CHAPTER 42: TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE

After talking to Diana and telling her about my situation, with how and left. She was both relieved but still a bit upset. That was understandable, to a degree.

" You know Zane... You can stay here. Me and dick aren't really that serious. This place was made for both you and me, after all. But ever since you left I- "

" That doesn't really matter Diana, really. Thanks again for helping me with getting some paperwork done. I really appreciate the offer for staying here. The place is beautiful, trust me. I will eventually visit when I have gotten things in order. "

She showed a pained smile before nodding.

" Okay, I'll see you out... "

Leaving. Zane quickly made his way out of the home. He was now thinking of heading out to Metropolis' library. He was slightly interested in this universe's history and technological achievements.

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' Looks different from what I imagined. The Library is 3 stories higher and a couple meters wider. That's to be expected from both universes being merged. With combined verses leading to more events overall. '

Heading into the library, Zane was greeted with the familiar scent of books. Looking around a bit more, he spotted even more differences inside. Other than it being the run-of-the-mill library, the place had slightly more decor, which he appreciated.

Heading towards the desk, he realized that the librarian looked relatively young and surprisingly beautiful, too. She had ginger hair with silver eyes. A combo that's extremely attractive.

" Hello and good-morning, I would Like a pass please "

A bit startled, she looked up towards his towering figure. It was her first time seeing someone so large and so built in person.

Her analyzation was quick. Looking at his rather large and baggy clothes. But even through that, she could tell he had an incredible physique under it all. It was almost unreal how well proportioned he was. She could see he would best any known super models with his body alone if he took up the position.

Looking up to make eye contact, she realized his face was covered with a mask, only showing his barely visible eyes. Seeing them for a moment, blushing instantly. But she remained professional and kept her composure. Her assessment was now along the lines of him being a model hiding from the public.

With eyes like that, he could make it in easily, given this era's standards, and she was sure they glowed. Although it was extremely faint.

" No problem, sir, here. You have exactly three hours to browse through any of our materials. Once the time has passed, you are to return here with the tag before leaving "

" Thank you, miss... Clarice "

" Sure! No problem, sir "

Walking away, he made his way to look for science and technological related books. When he found the section that contained them, he sensed energy and spotted a familiar face. Reading a book, seemingly about philosophy.

' hmmm... is that raven? It must be since no one dresses like that on a Monday afternoon. Is that her energy... it's so dark... '

She dressed a bit more moderately compared to her teen years. She still wore the hood on her head, but one could actually see her face clearly. Her signature cape was also present. Only going towards the side this time, revealing a well-defined figure.

Anyone could tell that she worked out at a glance, but she now had of a more hip, prevalent shape compared to the hourglass shape she had back in her earlier years. With the stares she was getting, it was obvious. At least 10 guys were checking her out at the moment, and those were the ones that made it somewhat obvious.

She looked extremely attractive in her face, since it was more angular, with higher cheekbones now. It was no wonder the men were staring. She was a bombshell. And no doubt they were trying to score a one up with her by trying to read books near her.

' When will my fellow brothers stop with the obvious drooling? It's obvious she can tell, given how she keeps looking to the side and back of herself, then to the book. '

But that wasn't the only reason as to why he noticed her. Ever since absorbing Barmis, Zane gained the ability of magic and knowing how to manipulate it, so he could read magical energy off of someone, as well as categorize them using Barmis' memories as a template. So he picked up on her rather... not so pleasant magical attribute, too.

' It would be best if I avoided her... She might tell the league about my return if she knows it's me. '

He quickly went to sit in the corner, trying to blend out from the rest as possible. Reading and acquiring more knowledge he could use in constructing a sufficient lab after he gets his jobs in order. Which wouldn't be difficult for him.

Zane's IQ was much higher than all the most brilliant minds in both verses put together. Since IQ didn't scale linearly. Gaining an increase at his level by reading or practising is next to impossible, unless the material is new, which could benefit the current knowledge he possessed. But that was a hard if.

He took up at least 5 books concerning thermodynamics, biology, metaphysics and minor engineering for idiots. He wanted to expand his knowledge more on the matter, since his overall knowledge doesn't go beyond university levels at their absolute peak. And this branched AU universe might be unique to how it operates compared to how it was before...

So he spent the next 30 minutes speed reading a number of 15 books in one sitting. He knew what was possible and what wasn't. He didn't gain much knowledge from the books he read. There were differences when it concerned quantum physics and thermodynamics, but that was it. His IQ increased by a measly 2 from all he read and understood from those two topics.

But reading the biology books, he learned far more when it came to genes overall. They took gene splicing to another level in this branched universe. Even though it was ahead by a couple of years, it still had major breakthroughs in terms of its biological theories.

With the knowledge he gained, he could now hypothetically make hyper-adaptive human genes, while creating intelligent cells to cycle through benefits the body could gain from foreign substances and more, or he can go genocidal and synthesize an all-consuming virus that's capable of infecting almost anything if given enough time.

The possibilities were endless to Zane. The scenarios were playing in his head like clockwork, with picture perfect detail. He would try some of these ideas on himself. He could advance the black-light virus and other bloodlines further than they already were, if given enough time to break them down and their molecular structure and such.

Organising the information and storing them into his mind palace for future use, he moved on.

After finishing those set of books, he went for books concerning construction and architecture since he was planning to work and save up enough cash to build his own place with a lab in the process at a safe location. It wouldn't be hard to really pull off, just extremely tedious for a first timer, but he was a prodigy, things are learned almost instantly.

Another objective of his was combining both Chi and magic with each other after the construction of his home. He knew of the effects when both are merged with each other. The arcosian king special move was 15 times greater than it should be with the application of magic.

Furthermore, with the king having close to elementary knowledge on magic compared to the likes of Barmis, so reaping the benefit of that would only serve to make him vastly more powerful and lethal in combat, when using Barmis knowledge on magic.

After that, he thought about chakra being merged with them as well to create something even more powerful in nature... But more pressing matters interrupted his thoughts...

Feeling a familiar aura getting closer, Zane tensed for a second before hiding himself into the corner of the table even more. He got a bad feeling about this..

' Shit! Why in the hell is raven's presence getting so much closer to mine? Did she figure out who I am? '

His thoughts were going a mile per millisecond, but if he acts rashly. He could blow his cover.

Her aura was getting dangerously closer to his own, only stopping about a meter from him before he heard the chair move. He didn't dare turn in her direction. Only getting up to take his leave.

Without him noticing, she glanced in his direction, analyzing him for a moment. She felt as if she saw or felt him before, but she can't exactly remember when. Earlier, when she noticed his presence, she felt a strange familiarity from him, like she had known him before, but hadn't.

Before she could scan him a bit more, he left to the other side of the library, returning the books to their positions and leaving. This only made her more curious. She was never wrong when it came to reading one's energy. So she decided to tag along.

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END