Nearly twenty-four hours had passed since Efsun and Efsane had consumed the chocolate.

  It had been twenty-two hours since Yusuf Polat and Aslan had done the same.

  It was now the next morning.

  Sunlight filtered through the mansion windows, calm and warm — a sharp contrast to the tension quietly building inside its walls.

  Emrah looked at everyone and said calmly, “Stay in the mansion.”

  Then he turned to Efsun, Efsane, Yusuf, and Aslan.

  “You four. Come with me.”

  In the next second, they were inside his pocket domain, standing in the training room.

  “Now,” Emrah said, his voice echoing slightly in the vast space, “you can let loose.”

  The training room was enormous — like a massive empty hall. There was nothing inside except a single table Emrah had placed there earlier to put his water bottle and a few belongings on. The emptiness made every movement feel louder, heavier.

  Emrah walked toward the wall and placed an iron plate against it.

  He turned to Efsane.

  “This will be your target practice for the next thirty minutes — until your system manifests in your body. Try to hit the plate from far away with your Bloody Blades.”

  Efsane nodded, flexing her fingers slightly.

  Then Emrah turned to Aslan and Yusuf.

  “There hasn’t been any sign of manifestation in you two yet. Try imagining different powers. Experiment. See what feels natural. Maybe you’ll discover what your abilities are before your systems arrive.”

  Yusuf frowned slightly. “Won’t we find out once we get our systems?”

  Emrah smirked faintly. “Yes, you will. But what’s the fun in that?”

  Aslan’s eyes lit up. He nodded excitedly. “You’re right. I can’t wait to find out. I don’t want the system to decide everything. I want something cool. Maybe in these last hours we can shape the abilities our systems will grant us.”

  Emrah paused.

  “Maybe?”

  Deep inside, Emrah didn’t know either. But he told himself it was best to experiment with Yusuf and Aslan. This theory needed testing.

  Without saying more, he grabbed Efsun’s hand.

  “Come with me.”

  They disappeared and reappeared inside his throne room.

  Emrah sat on his throne and looked at her.

  “Now I want you to use your power to read my mind.”

  Efsun’s eyes widened. “How do you know I can read minds?”

  Emrah kept his expression neutral. “I figured it out from your reactions yesterday.”

  Inside his thoughts, however, he corrected himself.

  It’s better if I hide the fact that I guessed her power from the titles the system showed me during the dance mission.

  Efsun slowly stepped closer. So close it looked like she was about to hug him.

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  She tilted her head slightly and said softly, “You’re thinking about kissing me.”

  Emrah froze.

  How can she predict an action I had in my mind? I didn’t even fully think about it. I just… wanted to do it.

  So she can predict actions as well.

  Good to know.

  Efsun looked at him and whispered, “Go ahead. Kiss me.”

  Emrah didn’t hesitate this time. He grabbed her waist, pulled her onto the throne and into his arms, and kissed her delicately.

  Meanwhile, back in the training hall—

  Efsane kept throwing bloody blades at the iron plate. Each strike echoed sharply through the empty space.

  Clang.

  Clang.

  Clang.

  Yusuf sat quietly nearby, watching.

  But he wasn’t really seeing the plate.

  He was lost in his own thoughts.

  What does all of this even mean?

  How did Emrah gain such powers?

  How can he give powers to anyone with just a piece of chocolate?

  And they aren’t temporary.

  It’s insane.

  It feels like I’m stuck in some kind of twisted dream.

  The future of my country is in the hands of a crazy genius… a lunatic mastermind who can grant abilities like they’re gifts.

  And I couldn’t even steal a sample of the chocolate.

  It's like Emrah is always ten steps ahead.

  Yusuf exhaled slowly, eyes fixed on the iron plate.

  Clang.

  The sound echoed again.

  And for the first time in years, Yusuf felt completely outmatched.

  Emrah, who had been lost in an intimate moment with Efsun, suddenly glanced at his watch. His expression shifted.

  “It’s time,” he said quietly. “Your systems will manifest in five minutes. We need to go.”

  Efsun nodded, steadying herself, and they headed back to the training room.

  The moment they stepped inside, something changed.

  Two translucent screens materialized in front of Efsun and Efsane. The others in the room didn’t react—no one else could see them.

  Efsane’s screen flickered first.

  [Congratulations. You have successfully unlocked: Crimson Blood System.]

  [You may check your Ability Tab now.]

  At the same time, Efsun’s screen appeared.

  [Congratulations. You have successfully unlocked: Cerebral Manipulation System.]

  [You may check your Ability Tab now.]

  Efsane’s eyes widened in disbelief. A grin spread across her face and she jumped up, wrapping her arms around Emrah.

  “Thank you,” she said, almost breathless with excitement.

  Efsun, calmer but clearly intrigued, looked at Emrah. “How do I interact with it?”

  “Just speak to it,” Emrah explained. “Ask it for whatever you want. If you want to see your abilities, say: ‘System, open ability tab.’ Then scroll through it like a tablet.”

  Efsun took a slow breath.

  “System, open ability tab.”

  Her screen shifted instantly.

  [System Name: Cerebral Manipulation System]

  [Stratum 9: Whispering Strings]

  {Abilities}:

  [Mind Sense]: Read surface thoughts of a single target.

  [Puppet Touch]: Minor action control of a single target.

  [Reflex Anticipation]: Predict basic moves of a single target.

  [Emotion Twinge]: Sense emotional spikes of a single target.

  Passive Ability: Psychic Resonance

  [Detect deception, hidden intentions, or secret alliances within range.]

  [Mind-link boosts mental power with more controlled minds.]

  [Flaw: Cognitive Strain]

  [Mental fatigue if over-controlling minds or higher Stratum targets.]

  [Overreach can cause blackouts, memory lapses, or loss of control.]

  [Emotional entanglement can compromise judgment in combat or politics.]

  Efsun read every line carefully, her expression growing more serious the further she scrolled.

  Then Efsane stepped forward eagerly.

  “System, open ability tab.”

  Her screen changed as well.

  [System Name: Crimson Blood System]

  [STRATUM 9: Vein Whisperer]

  {Abilities}:

  [Enhanced Blood Sense]: Detects nearby blood, heartbeats, injuries, and the weakest target within 15 meters.

  [Hemorrhagic Strike]: The user makes their own blood razor-sharp for melee combat; slices with lethal precision.

  [Crimson Reflex]: Blood heightens reflexes when near wounded targets; instinctive dodges and counters.

  [Predator’s Leap]: Propels herself short distances for ambushes or attacks.

  [Passive Ability: Royal Hemostasis]

  [Blood regenerates rapidly; wounds heal during combat.]

  [Extreme resistance to poisons and bleeding.]

  [Bloodlust drives the users power higher the more she kills.]

  [Flaw: Hemophilic Overdrive]

  [The users bloodlust is so intense that in prolonged fights she sometimes loses focus, attacking recklessly.]

  [Can overextend herself, leaving openings for opponents to exploit.]

  [Extreme emotional triggers (anger, rage) amplify the users power but also reduce tactical judgment.]

  The room felt different now.

  Even though the others couldn’t see the screens, they could sense the shift—the weight of something awakening.

  Two Stratum 9 systems.

  And this was only the beginning.