[Time to] manifest deatiny and put some plans into motion. First though one more spar with James. I replenish a bit of life energy as I pull more from plants on my was to meet them. The McEwens didn't even blink when they saw me back to my notmal skin tone. What did surprise them was the spar.
Same opening moves, but this time I had a shield ready, not just any shield either a reflective shield. I saw James dodging eight before he even did it, and I throw a flying sword strike through my knife while with my other hand opening a portal and shooting through it. James noved supernaturally fast dodging both attacks by stepping on air making him leap over both attacks
I see the grin in Jamrs's face as he holds bhis Jian high. One of his trump cards, lonely sword, something I've never been able to dodge. A quick teleport right behind him took care of that, but as soon as I did James quickly deflects my oncoming stab. Going with the flow I spin into a round house that misses straight into some Capoeira moves that Mr. McEwen loves so much. James just catches my leg and holds his jian at my throat.
Although I lost the progress seemed unreal to them. Portal with no sling ring, reflective shield I just saw today, a martial art I've never learned. I may not have Prodigy's smarts, but thanks to him I did get the McEwens' skills. I believe it is aloI will need time to make it my own though. Mr. McEwen's insticts told me to do so, but thats because he was built for it. He is taller with more muscle he would have used the momentum to either carry James in the same direction or break out of the hold. There's also the fact that James's martial arts is made for his future progress, many of his moves can be emoowered with more energy, he is afterall a cultivator.
He confided in me last night that most of his techniques he has is built to be usable at higher levels. He said he the caretaker gave him an interface so he knows which realm he is in so he has an idea of where to go next. He already reached foundation stage and close to core formation whatever that is in power levels here in marvel only he knows. The crazy guy's goal is to go to the dark dimension before Doctor Strange and kill off Dormamu. 5 years, when I mentioned he shrugged and said probably can't even do it within this century but a man can hope for fortuitous encounters and to do so he has to push his limits. This is ehy I worry and chose the healer route. I made him promise to come get me when he goes on crazier adventures or at least contact me when he's in trouble. If I'm there in time I can probably ressurect him, if not I do have a way but it requires 2 naybe 3 high level powers and a power that started off as a gag that i always found hilarious.Who knows what that would do to his cultivation, I sure as hell don't.
Well I had some explaining to do, which I did. I left out the extra memories, but told them about my powers, gene manipulation, and my new acquisitions. Surprise didn't even cover what they must have felt judging from their faces, even James. James in his past life as Weilong wasn't really big into comics. Finding out there is a power that could copy people's skills and knowledge was a big shock
I went into detailed explanation of Prodigy's powers. I get the knowledge and skills and nothing else. That means I don't get the power or physique or the physical experience. I'd have to train to make everything mine, but it does give a great shortcut. I told them I got their magic and combat knowledge, and nothing else. I can't access personal memories of anything not that I would even want to. I got a warbing of being careful which I told them I would abd not to worry as I have complete control of my body down to even its atomic structure.
We exited the training dimension, and I got ready for school. There's only a few days left as it is mid June, why so late? Well there was that Iron man fight that a stray explosion left the school needing some repairs. We were supposed to go back to school early in Dec to make up for it, but then the blizzard left the roads impassable, and for a few weeks school was shut down. Then the Stark expo fiasco... Yeah the NY schools have had a rough year.
As I walked to school I tried to absorb miniscule amounts of life force from around me. I targeted the plant life, it didn't work out too well. I felt myself pull from a few passerbys, luckily I was keeping it as neglible as possible. Basically a few hours worth of their lifeforce. Sorry guys, I hate this but in the long run it should reduce damage and casualties a year from now. I did however have no qualms taking as much life force from any mice, rats, and cockroaches I came across. There was quite a few in the subway.
By the time I got to school I was topped off and feeling energetic and even had quite a bit of excess. My control got a lot better, and I had only 2 instances where I accidentally took life force from people. I did get a message about meeting up with the Murlocks this afternoon, which I arranged before I entered school premises.
My first stop was to my guidance councilor. It was late in the school year, but I wanted to apply ro graduate this year as I had the credits to do so. I didn't before because I was using dual enrollment to get free college credits, wanted more time with my friends, and wasn't sure wanted to get better SAT scores as my PSAT was coming in around 1250. Good, but I felt like I could do better, with Prodigy's powers acing it would be cake walk. I have other plans though, skip college altogether and get honraty PhDs by plagarizing some of the alternate Dr. McCoy's papers. That guy has won some Nobel prizes in different universes. That would play into my backup plan 1 of becoming a legit doctor (heh practicing medicine and using ny powers on the sly makes for an interesting combination. Backup plan 2 which I want to do anyways is to run a restaurant, just need some start up capital.
Anyways talks with the guidance councilor went smoothly especially when I told her I didnt want to walk which would have upset the valedictiorian of the class. They had already been planning graduation for while now as it is the day after the last day of school. I also changed my mailing address to the McEwen's place. I text James and told him about being out late to talk to the Merlocks which he wanted to go to, but I didn't know if he would be welcome as he's not one of us. I had to assure him that I would vanish the moment anything seemed off.
School wasn't really anything to write home about. Sit through lectures with information I already know from siphoning it out of the teachers' heads. Hang with friends and talk while walking to class, more talking during lunch break. I mean the only thing exciting was Rico texting me about going to the meeting. Honestly I'm looking forward to what the Murlocks have to say. They aren't like the comics, way more grounded, probably because mutants aren't widespread and they have more diverse members. I've got high, high hopes for the future.