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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 — Calm Before the Next Chaos

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Noah sank onto the worn mattress of a cheap hotel in Gotham City. The room smelled faintly of mold and old carpet, and the flickering fluorescent light did nothing to make it feel safer. But compared to the chaos on the streets, it was a sanctuary. For the first time that day, he allowed himself to breathe.

He stared up at the ceiling, arms behind his head, legs stretched out awkwardly. His heart still beat rapidly, but it was no longer pure panic. Adrenaline lingered in his veins, but it was… manageable.

Wow. He shook his head. "Today… wow. Today was insane."

He let out a low whistle. "I got transported into the DC universe. Almost met Batman. Survived a mech fight… by sheer luck. And somehow, somewhere along the way, I gained… powers. I have… powers. And I don't even know how to use them yet."

He laughed nervously, half in disbelief. "Yeah… okay. That's… that's my life now. Superpowers. Gotham City. Probably near-death experiences every day. Fantastic."

Noah leaned back into the pillow, closing his eyes. For a moment, he allowed himself to feel… calm. He was still scared, sure, but adrenaline had subsided just enough for him to think. Not panic, not run, just… think.

Alright, Noah. Calm down. Think logically. Sort things out.

He pressed a hand to his chest. The faint glow of his multiverse system symbol pulsed under his skin, almost like it was alive, reacting to his thoughts.

"Okay," he muttered to himself. "If I have powers… maybe the system can tell me more. Let's… see."

He focused, closing his eyes and speaking aloud. "System. What exactly is my superpower?"

The familiar voice responded, smooth, slightly mechanical but with a tone that felt… familiar, like it had been waiting for this moment.

System: "You possess minor reality manipulation. Your abilities are tied to emotional intensity and focus. Fear, excitement, adrenaline, or stress can amplify output. Effects are temporary unless refined. Improper use can result in unintended consequences."

Noah blinked. "Minor reality manipulation… okay… what does that actually mean? I can make food appear, maybe, but can I… move buildings? Stop a mech? Cause explosions?"

System: "Capabilities are currently untested. Energy output and precision are low. Physical manifestation is influenced by emotional state. Recommend gradual experimentation and low-risk scenarios."

Noah groaned. "Gradual… low-risk. Right. So maybe don't accidentally destroy a city while testing this thing. Got it. Makes sense… I think."

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, staring at his hands. The faint glow of the symbol pulsed with each heartbeat. "So… I destroyed a mech. Somehow. Completely by accident. That counts as… super strength? Or a giant energy blast? Or maybe reality just… folded around me? I don't know."

He shook his head, a grin tugging at his lips. "Whatever. I survived. I have powers. I'm alive. Gotham is terrifying… but amazing. This day? Totally insane."

Noah leaned back, letting his adrenaline settle further. "Alright. Food, check. Shelter, check. Powers… check-ish. Now I just… think. Figure out my limits. And hopefully… don't die before I get the hang of this."

The room was silent except for the hum of the old air conditioning. Noah let himself relax for the first time all day, although his mind buzzed with possibilities. If I can manipulate reality… even a little… that could change everything. But I need to be careful. Focused. Calm.

He let out a deep breath. "Okay… system. Let's test the limits. Safely. Step by step. Don't blow up the hotel. Don't get seen by anyone… and maybe… have a little fun along the way."

System: "Acknowledged. Recommend testing minor objects first. Avoid public exposure."

Noah nodded to himself. "Good. Small things. Low-risk. Minor reality manipulation 101."

He leaned back into the pillow again, staring at the ceiling. "Today was… amazing. Terrifying, sure. But amazing. Who knows where this'll go next? Multiverse, DC Universe, powers I barely understand… yeah, this is gonna be one hell of a ride."

For the first time since waking up in this strange world, Noah felt a mix of fear, excitement, and… strangely, anticipation. Adrenaline still lingered, sure, but now it was the good kind: the kind that made him feel alive, aware, capable of more than just surviving.

He curled up under the thin hotel blanket, thinking through everything. Batman… almost meeting him. The mech… destroyed. Powers… partially understood. Food and shelter… checked off.

"Alright, Noah," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "Tomorrow… we figure out what you can actually do. No more accidents. No more panics. And… maybe… just maybe… we figure out how to not get killed by the people in this city."

He shut his eyes, finally letting himself rest. His symbol pulsed faintly under his skin, quiet, steady, alive—just like him.

Gotham was dangerous. DC was dangerous. And Noah… was alive.

And for now, that was more than enough.

---

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