The silence in the abandoned warehouse was heavy, broken only by the diligent scrape of a broom on the concrete floor. Under her master's command, Viser, the feral devil who hours ago had been the apex predator of the district, now worked with the assiduity of a housemaid. She cleared away the gruesome remains of her past victims, sweeping bones and tattered clothing into large trash bags with an expression of serene satisfaction. Her beautiful face showed no remorse or sadness, only a pure desire to make her lair worthy of her new god.
Thomas ignored her for now. His entire attention was focused inward, on the new sensation pulsating in every fiber of his being. It was an incredible feeling. Power. Not just the passive cartoonish resiliency, but an active, vibrant kinetic force. He felt light, as if gravity had slightly loosened its grip. He felt strong, as if his skeletal frame had been reinforced with steel.
He needed to know his limits.
His first step was a speed test. He took a runner's stance on the long, empty warehouse floor. With a burst of energy, he shot forward. The world around him instantly blurred into streaks. Wind roared in his ears, and the concrete floor felt as if it was flying beneath his feet. He traversed the length of the warehouse, almost a hundred meters, in a blink of an eye, stopping precisely before hitting the opposite wall without the slightest hint of breathlessness. His heart pounded, not from exhaustion, but from pure exhilaration. This speed surpassed any Olympian.
Next, strength. His eyes landed on a rusty old machine in the corner of the room, a solid hunk of metal that must have weighed several hundred kilograms. Before, he wouldn't even have been able to budge it. Now... He walked up to the machine, planted his feet firmly, and gripped its edges. With a growl that rumbled from his throat, he lifted. The metal groaned in protest. The muscles in his arms and back tensed, fueled by the new power. Slowly, the machine rose from the floor. An inch, then two, then a full foot. He held it there for several seconds, feeling the raw power surge through him, before dropping it back down with a deafening THUD.
He stared at his un-trembling hands. This was real.
For the final test, he returned to the same brick wall where he had first tested his Cartoon Template. He clenched his fist, this time feeling solid muscle beneath the skin. He didn't hesitate. He delivered a straight, powerful punch.
BOOM!
There was no slight crack this time. There was a small explosion. The bricks at the point of impact disintegrated into dust and gravel. A gaping hole appeared in the wall, revealing the darkness beyond. His hand... he felt a dull thud from the impact, a vibration that ran up his arm, but no pain. It was a sensation of feedback, not injury.
A deep, cold satisfaction coursed through him. This was real strength. Power to act, not just react. Power to strike, not just to endure. Every time he relied on his Cartoon Template, he had to endure immense suffering. This Physical Enhancement was his first step to transcending the role of an immortal punching bag. This was the path to becoming a god, not a clown.
Satisfied with his testing, he turned his attention to his new "pet." Viser had finished cleaning and was now kneeling quietly in the corner, awaiting further instructions. She was an asset, but also a complication. He couldn't bring her back to Aya's apartment.
"Viser," Thomas called. Instantly, the devil was before him, bowing her head. "Yes, my Lord?"
"Tell me about this world," Thomas commanded. "About devils. About the factions you mentioned. Don't leave out a single detail."
For the next hour, Viser provided an explanation from the perspective of a low-ranking soldier. She spoke of the Three Great Factions: the Devils, led by the Four Great Satans; the Angels, who resided in Heaven; and the Fallen Angels, led by Azazel. She explained that Kuoh Town was technically the territory of two high-pillar Devil families: Gremory and Sitri. Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri were the next in line to inherit their clans, and the school was their dominion.
She explained that Stray Devils seemed to be the outlaws of the underworld. They were devils who had abandoned their masters or defied the system and were hunted by all factions. Their lives were a constant hide-and-seek. Her knowledge was limited, but it was more than enough for Thomas. It gave him a basic political map of the battlefield he was about to enter.
"You will stay here," Thomas commanded after Viser finished. "This warehouse district is your territory now. You are my eyes and ears in the underworld. Report any unusual supernatural activity to me. Do not act without my permission. I will give you money to survive."
He pulled a wad of cash from the paper bag he still carried and tossed it onto the floor in front of her. Viser's eyes gleamed at the money, then looked up at her master with infinite gratitude. "Thank you, my Lord! I will not disappoint you!"
Keeping Viser as an undercover agent was a strategic move. She was a disposable pawn he could use to gather information or handle messy affairs.
As dawn began to break, Thomas left the warehouse district. He felt a vibrate in his pocket. His new smartphone. An encrypted email had arrived. His documents were ready. A diploma from a prestigious British university, glowing letters of recommendation, and a perfect work history as a teacher. His new identity as "Thomas Hill" had been born.
He returned to Aya's apartment, slipping in like a shadow. The contrast was stark. From the cold, brutal devil's lair, he stepped into comfortable domestic warmth. The aroma of miso soup and rice greeted him.
Aya, already awake and wearing an apron, met him at the door with a loving smile, completely unaware of where her master had been or what he had done. "Welcome back, Master. Did you sleep well?" she asked, thinking he had just returned from an early morning stroll.
"Very well," Thomas replied, a small smile playing on his lips.
He walked into the main room. On a chair, neatly hung, was a Kuoh Academy uniform. He had bought it a few days ago for "research." Aya, with her obedient efficiency, had washed and ironed it to perfection.
Thomas picked up his phone and saw the job interview confirmation email for an Assistant English Teacher position at Kuoh Academy. His interview was scheduled for tomorrow morning.
He took the uniform blazer, feeling the smooth fabric in his hands. In his other hand, he held his new identity, a gateway into the heart of power in this city. He was no longer an outside observer. Tomorrow, he would step through that gate.
He was about to walk into the lion's den, but for the first time, he felt that he was the true predator.