After drinking the ice-cold cola, Zion felt his strength slowly returning. He took a deep breath, his mind gradually calming down.
"What is this? Superpowers like in movies and novels? Or has this world mutated for some reason? Some people turned into zombies, others gained superpowers? Wait! Now isn't the time for wild thoughts. The most urgent thing is to fill my stomach."
Realizing the priority was to replenish his energy, Zion focused again and summoned some ice water, drinking it down.
"Oh! I feel alive again," he sighed, the cool water bringing a bit of relief.
"Next, I should see if I can summon food. While water is essential for survival, if all I can summon is water, this power is pretty useless. Am I supposed to drown those flesh-eating monsters with cola?" Zion grumbled. Concentrating again, he pictured a Whopper in his mind.
"Alright, let's try! Whopper!" he mentally commanded, feeling the familiar sensation of his energy being drained. This time, the effort was significantly more exhausting than summoning cola and water.
Suddenly, a steaming Whopper appeared in his hand. Zion stared at the burger, barely believing his eyes. He carefully picked it up and took a bite. The familiar taste flooded his mouth: the sweet and spicy flavor of the onions, the savory meat patty, the soft bun, and the blend of condiments brought him a long-lost sense of satisfaction.
"Oh, this taste... it's amazing." Zion closed his eyes, savoring each bite, feeling as if he was transported back to more peaceful times. Each bite nourished his body and soul, and he could feel his strength gradually returning.
"If this continues, I might actually survive." Zion felt a flicker of hope.
After finishing the burger, Zion felt considerably stronger. He decided to try standing up and see if there was anything else useful in the room. Struggling, he managed to stand by holding onto the wall and slowly made his way to a storage cabinet. Opening it, he found some disposable plates. Carefully taking out the plates, he shuffled over to the coffee table and grabbed a water jug.
"Next, let's try ice coffee and an Italian sausage pizza." Holding the plates and the water jug, he returned to his spot, focused, and summoned again.
First, he attempted to summon ice coffee directly into the jug, and it worked. The cold liquid with a faint coffee aroma instantly refreshed him. He could taste the interplay of bitterness and sweetness, making him feel more alert.
"Hmm, this tastes really good," Zion said, satisfied, taking a big gulp of the ice coffee, feeling more revitalized.
Next, he summoned an Italian sausage pizza. The smell of the pizza filled the air, making his mouth water. He decided to add some extra cheese to the pizza. Concentrating, he imagined more cheese covering the pizza, and sure enough, a thick layer of cheese appeared on it.
"So, I can combine things like this," Zion remarked. He realized that as long as he had tasted the food before, he could summon it and even combine it in different ways.
Slowly eating the pizza, Zion felt his strength continuing to return. His mood also improved, and he began considering more possibilities.
Zion remembered hearing a classmate talk about buttered lobster, a delicacy he had never tried but had always wanted to.
"Let's try buttered lobster." He concentrated, picturing the buttered lobster as described by his classmate. However, nothing happened. Undeterred, he tried again but only managed to summon a large lump of butter.
"I guess I can't summon what I haven't eaten," Zion sighed, looking at the chunk of butter. "Maybe this stuff will be valuable in this world too?" He thought wistfully about the buttered lobster, resolving to try it if he ever got the chance so he could summon it whenever he wanted.
To confirm his theory, Zion decided to run more experiments. "Fried chicken, cola, pizza," he commanded. Each time, the food appeared successfully, boosting his confidence. However, he also noticed that each summoning drained his energy significantly.
"Let's see if I can summon something for self-defense." Concentrating, he tried to summon a dagger. No matter how hard he focused, his hand remained empty.
"Looks like I can't summon weapons either," Zion sighed in disappointment.
He then remembered the orphanage caretaker's promise from a few months ago to take them for Korean barbecue for Christmas. Trying to summon Korean barbecue also failed.
Thinking about the caretaker's kindness and his classmates, Zion felt a pang of sadness, unsure if they were alive or dead. The thought weighed heavily on his heart.
Zion slowly sat down, feeling a wave of dizziness. He tried to sort through the memories in his mind, but the merging of his own memories with those of this body's original owner left him feeling confused and uneasy.
"These memories... some are mine, some are not. What are these images?" Zion rubbed his temples in pain, trying to ease the headache. The fusion of memories caused not only physical pain but also deep psychological discomfort.
"I am Zion, but I am also him. We are now one." He murmured to himself, realizing that he had inherited not only this body but also its original owner's memories and emotions. This intertwining of consciousnesses was difficult to accept.
"It seems my ability does have this limitation." Despite feeling a bit disappointed, he felt a sense of relief knowing he wouldn't starve. He decided to continue exploring his power, finding more ways to use it to ensure his survival.
"Now, I need to rest and fully recover my strength before making any plans." Zion leaned against the wall, closing his eyes as a wave of fatigue washed over him. He knew there were many challenges ahead, but for now, he didn't feel hopeless.
Reflecting on the disappointment of not being able to summon buttered lobster, Zion resolved to find a way to try it someday so he could summon it whenever he wanted. With a sense of hope and determination, he drifted into a deep sleep.