[Unique skill: Focal Pain Boost
Inflict pain on the user's body to raise the level of any skill temporarily in the ratio 3:2. (Skill level doubled and pain inflicted equivalent to 3 RP)
Can also be used to raise all physical stats temporarily. Ratio 5:2 (Stat doubled and pain inflicted equivalent to 5 RP)
Each stat is considered individually.
Focal Pain Boost can be used to compound Focal Pain Boost's own effects. The individual ratios are then squared with each amplification. (For eg-If amplified once and used on a skill: new ratio becomes 9:4, if amplified twice and used on a skill: new ratio becomes 81:16)
Focal Pain Boost has a failsafe mechanism.
If the user's HP drops to 0 while using this skill, autoheal is amplified and forcefully activated to cover for the penalty and the extra debt of pain accumulated will be charged immediately after full recovery.
Focal Pain Boost does not directly affect HP in any manner.
Focal Pain Boost can be used to generate RP in the ratio 1:1 (1 RP generated for infliction of pain equivalent to 1 RP)
Debt pain can be repaid later.
Pre determined values of pain can be applied by offering collateral to get desired fractional increase in skill or stat. However autoheal will not activate in such cases until previous debt has been paid.
Current lvl: max
Cost: Nil ]
1 RP equivalent pain. I remember how that felt back at that rooftop. If I had to give a value to it, it would be like 9-10 Dol pain.
This skill disregards Lianne's freedom. It displays and consolidates the absolute hierarchy in our relationship. If I'm close to death while using this skill, Lianne has no choice but to heal me. I am her master, and she has to obey me.
I ordered Lianne in a calm voice.
'Use Assistant's advice. Tell me the best way to dispose of these two guys. Whatever it costs, do it fast.'
'Starting calculations!'
I was wearing a white leather jacket and inside, I had a black shirt on.
Quickly, I took off my shirt and wrapped it around my face like a mask.
'Calculations complete!'
The pain hit like a goddamn truck again. However, I was used to it. I didn't flinch and endured it. After two seconds, I was ready to move.
'Ray, I'll guide you.'
I was ready to kill.
'There is a good amount of contaminated snuffball present under the dumpster to your right. Take that syringe and stab the tanned guy, named Hiratsu, in his left arm. Use a dirty paper to hold the syringe.'
I nimbly ran over to the dumpster and grabbed the deadly toxin .
'You must hit his vein. Stab him within 30 seconds.'
I set my eyes on my prey. He was busy fondling the girl. I looked at his arm. He had prominent veins.
"That stupid rich brat, he is my goldmine."
Hiratsu cupped his toy's plump bosom and pinched hard.
"Aaaaaahhh", the girl moaned in pleasure.
"Idiot thinks he's some hero. He's just horse poop", Hiratsu started licking the girl's neck.
Completely unaware of my presence, he continued his leisure activity.
I had already surreptitiously approached him.
"Just wait, once Boss acknowledges my work, I'll quit this stupid supplier job and then..."
Suddenly, he felt something stabbing his left arm.
"Huh?", Hiratsu looked at his arm and saw me stabbing him, fully injecting all of his 'candy' into his vien
'Ray, duck!'
I hugged the floor at breakneck speed.
A rocky mountain grazed over my head. He had modified his fist to a huge rock.
"You fucking asshole!"
He raised his feet to stomp on my head.
'Lianne, Assistant stopwatch!'
Time immediately slowed down.
I quickly twisted my neck and moved out of his feet's trajectory and rapidly rolled back, before lifting myself up.
The moment I raised my head, I saw everything clearly.
That rocky mountain fist was about 10 cm away from smashing my face. It was covering most of my vision.
At the left corner, the girl was frightened and was making a terrified expression.
On the other corner, the guy was looking at me as if he wanted to kill me.
The fist kept approaching me.
'9 cm left before impact!', Lianne was helping me.
I tried to move away again, but my body had not yet full stood up. It required more time to change direction and propel myself away.
'7 cm till impact!'
I started twisting my neck, but I soon gave up since the fist was much bigger than my face.
'5 cm till impact!'
'I can't dodge this!', I panicked.
I considered taking his punch. It would hurt. ALOT...but I could survive. Maybe.
I examined my surroundings. There was a wall behind my back.
Shit, if I crashed into it, I'd definitely die.
I jumped into this fight without planning. I acted recklessly, and I was about to die because of my mistake.
'3 cm till impact!'
My brain was in overdrive mode. It was working overtime.
If it had a priority list, the first thing would be survival.
Survival even if it meant pain after that.
There was no time to panic. No time to have second thoughts.
'1 cm till impact! Ray, hurry!'
'Focal Pain Boost! Compound it and amplify my agility!'
The skill activated without delay and I felt a bolt of energy rushing through my muscles.
I had become a bullet.
I moved at the speed of sound and instantaneously moved far away from him.
Thuuuuuud
He crashed into the wall.
'Ray, I'm temporarily stopping the pain from hitting you. Hurry and run away.'
'What about the other short guy?'
'He has taken a lethal dose, his heart will soon fail.'
I looked towards Hiratsu. He had passed out.
I then turned to look at the woman. She had a teary expression, as if begging me not to kill her.
I deepened my voice and spoke hoarsely, "I wasn't here. Speak about me once, and that'll be your last mistake."
She nodded vehemently and made a run for her life.
'Letting her go is risky, but killing her is unnecessary.' I contemplated.
'Women like her, who've been bred in the underworld know how to keep their mouths shut', Lianne seconded my decision.
I clenched my hand. It felt powerful.
'I could probably run a marathon and set a world record right now.'
My muscles were taut and full of vigour.
'Ray, time is running out.'
Hearing Lianne, I started moving again.
As fast as possible, I ran towards the other guy.
And it didn't take me long before I found him, not too far away from where I fought Hiratsu.
He had collapsed and died on his own vomit.
'Ray, there's a staircase a few metres ahead. Climb it as fast as possible. I can't hold back the penalty any longer.'
After hearing that, I did exactly what I was told, not wasting a second.
There was a winding staircase leading up to a desolate, smelly roof. The roof had huge generators and solar panels adjacently placed. I quickly made my way into a tunnel shaped area. It was formed by old bricks jutting out from parallel walls covered by weathered tin roofs. It was relatively cleaner than the other areas.
No sooner did I set foot in there than the dam gates holding the flood of pain opened.
The excruciating agony was insufferable.
The affliction felt as if I was mish mashed into paste, crushed and squeezed by bronze tongs and then immediately set on fire.
My bones felt like they were being broken, remade and then broken again.
My breathing ceased completely.
My chest hurt tremendously.
My gut felt like it was rolling inside out.
My skin was biting into my body.
My tongue had grown thorns.
There was no end to my torment. I had no brain.
Time had frozen.
And I blacked out.