Meanwhile Elliot unleashed his newfound ability, Crimson Acceleration, with an exhilarating burst of power. His surroundings became a blur as he shot through District O1 like a scarlet meteor. He zipped past traffic, weaving effortlessly between cars, his speed rendering them immobile obstacles. Pedestrians stared in awe as he blurred past them, their startled exclamations fading into the distance.
"Whoa, this is insane!" Elliot exclaimed, his voice barely audible over the wind rushing past him.
"Enjoying the speed, are you?" the voice within him remarked dryly.
"Of course! This is incredible!" Elliot replied, his excitement palpable. He couldn't help but grin as he experienced the exhilaration of his newfound power. Buildings appeared as mere blips in his peripheral vision as he darted through the cityscape, leaving a scarlet streak in his wake.
Elliot continued his breathtaking journey, rocketing through the various districts of the city. The wind howled in his ears, and the world around him was nothing but a vibrant, shifting tapestry of colors and lights. He shot through District O2, leaving the more affluent District O1 behind. The city's unique architecture flashed by, from towering skyscrapers to quaint, historic buildings, all reduced to mere blurs in his eyes.
As he sped towards his own district, District O52, the familiar disheveled structures came into view. The buildings here were run-down, graffiti-covered, and poverty-stricken, a stark contrast to the middle districts.
Elliot couldn't contain his excitement, even though he was headed back to his basement apartment. "This speed is unreal!" he shouted, his voice lost in the rush of air.
"Indeed, it's impressive," the voice conceded, almost begrudgingly.
Elliot hurtled onward, finally reaching the entrance to District O52. Elliot's excitement quickly turned into panic as he realized he couldn't slow down. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to maneuver through the narrow streets of District O52, but his newfound speed was a curse. In a horrifying moment, he smashed against the wall of his apartment building with an earth-shattering impact.
Pain erupted throughout his body as he felt his nose break, his arms snap, and a searing pain in his head. The world around him spun, and his vision blurred as he lay on the ground, dazed and barely conscious.
"Host has sustained severe injuries, using 50 BE points to initiate regeneration powers," the automated voice within him stated.
Through the haze of pain and confusion, Elliot heard the voice within him laugh at his misery, and his anger boiled. He struggled to move, his body slowly healing, but the pain was excruciating, and he couldn't help but wonder if the power he'd gained was more of a curse than a blessing.
"Ellie, what are you doing?" Clara's voice brought Elliot back to reality. He looked up to see her standing over him.
"Hi, Clara," he replied, trying to act nonchalant. "I'm fine, just a little mishap."
Clara raised an eyebrow, concern etching her features. "Okay, but why did you run into our building like that?"
Elliot hesitated, not wanting to reveal the strange circumstances of his abilities. "I, uh... slipped," he finally offered as an excuse.
"But you're a superhuman, Elliot," Clara pointed out, her voice filled with curiosity and a touch of worry.
"But I'm still a human, okay!" Elliot grumbled as he got up, his wounds miraculously healed. He couldn't help but notice that he only had 50 BE points left.
"You are not human," the voice within him quipped, its presence a constant reminder of the changes he was undergoing.
"Shut up," Elliot muttered under his breath, trying to ignore the voice.
"But I'm not talking?" Clara chimed in, her expression one of confusion as she cocked her head.
Elliot felt a pang of frustration. "Oh my god, I'm done," he muttered, pushing past Clara and walking inside the building, the weight of his newfound powers and the strange voice within him heavy on his mind.
Elliot walked inside the lobby of his apartment building. It was a plain and unassuming space, as one would expect in the outer district. Despite its simplicity, it was kept clean and tidy, a testament to the efforts of the building's maintenance staff. A solitary elevator stood against one wall, waiting to transport residents to their respective floors. However, Elliot didn't opt for the elevator. Instead, he turned away and headed for the stairwell, his unit being the only one in the basement.
Descending the stairs, he reached his spacious basement unit, a stark contrast to the modest exterior of the building. The door opened into a what was once a lavish living room that seamlessly flowed into the well-equipped kitchen. It was a space that could be considered luxurious, but any semblance of opulence was overshadowed by the disarray within. The living area was cluttered with boxes, trash, items, dust, and various other things that Elliot couldn't be bothered to clean.
Turning right from the living room, one would find a guest bathroom, which was itself far from being guest-ready. Just beyond it was the guest bedroom, similarly filled with disorganized chaos. On the left side of the guest bedroom lay a massive master bedroom, the epicenter of the clutter that dominated the entire unit.
The apartment remained shrouded in darkness as Elliot wandered through it, his eyes having acquired a form of night vision after his recent transformation. He moved with ease, avoiding the clutter that filled the living space, and made his way into the master bedroom. He flopped down onto the bed, staring at his own bracelet and the bloodied one he had taken from Veer.
"Now, how can I get into Veer's bracelet?" Elliot mused aloud.
"A mighty vampire is acting like a petty thief," the voice within him remarked.
"Looting is the right of the victor," Elliot responded, a touch of annoyance in his voice.
"That old blacksmith could help," the voice suggested.
"That's the best thing you've said all day," Elliot remarks excitedly.
With the voice's suggestion in mind, Elliot decided to pay a visit to the blacksmith. He got up from the bed and made his way out of his cluttered apartment. As he stepped into the dimly lit hallway, he felt an odd sense of purpose driving him forward.
Elliot navigated the stairwell and exited the building, once again entering the rundown streets of District O52. He retraced his steps to the old and dilapidated blacksmith's shop. The sound of hammering echoed from within as he pushed open the creaky door and entered the dimly lit establishment.
Elliot approached cautiously, considering how to broach the topic of unlocking Veer's bracelet. "Excuse me," he began, "I have a bit of an unusual request."
The dwarf grunted in response, never pausing his work.
Elliot continued, "I need help with something, something that might involve opening a Federation bracelet. Do you think you could assist me?"
The dwarf still didn't reply, but Elliot noticed a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Listen," Elliot persisted, "I've seen you do amazing things with that hammer of yours. I believe you have the skill to help me out here."
The blacksmith finally stopped his hammering and turned to face Elliot. "What's in it for me?"
Elliot clenched his fist, knowing he had limited resources. "I can pay you. How much do you want?"
The dwarf raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the two twin short swords they had crafted together earlier. "I don't need your credits. But I might need your help."
"What kind of help?"
The dwarf pointed at the unfinished sheaths for the twin swords. "I'm working on the sheaths for these. They're custom-made for a special customer. If you can gather some materials I need to complete them, I'll help you with that bracelet."
Elliot considered the offer for a moment. "What materials do you need for the sheaths?"
"It's a rare leather called Phoenixhide. I've run out of it, and it's not easy to come by. There's a place in the middle district, M34, where you might find some. Bring me enough Phoenixhide, and I'll help you."
Elliot nodded. "Deal. I'll get you the Phoenixhide."
The dwarf grunted in agreement and returned to his work, while Elliot turned to leave the shop, determined to retrieve the material needed to unlock Veer's bracelet and finish the sheaths for the twin swords they had crafted together.