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- Princeton, New Jersey, USA -
Just as Aryan was about to check out the Dungeon Creation features, a sharp knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Young master, you're getting late!" Raghav's voice came through, laced with urgency. "You have to leave now if you don't want to miss the morning lecture."
Aryan exhaled, pushing aside his excitement for later. There was no point getting lost in the System when real-world responsibilities were still waiting. With a swift motion, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes, changing quickly. He splashed cold water onto his face, letting the refreshing sensation sharpen his focus.
Moments later, he stepped out, throwing a quick nod to Raghav.
"I'll see you in the evening," he said before hurrying out the door.
The walk to Princeton University was long, and Aryan had grown used to it. The university officials had denied him a dormitory room, citing his young age. But Aryan knew better. It wasn't just about his age. Ever since he had arrived in America, he had felt the undercurrents of racism—sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant. Some students looked at him like he didn't belong, whispering slurs when they thought he couldn't hear. Even some professors, despite their so-called intelligence, carried an air of condescension when speaking to him.
He had enough money to afford a decent apartment, thanks to his family's wealth, but what about those who weren't as fortunate? Those who had to endure discrimination far more worse than this, without any means to push back?
His fists clenched as a silent vow took root within him.
Not just for himself, but for every Indian facing this systemic bias. He wasn't here just to study. He was here to excel, to rise beyond their expectations, and to use his knowledge and power for something greater. As soon as he returned to India, he would fully commit to his father's cause—Purna Swaraj (Complete Self-rule).
By the time he stepped onto the Princeton campus, his determination had solidified.
The day passed much like the others. In the laboratory, he assisted a renowned professor—more as a glorified lackey than an actual research assistant. The man never directly insulted him, but the dismissive tone and lack of acknowledgment were enough to make it clear how he viewed Aryan.
Students snickered behind his back. More racist jokes. More passive-aggressive remarks disguised as "casual humor."
He absorbed, he observed, and he remembered.
Because one day, he would stand far above them. And on that day, the world would see what an Indian mind—what his mind—was truly capable of.
As Aryan solidified his resolve, a strange sensation rippled through him. It wasn't like the physical transformation from the elixir earlier that morning—this was deeper, more primal. A pulse echoed from the very core of his being, spreading outward like invisible waves. His breath hitched as his senses expanded, an awareness forming that hadn't been there before.
Then, a soft chime resonated in his mind.
| Congratulations! The Host's X-Gene has awakened. |
Aryan's eyes widened in disbelief before excitement flooded his veins. His mutant ability had finally activated—but why now? He had been determined before, had always carried the weight of proving himself and had solid resolve to improve the lives of his countrymen, yet his X-Gene had remained dormant. What had changed?
Frowning, he mentally reached out to the system.
"System, what triggered my awakening? I've felt this resolve before. Even with my memories merged from both lives, and I know that alone shouldn't have been enough to activate my mutation."
| Affirmative. The Somatic Awakening Elixir enhanced the Host's overall body and mind, including the genetic structure of the X-Gene. As a result, its potential was elevated to Omega-Level, and the stimulus required for activation was significantly lowered. |
Aryan exhaled slowly, absorbing the revelation. His X-Gene had always been there, waiting, but the potion had refined it, making his mutation far stronger than it might have been naturally. And now, it had finally surfaced.
A smirk tugged at his lips. This was an advantage beyond anything he had anticipated.
"I'll check my abilities later. Right now, I need to finish my work."
The rest of the day passed in the usual monotony. Tasks in the lab, passive-aggressive remarks, dismissive glances. None of it bothered him anymore. If anything, it fueled him.
By the time he left campus, the sun had started its descent, casting a golden hue over the streets. The walk back to his apartment was quiet, the cool breeze brushing against his skin. His mind, however, was racing. What kind of mutation had he developed? How strong was it? His control over prana had already improved—was it related to that?
Lost in thought, he reached his apartment and was greeted by the familiar warmth of home.
Raghav, as always, had anticipated his arrival, setting out some evening snacks on the table. "You're late today," he noted, eyeing Aryan's thoughtful expression.
"Yeah, had some extra work," Aryan replied, offering a small smile before grabbing a piece of fruit from the plate.
Raghav studied him for a moment before nodding. "Eat well. You've been pushing yourself too hard."
Aryan chuckled, appreciating the concern. "I'll be fine. I just need to check something in my room first."
Excusing himself, he walked straight to his room and shut the door behind him.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke the command.
The translucent blue screen materialized in his mind's eye, and Aryan's heart pounded as he read the new information before him.
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Name: Aryan Rajvanshi
- Meta-Creation (System Ability)
- Energy Absorption and Redistribution (Omega-Level X-Gene)
- Enhanced Physique – I
- Energy Control – II
Custom Abilities: None
Meta Points (MP): 55.5
Dungeon Creation: Unlocked
Enter/Exit Dungeon: Unlocked
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Aryan's eyes lingered on the second ability.
Energy Absorption and Redistribution... Omega Level.
His breath came slow and measured as he processed the weight of those words. This wasn't just some minor mutation—Omega-level mutants were among the most powerful beings in existence.
And this was his ability.
He clenched his fists slightly, feeling the subtle hum of energy within his body. He had suspected something when he first sensed the ambient prana earlier, but now it was confirmed—his very mutation revolved around energy.
The Implications were staggering. If he could absorb energy, did that mean any type? Heat? Electricity? Kinetic force? And how exactly did the redistribution work? Could he direct it at will? Amplify it? Convert it into something else entirely?
There were too many unknowns.
A slow smile spread across Aryan's face. He had come to Princeton to expand his mind, to build a foundation for his future. But now, with this power, his goals had expanded beyond just proving himself.
This was a tool. A weapon. A gift.
And he intended to master it.
However, another question surfaced in Aryan's mind.
By his own understanding of the power tier system, shouldn't he have reached Tier-3 by now? He had undergone a significant enhancement earlier, and now he had awakened an Omega-level X-Gene. With both of these, remaining at Tier-2 didn't quite add up.
Frowning, he directed the question to the system.
"System, why am I still in Tier-2? Shouldn't I be in Tier-3 by now?"
A brief pause, then a familiar soft chime followed.
| The Host has undergone enhancement but has yet to fully adapt to his newly strengthened body and mind. As a result, the Host is currently at the very bottom of Tier-2. |
| Awakening an ability does not automatically translate to an increase in overall power level. The Host's Energy Absorption and Redistribution ability remains potential energy until actively utilized in combat, training, or real-world application. Only by harnessing its full capabilities can advancement to Tier-3 occur. |
Aryan exhaled through his nose, absorbing the explanation.
It made sense. Power wasn't just about what one had—it was about how well it was wielded. He hadn't even tested his mutation yet. Just because it was classified as Omega-level didn't mean it had done anything for his combat ability or practical strength yet.
Potential is meaningless until realized.
The thought settled within him, grounding him. There was no shortcut to true power. If he wanted to reach Tier-3—or beyond—he had to earn it.
His gaze returned to the Dungeon Creation feature on his status screen.
Perhaps, it was time to start.
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IMPORTANT NOTE - I have to inform you all in advance that the starting may have been a little slow, but soon the story will pick pace after a few Chapters. Also, in this version India is going to achieve independence before starting of WW2 in 1939.
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