Review Responses:
noahdfranklin1002: Thank you for saying that. While I don't show this story as much love as I do Greg Vs, LiBaG is still something I enjoy working on.
Klennett: I understand what you mean about Gamer's Mind but in any Gamer story I write, I do not prescribe to the rules of the Manwha, especially when it comes to the Gamer's Mind and Gamer's Body. While they are important skills, having them cranked up as high as Hwan Sung-Gon does in the Gamer leads to nothing more than a flat character. [I feel no pain] and [I process no emotion] leads to a character that just spectates and then responds. While Zeke does have GM and GB, they are at a much lower level; GM to keep him from going catatonic or incapable of responding to mental distress/trauma and GB to keep him from blacking out from simple pain or getting taken out of the fight due to the weakness of the human body.
Characters need to feel fear, anger, sadness, etc to develop.
Sadly, though, Zeke isn't gay. He's just a Superboy fanboy.
SunofSonGod: Here's the thing. To most people, Superman is perfect because he gives off that air. He's the epitome of good to both people in the DC universe and people in the real world, so much so that a lot of people find him boring. Farm-raised, corn-fed, wholesome human morality yet with the distance of alien perfection. It's gotten to the point that DC has basically stated that any world with a non-moral or good Superman is destined for disaster or to be a horrible one, even if that Superman doesn't cause it. He is the moral underpinning of DC, as a whole. Imagine Jesus appearing in the modern world and ignoring or brushing off Christians who come to him for guidance. It's not a bad thing to do but it's not a "Jesus" thing.
JakeWJElliot2: The Gamer existed as a concept before the manwha. That's why this isn't in the Crossover section, pretty much. Not every version is gonna follow the same rules as the manwha, which in and of itself is pretty lacking in depth and forethought.
AN: Sorry for the long delay, guys, but unfortunately, with the virus having jumped into the forefront of everyone's lives, I've been super busy. I work for my mother in her nurse staffing company doing HR and booking and payroll and also the front desk person, so I'm... booked.
Just... completely.
Here's the last part of 2.9 and... well, you might notice a big difference by the end of this chapter.
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Emergence 2.9c
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Genesis took a deep, shuddering breath as his chest slammed into the road, thrown from the airborne truck with enough force that his arms felt like they were almost wrenched from their sockets in the single moment he had tried to hold on. His helmet cracked even further as his head snapped forward and impacted the ground, blinded by the spiderweb of cracks that made up his visor now.
His body skipped across the pavement several times, slowing down to an uncomfortable roll as robot parts served to slow his movements quickly enough.
It hurt, though.
It hurt like hell.
- 118
- 106
VIT 46 → 47
[Fractured Rib] x 2
- 10% Will
- 5% STR
Recovery: 4 Hours
[Concussion] - Mild
- 5% INT
- 10% WIS
- 10% Reflexes
- 5% Accuracy: Ranged
Recovery: 1 Hour
- 84
- 72
- 45
[Twisted Ankle] - Minor
- 5% Movement Speed
- 5% Will
Recovery: 20 Minutes
[Wrenched Shoulder] - Moderate
- 10% STR
Recovery: 30 Minutes
- 27
- 35
- 18
Resistance: Blunt Force Level Up!
21→22
VIT 47 → 48
Shaking and gasping for air that didn't seem to exist, Genesis cradled his torso with one arm as he finally rolled to a stop on the asphalt, that same shoulder a steady throb of pain. His other hand went to his ruined helmet, tugging it off as best as he could as his breaths came in quick, unstable pants. It was painful enough, but there was no doubt that it would have been far worse with only his jumpsuit for protection; some little part of his mind thankful for the motorcycle equipment 'Wayne Enterprises' had gifted the team.
A full second passed with the slowness of an entire minute before the helmet finally came loose, to his unspoken relief. The ragged inhale of breath he took a moment later, audible as that was, ended up being entirely drowned out by the din of the truck still sliding across the road just several meters behind him, metal on hardened tar a cacophony all its own.
Slowly but steadily, each breath a gift of its own, Genesis began to recover his senses. It certainly helped that pain seemed to ebb away from him with every passing moment and each fresh lungful of air.
Some, he quickly reminded himself, catching himself on hands and knees as he nearly crumpled back to the ground in a heap. Some of the pain. A stupid attempt to get back on his feet too early sent another jolt of blinding pain through his torso and, just like that, he was almost back to square one all over again.
At that same moment, the truck finally came to a screeching stop, and the noise finally ended its assault on Zeke's pounding skull. Unfortunately, another familiar noise made itself known again, drawing a groan of frustration from the teenager in addition to pain.
The back gate of the truck blew open, two pairs of monkeys each holding a metallic-red crate exploded out of the armored vehicle in a burst of smoke and heat. Behind them, several of the guards within stumbled out and collapsed onto the ground.
...okay. No. Genesis stared up with narrowed eyes at the flying MONQIs as they rocketed past him, energy born from frustration in his veins. The teen grunted as he leaned backwards and dropped to his knees completely, letting that part of himself take all the weight as he raised himself up as high as he could manage. I did not do all that… just to fail this STUPID quest!
With a scream of pain, Genesis forced himself to his feet in one sudden movement; all pain pushed to the back of his mind as his hands reared up, gloved palms already blazing with blue light. "Mana Burst! Burst! Burst! Burst..."
Mana Burst after Mana Burst left Zeke's hands, over twenty of the blue spheres peppering the air in the span of a few short seconds as they shot through the sky. The second pair of MONQIs barely even had a moment to chitter in robotic confusion, their sensors barely able to process that they were under attack before almost a dozen explosive blasts obliterated said processors and rendered them unable to do anything ever again. Just like that, both broken husks fell from the sky, more scrap metal on a frame than anything else at this point, the metallic red crate falling from their useless grip and landing somewhere in the cornfield.
+ 300 XP
+ 300 XP
Double Takedown! + 300 XP
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
The second duo, having noticed the destruction just behind them, made a sharp dive to avoid the path of the Mana Bursts, synthetic chittering sounding like laughter as the attacks dissipated into the air above them.
Zeke growled again and flared his mana around his palms again, intent on blowing the remaining MONQIs out of the air, only to flinch and stumble. The world spun in his vision, not even a spark of light visible in his hands as he held them up to his face and a sudden feeling of emptiness making itself known to him.
It took a moment before realization hit him.
HP: 100/650
MP: 0/250
Will: 200/245
Ughhh…
The thought repeated itself in the form of a groan spilling out of his mouth as Genesis dropped to his knees again, no longer able to keep his balance. Even being on his knees was too much after a few moments, the teenager falling to all-fours as he tried not to heave up what remained of his dinner at this point.
Lost Amazo... check.
Got my butt kicked...check.
And failed the mission too… triple ch-
[ping!]
Head still down, Zeke bit down on a groan as a familiar notification made itself heard, the thirteen-year old not in a mood to read a written explanation of his failure. Just go away.
[ping!]
[ping!]
[ping!]
[ping!]
[ping!]
What the…
Genesis raised his gaze, the act already a struggle, and nearly felt the muscles in his forearms give way as he stared at the sight right in front of him.
Mission Gained!
Doctor Ivo's Amazing Android I
Objectives:
Prevent A.M.A.Z.O's remains from being stolen [✔]
Rewards:
- 25000 XP
- Increased reputation with S.T.A.R. Labs
Mission Success!
Flying Monkeys?
Objectives:
Survive [✔]
Rewards:
10000 XP
Increased reputation with S.T.A.R. Labs
Bonus Objective(s):
Defeat 10 monkeys [✔]
Prevent the MONQIs from escaping with A.M.A.Z.O. [✔]
Rewards:
- 2 VIT
- 1 Resistance: Blunt Force
- Perk: Reckless Fighter
- 3 Stat Points
What…
Level Up x 3
Lvl 9 → 12
You are now Level 12.
+ 9 Stat Points
WHAT.
Ezekiel raised his head higher, one arm dropping to cradle his ribs as he found it in him to rise to his feet, pain once again a secondary thought amid this new development. But… but how...
Perks Gained!
Impact Force
Minor explosion damage.
All critical hits from mana-based abilities now stun targets for 1 second.
Reckless Fighter
Really not the best idea but...
+ 10% to STR when facing 4 or more enemies near or above your level.
The last of the screens finally faded away from Zeke's eyeline, his mind already having committed them to memory. I don't get it, he stumbled back again, doing his best to keep himself steady on his feet as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
The road shook a moment later as their resident Kryptonian landed with the answer to Zeke's unspoken question in his hands; a red crate with a single robotic arm still attached to it. Unceremoniously dropping the cargo to the ground, Superboy raised a hand to his face and brushed a piece of metal scrap out his eyelid before glancing over at where Zeke lay on the ground.
"The other crate. Where is it?"
Genesis blinked.
"I…" He blinked again, mind slowly but steadily putting the pieces together as he remained there on his knees. "I…" His mouth worked silently, brain still spinning as he glanced around him. "I…"
A few moments of silence passed between the two of them, the awkward quiet broken by the sudden rustling of the corn as Robin limped out of the tall vegetation with the driver of the truck leaning on him for support.
The Boy Wonder jerked his hand over his shoulder, thumb pointing back in the direction he had come from. "Crate's back there."
Genesis turned back to Superboy, mimicking Robin's hand motion with an awkward smile. "You heard him," he added, repressing a slight cough and the flare of pain that followed. "Crate's back there."
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
INT 42 → 50
STR 46 → 50
Stat Points: 0
Quick Study → Fast Learner
Hard Hitter → Strong Arm
Strong Arm
You can throw one hell of a punch.
Unarmed strikes:
+ have a 25% stun chance against an opponent with VIT equal/lower than your STR.
+ deliver 50% more knockback force but no additional damage.
Hard to Hit
Float like a butterfly...
When in close combat, effective SPD increases by 5% when dodging or weaving.
Vigor I
Take a deep breath and get back up.
+ 100 Max HP
Fast Learner
A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
+ 25% Quest XP.
+ 10% Skill XP
Spirit & Stamina
By elevating your mind and body to a certain level, you begin to notice a certain synergy.
+ 100% MP Regen
+ 100% Will Regen
[All Physical Stats at 50!]
Olympian Physique
A body the Greeks would be proud of.
- 25% Will drain when exercising.
+ 10% to STR gain from exercise
+ 10% to SPD gain from exercise
+ 10% to VIT gain from exercise
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
"-ill be airlifting the remainder of the android's parts to their intended location using the Bio-Ship. Any further action will be dependent on the League."
"But you don't get it!" Robin argued back, voice giving away his age as he nearly slipped into a whine halfway through. "The parts have GPS. Ivo's simiandroids can detect them and I already figured out how to track the signal."
"Our mission is to deliver the parts, not to launch an assault on Dr. Ivo."
"I don't see how delivering half the parts to one location is a completed mission, though."
"My decision is final, Robin," Aqualad's tone made it clear that the conversation was over from the moment he decided it so. "Await our arrival, ETA: 15 Minutes."
Robin shut off the communicator on his belt with an angry huff, everyone having discarded their motorcycle helmets for different reasons and unable to access their comms with the built-in mike. "Looks like the other team felt the aster. Heavy on the 'dis'." He allowed himself a high-pitched giggle, before shaking the laughter away. "Anyway, you heard him…" Robin remarked, shooting both Genesis and Superboy a glance. "We wait."
"So…" Genesis flexed his fingers as he turned his gaze over to Robin and Superboy, ignoring the last of the notifications as they began to fade in the order they had appeared. He let out a sigh after stretching out that one syllable for as long as he could manage before it became awkward, both his present teammates glancing over at him silently. "Is that it then?"
The Boy Wonder rose from where he crouched, previously occupied by fiddling with the husks of shattered and broken MONQIs. "Looks like it," That said, he gave Zeke a disaffected shrug before continuing on with, "Aqualad's thinking we should pack it in too."
"Yeah, he would say that." Superboy's terse voice cut in from where he stood, leaning against the armored truck that hadn't even taken him a full thirty seconds to upright. As battered as it was, the vehicle had barely taken as much damage as one would have expected, making it still a perfect spot for the bruised and dazed S.T.A.R. Labs guards as well as the driver.
"Huh?" The single syllable came from both Robin and Genesis, the two of them responding almost in unison as they glanced over at Superboy.
Arms crossed over his chest, the young clone stood up straight and took a few steps toward both his smaller teammates, expression surprisingly calm for his tone. "Forget it."
Both younger boys raised an eyebrow, their domino masks contouring along their faces with the motion, but it was Zeke who spoke up first, neither of them quite sure exactly what was eating at Superboy now. "So, uh, big guy, you… you pulled off a great save back there."
The larger teen didn't respond at first, glancing down at his feet as he reduced another MONQI to even more scrap with an errant step. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke up. "Thanks… you too."
"Me? Really?" Try as he might, Zeke couldn't help but let his expression be overtaken by the big smile Superboy's words had invoked in him, almost waving away the compliment. "No… no way, I was just lucky."
"No, Supey's right," Robin chimed in, eliciting a single glance from Genesis. "I didn't think you had it in you. Without you, we definitely wouldn't have stayed whelmed."
"Thanks… I think?" the dark-skinned boy responded mildly before turning back to Superboy, smile returning full-force. "But you were saying, Superboy?"
"I said, 'good job.' Superboy paused, a curious expression crossing his face for a moment before fading away in the next. "You're getting stronger."
To the right of him, Genesis noticed Robin shoot him a similar appraising glance, gaze focused on the exposed arms of his jumpsuit now that he had discarded his motorcycle jacket before quickly flicking back over to the scattered remains of the robots on the road. "Yeah," he spoke up again, striding over to stand by Superboy, "Supey's not lying. You really are."
If it was possible for a smile to double in intensity, Zeke didn't doubt his own somehow just managed to do exactly that. "Thanks, guys!"
Superboy nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Just don't hold me back. Got it?"
"You got it!"
Oddly enough, though, Robin didn't chime in at all after that, the Boy Wonder silent as the grave while Superboy and Zeke struck up a conversation.
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Ezekiel Patrick Armstrong
Title: None
Level 12
XP: 6000/14000
Age: 13
HP: 820/820
MP: 305/305
Will: 277/277
STR: 50
SPD: 50
VIT: 50
INT: 50
WIS: 9
CHA: 12
Stat Points: 0
Cash: $375