Three days had passed since my return, and in that short time, I had learned three crucial facts.
Firstly, despite my best attempts, I had been unable to switch bodies. Even the prospect of lowering my heart rate had proved futile.
Secondly, I was now obligated to attend Prism, not as Ray Hewitt but as Shaun. This reality was unsettling and confusing, but I had no other choice.
Thirdly, the elusive system that had plagued me previously had not appeared since the day of my return.
Amidst my confusion and anxiety, Zera's triumphant voice cut through the air. "It's finally finished!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, clad once again in her lab coat. I found myself within the confines of her company, 'TOYS', where she was busy developing a custom piece of equipment for me. My lack of physical ability made me unique and required a specialized approach. Even though I said it like this, the bottom line is, I'm not talented.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Zera. During my banishment, she had been one of the few who genuinely cared about me. As a fellow 'big-brainer', she had even created her own company, 'TOYS', after designing a weapon prototype when she was my age. Despite the mismatched name and products of her company, I had never questioned her about it.
As Zera continued to work on my equipment, my thoughts drifted towards the daunting prospect of attending Prism. I wondered how I would navigate this new reality, one that had been forced upon me by circumstances beyond my control.
Lost in thought, I heard a strange sound emanating from one of the glass containers on the edge. I peered inside and saw a black, gooey substance that seemed to be alive.
"Oi... Keep your distance. It is really aggressive, and I haven't learned a single thing about that thing since it was brought here from dimension 5 last year," Zera warned me.
I was startled by a sudden ding and looked down to see the system that I had been trying to reach out to finally appear on its own.
[Name: Prana
Rank: Hidden (ranked the same as the combined weapon)
Able to combine with any type of weapon or armor and improves its stats based on the equipment
Additional increase in firepower or defense based on the equipment]
"So you're telling me you haven't figured out a single thing about this?" I asked. "So this thing is basically worthless, right?" I couldn't help but feel drawn to the potential power of the substance.
"Well, it is worthless," Zera admitted. "But you know how your sister is, the more difficult it is to solve, the more excited I am."
Although Zera seemed interested in the Prana, I knew I had to have it. It was like winning the lottery, and I couldn't resist the urge to take it with me. The only problem was that I would have to find a way to steal it without Zera noticing.
I paced around her private lab, my eyes fixated on the black goo in the glass container. Zera was hunched over a nearby desk, tinkering with a device. I glanced at her, then back at the container.
I knew I had to have Prana, and Zera's admission of its worthlessness only made it easier for me to steal it. The potential power of the substance was too much to resist. But how was I going to get it without Zera noticing?
As Zera was engrossed in her work, I stealthily approached the glass container, my heart racing with excitement. As I wrapped my fingers around the container, a loud beeping sound startled me, and Zera spun around, alarmed.
"What are you doing? Put that back! You punk. We don't even know what that thing can do," she exclaimed.
But I was determined to get my hands on Prana, no matter what. "I already know how to use this thing," I retorted, snatching the container and making a run for it.
Zera shouted after me, but I didn't stop. I raced down the hallway with the container firmly grasped in my hand, and no one dared to stop me, knowing how much Zera cared for her brother.
I could hear Zera's angry voice trailing behind me, but I refused to slow down. The potential power of the black gooey substance was too great to let it slip away.
Later that day, I found myself in "Original Shaun's" room, where I was staying for the time being. As I was about to leave, a strange sound caught my attention. Without warning, a drone flew into the room through the open window and hovered in front of me.
"Delivery for you," the drone announced in a monotonous voice. "Scan your eye to receive."
Without any hesitation, I presented my right eye to the drone's scanning beam, and after verifying my identity, it deposited a box before taking off into the sky.
As I carefully opened the box, a message from my sister appeared on a holographic screen.
"You little thief," my sister's voice scolded me. "Next time you want something, have the decency to ask me first. Don't steal something from your own flesh and blood and then claim you know how to use it. Anyway, I made this equipment for you. Keep it with you at all times. Prism is a dangerous place."
With that, the screen vanished, revealing a small shield-shaped object inside.
[NAME: HEART PULSE
CAN ABSORB DAMAGE UP TO D-RANK.
USER-SPECIFIC GEAR. CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED.]
Before I could even touch the Heart Pulse, it suddenly flew into my chest.
[Scanning DNA] the shield informed me.
[FAILED]
[SCANNING FACE] [SUCCESS]
[OWNER CONFIRMED] it declared.
[PRANA IS BEING SYNTEZISED WITH HEARTPULSE AUTOMATICALLY ]
[INFORMATION UPDATED]
[NOW CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING DAMAGE UPTO C RANK]
[HIDDEN PIECE][ ABLE TO MOVE HEARTPULSE WHEREVER YOU WISH WITHIN YOUR BODY]
With the Heart Pulse shield now integrated with my very being, I finally felt ready to attend Prism Academy.