The fusion didn't last long, less than two minutes. However, for Azlan, those two minutes exceeded the pain of any inhumane torture he had ever experienced. After all, the eyes are one of the most fragile organs, and the sensation of being torn out and replaced in an instant was unbearable suffering.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
With his breath still labored, Azlan wiped the blood flowing on his cheeks with the back of his hand. The red liquid felt warm and familiar on his skin. The piercing pain in his eyes slowly subsided, replaced by a strange throbbing-cold sensation.
[I thought you weren't someone who gets carried away by emotions and relied more on rationality. Do you know how dangerous your action was, Azlan? What if something bad happened!]
Seeing his host's condition improve, Albion lectured him seriously, there was a faint tone of concern in his voice.
"Does that surprise you so much, Albion? Sometimes, men also act more based on feelings than logic like women. Especially when I'm faced with obtaining power, I can't restrain myself. A weak and helpless life... I don't want to experience it for the second time. Once is enough."
Remembering how pitiful his past life was, living like an insect that could be stepped on by anyone, Azlan clenched his fists tightly in the air.
He realized how reckless and impulsive his recent action was, which was very inconsistent with his cautious personality. However, Azlan believed his change was caused by resonance with Albion.
His buried original nature—thirsty for power—now surfaced. He was willing to take risks as long as it had the potential to increase his strength.
[Haaah... It's my fault for expecting you to behave normally. Anyway, every host of mine has the ambition of supremacy, and you are the highest match. So, your desire for power can be justified.]
Albion gave up advising the stubborn Azlan, realizing that the core of his host was a desire that matched his own truth. Then, he asked curiously:
[So, what is the power of your new eyes? They don't just change your eye color from brown to bright sky blue, right? That would be very bland.]
"My eye color changed? I'll check it in the mirror later. Good question, Albion."
Examining the new information in his mind that was now directly connected to his new eyes, Azlan smiled thinly, showing his good mood—the pain was worth it.
"Mystic Eye of Heavenly Eyes... Simply put, Heavenly Eyes. Its ability allows me to see unlimited future potential and alternative worlds simultaneously."
[Oh, Future Sight, huh... A fairly rare ability.]
Having lived since ancient times, Albion had seen various kinds of abilities. Not many things could impress him.
Realizing Albion's response wasn't very enthusiastic, Azlan didn't mind and continued speaking:
"Don't rush, Albion. I'm not finished yet. This Mystic Eye is capable of limiting unlimited possibilities—which literally represent different timelines or parallel worlds—into a single result, the path to victory or the goal I set."
"For example, if I use a sword and decide to cut off my opponent's right arm, my attack becomes the most ideal and perfect attack to achieve that result, even bending space and time as needed."
[Well, that's not just Future Sight. Your Heavenly Eyes operate at the level of possibility and destiny. This time, you hit the jackpot, Azlan!]
After hearing his explanation, Albion was also happy. After all, the stronger Azlan was, the greater his chances of defeating the Red Dragon Emperor in this generation.
[Oh yeah, what are its weaknesses?]
Worthy of being an ancient entity, Albion considered that there were no invincible abilities; every great power must have limitations.
"There are indeed some. Although powerful, the Heavenly Eyes are not an instant victory button. I still have to move to follow the path to victory that I see. It's not a high-level reality reversal power. It's more like probability and causality manipulation."
"If the opponent is too strong and there's no path visible to win, my Heavenly Eyes cannot function. In essence, the Heavenly Eyes are a prediction and path affirmation tool that makes my technique more skillful."
Even with some limitations, Azlan wasn't disappointed. Who would refuse such amazing free power?
(Each light orb contains a certain power. Finding more of them is my top priority.)
That was just a passing thought, Azlan didn't believe himself lucky enough to obtain a third light orb anytime soon. He wasn't the protagonist in a story—his pure luck was already very great. If not for Albion's detection, he would have already missed this light orb.
"Let's go back. I need to familiarize myself with the Heavenly Eyes."
Thus, Azlan flew with the light wings on his back, shooting back toward the convenience store, ready to master this new power.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Azlan's planned return journey turned out not to be as smooth as imagined. The world that was initially silent and deserted was suddenly broken by panicked screams.
"Help! Someone help me!!!"
"Ahhhhh!!! Get away from me!"
Cries for help sounded loud, breaking the silence of the city filled with zombie groans.
"Which idiot is screaming? Don't they realize sound attracts zombie attention?" Azlan grumbled in his heart.
Even so, there was a little relief in his heart—it turned out there were still other surviving humans. That meant humanity wasn't extinct.
*WHOOSH!*
Without thinking twice, his blue-white wings flapped strongly, propelling his body to shoot toward the source of the sound.
Upon arriving at the location, a horrifying sight already greeted him. A nerdy-looking teenage boy with glasses was being swarmed by a group of zombies. They clawed and bit him viciously, tearing apart the already helpless teenager's flesh.
"Ah? An angel? Quickly save me!"
The teenage boy regarded the light-winged Azlan as a savior angel. His hand reached out as if wanting to grasp him, his eyes full of hope amid the burning pain.
"I'm too late."
Azlan sighed softly, but even so, he didn't let the teenage boy die in vain. At least, he had to know their shelter—if there were other survivors, that information was valuable.
*BAM!*
Thanks to the thrust of his wings, his punch was stronger than normal. He punched one zombie and flung it into the air, its rotten body flying like a broken doll. Then, with a quick movement, he touched another zombie and tried Divine Dividing's ability for the first time.
"{Divide}."
His light wings flashed strong blue as Albion's voice echoed. Energy from that zombie flowed into Azlan's body.
"So it's effective at dividing zombie power!"
In an instant, his strength increased drastically after absorbing that zombie's energy.
Before the other zombies could retaliate, Azlan immediately hit them hard, his movements agile thanks to the Heavenly Eyes that instinctively helped him choose the most efficient attack path.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
One punch from him shattered their heads, bones cracking and thick black blood spurting. Those ten headless zombies fell lifeless, their bodies sprawled like discarded dolls.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Seeing more zombies starting to arrive, Azlan didn't waste time. He grabbed the teenage boy's collar, dragged him flying to the nearest building roof, then threw him roughly onto the concrete floor.
"Couldn't you be more gentle?"
The teenage boy complained while rubbing his sore bottom, his face pale but still managing to protest.
"Are you sure you're complaining about that? Don't you realize which of your injuries is worse?"
Looking at him strangely, Azlan felt the person before him had priority issues.
"Huh...? Ahhhhh—"
Just realizing from that reminder, the teenage boy screamed in pain while holding the bite wound on his arm that had already started to blacken. His tears and snot flowed profusely as he rolled around on the floor.
"I don't want to die! Angel, save me! I can't die before making my GALGAME masterpiece!"
The teenage boy hugged Azlan's thigh while sobbing, his voice full of despair like a small child who had lost everything.
"Don't hope too much from me. I don't have healing abilities. Your life is already counting down, any last words? I'll deliver your will. Tell me where the others are hiding?"
Azlan pulled his leg back, retreating a few steps, keeping his distance.