Adam stood in the middle of his room, his eyes darting across the blue text floating in his vision. He had missed a crucial detail in his initial analysis.
He focused on the [SAVE AUTHORITY] function again. It showed a capacity of 0/1. It meant he could currently only scan and hold one external Authority at a time in that slot. If he wanted to scan a new one, he would have to overwrite the old one.
"That seems limiting," Adam muttered.
But then, he looked at the [LOAD AUTHORITY] tab.
His eyes widened. The 'Load' function wasn't just a switch; it was connected to a Database.
"I see..." Adam whispered, a realization dawning on him. "The 'Save' slot is just a scanner—a clipboard. Once I analyze an Authority, I can transfer the data into the 'Load Database.' Once it's in the Database, the 'Save' slot becomes empty again."
This changed everything.
He didn't need to choose just one power to keep forever. He could build an arsenal.
"However," Adam noted, reading the fine print, "I can only set one Authority from the Database as my 'Active Default' at a time. I cannot use Gravity and Fire simultaneously. To switch, I have to mentally unequip one and equip the other."
It wasn't perfect. There would be a delay—a split second of vulnerability when switching powers. But for a man like Adam, who treated life like a calculated equation, a split second was all he needed.
Satisfied with this discovery, Adam finally locked his door and sat on the edge of the sleek, futuristic bed.
"Now, let's look at the hardware," he said.
He willed the System to show his status. The window flickered and changed, displaying a silhouette of his current body along with numerical data.
[STATUS WINDOW]
> Name: Adam
> Age: 17
> Strength: 1.5 (Average Male: 1.0)
> Agility: 1.8 (Average Male: 1.0)
> Stamina: 1.4 (Average Male: 1.0)
> Mana/Zeo Capacity: Low (Dormant)
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
This body was far superior to his original one. His old body was malnourished from hiding and surviving on canned food. This body, despite being called 'lazy,' was naturally athletic. The muscle density was high, and the reflexes were sharp. It was a wasted vessel on the previous owner.
But as his eyes scrolled down to the bottom of the status screen, he froze.
There was a section labeled [INNATE AUTHORITY].
Usually, Authorities were revealed during the Awakening Ceremony. The fact that the System could see it beforehand was a huge advantage. But as Adam read the name of his own Authority, his expression went blank.
> Innate Authority: [SLEEP]
> Status: Locked (Awakens in 3 Months)
> Rank: C+
"Sleep?" Adam stared at the screen, unimpressed. "My power is... napping?"
It seemed like a cruel joke. In a world of gravity manipulators and energy blasters, he had the power to sleep.
But then, he read the diagnostic note underneath.
[System Note]: The Host's biological lethargy is a direct side effect of the high-potency Sleep Authority constantly leaking into the nervous system. The previous consciousness lacked the mental fortitude to resist it, resulting in chronic laziness.
"So he wasn't just lazy," Adam realized. "He was drugged by his own power."
Adam felt a sudden wave of drowsiness wash over him. His eyelids felt heavy, his limbs relaxed. The Authority was calling to him, tempting him to just lie down and close his eyes.
"No," Adam gritted his teeth, forcing his eyes open. "I am in control."
He focused back on the screen. He needed to know why this was rated C+. His brother Steven had a C-Rank Gravity Authority, which was considered respectable. If Sleep was ranked higher, there had to be more to it.
He mentally clicked on the Authority to expand the description.
[Authority: SLEEP]
Description: The user commands the concept of 'Rest' and 'Dormancy'.
Abilities:
[Instant Rest]: The user can fall asleep instantly to rapidly regenerate stamina and heal minor wounds (2x Healing Speed).
[Forced Slumber]: By touching a target, the user can force their biological functions into a deep sleep state instantly.
[Authority Sedation]: The user can induce 'Sleep' in inorganic concepts. This allows the user to temporarily put another person's Authority into 'Sleep Mode,' rendering it unusable for a short duration.
Adam's breath hitched.
He read the third ability again.
[Authority Sedation].
"It's not just about people," Adam whispered, a thrill of excitement running through him. "I can put powers to sleep."
If someone threw a fireball at him, he could potentially put the fire itself to sleep, snuffing it out. If Steven tried to crush him with Gravity, Adam could touch him and put his Gravity Authority into a coma, turning him into a normal human.
It was a silencer. A counter-measure.
He looked at the limitations.
[Limitations]:
1. Does not work on targets with significantly higher Mental Fortitude than the user.
2. Does not work on Authorities ranked 'A' or higher (Current limit).
"It has limits," Adam analyzed, "but against the average opponent, this is devastating."
The drowsiness hit him again, harder this time. The Sleep Authority was demanding its tribute. It wanted him to close his eyes and drift away.
Adam stood up and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. He looked at his reflection—wet hair, sharp eyes, and a body humming with dormant power.
"Rank C+," he smirked at the mirror. "Sleep... This is far more interesting than I thought."
He had a System that could copy powers, and a body that could turn other powers off.
Adam dried his face. The game wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about dominating.