Chapter 9 - Peaceful Life(Part 3)

Yeah, that didn't last long. There's no way I can't not think about this...I mean, this is not the kind of thing you can just forget!

Alright, let's think about it then...first, let's recap what happened. I dropped a scissor onto my finger and it started bleeding black blood...and then, within seconds, the bleeding stopped, the wound closed up.

The Alter Progenitor had black blood, and he was said to be agelessly immortal and infinitely regenerating. Do I...have the same powers as the Progenitor?

There's no question that I'm an Alter, it'd be illogical to deny that. It does make sense, I suppose...my parents aren't Alters, but they each have one Alter parent, so they carry the gene.

Alters can have anywhere between one to three superpowers, often developing the same powers as their parents or previous ancestors.

Alters make up one percent of the world's population, and of that number, eighty percent develop one power. Fifteen percent develop two powers, and five percent develop three powers.

From what I've read online, Alters can generally use their powers naturally and instinctively, it's a physical ability like breathing. But in some cases, where the powers they possess are passive abilities, like a resistance to poison for instance, the power can go unnoticed.

This healing ability of mine seems to fall under that category, I had no idea I could heal like this until now, after all. Huh, come to think of it, I've never gotten injured before this in this world...I've never gotten sick either.

Alright, getting back to the black blood...the Progenitor wasn't just immortal, he also had physical capabilities beyond the norm, could give others powers by letting them drink his blood, and when enraged, he'd transform into a monstrous appearance and gain a tremendous amount of power.

But most of what I've found about him online beyond that is just speculation, it's impossible to find any detailed descriptions of what he was capable of. He didn't have a lot of enemies that faced him and lived to tell the tale, most of them were killed.

Okay, just because I have black blood doesn't mean I have the same abilities...I'm sure there have been other Alters with black blood. Or at least blood that isn't red...Alters are evolved or mutated versions of normal humans, so I bet anything goes.

Let's look it up...only articles about the Progenitor are showing up for 'black blood'. Let's try some other colors then. Come on, there's gotta be something...just one single case.

Damn it...there's nothing. At least as far as public knowledge goes, there are no other Alters besides the Progenitor with different colored blood...and me now too, apparently.

Okay, that still doesn't mean I have the same powers. I mean, why would I of all people just so happen to have the same powers as the very first Alter, as if I've inherited it or someth-...oh. Ohh, shit.

That voice I heard in my previous life when I was dying, and once before during a dream...what did it say, again?

Something about me being a worthy successor and inheriting power, wasn't it?

I let out a strained sigh as I buried my face in my hands and sat down on the corner of my bed...I'd forgotten all about that voice, having written it off as a hallucination.

So, then...this black blood is no coincidence. Neither was my reincarnation, for that matter. I think I remember the voice saying that I have to save this world or something...am I supposed to, like, be a superhero or whatever?

No...no way, absolutely not. Sorry, Voice, but it ain't happening. I'm guessing that was the voice of the Progenitor...well, hate to say it, but he chose the wrong person.

I'm not selfless enough to risk my life and suffer for the sake of something like world peace, I won't do it.

Well, at least that voice isn't, like, constantly haunting me, pestering me, I don't know, fulfil my destiny or whatever.

That said, since I do have powers...I might as well figure out how to use them. The healing seems to work automatically, but maybe I can control how fast it works and stuff...then again, that'd mean I'd have to injure myself repeatedly just to get a feel for it.

Yeah, let's put that on hold for now, I don't think I have the stomach for self-harm. What else can I do?

Alters are supposed to be able to use their powers instinctively, but I've never felt anything like that...what about superhuman strength and speed?

I've never actually exercised or anything in this world...huh, now that I think about it, have I ever ran even once after being reincarnated? I...wow, I honestly don't think I have. Huh, that's kind of a surreal realisation.

I then hopped off my bed, before I bent down and grabbed the bottom of the frame with both hands, lifting my knees once I had a good grip over it.

And...with hardly any effort, I lifted it up, my eyes widening in disbelief. Damn...this is amazing. I mean, I'm definitely not, like, Superman strong, but I'm definitely a lot stronger than a couch potato of a twelve year old should be.

Now that jump in the bathroom makes sense too, I should've realized something was weird when I jumped high enough to hit the ceiling with my head, hard. The black blood must have distracted me.

Okay, so besides the ability to give others powers by letting them drink my blood and that thing about going out of control and super powerful when angered, I haven't read about any other powers that the Progenitor had.

I remember getting a strange sensation from the trickle of black blood that dripped out of my finger...I wouldn't say I was angry, but I was definitely annoyed at getting injured.

Maybe that sensation was the rage thing, a tiny hint of it. I should look up the Progenitor online again, maybe if I really dig deep, I can find out if there were any other abilities he possessed.

More importantly...should I hide this from my parents or not? Hm, I think...I think that I should. I'll keep this entirely to myself, no one can ever find out...

_____________________________________________

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote, and feel free to leave a comment, I appreciate any and all feedback and criticism!

Also, check out my Instagram account @aimdaqs for posts relating to this book.

Join the Discord server, I plan to tease upcoming chapters and future story arcs here, and you can also discuss or ask me any questions about the story and characters. Use the invite link to join:

https://discord.gg/sRbx9VbTVP