CHAPTER 11

Watts Pov

I felt amazing, truly alive, even though I had burned through all my energy. I could feel it—the strength bubbling beneath my skin, growing with every second. My ability, a gift that expanded just by absorbing energy, was something out of a comic book, almost Superman-esque. The transformation had completed, but I was still stuck at level one—a weak starting point.

With two hours until my energy fully recovered, I decided to test out my new abilities. Why not see what I was truly capable of?

First up: technopathy. I focused, channeling what felt like a spiritual awareness deep within myself, searching for anything unusual. Yet, nothing seemed different. No flashing lights or circuits. No hint that I might become a cyborg anytime soon. Just me, the same old human from Earth, with a handsome face and a body to match.

Still, I gave it a shot. I willed my body to change, focusing on my cells. Something resisted—like hitting a wall. It seemed I couldn't transform fully, only parts of my body could. Disappointed but curious, I concentrated on my right hand. And there it was. My hand shimmered, morphing into something metallic, composed of nanobots clumping together, forming a perfect replica of my hand—only mechanical.

The realization sent chills through me. Could I manipulate it? I focused harder, and the hand shifted, reshaping itself into a sleek Glock 19 pistol. I felt the weight, solid and real, as if it had always been there. Testing it further, I realized the bullets weren't just theoretical. They were drawn from my own body, an extension of me.

I continued experimenting. At level one, my technopathy allowed me to detect technological devices and metals within a 15-meter radius. Controlling them, however, was slow. Hacking into my neighbor's Wi-Fi took six excruciating minutes—pathetic, really. Still, it was a start.

The Time Dilation Mindscape was the next experiment. I slipped into it, entering a realm where time stretched infinitely. A day in there felt like an eternity, but at least I discovered I could shape it—simulate reality, create people, buildings, even entire worlds. The possibilities seemed endless.

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Wednesday, 12:17 a.m.

Waiting for two hours without doing anything was impossible. So, I indulged in one of life's greatest joys—watching Lucifer. That show never failed to impress me. Lucifer Morningstar, the man himself, was a marvel. If there was anything worth fighting for in this world, it was movies. Movies were life.

With the clock ticking past two hours, I was fully recharged. Interestingly, my energy capacity had increased slightly, a modest 5% boost. That's when a thought struck me. If my technopathy evolved by absorbing energy, what would happen if I fed it xymic energy? This high-level energy was potent, capable of transformative effects with minimal amounts.

Curiosity consumed me. Without hesitation, I directed the xymic energy into my cells. It flowed like a river, saturating every corner of my body. My cells reacted immediately, drinking it in as if starved. In mere seconds, I felt an overwhelming fullness, a complete saturation. Parts of my body turned into nanobots, scattering like a shimmering ghost. My metallic form grew stronger, more resilient.

I had reached level two.

The changes were profound. I could now transform half my body into a cyborg. The technopathy range expanded dramatically to one kilometer, and my ability to interact with the internet became seamless. Hacking, which once took minutes, was now instantaneous.

But I wasn't done. I pushed further, feeding my cells another dose of xymic energy. Within thirty seconds, my body erupted into a sea of nanobots. It was surreal—like living as a cloud, weightless and omnipresent. This was level three. My range now spanned over 15 kilometers, and any database connected to the internet was fair game. Earth's entire technological network felt within reach.

Could I go further? The hunger for power drove me. I poured more xymic energy into my cells, evolving to level four, then five. At level five, I had transcended human limits. My technopathy range extended to 20,000 kilometers, surpassing Earth's diameter. I could feel every piece of metal, every electronic device, and manipulate them as easily as breathing. Nuclear weapons? A joke. Cybersecurity systems? Nonexistent barriers. The world was at my fingertips.

Yet, no matter how much energy I poured in, my cells refused to evolve further. I was maxed out at level five. Still, satisfaction coursed through me. My nanobots were now nearly indestructible, their resilience rivaling even nuclear blasts. My abilities were unparalleled. The possibilities for testing were endless.

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I walked to my window, excitement brimming within me. With a thought, my body transformed. The nanobots assembled into a sleek suit reminiscent of Iron Man's, though mine was black with piercing red eyes. Thrusters formed at my feet as I stepped onto the window ledge.

Then, I jumped.

The thrill of freefall was intoxicating. The thrusters roared to life, propelling me into the night sky. "Wooohoo!" I screamed, adrenaline coursing through me. The wind whipped against my face as I soared above the city, climbing higher until I broke through the clouds.

Up here, I felt invincible. I canceled the transformation, letting myself plummet. The freefall was exhilarating, the world rushing toward me. Then, black wings erupted from my back, stabilizing me mid-air. Thrusters on the wings activated, sending me hurtling across the sky like a jet. My speed was breathtaking, forcing me to slow down to avoid disrupting the environment below.

I noted the potential for testing in the Time Dilation Mindscape. But for now, I reveled in the sheer joy of flight.

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Hours later, after racing across the continent, I returned to my room. My body thrummed with power, but I wasn't done. There was still one more level up I planned to tackle tonight. The question wasn't whether I could do it—it was how far I was willing to push.