*Year June 9th, 2009*
*Location: Maximum Security Prison, New Mexico*
So...ever feel like something was off, like something in the air was foul or too sweet for its own good? Either that, or maybe you have a tingling feeling on your back, with your hair standing up from anxiety or fear. That's what I felt the day I was transmigrated, because it wasn't a one-and-done type thing, no, it was a bit more complex than that. It all started with a hole, a simple black hole, not the kind made from a dead star or sun, but rather a hole in space itself, one that didn't seperate dimensions but rather allowed direct access between two worlds.
Well, that was the theory, one that I came up with as I was bombarded with several types of magical energy, stuff that changed me inside and out. It gave me a couple of unique powers, stuff that will make this new life a bit more interesting. Heck, I could even multitask now, technically, or well, when my neat little power is activated. Pretty sure that was only every three days, I was also hoping I could turn it off, but I couldn't really remember, but it'd make sense in my personal opinion.
Now, how did that all bring me here, inside a prison cell inside a maximum security prison, all the way in New Mexico, as well? Now that's pretty far from Iowa. Oh, Iowa was where I lived before coming here, and as for me?
Well, I was currently in a one-man cell, about the size of a small apartment, with a small bed and toilet open to the world. Pretty fun for a guy accused of killing what was it...a senator, yes, it was a senator of some kind. Yep, it seems like my little drop into this world didn't come without consequences, and even then, it wouldn't end there, seeing as how I would be both a fugitive eventually and be wanted globally, a pretty fun combination alongside the other stuff.
As for my looks, though, well, I now had white hair, not snow white but more of a dirty white with blue eyes to match. That and long burn scars across my neck, pretty neat little feature if I say so myself.
Alongside all this and my little facsimile ability, I had three other unique abilties, the gamer system that, while weak at first, would be a big help in the long run, Magic power from the seven deadly sins, aka a unique magical ability influenced by my personality/emotions which I decided to let fate decide, its it stinks i'll make it strong, if not well i'll make it overpowered. Then my next two could make it an interesting combination, I am now an awakened from Solo Leveling, albeit unhindered by the same limits most were, meaning I could get far stronger than my current E-Rank, next up was Meddening Witchery from Soul Eater, giving me access to more...primal magic if you want to call it that.
Each one had their own unique method of let's say...awakening a person's magic, with these three paths representing different ways of getting stronger. The first two were similar, albeit with slight differences, such as how one gains their own personal brand of magic. Awakeners are more forced into a specialization, while people with magic power from the Seven Deadly Sins are more suited to a person's personality/will. A witch, though, might be a bit more... complicated as they are born from nature and a person's change both in soul/body, at least that's how I saw it.
Right now, those little abilities were my best bet out of here, and seeing as how I wanted to leave soon, soon might be better than later.
"System." I whispered, not letting anyone else in the cell block hear me.
[Gamer System]
[Name: Jack Thomas/No Cape Name]
[LV: 1] [XP: 0/100]
[Title: Unknown Prisoner (No abilties)]
[Job: None]
[HP: 25] [MP: 25]
[Stats: STR: 15 DEX: 15]
[WIS: 15 INT: 15]
[CON: 15 LUCK: 15]
[Skills: None]
[Abilties: Magic Power: Unknown (Undiscovered]
[Awakener: E-Rank (Unique Abilities Locked) (+10 to all Stats [Upgradable])]
[Maddening Witchery: Vutlure]
A little weird, it didn't display the blank and mental barrier as a skill, or the other stuff I picked from the CYOA. It could be that it needs to be learned skills or stuff like that, or it might just pop up when appropriate. Right now, my Vutlure form from my witch magic couldn't really escape, and I was kind of interested to see what type of magic was associated with it. I had some basic knowledge of spells related to it and basic witchcraft, but I would like to experiment with it.
See where it went and how it might complement or hinder my other abilities, either those two or how they could combine to make powerful combos. Well, that would just have to wait, as currently, I was still trying to figure out why the hell they locked me in maximum security. I mean, sure, a guy pops out of nowhere with a dead senator in front of them/landing in their blood looks suspicious. The problem was...who called the cops, I mean, someone had to have seen the dead body and gone to investigate, finding drumroll, me covered in blood/freaking out.
By the time I tried to talk again, I was already in here, so I kind of lost my chance to explain the situation, seeing as how I froze up. Didn't exactly resemble a case-53 or whatever other case number they had. Huh, now that I thought about it, I was pretty sure I picked the 'legal identity' option or something like that... meaning I technically existed in the system. Meaning that this was probably the next option after Jail, the best place to place a potentially dangerous criminal before trial, instead of Jail, because Jail was just a room in a police station where you were essentially temporarily stored, prisons were long-term, and that's where I was now.
Although I would like to know where my hopefully new vehicle was, alongside the mask/cape outfit, and the legal fabricator. That would probably help me set up shop somewhere new in this grimdark reality, and seeing as how I heard tales of a new Endbringer attacking Oslo, aka Norway, I knew it was Levithan attacking/making itself known for the first time.
Meaning that I played my cards right, I could help stop Japan from becoming a third-world nation, on Earth Bet at least. Wonder what they'd call my version of Earth, aka my old home, which, if I was being honest, beyond maybe telling my parents that I was still alive, didn't have anything else waiting for me, so what the hell, let's give life another go, another try with magic and a purpose this time, both chosen/given to me.
Looking out of my cell, though, I saw a few guards rotate around, checking in prisoners, with a few new ones popping in. Some of them looked confused, further supporting my full jail cell theory, with others being your typical tough guy, with a few parahumans mixed in, not the kind whose powers would pose too much of a problem and lead to potentional escappees, but rather just the big guys, the guys you'd be able to take with a quick tase, stun baton, or any other number of methods.
Aka brutes-1 or 2 at most, still interesting to see though, I mean, there weren't a whole lot, but still interesting nonetheless. Also, judging by the fact that the guards were still yawning meant one of two things: I was either dealing with the morning shift, or they were about to clock out, leaving behind the night shift to look after this future thunderdome. Because even if it was 1996, I suspected the birdcage or other similar prisons weren't up and running quite yet, meaning the parahumans would have to go to Maximum Security Prisons temporarily until such places are established.
Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if this place had deep holes where the worst of the very worst are kept, maybe its own birdcage prototype where prisoners fight each other to survive and for air. Although I do wonder...I had a spell called "Vulture's Eyes," and I had a pretty good idea what it did.
"Let's see how many people are here."
I whispered to myself as I sat up on the bed, and a strange glow went over my eyes before disappearing. Looking around, I saw every soul, every soul in this prison, and there were dozens upon dozens of them, some of them were moving, others were still. I then looked down through the walls of the prison, and while I couldn't see through objects, I could see souls easily enough through the walls.
Down below us, I saw maybe less than a dozen people down there, each unmoving, not because they were sleeping or something like but rather because they were stuck in place. What did all these souls have in common? Each one was a small bright blue ball with a wisp of flame going upward, as though it were ready to be plucked. Either that or harvest if you want, whichever word worked better.
Either way, I would say this was a success in testing out my capabilities, well, one of the basic ones anyway. They do say the eyes are the window to the soul, although I don't think they meant like this, and it was also an interesting ability. I wonder what else these other spells can do. I certainly had a vast assortment of basic witch spells, but the animal-focused ones were all vulture-related. I could transform into a Vulture of some kind, but the other spells were a bit lost on me.
Sure, I knew how to use it all, but the problem was that I had a diverse array of knowledge; instead of concentrating on a more specialized pathway, I had a whole bunch of potentially powerful abilities. Each one is ready to be unleashed on the world, but first, I had to escape prison, and that could be a while, seeing as how I had to wait till we were allowed outside time, then it would be smooth sailing, well, if I played my role right anyway, had to to act the part of a Vulture, look around for a bit, act like i'm just looking for my next meal before flying away.
Lying back down and deactivating the spell, I quietly whistled and simply waited, now calmer about my situation, no longer freaking out, well over the transmigration bit anyway. I still had mixed feelings about being sent to a Grimdark universe where pain is normality and villains are born essentially every minute via a mixture of trauma/circumstance and, well, Cauldron as well, but that was a whole other story.
Right now, I have an escape plan to put together, because getting out of prison is step one; the rest would be staying out whilst being a fugitive and a future globally wanted criminal.
Yay....