章節 35: Wake Up! It's the first of the Month!!!

~Ezra's Pov~

"Urghh...'

I'm beginning to hate this entire process... It's the only time I get headaches too, which makes it even worse...

I sighed for a bit, 'ECHO? You there?'

[Affirmative master... I'm always here.]

That was good to know. Though, it seems the process went well...

Though, 'I feel oddly stronger than before...'

Gingerly, I pushed myself up a bit, allowing my body to readjust after a period of stasis—no dramatic changes in height, which is always a good sign. But when I caught my reflection in the nearby mirror, something gave me pause. My hair had changed again. The vibrant hue I'd grown accustomed to had vanished, replaced by a deeper, almost blood-like shade. No longer a blatant crimson, it now resembled dark red wine; both rich and intense...

Surprisingly and funnily enough, I found myself appreciating the change. This new color seemed to suit me better than the previous tomato red. My eyes, at least, remained constant. Beyond the alterations, my body appeared relatively unchanged.

'Bring up my statistic page please...' Maybe I got something new from all this.

[Of course, here are your stats...

Physical Age: 17 years / 12.39 Million years --> 9.11 Billion Years

Height: 6'3.5" / 6'11.3"

Weight: 410.81 kg --> 454.21 (Effectively 172.39 kg)

Physical Strength: Class-Y {High} --> Class-Y {High} / ♾

Striking Strength: Tier-5C {Low} --> Tier-5C {High}

Physicality: Tier-5C {High} --> Tier-5C {High} / ♾

Stamina: ♾

Perception/Reaction speeds: MFTL × 15,221.3 --> MFTL × 74,321.2 / ♾

Movement-Speed: MFTL × 13.2 --> MFTL 29.33 / ♾

Intelligence: Peak Genius / ♾

Proficiencies;

Supreme Tactile-Telekinesis: When in contact with an object, you can lift it 234.3 × more easily and strengthen your body just as much...

Zenith vision: The user can emit beams of pure energy, reaching temperatures between 4.21 Million - 12.4 Million degrees Celsius.

Supreme Super-Intellect: Allows the user to process, store, and comprehend information as well as sort data, and sequences 54.32 × greater than before.

Supreme Super Breath: The user can forcefully blow air enough to cause natural calamities.

Smart Atoms: Your atoms now have a mind of their own, and are now in a state of 'hyper-adaptation' to almost any harmful condition and stress, whether physical or psychological.

True Energy Absorption: Your physiology allows you to absorb all the 20 forms of energy passively...

Zenith Healing-Factor: You heal approximately 232.3 thousand times faster than a normal human, also granting you regeneration of all body parts that shouldn't be able to be healed, such as the brain.

Polymorphism: Allows you to change your physiology to whatever you wish...?]

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'No wonder that I can feel myself growing stronger...' Even now, I can feel my strength increasing and my abilities rising each second that passes by. This is nothing short of insane. Doesn't this mean that Viltrumites have energy-absorbing capabilities too? Or could it be two of the four samples that creature had?

Also... I can shapeshift now... But, I'd need to experiment with that bit later. I need to check something first... 'ECHO, how long did the whole thing take?' I was a bit curious.

[Around 2.2 weeks master... It's also the first of September as well.]

Damn, I've been out for two weeks? I thought the process would be less, but the fact I had four genetic samples at once must be why it took this long... Well, it isn't like I need to dilly-dally anymore. The other two genes I have will eventually reveal themselves.

And, I need to get washed up too...

Ahh, I feel much better getting all the muck off my body... I walked over and checked my alert system, seeing some places that had been targeted over the weeks, and crimes that had been stopped while I was gone...

After doing that, I decided to check on my phone, and to my surprise, it was Amber. She texted me a week back.

Not only that, she called me a few times, and I hadn't even spoken to her after the whole, ordeal we had. I felt like shit just ghosting her like that too, even if it was justifiable...

A.K.A, I felt like a complete jerk.

I didn't particularly have good excuses anymore either. I wasn't helping as much as I used to, most of my time has been spent just training myself. I felt like I've essentially lost myself... But, maybe I can make it up to her, she said she was going to a dance tonight.

Not only that, I haven't even been attending parties much, or ever since I'm not that kind of person, but I feel like she deserves better than me just ghosting her so suddenly. This also made me realize that this girl probably liked me more than I had ever fancied her...

[Master... I have an inkling of what you're thinking...]

ECHO will likely tell me I shouldn't. Maybe I should listen to her advice

[...And, I think you should go along with it.]

'Yeah, I won't... Wait... What?'

[You heard me, Ezra. You've been pushing yourself so hard lately, and it's clear you're losing touch with who you are outside of all this. Maybe spending time with her will help you reconnect, even if just a little.]

I blinked, a bit surprised by ECHO's response. She wasn't usually the sentimental type, definitely not. It's scaring me a bit...

'You think it's a good idea? I mean, after everything that's happened?'

[Yes, I do. It's not just about her; it's about you too. You need your balance, and ignoring one of the only people who genuinely cares about you, isn't the way to find it. However, not that I saying you should get back together, that would be foolish...]

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Maybe ECHO was right. I've been so focused on my mission, on getting stronger, that I've let everything else slip. Amber had always been patient with me, more than I probably deserved. Maybe going to that dance, just being there, could be a step towards making things right.

'Alright, I'll go. But only because you suggested it.'

[Sure... Good choice, Master. Now, let's find you something suitable to wear.]

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. Even in the middle of all this, ECHO managed to keep me on track, in more ways than one. Maybe this night wouldn't be so bad after all. Luckily she texted me where and when, I had only an hour or so to get everything ready; and I didn't have any suits in particular either...

...

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~Amber's Pov~

...

The music pulsed through the gym, lights flashing in sync with the beat as people danced and laughed, their voices blending into a single, vibrant hum. But I was only half there, my thoughts drifting away from the celebration around me. I checked my phone again, hoping to see a message or a missed call. But... Nothing.

I tried not to let it bother me. Since this was supposed to be fun, a night to forget everything and just enjoy myself. But as I watched everyone around me, couples dancing close, and friends laughing together, I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. I had come here hoping for a distraction, but all I could think about was him.

Ezra.

It wasn't like I expected him to show up, especially after everything that had happened. We hadn't talked in weeks, not since… well, not since things got complicated. I knew he was likely going through something, something big, again. But, that didn't make the silence any easier to deal with.

I sighed and took a sip of my drink, trying to focus on the music, and on the people around me. But it was no use. My thoughts kept drifting back to Ezra, wondering where he was, and what he was doing. If he was okay.

I almost didn't notice when someone walked up beside me. I turned, and my heart skipped a beat.

It was him! He looked, different again...

In fact, he looked a little out of place in the crowd, his usual confidence a bit subdued. He wasn't dressed for the occasion, but he still looked… well, like Ezra. And somehow, despite everything, he still looked incredibly handsome. His presence was commanding attention, and I wasn't the only one who noticed.

People around us were glancing his way, some with curiosity, others with admiration, but they quickly looked away when they saw him looking in their direction. My chest tightened at the sight of him, a mix of relief and something else I couldn't quite name.

"Ezra… you came!" Soon I realized that my voice was barely above a whisper.

He gave me a small, almost sheepish smile. "Yeah. I figured it was about time I stopped hiding."

I wanted to be mad at him, to demand an explanation for why he had disappeared on me, why he had shut me out. But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there—regret, maybe even guilt—and the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I just nodded, keeping my emotions in check.

"I'm... I'm glad you did," I finally managed to say. "I wasn't sure if you would."

He looked down at the floor as if he was trying to find the right words. "I know I've been, distant. It's just… I've had a lot on my plate. But that's not an excuse. I should've been better. You didn't deserve to be treated like that..."

I wanted to tell him how much it hurt, how many times I had almost called him, just to hear his voice. But I also knew he likely wasn't the type to open up easily, and pushing him too hard might just make things worse. So, instead, I reached out and gently took his hand, squeezing it lightly.

"I get it," I said softly. "But I'm here if you want to talk. Or… if you just want to be here, that's okay too."

He looked at our hands, then back at me, and for a moment, I thought he might actually open up. But then he just nodded, a small, grateful smile on his face.

"Thanks, Amber," he said quietly. "That means a lot."

We stood there for a moment, just holding hands, the noise and lights of the gym fading into the background. For the first time in weeks, I felt like maybe, just maybe, things could get. better...

And for now, that was more than enough for me.

...

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~Unknown Pov~

"Why did I even come to this party?" Barbara Gordon muttered under her breath, her dark hair falling over her face as she stared down at the drink in her hand. She took another sip, grimacing at the taste before setting it down with a sigh. 'It even tastes like crap,' she thought, her frustration deepening.

Zatanna, standing beside her, glanced over with a mix of concern and resignation. "Sometimes I wonder the same, Barb. I'm sorry for dragging you into all of this," Zatanna said, her voice tinged with guilt.

Barbara shook her head slightly, feeling the weight of everything that had happened. "No, Zee, you don't have to apologize. I'm the one who screwed up."

Zatanna's eyes softened as she looked at her friend. "Unfortunately, someone has to be there for you. Especially after that little stunt, you pulled."

Barbara winced at the reminder. "Yeah, well… I wasn't thinking straight. It just happened ya' know, and now… now everything's a mess."

Zatanna sighed, knowing all too well what Barbara was talking about. "You and Dick… I never would've thought…"

"Me neither," Barbara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It just… I don't know, Zee. It wasn't supposed to happen, but it did, and now I've hurt people I care about."

Zatanna's expression turned serious. "You've got to be careful, Babs. Not just for yourself, but for everyone else, too. Starfire… she doesn't deserve this."

Barbara nodded, guilt gnawing at her insides. "I know. And now… now I don't know how to fix it. Dick and I, we both made a mistake and Starfire… She deserves better than this."

Zatanna placed a hand on Barbara's shoulder, offering what comfort she could. "You're not alone in this, Barbara. We all make mistakes, but it's how we deal with them that matters. You've got to figure out what you want and what's right, not just for you, but for everyone involved."

Barbara looked down at her hands, the weight of Zatanna's words pressing on her. "I know," she said quietly. "But it's hard to know what the right thing is when everything feels so wrong."

Zatanna squeezed her shoulder gently. "Whatever you decide, Babs, I'm here for you. We'll figure it out togethe-"

Barbara managed a small, sad smile. "Thanks, Zee. I don't deserve a friend like you..." However, that response never came... Barbara turned and looked up, seeing that Zatana was lost in something.

Instead, she followed where Zatana was looking, and when she had. She could see why.

He had just walked into the room, and instantly, the atmosphere seemed to shift. He looked very attractive, dressed in a way that was both casual with a touch of elegance, yet there was an edge to him that made him stand out even more...

And it wasn't just Barbara and Zatanna who noticed. It was practically everyone in the room that was glaring at him, some with admiration, others with a touch of envy.

For a single moment, Barbara forgot about the turmoil in her own life, caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of someone who could easily become the center of attention wherever he went.

She exchanged a quick glance with Zatanna, who was still looking at the man who also had someone by his side, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read something deeper beneath the surface.

"Who is he..." Barbara whispered, more to herself than to Zatanna.

Zatanna finally broke her gaze and looked back at Barbara. "I'm not sure," she admitted, her voice tinged with concern. "But something tells me tonight just got a lot more interesting…"