After drifting through space for a while, Carter's curiosity got the better of him. "Hey, System, what skills can I purchase right now?"

  [SYSTEM]

  Host is currently able to purchase the Gravity Control skill for 30,000 celestial energy. This skill allows the host to manipulate gravity within a set range and automatically pull masses towards the host for absorption. The range and force of the skill will grow with each upgrade.

  Carter's eyes—or, well, whatever equivalent sense he had—lit up. "Wait, so I can basically auto-farm meteors and space rocks? That's awesome! It's like having my own space... auto-clicker!" He grinned to himself. "Alright, PURCHASE!"

  Gravity Control has been purchased.

  "…I don't feel any different," Carter grumbled after a moment of silence.

  [SYSTEM]

  Host must willingly activate the skill. It's as simple as moving a limb… even though the host currently does not have one.

  "Oh yea makes sense" Carter muttered. Closing his metaphorical eyes, he focused on his new skill. Slowly, he began to imagine pushing and pulling gravity like an invisible force in the space around him. The sensation was faint at first, like a tug on the edge of his awareness, but it quickly grew stronger.

  Suddenly, Carter could feel the flow of gravity within a 100-mile radius. He grinned as the sensation of control washed over him. "Whoa… I can actually move stuff! I can pull things, push them... it's like I have my own cosmic hand"

  He flexed his new power, testing the limits of the force he could exert. Small chunks of space debris began drifting toward him, drawn by the invisible pull of his gravity control. He stood in one place, pulling all the rocks toward him until the surrounding area was cleared.

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  "Nice! I gained 10,000 celestial energy and grew a thousand feet taller. Doing this will speed up my growth rate… a lot faster—wait, what?" Carter's thoughts were interrupted as an unfamiliar object entered his Zone Vision. "What's that?"

  He focused on the new shape: a sleek, white spaceship cruising steadily in his direction. It was marked with a strange emblem—an "X" with an odd-shaped skull. His excitement shifted to confusion. "Wait… is that some kind of spaceship? Hey, System, aren't I deep in space? Why are there humans out here? Did I reincarnate into the future or something?"

  [SYSTEM]

  That is not a human spaceship. The vessel belongs to an infamous space pirate clan in the galaxy.

  Carter froze. "Space… pirates?"

  "This is really some cliché anime first encounter. Let me guess, they start firing whatever they use to kill with when they see me."

  [SYSTEM]

  Host is a 4,280-foot meteor roaming space.

  "...Good point," Carter muttered, rolling his nonexistent eyes.

  He watched as the spacecraft flew closer, gliding directly toward him. His pulse quickened—well, if he had a pulse. The sleek white ship hovered for a moment before landing gently on his surface. Carter tensed. "Uh, System? I thought you said they wouldn't ATTACK me?"

  [SYSTEM]

  It is very unlikely. The host is most likely going to be mined as a resource.

  "Wait... Mined?" Carter's unease turned into a rush of panic. He imagined drills digging into his rocky form, stripping him down like he was some kind of celestial ore. "Oh, hell no!"

  Suddenly, a group of small robotic drones deployed from the ship, their mechanical arms extending as they scanned his surface. One of them buzzed over him, looking far too eager to start extracting whatever materials it could find.

  "System, what do I do? I can't just let them drill me apart!"

  [SYSTEM]

  The host can use gravity control to crush the ship or allow them to mine for strategic purposes.

  Carter hesitated, he was visibly uneased. "Strategic purposes? I'm not letting them turn me into space debris!"

  The spaceship's doors hissed open and out hopped an alien creature—four muscular arms, each gripping a tool, its dark suit glinting under the ship's lights. The emblem on its chest, an eerie skull over an X, gleamed ominously. Three more aliens followed, all moving with a precision that sent a bit of rage running through Carter. They weren't here to mess around.

  His thoughts raced. "So, what's the strategic plan here, System? It's taking everything I have not to turn these guys into ketchup stains."

  [SYSTEM]

  The host can track all parts of his body, suggesting the host should allow them to mine portions of your mass, track where they take it... then collide into their planet.

  Carter blinked—or would have if he could. "You want me to let them take chunks out of me?" He hesitated, then grinned. "I guess... that's actually pretty smart. They won't know what hit them..... literally!."