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Chapter 7: Spiritual Power: Level Three! (Edit)
🕑 Added 2025-06-04 11:04:29 +0000 UTCThree hours, precise to the minute, had crawled by since Ethan Atherton had downed his last psionic potion. He uncapped another gleaming vial, the azure liquid within promising another surge of power. This time, however, as he was about to drink it, a sudden, almost mischievous inspiration sparked in his mind. A new theory he wanted to test. After chugging down the entire potion in one go, Ethan casually tossed the empty vial aside, a confident grin playing on his lips. He then activated the Omnitrix, the familiar green glow bathing his room, and with a decisive slap, transformed into Heatblast.
In that instant, as his human DNA was violently yet precisely disrupted and restructured into that of a Pyronite, something extraordinary happened. Along with his genetic makeup, the psionic potion he had just ingested, still a raw, potent energy swirling within his system, was also broken down, atomized, and then seamlessly, perfectly, integrated into his being at the most fundamental level. The psionic energy, along with his transforming DNA, became one with his new fiery form, without the slightest hint of waste or inefficiency. The effect, he could instantly feel, was even better, more profound, than meticulously absorbing it under normal human circumstances. This time, it was a direct integration at the genetic level, a perfect fusion with his very essence, not just a superficial absorption into muscle tissue and energy pathways. Simply put, those psionicists outside who proudly claimed ‘perfect absorption’ of potions were, in reality, likely only achieving around 90% efficiency. Ethan, through this transformative synergy, had just achieved a true, flawless 100%.
“Ahhh~~”
The sensation was so incredibly comfortable, so deeply satisfying, that an involuntary cry of pleasure escaped Heatblast’s flaming maw. Ethan, even within his alien consciousness, could clearly feel that his progress towards Rank One, Level Two had not just inched forward, but had taken a massive, substantial leap. He probably just needed one more session like this, one more perfect fusion, to successfully break through to the next level.
Exactly three hours later, it happened. With another potion consumed and another perfectly synergistic transformation into Heatblast, a massive convergence of psionic energy pulsed through him. A new threshold was crossed. Ethan, with a final, satisfying surge, successfully broke through to Rank One, Level Two. After taking a few moments to calm the surging, newly empowered psionic energy thrumming within his body, Ethan, back in his human form, immediately checked the Omnitrix. His heart hammered with anticipation. Upon activation, the familiar silhouette of Heatblast appeared on the dial, then, with a satisfying bleep-bloop, it shifted. His grin widened. Sure enough, a new alien hero had appeared on its roster!
“XLR8.” Ethan breathed the name, a thrill coursing through him.
He looked at the sleek, dynamic silhouette of this new alien hero, his heart filled with an almost childish joy. XLR8, he knew from his devoted study of the Ben 10 lore, was a DNA sample from a Kineceleran of the planet Kinet. These aliens utilized a naturally secreted lubricating mucus from their feet and the frictionless spheres embedded in their heels to achieve incredible super speed, their movements a blur of rapid left-right alternating footfalls. Their bodies could even negate inertia, allowing them to stop on a dime, no matter how fast they were running. XLR8 was one of the few dedicated speed-type alien heroes in the Omnitrix’s arsenal—absolutely essential for… well, for escaping dangerous situations… or rather, as he preferred to think of it, for making swift, strategic retreats! Yes, that sounded much more heroic.
Although he desperately wanted to transform right then and there, take his new form for a spin, a quick glance around his cramped bedroom, filled with furniture and fragile belongings, made him reconsider. Still, this sensible caution couldn't entirely stop his restless, excited heart.
A short while later, Ethan found himself at a nearby public plaza. It was currently the height of summer vacation, and the weather was oppressively hot. Even though it was already four o'clock in the afternoon, the temperature still hovered at a stifling high, so there were very few people around seeking respite from the sun. Of course, it wasn't completely empty; there were always a few dedicated sports-loving young people getting in their daily exercise, and, Ethan noted with a faint, appreciative blush, a few coolly dressed, rather pretty girls seeking what little shade the plaza offered. Ahem!!! (°▽°〃) This would do nicely.
Ethan activated the Omnitrix, the dial already displaying the new Kineceleran silhouette. He switched it to XLR8. This time, learning from his previous enthusiastic (and potentially randomizing) slaps, he didn't slam the faceplate down forcefully but pressed it gently, with focused intent. A brilliant flash of green light, and where Ethan Atherton had stood, there was now an alien creature resembling a streamlined, biomechanical velociraptor. It had a distinctive, star-shaped, aerodynamic helmet covering its head, an X-shaped pattern emblazoned on its chest, three wickedly sharp claws on each hand, and a rather thick, striped tail balancing its form. The green-and-black Omnitrix symbol was proudly displayed on its chest. This helmet, Ethan knew, wasn't separate mechanical equipment but an integral part of its alien biology, capable of protecting its face during incredibly high-speed runs. Its tail was remarkably flexible and agile, useful not only for balance but also capable of being used to strike enemies at high speed or even grasp objects.
Ethan, now XLR8, flexed his new, lithe body, feeling an incredible lightness, a coiled spring of potential energy within him. He crouched into a runner’s stance, and then—whoosh—he took off. A blur of motion. Due to his currently low psionic rank – Rank One, Level Two – the transformed XLR8 couldn't quite achieve the mind-bending, reality-warping super speed often depicted in the cartoon. However, he could still comfortably manage a blistering pace of about 40 meters per second. This speed, he calculated with a thrill, was already more than twice that of the fastest human sprinters from his previous world. Moreover, he could maintain this incredible speed for a surprisingly long time, and he instinctively knew it would only get faster and faster as his psionic rank increased in the future. Even his current speed already surpassed that of some dedicated speed-type psionicists he’d known from his previous school life, albeit from a distance. Furthermore, a significant advantage became immediately apparent: because XLR8's biology was designed for sustained speed and didn't constantly burn through massive amounts of energy like Heatblast’s fiery form, this transformation could be maintained for a much longer duration. At his current Rank One, Level Two, he figured he could maintain the XLR8 form for a solid ten minutes of general activity, and if he were running at full, blistering speed, he could keep it up for at least five minutes. If he were Heatblast, he’d probably only last three minutes just standing still before the Omnitrix timed out or his energy reserves were depleted.
With a joyous burst of speed, Ethan—as XLR8—dashed around the plaza. He ran several effortless laps around a bewildered jogger who suddenly found himself repeatedly overtaken by a blue-and-black blur. Then, spotting an ice cream stall, he zipped over, bought a cone with a few coins he’d had in his pocket (which had somehow transferred with the transformation), and then, attempting a fancy high-speed departure, he fumbled. The ice cream cone flew into the air, a tragic arc of frozen dessert doomed to hit the pavement. But XLR8, with his incredible reflexes, zipped back in a nanosecond, craned his neck, opened his helmeted mouth, and caught the ice cream perfectly. After happily devouring it in a few quick bites, he even took a moment to help a startled old lady, who was struggling with her shopping bags, cross the street in a blur of helpful motion (though she looked more confused than grateful). After playing around, testing his limits for a bit more, he decided it was time to head home.
Passing by two girls in fashionable short skirts who were engrossed in their chat, a mischievous glint appeared in XLR8’s visor-like eyes. He zipped past them at top speed, and the gust of wind he deliberately created playfully, yet effectively, lifted their skirts high.
“Ah!!!”
The two girls shrieked in surprise, quickly pressing their skirts down, their faces flushing crimson. But the gazes of the few surrounding people had already been drawn to them, and Ethan thought he saw one or two nearby young men suddenly develop rather impressive nosebleeds.
“Whoopsie,” XLR8 chirped, his voice a high-pitched, fast-forwarded sound, before vanishing in another streak of motion.
By the time Ethan, still buzzing with exhilaration, returned home, his psionic power was just about depleted. The Omnitrix symbol on his chest beeped its warning, and he reverted to his human form with a familiar flash of green, feeling pleasantly tired but incredibly satisfied.
He immediately resumed his Aura channeling. Over the next five intensive days, Ethan methodically used up all ten of the precious psionic potions his parents had bought him, employing his new Heatblast-transformation absorption technique for maximum efficiency with each one. His psionic rank, as a result, soared, and he successfully reached Rank One, Level Three. He could even feel that he wasn't far from reaching Level Four. It was just that, as he’d learned from more online research, breaking through from Level Three to Level Four was considered the first significant watershed, or minor bottleneck, within Rank One. It wasn't going to be as easy to break through as the previous levels. Apparently, every three levels within a Rank (Levels 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, and then the peak of Level Ten) represented a kind of watershed. After successfully breaking through each of these, one’s combat power would typically see a qualitative leap, a significant boost beyond simple linear progression. This specific point Ethan wasn't too clear on, however. He only knew the general theory: each rank had these distinct stages, and crossing a watershed meant his combat power would become much stronger than before. There was no helping it; he was, at heart, a former slacker when it came to diligent study. If he wanted to find out detailed, nuanced information, he could only painstakingly search online forums or, preferably, ask someone more knowledgeable.
"Never mind," he muttered to himself, stretching. "I'll just ask Marcus and Seraphina later." Today, Ethan had arranged to go out with them, a rare social outing. Although he was still very reluctant to be the proverbial third wheel to their increasingly obvious romantic entanglement, who else could he comfortably ask if he had pressing Aura channeling questions? He quickly put on some fresh clothes and tidied himself up a bit, trying to look less like someone who had spent the last five days in intense, isolated training.
"Dad, Mom, I'm heading out to meet Marcus and Seraphina!" he called.
"Alright, son! Have fun! And be safe!" Sarah called back from the kitchen.
In a shaded pavilion in a nearby park, Marcus and Seraphina were sitting close together on a bench, chatting quietly about something, their demeanor relaxed and content.
Seraphina leaned slightly towards Marcus, her voice soft. "Marcus, be careful what you say later, okay? You know Ethan's talent assessment wasn't… great. Whatever you do, please don't bring up Aura channeling or ranks in front of him. It might make him feel bad."
Marcus puffed out his chest slightly. "Relax, Seraphina, relax! I'm very tactful, you know. The soul of discretion! I definitely, absolutely won't say anything to upset him when the time comes! You can count on me!"
"Hmph~" Seraphina rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "And why else do you think I felt the need to specifically remind you?" She knew him far too well; he’d been a lovable, well-meaning blabbermouth since they were little. His words and his intended actions were often on completely different wavelengths.
Just then, a cheerful voice called out. "Hey, Bro! Hey, Seraphina!" Ethan, arriving from a distance, spotted them and greeted them loudly, a wide, easy grin on his face.
"Oh, Ethan's here," Marcus said, jumping up. Seraphina also rose, a welcoming smile on her face, as they both walked towards him.
When Ethan got closer, before they could even exchange proper pleasantries, he asked, his voice full of casual curiosity, "So, how has your Aura channeling been going lately, you two? Made much progress since the Awakening Day?"
Marcus, who had been about to launch into a boisterous greeting, froze mid-gesture. His mouth opened, then closed again. “……”
Seraphina’s welcoming smile faltered for a fraction of a second. “……”
We both literally just agreed not to bring this sensitive topic up in front of you, they both thought, aghast, and here you are, bold as brass, asking about it the moment you see us! What happened to feeling bad about your ‘No Rank’ talent?!
Seraphina recovered first, offering a slightly strained smile. "Um… well… it's going okay, I guess. You know, slow and steady."
Marcus, quickly catching on, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, yeah, exactly! Aura channeling is just too hard, man. Way too grindy. I haven't improved much at all, to be honest. Still stuck, pretty much."
Ethan watched the two of them give their utterly unconvincing, overly dramatic performances, his face full of black lines. He let out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, alright, cut the terrible acting and the ridiculous humblebragging. You two are fooling absolutely no one. Just so you know, I'm already at Level Three. You two can't possibly be worse off than me. So, if you know what's good for you, fess up! Spill the beans!"
