Genesis: The Evolution Begins

Chapter four: The Clock Begins To Tick

Somewhere in the city, in a villa's basement, a small boy sat alone in a barely lit room.

Four years old. Almost five.

His white hair matched his mother's. His green eyes matched his father's.

He stared at the wall, unblinking.

Then a soft chime echoed inside his head.

[System Initializing...]

[Welcome back, Host.]

The boy's lips curved into a smile no child should possess.

About time, he thought.

---

The penthouse door swung open, revealing the blinding sunlight that poured in like a flood, chasing away the shadows of her month-long captivity. Mira stepped out, blinking against the brightness, her heart racing with exhilaration. She inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh air that tasted like freedom.

"Ma'am," a voice called, breaking her reverie. Two tall bodyguards, clad in black, stood a few steps behind her. "We're ready to go."

Mira turned, her lips curling into a sly smile. "Of course. How could I forget my entourage?" She gestured dramatically.

They formed a protective wall around her as they descended the sleek marble elevator of the penthouse to the underground parking lot. Mira couldn't resist the urge to laugh, a sound that came out like a soft chuckle.

She surveyed the small army of stoic men and women surrounding the rows of vehicles.

"I thought it was just the two of you…"

They had no idea what she had planned.

"Is it really necessary to have this many?" she asked, her tone teasing but laced with defiance. "I'm just going to a market, not a war zone."

"Mr. Aegis's orders, ma'am," the lead bodyguard replied, expressionless. "For your safety."

"Right. Safety," she muttered under her breath.

They ushered her into a sleek black SUV, and soon they were weaving through the city. Mira's heart raced with each passing block as the vibrant scene outside flickered to life in the sunlight. The cacophony of honking cars and chattering pedestrians engulfed her. The world felt alive again, nothing like the desolate ruins of her past life. "Let's go to the wholesale market," she directed, her voice resolute.

The bodyguards exchanged glances, but their duty was clear.

She had a plan, and she needed supplies—lots of them. The world was ending in two months, and she would be damned if she let Alvin dictate her life any longer.

Once they arrived, the chaos of the market buzzed around her. Rows of stalls overflowed with goods, and the air was thick with the scents of spices and fresh produce. Mira stepped out, taking a moment to absorb the vibrant scene. "This is fantastic!" she exclaimed, feigning enthusiasm. "So much to see!"

"Stay close, ma'am," one of the guards instructed, forming a tight circle around her.

"Of course. We're already drawing enough attention as it is. Why don't we split up? It'll be easier to move about. What do you say?" She sounded expectant.

"No. We've been ordered to protect you, and that's what we'll do," the head bodyguard replied firmly.

"You really intend to follow me into every aisle, huh?" she said, a smile that wasn't quite a smile stretching across her face. "Let's just go shopping. It's been ages since I got to do something so simple, right? You wouldn't deny me that, would you?" Mira feigned a pout.

The bodyguards exchanged glances, sensing that their young madam had been acting strangely lately.

"We're already here; it'd be a waste to go back empty-handed," the head bodyguard conceded.

A few hours later, the tension in her chest built until it was unbearable. "Oh come on, I need to use the restroom. Can't a girl have a moment of privacy?" she batted her eyelashes, her voice dripping with mock innocence.

The guards hesitated, exchanging glances again. "We'll—"

"Just for a minute," she interrupted, her tone shifting to one of authority. "I promise I won't go far."

Reluctantly, they nodded. "We'll wait outside," the lead guard conceded, stepping aside.

Mira entered the restroom and closed the door behind her, a satisfied grin spreading across her face. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as she leaned against the cool sink, her reflection staring back at her—disheveled white hair, tired eyes, but with a spark of determination she hadn't felt in years.

"I thought as much," she murmured to herself, her heart racing as she focused inward. Memories of her past life surged like a wave, and she could feel the familiar energy stirring within her. "But I didn't dare test it out in the penthouse."

She closed her eyes, visualizing the inventory she had once wielded. A soft glow enveloped her fingers as she attempted to store the toilet paper. "Let's see if I still have it," she whispered, heart pounding.

With a flick of her wrist, the toilet paper vanished. The air shimmered as it materialized in her mind, and she felt the familiar pull of her inventory. "Back to level one," she whispered, grinning.

The bathroom door creaked open slightly, and she could hear the guards murmuring outside. Time was running out.

But she wasn't done. She focused on the territory space, picturing a protective barrier that would envelop her location. The sensation was exhilarating, the energy crackling in the air as she vanished for a few seconds and then reappeared in the same spot.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and one of the female guards stepped in, eyes narrowing as she surveyed the scene. "Is everything alright, ma'am?"

Mira plastered on a bright smile, the façade of calm returning to her face. "Just a little self-reflection," she quipped, her voice light. "I'll be out in a moment."

Status screen:

Name: Mira Calen

Gender: Female

Title: Neogen

Level: 1 (0/500)

Agility: 12

Strength: 15

Constitution: 8

Aether: 50/50

Intelligence: 25

Luck: 6

Skills: None

Territory space: Level 0

Affinity: lightening, Ice, Mnemokinesis.

"To think I even returned with my last superpower," she murmured, stepping out of the restroom with a spark of mischief in her eyes.

"Time to put this to the test," she thought, her mind racing with possibilities.

The guards glanced back, and she felt the weight of their stares. "Shall we?" she asked, her voice smooth as silk, ready to weave her way through the chaos when she heard a voice behind her.

"If it isn't Mira, I wonder what a precious star like you is doing in a place like this?" A young man approached her, wearing a smile that hid blades.

Mira's blood turned to ice.

Rylan Voss.

What’s the bastard who locked up Marvin doing here?!