The temperature inside the cell suddenly plummeted below freezing. Vikram's body levitated a few inches off the ground. His black hair turned a shimmering silver-white, flowing in the air. His eyes held no emotion, only a divine, chilling indifference that could not belong to a human.
[Origin Spirit God Body: Activated]
[Time Limit: 30 Seconds]
"What... what is happening?" the guard at the front stammered. He felt a primal fear deep within his soul, as if he were standing before an apex predator.
"Kill him!" the guard behind him shouted.
The first guard charged forward. He used the 'Rock Fist Art'. His fist became as hard as stone, and he struck at Vikram's face with full force.
Vikram did not move from his spot. He didn't even blink. He simply looked at the guard and visualized:
'Your strike cannot reach me. This distance is infinite.'
The guard's fist was just an inch away from Vikram's nose, but no matter how much force he applied, he couldn't bridge that one-inch gap. It felt as though the space between them had stretched endlessly.
"What?" The guard's eyes widened in shock.
"You are too slow," Vikram's voice echoed, though his lips did not move.
Just then, the second guard attacked from behind. "Die, demon!"
He formed a long 'Fire Whip' with his hands. It was an Elemental Gene Art. The whip of fire lashed out to wrap around Vikram's neck.
Vikram turned his neck and grabbed the fire whip with his bare hand.
[Analysis: 'Flame Whip Art'. Structure comprehended.]
[The Story of Genes: Active. Copy process initiated.]
"Fire?" Vikram said with a cold smile. "This is not what fire is like."
Vikram visualized: 'My fire will devour yours.'
The color of the fire in his grip changed to a deep azure blue. Vikram flicked the whip. The guard's own fire recoiled and lunged back at him, but now it was many times hotter and more dangerous.
"Arghhh!" The second guard screamed as he fell back. His armor was melting.
The third guard, who had been trembling in fear until now, began to retreat. "You... who are you?"
[Time Remaining: 10 Seconds]
Vikram knew he was running out of time. His body was breaking down internally from the strain of this 'God Mode.' But on the outside, he looked like a deity.
"Kneel," Vikram commanded.
He exerted no physical pressure. He simply made it a reality that standing was impossible for the guards.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The three Elite Guards, who had come to kill him just seconds ago, were flattened against the ground under the weight of an invisible mountain. Their bones began to creak.
[Time Remaining: 3 Seconds]
Vikram descended. He looked into the eyes of the first guard on the ground (the one who had used Rock Fist).
"What you saw today... never happened," Vikram whispered.
[Time's Up.]
Suddenly, the divine aura vanished. Vikram's hair turned back to black, and he collapsed to the ground. His entire body ached as if thousands of needles were piercing him. Blood began to flow from his nose.
"Haa... haa..." Vikram gasped for breath. His body was drenched in sweat.
But the job was done.
The three guards lay unconscious. The second guard's armor was burnt, and the other two had passed out from mental shock and pressure.
Vikram wiped his mouth with trembling hands. "Just 30 seconds... and I'm in this state. But..." He clenched his fist. He could still feel the heat of the 'Flame Whip' he had copied in his palms.
"This body... it really is a 'Cheat Code'. I just need to increase my Base Strength so I can use it for longer."
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the cell. More guards were coming, alerted by the noise.
Vikram had no strength left to fight. He had to use his brain now. He quickly lay down on the floor and feigned unconsciousness, as if he too had been injured in the brawl among the guards.
The door opened, and Lady Scarlet herself entered. She took in the scene—three Elite Guards lying half-dead, the walls scorched, and Vikram slumped in a corner.
Scarlet's eyes weren't on Vikram, but on the burnt guard.
"Blue fire?" Scarlet muttered. "There is only one person in this city who uses blue fire... the 'Duke's' General. Was there an intruder here?"
Vikram heard this through half-closed eyes. Unintentionally, the fire altered by his 'God Body' had misled Scarlet.
Author Note: "If you like the story, please vote with Power Stones! It helps me write faster."