Universal Sign-in: Ascending to Godhood With My 10x Rewards!-Chapter 28: Mark, the Ruler of Paradox

At this point, I didn’t even know what to make of the story he narrated.

What is he even saying?

I rolled my eyes, massaging my forehead as I let out a sigh. "You done?"

I need to sign in.

"Wait," Jericho said. A cold tone. "As the voice said that..." He gazed downward, looking at his hands. "The darkness in the room dissolved, and a lone silver moon appeared above, showering its pale silver light on me. And then... I woke up."

I looked at Marcus.

Marcus stood with crossed arms, wearing a knowing smile on his lips as he pointed his head toward Jerry, insisting that I should listen to him.

I narrowed my eyes.

Something feels off.

"And when I woke up..." Jerry said.

I turned to look at him.

"I discovered I could do..." Jerry looked down at his open palms. And then he clenched his palm, but not fully. Half clenched, like he grasped the air itself. A low buzzing sound echoed.

In his palms, a faint, rising glow gathered and twirled, like a mini-tornado.

And in less than a second, a swirling ball of full, pure... light twirled in his palms.

"This." Jerry completed.

My eyes widened as I reflexively inched backwards, my breathing skyrocketing.

"What the-" I couldn’t fully utter my words. I just stared at the dancing light.

Jericho didn’t look up at me. His eyes calmly peered at the twirling light, a faint smirk on his lips.

How the fuck did he just do that?!

I moved immediately, closing Jericho’s palms to end the minor light show.

Marcus’s laughter echoed.

Jericho’s neck snapped as he shot an inquisitive glare at me, an annoyed frown on his face. "What the hell?"

I moved my neck frantically, looking left and right to know if anyone among the crowd noticed this supernatural phenomenon.

Luckily, all three of us were in a more secluded area in the station. And although the dejected look on the faces of the crowd melted, they were still wary, and only those in groups spoke to each other. All of them minded their business.

No one saw.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I stared at Jericho with narrowed eyes.

Is this the Universe’s doing?

With a low voice, I asked. "How? How did you just do that?"

Jericho’s frown and glare melted as his facial expression softened. "I don’t know." He said. "I just.. felt like I could do it. Something keeps moving inside my body. It’s a feeling. No, more than a feeling," He looked down at his fist as he clenched it. "It’s an energy."

...?

"Ha..." I almost chuckled in amusement mixed with surprise.

Is it... what do they call it again?

...Mana?

I nodded. "I see."

It’s definitely the work of the universe.

Is it empowering people to fight against the world’s end?

But why? Why does it enable them to fight if it granted my wish in the first place?

Unless.. my wish wasn’t its will?

That mechanical voice did say it only honored my wish because of my soul that once housed Olephus, the primordial guardian.

So it granted a wish it didn’t want to grant and is trying to somehow fix things?

I don’t get it at all. I can’t wrap my head around all this. So many questions that have no answers.

...Am I overthinking?

I shrugged.

Meh, rubber duck.

I turned to look at Marcus. "And you. You don’t look surprised, you’re smiling. Did something happen to you, too? Is your palm a natural light bulb now, too?"

Marcus chuckled and flashed that blinding smile.

Ugh. He’s recharged now, alright.

I squinted.

Someone, make it stop! It’s blinding!

"Actually, yes. But the reason I’m not surprised is that I woke up earlier than you both." Marcus said.

Well, that’s because you slept earlier, Unc.

"And when I woke up, I saw cringelo–"

As I heard what he was about to say, I mouthed for him to abort that shitty joke, shaking my head.

Marcus froze, then cleared his throat.

He’s a light bulb generator now. And he still has his two glocks.

Can’t have you dead before you complete your story.

"I mean, I saw Jericho convulsing on the ground. Mouth open. And from his open mouth, a blinding light shone. So I rushed to help and also to wake him up. Then he woke up and told me the same story."

Yup. Light generator.

"Wait," Jericho said with a cold voice. "What were you about to call me?"

Marcus’s eyes quivered as he looked away from Jerry. "A–anyway, I had a dream too."

"Are you deflecting my question?" Jericho asked.

I smiled.

What a duo.

"No, I’m not!" Marcus snapped, glaring at Jerry.

"Then why are y–"

"Anyway, as I was saying," Marcus said.

"Okay," Jerry said, "That’s it. You’re dead." He reached into his coat pocket.

I swear, this guy...

"Hey! Stop him, Duz!" Marcus yelled.

I put a hand on Jerry’s shoulder, offering an awkward toothy smile. "C’mon, let him speak."

Marcus was right. Nothing more dangerous than a cringe lord with dual Glocks.

"Tch." Jerry clicked his tongue as he put his gun back inside his pocket and folded his arms, turning his head away from us.

I sighed, looking at Marcus. "Go ahead."

"In my dream, I found myself in an expansive throne room. Every single thing in that room was made up of gold. The walls, the floor, the ceiling, the decorations. Even the flower vases. And the room was really, really large. Even the throne itself was large, like the place was built for giants."

Intriguing.

"Go on," I said.

Through the corner of my periphery, I sneaked a glance at Jericho, who slightly turned his head to listen.

I smiled.

"Suddenly, while looking confused and normal-sized in a gigantic throne room, a voice echoed. The gender of the voice was rather ambiguous. I could only tell that it was old and shaky, but even with that, it sounded regal nonetheless. It said to me, ’Take your crown, ruler of paradox.’"

"Mn hm?"

"And then a golden crown appeared out of nowhere, and it fell on my head. And as I blinked and opened my eyes, I saw myself sitting on top of the golden throne, gazing down at countless bowed and indescribable entities." Marcus completed.

King?

"And...?" Jericho chimed in.

Marcus glared at him.

Jericho glared back.

"So what happened next?" I asked.

"I woke up."

"And what can you do now? The powers?" I asked.

"Uh.. I have no idea." Marcus shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. "Right."

So that’s what happened, huh.

Seeing that it happened to both of them, I think it’s safe to assume that...

"This phenomenon might’ve occurred to more people," I said, holding my chin.

"That’s exactly what I thought." Jericho supported, "It might be global."

"Or not," Marcus said.

I nodded. "Yes, it’s all under probability. But what I do know now is that.. There might be other people out there with supernatural powers now."

Jericho scoffed. "Great. First, an apocalypse on day one. Then, people with powers on day two. How great. It’s like the whole thing is being programmed on purpose by something."

"Or someone," Marcus said with a dark voice.

I wonder who that someone is.

"Maybe the powers have been given to combat the monsters?" I asked.

Marcus raised a brow. "Like to protect the weak?"

I sneered, frowning.

Ew.

Jericho chuckled. "Protect? You’re funny."

Marcus’s voice grew cold. "What do you mean by that?"

Jericho turned to me. "Let me ask you, Duz. Now that we have these supernatural abilities. What would you do with them?"

They both looked at me.

Hm?

Why the sudden focus on me?

"Wait a minute," Marcus said. "Does he even have any abilities? Did you also have a weird dream, Duz?"

I gulped.

I did.

The system screen flickered.

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