CHAPTER 1
I somewhat thought of myself as a smart person. Spending my time alone inside my room, not even bothering myself to associate with others, just simply loving the freedom of reading books. I never thought my life would ever change and I'm unwilling to give up my current lifestyle.
Until it happened...
A normal night, another night for me to spend my time reading. I looked at the pages of the book in my desk, a dim light from a small lamp lighting up each words, enough for me to read comfortably and the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee stirred me awake.
I smiled. My thoughts wandered off somewhere. Looking outside the window and seeing beautiful moonlight giving an ethereal glow, though somewhat contrasting at the lights coming from the homes and building at the city.
'Sigh' Maybe this is where the saying, "a firefly can't outshine the moon" — came from. No matter how beautiful and numerious the light coming from the city looking at from above, it can't be compare with the natural beauty of the celestial body itself.'
I shook my head, lamenting to myself. As I was about to focus my attention on reading a sudden clanging sound, a sound that shook my soul resounded.
CLANG!
A sound of a bell, afterwards a resplendent aurora of colors illuminated the skies. The night sky was suddenly torn apart as if an invisible hand overturned the heaven. As the sound of the bell drowned all sounds in the surroundings a monumental event that changes the world occured.
Just like some kind of story from a novel, or maybe just a bad taste of newbie game developer. A bland white screen suddenly appeared before my eyes...
[You've been awakened!]
***
October 25, 2028
It's been three years since the world changing event occurred and the changes it brought to the world is unimaginable, so much that it feelslike a dream even for me.
The moment I awakened, majority of the people, about 99% of the humanity in the world awakened. They awakened incredible and unexplainable abilities and powers. Those science freaks got too much stimulation, even the government itself experience upheaval changes.
During this entire three years, countless outbreak of riot and chaos occured. Right now after three year course of events, even though the government quickly took action to supress those lawless people, thanks to the influence of those powerful individuals who took the reign to protect the people.
Even still, some fights still breakout in some corner of the countries where the government eyes are lacking. It's all because of those vicious and greedy people awakening abilities which made them think that they can trample other people and do whatever they want.
'Well it's something that I couldn't understand, maybe because of my nature, would I really change if the ability that I have are the same as them? I don't think so.'
I shook my head. Thinking about the fact that the abilities I awakened might be useful to me, but not suited for fighting.
And right now, I'm just working at the information intelligence company, compiling the information about those awakened people and analyzing the movements of those vicious criminals.
"Hey, don't you think that this area might become chaotic soon?"
A voice interrupted my thoughts, I glanced up, at the man who spoke and leaned his neck beside me, I shook my head and looked at the piece of information I got earlier.
"Well, yes. A wanted criminal who likes to kill people and entered our city. Can't say any good words but I'm sure it doesn't concern us normal people."
Shrugging off the fact that I'm just a normal person. Well it's a matter of fact that I long accepted, though considering the growing unrest every moment, I know that if I met those powerful Awakened, I can't really protect myself. No matter how smart you are, or how your good memory is, if your constitution and your body can't learn any skills to fight like those people who awakened ridiculous ability, it's pretty much useless.
"Well, don't think of yourself as an average. You're only working here for month and you adapted at work so fast that others might thought that you've been working this job for years. Isn't your ability for those smart people? Although education became secondary opportunity for people right now but it still useful to society."
"Well, yeah."
I helplessly smile as my co-worker gently patted my back, he too is a awakened person, although it's also minor ability the fact that he got that much confidence on himself made me think that he's boasting but considering his easy going nature, maybe he's just that kind of person.
Accepting my coworker consolation, I hurriedly finished up my work as it's almost time to go home.
***
"Sigh."
After work, it's already late at night and it only took me 20 minutes of walk before I arrived at the entrance apartment. What is worst though is because currently I'm living in the 4th floor and the long winding stairs made me feel the torture everyday.
"I've been living here for 6 months, I can't really get used to it."
I shook my head as I prepared myself for another trekking, I smiled as I ignored this joking thoughts.
'Hmm, strange.'
The moment I stepped on the last staircase where the floor my room at, I was suddenly struck by a strange feeling of eerieness. A feeling of dread washed over me, as if something is going to happen and I know this simple intuition is really not simple.
I walked slowly over my room, feeling as if I'm threading over the thin rope, and arrived at the door, looking at the familiar number of my room, a stifling terror awakened inside me.
WHOOSH!
A terrifying pressure, and a gale of wind suddenly struck heading toward my head — and instinctively, I used my ability.
'Thought Control'
Flashing back the moment I awakened I, gained three abilities: [Comprehension, Thought Control, Assimilation]
Comprehension allowed me to comprehend and understand complicated and complex information and by testing it, I realize that I could quickly learn any subjects and draw inference from the things that I learned.
It sounds amazing but constant usage of this ability made my head ache feeling as if my head was splitting apart, that is why I refrain myself from using this ability.
'But...'
It doesn't solve my current predictament right now.
Aside from [Comprehension], [Thought Control] is the ability that allowed me to have complete control over my thoughts or rather my mind a versatile tool that allowed me to extend my thoughts ten times that average person. It might be useful, but likewise, a longer duration is not possible as it's largely consume my brain energy and I deduce that overused might damage my brain instead.
And lastly, [Assimilation] an ability that allows me to easily remember all knowledge that I learned which gave me a perfect memory, the name itself is weird and I wanted to make further experiment, it doesn't have detrimental effects aside from my inability to fully control it.
And now this brought the current situation in front of me, through [Thought Control] the world seemed slow down in motion. My thoughts, enhanced by my ability, feeling that my entire body were drench from sweat, and seeing the instense gust of wind on the outstretch hand of a man intent on killing me.
Enduring the tearing sensation and the trickling blood seeping out my face because of the compression of wind in front of me. I knew I was going to die if I don't move.
At this moment, I instinctively stoop slightly enough for me to balance myself and using my right foot I stomped hard on the floor barely managing to propel myself aside to dodge his attack.
"Gah!"
Pain. I cried out loud as an itense pain suddenly course through my entire body, it was as if every muscles on my body were experiencing spasms, because of the forceful movement that I made.
"Ohoh? You managed to dodge it, eh? Not bad, not bad!"
A boisterous laugh echoed from a man who almost killed me. If I had not managed to dodge his attack I know that I'm definitely not just get injured, worst I'll definitely die.
Although I'm angered for this unjust aggression I slowly calmed my mind as I looked at this person. His footsteps are heavy as he slowly emerged from the dim corner, as the light shone on his face, I felt fear inside me, shaking my head I instantly recognized this person.
A two meter man with maddened look of his face, his posture was like that of a bear looming before me. Exuding immense bloodlust as his appearance and eyes suggest the look of a mindless killer.
Crazy Wind, a nickname of a wanted criminal who can harness the ability of wind to some extent to, and uses it as a weapon to kill innocent people. The fact that this person personality is truly vicious and crue, even awakening an ability suited for killing means that the current me right now couldn't beat him.
'Since I can't fight, I'll just win with words, I don't know if he can be reason or not but it's my only best bet.'
"I don't think I know you, why do you want to kill me? I'm just an average person and my ability is nothing at worthy."
I said as I showed fear in my eyes, my body trembled as I acted further for him to lower his stance.
"Hahaha, a person who claims himself as nothing and can dodge me attack who are you trying to fool, huh?!"
A crazy expression appeared on his face, which made me feel somber.
'I just need time, I need to buy some time.'
Sighing inwardly, I took out my phone, swiftly tapping it without looking and spoke to him again.
"I meant what I said, also I called the cops right now they might bring an awakened fighter too. I'm sure what transpired here already alerted them I don't think it is beneficial for you to stay here."
I bluffed. I don't think he will take it seriously but every seconds of time I drag this conversation on, the better.
Convincing a person who lust for blood might seem nearly impossible but all I need to do is to buy sometime.
At this moment though dreadful words were spoken by him sending a chill run down my spine.
"Hehehe, if you think of buying some time before I tear apart those little kids behind you then I'll tell you that it's impossible! Even if awakened got here I will just finish you all beforehand."
This man...
A frightening thought entered my mind, the bodies of mangled bodies of those kids, they have been my neighbor from the time I've started living here. They used to bring me some of their left over food and because their mother often have to leave them at home because of her work — they are truly good kids.
As those thoughts entered my mind something inside me snapped.
"I don't think you deserve to live then."
I said coldly. At this moment I'm completely infuriated by this man, this person who thought of life is something he could just casually take just because he have power.
I also yearned for power, but I only yearned for it because I'm weak, and also because I wanted to have an ability to protect myself, live freely in this life.
Though maybe because of my relatively peaceful personality, my awaken ability are not useful for battle.
But....
'Whether my ability is suited for battle or not, even if I die I won't allow this person to live either.'
Such thoughts constantly surging inside my mind it was also at this moment, the man before my flickered like a wind and dissapeared.
Whoosh
Like a raging wind, before he launch himself towards me, I saw a change, a maddened look appeared on his face smiling face as I uttered those fearless words.
A crackling pressure erupted as Crazy Wind compressed a wind at his palm and shaping it into a claw. He appeared in front of me almost instaniously but through my [Thought Control] which extended my thinking ability everything seemed slow down.
In a brief trance, I saw the flow of wind on his palms, and every changes within it, I can also hear the ragged and heavy breathing of those kids hidding behind the windows knowing they sneaked a glance on us.
I diverted my attention and choose to focus my eyes and looked over the man hands, to be precise, on the manifestation of the claw of wind in Crazy Wind hands.
At that moment, I feel that something inside me, something that I need to use...
I need to understand. So...
[Comprehension] I used this ability.
At this moment an epiphany struck my mind, the changes of wind brought myself ang understanding. It was as if I'm not seeing a sharp wind that could cut me apart to pieces the moment it reach my body but an open textbook for me to understand.
'Oh, I see...'
Whoosh
When the claw was inches aways over my body a gust of wind propelled my body backwards, grasping for breath with disbelief I looked at my palm, there a gust of wind could be seen. It is something could control and harness to use for myself.
I looked up to see the disbelieving look of the man before me, but it was quickly wiped away by a stronger bloodlust that his eyes exude.
"You copied it! Huh!!! My ability for a weakling like you, I'll show you who's the boss!"
BOOM!
An explosion of wind erupted even more as words full of malice was spoken by him. A crack appeared beneath him as my vision saw him compressing the wind at the soles of his feet and propelled him in front of me again instantly.
And this time, a cyclone of wind was compressed at his hands, it was so intense that a move like that will instantly devour and destroy my own weak body.
My thoughts is constantly churning as various thoughts appeared in my mind.
'Think! Although I could copy his ability but the disparity of our combat skills is immensely totally different, judging from his skills, I'm pretty sure that he trained and acquired his skills through combat. But, I'm just a normal person. If I want to close the gap between or combat skills...
If only my perfect memory allowed me to learn combat skills and techniques, even if I had knowledge about martial arts, the fact that I'm not practicing it using my body is practically useless. If I can just fuse my—'
'Fuse! That's right.'
If I can just fuse or rather assimilate my knowledge from watching the techniques and movements of those old martial art masters from the videos online, then it might be useful for me facing this psycho.
[Assimilate]
I activated my awakened ability and a completely different feeling overtaken my own body. I completely digested those knowledge as if I practiced them for years. I could feel how different it is when I move, calculating and deducing the trajectory of his attacks, even the minor details of advices from those martial artists, by using the terrain and physical structure as my advantage.
This time my own movements changed, the techniques was completely ingrained over my body. Using my palm to deflect his raging fist, dodging his claws and using footwork to take control the pace of the battle leaving a room for me to breath, and luring him to move to a position that allowed me to easily counter his attack. Every movement, it seemed to have its own purpose and this was the feeling that I'm experiencing.
But every seconds...
A heavy feeling weighted my heart, understanding my own situation, I know that I have to be decisive at this moment.
Suddenly a change occur, Crazy Wind seeing the change of my movement intensified his attacks, this time he reshaped his claw wind to a blade, a tense vibrating sounds resounded as his razor sharp wind blade turned into an even deeper hue of green.
This time he's really serious.
I leaped backward, he didn't pursue and condensed even more wind power at his blade, suggesting that this might be his last final move.
I took a deep breath, I endured and ignored the intensifying headache and focused to understand his ability. My hand also clad with wind quickly transformed into a blade. A glanced from him made me understand that he now saw me as a threat.
And now...
BOOMM
A sonic boom sounded!
We reached each other body at the same time, as he was about to thrust his wind blade, my wind blade instantly changed.
Deducing further about the nature of wind, I integrate the rotational power while maintaing the vibration of wind, as a result a drill of wind, much faster and much better for penetration appeared on my hand.
I thrusted my hand towards at his heart, manipulating the wind to twist my body and using the principly of propulsion to boost the speed of my thrust. This time I didn't spare anything, even if my body was disabled after this.
And at this time I didn't met much resistance as it my hand swifly penetrates his heart, and the rotational power directly turn his internal into a mush.
BLERGH
Mouthful of blood sprayed at his mouth as I saw a look of disbelief on his face. His outstreched hand that was clad with windblade slowly fell as the light of life on his eyes instantly dissipates.
I slowly pulled out my hand as my body fell down. Relieve instantly flooded my mind, thinking that I managed to protect them, those kids from harm.
I closed my eyes and smiled, at this moment I felt a sense of freedom. My body is like a fragile glass of water, nearly broken as water gushes out from within. Inside this almost broken glass, a seed which is about to take root is slowly withering.
'With my ability, my understanding of myself won't be wrong. If the glass is my body and my blood is the water, then this seed sprouting inside me is my soul, and with the speed of the seed withering, I guess my life will be coming to an end.'
I sighed, thinking that with this analogy, does it means that my abilities are like uncontrollable insect, I need to feed them nutrients before I could use them.
'But considering this heavy consumption of abilities, the price might be too much for my weak soul to bear.'
I know I'm not crazy and righteous enough to sacrifice myself, unless I aware of my own current situation. That's why I disregarded everything even at the cost of my body before that final attack. Only by using [Thought Control] to remove my feeling of weaknesses and pain allowed me to fight him.
I understand that every gained power, had always a price to pay. I exceeded my limitation, a limitation of overusing my own power which directly damaged my soul.
This battle made me realize that using the abilities of awakened require sufficient soul power. It can't and must never exceed the limitation or else only destruction of soul awaits.
"Only with a strong body can a strong soul be born."
My knowledge limited my understanding, and the study of soul is even abstruse, considering that humanity haven't even touched the concept of soul.
'But, there might be another way or condition for me to be able to train my soul.'
And I know that it doesn't matter anymore. Because right now, the withering of my soul is nearing the end.
My vision was getting blurry, and the previously slowing time returned to its normal flow, my overextended mind ended.
I don't want to die, but at the end of my life, atleast I could be proud. The fact that I could defeat an enemy stronger than me is an accomplishment that I can brag for a lifetime.
Before my blurring vision, I saw the faces of those two tearful children running towards me.
'Sadly, I can't hear you kids anymore.'
If someone asked me if I had some regrets... It would be lying for me to say that I don't have any. I might be a bookworm but I also have my ambition.
I wanted to travel the world. To learn, and to enjoy the progress of learning again. I want to hear stories and become powerful to live a life freely, and to protect those people I wish to protect.
Well, if I were in a world inside the novel, I guess dying after discovering my extraordinary power that would possibly propel me to stand a top of the world, and finally gaining a significance of life after living such a normal person for a long time, wouldreally made me feel like an extra character.
I'm not a protagonist, but at this time I'm wishing...
If another life exist.
These were my last thoughts as my mind sank into darkness.