Rain Harlow
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Chapter 59
🕑 Added 2025-06-23 15:00:12 +0000 UTCChapter 59: Choice of Three Mutations, Go!
He was within the starry void of space, that place of meditational Calibration conjured for him by Memoria. She was there before him, brighter than the stars and seemingly made of them, a loose outline of a giant angelic being with eyes like supernovae. That last was new.
The whole universe felt charged, felt excited, bristling with potentiality. The construct of his powers, loosely felt extending from his mind in all directions, veritably buzzed with its want and need to expand, like too many roots in a too small pot.
“Jaaack!” Memoria exclaimed gleefully. Laughing, she flung her hands out before her in showy fashion, and there were three more little exploding stars out in front of her, supernovae caught in slow motion and twisting into beautiful, unique structures. “Are you ready for your selection, my dutiful, beautiful boy?! Are you ready to see?”
“You’re damned right, I am! Or should I say, ‘You’re blessed right?’, oh dear Goddess of mine?! Ho ho hooo!”
“Oh hohohohoho!”
They both laughed in boisterous, general elation, as if they were high on something.
After calming a bit, Memoria held one hand on her bosom, wiping at her eyes with the other while she shook her head. “You’re too much, my son. Too much! Here.” She flung her hand almost dismissively, still chortling, and the supernovae twisted from complex codes into discernible text. The rest of the universe responded in the background, branching vast latticeworks of gossamer constructs as a background from behind it, gradually thickening.
Embrittler
Destroy +1.0
After you take control of or 'possess' existing metal, you may immediately and instantly 'Embrittle' it, damaging and weakening the material, reducing its general strength by 50% and making it easier to break or shatter, i.e., it becomes more fragile. Armor has all assessed beneficial values reduced by 1 level before the raw strength value is also halved.
Constrictor
Control +1.0
Add +0.5 Levels to Create (thus adding to Magnitude) for the purposes of actively tightening or binding with a complete 'wrap' via a metal cord, band, or the like. Add an additional +0.5 Levels for Constrictor for every 5 full Access Levels (no fractions).
You must have one complete wrap around something, making a ring (loosely), to gain the benefit.
Your instincts and control for the right pressure used are supreme. You will never accidentally kill while choking, and can restrain effortlessly while avoiding serious harm.
Shielder
Augment +1.0
Add 1.0 to the assessed Armor of a metal wall, barrier, or shield, with an additional 1.0 per 10 full Access Levels (no fractions). These levels (only) are considered Hardened Armor and have resistance to armor penetration. Generic objects (weapons, tools, etc.) do not gain the benefit.
This effect is passive, binding within the metal structures, and has no visible effect. It only works for metal 'in focal range.' It dissolves outside of your ideal Control range (Currently: 2-30 meters out from your center mass).
“Holy shit!” Jack exclaimed. “These are serious ass choices at Level 2. And strong? I didn’t expect this.”
Memoria grinned. “The best and rarest classes get these enhancer options with attached stat boosts every so often. Even levels, but not every even level. Note that they can upgrade later or reappear. Sometimes, if you lean into Transmute, you can change these, too, abandoning a prior mutation to double up on a new one. No guarantees, but enhancers are perhaps your most flexible Secondary Mutation. The big ones every three levels are usually set in stone, though upgrades are possible.”
Though still excited, Jack sobered up quickly with the choice in front of him. Brand new stats. Damn. “So, I won’t see this sexiness again at Level 4?”
“Not a chance, no. Level 4 would be like most odd Access Levels — either a stat increase or a minor modification. Not both. Perhaps you’d see it again at Level 8. If not, Level 10.”
Jack nodded slowly, still scanning the choices. Pros and Cons in his head. As he swept his vision from one to the next, it highlighted in red and popped out further than the others a bit.
Embrittler. If I knew I’d be dealing with metal-using civilizations… Uh, I’d still be generally better off controlling the metal? I can find uses for Destroy. Blowing up my darts for better frag grenades, I bet. Very ‘edge case’ shit, though.
Constrictor. Offensive power in league with what I’ve already been doing. Vital Control stat boost, improving everything I do. More accuracy, more maneuvering, more precise shaping, faster operation. That’s on top of squeezing harder with cables, chains, and tendrils. On the other hand, I’m going to get Control and Create anyway. Nothing super novel.
Shielder. Augment is going to be useful for general material strength. This total package is defensive-oriented and gives me a better chance at blocking stuff. Hardened Armor — I already know that’s powerful against modern weaponry. On the other hand, under most circumstances, enemies can bypass. I can’t wear armor benefiting from it. Not until I can make my armor a giant mech! Hah. Still… if I can feather in some levels of Interpret, I can work blind behind a stronger wall. Or bubble.
Jack decided to prod Memoria a little bit, glancing at her and asking, “Control is stupidly difficult to pass up, huh? I’m a damn Controller, after all.”
“A logical assessment,” she replied, gesturing vaguely with a hand out flat. “You have to increase it eventually, to keep your accuracy on point with latter levels. Augment and general defensive reinforcement are nothing to sneeze at, either. Sadly, we can’t increase everything.”
“Destroy seems like the first and foremost necessary dump stat.”
“One overlooked aspect is its capacity to combine with other stats. Transmute or Control for quicker transformational changes, breaking down and disintegrating, and then reforming to something otherwise dissimilar. Or affecting more total mass of metal otherwise larger than your capacity to manipulate. You might say that each stat at low levels is worth taking for combinations, especially if bundled with another benefit. A consideration for the future of whatever specialties you choose. And there would even be benefits to a generalist, even if most avoid it to pursue specific goals.”
“Ah. Whoa. Thanks, I’ll keep this in mind.” After a pause of consideration, he shook his head. “I think the special effect can’t compare to the other two, so for me, it’s between Constrictor and Shielder.” Another pause, as he glanced between them. “I mean, they’re both solid, guaranteed to see use…” He flip-flopped the ‘highlight’ effect between them.
The Angel of Light had a lopsided grin. “But you’ve made your choice, haven’t you?”
Jack nodded slowly. “My role is to control a battle, tying down enemies or even taking them out if possible. This option is all of the core things I do and have already done. I can’t pass it up.” He punched in his selection for Constrictor. With explosions of light, two options folded into the other, making an impossibly complex nexus out of the rest of the vast network behind it, like the artery of a cosmic web made of light. It was still holding, still frozen and poised, but it pulsed with life.
Memoria thrust a hand up dramatically. “Yes! So let it be done! The alteration shall commence! Prepare for cementation!”
The artery burst and flowed out into the greater construct, becoming thinner and thinner neural-network-like patterns, until they were gossamer like the rest, and twisting everything around into a brand-new design. A new machine; his Allotment, his construct. It roiled, tossed, and turned. More than anything, it expanded. In his mind, it was a bit like many tiny feathers brushing through old and new grooves. He had no physical eyes in that place, but there was a sensation of his eyes rolling back in his head, and he blacked out for a moment.
In the next moment, all was shiny, new, and complete. His perception of the time taken was almost certainly warped. It was much more complex than he’d ever gone through, and it felt… compacted, somehow.
“There we are!” Memoria said with satisfaction. “But we’re not done! You have the other stat selection. It’s better to experience that degree of change as a standalone, for the first time. In the future, we’ll bundle it. Hypothetically, even multiple levels can be bundled. But you have to work yourself up to that. Anyhow. Here you go.”
She waved her hand, and the stat selection menu popped up.
[ 0.0 ] Augment
[ 1.0 ] Interpret
[ 0.0 ] Destroy
[ 1.0 ] Transmute
Jack ‘blinked’ as his senses slowly came back to him. He sighed as he stared at the stats. “Tough choice, again. I’m pushing Transmute, but I really want at least Interpret 2.0. If that had been the choice type instead of Destroy, I’d be banging my head on the wall. Er, well, there is no wall. The moon, I guess.”
Memoria chuckled. “Just keep training toward what you want, and the options should crop up. Or you can select it in another level or two.”
“Yeah, fair enough.” Jack punched Transmute in, and once again, options and text disappeared, replaced with ‘poised’ symbology contoured out of many branching strands.
“Another alteration is a’go! Prepare for cementation and a return to meatspace.” Memoria shifted, moving swiftly over to embrace him and kiss his forehead. “Until next we meet, my son. Soldier on! And be ready for what is to come.”
The code in the gossamer web shot loose and absorbed into the greater network, as his Allotment shifted and changed again.
Level increased! Create increased! Allotment increased! Control increased! Transmute increased! G.P.E. increased! Evasion increased! Super Sapien Resilience increased! Secondary Mutation added: Constrictor!
Upon Access Level 3.0, you may select any statistic other than Create or Transmute.
Level: 2.0
Allotment: 150 [ 140 ]
G.P.E.: 24%; Evasion: 2.6[ 3.0 ] Control
[ 3.0 ] Create
[ 2.0 ] TransmuteArchon Imbues: Super Sapien Resilience (Toughness 1.1, Hardiness 1.1)
Secondary Mutations: Constrictor
Lost within it all for a spell, he rather suddenly woke up back in the room, twitching and drooling on the floor. He jerked upward with a sharp intake of breath and ran a hand through his hair. He checked the time. Over thirty minutes.
Well, then. Tactical meditation for Secondary Mutations is not a thing, I guess.
Mini chimed. “Congratulations on your level up, Jack! Also, yes, you should always allow an hour for whole level increases, just to be safe. Also, would you like to see the new chart, for example lifts and such?”
“Uh. Sure. Lay it on me.”
Create 2 — 100 (220) kg (lbs) — Examples: dumbbell set & rack, china cabinet
Create 3 — 150 (330) kg (lbs) — Examples: Three-seat couch, refrigerator, gorilla
Create 4 — 200 (440) kg (lbs) — Examples: Old World motorcycle, piano, boar
Jack glanced briefly through the data as he began channeling his memorite out and getting a feel for his new Control and Transmute values. “What is Create 5 at for kilos?”
“300. Every fraction past Create 4 gives 10 Allotment instead of 5. So begins the gradual amplification between levels.”
“Nice.” Jack utilized his memorite and ripped free some raw material from a cube of practice steel on the table, and then Shaped it into many small rings, as well as some little spheres like ball bearings. He locked the rings into stationary levitation across the room, then began zipping the balls through them as fast as he could, in what numbers he could manage.
He felt a dramatic and noticeable difference already in his little test maneuvers. The metal was more responsive, followed his desires quickly, and more precisely. Improved ‘power-eye coordination’. But it was a little jittery. He’d need some practice, but nothing like the mountain he’d had to climb to get from his nearly zeroed state initially, to earning default Control.
Collapsing the metal into a blob, adding some more from the sphere, he shifted to perform some of his Transmute drills, quickly creating darts and things. Boom! Seven darts in one second! An immediate improvement from four and a fraction. He checked a few other quick-change templates and saw a similar improvement across the board.
His stomach grumbled. Then he stifled a yawn. Okay, break time. The calibration ‘meditation’ does not help fatigue one bit…
Jack grabbed some quick grub and went for a nap. It was too early to retire fully, and he had a schedule he’d become religious about.
🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕
Inner Energy has improved to 0.45!
Jack did not take a long nap, getting up to work out, run, and eat some more. Finally, he ended the night with a slurry of versatile training, getting used to his new stat values, ticking them steadily up from 85-90% utilization to 98-99%. Meanwhile, in checking on his GIFT and SOFT benchmarks, they’d improved a tick to 49% and 75%, respectively.
His accuracy had become downright lethal, and his range had pumped up, especially for general Throw purposes, popping up to a reliable 70 meters at arrow-like velocity with his darts, and gradually declining out to 100 meters. This took practice, depending on where the projectile started, though. The ideal was right at 2 meters in front of him. He was still working on ‘mid-range’ launch accuracy. ‘Manipulation range’ only squeezed up to 40 meters in contrast, and falling apart gradually between that and 50 meters. But he was confident the fight with Dozer would’ve gone differently with these values and his general improved Control.
Pure Transmute effects included the obvious speed benefits of memorized Quick-change items, but he also noticed fineness of detail was improved all around, from his copied items, now of default higher quality, to his more custom creations. Blades had sharper edges and points. Creating a mockery of a hand looked more realistic. He couldn’t get it better than ‘uncanny’ at the moment, not while animated. But colors could be vividly changed and looked better, and he felt like his ‘artworks’ were drastically improved.
Transmute, in combination with Control, was boosting all of his Shaping actions, if not quite so dramatic a change as the mostly pure stat uses. Speed and effectiveness at all manner of changes improved, utilizing that ‘extra angle’ of manipulation. It did make him see how Destroy could be tossed in there, too. Balancing them all together to shift them not only quicker, but more reductively. Say, when he needed to get through a smaller gap. Easier and less noticeable with particulate matter.
When he was tired out and logically done for the day, sitting down in his customary chair in Power Park and snacking, he tried pinging Lindsay for touching base and a question or two.
She popped into his head with a Mem-link. “Hey, Jack! Great to hear from you. Congrats on Access Level Two! Proud of you. And you snagged a sweet lil’ extra Control stat?! Hell yeah, Star Pupil!”
Jack popped some Infused cheese squares into his mouth and grinned. “A good selection, then? Constrictor.”
“Yes. You gotta take Magnitude-type boosts, even specialized ones. This even amps up with levels. It’ll pop up again, and Boom! Another Control boost! Even more murder choking! In-sane, me boyo.”
“Oh shit! Didn’t even think of that.”
“Yeah! Advanced level shit, though. We’ll see, I guess. You’ll want to train with it, utilize it, if you want to make sure it pops up for you as soon as feasible. So, yeah, definitely try and choke me in our next tumble!” A pause. “Whoa. That did not come out right.”
Jack almost choked on a piece of cheese as he burst out laughing. It went soaring out of his mouth. He just put his hand in his face and guffawed.
Lindsay definitely caught the gist despite the radio silence. “Shut up, Jack! Geez. It’s not that funny. It’s a logical segue! Your tactical specialty. Pfft.”
Jack got a hold of himself as he slurried up a reply — thankfully, ‘mind-speak’ made it possible to talk a bit smoother while chortling. “I was going to ask you a couple of things. Firstly, moving parts on Transmute 2.0?”
“I can still feel you laughing, you bastard. Don’t think I don’t know you well enough to tell!”
He stifled his laughter more. “Moving parts on Transmute 2.0?”
A mental sigh. “Six to eight parts reliably. A few more, maybe, with a lot of practice. I don’t know fully how it improves at later levels, but it should be diminishing returns.”
“Maybe up to ten? That’s a nice little machine. A mechanical watch, maybe.”
“Marginal use except as curiosities, but good practice. So, what’s your other question?”
“A few times, I sensed my opponent’s Allotment being used right before it hit me. Doesn’t give much in the way of details, but it helped me in the last duel. That normal?”
“Oh! Yeah. Wow, I didn’t think you’d gain the sensitivity this quickly. Everyone has that potential, but not everyone nails it before veteran levels. Sensory-type classes do better with some Interpret levels. Well, that’s good, Jack. Train on increasing your sensitivity. Look actively for it. Or ‘feel,’ I should say.”
“Damn. Another reason to take Interpret.”
“It’s handy, ain’t it? Now that you’ve established Transmute, you can probably get away with snagging a level in it. What stat types did you pass on?”
“Augment and Destroy.”
“You might see an Interpret option soon, then. Especially if you’re using it. Whether it will show on Level 3, though… that’s a crap-shoot. Odd levels don’t automatically have additional stat options, unlike even ones. An even level always has at least one stat option.”
“Noted. Maybe Level 4, one way or another. Well, anyway, thanks for clarifying stuff for me. I won’t keep you if you gotta go.”
“Eh. In a minute. How are things?”
“Solid. Meeting people, making friends. Beating up kids.”
“Huh?!”
“I dueled this teen named Dozer. He’s like a brother to Highfive. It was his suggestion. Anyway, it’s how I leveled the last two fractionals.”
“Oh. Yeah, I’m familiar. That was a smart move, Jack. Was it a good duel?”
“Damn right. I was kinda handicapped. Still won. Yep, yep, ahhhh…” The last was with exaggerated, smug braggadocio.
Lindsay chuckled, which segued to a sigh. “Wish I could’ve seen that.”
“Really? That much of a fan?”
“Pfft. Okay, fine, I admit it. I’m a fan… of Dozer, that is. What cool powers! He’s so cool!”
Jack chortled. “Ooooh. Snuffed my candle out. So cold. Okay, maybe I’ll tell you the story sometime. If you’re nice for a change.”
“Too easy. I’m always nice, so you will, in fact, have to sometime. Hmmph!” Said in the most deliberately bratty way possible.
“Sugar and spice and everything nice… and cute.”
“My Star Pupil is knowledgeable and well-trained.”
“Quite a ways up from the Hopeless Plus days, eh?”
A too-long pause. When she spoke, her voice was sober. “Yes, Jack. Far and away. Your grade is A-plus. Literally. Words as strongly worded as commendations get rest in your file. Sorry I didn’t mention it before. But that’s why you’re my Star Pupil and my expectations for you are in orbit.”
The pivot took him aback. He blinked in surprise. “Wow. Well. Thank you. I… don’t know what else to say.”
“Don’t. And don’t let it go to your fat head.”
“Too late. It’s ballooning as we speak, and it has gas! The hamster shall fly!”
Genuine, deep laughter. “You’re so stupid!” It was said with the utmost affection. “Tch! Anyway, Jack, I’m gonna let you go. Bit of work to finish before my nighttime rituals.”
“Alright. Yeah, I’m gonna eat and wind down, too. But we’ll race again, yeah? Soon.”
“You bet. You’ll lose, too.”
“Like hell I will!”
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« Chapter 58 | Table of Contents | Until the next doozy... »
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Note: Next chappy some shit goes down. Cheers. Catch ya in a few!
Comments
Rain Harlow
Gah, I dunno where I got that from, now. So it seems... well, there's apparently one with only 50 parts! Possibly the tech of Memoria and such has squeezed this a little. Anyway, I'll just have him eventually look into it and realize he'd heard a lie or somesuch, like me. :P
Thomas V.
I don’t know if I can’t wait for shit to go down or am absolutely terrified. I like Lindsay, I don’t want anything to happen to her. Poor girl has suffered enough. > “Maybe up to ten? That’s a nice little machine. A mechanical watch, maybe.” Even a simple mechanical watch has about 130 parts, and that number increases with complexity of functions. There aren’t all that many reasonably complex things you can do with only 10 parts total, I don’t think.
