Chapter 198: The Ability Distribution And Neve’s Wonder!
"Popi, it is me," Varek spoke, pointing at his own body which was now in Popi’s form. His voice was exactly like hers, which made everything even more confusing and weird.
Popi moved back, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You? Va-varek? Why are you...?" she stammered, unable to process what was happening in front of her eyes.
"It is his new ability, fun right?" Neve smirked, holding the talon powder tighter in his hand.
He was enjoying this way too much. The shocked expressions on everyone’s faces were priceless.
"It is scary!" Popi shrieked and turned to Varek, or rather, the version of Varek that looked like her. "Return to your original self! Immediately!"
"I am trying," Varek said, frowning deeply. He concentrated hard, his body trembling as he attempted to shift back. But nothing happened. He turn to Neve. "Undo this. Immediately!"
Neve would have shivered in fear if it were really Varek standing there threatening him. But seeing him shout with Popi’s cute face and voice, it felt so adorable and funny. His anger was not threatening at all when it came from Popi’s mouth.
He smirked and turned to the others who were standing around watching the chaos.
"So Cael can see through anyone invisible. Popi has telekinesis. Sable is invisible. Varek can shift into someone else’s form," Neve said, listing out the abilities. "Now, for the others who do not have abilities yet..."
He scratched more of the talon powder, creating a fine powder. He poured the powder into different palms for the others to lick.
He would have given some to the kids, but he was not sure if it was safe for them yet. They were still young. Their bodies might not be able to handle the transformation and pain that came with gaining an ability.
"Okay... Erm, Ryker," Neve said, looking at the tiger chief. "I need someone with water ability. So I wish you would have both water and fire element. That way you can balance each other out."
Ryker took the powder and licked it from his palm without hesitation. He trusted Neve completely.
Immediately, he started groaning as he fell on the floor. His body convulsed and twisted as the ability manifested inside him. Fire and water swirled around his body, creating steam and smoke.
"Next, Aldric," Neve continued, turning to the bear. "Since you are already strong physically, maybe super strength is better. I hope it can increase your confidence and your courage."
Aldric took the powder and swallowed it. He also fell to the ground, groaning in pain as his muscles expanded and his strength increased dramatically.
"Kael... Super speed," Neve said, giving the wolf beastman his powder.
Kael took it and within seconds, he was screaming.
"Finally," Neve said, turning to Sorin. He rubbed his chin, thinking hard. He was running out of ideas. He had only watched superhero cartoons growing up, so his knowledge of abilities was limited. "Since you have wings, I do not want to give you something that will make you never use them. So... Plant regeneration."
Sorin’s eyes beamed with excitement until he grabbed his chest and fell to the ground, the ability taking hold.
Everyone was now testing their new abilities. The cave became chaotic with people experimenting.
Neve placed a hand on his own chest, watching everyone discover what they could do now. He felt powerful. Like he was god sent down to grant them abilities. He had wanted them all to have different abilities so it would be useful to the tribe. So it would be useful to him. And most importantly, so none of them would think about doing dark magic like Soren had.
"What about you?" Cael asked, walking over to Neve.
Neve raised a brow.
"Me?" he asked and all the others turned to him, including Popi’s two faces staring at him.
Neve had tried the other time to get an ability for himself. But he was unable to. That was because Skarr was inside his body at the time and due to Skarr’s dark magic, he was unable to get anything from the talon powder.
But now Skarr was gone. Now his body was his own again.
His eyes dropped to the talon powder that was still in his hand.
"Maybe I can try again," Neve said quietly.
"What if you fall and hit your belly?" a voice asked from behind him.
Neve turned and saw it was someone who looked like Popi. He smiled at the concern.
"Oh, thanks for getting worried about me, Varek," Neve said.
"It is Popi," the real Popi spoke, stepping forward.
Varek groaned loudly and walked away, clearly frustrated.
"I will find a way to make use of this ability," he said and walked the exit.
"I hope Gideon does not see you outside and kiss you thinking you are Popi," Neve called out after him.
Varek froze completely before he reached the entrance. The thought of Gideon kissing him while he was in Popi’s form seemed to scare him more than anything else. He quickly changed his direction and went to one of the inner rooms instead, away from where Gideon might find him.
Neve laughed at Varek’s reaction. It was funny watching him panic about something like that.
He turned back and stared at the remaining talon powder in his hand.
There was still enough for him to try getting an ability.
Cael walked closer to Neve, his leopard eyes watching him carefully.
"Are you sure about this?" Cael asked. "You are pregnant. The pain might be too much for you."
"I will be fine," Neve said, even though he was not entirely sure himself.
He brought the powder to his mouth and licked it from his palm.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then suddenly, the pain hit him like a wave.
He gasped and grabbed his stomach, but he tried to stay standing. The talon powder was working. Something was happening inside his body.
The pain was intense. His entire body felt like it was burning from the inside out.
Popi rushed over and grabbed his arm.
"Neve! Neve, are you okay?" she asked, worried.
Ryker also came over, his new fire and water abilities flickering around his hands as he tried to help somehow.
Kael was moving too fast to be useful, so he just tried to stay still.
Aldric stepped forward with his newly increased strength, ready to support Neve if he fell.
The pain continued for what felt like forever but was probably only a few minutes.
Finally, it started to fade.
Neve was breathing hard, his hand still on his stomach.
"Did it work?" Cael asked.
Neve tried to concentrate, trying to feel if something had changed inside him.
He was not sure. He could not tell if the ability had manifested or not.
He looked down at his hands, wondering what kind of ability he might have received.
"I wonder what kind of ability would be perfect for me," he muttered to himself.