-RAAANNG!!!
Ronan shot open his eyes as a searing pain shot through his brain as if someone were passing a burning pike through it.
"GRMM!!"
He groaned, rolling over and trying his best to get up but to no avail.
'What's happening to me?'
He asked himself, the circuit lines stretching up his neck.
However, as if to answer him, a screen appeared before him.
[You have been injected with the Technobane.]
[You will die in 3 minutes and 32 seconds]
Ronan's expression didn't change, primarily because the pain overpowered his surprise.
However, he noticed something.
The pain was significantly lesser than before.
Additionally, he could move now.
No, that wasn't right.
The pain was the same, but he was…enduring it better.
He didn't know the exact reason, but he was sure it had something to do with what he was feeling.
This newfound…sense.
He could sense the Technobane in his body, coursing through his veins at an alarming speed.
He could feel the effect it was having on his body, leaving a trail of its essence as it was soaked into Ronan's very bones like poison.
And in the next second, Ronan didn't mean to do what he did.
Or maybe he did.
He didn't understand if it was a subconscious act or a fluke.
However, in the next second, with the mere thought of opposing the Technobane, he witnessed it seemingly…halt.
It was no longer spreading, instead paused like a car at a red light.
And without wasting a second to gawk at this, Ronan naturally continued, his mind replicating a pushing motion as the Bane slowly retracted, retracing its steps as if it were in rewind.
This kept going, the circuit lines also scurrying back from Ronan's neck, following in the path it came till it lay in an intricate pattern around the boy's wound, also where the bane now stayed.
And with this…
-THUD
"Huff…huff…huff…"
Ronan lay on his back, breathing heavily, his arms and legs spread with his clothes torn, the cloudiness in his mind dissipating as he returned to normal.
Well, almost normal.
He perked his head up as he stared at the long burn mark across his body, starting from the left hip and stopping on the right side of his jaw.
The wound itself was nothing too serious which led Ronan to believe its sole purpose was burning the bane into his body.
Yet, it still scarred.
Additionally, circuit lines that hummed with a swampy green colour branched out from it, all while his skin now fashioned a sickly pale texture.
Ronan didn't say anything, only taking this time to bask in the feeling of release after that torture.
Not even when he read the screen before him.
[You will die in 2 weeks and 3 days]
'It seems I've just prolonged the inevitable…but how exactly did I…'
Ronan's thoughts were cut off by a screen that suddenly appeared before him as if to answer his question.
[Name: Ronan Hale-Zara
Race: Human
Renewal: Vincent Von Doom (Dr Doom)
Status: Sick (Infected with the Technobane)
Fables: N/A
Perks:
Psionics (Mastery: 1.2%)
The ability to influence one's own thoughts and the thoughts of others, shaping perceptions and realities through sheer mental strength.
Sub-abilities under this perk include:
Technopathy (Mastery: 0.9%)
The Ability to understand and control the minds of Technology.
Arts: N/A
Stats (Human):
Strength: D
Agility: C-
Endurance: F
Charm (Zara): D-
National Treasures: N/A]
Ronan stared at this screen before him, not sure what to focus on first.
He took a deep breath as he narrowed his eyes to focus.
However, one looming thought overpowered the rest.
'It's true, isn't it? I'm…an Inheritor.'
Ronan didn't know if he was lucky he awakened when he needed it most or simply had the world against him.
If he'd awakened at the same time as the rest of his peers, all this might've been avoided.
Despite this thought, he decided to put these thoughts aside for now as he focused on the screen before him.
He decided to tackle the simple things first.
Stats.
This was straightforward to Ronan.
He understood his Endurance was unnaturally low probably due to his illness, but he failed to identify what exactly Charm could be.
Looks? Personality? Or was it some sort of ability?
He steered to the first, seeing as his eyes were the only thing that even remotely stood out about him, explaining the D-.
But the stats overall were seemingly put in the category of a human.
Did that mean a perfect Speed stat would only be equivalent to the fastest human?
'Most likely. Meaning the most I can hope to achieve with these stats is an Olympic Level body.'
He didn't know how he felt about this.
Normally, he'd be satisfied with such a fact, however, after today, he doubted even the best human speed could help him dodge a laser.
Not to mention whatever else the world of Inheritors had in store.
Moving on from it, Ronan stared at his Perk.
A Perk.
Even Ronan knew it to be an ability passed down from Legend to Inheritor.
His first seemed to be Psyionics, and he was almost positive it was the Technopathy that was what allowed him to control the Technobane and dull it.
Furthermore, this "Mastery of one's mind" would explain why Ronan was so focused and clear while suppressing the Technobane.
It was like he could turn off his pain receptors for a little bit.
Even now, he felt his mind was faster and was processing everything much easier than his previous self.
Though not by much, he felt like a portion of his brain was replaced with that of a computer.
In addition to this, Ronan had one thought.
'If mastered, wouldn't this be extremely powerful?'
Granted, his mastery was laughably low at the moment, but when improved, wouldn't the ability to tamper with someone's mind as you pleased be overpowered?
And if something like Technopathy was possible, where one could control Technology, there might be dozens of possibilities Ronan wasn't yet privy to.
He didn't know how he'd do it, but he definitely wanted to learn more about this.
Moving on, Ronan ignored the sections that were simply labelled N/A, as they weren't his main concerns at the moment, and instead, had two questions.
Firstly…
'Who the hell is Hale-Zara?'
Ronan didn't know his second name, or even that he had one. He'd naturally taken the Granger name after he was adopted.
He was simply left in an orphanage with a note that had his first name and nothing more.
The caretakers simply assumed he was the mistake of a one-night stand, something that happened more than one would expect.
'However, this…system seems to know more about me than I do myself.'
Considering one of his stats was named after him and the reason for Alexander coming after him, he could only assume there was more to his family name he didn't know.
Lastly…
'Who is Doctor Doom?'
Ronan asked himself.
Vincent Von Doom, Doctor Doom.
It didn't ring a bell, even to Ronan who took pleasure in researching all things Inheritors.
Additionally, Ronan stared at the term being used to describe his legend.
'Renewal. Shouldn't it say "Legend" there? I've never heard of it. Same with Fables.'
There were too many questions, however, Ronan did know one thing.
'If I'm an Inheritor now, it means I'll be entering my Scenario soon.'
Ronan remembered the new inheritors were supposed to enter their scenario soon, in fact, any minute now.
Therefore, he didn't have much time.
Struggling to rise to his feet, a few groans escaped Ronan's lips as he looked around.
It was still dark, the natural light of the moon being the only thing that dimly lit the surroundings.
It was because of this that Ronan could see.
He could see Alexander lying on the ground, his head blown off his shoulders.
Despite this sight, he didn't need to ask any questions.
He barely remembered what happened after he was hit with the laser, however, he knew he had done that.
'He said he came across the information to come after me a few hours ago.'
'Considering he was the only one to come after me, I guess I shouldn't have to worry about others for a while.'
Ideally, whatever Alexander knew died with him.
This both relieved him and left him clueless.
Why exactly was Alexander after him?
The man mentioned something about a relative of Ronan's, but that did little to help.
After all, before today, he didn't think he had any.
Kneeling over, Ronan searched the man.
The search ended quickly as he found only two items.
A phone and a crescent moon necklace with a purple centre.
He didn't know what the latter was, nor did he have time to investigate as he simply stuffed it in his pocket.
As for the phone…
-BZRR
Ronan watched its screen glitch as if it were dropped in a bucket of water.
'I see, so that's what he meant. To be truly isolated.'
Not only would he be kidnapped or possibly on the run, but he wouldn't be able to call for help or have any connection to the outside world.
All technology he touched, or even neared for that matter, resulted like this phone.
'This…is troubling.'
He didn't know whether to curse Alexander or laugh at the irony of being a Technopath yet having technology allergic to him.
He could feel his body had a slight resistance to any technology at the level of a phone or better.
However, he doubted it would have the same effect with transportation and such since something so extreme would only be disadvantageous for Alexander himself.
Nevertheless, for now, he put it aside.
It wasn't like he had anyone to call anyway.
'I don't have much longer left.'
Taking the trench coat for warmth while he was under, Ronan walked to a nearby tree with a stern expression, contrary to his usual blank self.
He was ready.
He didn't know if it was the fact that he had less than a month to live, or the fact he was now an Inheritor, but for some reason, he felt a fire lit inside him.
Ambition, Determination. He didn't know what it was.
But things were no longer the same.
Before, he always made sure to keep his goals and future "Realistic".
School, Business then Money.
To him, it didn't make sense to take unnecessary risks or make the mistake of being too greedy.
But now, that wasn't the case.
He wanted it all.
Wealth, Fame, Power.
The one man to rule them all.
It was only on the verge of death that he realised.
'I will be the best.'
[Would you like to enter your First Scenario]
Just as he thought this, a screen appeared before him, to which he raised his eyebrow.
'What is this? I get to choose? Is that normal?'
But no matter how long he thought about it, it didn't make sense.
There were countless reports of Inheritors falling into inevitable comas as their scenarios started.
He was positive it wasn't a choice.
Yet the screen before him said otherwise.
'More questions. But this doesn't change anything.'
No, Ronan was still in his same mind space.
After tonight, anything was possible.
"Yes, I accept."
[Initializing First Scenario!]
And with this, Ronan felt himself losing consciousness, his mind fogging and his eyelids closing shut until he was completely gone.
***
'Where am I?'
Ronan found himself in an endless black void, floating in nothingness as his bright green eyes were the closest thing to a light source.
However, before he could ask any further, he was interrupted.
[Initialising Scenario…]
[Scenario Condition: All Inheritors in the same Territory will receive the same quest in the same world and timeline]
'What? Territory? Does it mean country?'
Ronan paused as the realization dawned on him.
'I'm taking my Scenario with the same people I was watching on the TV earlier?'
Before he could answer this question…
[Quest: Eradicate all Mutantkind]
'Huh…'
And just like that, Ronan tried his best to cling to his consciousness as he felt everything proceeding too quickly.
But to no avail, and soon, the last thing he was able to see was one last message, as if to wave him off.
[You will now enter your Scenario]