When I finally came to, I realized my entire body was emitting an intense blue-white glow—bright enough to appear pure white to everyone. I felt different, almost weightless, like I was made of energy itself.
A familiar ding echoed in my mind, and Angela's holographic face appeared on the screen, eyes wide in awe.
"Wow, Michael! Your body has fully evolved," she said, excitement lacing her voice. "You're nearly a being of pure energy now. Your willpower and original bloodline have created a biological shell to contain your energy body. It's… astonishing. This body of yours has no limits, thanks to the fusion of your soul with the Tree of Life, allowing your energy body to be tied to your essence. The biological shell around it can be remade if damaged, but it would be incredibly difficult to harm you now. Your durability is… well, beyond any known measure."
Her words sank in, filling me with both wonder and a bit of fear. I had become something beyond human, a being whose energy and will were as strong as the sun itself. And yet, despite this power, I felt grounded. I thought of my family, waiting back at Grandma's, completely unaware of the transformation I'd just undergone.
Once I refocused, I concentrated on dimming the glow radiating from my body. The light faded, revealing my new form, a body that felt like the ideal balance of strength and agility, with perfectly defined muscles and proportions, especially my third leg, I'm so well hung now that it looks like a python. I couldn't help but admire the transformation, marveling at the sheer power I could feel coursing beneath my skin.
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a soft voice interrupting, "Um… maybe you should get dressed?" I looked over to see a blushing Angela, her hands covering her eyes, though she had left a slight gap between her fingers, sneaking a peek. Amused, I quickly summoned clothes using my creation ability, a skill I'd perfected for situations just like this. I didn't need questions from my mom about why I was suddenly dressed in something different.
Once I was ready, I teleported back near the burned house. An hour had somehow slipped by, and without thinking, I took a step forward, and suddenly found myself nearly at Grandma's front yard in less than a blink of an eye. My speed had reached levels I hadn't anticipated, catching me off guard. I took a moment to shake off the surprise, closing my eyes to steady myself and trying to get a better feel for the energy coursing through me. After a few breaths, I reopened my eyes, now more in control, and continued the rest of the way to the house at a normal pace, grounding myself with each step.
As I approached, I spotted my mother waiting by the doorway, arms crossed, her frown a clear indication that I hadn't exactly gone unnoticed. "You're thirty minutes late," she scolded. "Next time, call if you're going to be late! You had us worried."
I nodded, giving a sincere apology to both my mom and grandma. Grandma, ever the peacemaker, decided to shift the mood. "How about a game of BINGO?" she suggested with a warm smile. I eagerly agreed, and before long, the entire family was gathered around the table, caught up in a flurry of giggles, friendly competition, and laughter. The house felt alive, filled with a joy that reminded me exactly why I valued these moments more than anything else.
On Sunday, everything felt normal and happy. During our vacation, we traveled to many places, and Mom took us to the schools she attended, elementary, junior high, and high school.
On Monday, we visited the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, where we took lots of pictures. Jenny even had the chance to pet some animals, like penguins, which made her incredibly excited.
On Tuesday, we explored the Museum at Prairiefire, marveling at the impressive Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on display. The museum's colorful design was a fantastic backdrop for photos, and Jenny was delighted with everything she saw. When we got back, she begged me to push her on the tire swing hanging from a large oak tree, and I was happy to oblige. We enjoyed every moment, laughing and forgetting about anything outside of our little world.
After dinner, I went to my room, my thoughts drifting to tomorrow's date, March 29th, the day of the total eclipse. This wasn't an ordinary eclipse; no one would understand why it was happening. It would last for only a few minutes, but in that brief time, the Apocalypse System would activate, and the global temperature would begin to plummet. This relentless cold would only stop when the portals started appearing.
I knew this was unavoidable, which is why I'd prepared. I'd gathered as much strength as I could, and I'd already eliminated those twisted, malicious people, the ones I remembered as the Ten Apostles of the Apocalypse. In my past life, they were responsible for millions of deaths, spreading terror even among the heroes. Only a fraction of the hundred thousand heroes survived, around twenty-five thousand, and I'd personally slain half of the Apostles. But one, the one with the Tree of Life, had been impossible to kill. We had to separate him into a million pieces, seal each in a talisman-protected bottle, and bury them all across the world.
But now, with their powers under my control, I'm determined to use them to protect humanity, especially my family and friends. This time, I won't let the abyssal creatures, a plague across the multiverse, destroy everything we hold dear.
As the first light crept over the horizon, I was already up, feeling a renewed sense of drive and purpose. By 4 a.m., I had thrown myself into my routine with relentless focus: 1,000 pushups, squats, sit-ups, crunches, and pull-ups. Each movement felt crisp, every muscle firing with controlled intensity. But even as I pushed my body to what would have been any normal person's absolute limit, I barely felt the strain. It was like I was a bottomless well of energy, endlessly refilling.
The power was exhilarating, intoxicating, even. But the ease of it all was a little disconcerting. I didn't want to grow complacent. If this strength was mine to wield, I'd have to keep challenging it, pushing boundaries. Maybe I should start training with weights closer to a ton or more, see where that takes me. Yeah… I'll definitely need to explore that idea further.
Afterward, I took a long, hot shower, letting the water soothe my muscles. But my mind was still restless, so I sat down to meditate, closing my eyes and focusing on calming the power within me. Now that I had this ability to draw strength from the sun, it felt as though energy was constantly surging through me, challenging me to keep it in check. The endless flow of power was overwhelming at times, and maintaining control demanded my full attention. That's why I meditated every day, dedicating hours to grounding myself.
But this peaceful morning wouldn't last long. Suddenly, I felt a strange darkness creep into the room, so I looked out the window. Just as I'd known it would, the eclipse had begun. The entire world was bathed in shadows, casting an eerie glow. Glancing at the clock, I confirmed the time, 9 a.m. exactly. Then, a deep, resonant chime echoed through the air, followed by another, louder and more foreboding than any sound I'd ever heard. A blood-red screen with dark, pulsating borders appeared, ominously floating in front of me.
The screen's sinister glow made it clear, this was the moment I'd been waiting for, the dreaded beginning of the Apocalypse System. The words on the screen began to form, but I barely glanced at them, knowing exactly what they would say. Instead, I focused on the sudden flurry of movement and the sound of footsteps as my family, my mother, grandmother, and little sister, rushed to see what was happening.
I opened my door and called them into my room. "Come in, it's okay," I said calmly. They entered with wide, anxious eyes, my mother's expression tense with worry. I could feel their fear, so I took a deep breath, maintaining a calm demeanor. "Don't worry," I told them softly, my voice soothing. "Just let this play out." My calm seemed to surprise them, but gradually, they started to relax. We turned our attention to the black letters that appeared on the screen.
The text was a jarring contrast to Angela's usual interface, which was always modern and calming with light blue, glowing borders and clear, futuristic lettering. This display was different, a sickening combination of dark red borders and a horror-themed font that seemed to drip with malice. The message read:
"To all pathetic humans who live on this planet, your time is up. Another civilization has decided to plunder your world for its resources. They are conquerors and destroyers, treating weaker civilizations as nothing more than food. Only the strongest humans might rise above the rank of fodder and possibly attain a higher position if they prove themselves. Here is your opportunity, your only chance. Survive and show resilience, fight and display strength. The more power you exhibit, the better your chances of becoming an officer of the ABYSS! Remember: when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. They are searching for loyal officers and only those that meet the criteria. You have Exactly seven days to prepare yourselves. Prove that you are more than mere insects worthy only of extermination."
The screen vanished, leaving only the lingering red glow. I knew it would reappear only when monsters and mutants were slain, activating a system that would grant us skills and insignificant power for the twisted amusement of the twelve demon kings. They intended to stretch humanity's suffering, dragging out our demise.
Turning to my family, I saw the worry etched on their faces. Their anxiety weighed heavily on me, so I made a decision. I couldn't tell them everything for their protection, but I could give them some insight. I'd tell them I'd seen the future, gained through some kind of "lucky encounter," so I could warn them about what lay ahead without revealing my true nature.
Taking a steadying breath, I addressed them, my voice steady and serious. "Please, all of you, sit down. I need to tell you a story, a horrifying story. Mom, Jenny, you both remember how strange I was acting Thursday morning when I hugged you so tightly, right?"
They both nodded, their eyes fixed on me, uncertain but attentive.
"Well, that night, I had a dream, no, more than a dream. It was vivid, real, as if I was living through a nightmare. I saw the same scene that just happened, but in that life, I wasn't prepared. I didn't know what was coming, and neither did anyone else. Over the next few days, temperatures began to drop. Mom, you reassured everyone nothing was wrong, and we returned to Pennsylvania."
I paused, my voice low and serious. "When we finally got home, we noticed the temperature had dropped sharply, down to 2 degrees Celsius. Later, we found out from the news that it had been falling ever since the apocalypse system was unveiled. But that wasn't all. Three days later, massive red portals appeared across the world, each one towering over twenty feet high and spewing a thick, poisonous red gas. People closest to these portals were the first to die, millions, tens of millions. And those who somehow survived the gas... they transformed. Twisted into grotesque, nine-foot monsters, they became barely recognizable, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh."
I looked at them, the shock and fear stark on their faces. But I had to continue.
"We were safe at home, far from the nearest portal in Philadelphia. But Kansas City received a portal, and… we lost contact with Grandma. Mom, you tried for weeks to reach her, but we never found her. The army and UN forces eventually counterattacked, wiping out most of the mutated creatures after a brutal two-week battle. We thought it was over." I swallowed, the memory of that other life burning within me. "But exactly one month after the first portals appeared, they reopened, this time towering forty feet high. What stepped out was far worse, monstrous huge beasts covered in scales, with jaws full of razor-sharp teeth and claws that sliced through tanks like they were nothing more than tissue paper. These creatures were nightmares brought to life. An unstoppable force that made the first wave seem like a mere prelude to the horror."
I told them of the heroes who rose to fight, of the monsters in human skin who became the Ten Demon Disciples, and of the merging of our universe with another. I described the sacrifices, the horrors, and how I'd fought to the very end, giving my life to kill the General-class demons.
As I finished, tears glistened in their eyes, my family overwhelmed by the tragedy of my tale. Jenny clung to me, her small arms wrapping around me in a bear hug, refusing to let go. I held her close, finding comfort in her presence.
With a smile filled with all the love and sincerity I could muster, I said softly, "For you all, it was just one night. But for me, five long years passed since I'd last seen you. When I woke up and saw you again, even though I never truly left… I can't describe how grateful I was. It's like I was given a second chance to be with you, and I don't plan on wasting it."
took a deep breath and smiled at my family. "You all remember the heroes I told you about, right? The ones gaining powers from that ancient civilization that got wiped out because of the Abyss invasion?" They all nodded, eyes filled with curiosity, waiting to hear what I'd say next. I gave them a mischievous smile and added, "Well, would you like to see my powers? Thanks to my ability to see the future, I managed to secure the powers that were originally meant for me, and even snagged a few that were destined for the Abyss disciples. Let's go to the backyard. I've got something special to show you."
As we headed out, I caught my little sister's eyes gleaming with excitement. She practically bounced as she walked beside me. "Yes! Big Brother, show me your superpowers! Can you fly? Shoot lasers? Ooh, this is going to be so cool!" Her enthusiasm lit up the whole moment, a stark contrast to the anxiety that had almost consumed her moments ago. My mother looked at me, pride shining in her eyes, and said, "Well, let's go, honey! Watching you show off sounds a lot better than sitting around worrying. I couldn't be prouder of you, Michael. Even if it was just a glimpse of the future, you've done something remarkable." Grandma nodded beside her, adding, "Exactly right! Let's see what my grandson is capable of."
I led them to the backyard, pausing just briefly to close my eyes and concentrate. Using my psychic powers, I influenced our neighbors to ignore any sounds coming from our yard—just a bit of extra precaution. When I opened my eyes, my family was watching me with wide-eyed anticipation. Taking a deep breath, I slowly began to rise off the ground, then shot into the sky at incredible speed, leaving a trail of sonic booms in my wake. The air cracked as I broke the sound barrier repeatedly, but no one in the city noticed a thing.
After a few seconds, I flew back down to where they were standing, still hovering. I looked around and saw their expressions, my sister's eyes were practically sparkling. Then, without a word, I let my whole body radiate with a bluish-white glow, channeling my solar and light energy as I threw an energy blast straight into the sky. The blast was so intense, it cleared the clouds for miles, leaving the sky open in a way that stunned them all. Gasps echoed around me as they looked up, utterly amazed.
"Alright, guys," I said, laughing a bit. "I'm about to do something else, but I don't want you to worry. I've got it all under control, okay?" My sister nodded, her face brimming with anticipation. "Okay, Big Brother! I'm ready!" she said, practically vibrating with excitement. Mom and Grandma gave me nods of encouragement. With a grin, I used my telekinesis to gently lift them off the ground, encasing them in a protective energy sphere. Slowly, we rose higher and higher until we were flying close to Mach 1, the world zooming by below us.
As we soared, I looked over and saw their expressions, shocked, a bit scared, but thrilled. Little Jenny was practically shouting with joy, her voice bubbling over. "This is incredible! Look at how tiny everything is! We're flying!" Her excitement was contagious; even Mom and Grandma seemed caught up in the thrill. "This is the slowest I can manage for now," I told them, smiling. "If I went at my top speed, everything would look frozen in time. You wouldn't be able to enjoy the view."
We hovered twenty thousand feet up, hidden in the vast sky. I noticed a satellite tilting toward us, curious about the sudden activity, but I quickly took control and nudged it off-course. After a few minutes, I guided us back down to the backyard. As their feet touched the ground, Jenny started jumping around, beaming with joy. Seeing them so happy made everything worth it.