Realising you're currently a superhuman with magic and other abilities and not having time to experiment is torture. Especially when a certain scarlet-haired woman sends pictures via Chat that show something that has punched a hill through.
Becoming the head of a growing and quite profitable company isn't bad, but the first few days I had to meet a lot of people and check a lot of paperwork, which takes more than a large amount of time. But now I was finally free, and I was on my way to one of the underground complexes beneath LexCorp's engineering department. My sister and I had already checked this place out, so I knew that they hadn't put in any tracking systems or other sensors yet.
«Okay, finally. - I pulled the medallion out of my Gachi-inventory and immediately felt as if the window to magic had opened completely, giving me access to that very energy. The very fact that I was severely limited without the divine "bling" somewhat blurred the picture in a bad way, but these feelings quickly faded into the background.
I was a few dozen metres underground in a nearly completed complex, the kind of secret laboratory Lex wanted to create. One of the rooms was very large, and that's where I'd decided to stay. It was the perfect place for me at the moment, so I finally did something that would have made a lot of fantasy fans boil. I stomped on the floor and at the same moment a rather large column of earth came out of the ground, which seemed to crackle with power from within.
«... - a smile crept onto my face and the next second the ground beneath me literally floated, I was not limited in manipulating the ground, so I had no problem making it fly up and form different geometric shapes. This ability is pretty good, especially since, even without fully assimilating with Albedo, I could manipulate a huge amount of earth. I could feel the ground hundreds of metres around me and could just as easily navigate standing on the ground, literally feeling all the vibrations.
Albedo (B) (16%).
I hadn't been able to pay much attention to these forces the last few days, so assimilation was slow. But once I had a couple of minutes to enjoy the powers to the fullest, the assimilation went from fourteen percent to sixteen.
Creating huge blocks of stone, I jumped on them with force and hammered my fist without fear of injury. Even stone reinforced with my magic was shattering under my hands, and that was only sixteen per cent! And that doesn't mean I have almost two tenths of the power, because each per cent is "stronger" than the previous one. It's hard to realise it in the right way, but, in fact, the difference between ten percent and eleven percent is like the difference between a child of ten and a teenager of sixteen, not an eleven-year-old child, which would be logical based on the percentages, but a teenager. It was almost a geometric progression.
I could clearly feel that if I wanted to, I could destroy the whole complex in a couple of seconds just by piling it with earth, and metals are also included in the term "earth". I don't think anyone expects a metal pin to form from the ground in less than a second. But of course, there are limitations too. For example, it's hard to manipulate metal when it just isn't around you... but very easy when you can literally create it from ordinary earth using alchemy.
Creating pure gold from ordinary earth is a very strange feeling. Like I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing... for my brain might just burn out from thinking about it like that. When I started using alchemy assimilation reached twenty per cent, which expanded my abilities a lot more.
I knew how to create not only various metals from ordinary earth, I had a vague feeling that I would soon "remember" how to create various ingredients for all sorts of potions, elixirs and pills and other potions. And... not very far away the ability to create life, for Albedo himself, as far as I know, was quite capable of achieving that.Manipulating matter is one of the possibilities of alchemy, which in turn opens up unimaginable possibilities. The rearrangement of cellular structure, and even on a living organism of a ring of energy, that is, with one touch you can turn a man into an animal or some monster. In addition, manipulation of energies is also possible, even if it is more complicated. The art of Khemia, that's exactly what Albedo alchemy was different from most others, and it's focused on creating life.
«Unbelievable..." a sigh escaped me realising the prospects of my powers already. Alchemy worked without the "Eye of God", but several times weaker, as this divine artefact besides magic, strengthens the soul itself and gives resistance to many influences, including mental ones. But still it's not pleasant that the access to part of the power is given only if the artefact is on me, but there are different cases, so I went into Gachi's inventory and my eyes were attracted by one card.
Weakness Deliverance (B).
Judging by the description, this card gets rid of one "weakness" of one characteristic or another in my physical or magical skills. But that's not all, I don't have to use the card on myself, so theoretically I could use it on someone else. For example, ridding a Kryptonian of a weakness to Kryptonite, but that's an example as I'm not sure B rank would be enough. But that might be enough for me at the moment, since Albedo is listed as a B rank character.
When I took out the card, I decided to use it immediately, keeping in mind what weakness I wanted to get rid of, namely the artefact, which must be worn around the neck and in plain sight at all times, otherwise its effects would be weakened if I hid it under my clothes. As soon as I said it out loud with the card in my hand, it flashed with a small glow and disappeared, while the artefact itself literally began to melt, as if under a high temperature. I didn't feel any pain, so I just stood there and watched as the artefact melted completely and seemed to retract into my shoulder and become a tattoo.
«Convenient. - I couldn't help but admit it. Now the artefact is essentially gone, there is only a tattoo, and that is only an outward sign of the God's Eye that once existed. I feel that the powers available to me haven't decreased by a single gram, so I was satisfied with the result.
Albedo (B) (28%)
«Tony, you need to sign form T503 as one of the directors. - As I walked back to the main building and took the lift up to my sister's office, I saw Lena working at her desk.
«Is this about the final purchase of the Gotham building? - I asked, remembering what the form was for.
«Yes, Lex has already paid most of the price and there are only a few finishing touches left, and this is one of them. - Lena said and pulled her gaze away from the computer screen. - Where have you been? - she asked curiously.
«Remember the underground laboratory? - After waiting for the girl's nod, I continued. - That's where I've been, looking around and thinking about how best to use it. But so far there are no new ideas. But about the whole engineering department, I decided to get a job there. I've been wanting to build something for a long time. - I rubbed my hand over my arm with a smile.
«Do you know how? - She raised an eyebrow.
«Hey, there's a reason I was able to finish a few semesters of university in a couple of days. Our company isn't really serious about energy, although it's a very lucrative business. So I'm thinking of trying to correct this misunderstanding and raise our reputation in this industry.
«Energy? Why energy?
«Well, Wayne Enterprises hasn't ventured into it yet, so we've got a pretty good chance of getting a foothold in that industry if things go the way I expect. - I walked around my sister and put my hands on her shoulders and started kneading them. - You're not overworking?
«You found the right time to ask. - The girl snorted and relaxed under my hands. - I now understand why many directors often look so bad... because they don't always have enough time to sleep.
«That's why there are all sorts of assistants... and a board of directors. But now it's just the two of us, so the workload has fallen on us. You want me to help you with your part? It's no problem.
«How did you get your paperwork sorted out so quickly? - I couldn't help but detect a touch of curiosity.
«Talent, maybe? - I said hesitantly. - How's Mercy doing?
«She's doing her job more than well, so I have no complaints. If only she looked at me with a kinder eye.
«Yeah, I could feel it when I walked past her desk, but she's doing a pretty good job. - I nodded, agreeing with my sister. - By the way, did you talk to the head doctor at LexCorp Medical? - I asked about the company's medical branch, which is also partly connected to the biotechnology complex.
«It's..." I felt the girl's shoulders tense up, so I turned her chair around so she was facing me. - Don't look at me like that... - the girl covered her face with her hands.
«How so?
«With pity...I have enough of that. There are so many people surprised that the head of this company became a disabled person. - She exhaled and was obviously going to say something else, but I interrupted her by hugging her.
«Don't listen to these shallow people, soon you will be able to walk again I am more than sure. - I said, and that reminded me again... that I would soon be able to cure her myself. Alchemy will help me with that, for it is much easier to fix her leg ailments than to create a fully alive body, which Albedo could do at the height of his power. At the moment, with twenty-eight per cent assimilation, I don't have the ability to do that, only a remote feeling that it is possible, but when the assimilation is nearing completion.
«Anthony, I've been to the doctor... his prognosis is not rosy. - The girl grinned, but... there was a certain acceptance in that grin, in addition to resentment at the injustice. - The previous doctors must have wanted to profit from us or were just trying to cheer me up. This one said the chance is very, very minimal, you could say none. Also, according to some of the tests, my condition is going to get progressively worse. Not now, but in a couple of years. - at the end she had tears in her eyes.
«Why didn't you tell me before? - I knew she would go for a check-up, but I didn't think it would be this bad. The girl couldn't help but detect genuine concern in my voice.
«I... I was afraid... w-what you'd leave me too. - Lena's hands squeezed me tighter, as if she was afraid I was going to leave.
«Lena... we literally have a "superman" flying outside our window who can shoot lasers out of his eyes and jump higher than skyscrapers. He's not taken by bullets or tank shells, plus there's a crocodile man walking around in the same Gotham and more and more altered people popping up. I'm pretty sure we'll find something that can cure you," I said, fighting the urge to sit down and tell her all about Chat. I feel like an asshole, but... it would probably cause more trouble than it would do. It would be one thing if she knew about the magic, but that wouldn't be as surprising as Chat connecting several worlds... and by "worlds" I mean more than one universe.
«Hmm, you have a way of calming things down. - The girl grinned, but I could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes as soon as she looked away. So I acted rather impulsively....
- That you... m-m-m. - I felt the beautiful softness with my lips and saw my sister's eyes widen in shock and obvious incomprehension. The second dragged on for a very long time, perhaps to my current consciousness that was it, or perhaps it was just a deceptive sensation of something forbidden and yet very appealing. I had originally thought of Lena as a beautiful girl when I saw her, the past Anthony had loved his sister and sometimes there was a slip of something so... forbidden, but I highly doubt anything would have come of it. It's just that the past Anthony would have locked those feelings even deeper in his heart, but I...I just couldn't help myself, couldn't stop myself and...and it feels great now.
In that kiss, I tried to show how important she was to me as the person closest to me, as someone I needed, as a sister and as... a girlfriend. It wasn't overly "lustful", it was closer to sensual, conveying sincere concern rather than a desire to pounce on the female like a beast.
An explosion of emotions, these were the words I could use to characterise the myriad of expressions that flashed across Lena's face, especially in her marvellous eyes, in which I couldn't help but drown. But the moment went on, as much as I wanted to stop time to savour it longer, the girl's hands were on my chest, and I felt a faint resistance, so I had to pull away.
«..." I didn't know what to say as our lips parted.
«Tony..." Lena said, lowering her eyes. - E-it's just emotions, you found out about me... I don't want you to think about it too much. Brother, let's... just forget this moment of emotional weakness. - she said at the end more confidently, as if she believed in her words.
«Lena. - I licked my lips at the taste of the beautiful girl standing across from me. - I'm sorry if I...
«I have to keep working. - The girl swallowed and looked at the monitor. - I think you should go, you wanted to do the engineering department.
«Nurse...
«Tony, there's no need. Just go. - It was like the girl was afraid to look at me, which made me feel a phantom pain in my heart.
«Okay, if anything, you know where to find me. - I smiled wryly and headed for the exit. This impulse was too stupid and impulsive, I just couldn't contain myself. I hope I didn't frighten her, or she'll think of something... I'll have to visit her again later. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her working on her computer with a calm face. Sighing, I headed towards the lift.
***
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