[October 26, 2053 – The First Day of Gaining the Shadow Clone Ability, 18 Years After Divine Punishment Day and the Emergence of Anomalous Creatures]
"My shadow worked out all night, and I didn't feel a thing. I'm getting stronger without even realizing it. This way of getting stronger... it's just too shameful! As a young, energetic guy, how can I just sit back and accept this?"
[October 27, 2053 – Day Two]
"I gave my shadow even more workout routines today, and the results are insane. In just two days, I've got a perfectly defined eight-pack, and my muscles are so toned. I bet I could punch Samantha to death with one hit now. No, no, I can't get complacent. Time to double down on my efforts."
[October 28, 2053]
"Uncle Ben dropped by today. He works at the Aegis Operations Division too. I hope he didn't notice anything weird about me. He's getting old, and he's even missing part of his arm. Honestly, I think I could take down two Uncle Bens and nine Samanthas with one punch now."
[October 29, 2053]
"Damn it, I can't just keep living like this! I've got these superpowers now, so I need to push myself harder. I can't rely on my shadow clone for everything!"
[October 30, 2053]
"Shadow's working out, and I'm grabbing a coffee."
[October 31, 2053]
"Shadow's still working out, and I'm still drinking coffee."
[November 1, 2053]
"Nice, I did five squats today before going back to my coffee."
[November 2, 2053]
"The rate at which my Soul Essence is growing is so slow. Aside from the 4 points I got on the first day, I've only managed to gather 8 points after all these days. I wonder how many more days it'll take to reach 10 points and unlock 'Special Abilities.' Maybe... if I personally enter the Boundary Passage that my shadow wrote down, I could speed things up?"
[November 3, 2053]
"I tried activating the Nightseer's Eye to enter the Boundary Passage. Oh my god, why is the door in there harder than steel? I couldn't open it at all. I can only activate the Nightseer's Eye and enter the Boundary Passage after I leave my apartment..."
"In the Boundary Passage, my neighborhood is sealed off by a layer of fog. I can't get out, and nothing can get in. I'll have to enter the Boundary Passage from outside the neighborhood in the real world."
"Man, there was a 7-foot-tall ghost just hanging out by the gate of the neighboring complex, holding a scythe. It chased me down, only going for my butt. It even ripped my pants! Luckily, I managed to escape the Boundary Passage just in time."
[November 4, 2053]
"That ghost is still waiting for me at the gate of my complex! I can't let this slide! I'm taking it down!"
[November 5, 2053]
"Revenge failed. It jabbed me in the chest with the handle of its scythe. Almost broke a rib."
[November 6, 2053]
"Revenge failed again. Got three bloody scratches on my butt, but I managed to knock off 0.25% of its health. Keep going!"
...
[December 15, 2053]
Samantha carefully dabbed rubbing alcohol on Ethan's arm and face.
"Have you been getting into fights with street thugs or something?" she asked, glaring at him as she applied the alcohol.
"You wouldn't understand," Ethan panted. "Scars are a man's badge of honor."
"Badge of honor?!"
Samantha pressed her finger hard into the bruise on his butt.
"Ow, ow, ow!!"
"Oh, so you can feel pain."
Feeling the firmness of his muscles, Samantha quickly pulled her smooth, slender fingers back as if she'd been shocked.
"By the way, the Phantom Sentinel selection test for the Aegis Operations Division is in a month. What's your plan, Samantha? Are you going to try out for the Phantom Sentinel?" Ethan asked, grimacing.
After all, as the daughter of someone high up in the Aegis Operations Division, Samantha's qualifications were probably top-notch. It was just a matter of whether she wanted to go for it or not.
"I... I've actually always wanted to study music," Samantha said hesitantly.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Then go for it! Who's stopping you? Is it Uncle Marcus who doesn't approve?"
He knew that Samantha's father, Uncle Marcus, was a high-ranking official in the Aegis Operations Division, and their family had deep connections. If she wanted to pursue music, it probably wasn't as simple as it sounded.
After all, in the post-Divine Punishment Day world, the prospects for arts-related careers had plummeted. Job opportunities were scarce, and the social status of artists wasn't what it used to be.
Now, the Aegis Operations Division's main focus was fighting Anomalous Creatures. Who had the time or resources to nurture artists anymore?
The trending topics of this era were no longer dominated by celebrities or influencers, but by national affairs and the names of battle heroes.
Samantha's hand paused slightly as she continued applying the ointment to Ethan's wounds. "It's not that he doesn't approve. Just... don't tell anyone." Her voice was low.
Ethan's smile faded as he sensed something off in her tone. "What's going on?"
Samantha's gaze dimmed, and she gently dabbed rubbing alcohol on the scratch on Ethan's butt. Her voice was somber. "The Federation's policy has changed. This year, as long as your physical fitness meets the standard, it doesn't matter what your personal wishes are—you have to participate in the Phantom Sentinel selection and undergo special training at the Aegis Institute of Advanced Combat."
Ethan froze, his brows furrowing. "Didn't they used to respect personal choice? Students who weren't physically fit could still apply to other universities."
Samantha sighed softly as she continued treating his wounds. "It's different now. The Phantom Sentinel missions are getting more dangerous, and the Federation needs more soldiers. People like me are definitely going to be forced into the Aegis Operations Division selection test."
Ethan was speechless. He knew that the entrance exam for the Aegis Institute of Advanced Combat was every senior student's nightmare. Everyone had to take it, and he wasn't sure if he should go through with it himself.
He remembered the small device Samantha had shown him the other day. That simple detector had almost gone off like crazy.
The testing equipment they'd use for the selection would definitely be even more advanced.
He could already picture himself stepping into the testing grounds, the machine immediately blaring alarms, and then dozens of Phantom Sentinels raising their guns at him, unloading hundreds of rounds in just two seconds.
Just thinking about it made his heart race.
He touched his forehead, where there was a chip embedded. It looked ordinary, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it would trigger something bad.
He knew too little about the world inside the Dark Portal, and Uncle Ben never shared much about it.
Ethan started to wonder if this unreliable "chip" might end up pushing him toward the side of the Anomalous Creatures.
"That detector you gave me last time... how does it work, exactly?" he asked cautiously, trying to get more information from Samantha. "Can it be used to fight Anomalous Creatures?"
Samantha chuckled, clearly not thinking much of the question. "That's just a basic detector. It can't fight Anomalous Creatures. Its only function is to detect the presence of Anomalous Creatures and Metahumans."
"Uncle Ben didn't tell you? If a regular person encounters an Anomalous Creature, the best thing they can do is run. If they can't run, they should at least pull out their phone and make an emergency call before they die."
"Metahumans?" Ethan caught onto the word immediately.
Samantha nodded but didn't seem inclined to explain further.
Ethan felt a growing sense of urgency. The two of them locked eyes for a moment, and the atmosphere became a little awkward.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Samantha asked, shifting uncomfortably and pulling back a bit.
"Nothing." Ethan's eyes darted around as he suddenly thought of something. "Uh... your family must have some basic information on Metahumans and Anomalous Creatures, right? Could you lend it to me?"
Samantha gave him a suspicious look. "You've never been interested in this stuff before. Weren't you planning to apply to a regular university?"
Ethan didn't miss a beat. "People change. And like you said, this year we're all being forced to take the Aegis Operations Division selection test. What if I have some hidden talent? It wouldn't hurt to get a head start."
He paused, then flashed a mischievous grin. "Besides, I've recently had some inspiration. I'm thinking of writing a novel about Metahumans and Anomalous Creatures."
Samantha's eyes lit up instantly, clearly intrigued by the idea. "Tell me more!"
Ethan cleared his throat and began spinning his "story." "The protagonist is a scrawny kid named Jack. He's constantly bullied at school, but he always keeps a kind heart. One day, with the help of his cute deskmate, his gentle teacher, and his kind uncle, he gets selected by the Aegis Operations Division to join the Super Soldier Program."
"Through sheer willpower, Jack undergoes a transformation and receives an injection of super-soldier serum, becoming the mighty Captain Jack."
"But instead of sending him to the battlefield, the Aegis Operations Division keeps sending him to fancy parties, where he meets rich heiresses and high-society ladies..."
"Until one day, Anomalous Creatures invade the city, led by the powerful Red Skull, who's wielding a blue cosmic cube..."
Samantha stared at him, wide-eyed, before cutting him off. "Wait, isn't that just the plot of Captain America?"