Kenan was currently in his private room, still on the train. He had thought they were traveling fast enough to reach Jacob City in one day, but it was much farther than he had anticipated.


    He used this time to look over the features within the system that he had been neglecting. The best part of the system was that he could continue to meditate and gather Ruah while navigating it. He consciously activated the system, and the same purple screen appeared before him.


    [Ogun Archive System]


    [Meditation Realm] [Analyze] [Superior Database] [Legacy]


    “I thought the [Analyze] function was already fully unlocked. Now, I can’t help but think that maybe the rest of these features have hidden functions I’m unaware of. Ugh, what a drag. Let’s not hurt my brain too much by overthinking this psionic device.”


    Kenan focused his mind on [Superior Database].


    [Superior Database]


    [Mimicry Abilities]


    [Superhuman Abilities]


    [Manipulations/Generations]


    [Animal Shifting/Traits]


    “This is something I actually understand. These are all abilities and powers people gain from taking the Superior Elixir. It’s even organized by type. This will definitely be useful in the future.”


    Kenan toggled [Mimicry Abilities].


    [Mimicry Abilities]


    [Organic Metal Mimicry]


    He waited for more to load, but nothing else appeared. “I know way more mimicry abilities than this. This is just my own ability. Why aren’t the others showing up?”


    A light ding echoed in his mind, followed by a second screen popping up.


    [Host will only see abilities that he directly scans with the system.]


    Kenan deadpanned. “Right, of course. This thing reads my mind.”


    He refocused on [Mimicry Abilities], hoping for more information, and to his surprise, it worked.


    [Mimicry Abilities: To replicate the properties of others’ energies, elements, or organisms.]


    “That seems pretty self-explanatory, but it feels very broad. I’d think Animal Shifting would qualify as mimicry. Then again, if it were included here, the list would be ridiculously long.”


    He returned to the database and toggled through the other categories for a baseline understanding.


    [Superhuman Abilities: Abilities that far exceed human physiological limits, such as Sonic Scream or Superspeed.]


    [Manipulations/Generations: The ability to manipulate or generate elements, energies, concepts, or ideas.]


    [Animal Shifting/Traits: The ability to transform into specific animals or inherit their traits without full transformation.]


    Kenan nodded internally. “These are exactly what I expected. Let’s see what’s under [Legacy].”A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    [Legacy]


    [Legacy Ability: Organic Metal Mimicry]


    [Advancement Choice: Shapeshifting While Mimicking] [Condition Not Met]


    [Augmentation Option: Partial Mimicry]


    [Psionic Arts] [Locked]


    [Psionic Implants] [Locked]


    “I met the condition for Augmentations as soon as I selected it. Having muscle control is second nature for a martial artist. But I have no idea what condition I need for Shapeshifting. That one seems incredibly powerful.”


    Kenan glanced at [Psionic Arts] and [Psionic Implants] with anticipation before returning to the main menu and toggling [Meditation Realm].


    [Meditation Realm]


    [User: Kenan Ogun]


    [Meditation Realm: 1st Stage – Consciousness]


    [Meditation Stage: 1st Stage – Woke]


    “This might be the most crucial information here, yet it’s so minimal. The world is so much bigger than this continent.”


    Kenan thought back to Edith, asking to join him on his journey off the continent. “How could I deny a beautiful woman who wants to travel with me? Sure, it’s suspicious, but she’s from a neighboring city, so the odds of her being one of my parents’ enemies are slim to none.”


    “I should start building more allies—especially at the academy. They’re less likely to be part of any Superior terrorist organizations. It would be foolish to think I could take on a group of twenty or more people with power levels similar to mine.”


    Kenan focused on [Meditation Realm: 1st Stage – Consciousness].


    [Meditation Realms:]


    [Consciousness]


    [Esper] [Information Locked]


    [Psychic] [Information Locked]


    Kenan took a deep breath as he considered what he saw. The legends spoke of Psychics who could fly through the sky as easily as birds flapped their wings. Some even claimed that one wasn’t truly sentient until reaching the Psychic stage. This belief kept the continent isolated, as it was still considered the land of the Slumbered—those out of touch with themselves and the universe.


    “This system holds information about realms others can only dream of. I should be cautious about using it in public. Who knows? Maybe even Shepherds have ways to detect psionic devices.”


    He pushed the thought aside and recalled what the system said about the first Meditation Realm. Consciousness marked the awakening stage, where users learned to sense Ruah around them. This was essential for activating brain cells that were capable of using psionic energy. At first, Kenan struggled to understand it, but Aria had explained it in simpler terms.


    “You have to think of it like a wind turbine,” she said. “Ruah is the breath of God, left in every living thing. Imagine it as wind, with your brain cells as the turbine. When Ruah stimulates your brain, psionic energy is generated—like electricity produced by the turbine.”


    Kenan shook off the lingering confusion and toggled [Meditation Stages: 1st Stage – Consciousness].


    [Meditation Stages for Consciousness:]


    [1st Stage: Woke]


    [2nd Stage: Foundation]


    [3rd Stage: True]


    “Every stage unlocks a new ability. The first stage grants enhanced reflexes, which is why Cole was so eager for a fight after awakening. For a martial artist, it’s a whole new world. I don’t know what the other abilities are yet, but I’d rather not spoil it for myself.”


    Kenan noted that the abilities he unlocked would also be accessible to other Sentients. “Psionic Arts and Superior abilities are the key differences. Mastering my Superior ability now is paving the way for my future as a Sentient.”


    “I can’t wait to bust some heads at the academy, go on missions, and explore the continent. There’s so much I don’t know about its current state. Still, I need to focus. Who knows how powerful my old man is now? When I face him, I want to send him fly


    ing with a single punch.”


    ***


    There was a man meditating deep within the heart of a volcano. Not just any volcano, but one rumored to lead directly to the earth’s core. He was so deep that he had long forgotten the direction from which he had entered. Yet, it didn’t matter. It was time to leave. He had been in seclusion for far too long, and one of the two presences he always felt—no matter where he was in the world—had vanished. He knew exactly which one it was. He knew it better than he knew himself.


    For a moment, he almost completely broke his Meditation Realm. One must not harbor doubts or discontent while walking the Path of a Sentient. Any disruption in one’s resolve could cause complete regression, reducing the individual to a Slumbered state. In cultivation terms, this would be considered a "heart demon."


    The man did the only thing he could in his situation: he unleashed all his pent-up anger in a single, powerful attack toward the sky, as though it could pierce the heavens. Not that he was cursing the heavens—he would never—but this was his way of telling the world and his own heart that, as of this day, he would never be the same. He was a husband who had lost his wife, and he was forever changed.


    This man was Malachi Ogun, and in his grief, he destroyed a volcano said to have stood for over 5,000 years. Now, it was nothing more than a vast lake of lava, with a mountain-sized hole carved into the earth. The Slumbered would later call this place “The Abyss that Leads Straight to Hell.”


    Anything within a hundred-mile radius felt the effects of the catastrophic event. A massive plume of smoke rose into the sky, visible for miles. Malachi emerged from the lake of lava he had created, his gaze set firmly in the direction of his son.


    "I will not let anything happen to my son," he declared as he prepared to move toward Kenan.


    Before he could act, a voice called out from behind him. "You know the boy will be safer where he is, at least for now."


    Malachi turned to see his assistant, Eli, standing with his arms behind his back, looking at him with soft yet concerned eyes. Eli wore black and green robes with red trim, the colors of the Ogun family—matching Malachi’s own attire. His old face bore nothing but worry.


    "Master, you have been in seclusion longer than anticipated. The family’s situation has changed. The Prime Elders are seeking to remove you as family head. Did you at least break through?"


    Without a word, Malachi waved his hand. The space before them ripped open, revealing the destination they sought.


    Eli bent slightly at the waist, his expression filled with admiration. "Congratulations on becoming a Mystical Esper, Head Ogun. The Prime Elders will be most pleased. You are the youngest in history to achieve such a feat."


    "Come, Eli," Malachi said, stepping toward the portal. "Let’s see if I can use this achievement to bring my son to my side. There are too many loose ends I left behind, and I fear he won’t be ready for what lies ahead."