The sewers hum quietly as I sit on a ledge looking at the water. My reflection stares back at me from the shallow stream, a jagged mess of black crystal and shifting light.
"Alright," I mutter, rolling my shoulders. "Let's see what I can do now."
There's a pile of rubble nearby I guess, time to test myself out. I stretch out a clawed hand. The air shimmers faintly, a distortion bending around my palm.
At first, nothing happens. Then, slowly, one of the bigger pieces, maybe the size of a microwave, starts to float.
My vision narrows, lines of glowing blue snaking through my armor as I focus. The rock wobbles in the air, rises a few feet, and then-
*FWUMP*
It launches forward, slamming into the far wall with a satisfying crack. Dust bursts outward like smoke.
"Ha!" I yelp to myself, admiring the new fracture in the concrete. "That's… not bad at all."
I flex my claw, feeling the faint buzz of psychic residue still dancing in the edges of my claw. Medium effort for that much impact. If I can throw concrete, maybe I can throw people.
I crouch, testing the strange energy running through my body. It's like my whole nervous system hums with low voltage. Not quite limitless, but close enough to get cocky.
Alright, ive been living under here like a crystal cockroach for far too long, time to have some fun.
I start moving, and im fast. My claws click against the slick floor as I dart through the maze of tunnels. The sewer system winds endlessly beneath the city, full of dripping pipes, rusted grates, and stale echoes.
Every turn feels instinctual. I remember the points A1 to A12, the markers, the branching paths, I could map this place in my head by now.
Then, mid-dash, I skid to a stop.
There's someone ahead.
A man in an orange jumpsuit stands ankle-deep in water, holding a flashlight and a wrench. His name tag says "Masao." His expression is ... not very calm.
We stare at each other for a long second.
"…uh," he says, blinking at my glowing, inhuman form. "hello?"
Hmm, what to do? I guess I should calm him down, its the least I can do. I wouldnt wanna bump into a monster while doing my job.
I reach my claw out forward and speak in my deep menacingly inhuman voice.
"Dont mind me, im just here to inspect some pipes, continue your job."
He nods and scratches the back of his head. "A-alright, oh a-a-and the pipes near B3 are pretty busted up so if you could report that to the commisioner that would be great."
Did ... did he actually believe that? Thats weird but oh well, I give him a nod and continue forward.
After another few turns, I find a ladder leading up. The manhole cover above glows faintly with sunlight.
Time to get some air.
I push it open and emerge in an alleyway behind a convenience store. City D. The afternoon light is warm, cutting through the haze. A delivery truck rumbles by. Normal life continues, oblivious.
"It's been a bit since ive been free to do whatever I want in the daylight," I murmur. My voice echoes weirdly off the walls. "Kinda nice."
Well, time to make this day memorable.
My claws twitch with anticipation. The psychic hum in my body builds again, stronger now that I'm in open space.
I can feel the lights, the cars, the people, all those little energy signatures fluttering around me. So many things to test myself against.
I stretch my limbs, the joints creaking faintly, then leap onto a nearby rooftop in a single bound. My feet crack the concrete where I land.
"Not bad," I say, scanning the skyline. "Let's see how strong I really am."
Down below, people bustle through the streets. The winds not that strong so it feels pretty nice on my body.
But still, that urge to get stronger, to fill the empty void in me is impossible to shake off. I guess ill have some fun and hurt a few things.
And with that, I leap into the street, grabbing a car and launching it into the side of the store, people around me freeze, then run and scream.
Hehe, this is fun.