128 I CAN FLY
"Is there no one in lrose City who can match ?" Black Halo's voice rang out, the sound distorted by his silver-streaked dark mask as he posed before his fallen victims.
Then his vision flickered—a glyph flashing over Airbender's fallen body. He Identified.
Na: Core of Kinetics
Description: Grants the ability to generate and manipulate kinetic motion.
Dan realized now these Cores were treasures. They could empower him to levels unimaginable by most. A grin touched Dan's lips beneath the mask.
"This is perfect."
He reached out through the mining app's Vision Connect interface. Assimilate.
Airbender's core pulsed once and then dissolved into streams of light, drawn into Dan's living armor. He felt the core rge with his essence, like fire threading through his veins.
"Ahhh… this feels good."
Then the ssages appeared, glowing in his sight:
[Core of Kinetics successfully Assimilated]
[Skill Enhanced: Thunder Crush → Kinetic Surge]
[New Ability Unlocked: Limited Flight]
He froze. "Limited Flight…?"
A gust ford beneath his feet. His armor flexed. He rose several feet off the ground, hovering in the cold night air as the faint halo across his chest blazed to life.
"Hell, I can fly now."
That power wasn't available to Rank C tas. It was reserved for Rank A or B. At higher ranks humans have gained enough ta power to be able to defy gravity… and fly.
But it was well known that kinetic based tas could achieve limited fights even at Rank C… because their powers could help them achieve flight quicker than usual.
Dan's case was probably the latter.
After he absorbed the Core of Kinetics, he gained enough power over kinetic forces…helping him to float in the air…. Like flying.
He checked his stats again.
Na: Dan Dark
Strength Rank: B????ta Rank: C????Blood Rank: B
Strength: 568??|??Charm: 262??|??ta: 243??|??Command: 242??|??Blood: 881??|??Armor: 1004??|
"Finally, I've reached rank C in ta."
Dan returned to his apartnt to get so rest. He needed the breakthrough to Rank C to stabilize.
Tomorrow, the age of Black Halo begins.
-----
[The Office of Garius Zetheris]
The office reeked of smoke and tal polish. Light from the streets below slashed through the blinds, cutting across Garius Zetheris's desk where half a dozen holo-screens flickered with data and surveillance feeds.
"Boss, we tried to get Zairgid Aukouma but…" Dackerie's voice trembled.
Garius didn't look up from the screen. "What happened?"
"Zairgid brought help—a powerful hero. He defeated all three of them—Aura, Airbender, and Leviathan."
That made Garius look up. His chair creaked in response. "That's impossible. Those are among my strongest hero consultants."
Dackerie swallowed. "If I'm not mistaken, he's a new hero in town. Rank B or higher. He called himself Black Halo."
The na hung in the air like smoke.
"A Rank B… in lrose City? That is illegal," Garius muttered, his jaw tightening. "Zolan Aukouma is out of control. Bringing outsiders into our city… disrupting the balance of power."
He slamd his fist against the desk, scattering glass data-chips. "This is my bloody territory."
"Sir," Dackerie said carefully, "there's sothing else."
Garius's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"You asked
to check the other families. I found the Snows suspicious. They've resud their drone and android production line—even after losing their Fortress Myrone contracts."
Garius slamd the table again, harder. "I knew it. That bastard Quest Snow—he's selling us out. He's working with the Aukoumas behind our backs."
"What should we do now?" Dackerie asked, keeping his tone low.
Garius paced to the window, staring out at the skyline of lrose—its towers gleaming like teeth. "If I hadn't pushed so hard on the Aukoumas, I could've handled this quietly. But now… those other leeches will start circling over us, waiting for
to bleed."
"I don't think the Veyran family will betray us," Dackerie offered.
Garius shot him a glare. "Don't be na??ve. In front of money, there's no loyalty—only opportunity. And Valtor Veyran is the first to run when he has the chance."
Dackerie nodded silently.
Garius stood there for a long mont, his reflection distorted in the glass, before turning back. "Zolan's not the only one who can buy power. If he can bring a Rank B into lrose City…" His lips curled into a thin smile. "…then so can I."
-----
[GenSyn Basent HQ]
The lab's lights humd quietly, the sll of machine oil and coffee lingering in the air.
"I can't believe you made
take public transport for a week," Zairgid grumbled, tossing his backpack onto the counter.
"It's good exercise," Dorin said, scrolling through a tablet. "Keep this up and you might actually lose that future belly."
"That future will never happen
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