Ryu's lips played a confident smirk. After that near-death encounter, he was not going back to the real world empty-handed.
Mr. Beginning's laughter subsided into a low rumble. "Reward, huh? You do not sound like your old self asking for a reward like this."
The colossal figure pulsed with amusement. "Rewards are for achievements, and while your performance was certainly impressive, it wasn't exactly smooth as one could hope for."
"Hey," Ryu shot back. "I was thrust into a situation over which I had no control. And I was born in a body that was not exactly in good shape."
"Well, young Ryu, that is exactly the point," Mr. Beginning uttered, his voice echoing across the heavens. "We do not always have the luxury of preparation in life. It's in these unexpected challenges that we truly grow."
Ryu furrowed his brow, contemplating the cosmic being's words. "I suppose you have a point," he admitted reluctantly. "But still, a little heads-up wouldn't have hurt."
Mr. Beginning chuckled, "True, but you adapted quickly, young Ryu. You handled that bully like a mature person. And as for your illness, you already had the knowledge you needed to survive thanks to your past life, and learning from a near-death encounter can be beneficial."
With a glint of humour in his eyes, Ryu complained, "That lesson that nearly cost me my life. I would rather that my lessons in the future be a little less fatal, if that is okay."
Mr. Beginning burst out laughing again "Oh Ryu, you have such an unbreakable spirit yet you complaint like this . Very well, let's discuss this... reward you seek."
As if on cue, the silence was shattered by an unexpected sound. A telephone ring pierced through the cosmic void, startling both Ryu and Mr. Beginning.
Ryu blinked, dumbfounded. "There are telephones in the void?" he blurted out, his voice a mix of amusement and disbelief.
Mr. Beginning chuckled, a sound like distant stars twinkling. "No, there are not. You are once again understanding things in accordance with your capacity to think and imagine."
He picked up the receiver, and his voice boomed through the phone. "Oh, hello, brother... Yes, yes... I understand. Alright, alright... I'll tell him."
With a final click of the rotary dial, Mr. Beginning hung up. With an intriguing glint in his glowing form, he glanced at Ryu.
He said, "I have good news for you, Ryu. My brother has agreed to your request.
Relief washed over Ryu. Maybe surviving that ordeal wasn't in vain after all. "That's great," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Tell him I said thanks."
Mr. Beginning's smile faltered slightly. "Hold on, there's more," he said. "My brother specifically requested that I do not give you choices this time, and there are side effects this time around with abilities."
Ryu's excitement dimmed slightly, replaced by a cautious curiosity. "Side effects! What kind of side effects are we talking about here?" he asked.
Mr. Beginning's form shimmered, as he explained. "Power always comes at a price. Your ability to use these skills wisely will be put to the test in addition to your strength."
Ryu's grin softened, replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Fair enough," he admitted. "You've already done so much by giving me a second chance. What kind of bonus ability do you have in mind?"
Mr. Beginning raised a hand and, with a flourish, blew two shimmering bubbles into existence. One glowed with an intense crimson hue, and the other pulsed with an ethereal blue light.
"Whoa," Ryu breathed, captivated by the spectacle. "What are those?"
"These," Mr. Beginning boomed, a hint of amusement in his voice, "are the only abilities you are offered. You can choose to accept them or not; the decision is entirely yours."
He snapped his fingers, and a wave of information appeared in front of bubbles like a computer screen.
[Infrared Vision: This ability grants you the power to see heat signatures, essentially allowing you to see in the dark or through objects that wouldn't normally be transparent. However, prolonged use can strain your eyes and cause headaches.]
[Temporary Enhance: This ability acts like a temporary overdrive, pushing your existing skills and abilities beyond their normal limits for a short period of time. But with great power comes a price. Using Enhance will drain your physical and mental reserves at an accelerated rate, potentially leading to exhaustion, muscle strain, or even temporary sensory overload. The more you push yourself, the longer the recovery time.]
Mr. Beginning explained, "The red bubble contains the ability for more enhanced vision. Although you already have some minor improvements in your vision that help you see more clearly, this one goes beyond that. You'll be able to see heat signatures, which could prove invaluable in low-light situations."
Ryu's eyes widened with excitement. This was exactly what he'd been hoping for. The ability to see in the dark could be a game-changer, especially in an unknown world filled with potential dangers.
Mr. Beginning continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The blue bubble, however, is a bit more complex. It grants you temporary enhancement ability. Think of it like a short burst of overdrive. You'll be able to push one of your existing skills and abilities beyond their normal limits for a short period of time. Imagine enhanced reflexes, heightened strength, or even a temporary boost to your healing factor. The last one will come in handy when you finally wake up."
Mr. Beginning added, "But both abilities come with a price. Infrared vision will strain your eyes and cause headaches, and using 'Enhance' will drain your physical and mental reserves at an accelerated rate. Think of it as a double-edged sword. i hope you use them wisely."
The weight of this decision settled on Ryu. More power meant more risk, but the potential benefits were undeniable. He thought, "I have no other option, and anything is better than nothing, despite the negative effects.Although the side effects seem severe, these abilities will come in handy. I can use 'Infrared Vision' as a tool for diagnosis, and 'Enhance' will be very handy in emergencies."
After a moment of deliberation, a determined glint flickered in his eyes. "Alright, Mr. Beginning, I will take them both.Thank you for this gift." he declared, his voice firm.
Mr. Beginning pulsed with a vibrant light once more. "Excellent, Ryu! You've shown remarkable wisdom in considering both the benefits and the drawbacks."
Ryu looked quiet, and Mr. Beginning noticed and asked him, "What's the matter?"
Ryu asked, "My family name, Hamura, points me towards something. Is my hypotheses correct?"
Mr. Beginning looked at him and said, "Hmm, you always ask something we try to keep from you."
He waited and then said, "Yes, you are related to them."
Ryu said, "I knew it."
Mr. Beginning snapped, and a hologram figure of the younger version of the sage of six paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, and his brother, Hamura Otsutsuki, appeared before him.
Mr. Beginning said, "Hamura had many sons and daughters."
Then a few more people appeared; all had white like you or black hair, a few had Byakugan, and a few had strange marks above their eyebrows and very peculiar bloodline.
Mr. Beginning continued, "But one of them was particularly special. He was far too behind his siblings in terms of ability."
A figure in the back of all the figures was highlighted; he looked like an adult version of Ryu.
Mr. Beginning continued, "Call it fate or whatever, his name was Ryuken Otsutsuki. He was shunned by his family, and like your grandfather by lood, Ryu Senju, his family name was also taken away by his eldest brother after Hamura Otsutsuki left for the moon. Later, Ryuken Otsutsuki took his father's name as his family name and became Ryuken Hamura. Later on, Hagoromo Otsutsuki adopted him, and he went on to serve Ashura, his younger son. Later, all his descendants also served under the descendants of Ashura."
Ryu was taken aback by the remarkable similarity between his grandfather Ryu Senju's story and that of his ancestor Ryuken Otsutsuki.
Then Ryu's body started to fade away. Mr. Beginning said while Ryu was fading away, "It looks like it's time for you to wake up. Now, go forth and live your life. Use your abilities wisely, and who knows, maybe next time you visit, we can have a more pleasant conversation. Remember, great power comes with great responsibility."
Ryu couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at Mr. Beginning's rather cliché closing line. "Sounds like you've been watching too many superhero movies." he teased, a sense of gratitude welling up within him.
"Perhaps," Mr. Beginning said with a smile.
"Goodbye, Mr. Beginning. Thank you for everything," he said as his voice faded into a distant echo as the celestial space dissolved around him, replaced by the white ceiling of his hospital room. The rhythmic beeping of a nearby machine filled the silence, a comforting anchor back to reality.
## Author's Note##
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##PoWeR StOnEs##