Chapter 23: 23 Death-like Slumber

Vik was terrified when the door of the infinity was opened for him.

Vik’s subconscious mind was scared by the possibilities that were presented to him. These possibilities clouded his already clouded and limited mind. He thought that he wasn’t ready to have options like these open to him.

Perhaps the man’s limited knowledge kept him from going insane.

Perhaps a man with limited resources could craft something he could be content with. With limited resources, he could find his happiness.

Perhaps, in limited possibilities lies a man’s potential to make the most of them.

Seek, and ye shall find.

The thought rippled in Vik’s mind once again. This time, it seemed that he was going to dissolve into nothingness if he didn’t answer what was asked of him. As if his existence was going to be part of that drop of water that was this universe.

This time, Vik didn’t try to look elsewhere for his answer. He turned inwards and found what he needed the most.

‘What do I need?

If this is the pantheon of infinite possibilities, the infinity I need is something I can handle with my existence and make the maximum use of using my abilities.’

Seek and ye shall find.

The thought entered Vik’s mind. As if a drop of ink had been dropped into a glass full of clear water. Yet, it didn’t hamper the water’s clarity.

By now, Vik was used to such interruptions that he now realized weren’t meant to interrupt his thoughts but strengthen his resolves. So he did just that, reciting those resolutions to himself.

‘I now realize that my existence was criminally insignificant compared to the world that’s out there. So this time, I don’t want to limit myself because of my limited outlook.

I want to be selfish and protect what’s mine at all costs. I want to be greedy and live my life to its fullest. And embrace everything that it has to offer to me.’

Seek and ye shall find.

I need power so I won’t stay at the bottom of the barrel, as I always have. I need the power to rise above my circumstances.

If my enemies are infinite, I need infinite power to rule over them all. If my destinations are blocked by fate, I need endless ways to get to them.

I need infinite power to have infinite dreams. Infinite goals. And infinite possibilities.’

Seek and ye shall find. A thought that seemed like it was breathing.

‘If my lone power is not enough to support my ambitions, I need powers that are integrated into the very existence of the universe to be at my beck and call.’

Vik concluded his chain of thoughts to himself knowing full well the one who had asked this question was listening. In the next moment, he felt like his very existence was getting etched with various runes.

He didn’t understand how he could feel something that wasn’t related to any of his five senses. Yet, he knew that the runes he was etched with were becoming part of his existence.

Vik’s subconscious mind wasn’t exactly in the know of what was happening around him. Additionally, he had no idea to who those thoughts belonged. Or what was happening to him.

But there was one thing that was clear to him. His demands were getting answered. He couldn’t describe the process or his conclusions about that process in words.

His wishes were being heard and answered. For a purpose, he didn’t know. Unaware of the impact it would have on himself and the world he was about to enter.

The inscription of runes on his soul completed what felt like an eternity and a mere moment at the same time. These runes then dissolved into his existence and became part of him.

As Vik’s subconsciousness grew hazy, thoughts of something unknown spoke in his mind once again. A departing message.

Seek and ye shall find.

***

Elysian City-state of Phoenix. Arizona, USA. Earth.

Goldfield Ghost Town.

What was once said to be a tourist attraction in the bygone era had become a township for the poorest people of the Elysian city-state. Poorest by an Elysian City’s standard that is.

Yet, somehow the town still maintained the vintage, ghostly vibes it always had. The change of an era couldn’t take away the feeling that was woven into the place’s very existence.

This version of Goldfield Ghost Town did have a few changes to it though. First of all, it was bigger than before. It was at the very edge of the city-state of Phoenix. So it was trying its best to expand laterally along the borders of the city-state.

Although the homes looked vintage and old, they all had modern amenities. It was as if past and future had shaken hands with each other to create this space.

A simple, two-story suburban house located at the far corner of the town. Away from the town’s hustle-bustle. At this point, this house had two people residing in it. One was sleeping. The other was sneaking up on them.

“He hasn’t woken up yet?”

Reece Green asked herself as she opened the door slightly and took a sneak peek inside. This was her usual routine. Stalking the person who was living under the same roof as her.

She knew it was wrong to do so in her heart. But she always felt jittery when she tried to sneak up on this person. And she liked having them. So sneaking up on him became her hobby and passion.

‘Well, he isn’t doing anything that I shouldn’t see him doing.’

Reece thought as she opened the door wide and saw her stalking target sleeping soundlessly on his bed. He slept as if he had died.

He always did that. Sleeping like a log. This habit of his had encouraged this young girl to follow this routine every day.

Reece got close to her and observed the young man she liked. He was supposed to be her mother’s tenant. But he had been staying with them from a very young age.

The young man’s parents were nowhere to be found. Regina’s mother heard the news and took the boy in. He was her friend’s child. Therefore, she had decided to look after him.

Reece grew up with the guy from a very young age. And as she did, she developed feelings for him.

Her crush had white hair and blue eyes that she could only barely see due to them being partially closed. He had blue highlights in his hair, attesting to the fact that he was no normal human. He was just a step away from becoming a true Metahuman.

‘How can he sleep like this when he is so behind schedule?

Should I wake him?’

Reece thought to herself as she kept on looking at the young man’s lowkey handsome face. He wasn’t anything too eye-catching. At least not in this city. But in Regina’s eyes, he had certain charms about him that were unique to him.

‘I have to wake him up. Otherwise, we will be late to our jobs.’

Reece nodded to herself before thinking of a wild idea.

‘*Sigh. He is not waking up until I do something extreme.’

Reece chuckled before thinking of something intrusive.

‘Hehe. Maybe I can kiss him and he’ll wake up from his death-like slumber. Like those fairy tales. I’ll give it a shot. Strictly for his sake.’

Reece was painting a fantastical picture for herself while giggling as she was bringing her lips closer to the guy’s lips. She just wanted to plant a harmless peck.

Unaware that the one she was kissing was not going to be a knight in shining armor.

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