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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

Collections:

Fanfics I Wish Were Canon 3000

Stats:

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

Ready Player Greg

KingVessel

Chapter 6: Guild 2.1

Summary:

KingVessel: Buckle up, there're things to be done!

Chapter Text

Sunday, April 17 2011

Greg Veder

I was almost tempted to blow the morning exercise off, my old laziness rearing its head.

Almost.

I still had little desire to find out the 'penalty' that the System would give me if I skipped it, especially with it being able to create or link with pocket dimensions of whatever kinds. After exercising together again, Mum had gone out with a few of her friends from the docks, only leaving me with a few chores to do before I would be free to do today.

Luckily, that just gave me a motive to experiment with {Double} after I'd gotten it from Spree last night. Calling it forth, I marveled as mud-like fluid pooled off my outstretched and rapidly grew into an identical copy of me.

"...huh." Other me muttered as we tilted our heads at each other, sounding as mutely bewildered as I felt. "I can kinda see how girls might now be attracted to us now."

I frowned. "Is that really what comes to mind for you? I mean, me?"

"It's just a thought. Sparky didn't react and I think Aisha probably already liked us a little after saving her, but I've- Sorry, we've still been growing more since Friday. School's going to be a pain come Monday." Other me sighed, me joining him in agreement. If the mall had been any indication, school really would be troublesome. An ideal superhero's civilian identity was supposed to be easily overlookable!

Wait, this was the whole reason why I needed to experiment with {Double} in the first place! "So how real are you? Flesh and blood, or just an illusion?"

Other me slapped my hand away when I tried to poke him. "Real enough. We share the same memories, so I know that I'm a clone and me potentially dying will just have me reunite with the original Greg."

"Right... 'a living copy will have it's accumulated experiences transferred back'." My eyes widened in realization. "Wait, so can you use the System too?"

I blinked when a {Status} screen immediately popped up before other me's face. "Looks like it... No wait, there's a prompt that says that half of my EXP always gets redirected towards you. But other than that, everything else seems good."

He raised up his hand and had a mild explosion blast off from it. "And I can use our Quirks, too."

Perfect. This would allow me to preserve my superhero identities with plausible denials... as long as 'Void Cowboy' was never shown being capable of creating copies of himself. "You'll need to be going out as Void Cowboy."

Other me, or rather Void Cowboy, shrugged. "Fine, but does this mean that I'll have 'sole ownership' of {Warp Gate}?"

"...sure, why not?" I shrugged. "Capes with similar powers get plenty of attention, and I've already spoken out on PHO to be a teleporter. And with us meeting Weaver and her minions last night, we've kinda had your debut already."

Void Cowboy frowned. "Does it count as a hero's debut if I don't save a person first? Or even have a proper costume?"

That... was an excellent point. Frankly, I really would need costumes for my superhero identities. The hockey mask could only work as a beta outfit for so long before people would (wrongfully) start associating him with that look. "...so Parian, then?"

"Makes sense." Void Cowboy agreed before frowning once more. "But can we afford her services?"

-:|Asset Conversion|:-

This will allow to convert your in-game currency into the current denomination of whatever nation you are currently located in, produced and manipulated via planetary data so that serial numbers and other aspects do not cause economic chaos.

I blinked as this screen immediately popped up to answer my problem. And here I thought that all of my gold would stay as in-game currency...

-:|Asset Conversion|:-

Budget: 182,600 gold

Bank Account: $6,472.37

"...wait, that's my savings account." I realized before gulping unsteadily. "C-Convert 2,600 gold."

-:|Asset Conversion|:-

Budget: 180,000 gold

Bank Account: $2,606,472.37

My jaw dropped as my phone rang out an alert, showing a message prompt involving my bank account.

Acct: XXXXX

CR: $2,600,000.00

Desc: Ah-Jin Guild XXXXX

Bal: $2,606,472.37

"...holy shit." Void Cowboy and I droned in unison.

Group Chat: Bouquet of Madness

Player: Who's free today? I have cash and I'm going shopping!

Oracle: How much cash?

Imptastic: How much cash?

Player: CAAAAAAAAAAASSSH

Imptastic: Are you offering yourself up as a free wallet, Greg? 'cause I've got a lotta stuff I'd love to buy.

Oracle: Greg's a sucky liar to girls. Besides, your answer proves how little you know of him. I'm already heading towards his house.

Oracle: [Uploading selfie of herself outside, looking as perpetually stoic as she did.]

Imptastic: Huh?! Well, I'm ready to head out too!

Imptastic: [Uploading selfie of herself in what looked like her room, angled in a way that highlighted her cleavage.]

Player: Ladies, do not fight over me. I have enough to spoil you both and get a superhero costume afterwards.

Oracle: Were you just trying to be smooth? :p

Imptastic: He can be smooth however he likes. Also, you're a lot more expressive over the phone.

Oracle: I struggle to properly care about others, and Greg's so far been the sole one to pierce my armor. After all, Greg's my carer. He cares so I don't have to.

Player: Liar. You do care about others.

Oracle: Want me to reveal who you first beat your meat to?

Player: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?! YOU SEE THE FUTURE, NOT THE PAST!

Oracle: Be sure to bribe me well, today. :D

Imptastic: You two are fucking hilarious. How did I not ever hear of you guys?

Player: Bottom of the social hierarchy.

Oracle: Bottom of the social hierarchy.

Imptastic: Wait, hold up. Superhero costume? You're gonna join the Wards or something?

Player: What? No way. No offense to them, but I'm going independent.

Imptastic: Phew! Almost lost a smidge of respect for you. Just a smidge. See you guys at XXX-XXXX.

"Looks like you're set for the day." Void Cowboy commented from over my shoulder. "Good luck today, mule."

Mentally dismissing the clone back into mud that (thankfully) faded away from existence, I got up to do the {Training Regimen}.

+Status Recovery!

+5SP!

+Random Gift!

-:|Random Gift: Flying Carpet|:-

This is a intricately woven carpet that has been enchanted to fly and is capable of carrying up to four people at a maximum of 200MPH.

Damnit. No Gate Key.

Aisha Laborn

It's almost sad how long since it'd been that I was this eager to leave the house, even if I lived with just Brian now that he'd quit the Undersiders. "Brian! I'm going out!"

"To where?" Brian called out just as he stepped out of one of the rooms in the back.

"My hero called and invited me to go shopping with me and his friend." I grinned as I showed off our recent chat. "Wanna come with?"

I almost expected him to refuse, my brother still pondering on whether to shack up with the Protectorate or not. Not that I blamed him. I wanted to be away from Celia as much as he did, and getting government-sponsored aid would help a lot in him getting custody of me. Brian was often too focused on what needed to be done that he ignored everything else.

But I'd apparently underestimated just how much he wanted to meet Greg when Brian immediately offered to drive me there.

Giving him the address, I hopped into his car and hummed an anime tune from one of Greg's Asian cartoons along the way. When we reached the mall's parking lot, I was already perking up at the sight of them and leaving the car as soon as Brian parked.

While Sparky still looked so androgynous as ever despite Greg confirming her to identify as female, Greg himself now looked slightly less recognizable due to how... attractive he looked. "Greg? Do you have the right to look that hot?"

Greg blinked with honest confusion in his eyes before turning towards Sparky. "Do I really look that hot? From a girl's perspective?"

Sparky had the audacity to shrug, as if her best friend wasn't the same model I'd gawked at after seeing his face on a magazine. "You look no different to me."

"So you must be Greg, then." Brian stepped forward, extending his hand for a shake. "I'm Brian, Aisha's brother. I've been wanting to personally thank you for saving her from those Empire goons for a while now."

"No prob." Greg cheerily accepted Brian's hand, shaking it. "Fuck the Nazis."

"Fuck 'em." Brian smiled in agreement. "If you ever need anything, just give me a call, okay?"

"What's next, bro?" I teased. "Gonna give him an awkward manly hug?"

"Haha." Brian responded with a roll of his eyes as he stepped back. "So you're all really just going shopping?"

"Just for a bit." Greg shrugged. "I'm planning to go catch Parian's show in the afternoon."

"I'm off to find a suitable spot for a superhero lair." Sparky added, rolling her eyes at the surprised looks we all sent her. "Even superheroes can have lairs."

"...I'll trust in your judgement, then." Greg hummed after giving it some thought. "Are you coming along, Brian?"

"...no, I can leave Aisha with you guys." Brian turned about and gave me a serious stare. "Just be sure to call me if something happens."

I gallantly resisted the urge to roll my eyes and instead waved him off. At this point, Greg was probably a lot stronger than Grue so calling him would be useless if they ran into a criminal or villain that Greg couldn't handle.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

...how strong was Greg again now? "Greg, what level are you?"

"27." Greg easily answered. And Aisha had no idea if that was a strong or weak number.

"Is... that strong?"

Greg looked back at me before casting a wary gaze around. Satisfied that nobody else was currently in the parking lot with us, he reached for the nearest car's bumper and got me to drop my jaw when he lifted up the vehicle by it's bumper, easily dragging it along with a single hand until he reached an empty spot a few steps away. "How's that for strong?"

"Aim to match Alexandria." Sparky dared. "You have no theoretical limit, after all."

"True, but I'd need to actually fight enemies for that EXP gain." Greg replied. "Maybe if I fight some villain higher-ups instead of just monsters, I'll get more EXP."

Greg's smile turned particularly dark for a beat. "Or maybe even an Endbringer."

Both Sparky and I lashed out to smack his bicep in unison, wincing at how my fingers throbbed at the impact. Damn, those muscles were tough! ""Don't joke about that!""

"..sorry."

Greg Veder

-:|Inventory|:-

Cellphone x3

Common Knife x1

Designer Brand Clothes x12

Fried Rice and BBQ Dish x3

Gaming Console x1

Grilled Chicken x3

Headphones x3

Parfait x6

Scarves x2

Stir-fry Spaghetti Dish x3

Wallet x1

Water Bottle x4

Gale-Force Reading Glasses x1

Flying Carpet x1

Light Pen x1

Return Runestone x1

"And this doesn't even cover the movies." I sighed as I looked over the copious amount of items in my Inventory, it being shamelessly taken advantage of along with my money by Sparky and Aisha.

There was a brief moment when I'd wondered if I was actually on a date, but I had to be realistic. If that had been a date, either of them would've let me know. Or maybe even give me a classic kiss on the cheek or something.

So that was just an outing between friends. Even if Aisha had gotten extra clingy whenever random girls stared too long at me. Even if Sparky had actually deigned to wear a pretty flattering sundress for the rest of the day after she'd asked my opinion on it.

Just an outing between friends.

Now off to Parian!

Sabah - Parian

I smiled in satisfaction at another show well done, the many spectators cheering while depositing donations into various depositories I'd set up in advance. Then I saw him, calmly approaching me while the crowd slowly dispersed. Black jeans and hoodie, capped with a hockey mask.

"...I have no idea who you're supposed to be." I nervously admitted, which thankfully just amused him if his chuckle was anything to go by.

"Yeah, that's fair." He sounded young, a teenager perhaps? "I'm... new and I was wondering if you took commissions?"

"...a commission for what exactly?"

"Superhero costumes! I had some designs earlier, but both my friends called them trash and made me delete them! Seriously! Which is why I'd like to pay you to for your expertise in crafting costumes for me!" The boy gushed, pausing to breathe. "Of course, I'm totally willing to pay. Name it, and I'll give you the cash straight up."

"Just to be clear, this isn't an attempt to recruit me?" I immediately regretted my words, cringing at how paranoid they sounded. Still, this was a reasonable worry I'd been dealing with for a while now.

"Huh? Why?" The boy at least sounded genuinely puzzled. "I'm a fan of your shows and I actually appreciate your efforts brightening up the gloomy days of this city."

Oh, he was a fan. Well, at least he wasn't offering a creepy team-up or something. "Okay, then. How much exactly are you willing to pay?"

"I've got about $5,000 cash on me right now, as a starting fee." The boy casually replied, causing my jaw drop when he raised his palm and caused a wad of cash to appear on it with a flash of electricity. "Finish my commission, and I'll add in $15,000."

"Wh-Who the hell are you?!" I exclaimed in shock. Had he robbed some bank or gangs to get this?! Or was he an extremely rich civilian? No, he'd probably have better contacts than me if he were the latter... And I did need the money, especially with the Empire cracking down more on me and scaring away some of my usual customers... "Tell me-"

"Well, what do we have here?" A deep growl resounded, interrupting me and causing the both of us to regard the Empire capes that had just showed up. Hookwolf, accompanied by Cricket and Alabaster, giving us both a menacing smirk as they strutted towards us. "Parian... and some Jason wannabe?"

"Parian, will you be able to get the civilians to safety while I deal with these three?" Putting the money away with another electrical crackle, the boy stepped forward so that he was the sole barrier between them and me.

"...if you can handle them." I carefully replied, relaxing a little when he sent a thumbs up over his back.

"You think you can handle all of us, baby cape?" Alabaster scoffed.

"You overestimate yourselves." That calm rebuttal was immediately followed by a sudden burst of ice that immediately engulfed all three of them in an instant. My jaw didn't have time to even drop before Hookwolf bursted free in a whirring frenzy of ice and steel spires.

"Heed your own words, hoodie brat!" Hookwolf roared before he slammed his claws against the boy's raised hand, only for a chunk of ice to burst free and smash into Hookwolf's limb, knocking it off-course. A second later, the boy's kick smashed into Hookwolf's jaw and sent him flying several meters back, skidding heavily across the ground until he came to a groaning stop.

"And next up-" The boy turned towards a particular spot in the ice just as Alabaster broke free. "You."

"You dirty-" Alabaster didn't even get to speak anymore when all of the surrounding ice burst into floating pieces, inadvertently freeing a gasping and choking Cricket. I immediately flung some threads to tie up her limbs just as the boy made a crushing motion with his hand, turning Alabaster into a miniature planetoid as all of the ice chunks chose him as the strongest gravitational force around.

Lethal move for a newbie, but one I ultimately deemed necessary if what I knew about Alabaster's power was correct. Sure enough, the marble-skinned man soon punched himself free with a roar.

"Is that the best you got?!"

"...no." Turning his head to regard Hookwolf as he was getting back up, the boy gestured towards him and flipped him off. This immediately Hookwolf into an angered charge, his claws gouging sparks along the way as the boy turned back to Alabaster. "Let's check your pain tolerance."

"Huh-" Alabaster muttered before the ice chunks rose up to cling to his waist before flinging him towards the charging murder blender. A second later, Hookwolf didn't stop quickly enough before Alabaster became almost shredded in half, blood splattering allover the two as the latter screamed in tortured pain.

I almost winced in pity before remembering the scumbags these two were. And to make this better, sirens began to fill the air. One of the civilians I'd herded away must've called the PRT.

"SHIT!" Hookwolf roared before sending a nasty glare towards the boy, who responded again with a raised middle finger I almost giggled at. "Cricket, I'll bust you out later! You're dead, hoodie brat! I'm gonna fucking kill you later!"

"You overestimate yourself." The boy simply replied, his repeated words earning a murderous snarl before Hookwolf bounded off with Alabaster in tow. Staring them down until they were out of sight, the boy towards Cricket and I, ice chunks flattening and wrapping around the former's bound hands and legs as he approached us. "You think I should go after them?"

"A-After what you just did?!" I exclaimed at the cape who just singlehandedly trashed three of the Empire's capes. "You just beat all of them so easily! Are you really some newbie?!"

"Well... I've been fighting much stronger opponents recently." The boy admitted sheepishly, giving Cricket a dismissive glare. "Much stronger. I was almost shocked that my kick back then might've blown Hookwolf's head off."

"Heh... Well, the PRT's gonna want a statement." I smiled briefly, even if I'd have to deal with even them trying to recruit me again. Seeing those nazi assholes getting absolutely beaten for once must've put me in a better mood than I thought. After they'd been hounding me and harassing my customers, it really felt nice to witness them humbled so thoroughly. "Come on."

Greg Veder

+6,190EXP!

+3,190EXP!

+6,090EXP!

+New Quirk(s)!

-:|Scalemail|:-

This allows you to reversibly form iron scales that are reminiscent of a dragon's throughout part of (or the entirety of) your body, dramatically increasing your defensive capabilities against physical harm and extreme temperatures. However, the scales will break off relatively easily after suffering sufficiently strong impacts.

-:|Earphone Jack|:-

This allows you to reversibly form long and controllable earlobes that work like headphone cables, being shaped like jacks at their ends that allow you to plug them into a variety of objects. The earlobes can further channel the vibrations of your own heartbeats, dealing internal damage to said objects. Moreover, faint sounds can be caught through the jacks even across extremely thick walls, making it excellent for scouting work as well.

-:|Rewind|:-

This allows you to reverse living beings back to a previous state, undoing or bringing back injuries or modifications from the present or the past. It is even capable of reverting people back to a point before they even existed, effectively erasing them from existence. Normally requiring the accumulation of a yet unknown element in order to be activated, this can instead be fueled by your NRG.

Ignoring my new Quirks for the moment(especially that terrifying last one), I gave my full attention to the PRT squad moving in to secure the area. A pair of troopers came forward and took away the bound Cricket before Miss Militia herself stepped forward with a notepad in her hands, her expression composed but scrutinizing. She was dressed in her signature dark green hijab and military fatigues, her ever-shifting weapon currently resting in a holster at her hip. "Hey, Miss Militia. Big fan."

"Appreciated." Miss Militia replied, clearly appraising me, Parian and then the subdued Cricket as she was loaded into one of the vehicles. "Was this an unprecedented team-up?"

"Barely." Parian gestured towards me. "Hookwolf and Alabaster were here too, and this guy took down all three of them by himself."

Miss Militia gave the frozen over surroundings another lookover before giving me much greater scrutiny. "Really?"

"Taking down Nazis is an American duty." I smoothly replied, keeping myself from gushing and being so... Greg in front of this superheroine. "You can call me... Cryomancer, by the way."

Better to get ahead of whatever name the Protectorate was going to try and slap me with. Parian and Miss Militia nodded in acceptance of my new cape name, the latter jotting it down on her notepad.

"Can you tell me why you were meeting with Parian today?" Miss Militia asked.

"I wanted to commission her for a costume." I gestured at myself. "As you can see, my beta outfit is immensely inadequate. I have no idea where her shop is so I was willing to wait until right after one of her shows. Unfortunately, it seemed that those three were waiting for her as well. Fortunately for Parian, I was here first."

"I see." Miss Militia noted that down as well. "May I ask about your powers?"

Right, for the Cryomancer image I was about to cultivate. "As the name implies, I can create and manipulate ice into many forms. Along with some enhanced physical prowess."

"What's the maximum amount of ice you can create or control?"

I beamed, even if she couldn't see it. "I haven't reached it yet. It's just a hunch, but I could probably freeze this entire city block and more."

Briefly pausing in her writing, Miss Militia hummed in consideration before coming to a decision. "I'd like to discuss your future."

"Ah, is this is the part where you try to recruit me?" I feigned realization.

"Yes. Yes, it is." Miss Militia, being totally awesome, didn't even pretend to deny it. "You are young, but clearly very capable and powerful. On top of being able to push back two of the Empire Eighty-Eight's most dangerous parahumans by yourself, you also subdued one of their high-ranking members, all without injury to yourself or any civilians."

Wow. It sounded like she was buttering me up, but the matter-of-fact tone Miss Militia spoke with just made it a lot more genuine than I would've expected it to be.

"Have you considered joining the Wards? Costumes are a part of the deal, along with access to training, resources, and legal protection. You'd be working with professionals, not against them." Miss Militia continued with her pitch. "Your actions today have surely earned you the enmity of the Empire Eighty-Eight. With the Wards, you would have adequate backup against them."

"And what if I said no?" I replied firmly. "What if I told you that I can actually handle them all by myself?"

"I'd call you arrogant, but accept your refusal." She said without hesitation. "I'm not here to force you. But the offer remains open."

I considered her for a moment. I planned on staying independent, but my rapidly growing ideas for the 'Cryomancer' persona needed him as a Lawful type to match Void Cowboy's Chaotic Good. Best to show her that 'Cryomancer' would consider her words at least. "I'll keep that in mind."

Miss Militia extended a small card, which I took and put into my pocket. The moment it was out of sight, I immediately Inventoried it just in case they had tracking bugs on it. One could never be too safe with governmental types...

Nodding in acceptance, Miss Militia me one last assessing look before stepping back. "Good luck, Cryomancer. Good day to you, Parian."

Miss Militia turned back and signaled the PRT soldiers to withdraw, me sighing as they left. "So..."

Parian chuckled wryly. "So, let's talk about your costume. Follow me."

Greg Veder(Double) - Void Cowboy

The city stretched out before me, bathed in amber sunlight and the chaotic hum of distant traffic as I stood on one of the many rooftops. It really shouldn't be understated how convenient {Warp Gate} was. With the power to create portals to wherever I wanted, distance was now an utter joke... as long as I had a set destination.

"Hey!"

I blinked and turned to my side as a streak of white and gold came to a stop just out of reach, Glory Girl herself hovering there. Even in some sort of combat stance, she was still that amazing mix of gorgeous and-

-:|Alert!|:-

An unknown mental status effect has been repelled due to {Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing} and {Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Power}!

-: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 Power:-

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 direct effects on you to a negligible threshold. This trait is automatically imbued into any impromptu defenses you can manifest.

'Intrusive substances'... While I marveled at the fact that the System, or perhaps my Perks themselves, apparently protected me from ever getting Mastered, why did Glory Girl have a Master power? Was it a power that she didn't want getting out? If so, I didn't blame her. Just like Taylor with the Butcher and me with Lung, any heroic Master would unfortunately be compared to the likes of Heartbreaker.

"So, who the hell are you?" Glory Girl demanded as she landed before me. "And what're you doing here skulking on some roof?"

"Void Cowboy." I smiled when her eyes widened in recognition. "New in the cape business and not sure where to start."

"...holy shit, this is real. Void fucking Cowboy actually got powers." Glory Girl muttered as she pressed her palm against her forehead. "So why the roof?"

"Just watching from above." I answered. "Gotta see what I'm getting into before teleporting straight into it."

That actually seemed to stun her. "Huh. That's... actually pretty smart."

I pretended to be offended. "Oi. I'm chaotic good, not chaotic stupid."

"Are you sure?" Glory Girl raised an unimpressed brow, giving me an appraising look. "Is this costume the best you could do?"

"It's currently in progress, but I couldn't help myself." I shrugged, wondering if my smile was obvious to her behind my mask. "I just had to get out there, you know?"

Surprisingly, Glory Girl nodded in understanding. "Yeah. If you can really teleport, I understand the feeling. As a fellow Mover. It's almost addictive to constantly know that you're no longer gravity's bitch."

Oh? So that was unassisted flight felt like?

Glory Girl studied me for a moment, then gestured toward the city. "You got a route you patrol, or are you just aimlessly rooftop-hopping?"

"Totally the second one." I honestly replied. "I'll let you know if the first one ever comes to pass."

"You better." Glory Girl asserted. "Maybe if you're serious about doing this and getting a feel for real hero work, you'll stop trolling us so badly."

"No promises." I immediately countered. "I've always spoke nothing but the hidden truth!"

"Bullshit!" Even as she said that, Glory Girl was grinning as she lifted off into the air. "One last thing. If you can really teleport, you up for a little race?"

"Bet." I quickly stepped towards the railing. "Where's our finish line?"

"Hmm... Medhall roof, as long as you're not teleporting straight to there." Glory Girl decided.

"Too boring." I turned around and leapt backwards over the edge, enjoying the gobsmacked look on her face before darkness swallowed me and spit out a bit farther away from her, whooping loudly as I controlled my 'fall' through varyingly angled portals, even posing at Glory Girl the one time I briefly next to her midair as she chased after me. "C'mon, Glory Girl! Keep up!"

"Oh, them's fighting words!" Glory Girl noticeably sped up, leaving a glowing trail while I rapidly warped after her. Then just as Medhall actually came into view...

My shoes touched down a second after Glory Girl nearly broke the sound barrier and barely prevented herself from smashing through the roof, dragging her boots across it for a long while she slowed down.

"Damn, that was awesome! See you on the PHO... or the streets, whichever comes first." Glory Girl waved me goodbye as she lifted up once more, soon vanishing into the metropolitan skyline.

Isla Wright - 'Sparky'

I stared down at the map of Brockton Bay in my phone, looking over the digital cartography of the metropolitan medley caught between debilitation and obstinacy. For every spot that still had significant affluence, there were at least five abandoned districts that were filled with either the homeless or gang members.

If I was going to establish a base of operations for Greg and I, I needed to be smart about it. Greg was essentially letting me be his tactician, leaving all of the planning to me. This... 'System' had accelerated the timetable for my own plans, but this was actually a good mishap. Not only did this fix a lot of issues I'd worried about Greg's safety regarding Zion's eventual breaking point, but it also allowed me to focus more on actually making our home city a place actually worth living in.

(The upcoming aftermath of the- If the others actually learnt of Zion's current state-)

Our future HQ had to be secure and practical, a place where we could both operate without drawing attention but still move freely. Greg couldn't do that from his own home, not with his foster mother. And my own home with my parents were no good either.

"So where to?" The interloper- "Her name's Aisha, Sparky. Don't be mean." -spoke up again, as if she hadn't asked those exact words five times now in the past twelve minutes.

Insecurity had used to be my life. Neither me nor my parents ever figured out why I could never trust my own judgement. For some reason, I could never make any decision that would affect myself or speak up to assert myself against others.

My judgement was permanently flawed, and suddenly gaining the ability to see the future amongst other powers hadn't changed that. I'd never had any powers back when I'd first started using tarot cards. I would simply just lay them out, pick one and would try to see how it fit the situation. Of course, my readings were rarely correct.

At least until I'd met Greg. Out of the twenty futures I'd seen regarding him, only six of them had come true so far but he'd never doubted any of my warnings for some reason.

(I studiously ignored the fact that he'd basically looked after me, refusing to leave me alone during my depression under the belief that I'd needed somebody never leaving my side. He was totally right of course, but seriously.)

And for that... for being my first friend, I owed him everything.

Including, unfortunately, tolerating Aisha Laborn's intrusion into our duo.

"...we have multiple choices with multiple drawbacks." I finally deigned her, handing her my notes while I kept my phone. I'd already memorized it all in case anything happened to them. "We can't use the docks because that's where Greg's mother works. Downtown is also no good as its too close to the busy activities of the city, making it too likely to be discovered sooner rather than later. The trainyard's got lots of hidden spaces and usable train cars I could repurpose, but there's also a lot of homeless over there that will do anything as long as they believe the reward to be worth it."

"So that leaves..." Aisha ruffled through the notes, frowning at the last spot. "The old boat graveyard?"

I nodded in confirmation. It was a bundle of imperiled boats and damaged docks, utterly isolated with very few willing to enter into the great wreckage willingly. The reason why was actually a disadvantage of its own due to it's unstable structures making it too unstable for anybody to consider building anything worthwhile there.

Unless they were us. No gang activity, no squatters, no unwanted attention. It was the kind of place people forgot existed, which made it the perfect hiding spot. "That's our best possible spot for the lair. Follow me."

I ducked down an alleyway with Aisha keeping close, uncaring of the group of thugs in our way. It certainly wasn't a surprise when they moved to block our path.

"Woah. On a hurry, girls?" One of the thugs, still in clothing that signified him as an ABB remnant, smirked at our apparently defenseless selves. He quickly thought otherwise when sand began to waft off Aisha's transforming arms and I pulled out a stack of cards that glowed as they levitated into a halo around me. "...nope."

I smiled as all four gangsters immediately did an about-turn in unison.

"What the hell? Sensible thugs?" Aisha muttered as her arms reformed back from the sand while I returned my cards back into the holder on my hip. "Weaver's thrashing of the ABB must've knocked some braincells into place."

"The ABB only now possesses a single cape, and she has neither Lung's brutal charisma nor Oni Lee's ruthless efficiency." I explained as I motioned for her to keep following me. "They are aware that they're dying out, and desperation will soon set in."

And the city's streets would once more be stained with the blood of powerless civilians. We needed to be ready. Finally reaching the boat graveyard after a couple of more minutes, I regarded the dumping ground for derelict ships and half-sunken wrecks. There was potential here; some of the abandoned boats could serve as secure hideouts, places no one would think to check.

I took a step forward-

Water smashed into the coastline and turned the ruined boats into something almost beyond ruin itself. Too powerful to be regular waves, too focused to be a regular tsunami, all at the behest of something large and reptilian.

-and immediately sighed in frustration. Damnit, Leviathan! How long did I have?

"What's wrong?" Aisha immediately cottoned on.

"...Leviathan attack." I answered. "I don't know exactly when... but this year, at minimum."

"Fuck!" Aisha was a lot less composed in controlling herself, kicking at a stone that noisily echoed after flying off into the distance. "So what now?"

"...it changes nothing." I decided. "Greg wouldn't have made that Endbringer comment earlier without basis, so I'm sure that he'll soon reach a point where he can actually drive it off. Meanwhile, I'll focus on prepping our lair to defend against incoming waves along with everything else."

It was all already structurally unsound, so this wouldn't really change much. So on top of my plans to make it all waterproof, fireproof, bulletproof, explosion-proof, acid-proof, decay-proof... I now had to make it Leviathan-proof.

You know what? Fine. I might as well make it totally Endbringer-proof. Did Greg think he was the only one with years' worth of bottled-up spite? I just hid mine better. "Watch your step and follow me."

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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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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 7: Guild 2.2

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Sunday, April 17 2011

Isla Wright - 'Sparky'

Aisha and I stood right before the wrenched open door leading to the insides of one of the large ships, the nauseating mixed scent of rust and seawater curbing our enthusiasm.

"Hey, do we really have to go in there without masks or something?" Aisha questioned as she flashed her new phone's torchlight deep into the corroded staircase leading inwards.

"The sooner, the better. We'll at least keep clear of collapsed or sunken areas." Stepping forward, I carefully led the way inside and surveyed it all. As expected, the ship's insides were just as bad as it's outside, the walls damp and rusting while our footsteps echoed hauntingly. Furthermore, Aisha's curious clicking of the light switches alerted me that those would be just as unreliable when her actions didn't result in even the tiniest flicker.

So far, the obvious damage was clear: seawater moisture to almost every metal in sight and faulty electronics due to years of neglect and disrepair. However, the ship's vast storage area proved it's integrity to be as viable as it was built for, having survived the damage that the rest of the ship had suffered. The structure within was intact, the air free of the ambient salt I'd been inhaling so far.

On top of being certifiably insulated against the elements and being a secure hideaway, this space could also serve as a a dedicated workshop area. Maybe even a new living spot, if I was going to use this place for anything other than future Tinkering.

"...so, this is a good spot, right?" Aisha asked when she saw my grin.

I nodded in confirmation. "It's above adequate, which is a lot more than I'd expected from the first ship we'd check."

That didn't mean we wouldn't check at least three more today, though.

"Now, lets go find the security room."

Monday, April 18 2011

Greg Veder

Another day at Winslow, usually made bearable with Sparky's company. Now it was a lot better with both her and now Aisha's company. My confidence-filled walk through the school halls certainly drew attention.

Or maybe it was my new looks. Just as twice at the mall, I received many looks due to my appearance being a lot more pronounced after a weekend of rapid physical adjustment. Thankfully, I wasn't getting any more physically buff, but I'd soon noted something about my appearance after Mum had pointed out my teeth no longer needing braces.

I had unfortunately been preparing to use them down the line, but Mum's surprise check of my gums had gotten the both of us dumbfounded at my perfect jawline.

-:|Perk(s)|:-

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

Not only did my Perks require zero NRG to work, but the passives were always functional no matter what. I knew for a fact that I was still eating as unhealthily as ever, so if I were to combine the passive of automatically cleansing my body of all... well, 'bad stuff' with my C-ranked VIT, which clearly represented my vitality (a.k.a. my physical constitution that apparently didn't represent just my durability but also my health as well), and I'd essentially killed any reason for me to ever be taken to a hospital again.

My pale skin? I was that perfect shade of cream now. My peanut allergy? So that's how those death traps taste when they're not trying to choke me into unconsciousness... Drugs counted as poisons, right? Well, way to kill off my past worries of Merchants bothering me long after they were already gone.

Wait, did it consider aging a 'disease'? At what point would I reach my peak physical age, only for this Perk to keep me there? Wolverine was a live example of a person's regenerative capabilities beating back even the inevitability of time itself. And to make things worse, I couldn't even stop raising that stat.

As my fighting style was mage style with physical brawling as a secondary, I refused to fall into the 'squishy mage' archetype.

"Did Veder get plastic surgery or something?"

"No way. That nerd ain't even loaded enough for that."

"Bullshit! Look at the clothes he's wearing! I saw those in that new magazine!"

Coming back to reality, I almost snorted at the whispers. Sure my clothes were really the ones I'd been paid as an impromptu model, but I wonder which one of those closeminded popular posses would ever figure it out.

Some pretty girls had even stopped to outright gawk at me, one of them's jaw slightly dropped. When I locked gazes with them, they'd snapped out of it and rushed off, whispering harshly amongst themselves.

Hell, even the teachers were staring!

...I probably should have been concerned about being outed as a cape with such a drastic change, but I decided that it was fine. We teenagers were a close-minded lot when it came to things we didn't like, and that included me.

As long as I did nothing overt, they couldn't prove anything.

Elizabeth Halsey, Winslow High Teacher

"...so, is there a reason I got dragged here?"

Being seated in the staff room with a fresh cup of coffee in my hands, I glumly regarded the two other teachers sitting opposite to me.

"...Gregory Veder." Quinlan muttered after taking a sip from his own cup. "As the teacher that's closest to the students, what are your thoughts on him, Hasley?"

"The new teenage cape?" I blinked as the two teachers twitched. Hadn't it been obvious since the geek(?) almost fought back Sophia Hess? That black sociopath was a violent athlete (on top of her other livelihood) and should've thrashed Veder back on Friday, but the geek had held his ground and would've probably won had one of the jocks not interfered. "Well, it's not like he's Hebert. He's still unaffiliated and keeping to his usual social circles. Of course, I wonder how that'll last the moment the students realize that he was the model who posed with Yoo Soo-Hyun on the latest fashion magazine."

And hadn't that been a shock to realize? I'd heard of capes changing physically due to certain trigger events, but none as drastic (or ideal) as this. Attractive capes tended to already be attractive before they got Triggered in the first place. That boy probably didn't even realize how he looked now, given his confused stares at the many girls appreciating him.

"This is serious, Halsey." Quinlan growled, frowning at his own cup like it had personally offended him before spiking it with something from a flask. "Along with Hebert, we now have two obvious capes rushing freely in the school. And due to Barnes and Hess getting transferred, it's just Clements now against two former 'victims'."

Oh, so they knew about Clements? It had taken me a while to notice myself.

"We know that Taylor joined the Teeth, but what about Gregory?" Knott asked, her tone filled with worry. "Do you think he will be recruited?"

"Of course he will. Blond hair and blue eyes with that figure of his? He ticks off all the boxes of their 'superior race'." I shot back, forcing down the pity I felt rising for him. "The Empire are pretty desperate at the moment."

Especially after Hookwolf, Alabaster and Cricket were mentioned on PHO to have gotten thrashed by a single newbie cape going by 'Cryomancer'. Unfortunately, there were no pictures or videos taken but Parian herself had confirmed it, having been there herself. If only I'd been there with a camera of my own...

"Considering what I know about Veder, he might just start his own clique." Quinlan muttered, half tipsy half serious. "It makes sense in a weird and vengeful sort of way. 'Why would I shack up with people who didn't save me when I was nothing, but now want me because I have something to give them?' That boy would definitely choose such a path."

That... was a scary thought. Despite what most people believed, Veder had something I had noticed many teenagers in this school to lack: obnoxious social skill. Before recently, Veder would essentially throw his lot towards any social clique that fitted his fancy at the moment, regardless of their affiliations(unless they were teenage gangsters of course).

It had yielded nothing back when Veder was a social nonentity, but if he kept at it while possessing the appearance of a model and the likelihood of being a parahuman... "He might actually start a new clique completely by accident..."

I immediately came to a realization. "We need a fall guy to throw at them. Just in case they need a target amongst the staff."

"Agreed." Quinlan nodded before taking another deep sip of his alcohol coffee. "Let's feed them Gladly."

Knott blinked at Quinlan's choice of words, especially when I laughed at the NatGeo imagery they evoked. "Wait, why are you saying that like we're throwing raw meat at a pair of lions or something?"

Quinlan blinked in almost honest confusion. "What's the difference?"

Chrissie - Vex

So this was Nerdy Kid 2.0? Well, I was almost impressed at his now handsome mug.

Especially when he actually kept to himself after Taylor invited him and his friends to our table. While 'Sparky' had introduced himself(or herself? I wasn't quite sure) as such without elaborating, Aisha had immediately presented herself with enough extrovertedness to carry her trio.

Absolutely none of this hid how clingy the two were being to Greg himself. It was even more hilarious when I soon realized that he didn't even know, still pining after Taylor but thankfully respecting that the better partner had won her first, given that he'd shown nothing more than a brief flash of sadness at the sight of them kissing rather than any envy or disgust.

But Greg had made Taylor a lot happier, reuniting her with a desired relic of her past that I admittedly would barely be able to match. I had to respect that, Taylor wanting him as a friend rather than just another nerd to protect.

Especially if it was true that he'd Triggered as well. I still remembered the last time I'd provoked a freshly Triggered Winslow nerd and she'd scared the shit outta me before becoming my girlfriend.

I wasn't going to test the waters with this one, especially if he already had an E88 body count if the rumors were to be believed.

...but when would it be okay to ask what his power was? Depending on it, the Teeth could use the bolstering with all of the fresh meat we now had to look after.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Sparky suddenly asked me, thumbing away from the others. Noting Greg's puzzled expression, I decided that it was probably something connected to him and decided to humor them.

"The fuck you want?" I spoke up after we were now against the wall, far away enough that our voices wouldn't carry over to them.

"This isn't an application that I particularly like, but it'll have to do." Sparky muttered before giving me a serene smile. "[Become mine.]"

I suddenly shuddered under this most wonderful feeling, feeling a floating sensation as if every thought and worry in me was being wiped away gently. For a moment, I leaned against that feeling immensely relaxed, only dimly aware of Sparky's smile.

"[Answer me honestly: What are Taylor Hebert's intentions with Greg?]"

"She wants him as a friend or something..." I replied obediently. "Greg's a unique case for her... After all of the stuff she's gone through, he's the one person who gave her something good that wouldn't have needed her to become the Butcher..."

"[I see. All of [Queen Administrator]'s recent fortune ties into assimilating [Amalgam]...]" Sparky hummed to herself. "[But [Path to Solution] represents an alternate path she thought she'd forever lost.]"

Sparky scoffed. "[She's nostalgic... but with someone who isn't her's to covet.]"

"Queen Administrator...?"

"[Ah. Don't worry about that. Those Shard names tend to slip out if I'm not paying attention while talking like this.]" Sparky sighed. "[If there's nothing else, then forget that this conversation ever happened. If anybody asks, tell them I was asking regarding Greg's safety from the Teeth. You guys used to bully us, too, after all. Oh, and you were not Mastered. Understood?]"

"Understood..." The pleasant feeling suddenly vanished as Sparky turned and left, smoothly placing themself down next to Greg again. Shrugging, I returned back to sit with Taylor.

"What happened?" Taylor immediately asked.

"The obvious: Sparky was worried why the Teeth's boss has taken such a blatant interest in their best friend, especially with how we used to be with the losers before." I replied, throwing my arm over her shoulder. "What'd I tell you? If it's weird enough that his best friend's gotta ask about it from me of all people, then all kinds of reactions are gonna pop up. You've got to make a decision about whether he's gonna be wearing our colors or not soon enough."

And that was if the blue-eyed blond potential cape didn't get snatched up or snuffed by those skinhead bastards.

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Topic: Busy Freaking Sunday!

In: Boards Places America Brockton Bay

Nakyak (Original Poster) (Cape Geek)

Posted on April 17, 2011:

I need a moment to just gush about the new cape in Brockton Bay... that singlehandedly sent Hookwolf and Alabaster running! Oh, and Cricket got jailed, I think. I visit Parian's Sunday show and nearly witness a disaster, only for Ice Boi to give them an actual Uno Reverse!

Parian, I saw him talking to you before the Empire showed up. Do you know him?

►Parian (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

He was a fan and wanted to commission a new costume from me, only for the E88 to nearly ruin my day as they often do. Unfortunately for them, Cryomancer was there with me. If you're here, I swear, I'm gonna make your costume my best work yet for that beautiful memory of Hookwolf actually getting kicked in the face.

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

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Urgh! What the hell?! Hookwolf got his ass kicked and I missed it?! Damnit, Void! You distracted me!

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

How?! You think I wouldn't have gone straight there if I knew that was happening?! Besides you're the one who suggested that race!

►Panacea (Verified Cape) (New Wave) (Verified Badass)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

So you were the one who suggested that. You two actually made the news. Better pray that Mom doesn't take a look at this thread.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Oh, my tag turned 'Verified'. Sweet.

►GleamMachine (Verified Cape) (New Wave)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Glory Girl had to fess up who she was lighting up the afternoon skyline with. Also, congrats on actually becoming one of us after all your fake trials.

►liquidsnake

Replied on April 17, 2011:

XxVoid_CowboyxX actually got verified? This site is doomed.

►Tin_Mother (Admin)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Confirmed. XxVoid_CowboyxX has been verified. Keep it civil.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

...speak up, GstringGirl. I'm in sore need of positive encouragement! Please, comfort me!

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 17, 2011:

I have faith that you'll be a great hero, Void.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Ah, you angel! If I knew where you were or had your coordinates, I swear I'd hug you. For real.

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Aw, you're making me blush.

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

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Seriously, GstringGirl. You do the work of heroes by being this gremlin's reminder to be human.

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

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Alright, since y'all are hungry for info, here's what I've got so far:

Alias: Cryomancer. New cape, first confirmed sighting.

Powers (Observed):

Superhuman physical abilities, especially with strength and durability. A transformed Hookwolf is heavy, and this guy kicked him at least twenty meters away without any residual damage to his leg.

Generates ice that he can manipulate however he likes. Shaping and telekinetic effects, both present. Esoteric in nature as that ice was still there in that park and didn't melt in the slightest until Kid Win gave it a flamethrower treatment this afternoon.

Possibly a Thinker secondary power? He was already moving to look at Alabaster before he broke free from the initial freeze over.

Affiliation: None yet. Operated alone, but fought alongside Parian. Likely an independent.

Combat Feats: Solo'd Hookwolf, Alabaster and Cricket (Empire Eighty-Eight Capes, two of them lieutenants). Left that fight with zero injuries.

PRT Status: He apparently waited for them to pick up Cricket, so he's not particularly opposed to them or is at least willing to be somewhat cooperative. Likely to be watched closely after this.

Cryomancer's gonna be making waves because as I earlier said, Hookwolf and Alabaster are E88 lieutenants who got beat down. Add in Weaver's constant assault of the Empire, and they're taking a real beating from all this.

Kaiser's gonna react, and it's going to be soon.

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Let him come. Also, Bagrat, my secondary Thinker power is acute spatial awareness within a fifteen meter radius of myself. Makes it pretty hard to sneak up on me. But I didn't know my ice hadn't melted since. Thanks for stating that out.

►Eightball (Cape Geek)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Holy Shit!

►FestivityBeast (Cape Geek)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

He is among us!

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

A friend of mine already had an account for me prepared, with me adding the finishing touches. I've given up trying to question her precog Thinker powers.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

GAAAAAAAAASSP

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

And now I remember why I never posted anything on here before.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

BEST BUDDY!

►Weaver (Verified Cape) (Butcher XV)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Wait, you two know each other?

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

We're best friends. Practically brothers! Right, buddy?

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Fuck off.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

The Best!

►Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Clearly. Cryomancer's response is definitely not one you'd get from a stranger.

►Vista (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

I came online to see what Clockblocker was laughing and instead witness this utter chaos of a thread. E88 got humbled, and the perpetrator's acquaintated with Void Cowboy, who's now Verified. Today's been a headache.

►Kid Win (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Why did Clockblocker just fall to his knees laughing?

Edit: Nevermind.

►Battery (Verified Cape) (Protectorate ENE)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Shouldn't you three be on patrol?

►Weaver (Verified Cape) (Butcher XV)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Busted!

Cryomancer, as fellow Nazi busters, what's your next agenda? I just wanna know, so that we don't accidentally clash.

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

No plans, if I'm being honest. I was just enjoying Parian's show and was going to meet her to request a commission. It was just bad luck that Hookwolf and the others showed up then. I wanted a proper debut in actual Parianwear!

►Parian (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

I don't actually call my brand that.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Anyways, we should meet up so that we can catch up!

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Fuck off.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

And since we've both got powers now, we should have a showdown!

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Fuck off.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Winner gets bragging rights!

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

...I'm listening.

►Clockblocker (Verified Cape) (Wards ENE)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Ah, bragging rights truly are the universal bribe.

►XxVoid_CowboyxX (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Tomorrow, aka April 19th. Noon, at the deserted area north of the Train Yard, putting us far away from any civilians. You get a chance to 'try' and make me into an ice sculpture. I succeed in planting my boot in your face. Winner. Gets. Bragging Rights.

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

...you know, the funny thing is I know you're playing me.

►Cryomancer (Verified Cape)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Bring a wagon with you tomorrow. I'll need something to cart off my statue with.

►GstringGirl

Replied on April 18, 2011:

You two really might be brothers...

►Weaver (Verified Cape) (Butcher XV)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Thank fuck my schedule's free tomorrow!

►Razorpunk (Verified Cape) (Villain)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

Me too! I'll bring drinks!

►FeartheFedora (Moderator)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

...fascinating. This alone has given us a whole ten years. I shall come and watch as well.

►Tin_Mother (Admin)

Replied on April 17, 2011:

Wait, who are you?! I know all the moderators and you're not one of them.

Huh? I can't delete this? You're good.

►FeartheFedora (Moderator)

Replied on April 18, 2011:

I am beyond your level.

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

Greg Veder(Double) - Void Cowboy

I giggled dementedly as I watched more and more messages enter into the thread, the PHO descending into madness over the upcoming fight tomorrow.

"Was this really necessary?" Cryomancer called out from a few meters away, relaxing just like I was on one of Kyushu's long abandoned skyscrapers. Several meters below us, the rushing waves repeated echoed throughout the sunken city. "I mean, it's convenient that Sparky was able to easily get us a separate phone and PHO account to sell our multiple persona gig, but why were you so insistent that we pretend like this? Cryomancer is supposed to be Lawful Good."

"And you are. But we need to at least present ourselves as acquainted." I pointed out. "Parian already accepted that we're twins and is making separate costumes with just a single person's measurements, so-"

"Don't change the subject!" Cryomancer roared, ice spiking up around hm. "I'm asking why we're gonna fight tomorrow! We're doubles, you idiot! One strong hit, and one of us'll expose the other!"

...ah. "I'm sure the Original will figure something out."

"HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW! WHY WAS I STUCK BEING THE RESPONSIBLE ONE?!"

Greg Veder

"Okay, time for dungeon #3." I hyped myself up after I'd turned the portal open with the Gate Key, looking back to my surroundings.

Just like with the Teeth, I'd been directed to some other lair. Except this place was already cleaned out.

Even with numerous bloodstains already dried out...

-:|Status|:-

Name: Gregory 'Greg' Veder

Level: 27

EXP: 27,406/27,999

NRG: 270,000/270,000

Class: ?

STR: 230(C)

VIT: 245(C)

MOB: 200(C)

MAG: 200(C)

SNS: 200(C)

SP: 10

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

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

Checking on my status once more, I stepped into the portal and right before the entrance to a cyberpunk city.

A literally deserted cyberpunk city. Sand clogged my heels as I moved about to survey my surroundings. But I wouldn't try to move into the city yet.

Why?

It was due to a straight line of nine fireballs, their blue flames being the sole magical remnant of the previous dungeons I'd been taken to. In this futuristic setting, I didn't like the idea that I was likely to fight killer robots, or worse, killer cyborgs.

If I had to fight something that knew guerilla tactics or the like...

I cast a second glance at the line of blue fireballs, each flickering almost innocently. These wouldn't exist for no reason. Not after the last time I'd seen them. My sole refuge was that they weren't counting down, so there was no reason to rush towards some hidden objective.

But there was also no reason to just kick back here...

I sighed before finally trekking forward into the city, thankful that the sun was shining above me. If it was nighttime, I doubted my ability to see a sneak attack comin-

*BOOOOOOM!*

"...huh?" I blinked as I found myself back outside the city, right where I'd started with the fireballs flickering behind me. Did I just... die? There was a huge plume of burning smoke in the distance confirming my memories.

Wait, the fireballs. Turning around, I grimaced at what I saw: Out of the nine blue fireballs, one had been snuffed out.

The fireballs represented extra lives. I... I suspected that the System would be upping the difficulty with each dungeon, but to actually make one so difficult that it'd given me extra lives as a precaution?!

Just how powerful were the enemies that they could oneshot me despite my C-ranked VIT?! My flesh may have still felt soft to me, but it was still dense enough that I hadn't noticed that I'd once stepped on a nail for at least two hours, constantly mangling it until when I had to take my shoe off and pull out the nigh-unrecognizable clump of metal it had become!

"Spidey, you need to protect this place. Don't let anyone approach it."

SPIDEY UNIT-911 ONLINE.

ENACTING LAST ORDER: ELIMINATE ALL UNIDENTIFIED BEINGS WHO INVADE THE CITY.

Greg Veder

"Gaaaah!" I screamed as bullets raced after me. I warped as desperately as I could, leaving bursts of jagged ice in my wake to hopefully confuse my attackers. But they seemed to be adapting to me a lot quicker than they were supposed to-

*BLAM!*

I startled back up after a searing pain ripped through my skull, gasping heavily as the blue fireballs representing my extra lives snuffed down to seven. Even my new {Scalemail} hadn't protected me from the headshot?!

"Damn it!"

"Spidey, thanks for protecting the stronghold from the Monarchs' forces."

ENEMY POSSESSES SPATIAL RIFT GENERATION AND EXTREME THERMAL LOWERING CAPABILITIES.

CALCULATING...

REVERSING HOMING PROJECTILE FROMULA TO SEEK OUT ABNORMALLY COLD REGIONS UNDERNEATH THE SUNLIT TERRAIN.

ALTERING PROBABILITY TO MAXIMIZE PROJECTILE ACCURACY AND CONCUSSIVE FORCE.

COMMENCING FIRE.

Why were the bullets homing in on me a lot more now?! Warping didn't even help anymore! No matter where I created a portal to, the bullet would somehow know and be chasing me! All of my ice were now being shattered and blown up instead of helping me block the assault!

Fine, then! Upfront charge! Using {Explosion} to launch myself towards where I could see the attacks were coming from. Ignoring the ache in my shoulders, I warped just as I blasted off once more, dropping down right before the enemy.

The enemy being... a car-sized mix between spider and tank. Oh, great. It was a killer robot!

Homeland Security Cyberware, Sapiently Protective and Intelligent Droid Entity[Spidey]

"DIE!" I slammed my palm onto it as hard as I could, visibly denting its metal before I unleashed an explosion from my palm that obliterated the entire roof beneath us, the skyscraper collapsing from the shockwaves. Warping away, I stepped back warily as the skyscraper came down noisily, hopefully burying my enemy with it.

I sincerely hoped that Spidey was this dungeon's boss instead of some mook powerful enough to earn a designation.

"Spidey... I'm sorry. This is my end. So... will you please do me one last favor?"

RADAR SYSTEM DAMAGED.

PHYSICAL MOBILITY COMPROMISED.

SUBSTITUTING TO SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE ENEMY'S VICINITY.

PRIORITIZING REPAIRMENT.

RETURNING TO HOME BASE FOR MAINTENANCE OPERATION.

I gasped as Spidey suddenly jumped out of the rubble and rushed away into the distance. "Get back here!"

I warped until I was right above it with another explosion prepped up-

Huh? Why did my arm get lopped off? Ignoring the spider robot as it rushed away, I instead stared down the severed limb, precious crimson liquid dyeing the sandy road.

Then the pain finally hit-

''AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHH!'' The scream tore out of my throat, and my eyes widened in absolute fright while fixated on the bleeding stump that used to be my arm. Then, a sudden realization hit me like a giant stone knight. This... This wasn't a game. This had never been a game, even if I had the System.

I could still very much die in one of these dungeons. My arm is bleeding and it hurts. IT HURTS, ITHURTSITHURTSITHURTSITHURTS!

Off to my side, I stilled at the sight of blood lining an invisible wire. No, not invisible. Just very difficult to see as several of them had been set up right between me and Spidey, covering the latter's escape.

And it could've easily been my head instead of my arm.

"You bastard! You... idiot!" I chastised myself. I'd been enjoying myself too much. That's it. Carelessness. Overconfidence. Delusion. Why did I forget that... no matter how much the System was rewarding me... it's primary purpose was to cultivate me into something I didn't know of?

All of my powers... the stats, the 'Quirks', the 'Perks'... the System needed a person... a host who could carry and utilize all of that for some reason. This wasn't charity, as I was clearly enjoying the benefits. This wasn't coincidence, as Carthenon Temple had proved that it had been actively searching for a viable candidate and I'd just happened to fit the bill.

In every dungeon so far, I was clearly still capable of dying regardless. If I died, what was stopping Carthenon Temple from reappearing and restarting allover again?

"Okay, then... If the System wants to use me, then I'll use it right back." I muttered as I focused on {Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing}'s active effect, sighing in relief as the pain faded away while my missing arm rapidly grew back in a surge of flora green energy. "Nothing like likely death works best at making one sort out their personal priorities in life."

First off, I needed to get off the ground. Reaching into my Inventory, I pulled out the Flying Carpet and immediately had it fly me straight up and above the cyberpunk city's skyline.

And any camouflaged wires spread around.

"Get fucked!" I roared as ice and wind burst to life around me, the blistering currents compressing into a howling surge around my forearm while the surrounding temperature in my vicinity dropped sharply.

How could I have forgotten my creed as one who consistently chose the mage build?

When in doubt, Overkill .

I punched forward and fired the supercharged Air Blast in the direction the spider bot had fled, causing a tremendous BANG to rip through the cityscape. The attack's shockwave obliterated the struck area into a crater that spanned at least two city blocks. Additionally, it finished the job on many already-structurally-weak buildings, knocking them over as though they had been Jenga towers next to a powerful firework. Bits of steel, concrete, and glass shot away from the epicenter and crashed into other areas of the zone.

But no notification showed that I'd killed it yet. "Where are you, Spidey?!"

"Why does it resemble a spider?"

"L-L-Lord Ashborn?! Wh-What do you mean, sir?"

"Be calm. I merely wish to know why this defensive unit resembles a spider."

"Oh, well... It's to mock Monarch Querehsha's forces, since she's the sole Monarch who frequently attacks this stronghold. No matter the fact that all arthropods are under her domain, there exists one that will never obey her."

"...I see."

THE ENEMY POSSESSES AN ADDITIONAL ABILITY TO MANIPULATE AIR CURRENTS, WHICH WAS THEN USED TO COMPRESS AIR INTO A COMPACT PROJECTILE THAT UNLEASHED 4.184x1012 JOULES UPON IMPACT.

UNABLE TO MATCH THE ENEMY'S OUTPUT.

ENEMY'S THREAT LEVEL HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM [LESSER] TO [INTERMEDIATE].

HEAVY ARMS ARE UNABLE FOR USAGE.

INVENTORY: FIVE HUNDRED REGULAR BULLETS, EIGHTY MODIFIED BULLETS.

WIRE CUTTERS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED. RESUPPLY.

SUPPORT JOINTS ARE DAMAGED BEYOND ADEQUATE UTILITY. RESTORE SUPPORT.

COMMENCING MAINTENANCE OPERATION.

OPERATION COMPLETE.

MISSION RESUMPTION POSSIBLE-

THE ENEMY IS HAS LANDED BEFORE THIS UNIT.

Greg Veder

"There you are." Getting up from the crater beneath me, I glared back at Spidey as it's own glowing camera eye seemed to scan me.

Then a gatling gun propped up into position, discharging it's load just as I charged forward. Unfortunately, those bullets smashed helplessly into ice I put up between us just as I was already putting my lower half into a portal beneath my feet, Warping to right beneath Spidey as I double kicked it from below with all of my might.

The result was the spider bot being sent flying into the ceiling, smashing into it before it swiftly tore itself loose. From there, it skittered all over the building's inner space faster than I could get a lock on it.

Sadly for it, I didn't need to aim to catch it in place. {Frost} responded to my call and froze my entire surroundings, the rising surge of ice encasing the entire area and freezing Spidey's limbs in place.

INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

THE ENEMY IS ADAPTING TOO RAPIDLY-

*BOOOM!*

SEVERE DAMAGE TAKEN TO OUTER CHASIS!

Greg Veder

I growled as Spidey immediately recovered after I'd unleashed another explosion onto it, ominous tendrils of electricity arcing off it as it accelerated away while I chased it down. When it began firing its bullets at me again, I now called upon {Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Power}'s active effect, grinning from within the translucent skeletal guardian as the bullets got repelled.

"Get wrecked!" I roared as I swung my arm, the draconic avatar mimicking my movement to smash Spidey through several buildings in succession.

L-LETHAL DAMAGE RECEIVED.

OPERATIONAL LIMIT SURPASSED.

"Spidey, the Monarchs must never take this stronghold. No matter what."

PROCEEDING WITH SELF-DETONATION.

Greg Veder

Another explosive blast engulfed me. Thankfully, {Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Power} was clearly durable enough to tank it despite it's appearance. But that didn't mean that I had won yet.

I still hadn't received the notification regarding Spidey's defeat.

"Go, Spidey! Protect the stronghold! Carry out your dut- KUUAAAAARGH?!"

P-PROTECT... C-CITY...

P-P-PRIORITIZING... R-REPAIRMENT...

Greg Veder

I turned as a smoking wreck of a bot burst free from the surrounding wreckage and stared me down. Half of Spidey's body was a molten wreck now, which only made it more pitiful when it tried to shoot its guns at me but came up empty. "You're out of ammo. But I'm not."

I kicked at Spidey, unleashing a compressed blade of wind that sliced through several rubble in its way and would slashed down Spidey as well. Unfortunately, Spidey dodged my Gale Slice, unsteadily skittering away at a high speed, even if much slower than before.

"Spidey, did you know? I'll probably die if neither Lord Ashborn nor any of the other Rulers are present if Querehsha launches another attack against this stronghold. I will be buried here and be forever be part of the stronghold. Will you protect the stronghold then too?"

SECONDARY DIRECTIVE: ELIMINATE ALL UNIDENTIFIED BEINGS WHO INVADE THE CITY.

PRIMARY DIRECTIVE: PROTECT MASTER AND HIS COMRADES... EVEN LONG AFTER THEIR DEATHS.

Greg Veder

Snarling, I chased it down as it ran away, almost smashing my face into a wall when it ducked into a space small enough for it to crawl through. By the time I caught up with it,

"Spidey, this is... my last request... Protect this stronghold... I don't know how they found out, but... the Monarchs... must never get their hands on the Cup of Reincarnation..."

THIS UNIT HAS COMPLIED.

THIS UNIT HAS PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER AND ELIMINATED THE INVADERS AND PROTECTED MASTER-

Greg Veder

"Hmm? Graves?" I looked around at the cemetery that I'd followed Spidey into, noticing that it was much cleaner and cared for compared to literally everywhere else in the deserted cyberpunk city.

Spidey wasn't responding to my presence, keeping itself bowed before a particular grave off to the side. My anger that had been building up so much immediately cooled at the sight. All this time, Spidey had been protecting this place?

God, it was even in the name! And if I took his tag seriously, it was essentially a sentient robot who'd been unable to released from it's orders...

"Look, Spidey, I'm mostly sure that this place may either be real or a very good copy of another place. But I'm not really willing to possibly desecrate a grave." That always ended badly. "Would you mind moving away from it?"

I honestly hadn't expected much of an answer from it, let alone compliance. So I was honestly stumped when Spidey shakily got up and moved away from the grave.

"THIS UNIT... HAS FAILED THE CREATOR..." The robot's first ever words, something I'd mostly not be expected, reeked of so much grief in it's metallic tone.

"...no." Casting aside my caution, I reached out and patted the metal atop it's head. "I was actually sent here to replace you and let you rest. I was to battle you and prove my superiority directly against you, all for the sake of letting you rest."

It was a bold-faced lie, one I was making up as I went on. "You've held your ground for so long, but even guardians like you need to rest... "

I gave Spidey my softest smile. "Thank you for protecting this place, Spidey. You've done well."

"Thank you for protecting us again, Spidey. You've done well."

THIS UNIT HAS RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF PRIMARY DIRECTIVE'S COMPLETION.

THIS UNIT... IS GLAD...

SPIDEY UNIT-911 SHUTTING DOWN...

"Good bye, Spidey... Thank you, Shadow Monarch..."

-:|Alert!|:-

You have defeated the boss of this instant dungeon.

+184,400EXP!

+184,400 gold!

Level Up: 27 → 33

+150SP!

+New Super Move(s)!

+New Perk(s)!

-:|Status|:-

Name: Gregory 'Greg' Veder

Level: 33

EXP: 28,912/33,999

NRG: 330,000/330,000

Class: ?

STR: 230(C)

VIT: 245(C)

MOB: 200(C)

MAG: 200(C)

SNS: 200(C)

SP: 160

-:Quirks(Explosion[Explosive Speed, Stun Grenade, Howitzer Impact], AP Shot, Frost[Glacial Rampart, Cold Surf, Cryo-Telekinesis, Ice Time], Warp Gate, Whirlwind[Air Ball, Air Blast, Gale Slice, Air Pull], Double, Scalemail, Earphone Jack, Rewind):-

-:Perks(Compassionate Healer Lee Ju-Hee's Blessing, Tyrannical Helldrake Smaug's Power, Sapiently Protective and Intelligent Droid Entity[Spidey]'s Program):-

-:|Alert!|:-

The Player has reached a required Level.

A [Job Change Quest] can now be undertaken.

Oh? Another Perk? And what the hell was this 'Job Change' message? No, it could wait. There was something else that took priority, immediately warping home as I stepped through the portal.

Max Anders - Kaiser

"How troublesome do you believe him to be?"

"Troublesome enough."

I leaned back as a restrained sigh escaped my lips. "I admit, I'm surprised to learn that you were present among the civilians attending Parian's show, but your information is valuable enough to let me ignore that."

Rune, or Tammi Herren in her current guise, shifted in place, a frown marring her young features. I admired her uncommon self-restraint as she would've normally denied going to Parian's shows for the same reasons most people did. "That 'Cryomancer' guy was too dangerous."

However, this only highlighted how seriously she took this matter. "Explain. You were in a park. Along with it being a battlefield in your favor, there were also three other of our numbers present. Why did you consider him dangerous enough to not even attempt anything against him?"

"...I'm not easily scared, okay?" Tammi started off, but I noted that it sounded more like she was assuring herself more than she was assuring me. "He felt... dangerous. I'm not sure how to explain it."

Tammi fretted with her fingers, beginning to pace around. "Firstly, he's clearly powerful but he didn't show off. At all. It totally goes against the Shaker thing. You get it, right?"

Luckily for Tammi, I did get it. It wasn't a concrete fact, but all Shakers tended to 'show off' during battle. And the more powerful the Shaker, the greater the temptation to 'own' our surroundings. That was why Labyrinth existed as a warning symbol to our types: Give up too much and a Shaker would risk getting 'assimilated' by their own power in exchange for drawing out a lot more than they could handle.

Every Shaker showed off, whether to be intimidating or to strike awe. Even I wasn't exempt from that. Still... "That can't be enough."

"I know it's not. But the next bit clinches it." Tammi insisted. She then took a deep breath to steady herself. "I'm mostly sure he's an Alexandria package, except for the flight part."

I straightened up. That wasn't a term to be used lightly. "How?"

"His strength and durability were are obvious. But there was also the speed of him reacting to Hookwolf's attack right after he got out of the ice." Tammi pointed out. "He actually had the speed to reach for Hookwolf's arm and grab it, only to then change his mind and have his ice knock it away. That was reflex, and you can't gain reflexes like that with powers like his unless you're used to melee fighting. Any other Shaker without both strength and speed would've kept their damn distance."

And a Shaker's greatest weakness often tended to be their Brute-less bodies. So the idea of an Alexandria package also being a Shaker... "You did well to bring this to my attention, Rune. This 'showdown' Cryomancer is supposed to do with Void Cowboy tomorrow? I want you to spectate it as well."

"To attack afterwards or..." Tammi trailed.

"No. You're to strictly observe. The fight between them is one that both will explicitly be showing off their trump cards that allows us to make countermeasures." A restrained precaution, yet a necessary one. I sat up straight and lowered my voice to a tone sharper than any steel I could create. Theatrics aside, it helped that I truly meant every word I was about to say. "One way or another, Cryomancer will fall to the Empire. This event may have been defensive on his part, but such a thing is meaningless. Cryomancer will kneel."

It galled me to do this, but... there were times to take risks and there were times to take caution. And considering the plans I had for Butcher in a few days, insurances were needed.

I needed to make a call to Gesellschaft.

R̶o̶s̶a̶r̶i̶t̶a̶ ̶C̶i̶s̶n̶e̶r̶o̶s̶ Roberta Veder

"Mum..."

I blinked as my boy wrapped his arms around me from behind right after coming home. "Is something wrong?"

The moment I asked that, I chided myself right after I'd turned to look at him. One of his sleeves was missing at a bloodstained cut-off point as if sliced off, his skin was dirty with desert dust and he was still smelling of rusted metal. Too faint to worry me about blood, but too much for it to actually be noticeable.

"There's something I've got to tell you. Something I probably should've told you earlier." Greg took my hands and took a shuddering breath. "I have superpowers."

"Yeah, I already knew that." I almost giggled at his gobsmacked expression. Did he really think that his sudden interest in exercise and the rapid changes to his body had been unnoticeable? My Greg could be oblivious at times, but seriously. "So which are you? Ward or independent?"

I knew my son well enough that he would firmly stick to heroism. It only mattered which kind he'd choose.

"Um, independent." Greg replied, which admittedly made sense. He did value his freedom after all. "Mum, please teach me how to fight."

"No." The answer slipped out before I could stop it, but I found myself unwilling to change it. "I told you my past in confidence, Greg. I want it to stay buried."

"Mum, with everything I can now do..." Greg stepped back, meekly holding his exposed limb. A limb I was quickly suspecting had been briefly separated from him. "I can't just get stronger. I need to get better. I can't just always have my powers do the fighting as I've been doing..."

Tears began to drip down Greg's cheeks. "I can't risk dying again and never seeing you... or Sparky... or even Aisha ever again... If I'm ever caught lacking again...!"

I drew him into a hug, letting him cry into my shoulder. For a moment, I thought about my past after many years of trying to forget it. "I won't ask what has bothered you like this, but I can tell it's serious. I'll be here when you're capable of trusting me with it."

Until then, I could at least get him started with some basic forms. Just enough... that my son wouldn't needlessly stain his hands with blood as I'd done, whether his own or others'.

"N-No, I can tell you now." Greg sniffled. "It all started with me, Aisha and three E88 assholes in this crazy place with stone giants."

I would go on to learn the full context for Greg's unique Trigger Event that very night.

And in the name of Santa Maria, I would fucking kill the one responsible.

Notes:

KingVessel: Is the Job Change too early? I say, hell no! Is Greg having the Terminator Maid as his mother too much? I say, hell no! Well to be serious, the way that Solo Leveling's levels went past 200 was too weird for me so I've severely compressed the limits. Don't worry, it's not like he's going to be any weaker, though. As for Roberta, all Shadow Monarchs have at least one badass parent: Ashborn(Absolute Being), Jin-woo(Il-Hwan), Su-Ho(Jin-Woo & Hae-In) and Greg(Roberta). Lets not break the trend. :D

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Chapter 965 - 7