6 months have passed since I've received my Book. Collecting Dema and enhancing my capacity is second nature to me now. I have enough capacity to act as a Class 2 Super now.
I even came up with a way to measure Dema. I used the amount of Dema required to make 1x1 block of dirt as a baseline. This amount counts as 1 unit of Dema. Quantity and Quality affects how much Dema I need to use. Quality causes the highest cost increase.
Metal, rare earth elements and anything high energy can cost thousands just for a 1x1 block depending on what it is. Complexity of an object doesn't matter. Only the matter has a cost, not the form.
Regaining the Dema through sleep is fast. I don't have to dream for long before my capacity is filled up. I control the rate of flow after all.
Now that this basic capability is mastered. I need to explore the rest of my possibilities. Such as taking my entire body into the dreamscape, rather than my mind. Going to sleep when I want is something I already an do.
I must test the permanence of some things I create to.
Full body transfer can come later. For now, I find myself in an abandoned part of town on the weekend. Nothing but drugged up vagrants and petty criminals here. I'm away from gang areas.
I stand in an old parking deck, full of junkies giving me the side eye. I have my face covered. There are too many variables in the world to afford having my face seen.
I started my test, fire. A fire burning on the concrete floor. After making the fire, it no longer cost Dema to maintain. It acted like a normal fire and went out. However, when I remained connected to it by feeding it Dema. The fire kept on burning, Dema acting as the fuel. The cost was actually negligible. The fire I started is campfire sized. It cost 20 Dema to create, and 0.1 Dema to maintain per minute.
My Dema capacity grows every day, but the current capacity is around 1200 Dema. This capability makes me an upper class 5 Super. I just need a power increase. Changing the properties of something has an unbelievably high cost.
For example, if I want my fire to be Blue Inferno's fire. A fire much hotter than normal. Then I need 800 Dema for a campfire sized one. The cost to maintain becomes 20 Dema per minute too. That is a rather simply property change too; compared to other things.
It all comes down to capacity. Which is why I am relegated to class 2 status until my capabilities become more formidable.
I breathe out and my frosty breath is turned into real frost breath. Building off something real reduces the cost too. Creating frost breath from scratch the size of a normal breath is 5 Dema. Creating frost breath from an already cold breath reduces the cost. The colder it is outside, the cheaper it would be.
Winter makes cold related abilities a bit more powerful. After this Winter is over, I only have Spring left before I have to pick an academy. Normal high schools don't have hero courses nor supporter courses. Only academies have those courses.
My grades and mental aptitude will allow me my pick of academy as a Supporter student.
I'm not sure what to pick yet though.
I keep going back to that same parking deck every weekend. I've even begun attempting to bring my entire body into the dreamscape. Although, I've had no success besides odd feelings when I try. I instinctually know I can do, so I'll keep at it.
It was about my 3rd month coming to this parking deck that I got a different audience.
"Aiyo! Look at this kid. What you doing here kid?", I hear from the stairwell being me.
I turn around and see a few gangbangers.
I respond sharply, "None of your business."
Responding confrontationally in this situation isn't wise. However, I want them to try something. I can't use them as practice dummies with a clear conscience otherwise.
A gangbanger with a mohawk haircut scowls, "The fuck you say to me you little fucker? I'll kick the shit out of you."
He cracks his fist and comes at me aggressively.
I say with anticipation, "You feel that chill in your blood yet?"
The gangster looks at me like I'm weird, "The hell you...."
He doesn't finish his sentence as he realizes something bad is happening to him. His veins and skin are beginning to lose color. He starts to shiver, and it only gets worse.
He looks at me with fear, "A fucking Super! Come on kid, I was just playing. Stop whatever you're doing. I'll make everyone knows this is your turf, alright?"
A veiled threat he thinks I wouldn't catch.
I scoff, "Make sure everyone knows, eh?"
He frowns, "Wait, that isn't what I..."
He finally starts to freeze up. He can't support himself anymore and falls over. He'll be dead in the next 20 seconds.
I look at the rest of the gang group, "Sorry scum, no witnesses."
They try to run, but I instill a frost in their hearts. They stumble quickly while clutching their chest. They die quicker than the first gangbanger. A frosty heart attack is painful, but quick.
Good news is that it didn't cost extra to use my ability within their bodies. I can't be certain that'll be the case with Supers or magical folk. All in good time though.
I place them all in a pile and take the time to freeze the bodies down to the cells. Then with a produced sound, I cracked the frozen bodies to small shards. I collected the shards in a glass tub. Then I conjured acid to melt it all away.
No witnesses. Well, at least not gangbangers.