- Thursday – 30/04/2009 -
Looking up at the dojo sign I pause.
This is the most logical method to get in with the Hand, to get close to my targets... but the moment I do this I risk putting myself under their spotlight before I'm ready.
Well, I've come this far.
Heading through the door I look over the students training, this place is in the shitty side of New York, the side which sometimes resembles a prettier Gotham City. Dozens of different gangs are set up around here, and it's not unusual for civilians to get caught up in the gang-warfare.
"Can I help you?" a young Asian woman with long brown hair tied in a pony-tail asks me, let's see...
Coleen Wing, Pawn of the Hand
LVL – 37
Tier – Veteran
Faction – The Hand
Thoughts about you – Curiosity
Reputation – 0
Target sighted. I'm not surprised she's so low level, relatively speaking. She's a normal human, in a world where some random kid could crush her in seconds no matter how much she trains simply because they ended up with a stupidly strong power. Even pre-X-Men Rogue could end her if they fought, she'd collapse the moment she touched her after all.
An Unenhanced Baseline Human will never get out of Tier Two. Mutants can fall into any Tier based on their powers, some races start in the higher Tiers.
Figured as much, the worlds an unfair place... for people who don't have the Game on their side. Tiers are more of a sign of the persons power than their experience. A inexperienced Celestial would still crush the most experienced baseline human, despite what the Batman comics would have you think. Unless of course they go the Iron Man route.
"Possibly, I saw a poster advertising this place. I was hoping to learn how to protect myself." I say with a smile making her pause, her eyes running over my body intensely.
"Huh... I only put those up this morning. Still, I'm surprised you have problems with protecting yourself, you certainly have the body of a fighter." she comments making me smile.
"I'm in good shape, but that doesn't make me a fighter. That's why I'm here, brute strength will only take me so far after all." I say making her nod.
"True, have you ever trained in martial arts before?" she asks me with a smile.
"I've had a little self-defence training, but not much." I admit, really my two lessons at Xavier's are all the training I have for hand-to-hand.
"Well, you're more than welcome to join us here. I'm Coleen, I run this place. If you'll follow me we can get you enrolled and changed." she says happily, leading me into the back after some barked orders at the rest of the students.
Heading into the back she leads me to an office, going over some details about the costs, rules and so on. Apparently there won't be any penalties for missing days, my life is chaotic enough that I felt a need to check. Out of the corner of my eyes I spot some paperwork on her desk, focusing on it with a slight smirk. They're mostly covered up but X-Ray Vision deals with that as I read the paperwork through the book she's used to cover it.
Bills. Unpaid bills. She has money problems. One of the papers mentions debt collectors.
Interesting.
X-Ray vision has more uses than just using it to look through girls clothing... though now that you mention it...
Heh, she's in good shape. Modest but perky tits, a shaved pussy (an innie to be exact), and as she turns around to file some paperwork I see her best feature, a perfectly shaped ass. Her active lifestyle really shows itself there.
Sorry Danny, but you can stay in magical dragon land or something, I'm taking your girl.
Iron Fist sucked anyway.
"Right that's all done.. congratulations, you are now an official member of the Chikara Dojo, I'll need to order you your actual outfit, but we have some spares for today. I'll show you to the changing rooms." she says kindly making me smile.
Coleen Wing is now your Mentor
Martial Arts based skills raise faster.
Katana based skills raise faster.
STR and DEX increase faster.
Reputation with the Hand and it's members rises faster.
Interesting... but not what I'm here for. Though it will help me get the Hand's attention quicker, pulling Bakuto to me so I can reap his soul.
Changing into the... outfit I head back into the dojo. What is the Martial Arts uniform called again? A Gi I think? I've never been a fan of martial arts stuff.
"I need to get an idea of where you are, so we'll start with a spar." Coleen says as we move onto the mats.
"Works for me, anything I need to know before we-" I start, cutting off as she attempts to catch me off guard, a quick jab aimed at my face.
Moving quickly I move my head to the side, letting her punch go over my shoulder instead as I grab her arm, tossing her over my shoulder and slamming her down on the ground.
Holding her in an amateurish grip I hear people muttering as they stop practising themselves, watching us. It becomes immediately apparent that she's weaker than me, despite the physical difference she quite easily breaks free, hitting me under the armpit sending a slight jolt of pain through me as she flips us over, escaping my grip and getting back up as I do the same.
"You're strong... good reaction times as well, but you're right. Strength alone doesn't make you a fighter." she says getting into her stance as I drop into a more amateurish stance myself.
"But it helps." I say with a smirk as she rushes me, as I go to use my unnatural reaction times to catch her punch she sweeps my legs from under me making my eyes widen as I fall to the ground.
I hadn't seen her leg move until she'd already swept me off my feet...
This is why I need the training, physically I could destroy her... but I lack the combat skills and experience to actually beat her.
As I roll over, getting back up she continues relentlessly, lashing out with a kick which I stop, grabbing her leg and pulling it from under her. Her kick had barely half her strength behind it, she isn't really trying to hurt me.
Even as she hits the floor, she's back on her feet before I am.
Grappling just isn't working so I try a different path, as she starts throwing punches at my chest I simply endure it, using the moment she hits me to counter with a jab to her chest, the difference in our strength becomes clear as she is knocked back a couple of steps, a wince on her face as she pauses.
Her hit hurt, but not enough that she can afford to swap blows like that, it's a losing battle for her if she tries it.
We stare each other down for a moment silently, the rest of the dojo watching us. I'm not going on the offensive, I'd be hard pressed to actually land a hit on her, and each attempt would be nothing short of an exploitable opening for her.
Realising that I have no intention of going on the attack she rushes me again, a punch aimed at my shoulder making me step to the side, reaching out to grab her arm before I realise the trap I've walked into.
As I extend my arm she grabs it harshly and despite my admittedly heavy body she pulls me over her shoulder sending me to the ground again with a thud.
My body is mostly muscle and I'm tall for a teenager, despite this she seems to have no problem throwing me around. At least when it was Logan using me as a punching bag I had the excuse of being beaten up my a huge jacked man.
"You have potential, your reflexes are amazing for someone with no real training, and you're strong... almost too strong." she says offering a hand up, as I take it she tosses me again. "Don't let your guard down until the battle is over." she scolds as I get up cracking my neck slightly, I fell on it weird. "For now, Jenny, you can spar with Kuro... do try to hold some of that ridiculous strength back, you aren't trying to hurt your partner." she advises making me nod.
+10 Affection with Coleen Wing [10/100] for impressing her.
Shall I limit your stats down to a more baseline level, Master?
Yes, Please Isis. Don't want to alienate my way into the Hand by accidentally hurting another student.
"Got it, Sensei. I'll try my best." I say as I turn to the older woman, as she bows I do the same before the fight begins, even with my weakened state I find myself on a far more even footing, she's somewhat better than me but I'm still stronger and faster.
- Later -
"So, will you be coming back?" Coleen asks as I leave the changing room, I took a bit of time in the shower so I'm the last one here.
"I will, I have a... hectic life but I'll be here after school when I can be." I say making her smile at me happily, whether that's because she wants me to stay or she just wants my money I'm not sure... she definitely doesn't have enough students to keep this place running in the long run. She charges too little, and most of her students are from a poor background.
"I can imagine... it took me a while to recognise you, I don't watch the news often..." she says making me twitch. "I'm not going to kick you out for having powers, I made this place to be a sanctuary to those who need it, and I can see why you'd want to learn to protect yourself after that. Whatever your problems are, you can leave them at the door while you're here, and I'll treat you like I would any other student." she says kindly, a grin forming on my face as she does.
"Works for me, Sensei. I'll see you next time, I have my first day at a new school tomorrow and I'm not sure what time it closes but I'll be here if I can be." I say getting a smile and a nod from her in return.
"Then I will see you when you next visit. You're a fast learner... almost scarily fast, you went from even grounds with Jenny to beating her in every fight in less than an hour. I can't wait to see how you grow." she says giving me a wave as I say goodbye.
Heading down the streets I find the first empty alley and sling-ring back to Xavier's.
Now I have a new problem, the vision Death showed me was Jessica Jones meeting Kilgrave... if I leave things alone she'll have a few months in hell as his sex slave before she frees herself which will lead to the Jessica Jones series...
I could of course try and rescue her but... do I even want to? It's not my problem. Can Kilgrave even affect me?
No Master, Gamer's Mind and myself will protect you from him. Be careful though, Gamer's Mind isn't all-powerful yet, neither am I.
Divine Level Controllers will still be able to overcome your mental defences.
Kilgrave is arrogant, but he's no Divine Tier foe.
Fair enough, and thanks for the warning. Could the Mind-stone control me?
Absolutely, if it was in the right hands. The Infinity Stones are some of the most powerful artifacts in this Verse, do not take them lightly.
Understood... I'll need to watch it when Loki shows up with his staff.
So Kilgrave is no threat... but Jessica is and she's under his control. I need to get Nullify Mutate first, so I can break his control on her before she turns me to paste.
Besides that, I have no idea where they are. Just somewhere in New York, I'd have to find them first... but I know how to do that...
I wanted to put this off, but they functionality is just too useful for me to leave it any longer.
Locking the bedroom door I pull out another Grimoire, looking over the flesh coloured pages with a scowl, it basically screams 'Evil'. Not exactly good for PR.
Opening it up I start reading through the introduction to Necromancy.
Skill partially imported from previous Data (You're Welcome, Master)
[Necromancy Proficiency (Adept)]
Unafraid of the taboo, you walk the path of the Necromancer, turning death and the undead into your weapons.
All Necromancy spells are more effective.
Mindless Undead will no longer see you as hostile unless provoked.
[Raise Dead] (Active)
A Ritual to raise a corpse as an undead slave.
Target will retain some of their skills, but not their intelligence, being little more than mindless beasts only capable of following orders.
The more powerful the corpse was in life, the more likely the Ritual will fail.
[Summon Spirits] (Active)
A Ritual that will allow you to Summon a Spirit to serve you in unlife.
Ugh... what was once barely a thought is now a complicated ritual... and I don't have a dedicated Ritual Room. I can see the advantage over the old style... there's no limit. It used to have a limit on the amount of summons based on my INT, but now all it needs is time and resources and I can summon as many as I want.
I can only assume my Undead will be the same when I have the spell to call them, which definitely has the potential to be far more powerful than my past spell. I can make a giant, limitless undead horde with only time and corpses.
The Ritual to summon a spirit isn't difficult, it mostly just needs chalk, some candles and a small sacrifice of blood, mine or someone elses.
The stronger the Spirit the more complicated the ritual becomes, some needing gems or actual sacrifices (ranging from rodents to... bigger and more dangerous sacrifices). Some need magical reagents, but what I need is small enough.
Already the knowledge of how to... bring back some old friends fills my mind, Lost Souls, Wraiths, Living Armours, Bestial Spirits, Spectral Knights, Ghosts, Scheming Spirits and Chained Souls. My old Tier one spirits. Spectral Knights and Chained Souls are the strongest of the ones I have available, but they also require the most complicated rituals.
Ghosts. Just plain boring Ghosts. Unable to interact with the Mortal world and far more importantly... unseen by those without Magic. To the non-magicals, even those with powers, they pass unseen.
Scheming Spirits are more powerful, more intelligent, but they need sacrifices to summon. Ghosts just need some of my blood dropped onto a ritual circle to draw them back to the land of the living.
I need to do some shopping, turns out I don't have Candles and Chalk on hand.
Remember when I just kinda gestured and the dead rose? Yeah, me too.
That was nice.
Still, I'm not afraid of a little hard work, I'll get back to that level eventually, I'm back to being a mere adept in Necromancy, but one day I'll be the Master of Death I was once before.
My Ghosts can scour New York day and night, I'm sure there are people who will see them, but they won't hurt anyone, and really? I'm trying to free a woman from months of rape, I'm the good guy here.
...There's a small part of me saying that leaving Jessica in his hands for a while will make her more grateful when I rescue her.
Time to go and find a good occult store, it doesn't matter if they're fake they'll have all the things I need for a basic ritual either way... hope it isn't too late, the suns already going down.
- Spider-Man -
Swinging the gun back at the thug, he webbed the last of the ambushers to the wall with a panicked look over at his... temporary partner?
He's managed to piss off the Kingpin, whoever that was, and he'd been dealing with assassins and thugs almost every time he went on patrol.
This one had been particularly bad, why were there so many rocket launchers in New York anyway? Grabbing his new ally he frowned deeply at the rifle bullet wound.
The enemy of your enemy is your friend... he'd found her being chased by Kingpin forces and helped her out, he knew she was just using him for protection but he didn't care.
Even if she was a thief, she didn't deserve to be killed by this new Crime Lord.
"Sorry Spidey... but I might be out of lives." she joked weakly as he looked over the large bullet hole in her stomach.
"...Brace yourself, I know a guy who can fix this, but we can't stay here... the police are coming and you're a wanted thief." he said, picking her up and placing her on his back, trying to ignore the feeling of her... large breasts pressing against the back of his suit. He couldn't swing around with a wounded victim, but he could still climb slowly as he moved to the top of the building, hiding up here would buy them some time.
The police would take her in... and even a hospital wouldn't be able to fix this wound, the rifle was very high caliber, and she didn't have his spidey-sense to dodge the bullets. Not that it always worked out for him.
She mumbled something in return, but she was clearly out of it.
Turning his communicator on (really just a modified cheap cell-phone he'd taken apart and installed into his mask) he called Kuro's number, watching the Black Cat's eyes flicker closed as her face paled rapidly.
"Hey Spidey, injured already?" he asked jokingly as he picked up the phone.
"Not me... I need your help, I've got a... friend whose badly hurt, sniper round through the stomach, she'd fading quickly. Where are you? I doubt you spend much time on random rooftops so you can't teleport here right? I'll come and grab you." he explained quickly.
"...I'm in the city, doing some late night shopping. I'll find an alley to wait in and send you my location, you better be fast if they're as badly injured as your saying. We can save the small talk for later." he said, putting the phone down. Moments later his in-built HUD popped up with a text, sending him swinging through the streets faster than ever before as he headed to the mercifully close location.
As he swung through the alley he barely stopped as he grabbed Kuro, swinging into the sky with him.
"You know, I'm pretty sure I can see the title of JJ's next podcast. Spider-man kidnapping civilians!?" Kuro said casually making him wince, spotting people looking up at them as they swung through the mostly empty streets.
"He'd find something to blame on me either way... we're almost there." he replied. What did he do to get that old man so angry at him?
"...This is kinda weird." Kuro remarked, holding onto him tightly as they swung through the night sky, they were basically hugging from an outsider perspective... though really Kuro was just trying not to be dropped three stories.
"...I know. I'm trying not to think about it." he admitted as they got closer.
"Nice view though." he remarked looking around with an approving nod.
Kuro's life must be pretty unusual for him to shrug this off so easily...
Landing on the rooftops he winced at the flashing red and blue lights coming from below, the police had finally showed up...
"...I can see the problem, she's barely hanging on." Kuro said as they stopped on the rooftop, quickly coating his hand in a soft white light and pressing it against her wound, making it slowly start to close, Black Cat herself didn't respond, having lost consciousness sometime while he was gone. "Won't take the police long to start looking around and find her up here, give me a minute to stabilize her and we'll move her. I'll open a portal to Xavier's... really need to look into setting up a safe-house for this kind of thing. Xavier's has far too many telepaths to be private but it'll do for now." Kuro muttered, running his hand over the wound again, seemingly not doing anything. "I've fixed the major internal damage, so she won't die on us... but she's far worse off than you were, no enhanced body after-all, this is going to take a while." he said pulling a ring out of his pocket and slipping it on, making a circle with his hand to open a small portal. "You coming? I can handle it from here but you seem to know her... she'll be confused when she wakes up." he said making Peter frown as he listened to the police radio he had built into his suit.
"I can't, Shocker is causing chaos across town... could have sworn I threw him in the Raft." he muttered with a frown beneath his mask. "Her name is Black Cat, and I really don't know her at all. She's being hunted by a crime lord called the Kingpin... and so am I." he explained.
"Right... do be careful, I'd rather not have to heal you both tonight. I have things to do" Kuro said picking the Black Cat up in a princess carry.
"Will do, be careful... she's kinda jumpy... and a thief." he advised making Kuro chuckle as he walked to the portal.
"She's just been shot through the stomach and she's being hunted by a crime lord, of course she's jumpy. I'll be fine, even if the kitty has some claws." he said easily, giving him a nod before he walked through the portal, it closing behind him.
Pausing for a moment, he jumped off the rooftop, swinging into the night.
Something was happening in New York... and he had no idea what. People he'd locked up were back on the street... but there had been no break out at the Raft... the Kingpin had a long reach, the police never showed up at his crimes until after they were done, and now his man were just walking right back out of jail.
...He'd never dealt with anyone like this before.
- Felicia Hardy -
As her eyes flickered open she shot up in the comfy bed, her hand coming to her stomach, gently running over the spot where she'd been shot with a confused scowl.
The Spider had said something about getting her help, but she'd been kinda out of it... and she thought he was just trying to comfort her. Looking down her frown deepened as she realised that she had been stripped down to just her panties, her suit gone as she looked around the fancy bedroom in a panic.
She didn't wear a bra beneath her suit, just her panties and her suit, which she could see resting on a desk at the over side of the room.
As the en-suite opened up, she prepared herself to fight as a bored looking teen walked out, giving her a dead-pan look.
"Stop that. If I wanted to hurt you I'd have done it during the the last couple of hours I spent fixing you, gonna be fun explained why my bedsheets are covered in blood... again." he muttered, his eyes never wandering from her eyes as he stared at her.
"You did this? I take it you're a friend of Spidey..." she asked, laying on her side as she rested her head on her hand, smirking at him. She wasn't shy, and more importantly she knew her body could be a weapon, if this went south having him distracted could give her time to grab her suit and escape through the window she'd already marked as an escape point.
"I did and I am, Miss Hardy. Kuro Tepes, at your service." he said making her heart speed up... how did he know her name? "It wasn't hard to work out with some... logical deduction. There have been two cat burglar's going by the name of Black Cat... you and Walter Hardy. After that it took me barely five minutes to find out about his daughter... without your little mask comparing you to your Facebook profile picture was easy. Don't worry, this falls under Healer Patient confidentiality, I just like to know how is in my bed." he deadpanned again making her wince slightly. Maybe taking her fathers name wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done, she thought she was honouring him but she'd left a trail to her true identity.
...She hadn't given her name, even her criminal name, to the man who hired her to steal the USB... maybe the Kingpin didn't know it either? It would explain why no thugs had kicked down her front door lately. She'd been wanting to make a name for herself... maybe it was better that she hadn't succeeded yet.
"Well... aren't you a smart one, do you have a lot of girls in your bed then?" she asked stretching out on the bed, watching his eyes very briefly flicker downwards to her breasts before he made eye contact with her again.
He was a lot more experienced than Spidey, it'd be harder to distract him if things went south.
"Yes, I do. Spider-Man had to leave, something about another criminal causing trouble, guess it's a busy life being a vigilante... so, how exactly did you get the Kingpin after you?" he asked calmly, grabbing her suit and placing it next to her on the bed.
"...you know the Kingpin?" she asked after a moment, ignoring her suit in favour of trying to keep him off guard.
"I know of the Kingpin, I know that he's basically taking over the New York crime scene... what I don't know I why he'd be after a petty thief. Spider-man I can understand, I bet he stumbled onto some of the Kingpin's crimes, but what did you do?" he asked making her frown.
"And if I don't want to tell you?" she asked making him laugh.
"Then you can get dressed and I'll open a portal back to the city for you... but I know who holds the Kingpin's leash. He's powerful but even he has people above him... if you want to do this alone, so be it, but I can help get him off your back." he offered making her hesitate, before she went through her suit, pulling the USB out. She was planning on getting rid of it, anyway.
"I got hired by one of his men to steal this... turns out he was a traitor. The Kingpin killed my employer before I could hand it over, and he's been after me ever since. I don't know what's on it, it's encrypted and I can't break into it." she said holding it out as Kuro took it, looking over it.
"Give me a way to contact you and I'll see what I can do. I'm going to see one of the people above him tomorrow, I'll talk to her about it." he offered making her pause.
"And what is that going to cost me? You aren't like Spidey, I can tell that already. What do you want?" she asked quickly.
"For now, nothing. I might have use of a thief in the future, so let's call this an IOU.. along with the healing that makes two favours you owe me." he said bluntly making her smile.
This she could deal with, she had trouble dealing with people like Spidey who helped because they thought it was the right thing to do... but someone who wanted payment? Even if it was just a couple of future favours? That could handle so much easier.
"Fine... so what'll it take to get you on call as my own pocket healer? I have no intention of stopping my life of crime, and having someone to fix me up if things go wrong could be useful..." she asked with a smirk as she got of the bed, strutting towards him.
Her recent brush with death had convinced her that she didn't want to die. She had been so cold... and more frightened than she had ever been before.
"A favour for each healed injury, To be called upon whenever I want." he replied bluntly. "You're a criminal... which means helping you puts me at risk of getting in trouble with the law, so if I'm helping you then you better make it worth my while." he said making her laugh slightly.
"Fair enough, we have a deal... in exchange for you healing me... I'll do whatever you want, I guess that means I'm at your mercy... whatever will you do with little old me." she asked running her finger up his chest with a smirk.
She didn't have to keep her word, if he asked for too much she'd just refuse.
- Kuro -
[Soulbound Bets] has evolved to [Soulbound Agreements]
Any Bets or Agreements made with you are Soulbound, forcing all participants to follow through with their bets or agreements, unable to try and worm out of it no matter what their personality is like.
Warning! You will be forced to keep your own end of any bets, though you are not bound to your agreements.
Interesting.
Having the Black Cat owe me two favours she can't worm her way out of is very useful, she's an amazing thief after all.
She's also incredibly beautiful... and seductive, but I'm not dumb enough to let her use sex as a way to get out of the favours.
"For now? I'll send you on your way. It's getting late and I'm tired. Healing you was pretty exhausting." I say making her frown in befuddlement for a moment.
I have to admit, there's something funny about just ignoring her suggestive flirting. I'll get her sooner or later, but I'll do it on my terms not hers.
"You're no fun." she says bluntly as she grabs her suit and starts getting dressed, frowning at the large hole in it.
"I'm very fun... when I'm not falling asleep from Mana exhaustion. Besides, I'm not so inexperienced that I can be tricked into using up my favours for some fun." I say making her flinch slightly before she giggles. "I have plenty of girls I could have in my bed tonight without it costing me."
Using up MP is tiring, and her wound was bad. Really bad, her insides were practically destroyed, it's a minor miracle the bullet wasn't a few inches higher or she'd have been dead long before we got back. Maybe she really does have nine lives.
"Fair enough... maybe you will be fun after all." she says as she finishes dressing. "Well Magic Man... it's been interesting, here's my number... now send me back to the rooftop. You'll understand if I don't want to give you my home address." she says making me smile.
"I already know where you live, but very well." I say making her sigh as I open the portal.
I used the Hellfire tablet Emma gave me, seriously the amount of information on basically everyone it has is almost terrifying. Hellfire have access to seemingly every database around, and I can access since Emma authorised it after Selene decided I was the next King of Hellfire.
It's how I know Wilson Fisk is Emma and Selene's bitch.
"Wonderful. I'll see you around Magic Man." she says hesitating for a moment before she set off through the portal with a frown, looking at it in confusion. Teleporting for the first time is always a bit weird.
Closing the portal I send a text to Peter letting him know she's okay, before getting changed for bed. I got some chalk and candles but I'm not setting up a magical ritual in the middle of Xavier's mansion.
I need a more secure safe-house that comes with actual privacy.
I also want to use the Key I got, to see where it will take me... but I think I'll do that Sunday, use my day off to really explore wherever it takes me without worrying about time constraints.
But for now... I'm tired and I have school first thing tomorrow. Replacing the bedsheets with some spares I send Rogue a text I smirk as my door opens less than a minute later, her sheepishly smiling at me as she joins me on the bed, cuddling against me.
- Friday – 01/05/2009 -
Giving Rogue a kiss goodbye I send Blink a text, might as well use my personal teleporter. Thanks to another night with Rogue I have the Specified Nullification upgrade, so I can pick and choose what I block now.
I've picked Nullify Mutate for the next upgrade, if I'm going against Kilgrave I'll need it after all, I'm not going anywhere near him until I'm sure I can stop Jessica from beating me into a fine paste.
Unsurprisingly it takes mere moments for Blink to appear in my room, the same mostly blank stare on her face. Being caught in between Emma and Selene can't be nice.
"I am here, as requested, My Lord." she says with a slight bow. I wonder which of them told her to act like that. I'm thinking Selene, Emma would probably have gone with a more modern Sir than My Lord.
"I just need a ride back to Massachusetts, can't keep Emma waiting after all." I say as I finish getting dressed.
"The White Queen isn't the most patient person." Claire replies, her lips twitching before her face falls blank again. "If you are ready, I will take us to her."
...She is emotionless right?
"...you've been told to do whatever I want right?" I ask making her tilt her head.
"I have, My Lord. Both of the Queens were very clear about my duties." she says calmly, not even the slightest hint of emotion appearing on her face as I walk over to her.
She has a look of curiosity on her face, but no real emotion. I have a weird feeling she's putting on an act... and I don't know if she's putting it on for me or for the Queen's.
Reaching up I place my hand on the top of her thin green dress, groping her chest roughly over her clothes as she continues to stare at me blankly.
"Do you require sexual relief? It will make you late for school." she says calmly as I slip my hand beneath her dress, rolling her nipple between my fingers.
"Nah, I woke up to a blowjob from Rogue, so I'm set for a little while... but if said yes, you'd do it?" I ask making her nod calmly.
"Of course, I am at your command, My Lord. Whether it is my powers or my body, they are yours to use as you see fit." she answers obediently as I pull my hand back.
Her nipple hardened almost immediately at my touch... would someone with no emotions get aroused that quickly?
Reaching under her dress I slide my finger along her slit, raising an eyebrow at her lack on underwear as I pull it back, looking between her face and my wet finger with a raised eyebrow.
With her pink skin it's almost hard to see it, but the slightest purple blush starts to grow on her cheeks at my deadpan look.
"Clean this off and we can go, we can continue this when we have more time." I say pressing the finger against her mouth, after the briefest of moments she opens her mouth, a surprisingly long tongue sneaking out and licking my finger clean, her eyes avoiding mine.
Emotionless, my ass. I should look into getting some Empathy based powers.
Moving my hand back I wait for her to open the portal and step through it, reappearing in Emma's office, Blink stepping out behind me before she leaves the room, leaving me and Emma alone.
"Was Claire just blushing?" she asks with a arched eye-brow before she sighs. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. I have your uniform here." she says gesturing to the clothes on her desk. Makes sense, in Midtown and Xavier's the students just wear whatever they want, but this place is more strict.
Looking over the black school uniform, trousers, a shirt and a blazer with a golden M on the pocket I pause before I start changing.
"I was going to offer a private room... but then you don't have anything I haven't seen before, do you?" Emma asks with a twitch of her lips as she watches me strip.
"No, and I'm not the shy type." I say pulling the admittedly comfortable uniform on, it's fitted to me perfectly... but I don't remember her getting my measurements.
"Something I am very thankful for, it'd be problematic if you were prudish after all. I was hoping to get some more... in depths details about your X-Gene before you start, I like having a full understanding of my students powers after all... if you don't mind." she says, changing the subject.
"It's fine. I can nullify any mutant power within fifty meters of myself by focusing on them, and I have a small aura around me that stops any powers from working on me. I've been working on improving it so I can both disable it, and allow certain powers to work within my Aura. The more I use it, the more powerful it gets... I'm working on the ability to stop non-mutant based powers at the moment." I explain easily.
"You can just... turn it off?" she asks making me look at her with a deadpan stare.
Even if you do, she won't be able to get into your head.
There's only room for two in here, Master.
"I can. Is that surprising?" I ask making her nod.
"Yes, actually. A lot of mutants cannot control their powers so... finely, especially new mutants. I believe you have an example of that with your... girlfriend? Rogue is just one of the many mutants incapable of manipulating their powers with such control.. and she's been practising for quite a while." she explains. "To have such fine control to be able to decide what you nullify and what you do not is highly impressive... and something that would normally only be seen in far older and more experienced mutants."
"...It took me a couple of days to work out how to do it." I deadpan again making her smile.
"Something I would suggest you keep to yourself. Have you heard the term 'Omega-Class Mutant'?" she asks making me shake my head, I haven't... in this world. "It's best explained as a Mutant with no foreseeable limits... already you've seemingly evolved your own power, something that happens rarely at best, not to mention your suddenly unnaturally strong and healthy body that doesn't match your medical results from before you gained your X-Gene. Having the title of Omega-Class Mutant might seem nice... but it will put a target on your head, many people would rather see Omega's never reach their full strength after all." she advises making me nod.
"...would now be a good time to mention that I've developed the ability to see through solid objects?" I ask making her pause before she sighs.
"Yes, it would. Three powers already? Definitely an Omega-Class then..." she mumbles to herself. "I would suggest you be very careful who you tell of your abilities." she advises.
"So... should I tell Xavier?" I ask making her frown. I just want to know what she'd suggest, I have no intention of telling him either way. He'll notice in time, but I have no reason to make things easier for him.
"Hard to say, at the very least I can say he means you no harm. You're too important to the mutant race... and by extension to him and his dream, for him to try anything, and as much as I dislike him personally he is one of the best when it comes to teaching Mutants to control their powers... that being said he is also eternally convinced he knows best, highly secretive and more than happy to treat even his precious X-men as pawns on his chess-board." she advises making me pause. I was expecting her to just tell me to not tell him anything, too just trust her and no-one else.
...Instead she actually gave me good advice? Correct advice as well, which matches exactly what I already thought about Xavier.
"Fair enough, I'll think about it." I say making her smile.
"Just so you know... your interview went live last night, and I've pulled some strings to make sure it has been covered and seen by many, many people. I'm monitoring how people are handling the knowledge of the supernatural and their opinion of you for now but just be aware of your new fame. We can talk more later... but classes start soon and it's better to make a good first impression with your new classmates." she says as I button up the blazer. "Fridays you will be studying with the other students, Saturdays however there are no classes, so you will be tutored privately instead." she says making me pause.
"In what?" I ask causing her to smile at me.
"In whatever you require, I've seen your grades, you burn through material at an astounding rate, instead of a set schedule we will simply see what skills or knowledge you require at that moment, and work on those instead." she explains. Works for me.
"Wonderful... Come in." she says as the door opens, a beautiful blonde girl entering the room quickly in a school uniform, standing at attention in an somewhat more casual military stance. "Kuro, this is Amara Aquilla. She'll be guiding you through the school today." she explains making me frown slightly.
...Wasn't Amara tanned? She's pale with long blonde hair, nothing like the brown skinned, brown haired girl I remember from X-Men Evolution.
"It's nice to meet you." I say after a moment, it's pointless to get confused over it, I don't know which version of each character I am looking.
"It's an honour to meet you, My Lord." she replies quickly making me glance at Emma, catching her rolling her eyes. Interesting.
Amara Aquilla (Magma), Princess of Nova Roma
LVL – 42
Tier – Veteran
Faction – The Massachusetts Academy
Thoughts about you – Worship
Reputation – 75
[Pyromancy for Beginners] - Amara Aquilla [50]
A Grimoire on Pyromancy, compiled by the Pyromaniac Shiro after years of setting stuff on fire for his amusement.
Okay... what.
"...I'll let you go now, though I do have more to speak with you about. After classes please return here." she says going back to her paperwork as I give her a nod as I follow Amara out of the room.
"So, Amara... you seem awfully calm about this whole thing." I say making her smile at me.
"Of course, out of all the students here I am probably the most happy about your presence here." she says happily as she gives me a warm smile.
"...okay, and why is that?" I ask making her giggle.
"You're the son of my ancestor, the Dark Priestess Selene herself, the next king of Nova Roma. My future husband. Why would I shy away from you?" she asks making me stop walking.
What.
Just once I'd like for things to go in a path that I understand.
"Sorry... can you go back to the part about me being Selene's son? I knew my mother and I'm fairly certain she wasn't an immortal mutant." I explain.
"I... am sorry, I assumed she had already told you." Amara says, paling slightly.
"...Excuse me a moment." I say manifesting my chains again, the chain goes into the ground, and wherever she is it's just popped out of the ground, wrapping around her neck.
I could send her a message to come here... or I could just...
Yanking the chain I summon her, dragging her through space and time as she appears before me. Her eyes wide as her hands clutch the ever tightening chain.
"Hi Selene... I think you've been keeping something from me." I say making her eyes widen as she looks between me and Amara, sudden realisation striking her, she goes to speak but the chains are too tight, cutting off her ability to talk. "No more games... your mind is open to me, it's time to show you just what that means." I say gripping the chain tightly as I delve into her mind.
There are... countless years of memories in her head, going back to thousands of years. She's isn't rumoured to be one of the first mutants for nothing.
I only need the more recent ones, before my birth.
It doesn't take me long to find them, Selene searching an eastern European castle, feelings of... confidence and pride filling her as she wrenches open a sealed tomb. Her pride lessening as Dracula awakens from his slumber in a rage.
...I'm suddenly less sure about fighting Dracula for Death.
The battle between them is... ridiculous, Selene's magic destroys the castle easily as Dracula moves faster than she can see, which means I can't see him either.
Despite Dracula's... ridiculous strength and speed, despite Selene's frankly terrifying magic the fight goes nowhere, both regenerating from whatever wounds they manage to inflict on the other.
Eventually, hours pass and the sun rises, Dracula vanishing into a mist, so I guess Selene technically one.
Weeks pass and she tries again. Though this time she uses words not violence, and he wasn't sleeping.
Instead of trying to slay him and steal his immense power she... barters with him, seeking a... child.
Seeking... Me.
I'm not a descendant of Dracula... I am the Son of Dracula himself. Dracula and Selene.
After I was born... her scans showed me as a normal human, not the powerful weapon she had hoped for, so she ditched me onto one of her descendants, my 'Mother'.
As for Amara's other words?
Ugh, Prophecies. Shiro apparently had some fun with my backstories, Nova Roma have had my coming prophesied for longer than any for them realise after Selene enslaved a Greek oracle.
Son of First Mutant, check. Child of the Dragon? Dracul can be translated to Dragon. Check. Saviour of Mutant Race? I'm the only fertile male Mutant. Check.
That's why Selene decided to have a child with Dracula, in the attempt to manipulate a prophecy. She knew of the coming of a powerful being, and tried to use it to her advantage.
Only... I wasn't in Kuro at the time when she checked, so she assumed he wasn't the one the prophecies mentioned.
Which has come back to bite her.
The prophecy itself doesn't really mention much more about me, it's in stupid flowery writing, but it tells of the Final Ruler of Nova Roma, the Black King, which either means I'll be an immortal and don't need a heir, or I'm going to run it into the ground and there won't be a Nova Roma left to rule.
I'd prefer the latter, but I won't deny the former is possible.
...Should I take offence to Shiro put in a part about me being a manwhore? (and I have no doubt's that this is his fault). I mean, on one hand he's one to talk... on the other? Well, he isn't exactly wrong.
...Which is why Amara is so open to me, the fucking prophecy is a core part of Nova Roma culture, with a fucking cult forming with the Black King of Nova Roma.
Great, I have a cult. That's going to end well.
The Cult of the Black King has obsessively tracked the children of Selene, including me.. so Amara already knew about me before Emma said anything, having two of the check boxes already ticked, then being told that I'm the Future of the Mutant Race has basically confirmed it for her.
She, like all Princesses of Nova Roma, has been raised to be the wife of the Black King. She's been groomed for me from birth because Shiro thought he was being funny.
Breaking the connection I tighten the chain again.
"Selene... in case you are forgetting, I can kill you with a literal thought. You are on your final warning, you live because I decided you were more useful alive, but you are making me start to regret that decision." I say watching her eyes widen. It's strange, watching the woman I just saw do epic battle with Dracula cower in front of me but I'm too annoyed to enjoy the feeling of power it gives me. "No more games, if I find any more secrets you are keeping from me I will erase you." I say coldly making her nod quickly as I loosen the chains.
"Of course, my Lord... I meant no harm, I just didn't know how to bring up our... relationship." she says, making me frown.
"I am literally in your head, you were just hoping to use it when it benefited you the most. And stop that, Amara has done nothing wrong and you will not punish her for it." I say making her flinch, the chains vanishing. "Go, and remember... no more games." I say getting a shaky bow as she flees quickly.
I'm not so sentimental to let her being my mother stop me from punishing her if she disobeys me.
"Selene is a Living Legend... the First Mutant in history... and you have her enslaved..." Amara mumbles, awe filling her tone.
+20 Obedience with Selene [100/100] for showing her just where she belongs.
+60 Obedience with Amara [100/100] for demonstrating your power, proving the prophecy she has been raised on to be true.
Wonderful.
"Let's get to class, we're probably already late." I say coldly making her jump.
"Of course, My King." she replies quickly, setting off with a fast pace.
"Wait... if she's your ancestor and my mother, doesn't that make us related?" I ask making her pause as she tilts her head slightly.
"I suppose I am your Niece... many times removed. Is that a problem?" she asks, fidgeting slightly as I look over her.
"Not for me..." I say as I walk past her, reaching out and groping her backside slightly as she yelps cutely.
I might not like prophecies, they're confusing and usually just fucking irritating, but I won't complain about it getting me a cute obedient and totally not creepy cultist princess.
...I hate being the centre of attention and Selene had mostly ignored the cult so her knowledge is spotty, she'd always assumed that since it was her child she'd get her hands on me immediately, but her scans failed her and her shitty parenting skills backfired heavily.
Sucks to be her, now she's a literal slave to her discarded son. Karma's a bitch with a twelve inch dildo, and she didn't bring any lube.
Agent, I have finished my new list. I thought long and hard about everyone that had ever angered, irritated, insulted or just inconvenienced me, and created the new list of targets.
...I feel like this is less about who is defying death now, and you're just using me as an assassin to get rid of people you don't like.
Correct... and I will reward you greatly when you do. Is that a problem?
Fair enough, I'm not going to say no to rewards. I'm greedy like that.
Wonderful... here you go, Agent.
Deaths Hitlist
The Hand – These would be immortals have lived long past their death date, wipe out the Five Fingers of the Hand and their resurrected agent Nobu, either enslaving or reaping them. Do as you will with the rest, I care not.
The Externals – Another group of would-be immortals, En Sabah Nur (or Apocalypse if you prefer), Candra and Gideon. They hide amongst the mortals thinking I can't see them. They are wrong.
Annihilus – The self-proclaimed "The Living Death That Walks". He is constantly reborn in his realm of the Negative Zone, reap him and end this cycle.
Hela Odinsdottir – She abandoned her duties as a Goddess of Death long ago, even before her sealing. Either force her to take her position seriously once more, or slay her and I will find a replacement.
Ego – Never before has a name been so appropriate, a universe with only him sounds like a special kind of hell.
Nathaniel Essex – The fool has been killed a dozen times, he always has an out. He's ran from me for long enough.
Mephisto – I care little for Demons, and this one has stolen more souls from me than almost any other. Reap him and deal with his Daughter, Mephista, however you please.
Satana Hellstrom – Her father, Satan is off limits even to me, but his daughter is free game. Do not reap her, enslave and bind her, she will serve as my message to her father.
Thanos – the Mad Titan himself, stop him before he can fulfil his insane ambition. I do not want to deal with half the Universes souls at once.
Cyttorak – Another Fool with delusions of importance, bring me his precious Crimson Gem, he made a mistake when he made it, one he will pay for dearly.
Vlad Tepes, Dracula – A Family Matter for you. This man is the bane of my existence, he's died countless times, and it does nothing. My last agent slew him several times but he just kept coming back and twisting the natural order again and again.
Umar – This one is personal. The seductress is responsible for the abandonment of my former Agent, turning him against me in an attempt to bind me and steal my power, it failed obviously but her presumption to steal my agent has angered me greatly. Weaken her and I will personally bind her to you, then she can experience life as a slave.
Eric Williams – The Self-Proclaimed Grim Reaper. His name offends me.
Nina Price – Another Vampire who doesn't know when to die, at least she isn't as annoying as your Father.
Zheng Zu – An Immortal, his plots won't save him this time. His Judgement is long overdue.
Dormammu – There will be no Bargaining for him this time.
Remus and Romulus – Had Romulus not caused so much chaos and disorder I would have ignored this pair. His arrogance will be their downfall.
The Supreme Intelligence – It's existence is an abomination, I don't like it. Make it dead.
Agamotto – The Ancient One has her uses, but this Sorcerer Supreme has lived for far too long.
Kang the Conqueror – This fool has spat on me, and Time, with his actions. Slay him and be rewarded by both myself and my sister.
Morgan le Fay – She's been playing her games for far too long. Her arrogance surpasses even Selene's.
Azazel – He might claim the name of Satan but he is no true demon, just a Mutant with delusions of grandeur.
The Shadow King – Do what Xavier could not, I want this thing in my grasp.
The Elders of the Universe – I may have made them immortal as an experiment, they amused me for a time but now they have outlived their usefulness. The Stranger, The Grandmaster, The Collector, The Challenger, The Runner, The In-Betweener, The Champion of the Universe, The Voyager, The Gardener, The Caregiver, The Obliterator, The Contemplator, The Possessor, The Architect, Father Time (My Sister is not happy about the name), The Astronomer, The Trader, The Explorer, The Judicator, the Promoter, Carina Tivan, Gara and Matani Tivan... Okay fine, I got carried away. Eternity gets boring sometimes. Clean up my mess for me and I will reward you well.
The Octessence – These fools have interfered in the Mortal Realm for long enough, slay them all. Balthakk, Ikonn, Farallah, Valtorr, Raggadorr, Watoomb, Krakkan.
Mojo – His shows suck. Either make him produce better shows or slay him, I've wasted far too long watching his trash.
Baba Yaga – She irritates me, besides as a Necromancer she could be useful to you, enslave her and you'll have a Mentor with centuries of experience.
Chernobog – He survived his encounter with Gorr, and haunts the streets of a Russian town, feeding on the lifeforce of mortals. Send him to me.
Belasco – Another Demon who doesn't know when to stay in limbo.
Zarathos – Do me a favour, and clean up the mess that Mephisto has left in the Mortal Realm.
Blackheart – Mephisto can't go a day without causing shit in the Mortal Realm. I hate that Demon so very much.
Greylight – You know what? Slay Mephisto's entire family. This one hasn't even done that much but kill him anyway.
Dead Girl – Or Moonbeam if you prefer. A minor nobody on a list of legends. Her mutant power is insulting to me.
The Undying – A set of Artificial Body-Snatchers, roaming the universe and devouring the life-force of many life-forms.
Adam Destine – A Mortal who was granted both Immortality and Invulnerability by his Genie Lover Elayth. He lives the life of a mortal now, hiding amongst the humans, his Genie posing as his housewife. Kill him, and either destroy or enslave the Djinn who thought she was allowed to defy me.
Amanda Mueller (The Black Womb) – Honestly killing her is a mercy, she is immortal but she still ages, despite her best attempts to delay it.
Arnim Zola – I have to be honest... I was unsure about this one. He's dead. But he's turned himself into an A.I. Is he still alive? I have his soul but he still affects the mortal realm. It's weird and frankly confusing, and I believe that confusing things should be erased from existance.
Corvus Glaive - One of Thanos's men. Technically he is not immortal... but as long as his Glaive is intact he cannot die. I don't like technicalities, so many have escaped me on 'technicalities'.
Cagliostro – Another Sorcerer using Magic to avoid me...
Maha Yogi (Merlin) – Why do so many fools think Magic alone means they can defy me? They're always wrong.
Claudine Renko (Miss Sinister) – One of Mister Sinister's fail-safes, a woman inflicted with a virus that would make her into a perfect clone of him. The One Above One Above All activated it early for some reason and now two Sinisters are running around being irritating.
Anath-Na Mut (Sphinx) – The Chief Wizard in the court of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, he's been wandering ever since he was kicked from Ramses court.
Walker – Do not challenge this mad-man before you are ready, Agent. The Mad Death God slaughtered and absorbed his entire Galaxy in a repulsive attempt to please me. He desires my death, or my love depending on his mood each day.
Fiona Knoblach (The Dark Mother) – Another Immortal planning Global Domination. Like that ever works out. This one hates all men, she really won't like you.
Essential – A Girl who feeds on Information to remain immortal and young. She's been held captive for a long time, but the CIA keep her alive. Change that.
Linnea (Elfqueen) – This Immortal and her moronic warrior husband have been living in seclusion for many, many centuries. Her husband is a target as well, but it is her magic that keeps them alive for so many thousands of years.
Dakimh the Enchanter - Another Wizard. Fucking Wizards.
Esteban Corazón de Ablo (Diablo) – Another mess that falls at the feet of Mephisto. I hate that demon, so very much.
Malachi – Using a Fragment of the Moebius Stone she has been able to maintain her youth by draining the life-force of others, she seeks to get the full stone, with which she will have complete control over the life-force of everyone on Earth. That's bad, in case you haven't noticed. Deal with her, and get the stone before anyone else can.
The 'Eternals' – An Entire Race Dedicated to spitting in my face, Thanos killed the Eternals in space, but an entire city of them hides on Earth. Deal with them.
All-Black the Necroverse – This thing is to the Symbiotes you know of what a fierce man-eating tiger is to a weak dying kitten. The first Symbiote, it currently rests in the hands of a fool trying to wipe out all the Gods.
Knull – His lust for the Genocide of Celestials has cost the lives of billions, be wary Agent.
The Fear Lords – These Lovecraftian Knock-offs aren't even good imitations. Nightmare, D'Spayre, Dweller-in-Darkness, Nox, Lurking Unknown, Straw Man and Kkallakku who frankly deserves death for having a stupid name. They might be stupid, but they are also very powerful... not to mention they've been interfering with Mortals for far too long.
The Inheritors – I have no love for the Totems, but I like these fools even less. You don't have to go looking for them, as long as there is a Spider-Man on your world they will come looking for him.
That's... longer than I expected.
There's no rush, and my Agents don't die natural deaths.
Heh, you have a point. And some of the people on this list will take me decades at least before I feel comfortable challenging, so I'll be talking my time either way. I doubt I'll be fighting any of them immediately.
Cutting of the conversation I follow Amara into the classroom, freezing as I see the teacher, her red eyes locking with mine, pale blue skin giving her an almost sickly look.
"That's Professor Dead Girl. She used to be an actress... but then she died? Her Mutant power is weird. Headmistress Frost hired her to teach English Literature here." Amara explains helpfully making me hold in a sigh.
I can feel your amusement, Death.
I'm quite sure I have no idea what you mean.
- Bonus Scene – Consequences -
- Lilith Drake -
It was her long standing duty to slay Dracula, she'd teamed up with Van Hellsing (a few dozen of them), the Church, Heroes and Villains in the hope of finally slaying her father.
Every time he'd simply reappeared, making light of her efforts.
Watching the veil that had hidden the supernatural world from the mortals eyes for so long be torn back by her half-brother she paused in her seat.
She had no idea what this would do to the Supernatural world, but what it had done had pulled the attention of every supernatural being to her brother.
Perhaps she should warn him?
Yes, at the very least she should do that much, before the Van Hellsing's and the Monster Hunters came looking for him, plenty of them wouldn't care if he wasn't a vampire himself. Being the son of Dracul would be enough, their father had many... many, enemies.
- Queen Shiklah -
If there was one thing you could count on the Tepes line, it was they were unpredictable. Dracula himself did whatever he felt like doing at the time, Lilith had done some baffling things in her crusade to slay her father...
And now Kuro had just casually torn the veil from the Supernatural World, letting everyone know that the legends and myths were true.
The entire Monster Metropolis was in a panic, she'd had to block off the entrances and exit to stop some of the more jumpy members of her city from trying to pre-emptively attacking the humans out of the fear that they were about to be hunted down.
Honestly, coming out of the shadows could be profitable for them, but she definitely would have preferred to do it in a more controlled way.
More than ever she needed to secure her rule... and since Kuro Tepes had gotten her into this mess, he could get her out of it.
Her new husband would help legitimise her rule just by being the son of the most powerful and famous monster of all. It barely mattered that he was human, and she could have him bitten anyway.
Honestly, he should be happy. She wasn't the Succubus Queen for nothing, living his life out as her sex slave would be a wonderful life.
- Elizabeth Báthory -
Fucking Tepes.
It had to be a member of the Tepes clan, only one of them would be so arrogant to single-handedly decide that it was time for the Supernatural world to be revealed. To think that they, and they alone, had the right.
...She would make him suffer for this, she wouldn't kill him.. not that would be too easy. He could be her trophy... and portable blood bag. Enslaving his son would be a wonderful way to spite Dracula as well.
A son of Tepes, serving the whims of a Báthory, how appropriate.
- Dracula -
...He went to sleep for less than a decade.
That was basically a light nap.
What the fuck happened?
Well, at least he wasn't as bored now, time to go meet his offspring. Maybe this one would be more entertaining.