In the beginning, the energy that flowed into Phobos was a small amount. However, he used that energy to improve his absorbing ability. Little by little more energy flowed inside his body and as it did he had more available energy to improve. Fast it became a positive feedback loop.

Eventually, the amount of energy he could absorb exceeded the amount he could use. Moreover, Phobos found his capacity for storing energy in his body was lacking. So he started improving it. But just as he started he got a better idea. He started a comprehensive improvement of his whole body. That included his energy capacity.

The only time Phobos had directly improved something in his body was at the beginning when he improved his muscle distribution. After all direct improvement was not as efficient as other methods however as there is an enormous amount of energy surrounding him he felt that he didn’t need to care about efficiency.

Starting from the skin and continuing with the muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and blood vessels. His improvement didn’t target any specific part. All his biological systems started improving. Integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.

Phobos was brute-forcing his improvement. He wasn’t paying specific attention to anything but applying an all-inclusive improvement. With so much energy to waste, he didn’t mind squandering a bit for a better end result. He didn’t know how long it took but when he stopped the girls were still sleeping next to him.

In reality, Phobos hadn’t improved that much. At most he doubled his performance in most things. If a person were to find one aspect of what Phobos had improved in himself on someone when things were normal it would be special but not that strange.

For example, Phobos at the moment could feel that his weight lifting capabilities were around two hundred kilos. Of course, it is impressive and almost at the limit of human capabilities but it couldn’t be counted as supernatural. The time it took him to gain that strength could be.

However, what is really supernatural about it is that abilities that border the human limit were stacked in Phobos. He could not only lift 200 kg but he could run a hundred meters in less than 10 seconds. He could jump long and jump high. He could dive for long and dive deep.

Phobos at this moment was at least record approaching if not breaking in all disciplines. The most impressive part was that he hadn’t changed that much visually. His muscles looked like they held massive explosive power but hadn’t grown much. His skin was nice and soft but at the same time was extremely tough.

On top of that normally if a person were somehow capable of acquiring that much ability in his life he would be riddled with health risk. Phobos on the other hand was the opposite. His capability came from improving all his biological functions and the capabilities gained was a sequel.

Phobos felt that the energy in the atmosphere was very slowly decreasing. That is why he felt he had enough improvement to himself and focused his attention on the beautiful bodies beside him.

He placed a hand on Hera and Eve and started concentrating. His ability automatically started analyzing them again. This time however he wasn’t searching for pleasure receptors but a way to improve the abilities they have awoken. He knew a bit about Hera's ability but nothing about Eve’s. She tries to explain it but she didn’t have much clue herself. When she used it there was a small visual disruption but not much else.

He scoured their body numerous times searching for their abilities until he finally had a little clue. It was really hard to find. Small dim starlight floating in their inner worlds. He had no idea how he found his way inside. He just powered his ability until he found a way. Now that he was in it was way easier to proceed.

Phobos targeted his ability to start improving the starlight the same as he had done in himself. Brighter, more condensed until it took all the space of the inner world. He only had to wait and supply an enormous amount of energy.

By the time they were about done he had supplied them with ten times more energy than he had used since gaining his ability. That included his latest improvement.

The last part of the process was for them to condense a Word which would be the representation of their abilities. Phobos roused Eve and Heras consciousness in their inner world.

The star was becoming more and more condensed and as it was about to finish Phobos was thrown out from their inner worlds. He opened his eyes and looked carefully at the exquisite motionless bodies. Phobos could feel that they were fine so he didn’t worry much.

He waited just a few minutes until both of their eyes opened. However, there was a massive change around Phobos. He felt that as soon as they opened their eyes there was an inexplicable connection with both Eve and Hera.

At the same time, the energy he was freely absorbing from the air stopped being accessible. Moreover, the energy he had already absorbed started seeping out. Phobos tried to retain it but he was incapable. And though the connection he had just established with them he could feel that whatever energy Eve and Hera had passively acquired was disappearing.

Phobos could only stand there with question marks floating around his head. He felt that both Eve and Hera were fine and they had awakened their Words. The only problem was that all of them were disconnected from the free-floating energy when they established a connection.

Phobos then tried to cut that connection. It stands to reason that if he did they would be able to absorb the energy again. But he did not continue to try for long. The energy required while he focused on cutting the connection was enormous.

If he still had access to the free energy he would be able to do something about it however with only his biological energy available he would become a skeleton before he even found an entry point.

Phobos felt a little helpless but could do nothing about it. So he focused his attention on the girls.

“How are you both feeling? You should have awakened the Word representing your power.”

Eve and Hera who were waiting calmly by his side still delightfully naked closed their eyes to feel what Phobos was talking about. They had the same adaptation period as when Phobos first woke up. The strange thing was that he could feel almost everything they were feeling through the connection established.

Hera took a lot less time and most of it was trying to find features of her ability. In the end, she failed. It could be said that her ability was really basic or hyper-specialized. The Word representing her ability was Perfect. There was no other feature than doubling all her aspects. That included the growth rate.

Phobos thought that it was similar to his boosting ability. However, whereas his boost could only improve something about ten to twenty per cent temporarily and at quite the cost, Hera’s ability was boosting her constantly and at low or no cost.

Phobos could only sigh in wonder. He had improved himself with a lot of energy and time but Hera just consolidated her Word and had almost the same specs as him. Of course, his most advantageous aspect was improving objects. He didn’t care at all but was just in awe of how hyper specializing could bridge big gaps.

Eve on the other hand tested a lot of things. Her Word was Chaos. Following the naming, she didn’t have that much control of it in the beginning. After ten minutes she finally had some grasp on it. She targeted the nearby table and it instantly became heavily distorted.

Some parts of it were bent and others shattered. Some parts disintegrated while others turned into liquid. In only a few seconds what was left was an amalgamation of what could have been wood at some point in time. Eve looked a bit tired after using that so she didn’t try again.

“Hehe. I feel that this is only the basics of my ability but testing would have to wait until I have better control. The only thing other than that is a vague feeling that I am not welcome. I have no idea what that is but on the other hand, I feel an established connection. Master have you finally accepted me to serve you forever and ever!?”

Eve looked at Phobos with a small fanatical light floating in her eyes. Phobos could only pretend that he did not see or hear her. It did him no good either denying it or acknowledging it. Both would bring a small term instability in Eve. Phobos knew that the best option was ignoring her so that she calmed down on her own.

“Boss, I feel very good at the moment. I feel I can do anything.”

Phobos looked at Hera and believed her. If what he was feeling through the connection was remotely right he also felt that she can do anything she desired. While he was thinking that anything is possible he remembered that he could fix the brainwashing that his mother had applied to her.

He didn’t think twice and placed a hand on Hera’s forehead. It didn’t take long to clear all the brainwashing done. Hera didn’t act like it but from what Phobos saw his mother had made Hera’s core only focus on Phobos. But in his visual representation of Hera’s psyche, it looked like badly applied patches on clothes.

After he cleared it there were a few holes but they were closing fast. Hera’s ability will help her fix her psyche at astonishing speed. For the next day, she may be a little mentally slower but that would only return her to her basic capabilities which were beyond human even before awakening.

“Boss?” Here had a cute and confused expression that Phobos had never seen before and couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Well, you will be mostly housekeeping today so that you can get your thoughts together. You will have to decide what you will be doing from now on. You won’t have to take me into consideration.”

Phobos had a relaxed smile while explaining to Hera. He felt a lot more relaxed after doing that. He would feel sad if Hera chose to leave but he wouldn’t have the burden of knowing that she was staying because she was brainwashed.

Phobos felt that it is inevitable that people break established relationships. Whether you lost contact with a friend or naturally drifted apart. Whether you broke up with a lover or destroyed a marriage. It did not matter. At some point, the feelings expired.

Even if you maintain a relationship in name its nature has changed completely. If you had married the lover of your life but at some point, you lose that same love you will start to only oblige the contract that was signed when you got married.

Whether it was because you would lose too much if broken or because of principle. The relationship becomes professional rather than emotional. This is why arranged marriages are more successful. Because you are only expected to fulfill your marital duties. You have no expectation of romantics.

This is also why Phobos prefers the dynamic of superior and subordinate. There are clearly defined obligations and expectations made at the start of the relationship. On top of that, it is not binding. Both parties can exit the arrangement when not to their liking. He declined Eve’s Master and slave mentality. Although it did fit his power dynamic he did not believe in anything eternal.

Phobos didn’t dwell much on it. He saw that it was already light outside so got dressed and got out. Eve and Hera followed. There was a lot to do this day.

First, he checked to see if the car was running and if there were any problems with the refrigerator. There was nothing wrong with it. While doing that Eve and Hera had gotten Diana and started making breakfast.

Phobos looked at Diana and saw that she was brimming with energy. It seemed that she had access to the massive energy in the atmosphere. But it appeared that she had no idea why she was so energetic. Most likely she didn’t sense and actively absorb the free energy but was passively absorbing it as Eve and Hera had done in their sleep.

While eating the other three got down and prepared breakfast and ate as well. When everyone was done Phobos gathered their attention to figuring out how to split up tasks.

“First of all, we will leave Hera here with the revolver I acquired yesterday. She has excellent marksmanship so she will be more than equipped to defend our base. Diana will stay as well to help her.”

Phobos looked around and saw that no one objected so he continued.

“Eve and I will search for our main source of energy which will be solar panels. Anna, the three of you are left to your own devices. The most beneficial thing for the group will be to gather more food and daily necessities. However, it would be better to wait for us so that we can go together.”

No one said anything so Phobos accepted it as an agreement. He looked at the van outside for a moment but then retracted his gaze. It would be easiest to just use it for transportation but then there would be no electricity. And although it was a van it didn’t have much space. It was mostly a highly luxurious interior, there was no space for cargo.

So he went out and found the restaurant's van that was used for restocking. He started improving it and although he didn’t have access to the abundant free energy he was way faster than yesterday. He didn’t try to fix it but improved each broken part and fixed it as a side effect.

Eve got up in the driver's seat and Phobos lazily sat on the passenger one. He was accustomed to being driven and didn’t feel like changing that. The only thing he took with him was the pick. He left the gun to Hera and waved her goodbye as they drove away.

Both of them had no idea where to search for solar panels. If it was where they usually lived it would be easier. The need to search for solar panels would be obsolete as Phobos had designed and built a mansion that was capable of being fully off the grid.

It would be a godsend if someone were able to find it. That being if they were able to repair all the damages. If it was only a total global blackout somehow repairing a vehicle and traveling a few days would be the better choice than staying in this city.

However, with abilities awakening, there was no telling what was happening in the wild and the Improving ability was perfect for establishing a safe space wherever they are. Phobos didn’t feel like taking the risk of traveling when he could theoretically build the perfect base if he only had enough materials and energy.

Phobos wasn’t paying much attention to the road. They were the only car traveling and there were very few people on foot traveling around. It was mostly quiet with the exception that at times there were few piercing screams.

Phobos was concentrated on the connection that was established between him, Eve and Hera. He could still clearly feel Hera even with the distance increasing. There was no difference at all between the one established between him and Eve that was next to him and the one with Hera. It would seem that distance was a small factor.

The most important task at the moment was to reestablish his ability to access free energy. Although Phobos could feel the density of free energy floating around was being lowered, it would still be an enormous figure for the foreseeable future. The biggest problem wasn’t that he had lost contact with it. He would do just fine even without it. The problem was that Eve and Hera had followed. In a sense, he had to find a way to supply energy to both of them.

And as he thought of that he felt himself burning biological energy and started transferring it with the connection established. As he wasn’t really controlling the energy it went to both Eve and Hera equally.

Phobos however didn’t have much energy stored so he stopped. If he had to rely on biological energy to feed both Eve and Hera he could foresee that his future involved a lot of eating. He was sure that they both had some capacity to utilize their abilities on only the food they eat but it wouldn’t be as efficient as him.

He thought twice about it and felt that Hera could rival him but even so he really needed to find a better supply of energy. Phobos could see that there were a lot of benefits in the established connection but as it was the reason they couldn’t access free energy if it was the last resort he would find a way to cut it.

While traveling he was mostly using his ability to analyze and improve the connection between them so that they were somehow able to access free energy. But because it was too expensive he found a way to utilize his brain capacity while analyzing rather than only his ability. For the first time in his life, Phobos wasn’t underutilizing his IQ.

In his absent-mindedness, the car stopped suddenly. Phobos was roused from his thoughts and looked at Eve. She didn’t say anything but just pointed ahead. He followed her finger and found that there was a mutant in the middle of the street. It was walking like an apex predator with no worry of anything.

When scanning around Phobos found two more with his newly improved superb eyesight. One of them was up on the roof of a six-story residential building and it seemed to have seen them. The other was further ahead more than four hundred meters away.

Phobos thought for a moment and felt that this is a good situation to test the psychology of the mutants. They didn’t seem to be the standard zombie archetype but acted more like an animal. Even the first mutant he encountered looked like it was searching for a resting area but as it saw him it attacked with fervor.

Phobos took his pick signaled to Eve to stay put and calmly got out of the car. He stood in front of the car and waited for the first mutant to register them.