Wishing you all a good day — and welcome to this story.
A leaked classified file from your friend, the author.
Classified: Black Bloom Power Hierarchy
1. The Core Tattoo
Everyone who consumes the Black Bloom receives a dark tattoo at the center of the chest, resembling a complex labyrinth of lines.
Size and design are identical for all.
2. Types of Powers Granted
A. Enhanced Physical Ability (Tier I)
Possession: Granted to all survivors of the Bloom.
Development: Can be trained to reach unnatural levels (lifting massive boulders, extreme speed, resisting deadly blows).
Weakness: All users receive this power, so it offers no real advantage among Bloom-bearers. Also, its development is grueling and torturous — which is why it's considered the weakest tier. (The protagonist currently only uses this tier).
B. Ethera (Special Abilities – Tier II)
Possession: 20% of survivors.
Nature: Scientists believe these powers manipulate "Aether", a theoretical substance filling the cosmic void.
Examples:
Elemental control (fire, water, metal...)
Mental effects (sedation, hallucinations, shallow mind-reading)
Reality distortion (creating temporary minor illusions)
Warning: Excessive use causes bodily corrosion (blindness, paralysis, brain hemorrhage).
C. The Curse (Tier III – Rare)
Possession: Less than 1% of Ethera users.
Types:
1. Zone Curse:
The user creates a closed geometric field (circle, square...) where their ability is absolute.
Example: If the power is "fire control," anyone who enters the zone burns instantly.
Weakness: Requires preparation; difficult to activate mid-battle; often demands elaborate rituals.
2. Physical Embodiment:
The user transforms into their ability's element (e.g., water, shadow, electricity...).
Danger: May lose human consciousness and become an unstable entity.
D. Heartfract (Final Tier – Legendary)
Possession: One case per million.
Nature: A seed grows inside the heart, felt as a strange pulsation.
Activation:
Upon detonation, grants limitless power, differing by individual:
May rewind time for seconds.
May unleash a wave that destroys an entire city.
May multiply strength hundreds or thousands of times.
Cost: Death within minutes — or seconds — of activation.
Military Protocol: Bearers are isolated in secret labs for study.
Additional Notes:
The Black Bloom is not fair. Even if two people take it simultaneously, one may gain only physical strength while the other may obtain Ethera — or suffer deadly side effects (death, or transform into a Burnt Lich called Infernith).
Conspiracy Theory: Rumors say the ruling elite possess modified Blooms with higher powers and no risks.
Final Warning: Anyone found hiding a high-tier power (especially Curse or Heartfract) is instantly arrested.
Main Narrative:
After Brian left, a heavy silence settled over the team. In that tense quiet, Lia asked with suspicion:
Lea: "Why not let the Shadow Corps handle this? Aren't they the assassination experts? Wouldn't they be better at clearing the building without damaging equipment?"
Rico laughed sarcastically:
Rico: "I thought scientists were smart. Didn't you get it yet? We were sent in specifically to cause chaos."
Lea sighed and held her head:
Lea: "Ah... I see now. They want noise. Force the smugglers to panic."
Simon, a confused recruit, chimed in slowly:
Simon: "I still don't get it. What's really going on?"
Lea gave a faint smile:
Lea: "In short, they want the smugglers to think they can escape. When they panic, they'll delete everything — and blow the building. Our job is to stop that… and secure the tech."
Rico added:
Rico: "And capture whoever stays behind to distract or sabotage."
Simon: "Why not just kill them now? Quicker."
Rico snapped:
Rico: "This isn't about speed — it's about making an example. Public execution by Black Bloom makes the rest tremble."
Zack, quiet until now, spoke:
Zack: "Won't we interrogate them?"
Rico sneered:
Rico: "Are you stupid? Every cell in their bodies is sealed by memory seals. You won't get a single answer."
Zack: "Will we track the ones who escape?"
Kyle, arrogantly:
Kyle: "That's Smuggling Corps work. Obvious from the name."
Lea: "As if the organization is dumb enough to tell branch members the location of their HQ…"
Rico: "Even if we only uncover one branch, it's progress. No one expects us to catch the head this early."
[On the screen, Brian can be seen breaking through the front gate and heading to the upper floors, loudly.]
Rico stood and cleaned his blade:
Rico: "Brian's made his noise. Let's get this over with. I want some damn sleep."
Kyle stood, raised his head, and sighed deeply:
Kyle: "And who made you the leader?"
Rico tried to respond — but froze. Kyle's forehead was pressed to his, his eyes glowing with a demonic threat. A chill ran down Rico's spine.
He took a step back, lowered his head in silence.
Kyle: "I'll enter alone. Clear the lower levels. Catch the scum. The rest of you — stay with Lia. Protect her. Assist her."
Kyle turned to everyone, voice like commandment:
Kyle: "Any objections?"
Lea opened her mouth… but Kyle gave her that look. She swallowed her words and nodded.
Seconds later, Kyle vanished into the dark.
They tried to follow, but Kyle was far too fast.
Kyle's Descent:
He entered the building — a seemingly normal commercial tower in Laremira, with reflective blue glass.
Without hesitation, he stepped through the broken door Brian had smashed, slashed the crystalline floor with his blade, and dropped two floors underground.
The chaos began.
---
Kyle had already gone down two levels when the rest were still scrambling to follow.
Underground Floor 3
In a dark room lit by flashing red lights, several figures worked frantically at computers, destroying drives, smashing monitors. Sweat dripped from their foreheads.
They feared not death — but Return Ether, that rare ability that could reconstruct anything, even from ash.
In the center stood Naren, a thin man with sharp eyes. Two armed men flanked him.
Suddenly — the floor above shattered.
Kyle dropped like a meteor.
RATATATATAT!
Gunfire blasted toward him.
Kyle yawned, lazily catching the bullets with his bare hands — like raindrops.
The smugglers froze in horror.
One screamed:
"He's not human!"
Naren launched razor-sharp wind blades — they shredded Kyle's expensive coat.
Kyle snarled:"That was a designer coat. You don't value your life, do you?"
Naren (desperately):"I'll distract him! Wipe what you can! Then blow the floor!"
One of his men panicked:
"Screw that — DIE!"
He fired wildly — only to see Kyle already beside him.
In an instant, Kyle decapitated him. Blood sprayed.
Naren:"Run! He's a monster!"
Before he finished, heads were already rolling. Death danced through the room.
Naren tried to defend himself — but Kyle grabbed his arm and crushed it.
Kyle (smiling):"I wanted to torture all of you. But I'm short on time. You'll do."
He broke Naren's leg.
Naren (crying, screaming):
"We just want to be free! No more being slaves! We want rights! The right to live, to love, to have children — to know the truth!"
Kyle (coldly):"You're just trash pretending to be free. Want change? Kill the ones who made the laws — not threaten the state."
He stabbed Naren repeatedly, then cut off both his legs.
Kyle:"Scream for me some more…"
Naren (barely alive):
"Please... kill me..."
Kyle (laughing):
"Magic words."
He sliced Naren's head off — then turned.
Kyle:"Time to hunt the rest."
Back to Floor 3 — Minutes Later
Rico's team arrived. Blood and bodies filled the room.
Lea stared in horror.
Bart: "Didn't Brian say we should capture them?!"
Zack: "Shut it. Not our call."
Rico: (scanning)
"Computers intact! Lia — start now!"
Lea quickly hacked into the systems. But suddenly — Zack screamed:
Zack: "Enemy! Bart's dead!"
Rico turned — two bodies lay torn.
Rico: "Protect Lia! Circle around her!"
Then — a sharp sting in his neck.
He was stabbed from behind.
He grabbed the attacker's hand — even as his life faded.
Zack: "Blood! Track the trail — he's bleeding!"
They followed the trail. Zack enlarged his body, throwing heavy punches — but the enemy blocked and countered with a devastating gut blow.
Zack collapsed.
Two soldiers trembled in terror.
Lea:"GET DOWN!"
She fired explosive rounds — missing the enemy, but accidentally hitting one of her allies.
Lea froze, guilt and horror on her face — as a knife flew toward her face…