Etherian

It is a name that designates someone with superpowers. Being called an Etherian means that an individual possesses superpowers and deserves the respect of all. Tom, too, had now become an Etherian. However, at the moment, he was not in the right mindset for it.

Tom was absorbed by what he learned,

it was extremely astonishing. When an individual unlocked their first seal, they typically gained instinctive knowledge of their obtained power.

Some scientists speculated that this knowledge was innate, so this was an information that every individual possessed about their power but couldn't access. It required the intervention of the Etherium for someone to read this information, which would explain why one could only obtain this knowledge after unlocking the first seal.

Tom, still taken aback, decided to tap into this knowledge to determine his power.

To his shock, instead of receiving one piece of information, he received two!

It took him a few minutes to calm down and gather his thoughts.

He pondered, 'How is it possible to have two pieces of information? If there are two pieces, then that means I have...'

Tom didn't want to finish that thought because it sounded too unbelievable. To confirm the truth, he decided to examine the information he had received. He closed his eyes and focused on the new knowledge imprinted in his brain.

Tom first concentrated on the initial knowledge he had obtained. After a few minutes, he thought, 'Time manipulation, huh... Vista was right.'

Learning that he possessed the power to manipulate time didn't surprise Tom all that much, as he had prepared himself for that possibility. His only emotion was confusion, particularly when he recalled the events in the café.

He wondered, 'So, it was indeed me who caused the time stop. But how did I use my power to stop time when I hadn't unlocked my first seal yet? And especially, why did I feel such pain while using it? also why exactly at that moment?'

It's worth noting that the café events occurred two years after the first superpowers appeared. So, why precisely at that moment?

Tom pondered these questions for a moment but decided to let them go, thinking, 'There's no point in dwelling on questions I probably won't have answers to at the moment.'

He shifted his focus to the second piece of information he had obtained. A few minutes after closing his eyes and studying the second knowledge, he opened his eyes with a bewildered look.

What he discovered left him puzzled, and he didn't know how to feel about it.

Firstly, it confirmed his suspicion that he possessed two powers. This revelation alone shocked him because he realized not only did he possess one of the rarest powers, if not the rarest—the manipulation of time—but he also had two powers from his first seal.

It was a truly astonishing realization, as he knew of no one who had ever received two powers from their first seal. It confirmed that his case was genuinely exceptional. Thinking about the pain he had endured during the unlocking of the first seal, he thought, 'At least I didn't suffer for nothing.'

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The second thing that surprised Tom was his second power, before undertaking the trial, Tom had to study information on various powers. This knowledge was crucial as it would help him understand the strengths and weaknesses of potential adversaries.

Additionally, if the power he obtained upon unlocking his first seal was one he had read about, it would have simplified his progression significantly. That explained why those who obtained a power sought a master with the same power.

However, what surprised Tom about his second power was that he struggled to identify it. It didn't resemble any of the powers he had studied. It seemed like an unusual power; 'If I rely on the information I obtained, this power would be... deconstruction?' thought Tom, looking perplexed.

Realizing that sitting and pondering wouldn't provide answers, Tom stood up and thought, "Better to try them out and find out. But before that..."

He wanted to observe the changes his body had undergone. First, he focused on the external changes. As he inspected his body, he was joyously surprised to see that the injuries from his previous battle had disappeared. He no longer felt any pain; it was as if he had never been injured.

"Nice"

As he continued to examine his body, he noticed another change. The muscles he had developed during his training with Vista appeared more defined and harder. When he clenched his fist, he felt a newfound strength.

This was a phenomenon that occurred when someone unlocked their first seal. Unlocking the first seal provided a boost in physical strength, agility, healing abilities, heightened senses, and even a boost in mental capabilities, allowing the individual to think and process information faster than before.

Tom experienced all these boosts and couldn't wait to test them out. But before that, he needed to check the changes inside his body. He closed his eyes and established a connection with the Etherium.

The connection was much faster now, indicating the development of his senses and an even closer bond with the Etherium. With his first seal unlocked, the Etherium had permeated his entire body, infusing every cell. This marked the difference between a normal person and an Etherian.

In the case of a normal person, the Etherium is a part of their body, but it remains somewhat external. However, for an Etherian, the Etherium penetrates every organ, and they have a more profound familiarity with it than an ordinary person.

Moreover, while a normal person cannot see what happens inside their body and can only feel if there are any changes, an Etherian can observe the interior of their body through the Etherium. Of course, someone who has just unlocked their first seal has more difficulty seeing inside their body compared to someone with their second seal and so on.

However, Tom didn't need to see the interior of his body in great detail; he simply wanted to observe any changes, if there were any.

As Tom focused his consciousness within, he could sense the Etherium coursing through him like a river of energy. It flowed effortlessly through every fiber of his being, and he felt a deep connection with its essence. He soon noticed that there were indeed changes within him.

His internal energies seemed more harmonious and balanced, and there was a subtle, yet significant, shift in the way the Etherium interacted with his body.

With the Etherium being an integral part of his being, Tom felt like he could tap into its vast reservoir of power with greater ease. He could sense the potential it held and the possibilities that lay ahead. This newfound connection was empowering, and he could hardly contain his excitement to experiment with his powers.

Tom calmed his emotions and decided to continue his observations. He directed his focus to his head, where the first seal was located. In the spot where the seal had been, there was now a soft white light. This light was the same light that had emanated from his body during the unlocking of the first seal. Within this radiant light, there was a sort of "core".

This core was what had been sealed by the first seal; it housed his powers and also served as a reserve of energy. Tom watched as the core absorbed the Etherium. All of this seemed normal, but when he looked around the core, he was astonished by what he saw.

"Huh?"