Ch 1 – The Choice
My life has always been… difficult.
Not in the sense that the things I have to do or learn are hard but… living. Living in this world with my ability has made me a social pariah. A party trick at a party. Interesting for a moment but disregarded at the next.
My parents died in a car crash on the day I was being born. They crashed an hour away from the hospital. I was told it was a miracle I had lived long enough to be born… born from my mothers corpse.
Growing up in an orphanage, I was believed to be a curse. The children there would beat me and I could do nothing. The matron wouldn't believe me no matter the proof; the other children were cruel growing up, I was different, my ability made me more mature, more intelligent, something that they found disturbing about me. because I was different.
I didn't let the adversity hold me back, at the age of 5 I had mastered several languages purely do to my ability. Though I made a mistake, shortly before I was almost adopted I told the matron about my ability. My mind is quite literally a steel trap, sometime during the accident when I was thrown around in my mothers stomach. I'm not sure what, a stray piece of debris, or maybe just being thrown that far off the road… I don't know but that's what the doctors believe caused me to gain my eidetic memory. My power wasn't a power, just a mental condition that allowed me to remember all that I had seen, read, heard, smelt, and felt.
I had likened myself to one of the X-Men, not nearly on their level of power. But someone, different, different than everyone else, ostracised for things they didn't do just because they were different.
It wasn't long after that the matron had changed, before she wouldn't believe me but after learning of my mental strength, she became worse, hitting me, beating me, locking me in a cupboard. To this day I don't know if it was jealousy, fear of her previous actions, or maybe just hatred because I was different. But its led to me not being able to truly trust anyone with my personal secrets since then…
By the time I was 12, I had already completed my schooling. By the time I was 18, I had already gained three bachelor degrees, one in mathematics, one in engineering, and finally one in physics. I had long since moved away from the horrible orphanage that had done nothing but belittle, berate, and beat me.
The innocence I was supposed to have as a child died at the age of 5 when I was first betrayed… all in a hope to gain love.
I had learned that day to never trust those that seek to control you… never again.
Xxxxxx
"Haaah…" sitting alone, in the near darkness of his apartment. Greyson sat, his brain having recently been running a hundred miles an hour, he had just gone through another of his tests. He had wanted to see if his brain could interpret multiple medias at once and differentiate them in his memories to 'rewatch' later.
"Fuck me… it definitely worked but my head feels like it just ran a marathon after being hit by a train… maybe I should stick to watching only a few episodes a once and not entire seasons of each show… fuck I need a Tylenol." Slowly picking himself of his couch, he clambered his way to the bathroom and took some of that sweet brain relief. Damn the repercussions of his actions.
Slowly, he went about his day never really getting rid of the ache in his mind, a painful throb reverberating through his skull as the day continued. Going to work at his workshop, tinkering on a couple projects for a while but not making any progress due to the pain. He went into the cafeteria to grab a snack, but was interrupted by his boss.
"Hey! -! What the hell are you doing! You were supposed to have finished the project by last week already! What the fuck did we hire you on for if you're this goddamn useless!? Get this damn thing done by the end of the day or your fucking fired!" storming off after yelling at him, his boss was many things but kind and understanding he was not.
Frustrated, I could only rush off back to my shop, the pain in my head not letting up for a moment to let me think, only growing harsher as time went on. Falling to my knees as the searing pain in my mind started to overwhelm me, blacking out for a few moments until I managed to fall onto the small sofa in the room.
A few unsteady breaths as the pain started to settle, thinking it was over I sat up, truly the worst decision I had made in this life as the pain tripled that of the last burst knocking my cleanly unconscious. More akin to dead to the world.
Xxxxxx
The next time I awoke I was not in my lab, I wasn't in my home, no I was in what appeared to be a warehouse… "strange… where am I? and more importantly how did I get here?" pausing to collect myself as the pain had finally left my mind.
Standing up, I started to walk through the dark hall into the white brightness of the main warehouse area. Standing in the center, one of the few people in this world I believed to be one of the few respectable people in the world that would have understood how I felt, he did create the X-men after all…
"S-Stan Lee? How… you died a long time ago… how are you here… where is here?" slowly walking over to the man a chair appeared next to his and he prompted me to sit down.
"Now kid, I know who you are, I know the things you've been through… this never gets easier to say. You died. After the confrontation from your boss, the blood clot in your brain, that's the migraine that was hurting you earlier, cut the blood flow to your brain… and here? this is the next great adventure I suppose. That's how I'm here after all." He finished, putting a gentle hand onto my shoulder.
I'm dead… killed by my own blood… I died…
Shuddering in realization, I never got to truly prove myself… I never got to prove those damn people wrong… that I'm not a monster for my minds capabilities…
A second hand on my other shoulder drew me out of my train of thought, looking up I find Stan Lee standing directly ahead of me, no longer sitting. "Passing away like you did… it cant feel good… but that's also one of the reasons I'm here." gesturing to the warehouse we're in.
"If you want, this warehouse will be yours. This is the cosmic warehouse, a trans-dimensional storage unit. A place for you to keep anything you collect on your travels. If you choose to accept, this warehouse will become yours, and I will provide you ways to journey through the cosmos by means of a jump-chain. It wont be limited to just my creations, any world that has or will exist will be possible to enter as a possible jump. On one condition… each world you go to, you'll be required to complete at least one of three tasks I give you, though the rewards for completing a task will give you many benefits."
A journey? But why me? I'm worthless without my mind. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking… why me? I'm not brave, I'm not strong, I don't have anything but my mind… and that's already failed me once… why me…?" whispering out as tears slowly started to flow down my face.
I just need to hear it once…
"You aren't worthless kid, there are characters I've written, if you don't count the super powered aspects, that have had much easier lives than you. Hell, some of the shit I've seen in your past has been down right diabolical, the things people are willing to do to children… never mind that now, what I'm trying to say is that deep down, right in your heart, you are a good man… a man that never got to show the world what he could do. You didn't need your mind, nor strength nor bravery… you've got heart kid. And that's all you really need to truly live."
All I could do was hug the man… If a legendary figure like that believed in me, what more could I need? "I'll do it sir, I'll explore the worlds you send me to, I'll complete whatever tasks you send me."
A kind smirk grew on his face, "I knew you had it in you kid, now this here device is what's gonna let you go on these jumps, generally speaking you get about ten years in each world though if you finish all three tasks I give you before then, you get taken out early. Something to consider if you ever want or need to leave a jump early. I've already got a world I think will help you get your bearings, its actually rather interesting though I wont ruin the surprise. Though I best get going, never forget these words kid. Though I imagine you might come across them again at some point in your journey, with great power, there must also come great responsibility. Finally, Excelsior, onwards and upwards young man, onwards and upwards…" with that, the older man turned and slowly walked out of the warehouse, I could only hear the slow grind of the rusted door before he vanished.
"Thank you sir… I'll never forget what you've done for me." wiping away the few remaining tears and drying my eyes, I looked at the device he gave me. it looks like a regular tablet but it only has a few tabs. One called the warehouse mod, and the other called… Jump 1 doc.
Clicking on the warehouse mod, I see a small popup explaining what the warehouse is and what I can do with it. Its contained within its own pocket dimension that I can access from any universe I'm in, its freakin huge at 20000 square feet, it comes with a key I can use on any lock to open a door to it. Though it comes with some rules, I cant close the door while inside, I cant keep people stored inside, though other people can enter but they just get kicked out when I leave, time stops while the door is closed, I can only open one doorway, and finally the doorway matches its size to whatever door I'm using to open the portal.
Thinking for a moment, I bought electricity and plumbing for 20cp, a force wall to prevent intruders for another 20cp, a Medbay for another 20, finally I exchanged the key I wouldve gotten for the power to create a portal to this warehouse for 30 cp… pausing for a moment as I looked over the options I notice that I get free shelving so I grab that, and spend my final 10cp on a workshop. My workshop.
I need a name for this place… cosmic warehouse is decent and all but this is technically a lair of sorts for me… it needs a good name… maybe instead of warehouse, (that's a lame description of this place) I'll use vault! The cosmic vault… I like it!
I might change it later but it sounds good for right now…
Looking back at the tablet, I click on the jump 1 doc.
|Persona 5 Royal Jump|
The world is not as it should be. It's filled with distortion and 'ruin' can no longer be avoided. A Trickster and his Companions will rise above themselves to challenge the abyss of distortion. They shall fight against the corrupt society, steal the Hearts of several wicked individuals and oppose a malevolent being which calls itself "God". But perhaps you have already heard of that tale. Maybe you even participated in this story of Rebellion. Though I can assure you… there is much more left to see in this world. This Tokyo is still infested with distortions. But… past the false God's machinations… an even greater threat is rising. One that makes Dreams a reality in pursuit of ignorant happiness. This is the World you shall enter Jumper. What will you do? Break the chains of servitude and rise above Ruin and Dream? Or succumb to a rigged game and a kind man's promises? You will start the Jump the day Akira Kurusu arrives in Tokyo by train and leave the day he will leave Tokyo. Here is your 1000 CP. Now… walk your path.
|Origins|
Well Jumper what is your Place in this World? Are you a part of the masses? Or one of the Heroes trying to save it? You gain 200 CP to spend entirely on Origins.
Lets see… Reverse is way to cryptic, Velvetian seems to alter me way to much… Arcana… seems like it doesn't benefit me much... hell it only gives me some bonus cp because its weak… next! Thief? No that forces me to rely on parents something I'm not willing to do… I guess Trickster is my only option that'll set me back 300cp…
Perks are next…
Perks sorted into your Origin are discounted by half. 100 CP perks are free for your Origin. I gain 300 CP to be solely used for General Perks.
I get a free level in I am thou which will give me a persona to unlock… 200 more cp and its an evolved form… I'll take the evolved form.
Choose one element to be your main element. You will start with a Light Magic skill for said element. You must also choose a weakness to an element. Your choices are Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Psychic, Nuclear, Bless and Curse. You can also choose a regular trait to grant further power to your Persona. The trait can be of your own design and unique. For payment off 200 CP you may start with an evolved Persona. Said Persona will not only gain immunity to your main element of choice but also resistance to an element of your choice that is not your main element or weakness, a stronger Persona trait and a Skill that increases your ability to avoid your weakness. Your starting skills will change to become medium type as well instead of Light
I guess I'll go with the light element as my main, and maybe fire as a weakness? I know the general plot of persona 5 but nothing really of the combat system…
Oh, and I get immunity to holy, and I can choose a resistance to another… lets go with curse… and a trait? Lets go with, Holy Siphon. It will randomly rain down a shower of arrows after I fall below half my strength that hits the target and siphons their strength to recover mine.
I get a free max level in 5 star gentlemen from my origin, so I'll put that in… proficiency. My mind and my heart are good enough I suppose, and Stan already said I didn't need bravery.
*Proficiency: You're now Transcendent. You are very skilled with your hands and have great body control. In addition, you have fine control of every one of your Powers and know just how much to use for any given task.
I'll need Le Parkour, if I'm going to travel around and battle super powered monsters…
Le Parkour (200 CP): You will need more than just a bit of acrobatic skill if you wish to traverse the Metaverse and the various Palaces. This grants you the acrobatic abilities Joker and co display in the various Palaces. Even one who trained in Parkour for years could still learn some tricks from you.
I get third eye for free,
Third Eye (Free for Trickster): This sixth sense has a variety of uses. Items of importance, usefulness or simply treasure are being highlighted in gold. Your senses can become sharpened, allowing you to perform activities that require great reactions to become laughable easy (like say hitting a Homerun or fishing). You can gauge the strength of your opponents to your own, making them blue in your vision for being beneath you, yellow if they are your equal and red if they are your better.
Mind over matter lets me essentially have video game healing for magic stamina and health its free for the jump but I'm taking that with me once I leave 300cp yoink!
Grabbing wings of rebellion because it grants me unbreakable willpower that's a must for a world where the main enemy is constantly trying to break it. Damn that's 500cp… I'm grabbing a shit ton of drawbacks for this…
I get the protagonist arcana for free, the wildcard: The true Power of the Fool. It is the beginning, the source of all other Arcana's. The Origin of Power unlike anything else. Thanks to the Wildcard your Persona abilities are holding vast potential.
Your Persona gained from 'I am Thou' will be forced to be one of the Fool Arcana which will start out weak. However, that is the only limitation you have in regards to Personas and even that one may break if you take the time to develop your starting Persona. You are now able to hold multiple Personas within you. Usually this would be impossible since only one Heart exists per person but you have hit the Jackpot.
This allows you to be MUCH more versatile in your fighting style. Keep in mind you will copy the resistances and weaknesses of your currently equipped Persona. If your Persona is weak to fire but strong against ice you will be the same but if your switch to a Persona that is weak to electricity but strong against ice this will immediately carry over so do be aware of who you have equipped at any time. Not counting your initial Persona or your Ultimate Persona, you can hold 12 other Persona at any time within you.
Lastly, you are able to form lasting bonds with people. By repeatedly interacting with others, you will find yourself connecting to them. These bonds, when nurtured and allowed to grow, can become so powerful that they can traverse time and space itself. These bonds, also known as Confidants or Social links if you prefer, will all be sorted into one of the many Arcana's, maybe even more abstract or less common ones like Faith or Aeon depending on the person.
You find it as well much easier to connect with people and befriend them and friendships can happen as easily as breathing. By maxing out the bond with said Person, which you will notice by a melodic voice announcing it, you will be able to summon forth the Ultimate Persona of said Arcana, posing great skills which, I am sure will aid you greatly. Hone this power and the bonds you forge. Do not forsake them and you will find that companionship is a tremendous power.
*Wings of Rebellion: Your rebellious spirit has reached new heights thanks to the Wings of Rebellion. One might wonder how a Wildcard could gain an Ultimate Persona since they have so many masks within themselves. This is the answer. The true power of humanity and the bonds you forged. By gathering a Deck of 20 individuals all responding to the Arcana's, loyal to the point where they would even die for you and aid you in anything you need, you can bring forth YOUR Ultimate Persona. One powerful enough to make Gods shake in fear. This is how one usually gains such power.
For you though, purchasing said Wings of Rebellion will be enough to at least start. This Persona is either of the World or Fool arcana and will have a wide variety of resistances and immunities. Its power is already incredible but not yet its peak. Your Persona will have one unique skill of your choice, its signature skill so to say like Sinful Shell and Myriad Truths which you can design yourself, alongside Victory Cry and whatever skills your previous weak Fool Persona had, while sporting a powerful trait that you can create yourself as well. That's it however. It has not yet the raw Power of Satanael or Izanagi-no-Okami. One day you might be able to awaken to such a Persona without paying for it via CP but you will find that doing it here has its uses. For one, if you still manage to forge such close bonds the Power of your Ultimate Persona will be even greater than it would be usually. Gaining it so early also allows you to customize it more directly and early on to fit your preferences. Then you will truly be a God slayer.
I am most certainly taking fate can be changed. It literally gives me the power to alter fate… if things aren't forced to come to pass… so many horrible things can be changed in any future world I go to… and for 100 cp discounted its most certainly worth it.
And the final skill in the trickster skills… infinite potential… 600 cp regular but since my origin is trickster, I get it for 300… it wont be amazing off the bat but once I hit my normal potential… I can surpass it…
I'm going to have to take so many drawbacks for this…
That's all the skills I'm willing to take, I cant afford what I've got right now but these will more than do the trick. That's already 600 over…
Finally, the items…
I get the soundtrack for the game for free… yoink!
A metaverse navigator free for the jump but 300 to keep… its too useful not too… damn my spending habits…
I get a free thief outfit so I'm not turning that down… same with a gun and melee weapon…
A million yen for 100 cp? Not horrible I suppose… I'm going to need the cash anyways.
I get a discount on My velvet room, 300cp, The Velvet Room is a place between dream and reality, mind and matter. Time has no meaning in this place. You could plan and fuse Personas for hours and in the real World only mere seconds would pass. Its aesthetics revolves around the Heart of its Guest. It could take the form of just about anything ranging from an elevator, a limousine, or a prison maybe?
It is always somehow related to your struggles or problems. This truly is a strange place, but an incredibly powerful asset as well. With it you can interact with your Personas. You can fuse them to create new ones, strengthen them via sacrifices, put them in solitary confinement to cover their weaknesses, itemize for powerful equipment and tools or resummon ones you once wielded. There is also a button that allows you to activate a fusion alarm once per day through a ritual.
During a fusion alarm, the Velvet Room will change from blue to red and an alarm will sound for the first seconds. In this state, all activities are enhanced. As such sacrifices will yield stronger stat boosts, itemization can create more powerful equipment etc. However, an accident according is more likely the more actions you partake in during the alarm. Once an accident occurs or you press the button again, the alarm will deactivate. The alarm can activate from alone as well after battles you have. You will gain an uneasy feeling whenever it appears so you know when to go. There is also an area accessible where you can challenge yourself in special battles to hone your skills.
Lastly, you can summon the true Igor Post Jump. He may not aid you directly but is a good listener and will seek to guide you as best as he can with his advice should you ask him too. The Velvet Room is accessible via a door in your warehouse but you can also open more gateways in reality with some effort. Only you and whoever you allow it to will be able to enter your Velvet Room.
Thanks to my origin I get a free get into anywhere key, its just a blue metal old fashioned key that can open any lock or gate.
And that's all the cp I'm willing to spend, I'm already in vast debt…
Drawback time I suppose…
I need more ammo? 100cp repay This isn't too bad… just gotta carry a shit ton of ammo and since I have the warehouse that wont be too bad…
I'm forced to take criminal record, so I get 200 more cp… nice to see people still jump to judgment right away…
Go to sleep? Just makes me want to sleep after entering the metaverse not forced, and I cant stay awake after midnight… that's a setback but I'm willing to take it for 200cp
Wait a minute…. Theres two drawbacks here I can take that reduce powers I get from any previous jumps? Did you not check the list Stan…? Not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth I suppose… it is 400 more cp.
And I suppose… face myself… it will be hard… definitely difficult but I think I can do it… every night at midnight I can face my shadow… and I need to accept it no matter what… if I take this I have 100 cp extra…
I'll take Picaresque Crown, its 100cp with my discount and it rejuvenates me and instantly cures me off any affliction or ailments… so I cant get sick or cursed I suppose? And its bonded to my soul… that's the last of my CP I suppose…
Finally, the Jump doc Is completed, now I've just gotta figure out who this joker guy is… do I want to be his sibling or his friend? Neither of those really sound that great… how can I trust someone I haven't even spoken too… id rather not trust anyone… but I don't want to affect what portion of the plot I do know by replacing him… shit… fuck! You better not make me regret this Joker! I click the only option I can in this situation, I will become his brother… though, maybe a family wouldn't be so bad after all…
And with that final decision, my head starts to spin, and a portal opens beneath my feet. Its time for my jump to begin…
Xxxxxx
That's chapter 1 folks! I've been really interested in jump chains lately and decided to make a story out of it! I've got a general idea of what I want to do in the first two jumps, or at least what jump one will lead to happen in jump 2 but I've got no clue where he's going after this! His name wont be revealed till the next chapter, though it will only be his first name as the fact he is becoming jokers brother will hide his proper last name… that one wont show up until later on, maybe in the next jump as MC will get everyone to refer to him by his first name.
Now! please review and bookmark! Don't forget to check out my other stories I'm really proud of them so far and cant wait to keep writing!
Goodbye and since its just about 1AM goodnight!
-Theironcrafty Out!