I landed on a deserted rooftop.
The city stretched below—silent, glowing faintly in neon and streetlights.
No patrols nearby.
No chaos… yet.
---
> [System Alert: Observation Safe – Low]
Perfect.
Time to test limits.
---
First, I focused on my Chaotic Signature.
Not just activating it.
But controlling it.
---
I let a pulse of emotion flow—tiny, barely enough to ripple through the nearby wraiths.
> [Passive Effect: Chaotic Signature – Low Active]
The shadows wavered, twisting, following my will… but not completely.
---
Good start.
---
Next: Emotional Grounding.
I compressed calm into the chaos.
The nearby rogue spirits slowed.
Hunters two blocks away hesitated, mid-step, their talismans flickering.
---
> [System Update:]
— Emotional Grounding – Prototype Adaptive Registered
— Combined Control Feasible
---
I exhaled.
"…This is going to hurt later, isn't it?"
> [Warning: Core Strain Detected]
---
I pushed harder.
A stronger pulse.
Controlled chaos.
The city responded.
Not destructively. Not violently.
---
> [Local Effect Radius: Increased]
— Rogue Spirit Attention: High
— Authority Detection Probability: Elevated
---
A flicker in the corner of my vision—Observer Operative.
Silent. Watching. Patient.
---
"…Figures."
> [System Note: Observation Increases Risk]
---
I adjusted.
Toned down my signature.
Focused my grounding.
Balance.
---
> [Skill Calibration: Successful]
— Chaotic Signature + Emotional Grounding: Combined Prototype Skill Ready
---
Then, the consequences hit.
Not immediately, but inevitably.
---
A distant scream.
Two blocks away.
A rogue spirit attacking a human caught in its curiosity.
---
I hesitated.
Control or intervention?
---
I acted.
> [Skill Used: Emotional Grounding + Chaotic Signature Burst]
The rogue spirit froze.
Then dispersed.
---
The humans below stared at the empty street, confused but alive.
---
> [Reputation Update:]
— Protector (Witnessed Action)
— Authority Awareness: Increased
---
My core pulsed painfully.
> [Spirit Core Integrity: 49% → 42%]
"…Worth it," I muttered.
---
Above, Mira appeared.
"You're learning quickly," she said.
"Too quickly. That's the problem."
"…Figures."
> [System Note: Mira Observes Independently]
---
I floated higher, exhausted but steady.
The city watched.
The observers watched.
The rogue spirits watched.
---
"…Better get used to being the center of attention," I murmured.
---