"You've failed!" The speaker was no longer recognizable as human. His face was a network of cracks filled with flames, reminiscent of ocean waves, but aflame. "Why have you betrayed mankind?" "Why did I betray mankind? Isn't it obvious? Because I want to become a god," the figure declared arrogantly. He lowered his gaze to the man sprawled before him, bloodied and battered. The man was in his sixties; his hair had turned white, and wrinkles lined his face. But there was something remarkable about him, a defiant spark in his eyes. "God? Do you think you're a god now?" the man rasped, seemingly stalling for time against the menacing figure. "Ha, of course not. But I'm on the brink of gaining that immense power." "Ah, Lucius. I know you cherished this land. You fought for forty years, serving the people. Now look at us, the last humans on this planet. Everyone you loved is dead, Lucius." "To hell with you." Mustering the last of his strength, the elderly man tried to rise, reac

"Bzzt!" With a swift jerk, Lucius roused from his apparent reverie. His hair seemed to stand on end, as if touched by an invisible current. The young man who had been nonchalantly lounging at his desk was now alert, his attention snatched by the unidentified pandemonium unfolding around him. "What's going on?" He mumbled, his brow furrowed in confusion. The clamor, while undeniable, held no discernible source or explanation. [System birth detected in the vicinity] The holographic message hung in the air before his eyes. An added feature of his holographic device, post consumption of the pearl-like artifact - the Eye of Time. "Thud!" In his haste, he knocked against the desk, rattling it. The abrupt noise pulled the attention of the entire class towards him - Lucius, the recent cynosure of all eyes due to his striking transformation. Post ingesting the Eye of Time, Lucius' skin had become as smooth as a newborn's, while his physique had grown more muscular and defined. He was alm

A cacophony of footfall echoed louder and louder, an ominous sign of the swarm of people rushing towards the school's roof. The ear-piercing wails of agony that they had heard multiple times appeared to originate from that place, like a gruesome theater of torture nestled above their heads. "Is this place devoid of life?" A teacher, first to arrive, remarked in disbelief. He surveyed the school roof that stretched out immaculate before him. It was deserted, not a soul in sight, as if the bone-chilling sounds they heard moments ago were mere hallucinations. "Sir, there is no trace of anything unusual," confirmed another teacher, who had painstakingly inspected every inch of the rooftop. Not even the tiniest speck of dust could escape his keen eye, yet he failed to find any signs of abnormality. "But there were unmistakable cries of pain. You heard them too, didn't you?" the principal appealed to the students who seemed equally intrigued by the mysterious sound. "This couldn't possib

Every nation hoards its secrets, and the tropical country where Lucius resided was no exception. A fortified structure, ringed with layers of razor wire and security patrols, stood imposingly in the distance. The intense vigilance suggested that the place was far from an ordinary dwelling—more akin to a maximum-security prison. "Has our latest subject arrived?" asked a middle-aged man, identifiable as a high-ranking official by the array of stars adorning his shoulders. "Yes, Mr. Nefion. The new subject was delivered minutes ago," replied a busy woman, juggling documents and persistent phone calls. "If it wasn't for my military career, I'd find it hard to believe these anomalies," the man mused aloud, "the existence of superhumans, just like in the films." His voice carried across the room, the woman catching his words. "But this case is particularly intriguing. Such a young boy possessing this...gift," he continued, eyes fixed on the large monitor displaying the live feed from an

"Aaaaaa!" Lucius woke up with his body drenched in sweat. It felt like after a strenuous physical activity, with his breath coming in gasps. It seemed that he had a nightmare, making the guard who had been monitoring nearby immediately approach. He was surprised by Lucius' cries that sounded as if he was suffering. "What happened?" the man asked not out of concern, but because he wanted to get additional information. The general who led them there had given him the task of seeking more information, with the promise of a promotion in return. "I saw red lightning, red lightning appeared again," Lucius said with a gasp. "Appeared? Where?" the person asked in surprise, glancing into the dank prison room through the iron bars. "No, no. I saw it in a dream," Lucius replied. "In a dream? Are you sure you're not having hallucinations?" the guard asked, and Lucius shook his head quickly. He looked serious now, as evidenced by his frightened face and labored breathing. "What did you see?