The Rubik's Cube seemed to stare at me, judging something deep within my soul. "Hmm... judging from your soul's core, you possess an abnormal capacity for power for a new Cosmic Servant. However, it's limited in its usage, as if that power is sealed to prevent you from exploding from a force your current existence cannot yet fully withstand. You haven't fully developed. But take it slow; don't be rushed by results that may not yet be satisfying."
I let out a sigh, trying to calm myself. The blue energy in my hand dimmed, then vanished completely.
I nodded. "So, my power is limited?"
"Yes. But currently, even though your rank is only that of a Planet Guardian, your power is nearly equivalent to a Solar System Guardian's, allowing you to use some of their abilities."
I frowned.
Perhaps that was because my power merged with Ressmond's back then...
The Cube rotated.
I stared at my own two hands. Hands that bore the scars of the past. Then, I visualized a small mirror in my palm, looking at my face—scratched, scarred, and terribly unpleasant to look at. And I just realized... my eyes had turned blue.
"If that's the case, I can change, can't I?" I asked.
"Perhaps. You can alter your body, but you must be careful," it replied.
Is that so?
Alright then... let's give it a try.
I dismissed the mirror's image; it vanished like fading particles of light.
I gazed at my palm, trying to feel the flow of the energy I had just received. If it's true that I now possess some abilities of a Solar System Guardian, that my body can now change, then...
I want to be different.
I imagined a cleaner face, without any scars. Smoother skin, like before life tore me apart. Neat hair, not this messy, insane look.
And...
Bzzzt!
A strange sensation flowed through my entire body, like liquid metal being reforged. I watched my right arm—the scratches and old scars slowly faded, replaced by flawless skin. The change spread throughout my body, like water flowing and reshaping the land.
Then, the Cube floated closer, as if inspecting me.
"Hmm, not bad for a first attempt. But you still look like an ordinary human."
I created the mirror again. Staring intently at my reflection, my face now looked like my 17-year-old self from the past.
I furrowed my brows. "I'm still human, aren't I?"
"Not entirely. You are now a human existing outside the category of 'normal.' With that ability, you can become anything. An animal, a plant, a rock, even a bacterium."
Becoming something other than myself...
It was a tempting idea. All this time, I've been trapped in a weak body, in a wretched life. But now...
I tried again.
This time, I imagined something more extreme.
I want to fly.
Suddenly, pain gripped me, my spine burning hot, as if something was tearing its way out from within. Two strange protrusions emerged on my back.
Bzzzt!
And in an instant, a pair of broad, dark blue-black wings bloomed from my back.
"W-Woah-!" I almost lost my balance. The wings moved on their own, flapping awkwardly.
"Control your breathing. Don't panic," said the Cube.
I took a deep breath, trying to feel every feather on those wings. Slowly, I understood how to move them. Then...
Whoosh!
I floated up from the building's roof, the night wind hitting my face. The city below looked like a miniature model, its lights twinkling like fallen stars.
This...
This is incredible!
I laughed—a sound that had hardly left my lips in years.
"You adapt quickly," commented the Cube, floating beside me.
"So, what else can I do?" I asked, my eyes shining.
"You could try changing into something smaller. Or larger. Or... perhaps try another basic technique."
"Another basic technique?"
"Try focusing on one of the buildings below."
I shifted my gaze to an empty parking structure. I imagined energy gathering in my palm, forming a glowing blue sphere.
Then...
Kzzht!
A blue laser shot from my hand, destroying part of the building's roof in a small explosion.
"Oh my god—!" I was shocked by my own action.
"You must be careful. Your power could kill people if left uncontrolled."
I nodded slowly. This wasn't a toy. I truly possessed power that could change everything.
"I hope this doesn't attract too much attention from the locals or any organizations..."
•
•
•
[7 Hours Later]
Now I was walking slowly, clad in a black robe that covered my entire body.
In a narrow alley within a forbidden zone—dark, damp, filled with the smell of rusting metal and garbage. Creaking pipes and scurrying rats were everywhere—a location outside the urban area. A red zone off-limits to the general public.
A neon light flickered dimly in the distance, its pale green glow illuminating walls covered in graffiti and syndicate markings. The sound of rough conversation came from behind a rusty iron door, and the faint smell of dried blood lingered amidst the stench that had become part of the air.
Now... where should I begin?
Because, if I expose my power too publicly, I'll surely be targeted. I need allies, but where can I find them?
And in my confusion, I had wandered all the way to this area. A very notorious area. A place where all underground organizations and criminal groups have made their exclusive residential district, named the "Blood Circle."
My footsteps echoed, sounding heavy to my own ears. Right then, my steps halted. As I focused ahead, searching for the source of a sound. A tall woman in a black suit with a white shirt and long black pants, wearing black sunglasses over her eyes. She was walking in the opposite direction. Her black hair with purple gradients gave her a strange impression under the neon light.
The Rubik's Cube's voice sounded, "Be careful. I sense malicious intent from her." It was currently in a secret pocket—an ability the Cube possessed, allowing it to create a hidden 'Space' behind reality.
The woman spoke firmly, "According to received intel, we got word from HQ about a mysterious figure flying in the night sky with wings on its back, who destroyed a building's roof with a small-scale explosion. We suspect it was an energy laser."
I stared at the woman without saying a word. Her shadow stretched long under the flickering neon light. From her upright, experienced posture to her appraising gaze, I knew this woman was no ordinary person.
With a bit of tension, I asked her, "Who are you?"
"Sharon Valsko, a secret agent dispatched by the 'National Covert Protection Unit'." She introduced herself. Then she spoke again, her tone sharper this time, "Please comply with the protocol we've been given."
I stared at her face, her glasses reflecting a glint of light.
So I was discovered because of what I did earlier...
"What if I refuse?" I asked.
The woman fell silent, her eyes behind those glasses staring at me intensely. Her hand quickly moved inside her black jacket and pulled out an energy pistol.
"Then, people like you must be eliminated."
Her index finger immediately pulled the trigger, and a large energy flash shot towards me from the weapon's muzzle. But before it could hit, a small box suddenly floated in front of me, transforming into a transparent blue barrier, shielding me from the shot.
.....