The first few days after Buu's defeat were surreal for Marcus.
He had been given a room at Capsule Corporation—Bulma's insistence, despite Vegeta's grumbling—and found himself in the strange position of being a permanent houseguest in one of the most technologically advanced buildings on the planet. His room was larger than his entire apartment had been in his previous life, equipped with amenities that seemed almost magical even compared to his newfound powers.
But the luxury wasn't what occupied his thoughts. It was the people.
Every morning, he would wake to the sounds of a household in motion. Trunks running through the halls, usually chased by Goten who had apparently decided to become a semi-permanent fixture at the Briefs residence. Bulma shouting orders at her robots while simultaneously working on three different projects. Vegeta's footsteps heading toward the gravity room before dawn, the Saiyan prince apparently incapable of sleeping past 4 AM.
And through it all, Marcus observed, learned, and slowly began to find his place.
Day One: The Scientist
Bulma cornered him on his first morning at Capsule Corporation.
"You," she said, pointing a finger directly at his chest, "are coming with me."
Marcus blinked, still half-asleep despite his enhanced state. "I'm sorry?"
"To my lab. I have questions." The blue-haired genius grabbed his arm and began dragging him down the hallway with surprising strength. "Lots of questions. About your powers, your origin, the physics of those floaty black ball things—"
"Truth-seeking orbs."
"Whatever. The point is, you're a walking scientific anomaly, and I'm not letting you out of my sight until I understand at least some of how you work."
Marcus allowed himself to be pulled along, partly out of politeness and partly out of genuine curiosity about what Bulma might discover. His powers came from a different fictional universe entirely—how would they register on equipment designed to measure ki and other Dragon Ball phenomena?
Bulma's lab was exactly what he'd expected: a massive space filled with incomprehensible technology, half-finished projects, and enough scientific equipment to make any research institution weep with envy. Robots scurried about performing various tasks, and holographic displays flickered with data that Marcus couldn't begin to interpret.
"Sit," Bulma commanded, pointing to a chair surrounded by sensors. "And try not to move too much. These instruments are delicate."
Marcus sat. For the next three hours, he was subjected to every scan, test, and measurement Bulma could devise. She analyzed his energy output, attempted to quantify his truth-seeking orbs, and even tried to take a blood sample—though the needle simply bent against his skin, much to her frustration.
"This doesn't make any sense," she muttered, staring at her readings. "Your energy signature doesn't match anything in our database. It's not ki, it's not magic, it's not even radiation in any form I recognize. It's like you're operating on a completely different set of physical laws."
"I told you," Marcus said patiently. "My power comes from a different source. Natural energy, spiritual energy, physical energy—all combined in ways that don't exist in this universe."
"But that's impossible. Energy is energy. It has to follow some kind of rules." Bulma chewed on her stylus, deep in thought. "Unless... unless the rules themselves are different. Like you're not just from another universe, but from a universe with fundamentally different physics."
Marcus considered this. In a sense, she was right. The Naruto universe and the Dragon Ball universe operated on completely different power systems. Ki was internal energy projected outward; chakra was a combination of physical and spiritual energy molded through hand seals and techniques. The fact that his powers worked here at all was something of a miracle.
"Does it matter?" he asked. "The practical effects are the same. I can fight, I can heal, I can do things that help people. Understanding the underlying mechanics might be interesting, but it won't change what I can do."
Bulma's eyes lit up. "That's where you're wrong. Understanding the mechanics could let us replicate your abilities, or at least develop technology based on similar principles. Imagine equipment that could nullify enemy attacks the way your orbs do, or devices that could tap into natural energy for unlimited power!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Marcus found himself smiling. "You're welcome to study me as much as you want. Just... maybe give me a break for lunch?"
Bulma laughed, the tension of her scientific frustration breaking. "Fair enough. But don't think you're getting away that easily. I have at least a dozen more tests I want to run."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Day Two: The Scholar
Gohan found him in the Capsule Corporation library.
Marcus had discovered the massive collection of books on his second day, drawn by an instinct he'd carried over from his previous life. Even as an accountant, he'd been an avid reader—escape, his therapist had called it, a way of living other lives when his own felt too mundane.
Now he was living the most extraordinary life imaginable, and he still gravitated toward books.
"I thought I might find you here," Gohan said, settling into a chair across from him. "Bulma mentioned you seemed interested in learning about our world."
Marcus looked up from the history text he'd been reading—an account of King Piccolo's ancient reign of terror. "There's a lot to learn. Your world has a fascinating history."
"It's definitely eventful." Gohan's expression grew thoughtful. "Though I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a peaceful world. One without constant threats and battles."
"Boring," Marcus said immediately, then caught himself. "Sorry. That was... that came out wrong."
But Gohan was laughing. "No, no, you're probably right. Dad would certainly think so. He gets antsy if he goes too long without a good fight." The half-Saiyan leaned back in his chair. "But I've always been different. I like fighting well enough, especially when it's to protect people, but I'd be just as happy as a scholar. Maybe happier."
"There's nothing wrong with that. The universe needs scholars as much as it needs warriors." Marcus closed his book. "In fact, I'd argue that scholars are more important in the long run. Warriors can win battles, but scholars build civilizations."
Gohan looked surprised, then pleased. "That's... not something I hear very often. Most people seem to think my academic interests are a waste of my potential."
"Your potential is yours to define. Not anyone else's."
They talked for hours after that. Marcus learned about Gohan's research into ki theory, his attempts to quantify and categorize the various forms of energy that warriors used. In return, he shared what he could about the nature of his own power—speaking in general terms, of course, avoiding any mention of his true origins.
"The concept of nature energy is fascinating," Gohan said, scribbling notes on a tablet. "We have something similar—the Spirit Bomb draws power from living things—but we've never been able to internalize it the way you describe. The energy is always external, borrowed rather than merged."
"It takes a special kind of training," Marcus explained. "Years of meditation, learning to be perfectly still, becoming one with the natural world. Even then, not everyone can achieve it."
"But you did. You achieved the highest form possible, from what I can tell." Gohan's eyes were bright with academic curiosity. "What was it like? The transformation, I mean. Becoming what you are now?"
Marcus hesitated. This was dangerous territory—too close to the truth of his reincarnation. But he could share something without revealing everything.
"It was like waking up from a dream," he said carefully. "One moment I was... less than I am now. The next, I could feel everything. Every blade of grass, every bird in the sky, every living thing for miles around. The boundaries between myself and the world became thin, almost nonexistent." He paused, remembering the overwhelming sensation of his first moments in this body. "It was terrifying. And beautiful. And I'm still learning to understand it."
Gohan nodded slowly, processing this. "That sounds similar to what my father describes when he achieves new transformations. A fundamental shift in perception along with the increase in power."
"Power always changes how we see the world. The trick is making sure it doesn't change who we are."
The half-Saiyan smiled. "You sound like Piccolo. He says things like that."
"Then Piccolo is a wise being."
"He is. You should talk to him sometime. I think you'd get along."
Marcus filed that away for later. He'd been curious about the Namekian warrior ever since his arrival—Piccolo's calm intensity reminded him of certain characters from his own borrowed power set. There might be common ground there.
"I'd like that," he said. "But for now, tell me more about your research. I'm curious about how ki interacts with technological systems..."
Day Three: The Warrior Monk
Piccolo found him, not the other way around.
Marcus had been meditating on a cliff overlooking the ocean—one of his favorite spots near Capsule Corporation—when he felt the Namekian's approach. Unlike the Saiyans, whose energy signatures burned like bonfires, Piccolo's presence was more like a deep, still pool. Powerful, but contained. Controlled.
"You sense me coming," Piccolo observed, landing nearby. "From a considerable distance."
"It's one of my abilities." Marcus opened his eyes but didn't rise from his seated position. "Sensory perception. I can feel the life energy of everything around me."
"So can I, to a degree. Most warriors can." Piccolo settled into his own meditative pose, floating a few feet off the ground. "But your range is exceptional. And your awareness of natural energy is... unique."
"You can sense natural energy?"
"Not directly. But I can sense its effects on you. The way you draw power from the world around you, the way it flows through you constantly." Piccolo's eyes were closed, his face impassive. "It's like watching someone breathe. A constant cycle of absorption and release."
Marcus was impressed. Piccolo's perceptive abilities were sharper than he'd expected. "You're very observant."
"I've had centuries of practice. And I've learned to pay attention to things others overlook." The Namekian was silent for a moment. "You're not what you claim to be."
Marcus's heart skipped a beat. "I'm sorry?"
"You claim to be a sage from another universe. That much is probably true. But there's more to your story. Things you're not telling us." Piccolo opened his eyes, fixing Marcus with a penetrating stare. "I can sense the weight of it on you. The secrets you carry."
For a long, tense moment, Marcus considered his options. Piccolo was clearly too perceptive to fool completely. But how much could he reveal without compromising everything?
"Everyone has secrets," he said finally. "Things they're not ready to share. Surely you understand that better than most."
Piccolo's expression didn't change, but something in his posture relaxed slightly. "I do. I was once a being of pure evil, the reincarnation of a demon king who terrorized the world. I've done things I'm not proud of, been things I'm ashamed of now." He paused. "But I changed. With time, with effort, with the help of people who believed I could be better. Now I'm... something else."
"And you think I'm on a similar journey?"
"I think you're struggling with something. What it is, I don't know. But I recognize the signs." Piccolo turned his gaze back to the ocean. "I'm not going to press you for answers. That's not my way. But I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to—someone who understands what it's like to carry a dark past—I'm here."
Marcus felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. Of all the Z-Fighters, he hadn't expected Piccolo to be the one who reached out like this. But it made sense, in a way. The Namekian had been through his own transformative journey, from villain to hero. He understood the complexity of identity in ways that the more straightforward Saiyans might not.
"Thank you," Marcus said sincerely. "That means more than you know."
They meditated together for the rest of the morning, two warriors from very different backgrounds finding common ground in silence and stillness.
Day Four: The Family Man
Krillin's house was modest compared to Capsule Corporation, but it felt more like a home.
Marcus had been invited for dinner—apparently, 18 wanted to thank him properly for freeing her from Buu—and found himself in the unexpected position of being a guest at a normal family gathering. Well, as normal as a gathering could be when it included a former monk, an android, and their half-artificial daughter.
"So you really just... erased him?" Krillin asked over dinner, still struggling to process the details of Buu's defeat. "Like, completely?"
"Completely," Marcus confirmed, accepting a second helping of rice from 18. "My abilities include a form of nullification that negates regeneration. Once I understood how Buu's recovery worked, it was a matter of applying that nullification to every part of him simultaneously."
"That's terrifying," Krillin said frankly. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did it. But the idea that you can just... erase someone from existence? That's heavy."
"It's not something I use lightly." Marcus met the shorter man's eyes seriously. "Power like this comes with responsibility. I don't use it on anyone who doesn't pose a genuine threat to innocent lives."
"Daddy was erased once," Marron piped up from her seat, apparently untroubled by the conversation's dark turn. "By the dragon!"
"That's... a little different, sweetie," Krillin said weakly.
"Your father has been through a lot," Marcus observed. "From what I understand, he's one of the most experienced warriors on this planet."
Krillin laughed nervously. "I don't know about that. Goku and Vegeta are way stronger than me. And Gohan, and Piccolo, and..." He trailed off, his expression becoming more contemplative. "Actually, I guess I have been doing this for a while. Since I was a kid, really."
"Experience isn't just about power levels," Marcus said. "It's about wisdom, adaptability, knowing when to fight and when to retreat. From what I've seen, you have all of those qualities."
"He does," 18 agreed, her tone brooking no argument. "Krillin is the bravest person I know. He's faced enemies that could destroy him without a second thought, and he's never backed down when it mattered."
Krillin's face turned red. "Honey, you're embarrassing me in front of the guest..."
"It's true." 18's expression softened slightly. "It's why I married you."
Marcus watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and something that might have been envy. This was something he'd never had in his previous life—a family, a partner, someone who saw his worth beyond his utility. It was strange to realize that even among these extraordinary warriors, the simple things still mattered most.
"You're lucky," he said quietly. "Both of you."
"We are," Krillin agreed, reaching over to take 18's hand. "And hey, now that you're part of the group, maybe you'll find something like this too. There are plenty of nice people on Earth!"
Marcus smiled but didn't respond. The idea of romance, of building a life here, felt distant and abstract. He was still figuring out what he was, let alone who he might want to share that with.
But it was a nice thought, regardless.
Day Five: The Training Begins
Goku arrived at Capsule Corporation shortly after dawn, bouncing with barely contained energy.
"Marcus! Let's train!"
Marcus had been expecting this. The Saiyan's enthusiasm for combat was legendary, and it had been obvious from their first meeting that Goku was dying to test himself against the strange newcomer's abilities.
"Now?" Marcus asked, still sipping his morning tea.
"Yeah, now! Vegeta's already warming up in the gravity room, and I talked to Whis and he said he could observe—"
"Whis?" Marcus nearly choked on his tea. "The angel Whis?"
Goku blinked. "You know about Whis?"
Careful, Marcus reminded himself. You're not supposed to know about future events.
"I sensed an incredibly powerful presence nearby," he said, which was true. He'd been aware of Beerus and Whis since his first night at Capsule Corporation, their divine energy signatures impossible to miss. "I assumed it was something significant."
"Oh yeah, that's Whis and Lord Beerus! They're staying here for a while—something about Earth having good food." Goku grinned. "Whis is super strong. He's been training me and Vegeta. I bet he'd be interested in seeing your abilities too!"
Marcus's mind raced. Beerus, the God of Destruction. Whis, his angelic attendant. These were beings of cosmic significance, entities whose power dwarfed anything he'd faced so far. Even Super Buu, enhanced as he'd been, was nothing compared to the destroyer gods.
And Goku wanted to introduce him to them through a training session.
Well, Marcus thought, I wanted to test my limits.
"Alright," he said, setting down his tea. "Let's do it."
The gravity room had been expanded since his last visit—apparently, Bulma had made modifications specifically to accommodate larger-scale training sessions. The space was massive now, easily the size of a football stadium, with reinforced walls that Bulma claimed could withstand anything short of a serious fight between Super Saiyans.
Vegeta was already there, running through a series of kata that made the air shimmer with displaced energy. The Saiyan prince didn't acknowledge their entrance, but his awareness of their presence was obvious in the slight shift of his movements.
And in the corner, observing with an expression of mild interest, were Beerus and Whis.
Marcus had to fight to keep his composure. Seeing them in person was entirely different from watching them on a screen. Beerus radiated danger—a lazy, casual menace that suggested he could destroy everything around him without even trying. Whis, by contrast, felt almost serene, his power so vast and controlled that it was difficult to grasp.
"Ah, so this is the newcomer," Whis said, his voice melodious and pleasant. "The one who dealt with that troublesome Buu creature. I've been curious about you."
"As have I," Beerus added, his cat-like eyes narrowing. "Your energy is strange. I can barely sense it, yet you supposedly defeated a being that was giving Vegito trouble." The God of Destruction's tail swished lazily. "Either you're weaker than reported, or there's something very interesting about you."
"Hopefully the latter," Marcus said carefully. "I'd hate to be a disappointment."
Beerus snorted. "We'll see."
"Now then!" Goku clapped his hands, apparently unbothered by the divine scrutiny. "Let's start with some basic sparring. Me and Vegeta against you, Marcus. Sound fair?"
"Two against one?" Marcus raised an eyebrow. "That's hardly fair... to you."
Vegeta's kata stopped abruptly. The Saiyan prince turned, his expression thunderous.
"What did you say?"
"I said it's not fair." Marcus allowed himself a small smile. "You'll need at least three or four more fighters to make it interesting."
The gravity room fell silent. Then Goku burst out laughing.
"I like him!" the Saiyan declared. "He's got confidence! Come on, Vegeta, let's show him what we've got!"
"With pleasure," Vegeta growled, golden aura exploding around him as he transformed into a Super Saiyan. "I've been waiting to humble this arrogant newcomer since he arrived."
Goku matched his rival's transformation, and suddenly Marcus was facing two Super Saiyans at full power. Their combined energy pressed against his senses, vast and burning, like standing before twin suns.
But he didn't flinch.
"Whenever you're ready," he said.
They came at him simultaneously—Goku from the left, Vegeta from the right, their movements coordinated despite their rivalry. Marcus met them head-on, his truth-seeking orbs expanding into a defensive formation as he blocked, dodged, and countered their assault.
The exchange was incredible. Goku and Vegeta were masters of combat, their techniques refined through decades of training and countless life-or-death battles. They complemented each other perfectly—Goku's creative instincts and Vegeta's technical precision creating a offensive that would have overwhelmed almost any opponent.
But Marcus was not almost any opponent.
He used his sensory abilities to predict their movements, his truth-seeking orbs to block attacks he couldn't dodge, and his speed to create openings that he exploited mercilessly. For every blow they landed on him—and they did land blows, their skill too great to completely negate—he returned two or three.
"He's good," Whis observed, watching the exchange with interest. "Very good. His fighting style is unusual—it emphasizes prediction and control rather than raw power. Quite different from the Saiyan approach."
"It's annoying," Beerus muttered. "He's barely using any energy, but he's keeping up with those two. How is that possible?"
"Natural energy, I believe. He draws power from the world around him rather than generating it internally. A fascinating technique." Whis tilted his head. "I wonder if it could be applied to ki..."
In the training area, the battle intensified. Goku and Vegeta pushed their Super Saiyan forms to the limit, then beyond—transforming into Super Saiyan 2, their auras crackling with lightning. Marcus responded by creating shadow clones, forcing them to divide their attention.
"That trick again?" Vegeta snarled, destroying three clones with a rapid series of ki blasts. "It won't work twice!"
"Are you sure about that?"
The remaining clones all formed Rasengans, each one charged with a different element. Fire, wind, lightning, water, earth—a rainbow of destructive potential aimed directly at the Saiyan prince.
Vegeta's eyes widened. "What the—"
The attacks launched simultaneously. Vegeta was forced to abandon his offensive, focusing entirely on defense as he dodged and deflected the barrage. Meanwhile, the real Marcus engaged Goku one-on-one, their exchange escalating to new heights.
"This is amazing!" Goku shouted, his grin threatening to split his face. "You're really strong! But I've got more!"
The Saiyan's aura changed, shifting from golden to something deeper, more primal. His muscles bulked slightly, his hair growing longer as he pushed into Super Saiyan 3—the form Marcus remembered from countless viewings of the series.
"Super Saiyan 3!" Marcus acknowledged, feeling the dramatic increase in Goku's power. "Impressive."
"You haven't seen anything yet! KAIOKEN!"
Red energy layered over the golden aura, and suddenly Goku was moving at speeds that tested even Marcus's enhanced perception. The Saiyan's fist connected with his jaw, sending him rocketing across the training room.
Marcus recovered in mid-air, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. That had actually hurt—the first real damage he'd taken since arriving in this world.
Interesting, he thought. So they can hurt me if they push hard enough.
"Having trouble?" Vegeta taunted, having finished off the remaining clones. The Saiyan prince was also in Super Saiyan 3 now, both warriors representing the pinnacle of their kind's power.
Marcus looked at the two Super Saiyan 3s, at the god and angel watching from the sidelines, at the situation he'd gotten himself into. A lesser man might have been intimidated.
Marcus smiled.
"Time to stop holding back."
He reached into his power, past the casual output he'd been using, past even the level he'd employed against Buu. Deep within him, the well of natural energy responded to his call, flooding his system with strength beyond anything he'd yet demonstrated.
His golden aura intensified until it was almost blinding. The truth-seeking orbs began to spin faster, their surfaces rippling with barely contained power. The very air around him seemed to vibrate with potential energy.
"Oh my," Whis murmured, leaning forward with genuine interest. "Now that is impressive."
Even Beerus looked intrigued. "His power just jumped significantly. Where was he hiding all that?"
Goku and Vegeta exchanged glances, then grinned.
"Now we're talking!" Goku declared.
"Finally," Vegeta agreed. "Show us your true power, Sage!"
The three warriors clashed once more, this time with nothing held back. The training room shook with the force of their exchanges, Bulma's reinforced walls groaning under the stress. Energy blasts and elemental Rasengans flew in every direction, each one carrying enough force to level a city.
Marcus manifested his Kurama construct—smaller than the version he'd used against Vegito, but still massive enough to fill a significant portion of the training room. The orange fox avatar roared, its nine tails sweeping toward the Saiyans with devastating force.
Goku and Vegeta responded with their own ultimate techniques. Kamehameha and Final Flash combined into a single beam of unimaginable power, aimed directly at the construct's heart.
The collision was apocalyptic. Even the reinforced walls couldn't contain it—the training room exploded outward, debris scattering across the Capsule Corporation grounds as the battle spilled into the open air.
"Oh dear," Whis said mildly, floating above the destruction with Beerus at his side. "Bulma won't be happy about this."
"Shut up and watch," Beerus commanded, his eyes fixed on the battle with newfound intensity. "This is getting interesting."
The fight continued for another hour.
By the end, all three combatants were exhausted. Marcus's Kurama construct had long since dissipated, his truth-seeking orbs moving sluggishly around him. Goku and Vegeta had dropped out of Super Saiyan 3, barely maintaining their base forms.
But they were all smiling.
"That was incredible," Goku panted, lying flat on his back in a crater of his own making. "We have to do that again sometime."
"Agreed," Vegeta admitted reluctantly, sitting against a piece of debris. "Your abilities are... formidable. Different from anything I've encountered, but formidable."
Marcus laughed weakly, his body aching in ways he hadn't thought possible. "You're not so bad yourselves. I actually had to try."
"You were holding back the whole time?!" Goku sat up abruptly, outrage mixing with excitement. "No fair! You have to show us everything next time!"
"Maybe," Marcus said. "But for now, I think I need to rest."
From above, Whis descended gracefully, his expression thoughtful.
"That was quite educational," the angel said. "Your power system is fascinating—so different from ki, yet equally effective. I'd be curious to study it further, if you're amenable."
"We can discuss it later," Marcus said, too tired to feel nervous about the angel's attention. "After I've slept for about a week."
Whis chuckled. "Very well. But do consider it. There may be ways to enhance your abilities that you haven't yet discovered."
Enhance my abilities, Marcus thought as the angel floated away. Now there's a thought.
Day Six: The Experiment
Marcus sat alone on a mountain peak, far from Capsule Corporation and its inhabitants.
He'd told the others he needed time to meditate and recover from the training session. That was partly true—his body still ached from the punishment Goku and Vegeta had inflicted—but his real purpose was something else entirely.
He was going to try to create a new form.
The idea had been growing in his mind since his first day in this world. Six Paths Sage Mode was powerful, yes, but it was essentially a static state. He'd been reborn at maximum power with no apparent room for growth. In a world where warriors constantly achieved new transformations and power levels, that seemed like a significant limitation.
But what if there was something beyond Six Paths?
In the Boruto series, Naruto had achieved Baryon Mode—a last-resort transformation that fused his own life force with Kurama's to achieve power far beyond anything he'd demonstrated before. It came at a terrible cost, burning through Kurama's chakra until the fox ceased to exist, but the power itself had been incredible.
Marcus didn't have Kurama—not really. His Kurama construct was just that: a construct, a shape formed from his own energy rather than a separate entity. But the principle behind Baryon Mode might still be applicable.
What if I could fuse my different energy types in a new way? he wondered. Physical energy, spiritual energy, natural energy—they're already combined in my current state, but what if there's a different configuration? A more intense fusion that sacrifices stability for power?
It was a dangerous line of thinking. Baryon Mode had killed Kurama. Any equivalent transformation Marcus attempted might have similar consequences for him.
But he needed to know if it was possible.
He closed his eyes and turned his perception inward, examining the flow of energy through his body. It was complex—far more complex than he'd initially realized. Multiple types of energy wove together in an intricate dance, each one supporting and enhancing the others.
Physical energy formed the foundation, the raw power of his body converted into usable form. Spiritual energy added intention and control, the force of his will made manifest. Natural energy provided depth and connection, linking him to the world around him.
And beneath it all, something else. Something he hadn't noticed before.
What is that?
He focused on the unknown element, trying to understand its nature. It felt different from the other energies—older, somehow. More fundamental. Like the building blocks of reality itself given form.
Yin and Yang release, he realized with a start. The power of creation and destruction. It's part of me, woven into my very existence.
In the Naruto universe, Yin-Yang release was the ultimate expression of chakra control—the ability to create form from nothing and breathe life into imagination. Combined with Six Paths power, it allowed for feats that bordered on godhood.
And it was inside him. Just waiting to be used.
Marcus began to experiment.
He started small, trying to manipulate the Yin-Yang energy independently of his other power types. It was difficult—like trying to separate one color from a rainbow—but gradually, he began to get a sense of how it worked.
Yin creates form. Yang provides life. Together, they can make anything real.
He practiced for hours, creating small objects from pure energy and then dissolving them back into nothing. A stone. A flower. A tiny bird that fluttered around his head before fading away.
Each creation came easier than the last, and with each success, his understanding grew.
But this wasn't what he was looking for. Creation was useful, but it wasn't the power boost he needed.
Baryon Mode worked by fusing energies in a way that burned through them rapidly but produced exponentially greater output, he reasoned. Like nuclear fusion. The combination releases more energy than the sum of its parts.
Could he do something similar with his own powers?
The theory was sound. Physical, spiritual, natural, and Yin-Yang energies all had different frequencies, different amplitudes. In his current state, they were harmonized—working together smoothly but not truly merged. If he could force a deeper fusion, a true combination at the fundamental level...
It might kill me, he acknowledged. Or it might work.
He decided to try.
Marcus gathered his energies together, pulling them from their harmonized state into a central point within his core. The sensation was uncomfortable—like trying to hold four different magnets together when they wanted to repel each other.
Just a small test, he told himself. See if the fusion is even possible.
He pushed the energies closer, forcing them toward true combination. Resistance built—his body instinctively fighting against the unnatural configuration—but he persisted, using his considerable willpower to overcome the barrier.
Something shifted.
The energies touched, and for one brilliant moment, they began to merge.
Power flooded through him—raw, intense, overwhelming. His aura exploded outward, shifting from gold to something else entirely. White and black mixed together, creating a color that seemed to exist beyond the normal spectrum. His truth-seeking orbs pulsed with new intensity, their surfaces rippling like water in a storm.
It's working! Marcus thought, elation mixing with alarm at the sheer power coursing through him. It's actually working!
Then the fusion destabilized.
The energies wrenched apart, snapping back to their harmonized state with violent force. Marcus gasped as backlash ripped through his system, every nerve in his body screaming in protest. He fell forward, catching himself on his hands, breathing heavily.
Too much, he realized. I tried to fuse everything at once. It was too unstable.
But it had worked—if only for a moment. The fusion was possible. He just needed to figure out how to stabilize it.
Marcus sat back, considering what he'd learned. The power he'd felt in that brief instant had been incredible—easily double or triple his normal output. If he could maintain it, even for a short time, it would give him access to a whole new tier of strength.
But the backlash was severe, he reminded himself. If I push too hard, I might damage myself permanently. Or worse.
He would need to be careful. Methodical. This wasn't something he could rush.
But he had time. And now he had a goal.
Over the following hours, Marcus continued his experiments. He tried fusing just two energy types at a time, then three. He played with different ratios and configurations, looking for combinations that were more stable than his initial attempt.
Slowly, patterns began to emerge.
Physical and spiritual energy fused easily—that was essentially what chakra was in the first place. Adding natural energy to the mix was trickier, but achievable with concentration. The problem was Yin-Yang release. Those fundamental forces resisted combination, wanting to remain separate.
Unless...
Marcus had an idea. What if he didn't try to fuse Yin-Yang directly with the other energies? What if he used them as a catalyst instead—a framework to hold the fusion together?
He tried it, carefully this time. Physical and spiritual energy merged first, forming a baseline. Natural energy layered on top, enhancing and expanding the mixture. Then, instead of forcing Yin-Yang into the fusion, he wrapped them around it—creating a shell of creative and destructive force that contained and stabilized the volatile combination.
The effect was immediate and dramatic.
His aura shifted again, but this time it was controlled. The white-and-black color returned, but it was smoother now, less chaotic. Power flowed through him steadily rather than explosively, a sustained increase rather than a momentary spike.
This is it, Marcus realized, feeling the new energy course through his veins. This is the answer.
He held the state for thirty seconds before releasing it, not wanting to push his luck. The backlash was minimal this time—just a slight fatigue rather than the agonizing pain of his first attempt.
I can build on this, he thought, excitement building. With practice, I can make it stable. Extend the duration. Maybe even improve the power output.
It wasn't Baryon Mode—not quite. The mechanics were different, the energy types were different, and the cost seemed to be fatigue rather than life force. But it was something new. Something beyond Six Paths Sage Mode.
Marcus needed a name for it.
He considered options, thinking about what the form represented. It was a fusion state, yes, but also a transcendence—a way of combining all aspects of his power into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Unity Mode, he decided. Because it unifies everything I am into a single expression of power.
It would need more development. More practice. But the foundation was there.
Marcus smiled, looking up at the stars that had emerged during his long training session.
He had come to this world with borrowed power, uncertain of his place or purpose. But now, finally, he was beginning to make that power truly his own.
This is just the beginning, he thought. I'm going to get stronger. Strong enough to face whatever this universe throws at me.
Strong enough to protect the friends he was making.
Strong enough to matter.
The mountain wind blew cold around him, but Marcus didn't feel it. He was too busy planning his next training session.