Chapter: A New Power Awakens in New York
It had been days since I lost consciousness.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the blinding sun beating down on me. I shut them immediately, groaning.
"Where... am I?"
"How long have I been out?" I muttered under my breath.
Great Sage:"Notice: You have been unconscious for approximately one week."
My eyes shot open in shock. I immediately sat up and looked around. I was still in the forest, but now lying near a flowing river.
"So this is where I washed up, huh..." I muttered.
Great Sage:"Notice: Your mana has fully recovered. You are at full strength."
A grin tugged at my lips as I stretched my arms. "About time."
I flared my mana — violently.
The nearby animals scattered in terror or fainted instantly, the river splashed upward from the force, and the rocks beneath my feet cracked.
I smirked, suppressing the energy. "Good... I can feel the difference."
Walking to the riverbank, I caught my reflection in the water.
My face was a mess — dirt smudged my skin, my clothes were tattered and soaked, and my silver-blue hair was tangled and wild.
"First things first... I need to clean up."
Time Skip
After a full cleanse and change, I looked far more presentable.
I tied my silver-blue hair into a loose ponytail and donned a black tracksuit under a hoodie — simple, but effective.
Great Sage:"Notice: New York City is located north of your current position."
I nodded.
With a beat of my wings, I took to the skies — breaking the sound barrier with a deafening sonic boom as I flew toward the horizon.
The massive skyscrapers of New York City soon came into view.
"The city that never sleeps... noisy as ever," I thought, hovering high above.
From my vantage point, I saw yellow taxis jammed in traffic, people rushing down sidewalks, and the chaos of city life continuing endlessly.
My eyes caught the bold letters on a towering skyscraper: STARK TOWER.
"So... that's Tony Stark's place, huh. Iron Man himself. We'll be meeting soon enough," I mused.
I scanned the area, locking onto a high-end hotel.
"A place to settle down. Money won't be an issue..."
I landed atop a nearby building, conjuring wads of cash with Creation Magic.
With ease, I jumped into an alley beside the hotel, straightened my hoodie, and strolled through the main entrance.
The hotel was pristine — white marble floors, gold accents, and an air of wealth.
I walked towards the reception desk, where a young woman with brown hair and soft brown eyes — name tag reading Emma — greeted me politely.
"Hello, ma'am. How can I help you today?" she asked sweetly.
I chuckled softly.
"Of course, she thinks I'm a girl..."
"Actually," I corrected, "it's sir. And I'd like a room."
Her eyes widened in embarrassment, and she blushed.
"S-sorry, sir! I didn't realize," she stammered, quickly typing on her keyboard.
"The room will be four hundred dollars for two nights," she said professionally.
I placed a fat stack of cash onto the counter.
"How long will this cover?" I asked casually.
Her eyes widened again. "Uh... four weeks, sir."
I nodded. She handed me a key card — Room 425 on the fourth floor.
The room was beautiful — sleek modern designs, massive bed, and a breathtaking view of the city skyline.
Collapsing onto the couch, I thought back to my fight against the X-Men.
If I hadn't escaped when I did... Jean Grey, or maybe Storm, could've stopped me.
Two omega-level threats.
I needed to grow stronger.
Much stronger.
Great Sage:"Notice: The path to evolution is available. Demon Lord Evolution is unlocked."
"How do I trigger it?" I asked.
Great Sage:"Two methods: Kill and devour 20,000 souls. Or manually unseal your true potential, which will take 1 to 4 months."
"That long, huh..." I sighed heavily.
Great Sage:"Commencing Demon Lord Evolution Process."
Meanwhile – X-Men Headquarters
Jean Grey sat at the round table, the room filled with a heavy, tense silence.
"It's been a week," she said softly, "and we still have no idea where Rimuru is."
Wolverine scoffed. "Kid sure knows how to stay hidden."
Cyclops leaned forward, brows furrowed. "We need to find him. Fast. Someone that unpredictable with that kind of power... We can't have another incident like the farm."
Jean lowered her gaze sadly. "I sensed it... the sadness. The pain. I don't just want to stop him... I want to help him."
Storm, calm and resolute, nodded in agreement. "Jean is right."
Professor Xavier, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
"Then it's settled. We'll find Rimuru Tempest — not just to stop him... but to save him."
Two Weeks Later
I sprinted across the rooftops of New York — a blur of black under the moonlight.
My white fox mask hid my identity as I moved with inhuman speed.
Lately, I had spent most of my time training, perfecting my combat skills.
Tonight, however, I had decided to take a walk.
That's when I heard it — a loud sonic boom, followed by the unmistakable crackle of an explosion.
I raced toward the source.
In the distance, I saw it: a red-and-blue figure battling a monstrous man in a rhino suit.
"Spider-Man... and Rhino," I realized.
Down below, Spider-Man struggled to hold Rhino back from crashing into a construction site filled with innocent workers.
Rhino grabbed Spider-Man and threw him violently into a building, shattering the wall.
I landed silently in the street, stepping between Rhino and his prey.
"I think that doesn't belong to you," I said coolly, pointing at the stolen documents clutched in Rhino's massive hand.
Rhino snorted in amusement.
"Who the hell are you, kid? You got a death wish?"
Before he could charge, I vanished — appearing beside him with a swift side-kick that sent him staggering back.
Rhino roared in fury, charging at me again — but I launched sticky threads, wrapping around his neck, yanking him down hard into the asphalt.
Not enough to kill. Just enough to send a message.
Rhino looked up at me, dazed, bewildered by my strength.
"Who... the hell... are you?!"
I pulled off my white mask slightly, revealing a confident smirk.
"Just a nobody," I said, as my mana flared menacingly, sending chills through the street.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]