The cold water hit Cross's skin like a slap to the face, sharp and bracing. He winced, cursing under his breath as he fiddled with the shower knob again. For some reason, in this world, the cold and hot knobs were swapped. He'd already learned the hard way after nearly burning himself earlier, turning the wrong side expecting cold water only to be met with skin-scorching heat.

"Why is everything backward in this place?" he muttered, still not entirely over the frustration. "You'd think that in a parallel world, they'd at least keep basic plumbing the same."

He adjusted the knob until the water was a comfortable temperature—cool but not freezing—and let it run over his body. The water beaded down his skin, washing away the hours of stress, confusion, and the lingering nausea from earlier. His buzz-cut hair, still something he wasn't quite ready to accept, didn't exactly help the water situation either. It felt weird, the cool droplets trickling down a scalp that wasn't used to being exposed.

As the water ran over him, his thoughts drifted back to the past few hours. After some trial and error, Cross had finally managed to figure out what the colors of the particles corresponded to. It took time and a lot of focus, but with the Heavenly Eyes activated, the patterns had started to make sense.

Red was the most obvious, closely tied to his physical form. It had to be the Body classification.

Blue, the color that hovered near his head whenever he was thinking, was clearly connected to Mind.

Green was associated with Will, as he noticed the green particles responded the most when he exerted force or intention, like when he was testing his reflexes earlier.

Purple had a deeper, more ethereal quality to it. It was the Soul classification, no doubt about it.

And the yellow-gold ones? They were rarer, more majestic, and seemed to hover near the boundaries of his perception. That must've been Domain. Something high-level he had yet to fully understand.

Silver, though, remained an enigma, associated with Unknown. It hovered just out of reach, like a mystery waiting to be solved.

Cross leaned his head back, letting the cool water cascade down his face. "So that's the rundown, huh? Body, Mind, Will, Soul, Domain, and Unknown. That's what I'm working with."

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One thing he hadn't expected was the ability to interact with the particles. During his initial experimentation, he had accidentally absorbed some of the red ones, those connected to his body. He had felt a slight rush of energy, like a burst of vitality surging through him. But he'd stopped almost immediately, wary of taking in more. He wasn't stupid. He'd read enough fantasy novels to know that absorbing strange energy without understanding it could lead to some horrific side effects.

"Not today, fantasy tropes. Not today," Cross muttered, shaking his head. He was cautious but curious. The sensation was undeniable. He had felt stronger after that brief contact with the particles. If he could harness that power… well, it would be a game-changer. But for now, it was better to hold off until he knew more.

Cross reached for the soap, scrubbing the grime from his skin as he let his mind wander. He could test his absorption theory later, once he had more control over his abilities. For now, the real challenge was mastering the Heavenly Eyes. He had activated them a few times since the initial overload, and each time, the world had exploded into a kaleidoscope of color and detail. Not just sight—feeling too.

When he activated the Heavenly Eyes, it wasn't just seeing the world; it was experiencing it. Every water droplet hitting his skin became a distinct event. He could sense the pressure of each drop, the way it splattered and rolled down his body. It was overwhelming, but also incredible. The potential was limitless.

"I'm getting the hang of it," Cross whispered to himself, smiling slightly. The dizziness that had plagued him during the first few uses was fading. The more he activated the power, the less it seemed to throw his body out of sync. Now, after the third—no, fourth activation—it only left him slightly disoriented, like standing up too fast after lying down.

Progress.

Cross turned off the shower, the final streams of water swirling down the drain as he stepped out, reaching for a towel. He dried himself off, the air cool against his damp skin. As he wiped away the water droplets, he caught his reflection in the mirror.

The buzz-cut still threw him off. He ran a hand over the short bristles of his hair and grimaced. "Why couldn't I at least get my old hair back?"

Buzz-cut aside, it was strange seeing himself like this. He was younger, leaner, and without the faint stubble he had been used to in his previous life. No shaving cream necessary here. His face was bare, his skin smooth. It felt like he was looking at a younger version of his past self, as if he had been rewound back to a time when life was simpler.

"Sixteen again, huh?" Cross murmured, rubbing the towel over his face. "Well, I might as well make the most of it."

He draped the towel over his shoulders and sat down on the toilet lid, his mind racing. He had been given a second chance—an opportunity to reshape his future, his power, everything. The world was different, and so was he.

But what did he want to do? What was his goal?