In a heartbeat, death comes to embrace you for eternity.
Anxiety-inducing? Frightening? For my part, I find it comforting that death is punctual; I don't need to wait any longer to finally rest from my life, which I find...boring.
An ordinary school life, ordinary encounters, an ordinary family, it's quite simple, if my universe had to have a proper name it would probably be: Banalities.
This is surely what led me to love the Multiverse theory so much ; it's exhilarating to see what the universe could be like with a small difference, for example, if strawberry ice cream doesn't exist or if the concept of religion doesn't exist, tiny details that change the whole world. It brings me back to my guilty pleasure of loving stories about a solitary protagonist who arrives to break the rules of the world he walks upon.
I became a fan of anti-heroes very early in my life, why? I don't like the fact that a hero is always held back by their morals when there are monsters with human skin. Some people like Superman, the Man of Steel? I prefer Wolverine or Deadpool because their stories interest me much more. The same goes for the Punisher; it's not the violence that attracts me, no, it's the justice for all those who have suffered.
Am I in favor of absolute violence? No, I am only a man who one day understood that the word Justice means that everyone must receive what they deserve in a fair way.
A farmer who works all his life deserves a long and prosperous life because as much as he works for himself and his family, so too do all the people around him who benefit from his efforts; that is why after a life of hard work he deserves good things.
Yet one day a killer comes to kill the farmer, burn his crops, all for the pleasure of doing evil; what does he deserve? To me, it seems obvious.
to enslave him and force him to work the land until his death.
Cruel? No, what is cruel is believing that death is a punishment; everyone can die, but nobody wants to suffer if they can avoid it.
Anyway, I'm rambling, but understand me, I died a while ago and for the moment I rest in a kind of sea of ink that covers me to the point that I have forgotten the colors of the world, that's why I continue to think again and again simply enjoying the clarity of my mind finally rid of the problems of my life...hum actually, if I have one regret...it is not having lived an exhilarating life.
D~D
...
"...hum..." a voice moaned in a long groan, in the infinite darkness the deep voice resonated in the immensity "...why...am I here?...I am dead..."
"Not yet !"
A light began to bloom in the center, fuchsia pink with hints of blue. The light chased away the darkness, which drifted away like clouds driven by the wind. Only the solitary soul remained, which, even without its eyes, was dazzled by the intensity of the light. Then it began to ripple like a liquid with its own consciousness. Then a delicate foot emerged, an ankle adorned with a golden bracelet. The light blinked as a female body took shape. In a new burst of light, the soul witnessed the arrival of a goddess.
Because such incredible beauty does not exist among mortals.
Her long turquoise blue hair has loosened and rests along her bare back, her pink eyes adorned with long eyelashes flutter beautifully, her lips so glossy that anyone would want to kiss them, a graceful face that exudes a feeling of amusement thanks to her radiant smile, her mocha-colored skin brings out all the colors of her body, as does her black dress which leaves her shoulders bare, giggling softly the goddess bends down to gather the silver mist at her foot, rolling the soul between her delicate fingers she gently blows on it chasing away the mist to reveal the person below.
What a man! That's what she thinks when she sees the male sitting in her hand, completely naked, revealing his shape covered in bulging muscle. It's quite simple, she bets that a bullet could be deflected by his pectorals. Measuring a good six foot ninety, the man displays a face with features cut with a knife, cheekbones, nose, jaw. It's quite simple, with his golden eyes showing his confusion and his hair red as fire, this man embodies beauty personified.
In fact, he clearly saw his reflection in the giant woman's eye, which made him ask himself some rather important questions.
(Why do I have Gogeta SSJ4's hair?) was undoubtedly his first observation; even running his fingers through his hair, he was very surprised by the silky texture, clearly expecting the hair to sting him (Yeah...I admit it's not bad...now what am I doing here?)
Looking up, he swallowed a little when he saw the goddess greet him cheerfully, waving her fingers like a teenager waving at her crush.
(And to think I never believed in God...now I'm in the hand of a giant woman...if that's what awaits us once we die, it's not so bad) he thinks, seeing that the goddess's dress highlights the valley of her breasts (...at the same time, if I'm here it's surely not for nothing...anyway, as Grandma used to say, when the music starts, you have to go dance)
Taking a deep breath, the redhead stood up under the playful gaze of the giant woman. He lowered his eyes for a moment to see that his modesty was saved by a white cloud. He would feel quite bad exposing this kind of thing to a woman he did not know.
Grandma taught him good manners.
"Um, hello!" he said in a deep voice, moving his hands hesitantly before clasping them behind his back. "Um... I'm sorry to introduce myself like this, even though... I don't really understand why I'm here..."
"Fu~yuyuyuyuyuyu" she giggles, pulling her face away from the man who seems almost relieved that she's not trying to eat him. "So polite!" she exclaims in a melodious voice. "I'd heard of souls like you who are very rude during first encounters with us, but you're really trying not to offend me! It's charming, really."
"Well, thank you," he said, clapping his hands nervously with a nervous smile. "Oops, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself, my name is Adam."
"Nice to meet you, Adam. As for me... I am Javia, goddess of dreams," she replied, lying on her stomach with her feet flapping in the air, which stirred the pink clouds around them. "But apart from that, you probably have many questions."
For a second the redhead looked up to see where he was, around him he saw the cosmos, pink clouds forming a circle in which the reclining form of the goddess rested, it was a bit like they were on a bed of cotton candy, bringing his eyes back to Javia he offered her a brittle smile.
"Yes, quite a lot, but especially this one: why am I here? And also...why do I look like this?"
"Oh, it's not very complicated," she giggles, closing her eyes for a moment. "All of creation rests on a dream, existence itself is nothing more than a dream I have. It's eternal even if I don't sleep. All of life is a dream, my dream. That's probably why it becomes strange for those who live by absurd rules, but as you know, nothing makes sense in a dream,"she explains, her eyes sweeping the space around them. Then she looks at the redhead, who seems genuinely shocked. "As for your appearance, it's the shell you dreamed of when you were alive, but it's also the result of all your desires buried in your heart. I just gave form to your dream body, and here you are~"
He tries not to blush too much under the amused gaze of the goddess, but it's quite difficult when you've just been told very clearly that your body has something you've secretly dreamed of.
Okay, granted, he's quite a fan of anime and manga, and granted, he might be the only one who actually thought the Saiyan 4 look was really cool, but has he ever dreamed of having a body as sculpted as Saitama's? Sue him!
Putting that aside, he looks at the woman with a mixture of fear and...gratitude.
(Who can claim to have met the one who was the originator of creation?)
"Okay, I understand things a little better now," he sighed, his hands on his hips. "But why am I here? Am I going to be judged or what?"
"Not at all," she assured her in a more serious voice. "You are here because I have an offer to make you, but before all that, I would like you to answer a question for me."
"Uh, very well...if I can answer it then I will do so with pleasure, miss," he said, quite nervous at the idea of not being able to answer.
"You lived an ordinary life in a world without any magic, no fantastic creatures, no heroes, no mysteries to unveil, you were born and died like an ordinary man, Adam, so here is my question: What was your life like?"
...
He remained there, his face unreadable, yet inside he felt as if...crushed by the weight of this question he began to search for the exact words to summarize his life.
"Frustrating," he confesses in a long breath that seems to lighten his heart. "I've always wondered why the world I live in is so boring. Every day I barely lived the way I wanted. I dreamed of a world filled with magic or of becoming a true hero, but every time I woke up I was frustrated, not having the right to live an exciting life. I'm not a paragon of good or a ruthless demon, I'm just a man who loves justice."
"...hum it's true that it seems frustrating, yet you say you're not a good man but at the same time you consider yourself to love justice?"
"I'm not cruel, but...sometimes I think humans are far too cruel to each other...to be honest with you, I'm sometimes ashamed to be human," he confessed, clenching his fist. "I so wish the innocent would be saved, and the guilty would finally be punished."
"How would you do it? Would you exterminate all the criminals in this world? Would you cut off the hands of thieves? Kill murderers? Make those who destroy the innocence of others for pleasure suffer? Would you be strong enough to do that? Or would your mind give way to taking a life? Answer me, Adam: do you want to become like that?"
"Ah," he said simply, even displaying a playful smile. "No, I would be perfectly capable of it, Javia, but it wouldn't be my reason for living, you know that, don't you? My dearest dream is to live an exhilarating life. I don't deny my vision of justice, and I know that if I could, I would do what you just said, but I am not a man who locks himself away with a single goal," he affirmed, looking her in the eyes.
She was really surprised by his change of mood, almost expecting a fiery speech on how to destroy all the scum or even burn them at the stake, but clearly the redhead is not a madman who likes to kill, just a man quite stubborn in his convictions and who would not refuse to use violence to defend his principles because from his point of view justice is carried out even if it does not please anyone.
"I see, Fu~yuyuyuyuyuyu! Well, that's interesting,"she said with a wide smile. "I think you'll like my offer then!"
"What kind of offer?" he asks, his face tilted to the side.
Cackling behind her hand, finding her expression {Puppy} adorable, the goddess coughs on it to regain her composure.
"You must already know the concept of Isekai, right? It's a rather repetitive cycle, but the deities really like to take a human, give them powers, and then release them into their universe just to see what they will do," she explains under the blasé gaze of the human.
"I suppose watching TV or reading a book isn't interesting enough for a god?" he said, with an amused smile despite himself at hearing about divine entertainment.
"Oh, it's not out of the question, but seeing someone revolutionize the world is much more fun," she admits, laughing. "That's why I'd like to make you this offer, Adam, but also because... I need you for a favor."
For the first time since the beginning of their encounter, the redhead saw the goddess's face become covered in sadness. At this sight, his heart tightened, having never liked to see a woman sad no matter why. Gently, he placed his hand against the palm that held him. Surprised, she looked at the man before her and smiled gently at him, as a friend would, simply wanting to listen to what was troubling her. Returning the smile, she then raised her eyes upwards while sighing.
"As you know, there are worlds like yours that are ordinary, but others are anything but. You've even seen them. For you, it's just fiction, yet they exist in their own world. I can see their whole adventure, from beginning to end, but... I also see those who suffer, feel their fear and their pain. I know that cruelty exists, Adam, yet I can't bear to know that no salvation is possible for some worlds," she says with a sorrowful sigh. "You've seen it before, haven't you? These worlds that are simply filled with suffering."
Yes, he remembers, visions of Akame Ga Kill, Berserk, Shingeki No Kyojin, Goblin Slayer, Cyberpunk, Fate Stay, The Boys, Invincible, Game Of Thrones, all these worlds are similar in his eyes because people who suffer do not deserve it, he knows the end of most stories and he has never found satisfaction, in fact this kind of story has very often hurt his heart.
"That's why I'm ready to make your dream come true and much more in exchange for your help. If you succeed in saving these worlds, then you'll get one wish. Whatever you desire, I'll make it come true," she said seriously, her eyes shining with conviction. Adam grasped her chin, studying the matter.
"Really? Nonsense? Becoming a god? Having total power over dogs? Controlling time?"
"Fu~Yu! Come on Adam, I've seen your wildest dreams, you don't dream of being all-powerful, being a god doesn't interest you at all," she giggled, pulling the human closer to her glossy lips. " I know, you want life to be exciting, but you can try to be a god, just remember that once you become a deity our agreement will no longer hold and you will be left to your own devices to understand the basics of divinity."
"It's strange, but I suspected as much," he sniffed, running his fingers along his jaw, an old tic from when his beard itched. "Well, if I understand correctly, I have to save the worlds you send me to, and once I'm done, I get something I want and I start again, all this until you judge that enough worlds have been saved?"
"Don't worry, I don't want you to work constantly. Time is relative, so a second or a century isn't a problem for me. You can spend as much time as you want in whatever world suits you. Just know that when you leave it, it will be paused. This prevents people from being aware of my existence," she explained with a smile. "As for wishes, I can grant you whatever you like, but remember to ask for something you can control right away. For example, you can ask me for an army, but it's up to you to lead it."
"And if I ask for an army that is eternally loyal to me?"
"You'll always have to take care of her like any good general does, food, salary and so on."
(I kind of expected that, asking for anything just for laughs won't get me anywhere if I have no ability to use it, anyway the secret to succeeding in a world is to dominate what governs it, if it's a magical world then either become the greatest mage in the world, or have Asta's swords) he thought, continuing to scratch the skin of his jaw (But let's see where I start so I know what to base myself on)
"There's little reason to refuse such an offer," he said thoughtfully. "...Javia, what will happen to me if I die once again?"
"Oh, well, that's it for your memory," she continued, seeing his confused look, while waving her idle hand around as someone would chase away a bad joke. "You will forget everything and you will live again in your original world until another god makes you the same offer."
"...huh...the meaning of life takes a hit," he joked before sighing with his eyes closed, then his lips lifted into a dashing smile. "Well, Javia, I accept-"
"Yippee!"
The goddess's sudden exclamation knocks poor Adam to the ground, who inwardly complains of the volume of sound that has just shaken his entire body. Quickly shaking his head to block out the bells, he gets up with some difficulty, as Javia begins to roll on her back laughing. Lifting her giant body from there, she now stands in the immensity of the cosmos. With a breath, a bluish mist takes the form of a throne, onto which she releases Adam, who clings stiffly to the piece of furniture as he sees himself floating among the stars.
(That's not ordinary!) he laughed mentally while watching the blue-haired goddess grasp something in the air, then the thing took the form of a belt which she offered him, hesitating a little he finally took it but the object quickly wrapped itself around his waist making him let out a very manly cry as a black mist covered his body for a second, evaporating Adam saw that he was dressed in a red suit like his hair, a black shirt and black shoes, around his waist was the black leather belt with a gold buckle in the shape of the Assassin symbol.
"Wow!" he exclaimed, opening the jacket to inspect his new look, and also to feel relieved to feel underwear covering him, then something strange happened when his eyes landed on the belt.
[Aphrodite's Belt]
Divine-rank artifact.
Power: allows its user to change clothes according to their desires.
"Um Javia, why am I getting information popping up in my head?"
"Huh? Oh, that's right, it's just a little something to help you understand the nature of Objects of Power. They are very powerful objects scattered throughout the cosmos. You'll sometimes find them in the worlds, well, if you look carefully, Fu~yu yu!" she replied, clapping her hands happily. "Sorry for the surprise, I just wanted you to feel comfortable."
"Not at all, thank you Javia," he said, gently lowering his forehead towards her. "It feels good to be well dressed."
"Especially with a body like yours~" she laughed mischievously, which made Adam blush.
"Ah-aah, so when am I going to leave?" he asks, whistling innocently.
"Once we have chosen your powers and your gift," she replied, waving her index finger, "you will be entitled to three powers of your choice, but be careful, you cannot request two powers from the same universe, so choose wisely. As for the gift, you can acquire more by performing feats."
(Hmm, that's more restrictive, but I understand. If I become too powerful, I'll be a steel ball and chain in a world made of cardboard. It's better to aim for powers I know and that work together. As for the gift, though...ah yes!)
"Before choosing the powers, can I have some information about the world you have chosen to send me?" the redhead asked politely, scratching his chin.
Javia's face twisted into a rather sad expression, then she nodded, the redhead's brain trembled as a huge amount of knowledge began to pulse in his neurons.
Then everything stops, leaving him speechless as to his first destination.
Kuroinu.
Slowly his face adopts an expression of fury when he remembers what the world of Kuroinu is about; basically, it's a dark-fantasy anime that tells the story of how a group of mercenaries rebels against the government in power, only to transform it into a country of debauchery where women have no human rights and are reduced to stupid objects of pleasure.
Adam felt his teeth ache from grinding them together. How many times had he cursed his curiosity when he saw that word appear in a conversation between his friends about dark manga? Except this was just a hentai anime with no plot whatsoever. Each episode simply recounted how women ended up like...brrr! He didn't even want to say the word, he felt so disgusted. Then all of that simply erupted into a rage as cold as nitrogen. He could perfectly understand why Javia wanted his intervention in this particular world. If his memories were correct, then Vault and his acolytes would take possession of the country, and years later their legacy would endure and become a motive for conquering the entire world under the banner of Emperor Vault's sexual empire.
"...very well," said Adam in as calm a voice as possible, as he began to grasp the magnitude of the task ahead, and in the back of his mind he was already imagining the kind of torture he had in store for the black dogs. "So in that case, allow me to state my requests regarding my powers."
Silently the goddess acquiesced then she brought her hands closer to the redhead, inside her palms a blue mist began to ripple, in it flashed highlights from the worlds that Adam knew in the form of film or manga, then he watched attentively the powers that flashed by wondering which power could help him in his quest.
Yet his anger does not last as an old childhood dream takes over, he ponders his decision because he does not want to get too carried away with his desire to do justice for Eostia, he weighs the pros and cons before a thought stops him.
"Javia, do I inherit the flaws that come with the powers?" the human wisely asks.
"No, if that were the case, stacking powers with a single disease would only kill you faster; the known flaws of your powers would be erased, and you would be able to draw on their full potential as long as you practice."
"Okay, but what if I meet the person from whom I received my powers? Won't that seem suspicious?"
"Two scenarios are possible: either the person simply doesn't exist and you replace them, or you will be related to them through your powers; it's a bit like gaining a brother or sister."
"Hmm...in that case I choose Wolverine as my first power."
The bluish cloud began to shine right under Adam's golden eyes, who felt himself being invaded by an icy breath filling his lungs. The sensation quickly disappeared, leaving him panting on his throne. His eyes fixed on his right hand, gently clenching his fist. He felt something inside him that seemed to have always been there, simply waiting for him to acknowledge its existence. Using an unknown muscle, the redhead jumped as three adamantium blades emerged from his knuckles.
The sensation seems as surreal as it is familiar, but for the redhead it is just the most incredible moment of his existence. Seeing it in comics or movies is one thing, but having Wolverine's powers gives him a feeling of vertigo that he tries to attribute to his senses becoming sharper. Smiling like a child, he extends and retracts his claws just to memorize how to do it on command and not by accident. Once his tests are finished, he watches the tissues of his skin stitch themselves together, leaving no trace.
"Rahko!" he exclaims under the curious gaze of the blue-haired goddess.
"Rahko?"
"Oh, uh!" Remembering he wasn't alone, Adam felt a blush creeping up his cheeks. "It's just something I say when I'm happy...hum! Anyway, it's really amazing, Javia!"
"You're welcome! Fu~yu yu!"
The euphoria lasted quite a while, but then the redhead remembered that he still had to think about his next choices, trying not to stack the same power twice, even though it would be very hard to find a mutant or other hero with powers like Wolverine.
A skeleton covered in one of the hardest metals in the Marvel universe, claws capable of slicing through anything, super-developed senses surpassing even those of animals, but the most incredible thing remains his Healing Factor, whether he is burned or riddled with bullets nothing can beat this power which makes Logan immortal unless he finds himself facing Magneto.
That's a good starting point, but be careful: if his brain is damaged, he'll be dead. Should he base his next power on overcoming this weakness? No, the best way to overcome a weakness is to never let anyone believe it will work on him.
Then everything clicked in his mind.
"I want power: Shikotsumyaku"
Once again the icy mist filled his lungs as he contemplated the potential of the powers he had just received; Kimimaro's abilities with this Kekkei Genkai were by far one of the most powerful abilities Adam had ever seen. Only Lee had been able to equal him in hand-to-hand combat, of course using the gates, but the performance had to be commended.
Now what happens once you combine an adamantium skeleton with absolute control over your bones? Yes, you very quickly become an unstoppable weapon.
Sneering at the prospect of his power, Adam returns to the open palms of the goddess, beginning to think more seriously about his next choice; the first two came to him naturally, having often had plenty of time to imagine what mixed powers would produce.
Then a thought made him panic a little.
"Wait, am I going to need chakra to use Kimimaro's power?"
"Not at all, I told you Adam, no flaws, you thought very well before choosing, so the two powers complement each other well enough for you to be considered a mutant with full control of his powers."
"Phew! One less worry!"
Reassured, he resumes his deliberations, which frustrate him greatly because he hesitates in his choices for the first time. Should he find another power with good synergy? Or should he find one that will broaden his range of skills? Should he once again look for something destructive or...huh?
"I want: The Power of Ezio Auditore!"
He didn't know what to expect when he asked for the skills of the most renowned Mentor in Assassin's Creed. The flood of memories was undoubtedly the most logical part. Playing out the Auditore's life was one thing, but reliving his entire life in a few moments was as crazy as he had imagined. Years of training and combat began to be etched into his muscles, giving him brief spasms. But that wasn't the only reason he chose Ezio. This man had lived a full life, an Assassin certainly, but also a traveler, an ingenious and audacious man who always knew how to seize an opportunity to fulfill his quest, a businessman who had owned a good part of Rome and Constantinople thanks to his business acumen. But above all, Adam coveted one of the most exceptional powers: Eagle Vision , a true sixth sense that allows one to perceive the true nature of the world, to see who their allies and enemies are, with experience. Ezio has pushed this skill to the point where he can track his targets with an efficiency that sends shivers down the spine of the redhead.
This time the sensation that overwhelmed him was different from before, the already superhuman senses began to sharpen to the point that...it's something else than seeing, no, the closest thing to it is the feeling that you finally have the right to contemplate the universe as it is.
Smiling from ear to ear, he deactivates his eye power to watch his goddess smile at him adorably.
"Interesting choice, Adam! I was expecting you to ask for something flashier, like the Gura Gura no Mi or even the ability to cure all diseases with a simple touch," she said, crossing her hands under her chin, observing the amused face of the human.
"Honestly, I've thought about it, but in the end...what good would it do me to have so much power at my disposal if I don't know who my real enemies are? Besides, I don't have as much information about this world as I would like; differentiating between traitors and allies could have become a problem, but with this? I almost feel sorry for the Black Dogs," he laughed, rising from his throne only to rest his buttocks on it again when the goddess pressed her index finger against his body.
"Not so fast, sir! You still need to choose a donation!"
"Ah, that's right... I got carried away," he sighed, scratching his jaw with a finger. "Luckily, I know what I want for this one."
"Really? Is it the gift of a masseur? Or just absolute luck with women? Oh, tell me, tell me!"
"I would like the gift for music"
The cosmos itself seems to stop spinning as the goddess Javia looks at it with wide eyes.
"...excuse me? Are you sure? I wasn't joking about the rest, you could have an absolute chance!"
"I imagine it's nice to always know that luck is on your side, but for me, luck shouldn't be controlled by humans. We end up abusing it, and that makes us complacent. For my part, I would be very happy to finally be talented enough to sing and play the piano, as I've always dreamed."
"Fu! I wasn't expecting that at all, usually everyone just thinks about absolute power or sex," she said teasingly to her champion, who was just pretending not to see the blue-haired goddess giving him a very, very...hot smile.
"Yes, well, I prefer my choices and not knowing what others do with their free time..." he replied calmly despite the slight blush on his cheeks.
"Very well, I'll stop," she assured him, clapping her hands gently, which sent a puff of pinkish smoke onto Adam's body. "There you go, compared to your powers, you'll have to develop your gift on your own, so do what you like. Oh, I almost forgot! Once your mission is accomplished, you'll have the right to choose three other powers in addition to your wish."
"Not that I'm complaining about your generosity, Javia, but don't you think it's a lot? I'm always capable of asking for something stupid like—"
"Turn gold into chocolate?"
"...that...yeah, and too much power might go to my head, right?"
"It's really strange to see someone hesitate to become all-powerful."
"Something tells me that if I were like the others you wouldn't have invited me," he teased, which made the goddess giggle.
"Fu~yu! You're right Adam, you're my champion, and as such I only want the best for you, so don't worry, you can take whatever you dream of!"
"Thank you Javia...well I guess it's time to go save the world?" he asks impatiently with a smile on his lips, making the goddess giggle with joy.
"Very well, Fu~yu! Oh, I must warn you, but we can only talk in your dreams, so if you ever have any questions or just want to see me, you'll have to wait!" she laughed, twirling in front of her champion, who was really trying not to look at her curves straining against the fabric of her dress. "Good! Adam, I wish you good luck!"
"Count on me!"
As soon as these words were spoken with conviction, the human was as if sucked into a rainbow, leaving Javia all alone, humming pensively. The giant woman looks at the empty throne with a slightly sulky face.
"Let's hope he doesn't charm anyone..."
D~D
(...I smell something like...flowers? Yes, that's it...there's also something more...moist? ...hmm no...dew? ...unbelievable)
Gently moving, Adam flutters his eyes hard to get used to the sunlight flooding the clearing he is looking at. Lying against a tree, the redhead looks at nature with childlike wonder. Slowly raising his body, he feels his mind spinning as he sees the immensity of the trees around him, plus the strange rabbit with wooden horns running further away.
"We're not in Kansas anymore," the young man joked, running a hand along his jaw. "Okay, now I'm going to-"
A piece of paper appeared in a cloud of fuchsia flame.
~Dear Adam~
~I have a friend in this world who can help you; just head north and you can't miss him! Oh, one last thing: you are five years before the Kuroinu attack on Olga's castle, so I advise you to use this time now to master your powers.
With all my love, Javia
No sooner had he finished reading than the redhead watched the paper disappear as it had come, letting out a small, thoughtful breath, absently stroking his chin while glancing around him.
(Well, that's a start, anyway, going in blind won't do me any good, I may have powers but they won't do me any good without training) he thought, glancing at his outfit (Béné, I'll follow Javia's advice then, but before that I need to change, dressed like this I risk being noticed... well, since we're in a medieval world this should do the trick)
Touching the buckle of his belt, Adam closes his eyes while praying that his idea works. He thinks precisely about what he wants to wear and only opens his eyes once he feels the weight on his body change. Smiling broadly, the redhead observes Altaïr's armor with the excitement of a child on Christmas Day. All the details are there, except for the hidden blades, which he imagines are not part of the outfit because they are weapons.
"I wonder if it's as sturdy as real armor," he muttered, running his gloved hands over the metal pieces on the belt adorned with the brotherhood's symbol. "Well, we'll see, now let's go!"
Letting the hood hang down his back, Adam began to walk with the firm intention of enjoying this day that marked the beginning of his new life.
D~D
During his walk through the forest, Adam naturally wondered how to annihilate the Kuroinu without incurring the wrath of the Princess Knights who saw them as saviors. For now, he didn't think he was in a position to walk all lovey-dovey to Vault and drive an axe into his skull. Even though this vision filled his heart with joy, he put it aside to focus on his future plans: first, to get a map to know where he was, then to reach a city and try to gather intelligence on the Kuroinu's actions. If, in the original story, Vault has the support of men in power and the church, it's surely not for nothing; there must be money at stake, or at least favors that the mercenary leader has collected throughout his military campaigns. This would explain the ease with which his men besieged supposedly impregnable fortresses.
In any case, according to Ezio's memories, the most important thing to slow down the actions of an organization is to cut off the head of what makes it thrive.
Money, money, money.
A sex empire certainly holds great promise, and Adam admits that a scoundrel would do anything to buy a slave, but until such a country exists, he needs gold, and that's what the redhead will focus on, but how...
Adam's walk comes to an abrupt halt as an idea germinates in the confines of his mind, a dangerous idea, an idea that risks costing him dearly, an idea so crazy that the executed person would openly admit that you are the biggest fool in the world.
That's why the redhead's excited smile makes him truly unsettling.
D~D
Keeping an open mind remains a difficult exercise when you are faced with a huge brown leather boot with the front turned inside out and with a large sign on it that reads {At Brik Brak!}, Adam just took a deep breath before entering inside which turned out to be much bigger than he had ever imagined, the place was built in a rather dark wood lit by small flames floating above him, raising his head Adam looked with a relaxed jaw at the immensity of the place, it was like finding himself in a huge tower rising so high that you couldn't even see the color of the ceiling.
"Yup yup! Lady Javia warned me but I didn't think you'd be so hairy!" exclaims a voice expressing a total lack of emotion.
Looking down at the counter, the redhead watched a small creature that looked very much like a black lop-eared rabbit, dressed in a simple brown shirt with a black vest over it and a beret of the same color, its ears each having three golden rings clicking together and eyes having a violet tint.
"Uh, hello?" said Adam awkwardly, gently shaking his head and then placing his hand against his heart. "Excuse me, Bonjourno , I'm Adam Lucania, pleased to meet you."
"...Hmm, yup, you have good manners," admitted the little creature, scratching its ear with its hind paw. "As for me, I'm Brik the Dream Merchant, pleased to meet you, Adam," he said, rising to his feet. "Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. And listen carefully, because I never repeat myself: I'm a rather unusual merchant. Since the dawn of creation, Lady Javia has tasked me with collecting the most beautiful things to fill my collection, whether it be a weapon, a power, or a patent leather shoe. I have everything that creation can offer."
Looking at the shelf filled with transparent glass cubes with a nebula inside, the redhead felt once again quite surprised that he hadn't openly panicked since waking up with the goddess, but in his own opinion, shouting or even complaining about living a new life was a waste of time, so he might as well go with the flow.
"So these are all the objects that exist..." said Adam, admiring Brik's items and running his fingers along his jaw. "Brik, I'd like to know, for a being who possesses everything the universe has to offer, what could possibly interest you?"
"You, or rather the deeds you will perform now that you are Javia's champion," replied the little creature, raising its beret. Passing a paw underneath, it produced an object resembling a glass globe with a small gold chain ending in a scythe. "To pay for my items, you will have to accomplish truly incredible feats, such as defeating monsters, inventing something that doesn't exist in this world, saving lives—it all depends on what you do, but you can think of it as earning points in a video game. Yup yup!"
"Okay...but how is the value calculated?" he asks, picking up the glass marble which he is observing carefully.
"Very simple, the bigger the feat, the more points you collect, for example a small goblin is worth ten points, an orc is worth fifty, and a dragon is worth five hundred thousand," explains the creature who is now dragging a large red-covered book on the counter.
"Seriously? A dragon is worth that much?" the redhead exclaimed, putting the marble back in his bag.
"Yup yup! The stronger the beast, the more points you'll earn," confirms the dream rabbit, tapping the book next to him. "Then you just have to place your hand on Greedou!"
"...we are talking about this book, right?" he asks, glancing at the cover which shows a drawing of a row of sharp teeth.
"Exactly! This book contains all the information you'll need to buy my items. I'll provide you with information in exchange for points; naturally, the more important the information, the higher the price."
It may be his imagination, but Adam swears that the word "prize" made Brik's eyes light up with much more emotion.
"Oh? So if I were to ask you how to destroy the Kuroinu without causing a single innocent victim?"
"Hmmmmmm...such information is worth...three hundred million"
"What?! But that's horribly expensive!"
"That's true, but my wisdom comes at a price. Even if you're important to Javia, for me you're simply a customer, so don't think you'll get everything you want from me. I'm a merchant, and I intend to stay that way," he replied with a smile worthy of a shark smelling blood. "But rest assured! To prove my good faith, I'll give you one hundred thousand starting points!"
Small particles of red dust began to swirl in the air above the redhead who watched the spectacle in wonder, then all this red dust was sucked up by the orb now hanging from his belt, he watched the glass globe shine for a moment then letters made of yellow fire began to burn in the corner of his left eye.
~You possess One Hundred Thousand points~
"...a merchant who gives such a generous gift," muttered Adam, eyeing Brik warily. "Something tells me you're trying to lure me in."
"You're going to end up offending me, young man," sneered the black rabbit, patting Greedou. "Come on! You have to try it before you make a face!"
Even though he claims to work for the goddess who brought him back to life, the redhead still doesn't feel confident with the little creature who seems just obsessed with making a profit, sighing inwardly he finally puts his hand on the book which began to tremble against his palm and make his teeth chatter loudly together.
#KEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKEK!#
"Now think about what you want, Greedou will provide you with the details and the price."
Desperate to put an end to this unbearable noise, Adam thinks of the first thing that crosses his mind.
~Asta's Power~
World: Black Clover
~Physical strength at its peak, mental strength of tempered steel, grimoire of anti-magic, swordsmanship~
Price: One hundred and fifty thousand.
Clearly having this kind of power would take him time, and he grumbled slightly, in a world where magic exists having the power to cancel it would ensure his victory against Kin the mage of Kuroinu, trying to gather his thoughts Adam began to try to concentrate on a power having no relation to a known character.
~Illusion Magic~
World: None.
~To make people believe the false, to invent something that doesn't exist, the magic of illusion affects the five senses and succeeds in deceiving those who are taken in by your imagination. Can this magic fool the world? It's up to you to find out.
Price: Fifty-Mile.
"HHHm!" Adam pulls his hand away and shakes it as if he's just been electrocuted. "I understand better now! Unrivaled powers are just a little beyond my reach, but that's not the case with powers I can develop on my own...right, Brik?"
"Yup Yup! Absolutely!" exclaimed the rabbit, thumping his paws with a knowing smile. "The more important an individual becomes, the higher their value. But you? ...pff, I'm afraid you'll have to work hard to be worth more than 100,000 points. That's why you can buy powers without the experience that comes with them."
"...eh," said the young man eloquently, crossing his arms. "I see...still, I'm far from where I need to be. It's going to take me a lot of time and preparation before I can acquire something that will tip the scales in my favor...hn! Now that's getting interesting! Well, now that I understand the trick, I just need to think more wisely about what I want."
For many people, this should have been an opportunity to sit down and calmly reflect on what they would want in their current situation.
It took the redhead just ten seconds to decide, placing his hand against the book he immediately bought what he wanted with a wide smile while the dust contained in his globe was sucked up by Greedou who emitted a satisfied gurgle while Adam absorbed the knowledge of his new powers.
~Illusion Magic~
World: None.
~To make people believe the false, to invent something that doesn't exist, the magic of illusion affects the five senses and succeeds in deceiving those who are taken in by your imagination. Can this magic fool the world? It's up to you to find out.
~Geokinesis~
World: None.
~You and the earth are now one, the earth trembles through your steps, you now have the power to move the world itself.
(...hmm, I expected to feel a little different) The goddess's champion wiggles his fingers, trying to feel the powers he just bought, except the only new sensation comes from his solar plexus. (Maybe I just created a mana core or something? Javia told me I didn't need chakra...oh yeah, that's right, thanks to her everything I ask for blends together, but this isn't the same. Besides, Geokinesis isn't magic, it's a superpower, so its source isn't the same...all the better, I can't depend on a single energy source for my abilities. If I run out for a while, I'll get killed. I'll keep that in mind for next time.)
"Very good choice, sir," chirps the little rabbit, lovingly rubbing the cover of the now smiling book. "I'm sure we'll have a very good relationship, provided you come back with more points!"
"I won't forget," he assures, scratching the back of his neck with a shaky smile. "By the way, just out of curiosity...do you happen to know which way to go to get to the nearest town?"
"You're asking a lot! But this time I'll accept, after all a good merchant knows how to charm his customers to make them come back," he laughed, scratching his ear with his hind paw under the tired eyes of the redhead.
(In my world, a being like him would be seen as a mere penny-pincher)
"Here!" he said suddenly, carefully tossing her a rolled-up card. "Don't lose it, because it will be my last gift to you! Take care, dear customer!"
Not wanting to take advantage of Brik's goodwill, Adam thanked him and left the giant boot; once out he hadn't even taken a few steps before the boutique shoe folded itself up and flew away before his astonished eyes.
Lucania doesn't know how long he stood there staring at the blue sky, then a smile twisted his mouth before he simply laughed, thinking about the absurdity his life had become in just one day.
And yet his chest finally vibrates, his muscles are ready to start working and his head is teeming with plans and ideas, each one crazier than the last.
"Rahko!"
D~D
After setting up a makeshift camp and, above all, consulting the map offered by Brik, the champion of the goddess began to think about what kind of route to follow.
Initially, he thought of joining the city of Alicia, the knight princess with the character of a Tsundere, because in his memories she was the one who fell the most heavily due to the size of her lands and the harvests which represented most of the food for the seven fortresses; she was the target that brought in the most money for the Black Dogs, and it was also in her government that the corrupt minister was located whom Adam intended to punish in a slow and painful way with an axe.
His second option leads him back to Olga Discordia, the queen of the dark elves and the first victim of the conquest of Vault. Her fortress offers a good starting point for any conqueror wishing to gain a lot in a single battle. Moreover, the monsters created by the queen of darkness betrayed her later for a reason that escapes the redhead. After all, she gave them power and in exchange she wanted to destroy the human race that Celestine loves despite her status as an elven goddess. Finally, Adam does not seek to understand the origin of their conflict; generally, a man should not interfere in quarrels between women at the risk of becoming the scapegoat.
(If I go to see Olga, I'm taking a huge risk; her lands are cursed and full of monsters, and even if I reach her, Chloe will be only too happy to kill me) the redhead thought darkly, extending and retracting his claws. (Yet it's a viable option, at least to master my powers and gain points to then buy more from Brik, which I need to defeat these damn serial rapists...yes, actually, it's the best idea for now; if I go to the city now, there's a good chance I won't make it.)
Having abilities above those of human beings is one thing, knowing how to use them when the situation demands it is another matter entirely.
(I'm glad I chose Ezio as my last power; with these memories, I feel much less stupid. Seeing all his mistakes helps me see what not to do. Even he trained before embarking on his quest for revenge.) The redhead thought with a deep sense of respect for the man who had acquired his wisdom through a life filled with loss and sorrow. (Well, it's decided. I'm going to head to Olga's lands and work on my powers. Once I have enough points, I'll go back to Brik and get what I need to face his dogs!)
There's one thing you need to know about Adam: he hates to lose. It's quite simple: in his first life, he was the type to level up his characters to the highest possible level before playing the main story. It will be a bit the same here, even though he hopes he'll make it because this time he's not going to win with a controller.
D~D
Jumping back while performing a roll, he finally straightened up, narrowly avoiding the spear that almost pierced his exposed side. Sighing heavily, the redhead quickly raised his hand upwards, causing a spike of earth to grow in the back of the last goblin, who emitted a painful gurgle before finally giving up the ghost.
"Filthy goblin..." muttered Adam, running a hand through his hair while looking at the carnage around him.
The corpses of the little green demons were already rotting in the sun, flies were already invading the bleeding wounds or the limbs cut off by the goddess's champion who was taking stock of his first day of training in the black forest.
As for his physical abilities, he has nothing to complain about; Ezio's agility plus Logan's bestial strength have boosted him to the point that he can move quickly around his enemies, the same goes for his five senses coupled with his Eagle Vision which allowed him to ambush the goblins.
In short, he's doing well even though he hasn't quite figured out how to use his illusion magic effectively yet. He can create copies of himself, but Adam saw that it wasn't perfect because his illusions made no noise and some of the colors weren't right. He still needs to work on it. As for Geokinesis, he'll be frank and admit that it's not likely he'll be breaking the air or even making the earth tremble like Toph would anytime soon. No, to be honest, the two powers have nothing in common in their use. Magic just requires practice and a lot of preparation, while the other is a power that will only grow with a lot of training and understanding of how to use it.
If he had to give himself a grade for this fight honestly he would say a C-.
Sighing, he makes a pedestal with a simple kick, then jumps onto it in one bound, sitting in a meditative position, supporting his face with one hand while the other absentmindedly taps his knee.
(My power is developing, but I can't use the same techniques as Toph or Edward because I don't think like them. I first need to understand how to make my power work and then apply my will to it. I already know that the two powers don't work the same way. Magic requires concentration and, above all, a precise visualization of what I want. Geokinesis, on the other hand, is more like working a muscle I've just discovered and need to develop... I'll need more practice...)
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than his ears picked up the irritating laughter of goblins attracted by the smell of blood.
(Hmm, I have five years ahead of me) his lips twist into a wild smile as he unsheathes his claws in a purely dramatic gesture (No reason not to have fun!)
The dark lands of Queen Olga Discordia were struck by an inexplicable goblin population collapse.