In the training area beneath the base, I was left awestruck by the sheer size of the place and its impressive design. I almost gaped.
Keyword—almost.
The entire place felt... real. Different. A reminder that I was no longer reading a comic book or watching everything unfold from behind a TV screen.
As I looked around, still admiring everything, I paused near the center.
"Pretty impressive, right? I know exactly how you feel. Even I reacted like that the first time," Wally exclaimed as he zipped around the room so fast he was little more than a blur.
I was slowly getting used to that.
Though, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder how everyone else dealt with him every day.
No offense, but watching Wally made me question everything I thought I knew about DC speedsters.
Seriously...
How do they even lose fights?
The guy couldn't stay still for more than two seconds, and we were inside their own headquarters!
"Well, enough staring," Kara interrupted, rubbing her hands together with an excited grin. "Let's get to the fun part and start punching stuff."
Aqualad walked over to the control console and finished configuring the training systems while everyone else spread out around the observation area.
Once everything was ready, I stepped into the center of the room.
Only then did I notice that a few faces from the mountain incident weren't here.
Probably because of Nataku's radiation...
Speaking of which...
I should probably find a better way to use that ability.
Otherwise, I'm going to end up contributing to global warming.
"Sai."
"Yes?"
"Open Template."
A brief silence followed before a familiar translucent blue screen appeared before my eyes.
[BLUE CORE DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE]
Name: Mike
Age: 16
Current Physical Condition: Stable
Blue Core Synchronization: 100%
Template Synchronization: Complete
CORE TEMPLATES
Sho Kusakabe
Severed Universe (Time Stop)
Synchronization: 100%
Shinra Kusakabe
Ignition Speed
Flight
Synchronization: 90%
Charon
Reflect
Heat Absorption
Synchronization: 100%
Benimaru Shinmon
Crimson Moon
Sun Wheel
Hybrid Pyrokinesis
Synchronization: 87%
Nataku Son
Radioactive Heat Rays
Nuclear Flame Manipulation
Synchronization: 100%
AUXILIARY TEMPLATE
Haumea
Telepathy
Mind Communication
Memory Alteration
Mental Domination
Synchronization: 50%
Available Auxiliary Slots: 4
BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Base Physiology:
Comparable to Peak Super Soldier physiology.
Reference Subject:
John Walker (U.S. Agent)
Estimated Physical Output
Strength:
Peak Super Soldier
Blue Core Amplification ×9
Speed:
Peak Super Soldier
Blue Core Amplification ×9
Agility:
Peak Super Soldier
Blue Core Amplification ×4
Vitality:
Peak Super Soldier
Blue Core Amplification ×9
Sensory Processing:
Blue Core Enhanced
Regeneration:
Extreme
Energy Capacity:
Unlimited
Warning:
User incapable of utilizing full Blue Core output.
Current Output Efficiency:
0.0000003%
Estimated Remaining Growth:
ERROR...
I stared at the screen for a long moment.
"..."
"..."
"...Damn."
That was literally the only thing my brain could come up with.
Since when...
Since when did I become this ridiculous?
"Oh, I don't know," Sai replied in her usual deadpan tone.
"Maybe after your body spent ten years adapting to torture, another three months getting beaten senseless by me, and finally repairing every bit of damage those scientists caused."
"..."
"When you put it like that..."
"I usually do."
My eyes drifted back to one particular line.
Reference Subject: John Walker.
"So..." I muttered.
"Without the Blue Core, my body is basically equal to a fully realized Super Soldier?"
"Correct."
"...Captain America?"
"No."
"John Walker."
"...That wasn't the point."
"You requested an accurate comparison."
"...Fair enough."
I continued reading until another line caught my attention.
Current Output Efficiency: 0.0000003%.
"...Sai."
"Yes?"
"Tell me that's a typo."
"It isn't."
I blinked several times before reading it again.
Still the same number.
"If that's my current output..." I swallowed.
"...Then what happens if I ever reach one percent?"
Silence.
For the first time since I had known her...
Sai didn't answer immediately.
"I am still calculating that."
"...Should I be worried?"
"You should be motivated."
"...That somehow made me even more worried."
"It was not intended to reassure you."
I rubbed my forehead.
"I suddenly feel much weaker than I did five minutes ago."
"That is called perspective."
Before I could ask anything else, fingers repeatedly snapped in front of my face.
"Oi!"
Blinking, I looked up to find Kara standing less than a foot away, waving her hand in front of my face.
"You still with us," she asked, tilting her head.
"Or did your brain crash?"
"Oh, sorry about that. I was just thinking about a few things," I replied with a casual smile.
The excuse was enough for most of them, but Batwoman and Artemis exchanged a brief glance. Neither of them looked convinced. They didn't press the matter though, and I wasn't about to explain myself if nobody asked.
Turning my attention to Aqualad, I tilted my head slightly.
"So... exactly how am I supposed to demonstrate my abilities here?" I asked. "You were there when I escaped my... holding facility, so you already have a rough idea of what my firepower looks like."
Aqualad remained silent for a moment, one hand resting against his chin while the other folded across his chest as he thought it over.
"I remember that encounter," he answered calmly. "From what I observed, your abilities possess tremendous destructive potential. However..." His eyes briefly shifted toward Kara. "...the person standing beside you should be capable of preventing a repeat of that incident should it become necessary."
I stared at him for a second before slowly turning toward Kara.
"...So it wasn't a coincidence that she's here."
Kara blinked.
"You brought your emergency extinguisher."
Silence.
Then I pointed a thumb toward Supergirl.
"So she's less of a teammate today and more of a 'break glass in case the new guy goes nuclear' kind of backup."
A grin spread across Kara's face.
"...You know what? I kinda like that title."
Wally immediately burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Emergency Supergirl! That's actually perfect!"
Even Static had to cover his mouth to hide a smile.
Artemis rolled her eyes.
"Only you would hear 'you're here as the failsafe' and somehow make it sound like a compliment."
"It is a compliment," Kara replied proudly, crossing her arms. "Means they trust me."
"They trust you to tackle the walking reactor if he loses control," Artemis corrected.
"...Still counts."
I rubbed the back of my neck with a helpless sigh.
"Gotta say... you guys really know how to make a guest feel welcome."
"It isn't personal," Batwoman said evenly. "It's protocol."
I just shrugged.
"Understandable. I'm just glad you can say it to my face instead of planning to attack me from behind... or lock me up."
Actually, they're being more generous than I expected, I thought to myself. After all, they may not want to admit it, but I'm pretty sure I burned every researcher and doctor in those labs... male or female.
"Well, fortunately for them, they didn't witness what you actually did that day," Sai replied calmly in my mind, sounding almost amused.