The Gaze of Infinity

What happens when the powerless become the most powerful? When the world you thought you understood unravels to reveal hidden truths? And what if the very thing that saves you… is the thing that could destroy everyone you love?

The golden glow slowly subsided, leaving Adrian's left iris shimmering like molten gold. His vision sharpened, the world around him now overlaid with grids of glowing text and numbers. What… is this?

Matthew Carver lay sprawled on the ground, his face pale and his fire extinguished. Above him, floating like a hologram, Adrian saw:

Name: Matthew Carver

Age: 16

Power Class: Uncommon (Fire Manipulation)

Strength: 72

Intelligence: 65

Magical Capacity: 88/100

Ability: Pyrokinesis (Tier 2)

I can see his stats? Adrian's heart raced. And when he used his power… I felt something shift in me.

Matthew scrambled backward, his voice trembling. "What the hell are you?!"

Adrian ignored him, focusing on the strange sensation in his left eye. A faint thread of energy pulsed between him and Matthew—a connection. Copy 50% of his power… The words echoed in his mind like a command. Without thinking, Adrian clenched his fist, and a weak flame flickered to life in his palm. It sputtered, half the size and intensity of Matthew's, but it burned all the same.

Matthew's jaw dropped. "That's… that's my power! How?!"

Adrian extinguished the flame, his golden eye dimming. I copied it. But it's weaker. Half as strong. He glanced at his reflection in a puddle—his left eye still gold, his right eye its usual brown. But when I use a copied power…

"Stay away from me, freak!" Matthew hissed before bolting down the alley.

Adrian didn't chase him. His mind buzzed with questions. Can I copy any power? But only if they activate it first? And my right eye…

The next morning, Adrian sat on the edge of his dorm bed, staring at his hands. How do I explain this to Lucas and Nova? He'd spent the night testing his ability, copying the minor powers of stray cats (Speed Boost, Tier 1) and even a flickering streetlight (Energy Absorption, Tier 3). Each time, his right eye shifted color—green for speed, blue for energy—while his left remained gold.

But Lucas and Nova's powers were different. Unique Class. Their stats must be…

He didn't have to wait long to find out.

"Adrian! You okay?" Lucas barged into the room, his usual grin replaced by worry. Nova followed, her arms crossed.

"We heard about the fight," Nova said, her tone sharp. "Matthew's been screaming that you 'stole' his power. What happened?"

Adrian took a deep breath. "I… can show you. But you need to activate your powers first."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just trust me."

Nova snorted. "This better not be a prank, brainiac."

Reluctantly, Lucas's eyes flooded white, his Light power radiating warmth. Nova's gaze darkened into twin voids, her Dark power humming with menace.

Adrian's vision exploded with data:

Name: Lucas Hale

Age: 17

Power Class: Unique (Light)

Strength: 110

Intelligence: 98

Magical Capacity: 200/200

Ability: Photokinesis (Tier 5)

Name: Nova Cross

Age: 17

Power Class: Unique (Dark)

Strength: 130

Intelligence: 85

Magical Capacity: 180/200

Ability: Umbrakinesis (Tier 5)

Their stats are over 100… Adrian's pulse quickened as golden threads linked him to both of them. Copy 50%…

"Adrian, your eyes—!" Lucas gasped.

Adrian's left eye blazed gold, while his right eye shifted—white as he copied Lucas's power, then flickered to black as he copied Nova's. Twin energies surged through him: light and dark, warring yet balanced.

"Impossible," Nova whispered.

Adrian raised his hands. In one palm, a faint beam of light sputtered like a dying bulb. In the other, a wisp of shadow swirled weakly. "I can copy powers… but only half their strength. And only when you activate them."

Lucas stepped closer, his white eyes wide. "You're… using my light?!"

"And my darkness?" Nova added, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

Adrian let the energies fade, his right eye returning to brown. "I don't know how or why. But this… this is what the Calamity Class did to me."

Nova stared at him, then burst into laughter. "Oh, this is perfect! Now you can finally stop being a damsel in distress!"

Lucas elbowed her. "Nova, be serious! This is… huge. And dangerous. If the PAO finds out—"

"They won't," Adrian said firmly. "Not yet. I need to learn control. And… I need your help."

The trio fell silent, the weight of Adrian's revelation hanging in the air.

What happens now? Adrian wondered, his golden eye catching the sunlight. Can I even handle this power… or will it handle me?