But...
That's exactly why I didn't want to obey them blindly from the start. So I decided to play along—just not too hard.
It didn't take long before we arrived somewhere new. I could hear everything, but my eyes were still covered. Even the agents who'd brought me here dropped me off without a word, like I was just another package.
We had to be outside the city. The unfiltered sunlight and the complete absence of engine noise were dead giveaways—you'd never get that downtown.
Then, finally, they started peeling off the blindfold and the damn breathing apparatus clamped over my nose. Five months. Five months since I'd taken a real breath. I'd almost forgotten how good it felt to just breathe.
The place had dark blue walls with white stripes. Rows of rooms lined the hallway, their windows revealing lab equipment inside—and people strapped to tables, undergoing tests.
"This is your testing facility. You've got two months until this year's Hero Organization recruitment trials. You know the drill—it's the biggest tournament after the 'Strongest Hero of the Year' event. We'll train you to master your power by then. And in the meantime…" He tapped a syringe. "We'll run our own tests. In exchange for all this… you remember what you owe us, right?"
"Yeah. But one thing's unclear—you actually want me to enter the qualifiers?"
The young man paused at the door, hand on the knob. "Exactly. And we want you to win."
The door swung open, revealing four more figures clad in head-to-toe black, standing rigid as soldiers. A white-coated doctor ran tests on them while they stood frozen. The blue-haired man jerked his chin toward the group—my cue to join. No greetings, no explanations. I just walked over and took my place beside a heavily tattooed brick wall of a man.
The doctor nodded at Blue Hair—some government spook, probably. "Back already, Pedro? And with another catch, I see."
Pedro tossed him a file. "How's progress, Jagni?"
"Solid. These ones pushed through training better than most. Hell, they're already qualifier-ready."The doctor flipped open my file and snorted. "Expelled high-schooler? Beat up a girl? Pfft. Kid stuff."
The doctor turned to me with a disgusted look. "You got no shame, beating up a girl? And now you're standing there like nothing happened—why the hell are you so calm?"
Pedro—whose name I'd only just learned—was casually brewing a coffee in the corner, completely unfazed. I decided to keep my mouth shut for now. I was new here, and one wrong move would land me straight back in prison. (But mark my words—I'll make them pay someday.)
A few minutes later, the doctor stared at Pedro in shock, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This… this power level in his file… it's real? You're not screwing with me, right?"
Pedro took a slow sip of his coffee. "Dead serious, Jagni."
Jagni moved closer, his eyes scanning every inch of me like I was some lab specimen. Then he took a slow step back, his voice trembling with awe: "Holy shit... This is a transcendent masterpiece! No fucking way... Pedro... I can't believe it... I'm looking at a goddamn divine creation up close! This is God's finest work!!"
For a second, I couldn't believe he was talking about me. Even I was weirded out now. I turned to Pedro: "Uh... is this guy high or something?"
The doctor's awe twisted into rage in a heartbeat. He clenched his fists and snarled, "Listen here, you little shit. Guess manners weren't included when you beat that girl half to death, huh?"
Pedro just kept sipping his drink, amused.
"Kid," the doctor spat, still seething, "you even realize what kind of power you've got?"
"Yeah. I can manifest anything I want."
He barked a laugh. "Dumbass. You don't 'manifest'—you warp reality itself with your imagination. Get it? You could do anything."
I knew my power was linked to my imagination, but... I thought it was just about making objects appear. And honestly, that seemed awesome enough - why aim higher? But if this means I can literally do anything... does that mean I could... create my own harem?"
"Hey kid," the doctor snapped, noticing my expression. "Why are you drooling? You hungry or something?" He exchanged a look with Pedro.
After a few seconds of silent eyebrow communication, Blue-Hair dude finally said, "Must've been a bad batch. We're done here."
Thank God these guys are just as dumb as I am.