Chapter 2: Extreme measures

I made my way into a hotel, shoulders squared and face set in a confident smile. I could practically feel all eyes on me as I did so, but ignored them.

I had nothing on me but a hundred dollars. I knew for a fact that wasn't enough to pay for a hotel room. However, I also knew for a fact that there were ways around this, namely that people ran the hotel and people could be sympathetic.

What I would try was something that I normally hesitated to even think about. It was something I had learned while working a job in sales, and a thought I expanded upon with some trial and error in my life.

You see, there were always discounts. If people sympathized or liked you, any price could be waived. It was only a matter of how convincing, interesting, and confident you were when you talked to them, as well as making them emotionally invested in you.

In short, it boiled down to providing enough intrinsic value with your presence to pay off the explicit value of money.

The receptionist at the desk was a young blonde woman, blue-eyed, attractive and no doubt hired in part due to her looks. Since it was midday, she seemed bored, but I could see her eyes light up the moment I walked in. The tag on her shirt said that her name was Ashley, a fact that I'd turn into an irresistible weapon in a few moments.

Remember, it's not taking advantage of them. It's an equal exchange.

I said that to myself to justify my following actions, the emotional manipulation that would be even easier considering my target was both female and apparently interested in me.

Without pause, I made my way to the front desk, making sure to keep my eyes locked on hers, and said, "Hey there, Ashley! I was walking by and noticed how bored you looked, so I thought I could keep you company for a bit..."

Ashley pressed a pair of cardkeys into my hands and bit her lip. "Are you sure this is alright, Alan? I can give a bigger room if you want..."

I gave her a wide smile and nodded. "This is great, Ashley. Thanks!" I frowned. "...But are you sure you don't want me to pay for this? I know I only have a hundred dollars, but if there's anything I can do-"

She gave me an exasperated sigh and shook her head. "I'm telling you, it's fine! A few days won't hurt anybody. But if you really want to pay me back..." Ashley trailed off, her eyes flicking down and back up. "You could always stay at my place for a few nights."

"Hahaha... you're funny, Ashley."

I took the keycards and unlocked the door. "Thanks again for the help! I'll see you later!"

I entered the room before she could say anything else and quickly shut the door behind me.

"Meanie!"

I let out a sigh. It looked like she wouldn't be bothering me for a bit longer, though I'd probably have to deal with some teasing on my way out later.

I shook my head and took a look around the room.

It was a pretty standard setup. A bed, a bath. A walkout porch with a window facing the streets. The usual accommodations, TV, sink, etc.

I sat down on the bed and scoured my head for what kind of mess I had entered myself into.

So it seemed like I had been thrown into that Worm CYOA. On the upside, I had broken superpowers, at least in the context of the story. On the downside, I had no clue what perks or complications I had chosen.

Let's see what I could remember...

Obviously self insert. Difficulty should be skitter mode, whatever that meant.

I knew that I chose Alexandria and Shaper for powers. That much I could remember, since they were the least broken of the... six, I think, powers that were there.

Comrades... I think I toyed around with choosing those three creatures, but I decided that point was better served to get perks.

Perks. Right. Just what the heck did I choose again? Blank, I chose for sure. I didn't want to be screwed over by any broken prediction powers.

Shattered Limits should have been another. Exponential growth for the win, as well as compensating for limitations on my powers.

Ah, right. That's what skitter mode did. That would explain why I couldn't feel them or mess around with them right now... though that could just be due to me not trying.

I'll think about that in a bit.

Other perks I chose... I was pretty sure First Impressions was one. Invictus should be another... Oh. That would explain why it was so easy to talk to and persuade Ashley.

Probably also why I didn't freeze up when faced with firearms. Huh. Not sure if I should be worried about that or not, but I guess if it kept me alive...

Anyway, I remember I had to choose complications to get points. The problem was, I don't remember what complications I chose.

I toyed around with choosing everything gets worse, since it gave four points and I felt I could deal with it. But then logic kicked in and I changed that.

The problem was, I didn't know if the 'stats' I got initialized were came from my first choices or my last.

...This was going to be a pain.

I sighed and leaned back on the bed. "No idea what perks I've got, no idea what the plot is, and no idea if I have Fate out to make my life miserable."

I should just think of a plan.

I was an unknown quantity in this universe. Lots of good people were going to be hurt. The entire world would be destroyed by some eldritch abomination or something another unless it was stopped, which would be much easier if I helped.

Right now, I had nothing but a hundred dollar bill and the clothes on my back. I had no idea how my powers-

Alexandria is currently limited to invulnerability, hyper reflexes, perfect memory, perfect proprioception, and Olympic level physical performance.

Shaper is currently limited to biomass generation (1 ounce), creation of a single life form per day (dependent on biomass available and comprehension of conceptual design), command of created life forms, hive mind, organic manipulation (range of 1 arm's length), and instant analysis of carbon-based life forms.

-worked.

I blinked as the information came up in my field of vision on a black screen, like a game window.

"...That's convenient."

I could work with that. It looked like Skitter Mode had limited my powers quite a bit from what I remembered them being when I selected them, but not that much.

Assuming the worst case scenario, where this world basically became hell on earth, figuratively speaking, I was still guaranteed a trip home since I couldn't be destroyed, and the victory conditions were to just last a few years, I think, or past the final battle against the entity-thingy. But there would be people dying, good people at that.

I will not allow that.

I sat up a course of action decided.

...It was probably a stupid one at that, since it could go horribly, horribly wrong if my powers didn't restrain it. On the other hand, it could go terrifically great.

I grabbed a plant sitting in the corner of the room and set to work making either my greatest asset or my greatest failure in this existence-

The X Parasite.

A/N: I can't possibly think of a way this can go wrong, right?