After I took a shower, Miro came up to me again.
Miro: "Listen up, you nobody. I am offering you a chance to be Métier Modder."
Pagani: "How? I have to have a skill or specific knowledge on something that isn't taken by someone else. And I don't have any of that. Not to mention I have to be hit by one of those Métier Waves or whatever. "
Miro: "That is why I need you for this experiment. I discovered an energy signature from your roommate, Wren, and my new device will take your consciousness..."
I had no idea what consciousness meant and gave him a blank expression.
Miro: "...Your mind to that world he lived in. You will learn a skill by watching something from there, and the machine will bring your mind back while it baths in the Métier Energy I collected. You will become the first of a new wave of Métier Modders."
Pagani: "Yeah, no thanks. Would my mind leaving my body mean that I am dead? And why me, anyway?"
Miro: "There is a slight chance of death, but I need a brave individual to get past "the light," my other failed subjects kept mumbling about. I chose you because out of all the trainees, you are one that most people won't miss if this goes south. Everyone else came here because others wanted them, or they had something that they could truly bring to the table. But you, you are an illiterate joke who got lucky. If you cannot read, how will you understand a mission if it is all in a dossier? I am giving you until midnight to come to my lab, or I will have you kicked out of the program and recommend that all the children of Ryagombi be put through this same process. I will see you there, or I will see you gone."
That scummy nerd walked off. I was mad, but I had no choice. In Ryagombi, we might not all be friends, but we keep each other safe. If I might die, I have to do something first. I waited until Wren was asleep, and it was almost midnight by the moon. It was time. When returning from the training mission, I talked to The Charm about everything it could do. One thing stood out. I have the power to "bee-queeeth" my OH to someone else that both I and it deemed worthy. And there is literally only one person. I approached Wren and gently clasped their right hand with mine with The Charm.
Pagani (whispering): "Wren Voyageur, greatest of friends. With the agreement of both wielder and Omniscient Host, I be-be...I bequeath The Charm of Asmoscience. May its wisdom provide you power."
The Charm glowed a soothing light that did not disturb Wren. The OH left my hand and appeared on theirs, and I told The Charm to pass on a message if I did not make it. There was only one thing left to do. At Miro's lab, I put on a harness that covered my torso and arms completely, and it was heavy with all the padding inside. Miro told me to lie on the table, and he hooked up a large cable to the opening at the chess area.
Miro: "I am ecstatic that you agreed to this."
Pagani: "You don't have to use fancy words to say you're happy. And besides, You have to bully me here. The Wreakborne might be monsters, but at least they have the guts to take what they want and die instead of using the system to do it for them."
Miro smacked my forehead, forgetting that I had been enhanced. It hurt him more than me, and I enjoyed his pain.
Miro: "Don't you dare compare me to those things, you imbecile. I will annihilate them all with a new array of Modders. Now, let us begin."
Miro turned on the machine. It flashed a very soothing light, and my mind drifted into it. This was it. I had to put that vigor of mine to the test and not back down, for this is for Ryagombi. I went through the light, and on the other side was a world or something, but its lands were all scattered, unlike our world. Could this be Earth? Before I could float down there, a voice called to me.
Voice: "Whoa! Slow down there. You don't have to go any further."
A symbol appeared in the void of space.
Pagani: "What are you?"
Voice: "I'm Ridificci. I am a concept that helps the omniverse keep on spinning."
Pagani: "Why are you talking to me?"
Ridificci: "You are one of my incarnations. I did not plan to awaken you at this point due to returning to my original body, but here you are, mentally dimension-hopping."
Pagani: "Sorry, dude, but I gotta..."
Ridificci: "Yes, I know. I am a part of you. I will awaken a bit of your true self. Luckily, whatever contraption that nerd made will only allow one to access a fragment of their powers. So, I suggest going with Support State. Understand?"
Pagani: "Got it."
Ridificci: "Great. If only Facultson weren't as rebellious, things would have ended different for those he hurt."
Pagani: "Who's that?"
Ridificci: "Another Incarnation, but enough about that. Off you go."
I went back through the light and woke up in my actual body. I felt different. My head was on fire. I could see what that symbol was talking about. I could see what Ridificci was, but most of the details are fuzzy. I applied the only thing I understood about Ridificci, Concept Transmutation, into a Support State. This was my Chosen Métier of Ridificci Awareness. Something burst inside the harness, and my body soon burst as well. Miro was there when it happened. I panicked. I was everywhere and affecting everything in the lab. Miro was knocked across a wall, and his neck broke. I need to return to normal, and with that demand, my ability deactivated itself. My body returned, but I was scared.
Pagani (running up to Miro): "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Dr. Miro, wake up!"
It was too late for me, and when the soldiers and an Elite busted down the door, it was too late. They pointed their guns at me. I tried to explain that I did not mean to, but they did not listen. I had no choice but to run instinctively. I used my support ability- Ridificci Art, again. The soldiers fired but already became a supernatural force that knocked them down. I got past them and got outside, but the alarm went off. The whole headquarter was on high alert.
Speaker: All members of the Enforcement Army, Be on the lookout for Elite Forces Trainee Pagani Sink! Neutralize or shoot him on sight!
Pagani: "No, This can't be happening to me."
I started to cry a bit before the soldier found me. I used my Ridificci Art again since it was like the symbol said. That process only unlocked a fraction of what I could be. I don't have an Attack or Defense, but I got something powerful. I became a conceptual bubble and knocked over any soldier until I got close to the big wall. Before I could get near it, General Beatus hit me with a fist infused with power (Attack State- Brawler's Courage). It got me out of that form. Of course, my Ridificci Art is a Support Ability, and its true weakness is always an Attack Ability.
Beatus: "I am sorry, Pagani, but you must come with me."
Pagani: "No. Stay Back!"
At that moment, I activated my ability again and transmuted my shout. It became a strong boom that sent Beatus flying. I used the moment to use my power again to turn into a concept and phase through the wall. I escaped, but I could never go back...I cannot go anywhere. I became a murderer, a traitor, and a coward. But I cannot stop. I kept running.
Pagani: "Buaaahoho! Buaaaaahaa!"
To be continued...in the Epilogue.