An ability is a supernatural power or skill that allows characters to perform extraordinary feats beyond the realm of normal human capabilities. These abilities are often rooted in the lore of the world, tied to its unique magic systems, divine intervention, technology, or the user's own innate potential.
Ability comes in different kinds which are ;
Elemental manipulation
Healing and restoration
Combat Enhancement
Reality Manipulation
Summoning and
Unique abilities
Kaine knew exactly what category his ability fell under, even though he couldn't remember how or when it started. His memory began at the age of five, which was an unusual occurrence in itself. He had no recollection of how he came to be or who his parents were, and all he had were the instincts of survival and the natural growth of his power, which he referred to as the Infinity Nexus.
The Infinity Nexus allowed Kaine to draw power from alternate versions of himself in parallel dimensions, temporarily borrowing their abilities. This was a complicated process that required immense concentration and focus. Kaine had to lock in on a specific version of himself from another parallel world, identify the ability he wanted to replicate, and focus on that before it could be used. However, this wasn't as simple as it sounded. Each time Kaine switched abilities, he had to repeat the process of concentration and focus, and the mental strain involved in doing so was immense.
At the core of Kaine's abilities was Zork energy, a type of universal energy required to activate any ability. Without Zork energy, an individual would be powerless and, in the worst case, left in a life-threatening state. Even though Kaine's ability seemed simple, it was far from it. The concentration required to switch between alternate selves and anchor their abilities to his own body demanded great precision. One wrong move could cause immense mental fatigue or even physical harm.
Kaine was limited by the amount of abilities he could anchor to his core. If he tried to anchor too many, he risked causing his body to break down or his brain to overload. At his current level, Kaine could only anchor lower-level, less complex abilities. These typically included combat enhancements—such as enhanced speed, strength, or reflexes—and elemental manipulation abilities, like controlling fire or wind. The process of switching and anchoring these abilities was taxing, especially with each iteration requiring focus and mental fortitude.
One of the more formidable aspects of Kaine's power was his ability to absorb another version of himself from different parallel dimensions. By doing so, Kaine would gain that version's abilities, experiences, skills, and even their traits permanently. This made him an incredibly versatile fighter and strategist, capable of adapting rapidly to various threats. However, this ability came with a significant downside.
When Kaine absorbed his alternate selves, it wasn't simply a matter of gaining power—it was a risk to his identity. If Kaine lacked the willpower or mental fortitude to control the absorbed version, he could lose his true sense of self, effectively becoming a fragmented version of himself. The more he absorbed, the harder it became to maintain his original identity, and the greater the risk of being overwhelmed by the absorbed selves.
The process of absorbing alternate versions of himself could be incredibly draining. Even without the risk of losing his identity, Kaine faced the challenge of mental overload. The more abilities he took on, the harder it became to distinguish his original personality from the absorbed ones. He could also lose himself in the memories, emotions, and thoughts of these other selves, which sometimes led to confusion or a crisis of identity. Kaine had to constantly balance the immense power he was gaining with his need to retain control over his mind and body.
The Infinity Nexus is a complex and dangerous ability that relies on Kaine's connection to alternate versions of himself across parallel dimensions. While it grants him an arsenal of abilities, it comes with the constant risk of mental strain, identity loss, and physical breakdown. In its weakest form, Kaine can only anchor basic abilities, but as he grows, so too does his power—at the cost of increasing risk to his mind and body. Kaine's journey is one of mastering not just his ability, but also the fine line between power and self-preservation.
Inside the military ship transporting new recruits and evacuees from Planet Velran, Kaine sat with his eyes closed, trying to regain the energy he'd spent switching abilities earlier. The toll on his mind had been considerable.
"It's quite unfortunate for Planet Velran..." A calm voice broke his reverie.
Kaine opened his eyes, looking at the source of the voice. It was a young man with short, curly black hair and honey-colored eyes that complemented his tanned skin. His demeanor and polished look suggested he came from a wealthy family.
"I'm Wayne Woods," the boy said with a light smile.
"I'm Kaine... Kaine Auron."
"Guess we're all heading to the same place, then. Are you joining the military, or are you one of the evacuees?"
Kaine frowned slightly but still answered. "I'm joining the military."
"Oh, then I'm joining too! I hope it'll be fun," Woods replied with a bored expression.
Kaine's eyes opened slightly in surprise. He glanced at Woods, who maintained a gentle smile. Finding no interest in the conversation, Kaine closed his eyes again. This boy, he thought, was courting death. Kaine suspected Woods was one of the evacuees who had lost his parents and had gone mad from the shock. Either way, it didn't concern Kaine. He just hoped the boy wouldn't die too quickly.
"Infinity Nexus," Kaine thought, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
---
"Huh... where am I?"
Kaine looked around, startled, only to find himself in a strange, barren world. The ground was cracked and dry, devoid of vegetation or water. The air was thick with an eerie stillness.
Bodies littered the ground, piled so high in some places that the earth beneath was barely visible. Strangely, Kaine felt no fear—only an unnatural calm. As he walked through the grotesque scene, he noticed one chilling detail: every corpse looked like him. Their ages and appearances varied, but they all bore his face.
After wandering for what felt like twenty minutes, he spotted a cliff in the distance and moved toward it. At the edge stood a man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He had long, spiky white hair and calm ruby-red eyes that glimmered faintly, exuding a commanding presence.
The man was clad in black armor inscribed with glowing crimson runes. Despite the desolation around him, he was casually eating an apple, the crunch echoing ominously in the deathly silence.
Kaine froze, his instincts screaming at him. This was no ordinary person—this was someone who wielded Infinity Nexus in its most powerful form.
Sitting cross-legged with one hand on his cheek, the man smirked and raised his free hand. Suddenly, billions of thin, glowing lines spread out from him, weaving through the battlefield like a vast, luminous web. Each line pulsed with ethereal power, illuminating the dark planet in an otherworldly glow.
"What is this?!" Kaine gasped, falling to the ground in shock. His heart pounded as he realized what the lines represented: abilities, strength, experiences, and knowledge from countless parallel dimensions. This man had anchored them all to his core. The weight of such power was incomprehensible.
The man glanced at Kaine and smiled, his ruby-red eyes holding a dangerous glint. Without a word, he clenched his fist, and the glowing lines hummed with overwhelming energy. The air itself seemed to tremble under the pressure.
Kaine's mind reeled. This power—it was Infinity Nexus at its most terrifying, a force capable of bending entire realities to its will.
---
"Ahhh!" Kaine jolted awake, his body tense and ready to activate his ability. He glanced around frantically, only to realize he was back on the ship. Wayne Woods was beside him, gently shaking his shoulder.
"You've been asleep for hours. Guess you were having a bad dream," Woods said with a chuckle.
Kaine's breathing slowed as reality settled back in. He couldn't remember the full details of the dream, but the unsettling sense of power and dread lingered.
"Why did you wake me?" Kaine asked, his voice sharp.
"Oh, we've arrived on Earth," Woods replied, his tone light.
Just as those words reached Kaine's ears, the ship shook lightly which indicated that they were landing and after, everyone got out to the docking station.
"So this is Earth," Kaine muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disbelief. It had been so long since he had dreamt of setting foot on this planet, and now that he was here, it didn't disappoint. His gaze swept across the landing area, but there wasn't much to see—just the cold, metallic expanse of the docking station. Perhaps I'll get a better view on the way to the base, he thought to himself.
"You look pretty excited, even if it's not written all over your face. Haven't you been to Earth before?" Woods appeared at his side, a light chuckle escaping his lips.
"Have you?" Kaine asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Who knows?" Woods replied with an enigmatic smile that only added to his mystery. Kaine decided it was best not to press further.
Just as Kaine began to grow impatient, a loud announcement broke through the hum of the station. The voice instructed the crowd to separate evacuees from the new military recruits. Afterward, the recruits were ushered to a sleek train station. The transport was clearly designed for military use, with its streamlined carriages and cutting-edge security systems.
The ride to the base was long and, for some, exhausting. Woods, who was still lingering by Kaine's side, wore a bored expression and seemed on the verge of dozing off. Kaine, however, was the opposite. For the first time, he got a full view of the city they were traveling through—and it left him in awe.
Towering skyscrapers reached far into the clouds, their exteriors shimmering with holographic displays and intricate light patterns. Massive billboards projected vivid advertisements, showcasing everything from futuristic gadgets to tantalizing cuisine. The city seemed alive, its pulse driven by the hum of high-speed vehicles and hovercraft zipping through multiple levels of traffic lanes.
Kaine noticed the seamless integration of technology and nature. Parks suspended mid-air by anti-gravity platforms dotted the cityscape, their lush greenery a stark contrast to the urban expanse. Streets were lined with bioluminescent trees, their leaves glowing faintly, illuminating the walkways below. Vibrant flowers, some of which Kaine had never seen before, cascaded from vertical gardens climbing the sides of buildings.
What caught his attention most was the sky itself. Unlike the polluted haze of his home planet, Earth's sky was clear, its vibrant blue stretching endlessly. Drones flew in elegant formations, their paths carefully choreographed to avoid collisions, while translucent solar panels floated above, capturing energy from the sun.
Back on his home planet, a single vibrant tree was a symbol of immense wealth or high social standing. Here, greenery wasn't just abundant—it was celebrated, incorporated into every aspect of life. The contrast left him speechless.
The journey took them through tunnels carved deep into the earth and even under the ocean. Through reinforced glass, Kaine glimpsed the aquatic world—schools of glowing fish darted through coral reefs, and massive underwater structures loomed in the distance, their purposes unknown.
After what felt like hours of traversing this incredible landscape, the train finally arrived at the military base.