Teaser/Prologue

Urdnot Grunt was confused by his situation.

And few things should surprise him, given he worked with Shepard and her crew, fighting the Collectors and consequently the Reapers.

Not to talk about those occasions he becomes fucking drunk with ryncol with the rest of the Aralakh Company and Shepard. Heh-heh-heh. No one wrestles krogan like Commander "Drunk Fighter" Shepard!

Now seriously, THIS is really weird.

Grunt checked that he didn't have any holovisors or helmets on his face as well as make sure that his omnitool wasn't malfunctioning.

"What the pyjak is this?"

Urdnot Grunt

Class: Krogan Berserker LV 1

Equipment: M-300 Claymore Shotgun, M-7 Lancer Assault Rifle, M-6 Carnifex Heavy Pistol, Krogan Hammer, Medium Colossus Krogan Armor, Savant Omnitool

Skills: Concussive Shot, Inferno Ammo, Heavy Disruptor Ammo, Improved Cryo Ammo , Armor Piercing Ammo, Shredder Ammo, Krogan Berserker, Combat Mastery, Adrenaline Rush, Fortification, Tech Armor, Cryo Blast, Incinerate

Magic: None

Grunt scratched his head. Whatever just appeared, it looked just like… a videogame HUD, to be honest.

"And why I'm level 1?! I fought dozens of battles against the most feared of mercenaries, pirates, Collectors, Thresher Maws and Reapers! I should have been level 60 at least!"

Aaannnnd one of the things you should not probably say to a krogan is that he's weak.

At least he had his equipment. After the Reaper War, there was still lot of bad blood between some groups as well as an increase of scavenger black market, especially military and Reaper tech, so mercenary and bodyguarding jobs were still very in demand, so he went to his friends at the now-trashed-but-maybe-reconstructed-in-the-future-Normandy, clan Urdnot, the Aralakh Company and the Guns And More Guns Lovers Club (thanks Garrus) to upgrade his equipment.

Apart from a better armor, and with shields, and an improved omnitool with various tech modules as well as a powerful but balanced equipment for all situations (and shoot shit up), he's also regained the upgrades researched by the scientists of the SR2 during the Collectors crusade. As well as the blueprints to make more thermal clips with the omnitool's microfabricator, though it still takes some time to be efficient during battle as well as a considerable amount of omnigel that he creates from scrap or fallen enemies equipment, but hey, free ammo!

He also wanted a heavy weapon like the Cain, but the others quickly talked down to him, reasoning that they are very expensive to maintain and to restock ammo. Of course, Grunt didn't buy it but concedes that while awesome, heavy weapons of decent destructive capabilities can be very obnoxious in those aspects.

So, while most of Shepard's group was busy resting from the war or reconstructing, he was doing what he did best: being a heavily armed one-krogan army against the wicked.

And now, he was in the middle of a primitive road in a hill in the middle of nowhere. Grunt had already gotten over the shock with the distinct indifference of a species evolved to survive nearly everything and everywhere, what he wanted to know was in what planet he was, why the hell is he a videogame character and search for a goddamn spaceport!

"Welp." Grunt shrugged "It seems the only option is to follow the road. Hope it brings me to somewhere."

Grunt's Amazing Adventures With The Shield Hero

"That's it. This damned road doesn't lead me to nowhere!" Grunt shouted, bored and hungry from what seemed hours of walking. Especially bored.

He got lunch by shooting some local wildlife that he encountered in the way, all aggressive by the way. Though it was strange that those beasts resembled those of the humans' works of fantasy from before first contact with the Citadel. So far he encountered some goblins and direwolves as well as some demon dogs and a bizarre type of balloon monsters (mmm, tastes like gum), the names provided by the helpful but still annoying interface that he couldn't shake off his view, especially with those log messages that doesn't let him fight concentrated. Though he was apparently gaining some experience, especially when the enemies were still various levels superior to him. Heh! That's krogan martial prowess and mass effect technology in action that triumphs over silly game concepts! He even cleared the hardest level of the Armax Arsenal Arena at Insanity. THAT was difficult.

Wonder how stronger he would get when he levels up…

No. He shook his head. As incredible as gaining strength like a RPG would be, true strength comes by learning from battle, not power leveling, the experience must be from first-hand through danger instead of a silly computer system.

As he thought while still walking the boring road, he took notice of some sort of vehicle coming through.

He smiled.

Finally, some way to go for civilization! No more walking around! The only thing he needs is to ask directions and maybe transportation. Though if they refuse or attack... Maybe he could show some good old krogan charm.

Heh heh heh.

AN: It's been some time since I wanted to add some Mass Effect character to Rising Of the Shield Hero as well as the technology. At the end, I decanted for Grunt.

Why?

I like Grunt. And krogan in general. Not only in physiology but also their culture. And I just put a genetically-enhanced bloodthirsty teenage space turtle supersoldier in a crapsack cynical fantasy world with JRPG rules as well as political, religious and racial tensions. What could happen? :)

As for how status magic works for Grunt, well, it will be a combination of Mass Effect lore and gameplay as well as the in-universe RPG system. He is in possession of incredibly advanced technology centuries superior to our own. As a certain crossover of Rising of the Shield Hero and Bofuri demonstrated in an awesome (and one-sided) boss battle, physics numbers triumph over game numbers. And ME rounds can be enhanced by stats as well as being moddable.

Besides, he's in a world empowered by magic and Eastern RPG mechanics so its balanced… until you remember that NOW he has access to those RPG elements (as well of the game his galaxy is based from) and possibly magic, potentially becoming one of the greatest fighters there. And taking into account his genetics and race... XD

Wonder how will Naofumi react to absorbing a omnitool or elrement zero.

The reason for not giving him heavy weapons should be obvious: apart from their cost, they're literally game changers on the battlefield on a somewhat realistic setting. Take them to a RPG where the effects of your weapons stack with your stats? At high enough levels, they can be nightmarish. Just imagine a level 100 character with boosted enough stats in that world. The Cain, Blackstorm and Blackstar outright become weapons of mass destruction. The Grenade Launcher and Avalanche could also have the potential of affecting huge areas from a shot.

Next time, the madness begins.