LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 147: Chapter 146
A month had passed since Alex's quiet breakthrough to level 5, and while his personal journey had taken on a reflective and steady pace, the world outside was anything but calm. The rise of ability users continued to reshape societies, economies, and even the very nature of power. New inventions were flooding the market, and governments, businesses, and ordinary people were scrambling to keep up with the rapid changes.
All over the globe, ability users were revolutionizing industries. Construction was one of the fields that had seen the most dramatic shift. Users with abilities related to earth manipulation, levitation, and energy control were now essential parts of mega-projects. Buildings that once took years to construct were now rising in a matter of weeks, if not days. Entire cities were being restructured, with modern designs that pushed the limits of architecture. Skyscrapers that touched the clouds, reinforced bridges spanning vast distances, and subterranean transport systems were all being built at unprecedented speeds.
In the energy sector, inventions harnessing abilities to power entire regions had become a hot topic. One inventor in China had developed a device capable of storing and amplifying the bio-electricity generated by certain ability users, creating a new form of clean, renewable energy. Countries that once relied on fossil fuels were now considering a transition to ability-based power generation, causing a global shift in energy economics.
However, not all the changes were positive. In regions where governments had fallen or been overthrown, ability users were asserting dominance. In some cases, conquerors like Eze were claiming more territories, their ambitions growing beyond regional control. Clashes between rival ability users were becoming common, leaving cities in ruins as power struggles escalated. The idea of a united league to regulate ability users was still just a concept, and many believed it was little more than a ploy by governments to reassert control. Online forums were buzzing with comments, both in support of regulation and in fierce opposition, claiming that any attempts to control ability users would lead to further chaos.
Amidst these changes, the scientific community faced its own challenges. One of the greatest frustrations for researchers worldwide was their inability to detect the energy that ability users relied on. Despite countless efforts to measure, quantify, or understand the nature of this energy—whether it was biological, cosmic, or something entirely new—it remained undetectable by any known scientific instrument.
Dr. Carlisle, one of the leading figures in the field, had been at the forefront of these efforts. His frustration was palpable, as he had devoted the last few years of his life to unraveling the mystery of abilities. In his lab, he and his team had conducted hundreds of experiments on ability users, attempting to trace the source of their power. Yet, no matter how sophisticated their equipment, they were no closer to understanding the elusive energy field that allowed people to manipulate matter, time, or energy.
However, despite his frustrations in that area, Dr. Carlisle had achieved notable success in other fields. One of his most significant accomplishments was the creation of a genetic enhancement reagent. This serum, once injected into a subject, could enhance a person's physical strength, doubling their natural abilities. Although it didn't grant them any special powers, it made ordinary humans twice as strong, faster, and more resilient than the average person.
The release of this genetic enhancement caused a mild sensation in the public sphere. While it was groundbreaking in terms of human performance, its reception was tempered by the fact that raw strength, even doubled, could never match the destructive capabilities of true ability users. The enhancement was seen as a stepping stone—a way for non-ability users to bridge the gap, at least in physical terms—but it did little to quell the growing unrest.
Driven by his desire to compete with the abilities of the new age, Dr. Carlisle's experiments had taken a darker turn. He had begun working on more radical approaches to enhancing human potential. His latest project involved splicing genetic material from ability users into non-ability individuals, hoping to create a hybrid form of human with the potential for powers. These experiments were still in the early stages, but the ethical implications were vast, and many in the scientific community feared that Carlisle's ambition would lead him down a dangerous path.
Yet, his successes continued to build. The enhancement reagent, although modest in its power compared to abilities, was already being tested by the military. Government forces saw the potential of creating stronger soldiers who could at least stand a chance in combat against the weaker ability users. Dr. Carlisle was also working on a second version of the reagent that would enhance cognitive functions, potentially creating super-intelligent individuals. His breakthroughs in these areas earned him both praise and criticism—praise for his ingenuity and criticism for the lengths to which he was willing to go.
The chaos in the streets reflected the changes happening in labs like Dr. Carlisle's. Cities across the globe were witnessing more clashes between ability users, and with no clear regulatory body to enforce order, things were getting worse. Heroes and villains emerged from the shadows, using their powers to reshape society according to their own whims. In certain parts of the world, ability users had taken control of entire regions, with some declaring themselves rulers while others worked to protect civilians from the anarchy that had become daily life.
In online communities, opinions were divided. Some viewed these individuals as the future of humanity—superhumans who could lead the next step in human evolution. Others saw them as dangerous threats, advocating for stricter measures to contain and control their abilities. Governments around the world were scrambling to figure out how to handle the situation, with no easy solutions in sight.
Back in his quiet corner of the world, Alex remained focused. The world was spinning into chaos, but he knew he couldn't afford to be distracted. He had made his breakthrough to level 5 and was now exploring the subtle changes that came with it. His introspection allowed him to peer deeper into his body, studying how his internal systems worked in harmony with his mental strength. He was refining his flowstrike cultivation technique and using his newfound clarity to optimize every movement, every breath.
Externally, his perception of the environment had sharpened to the point where he could sense even the smallest shifts in the air, the faintest rustling of leaves, the slightest change in temperature. He moved with the rhythm of his surroundings, aligning himself with the pulse of the environment. It was an experience unlike anything he had felt before, and it filled him with a sense of calm even as the world outside grew more chaotic.
And still, he waited. The Cognichip upgrade was on the horizon, and Alex knew that when it was complete, it would open up a new realm of possibilities. Until then, he would continue his quiet exploration, refining his technique and waiting for the world to catch up with him.