High school was starting today, but that was when another feature was revealed to me.
Congratulations! You've made it this far without getting yourself killed.
I was, and still am, unsure if it was being sarcastic.
Whatever do you mean? ;) I just wanted to congratulate you on actually not being depressed and killing yourself!
I glared at the box for a moment before turning away and looking at my status screen.
Name: Mason Kent
Title: None
Race: ?/?
Level: 0
EXP: 00.00%
Age: 14
HP: 300 (0.3%/0.9 HP Regeneration per minute)
(Locked)
?
?
?
Attributes
Strength: 3
Vitality: 5
Dexterity: 3
Charisma: 4
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Bio:
Skills:
Gamer's Mind (Passive): Allows the user to think things through calmly, allows for a calm, peaceful state of mind. Also gives immunity to psychological effects. However you're a teenager, you will have bouts of being filled with teenage angst and might even shout 'It's not a phase!' to your parents.
Gamer's Body (Passive): Grants a body that allows for the user to live in the real world like a game. Sleeping recovers HP, MP and all status effects.
Observe (Active) Lv 7 04.15%: A skill that allows you to find information about the target.
Physical Durability (Passive) Lv 2 3.03%: The body's durability increases and you take less damage. 4% decrease in damage taken by physical attacks.
Farming (Active) Lv 4 91.01%: Farming, a good, honest job with which you could live off the land and sell produce for money. 5% more effective at farming.
Thank god for status customization.
I still couldn't level up, I'd had no quests for fourteen years. The only way I had upgraded was through actions but then it was like a lottery, a very unfair lottery. A few, and I'm emphasizing 'a few', times I got some attributes points but most of the time. I've had zilch! Nada! Nothing! You see what I'm getting at?!
Hell, shouldn't I have gotten higher intelligence and wisdom because I'd reincarnated.
But that would be cheating.
Grrr.
Anyway, I gave up waiting for quests and decided to just wait it out until the quests came.
Being there for Clark was all that mattered to me, making sure that he become the Superman from the comics was hard for me to work around. That and...I grew to care for him, he was just like any other kid. Happy, and I will protect him with my life.
...
Now! Back to my contingency plan to when, or if, he gets brainwashed by Darkseid.
Kryptonians have no protection against magic, they're still tough as hell though so I'll need a way of becoming a master of magic fast. I could find Zatanna, or maybe her father Zatara. However, I'm not sure if he has any magical powers because it wasn't shown in the cartoon, but since Zatanna had magic, she had to have learned it from someone. I probably should have read the comics.
Another weakness is kryptonite, which I'll need to search for, as it could be literally anywhere in the world. I could focus on increasing my intelligence and wisdom to create a company like LexCorp or Wayne Enterprise, doing this would give me resources to work with; I could even help people the way LexCorp should have done.
Or maybe both, learning magic alongside having a lot of resources would greatly help the coming invasion of Apokolips.
That sounds like a great name for a song or a band, 'Invasion of Apokolips'.
For thinking through several options paths to your goal, you get +1 INT.
I stand up from my bed, then I quickly put on some clean clothes, it's seven in the morning and Ma would start making some food right around now.
I walked over to my window to open it, before staring out towards the farm. It wasn't much but it was good.
I blinked.
"Wait, there was something new on my status screen." I noticed.
Glad you could notice! :)
Grrr.
Title: Self-explanatory. Something that describes your position in the world, granting you advantages and disadvantages.
I nodded in acceptance and went to go get some breakfast.
"...so...ne day…"
I turned around, that voice wasn't familiar. Was Dad talking to someone?
"No...ust...le…"
That was someone else, it was deeper, a lot deeper than Dad's voice. I stepped towards my window to look outside again.
Nothing was there.
"B-But, I could have sworn…" I trailed off before stopping. This was the DC Universe, this could have been anything from the supernatural to some bastards walking on our farm unannounced.
Best to tell Dad first before coming to conclusions.
…
Guess that extra +1 INT is already helping.
Knock! Knock!
"Mason! Time for breakfast!"
Speaking of Dad.
I calmly walked over to my door and opened it, a tired smile on my face. "Morning Dad!" My voice happy.
Dad looked down at me with an amused smile. "Good morning, champ. I guess I could use you as a mop today then."
Blinking, I looked towards my mirror and saw what he was talking about. My hair got longer, I'm a teenager, what do you expect? Dad disapproved of my longer hair though Ma was a bit more tolerant.
It had reached the top of my ears, apparently that's too long, and I somehow get it looking like a mop like Dad said everytime I wake up. Grumbling, I tried to pull my hair into a relatively sensible look, trying not to glance at Dad who looked ready to laugh.
I was able to pull my hair to my satisfaction and stared at Dad with deadpan.
"Good enough Captain?" I, oh so said with sarcasm.
Dad nodded and did something that aggravated my teenager emotions.
He patted my head with a laugh. "That's good private, now get downstairs, your Ma made scrambled eggs." He turned to walk down the hallway to get Clark. "And sort out your hair, you look like a hippie."
My eye twitched before calling out to Dad.
"Hey Dad!" Who turned to face me. "I think I heard someone around the farm, were we expecting someone?"
Dad's eyes grew concerned. "No, we weren't Mason. Thank you for telling me, I will have a look when you and Clark go down for breakfast."
"Are you sure Dad?" I questioned Dad as he was driving Clark and myself to our first day in high school.
"Yes, Mason. I couldn't find or see anyone for miles. Maybe you were just hearing the wind." Dad shrugged, however I was concerned. I definitely heard someone outside so it must be…
Supernatural...shit.
"So have you guys decided what you want to study?" Dad asked us. I tucked away the supernatural information for a later date.
"That's a bit of a loaded question Dad." I said with a raised eyebrow, it actually kind of was. At fourteen, teenagers aren't really focused on their futures most of the time; hell they start 'noticing' the opposite gender around this age.
Which is kind of annoying because I have the mind of an adult and the hormones of a teenager.
Dad shrugged. "Well, you must have some idea of what you want to do, when you graduate."
"Journalism."
I looked to Clark with my eyebrow still raised, my brother blushed slightly at my stare. Didn't Clark become a journalist because it would help with him as his alter-ego as Superman? Why would he want to choose it before deciding to be a superhero?
Dad nodded at Clark. "See Mason, Clark has an idea. Why don't you?"
I continued to stare at Clark, ignoring Dad's question I asked my brother. "Why journalism?" I generally wanted to know.
Clark's cheeks flushed red for a moment. "Um, because I like what they do."
"You like stalking people for the best scoop?" I turned my head in confusion.
"What? No!" Messing with Clark was the best. "I meant that they report news and can reveal corruption. I want to do that, help people."
I smiled at Clark as Dad answered. "That is a good goal Clark." Clark smiled, his pride clear on what he must accomplish. "And you Mason?"
I hummed and stared at the countryside. I hadn't really thought about what I would do, except maybe…"Business."
"Pardon?"
"I think I'll start my own business." With magic on the side, but Dad and Clark don't need to know that part.
"Oh." Dad was certainly surprised by my choice. "That is going to be a tough goal to achieve son, but I, and I definitely think your mother will support you through it."
"I will as well Mason!" Clark declared, bringing a smile to my face.
"Thank you."
We arrived shortly, the front of the school was packed with teenagers and their parents.
"I can smell the acne."
"Mason be nice." I heard Dad's firm tone, making me sigh.
"I know, I know. 'Don't be rude to people before you know them'." I recited off by heart, yeah I'm not happy to say that I wasn't the best kid socially. Mostly because they would try to bully Clark, for some reason, and I...kind of...verbally caused them to cry.
Hey, they bullied my brother, wouldn't you tell an eleven year old that they're adopted, and was only adopted out of pity. Yeah, that's kind of hypocritical of me to say and I did feel absolutely horrible after that. I try to keep my snark under control but it does flare up from time to time.
Why was I stuck with you?
You be quiet, strange mean box!
Walking up to the school, another person shouted to us.
"Clark! Mason!" Lana Lang ran up to us with a smile.
"Oh no!" Clark muttered under his breath, his cheeks red from something that had happened a week ago.
Oh yeah, I dared Lana to kiss Clark on the cheek, she was reluctant but I played with her teenage feelings for Clark. Where do you think the charisma points came from?
I nudged Clark with my elbow. "Your girlfriend is coming, better say hi." I teased. Clark just punched me lightly in the arm.
-4 HP
Thank god, his powers weren't fully developed, otherwise I'm sure I would be missing a limb right about now.
Lana reached us, a smile on her face. "Hey guys, you excited for high school?"
"U-Um, hey Lana. I imagine it will be interesting. Have you decided what you want to do?" Clark asked Lana.
"...ou...e...ing…"
"I...ve...you...until...pai...ice."
Those voices again, I looked around the entrance to the school.
No one around me had those voices.
I stopped. "Only one place they could be coming from." I thought while looking up.
There they were.
Jeffrey Smith
Title: Former Member of the ? Gang
Race: Undead
Class: Poltergeist
Level: 9
HP: 900/900
MP: 500/500
Bio: Jeffery was a small time thug working for a gang that was looking to expand into Smallville twenty years ago. However, one day he was killed in a shootout with the police, when someone tipped off them off about a shipment of the gang's product of drugs. Now he haunts the world as a Poltergeist, a ghost that can interact with the real world.
Jason Blood
Title: Demonologist
Race: Human
Class: ?
Level: ?
HP: ?
MP: ?
Bio: Jason Blood was once a magician, apprentice to the great Merlin, however love turned him into a betrayer. He helped Morgaine Le Fay capture Camelot and for his betrayal, Merlin caused him to be fused with a demon from Hell, Etrigan. Now his curse will only lift if he kills Morgaine Le Fay.
Oh come on. Jason Blood, or Etrigan, is here! While fanboying and freaking out is mentally happening, I tried to keep my physically self stone-faced.
Hang on, how is it the two haven't been seen. Testing is required.
"Hey Clark?"
"Yeah."
I pointed to where Jason and Jeffrey are. "Can you see that?"
Clark looked up and squinted. I wonder if he has access to some sort of vision this early on.
Clark turned back to me and frowned. "Um, I don't see anything there Mason, just the sky."
I hummed. "Alright then, just thought I saw something weird." Inwardly, I was freaking out. This means that Jason is using magic to hide himself, I imagine the Poltergeist is invisible to normal people.
...but why are they visible to me?
Ping!
New Main Quest:
Find out why you can see the supernatural and ignored Jason Blood's magic spell of invisibility.
Time Limit: 18:00 P.M tomorrow.
Rewards: 1,000 EXP, access to all of the Gamer mechanics, ?
Fail Penalty: The last Gamer mechanics will take years to be introduced, potential Death
Refusal Penalties: The last Gamer mechanics will take years to be introduced.
Accept [Y/N]
Without thinking, exuberance at the chance of completing a quest, I hurriedly pressed 'Y'.
Wait, 'potential death'?
"Hey Mason!" I heard Lana's voice. "Lessons are about to start."
My eyes turned to Lana for a split second before looking back towards Blood and that Poltergeist, only to find them gone as if disappeared into thin air.
"Mason, you coming?!" I then heard Clark call out.
Sighing, I gave up thinking about it and turned to catch up to Clark and Lana. "I'm coming."
I swear, whoever designed this game is trying to kill me.
Being in education was as boring as ever, so I thought about the quest I was given.
I'm not human or at least fully human.
That was my first reaction, my race stat is '?/?' meaning I'm a hybrid of two races, suggesting that one or both of my heritages give me the ability to see the supernatural.
However, that can mean I belong to many different combinations of races, and I don't remember every single race in the DC Universe. Hell, I might be a genetic experiment whose powers didn't fully form as was discarded.
I'm ranting but knowing my past is better at discovering what to focus on in the future.
"Mr. Kent!"
"Yes Ms Stevenson?" Both myself and Clark answered at the same time, we looked at each other with confusion, unsure which one she was talking to.
"Mmm, I see this might be a problem. Okay, from now on, I shall call you by your first names instead." Ms Stevenson told the class before she turned to me, a disappointed frown on her face. "Mason, I know that this is your first day, but that is no excuse to not pay attention in class." Some in the class chuckled at the teacher catching me in my thoughts.
I nodded, an embarrassed blush on my cheeks. "Sorry Ms Stevenson, it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't."
I sighed quietly to myself, going through high school again wasn't great for my attention span. However, I do notice that current technology is far behind what I had in my last life, but maybe if I start my own company and get it off the ground. I can make sure that people's lives are better by giving them better technology to use.
Ping!
New Personal Quest:
Start your Company
Time Limit: Before your death.
Rewards: 5,000 EXP
Fail Penalty: You will not have a company, no EXP.
Refusal Penalties: Same as above.
Accept [Y/N]
New Personal Quest:
Innovate new products so you don't have to use obsolete, in your eyes, technology.
Time Limit: Before your death.
Rewards: 2,500 EXP, a good boost in your company's reputation.
Fail Penalty: You will have to use current technology, your company will fail, no EXP.
Refusal Penalties: Same as above.
Accept [Y/N]
Yes and yes.
I really need to stop pressing 'Y' without reading it.
Well, at least I don't have a time limit for these two, they actually go hand in hand.
Going back to my thoughts, thought this time I did so when Ms Stevenson's back was turned.
To focus on innovating current technology to be more advanced I will need to go into computer engineering because that combines fields of computer science and electronic engineering. Having better computers is a good start for a company.
Maybe when I have started my company, I can focus on becoming a superhero. I mean come on, this whole gaming ability can help me become one. Even limited, I could reach Batman's level at least.
"Mason!"
Uhh, maybe after I finish education.
"So I hear you got detention on the first day Mason." Dad said as the family was having dinner, the sun was just about to set and everyone was having some good apple pie for desert.
Ma looked at me. "Oh, what happened Mason? You don't normally get into trouble."
"He wasn't paying attention in class." Clark immediately told them.
I glared at him without turn my head. "Snitch."
"Mason." I heard Dad's reprimanding voice, I was looking down in embarrassment as he continued. "I know that, for you, being...mmm what's the word Martha?"
I couldn't help myself but utter. "Being the smartest person in the room."
"Mason." Now Ma was giving me the voice, yet my emotions flared up.
"But it's like that Ma!" My voice raised. "It's like everyone is too slow to get it, why should I interact with them?!"
"Son!"
"I'm not your son!"
The room was silent, Ma, Dad and Clark stared at me. I continued without thinking straight as my teenage hormones took over my rational thoughts.
"You just took me in because you couldn't have kids of your own!"
"Mason!" Ma called out to me, water in her eyes at my words.
Tears.
I stopped.
I'm making my Ma cry.
...
"Mason, come back!" I heard Dad's voice call out to me, but I didn't listen.
I just bolted away from the house and into the fields.
Stupid teenage hormones, stupid Gamer's Mind, 'have bouts of being filled with teenage angst'.
I don't remember how long I was running for. A minute, an hour? The time was blurry for me. I only know that I stopped eventually.
I leaned on hands against my knees as I breathed in and out heavily.
"I'm such a fucking idiot."
Why did I do that? I went from calm and collected to teenager angst in a split second. Looking for a reason, I said. "Skills."
Gamer's Mind (Passive): Allows the user to think things through calmly, allows for a calm, peaceful state of mind. Also gives immunity to psychological effects. However you're a teenager, you will have bouts of being filled with teenage angst and might even shout 'It's not a phase!' to your parents.
Wait, my Gamer's Mind 'allows for a calm, peaceful state of mind.' but it also says I will have bouts of teenage angst.
That means that my emotions are quite literally like a fucking drop of a hat.
I hate this stupid system.
"What this? A morsel."
That was...loud and croaky.
SMACK!
-150 HP
"Ahhh!" I screamed in pain as I was sent flying across the plain of grass. Landing on the ground pushed my breath away from me.
"Come on, is that all you've got?" The loud, croaky voice mocked.
Wheezing and trying to get my breath back, I pushed myself upwards to sit.
That was when I saw it.
Azad
Title: Lowly Harvester of Souls
Race: Demon
Class: Imp
Level: 10
HP: 1,100
MP: 1,600
Bio: Azad is a lowly imp from hell that was summoned by foolish cultists thinking they were getting a succubus to play around with. They instead got Azad who tricked them into giving him their souls instead, now he's free from the cultists control and has gone on a rampage. He also wants your soul.
Pi-
Not now!
Notifications have been turned off.
Ignoring the message I looked at the Imp, it was small, two and a half feet tall, brownish with small wings, glowing amber eyes, spikes at every possible space and filed to a point teeth.
...Amber eyes, they're like mine.
Does that mean…?
"Now die!"
I rolled to the side, a flash of green lightning struck where I was before.
That could have been my death right there.
"Ohh, some backbone. That's good!"
I bolted away again for the second time tonight. Luckily, my breath comes back quickly because of this gaming interface.
"I love a good chase! Don't be boring!" Azad's voice was behind me.
Stupid teenager hormones! Stupid Gamer's Mind! I fucking hate you!
My lungs burned and my legs ached with lactic acid build up. The laughter of the Imp and its beating wings caused me to forget about the pain. It was hard enough with a demon firing green lightning bolts behind you, but the added bonus of jumping over small bumps and potholes in the grassland making it easier for me to trip up.
It wasn't like before, when time was a blurry, I knew how long I was being chased by the Imp before he got me.
Twenty four minutes, forty three seconds.
That's how long I lasted against something the game deemed 'lowly'. Something I know is low on the totem pole in the hierarchy of hell, and yet I can't even defend myself.
It just took one bolt.
"Ahhhh!"
Lighting coursed through my body, before I once again flew through the air.
I landed front first.
-150 HP
I was lucky that my HP regeneration was active, otherwise I would have died. I could not describe the pain I felt with just words, it would have felt like I would understate it.
I painfully moaned in short bursts, my body twitching at the same time sparks of lightning flashed across my body, smoke wafting off my body.
"What a shame." The Demon mocked. "I guess having a fried mortal wouldn't taste that bad."
My vision was blurry and I struggled to keep my eyes open.
I was going to die.
My second chance at life and I fucked it up.
...
"Foul Beast, tonight you shall not feast." I picked up another more deeper, gravelly voice. It sounded much more familiar.
"No!" Azad was horrified.
"Azad the Imp, tonight you shall be destroyed, and be sent to the void."
"Damn you Etriga-Ahhhhh!"
The sound of fire and screaming demon, alongside the smell of burning flesh overcoming my own smell filled my nostrils.
Oh, it was Etrigan the Rhyming Demon.
The screams stopped.
The loud thumps of Etrigan's feet walked towards me.
"A small human, and yet a small stench of demon."
So I was right.
I am part demon.
"It will be best to kill him, before he turns the world grim."
My eyes, still open a crack, stare up to the Rhyming Demon. My muddled mind trying to figure out a way to live.
I died once, I'm not dying now.
Orange fire sprouted from the Rhyming Demon's hands, a small gesture later and a large black sword is now in his hands.
"Goodbye young spawn, but know that with your death, the world will continue to take its breath."
Etrigan raised his sword and was ready to bring it down.
I only had a name and a plan, a small chance that I would have live but I had to take that chance.
He swung the sword down.
"...Fay." I whispered.
The sword stopped.
...
"What say you Half-breed?" Etrigan's voice turned to a more growling tone, but no less confused on how a fourteen year old knew of the name Fay.
"...Mor...gaine...Le...Fey." I pushed through the darkness encroaching on my vision, and my body feeling like it's shutting down.
Etrigan maybe from shock or anger at saying Morgaine Le Fey's name, sent his sword away in a flash of hellfire and tightly gripped my burning shirt, only to pull me up until the Demon's face was right in front of me.
"Why do you say the name, Morgaine Le Fey?!" Etrigan demanded from me, I guess he stops rhyming when it pertains to his mortal enemy.
"P-P-Philo...s-sopher's…" I keep trying to push through and continue.
"I know she looks for the Stone, why do you mention it?!" The Demon once again demanded.
"H-H-Har…" Instead of saying the name of Harvey Hickman, the man who has the Stone, I gave up and allowed the darkness to take me without a fight.
Before I lost consciousness however, I heard Etrigan once more.
"Half-breed? Half-breed?! Damn it to hell!" Etrigan swore in anger before rhyming once again. "Gone now, O Etrigan! And rise again the form of man!"
So second chapter.
So yeah, Mason is half-demon, half something else. This was actually the first race I picked for him, the second, I full on struggle with because there are a lot of humanoid races in the DC Universe.
For those who don't like that Mason went all angst, I feel the 'Gamer's Mind' would essentially stop-start his emotions, combining with his biology of a teenager. Well, having strong mood swings alongside suddenly starting will mess with your head a little. Also combined is his demon heritage, which can bring negative emotions to the forefront, yeah, he ain't going to be the best emotionally as a teenager.
If that's wrong for I apologise but that's my personal head-canon.
I've also changed the EXP leveling system so it's like the Manhwa webtoon, I feel it's easier to write a story with that leveling system instead of a traditional system.
Also, I did put 'Notifications have been turned off', yet a notification for loss of HP came up. You are going to have to wait for the next chapter for an explanation.