It has been two months since Ethen returned to his original body, and he was still trying to comprehend that experience.
He had died and reincarnated in a world where his universe was just a story, a form of entertainment for people to enjoy.
Now that he thought about it, he wondered if there were more universes like this, born from the stories he had read, including anime, novels, fanfictions, movies, and so on.
Reflecting further, Ethen considered a possibility: maybe in that world, where overt powers were absent, the people had latent abilities. They could unknowingly tap into powers, creating stories that echoed other universes.
Or it could be that they were so powerful that they remained unaware of their own potential. Perhaps it was the universe itself acting as a check and balance, ensuring those on that Earth didn't inadvertently destroy everything.
"Whatever it may be, I'll find out at a later date if I can travel to other universes," Ethen muttered to himself, lost in thought about the vast possibilities that lay ahead.
For the past few months, Ethen had been deeply engrossed in researching how to create an advanced chip for himself.
He envisioned a tool that could not only store a vast amount of information but also be versatile enough for various applications.
Additionally, he harbored the ambition of integrating an AI into this system.
Creating such an AI, he knew, would be a time-consuming and complex process.
It wasn't just about programming and data; it was about crafting something that could think, learn, and perhaps even understand.
Recognizing the enormity of this task, Ethen decided to first focus on gathering the necessary resources.
He needed materials that were not only technologically advanced but also rare and potent enough to support the high-level functions he envisaged for his AI.
As he delved into this quest for resources, Ethen felt a growing excitement.
Ethen discovered a crystal that could absorb blood, yet it seemed unwanted by others, deemed useless. He couldn't help but find it amusing; it appeared the council wished to keep the people of this world oblivious to their own powers. Living on a planet next to a sun that suppressed their powers, and a world rich in kryptonite further inhibiting them, only soldiers had the privilege of space travel.
The ongoing civil war with The Sword of Rao, a revolutionary movement founded by Dru-Zod to overthrow the Kryptonian Law Council, only complicated matters. Named after Rao, the Kryptonian sun god, this group aimed to restore Krypton's former glory.
I've done some research and managed to secretly obtain some blood from a civilian. What I discovered was startling: the council has done something disturbing to the people of this planet.
They've altered the genetics of Kryptonians. In this version of Krypton, the council genetically manipulated the inhabitants to depend on the planet's natural radiation for survival.
As a result, space travel turned into a painfully lethal endeavor. This explains why the rocks on this planet harm Superman - it's because his father, Jor-El, and his mother opted for a natural birth rather than using the Genesis Chambers. I'm also fortunate to have been born naturally.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, I knew I needed to find a way to reverse this genetic manipulation.
My goal was to save enough people to enable them to leave the planet. This daunting task seemed almost insurmountable, but it was clear that it was necessary.
Today, I will begin forming a mining group to acquire the crystals that can absorb blood. However, I must do so discreetly to avoid drawing attention.
That's why I've created a fake research group, posing as if I'm merely investigating these crystals due to my scientific interests. They believe I was born solely to be a scientist, limited to nothing beyond that. What a joke.
I've been exploring ways to circumvent the limitations imposed on me by this sun. For some reason, the sun here prevents Kryptonians from absorbing energy.
My solution lies with kryptonite, but it's challenging because it seems to reject everything. It's a source of energy that repels all other energies and influences, which is intriguing.
I'm still trying to understand how it killed me before. Perhaps it didn't actually 'kill' me in the traditional sense but rather forced my soul out of my body.
Kryptonite is fascinating in many ways; it feels like an anomaly, something that shouldn't exist in this universe, as it seems to negate all forms of energy.
I've conducted some tests, using my DNA genes mixed with crushed kryptonite, to observe how my genes react. Surprisingly, it appears to be effective, albeit slowly.
It's taken about a week for my genes to absorb it.
Today, I'm planning to inject the gene sequence that has already absorbed the kryptonite.
I've prepared all the necessary tools to counteract any potential kryptonite poisoning in case of an adverse reaction.This step is crucial in my journey to freedom from the constraints of this planet.
The irony of using kryptonite, our greatest weakness, as a key to unlocking my true potential, isn't lost on me. It's a testament to the complexity of the universe, where the line between poison and remedy is often blurred.
Today's injection marks a significant step in my journey, a moment where science, courage, and a touch of recklessness converge. Whatever the outcome, it will be a defining point in my life, a moment where I either break free from my chains or fall victim to kryptonite poisoning. However, I've prepared an antidote for the worst-case scenario.
It took me a while to develop the antidote, a few weeks of experimenting with the DNA genes I had designed to absorb Kryptonite, which thankfully worked. All this work spanned a month in a lab I had set up, where I removed all monitoring systems.
I often reflect on the unique nature of kryptonite and how it interacts with Kryptonian physiology. Its ability to negate our powers, its lethal effect under certain conditions, all these aspects point to a deeper mystery.
My approach is methodical. The solution I've developed involves carefully introducing altered genes into my system, genes that have adapted to the presence of kryptonite. The idea is to gradually acclimate my body to its effects, thereby reducing, or ideally eliminating, its harmful impact.
This experiment could be a breakthrough, not just for me but for all Kryptonians. If successful, it could pave the way for us to overcome our inherent vulnerabilities, to step out into the cosmos unshackled by the limitations of our biology.
