Anomaly

The reaction team members took a moment to discuss how we could get to the floating island, but from what I could gather, the conversation didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. In fact, I heard someone suggest an unusual approach: use the waterfall as a way up, since its flow was going in the opposite direction of normal — meaning, upwards.

Of course, that suggestion was immediately dismissed... and, to be honest, I had no idea why. I have to admit, at first, it seemed like a decent idea. Wouldn’t it help solve our problem? Maybe I’m just thinking that way because I’m an anomaly. Also, if something went wrong and we lost our balance while climbing up the waterfall, the fall wouldn’t be pleasant — probably brutal.

But putting that aside, I had a few ways to get us up there. The only problem was how to communicate that without giving myself a huge headache later... Well, I guess I can make that kind of sacrifice for the team. With that completely selfless thought in mind, I stood up from the rock where I had been sitting and walked silently over to the reaction team, careful not to draw attention too soon.

As soon as they noticed my approach, their eyes instinctively turned to me. Their expressions showed confusion, likely due to my sudden arrival, but there was no sign of fear or panic—just surprise and a brief moment of assessment.

Even so, I remained silent, striding forward with steady steps toward the leader, Rupert, who stood slightly apart from the rest of the response team, carefully observing the situation. I stopped in front of him, feeling the weight of the moment grow heavier.

The next instant, I took a deep breath, gathered my thoughts, and, without hesitation, projected my message mentally, waiting to see if he would understand it.

This was the way Nekra taught me to use telepathy. She told me to just think and then direct my thoughts with the intention of them reaching someone else. The explanation was simple, almost naive, but somehow it worked. I knew it seemed silly, like something too obvious, but honestly, if the result is what matters, then who cares about the method? What matters is that I can communicate this way, and for me, that’s enough.

(Go up, Leader) I said, pointing to the island above us: (I’ll help)

After my words, what I expected finally arrived: an intense headache, like needles being jabbed into my mind abruptly. However, this time, the sensation was different. A barely noticeable discomfort spread through me, but my expression didn’t reveal anything, and to my surprise, nothing more happened. I was even surprised. The last time I tried, the pain had been unbearable, much worse than I had imagined.

The leader, probably having heard my voice in his mind, stared at me for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to the top of the island. His eyes fixed there for a moment, and then, with a slight turn, he looked back at me. That was when, unexpectedly, a small smile appeared on his usually impassive face, which caught me off guard. And in the next moment, his words managed to be even more surprising.

“You know, your voice... is much more pleasant and softer than I expected. That, in a way, surprises me. It has a strangely... human quality, which, somehow, makes me feel a bit relieved. I’m not sure why. Oh, and my name is Rupert, not “leader” Keep that in mind”

I blinked for a moment, trying to process his words. My voice? Speaking of which, what would my voice even sound like now? Normally, when I think, the voice accompanying my thoughts is the old one, the usual voice of any average student. But with my new body, I had no idea how my voice would sound. I mean, I couldn’t know, since I couldn’t speak to find out.

Anyway, as I got lost in my thoughts, the leader walked over to the other reaction team members, and before speaking, he threw one last glance in my direction: “Guys, looks like the [Angel of Death] offered to help us get up there” Rupert commented, pointing one of his fingers to the floating island above us.

With the leader’s words, all eyes immediately turned to me. In a matter of seconds, I found myself at the center of attention, an uncomfortable and unexpected focus. The members stared with expressions full of doubt and confusion, which didn’t surprise me.

I hadn’t even said a word, and Rupert, their leader, had suddenly and without explanation informed them that I’d be the one to help them. It was hard to understand what he had in mind with such an announcement, especially considering the silence hanging in the air.

However, instead of the skeptical or distrustful reactions I had expected, something curious happened: the members, contrary to what I imagined, reacted surprisingly normally, almost as if they had been expecting it.

“The [Angel of Death] offered to help? It’s hard to believe, but considering we’ve been helped twice before, I think it’s possible... though it’s still strange accepting help from an anomaly” commented one of the members, receiving nods of agreement from the others.

Honestly, this group was strange. Normally, whenever I meet humans, their reactions vary greatly, but overall, there’s something they all have in common, something I’ve affectionately dubbed “anomlophobia”: an irrational fear of anomalies.

Although the name sounds exaggerated, the fear they feel isn’t as irrational as it seems, but well, that doesn’t matter right now. Anyway, the members seemed to have accepted the idea, which was a good start.

Still, one question lingered: how exactly was I going to get us up there? Honestly, the method I used in the city probably wouldn’t work the same way, since there wasn’t a surface to push off from. But it’s not like I hadn’t thought of other solutions.

I thought simply and directly: (Now it’s your turn, my other self)

As if anticipating my intentions, my body began exhaling a dense dark mist. Within seconds, the ground was completely covered by the mist, which continued to pour from me steadily.

Soon after, the mist began to take shape. I felt something solid under my feet, but when I looked down, I realized the height didn’t match the ground level. In short, something was lifting me, an invisible but firm surface pushing me upward.

The next instant, a long, serpentine neck rose before me, its texture strangely scaly, yet still exhaling the characteristic dark mist of my Alter Ego. The neck twisted and turned, revealing a reptilian face, with large eyes glowing red, their vertical pupils reflecting the light intensely. The mouth opened, showing rows of sharp teeth, ready to cut the air with a menacing gleam.

I looked around, and two long black wings spread out majestically, while a long tail rose behind me. I blinked quickly, trying to process what was in front of me, until it finally hit me: my Alter Ego had turned into a Wyvern.

I won't lie, it genuinely surprised me. I hadn't expected this. I know I had left the decision of how we'd get up there to my Alter Ego, but how could I have predicted he’d suddenly transform into a Wyvern?.

"Awesome! First time I've seen something like that... at least up close enough not to try to devour me" commented one of the reaction team members, marveling at the Wyvern.

Speaking of which, the way he spoke gave the impression he’d seen a Wyvern before. Could there be an anomaly that looks like a Wyvern out there? That's kinda amazing, right? I mean, it's every man’s dream at least once in their life to ride a creature like this, right?.

In the next moment, the massive shadow, which had taken the form of the Wyvern, moved. Its colossal body, supported by long legs, shifted gracefully, while its muscular, scaly arms extended to the sides, revealing the powerful black wings that spread out with grandeur.

The next moment, the Wyvern crouched, preparing for a quick sprint. Its muscles tensed before it launched into a powerful leap, slamming its massive wings against the ground with force, creating a wave of air that reverberated around us.

The impact gave it a slight boost, lifting into the air with surprising agility. Within seconds, we were floating above the earth, the biting wind hitting our faces with an almost unbeatable force.

My Alter Ego, now transformed into an enormous dragon, gained altitude quickly, its powerful wings cutting through the air as it approached the island with alarming speed.

The scene below blurred as we ascended, and the island became a distant dot, but soon we'd be over it, the wind and the sound of our flight echoing in our ears.

By the way, a sudden question popped into my mind: why the hell had he never used this ability to fight if he could transform? But, like a snap, the answer came almost naturally.

After all, my Alter Ego was an extension of me, and the solution to the issue had been there all along, clear and simple. Despite its imposing and gigantic form, he only had access to that dimension of power while in that condition. The transformation provided size and strength, but it also imposed severe limitations.

He couldn't breathe fire, for example, and his movements became surprisingly slow, especially when compared to the agility of other forms he could take. In short, the disadvantages of this form far outweighed the advantages, making it less useful for intense battles.

In just a few seconds, we reached the heights, crossing the edge of the floating island. My Alter Ego, now transformed into an imposing Wyvern, circled the island, revealing its beauty from a unique perspective. The view that unfolded before us was almost indescribable.

If I had to summarize in a few words, I'd say it was something worthy of paradise. The land was covered in a blanket of vibrant flowers stretching as far as the eye could see, creating a multicolored carpet that seemed to reflect the very essence of serenity.

Small streams meandered through the ground, their clear blue waters shimmering in the soft sunlight, so clear that you could see the smooth stones and fish swimming gently at the bottom. The tranquility of this place made it seem as if time had a different rhythm here, slower, as if the island were a refuge of untouched peace.

Another strange thing I noticed was something even stranger: the island was immensely large, large enough to cover a good portion of the park, but curiously, when we were down below, its vastness wasn't as obvious.

There was something odd about it, as if the size of the island was distorted by our perception, or maybe by the atmosphere around it. The strangest part, however, was the city. From there, we could never see the island.

And it wasn't because we were distant or in an unfavorable viewing position; it was something even more inexplicable. It seemed like the island just didn’t exist. As if, suddenly, it had appeared out of nowhere, popping into existence in an instant.

Strangely, the island, viewed from above, seemed to belong to a completely different reality, as if it were in a parallel dimension, floating beyond the reach of time and space, yet somehow still existing in the present, pulsing with unmistakable energy.

The sight was both unsettling and awe-inspiring, a sort of visual paradox that sparked both fascination and unease. My Alter Ego, now transformed into a majestic Wyvern, glided around the edge of the island with supernatural lightness, its enormous wings cutting through the air in precise movements.

For a moment, it seemed as though he was as integrated into that surreal landscape as the island itself, giving us the time we needed to observe every detail of the place we were about to enter.

Additionally, at the heart of that surreal and magical vision, there stood a massive structure, something resembling a temple, yet it stood out from the rest of the scene in a nearly unsettling way.

Although it seemed perfectly suited to the environment, there was something strangely out of place about its presence, as if it was an element that, while it should be there, didn’t quite belong.

The imposing construction, with its towering columns and intricate details, immediately caught the eye, undoubtedly the first point to which our gaze would be drawn, like a beacon.