One Gaze At A Time
A Waifu Catalog Story: Hard Mode
Inspired by
Unfortunate_Soul's Nightmare Mode
Rules:
1. You only get 1/10th the amount of given points upon World Selection.
2. You only get points from selling, captures do not yield any points. (40% of buy value for named characters, 30% for extras)
3. You can only use Company provided Binding Stamps. No other Binding methods available for purchase.
4. You cannot buy Waifu, only acquire through Binding. (Exception: one waifu from Chargen)
Here's the link to WC.
Note: Build is now in Index
CHAPTER 1
I opened my eyes to a dimly lit room—both of them, just as promised, both of this body's original eyes—almost too dark to see anything around.
"Right, How do I do this?"
I didn't have any idea, not like there was a manual lying around. My employer said all of my new abilities should be intuitive and easy to use, as if I'd been using them all my life. But I didn't have even a little clue how to activate all these things I was supposed to have as Obito.
Okay, let's delve a bit into what I know about Sharingan and how to use it...
Nothing, fuck, the show never properly explained that shit man.
Ah, whatever. Time to improvise. I'm good with that. I've been improvising since I was forced into this contractor thing for this stupid Company. Apparently, everyone got a much better deal than me, and I just got the short end of the stick.
For what reason? I don't know, for shits and giggles? It's fucking unfair, but that's life. No use crying about it at this point.
Let's start again. I tried to delve into my mind, trying to find... something, anything, and surprisingly, it worked. Hell, it was too effective! There was so much shit in here..
Who organized this trash? Oh yeah, that's my job. Okay, Sharingan, Sharingan, where are you?
Ah, here it is.
Hmm... then what? Should I just say... Sharingan? No way it's that easy, right? That's kinda dumb. Or maybe it was that dumb easy? Or maybe it was just like an Aria type of thing, like how you do magecraft in Nasuverse? Using incantation to place my mind in the right state to do magic and also self-hypnosis myself? Fuck it, here we go.
Sharingan
"Whoa! Ah! Fuck! Shit! My eyes!" I instantly shut my eyes not even a second after I successfully used Sharingan. It was too dizzying. There were so many new things that my mind registered in that one moment.
I tried to open my eyes bit by bit to see if it would get better. I just had to believe the Company didn't lie, or else I was screwed with flawed power.
A few seconds of cautious hope later, I was seeing with my new eyes just fine, with a clarity that I could only compare to the closest thing being a high-quality camera. But directly in my eyesight.
'This is kind of fucking cool, not gonna lie.'
As I exhaled, I could see specks of dust suspended in the air, scattered on the ground, each particle distinct and clear, glinting in the faint light filtering through the side windows of the ruined church-like building I was in. Tiny bugs and creatures scuttled across the ruined carpet near the door, their movements so precise and detailed that it felt like time itself had slowed down just for me.
Every detail was magnified with startling clarity, and I didn't realize the gasp that came out of my mouth as I looked around the room.
'Wait, I didn't gasp, who was that?'
I turned around, looked down, and there it was. Ah, of course, the so-called waifu that the Company placed so much importance on. And I guess she was the one I picked?
Hm. They looked similar at least. Blue flowing robe-like clothing, with long strips of red cloth from each side of her shoulders, almost as long as she was tall. She clutched a long wooden staff tipped with some kind of gem on top of it.
And... a weird-looking big head statue beside her, laying on the ground. Wait, what's with the hole though? Oh... that's a fucking helmet?! A stone helmet? Why? Was that hers?
As my confused mind pondered the feasibility of using a big-ass stone helmet or even just carrying that surely unwieldy and unholy thing, who I knew as Sorceress Sellen—which I only did because I picked her myself as she was from this world, and I sorely fucking needed information because I knew jackshit about "Elden Ring"—finally rose from the ground, sitting up, placing her free hand on her head, face scrunched up together as if in pain, or maybe confused.
She was beautiful, easily one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen in my life, and she could do magic too! If the catalog didn't lie, that is, and this lady was supposed to instantly just adore me now, obey my every command and wish? That's like a porn fantasy of every man known to exist.
I continued to examine her as she shook herself from the cobweb of unconsciousness, subtly of course. I didn't want to be called creepy. She looked toward herself, patting herself, arms first, then her middle, legs, and then her face. She also had this wondrous expression on her face, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Huh... I'm free," was her first words. She had a mature voice, melodious I would say. I'd gladly hear her say just about anything for a long time when I'm just relaxing. It's that good, I tell you. Shit, everything about this woman just hit me in the right spot.
She noticed me after a few moments of silence, first seeing my booted feet, and then my flowing robe, adorned with Akatsuki symbol, red clouds periodically in it. What? Don't ask me, they put me in this. I didn't have a choice for clothing, ya know? It's fine though, I like this outfit. My inner child literally screamed "COOL" when I realized I was wearing this, but that's probably just my imagination. I'm an adult. This is not cool; it's just fine... okay, maybe a little cool.
She physically composed herself, then she looked me in the eye for the first time. And oh my god, let me tell ya.
She had this chill vibe, cool and composed was maybe the right words. Pretty long braided brown hair, almost black, falling casually down her back. And those eyes, light blue, like a clear sky on a summer fucking day. Her nose, sharp but not in a scary way, just adding a bit of edge to her look. Just a cool, beautiful woman, effortlessly pulling off that laid-back charm.
Shit, I'm fucking in love..
No! Bad Aaron!
There's no way I just about love a lady just from one meeting; that's fucking ridiculous. This is because of this whole Company business thing, yeah.
There's so much nervous energy in my body I can't believe I'm not in hysteria or some shit. Yeah, that was all adrenaline talking. You're good, Aaron. I patted myself mentally.
Fuck, should have picked that Stress Defense if I'd known I was just about to break down emotionally in my head, but I only had so many points.
Sellen finally broke me from my thought, "I guess I have you to thank, huh?"
She didn't ask if I'm the one saving her from whatever predicament she was supposedly in. I know this because she looked surprised being alive at all, but I don't know what her full situation looks like.
She was trying to bait for information with that statement, looking if I was going to take her bait and give her the answer she wanted. Why she thought she needed to do that instead of just asking me directly was beyond me.
But that was fine; I didn't have anything to hide from her. She was literally bound to me. She couldn't do shit to me if I didn't want her to. Any advantage she thought she could get ahead of me was literally nil since I could order her around as I liked.
Best not to dwell on this too much. I was sure having too much power over people would make my head big, and my ego bigger, and that was bad. I couldn't afford arrogance in this place. I knew a little bit about Elden Ring. I knew it was supposed to be a hard game that punished people when they least expected it. How it did that was not that important; I just knew that this was a dangerous world. Anyway.
"Yup, not by choice, though," I finally said, earning a bemused look from Sellen. "Well, it was my choice. What I mean is, my own circumstance is not my choice, and helping you is just a selfish wish of mine to help me in my own situation."
She looked skeptical, to say the least. "Is that so? Freeing a known criminal, potentially earning the ire of the Academy and the Carian royal family themselves, though there isn't much of the Carian now," she chuckled a little. And her face showed doubt again, "just to help little old Sellen? I imagine this supposed enemy you need my help with is a bigger threat than the academy? Or, you need something specialized that only I could give you," She asked with a tilt of her head, her tone curious, and a bit unbelieving.
But I didn't hear much of what she said after royal family; I was mostly focused on the fact that I just became a criminal by proxy, and there's supposed to be fucking royalties after me now? Just marvelous.
I sat myself cross-legged in front of her and pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers, a headache already setting in.
"Say what now?"
After a moment of thought herself, Sellen's surprised face met my gaze as I raised my head. "Surely you knew all of this before freeing me? And healing my... troubled, body?"
The way she hesitated saying 'troubled' perked me up a bit, but I shelved that for later.
I shook my head and sighed, "I guess I should explain from the start, the predicament I—we are in, because we're together in this now."
She raised one of her brows as I used the word 'we' to explain, but didn't say anything, just placing one hand up, cupping her chin, and nodded for me to continue.
I deactivated my Sharingan because I knew this was gonna be a long one. I realized distractly there hadn't been that much of a drain on myself using the Sharingan that long, food for thought.
"Okay, where do I start? How about this, do you know the theory which says every fiction that exists..."
*A few hours ago...*
The first thing I realized when I opened my eyes was that I was sitting. And that I had just awoken from sleep...
Let me tell you, the experience of waking up while sitting is a little weird, but weirder is the woman sitting in front of me,
I recognized her.
Lucy Fucking MacLean, or Ella Purnell, I guess? The fact that I met a main actor of Fallout in a dream after I binge watch the show was a bit jarring.
But hell, its a dream, right?
Althought this didn't feel like one, like, I was aware and thinking shit clearly.
"Huh, I know you," was what I said instead to Purnell smiling face.
She beamed at me, "Of course, my form is adjusted to someone whose face the contractor is familiar with to ease the transition."
"What, exactly am I transitioning into?" I asked.
She smiled a predator smile, though she tried to hide it, badly of course, the kind you don't want to see when you're at a disadvantage in negotiations...
Oh wait, that's me.
"First of all, what do you know of the Company?" She finished ominously.
"..which one?"
Her smile cracked; it seemed she didn't expect me to say that. I had no idea why.
Her question didn't even make sense; what "Company" was she referring to? I don't remember having any business with any company; I'm just a college student.
"The Company?" she prompted.
"Doesn't ring a bell," I shrugged.
She huffed, "Okay, let's try this again, from the very beginning," she glared at me, which confused me even more, "I have to explain it first before I can even begin my pitch, what a drag," She looked up toward the ceiling for a moment, then back to me.
Not my problem, she got a job to do she had to do it right. Why should I feel bad for not knowing which Company she worked for and she had to explain it to me?
"The Company is a multiversal entity, an organization that..."
*Present time...*
Right, apparently everyone who read web novels on the internet supposedly knew about this Company in fiction, which was, in fact, completely real. And apparently, I was the odd one out for not knowing about it.
I mean, what the fuck? I didn't read stupid stories by noobies on the internet. Why would I waste my time reading subpar stories when I could just buy and read books from established writers? That's dumb.
"And so, your... what should I call it, benefactor?" Sellen inquired.
I nodded.
"Essentially, your benefactor sent you to this world that you don't know about, giving you some abilities to help you survive, and a companion from said world to help you in your journey for... what, exactly?"
"Well, it doesn't have to be someone from this world, but I wanted a native so they can show me around and help me understand my situation better," I explained.
"It also helps that you are listed as quite an accomplished sorceress, and that you are a good teacher of the arcane," I added.
"Hmph, at least their information is accurate," Sellen remarked, trying to hide her satisfaction. I could tell just from her words alone.
I shook my head and continued, "Anyway, my plan is for you to be my companion, to be a source of information and a foundation for me in this world. Not only that, because I bought Soul Talent, and I have a Sharingan, I'm hoping it will help me learn Sorcery faster,"
Sellen nodded in understanding, eyes closed, hand still on her chin, the other cradling her elbow. She liked that pose too much.
"But that still doesn't answer my question, does it? What is your intention in this world? What is your purpose? Why are you sent here, my dear companion? Out of all the people in the... multiverse?" she prodded again, ending the two last bit of her point in a little mockery, she might be still sore about the binding thing.
But it didn't matter, I fully plan to win her heart the traditional way if the Stamp didn't work as advertised.
"So?" She prompted me again.
"To be honest with you, I really don't know. They're very hush-hush when I asked about the why, only that I do my best to survive. Just from that alone, I know that this world is dangerous, not to mention this world, as I said, is supposed to be a game made by masochists, so in the end, all I can do is plan the best I can with what I've been given," I admitted sincerely.
I looked at her eyes, hoping she believed me.
"Fine, just break my world view, will you?" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up. "And don't think I didn't see that waste of points you picked. I thought you were trying your best to survive and to plan accordingly?"
I looked oddly at her, "What do you mean? All my points are choices I made to ensure my survival. There's no-"
"Ohh!" I perked up, finally understanding what she meant. "You mean, Sticky Fingers?"
I teased, my arms up as I shook my individual fingers toward her.
"Or maybe, you mean, Sexual Calibration, hmm?" I said while raising my eyebrows suggestively.
Sellen just looked at me, eyes and lips so flat I wondered if I could drive a car through that thing. Her arms were crossed below her bust.
I couldn't help it, "Hahaha," I burst out laughing.
"Relax, Sellen, it's only 7 points," I tried to appease her after my laughter died down, while she maintained her flat look.
"7 points he says," she muttered under her breath, "you're the one that shows me that some Defense is as low as 5 points! That is another layer of safety for us, Aaron!"
"Oh, it's us now? You already decided to come with me?" I said with a smirk, and a wink.
She huffed loudly, "It's not like I have a choice in the matter, and besides, despite your own selfish wish, you did save me from my predicament."
Then her eyes turned hard, her face becoming apprehensive, "And this binding, is quite effective. I don't think I can even muster the will to be away from you. I can't fight it. Usually when you are a target of compelling or charm-based magic, it becomes easier to resist if you know you're under one," she looked at the ground, brows squinting, her arms in her favorite pose, "but now? I haven't even had the thought to fight the binding, as if I'm comfortable being bound to someone else. No... I'm comfortable; I already accept you as my master. I even include myself in my mind on your problem, even when I have an ambition of my own to pursue,"
She glanced at me unsurely, "I just hope, that you don't take advantage of me too much," her eyes were pleading.
"Not that you can't ask for my help! You can, but I want our relationship to be a mutual one, like... like a true partner," she averted her head to the side, refusing to look at me, her whole posture screaming uncertainty.
"Sellen.." I called her name; she didn't respond.
"Sellen, look at me," she finally turned her head to look in my direction, but her eyes were on my chest.
I sighed, then crushed her in a hug. She yelped at the contact but returned my gesture.
We stayed like that for a couple second.
"Hm, this is nice, I don't remember when I last got hugged by someone else."
"Really?" I asked her curiously.
"Yes, the pursuit of sorcery is... a long-winded path. It's hard to maintain a meaningful personal connection on the way. Not to mention the cutthroat state of the world since the Shattering." Her voice was muffled as she said all that, which made me laugh.
"Why are you laughing, you inconsiderate man? The Shattering is not a matter to be laughed about, even if you don't know," she said, still muffled, which just made me laugh harder.
"Stop laughing! This is becoming ridiculous, Aaron!" She pushed me a bit, but still within my embrace.
I activated my Sharingan because I wanted to burn my first happy memory in this new world.
I smiled at her frowning face, likely confused why I used my eye power, then I lowered my head so our lips could meet. She closed her eyes and returned my kiss.
It wasn't a crazy deep kiss, just a light one, lips meeting lips. Her lips were soft and warm. Her natural scent was pleasant too, or not; that's just Sexual Calibration.
We separated and stared into each other's eyes.
"Hmm, eight," I said.
"What?" She asked, confused.
I copied her favorite pose and nodded my head with eyes closed, "Hmm, indeed, not a bad kisser, still needs some work,"
Sellen snorted and hit my arms lightly, noticing my pose, "Stop it, you foolish one."
I just gave her a smile back and patted her on the head, she was gonna protest, but stop before she could, and instead said.
"No respect at all, this child. Patting a grandma," a mischevious little smile on her face.
I continued to pat her head, smile still firmly in place.
"Hmph," was her answer after a few seconds I gave her no reaction.
"Trying to catch me off guard, did you? Grandma needs to work on her jokes," I said with a smug smile.
Her mouth opened wide, surprised, or more likely offended, to silence.
"Hahaha,"
"Why you!"
A/N: eyy, new story, it will be different than my other story. This mc will see many combat situation, not being carried as I intended to with the other one.
A/N 2: obito will have both of his original eyes, this mean that he can use both long range, and short range kamui, including of course, for himself. He's a Tier 6, I don't think its fair having an obito with rinnegan in Tier 6, thats Tier 7 at least. So yeah, both only sharingan.