Slouching on the bed alone, Michael lay in sorrow for his spent money. The realization hit him hard: all the money he spent in the heat of the moment was now gone. While the purchases were worth it, he was left with only a hundred thousand Rams. Most of the items he bought were custom orders that would take a month to arrive. The few things he had with him were scattered around the building he rented for the year. "There's no use crying about it," he muttered to himself.
The building he rented, more like a house, provided him the privacy he needed. Taking advantage of his free time, he sat upright, legs crossed, trying to muster some control over his newfound powers. He didn't understand how they worked, and he wasn't sure if going home was even a possibility now. One thing was certain: he hadn't slept, but he wasn't tired either. Maybe the times he was out cold were enough for him to be fully rested.
*Ding!* The AI of his house notified him that the preparations were complete. "Superpowers can wait," Michael said, hopping off the bed and rushing to the upper floor. The building was a three-story house located in a private sector. Thankfully, he didn't have to go through any painstaking identity processes, thanks to his connection with the two-headed doctor.
As he arrived, he remembered why he had spent so much money. The learning module he had purchased was a premium version with an AI assistant. After setting it up, he had incorporated the basic knowledge of this world and added more advanced subjects—combat knowledge, illegally obtained science practices, engineering, biology, and more. He wanted to ensure he could not only survive but also thrive in this new world. Mental preparations were also necessary; he had to be ready to take a life if required.
The AI had run a quick analysis of his body and calibrated the method to use. "Right, I have to take that muscle-enhancing stuff," Michael remembered. Since he was going to learn various combat techniques, it was recommended for him to take a muscle-enhancing serum. He didn't have much muscle mass to begin with, so he paid extra for the premium module.
After changing into the thin suit that came with the module, he entered the capsule, sat inside, and placed the helmet on. The glass closed, and for a second, his vision went dark. When it cleared, he found himself in a plain white room with a timer showing 18 hours and a start button in front of him. "I guess I'm supposed to press this now," he said, and proceeded.
It felt like knowledge was being fed directly into his brain. The information was vast, more like downloading than learning. Concepts he didn't understand before now made sense, and with every moment, his understanding deepened. He couldn't help but think, "If only I had this, I wouldn't have had to study so hard. School is useless at this rate." He began to wonder what else he could learn in an instant.
The 18 hours passed in a flash, and as he emerged from the learning module, the changes were visible. His muscles were more refined, and his face carried more confidence. He now understood the general workings of this world and why Kutarimama had treated him with respect. Those with superpowers were revered, often holding titles of authority. The vial of his blood he sold for twenty million would be used to create a serum granting others his powers, though to a lesser extent.
"Although I know how to fight, I still don't have practical experience. I shouldn't overestimate myself," he muttered, punching and kicking the air to familiarize himself with his new skills. "Damn it, all that hard work studying is now completely useless." He took a moment to cry, recalling how hard he had studied all year.
"After I watched that movie, I suddenly found myself here. It must have influenced my powers, especially my consciousness," he concluded. He needed to learn how to control his powers because he could end up somewhere dangerous otherwise. Feeling tired, he decided to take a shower. "I should rest up first," he said, making sure to sleep in his clothes this time.
"Micheal! Micheal! MICHEAL WAKE UP!" A familiar voice cried out, jolting him awake.
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