[Energy Absorption XP +1]
[Energy Absorption XP +1]
[Energy Absorption XP +1]
...
[Congratulations! Energy Absorption has leveled up!]
[Energy Absorption Lv.3 (1/1000): Able to absorb the vast majority of energy forms. Absorption speed and storage capacity are now high.]
The moment the skill leveled up, Aurelius Viremont felt a massive shift. First, the variety of energy he could process expanded significantly; nuclear energy and even mystical/magical energies, which were previously inaccessible, were now within his grasp.
Furthermore, his absorption speed had tripled, and his storage capacity followed suit. He could now maintain the Limitless barrier for at least half an hour, or unleash over six full-power "Blue" attacks, or three minimum-output "Red" bursts!
According to the information from the template, even the minimum power of Cursed Technique Reversal: Red was at least twice the maximum output of "Blue." This implied not just terrifying consumption, but an even more staggering lethality.
However, Aurelius Viremont knew that his previous success with "Red" was partly luck; he might not succeed so easily if he tried again immediately. That previous "Red" was incomplete, with massive amounts of energy bleeding out into the environment. Using such an unstable technique would likely drain him dry after just two shots.
Until the template provided more direct experience and specific refined methods for "Red," it was best kept as a trump card. The drain was secondary; the real risk was uncontrolled energy backfiring and hitting his own brain. His current Reverse Cursed Technique wasn't yet at the level where he could regenerate his entire brain if it was vaporized.
Beyond storage and speed, the upgrade also granted a passive boon: he could now likely withstand small-caliber rifle fire by instantly absorbing the kinetic energy of the bullets. This meant that even without the Limitless active, he no longer had to fear most sneak attacks.
Unfortunately, the levels of Limitless and Reverse Cursed Technique were still too low. He wasn't sure what level was required to reach Satoru Gojo's pinnacle—where the brain is constantly refreshed by healing while the barrier runs 24/7, automatically filtering threats based on mass, speed, and cursed energy. If he pushed beyond that, he might even be able to filter out toxins or withstand spatial attacks that Gojo himself couldn't handle!
As his skills evolved, he would eventually surpass Gojo, reaching a realm the "Honored One" never touched. Thinking of the future, Aurelius Viremont felt a surge of excitement. He even looked forward to activating a template with plane-shifting abilities one day to visit the Jujutsu Kaisen world. Defeating the invincible Gojo using his own techniques would be quite the spectacle.
After replenishing his energy and pushing his template integration to 27%, Aurelius Viremont finally emerged from the sewers.
The sewer exit was located in a secluded alley. As Aurelius Viremont prepared to find some new clothes, he noticed a young girl staring at him in shock.
She had green hair and looked disheveled—frail, dirty, and helpless. That was the view of the naked eye, at least. Through the Six Eyes, Aurelius Viremont saw the massive reservoir of green energy hidden within her and the restless iron objects in the vicinity twitching in response to her presence.
He recognized her immediately: Polaris.
Lorna Dane, the daughter of Magneto. She possessed the power to manipulate magnetism, and at her peak, she could control the Earth's magnetic field—a mutant easily on par with Magneto himself.
What is she doing here? Aurelius Viremont wondered, but then dismissed the thought. This was a parallel universe; anything could happen.
Aurelius Viremont had no intention of interacting with her, but Polaris clearly wasn't going to let him just walk away. She recognized the man from the news—the "White Demon," the "Greatest Threat to the World," and to the mutants, the "Savior." Whatever the title, he was an existence supposedly more powerful than her own father.
As Aurelius Viremont turned to leave, she instinctively reached out with her power. She ripped a metal pipe from the wall and flung it toward him, intending to block his path.
But...
Polaris watched in horror as the metal pipe approached the man's back, only to freeze in mid-air. It became completely unresponsive to her control, suspended by an invisible void, unable to move a single millimeter closer.
Instead of being discouraged, she felt a surge of hope. The stronger Aurelius Viremont was, the more likely he could lead the mutants to liberation from human oppression!
She began to smile, preparing to speak, but the expression froze on her face. Aurelius Viremont slowly turned his head. His sapphire eyes were devoid of emotion.
Under that gaze—a stare that felt like Death itself—Polaris felt a crushing weight. It felt as if a scythe was already resting against her throat, waiting for a single heartbeat to claim her soul.
Then, a cold voice drifted toward her: "Isn't it nice to be alive?"
The "whisper of the reaper" made her shudder violently. Snapping out of her daze, she stammered, "I... I have no ill will toward you! I only want to follow you! I want to fight the human government by your side!"
Aurelius Viremont didn't respond. He began walking toward her. His slow, rhythmic steps exerted a psychological pressure so immense it felt like she was being pushed into a bottomless abyss.
Feeling mortally threatened, she instinctively unleashed her power again, hurling every piece of metal in the alley at him. Every single one stopped dead in its tracks before his face, clattering uselessly to the side.
Only now did she truly understand the weight of the name "White Demon." He was unlike any mutant she had ever met; he was a terrifying force from a different dimension. No matter how hard she tried to stop his approach, she achieved nothing.
Aurelius Viremont cornered her against the wall. Using his reinforced strength, he ignored her and thrust his fingers deep into the largest metal pipe nearby. With a casual flick, he threw it. The pipe, imbued with massive kinetic energy from his seemingly slender arm, buried itself deep into the solid brick wall right next to her ear.
"Beautiful lady, this is a warning," he said softly. "Next time, your luck won't be so good."
He flicked his index finger. The floating scrap metal around them ignored her magnetic control and embedded itself into the wall surrounding her, effectively pinning her in place within a cage of iron.
Polaris watched as the white-haired man yawned, his long legs carrying him away with the same nonchalance he had arrived with. Summoning every ounce of courage, she yelled at his back:
"You're so strong! You could do so much! You could save all of us! Why won't you help?!"
For a moment, she thought she was being ignored. Then, a voice filled with utter indifference floated back:
"What does their suffering have to do with me?"
The White Demon glanced back, his handsome profile and deep sapphire eyes caught in the dim light. He gave a thin, mocking smile.
"Don't kidnap me with your morality... because I have none."