Threads of Fate Across Universes

Before grabbing the books, Shane's mind kept replaying the situation with Lori. His thoughts circled around the event, over and over, until a frustrated noise escaped him. He opened the first book. 

The title caught his eye: Detailed Research Notes on the Body Modification Serum by Prokopis Sargent. Recognizing the name, he pulled out the second book—The Guide for the Strong, authored by Everett Sargent. His mind raced, trying to connect the two names. Brothers? Family? As his imagination spun, he envisioned the two of them working together in a lab, experimenting on people. A shiver ran down his spine, but he forced himself to focus on the research notes. 

The first page contained an overview, followed by the author's conclusions about the serum: 

Research Overview on the Body Modification Serum: 

For eons, our family has struggled with progressing in a forward direction. We've never gathered together to discuss how we could become stronger as peacekeepers of the Multiverse. Our role was to be among the strongest beings, but we weren't focusing on the right ways to gain that strength. After a crucial meeting with the clan elders, I was assigned a task: to revolutionize our approach to power. 

It took another long stretch of time to perfect the serum. 

The body modification serum was designed to enhance our clan's mind, body, and senses. The process requires 20 doses to achieve full effect. Once completed, the subject would stand shoulder to shoulder with the master. 

However, the serum itself doesn't directly increase strength. Instead, it modifies the body, enhancing the subject's capabilities, talents, and overall growth. The goal is to allow continuous, steady development, ensuring that our vessels can withstand the strength we gain. Historically, our clan's greatest downfall has been the inability of our bodies to handle that power. 

The first subject chosen to complete all 20 doses was the wife of the clan head. There had been many prophecies made by our seers about a child born to the clan leader's wife—one who would carry our legacy. The elders believed that while she was pregnant, they could inject the serum, enhancing the unborn child's potential. 

This plan worked well until the Pantheons took notice. They sensed the shifting balance of nature and discovered the origin of our efforts. Fearing what the child could become, they waged war against our clan. They knew they would ultimately fail, but they pressed on nonetheless. 

After losing the war, we made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the child survived. We left behind our legacy, hoping that the child—and their soulmates—would grow into the strongest champions the Multiverse had ever known. 

Shane paused, his chest tight. He had a strong suspicion about who this child was. A part of him felt heartbroken—for his soulmate, who had to bear this legacy, and for himself, knowing that the weight of it now fell on his shoulders. He wasn't prepared for this. Being a champion of the Multiverse? Being the strongest? It seemed impossible. 

He turned the page, hoping to find more details on the serum and how he might use it to improve himself. Though part of him was skeptical, he couldn't ignore the fact that the book seemed to offer a way forward—a possible path to helping him prepare for what lay ahead. 

The Effects of the Body Modification Serum: 

The first enhancement provided by the serum is the physical transformation. It alters the body's genes and DNA, enabling it to handle far more energy and potential. With each dose, the subject's energy capacity increases, raising the body's limits and unlocking new growth. This continuous enhancement allows for never-ending progression. 

The second improvement is to the senses. Through extensive research, we discovered that the body's physical capabilities and the five senses are separate systems. While the serum enhances the body's strength, the senses—touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste—remain relatively unaffected. This imbalance might not seem significant at first, but over time, the lack of sensory enhancement creates an unsettling emptiness in the subject. This can lead to a feeling of incompleteness, causing inner turmoil as the physical body advances without the senses to match. To bypass this issue, we made changes to the serum to enhance our senses along with our body and mind. 

Shane took a deep breath, trying to process it all. The idea of becoming stronger, growing without limit—part of him wanted to believe in it. But another part of him felt a growing sense of dread. If this was truly the path ahead, could he handle it? Would he be able to cope with the empty feeling that came with such immense growth? The more he read, the more his next steps began to take shape. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but something told him he had no choice but to keep going. 

His eyes went to the last part that explained the ways of how his mind would grow with the modification's. It described it as becoming a genius throughout the multiverse and coming out on top of everything. 

His eyes moved to the last section, which explained how his mind would evolve with the modifications. It described the process of becoming a genius across the Multiverse, eventually rising to the top of everything. 

Shane, once consumed by worry, now found his thoughts shifting. He decided to push aside his concerns and focus entirely on the idea of growing stronger. With a sense of resolve, he set the first book down, having absorbed all the knowledge it offered. His gaze turned to the second book, and he froze in shock at what he saw. 

The book seemed to greet him, almost as though it had a consciousness of its own. 

"Hello, Shane. It's nice to finally meet you." 

Though shocked, Shane found himself oddly desensitized to the surreal experiences he'd been having lately. 

Inside, his thoughts raced at lightning speed: Woah, this book is talking to me. That's freaky and cool! 

"Why, thank you for your favorable opinion," came the voice again. 

Shane blinked in confusion. He hadn't said a word. His mouth was tightly closed. 

The voice responded, as though it read his thoughts: "Little boy, I am reading your mind." 

Shane jumped back, startled, as if the book itself had physically attacked him. 

"There's no need to worry," it continued, soothingly. "It's just a more efficient way of communicating—so others don't hear us."