CHAPTER 1 - A CUT ABOVE

Max stood tall and straight as he flew in the air. Well, technically it was Maverick doing the flying. He was showing off, doing twists and flips and all kinds of maneuvers that the former gun considered “epic” in his mind. Max had to use [Tether] to keep his feet planted on the gold and black platform which his companion had become. Behind Max floated a giant black scythe, which Max had commanded to follow him if no other instructions were given. The [Scythe of Oblivion] obliged as was its nature.

“It feels sooo amazing!” Maverick exclaimed. His voice was strong, clearly audible in the strong high wind. The cold and wind no longer bothered Max, like it had before. The threshold that they had crossed had made them something more than human. They were now supermortal Cultivators.

Max felt the Spiritual Energy course through him, as he flexed his fingers. His meridians were now wide open and they really felt like they were diamonds. Unbreakable and holding him upright. He felt taller, stronger, better.

Even my mind is clearer.

The Spiritual energy which had coursed through his meridians before had been first a trickle. Then as Max had strengthened himself the trickle had turned into a stream. Now it was a raging river, roaring with power.

Max understood that he was now a powerful creature. Something beyond humanity. And with that came responsibility beyond humanity. It would had to be borne. But that still didn’t stop Max from wanting to engage that little boy inside of him, who was giddy to try out his new toy.

Maverick engaged this baser, darker part of him immediately and gleefully. He flew down from the high air. They burst through the clouds and approached the land. They were still in the area where the deathmatch had happened.

They flew lower and Max extended his hand. There was no technique. No skill from the framework was needed. Max’s touch on the Spiritual energy was instinctive. He sent it forward through the air at a tree standing near the creek that cut through the plains of the area. The energy reached the tree and Max squeezed.

The tree’s trunk cracked like a gunshot, the bark and bits of wood exploding in every direction. The tree hit the ground with a thud.

Max grinned. The distance had been maybe fifty yards and the whole technique had been completely effortless and had barely nibbled at his well of Spiritual energy.

“I wonder what else I can do,” Max said and flexed his fingers again.

“Right back at you, buddy!” Maverick said and hooted as he accelerated.

Max scoffed to himself. Maverick wasn’t even listening. He was too enthralled by being able to fly. Max could hardly blame him. It was a trip. There was no equal to the feeling of freedom and power one had when they had the ability to soar in the air and overlook the world. He would let Maverick enjoy his thing. With some wistfulness Max realized he would have to delegate that to Maverick and settle for being a passenger.

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The disk that Maverick had become gleamed in the orange sun of Alpha Ludus. It was black and had intricate ornate scrollwork made of gold. Underneath the disc was a long barrel, just as Maverick’s previous form had had. Max could only assume the firepower would be vastly different.

It seems our roles have diverged and solidified. Well his has. He has the mobility and the firepower.

Max’s powers had potential. They had versatility. He could use them for a myriad of things, only his imagination being a limiting factor. With such power, analysis paralysis could happen. It was actually a boon that Maverick’s power set was so defined.

That leaves me with control, utility and defense.

Max smirked to himself.

And maybe damage too. Especially large-scale.

Max’s mind returned to him obliterating the Outsider army attacking their base. He had felt a sense of power that was so deep and so profound, it was regal. He finally understood the very strange expressions of kings and emperors etched in marble and paint in artworks of his previous home planet.

The sense of having absolute power. There was something ineffable about it. But it was intoxicating. Max had used that power to instate Joshua as the de facto leader of humans. He had dictated it. And there would be nothing anyone could do about it. He had power through an insurmountable monopoly on violence.

If they do something to hamper the reign of Joshua I will—

He would what? Destroy them? His own kin?

Sure humans had been predators to one another for millennia before, but now that there were other species in the mix, he would really need to be careful with his power.

Yeah, having power is dangerous. It’s already changing my mind. I need to make sure I have control and can stay my hand when needed. Even when I’m feeling angry or greedy.

An old saying from earth came to his mind. Noblesse oblige.

Or in colloquial terms: With great power, comes great responsibility.

Max looked back at the fallen tree he had made explode. That would be the extent of his boyish playing. He would need to be careful. And for all his might, he was more plankton than fish in this big ocean called the universe. The ICCB were beyond even his supermortal status. They were gods in terms of power. And Max realized he coveted it.

I will acquire that kind of power. And I will make sure humanity gets what it needs. Safety, peace, prosperity. I will give it to them.

“And you better make sure that’s a side quest in our grand adventures,” Maverick said.

“Hm?”

“You promised,” Maverick said. “That you would focus on following our Dao. I’m fine with you helping humans. But you can’t have your sentimentality distract you from our literal life’s purpose.”

Max nodded. Maverick did have a point.

“We are that which must destroy,” Max muttered to himself. He felt a tug at his soul when he said that. It had been their breakthrough revelation towards supermortal Cultivation.

“Yeaaaaah,” Maverick said. “I think our scope’s a little bit bigger than your dinky little human project.”

Max focused his attention to his inner being. His soul, which he could now easily sense with his supermortal senses. It urged. Demanded. It wanted Max and Maverick both to engage with it. To seek destruction.

“We aren’t evil, are we?” Max said. He looked at the floating scythe behind him. It was an ominous thing, the silver blade gleaming in the orange sun, a testament to its supernatural sharpness. It had the power to not only rend flesh and bone, but spirit and soul itself.

Maverick was quiet for a moment. Through their bond Max could tell he was serious for a change.

“I think,” Maverick said slowly. “That you are too bound by your human morality. And I have been influenced by it. I think we are beyond good and evil. I think it’s not our place to wonder what we are. We just have to be true to our nature.”

“Even if that leads to horrible things?”

“Maybe,” Maverick said and Max could feel a shrug through their bond. “These questions are too big for me.”

“Right back at you, buddy,” Max muttered. “But they have to be asked.”

“If you say so,” Maverick said. “I’ll leave that philosophical bullshit to you.”

“Hey,” Max said miffed. “I’m going to need your help.”

“Don’t wanna,” Maverick said. “I don’t think you’re going to find a satisfying answer to whether you’re a good or a bad person. Just accept your nature.”

Max grumbled. The stupid flying platform might have a point. But Max would probably still anxiously mull over the question for a long while.

Maverick sighed. “You do you buddy.”