LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 1: STOOD
The next day, Elisa wakes up early, feeling a strange sense of anticipation, as if something significant is about to happen. Determined to understand what is going on with STOOD, she decides to go to his house. Upon arrival, she is greeted by his mother, who warmly invites her in with a smile. When Elisa asks about STOOD, his mother seems distracted and does not provide a clear answer. Elisa, ever polite, asks for permission to head upstairs to his room.
As she opens the door, she cautiously approaches the bed. The room is softly lit, and STOOD is lying there, seemingly asleep. When she touches his shoulder, he suddenly turns toward her, as if pulled from a nightmare.
— STOOD! — she exclaims, surprised. — Your eyes... they're glowing neon blue! What happened?
He gets up, visibly confused, and walks over to the mirror. His eyes reflect an intense, almost supernatural blue. He tries to find an explanation, but nothing makes sense. Then, something extraordinary happens: STOOD feels a surge of mental clarity. The world around him starts to transform into a series of equations and mathematical formulas, interwoven with the laws of physics and chemistry. Everything that once seemed abstract now appears logically understandable.
— I... I don't know what happened, but... — he begins, his voice calm but filled with awe. — It's as if my mind has expanded. It's like I can understand everything at once, with a clarity I never imagined.
Instead of going to school, STOOD makes an impulsive decision. Something inside him urges him to return to the junkyard. He needs to find answers and, before fully understanding what's happening, feels the need to share his discoveries with Elisa.
At the junkyard, STOOD leads Elisa to a secluded corner where a large metal sheet covers a pile of rusty objects. He approaches with almost superhuman strength and easily lifts the sheet. Beneath it, a partially disassembled robot is visible, its parts scattered but still carrying an unusual energy.
— Look, Elisa, this... this is part of me — he says, his voice low and almost reverent.
What he didn't expect was for Elisa, curious, to reach out and touch one of the metal pieces. The moment her fingers make contact, a mild electric shock surges through her body, catching her off guard. The shock isn't as intense as what STOOD experienced, but it's enough to knock her down, leaving her disoriented. STOOD rushes to her, concerned, but before he can speak, Elisa passes out. He holds her, and the robot seems to pulse faintly on the ground as if its residual energy is waiting for something.
When Elisa finally regains consciousness, she feels a surge of energy coursing through her veins. It's not just adrenaline; it's something deeper. They lock eyes, and without speaking a word, something indescribable happens. Their thoughts begin to intertwine, as if a mental connection has been established between them. Communication is no longer verbal.
*Are you okay?* thinks STOOD, and Elisa instantly feels his concern in her mind.
*Yes... but what is happening to us?* she responds mentally, still feeling the shock reverberating through her body. Images and sensations flood her mind.
Both of them sense that the changes happening within them go beyond the physical. Their capacity to learn and understand seems amplified. But one thing is clear: they cannot let anyone discover what they are experiencing. The risk of being manipulated or having their abilities fall into the wrong hands is real.
After a long silence, they make a decision. What they are going through must remain a secret. They cannot share what's happening with anyone. With a simple nod, they agree to separate for a while, each reflecting on the next steps. But their communication doesn't stop. That night, as STOOD undergoes more physical modifications, he realizes that the next step is clearer: they need more than just answers.
They need control. Control over their abilities, over their minds, and over the destiny unfolding before them.
With their new abilities, they quickly become experts in navigating the internet. No longer just consumers of knowledge, but true devourers of information. Every piece of data available becomes a crucial part of a larger puzzle. But they don't stop there.
With sharp intellect and skill, they begin hacking into government and private networks, accessing data, plans, and systems, gathering everything they need to understand what's really going on. From there, they devise an audacious strategy to achieve their goal: money. No more limits.
Using their vast knowledge, they start making money almost instantly. In no time, with near-supernatural precision, they begin buying and selling with surgical accuracy. Every move is calculated, like a chess master making the next move. The fortunes they accumulate grow quickly, and soon they find themselves at the top of an immeasurable financial empire. But their true goal goes beyond just money or power.
Now, what matters is understanding the full extent of their abilities and what they are truly capable of.
And, more importantly, it's about what the future holds for them.