I stepped into this body's apartment. It was located in a very good part of the city. Now I understood what a hero's salary could really get you.
The body I inhabited was ranked #129.
Something impressive for someone who was only 27 years old.
Though it wasn't exactly because of clean merit… but rather because of what he did for the Hero Association.
Something that was going to change with me.
I started looking around the apartment.
Expensive things.
Photos of him.
Only him.
No family.
Just "friends."
Because the only family he had…
He killed them.
Yeah.
He killed them.
This body truly had no mercy.
His parents had been important politicians, but when they tried to change the system, the president had them silenced.
And who better for the job than their own son?
The rest…
Is history.
I sat down in the living room and began moving my fingers. As I did, green fire spread around me.
After a few seconds, one thing became clear.
This place was being watched.
There were cameras everywhere.
They didn't trust him enough to leave him alone.
Too bad for them.
With a snap of my fingers, every nearby camera shattered. Others, farther away, fell into a loop, displaying normal footage to avoid suspicion.
I pushed the couch aside and knelt on the floor, placing my phone next to me along with anything that might get in the way.
As I settled, green flames surrounded me.
My eyes filled with green fire.
"Learn."
My consciousness grew slightly hazy… but remained aware of everything around me.
This spell allowed me to learn much faster.
Spells.
Memories.
Anything.
I could become a surgeon if I wanted to.
I mentally shook my head and dove into the deepest memories.
Not out of caution.
But to avoid unnecessary suspicion.
Though honestly…
I didn't care if I was discovered.
The only real way that would happen…
Is if they destroyed this body.
Or the sack of flesh I wear over myself.
Because I…
Am the bone.
After an hour sitting there, I had learned almost everything about this body.
In short… he was a lone wolf.
Nothing unusual.
But what really interested me was his quirk.
Before, he used it by instinct.
Now…
I understood it.
And I liked it.
It was telekinesis strong enough to lift ten people with some effort.
But that was due to human limits.
Am I human?
Of course not.
So those limits…
Don't apply to me the same way.
Though I don't perform miracles either.
Even I have limits.
For now.
Still, the quirk was fascinating.
For example, I could crush someone's heart just by thinking about it.
Kill.
Before, that word made me uneasy.
Now…
It's just another thought.
One among many.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
I looked toward it while tidying the room with a slight gesture.
I could feel it.
A presence with a certain rot inside.
Though, to be fair…
This body wasn't much different.
I assumed it was another hero.
I opened the door slightly and looked.
Filis.
The same one who called earlier.
She called herself my friend…
But what we had was more transactional than anything.
Without saying anything, I let her in.
She walked in like she owned the place.
"Hey, I heard you ran into another one of those weird mutants… disgusting," she said, heading straight to the kitchen and grabbing bread without permission.
I raised an eyebrow at her.
"What?" she replied innocently.
I shook my head and walked to the couch.
Sat down.
From there, I could hear her talking nonstop in the kitchen.
I didn't listen.
Thanks to the memories…
I knew exactly what kind of person she was.
A trap.
Funny thing.
This body was completely inexperienced.
He thought he was attractive.
Thought he drew women in.
Reality?
He was just average…
With connections built through "effort."
In a manner of speaking.
Suddenly, she walked over seductively and sat on my lap.
Yeah.
She used her "assets" to manipulate this body and push her own agenda. She didn't have good connections on her own…
But I did.
The best.
Mostly thanks to his parents.
That's what she wanted.
More contacts.
More power.
And after seeing her soul, one thing was clear:
At the first chance for a better deal…
She would kill him.
Could she do it now?
No.
That's why she kept playing the game.
Out of the body's reflex, I placed a hand on her waist and looked at her.
"Is there a problem, Filis?" I said, leaning back.
A flicker of frustration crossed her face, but she hid it quickly.
Her expression turned flirtatious again. She caressed my face, moving slightly on my lap.
"You know me so well, Kurose…" she said, getting closer.
Silence stretched.
But I didn't play along.
I waited.
She noticed.
And sighed.
"Oh, come on, Kurose…"
She paused.
"I've got a problem."
I raised an eyebrow.
She continued.
"I found some weird guy. Not a mutant, but… I couldn't resist and… well, let's just say I killed him," she said with slight annoyance.
…
…
…
"What's his name?" I asked, standing up and nearly letting her fall.
"No idea, but he's at—" she gave me an alley address.
"I see."
I made a few "calls."
Or at least… it looked like it.
I turned slightly.
She was smiling.
A disgusting smile.
But she didn't know something.
I was watching her.
From behind.
Through a rat.
When?
Since the sewers.
I had taken control of several as extra eyes.
And thanks to that…
I confirmed what I already knew.
When I finished my fake call, I simply said:
"It's handled."
Her expression changed instantly.
She smiled, gave a small hop, and hugged me.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said, pressing against me.
Then she checked her phone.
Annoyed.
Then looked at me with fake sadness.
"Sorry, Kurose, I have to go. My boss needs me. Bye!"
She rushed out.
I just watched her leave.
That's how she played with this body.
Manipulating.
Leading him on.
And the most pathetic part…
He never even had anything real with her.
Not once.
I didn't understand how someone like her was still in the Hero Association.
What she didn't know was that I never made any calls. It was only a matter of time before she got arrested—if she came to me, there were witnesses and cameras.
Too bad for her…
I'm not Kurose.
I sat down and checked the phone. There were many coded messages like "can you grab bread?" which actually meant far worse things.
Dirty orders.
Assignments.
Disgusting.
I quickly moved to the computer, plugged in a drive, and started collecting everything.
How I wished the Lich had more advanced tools.
Could I create spells?
Of course.
But the stronger ones took time.
Still, I was already working on one. I had the base—just needed structure, incantations, and power.
I shook my head and glanced at the phone lighting up again.
Hours had passed.
I had been researching this era thoroughly. Seeing memories wasn't the same as learning it firsthand.
Another thought surfaced.
A portal.
Something different.
Something that wouldn't leave my mind.
The spell to reach GOLB—the embodiment of absolute chaos.
I wanted to go to it.
Or him.
Or her.
Who knows if it's still fused with Betty.
No.
Not yet.
I needed to grow stronger first.
Even if something inside me pushed toward that chaos…
I suppressed it.
Then there was Prismo.
I felt there were other ways to reach him—maybe through ancient minerals, something tied to the dinosaur era.
I wanted to investigate.
But not now.
Too many thoughts.
Too few answers.
A message appeared.
From his boss.
"I need you here. Now."
I stared at it.
Then replied:
"Ok."
I had a plan.
And if it worked…
I was on the right path.
After downloading the evidence, I stored the drive inside my skull.
I opened my face, revealing what I truly am, and inserted the USB through my eye socket. Then I sealed it inside and regenerated my skin.
I left the apartment and moved across rooftops.
No one questioned me.
I was a recognized hero.
When I reached the agency…
Guess who ran it?
No one important.
Just a politician.
Nothing unusual.
I walked in without speaking.
Most people there were killers.
Except maybe the interns.
Five or six people I wouldn't kill.
The rest?
Yes.
I entered the office.
The boss stood there like some cliché serial killer.
We stayed silent.
Then he spoke.
"I no longer need your services."
Execution.
Clear.
"The Association doesn't want you anymore."
The door locked behind me.
He pulled out a silenced gun.
Interesting thing about this world—
Silencers actually worked.
He shot me in the heart.
We stared at each other.
"Any last words?"
…
…
…
"Kneel."
He dropped instantly.
I looked at my suit—damaged.
The weapon was strong enough to pierce my body.
I could feel toxins trying to kill what was alive inside me.
Too bad…
I'm not alive.
I walked up to him and began corrupting his mind.
Black smoke.
Control spell.
His eyes shifted.
Black.
Green.
White.
Mine.
I searched his memories.
Nothing new.
Trash.
I let him fall.
"Kneel."
He stayed like that.
"Bring me every piece of evidence against the Association. Understood?"
"Yes… my chaos."
Time passed.
Filis was arrested.
I watched.
And smiled.
Two months later.
Still gathering evidence.
Barely scratched the surface.
The Association was starting to notice.
I should be dead.
Time to change bodies…
Or disappear.
That sounded tempting.
I stretched slightly.
Thinking.
"Who will be my next body?"
End of Chapter 2.