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The Most Dangerous Gamer by chimmon
Books » Worm Rated: M, English, Adventure, OC, Bonesaw, Siberian, Words: 431k+, Favs: 3k+, Follows: 3k+, Published: Mar 8, 2021 Updated: Feb 27, 2023
1,328Chapter 7: On the Road 1
"So what's the plan?" I sat down next to Shatterbird. Should I call her Akilah now that I was part of the team? Her reputation score was positive now. Hopefully that meant she didn't take my killing her personally. Then again, no one had actually told me her name. I'll just go with 'you' for now.
"The plan?" She looked up from the book she was reading.
"What town are we going to uhm.. 'visit' next?" Not that I wanted to do anything aside from getting as far from Jack as possible.
She smirked. "I guess Jack hasn't given you the talk yet."
"I've been asleep or with Riley since we left."
"Ah." She looked over at Jack, who was busy on the computer. "Best not to disturb him right now. Generally, we take some time off to whip the new recruits into shape. Have Bonesaw upgrade them, or Mannequin shore up any weaknesses." She shrugged. "After that, we tend to watch the news and find a fresh target."
"Oh." I thought about pressing her for more, but didn't want to appear suspicious.
What I wanted to do was grind Summoning, but I needed to be alone for that. I didn't feel like socializing with anyone but Riley. I could try improving my physical stats, but I'd need to be outside for that. I glanced over at the computer. No way Jack would give me access.
As if hearing my thought, Jack turned and beckoned me over. "Hey Killer, looking for something to do?"
I shook my head. "No. I'll go and keep Riley company."
Jack smiled. "You do that."
I went to the back of the RV, and opened the door to Riley's lab. She was doing something involving a microscope. The Siberian leaned against the wall, listening to the small child babble.
At the sound of the door closing, Riley looked my way. "Killer! Has it started to regrow yet?"
I shook my head. "No, but I think it'll be soon. Got everything prepped?"
She nodded. "I got all sorts of scanners ready. I was thinking THIS time to just observe. That's basic right? Not to fast for you?"
I waved her off. "It's fine. I don't know what else I'm going to do." Should I try opening up to her? She was... disturbed, but oddly charming. I need her help, so here it goes. "I don't really want to hang out with anyone else."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Crawler's been nice so far. Probably 'cause our powers are similar. But he's in the trailer." I almost felt bad for him, until I remembered Nancy and Tom. "Mannequin is in his lab." Probably. How did a giant white robot move so stealthily? "I killed Shatterbird and Hack Face, so talking to them feels strained."
"What about Mimi?"
"Who?"
"The pale girl? Burnscar?"
"Oh." I blinked. "I don't know where she is. Eh, I think I'd rather spend time with you."
"Really?" Riley smiled.
"Sure. I mean, I don't know anyone here, but you seem really nice so far." That 'really' might be pushing it.
* +5 reputation with Bonesaw.
Or not. "Anyways, is it cool if I just chill in here? I mean, when you're not examining me. I don't want to get in your way or on your nerves."
"That'll be fine Killer." She petted the Siberian. "Sibby usually makes sure I'm not lonely. She's a good listener, but sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself."
The zebra woman just looked at her and smiled. "I guess 'Killer' is my new cape name huh?"
"Yep! Jack came up with it!"
"I figured. You can call me Kevin."
* +5 reputation with Bonesaw.
"I can?" She stepped over and hugged me. "It's going to be so much fun having a big brother!"
Wow. How starved for affection is she? I awkwardly pat her on the back. "A-anyways, I think my fingers are starting to come back." My HP was almost full.
I sat on the floor as she strapped my arm to the table again. Riley started by looking at my hand. "I don't see anything yet. If the bone were to come in first, I should be able to notice it even without magnification." It was a little disconcerting how her voice and mannerisms changed. She was no longer the happy little bundle of energy. Instead there was an... intensity about her. It was pretty creepy.
Riley typed something on her computer, and another mechanical arm swung down from the ceiling. Instead of surgical tools, this one ended with a series of glass lens. She peered through the largest, before flipping down the next one in line. The only sound was scratching of her pencil as she furiously scribbled notes.
I think it took about an hour for the four fingers Siberian had eaten to grow back. Unfortunately, I didn't have a progress bar - only a notification when it was done. Riley pulled the arm away, stood up, and stretched. "Wow. That was pretty cool." She turned around and began typing again. "Next time I should start with trying to get a sample. Any cutting or dismemberment will either fail or have the same result as the first test. Let's see... an open and an enclosed sample container placed in the way. That might have an result. I can't get a smaller regeneration site, so no skin samples. Should check for dandruff and other natural processes that result in shed cells. Have Sibby punch the subject and monitor bruise healing."
I cleared my throat. "Hey Riley, could you let me up?"
"Huh?" She turned around, and her eyes went wide. "Oh, I'm so sorry Kevin! I got lost in thought." She giggled. "Most of my experiments don't object to laying on the table." She rushed over and undid the restraints. "Thank you so much! I can't wait to do this again!"
* +5 reputation with Bonesaw.
I shrugged. "It's no big deal. In fact, it's kinda enjoyable."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Like a doctor or your mom asking how you're doing, and really paying attention when you tell them you have a headache. That sort of thing." I paused and tried to put it into words better. I couldn't just say 'Grinding your reputation is easy and relaxing'. "It's like being the center of attention, but for a good reason. Like, being congratulated for doing something is one thing, but having someone really focusing on you is another."
"I think I understand. It's like having your creations being appreciated. You know that they're impressive if people keep talking about them!"
I wasn't sure about what 'creations' she was referencing, so I just went along with her. "Sure. Anyways, we can keep going if you want."
Her eyes went wide again. "Really? Even Mr. Jack doesn't like being in my lab when he's not unconscious."
On impulse I rubbed her head. "Really. I enjoy spending time with you." I knew that I was laying on thick, but it helped that I actually meant it. She was a really sweet and cute girl... when she wasn't murdering innocent people. I turned to the Siberian and held out my hand. "As long as you're up for it also, I wouldn't want to presume."
The zebra lady smiled at me in a way that made me both want to smile back and run screaming for the hills. As she slowly, so horrifyingly slowly, ate my fingers, I got several notifications. It was a surprising amount of reputation from both of them. We kept going until bedtime. Each round of testing (and eating) providing more and more reputation.
...
In the end, no matter what Riley tried, she couldn't get a sample of my Breaker state that was separate from me. Not that it deterred her, or damped her enthusiasm. The marathon session had lasted all day. I gained a few more points in meditation, but most of the time I spent talking to Riley. She honestly was a sweet girl. Even with her personality shifts when focusing on my physiology, I couldn't see her as Bonesaw. Sure, I'd read her bio. I knew some of the atrocities Bonesaw had committed. I didn't think my power or the PHO were lying. I also couldn't reconcile Bonesaw with Riley.
I mean, I know everyone's the hero of their own story. I also know a little of what Riley went through. But she's so... joyful? enthusiastic? optimistic? nice? I just can't see her committing those atrocities. Of course, just because I can't accept something doesn't mean it's not true. It just means my own bias is showing.
Ugh. At least I earned a substantial chunk of reputation with both her and the Siberian. I was close to finishing Riley's quest. Hopefully, I'd also given the zebra woman a good enough impression that she'd abstain from killing me. Or I might've just given her a taste for my flesh. Who knew? She was a projection, but she obviously cared for Riley. Another incompatible mental model. The cannibalistic, invincible, psychotic villain vs. Riley's attractive, caring, and kind... mother? pet? guardian?.
Even with Gamer's Mind, I was at my limit. Apparently immunity to mental effects, and continued calmness didn't help with trying to understand the nuances of people's personalities.
The RV started slowing down. "Are we stopping?" The Siberian was savoring my flesh and didn't speak. Not that she would've anyways.
Riley looked up from her computer. "Huh? Is it nighttime already? Oh, shoot!" She stamped her little foot and grabbed my un-eaten hand. "C'mon, I wanna make s'mores!"
I smiled and got up. I knew that some of her mannerisms, like the stomp, were her actively trying to be cute. It still worked. "S'mores? We can go outside?"
"Uh, huh. Mr. Jack always has us park away from anyone that would notice us."
"But the RV drives itself. Couldn't we just ride through the night?"
Riley shook her head. "Nope! Mr. Ned needs to be let out. He gets cranky otherwise."
"Mr. Ned? You mean Crawler?"
"That's right!" She pulled both the Siberian and me behind her. "I don't know if he sleeps all day, but he likes to move around at night."
"Makes sense. That trailer isn't much bigger than he is."
Outside, there was already a small fire going. Riley whispered to me. "We can't make the fire bigger. Otherwise Mimi will start to go overboard."
I think the correct word is 'crazy'. Not that I correct her. I bet Jack knows exactly how much fire it takes to perk her up, but not cause her to spiral out of control. Cheater.
*Perception check failed.
I actually have a pretty nice time. Riley enjoys the s'mores. Mimi is actually talkative, and surprisingly nice. Even Shatterbird joins in. Crawler goes off into the night with a promise not to stray far. Mannequin is... somewhere I assume. Hatchet Face doesn't socialize. He sits by himself, sharping that stupid axe.
Jack... Jack is charming and funny. He makes jokes, tells stories, and really listens to everyone else. It's scary. If I didn't know who he was... Like he was a new student or something, he'd be the most popular person at the school. He makes jokes with me about video games, and doesn't stray to any topics that might upset me. This can't just be his power. Reading people is one thing, acting on it...
*Fear condition negated by Gamer's Mind.
It's enough that Gamer's Mind steps in. Which, of course, makes me MORE afraid of him. Just, in an intellectual sense. Like Kefka in one of my favorite games from Earth Aleph. A person who should not be given any kind of power or authority. He kinda looks like him too. If Jack was rendered in 16-bit graphics and given a green coat.
As the evening ran down, he came to sit by me. "So, Killer, where do you think we should stop next?"
I glanced at him, before returning my gaze to the fire. "You're asking me? I know of Witchita Falls, and that's it. I'm not what you'd call a well-traveled person."
"Surely you know of some local capes? Someone you'd like to meet?"
"I know Eidolon, Exalt, Dispatch and Hoyden. They're the most famous." I paused to think. "I'm a fan of Soundwave."
"Oh? The guy in Dallas?"
I turned to look at Jack. "You know him? People on PHO don't talk about a lot of Texans aside from Ediolon."
"Sure. Sound manipulator. Manton limited, but still can vibrate the air close enough to most people's inner-ear for it to almost not be the case." Jack smirked. "What? Do you think we just roll into town, kick up a ruckus and take off?"
"Yes?" I mean, was this a trick question?
He let out a small laugh. "Sorry, but nope. It's a lot of work. We scout an area, and make up a list of everyone that could be called in. For your town, that meant the Dallas Protectorate." He shrugged. "And Ediolon. The guy has a grudge against the Siberian, so operating this close to him ups the ante."
I blinked. "That... makes sense. You couldn't have lasted for two decades otherwise I guess."
"Exactly!" He slaps me on the back. "We have to do our due diligence before the game can start. Too many unknowns are no good. Of course, too few won't do either. What's a game without a plot twist?"
"Boring."
"That's why when we bring in new blood, we like to let them pick the next target." He spreads his arms. "Keeps us on our toes. Keeps things from getting stale."
"So I get to choose? What if I say we crash Houston."
Jack let out a short laugh. "We still vote on it. Not that I'm saying 'no', but some of the others might not go for it."
"I see." This was an opportunity. "Can I sleep on it?"
"Take all the time you want." He stood up and brushed off his pants. "We're pretty carefree with timetables."
*A new quest has triggered: Choose Your Own Adventure
[Choose Your Own Adventure
Convince the Slaughterhouse Nine to go after a target you pick.
Bonus: Choose a target they would not have gone after otherwise.
Success: +3,000 exp
Bonus: +2,000 exp, increased reputation with Jack Slash]
I make of point of Observing everyone before going to bed. Well, everyone except Mannequin. No idea where that guy is. All the non-projection members have various mental debuffs, but interestingly enough they all share two: 'Driven to Conflict' and 'Memory Removal'. Well, they all share one. Shatterbird doesn't have Driven to Conflict for some reason. What's different about her? Is it that she got her powers from a strange vial?
*Your parahuman lore skill has increased by +1.
Huh. So I guess it's NOT something Jack is doing, or sharing. Memory Removal probably isn't either. I could see him doing that to other people, but not himself. Odd.
Oh, and Mimi really has it bad. Her list, just wow. It's really a shame 'cause she was actually fun to talk to tonight. Cute too.
Ugh. You'd think Gamer's Mind or Gamer's Body would help with THAT particular problem of being a teenager, but noooooo. Stupid sexy Siberian. Stupid cute pyromaniac. Stop. I need to get a grip. Either one of them would kill you in a heartbeat. The Siberian tore your arm off and chased you for three days! Burnscar wanted you to kill your mom! Granted, zebra chasing me got me tons of Dex and my arm grew back. Plus it wasn't my mom, just a meatpuppet... Stay on track. Grind rep with Riley and get far, far away.
Speaking of which, did she go to bed? I look around. The fire is dimming. Jack is talking with Shatterbird, who looks quite attentive. Mimi's energy is dying with the fire. No sign of Riley or Siberian. I guess they went to bed. I should head that way myself.
I slip into the back of the RV. Riley's lab has compacted itself, and the bedroom has returned.
*Perception check passed.
Huh? Was that a scream? I creep down the hall, and peer into the dark room.
*Stealth check passed.
The Siberian is stroking Riley's head. The little girl has changed into some pink pajamas. Her face contorts, and she lets out another small scream. The motherly projection hugs her. Riley seems to calm down some.
I.. I just can't. I don't know anymore. Why would a psychopath who dissects people for fun have nightmares and need cuddling? I turn and head towards the 'living room'. I spend the night looking out the window, summoning knives, and meditating. I get some more tired debuffs, but a short two hour nap in the early morning gets rid of them.
It was worth it.
*Your summoning skill has gained +1 level.
It took 331 knives to level up. If they are each worth 1 exp, that's 331 exp for 1 level in summoning. If they give exp at a 1 to 1 ratio to MP cost, then it comes to exactly 1000 exp, since one knife was more expensive. Considering that my character level costs are multiples of 1000 also, I'm inclined to think it's quality over quantity for grinding Perks.
I also noticed that there's a small MP drain when I keep a knife outside my inventory. If I don't pay, they shatter into pixels - which almost immediately vanish. I figured that out as I played around with stabbing myself under my t-shirt. I didn't manage to do any damage. Probably need to put some muscle behind my self-mutilation attempts. The 95.6% reduction is zeroing everything else out. I'm honestly not sure I'm currently capable of inflicting damage on myself.
In any case, time to test my new limits. 20 MP seems to be the max I can now use.
[Summoned knife
Str 90. Dex 5. Con 5.]
[Summoned knife
Str 5. Dex 90. Con 5.]
[Summoned knife
Str 10. Dex 5. Con 85.]
Can't max out Str or Dex, but I can max out Con. My Wis is lower than my Int and Per, so that makes sense.
-1 HP
The 1st one is sharp enough to hurt me, but it snaps under the strain. Going to be hard to grind damage resistance like that. Better than cluttering my inventory. Hmmm... it's early. People will probably be up soon. I go outside and stretch my legs. Is there someplace nearby that the RV can't see? I don't know what kind of Tinkertech cameras are watching me, or what limitations on that sort of thing are.
I'd like to try summoning something else, but I'm not going to risk Jack finding out. Wait, I know! I intently look for any hidden cameras.
Perception check? Hello? Pass, fail? Anything?
Shoot.
*Perception check passed.
Sweet. No. That's just Crawler. I wave at my massive teammate.
"Killer." He 'nods'. "Getting stronger?" It's not easy to read inflections in his voice, but I get a sense of eagerness.
I shake my head. "No. I spent yesterday in Riley's lab."
He scoffs. "Even if I was small enough to fit, I wouldn't go in there."
"Oh?"
"You haven't seen what she can do." His deep voice grumbles. "She can't hurt me, but I've seen what happens to the corpses of other capes." He shudders. "I'm not looking to have my nervous system overwritten."
I blinked. "She can do that?"
One side of Crawler's mouth curled up. "Not to me. My skin's too tough for her to crack. But to other capes, yeah. Had this one guy a few years back. Real attitude until he spent the day in her lab. All smiles after that." Crawler shook his head. "Even as he began to rot from whatever she did, kept on smiling."
"I see." All the more reason to get on her good side. I decided to change the topic. "Want to bat me around some before the others wake up?"
"Nah. You're plenty tough already. What we need to do is make you hit harder."
"I'd lift weights, but I don't think I can find anything heavy enough."
Crawler sort of sways for a while. I'm not sure how to interpret that body language. "You should ask Mannequin."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. He's got some zero-G training gizmo."
I frown. "Wouldn't training in zero-G just make it not as effective."
Crawler shakes his head. "No. It's this thing for keeping you in shape while you're weightless. He tested it on me. Held up pretty good for a couple of seconds."
"I'll ask. Thanks for the advice."
"Sure thing. Train and get stronger."
"Will do."
I head back inside, and sit at the window while everyone else gradually wakes up. While I'd like to work on leveling summoning some more, holding my hands underneath my shirt would look odd. Wait... yep, I can summon at the same range as Inventory. No line of sight needed, but there is an MP penalty if there's not enough space. Let's see. Could I dump knives into the walls? I doubt there's cameras inside, but there might be other sensors. Considering how space-efficient this place is, it wouldn't surprise me.
Riley comes out of the bathroom and heads towards me. I smile and ruffle her hair. "Good morning Riley. Ready for another exciting day in the lab?"
She crosses her arms. "I wish. I only get my lab every other day."
Why.. ah. "So Mannequin is expanding his lab today?"
She nods.
"So what do you do on days like this."
"I dunno. Play with Sibby. Watch TV. Browse PHO." She shrugs. "Stuff to pass the time."
"Hmmm.. Crawler suggested I ask Mannequin about strength training equipment. Want to help me with that?"
She perks up. "Sure!" Riley tilts her head to the side and looks off into space. After a few seconds her eyebrows raise up. "Oh! I have a better idea!"
"And what might that be?"
"We have Sibby help you!"
"What."
Riley began talking, picking up speed with each word. "Yeah! It'll be great! She normally runs off to do whatever she does on her own. Sometimes she plays with me, but I think she gets bored of watching TV. But she likes you! I bet we could have her give you some really good resistance training. Normally muscles get stronger by tearing and regrowing, so you have to push your limits to get strong right?" She didn't wait for an answer. "But Sibby's like really, REALLY strong y'know? So you could arm-wrestle her, or do push-ups with her on your back, or squats, or anything really. I don't know how your improvement happens with your Breaker state, but it has to follow basic biology right? Since you mimic it, or are based off of it. So a proper full body workout where we cycle through your muscles will work best!"
She finally had to take a breath, so I chimed in. "Won't that damage things? Also how are push-ups going to help, she can't weigh more than... uhhh..." I had no idea how much girls weighed. What if I upset the invincible projection by implying she was fat or something?
Riley shook her head. "It'll be fine. Sibby weighs as much as she wants to. And she can protect the RV. Let's go ask!"
I followed her to the back. Everyone else was up by now, except the Siberian. She was curled up like a cat on the bed where she and Riley had slept. Why does a projection need sleep? The little girl bounded up to her and began explaining her idea with huge gestures.
The Siberian stood up and stretched again. I made sure to look away. She calmly waited for Riley to fully explain her idea, and then looked at me expectantly.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I knew what her price was. I should be happy I had something she wanted... even if it was my flesh. At least it hardly hurt with the constant grinding she was providing for pain resistance. I held out my hand. This time I didn't fall for the licking trick. Even with Gamer's Mind, there are some things you just can't get over seeing.
...
*Bonesaw's Brother complete! Riley now considers you an ally.
*A new quest has triggered: Escape From the Slaughterhouse Nine
[Escape From the Slaughterhouse Nine
You won't be let alone, at least not while Jack is suspicious of you. (Hint: He knows you want out.) Your ally is willing to look the other way, giving you a chance. Buddy up with them, then run off. Leaving them behind to face Jack's understanding personality.
Bonus1: Bring your ally with you.
Bonus2: Don't let your ally in on it until it's go time.
Bonus3: Cover your tracks.
Success: +5,000 exp; decreased reputation with your ally; decreased reputation with Jack Slash
Bonus1 Success: +5,000 exp; increased reputation with your ally; decreased reputation with Jack Slash; ?
Bonus2 Success: +3,000 exp; increased head start
Bonus3 Success: +10,000 exp; increased head start; reduced reputation loss with Jack Slash]
A day spent training with Siberian, while chatting with Riley was surprisingly pleasant. Sure, I had more than a few fingers eaten. Which, I admit, is disturbing. Gamer's Mind was in top form - not letting me dwell on it and allowing me to constantly press my limits. My willpower was nowhere strong enough to exercise like this without it.
And the gains! My str stat more than doubled. That in turn quadrupled my lifting amount, assuming Riley and I understood the Siberian's gestures. No idea how strong I now am, but I'm pretty sure I can beat Hatchet Face to death the old fashion way. My body also looks nicer. I'm no bodybuilder, but there's clear definition there. Riley helpfully pointed it out, and I promised her another arm to dissect. That put me over the top, and triggered my new quest. Finally, when my str reached 50, I got a new available Perk.
[Juggernaut
Materials that you destroy do not impact your momentum. Additional benefits against defenses normally immune to damage. Unlocks other Str perks.]
I wish it said what those additional benefits were. Would my punches suddenly be able to hurt the Siberian? I doubted it, and I wasn't going to waste a Perk point to check.
"C'mon, give it to me now!" Riley pouts.
I shake my head and wait for my summoned spider to die. I wanted to keep on making knives to get more consistent data, but after figuring out I could summon things inside my mouth... It was too convenient to pass up. With meditation's increased level, I could maintain a lesser version of it at all times. (Thank you Gamer's Mind.) And I wasn't going to waste that MP gain.
"You prooooomised!"
I raise an eyebrow, and walk outside.
Jack's standing by the fire. "What did Killer promise?"
"Another arm! But he won't let Sibby take it!"
The spider vanishes. "I won't let the Siberian take it yet, Riley. She can tear it off before we go to bed. That way I can regenerate over night."
"But I wanna watch you grow back!"
"Without your equipment?"
Riley puffs herself up. "My eyes are good enough to make out cells if I concentrate!"
"Really? That's impressive. Why did you use the microscope yesterday?"
She looks down, holds her hands behind her back, and kicks the dirt. That HAS to be a practiced move. "It gives me a headache if I do it too much." She says in a small voice.
I kneel down and pat her head. "There's no need to rush it then. Wouldn't you rather do something else?"
"Like what?" She looks up at me.
"Anyone have any cards? I know a few games."
Jack is already pulling a pack out. Ok, I'm now a little more scared of him.
[Kevin Greenhouse (Killer)
The Gamer
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human (Parahuman)
Faction: Slaughterhouse Nine
Title: Murderer III (+150% damage to helpless targets)
Level: 11 (8,950/11,000 Exp)
Mover: 4
Shaker: 0
Brute: 5
Breaker: 10
Master: 2
Tinker: 0
Blaster: 0
Thinker: 8
Striker: 0
Changer: 0
Trump: 5
Stranger: 4
HP: 460
MP: 133
Primary Attributes
STR: 65
AGI: 32
CON: 65
INT: 20
PER: 20
WIS: 15
CHA: 11
LUC: 5
Unspent Points: 95
Traits:
Gamer's Body lvl Max
Gamer's Mind lvl Max
Observe lvl 3
Inventory lvl 2
Party System
Perks Selected (2/2):
Rapid Regeneration
Summoning lvl 2
Perks Available:
Solid as a Rock
Power Drain
Fire Control
Silica Control
Juggernaut
Skills:
Acting: 12
Athletics: 21
Basic Academics: 2
Computers: 1
Damage Resistance (Acid): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Disease): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Heat): 64 - 99.25%
Damage Resistance (Physical): 25 - 95.6%
Damage Resistance (Poison): 100 - 100%
Meditation: 36
Melee Weapon: 17
Pain Resistance: 63 - 99.2%
Parahuman Lore: 7
Ranged Weapon: 21
Stealth: 7
Unarmed Combat: 32
Video Games: 26
Ongoing Quests:
Passing on the Torch
Best Served Cold
Choose Your Own Adventure
Escape From the Slaughterhouse Nine
Debuffs:
None]
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The Most Dangerous Gamer by chimmon
Books » Worm Rated: M, English, Adventure, OC, Bonesaw, Siberian, Words: 431k+, Favs: 3k+, Follows: 3k+, Published: Mar 8, 2021 Updated: Feb 27, 2023
1,328Chapter 8: On the Road 2
We played a couple of different card games, and I learned a few things. First, Jack is a dirty cheater who cheats in cards. I'm pretty sure it's his power. He was unstoppable at poker. Riley, incidentally, is complete garbage at bluffing. When we moved to a more kid-friendly, and luck-based game I learned my other tidbit. I apparently can't grind luck. At least not by playing cards. I idly thought of adding stakes to see if that might have an effect, but immediately discarded that idea. It's not worth the risk for anything I could lose, and there's nothing I really want. Gambling for more of our supply of chocolate doesn't seem important.
After an hour or so, I excused myself to spend time with Crawler. He hadn't strayed far from camp yet. "I've gotten stronger."
He perked up. "Show me!"
I nodded, planted my feet, took a deep breath, and threw a haymaker. It wasn't like punching a wall. His flesh was tough but flexible. Instead it felt as if I'd struck a pile of mud. The super-dense kind that only lets in a little water. I looked up at him. "Anything?"
"You're making progress, but there's still a ways to go if you want to match me."
"I figured. Still, it's a nice feeling."
* +5 reputation with Crawler.
"I get you." I was getting used to his 'voice'. "It's hard to put it into words. Having your flesh rebuild itself, but better." He stared at me with his front eyes. "Enjoy the easy gains while you can. I ramped up too quickly."
I patted him on the side, but I don't think he felt it. Crawler was another potential ally, but I doubted I'd be able to get enough reputation with him in a timely fashion. He was only out of his trailer during the night. Plus, he wasn't as open as Riley. Surprisingly friendly, but not friendly enough. There was also the fact that he'd been the one to murder my friends.
I moved back to the camp and considered other options. Mannequin? Where was he? I hadn't see the silent Tinker since I got on the RV. No possible way to make progress there. Mimi? The same boat as Crawler. While the pyromaniac was around during the day, she was listless. Hatchet Face? No. Shatterbird? It was an option, but I hadn't gained any reputation in our (admittedly short) interactions. The only one left was the Siberian. She liked eating me. Did I taste good? Did she just enjoy fresh meat?
No idea.
In any case, she was sitting at 320 reputation. A good amount, and I could get her up to 500 with a couple of days work. The problem was 'Master's Control'. She was a projection. She might be sentient, she might not. She might be following the Slaughterhouse Nine for her own reasons, or she might've been commanded to. I couldn't take that chance. It was too risky.
I went back to the fire. Riley was looking pretty tired already. "Before you fall asleep in front of the fire, wanna put my arm on ice for tomorrow?"
* +10 reputation with Bonesaw.
Riley's eyes snapped open as she jumped to her feet. "YES!" She blinked, and then coughed into her hand. "I mean..." The little girl then pushed her index fingers together while twisting her body back and forth. To add to the effect she lowered her head and looked up at me. "If you wanna."
Cute! I know it's an act, but acting to cover up her excitement is even cuter. If only she wasn't excited a the thought of taking my arm off.
I nod and ruffle her hair with the hand I'm about to have to regrow. "C'mon. The sooner we get it on ice, the sooner you can go to bed, and the sooner it will be tomorrow."
"Yay!"
Am I sure that Gamer's Mind is keeping me sane? Slowly getting used to being dissected should be alarming, but I regenerate and it hurts less and less. I remove my shirt, otherwise the Siberian will just tear it off along with my arm. Then I'd have to ask Jack for another one... boo!
"But you know ice isn't going to be good enough. We need to preserve it better than that. At the very least I need to drain the blood and prevent it from coagulating. Your skin and muscles are tough, so that should significantly slow decomposition. No, sealing it in a vacuum will work best. I doubt that will even cause the blood vessels to rupture." She continued muttering to herself as we entered the RV. She fiddled with her lab's control pad and a section of the wall slid open revealing a large glass tube attached to a device. "Ok Sibby, put it in the tube, and no snacking!" She waggled her finger at the single most powerful creature on the planet that wasn't an Endbringer or named Scion.
The Siberian took the 'scolding' in good humor, ripping off my arm with a single swift tug. She impressively turned it bloody-side down inside the container without spilling any on the RV's floor.
Riley smiled and manipulated the controls. Tubes with needles on the ends came up and inserted themselves into the bloody end. There was a whirling sound before the section at the bottom spat out 6 vials filled with my blood. The top of the tube closed and a louder whirling sound came from the bottom.
"There! That should do it!" She smiled up at me. "You can never have enough Brute blood! The attack spiders go through it so quick!"
Attack spiders? I haven't seen any attack spiders. I glanced around the room. I assumed all those failed perception checks were because of Mannequin. Did I have to worry about spiders now too?
*Arachnophobia (mild) condition negated by Gamer's Mind.
And I then calmed down. They probably weren't that bad. Right?
"And just think of what I can do with the muscles and tendons!" Ok, this was getting creepy. Well, creepier.
"Riley, dear, don't get all worked up. It's bed time." Best to nip this in the bud. I smiled at her while putting my shirt back on. At least my stump doesn't bleed, and I'm getting surprisingly good at dressing myself with only one arm.
"Awwww..." She did a cute little pout before putting my preserved arm and blood away. She then closed the compartment and yawned. "I am pretty tired."
"You had a long day. Now get some sleep. You can.." Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying this. "dissect my arm tomorrow."
"Okaaaay." She shuffled to the back with her surrogate mother following her.
I sat in the living area and looked up at the sky. We were away from any light sources, so the starry sky was beautiful. I heard Riley whimpering in her sleep again. It was faint, but my hearing was pretty good since my perception had gone up.
I waited for everyone else to come in and go to bed before I started my nightly grinding session.
For 20 MP, I could summon a spider that lasted 1 minute. They were pretty big, and I could only fit one in my mouth. At night I was free to summon them inside my shirt. That allowed me to produce as many as I liked, as long as I had the MP for it. My HP came back absurdly quickly. It took less than a minute to go from zero to full. MP was slower. I bet there was a perk for it that I hadn't unlocked yet. Not that I had any extra slots available.
At 22 or 23 MP a minute, I was still grinding pretty quick. Meditation currently tripled that. So the end result was that I had 3 tarantula sized spiders under my shirt at once. I assumed they were 8-bit, just like my daggers. I hadn't had the opportunity to confirm that, since I needed to keep it a secret from everyone else. My 500th spider leveled me up.
*Your summoning skill has gained +1 level.
That pretty much confirms it. It's the MP spent, not the number of things summoned. That's great news. As my meditation goes up, so will my exp gain. Time for another test.
[Summoned knife
Str 110. Dex 105. Con 85.]
[Summoned knife
Str 105. Dex 110. Con 85.]
[Summoned knife
Str 110. Dex 110. Con 80.]
I could almost max out every stat at the same time. Now to confirm my suspicions on the formula. I assigned +1 Int.
[Summoned knife
Str 115. Dex 100. Con 85.]
Ok, now +1 Per.
[Summoned knife
Str 100. Dex 115. Con 85.]
And, +1 Wis.
[Summoned knife
Str 115. Dex 95. Con 90.]
Ok. So each stat allows for 5 more of the associated point. There were other limits. The knives so far could handle all the MP I could spend. The spiders had ability caps of 20, 100, and 80. Still impressive, but I had to wonder just how effective they would be. I mean, size was pretty important. They were incapable of hurting me, and I couldn't easily test them against anything else.
There was an extra 10 point limit that I couldn't account for. Was it a base value, or was another stat effecting things? I was level 11, so I didn't think it was that. Could it be luck? It was worth spending a point to find out. I assigned +1 Luc.
[Summoned knife
Str 117. Dex 91. Con 92.]
Would you look at that? +2 max stats across the board. 3 points in luck was more effective than 1 point in each of the other mental stats. The trade off was that I wouldn't be able to summon absurdly one-dimensional creatures.
Totally worth it.
Oh, nice! It also increased my HP and MP by 1 each. That's technically a worse return on investment since the other stats gave x5, x2, or x0. However, I was going to dump it all in luck anyways, so I'll just treat the HP & MP as a bonus. This should bring my theoretical limits to 299 Str, 299 Dex, and 274 Con. My practical limits were 140 due to how much MP I could add at once. Would that be enough to injure Crawler? I didn't plan on finding out. I also had to wonder what a mental stat in the 100's would feel like. Superhuman if I had to guess, with my Shard doing all the heavy lifting. I still wasn't comfortable with that amount of change.
Besides, as my dad often said: "I'd rather be lucky than good."
Wait. I was getting carried away with luck, but there was one other stat I hadn't tested yet. Could charisma be a hidden stat also? I allocated +1 stat to Cha. Nothing. Same limits. Same HP. Same MP. What was the point of Cha? It did nothing! Grumbling to myself over the wasted point, I assign everything else to luck.
91 points in luck brought it up to 96, and I felt the same. What did luck even do outside of boosting other things?
*New Perk Available: Lucky Fate
[Lucky Fate
Precognition targeting you has a 50% chance of being incorrect. Unlocks other Luc perks.]
That gives me pause. I was about to blow it off as useless compared to the other Perks I currently have available, but something stopped me. I don't have the points to waste on perks that are only situationally useful. But this? There weren't very many precogs in the world. The only one I knew of was the Simurgh. Would this affect her? I didn't plan on being anywhere near her if I could help it. The Endbringers were incredibly powerful, but their abilities weren't unique. Behemoth could control any type of energy, while Legend could 'only' manipulate light. That didn't mean that Legend was weak, or that there weren't other capes that could control energy. For crying out loud, Mimi was in the other room.
Could there be capes out there with precognition? Why would I get a Perk that was only useful against the Simurgh?
*Paranoia condition negated by Gamer's Mind.
Ok. Calm down. First, there probably are capes like that. Second, I don't need to worry about them just yet. After all, Jack doesn't have precognition and he's still running around after twenty years of having a massive bounty.
One last test. I summoned my highest str dagger, reached under my shirt, and poked my finger.
[Summoned knife
Str 140. Dex 5. Con 5.]
*Gamer's Body bypassed.
*Bleeding(minor) effect negated by Gamer's Body.
I blinked. That was NOT an outcome I was expecting. This had quite a few ramifications, and I'm not sure I liked any of them. I didn't know Crawler's strength, but I'm fairly certain it's around 250. Judging by how much damage I took once he stopped holding back, and my damage resistance at the time. I was also assuming that 1 str = 1 damage. Since other's didn't use my rules, I couldn't say with 100% certainty. In any case, I was sure that the knife's str was less than Crawler's. So how did it not only hurt me, but bypass my HP? Gamer's Body seemed to have a weakness to my own powers. Did that make me like the lion Hercules had killed? Do I have a pelt so tough that it can only be pierced with my own claws? Or the Siberian's claws, but she doesn't count. My previous attempts at hurting myself were ineffective. The only difference would be the knife's better stats.
That's another experiment I need to do. Figure out what that threshold is, and make sure I don't surpass it. A shudder ran down my spine. If Jack ever got his hands on one of my own knives... Best not to even allow that possibility. I waited for the knife to vanish from lack of MP. It didn't take long to figure out the limit. Any knife with a str of 131 or more would bypass Gamer's Body. 130 was double my str or con. So it's most likely related to one of those stats or both. I'd put money on con.
The problem was that there were now two effects that could ignore my (quite frankly broken) Breaker state. If it was only the Siberian, I wouldn't be worried. She was THE toughest Brute. No one could withstand her, so losing to her wasn't a surprise. A second power, even if it was mine, denoted a pattern. Well, I'm still one of the sturdiest people around. I should take comfort in that.
Satisfied by my gains, I decide to get 3 hours of sleep tonight.
I woke up, and felt regret.
An increased maximum for summoned objects was well and good, but I just realized that it didn't matter what my maximum was if I couldn't spend the MP to reach it. I should've raised my luck just enough to allow for maximum flexibility for level 3 Summoning. I could always raise it more when I got my next skill level. What if something happens in the meantime and I desperately need a boost somewhere else?
This is why I should think about stuff before committing.
* You gain +1 Wis.
And I don't need my power rubbing it in my face.
Oh? No reward for THAT revelation?
What am I doing? It's not like my power can talk to me. I'm just being stupid. Heh. Kinda surprised it didn't reward me for that deep character assessment. I shook my head. Nothing to do but keep moving forward. I wonder if my power can summon a working car? And if so, how fast would it be? For that matter, I didn't know the top speed of the RV. Considering who'd upgraded it, it might just be escape velocity.
Of course, I didn't know how to drive, so it kinda didn't matter.
I was feeling pretty good. I'm pretty sure I no longer need to eat, but some bacon would really hit the spot. I stretched and then went over to the kitchen nook. This is a surprisingly well stocked fridge. Bet they fill it up every time they visit a town.
*Melancholy condition negated by Gamer's Mind.
I found a pan and began cooking bacon. The aroma woke everyone else. Soon people were stealing MY bacon, so I had to cook more. Which just got poached in turn.
*By performing a new task, you have created the Cooking skill.
I object. I already know how to cook. Why wasn't it already on my character sheet?
*Your cooking skill has increased by +1.
Thanks.
I finally managed to get a couple of slices for myself, so I sat down at the table. The Siberian was looking at my plate.
"Here." I held out my left hand to her, while using the right to eat.
*Error! Gamer's Body negated.
*Moderate Bleeding negated by Gamer's Body.
*Your pain resistance skill has increased by +1.
* +10 reputation with Siberian.
Loosing my fingers had at some point stopped fazing me. So much so, that given the choice I went with bacon over them.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You offered up your fingers to save your bacon?"
"Wouldn't be the first time."
**Jack Slash is amused.
"Good one, Killer."
"I didn't mean it like that." I turned to look at him. "It's my day in the lab, and the Siberian is going to get my scraps anyways. At least this way I'll have a full stomach."
A light bulb seemed to turn on above Riley's head. "Digestion!" She wore a huge guileless smile. "I can watch how you digest food!"
This was a bad idea. "Uhm... Riley, weren't you going to watch me regenerate?"
"No, no, no! This is a much more interesting process! Just when does the food you're eating turn from regular matter to your Breaker state? You don't use the bathroom. Or I guess you might use it at night when everyone's asleep. It's nothing to be ashamed of you know. Everyone poops!" She paused and tilted her head. "Well, not EVERYONE. I don't think Sibby poops. And you might not either. I'll need to cut open every part!" She stood up and went to the kitchen. "You need to have a large meal, so we can check your capacity!"
Me and my big mouth. Note to self, be careful what you say around Riley. "I haven't used the restroom since I Triggered. Also, I ate nearly the entire stock of food at the Dollar Store over the course of six hours. So, I don't think I have a limit on how much I can digest?" Her eyes lit up. Why am I so stupid?
"In that case we need to examine your digestion while you're eating. If it happens so quickly, there's no other way!" She grabbed a handful of muffins. "We'll need to power through your Breaker state so I can cut you open. Then you can eat and I can watch what happens. I'll need to have a scope looking at the inside and outside of your stomach. No point in going any farther than that until we see exactly what's happening! C'mon, we need to get a move on!"
On one hand, I don't need to grind reputation with her any more. I could refuse... No. She's so excited. Turning her down would be like kicking a puppy.
*You gain +1 Cha.
**Jack Slash is happy.
Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. One day Jack. One day.
*Due to endured injuries, your Resist(Light) has increased 1 lvl.
-1 HP
"Riley, the laser is about to stop working."
She made a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Riley!"
"Okay, okay. I need more time. Heat, electricity, and now lasers." She crossed her arms. "If only Crawler hadn't ruined acid, disease, AND poison! How rude!"
"Yeah." I replied with a dry tone that was wasted on her.
"And I can't believe Mannequin doesn't have a radiation weapon! I mean really! You'd think he'd have something for cosmic rays or other background radiation if for no other reason than testing his armor!"
"Riley? It's been almost five hours, don't you have enough data?"
She huffed. "I can see the food break down. But it's instantaneous. One second it's glucose in your stomach, the next, it's a cube! How am I supposed to mimic that!" She threw her arms up. "Especially since I don't get meaningful readings from after the transformation. If only I had a chunk of your brain to trigger your power in the specimens I already have."
No. Do not engage. Just pretend she didn't say that last sentence. "I understand, but I'd rather not experiment with how my body handles having a my stomach on the outside."
She scowled. "Fine."
"Don't be like that, you got a lot of data right?"
"Yeah..."
"Then what you need is time to review it. You don't need me cut open to do that."
"I suppose." She replied with a small voice.
I reached over with my hand that wasn't currently being cauterized by a laser, and patted her on the head. "It's ok. You don't have to find the answers immediately. I'll be here and you can keep on dissecting me all you want." Why? Why am I so stupid?
She beamed at me. Oh, that's why. "Sure thing big brother! I'll have you put back together in a jiffy!" She began to hum to herself as she sewed me up. "I still think you should let me attach an arm or two. Wouldn't it be neat if they were added to your Breaker state?"
I need to shut down that line of thought. "Perhaps some other time." Argh! Why don't I have a willpower stat? Why can't I put points in that?!
*You gain +1 Cha.
She put down her needle and thread. "All done!" That was quick. "Now for the inner camera." She pulled the cord that was going down my throat. I felt like I should be gagging, but didn't.
"So what..."
She held up a single finger to her mouth and 'shushed' me. A few strokes on her computer followed and she turned and stared intently at my sewn up stomach. The laser turned off, and my HP began to tick up. "That. Is. So. Cool!" She jumped up and down and clapped her hands. "Your body just... absorbs the thread. It's the same way as when you eat. One second it's thread, and the next: Cubes!"
I rolled my eyes. I didn't understand her... appreciation of my power, but far be it from me to dissuade her.
"Whew. I'm hungry." She wiped her forehead. "Wanna grab lunch?"
"I can eat."
That earned me a punch on the shoulder.
* +5 reputation with Bonesaw.
The Siberian stood and stretched. Thankfully, I was wearing pants this time. She then moved to the operating table and sniffed it. She then turned and looked at my hand.
"What."
She licked her lips.
"Don't tell me you want it cooked this time?"
She smiled and I held out my injured hand. It was already damaged, what was a few more minutes of regeneration? I turned my head as she sniffed, licked, and then bit.
Huh? That was quicker than normal. She only ate the finger that the laser had been boring into.
* +5 reputation with Siberian.
She looked at me and smirked before walking out the door. What did THAT mean? Normally she eats them all. Is she being nice? Did the laser affect the taste?
I spent the rest of the day in the lab with Riley. I was now effectively immune to the damage that she could cause me, and therefore couldn't be dissected anymore. Still, I found her company enjoyable. A paranoid part of my mind wondered if Jack wanted me to bond with her. Could his power be manipulating me like that? I had Gamer's Mind, which should protect me right? No idea. I also wondered if his power could be affecting Riley? Making her open up to me? Making her behave in a way I found endearing?
No. To go down that path led to madness. I couldn't second-guess everything that I or anyone else did. Even if Jack was that powerful, playing it safe wouldn't get me out of this situation.
"...and that's why your blood will help the spiders."
Shoot. I wasn't listening. "Could you go over that one more time Riley? I don't think I caught it."
"Sure!" She looked up from... whatever she was doing with her spider creation. "I'll go slower this time, Kevin!" She smiled at me. The guileless smile of a child, not that I knew any other children. Riley was so... open and willing to share. It was all the more pronounced due to the other people I could now spend time with. "See? Spiders don't have muscles, instead they use pressurized fluid to make their limbs move. That's why Brute blood is so useful. Liquids with a high..."
I listened to her explanation. While I didn't get any of the details, the gist came through. Her spiders use blood, and it occasionally needed to be changed. Like a car's oil I guessed. Brute blood was best for... reasons. So having a supply of it from me was a windfall.
Well, as long as I was useful.
"We're going to camp here for a few days." We had pulled off the road by a forest. Which surprised me, I thought the only trees that grew in Texas were mesquite trees. Which were not a plant you wanted to get close to. "The heat will die off soon, and in the meantime some of us." Jack looked at Crawler. "Would probably enjoy some more space."
"Kevin, 'cmon!" Riley tugged at my hand. "Let's see if we can find some squirrels or bunnies!"
I let her drag me into the woods. It was nice to see her excited. I'd never had that level of enthusiasm for anything but video games. It was also cute that she wanted to see some small animals. Wait... "Riley, why do you want squirrels or rabbits?"
She looked up at me. "Because they're cute!" Oh thank God... "And they make great spies. Plus the more parts I have the more options! Just think how cute a two-headed squirrel would be? Or a squirrel with bunny ears! Or a bunny with a squirrel tail!"
Yeah, that's on me. I totally should've seen it coming. Still, we were alone in the woods. It was quiet, and Riley was my ally. I wouldn't get a better chance.
"Riley, I have a secret I want to tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."
She looked up. "A secret? What is it? What is it?"
I held up a palm. "First promise. I know you're a good girl and won't tell anyone if you promise." I felt like scum. I knew she had... issues with trying to be a 'good girl'. Abusing what I'd learned from her bio made me a horrible person. It made me like Jack.
"I promise." Her face grew serious.
"Not even Mr. Jack or Sibby."
She crossed her arms and nodded. "You can trust me."
I smiled. "I know I can. Here's my secret:"
*You have invited Bonesaw to join your Party.
*Bonesaw has accepted your Party invite.
Kevin ► This is my real power. We can talk like this, and no one can hear us. I'm going to say some stuff, but it's just in case anyone is listening.
I was glad the Party system included chat. Having this conversation out loud would've been more difficult. "I'm afraid of Jack."
"Oh." Her eyes scanned left to right. "That's nice."
Kevin ► Just try and think your response. My power should pick it up.
Bonesaw ► Like this?
Bonesaw ► Wow. I can see my reply in a blue window in front of me!
Bonesaw ► This is soooo neat! Why don't you want the rest of us to see this?
Kevin ► Like I said, I'm afraid of Jack. If he knew I was holding out on him...
**Bonesaw is scared.
Huh? A notification about Riley? I guess this is part of the Party system.
Bonesaw ► Yeah, Mr. Jack can be scary at times.
Bonesaw ► It's probably best not to keep secrets.
Kevin ► Probably, but you're the only one I want to talk to like this.
**Bonesaw is happy.
Bonesaw ► Really? That's nice!
Kevin ► It can be our secret. Just a way for us to talk privately.
Bonesaw ► Like a secret club!
Kevin ► Exactly.
Bonesaw ► The Best Friends Club!
Kevin ► Sure.
Riley was beaming up at me. I couldn't help it. I smiled back at her.
Bonesaw ► Lift me up! I can see better from on your shoulders.
Kevin ► Sure.
I picked her up. She felt light as a feather as I let her sit on my right shoulder.
Bonesaw ► This is great! We can talk at night without waking anyone else up! I can have you help me in the lab without needing to turn the machines down! If I could get a piece of your brain then I could... SQUIRREL!
A small shape jumped from a tree branch, and the chase was on.
We camped for a week before Jack decided the coast was clear. In that time I gained a significant amount of reputation with Riley. Even stranger, I felt a real connection in return. She tended to babble, but always listened when I talked. She was enthusiastic, smart, and cute. I'd never had a sister before, and I found Riley to be a good one.
She hadn't told Jack about my new power. She even confided in me one night that she was scared of him too sometimes. It was in the early morning that we spoke the most often. While spending most of the night awake grinding Summoning, I got numerous alerts from her. Riley did not have pleasant dreams. When she woke up, I tried to be there to help her calm down.
She'd twice woken up in the middle of the night and came to sleep next to me in the living room. It kept me from practicing Summoning, but I couldn't begrudge her. Any annoyance I might have had vanished when I got a notification about how happy or content she was.
The new day we were on the road again. After I'd cooked breakfast, Riley had started making meals as well. She turned out to be a pretty good chef. I was with her in her lab when an alarm beeped.
"It's lunchtime!" Riley said as she leaned away from... something. "Let's go!"
I nodded and stood up. It was strange, I could sit in the same position for hours now. I'd always needed to shift and move around before. "Sound good."
"Don't just stand there! I'll make you B.L.T." Riley grabbed my arm and started pulling.
"That sounds nice Riley. I think I know the sequence to close the lab, why don't you go on ahead?"
"Don't just stand there! I'll make you B.L.T." Riley grabbed my arm and started pulling.
"That sounds nice Riley. Just let me put my shirt back on first."
She giggled. "Do you need help?"
I shook my head. "No, I have most of my fingers, so I can manage."
"Okaaaay!" She called out as she skipped down the hallway.
I couldn't help but smile. Shaking my head, I exited her lab and made my way to the living area. Jack was already sitting at the table, playing with a knife. Ugh. I'd rather not sit near him, but there's only one table.
Jack vs. a B.L.T.?
Forget it.
Jack vs. a B.L.T. Riley made? She'd be upset if I didn't eat it.
Shoot. I sat down and pointedly looked out the window. Car. Car. Truck. I Observed each passing vehicle. Motorcycle.
[Harv Bundy
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Race: Human
Faction: The Fallen - Crowley Clan
Harv was born and raised in the Crowley Clan. Never a bright child, he accepted their world-view at face value. He went to school in White Crest, Mississippi, and graduated at the bottom of his class. He didn't care because he new the truth. The human race was doomed, and the Endbringers were going to usher in a new golden age.
He married his wife Jane as part of a deal with the Mathers Clan. She's been a good wife, but he does occasionally have to put her in her place. Most of the free time he has he spends with one of his Clan's biker gangs. They ride around, spreading the truth to those who will listen, and beating up those that won't.
In other words, he's a typical Crowley cultist. His political marriage is what sets him apart, but he doesn't realize it.
His ties to the Mathers Clan is why he was chosen to be part of the honor guard. He feels the cargo he's protecting is vitally important to the grand plan.
He's wrong.
The women he's escorting have no powers, and therefore are only important in keeping relations steady between the two clans.]
"Hey." I said to Jack. "What about them?" I jerked my chin at the bike gang passing us.
"Huh? What about them?"
"Look."
"Just some bikers."
"Look!"
Jack quits flipping his knife and turns towards the windows. His eyes narrow for a second, before widening. A sinister looking grin spreads across his face.
**Jack Slash is intrigued.
"I see."
"You see what?" Riley puts a plate in front of each of us before plopping down next to me.
"Killer has just chosen his first target. And it's an interesting one."
"What? Where?" Riley hops up and down - which really isn't a hop - she just rattles the table.
"It depends on where they're going." I say before taking a bite of the B.L.T. Hey, this is pretty good. What's that? There's a thin sauce. Mayo? Mustard? I can't place it.
"On where WHO'S going?" Uh oh, she's looking at me with those big round eyes. Fine, I can eat later.
"Those bikers." I point out the window. Jack has pulled out a remote and is fiddling with the controls.
"What about them?"
"You may not know it, but Texas and other places in the South sorta have a cult problem."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The Fallen, they worship the Endbringers or something. They were an annoyance until, I think it was about a year ago? They kidnapped a bunch of parahumans including a lot of wards."
"What?"
I nodded. "Yeah, made all the headlines when a few of the wards escaped. Turns out the Fallen were brainwashing them, and only a few managed to resist it and get away."
"What?" Riley's voice loses her normal inflection and falls about half an octave. I can see that as something that might strike a nerve with her. She doesn't consider herself a victim of kidnapping and brainwashing, but she still has some deep feeling regarding it. At least in regard to children I guess.
"Yeah, bad stuff. Got the Protectorate to crack down hard on them, but they went to ground." I motioned at the bikers. "Look at those guys, how they're dressed, their tattoos." I point from one biker to another. "See a theme?"
She nods her head. "So they've just been riding around to avoid detection."
"Hardly. I doubt those guys are important, and they probably lack powers. Just some of the low-level mooks. They personally haven't broken any major laws. There were some bills or something introduced to try and make them illegal, but I don't remember how that ended."
"You want to make a bike gang vanish? Ok. I can always use the spare parts." She bit her thumb. "The others might not go for it. Not much fun with only normal people."
I shake my head. "No. Look at their formation. They're escorting that car."
"Oh."
"Odd thing for bikers to do." Jack chimes in. "Not their typical M.O. from what I understand. So whatever, or whomever they're escorting must be important, at least a little."
I nod. "And if we follow them."
Jack completes my sentence. "Then we might find a bunch of folks who will be really interesting!"
**Jack Slash is happy.
**Jack Slash is filled with anticipation.
[Kevin Greenhouse (Killer)
The Gamer
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human (Parahuman)
Faction: Slaughterhouse Nine
Title: Murderer III (+150% damage to helpless targets)
Level: 11 (8,950/11,000 Exp)
Mover: 4
Shaker: 0
Brute: 5
Breaker: 10
Master: 5
Tinker: 0
Blaster: 0
Thinker: 8
Striker: 0
Changer: 0
Trump: 5
Stranger: 4
HP: 551
MP: 232
Primary Attributes
STR: 65
AGI: 32
CON: 65
INT: 21
PER: 21
WIS: 17
CHA: 14
LUC: 96
Unspent Points: 0
Traits:
Gamer's Body lvl Max
Gamer's Mind lvl Max
Observe lvl 3
Inventory lvl 2
Party System
Perks Selected (2/2):
Rapid Regeneration
Summoning lvl 3
Perks Available:
Solid as a Rock
Power Drain
Fire Control
Silica Control
Juggernaut
Lucky Fate
Skills:
Acting: 12
Athletics: 21
Basic Academics: 2
Computers: 1
Cooking: 2
Damage Resistance (Acid): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Disease): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Electricity): 65 - 99.3%
Damage Resistance (Heat): 64 - 99.25%
Damage Resistance (Light): 64 - 99.25%
Damage Resistance (Physical): 25 - 95.6%
Damage Resistance (Poison): 100 - 100%
Meditation: 38
Melee Weapon: 17
Pain Resistance: 64 - 99.25%
Parahuman Lore: 7
Ranged Weapon: 21
Stealth: 7
Unarmed Combat: 32
Video Games: 26
Ongoing Quests:
Passing on the Torch
Best Served Cold
Choose Your Own Adventure
Escape From the Slaughterhouse Nine
Debuffs:
None]
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The Most Dangerous Gamer by chimmon
Books » Worm Rated: M, English, Adventure, OC, Bonesaw, Siberian, Words: 431k+, Favs: 3k+, Follows: 3k+, Published: Mar 8, 2021 Updated: Feb 27, 2023
1,328Chapter 9: On the Road 3
The coyote stalked towards the lights. It was a scrawny, mangy thing and flecks of foam dripped from its mouth. Some desire overrode its fear of the bright place and large creatures, so it crept forward - slinking from shadow to shadow. One of the tall things walked close by, and the animal froze. It didn't move. It didn't breath. It didn't blink.
When the threat of discovery passed, the coyote resumed its trek into the compound. It passed through the small alleyways and made its way to the heart of the commune. More people were here. It had impulses to flee, to attack, to watch. The last impulse won out and it crouched down. Time passed. A bony, long-haired human emerged. The coyote then saw her twin to the side.
It was confused. The twin didn't look right. It could make out shapes behind her. The woman spoke to one of the people that surrounded her. He broke off and headed straight towards the animal.
The coyote bolted. Humans began to converge on it from all around. The twin somehow remained in its vision. One got too close! The wild beast lunged with foam leaking from its jaws. Before it could bite, there was a loud noise and something slammed into its side.
It felt weak. Its vision was blurry, except for the twin. The coyote staggered to its feet.
"Fuck man, it almost bit me!"
"Look at its mouth. Its rabid."
"You're the one with the gun! Shoot it!"
"Fine."
The indistinct shape raised something up. There was a loud noise, and the coyote slumped to the ground dead.
The previous day...
The RV trailed the bikers and their escorted car for most of the day. Finally, at dusk, they exited on a small dirt road. The RV continued past. We turned after a mile and drove cross-country. The landscape was flat, except for some ranches with cows.
The Slaughterhouse Nine just plowed through. Ran over a cow too. Riley wanted to stop. Not to help the wounded animal, but because it would provide a lot of mass. Thankfully, Jack dissuaded her of that idea.
We finally stopped when we came across a copse of trees.
I half-expected the RV to vanish with some sort of Tinkertech invisibility field. Instead Jack cut some tree branches and we tossed them around it.
"What now?" I asked.
"We scout." Jack replied. "First, we have to make sure there's some prey worth our time. Second, we have to get a list of what parahumans they have."
"You're not just going to go in and start killing?"
"Hardly. You never know when something is a trap." He grinned. "Not that we avoid traps, it's just more fun to make them think we fell for it." The serial killer shakes his head. "You wouldn't believe some of the things they say when it all comes crashing down."
*Perception check failed.
Jack clapped his hands. "Right. Alan, you take point. We want to avoid any sentries they've posted." He turned to our resident monster creator. "We also will need some spies. Riley make sure to bring what you need."
"Okaaaay!" The small Tinker exclaimed.
I turned and saw Mannequin begin to slink away. Instead of walking, he sort of laid on the ground with each limb scurrying along on its own. Creepy. I took this chance to Observe him. He has 'Driven to Conflict' and 'Memory Removal', like almost everyone else. Fear of open spaces, obsession (revenge), psychopath - his mind is really fucked up. There's one debuff that makes me stop: 'Simurgh Bomb'. I mean, yeah. Should have seen it coming. Makes sense. Not really surprised Observe can pick something like that up. I mean, the information it provides is astounding at times.
Nothing new there. I think my tentative plan will work. I just need the right moment.
I go over to Riley and help carry some of the containers she's unloaded. The Siberian and several dog-sized spiders also lend a hand (or leg).
We walk in silence for a few hours, before the Mannequin assembles himself in front of Jack. The leader of the Slaughterhouse Nine pulls a clipboard out of his backpack. The robotic Tinker furiously scribbles something on it before slipping away into the night.
Jack motions for everyone to come closer. "Looks like our little group is holed up in a valley. Probably to try and stay hidden." He shows the drawing to everyone. Damn. The Mannequin is a really skilled sketch artist. "Judging by the size of the place, I'd say we have about 300 people. Probably a bit more than half a dozen capes." He taps the clipboard with a knife. "We'll make base camp here, on the other side of this hill. That should keep us far enough away from whatever powers they have."
He looks at each member. When no one says anything, he jerks his head and we keep walking. After about half an hour, we reach our destination.
After helping Riley unpack, I wander towards the edge of the camp. We're behind some rocks, but it doesn't feel like it's that well-hidden of a location. Crawler can barely fit behind them, and has chosen to remain further out. I walk towards him.
*Perception check failed.
"Hey."
"Hey." The black creature replies.
"How're things?"
"Eh. I guess its nice to stretch my legs, but I'm not that psyched about this to be honest." He makes a motion with his neck. "No offense to your first party, but I don't think I'm going to find anything here in bum-fuck nowhere that will give me a good fight."
I sit down next to him. "Yeah, you're probably right about that."
"So why are we here?" A speck of his acid saliva falls on my jeans and burns a hole. I Inventory the drop.
"Well, you can never underestimate the Fallen. It really depends on which of the Endbringers they worship. Some try to recruit duplicators, and another clan focuses on energy manipulators."
"Hmm?" He perks up. "You don't say?"
I shrugged. "I only know what the PRT official statement said. Each cell models itself after an Endbringer. So these loons might worship Behemoth, Leviathan, or the Simurgh."
There was a metallic ping behind me. I turned, and there was Mannequin. He tapped his chest three more times. "The last one?"
He nodded.
"So they worship her huh?"
He nodded again.
The Simurgh had killed his family and driven him to become Mannequin. Did he hate her, or was the brainwashing thorough enough to prevent that? "Do you think killing them will be fun?"
Another nod.
Guess he's bitter. The white robot stalks away from us. I slap Crawler on the side. "Sorry buddy. They probably only have mental powers."
He lets out a sigh. "Just get stronger soon."
I smiled. "I'm doing my best." I give him a wave and follow behind Mannequin. Now, while I actually can see him, I know he's not spying on me. I summon a pure black rat.
[Summoned Rat
Str 20. Dex 110. Con 20.]
It blends into the darkness well enough. More importantly, it's low-res nature isn't easy to discern. It looks more like a living shadow than a game sprite.
*You have invited Summoned Rat to join your Party.
*Summoned Rat has accepted your Party invite.
I blinked. Sensory information flowed into me. A top down view appeared in front of my eyes. A mini-map! And it shows me and my rat! The rat turns at my mental command. A large blob that has to represent Crawler appears.
Nice.
I summon twenty more rats as I walk back. That should be... too many. Each rat is draining 3 MP every minute. I let 14 of them fade away. Seven is all I can maintain and have a positive MP gain.
Hide. I command. The rats sink down and vanish. I focus on Rat #1. He moves as I direct, but I stumble. I don't think I'll be able to take control of more than one. Even then, anything more than walking would be difficult.
Move North. Scout. Stay Hidden. The rats swarm ahead and fan out. The fog on my mini-map parts. Lets see how my scouts stack up to Riley's. I'll need to pay attention to what she sees. It'd be best if my summons weren't noticed by anyone. Worst case scenario, I blame one of the cultists.
Now...
We watch Riley's coyote be gunned down. I didn't see any illusionary, long-haired women. But that didn't mean much. My rats had spotted her, and I'd gotten a notification about Gamer's Mind negating 'Illusionary Senses'. So I was pretty sure I was safe. I looked around. No one else was freaking out, so we hadn't been made yet.
"I'd say that's conclusive." Jack smiled as he flipped this straight razor open and shut. "Good job, Riley."
"Thanks Mr. Jack!" She beamed up at the psychopath.
"How many does that make?" I asked.
"Eight." Jack replied. "Not enough for us to each get one."
"Is that important?"
He shrugged. "We each choose a candidate, and then we all get to test them. That allows us to have the most... fun."
We sat in a small camp we'd made, about a mile from the Fallen's base. Riley had sewn together a swarm of animals including birds, rats, wolves and coyotes. Her spies had gradually mapped the camp over the next day. Jack had cross-referenced the parahumans that were spotted with information on an archive they'd made. The Slaughterhouse Nine were almost ready to announce their presence.
"I have a better idea."
**Jack Slash is annoyed.
"Do tell."
"First." I held up a finger. "We don't need anymore recruits right?" That got a small grunt in return. I raised my next finger. "Second. We don't have to worry about any backup. There's no time-limit here. This is a group cut-off from the outside world. Their only support is who knows how many days away if they traveled at top speed. We don't have to worry about people driving through."
"Your point?"
I smiled. "I say we change the genre. Instead of the slasher stuff you normally enjoy, with the shock and awe... Let's pick them off one by one."
**Jack Slash is interested.
"You mean, take it slow, let them wonder what's going on?"
I nodded. "Exactly. We go quiet before we go loud." I glanced over at Crawler. "Sorry if that leaves you out of it."
He shrugged. "No body down there I want to fight anyways."
Jack smiled at me. "So how do you see this playing out, Killer?"
"We give them nothing. No information. Have people vanish. One by one. They'll catch on soon enough, but that will just make things worse."
"How so?"
"You saw what the coyote saw. They have powers that excel at warning them." I smirked. "What will happen when people vanish regardless of that?"
**Jack Slash is eager.
"They'll panic. More panic than they've ever felt before." His smile took a very sinister shape. "The thing they place the most faith in will have failed them. Their world will come apart."
**Jack Slash is reminded of his past.
Shatterbird frowned. "What about us? Some of us don't have stealthy powers."
I turned to her. "Crawler and Hatchet Face might have to sit out until the finale, but you? You can do quite a bit."
She looked at me skeptically. "I announce us. It's our calling card."
**Jack Slash is annoyed.
"That's why we save it until the end. So don't sing and shatter everything. Pick them off one by one. You have the largest range out of nearly every parahuman. Use it. Slit their throats, then carry them off. Hang their bodies where they'll be found later. You can coordinate with Bonesaw's spies."
**Jack Slash is proud.
She nodded. "Yes. Yes, I can do that." A smile came to her face. "I'm just as capable of killing unseen as I am en-mass."
Jack clapped his hands. "Then shall we vote? All in favor, say 'Aye'."
"Aye." "Aye." "Aye." The Siberian raised her hand. A single clink came from behind me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. How the hell did he do that? I hadn't seen hide nor hair of Mannequin since last night.
Jack spun his razor. "And with me, that makes it six." He bowed to the three who'd abstained. "Our apologies, but your fun will be delayed a bit. Think of the show as a taste of things to come."
Crawler gurgled something. Hatchet Face glared at me. (Pretty sure he'd prefer to try and chop my head off.) Mimi just stared ahead, not really reacting in any way.
*Choose Your Own Adventure complete! +5,000 exp. +20 Reputation with Jack Slash.
*You have leveled up! You gain +5 ability points!
*A new quest has triggered: Help Them Fall
*A new quest has triggered: They Can't Get Up
[Help Them Fall
Eliminate a parahuman member of The Fallen.
Bonus: Do it without raising the alarm.
Bonus2: Kill more than one.
Success: +5,000 exp, ?
Bonus: +2,000 exp
Bonus2: +2,000 exp, decreased reputation with the Slaughterhouse Nine]
[They Can't Get Up
Help the Slaughterhouse Nine kill every member in The Fallen's camp. A few survivors to spread the word are acceptable. 0/301
Bonus: Save the members who are here against their will. 0/5
Success: +3,000 exp, +100 exp per kill, ?
Bonus: +1,000 exp per innocent saved]
Fuck. That's going to make things quite a bit harder.
The first step would be to identify them. I can combine Summoning with other powers right? I focused on one of my rats. If I close my eyes... I can kinda see through it. Observe?
*Error! This Summons does not possess that ability.
Alright. That implies that a summoned creature CAN have that ability. I just need to break away for a bit.
I walk over to Jack, and jerk my head towards the camp. "That mean we can start? I wanna rack up some points."
**Jack Slash is happy.
"By all means, Killer. Just remember to save some for the rest of us."
I tilt my head. "What? No concern about my safety? No warnings not to get caught?"
He chuckled. "We're the Slaughterhouse Nine. We don't hold your hand. If you bite off more than you can chew... well, that's on you." He smiled. "Either way, it makes for an interesting time."
I nodded. "Can't argue with that." I then walked over to Riley. "Hey, I'm heading out to have some fun. You be safe."
* +5 reputation with Bonesaw.
She smiled back at me. "No need to worry about me! You stay safe too. I don't think they could actually hurt you, but I can't protect you against Valefor."
"Oh, that reminds me." Jack tosses me a set of goggles. "If our spies didn't trip Mather's power, it's probably because of the digital separation. Don't ruin your own game by tipping them off."
I caught the goggles and put them on, but not covering my eyes yet. "Don't worry. I got this."
*A new quest has triggered: Like a Shadow
[Like a Shadow
Don't be seen by your enemies.
Bonus: Don't be seen by your allies either.
Success: +1,000 exp
Bonus Success: +1,000 exp]
After moving out of sight, I take the goggles off and drop them on the ground next to a tree. I don't trust Jack not to have a camera in them. I might be paranoid, but I'd rather err on the side of caution. With a jump, I grab the lowest branch of the tree and pull myself up. The height doesn't increase my visual range by much, but the leaves will hide me while I experiment. Time to try summoning something that can Observe.
[Summoned One-Eye Bat
Str 5. Dex 5. Con 5. Enhanced sight x 10. Observe]
A bat with 3 inch wings, and an eye the size of a beach ball appears in my hands. Well, it's body is black, but its eye is glaringly obvious. Still, if it stays far enough away... It beats it's tiny wings and stays firmly in my hand.
Might have min-maxed it a bit much.
I let it fade after a minute, and try again.
[Summoned One-Eye Bat
Str 15. Dex 35. Con 15. Enhanced sight x 5. Observe]
Much better. More like a baseball and a 3 foot wingspan. With a thought it flies up through the branches. I focus, and can suddenly see everything as if it were noon.
I have it circle the Fallen's camp, and await more commands. I'd say it's magnifying ability is about x25. Not sure how that matches against whatever binoculars the sentries might have, but I think it's probably sufficient.
I hop down, and begin to creep forward. I need to grab some easy kills before they're put on full alert.
*Stealth check passed.
I take out a sentry. They're furthest out, and the easiest pickings. A choke hold with my Murderer bonus kills them in a split second. I inventory the body, but leave the clothes. Riley will want this, and it will hopefully screw with their minds.
*You have defeated Fallen Guard! You gain +10 exp!
I pause. I'll need some cash if I want to escape, and I see a wallet in this guy's pants. I Inventory the money directly without touching the filthy clothes.
*By performing a special action you have gained the title 'Thief'.
*By having the titles 'Murderer' and 'Thief', you have gained the title 'Mugger'.
Oh c'mon! I've never mugged anyone! And what about the Dollar Store? I took a ton of stuff there! Admittedly, that was probably more 'Looting during a natural disaster' than stealing, but still. My character is being impugned! ...Well, as long as I have them I should at least see what they do... Hey! Thief gives a bonus to stealth and Mugger a bonus to intimidate.
I take it back. I'll gladly swap my title and embrace the life of a thief. Not like I need the murderer bonus to kill these mooks.
I get 4 more before my bat sees something worrisome. One of the guard's eyes are glowing yellow, and is moving to where the 2nd sentry would've been. Ahrima must have some connection and can tell when she can no longer lend her powers. Or Mama Mather's noticed one of her pawn's senses were no longer responding. Either way, my job is done. My experience is also at a nice round number, I take it as a sign.
*Stealth check passed.
*They Can't Get Up 15/301
*Your stealth skill has increased by +1.
I slowly crawl back to camp. Midway, I un-inventory the bodies and carry them in on my shoulders. They aren't heavy, but they are awkward. Especially since the soiled themselves when they died. It's pretty disgusting.
*Like a Shadow complete! +1,000 Exp.
Shoot. Who saw me? And when? I can handle my Inventory being discovered. Pretty sure Jack already knows. I need my bat to stay a secret.
I stop to grab my goggles. I try to pick them up without putting the bodies down first... and fail. I grumble as I put the stupid goggles around my neck, and try to stack the fat slobs again. Eventually I get it done. Having the tree next to me helps.
I return to camp, and drop the bodies.
"You stripped them?"
**Jack Slash is surprised.
Heh. Guess he didn't see that part.
"I figure it will freak them out more."
"Good point. Shatterbird has already taken out twice that many, but she grabbed their clothes too."
"Their guards are busy looking with Ahrima's enhanced vision."
"Oh? Then let me show you how it's done." Jack picks up a meat cleaver, and strolls out of camp. Whistling on his way.
I have my bat Observe. There's one of the five that I'm supposed to spare. That guard wants to run away. Hasn't forgotten his family in El Paso. Annnnd... Jack just cut his head off. Ok. Sorry Jerome.
*They Can't Get Up 46/301
Jack's lesser power is really effective against non-brutes. I mean, that's pretty impressive. I don't think any of them saw it coming, even with Ahrima's help. In fact, he's exclusively targeting whomever she empowers.
That's... pretty smart. She must be freaking out right now.
Shatterbird watched Bonesaw's video feed while softly singing. It was a simple thing to vibrate the windows in the compound to extend her range while not cluing in the trash. Between her senses of the electronics in the spy animals and the video transmission, she easily targeted one solitary figure after another.
The sand rose up around them, crushed them, and flew their bodies up into the air. She hated sand. It reminded her of home. It was something Akilah Rahal used, not the stunning Shatterbird. She had to be resplendent and showcase her power. Glass was beautiful and deadly, just like she was.
She didn't care for Killer, not after his little ambush. Still, he was better company than half the Nine. Nothing compared to Jack of course, but at least he wasn't a literal slobbering monster, or a glowering brute who only barely contained his blood lust, or a stupid child, or a bi-polar fire-obsessed girl, or whatever the Siberian was. She paused, on second thought, Killer was her 3rd best teammate, right behind Mannequin.
While it irked her not to announce their presence, she had to admit this... skullduggery was proving amusing. The moronic cultists were starting to panic now, just like Jack had said they would. Ah! There were the glowing eyes. Shatterbird stopped singing. Something told her that the glass vibration would be noticed. The same sort of sixth sense that warned her about trying to sense the glass in the central church.
She stood and stretched. Beat that Killer. She'd gotten more than three dozen already. No one ever matched her body count!
Mannequin eased himself around the corner of the church. Killer's plan was working wonderfully, the filth that worshiped HER were panicking. The gall these people had. It was worse than the deluded fools that thought they could accomplish what he'd failed to do! They saw HER as a savior! They worshiped HER! They prayed to HER!
He'd show them. Let the others deal with the rift-raft. He had one goal, and one goal only. The so-called high priestess. It was a matter of moments to open the building's ventilation shaft, enter, and re-attach the grate behind him. Such a glaring hole in their security. They had guards posted at every door and a Thinker that could grant enhanced senses. Neither could detect him. His shell didn't make the slightest vibration as it carried him to his target.
In the deepest hole. So obvious. It was sad really, but Mannequin felt no remorse. How could people live their lives in happiness when HE couldn't? Killer was right. Letting them stew in their fear and uncertainty. Let it drive them insane. His limbs extended to the thin woman with long hair. She was ranting about something. Her bodyguard was concentrating on the glowing sigil he'd made by the door. It took him 1.6 seconds to turn around when the 'High Priestess' had suddenly gone silent.
It was far too late. She was so skinny, she could fit in the shaft with him. He was immune to her power. No signals got to his precious brain that weren't scrubbed through 5 different filters first. Her frail bones shattered at the same time that a stiletto found her brain and her heart. Mannequin carried her corpse deeper into the building. To where the central air system was. This would be her final resting place. Some of her flock might live long enough to wonder where the strange smell was coming from.
Mannequin didn't return to camp. He wasn't going to bother killing anyone else. He stayed to watch their agony as closely as possible. He would save it in the special folder that he normally reserved for Tinkers.
The Siberian knew what target she wanted. The one with the special eyes. She salivated slightly at the thought. Regular human flesh and bones were good enough, but there was something about eating a parahuman. It was as if their power permeated their flesh, which made it part of her when she consumed it. Not that she could grow more powerful, but the sensation was exquisite.
Her Master didn't care. His command was to just inflict as much despair and misery possible. Especially to Cauldron. The objects of his wrath stayed far away, so she was allowed to amuse herself as she saw fit. She was glad to find Riley. The precious little daughter she'd never have. Or the Master she wished she had. The girl understood her, and was in so much pain. Still she tried to be as positive as possible. Thankfully, her actions pleased the Siberian's actual Master, so they were allowed to spend time together. Just the two of them.
No, she corrected herself, it was three now. Kevin. She didn't know quite what to make of him. His freely offered flesh was delicious. It had a... crunch that other parahumans lacked. Even other brutes. The sensation only lasted while it was attached to his body, so she allowed herself to savor it. The texture was like the woman her Master despised. The one she'd only managed to lay a single claw on.
She also felt... something else. She couldn't put it into words. Couldn't describe it at all. He just made her feel... odd, different, strange. It was a pleasant feeling, so she was glad Riley had chosen him as her older brother. He made a fine addition to their family.
Ah! There was her target. Above her, walking on the ground. She followed him, not allowing the earth to block her body or her senses. She didn't understand why they had new rules for this game, but if that's what her family wanted, then that was what she'd do. As long as her Master didn't object.
So, in accordance with the rules, she bided her time. Her target was shouting. Ranting. She waited. Then he turned the corner a full five paces ahead of the group he was leading. She rose up in front of him, and let his power wash over her. She smiled, and grabbed him. The pair of them sunk back into the Earth. She let gravity affect them just enough to aid their movement.
Her target struggled. Futility.
Still, she needed to hurry. Even with her power protecting him, the parahuman still needed to breath. With a thought, she was no longer bound by the Earth's gravity at all. In a fraction of a second, the planet's rotation and movement in space moved it away from them. Far enough away that she wasn't within screaming distance of the camp, but close enough that it wouldn't be difficult getting back.
She released her prey and he said something to her. His power flowed over her again, and she chose to ignore it. Instead she used her sharpened fingernails to pluck out an eyeball. Delicious. Tart. Compelling. She enjoyed her snack as he writhed on ground. Yes. His eyes were the best part. She'd save the other one for last. No point in leaving remains if they wanted the cultists to disappear. Normally she saved some of her meal for Riley, but just this once... she'd eat the whole thing.
[Kevin Greenhouse (Killer)
The Gamer
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Race: Human (Parahuman)
Faction: Slaughterhouse Nine
Title: Thief (+50% to stealth checks)
Level: 12 (4,000/12,000 Exp)
Mover: 4
Shaker: 0
Brute: 5
Breaker: 10
Master: 5
Tinker: 0
Blaster: 0
Thinker: 8
Striker: 0
Changer: 0
Trump: 5
Stranger: 4
HP: 551
MP: 232
Primary Attributes
STR: 65
AGI: 32
CON: 65
INT: 21
PER: 21
WIS: 17
CHA: 14
LUC: 96
Unspent Points: 5
Traits:
Gamer's Body lvl Max
Gamer's Mind lvl Max
Observe lvl 3
Inventory lvl 2
Party System
Perks Selected (2/2):
Rapid Regeneration
Summoning lvl 3
Perks Available:
Solid as a Rock
Power Drain
Fire Control
Silica Control
Juggernaut
Lucky Fate
Skills:
Acting: 12
Athletics: 21
Basic Academics: 2
Computers: 1
Cooking: 2
Damage Resistance (Acid): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Disease): 100 - 100%
Damage Resistance (Electricity): 65 - 99.3%
Damage Resistance (Heat): 64 - 99.25%
Damage Resistance (Light): 64 - 99.25%
Damage Resistance (Physical): 25 - 95.6%
Damage Resistance (Poison): 100 - 100%
Meditation: 38
Melee Weapon: 17
Pain Resistance: 64 - 99.25%
Parahuman Lore: 7
Ranged Weapon: 21
Stealth: 9
Unarmed Combat: 32
Video Games: 26
Ongoing Quests:
Passing on the Torch
Best Served Cold
Escape From the Slaughterhouse Nine
Help Them Fall
They Can't Get Up
Debuffs:
None]
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