"And to think this time it took us so little to get here. Do you remember the first time? It took us nearly half a day to reach the tower where Rapunzel lives," the Genie remarked, gazing at the calm lake as he lounged on a nearby rock.
"Of course! I've grown much stronger over these months," Orion replied proudly, sitting by the water's edge and letting his feet dip into it.
"Don't thank me, kid," the Genie shot back, giving a thumbs-up in approval. In the blink of an eye, he transformed back into his military instructor persona, standing tall and commanding as usual.
"Thank you for everything, Genie," Orion said, his voice tinged with a subtle melancholy. He sighed and continued, "My friend, it's time to fulfill our promise, so it's time to make the wishes."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. It was the Genie who broke it, his voice laced with surprise and a hint of uncertainty.
"What? Are you sure?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Orion.
"Of course," Orion responded with determination, nodding as he stood up. The Genie followed suit, rising to stand at the same height as him.
"But don't worry," Orion added with a reassuring smile, giving the Genie a couple of light pats on the shoulder. "We'll still be friends, and we can see each other whenever we want. Besides, wouldn't you rather be free than trapped in that lamp for thousands more years?"
"Hahaha, you've got a point!" the Genie laughed, his tone now relaxed and cheerful. "Alright then, bring on the magic! Tell me, what's your wish?" With a theatrical gesture, he donned a black magician's tuxedo, and glittering playing cards shot out from his cuffs.
"Hahaha, well then…" Orion began, only to be interrupted by the Genie's reminder.
"Remember, be as specific as possible to make the most of your wish," the Genie advised, conjuring a massive book in front of him with rules floating across its pages.
Orion nodded, carefully considering his words. He fixed his gaze on the Genie and spoke with clarity.
"Then, Genie, I wish for the ability to copy the talent, superpower, or skill of any person I choose. Additionally, I want to be able to grant the copied abilities to others if necessary. And most importantly, I want to be able to copy these abilities without needing physical contact with the person."
This wish had been on Orion's mind for a long time. He knew that in the worlds he would visit, he might encounter abilities he would want to possess. This power would allow him to adapt to new situations and acquire skills without being limited to just one. Moreover, the lack of physical contact would make the process far more discreet.
The Genie nodded slowly, considering the request.
— The only limitation will be that you won't be able to copy powers your body can't withstand, and you also won't be able to copy powers from cosmic-level beings, — said the Genie, laying out the rules with a serious expression.
Orion nodded, understanding that it was a fair price. The ability he was asking for was powerful, but the restrictions gave it a sense of balance.
— Don't worry, it doesn't matter, — Orion replied with a relaxed smile. He had never believed he would encounter such beings, nor was he interested in doing so. Besides, creating galaxies or reaching that kind of overwhelming power was never his goal.
— Hahaha, yes, sir! — the Genie exclaimed, clearly excited. He stretched his body as if preparing for a great feat. — Alright, let me loosen up my muscles, and… ready!
He took a moment to relax, adopting a more flexible and focused posture. Then, with a swift and elegant motion, a ray of pure energy shot from his fingers. The light shone brightly, and as it touched Orion, it fused with his body. Orion rose slightly off the ground, enveloped in a blinding glow that illuminated everything around him, before gently returning to the earth.
— System, show me my status, — Orion thought, focusing inward. Instantly, a status screen appeared before him, glowing brightly in front of his eyes.
[Age]: 18 years
[Powers]: Duplication
[Skills]: Master of the sword, Master of dual swords.
[Storage space]: Empty
Looking at his status, Orion couldn't help but smile upon seeing the newly acquired ability on his screen. A wave of excitement coursed through his body, as if he was finally closer to his goal. After a few seconds, he selected the power option.
[Duplication: The power of Ability Duplication is a unique capability that allows the user to copy any talent, skill, or superpower from those nearby. This ability not only permits the replication of others' capacities but also enables the user to transfer those abilities to other people. (Note: To use it, the user must be within a distance of no more than 5 meters from the person whose ability they want to copy. Only one ability can be copied per person.)]
The light in his eyes intensified as he read the details. The versatility of this power was exactly what he had been seeking for so long. Wasting no more time, he turned to the Genie and spoke with newfound determination.
— Then… my second wish is to have a body that automatically adapts to any power, skill, or condition that affects me, — Orion said seriously, his words carefully measured. — This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, such as fire or ice, without taking damage; immunity to toxins and poisons; resistance to extreme physical forces, and the ability to regenerate quickly if I get injured.
He paused for a moment, making sure his words were clear. He knew this wish was of great importance for his future, especially when facing powerful abilities or unknown conditions in the worlds to come.
— I want my body to be able to adjust instantly, preventing any adverse effects when using copied abilities or encountering extraordinary situations.
Hearing Orion's proposal, the Genie's mouth dropped open in surprise. His eyes widened slightly as he quickly flipped through the pages of his rulebook, searching for any limitation that might prevent him from fulfilling such a specific request.
— Hmm, this is a bit more complicated... — the Genie said, furrowing his brow as he pointed to certain rules written in the book. — If I grant you that wish as you've asked, it would indirectly break some fundamental rules.
He paused, raising a finger as if about to give an important explanation.
— For instance, if I gave you that, I'd basically be making you invincible. If someone attacked you, a single drop of your blood could bring you back to life, no matter how severe the damage. Even if they managed to kill you, you'd regenerate instantly.
The Genie grimaced with discomfort and leaned back, clearly conflicted by the implications of such a request.
— That goes too far, Orion. I can't allow something like that to happen because it would violate certain rules of balance. But... — his tone softened, as if he was already contemplating a viable solution — if we limit your wish and remove that part about exaggerated restoration, as well as some other aspects, then it would be possible. You wouldn't be invincible, but I could grant you the ability to absorb others' abilities without issues.
Orion nodded slowly, understanding the logic behind the restrictions on his wish. While being invincible was an unattainable goal, the idea of being able to copy abilities without concerns was still a formidable and achievable power.
— That's fine, no problem, — Orion said with a calm smile on his face. — I don't need to be invincible; I just want to copy abilities effectively and without restrictions.
— Perfect! — replied the Genie, making a theatrical gesture with his hands as if preparing for a grand act. — So be it.
With a quick movement of his hands, the Genie uttered some unintelligible words as a bright light emerged from his fingers, enveloping Orion completely. The light lingered longer this time, as if ensuring the wish was fulfilled to perfection.
Orion felt a gentle surge of energy flowing through his body, coursing through his veins and subtly but profoundly transforming his essence. Though he didn't fully understand what was happening, he could feel a palpable shift within him, as if his very being had been altered.
Moments later, the light faded, and Orion opened his eyes. Instinctively, he clenched his fist, sensing an unfamiliar lightness in his body, as though his weight had diminished significantly. It was an entirely new sensation, one that caught him off guard.
— Whoa! This is incredible... — he murmured to himself, astonished by the newfound agility and lightness coursing through him. — Something's definitely changed.
With a confident smile, he turned to the Genie, who was watching him with an expectant expression.
— My friend... how about we have one final duel? — Orion asked, his voice brimming with excitement at the thought of testing his new abilities in action. — I want to see what this change has done to me.
The Genie grinned broadly, raising his hands enthusiastically. Without moving a finger, two swords materialized in the air before him, hovering weightlessly. He grabbed one with practiced ease and tossed the other to Orion, who caught it effortlessly, marveling at the renewed precision and control he felt over the weapon.
— Of course! — the Genie replied, his expression serious but with a spark of excitement in his eyes. — I hope you've improved as much as you say.
Both of them assumed combat stances, their muscles taut and ready for action. The atmosphere between them grew heavy with anticipation, as if even the air itself was waiting for the first move.