Closing the bathroom door behind me, I walk up to the sink and see in the mirror a face that's just begging for a brick to the head. It looks way too pleased with life. Well, I'll fix that right now.
I place my hands on my lower back and bend backward.
Crack-crack-crack-crack
"Aaaah! My back!" I groan tiredly and a bit painfully, rubbing it. Then I bend side to side and forward, earning another series of cracks and pain, followed by sweet relief and relaxation. "Never thought I'd be complaining about my endurance. Not in this way, anyway!"
After twisting my torso a few times, I sigh in relief and get back to my morning routine and problems.
First, I open the messages and claim the "daily" reward of 5 Phantasms. Yeah, not much, especially with gacha pull prices, but it's still nice to get a reward for the first time in over three weeks!
"Too bad the reward doesn't carry over from other worlds," I mutter, closing the messages and opening my "Status." Immediately I spot the anomaly that confirms my suspicions.
*Mana: 1118/1247*
"Where did all the mana go?!"
Pizdec! — If it happened unconsciously, that's still okay. Just means I'm an idiot who can't control himself and didn't notice dumping half my mana on some stupid idea. But if it wasn't me… — Pizdec, fuck, shit! — that means someone took control of my body and I didn't even notice.
Sound of gears grinding in one stupid head
"Umm… I don't have any more 'shiza' (again). Tomo and I are definitely fully merged (sounds so wrong). No new one has appeared yet." I double-check the empty slot. "I doubt it was anyone else, so there's only one possibility — 'Unity.' Yesterday I installed that busty, lustful milf from some messed-up hentai, turned into a demon succubus.
Of course there's also the 'idiot with the huge dick,' but something tells me it's this 'prostitute.' Maybe some unknown effect she applied during installation, unlike Alexander. Luckily that one already disappeared with the rising unity percentage (?)."
"Blya! Even the possession mechanic! Why am I learning about such important and dangerous stuff only now, and the hard way?! Like so many other things…"
I rub my eyes and the bridge of my nose tiredly, then take care of business and step under the cool, very pleasant stream of water.
"Maybe I should remove you? Hmm…" I ponder this very sensible and tempting idea, then glance at my stats. "Nah, let her stay. Otherwise later, from a low percentage (?), she might take control again and…"
I decide not to overthink it. There are more important things to do.
The first important question I've been putting off for too long: leveling up abilities. I don't know why I delayed it, but it's time to spend some points and become a bit stronger. Not like usual…
First, "Flight" — I invest one point and get increased speed, maneuverability, and reduced negative effects from the environment (plus reduced stamina consumption). Nice bonuses. And the development at level 60 gives "control over breathing and oxygen consumption by the body, allowing flight in vacuum" (!). True, it's a side branch leading to merging, and the description raises questions, but overall not bad. Though it's weird that "breathing control" is in the "flight" branch and not "swimming."
The next branch — "Martial Arts" — was disappointing: only three simple bonuses increasing strength, speed, grace (?) and "attracting attention" (???) with techniques. No special bonuses, except a total 5% buff per level. No secret strikes that "explode the victim," no "heart-stopping," not even "paralyzing" ones — just simple "Kung-Fu" enhancement. Though considering the size of the painted area, it's easy to see the dev was lazy.
Same as with "Riding" (!), where, judging by the area size, there were ten or even more skills! True, after level 60 the branch goes sideways, hinting at merging with others, so these "simple bonuses" were only the tip of the iceberg. Very promising. Even if there will be problems with leveling some obvious skills.
Unlike "Armor" (note: Armor means both armor and protection, implying any protective element, including shields), where I see no point in closing branches — everything is too obvious.
"Interesting, will the armor efficiency bonus affect 'durability increase'?" I'll figure that out later. Now the second important question — the new 'shiza'…
Do I need this? More yes than no — no point leaving the slot empty when it can make me stronger (and it will become unavailable otherwise…). But who to install?
With the appearance factor now gone, there are way more options, so I can focus purely on abilities and possible enhancement. That's why the original choice — typical OYASH Yuto Amakawa — no longer looks so good: yes, his "light steam" might be very powerful, but first, it's too situational, and second, it will probably overlap with the system and consume mana to activate. Which I probably don't have enough of right now to create a hundred-meter funnel with one strike. Plus I already have "energy manipulation," which will be more useful and versatile, so it's better to choose someone with more "experience" and leveled abilities rather than just "strong."
Or both options, like with the Jew and Gawain. Except the first is that "Chu-Chu," and the second… is too strong by himself and, with 99% probability, could ruin some achievements and abilities for me. At least for now.
"If I think about it, one is an excellent, cunning, and lucky mage, and the second is an extremely strong and dangerous warrior, and the best solution would be to install them both at the same time so they balance each other's flaws — but that can only be done at level seventy-six, so either wait, or level up characteristics, or accumulate the required points for emergency investment. Which is basically the same thing."
I pause for a moment, thinking under the stream of water.
"Hm. I don't want to let a genius-maniac into my head (note: If anything, it's Hank Pym — in the comics he's quite the fruit who should have seen specialists a long time ago. Very long ago. Before he created Ultron…) or the 'old man,' like the 'conqueror tsar,' (for now), so there are… Well, quite a few, but there's a favorite in this list."
I check my points reserve and current characteristics. Obviously he will raise my "strength," "stamina," and "agility." Possibly "mana." But how much? Will I have enough points, even with level-ups and extra ones, to take the required achievements?
"Well, if I ignore the 'normal guy' who gives nothing but phantasms, and don't invest points anywhere else, then for the 'Monkey' or 'Cockroach' it'll definitely be enough. The others don't overlap, it seems."
"Michael, are you almost done?" Michelle's voice came from behind the door.
"Yes, coming out now," I turn off the water, shake off the drops, and step out of the shower stall, starting the fusion with Ryu and drying myself. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I exit into the hallway where they (or rather, my exit) were already waiting.
"The door was open, you know. You could have just come in. I would have rubbed your back…"
"Go already, breakfast is ready," Michelle said with a smile, slapping me in the face with the towel she was wrapped in, then entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
***
While the eggs and sausages sizzled in the pan, the fusion percentage with Ryu rose to three tenths. Slower than with Tomo, but still good. For now. I feel like in a week the progress will already be at turtle speed. Though it would be stranger if it was the opposite.
I flip the sausages one last time, cover the pan with a lid, then turn off the burner under the second one with the fried eggs, sprinkle a little salt, and cover it too. Two or three minutes and it'll be ready. Meanwhile, I'll make the banana-chocolate-sour cream dessert.
"Smells nice," a female voice sounded behind me.
I turn around and see Michelle sitting at the table in a yellow T-shirt and gray pants, with slightly damp hair.
"Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Eggs again?"
"Well yeah. Better to cook what you do best than choke on porridge."
"I don't get it. Are you hinting at my cooking?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.
"Actually at myself," I looked at her. "The only thing I do perfectly is fried eggs and omelets. Well, and frying stuff."
"Really? Then you should work on your skills."
"Maybe…" I turn off the second burner, open both pans, transfer the contents to two plates, place them in front of Michelle and the neighboring spot, then finish the dessert and sit down myself. "Enjoy your meal."
"You too."
Silence settled over the table, broken only by the scraping of cutlery on plates and our "chewing." Hm. What to say?
"What are your plans for today?" Michelle beat me to it.
"Nothing special. As usual — for the first time in a long while…" I was going to train, then play on the computer or console. Or watch some videos. Why?
"No, nothing. I just need to go to the store for groceries; they're running out." Cough. Yeah.
"Want me to go with you?" She gave me an appraising look.
"You still have the last day of house arrest!" she hit the sore spot!
"How cruel! Maybe you could make…" but the ringing of my phone cut me off. "Who is it?" Carl's name lit up on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Dude, why aren't you answering messages?!"
"I'm glad to hear you too, CJ."
"Have you seen the news?!"
"What? What news? What are you talking about?"
"From Metropolis! Just turn on the TV! Right now!" I have no idea what he's talking about, but judging by his tone and excitement, something very important happened.
"What channel?"
"Any of the main ones!" Okay.
I turn on the kitchen TV and… see a helicopter report about a giant gorilla that climbed to the top of the "Daily Planet" and is fighting a guy in blue tights and a red cape.
"Superman is fighting King Kong?!" What?!
"Yeah! And it shoots lasers from its eyes!"
"That's public knowl—" A bright red beam shot from the "big monkey's" eyes, chasing Superman and easily slicing the spires of neighboring buildings. "Oh, you mean the gorilla!"
"Yeah!"
Me (and Michelle) froze, staring at the TV screen, where a huge gorilla capable of shooting lasers from its eyes is destroying Metropolis and handing out "slaps" to Superman. Not bad slaps: he flew back dozens of (?) meters, smashing through several buildings already. However, the "Man of Steel" quickly returned to the fight, without visible damage.
A system message distracted me from watching the chaos on the screen.
*Planet of the Apes Uprising?*
A huge gorilla has attacked Metropolis. Help Superman stop it and protect the city.
*Reward:* 1000 experience points, +10 relationship with Superman, +10 reputation with Metropolis residents, +5 reputation with peaceful population, -10 relationship with ???, -5 relationship with ???, variable.
*In case of failure:* Metropolis will suffer major damage, -10 relationship with Metropolis residents, -5 relationship with peaceful population, -10 relationship with ???, -5 relationship with ???, variable, death?
*Accept?*
Yes / No
What? A choice quest?
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~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]