The moment our hands touched, the world seemed to slow down. Her fingers were cold, a stark contrast to the thrumming energy of the portal. Her grip was firm, a silent acknowledgment of the bridge I was extending between our two worlds.
As she stepped forward, mesmerized by the swirling gateway, I focused my will. A faint, invisible shimmer of turquoise light, the telltale sign of [Template Copy], enveloped our clasped hands for less than a second. It wasn't a violent torrent like Thorne's knowledge or a subtle warmth like Bishop's power. It was a cold, crystalline influx, like pure, structured data being downloaded directly into my soul. There was a brief, sharp sensation of someone else's headache, a phantom echo of psionic pressure, and a strange, deep feeling of unyielding, adamantine strength. Then, it was gone.
[Through a specific action, a high-tier power has been acquired!]
[Power: [Telepathy (Latent)] Lvl. 1 has been created!]
Description: You possess the foundational ability to read and project thoughts. At its current low level, this skill is unfocused and passive. You may occasionally 'hear' surface-level emotional broadcasts from others. Active use is unreliable and mentally taxing.]
[Secondary Power Detected! [Psionic Resistance (Innate)] Lvl. 1 has been created!]
Description: As a natural side-effect of a telepathic mind, you possess a baseline resistance to psionic intrusion and influence.]
[Tertiary Power Detected! [Organic Diamond Transformation (Unawakened)] has been created!]
Description: You possess the genetic potential to transmute your skin and underlying tissues into a flexible, translucent, diamond-like substance of immense durability. ]
It was done. Three for the price of one. The most dangerous, most crucial theft I had yet attempted. And she hadn't noticed a thing.
"It's... real," she whispered, her voice filled with awe as she stared into the grotesque, swirling forest within the portal.
"Very real," I confirmed, my voice steady despite the triumphant roar in my mind. I gently released her hand and stepped through. "Come on. The welcoming committee is probably getting restless."
She hesitated for only a moment before her innate curiosity and courage won out. She squared her shoulders and followed me in.
The air in the Forest of Shadows was cold and damp, a stark contrast to the controlled climate of the forge. She stopped, her eyes wide as she took in the skeletal trees and the bruised-purple sky.
A low growl echoed from the shadows.
Emma flinched, instinctively taking a step back. A Shadow Wolf, its form a roiling mass of darkness and knotted roots, slunk into view, its glowing red eyes fixed on us.
"Don't worry," I said, stepping in front of her. "They're more bark than bite."
The wolf lunged. Without even thinking, my body reacted. My [Enhanced Reflexes] kicked in, allowing me to sidestep the clumsy attack with ease. I didn't even bother with [Energy Absorption]. I activated [Power Strike], my fist glowing with a faint, internal light, and met the creature's charge with a perfectly timed uppercut.
The impact was a dull, satisfying thump, and the 200% damage multiplier did its job. The Shadow Wolf's form destabilized instantly, dissolving into a cloud of black mist before it even hit the ground.
[Shadow Wolf Defeated! +50 EXP!]
I turned back to Emma. Her face was pale, but her eyes were shining with a fierce, analytical light. The fear was gone, replaced by the gears of her mind turning at a furious pace.
"You've been doing this every night?" she asked, her voice a hushed whisper.
"Almost every night," I corrected. "This is the grind, Emma. This is how I get stronger. Every one of these things I kill, every hit I take, it all translates into... progress."
Two more wolves emerged from the trees, flanking us. Emma's hand shot out and grabbed my arm. "Alex, more of them!"
"It's okay," I said calmly, giving her a reassuring smile. "Watch this."
I held out my hands, one aimed at each wolf. I drew on my stored EP, but instead of focusing it into my fists, I let it flow freely from my palms. Two crude, unfocused bolts of concussive energy shot out, striking the wolves in their chests. They weren't as powerful as a [Power Strike], but they were more than enough to obliterate the low-level creatures. They dissolved into mist.
"You see?" I said, turning back to her. "This place... it's a resource. It's how I prepare for the real world. For things worse than your father's goons."
She was silent, her mind processing the sheer, paradigm-shifting reality of what she was seeing. The Gamer system, the secret to my 'quiet mind', the source of my impossible skills—it was all laid bare, not through explanation, but through demonstration.
"You're not just a metahuman," she finally breathed, her eyes locking onto mine. "You're something else entirely."
I just smiled. "I'm your partner, Emma"
I could see the shift in her understanding. The wall between us hadn't just crumbled; it had been vaporized. The late-night arguments about expenses, the professional distance—it all seemed petty and insignificant now. She finally understood her half of the equation, because she finally, truly understood mine.
"Exit Dungeon."
We reappeared in the forge, the familiar hum of the Synapse a welcome sound. Emma stumbled slightly, steadying herself against a workbench, her eyes still wide.
She looked at me, no longer as a frustratingly enigmatic business partner, but as an ally in a war she was only just beginning to comprehend.
"Alright, Sterling," she said, a slow, determined smile spreading across her face. "I get it now. You handle the... R&D. I'll handle the rest." Her smile turned predatory. "And the first thing I'm going to do is renegotiate our budget. "