I apologize for any formatting issues. I've been trying for hours to fix it to no avail. It is incredibly frustrating as it keeps resetting. From now on, no more writing on mobile. I've stayed up way too late trying to fix it, will use the PC tomorrow to edit after work.
A/N on changes at the bottom of the chapter.
Gazing into the void for eternity wasn't as boring as people made it out to be. There was a sense of peace and security that I hadn't felt anywhere else in my life. I suppose for some, reliving your life over and over was a painful experience. For me, it was a pastime.
My life was relatively peaceful, if not boring. I engrossed myself in reading and consuming fictional entertainment. I enjoyed reading the lives of others more than my own. For a long time I was in a strange sort of trance. I didn't wish to die, but neither did I wish to live. I simply existed. A being with no ambition. Simply content to drift through life.
Until I was hit by a truck, of course. A tragic accident that caught me unaware as I was coming back from simple grocery shopping. I wasn't angry at the act of hitting me, however. It was when the man glanced at my half-dead corpse with a look of drunk bewilderment, before speeding off into the sunset.
My time in the afterlife had been full of thought-provoking exercises that philosophers would have been jealous of. For one, I finally learned what happened after death. But it only opened up the doors for more questions.
Where was everyone else? What exactly was the purpose of this? And who put me here?
I simply drifted around aimlessly, without purpose, for how long I wasn't sure. It could have been decades, it could have been weeks. But eventually, I heard it. A voice calling to me from the void. At first, it was unintelligible. But it grew louder and louder until eventually, I could hear it as though it was standing in front of me.
But there was nothing there.
The voice rasped, as if out of breath.
"My apologies, young one. It took me a little while longer than I thought to reach you. You haven't gone mad from the Void energies yet, have you?"
The voice was soothing yet powerful. A voice that carried wisdom and an edge of kindness in his tone. Was this...?
I could feel the voice smiling, as confusing as that was.
"I can see why you would think that, young one. Unfortunately I am not all-powerful and certainly not all-knowing. But I suppose I could be the closest thing to what your kind calls god."
I could feel the entity's gaze upon me, despite it not having a form that I could see.
"Ah. Forgive me. It's been some time since I encountered one of you. To save your mind crumbling into nothingness and your soul dissolving into the void, I have hidden my form. I am standing before you, yet all you can comprehend is my voice. Anything more than that? Well... your very essence would be erased from the multiverse."
Wait, the multiverse? As in THE multiverse?
"That part is what interested you more? To answer your question, yes. The multiverse exists and is the reason I have sought you, young one. I want to impart a gift to you."
The void around me shifted, the endless black I had traversed for some time morphing and changing before my eyes. We passed countless worlds, stars and galaxies before we eventually arrived at somewhere recognisable.
Our solar system and more specifically, Earth.
"The multiverse is something I have observed for a while, engrossed in its tales and stories. Still, being up here can be boring sometimes. And as such, I like to create... my own sort of entertainment."
The voice continued on, "The human race's best trait is by far their unpredictability. No other world hosts such a diverse group of beings. Serial killers, for example. Most of them kill for the thrill, for no other reason than they want to."
What is your point exactly? Do other races not murder each other?
"My apologies for rambling, young one. I know you dislike pointless conversations. So I will do as you wish. My point is this - whenever I grow bored, I select a being with potential to create some entertainment. And I throw them into one of the many worlds of the multiverse."
I see. And you're saying I've been selected this time around?
The voice let out a small chuckle, "I suppose the void has muted your emotions to a certain degree. Long exposure can do that. My apologies. But yes, you have been selected."
And what's the catch? What world would I be going to?
"The catch, hmmm? There is no catch. Simply do as your heart desires. That is my only request. As for your second question, it will be determined by lady luck. You nor I get to choose."
And if I refuse to be some God's pawn and entertainment? What then?
The voice laughed, and I imagined he wore a sly grin, "We both know you won't refuse. To live in a fantasy world and to be free of all earthly responsibilities - that is a life you wished to have ever since you were young. To live in the stories you read when you were but a child."
The urge to be petty and refuse just to prove him wrong did arise but I quickly squashed it. If what he was promising was true, then of course... Yes. I accept.
"Perfect. Then let us not waste any time. Bring out the wheel!"
A wheel materialised from thin air and somehow managed to rest on... Nothing. I gave a quick glance to the wheel and noted the variety of the world's placed on there, most of which I was familiar with.
Akame Ga Kill. The series that had introduced me to anime in the first place. While not an overpowered verse, there were still a few that I would have to be wary of.
Attack on Titan. I was really hoping the wheel wasn't going to land on this one. My chances of surviving off the bat were close to null.
SCP-Verse. I don't think that one needed an explanation.
The Witcher? While not containing a host of overpowered creatures, there were still some that would instantly kill me. Gaunter, The Unseen Elder just to say a couple.
There were possibly hundreds of other worlds scattered across the wheel and listing them all would take days, if not more. It was time to stop considering what it could be, and just find out what it is.
How do I spin it?
"Just think about spinning it, and it will do exactly that, young one."
I did as he suggested and the wheel began to spin slowly before it grew steadily faster and faster. A small knot grew in my stomach. This wheel was effectively deciding my fate.
It slowed, and I could feel the anticipation rolling of the voice as it ticked until it finally reached it.
Fuck. The DC universe.
This was bad. Actually, I think that's a bit of an understatement. DC is filled with all sorts of characters with hax. God's that could wave and you no longer exist. They can simply think and I'm gone. That's no fun.
Any chance of a re-roll, Mr. Voice?
"Unfortunately that's not how it works. Do not fret, young one. I would not send you to a pointless death. I will impart of you a gift, one you're all too familiar with. A system of my own creation."
[Congratulations! You have been selected to carry the Game System as a boon into your new world.]
"Try to enjoy your second life a little more this time, young one. It may be your last."
With those parting words, I felt the presence of the voice slowly fade until I was left alone once again. Although not completely alone...
[Now, we will begin your character creation process. You have several options regarding this process. You can create your own, fresh body and apply different skills and abilities to it. Or you can roll the dice, so to speak, and enter the DC world as a currently existing character.]
[Please select your tier:
[Human] - Free
No powers
An extremely small chance to unnaturally gain powers (e.g particle accelerator)
[Random Existing Character] - 200 Credits
Risky but cheap. You gain four characters to select from, chosen randomly from the DC universe. You could get Darkseid or a hero like Condiment King. Choose wisely.
[Low-Tier Meta-human] - 150 Credits
A weak meta-human, whose power is only useful in everyday life. For example, being able to clean clothes at the swipe of a hand or being able to change hair colour at will.
[Mid-Tier Meta-human] - 300 credits
An average Meta-human, who only has one useful superpower e.g flight or invisibility and no other. Mid-Tier meta-humans can become powerful if scaled to their full potential.
[High-Tier Meta-human] - 1000 Credits
A Meta-human with several above-average abilities. Having super-strength and being capable of flight is an example of this.
[Super-Tier Meta-Human] - 2000 credits
A meta-human is capable of worldwide threat. Owning multiple high-levelled powers, a super tier Meta-Human is capable of worldwide destruction.]
The list went on forever, including angels, demons and even gods that cost millions of credits. System, how many credits do I start with?
[First off, credits are the form of currency that can only be used before starting a world. It allows you to gain a few advantages before beginning your journey. Currently, you have accumulated one thousand credits for your starting world.]
I brought my ethereal hand to my chin. One thousand... It wouldn't be enough. High-Tier would be good enough if it was just Earth-bound threats I had to look out for, but that wasn't the case. There were God's, alien races that wished to conquer the Earth and numerous other threats that a high-tier metahuman wouldn't be able to handle.
I could probably join a team, like the Justice League, but I never worked well with others. I preferred to take on the responsibility myself. Others couldn't be trusted to have your best intentions at heart after all.
The better option would be to take the chance with the random roll. In the description it says it could be ANY character in DC though, so would that include random bystanders or unnamed characters?
No, I don't think that would be the case. Unless this Voice got a kick from my suffering, I doubt he would engineer it to be like that. It's more likely that it would include any character that was named in DC. Worst case could be someone like James Gordon, someone without powers.
And as a bonus perhaps I'd be saving some credits for the more advanced stages of the character creation?
The benefits outweighed the cons. System, I'll take the random character roll.
[Affirmative. Randomly generating... Four characters have been chosen. Be advised. You will be placed in the early life/origin of the character you pick. The following characters are:
[Joe Chill]
Joe Chill is a low-life criminal residing in Gotham City. Commonly known as the murderer of Bruce Wayne's parents, there is nothing remarkably special about him.
[Hal Jordan]
Hal Jordan is a US army pilot, later kicked out due to assaulting a superior officer. Due to his indomitable willpower, Hal was granted a ring of the Green Lantern Corps. However, there is a large chance you will not be granted the ring, should you choose this option.
[Chuck Taine]
Born on Earth as Chuck Taine, Chuck is better known as Bouncing Boy. He has the power to inflate like a giant ball and bounce around.
[Pamela Isley]
Dr Pamela Lillian Isley, PhD, a Gotham City botanist. Isley, a shy girl, is easily seduced by her professor. Injected with an experimental toxin, Pamela becomes the beautiful Poison Ivy. Able to control plant life on Earth, Pamela is a strong ally or a deadly foe.]
My eyes scan over the options in front of me. Honestly, it's better than I thought it was going to be. Joe Chill is immediately off the table, of course, he's just a normal human. My eyes land on Chuck's description. Not him either. It sounds like a lame power. Not going to help me survive much.
I debated back and forth between the last two options. I was leaning towards Hal, just for the fact I knew next to nothing about Ivy's backstory. It says she was injected with something...
From what I remember, Ivy had the potential to be powerful. Controlling plant life is really useful. She could also make truth and seduction pheromones to bring those she wanted under her thumb. She even managed to control Superman at one point.
Hal Jordon though. He was one of the strongest Justice League members. But the description is really throwing me off. 'There is a chance you won't be granted the ring.' Without the ring, Hal is just a normal, though trained, guy. It would be the same as choosing Joe Chill if I didn't get the ring.
And to be honest I don't think I would get the ring. My willpower was... Shaky at best.
Its charge only lasts 24 hours, so during a fight and it goes off I could be in trouble.
Yeah, Hal's power is off the table. Combined with the fact I might not even get it, it's not worth the risk. That leaves me with Pamela or more commonly known as Poison Ivy.
I didn't know enough about Pamela's backstory to be completely confident in my decision, but I think it was the best option available. Controlling plant life combined with my meta knowledge, I had the potential to be a big threat to anyone who challenged me.
System, I select Pamela.
[Granted. Because you selected a pre-existing character, the stages of rolling a power and an origin story with credits are skipped. However, you can spend credits to randomly roll another power, should you wish to do so.]
OK... Can I come back to this later? I want to see what else I can spend with credits before I make a decision.
[Affirmative. Commencing the next part of the tutorial... Traits:
A trait will come with one benefit and one drawback. Some traits can correlate to the character you chose. You can roll up to 10 traits, but keep in mind some of the weaknesses are stronger than the benefits. Negative traits can eventually be lost, through a hidden method.]
A hidden method? I'm assuming you're not going to tell me what that is?
[Affirmative. You will have to discover this through your own means.]
Hmmm. I suppose if I can eventually get rid of it, the supposed drawback won't be a drawback forever. Besides, I'll need every advantage I can get.
System, roll the dice.
[Rolling...]
[Lie Detector]
Lying. The most commonly abused sin, humanity has used lies to divide and conquer each other for thousands of years.
You have the ability to tell when someone is lying, or unfaithful to the words they're saying.
[Crazy Magnet]
Characters who are considered 'evil' feel a certain pull or attraction to you.
It wasn't very descriptive. But for a drawback, that doesn't seem too bad. I'll have to be warier around crazy people, sure, but other than that I can deal with it. The [Lie Detector] trait seems very situational though. And what if someone lies unknowingly? Will the trait still work?
Something I'll need to find out later. System, roll again.
[Rolling...]
[Mind Of Immunity]
Your mind has gained an impenetrable barrier that no being can penetrate. Mind control, mind-reading and any other mind-altering effects that would cause you serious physical or mental harm are harmless against the fortress that is your mind.
[Asexual]
Your body and mind have evolved past the need for others. You lack sexual attraction to others and have no interest in pursuing sexual activities.
That was... fine I guess? I didn't really think about or consider a relationship anywho. My survival is my top priority, anything else comes after. The [Mind Of Immunity] trait will come in useful. I don't have to worry about my mind being read or controlled. It was a trope I always hated in comics. Besides, the drawback won't last forever.
One more trait and I think I should be good.
[Rolling...]
[Genius Intellect]
Pamela Isley was a brilliant student of advanced botanical biochemistry. With this perk, Pamela's intelligence has reached a whole new level. Your intelligence rivals the world's greatest minds.
[Ageusia]
You are afflicted by ageusia, rendering you unable to taste any food or drink you consume.
The intelligence trait would come in handy. The [Ageusia] drawback actually stung a little though. Cooking was one of the few things I found enjoyment in. Cooking and tasting your own food gave me a rare form of satisfaction. And now, I wouldn't be able to do it. At least for a while.
I think that's enough traits, System.
[Understood. The next segment is similar to traits.
Perks are bought with credits, and as results have no drawbacks, unlike traits. A maximum of 5 perks can be chosen, each costing 100 credits. Unique perks can also be earned through rewards of certain quests.]
Hmmmm. I have 800 credits remaining, but I still want to save some for the other sections that might crop up.
System, roll two perks.
[Rolling...]
[Ninja]
You are quiet, and your footsteps even more so. You can come and go as you please, and no one would be any wiser.
[Silver Tounge]
You have mastered the art of wordplay. Those with Silver Tounges are able to convince generals to wage wars, assassins to change sides. You have earned the title of Silver Tounged Devil.
I can see [Ninja] being incredibly useful. [Silver Tounge] though? If I'm coming up against a stronger foe, I guess I can try talking my way out of it?
Onto the next phase, System.
[The next phase is Skills. Skills can be branched off from your powers, and levelling up will also grant you unique skills. Skills are broken up into four departments: Novice, Adept, Expert and Master. Actively using skills will allow you to progress them into the next phase.]
Is that... based off of Skyrim's spell system?
[... Unknown. The Creator has not imparted that knowledge upon me. Scanning through your memories, I can calculate that the Creator did indeed use it as a basis.]
...
[If that is all, we can now proceed to place you into your new life.]
You mentioned being able to roll another power. Would that be possible with the amount of credits I have now?
[Rolling a another power would cost the same amount as entering the world in that tier. Currently, you only have enough credits for a Mid-Tier power or below. Proceed?]
I have 700 credits remaining and there's nothing else to spend it on, right?
[Affirmative. Credits can be stored for later use if progressing into a new world. However, I advise you to use all credits to maximize your survival chance.]
It made a point. If I didn't use all my credits now, my chance of survival dropped. I could save them for the next world, but there's no chance I'd make it that far. The few credits I have could save my life later down the line.
It would be smarter to use them now. System. Roll a Mid-Tier power.
[Rolling...]
[Congratulations! You gained "Enhanced reflexes". Time seems to slow when something is barreling towards you, allowing you plenty of time to think and strategise your next move.]
I allow a small smile to come to my face. My chances of survival are increasing, little by little. Now, I have two options. Roll another Mid-Tier superpower, or skip the power and roll three perks. Considering my luck with the perks, the safer option would be to roll another Mid-Tier power.
Roll another power, System.
[Rolling...]
[True Ominlingualism]
The ability to speak and understand any and all languages. Only few have the honour of receiving this title and you are one of them. None can rival your knowledge of tounges.
I... Don't know how to feel about this. Like the [Lie Detector] trait, it seems very situational. It could make communicating with aliens a lot easier...
I mentally groaned, a pit beginning to form in my stomach. I wasn't afraid of dying. I'd already experienced it after all. But I fear dying too soon. I want to experience my new life to the fullest, but with my current chances...
Nevermind. There's no point in stalling. Send me in System.
[Affirmative. You will experience a blackout, and you will awake in your new body. The Creator wishes you good luck. You will need it.]
The world turned black.
Pamela awoke with a groan, her muscles aching. Her entire body felt numb. Her hair and body were drenched in a cold sweat.
She struggled to move her body, it felt despondent and alien to her. She groggily managed to open her eyes, her green orbs exploring the room. She was in some sort of prison room, the walls dank and musty.
'System... What is this place? Where am I?'
She waited with bated breath but received no answer.
Pamela took several deep breaths and pushed herself up against the wall with a grunt. Sitting in front of her eyes was a floating square of text, its bright colours almost blinding.
[Congratulations! You have been reborn into the body of Pamela Isley, during the very early stages of her origin. Enjoy your new world!]
[To answer your previous question, you are in the secret laboratory of Dr Jason Woodrue.]
'Fuck. I knew it. What exactly am I doing here?'
Pamela went to speak further, but was interrupted by the clicking of the cell door. Someone was opening it. She tried to stand, to no avail. Her bones seemed to crack and shift as she moved, quick flashes of pain racking her body.
A figure was present at the door, staring her down. He held a clipboard in one hand. His gaze was stoic, observing her carefully.
"Pamela. How are you feeling?"
"Who are you?"
He walked up to her, his eyes exploring her figure. Crouching to be on the same level, "Hmmm, I see. Amnesia seems to be a side effect. Interesting."
"I asked you a question. Who are you?"
The doctor let out a dry chuckle, "My, you're a far cry from the sweet and shy Pamela I knew. Another side effect is a new personality developing, perhaps? More research needed."
The man stood, muttering to himself, "She seems very weak. Might not survive the injection. Should start searching for a new subject."
He began to walk off, not sparing her another glance. She gritted her teeth.
Internally, she seethed. This was not what she was expecting when she was offered a way out from the void.
"What did you do to me? Why is my body like this?"
She needed answers, first and foremost. She knew of his identity, but not of his intentions. Gathering information on what exactly the toxin was would be helpful.
"You are now an unwilling participant in my experiment," the man sighed, "But I understand why you may be angry. I injected you with an experimental toxin, hoping to complete an experiment of mine. The results are... inconclusive at the moment. So I need you to stay here until then."
"The toxin, what is it doing to me? I can't move."
He scribbled a few notes on his clipboard before replying, "It seems to be changing you, on a cellular level. Your DNA is morphing into something unknown. This is a phenomenon, possibly never seen before. That's why I need to keep you here."
She snapped back, "I don't want to be kept here. At this rate, I'll die."
"That's not an option. This experiment is very illegal and violates countless laws. You'll be staying with me, whether you live or not. Worry not, this is for the good of mankind."
He left, not waiting for her response, the door slamming behind him.
The Mad Scientist - Origin Quest
You have been kidnapped, immorally experimented on and close to death.
Difficulty: Hard
Objective: Escape, or manage to survive Woodrue's experiments.
Rewards: Gacha Token, Dungeon access,
Penalties: Death, return to the abyss
She barely managed to read the quest appearing in front of her, glaring at the door where Woodrue had just left, her eyelids refusing to cooperate with her. She felt herself falling back into the darkness of unconsciousness, her last thought on her mind was how she was going to kill Jason Woodrue.
-Later
Hunger.
Hunger was gnawing at my stomach, my organs feeling like they were eating themselves in a desperate bid for nutrients. I don't know how long I've been down here now, a week? Two? I lost count a while ago.
Jason feeds me rarely, claiming it's for 'the good of science'. I had never particularly hated anyone in my past life. I disliked a few people, but I never would have wished death upon them. But recently that list had grown. The driver who had left me for dead as I lay bleeding out, and now Jason. Every night I imagine my hands around his neck, squeezing the life out of him.
But that day hasn't come yet. I'm trying to save my strength, and analyse the times he seems to be looking at the cameras. But it's random. Sometimes he comes when I'm asleep, and others when I'm just awakening. There's no strategy to his checkups. The only reason I haven't lost hope is because of the quest. There's a way to escape, I just haven't found it yet.
But I'm not alone, I think. I heard another patient across from my laboratory the last time Woodrue checked on me. The best thing about Woodrue is that he talks to himself, uncaring of his surroundings. He keeps mumbling something about 'Venom'. The only thing I can remember is that it's some sort of drug that Bane used, a sort of adrenaline shot on drugs, as ironic as that sounds.
There was potential progress on my escape, however. Yesterday, my skin started to turn green at the soles of my feet. Looks like the transformation is starting to take hold of me. I've checked my skills though, and nothing plant-related has appeared.
I've looked for ways to escape, but the only thing in here is a barely functioning toilet. I've thought about making a run for it once he opens the door, but at some parts of the day, I can hardly stand. Combine that with the fact I have no idea of the layout of the building, I'd get caught easily. The only thing I can rely on is my eventual powers, but I have no idea how long they'll take to manifest.
I never sympathised with Poison Ivy as a villain much. I thought she was just another, 'I hate mankind and want to eradicate them' type of villain. Even if that was the case, experiencing the events myself, I don't blame her. Being starved and tortured on a daily basis wasn't particularly enjoyable.
"Pamela. I've discovered a breakthrough. This is incredible."
My eyes land on the form of Jason, standing at the doorway of the cell. An urge to rush him and enact my dreams was ever-so tempting. But I knew it was just a fantasy. My body was so weak that I wasn't able to stand on my own, never mind kill a man.
"The pigment change on your foot, I took a sample of it while you were sleeping. The findings are nothing short of incredible. You have started to develop your very own chloroplasts. This could be... This could be revolutionary."
The thought of the man standing over my powerless body while I slept managed to create a shudder throughout my body. As much as I tried to mask it, there was no hiding the gaze of fury that I directed toward Jason.
"Not surprised? Or maybe you don't care. Either way, it's spreading through your whole body. I estimate in about a month, you'll be completely covered."
At first, I often responded to his ramblings with insults but after a while the novelty seemed to wear off. Now I just listen to his insane ramblings without a word, hoping for him to leave as soon as possible.
Woodures voice snapped me back to reality, "There's a problem though. Due to this, your anatomy will change. Instead of food, you'll require sunlight. Which is a problem. Taking you out into daylight will raise a few questions."
Woodrue looked up from his clipboard and into my gaze, "No doubt your escape attempts would prove troublesome as well. I'll have to find some other means of keeping you alive. You're far too valuable to die, Pamela."
Jason flipped the page of his clipboard and jotted down some notes, "Not that I require permission, but I thought I'd let you know in advance. I'm going to be performing some more... Intrusive research. Blood samples. Perhaps even surgery. Nothing too extreme I assure you."
My attempts to talk didn't yield much results. My throat was rough and coarse from the lack of water and exercise of my vocal cords. Anything I said came out more like a croak than actual words.
"Your meal is due in an hour. Until then I have other research to be occupied with. Try and get some rest, Pamela."
He left the cell again, silence beginning to fill the room once more.
-
I don't know how long it had been when the notification came. Unlike the void, time passing here was painful. In the void, I only had to worry about potential boredom. Whereas in this cell, I was constantly afflicted with hunger and searing pain as my body ripped itself apart and reconstructed itself.
[Transformation into 'Poison Ivy' 50% complete.]
The green pigmentation reached just above my belly button now. I noticed something else too... Everything that had been turned green so far became more... Pristine? I hadn't dwelled too much time on my new body. I did have more important things to be worrying about. But seeing your body change before your very eyes was a bizarre experience.
Regarding my type of Gamer System - it was quite simple. System, display character sheet.
Pamela Isley- Level 1
HP:110
MP:100(magic-based attacks)
SP: (Player power-based attacks)
STR:28
INT:23
DEX:30
VIG: 18
STR: How hard your attacks are.
INT: Increases your MP pool and magic damage.
DEX: How fast and agile you are.
VIG: How many hits you can take.
Overall it was pretty simple.
[There is also the Gacha system. If you receive a Gacha token and use it, you will pull a random item from all known universes.]
Unfortunately none of this was much use until I could actually escape from this place.
I sigh, dismissing the text. My eyes land on my cell door. The world was progressing while I stagnated, rotting in this cell. It was pitiful.
As I scan the door, I notice something. A small speck of light emanating from it. A light that usually isn't there...
I hoist myself up, my bare feet cold and aching as I limp towards my cell door.
There's a small latch, but Jason has left it partly open. Idiot. I place my eye against it, and for the first time in what seems like forever, I'm greeted with something other than the site of my barren room. There's a hallway, twisting and turning for what looks like a while. It's mostly dark but there are a few flickering lights in the hallway that briefly illuminate it.
Across from my cell sits a massive door, easily three or four times bigger than mine. Looks a lot more reinforced too. There's a sign above it, a name or a title, but due to the lack of light, I can't see it. Whatever's in there is big though. If I can somehow communicate with him, we might be able to coordinate some sort of escape.
I know, I was grasping at straws. But it was my only hope of escaping right now. I bang on my cell door, "Hey! Big guy!? You in there?"
Silence.
Woodrue was probably watching me on the cameras now, but I couldn't care anymore. As he said, I'm far too valuable to kill. I'm the only subject to have survived the injection so far.
The silence persists and I step away from the latch, a heavy sigh leaving my body.
"Cease with the noise. I am trying to rest, Señora."
My ears almost perk up at the sound of the noise and I press my face against the latch once again.
"I knew it. Ignoring people is rude, you know. What's with the silent treatment?"
It took a few moments for the man to respond, "There is no point in speaking. Not anymore."
I brush my hair from my face, briefly noting some strands turning bright red, "Listen, I'm going to be direct. If we work together, we have a chance to escape here. Do you have any information that could help us?"
The man responded with a heartless laugh, "Fighting til' the end? I admire that in a woman. But there is only one escape from this place."
"And what is that?"
I could hear the faint smile in the man's voice, "Through a body bag. Many have left your cell in such a manner."
Despite the situation a small smile tugs at my lips. Coping with humour was always a mechanism of mine.
"So you're a pessimist. That's fine. But I'm gonna get out of here and when I do, I'm going to drag you with me just so I can prove to you I was right."
"What spirit! My people would love you. I thought like you, a while ago. Not anymore," he went silent for a few moments, "What is your name, Señora?"
"Ivy."
No point in giving my real name. Pamela died when I took over.
"Ivy? Nice to meet you. My old name no longer matters. Call me Bane."
-
[Transformation into 'Poison Ivy' is 75% complete.]
My skin was almost completely green now, going to about my shoulders now. Most of my hair was a scarlet red now, and it was a lot more silky and soft.
I've talked to Bane a few times since our first meeting, to pass time but Woodrue often interrupted. Bane did most of the talking, telling me about his prison life. Telling me he was illegally transferred here from Pena Dura. The shock of him and Ivy being experimented on by the same person wore off, eventually. I almost slapped myself for not connecting the dots sooner.
Woodrue mentioned Venom a couple of times but I never would have thought Bane himself was living next door to me.
My new power, [True Ominlingualism], had unexpectedly came in handy. Conversing with Bane in his native tongue had made him more comfortable with talking to me, and I would like to think he thought of me as an ally.
Bane was here due to Woodrue experimenting on him with Venom, so I'm assuming this is how he gets so addicted to it in this universe.
Woodrue doesn't feed me much food anymore, just tablets with various vitamins in them. Strangely, they're more filling than normal food. I guess it has something to do with my changing anatomy.
But I can feel myself becoming stronger. My body is no longer as weak as it used to be. I'll be out of here soon, I can feel it. And so I need to start planning.
The world is dangerous. Filled with God's and monsters. Strength alone will not help me survive, and so I'll need to use my knowledge to bridge the gap. I've been brainstorming on any possible artefacts or objects of power I could grab relatively early but I'm drawing blanks.
Of course, my first course of action is to kill Jason. After that, I don't know. I needed to plan for inevitable invasions from Darkseid, for a start. I know, I was looking far into the future. But Darkseid has killed and enslaved this world many times over and I don't plan on being one of the casualties.
I suppose that was a problem to worry about when I had the means to prepare though. For now, I needed to escape this cell. Before it becomes my grave.
-
[Transformation into 'Poison Ivy' is 100% complete.]
When I awoke to that message floating before my eyes, a feeling of indescribable excitement and pleasure ran through my body. It was as if everything before this morning had been a nightmare, a fog at the back of my mind. And now I was finally awake.
I stood, the strength in my body fully returned. No... I felt stronger. I felt lighter, faster.
My skin was smooth and unblemished. A permanent smell of fresh roses lingered in the air around me. My hair had grown a lot too, going from just my shoulders down to the lower area of my spine.
[Ethereal Beauty]
You are unnaturally beautiful. Your voice weakens the will of men and women alike. Only few rival your beauty. This perk randomly grants affection when initially meeting someone.
Bane had commented on the difference in my voice. Before it was croaky and raspy, hard to hear. Now it was sly and soothing. I didn't notice it, but the perk had all but confirmed it.
[Your body and anatomy have now completely transformed. The following skills have been unlocked.]
[Toxic Immunity - Passive - Lvl.Max]
Your toxic blood shields you against any toxins or gases used against you. You cannot be affected by special venoms such as Scarecrow's fear toxin or Joker's laughing gas.
[Increased Durability - Passive - Lvl.Max]
Your durability is slightly stronger than that of a human. You can take more damage than usual.
[Kiss Of Death - Passive - Tier I] [Legendary Skill]
You can kill regular humans with just a kiss. Can affect super-powered individuals, but not as effective.
[Solar-powered - Passive - Lvl.Max]
Sunlight gives you life. You no longer need to eat or sleep. Too long without sunlight will weaken you and your powers.
[Listener of Plants - Active - Lvl. Max]
Activating this ability will give you the ability to listen and talk to plants.
[Pheromone Influence - Active - Lvl.1]
A weaker version of the love pheromone, this can slightly influence someone's decisions according to your will. This will only work on those with weak minds or those who are already debating to listen to you.
[Root Strike - Active - Lvl.1]
A small root bursts from the ground, impaling your target. 20SP per use.
[Plant Caretaker]
You have become part plant and so has your mind. You value the lives of plants above that of humans.
I take a mental note to go over the skills in great detail later, but there's only one that interests me now. [Root Strike].
I look towards the heavily reinforced steel door of my cell. I don't know how powerful it is, but it seems I might have found my way out. I walked over to the steel door that had kept me captive for so long, opening the latch.
"Hey, Bane?"
The familiar gruff voice of the man spoke up, "What is it, Señora? You want me to partake in another one of your philosophical debates? You know I do not care much for such matters."
"Unfortunately not. As much as I enjoy our conversations, today will be our last day in these godforsaken cells."
The man fell silent, trying to digest the words. Had Venom truly sent him mad this time? He had been expecting it. Woodrue pumped him full of the drug every day, so much so that he developed a craving, an addiction to it. Had his mind finally had enough and snapped?
Bane wouldn't admit it aloud. Especially not to the girl. But having someone else to talk to, other than that devil in human skin, had done a great job of keeping him sane. Grounded in reality. She helped alleviate the growing madness if only a little.
"Ivy. Forgive me. But I must have misheard you."
She didn't respond for a few moments, and Bane began to feel a sense of dread and despair. He would die in this cell, at the hands of that weakling Jason Woodrue. A coward and a fanatical madman drove only by his thirst for knowledge.
He had resigned himself to such a fate long ago. But hearing those words sparked a small flame, one which he thought had been extinguished long ago.
I stretched my hand in the direction of the cell door, my eyes closed and a small knot of anxiety present in my stomach.
As soon as I destroy this door, Woodrue most likely has alarms or contingencies set in place to try and stop me. And I don't like going into unknown situations unprepared.
I will have to be quick, efficient and ruthless. Apply enough pressure so he doesn't have enough time to think and retaliate. It wasn't going to be easy.
He could even be watching through the camera in my cell now, anticipating my escape attempt.
Regardless...
I let out a heavy sigh, before using [Root Strike].
It erupted from the ground immediately, leaving behind a small crack as it pierced the door effortlessly, leaving a small hole in the door.
Hmmm. Not strong enough to immediately break the door, but I can't panic. It left a small enough dent that I could escape...
I just needed to target the weak points of the door and it will tumble.
I targeted the centre of the door and hit it a couple more times with [Root Strike] before I exhausted my SP. The door was misshapen and many dents had been created, yet it still wouldn't fall.
But it didn't matter. I took a step closer to the door, pouring all of my newfound strength into a single kick.
The door crumpled and flew out of the room, a loud clattering echoing throughout the empty hallway. A cold draft washed over my skin which I greedily devoured as I stepped outside.
Freedom.
At least, partly. Now I just needed to find a way out and kill Jason.
Oh. And free Bane.
But there was no way I was getting through his cell door with [Root Strike]. I barely got through mine with it.
"Señora? You are free?"
I peered down the empty hallway, the doors stretching for seemingly miles, "I am. This place, it looks like a maze."
My eyes flickered over to Bane's cell, "There's a keypad next to your cell. Four digits, it looks like. I won't be able to break the door down with brute force, unfortunately. I'll have to find Jason and retrieve the code."
"I... You are truly a fierce warrior, Ivy. You have my-"
"We're running on a time limit. Silent alarms have more than likely been triggered. Save your thanks for later."
In truth, I hated being thanked and I despised sentimental talking. More often than not my actions of kindness benefited me more than anyone else. I was undeserving of their gratitude.
I left before the man could say any more. Myself and Bane's cells were right at the end of the hallway, fortunately. It meant I wouldn't have to gamble on which was the right way.
I broke into a jog down the hall, the lights above flickering on and off ominously. I peered into other cells on the way, noting some things of interest. Rooms covered in grass and moss, and in most of the cells lay what suspiciously looked like human corpses. Bane and I weren't the only victims of Jason. I knew that. But the hallway was akin to a graveyard.
I eventually reached a stairwell, leading up and even further down. I had no wish to witness what abominations Woodrue had concocted in the cells below.
I began to climb the stairs, pretending not to see the red blinking coming from the cameras. So he was watching. Or at the very least, someone was watching.
Good. I hoped he felt as trapped as I did as he poked and prodded at me while I slept.
I'm not sure if he would flee or not. On one hand, he knows I'm out for blood and will kill him with no hesitation. On the other, would he risk letting his most valuable experiment loose into the world?
I had no idea, honestly. But I felt a certain measure of excitement, despite the situation. I was finally free and I was finally going to kill that fucker. It wouldn't matter if he ran or who he pleaded to help him.
I reached the end of the stairs, another steel door blocking my path. A little of my SP had regenerated, although not enough to recreate the trick back in my cell.
I saw the familiar blinking of red light in the corner of my vision and then, after a few moments, a soft click as the reinforced door opened. The door let out a groan as it led to a darkened room.
Hmmmm. I smell a trap. But every minute he gains gives him more time to devise a solid plan to recapture me. Sure, it was probably stupid to walk into a dark room where a man was trying to lead you. But my blood was pumping and I was high on adrenaline.
I stepped into the room. Nothing happened at first. The only source of light was coming from the stairwell I had just exited from. I scanned the dimly lit room, not seeing anything of importance. At least, nothing that could be used in a trap.
I didn't see it at first. The flickering of lights in the stairwell made it hard to observe the room clearly. But I saw it moving, in the corner. Some sort of gas originating from the vents. If I had to bet, some sort of gas to incapacitate me.
I wasn't worried though. I had two perks that would allow me to shrug off the gas with little to no difficulty. [Mind Of Immunity] which I had gained in character creation, and my newly found perk, [Toxic Immunity].
I strolled through the room leisurely, and although I did feel a little sleepy, the gas didn't otherwise affect me. I imagined Woodrue would be panicking now if he wasn't before.
The exit led to another set of stairs, this time only leading up. I reached the top after a few moments, opening the door.
I found myself in some sort of laboratory, various corpses dotted around on surgical tables. I recognized this place, vaguely. From my moments of lucidity, I remember him dissecting me and then putting me back together. Granted, I didn't feel much at the time as I was under anaesthesia.
"Miss Isley. You caused quite a stir within me today. Although thanks to you, I will be upgrading security. I have been far too lax."
I turned to see Woodrue behind me, accompanied by two guards armed with rifles and all sorts of other weaponry. They were dressed in tactical clothing, stealth suits it looked like. Gas masks adorned both of their faces. They had a strange symbol on their shoulder, almost like...
"I'm afraid I can't let you go, Miss Isley. Not yet. You have not been properly conditioned... The outside world, they do not see the beauty of your condition like I do. They will see you as only a monster and not the cure that you are."
Woodrue held out his hand, as a signal of peace, "Come back willingly and I will give you the treatment you deserve. I know that you may feel slighted for the way I have imprisoned you, but I assure you it was for your own good."
I looked towards his outstretched, stepping closer, taking his hand into my own and gripping it lightly.
"I believe you. Of course, I'll come back willingly."
His eyes flashed in alarm and before he could call out, two small roots were summoned from the ground and impaled the two guards next to him, easily piercing their gas masks. Blood splattered across the white walls and the two men dropped, unmoving. I willed the roots away, resulting in them slithering back into the holes.
[Guard x2 Slain. 300XP acquired.]
"But this time, I'll be dissecting you. Let's make you a cure, Jason."
The man stared at me in defeat for a few moments before releasing a heavy sigh, "So this is how it ends. How disappointing. I thought I would have more time."
His gaze turned to the monitor across the room, which showed the security feed from the various cameras placed through the building. At the entrance sat numerous SWAT vehicles, and a perimeter securing the area.
"You brought the police here?"
Woodrue shook his head, "Of course not. They've been tailing me for weeks now. The scale of the missing persons cases had become too large for them to ignore. Even for such a corrupt police force. You can't bribe them all without deep pockets or connections. Neither which I have access to."
Fuck. I had to wrap this up quickly then. Kill Jason, free Bane and get out of here. There was no way I was going to be held captive by the government.
"What's the code to access Bane's cell? And don't lie. I'll know."
And that was the truth. I was a semi-human lie detector, thanks to my trait.
"Of course. I observed your various conversations with 'Bane'. I decided that your interaction was harmless and so I allowed it. You've grown attached to him, haven't you? Say I do as you want. I give you the code. What stops you from killing me as soon as I've told you what you want to hear?"
"Nothing. Either way you die. But I might be more lenient with the method, depending on your answer."
Jason eyed the security feed again before his eyes landed back on me, "Time is a luxury you cannot afford, Miss Isley. The police are storming the building this very moment. Even if I told you the code, there is no chance of escape. The police will be on top of the two of you before you leave the building."
He's right. As much as I hate to admit it, the bastard is right. I'm certainly not prepared to fight my way through a whole SWAT force. The only option is to hide.
"You overestimate my attachment to Bane. I'll gut you here and escape myself. Rescuing Bane was just something I'd do if I could. My own survival is my priority."
And that wasn't a lie. I did enjoy talking with Bane, and might even call him an ally, but if it came down to saving him and getting caught or leaving him behind and escaping, I would choose the latter every time.
"Then do it. I will not allow you to escape together."
My eyes narrowed as I heard loud boots clacking off the floor, growing louder and louder. I needed to finish this. Now.
I was out of SP, using the last of it on the guards. I need to do this personally.
I wrapped my slender fingers around his throat and lifted him up into the air, beginning to squeeze. I won't deny it. Seeing the colour drain from his face, his futile attempts at breathing? It was satisfying.
I gripped tighter, hoping to snap his neck quickly. As much as I would like to drag his death out, the SWAT were--
"GCPD, hands in the air!"
The door broke behind me, and numerous police swarmed the room and pointed their rifles at me.
Well fuck.
I couldn't see their expressions from behind the helmets and masks. But their eyes widened as they looked at me. And the bodies beside me were certainly incriminating. They were itching to fire.
They were scared no doubt, and any erratic movement would probably result in my death.
"P-Put the man down! Lay down on the ground with your hands above your head! This is your first and final warning!"
I gritted my teeth. I was this close to ending this miserable leech. And they wanted to stop me? It wasn't happening.
I looked at Jason. Despite his choking, he wore a relieved smile on his face. Thinking he had won. Thinking he would survive.
My face moved towards his, my breath tickling his cheek. My lips landed on his as I planted my Kiss Of Death. His body immediately fell limp, and with a satisfied smile, I released my grip on his throat, his body falling to the floor uselessly.
It felt surreal. Like a dream come to fruition. It wasn't normal, I knew that. But I just didn't care.
I placed my hands above my head. I went to speak, to assure them I was no longer a threat. That my intent was not to harm anyone else.
The last thing I saw was a flash, a hot pain in my abdomen and the eyes of several horrified SWAT officers.
I am so sick of this shit already.
I stumbled, my vision turning to the familiar darkness once again.
Notes - What's changed -
- I've currently rewrote the first two chapters. In the process of writing the third but will take longer as it's completely deviating from current chapter three.
- I rewrote it primarily because I introduced the heist arc way too quickly. Within the first four chapters Ivy was already meeting big league characters and getting involved with big stakes. That will still happen, but not for a while.
- The skill used to defeat Deathstroke
was simply too op for that early on in the story. Anyone below Deathstroke durability would be killed instantly.
-Past me seemed to gloss over Ivy's true hatred for Woodrue. She didn't even go looking for him, or ask questions after she escaped.
- Ivy's personality should have some notable differences. No longer is she a blood lusted sociopath. But she will do what must be done, in the words of my favourite emperor.
- Going over too many mechanics is boring. I removed the shop mechanic, and the dungeon system is going to be different as you'll see. Classes were removed as it was giving me a headache, replaced by each weapon having stat requirements and a unique skill instead.
- A few traits and drawbacks were changed.
Fun fact. I have stories wrote for all the worlds that were explicitly mentioned on the wheel, but the fandoms on this site don't seem active so I haven't bothered posting them. Sad times.
I'm going to be honest. I used the Asexual drawback so I don't have to write lemons. I don't particularly want to and it'll save people from asking down the line if they're curious.
- This is not an SI. If I placed myself in the world, I'd be hiding with the heroes letting them do all the work while I sat on the sidelines. Yes, I'm lazy. Being a hero or villain is too much work.
- I've left it intentionally vague as to whether Ivy was a male or female in their past life. Some people don't like males recairnated into a female body, and other's dislike female leads. Not including such details might throw some people off, but that's how it is. Ivy's past life will not be mentioned much, and when it is, nothing major.
When I first started to write this story, I was approaching my 17th birthday, I think? Around about then. Now I'm 18, so I'd like to think my dialogue is a little bit less cringe. However, bear with me. I'm somewhat socially awkward, as my brother likes to tell me. I'm actively trying to improve that, but my conversation skills might reflect on the dialogue in the story. Apologies, hopefully I'll get better with time. It's a learning process.
To those that are still reading, thank you for your time. I hope you have a blessed day (: