As I mentioned to Oliver earlier, I still hadn't had the chance to use any of the abilities I gained. Honestly, I don't think any of us had much time to actually test them, not with all these strange and unexpected things happening around us.
Still, this seemed like the perfect moment to give it a shot. But one question kept nagging at me: how exactly was I supposed to use them? No one gave us any kind of instructions during our time in the white room.
I stood there, thinking it over for a few seconds, when a strange discomfort suddenly struck my head. It wasn't just a vague feeling—this was intense, like something had been forcibly shoved into my mind.
The sensation hit so suddenly and violently that I almost lost focus, but surprisingly, it only lasted a few seconds. Just as quickly as it came, it vanished, leaving me unsure if it had even happened at all.
"Justin? Why'd you stop all of a sudden? Did you feel something?" Oliver asked, his voice thick with concern as he noticed I was frozen in place, eyes locked on some distant point like I'd been caught in an invisible trap.
His words snapped me out of it, and I shook my head, signaling I was okay before continuing to walk. Deep down, what really mattered was the new information I'd just received—though I still wasn't sure how.
All those strange things happening to me felt like the least of my problems at the moment. Still, if I had to sum it up, the core of the message was clear: it was about how I was supposed to use my abilities.
Turns out, the process is actually pretty simple. All I have to do is either say or even just think the name of the ability I want to use. Of course, I need to be genuinely determined—really want to use it—but overall, it's a pretty straightforward thing.
Without hesitation, I focused my mind on the name of the ability I wanted: [Detect Presence]. The moment I did, I felt a gentle tug inside me, a subtle shift—like something deep within me moved as the ability activated.
It wasn't uncomfortable; in fact, I doubt I'd even notice it if it happened a third or fourth time. The sensation, while strange, faded quickly—feeling more like a natural part of the process than anything else.
Still, the instant I thought of the ability, something within me stirred, and I could feel it activate. My surroundings, once cloaked in darkness, seemed to brighten as if a thin mist had suddenly lifted.
It was strange, but remarkably clear. I could sense everything around me—even the tiniest details. The sound of water droplets hitting the floor from broken pipes, something I wouldn't have noticed before, now stood out sharply.
I couldn't help but let out a low whistle, impressed. Using abilities like this really is something else, especially when you see someone wield them with confidence.
Not that I've used many abilities so far, but hey, first impressions stick, right? Anyway, with my ability now active, Oliver and I pressed on—moving quietly and carefully, alert to every little thing around us.
A few moments later, my steps slowed to a stop, and Oliver's footsteps followed suit. I felt his gaze shift to me, and when I met his eyes, I saw a silent tension in them. It was like he was looking for confirmation—some sign that we were heading the right way—and I gave it to him with a simple nod.
"I can sense something ahead. I can't say exactly what it is, but it's big—probably the size of an adult human" I whispered, sharing what I picked up with [Detect Presence], keeping my voice as low as possible, like even my words might draw its attention.
Even though I had a general idea of what was in front of us, I couldn't see it clearly. For me, it wasn't just about sight. It was the subtle noises—like the soft sound of a mouth moving, the faint rustle of movement, and all the small vibrations in the air. Somehow, my brain used all of it to piece together things like size and strength.
It was as if these barely noticeable details came together to give me a fuller picture, even without direct vision. Oliver nodded at my words, and the very next second, we began moving again—slowly, cautiously. Every step blended into the environment as we crept toward the source of the presence I'd detected.
When we reached a split in the hallway leading to the left, Oliver glanced back at me, once again looking for a sign, and once again, I gave him a simple gesture of confirmation. It was just ahead of us, slightly to the left.
Oliver and I pressed ourselves silently against the wall, doing our best not to make a sound. Carefully, we craned our necks, trying to peek through the shadows for any glimpse of what lay ahead.
When my eyes finally locked onto the thing my ability had picked up, I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. There was definitely something there—but it wasn't human. Its body was covered in thick fur, and a long, heavy tail extended from its waist. When the creature briefly turned its head, I got a good look at its face—odd and unnatural, like some kind of twisted fusion.
No matter what angle you looked at it from, that thing was a rat—a massive rat, at that. It seemed to be gnawing on something, its jaw working nonstop while dark liquid dripped from its mouth with every bite.
Whatever it was chewing, it definitely wasn't grass. The gnawing sound echoed unpleasantly, and the liquid—thick, dark, and oozing—felt more revolting than anything natural.