man). Thor, Captain America, Hulk… The names evoked foreign yet intriguing associations in Kael's mind. This world was not only technologically advanced, but also a place where myths and legends took on flesh and blood.
In light of this information, he began to see more clearly what his own talent meant. Perfect marksmanship. A precision so accurate that it bent the laws of physics, making the impossible possible. What were the limits of this talent, I wondered? Could he shoot a bullet in the air with another bullet? Could he neutralize a target that was too far away to be seen by the eye, relying only on his instincts and the flawless calculation ability in his mind? These questions had turned his mind into an experimental field.
Later in the evening, he took shelter in an abandoned warehouse in the dock area. He arranged empty bottles and metal cans he found around at different distances. He started his experiments with a few small pebbles he took from his pocket and picked up from the ground after a fight in the back street. His first shot was at the mouth of a bottle ten meters away. The moment he threw the stone, it was as if an invisible line had been drawn from his hand towards the target. The pebble entered the mouth of the bottle and fell to the bottom, without making the slightest sound. The second, third, tenth shot… All of them were perfect. He increased the distance, imagined moving targets. In fact, once, he made two pebbles he threw at the same time hit each other in the air. This was not just a physical talent; it was like an art form, where his mind and body worked in absolute harmony and could manipulate probabilities.
As he tested his marksmanship, the woman's gratitude and the strange energy flow he felt at that moment came to mind. Loyalty… and the potential that could be gained in return. The thought was as exciting as the marksmanship itself. How powerful was this effect, and what kind of "skills" or "knowledge" could it absorb? He had to try it.
The next day, while walking around a poorer but more crowded part of the city, he came across an old florist desperately waiting for customers at her stall. The tiredness and despair on the woman's face caught Kael's attention. On a momentary impulse, he approached her and bought almost all the flowers on the stall with a few banknotes he found in her wallet, which he assumed were from this world's money (he didn't know where they came from, or perhaps the last remnants of his old life). The old woman was at a loss for words, her eyes filled with gratitude. "My God, young man," she said in a trembling voice. "I couldn't even make a first-aid today. You gave me hope. I don't know how to thank you. If you need anything in this neighborhood, come to me. Everyone knows me, they call me Elara."
Elara's sincere words and sincere gratitude stirred that familiar wave of energy inside Kael again. This time, he was more conscious. He focused his mind on this flow. For a moment, he felt the delicate texture of flower petals on his fingertips, the ability to distinguish the scents of different plants, even the simple but clear knowledge of which flower needed watering when. These were not great powers, but the experiment had been successful. Loyalty had added something new to him in a tangible way. But he didn't yet know whether this "absorption" process would be temporary or permanent, or whether this knowledge would be erased when Elara's loyalty waned.
As Kael left with the colorful flowers in his hand, a new strategy was forming in his mind. This city, this world, was a giant chessboard, and he now understood the value of the pieces in his hand better. While his flawless marksmanship gave him the power of destruction and defense, this new talent, nourished by loyalty, could offer him knowledge, skills, and perhaps more advantages than he could ever imagine. The idea of establishing an empire was no longer just an abstract dream, but an achievable goal. But for this, he needed more: reliable allies, resources, and most importantly, to establish a solid foothold in the dark corridors of this city.
His eyes caught sight of a group of sinister-looking men gathered in front of a dilapidated building up ahead. The aura they gave off was far from Elara's innocence. Perhaps the first real test of his empire was waiting for him right there, in that dark corner.