Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

Chapter 43 First Magic Ability

Parker groaned, rolling onto his side, his body still aching from the insane ordeal it had just been through. His muscles felt like they'd been dunked in lava and then electrocuted for good measure. But despite the pain, something weirdly exhilarating was coursing through him.

"Why the hell do I feel... strong?" he muttered, sitting up slowly. His body should've felt like a wet noodle, but instead, it was buzzing with energy.

"Feels like... I dunno, my physique's upgraded or something. Like I could probably bench press a car or run a marathon without dying halfway through."

He rubbed his face and let out a hum, summoning the system screen with a thought.

The familiar translucent panel appeared, glowing faintly in the dim light. His eyes scanned the last notification, the words almost too surreal to believe.

*

[Ding! Host has received: Celestial Threads.

Description: Celestial Threads are invisible threads connecting the host to higher planes of energy. These threads allow him to "pull" magical energies directly from the universe without needing a medium!]

*

Parker blinked, then read it again, just to be sure his brain wasn't short-circuiting. "Yeah, the Celestial Threads... so those freaky glowing lines from earlier? They're part of me now that's why I feel freakly strong."

He ran his hands over his skin, half-expecting to see the black-and-white glowing veins again, but they were gone. Still, the sensation of something powerful lingering beneath the surface was undeniable.

"No medium, huh?" Parker muttered, letting out a dry laugh. "So, what, I'm walking magic now? Like legit fucking magic?" He couldn't stop the disbelieving grin that spread across his face. "Man, this is wild. If anyone had told me this last week, I'd have called them insane."

He shook his head, trying to ground himself. "Alright, System, let's cut to the chase. What's the catch? What are the limitations? After all magical as it is, everything has a limit and downsides too, right?"

*

[There's no limit to the type or amount of energy the host can absorb as long as the body can handle it. All energy flows through the Spirit Channels, allowing it to circulate efficiently. Any energy is energy, Host!]

*

"Spirit Channels? What the hell are those?"

The system's next notification popped up instantly showing him the notification he had missed after passing out.

*

[Ding! Spirit Channels formed successfully!

Spirit Channels: Spirit Channels are formed after the host acquires the Celestial Threads. They allow absorbed energy to flow through the host's body. When activated, they enhance the speed and efficiency of energy absorption.]

*

Parker stared at the screen, his jaw hanging slightly. "So, I've basically turned into some kind of... human battery or something? Sucking up universal energy like it's a free buffet?" He laughed, though it was laced with disbelief. "I mean, it sounds cool and all, but... wait, hold up—what about powers? Do I get anything flashy out of this? I mean I can absorb energies now so...?"

As if the system had been waiting for the question, another notification appeared.

*

[Ding! Host has awakened his first magical ability: Telekinesis!]

*

The words hit him like a truck. He froze, his breath catching. " Curses! No way... So it's right I have a power?" His voice was barely a whisper, the disbelief heavy in it. "Like, actual, real-deal telekinesis? Moving shit with my mind? Jean Grey-style?"

His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the bed. Who would be happy after getting superpowers, not even the calm and collected him. "This isn't a dream, right? This is real? Magic... powers... holy shit, I'm living in a superhero movie."

But before he let the excitement fully consume him, he forced himself to focus. "System, explain. How does this work? What's the deal with telekinesis?" This was reality, it was only right to get information before jumping in.

*

[Telekinesis grants unparalleled reach, strength, precision, multitasking, stealth, combat versatility, and environmental control at higher levels. Host can manipulate objects effortlessly using sheer willpower. Further details will reveal themselves as Host practices.]

*

Parker frowned slightly. "Okay, that's all fancy and vague. What about limitations? There's gotta be a catch, right?"

[Telekinesis is constrained by mental strength and willpower, emotional stability, precision, range, mass, societal fear, and the fragility or resistance of modern materials.]

"Right. Makes sense," Parker muttered, nodding. At least the system wasn't trying to sell him some perfect, god-tier ability without strings attached.

"What exactly can I do with it right now? Like, powers-wise?"

The system answered with another list:

*

[Telekinesis Powers:

Object Movement: Move or levitate objects, from tiny items to massive structures.

Precision Control: Perform intricate tasks like assembling mechanisms or more.

Force Application: Push, pull, or hurl objects with invisible force.

Energy Manifestation: Create force fields, barriers, or control trajectories.

Note: [Host, Telekinesis can extend far beyond just moving objects with the mind. Abilities or variations may evolve depending on how much the host practices and trains.]

He frowned, letting that sink in. "Okay, so the four powers you just listed... those are just the basics, right? Like, entry-level basic telekinesis usage?"

[Yes, Host. Although even these basic abilities will require intense training to use flawlessly.]

"Basic, huh?" Parker said with a chuckle. "Moving buildings sounds pretty advanced to me. But yeah, I get it. Crawl before I sprint. Got it."

Parker scratched his head, the sheer amount of information making him feel like he was cramming for some impossible final exam. The system's explanation floated in front of him, and he re-read it just to be sure he wasn't missing anything.

Parker sighed, rubbing his temples. "Figures. Nothing's ever easy, huh? Alright, let's break this down." He paused, organizing his thoughts.

From what the system had laid out, his telekinesis seemed to work like this:

Mind Over Matter: Concentrate hard enough, and you can interact with the physical world. Easy in theory, but probably a headache in practice, he was sure of at least that much.

Gesture-Based: So... moving his hands or something could help improve to focus the power. Maybe like Doctor Strange but without the fancy sparkles.

Emotional Amplification: This one was both cool and dangerous. If he got pissed or freaked out, the power might amp up, which sounded awesome—unless he ended up throwing a car at someone by accident.

****

"Alright," Parker muttered, "so it's not all hocus-pocus. This actually makes sense." He nodded slowly. "Cool, cool. Kinda feels like I'm a science experiment, but at least I know the rules now."

He leaned back, staring at the glowing screen. "Still, this emotional amplification thing... that's got potential written all over it. If I can control it, I mean."

The system didn't chime in, which he took as a silent agreement.

Parker let out a soft laugh. "Guess I'm gonna have to put in the work, huh? Great. Just what I wanted—more homework." But even as he joked, a small smile tugged at his lips. This wasn't just homework. This was power. Real, tangible power.

And for the first time in a long while, Parker felt like he was actually in control of something which wasn't just money he could get with a tap on his phone.

[Ding! New mission generated.

Mission: Use your telekinesis ability for the first time and move an object...] And there it was, it was time to use telekinesis for the first time. The first time using magic!

The begining of it all!