The Manifest // OC Light Novel

Chapter 4 - Manifested Life

- Sozen -

Once the three of them had left my office, I had to sit back and reflect on the events that had transpired on their mission.
I had been surprised when they'd come back from their mission. I had been working behind the counter of my cafe when they entered, cut up and battered, and had to usher out the late night occupants (no refunds of course), before herding them into my office.
From what they had told me, their target, Warren, had used some sort of serum that had triggered a near instant manifest activation.
While it was only what Seraphina could describe as a, 'semi-first manifest', I couldn't help the bead of sweat that had begun to form on my forehead.
And once Zenji had told me of his engagement with the bodyguard, Aria, I reminded myself of her name, my brows managed to nearly reach my hairline in surprise.

There are currently known stages that a manifest can reach, the first stage which is the standard stage for a newly formed manifest, not only grants them their ability, but also increases the host's physical prowess and raises their innate senses regardless of type.
A first stage augmentation manifested host could have speed and strength similar to that of an Olympic athlete, and their senses would be heightened to around five times that of a normal human such as myself.
Second stage hosts would build itself upon the first, for example, Zenji and Aria, both with wing-type manifests, would likely have their wings grow larger, and some cases have shown that a second, smaller set can appear just below the first, allowing for greater maneuverability in the air and an overall increase in their flight capabilities.
And finally the third stage, these are exceptionally rare, so much so that to my knowledge, there are only four recorded third stage hosts. To put their strength into perspective, a second stage host would be comparable to 5 to 10 first stages depending on the hosts own skills, and a third stage would require roughly twelve high tier second stages, and even more of the average second stages.
Thankfully for us, the records that I've thus far found state that the four 3rd level hosts weren't able to keep up with the new powers granted by their manifests and were thereby killed from the inside.

However, with the appearance of this new serum that Dr. Warren had seemingly developed, it begged the question. Will there be a large influx of manifest wielding hosts being deployed throughout this city?
All of this weighing on my mind along with multiple more questions with it, I pulled out a cigarette and lit it up.
'Damned scientists.' I thought to myself, "Thank you for all your work, you're dismissed..." I said dismissively, waving the three kids away, "Do what you want."
I couldn't help the weary sigh that left my lips as they made their way out to tend to one another. "I cant begin to imagine the amount of work this is going to give me... the paperwork alone will kill me I swear."
With a grumble, I leaned back into my chair, placed one of my many books on my face, and took a nap. Tomorrow's issues will be dealt with by tomorrows me, after all.

- Zenji -

After we had been allowed to leave Sozen's office, which, I had noted, was dense yet again with the ever-present fog of cigarette smoke, Zero, Sera and I made our way up the stairs to the living room above the cafe where Sera and I sat down.
Zero made her way towards her room for a couple minutes before returning with a first-aid-kit in hand.
Silently, she opened the kit and sat next to Sera and began to clean and dress the many cuts and nicks she'd received in her own conflict, as I reached into the kit and began to do the same to myself.
Taking off my suit, now no more than loose, fancy rags of shredded fabrics, I examined my body, looking at the innumerable cuts and gashes across my chest and arms. Grumbling to myself, a trait I apparently shared with the chain-smoker we called a boss downstairs, I started to wash the wounds, small trails of blood leaking from the larger wounds, before applying a wad of gauze to the largest wounds first, and wrapping myself up in a tight layer of bandages to keep the stuffing all in place.
After some time, my wounds had been treated and I lay myself back, soaking up the comfort of the couch that I had chosen to be my seat.
I looked up to see that Zero had just finished dressing her own wounds, thought many less that Seraphina or my own seeing as she was a ranged fighter.