Wiping away his drool and composing himself, Johnson went through his usual routine of enhancing his attributes while holding two purple car
Wiping away his drool and composing himself, Johnson went through his usual routine of enhancing his attributes while holding two purple cards in his hands.
After examining the cards' information, his expression turned peculiar.
The extraordinary purple Spirit Attribute Card was unprecedented — equivalent to a hundred N-Grade Spirit Cards — with simple yet powerful effects that could double his current mental power!
And the other...
╔══════════════════════╗
FANTASY CARD: AT Field
CARD TYPE: Ability Card
RARITY: SR
┌─ SYSTEM DESCRIPTION ─┐
Soul Matter unique to Evangelion life forms, bounding the ego and sense of self of a person from everyone else, allowing them to exist as an individual, also known as "Absolute Territory".
┌─ PRIMARY FUNCTION — SOUL MANIFESTATION ─┐
Convert Mental Power into special Soul Matter.
┌─ SECONDARY FUNCTION — DEPLOY ABSOLUTE TERROR ─┐
Possesses powerful defensive capabilities against general physical, energy, and high-temperature attacks, highly concentrated to block external matter or apply reactive force.
┌─ TERTIARY FUNCTION — FIELD CONTROL ─┐
Able to freely generate and control fields, performing impacts, defense, invasion, neutralization, reversal, and other applications.
╚══════════════════════╝
{T/N: Just a clarification that all living beings with a soul possess an AT Field, but only Evangelions and Angels have one strong enough to manifest and alter physical matter. The description isn't wrong, just specific.}
The other purple card was extraordinary — a Spirit ability from the neighboring Evangelion world that grows more powerful the more withdrawn its user becomes.
In the hands of Angels or withdrawn children, it could devastate heaven and earth. After touching the divine realm, creation and destruction would become mere trifles.
It's just that I... Am not withdrawn at all!
{T/N: Since the AT Field is a physical manifestation of one's fear and terror — a shield against the unknown and outside world — the more withdrawn and fearful you are, the stronger you'll be compared to others, even with a weak soul. So even though the MC's Soul is strong and constantly growing, he can't use it as well as the NEETS, potentialy speaking.}
Looking at the purple card in his hand, Johnson knew what to do. With the minor attribute enhancements complete, it was time for the main course.
He slapped both purple cards into his chest in succession. A cool energy enveloped his mind, and his mental power — originally the size of a lake — surged like a rising tide, its magnitude exploding.
His mind and ineffable soul expanded like life taking form: a seed sprouting and growing into a towering tree, materializing from nothingness into reality, becoming substance with weight.
The air before him spontaneously condensed into layered polygonal crystalline barriers. Blue light flowed within, appearing simultaneously like delicate ethereal bubbles and indestructible ancient rock!
Enhancement complete!
Johnson opened his eyes and carefully examined the AT Field that had automatically deployed. Reaching out, he could clearly feel the barrier's physical presence — its strength far surpassing the crude mental field he had previously created through Psychic Power.
Clenching his fist, he threw a punch at half strength. The impact created rippling waves of iridescent polygonal patterns across the Field!
From the point of impact, kinetic energy dispersed through the AT Field as mechanical waves until fully dissipating, causing only visible vibrations in the soul substance without compromising the barrier's structural integrity.
The only drawback was the mental power consumption rate. To maintain this barrier, Johnson's forehead beaded with light sweat as mental power — now doubled — continuously condensed into manifested soul substance and flowed into the field.
During impact, the power consumption increased geometrically. He estimated he could maintain the field for about ten minutes under normal conditions, but in intense combat, this would drop to merely one minute or less, depending on the enemy's attack strength.
When Johnson stopped the mental power output, the AT Field dissipated. He sighed in relief, wiping his brow.
Even his current capabilities weren't enough to unleash its true power. In battle, he'd need to tactically activate and deactivate it to maintain sustainable usage.
Still suffering from not being withdrawn enough!
But as someone with cheat abilities, Johnson wasn't worried. At his rate of growth, by the time Tatsumaki joins the Hero Association, who knows who'll be the Association's strongest Esper!
✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱
Bang's Dojo.
Hya! Ha!
In the early morning, Bang led his disciples through their morning practice.
The dojo bustled with activity as dozens of disciples filled the training ground.
Yet beneath this apparent prosperity lay desolation — despite the numbers, few could truly inherit his legacy.
"Charanko, put more strength in your waist. Is this limp punch what I taught you?"
"Y-yes, Master!"
After correcting the posture of his hardworking but untalented young disciple, Bang's gaze settled on one particular student.
Already nearly 180 centimeters tall at just fifteen years old, with natural white hair parted into two tufts at the top, Garou possessed excellent aptitude but maintained a cold personality — barely interacting with fellow disciples and always training alone.
Garou.
Bang had once thought this child was the one he'd been looking for, but after half a year of observation, his doubts only grew. Something lurked behind that cold face — something even he couldn't see through.
We'll see.
As Bang pondered, his ear suddenly twitched.
Hmm?
"Continue practicing!"
"Yes!"
The disciples responded in unison as Bang's figure flashed, reappearing outside the dojo's main gate.
On the mountain path, a young figure was ascending slowly. Bang's face lit up with delight.
It's Johnson!
But then, his delighted expression fell.
This guy... Actually floated all the way up!
Think you're so great just because you have Psychic Powers?!
The old man raged internally while offering Johnson an insincere smile, "Oh, it's Johnson-kun. Don't you have work during the day? What brings you here for a casual visit?"
Johnson: "..."
What's wrong? Did the old man take some gunpowder?! Why so passive-aggressive this early in the morning?
You weren't like this yesterday when we were drinking and acting all buddy-buddy!
Fine, I need a favor, so I won't quibble with you, old man!
Landing on the ground, Johnson snapped his fingers, and two boxes of tea leaves materialized from his Fantasy Card into his hands.
With his usual thick-skinned demeanor, he let out a small laugh and presented the gifts, "Sorry for the sudden visit, but I have a small favor to ask of the master."
"Oh?" Bang eyed the gift boxes, mentally counting the zeros in their price tag.
His expression softened as he accepted the gifts and led Johnson inside, "Whatever it is, just say it. This old man will surely help with all his might!"
"Thank you in advance, Master!"
As they crossed the training ground courtyard, Johnson encountered a stern-faced white-haired youth.
Oh, isn't this Garou? Haven't seen you in a few days, and you've gotten so we — no, I mean, still training?
Looking at this youthful version of Garou, Johnson felt a mischievous urge.
As their gazes met, Psychic Power activated!
Garou shuddered, feeling a heavy pressure grip his heart. By the time he regained his senses, the visitor had already disappeared into the dojo with the old man — he hadn't even caught a clear glimpse of their face.
Was it that person?
Garou clutched his chest, struggling to catch his breath as his intuition confirmed the truth.
His teeth ground together, nearly cracking.
Damn you!