Morning came without warmth.
A dull grey light seeped through the cracks in the walls, dragging Sohan out of his thoughts. His body ached from the previous night, the backlash from forcing his Gene Control Technique still lingering deep within his bones.
But his eyes—
They were calm.
Focused.
---
"I can't rush this…"
He muttered quietly.
Last night proved one thing clearly:
👉 He could control genes…
👉 But his body wasn't ready to handle it
If he pushed too hard again, he might cripple himself before even starting.
---
Sohan slowly stood up.
His legs trembled slightly, but he stabilized himself.
"Weak body… no resources…"
He looked at his hands.
"…but I have knowledge."
---
That alone made him different from everyone else here.
Others struggled blindly.
He knew the path.
---
A knock echoed from outside.
"Get out if you're alive."
Kadar's voice.
---
Sohan stepped out.
The alley was already active. People moved quickly, some carrying tools, others arguing over scraps. Survival didn't wait for anyone.
Kadar stood near the wall, arms crossed.
"You're up," he said. "Good. You're coming again."
---
Sohan nodded.
This time—
He was ready.
---
The same group gathered.
Same faces.
Same dismissive looks.
"Still alive?" one of them mocked.
"Barely," another added.
---
Sohan ignored them.
Instead, he observed.
Their movements.
Their behavior.
Their awareness.
---
"They rely on strength…"
He thought.
"…but lack precision."
---
That was his opening.
---
They moved out again.
Same route.
Same broken paths.
But this time—
Sohan paid attention to everything.
---
Footsteps.
Breathing patterns.
The way others scanned their surroundings.
---
And most importantly—
The mistakes they made.
---
"They're careless."
---
When they reached the ruin, everyone spread out again.
But Sohan didn't rush.
---
Instead—
He slowed down.
---
Closed his eyes for a moment.
---
"Focus…"
---
The faint sensation returned.
Weak.
Unstable.
But present.
---
The flow.
---
He couldn't fully see it.
But he could feel it.
---
Sohan opened his eyes.
Everything looked the same.
But it wasn't.
---
Subtle differences.
Tiny details.
Movements he would've ignored before.
---
He stepped carefully through the debris.
Avoiding unstable areas.
Avoiding unnecessary noise.
---
Then—
A sound.
---
Scratch…
---
Sohan froze.
His gaze shifted slowly toward a dark corner.
---
Something was there.
---
A small creature.
Thin. Fast. Sharp claws.
---
A Scrap Rat.
---
Weak.
But dangerous to someone like him.
---
Sohan's breathing slowed.
---
"Don't rush…"
---
He picked up a broken metal rod from the ground.
Held it tightly.
---
The rat moved.
Fast.
---
But this time—
Sohan moved too.
---
Not faster.
But smarter.
---
He stepped slightly to the side—
Predicted its path—
---
And struck.
---
Thud.
---
The rod hit.
Barely.
---
The rat screeched and lunged.
---
Sohan reacted instantly—
He pulled back—
Let it pass—
---
And struck again.
---
This time—
Direct hit.
---
Crack.
---
The creature dropped.
---
Silence.
---
Sohan stood there, breathing heavily.
---
"…I did it."
---
Not luck.
Not chance.
---
Control.
---
He looked down at the creature.
Something stirred again inside him.
---
That same flow.
---
Weaker than before.
But clearer.
---
"Now…"
---
He crouched.
Placed his hand on the creature.
---
Focused.
---
The world faded slightly.
---
And for a moment—
He felt it again.
---
The gene.
---
Faint.
Small.
---
But real.
---
Sohan guided it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
---
Instead of letting it scatter—
He directed it.
---
Into his body.
---
A slight warmth spread through him.
---
Not strong.
Not overwhelming.
---
But controlled.
---
Perfectly controlled.
---
Sohan opened his eyes.
---
"…Success."
---
No backlash.
No pain.
---
Just clean absorption.
---
A slow smile appeared on his face.
---
"This is it…"
---
Others relied on luck.
---
But him?
---
He had taken his first step.
---
A step toward something greater.
---
From a distance—
One of the men watched him.
---
"…He killed it?"
---
Confusion flickered across his face.
---
But Sohan didn't notice.
---
Or maybe—
He simply didn't care.
---
Because for the first time since arriving in this world—
---
He wasn't just surviving.
---
He was progressing.
---
"Even the smallest step…"
"…can change destiny."