Chapter 3
The reflection in the portable bathroom mirror showed an image that Helena Krüger barely recognized. Her fingers, thicker than before, traced the lines of her angular jaw as the steam from the hot water fogged the edges of the glass.
Three months ago, I weighed sixty-two kilos, she thought, observing the muscles in her shoulders straining against the military uniform. Now I'm ninety-seven.
The change hadn't been gradual. One morning, she woke up with a fever in her Berlin apartment, her body burning as if every cell were at war with itself. Twenty-four hours later, when the fever subsided, she discovered she could lift her refrigerator with one hand. The gym mirror revealed muscles that no amount of steroids could have created: dense fibers woven beneath skin that seemed like organic Kevlar.
Her features were still the same—high cheekbones, straight nose, ice-blue eyes—but everything felt… sharper. As if someone had taken her face and sculpted it with brutal intent. She was no longer the classic beauty that used to turn heads in officers' bars.
Now, heads turned out of fear.
The communicator on her wrist emitted a sharp beep.
"Captain Krüger, class 4 energy anomaly detected in sector Charlie-7. Extreme thermal manifestation."
Helena closed her eyes. The ether—that's what the scientists called it when they thought no one was listening—had begun saturating the atmosphere six months ago. First, auroras appeared in impossible latitudes. Then instruments went haywire, detecting particles that shouldn't exist according to the standard model of physics. And finally, the awakenings.
"Understood. Estimated time of arrival: twenty minutes."
She slipped on her tactical gloves, feeling the yellow energy pulsing beneath her skin like a second circulatory system. The Division's doctors had explained that her body metabolized the ether uniquely, converting it into pure kinetic force. Every cell was a micro-reactor, capable of amplifying her power based on the amount of energy she channeled.
X10 means ten times my base strength. X50…
She'd reached X75 once, during testing. The crater she left in the Nevada desert was still visible from satellites. But the cost had been high: internal hemorrhaging, microfractures in every bone, and the medical certainty that X100 would likely kill her.
So much power, she thought, looking at her hands. And it could end up being my own grave.
…
Soren Vahl was trembling, but not from the cold. His dogs… Nanook, Saskia, Thor, Luna… all dead. Shards of ice stained red marked the spot where they'd been tied when his power first manifested.
It had been an accident. A moment of rage when he discovered the expedition had abandoned him, leaving him with provisions for three days in the middle of the Antarctic nowhere. The anger had boiled in his chest, and then… the world exploded in blue crystals. The temperature dropped eighty degrees in a second. The water in his dogs' lungs froze instantly.
He raised his hand, watching as the air's moisture condensed into spirals of frost around his fingers. He could feel it: the ether flowing through him, slowing molecules, stealing kinetic energy from the environment. Physicists would call it a violation of thermodynamics, but here he was, creating ice from nothing.
"With this power…" he murmured, his breath forming dense clouds, "I don't need anyone else."
The ice responded to his will, rising in twisted pillars. Fifty meters around him became his domain, an ephemeral crystal palace under the Antarctic stars.
The sound of rotors snapped him out of his reverie. Three black dots against the night sky, approaching fast.
"They took less time than I expected," he said to himself, a bitter smile curling his cracked lips. "If only they were this efficient with research grants…"
Inside the Lead Helicopter - 02:10 AM
Commander Reaves studied the data on his armored tablet as the helicopter descended. The target's energy signature was consistent with localized molecular manipulation, specifically hydrogen bonds in H2O. Threat level: Moderate-High.
"Captain Krüger," he said, noting how she unconsciously flexed her fingers. "Protocols require an attempt at negotiation before—"
"I know the protocols, Commander." Helena didn't take her eyes off the solitary figure below. "I also know that of fifty-three initial contacts this month, only twelve came peacefully."
"The statistics improve with—"
"Statistics are just numbers on a page," she cut him off. "Down there is a man who probably lost everything when he awakened. Scared, confused, drunk on power. Do you know what the first fantasy of every new awakened is?"
Reaves shook his head.
"That they're special. Unique. Destined for something great." Helena let out a humorless laugh. "As if the universe owes them something for powers they didn't ask for."
Through the window, she could see Soren gesturing wildly, creating increasingly elaborate ice structures. The thermal scanner showed -90°C at the epicenter of his position.
"Preparing for jump," Helena announced, activating her power. The yellow energy began as a tingle in her spine, spreading through her nerves like liquid electricity.
"Captain, the altitude—!"
But she had already jumped.
...
02:15 Am
BOOOM
Helena's impact created a shockwave that turned the ice into diamond dust. Soren stumbled back, tripping over his own feet as frozen shards cut his cheek.
Helena rose slowly from the crater, brushing ice dust off her uniform. The air between them crackled with opposing energies: absolute cold against pure kinetic force.
"Soren Vahl," her voice was professional, almost kind. "Researcher with the Thornfield Expedition. Abandoned four days ago when you manifested spontaneous cryokinesis."
"How do you—?"
"We know everything about every awakened within a thousand-kilometer radius," Helena continued, stepping forward. "We also know you killed your dogs. An accident, of course."
The mention of his dogs hit like a punch. Soren clenched his fists, the ice responding to his pain, rising in deadly needles.
"Don't talk about them."
"They were all you had, weren't they?" Helena kept her tone neutral. "Five years in this wasteland. Your wife left you, your colleagues thought you were a failure, and the dogs… they never judged you."
"Shut up!"
A wall of ice surged between them, three meters thick. Helena sighed.
"It's always the same," she muttered. "X10."
Her fist shattered the ice like paper, sending shards flying in all directions. Soren rolled to the side, launching frozen projectiles that Helena deflected with precise strikes.
"Why are you hunting me?!" he shouted, retreating as he created more barriers. "I haven't done anything!"
"Not yet," Helena replied, pulverizing another wall. "But you will. Everyone does. Power corrupts, Soren. It's a law as immutable as gravity."
"And you're different?" he spat, noticing the yellow aura surrounding her. "You're not corrupt?"
Helena paused for a fraction of a second.
"I serve a greater purpose."
"Every tyrant says that!"
Something shifted in Helena's face. The professional mask cracked.
"Tyrant? I keep idiots like you from turning cities into frozen graves." Her voice dropped to a growl. "Do you know how many 'ice emperors' we've stopped this week? Three. All with the same delusions of grandeur."
Soren laughed, a broken, desperate sound.
"And what do you offer me? Be another government dog? Follow orders, wag my tail when they pat me?"
"I offer you purpose," Helena said. "Training. Control. The chance to be something more than another awakened who went mad with power."
"I'd rather build my own empire."
"Empire?" Helena raised an eyebrow. "Here? In the ass-end of the world, surrounded by penguins?"
"It's a start!"
"It's a pathetic fantasy."
The word pathetic hung between them like poison. Soren had heard it before. From his ex-wife. From his supervisor. From every person who'd ever looked at him and found him wanting.
"Take it back," he whispered.
"No."
"Take it back, you bitch!"
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Helena's eyes narrowed to slits. The yellow energy around her body began pulsing erratically, like an angry heartbeat.
"What did you just call me?"
"X50."
The transformation was instantaneous. The air around Helena warped from the sheer energy radiating off her. The ice beneath her feet sublimated directly into vapor. Her muscles swelled visibly under her uniform, veins glowing like golden fiber-optic cables.
Soren barely had time to raise a barrier before she appeared in front of him. She didn't run—she moved, breaking the sound barrier in three strides.
Her fist shattered the ice, his ribs, everything.
Soren looked down, incredulous. A fist-sized hole pierced his torso. There was no pain, just… emptiness. His legs gave out.
"Nobody," Helena whispered, her face inches from his, "nobody calls me that."
Blood gushed from Soren's mouth as he tried to form words. His glassy eyes looked past Helena to the starry sky. In his final moments, he thought of his dogs. How they ran free across the tundra. How their tails wagged when they saw him coming.
Forgive me, was his last thought before darkness claimed him.
-----
Colombia, Miriam's Apartment - 10:00 PM
The night was quiet. Friday, ten o'clock.
Miriam's apartment was dimly lit, the orange glow from the street filtering through the windows. She slept deeply, her hair splayed messily across the pillow. Jhon sat on the edge of the bed, silent.
They'd spent hours talking. Miriam asked endless questions, and he answered just enough to calm her. When he tried to lighten the mood, she pushed him away with a tired smile, refusing any intimacy. Now she rested, while Jhon was trapped in his thoughts.
He stared at the ceiling. People are awakening abilities… I'm not the only one who's different. Though it'd be an insult to compare the gacha to a bit of fire. I don't like this at all. It's like those novels I read. Soon everyone will be changing.
His fingers curled into fists. I should've waited before assimilating Jason Todd and Loki. Maybe with ten more pulls, I could've gotten something better.
He sighed. Can't change it now. All I can do is improve what I've got.
He opened his character sheet:
Name: Jhon Ariza Montoza
Gacha Points: 1/30
Purchased: 40
Race: [Human]
Character Assimilation:
– Jason Todd: 10%
– Loki (Earth 199999): 1.5%
Summoned Characters: None
Powers: Stand: Echoes ACT1
Equipped Items: None
He reviewed his inventory, scanning each item like a chess player evaluating pieces.
Ancestral Katana (Historical Samurai)
Background Customization Cards x2
Basic Alchemy Book (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Neutralizer Pistol (Generic Sci-Fi)
Power Boost Card x1
Martial Arts Scroll (Classic Kung Fu)
Etc.
Jhon frowned. There were useful things, but most were useless for now.
Upgrade the Stand or pull gacha first?
He stood carefully to avoid waking Miriam.
"Mm," a soft murmur escaped her. She frowned in her sleep, as if sensing his absence.
Jhon leaned down and kissed her forehead. She relaxed instantly, a fleeting smile crossing her face.
He shook his head with a faint smile. And to think she goes crazy over the smallest things.
He closed the door behind him with steps so soft they seemed trained. Sinking into the couch, the holographic screen flickered to life before his eyes.
"How the hell did I take this so lightly before?" he muttered bitterly.
Now, with a rare seriousness, he clenched his fists.
"Here we go."
He leaned toward the screen.
Comically, his seriousness lasted about three seconds.
"Give me an OP character… give me an OP character, please."
When you're the kind of guy who loses more money on mobile gacha than you'd ever earn, that's all you've got left. And Jhon was the type to nearly go broke.
The cards began to spin. Colors, symbols, flashes.
Jhon opened his eyes, which he'd squeezed shut.
"QU-"
He slapped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from shouting at what he'd pulled.
Intuitive Aptitude (Heroes)
....
Miriam's Apartment - 10:15 PM
He froze for a second, then covered his mouth to avoid screaming.
"Fuck…" he whispered against his palm, feeling his heart hammer against his ribs.
What were the odds of pulling something that broken with a single gacha point? He didn't even know. He wasn't Eiji Seiya; he didn't have that kind of legendary luck.
Jhon sank into the couch, his legs trembling slightly. The holographic screen floated before him like a bluish mirage, casting ghostly light over his tense features. He had to blink several times to ensure he wasn't hallucinating.
I need to stop acting like a dumbass, he thought, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair. But… how the hell am I supposed to stay calm? Damn it, maybe I'm burning through all my life's luck in one night.
First Pull (1 point):
Intuitive Aptitude (Heroes)
"No way…" he muttered between his fingers, his heart pounding so loudly it seemed to echo off the apartment's walls.
The ability of Gabriel "Sylar" Gray. Intuitive understanding of how complex systems worked, from the simplest clock mechanisms to the neural architecture of the human brain. And in the context of the changing world around him… it meant he could instinctively understand others' powers and potentially learn them.
He bit his lower lip until he tasted the metallic tang of blood. Sure, Sylar's ability comes with some fucked-up side effects. But how far does the Essence's protection go? If I awaken a superpower that puts me in a coma, would the Essence do anything to protect me?
The apartment was steeped in the heavy midnight silence, broken only by the distant hum of the refrigerator and Miriam's soft snores from the bedroom. Jhon shifted uncomfortably on the couch, adrenaline coursing through his veins like liquid electricity.
No answers for now. Best to keep pulling.
Without hesitation, he spent 30 points on a 10-card pull. The visual effects intensified: golden lights spinning hypnotically, light particles dancing like digital fireflies as the cards materialized one by one with a soft whoosh that seemed to whisper secrets in his ear.
Second Pull (30 points - 10x roll):
Urban Combat Manual (Call of Duty)
Already got Chinese martial arts techniques, and now this. He rubbed his knuckles unconsciously, recalling the strange familiarity with combat movements he'd felt before. I didn't think much of it because of my Jason Todd assimilation, but with Intuitive Aptitude, I could analyze this and learn it—maybe even improve it. If the Chinese techniques can help me calm the insatiable hunger for knowledge that Sylar's ability brings through meditation…
Weakness Elimination Card x2
His eyes lit up. "This solves most problems," he murmured, feeling a wave of relief. I could use the card on the Stand and the new ability, then boost their power. Things would be so much easier.
- T-1000 (Terminator 2)
- Encrypted Communication Device (Metal Gear)
- Minor Physical Enhancement Serum (Captain America - Diluted Version)
- Background Customization Cards x3
- Complete Kunai Set (Naruto)
- Supernatural Energy Detector (Ghostbusters)
- Tranquilizer Dart Pistol
- Power Boost Card x1
Jhon had to bite his lip nearly to bleeding to keep from shouting in excitement. His heart pounded so hard he could feel the pulse in his temples. The T-1000 changes everything. Mimetic liquid poly-alloy, shape-shifting, near-absolute durability.
"Okay, okay… calm down," he whispered to himself, inhaling deeply as he reviewed the full descriptions. The night air felt dense, charged with possibilities.
[Intuitive Aptitude - Heroes]
Technical Description: The user develops the ability to intuitively understand the workings of complex systems through direct observation and tactile analysis. At a neurological level, this ability enhances synaptic connections between the parietal lobe (spatial processing) and the prefrontal cortex (logical analysis), creating accelerated pattern recognition. Applied to beings with supernatural abilities, it allows mapping and understanding the quantum and biological mechanics of their powers, facilitating replication through intensive study and directed practice.
[T-1000 - Terminator 2]
Technical Specifications: Android composed of nanotechnology-based mimetic liquid poly-alloy. The molecular structure allows instantaneous cellular reorganization, granting unlimited shape-shifting capabilities. Extreme durability due to molecular-level impact dispersion, superhuman strength (lifting capacity: 2 tons), and infiltration abilities through perfect physical imitation. The assimilation process preserves the user's personality and memories through gradual neural transfer.
[Minor Physical Enhancement Serum]
Composition: 30% diluted version of the Captain America serum. Contains synthetic growth factors, modified amino acids, and metabolic catalysts that optimize muscular, skeletal, and cardiovascular function. Enhances the user's physical condition by 200-300% above the average human baseline. Effects are permanent due to mitochondrial-level genetic alteration.
His hands trembled slightly as he held the holographic cards. The temptation to use everything immediately was like an itch under his skin, but something stopped him.
Before, I started testing and assimilating whatever I got without thinking. But if I hadn't, I could be absorbing something stronger than Jason Todd right now.
He leaned back against the couch, feeling the sticky synthetic fabric against his sweaty back. So, it's better to start with the basics and work up to the most powerful.
But thinking about it, it's actually better this way. A human at their peak with mastery in multiple fields is safer than a robot. Plus, I don't even know if it's possible, considering I'm human.
But something was making him nervous, a thought that had been eating away at his peace for hours. He remembered the surgical efficiency with which the "police" had taken the fire guy. Too organized, too prepared, as if they'd rehearsed the procedure a thousand times. This wasn't new to them.
I need something to analyze my current physical composition and the changes in my body.
He decided to start with Intuitive Aptitude.
With this, I could analyze anyone's powers and gain knowledge super easily. Sure, it'll take time. Plus, there's the negative effect, but with the weakness elimination card, it won't be as much of a problem.
He took the card between his fingers. The material felt strange, like solidified light, warm to the touch but with a texture that defied description.
The card dissolved between his fingers like sugar in hot water, and a strange current ran through his brain. It was as if someone had plugged cables directly into his cerebral cortex and cranked up the voltage. For a moment, everything became… clearer.
He could "see" the workings of the turned-off TV—the integrated circuits, the diodes, the arrangement of liquid crystals in the screen. He instinctively understood the apartment's electrical wiring—the cables behind the walls, the current distribution, even vaguely perceiving the electromagnetic waves from nearby cell phones pulsing like invisible heartbeats.
But there was the problem.
As the knowledge of everything around the house flooded his mind like a tide, so did the hunger. A ravenous, insatiable craving screaming more, more, MORE.
His eyes drifted to where Miriam slept, and for a moment—a terrifying moment—he thought about going to her, studying her, analyzing her, wondering if she might awaken a power. What would it be? How would it work? Could I…
His feet moved on their own, slowly carrying him toward the bedroom, as if hypnotized.
He stopped dead when he realized where he was headed, cold sweat beading on his forehead like morning dew.
"Damn it," he gasped, horrified at the realization he'd almost gone to analyze—or worse—someone important to him.
He clenched his teeth until his jaw ached, using the physical pain to anchor his mind and calm the roaring hunger for knowledge in his brain, like a caged beast. He checked his status with trembling hands.
Name: Jhon Ariza Montoza
Race: [Human]
Gacha Points: 10/40
Character Assimilation:
-- Jason Todd: 18%
-- Loki (Earth 199999): 2%
Powers:
Stand: Echoes ACT1
Intuitive Aptitude
Equipped Items: None
"Seriously? It went up 8%?" he muttered, blinking in surprise. Is Jason Todd a masochist or something? Or maybe my choice to resist the easy path put me a bit more in sync with him.
He glanced toward where Miriam slept. He could hear her soft, rhythmic breathing, see her curled up under the blankets like a contented cat. Seeing her sleep so peacefully, he turned and returned to the couch, burying his face in his hands.
He sighed deeply, feeling the weight of accumulated exhaustion on his shoulders. In one day, I've had more headaches than during all my college midterms combined.
----
Facility 7 - Colombia, Classified Location - 10:30 PM
Deep within an underground facility, Dr. Ramiro Castellanos observed multiple screens displaying security camera feeds from across Bogotá. His usually calm face showed signs of tension as he reviewed the night's reports.
"Colonel Herrera," he called to the uniformed man overseeing the operations center, "how many confirmed cases do we have this week?"
The Colonel, a fifty-year-old man with scars that spoke of past conflicts, consulted his tablet.
"Forty-three, Doctor. Thirty captured, eight eliminated due to resistance, five…" he paused, "five escaped."
"The ones who escaped," Castellanos turned fully to face him, "what kinds of abilities did they manifest?"
"Superhuman speed, shadow manipulation, one who could apparently become intangible, and two cases of short-range teleportation." The Colonel frowned. "Doctor, the frequency of manifestations is increasing exponentially. At this rate, we could have hundreds of new cases by next month."
Castellanos massaged his temples. On the screens, images of test subjects undergoing experiments flashed one after another. Some screamed, others appeared catatonic, and a few… a few showed signs of adapting to the procedures.
"And what does the President say about accelerating the Ascension Protocol?" Castellanos asked, though he dreaded the answer.
"Full green light. Unlimited resources. But Doctor…" the Colonel lowered his voice, "are you sure we can control what we're creating?"
On one of the screens, a test subject had generated electrical discharges powerful enough to overload containment devices. Technicians ran back and forth as red alarms blinked.
"Evolution is never controllable, Colonel," Castellanos replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We can only ensure we're on the right side when it's over."
------
Miriam's Apartment - 11:45 PM
After resting on the couch for a while, I set out to examine the combat manuals I'd obtained. The Chinese martial arts and Call of Duty manuals had materialized in my hands as real, physical books, with the weight and texture of authentic paper, though I knew they were something far more complex.
I focused, deliberately activating Intuitive Aptitude, feeling my perception expand like ripples in a pond.
I began reading quickly with my new perspective. It was as if every word, every diagram, every illustration was etched directly into my cerebral cortex. But it wasn't just that—I could see the connections, the underlying patterns, the essence of each technique.
It was no longer a simple memorization process. Now I could see the path to deep understanding, as if every combat move was a mathematical equation my brain solved instantly.
Within minutes, I could confidently say I was a theoretical expert in hand-to-hand combat. I knew exactly how to kill someone with a damn pencil—the precise pressure, the angle, the skull's vulnerable points. I also knew how to defend myself without causing lethal harm and understood the tactical use of most conventional weapons.
I don't have real experience, I reminded myself, feeling a strange mix of confidence and humility. But if there's no one in this world who knows every martial art and has fought in 500 wars, I'd say I can theoretically compete with the best.
The Chinese martial arts book had an extensive section on meditation that particularly caught my attention. It wasn't just for relaxation—it described specific techniques to calm the muscles, relax the mind, and achieve total harmony between body and spirit. More importantly, it mentioned methods to control destructive impulses and the hunger for power.
Perfect for what I need.
I closed both books and mentally returned them to my inventory, feeling them dematerialize into particles of light.
Slowly, I assumed the lotus position on the couch, crossing my legs and placing my hands as instructed, now perfectly memorized. I focused on my breathing, then on each part of my body systematically.
As I sank into meditation, I could feel my entire being with supernatural clarity: my bones—denser now, more resilient; my joints—more flexible and precise; my blood—circulating with a more efficient rhythm. My entire body relaxed gradually, but it also reorganized.
The tension from the stress of everything that had happened dissipated like smoke, but more importantly, the ravenous hunger for knowledge that Intuitive Aptitude had given me calmed to a manageable murmur in the back of my mind.
I exhaled through my mouth and inhaled deeply, feeling oxygen reach every cell in my body.
After about twenty minutes of deep relaxation, I opened my eyes and mentally accessed my character sheet.
"Holy shit," I cursed under my breath when I saw the numbers.
Name: Jhon Ariza Montoza
Race: [Human - Enhanced]
Gacha Points: 10/40
Character Assimilation:
-- Jason Todd: 70%
-- Loki (Earth 199999): 7%
Powers:
Stand: Echoes ACT1
Intuitive Aptitude
Equipped Items: None
Is that even possible? The jump from 18% to 70% in Jason Todd was just absurd. I'd suspected it would improve after my new knowledge of martial arts and personal combat, but this was beyond expectation. I guess Jason's still human, and my theoretical mastery of combat resonated deeply with his essence.
What really caught my attention was the additional 5% increase in Loki. During meditation, I'd felt something strange—a deeper understanding of subtle manipulation, how to use words as weapons, how to read people's hidden motivations. It was like I'd developed a supernatural intuition for detecting lies and motives.
Now, after stopping meditation, I began to feel the physical changes in my body with Intuitive Aptitude active.
My God.
My muscle mass had increased significantly, but not grotesquely. It was as if every muscle fiber had been optimized for combat—perfect definition without excessive bulk, explosive strength concentrated in an athletic frame. My muscles seemed specifically designed for fighting, each muscle group working in perfect harmony with the others.
My face had also changed subtly. My features had sharpened, becoming more symmetrical, more… striking. It wasn't male vanity—it was an objective improvement. My eyes seemed more intense, my jawline more defined, as if every feature had been polished by an expert sculptor.
My height had increased slightly—maybe two centimeters—but my posture had improved dramatically. I moved with a natural grace I didn't have before, every step calculated and efficient.
And this is only 70%, I thought with a mix of awe and apprehension. What'll happen when I hit 100%?
The Loki increase manifested physically in subtler ways: a more enigmatic smile, a way of tilting my head that suggested hidden knowledge, an innate ability to project charisma when needed.
But there was something more urgent than experimenting.
I'd spent over an hour analyzing my changes when I decided to focus Intuitive Aptitude on something that really mattered: my Stand. When I concentrated on Echoes ACT1, I could "see" its complete energy structure for the first time.
Fascinating…
I could perceive the real limitations of my power. It wasn't just distance or physical strength—there was an entire energy architecture I could optimize, flow patterns that could be improved, connections that could be strengthened.
Echoes ACT1 appeared floating before me, and with my new perspective, I could see exactly what needed improvement. It had the potential to evolve faster than normal, not just through emotional growth like in the original series, but through pure technical understanding of its own capabilities.
But considering I was relatively new to Intuitive Aptitude, I decided to use a more direct method.
"Might as well use the Power Boost card on Echoes ACT1," I murmured, pulling the golden card from my inventory.
The transformation was beautiful and terrifying at once. Echoes elongated gradually, its proportions becoming more humanoid while retaining its characteristic appearance. The kanji characters that usually floated around it multiplied exponentially, creating a three-dimensional alphabet of solidified sound that slowly spun around its form.
The information updated instantly in my mind:
[Echoes ACT2 - Enhanced Version]
Extended Range: 100 meters (previously 50 meters)
Sound Effect Duration: Tripled compared to standard ACT1
New Capabilities: Can write kanji in the air, creating three-dimensional sound effects
Combined Effects: Kanji can merge to create "symphonies" of complex sensations
Effect Duration: Until consciously canceled or the user falls unconscious
Precision: Effects can be directed with millimeter accuracy
Variable Intensity: The user can control the intensity of each effect from subtle to overwhelming
The possibilities were vast and terrifying. I could write "灼熱" (shakuretsu - scorching heat) in the air and create a high-temperature zone capable of melting metal. "重力" (juuryoku - gravity) could manipulate localized gravity in a specific area. "幻覚" (genkaku - hallucination) could create sensory effects so convincing the mind would interpret them as real.
I smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. With this, I can…
But my smile faded when I heard a soft moan from the bedroom, followed by movement among the sheets.
"¿Jhon?"
Miriam's voice sounded sleepy and slightly worried.
Shit. Did I wake her?
I quickly dismissed both Echoes and the character panel, moving silently toward the bedroom. My new combat instincts allowed me to move without making the slightest sound.
"I'm here," I whispered, slipping carefully back into bed.
Miriam instinctively curled up against me, her warm skin contrasting with mine, now slightly cooler due to the physical transformation. Her arm slid over my torso and paused, clearly noticing something different.
"Jhon?" she murmured against my neck, her voice more alert. "You feel… different."
Shit. Of course she'd notice. My muscle definition had changed significantly.
"Can't sleep?" I managed to ask, diverting her attention.
"I was just thinking about everything that happened today," I replied, being technically honest while trying to relax my muscles to seem more normal.
"Mm…" Miriam settled in closer, one leg tangling with mine. I could feel her body gradually relax. "Jhon?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think more things like today will happen? More people like that fire guy?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. I stayed silent for a moment, torn between lying to protect her peace or being honest about what I sensed was coming.
With my new connection to Loki, I could feel exactly which words would calm her, which lies would be most convincing. But thanks to Jason Todd, I also knew the value of raw truth when someone mattered to you.
"Probably, yeah," I admitted finally, feeling her tense slightly against me. "The world's changing, Miriam. And I think today was just the start of it all."
She tensed more noticeably against me.
"Are you scared?" she asked in a barely audible voice.
I thought about the T-1000 waiting in my inventory, about everything Intuitive Aptitude had revealed about how things worked, about the fact that I was becoming exponentially stronger every day while the world descended into chaos.
"Sometimes," I answered honestly. "But not for myself. I'm scared I won't be able to protect the people I care about."
My voice sounded more vulnerable than I intended. The fear of the unknown still gnawed at me, still ate away at my mind…
.....
The Antarctic - 2:17 AM (Local Time)
Helena stood motionless over what remained of Soren Vahl, her breath creating small clouds of vapor in the frigid air. The hole in the man's torso still smoked slightly where her fist had punched through flesh and bone, the residual heat from her kinetic energy sublimating the frozen blood.
X50 is still too much, she thought, staring at her gloved hands. The golden veins beneath her skin pulsed erratically, taking longer than usual to return to normal. Control gets harder every time.
The roar of rotors snapped her out of her thoughts. The helicopter descended twenty meters away, creating a hurricane of pulverized snow that made it nearly impossible to distinguish shapes. Helena walked toward the aircraft, each step leaving a deep imprint in the hardened ice.
"Captain!" Reaves shouted from the helicopter's open door, his voice barely audible over the turbine's roar. "Target neutralized?"
Helena nodded, climbing aboard with mechanical movements. She sank into the metal seat, feeling it groan slightly under her enhanced weight. The cabin's interior immediately filled with the metallic smell of blood staining her uniform.
"Subject's status?" Reaves asked once they were airborne, consulting his tablet as the pilot adjusted the course toward the base.
"Eliminated due to armed resistance and direct aggression," Helena replied in a monotone, staring out the window at the white expanse receding below. "Displayed extreme hostility when offered the chance to cooperate."
Reaves typed the information into his device, but Helena noticed his fingers hesitate when entering "eliminated."
"Commander," Helena said, not taking her eyes off the window, "how many cases like this have we had globally?"
Reaves consulted another section of his tablet, his brows furrowing as he reviewed the data.
"This month… fourteen eliminations due to armed resistance. But Captain," he paused, clearly uncomfortable, "reports from other teams suggest some awakened are evolving faster than our protocols anticipated."
Helena turned her head to look at him directly. Something in the Commander's tone put her on alert.
"Accelerated evolution? Explain."
"Alpha Division scientists have documented cases of awakened developing secondary abilities or exponentially enhancing their original capabilities within weeks, not months." Reaves handed her the tablet, displaying a series of classified videos. "Look at this data from Brazil: a subject who initially could only manipulate minor plants can now control entire ecosystems. Six days after their first manifestation."
Helena watched the videos with growing unease. Satellite imagery showed vast stretches of the Amazon rainforest moving like a single organism, hundred-year-old trees growing in minutes, vines strangling reconnaissance helicopters.
If awakened can become this powerful so quickly, she thought, containment operations will only get more dangerous. And if I'm evolving too…
"What about those who cooperate?" she asked, handing back the tablet.
"Those incorporated into the Ascension Program are showing promising results in terms of control and tactical application," Reaves replied, but his expression darkened. "But Captain… some scientists are worried. They think we're artificially accelerating a process that should take months or years."
A distant roar, like the sound of an air tsunami, made them look up at the overhead windows. On the Antarctic horizon, the aurora borealis stretched in completely abnormal patterns, forming perfect geometric shapes that pulsed with almost mechanical regularity. The colors weren't the usual greens and blues but golden and purple hues that seemed to vibrate with a life of their own.
"Is that normal?" Helena asked, feeling a strange echo of recognition in her chest. The colors eerily resembled the energy aura around her body when she used X50.
Reaves shook his head, genuine bewilderment replacing his usual military composure.
"Scientists are calling it 'energy resonance.' Apparently, large-scale power manifestations are affecting the planet's electromagnetic fields in ways we don't fully understand." He looked at the dancing lights with a mix of fascination and terror. "Captain, there's something else you need to know."
Helena felt a knot forming in her stomach. "What?"
"Satellites have detected similar anomalies in multiple locations. Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, parts of Asia…" Reaves paused, clearly grappling with the implications of what he was about to say. "Wherever there's a high concentration of awakened, the atmosphere itself seems to be… responding. Like the planet is an organism reacting to our presence."
Helena felt a chill that had nothing to do with the Antarctic cold seeping through the helicopter's windows. The lights on the horizon pulsed more intensely, as if they'd overheard the conversation.
If the planet itself is reacting to the awakened, she thought, watching her own golden veins subtly respond to the external phenomenon, then we're dealing with something far bigger than we imagined. And if my power keeps growing uncontrollably…
"Commander," she said with a firm voice, though inside she felt growing concern, "change course. I need to speak with High Command. Immediately."
"Captain?"
"If the awakened are evolving faster than anticipated, and if the planet is reacting to our presence…" Helena glanced once more at the anomalous lights now stretching across the entire visible horizon. "Then our current protocols aren't just inadequate. They're potentially catastrophic."
The helicopter adjusted its course, heading toward the base as the aurora's lights continued their impossible dance in the Antarctic sky, as if the world itself were awakening.
....
Miriam's Apartment - 6:30 AM
Jhon woke before dawn with an odd feeling in his chest, like when you know someone's watching you, but no one's there. With Intuitive Aptitude humming in the back of his mind, he could feel… things. Energy pulses coming from different parts of the city, like when you plug in a bad cable and the power sparks.
Other awakened.
He got up slowly, careful not to wake Miriam, who was curled up against him. The girl slept like a rock, but better not risk it.
He walked barefoot to the window, feeling the cold floor. Bogotá looked normal from above, with that usual morning fog, but his head was telling him something else. It was like having a mental GPS marking energy points across the city. Some were moving—people just awakening powers and not knowing what to do. Others were still, probably sleeping or trying not to freak out. And a few pulsed so strongly they gave him chills.
His phone started vibrating like crazy. When he checked it, he found a flood of videos and news that froze his blood:
"Clash between powered individuals leaves dead in Medellín"
"VIRAL: Man walks on water in Cartagena"
"President calls emergency meeting"
The comments were a mess:
"My cousin says he can read minds, won't even let me think in peace"
"This is like The Avengers but Colombian version lol"
"The government's hiding something"
"Anyone else feel the air's weird? Like it's vibrating"
He checked his gacha points: 11/40
He'd gained another point. Enough for a small pull, but there was something more important to do.
He materialized the physical enhancement serum. It was a vial like a vaccine, but with a blue liquid that moved on its own, as if tiny lights were floating inside.
"If things are about to get ugly," he murmured, "I'd better be ready."
He jabbed the needle into his arm and pressed.
"Ughhh—"
The sensation was like liquid fire in his veins. Every muscle tensed and began to grow. His bones stretched—he could feel them lengthening, which was super weird. His senses went wild: he could hear the breathing of the lady next door, smell coffee brewing three floors down, see every dust particle floating in the air.
His brain changed too. Like upgrading an old computer, and suddenly everything runs faster. He could think about multiple things at once without getting confused.
When he caught his reflection in the window, he froze.
It was still him, but it was like he'd spent two years in the gym and visited the world's best plastic surgeon. Taller, more muscular but not ridiculously so, his face more symmetrical. His eyes had tiny golden flecks moving inside them.
"Jhon?" Miriam's sleepy voice came from the bedroom. "You okay? I heard a groan…"
Shit. With his super senses, he'd heard things he normally wouldn't, but he forgot he'd make more noise too.
"Yeah, just went for water," he said, slipping back into the bedroom.
Miriam was sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. When she saw him, her jaw dropped.
"Jhon?" Her voice sounded off. "What happened to you?"
Her eyes scanned him from head to toe. She turned red as a tomato.
There was an awkward silence.
"You look…" she bit her lip, "like a porn star on beauty steroids."
She immediately covered her face with her hands.
"Oh my God, I can't believe I said that! Sorry, it's just… I'm half-asleep and…"
Jhon couldn't help but laugh. "Relax."
He sat on the bed, which sank more than usual under his weight.
"I think my power's evolving," he explained. "Yesterday I used something that was supposed to help heal, but it seems to have changed my whole body."
Miriam kept staring at him. Without thinking, she reached out and touched his arm.
"Wow." Her fingers traced his muscles. "It feels real."
"Because it is real, Miri."
"But it's super weird," she said, not moving her hand. "Yesterday you were normal, and now you look… I don't know, like a different person."
"I'm still me," Jhon said. "Just upgraded."
"Upgraded," she repeated, and something in her tone made him look at her more closely.
A distant rumble interrupted them. Through the window, a column of black smoke rose from the city center.
Jhon's phone blared with an emergency alert:
"ATTENTION: Stay in your homes. Avoid the following areas…"
The list matched exactly the places where he'd sensed the strongest energy pulses.
"Everything's happening too fast," he murmured, seeing more points of light appear in his mental perception.
Miriam curled up against him, seeking safety. But now it felt different—he was warmer, more solid.
"Are you scared?" she asked again. perhaps not caring that she had asked me the same question the day before, trying to find something to hold on to.
Jhon thought about his grandparents again, about her, about all the people he cared about.
Jhon thought about his grandparents again, about her, about all the people he cared about.
"Yeah," he admitted. "But not for me. For you guys."
In the distance, sirens began to wail across the city.
----------
Hello, here I am with a new chapter.
To be honest, even though I try not to let my lack of writing experience show too much, it's evident in the chapter, as I find it difficult to write interactions between characters, so I apologize if there are any mistakes.
If you can, please give me some advice on how to improve. I don't want it to become boring.
By the way, let me know what you want to see in future gachas after the month-long wait.
Please support your first-time author with power stones. Thank you for reading.