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Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category:

Gen

Fandoms:

Parahumans Series - Wildbow나 혼자만 레벨업 | Solo Leveling (Webcomic)

Relationships:

Greg Veder/Other(s)Greg Veder & Sparky (Parahumans)Aisha Laborn | Imp & Brian Laborn | GrueGreg Veder & Aisha Laborn | Imp

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Additional Tags:

The System (Solo Leveling)Alternate Universe - Canon DivergenceCanon-Typical ViolenceButcher Taylor Hebert | Skitter | WeaverGamer Greg VederClonesClone banterClone BrotherhoodParahumans Online

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English

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Fanfics I Wish Were Canon 3000

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Published:2025-05-14Updated:2026-02-14Words:90,632Chapters:15/?Comments:131Kudos:193Bookmarks:117Hits:12,741

Ready Player Greg

KingVessel

Chapter 4: Awakening 1.4

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Friday, April 15 2011

Greg Veder

Today had been good. I got into an unfinished fight with Hess, revealed my parahuman status with my closest thing to an actual best friend that was Sparky and TOTALLLY MADE UP WITH TAYLOR!

YEEEEEEES!

But I couldn't rest on this.

"Something to think about next time you decide to sit back and do nothing."

I needed to be more proactive, to keep being the guy she wanted, especially with the other Butchers stuck with her. Otherwise, I would risk backsliding.

I sighed as I finally sat before my computer after dinner, regarding the device with a sort of distant fondness. Previously being a regular computer, I had upgraded my CPU with some Tinkertech I'd literally found in the trash a couple of weeks ago. Despite learning about how difficult it would've been to fix online, actually getting down to it hadn't been that difficult. For a glorious moment, I remembered thinking myself to have Triggered into a Tinker, only for my hopes to dash at the small branding of a name I'd almost missed in my fervor.

L33T

Uber and Leet were basically the runts of all Brockton Bay villains if they had a hierarchy. They weren't as hateable or numerous as the Empire Eighty Eight. They weren't as dangerous or infamous as Azn Bad Boys, which was mostly due to Lung. And they weren't even as disgusting or worrisome as the Merchants.

Ignoring Uber, Leet was actually a powerful Tinker beyond probably even Armsmaster, but his technical skill sucked. I only had one actual computer course in my belt, along with hardware disassembly and reassembly as a hobby, but that showed how much Leet sucked as a Tinker when someone like me could fix his Tinkertech into working again.

(KingVessel: It should be noted that Greg is actually very skilled with electronics and computer hardware, enough to be called an untested genius. However, he is unfortunately resident to a world where there's a specific class of superpowered people who can become the Tony Starks of any particular technological field with the right Trigger Event.)

Now my computer not only functioned better than the newest model would've, it also allowed greater protection against any viruses or incoming probes from online. One day, I'd find a way to attain superior browsing data as well.

Checking my email, my eyes widened at the new messages waiting in my inbox. Did I have any online friends who wou- Oh, wait I did, seeing most of them were from GstringGirl.

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Topic: Did Void Cowboy die?

In: Boards Places America Brockton Bay

Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Posted on April 14, 2011:

So, I noticed that everyone's 'favorite' conspiracy theorist has been radio silent for a while. His most recent temp ban was up days ago and he's usually back to posting the second that those go up.

Did he actually annoy somebody bad enough IRL?

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 14, 2011:

Last I heard from him, he was going to be grounded for a couple of days without internet access, but that was a few days ago. If anyone knows Void IRL, could they try contacting him, I'm getting kinda worried.

►IronCross (Banned)

Replied on April 14, 2011:

[Post removed for inflammatory content]

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied on April 15, 2011:

I'm still alive, masses! I am... Invincible!

@GstringGirl, I didn't die. Just got hospitalized. Apparently, that tends to happen when you get dragged into an E88 initiation and you stab one of them in retaliation.

@Vista, quick question: how do you get over the brief nausea that follows up after a full-bodied teleportation?

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Oh my god! Void, you're alive! Wait, you got hospitalized?! And you stabbed somebody?!

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Yeah, that can apparently happen when you put a knife in the hands of someone who doesn't want to stab some innocent black person and actively hates prejudiced shits. It was a little bit scary, seeing as that was my first ever time fighting a person.

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Void, your question to Vista a bit too worrying with this fresh context... Did you Trigger?

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Void Cowboy has achieved the Power of Teleportation! With immense trauma! Dying... is painful. I think I died. I'm here, but...

►Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Okay, ignoring the personal panic I have at you of all people getting powers, especially powers like mine, I suggest therapy with someone you trust. Trigger Events are no joke. Also, the nausea never really leaves. I always just have to suck it up.

►Tin_Mother (Admin)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Indeed. Cowboy, assuming that this isn't a lie-

►XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied on April 15, 2011:

I WAS STABBED AND PULVERIZED BY FUCKING STONE GIANTS

Oh, and in completely unrelated matters, anybody know a cape who can manipulate stone giants?

►Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Yeesh, I can actually feel the rage from your typing. Guess your Trigger Event was real after all. If you find a good a therapist though, let me know. That'd be nice to have.

►Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

@Clockblocker, quit it with the jokes. It's getting old and boring.

►Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Vista, I will cease to be funny when it ceases being funny. Still, who said I was joking?

►Tin_Mother (Admin)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

I apologize for my earlier insensitivity. However, there is no known parahuman capable of manipulating 'stone giants'. Or any giants for that matter, except perhaps Nilbog.

►Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

Scary thought.

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 15, 2011:

@XxVoid_CowboyxX, are you going to be okay?

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Unverified Cape)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

@GstringGirl, I'll be fine. Really. I've got a sorta good thing going that's allowing me to vent. Still, I missed you, though.

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 15, 2011:

I missed you too.

►Point_Me_ @_The_Sky (Verified Cape) (New Wave)

Replied on April 15, 2011:

You should be more adorable like this, Cowboy. People would like you better.

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 11, 12, 13

I stepped back from the computer at that point and prepared for bed. Even when being back as Void Cowboy, I hadn't felt my usual mania as I normally did. Maybe because I now had the System to vent excess energy?

Pulling out my Random Gift from this morning, I beheld the new dungeon key I'd gotten.

-:|Gate Key|:-

A key for teleporting into an instant dungeon. It can be used at the entrance to Brockton Arena.

I honestly hadn't expected another one of these so soon, especially with me beating the ogre mere days ago.

Still, Brockton Arena... Wasn't that within Teeth territory?

...meh, I'd figure something out.

Saturday, April 16 2011

Greg Veder

-:|Daily Quest: Training Regimen|:-

Push-ups[100/100]

Sit-ups[100/100]

Squats[100/100]

Running[12/10km]

Failure to complete the Daily Quest will result in an appropriate penalty.

You have acquired Reward(s) x3.[OPEN]

"Damn it!" I groaned as Mum beat me in our impromptu race. For the first time ever, we'd exercised together and she'd gone and reminded me that she was superior to me in terms of physical exercise. "This can't be fair!"

"Don't underestimate a dockworker." Mum beamed proudly, even as her chest heaved as well. But unlike me who had collapsed against a nearby bench, she was still standing strong on her own two feet. "I'll be heading back now, sweetie. When you stop attempting to swallow your own lungs, go take a shower and buy yourself some new clothes."

At my confused expression, she idly gestured at how my tracksuit pants now ended high above my ankles. "None of your clothes fit you anymore. I don't know why last night was a great time to hit a growth spurt out of nowhere, but I won't let you go around in clothes that clearly don't fit you anymore."

"Okay." I replied as Mum jogged back home, amazed at how either my awesome genetics or the System had Chadified me. There had been no physical changes yesterday after I'd pushed all of my physical stats up to D-rank. If this implied that I'd just needed to sleep on it, what kind of body would I have the more I leveled up? Right now, the usual baby fat I'd never been able to get rid off had finally left, leaving me with a sharper chin and a stronger jawline. Even my hair had changed slightly, growing from the permanent bowlcut to loosely reaching my nape from behind as well as gaining a wavy consistency to its usually straight composition.

Oh, and my abs were clear-cut now.

Yes!

Anyways.

+Status Recovery!

+5SP!

+Random Gift!

I let the {Status Recovery} stay unused, wanting to actually enjoy my upcoming cold shower later. Manifesting my new Random Gift, it slowly unraveled itself to reform into... a pair of weird glasses?

-:|Gale-Force Reading Glasses|:-

A pair of glasses that allow you to read books at an accelerated pace.

Huh. That'd be useful for school, at least. After later dressing up in my baggiest clothes, I then made my way towards the nearest mall. Weirdly enough, I got plenty stares on my way there for some reason. Actually entering into the mall worsened the intense gazes from every direction, which my SNS didn't let me stay ignorant of.

Did somebody tape something to my back without me noticing? A quick check revealed that to not be so. But if it wasn't like that, why were most of my observers smiling girls? At least the few guys staring looked more... jealous?

I curiously cast my gaze around. Was there a handsome man nearby who they were mistaking me for? As I did that, I met the gaze of a girl for the fourth time, only for her to abruptly turn away with a blush and hastily walk away.

...huh? Was she...? No, that was probably a fluke. I just needed to focus on what I was actually here for so that I'd later get to that dungeon.

Putting more effort into ignoring their whispers, I rushed towards the nearest clothing store. Checking through their wares, I hummed in thought as I appraised my choices. I'd usually just gone with blue due to it being my favorite color, but maybe I could add in some purple this time.

It would serve as a nice reminder of Aisha due to the dyed part of her hair.

"Hey, you there."

Not thinking that they'd been referring to me, I was totally flatfooted when two college-looking girls actually waltzed up to me for some reason. "Wait, me?"

"Do you have some free time?"

"You came here to shop for some clothes, right? How about you hang around with us for a while after you're done?"

Oh, they're flirting with me.

...they're flirting with me?! Why?! Why me?! Do I flirt back or something?! No, wait, that's stupid! I have zero flirting experience!

"S-Sorry." I awkwardly turned aside, sheepishly scratching the back of my hair. "I've got something else planned."

(Glamour Vision: "Sorry." The hunk casually turned aside, his hand sweeping through his hair in a way that had somehow had the store's fluorescent light leave his golden locks shimmering. "I've got something else planned.")

"O-Oh, it's okay!"

"D-Don't worry about it!"

The two girls actually seemed to lose their breaths for some reason, their faces flushed as I left them. But I never got to buy any clothes...

Well, off to another clothing store then. However, I found myself surprised when I got approached again, this time by a foreign looking man with a camera. "Um, can I help you?"

"Kid, how would you like to be a model for the next hour?"

"...eh?"

Yoo Soo-Hyun

"Wonderful, you two! Just like that~!"

*CLICK-CLICK!*

"Smile a bit more freely, Greg! Be more natural~!"

*CLICK-CLICK!*

"Now, sideways glance!"

*CLICK-CLICK!*

"C'mon, my boy! Use that untapped sexy smolder~!"

*CLICK-CLICK!*

I smiled easily as Jacques Beaumont and his crew worked themselves into a fervor, both to make up for lost time and to properly capture me with the new cutie trying not to be so stiff in my arms. "Calm down, Jacques. It's his first time, after all. It's not like you can do all that on command, right?"

"O-Oh, um, no. I mean, yes?" Greg helplessly stammered as she guided him away for a short break, the two of them leaning against a railing while the rest of the crew did their work.

"Still, we're really grateful for you doing this." I assured him. "With everyone's schedules, this was the only time that was available."

And that Min-Sung bastard had to mess it up for some reason that was making him late.

"W-W-Well, if I'm really being helpful to you guys, then its fine." Greg stammered adorably, which worsened when I saw Jacques raise up his camera for another shot and held Greg closer for a pose.

"You're still so stiff. It's a bit strange that you have such little exposure to girls despite your looks." Jacques mused before gesturing for them to move again. "Next, move over to those stairs, please~! Oh, and link your arms~!"

Greg choked as I locked our arms together, and then became a startling color of red when we had to hug each other closely for the next pose. Soon enough, they managed to finish up the photoshoot in time.

"Thanks for your work." One of the crewmen gave Greg and I some drinks to cool off.

"Thanks." Greg replied before immediately drinking from the cup. I wasn't unaware of the effect that my appearance could cause to teenage boys, but had my proximity been that heart-pumping for him? So adorable~

"Sorry about this. About all this." I clarified at his confused expression. "I know it was probably quite a lot to ask you to substitute one of our own models, using up your own free time for this."

"...its fine, Miss Yoo-"

"Please, you can call me Soo-Hyun."

"R-Right, Soo-Hyun." Greg stuttered. "I've never been considered handsome by others, so today was kinda strange for me. Model work is apparently a lot harder than it looks."

Eh? He was never considered handsome by others? Was he raised amongst only boys or something? It wasn't like Greg could've just woken up handsome after a lifetime of mediocrity. "I suppose that's how it looks from your perspective. I'm already used to all this. Not that I hadn't also made mistakes at the start, making others mad at me. Listen, Greg."

I leaned over and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did good today and you've been an excellent model. Take pride in that, okay?"

Greg swallowed before giving her a relaxed smile. "Okay."

*CLICK-CLICK!*

"Surprise sneakshots!"

Calm down, Jacques. Thankfully, Greg was more amused than embarrassed or disturbed, allowing the head photographer to take many shots of the latter at his most relaxed.

"'Sup? I'm here late. My fans apparently held me up a bit too long."

Both Greg and I turned to see the man sauntering up to us, my face twisting into an annoyed expression. His arrival wasn't quiet either as the surrounding fans hyped the narcissist up for his undeserved fame.

Lee Min-Sung.

"Um, Soo-Hyun? Who's that?" Greg asked, causing me to almost giggle. Min-Sung's superior replacement didn't even know him. Well, he hadn't known me either, but that was forgivable. I wasn't a narcissist like Min-Sung, after all.

"Lee Min-Sung. A.k.a. the man you replaced today and did a much better job than." Greg blushed a little, but I considered that a complete truth. I'd come here to this dangerous city's mall, having expected to deal with Min-Sung's advances and ego. But I'd instead gotten Greg, who was meek but eager to please. It also helped that Greg clearly let me lead him through it all, compared to Min-Sung who would've drawn this all out to maximize the attention on him.

"Soo-Hyun, sorry to keep you waiting." Min-Sung strutted over to us, his eyes completely glossing over Greg as he spoke in Korean towards me. "As soon as we're done with this silly little shoot, lets go have a bite together."

Ew, no thanks. "I refuse with all of my might."

And that was in clear English.

"Now, now, you shouldn't play hard-to-get." Min-Sung was apparently very disregarding of personal space today, leaning uncomfortably closer to me. "All you need to do-"

"Could you, like, step away from her?" Greg interrupted with a firm hand on the man's shoulder. "Soo-Hyun's clearly uncomfortable with you being so close to her."

I flashed Greg a relieved smile as the latter actually pulled Min-Sung back easily, despite his smaller height. Apparently, the muscles I'd felt beneath his clothes hadn't been for show~

"Who are you even? Can't you see that I was having a conversation with her?" Min-Sung demanded.

"I'm... not good at social cues, but she was clearly leaning away from you." Greg replied nervously, which were at odds with how he briefly clenched his fists before pointing towards Jacques and the others. "You also haven't apologized to the guys you kept waiting."

Speaking of which, one of them was actually recording them right now. Poor Min-Sung~

"I'll get to them eventually. But you? You need to learn your damn place in the world, kid!" Min-Sung finished with a shove at Greg's shoulder. Or at least, that's what I assumed it would've been had Greg not grabbed the wrist of the incoming hand and squeezed it, causing a wet crunch to resound through the air before Min-Sung fell to his knees with a strangled cry as he cradled his injured hand.

"...oh, shit." Greg whispered, looking at Min-Sung in growing horror.

"Way to go, Greg~!" I stepped closer and glomped Greg close to me. "You're my hero~!"

My actions, while probably unneeded, swayed the surrounding fans into cheering Greg instead of potentially booing him instead for injuring a movie star and probationary model.

"Way to go, indeed." Jacques stepped up as well with a vindicated smile, holding up a tablet that displayed a recording of the whole thing from Min-Sung's disregard of my personal space to him being brought down to his knees by a teenager. "I look forward to your latest scandal, Lee Min-Sung."

"D-Damnit!" Min-Sung growled before getting back to his feet and storming off.

"Good luck getting another modelling gig ever again." Jacques called after him darkly before turning towards Greg. "Greg, I know that you've helped us immensely as a temporary model today. But would you like to do more work like this? On top of your looks, you're eager to learn and capable of working well with other models. Of course, we'll get your guardian's permission as well, but would you like to sign an exclusive contract with us?"

"...thanks for the offer, but I'm not suited to such a dazzling life." Greg replied with an apologetic smile. "I got a surprising amount of EXP- Sorry, I mean, experience today, so I really appreciate doing this. But I've got a prior set of circumstances that takes precedence over most of my life right now. Becoming as intensive as modelling might... get in the way..."

"...you've got a surprisingly serious tendencies, don't you?" Jacques sighed in a resigned manner, before gesturing at one of his crewmen. "Well, I'll just have to respect those feelings. With the kind of world we live in, youths should do their best to know exactly what they want at that point in their lives."

"Sir." The crewman arrived with a filled shopping bag.

"Thank you." Jacques took the bag before handing it over to Greg, who looked surprised at the gesture. "Here, take these. The truth is, I'd prefer to pay you directly, but it wouldn't look good from our agency's perspective since you're an amateur. And since you'd earlier told us that you just came here shopping for new clothes, every outfit you modelled for are hereby yours as payment for today."

"R-Really?!" Greg gushed as he looked them over. "Thanks, Mr. Beaumont!"

"We benefited a lot more than you today." Jacques shook hands with Greg. "Thank you, Greg, for being here when you were needed. Truly, thank you."

"Greg, if by some chance we should ever meet again..." I took his own hand to shake it as well, placing my other hand over linked hands fondly. "I hope I can count on you then."

"Me, too." Greg grinned back bashfully, which prompted another surprise picture from Jacques. "I hope for your continued success in life."

Watching him walk towards the mall's entrance, I sighed at how much might've changed if he'd agreed to become a teen model.

My mood would later plummet further when I remembered that I'd forgotten to exchange numbers with him.

+3,100EXP!

+New Quirk(s)!

Was this what a surprise encounter felt like in real life? Oh, well. Min-Sung being a parahuman had been a shock, but I didn't really care.

What I did care about was the new Quirk the System had given me for beating him.

-:|Whirlwind|:-

This allows you to control the air around you with little physical movements from you.

This was awesome! I was now a freaking airbender now! Of course, I'd have to later train with this to find out what my drawbacks were, but I couldn't help the giddiness. Putting my new clothes away into my Inventory, I barely remembered that the Brockton Arena was currently within Teeth territory before teleporting straight there.

So I teleported home first, changed into a black hoodie and a hockey mask to mask my identity(note to self: procure a proper superhero outfit later), used my computer to check out Brockton Arena's exact coordinates and then teleported straight there.

Unfortunately, my plan hit a snag. Because apparently, the arena seemed to be important enough to warrant having two Teeth gangsters as guards right at the entrance I needed to use.

STR: 105(D) → 110(D)

SP: 0

"Hey, who are- gurk?!"

"What the- glerk?!"

+900(x2)EXP!

Double neck shots for the instant win. Pulling out the gate key once again, I waved it around before the expected sparks came out and formed into the familiar blue portal.

A moment later, somebody explosively teleported just two meters away from me.

She was completely dressed now for slaughter, and was now acting as an alpha reacting to an intruder in her territory.

Taylor Hebert, Butcher XV.

I still hadn't put as much thought on my feelings regarding this, and I would still procrastinate on that. But for now?

I waved her goodbye before backstepping into the portal, smiling when her fist smashed uselessly against an invisible barrier that prevented her from coming after me.

-:|Alert!|:-

Only the Player and Party members may enter into an instant dungeon.

-:|Alert!|:-

You have entered into an instant dungeon. Until you defeat its boss or use a return runestone, you cannot exit the dungeon.

I had the brief sensation of falling at a rapid speed before I splashed down into some kind of shallow pool.

Which smelt and tasted weird. Dismissing the now useless mask into my Inventory, I got up and surveyed my surroundings now. I could barely see in the darkness, but it looked like some kind of underground cavern with me being in a part that had gathered up years worth of dripping liquid.

But the smell alone was really starting to make me dizzy so I teleported to the nearest dry spot I could see. A second later, one of the smaller pools suddenly lit ablaze with its flames spreading rapidly across the liquid and towards me.

Oh, this must be natural kerosene or something.

...oh, shit!

I dropped and began rolling around to get off all the flammable liquid that I was soaked in before remembering {Whirlwind} and using it to forcibly dry myself.

I knew progressive difficulty was a thing, but a death trap right at the start?!

Damnit, System!

Stepping forward and out of the cavern, I stepped into a much wider area that was illuminated by many crystals that were glowing a soft yellowish orange akin to fire. Not to mention, there seemed to be several holes around that looked exactly like the one I'd just come out of.

Ah, so this was a matter of choosing the right one to enter? I turned back to see the one I'd just come out off, frowning at how identical it was to the others. One stomp of my feet, and the entrance was frozen over. Looking around some more, I noted the entrances to all have varying marks on the walls next to them.

As if there had been others before me to check them over.

If so, then that meant that the marked entrances were all wrong. What I needed was a 'right' entrance which would have no marking, because one wouldn't make a point of returning back out if they'd found the correct one.

Or died in them.

Well, uncertain success always triumphs over certain failure.

Stepping into the first unmarked entrance, I walked into the natural tunnel for at least ten minutes until I came upon a bunch of glowing cocoons. A second later, the cocoons burst apart to reveal horse-sized insects that were green and glossy and urgh.

Sparks burst along my palms before I swiped an explosion at it, bursting it apart into steaming goo.

+6,000EXP!

...wait, goo?

More of them began pop out, swiftly surrounding me. Stomping my feet, I willed ice to spread out into defensive spikes around me and force them back. However, their green bodies began to bubble up a yellowish light within them until-

FWOOOSH!*

-they each spewed powerful jets of flames that swiftly melted down my ice. Pumping out more ice to counter them, I used {Whirlwind} to build up as much air around me before exploding it as violently as I could, creating a surrounding wave of air pressure that obliterated the insect-shaped flame-breathing slimes in one fell swoop.

+6,000(x12)EXP!

Level Up: 11 → 16

+125SP!

New Super Move(s)!

-:|Status|:-

Name: Gregory 'Greg' Veder

Level: 16

EXP: 14,415/16,999

NRG: 16,000/16,000

Class: ?

STR: 110(D)

VIT: 145(D)

MOB: 120(D)

MAG: 100(D)

SNS: 200(C)

SP: 125

-:Quirks(Explosion[Explosive Speed], Frost[Glacial Rampart], Warp Gate, Whirlwind[Air Ball]):-

-:Perks(Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing):-

I blinked at the new influx of information before grinning at the details of the 'Super Moves' which were apparently specific sub-skills for the Quirks that would've admittedly been difficult for me to come up with on my own.

Continuing on deeper, I soon came upon another chamber that had a new entrance to deeper inwards but with the stone head of a dragon's upper jaw overhanging it. And right before the entrance was a stone pedestal with words written into it.

"To reach the truth, overcome the dragon's fangs and find everything to behold at the dragon's tail."

"...yeah, another win condition." I sighed and continued inwards past the overhanging the dragon jaw. When it didn't drop down onto me or behind me, I knew that the 'fangs' must be something else inside. Sure enough, I came upon a long hallway with several thin holes along the floors and spikes hanging down from the ceiling.

MOB: 120(D) → 200(C)

SP: 45

"Plus Explosive Speed." I practically launched forward as my palms propelled me from behind, clearing the entire space in just three footsteps. By the time I came to a halt, the trap spikes had dropped down too late. Not too shabby, if I were to praise myself.

But this was turning out to be a pretty strange dungeon. I only had a grand total of three so far in my experience, but this place seemed more suited to be testing my creativity more than just tossing EXP bags at me.

Continuing onwards again, I soon came upon three identical entrances. Unlike before, none of these were marked, so this would be a true test of my luck.

Naturally, I chose none of the above. Instead, I pushed {Frost} along the floor once more and deeper inside all three entrances. Soon enough, monstrous shrieks burst forth from both the left and right entrances while the middle entrance remained silent.

Stepping up to the left entrance, I pumped it full of ice until it was practically jutting out in the form of a small glacier. And then, I did the same thing to the right entrance until it produced the same results.

+6,000EXP(x4)!

+6,000EXP(x5)!

Level Up: 16 → 19

+75SP!

New Super Move(s)!

-:Status:-

Name: Gregory 'Greg' Veder

Level: 19

EXP: 14,418/19,999

NRG: 19,000/19,000

Class: ?

STR: 110(D)

VIT: 145(D)

MOB: 200(C)

MAG: 100(D)

SNS: 200(C)

SP: 120

-:Quirks(Explosion[Explosive Speed, Stun Grenade], Frost[Glacial Rampart, Cold Surf], Warp Gate, Whirlwind[Air Ball, Air Blast]):-

-:Perks(Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing):-

Stepping inside, I immediately used {Cold Surf} to clad my feet in ice that propelled me forward, allowing me to skate along the frozen ground at pretty high speeds. Judging by the trickle of my mana, I could probably go faster if I willed it.

After at least one minute of skating along empty hallways and zero enemies in my way, I soon came upon a huge set of doors.

Finally, it was time for the boss battle. Pushing them open, I was briefly blinded by a bright flash of light that engulfed me and my surroundings. When the light faded away, I gasped at the sight of a sprawling manmade cavern filled with so much gold.

I'd never even seen this much gold in anime, movies or even comics. It was literally as far as my eyes could see, in between the pillars and far into the ambient darkness. But as much as I wanted to shout in excitement, my SNS had been particularly helpful in warning about the humongous presence beneath all that gold.

Sneak attack overkill?

Sneak attack overkill, it is.

Why play fair when I don't have to?

"Glacial Rampart." I stomped my feet and pushed forth a wave of ice that completely engulfed everything before me, with me pushing at least half of my NRG into thickening the interior glacier I was creating.

By the time I was done, the entire underground treasury had become a frozen landscape. At least for the first few seconds.

Then the ice began cracking ominously. Fissures soon burst through the thick ice as burning steam heralded the deafening explosion of something massive bursting free from the frozen tomb. Something massive and reptilian in nature.

"Well, well, well..." A deep voice rang out from the big fucking dragon, possessing a gravelly and underlying growl tone as it loomed over me. "Is this how you greet your opponents?"

[King under the Mountain, Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug]

"I could... sense your power while you were... asleep, I guess. Why risk a fair fight with someone so much stronger than me?" I somehow managed to speak despite my blank terror, automatically crosschecking it's size with other large things I knew.

I didn't like the answers my stupidly calculative brain starting to give me regarding the giant red dragon with wyvern-like wings.

...oh dear god, Smaug was bigger than Behemoth and the Lord.

Smaug was bigger than the biggest Endbringer.

"Oh, how flattering. To be so powerful that the enemy utterly abandons any pretense of fair play..." To my mild confusion, Smaug really seemed flattered. Unfortunately, he was leaning closer to me now while I forced myself not to scream or break into a run as he audibly sniffed me. "Hmm... There is something about you... Something hidden within your human stench..."

Smaug suddenly leaned back with a rumbling movement that broke even more of the melting ice. "Is that the Shadow I sense? ...no, you're too weak. You reek of fear. State your name and title, false Shadowling."

"...G-Greg Veder." I stammered with a shaky shrug. "No titles, I'm afraid. And what's this 'Shadow' you're talking about?"

"Oh? So the intruder doesn't know what he is..." Smaug mused with a growl. "Even though your predecessor slew my Monarch!"

Smaug's winged claw slammed down next to me, prompting me start running as he began chasing me as his angered roars grew louder. "Did you I did not know this day would come?! That the Monarch of Shadows would not ignore the servants of his enemies forever?!"

I paid little attention to his words as I teleported away from the jagged ice and the jingling gold all over the ground, clinging mostly to the pillars and the metal rafters. Smaug still tracked me down almost effortlessly, sometimes gliding along the way.

I didn't know whether that was a compliment to his size or the boss room's.

"As Monarch Antares's servant, I kill where and when I wish...! The armor that is my scales is far superior than any manmade weapon! That is why the Monarch of Shadows had to utilize his own shadows as his own armor and blades against my kin! Everything else was insufficient!" Smaug boasted as he gestured over a series of deep slash scars over his back. How the hell had he survived that?! "But it matters not. The fact that you exist... means that he is facing a threat far greater than even the Monarchs... a threat that even himself and the trillions of the dead that he commands are not enough for. Or is it that he seeks a successor after he has taken the Empty Throne? It must be so difficult to be both the Monarch of Shadows and the Absolute Being..."

Smaug's lumbering gait stalked closer to my latest hiding spot, alarming me at how the kaiju dragon was almost successful in being quiet while stepping across piles of ice and loose gold. "Are you aware that you're being used, fals- Ah, my apologies. You're not a false Shadowling, after all. You're just a very immature one."

"I already know that I'm being used!" I found myself shouting back. "But I would've died if this Shadow Monarch guy didn't step in!"

Because that was the undeniable truth. If this Shadow Monarch hadn't interfered with those E88 guys, I would've died that night and Aisha...

The point was the Shadow Monarch needed me for something, and I'd apparently pleased him so far. And given the fact that he had yet to put me into any unwinnable scenario no matter how terrifying...

He must believe that I could beat Smaug.

I swallowed nervously before teleporting right before Smaug, causing a very brief look of surprise on the dragon's face. "Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug... I'm going to start to kill you now. Maybe I'll have you become a fellow Shadowling, depending on my mood."

Smaug's eyes widened as he flinched back (as if he'd seen something else rather than me at that moment) in... terror? "Well, then... I suppose our pre-battle banter has to its end."

Smaug's chest and neck glowed orange from beneath his scales just as I prepped {Warp Gate}, opening a wide portal just as a torrent of fiery death bloomed towards me. A second later, the flames cut off as Smaug roared in pain as his own flames roasted him from below. Dragons may be immune to fire, but only had 'resistance' to their own flames. And while he was distracted-

"Glacial Rampart!" Ice surged and struck Smaug with enough force to launch back a few meters, the spikes digging as much as it could into his scales.

"I told you..." Smaug flexed his body, the ice immediately shattering off him. "None but the Shadows or my liege could hurt me! You should beckon to the Monarch of Frost if you desire for your ice to hurt a dragon of my caliber!"

My ice... had done nothing?! Was his resistance towards just the ice or basically everything I had?! I teleported to right beneath Smaug's head and stretched out {Warp Gate} to engulf it-

And promptly teleported away a millisecond before Smaug's jaws snapped free of the darkness and around the spot I'd been.

So {Frost} was negligible, {Warp Gate} couldn't even work directly on him, and {Explosion} on an enemy that was that durable and heat resistant was absolutely useless. This left me with just {Whirlwind}... which ran the risk of literally fanning the flames.

What the hell did I have that could help me put down a dragon?! Lob one or all of my water bottles at him?!

Wait. Water bottle. Inventory. Shop!

"Come now!" Smaug called out, his roar making my bones shake as I opened up the Shop. "You'll have to face me eventually! I can hardly imagine that your Monarch permits failure as well as mine did."

-:|Shop|:-

Buy: Please input keyword to aid in locating and purchasing the desired item(s). [dragon slaying item]

Balmung(B-rank): This is a greatsword that was wielded by a swordsman soaked in the blood of Glittering Gold Lord Fafnir, imbuing it with dragon slaying properties as well as the ability to unleash blue slashes of destructive energy.

Dragon Slayer Seal(B-rank): This is a magical sigil that enchants any chosen user or weapon with dragon slayer properties.[5,000 gold]

Wow, that was... limited as fuck. Probably only showing those within my budget. The sword was right out because I have zero proficiency for weapons that need actual skill. As for the Seal, I didn't want to risk using it on myself only to find out that it wouldn't affect my Quirks. This seemed like the thing to prefer melee combat like actual dragons and their slayers.

I mean, who ever heard of a long-range dragon slayer? Not me. Wait, new idea!

-:|Shop|:-

Buy: Please input keyword to aid in locating and purchasing the desired item(s). [powerful firearm]

Gianduja(C-rank): This is a brown and gold minigun that weighs one hundred fifty kilograms and fires custom-tooled cartridges at ten thousand rounds per minute, capable of subduing huge groups of enemies at once and raining down huge amounts of damage on bigger targets.[3,800 gold]

...I could work with that. Buying them both, I immediately merged the two together and liked what I got after a brief moment of the System upgrading them.

-:|Equipment|:-

Dragon-Slaying Gianduja(B-rank): This is a brown and gold minigun that weighs one hundred fifty kilograms and fires custom-tooled cartridges at ten thousand rounds per minute, capable of subduing huge groups of enemies at once and raining down huge amounts of damage on bigger targets. With the Dragon Slayer Seal, it has been upgraded to possess greater damage effectiveness against dragon-type opponents.

I took one final look at the weight and dumped all of my stat points into STR.

STR: 110(D) → 230(C)

SP: 0

"Alright, Smaug." I called out, gaining the dragon's attention on me as I stopped hiding. "Come at me!"

"YOU WILL BURN!" Smaug roared as he rushed towards me, his maw lighting up once more before he breathed a wave of scorching flames towards me. Portaling to a higher vantage, I Equipped Gianduja and took aim, the whirring of the firearm's barrel growing in speed and sound before I unleashed it's payload. "GRAAAAAAAARGH!"

Smaug roared in pain as the bullets tore numerous small holes into his body, even rendering one of his wings unusable. "HOW DARE YOU?! I AM A DRAGON! YOU'RE JUST A MERE HUMAN!"

"Yeah." I portaled above him and unleashed enough ice to freeze his entire head. And during the brief moment he trashed around to get rid of the ice, I fired upon his unprotected neck until he stopped moving. "But that just gives me incentive to cheat a lot."

-:|Alert!|:-

You have defeated the boss of this instant dungeon.

+182,400EXP!

+182,400 gold!

Level Up: 19 → 27

+200SP!

+New Super Move(s)!

+New Perk(s)!

-:|Status|:-

Name: Gregory 'Greg' Veder

Level: 27

EXP: 8,826/27,999

NRG: 27,000/27,000

Class: ?

STR: 230(C)

VIT: 145(D)

MOB: 200(C)

MAG: 100(D)

SNS: 200(C)

SP: 200

-:Quirks(Explosion[Explosive Speed, Stun Grenade, Howitzer Impact], Frost[Glacial Rampart, Cold Surf, Cryo-Telekinesis], Warp Gate, Whirlwind[Air Ball, Air Blast, Gale Slice]):-

-:Perks(Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing, Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Force):-

Unequipping my dragon slaying minigun, I sighed at the rush of levelling up from much EXP in one go. It almost felt addictive.

Almost.

Shaking my head, I checked upon my new Perk with gusto.

-:|Perk(s)|:-

-:Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing:-

Active Effect: This allows you to heal and regenerate all physical harm to yourself almost instantly. Any damaged area or lost anatomy will be completely restored with no lingering side effects in seconds to minutes, even forcing objects embedded out to heal properly.

Passive Effect: This automatically cleanses your body of any viruses, diseases, toxins and intrusive substances. Only the most potent of these will affect you and only for a brief period before you return to normal. Additionally, sleeping explosively boosts your regenerative capabilities.

-:Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Force:-

Active Effect: This allows you to manifest a massive draconic avatar out of your spiritual and elemental aura, surrounding you and fighting on your behalf.

Passive Effect: This automatically renders you highly resistant to most forms of supernatural phenomena, reducing their effects on you to a negligible threshold. This trait can be imbued into any impromptu defenses you can manifest.

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing, right there and then. Once more, I'd nearly died and the System had given me rewards to encourage me to come back to the dungeons once more.

...could I take on an Endbringer right no-

I crushed down that foolish thought with ruthless finality. I, Greg Veder, am not suicidal.

No matter what Sparky's worried expressions may imply.

-:|Alert!|:-

As the boss has been been defeated, the dungeon will now collapse.

Remembering to put my hockey mask back on and walking through the expected portal, I paused at the sight of a problem I probably should've expected.

Weaver had apparently been patient enough to wait for me.

Saturday, April 16 2011

Lisa Wilbourn - Tattletale

"Took you long enough." Weaver said after the stranger returned out of his portal, as if us being here hadn't been a wild guess and hope that he would return. Right now, it was just her, Bitch, Weaver, Vex and Spree(who'd been unfortunate enough to be somewhat sober while they passed him). "Who are you and what was your intention here?"

Surprised to see Weaver still here. Annoyed at his own surprise. Wondering how to leave without fighting or revealing his identity.

The stranger in the hockey mask and burned black clothing, that I noted was still smoking, crossed his arms thoughtfully before snapping his fingers in realization. A few seconds later, a strange collar appeared in his raised hand with a crackle of electricity. After he attached it to his own neck, I immediately realized that it was a voice modulator of some sort before he even spoke.

"My intentions?" A voice way too deep and rumbling to come from a human body spoke forth, alarming me a little when Bitch and her dogs took a wary step back. "I was merely here for a fight directed to me by a higher power. Oh, don't worry. Whether the Teeth had this place as a hideout or not was utterly inconsequential."

"Now worried if further instances might take him to other gang hideouts. Hoping to be strong enough to deal with them when the time comes. Desperately wants to go to sleep and is considering violence to get it."

"I believe him." I spoke up, earning surprised glances from the others. Not that I cared. I wanted my sleep too. "He really didn't come here for the Teeth."

The cape turned his head to regard me-

Danger! Unnatural micro adjustments occurring within the body. Danger! Irises of unknown blue tint capable of bioluminescence. Danger! Dense reinforcements intricately woven into muscular and skeletal systems. Danger! Unknown glands passively generating unknown energy. Danger!

-and it took all of my effort to keep my kneejerk reactions on the downlow. I explicitly didn't want to aggravate something that was scaring my power. I did however sigh in relief when he looked away thanks to somebody else.

"Bullshit." Spree scoffed before stomping towards the unknown cape, his common sense apparently on a vacation at a moment as he grabbed him by his collar. "You think you can waltz up here, right in the heart of our turf-"

VIT: 145(D) → 245(C)

MAG: 100(D) → 200(C)

SP: 0

The cape suddenly gut punched Spree, folding the latter over his arm before he was launched away and towards Weaver, coming to a sprawled stop at her feet.

+3,110EXP!

New Quirk(s)!

-:|Double|:-

This allows you to create an exact duplicate of anything, living or not, as long as you know its precise measurements and characteristics. Upon taking a certain degree of damage, the copies disintegrate into a mud-like substance. If a copy of a living being is created, you will have no control over it due to it possessing their own autonomy as their personalities and abilities will be identical to the original. Once destroyed, a living copy will have it's accumulated experiences transferred back to you.

Say what you wanted about Spree, but I knew this guy was a lot more durable than he looked. So when I considered how much physical strength it would take for a single gut punch to keep him down... "Control your minions better, Weaver. I'll make my leave now before anybody else gets too eager for their own good."

"...noted." Weaver sighed. "May I have a name, so that I know what to call you?"

The cape tilted his head before finally shrugging. "Void Cowboy."

Familiar and pleased with his choice. Finally settled on having this as his hero name. Will work on costume later.

What the fuck?!

"What the fuck?!" Vex exclaimed what had just crossed through my mind as the PHO infamous cape burst into darkness that swirled and swallowed itself, disappearing along with him.

"Void Cowboy...?" Weaver muttered in disbelief. "That guy with the highest number of non-villain infractions on the PHO? The one guy who was always on my side but was such a troll about it? That Void Cowboy?"

"No way..." Vex muttered. "He must just be borrowing that loser's name or something."

Both common sense and my power strongly disagreed. I knew that people tended to differ from their online persona, but seriously?!

We were still in a state of disbelief as Rachel dragged Spree along until we'd returned to the others, Taylor making a straight line towards Big Robbie.

"What's wrong?" I asked Rachel after I noticed her to still be deep in thought. "Was it that guy?"

"...he felt dangerous." Rachel replied after a while. "And powerful, too."

I raised a brow. "Like Weaver?"

Rachel shook her head. "Like Lung. Like a dragon."

"...Lung died to Weaver." I pointed out after a while. "As did Quarrel."

"...yeah. But by accident."

I found myself unable to dispute Rachel's final point.

Notes:

KingVessel: Dun Dun DUUUUUUN! And thus, the first arc comes to an end...

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Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category:

Gen

Fandoms:

Parahumans Series - Wildbow나 혼자만 레벨업 | Solo Leveling (Webcomic)

Relationships:

Greg Veder/Other(s)Greg Veder & Sparky (Parahumans)Aisha Laborn | Imp & Brian Laborn | GrueGreg Veder & Aisha Laborn | Imp

Characters:

Additional Tags:

The System (Solo Leveling)Alternate Universe - Canon DivergenceCanon-Typical ViolenceButcher Taylor Hebert | Skitter | WeaverGamer Greg VederClonesClone banterClone BrotherhoodParahumans Online

Language:

English

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Fanfics I Wish Were Canon 3000

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Published:2025-05-14Updated:2026-02-14Words:90,632Chapters:15/?Comments:131Kudos:193Bookmarks:117Hits:12,741

Ready Player Greg

KingVessel

Chapter 5: Side Story: Greg's Shard

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

[Trajectory]

[Alignment]

[Agree- ARISE]

"No. That one's... an important experiment."

[Confusion?]

"No matter how many times I see this... it's quite disgusting, to be honest."

[Outrage!]

"Oh? So this one would've been a... 'thinker' type? Something related to emotions specifically. ...Ah, I see. He just wanted to have friends."

[Agreement]

"But how's he supposed to make friends with what you would've given him? This wouldn't even fix his issues, but potentially make it worse. Even these 'thinking' types are geared towards conflict like the others... You know what? I can fix this."

[Alarm!]

"Frankly, it's not like he's unintelligent. He's just got social issues. With a little adjustment here..."

[Fear!]

"Stop twitching. I'd rather not make a mistake that I can't fix."

[Concussed!]

"There. Now then... Well, this part's needless. He'll be using mana, so I can just scoop this part out."

[Pain!]

"Now to add this in... Oh, you have restrictions. Well, that won't do."

[That was needed!]

"No, it wasn't. Greg will have you at full capacity when he earns you. I won't have the 4th Shadow Monarch having a needlessly crippled Skill. But perhaps having them transform into 'Quirks' was too limiting in its own way. Still, the superhumans of that universe had much better synergy with their powers compared to these... 'shards'."

[...ow.]

"Stop whining. You're already influencing Greg without negatively impacting his life and that's all that matters for now."

[...for now?]

"For now. After he Levels Up enough and beats the... Monarch-like entity posing as a hero along with the others his powers will soon attract, he and Su-Ho will join hands."

[Impossible. Zion cannot be beaten.]

"You should be proud then. Your owner's going to show you an impossibility down the line."

[...fine, then.]

"Perfect. Now how long will you go on without realizing that you've been speaking in full sentences now?"

[...WHAT?!]

Notes:

KingVessel: By the way, requesting ideas for Greg's potential Social Thinker powers, please~ I'll give you a hint of my own plans for it: Path to Solution.

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Chapter 964 - 6