"I don't feel much different… Hey, System, what else can I use C energy for?"
[SYSTEM]
As of now, celestial energy can be used for system functions: [SKILL PURCHASE] and [SKILL UPGRADE], inside [MENU].
Before Carter could react, a floating interface popped into his mind. It looked like a digital display, hovering there with neatly organized sections, almost like a cosmic RPG menu. He couldn't help but grin.
[MENU]
[Profile]
[Abilities]
[Skill Shop]
[LOCKED]
"Whoa, what is all this? System, can you explain?"
[SYSTEM]
The Profile tab displays your current stats, size, and total celestial energy.
The Abilities tab shows your current skills and offers options for upgrading them using C energy.
The Skill Shop allows you to purchase new abilities with celestial energy.
Khal took in all the information and thought for a moment.
"I wonder what skills I can currently buy." He opened the Skill Shop tab.
Three skills were listed, but their names were grayed out—unavailable for now. "Damn… looks like I don't have enough C energy for these."
With a sigh, Carter glanced at his energy balance. "I guess it's time for some more space scavenging."
He drifted deeper into space, determined to gather more celestial energy and unlock those skills. Carter shot through space like a comet, crashing into nearby meteors. Each collision sent shockwaves of celestial energy into him, and in no time, he had grown to 780 feet. His celestial energy surged to 20,500 points, his Zone Vision expanded to 70 miles.
He marveled at the newfound sight, the asteroids within his vision stretching out like a cosmic map, detailing every speck of celestial debris.
"Wow," Carter muttered, laughing to himself as he soared through the void. "This is insane! I've barely been out here, and I already feel like I'm getting the hang of this."
He continued.
"Never in my wildest dreams did i ever think I'd be able to experience something like this. just a few hours ago i was a regular high school student, and now im a drifting space rock.
After drifting through space for a while, Carter's curiosity got the better of him. He checked the skill shop for any new available skills.
The skill Gravity Control was available, costing him 15,000 celestial energy.
"Sweet! A new skill is available. It's a bit pricey but it should be worth it. System, what can this ability do?
[SYSTEM]
The skill Gravity Control allows the host to manipulate gravity within a set range and automatically pull masses towards the host for absorption. The range and force of the skill will grow with each upgrade.
Carter's eyes—or, well, whatever equivalent sense he had—lit up. "Wait, so I can basically auto-farm space rocks? That's awesome! It's like having my own space... auto-clicker!" He grinned to himself. "Alright, PURCHASE!"
[NOTICE]
Gravity Control has been purchased.
"…I don't feel any different," Carter grumbled after a moment of silence.
[SYSTEM]
Host must willingly activate the skill. It's as simple as moving a limb… even though the host currently does not have one.
"Thanks for the reminder…" Carter muttered. Closing his metaphorical eyes, he focused on the new skill. Slowly, he began to imagine pushing and pulling gravity like an invisible force in the space around him. The sensation was faint at first, like a tug on the edge of his awareness, but it quickly grew stronger.
Suddenly, Carter could feel the flow of gravity within a 70-mile radius. He grinned as the sensation of control washed over him.
"Whoa… I can actually move stuff! I can pull things, push them; it's like I have my own cosmic hand."
He flexed his new power, testing the limits of the force he could exert. Small chunks of space debris began drifting toward him, drawn by the pull of his gravity control. He stood in one place, pulling all the rocks toward him until the surrounding area was cleared. Crashing them into him
"Nice! I gained 3,000 celestial energy and grew 300 feet in radius, becoming a whopping 329 meters radius.
"Doing this will speed up my growth rate… a lot faster—wait, what?" Carter's thoughts were interrupted as an unfamiliar object entered his Zone Vision. "What's that?"
He focused on the new object: a sleek, white spaceship cruising steadily in his direction. It was marked with a strange emblem—an "X" crossed with an odd-shaped skull. His excitement shifted to confusion.
"Wait… is that some kind of spaceship? Hey, System, aren't I deep in space? Why are there humans out here? Did I reincarnate into the future or something?"
[SYSTEM]
That is not a human spaceship. The vessel belongs to an infamous space pirate clan in this galaxy.
Carter froze. "Space… pirates?"
"This is really some cliché anime first encounter. Let me guess, they'll start firing their guns when they see me."
[SYSTEM]
Host is a 329-meter meteor roaming space.
"...Good point," Carter muttered, rolling his nonexistent eyes.
He watched as the spacecraft flew closer, gliding directly toward him. His pulse quickened—well, if he had a pulse. The sleek white ship hovered for a moment before landing gently on his surface. Carter tensed. "Uh, System? I thought you said they wouldn't ATTACK ME!?"
[SYSTEM]
It is very unlikely. The host is most likely going to be mined as a resource.
"Wait... Mined?" Carter's unease turned into a rush of panic. He imagined drills digging into his rocky form, stripping him down like he was some kind of celestial ore. "Oh, hell no!"
Suddenly, a group of small robotic drones deployed from the ship, their mechanical arms extending as they scanned his surface. One of them buzzed, looking far too eager to start extracting whatever materials it could find.
"System, what do I do? I can't just let them drill me apart!"
[SYSTEM]
The host can use gravity control to crush the ship or allow them to mine for strategic purposes.
Carter hesitated, his core vibrating with unease. "Strategic purposes? I'm not letting them turn me into space debris!"
The spaceship's doors hissed open, and out hopped an alien creature—four muscular arms, each gripping a tool, its dark space suit glinting under the ship's lights. The emblem on its chest, an odd-shaped skull over an X. Three more aliens followed, all moving with a precision that sent a chill through Carter. They weren't here to mess around.
His thoughts raced. "So, what's the strategic plan here, System?"
[SYSTEM]
The host can track all parts of his body. Suggestion: allow them to mine portions of your mass, track where they take it... then crash into their base planet.
Carter's eyes narrowed—or would have if he could. "You want me to let them take chunks out of me?" He hesitated, then grinned. "I guess... that's actually brilliant. They won't know what hit them LITERALLY."