As the power of "Psychic Juggernaut" settled into James's very being, infusing him with incredible strength, he recognized the immediate increase in his capabilities. Despite the urge to test his enhanced powers, he knew waiting until he could safely do so in the Facility's training rooms was more prudent. He would simply not have any frame of reference here, and since he still had a few choices to get through, it would be an incomplete assessment.
His mind, now more focused and sharper than ever, turned to the next phase of his evolution - the selection of skill evolutions and entirely new ones.
The System, responsive as always to his decisions, displayed a new set of options, starting with the evolution of his existing skills.
As you have chosen the "Psychic Juggernaut" Talent, your Skill Evolution options have been updated.
Thakinetic Awareness Evolution Options:
Psychic Omniscience: This evolution expands your awareness to a near-omniscient level within a certain radius. Not only will you detect sentient beings with much greater accuracy, managing to peer into their intentions, but the entire area under the skill influence will be open to you. Inanimate objects are now visible to your senses.
Psychic Omniscience... This would give me a significant tactical advantage in any situation. Being able to sense everything rather than just sentients will mean being able to avoid prepared ambushes and traps, too. This is good.
Mana Echoes: This evolution allows you to sense mana fluctuations in your surroundings, effectively letting you 'see' magic and energy patterns in the environment. This skill would enable you to detect hidden traps and invisible enemies or even predict magical attacks before they happen.
It's not bad; this could be pretty useful for my experimentations. But it would mean losing a lot of my senses. I could still see monsters and enemies, but if it's tied to my sight, I'd have a lot of blind spots. Cool, but not good enough.
Life Web: Enhance your awareness to connect with all life forms around you. This connection lets you sense their condition and emotions and even communicate with them on a basic level. It's an empathetic bond that turns every living being into an ally, providing deep insight into the natural world.
Also very cool. It's the most peaceful sounding of the options, and it might make any psychic power stronger, but it's just an addition to what I already have. Again, I want multiplication, not addition.
After careful consideration, James picked Psychic Omniscience. Not only was the description more fitting for his build, but the grandiose-sounding name made him hope for something more.
Next were the evolution options for his Thakinetic Empowerment.
Boundless Strength: This evolution significantly enhances your physical prowess, allowing you to perform feats of strength that defy the limits of your body. Your mind will bolster your body, granting incredible power.
A bit too vague. It sounds like a simple upgrade. Nothing groundbreaking here. Still, it is a solid option if the others are not good enough.
Rapid Regeneration: Your mana now rapidly heals your injuries during combat, making you resilient and harder to take down. This constant regeneration would let you fight longer and harder, shrugging off wounds that would incapacitate others.
Rapid Regeneration would make me a lot harder to kill. It's a passive ability, but the utility of staying in the fight longer can't be underestimated. I would be able to go crazy, even without Ezekiel there to constantly heal me. I’ll think about it.
Psychic Overload: This evolution allows you to supercharge your body with mana, drastically boosting your speed, reflexes, and agility. Temporarily, you'll be able to reach strength much beyond you, though this may come with drawbacks. This skill is the result of being able to free your body from your mental constraints.
And there it is. This is the best option. Regeneration would be nice, but being able to hit above my weight class has proven invaluable. Potions can always be bought, and Ezekiel is more than capable of healing me if I need it. I might consider something like that in the future, but this synergizes too well with my Talent.
James chose "Psychic Overload." The way it would fit in with his new Talent and the tactical advantage of a massive - if temporary - increase in power was simply too good to pass.
This is shaping up to be a good build. I'm expanding my arsenal while enhancing my strengths. Now, let's see what Resistance has to offer.
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Impenetrable Mind: This evolution fortifies your mental resistance to an unparalleled degree. You would be nearly immune to psychic attacks, mind control, and emotional manipulation, turning your mind into a fortress.
Mmm, this sounds very strong, but also very focused. Mental attacks would be almost no problem, but are there that many people with psychic powers? Auras could be a problem, to be sure, but only if I'm of a lower rank. And someone so much stronger than me could still kill me with their bare hands, even if I no sold their aura.
Adaptive Resistance: This evolution allows your resistance to adapt to any form of attack, be it physical, magical, or mental. After experiencing an attack once, you become increasingly resistant to it. The effect stacks, though it becomes progressively harder to increase.
Well now. This really depends on how hard we are talking. Could I become immune to fire if I let Maria burn me for long enough? Something tells me that it's not that easy, but it should still mean much less damage. It's not healing, but as they say, prevention is better than a cure. This sounds like it leans more towards the "Juggernaut" side of the Talent, but I like it.
Psychic Shield: Your mental abilities reach outwards into the world, crafting a shield as strong as your mind. This shield would absorb a significant amount of damage, making for a powerful defensive option.
Almost entirely different than Thakinetic Resistance, but still defensive in nature. This would transform me into more of a support, though, and I don't want that. My body should be shielded enough by Juggernaut without adding a skill on top; I'll leave the rest to Daniel.
After a moment of thought, James selected "Adaptive Resistance." The idea of becoming tougher with each battle, of learning and growing from every encounter, resonated deeply with his journey so far.
After a moment in which he was left alone, floating in the white void, a new window popped up.
Skill Selection, pt. 2
As you have chosen the evolution for your already owned Skills, it is time to expand your powers. Please choose three new Skills among the ten options curated for you.
At once, ten new windows popped open. Each one offered a tantalizing glimpse of new powers. One promised he'd be able to target minds as far away as a hundred miles, as long as he had something with a psychic trace on hand.
Another would grant him the ability to absorb willpower from his enemies in what felt a bit too much like the description of a vampire. It sounded strong enough, but James couldn't see himself like that. It would also fade away with time, meaning the growth would only be temporary. After careful deliberation, James chose "Willpower Projection", "Mental Assault" and "Mana Manipulation."
"Willpower Projection" would allow him to extend his will beyond his body, affecting the environment and enemies around him. It was a direct extension of his Psychic Juggernaut Talent evolution, giving him the ability to impose his will on the world in a tangible way.
"Mental Assault" offered a way to directly attack the minds of his foes, a powerful offensive tool that could incapacitate or even neutralize enemies without physical confrontation. It was a skill that required finesse and control, but James was confident in his mental strength. It differed from Willpower projection in that this would only focus on the minds, rather than the bodies, granting him more versatility of options. Considering what his Talent’s name was, he believed he might be able to do great things with it.
Lastly, "Mana Manipulation" would allow him to directly control mana in his surroundings - not as much as he had chosen the mage Talent, but still more than enough. It opened up a plethora of tactical options, from disrupting enemy spells to enhancing his or his allies' abilities. It was a skill that required understanding and precision, but the strategic advantages it offered were undeniable.
It would also mean he could still conduct his little experiments, which, to James, was a fundamental part of his path as an Awakener.
His most powerful power applications had come from that, and he couldn't wait to see what he'd be able to do with the new powers he had gained.
As James made his final selections, a sudden and searing pain engulfed his mind, akin to his brain being set ablaze. The intensity of the sensation was overwhelming, causing his vision to blur and darken. He staggered, grappling with the agony, feeling as though he was teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.
Before, it had felt like his mind was being forged anew; now, it was being split open and filled to the brim. The pain was a consequence of the immense power he was tapping into, a force so great it bordered on the unbearable.
Then, the System receded, and the pain disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving James gasping for breath.
He blinked, and the white void of the System's interface was gone, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the real world. He was back in the forest clearing, the sounds of nature and the presence of his team grounding him to reality.
James slowly got to his feet, feeling like a new man. The power coursing through his veins was palpable, a vibrant energy that pulsed with every heartbeat. He felt stronger, more capable, and more connected to his abilities than ever before.
His mind worked much more smoothly now. Memories he had pushed to the side, or dismissed as unimportant returned to the surface in a tidal wave. He, however, was not overwhelmed, quickly categorizing and analyzing everything.
One thing, surprisingly, stood out to him the most. Callum Wright's uncomprehending face as he lay defeated. He had been so strong compared to them, having gone through the same process he had just completed but still lost to teamwork and wit.
The memory made James introspective. He understood how easy it could be to become arrogant, to let the power go to his head. The temptation to see oneself as invincible, as above others, was a trap that he was now more susceptible to than ever. It was a path James knew he must avoid for the sake of his team and his own integrity.
At that moment, James made a silent vow to himself. He would remain vigilant, not just against external threats, but against internal ones as well. He would use his power responsibly, always remembering the lessons he had learned and the values he held dear. He would not let arrogance or overconfidence cloud his judgment or lead him astray.
James took a deep breath and let go. The memories faded back to the recesses of his mind, though it felt as if it would be the work of an instant to bring them back to the surface.
Soon after, as his senses tentatively unfurled, James became acutely aware of his teammates stirring from their own Talent Evolution. The changes in them were noticeable, almost tangible in the air around them. With his newly enhanced abilities, James could perceive the subtle shifts in their auras, the newfound power that they now possessed.
As they each regained their bearings, a shared look of understanding passed between them. They all sensed the changes in each other, the significant leaps in power they had each achieved. There was an eagerness to discuss and explore their new abilities, to understand the full extent of their evolutions, but they agreed, almost wordlessly, to wait. Now was not the time, as they were still reeling from the transformative experience.
Their moment of silent camaraderie was interrupted by Mr. Julian. His voice, firm yet not devoid of warmth, called them back to reality. "Good job. Don’t worry, you'll have a chance to explore your powers at the Facility. Now, it's time to return.” He announced, his tone leaving no room for delay.
A lot changes, but some things stay the same. The old monster is still as grumpy as ever.