UNLOCK: I CAN SEE MY STATS

chapter 43 : the arrival...P3

A long time ago, in response to an unknown threat, several empires joined forces to support the "Renaissance Project", a bold initiative aiming to create the ultimate being, what they called the miracle warrior.

To achieve this, a mad scientist invented a new form of energy, unlike anything seen before. He named it Dark Energy.

In truth, it was more of a discovery than an invention, after all, nothing can be created from nothing. Still, this energy failed to meet the expectations of the empires, who had hoped for something capable of granting miraculous powers.

Undeterred, the mad scientist continued his research even after the empires withdrew their support.

One day, due to a seemingly random incident, the energy mutated into something new, what would later be known as the Dreambringer Device. It was not a creature, but a symbiotic, intelligent form of energy, hyperintelligent, yet not alive.

This device could merge with a host and grant them powers the world had never seen.

But then came disaster.

An explosion shattered the device, and the immense energy it contained distorted space-time itself.

The blast rendered the region uninhabitable, turning it into what is now called The Nowhere. The device fragmented into 33 pieces.

Strangely, each of those 33 fragments chose the same host, but from different timelines.

People began calling the device various names, the Panel, the System, the Bracelet, the Power, the Serum, the Miracle…

---

12 million light-years away from the Blue Star Planet

Bzzzzt!

A sharp whine pierced the void.

Space twisted in on itself, forming an unnatural distortion, then, in a blink, a colossal ship materialized, floating with majesty through the dark cosmos.

Beep!

A reinforced door slid open as a masked soldier stepped into the energy chamber.

"Commander, we’ve arrived at the destination..."

The soldier spoke while eyeing the towering figure before him, who was silently gazing at a glass containment unit holding what appeared to be swirling black dust, alive, raging like a storm.

"Hmm... Finally," the being murmured. "Version 27... Only six fragments remain."

Casting one last glance at the dark energy, the figure turned and exited the chamber.

"How far is the target?"

"12 million light-years, sir."

"12 million!? Why are we still this far from it?"

"Sir, the reason is…"

------

Early 2112 — Near the Bahamuti Islands

The hunt had come to an end. One of the most wanted criminals by the Naval Army, the Black Horse, the man with the dual identity, had finally been caught.

“The Rebel, Bounty: 523 million.”

“The Masked Destroyer, Bounty: 59 million.”

He was captured by Five-Star General Ramez. Whether the Black Horse was alive or dead remained unknown.

Rumors swirled about the Masked Destroyer. Some claimed he had the ability to copy other people’s powers, a power never seen before. But was this truly the end of his story… or merely the beginning?

"Hey kid, tell me… is it true that you can copy the abilities of others?"

Aboard a massive warship sailing in uncharted waters, deep within a fortified cell, General Ramez sat with windswept golden hair. A newspaper rested in his hand as he stared at the man lying motionless before him.

The prisoner looked like a mummy, his body entirely wrapped in bandages, even his face.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Heavy chains rattled.

The cold, lifeless gaze of Marcus pierced through. A full day had passed since his supposed "battle" with General Ramez, though in truth, it was no battle. Marcus had been mercilessly beaten without even scratching his opponent.

The last thing he remembered was pain ripping through his body before everything went dark.

Ramez, a five-star general, ranked just below the Marshal and Supreme Commander of the Navy.

He sighed, gazing at Marcus with a mix of pity and bitterness before speaking.

"A power like that... falling into the hands of someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Marcus growled, his voice raspy. He let out a sharp laugh, bitter and mocking.

"Who do you think you are to judge me? A general? No. You're just a loyal dog, wagging your tail when the nobles throw you a few coins..."

Ramez froze mid-read, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"That last line… I liked that."

But the smile faded, and he sighed with sorrow.

"You clearly have a rough past with nobles. I don’t like them either, despite being one of them myself. But tell me, what makes you any different from the nobles who wronged you? You destroyed naval bases, killed thousands of innocents. What sets you apart from the monsters you hate?"

Marcus narrowed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"I never claimed to be a good person. Maybe you're right, maybe I am a criminal, a killer in the world’s eyes. But..."

He paused, then shouted in anger.

"Don’t you dare compare me to those dogs!"

He closed his eyes, sighing bitterly.

"It was a quiet day, like any other. We were just fishing to feed ourselves. Then that bastard’s ship appeared..."

"I remember watching my family die in front of me, their bodies torn apart by the bombardment. When I opened my eyes next, I was already a slave to..."

He paused.

"Hmm. I don’t even know the name of that bastard. He didn’t deserve one."

"Didn’t?" Ramez’s eyes narrowed in shock.

Marcus raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised.

"Oh! Interesting. So you don’t know?"

"What do you mean?" Ramez asked with a scowl.

"Well..." Marcus smirked. "I fed that bastard to a starving Sea Beast."

"I hadn’t heard about that," Ramez muttered to himself. "Seems they went to great lengths to cover it up..."

He stood, glancing back at Marcus with regret.

"In the end, you're just a young man... forced down the wrong path."

"Tch. I don’t need your sympathy," Marcus growled, then sighed.

CLANG!

CLANG!

He stared at the chains binding him and scoffed.

"Fools. Do they really think these cuffs can hold me?"

He could easily escape, yet he chose not to. His body was still badly injured, and besides, he had other plans. He intended to steal whatever location the Navy planned to send him to, and destroy it, if possible.

He closed his eyes… but shortly after, he opened them again, whispering with a frown and unease.

"But… why do I feel this crushing pressure again? Like something worse than this is about to happen…"

He raised his head and seemed to be piercing the ceiling and seeing the sky outside.

"I also feel like someone is calling me..."