Lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling, I realized that I'm a fucking idiot, I realized as I stared at the "filter" portion of the War Points store. As it turns out, the displayed items and artifacts were set to 'Tools of War', which meant I'd only be seeing cool guns and battle-stuff, but none of the utility things one would expect from whatever futuristic society Warhammer 40k happened to be. And, ya know, one would think that a sci-fi civilization would have plenty of little things that their citizens mostly ignored but would dramatically alter the 21st century, like holograms and shit.
In any case, there were two other filters. One was called 'Civilian Utility' and the other was called 'Miscellaneous', both of which had a massive variety of things I could purchase with War Points very cheaply, like canned food that had enough calories to feed a man for an entire week, some kind of super antibiotic pill, alien body parts and organs, and all sorts of things that were below or within my current price range of 450 War Points.
There were trillions of things here, a catalog so freakishly huge that I couldn't possibly browse through all of them in a single lifetime, unless I spent every waking moment just looking through every single one. But I didn't want to do that, because – future or not – I literally wasn't interested in a cool lampshade that didn't need to be turned off or a hover chair, which I admit was pretty cool.
There was, however, a neat little feature that basically said, 'For You', like in the damn Steam Client, wherein items were pretty much prepared for me by some kind of AI – I guess. Whatever the case, the things here were interesting to me. I wasn't planning on buying any of them, however, since I didn't need them for now, but they were definitely useful. One such item was something called a [Miracure], developed by a group known as the Magi Biologis, essentially a super antibiotic that could pretty much cleanse the whole body of any viral or bacterial infection at the cost of the subject becoming comatose for a whole day. This thing could be the cure for AIDS and tons of other diseases that didn't have immediate cures. It could literally change the world and for a measly cost of only 100 War Points.
Intrigued, I continued to browse through the 'For You' section, marveling at the sheer variety and creativity of the items listed, and these were just the ones that might immediately interest me. And, even then, there were literally thousands of items here, which was still plenty, but not nearly as overwhelming as a trillion options would've been if I'd browsed unfiltered.
[Nano-Weave Blanket]: A self-cleaning, temperature-regulating blanket that adjusts to your body heat, ensuring you are always comfortable, whether it's a scorching summer day or a freezing winter night. Designed by the Auretian Technocracy. Costs 50 War Points.
[Hover Disk]: A personal transportation device that hovers a few inches off the ground. It can reach speeds of up to 30 mph and has a range of 20 miles on a single charge, before needing to be recharged in sunlight for an hour. Designed by Terran Scientists from before the Cybernetic Revolt to be used by children. Costs 200 War Points.
[Aether Lantern]: A lantern that doesn't require fuel or electricity, drawing its power from the ambient aetheric energy around it. It can light up an entire room with a soft, warm glow and never needs to be turned off. Warning: prolonged use may result in strange and ominous whispers and haunting voices. Designed by Terran Scientists from before the Cybernetic Revolt. Costs 30 War Points.
[Medicae Patch]: A small adhesive patch that can be placed on wounds to instantly sterilize, disinfect, and promote rapid healing on a localized area. Useful for minor cuts and scrapes, and can be of use during serious emergencies. Costs 30 War Points.
[Purity Seal]: This small, red wax seal, infused with prayers and litanies, grants lesser anti-corruption and anti-magical properties to any object its attached to. Crafted by faithful servants of the God Emperor of Mankind. Costs 75 War Points.
[Stasis Cube]: A small container that can halt the passage of time for anything placed inside it. Perfect for preserving food or other perishables indefinitely. It can hold up to one metric ton of mass. Created by Necron Crypteks. Costs 300 War Points.
[Grav-Assist Boots]: Boots that provide enhanced stability and balance, making it easier to walk or run on uneven terrain. They can also slightly increase the user's jump height, but this function requires precise timing. Crafted by the Leagues of Votunn to be used in the low gravity terrain inside giant asteroids. Costs 150 War Points.
[Bio-Gel Pack]: A multi-purpose gel that could be used for a variety of purposes, from sealing wounds to becoming emergency rations. Can also be used as a fire retardant in emergency situations. Costs 50 War Points per pack.
And those were just the first eight of them.
The possibilities were endless, and each item was a pretty good reminder of the fact that I was now connected to a futuristic universe with technological wonders that'd make anything on earth look like a caveman's stick portrait. I bookmarked several items for future consideration, knowing they could come in handy eventually. I wasn't foolish enough to think that my future enemies, whoever and whatever they may be, would die if I shoot them enough times with the Laspistol. No, a part of me knew that, soon enough, I'd find myself beset on all sides by inhuman enemies.
I had to be ready.
So, despite the temptation, I refrained from making any purchases. As useful as these items were, I needed to conserve my War Points for more critical needs. Besides, it was clear that while these tools could make life easier, my immediate focus should be on improving my physical stats and completing quests to gather more points.
I closed the interface and sat up, stretching my arms. I turned my gaze to the clock; it was 5:30 in the afternoon. The day was still somewhat young, and I had plenty to do. My next steps were clear: keep training, complete my daily quests, and look out for hidden opportunities to earn more points. I had no idea how much time I had to keep grinding, but – until something big happened – then I was just going to keep on doing it. I was going to become so powerful that by the time I encountered something supernatural, I'd be so far above humanity that it wouldn't even be funny. For that, however, I'd need time.
And, considering everything thus far, it seemed like I had plenty of it. I could waste my time playing video games and watching movies, and I could even attend the rave my friends were attending tonight, yet again, but... nah. Not important. Instead, I was going to spend my time doing burpees. By my reckoning, burpees were the perfect in-between that balanced out the growth of all three stats; it required dexterity to maintain fluidity of movement, strength to do the push ups and squats, and vitality to fucking keep going. My plan, therefore, was to keep doing burpees until I no longer benefited from it. Besides, I wasn't so tired from this morning's exercise that I couldn't do, at the very least, a hundred reps of the stuff.
Yeah, personal goal: a hundred burpees before falling asleep.
STR – 5(+2)
DEX – 4(+2)
VIT – 6(+1)
I got out of bed and stripped down to my underwear. I was alone in the house anyway. Mom wouldn't arrive until about 9:00 pm and dad wouldn't get home until maybe 12:00 am. And neither of them were the type to barge into my room for whatever reason. So, I had all the time to myself. So, after stretching every single one of my muscles, I began the long and arduous process of exercising to make myself stronger.
Helena Stolas, a High-Class Devil of House Stolas, one of the 72 Pillars of Devilkind, frowned as she stepped out of the portal from the Underworld and into the Human World, Earth. Her eyes narrowed and her nose wrinkled as she breathed in the night air. She hated coming to the Human World, but when a Stray Devil from House Stolas broke free and started running amok and making a mess of things, then it was her job to deal with them, even when the very air of the Human World made her want to tear her nose off.
Three stray devils who escaped from House Stolas; two were given extermination orders and one was to be brought back alive for some reason. Helena didn't care. She had a job to do and nothing would stand in her way, which was honestly quite a refreshing thing, since the Earth was partitioned between so many supernatural factions that almost became difficult to keep track of which parcel of land belonged to who.
Maine, at the very least, was considered a neutral zone in America, which meant she wouldn't be up to her ass in paperwork just to step onto an open street. Technically, Maine was the territory of the Shamans, but the Spirit-Walkers liked to keep to themselves, living in the woods and doing whatever hippy shit they got going on. And so the actual cities, where most of the population actually gathered, like Portland, became something of a neutral ground.
She was lucky, at least, that the strays hadn't run off to New York, which belonged to the Vampires. And those stuckup undead little shits definitely wouldn't let her anywhere near their beloved city. And, being a member of House Stolas meant Helena could break no law – the Bloodline Curse that plagued each and every member of the clan.
Whatever the case, Helena mused as she walked forth and cast a glamour spell over herself, her clothes shifting traditional clothes of nobility to a simple white shirt and jeans, both of which hugged her toned, but otherwise curvy body perfectly. She brought no weapon with her. There was no need for it. The cawing, crimson-eyed ravens of House Stolas accompanied her wherever she went. A few passersby sent her odd looks; the men, mostly, outright gawked at her. Helena allowed herself a simple smile; humans were so easily enthralled by physical beauty that it was honestly pathetic. Then again, she was proud of her looks, like any Devil should be, and so she enjoyed the attention, however fleeting. Beauty wasn't everything. And, unlike those among her kind who favored the art of seduction, Helena honestly didn't care much about it.
"Now, where are those fools?" Her ravens, hundreds of them, each one as black as midnight, and imbued with demonic magic, scattered across the city, searching for their prey. The three strays were, unfortunately, just about clever enough to cast a spell over themselves that shielded them from most physical perception, which meant the only way she'd find them was through the detection of their magical presence, which couldn't be hidden – at least, not from her ravens. Her uncle might say that this whole affair would've been over far quicker if she had a peerage.
She didn't want one. The mere idea of having to babysit a bunch of humans-turned-devils made her head hurt. No thanks.
She walked through the streets, the city's nightlife just beginning to stir. Bars and clubs started to fill with people looking to unwind from their day's work. Helena's lips curled in distaste as she passed a particularly loud establishment, the pulsing music grating on her ears. Annoying. A part of her wanted to just blow up the club. It wouldn't even be difficult. Unfortunately, the laws that governed her actions said no. And so she couldn't.
Helena sighed, shaking her head and wringing her thoughts back onto her mission.
Her raven familiars were adept at searching, but there was always the possibility of interference. The thought of the Shamans' involvement crossed her mind briefly, but she dismissed it. They rarely intervened in the affairs of devils unless provoked. No, this was a straightforward mission – find the strays, deal with them, and return to the Underworld.
A particularly bold raven returned to her, landing gracefully on her shoulder. Its beady red eyes gleamed with the knowledge it had gathered.
"Found something?" she asked it softly.
The raven cawed once, a mixture of triumph, caution, and happiness in its avian voice. Helena nodded, understanding the message. The strays were close, hiding within the shadows of the city – somewhere to the north, close to the woods, perhaps. She could sense the faint ripples of their magical presence now that she knew where to look. They were on the move, but they didn't seem to be in any particular hurry; that would cost them. They couldn't hide from her forever.
"Good. Lead the way."
The raven took off, and Helena followed, her pace quickening as she moved through the streets with the grace and speed of a hellborn predator, moving faster than humans could possibly perceive. The hunt was on, and she would not stop until the strays were dealt with.
So, I may have underestimated just how difficult burpees actually were. Well, it's not that burpees were a high level exercise or anything, but I was just shit at them. And, after doing the hundredth or so repetition, I found that – to my dawning horror – I couldn't even move my damn limbs anymore. So, I fell and curled up on the floor, panting and covered in sweat, damn-near paralyzed because my arms, shoulders, and legs were too tired. What did I learn?
Well, I probably should've done the exercise in sets with some breaks in between, instead of doing the full hundred in one exhausting go. And now, I was paying the price for being an idiot. At the very least, the floor was pretty comfortable and the heater was on; so, I wouldn't freeze to death even without a blanket. Tsk, I just wish I could've stretched a little more before falling. My muscles were going to be sore as shit tomorrow. All said and done, however, it was totally worth it as I brought up my physical stats.
STR – 5(+4)
DEX – 4(+4)
VIT – 6(+3)
Holy shit, that was a +2 to every single stat. If I kept this up, I'd be reaching hundreds or so within less than two months. Now, I was pretty weak compared to my friends, but I couldn't imagine that the gap between us – stat wise – was anything crazy. If I had a STR of 5, then someone like Ben probably had 10, maybe 12. If I could maintain this sort of progress every single day, then I'll be inhumanly strong before the end of the month! Maybe. Not quite sure just yet. Progress eventually slowed down. That was how things usually were, unless I ramped up my training as well. And, at some point, I'd be doing DBZ levels of nonsense training just to get buy, like doing push ups or pull ups with like 500 kilograms' worth of weights.
I eventually drifted off to sleep right there on the floor, exhaustion dragging me into a deep slumber.
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that the expected muscle soreness was nowhere to be found. I blinked a few times, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. I stretched my arms and moved my legs. There was no stiffness, no pain, not even the slightest bit of fatigue from the previous night's exertion. Shit, I got back down and did one burpee in one second far easier than I did yesterday. It wasn't effortless, of course, but I felt that I could now do several more without my arms turning into wet spaghetti.
I felt… incredible. More than that, I felt stronger, faster, and more alert than I ever had before.
I stood up and stretched again, marveling at the ease with which my body moved. Every joint, every muscle, responded with a smoothness and efficiency that was almost surreal. It was like my body had been completely rejuvenated overnight. This wasn't just a good night's sleep; this was something else entirely. I mean, it probably wasn't superhuman by any means, but a nerd who never exercised suddenly gaining twice the amount of strength he used to have was bound to feel a world of difference and that was exactly what I felt. Is this what average fit people felt all the time?
I walked over to the mirror and took a good look at myself. My muscles, which had been more or less average before, were now far more defined. I could see the outlines of my abs, my biceps looked more prominent, and my legs had a noticeable increase in muscle tone. I wasn't ripped or jacked or anything like that, but I knew myself well enough and I knew that the difference was freaking staggering. Sure, most people would look at me and think that my physique was pretty average and I'd agree. But it was like I had undergone months of intense training in a single night.
"Damn," I muttered to myself, flexing a bit just to see how it felt. My physical transformation was real, and it was happening fast. And it hadn't even been a week since I received the System. I felt fucking giddy, honestly, excited as shit.
I checked my status screen again. Yep.
STR – 9
DEX – 8
VIT – 9
This was insane. If sleeping could quite literally rejuvenate my whole body, then my potential for growth was almost limitless. I could push myself to the absolute limit every single day, knowing that I'd wake up the next morning completely recovered and ready to go again. I suppose I should've expected this, somewhat, seeing as a lot of video games, especially RPGs, actually had the same mechanic, wherein the player character would sleep a full six or eight hours and wake up with a full health bar.
In my case, it made my muscles heal faster. Sleep was a very important mechanic to this whole thing, it seemed, just as I figured.
A surge of excitement rushed through me. I was on the path to becoming something more than human, and it wasn't just a distant dream anymore. It was happening right now, and I could feel it with every fiber of my being. I had the power to become stronger, faster, and more resilient than anyone around me, a genuine superhuman. And I knew that I could become even greater. I'd read my fair share of Gamer stories and they all ended the same way: godhood.
By accumulating enough items and blessings and magical shit, I'd eventually reach a level of a god.
But, that would be a very long time from now.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I started planning my day. More training was definitely on the agenda, but I also needed to think about my next steps. My parents really didn't care too much if I roamed the streets of Portland at night, seeing as it was probably the safest city in America. The only reason I didn't do that was because I didn't want to. Something told me, however, that I'd probably have to start walking around actually doing things in order to fulfill any of the Hidden Quests.
Maybe, if I stopped a mugging or saved someone on the cusp of death? No idea. But Hidden Quests would definitely be beyond the simple Daily Quests.
But for now, it was time to put my newfound strength to the test. I had a hundred burpees to beat, and this time, I wasn't going to be an idiot about it. Sets and breaks were the way to go. I was ready to push myself harder than ever before, and with this kind of progress, nothing could stop me.
I got down and started my routine, already feeling the difference. Each burpee felt more controlled, more powerful. I did fifteen in a row before feeling any sort of burn. My movements were fluid, my stamina heightened. Hell yeah. I decided to do five more, bringing the reps up to a total of twenty, before I decided to stop and rest. I wasn't tired, but I didn't want to push myself to exhaustion again – or... did I? See, one thing that I just thought of was the possibility that the System rewarded dangerous and painfully exhausting exercises, like the one I'd just done last night. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't reward me for playing it safe.
I wasn't sure.
But, there was a way to figure it out. I could play it safe today and go full hardcore tomorrow and compare the results. I had time, after all. I turned to the clock. It was 4:00 am in the morning, two hours before jogging with mom. After resting for thirty seconds, I did another twenty, which was a bit harder than the first twenty reps had been, but not so much that I had to stop midway. I rested for another thirty seconds and that was pretty much how things went from there. Each set became harder than the last, but I kept my resting time to only thirty seconds each time.
The whole thing took me an hour and that was only because of the last two sets, during which my limbs were practically spaghetti. Overall, I was able to finish the whole thing without falling to the floor from pure exhaustion. In fact, I felt mostly okay. Sure, I was tired and fatigued as shit, but not freakishly so. I brought up my stats again.
STR – 9(+1)
DEX – 8(+1)
VIT – 9(+1)
Interesting. The results were definitely lower. So, effort and exhaustion definitely counted. However, one advantage, I realized, to a more balanced approached, was that I could probably do another one hundred burpees at least two more times over the course of the day. Sure, it'll hurt and burn like hell, but I could do it. The last one would have to be two hours or so before I slept so that I could just sleep on the floor if necessary. I had classes to day, but there was a three-hour gap between Chemistry and Physics, which was just enough time for me to exercise. So, if I played my cards right and paced myself, I could increase all my stats my three points just before I slept. Not bad.
And I could challenge Terry for another bout of armwrestling for that extra +1 to my STR stat.
After a quick shower, I mixed up a protein shake, which I placed in the fridge, and prepped some breakfast. My body felt like it was running on high-octane fuel. Every movement was effortless, every breath came easily. The giddiness from my newfound strength kept me in high spirits. I could get used to this.
By the time my mom was ready for our morning jog, I was practically bouncing on my toes.
"You're awfully chipper today," she remarked, tying her shoelaces. Mom looked tired, I noted, dark bags under her eyes. Unusual. She was always well-rested. Mom made it a point to always sleep eight hours a day. Something was wrong here. But, I also knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't tell me what was bothering her, no matter how much I asked. At the very least, I knew it wasn't related to dad, because these two never fought.
"Just feeling good," I replied, giving her a grin. "Ready to go?"
We set off at a brisk pace. The cool morning air filled my lungs, invigorating me further. I could feel the power in my legs with every stride. Our usual route felt almost too easy now, and I had to consciously hold myself back to keep pace with her. Almost. It was still pretty hard and, after noticing the fact that I wasn't tiring out as quickly as before, mom decided it was a good idea to extend our running route, adding another hour's worth of movement, which – again – wasn't nearly as hard as it should've been.
"You're really pushing it today," Mom said, slightly out of breath as we reached the halfway mark. "New training regimen?"
"Something like that," I said, keeping my breathing steady, even as my heart pounded in my chest, like freaking war drums. This was already way better than yesterday, however. Sure, I felt like I was five seconds away from a damn heart attack, but I felt good, nonetheless. "Just trying to improve a bit."
She gave me a knowing smile. "Well, it's working, honey. You look great."
Our run took us into an alleyway that was close to where mom's salon was. And, as we did, we passed by the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life – raven-black hair, deep gold eyes, a highly-trained and developed form, with generous bosoms and wide hips, all of it tightly held by a white shirt that looked a little tight, and a pair of jeans. She glanced at me for a moment and her eyes narrowed. Mom didn't notice her at all. The woman passed us by and disappeared
That was... odd. Something about her didn't feel right.
Eh, whatever. I checked my stats as soon as we got home and smiled. Hell yeah.
STR – 9(+1)
DEX – 8(+1)
VIT – 9(+2)
Helena Stolas raised a brow as she passed by a peculiar human with a peculiar presence.
Was that a Sacred Gear? She wondered, before shrugging. Unlike many of her kin, Helena was not at all interested in collecting Sacred Gear Users for some dastardly Peerage. Though, for the benefit of information, she'd keep an eye on the boy and see which one he possessed. She might not be interested in a Peerage, but someone in the Underworld would surely pay quite a bit of money for a powerful Sacred Gear user.Last edited: 28/7/2024 Award Quote ReplyReport204denheim28/7/2024Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks VulcanRider28/7/2024Add bookmark#30Simple but nice chapter, curious to see if he'll make Issei awaken his Powers a bit earlier Award Quote ReplyReportShR3D28/7/2024Add bookmark#31VulcanRider said:Simple but nice chapter, curious to see if he'll make Issei awaken his Powers a bit earlierWhy would he care about Issei? Honestly comments like this make me feel strange. I honestly wouldn't care about someone else life when you are living with world destroyers in the same universe.
Four days passed relatively quickly as I settled into a routine: wake up at 4:00 am and perform body weight exercises, run with mom at 6:00 am, attend university at 8:00 am, try to beat either of my friends in arm wrestling for bonus War Points and STR points, body weight exercises again at lunch time usually around 12:00 pm, go home around 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm and perform the lasts sets of body weight training around 7:00 pm, eat dinner, try to walk around town until about 11:00 pm. My initial theory on the benefits of moderation were proven correct as I was able to maximize my stat gains to about 3 points per stat with only the body weight exercises, excluding the daily 1 point every time I jogged with mom, and the 1 point I gained for beating either of my friends in arm wrestling.
So, after four days of constantly grinding, my stats improved massively.
STR – 25
DEX – 20
VIT – 25
I stared at my reflection in the mirror in my room and knew that I'd done something right. First and foremost, I felt amazing. Absolutely freaking amazing. I had never been this alert and energetic in my entire life, never been this hale and hearty. My muscles were... defined, very much so. I didn't resemble a bodybuilder, of course, but I did kind of look like a Greek Statue or the cool stuff carved by Michelangelo. Burpees, sit ups, and push ups were too easy now, however, so I ended up doing like 800 reps for each by the fourth day just to get any sort of muscular fatigue and, therefore, progress. Still, to achieve such progress within only four days was... amazing. There were probably not a lot of people who could do the same as I. And there definitely wasn't anyone else on the planet – probably – who could go from lanky kid to fitboy with only four days of constant effort. Jogging with mom became effortless, too; as I was pretty sure I'd developed the stamina of a marathoner or someone close, maybe an Iron Man?
Of course, the only way I'd progress further was by increasing the overall repetitions and, honestly, I didn't like the idea of having to do ten thousand burpees and push ups just for a flat increase of 1 point. I would do that, because the whole point of Gamer Powers was the ability to progress indefinitely, but it'd be an absolute slog. More specialized training would be necessary at some point, like running and climbing with weights or just lifting weights. For now, at least, I was still within the range of what genetically gifted humans could achieve with extreme training and discipline.
Furthermore, I now had a grand total of 900 War Points from winning the arm wrestling contests four times, over the last four days. Though, at some point, I was pretty sure my friends were just letting me win because they were either weirded out or simply didn't care. Not that it mattered, because the System counted any win as a win. I figured that, even if some form of unfairness was afoot, as long as I wasn't aware of them, then the win was counted.
That opened up... interesting avenues, honestly. But, I couldn't think of any at the moment.
Whatever the case, 900 War Points was just enough for me to dare browse the more powerful stuff. Though, I didn't bother too much with the weapons section, since I already had a [Las Pistol] and, as far as I'm aware, that thing could punch through anything and anyone within my immediate level. What I needed, I thought, was protection, which was why I brought up the armor section first.
[Flak Armor] - Among the most basic forms of armour in common use by the Imperium. It is a relatively primitive form of armour, used most commonly by Imperial forces. That said, compared to 20th century Terra body armor, the Flak Armor is superior by several orders of magnitude. This one is tailor-made to fit you perfectly, a luxury most Guardsmen never receive, and comes with a helmet. Costs 500 War Points
[Carapace Armor] - Carapace armour consists of large rigid plates of armaplas, ceramite or some other strong material molded to fit parts of the body. While heavy to wear and unable to cover flexible areas such as joints, it offers far better protection over lighter types of armour such as flak armour. This particular model of Carapace Armor is Kasrkin Stormtrooper Carapace, used by the elite Cadian Shocktroopers, featuring a suite of highly-advanced technologies. Fits its wearer perfectly. Costs 900 War Points
I wasn't sure which of the two I wanted for myself. On the one hand, I could just keep these in my [Inventory] and didn't have to go through the actual trouble of having to put them on as I knew that I could, quite literally, summon the armors over my body instantly. On the other hand, I didn't feel like I'd need them just yet. Or, rather, I wasn't done browsing through possible options.
For instance, I just remembered the fact that I could summon people and living creatures in general.
[Guardsman] – A single Guardsman, whether male or female, armed with a Lasgun, Las Pistol, and donned in Flak Armor, and fully trained in the Basic Guardsman Regimental Training. There are many like him or her, but this one will be unquestionably loyal to you as a good and honest Guardsman should be with their Commanding Officer. Costs 600 War Points.
[Hormagaunt] - A fearsome but expendable Tyranid creature usually deployed in the billions which often precede a main Tyranid attack. It is a subspecies of Tyranid Gaunt armed with razor-sharp Scything Talons and move on powerful hind legs in a series of exceptionally fast, bounding leaps that appears as a skittering, insect-like gait. In short: claws and teeth on legs, very deadly and very fast. There are many like it, but this one is yours. Costs 500 War Points.
The choices were certainly very interesting, but what was more interesting, however, was the fact that I could purchase and implant knowledge directly into my brain, which was something I hadn't even thought was possible. But, looking back, maybe I should've expected something like this.
[Full Guardsman Regimental Training] – Run, jump, crawl, shoot, fight, and kill like a proper Guardsman; standard for the 40th millennium, but would likely be considered elite training in the 20th century. Gain five years' worth of training in an instant. Costs 500 War Points.
See, this was interesting to me, because having a [Las Pistol] was not the same as knowing how to shoot or operate it. And how to not make it explode in my grasp. And, of course, it probably came with some level of martial arts training, because being strong and tough didn't count for shit if a 70 year old boxer could knock me out in five seconds. I needed to know how to use my body, to leverage my strength, and that meant training. But, I didn't have time to train for four to five years. And I didn't want to. 500 War Points seemed like a good trade off.
The other options were just more weapons, objects I had no use for, and random cantrips that I had no interest in. Thank god for whoever came up with the "For You" automated section that filtered out the stuff I'd turn down immediately anyway. Otherwise, I'd go crazy having to browse through all the random junk.
Still, me being me, I didn't choose immediately. But, of the available choices, the [Full Guardsman Regimental Training] was definitely at the top. And the only thing that stopped my from buying that immediately was the possibility that I might find and unlock something better. However, to keep myself from falling into a trap of doing nothing, I gave myself a deadline; if I found nothing better by tomorrow, Saturday, then I was going to buy it.
Now, despite my efforts to actively search for Hidden Quests and Objectives for the last four days, however, I didn't really find any, which was why I decided to take a break from my usual grindset routine today, in favor of looking for anything odd and random that might result in my completing or unlocking a Hidden Quest. Portland was a pretty big place and I was pretty sure I'd run into something weird eventually. And if that didn't work, I'd walk around the woods and see if I ran into a werewolf or a wendigo or something. There have been a few sightings here and there, usually by crazy conspiracy guys on the radio or dogman podcasts or something. Most of those were probably hoaxes, but at least a handful of them probably saw something, at least. And, after all, I was told that the supernatural existed in this world; I just wasn't aware of them my entire life.
Was bigfoot real? What about a leprechaun? Where would I even begin to look for these things? Surely, they weren't all out in the woods, just waiting for a dumb hiker to bump into them at night?
And it was precisely with these questions in mind that I set out for the day. Both mom and dad were already at work by the time I stepped out of the house. I technically had classes today, but I honestly didn't care too much about it, since I had perfect scores in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology every single time; and so missing a day couldn't hurt. And, honestly? Medical School didn't seem so important now that I possessed this gift. I was destined for far greater things and so it was only natural that I chased after greater goals, greater and grander things. What was becoming a doctor compared to becoming a god? Yeah, there was no comparison.
My plan was to just... walk, I suppose, following all the pedestrian walkways until I just kind of encountered something that was out of the ordinary. My one hope was that I wouldn't be wasting a whole day just walking all over Portland, saying hello to everybody and getting absolutely nothing done. The first few hours were... boring. I was, in terms of statistics, in one of the safest cities in the United States of America and, honestly, I wasn't sure what I expected here. I encountered a lot of people, most of them walking to work or from work. I passed by restaurants, gyms, offices, salons, and all sorts of places and I honestly found nothing out of the ordinary. It was still morning, however, and the most likely time for weird supernatural things to start happening was probably when the sun went down. I mean, just about every ghost sighting or story that I've ever heard about all happened at night.
Still, I couldn't leave anything to chance. What if I stayed at home and someone suddenly said they saw an angel flying overhead or something and I missed it? Nah, not letting that happen.
I ate some shawarma for lunch at a new place that mom's been talking about all the time. It was good – nice and spicy. I moved on quickly. I walked through back alleys and streets, places where people might sell drugs or whatever. But I found nothing – a few junkies and homeless people here and there, but no crime and certainly nothing supernatural. Not surprised. I moved on, though being among such people did give me an idea. If I wasn't going to find anything out of this world today - and, honestly, I didn't have much hope for seeing or encountering anything supernatural – I could, instead, see if there were Hidden Quests related to crime.
And I knew, based on what little crime we did have, that a lot of drugs were passing through Portland from Toronto. There had to be traffickers or runners here, somewhere. I just had to find them and apprehend them. Or, maybe I could just stop a random mugging or something. No idea.
And, just as I walked into an open street, the building across me, which was a bank of some sort, suddenly had a portion of its wall explode.