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Even if it consumed energy, the potential applications were staggering. Bioluminescence as a form of light emission could be incredibly useful if harnessed properly. Still, at level one, Noah doubted it would amount to much. Right now, the best he could manage with the power was something like a glorified flashbang.
Perhaps he was being too quick to judge. After all, this wasn't a natural phenomenon—it was a superpower. And superpowers rarely stayed simple, especially one granted by a system that made progression possible. With the right usage, maybe he could turn it into something worthwhile.
Noah leaned back against the kitchen counter, spoon dangling loosely in his hand, and let his thoughts drift. He'd made up his mind: he wouldn't discard the ability just yet. He'd give it time, test it, and maybe wait for it to reach level two before passing judgment.
But first, he wanted to lay out the limitations, the possible solutions, and the direction he'd take. The ability worked by converting chemical energy, calories, into light, and it produced almost no heat.
That made it useful in one sense, but it exposed the real problems if he ever hoped to weaponize it. Bioluminescent sources simply emit far too few photons per second to reach the intensities an offensive application would require.
On top of that, the emission was incoherent and spectrally broad; it would need a narrow spectral line and phase coherence to be weaponizable.
And finally, there were the energy and physiological constraints. Delivering the optical output necessary for high intensity would generate heat and demand energy beyond what a body could safely supply.
The first problem, the lack of sufficient photons to weaponize the ability, would have to be tested as the power advanced. Only then would he know whether it carried the same inherent limits as natural bioluminescence or whether it might push beyond them.
The second issue, the incoherent and scattered nature of the light, was another question training would answer. Perhaps he could learn to condense the emission or even use his own eyes as natural lenses. Either way, experimentation would decide.
But the final problem was the most crippling one, and the reason the ability seemed so lackluster in the first place: his energy reserves. Without a way to sustain the metabolic drain, he could never maintain the ability for long.
If he had the reserves, he might be able to solve the first problem in one fell swoop, but he didn't. Then, suddenly, his expression shifted, the stoic mask sharpening with clarity.
An idea struck him: if natural energy reserves did not come with the ability, then why not create them himself? He was a certified genius, after all.
Two complementary ideas surfaced in his mind. The first was simple, practical, and already within reach: a highly nutritious compound he could refine into drinks, candies, and countless other forms.
The second was far more important, the artificial organ of his own design. This organ, integrated with the small intestine, would capture excess calories that the body normally failed to absorb and reroute to waste.
Instead of being discarded into the large intestine, these reserves could be harvested, stored, and put to use. Then just maybe he might be able to harness bioluminescence offensively.
"This is definitely feasible," Noah thought, fingers absently stroking his chin. Still, this wasn't an idea that could be rushed. First, he'd need several days to carefully map out the organ, ensuring no hidden complications would arise.
The construction itself was the easy part. Using his own cells and his bioprinter, the organ could be fabricated without much difficulty.
The only true obstacle was rejection, but even that was a solvable problem. Even so, creating the organ in a week didn't mean implanting it right away. For that, he would wait.
He wanted to wait for the lizard serum to finish brewing, and once it was ready, he would undergo a massive surgery: several newly designed organs that would push his body to superhuman levels, and finally the serum itself to enhance and accelerate his recovery and massively multiply his base attributes.
By stacking everything into one decisive surgery, he could maximize results and complete his transformation in a single strike.
For now, he decided to slot bioluminescence into Auto Train, but only after hypermotility reached level two. After the surgery, he would see whether his patience had truly paid off.
But today, it seemed he would be going to school, he decided, shrugging before he quickly wrapped up the leftover food. After tidying up, he checked the time.
"Six thirty-four in the morning," he muttered, then headed back to his room. He would use the extra time to train his telekinesis further.
Later in the morning, Noah found himself sitting cross-legged on the floor of his room, eyes narrowed in concentration.
Around him, several objects drifted in orbit, floating without any clear direction. Noah was training his telekinesis, attempting to shape it into a barrier he could visualize. Yet no matter how relentless his effort, the attempt refused to yield any tangible results.
However, he wasn't about to complain. He understood just how difficult it was to achieve it in the first place. In truth, his lack of success only showed that his experience wasn't yet enough and that his telekinesis still hadn't advanced far enough to handle what he was attempting.
Even so, he kept at it for one simple reason: the results. In just an hour of training, his progress bar had climbed by five percent. It might not seem like much, but given the short time frame and the cramped space he had to work with, it was undeniably effective.
A sharp knock snapped Noah out of his trance, and he immediately let go of his telekinesis. The objects suspended in the air clattered to the floor.
"Hey, Noah. You awake?" Mark's voice came from the other side of the door, sounding more like a statement than a question.
"Yeah, what's up?" Noah replied, quickly sweeping the scattered items back into place with a flick of telekinesis.
"Mom said to check if you're having breakfast before school," Mark said.
"Yeah, don't worry, I'll be right down," Noah said, giving his reflection in the mirror a final glance to check his outfit. A white T-shirt sat cleanly under a black-and-white checkered flannel, the casual layers giving him a sharp but laid-back look.
Slim black jeans tapered neatly into his sneakers, white Adidas with bold black stripes that matched the rest of his outfit. The overall effect was simple and practical, just enough to blend in while still looking put-together.
Afterward, he headed downstairs. As usual, Nolan was nowhere to be found, most likely out patrolling or saving lives to maintain his carefully crafted façade.
What weighed on his mind now was the ticking clock. He didn't have much time left, maybe only a few months at best. All he could do was hope he'd be ready when the moment finally came.
Noah slid into his chair and made quick work of breakfast, barely tasting it as he shoveled it down. After clearing up and offering Debbie a quick goodbye, he snagged his backpack from the couch, slinging it over one shoulder before heading out the door.
The morning air greeted him, crisp, cool, and carrying that faint dampness from freshly watered lawns. The neighborhood was calm, almost drowsy, with only a few cars humming down the street and the rhythmic hiss of sprinklers punctuating the silence.
Mark caught up with him a moment later, wheeling his bike out of the garage. Without a word at first, they pushed off, pedaling side by side through the quiet streets. Their bikes rattled softly over the pavement, a small soundtrack to the unfolding morning.
By the time they rolled into the school grounds, the place was already buzzing with chatter, footsteps, and the clang of lockers. They had made it just in time.
After stepping inside, the two of them drifted into the steady stream of students filling the halls. They talked idly about classes, the weekend, and whatever else came to mind.
Eventually, they stopped at Mark's locker. William was already there waiting, leaning against the metal door with his usual grin. His eyes flicked between Mark and Noah.
"Hey, Noah. Good morning," William greeted, his expression bright as ever.
"Morning, William," Noah replied curtly, offering a polite nod before giving Mark a quick pat on the shoulder. "See you around." With that, he turned and headed down the hall.