Chapter 2 - Introductions

Alone once more, Jason seized the opportunity to realise his wish. Maybe, if he figured it out in time he could ambush his murderer and make them beg for mercy. They were due to return in no less than half an hour, so he had to hurry.

"Start?" he whispered, but the room remained silent.

"Begin?.. On?"

"The word you seek is 'initiate,'" a male voice suddenly chimed in from beside him, causing him to startle.

"Bah!" Jumped Jason, reeling at the sudden unexpected interruption. "Who are you?"

Sitting beside him on the bed was a man dressed in a top hat, a timeless black three-piece suit, and sporting a pair of elegant, thin-rimmed gold glasses. His youthful appearance, resembling someone in his early twenties, featured a clean-shaven countenance as he adeptly manipulated a deck of playing cards. The cards danced in his nimble fingers, weaving intricate patterns with an ease that suggested an innate mastery of the craft.

"I am the embodiment of your wish, a manifestation of your newfound SSS power, known as Black Hole Gods," the man declared, his lips curling into a wry smile. "You may call me Talon Luck."

Jason's initial astonishment gave way to a profound realisation. He had indeed wished for a power of maximum potential, but he had left the specifics deliberately open-ended. Powers with accompanying familiars were rare, but the concept of a human familiar was virtually unheard of.

"Remarkable," Jason marvelled, his voice tinged with awe. "To think that my power would come with a human familiar! This is truly extraordinary."

Talon chuckled loudly, his mirth causing Jason's head to swivel about the room, a frantic expression dancing across his face as he registered the unexpectedly loud noise.

"Oh, don't fret," Talon reassured him, a cryptic smile gracing his lips. "Only you can perceive my presence and hear my voice at this moment."

Jason's shoulders slumped in relief as he settled back into his seat, curiosity now piqued, waiting for Talon to reveal the cause of his laughter.

"I am no mere familiar, I am a god. Your power doesn't just come with one God though, but seven. Each aligned with the seven virtuous traits which the ancients believe in. Which are… Well, I will let them introduce themselves," he smiled confidently.

"Wow," Jason gasped in awe, his heart pounding as he nervously shuffled on the edge of the bed.

"Shall we initiate the power?" Talon asked with a sly grin, flicking his cards around like a ball.

"Initiate!" Jason declared with newfound confidence.

The room suddenly filled with an entourage of six other beings, each unique and enigmatic, not all of them human. They represented the six other fundamental traits.

"We'll keep introductions brief, as time is of the essence for your quest for revenge. Please go ahead lady love," Talon urged, gracefully gesturing toward a captivating female figure who bore the appearance of a devilish humanoid. She possessed deep purple hair, fiery red skin, and elegant black horns that framed her face.

"Hello, my dear," she purred with a voice as beguiling as a siren's song, her confidence and eloquence shining through. "I am Lady Lisbeth Love, but please, call me Liz. I am the power of your body as well as your power of attraction."

Liz curtsied gracefully before Jason, her attire a perfect reflection of her role as the deity of love—a short, alluring pink dress and thigh-high black boots.

Beside her, another woman stood, a striking human with cascading chestnut hair and vibrant emerald eyes. She was clad in a pristine white lab coat, neatly buttoned at the front, serving as an unconventional yet intriguing garment, leaving a tantalising hint of bare skin beneath. Her pockets were stuffed to the brim with a plethora of intricate gadgets, creating pronounced bulges that hinted at her expertise.

When Talon signalled for her to speak, she startled momentarily, her thoughts racing before she began with a hint of unease, "I'm Sarah Passion, your go-to for all things technological." She bowed her head, her voice carrying a subtle nervous tremor.

"Pick up the pace! Our time is limited," Talon urged, impatience lacing his tone.

"Um..." stammered the next presence, an ethereal figure that bore the graceful semblance of an elf. Cascading verdant locks framed her face, complimenting her eyes, which sparkled with a mesmerising shade of purple, set against iridescently pale skin. Her form was clad in full plate armour, and a glinting sword hung resolutely at her side.

Talon heaved a barely concealed sigh, then assumed control of the introductions. "Allow me to present Diana Justice," he declared, his voice commanding attention. "She shall cater to your needs regarding weaponry, armour, and combat." His authoritative gesture shifted to an older gentleman, swathed in a brown cloak and crowned with a distinguished purple beret. "This is my dear companion, Professor Connor Wisdom—your mentor in magic.

Continuing his unerring procession, he directed attention to a stocky dwarf who donned a peculiar ensemble, featuring a trench coat and a baseball cap. It was a style that undoubtedly stood out." Second to last is Malcolm Excellence, your purveyor of information and mastermind behind our strategic endeavours." The dwarf nodded with a gruff affirmation, his presence adding a unique layer to the assembly of extraordinary beings.

"And last but certainly not least, we have Miss Xanthie Imagination. She takes care of all your flora and fauna," Talon announced. Before them stood a human woman with raven-black tresses cascading like a silken waterfall and a distant, ethereal gaze reflecting worlds unknown. Her attire was an embodiment of nature itself, adorned in entwined vines that draped her form, as if the very earth had woven a robe around her. With a graceful bow, she acknowledged her role in silence.

Talon continued, "And, of course, as you know, yours truly, Talon Luck. I bring an element of spice to our ensemble. Rest assured, we shall not confine you within rigid definitions of these traits, for like any race, the boundaries of our attributes for the ancients have blurred with time, granting us a vast canvas to explore."

A gentle smile graced Jason's lips, though he remained profoundly overwhelmed by the surreal situation. "Nice to meet you all," he murmured nervously.

"One essential guideline for harnessing your newfound power," Talon continued with a solemn tone, "is to understand its duality. There are two aspects to the power we bestow upon you: the permanent gifts and the temporary loans that we offer directly. The permanent enhancements can be accessed at your discretion, while the temporary ones require our presence and visibility to activate. Now that we've clarified this, let's proceed with our strategy. Malcolm, take it away."

The robust dwarf adjusted his cap, turning it backwards before addressing the group in a deep, gravelly voice. "Our target will return shortly, and we must exact our revenge without drawing the school's attention or risking your well-being," he stated, emphasising the gravity of their situation. The repercussions of being interrupted by school staff or the police were not to be taken lightly, especially for someone who had recently come of age.

Malcolm continued, "Who has something potent we can use that can be wielded effectively with minimal practice and without revealing yourself."

Confidently, Liz spoke up, "I can bestow upon him a strength buff!"

"Perfect," Malcolm nodded approvingly, "get that done and we will head to the ambush location, I've devised a flawless plan using Jason's memories." said the dwarf, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Liz approached Jason, taking a seat beside him on the bed. She examined his face closely, her fingers grazing his chin as she turned his head from side to side.

"You are quite a fine specimen, "she remarked with a mischievous grin. "You'll be very successful with me."

This moving of his head must have looked quite strange to an external viewer, lucky there was no one else around.

Jason couldn't help but find her demonic appearance oddly captivating, despite her striking crimson skin and deep purple hair adorned with black twisted horns. Her entirely black eyes seemed to peer into his very soul. As her hands roamed down his chest to his waist, she teasingly inquired, "Which way do you swing?"

She began to reach for his crotch. Before things could escalate further, Malcolm intervened, his hand covering his face in disappointment. "Leave the poor kid alone and get on with it," he sighed.

Reluctantly, Liz relented, moving her hands back up to his face, instructing Jason, "Fine, close your eyes."

Jason closed his eyes and waited. As soon as she had confirmed they were closed, she leaned in and began to give him a kiss. Jason's eyes snapped open, he attempted to pull away, but Liz held onto him like a dog does a bone. The kiss began to emit a radiant glow, and he suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of strength coursing through him. His resistance waned, and he began to enjoy the sensation. Eventually, the luminosity of their kiss faded, and Liz became more passionate, sticking her tongue into his mouth, pulling him closer and pushing her moderately sized breasts up against him.

Although he found himself enjoying the experience, after a while, Jason started wondering when it would end. Fortunately, Malcolm intervened, forcefully pulling Liz away by her collar. "That's enough, it is well and truly done by now. We don't have time for your games Liz," he declared firmly, rescuing Jason from the intense encounter.

Liz pouted and stood back up, clearly disappointed that her kiss had been cut short. "Awe, I was just starting to enjoy it," she complained, hands on her hips.

Sarah, the ever-observant one, inquired, "When did the transfer stop?"

"It ceased when the light faded," Liz replied with a mischievous smile, briefly sticking out her forked tongue.

"Noted," Sarah replied, diligently jotting down her observations in a notebook.

Talon took the opportunity to provide additional guidance. "In any case, we can each transfer one power enhancement to you per week, with a limit of one per day. This basically means we each get a day of the week to transfer you our powers. Going beyond this could put undue stress on your body. It must be a gradual process."

Jason pondered this, wondering if he would have to kiss a different one of them each day. Hopefully, each of them had a unique method of transferring their powers. He felt stronger than ever before, his muscles visibly larger, and a newfound vitality coursing through him. Most powers granted by the gap were minor adjustments to one's physique or had limited utility. However, Jason had heard that higher-ranked powers could be more versatile. If his power evolved as he hoped, it would be truly remarkable.