Brockton Bay, March 22, 11:39
I walked briskly through Winslow's hallways toward the principal's office. Most of my day was packed—either ensuring that the steps of the plan to help Taylor went smoothly or working on that damn Tinkertech piece.
So many things were eating up my time that I began feeling a bit mentally drained, but I knew it was better to handle them carefully. Tackling one task at a time was easier than trying to force everything to finish simultaneously.
It was time to start being cautious about the number of obligations and elaborate plans I kept piling on myself; otherwise, I wouldn't have time for anything else. I soon arrived at the office. The principal's secretary was typing rapidly on a computer behind an L-shaped counter. She had straight black hair, fair skin, Asian features, and was wearing a dark blue dress. Behind her was a large window with closed blinds.
"Good morning," I said as I stopped in front of the counter.
"Good morning. How can I help you?" she replied, stopping her typing and giving me her attention, her smile visibly artificial.
"I'd like to know if I could talk to the principal about some important matters," I said, returning her smile.
"Just a moment," she said, refocusing on the computer. She typed a few things and moved the mouse before turning back to me. "She's available right now, but would you mind waiting a moment before going in?"
"Of course, no problem, ma'am."
I stepped away from the counter and sat in a row of chairs along the wall to the left of the counter. They were positioned a bit away from the door leading directly to the principal's office. I could have tried to sneak a look into the room, but with the blinds on the office window closed, it would've been a waste of effort.
The secretary had been quite accommodating regarding my request to meet the principal, but I couldn't compare her personality to the principal's. Doing so could set me up for a rude awakening, and my plan could be entirely derailed.
While I waited, my mind raced to organize what I would say. Every detail mattered. I had come here to gauge the principal's personality and ensure she wasn't as terrible as the fanfics made her out to be. Then, I heard a noise from the secretary's desk. She picked up a wired phone and spoke to someone briefly before hanging up.
"She said you may go in now," the secretary said, looking at me.
"Thank you very much, ma'am," I replied, walking toward the office door.
"You're welcome."
I opened the door and stepped into the principal's office. It wasn't poorly maintained. There was a bookshelf against the left wall, a metal cabinet on the right wall—likely holding important school records—and a large window behind the desk offering a view of the parking lot. In the middle of the room was a large rectangular wooden desk with two chairs in front of it. On the desk sat a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Behind it was Principal Blackwell herself, seated in a black cushioned chair.
She matched her description in the canon—a slim woman with dirty blonde, bowl-cut hair. I barely hesitated before activating [Analyze] on her.
[Elizabeth Blackwell] Lv. 9 (HP: 190)(MP: 80)
Anxious, possibly about you?
Serious.
Curious, likely about what you want to discuss with her.
Wearing a black women's blazer, a long black skirt, and black heels.
Funeral attire, seriously? Why on earth wear something like that?
"Good morning, Mr. Smith," she said, gesturing to the two chairs in front of her desk.
Oh, she knows me. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I'd better brush it off; maybe the secretary told her. I sat in one of the chairs and smiled at the principal. It was time to do my best to get on her good side and learn more about her personality.
"Good morning, Principal Blackwell. How are you?" I asked in a friendly tone.
"I'm well, thank you for asking," she said, giving a faint smile. "But I'd like to know—what brings you here to speak with me?"
"Well… I've been thinking about a few things. I've noticed some strange behaviors around the school, you know?" I rubbed my left arm as I spoke.
"What kind of strange behaviors?" Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Some students acting oddly toward others—some fights and harsh words here and there, you know?"
"I see."
"I think there might be bullying happening in the school… I'm not entirely sure, but it seems like a possibility," I said as I used [Analyze] on her again.
[Elizabeth Blackwell] Lv. 9 (HP: 190)(MP: 80)
Fearful, possibly about what you said?
Surprised, possibly about what you said?
Annoyed.
Thoughtful.
"That's good to know. By any chance, do you have more information? Every detail could be helpful," she said, offering a slightly tense smile.
"Well, I haven't seen much, so I just wanted to come here and let you know about it," I said shyly. She didn't seem like a bad person so far—she had been patient and listened to me.
"That's fine. It was very thoughtful of you to inform us about this, Mr. Smith."
"Thank you, Principal. I'll head back to recess now. Have a good day," I said, getting up from the chair.
"The same to you," she replied, turning her attention back to her computer.
I left the principal's office and walked quickly down the hallways. I didn't think the principal was a bad person. She had been very polite to me and didn't seem annoyed by my presence or anything like that. Smiling as I walked, I felt like things could work out. Even in a messed-up world like Worm, something good could still happen amid all the bad.
Brockton Bay, March 22, 16:21
Everything had gone smoothly so far today. Getting home was uneventful. I took the opportunity to chat with my grandmother and grab a bite to eat in the kitchen. Now, I was tinkering with the technological Frankenstein I was building.
[Tech Zone: Gadgets] has leveled up!
Tech Zone: Gadgets (Totally Spies!) (Passive) Lv. 4
I don't think lasers work that way…
Description: With great ingenuity and a touch of creativity, you've unlocked the technology behind the world's trendiest spies' gadgets. With this ability, you know how to create and build some of the existing gadgets or your own.
I was using my sketchbook to jot down notes and draw blueprints for the contraption I was making. Honestly, I felt a little proud of this idea simply because I was using multiple skills simultaneously: [Math], [Electronics], [Tech Zone: Gadgets], and [Drawing].
By doing this, I could level up several skills at once. I placed the sketchbook on the table and examined each part of the advanced phone I was trying to build, all neatly laid out on the table.
I definitely needed more resources and equipment. For now, I couldn't rely on the system due to the lack of CP I had. Sure, I could continue showing up as Prismstroke, but even that was becoming a bit redundant and only earned me a limited amount of CP.
I rubbed my forehead in frustration. I had several options for dealing with the Undersiders earlier, but the best one for now had been partnership. It was a big win for me, but also a headache.
I was probably already on Coil's radar, but at least as a low-tier Tinker. He wouldn't waste resources trying to kill or capture me since it'd be inefficient. In a way, I was already under his control simply by working with the Undersiders. I should have looked into Palanquin first, but with so much going on, I barely had time to check if they were even in town. I let out an irritated huff. I hadn't even had time to fix Destroyer and Grabber.
I definitely needed to create a defensive Weaver. Destroyer was great, but it was more about damage than defense. Maybe in the future, I could pull off something like the Moon Bear King from Puppeteer and directly control the Weaver's body myself. But that would take a long time or require an entirely different skill.
Taking a deep breath, I refocused on the parts scattered on the table. Focusing on something helped me think. Even the situation with the Undersiders had its upsides—like access to good resources. Storing them in my inventory wouldn't seem suspicious since I'd already demonstrated that power.
Not to mention the base. Keeping everything in my inventory had its drawbacks. For instance, if I created something to alert me to specific information I wanted to track, it wouldn't work while stored. The inventory was great for mobile items, but not everything I made would be portable. I still needed to test the limits of what the inventory could hold. What if I built something down here in the basement and couldn't store it, only to have my grandmother or mother discover it?
Eventually, I could start creating a hidden base somewhere. Maybe an airborne or underwater base. I revisited the thought, realizing I had access to technology from various media, including Subnautica.
I shook my head lightly. Better to focus on the now. I looked at the device's pieces and started assembling them. As I worked, I periodically checked my notes and sketches, correcting errors as I found them.
Using only the tools I had was a bit of a struggle. Even creating new tools would've been time-consuming. Plus, I wanted to complete the mission of building some "Tinkertech" within a day—1 Perk Point would be incredibly useful.
After a while, I managed to finish the damn thing. It didn't look as ugly as before but wasn't exactly pretty either. It was still wrapped in black tape, though it no longer looked like a child had mashed together parts from various phones.
I pressed the button near the screen again. The same sequence played: the company logo appeared, followed by the lock screen. I fiddled with the device a bit. It wasn't generating as much heat as before and seemed stable. Overall, it looked pretty decent.
Apparently, I had actually managed to create a super phone. It had a lot of storage and didn't seem to lag with anything so far. Of course, I couldn't count the browser since its performance depended on factors outside the phone's quality.
Mission Completed!
[A Deal Made]
The first step toward becoming a great inventor
Description: You've successfully created a functional piece of technology. Congratulations! This is the first step toward developing many other innovative creations.
Received 500 EXP, 400 CP, 1 Perk Point.
It was good to know I had finally succeeded.
I furrowed my brow as I thought about it. I'd probably need to find a book on the topic or buy one from the [Store], which would cost me more CP. I sighed and put the phone in my inventory. I opened the menu and checked [Graphic] to see if I had earned any additional CP.
Spoiler: [Graphic]
I was a bit surprised. I hadn't expected to have much CP left or to have earned so much, but it was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps I should check the [Store]; I didn't have much else to do at the moment.
With that in mind, browsing the [Store] wasn't too difficult. I picked up a book titled "Basic Computing Concepts" for 200 CP, which would likely grant me the [Computing] skill. After that, I just looked around the store for anything useful. I was searching for something to help me work more efficiently, but I didn't find anything that stood out or fit within my current CP budget. So, I shifted my focus.
Offensiveness—offensive or utility-based abilities. The first ones that came to mind were a few I'd already seen in the [Store]: [Fire], [Aero], and [Barrier] from Kingdom Hearts. They seemed like a good combination. [Fire] and [Aero] could likely be combined for greater damage, while [Barrier] would serve as defense. There was also [Esuna] from Final Fantasy, which would be incredibly useful for removing debuffs that [Dia] couldn't heal.
Fire (Kingdom Hearts) (Active) Lv. 1 (MP: 12)
Description: A spell that generates fireballs to be launched at enemies.
Price: 300
Aero (Kingdom Hearts) (Active) Lv. 1 (MP: 12)
Description: A spell that creates a small tornado around the user, drawing enemies or objects into it.
Price: 400
Barrier (Kingdom Hearts) (Active) Lv. 1 (MP: 10)
Description: Generates a barrier around the user for a short duration.
Price: 600
Esuna (Final Fantasy) (Active) Lv. 1 (MP: 10)
Description: A white magic spell that cures debuffs on the targets it is used on.
Price: 600
They were definitely useful, though the only one that concerned me a bit was [Esuna]. The price seemed low for a skill that removes debuffs, so the catch was probably in the type of debuffs it couldn't remove.
I should probably test it in a controlled environment later. I sighed, closed the store, picked up the book I had purchased earlier, and focused on it.
Skill Book Detected
Do you wish to learn the [Computing] skill?
[Y/N]
I pressed yes, and the book dissolved into blue lights. A screen popped up in front of me immediately after.
New Skill Learned!
Computing (Passive) Lv. 1
Sir... Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Description: The scientific field of information and computation, allowing you to understand various aspects of digital data (Creations that store, transfer, or analyze digital data receive a 1% increase in overall quality).
Finally, I now had the basics for a good portion of the things I wanted—it was the perfect time to start creating other things. I smiled and picked up the phone I had made. Maybe I could make some modifications to it; it would be quite useful. And maybe, just maybe, I could debut it while exploring Brockton Bay at night.
Spoiler: Stats
First of all, I'd like to mention that I've removed the percentages from the Skills, as they made it much harder to calculate certain aspects. Secondly, I'm still planning to release a second chapter today.
By the way, for anyone confused about the CP, I realized today that I made a calculation mistake and corrected it.
Brockton Bay, March 24th, 22:48
Yesterday was okay, well, okay is a bit of an overstatement, but it was fun. [Computing] was quite useful in helping me update that contraption I named Processing Hardware for Optimized Network Execution, or better yet, P.H.O.N.E. A simple acronym, doesn't even seem like I hit my head too much trying to think of it.
I chuckled lightly and continued on the path I was following. I kind of got a little bored just doing nothing during all that time. Even at school, all I did was talk to people and try to turn them against the trio. It hasn't been going perfectly, but [Acting] helped a bit. I even leveled it up to Lv. 11. So, I decided it would be a good idea to take a look around Brockton Bay.
I haven't run into any muggers so far, and the most I've done is use this time to check a few things on my phone. I discovered some interesting stuff, like the fact that Bakuda already bombed Cornell University a few days ago, which means Lung probably managed to get her into the ABB. I also found out that the Merchants attacked a pharmacy about three days after I hit that drug lab of theirs.
I furrowed my brow slightly. Things like that were bound to happen, but they still made me uneasy—events that were out of canon because of my actions. It wasn't anything truly dangerous since they were pushed back by Armsmaster, Dauntless, and Miss Militia along with the PRT.
During this free day, I also fixed Bear King's costume. The bloodstains were a nightmare to wash, but nothing that Googling and using [Chemistry] couldn't solve quickly.
But it wasn't all bad; I managed to find time to fix Destroyer and Grabber. I made another gadget and a few other things. Well, it wasn't the best gadget, but it was decent.
Specifically, I managed to create a mini Taser using some keys, batteries, and wires I got from the stuff I bought at the [Store]. It wasn't amazing, but being average was good enough. I even managed to make it look somewhat decent by drawing some designs on the black tape holding it all together.
It had a rectangular shape, painted red with black details, and a round button on the side. It was about 12 cm tall and 6 cm wide, so it fit perfectly in my hand. I chuckled lightly as I put the Taser in my [Inventory]. My grandma didn't believe in it, but I did.
Speaking of which, I found out she really did manage to find someone to train me in a martial art, and worst of all, a martial art involving acrobatics—Capoeira, the martial art I least wanted. My low DEX not only meant slow speed but also poor coordination, which would probably make training in this a real pain.
I sighed deeply as I walked through alleys. This time, I wasn't lost. I managed to download a map of Brockton Bay and edited it a bit to know where my house was, so I could compare reference points here and there, and just like that, I had a rough idea of where I was.
And more specifically? Well… I looked around—the dilapidated buildings, vegetation growing in some corners, the bad smell in the air, and trash thrown in some places. It was no surprise that the ABB or the E88 didn't want these areas; they were completely depressing. They reminded me of some things from the place I lived before ending up in this world.
My plan was to attack the Merchants again. They might decide to attack another pharmacy, but they were the easiest gang to deal with, and attacking outdoors like this, they would end up making mistakes. I was even considering trying to help the heroes in public.
I walked carefully, avoiding any strange stains or shapes on the alley floor. I didn't want to find out what they were, but the smell of some already made it clear that my fear was somewhat justified.
Suddenly, I heard several loud, successive sounds—sounds that reminded me of something I really didn't want to remember right now. I shuddered slightly as I walked toward them. I ended up coming out onto an empty street. The sounds came from a building at the end of the street, an old structure resembling an old residential building. It looked like it had about six floors, cement stairs leading to a half-destroyed wooden door, peeling paint on the exterior walls, and windows boarded up, preventing me from seeing inside.
Yes, that's where the gunshots were coming from. My heart started beating faster as I walked toward the building, my legs shaking. Whatever was happening, a shooting was never good.
I approached the building's door. Using the Tinkers here could be risky. Buildings like this are usually locked, so both would be easy targets. It was easier to just enter the building and be careful with the interior.
I nodded to myself and slowly opened the door. There were still sounds of gunfire and other noises coming from inside the building, but they seemed to be coming from the upper floors. I hurried inside. The first floor was a typical ground floor, a building lobby with a wooden counter in front of the door, a sign with several empty hooks on it, an elevator to the right and left of the counter, and at the corner of the wall, a heavy door that looked like an old, rusty, and worn-out fire exit. There were a few black bags thrown around the corners, the paint on the walls was peeling, and there were stains that looked like mold.
Elevators were out of the question, so all that was left was the fire escape. I moved to the door, and with some effort, I managed to open it and began carefully climbing the stairs. After a few flights of stairs, I reached the floor, the fourth floor, where the conflict seemed to be happening. I pushed the door slightly and peeked into the hallway. There were several doors that probably led to apartments, some open, some closed, but I ended up finding a pretty surprising sight.
A man of strong build, tall, wearing a black coat, black pants, and gray shoes, with something that looked like a black shirt covering his face. He was leaning against a wall to the right of where I was, his attention on a door beside him, from which gunfire was coming continuously.
I pushed the fire exit door, and it groaned from the force I put on it. The unknown man quickly turned his attention to me and took a fighting stance—or at least, what looked like one.
"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously, his hands raised, fists clenched.
"Take it easy, man. I'm here to help." I said calmly, raising both of my hands. "I heard gunfire and came to check it out. If it helps, I can say I'm a hero, well... vigilante would be more accurate, but either way, I'm here to beat up some villains."
Yes, I was in Bear King's archetype. Sue me, I worked hard to create a personality for him, and I'm not just discarding it.
"Seriously? The costume doesn't help much." He said, making his suspicion visible.
"Yeah, I know, it's meant to scare, but it's meant to scare the villains." I said, rolling my eyes. It was an annoying personality, so I guess I'd have to change it later. "Want some help?"
He stayed suspicious for a few seconds, thinking, before just nodding. I walked over to him and leaned against the wall.
"So, what's the situation?"
"Merchants. I thought it was just a meetup point, but I ended up stumbling onto a drug-making facility. I even managed to take down a few, but three others went inside with guns."
"Good news, then. I think I can handle this." I said, smiling. "I can create minions to serve as shields and a barrier too, so we can go in and take them down."
"Really? But what if the barrier breaks? They're bullets." He said, worried.
"The minions will handle that." I said as I pulled the fabric bodies of Destroyer and Grabber from my inventory and quickly used [Puppetry] on them. Lights entered the bodies, and both floated into the air, waiting for orders. "Destroyer, when I say go, you enter the room and stand between us and the gunfire. Grabber, you grab anything that moves in the room."
MP: 610/680 (+60 MP per minute)
Both just responded with silence.
"Hmm... Did they understand?" He seemed confused and somewhat fearful, probably about our chances or things like that.
"Yes, they just don't speak, but get ready."
He nodded and prepared himself, I took a deep breath for a few seconds, already planning which skill to use, specifically [Barrier], [Aero] would be more useful on its own, and [Fire] would be more useful if there was no risk of something exploding here, since I didn't know what was inside the apartment they were hiding in.
"GO!"
Destroyer barely positioned himself in front of the door before being met with several bullets, but with some effort, he entered the room, Grabber right behind him, using his arms to try to grab one of the Merchants. The unknown cape and I stayed right behind the two, I used [Barrier] repeatedly and managed to block about three bullets, the barrier cracking each time it was hit.
[Barrier] leveled up!
MP: 600/680 (+60 MP per minute)
Grabber managed to grab one of the thug's weapons, and the others seemed to be out of ammo, probably the result of using it all at once. The other parahuman took this opportunity and charged at the thugs, his punches landing with force and knocking down the Merchant thugs.
"Finally." He sighed while taking the weapons and throwing them away from the thugs.
Destroyer, already approaching the thugs, before I signaled him, his body went limp along with Grabber's. It was easier to prevent them from hurting anyone.
At least I noticed a few things, [Barrier] lasted 2 seconds before disappearing, but it was strong enough to withstand at least one bullet before vanishing, and the unknown parahuman was physically very strong.
"Well, since they're all down, I guess it's finally time for introductions, Bear King, nice to meet you."
"Browbeat." He said while tying up the thugs with what appeared to be shoelaces.
I was surprised, I barely remembered his existence to be honest, so finding him here was strange.
"So, what now? Do we leave them here or call someone?"
"We call the PRT, it's the best option." He said while grabbing one of the thugs' phones and using it to call the PRT.
I could definitely take the opportunity now. I walked out of the apartment we were in. If this was another drug lab, then it counted as Merchant territory. I approached the wall and used [Mana Shaping] to create a stencil with the same design as my mask: sharp smile, crescent-shaped eyes, and a half-moon on the forehead. I took a brush and red paint from my inventory and quickly painted the wall with the stencil.
The shape of my mask was now on the wall, and it would probably count towards the mission of tagging gang territories. I could also grab a little loot while Browbeat was talking to the PRT operator.
I explored the other apartments on the floor we were on, and this time I finally got lucky. They had things like a precision scale, respirator masks, syringes, pipettes, and, best of all, a laptop that I didn't hesitate to grab.
No one can prove I had a little joy attack at that moment, but as fate never leaves loose ends, everything quickly went to hell with a small problem in the form of the sounds of what seemed like a truck.
"Shit…"
I quickly ran to one of the windows of the apartment I was in and looked through a gap in the wooden boards that were covering it. My heart froze, and panic was starting to take over me.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU THINK YOU CAN FUCK WITH US AND GET AWAY ALIVE?! PUT YOUR DAMN FACE OUT HERE, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"
Skidmark, that son of a bitch, was here, and the creatures made from various types of trash, the monster truck, and some armed people down there with him were a clear sign that he wasn't alone.
"Shit!" I ran to the hallway, Browbeat was there too, panicking just like me.
"What do we do?" His voice made his fear clear.
"Shit... I..." I had to think, and think rationally. "The PRT, how long until they and the heroes get here?"
"The operator said they'd be here in 10 minutes, but they're not going to just wait that long!" He paused for a few seconds. "We could try to run."
"As far as I saw, I didn't find a back entrance to this building, and the fire escape leads to the front door, our best option is to fight." I said reluctantly, I didn't like this option much.
"But how? They have the advantage in numbers!" He was getting panicked quickly, damn, I can't blame him, it's basically just the two of us against an entire gang, not counting the Weavers.
Yeah, how? The gears in my head started turning, how did we defeat the Merchants alone, my eyes scanned the apartment until I noticed something right in front of me.
"Simple, we use the building!" I said with a sudden brilliant idea. "How did I not think of that?"
"The building?" He asked, confused.
"The building is an enclosed space, and it can also serve as a shield to prevent them from hitting us. Squealer's vehicle probably has armament, but it will only be useful if we get out of it. Mush's projections are too big to just enter through the front door, so they're bound to have to come inside to get us, which puts them at a disadvantage."
Browbeat seemed to understand, which made me have more faith in our grand plan. I sighed and walked to the room I was in before. I first needed him and his thugs to come in here, and if Mush tried to enter, he'd have to lose a good portion of the trash he had, which would weaken him.
"You get ready inside one of the apartments, try not to be too visible to surprise them. At my signal, we attack."
He nodded and took position. Now I had to draw them in, and I had the perfect way to do that. I walked to the apartment I was in earlier and approached the window, already ready to use [Barrier].
"COME GET ME THEN, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE, YOU AND YOUR GANG ARE SO STUPID I CAN DRAG YOUR FACES ON THE ASPHALT WITH EASE." I threw myself to the ground after shouting that, already casting [Barrier], several shots hit the wooden boards of the window I was in before, I couldn't hear Skidmark's response over the gunfire.
MP: 670/680 (+60 MP per minute)
I crawled on the floor to the hallway, a few more shots hitting the window in the apartment. My heart was pounding hard in my chest as I slowly got up, I took Grabber and Destroyer's bodies out of my inventory again, doing that was becoming a bit tiring, I used [Puppetry] and they stood up.
"Grabber, you stay hidden there, at my signal, attack anyone holding a weapon. Destroyer, you stay there, follow the same orders I gave to Grabber." I said, pointing each one to an apartment.
The perimeter would basically form a rectangle around the fire door and the elevators, we could catch them off guard as soon as they were here, with Destroyer and Grabber at the top points of the rectangle and Browbeat and I each hiding in opposite apartments on the fire escape.
Both Weavers went to their posts and I hid in an apartment, one next to the fire escape. I took a deep breath and just waited.
Urgent mission generated!
[Final Conflict: Junkies vs. Teens]
As previously stated, kids, avoid drugs!
Description: It seems you've gotten yourself into trouble with the Merchants again, and this time it wasn't on purpose. Your goal is to hold out for 10 minutes or defeat Skidmark and his gang.
Reward: 1200 Exp, CP 900
(Good to know this, system.) I thought sarcastically.
The momentary silence was deafening, I took a deep breath while trying to listen for any sound, soon the sound of footsteps could be heard, and the groan of the fire door being pushed echoed through the hallway.
"Look through all the apartments, these sons of bitches must be here, fuck their brains out if you find them, fill them with lead!" Skidmark said.
The thugs agreed and started, I could hear some footsteps coming towards our perimeter, I waited until the footsteps were right in front of the apartment door I was in before I burst open the door and used [Power Strike].
"Ugh-" The thug let out a choked scream as my fist hit his face with force.
"NOW!"
Destroyer came out of the apartment in front of mine, there were three thugs between me and the Weaver, he then swung his arm forcefully, hitting one of the armed thugs on the shoulder, he screamed as his weapon fell to the ground.
"Shit! Shoot them, you sons of bitches!" Skidmark shouted angrily.
The third thug, who seemed stunned, finally appeared to process the situation and raised his weapon toward me. Panicking, I threw myself to the ground, unable to reach him with [Power Strike] as he was too far away.
Some of his shots missed as I managed to move out of the way just in time. Destroyer struck him on his side, and I heard a few unsettling cracks from the thug—sounds that deeply disturbed me—but I couldn't afford to focus on that right now.
"Destroyer, focus on them!" I shouted, pointing at Skidmark, Mush, who seemed to have shed much of his garbage, and six other thugs with them.
As I stood up, I noticed that Browbeat and Grabber had managed to take down three thugs, with Grabber trying to grab someone from Skidmark's group.
"Shit!" Skidmark yelled, creating one of his fields. A blue glow emanated from an area in front of the Merchant leader, seemingly directed at Grabber and Browbeat. "Mush, you fucking idiot, move those damn legs!"
Shots were fired in my direction as I dove toward the apartment I was in earlier, casting [Barrier] at the same time.
-37
-37
You are suffering from the [Bleeding] debuff.
I gritted my teeth and screamed in pain as I leaned against the wall, watching Destroyer charge toward the Merchants. My right leg had taken two bullets and was bleeding heavily. [Barrier] had managed to block two shots, so it could've been worse.
I cast [Dia] on myself for the first time. A greenish-blue glow emanated from the bullet wounds, and I saw the projectiles being expelled from my leg. One of the wounds closed, but the other remained partially open and bleeding.
+41
MP: 665/680 (+60 MP per minute)
I cast [Dia] again, fully sealing the remaining wound.
+33
MP: 650/680 (+60 MP per minute)
You have lost the [Bleeding] debuff.
I got up from the floor and cautiously peeked into the hallway. Destroyer's fabric body was riddled with bullet holes as he struggled against Mush, who seemed to be losing. Suddenly, the parahuman landed a hit on Destroyer's head. The weaver froze for a moment before collapsing to the ground, releasing a blue orb with a spiral design floating above him, tethered to his body by a line.
"Damn it." I saw bullets hit the orb, causing it to burst like a bubble.
"That's it! Aim for the head, you bastards!" Skidmark roared.
Mush began walking toward the spot where I was hiding. I had hoped he'd forgotten about me, but that didn't seem to be the case. I couldn't let him get too close—a hand-to-hand fight with him was just asking for defeat. I couldn't afford to hold back. An idea came to mind: I could finally test that title I received a while back. I opened my [Status] and quickly changed my title from [Beta Tester] to [Night Vigilant].
"Well, time to heat things up!" Yes, a one-liner—pretty badass, if I say so myself.
I stepped out of the apartment and quickly used [Fire]. Flames materialized out of thin air, forming three fireballs that launched toward the garbage-based parahuman. He tried to dodge, but with all the trash he was carrying, the narrow hallway didn't give him much room to maneuver. The fireballs hit Mush, scattering pieces of trash from his body.
MP: 638/680 (+60 MP per minute)
"Damn it!" he cursed, slapping at his trash-covered body. Something flammable had caught fire.
I smirked and cast [Fire] again, forcing him to discard whatever was burning. This tactic also managed to chip away at his trash bit by bit. Three more fireballs launched toward him, pushing him further back and intensifying the flames on his garbage-covered form.
"Fuck! That hurts!" He discarded the burning trash.
Everything seemed to be going well so far. I ducked back into the hallway as bullets zipped through the air. Mush, now recovering, blocked their line of sight, but once he regained his composure, I became their target again.
Time to focus on them. I crept slowly toward the door and peeked out to where Skidmark and his group were. I saw Skidmark using his power in the same area, now glowing a bright violet. He pulled some screws from his pocket and threw them into the field. I barely registered them slicing through the building's walls as if they were made of butter.
Mush stood nearby, still seemingly recovering—likely from burns. I gritted my teeth. This bastard had been biding his time, and that made him extremely dangerous. Observing the surroundings more closely, I noticed Grabber had also been taken out, his fabric body shredded on the floor. Browbeat was nowhere in sight, probably hiding.
Damn it, I had to figure out what to do. If I showed myself, I'd definitely get shot. Worse, Skidmark could turn me into Swiss cheese with whatever junk he had on hand.
Well, as they say: if you don't have a dog, hunt with a cat. Time to improvise—and improvise well.
Spoiler: Stats
I think I might have gone a bit overboard in this chapter, but at least it's a bit of action amidst the monotony. By the way, you can start saying goodbye to the previous peace, as things might get a bit more problematic for Thiago from now on.
Brockton Bay, March 25th, 23:23
Mental note: at some point, get a large-scale crowd control ability. This was something I hadn't considered until now, cornered inside an empty apartment, trying to figure out how to defeat drugged-up superpowered criminals.
I was seriously considering making some sort of chemical explosive with the stuff in my inventory. If I waited any longer, they'd see it as an opportunity. But if I tried to attack directly or exposed any part of myself, I'd probably end up looking like Swiss cheese.
So, the best idea I could come up with was putting my incredible math skills to the test. How would I do that? Well, by using angles and memory, of course! Okay... maybe a bit of random guessing too, but who cared about that?
My plan was to position myself outside the shooters' line of sight and use [Fire] to launch fireballs in a curve toward the armed thugs and Skidmark. The real issue was the risk of starting a fire, but it was either that, sitting around, or praying the PRT would show up already.
It wasn't the best plan, but I doubted I could try blind-firing with [Mana Bullet], so [Fire] it was.
I snuck out of the apartment I was in and moved deeper into the hallway to my right. I took the opportunity to drag the unconscious thugs in the corridor into the apartment. It was extra work, but better than leaving them as targets for their own allies.
Standing up, I brushed some dirt off my clothes and started thinking. Based on my location and my memory of where Skidmark and his thugs were, I might have a chance of hitting them with [Fire].
If I was lucky, I might even hit Mush. He hadn't made another move yet, so it was a perfect opportunity.
I took a deep breath and started calculating, the numbers flashing quickly in my mind as I matched them to my memory of each thug's position.
I readied myself, focused on a few key targets... and cast [Fire]. The fireballs appeared swiftly around me, and with a sharp sweeping motion of my hand to the left, they curved in the same direction.
[Fire] has leveled up!
"Shit!"
"Watch out!"
Hearing the thugs' shouts, I smirked slightly. It was good to know the plan had worked. However, the main issue was the delay in launching curved fireballs—a risk I'd have to be careful with.
I prepared another [Fire], this time spreading the fireballs out more to make them harder to dodge.
"Shit! You useless idiots!" I heard Skidmark yelling furiously.
Yep, I could keep this up for a while. I might even have a real chance of taking them down without putting myself in too much danger. But then I heard a series of loud cracks and suddenly felt a searing pain in my stomach.
-59
-59
You are suffering from the [Bleeding] debuff.
[Piercing Resistance] has leveled up!
My legs collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Clutching my stomach, I gritted my teeth, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
I moved my arms slightly to inspect the source of the pain. Oh man, it was a horrific sight—two literal holes in my stomach, bleeding profusely.
It took my mind a moment to catch up. How the hell had this happened? Then, it hit me. I'd been so confident in my plan that I forgot Skidmark had already had enough time to become a real threat.
Dealing with him had to become my priority.
I cast [Dia] three times before struggling to my feet. I couldn't keep blindly firing. I might eventually hit them, but Skidmark likely had an endless supply of trash to throw at me, and he'd already shown how dangerous that trash could be.
It was time to innovate, and I had just the thing in mind. I opened my inventory and quickly pulled out ammonia and hydrochloric acid. Yep, I was going to recreate my trusty toxic gas bomb. I should've used it earlier, but at least I was using it now.
I quickly followed the steps from memory to make the smoke bombs. The end result was three blue spheres I was pinning my hopes on.
I crouched down and slowly crept toward the corner near the elevators. Good thing I did because Skidmark had decided to add more junk to the walls.
"This time, I've got that bastard!" he shouted, sounding pleased with himself—probably because I'd stopped attacking for a while.
I prepared myself and swiftly threw the spheres. They hit the ground in the middle of the group, releasing a white smoke that gradually spread, filling the area.
"Shit! Don't breathe that crap!" Skidmark shouted, coughing slightly—though he didn't seem to follow his own advice.
The smoke thickened, forming a dense cloud. For me, it was the perfect chance to move in and attack them while they were at a disadvantage. They wouldn't risk shooting me if it meant hitting their own allies—or even their leader.
I noticed Browbeat at the other end of the hallway. I wasn't sure if he'd had the same idea as me, but if so, taking down the group would be much easier. I signaled to him, gesturing toward the smoke. He hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
Yeah, it didn't seem like the smartest move, but none of the other ideas had worked out great either.
I crouched low, took a deep breath, and then charged into the smoke, holding my breath as I searched for someone in the white haze.
It didn't take long to find someone. I ended up bumping into one of the guys who had come with Skidmark. He looked like he was trying to get out of the smoke, his eyes bloodshot and carrying a large weapon in his arms. I seized the opportunity and tried to punch him with [Power Strike]—a clumsy punch, to say the least.
My fist grazed his jaw, but it was enough to make him drop the weapon somehow. In return, he swung a punch at me, aiming for my head. I dodged awkwardly and ended up falling to the ground along with the thug.
Man, I could really use those capoeira lessons right now…
Realizing I'd somehow landed on top of him, I pulled out the taser I'd made and used it on him. He convulsed for a few seconds before I released the button. He seemed pretty dazed at that point, so I took the chance to grab the weapon he'd been holding.
Barely managing to take down one thug, I was already struggling to hold my breath. My eyes burned in the thick smoke.
You are suffering from the debuff [Poisoned]. You will take -3 damage per second while the source of this debuff remains in your system.
Damn it. My eyes watered as I finally allowed myself to breathe. My lungs burned as the smoke filled them along with the air. Using [Esuna] here would be almost useless. It'd be like taking an antidote while continuously consuming the same poison.
I dismissed the idea of using [Esuna] and settled for relying on [Dia] if my health got too low.
It didn't take long to accidentally bump into another silhouette in the smoke. The problem was, this one was much larger than the common thugs I'd seen, and it didn't take long for them to notice me too.
"You little shit!" The silhouette—likely Mush—swung an arm toward my right side.
Without much thought, I threw myself to the ground, dodging his strike. I quickly moved away while he seemed to search for me in the smoke. I heard cries of pain—likely unlucky allies he hit in the chaos.
It was utter madness. I just hoped Browbeat was doing better than me. Who was I kidding? He was definitely doing better than me.
New skill created!
Poison Resistance (Passive) Lv. 1
Description: Your body has been exposed to poisons so much that it's started to develop resistance to them (Poison effects and damage are reduced by 1%).
Well, that was useful in some way. I cast [Dia] on myself again and kept moving blindly, searching for someone else.
This time, I bumped into another tall silhouette—but this one I recognized. Well, recognized until the punch I received proved he didn't recognize me.
-21
"Damn it!" I yelled, holding my cheek.
"Crap! Sorry! I thought you were another Merchant!" Browbeat said, sounding guilty.
"It's fine, man, but we need to take out the rest of the thugs and Skidmark," I replied, still irritated.
"I managed to take him and three others down while they were reeling from the smoke. What about you?"
"I got one and avoided getting pummeled by Mush. I think he ended up hitting the others," I said between coughs, the smoke tearing up my lungs.
"Then it's probably just him left. We need to clear this smoke somehow," he said thoughtfully.
"Well, I've got a trick up my sleeve for that." It was finally time to use [Aero].
"Wait, how many powers do you have? That's like, four or five now!" he said, surprised.
"Well, as far as I know, I've got three powers: pulling stuff from a pocket dimension, creating those fabric projections, and lightly controlling some elements." Four or five? He probably wasn't counting [Power Strike], since it didn't look as flashy as the other abilities.
"So, you're one of those parahumans with multiple minor powers, like Circus?"
"Exactly. But let's wrap up this chat and deal with the rest of the Merchants."
"Right, fair enough," he agreed.
With Skidmark and several other thugs down, there were probably at most two left—assuming Mush hadn't incapacitated them as well. I motioned for Browbeat to move away from me, and he did. With everything ready, I cast [Aero].
The wind quickly began swirling around me, forming a small tornado. The white smoke was sucked into it, along with other debris—bullet casings, dust, and trash. The tornado dispersed shortly after, taking most of the smoke with it. The remaining haze was thinner and much less oppressive.
The now-clear view was quite satisfying: numerous thugs down on the floor alongside Skidmark, all unconscious. The only one still standing was Mush.
"It's over, Mush. It's two against one, and even if you try to fight, I can take you down alone—you know that. You don't have enough trash, and I doubt you want to deal with more burns." Saying all that bravely was tough, but it'd probably help convince him to give up.
"Damn it…" He glanced around for a moment, his trash-covered arms raised in a fighting stance before lowering them. "Fine… I give up."
Yes! Yes! YES! I actually pulled it off!
Mission completed!
[Final Conflict: Junkies vs. Teens]
As previously stated, kids, avoid drugs!
Description: Things went better than expected. You and your ally successfully took down not just the leader of the Merchants, but also his thugs, and even forced one of their parahumans to surrender.
Received 1200 XP, 900 CP
Bonus: For defeating Mush, you received 1500 Exp, 1000 CP and the skill [Trash Tech].
Trash Tech (Passive) Lv. 1
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Description: Unlike others, you see potential in what's considered trash. Broken glass bottles, soda cans, drugs, even rotten food—everything is gold to you. You know how to turn it into usable tech.
Congratulations! You leveled up!
You received 3 stat points.
For a few moments, I just held my breath. My first fight against parahumans, and I actually won. I was still waiting for something to go wrong—like a bucket of cold water to ruin the moment.
"Well, now we just wait," Browbeat said with relief, pulling me back to reality.
It wasn't even necessary to look for many signs to see that Browbeat had had enough of this night. His slumped and tired posture, along with the tone of relief, said it all.
"Yeah, I think they'll be here in about two minutes or so. I think it'd be better if we used something to tie them up in the meantime."
"The remains of your projections?" he asked, pointing to what was left of Destroyer and Grabber, completely destroyed.
"Yeah, it's best to use them for that, but I'd like to keep some parts, you know, they hold some sentimental value." Destroyer and Grabber were in shambles, but with this new ability I've gained? They'd certainly come in handy somehow. "I'll also take their weapons into my pocket space to keep them from waking up and using them."
He nodded, and we started working on it. Squealer probably wasn't going anywhere while the PRT was on its way, but realistically? It was better for her this way—at least she wouldn't get killed by Siberian. There was even a chance she might be rehabilitated by the heroes, like Assault.
It didn't take us long to tie everyone up and collect the weapons. There was plenty of leftover material, which I stored in my inventory for later. I also took the opportunity to clear my current debuff with [Esuna]—definitely a skill that would be useful moving forward.
Hearing the sound of what seemed to be a motorcycle approaching was invigorating. Armsmaster showing up was good news at this point; at least we wouldn't have to deal with Squealer outside and her contraption, which remained intact thanks to some sort of super-dimensional alien glue.
"We'll stay here and wait a bit. Squealer is still outside, and I wouldn't want to get caught in a fight with whatever she calls a machine," I said to Browbeat as I sat on the floor, my back resting against the wall across from the elevators.
"Yeah, me neither," he replied, leaning against the wall beside me, still standing.
I could already hear the sound of a fight outside—gunfire, other vehicles approaching—until everything fell silent again after a while. I got up from the floor and looked at the taller teenager.
"I think we can head out now," he said as he made his way to the emergency exit.
I didn't take long to follow him. Downstairs, outside the building, we found Squealer's vehicle stopped, with dents on various parts and some broken structures on top of it. It looked like a mix between a tank and a monster truck, with a V-shaped defense structure at the front. It had three large wheels that seemed chipped on the sides and no visible entry point—likely located on top, alongside the structures that resembled weapons.
Squealer was being escorted by two PRT agents into one of the trucks, her hands bound in some kind of cuffs that covered them entirely. Watching the situation were Armsmaster and Miss Militia. Noticing our presence, Miss Militia was the first to approach.
"Browbeat," she said, nodding toward the taller teenager. "Looks like you scored another success tonight—a big one."
"Yeah, though it wasn't entirely me," he said as he nodded toward me with a tilt of his head.
"Oh, we haven't met yet. Miss Militia." It was great to meet one of the heroes, so I didn't hesitate to shake the hand she extended toward me.
"Bear King. I'm new to this whole cape thing, but I've been doing pretty well so far." Honestly, I was excited about this interaction—she seemed like someone cool to meet.
"I see. It's always good to have more heroes in our city." Oh, I caught the implication in that statement, but I wasn't going to let it get to me so easily.
"Speaking of which, Miss Militia, I'd like to discuss something with you about that proposal you mentioned earlier." Browbeat seemed a bit anxious about it—whatever it was—but from the sound of it, he was probably referring to the Wards.
"Of course, Browbeat. It's good to know you've thought about it."
The two of them moved a bit away, leaving me to observe the surroundings. I should probably hand some of these weapons over to someone, but I wanted to test a few things related to them first. I approached Armsmaster, who seemed more focused on analyzing Squealer's vehicle.
"Good evening, sir," I said as I approached.
"Good evening, Bear King." Oh, so he'd been listening to the conversation. Interesting to know.
"I'd like to know what to do with some of the items I collected during this whole fight—some weapons I stored in my pocket space." He shifted his attention from the vehicle to me, looking mildly interested. "Who should I hand them over to?"
"Some PRT soldiers will likely approach you to gather more details about the events. It'd be best to discuss it with them directly."
"Got it. Thank you, sir. By the way, I wanted to ask something else. Now that Skidmark and the others are going to be arrested, what's going to happen to the Merchants?" I knew they'd likely fall apart, but a different perspective is always useful.
"They'll disband. Without any parahuman members, it'll be much harder for them to hold territory. With their parahuman members being apprehended, it leaves room for non-PRT law enforcement to handle them directly," he said, addressing the key points. It's highly likely the rest of the Merchants would dissolve without their leader. "By the way, are you alright, Bear King?"
"Hm? Why do you ask?"
"You have holes in your clothes and blood around them," he said, pointing to the spots, though what surprised me most was the genuine concern in his tone.
"Oh, this? It's nothing serious. I'm fine now. I don't stay injured for long—Brute power, you know."
"I see." Armsmaster seemed thoughtful. "Things like that can be avoided. The Wards program is always a good option to be a cape safely and with support."
"Yeah, I'm well aware of that, sir. But I'll have to decline—I prefer more freedom," I replied energetically. "But I might think about it."
He nodded before turning his attention back to the vehicle. I took the opportunity to take a closer look at it as well—after all, it's not every day you get a chance like this.
There were several discrepancies in a machine like this. First, it seemed way too heavy to even move, made of a disconnected mix of different metals. You could tell by the color and the sound it made when you tapped certain parts. And the main issue was the exposed wheels—how could something like this leave such an obvious weakness?
Looking more closely, I noticed something odd about the vehicle's wheels. They seemed abnormal in some way, as if someone had taken the rubber and somehow made it more resistant without affecting its normal functionality.
"What the heck…?"
I could try to take a piece of it home, but it was better not to risk it here. The best thing to do was simply move on with the night and carry on as usual. It wasn't long before a PRT agent came to talk to me. I gave my account of the events and managed to hand over some of the weapons, keeping two for myself.
With everything settled, I could've stayed there longer, but I preferred to head home right away. I planned to test some things in the basement and get ready for what was coming tomorrow—or today, I hadn't checked my P.H.O.N.E. to be sure.
On the bright side, I'd have a new branch of technology to explore and build.
Spoiler: Stats
I'm seriously unsure about who to focus on for the next interlude. There are so many interesting options, but most of them will be a lot of work for me.
Brockton Bay, March 24, 11:47 AM
Winslow was oddly quiet today; I didn't quite understand why, but something didn't feel right about it. I walked slowly through the hallways, maneuvering among other students as I took the same path I always did toward the terrace.
I was going to talk to Taylor and Jayne about the plan to finally put an end to the trio's bullying campaign. Jayne had already spoken with some of her other friends about it, while I had tried to get a few people on our side.
Jayne's contribution to the plan was infinitely better than mine, as she seemed to be much better at talking to others. The most I managed to do was leave a few people with a negative view of the trio; it wasn't very difficult, actually, just showing how likely they were to end up being targets themselves.
It wasn't a large group, but they could still make a significant difference when it came time to make things happen. Arriving at the terrace door, I didn't wait long before I was able to open it using two mana lockpicks.
[Lockpicking] leveled up!
I didn't wait too long until Jayne and Taylor arrived. The girl with glasses still didn't seem very confident about me, even after my speech; she still looked pretty wary.
"So, how have you been?" Jayne asked.
"I think I've been doing okay; some people at school probably aren't very in favor of the trio right now, so that's something," I replied.
"That's good! I managed to convince a few more of my classmates to help us; they were a bit hesitant at first, but it worked out in the end," Jayne said optimistically. She was always like that—smiling and being positive, a good person to have around.
"And how about you, Taylor? Have those girls been giving you trouble recently?" Jayne asked with concern.
"Not much," Taylor replied. She didn't try to get too involved in the planning, except to point out things she disagreed with, but it was something, at least.
"That's good. By the way, I was thinking, you know, maybe we could go out this weekend. Maybe hit the mall or something?" she said with a smile. "It'd be fun, you know, maybe buy some new clothes and just hang out."
"Uh, no thanks," Taylor politely declined.
"I'm good. I like my current clothes," I also refused.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Besides, you both need livelier clothes," she said enthusiastically. "And you, Thiago, don't have the right to refuse. You literally wear the same thing every day! How can you keep wearing that same black-and-white striped sweater?"
"Well, I like it. Routine makes me feel comfortable. Plus, these sweaters are super comfy," I responded defensively, but with a slight smile.
"But it's always the same! Even Taylor changes things up now and then, and she actually has an interesting sense of style!" Jayne replied, gesturing toward Taylor, who was wearing a dark blue jacket, slightly baggy black pants, and gray sneakers. "And even I switch things up sometimes."
Now that I thought about it, I had never really noticed Jayne's style. At the moment, she was wearing a long-sleeved cyan shirt, a white knee-length skirt, and white flats. It seemed to match her tanned skin, brown eyes, and chestnut hair.
"Wait… when did you start wearing your hair in a braid?"
"What do you mean 'when'? I've always had it like this," she replied, confused.
"Wait… so I've never noticed?" That couldn't be true. Had I really never noticed?
"With the way you're always off in your own world? Definitely," she said, laughing softly. "But seriously, guys, pleeease, let's go to the mall at some point. It'd be so much fun."
Taylor sighed, tired. Strangely, she seemed hesitant—something I honestly didn't expect from her. Maybe Jayne was getting along better with Taylor than I was?
"But I don't have money to spend there," she said.
"No problem! Thiago and I can buy something for you," Jayne said enthusiastically.
"I'm not really comfortable with that. I'd feel like I owed you both."
"Don't worry about it. That's what friends are for. It's not like we're going to stress over it, right?" she said, shifting her attention to me.
"Yeah, yeah, it's no big deal," I said in defeat. There was no escaping this, but getting out for a bit could be interesting.
"See! It's a sign from the universe itself. So?" Jayne asked Taylor with excitement.
"I... well..." The taller girl hesitated for a few seconds, glancing at me a few times before sighing in exhaustion. "Alright, I'll go with you."
"Yes! We'll meet on Saturday then. It'll be at Weymouth, okay?"
Taylor and I just nodded. She seemed more annoyed by this than I was, but I couldn't blame her. It was likely she'd rather spend time peacefully at home—or maybe working on that costume of hers, which I hoped she wouldn't wear anytime soon if my plans worked out.
The rest of our time on the rooftop was calm. We discussed the rest of the plan, Jayne and Taylor ate the lunches they brought from home after a while, and we had some small talk—mostly initiated by Jayne, trying to make Taylor more comfortable. It all ended when the bell rang.
Brockton Bay, March 24, 16:21
Working with [Trash Tech] was surprisingly much easier than [Tech Zone: Gadget]. Maybe it was the difference in technology levels between the two? One dealt with high-end tech, like a compact device that could function as a supercomputer disguised as makeup powder, while the other created things out of broken bottles, rusty cans, and the like.
I grabbed pliers and a hammer from the toolbox and pried off the nearly loose lid of a can. I managed to find some usable trash for now—glass bottles, discarded cans, and so on.
Currently, I was trying to combine [Tech Zone: Gadget], [Trash Tech], [Computing], [Electronics], and [Metallurgy] to upgrade the P.H.O.N.E. before presenting it to the Undersiders. I set aside the small, thin metal tube I had made from the can lid and checked my notebook, jotting down some notes and adjusting others.
Taking the time to calculate, annotate, and refine my ideas for this piece of Tinkertech was a bit tedious, but it helped me stay calm and focused. My current goal was to improve the interface and add one or two features to demonstrate its utility.
[Tech Zone: Gadget] leveled up!
The first feature would store information about capes. The Undersiders probably wouldn't know the powers of every Parahuman they might face, so I planned to add a database with details on known or publicly suspected abilities, along with suggestions for handling them.
The second feature would be secure communication. For me, creating a system where copies of these devices could communicate exclusively with one another wouldn't be too hard, but it would take a lot of time. For now, the best I could manage was something akin to a walkie-talkie, using the can lid as an antenna.
The great thing about [Trash Tech] was that it was about materials, not limitations. Technically, I could build anything as long as it was made from trash.
I grabbed the pliers, attached the small tube to the P.H.O.N.E. with some black tape and a bit of copper wire I salvaged from old landline phones. I'd probably need to buy more later.
[Trash Tech] leveled up!
Good, very good. That actually reminded me of something. The best part? I was smart enough to remember my single Perk point and didn't hesitate to grab [Always Upgrading!] before starting to tinker with the P.H.O.N.E.
[Always Upgrading!]
Upgrade, Upgrade, PERFECT!
Description: Why settle when you can always improve things? You've decided this, and you won't give up until you achieve perfection! (Finished creations gain a 5% increase in quality when improved. Note: Stackable up to 3 times.)
It was going to be perfect. My device was already decently good, but I still had work to do before I'd be satisfied.
Ugh, it was going to be so tedious and exhausting…
I let out a tired sigh as I picked up the device and connected it to my computer with a USB cable. Thankfully, it hadn't fried my computer the first time I tried this, so it probably wouldn't now.
As I worked on the P.H.O.N.E., I glanced through a few news websites, focusing on articles about Brockton Bay and its surroundings. From what I could tell, the Merchants had truly collapsed after Skidmark, Mush, and Squealer were arrested.
Coil didn't seem to have done anything about their arrest, so I figured he probably gained more than he lost somehow. I wondered what he'd do with Trainwreck now that the Merchants no longer existed.
Eh, something to think about later. The PRT even gave some credit to me and Browbeat—not directly, of course. They mentioned "two well-intentioned capes" who had assisted them. Browbeat had likely declined the credit, and I hadn't talked to them about it at the time.
Aside from that, it was the usual stuff: news from other places around the world, a random conflict between the New York Wards and a small group of villains—probably involving March and Flechette—Scion sightings here and there, and other not-so-useful things.
Honestly, everything seemed pretty calm for now, so I was going to enjoy it while it lasted.
"THIAGO! I'M HOME!" I heard my grandmother shout from downstairs. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
"IN MY ROOM!" Yelling had basically become a viable method of communication in this house, and I was used to it by now.
I heard footsteps slowly climbing the stairs toward my room. Quickly, I inventoried everything I was using to upgrade the P.H.O.N.E. and watched as my grandmother walked in with a smile.
"Guess what good news your grandma has to share."
"We won the lottery?" I asked sarcastically.
"I wish! But no, something a bit less exciting than that," she said with a playful huff. "Your training starts next week, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And since the son of this friend of mine studies at Winslow, he can give you a ride there."
Damn... that was going to be so much work. Well, at least I'd be training regularly now.
"That's great, Grandma. It'll be good for me," I replied with a fake smile.
"Absolutely. And since their house isn't too far, I can come pick you up afterward," she added. Well, at least that would be convenient.
"Got it. By the way, who's this friend of yours? I'm curious."
"Oh, just a guy I met back when I was a surgeon. I saved his life after he got caught in a cape fight, and we became friends later on. He's a good guy," she said, chuckling lightly. "Well, now that I've told you, I'm going to see what's on TV. Let me know if you need anything."
"Got it, Grandma," I replied as she left the room.
I waited a few seconds before pulling everything I'd hidden out of my [inventory] and continuing my work. My fingers typed calmly on the keyboard. The sound of the keys was oddly soothing. I had plenty of time, and it was all going to be spent working on the P.H.O.N.E.
Spoiler: StatsThiago Smith Johnson
Status: Winslow High Student
Job: None
Title: Night Vigilant
Lv: 7
Exp: 2100/6400
HP: 270/270
MP: 680/680
STR: 5 (-6) [11]
CON: 5 (-5) [10]
DEX: 5 (-5) [10]
INT: 30 (+10) [20]
WIS: 17 (+6) [11]
CHA: 7 (-50%/-7) [14]
LUC: 2
Points: 3
Perk Points:
Cash: $2
[Traits] [Perks] [Skills] [Titles]
Spoiler: [Traits]Spoiler: [Perks]Spoiler: [Skills]Spoiler: [Titles]
Sorry for the huge delay in posting a new chapter; I had a damn writer's block and was scratching my head about what to write.Last edited: 11/1/2025 Award Quote ReplyReport90TheGuyInTheGraySweater27/12/2024Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks Threadmarks 2.12 Awkward New Threadmarks TheGuyInTheGraySweaterA sweater using internet27/12/2024Add bookmark#119(Thoughts)
Whisper and mutter
System messages
Brockton Bay, March 24, 5:15 PM
I walked slowly through the docks. Despite living in this area, it still felt slightly unfamiliar to me. It was a strange mix of so many things—residential buildings in some spots, empty storage facilities, a few convenience stores here and there.
It was a lot packed into an area that didn't seem to get much attention from the rest of the world. Adjusting my Prismstroke costume, still multicolored, I felt a bit nervous. But my worries turned out to be unfounded as I sneaked my way toward the Undersiders' meeting spot.
They had chosen a building close to what I guessed was their base. I had a vague idea of where it might be, but I hadn't tried to locate it, wanting to preserve the minimal trust I'd managed to gain from them.
Upon reaching the location, I studied the building for a few seconds. It looked like a somewhat rundown warehouse but was still in passable condition. The outer walls were painted in a dull, greenish gray. From where I stood, I could see two large garage doors—one was shut, and the other was halfway open.
I walked over to the half-open door and ducked under it. The inside wasn't much different—an open space with not much around besides a few stacks of boxes in one corner. The Undersiders were gathered around a table in the middle of the room.
Grue, Tattletale, and Regent—same trio as last time. I wasn't surprised that Rachel wasn't with us. I wasn't even trying to become a group member, so her reluctance to include me made sense. It also didn't seem like this meeting was important enough to pull her away from whatever else she had going on.
Shrugging, I walked over to the table.
"Hey." Not the best greeting for what was essentially a business meeting among villains, but it was all I had.
"Told you he'd still show up like that," Alec said with a grin, glancing at Lisa. "Damn, I should've bet money."
"Yeah, but you didn't," Lisa replied, rolling her eyes.
"Wait, what?" I asked, confused.
"Tats doubted you'd still show up in that colorful white costume. Better yet, I finally got something right that she didn't," Alec said, his smile obvious even in his tone.
"You're going to tease me about this all week, aren't you?" Lisa asked sarcastically.
"You already know the answer," Alec replied.
"All right, people, let's focus," Grue said, pulling the group's attention. "We've done this before, but in case you didn't research us: I'm Grue."
"Tattletale," Lisa said with a small wave.
"Regent," Alec added nonchalantly.
"Our fourth member couldn't make it—"
"Cough cough, didn't want to come, cough cough," Alec interrupted Brian.
"But you probably know her as Hellhound. She prefers to be called Bitch," Brian said, seemingly glaring at Alec. At least, I thought so—it was hard to tell with his skull-themed helmet and the black smoke.
"Yeah, I did some research. You probably know me already—Prismstroke and all that. But…" I hesitated for a few seconds before removing the blue medical mask from my face, revealing my features. "Nice to meet you, Thiago. I figured it wasn't fair for me to know your identities while keeping mine a secret."
"That's fair. Trust is important in a deal like this," Brian said amicably.
"Well, since we're all introduced, let's get to the main point," I said, putting the mask back on and pulling the P.H.O.N.E. out of my inventory. I placed it on the table.
Its current appearance was slightly better than the first version. The exterior was rectangular, painted black, and still visibly held together with tape. However, it looked marginally less like a brick. The newest addition was the antenna I'd crafted using that soda can lid, sticking out from the top. My intention was to use it to pick up police radio signals or something similar.
"This is the Tinkertech I decided to bring. I call it the Processing Hardware for Optimized Network Execution, or just Phone for short," I said as I powered on the device. "It's essentially a mini-computer, much like regular smartphones but with way more capabilities. It has a lot of storage, decent processing power compared to most devices, and other features."
"Interesting. But why a phone specifically?" Tattletale asked.
"Well, I needed one for myself, and it seemed like an easy project for me. Plus, I can add various features, like encrypted communication that only identical devices can access—so you can communicate securely. It also has a map of Brockton Bay for navigation and even something like an encyclopedia on capes, with tips on handling their powers, and so on."
I paused briefly, catching my breath. It was kind of fun to talk about my tech with someone.
"Okay, okay, hold on, that's a lot to take in," Brian said, raising both hands.
"Oops, my bad. To summarize: a secure communication device that's also a good way to store and manage information. I can even try adding a backup feature for another device in case you lose this one," I said, chuckling lightly. Turning on the device, I demonstrated some of the features I'd mentioned. "If I had proper equipment, I could make it even better."
"Yeah, this would be really useful. But one question: how many other things can you make, exactly?" Lisa asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, I don't have a lot of specifics nailed down for myself yet. From what I understand about my Tinker power, I can do pretty much anything and everything. The downside is that the brilliance of my Tinkertech isn't as dazzling as what other Tinkers make," I explained, feeling a bit uneasy. "And when I say everything, I mean it—information, medical tools, veterinary tech if needed. I could easily help with injuries or related issues if necessary."
Suspicious? Absolutely. But it would help me level up [Biology], and maybe Rachel would warm up to me if I helped her dogs. Who am I kidding? She probably wouldn't trust me no matter what.
"That… that's honestly amazing," Brian admitted. "It could be incredibly handy."
"Exactly. In exchange for tech that could benefit you guys, all I ask is a reliable workshop and the resources I'll need for my projects," I said with a smile. "I even have some blueprints for possible inventions."
I retrieved a notebook from my inventory and placed it on the table, flipping through pages filled with sketches and notes.
"Well, someone knows how to sell himself," Alec commented, his monotone delivery strangely amusing to me.
I chuckled softly, but then something caught my attention. Lisa was unusually quiet, her gaze distant. That was my cue to use [Analyze].
[Lisa Wilbourn] Lvl. 14 (HP: 240) (MP: 80)
Fearful.
Worried.
Focused, possibly using her power.
[Analyze] has leveled up!
Okay, now I was concerned. Tattletale being worried usually meant something bad, and I didn't want to end up in the crossfire of whatever it was.
"Well, it looks like you're the real deal," Brian said apologetically. "Sorry for all the hassle; we had to be sure."
"No problem. It shows competence—checking things to make sure," I replied, retrieving my notebook. "So, do we have a verdict?"
"Actually, we've got a few things set up already," Lisa finally said, breaking her silence.
"For example, these two were considering making this place your workshop," Alec added.
My eyes widened, and I stood silent for a moment. They'd really managed to catch me off guard with that.
"Actually, we were going to ask for your opinion first," Grue said, sounding slightly annoyed at Alec for spilling the news. "But this seemed like the best spot—plenty of space and close to us for emergencies or supply runs."
"Well… it doesn't seem bad. It looks like it has all the room I'd need for machinery," I replied, unable to hide the emotion in my voice.
Yes, I was thrilled—incredibly thrilled—to finally be so close to having my workshop. I could barely suppress the grin forming under my medical mask.
"If that's the case, all that's missing is the machinery, but that might take a while," Brian said. "We can start with a few small things, though."
"Small things, yeah," I said, nodding. "Just a heads-up: I'll need mechanical tools—like a welding torch, a soldering iron, a metal saw, and plenty of safety gear. Layers of it. I don't want to end up horribly injured while working."
"A welding torch, a soldering iron, and a metal saw. Those should be easy enough to get," Brian acknowledged.
"Speaking of which," Lisa gestured toward a stack of boxes piled into a pyramid. "The boss gave us a little help with that."
Oh, crap. Coil was already involved. But what puzzled me even more was why he'd take such a direct interest. I glanced at Lisa and used [Analyze] again—my best shot at figuring something out.
[Lisa Wilbourn/Tattletale] Lvl. 14 (HP: 240) (MP: 80)
Slightly confused, likely about Coil's actions.
Worried, fearful of Coil's sudden interest.
Focused, possibly using her power to seek answers.
Damn. These were some solid upgrades to [Analyze]—it seemed to incorporate more of what I already knew. Not that it mattered much. The additional information was definitely welcome.
Mission Acquired!
In the Serpent's Garden
Description: Coil seems to have developed an oddly misplaced interest in you, and that doesn't seem like a good thing at all. Try to figure out his objectives regarding you.
Reward: 4500 EXP, 3500 CP, [Interconnections] ability.
Failure: Possible death, possible forced labor.
Accept?
[Y/N]
...
Well, looks like I have another problem on my shoulders. I focused on "Yes." Failure would probably happen anyway if I couldn't figure out what he wanted, so it was better to gain something from it. But for now, I'd better focus on the present.
"Wow… I wasn't expecting this," I said as I walked around the table and headed toward the boxes, which were stacked in the upper-right corner of the warehouse. They were made of light wood and didn't seem to have any markings. "What's inside them?"
"Tools and resources, the first part of our deal," Lisa said with a smile, walking toward the boxes with me.
Oh, great. Even though Coil was one of the worst people in Worm, these were literally the tools and resources I needed, right there. While I felt euphoric with joy, I was also filled with guilt and felt bad about accepting them.
"I guess… I'm going to need some time to process all this and get used to the place."
"Of course, some of us will stop by occasionally to see if you need anything."
I nodded slowly. There was so much I could do with everything inside those boxes that I'd hardly have time for anything else. I was finally ready to take bigger steps.
Brockton Bay, March 25, 16:47
The first step after succeeding was to investigate the area around my new workshop. I was a bit paranoid and disoriented after yesterday.
It was hard to think about what to do next. I could continue what I was doing before—attacking some gang locations—but that was very risky, with the most impactful targets being the Empire and ABB. Both had firepower at a level far beyond the Merchants.
The alternative wasn't much better, though it was the one I leaned toward the most: using my technology to help people, such as assisting the needy, the homeless, and so on.
But that would make it look like I was building a gang in place of the Merchants. The needy would increasingly come to me seeking help to survive, and given how paranoid everyone in this city is, they would definitely see a parahuman taking advantage of a gang's absence to create another one, using people's misery to attract labor or something like that.
I sighed deeply as I leaned my back against the wall of an alley. This time I spent exploring wasn't just for that but also to gather my thoughts. My goals seemed so difficult and labor-intensive to achieve, but once I reached them? I felt a bit disoriented, as if I no longer had anything to aim for.
Even the most important things felt far off. Bakuda and Lung would probably take some time to act against the Undersiders for now, as without any interference, they did so next month—when Taylor went out in costume and confronted Lung. Then Bakuda probably waited to find out if she was with the Undersiders before setting all her conflict with the teenage group into motion.
Putting those thoughts aside, I started heading back to the warehouse. I'd already scouted the surroundings and overthought things. It genuinely seemed like a safe place to hide. The people I encountered either ignored me and minded their own business or were just homeless.
I still felt bad about not being able to help them…
But doing so would risk putting me on the radar of beings like Mannequin and Simurgh. The former would definitely come to Brockton Bay—it wasn't much different from a ticking time bomb, with the only variation being when it would explode. I didn't want to trade the aquatic lizard for the pseudo-angelic mind-destroying flyer.
Reaching the workshop wasn't difficult. I had even spent the rest of yesterday organizing things. The contents of the boxes turned out to be genuinely useful—I received items like a blowtorch, a welding machine, a circular saw, a drill, and some other mechanical and manual tools. Nothing revolutionary, but exactly what I needed. Along with those tools, I also got some resources—some whole items and others just parts.
I also used the size of the boxes to support items like the loot from that last Merchants drug lab I raided. Essentially, I finally had objects to work with chemicals and others to handle mechanical tasks.
With all that, I could finally sit in a chair I'd brought from home and start working. Specifically, I wanted to create something akin to powered armor, and I planned to use something I'd been considering purchasing but was hesitant about.
Aligned with the Arcanum: Half-Blood (Reverse: 1999) [Trait]
You've realized you are different from the average human. No, you perceive something more in the world—an energy that defies both logic and reason, a true antithesis of science itself. Something seemingly etched into your very blood and that of your kin. (Develops a random Arcane ability based on the user, +10% INT, -10% CON.)
Price: 5,000
Well, I didn't have much CON to begin with, and losing 10% would be a blow I didn't really want to take. On the other hand, I could gain a truly useful ability, especially one related to the Arcanum.
Something else that could be helpful: an ability based on energy that defies logic or reason. That would be really useful against Thinkers. I hoped it would cause them to short-circuit, but I'd have to wait for now. My CP had stagnated since my debut as Prismstroke was no longer as significant compared to things like an entire gang being taken down in one night.
I sighed deeply. It was easier to move forward without this Trait for now. Power armor could wait a bit, even though it was a good idea.
I grabbed the blowtorch, a protective mask, and a pair of gloves. It was time to start working on a series of things I wanted. Now that I had everything I needed, I was sure I had a good margin for further growth.
Spoiler: Stats
And here's something like an apology for the time without posts. By the way, I liked this chapter. I wanted to draw a parallel with Taylor's entry into the Undersiders in the canon, so there are several inspired elements. Also, a little spoiler: the next chapter will be about the most loved and hated fox of all. I was kind of going to skip an interlude, but I realized there was an opportunity here.