Gwen took a tentative bite of the food Shiro had prepared, her eyes widening slightly as the flavors hit her palate. "Wow…" she breathed, soft and impressed, chewing thoughtfully. "This… this is actually amazing. I mean, it's simple, but—"
Shiro's grin widened, practically glowing with pride. "Really? You like it?!" He practically bounced in his seat, arms waving slightly as if her praise were a tangible trophy he could clutch.
"It's… really good, Shiro. Seriously," Gwen said again, smiling warmly, her eyes sparkling as she reached for another bite.
Shiro puffed out his chest, chest swelling like a child caught in the thrill of a gold star on the fridge. "Told you! Who needs fancy chef when you've got me?!" He beamed, basking in the validation as if the simple eggs and toast he had whipped up were a Michelin-star feast.
After finishing their meal, they moved to the sofa. Gwen curled up on one side, the oversized shirt slipping slightly from her shoulder as she leaned back against him. The TV flickered to life, casting a soft glow over the room. A news anchor appeared on-screen, speaking urgently: Tony Stark had gone missing, and authorities were scrambling to find him.
Shiro's eyes narrowed, his grin sharpening into something more thoughtful, almost predatory. "So… it begins," he murmured, already running through possibilities in his mind. He glanced at Gwen, who was settling comfortably against him, and a teasing thought crossed his mind.
"Hey," Shiro asked casually, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "your dad going to make a fuss about you staying here? You didn't just sneak out, right?"
Gwen rolled her eyes but smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Relax. I already told him I'd be sleeping over at a friend's place for a project. He's fine with it—totally agreed."
Shiro's grin widened further, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease. "A project, huh… I wonder what kind of project would require sleeping at a friend's house," he said, eyes sparkling. "You know… like… 'making babies,' 'human biology'…"
Before he could continue, Gwen swung her hand, giving him a sharp smack on the head.
"Ouch! I was only… hypothetically asking!" Shiro said, rubbing the side of his head with mock innocence. But his grin didn't fade. Gwen muttered under her breath, her tone aggrieved and half-amused, "Pervert!"
Shiro just shrugged, unconcerned. On the outside, he looked calm, even casual, lounging on the sofa with Gwen pressed to his side. But inside, his mind was still racing, already cataloging contingencies regarding the future and possible opportunities that might arise from the chaos.
And then, almost forgotten in the excitement of the morning, the familiar pale blue holographic prompt appeared in his mind:
[Would you like to Sign-In?]
[Yes] [No]
Without hesitation, Shiro chose [Yes], the mental click feeling as satisfying as pressing a real button.
[Congratulations:
• $1,000,000
• 100Kg – Vibranium
• 100Kg – Gold]
His grin widened, eyes sparkling with delight and a hint of mischief. Even the simplest rewards felt monumental, and the raw thrill of acquisition made his pulse quicken. The Daily Sign-In was random, but it offered a sweet bonus layered atop the gifts he had already received, further cementing his advantage in a world suddenly full of possibilities.
The hologram faded, leaving only the soft glow of the TV and Gwen's quiet hum beside him. Shiro's gaze returned to the screen as the anchor continued detailing Tony Stark's disappearance.
After Gwen left, planning to return home, Shiro moved deliberately, closing and locking all the doors behind her. The quiet click of the locks was almost ceremonial, a prelude to what was about to unfold. He summoned [Great Sage], allowing it to acquire [Magic Sense], following the method Veldora had once instructed Rimuru during their first meeting.
[Magic Sense] activated instantly, its subtle hum brushing against his awareness. With it, Shiro could now perceive the surrounding Magicules, sensing every subtle fluctuation in the room. The world expanded, and yet shrank, in a single breath: he could see a complete 360 degrees around him, every corner, every shadow, every blind spot illuminated through the intricate web of energy flowing around him. Even in absolute darkness, the environment was as clear as day. Sounds, faint or deliberate, were transformed into perceptible data, and the intent behind spoken words could now be deciphered as easily as reading text. Ambushes, deception, even hidden devices—nothing could escape him.
Thanks to [Great Sage], the massive data flow no longer posed a threat. The relentless flood of information—the way Magicules pulsed, interacted with light, with sound—was processed instantly, leaving Shiro's own mind free, unburdened, and calm.
He let the senses sweep through the apartment. Almost immediately, subtle anomalies appeared: faint magical signatures where cameras should not be. Sure enough, hidden in the living room, the kitchen, and the balcony, Shiro spotted small surveillance devices—his cousin agent Maria Hill had clearly not left things to chance. He smirked inwardly, feeling grateful that he and Gwen had not indulged themselves in the living room. The thought of being caught there made him shiver slightly in embarrassment.
Shiro ignored the devices, leaving them undisturbed, and moved toward his room, where no cameras had been installed. Once inside, he retrieved the Super Soldier Serum, Heart Shape Herb, and Extremist Virus from his system and carefully placed them on his table. He didn't consume them immediately. Instead, he instructed [Great Sage] to analyze the compounds, planning to recreate the formulas or perhaps merge them into a superior serum, combining all three into a single, optimized solution.
The analysis took ten minutes—a surprisingly long span, even given [Great Sage]'s unparalleled capabilities. Shiro didn't concern himself with the intricate results; his understanding of biology and science was rudimentary at best. His curiosity, instead, was drawn irresistibly to the Heart Shape Herb. Without hesitation, he picked it up, feeling the slight warmth radiating from the strange, organic curves of the herb, and consumed it.
The effect was immediate and unlike anything he had ever felt. A subtle pressure spread through his chest first, like a slow-burning fire awakening from deep inside. His blood seemed to hum with energy, tingling in every vein, every nerve ending alive and acutely aware. His senses sharpened, not painfully, but exquisitely. Colors seemed brighter, sounds richer, the pulse of Magicules around him thrumming in rhythm with his heartbeat. It was like waking from a long sleep and discovering he could finally breathe for the first time.
He didn't go to the Ancestral Plane, as others might when consuming such herbs. The power settled smoothly within him, blending with his body, mind, and soul, amplified naturally by [Great Sage]. Every fiber of his being felt strengthened, yet perfectly controlled—like the herb was a key, and his inner system the lock, turning in perfect harmony.
Without pause, Shiro consumed the Extremist Virus and then the Super Soldier Serum, letting [Great Sage] carefully regulate the process. The Vita-Ray chamber was unnecessary; the system manually distributed the amplifying Magicules with precision, each drop, each molecular reaction optimized for maximum effect.
As he felt the combination course through him, a low hum of exhilaration vibrated through his chest, spreading outward into his limbs. His heartbeat quickened, muscles tingling with newfound potential. A rush of power, sharp yet controlled, rolled through him, leaving his body alive in a way that bordered on intoxicating. Every nerve ending seemed finely tuned to the world, yet fully under his control. Strength, speed, agility, and reflexes subtly increased; his senses, already sharpened by [Magic Sense], became razor-focused.
Shiro leaned back in his chair, a deep, satisfied breath escaping him. The sensation was unlike anything he could have imagined—power flowing naturally, not violent or intrusive, but as if he had unlocked a higher state of being. The combination of Heart Shape Herb, Extremist Virus, and Super Soldier Serum, amplified through [Great Sage], had brought him closer to perfection without overwhelming his mind or body.
He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the energy pulse in response, and smiled faintly.
[Name: Shiro Ainsworth
Species: Human
Age: 16 years old
Gender: Male
Unique Skills:
{Great Sage} - A powerful analytical skill that allows its user to easily process large amounts of information. The user also gets the benefit of an enhanced memory as well as reading, writing and general language comprehension. Similar to an enhanced version of Predictive Calculation, it can also be used to create predictions and combat simulations by sufficiently analyzing fights and opponents. This can also be used to optimize spells and the usage of skills and the usage of energy.
• Thought Acceleration - It allows the user to greatly increase the speed of their thought process. The user can adjust the level of acceleration as needed, as well as extend the effect to other individuals. The exact factor by which their thought process is accelerated varies from several hundred to millions or even hundreds of millions, depending on the individual.
• Analytical Appraisal - An extremely versatile analytical skill that allows its user to analyze and appraise a target. Depending on the user, it can be used via sight, Mana Perception, touch, or in an isolated space with increasing level of precision. It likely works by releasing waves that enter the target of analysis and perform a full scan of their composition, which is then sent back to the user. Depending on the target being analyzed and the user's processing capabilities, it may take wildly different amounts of time, ranging from mere moments to multiple hours or days for more complex targets, even with the help of Thought Acceleration. If the user successfully analyzes incoming attacks, they are able to use their abilities and the collected data to derive countermeasures or even outright nullify them.
• Parallel Operation - It allows the user to carry out multiple thought processes simultaneously. Possible applications include the detachment of analysis of phenomena from the user's regular thoughts, and the preservation of consciousness by using additional thought processes as backups.
• Chant Annulment - It eliminates the need for chanting when using magic after a spell is analyzed or successfully cast. The spell is stored in the user's mind and available to be instantly cast just by thinking about its activation.
• All of Creation - Allows the user to gain information about any non-concealed phenomena, as long as it is perceivable to the user and the user has a basic understanding of it. Using this skill in conjunction with other skills, like Analytical Appraisal and Chant Annulment, allows the user to easily learn a multitude of magic spells and adjust them freely to their desire.
• Analysis – It allowed for the duplication of items, magic, and skills.
Extra Skills:
• Magic Sense - It allows the user to use Mana as an extra sense to perceive the surrounding Magicules and see a full 360 degrees around them, without leaving a single blind-spot. By observing the fluctuation of light and sound waves through their interaction with Magicules, they can be processed and converted into perceptible data, allowing the user to see and hear their surroundings. With this, one can see in complete darkness as if it were bright as day and can continue fighting even if their eyes and ears were to be crushed. Ambushes become virtually impossible as the user is fully aware of their environment. It is also possible to shift perspectives to allow the user to look at themselves from a third person point of view. It also allows the user to understand the intent of spoken words by deciphering sound waves that have willful meaning stored inside them, even if the language of their conversation partner is unknown to them, the reverse can also be done by producing sound waves that carry thoughts to converse with others. the effectiveness of this Skill relies heavily on the user's processing capabilities, with range ranging from hundreds of meters away to a several kilometers radius.
Tolerance:
• Pain Nullification – It is a Nullification-type skill that completely negates the sensation of pain to the Material body.
• Abnormal Condition Resistance – It is a Resistance-type skill that reduces the effects of things such as corrosion, poison, paralysis, petrification, sleep, etc. under a certain threshold to be negligible.
• Flame Attack Resistance - It is a Resistance-type skill that reduces the effects of heat and flames under a certain threshold to be negligible.
• Physical Attack Resistance - It is a Resistance-type skill that reduces the effects of physical attacks (Slashing, Piercing, Blunt, etc.) under a certain threshold to be negligible.
Other Abilities:
Cellular Regeneration - Users possess regenerative capabilities advanced enough to be rendered immortal, allowing them to survive and recover from nearly any and all forms of harm, from physical stress and damage, to contaminants and diseases, along with becoming immune to aging.
• Thermal Manipulation - User can create, shape and manipulate temperature up to 15,000°C at maximum, a form of kinetic energy between particles at the atomic or molecular level.
• Plasma Manipulation - The user can create, shape and manipulate plasma, a state of matter consisting of fully ionized gas of low density containing an approximately equal number of positive ions and electrons.
Electricity Manipulation - The user can shape, create, direct, and possess complete control over electricity, a form of energy resulting from the movement of charged particles such as electrons or protons. This energy is ever-present—coursing through wires, storm clouds, and even living bodies—and the user stands at the center of it all, acting as both conductor and generator.
Technopathy - The power to psychically interact, communicate and manipulate technology with the power of the mind.
Skills & Techniques:
{Sun Breathing Technique}
• Total Breathing Concentration - Total Concentration Breathing is a breathing technique which involves expanding one's lungs to intake as much air as possible, accelerating one's blood flow and heartbeat while increasing their inner body temperature, resulting in their bones and muscles becoming more excited. Using Total Concentration Breathing essentially enhances the user's physical traits and capabilities while still remaining human. Such traits gain includes superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, endurance, and the mental abilities needed to keep up with their superhuman bodies, such as a faster thought process and reaction time.
• Total Breathing Constant
• Demon Slayer Mark - Demon Slayer Marks are irregularities on a Demon Slayer's skin that resemble a birthmark, commonly appearing on their face, chest, or arms. While the design of a Demon Slayer Mark is usually unique to the person who awakens them. Upon awakening the Demon Slayer Mark, the physical strength and speed of the bearer is exponentially increased to the point where Hashiraor Hashira-level Demon Slayers are able to overpower and defeat the Upper Ranks become comparable to the highest among them. It is implied that the bearer's physical strength and speed is increased by around 100 times at the maximum or greater after awakening the mark.
• Bright Red Sword
• Transparent World - Demon Slayers that have awakened the Mark can utilize a special form of ocular extrasensory perception that alters their vision, allowing them to perceive other living beings as if they were transparent, only being able to see the inner workings of their bodies. Most notably, users are able to perceive the flow of blood, breathing, muscular contractions and joint movements of the creature they are looking at. Potentially, one can use the Transparent World's power to see inside an enemy's body as a way to predict and evade their opponent's attacks, as well as to find openings for their own strikes. Additionally, the user's perception of rapid and brief events is heightened, to the point where normally incomprehensibly fast objects can be perceived naturally, thus dramatically increasing their movement speed and reflexes.
• Selfless State - The Selfless State is an esoteric and mysterious state of being in which one completely erases their Fighting Spirit will to fight, bloodlust, anger, hatred, malevolence, drive and animosity. Once in this state, the user's behavior becomes incredibly tranquil and focused, often being compared to that of a plant.]