Chapter 3: Wishes

Sanny exhaled slowly. He was dead—his old life gone—but there was a strange calm settling over him. Maybe it was the sense of purpose, or maybe it was the realization that he wasn't powerless. Not yet.

"Alright, COB," Sanny said, his voice firmer now. "You mentioned something about wishes. Let's talk."

COB's grin widened with excitement. "Oh, yes! The possibilities are endless! But remember, no instant god-mode or anything over-the-top. The world you're going to has its own rules, and you'll have to play by them."

Sanny's eyebrows furrowed. "So, no OP cheat codes, huh?"

COB chuckled. "Nope. You'll get power, but it has to be earned. Think of it like starting at level one in an RPG—no shortcuts."

Sanny crossed his arms, thinking hard. "Alright, let's cut to the chase. What kind of power are we talking about?"

"A grimoire," COB said, the word hanging in the air with a sense of weight. "It's going to be unique to you—based on your imagination. You'll have the power to create and manipulate things from your mind, but there will be limits. Your grimoire will evolve as you grow stronger."

Sanny's eyes narrowed in interest. "Like in Black Clover, right? Where grimoires get more powerful as you grow?"

"Exactly!" COB nodded. "Your grimoire starts with Imagination Magic. It lets you create non-living constructs from your thoughts, like weapons or objects, but with some restrictions."

"Restrictions?" Sanny asked, his curiosity piqued.

"In your base form, you can't create life," COB explained. "No summoning creatures or people. Your constructs will be tools, weapons, and environmental changes—nothing that thinks or breathes."

Sanny considered this. "Alright, so I start small and build from there. What happens when my grimoire evolves?"

COB's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Ah, now we're getting to the good stuff. Once you grow strong enough, your grimoire will unlock its next mode: Visionary Magic. You won't just create objects; you'll start reshaping reality itself. Illusions, altered environments, even controlling what people see and experience."

Sanny's interest deepened. "Like warping reality around me?"

"Exactly. But that's just the next stage," COB said, a teasing grin on his face. "There's a final form, but I'm not spoiling that just yet. Let's just say it's... well, beyond what you can imagine right now."

Sanny's eyebrows shot up. "Beyond what I can imagine? You're really going to leave me hanging like that?"

COB winked. "It's more fun this way. When the time comes, you'll see for yourself. Just know that your final form will be something truly special, blending chaos and order in ways that most can't even comprehend."

Sanny crossed his arms, intrigued but also a little frustrated. "Fine. I'll figure it out when I get there."

COB's grin widened. "That's the spirit! Just like in any great anime, the best powers aren't fully revealed until the hero's ready."

As the words sank in, Sanny felt a strange tingling sensation. He glanced down as his body began to shift. His lean frame became more athletic, his features sharper. His dark hair became messier but in an effortlessly cool way, and his eyes gained a sharper, more intense edge—like Ed Rosstaylor's, calculating and confident.

Sanny looked at his reflection in the air. He barely recognized himself, but there was a familiarity in the new look. "I look... different."

COB chuckled. "You've taken on a new form to match your new life. You look a lot like that character from The Extra's Academy Survival Guide, Ed Rosstaylor. Tactical, competitive, always one step ahead. It suits you."

Sanny flexed his fingers, feeling the power and potential inside him. He couldn't deny it—this form felt right for the challenges ahead.

"Here's your grimoire," COB said, snapping his fingers. A book appeared before Sanny, floating in the air. Its cover was simple—no title, just a four leaf clover etched onto it.

Sanny reached out and touched the grimoire, feeling a surge of energy as the book connected with him. The power it held was vast, yet untapped. His mind raced with possibilities.

"This is your starting point," COB said. "No title, just a four leaf clover. But as you grow, your grimoire will evolve with you."

Sanny nodded, his thoughts already moving ahead to how he would use his new abilities. "I get it. It's not about starting strong—it's about earning the strength."

COB smiled, clearly pleased. "One more thing: before I send you off, you get one final wish. Anything at all. Just remember, it's your last one from me."

Sanny thought for a moment. He could wish for ultimate power or unlimited mana, but that wasn't what he wanted. After a few moments, he made his decision.

"I wish I could send messages to my family," Sanny said quietly. "I know I can't go back, but if I could let them know I'm okay, even if it's just in their dreams, that'd be enough."

COB's smile softened. "You've got a good heart, Sanny. Wish granted." With a snap of COB's fingers, a gentle warmth surrounded Sanny, and he felt a connection form—a thin, invisible thread that tied him to his family across worlds. It wasn't much, but it gave him peace.

"Alright, Sanny," COB said, clapping his hands. "It's time. Are you ready?"

Sanny looked ahead, his new form and his grimoire in hand. He felt the challenge of the unknown looming, but his competitive side was ready for it. "Yeah, I'm ready."

The bright light around him intensified, pulling him toward his new world. As everything faded to white, he heard COB's voice one last time, teasing and playful.

"Good luck, Sanny Santos. You're in for one wild ride."

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Next Time: The New World

Question: Should I add variables? And what kind?