6 weeks...it's been 6 long, excruciating weeks since I've been coming to this godforsaken park waiting for Issei; and it's only now that the little turd has decided to show up. The even crazier part is that I've run into a few snags while testing out my "Exchange" power, let's do a little flashback/recap shall we.
.....~Flashback/Recap 6 Weeks~.....
After making my way back to my little cabin in the woods, which mind you took way to much time in my book, I've decided to finally test out my "Exchange", on who you may be wondering? On my dear new neighbor Mr. Rabbit....Now before we judge, you've got to understand my main concern is discretion and safety, which are equally important when testing out some cosmic given power that you only have the bare description and understanding for, hence my home with a rabbit I happened to snag on the way back. The little bastard nips at your fingers like no other though.
'Right so lets try to fix that stamina issue shall we?'
"Don't worry little buddy I'm just gonna take 60 percent of your stamina and you'll get some nice juicy lettuce" I said to the completely willing rabbit, who is totally not squirming around like it's on coke
I take the rabbit and groceries to my room and shut the door; afterwards I settle the rabbit down and watch as it dashes about trying to find an escape.
"Oh you sweet summer child there is no escape, not yet at least" I say innocently
While it's doing that I take out the head of lettuce I bought earlier and toss it in the corner where I figure the rabbit while go for it after it calms down a bit and restate my deal/bargain/condition?
'Eh I'll figure out a less ominous phrase when I don't feel like I'm on a timer to my death'
Some 30ish minutes later I notice the rabbit hence forth named Fluffy start munching away at the lettuce like it's about to go outta style. 30 seconds later I pass out from an all encompassing pain...
"FUUUUUCCCKKK!!!!!!!" is the first thing I say after waking up in who knows how long.
'Ok so that really hurt, like a lot, what the hell was that? Let's think this through Akira, with logical reasoning and deduction.....'
'...'
'Crap...ok let's try doing a few tests again with Fluffy and see how that goes'
I look on over to where I last saw Fluffy and just see what appears to be a sleeping rabbit in a pile of lettuce, as I go over to pick it up I notice that it's extremely stiff and....
"Yep you're dead....Well sorry Fluffy I'll make sure to season you good if that's any consolation."
'Time to find another small woodland critter to make "fair" deals with.'
A few hours and several small critters later I've come to a conclusion that yes I can take physical/mental and possibly spiritual (Will not be testing that with normal animals) qualities of those I use my power on, but it directly implements those qualities forcibly onto me whether I'm fit to receive them or not. To counteract this I'll need lots of potential and room for growth to give a sort of leeway and not cripple myself or you know die again.
'While this is unfortunate and slows down my plans quite a bit it's not a complete disaster, I've just gotta work around this for a bit and maybe readjust my approach; so first I should work on expanding all my potentials and growth speed and since I've got money I could just work with the homeless or less fortunate for this. I mean it's not like they'll mind much any way if I just take say 10 percent of all potential and maybe a couple of years of their lifespan in exchange for some much needed cash. Heck it's a public service and while I may not be good I sure as heck ain't some evil edge lord hell bent on unlimited power. I just need enough to survive and leave this place. Plus it's not like they'll believe I'm actually capable of taking anything from them. I'll most likely be seen as an eccentric naive rich kid.'
With the new plan set and plotted out it was time for some sleep then work.
Over the next few weeks on top of checking by the park everyday to encounter Issei I made it my mission to find either drunk or down on their luck individuals willing to humor a kid for some cash....it was surprisingly easy. What most people tend to ignore is what the effect of having a town controlled by devils do to the general public, yeah I know they're the "Good ones" as true as that may be, however they are still devils and that comes with a subtle miasma that settles into the environment which loosens inhibitions and emotional control in weaker individuals, and with a whole bunch of them in a medium sized town well... Let's just say everyone's extra friendly.
.....~End Flashback/Recap~.....
That brings us to today, some several hundred thousand yen poorer. Which I am more than happy about, reason being the massive increase in my potential and overall physical growth due to it. I spent the first few weeks collecting just pure human potential so I'd be safe enough to start upping my physique and it was well worth it. I can proudly say I'm the strongest 12 year old human child alive right now, I tested out my new body a few days ago back at the cabin with some boulders and a stop watch, 100 meters .55 seconds or 400 freedom units in speed alone!! Strength I didn't have an accurate measure but I can easily pick up a boulder the size of a small van so there's that.
'Yeah things are looking good right about now if that's all I wanted which it isn't'
'Unfortunately even with the massive increase in my stats, I'd reckon I barely qualify as Low Class in power level when measuring just physique, that's to say I ain't got no magic juju son. Yep turns out most people just don't have the potential for it so there wasn't anything to "Exchange" sad really, though I suppose that's one of the reasons the Big Man decided to hand out Sacred Gears like candy to us chumps.'
Anyways back to my current situation here, I spot Issei and decide to head on over to him before he decides to wonder off to who knows where. Time to act my adorable ass off.
"Hi my names Akira what's yours?" I say to the little turd in a curious manner inciting an equally curious response.
"Issei Hyoudou, future Harem king and lover of Boobs!!" said turd responds back in what was supposed to be a curious response instead of a perverted one.
Already I restrain myself from not punting him into low earth orbit. I mean I'm no saint myself but have some decency, I swear if he doesn't calm the hell down by the time I find a way outta this universe I'ma take care of this myself. I get this is a "Mature" anime and all but in real life it just feels nasty now.
"Cool.....wow what a coincidence I happen to have a collection of nudie mags with me, I'll give them to you on 2 conditions, I want 30% of all your potential and 75% of your plot armor." I say as I hand off the mags I had stuffed in my jacket pocket
Wide eyed and mouth agape Issei readily grabs the mags screaming "DEAL!!!" and runs off.
"Well that was surprisingly easy, a bit anticlimactic to be honest"
Oh well a win is a win. You may be wondering "Akira what about Ddraig?". I can only say no at least not yet, I know for sure my soul ain't ready to house a mythical dragon, so why focus on what I can't do instead of what I can, i.e. stealing his plot armor. I made sure he kept some to survive and have a bit of relevance to the story; like at the importance of a side character. Gosh I'm merciful.
~ So to recap ~
Physique like Captain America
Potential still growing
Soul/Spiritual needs growth
Mental need to start collecting
Yeah that's about it, next few weeks I should put a focus on expanding my mental abilities and see if I can't intervene in the plot somehow for my benefit, perhaps Akeno is around, if I remember correctly she'll want her Fallen Angel half gone currently. I'll need to snoop around a bit first to see if Rias has contacted her yet. So much to do so little time...